Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Further Reading

• NATO Urges Russia To Honor INF Treaty Amid U.S. Threat To Withdraw RFE/RL 31 Oct 2018 -- NATO has urged Russia to continue to honor a key nuclear arms treaty amid U.S. threats to pull out of the pact because of alleged violations by Moscow.
• NATO Ready to Continue Dialogue on INF Treaty With Russia Sputnik 31 Oct 2018 -- Earlier in the day, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that he did not rule out the possibility that the issue of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty would be addressed at the upcoming talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump.
• Russia-Turkey S-400 Missile Deal Envisions Future Purchase Options - Official Sputnik 31 Oct 2018 -- The Russian-Turkish contract on supplies of S-400 air defense systems allows Ankara to exercise the right of an option after the main deliveries under the deal have been made, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov said on Wednesday.
• Suspected assailant killed in blast at Russia's security service building Press TV 31 Oct 2018 -- A suspected assailant has been killed and three other people have been wounded in an explosion at the entrance to the local branch of Russia's main intelligence agency in northwestern Russia, officials say.
• Russian Investigators Suspect Terrorism Behind Arkhangelsk Blast RFE/RL 31 Oct 2018 -- Russian investigators say they have launched a probe into suspected terrorism after an explosion at a Federal Security Service (FSB) office in northern Russia that killed one person.
• Russian Tu-160 Bombers Perform Planned Flight Over Barents, Norwegian Seas Sputnik 31 Oct 2018 -- Two Russian Tu-160 strategic bombers have conducted scheduled flights over neutral waters of the Barents and Norwegian seas, the Russian Defense Ministry said Wednesday.
• Russia Sets Up Commission to Investigate Admiral Kuznetsov Incident Sputnik 31 Oct 2018 -- An interdepartmental commission to investigate the causes of the incident involving Russia's only aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov has been created, while steps to avoid delays in the ship's overhaul are being considered, Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov said.
• Russian-Indian Deal on S-400 Supplies Signed in Rubles - Deputy Prime Minister Sputnik 31 Oct 2018 -- The Russian-Indian contract on supply of S-400 air defense systems has been signed in the Russian national currency, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov said on Wednesday.
• Ingushetian Court Declares Divisive Border Deal With Chechnya Illegal RFE/RL 30 Oct 2018 -- The Constitutional Court in Russia's Ingushetia region has ruled that a law designed to support a controversial border agreement with neighboring Chechnya is illegal.
• One Person Missing, Four Hurt As Dry Dock Sinks, Damaging Russia's Only Aircraft Carrier RFE/RL 30 Oct 2018 -- Four workers have been injured and one remains missing after Russia's only aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, suffered damage when a floating dry dock sank while the vessel was leaving it, officials say.
• Russia's Shoigu Warns Of 'Serious Consequences' For Europe If U.S. Quits Nuclear Pact RFE/RL 30 Oct 2018 -- Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu is warning that Washington's plans to withdraw from a decades-old nuclear arms agreement will have "serious consequences" for Europe.
• Fallen Crane Leaves '4x5-Meter Hole' in Russian Warship Admiral Kuznetsov Sputnik 30 Oct 2018 -- A floating dry dock holding Admiral Kuznetsov became submerged in water after a power supply disruption, collapsing a crane on the carrier's deck and causing injuries to ship repair plant workers.
• Russia Accuses U.S. Of Trying To Drive Wedge In Relations With Armenia RFE/RL 29 Oct 2018 -- Russia has chided the United States, alleging Washington is trying to drive a wedge between Moscow and former Soviet republic Armenia.
• Greece Seeks to Continue Defense Industry Cooperation With Russia –- DM Sputnik 29 Oct 2018 -- Greece wants to further maintain defense industry cooperation with Russia, Greek Defense Minister Panos Kammenos said on Monday during a meeting with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.
• Russia successfully tests key element of nuclear propulsion spacecraft People's Daily 29 Oct 2018 -- The cooling system of a Russia-developed nuclear-powered spacecraft has passed ground tests, according to materials published on the government procurement website on Monday.
• Russia Successfully Tests Nuke Propulsion Spacecraft's Key Element – Authorities Sputnik 29 Oct 2018 -- The cooling system, which is the most important element of the Russian space transport and energy unit developed on the basis of megawatt-class nuclear electric propulsion, has been successfully tested in Russia, materials published on the government procurement website on Monday stated.
• Russian FM asks U.S. to clarify future arms control policy People's Daily 29 Oct 2018 -- The United States should reveal its arms control plans since it has decided to quit the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Sunday.
• Russia Plans Missile-Firing Exercise Off Norway Amid NATO Drills RFE/RL 29 Oct 2018 -- The Russian Navy plans to test missiles in international waters off Norway's coast this week, Norwegian and NATO officials say, as the Western military alliance conducts its largest military exercise since the end of the Cold War.
• Russia Alarmed by NATO's Policy to Militarize Europe - Russian Defense Minister Sputnik 29 Oct 2018 -- Russia is alarmed by NATO's policy to actively militarize the European continent, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Monday.
• Moscow Denies Reports of CAR Rebel Ultimatum to Withdraw Russian Mil. Advisers Sputnik 28 Oct 2018 -- The Russian Foreign Ministry's spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said Sunday that reports suggesting that Muslim armed group Seleka, which is fighting against the government of the Central African Republic (CAR) had allegedly demanded the withdrawal of the Russian military advisers from the areas it controls, were not true.
• Lavrov Says Moscow Preparing Answers To U.S. Nuclear-Treaty Concerns RFE/RL 28 Oct 2018 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said Moscow was drafting responses to a list of questions recently presented by the United States concerning a key Cold War-era arms control treaty.
• Russia Considers US Decision to Exit INF Treaty an 'Objective Fact' Sputnik 28 Oct 2018 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated Sunday that the US President's National Security Adviser John Bolton had played a crucial role in Washington's move. As the top diplomat explained, the US wants to "compensate" for Asian countries having intermediate- and short-range ballistic missiles.
• India Finalizes the Deal for Two Russian Frigates Off the Shelf for $950 Million Sputnik 29 Oct 2018 -- Sputnik had reported on 4 October that India's Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) had approved the procurement of four frigates from Russia at a cost of around $2 billion. While two of them are being purchased directly from Russia for $950 million, the other two will be built in India under a separate deal, which is expected later this year.
• Russia to Provide Cuba With Weapons Worth Over $50 Mln – Reports Sputnik 27 Oct 2018 -- The latest loan agreement between the two countries dates back to 2009 and has been twice prolonged since then.
• Putin highlights Iran's role in addressing Syrian crisis IRNA 27 Oct 2018 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin in a press conference on four-way meeting on Syria on Saturday underlined Iran's role in settling Syrian crisis.
• Mattis Says Russia Cannot Replace U.S. Commitment In Middle East RFE/RL 27 Oct 2018 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has told Arab leaders that Russia is no replacement for the United States in the Middle East, following Moscow's military intervention in Syria.
• Russia Fails In Bid To Schedule UN Vote On Nuclear Treaty Spurned By Trump RFE/RL 27 Oct 2018 -- Russia has failed in a bid at the United Nations to schedule debate on a resolution to preserve a 1987 nuclear arms treaty that U.S. President Donald Trump has vowed to abandon.
• NATO launches biggest war games since Cold War; Russia complains People's Daily 26 Oct 2018 -- With around 50,000 participants from 31 countries, NATO on Thursday launched its biggest military exercise since the end of the Cold War in Norway, as Russia has complained the alliance's levels of military activities near its borders.
• Russia vows to raise US withdrawal from INF treaty at UNSC Press TV 26 Oct 2018 -- Russian and American officials have faced off at the UN General Assembly, with Moscow warning that it would raise the issue of the US withdrawal from the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces treaty (INF) at the UN Security Council if Washington makes good on its threat.
