Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Further Reading

• Briefing by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova, Moscow, August 31, 2016 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 31 Aug 2016
• Concerns Mount Over Foreign Cyberattacks on US Election Day VOA 31 Aug 2016 -- As Democrats in the U.S. Congress call for the Federal Bureau of Investigation to investigate concerns that Russia may be trying to manipulate the November general election with cyberattacks, government officials are wrestling with new challenges to ensure accurate results.
• Russia concerned about Turkey's incursion into Syria Press TV 31 Aug 2016 -- Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has expressed concerns over Turkey's incursion into Syrian territory, which has also prompted condemnation by the Damascus government.
• Russia claims credit for killing Daesh spokesman in Syria Press TV 31 Aug 2016 -- Russia's Defense Ministry says the Daesh spokesman and chief strategist, Abu Mohamed al-Adnani, was killed by a Russian airstrike in Syria.
• Rights Watchdog Condemns 'Preelection Crackdown' In Chechnya RFE/RL 30 Aug 2016 -- A leading rights watchdog has accused authorities in Chechnya of systematically erecting a "tyranny" in that southern Russian republic and using "thugs" to intimidate potential rivals and the public ahead of an election next month in which Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov is seeking a new term.
• Kremlin Regrets Russia, US Still Far From Real Cooperation on Syria Sputnik 30 Aug 2016 -- Moscow and Washington are still far from real cooperation in Syria, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
• Kremlin Dismisses U.S. Suspicions Russia Hacked Into Online Voting Systems RFE/RL 30 Aug 2016 -- Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov has rejected reports in U.S. media that Russia may have been involved in hacking into online voting systems in the United States ahead of the November U.S. presidential election.
• Russia, Mongolia Start Selenga-2016 Military Drills in Buryatia Sputnik 30 Aug 2016 -- The Russian-Mongolian Selenga-2016 military exercises started on Tuesday in Russia's Republic of Buryatia, the head of Russia's Eastern Military District press service said.
• Russia Starts Drills in South Ossetia as Part of Snap Check Sputnik 30 Aug 2016 -- Russian military on Tuesday started drills in South Ossetian mountains as part of the ongoing snap combat readiness inspections, Russian Southern Military District's press service said in a statement.
• India and Russia to Jointly Set Up $300 Million Logistics Hub for Su30MKI Sputnik 30 Aug 2016 -- A formal agreement between India and Russia is likely to be signed by October this year.
• US Suspects Russia Behind Computer Hacking in 2 State Election Databases VOA 29 Aug 2016 -- U.S. officials suspect Russian hackers were responsible for breaking into two state election databases earlier this month.
• Russia Shifts Fighter Jets, Bombers to Bolster Aerospace Forces Fleet in Crimea Sputnik 28 Aug 2016 -- Russian advanced bombers and jet fighters have been relocated to western part of Russia as a part of snap combat readiness inspection. MiG-39 and MiG-31 fighter jets have been relocated to mainland Russia while Su-34 bombers have been moved to Crimean Peninsula.
• Russia Relocates Airborne, Marine Troops to Crimea as Part of Snap Inspection Sputnik 28 Aug 2016 -- Russian Defense Ministry said that Russia has repositioned its airborne troops and marines to ranges located in Crimea and the Krasnodar Territory in the country's south as part of the ongoing snap combat readiness inspections.
• Russia's Next-Gen A-100 AWACS Steps Ahead of US Counterpart Sputnik 27 Aug 2016 -- The Beriyev A-100 Premier "flying radar," able to detect enemy targets hundreds of kilometers away, will be flight-tested next March, Izvestia wrote citing a Defense Ministry source in Moscow.
• Developer of Russian Sineva Ballistic Missile to Fulfill 2016 Contracts on Time Sputnik 27 Aug 2016 -- The manufacturer of the Russian Sineva intercontinental ballistic missile promised to fulfill its contracts on time.
• Russian S-300, S-400 Air Defense Systems Put on Combat Duty in New Areas Sputnik 27 Aug 2016 -- Russian S-300 and S-400 air defense systems of the Southern Military District are starting combat duty in new position areas as part of snap combat readiness drills, the Russian Defense Ministry informs.
• US, Russia fail to reach deal on Syria truce Press TV 28 Aug 2016 -- The US and Russia say they have been unable once again to forge a comprehensive agreement on increasing cooperation to end the conflict in Syria that has killed hundreds of thousands of people.
• Russia puts defense systems on combat duty amid ongoing large-scale drill People's Daily 28 Aug 2016 -- The advanced S-300 and S-400 air defense systems of the Russian Southern Military District are being put on combat duty in new positions as part of an ongoing large-scale snap drill, the Russian Defense Ministry said Saturday.
• U.S., Russia Say Near Accord On Renewed Syrian Cease-Fire, Talks RFE/RL 27 Aug 2016 -- Washington and Moscow inched toward agreeing on a renewed cease-fire in Syria but fell short of announcing a deal after a daylong meeting between top diplomats in Geneva on August 26.
• Steinmeier Calls For New Arms Deal With Russia To Avoid Accidental War RFE/RL 26 Aug 2016 -- Germany's foreign minister is calling for a new arms control deal with Moscow as intensified military exercises by Russia and NATO have raised concerns that a war could inadvertently be triggered.
• Remarks With Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at a Press Availability US Dept. of State 26 Aug 2016 -- Remarks by John Kerry, US Secretary of State
• Turkey, Russia ready to expedite Aleppo aid efforts Press TV 26 Aug 2016 -- Turkey and Russia say they are ready to expedite efforts to ensure the timely delivery of humanitarian aid to people caught up in violence in Syria's northwestern city of Aleppo, which has been a flash point in the recent past.
• Russia Reportedly Asks Turkey to 'Provide Info on Air Campaign' in Syria Sputnik 26 Aug 2016 -- The Russian Defense Ministry has asked Ankara to provide additional information on "Turkey's air campaign in the Syrian skies" to avoid incidents similar to the Su-24 downing, an unnamed source told Izvestiya. Turkish aircraft, along with tanks and special forces have taken part in an anti-Daesh operation in and around the border town of Jarablus.
• Kerry, Lavrov Say New Syria Agreement Close VOA 26 Aug 2016 -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Friday that the situation in Syria had "dramatically deteriorated" since the "brief oasis of calm" following a cessation- of-hostilities agreement, and he promised that the U.S. and Russia were close to a new agreement on a more durable arrangement.
• Russia's Floating Space Launch Pad to Be Sold in Early 2017 Sputnik 26 Aug 2016 -- Russia is expected to sell its Morskoi Start (Sea Launch) floating space launch pad in early 2017.
• Russian Division in Chukotka to Be Equipped With All-Terrain Vehicles Sputnik 26 Aug 2016 -- Russian troops in Chukotka will be equipped with all-terrain vehicles.
• Russia to Redeploy Jets to Tactical Airfields in Central, West, South Districts Sputnik 26 Aug 2016 -- Russian warplanes will be redeployed to airfields in the Southern, Western and Central military districts.
• China conducts joint military exercises with Russia, US, Australia: Defense Ministry People's Daily 26 Aug 2016 -- A series of joint military exercises among Chinese, Russian, U.S. and Australian troops is getting underway.
