Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Further Reading

• Separatists Claim Attack on Ukrainian Naval Ship VOA 31 Aug 2014 -- Separatist rebels attacked a Ukrainian naval vessel in the Azov Sea on Sunday by firing artillery from the shore, and a Ukrainian military spokesman said a rescue operation was under way.
• Poroshenko: EU Ready For Sanctions, Conditional To Progress On Peace Plan RFE/RL 31 Aug 2014 -- Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko says the EU summit in Brussels has agreed to prepare new sanctions on Russia, conditional on progress of his peace plan.
• EU To Prepare Fresh Russian Sanctions RFE/RL 31 Aug 2014 -- European Council President Herman Van Rompuy says EU officials will draw up proposals for new sanctions on Russia over its action in Ukraine within a week.
• Putin Calls for Talks Inside Ukraine, Not Giving Statehood to Novorossiya - Spokesman RIA Novosti 31 Aug 2014 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin in his Sunday’s interview called for inclusive negotiations inside Ukraine, not granting statehood to Novorossiya, the union of Donetsk and Luhansk republics in the east of the country.
• Putin Calls For Eastern Ukraine 'Statehood' Talks RFE/RL 31 Aug 2014 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said talks on ending the conflict in eastern Ukraine must discuss statehood for the region.
• In Beslan, Struggle For A ‘New Life’ Decade After Tragedy RFE/RL 31 Aug 2014 -- Ten years have passed since armed militants stormed the school on September 1, 2004, and took 1,100 children, mothers and teachers hostage in the gymnasium.
• Ukraine's President in Brussels for EU Talks on Russian Separatists VOA 30 Aug 2014 -- Ukranian President Petro Poroshenko will try to persuade the European Union to do more to deter Russian President Vladimir Putin from supporting Ukraine's separatist rebels.
• Russia Never Conducted Warfare in Ukraine, Rules Out Prospects – Defense Ministry RIA Novosti 30 Aug 2014 -- Russia has never held military actions in Ukraine and is not planning to undertake any in the future, Russia’s Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said.
• Moscow Calls for ‘Humanitarian Bridge’ Uniting Russia, Luhansk, Donetsk - Defense Ministry RIA Novosti 30 Aug 2014 -- Russia cannot remain indifferent to the events unfolding in eastern Ukraine which led to a humanitarian catastrophe in the region.
• EU To Debate Tougher Russian Sanctions RFE/RL 30 Aug 2014 -- EU leaders are set to meet in Brussels to discuss firmer action against Russia over the Ukraine crisis.
• NATO to Russia: Stop 'Illegal' Military Operations in Ukraine VOA 29 Aug 2014 -- NATO has called on Russia to cease its "illegal military operations" in eastern Ukraine, which it says are aimed at destabilizing the country.
• Kyiv: Russian Forces Tightening Grip on East VOA 29 Aug 2014 -- Ukrainian security officials on Friday said Russian forces have tightened their control on territory in eastern Ukraine after crossing the border to support separatist rebels.
• Pentagon: Russia Intensifies Efforts Inside Ukraine AFPS 29 Aug 2014 -- Russia continues to build up along its border with Ukraine and has moved sophisticated weapons systems into the country, the Pentagon press secretary said here today.
• NATO Secretary General statement after the extraordinary meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission NATO 29 Aug 2014
• NATO Chief Accuses Russia Of 'Direct' Military Involvement In Ukraine RFE/RL 29 Aug 2014 -- NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has accused Russia of engaging in "direct military operations" in Ukraine and dismissed Moscow's "hollow denials" of involvement.
• EU Foreign Ministers Call For Tougher Sanctions On Russia RFE/RL 29 Aug 2014 -- Several European Union foreign ministers have accused Russia of invading eastern Ukraine, saying Moscow should be punished with harsh additional economic sanctions.
• There's A Word For What's Going On In Ukraine... But What Is It? RFE/RL 29 Aug 2014 -- Oleksandr Chernov, a doctor and journalist from eastern Ukraine, spent 10 days as a captive of pro-Russian separatists based in Slovyansk.
• Ukraine: UN report shows rising civilian deaths, ongoing rights abuses UN News Centre 29 Aug 2014 -- Intense fighting, including the use of heavy weaponry by both sides, in densely populated areas of eastern Ukraine, has increased the loss of civilian life, with an average of around 36 people being killed every day.
• CSTO Says Ready for Peacekeeping Operations in Ukraine, Decision Up to Members RIA Novosti 29 Aug 2014 -- The peacekeeping forces of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) is prepared for any operations outside its territories, including in Ukraine.
• Crimea Managed to Avoid Southeast Ukraine's Scenario by Rejoining Russia – Putin RIA Novosti 29 Aug 2014 -- The ongoing military operation in southeastern Ukraine clearly shows that it would have happened in Crimea had Russia not supported its vote to rejoin Russia.
• Ukraine’s Ambassador to NATO Denies Receiving Arms From Alliance RIA Novosti 29 Aug 2014 -- None of the NATO member countries have delivered any weapons to Ukraine and Kiev regrets this, Ukrainian Ambassador and NATO Envoy Ihor Dolhov said Friday.
• Putin Says Tymoshenko Did Nothing Wrong, Persecution Damaged Russian-Ukrainian Ties RIA Novosti 29 Aug 2014 -- Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko violated no laws when she signed a gas deal with Russia, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday.
• Anti-Terror Drills Highlight China’s Push Into Central Asia VOA 29 Aug 2014 -- China, Russia and several central Asian countries, all members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, or SCO, have just wrapped up a massive round of anti terrorism military drills in Inner Mongolia.
• SCO Troops in Final Stage of Peace Mission 2014 Exercise RIA Novosti 29 Aug 2014 -- Military units from Russia, Kazakhstan, China, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan are in the final stage of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s (SCO) joint anti-terrorist exercise Peace Mission 2014.
• Russia, India to Continue Joint Air Force Drills in November - Moscow RIA Novosti 29 Aug 2014 -- The second phase of joint Russian-Indian Air Force exercise “Aviaindra-2014” is set to take place in India in November, deputy chief of the Russian Air Force's General Staff, Aleksandr Lyapkin, told reporters Friday.
