State Duma

The State Duma passed a bill delaying VAT tax hikes for small businesses under Russia’s simplified tax system. Small businesses will only pay the national value-added tax if their revenue exceeds $260,000.

Russia and Ukraine exchanged remains of over 550 fallen soldiers, with Ukraine receiving 522 bodies and Russia 33, according to State Duma member Shamsail Saraliyev.

President Zelensky has declassified intercepted Russian intelligence forecasts showing rising public disapproval of Vladimir Putin ahead of the September 20 State Duma elections, with projections indicating 33% disapproval and declining support for the United Russia party. The documents suggest growing regional protest sentiment as the Kremlin faces a domestic crisis.

Russian lawmakers have passed amendments banning the sale and online promotion of unlicensed foreign satellite terminals, targeting systems like Starlink. Officials claim the move addresses security risks and supports domestic satellite projects, with marketplaces removing listings and Russian firms developing competing low-orbit constellations.

Sberbank plans to offer crypto trading services once Russian regulations and exchange trading frameworks are established. The Bank of Russia classifies cryptocurrencies as high-risk, but a proposed 2025 regulation allows qualified and non-qualified investors to trade digital assets, with domestic payments still prohibited. A crypto legislation bill passed its first reading in Russia’s State Duma, aiming to establish a licensed intermediary system for digital currencies by July 2026.

Russia's State Duma approved a draft bill to regulate digital currencies, classifying crypto as property and allowing its use in foreign trade while banning domestic payments. The legislation establishes a licensing framework for market participants under the Bank of Russia's oversight, with implementation starting in 2026.