Moscow to decide on military presence in Syria depending on Damascus’ position

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said his country has two military bases in Syria.

MOSCOW, June 30. /TASS/. A decision on the Russian military presence in Syria after the end of the war on terror on its territory will be made proceeding from Damascus’s position, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said in an interview with the Israeli TV and Radio Broadcasting Company Kan on Saturday.

"When the war on terror is over and when there is no need to help Syrians in the fight against terrorism, we will be oriented to the decision of the sovereign state represented by its government: whether we are needed or whether our mission is over and the Syrian people and the Syrian leadership do not need such support," the senior Russian diplomat said.

Russia responded to the request of the Syrian authorities for help in the struggle against terrorism three years ago, Bogdanov said.

Under an inter-governmental agreement on military presence, Russia has two military bases on the territory of the Arab republic: the Tartus naval logistics center and the Hmeymim airbase near Latakia.

Source: ITAR-TASS 30-06-2018

Russia, Belarus, Serbia successfully conclude paratroopers’ anti-terror drills

During the drills, paratroopers practiced special operations to set up and employ a coalition tactical group to accomplish peacekeeping and counter-terror missions.

KRASNODAR, June 28. /TASS/. The Russian-Belarusian-Serbian drills dubbed Slavic Broterthood-2018 and held at the Rayevsky practice range near Novorossiysk in the southern Krasnodar Region on June 18-28 have been successfully concluded, the press office of Russia’s Defense Ministry said on Thursday.

"The drills have been held successfully. The missions assigned to the Russian-Belarusian-Serbian tactical group have been accomplished in full. The command of the contingents of the participating countries, and also military attaches from 42 countries invited as observers to the concluding stage of the maneuvers highly assessed the level of the group’s operations against simulated terrorists," the Defense Ministry spokesman said.

During the drills, paratroopers from the three countries practiced special operations to set up and employ a coalition tactical group to accomplish peacekeeping and counter-terror missions. It was reported earlier that the drills practiced eliminating terrorists who had seized border territories and liberating hostages.

As the Russian Defense Ministry noted, for the first time ever, the Slavic Brotherhood drills were carried out on a scale of regiment maneuvers that became the largest international military exercises of Russia’s Airborne Forces in 2018.

During the drills, Russia was represented by the reinforced battalion of the Kuban Cossack air assault regiment of the Airborne Force (700 paratroopers). Belarus involved over 250 servicemen of the Special Operations Forces while Serbia’s Special Brigade was represented by about 50 paratroopers.

Also, Russia’s forces in the drills involved units of frontline and army aviation of the Air Force and Air Defense troops of the Southern Military District and Il-76MD military and transport planes of Russia’s Aerospace Force.

For the first time ever, Russia involved the latest military hardware in the drills: BMD-4M airborne assault vehicles, Rakushka air-droppable armored personnel carriers, Rys armored vehicles, T-72B tanks and Infauna electronic warfare vehicles operational in Russia’s Airborne Force, and also Aistyonok radar stations.

Source: ITAR-TASS 29-06-2018

Lavrov and Pompeo may meet in coming weeks

Earlier, US National Security Adviser John Bolton said this meeting could be held ahead of the Russian-US summit.

MOSCOW, June 28. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo may meet in the coming two weeks, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov told reporters on Thursday.

"The meeting is being worked out, we understand the difficulties for the sides to find spare windows in the top diplomats’ schedules," Ryabkov said. "We made the proposals and we are waiting for an answer."

Speaking on whether this meeting may be held in early July, the deputy minister said there is little time left. "The meeting will take place in the coming two weeks," he said.

Earlier, US National Security Adviser John Bolton said this meeting could be held ahead of the Russian-US summit. Moscow and Washington are expected to simultaneously announce the date and the venue of the meeting between Russian and US Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump on Thursday.

It is reported that the meeting will take place in Helsinki.

Source: ITAR-TASS 28-06-2018

UK hasn’t presented any hard evidence for Skripal case — Russian embassy

London is trying to impose its opinion on the OPC Weapons, the embassy said

MOSCOW, June 27. /TASS/. London hasn’t presented any hard evidence for the Skripals case and is trying to impose its opinion on the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the Russian Embassy to the Netherlands said on Wednesday.

""Deception" is perhaps the word of a day. Has the UK presented any hard evidence for the so-called "Skripals case"? No. They embroiled their allies in the blatant campaign against Russia. Now they try to drag the #OPCW in their games at the 4th special session of the CSP (the Conference of the States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention)," the Embassy tweeted.

On April 12, the OPCW published its conclusions on the investigation into the incident in Salisbury, where former Russian military intelligence officer and British mole Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned in March. The report confirmed the information about the toxic agent but shed no light on its origin.

Although the OPCW did not publish the full version of the report, the UK came up with the claims the organization had confirmed the Skripals’ exposure to a Novichok class agent developed in the Soviet Union. Moscow earlier rejected all of the UK’s accusations, saying that a program aimed at developing such a substance had existed neither in the Soviet Union nor in Russia.

On Tuesday, the UK circulated a draft resolution on empowering the OPCW to apportion blame for chemical weapons incidents. The heads of the Russian, Iranian and Syrian delegations demanded a discussion on the issue and postponing the voting on it for 24 hours.

Source: ITAR-TASS 27-06-2018

Russian heavy-lift helicopter equipped with upgraded defensive aids suit enters trials

The defensive aids suit will be capable of shielding helicopters from any existing or future air defense weapons produced abroad, according to Russia's Defense Ministry.