• US 'determined' to leave nuclear treaty with Russia Press TV 26 Oct 2018 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says the United States is determined to leave a landmark Cold War-era nuclear arms control treaty with Moscow, despite warnings that the move will trigger a new nuclear arms race.
• Russian Oil Chief Sees 'Major Imbalances,' Rising Prices From U.S. Sanctions RFE/RL 26 Oct 2018 -- The head of Russia's state-controlled oil giant Rosneft is warning that U.S. sanctions on Iran and Venezuela will trigger "major imbalances in the oil market."
• Expert: An anti-satellite missile developed in the Russian Federation is more effective than the existing ones in the world TASS 26 Oct 2018 -- Anti-satellite missile as part of the MiG-31BM fighter is being developed in Russia. It will be the most effective of the existing in the world, told TASS chief editor of the magazine "Arsenal of the Fatherland" Viktor Murakhovsky.
• European, Russian Leaders Join Erdogan at Summit on Syrian Civil War VOA 26 Oct 2018 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to host French, German and Russian leaders Saturday at a four-way summit on the Syrian civil war.
• Briefing by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova, Moscow, October 25, 2018 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 25 Oct 2018
• NATO launches military drills in Norway, alarming Russia Press TV 25 Oct 2018 -- Tens of thousands of NATO troops are deployed to Norway for one of the biggest military exercises of the military bloc since the end of the Cold War.
• NATO Drills Aggravate Military Situation in North Atlantic, Baltic Sea - Moscow Sputnik 25 Oct 2018 -- NATO Trident Juncture 2018 drills in Northern Europe are obviously anti-Russian, and they lead to deterioration of military and political situation in the region, the Russian Foreign Ministry's Information and Press Department said in a statement on Thursday.
• European Parliament Urges Tough Stand On Russia Over Sea Of Azov 'Blockade' RFE/RL 25 Oct 2018 -- The European Parliament has urged EU states to make clear to Russia that it will face tougher measures if it intensifies its "de facto blockade" of international shipping in the Sea of Azov.
• Installation of Russia's S-400 systems to begin October 2019: Turkey Press TV 25 Oct 2018 -- Turkey's defense chief says the deployment of Russian S-400 air defense missile systems will start next year, despite warnings from the US, a NATO ally, not to buy the advanced missile batteries.
• Turkey To Start Installing Russian S-400 Missile Systems In October 2019 RFE/RL 25 Oct 2018 -- Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar has said the country will begin the installation of Russian-made S-400 antiaircraft missile systems in October 2019, state media reported.
• Turkey Says Russian S-400 Systems Installation to Begin Oct. 2019 - Reports Sputnik 25 Oct 2018 -- Turkish personnel will be sent to Russia to receive training at the start of 2019, the Hurriyet newspaper reported citing Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar.
• Russia Successfully Launches Soyuz Rocket With Military Satellite RFE/RL 25 Oct 2018 -- Russia has successfully launched an unmanned Soyuz rocket, the first such liftoff since an aborted launch of a similar rocket earlier this month.
• Lavrov stresses Syria sovereignty, territorial integrity IRNA 25 Oct 2018 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussed the situation in Syria with Senior Assistant to Iranian Foreign Minister Hussein Jaber Ansari, and the Turkish Assistant Foreign Minister Sadat Unal.
• Russia-Turkey deal on Syria's Idlib 'was Iran's idea' Press TV 25 Oct 2018 -- (This is the fifth and last news article in the series "Iran's point man on Middle East." To read the fourth, click here; the third, here; the second, here; and the first, here. To read a report of the interview with Hossein Jaberi Ansari, see here.)
• Putin Warns Of New 'Arms Race' If Trump Abandons Nuclear Pacts RFE/RL 25 Oct 2018 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Washington's withdrawal from a decades-old nuclear treaty could lead to a new "arms race," and the Kremlin said it would put the U.S. decision before the United Nations for a symbolic vote.
• Italian Leader Urges End To EU Sanctions On Russia During Moscow Visit RFE/RL 25 Oct 2018 -- Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte is urging an end to European Union sanctions on Russia and said he is committed to boosting trade with Moscow, despite the sanctions.
• Russian Defense Ministry Explains Why S-400 is Better Than Patriots Sputnik 25 Oct 2018 -- Despite Washington's threats to impose sanctions on states buying military equipment from Moscow, many of them, such as Turkey, India and Indonesia, still stick with Russian weaponry, citing its outstanding quality.
• Moscow Considers US Actions in S Syria 'Occupation' - Russian Foreign Ministry Sputnik 25 Oct 2018 -- Moscow has repeatedly criticized the US military campaign in Syria, which has not been authorized by either the UN or Damascus.
• Putin: Russia Will Create Never-Before-Seen Weapons VOA 25 Oct 2018 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin says his country will create weapons without comparison anywhere in the world.
• Court Rejects Early Release For Former Russian Intelligence Officer RFE/RL 25 Oct 2018 -- A court in Russia's Republic of Mordovia in the Volga region has refused to approve the early release of a former Russian intelligence officer jailed for treason.
• Bolton Says He Told Kremlin: 'Don't Mess With American Elections' RFE/RL 24 Oct 2018 -- White House national-security adviser John Bolton says he told top officials in Moscow that Russian meddling in U.S. elections had backfired and that should provide a lesson to the Kremlin: "Don't mess with American elections."
• Russia to reciprocate if US pulls out of INF nuclear treaty: Putin Press TV 24 Oct 2018 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Moscow will respond in kind very quickly and effectively if the United States decides to quit a landmark nuclear arms control pact.
• Russia: US plan to scrap INF extremely dangerous Press TV 24 Oct 2018 -- The Kremlin has reiterated that US President Donald Trump's plan to quit a landmark non-proliferation pact with Russia and develop new ballistic missiles is "extremely dangerous."
• Putin: Russia Will Target Nations Hosting U.S. Missiles RFE/RL 24 Oct 2018 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that, if the United States deploys intermediate-range missiles in Europe, Moscow will have to target the countries hosting them.
• Putin: Russia Will Respond 'Swiftly, Effectively' to New US Missiles in Europe Sputnik 24 Oct 2018 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin and Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte have held a joint press conference following a meeting during which the sides discussed the state of relations, prospects for the development of Russian-Italian cooperation, and exchanged views on international and regional issues, including the situation in Syria and Libya.
• US Decision to Withdraw From INF Shows Intention to Start Arms Race - Kremlin Sputnik 24 Oct 2018 -- On Saturday, President Donald Trump announced US plans to withdraw from the treaty as Moscow was allegedly violating the agreement; Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov refuted Trump's claims and stressed that Russia would be forced to take measures to ensure its security.
• Putin: US Exit From Treaty Would Spur New Arms Race VOA 24 Oct 2018 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin is warning of a new arms race if U.S. President Donald Trump follows through with his threat to pull out of a key arms control agreement.
• Kremlin says Putin, Trump to meet in Paris on Nov. 11 People's Daily 24 Oct 2018 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump are scheduled to have a full-fledged meeting in Paris on Nov. 11, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said Tuesday.
• Russian Lawmakers Expand Scope of 'Undesirable' Groups VOA 24 Oct 2018 -- Russian State Duma lawmakers on Tuesday passed new legislation that would expand the federal government's ability to ban foreign nongovernmental organizations accused of meddling in Russian elections.
• Switzerland to Probe 2 Russians Suspected of "Espionage" on Spiez Chemical Lab Sputnik 24 Oct 2018 -- The Federal Council has ordered a probe follwing reports that two Russian nationals had allegedly conducted an attack on a chemical laboratory in Spiez that examines nerve agents such as the infamous "Novichok," something that Russia adamantly denies.
• Russia reiterates support for JCPOA IRNA 23 Oct 2018 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Monday reiterated his country's support for Iran nuclear deal known as JCPOA, saying that Russia considers US withdrawal from the deal the US a big mistake.
