All calm on the Donbass front? Ukrainian military goes to the polls in war zone

Some 79 voting stations have been set up in the special operation zone - 14 in the Lugansk Region and 65 in the Donetsk Region.

KIEV, March 31. /TASS/. Some 25% of the Ukrainian military voted in the Donbass combat zone, the press service of the so-called Joint Forces Operation’s command reported on Sunday.

"The personnel of the units and subdivisions of the Joint Forces has been actively participating in the election process. As of 11 a.m. more than 20% of voters in uniform have made their choice," the Joint Forces Operation’s press service wrote on Facebook.

Some 79 voting stations have been set up in the special operation zone - 14 in the Lugansk Region and 65 in the Donetsk Region. The voting is being conducted according to the law and no incidents have been reported.

Source: ITAR-TASS 31-03-2019

New Russian aircraft successfully completes its first test flight

TASS, March 30. Russia’s new Ilyushin Il-112V military transport aircraft successfully completed its first test flight on Saturday, having landed at the airfield of the Voronezh Aircraft Manufacturing Company, a source in the aviation industry told TASS.

"An Il-112V has just made a routine landing at the airfield of the Voronezh Aircraft Manufacturing Company. The program of the first test flight was carried out successfully," he said.

Source: ITAR-TASS 30-03-2019

Maria Butina, charged with conspiracy in US, to be sentenced on April 26

Butina’s defense attorney said earlier he expected the court to sentence his client to a prison term equal to the time she had already spent behind bars.

WASHINGTON, March 28. /TASS/. Russian national Maria Butina, charged with conspiracy to act as a foreign agent in the US, will be sentenced on April 26, Judge Tanya Chutkan of the US district court in Washington said at a hearing on Thursday.

Butina’s defense attorney Robert Driscoll told TASS earlier he expected the court to sentence his client to a prison term equal to the time she had already spent behind bars.

Butina case

Maria Butina, 30, was arrested in Washington DC on July 15, right before the Helsinki meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump. The US Department of Justice said that she was suspected of acting "as an agent of Russia inside the United States by developing relationships with US persons and infiltrating organizations having influence in American politics, for the purpose of advancing the interests of the Russian Federation."

On July 21, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov demanded in a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo that Butina be released as soon as possible. He also slammed all charges brought against her as fabricated.

On December 13, Butina pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the US law governing foreign agents operating in the country and signed a plea bargain. The prosecution said at the time that the process of Butina’s cooperation with the investigation might take some time.

Source: ITAR-TASS 29-03-2019

Putin arrives in Kyrgyzstan for state visit

The Russian president is due to hold talks in Bishkek with his Kyrgyz counterpart Sooronbay Jeenbekov.

BISHKEK, March 28. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Kyrgyzstan for a state visit on Thursday.

The Russian president is due to hold talks in Bishkek with his Kyrgyz counterpart Sooronbay Jeenbekov, and later the two leaders will take part in the Russian-Kyrgyz international conference and visit the museum of Soviet and Kyrgyz writer Chyngyz Aitmatov.

"During the talks the heads of state will discuss the current state and prospects of developing Russian-Kyrgyz relations of strategic partnership and alliance," the Kremlin press service said. "An exchange of views will be held on the issues of deepening cooperation in regional associations, including taking into account Kyrgyzstan’s presidency this year in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Collective Security Treaty Organization."

Kremlin Aide Yuri Ushakov earlier told reporters that the leaders are expected to sign a joint statement. Besides, a solid package of intergovernmental, inter-agency, regional and commercial documents will be signed in the presence of the leaders that cover cooperation in various areas.

After the talks the two presidents will attend a plenary session of the Russian-Kyrgyz Regional Conference. At the end of Putin’s visit to Bishkek the two leaders will also lay wreaths to the eternal flame.

Source: ITAR-TASS 28-03-2019

Twenty terror attacks foiled in Russia in 2018

The number of terrorism-related crimes in Russia decreased 24 times in five years, according to the National Anti-Terrorism Committee.

MOSCOW, March 27. /TASS/. As many as twenty terrorist attacks were prevented in Russia at the preparation stage last year, First Deputy Chief of Staff of the National Anti-Terrorism Committee (NAC) Igor Kulyagin told reporters at a news conference in the Russian Foreign Ministry.

"A total of 36 terrorist crimes, including 20 terror attacks, were foiled at the preparation stage in 2018 thanks to preventive actions by the law enforcement agencies," he said.

"During counterterrorism operations and individual combat activities, 69 militants, including 10 terrorist chieftains, have been neutralized, while 37 chieftains, 257 militants and 622 accomplices have been detained," Kulyagin said.

He stressed that terrorism-related crimes continued to decrease in Russia thanks to consistent efforts. "Last year, the number of registered crimes reduced three times compared to 2017. The number of terrorist crimes has decreased 24 times over the past five years - from 218 in 2012 to 9 in 2018," he noted.

According to the National Anti-Terrorism Committee, more than 300 people were talked into rejecting terrorist activity in five years in Russia.

"In 2018, 18 people were convinced into rejecting terrorist activity. There were about 300 of them over the last five years," Kulyagin said.

He reported that there is still the threat of propagating ideas of terrorism and extremism. In 2018, Kulyagin said, the Interior Ministry, the Federal Security Service (FSB) and prosecutors managed to suppress the spreading of information related to terrorism and extremism on more than 64,000 Internet resources.

