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Ukraine Invasion
Defense Policy / Programs
Foreign Policy
News Reports

Ukraine Invasion

• The total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02.2022 to 15.03.2023 Ukraine MOD 15 Mar 2023
• Russia Keeps Up Pressure On Bakhmut As Ukraine Says It's Determined To Defend The City RFE/RL 15 Mar 2023 -- Russia kept up the intensity of its ceaseless assault on Bakhmut and continued to target civilian objectives, causing casualties, the Ukrainian military said on March 15, as President Volodymyr Zelenskiy vowed to keep defending the city in the eastern region of Donetsk and inflict maximum losses to the enemy.
• Russia's military and its defence industry are failing in Ukraine: UK statement to the OSCE UK FCDO 15 Mar 2023 -- UK military advisor, Ian Stubbs, says Russian military leaders have sacrificed military units and squandered strategic resources for small tactical gains.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Meeting with Vladislav Kuznetsov President of Russia 15 Mar 2023 -- Vladimir Putin met with Vladislav Kuznetsov, via videoconference. The President issued an executive order appointing Kuznetsov acting Governor of the Chukotka Autonomous Area after previously serving as first deputy head of the government of the Lugansk People's Republic.
• US, Russian Defense Chiefs Talk for First Time Since October VOA 15 Mar 2023 -- U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke to his Russian counterpart Wednesday concerning a Russian military intercept that resulted in the downing of a U.S. surveillance drone Tuesday over the Black Sea.
• Washington Says Drone Intercept Was Intentional As U.S., Russian Defense Ministers Hold Call RFE/RL 15 Mar 2023 -- U.S. military officials said on March 15 that the intercept of a U.S. spy drone over the Black Sea by Russian fighter jets was intentional and part of a pattern of "aggressive and unsafe" actions by Russian pilots in international airspace as Washington and Moscow ratcheted up their rhetoric over the incident.
• US warns Russia to operate military aircraft with caution Press TV 15 Mar 2023 -- US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has warned Moscow to operate its military aircraft with caution after Washington accused one of Russia's jets of allegedly downing an American military drone in international airspace.
• Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Phone Call With Russian Minister of Defense Sergey Shoygu DoD 15 Mar 2023
• After drone incident, Russia vows to retaliate against 'all US provocations' Press TV 15 Mar 2023 -- Hot on the heels of the crashing of a US spy drone near the Russian territory in the Black Sea, Russia warns the United States that it will retaliate "proportionately" to all future American provocations.
• Russia calls on US to halt 'hostile' flights after incident Press TV 15 Mar 2023 -- Russia's ambassador to the United States says the US military's "unacceptable actions" close to Russian territory are "a cause for concern," urging Washington to stop "hostile" flights near the country's borders.
• U.S. surveillance drone crashes into Black Sea after its own sharp maneuvers: Russian Defense Ministry People's Daily 15 Mar 2023 -- The Russian Defense Ministry said Tuesday that a U.S. MQ-9 drone fell into the Black Sea due to its own sharp maneuvering.
• Russian Defense Ministry: Flights of US Global Hawk Drones Near Crimea Create Ground for Escalation Sputnik 15 Mar 2023 -- Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Wednesday during a phone conversation with his US counterpart, Lloyd Austin, that the flights of US strategic drones Global Hawk off the coast of Crimea were creating the preconditions for an escalation, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.
• RAF and German Air Force Typhoons intercept Russian aircraft in first joint NATO air policing scramble UK MOD 15 Mar 2023 -- The British and German fighters escorted a Russian IL78 Midas air-to-air refuelling aircraft, which was not responding to communications, near Estonian airspace
• China, Iran, Russia hold joint naval drills in Gulf of Oman, safeguarding maritime security Global Times 15 Mar 2023 -- The navies of China, Iran and Russia are holding a joint maritime exercise starting Wednesday in a move to enhance cooperation as well as to safeguard maritime security and regional peace.
• China, Iran, Russia starting joint drills in Sea of Oman IRNA 15 Mar 2023 -- China, Iran and Russia are to launch four days of joint drills in the Sea of Oman starting on March 15, according to a statement from China's Ministry of National Defense.
• Iran, Russia, China kick off joint naval drills in Sea of Oman ISNA 15 Mar 2023 -- The naval forces of China, Russia and Iran kicked off joint naval drills in the waters of the Sea of Oman.
• Iran, China and Russia kick off naval drills in Sea of Oman Press TV 15 Mar 2023 -- The naval forces of Iran, China and Russia have started a joint exercise in the Sea of Oman, as the three countries are teaming up to deepen exchanges and cooperation among their navies.
• Expanded meeting of the Prosecutor General's Office Board President of Russia 15 Mar 2023 -- The President spoke at an expanded meeting of the Russian Federation Prosecutor General's Office Board.

Foreign Policy

• Press release on the Russian Foreign Ministry and the Russian Finance Ministry's initiative to suspend double taxation avoidance agreements with unfriendly countries Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 15 Mar 2023
• Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's answers to questions from the Moscow.Kremlin.Putin TV show, March 15, 2023 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 15 Mar 2023
• Relations with US in 'lamentable state,' says Russia, after drone incident Press TV 15 Mar 2023 -- The diplomatic relations between Russia and the United States have plunged into a "lamentable state" amid a row between the two countries over a drone incident, Moscow says.
• Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's opening remarks at a meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Syrian Arab Republic Faisal Mekdad, Moscow, March 15, 2023 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 15 Mar 2023
• Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Syrian Arab Republic Faisal Mekdad Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 15 Mar 2023
• Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova's answer to a media question in connection with annulment of the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges with Iran Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 15 Mar 2023
• Meeting with President of Syria Bashar al-Assad President of Russia 15 Mar 2023 -- Vladimir Putin met with President of the Syrian Arab Republic Bashar al-Assad in the Kremlin.
• Syria's Assad says his visit to Moscow heralds 'new stage' in bilateral relations Press TV 15 Mar 2023 -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who is in Moscow on an official visit, has told his Russian counterpart that the trip heralds a new stage in Syria-Russia relations.

News Reports

• Putin alleges U.S. behind "terrorist attack" on Nord Stream pipelines People's Daily 15 Mar 2023 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday said the theory that Ukrainian activists were involved in the Nord Stream pipelines blast last year is "complete nonsense," alleging the United States is behind what he called a "terrorist attack."
• Bulgarian Ex-Lawmaker Accused Of Spying For Russia Elected Chief Of Moscow-Backed Group RFE/RL 15 Mar 2023 -- A former Bulgarian lawmaker accused of spying for Russia and sanctioned by the United States for corruption has been elected head of the International Movement of Russophiles (MDR) -- a group backed by Russia's Foreign Ministry purporting to gather members from 40 countries.