2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Season summary, Race reports
Kyle Busch started on pole. Defending winner Austin Dillon got in the wall after having a tire go down early. Kevin Harvick got into the wall, taking him out of the race, as Busch won the first stage. William Byron had a tire go down and got into the wall. Jimmie Johnson spun after contact with Denny Hamlin and also sent Joey Logano spinning. Busch won the second stage. In the third stage, Gray Gaulding crashed and Chris Buescher spun. Kyle Larson spun and Ryan Blaney blew an engine and caught fire. Busch won the third stage. Kyle Busch continued to dominate and won his fourth race of the season and with the win, he became the first in history to win a race at every racetrack in the MENCS that he competed at.


2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Season summary, Race reports
Defending race winner Ryan Blaney started on pole. Blaney led early until he had a problem and had to pit. Martin Truex Jr. got the lead and won the first stage. Kevin Harvick got to the lead and dominated to win a caution free stage two. In the final stage, Matt DiBenedetto had brake issues and it caused a tire to catch fire as Kasey Kahne and Bubba Wallace both had transmission issues. Derrike Cope spun after contact with Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin spun and crashed into the wall after contact with Alex Bowman. On the restart, Erik Jones spun after contact with Joey Logano. On the restart, Martin Truex Jr. pulled away from Larson, Harvick, and Kyle Busch to pick up his second win of the season and second at Pocono.


2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Season summary, Race reports
Kurt Busch started on pole. The race started over two hours late due to rain. Austin Dillon and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. spun after making contact with each other just as the competition caution came out. David Ragan got into the wall after contact with Bubba Wallace Matt Kenseth spun at the end of the stage as Ryan Blaney, who had taken the lead from Kurt Busch, won the first stage. Daniel Suárez spun after contact with Paul Menard. Kyle Larson, who won the last three Michigan races, spun into the grass, ending his changes of a fourth straight win. Kevin Harvick won the second stage over his teammates. Clint Bowyer had taken the lead from Harvick as Ricky Stenhouse Jr. spun as rain was reported around the track. The race was called giving Bowyer his second win of the season.


2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Season summary, Race reports
Kyle Larson started on pole. Erik Jones had problems early as Martin Truex Jr. led most of the first stage, but pitted allowing A. J. Allmendinger to win the stage. On the restart, Allmendinger blew an engine while Jamie McMurray went to the garage with low oil pressure. Denny Hamlin won the second stage by staying out while others pitted. Ryan Blaney had to make several stops to fix damage. Kevin Harvick had the lead late until he decided to pit in case of a late caution. Truex stayed out during green flag pit stops and won his third win of the season and second at Sonoma with a ten-second lead over Harvick.


2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Season summary, Race reports
Paul Menard started the race on pole. Clint Bowyer led early in the race before getting two speeding penalties on pit road. Aric Almirola won Stage 1 and led the most laps the race, but had to pit under green for a loose wheel. Kevin Harvick won Stage 2 of the race. Harvick would continue to lead until losing it to Kyle Busch during a round of pit stops under caution. Kyle Busch continued to lead in the closing laps as Kyle Larson was catching him. Larson caught up to Kyle Busch on the final lap and the two made contact twice, with Kyle Busch holding on to win the race with Larson finishing second.


2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Season summary, Race reports
Chase Elliott started on pole. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. dominated by winning both stages. In the second stage, Paul Menard got turned and into the grass. Brad Keselowski got turned around and collected Kurt Busch, Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin, Elliott, and others. Kyle Busch got turned into William Byron and also involved Jamie McMurray. In the final stage, Kyle Larson got turned into Stenhouse. Jimmie Johnson was leading until he received a penalty on pit road. Stenhouse had a tire go down and spun, ending his chance of back-to-back wins.


2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Season summary, Race reports
On the restart, Aric Almirola lost a wheel and crashed along with Michael McDowell and Johnson. In overtime, Kevin Harvick took the lead from Kasey Kahne, but Clint Bowyer spun and collected Harvick, Brendan Gaughan, and others. On the second restart of overtime, Erik Jones drove past Martin Truex Jr. to score his first career win and became the seventh different winner of the season.


2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Season summary, Race reports
Martin Truex Jr. started on pole. Truex dominated by leading the most laps and winning both stages. Alex Bowman had a tire go down and got into the wall and J. J. Yeley lost an engine. Teammates Jamie McMurray and Kyle Larson suffered mechanical problems. Truex pulled away from a charging Ryan Blaney for his fourth win of the season and second straight at Kentucky.


2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Season summary, Race reports
Kurt Busch started on pole. The start of the race was delayed due to rain. Busch dominated the majority of the race. A.J. Allmendinger got into the wall, ending his day. Martin Truex Jr. took the lead after the Competition Caution and won the first stage. Chase Elliott took the lead from Truex to win the second stage. Clint Bowyer got into the wall and went to the garage. Kyle Busch had the lead late, but Kevin Harvick moved Busch to take the lead and get his sixth win of the season and third at New Hampshire.


2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Season summary, Race reports
Kevin Harvick originally won the pole. Thirteen cars including Harvick failed post-qualifying inspection, disallowing their times and forcing them to start in the back, thus Daniel Suarez won the pole. Chase Elliott won the first stage while Harvick won the second stage. A few had tire problems including Kurt Busch, Joey Logano, and Brad Keselowski. Keselowski got into the wall, sending him to the garage. Bubba Wallace lost his brakes and hit the wall hard at a high speed, resulting in a red flag. On the restart, Aric Almirola spun after contact with Matt DiBenedetto, sending the race to overtime. Kyle Busch pulled away to hold off Daniel Suarez for his sixth win of the season and second at Pocono.


2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Season summary, Race reports
Denny Hamlin started on pole. Aric Almirola got into the wall early and Joey Logano spun and went to the garage. Martin Truex Jr. won the first stage. Chase Elliott dominated the second half of the race and won the second stage. Ryan Newman spun and Jimmie Johnson spun after contact with A.J. Allmendinger. Martin Truex Jr. caught Elliott, but ran out of fuel, which allowed Chase Elliott to get his first career win and the 250th win for Hendrick Motorsports.


2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Season summary, Race reports
Denny Hamlin started on pole for the second straight week. Erik Jones spun early and William Byron spun and got into the wall along with Martin Truex Jr. Kevin Harvick dominated and won both stages. Jones spun again and Ty Dillon ran over a battery and got into the wall and caught fire. Harvick took the lead from Jamie McMurray and held off Brad Keselowski for his seventh win of the season.


2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Season summary, Race reports
Kyle Larson started on pole. Kyle Busch spun and caused a pile up on the frontstretch, including Bubba Wallace. Paul Menard got into the wall while running up front as Ryan Blaney edged Kevin Harvick to win the first stage. Blaney, Joey Logano, Chase Elliott, Clint Bowyer, and others led up front. Logano won the second stage. Aric Almirola had mechanical prolems that sent him to the garage. Martin Truex Jr. spun and crashed along with J. J. Yeley after getting into Kyle Busch. Busch and Brad Keselowski had tires go down and both spun. Kurt Busch was able to take the lead from Clint Bowyer and held off Kyle Larson for his first win of the season and sixth at Bristol.


2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Season summary, Race reports
Denny Hamlin started on pole. Jimmie Johnson had fuel pump problems, sending him to the garage. Kyle Larson dominated and won both stages and led the most laps. Clint Bowyer got into the back of Ryan Newman, who slowed down to go to pit road. William Byron had the engine blew, sending him to the garage. Brad Keselowski beat out Kyle Larson on pit road and pulled away from teammate Joey Logano for his first win of the season.


2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Season summary, Race reports
Kyle Busch started on pole after qualifying was cancelled due to rain. The race was postponed from Sunday to Monday due to rain. The race had two competition cautions at the beginning due to the rain. Martin Truex Jr. was sent to the garage early after a rotor exploded causing front end damage to the car. Clint Bowyer was able to win the first stage. Bubba Wallace spun and collided with David Starr. A. J. Allmendinger and Alex Bowman both wrecked off turn two. Matt Kenseth was able to win the second stage.


2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Season summary, Race reports
In the final stage Clint Bowyer dominated and Denny Hamlin was able to grab the lead after the final round of green flag pit stops cycled through and was heading to the win until Landon Cassill wrecked along with Jeffrey Earnhardt. On the restart, Brad Keselowski, who had fresher tires, was able to take the lead from Hamlin and hold off Erik Jones for his second straight win and the first Brickyard 400 victory for Roger Penske and the first Brickyard win for Ford since 1999. Kyle Busch went on to capture the Regular-Season Championship over Kevin Harvick and the final two playoff spots went to Jimmie Johnson and Alex Bowman.


2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Season summary, Race reports
Erik Jones started on pole. Kyle Larson had to make an unscheduled pit stop early for a flat right front tire. Martin Truex Jr. would grab the first stage. In the second stage, Kevin Harvick blew a tire and slammed the wall in turn 1 collecting polesitter Jones in the process. Brad Keselowski would win the second stage. The final stage had a number of wrecks that puts some playoff drivers in jeopardy, with Jamie McMurray wrecked in turn three hard collecting Chase Elliott as well.


2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Season summary, Race reports
Kyle Busch later spun in turn four as well as Denny Hamlin later on in the same spot, but would suffer splitter damage ending his day. A late race restart caused Jimmie Johnson, Alex Bowman, and Kurt Busch to suffer tire rubs after contact in the back-straightaway. Joey Logano hit the wall late in turn two to bring out a caution with just a few laps remaining for an overtime restart. Keselowski would have great restart, but a multi-car wreck in turn four involving Michael McDowell, Kurt Busch, Matt DiBenedetto, and David Ragan, forcing another attempt. On the second attempt, Keselowski would go on to win the race over Larson to advance to the second round for his third win in a row as well as Team Penske's 500th win overall.


2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Season summary, Race reports
Kevin Harvick started on pole. Denny Hamlin was spun by Ricky Stenhouse Jr., but was able to save it. Martin Truex Jr. dominated and won both stages, but an uncontrolled tire sent him to the back of the field. Matt Kenseth and Jeffrey Earnhardt go into each other, which sent Earnhardt in the wall. Kyle Busch was able to take the lead from Brad Keselowski and held off Harvick to advance to the next round of the playoffs for his seventh win of the season and his 50th career win overall.


