Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Further Reading

• NATO general to discuss missile defense in Moscow RIA Novosti 30 Nov 2011 -- Lt. Gen. Jurgen Bornemann, the Director General of the International Military Staff of NATO, to discuss military cooperation with Russia.
• Russia activates radar aimed at Europe RIA Novosti 30 Nov 2011 -- Acting in response to U.S. missile shield plans in Europe, Russia has activated a Voronezh-class missile attack early warning radar station.
• France starts building first warship for Russia - DCNS RIA Novosti 30 Nov 2011 -- French shipbuilder DCNS has received advance payment from Moscow under a $1.2-billion contract and will start the construction of the first warship for the Russian Navy.
• Russia denies allegations over Indian T-90 tank contract RIA Novosti 30 Nov 2011 -- Moscow is puzzled over Indian media rumors claiming that Russia refuses to fulfill a decade-old contract on licensed production of T-90S main battle tanks.
• Russia to help Cuba with production of rifle ammunition RIA Novosti 30 Nov 2011 -- Russia and Cuba are planning to sign a contract on building an assembly line for production of ammunition for Kalashnikov assault rifles.
• Russia Says Suspected Killer Of Ex-KGB Agent 'A Victim' RFE/RL 30 Nov 2011 -- Russian authorities have launched an investigation into the alleged attempted murder of Andrei Lugovoi.
• Russian investigators confirm 2006 murder attempt against Lugovoi RIA Novosti 30 Nov 2011 -- Former KGB bodyguard Andrei Lugovoi was a target, not a suspect, in Polonium-210 in 2006.
• New Russian Anti-Missile Facility Opens in Kaliningrad VOA 29 Nov 2011 -- Russia has officially opened a new anti-missile radar station in the Baltic Sea region of Kaliningrad.
• Russia Activates Missile-Warning System Near EU Borders RFE/RL 29 Nov 2011 -- Russia has activated a radar warning system against incoming missiles in its exclave of Kaliningrad.
• Russia’s radar to counter missile shield, says Medvedev RIA Novosti 29 Nov 2011 -- New anti-missile radar station should be treated by the West as the “first signal” of Russia’s readiness to counter “threats” posed by NATO’s missile defense plans.
• Russia’s Baltic radar station put into service RIA Novosti 29 Nov 2011 -- A new radar station capable of monitoring missile launches, as well as the future European missile defense system, was put into operation in Russia’s Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad.
• Most Russians see NATO eastward expansion as threat - poll RIA Novosti 29 Nov 2011 -- Most Russians don't see NATO as Russia's partner and are convinced that the bloc's eastward expansion is a threat to the country's security.
• Russian Navy drills in Mediterranean ‘unrelated to Syria’ RIA Novosti 29 Nov 2011 -- The dispatch of a Russian Navy task force to the Mediterranean Sea is part of a scheduled exercise.
• Alleged Russian spy wins UK deportation appeal RIA Novosti 29 Nov 2011 -- The British Special Immigration Appeals Commission upheld alleged Russian spy Katia Zatuliveter’s appeal against the order to deport her.
• Russia not to limit election monitors RIA Novosti 29 Nov 2011 -- Russia’s chief election manager has said all 650 international observers will be able to monitor a crucial parliamentary vote.
• Russia’s NATO envoy to visit China, Iran over missile defense RIA Novosti 28 Nov 2011 -- Russian envoy to NATO Dmitry Rogozin will visit China and Iran to discuss a U.S.-backed global missile defense network.
• Russia postpones Bulava missile test RIA Novosti 28 Nov 2011 -- The test launch of Russia's Bulava ballistic missile has been postponed until a later date.
• Russia to test launch Bulava missile on Monday RIA Novosti 28 Nov 2011 -- On Monday Russia will carry out the last test of the Bulava ballistic missile this year, a salvo launch from the Yuri Dolgoruky strategic submarine.
• Russia’s Glonass-M satellite put into orbit RIA Novosti 28 Nov 2011 -- Russia sent another Glonass-M navigation satellite into orbit.