• India to Take Part in Aviadarts-2015 Flight Skills Competition RIA Novosti 29 Aug 2014 -- India has confirmed its participation in the Aviadarts flight-skills competition hosted by Russia, Deputy Chief of the Main Staff of Russian Air Force Major General Alexander Lyapkin told RIA Novosti.
• Drones to Patrol Skies of Russia’s Far East RIA Novosti 29 Aug 2014 -- Specialists from Russia’s Eastern Military District have started the assembly of unmanned aerial vehicles, which are to carry out patrol missions over Russia’s Far Eastern Kamchatka peninsula.
• NATO releases satellite imagery showing Russian combat troops inside Ukraine NATO 28 Aug 2014 -- NATO’s Allied Command Operations in Mons, Belgium on Thursday (28 August 2014) released new satellite imagery that show Russian combat forces engaged in military operations inside the sovereign territory of Ukraine.
• Obama Warns Russia Over 'Ongoing Incursion' Into Ukraine RFE/RL 28 Aug 2014 -- U.S. President Barack Obama says the "ongoing incursion" into Ukraine by Russia will only lead to additional costs for Moscow.
• Poroshenko Convenes Emergency Meeting, Says Russian Troops In Ukraine RFE/RL 28 Aug 2014 -- Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has convened an emergency meeting of the National Security and Defense Council after accusing Russia of sending troops into Ukraine.
• In Russia, Ukraine War Hits Home With Secret Funerals, Missing Men RFE/RL 28 Aug 2014 -- In early spring, Vladimir Putin deployed soldiers without insignia into the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea to ensure a quick annexation of the territory.
• No Russian Military Forces in Ukraine, Russian Envoy Tells OSCE RIA Novosti 28 Aug 2014 -- Russia’s envoy to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) denied Kiev's claims that Russia has sent troops to help independence supporters in eastern Ukraine.
• Russia’s EU Envoy Says 9 Detained Paratroopers Are Only Russian Servicemen in Ukraine RIA Novosti 28 Aug 2014 -- Currently, there are only nine Russian servicemen in Ukraine, they are the paratroopers who were detained recently after accidentally crossing the border, Russia’s envoy to the European Union said Thursday.
• Russia Forces Cross Border, Surround Strategic Ukrainian Town VOA 28 Aug 2014 -- President Barack Obama on Thursday pointedly pinned blame for the violence roiling eastern Ukraine on Moscow, as Russian armored vehicles backed by artillery strikes reportedly surrounded a strategic border town.
• Donetsk Leader: We Have Been Preparing Counter-Offensive for a Long Time RIA Novosti 28 Aug 2014 -- After long preparations, forces of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk republics have finally launched a counter-offensive, Donetsk People’s Republic Prime Minister Alexander Zakharchenko said Thursday.
• Donetsk Militia Claims Strongholds Taken in Southeastern Ukraine's Mariupol RIA Novosti 28 Aug 2014 -- Donetsk militia forces claimed Thursday to have taken control of checkpoints and strongholds on the outskirts of Mariupol in southeastern Ukraine.
• Construction of 'Anaerobic' Non-Nuclear Subs to Begin in 2017 RIA Novosti 28 Aug 2014 -- Russia will begin constructing a new generation of nonatomic submarines equipped with “anaerobic systems.”
• Black Sea Fleet to Receive 11 New Vessels by End of Year RIA Novosti 28 Aug 2014 -- The Russian Black Sea Fleet is to receive 11 new ships and service vessels, including two anti-sabotage boats, six service vessels, two diesel-electric submarines and two frigates.
• Too Early for Conclusions on Galileo Satellites Incident – Russian Space Corporation RIA Novosti 28 Aug 2014 -- Rushing to conclusions on the possible causes of the Galileo satellites incident before the end of the EU-Russian investigation is both too early and inappropriate.
• Pro-Russian Rebels Take Strategic Eastern Ukraine Town VOA 27 Aug 2014 -- The battle for Ukraine's strategic coastline intensified Wednesday as pro-Russian rebel forces entered a key town in southeast Ukraine after three days of heavy shelling.
• U.S.: Reports Indicate 'Russian-Directed' Battle In Ukraine RFE/RL 27 Aug 2014 -- U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki says reports from eastern and southeastern Ukraine "indicate that a Russian-directed counteroffensive is likely under way" against government forces in Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• Russia Says It Will Respond To NATO Troop Rotations In East RFE/RL 27 Aug 2014 -- Moscow says it will take steps to respond if NATO begins regular troop rotations in the easternmost NATO-member countries.
• Kiev Expects Consultations, Conditions for Second Russian Humanitarian Aid Convoy RIA Novosti 27 Aug 2014 -- Kiev is expecting to hold consultations on settling the crisis in eastern Ukraine and a second Russian aid convoy.
• Questions Left Unanswered at Putin-Poroshenko Minsk Talks RIA Novosti 27 Aug 2014 -- The talks on Ukraine in the Belarusian capital of Minsk that Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said would decide “the fate of the world and Europe” did not yield any breakthrough solutions to the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
• Russia Not Interested in Ukraine Falling Into Pieces - Lavrov RIA Novosti 27 Aug 2014 -- Russia is not interested in Ukrainian government falling into pieces, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
• Unlike NATO, Russia Accepts Different Opinions – Lavrov RIA Novosti 27 Aug 2014 -- Russia accepts the fact that its allies' opinions may differ from from Moscow ones, in contrast to NATO which obliges its members to stick to the rules.
• Russian Agriculture Minister Urges Better Effort Against Re-Export of Embargoed Goods RIA Novosti 27 Aug 2014 -- Russia’s agriculture watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor and the Russian Interior Ministry should intensify their efforts in order to prevent re-export of embargoed goods to Russia via Customs Union states.
• Russian Defense Ministry Plans to Switch to Soyuz, Angara Rocket Carriers From 2016 RIA Novosti 27 Aug 2014 -- The Russian Defense Ministry has decided to stop using the Rokot light rocket carrier from 2016 because of its reliance on imported parts and will switch to the Soyuz and Angara carriers.
• Belarus Meeting Fails to End Fighting in Eastern Ukraine VOA 26 Aug 2014 -- A meeting of the presidents of Ukraine and Russia in Belarus has failed to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine, which has killed more than 2,000 people since fighting broke out in April.
