Advanced artillery system for Russian paratroopers to enter state trials in 2019

Engineers have developed a special protection system for the Lotos gun to shield it from precision weapons.

MOSCOW, February 28. /TASS/. The state trials of the latest Lotos self-propelled artillery gun for Russia’s Airborne Force will enter state trials in 2019, CEO of the TsNIITochMash defense contractor Albert Bakov told Izvestia daily on Thursday.

TsNIITochMash is the developer of the Lotos artillery system.

"The Lotos self-propelled artillery gun is one of the parts of this work. In 2019, we are planning to start state trials," the chief executive said.

TsNIITochMash engineers have developed a special protection system for the Lotos gun to shield it from precision weapons, he said.

The Lotos artillery system will also feature a high-level of automation for guiding, feeding and loading rounds and will get an advanced reconnaissance and sighting system.

The Lotos is a follow-up and a replacement of the Zauralets project, which was aimed at developing a new self-propelled artillery gun for the Airborne Force to boost the paratroopers’ firepower and maneuverable capabilities. The Lotos system will be furnished with the 120 mm gun as its basic armament.

The artillery system can be transported by military transport planes and air-dropped by parachutes. As Russia’s Defense Ministry noted earlier, the promising Lotos gun will replace 120 mm Nona artillery systems in the Airborne Force’s artillery units, once it enters service. It was reported in September 2017 that the Russian military had set the task of launching the serial production of Lotos artillery systems in 2020.

Source: ITAR-TASS 28-02-2019

Kremlin: cyber attacks from Europe, US carried out against Russia ‘on permanent basis’

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented on The Washington Post's report that the US military carried out a cyber attack against Internet Research Agency in the run-up to the 2018 midterm elections.

MOSCOW, February 27. /TASS/. Russian structures, including the president’s website, are regularly targeted by cyber attacks from the United States and Europe, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday, commenting on a report by The Washington Post that the US military carried out a cyber attack against Russia’s Internet Research Agency in the run-up to the 2018 midterm elections.

Peskov noted that he did not know whether the data on this cyber attack was trustworthy. "But in general, a huge number of cyber attacks are carried out from the US territory on a permanent basis against various Russian organizations, legal entities and individuals. This is the reality where we live," he noted.

"I don’t say who can be behind these attacks, but we confirm that a huge number of these attacks are organized on a permanent basis," Peskov added. "When they say about various Russian hackers, we say that we look at those who are behind the attack, for example on the president’s website, they are from Europe, North America and so on, there is a huge number of attacks on a permanent basis," he said.

When asked if the US can actually influence the Internet operations in Russia, Peskov said, "Surely, that’s possible." The global Internet network is de facto administered by several companies, he explained. "Judging by this, given these potential threats a law-making activity is carried out to pass such legislation as the so-called sovereign Internet bill," he noted.

This effort is not related to Russia’s isolation, but is rather aimed at protecting it from such illegal steps, Peskov stressed.

On February 12, Russia’s lower house of parliament, the State Duma, passed in the first reading a bill on a stable work of the Russian Internet, known as Runet. The authors of this initiative suggested cutting the volume of data, exchanged by Russian users, and which is sent abroad. The operators may be required to install technical tools on communications networks, which would identify the source of this transmitted traffic.

Source: ITAR-TASS 27-02-2019

Kalashnikov arms manufacturer develops sports modification of Lebedev pistol

The SP1 has the same automatic mode as the Lebedev PL-15.

MOSCOW, February 26. /TASS/. The Kalashnikov Group, part of the state hi-tech corporation Rostec, has developed the sports modification of the Lebedev PL-15 pistol that has been designated as the SP1, the Kalashnikov press office said on Tuesday.

"The modification for sports has retained all the positive features of the Lebedev pistol, including ergonomics that is a strong point of the PL-15. The sports model can be furnished with laser target designators, the under-barrel flashlight and collimating sights. The handgun has large export potential," the Kalashnikov press office told TASS.

The SP1 has the same automatic mode as the PL-15. The pistol is chambered for the 9x19mm round and without the magazine it weighs 0.8 kg (the aluminum alloy) or 1.1 kg (steel). It is 205 mm long and has a barrel length of 112 mm.

The SP1 is furnished with standard Glock detachable open sights. The pistol’s sports model is primarily designed for amateur shooters and athletes that are members of the International Practical Shooting Confederation.

The new model was featured for the first time at the 14th IDEX 2019 international arms show in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, on February 17 - 21.

Source: ITAR-TASS 26-02-2019

Russia tests first radio interference tracing system

 The system allows analyzing the electro-magnetic situation amid the radiation of a powerful radio transmitter, exposing the impacts of radio interference and determining its location.