SOURCE: ITAR-TASS 27-03-2019

Russian diplomat assures blocking terrorist content on Internet doesn’t curtail democracy

According to the diplomat, Russia is faced with the fact that "radicalization primarily originates from the Internet".

BRATISLAVA, March 26. /TASS/. Russia will continue to block terrorist content on the Internet and does not regard such actions to be a violation of human rights, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister on countering terrorism Oleg Syromolotov said in an interview with TASS.

According to the diplomat, like many other countries, Russia is faced with the fact that "radicalization primarily originates from the Internet."

"For 15 years, we’ve been accused of blocking terrorist content and so on, and that it is a violation of human rights. However, at a UN General Assembly session in 2016, UK Prime Minister Theresa May said that blocking such content is perfectly in line with democracy. Then, French President Emmanuel Macron echoed her statement and, later, so did the German Foreign Minister. They all said that it is a democratic move, as it turns out," Syromolotov emphasized.

By the same token, the deputy foreign minister put the spotlight on the differences between the Russian and Western approaches. "We block content using court orders, yet they do it automatically," Syromolotov pointed out.

Source: ITAR-TASS 26-03-2019

Ukrainian side involved in MH17 flight disaster over Donbass, former SBU officer says

Vasily Prozorov said it was his personal opinion and it relied on certain information.

MOSCOW, March 25. /TASS/. The Ukrainian side was involved in the MH17 flight disaster over Donbass, a former officer of the Ukrainian security service SBU, Vasily Prozorov, told a news conference on Monday.

"It is my personal opinion and it relies on certain information. The Ukrainian side is an accomplice to the Malaysian MH17 flight disaster," he said.

"The amazingly prompt reaction of the Ukrainian leadership was the first thing that made me feel suspicious. My unequivocal opinion was President Pyotr Poroshenko and his press-service had prior knowledge of the affair. Secondly, hostilities had been underway for several months by then, but the airspace over the area was not closed," Prozorov said.

In particular he emphasized the invariable response to all of his attempts to find out the circumstances of the disaster, for instance, a conversation with General Staff officers. The usual reply was: "Don’t poke your nose into this business, if you don’t wish to have problems."

"Some information has leaked out in the end, though. On the basis of my own analysis I can speculate who was an accomplice in the crime and who was involved in concealing evidence. In my opinion, there were two men involved - the current deputy chief of the Ukrainian presidential staff Valery Kondratyuk and chief of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s intelligence directorate, Vasily Burba."

A passenger liner Boeing-777 of the Malaysia Airlines (Flight MH17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur) disappeared from the radar screens over the east of Ukraine’s Donetsk Region on July 17, 2014. Its crash killed all 298 passengers and crew on board - citizens of ten countries. Although hostilities had been underway on the ground for quite some time by then Kiev failed to close the Donbass airspace to international passenger flights. Australia, Belgium, Malaysia, the Netherlands and Ukraine created a Joint Investigation Team. On May 24 last year it published an interim report to claim that the missile launcher which had fired the missile that downed the plane might have been brought from Russia’s 53rd air defense missile brigade.

Russia dismissed the JIT charges. The Defense Ministry said that not a single air defense system of the Russian armed forces had ever crossed the Russian-Ukrainian border.

Source: ITAR-TASS 25-03-2019

Russia’s Su-27 jets twice scrambled to intercept US B-52H bomber over Baltic Sea

According to the Russian National Defense Control Center, the US Air Force’s strategic aircraft have already made seven sorties over the Baltic Sea since March 14.

MOSCOW, March 23. /TASS/. Russia’s Aerospace Force has twice scrambled the on-duty Su-27 fighter jets over the past 24 hours to intercept US Air Force (USAF) B-52H Stratofortress strategic bombers operating in international airspace over the Baltic Sea, Russia’s National Defense Control Center said on Saturday.

"Two US aircraft had been detected by the Russian airspace monitoring system at a considerable distance from the state border of the Russian Federation and then were taken to escort," the statement says.

During the flight, the Su-27 crews prevented the foreign strategic bombers from infringing Russia’s airspace, the statement added.

According to the Russian National Defense Control Center, the US Air Force’s strategic aircraft have already made seven sorties over the Baltic Sea since March 14.

Source: ITAR-TASS 24-03-2019

Kalashnikov’s revenue up 280% in 2018

The revenue totaled $267 million.

IZHEVSK, March 21. /TASS/. The Kalashnikov concern last year garnered a 17-billion-ruble revenue ($267 million) showing a 280% growth against 2017 as follows from statistics published on the concern’s website on Thursday. The concern’s reported net profit is 175 million rubles ($2.7 million).

The concern says the financial parameters reflect growing production on internal government and military-technical cooperation contracts for providing the 200th series automatic rifles and AK12, robots, drones and other cutting-edge technologies.

The Kalashnikov group of companies incorporates the Kalashnikov Concern proper, Izhevsk Mechanical Plant, Rybinsk Shipyards, Nobel Brothers Shipyards, Mytishchi Machine-Building Plant, designer and producer of drones ZALA AERO, research and industrial association NPO Molniya and some other enterprises.

Source: ITAR-TASS 23-03-2019

West covering up their crimes committed during bombing of Yugoslavia, says Lavrov

Russia's top diplomat recalled that in 2010, Swiss lawmaker Dick Marty published a report with "horrifying information about the crimes of Kosovo Liberation Army militants".