• Russia launches last Glonass-M satellite of 2011 RIA Novosti 28 Nov 2011 -- A Russian Soyuz carrier rocket with a Glonass-M navigation satellite on board was launched from the Plesetsk space center.
• Obama to push for Jackson-Vanik cancellation in 2012 RIA Novosti 28 Nov 2011 -- The Obama administration will make cancellation of the Cold War-era Jackson-Vanik amendment, which imposes restrictions on Russian-U.S. trade, a priority in 2012.
• Russian president warns space officials over failures RIA Novosti 27 Nov 2011 -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has threatened to punish officials responsible for recent failures in the space industry.
• UK halts military data sharing with Russia RIA Novosti 25 Nov 2011 -- Britain will stop sharing military information with Russia over Moscow's decision to freeze compliance with the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE), a government minister said on Friday.
• Russian Utility Wants To Stop Managing Armenian Nuclear Plant RFE/RL 25 Nov 2011 -- A subsidiary of Russia's state-controlled national electricity company has confirmed plans to end its eight-year management of Armenia's Metsamor nuclear power station, RFE/RL's Armenian Service reports.
• Russia's Baltic radar to monitor missile launches across Europe, Atlantic RIA Novosti 25 Nov 2011 -- Russia's radar station in the Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad will monitor missile launches from the North Atlantic, as well as the future European missile defense system, the Aerospace Defense Forces chief said on Friday.
• NATO, U.S. set to continue to work with Russia on missile defense RIA Novosti 24 Nov 2011 -- NATO and the United States said they would continue consultations with Moscow to prove that their European missile shield project poses no threat to Russia's strategic nuclear capabilities.
• Russian military spending to top $30 bln in 2012 RIA Novosti 24 Nov 2011 -- Over 1 trillion rubles ($30 billion) will be spent on the provision of arms and military equipment to the Russian Armed Forces next year, Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said on Thursday.
• Statement in connection with the situation concerning the NATO countries’ missile defence system in Europe Russia 23 Nov 2011
• Russian President Threatens To Target U.S. Missile Shield RFE/RL 23 Nov 2011 -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has issued a strident warning to the West, threatening to aim missiles at U.S. missile-defense sites in Europe if Washington does not adequately address Moscow's concerns about the planned system.
• Russia Warns of Response to US Missile Shield VOA 23 Nov 2011 -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says Russia will aim missiles at U.S. anti-missile sites in eastern Europe if the United States does not heed Russian concerns about its missile defense plans.
• United States halts cooperation with Russia on CFE arms treaty RIA Novosti 23 Nov 2011 -- The United States has curbed its cooperation with Russia on the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) treaty, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said on Tuesday.
• Russia downplays NATO move on key arms treaty RIA Novosti 23 Nov 2011 -- NATO's decision to curb its cooperation with Moscow on the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) treaty will not harm Russia's interests, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.
• White House unruffled by Russia missile threat RIA Novosti 23 Nov 2011 -- The White House insisted on Wednesday that Washington would not alter its plans for a European missile defense project, despite increasingly tough rhetoric from Moscow.
• Russian President says Russia may deploy missiles near EU borders IRNA 23 Nov 2011 -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Wednesday that Russia will deploy missiles near the EU's borders if the US pursues its missile defence plans.
• Russia to move missiles to EU borders if U.S. shield talks fail - Medvedev RIA Novosti 23 Nov 2011 -- Russia may deploy 'advanced offensive weapon systems' on its borders with Europe in response to a planned U.S.-backed European missile shield, President Dmitry Medvedev said on Wednesday.
• Five Years Later, Ex-Russian Agent's Widow Continues Fight For Justice RFE/RL 23 Nov 2011 -- The widow of former Russian security agent Aleksandr Litvinenko, who died of radiation poisoning in London five years ago, says she will continue to fight for justice for him, RFE/RL's Russian Service reports.
• Russian Air Force to get 90 aircraft in 2012 RIA Novosti 22 Nov 2011 -- The Russian Air Force will take delivery of about 90 new or modernized fixed and rotary wing aircraft in 2012, a Defense Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday.
