December 6, 2025 – Russia Headlines

Story gist: Russia’s Ministry of Digital Development announced it will gradually disable SMS confirmation for logging into the Gosuslugi portal. Users reported inability to access the site without installing the Max messenger.

Bias summary: Left-leaning Meduza emphasizes user complaints and access barriers tied to requiring Max messenger, framing the change as disruptive. Center Interfax neutrally reports the ministry’s gradual phase-out without user issues. Right-leaning outlets absent, providing no coverage or perspective on the policy shift.

Story gist: Russian President Vladimir Putin met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss energy, trade, and business cooperation. Putin responded to an Indian reporter’s question about China during joint statements to the media.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets provided no coverage, leaving that perspective absent. Center sources like BBC focused on factual agreements in energy, trade, and business, emphasizing cooperation. Right-leaning outlets, including АБН24 and the Russian President’s site, highlighted Putin’s unexpected and clever response to a ‘trap’ question on China from an Indian reporter, using triumphant tone.

Story gist: Russia’s Central Bank lifted restrictions on outbound currency transfers for Russian citizens and non-residents from friendly countries.

Bias summary: Left-leaning Meduza frames the action as already completed (‘canceled’) for Russians and non-residents from ‘friendly’ countries, emphasizing specifics. Center Interfax uses future tense (‘will lift’) for RF citizens and friendly country nationals, neutrally factual. Right-leaning outlets absent, omitting conservative framing on economic or exchange rate implications.

Story gist: Singer Larisa Dolina promised to return money to buyer Polina Lurie for an apartment Dolina sold due to scammers. This is her first comment on the scandal.

Bias summary: Left-leaning Meduza emphasizes Dolina’s promise to refund buyer Polina Lurie, noting the sale occurred due to scammers, portraying Dolina as accountable. Center outlet Gismeteo neutrally quotes her statement ‘I’ll return the money’ and her address on the apartment case. No right-leaning coverage appears, absenting any perspective potentially defending Dolina or questioning the buyer’s role.

Story gist: Ukrainian Armed Forces drones attacked a seaport in Temryuk, Krasnodar Krai; an oil refinery in Syzran; and a high-rise in Grozny City, Russia.

Bias summary: Left-leaning Meduza highlights infrastructure damage from Ukrainian drone strikes on a seaport and oil refinery, using neutral factual tone. Center BBC contextualizes attacks within the Ukraine war, noting port in Temryuk and Grozny City high-rise. Right-leaning outlets absent, omitting potential emphasis on Russian defenses or Ukrainian aggression.