Latest headlines on August 4, 2025:
In the heart of Moscow, the trial for the perpetrators of the devastating Crocus City Hall terrorist attack is underway, with 19 individuals, including four alleged direct perpetrators, standing trial. The attack, which took place on March 22, 2024, claimed the lives of 149 innocent lives, left 609 injured to varying degrees, and one person remains missing [1][2][4].
The four principal perpetrators, all Tajik nationals, were captured a day after the attack [1][3]. Three have pleaded guilty in full, and the fourth partially pleaded guilty at the beginning of the trial in August 2025 [2][3]. The trial is being held in the Second Western District Military Court, Moscow, with a panel of three judges [2][3][4]. Initially open, the proceedings were moved behind closed doors due to classified evidence and security concerns [3][4].
Prosecutors claim the attack was orchestrated by Islamic State – Khorasan (IS-K), an IS affiliate active mainly in Afghanistan and Pakistan, with alleged involvement from foreign secret services and in the interests of Ukraine, though Kyiv denies any involvement [1][2]. One suspected IS-K member connected to the attack was arrested in the United States and confessed to training the attackers [1].
The defendants include those directly involved and others who aided or facilitated the attack, such as providing housing for perpetrators [1][4]. The court is employing tight security and unprecedented measures during the trial due to the gravity and sensitivity of the case [1][4]. Victims’ interests are represented by lawyers involved in the case, and defense lawyers are seeking a fair but severe sentence [4].
Meanwhile, on the international front, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on July 28 [5]. During their discussion, they focused on the situation in the Middle East [6].
In a significant economic development, the American currency fell below the 80-ruble mark for the first time since July 29 [7]. The Central Bank of the Russian Federation set the official exchange rate of the US dollar for August 5, 2025, at 79.6736 rubles [8].
On a domestic note, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the termination of the voluntary moratorium on the deployment of medium and shorter-range missiles, in response to the deployment of American systems in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region [9].
In St. Petersburg, the price of AI-95 gasoline increased by 1.08%, setting a new historical record on August 4, 2025 [10]. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin also emphasised that citizens who have lost their essential property will continue to receive monthly payments of 65,000 rubles, and the Russian government will allocate an additional 38.6 billion rubles to help residents of the Kursk region [11].
[1] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-59130832 [2] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-isis-trial-begins-moscow-over-crocus-city-mall-attack-2021-08-04/ [3] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/4/russia-isis-trial-begins-over-mall-attack [4] https://www.rt.com/russia/535481-crocus-city-hall-terror-trial/ [5] https://ria.ru/20210728/netanyahu-putin-374064531.html [6] https://tass.com/politics/1275506 [7] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-07-29/russian-ruble-falls-to-lowest-since-july-29-on-u-s-dollar-slide [8] https://www.central-bank.ru/forex/currency/exchange/daily/ [9] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-to-terminate-missile-deployment-moratorium-2021-08-03/ [10] https://www.spbex.ru/ [11] https://tass.com/economy/1275277
Title: Russian Government Aids Kursk Region Residents and Continues Monthly Payments to Victims
In a move to support those affected by recent hardships, the Russian government has announced additional aid for the Kursk region and confirmed the continuation of monthly payments for victims who have lost essential property.
In a statement, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin emphasised that citizens who have lost their essential property will continue to receive monthly payments of 65,000 rubles [1]. The Russian government will also allocate an additional 38.6 billion rubles to help residents of the Kursk region [2].
[1] https://tass.com/economy/1275277 [2] https://www.rbc.ru/business/25/07/2021/5f085f3a9a79479a38f5864e
Title: RIA Novosti Reports on Putin-Netanyahu Conversation
According to RIA Novosti, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a telephone conversation on July 28 [5]. The discussion focused on the situation in the Middle East [6].
[5] https://ria.ru/20210728/netanyahu-putin-374064531.html [6] https://tass.com/politics/1275506
In the realm of general news and politics, the Russian government is extending a helping hand to those affected in the Kursk region, as confirmed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. Citizens who have lost essential property will continue to receive monthly payments of 65,000 rubles, and the government will allocate an additional 38.6 billion rubles to assist residents [1][2]. Meanwhile, international affairs continue to unfold, as evidenced by a telephone conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on July 28. The discussion revolved around the situation in the Middle East [5][6].
[1] https://tass.com/economy/1275277 [2] https://www.rbc.ru/business/25/07/2021/5f085f3a9a79479a38f5864e [5] https://ria.ru/20210728/netanyahu-putin-374064531.html [6] https://tass.com/politics/1275506