2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Season summary, Race reports
Kurt Busch started on pole. Kyle Larson won stage one while Ryan Blaney won the second stage. Austin Dillon slammed the wall twice and got sent to the garage to end his playoff hopes. Aric Almirola and Chris Buescher spun and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. slammed the wall. At the end, leader Brad Keselowski lost control of his car on a restart and crashed into the wall along with Larson, Paul Menard, Kyle Busch, Daniel Hemric, Bubba Wallace, and others. Martin Truex Jr. and Jimmie Johnson were racing for the win until Johnson spun in the chicane and collected Truex. Ryan Blaney snuck through to win over Jamie McMurray for his second career win and advance in the playoffs. Dillon, Denny Hamlin, Erik Jones, and Johnson were eliminated.


2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Season summary, Race reports
Kyle Busch started on pole after qualifying was rained out. Jimmie Johnson had to go to the garage before the race and eventually returned to the race several laps down. Kevin Harvick took the lead and dominated, leading 286 laps and winning both stages. Harvick had trouble on pit road and fell back. Aric Almirola was heading to the win, but Clint Bowyer got into the wall. Almirola wrecked on the restart along with Brad Keselowski, Alex Bowman, Ryan Blaney, and Martin Truex Jr. In overtime, Chase Elliott held off Denny Hamlin to advance to the next round with his second win of the year and the second of his career.


2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Season summary, Race reports
Kurt Busch started on pole with all Stewart-Haas Racing drivers starting first through fourth. SHR dominated the race with Busch leading the most laps and winning stage one. Jimmie Johnson spun and hit the wall and Kyle Larson had a tire go down and spun. Kevin Harvick won the second stage. Jamie McMurray spun and got stuck in the grass. Late in the race, Alex Bowman got into the wall and collected J. J. Yeley and William Byron, which sent the race to overtime. Harvick, Ryan Blaney, and Brad Keselowski ran out of fuel before the restart.


2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Season summary, Race reports
Matt DiBenedetto spun and collected several cars, but the race remained green. Kurt Busch ran out of fuel and it allowed teammate Aric Almirola to take the lead and hold off teammate Clint Bowyer to advance in the Round of 8 for his second career win and becoming the fourth SHR driver to win during the season.


2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Season summary, Race reports
Joey Logano started on pole. Daniel Suárez got into the wall as Bubba Wallace had a tire go down and William Byron suffered a blown engine with Logano winning the first stage. Kevin Harvick won the second stage and was leading when he got a speeding penalty on pit road. Chase Elliott was able to hold off Kyle Busch for his third win and his second in the "Round of 12". Brad Keselowski, Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson, and Alex Bowman were eliminated from the playoffs.


2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Season summary, Race reports
Kyle Busch started on pole. Jimmie Johnson spun after contact with Erik Jones as Denny Hamlin won the first stage. Joey Logano dominated the race and won the second stage. William Byron was spun on pit road after contact with Clint Bowyer. Kyle Larson had the engine blow and Timmy Hill had an electrical fire. Clint Bowyer made contact with Johnson and spun. Martin Truex Jr. took the lead from Logano, but Logano was able to pull the bump-and-run on Truex and held off Hamlin for his second win of the season and clinched a spot in the "Championship 4."


2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Season summary, Race reports
Ryan Blaney started on pole. William Byron spun after contact with teammate Jimmie Johnson. Kevin Harvick dominated by leading the most laps and winning both stages. Matt DiBenedetto made contact with Martin Truex Jr. and got into the wall. Joey Gase spun and collected Daniel Suarez, sending the race into overtime. Harvick held off Blaney to lock into the "Championship 4" for his eighth win of the season and second Playoff race at Texas. Due to an altered spoiler discovered post-race, Harvick had his win encumbered, was penalized 40 points, and was no longer locked into the Championship 4.


2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Season summary, Race reports
Kevin Harvick started on pole. Harvick led all of the first stage until he had a flat tire and had to pit allowing Chase Elliott to win the first stage. Joey Logano had a tire go down and sent him to the garage. Clint Bowyer had a tire go down and got into the wall, ending his championship hopes. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. hit the wall and caught fire. Denny Hamlin got loose and collected Kurt Busch, Elliott, and others. Alex Bowman got into the wall and caught fire. Kyle Busch, who won the second stage, dominated the race and held off Brad Keselowski for his eighth win of the season and locking into the "Championship 4" along with Logano, Harvick, and Martin Truex Jr. while Elliott, Aric Almirola, Bowyer, and Kurt Busch were eliminated.


2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Season summary, Race reports
Denny Hamlin started on pole. The Championship 4 dominated the race with Kevin Harvick winning the first stage. Kyle Larson won the second stage after passing Harvick at the line. Larson got into the wall after having a tire go down. Erik Jones and Chris Buescher both had flat tires, but got to pit road before a caution. Daniel Suarez got into the wall after contact with Brad Keselowski. Joey Logano, who led the most laps, took the lead from Martin Truex Jr. and pulled away from his third win of the season and winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship.


2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Results and standings, Drivers' Championship
(key) Bold – Pole position awarded by time. Italics – Pole position set by final practice results or owner's points. * – Most laps led. 1 – Stage 1 winner. 2 – Stage 2 winner. 3 – Stage 3 winner. 1–10 - Regular season top 10 finishers.


2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Results and standings, Drivers' Championship
. – Eliminated after Round of 16. – Eliminated after Round of 12. – Eliminated after Round of 8


2018 Montana Grizzlies football team
The 2018 Montana Grizzlies football team represented the University of Montana in the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Grizzlies were led by first-year coach Bobby Hauck, 8th overall as he previously was head coach from 2003–2009, and played their home games on campus at Washington–Grizzly Stadium in Missoula, Montana as a charter member of the Big Sky Conference. They finished the season 6–5, 4–4 in Big Sky play to finish in a tie for sixth place.


2018 Montana Grizzlies football team, Previous season
The Griz finished the 2017 season 7–4, 5–3 in Big Sky play to finish in a tie for sixth place.


2018 Montana Grizzlies football team, Previous season
On November 20, it was announced that head coach Bob Stitt's contract would not be renewed. He finished at Montana with a three-year record of 21–14.


2018 Montana Grizzlies football team, Preseason, Polls
On July 16, 2018 during the Big Sky Kickoff in Spokane, Washington, the Grizzlies were predicted to finish in seventh place in the coaches poll and fourth place in the media poll.


2018 Montana Grizzlies football team, Preseason, Preseason All-Conference Team
The Grizzlies had one player selected to the Preseason All-Conference Team.


2018 Montana Grizzlies football team, Preseason, Preseason All-Conference Team
Josh Buss – Sr. LB. Also selected as the preseason defensive player of the year.


2018 Montana House of Representatives election
The 2018 Montana House of Representatives election was held on November 6, 2018. All 100 seats were up, and, while Republicans retained a large majority, Democrats gained one seat.


2018 Montana State Bobcats football team
The 2018 Montana State Bobcats football team represented Montana State University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Bobcats were led by third-year head coach Jeff Choate and played their home games at Bobcat Stadium. They were a member of the Big Sky Conference. They finished the season 8–5, 5–3 in Big Sky play to finish in a tie for fourth place. They received an at-large bid to the FCS Playoffs where they defeated Incarnate Word in the first round before losing in the second round to North Dakota State.


2018 Montana State Bobcats football team, Previous season
The Bobcats finished the 2017 season 5–6, 5–3 in Big Sky play to finish in a tie for sixth place.


2018 Montana State Bobcats football team, Preseason, Polls
On July 16, 2018 during the Big Sky Kickoff in Spokane, Washington, the Bobcats were predicted to finish in eighth place in both the coaches and media poll.


2018 Montana State Bobcats football team, Preseason, Preseason All-Conference Team
The Bobcats had one player selected to the Preseason All-Conference Team.


2018 Montana wildfires
The 2018 wildfire season in Montana began around June, 2018.


2018 Montana wildfires
The Highway 37 Fire is a fire above Montana Highway 37 west of Libby, Montana at , near a Superfund site which is a former vermiculite mine. It was spotted on July 19. Firefighters needed to wear respirators to protect themselves from exposure to asbestos mixed with duff and bark by mining operations and mobilized by the fire.


2018 Montana wildfires
The Reynolds Lake Fire, caused by lightning on July 17, straddles the Bitterroot National Forest and Salmon-Challis National Forest southwest of Darby, Montana at . It reached over 1,000 acres (400 ha)  in extent by July 22.


2018 Monte Carlo Formula 2 round
The 2018 Monaco FIA Formula 2 round was a pair of motor races for Formula 2 cars that took place on 25 and 26 May 2018 at the Circuit de Monaco in Monte-Carlo, Monaco as part of the FIA Formula 2 Championship. It was the fourth round of the 2018 FIA Formula 2 Championship and ran in support of the 2018 Monaco Grand Prix.


2018 Monte Carlo Formula 2 round, Report, Qualifying
For qualifying, the field was split into two groups due to the short nature of the circuit.


2018 Monte Carlo Rally
The 2018 Monte Carlo Rally (formally known as the 86e Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo) was a motor racing event for rally cars that was held over four days between 25 and 28 January 2018. It marked the eighty-sixth running of the Monte Carlo Rally, and was the first round of the 2018 FIA World Rally Championship and its support categories, the WRC-2 and WRC-3 championships. The event, which was based in the town of Gap in the Hautes-Alpes department of France, was contested over seventeen special stages totalling a competitive distance of 394.74 km (245.28 mi).


2018 Monte Carlo Rally
Reigning World Drivers' and World Co-Drivers Champions Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia were the defending rally winners. Their team, M-Sport Ford WRT, were the defending manufacturers' winners. Ogier and Ingrassis successfully defended their title to take their sixth win on the event, becoming the second most-successful crew in the event's history. The Škoda Motorsport crew of Jan Kopecký and Pavel Dresler won the World Rally Championship-2 category in a Škoda Fabia R5, while Italian privateers Enrico Brazzoli and Luca Beltrame won the World Rally Championship-3.


2018 Monte Carlo Rally, Background, Entry list
The following crews were entered into the rally. The event was open to crews competing in the World Rally Championship, World Rally Championship-2, World Rally Championship-3 and the French national rally championship as well as privateer entries not registered to score points in any championship. The final entry list included twelve crews competing with World Rally Cars, six in the World Rally Championship-2 and four in the World Rally Championship-3.


