November 29, 2025 – Russia Headlines

Story gist: Russia’s Roskomnadzor began restricting WhatsApp operations. The regulator warned of a potential full blockade.

Bias summary: Left-leaning Meduza frames Roskomnadzor as ‘warning’ of full WhatsApp blocking, implying menace. Center outlet Radio Svoboda uses ‘threatened’ for full blocking in Russia, emphasizing confrontation. No right-leaning coverage; pro-government perspective absent, which might justify restrictions as regulatory enforcement or downplay impact.

Story gist: Fires broke out on two tankers off the coast of Turkey. The incidents resulted from external impact.

Bias summary: Left-leaning Meduza emphasizes the tankers as part of Russia’s ‘shadow fleet,’ spotlighting Russian ties. Center outlet Interfax neutrally reports possible drone attacks without attributing blame. Right-leaning coverage is absent, omitting defenses of Russia or skepticism toward attack claims.

Story gist: Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the federal budget law for 2026-2028. The law sets the national budget for the three-year period.

Bias summary: Left-leaning Meduza uses casual ‘Putin signed budget law for three years,’ personalizing with leader’s name and simplifying details. Center Interfax employs formal ‘President RF signed federal budget law for 2026-2028,’ precise and official. No right-leaning coverage; absent pro-government emphasis or positive economic framing.

Story gist: Russian President Vladimir Putin signed amendments to the Tax Code. The changes include raising the VAT rate to 22%.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets like Meduza frame the story by emphasizing the VAT increase to 22%, highlighting the tax hike. Center outlets like Interfax use neutral language mirroring the official title, focusing on signing amendments without specifics. Right-leaning coverage is absent, omitting potential pro-government framing that might downplay or justify the changes.

Story gist: Andriy Yermak, head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office, submitted a resignation statement.

Bias summary: Left-leaning Meduza frames the event as Zelensky firing Yermak, emphasizing decisive presidential action. Center BBC covers it as Yermak’s resignation via neutral Q&A format, providing explanatory details without blame. Right-leaning outlets are absent, omitting potential emphasis on Yermak’s loyalty, Zelensky criticism, or geopolitical implications.