• India Denies Reports of Discussion to Buy F-16 for CAATSA Waiver on S-400 Deal Sputnik 23 Oct 2018 -- The US administration has been pressurizing India for long to buy its F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft but the Indian government has clarified on several occasions that it has no such intention to buy it in spite of an offer for setting up a production facility in India.
• Russia's Putin orders sanctions against Ukraine Press TV 23 Oct 2018 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree allowing punitive measures against Ukraine in response to sanctions by Kiev against individuals and legal entities in Russia.
• Putin Signs Decree On 'Special Economic Measures' Against Ukraine RFE/RL 22 Oct 2018 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree setting the stage for "special economic measures" in response to what the document calls Ukraine's "unfriendly actions" against Russian citizens and companies.
• Russian, Pakistani Forces Launch Joint Exercise In Northwestern Pakistan RFE/RL 23 Oct 2018 -- Around 200 Russian and Pakistani troops have kicked off annual joint exercises in the mountainous Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province in northwestern Pakistan.
• Russia will act to restore balance of military power if US exits nuclear treaty: Peskov Press TV 22 Oct 2018 -- Moscow has warned Washington against a plan to leave a landmark Cold War-era nuclear arms control treaty with Russia, saying it will be forced to respond in kind if the US goes ahead with the plan and begins producing the types of missiles banned by the agreement.
• Novaya Gazeta Reports Claims Of 'Putin's Chef' Involved In Attacks, Killing RFE/RL 22 Oct 2018 -- Russia's independent Novaya Gazeta newspaper has quoted a purported security aide of Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin as saying that Prigozhin was involved in several attacks against his opponents, including at least one killing.
• Russia Signals Willingness to Consider US Complaints about Arms Treaty VOA 22 Oct 2018 -- Russia signaled Monday it is willing to consider mutual complaints the United States and it have about their continued implementation of the 1987 nuclear weapons treaty between the two world powers.
• Pakistan, Russia Begin Joint Anti-Terror Military Drills VOA 22 Oct 2018 -- Pakistan and Russia have begun annual joint military drills to boost counterterrorism cooperation to tackle the growing threat of Islamic State stemming from neighboring Afghanistan.
• Iran says has 'strategic partnership' with Russia in Syria Press TV 22 Oct 2018 -- (This is the fourth news article in the series "Iran's point man on Middle East." To read the third, click here; the second, here; and the first, here. To read a report of the interview with Hossein Jaberi Ansari, see here.)
• India-Russia Military Cooperation to Soar Higher With New Technical Wing Sputnik 22 Oct 2018 -- The new department under the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military Technical Co-operation will be headed by a high-level official of the integrated defense staff. The integrated defense staff acts as a single point organization for jointmanship in defense ministry which integrates policy, doctrine, warfighting and procurement.
• Kremlin: Russia Expects US Explanation on INF Treaty as Bolton Arrives in Moscow Sputnik 21 Oct 2018 -- The issue of the US pullout from the landmark Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) with Russia will most probably be raised at a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US National Security Adviser John Bolton next week, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday.
• Some 88,000 Takfiri terrorists killed in Russian airstrikes in Syria in 3 years: Defense minister Press TV 20 Oct 2018 -- Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu says almost 88,000 foreign-sponsored Takfiri terrorists have been killed in Syria ever since Moscow launched its counter-terrorism airstrikes against militant redoubts in the Arab country more than three years ago.
• Moscow: US Exit From Nuclear Arms Treaty With Russia to Be 'Very Dangerous Step' Sputnik 21 Oct 2018 -- On Saturday, US President Donald Trump announced the country's plans to exit the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) treaty over alleged Russian violations of the agreement.
• 'Major Blow' to Global Stability: Russian Lawmakers React to Trump's INF Pullout Sputnik 21 Oct 2018 -- The United States decision to leave INF under the pretext of alleged Russian violations of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) was condemned by Russian Lawmakers.
• Russia Wants Explanation of Trump Withdrawal from Arms Treaty VOA 21 Oct 2018 -- U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton faces tough questions this week in Moscow after President Trump said he will pull the U.S. out of a key Cold War arms deal with Russia.
• Indonesia to Stick to Su-35 Deal With Russia Despite Looming US Sanctions Sputnik 20 Oct 2018 -- Earlier reports suggested that the deal between Moscow and Jakarta could fall under the US Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), despite attempts to secure a waiver for Indonesia.
• US invents new 'ludicrous' pretext to use sanctions against Russia: Moscow Press TV 20 Oct 2018 -- The Russian Foreign Ministry says the United States is hurling "ludicrous accusations" against a Russian woman for allegedly influencing the upcoming US congressional elections, stressing that Washington is inventing a pretext to impose further sanctions against Moscow.
• Russia Says U.S. 'Fabricating Pretext' To Justify Sanctions RFE/RL 20 Oct 2018 -- Russia has accused the United States of "fabricating a pretext" to impose fresh sanctions against Russia after Washington charged a Russian of conspiring to interfere in U.S. elections.
• Russian Aerospace Forces Destroyed Over 122,000 Terrorist Targets in Syria Sputnik 20 Oct 2018 -- The Russian Aerospace Forces have carried out over 40,000 missions, including over 21,000 sorties during the night time, in the course of their operation in Syria, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said at the fifth ASEAN and Dialogue Partners Defense Ministers Meeting (ADMM-Plus) in Singapore.
• Norway Frees Russian Spy Suspect, As Moscow Demands Apology RFE/RL 20 Oct 2018 -- Norway has freed a Russian suspected of spying, as Moscow demanded an apology from Oslo.
• US Hints India Might Get Sanctions Waiver Over S-400 Deal if Buys F-16 – Reports Sputnik 20 Oct 2018 -- India is pursuing an independent security policy despite US threats to introduce sanctions over its decision to purchase the advanced S-400 air defense system from Russia.
• Putin, Mirziyoev Launch Construction Of Nuclear Power Plant In Uzbekistan RFE/RL 19 Oct 2018 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev have launched the construction of a nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan's western region of Navoiy, which Moscow estimates will cost $11 billion.
• Russian National Charged with Interfering in U.S. Political System US Dept. of Justice 19 Oct 2018 -- A criminal complaint was unsealed in Alexandria, Virginia, today charging a Russian national for her alleged role in a Russian conspiracy to interfere in the U.S. political system, including the 2018 midterm election. Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers, U.S. Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger of the Eastern District of Virginia, and FBI Director Christopher Wray made the announcement after the charges were unsealed.
• U.S. Agencies Again Warn Of Foreign Interference In Elections By Russia, Iran, China RFE/RL 19 Oct 2018 -- U.S. intelligence and law-enforcement agencies issued another warning about foreign interference -- by Russia, China, Iran, and others -- in the upcoming congressional elections and other elections in the future.
• US Officials Warn No Letup in Russian Meddling Attempts VOA 19 Oct 2018 -- U.S. intelligence, law enforcement and security agencies are warning that Russia is persistently targeting the country's upcoming midterm elections. They laid out the latest evidence in new charges against a Russian national connected to the oligarch known as "Putin's cook."
• Russia hopes NATO 'wise enough' to prevent war: Lavrov Press TV 19 Oct 2018 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says the NATO military should be "wise enough" not to start a war with Russia, warning that unintended incidents between the two sides have increased due to a complete lack of dialogue.
• Russia liquidating US debt holdings, investing in gold Press TV 19 Oct 2018 -- Russia's Central Bank has persistently sold off its US Treasury bonds and trying to bring down the share of Russian investments in American debt to near zero, reaching merely $14 billion in August from the 2011 high of $180 billion
• Russian Pres. says new hypersonic weapons aimed at incoming missiles Press TV 19 Oct 2018 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has hailed his country's newly-developed hypersonic missiles that gives it a military edge, yet insisted that Moscow would only resort to using nuclear arms if targeted.
• Putin Says Russia Has Ruled Out Launching Preemptive Nuclear Strikes RFE/RL 19 Oct 2018 -- President Vladimir Putin said Russia would only use its nuclear weapons in response to a nuclear attack on the country, in what some arms control experts said appeared to be an important clarification of Russian doctrine.
