-
Syrian military: Russian Air Force played key role in Syrian Army's victories
The support of Russian Air Force played the central role in recent victories of the Syrian army in the fight with militants, as stated by the Chief of the General Staff of the Syrian Arab Army, Ali Abdullah Ayyoub.
"The support provided by Russian Aerospace Forces played the central role in these victories, paving the way to the agreement on cessation of hostilities and creating the relevant conditions for launching the process of political settlement of the crisis in Syria,” Ayyoub said …
-
Separatists restrict import of goods from Ukrainian territory
The import of products by citizens of Ukraine was restricted to 50 kg per person in the Donetsk People’s Republic. In November 2016, the maximum permissible weight of products allowed for import to the territories of the Donbas, which are beyond Kyiv’s control, was increased from 50 to 75 kg per person, an OSCE SMM report says.
However, OSCE observers later recorded several cars in the queue at the entrance and exit of a so-called DPR checkpoint. “An armed representative of DPR told the OSCE …
-
Media: Serbia has created an 'army of online trolls'
Experts assert that the Serbian government has a whole army of internet trolls that creates a parallel reality on the web. They post stories indicating that everything is fine in the country and any critics of the authorities are enemies of Serbia, Duetsche Welle reported.
A Serbian news agency interviewed a woman who claims to have been one of the "fighters" in the Internet trolls’ army. This army is used by the ruling Serbian Progressive Party and its leader, Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić, …
-
Abe hopes to reach an agreement with Russia over Kuril Islands
On Sunday, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he plans to visit Russia early this year in order to reach a settlement on the contested Kuril Islands, TASS reported.
Speaking in the Yamaguchu Prefecture, Abe said, "Having the firm intention to settle [Kuril Islands] within this generation, we hope [to apply] every effort for negotiations.”
"For that, early this year I want to visit Russia,” Abe added.
The dispute over the four Kuril Islands, which Tokyo considers its “northern …
-
Gazprom announces record-breaking deliveries through Nord Stream
For three consecutive days, Gazprom has been reaching new records in volumes of gas transported through the Nord Stream pipeline, at a level of 165.5 million cubic meters per day, according to a statement from the company, Prime.ru reports.
"Under the conditions of an increased demand for gas in Europe, Gazprom, for three consecutive days – January 4, 5 and 6, has been reaching new record volumes of gas sent through the Nord Stream pipeline, at 165.2 million cubic meters per day," the …
-
Russian MP: US military activity is turning Europe into a 'powder keg'
The First Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Federation Council Committee on Defense and Security, Franz Klintsevich, stated that the United States, by sending US forces and military equipment to Europe, are transforming Europe into a powder keg, Interfax reported.
On Saturday, Klintsevich said that, “the softest adjectives that come to mind characterizing this step are the words provocative, brash and demonstrative. The US and NATO deliberately run up against a tough response from our side. It is no …
-
Ukraine hires BGR Group to lobby in Washington
The administration of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has hired the BGR Group to lobby on behalf of Kyiv’s interests in Washington, Deutsche Welle reported, citing information from the Foreign Agent Registration Unit (FARA) of the US Department of Justice.
The BGR Group was founded by Haley Barbour, former chairman of the Republican National Committee and Governor of Mississippi.
According to federal law, all individuals and firms that carry out foreign governments orders should report …
-
German security agency found Russian link to cyber-attack against OSCE
A Russian trace in December’s cyber-attack against the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) was discovered by the German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution. Following the attack, OSCE representatives admitted that it is possible for hackers to have gained access to the organization’s secret documents.
Experts hired by the OSCE blamed the attack on the hacker groups ART 28 and ART 29. ART 28 is also known as Fancy Bear and the ART 29 as Cozy Bear. It is …
-
Russia's arms exports estimated to stay at $14 billion level in 2017
In 2017, Russia is expected to export arms and military equipment worth about $14 billion, Interfax reported.Last fall, Alexander Fomin, the head of the Federal Service for Russia’s Military-Technical Cooperation (FS MTC), reported that the expected weapon exports for 2017 are worth $14 billion. At the Army-2016 forum, when answering questions about military equipment, Fomin said that Russia had sold arms and military equipment to the tune of about $14 billion and "approximately the same …
-
Head of Ukrainian State Security: No attempts on Yanukovych’s life were made
The head of the of State Security Department (SSD) of Ukraine, Valeriy Heletey, stated that there were no attempts made on the ex-President’s life.
"The investigation concluded that there was no evidence of attempts on the ex-President’s life,” Heletey said in an interview with Segodnya.
"All the servicemen from the State Security Department who were part of Yanukovych’s last cortege and refused to leave Ukraine with him, were interviewed; none of them identified any attempts,” he said.
At …
