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Household funds in Russian banks up by 5.6% in December — regulator

Overall, by the end of 2025, the volume of household funds in the banking system increased by 16.2%, or $123 bln

MOSCOW, February 3. /TASS/. Household funds in Russian banks increased by 5.6%, or by 3.6 trillion rubles ($46.7 bln), to 67 trillion rubles ($869 bln) in December 2025, according to the Central Bank.

The increase in household funds was driven by the traditional advance payment of January social payments, including pensions and child benefits, as well as the payment of annual bonuses.

Overall, by the end of 2025, the volume of household funds in the banking system increased by 16.2%, or 9.5 trillion rubles ($123 bln).

Last year, retail investors became more interested in investing in securities. Their net deposits into brokerage accounts for January-September 2025 amounted to 1.9 trillion rubles ($24.6 bln), compared to 1 trillion rubles ($12.9 bln) for the same period in 2024. The bulk of these funds were directed into bonds with fixed rate coupon, which allowed investors to lock in returns amid the Bank of Russia's easing monetary policy.

Russian stock indices up as main trading session on Moscow Exchange closes

The MOEX Index rose 0.64% to 2,786.15 points, while the dollar-denominated RTS Index rose 0.69% to 1,140.14 points

India to buy US and not Russian oil, Trump says

This will help to end the conflict in Ukraine, the US president added

US proposes dialogue to Iran, chance to avoid war exists — Supreme leader’s advisor

According to Ali Shamkhani, Tehran is ready to reduce uranium enrichment from 60% to 20% with US concessions

France preparing neo-colonial coups in Africa — Russian Foreign Intelligence Service

"Emmanuel Macron's administration is feverishly seeking opportunities for 'political revenge' in Africa," the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service’s press bureau noted

Gazans enter Egypt for medical aid for the first time in a year — TV

The injured are accompanied by relatives, the TV channel said

Russian-Japanese dialogue on Arctic Region frozen — Russian Foreign Ministry

Tokyo took the extremely adverse position in the context of the Ukrainian crisis, the Russian Foreign Ministry said

Ukrainian army banned from capturing Russian servicemen — counterintelligence officer

Sergey Mykhaylov said the order was to interrogate and kill Russian soldiers

IOC discriminates against Russian athletes — Russian Olympic chief

Japan’s Kyodo News Agency pointed out that this was the first public announcement to the Japanese media on behalf of the Russian Olympic chief since the beginning of Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine

Russia’s Justice Ministry designates four foreign organizations as undesirable

In particular, European cryptocurrency exchange WhiteBit, the US-based International Women's Media Foundation, Ukraine’s Regional Center for Human Rights and the W Group fintech ecosystem have been blacklisted

Moscow, Washington maintain dialogue at various levels — Russia’s MFA

The ministry also stressed that it’s quite hard to talk about the future of Russia-US relations at this point

Afghanistan wants to buy oil and gas from Russia — Ambassador to Moscow

"Trade and economic relations between the two countries are currently developing," Gul Hassan said

Russian scientist copes with mathematical problem unsolved for 190 years

This breakthrough radically changes the understanding of one of the oldest areas of mathematics, crucial to fundamental physics and economics

US, India negotiate trade deal — Trump

The United States will charge a reduced Reciprocal Tariff, lowering it from 25% to 18%

IN BRIEF: What we know about training plane crash in Orenburg Region

According to preliminary data, two university students and an instructor were aboard the plane

Second round of Abu Dhabi talks set for Wednesday and Thursday, Kremlin announces

According to Dmitry Peskov, the talks were originally slated for February 1, but the three sides’ timetables needed an extra adjustment

Russia continues work on ice base near North Pole

The base is due to open in 2027

Trump believes Epstein tried to prevent his election victory

The US leader stressed that he had nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein

No justifying US’ violation of international law in Caracas — Russian foreign ministry

The Russian foreign ministry stressed that this was a blatant and cynical violation of international law and the United Nations Charter principles

Russia sees Berlin's ultimatums as 'absurd'

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the German authorities are trying to kill the process of historical reconciliation of the peoples of Russia and Germany, the biggest thing determining Europe’s fate

WHO chief describes 2025 as one of most difficult years in organization's history

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized that WHO’s superpower is its convening power

Jordan's top diplomat vows not to let country be used as base for attacks on Iran