MOSCOW, February 25. /TASS/. The first direction-finding system designed to trace radio interference and thus provide for the stable operation of radio-electronic equipment has undergone trials in field conditions, the press office of Russia’s RTI hi-tech firm told TASS on Monday.

"RTI specialists have completed the field trials of the direction-finding system that will help solve the problems of analyzing the electro-magnetic situation, search for radio interference sources and simplify the task of ensuring the stable operation of radio-electronic equipment," the press office said, noting that this was the first such device developed in Russia.

As the RTI press office explained, the system allows analyzing the electro-magnetic situation amid the radiation of a powerful radio transmitter, exposing the impacts of radio interference and determining its characteristics and location.

As the developers say, the new system will ensure, among other things, the stable operation of research radars of the Russian Academy of Sciences, exposing the sources of radio interferences that can distort incoming data.

The new system can be used both in the civil and military spheres, the RTI press office said.

Source: ITAR-TASS 25-02-2019

Ukrainian military violates ceasefire 20 times in 24 hours - DPR official

The Ukrainian military’s attacks involved infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, grenade launchers and other light weapons.

DONETSK, February 24. /TASS/. The Ukrainian military violated the ceasefire 20 times in the past 24 hours, firing nearly 50 munitions at the territory of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), head of the DPR mission to the Joint Center for Control and Coordination (JCCC) Ruslan Yakubov said on Sunday.

"Over the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian military violated the ceasefire 20 times, firing a total of 48 munitions," the Donetsk News Agency quoted him as saying.

According to Yakubov, the Donetsk airport area and the Spartak settlement on the northern outskirts of Donetsk, the Trudovksaya Mine, Alexandrovka and Staromikhailovka settlements west of Donetsk, the city of Yasinovataya and the neighboring settlement of Krutaya Balka, the Gagarin Mine and Dolomitnoye settlements near Gorlovka, as well as the Leninskoye, Sakhanka, Kominternovo and Sosnovskoye settlements in southern DPR, came under fire.

The Ukrainian military’s attacks involved infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, grenade launchers and other light weapons.

The parties have made more than 20 ceasefire agreements since an armed conflict broke out in Donbass but failed to secure a sustainable ceasefire. On December 27, 2018, members of the Contact Group on resolving the situation in eastern Ukraine made an agreement to declare a new ceasefire, which took effect on December 29. However, the Ukrainian military shelled the outskirts of Donetsk on the same day.

Source: ITAR-TASS 24-02-2019

Putin lays wreath at Tomb of Unknown Soldier to mark Defender of Fatherland Day

The Russian president and other participants of the ceremony honored the memory of all the fallen defenders of the Fatherland.

MOSCOW, February 23. /TASS/. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier near the Kremlin wall on Saturday morning. The traditional ceremony is dedicated to Defender of the Fatherland Day, which Russia celebrates on February 23.

The ceremony also featured Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, speakers of the Federation Council and the State Duma Valentina Matviyenko and Vyacheslav Volodin, as well as Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. Members of veteran organizations, government officials, politicians and members of parliament also laid flowers at the tomb.

The Russian president and other participants of the ceremony honored the memory of all the fallen defenders of the Fatherland.

Defender of the Fatherland Day

February 23 marks Defender of the Fatherland Day in Russia.

Since 1923, February 23 has marked Red Army and Navy Day. In 1946-1992, the holiday was celebrated as Soviet Army and Navy Day, but in 1993 it was renamed Defender of the Fatherland Day.

In 2002, February 23 was declared a non-working day for the first time.

On Defender of the Fatherland Day, various ceremonies involving veterans are usually held, which among other things include laying flowers at war memorials. At night, celebratory gunfire and fireworks take place in Hero Cities (a Soviet honorary title awarded for outstanding heroism during World War II to 12 USSR cities and the Brest Fortress) and municipalities hosting the headquarters of district military commands, fleets and all-arms armies. The holiday is meant to honor military servicemen but it actually celebrates men on the whole, regardless of their age and profession.

Apart from Russia, several other former Soviet states (Belarus, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and South Ossetia) also celebrate February 23 as a holiday.

Source: ITAR-TASS 23-02-2019

Russian embassy in Austria detects cyber attack on its computers

The embassy received numerous complaints from citizens, who claimed that it was only possible to book an appointment several months ahead.

VIENNA, February 22. /TASS/. The Russian Embassy in Austria has pinpointed a cyber attack on its information networks from foreign sources, the diplomatic mission in Vienna informed TASS on Friday.

