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Russian stock indices rising on Tuesday - market data

The ruble-denominated MOEX Russia Index gained 0.35% to 2,725.38 points, while the dollar-denominated RTS Index surged by 1.28% to 1,092.52 points

MOSCOW, December 23. /TASS/. Russian stock indices ended the trading session on Tuesday with growing dynamics, according to market data.

The ruble-denominated MOEX Russia Index gained 0.35% to 2,725.38 points. The dollar-denominated RTS Index surged by 1.28% to 1,092.52 points. The yuan lost 1.75 kopecks to 11.112 rubles.

"The MOEX Russia Index started Tuesday trading in the red but the buyers showed themselves in the second half of the day. It appears that emotions of traders from the moderate step of key rate reduction and remained tough signal from the Central Bank calmed down," Alexander Shepelev from BCS Investment World said.

"RusHydro energy company stocks turned out to be growth leaders in the Russian stock market, most likely on expectations of improvements in financial performance of the issuer in connection with the Far Eastern energy system reform," Natalia Milchakova from Freedom Finance Global noted.

The MOEX Russia Index can be within the range of 2,700-2,800 points tomorrow, BCS Investment World and Freedom Finance Global expect.

Silver futures climb above $71 per ounce

Gold futures with delivery in February 2026 gained 0.77%

Russian reconnaissance drones penetrating deep behind Ukrainian lines — expert

Vitaly Kiselev added that the weather is also helping Russian forces operate in these areas

FACTBOX: What we know about terror attack on senior Russian general in Moscow

A parked car exploded at 12, Yasenevaya Street at around 7:00 a.m. Moscow time

Fitch upgrades Ukraine’s rating to ‘CCC’

One of the factors behind the positive rating action was an agreement between Ukraine and the European Union on an interest-free loan amounting to 90 bln euro

Relations with US, nuclear arms, Russia's security: Ryabkov's statements

The deputy foreign minister stressed that Russia still has serious questions for the United States over Ukraine

Macron betrays Merz on expropriation of frozen Russian assets — FT

"He knows that there will be a price to pay for that", also said a senior EU diplomat

Trump says US needs Greenland for national security, not for minerals

"We have more oil than any other country in the world," the president added

Europe lacks money to sponsor Kiev, needs to look for compromise — French MP

According to Thierry Mariani, today, little depends on Europe as far as the Ukrainian settlement is concerned

Ukraine conflict likely to end in 2026 on terms unfavorable to Kiev — Politico

Foreign affairs columnist Jamie Dettmer doubts a €90 billion loan will be sufficient to keep Ukraine solvent

Russia no enemy of Europe — State Duma speaker

Russia has helped Europe grow by supplying affordable energy, making its economy more competitive, Vyacheslav Volodin added

Europe's biggest nightmare is Ukraine deal on Russia's terms — senior diplomat

Sergey Ryabkov said that nobody can rewrite history

Ukraine launches over 100 drones on Russia’s Belgorod region in past day

A man and his wife were injured in an FPV-drone attack on a car near the urban locality of Krasny Pakhar in the region’s Volokonovka municipality

Battlegroup South destroys a robotic system, 20 bunkers of Kiev forces

Five Ukrainian drones were shot down

Game developer behind Call of Duty and Battlefield killed in US car crash — NBC

Vince Zampella was 55 years old

Kremlin spokesman has no idea of what Vance meant by ‘breakthrough’ on Ukraine

According to Dmitry Peskov, it is hardly possible to try to solve such a complex problem in the public domain

Two US mercenaries eliminated in Ukraine — Newsweek

According to reports from the accounts of the families of the deceased, Jones and Zacherl were serving with international forces under the command of Ukraine's GUR military intelligence agency

Trump administration recalls heads of nearly 30 foreign diplomatic missions — news agency

According to its information, the heads of US missions abroad have been notified that their terms in their current positions will expire in January

Russia to define its response to West’s intermediate-range missile deployment — diplomat

Sergey Ryabkov said that Russia had to scrap its unilateral moratorium on the deployment of ground-based short-and medium-range missiles