Ayman Safadi reiterated Jordan’s support for efforts to ease tensions and establish calm in the Middle East

UK revokes accreditation of Russian diplomat — Foreign Office

According to a Foreign Office spokesperson, the decision comes in response to Moscow’s move to expel a British diplomat

Russia says US cannot single-handedly change South Africa's G20 participation status

Russia was among the first to directly and openly support the immediate resumption of South Africa's work in the G20

FSB prevents terrorist attack on headquarters in Crimea

According to the plan of the Ukrainian special services, the detonation of the explosive device would have led to the death of not only FSB officers, but also the man who brought the bomb

War crimes against Russia have no statute of limitations — Medvedev

According to the politician, this applies not only to those "misled by the Bandera regime," but also to foreign mercenaries and a number of other individuals

Laura Fernandez wins presidential election in Costa Rica after 94% of ballots counted

Laura Fernandez won 48.33% of the vote

Russia takes Kiev’s terrorist steps into account when elaborating its negotiating position

The ministry recalled Kiev’s attack on the Russian president’s residence overnight to December 29, 2025

Finland loses status of ‘honest broker,’ cannot be intermediary — Russian Foreign Ministry

The Russian Foreign Ministry also noted that Moscow "has no reason to assume the possibility for Finland to become an intermediary in any future negotiation processes"

Russia, US agree not to disclose Ukraine talks to avoid harming outcome — Medvedev

The Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman noted that security guarantees on the Ukrainian issue could not be unilateral, as such guarantees did not work

US needs to dominate in space — Pentagon chief

Pete Hegseth justified this goal by stating that "whoever controls the high ground controls the fight"

Turkey, Azerbaijan to prove supplying non-Russian gas to EU — regulation

"The interconnection point Strandzha 1 connects the Union to a pipeline system which transports not only gas from the Republic of Azerbaijan or the Republic of Turkey, but also significant volumes of gas from the Russian Federation," the EU said

Elon Musk merges his companies xAI, SpaceX

According to the SpaceX press release, the merger will eventually allow placing AI data centers in space, powered by solar energy

Kremlin says nothing to add to previous statements on energy ceasefire

Earlier, US President Donald Trump had asked his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to refrain from striking Kiev until February 1 "to create favorable conditions for negotiations"

Kiev continues policy of destroying canonical Orthodoxy — Russian Foreign Ministry

This policy is accompanied by massive violation of religious freedoms, seizure of churches, violence and repression

Netherlands ambassador to Russia urges to keep diplomatic channels of interaction open

According to Joanneke Balfoort, representatives of the Netherlands maintain "functional" contacts with Russian diplomats

Iran has no intent to ship nuclear stockpiles to third countries — Ayatollah’s advisor

There is no reason for this, Ali Shamkhani said

Iran prepared to negotiate on nuclear dossier only with US — Supreme leader’s advisor

Ali Shamkhani stressed that bilateral negotiations should begin based on the condition that "illogical and unfounded demands are avoided"

Russia sees Arctic as region of special strategic importance — MFA

The ministry stressed that any attempts to ignore Russia’s interests in the Arctic will not go unanswered but will have far-reaching consequences

Hungary files lawsuit in EU Court of Justice against EU ban of Russian energy — Szijjarto

The minister explained that the Council of the EU had no right to adopt such a decision by majority vote

Russia sees real threat of nuclear weapons proliferation in collective West

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, speculation about the acquisition of their own or collective military nuclear potential by the states that do not possess nuclear weapons within the meaning of the NPT has become more frequent

Russia is the only country implementing small nuclear plant projects in practice — Rosatom

"All the other ones are dealing with their presentation," Alexey Likhachev said

Taking heights at Ternovatoye allowed Russian army to liberate Pridorozhnoye — expert

According to Andrey Marochko, the Russian troops occupied a number of high ground areas and began to develop their success both towards southwest and advancing northward toward the Dnepropetrovsk Region

Trump believes US-Cuba deal close at hand

Washington is dealing with the Cuban leaders, Donald Trump said

Moscow lauds Myanmar for 'weathering' Western attempts to meddle in its elections

Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu congratulated first minister of the Myanmar’s Presidential Office Tin Aung San and the people of Myanmar on the general elections’ success

After mopping up at Pridorozhnoye, Russian troops begin offensive on Zaporozhye — expert

Andrey Marochko noted that there were some gaps in the Ukraine’s defenses in this sector