The diplomats explained that since the beginning of 2019, they noticed systematic no-shows for those who signed up through the online appointment-scheduling system at the embassy. However, the number of online bookings increased several times. The diplomatic mission received numerous complaints from the public, who claimed that it was only possible to book an appointment several months ahead.

"Pressure on the consular department is always high, but no-show numbers are usually small. Nevertheless, since the beginning of 2019, not one person who signed up has shown up for an appointment," the embassy noted.

At the request of the diplomats, special IT services looked into the problem and uncovered over 300 requests made automatically with IP addresses from Iraq, Thailand, Indonesia and several other countries. "We decided to delete these requests and to block their sources. Currently, the no-show numbers are back to normal," the embassy informed.

"Obviously, we are in fact talking about malicious activity aimed at sabotaging the work of the embassy’s consular department," Russian Ambassador to Austria Dmitry Lyubinsky noted. "We cannot rule out more attacks, we will monitor the situation closely in the interest of our visitors," he concluded.

Source: ITAR-TASS 22-02-2019

NATO starts worrying after learning about Russia's plans to deploy new weapons — diplomat

Russian Foreign Ministry's official spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said earlier that the North Atlantic Alliance earlier talked about Russia's news weapons with irony.

MOSCOW, February 21. /TASS/. The North Atlantic Alliance is now nervous about Russian President Vladimir Putin's statement that new types of weapons may be used against command centers where decisions are made to use missiles that threaten Russia, Russian Foreign Ministry's official spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote on her Facebook account on Wednesday.

NATO earlier spoke about Russia's new weapons in an ironic manner, Zakharova noted. "One year ago Western partners all said that 'Russian cartoons' about new types of weapons should not be feared, that the Kremlin is bluffing. And now everybody suddenly 'realized' what is 'in focus' and even started to 'understand' what the camera is attached to?" she added.

"Did they really think that we will make selfies with them after NATO enlargement, after US withdrawal from the missile defense treaty, after the build-up of US military contingent in Europe and endless interference of collective West into internal affairs of sovereign states," the diplomat said.

Zakharova stressed that Russia's measures should be assessed solely as a response to others' aggressive actions.

Source: ITAR-TASS 21-02-2019

Russia must only move forward, constantly gaining momentum, Putin says

The Russian president is addressing the Federal Assembly.

MOSCOW, February 20. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Russia must make great strides and pick up the pace of its development.

"We must move only forward, accelerating the pace of that movement all the time," he said in his annual address to the Federal Assembly.

According to the president, the National Priority Projects, which are being implemented nationwide, are strategic, but it is necessary to work on them even now.

"We are pressed for time, I have said that on numerous occasions, and you are perfectly aware of that," the head of state stressed. "We cannot waste it on more coordination."

"It’s absolutely unacceptable to deviate from the targets," he added. "These tasks are complicated, but we cannot ‘lower the bar’ of specific objectives."

According to Putin, these tasks "correspond to the scale and speed of changes in the world.".

Source: ITAR-TASS 20-02-2019

Lavrov slams Facebook’s blocking of RT accounts as pressure on Russian media

MOSCOW, February 19. /TASS/. Facebook’s move to block RT accounts is another example of pressure against Russian media, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday after talks with his Slovakian counterpart and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Miroslav Lajcak.

"I think there is no doubt that this is another example of pressure against Russian media and the freedom of speech. This is regrettable," Lavrov said.

Source: ITAR-TASS 19-02-2019

Russian manufacturer refutes reports Ireland’s CityJet terminated Superjet deal

Earlier, Vedomosti reported that CitiJet, the only European airline using the Russian aircraft, had returned the SSJ-100 to the owner.

MOSCOW, February 18. /TASS/. Sukhoi Civil Aircraft, producer of Sukhoi Superjet-100 planes, has not confirmed media reports that the Irish airline CityJet has sent all aircraft back.

"The report that the CityJet airline has returned SSJ-100 planes to their owner is inconsistent with the reality. Currently, the CityJet airline is revising its business model, in this context Sukhoi Civil Aircraft and CityJet are actively cooperating to solve this issue regarding the SSJ-100," the company’s press service told TASS.

Earlier, Vedomosti reported that CitiJet, the only European airline using the Russian aircraft, had returned the SSJ-100 to the lessor. According to the report, Brussels Airlines, which used CityJet’s aircraft, gave them up over the lack of spare parts.

Source: ITAR-TASS 18-02-2019

Tests of Burevestnik nuclear powered cruise missile successfully completed, says source

"A major stage of trials of the cruise missile of the Burevestnik complex, the tests of the nuclear power unit, were successfully completed at one of facilities in January," he said.