• Putin, Poroshenko Begin One-To-One Talks In Minsk RFE/RL 26 Aug 2014 -- Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka says Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko have begun direct one-on-one talks in Minsk about the crisis in eastern Ukraine.
• Ukraine: Captured Troops Proof of Russian Role in Separatist Fight VOA 26 Aug 2014 -- Ukraine said on Tuesday its forces had captured a group of Russian paratroopers who had crossed into Ukrainian territory on a “special mission” - but Moscow said they had ended up there by mistake.
• Russian Soldiers Are In Ukraine RFE/RL 26 Aug 2014 -- Videos appeared to confirm what Kyiv authorities had been claiming for months amid denials from the Kremlin - that Moscow is supplying pro-Russian separatists with military hardware and personnel.
• Embargoed EU Goods Actively Re-Imported To Russia Via Belarus – Putin RIA Novosti 26 Aug 2014 -- Goods embargoed by Moscow in response to Western economic sanctions are being actively shipped to Moscow via Belarus, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday.
• Russia to Lift Food Embargo When Its National Security No Longer Threatened – Deputy PM RIA Novosti 26 Aug 2014 -- Moscow will lift its food embargo, imposed in response to Western economic sanctions, when it sees that Russia’s national security is no longer threatened, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich said.
• Russia Plans to Supply India With A-50 Aircraft – Aircraft Company RIA Novosti 26 Aug 2014 -- Russia and India plan on signing a contract to supply India with A-50 airborne early warning and control aircraft.
• NATO Plots Defense Against Russia VOA 25 Aug 2014 -- The 28 NATO members are preparing for their summit meeting in Wales in early September. The main topic of discussion: the notion of collective defense in light of Russia’s recent actions against Ukraine.
• DoD: Russian Movements Further Increasing Tensions AFPS 25 Aug 2014 -- Despite Russian claims of de-escalating tensions with Ukraine, their actions, including movement of heavy equipment across the border continues to increase tension.
• Kyiv Confronts 'Russian' Armor As Moscow Announces New Aid Convoy RFE/RL 25 Aug 2014 -- Ukraine says border guards have attacked a column of armored vehicles it says entered its territory from Russia, as Moscow announced its intention to send a second aid convoy into the country.
• Ukraine Says Russian Convoy Has Entered Southeast VOA 25 Aug 2014 -- Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has dissolved parliament and called for early elections, one month after his ruling coalition government collapsed.
• US, Norway to Inspect Russia's Air Space RIA Novosti 25 Aug 2014 -- A group of US and Norwegian aviation inspectors plan to fly over Russia's and Belarus' territory this week under The Treaty on Open Skies.
• Russian Troops Hit Targets With Precision Missiles During Peace Mission-2014 in China RIA Novosti 25 Aug 2014 -- Artillery units from Russia’s Eastern Military District have held their first live-fire training drills with the use of Krasnopol laser-guided projectiles during the Peace Mission 2014 exercise in China.
• Russia Prepares to Launch Third Varshavyanka-Class Submarine RIA Novosti 25 Aug 2014 -- Another Varshavyanka-class diesel-electric submarine, built for the Crimea-based Black Sea Fleet, will be launched on Thursday.
• Russian Eastern Military District Troops Pass Unannounced Inspection RIA Novosti 25 Aug 2014 -- The unannounced inspection of the combat readiness of Russia’s Eastern Military District was successful.
• Russian Western Military District Troops Learning to Destroy Enemy Drones RIA Novosti 25 Aug 2014 -- Man-portable air-defense systems radar units in Russia’s Western Military District have started practicing on low-flying targets at the Kapustin Yar testing range.
• Russia May Continue ISS Work Beyond 2020 - Reports RIA Novosti 25 Aug 2014 -- Russia may continue working at the International Space Station (ISS) beyond 2020.
• Amid Defiant Russian Sanctions, Serious Doubts About Economic Future VOA 20 Aug 2014 -- This is the season of economic discontent in Russia, with Moscow and the West tit-for-tatting sanctions in response to the ongoing Russian-backed insurgency in eastern Ukraine.
• Russia launches military drills in south Iran Press TV 20 Aug 2014 -- Russia has launched fresh military exercises in the south of the country as fighting intensifies between pro-Moscow forces and government troops in Ukraine.
• Chaos In Kerch: Russia Struggles To Ferry Tourists To Crimea RFE/RL 20 Aug 2014 -- Since annexing Crimea from Ukraine in March, the Kremlin has said it is Russians' patriotic duty to spend their summer holidays at the peninsula's resorts.
• Russian Aerospace Defense Forces to Launch 20 Missiles During Exercise RIA Novosti 20 Aug 2014 -- Russia's Aerospace Defense Forces are practicing the repelling of a massive air missile strike as part of large-scale exercises at the Ashuluk testing range in southern Russia, involving surface-to-air missile systems field firing, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Col. Igor Klimov told the press Wednesday.
• Mistral Ships to Be Delivered Despite Current Level of Sanctions - Hollande RIA Novosti 20 Aug 2014 -- There is nothing that would stop France from delivering two Mistral helicopter carrier ships to Russia, French President Francois Hollande said Wednesday.
• Air defense units in Russia's Far East Repel Simulated Drone Attack RIA Novosti 20 Aug 2014 -- Air defense units of the Eastern Military District successfully repelled a simulated attack, hitting all aircraft and combat drone targets as part of a snap check of combat readiness, a Russian military spokesman said Wednesday.
• Putin, Poroshenko To Meet In Minsk; Ukraine Fighting Intense RFE/RL 19 Aug 2014 -- As fighting continued between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian forces in the eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk, Kyiv and Moscow announced that the presidents of Russia and Ukraine will meet in Minsk next week.
• Putin, Ukrainian President Poroshenko To Meet In Minsk Next Week RFE/RL 19 Aug 2014 -- As fighting continued between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian forces in the eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk, Kyiv and Moscow announced that the presidents of Russia and Ukraine will meeet in Minsk next week.