MOSCOW, June 26. /TASS/. The Mi-26 (NATO reporting name: Halo) heavy-lift helicopter furnished with the Vitebsk defensive aids suit has been delivered to the State Flight Testing Center of Russia’s Defense Ministry in Akhtubinsk for trials, the Mil Helicopter Plant said in its annual report on Tuesday.

"For the purpose of raising the combat survivability of Mi-26 helicopters and considering the positive results of the defensive aids suit held earlier, and also in view of the upgrade of the Vitebsk defensive aids suit by way of replacing the gas laser with the solid-propellant version, the Defense Ministry of Russia has made a decision … on the procedure of arranging work for equipping serial-produced Mi-26 helicopters with the Vitebsk defensive aids suits," the annual report says.

"In 2017, the following work was carried out: the Mi-26 helicopter furnished with the Vitebsk defensive aids suit was transferred to military unit 15650 [the State Flight Testing Center of Russia’s Defense Ministry] for control flight tests," the document says.

As Russia’s Defense Ministry reported earlier, the defensive aids suit will be capable of shielding helicopters from any existing or future air defense weapons produced abroad.

Source: ITAR-TASS 26-06-2018

Defense Ministry says 11 aircraft returned to Russia from Syria over past week

Flight officers and technicians have likewise returned from Syria.

MOSCOW, June 23. /TASS/. The Russian Defense Ministry has reported that eleven aircraft had returned to their permanent bases in Russia from Syria over the past week.

"Russian warplanes flew on their own, while army aviation helicopters were transported by military-transport aircraft," the ministry said. Flight officers and technicians who were responsible for the maintenance and repair of the Russian aviation equipment at Hmeymim airfield have likewise returned to their permanent bases from Syria, the Russian Defense Ministry added.

Source: ITAR-TASS 25-06-2018

Anti-drone radar shield protects Russia’s major cities — Aerospace Forces

ASHULUK TRAINING RANGE /Astrakhan Region/, June 24. /TASS/. A radar shield to detect low-flying targets, such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), has been put into operation above all major Russian cities, a senior Russian military official has told TASS.

"At present, we have a low-altitude radar field in operation above all major Russian cities," said Maj. Gen. Andrei Koban, the commander of the Radio-Technical Troops of the Russian Aerospace Forces.

"We are focused on re-arming the troops with advanced systems and automated control equipment, [with] systems that can control the airspace in the automated mode," he said. "This goal has already been reached in the Moscow zone."

Another priority area is creating a radar network to control airspace in Russia’s Arctic zone, Koban added.

Source: ITAR-TASS 24-06-2018

Risk of nuclear weapons use still as high as during Cold War, Russian expert says

On June 22, 1973 Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev and US President Richard Nixon signed the Prevention of Nuclear War Agreement.

MOSCOW, June 22. /TASS/. The risk of nuclear weapons use is still as high as it was in the years of confrontation between the Soviet Union and the United States, Andrei Bystritsky, the Chairman of the Board of the Valdai International Discussion Club’s Development and Support Foundation, told TASS in connection with the 45th anniversary of the signing of the Prevention of Nuclear War Agreement.

Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev and US President Richard Nixon signed the document in Washington on June 22, 1973. The agreement particularly says that the parties "agree that an objective of their policies is to remove the danger of nuclear war and of the use of nuclear weapons."

According to Bystritsky, the nuclear threat has not increased since then but it hasn’t subsided either. "I think that the overall risk level remains high - the risk that some optional methods of using nuclear weapons may be employed accidentally." "At the same time, [given the emergence of new nuclear powers] some proportions of the nuclear threat have changed," he added.

The expert pointed out that it was the reason why the agreement had continuing relevance. "As long as there are nuclear weapons, all agreements that concern nuclear arms will remain relevant, for we should not underestimate this great threat," Bystritsky said. Meanwhile, in his words, the threat of global nuclear conflict did have some positive aspects as nuclear weapons are a most important tool to maintain global peace. "By creating a greater threat, it [the risk of nuclear weapons use] removed smaller threats which, however, posed no less danger," the expert explained.

When speaking about the prospects for the development of international agreements on reducing the risk of a nuclear conflict, Bystritsky noted that the idea of abandoning all global weapons sounds tempting but there was a need to be cautious about its implementation. "It would definitely be better if there was no chance at all that the humankind will be wiped out in an instant. However, this threat makes it possible to deter many other risks, so it is a matter of details," he said.

"The idea of disarmament is not losing its appeal but in the modern world we must treat it cautiously," the expert concluded.

Source: ITAR-TASS 23-06-2018

Putin lays wreath by the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Remembrance Day

June 22, the day when Nazi Germany attacked the Soviet Union, is marked across Russia as Day of Remembrance and Sorrow.

MOSCOW, June 22. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has laid a wreath by the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Kremlin Wall to pay homage to the Soviet military who perished during the Great Patriotic War that Russia fought against Nazi Germany in 1941-1945.

June 22, the day when Nazi Germany attacked the Soviet Union, is marked across Russia as Day of Remembrance and Sorrow. Also taking part in the ceremony were war veterans, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and Cabinet ministers, the leadership of the presidential administration, parliamentarians from the upper and lower houses of the Russian parliament, top military leadership, representatives of the main confessions and cadets.

Soldiers from the Guard of Honor positioned the wreath with a tricolor ribbon the signature on which reads "To the Unknown Soldier from the president of the Russian Federation".