Russia has no plans to attack EU, NATO countries — senior diplomat

Sergey Ryabkov recalled Russian President Vladimir Putin’s statement that Moscow "is even ready to legally enshrine this with regard to a potential solution to the current crisis based on the principle of equal and indivisible security"

Trump calls The New York Times ‘threat to national security’

According to the US leader, it is necessary to put an end to "fake articles and opinions"

Press review: Russia-US dialogue eyed in 2026 and EU seeks retreat after summit failure

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Trump unlikely to complete 'Golden fleet' in two years — Politico

According to the report, the US Navy has long struggled with meeting both a schedule and a budget when it comes to shipbuilding

Russian scientists create 72-qubit quantum computer — Rosatom Quantum Technologies

According to Yekaterina Solntseva, Director of Quantum Technologies at Rosatom State Corporation, it is especially important that the scientists have taken another step toward progressively improving the reliability of operations

Russia’s public debt among lowest in developed countries — PM Mishustin

According to Mikhail Mishustin, this makes it possible to continue implementing national projects, pursue efforts to achieve technological development goals

Russian-made Snickers bars on sale in London despite sanctions

Employees at one of the stores said they did not know where the bars were made

National security secretary Umerov returns to Ukraine after long absence

He reported to Vladimir Zelensky about negotiations in the United States

Russia-Armenia relations are developing well, Putin says

The Russian president said "the teams worked hard on all sides, prepared good documents, everything has been signed, and everything is moving forward"

US nuclear-powered submarine enters South Korean port

This is the first visit by a nuclear-powered submarine under President Lee Jae-myung

Up to ten Oreshnik systems to be deployed in Belarus — president

Alexander Lukashenko said an Oreshnik system has entered combat duty in the republic and denied media reports that it was deployed in Slutsk

Air defense systems destroy 29 Ukrainian UAVs over Russian regions overnight

In particular, 14 UAVs were intercepted over the Rostov region

Russian-Azerbaijani relations continue to develop — Kremlin spokesman

Azerbaijan continues to take part in all formats of the Commonwealth of Independent States, noted Dmitry Peskov

Trump approves a plan to build two new Battleships for the US Navy

The president specified that the United States could build 20-25 such ships

German top diplomat says Russia’s military successes pose 'serious threat' to NATO

Johann Wadephul also noted that there was no point in providing Ukraine with security guarantees without clear commitments from the United States

Share of new heavy trucks from China on Russian market falls to 53% in 11 months

Imports of Chinese trucks weighing more than 16 tons into Russia dropped by 90%

Putin’s envoy didn't brief Kremlin on Miami talks over phone — Kremlin spokesman

Dmitriev will report to President Vladimir Putin upon his arrival in Moscow, noted Dmitry Peskov

Silver price hits new all-time high, exceeding $70 per troy ounce

The price of gold also climbed by 2.96% to $4,517.3

London recklessly provokes US into confrontation with Russia — UK journalist

Frank Wright said "it's not realistic for the Europeans or the British to win a war against Russia"

Venezuela reiterates its commitment to peace, but will defend its sovereignty — Maduro

The president recalled that the US military had staged 28 attacks on civilian ships in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific, "executing 104 people extrajudicially" and stressed that Venezuela had done nothing that could justify the United States’ military pressure

Kiev acknowledges that it will probably lose Donetsk — JD Vance

The US Vice President suggested that territorial concessions "could be 12 months from now, it could be longer than that," stating that "territorial concession is a significant hold-up in the negotiations"

Russian general killed in Moscow listed in Ukraine’s unwanted persons database since 2022

Russian Investigative Committee Spokeswoman Svetlana Petrenko earlier reported that Fanil Sarvarov was killed in an explosion in southern Moscow on Monday morning

NATO seeking to invent pretexts to intervene in Ukraine — Russian MP

Leonid Slutsky recalled that Russia has repeatedly warned against deploying NATO military contingents to Ukraine

Russia to make more efforts to remove irritants in relations with US — senior diplomat