• Russia Did Its Part for Aid Convoy Safety, Ball Now in Kiev’s Court - Foreign Ministry RIA Novosti 19 Aug 2014 -- Russia and southeastern Ukraine independence supporters have fulfilled their objectives concerning the safety of the humanitarian convoy and Moscow hopes that Kiev is not trying to deliberately disrupt the aid mission, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.
• Russia weighs new bids in retaliation for bans: Official Iran Press TV 19 Aug 2014 -- Russia is working on further retaliatory measures in case the West imposes new sanctions against Moscow over the crisis in Ukraine, a Russian official says.
• Russian Navy May Make Changes, Reequip Personnel, by 2020 - Defense Minister RIA Novosti 19 Aug 2014 -- The head of the Russian Navy has suggested making changes to the country’s naval forces to reequip personnel with modern arms in regard to events over the last few months, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Tuesday.
• Russian Troops to Study Drone Use in Armenia RIA Novosti 19 Aug 2014 -- Over 100 Russian military personnel based in Armenia will receive unmanned aircraft control skills during a three-day field training exercise, Russia’s Southern Military District said in a press release.
• Russian Troops Gather in China Ahead of SCO Peace Mission 2014 Drills RIA Novosti 19 Aug 2014 -- Last echelons of Russian troops and military vehicles have arrived in China for multinational anti-terror drills under the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a Russian military spokesman told RIA Novosti early on Tuesday.
• Breedlove Discusses Russian Threats in Europe AFPS 18 Aug 2014 -- NATO is examining additional ways it can reassure alliance members who feel threatened by Russia's on-going actions in Ukraine, including positioning forces in new locations, the Supreme Allied Commander Europe told a German newspaper.
• NATO, EU Delivery of Military Aid to Kiev Would Contradict All Agreements Reached - Lavrov RIA Novosti 18 Aug 2014 -- The delivery of military aid to Kiev by NATO or the European Union would contradict all of the agreements reached earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday.
• Russia Has Right to Security Measures as War Rages Near Its Borders - Lavrov RIA Novosti 18 Aug 2014 -- Moscow has the right to make decisions on security measures on its territory because hostilities continue a few kilometers away from its border with Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday.
• Moscow Voices Need to Ceasefire in Ukraine During Berlin Talks - Lavrov RIA Novosti 18 Aug 2014 -- Moscow called for the need of an unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine during the four-party Berlin talks, but Kiev is continuing to set conditions, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday.
• Moscow Calls on US to Push Kiev to Stop Fratricidal War, Violence - Lavrov RIA Novosti 18 Aug 2014 -- Moscow has called on Washington to use its influence on Kiev to stop the fratricidal war and violence in eastern Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday.
• Russian Baltic Fleet Holds Artillery Exercises RIA Novosti 18 Aug 2014 -- More than 400 Russian servicemen are taking part in the coastal artillery exercises of the Russian Baltic Fleet in Kaliningrad Region, which involve over 60 units of combat equipment, the fleet's press service reported Monday.
• NATO Commander: We Need to Be Ready for 'Little Green Men' VOA 17 Aug 2014 -- NATO's Supreme Allied Commander in Europe says the alliance would respond militarily if any of its member countries faced an incursion similar to the one sustained by Ukraine's Crimea prior to its annexation by Russia earlier this year.
• Danish Inspectors to Conduct Observation Flight over Russia RIA Novosti 18 Aug 2014 -- A military delegation from Denmark will conduct an observation flight over Russia under the Open Skies Treaty, an official at Russia's Defense Ministry said on Sunday.
• Russia Denies Sending Military Equipment to Ukraine – Reports RIA Novosti 17 Aug 2014 -- Russia is not sending any military equipment to Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
• OSCE to Oversee Russian Humanitarian Convoy Crossing Ukrainian Border RIA Novosti 17 Aug 2014 -- The representatives of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) are expected to arrive at the checkpoint in the town of Donetsk in Russia's Rostov Region to oversee a Russian humanitarian convoy crossing the Ukrainian border, a representative of the contractor company transporting the cargo told RIA Novosti Sunday.
• ICRC Delegation Head Inspects Truck with Baby Food in Russian Humanitarian Aid Convoy RIA Novosti 17 Aug 2014 -- The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegation covering in Russia, Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine, Pascal Cuttat, examined the truck with baby food of the Russian humanitarian aid convoy, a representative of the contractor company transporting the cargo told RIA Novosti Sunday.
• Skirmishes in Ukraine as Russian Aid Convoy Awaits Inspection VOA 16 Aug 2014 -- Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists skirmished near the Russian border Saturday but there was no sign of the conflict widening a day after Kyiv said it partially destroyed an armored column that had crossed the border from Russia.
• Pro-Russians open supply line in eastern Ukraine Iran Press TV 16 Aug 2014 -- Pro-Russian forces say they have opened up a supply line between the restive cities of Donetsk and Lugansk in eastern Ukraine.
• ICRC Awaits Kiev to Recognize Russia's Aid Convoy as Humanitarian Mission RIA Novosti 16 Aug 2014 -- The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has sent a request to Kiev, asking to recognize the Russian convoy which is currently on the border with Ukraine, as humanitarian mission, no reply has been received yet, ICRC representative said.
• ICRC to Inspect Humanitarian Convoy Sent By Moscow on Russian Territory RIA Novosti 16 Aug 2014 -- Red Cross will inspect every car of Russia's humanitarian convoy to Ukraine while the cargo is on the Russian territory, the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) regional delegation Pascal Cuttat said Saturday.
• US: No Confirmation on Reports Russian Military Entered Ukraine VOA 15 Aug 2014 -- The White House says it cannot confirm reports that Ukrainian troops destroyed a Russian military convoy that had allegedly crossed into eastern Ukraine.
• Moscow Slams Kiev's Use of Aircraft, Heavy Weaponry Against Civilians as Unacceptable RIA Novosti 15 Aug 2014 -- Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said in a phone call with US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel on Friday that Kiev's use of combat aircraft and heavy artillery against civilian population in eastern Ukraine was unacceptable.
• Russia Says Weapons Supplies to Ukraine by EU Countries Violate Arms Trade Treaty RIA Novosti 15 Aug 2014 -- Moscow says weapons supplies to Ukraine by EU member-countries violate legally binding obligations on arms exports embargo, Russian Foreign Ministry Friday.
