{
  "id": 9609670,
  "title": "Dmitry Glukhovsky’s new novel ‘Registration,’ about Russians seeking to cash in on the war, has been called an émigré’s rebuke to those who stayed behind. Is that fair?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/dmitry-glukhovskys-new-novel-registration-about-russians-seeking-to",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-24T19:02:15.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Meduza (English)",
    "slug": "meduza-english",
    "url": "https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/09/24/dmitry-glukhovsky-s-new-novel-registration-about-russians-seeking-to-cash-in-on-the-war-has-been-called-an-emigre-s-rebuke-to-those-who-stayed-behind-is-that-fair"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On September 17, Dmitry Glukhovsky released his latest novel, \"Registration,\" for free online. The story is set in a wartime Russia in the 2020s, focusing on a pregnant girlfriend of a contract soldier trying to marry him swiftly to qualify for benefits. This novel has sparked debate on social media, with critics questioning Glukhovsky's harsh judgment of those who stayed behind, despite his own safe distance from Russia.\n\nThe novel begins in the seemingly peaceful life of Tatyana in Vologda, whose son Sasha is a contract soldier. Tatyana uses her husband's pay to cover mortgage payments while he is at the front. His girlfriend, Ulyana, struggles with the situation, dreaming of the future and becoming pregnant with Sasha's child.\n\nGlukhovsky's narrative shifts from initial beauty to horror as Sasha goes missing in the war. When he is found in a Moscow hospital without his legs, his mother and girlfriend fight over benefits, with Ulyana traveling from Vologda to Moscow. Upon arriving in Moscow, Ulyana stays with her aunt and uncle, Marina and Maksim, who are part of the city's intellectual elite. They face challenges, such as delays in registering their marriage and having to bribe someone, all while living among Moscow's intelligentsia.\n\nThe novel brings together a cross-section of society, exposing the flaws in each character to avoid any character remaining unscathed. Glukhovsky, who has faced harsh criticism as an émigré, examines the adaptability of women in adjusting to evil, showing that they often adapt faster and better than men. This portrayal highlights the struggle and horror experienced by ordinary Russians during wartime.",
  "summary": "On September 17, Dmitry Glukhovsky posted his new novel, “Registratsiya” (“Registration”), online for free. Set in wartime Russia in the 2020s, it follows the pregnant girlfriend of a contract soldier as she tries to marry him as quickly as possible to qualify for benefits. The book is still stirring debate on social media. Many readers fault Glukhovsky, who has lived outside Russia since 2022,…",
  "key_points": [
    "Dmitry Glukhovsky releases 'Registration' for free online on September 17",
    "Novel explores Russians' opportunism during wartime Russia's 2020s",
    "Critics question Glukhovsky's judgment of those who stayed behind"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}