2018 Monte Carlo Rally, Background, Route
The 2018 rally featured a heavily revised route from the 2017 event, with half the special stages being new additions. The 2018 rally included an additional 12.09 km (7.51 mi) of competitive kilometres compared to the route planned in 2017. It featured a mix of new and returning stages in addition to stages that were reconfigured from previous years. The service park was based in the town of Gap, which also featured parc fermé facilities. The itinerary also featured a short stage called "Gap" that allowed the teams to conduct a pre-event shakedown before the ceremonial start in Monaco.


2018 Monte Carlo Rally, Background, Route, Details
The first leg of the rally is the longest, with 213.21 km (132.48 mi) in competitive kilometres. The first two stages—including the famous stage between Sisteron and Thoard, which will be run in reverse as Thoard–Sisteron for the first time in the event's history—will be run on the night of 25 January before the crews return to the service park in Gap. The remaining six stages will be held on 26 January on roads to the west of Gap and features two passes over Vitrolles–Oze, which has featured on the route in previous years; and Roussieux–Eygalayes and Vaumeilh–Claret, both of which are new stages.


2018 Monte Carlo Rally, Background, Route, Details
The second leg is 117.55 km (73.04 mi) long and is primarily made up of stages east of the town. It features two passes over Agnières-en-Dévoluy–Corps and St.-Leger-les-Mélèzes–La-Bâtie-Neuve, both of which are heavily revised from pervious years. The second leg concludes with a pass over Bayons–Bréziers, which was previously run on the first night of competition. After completing service in Gap, the cars return to Monaco.


2018 Monte Carlo Rally, Background, Route, Details
The third and final leg is 63.98 km (39.76 mi) long and run on stages in the Alpes-Maritimes department close to the Italian border. The short Lucéram—Col St. Roch stage was replaced by a shortened version of La Bollène-Vésubie–Peïra Cava, which features the Col de Turini and was as the Power Stage in 2017. The new La Cabanette–Col de Braus stage, run as SS15 and again as SS17 will take its place as the Power Stage before the cars return to Monaco once more for the ceremonial finish.


2018 Monte Carlo Rally, Report, Pre-event
Jêromé Degout, who was due to compete as Bryan Bouffier's co-driver, was injured during shakedown. He was replaced by Xavier Panseri for the rally.


2018 Monte Carlo Rally, Report, Thursday
The opening leg of the rally started on the evening of 25 January and featured two stages: Thoard–Sisteron and the first pass over Bayons–Bréziers. Conditions proved to be difficult as the forecasted rain and snow did not materialise; however, there were icy conditions on the roads in the first few kilometres of Thoard–Sisteron. Several crews struggled, with Thierry Neuville and Nicolas Gilsoul losing four minutes after sliding into a ditch. Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja also spun, as did Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia; however, unlike Neuville and Gilsoul, both crews were able to recover quickly. Ogier and Ingrassia went on to win both stages to take the overnight lead ahead of Andreas Mikkelsen and Anders Jæger in second and Dani Sordo and Carlos del Barrio in third.


2018 Monte Carlo Rally, Report, Friday
Defending world champion Sébastien Ogier led the rally despite he had a spun today and lost about 40 seconds. Ott Tänak, who was first represent for Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT in 2018 World Rally Championship, was second, 14.9 seconds off the pace. Andreas Mikkelsen, second overnight, conceded the position after overshooting a junction in the opening stage before retiring on the following liaison section with a broken alternator in his Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC. Team-mate Dani Sordo fell back to third and ended 59.7 seconds behind Tänak. Esapekka Lappi and Jari-Matti Latvala were fourth and fifth respectively to complete an impressive showing by the Japanese manufacturer. Thierry Neuville, who dropped over four minutes yesterday after sliding into a snow bank, moved up to ninth and set himself the target of a top-six finish.


2018 Monte Carlo Rally, Report, Saturday
The Frenchman Sébastien Ogier had more than doubled that advantage to Ott Tänak come day's end, the figures do not paint the full picture of a see-saw scrap that at one point saw him more than a minute clear. Jari-Matti Latvala's cause was aided when his rival Dani Sordo crashed out of a podium position on Saturday's first stage. Esapekka Lappi in another Yaris as he moved up the order, with the younger Finn falling behind Britain's Kris Meeke when a mistake precipitated a puncture on SS11.


2018 Monte Carlo Rally, Report, Saturday
Elfyn Evans sits sixth overnight in his Ford Fiesta, with Hyundai's similarly delayed Thierry Neuville recovering to seventh courtesy of a brace of stage wins on SS12 and SS13. Bryan Bouffier has slipped to eighth in the classification ahead of Citroën's Craig Breen, who suffered for being the "road-sweeper" through the snow of SS9. WRC 2 pace-setter Jan Kopecky completes the overall top ten.


2018 Monte Carlo Rally, Report, Sunday
Five-time world champion Sébastien Ogier took the rally victory, recording their fifth win in the event. Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja finished second, with teammate Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila running out of the podium. The Power Stage this time was dominated by Kris Meeke, who salvaged some consolation for Citroën at the end of a troubled weekend with fourth overall – nearly three minutes behind Latvala – and five additional points. Hyundai star Thierry Neuville finished fifth and took four points from the power stage.


2018 Monte Carlo Rally, Report, Sunday
Elfyn Evans and Esapekka Lappi were sixth and seventh overall, 1.0 second and 3.7 seconds behind the Belgian respectively. Bryan Bouffier came home eighth – the Frenchman losing time in a snow bank on SS16 – with Craig Breen ninth in the second Citroën C3, the Irishman never recovering from a significant time loss as the "snow plow" on Saturday morning. WRC 2 winner Jan Kopecky completed the final top ten.


2018 Monte-Carlo Masters
The 2018 Monte-Carlo Masters (also known as the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters for sponsorship reasons) was a tennis tournament for male professional players that was played on outdoor clay courts. It was the 112th edition of the annual Monte Carlo Masters tournament, sponsored by Rolex for the tenth time. It took place at the Monte Carlo Country Club in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France (though billed as Monte Carlo, Monaco).


2018 Monte-Carlo Masters, Points
Because the Monte Carlo Masters is the non-mandatory Masters 1000 event, special rules regarding points distribution are in place. The Monte Carlo Masters counts as one of a player's 500 level tournaments, while distributing Masters 1000 points.


2018 Monte-Carlo Masters, Doubles main draw entrants, Other entrants
The following pairs received wildcards into the doubles main draw:


2018 Monte-Carlo Masters – Doubles
Rohan Bopanna and Pablo Cuevas were the defending champions, but chose not to participate together. Bopanna played alongside Édouard Roger-Vasselin, but lost in the semifinals to Oliver Marach and Mate Pavić. Cuevas teamed up with Marcel Granollers, but lost in the quarterfinals to Bob and Mike Bryan.


2018 Monte-Carlo Masters – Doubles
The Bryan brothers went on to win the title, beating Marach and Pavić in the final, 7–6(7–5), 6–3.


2018 Monte-Carlo Masters – Singles
Two-time defending champion Rafael Nadal successfully defended his title, defeating Kei Nishikori in the final, 6–3, 6–2, to win the Singles title at the 2018 Monte-Carlo Masters. It was his record-extending 11th Monte-Carlo Masters title and his record 31st ATP Masters title. By winning the title, Nadal also retained the ATP no. 1 singles ranking.


2018 Monte-Carlo Masters – Singles, Seeds
The top eight seeds receive a bye into the second round.


2018 Monte-Carlo Masters – Singles, Seeds
Click on the seed number of a player to go to their draw section.


2018 Montedio Yamagata season, Squad
As of 30 January 2018. Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2018 Montenegrin municipal elections
Local elections were held in Montenegro on 4 February 2018 for the municipalities of Berane and Ulcinj, and on 20 and 27 May in 11 municipalities, including the capital city Podgorica.


2018 Montenegrin presidential election
Presidential elections were held in Montenegro on 15 April 2018. Former Prime Minister Milo Đukanović, leader of the ruling DPS was elected as new President of Montenegro in the first round.


2018 Montenegrin presidential election, Electoral system
The president is elected using the two-round system; if no candidate receives a majority of the vote in the first round, a run-off is held two weeks later. In order to submit their candidacy to the State Electoral Commission, potential candidates needed to collect 7,993 signatures. President is elected every five years, and only is eligible for two terms.


2018 Montenegrin presidential election, Campaign
The incumbent president, Filip Vujanović, was ineligible for re-election, having already served two terms as President.


2018 Montenegrin presidential election, Campaign
President of the ruling DPS, Milo Đukanović, who was touted by the media as the election favourite, initially rejected the possibility of running for President.


2018 Montenegrin presidential election, Campaign
In March 2018, Đukanović confirmed that he would run for president, supported by DPS' coalition partner, the Liberal Party (LP), as well as other subjects in the government; Social Democrats (SD), Croatian Civic Initiative (HGI), the New Democratic Power (FORCA), Democratic Union of Albanians (DUA) and the Bosniak Party (BS).


2018 Montenegrin presidential election, Campaign
After a series of unsuccessful attempts by the entire opposition to nominate a common candidate, it was clear that the opposition would have more candidates. On 9 March 2018, the presidency of Democratic Front (DF) alliance decides to support the candidacy of independent candidate Mladen Bojanić, which was previously proposed by Democratic Montenegro (DCG) and United Reform Action (URA). Presidency of United Montenegro (UCG) has decided to support the previously-announced candidacy of the party leader Goran Danilović, later Presidency of Social Democratic Party (SDP) has consistently supported candidacy of MP Draginja Vuksanović, as first ever female presidential candidate.


2018 Montenegrin presidential election, Campaign
From the rest of the opposition have unsuccessfully called upon the UCG and the SDP to withdraw their candidacies and support independent Bojanić as an opposition common candidate, which they have refused. From SDP replied that Bojanić was not a completely independent candidate, alluding to his support for the right-wing Democratic Front list for the 2016 parliamentary election. On 21 March Danilović ultimately withdrew his candidacy and supported Bojanić's candidature.


2018 Montenegrin presidential election, Candidates
Montenegrin State Electoral Commission (DIK) confirmed seven candidates. Candidate numbers were decided using a random draw on 28 March.