MOSCOW, March 22. /TASS/. Western countries are covering up the crimes their agents committed during NATO’s military operation in Yugoslavia in 1999, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview for NTV’s "U-Turn Above the Atlantic" documentary.

"I think the West has been and will continue doing everything possible to prevent it from happening," Lavrov said when speaking about the possibility of an international investigation into NATO representatives being responsible for civilian deaths, strikes on civilian facilities and the use of depleted uranium munitions during bombing raids on Yugoslavia.

"As for the banned munitions, the Serbs are conducting an investigation. Once it is over, we will see what can be done to make sure that this crime doesn’t go unpunished," the Russian top diplomat noted. "I would like to reiterate, I don’t see any chance that international agencies that involve the West and where Western votes count will go for it. They will make every possible effort to prevent it," Lavrov said.

He pointed out that in 2010, Swiss lawmaker Dick Marty had published a report, "which contained horrifying information about the crimes of the Kosovo Liberation Army militants, who abducted people for human trafficking purposes." The West had to make the Kosovo authorities give their consent to establish a special court to investigate the crimes mentioned in the report. An American national was appointed as the court’s prosecutor. However, the court stopped operating several years ago, the Russian foreign minister pointed out.

"Since then, new prosecutors have been appointed twice, the incumbent one is American, but not a single charge has been brought. I doubt there is any clear investigation underway. So Western countries will continue to sweep those facts under the rug that prove they and their underlings are involved in crimes against humanity," Lavrov emphasized.

War against media

According to the Russian foreign minister, NATO’s bombing campaign was a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. "One time NATO airstrikes hit a passenger train crossing a bridge. And its attack on a television center is entirely unacceptable," he said.

Lavrov stressed that the consequences of the West’s war against Yugoslav media were still there. "They try to use the experience they gained then designating some media outlets as propaganda tools. This is what RT and Sputnik are called in France, they are banned from attending events for which other media outlets are accredited," he explained. "This is when certain news outlets began to accuse journalists of being propaganda tools, this is how they justified attacks on Belgrade’s television center," Lavrov noted.

Artificial excuse

When speaking about the 1999 massacre in Kosovo’s Racak village, which prompted NATO to start talking about the need to use force in Yugoslavia, the Russian top diplomat said it had been a deliberate provocation.

"It was not a reason but an artificial excuse. It has long been known that it was a provocation," he said. "The killed civilians turned out to be militants from the Albanian liberation army, the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army, who had been told to wear civilian clothes," Lavrov pointed out. "Unfortunately, then OSCE mission chief William Walker was the one who organized that provocation. When he arrived at the scene and saw dead bodies in civilian clothes, he said right away that an act of genocide had taken place there," he added.

"He [Walker] did the same that the so-called White Helmets are doing in Syria, staging incidents to provide the West with excuses to attack a sovereign state," Lavrov emphasized.

The Russian Foreign Minister also said that the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia had failed to release the full report of a Finnish forensic team that had tried to determine the circumstances of the Racak deaths. "I demanded - with the support of my colleagues - at a UN Security Council meeting that the report be published, but it never happened. Then International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte provided the UN Security Council with a brief, which had been watered down to the maximum extent and sounded neutral," Lavrov said.

Source: ITAR-TASS 22-03-2019

Frigate Admiral Essen conducts drills in the Mediterranean

The ships of this class have a displacement of about 4,000 tonnes, speed of 30 knots and endurance of 30 days.

SEVASTOPOL, March 21. /TASS/. The Russian Black Sea Fleet’s frigate The Admiral Essen has practiced counter-measures to repel a massive missile attack by a hypothetical enemy in an exercise in the Mediterranean, the fleet’s press-service told the media on Thursday.

"The air defense crews of the Black Sea frigate The Admiral Essen practiced measures to protect a base facility from a massive missile and air strike of a hypothetical enemy in the Mediterranean. The virtual targets were identified and classified and successfully eliminated as a result of simulated electronic launches," the statement says.

The Admiral Essen is a second blue water frigate of project 11356 and the first serially built ship of this project. It has been part of Russia’s permanent group in the Mediterranean since March 2019.

The ships of this class have a displacement of about 4,000 tonnes, speed of 30 knots and endurance of 30 days. The Admiral Essen is armed with cruise missiles Kalibr, missile self-defense system Shtil-1, a 100 mm artillery piece A-190, air defense artillery, RBU-6000 rocket launcher and torpedoes and can carry a deck helicopter Ka-27 (Ka-31).

Source: ITAR-TASS 21-03-2019

Russian Navy to accept latest Tsirkon hypersonic missile for service in 2023 — source

The new missile is set to be deployed on the warships and submarines already built or under construction for carrying Kalibr cruise missiles.

MOSCOW, March 20. /TASS/. The Russian Navy expects to accept the latest Tsirkon hypersonic missile for service and deploy it on warships and submarines from 2023, a source in the defense industry told TASS on Wednesday.

"The state trials of the Tsirkon conducted from the basic sea carriers are planned to be completed in 2022 and from 2023 the missile will be accepted for service and put on combat duty," the source said.

The Russian Navy expects to arm all the new and modernized surface ships and nuclear-powered submarines, including Project 22350 and Project 22350M frigates, the heavy nuclear-powered missile cruisers Admiral Nakhimov and Pyotr Veliky, Yasen-class submarines and Lider-class nuclear-powered destroyers slated for construction with Tsirkon hypersonic missiles, the source said.

