Stories from Moscow · Russia

Central Bank of Russia Governor Elvira Nabiullina stated that Russian savings serve as the primary source of financing for the national economy. Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina stated that pro-inflationary factors currently outweigh disinflationary ones.

Russia has installed interception equipment on the roofs of diplomatic premises.

Data from T-Bank indicates that 25-year-old Russians have average savings approximately 1.5 times lower than those aged 30. The average savings for this younger group is 350,000 rubles. The report notes that savings growth is directly linked to increased income levels. Over a five-year period, individuals reportedly earn 20% more and begin saving money regularly. According to T-Bank data, Russians aged 30 have accumulated an average of 500,000 rubles in savings. This amount is ten times less than the target amount reported by the survey. The data was discussed by analyst Dmitry Drize on Kommersant FM.

Russia's Rospotrebnadzor has banned the sale of Baikal Pearl bottled water, citing potentially unsafe production. The ban affects 0.53-liter glass bottles produced on August 22, 2025, with an expiration date of August 28, 2027. The regulator previously blocked nearly 1.5 million bottles of Jer Mug mineral water in late April due to excessive bicarbonate and oxide levels. Retail and online sales of the affected Baikal Pearl batch are prohibited. This event has been reported by multiple sources. The reason for the ban was not immediately specified. No further information regarding the ban was provided. This action affects the distribution of the bottled water product within Russia. The 'Chestny Znak' system operator blocked the sale of 112,000 bottles of 'Baikal Pearl' water. The action was taken following instructions from the Russian consumer watchdog.

President Vladimir Putin has expressed support for the creation of a new art gallery. The project involves an artist and a gallery owner who expressed gratitude for the support. The gallery is expected to begin operations on Wednesday, coinciding with an art biennale.

A building in a wealthy district of Moscow near the Kremlin sustained damage to its upper floors. Debris from the tower fell onto parked cars adjacent to the building. No injuries were reported following the incident.

Lukoil shares dropped 5.3 percent at the market opening today. The decline was driven by a dominant sell-off in the company's stock. Other market movements included a 1.5 percent decrease for RusAl and a 3.10 percent drop for Polyus. The MOEX Index also saw a decrease of 0.5 percent. Total deposits in the country stand at 3.44 trillion rubles, while core account balances are 6.74 trillion rubles. Lukoil shares fell 5.5% following the dividend cutoff. In Moscow and Khimki, the number of transactions increased by nearly 55%. Demand in the Moscow and Leningrad regions saw a fivefold increase.

Human infection with hantavirus occurs mainly through contact with rodents that act as natural carriers. According to Rospotrebnadzor, transmission happens via inhalation of aerosols containing the virus from infected animal excrement and saliva, particularly in enclosed spaces. There is currently no vaccine for hantavirus. Experts state that human transmission of the hantavirus family is very complicated and difficult. The discussion occurred in the context of a cruise ship where three people died from the virus. The source noted that health system reliability is a concern for travelers. The World Health Organization admitted a scenario where antavirus can be transmitted between people. The statement follows observations regarding transmission risks among individuals on board vessels or transport. No specific number of cases or exact locations of outbreaks were provided in the report.

Sales of used cars in Russia increased by 12% in April compared to March. This growth was observed across all federal districts in the country. The data was reported by Izvestia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, stated on May 3 that Russia will use special military operations to force a resolution if Ukraine is unwilling to reach an agreement. Regarding the situation in Ukraine, Russian Presidential Press Secretary Peskov stated on the 3rd that if Ukraine is unwilling to reach an agreement, Russia will force it through a special military operation. Russian air defense systems destroyed 39 Ukrainian drones over eight Russian regions this morning. The CNR Voice of China reported these statements and meetings. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to participate in a series of bilateral and multilateral talks. Finland recently decided to add 300 million USD in special funds for Ukrainian defense support.