In Ukraine, 20,000 out of 30,000 mobilized soldiers per month go AWOL

By 2025, more than 200,000 conscripts are projected to have deserted or gone AWOL

Medvedev says US capture of Maduro can't be legally justified

On January 3, the United States attacked civilian and military facilities in Caracas

Japan’s policy of remilitarization poses threat to peace in Asia-Pacific — Russian MFA

This undermines the trust of Tokyo's neighbors, the ministry noted

Russia-China relations seen as factor of stability — Russian foreign ministry

Russia and China are consistently strengthening cooperation in the global arena, the Russian foreign ministry said

Russia worried over increasingly aggressive rhetoric towards Cuba — foreign ministry

Russia is closely following the situation in Latin America and the Caribbean region

Russia, Myanmar discuss personnel training in energy security — Shoigu

The Russian Security Council Secretary noted that the parties will hold "extensive negotiations regarding Roscosmos," concerning both the satellite system and training specialists in the use of satellite information for the country’s daily needs

UAVs totally change combat pattern, no return to past possible — Medvedev

"Now, everyone is trying to catch up as quickly as possible," the Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman added

Foundation of ex-wife of British Prince Andrew closes after Epstein dossier publication

"The charity will shortly close for the foreseeable future," an official representative of Sarah's Trust stated

US strike on Iran would make Israel target for Tehran — Supreme leader’s advisor

Ali Shamkhani emphasized that Iran's response must be proportionate

Russia surprised by US making Venezuela de facto colony — Medvedev

Russia definitely considers Venezuela to be a friendly state, the Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council said

Russia destroys Ukraine’s HIMARS MLRS, S-300 launchers — top brass

Russian troops have liberated the settlement of Pridorozhnoye in the Zaporozhye Region

Russia calls on US to release Maduro, his wife — foreign ministry

Russia reiterates its unwavering support for the Venezuelan authorities in their efforts to defend their country’s sovereignty

British, US spy planes spotted near Russia’s Kaliningrad Region

As of 5:10 p.m. Moscow time, both planes were still in the airspace near the Kaliningrad Region

FACTBOX: What is known about Hungary's lawsuit against EU ban on Russian gas supplies

Similar plans are being developed in Brussels for Russian oil and nuclear fuel

Gold's sharp drop linked to speculative sentiment - Bloomberg

Following the decline in gold prices, investors began to close their positions in the asset, which triggered a sharper fall in the price of the precious metal

Russia resolutely condemns terrorist attack on airport in Niger — MFA

Moscow will continue to make a constructive contribution to strengthening regional security

Trump rejects allegations of visiting Epstein’s island

The US president threatened to go to court over the claims

Military victory in special military operation visible on several fronts — Medvedev

The goal of Russia’s victory in the special military operation includes preventing new conflicts, Medvedev said

DPRK is true ally, Russia will not forget heroism of its soldiers, Medvedev says

At the initiative of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, the Korean People's Army provided assistance to the Russian Armed Forces in liberating the Kursk Region from Ukrainian forces

Risks of a global war remain very high — Medvedev

The politician noted that he perceived "the decreasing pain threshold" as the main danger

Rodriguez holds meeting with US charge d’affaires for Venezuela

The meeting took place at the Miraflores palace, the Bolivarian Republic Information Minister Miguel Angel Perez said

Russian senator rings WWIII alarm bell over potential US invasion of Iran

Vladimir Dzhabarov stressed that Iran was a large and "well-armed" country

Russia defends people in Donbass, Kiev commits war crimes there — Medvedev

The politician emphasized that the list of Kiev regime's crimes was well known and Russia's Prosecutor General's Office had a powerful evidence base of them

Russia not seeking global conflict — Medvedev

The Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman reiterated that Moscow had repeatedly warned the West and NATO countries, calling on them to take Russia’s interests into account

Trumps says against relocating UN headquarters from New York

The US leader also emphasized that he was sure he could "solve the problem" on non-payment of UN contributions by some countries "very easily"

Berlin's nuclear arming goes against international pacts — Russia's MFA

This follows from the answers of the Foreign Ministry to media questions dedicated to Sergey Lavrov's news conference summing up the results of Russian diplomacy in 2025

Indian PM thanked Trump for reducing customs tariff for country

"When two large economies and the world’s largest democracies work together, it benefits people," Narendra Modi said