TASS does not yet have an official confirmation of this information.

As other sources in the Russian defense industry earlier told TASS, a series of trials of the Tsirkon hypersonic missile has been conducted from a coastal stand to date and in late 2019 the missile is expected to be tested from one of its basic sea carriers - the Project 22350 frigate Admiral Gorshkov. In 2020, the missile’s trials from the Project 885M multi-purpose nuclear-powered submarine Kazan will begin.

In his State-of-the-Nation Address to the Federal Assembly on February 20, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the Tsirkon missile was capable of developing a speed of Mach 9 and its range capability could exceed 1,000 km. The Russian leader also said that the Tsirkon could strike both naval and ground targets. The new missile was set to be deployed on the warships and submarines already built or under construction for carrying Kalibr cruise missiles, Putin added.

Source: ITAR-TASS 20-03-2019

Crimea will forever remain part of Russia, threats are pointless, says Russian premier

According to Dmitry Medvedev, much has changed for the better in Crimea in the past five years.

MOSCOW, March 18./TASS/. Crimea will forever remain part of Russia, and economic sanctions, pressure or military threats targeting Russia are pointless, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on Monday.

"Five years ago a treaty was signed between Russia and the Republic of Crimea on its accession to Russia and the establishment of new entities within the Russian Federation. The residents of the peninsula made a landmark decision at the referendum - to become part of the Russian Federation, thus making a crucial choice," the prime minister said.

"Any economic sanctions, political pressure or military threats are useless. We are once again together, and this is forever," the website of the Cabinet of Ministers quoted Medvedev as saying.

According to the prime minister, much has changed for the better in Crimea in the past five years - all economic sectors of the peninsula are developing. "We have a lot to do yet. This is what the recently approved state program for the social and economic development of Crimea and Sevastopol is aimed at," he added. Medvedev said almost 310 billion rubles ($4.8 billion) would be allocated for the development of the region’s economy from the budget in the coming three years.

"Building modern infrastructure, highways in Crimea" was mentioned among the major tasks. It is necessary to fully supply the region with water and electricity, to develop a free economic zone, to support small and medium-sized business. Besides, all conditions must be created for tourism in the region. "And of course, everything must be done to see that the people of that beautiful and favored region live happily, decently and calmly," he summed up.

Crimea’s reunification with Russia

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 that sparked 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 19-03-2019

Crimea is 'unassailable fortress', no danger of provocations, says regional head

According to Crimea’s head Sergei Aksenov, there is a most powerful military group equipped with advanced arms on the peninsula.

SIMFEROPOL, March 18. /TASS/. Crimea is a fortress in terms of security, and its citizens should not be afraid of any Ukrainian provocations. Crimea’s head Sergei Aksenov said in an interview with TASS that the peninsula has more forces and means that the whole of Ukraine.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said at a session of the State Duma’s Defense Committee earlier that the Russian military group in Crimea was reinforced and provides protection for the territory of the peninsula.

"There is no threat to Crimea. The security of the Crimean residents is being fully provided. The Defense Ministry created a safe shield under the president’s orders. Crimea was turned into an unassailable fortress, so all can sleep peacefully," Aksenov said.

There is a most powerful military group equipped with advanced arms on the peninsula, he said. These are Black Sea Fleet ships, modern complexes of air and anti-submarine defense, electronic warfare systems and so on. "Everything is firmly closed. There are more forces in Crimea now than in the whole of Ukraine," the regional head stressed.

Aksenov noted that after the breakthrough of sabotage parties in 2016 it was decided to reinforce the border protection with technical means. "There are no illegal breaches of the border now. There used to be few of them, though. So, the neck on the border with Ukraine, the land part was fully closed; the sea part is being safely controlled," he explained.

Following a coup d’etat in Kiev in February 2014, the Crimean and Sevastopol authorities decided to hold a referendum on Crimea’s reintegration with Russia. More than 80% people with the voting right took part in the vote that was held on March 16, 2014. The reunification with Russia was backed by 96.7% of Crimeans and 95.6% of Sevastopol residents. On March 18, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an agreement on the accession of Crimea and Sevastopol to the Russian Federation, and on March 21 the document was ratified by the Federal Assembly. Despite the convincing results of the referendum, Kiev refused to recognize Crimea as part of Russia.

Source: ITAR-TASS 18-03-2019

Putin to visit Crimea, Sevastopol on March 18

In Sevastopol, the president will visit the 1854-1855 city memorial complex and the 1944 Malakhov Kurgan.

MOSCOW, March 17. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit Crimea and Sevastopol on March 18, the Kremlin press service said on Sunday.

"The head of state will take part in a ceremony of commissioning the Balaklavskya thermal power station and also the Tavricheskaya thermal power station and the Port substation in Taman through a video link-up," the Kremlin press service said.

In Sevastopol, the president will visit the 1854-1855 city memorial complex and the 1944 Malakhov Kurgan.

On the same day, Putin is due to meet in Simferopol with members of the public of Crimea and Sevastopol and attend festive events dedicated to celebrating the fifth anniversary of the 2014 Crimean referendum and its reunification with Russia.

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

Crimea and Sevastopol adopted declarations of independence on March 11, 2014. They held a referendum on March 16, 2014, in which 96.7% of Crimeans and 95.6% of Sevastopol voters chose to secede from Ukraine and join the Russian Federation. President Vladimir Putin signed the reunification treaty on March 18, 2014.