2018 Montenegrin presidential election, Opinion polls
Poll results are listed in the table below in reverse chronological order, showing the most recent first, and using the date the survey's fieldwork was done, as opposed to the date of publication. If such date is unknown, the date of publication is given instead. The highest percentage figure in each polling survey is displayed in bold, and the background shaded in the leading party's colour. In the instance that there is a tie, then no figure is shaded. The lead column on the right shows the percentage-point difference between the two candidates with the highest figures.


2018 Montenegrin presidential election, Results
Milo Đukanović, candidate of the DPS-led coalition, won the election in the first round, winning 53.9% of the vote. Independent opposition candidate Mladen Bojanić came in second with 33.4% of the popular vote, while Draginja Vuksanović (SDP) was third with 8.2%.


2018 Montenegrin presidential election, Aftermath
In its June 2018 report, issued after the presidential election, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, called for election reforms in Montenegro, and for more integrity, impartiality and professionalism in election administration.


2018 Monterrey Challenger
The 2018 Monterrey Challenger was a professional tennis tournament played on hard courts. It was the ninth edition of the tournament which was part of the 2018 ATP Challenger Tour. It took place in Monterrey, Mexico from 1 to 7 October 2018.


2018 Monterrey Challenger, Singles main draw entrants, Other Entrants
The following players received wildcards into the singles main draw:


2018 Monterrey Challenger, Singles main draw entrants, Other Entrants
The following player received entry into the singles main draw using a protected ranking:


2018 Monterrey Challenger – Doubles
Christopher Eubanks and Evan King were the defending champions but only King chose to defend his title, partnering Nathan Pasha. King lost in the first round to Thanasi Kokkinakis and Matt Reid.


2018 Monterrey Challenger – Doubles
Marcelo Arévalo and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan won the title after defeating Leander Paes and Miguel Ángel Reyes-Varela 6–1, 6–4 in the final.


2018 Monterrey Challenger – Singles
Maximilian Marterer was the defending champion but chose not to defend his title.


2018 Monterrey Challenger – Singles
David Ferrer won the title after defeating Ivo Karlović 6–3, 6–4 in the final.


2018 Monterrey Open
The 2018 Monterrey Open (also known as the 2018 Abierto GNP Seguros for sponsorship reasons) was a women's tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It was the 10th edition of the Monterrey Open and an International tournament on the 2018 WTA Tour. It took place at the Club Sonoma in Monterrey, Mexico, from 2 to 8 April, 2018.


2018 Monterrey Open, Doubles main draw entrants, Other entrants
The following pairs received wildcards into the doubles main draw:


2018 Monterrey Open – Doubles
Nao Hibino and Alicja Rosolska were the defending champions, but Rosolska chose to compete in Charleston instead. Hibino played alongside Darija Jurak, but lost in the quarterfinals to Valeria Savinykh and Yana Sizikova.


2018 Monterrey Open – Doubles
Naomi Broady and Sara Sorribes Tormo won the title, defeating Desirae Krawczyk and Giuliana Olmos in the final, 3–6, 6–4, [10–8].


2018 Monterrey Open – Singles
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova was the defending champion, but withdrew before the tournament began.


2018 Monterrey Open – Singles
Garbiñe Muguruza won the title, defeating Tímea Babos in the final, 3–6, 6–4, 6–3.


2018 Montreal Alouettes season
The 2018 Montreal Alouettes season was the 52nd season for the team in the Canadian Football League and their 64th overall. The Alouettes improved upon their disappointing 3–15 record from 2017, but still failed to qualify for the playoffs for the fourth straight season, finishing with a 5–13 record.


2018 Montreal Alouettes season
This was the first season under former NFL head coach Mike Sherman and the second season under general manager Kavis Reed. The Alouettes hosted their training camp for the first time at Olympic Stadium with rookies reporting on May 16 and main camp beginning on May 20.


2018 Montreal Alouettes season, Offseason, CFL Draft
The 2018 CFL Draft took place on May 3, 2018. The Alouettes held the first overall draft pick by virtue of finishing in last place in 2017, but traded it to Hamilton in exchange for the second overall pick and several other picks and players. The Alouettes held ten selections in total, after acquiring another fourth-round pick for Andrew Lue and another sixth-round pick for S. J. Green. The Alouettes traded their second-round pick to Saskatchewan for Darian Durant. They also upgraded their fifth-round pick to a third-round pick in the Vernon Adams trade for Tevaughn Campbell.


2018 Montreal Alouettes season, Regular season
In recognition of the Alouettes' storied history, the team featured a different helmet logo, drawn in red and white only, for each of the first three months of the season. Helmets worn in June featured the team logo from 1949 to 1969, July featured the team logo from 1970 to 1973 and August featured the team logo from 1974 to 1986. Helmets worn from Week 14 to the end of the season had the team's then-current logo, from 1996 to 2018.


2018 Montreal Alouettes season, Team, Roster
Italics indicate International players updated 2018-11-03 • 46 Roster, 1 one-game injured,13 six-game injured, 4 practice roster,0 suspended


2018 Montreal Impact season
The 2018 Montreal Impact season is the club's 25th season of existence, and their seventh in Major League Soccer, the top tier of the Canadian soccer pyramid.


2018 Montreal Impact season, Current squad, International roster slots
Montreal has Nine MLS International Roster Slots for use in the 2018 season. They have the eight allotted from the league and three from trades with Orlando City SC, Portland Timbers and San Jose Earthquakes.


2018 Montreal Impact season, Player Movement, In
Per Major League Soccer and club policies terms of the deals do not get disclosed.


2018 Montreal Impact season, International caps
Players called for senior international duty during the 2018 season while under contract with the Montreal Impact.


2018 Montreal Impact season, Major League Soccer, Results summary
Last updated: October 29, 2018Source: 2018 Major League Soccer seasonPld = Matches played; Pts = Points; W = Matches won;  D = Matches drawn;  L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference


2018 Montreal Impact season, Statistics, Top scorers
Updated to match played October 21, 2018Source: Italic: denotes player left the club during the season.


2018 Montreal Impact season, Statistics, Top Assists
Updated to match played October 21, 2018Source: Italic: denotes player left the club during the season.


2018 Montreal Impact season, Statistics, Goals Against Average
Updated to match played October 29, 2018Source: Italic: denotes player left the club during the season.


2018 Montreal Impact season, Statistics, Top minutes played
Updated to match played October 29, 2018Source: Italic: denotes player left the club during the season.


2018 Montreux Ladies Open
The 2018 Montreux Ladies Open was a professional tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It was the second edition of the tournament and was part of the 2018 ITF Women's Circuit. It took place in Montreux, Switzerland, on 3–9 September 2018.


2018 Montreux Ladies Open, Singles main draw entrants, Other entrants
The following players received a wildcard into the singles main draw:


2018 Montreux Ladies Open – Doubles
Xenia Knoll and Amra Sadiković were the defending champions, but both players chose not to participate.


2018 Montreux Ladies Open – Doubles
Andreea Mitu and Elena-Gabriela Ruse won the title, defeating Laura Pigossi and Maryna Zanevska in the final, 4–6, 6–3, [10–4].


2018 Montreux Ladies Open – Singles
María Teresa Torró Flor was the defending champion, but chose not to participate.


2018 Montreux Ladies Open – Singles
Iga Świątek won the title, defeating Kimberley Zimmermann in the final, 6–2, 6–2.


2018 Montreux Volley Masters
The 2018 Montreux Volley Masters is the 33rd edition of the women's volleyball competition set in Montreux, Switzerland.


2018 Montreux Volley Masters, Group stage
The first 2 teams of each group qualify for the final round.


2018 Montreux Volley Masters squads
This article shows the rosters of all participating teams at the 2018 Montreux Volley Masters in Switzerland.


2018 Monza Formula 2 round
The 2018 Monza FIA Formula 2 round was a pair of motor races held on 1 and 2 September 2018 at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza in Monza, Italy as part of the FIA Formula 2 Championship. It was the tenth round of the 2018 FIA Formula 2 Championship and was run in support of the 2018 Italian Grand Prix.


2018 Morehead State Eagles football team
The 2018 Morehead State Eagles football team represented Morehead State University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by sixth-year head coach Rob Tenyer and played their home games at Jayne Stadium. They were members of the Pioneer Football League. They finished the season 3–8, 2–6 in PFL play to finish in a three-way tie for seventh place.


2018 Morehead State Eagles football team, Previous season
The Eagles finished the 2017 season 4–7, 3–5 in PFL play to finish in a tie for eighth place.


2018 Morehead State Eagles football team, Preseason, Preseason All-PFL team
The PFL released their preseason all-PFL team on July 30, 2018, with the Eagles having one player selected.


2018 Morehead State Eagles football team, Preseason, Preseason coaches poll
The PFL released their preseason coaches poll on July 31, 2018, with the Eagles predicted to finish in eighth place.


2018 Morelos Open
The 2018 Morelos Open was a professional tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It was the fifth edition of the tournament which was part of the 2018 ATP Challenger Tour. It took place in Cuernavaca, Mexico between 19–24 February 2018.


2018 Morelos Open, Singles main draw entrants, Other entrants
The following players received wildcards into the singles main draw:


2018 Morelos Open – Doubles
Austin Krajicek and Jackson Withrow were the defending champions but only Krajicek chose to defend his title, partnering Matt Reid. Krajicek withdrew before the tournament began due to injury.


2018 Morelos Open – Doubles
Roberto Maytín and Fernando Romboli won the title after defeating Evan King and Nathan Pasha 7–5, 6–3 in the final.


2018 Morelos Open – Singles
Alexander Bublik was the defending champion but chose not to defend his title.


2018 Morelos Open – Singles
Dennis Novikov won the title after defeating Christian Garín 6–4, 6–3 in the final.


2018 Morgan State Bears football team
The 2018 Morgan State Bears football team represented Morgan State University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by first-year interim head coach Ernest T. Jones. The Bears played their home games at Hughes Stadium. They were a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). They finished the season 4–7, 3–4 in MEAC play to finish in a tie for sixth place.


2018 Morgan State Bears football team, Previous season
The Bears finished the 2017 season 1–10, 1–7 in MEAC play to finish in last place.


2018 Morgan State Bears football team, Previous season
On December 18, 2017 Fred Farrier was dismissed and released from his contract. He finished at Morgan State with a record of 4–18.


