Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)
18 March 2022 - Russia Special Weapons News
|
Ukraine Invasion
- In Belarusian Morgues And Hospitals, Clues To Russian Military Losses in Ukraine RFE/RL 18 Mar 2022 -- There's no room in the morgue at Mazyr. It's filled with the bodies of Russian soldiers.
- Russia's Putin accuses Ukraine of stalling talks Press TV 18 Mar 2022 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Kiev of trying to stall peace talks even though Moscow is ready to search for solutions to end the military conflict in Ukraine.
- Putin: Main Goal of Russian Operation in Ukraine is to Set Donbass Free From Genocide Sputnik 18 Mar 2022 -- The special operation was ordered by President Vladimir Putin on 24 February following weeks of intensive shelling reported by the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR). Putin described its goals as the demilitarisation and de-Nazification of Ukraine.
- 130 Rescued in Ukrainian Theater Bombing, Search for Missing Continues VOA 18 Mar 2022 -- Ukrainian officials say they have yet to find any casualties in the ruins of a theater hit by a Russian airstrike this week in the southern city of Mariupol as Russian forces continue to fire on Ukrainian cities and negotiators from both countries seek to find common ground.
- Humanitarian, Protection Needs Rising as Ukraine Conflict Escalates VOA 18 Mar 2022 -- The U.N. refugee agency is warning that millions of Ukrainians inside and outside their country desperately need humanitarian and protection assistance as Russia's invasion of Ukraine escalates and spreads to new areas of the country.
- Fighting Reaches Center Of Mariupol As Putin Puts Up Defiant Appearance RFE/RL 18 Mar 2022 -- Some 130 people have been rescued so far from a theater in the besieged city of Mariupol that was hit by a Russian air strike, but "hundreds" more are still trapped under the rubble, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said, as Mariupol's mayor said that fighting for the strategic Black Sea port has reached the city center.
- Situation in Mariupol Dire, Residents Lack Food, Electricity, Sputnik Correspondent Reports Sputnik 18 Mar 2022 -- The situation in Mariupol is tense with residents lacking food and electricity and have to leave the city amid continued clashes in downtown, a Sputnik correspondent reported on Friday, adding that the main roads out of the city are blocked by barricades.
- Polish Border Guard Says More Than 2 Million Refugees Arrived From Ukraine RFE/RL 18 Mar 2022 -- Poland's Border Guard service says the number of refugees entering the country from Ukraine since Russia launched its unprovoked attack has crossed the 2 million mark, more than the population of the capital, Warsaw.
- Ukraine, Russia may agree on peace deal within week and half: Ukrainian presidential advisor People's Daily 18 Mar 2022 -- Ukrainian Presidential Advisor Mykhailo Podolyak said on Thursday it would take between a few days and a week and a half for Ukraine and Russia to reach a peace agreement, the Ukrainian online media outlet Liga.net reported.
- Putin, Erdogan discuss Russia-Turkey ties, Ukraine People's Daily 18 Mar 2022 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed bilateral cooperation and the Ukrainian crisis during a phone conversation on Thursday.
Defense Policy / Programs
Foreign Policy
- Telephone conversation with President of France Emmanuel Macron President of Russia 18 Mar 2022 -- Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron at the French side's initiative.
- Telephone conversation with Federal Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz President of Russia 18 Mar 2022 -- Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Olaf Scholz at the latter's initiative.
- Putin, Scholz hold phone talks over Ukraine situation People's Daily 18 Mar 2022 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday held a phone conversation with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, saying that Moscow is ready to search for solutions to the Russia-Ukraine conflict during negotiations with the Ukrainian side.
- German Leader Scholz Urges Putin To Call Cease-Fire In Ukraine During Phone Call RFE/RL 18 Mar 2022 -- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to order a halt to Moscow's attack on Ukraine so as to allow for a diplomatic solution to be reached while also avoiding a humanitarian catastrophe.
- Commerce Department Identifies Commercial and Private Aircraft Exported to Russia in Apparent Violation of U.S. Export Controls US Dept. of Commerce 18 Mar 2022 --Today, the U.S. Commerce Department, through its Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), publicly identified commercial and private aircraft that have flown into Russia in apparent violation of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR).
