Category: Russia

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Financial news: The first repo transactions with interim payments have been concluded on the Moscow Exchange.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

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The volume of debut repo transactions with a central counterparty (CCP) using the interim interest payment service on the Moscow Exchange money market amounted to 500 million rubles.

The first participants to use the new service were Bank Saint Petersburg, Bank Derzhava, and BCS Bank.

The service of interim interest payment when concluding targeted repo transactions with the Central Bank was implemented on the Moscow Exchange on December 8, 2025.

The new service allows parties to a transaction to independently determine the frequency of interest income payments. This increases the flexibility and convenience of money market transactions and provides the opportunity to reinvest funds until the settlement of the second part of the transaction. The minimum frequency of interim payments is one day.

The interim interest payment service is available in targeted repo transactions with the Central Bank settled in Russian rubles and Chinese yuan.

Repo market operations allow professional market participants and their clients to use the most liquid market to place and raise funds secured by securities from a wide range of counterparties for periods ranging from one day to one year.

The Moscow Exchange money market is one of the most important segments of the Russian financial market, used by large corporations, small companies, and individual investors to manage their liquidity. Money market instruments include repos with the Central Custody Transfer (CCT), repos with the Central Custody Transfer (CCT), repos with the Bank of Russia (CBR), interdealer repos, deposits with the CCT, loans, and deposit and loan auctions. Trading is organized by the Moscow Exchange, and clearing and settlement are handled by the National Clearing Center (NCC, part of the Moscow Exchange Group).

Contact information for media: 7 (495) 363-3232PR@moex.com

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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Financial news: New Bank of Russia service on Gosuslugi.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Central Bank of Russia

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Now a citizen or organization can use Gosuslugi can find out, whether they are on the lists of persons controlling credit, insurance organizations or non-state pension funds.

Previously, requests for information were mostly received in paper form. The service allows you to submit a request in just a few clicks and receive a prompt response from the Bank of Russia.

According to the law, credit and insurance organizations and non-state pension funds are required to provide the Bank of Russia with information about the persons who control them, as well as update this data.

Preview photo: Mikhail Grebenshchikov / RBC / TASS

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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The government has extended the preferential leasing program for entrepreneurs in new regions.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

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The program for preferential leasing of machinery and equipment for small and medium-sized businesses in the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, and the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions has been extended until the end of 2026. The necessary amendments have been made to the state program "Economic Development and Innovative Economy" and approved by a government resolution.

This program covers preferential leasing of machinery and equipment in the agricultural, food, transportation, and construction industries. The preferential leasing rate for Russian-made equipment is up to 6% per annum, while for foreign-made equipment, it's up to 8%.

The federal budget allocates 500 million rubles for the program's implementation in 2026.

The preferential leasing program was launched by the government in 2023 and has become a sought-after mechanism for supporting entrepreneurs in new regions. The decision to extend it will facilitate the further development of the industrial sector, help modernize production, and stimulate entrepreneurship.

The document will be published.

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On December 17, 2025, a retrospective of Karen Shakhnazarov's films was presented at a film festival in India. Mosfilm director Karen Shakhnazarov presented a retrospective of his films at the 23rd Chennai International Film Festival, which is being held in the capital of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu from December 11 to 18.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Mosfilm Film Concern – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

December 17, 2025

News editorial office

Mosfilm director Karen Shakhnazarov presented a retrospective of his films at the 23rd Chennai International Film Festival, which is taking place in the capital of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu from December 11 to 18.

"This year, the festival program places a special emphasis on Russia. The film festival featured screenings of five films by Karen Shakhnazarov, marking the director's 50th anniversary," said Alexander Dodonov, director of the Russian House in Chennai.

The program of the 23rd Chennai International Film Festival included five films by film director and People's Artist of Russia Karen Shakhnazarov: The Courier (1986), The Tsaricide (1991), American Daughter (1995), The Vanished Empire (2008), and White Tiger (2012).

Before the screening of the war film "White Tiger," Karen Shakhnazarov met with his Tamil colleagues, National Film Award winners Vasanth Sai, Seemu Ramasamy, Sharavana Subbiah, and Jayapraksh Radhakrishnan. The participants exchanged creative experiences and discussed the specifics of national cinematic traditions. Karen Shakhnazarov's films are frequently featured at various Indian festivals and film festivals. The director has repeatedly noted that cinema plays a significant role in bringing the peoples of the two countries closer together.

Addressing the audience, Karen Georgievich noted that he had always dreamed of showing his films in India. "Indian cinema is one of the largest and greatest in the world. I am sincerely grateful to the film festival for the opportunity to present my work in Chennai. Russia and India are two great friends, and culture greatly contributes to strengthening our relations. Cinema is a classic example of this," the director emphasized.