2018 Morgan State Bears football team, Preseason, MEAC preseason poll
In a vote of the MEAC head coaches and sports information directors, the Bears were picked to finish in ninth place.


2018 Morgan State Bears football team, Preseason, Preseason All-MEAC Teams
The Bears had seven players selected to the preseason all-MEAC teams.


2018 Morgan State Bears football team, Schedule
Despite also being a member of the MEAC, the game vs North Carolina A&T will be considered a non conference game and will not effect the MEAC standings.


2018 Morningside Ward by-election
A by-election for the Brisbane City Council ward of Morningside was held on 20 January 2018, triggered by the resignation of incumbent Labor councillor, Shayne Sutton.


2018 Morningside Ward by-election, Background
Shayne Sutton announced her intention to retire as the Councillor for Morningside Ward on Monday 23 October 2017, saying she would stay on "until the state election", assuming the election would be at the start of 2018 and that the by-election could coincide, however, just six days later, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk called the election for 25 November 2017


2018 Morningside Ward by-election, Background
The Electoral Commission of Queensland announced on 2 November 2017, that the By-Election would take place on 20 January 2018.


2018 Moroccan Throne Cup
The 2018 Moroccan Throne Cup will be the 62nd staging of the Moroccan Throne Cup, the knockout football tournament in Morocco. The winners will be assured a place for the 2018–19 CAF Confederation Cup.


2018 Moroccan Throne Cup
The 2018 Moroccan Throne Cup Final played at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, on 18 November 2018. Nahdat Berkane winning their 1st title.


2018 Moroccan Throne Cup, Final phase, Qualified teams
The following teams competed in the 2018 Coupe du Trône.


2018 Moroccan Throne Cup, Round of 16
Qualified teamsThe following teams competed in the 2018 Coupe du Trône, Round of 16:10 teams of 2017–18 Botola


2018 Mosconi Cup
The 2018 Mosconi Cup, (also known as Mosconi Cup XXV) was the 25th edition of the annual nine-ball pool competition between teams representing Europe and the United States. It took place between 4–7 December 2018 at the Alexandra Palace in London, England and was sponsored by partypoker.


2018 Mosconi Cup
The reigning champions were team Europe, who had won the last eight cups, including the 2017 Mosconi Cup 11–4. The event was played with teams of 5, decided by captains, and also performances in the tour. The team's non-playing captains were the same as the previous year: Marcus Chamat for Europe and Johan Ruijsink for the United States. Ruijsink, who had won the Cup as captain with team Europe seven times, was assisted by vice captain Jeremy Jones.


2018 Mosconi Cup
The United States won the Mosconi Cup for the first time since 2009, defeating Europe 11–9, ending an 8-year losing streak for the USA.


2018 Mosconi Cup, Teams
The European qualification process saw players play to be picked in the top three places in the European rankings. This initially resulted in the selection of Eklent Kaçi, Mario He and Niels Feijen to Team Europe, who were subsequently joined by the wildcard picks of Albin Ouschan and Jayson Shaw. However, a statement released on 21 November 2018 announced that Mario He had stepped down from the side following a failed drugs test and would be replaced by the next highest-ranked player on the Euro Tour, Alexander Kazakis.


2018 Moscow Oblast gubernatorial election
The 2018 Moscow Oblast gubernatorial election was held on 9 September 2018, on common election day. To be elected, a candidate must get more than 50% of votes. If no one had achieved 50%, a runoff would've been held 14 days later. Only the two most successful candidates from the first round would've been able to participate in the second round.


2018 Moscow Oblast gubernatorial election
Andrey Vorobyov, the incumbent governor, was re-elected for a new term.


2018 Moscow River Cup
The 2018 Moscow River Cup was a women's tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It was the first edition of the event and part of the WTA International tournaments of the 2018 WTA Tour. It took place at the National Tennis Center in Moscow, Russia from 23 through 29 July 2018.


2018 Moscow River Cup, Singles main draw entrants, Other entrants
The following players received wildcards into the singles main draw:


2018 Moscow River Cup, Singles main draw entrants, Other entrants
The following players received entry using a protected ranking into the singles main draw:


2018 Moscow River Cup, Doubles main draw entrants, Other entrants
The following pairs received wildcards into the doubles main draw:


2018 Moscow River Cup – Doubles
This was the first edition of the tournament. Anastasia Potapova and Vera Zvonareva won the title, defeating Alexandra Panova and Galina Voskoboeva in the final, 6–0, 6–3.


2018 Moscow River Cup – Singles
Olga Danilović won her first WTA Tour title, defeating Anastasia Potapova in the final, 7–5, 6–7(1–7), 6–4. Danilović became the first player born after 2000 to win a WTA singles title, and the first lucky loser to win a singles title since Andrea Jaeger in 1980. This was the first WTA Tour final between two players under 18 since Tatiana Golovin and Nicole Vaidišová played in the final of the 2005 AIG Japan Open Tennis Championships.


2018 Moscow Victory Day Parade
The 2018 Moscow Victory Day Parade was a military parade that took place in Red Square in Moscow on 9 May 2018 to commemorate the 73rd anniversary of the capitulation of Nazi Germany in 1945. The annual parade marks the Allied victory in World War II on the Eastern Front, on the same day as the signing of the German act of capitulation to the Allies in Berlin, at midnight of 9 May 1945 (Russian time). President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin delivered his fifteenth holiday address to the nation after the parade inspection presided over by Minister of Defense General of the Army Sergey Shoygu.


2018 Moscow Victory Day Parade, Significance and events
This year's parade also marked the centennial year since the 1918 foundation of the Red Army. This year for the first time, in the Victory Day parade in Moscow, it was planned that armored vehicles from the Red Army during the Russian Civil War would be to take part in the parade mobile column, the planned appearance was called off, and the 154th Preobrazhensky Independent Commandant's Regiment's 1st Honor Guard Company took part in the exhibition drill segment of the parade together with a drumline from the Moscow Military Music College, the first time it had been done since the parade of  2007 and a recent tradition which began in the 2001 parade.


2018 Moscow Victory Day Parade, Significance and events
Originally, for the first time since 2002, cadets from the Civil Defense Academy of the Ministry of Emergency Situations were not to take part in the Victory Day parade in Moscow, while EMERCOM detachments  continued to march past in other major parades nationwide, however, the decision was rescinded. New military vehicles in the parade include the BMPT Terminator A pair of Russia's 5th-generation Su-57 fighter jets flew for the first time over Red Square, together with two MiG-31s armed with Kinzhal air-to-surface missiles.


2018 Moscow Victory Day Parade, Significance and events
For the third consecutive year, the parade included a composite ceremonial female battalion from the Military University of the Ministry of Defense, the Military Academy of Material and Technical Support, and the Military Space Academy. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić were both present during the parade as the main foreign guests.


2018 Moscow Victory Day Parade, Preparatory activities
Beginning in December 2017, preparations for the parade were well attended at the unit level. Individual unit practices were held in the various military installations for all the participating units in the national and local parades. Unit practices within Moscow Oblast itself started in early March in the Alabino field and other locations before the full-blown parade practice run-throughs for all the participating units will commence later in the month.


2018 Moscow Victory Day Parade, Preparatory activities
All parade practice runs began on 24 March 2018 in the Alabino training range with the first practice run through for the ground column, kicking off the 2-month long national preparations for the 73rd Victory Day, and will last even until the middle of April when the runs on Red Square for the national parade itself will start, ending with a final general combined practice run of the parade in early May in the morning.


2018 Moscow Victory Day Parade, Preparatory activities
From the 1st week up to the 3rd week of April, the Alabino military training center serves as the parade training ground for the estimated 14,000 military personnel in attendance for the Moscow parade, plus more than 135 vehicles and 78 aircraft. The air flypast column began their training flights on 9 April 2018.


2018 Moscow Victory Day Parade, Full order of the 2018 parade
Bold indicates first appearance, italic indicates multiple appearances, Bold and italic indicate returning appearance, all indicated unless otherwise noted.


2018 Moscow Victory Day Parade, Other parades
As per tradition, 27 other Russian major cities (Sevastopol and Kerch in Crimea) held their commemorative parades on that day (some of them including flypasts), and joint civil-military parades are to be hosted by 50 other towns and cities nationwide. Similar celebrations were held in almost all the former republics of the Soviet Union.


2018 Moscow Victory Day Parade, Gallery
Vladimir Putin with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.


2018 Moscow Victory Day Parade, Gallery
6 Sukhoi Su-25s displaying color smoke of the Russian Flag


2018 Moscow Victory Day Parade, Gallery
Troops of the 154th Independent Commandants Regiment during the parade.


2018 Moscow Victory Day Parade, Gallery
Cadets of the Civil Defense Academy of the Ministry of Emergency Situations.


2018 Moscow mayoral election
The  2018 Moscow mayoral election was held on 9 September 2018, on common election day. To be elected, a candidate must get more than 50% of votes. If no one achieves 50%, a runoff will be held 14 days later. Only the two most successful candidates from the first round participate in the second round.


2018 Moscow mayoral election
Sergey Sobyanin, the incumbent Mayor of Moscow, was re-elected for a new term.


2018 Moscow mayoral election, Candidates, Nomination and registration of candidates
Candidates can be nominated both by political parties and as self-nomination.


2018 Moscow mayoral election, Candidates, Nomination and registration of candidates
In any case, candidates must pass the "municipal filter" (collection of signatures of municipal deputies). According to the decision of Moscow City Election Commission from 4 June 2018, the number of signatures of municipal deputies in support of a candidate must be in the range of from 110 to 115.


2018 Moscow mayoral election, Candidates, Nomination and registration of candidates
Candidates nominated by the self-nomination procedure, in addition to the signatures of municipal deputies, it is also necessary to collect signatures of voters. The number of signatures of voters should be in the range from 36,081 to 39,689.