MOSCOW, February 16. /TASS/. The tests of the compact nuclear power unit for cruise missile Burevestnik have been successfully competed in Russia, a source in the missile producing industry told TASS.

"A major stage of trials of the cruise missile of the Burevestnik complex, the tests of the nuclear power unit, were successfully completed at one of facilities in January," he said.

The trials "sustained stated specifications of the reactor ensuring the missile’s unlimited range," the source added.

No official confirmation of the information provided by the source has been obtained by TASS.

In March 2018, President Vladimir Putin said Russia had developed a compact high-power nuclear engine intended for air-launched cruise missiles and sea-launched cruise missiles. Such a low-flying stealth CM armed with a special warhead features almost unlimited range, non-predictable trajectory and high air defense penetration capacity and cannot be intercepted by all existing missile defense and air defense assets.

Source: ITAR-TASS 17-02-2019

Putin positive on outcome of talks with Lukashenko

The Russian leader noted that he had invited the Belarusian counterpart to Sochi to conduct negotiations and offer him "a chance to take a break on the ski slopes and maybe play hockey".

SOCHI, February 15. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he is satisfied with the talks with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko.

"I believe we did a good job," he told reporters after the negotiations.

Putin noted that he had invited the Belarusian leader to Sochi to conduct negotiations and offer him "a chance to take a break on the ski slopes and maybe play hockey."

Putin noted that December 2019 would mark the 20th anniversary of the Treaty on the Creation of a Union State of Russia and Belarus. "The Belarusian president and I agreed that we would analyze everything that has been done recently. We will synchronize our watches on the integration issue, bearing in mind that other integration processes, including the Eurasian Economic Union, are developing simultaneously," he noted.

"We have to see where we are ahead, where we are a little behind what is going on within the EAEU," Putin said, adding that it was based on the agreements that formed the basis for the Union State.

"In some ways, the EAEU even went a little further. Some things that were planned under the 1999 Union Treaty are no longer relevant. On the other hand, something is gaining more momentum and is extremely important," the Russian leader explained. He assured that the three-day negotiations were aimed at analyzing the goals that have been achieved and that are yet to be realized, holding consultations with counterparts and identifying the most important tasks.

Source: ITAR-TASS 16-02-2019

Media watchdog finds a divergence from norm when inspecting BBC broadcaster in Russia

Earlier, the regulator announced that it was launching a probe into the BBC’s websites and the BBC World News channel for violations of Russian laws.

SOCHI, February 15. /TASS/. Russia’s Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media (Roskomnadzor) has found certain divergences from the norm when inspecting British TV LLC, the BBC World News broadcaster in Russia, head of the regulator Alexander Zharov told reporters on Friday.

"The issue around the Russian broadcaster BBC is not only a supervising one, but also a political one, which is why we are exploring and will be exploring it further on, and if we have some specific complaints against BBC requiring particular actions from the side of Roskomnadzor we will make it known at the right time. As all broadcasters, they have certain divergences from the norm, and we will define the level of divergence after finalizing the analytics, which will take some time," he explained.

On December 21, 2018, the regulator announced that it was launching a probe into the BBC’s websites and the BBC World News channel for violations of Russian laws following British media regulator Ofcom’s statement, which said that the RT TV channel had broken impartiality rules.

Source: ITAR-TASS 15-02-2019

More than 500 Black Sea Fleet troops take part in tactical drills in Crimea

About 100 pieces of military equipment, such as T-72B3 main battle tanks, are engaged in the exercise.

SEVASTOPOL, February 13. /TASS/. More than 500 troops of the Black Sea Fleet’s ground force have taken part in a tactical exercise on the Crimean Peninsula, the fleet’s press-service told the media on Wednesday.

"Mechanized infantry units of a separate coast defense brigade of the Black Sea Fleet’s army corps have held company level tactical exercises at a combat training site in Crimea. Involved in it were more than 500 troops and about 100 pieces of military equipment, such as T-72B3 main battle tanks, BTR-80 armored personnel carriers and army aviation of the Southern Military District," the news release runs.

According to the press-service, the troops enjoying air support practiced offensive and defensive operations, organization and camouflaging of positions, mine-planting, ambushes, reconnaissance operations and the landing of mobile groups in the enemy’s rear.

One of the main tasks of the exercise was to test the commanders’ skills and ability to independently make decisions and take improvised action depending on the current battlefield situation.

"The army corps’ command rated highly the performance of commanders who displayed initiative and resourcefulness in coping with the tasks set to them," the press-service said.

Source: ITAR-TASS 14-02-2019

Admiral Makarov frigate wraps up Cyprus port of call visit

The frigate has been on a mission in the far maritime zone since November 2018.