An interesting fact: the mystical war drama "White Tiger," one of the director's most popular films among international audiences, was watched by more than 3.5 million viewers with English subtitles on official Mosfilm websites!

The Chennai International Film Festival has been held annually in December since 2003 and is one of the most significant cultural events in Indian cinema. In 2025, the festival will take place from December 11 to 18.

As a reminder, the Russian House in Trivandrum, with the support of Mosfilm, also regularly hosts film festivals and screenings of Russian and Soviet films. In December 2024, it hosted a film festival celebrating the centenary of Mosfilm Studios, with Karen Shakhnazarov's adventure film "Khitrovka: The Sign of Four" (2023) serving as the opening film.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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Mikhail Mishustin gave instructions on the implementation of technology policy.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

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The Ministry of Industry and Trade's authority to shape technology policy will be expanded. This decision was approved by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

Taking these changes into account, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Economic Development, together with interested agencies, will submit, by February 5, coordinated proposals to clarify the delineation of powers between federal executive bodies in the area of technology policy and the necessary adjustments to regulatory legal acts.

A decision was also made to vest certain powers in the area of technology policy in the Government Commission on Industry. These include ensuring the functioning of a unified model for managing technology policy, coordinating the appointment of qualified customers and general designers of technology cooperation maps, auditing the implementation of technology cooperation maps, and ensuring the submission of monthly reports to the Prime Minister on the results achieved.

Strengthening the country's technological sovereignty is one of the key objectives set by the President. Specific national projects are aimed at achieving this goal. There are currently eight of them, and another one, dedicated to the bioeconomy, will be launched in January.

On December 15, Mikhail Mishustin held a meeting dedicated to the implementation of technology policyIn his speech, he recalled that a comprehensive system for assessing technological development has been created to monitor the effectiveness of all measures and activities aimed at strengthening the country's technological sovereignty. It contains rules for calculating and monitoring the achievement of goals and allows for tracking the development of high-tech solutions and products based on domestic technologies.

"To accelerate the growth of industries, regions, and the economy as a whole, it's important to continue implementing breakthrough ideas and developing a strong industrial base. This, as the President emphasized, is a national task, in which all levels of government, science, and business must participate," the Prime Minister noted.

Mikhail Mishustin added that advanced solutions should be widely adopted and replicated across all sectors, so that their use improves the quality of Russian goods and services and helps make the lives of our citizens more convenient and comfortable.

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Financial news: AFK Sistema's debut green bond issues have been listed on the Moscow Exchange.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

In December, AFK Sistema placed two issues of green bonds on the Moscow Exchange for a total of 6.5 billion rubles.

The funds were raised to refinance AFK Sistema's expenses for implementing green projects to produce watercraft powered by environmentally friendly energy sources (electricity) and to create infrastructure for such vessels, including the electric passenger vessels Ecobus, Ecocruiser, Moika 2.0, Ecocruiser-M, and Baikal, and the Ecostation bus stops. The project includes the construction of 74 units: 46 passenger vessels and 28 bus stops.

Both bond issues comply with the International Capital Markets Association (ICMA) Green Bond Principles (GBP) and Russian green project standards, allowing banks to apply reduced risk weights to these bonds. The bonds offer both fixed and floating coupons, catering to a variety of investor interests.

Natalia Loginova, Director of the Issuer Relations Department at Moscow Exchange:

"We are seeing growing interest from issuers and investors in sustainable development instruments, including green bonds. Since the beginning of the year, eight bond issues from five issuers have been placed in the Moscow Exchange Sustainability Sector. The total volume of securities in the sector is 517 billion rubles. We are actively working to increase the number of green issuers. Since 2024, such bonds have been specially labeled, and we have a series of ESG indices that include securities of issuers that meet sustainability standards. Furthermore, the exchange is conducting educational work – this year, the third edition of the ESG guide was published, and the Moscow Exchange Issuer Academy offers an investor track, "Back to School: How to Read Non-Financial Reports," and an educational course for issuers, "How to Meet Best Sustainability Practices."

Ekaterina Pylnova, Executive Director for Banking and Financial Markets at AFK Sistema:

"The debut placement of green bonds is a viable form of fundraising, capable of providing additional impetus to the development of environmental projects in the domestic market. Thanks to this, Emperium, a company within the Corporation, will continue to build its electric passenger fleet, which will be expanded by dozens of new vessels, and the associated infrastructure will be created. The successful placement demonstrates Sistema's attractiveness as an issuer in the sustainable finance market."