• Alleged Russian 'Incursion' Into Ukraine is Pure Fantasy - Defense Ministry RIA Novosti 15 Aug 2014 -- The Russian Defense Ministry denied on Friday allegations of Russian incursion into eastern Ukraine, calling the claims a 'fantasy' that is not worth discussing.
• Russia, Ukraine Begin Customs Process on Humanitarian Aid at Russian Border RIA Novosti 15 Aug 2014 -- Russia's Ukraine-bound humanitarian aid is being processed at the Donetsk border crossing in Russia, the operation's information center said Friday.
• Readout of Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel's Phone Call with Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu DoD 15 Aug 2014
• Ukraine Says Destroyed Part Of Russian Armored Column RFE/RL 15 Aug 2014 -- Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko says Ukrainian forces have destroyed part of a Russian armored column that crossed the border.
• Ukraine Says It Attacked Russian Armored Column Near Border VOA 15 Aug 2014 -- The Ukrainian government says its troops have destroyed military vehicles that crossed the border from Russia into eastern Ukraine.
• Russia armored vehicles join aid convoy near Ukraine Iran Press TV 15 Aug 2014 -- Russia has reportedly stationed a dozen heavy military vehicles near the border with Ukraine, where Moscow's aid convoy destined for Ukrainian civilians awaits permission to enter the country.
• Ukraine Inspects Convoy Amid Reports Russian APCs Cross Border RFE/RL 15 Aug 2014 -- Ukrainian authorities have begun inspecting a Russian convoy carrying what Moscow says is humanitarian aid destined for eastern Ukraine, amid a continuing government offensive against pro-Russian rebels.
• Russia Convoy Stops Near Ukraine Border VOA 14 Aug 2014 -- A convoy of Russian trucks carrying what Moscow says is humanitarian aid has drawn closer to Ukraine's border as tensions between Ukraine and Russia over its purpose remain high.
• Putin Strikes Conciliatory Tone in Crimea Speech VOA 14 Aug 2014 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday his country would stand up for itself but not at the cost of confrontation with the outside world, a seemingly conciliatory note after months of tough rhetoric over the crisis in Ukraine.
• Russia Truck Convoy Near Ukraine Border VOA 14 Aug 2014 -- A convoy of Russian trucks carrying what Moscow says is humanitarian aid has drawn closer to Ukraine's border as tensions between Ukraine and Russia over its purpose remain high.
• Ukraine Not Convinced as Putin Talks Peace VOA 14 Aug 2014 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin says his country will do everything in its power to stop the conflict in eastern Ukraine raging between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian armed forces. But the Russian leader's remarks ring hollow in Ukraine, where many blame Moscow for stoking tensions between the two countries.
• Russia aid convoy heading toward Ukraine Iran Press TV 14 Aug 2014 -- A Russian aid convoy destined for eastern Ukraine is back on track despite Kiev's warning that it will not let the convoy enter its territory.
• Putin: Russia Will Do Its Utmost To Stop Bloodshed In Ukraine RFE/RL 14 Aug 2014 -- President Vladimir Putin says Russia will do its utmost to stop the bloodshed in Ukraine, where government forces are fighting pro-Russian separatists in the east.
• Ukraine Passes Law On Russia Sanctions, Gas Pipelines RFE/RL 14 Aug 2014 -- Ukraine's parliament has passed legislation that would allow the government to impose sanctions on Russia. The bill was approved in a final reading on August 14.
• Kiev Passes Law Allowing Sanctions Against Russia, Including Transit of Energy RIA Novosti 14 Aug 2014 -- The Ukrainian parliament on Thursday passed a law that allows Kiev to impose 29 different types of sanctions against Russia, one of which covers the transit of Russian energy resources through its territory.
• Russia, Ukraine Discuss Provision of Humanitarian Aid to Eastern Ukraine RIA Novosti 14 Aug 2014 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Ukrainian counterpart Pavlo held a phone conversation Thursday and discussed the practical steps that should be taken to provide crisis-torn eastern regions of Ukraine with humanitarian aid, Russia's Foreign Ministry said.
• Red Cross Officials Meet Moscow's Aid Convoy in South Russia RIA Novosti 14 Aug 2014 -- Officials of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) met Moscow's convoy carrying humanitarian aid to Ukraine in Russia's southern Rostov Region, ICRC tweeted Thursday.
• Russia's State Arms Exporter Signs $100Mln in Contracts – Company RIA Novosti 14 Aug 2014 -- Russia's state-run arms exporter Rosoboronexport signed several contracts for a total of $100 million during the Engineering Technologies 2014 forum, the head of the company said Thursday.
• Japan not happy with Russia military drills in Pacific Ocean Iran Press TV 13 Aug 2014 -- The Japanese government is discontent with Russian military exercises in the Pacific Ocean's Kurile Islands, which Tokyo claims as its own, a media report says.
• Russia's Humanitarian Aid Not Pretext for 'Incursion', Allegations Absurd - Moscow RIA Novosti 13 Aug 2014 -- Allegations that the Russian convoy carrying humanitarian aid to Ukraine may serve as a pretext for a "military incursion" into Ukraine are "absurd," the Russian Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.
• Russian Aid Convoy Stalled North of Ukraine Border VOA 13 Aug 2014 -- A Russian aid convoy moving toward rebel-held parts of eastern Ukraine stalled Wednesday in Russian territory, still some 300 kilometers away from Ukraine's border, as controversy swirled about its contents and its final destination.
• Russian air force to get 200 new jets People's Daily 13 Aug 2014 -- The Russian Air Force will significantly upgrade and reinforce its fleet during 2014, a high-ranking military officer said Tuesday.
• Russian Air Force Timeline RIA Novosti 13 Aug 2014 -- The Russian Air Force has marked its 102th anniversary, dating back to the day when the Imperial Russian Air Service became a separate branch with the country's armed forces.
• Amid Karabakh Tensions, Both Armenia And Azerbaijan View Russia Uneasily RFE/RL 13 Aug 2014 -- The Kremlin leader scored a diplomatic coup on August 10 when he brought the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan to his Sochi residence to discuss a de-escalation of recent violence between the two South Caucasus rivals.