Putin arranged the ribbons and bowed in memory of the war victims. Then, other participants in the ceremony also put flowers by the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The remembrance event continued with a military band playing a march. At the end of the ceremony, Putin laid flowers on the Alley of Hero Cities.

Nazi Germany attacked the Soviet Union in the small hours of June 22, 1941 without a declaration of war. Thousands of Red Army military and civilians were killed on the very first day of the war, and a total of 1,200 planes, tanks and artillery weapons were destroyed.

The remains of an unknown Soviet soldier were relocated to the Kremlin Wall from a mass grave outside Moscow in 1966. A memorial was opened there the following year, its key element being the Eternal Flame. The Guard of Honor at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was deployed in 1997.

Source: ITAR-TASS 22-06-2018

Moscow vows tit-for-tat measures against Washington will stay in place

Moscow has to react to unfriendly moves, the Russian diplomat stressed.

SAMARA, June 20. /TASS/. Moscow will continue retaliating to unfriendly actions by the US if its administraiton takes new steps to further escalate the situation, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters on Wednesday.

"We repeatedly hear complaints from American over the shortage of [diplomatic] personnel. This is their explanation to the substantially growing difficulties in obtaining American visas in Russia," Zakharova said, adding that people have to wait nine months for a visa interview. "It was the US decision to expose exactly the consular section, and this choice was obviously intentional to create an atmosphere of discontent, including among the Russian nationals," the spokeswoman added.

"We had to retaliate with tit-for-tat measures to a new unfounded decision by the American authorities of March 26, 2018 - an expulsion of 60 Russian diplomats (over the Salisbury poisoning). This is how things will also be in the future - the Russian leadership has repeatedly said this - in case of Washington’s new escalation in relations," she stressed.

"This is not our choice. Unfortunately, we have to react to unfriendly moves," the diplomat added. "We, for our part, are ready to discuss with Americans the issues of mutual concern as a whole, we have repeatedly urged them to this," Zakharova added.

She reiterated that on December 29, 2016, the US Department of State notified Russia of its decision to declare 35 Russian diplomats personae non grata without giving any reasons. "Despite the generally accepted in these cases action on the principle of full reciprocity, the Russian side refrained from responding for seven months, though we were not even allowed to fill in the vacancies," she said.

"Only after the US Congress passed a law on July 27, 2017, officially declaring Russia an enemy, we had to equal the numbers of diplomatic personnel, however giving the US side advantages," she said. Russia included the staff at its mission in the UN, though it has nothing to do with bilateral relations.

On March 4, former Russian intelligence officer convicted for spying for the United Kingdom, Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, were allegedly poisoned with a nerve agent, according to British investigators. Later, London stated that this agent was designed in Russia and blamed Moscow for being behind the incident based on this assumption. The Russian side refuted all accusations, saying that neither the Soviet Union nor Russia had any programs for developing this agent.

In late March, the US declared it was expelling 48 Russian diplomats and another twelve diplomats of Russia’s permanent mission at the UN office in New York over the poisoning of Skripal in Britain.

Source: ITAR-TASS 21-06-2018

Russia concerned about growing number of civilian deaths in Donbass

The number of civilian deaths in Ukraine grew by 11% from February 16 to May 15, 2018, according to the United Nations

MOSCOW, June 20. /TASS/. Moscow is concerned about the growing number of civilian deaths in Donbass caused by the use of multiple-launch rocket systems, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday, commenting on a report issued by the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine.

"We are concerned to know that the number of civilian deaths in Ukraine grew by 11% during the reporting period [from February 16 to May 15, 2018 - TASS]: 19 people were killed and 62 suffered wounds," the statement reads. "The main reason behind civilian deaths is the shelling of civilian facilities involving multiple-launch rocket systems, which causes particular concern," the Russian Foreign Ministry added.

The statement also points to the unacceptable mine planting in Donbass, which also leads to civilian casualties, as well as to the shelling of civilian facilities. "Due to the interrupted operations of water filtration and electricity stations, more than 500,000 residents of Donetsk regularly lose access to drinking water and electricity and are deprived of heating, which brings the region on the brink of an environmental disaster," the ministry noted.

On Wednesday, Head of the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine Fiona Fraser presented a report about the human rights situation in the country, which covers the period from February 16 to May 15. Fraser said that civilians mostly die in shelling attacks which involve heavy and light artillery and small arms that continue to be used in breach of the Minsk Agreements.

Source: ITAR-TASS 20-06-2018

Russia opened up to West, but was deceived, diplomat says

All what Russia wants from Europe is to cooperate, "to develop economy, trade and cultural ties," Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

HELSINKI, June 19. /TASS/. By the end of the Cold War Russia fully opened up to the Western countries, but they deceived it, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Finland’s Hufvudstadsbladet newspaper on Tuesday.

"We fully opened up to the West, but not because we were defeated. We did that ourselves, no one invaded us," the diplomat said.

Last Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, the architect of the perestroika program, "just wanted to end the arms race," she noted. "He wanted to end the Cold War. And so we opened up and were deceived. You responded by fencing us off with a barbed wire."

All what Russia wants from Europe is to cooperate, "to develop economy, trade and cultural ties," according to Zakharova. "We want to freely go to each other’s countries, and we want to get rid of a necessity to obtain visas. But they always snub us," she noted.

