December 12, 2025 – Russia Headlines

Story gist: A report to Russian President Putin from Seversk was interrupted by enemy electronic warfare. Russian Armed Forces announced liberation of Seversk.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets provided no coverage, absenting pro-Ukrainian perspectives disputing the liberation. Center sources like Vedomosti reported factually, emphasizing the EW interruption during the Putin briefing. Right-leaning outlets like Business Online framed triumphantly, highlighting Seversk’s liberation, proximity to Slaviansk, and quoting predictions of rapid advances.

Story gist: Ukraine transmitted a new 20-point peace plan to the United States. Zelensky described a US compromise proposal regarding Donbass.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets frame the story around Trump urging European leaders to pressure Zelensky to accept a US plan, emphasizing external coercion. Center outlets highlight Zelensky discussing the US proposal as a ‘compromise’ on Donbass, focusing on negotiation. Right-leaning perspectives are absent, leaving no coverage of pro-Trump or skeptical views on Ukraine aid.

Story gist: Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a new financial support measure for families with children. The measure, a payment or tax deduction for large families, will be introduced in 2026.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets absent, omitting progressive critique on adequacy or equity. Center (Interfax) neutrally reports presidential announcement of new payment for large families from 2026, factual tone. Right (Finance Mail) specifies ‘family tax payment,’ emphasizing fiscal policy benefits without costs. All frames positive, minimal omissions on implementation details.

Story gist: Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that old-age insurance pensions will be indexed by 7.6% starting January 1. The average social pension size will exceed 16,000 rubles.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets absent, providing no coverage or perspective on the announcement. Center outlets like Interfax report factually on Putin’s statement without emphasis. Right-leaning sources, such as DOM.RF, highlight the resulting average pension amount over 16,000 rubles, emphasizing tangible benefits to retirees.

Story gist: More than 30 drones attacked Moscow overnight.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets absent, leaving pro-Ukraine or critical perspectives unrepresented. Center sources like Vedomosti frame neutrally as ‘night attack on Moscow,’ focusing on known facts without blame. Right-leaning mos.ru emphasizes defensive success, highlighting destruction of ‘enemy’ drones by Mayor Sobyanin and omitting attack scale to stress interception.