• Briefing by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova, Moscow, August 25, 2016 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 25 Aug 2016
• Aid convoys 'ready' to enter Aleppo; UN envoys await Russia-US talks on truce UN News 25 Aug 2016 -- Reporting that the Russian Federation is backing a 48-hour humanitarian pause in and around Aleppo, senior United Nations envoys on the Syrian crisis today said they are "waiting for others on the ground to do the same," and are ready to green light aid convoys to the war-ravaged city once assurances are received.
• UN Envoy: Restarting Syrian Peace Talks Hinges on US-Russian Talks VOA 25 Aug 2016 -- U.N. Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura says a resumption of the stalled intra-Syrian peace talks is likely to hinge on the outcome of bilateral talks between U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, scheduled for Friday.
• Russia agrees to 48-hour Aleppo truce, other guarantees needed: UN Press TV 25 Aug 2016 -- UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura says he has received Russia's agreement for a 48-hour truce meant for humanitarian access to Syria's northwestern city of Aleppo, emphasizing that the aid delivery will start once other actors support the deal.
• Russia Holds Snap Military Exercises, Deepening Neighbors' Alarm RFE/RL 25 Aug 2016 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin announced large-scale snap military exercises on land and in the Black and Caspian seas, increasing worries in Ukraine and other Western neighbors about Moscow's intentions.
• Invincible Weapon: Russian Long-Range Bombers to Receive New Cruise Missiles Sputnik 25 Aug 2016 -- Russian Tu-22M3 Backfire long-range bombers will be armed with the newest Kh-32 cruise missile, almost invincible to enemy air defenses and interceptor jets.
• Russia Begins Military Exercises on Land, at Sea VOA 25 Aug 2016 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced snap military exercises on land, and in the Black and Caspian Seas, the defense ministry said in a statement.
• Behind The Scenes In Ukraine, Ties To Putin Help Power Broker Pull Strings RFE/RL 24 Aug 2016 -- More than a decade ago, Viktor Medvedchuk became known as the "Gray Cardinal" because his low profile masked unparalleled clout in the halls of power in Ukraine.
• Dueling Indictments As Russia, Ukraine Target Each Other's Military Leaders RFE/RL 24 Aug 2016 -- Russia and Ukraine traded salvos this week with dueling criminal investigations against each other's top military brass, a new front in the ongoing conflict between the two countries.
• Russia's 'Flying Tank' to Boast a Guided Missile Sputnik 24 Aug 2016 -- Armed with a newly developed guided missile system, Russia's Sprut-SDM1 self-propelled gun for the Russian Airborne Forces will be able to destroy tanks, helicopters and drones, the newspaper Izvestia wrote.
• Russian Armata Combat Vehicles to be Integrated Into Real-Time Control Network Sputnik 24 Aug 2016 -- New Russian combat vehicles will be integrated into the Andromeda-D automatic control system. This would enhance cooperation between Russia airborne and ground troops.
• Kazakhstan's S-300 Systems to Join Integrated Air Defense With Russia Sputnik 24 Aug 2016 -- Kazakhstan will put five battalions of S-300 air defense systems on combat duty in the near future as part of the integrated regional air defense network with Russia, the commander of the Russian Aerospace Forces said Wednesday.
• Hamadan Only Airbase in Iran Used for Refueling Russian Aircraft - MP Sputnik 24 Aug 2016 -- Russian military aircraft in Iran are only allowed to refuel at the Hamadan airbase in accordance with existing agreements, the chairman of the Iranian parliamentary committee on foreign policy and national security said Wednesday.
• Ukraine should rely on own might to counter Russia: Poroshenko Press TV 24 Aug 2016 -- Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has underlined the need for Kiev to stand on its own feet rather than relying on Western support as it copes with resurging conflict in its eastern region.
• Ukraine Celebrates 25 Years Of Independence As Tensions With Russia Worsen RFE/RL 24 Aug 2016 -- Ukraine marked 25 years of independence from the Soviet Union on August 24 with a massive parade of soldiers and heavy weaponry through central Kyiv, in a show of force designed to boost the morale of the country's servicemen and reassure Ukrainians amid heightened tensions with Russia.
• Russian planes only refueling at Nojeh Airbase: MP IRNA 24 Aug 2016 -- A senior member of the Iranian parliament (Majlis) has stressed that Russian planes would refuel only at Nojeh Airbase in west of the country.
• US Seeking Clarity on Turkey Offering Russia Use of Incirlik Air Base Sputnik 23 Aug 2016 -- US Department of State spokesman Mark Toner said that the United States is seeking clarification on recent comments made by the Turkish Prime Minister suggesting Russia could use the Incirlik air base.
• Russia's Roscosmos to Spend Over $29Mln Upgrading Rocket Engine Reliability Sputnik 23 Aug 2016 -- Russian state space corporation Roscosmos is allocating over 1.9 billion rubles ($29 million) to upgrading carrier rocket engines, rocket boosters and spacecraft, according to materials published on Russia's official public procurement website on Tuesday.
• US Investigates Suspected Russian Hacking of American Journalists VOA 23 Aug 2016 -- U.S. authorities are investigating what they believe is a series of Russian intelligence cyberattacks targeting information collected by journalists at The New York Times and other news organizations.
• IS Threat to Russia Growing with Syria Bombing Campaign VOA 23 Aug 2016 -- Islamic State's claim of responsibility for an attack on Russian police in the Moscow region last week raises concerns about the terrorist group's possible plans for targeting the Russian capital.
• Russia Helicopters in talks with Iran over sales of 60 choppers Press TV 23 Aug 2016 -- One of Russia's biggest aviation companies says it has entered talks with Iran over the sales of 60 light multirole helicopters.
• US not sure whether Russia 'stopped' using Iran airbase Press TV 23 Aug 2016 -- The United States has reacted to Russia's announcement that its fighter jets stopped using an airbase in western Iran to target terrorists in Syria.
• Iran's Parliament Speaker Says Russia Continues To Use Iranian Base RFE/RL 23 Aug 2016 -- Iran's parliament speaker Ali Larijani says Russian warplanes are still using an Iranian military base to strike targets in Syria.
• Russian Helicopters in Talks to Deliver 60 Ka-226T, Ansat to Iran Sputnik 23 Aug 2016 -- According to the company's press service, Russian Helicopters holding is in talks with Iran on the deliveries of Ansat and Ka-226T light multirole helicopters for the Islamic republic's health ministry.
• Soviet Army Surplus: Russian Defense Ministry Announces Massive Vehicle Sell-Off Sputnik 23 Aug 2016 -- Russia plans to auction off a wide variety of military equipment and clothing, in a move aimed at liquidating mothballed army goods in a push to modernize, according to RIA Novosti.
• Russian Defense Ministry to Discuss Missile Attack Warning System Development Sputnik 23 Aug 2016 -- The Russian Ministry of Defense collegium will discuss on Tuesday the progress on the missile attack warning system.
• Syria Mission Complete: Russian Air Force Returns From Iran's Hamadan Airfield Sputnik 22 Aug 2016 -- Russian aircraft involved in airstrikes against the Daesh jihadist group last week have returned home from western Iran after successfully completing their tasks, the Russian Defense Ministry spokesman said Monday.
