VTB and the largest Russian marketplace Wildberries are discussing a merger, RBC wrote today. Wildberries denies this - the company’s founder Tatyana Kim, when asked about VTB’s entry into the capital of the marketplace, said: “100% no, this is complete nonsense.” VTB remained silent. But rumors about the deal have been public for two months now.

THIS MATERIAL (INFORMATION) IS PRODUCED AND DISTRIBUTED BY THE BELL'S FOREIGN AGENT OR CONCERNES THE ACTIVITIES OF THE BELL'S FOREIGN AGENT. 18+ Today, after the RSPP congress, Vladimir Putin held a closed meeting with major businessmen. The contents of such meetings are usually not disclosed, and after the outbreak of war even the list of their participants is classified. But, according to The Bell's sources, Putin discussed with the oligarchs the continuation of the war and its financing.

The Russian economy enters 2026 in a state of external stability, but internal exhaustion. Formally, the situation remains manageable: the budget deficit is not out of control, the banking system is stable, and unemployment is at a minimum. But behind this façade are financial, regional, and sectoral problems that can no longer be mitigated by reserves or growth. The buffers that made it possible to mitigate the war-related problems of the economy are being exhausted.

Yesterday it became known that on the eve of the New Year, Vladmir Putin, by his decree, seized another remarkable asset from a foreign owner. The new victim of the Russian authorities was the Danish group Rockwool, which owned four enterprises in Russia for the production of heat and sound insulation materials. The Bell found out that the assets were transferred to the management of the Rostec structure.

On New Year's Eve, Vladimir Putin, by decree, confiscated another remarkable asset from a foreign owner, but this became known only now. The new victim of the Russian authorities was the Danish group Rockwool, which owned four enterprises in Russia producing heat and sound insulation materials from stone wool.

On New Year's Eve, Vladimir Putin, by decree, confiscated another remarkable asset from a foreign owner, but this became known only today. The new victim of the Russian authorities was the Danish group Rockwool, which owned four enterprises in Russia producing heat and sound insulation materials from stone wool.

The best films, TV series and other results of the year from Larisa Malyukova. Asks Irina Petrovskaya The New Year and long holidays are ahead - a time when you especially want a calm, smart and warm movie. What to watch at home after feasts and champagne? What can you do to go to the movies?

Vladimir Putin, at a closed meeting with business on Wednesday, praised marketplaces: they curb inflation and help establish the export of Russian goods under sanctions, The Bell learned. During the war, Yuri Kovalchuk became a co-owner of the largest Russian marketplaces.

Vladislav Šmigelski / Pexels Without waiting for the New Year holidays, Roskomnadzor began a full-fledged blocking of WhatsApp in Russia. Starting today, the speed of the messenger has decreased by 70–80%, and RKN warned of an imminent complete blocking.

This material (information) was produced and distributed by foreign agents The Bell and Malkova Irina Vladimirovna or concerns the activities of Foreign Agents The Bell and Malkova Irina Vladimirovna. 18+ On Friday, VTB notified the employees of his central office at Moscow City that, due to the threat of drones, most of them would have to, as to Covid, go to remote work, learned The Bell. Already today, most of the bank employees stayed home.

THIS MATERIAL (INFORMATION) IS PRODUCED AND DISTRIBUTED BY THE BELL'S FOREIGN AGENT OR CONCERNES THE ACTIVITIES OF THE BELL'S FOREIGN AGENT. 18+ Dear readers! In gratitude for your support, in 2023 we launched a special newsletter from the founders of The Bell - Elizaveta Osetinskaya * , Irina Malkova * and Peter Mironenko. In it, one of us examines a key event in recent months and shares what we ourselves are thinking about in this regard.

Dear readers! In gratitude for your support in 2023, we launched a special newsletter from The Bell - Elizabeth Ossetian * , Irina Malkova * and Peter Mironenko. In it, one of us analyzes the key event of the last months and shares what we ourselves think in this regard. This is a more personal letter than all our other mailings. And we are glad that many of you answer us. Communication and support at all times are very important. Today's letter is from Ira Malkova.

While the world followed Trump’s tariff revolution, and Russian missiles killed civilians in Ukrainian cities with dozens, Donald Trump's special representative Steve Witkoff again met with Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg. On the Russian side, the meeting was organized by the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, Kirill Dmitriev, who plays an increasingly important role in contacts between Russia and the USA.

This material (information) was produced and distributed by foreign agent Malkova Irina Vladimirovna or concerns the activities of the foreign agent Malkova Irina Vladimirovna. 18+ The further negotiations are being advanced between Russia, the USA and Ukraine, the less the probability of a truce seems. After the new round, in Saudi Arabia, the parties stated that they had agreed on a ceasefire in the Black Sea - in fact, the reanimation of the “grain transaction” who had died in 2023.

The weakening of the ruble today turned into a collapse: it lost 8.5% in a day, about 11% in a week, returning to the panic levels of March 2022. A year ago, Dmitry Peskov advised the population not to pay attention to the exchange rate. But this “vestige of the past” will lead to a new surge in inflation.