"This is like [the story] with Russian submarines in Sweden: everyone knows that they are [there], but no one has seen them. A month later when all Swedish people were frightened, mass media write a small piece that what they had taken for a submarine was something else," Zakharova said.

Source: ITAR-TASS 19-06-2018

Cruise missile corvettes to join Russia’s Mediterranean taskforce

The warships are expected to join the Russian Navy’s permanent blue-water taskforce by the end of the day and "start performing assigned missions".

MOSCOW, June 18. /TASS/. Two corvettes armed with Kalibr-NK cruise missiles will join the Russian Navy’s permanent Mediterranean taskforce, the Black Sea Fleet’s press office reported on Monday.

"The Caspian Flotilla’s small missile ships Grad Sviyazhsk and Veliky Ustyug are making a planned transition from Sevastopol to the Mediterranean Sea. Currently, the warships’ crews have completed their passage through the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles Straits," the Black Sea Fleet’s press office reported.

The warships are expected to join the Russian Navy’s permanent blue-water taskforce by the end of the day and "start performing assigned missions," the press office added.

As of now, Russia has built five Project 21631 Buyan-M-class corvettes. Three of them are operational in the Caspian Flotilla and two in the Baltic Fleet. The warships of this class feature a greater displacement and are outfitted with the most advanced long-range precision weapons - the Kalibr-NK missiles designed to hit naval and coastal targets.

Source: ITAR-TASS 18-06-2018

Russian MP Poklonskaya invites Trump to visit Crimea

According to Poklonskaya, after this trip Trump "would show the whole world that he is an independent and decent politician".

MOSCOW, June 15. /TASS/. Russian lawmaker and former Prosecutor of Crimea Natalya Poklonskaya has invited US President Donald Trump to visit the Black Sea Peninsula.

Earlier, US media reports said citing sources that Trump told G7 leaders at a summit in Canada’s Quebec that "Crimea is part of Russia because everyone there speaks Russian." The White House has neither confirmed nor denied the report.

"It turns out that US politicians are far away from their President Donald Trump and the generally recognized principles of law and justice," Poklonskaya said, according to her press service.

"Today they are afraid of commenting on their president’s statement about Crimea, namely that Crimea is Russia’s territory. This is an obvious thing and making a sensation or pretending to be deaf and mute is the reaction of cowards," the MP noted.

"We invite US President Donald Trump to visit Crimea where he would make sure that his statement was right," Poklonskaya stressed. According to the lawmaker, after this trip Trump "would show the whole world that he is an independent and decent politician and the first person in America who knows what the words "democracy," "justice" and "courage" mean."

According to the BuzzFeed news website, during the dinner Trump reportedly asked why the G7 leaders were siding with Ukraine. The US president said that "Ukraine is one of the most corrupt countries in the world," the source said.

The Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol, a city with a special status on the Crimean Peninsula, where most residents are Russians, refused to recognize the legitimacy of the authorities in Kiev who seized power amid riots during a coup in Ukraine in February 2014.

Crimea and Sevastopol adopted declarations of independence on March 11, 2014. They held a referendum on March 16, 2014, in which 96.77% of Crimeans and 95.6% of Sevastopol voters chose to secede from Ukraine and join Russia. The Russian president signed the reunification deals on March 18, 2014. Despite the convincing results of the referendum, Kiev refused to recognize Crimea as part of Russia.

Source: ITAR-TASS 17-06-2018

Five people taken to hospital after taxi cab drove into crowd in central Moscow

As reported earlier a taxi cab bumped into a road sign on Ilyinka Street.

MOSCOW, June 16. /TASS/. Five people have been taken to hospital after a taxi cab drove into a crowd of pedestrians near Gostiny Dvor in central Moscow, a source in the city’s emergencies services told TASS.

"Five people hurt in the accident have been taken to hospital," he said.

As reported earlier a taxi cab bumped into a road sign on Ilyinka Street, after which it drove into a crowd of people. According to preliminary estimates, seven people sought medical treatment. "A taxi cab bumped into a road sign close to house number 4 on Ilyinka Street, after which it drove into a crowd of people. According to preliminary estimates, seven people were injured," the source in the city’s emergencies services told TASS.

Source: ITAR-TASS 16-06-2018

Kremlin stresses Minsk accords should be implemented

The Kremlin believes that the Ukrainian issue can only be resolved by complying with the Minsk agreements.

MOSCOW, June 15. /TASS/. The Kremlin believes that the Ukrainian issue can only be resolved by complying with the Minsk agreements, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said commenting on remarks by Acting Foreign Minister of the self-proclaimed Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR) Vladislav Deinego who said LPR can remain part of Ukraine if it is a federation or a confederation.

"We believe the implementation of the well-known provisions of the Minsk agreements can and should be a step forward in promoting the settlement in Ukraine," the Kremlin spokesman said.

Source: ITAR-TASS 15-06-2018

Russian government approves bill to raise retirement age

The government proposes to gradually increase the retirement age to 65 for men and 63 for women.

MOSCOW, June 14. /TASS/. The Russian government approved on Thursday a bill on gradual increase of the retirement age to 65 years for men and 63 years for women, Presidential aide Andrey Belousov said on Thursday after the government meeting.

Currently, the retirement age for men and women is 60 and 55 years, respectively. According to Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, the bill "proposes to introduce a sufficiently long transition period - to start from 2019 to gradually reach retirement age of 65 for men in 2028 and 63 years for women in 2034."

After the Government approval, the bill will be submitted to the State Duma for consideration.