• Russia's Patriarch Kirill Blames Istanbul Orthodox Church For 'Schism' RFE/RL 19 Oct 2018 -- The head of Russia's Orthodox Church has blamed Orthodox leaders in Istanbul for prompting a schism, the worst crisis to face the religion in hundreds of years.
• Norway To Free Russian Spy Suspect RFE/RL 19 Oct 2018 -- Norway is to release a Russian suspected of spying, the country's intelligence agency, the PST, has said, adding that it had withdrawn its appeal against his release.
• Russia: US' anti-JCPOA act violating int'l regulations IRNA 19 Oct 2018 -- Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman says the US' measures against Iran nuclear deal are in violation of the international regulations.
• Italian Minister Says Rome Will Oppose Extension Of EU Sanctions On Russia RFE/RL 18 Oct 2018 -- Italy's deputy prime minister says his country will oppose a renewal of European Union sanctions against Russia, but he suggested Rome is not ready to break with the rest of the EU and veto a rollover of the sanctions.
• Will Macedonia's Orthodox Church Also Break Away? RFE/RL 18 Oct 2018 -- Deep concerns have emerged within the Serbian Orthodox Church over a move by the leadership of Orthodox Christianity toward recognizing the Ukrainian church's independence from Moscow.
• Moscow-Affiliated Churches In Ex-Soviet Republics Fall In Line Over Ukraine Rift RFE/RL 18 Oct 2018 -- Several Orthodox churches in former Soviet republics have followed the steps of the Russian Orthodox Church and cut their ties with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.
• Russia Says Military Training Jet Crashes RFE/RL 18 Oct 2018 -- The Russian Defense Ministry says one of its jets has crashed during a training flight over the Sea of Azov and that two pilots are missing.
• L-39 Trainer Jet Crashes in Russia's Krasnodar Territory - MoD Sputnik 18 Oct 2018 -- An L-39 military trainer aircraft crashed in south Russia's Krasnodar Territory during a scheduled training flight, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement Thursday.
• Briefing by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova, Moscow, October 17, 2018 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 17 Oct 2018
• Ingushetia Activist Says Protest Against Chechnya Border Deal Will Continue RFE/RL 17 Oct 2018 -- A leading activist in Russia's North Caucasus region of Ingushetia says a demonstration against a border deal with Chechnya will continue despite the authorities' refusal to extend permission for the rally past October 17.
• Russian Foreign Ministry Refutes Allegations of Moscow's Meddling in Libya Sputnik 17 Oct 2018 -- Russia acts in strict accordance with the UN Security Council's decisions on Libya and does not interfere in the situation in this country, Maria Zakharova, the spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said Wednesday.
• Russian opposes new US anti-Iran sanctions IRNA 17 Oct 2018 -- Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov voiced his country's opposition to US sanctions against Iran, saying that US seems to be taking every opportunity to exert pressure on countries that do not follow its policies.
• Russia firmly slams US sanctions against Iran ISNA 17 Oct 2018 -- Moscow firmly opposes expansion of the US sanctions against Tehran as it appears that Washington takes every opportunity to exert pressure on countries it dislikes, Russian deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov told Sputnik.
• Russia denounces new US sanctions on Iran businesses Press TV 17 Oct 2018 -- Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov has repudiated new US sanctions on Iran's businesses, saying Washington appears to be taking every opportunity to exert pressure on countries it dislikes.
• Russia's Top Judge Spurs New Talk Of Changing Constitution RFE/RL 16 Oct 2018 -- When the Russian Constitution was approved in late 1993, the fledgling country's parliament building-- now known as the White House-- was blackened and charred, the result of an all-out military assault ordered by President Boris Yeltsin to quell an uprising by a group of lawmakers.
• Russia: Deal on Syria's Idlib going ahead despite missed deadline Press TV 16 Oct 2018 -- The Kremlin says a deal brokered by Russia and Turkey, which aims to create a demilitarized zone in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib and has so far held off a government offensive on the last major terrorist stronghold in the country, was going ahead, despite foreign-sponsored militants failing to leave the zone the day before.
• Chechen-Ingush Border Agreement 'Comes Into Force' Amid Protests RFE/RL 16 Oct 2018 -- The speaker of the parliament of Russia's North Caucasus region of Chechnya says the disputed Chechen-Ingush administrative boundary agreement has come into force amid continuing protests in Ingushetia against the deal.
• Italy Expected To Propose Reviving EU Funding For Small Russian Businesses RFE/RL 16 Oct 2018 -- Italy will propose that the European Union revive funding for small- and medium-sized private businesses in Russia when EU leaders meet in Brussels this week, several sources have told RFE/RL.
• Ingush Leader Says Putin Told Him To Use Dialogue, Not Force, To Handle Protests RFE/RL 15 Oct 2018 -- The leader of Russia's Ingushetia region says President Vladimir Putin has made it clear to him that protesters demonstrating against a deal to redraw the border with Chechnya should not be forcefully dispersed.
• Russian Orthodox Church Holds Synod In Minsk Over Ukraine Church Issue RFE/RL 15 Oct 2018 -- Leaders of the Russian Orthodox Church were meeting in the Belarusian capital on October 15 amid a dispute over moves toward independence for the Orthodox Church in Ukraine.
• Russian Orthodox Church Breaks Ties With Constantinople Patriarchate RFE/RL 15 Oct 2018 -- The Russian Orthodox Church has decided to end its relationship with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in protest over its endorsement of Ukraine's request for an autocephalous, or independent, church.
• Russian Church Official Says 'Impossible' To Remain United With Ecumenical Patriarchate RFE/RL 13 Oct 2018 -- The Russian Orthodox Church says a decision about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church made by the synod of the Constantinople Patriarchate has forced the Moscow Patriarchate to end its unity with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, the Istanbul-based spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians.
• What Comes Next As Ukrainian Orthodox Church Pushes For Independence From Moscow? RFE/RL 13 Oct 2018 -- The striving of many Ukrainian Orthodox believers to gain independence for their national church from the Russian Orthodox Church has been simmering since the collapse of the Soviet Union.li>
• North Korea Seeking to Expand Ties With Russia - Foreign Minister Sputnik 13 Oct 2018 -- North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho said that Pyongyang is seeking to expand ties with Moscow in 2019.
• Russia warns 'red line' crossed after Ukraine church split Press TV 12 Oct 2018 -- The head of global Orthodox Christianity has recognized Ukrainian churches as independent from the Russian Orthodox Church, sparking cheers in Kiev amid criticisms that Moscow had been trying to promote political influence through its churches.
• Prayers Answered: Ukrainians Greet Church Split With Open Arms, Despite Moscow's Warnings RFE/RL 12 Oct 2018 -- "The Lord has seen the struggle of the Ukrainian people for their independence. He has heard our prayers."
• Amid Church Rift, Kremlin Vows To 'Protect Interests' Of Faithful In Ukraine RFE/RL 12 Oct 2018 -- The Kremlin has issued a fresh warning following a key step in Kyiv's quest for an independent church that is recognized by the Orthodox Christian leadership, saying Russia will protect the interests of the faithful in Ukraine if the historic split leads to illegal action or violence.
• Putin Discusses Orthodox Church Crisis in Ukraine with Russian Security Council Sputnik 12 Oct 2018 -- Ukrainian authorities and two rival churches have agreed to work together to avert religious strife after the leader of the Eastern Orthodoxy recognized Kiev's religious independence.
• Russia says Iran's presence in Syria none of Israel's business Press TV 12 Oct 2018 -- A senior Russian official has dismissed the Israeli regime's demand that Iran be forced out of Syria, saying that the issue is none of Tel Aviv's business as it is Syria's sovereign right to authorize Iranian forces on its soil.
