December 17, 2025 – Russia Headlines

Story gist: The Diocesan Assembly of the City of Moscow was held under the chairmanship of Patriarch Kirill.

Bias summary: Right-leaning outlets covered the event via Patriarchy.ru, linking to the official December 16, 2025 resolution with neutral, factual reporting on church proceedings. Left- and center-leaning outlets provided no coverage, omitting the story entirely, suggesting disinterest in Russian Orthodox Church activities amid broader geopolitical tensions.

Story gist: Russia’s Supreme Court ruled in favor of Polina Lurie in a dispute over an apartment associated with singer Larisa Dolina.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets absent, omitting coverage. Center (BBC) frames neutrally as court decision favoring Lurie in Dolina’s apartment case, emphasizing ruling outcome. Right (VFocus Mail) highlights attorney view questioning why Supreme Court failed to resolve Dolina’s case definitively, implying unresolved issues and skepticism toward the decision’s finality.

Story gist: A teenager attacked students and a security guard with a knife at a school in Odintsovo, Moscow region. One child died, and the attacker admitted guilt.

Bias summary: Left-leaning Meduza emphasizes the Human Rights Council’s demand for Telegram channels to remove the graphic murder video, highlighting censorship issues. Center BBC provides a neutral factual rundown of the knife attack, one child’s death, and known details. Right-leaning coverage is absent, omitting any focus on security lapses, attacker background, or policy responses.

Story gist: The Bank of Russia lowered the official US dollar exchange rate for Tuesday, December 16. Banki.ru reported rates for the dollar, euro, and yuan amid ruble strengthening.

Bias summary: Left- and right-leaning outlets provided no coverage, omitting progressive and conservative viewpoints on currency movements. Center outlet Banki.ru framed the story positively by leading with ‘Ruble is strengthening,’ emphasizing favorable exchange rates for major currencies without criticism or geopolitical context.

Story gist: Russian stock market traded amid uncertainty, with certain stocks leading. BCS Express reported trading results featuring sharp reactions to important news.

Bias summary: Left- and right-leaning outlets provided no coverage, omitting the market update entirely. The center outlet BCS Express framed trading results with emphasis on sharp reactions to important news, focusing on volatility and responsiveness without speculation or broader economic context.