December 28, 2025 – Russia Headlines

Story gist: Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Western countries are offering Ukraine acceptable conditions to end the conflict. Putin said Russia’s interest in withdrawing Ukrainian forces from Donbass is zero and visited the command post of the Joint Group of Forces.

Bias summary: Left-leaning Meduza emphasizes Putin’s claim that Russia’s interest in Ukrainian forces withdrawing from Donbass is ‘zero,’ implying reduced de-escalation interest with skeptical tone. Center Interfax neutrally reports Putin’s statement on Western peace offers to Kyiv. Right-leaning Kremlin site omits statements, focusing solely on Putin’s military command post visit to highlight leadership.

Story gist: Russia launched Kinzhal hypersonic missiles in a retaliatory strike on targets in Ukraine. President Zelensky reacted to the attack’s reach.

Bias summary: Left-leaning Meduza frames minimally as ‘War,’ downplaying the strike amid broader conflict. Center BBC reports factually with Zelensky’s meetings and Russian claims on Mirnograd, neutral tone without emphasis. Right-leaning URA.RU uses triumphant tone, hailing ‘retaliatory strike that scared Zelensky’ and details missile success, glorifying Russian military.

Story gist: Russian air defense forces shot down six UAVs heading towards Moscow.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets absent, leaving pro-Ukraine perspectives unrepresented. Center (Interfax) emphasizes escalation, reporting total intercepted UAVs rising to 26 on approach to Moscow. Right-leaning (mos.ru) focuses on Mayor Sobyanin’s announcement of repelling two additional drones, highlighting successful localized defense without broader totals or threat scale.

Story gist: Irkutsk Hydrometeorological Center issued a weather forecast for December 27. Russia’s EMERCOM Main Directorate for Irkutsk Region released an operational daily emergency forecast for December 28, 2025.

Bias summary: Left- and right-leaning outlets provided no coverage, omitting the story entirely and leaving environmental or state-critical perspectives absent. Center outlets framed it neutrally via official EMERCOM release, emphasizing routine emergency risks in Irkutsk Region without alarmist tone, political emphasis, or omissions of key details.

Story gist: BCS Express published forecasts and comments on the pre-holiday financial market.

Bias summary: Left- and right-leaning outlets omitted coverage of pre-holiday market forecasts, providing no perspective on market conditions or predictions. Center outlet BCS Express offered neutral analysis with expert commentary and projections, focusing on factual market outlooks without partisan tone or emphasis.