Source: ITAR-TASS 17-03-2019

Security measures on the Russian-Ukrainian border strengthened in Crimea

On March 15, festivities began in Crimea on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the reunification of the peninsula with Russia.

SIMFEROPOL, March 16. /TASS/. Security measures on the Russian-Ukrainian border have been strengthened in Crimea on the eve of the celebration of the fifth anniversary of the reunification of the republic with Russia, a source in the peninsula’s security forces told TASS on Friday.

"The security measures at the checkpoints on the eve of the anniversary of the reunification have been strengthened," the source said.

On March 15, festivities began in Crimea on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the reunification of the peninsula with Russia. A delegation of the State Duma (lower house of the Russian parliament) headed by Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin, arrived in Simferopol.

Also a French delegation consisting of 11 people came to Crimea to participate in the celebrations. The president of the association Franco-Russian Dialogue Thierry Mariani heads the delegation.

About the referendum in Crimea

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

Crimea and Sevastopol adopted the 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 the Russian Federation. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the reunification treaty on March 18, 2014.

Source: ITAR-TASS 16-03-2019

Regimental set of S-400 air defense systems enters duty in Russia's west

The S-400 air defense systems have entered combat duty to protect the air borders of the country’s westernmost region.

KALININGRAD, March 15. /TASS/. A new regimental set of the air defense system S-400 Triumf has entered combat duty in the Kaliningrad Region, the Baltic Fleet’s press-service told TASS on Friday.

"In the Kaliningrad region the crews of new generation air defense systems S-400 have entered combat duty to protect the air borders of the country’s westernmost region," the press-service said.

The Baltic Fleet received a batch of S-400s in the beginning of March. The systems arrived at their permanent location in the Kaliningrad Region from the Kapustin Yar test site in the Astrakhan Region after successful test launches.

The S-400 Triumf systems are meant for hitting all modern and yet-to-be developed means of attack from the air and outer space - reconnaissance planes, stealth aircraft, fighters, strategic bombers, cruise and ballistic missiles, drones and hypersonic vehicles.

Source: ITAR-TASS 15-03-2019

Overwhelming majority of Crimeans would again vote to reunite with Russia, says poll

According to the poll, Crimea’s confidence in President Vladimir Putin’s is higher than in the rest of Russia, as viewed positively by 90% of the respondents.

SIMFEROPOL, March 14. /TASS/. Crimea remains positive about the peninsula’s reunification with Russia and if the referendum was held today, 89% of Crimeans would support joining Russia, the Russian Public Opinion Research Center announced the results of a poll on Thursday in Simferopol.

"The attitude towards Crimea’s reunification with Russia remains decisively positive. Eighty-nine percent would cast their votes to reunite with Russia if a referendum were held next Sunday, and 93% view the reunification in a positive light. The level of negative attitudes and support for an Autonomous Republic of Crimea as part of Ukraine are minimal (3% each), the data says. The survey also noted that across Russia, 85% of respondents would support the reunification.

According to the poll, the reunification’s effects are also viewed positively. For instance, 86% of respondents believe that Crimea is developing more successfully as part of Russia, while 72% say that the reunification had a positive effect on their lives and the lives of their families. Moreover, 82% of respondents in Crimea are satisfied with their existence, which exceeds the same number across Russia (64%). More than half of those who participated in the survey (56%) are satisfied with their financial standing.

The majority of respondents (59%) also say they have noticed positive changes on the peninsula in the last year. Road works, power supplies and an improvement in communities were listed as the spheres of biggest developments.

According to the poll, Crimea’s confidence in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s is higher than in the rest of Russia. His work is viewed positively by 90% of the respondents (64% across Russia) and only 3% expressed a negative attitude.

The Russian Public Opinion Research Center conducted a nationwide poll on March 12, 2019, among respondents over 18 years of age. The poll was carried out via phone interviews with 1,600 people and margin of error being no more than 2.5%. The Center’s regional survey in Crimea was conducted on March 10.

Source: ITAR-TASS 14-03-2019

Kiev shooting itself in the foot: Kremlin slams Ukraine for scrapping Friendship Treaty

On Tuesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry sent a note to the Ukrainian side with a list of its violations of the accord.

MOSCOW, March 13. /TASS/. The termination of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership between Russia and Ukraine contradicts the interests of both countries, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

"The document is in the interests of both our countries, and the dissolution of this document would not benefit our nations; it is like shooting yourself in the foot," the Kremlin spokesman told journalists.

He declined to comment on the Russian Foreign Ministry’s statement following Kiev’s termination of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership starting April 1, advising that this question be redirected to the Foreign Ministry.

On Tuesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry sent a note to the Ukrainian side with a list of its violations of the accord. On September 24, 2018, Russia received an official note from Kiev on the non-renewal of the Treaty of Friendship. The Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership between Ukraine and the Russian Federation was signed in May 1997 and came into force in April 1999 with a 10-year term and could be automatically prolonged for another 10-year period in the absence of objections from the parties.

Source: ITAR-TASS 13-03-2019

Russian Navy to get seven new warships this year

The repairs of seven more warships and vessels will be completed.

SEVERODVINSK /Arkhangelsk Region/, March 12. /TASS/. Shipbuilders are planning to hand over seven new warships, including four submarines, and seven repaired vessels to the Russian Navy in 2019, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday.