- Chinese FM urges US to reflect on its responsibility using a string of questions to respond to foreign media's pressure over the Ukraine crisis Global Times 18 Mar 2022 -- "As the initiator of the Ukraine crisis, why does the US not reflect on its and NATO's responsibility of causing the current security crisis in Europe? Why does it not rethink its hypocrisy in fanning the flames of the Ukraine crisis? Why doesn't the EU media rethink how the region has become a battlefield?" Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian asked in response to some foreign media's questions on China's stand on the Ukraine crisis.
- China's Xi calls for immediate end to Ukraine conflict in call with Biden Press TV 18 Mar 2022 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has told his American counterpart, Joe Biden, that the ongoing war in Ukraine has to end as soon as possible.
- Xi calls for end to Ukraine conflict in call with Biden Radio Free Asia 18 Mar 2022 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping told U.S. President Joe Biden during a video call on Friday that the war in Ukraine must be stopped and called for talks between NATO countries and Moscow, but made no mention of Russia's role in sparking the conflict.
- China Maintains Independent Stance on Ukraine Crisis as US Threatens Backlash for Supporting Russia Sputnik 18 Mar 2022 -- Beijing adheres to an independent position on the Ukrainian crisis, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Friday, commenting on Washington's threats to take action in event of China's support for Russia.
- Readout of President Joseph R. Biden Jr. Call with President Xi Jinping of the People's Republic of China The White House 18 Mar 2022
- Background Press Call by a Senior Administration Official on President Biden's Call with President Xi Jinping of China The White House 18 Mar 2022
- Biden Warns Xi About 'Consequences' Of Chinese Support For Russia's Ukraine War RFE/RL 18 Mar 2022 -- U.S. President Joe Biden has outlined to his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, the "consequences" of any support for Russia in its war against neighboring Ukraine, the White House said.
- In Call, Biden Warned Xi Not to Support Russia VOA 18 Mar 2022 -- U.S. President Joe Biden spoke to Xi Jinping on Friday, warning the Chinese leader not to provide material support to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a day after Biden's top diplomat acknowledged that Washington believed Beijing is willing to provide such support.
- China sends tough signal ahead of Xi-Biden talk to set firm position on bilateral ties, Ukraine issue Global Times 18 Mar 2022 -- Just hours before the phone call between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden on Friday, China, in a rare move, sent tough signals, stating it will never accept US threats and coercion over the Ukraine issue and vowing to make a strong response if the US takes measures harming China's legitimate interests.
- Exclusive: China never accepts US coercion on Ukraine, will take strong countermeasures if interests of Chinese companies, individuals violated Global Times 18 Mar 2022 -- An anonymous official told the Global Times that at the request of the US, Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden will hold a phone call to exchange views on China-US relations and the Ukraine situation; out of considerations of bilateral relations, promoting peace talks and urging the US to take right stance, China accepted the proposal.
- Xi stresses joint China-U.S. efforts for world peace, tranquility PLA Daily 18 Mar 2022 -- China and the United States must not only guide their relations forward along the right track, but also shoulder their share of international responsibilities and work for world peace and tranquility, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday.
- Xi Jinping: Countries should not come to the point of meeting on the battlefield. Conflict andconfrontation are not in anyone's interest. Peace and security are what the international community should treasure the most. PRC MofA 18 Mar 2022
- British Media Regulator Revokes Russian RT's Broadcasting License In U.K. RFE/RL 18 Mar 2022 -- Britain's media regulator, Ofcom, says it has revoked Russian-backed television channel RT's license to broadcast in the United Kingdom "with immediate effect."
- More Assertive Japan Stands Up to Russia Over Ukraine VOA 18 Mar 2022 -- Pallets loaded onto the Japanese Self-Defense Force cargo aircraft this month contained bulletproof vests, helmets, and other nonlethal military equipment - much different from the shoulder-fired missiles, drones, and other weapons many Western countries have sent to Ukrainians fighting Russia's invasion.
- Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's interview with RT, Moscow, March 18, 2022 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 18 Mar 2022
- Comment by Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Russia's approach in support of reviving the Iranian nuclear deal Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 18 Mar 2022
News Reports
- The Week In Russia: War And Warnings Of A Purge RFE/RL 18 Mar 2022 -- President Vladimir Putin sought to justify Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and the Kremlin's intense crackdown at home in an alarming, falsehood-filled address as civilian casualties mounted. A maverick protester on Russian state TV said Putin bore sole responsibility for the "fratricidal" conflict, and U.S. President Joe Biden called him a "war criminal."