SEVASTOPOL, February 13. /TASS/. The Admiral Makarov frigate of the Black Sea Fleet wrapped up its port of call visit to the Cyprus port of Limassol, as its crew replenished the stock and toured the city, the Fleet’s press service told reporters on Wednesday.

"The Black Sea Fleet’s frigate Admiral Makarov, which is on a mission as part of a permanent task force of the Russian Navy in a far maritime zone, completed its port of call visit to the Limassol port in the Republic of Cyprus. The Black Sea Fleet’s ship replenished its essential reserves, and the crew went on R&R visiting historic sites in the city," the statement said.

The call at the Cypriot port was envisaged by the ship’s calendar in the Mediterranean and the schedule of replenishing reserves.

The frigate has been on a mission in the far maritime zone since November 2018.

The Admiral Makarov is the third Project 11356 blue-water frigate named after Imperial Russian Navy Commander, Oceanographer and Vice-Admiral Stepan Makarov. The latest frigate was delivered to the Navy and the naval flag was hoisted on the warship on December 27, 2017. The vessel arrived at its permanent base in Sevastopol for the first time only in October 2018. Before that it had implemented other tasks, including as part of Russia’s naval forces in the Mediterranean Sea.

The Project 11356 frigates have a displacement of 4,000 tonnes, a length of 124.8 meters, a speed of 30 knots and a sea endurance of 30 days. They are armed with Kalibr-NK cruise missiles, Shtil-1 surface-to-air missile complexes, A-190 100mm artillery guns, air defense artillery, rocket launchers and torpedoes and can also carry a deck-based Kamov Ka-27 (or Ka-31) helicopter.

Source: ITAR-TASS 13-02-2019

Moscow slams plans to hold US-Ukrainian drills in Black Sea

The Russian Foreign Ministry calls Washington’s and Kiev’s plans to conduct exercises in the Black Sea 'a dangerous idea'.

MOSCOW, February 12. /TASS/. The Russian Foreign Ministry views Washington’s and Kiev’s plans to conduct exercises in the Black Sea as a dangerous idea, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin told reporters on Tuesday.

"That’s a dangerous idea, and that’s the way we will view it. Prior to that, we will study the facts. They are viewed by us as a dangerous idea," he said.

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry earlier announced plans to begin preparations for the joint Ukrainian-US exercises Sea Breeze-2019 scheduled to be held in the northwestern part of the Black Sea.

In 2018, the Sea Breeze exercises were held near Ukraine’s Odessa and Nikolayev Regions and in the northwestern part of the Black Sea. More than 2,000 military servicemen, about 30 warships and a number of aircraft from 19 countries took part in them.

Source: ITAR-TASS 12-02-2019

Russian, Belarusian leaders to meet twice this week

The meetings are expected on February 13 on February 15.

MOSCOW, February 11. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko will discuss key bilateral issues and the prospects for Eurasian integration at their meeting in Sochi on February 13, while on February 15, they will hold meet with ministers responsible for culture, education and sports, the Kremlin press service said in a statement.

Lukashenko is expected to make a working visit to Russia.

"Key bilateral issues and the prospects for boosting integration processes in Eurasia will be discussed during talks," the statement reads.

According to the Kremlin press service, "given the constructive development of Russian-Belarusian cultural and humanitarian cooperation, a meeting involving the two countries’ presidents and ministers responsible for education, culture and sports will take place on February 15." The parties are expected to discuss specific initiatives aimed at boosting cooperation in these areas.

Source: ITAR-TASS 11-02-2019

A-100 AWACS aircraft makes first flight undergoing new stage of trials - Defense Ministry

It is equipped with a digital navigation and control systems in the "glass" cockpit, along with a new two-band locator with phased antenna array.

MOSCOW, February 9. /TASS/. A new Russian prospective A-100 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft made its first flight undergoing a new stage of prior test flights, the Russian Defense Ministry told reporters on Saturday.

"The latest A-100 multifunctional Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft embarked on a program of prior test flights and made a maiden flight," the ministry said.

The A-100 a modified variant of the IL-76MD-90A (Ilyushin) strategic airlifter. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the aircraft is equipped with a digital navigation system and digital control system in the "glass" cockpit, along with a new two-band locator with phased antenna array manufactured by the Vega Radio Engineering Corporation.

"The A-100 multifunctional Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft has been developed due to the emergence of new target classes and the creation of new-generation multirole fighter aviation. Its capabilities considerably exceed both domestic and foreign analogues, including the AWACS E-3 of the US Air Force," the ministry said.

The A-100 first took off on November 18, 2017 to test aerodynamic characteristics, avionics and aerial target equipment.