"In 2019, the shipbuilding program of enterprises integrated into the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) stipulates the construction of seven combat ships, including three nuclear-powered submarines and one diesel-electric sub, and the completion of the repairs of seven warships and vessels," the defense chief said at a meeting with shipbuilders in Severodvinsk.

"The completion of the construction and the delivery of the nuclear-powered underwater cruisers Knyaz Vladimir and Kazan to the Navy are top-priority tasks for the United Shipbuilding Corporation, Sevmash and some design organizations. On the instruction of the supreme commander-in-chief, the entire amount of work has to be completed this year," Shoigu said.

As the defense minister stressed, "these ships will define the future outlook of our underwater fleet and will help raise Russia’s defense potential and strengthen its positions in the World Ocean."

"Today we will discuss the issues related to the delivery of these submarines and the repair of the heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser Admiral Nakhimov and preparations for building blue-water ships," he said.

Source: ITAR-TASS 12-03-2019

Kremlin: Russian authorities not blocking Runet, but protecting it from shutdown

The bills are designed to ensure Internet’s viability amid potential aggressive steps in cyber space against Russia, the Kremlin spokesman said.

MOSCOW, March 11. /TASS/. Participants of Sunday’s rally for Internet freedom in Moscow are mistaken when saying that the country’s authorities seek restrictions against the global network in Russia, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday.

"Everyone is calling for Internet freedom <…>, that’s why as far as Internet freedom is concerned, the position of this event’s participants can be backed. But we cannot support their misunderstanding and deception that the passed bills are somehow aimed at limiting Internet freedom. On the contrary, they are designed to ensure Internet’s viability amid potential aggressive steps in cyber space against our country," Peskov stressed.

The Kremlin spokesman said he saw one of the rally participants saying on TV that Russia’s authorities are allegedly "seeking to press the button and cut the country off from the Internet." "This is absolutely a deception. However, this participant somehow is not afraid that someone overseas will press this button and disconnect him from the Internet, but this is a real reason for fears," he noted. The steps of legislators and authorities "are aimed at securing our citizens from such shutdowns in case of this situation," Peskov said.

Earlier, the Russian Interior Ministry’s press service said the rally for free Internet drew nearly 6,500 people on downtown Moscow’s Academician Sakharov Avenue on Sunday.

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 11-03-2019

Russian cruise missile frigate to start first long-distance voyage in the Atlantic

On March 7, the Admiral Gorshkov passed through the narrowest part of the English Channel.

MURMANSK, March 7. /TASS/. The Russian Northern Fleet’s missile frigate Admiral Gorshkov will enter the Atlantic Ocean on Friday after passing through the English Channel, Fleet spokesman Vadim Serga told journalists on Thursday.

"Today, a group of the Northern Fleet’s ship and support vessels comprising the frigate Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov, the multifunctional logistics vessel Elbrus and the rescue tug Nikolai Chiker has passed through the narrowest part of the English Channel, the Strait of Dover. Tomorrow, the naval group will complete its transit of the English Channel and will enter the Atlantic Ocean," the spokesman said.

In their transit of the Strait, the naval group’s crews successfully practiced the tasks of joint maneuvering amid intensive shipping. The Northern Fleet’s ships and support vessels have covered a distance of over 2,000 nautical miles since they left the Fleet’s main naval base of Severomorsk.

The frigate Admiral Gorshkov is the first surface ship in the Northern Fleet that carries Kalibr cruise missiles. It numerously accomplished inter-fleet passages from the Baltic to the Barents and White Seas to test air defense, missile/artillery and mine/torpedo armaments at the Northern Fleet’s sea ranges. In 2017 and 2018, the frigate took part in Russia’s Main Naval Parade in the Kronshtadt roadstead in the Gulf of Finland.

Source: ITAR-TASS 10-03-2019

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

The Ukrainian Armed Forces violated the ceasefire ten times, firing a total of 91 munitions.

DONETSK, March 9. /TASS/. The Ukrainian military violated the ceasefire ten times in the past 24 hours, shelling 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 Saturday.

"Over the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian Armed Forces violated the ceasefire ten times, firing a total of 91 munitions," the Donetsk News Agency quoted him as saying.

Ten DPR settlements came under fire. The Ukrainian military’s attacks involved 120 mm mortars, infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, grenade launchers and other light weapons.

On March 7, the security subgroup of the Contact Group on resolving the situation in eastern Ukraine agreed to declare a spring ceasefire in Donbass starting on March 8. However, the Ukrainian military broke the ceasefire just five minutes after it had taken effect.

Source: ITAR-TASS 09-03-2019

Maria Butina is optimistic, holds head high - Russian embassy in US

Diplomats congratulated the Russian on the International Women's Day and gave her "the warmest wishes from all who are not indifferent to her destiny".

WASHINGTON, March 8. /TASS/. Russian national Maria Butina, currently under arrest in the United States, is optimistically minded despite the prison conditions she has to endure, the Russian embassy’s press service said on Thursday after Russian diplomats visited her in jail.

"Our citizen, who fell victim to a provocation by US authorities, holds her head high. Maria is optimistically minded despite the prison conditions she has to endure," the press-service said.

Russian diplomats "congratulated Maria upon International Women’s Day and conveyed the warmest wishes from all those who are not indifferent towards her fate."

"We keep pressing for Butina’s release and her soonest return home," the embassy said.

Last week the Colombia District court postponed the passing of the verdict by a month.