• Soyuz Mishap A Reminder There's No Alternative To Russia's Manned Space Vehicles -- For Now RFE/RL 12 Oct 2018 -- Russia's space program was already having a bad year. A suspicious hole discovered on a Russian vessel docked at the International Space Station (ISS) in August prompted speculation about a manufacturing defect or deliberate sabotage. That later gave way to veiled suggestions of politically motivated space skullduggery.
• Russia Suspends Space Launches After Failure, But Still Hopes For December Mission RFE/RL 12 Oct 2018 -- Russia's space agency says that it has suspended all Soyuz launches pending an investigation into the problem that forced a harrowing emergency landing, but the head of its manned program said Moscow still hopes to send a crew to the International Space Station (ISS) in December.
• Russian nuclear forces hold drills on Putin's order Press TV 12 Oct 2018 -- Russia's strategic nuclear forces have staged major military drills in the country's territorial waters, practicing a wide range of nuclear attack and defense scenarios under President Vladimir Putin's direct order.
• Tests of Russian Upgraded Military Helicopter to Be Completed by Year's End Sputnik 12 Oct 2018 -- The preliminary tests of the Russian modernized Mi-26T2V heavy military transport helicopter are expected to be completed by the end of the year, after which official tests will begin, the Russian Helicopters manufacturing company told Sputnik.
• OFAC Extends Expiration Date of General Licenses Related to EN+ and RUSAL US Treasury 12 Oct 2018 -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today extended further the expiration date of certain general licenses related to EN+ Group plc (EN+) and United Company RUSAL PLC (RUSAL).
• UK Refuses to Comment on Reports About Increased Intel Exchange on Russia, China Sputnik 12 Oct 2018 -- The UK Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) on Friday refused to comment to Sputnik on reports that the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, which London is a member of, has been exchanging classified information on China's foreign activities with like-minded states since the beginning of the year.
• Ecumenical Patriarchate Recognizes Independence Of Ukrainian Church RFE/RL 11 Oct 2018 -- The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople has agreed to recognize the independence of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, a move immediately hailed by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko but slammed as "catastrophic" by Moscow.
• Russian Orthodox Church Forced to End Eucharistic Ties With Constantinople Sputnik 11 Oct 2018 -- Previously, a representative of the Constantinople Patriarchate announced that the synod of the church had decided to lift the anathema of two leaders of schismatic churches in Ukraine and return the metropolia under Constantinople's jurisdiction.
• U.S. Special Envoy Urges Moscow Not To Back 'Illegitimate Elections' In Eastern Ukraine RFE/RL 11 Oct 2018 -- The U.S. special envoy for Ukraine has said that elections planned by Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine are illegitimate and urged Moscow not to endorse them.
• Lavrov:Changing Golan Heights status violates UN resolutions IRNA 11 Oct 2018 -- Changing the status of the Golan Heights in sidestepping the UN Security Council would come in direct violation of its resolutions, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told journalists on Wednesday.
• Putin: Terror fight remains absolute priority in Syria, world Press TV 11 Oct 2018 -- The Russian leader says fighting global terrorism, especially in Syria, remains an "absolute priority" for his country, emphasizing that any solution to over seven years of crisis in the Arab state should guarantee its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
• Change in Golan Heights status constitutes violation of UN resolutions: Russia's FM Press TV 11 Oct 2018 -- Russia rebukes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for asking the international community to recognize the regime's claim to "sovereignty" over the occupied side of Syria's Golan Heights, warning that any such move would constitute a flagrant violation of UN Security Council resolutions.
• India, Russia to Soon Conclude Deals on Frigates, Kalashnikovs - Russian Envoy Sputnik 11 Oct 2018 -- The statement comes a day after US President Donald Trump said that India "will soon find out" his decision on the punitive Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) over India's decision to purchase the S-400 missile defense systems from Russia.
• India Not to Cut Ties With Russia as Trump Vows 'Swift' Response to S-400 Deal Sputnik 11 Oct 2018 -- India has signed a $5.4 billion deal to buy five S-400 air defense systems despite the looming threat of US sanctions on countries that trade with Russia's defense and intelligence sectors.
• Russia: US withdrawal from JCPOA shortsighted move IRNA 11 Oct 2018 -- Director of the Russian Foreign Ministry Department for Non-Proliferation and Arms Control Vladimir Yermakov on Wednesday slammed US exit from the 2015 nuclear deal as a shortsighted move.
• Joint Press Release of DPRK-Russia-China Negotiations Made Public KCNA 11 Oct 2018 -- A joint press release was made public at the three-party negotiations of vice foreign ministers of the DPRK, Russia and China held in Moscow on Oct. 9, 2018.
• Briefing by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova, Koktebel, October 10, 2018 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 10 Oct 2018
• EU postpones vote to reinstate Russian voting right on council Press TV 10 Oct 2018 -- The Council of Europe has postponed a controversial decision on restoring Moscow's voting rights on the organization, stripped after Crimea's vote in 2014 to secede from Ukraine and join Russia.
• Russia To Start Importing Gas From Turkmenistan Again Next Year, Gazprom Says RFE/RL 10 Oct 2018 -- Russia's Gazprom next year will resume imports of natural gas from Turkmenistan that it stopped three years ago, the energy giant's chief executive has said.
• Land Grab? Why The Ingush Are Furious With Chechnya RFE/RL 10 Oct 2018 -- Magas, the capital of the southern Russian region of Ingushetia, has been at the center of fresh controversy in the volatile North Caucasus region of late.
• Russian Parliament's Defense Committee Denies Military Presence in Libya Sputnik 10 Oct 2018 -- Russia does not have any military presence in Libya, the deputy chair of the Russian upper house's defense committee, Alexei Kondratyev, told Sputnik on Tuesday following media reports claiming that Moscow was allegedly plotting to establish a stronghold against the West in Libya.
• Lavrov: Eradicating terrorism is a priority in Syria IRNA 10 Oct 2018 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that eradicating terrorist threats in Syria is a priority, noting that Sochi agreement on Idleb which was reached on September 17th is being complied with.
• Russian Novichok Suspects Shadowed Skripal In Prague, Report Says RFE/RL 10 Oct 2018 -- The two Russian men suspected by British intelligence of poisoning Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in England in March shadowed the former double agent in Prague in 2014, Czech Radio (CR) has cited sources as saying.
• Russian Website Names Third Person Allegedly Involved In Skripal Poisoning RFE/RL 10 Oct 2018 -- Russian website fontanka.ru says a GRU military intelligence operative whose name is Sergei Fedotov is allegedly the third Russian agent involved in trying to kill former spy Sergei Skripal in Britain earlier this year.
• Czech Media Claim Salisbury Case Suspects Spied on Skripal in Country in 2014 Sputnik 10 Oct 2018 -- Cesky Rozhlas media reported Wednesday, citing Czech intel sources, that Russian citizens Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov accused by London of poisoning ex-officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury, visited the Czech Republic in October 2014, where Skripal himself was supposed to arrive at the same time.
• Russia, China, North Korea agree on five-way talks Press TV 10 Oct 2018 -- Russia, China and North Korea have agreed on the need for five-way negotiations including the US and South Korea to resolve tensions on the Korean Peninsula, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.
• UNSC Should Begin Reconsidering Sanctions Against Pyongyang – Joint Statement Sputnik 10 Oct 2018 -- Russia's Foreign Ministry has reported that Moscow, Beijing and Pyongyang support the idea of holding talks between the US, China, North Korea and South Korea regarding the situation on the Korean Peninsula.
• Moscow to Establish Military Representation in CAR - Draft Document Sputnik 09 Oct 2018 -- Russia will offer the Central African Republic (CAR) to establish a representation of the Russian Defense Ministry at the CAR Defense Ministry, according to a document published on the official portal of legal information on Monday.