• Russia's Only Aircraft Carrier Prepares for Syria Deployment Sputnik 22 Aug 2016 -- The Russian military detachment deployed to Syria to fight against Daesh (the terrorist group also known as ISIL/ISIS) may soon be bolstered by the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier.
• Russian Plane With AWACS-Styled Radar to Make Maiden Flight in 2018 Sputnik 22 Aug 2016 -- Russia's first plane with a long-range surveillance and control system will make its maiden flight in 2018, the local media cited a military source as saying Monday.
• Russia Stops Using Iran's Hamadan Airbase - Iranian Foreign Ministry Sputnik 22 Aug 2016 -- According to a spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Russia has stopped the use of Iran's Hamadan airbase.
• Yemen ready to open bases to Russia to fight terrorism: Ex-President Saleh Press TV 22 Aug 2016 -- Yemen's former President Ali Abdullah Saleh says the new government in the country is ready to cooperate with Russia against terrorism by allowing Russian access to Yemeni military bases.
• Russia may resume Syria operations from Iran airbase: Envoy Press TV 22 Aug 2016 -- The Russian ambassador to Iran says Russia's Aerospace Forces may resume operations against terrorists in Syria from an Iranian airbase upon a decision by the two countries' officials.
• FM spokesman: Temporary use of Iranian airbase for Russia ended IRNA 22 Aug 2016 -- Temporary use of Iranian airbase for anti-terrorism mission by Russian jetfighters ended, Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi said on Monday.
• Iran: Russian use of Iran air base ends ISNA 22 Aug 2016 -- Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi said that Russian use of Iranian air base in Hamedan Province, western Iran has ended by now.
• Iran Says Russia's Use Of Air Base Has Ended 'For Now' RFE/RL 22 Aug 2016 -- Iran's Foreign Ministry says Russia's use of a military base in Hamadan for striking targets in Syria has ended for now.
• Clinton Campaign Suggests Trump May Be Kremlin 'Puppet' RFE/RL 21 Aug 2016 -- Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's campaign manager says Republican rival Donald Trump should explain "the extent to which the Kremlin is at the core" of his campaign, her team's latest suggestion of Russian meddling in the November 8 election.
• Trump Calls Russia an Ally, Says Hillary Wants 'Something Worse' Than Cold War Sputnik 21 Aug 2016 -- Speaking on the conservative "Savage Nation" radio show, the Republican nominee was undeterred by weeks of media attacks labeling him a secret agent of the Kremlin vowing cooperation with Russia in the fight against Daesh while working to resolve conflicts between the countries.
• US, Ukraine Inspectors to Fly Over Russia Under Open Skies Treaty Sputnik 22 Aug 2016 -- US and Ukrainian inspectors will fly over Russian territories this week under the Open Skies Treaty, the acting head of the Russian Defense Ministry's Nuclear Risk Reduction Center said.
• US Commander Warns Moscow, Damascus Against Operations Near American Positions Sputnik 22 Aug 2016 -- The US forces commander in Syria Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend says Moscow and Damascus have been informed about possible countermeasures should the coalition troops in Syria "feel threatened".
• Moscow's No-Fly Zones: Russia to Get New Long-Range Missile Interceptor Sputnik 21 Aug 2016 -- An advanced long-range missile interceptor is due to be put into service with the Russian Aerospace Forces in the near future, according to the Forces' Deputy Commander-in-Chief Viktor Gumenny.
• Simple Yet Reliable: New Russian Armored Vehicles to Receive Slat Armor Sputnik 21 Aug 2016 -- All advanced Russian armored vehicles will be protected from modern tandem weapons with the help of slat armor, according to the newspaper Izvestia.
• Turkish Prime Minister Admits Possibility of Use of Incirlik Base by Russia Sputnik 20 Aug 2016 -- Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Saturday that Russia could possibly use country's southern Incirlik Air Base if it becomes necessary.
• Kremlin Presses Turkey for Access to NATO's Incirlik Air Base, Home to US Nukes Sputnik 20 Aug 2016 -- Russian officials have reached out to Ankara to request access to the American-built base as a convenient launch pad for airstrikes in the Syrian theater, but it remains to be seen whether such cooperation will roil NATO's feathers.
• Russian Army to Receive Pantsir-SA Systems Designed for Arctic in 2016 Sputnik 20 Aug 2016 -- Lt. Gen. Viktor Gumennyy, the Russia's Aerospace Forces' deputy commander-in-chief said that before the end of this year, first samples of a new Pantsir-SA self-propelled anti-aircraft complex, designed for combat in the Arctic conditions, will become operational in the Aerospace Forces and the Northern Fleet.
• Russia Can Use Airbase in Iran For as Long as Needed – Iranian Defense Minister Sputnik 20 Aug 2016 -- Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehqan said that Russia can use Iran's Hamadan airbase to strike jihadist targets in Syria for as long as needed.
• Defense minister: Iran may consider any request by Russia to use extra air bases IRNA 20 Aug 2016 -- Minister of Defense and Logistics of the Armed Forces Brigadier-General Hossein Dehqan said on Saturday that Iran may consider any request by Russia to use extra air bases, if it deemed necessary, but, there is no such a plan yet.
• Iran receives full package of S-300 missile systems: Minister IRNA 20 Aug 2016 -- Defense Minister Hossein Dehqan said Iran has received the full package of S-300 defensive missile systems from Russia.
• S-300 Iran delivery to be completed in a month: Defense chief Press TV 20 Aug 2016 -- Defense Minister Hossein Dehqan says Iran will fully receive the remaining consignment of the Russian S-300 missile defense system in a month.
• Russia says ready to support UN proposal for 48-hours ceasefire in Syria's Aleppo People's Daily 19 Aug 2016 -- The United Nations' Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said Thursday night he was informed that Russia was ready to support his proposal of a 48-hour ceasefire in order to provide humanitarian assistance to the Syrian city of Aleppo.
• New Polish Tank Anders Unlikely to Become 'Killer' of Russian Armata Sputnik 19 Aug 2016 -- Recently Russian media reported that in the near future Poland is planning to seriously bolster the combat capabilities of its armed forces, including the increase in military equipment and weapons.
• Russia's Aircraft Carrier to Be Repaired by October Before Syria Deployment Sputnik 19 Aug 2016 -- Repair works of Russia's Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier will be completed before the end of September, a Russian defense industry source told RIA Novosti on Friday.
• Former Soviet Citizens Mull Failed Hard-line Coup, a Quarter Century Later VOA 19 Aug 2016 -- Twenty-five years ago, on August 19, 1991, a hard-line group calling itself the State Committee for the State of Emergency (known by its Russian acronym GKChP) announced that it was removing the Soviet Union's reformist president, Mikhail Gorbachev, from power and taking control of the country.
• Briefing by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova, Moscow, August 18, 2016 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 18 Aug 2016
• Russian Military Buildup in Crimea Not Directed Against NATO Sputnik 18 Aug 2016 -- The Russian military buildup in Crimea is not directed against NATO, Russia's envoy to the alliance said.