• Russian Navy to receive 10 diesel submarines by 2020 RIA Novosti 22 Nov 2011 -- The Russian Navy is planning to receive up to 10 diesel-electric submarines by 2020, a Navy spokesman said.
• Russian experts baffled by probe's erratic behavior RIA Novosti 22 Nov 2011 -- Russian Federal Space Agency experts are puzzled by the rising orbit of the Phobos-Grunt unmanned Mars probe, Roscosmos deputy head Vitaly Davydov said on Tuesday.
• Russia's space agency wants to focus on Moon if Mars mission fails RIA Novosti 22 Nov 2011 -- If Russia's Phobos-Grunt Mars mission fails the country's space agency may focus on Moon exploration, the deputy head of the Roscosmos agency said on Tuesday.
• Russian response to NATO missile defense to be 'reasonable' – Medvedev RIA Novosti 21 Nov 2011 -- Russia's response to the deployment of a U.S. missile defense system in Europe will be 'reasonable and adequate,' but will not end the possibility of further negotiations, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Monday during a meeting with officers of the Southern Military District.
• U.S. ready to provide Russia with missile shield details RIA Novosti 21 Nov 2011 -- The United States is ready to provide Russia with technical specifics of interceptor missiles of the European missile defense system, Russia's Kommersant daily said on Monday, citing U.S. sources.
• Last chance to send Russian Mars moon probe expires Monday RIA Novosti 21 Nov 2011 -- The launch window to send Russia's Phobos-Grunt unmanned spacecraft to a Mars moon will close on Monday, an airspace source told RIA Novosti.
• Russia ready to dialogue with U.S. on missile defense-Foreign Minister RIA Novosti 19 Nov 2011 -- Russia does not give up missile shield talks with the United States, Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov said on Saturday during the East Asia Summit.
• Russia to build 2 plants for S-500 air defense systems RIA Novosti 18 Nov 2011 -- Russia’s Almaz-Antey concern will build two plants to manufacture formidable S-500 air defense systems.
• Russia seeks extension of Azerbaijan radar lease until 2025 RIA Novosti 18 Nov 2011 -- Russia and Azerbaijan are close to signing a document extending the lease of the Gabala radar until 2025.
• Russia, France to team up on ‘hi-tech rockets’ RIA Novosti 18 Nov 2011 -- Russia and France will pool their efforts to build cutting-edge reusable space rockets, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said.
• Nokia to be first to use Russia’s Glonass navigation system in its phones RIA Novosti 18 Nov 2011 -- Finland’s Nokia is to be the first international manufacturer to use Russia’s satellite navigation system, Glonass.
• The position of the military district of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation date of publication 17.11.2011
• Russian military has 'no one left to draft' RIA Novosti 17 Nov 2011 -- Russia has no conscript-age young men left to recruit.
• Russia needs defense research body - NATO envoy RIA Novosti 17 Nov 2011 -- Russia’s envoy to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin, has called for the creation of a defense research agency similar to DARPA.
• Number of chaplains in Russian armed foces to triple RIA Novosti 17 Nov 2011 -- The number of chaplains in the Russian armed forces will soon triple to more than 60.
• Poland paroles convicted Russian spy RIA Novosti 17 Nov 2011 -- The Polish authorities released on parole Russian national Tadeusz Juchniewicz, who was sentenced to three years for espionage in 2010.
• North Korea to get $100 million annually for Russian gas transit RIA Novosti 17 Nov 2011 -- North Korea will get $100 million annually if it becomes a transit country for Russian gas supplies to South Korea.
• Russia to conduct test launch of Bulava missile in November RIA Novosti 16 Nov 2011 -- Russia will carry out the last test of the Bulava ballistic missile this year by the end of November.
• Russia’s Su-30MK maker boasts order portfolio for 300 fighters RIA Novosti 15 Nov 2011 -- Russia’s Irkut corporation said on Tuesday it had secured orders for at least 300 Su-30MK fighters and that it had already delivered over half of them.