• Russian Aid Convoy Nears Ukraine Border, Despite Kyiv's Warnings RFE/RL 13 Aug 2014 -- A Russian aid convoy of nearly 300 trucks is nearing the Ukraine border, despite warnings from Kyiv the convoy may not be allowed in.
• Ukraine Minister Denounces Russian Aid Convoy VOA 13 Aug 2014 -- Ukraine's interior minister insisted Wednesday that the Russian convoy headed to the war-torn eastern region will not be allowed to enter the country.
• Russian 'Humanitarian Aid': What We Know And Don't Know So Far RFE/RL 12 Aug 2014 -- The Kremlin's August 11 announcement that it would be sending 'humanitarian aid' to Ukraine has set off a dizzying round of geopolitical telephone.
• Russian Humanitarian Aid? Past Recipients Say There's No Such Thing RFE/RL 12 Aug 2014 -- allowing the newly armed Abkhaz separatists to eventually fight down the Georgian military, take the regional capital, Sukhumi, and declare de facto independence.
• Ukraine to Deny Access to Russian Aid Convoy VOA 12 Aug 2014 -- A convoy of nearly 300 Russian trucks is headed from Moscow to the Ukraine border, carrying what Russia says are hundreds of tons of aid to civilians in Russian-speaking eastern Ukraine.
• Russia holds drills in Kurile Islands Iran Press TV 12 Aug 2014 -- Russia has announced military exercises in the Pacific Ocean's Kurile Islands, a move which will likely anger Japan, which also has claims on the Islands.
• Russia, Egypt Agree to Boost Military Cooperation – Putin RIA Novosti 12 Aug 2014 -- Russia and Egypt have agreed to expand military cooperation, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday after talks with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
• Russian Air Force to Renew Aircraft, Helicopters by 2020 RIA Novosti 12 Aug 2014 -- Russia's Air Force is planning to renovate its pool of combat helicopters, strike and fighter aircraft, Air Force commander-in-chief Col. Gen. Viktor Bondarev said Tuesday.
• Russia Builds New $28Mln Fighter Jets RIA Novosti 12 Aug 2014 -- Russia's new Sukhoi fighter jets cost more than 1 billion rubles ($28 million), Col. Gen. Viktor Bondarev, the Russian Air Force commander-in-chief, said Tuesday.
• Russian Army Arrives in Mongolia for Joint Military Exercise - Eastern Military District RIA Novosti 12 Aug 2014 -- Two military units from the Eastern Military District arrived Tuesday in Mongolia to participate in the bilateral military exercise Selenga 2014, Alexander Gordeyev, the district's representative said Tuesday.
• Russia Says To Hand Over Aid Convoy To ICRC In Ukraine RFE/RL 12 Aug 2014 -- Russia's Foreign Ministry says a humanitarian convoy which is heading to eastern Ukraine from Russia would cross the border only 'under the aegis of the International Committee of the Red Cross.'
• Kyiv Says It Will Deny Access To Russian Aid RFE/RL 12 Aug 2014 -- A Ukrainian military spokesman says a humanitarian convoy being dispatched to eastern Ukraine by Russia will not be admitted into the country.
• Ukraine Says It Will Block Russian Aid Convoy VOA 12 Aug 2014 -- Ukrainian officials said they will not allow Russian trucks to cross the border after Moscow said it was sending a convoy to deliver humanitarian aid to besieged residents in rebel-held eastern Ukraine.
• Finland, Norway to Conduct Observation Flights over Russia – Defense Ministry RIA Novosti 11 Aug 2014 -- Delegations from Finland and Norway will conduct an observation flight over Russia under the Treaty on Open Skies, Sergei Ryzhkov, the head of the Russian National Center for Reducing Nuclear Threat, said Monday.
• Russian Delegation to Fly Over UK under Treaty on Open Skies – Defense Ministry RIA Novosti 11 Aug 2014 -- A group of Russian aviation inspectors are to fly over the territory of the United Kingdom under the Treaty on Open Skies, Sergei Ryzhkov, the head of the Russian National Center for Reducing Nuclear Threat, said Monday.
• Russia's Aerospace Defense Forces Deploy S-400 to Ashuluk Training Range RIA Novosti 11 Aug 2014 -- Russia's Aerospace Defense Forces have started to move the S-400 "Triumf" (SA-21 Growler) and S-300 "Favorit" (SA-10 Grumble) anti-aircraft weapon systems to the Ashuluk military range, for their use in live firing drills, Russian Defense Ministry representative for the Aerospace Defense Forces Col. Dmitry Zenin told the press Monday.
• Russia to Start Developing Replacement for MiG-31 in 2017 RIA Novosti 11 Aug 2014 -- Russia will start developing a replacement for its MiG-31 'Foxhound' interceptors in 2017, Col. Gen. Viktor Bondarev, commander of the Russian Air Force, said.
• Russia to Destroy S-300 Weapons Systems Meant for Export to Syria RIA Novosti 11 Aug 2014 -- Russia's anti-aircraft S-300 weapons systems, intended for export to Syria before sanctions were imposed, will be destroyed, the director for the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation said Monday.
• Nearly 900 Russian Servicemen to Participate in Military Drills in China RIA Novosti 11 Aug 2014 -- Nearly 900 Russian servicemen have left for China to participate in the international anti-terrorist exercise Peace Mission 2014 alongside member-states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Eastern Military District spokesman Alexander Gordeyev told journalists Monday.
• Putin Says Russia Sending 'Humanitarian' Convoy Into Ukraine RFE/RL 11 Aug 2014 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has told European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso that Russia is sending a 'humanitarian' convoy into Ukraine with supervision by the International Red Cross.
• Presidents of Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan Discuss Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict RIA Novosti 10 Aug 2014 -- A trilateral meeting between the presidents of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan focused on the current situation in Nagorno-Karabakh started Sunday in the Bocharov Ruchey residence in Russia's southern resort city of Sochi.
• Russian Deputy Prime Minister Suggests Resuming MiG-31 Interceptor Aircraft Production RIA Novosti 08 Aug 2014 -- The production of MiG-31 interceptor aircraft should resume, as they could prove effective for another 15 years, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said Friday.