Butina was arrested in Washington on July 15, 2018 ahead of the summit meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump in Helsinki. Moscow dismissed the charges against Butina as a frame-up and demanded her immediate release. Butina, 30, was accused of conspiring to conduct activity in favor of a foreign country in the territory of the United States. US secret services argued that Butina conducted such activity without being registered as a foreign agent at the US Department of Justice.

On December 13, Butina faced the Columbia District court to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the law governing foreign agents operating in the U.S. She signed a plea bargain with the prosecutors. No date for passing the verdict was announced at the prosecutor’s request. The Attorney’s Office said that the process of Butina’s cooperation with the investigation might take some time.

Source: ITAR-TASS 08-03-2019

Russian Su-27 fighter jet shadows US reconnaissance aircraft — defense ministry

The US aircraft was detected while flying above the neutral waters of the Baltic Sea, approaching Russia’s borders.

MOSCOW, March 7. /TASS/. Russia’s Su-27 fighter jet has intercepted a US RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft above the Baltic Sea, the Russian Defense Ministry’s press service said on Thursday.

The US aircraft was detected while flying above the neutral waters of the Baltic Sea, approaching Russia’s borders.

"In order to intercept the target, a Su-27 fighter jet of the on-duty air defense forces was scrambled," the ministry said.

The Russian fighter jet approached the US aircraft at a safe distance and "unidentified it as an RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft."

Russian fighter jets regularly perform missions above the Baltic Sea to escort foreign military aircraft trying to approach the Russian border.

Source: ITAR-TASS 07-03-2019

Putin urges to use new methods of combating terrorism

It is necessary to promote preventive work to avert terrorist acts, the Russian president said.

MOSCOW, March 6. /TASS/. Terrorists maintain the potential for launching new attacks and counterterrorism efforts should be intensified, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday.

"Terrorists keep the potential for preparation of terrorism acts. As the situation shows in this case, in our country just as in other countries," the president said. "Organized groups or diehard individuals that passed ideological treatment can be behind such crimes," Putin noted.

"New forms and methods of countering such threats should be used," he added.

It is necessary to promote preventive work to avert terrorist acts, identify recruiters and accomplices of terrorists, block channels of weapons and money supplies to criminals and curb propaganda of radicals and extremists in the Internet, the head of state said.

Putin also said that, despite difficulties in relations with a number of countries, Moscow is ready for counterterrorism cooperation with them.

"Regardless of our current relations with certain countries, Russia will always be open to close and trust-based work in the fight against international terrorism, this common challenge to all of humanity," he said at a meeting of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) board.

"It is necessary to facilitate cooperation, coordinate efforts with our foreign counterparts, primarily, of course, with our partners in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and with colleagues in other countries," he said.

Source: ITAR-TASS 06-03-2019

New regiment set of S-400 air defense missile systems arrives for Russia’s Baltic Fleet

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

KALININGRAD, March 4. /TASS/. A new regiment set of Russia’s most advanced S-400 long-range surface-to air missile systems has arrived for the Baltic Fleet under the defense procurement plan, the Fleet’s press office reported on Monday.

"The new S-400 Triumf air defense missile system has arrived at its permanent base in the Kaliningrad Region from the Kapustin Yar practice range in the Astrakhan Region after its initial live-fire tests were conducted successfully," the press office said.

The S-400 regiment set will be fully deployed to protect the airspace of Russia’s westernmost region by the end of next week, 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.

Each S-400 surface-to-air missile system can engage 36 targets at a time. The S-400 is the sole system that can selectively operate with more than four types of missiles with different liftoff weights and the firing range, thus creating multi-layered defense.

Source: ITAR-TASS 05-03-2019

Russia's EU envoy says attempts to influence Moscow's policy through sanctions ineffective

Russia's Permanent Representative at the EU Vladimir Chizhov said that sanctions against Moscow "make interests of European business also suffer a lot".

ATHENS, March 1. /TASS/. Attempts to influence Russia's policy through sanctions are ineffective, Russian Permanent Representative at the EU Vladimir Chizhov said on Friday at the 4th Delphi Economic Forum.

"Speaking about economy I need to emphasize that attempts to influence Russia's policy via sanctions are ridiculous," Chizhov said. "Events of recent years demonstrated that such efforts are vain and, by the way, make interests of European business also suffer a lot, as well as our relations in general, including with our largest trade and economic partner - the European Union," he added.

"Against this backdrop the easiest thing for Russia would be to follow a trend that is in fashion today and to 'pivot to Asia', especially since it is there that the bigger part of my country's territory lies. Actually we are increasingly active in developing mutually beneficial cooperation with the PRC, ASEAN countries and other Asian partners, but we are not doing it to undermine or punish Europe. We do not make friends 'against Europe' or the West as a whole," he continued.

"Russia, as a country located on two continents and thereby uniting Eurasia by virtue of its geography, history and cultural tradition, is genuinely interested in maintaining equally friendly relations on the West and on the East," Chizhov said.

"Currently leaders of major EU countries are more and more often thinking of a new configuration of cooperation in Europe and more outspoken about the need to take their fate in their hands. I believe it is important that EU member states remember that they will not be able to uphold their positions against rising economic giants - in Asia today, in Latin America tomorrow, in Africa the day after tomorrow - unless they listen closely to Russia's words about establishing a common economic and humanitarian space in Eurasia. Defedning what we call 'European civilization' is only possible if one of its supporting pillars, Russia, is fully engaged," he explained.