Source: ITAR-TASS 10-02-2019

Russia developing advanced protective system to shield armor from precision weapons

Today anti-tank missile systems are viewed among the most effective precision weapons to strike the armor.

MOSCOW, February 8. /TASS/. Specialists of Russia’s Central Research Institute for Precision Machine-Building (TsNIItochmash) are developing a new protective system to shield the armor from smart precision-guided munitions. The latest Lotos self-propelled artillery guns will be the first to get the new system, the TsNIItochmash press office told TASS on Friday.

"Engineers of the artillery section at TsNIItochmash are developing a new system of protecting the armor from precision weapons. The technology is based on the optoelectronic suppression of the systems of guiding attacking smart munitions towards the target," the press office said.

The new protection system "will be organically mounted on the 120mm Lotos self-propelled artillery gun that is being prepared for preliminary trials," the press office specified.

The system comprises the equipment that registers a shot and the fire sector and the technology of optoelectronic jamming with the help of aerosol munitions that disrupt an attacking missile’s control.

Upon detecting an attack, the protective system launches aerosol munitions in the required direction, taking into account the wind. After that, the munition fires a block of cartridges with the aerosol filling.

"During the flight, cartridges sequentially come into action and form an aerosol cloud of interferences in the visible, infrared and radio-frequency wavelength bands providing protection for an armored vehicle," the TsNIItochmash press office explained.

The aerosol munitions’ preliminary trials have proven their high efficiency, TsNIItochmash said.

The system’s munition generates optoelectronic interference in an expanded wavelength band compered to its analogues, it added.

Today anti-tank missile systems are viewed among the most effective precision weapons to strike the armor.

Missiles of these systems have various guidance options: their flight can be directly controlled by the system’s operator through a radio channel or they can feature an infrared homing head or fly to the target under the control system’s commands as long as the target is illuminated by a laser beam.

The disruption of radio command communications with the missile, the loss of the target’s laser illumination or the missile’s blinding in the infrared range will make it miss the target.

Source: ITAR-TASS 09-02-2019

Crimean air defense troops start drills with S-400 missile systems

Russia’s S-400 Triumf is the latest medium-and long-range surface-to-air missile system that went into service in 2007.

SIMFEROPOL, February 8. /TASS/. Combat teams of an S-400 air defense missile battalion from the Southern Military District’s Air Force and Air Defense Army conducted drills in Crimea to deploy advanced S-400 missile systems, the Black Sea Fleet’s press office reported on Friday.

"The launchers performed a march on their own to the designated positioning area where the military hardware was readied from its travel to its combat position. After that, the combat crews checked the position of the surface-to-air missile systems on the ground," the press office said.

The combat crews searched for and engaged a controlling target simulated by an unmanned aerial vehicle. During the subsequent stages of the drills, the crews will make electronic launches of missiles against notional air targets, the press office said.

The S-400 Triumf mobile multi-channel air defense missile system is designed to defend vital military facilities and infrastructural installations and features better capabilities compared to its S-300PM predecessor.

Russia’s S-400 Triumf is the latest medium-and long-range surface-to-air missile system that went into service in 2007. It is designed to destroy aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles, and can also be used against ground installations. The S-400 can engage targets at a distance of 400 km and at an altitude of up to 30 km.

Source: ITAR-TASS 08-02-2019

Belarusian minister says Minsk needs to strengthen alliance with Moscow

The statement comes amid changes in the geopolitical situation caused by Washington’s withdrawal from the INF.

MINSK, February 7. /TASS/. Belarus is determined to strengthen its armed forces and develop the Union State with Russia amid changes in the geopolitical situation caused by Washington’s withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, Belarusian Defense Minister Andrei Ravkov told reporters on Thursday.

"We will strengthen our armed forces, boost defense capabilities and nationhood and strengthen the Union of Russia and Belarus. All that needs to be done," he stressed.

On February 1, US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Michael Pompeo announced the suspension of Washington’s obligations under the INF Treaty starting February 2. Washington is determined to withdraw from the Treaty in six months' time unless Russia returns to "real and verifiable" compliance.

On February 2, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Moscow was likewise suspending its involvement in the treaty. He handed down instructions to refrain from initiating talks with Washington on the issue and stressed that the US needed to show readiness for an equal and substantive dialogue.

The US accused Russia of violating the treaty for the first time in July 2014. Since then, Washington has repeated its claims on numerous occasions, while Moscow has flatly denied them advancing counter-claims concerning compliance with the treaty.