• Malaysia plans to buy 18 Russian fighter jets RIA Novosti 15 Nov 2011 -- The Malaysian defense ministry plans to buy 18 Russian Su-30MKM fighters fit to carry Russian-Indian BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles.
• Report: Russian Expert Advised Iran On Nuclear Program RFE/RL 14 Nov 2011 -- A Washington-based NGO has says Iran apparently had the help of a Russian scientist in developing a detonator and high explosives for its nuclear program.
• Medvedev to assess reaction to Euro missile defense RIA Novosti 14 Nov 2011 -- Russian Pres. Medvedev announced that he would deliver a complete assessment on the US-backed European missile defense system.
• Russia may sell air defense systems, helicopters to Saudi Arabia RIA Novosti 14 Nov 2011 -- Russia is close to signing new contracts with Saudi Arabia on the export of helicopters and air defense missiles systems.
• Badminton To Hone Russian Military? RFE/RL 14 Nov 2011 -- The "Izvestiya" newspaper reported defense ministry officials as saying soldiers would be made to play badminton.
• Russian Defense Ministry denies badminton purchases RIA Novosti 14 Nov 2011 -- The Russian Defense Ministry denied reports that it had bought of badminton rackets and shuttlecocks for military units.
• Russian Defense Ministry to supply snipers with birdies RIA Novosti 14 Nov 2011 -- The Russian Defense Ministry will buy badminton rackets and shuttlecocks in 2012 and plans to provide military units with equipment.
• Russia still hopes to regain control of Mars probe RIA Novosti 14 Nov 2011 -- Russia has time until the beginning of December to establish contact with its Phobos-Grunt unmanned spacecraft.
• Soyuz Launched To Space Station Carrying Russian, U.S. Crew RFE/RL 14 Nov 2011 -- Two Russians and one American have blasted off aboard a Soyuz spacecraft on a mission to the ISS.
• Russian Soyuz spacecraft sets course to space station RIA Novosti 14 Nov 2011 -- Russia’s Soyuz TMA-22 piloted spacecraft has separated from the launch vehicle and reached the trajectory for the International Space Station.
• Medvedev says Russia, U.S. to continue consultations on missile defense RIA Novosti 13 Nov 2011 -- Moscow and Washington's positions on the U.S. plans concerning the European missile shield still differ greatly and bilateral consultations on this issue will continue, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said.
• Russian Helicopters signs $1.2 bln engine deal with Ukraine's Motor Sich RIA Novosti 13 Nov 2011 -- Russian Helicopters, which designs and manufactures civil and military rotorcraft, and Ukraine's Motor Sich engine-building firm have signed a $1.2 billion contract on the supply of Ukrainian engines for Russian commercial helicopters, Motor Sich head Vyacheslav Boguslayev said on Sunday.
• Russia to showcase its best combat aircraft in Dubai RIA Novosti 12 Nov 2011 -- Russia will showcase its most advanced combat aircraft and air defense systems at a major airshow in the Middle East which starts on Sunday, state-run arms exporter Rosoboronexport said.
• Russia again fails to make contact with Mars moon probe RIA Novosti 12 Nov 2011 -- Russia has again been again unsuccessful in its attempts to establish contact with its Phobos Grunt probe, whose engines failed to put in on course for Mars after take-off, a source in the space rocket industry told RIA Novosti on Saturday.
• Contact with Russian Mars probe 'unlikely' – expert RIA Novosti 12 Nov 2011 -- The Phobos-Grunt unmanned spacecraft cannot be controlled at a low-Earth orbit, where it is currently stuck, because of its design features, a Russian space expert said on Saturday.
• Aborted Mars probe jeopardizes Russia's long-range space program RIA Novosti 12 Nov 2011
• Russia yet to make contact with Mars moon probe RIA Novosti 11 Nov 2011 -- Attempts during the night to receive a signal from the unmanned lander Phobos-Grunt spacecraft, which failed to reach its orbit after separating from the launch vehicle on November 9, have so far been to no avail, a source in the space industry said on Friday.
