Finland reported the presence unknown drones near its military facilities

During exercises in Finland, unidentified drones were observed near military facilities, as reported by YLE citing Colonel Vesa Mäntylä from the Defence Forces’ operations division of the General Staff of Finland. He did not say what type of drones or whether they were Russian.

 As reported by YLE, military exercises in Sweden were stopped earlier due to the emergence of UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle).

In May, Poland reported that in 2015, Russian drones violated the air space of the country …


Russia protests Ukraine's plans to conduct missile tests near the Crimea

The Russian Defense Ministry submitted a note of protest to the Ukrainian Defense Attaché over Ukraine’s plans to conduct missile tests near the Crimea.

Moscow claims that such tests would be “a violation of international law and Russian legislation.

"The document, handed to the defense attaché, expresses the Russian Defense Ministry’s protest against… [Ukraine’s use of] the airspace over the Black Sea to the west of the Crimean Peninsula coast for rocket firings", the Russian Defense …


Ukrainian Minister of Interior: Ukraine is preparing for the 'de-occupation' of the Donbas

During the next two years, Ukraine will conduct the "de-occupation" of the Donbas, and is currently preparing for this process, as stated by the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Arsen Avakov, the ministry’s press service reported.

On Friday, the Minister of Interior held an enlarged session of the Military Council of the National Guard of Ukraine, in which the Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council (NSDC) of Ukraine, Oleksandr Turchynov, participated.

"I am sure that …


Depending on situation in Syria, Iran may consider letting Russia use Hamadan airbase

Iranian Minister of Defense Hossein Dehghan stated that Teheran may again allow the Russian air force to use the Noje airbase in Hamadan, as reported by the Tasnim News agency.

“If the situation and conditions [in Syria] require our support, we will fulfill it,” stated Dehghan.

The chairman of the Russian Federation Council Defense and Security Committee, Victor Ozerov, said that Russia may need to use the airbase in Iran if the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier is not close enough to Syrian …


Saudi Arabia will not attend meeting with Russia and other non-OPEC countries on Monday

Saudi Arabia will not take part in a meeting with non-OPEC countries which will be held on Monday, The Financial Times (FT) reported, citing a source familiar with the matter.

Saudi Arabia, according to the newspaper’s source, believes that there is "no point in being present there [at the meeting] when members of the organization had not reached an agreement with each other yet" and generally even questions the need for such a meeting.

"As OPEC has not reached an agreement yet, there is no …