The INF Treaty signed by the Soviet Union and the United States on December 8, 1987, entered into force on June 1, 1988. It covered deployed and non-deployed ground-based short-range missiles (from 500 to 1,000 kilometers) and intermediate-range missiles (from 1,000 to 5,500 kilometers). By June 1991, the parties fulfilled their obligations under the treaty. The Soviet Union destroyed 1,846 missiles, and the United States - 846.

Source: ITAR-TASS 07-02-2019

No censorship in Russia, but curbing foreign control of media ‘right’, Kremlin assures

In a tit-for-tat against London’s actions, Moscow has no choice but to keep a close eye on British media efforts in Russia, the Kremlin says.

MOSCOW, February 6. /TASS/. The government does not practice media censorship in Russia, and regarding the curtailment of foreign ownership of media outlets, this is a universal practice, which is appropriate and legitimate, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at the Media Day forum organized by the Kommersant publishing house.

"There is no censorship, that’s for sure," Peskov stressed. "Restrictions on media ownership for foreigners and citizens holding foreign passports is a practice employed by various countries throughout the world. The threshold of ownership may differ, but the idea itself is absolutely right."

According to the Kremlin spokesman, media outlets have freedom of speech, but, in addition to that, they should have certain responsibilities being the most powerful instrument in shaping public opinion. "It would be wrong to allow foreign citizens to own such resources in the country, especially during the current decade’s aggressive atmosphere, let’s put it that way," he concluded.

British media

The Kremlin said that Moscow is forced to carefully watch British media’s work in Russia in response to London’s steps against Russian journalists.

"In the United Kingdom our mass media outlets, RT and Sputnik, are subjected to persecution, their right to work aimed at disseminating and gathering information is limited. This forces Russia in a most careful way to pay attention to British media and their compliance with the current legislation," Peskov said.

Source: ITAR-TASS 06-02-2019

Defense chief: Russia needs to develop ground-based cruise and hypersonic missiles by 2020

Shoigu has ordered to start experimental design work.

MOSCOW, February 5. /TASS/. The ground-based version of the sea-launched Kalibr system with the long-range cruise missile has to be developed in 2019-2020 and the same timeframe is required for creating a ground-based long-range hypersonic missile system, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said at the ministry’s conference call on Tuesday.

"The General Staff has submitted to the supreme commander-in-chief a list of measures, which he has approved. In 2019-2020, we need to develop the ground-based version of the sea-launched Kalibr system with the long-range cruise missile, which has proven its worth in Syria," the defense minister said.

"Within the same time limits, we need to develop the ground-based system with the long-range hypersonic missile," the defense minister said.

These measures will be implemented in the wake of the US decision to suspend from February 2 its obligations under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty.

"At the same time, they [the United States] are actively working on creating ground-based missiles with the range capability of over 500km, which is outside the treaty-stipulated limitations. In this situation, the Russian president has set the task for the Defense Ministry to take tit-for-tat mirrored measures," Shoigu said.

As the Russian defense minister pointed out, "the use of sea-and air-borne missiles in their ground-based version will help considerably cut the time of manufacturing new missile weapons and the volume of their financing."

"Besides, it is necessary to increase the firing range of ground-based missile systems being developed today," the defense minister said.

Shoigu instructed Deputy Defense Minister Alexei Krivoruchko "to start the corresponding experimental design work within a short period of time within the appropriations allocated under the defense procurement plan for 2019 and for the planned period of 2020-2021 by re-distributing funds for the fulfillment of this work."

Road to INF exit

On Friday, US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said that Washington would suspend its obligations under the INF Treaty starting February 2 and would quit it within six months if Russia did not come into compliance with the agreement.

A day later, on Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin responded in kind, saying that Moscow would suspend the Cold War-era arms reduction treaty. Moreover, he told his ministers not to initiate disarmament talks with Washington, underscoring that the United States should become "mature enough" for equal and meaningful dialogue. Putin pointed out that Russia would start work on the development of new weapons mirroring Washington’s steps. In particular, work will begin on a new hypersonic ground-launched medium-range missile.

The US began censuring Russia for allegedly breaking the treaty in July 2014. Since then, Washington has repeated its accusations on many occasions. In turn, Moscow has rebuffed these allegations and advanced counterclaims against the US, saying that Washington has failed to comply with the accord.

The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty signed by the Soviet Union and the United States on December 8, 1987, entered into force on June 1, 1988. The INF deal covered deployed and non-deployed ground-based short-range missiles (from 500 to 1,000 kilometers) and intermediate-range missiles (from 1,000 to 5,500 kilometers). By June 1991, the parties had met their obligations under the treaty, as the Soviet Union had destroyed 1,846 missiles and the United States eliminated 846.