Medvedev noted earlier that the current terms of retirement in Russia were set in the middle of last century and remained at the same level, despite growth of life expectancy and the changing conditions of life and work. "We have been preparing for raising the retirement age for a long time, and we have approached this just now because conditions have been created to solve the task of increasing life expectancy within the framework of the 80+ program," Medvedev said.

He noted that now people do not just live longer, but also stay active longer, adding that almost all countries have already raised the retirement age, including in the post-Soviet space.

According to Medvedev, increasing the retirement age does not affect the current pensioners, which includes around 46.5 million people. They will continue to receive all previously assigned retirement payments and social benefits according to the previously established regime.

Source: ITAR-TASS 14-06-2018

Russia abides by international norms, never imposes its will on anyone - ambassador

Antonov noted that June 12 is "a date that marks the beginning of radical changes," when the country "had to find its own path towards a new political and economic pattern"

WASHINGTON, June 13. /TASS/. Russia is a responsible participant in international life, it does not impose its will or values on anyone and abides by the generally accepted norms, Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov said on Tuesday at a reception at the Russian Embassy on the occasion of Russia Day.

"Russia is an influential and responsible participant in international life. We impose neither our will or values on anyone strictly abiding by international law norms," he said. The ambassador also noted that Moscow’s objectives are clear, they include "the security of the borders and the creation of favorable external conditions for solving the pressing internal problems."

Antonov noted that June 12 is "a date that marks the beginning of radical changes," when the country "had to find its own path towards a new political and economic pattern." "It took colossal effort to go through that difficult period, defending state sovereignty, preserving our own values and strengthening the internal solidarity of the nation," he recalled.

"Russia has been able to cope with the complex challenges. In spite of difficult foreign and economic policy conditions, we have been able to ensure our country’s stable and steady development and create conditions for moving forward confidently," the ambassador stressed.

Antonov also mentioned that Russia would host the 2018 FIFA World Cup between June 14 and July 15, adding that, according to FIFA, US fans are second to none in terms of the number of tickets purchased by foreigners. "We hope that everyone coming to Russia will have unforgettable impressions not only from the tournament but also from getting to know our rich culture, history and natural attractions," he concluded.

Source: ITAR-TASS 13-06-2018

Russia to celebrate national holiday

The declaration of Russia’s sovereignty was passed by the parliament on that day 28 years ago.

MOSCOW, June 12. /TASS/. Russia is celebrating its national holiday, the Russia Day, on Tuesday. The declaration of Russia’s sovereignty was passed by the parliament of the RSFSR on June 12, 1990, 28 years ago. The day was later announced as the national holiday by the presidential decree. The official name, the Russia Day, was given to the holiday in 2002.

The capital and regions will present holiday programs for the Russia Day, dedicated to hospitality and forthcoming World Cup, stage concerts and various events.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold the ceremony of State Awards granting and participate in the official function coinciding with the Russia Day on Tuesday, press service of the Kremlin said.

Source: ITAR-TASS 12-06-2018

German top diplomat expects complicated Normandy Four ministerial talks in Berlin

"The resumption of talks is going to be tough," Heiko Maas said.

BERLIN, June 10. /TASS/. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas expects the upcoming meeting of foreign ministers from Normandy Four countries (Russia, Germany, France and Ukraine) to be difficult.

"The very fact of resuming our meeting after a 16-month pause is a success itself," Maas said in an interview with Germany’s Bild newspaper, published on Sunday. "The implementation of the Minsk agreements has been delayed for too long, at the expense of eastern Ukrainian residents, who just want peace, and nothing else."

"The resumption of talks is going to be tough," the minister went on, adding that Moscow and Kiev had different approaches and goals.

"We need to try everything in order to achieve a sustainable ceasefire, to withdraw heawy weaponry [from the disengagement line] and to improve the humanitarian situation in Donbass," Maas said. "We also need to discuss the UN mission [to Donbass]."

The top diplomats of Russia, Germany, France and Ukraine will meet on Monday at the Villa Borsig estate on the outskirts of Berlin. The meeting is scheduled for 18:30 local time (19:30 Moscow time).

Source: ITAR-TASS 11-06-2018

Russia’s new robotic vehicle helps Strategic Missile Force clear mines in tactical drills

The vehicle disables and blocks electronic components of detonators or blows them up.

MOSCOW, June 9. /TASS/. Servicemen of a Novosibirsk-based missile formation of Russia’s Strategic Missile Force have used the Listva remote-controlled robotic mine-clearing vehicle for the first time in tactical drills, the Defense Ministry of Russia reported on Saturday.

"The Novosibirsk missile formation used the newest Listva remote-controlled mine-clearing vehicle to escort Yars road-mobile missile complexes along the routes of combat patrolling," the Defense Ministry said, adding that the most advanced mine-clearing vehicle had been used only in military exercises before that.

According to the tactical drills’ scenario, notional subversion groups planted ten remote-controlled explosives along the route of the column’s movement. The roadside bombs were intended to be detonated but were detected by the vehicle’s emitters. The explosives were blown up before the column of Yars missile complexes started its movement and all the planted bombs were destroyed. The Yars complexes stayed at a large distance from the explosions.

The robotic mine-clearing vehicle destroyed the explosives both on the roadside and at a distance of 50 meters from the road.