- Homes Searched After Criticism Of Russian Governor's War Comments RFE/RL 18 Mar 2022 -- Police in Russia's northwestern city of Pskov have searched the homes of several politicians, activists, and journalists as part of a probe related to criticism of the regional governor's announcement of the deaths of soldiers from the area during the war against Ukraine.
- Russian State TV Cuts Putin's Speech Mid-Sentence, Kremlin Blames Technical Issue RFE/RL 18 Mar 2022 -- Russian state television channel Rossia-24 cut away from President Vladimir Putin in mid-sentence as he was delivering a speech to a huge crowd of Muscovites at the Luzhniki sports stadium in the Russian capital.
- Russian Media Regulator Claims Google Spreading Threats Via YouTube RFE/RL 18 Mar 2022 -- Russia's media regulator, Roskomnadzor, has demanded that Google stop the spread of videos on its YouTube platform that it says are "threatening Russian citizens."
- Russia Says YouTube Users Spreading 'Terrorist' Threats VOA 18 Mar 2022 -- Russian internet regulator Roskomnadzor has accused Google's YouTube of "spreading threats against citizens of the Russian Federation" in a statement released Friday.
- Putin Proposes Five-Year Extension Of Central Bank Chairwoman's Term RFE/RL 18 Mar 2022 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has submitted a proposal to the State Duma to nominate Elvira Nabiullina to serve another term as the head of the central bank of Russia.
- Russia's Gazprombank Launches Own Payment Service GazpromPay Sputnik 18 Mar 2022 -- Gazprombank has launched its own payment service GazpromPay in Russia, which allows users to pay in online stores with any bank card or get a virtual card, the bank said in a statement on Friday.
- Bulgaria Expels 10 Russian Diplomats, Baltics Follow Suit With Another 10 Expulsions RFE/RL 18 Mar 2022 -- Bulgaria is expelling 10 Russian diplomats saying they were carrying out activities deemed incompatible with their diplomatic status, a move followed up quickly by the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
- Ten Russian Diplomats Declared Personae Non Gratae in Bulgaria Sputnik 18 Mar 2022 -- Earlier in the week, Slovakia decided to expel three Russian diplomats on suspicion of espionage.
- US Sees No Letup in Russian Influence Operations VOA 18 Mar 2022 -- According to U.S. and Ukrainian officials, Moscow's efforts to win over the world with its accounts of events in Ukraine are doing no better than Russia's military forces inside Ukraine.
- Truth Will Seep Through, Russian Journalists Say VOA 18 Mar 2022 -- U.S. lawmakers warned this week that Russian President Vladimir Putin is seeking to eliminate a free press to prevent Russian media from reporting on the war in Ukraine.
- India Rebukes US for Warning Against Russian Oil Imports Sputnik 18 Mar 2022 -- India's public sector business Indian Oil has bought around 3 million barrels of crude oil after Russia offered a deep discount compared with Brent crude. White House press secretary Jen Psaki warned India that buying Russian oil would put the world's largest democracy on the wrong side of history.
- Russian Health Ministry Registers FMBA-Developed COVID-19 Vaccine Sputnik 18 Mar 2022 -- While other vaccines prompt an immune response against the coronavirus' S-protein, the new compound was said to develop antibodies against the N-protein. They usually appear in the natural immune response and provide better protection. The N-protein has less mutagen than the S-protein, which may increase the effectiveness of the new vaccine.
- Russia's Gamaleya Centre Applies for Registration of Nasal Vaccine Against COVID-19 Sputnik 18 Mar 2022 -- Russia's Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology has filed documents for the registration of a nasal version of its Sputnik V vaccine against COVID-19, the Russian Health Ministry said on Friday.
- 'Police intervention' cancels Ukrainian fundraising event in Hanoi Radio Free Asia 18 Mar 2022 -- Vietnamese police have prevented Ukrainians in Hanoi from holding a fundraiser on Saturday to help those affected by Russia's attacks on the Eastern European nation, organizers said.
- Support for Russia in Indonesia linked to anti-Western views, analyst says Radio Free Asia 18 Mar 2022 -- While some in Indonesia have condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine, many are voicing support for Moscow on social media, a phenomenon that one observer says is rooted in anti-Western sentiment and a love of "strong figures."
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