• Bellingcat: Second Novichok Suspect Also Honored By Putin As 'Hero Of Russia' RFE/RL 09 Oct 2018 -- Cybersleuthing group Bellingcat says it has found that two men that Britain suspects of poisoning former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter were awarded Hero of the Russian Federation medals by President Vladimir Putin four years ago for conducting covert operations in Ukraine.
• Bellingcat Claims Alleged Salisbury Suspect Bestowed Hero of Russia in 2014 Sputnik 09 Oct 2018 -- UK-based investigative blogger group Bellingcat presented on Tuesday a report claiming that "trained military doctor" Alexander Mishkin, the alleged true identity of Skripal poisoning suspect Alexander Petrov, received the Hero of the Russian Federation Award in 2014.
• Unmasking of 2nd Alleged Skripal Poisoner May Prompt Kremlin Purge of GRU VOA 09 Oct 2018 -- The unmasking of a second Russian intelligence officer suspected of carrying out a nerve-agent attack in England earlier this year is prompting behind-the-scenes fury in the Kremlin, which is likely to respond by purging the senior ranks of Russia's military intelligence service, the GRU, Russian media is reporting.
• Russia planning to turn Libya into 'new Syria': UK intelligence Press TV 09 Oct 2018 -- The UK intelligence agencies have reportedly warned Prime Minister Theresa May that Russia is sending weapons and troops to Libya in order to turn the North African country into a "new Syria," an allegation that is likely to further muddy the waters between Moscow and London.
• Reports Alleging Moscow's Military Plans in Libya Unfounded - Contact Group Sputnik 09 Oct 2018 -- The UK media reports about Russia's alleged plans to establish a stronghold against the West in Libya represent misinterpretation of Moscow's policy in the country, which only aims to restore economic ties with Tripoli, Lev Dengov, the head of the Russian Contact Group for intra-Libyan settlement, told Sputnik on Tuesday.
• UK Intel Claims Putin Aims to Make Libya "New Syria" to Pressure West - Reports Sputnik 09 Oct 2018 -- UK intelligence agencies have told Prime Minister Theresa May that Russia wanted to "turn Libya into a new Syria" in order to take control of migration flows and flood Europe with refugees, thus increasing its influence on the West, The Sun newspaper reported.
• Latest Poll Shows Putin's Popularity Decreasing Sharply RFE/RL 08 Oct 2018 -- A new survey shows the number of Russians who regard President Vladimir Putin as Russia's most trusted politician has plunged significantly over the past year.
• Russia, Turkey Determine Borders of Idlib Demilitarized Zone - Official Sputnik 08 Oct 2018 -- Russia and Turkey have determined the borders of the demilitarized zone in Syria's Idlib, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin told Sputnik in an interview.
• US Drone Spotted Flying Near Russian Border Second Time in Two Days Sputnik 08 Oct 2018 -- Late last week, a US Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk flew around Russia's northwestern borders for eleven hours.
• Dutch espionage allegation against 4 Russians result of 'misunderstanding': FM Lavrov Press TV 08 Oct 2018 -- Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says the four Russian nationals, who were detained and expelled by the Dutch authorities on suspicion of espionage, had been on a "routine" trip, stressing that they had not done anything illegal and their expulsion from the Netherlands had been a "misunderstanding."
• Bellingcat Names Second Skripal Poisoning Suspect As Russian GRU Agent RFE/RL 08 Oct 2018 -- Investigative website Bellingcat has identified the second suspect in the nerve-agent attack on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in Britain as a military doctor employed by Russia's GRU military intelligence agency.
• Russia Says Suspected Spy Actions Were Routine Dutch Trip RFE/RL 08 Oct 2018 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has rejected accusations made by the Dutch authorities against suspected Russian spies.
• UK practicing major cyberattacks against Russia: Report Press TV 08 Oct 2018 -- The UK government has been practicing large-scale cyberattacks that could cause black outs across Russia, British officials say, amid an ongoing war of words between the two sides over a range of foreign policy issues.
• New Site, Same Protest: Anger Over Border Deal Seethes In Ingushetia RFE/RL 08 Oct 2018 -- Protests over a border deal with Chechnya show little sign of abating in Ingushetia, where demonstrators have rallied for a fifth straight day in the small southern region's capital and called for the resignation of its longtime leader.
• US Drone Reportedly Spotted Near Russian Borders...Again Sputnik 07 Oct 2018 -- Earlier, the US Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk surveillance plane was spotted near Crimea and neighboring Krasnodar Territory.
• Land-Swap Protests In Russia's Ingushetia Stretch Into Fourth Day RFE/RL 07 Oct 2018 -- Thousands of protesters have jammed the capital of Russia's Ingushetia region for a fourth day, demanding the resignation of a longtime leader for a controversial land deal with neighboring Chechnya.
• India Agreed to Buy S-400 Despite US Sanctions Threat - Russian Minister Sputnik 07 Oct 2018 -- The contract between Russian and India on supplies of S-400 air defense systems is based on long-term cooperation between the two countries, which was not undermined by the threat of sanctions from the United States, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov said Sunday.
• India inks missile deal with Russia People's Daily 06 Oct 2018 -- India Friday inked a multi-billion dollar defense deal with Russia to acquire S-400 Triumf missile systems from Moscow, government sources here said.
• Protest Against Ingush-Chechen Land Swap Enters Third Day RFE/RL 06 Oct 2018 -- People gathered in the regional capital of Ingushetia for a third straight day on October 6 to protest what they say is an unfair land swap with Chechnya under a controversial deal to establish the border between the two North Caucasus republics.
• Russia Increasing Submarine Capabilities In Mediterranean, Atlantic, U.S. Admiral Warns RFE/RL 06 Oct 2018 -- Russia is augmenting its underwater battle capabilities in a direct challenge to U.S. and NATO forces in the Atlantic and Mediterranean arenas, a top U.S. admiral has warned.
• 'I Want Them to Be There': US Admiral Wants Russia to See NATO Exercise Sputnik 05 Oct 2018 -- Russia should take up NATO's invitation to send observers to the 2018 Trident Juncture military exercises as it is in Moscow's best interest to observe the readiness and capabilities of the forces involved, US Navy Admiral James G. Foggo III said on Friday.
• Deliveries of Russian Su-35 to Indonesia Might Fall Under US Sanctions - Reports Sputnik 05 Oct 2018 -- The time frames for the deliveries of Russian Su-35 multi-role fighter jets to Indonesia under a bilateral contract are affected by the restrictions that the United States is ready to introduce as part of its anti-Russia sanctions, as the Kommersant newspaper reported on Friday.
• Russia to Help India in its First Manned Space Mission Sputnik 05 Oct 2018 -- India's first manned spacecraft Gaganyaan is designed to carry three people and will be placed in low earth orbit, 300-400 km above the surface of the planet. India has set an ambitious deadline of 2022 to complete the mission.
• Russia Says U.S. Hacking Allegations 'Inciting Tensions,' Warns Of 'Dangerous Path' RFE/RL 05 Oct 2018 -- A top Russian diplomat is warning that the United States is on a "dangerous path" and "deliberately inciting tensions in relations between the nuclear powers" by accusing Russian military intelligence of waging a global hacking campaign against Western institutions.
• Russian Prosecutor Linked to Trump Tower Lawyer, Other Kremlin Intrigue, Dies In Chopper Crash RFE/RL 05 Oct 2018 -- A top Russian official accused of directing Natalya Veselnitskaya, the lawyer who met with senior officials of U.S. President Donald Trump's election campaign in Trump Tower in 2016, has died in a helicopter crash.
• Russian MiG-29 Fighter Jet Crashes in Moscow Region Sputnik 05 Oct 2018 -- Both pilots catapulted before the aircraft crashed in the Kolomensky district of the Moscow Region, according to source speaking to Sputnik.
• Alleged Russian Hackers Suspected of Stealing Belgian Report on Ukraine - Report Sputnik 05 Oct 2018 -- Russian hackers who allegedly sabotaged the computer systems of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in the Netherlands may be responsible for stealing a confidential report on Ukraine from the Belgian Foreign Ministry in 2014, the Belga news agency reported on Friday.