• Russian Tu-22M3, Su-34 Conduct Group Strike on Daesh in Syria From Iran, Russia Sputnik 18 Aug 2016 -- Russian Tu-22M3 and Su-34 bombers carried out group strikes on Daesh targets in Syria's Deir ez-Zor from airfields in Russia and Iran, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
• Russia to Start Producing Engines for New Ilyushin Il-112 Plane in 2018 Sputnik 18 Aug 2016 -- Russia's Omsk Engine-Building Enterprise, part of the United Engine Corporation (UEC), will start serial production of the Klimov TV7-117ST engines for the new Ilyushin Il-112 light military transport plane in 2018, UEC said Thursday.
• Russia jets fly from Iran for more anti-terror strikes in Syria Press TV 18 Aug 2016 -- Russia says its warplanes have launched airstrikes against terrorists in Syria from an Iranian air base for a third straight day.
• Russia says prepared for humanitarian pause in Aleppo Press TV 18 Aug 2016 -- Russia says it is ready to support a proposal by the United Nations for weekly 48-hour ceasefires in Aleppo in a bid to allow humanitarian aid deliveries to the contested northwestern Syrian city.
• Russia defends use of Iranian bases for airstrikes in Syria People's Daily 18 Aug 2016 -- Russian authorities are rebuffing US claims that Russia is violating UN sanctions on Iran.
• 25 Years Ago: Failed August Coup Changed U.S. Diplomatic Approach Toward Soviet Union RFE/RL 18 Aug 2016 -- A member of former U.S. President George H.W. Bush's administration says that until the attempted coup against Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev in August 1991, nobody in the U.S. government imagined the Soviet Union would collapse by the end of 1991.
• Cautious Debate In Iran Follows Russia's Use Of Military Base RFE/RL 18 Aug 2016 -- Russia's use of Iranian territory to launch air strikes in Syria this week has sparked cautious debate in Iran, where open discussions of sensitive foreign policy issues are rare and perceived affronts to national sovereignty could weigh heavily on a regime founded on promises to kick out foreign meddlers.
• Russian Su-34 Jets Deployed in Iran Conduct Airstrikes Against Daesh in Syria Sputnik 17 Aug 2016 -- Russian Su-34 jets deployed in Iran conducted airstrikes against Daesh in Syria's Deir ez-Zor, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
• Russian Planes Conduct More Syria Airstrikes From Iran VOA 17 Aug 2016 -- Russian warplanes flew from Iran to carry out airstrikes in Syria for a second day Wednesday.
• With Use Of Iranian Base, Russia Is Trying To Send Clear Message RFE/RL 17 Aug 2016 -- On August 15, Al-Masdar News, an outlet with close ties to the Syrian government's security apparatus, released photos of a Russian TU-22M3 long-distance strategic bomber, which were reportedly taken at the Hamadan airfield in Iran.
• Why Russia Uses Iran's Hamadan Airfield for Airstrikes in Syria Sputnik 17 Aug 2016 -- The Russian Defense Ministry has deployed Tu-22 strategic bombers to an airbase in Iran. According to experts, the measure would intensify bombings against Daesh militants in Syria to decide the battle for Aleppo.
• Supreme National Security Council authorizes Russian jetfighters to use Iran airspace IRNA 17 Aug 2016 -- The Supreme National Security Council authorized the Russian jetfighters to use Iranian Nojeh air base, western Iran, Senior member of parliament Alaeddin Boroujerdi said on Wednesday.
• Moscow: Deploying Russian bombers in Iran not against UNSC Resolution 2231 ISNA 17 Aug 2016 -- Russian Defense Ministry said that deployment of the country's bombers in Iran does not run counter to the UNSC resolutions, Russian Interfax news agency reported.
• Russia has no military base in Iran: Majlis speaker Press TV 17 Aug 2016 -- Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani says neither Russia nor any other countries have a permanent military base in the Islamic Republic.
• Russia Uses Iran's Airfield Only to Refuel Bombers - Senior Iranian MP Sputnik 17 Aug 2016 -- Russia uses a western Iranian airbase only to refuel its long-range strategic bombers striking Daesh terrorist group targets in Syria, a senior Iranian lawmaker said Wednesday.
• Russia's Use of Iranian Air Base Does Not Violate UNSC Resolutions - Senator Sputnik 17 Aug 2016 -- Russia's use of the Hamadan airfield in western Iran for launching strikes against terrorist targets in Syria is "obviously" not violating the UN Security Council's resolutions concerning Iran, Chairman of the Russian Federation Council's Committee on Foreign Affairs Konstantin Kosachev said Wednesday.
• Russian Tu-22M3 'Backfire' long-range bombers strike ISIS from Iran's Hamadan airfield RT 16 Aug 2016-- Russia's long-range Tu-22M3 bombers delivered their first airstrikes on terrorist targets in Syria operating from an Iranian airbase. Moscow and Tehran cooperation in Syria is "strategic," confirmed the head of Iran's National Security Council.
• Russia, Iran Appear to Double Down on Assad's Behalf in Syria VOA 16 Aug 2016 -- Russia's use of an Iranian base to launch airstrikes in Syria jolted the U.S. and its allies in the region, but the timing may have more to do with concerns about the fate of the Syrian regime than the need of Moscow or Tehran to send a message.
• Russia's Airstrikes into Syria from Iran Signal Broader Strategy VOA 16 Aug 2016 -- By using a base in Iran to carry out airstrikes against militants in Syria, analysts say Russia is not only cutting flight time and saving fuel, but also deepening an alliance with Iran in joint support of the Syrian regime.
• Shamkhani: Iran-Russia cooperation on Syria strategic (updates) IRNA 16 Aug 2016 -- Secretary of Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani said on Tuesday that Iran and Russia enjoy strategic cooperation on campaign against terrorism in Syria and shared facilities.
• Tass: Iran, Russia agree to fight ISIL, Al-Nusra ISNA 16 Aug 2016 -- Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying that Iran and Russia stressed keeping ceasefire in Syria and fight terrorist groups including the ISIL and Al-Nusra in the country, Russian Tass News Agency reported.
• Russia Launches Syrian Air Strikes From Iranian Base RFE/RL 16 Aug 2016 -- Russian state media say warplanes have flown air strikes in Syria from an Iranian air base, soon after officials in Moscow and Tehran announced the unprecedented cooperation as an effort to battle the militant group Islamic State (IS).
• Russian Use of Iranian Base 'Unfortunate, Not Surprising’ - US State Department Sputnik 16 Aug 2016 -- The United States considers Russia’s use of the Hamadan airbase in Iran for launching strikes in Syria unfortunate but not unexpected, US State Department deputy spokesperson Mark Toner said in a press briefing on Tuesday.
• US Coalition Clears Russian Warplanes' Path Through Iraq VOA 16 Aug 2016 -- The U.S.-led coalition fighting Islamic State in Iraq and Syria cleared the way for Russian bombers to pass through Iraq on their way to Syria via an airbase in Iran.
• Russia launches drills in Caspian Sea IRNA 16 Aug 2016 -- The Russia Defense Ministry announced on Tuesday that the Russian Navy has launched maneuvers in the southwestern part of the Caspian Sea.
• Russia anti-terror drills underway in Mediterranean Press TV 16 Aug 2016 -- Russia has launched anti-terror maneuvers in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea near Syria​, the Defense Ministry says.