According to the diplomat, modern international law system was formed in the framework of the institutions established after World War II, namely the United Nations, the European Union, the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and NATO.

"However, today this term of international law has been subjected to revision and erosion," Chizhov noted. "Instead of this well-known and clear term for several years our European and US partners have been including in their speeches and official documents a phase 'internationally recognized rules and norms'. Moreover, they gradually try to accustom to it their interlocutors around the world," he said.

As a responsible international player, a nuclear power and a permanent member of the UN Security Council, Russia is concerned with this situation, the diplomat said. Over the past decades, Russia has put forward many far-reaching initiatives aimed at enhancing world order based on international law and creating such a security system, most notably in Europe, which would ensure equal guarantees for all. "But Russia has never tried to monopolize this work and was always open for cooperation with everyone who was ready to take part in it," Chizhov said.

Source: ITAR-TASS 03-03-2019

Lukashenko to run for another term as Belarusian president

According to Lukashenko, he will run the next presidential election so that "no one can later accuse me of being a quitter who ran away in an hour of need".

MINSK, March 1. /TASS/. Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko will run for another presidential term, as he himself said at a press conference on Friday.

"Everything will be fine and in accordance with the law. Given my current situation, the situation in the country and the people’s attitude towards me, I cannot but stand as a candidate in the presidential election," he said.

According to Lukashenko, he will run the next presidential election so that "no one can later accuse me of being a quitter who ran away in an hour of need," the Belarusian president noted.

He added that he did not plan to conduct an election campaign. "My goal is to create equal conditions for all contenders," he noted. Lukashenko also said that he did not intend to introduce a hereditary rule in the country. When commenting on media reports claiming that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin were planning to unite the two countries and divide the highest positions between themselves, Lukashenko said that "this is not my first term as president and I have had enough of it, but I will not ruin the country for my own ambitions or somebody else’s."

Belarusian Central Election Commission chief Lidia Yermoshina said earlier that the 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections would not be held simultaneously and it would be reasonable to launch one of the election campaigns on December 1, 2019. The dates for the elections are expected to be announced in April, when the president will deliver an address to the parliament.

Source: ITAR-TASS 02-03-2019

Russia to develop new sniper rifle for troops in 4 years

The new bi-caliber sniper rifle and its ammunition load will be created using solely domestic materials and components, according to the chief designer.

MOSCOW, March 1. /TASS/. A new sniper system being developed in Russia under the experimental design work codenamed Ugolyok will be ready in four years, Chief Designer for the Ratnik Soldier Gear at the TsNIITochMash defense contractor Oleg Nekrasov said on Friday.

The new rifle will be chambered for Russian rounds, although it will have NATO calibers: .308 Winchester (7.62x51 mm) and the more powerful .338 Lapua Magnum (8.6x70 mm).

"The Institute [TsNIITochMash] is carrying out work on new sniper systems under a technical assignment from the Defense Ministry," the chief designer said.

"It will be necessary to develop new rifles, new sights and new cartridges in the NATO calibers: .308 Winchester and .338 Lapua Magnum, new gunpowder and new detonators. The work is planned to be completed in four years," Nekrasov said.

The new bi-caliber sniper rifle and its ammunition load will be created using solely domestic materials and components, the chief designer stressed.

As TsNIITochMash Deputy CEO Mikhail Levshunov explained, six different rifle prototypes are currently undergoing tests as part of this experimental design work.

"Two rifles of different ammunition suites from the TsKIB (the Central Design and Research Bureau of Sporting and Hunting Guns, a branch of the Shipunov Instrument Design Bureau), two rifles from the Kalashnikov Group and our two rifles," Levshunov stressed.

The rifles developed by Lobaev Arms are not involved in the tests as they do not meet the Defense Ministry’s requirements for domestic components and cannot comply with all the state standards, TsNIITochMash specified.

Hi-tech firm developing new sniper rifle for Russian troops

Russia’s TsNIITochMash defense contractor (part of the state hi-tech corporation Rostec) is developing a new semi-automatic sniper rifle codenamed Ugolyok and chambered for .308 and .338 Lapua Magnum rounds, TsNIITochMash CEO Albert Bakov told Izvestia daily on Thursday.

"Work is underway on the Ugolyok project. It relates to developing sniper systems for the Defense Ministry - two semi-automatic sniper rifles. We are developing rifles for the .308 and .338 Lapua Magnum rounds," Bakov said.

TsNIITochMash earlier carried out similar experimental design work for special services but the requirements set by the Defense Ministry are tighter, he pointed out.

"They [the special services] employ a somewhat different approach towards complete sets than the Defense Ministry, which has set tight conditions for us: no imported components," the TsNIITochMash chief executive explained.

The Ugolyok is being developed not as a replacement for the Dragunov sniper rifle, he emphasized.

"One can spend several billions [billions of rubles] [on developing a weapon] for the distances, to which the Dragunov sniper rifle operates, and achieve nothing. The Dragunov has been brought to its perfection," the chief executive said, adding, however, that ‘in some cases, rifles operational at larger distances are needed."

Now the basic task for developers is to create new rounds, he said.

The first models are ready and are undergoing trials and they are being finalized based on the comments that have been made. The rounds are an integral part of the sniper system that includes the rifle and the detachable equipment, the TsNIITochMash chief executive said.

Source: ITAR-TASS 01-03-2019