EU authorities unable to respond to global challenges or even recognize them — Peskov

People in power in most European countries are "poorly educated, irresponsible", the Kremlin Spokesman said

Russia has strong energy-generation prospects to support AI development — Medvedev

Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev noted that energy consumption will only continue to rise as AI spreads

Support for special op in Russian society remains high — pollster

Popular assessments of how the operation is proceeding show similar dynamics, with 65% of the polled saying that Russian forces are acting rather successfully

First group of Palestinians returns to Gaza from Egypt — TV

The number of people was not specified

Ten Ukrainian drones shot down over Russian regions overnight

Three of them were destroyed over the Belgorod Region

Liberation of Toretskoye, DPR from Ukrainian soldiers took about month — Russian commander

On January 31, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported the liberation of the settlement

FIFA needs to clear Russia to play internationally, says Infantino

"This ban has not achieved anything," FIFA chief Gianni Infantino said

Russia won’t make any demarches to US before expiration of New START — senior diplomat

Sergey Ryabkov said that Moscow did everything necessary in a timely manner

One can learn from DPRK how to achieve results with limited resources — Medvedev

The Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council expressed deep respect for North Korea’s resilience and ingenuity

Failure to reach deal with US to have consequences for Iran — Trump

The US President emphasized that he would like to see the deal negotiated

FIFA Council unlikely to hold vote on lifting sanctions against Russia — daily

Russian national football teams are currently barred by all FIFA-sanctioned bodies from playing at the 2028 UEFA Euro Cup

Trump’s management style negatively impacts dollar’s exchange rate — WP

According to the newspaper, the dollar has lost over 10% of its value since Donald Trump’s return to office in January 2025

EU to ban purchases of Russian platinum, copper — Bloomberg

Such measures will be incorporated into the 20th package of anti-Russian sanctions, the news agency says

Clintons agree to testify in Epstein case — newspaper

Previously, Former US President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had for months refused to comply with subpoenas, calling the investigation politically motivated

Russia says work on prisoner exchanges between it, US goes on via intelligence channels

"Such information should not be prematurely disclosed," the Russian Foreign Ministry said

IN BRIEF: What we know about bus accident in Krasnoyarsk Region where minors died

According to preliminary data, the accident occurred after a trailer with a modular house disconnected from the truck

Russia condemns threats of new strikes on Iran as inadmissible — foreign ministry

The Russian Foreign Ministry resolutely rejects any attempts to blackmail Iran’s foreign partners by increased tariffs

US creating strategic reserve of critical minerals — Trump

The US leader emphasized that it will be used for civilian purposes in times of emergency

Trump, Petro to meet at White House on February 3 at 4 p.m. GMT

The meeting will be held in a format closed to journalists

Russia sends ideas to US on how to break down walls in stilted relations — MFA

The Russian Foreign Ministry also pointed out that Moscow appreciated the dedicated efforts the Donald Trump administration has been making towards a Ukraine deal from day one in office

Lavrov to hold talks with visiting Swiss counterpart on February 6

According to Maria Zakharova, the talks will focus on ways of overcoming the current profound OSCE crisis

Russian forces advance in southeast of Konstantinovka, DPR, over day — military expert

"Konstantinovka is the last major stronghold of Ukrainian militants in Donbass," Andrey Marochko noted

Russian forces acting with utmost caution in Donbass, Novorossia — Medvedev

Western analysts often say that if Russia had behaved differently in this territory, the consequences would have been entirely different, Dmitry Medvedev said

Ukrainians from Marinera tanker afraid to return home for fear of persecution

The crew consisted of 28 people in total

Australia announces sanctions against Iranian citizens, entities

"20 individuals and 3 entities sanctioned today include senior officials and entities of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps," Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said

Russia to use nuclear weapons if faced with existential threat — Medvedev

The Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman stressed that Moscow acts in strict accordance with its nuclear doctrine

Gas extraction from European UGS facilities hits third-highest level in history in January

Gas withdrawals from European storage facilities in January totaled 23.9 bln cubic meters

Bill Gates promoted unproven vaccines, blocked Sputnik — Russian envoy

"Gates became a Gatekeeper on vaccines through his foundation and effective control of vaccine alliances like Gavi," Kirill Dmitriev said

Press review: Epstein files weigh on Trump and Bitcoin plunges with little hope ahead

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, February 2nd