• Russia Tests Surveillance Station for Deployment on Portable Air Defense Systems Sputnik 16 Aug 2016 -- The Russian Defense Ministry is testing a new compact air surveillance station with a target detection function for possible deployment on portable air defense systems, Russian newspaper Izvestia reported on Tuesday, citing a source in the ministry familiar with the situation.
• Russian Northern Fleet Anti-Submarine Ships Carry Out Air Defense Drills Sputnik 16 Aug 2016 -- Udaloy-class anti-submarine destroyers from the Russian Northern Fleet have carried out exercises in repelling air attacks, the fleet's press service said Tuesday.
• India to Upgrade Russian-Made Su-30 Fighter Jets Amid Delay in Rafale Deal Sputnik 16 Aug 2016 -- India has finalized a plan to modernize their fleet of Su-30 fighter aircrafts, as a deal with Rafale has yet to be signed and the Indian Air Force urgently needs a stealth aircraft.
• Shoigu Says U.S., Russia Near Agreement On Defusing Aleppo Crisis RFE/RL 16 Aug 2016 -- Russia's defense minister said Moscow and Washington are getting closer to an agreement that would help defuse the humanitarian crisis in the besieged Syrian city Aleppo.
• Russia's Solitary Man RFE/RL 15 Aug 2016 -- Vladimir Putin is throwing his old pals under the bus. He's replacing them with loyal and docile servants. And he's building a security apparatus that answers to him alone.
• Estonia Mulls Russian Proposal to Discuss Air Security Issues Sputnik 15 Aug 2016 -- Estonian Defense Ministry has not yet worked out its position regarding the Russian invitation to discuss air security issues, Deputy Head of the Estonian Defense Ministry's Strategic Communications Department, Artur Jugaste said Sunday.
• Russia ready to show more proof of Ukraine incursion: Lavrov Press TV 15 Aug 2016 -- Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says Russia is ready to provide the West with more evidence about armed Ukrainian incursions into the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea.
• Russia, US edging nearer to agreement to up anti-militant fight in Aleppo: Moscow Press TV 15 Aug 2016 -- Russian military officials say Moscow is close to reaching an agreement with Washington on how to coordinate fight against militants in Syria's war-ravaged city of Aleppo.
• Russia needs assurances to lengthen Aleppo truce: Lavrov Press TV 15 Aug 2016 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says his country could lengthen a three-hour daily humanitarian ceasefire around the Syrian city of Aleppo if assurances are made that terrorists will not use it to move into the city.
• Russia to Produce First Modernized NK-32 Aircraft Engines by End of 2016 Sputnik 15 Aug 2016 -- Russia's the manufacturing firm Kuznetsov plans to produce an initial batch of the upgraded Kuznetsov NK-32.02 aircraft engines by the end of 2016, according to media reports.
• Heavy Metal Meets the Rails: Russian Armored Trains Begin Exercises in Volgograd Sputnik 15 Aug 2016 -- On Monday, the Russian army kicked off military exercises in the Volgograd region, using its 'Baikal' and 'Amur' armored trains for the first time in nearly fifteen years.
• Russia Offered NATO Specific Proposals on Renewed Military Cooperation - Lavrov Sputnik 15 Aug 2016 -- Russian Foreign Minister said that Russia presented NATO with specific proposals on restoring military cooperation at the latest NATO-Russia Council meeting.
• NATO's Eastward Expansion Deepens Divisions in Europe - Lavrov Sputnik 15 Aug 2016 -- Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov stated that NATO's expansion into Eastern Europe will deepen the region's divisions.
• Russia: Preparing an Offensive or Maneuvering for Easing of Sanctions? VOA 15 Aug 2016 -- What is President Vladimir Putin planning for Ukraine? Kyiv officials argue Russia's leader is accumulating pretexts to justify a major assault with the aim of securing a land route through Ukraine's southeast regions to Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula Moscow annexed weeks after the 2014 ouster of Putin's ally Viktor Yanukovych.
• Russian Hmeymim Base Crucial to Combat Jihadists on Syrian Outskirts Sputnik 14 Aug 2016 -- Russian air base Hmeymim in Syria is necessary to fight against militants' positions on country's distant outskirts, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Sunday.
• Russia warplanes pound Daesh positions in eastern Syria Press TV 14 Aug 2016 -- Russian fighter jets have carried out fresh airstrikes on Daesh positions near the eastern Syrian city of Dayr al-Zawr, inflicting heavy damage on the Takfiri terrorist group.
• Russian Air Force Gets New Anti-Stealth Fighter Jets and Multi-Purpose Aircraft Sputnik 14 Aug 2016 -- The Russian Defense Ministry reports that since the beginning of the year the Russian Aerospace Forces have received over 30 new advanced aircraft along with over 30,000 units of aircraft weapons.
• Russia's $300 Bln Plan to Modernize Army by 2020 Still on Target Sputnik 14 Aug 2016 -- Russian Defense Minister said that Russia strictly sticks to the plan on rearmament and development of its army.
• Greetings to Kim Jong Un from V. Putin KCNA 15 Aug 2016 -- Kim Jong Un, chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK, received a congratulatory message from V. Putin, president of the Russian Federation, on Monday.
• EU vows to back Kiev amid escalating tensions with Russia over Crimea Press TV 13 Aug 2016 -- The European Union has vowed continued support for Ukraine amid growing tensions between Kiev and Moscow around the Crimean Peninsula.
• Struggle Under Way For Control Of Strategic Russian Port RFE/RL 13 Aug 2016 -- For the past several years, the volume of goods and crude oil shipped through the commercial port of Makhachkala on Daghestan's Caspian coast has been declining, from 4.8 million tons in 2010 to 3.8 million in 2015 and 1.6 million in the first six months of 2016. Yet notwithstanding that decline, a cutthroat competition is under way for control of the state-owned port, which is scheduled for privatization by auction before the end of this year.
• Report: Russia's Hypersonic 7680MPH Nuclear Glider Armed With ICBMs Almost Ready Sputnik 13 Aug 2016 -- The lethal hypersonic nuclear glider that looks to revolutionize defense aviation could travel the distance from Moscow to London within 13 minutes and could penetrate NATOs missile defense system.
• Iran withdraws complaint against Russia over S-300 system IRNA 13 Aug 2016 -- Member of Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Mohammad-Ebrahim Rezaie said on Saturday that Iran has taken back its file against Russia over the S-300 system.
• US urges Ukraine-Russia restraint over Crimea Press TV 12 Aug 2016 -- The United States has urged Ukraine and Russia to show restraint after Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko deployed all forces near Crimea apparently in preparation for a confrontation with Moscow.
• Kyiv Accuses Russia Of Provocations As Moscow Deploys Missiles RFE/RL 12 Aug 2016 -- Kyiv accused Russia of seeking to provoke an escalation of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, saying Moscow has bolstered separatist forces in the region with fresh deliveries of ammunition and military hardware.
• Foiled Crimea Terrorist Attacks 'Crime Against Russian State, People' - Medvedev Sputnik 12 Aug 2016 -- Russian Prime Minister Dmintry Medvedev called the recently prevented terrorist attacks in Crimea "a crime committed against the Russian state and the people of Russia living on one of the territories belonging to the Russian Federation."
