The Ukrainian Navy has established a division of surface vessels in the Sea of Azov, announced Navy Commander Ihor Voronchenko, as cited by Interfax-Ukraine.

The division will be based in the ports of Berdyansk and Mariupol, and will include the small armored artillery boats “Lubny” and “Kremenchug”, the search and rescue ship “Donbas” and the sea tug “Korets”. In future, the division is expected to grow as new combat units are added.

Before the division was created, the surface forces served …

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu has ordered that more combat vessels be equipped with Kalibr and Zircon missiles, reports RIA Novosti.

“The Navy needs to increase the number of distant sea zone vessels, including those which carry Kalibr cruise missiles and Zircon hypersonic missiles,” Shoygu said in a conference call on Monday.

In addition, he said that the country needs to “expand the range of unmanned aerial vehicles and robotized systems and weapons based on new physical principles” …

The operator company of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline announced that there have been delays in the construction of the pipeline. On Monday, December 9, the company admitted that it will not be able to finish building the energy facility in the previously announced shorter time frame, DW reports.

“We had planned to complete the project in the next few months in accordance with all legal and technical standards,” the company said.

However, due to weather conditions, the company could not name …

Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz said that sanctions of the European Union against Russia should be extended for the next six months, reports Polskie Radio.

"We do not believe that there have been significant changes in Russia's policy, which would be a prerequisite to change our policy. Therefore, I think the sanctions will be extended for the next six months. We believe that Russia is the side that started aggression, and Russia should withdraw from the Donbas, and implement the …

Chief of the General Staff of the Belarusian Armed Forces Oleg Belokonev said in an interview with Nasha Niva newspaper that Minsk is negotiating with the North Atlantic Alliance on the format of joint military exercises.

At the same time, Belokonev stressed that NATO "must realize that Belarus is an ally of Russia."

"Belarus is ready for joint exercises with NATO. There are talks on possible formats. But we will agree on this if  NATO understands that Russia is our strategic ally," said …

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas sees no reason to lift the economic sanctions imposed by the European Union against Russia. According to him, Moscow should make its contribution to end the war in the Donbas in order to improve Russian-European relations.

"People in Eastern Ukraine have been waiting for peace for too long. So far, there is no reason to oppose the policy of EU sanctions," wrote Maas on Twitter.

The easing of EU economic sanctions against Russia is not planned at the EU …

In the Arctic archipelago of Franz Josef Land, Russia is building a new military airbase where it will station fighter aircraft. The new infrastructure will be ready in 2020, which is extremely concerning to Denmark, TV2 Norge reports, citing Danish military intelligence.

According to Danish intelligence, Russia’s new airbase in Franz Josef Land will be the northern-most in the world, which will help Russia to strengthen its hold over the Arctic. Satellite images show that work is currently …

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu said during the broadcast of the "Moscow. Kremlin. Putin" program on Russia-1 TV channel, that cooperation between Russia and NATO has not only stopped but is deteriorating every year.

Shoygu recalled that "about five years ago," Moscow had active cooperation with the military Alliance, and Russia had its representative in NATO. "And now it's all not only stopped but becomes worse every year," said Russian Defense Minister.

He explained that the US is …