• Ukraine: Russia only partially opened Zapad-2017 military exercises to observers

    Observers from Ukraine assessed the joint Russian-Belarusian exercise Zapad-2017 as "partially open." This was reported by the press service of the General Staff of the Armed Forces or Ukraine.

    According to the Staff, part of Zapad-2017 where international observers were allowed was not sufficiently open. "They did not allow representatives of the invited countries to make sure that the declared objectives of the exercises corresponded to the current norms and methods of the usage of troops," …

  • Canada may take part in construction of ammunition plant in Ukraine

    Canada may join the construction of an ammunition plant in Ukraine, according to the Minister of Defense, Stepan Poltorak, as indicated in a press briefing, RBC-Ukraine news agency reports.

    "We looked at the prospects for Canada to be included in the State’s e armament and equipment manufacturing. We also discussed the purchase of equipment and facilities from our Canadian friends and also discussed the accession of Canada to the ammunition plant construction in Ukraine," Poltorak said. …

  • Russia threatens to block Facebook

    Facebook may stop its work in Russia in 2018 if it does not comply with the law on the localization of personal data, said the head of Roskomnadzor (Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media) Alexander Zharov, reports Interfax.

    "The law applies to everyone. In any case, either we will accomplish the law’s implementation, or the company will cease working on the territory of the Russian Federation, as, unfortunately, was the case with  …

  • Russian State Border Service buys 50 km of fence to install on the Crimea-Ukraine border

    The Russian-controlled Border Service of the Federal Security Service for the Crimea announced the purchase of 49.5 km of a fence for installation near the administrative border with annexed Crimea, Kryminform news agency reports with reference to the website of state purchases of neighboring Russia.

    According to the document, 212.9 million rubles ($3.6 million) were allocated for the purchase and installation of a full-profile fence. "The engineering barrier is intended for use as a part of …

  • Russia: the US intends to withdraw from Open Skies Treaty

    The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that Washington was going to restrict the conditions of Russian military aircraft flights over the territory of the United States within the framework of the Treaty on Open Skies. This was announced by Mikhail Ulyanov, Director of the Foreign Ministry’s Department for Nonproliferation and Arms Control, as reported by Russia's RBC news agency.

    "Yes, we know that Americans are going to take such steps. There is a plenary meeting of the Commission on Open Skies …

  • Volker: Russian proposal on peacekeepers in Donbas will further divide Ukraine

    The deployment of UN peacekeepers in the Donbas under the Russian scenario is unacceptable, as this option will further divide the country. However, Russia is already ready for negotiations, as expressed by the US Special Representative for Ukraine, Kurt Volker, in an interview with Voice of America.

    "I believe that the fundamental goals of US policy are clear, as are Ukraine's goals, and they are to restore the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, as well as ensure the security …

  • Lithuanian Ministry of Defense accuses Russia of 'simulating an attack' on Baltic states

    The head of the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense, Raimundas Karoblis, said that during the Belarusian-Russian Zapad-2017 tactical exercises, Russia worked on the scenarios for an attack on the Baltic States, reported   Lithuanian newspaper Respublika.

    “The fact that Russia simulated an attack on all the Baltic countries is important,” Karoblis stressed. He noted that during the exercises there were obvious decisions made of a tactical and strategic nature, and there was actual bombing near the …

  • Russia threatens with escalation in the Donbas, if deliveries of American weapons are made to Ukraine

    The Russian Foreign Ministry has warned the United States against arms supplies to Ukraine.

    "This decision will be tantamount to trying to put oil on the fire. I think, even in the American administration, many people are aware of this. That is why such supplies have not been implemented so far, although the conflict arose long ago," Mikhail Ulyanov, Director of the Department for Nonproliferation and Arms Control at the Russian Foreign Ministry, said at a press conference. 

    "If now the …

  • Russia conducts exercise to break through enemy’s air defense system with Topol ballistic missile

    The Strategic Missile Troops (RVSN) have conducted tests of the RS-12M Topol intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), RIA Novosti New Agency reports quoting Russia’s Ministry of Defense.

    The launch of the missile, as specified by the Ministry, was made from the Kapustin Yar test range in the Astrakhan region. "The goal of the launch was to test advanced ballistic missile warheads," the Ministry explained. The missile with the experimental warhead "hit the hypothetical target with specified …

  • NATO Ramstein Alloy exercises begin in Baltic region

    On September 26, the NATO Ramstein Alloy air force maneuvers began in the Baltic region. The Ministry of Defense of Estonia reports that one of the objectives of the exercises is to develop cooperation in protecting the airspace of the Baltic States.

    The maneuvers will last two days. Military and equipment from Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, the USA, Belgium and Germany, as well as planes from NATO and Britain’s Royal Air Force are taking part in them.

    NATO aerial exercises have been held in the …