• Ukraine-Russia Tensions Flare as Russians Rebuild Military in Crimea VOA 12 Aug 2016 -- Ukrainian troops are on high alert as tensions rise with Russia. Kyiv has accused Moscow of increasing its troop presence on the Crimean peninsula annexed by Russia two years ago. Moscow is accusing Kyiv of an incursion into Crimea. Some experts say the timing is ripe for a conflict because the world's attention is elsewhere.
• Russian-Turkish Thaw: Ankara Ready to Close Its Border With Syria Sputnik 12 Aug 2016 -- Turkey is already mulling the possibility of closing its border with Syria, amid the ongoing diplomatic fence-mending between Moscow and Ankara, according to the Russian newspaper Izvestia.
• Russia deploys S-400 missile system to Crimea Press TV 12 Aug 2016 -- Russia has deployed a regiment of its advanced S-400 air defense missile system to Crimea as a dispute deepens between Moscow and Kiev over the security situation in the Black Sea peninsula.
• Russia holds drills in Black Sea amid tensions with Ukraine Press TV 12 Aug 2016 -- Russian naval forces have announced three-day military maneuvers in the Black Sea amid growing tensions between Moscow and Kiev over the Crimean Peninsula.
• Russia Working on Manned, Unmanned 6th Generation Fighter Jets Sputnik 12 Aug 2016 -- Russian Aerospace Forces Commander Viktor Bondarev said that the construction of sixth generation of jet fighters is not far off.
• Russia Rebuilding Military Airfields in Vietnam, Pacific Islands Sputnik 12 Aug 2016 -- Former Air Force Commander said that Russia is rebuilding its Soviet-era network of airfields in Vietnam and the northwestern Pacific island of Matua.
• Kremlin Reshuffle Sees New Chief of Staff Appointed Sputnik 12 Aug 2016 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has released Sergei Ivanov, the chief of staff of the Russian presidential administration, from his duties, the Kremlin said Friday.
• Putin Replaces Top Adviser In Major Kremlin Shake-Up RFE/RL 12 Aug 2016 -- In a major shake-up at the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin has transferred his chief of staff and one of his closest allies to a far less influential position.
• Russia's Putin appoints new Kremlin chief of staff Press TV 12 Aug 2016 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has relieved his close ally and powerful chief of staff Sergei Ivanov from his duties in the most high-profile power reshuffle at the Kremlin in several years.
• Russia Will Deliver Mi-35 Attack Helicopter Equipment to Peru Sputnik 11 Aug 2016 -- The Russian Helicopters holding signed a contract to deliver aviation equipment the Air Force of Peru's Mi-35 attack helicopters with transport capabilities, the company said Thursday.
• Ukraine Puts Troops On Alert As Tension Rises After Russia's Crimea 'Terror' Claim RFE/RL 11 Aug 2016 -- Tensions between Russia and Ukraine have escalated one day after Moscow claimed it thwarted an incursion into Russia-held Crimea by Ukrainian saboteurs, with Kyiv putting troops near the peninsula on highest alert and Russia announcing increased security measures and new naval exercises in the Black Sea.
• Russian Envoy: There Is No Going Back on Crimea VOA 11 Aug 2016 -- Russia's U.N. envoy said Thursday the issue of Crimea's annexation "will never be revisited."
• Russia ready to extend daily truce in Syria's Aleppo: UN Press TV 11 Aug 2016 -- The United Nations says Russia is prepared to prolong its recently-declared pause in fighting in Aleppo in a bid to facilitate the entry of humanitarian convoys into the northwestern Syrian city.
• Russia Considers Extending Humanitarian Pause in Aleppo VOA 11 Aug 2016 -- Russia is willing to discuss the lengthening of its three-hour daily suspension of military action in the besieged Syrian city of Aleppo, according to U.N. officials who are also investigating reports that a bomb containing chlorine gas was used by the Syrian military in the area.
• Russia set to stage naval drills near Syria in Mediterranean Sea Press TV 11 Aug 2016 -- Russian forces are set to hold naval drills near Syria in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea next week, local media reports say.
• This is How Russia Plans to Improve and Expand Hmeymim Airbase in Syria Sputnik 11 Aug 2016 -- Russia plans to expand its Hmeymim Air Base in Syria to ensure that its operations run smoothly and to enhance its security by adding extra aprons, building barracks and a hospital, as well as assigning extra space for large transport aircraft, etc., an unnamed source in the Russian Defense Ministry told Izvestiya.
• Turkey, Russia agree on military hotline to avoid 'incidents' Press TV 10 Aug 2016 -- Ankara says that an emergency hotline between the offices of the Turkish and Russian army commanders is to be established to avoid "unwanted incidents" similar to the last year's downing of a Russian jet by Turkish fighter planes.
• Russia says Ukraine incursion into Crimea thwarted Press TV 10 Aug 2016 -- Russia's Federal Security Service said Wednesday it has thwarted an incursion by Ukraine's military into Crimea, saying two Russians were killed in the incident.
• Putin Accuses Ukraine Of Choosing 'Terror' Over Peace RFE/RL 10 Aug 2016 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Ukraine's government of choosing the path of "terror" over peace, and warned that Moscow will take "serious" measures to ensure security on the Crimean Peninsula.
• Ukrainian MoD Refutes Russia's FSB Reports on Foiling Terror Attacks in Crimea Sputnik 10 Aug 2016 -- The Ukrainian Defense Ministry refuted information revealed by the Russian Federal Security Service on preventing terrorist attacks in Crimea organized by the Ukrainian authorities.
• Putin: Foiled Attack in Crimea Worrying, Ukraine Starts to Resorts to Terror Sputnik 10 Aug 2016 -- Ukraine's authorities have resorted to terrorism instead of looking for peaceful solutions to the conflict in the east of the country, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday.
• Attempts to Destabilize Crimea Will Be Met With Tough Response Sputnik 10 Aug 2016 -- Attempts to destabilize the situation in Crimea will be met with stringent measures, Crimean leader Sergei Aksyonov said after the announcement of foiled terrorist and diversionary plots Wednesday, reaffirming the safety of the peninsula's residents and visitors.
• Putin Accuses Ukraine of Choosing Terror Over Peace VOA 10 Aug 2016 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Ukraine of choosing terror over peace following "attacks" in Crimea that he says were orchestrated by Ukrainian military and intelligence forces.
• Fears Mount of Full-Scale Ukraine-Russia Clash VOA 10 Aug 2016 -- The sound of battle has long gone. But the ghosts remain in Ukraine's Independence Square, where more than two years ago police and protesters clashed for weeks amid acrid black fumes billowing from burning tires.
• Turkey, Russia on same page over Syria conflict: Turkish FM Press TV 10 Aug 2016 -- Turkey says its views are concurrent with those of Russia regarding the need for a political solution to the crisis in Syria.
• Ankara Building 'Strong Mechanism' For Cooperation With Russia On Syria RFE/RL 10 Aug 2016 -- Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on August 10 that Ankara and Moscow share similar views on the need for a cease-fire in Syria, the provision of humanitarian aid, and a political solution to end the Syrian war.
• Russia Announces 3-Hour Daily Humanitarian Cease-fires in Syria VOA 10 Aug 2016 -- Russia's Defense Ministry says it will halt firing around the Syrian city of Aleppo for three hours each day so humanitarian aid can be delivered to the ravaged city.