As an issuer, Moscow Exchange adheres to best practices in non-financial reporting disclosure. In 2024, it released its fifth sustainability report, as well as its first climate report. The company has an environmental policy that defines the exchange's core principles, objectives, and priorities in environmental protection and nature management. Moscow Exchange's ESG index portfolio includes six indicators.

Contact information for media: 7 (495) 363-3232PR@moex.com

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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Public transport was decorated in anticipation of the New Year.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Moscow Government – Moscow Government –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Moscow's transport system is continuing its good tradition of festively decorating its public transport in anticipation of the New Year. This was announced by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Transport and Industry. Maxim Liksutov.

"At Sergei Sobyanin's request, we're decorating public transportation ahead of the New Year holidays. We've decorated not only metro stations and other infrastructure, but also trains, buses, electric buses, trams, and electric boats. Decorated transportation creates a festive atmosphere and puts Muscovites and visitors in a good mood," noted Maxim Liksutov.

Today, the Moscow Metro operates 24 themed trains. Ground transportation hasn't been forgotten either: 50 electric buses with illuminated garlands, 115 festively decorated buses, 60 Vityaz-Moscow trams, and two Lvenok-Moscow trams, decorated with garlands, operate throughout the city on the revived Trifonovskaya Street route and on route T1. Additionally, residents and tourists will enjoy the historic Tatra tram with a New Year's installation on route A, the branded Vityaz-Moscow tram with pine garlands on route 7, and six innovative electric boats.

The "Lvenok-Moscow" tram with bright garlands can be seen on the new route No. 5, which runs along Trifonovskaya Street. About it revival Sergei Sobyanin announced on Tuesday.

In addition to transportation, more than 100 metro stations in the capital were decorated ahead of the holidays, as well as the Northern and Southern River Terminals and the piers for regular river electric transport.

Get the latest news quickly on official Moscow messaging channels. MAX AndTelegram.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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The "Happy New Year to the Advancing Ones!" campaign to support the SVO fighters has begun in Moscow.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Moscow Government – Moscow Government –

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A campaign has begun in Moscow, allowing anyone to congratulate Special Military Operations (SVO) fighters on the New Year holidays through a special project. "Happy New Year to the New Year!"Residents of the capital are invited to leave warm wishes and words of support for the service members, as well as to provide gifts and assistance for the soldiers and their families.

You can send parcels and greetings by contacting the Gift Factory pavilions open at the project sites. Winter in MoscowThey will be open daily until February 28. There are over 30 such pavilions across the city, where Muscovites can bring gifts for SVO participants and children from the new regions. Most pavilions accept parcels on weekdays from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and on weekends and holidays from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM.

Four pavilions in the city center operate according to special schedules. For example, the pavilions at Revolution Square and Novy Arbat are open from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM on weekdays and from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM on weekends and holidays. The pavilions at Tverskaya Square are open daily from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and the pavilion at Red Square is open Monday through Thursday from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM, Friday from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM, and weekends from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM. The pavilion schedules and addresses are available atproject website.

Residents can bring any gifts, as long as they are new, in unopened packaging, and have tags, and food items must have an expiration date. For example, for military personnel, we accept men's gift sets, socks, insoles, mittens and gloves, as well as thermal underwear and personal hygiene products. Children from new regions can be treated to toys, books, confectionery, and school supplies. Muscovites can also bring pre-prepared letters, postcards, and drawings for the soldiers of the Air Defense Forces, which will be sent to the front lines and handed over to the service members.

Volunteers at the Gift Factory pavilions will also help leave warm wishes for military personnel by offering to sign greeting cards. Furthermore, as part of the "Happy New Year to the New Year!" campaign, authorized mos.ru users can send words of support and gratitude using landing page— all requests will be forwarded to the participants of the special military operation.

This winter, the capital is organizing events and activities for participants and veterans of the SVO and their families—from New Year's performances and excursions for children to meetings with Heroes of Russia and volunteer programs. Together with "Winter in Moscow," the city is creating a space of care and support, organizing customized programs in Zaryadye Park and at festival venues. Journey to Christmas, VUnified support center for military personnel and their families and other locations. As part of the project, residents participate in charity events, record video messages with New Year's greetings, donate gifts, and join workshops on making useful items for the SVO soldiers.

Winter in Moscow— the main event of the season. The project aims to strengthen social and family ties, create an atmosphere of unity and mutual support, and provide assistance to those currently defending the Motherland. Through a variety of programs, including cultural, educational, and sporting events, it brings together Muscovites and visitors of all ages and interests, creating an environment for creative development, active recreation, and warm communication. Particular attention is paid to supporting participants and veterans of the special military operation and their families, as well as all those providing assistance to the front.