• Russia Blames West for Spiraling 'War of Sanctions' RIA Novosti 08 Aug 2014 -- Moscow is not scared by the recent EU sanctions, which only harm relations between Russia and Europe and prompted a retaliatory response, Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin said Friday.
• Su-25 Attack Aircraft Production May Resume at Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant RIA Novosti 08 Aug 2014 -- The Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant (UUAP) may resume the production of Sukhoi Su-25 fighter jets, the plant's managing director Leonid Belykh said.
• First Ice-Class Tanker to Launch Friday in Far East RIA Novosti 08 Aug 2014 -- An ice-class tanker, Sakhalin, with a deadweight of 3,100 tons is to be launched in the Primorsky Territory on Friday, becoming the first in its class to have been built in Russia's Far East, according to the Nakhodka Shipyard website.
• Russian Arctic Helicopter Ready for Deliveries in 2015 - Source RIA Novosti 08 Aug 2014 -- Deliveries of the Mi-8AMTSh-VA helicopters, a variant of the Mi-8 medium twin-turbine transport helicopter modified for use in the Arctic, may begin as early as next year, Leonid Belykh, managing director of the Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant (UUAP), said Friday.
• Kyiv To Put Sanctions On Russian Citizens, Companies Engaged In 'Terrorism' RFE/RL 08 Aug 2014 -- Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk says the Ukrainian government is proposing that sanctions be imposed by Ukraine against 172 citizens from Russia and other countries and 65 Russian companies who are financing 'terrorism' in the country.
• German Arms Manufacturer Downgrades Annual Forecast Amid EU Sanctions on Russia RIA Novosti 07 Aug 2014 -- German military technology group and automotive parts supplier Rheinmetall has been forced to downgrade its annual forecast for fiscal 2014 after the cancellation of an export permit for Russia amid EU sanctions against Moscow, an official statement from the company said Thursday.
• US Against Russian Peacekeepers in Ukraine - White House RIA Novosti 07 Aug 2014 -- The United States is against Russia sending its peacekeepers to Ukraine to secure the Malaysian Boeing 777 crash site, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said Thursday at a press briefing.
• Russia Bans Food Imports From U.S., EU, Australia, Canada, Norway RFE/RL 07 Aug 2014 -- Russia says it is launching a 'full embargo' on most food imports from the United States, the European Union, Australia, Canada, and Norway.
• US Defense Secretary Echoes Concerns of Possible Russian Invasion of Ukraine VOA 06 Aug 2014 -- A top U.S. official is voicing concern that Moscow may be preparing to invade Ukraine.
• Russia military build-up dangerous: NATO Iran Press TV 06 Aug 2014 -- NATO says Russia's military build-up along the border with Ukraine is creating a "dangerous situation."
• Russia to Conduct Military Drills on Conflict of Two Imaginary Nations RIA Novosti 06 Aug 2014 -- Drills at the Ashuluk firing range in Russia's southern region of Astrakhan entered their active phase on Wednesday, with the Russian military preparing to train for conflict between two imaginary states.
• Russia Says West 'Shot Itself in Foot' by Imposing Sanctions on Moscow RIA Novosti 06 Aug 2014 -- Western sanctions against Russia's defense sector will fire back at the United States and the European Union, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said Wednesday.
• Russia Manufactures 24% of Global Military Helicopter Fleet This Year RIA Novosti 06 Aug 2014 -- The Russian Helicopters holding company has manufactured 24 percent of the global fleet of military helicopters, the company told journalists Wednesday.
• UN Security Council Discuss Ukraine Crisis As Russia Blamed RFE/RL 06 Aug 2014 -- UN officials warned of a worsening humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine as some UN Security Council members blamed Russia for the crisis.
• NATO, Polish PM Warn Of Russian Intervention In Ukraine RFE/RL 06 Aug 2014 -- Ukraine's Foreign Ministry says NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen will visit Kyiv, amid heightened tensions over allegations Moscow is massing troops along the Ukrainian border.
• NATO: Russia Could Be Poised to Invade Eastern Ukraine VOA 06 Aug 2014 -- Russia, has amassed around 20,000 combat-ready troops on Ukraine's eastern border, could use the pretext of a humanitarian or peace-keeping mission to invade, NATO warned on Wednesday.
• NATO Claims Russia Gathered 20,000 Troops on Ukraine Border RIA Novosti 05 Aug 2014 -- NATO Deputy Secretary-General Alexander Vershbow said Tuesday Russia had beefed up its troops along its border with Ukraine by some 20,000 soldiers.
• Russia Criticized for Worsening Humanitarian Situation in Ukraine VOA 05 Aug 2014 -- Russia called for an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council Tuesday to urge that international community take urgent measures to improve humanitarian conditions in eastern Ukraine, where the government and Russian-backed separatists have been fighting for months. Some Council members accused Russia of being the cause of the crisis it seeks to contain.
• Soviet-Era Satellite Burns Up in Atmosphere After 34 Years of Service RIA Novosti 05 Aug 2014 -- The Kosmos-1151, a Soviet-era satellite appears to have burned up upon reentry into the Earth's atmosphere, Russian Aerospace Defense Forces spokesman Colonel Alexei Zolotukhin said Tuesday.
• Russia May Start Modernized Mi-26T2 Helicopters Exports in 2015 RIA Novosti 05 Aug 2014 -- Russia plans to begin supplies of modernized Mi-26T2 multi-purpose transport helicopters, including to foreign customers, next year, the head of the government supplies department at Russian Helicopters, Aleksei Putintsev, told RIA Novosti Tuesday.
• Russian Air Force Gets New Batch of Su-30M2 Fighters RIA Novosti 05 Aug 2014 -- Russia's aircraft maker Sukhoi has delivered another batch of its multirole fighters Su-30M2 to the country's Air Force, according to the company's press office.
• Russian Prime Minister Says Budget Plan for 2015 Should Reflect Western Sanctions RIA Novosti 05 Aug 2014 -- Russia's 2015 draft budget and the budget plan for 2016-2017 should be balanced to reflect Western sanctions imposed on Russia over Ukraine, the country's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Tuesday.
• Russian Army to Equip Ground Forces With 'Iskander' Missiles by 2018 RIA Novosti 05 Aug 2014 -- The missile brigades of Russia's Ground Forces will be equipped with advanced weaponry and hardware, including the 9K720 Iskander (SS-26 Stone) theater ballistic missile systems, as part of the 2020 state rearmament program, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said during a teleconference.