• Russia announces daily 3-hour ceasefire in Syria's Aleppo for aid delivery Press TV 10 Aug 2016 -- Russia says it will halt airstrikes around the northwestern Syrian city of Aleppo for three hours each day to allow humanitarian convoys into the ravaged city.
• Russia Plans to Deploy Extra Sunflower Radars Capable of Detecting F-35 Jets Sputnik 10 Aug 2016 -- Russia will station additional Podsolnukh (Sunflower) radars that are capable of detecting cutting-edge stealth aircraft, including Lockheed Martin's F-35 Lightning II and F-22 Raptor, to protect the country's exclusive economic zones in the extreme North, the Baltic Sea and Crimea in 2017, Rossiyskaya Gazeta reported.
• We all want to restart dialogue, Putin tells Erdogan Press TV 09 Aug 2016 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin met with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Saint Petersburg Tuesday, a sign of normalization of relations that soured after the shooting down of a Russian warplane by a Turkish jet last November.
• Putin, Erdogan Vow New Era Of Close Relations RFE/RL 09 Aug 2016 -- The presidents of Russia and Turkey vowed to open a new period of close relations as they rebuild ties between their countries after a nearly seven-month rupture over Ankara's shooting down of a Russian warplane last year.
• Putin Wants to Restore Full Ties With Turkey VOA 09 Aug 2016 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to work toward restoring full relations with Turkey, but said rebuilding trade ties will be time consuming.
• Russia to Use Syrian Combat Experience in Upgrading Helicopter Blades Sputnik 09 Aug 2016 -- Russia will use its aerial combat experience in Syria to replace classic metal helicopter rotor blades with ones made from composite materials.
• Putin Submits Accord to Damascus for Russian Air Force Deployment to Syria Sputnik 09 Aug 2016 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has submitted an agreement with Damascus on the deployment of a Russian air force group in Syria for ratification by the lower house of parliament, an entry in the official database of the State Duma confirmed Tuesday.
• Aliyev Praised Putin for Help in Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict Resolution Sputnik 08 Aug 2016 -- Azeri President Ilham Aliyev on Monday thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for his personal input in the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
• Erdogan calls for 'clean slate' in Russia relations Press TV 08 Aug 2016 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for a "clean slate" in relations and cooperation with Russia.
• Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan vow to create NSTC Press TV 08 Aug 2016 -- Iran, Russia and Azerbaijan have vowed to work together to prepare the grounds for the construction of a North-South Transit Corridor (NSTC) which is expected to provide a faster and more efficient trade connectivity between Europe and South East Asia.
• Tensions High Amid Russian Military Buildup In Crimea RFE/RL 08 Aug 2016 -- Tensions are reportedly high among residents of northern Crimea as long convoys of heavy Russian weaponry continue to be sighted not far from the occupied peninsula's border with the Ukrainian mainland.
• Erdogan Goes To Russia: Turkish Leader Seeks To Mend Fences With Kremlin RFE/RL 08 Aug 2016 -- What a difference a few months can make. Last November, a day after Turkish jets shot down a Russian Su-24 along the Syrian border, an angry Russian President Vladimir Putin lashed out, calling the incident "a stab in the back by the terrorists' accomplices."
• Russia's Admiral Nakhimov Nuclear Cruiser to Gain New Information System Sputnik 08 Aug 2016 -- Russia's Kirov-class Admiral Nakhimov nuclear-powered battlecruiser will be equipped with a new management information system, United Instrument Manufacturing Corporation (UIMC) spokesman Leonid Khozin said Monday.
• Activists: Russian Military Hardware Sighted Along Northern Crimea Border RFE/RL 07 Aug 2016 -- Crimean Tatar activists have reported armed checkpoints being erected at scattered sites around the Russian-occupied peninsula, and unusually large concentrations of Russian hardware in northern regions.
• 'Like Being A Slave': Workers On Russia's Bridge To Crimea Report Abuse, Deceit RFE/RL 07 Aug 2016 -- The Kerch Strait Bridge is Russia's top-priority infrastructure project. At a cost of at least $4.5 billion, the 19-kilometer car-and-rail bridge will tie Russia to Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula Moscow annexed from Ukraine after sending in troops and staging a referendum dismissed as illegitimate by 100 countries in a UN vote.
• Global Paralympic Committee Bars All Russian Competitors From Rio RFE/RL 07 Aug 2016 -- The global governing body for Paralympians has suspended the entire Russian team from competing in the upcoming games in Brazil, due to doping concerns.
• Entire Russian Team Banned from Paralympic Games in Fallout from Doping Scandal VOA 07 Aug 2016 -- The entire Russian team has been banned from the Paralympic Games in September, punishment for the country's systematic doping program that extends beyond the partial ban imposed on Russian athletes who wanted to compete in the current summer Olympiad in Rio de Janeiro.
• Russian Drone Enters Israeli Airspace by Mistake - Media Sputnik 07 Aug 2016 -- Israeli media claimed that Moscow had confirmed the drone which had entered Israeli airspace from Syria in July was Russian.
• India to Buy Three Admiral Grigorovich Guided Missile Battleships from Russia Sputnik 07 Aug 2016 -- Speculation persists that the deal resulted from the export ban imposed in the wake of the Ukrainian conflict that left Russia to find a replacement turbine engine for the battle frigate.
• Moldova Condemns Russian Drills In Transdniester As 'Illegal' RFE/RL 06 Aug 2016 -- Moldova's Defense Ministry has criticized recent Russian military exercises held in a separatist region, saying they were "illegal" and undermined the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova.
• Over 180,000 Russians Sign Petition Calling For Ouster Of Medvedev RFE/RL 06 Aug 2016 -- More than 180,000 Russians have signed a petition calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev after his remarks about teachers' pay sparked outrage earlier this week.
• Russia's Almaz-Antey Presents New-Generation Air-Defense Missiles Sputnik 06 Aug 2016 -- Russian Navy will be eqipped by the Almaz-Antey arms manufacturer`s newly-introducied air-defence missiles, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said Saturday.
• US Official: Annexing Crimea, Russia Broke All Rules of 'World Order' VOA 05 Aug 2016 -- Russia's actions against Ukraine and the potential threat it poses to other countries in its neighborhood has become an issue in the U.S. presidential race, thanks largely to comments made by Donald Trump.
• The Turkish Coup Attempt, Russia, And The West RFE/RL 05 Aug 2016 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan travels to St. Petersburg on August 9 to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. They will focus on improving cooperation in two main areas: the effort to find a shared and joint solution to the Syria crisis, and in business and energy, including a full resumption of tourism from Russia to Turkey, trade, and construction projects that were halted during a monthslong spat between the two nations.
• Erdogan Explains Why He Wrote an Apology Letter to Putin Sputnik 05 Aug 2016 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan explained why he wrote an apologetic letter to Vladimir Putin and made the first move to help fix the relations between Ankara and Moscow.
• Russia Invites NATO to 'Play Open' in Baltics, but Only on Quid-Pro-Quo Basis Sputnik 05 Aug 2016 -- Russia's Defense Ministry has offered NATO the chance to discuss terms for open interaction in the Baltic region to avoid any further security incidents in the area, but only on a quid-pro-quo basis.