2018 Moscow mayoral election, Candidates, Registered candidate
Initially, four candidates were registered to participate in the election, but on 23 July, the Moscow City Court ordered the City Election Commission to register one more candidate. Thus, five candidates were registered to participate in the election.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism
Autocephaly recognized universally de facto,  by some Autocephalous Churches de jure:


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism
A schism between the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC, also known as the Moscow Patriarchate) and the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople began on 15 October 2018 when the former unilaterally severed full communion with the latter.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism
The resolution was taken in response to a decision of the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople of 11 October 2018, confirming its intentions to grant autocephaly (independence) to the Eastern Orthodox church in Ukraine in the future.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism
The decision also stated that the Holy Synod would immediately: reestablish a stauropegion in Kyiv, i.e. a church body subordinated directly to the ecumenical patriarch; revoke the "Letter of issue" (permission) of 1686 that had given permission to the patriarch of Moscow to ordain the metropolitan of Kyiv; and lift the excommunications which affected the clergy and faithfuls of two unrecognized Ukrainian Eastern Orthodox churches. Those two unrecognized churches, the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (UAOC) and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate (UOC-KP), were competing with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) (UOC-MP) and were considered "schismatics" (illegally segregated groups) by the Patriarchate of Moscow, as well as by the other Eastern Orthodox churches.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism
In its decision of 15 October 2018, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church barred all members of the Moscow Patriarchate (both clergy and laity) from taking part in communion, baptism, and marriage at any church controlled by the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Before that, in response to the appointment of two exarchs of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Ukraine, the Holy Synod of the Moscow Patriarchate had decided, on 14 September 2018, to break off participation in any episcopal assemblies, theological discussions, multilateral commissions, and any other structures that are chaired or co-chaired by representatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism
The schism forms part of a wider political conflict involving Russia's 2014 annexation of the Crimea and its military intervention in Ukraine, as well as Ukraine's desire to join the European Union and NATO. This schism is reminiscent of the Moscow–Constantinople schism of 1996 over canonical jurisdiction over Estonia, which was however resolved after less than three months.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism
On 21 October 2019, Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens, the primate of the Church of Greece, sent a peaceful letter to Epiphanius, the primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU, that was formed by the unification of the UOC-KP, UAOC, and parts of the UOC-MP on 15 December 2018). This decision was supported by the whole hierarchy (bishops) of the Church of Greece, minus seven metropolitans. This decision meant that the Church of Greece recognized the OCU.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism
The ROC had announced previously it would break communion with any hierarch of the Church of Greece who enters in communion with any hierarch of the OCU. On Sunday, 3 November 2019, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow did not mention the primate of the Church of Greece in the liturgy, removing him from the diptych. On 26 December, the ROC broke eucharistic communion with the Greek Orthodox patriarch of Alexandria, Theodore II and ceased commemorating him, because he had recognized the OCU the month before. On 20 November 2020, the Holy Synod of the ROC declared that Patriarch Kirill can no longer commemorate Archbishop Chrysostomos II of Cyprus as a result of Chrysostomos' commemoration of Epiphanius on 24 October 2020.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Background, History of Eastern Orthodoxy in Ukraine
After the baptism of Rus' these lands were under the control of the metropolitan of Kyiv. Among the 24 metropolitans who held the throne before the Mongol invasion, only two were of local origin and the rest were Greek. Usually, they were appointed by Constantinople and were not chosen by the bishops of their dioceses, as it should be done according to the canon. After the Mongol invasion, the southern part of Rus' was heavily devastated and the disintegration of Kyivan Rus' accelerated.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Background, History of Eastern Orthodoxy in Ukraine
Metropolitan Kirill III, who occupied the throne for 30 years, spent almost all of his time in the lands of Vladimir-Suzdal Rus' and visited Kyiv only twice, although earlier he had come from Galicia and had been nominated for the post of metropolitan by Prince Daniel of Galicia. After the new Mongol raid in 1299, Metropolitan Maksim finally moved to Vladimir in the north, and did not even leave a bishop behind.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Background, History of Eastern Orthodoxy in Ukraine
In 1303 a new cathedra was created for south-west Rus' in Galicia and the new Metropolitan was consecrated by Constantinople, but its existence ended in 1355 after the Galicia–Volhynia Wars. In 1325, Metropolitan Peter moved to Moscow, thus greatly contributing to the rise of the Grand Duchy of Moscow, which gradually conquered other Russian principalities in the northeast of the former Kyivan Rus'. Another part of Kyivan Rus' gradually came under the rule of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of Poland, which entered into rivalry with Moscow.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Background, History of Eastern Orthodoxy in Ukraine
In particular, the Grand Dukes of Lithuania sought from Constantinople a separate metropolitan for the Orthodox who lived in their lands. Although the metropolitan in Moscow continued to retain the title of "metropolitan of Kyiv and All Rus'", he could not rule the Orthodox outside the borders of the Grand Duchy of Moscow. Constantinople twice agreed to create a separate metropolitan for Lithuania, but these decisions were not permanent, Constantinople being inclined to maintain a single church government on the lands of the former Kyivan Rus'.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Background, History of Eastern Orthodoxy in Ukraine
In 1439, Constantinople entered into union with the Roman Catholic Church. In Moscow, this decision was rejected outright, and Metropolitan Isidor, consecrated by Constantinople, was accused in heresy, imprisoned, and later expelled. In 1448, the council of north-eastern Russian clergy in Moscow, at the behest of Prince Vasily II of Moscow, elected Jonah the metropolitan of Kyiv and all Rus' without the consent of the patriarch of Constantinople. In 1469 Patriarch Dionysius I stated that Constantinople would not recognize any metropolitan ordained without its blessing.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Background, History of Eastern Orthodoxy in Ukraine
Meanwhile, the metropolis of Kyiv (de facto in Novogrudok) stayed under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. Moscow's de facto independence from Constantinople remained unrecognized until 1589 when Patriarch Jeremias II of Constantinople approved the creation of a new, fifth Orthodox Patriarchate in Moscow. This decision was finally confirmed by the four older patriarchs in 1593.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Background, History of Eastern Orthodoxy in Ukraine
The Patriarch of Moscow became the head of "all Russia and Northern countries", and Chernihiv (now in Ukraine) was one of his dioceses. However, he had no power among the Orthodox bishops of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, who remained under the rule of Constantinople. At the same time, the Orthodox hierarchs of those lands were inclined to the Union with Rome, despite the resistance of their parishes, who formed the Orthodox brotherhoods (or fraternities) to keep their identity.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Background, History of Eastern Orthodoxy in Ukraine
On the way from Moscow, Jeremiah II visited the lands of present-day Ukraine and committed an unprecedented act, granting Stauropegia (direct subordination to the Patriarch) to many Orthodox brotherhoods. This provoked the anger of the local bishops and soon the Union of Brest was proclaimed, which was supported by the majority of the Orthodox bishops of the Commonwealth, including Metropolitan Michail Rogoza. Officially, the Orthodox (but not the Eastern Catholic) Metropolis of Kyiv in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was eliminated and re-established only in 1620, in subsequent co-existence with Uniate Metropolis. That led to sharp conflict and numerous revolts culminating in the Khmelnytsky uprising.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Background, History of Eastern Orthodoxy in Ukraine
In 1654, Russia entered the war with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth; it quickly occupied, for a while, the lands of present Belarus, and gained some power over the Hetmanate pursuant to the Pereyaslav Agreement (1654). The official title of Patriarch Nikon of Moscow was "Patriarch of Moscow and all Greater, Lesser, and White Russia". However, the Metropolitan of Kyiv Sylvester Kossov had managed to defend his independence from the Moscow Patriarchate. The Moscow government, which needed the support of the Orthodox clergy, postponed the resolution of this issue.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Background, History of Eastern Orthodoxy in Ukraine
In 1686, Ecumenical Patriarch Dionysius IV approved the new metropolitan of Kyiv, Gedeon Chetvertinsky, who would be ordained by the Moscow Patriarchate and thus transferred, albeit with certain qualifications, a part of the Kyiv ecclesiastical province to the jurisdiction of Patriarchate of Moscow (the Russian Orthodox Church).


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Background, History of Eastern Orthodoxy in Ukraine
In the 1924 Tomos (decree) of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, which granted independence to the Polish Orthodox Church, the previous transfer of the Kyivan Church to the jurisdiction of Moscow (in 1685–1686) was declared uncanonical. In addition, the decree pointed out that the conditions of the synodal "Act" of 1686 – which specified that the Russian Orthodox Church was only to consecrate the metropolitan of Kyiv – were never adhered to by the Patriarchate of Moscow.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Background, Post-Cold War, claims of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and Russkiy mir
The historical rivalry between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Russian Orthodox Church intensified after the Cold War. Indeed, after the Cold War, Moscow and Constantinople both emerged as "two centers of Orthodox power".


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Background, Post-Cold War, claims of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and Russkiy mir, Claims of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
1. The [Ecumenical] Patriarch had the right to establish a court of final appeal for any case from anywhere in the Orthodox world.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Background, Post-Cold War, claims of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and Russkiy mir, Claims of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
2. The [Ecumenical] Patriarch had the exclusive right to summon the other Patriarchs and heads of Autocephalous Churches to a joint meeting of all of them.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Background, Post-Cold War, claims of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and Russkiy mir, Claims of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
3. The [Ecumenical] Patriarch has jurisdiction, ecclesiastical authority over Orthodox Christians who are outside the territory of the local Orthodox Churches, the so-called diaspora.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Background, Post-Cold War, claims of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and Russkiy mir, Claims of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
4. No new "Autocephalous" Church can come into being without the consent of the Patriarch of Constantinople; this consent should express the consensus of the local Orthodox Churches.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Background, Post-Cold War, claims of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and Russkiy mir, Russkiy mir
Russkiy mir (literally "Russian world") is an ideology promoted by many in the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church. "This ideology, concocted as a reaction to the loss of Russian control over Ukraine and Belarus after the fall of the Soviet Union, seeks to assert a spiritual and cultural unity of the peoples descended from the Kyivan Rus, presumably under Russian leadership." Patriarch Kiril of Moscow also shares this ideology; for the Russian Orthodox Church, the russkiy mir is also "a spiritual concept, a reminder that through the baptism of Rus, God consecrated these people to the task of building a Holy Rus."


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Background, Post-Cold War, claims of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and Russkiy mir, Russkiy mir
On 31 January 2019, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow declared concerning the religious relationship between the Russian Orthodox Church and Ukraine: "Ukraine is not on the periphery of our church. We call Kyiv 'the mother of all Russian cities.' For us Kyiv is what Jerusalem is for many. Russian Orthodoxy began there, so under no circumstances can we abandon this historical and spiritual relationship. The whole unity of our Local Church is based on these spiritual ties."