As Russia’s Defense Ministry also reported, more than 300 pieces of engineering hardware are scheduled for delivery to the engineering units of Russia’s Strategic Missile Force by 2020. These include obstacle-clearing vehicles, heavy mechanized bridges, excavators, automobile cranes and other engineering equipment. Wheeled road vehicles designed specially for Russia’s Strategic Missile Force this year will account for over 50% of all engineering hardware.

The Listva remote-controlled mine-clearing vehicle developed specially for the Strategic Missile Force is designed to detect mines and explosives with metal elements and destroy engineer explosive items and improvised explosive devices with electronic components. Explosive devices are detected with the use of an induction wide-span search module.

The Listva clears mines and explosives using electromagnetic radiation. The vehicle disables and blocks electronic components of detonators or blows them up. Earlier, this technology was not used for eliminating explosives at a distance. The Listva’s electronics can detect mines and roadside bombs at a distance of up to 100 meters.

Source: ITAR-TASS 10-06-2018

Putin demands release of Russian journalists arrested in Ukraine

On May 15, the Ukrainian Security Service carried out a large-scale operation against RIA Novosti Ukraine staff members, accusing them of high treason.

MOSCOW, June 9. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin in a telephone call with his Ukrainian counterpart Pyotr Poroshenko demanded the immediate release of Russian journalists arrested in Ukraine, the Kremlin press service said in a statement.

"Particular attention was paid to humanitarian issues, including the exchange of detainees," the statement reads. "Vladimir Putin emphasized the need to immediately release Russian journalists arrested in Ukraine," the Kremlin press service said, adding that "an agreement was made that both countries’ Russian and Ukrainian human rights ombudspersons would visit Russian citizens who remain in custody in Ukraine and Ukrainian citizens detained in Russia," the statement adds.

The telephone call was initiated by Kiev.

Vyshinsky case

On May 15, the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) carried out a large-scale operation against RIA Novosti Ukraine staff members, accusing them of high treason. The news agency’s Chief Editor Kirill Vyshinsky was detained. Searches were conducted in the news agency’s Kiev office and press center, as well as in some journalists’ apartments. The SBU also issued a statement claiming that "a network of media structures, which Moscow used for carrying out a hybrid war" against Kiev had been exposed.

The journalist was taken to the city of Kherson, where the city court arrested him for 60 days. The high treason charge against him is particularly based on a number of the journalist’s articles dedicated to the 2014 events in Crimea. If found guilty, the journalist may face up to 15 years in prison.

Vyshinsky, originally a Ukrainian national, obtained Russian citizenship in 2015. Vyshinsky addressed Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko from the courtroom, renouncing his Ukrainian citizenship and saying he considered himself to be only a Russian national. He also addressed Russian President Vladimir Putin, asking for legal assistance in his release.

Sentsov and others

At the Contact Group’s recent Minsk meeting, Ukrainian Presidential Envoy for the Peaceful Settlement of the Situation in the Donetsk and Lugansk Regions Irina Gerashchenko presented a list of 23 Russians to be handed over to Moscow in exchange for Ukrainian citizens convicted in Russia. She said that Kiev was ready to hand over 23 Russians convicted in Ukraine in exchange for Oleg Sentsov, Alexander Kolchenko, Stanislav Klykh and Pavel Grib.

On August 25, 2015, Russia’s North Caucasus District Military Court sentenced Oleg Sentsov to 20 years in prison on charges of establishing a terrorist group in Crimea. In the spring of 2014, the group’s members carried two terrorist attacks in the Crimean city of Simferopol, setting on fire the offices of Crimea’s Russian Community organization and the United Russia party’s Crimean branch.

Source: ITAR-TASS 09-06-2018

Putin notes rapid development of relations at meeting with Chinese premier

The Russian president stressed that the governments of Russia and China contributed to the successful development of economic ties between Moscow and Beijing.

BEIJING, June 8. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin expects to discuss cooperation between Moscow and Beijing in a multilateral format, as well as bilateral cooperation, with China’s administration. The Russian leader noted rapid development of relations at a meeting with Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China Li Keqiang.

"I am glad to take part in a new meeting and glad that I have a chance to discuss our cooperation in the multilateral format and within the SCO [Shanghai Cooperation Organization - TASS], along with bilateral cooperation, with our friends, China’s administration. We will take advantage of it during my official visit," Putin said at the meeting with Li Keqiang.

The Russian president stressed that the governments of Russia and China contributed to the successful development of economic ties between Moscow and Beijing.

"We are gaining pace, which is pleasing, and we are looking for more new spheres of cooperation. I am glad to meet with you today and discuss all areas of our cooperation," Putin said.

Source: ITAR-TASS 08-06-2018

Some 2,500 Russian troops to take part in post-Soviet security bloc’s drills in Kyrgyzstan

During the maneuvers, the CSTO Collective Rapid Reaction Forces will practice measures to localize an armed conflict in the Central Asian region of the organization’s collective security.

MOSCOW, June 7. /TASS/. About 2,500 troops and more than 500 pieces of military hardware from Russia’s Central Military District will be involved in the Interaction-2018 drills of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in Kyrgyzstan in mid-October, the District’s press office reported on Thursday.

"Following the round of staff negotiations of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan that were held in Bishkek, a decision was made that the Interaction-2018 drills will involve about 2,500 Russian servicemen and more than 500 items of military hardware, including aviation and unmanned aerial vehicles," the press office reported.

"The drills will be directed by Central Military District Commander Lieutenant-General Alexander Lapin," the press office said.