• Russia Not Seeking to Monopolize Nagorno-Karabakh Settlement Sputnik 05 Aug 2016 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia has no intentions of pushing aside other mediators and monopolizing the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement work or imposing any solutions.
• Putin recruits Trump as 'unwitting agent' of Russia: Ex-CIA official Press TV 05 Aug 2016 -- A former top CIA official has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of recruiting US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump as an "unwitting agent" of Moscow.
• Stoking the Fire: Australia May Spy on Chinese-Russian S. China Sea Drills Sputnik 05 Aug 2016 -- With Russia and China set to conduct joint naval drills in the South China Sea next month, the Australian military may be preparing to spy on the exercises.
• Russian Troop Buildup Along Ukraine Border Raises War Fears VOA 04 Aug 2016 -- Russia's steady buildup of military forces along its border with Ukraine is raising concerns that Moscow, which annexed Crimea in 2014 and then began backing separatists in eastern Ukraine militarily – including with Russian troops – may be considering an overt military campaign against its southwestern neighbor.
• Obama 'Not Confident' Russia Can Help End Syrian War VOA 04 Aug 2016 -- President Barack Obama on Thursday cast extreme doubt on whether the United States could trust Russia as a partner to end the Syrian civil war.
• Russia's State-of-the-art Tu-214R Spy Plane Successfully Passes Syria Test Sputnik 04 Aug 2016 -- Russia's Tu-214R reconnaissance aircraft fitted with cutting-edge optical and electronic equipment and radar systems has successfully fulfilled all of its tasks in the Syrian sky, according to Russia's Defense Ministry.
• Russia Ready to Discuss Baltic Sea Region Security - Defense Ministry Sputnik 04 Aug 2016 -- Moscow is ready to discuss security issues in the Baltic region, as soon as "the partners are ready for such dialogue," according to the statement of the Russian Defense Ministry.
• Why Location of China-Russia South China Sea Drill Matters VOA 04 Aug 2016 -- China's newly-announced plan to stage its first joint naval drill with Russia in the South China Sea has analysts wondering: where exactly in the sensitive region will the exercise take place?
• Russia to sell refueling planes to India Press TV 04 Aug 2016 -- Russian media say the country is in talks with India over selling six Ilyushin transport aircraft to the country.
• Warsaw Starts Inquiry Into Russian Pilot's Alleged Violation of Polish Airspace Sputnik 03 Aug 2016 -- The prosecutor's office of the Polish city of Czestochowa on Wednesday started an investigation into the Russian pilot's alleged intrusion into the Polish closed flying zone, local media reported.
• US B61-12 Program to Lower Threshold for Nuclear Weapons Use - Russia Sputnik 03 Aug 2016 -- The United States' B61-12 nuclear warhead life extension program will lower the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons, the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Department for Non-Proliferation and Arms Control said Wednesday.
• Russia blames U.S. bomb upgrade for threatening nuclear security People's Daily 03 Aug 2016 -- The upgrade of the U.S. B61-12 bomb will threaten nuclear security, as its combat characteristics increase the risk of its use, senior Russian Foreign Ministry officials said Wednesday.
• Scandal Smears Putin's Superpowered Vision For Russian Sport RFE/RL 03 Aug 2016 -- When skier Aleksandr Legkov lunged across the finish line to lead a trio of Russians onto the medals stand on the last day of the Sochi Olympics, he ensured Russia of its greatest sporting achievement since the glory days of the Soviet era.
• Once Russian Opposition's Hope, Ex-Yaroslavl Mayor Gets Lengthy Jail Sentence RFE/RL 03 Aug 2016 -- Yevgeny Urlashov - a former Yaroslavl mayor and rare example of a Russian opposition politician in public office - has been sentenced to 12 1/2 years in prison on corruption charges he says are trumped up.
• Future is Here: Russian Army Already Uses Several Types of Laser Weaponry Sputnik 02 Aug 2016 -- The Russian Armed Forces have been equipped with laser weapons, the country's deputy defense minister said.
• Russian Military Gets Customized Il-96-400 'Doomsday Plane' Sputnik 02 Aug 2016 -- Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) has handed a customized airborne command system Il-96-400, also known as the 'doomsday plane', over to the national Defense Ministry, Ilyushin aircraft manufacturer announced.
• 'Security Belt' to Be Set Around Yamal Anthrax Contamination Zone Sputnik 02 Aug 2016 -- A "security belt" will be set around the anthrax contamination zone on the Yamal Peninsula, Russian Health Minister Veronika Skvortsova said Tuesday.
• Nearly 90 People Hospitalized in Russia's Siberia Amid Anthrax Outbreak Sputnik 02 Aug 2016 -- A total of 86 people, including 51 children, in the Yamalo-Nenets District area affected by the anthrax outbreak known as the 'Siberian plague' are under observation in hospital, spokeswoman for the district's governor Nadezda Noskova said on Tuesday.
• Poland, Italy to Hold Observation Flight Over Russia Sputnik 01 Aug 2016 -- Polish and Italian experts will carry out a joint observation flight over Russian and Belarusian territory.
• Russia to Deploy Airborne Forces Battalion in North Crimea in 2017 Sputnik 01 Aug 2016 -- Russia will deploy a battalion and a regiment of its airborne forces in Crimea.
• Ukrainian Interior Minister Slams Trump as 'Dangerous Outcast' Sputnik 01 Aug 2016 -- Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov has called US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump a "dangerous outcast" over the billionaire's promise to look into recognizing Crimea as Russian territory.
• Trump Says He Would Consider Recognizing Crimea As Part Of Russia RFE/RL 01 Aug 2016 -- The Republican candidate for U.S. president, Donald Trump, has said that, if elected, he would consider recognizing Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula.
• Russian Mi-8 Transport Helicopter Downed in Syria, Five People Confirmed Dead Sputnik 01 Aug 2016 -- The Russian Aerospace Forces' Mil Mi-8 Hip transport helicopter was downed in the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib on Monday with three crew members and two reconciliation center officers aboard.
• Russian Aerospace Forces Actively Support Syrian Army in Repelling Attacks Sputnik 01 Aug 2016 -- The Russian Aerospace Forces are actively supporting the Syrian government armed forces in repelling enemy attacks by delivering selective strikes on militants and avoiding populated areas, the Russian General staff said Monday.
• Russia helicopter shot down over Syria's Idlib, five on board believed dead Press TV 01 Aug 2016 -- A Russian helicopter delivering humanitarian aid to the Syrian city of Aleppo has been shot down in Idlib province, with reports suggesting the five people on board are killed.
• Russian Airborne Troops to Include Drone, Electronic Warfare Units by 2017 Sputnik 01 Aug 2016 -- The Russian Airborne Forces intend to include electronic warfare and unmanned aerial vehicle units by 2017.
• Russian Su-34 Bomber Gets Unique New Recon Gear Sputnik 01 Aug 2016 -- Russia's latest Sukhoi Su-34 frontline bomber will soon be sporting advanced radio surveillance gear that will allow the crew to spot and destroy enemy headquarters, communications and drone control centers, the newspaper Izvestiya wrote citing a source at the Defense Ministry in Moscow.