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Japan expresses regret over Russian missile exercises in the Kurils
The Japanese government has expressed regret over Russia's missile exercises on the South Kuril island of Iturup, reported the Japanese newspaper Yomiuri.
After Russia notified Japan of the missile tests, Japan sent a corresponding statement expressing its regret through the Japanese Embassy in Moscow to the Russian authorities. Russia quickly dismissed Japan’s allegations. Japanese authorities also warned shipping companies and fishermen about the Russian exercises in the area.
On June 11, …
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Russian missile corvettes enter the Mediterranean Sea
Renowned ship-spotter and international affairs consultant Yörük Işık reported on twitter that two missile corvettes from the Russian Navy’s Caspian Flotilla entered the Mediterranean Sea.
The report identified the ships as two Buyan M-class corvettes, the Veliky Ustyug 651 and the Grad Sviyazhsk 652, both armed with SS-N-30 Kalibr land attack cruise missiles. The ships passed through the Bosporus, bound for the Mediterranean.
Işık noted that the ships were likely headed to a Russian military …
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Europe cuts back on Russian oil purchases by 20% due to poor quality
Europe continues to cut back on its oil purchases from Russia due to the dropping quality of the Urals variety.
At the end of January-May, shipments to the EU through the primary ports of export fell by double-digit figures, Transneft vice president Sergey Andronov told Vedomosti.
European clients bought 24% less from Primorsk than last year (16.1 million tons). Shipments out of Novorossiysk fell by 17% (to 7.7 million tons), and shipments from Ust-Luga by 26%.
Only the export volumes to …
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Russia's Gazprom to build pipeline through North Korea
Another Russian pipeline to Asia, announced by billionaire and major Gazprom contractor Gennady Timchenko in May, will pass through North Korea.
Gazprom, which is already engaged in the construction of gas pipelines to Turkey, the EU and China with a total cost of $25 billion, is negotiating a new construction project with South Korea, Gazprom deputy chairman Vitaly Markelov announced on Friday.
The project in question was mentioned in a memorandum with the South Korean company Cogas in 2008, …
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Tensions flare between Russian and Iranian forces in Syria
Tensions between Russian and Iranian forces have started to spread to the Syrian army.
Russia, which wants members of Hezbollah and Iranian troops to withdraw from the Golan Heights, is not happy with the fact that not all have left the area, reports the blog bmpd.
It has been noted that some Shiite units have begun wearing Syrian army uniforms and have continued the hostilities. Specifically, they have donned the uniforms of the 4th Panzer Division, which is under the command of Maher Assad, …