"Minimal progress has been made," Sergey Ryabkov added

FSB detains illegal migration organizers in five Russian regions — press office

According to the FSB, the offenders legalized over 2,000 citizens from the Asia-Pacific region and the Middle East

Ural Airlines plane makes emergency landing in Ashgabat

At present, the company is preparing a backup plane that will fly the passengers to Yekaterinburg

Iraq says Iran stops gas supplies due to 'extraordinary circumstances'

Ahmed Musa, head of the Iraqi ministry's press service, noted that Baghdad "has taken emergency measures to prevent a crisis at power plants until gas supplies resume"

US military strikes vessel in eastern Pacific, killing one — Pentagon

The attack was conducted by Joint Task Force Southern Spear at the direction of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on December 22

Russia denies reports about alleged evacuation of its embassy from Venezuela

The Russian Foreign Ministry called for vigilance and not to succumb to Western provocations

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"Zelensky has every lever at his disposal to curb and distort the will of the people and impose his conditions on the country in his personal concentration camp," Viktor Medvedchuk said

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Ukrainian parliament speaker moves to begin legislative process on holding elections

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Christmas in Europe to be peaceful, but military threat remains — Hungarian leader

Preparations for a war with Russia "are still under way in Europe behind closed doors," Viktor Orban said

Serbia supports Trump’s peace plan for Ukraine, offers venue for talks — top diplomat

Marko Duric said that Belgrade strongly support US President Donald Trump’s peace plan and all other initiatives that may put an end to hostilities

Senior Russian general killed in bomb blast in Moscow — Investigative Committee

"According to an investigation, on the morning of December 22, an explosive device planted under a car was activated on Yasenevaya Street in Moscow," Svetlana Petrenko said

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Street artist Banksy paints new mural near Russian embassy in London

The work shows two children in winter clothes, lying on their backs and looking at the stars

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According to media reports, Alexander Stubb has maintained close contact with US President Donald Trump

Ukrainian troops try to bypass Russian EWF systems using short-range UAVs — developer

According to the statement, such steps are an attempt by the enemy to complicate the operation of radio reconnaissance and electronic countermeasures, reduce the time of reliable detection, and increase the survivability of the command and control channel

Ukraine talks progress, territorial issues: statements by US vice president

JD Vance noted progress on the Ukraine front during the negotiations with Russian Presidential Special Envoy Kirill Dmitriev in Miami

Merz, Starmer, Macron lobby for West European military industry' gains — Duma member

Leonid Ivlev argued that they stand to gain from the prolongation of the Ukraine conflict

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Russian troops struck energy and port infrastructure used by the Ukrainian army and enemy deployment areas over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry reported

Russia welcomes foreign diplomats with open arms — MFA

Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Alimov said that diplomats should have the opportunity to see the host country

Russian forces now occupy both banks of Seversky Donets River — military expert

Andrey Marochko said that significant success has been achieved in this area in a very short time

Hungary refuses to ignore 'constitutional coup' in EU — minister for EU affairs

Janos Boka warned that the Hungarian government "will not sit idly by" as this happens

Baltic countries obsessed with idea of provoking Russia, Belarus — senior diplomat

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New German intelligence chief holds phone call with Russian counterpart — portal

The WDR broadcasting company’s investigative unit described the conversation as "a rare instance of direct contact between German and Russian agencies"

Death toll in Mexican Navy plane crash in Texas rises to five

One crew member has not yet been found

Trump says talks with Russia and Ukraine to resolve conflict are going along okay

"Everyone's tired of that war," the president added

Russian long-range aircraft upgrading improves weapons accuracy — Defense Ministry

The 111th anniversary of Russia’s Long-Range Aviation is marked on Tuesday

Fire in industrial zone and 29 downed drones: Ukrainian UAV attack aftermath

There were no casualties

Traces of US involvement in cyberattack on Venezuela’s oil, gas company — Politico