• Russia's Army to Get 'Future Soldier' Gear in October – Defense Ministry RIA Novosti 05 Aug 2014 -- The Russian Defense Ministry hopes to start purchases of domestically designed «future soldier» gear Ratnik, which is currently in its final trials, already in October, the head of a military and scientific department of Russia's Ground Forces said Tuesday.
• Russian Defense Ministry Readies Court Case Against Germany's Rheinmetall RIA Novosti 05 Aug 2014 -- Russia's Defense Ministry is preparing documents in order to sue Germany's automotive components and defense equipment manufacturer Rheinmetall over the cancelation of a $134-million joint project to build a combat training facility in Russia, Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov told RIA Novosti on Tuesday.
• Russia Again Boosts Troop Levels on Ukraine Border VOA 05 Aug 2014 -- Russia has again bolstered its troops presence on its frontier with Ukraine's east, triggering concerns of cross-border fire or a possible intervention in support of pro-Moscow rebels increasingly besieged by Ukrainian government forces.
• UK, US to Carry Out Observation Flight Over Russia RIA Novosti 04 Aug 2014 -- Joint mission from the United States and Britain will carry out an observation flight over Russian territory on a Swedish plane as part of the international Open Skies Treaty, Sergei Ryzhkov, the head of Russia's National Nuclear Risk Reduction Center, told journalists.
• Russia Says NATO Revives 'Cold War' Rhetoric to Justify Military Spending RIA Novosti 04 Aug 2014 -- The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Monday that NATO has revived its 'Cold War'-type propaganda against Moscow to justify the alliance's military buildup and defense spending.
• Russia Slams NATO Over 'Cold War' Cliches, Confrontational Claims RIA Novosti 04 Aug 2014 -- The Russian Foreign Ministry on Monday sharply criticized NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen for his ungrounded confrontational rhetoric against Russia that resembles 'Cold War' propaganda clichés.
• Over 100 Aircraft Involved in Russian Military Exercises - Defense Ministry RIA Novosti 04 Aug 2014 -- More than 100 Russian Air Force aircraft are to participate in military exercises in the Western and Central military districts, the Russian Defense Ministry's press service said Monday.
• US Confirmed Spy Jet Fleeing Russian Chase Invaded Swedish Airspace RIA Novosti 04 Aug 2014 -- US military officials have confirmed the US spy jet had, in fact, invaded Swedish airspace without permission while trying to flee from the chasing Russian fighter jet.
• US Spy Plane Enters Swedish Airspace to Avoid Russian Fighters VOA 04 Aug 2014 -- U.S. military officials say one of its spy planes veered into Swedish airspace without permission recently, to avoid Russian planes over the Baltic Sea.
• Russia Begins Military Drills Near Ukraine Border VOA 04 Aug 2014 -- Russian officials say the military is beginning exercises Monday in the central and western regions of the country, which would include the Ukraine border region.
• Ukrainian Soldiers Cross Into Russia RFE/RL 04 Aug 2014 -- Russian news agencies reported on August 4 that more than 400 Ukrainian soldiers crossed into Russia overnight, allegedly to avoid fighting with pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine.e
• Ukraine Struggles To Find Strategy For Getting Back Crimea RFE/RL 02 Aug 2014 -- both sides agreed to an arbitrational consideration of the situation. In the current case, I don't know anyone who can imagine that Russia would agree to participate in such a process. And that is the problem -- not a lack of mechanisms.'
• Russia Continues Military Build-up Along Ukraine Border AFPS 01 Aug 2014 -- Russian troops have moved closer to the border with Ukraine and continue to build their military capabilities in the region, Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby said today.
• 'Wrong time, altered images': Moscow slams Kiev's MH17 satellite data RT 01 Aug 2014 -- Satellite images Kiev published as 'proof' it didn't deploy anti-aircraft batteries around the MH17 crash site carry altered time-stamps and are from days after the MH17 tragedy, the Russian Defense Ministry has revealed.
• Analysis of satellite imagery released on the Internet by the Security Service of Ukraine on July 30, 2014 Russia MoD 01 Aug 2014 -- The Russian Defence Ministry has analyzed the satellite imagery released by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) on July 30, 2014, which allegedly disproves the authenticity of the Russian satellite imagery showing the Buk-1 batteries in the Boeing 777 (MH17) crash site area on July 17 and confirms that Russian Armed Forces opened fire on Ukrainian territory.
• Russia Gives Boeing Crash Info to Dutch Investigative Commission – Aviation Authority RIA Novosti 01 Aug 2014 -- Russia's civil aviation authority, Rosaviatsiya, has handed over its materials on the Malaysia Airlines passenger plane crash to the investigative commission, headed by the Netherlands, the aviation authority's press service said on Friday.
• Moscow Casts Doubt on Kiev's MH17 Crash Satellite Images RIA Novosti 01 Aug 2014 -- The Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday that satellite imagery of the Malaysian Boeing crash site that Kiev used to demonstrate the absence of its air defense systems in the area of the disaster 'are absolutely implausible.'
• Russia slams NATO over remark on nuclear treaty Iran Press TV 01 Aug 2014 -- Russia slams NATO's Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen for interfering in a Moscow-Washington dispute over a nuclear treaty.
• Russia to Present Unique Communications System at High-Tech Exhibition RIA Novosti 01 Aug 2014 -- Russian high-tech corporation Rostec has created a unique sixth-generation radio communication system called Chance, which it will present at the Russian Defense Ministry's Innovation Day, the company's press-service said in a statement on Friday.
• No Plans Yet for Russian Airborne Troops Permanent Deployment in Arctic RIA Novosti 01 Aug 2014 -- A permanent presence of Russian airborne troops in the Arctic is not on the table so far, airborne troops commander Col. Gen. Vladimir Shamanov said on Friday.
• Combat Aviation Alerted at Russian Far East Airfields – Russian Defense Ministry RIA Novosti 01 Aug 2014 -- Eastern Military District combat aviation crews at airfields in the Far East were unexpectedly alerted, Aleksander Gordeyev, the head of the Eastern Military District, said Friday.