Source: ITAR-TASS 05-02-2019

Death toll in bus crash near Kaluga grows to seven

Four of those dead are children.

MOSCOW, February 3. /TASS/. The death toll in the bus crash near Kaluga has risen to seven, and four of those dead are children, a spokesperson for the Interior Ministry’s regional department told TASS.

"Seven people died in the bus crash, including four children," Natalya Gorokhova said.

Thirty-two people, 23 of them children, were hospitalized.

The accident occurred at 9:15 am on Sunday when the bus overturned and fell into a ditch. According to the Emergencies Ministry, the bus carried 45 people, including 31 children, who were going to Kaluga for competitions.

Two criminal cases have been opened into violating traffic rules and providing services failing to meet safety requirements, resulting in the death of two or more people. The bus driver has been detained and is undergoing medical examination.

Source: ITAR-TASS 03-02-2019

Russia suspends participation in INF Treaty, says Putin

"American partners have announced suspension of their participation in the treaty, and we will suspend", Russian President said.

MOSCOW, February 2. /TASS/. President Vladimir Putin has announced suspension of Russia’s participation in the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty).

"We will do as follows. We will come up with a tit-for-tat response. American partners have announced suspension of their participation in the treaty, and we will suspend," he said at a meeting with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Saturday.

On Friday, Secretary of State Michael Pompeo voiced the decision made by President Donald Trump that Washington would suspend its liabilities under the INF Treaty starting February 2 and would quit it within six months if Russia fails to comply with its demands.

Moscow has repeatedly said it retains the right for a tit-for-tat response.

Putin has ordered to abandon attempts to initiate the talks on the INF Treaty.

"As before, all our proposals in that field (containment of short-and intermediate-range missiles) remain on the table, the doors for talks are open," he said. "Meanwhile, I am asking both ministries not to initiate any talks on that issue in the future. Let us wait and see our partners become mature enough to conduct an equitable and meaningful dialog with us on that crucial issue - both for us, for our partners, and for the whole world," Putin emphasized.

President added that Moscow has long been raising the issue of conducting meaningful talks on the disarmament issue. "Over the past several years we have seen that the partners do not support our initiatives. On the contrary, (they) are constantly looking for certain pretexts to dismantle the global security system that has already been created," he said.

Russian missiles of intermediate and shorter range will not be deployed in world’s various regions earlier than the US deploys similar weapons there, Putin told.

"We assume that Russia will not deploy missiles of intermediate and shorter range, if such weapons emerge, either in Europe, or in other regions of the world until such weapons made by the US appear in respective regions of the world," he noted.

President also asked both ministers to "closely monitor the developments and promptly report about proposals on (Russia’s) response".

Source: ITAR-TASS 02-02-2019

Kiev’s reluctance to negotiate with Donbass impedes crisis resolution, says OSCE envoy

The Kiev regime’s actions are debilitating the humanitarian situation near the line of contact in Donbass, according to the Russian OSCE envoy.

VIENNA, February 1. /TASS/. The main reason for the continued crisis in Ukraine is Kiev’s reluctance to adhere to agreements and to hold direct dialogue with Donetsk and Lugansk, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the OSCE Alexander Lukashevich stated during a session of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna.

According to the Russian envoy, the crisis in Ukraine is far from being resolved. "The main reasons for that are Kiev’s failure to adhere to the agreements that had been reached, its reliance on the force-based scenario and the unwillingness to establish direct dialogue with Donetsk and Lugansk," Lukashevich noted.

The Russian envoy stressed that adherence to the Minsk agreements is of crucial importance, especially now when Kiev continues to make statements about their revision or cancellation. "This month, the Minsk Package of Measures from February 12, 2015, approved by the UN Security Council, will turn four years old. It is a compulsory basis for inter-Ukrainian regulation, and it can and should be realized fully by the sides. However, Kiev blatantly sabotages the majority of its provisions, starting with paragraph one," the diplomat pointed out.

The Poroshenko regime’s endeavors are eating away at the humanitarian situation near the line of contact in Donbass, emphasized Lukashevich.

"Kiev’s actions are leading toward the deterioration of the situation near the line of contact. During the last several weeks damage to civil infrastructural facilities, including hospitals and children’s facilities, was reported. Vasilyevskaya Pumping Station repeatedly came under attack," Lukashevich said.

The permanent representative also noted that the attacks on this station (on January 23 and 29) and on cars parked nearby (January 17) were not registered in the reports issued by the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM).

"We call on the mission to quickly react to reports of ceasefire violations near vital infrastructure. The SMM’s thematic report on victims and damage is needed," Lukashevich added.

Source: ITAR-TASS 01-02-2019