According to the report, it looks like a preconceived attack

Ukrainian attacks kill 20 Russian civilians, injure over 70 in week — diplomat

Rodion Miroshnik clarified that Ukrainian strike drones were the most frequent cause of civilian deaths or injuries

Vance indicates breakthrough in Ukraine talks between Russia, United States

The US vice president said that America would continue to make diplomatic efforts towards a Ukraine resolution

Russian troops pressing Ukrainian army in Krasny Liman direction — expert

Igor Kimakovsky said that Russian forces are also successfully fighting near the settlement of Ozyornoye

Security of Kaliningrad Region to be guaranteed by Russia’s full might — senior diplomat

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West politicizes UNESCO to focus on Ukraine, Lavrov says

The Russian foreign minister also pointed out that the previous UNESCO leadership had ignored the destruction of monuments

Assassination of General Sarvarov in Moscow is terrible tragedy — Kremlin

The security services will conduct an investigation, Dmitry Peskov said

Top Russian diplomat voices support to Venezuela over developments in Caribbean

The Russian side "reaffirmed its extensive support and solidarity with the people and the government of Venezuela"

Construction of ships for Trump's Golden Fleet expected to begin in 2030s — agency

According to the US president, the first ship is going to be named the USS Defiant

Battlegroup West destroys 33 UAV control points of Kiev forces in past 24 hours

Six Ukrainian Armed Forces field ammunition depots were discovered and destroyed

Special unit of Ukrainian International Legion neutralized — security forces

The Ukrainian command continues to use elite special forces as assault troops

Poland to build training range for joint maneuvers with Lithuania in Suwalki Gap

"There are no other examples of such facilities in Europe," Lithuanian Vice-minister of National Defense Bronius Bieliauskas said

Syrian foreign, defense ministers to visit Moscow for talks — SANA

The Syrian delegation will also include representatives of the General Directorate of Intelligence

Russian troops liberate two communities in Ukraine operation over past day — top brass

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicted roughly 160 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed three enemy armored combat vehicles in its areas of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Russian ship caught fire in Busan — Yonhap

One person was injured and remains in a grave condition in a local hospital, the news agency said

US State Department refutes rift between Rubio, Witkoff

White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly also pointed out that the information spread by NBC News is baseless, since both Rubio and Witkoff work together to settle the conflict in Ukraine

Moscow, Caracas reiterate brotherly ties, strategic cooperation — top Venezuelan diplomat

"During the phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, we again reiterated our brotherly relations, mutual respect, and strategic partnership between us," Yvan Gil Pinto said

Global gas consumption gain 25 bln cubic meters in 2025

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Top Turkish diplomat says phase two of Gaza deal may begin in early 2026

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Around 167,000 combat veterans already back from SMO zone — Kremlin

Sergey Novikov added that the integration of special military operation veterans into civilian life is one of the main challenges facing authorities at all levels and a comfortable environment for the fighters’ return must be created

Kiev loses about 20 battalions in fighting near Vilcha — expert

Vitaly Kiselev added that, despite heavy losses and massive, combined attacks by the Russian army, the Ukrainian army brigades have "a very large number of soldiers that go AWOL"

Authoritarian regimes in Europe use democracy as a cover — senior Russian lawmaker

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Russia sends home Ukrainians wishing to reunite with families — right commissioner

Tatyana Moskalkova noted that Russia had great difficulties in transporting the 15 Ukrainian nationals who were to reunite with their families because Ukrainian Nazis keep shelling the Kherson Region and we were unable to evacuate their own fellow citizens

Trump administration to recall 48 heads of diplomatic missions — NYP

At the same time, the Trump administration has not yet appointed the heads of diplomatic missions in its key partner countries

Trump warns Colombian president to shut down cocaine labs

Gustavo Petro needs to be careful because he has drug labs, they’re making cocaine in Colombia, the US president said

EU, Biden, his supporters to blame for Ukrainian conflict — top Russian lawmaker

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Russia, China promote new world order standing back-to-back — Russian ambassador

Igor Morgulov highlighted that Moscow and Beijing have faced unprecedented Western pressures aimed at stifling their development