Get the latest news quickly on official Moscow messaging channels. MAX And Telegram.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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We are already seventeen – NordStar Airlines is celebrating its birthday.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Nordstar Airlines –

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NordStar Airlines is celebrating its 17th anniversary. December 17, 2008, is considered the airline's first day of operations. The new company's founding gave impetus to the development of air travel from the Arctic city of Norilsk to the mainland and further expanded the geography of flights from its base airports of Domodedovo and Krasnoyarsk. Over the past 17 years, the airline has come a long way from a small carrier with just three aircraft to a major Russian airline, expanding its production capacity, expanding its fleet, and today offers its passengers one of the most extensive route networks, and for passengers from Norilsk, perhaps the largest route network in the airport's history – 20 scheduled destinations throughout Russia.

NordStar Airlines is annually ranked among Russia's largest air carriers, with passenger traffic exceeding 1 million. In October 2025, the airline carried its millionth passenger, confirming the popularity of its routes, passenger trust, and high level of service. Today, NordStar Airlines flies to over 45 destinations within Russia, covering many regions of the country.

In 2025, NordStar Airlines expanded its presence in the Norilsk Industrial Region by opening two airline ticket and service sales offices in Norilsk and Talnakh.

In the fall of 2025, the frequent flyer loyalty program was completely revamped. The program became clearer and more beneficial for passengers, replacing traditional miles with Stars. One Star is equivalent to one ruble and can be used to pay for airline tickets. Passengers also gained access to an expanded list of privileges, from access to premium lounges to special offers.

NordStar Airlines is actively investing in developing its internal competencies. Its engineering and technical staff independently perform complex aircraft maintenance, ensuring high levels of safety and efficiency. In 2025, the airline opened its own Aviation Training Center. It trains future pilots and flight attendants, and provides advanced training for existing employees. This is an important step in building a sustainable talent base and maintaining a high level of onboard service.

"Our seventeenth anniversary is not only a source of pride but also a starting point for new achievements. NordStar's immediate plans include expanding its route network, implementing digital solutions, and improving operational efficiency and environmental sustainability. Seventeen years is a milestone when it's especially important to remain true to our chosen course and continue to develop. I'd like to express special gratitude to our passengers. The trust expressed in every ticket issued is our main focus and motivation to move forward," noted Leonid Mokhov, CEO of NordStar Airlines.

On the airline's birthday, passengers can expect pleasant surprises on board and at sales offices in Norilsk, with the biggest gift being a festive airfare sale. Tickets to and from Norilsk are available at unprecedented rates – starting from 17,000 rubles for round-trip travel to Moscow, Novosibirsk, Abakan, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Sochi, Mineralnye Vody, Ufa, Krasnodar, and Chelyabinsk from January 20, 2026, to April 10, 2026. Passengers from other cities will also be able to enjoy festive fares of 1,700 rubles one-way. A full list of participating routes, flight dates, and other terms and conditions can be found on the website. www.nordstar.ru in the Special Offers section.

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Alexander Novak summarized the preliminary results of the federal project "Labor Productivity" in 2025.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

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Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak assessed the results of the first year of the "Labor Productivity" federal project. It is part of the "Efficient and Competitive Economy" national project and aims to improve the efficiency of both business and the social sector.

"Over a thousand companies have joined the federal productivity project in 2025. More than 21,000 employees have been trained in productivity-enhancing tools. The implementation of lean manufacturing principles helps businesses restructure logistics, optimize equipment utilization, and reduce downtime. Experts from the federal competence center and the network of regional centers provide support. This year, they expanded to the DPR and Kurgan Oblast, covering 62 regions. By 2030, RCCs will be established in four more regions of the country," noted Alexander Novak.

At the President's direction, the federal project is intended to cover 40% of medium and large enterprises in key non-resource sectors of the economy and all state and municipal social sector organizations. To this end, 15 out-of-the-box solutions and over 100 best practices for increasing labor productivity have been developed for cultural and leisure organizations, sports organizations, public libraries, social services organizations, and general and higher education institutions. Projects to improve labor productivity have already been completed in 3,600 social sector institutions.

To systematically improve labor productivity, industry competence centers and specialized programs are being established within ministries.

"Eight such OCCs have been established in the real sector of the economy, and six in the social sector. Sixteen sectoral programs have been developed. These programs are designed to identify productivity priorities, generate demand for lean manufacturing tools, develop proposals for removing administrative barriers, and adjust support measures to stimulate productivity growth. They are currently being finalized to create version 2.0," said Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov.

The federal project "Labor Productivity" is a continuation of the national project of the same name, which ran from 2018 to 2024. During this time, more than 6,000 enterprises received support from the federal competence center and the network of regional centers and increased their profits by 484 billion rubles. To participate in the project, enterprises in non-resource industries simply submit an application on the "Productivity.rf" platform.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.