During the maneuvers, the CSTO Collective Rapid Reaction Forces will practice measures to localize an armed conflict in the Central Asian region of the organization’s collective security.

As TASS reported earlier, the CSTO’s joint drills dubbed Interaction will be held at the Edelveis practice range in Kyrgyzstan this year, with their active phase scheduled for October 10-13.

Source: ITAR-TASS 07-06-2018

Le Pen says Putin’s visit to Austria sign of Europe’s liberation

Putin paid a one-day visit to Austria on June 5.

MOSCOW, June 6. /TASS/. The leader of France’s National Rally party (former National Front), Marine Le Pen, says she sees signs of what in her opinion is the beginning of Europe’s liberation, citing as an example the soaring popularity of right-of-center forces in several European countries and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s meeting with Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz during his visit to Vienna.

"The meeting of Kurz, [Heinz-Christian] Strache (vice-chancellor, minister for civil service and sport) and Putin and rapprochement between [Italy’s Interior Minister Matteo] Salvini and [Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor] Orban: the liberation of Europe begins now," Le Pen tweeted on Wednesday.

Earlier, she appeared on the air of the France Culture radio station to express the same opinion, without mentioning any personalities, though.

"The world today is making a choice different from that made over the past 30 years. It is going to be a genuine peaceful and democratic revolution, a turn away from savage globalization, universal free exchange and immigration. It will be a turn towards protection," she stated. "Italy, Hungary, Austria - we are witnesses to the beginning of the liberation of Europe!" In her opinion, in Europe there should be no place for supra-national entities whose decisions would outweigh those made by national governments.

Putin paid a one-day visit to Austria on June 5. It was his first foreign trip following the presidential inauguration ceremony on May 7. The visit was timed for the 50th anniversary of the beginning of Soviet gas export to Austria, which in 1968 was the first country in Western Europe to have concluded a gas contract with the Soviet Union. Putin held talks with Austria’s Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen and Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, laid a wreath at the monument to the Soviet liberator soldier in Schwarzenbergplatz, visited a forum of the Russian-Austrian business council at Austria’s Chamber of the Economy and opened an exhibition of paintings from the Hermitage Museum at Vienna’s Art History Museum.

Source: ITAR-TASS 06-06-2018

Putin says Russia will not cede Crimea under any circumstances

Putin reiterated, "Crimea gained independence not as a result of the invasion of Russian troops, but through the will of the people of Crimea expressed in an open referendum".

VIENNA, June 4. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia would not cede Crimea to Ukraine under any circumstances. At the same time, he said in an interview with Austria’s ORF broadcasting corporation in the run-up to his visit to Austria.

"When an unconstitutional armed coup happened in Ukraine, power was seized by force, our army was legally in Crimea, our military base was there under an agreement," Putin said. He drew attention to the fact that "Russian army was always present in Crimea."

"The first thing we did was to increase our contingent to protect our Armed Forces there, our military facilities, where, as we have seen, various assaults and encroachments were in preparation. That is how it all began," Putin said. "Our servicemen were always there. Like I said before - they were there, they did not participate in anything," he said.

"However, when the spiral of unconstitutional actions in Ukraine began twisting, when people in Crimea thought they were in danger, when nationalists were sent there by trains, started blocking buses and road transport, people wanted to protect themselves," Putin said. "This is how everything began, the process started in the parliament of Crimea to determine its independence from Ukraine," he added. The president noted that the UN Charter does not prohibit these actions, but on the contrary, "the right of nations to self-determination is explicitly stated" there.

"At this point, our Armed Forces, which did not even exceed the base’s number under the agreement … ensured independent free elections - the will of people living in Crimea," Putin said. He noted, "The decision to hold this referendum was made by the Crimean parliament, which was elected in full compliance with the Constitution and the laws of Ukraine before the events."

"Therefore, there was nothing illegal", the Russian president said.

Putin reiterated, "Crimea gained independence not as a result of the invasion of Russian troops, but through the will of the people of Crimea expressed in an open referendum." In his opinion, a referendum held by the people living in a certain territory cannot be called annexation.

Putin talked about Kosovo as an example, wondering why Kosovo leaving Serbia is called self-determination, rather than annexation. "The people of Kosovo did it only by the decision of the parliament, and the people of Crime did it through referendum, which was attended by over 90% of the people living in Crimea, and about the same number of people - around 90% - voted for independence, and then for joining Russia," he said. "Is this not democracy? What is it then? And then what is democracy?" Putin asked.

He unequivocally answered the question about possible conditions under which Russia could cede Crimea, "There are no such conditions and there cannot be any."

Source: ITAR-TASS 05-06-2018

Russia not seeking to split Europe, assures Putin

On the contrary, Russia is interested in a prosperous European Union.

VIENNA, June 4. /TASS/. Russia is interested in a united European Union and is not seeking to divide it, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with Austria’s ORF radio and television company in the run-up to his upcoming visit to Austria.

"For us there is no goal of driving a wedge between someone in the European Union. On the contrary, we are interested in a united and prosperous EU, as the EU is our most important economic and trade partner," Putin said.

The Kremlin press service said Russian President Vladimir Putin would pay a working visit to Austria on June 5.

The program includes talks with Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen and Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kutz. The parties are expected to discuss the current state of affairs and prospects for Russian-Austrian relations in various areas and to exchange views on key global issues. Putin is expected to meet with businessmen from both countries to discuss matters on mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation with a focus on the 50th anniversary of the launch of a large-scale energy project - supplies of natural gas from the former Soviet Union to Europe, the Kremlin said.