• India and Russia to Jointly Set up Six New Nuclear Reactors in India at 2nd Site Sputnik 05 Oct 2018 -- For the new nuclear projects in India, Russia has agreed to implement "3+ generation" water-water energetic reactor technology and will increase the level of localization, working jointly with local businesses.
• India, Russia Formally Ink $5.4 billion S-400 Air Defense System Deal - Kremlin Sputnik 05 Oct 2018 -- The delivery of the five advanced S-400 Triumf squadrons will begin in October 2020, despite the threat of US financial sanctions.
• India Seals Deal for Russian Air Defense Systems During Putin Visit VOA 05 Oct 2018 -- India has signed a deal worth more than $5 billion to buy five sophisticated air defense missile systems from Russia that could trigger sanctions by the United States.
• Iran, Russia Seen Vying for Influence in Afghanistan VOA 05 Oct 2018 -- Russia continues to compete for influence in Afghanistan, where international reconciliation efforts are underway, while Iran is playing both sides of the Afghan conflict, according to a top U.S. military official.
• Briefing by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova, Moscow, October 4, 2018 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 04 Oct 2018
• Russia, Saudi Arabia 'Quietly' Agree To Lift Oil Production RFE/RL 04 Oct 2018 -- Russia and Saudi Arabia have struck a deal to raise oil output from September through December to cool rising prices, the Reuters news agency reports.
• Russia: Iran fighting terrorism in Syria lawfully IRNA 04 Oct 2018 -- Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday that Iranian military forces are fighting international terrorism lawfully and on the invitation of the Syrian government.
• Putin: Presence of US forces in Syria illegitimate IRNA 04 Oct 2018 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed that the presence of the US troops in Syria is illegitimate and violates the UN's Charter.
• Moscow Says New Steps Will Follow Delivery of S-300s to Syria Sputnik 04 Oct 2018 -- Russia has completed the first delivery of S-300 systems to Syria, including 49 units of equipment-related components such as radar, basic target acquisition systems, command posts and four launchers, according to Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.
• US to Confront Russia, China on Militarization of Outer Space VOA 04 Oct 2018 -- At an upcoming U.N. disarmament conference, the United States vows to push back against Russian and Chinese threats against the peaceful use of outer space. The U.N. General Assembly First Committee on Disarmament and International Security opens Monday in New York and is scheduled to run five weeks.
• Thousands Rally In Russia's Ingushetia Against 'Unfair' Border Deal With Chechnya RFE/RL 04 Oct 2018 -- Thousands of people have demonstrated in Russia's North Caucasus region of Ingushetia to protest against a controversial deal establishing the administrative boundary with Chechnya.
• Russia Predicts Rising Gas Exports To Europe Despite U.S. Concerns RFE/RL 04 Oct 2018 -- Russia expects to export a record amount of natural gas this year, despite U.S. efforts - including through sanctions threats - to convince European states to cut their reliance on Russian gas.
• U.S. Defense Chief Calls Alleged Russian Violation Of Missile Treaty 'Untenable' RFE/RL 04 Oct 2018 -- The U.S. defense secretary has again accused Russia of violating a key Cold War arms control treaty, calling the unresolved and increasingly tense dispute with Moscow "untenable."
• Pentagon Chief: Russia's Violation of Arms Control Pact 'Untenable' VOA 04 Oct 2018 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Thursday Russia's violation of a global arms control treaty is "untenable" and warned the U.S. would be forced to match Moscow's military capabilities if it continues to violate the pact.
• U.S. Charges Russian GRU Officers with International Hacking and Related Influence and Disinformation Operations US Dept. of Justice 04 Oct 2018 -- Conspirators Included a Russian Intelligence "Close Access" Hacking Team that Traveled Abroad to Compromise Computer Networks Used by Anti-Doping and Sporting Officials and Organizations Investigating Russia's Use of Chemical Weapons
• Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers Delivers Remarks on the Unsealing of an Indictment Against Russian GRU Officers for Various Malicious Cyber Activities US Dept. of Justice 04 Oct 2018
• Russian Hackers Indicted FBI 04 Oct 2018 -- Seven Russian government operatives have been charged with hacking into the computer networks of organizations working to investigate and stop Russian athletic doping, just after Russia was banned from the Olympics due to state-sponsored doping revelations. The hackers also allegedly targeted other international entities seen as thwarting Russia's strategic interests.
• Statement by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Russian cyber attacks NATO 04 Oct 2018 -- The Netherlands briefed NATO Defence Ministers today on the targeting of the offices of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague by a hostile cyber operation. The operation was carried out by the GRU, the Russian military intelligence service, but was disrupted by Dutch intelligence services in partnership with the UK. Moreover, the UK has identified the GRU as being behind a number of other cyber-attacks around the world. These have affected citizens in many countries, including Russia, and caused enormous economic costs.
• UK accuses Russia of fostering instability throughout the world Press TV 04 Oct 2018 -- British foreign minister Jeremy Hunt has accused Russia of fostering instability around the world after allegations emerged showing that Russians were behind a hacking scheme that could affect the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
• Russia accuses West of cyber mania over claims of hacking attack on OPCW Press TV 04 Oct 2018 -- Russia has accused the West of "spy mania," after Dutch security services alleged they had foiled a purported cyber attack by four Russian nationals on the Hague-based Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
• UK blames Russian military intel for cyber attacks Press TV 04 Oct 2018 -- The United Kingdom is pointing the finger at the Russian military intelligence for a number of "reckless" cyber attacks in recent years.
• Dutch, U.S. Authorities Target Russian Military Intelligence, Alleging Wide Hacking Campaign RFE/RL 04 Oct 2018 -- Dutch and U.S. authorities have accused Russia's military intelligence agency of involvement in a multifaceted, multinational hacking campaign that targeted global anti-doping agencies, the international chemical weapons watchdog, and other entities.
• Britain Accuses Russia's GRU Of 'Reckless' Cyberattacks On Western Targets RFE/RL 04 Oct 2018 -- Britain is accusing Russian military intelligence of being behind a host of recent cyberattacks seeking to undermine critical Western institutions from sports and transportation authorities to election processes.
• Moscow Responds to Washington's New Hacking Accusations: 'Dangerous Path' Sputnik 04 Oct 2018 -- The United States is "poisoning" the atmosphere of Russia-US relations with new unfounded accusations against Russia, taking a dangerous path to fuel tensions between the two nuclear powers, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said Thursday.
• US Charges 7 Alleged Russian Military Intel Officers Over Hacking OPCW, WADA Sputnik 04 Oct 2018 -- Earlier in the day, the Netherlands stated that the United States was going to announce charges against some "Russian intelligence agents." Moscow has yet to comment on the US charges.
• Dutch authorities brief world chemical weapons watchdog on alleged Russian cyber attack UN News 04 Oct 2018 -- The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs briefed the Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) on Thursday, over allegations that a cyber attack was being plotted in April, against the headquarters of the OPCW, orchestrated by Russia.
• US Says Russians Hacked Doping Agencies, Other Organizations VOA 04 Oct 2018 -- The U.S. Justice Department said Thursday that it had charged seven Russian intelligence officers with hacking the computer networks of international anti-doping agencies, as well as organizations investigating Russia's use of chemical agents.
• UK Envoy Claims Russia Tried to Compromise Foreign Office After Salisbury Attack Sputnik 04 Oct 2018 -- UK Ambassador to the Netherlands Peter Wilson claimed on Thursday that the Main Directorate of the General Staff of Russia's Armed Forces (formerly known as the GRU) had allegedly tried to compromise the computer systems of the UK Foreign Office and the country's Defense Science and Technology Laboratory after the Salisbury case.
• Indian Government Puts Final Stamp on Purchase of $2 Billion Russian Frigates Sputnik 04 Oct 2018 -- The approval by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) is considered the final nod for any defense procurement ahead of the signing of the final commercial contract. The CCS approval that comes just a day before the annual bilateral summit indicates that the final contract is in the offing.