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Background, 1996 schism over Estonia
The Moscow–Constantinople schism of 1996 began on 23 February 1996, when the Russian Orthodox Church severed full communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, and ended on 16 May 1996 when the Russian Orthodox Church and the Ecumenical Patriarchate reached an agreement establishing parallel jurisdictions. The excommunication was in response to the Ecumenical Patriarchate's decision on 20 February 1996 to reestablish an autonomous Orthodox church in Estonia under the Ecumenical Patriarchate's jurisdiction.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Background, 1996 schism over Estonia
The 1996 schism has similarities with the schism of October 2018: both schisms were caused by a dispute between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Ecumenical Patriarchate concerning the canonical jurisdiction over a territory in Eastern Europe over which the Russian Orthodox Church claimed to have the exclusive canonical jurisdiction, such territory being a part of the former Soviet Union, which upon its collapse had become an independent state (Ukraine in 2018, Estonia in 1996). The break of communion in 1996 was made by Moscow unilaterally, as in 2018.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, September 2018: Russian Orthodox synod's "retaliatory measures" and the aftermath
On 14 September 2018, in response to the appointment of two exarchs (deputies of the Ecumenical Patriarch) in Ukraine, Daniel (Zelinsky) and Hilarion (Rudnyk), and in response to the Ecumenical Patriarchate's plans to grant autocephalous status to the Eastern Orthodox church in Ukraine, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church held an extraordinary session to take "retaliatory measures" and decided:


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, September 2018: Russian Orthodox synod's "retaliatory measures" and the aftermath
A statement was released the same day explaining the situation and the sanctions taken to protest against the Ecumenical Patriarch's behavior.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, September 2018: Russian Orthodox synod's "retaliatory measures" and the aftermath
On the same day, Metropolitan Hilarion clarified the situation in an interview, stating that this decision is not a rupture of Eucharistic communion and does not concern the laity, but nonetheless added:


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, September 2018: Russian Orthodox synod's "retaliatory measures" and the aftermath
But we refuse to concelebrate with hierarchs of the Patriarchate of Constantinople since every time they mention the name of their Patriarch during the liturgy while we have suspended it. [ ...]


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, September 2018: Russian Orthodox synod's "retaliatory measures" and the aftermath
We do not think, of course, that all this will finally shut the door for dialogue, but our today's decision is a signal to the Patriarchate of Constantinople that if the actions of this kind continue, we will have to break the Eucharistic communion entirely. [ ...]


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, September 2018: Russian Orthodox synod's "retaliatory measures" and the aftermath
[ A]fter the breaking-off of the Eucharistic communion, at least a half of this 300-million-strong population will no longer recognize him as even the first among equals.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, September 2018: Russian Orthodox synod's "retaliatory measures" and the aftermath
On 23 September 2018 Patriarch Bartholomew, during a Divine Liturgy he was celebrating in the Saint Fokas Orthodox church declared that he "had sent a message that Ukraine would receive autocephaly as soon as possible, since it is entitled to it"


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, September 2018: Russian Orthodox synod's "retaliatory measures" and the aftermath
On 30 September 2018, in an interview to Izvestia Daily published on the official website of the Moscow Patriarchate's Department for External Church Relations, Metropolitan Hilarion commented: "The Russian Church does not need to fear isolation. If Constantinople continues its anti-canonical actions, it will place itself outside the canonical space, outside the understanding of church order that distinguishes the Orthodox Church."


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, September 2018: Russian Orthodox synod's "retaliatory measures" and the aftermath
On 2 October 2018, Patriarch Kirill of the ROC sent a letter to all the autocephalous Orthodox churches to ask them to hold a "Pan-Orthodox discussion" concerning the question of Ukraine's autocephaly.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, September 2018: Russian Orthodox synod's "retaliatory measures" and the aftermath
On 5 October 2018, the Metropolitan Pavel, head of the Belarusian Orthodox Church (exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church), announced there would be a meeting of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church on 15 October in Minsk. He said that "The situation with the Orthodox Church in Ukraine will be on the agenda of the meeting". This meeting had been announced previously on 7 January 2018 and was at the time "most likely to take place in mid October."


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, September 2018: Russian Orthodox synod's "retaliatory measures" and the aftermath
On 9 October 2018, Metropolitan Hilarion, chairman of the Department of External Church Relations of the Russian Orthodox Church warned that "if the project for Ukrainian autocephaly is carried through, it will mean a tragic and possibly irretrievable schism of the whole Orthodoxy." He added that


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, September 2018: Russian Orthodox synod's "retaliatory measures" and the aftermath
ignoring sacred canons shakes up the whole system of the church organism. Schismatics in other Local Churches are well aware that if autocephaly is given to the Ukrainian schismatics, it will be possible to repeat the same scenario anywhere. That is why we state that autocephaly in Ukraine will not be "the healing of the schism" but its legalization and encouragement.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Autocephaly of the Eastern Orthodox church in Ukraine
On 11 October 2018 the synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate announced that it would grant autocephaly to the "Church of Ukraine" in the future. In the same decision the Holy synod announced that it will immediately: reestablish a stauropegion (church body ruled directly by the Ecumenical Patriarch) in Kyiv, revoke the legal binding of the letter of 1686, and lift the excommunications which affected clergy and faithful of two Ukrainian Orthodox churches (the UOC-KP and the UAOC).


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Autocephaly of the Eastern Orthodox church in Ukraine
Those two churches, the UOC-KP and the UAOC, were competing with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) (UOC-MP) and were considered "schismatics" (illegally segregated groups) by the Patriarchate of Moscow, as well as by the other Orthodox churches. This decision led the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church to break full communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate on 15 October 2018, which marked the beginning of the 2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism. Support for the grant of autocephaly had been expressed by the Ukrainian President and the Verkhovna Rada in June 2018, and before that by the Rada in June 2016.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Autocephaly of the Eastern Orthodox church in Ukraine
On 15 December 2018, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) was formed after a unification council between the UAOC, the UOC-KP, and two bishops of the UOC-MP; Epiphanius was elected primate of the OCU during this unification council. Most of the hierarchs of the UOC-MP ignored the council and over half of them had sent invites back to the Ecumenical Patriarch.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Autocephaly of the Eastern Orthodox church in Ukraine
On 5 January 2019, Bartholomew I, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, signed the official decree (tomos) that granted autocephaly (independence) to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and officially established the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. On 6 January, after a Liturgy celebrated by Metropolitan Epiphanius and Patriarch Bartholomew, Partriarch Bartholomew read the tomos of the OCU and then gave it to Metropolitan Epiphanius. On 8 January 2019, the tomos was brought back to Istanbul so that all the members of the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate could sign the tomos. The tomos was signed by all members of the Holy synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate on 9 January 2019. The tomos, signed by all members of the Holy synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, was brought back to Ukraine on the morning of 10 January 2019.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Autocephaly of the Eastern Orthodox church in Ukraine
Right after the granting of the tomos of autocephaly to the OCU (6 January 2019), a leadership conflict arose within the OCU.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Break of communions with the other Autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Churches by the Russian Orthodox Church, Break of communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate
On 15 October 2018, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, meeting in Minsk, decided to cut all ties with the Constantinople Patriarchate. This decision forbade for any member of the ROC (both clergy and laity) joint participation in all sacraments, including communion, baptism, and marriage, at any church worldwide controlled by Constantinople. At the time of the schism, the Russian Orthodox Church had over 150 million followers, more than half of all Eastern Orthodox Christians.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Break of communions with the other Autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Churches by the Russian Orthodox Church, Break of communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate
The same day, after the synod, a briefing for journalists was given by Metropolitan Hilarion, chairman of the Department of External Church Relations of the Russian Orthodox Church, in which he declared that "the decision on complete cessation of the Eucharistic communion with the Patriarchate of Constantinople was taken today." On 18 October 2018, the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia has expressed "complete support of the position taken by the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Moscow, following its meeting of 15th October 2018" and severed Eucharistic communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Break of communions with the other Autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Churches by the Russian Orthodox Church, Break of communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate
The break of communion was done in response to a decision of the Holy synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate on 11 October 2018 which confirmed the intention of moving towards granting autocephaly (independence) to the Eastern Orthodox Church in Ukraine, and to immediately: reestablish a stauropegion (church body ruled directly by the Ecumenical Patriarch) in Kyiv, revoke the legal binding of the letter of 1686, and lift the excommunications which affected clergy and faithful of two Ukrainian Orthodox churches. Those two churches, the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (UAOC) and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate (UOC-KP), were competing with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) (UOC-MP) and were considered "schismatics" (illegally segregated groups) by the Patriarchate of Moscow, as well as by the other Eastern Orthodox churches.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Break of communions with the other Autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Churches by the Russian Orthodox Church, Break of communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate
Doctor in theology Cyrill Govorun of the UOC-MP argued that the break of communion between the churches of Moscow and Constantinople did not constitute a real schism (like the schism of 1054), but a "slit". The American Protestant magazine Christianity Today called the break of communion between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Russian Orthodox Church the "biggest schism since 1054" and "the biggest Christian schism since the Protestant Reformation"


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Break of communions with the other Autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Churches by the Russian Orthodox Church, Break of communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate
On 17 October, Metropolitan Hilarion, head of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations, was interviewed by the BBC Russian Service; this interview was published on the official website of the Department of External Church Relations of the Russian Orthodox Church the very same day. Hilarion declared: "As of today, we have very clearly stated: the fact that the Patriarchate of Constantinople has recognized a schismatic structure means for us that Constantinople itself is now in schism. It has identified itself with a schism. Accordingly, we cannot have the full Eucharistic communion with it."