The full interview with Putin will be broadcast on ORF-2 TV channel at 8.15 p.m. local time (9:15 p.m. Moscow Time).

Source: ITAR-TASS 04-06-2018

Russia to upgrade Buyan-M-class missile corvettes

Each warship of this series undergoes substantial sea trials.

SEVASTOPOL, June 1. /TASS/. The Project 21631 Buyan-M-class missile corvettes will be modernized and furnished with new radio-electronic weapons and air defense capabilities, Russian Navy Shipbuilding Department Head Rear Admiral Vladimir Tryapichnikov said on Friday.

"Overall, 12 warships of this series are planned and their further development will be renewed, considering progress both in radio-electronic weapons and air defense capabilities," the rear admiral said at an official ceremony of raising the St. Andrew’s flag on the Project’s sixth warship, the Vyshny Volochyok.

Each warship of this series undergoes substantial sea trials. By now, five corvettes of this Project have been built. Three of them are operational in the Caspian Flotilla and two are in service with the Baltic Fleet, the rear admiral noted.

"These are the Grad Sviyazhsk, the Veliky Ustyug, the Serpukhov and the Zelyony Dol and today we participated in the ceremony of raising the flag on the sixth warship, the Vyshny Volochyok," Tryapichnikov said.

"The warship Orekhovo-Zuyevo is in a high degree of readiness, followed by the Ingushetia, the Grad and the Naro-Fominsk, and also by one more warship that will worthily bear the name of one of the leading cities of the Russian Federation," the rear admiral said.

The Russian Navy will be switching over to building and designing blue-water warships whose backbone will consist of Project 22350 frigates, Tryapichnikov stressed.

The missile corvette Vyshny Volochyok, which entered service with the Russian Black Sea Fleet, is a multirole warship furnished with advanced artillery, missile, anti-sabotage, air defense and electronic countermeasure armaments.

The Vyshny Volochyok is the sixth corvette of the modernized Buyan-M Project and for the time being will be the sole warship of this class in the Black Sea Fleet.

Warships of this class feature a greater displacement and are outfitted with the most advanced long-range precision weapons - the Kalibr-NK missiles designed to hit naval and coastal targets.

Source: ITAR-TASS 03-06-2018

Russia’s Baltic Fleet warships set for voyages in distant waters

In summer the fleet’s personnel will take part in more than 20 naval exercises.

KALININGRAD, June 1. /TASS/. Russia’s Baltic Fleet warships will make voyages to the Atlantic, the Arctic, the Eastern Mediterranean, the Indian and Pacific Oceans in the summer training period, the fleet’s press office reported on Friday.

"The fleet’s warships and vessels are set for long-distance voyages in the Atlantic, the Arctic, the Eastern Mediterranean, the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Overall, the fleet’s 10 surface ships and nine vessels will be involved in accomplishing inherent missions in remote areas of the World Ocean until the end of the 2018 training year," Fleet Commander Vice-Admiral Alexander Nosatov was quoted by the fleet’s press office as saying. The vice-admiral spoke before the personnel of units and formations in the fleet’s main naval base of Baltiysk at a meeting devoted to the start of the summer training period.

Currently, three surface ships and three support vessels of the Baltic Fleet are accomplishing assigned missions in distant waters, Nosatov said.

"The fleet’s combat ships and vessels will continue accomplishing missions in various areas of the World Ocean both on their own and as part of the Russian Navy’s permanent Mediterranean taskforce… We also face an important state task to protect Russia’s frontiers in the Kaliningrad direction," the vice-admiral said.

During the summer training period, the Fleet’s personnel will take part in more than 20 naval exercises to drill practical actions of the Baltic Fleet’s shipborne forces, coastal defense troops and naval aviation. The Fleet’s combat training will be followed by its taskforce’s control tactical exercise to land marines onto a rough coast. In July 2018, Su-30SM fighter jets of the fleet’s airbase will take part in tactical drills at the Ashuluk training range to fire missiles against practice air targets.

Source: ITAR-TASS 02-06-2018

Kremlin warns despite Babchenko stunt, Ukraine still dangerous for journalists

The Kremlin called the incident with journalist Arkady Babchenko strange.

MOSCOW, May 31. /TASS/. Journalist Arkady Babchenko’s faked murder aimed at preventing an assassination attempt does not change Moscow’s view of Ukraine as a dangerous place for journalists, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

"Thank God, the man is alive," he said. "But that does not change our view of Ukraine as a country dangerous for journalists. In fact, it does not change the situation," Peskov added.

"This incident is strange, to say the least," the Kremlin spokesman noted. "I don’t know whether the ends justify the means in this particular case," he said.

Kiev police reported on Tuesday night about a fatal attack on Russian journalist Arkady Babchenko, in which he had been allegedly gunned down. However, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) stated on Wednesday that it had prevented an attempt on his life through a sting operation. SBU chief Vasily Gritsak said at a briefing that the reporter was safe, after which Babchenko was trotted out in front of his fellow reporters.

Peskov also said that Ukraine’s law enforcement authorities should account for their words of Moscow’s alleged involvement in plotting Babchenko’s murder to avoid the mistake of their colleagues from London. He said that, responding to a request for comment about the corresponding accusations voiced by Gritsak.

"He [Gritsak] should account for his words, otherwise he will look like his British colleagues," Peskov noted.

Source: ITAR-TASS 01-06-2018