• India Risks US Sanctions Over $5Bln S-400 Delivery Deal – Reports Sputnik 04 Oct 2018 -- India is seeking a US waiver for its planned purchase of S-400 air defense missile systems from Russia.
• India, Russia Expected to Seal Arms Deal During Putin Visit VOA 04 Oct 2018 -- As Russian President Vladimir Putin visits India, the most high profile item on the agenda will be a deal for New Delhi to buy a multi-billion-dollar air defense system and other weaponry. If concluded, the deal will be in violation of American sanctions against Russia.
• Russian Voronezh-DM Over-The-Horizon Radars Put on Combat Duty - Military Sputnik 04 Oct 2018 -- The Russian military put the next generation early warning Voronezh-DM radars on combat duty in the country's Orenburg Region and the Altay and Krasnoyarsk territories, bringing the radars to a total of seven Russian regions, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday.
• UK Government Accuses Russian Intelligence of Cyberattacks Sputnik 04 Oct 2018 -- UK has accused Russian military intelligence of directing cyberattacks basing on work by UK National Cyber Security Centre.
• Russian president: No large-scale military action needed in Syria's Idlib Press TV 03 Oct 2018 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin says his country's joint plan with Turkey for creating a demilitarized zone in Syria's Idlib, the last major terrorist bastion in the country, has been effective, thus no major military action is needed in the region.
• Putin says US presence in Syria violates UN charter Press TV 03 Oct 2018 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin says the presence of US troops in Syria, providing support to anti-Damascus militant groups in the Arab country, violated the United Nations Charter.
• Putin Signs Unpopular Bill Raising Retirement Ages By Five Years RFE/RL 03 Oct 2018 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed into law an unpopular bill raising the retirement age by five years, the Kremlin said.
• 'Most Plausible Conclusion': NATO Sec Gen Alleges Russia Breached INF Treaty Sputnik 03 Oct 2018 -- NATO chief announced that the Defense Ministers gathered in Belgium will address "concerns about Russia's violations of the INF Treaty."
• Putin: Skripal Not Rights Defender, But 'Traitor' and 'Scumbag' Sputnik 03 Oct 2018 -- The Russian Energy Week in Moscow is set to be attended by over 6,000 guests from over 70 countries, with energy companies coming from Austria, Germany, China, Libya, Saudi Arabia, the UK, France and the US.
• Russian Military Recorded Over 40 ICBM, Rocket Launches in 2018 - Reports Sputnik 03 Oct 2018 -- The Russian Aerospace Forces have tracked over 40 launches of the country's and foreign space rockets and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) since the beginning of 2018, an infographic published by the Russian Armed Forces' official newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda showed on Friday.
• Putin says ex-Russia spy poisoned in Britain was a 'scumbag' Press TV 03 Oct 2018 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has lashed out at Western governments for their designation of a former Moscow spy poisoned in Britain as innocent, saying Sergei Skripal was simply a "scumbag" who committed treason by revealing confidential information about his country.
• Putin Calls Poisoned Former Double Agent Skripal A 'Traitor' And A 'Scumbag' RFE/RL 03 Oct 2018 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has lashed out at Sergei Skripal, the former Russian intelligence officer whom Britain accuses Moscow of poisoning with a weapons-grade nerve agent in England, calling him a "traitor" and a "scumbag."
• Former Russian Spy Finds It Hard to Accept Moscow Tried to Kill Him VOA 03 Oct 2018 -- Poisoned former spy Sergei Skripal has found it difficult to accept the Russian government tried to have him killed earlier this year, according to a new book published this week by a BBC journalist.
• Kremlin confirms: Russia to sign India S-400 deal shortly Press TV 03 Oct 2018 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin will on Thursday visit India to personally oversee the signing of an important deal between Moscow and New Delhi for the purchase of five Russian S-400 missile defense systems, the Kremlin has confirmed.
• Kremlin Says Putin Will Seal $5 Billion Missile Defense Deal On Trip To India RFE/RL 03 Oct 2018 -- A key achievement of Russian President Vladimir Putin on a trip to India this week will be the signing of a $5 billion deal to supply India with S-400 air-defense systems, a top Kremlin aide has said.
• Russia Says It Delivered Advanced Missile Defense System To Syria Despite Objections RFE/RL 03 Oct 2018 -- Russia says it has delivered S-300 surface-to-air missile systems to Syria, despite objections from Israel and the United States that the weapons will escalate the war in the Middle Eastern country. li>
• Shoigu: Russia completed delivery of S-300 systems to Syria IRNA 03 Oct 2018 -- Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu stressed that the Russian side has completed the delivery of S-300 air defense missile systems to Syria.
• Russia's delivery of S-300 air defense system completed: Defense minister Press TV 02 Oct 2018 -- Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu says his country has completed the delivery of an S-300 surface-to-air missile system to Syria, irrespective of Israeli authorities' strong opposition that it will pose a serious "challenge" to the Tel Aviv regime.
• Russia Objects To British Plans To Boost Military Presence In Arctic RFE/RL 02 Oct 2018 -- The Russian Embassy in London is objecting to Britain's reported plans to boost its military presence in the Arctic next year to counter what London has called increasing Russian aggression.
• US Threatens to Destroy Russian Warheads if Necessary - Envoy to NATO Sputnik 02 Oct 2018 -- According to US Permanent Representative to NATO Kay Bailey Hutchison, Russia has to halt its development of new 9M729 nuclear-capable missiles.
• U.S. Could 'Take Out' Controversial Russian Weapon If Necessary, Envoy Says RFE/RL 02 Oct 2018 -- The U.S. ambassador to NATO has said that if necessary, the United States would consider destroying a Russian missile system that Washington contends Moscow is developing in violation of a nuclear arms treaty.
• US could launch preemptive military strike against Russia: NATO envoy Press TV 02 Oct 2018 -- The United States has threatened to launch a preemptive military strike against Russia if it does not halt developing a banned cruise missile system.
• Russian Military Death Toll In Syria Reaches 112, Lawmaker Says RFE/RL 02 Oct 2018 -- The Russian military has lost 112 personnel in the Syrian civil war over the past three years, according to a senior lawmaker who heads a defense committee in Russia's parliament.
• Russia Completes Deliveries of S-300 Air Defense Systems to Syria - Shoigu Sputnik 02 Oct 2018 -- Work on installing a unified air defense control system in Syria will be finalized by October 20, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said at President Vladimir Putin's meeting with members of Russia's Security Council on Tuesday.
• Who Was Who? The Key Players In Russia's Dramatic October 1993 Showdown RFE/RL 02 Oct 2018 -- It brought Russia to the brink of civil war and resulted in the worst street violence in Moscow since the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution.
• Photo At Russian Military Academy Adds To Evidence About Skripal Poisoning Suspect RFE/RL 02 Oct 2018 -- A photograph on display at a Russian military academy is adding to the growing evidence identifying a Russian military intelligence officer who was allegedly involved in the poisoning of a former double agent in England.
• Russia summons South Korean envoy over impounded vessel Press TV 02 Oct 2018 -- Russia has summoned South Korea's ambassador to Moscow, demanding that Seoul immediately release a Russian shipping vessel that it has been "illegally" holding in the port of Busan.
• Dunford: Russia, China Pose Similar Challenges to U.S., Rules-Based Order AFPS 02 Oct 2018 -- The challenges the United States sees from Russia and China are similar because both have studied the America way of war, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said yesterday.
• SpaceX Uses Dumping to Drive Russia Out of Space Launch Market - Roscosmos Sputnik 02 Oct 2018 -- Elon Musk, the co-owner and CEO of the US aerospace manufacturer SpaceX, has been using dumping on the space launch market in order to crowd out Russia, head of Russia's State Space Corporation Roscosmos Dmitry Rogozin said Monday.