• Russian Mars Probe To Fall To Earth Unless Fix Is Found RFE/RL 10 Nov 2011 -- Russia's ambitious return to deep-space exploration is in limbo as space engineers struggle to salvage an unmanned probe to Mars that is stranded in orbit around the Earth.
• Russian Defense Ministry signs submarine construction deal RIA Novosti 09 Nov 2011 -- Russia's Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov signed a contract with the United Shipbuilding Corporation on Wednesday for construction of new Yasen and Borey class submarines.
• Russian Air Force to receive 65 Yak-130 jet trainers by 2017 RIA Novosti 08 Nov 2011 -- The Russian Defense Ministry will sign a contract with aircraft construction company Irkut on the delivery of 65 YakovlevYak-130 advanced jet trainers within the next two weeks, the commander-in-chief of the Russian Air Force, Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin, said on Tuesday.
• Russian scientist may be key to Iranian nuclear weapons - paper RIA Novosti 07 Nov 2011 -- A Russian nuclear physicist could have played a key role in helping Iran to come close to developing nuclear weapons, The Washington Post said on Monday.
• A Spy In The House Of Putin RFE/RL 07 Nov 2011 -- The relationship between Russian Prime Minister and probable future President Vladimir Putin and his wife of 28 years, Lyudmila, has been alternately portrayed as a nightmare union and a love story for the ages.
• UK judges order nondisclosure of names of suspected Russian spy's diplomatic lovers RIA Novosti 07 Nov 2011 -- British judges have prevented the naming of senior diplomats who had affairs with suspected Russian spy Yekaterina (Katia) Zatuliveter, the Telegraph daily said on Monday.
• Russia launches Glonass satellites - Roscosmos RIA Novosti 04 Nov 2011 -- Russia on Friday launched a Proton-M rocket carrying three Glonass navigation satellites from the Baikonur space center after a 24-hour delay due to technical reasons, a spokesman for the Federal Space Agency Roscosmos said.
• Russian Army Chief Visits Armenia Again RFE/RL 04 Nov 2011 -- The commander-in-chief of Russia's ground forces has visited Armenia where he met top Armenian military officials and inspected Russian troops stationed in the country, RFE/RL's Armenian Service reports.
• US Report Cites Growing Economic Cyber Espionage VOA 03 Nov 2011 -- A new U.S. intelligence report says China and Russia are using cyber espionage to steal U.S. trade and technology secrets.
• U.S. Report Blasts China, Russia For Cybercrime RFE/RL 03 Nov 2011 -- The US says that Chinese and Russian intelligence services, as well as corporate hackers in those countries, are offenders in cybertheft.
• Russia test launches Topol ICBM RIA Novosti 03 Nov 2011 -- The Russian Space Forces test launched a Topol RS-12M intercontinental ballistic missile.
• Roscosmos delays Proton launch with three Glonass satellites RIA Novosti 03 Nov 2011 -- The Russian space agency Roscosmos delayed the launch of a Proton M rocket with a cargo of three Glonass satellites.
• Russia set to launch Proton-M carrier rocket with 3 Glonass-M satellites RIA Novosti 03 Nov 2011 -- Russia’s Proton-M carrier rocket with three Glonass-M navigation satellites will be launched on Thursday from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan.
• Russian missile contract with Syria remains valid RIA Novosti 02 Nov 2011 -- A contract on the supply of advanced Russian anti-ship missiles to Syria is being implemented.
• Russian, Chinese Companies 'Most Likely' To Offer Bribes RFE/RL 02 Nov 2011 -- In a new report, the anticorruption group Transparency International says bribing public officials when doing business abroad is a regular occurrence.
• Russian shipbuilder, Defense Ministry agree nuclear sub prices RIA Novosti 01 Nov 2011 -- United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) and the Russian Defense Ministry have agreed on prices for the Yasen and Borey class nuclear-powered submarines, a defense industry source said on Tuesday.