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Break of communions with the other Autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Churches by the Russian Orthodox Church, Break of communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate
Hilarion added that when members of the Russian Orthodox of Moscow Patriarchate pay visits to the monasteries on Mount Athos, they cannot participate in the sacraments (for example, receive communion), and promised punishment to any priests who participate in the divine services together with the local clergy. It is known that Russia makes large donations to the monasteries on Athos: the sum of $200 million was announced by a source close to the Moscow Patriarchate and confirmed by Hilarion in his interview. Hilarion hinted that "[h]istory shows that when Athos is concerned over something, the monasteries on the Holy Mountain do find ways to inform the Patriarch of Constantinople about it" and called on Russian businessmen to switch donations to Russian sacred places.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Break of communions with the other Autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Churches by the Russian Orthodox Church, Break of communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate
On 29 December, during an interview to the channel Russia-24, Metropolitan Hilarion declared the Patriarch of Moscow had informed during the last meeting of the Supreme Diocesan Assembly of Moscow that that faithfuls of the ROC could communicate in the territory of the Mount Athos, but only in the Saint Panteleimon Monastery. The territory of the Mount Athos is under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Break of communions with the other Autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Churches by the Russian Orthodox Church, Break of communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate
Hilarion declared the Saint Panteleimon Monastery "belongs to the Constantinople Church, as do all monasteries on Mt. Athos, but we know that it was built with Russian money by Russian monks and houses a Russian and Ukrainian monastic brotherhood, all rites are performed in a Slavic language and the laity who come there may take communion in it [...] But not in other Athos monasteries".


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Break of communions with the other Autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Churches by the Russian Orthodox Church, Break of communion with the Archbishop of Athens
On 17 October 2019, the Holy Synod of the ROC reacted to the announcement that the Church of Greece had recognized the OCU. The Holy Synod stated: "If the Ukrainian schism is really recognized by the Greek Orthodox Church and its Primate – either in the form of a joint service, liturgical commemoration of the leader of the schism or sending official letters to them – it will be a sad testimony to the deepening division in the family of local Orthodox Churches. [


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Break of communions with the other Autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Churches by the Russian Orthodox Church, Break of communion with the Archbishop of Athens
...] We cease the prayer and Eucharistic communion with those bishops of the Greek Church who have entered or will enter into communion with representatives of the Ukrainian non-canonical schismatic communities. [


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Break of communions with the other Autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Churches by the Russian Orthodox Church, Break of communion with the Archbishop of Athens
...] the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church authorizes his Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Russia to stop the commemoration of the name of His Beatitude Archbishop of Athens and the entire Greece in the diptychs if the Primate of the Greek Church begins to commemorate the head of one of the Ukrainian schismatic groups during divine services or takes other actions indicating the recognition of the Ukrainian schism." In the same statement, the Holy Synod announced that the ROC would not be blessing pilgrimages of faithfuls of the ROC to Greek dioceses whose hierarchs are in communion with representatives of the OCU.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Break of communions with the other Autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Churches by the Russian Orthodox Church, Break of communion with the Archbishop of Athens
On 21 October 2019, Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens and all Greece, the primate of the Church of Greece, sent a peaceful letter to Epiphanius, the primate of the OCU. This decision was supported by the whole hierarchy (bishops) of the Church of Greece, minus 7 Metropolitans; the Metropolitan of Piraeus later said he in fact did not support this decision, explaining: "My phrase 'I disagree but support the archbishop' was distorted beyond recognition." This decision meant that the Church of Greece recognized the OCU.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Break of communions with the other Autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Churches by the Russian Orthodox Church, Break of communion with the Archbishop of Athens
The head of the external relations department of the ROC, Metropolitan Hilarion, stated that the ROC regretted this decision and that "the Greek Church is not independent, there is no full autocephaly, full independence, half of its hierarchs are hierarchs of the Constantinople Patriarchate, it does not have its own external policy, and therefore it always follows in the footsteps of the Constantinople Patriarchate." Hilarion stated that he hoped "no other regional church will follow this sad example."


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Break of communions with the other Autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Churches by the Russian Orthodox Church, Break of communion with the Archbishop of Athens
Thereafter, the Pilgrim Centre of the Patriarchate of Moscow, which is the official pilgrimage centre of the Moscow Patriarchate, released a list of dioceses of the Church of Greece which were considered "undesirable for pilgrimage" and to which the pilgrims of the Russian Orthodox Church were "not blessed" to go in pilgrimage. This list namely contained the diocese of Athens of the primate of the Church of Greece. This list was done on the basis of 17 October 2019 decision of the Holy Synod of the ROC not to bless pilgrimages to dioceses whose hierarchs enter in communion with representatives of the OCU.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Break of communions with the other Autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Churches by the Russian Orthodox Church, Break of communion with the Archbishop of Athens
On 2 November, Metropolitan Hilarion stated: "We said that if the archbishop of Athens officially recognizes the Ukrainian schism, his name will be removed from the diptychs of the Russian Orthodox Church. What does that mean? It means that the patriarch will not mention the archbishop of Athens in his services, the same way as he is not mentioning the patriarch of Constantinople. I think he will not be mentioned this coming Sunday when the patriarch holds his service. That means we are stopping Eucharistic communion with the archbishop of Athens."


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Break of communions with the other Autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Churches by the Russian Orthodox Church, Break of communion with the Archbishop of Athens
On Sunday, 3 November 2019, Patriarch Kirill did not mention the primate of the Church of Greece in the liturgy, removing him from the diptych.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Break of communions with the other Autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Churches by the Russian Orthodox Church, Break of communion with the Patriarch of Alexandria
On 8 November 2019, the Moscow Patriarchate announced that Patriarch Kirill would stop commemorating the Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa after the latter and his Church recognized the OCU that same day. On 25 November 2019, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow temporarily suspended the Moscow mission of the Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa. The future closing of the representation of the Patriarchate of Alexandria in Moscow was announced.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Break of communions with the other Autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Churches by the Russian Orthodox Church, Break of communion with the Patriarch of Alexandria
On 6 December 2019, the Holy Synod of the UOC-MP announced it had severted eucharistic communion "with the Patriarchate of Constantinople and with the Churches and hierarchs who have recognised  the schismatics"


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Break of communions with the other Autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Churches by the Russian Orthodox Church, Break of communion with the Patriarch of Alexandria
On 24 December 2019, Metropolitan Hilarion said that "[i]f the Patriarchate of Alexandria sides with the schism, then we might, of course, have to create parishes for our believers, because they won't be able to take communion at churches of the Patriarchate of Alexandria." Two days later, the Synod of the ROC in Moscow announced it severed full communion with the Patriarch of Alexandria and ceased commemorating him. In addition, the Synod of Moscow decided to suspend the activities of the metochion (embassy) of the Alexandrian Patriarchate under the Moscow Patriarchate.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Break of communions with the other Autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Churches by the Russian Orthodox Church, Break of communion with the Patriarch of Alexandria
It was also decided that the Representation of the Patriarchate of Moscow under the Patriarchate of Alexandria in Cairo would become a parish of the ROC. As for the parishes of the ROC in Africa, they will be removed from the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Alexandria and will be granted stauropegial status, that is, they will be transferred to the direct subordination of the head of the ROC, Patriarch Kirill.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Break of communions with the other Autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Churches by the Russian Orthodox Church, Break of communion with the Archbishop of Cyprus
On 20 November 2020, the Holy Synod of the ROC declared that Patriarch Kirill can no longer commemorate Archbishop Chrysostomos II of Cyprus as a result of Chrysostomos' commemoration of Epiphanius on 24 October 2020.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Further escalation, Russian priests in Turkey
On 10 November 2018, Metropolitan Hilarion, heads of the Moscow Patriarchate's Office for External Relations said during a TV program on Russia-24 that the ROC had no choice but to "send priests of the Russian Orthodox Church" to Turkey, "[a]nd this will continue as long as the Patriarch of Constantinople is in schism". He said the ROC did not do so before because Turkey is a territory of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, but that the ROC now does because the Ecumenical Patriarchate is in schism.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Further escalation, Russian priests in Turkey
On 12 November 2018, it was reported that the first priest was sent by Patriarch Kirill to Istanbul (Turkey) "at the request of Russian believers who live in Turkey". On the same day, the Russian Orthodox Church announced a divine liturgy had been held on 11 November in Istanbul and would be regularly held. The ROC also reported the words of the priest who had led the divine liturgy who said that after the 15 October 2018 decision of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, numerous Russian Orthodox believers of Turkey had asked the Moscow Patriarchate to provide them with "pastoral care".


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Further escalation, Russian priests in Turkey
On 14 December the Ecumenical Patriarchate published a statement by Metropolitan Sotirios of Pisidia in which he condemned the plans of the ROC priest to celebrate a Divine Liturgy in Belek (Turkey) with the help of the Russian consulate and without the permission of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, which has canonical jurisdiction over this territory.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Further escalation, Russian priests in Turkey
On 30 December 2018, Interfax reported that the ROC was building a church on the territory of the embassy of Russia in Ankara.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Further escalation, Dissolution of the AROCWE
On 27 November 2018, the Ecumenical Patriarchate decided to dissolve the Archdiocese of Russian Orthodox churches in Western Europe (AROCWE) "thereby entrusting its faithful to the Hierarchs of the Ecumenical Throne in Europe". ROC officials responded with a reminder of the 2003 proposal of Alexy II to move to the Moscow Patriarchate. This decision was made without any official requests from the hierarchs of the diocese and caused confusion. On 15 December, Pastoral Assembly of AROCWE decided to call an Extraordinary General Assembly (EGA), scheduled for 23 February 2019. On 23 February, 191 out of the 206 voters of EGA voted against the dissolution.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Further escalation, Dissolution of the AROCWE
At the next Extraordinary General Assembly on 7 September 2019, 104 voters out of the 186 (58.1%) voted in favor of the AROCWE being subordinated to the Moscow Patriarchate, but that was less than two-thirds of the votes needed to make such a decision. Despite this, the head of AROCWE John (Renneteau) on 14 September personally came under the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate. On 3 November, the AROCWE delegation in Moscow received a letter on the reunification of the archdiocese with the Moscow Patriarchate. Some of AROCWE members joined the newly established "Vicariate of Russian Tradition of the Metropolis of France" which remained faithful to the Ecumenical Patriarchate.


2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism, Further escalation, Creation of the PEWE and the PESEA
On 26 November 2018, Metropolitan Hilarion declared that the ROC would send a priest in South Korea and declared the plans "to create a full-fledged parish", because until the 1950s in Korea was a Russian Spiritual Mission whose faithful were in the 1950s transferred to the Ecumenical Patriarchate's jurisdiction. The priest was scheduled to be sent by the end of the year.