Russia developing Soyuz-5 rocket to capture commercial launch market

The Soyuz-5 medium-class carrier rocket is being developed by Energia Space Rocket Corporation.

MOSCOW, May 31. /TASS/. Russia is creating its new Soyuz-5 carrier rocket to capture the market of commercial launches. The new rocket will be competitive by its price with US rivals, Chief of Russia’s State Space Corporation Roscosmos Dmitry Rogozin said on Friday.

"We have certain reserve potential as well and we are ready to compete with them. The Soyuz-5 rocket is aimed at capturing the commercial market, i.e. not only for solving state tasks. It should be competitive by its price despite all economic policy tricks by our rivals so that they won’t be able to cut the price to a level to compete with us," Rogozin said.

As was reported on Thursday, the US Department of Defense included Russia in the list of countries whose services cannot be used after December 31, 2022 in carrying out space launches. A notification to this effect was uploaded by the Pentagon’s Federal Acquisition Regulation System to the website of the Federal Register - the daily journal of the US Government.

The Soyuz-5 (Irtysh) medium-class carrier rocket is being developed by Energia Space Rocket Corporation. The rocket is designed for launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome as part of the Baiterek joint project with Kazakhstan. The Soyuz-5 will be able to deliver the promising manned Federatsiya spacecraft into a low near-Earth orbit. The Soyuz-5 is set to be developed by 2021. During the new rocket’s flight tests, its four launches are planned to be carried out in 2022-2025.

Source: ITAR-TASS 31-05-2019

Russia’s Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jets to get advanced anti-ship missile

The Su-57 took to the skies for the first time on January 29, 2010.

KAMENSK-URALSKY /Sverdlovsk Region/, May 30. /TASS/. Russia is developing an advanced anti-ship missile that will also be used in the ammunition load of Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jets, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexei Krivoruchko said on Thursday.

The defense official made this statement as he visited the Urals-based Detal Design Bureau engaged in the project.

"Today the enterprise is working on developing an active homing warhead for the promising anti-ship missile that is planned to be carried by the Su-57 fighter as well," Krivoruchko said.

A working meeting was held on the premises of the Detal Design Bureau to discuss the issue of signing a contract with Tactical Missiles Corporation on acquiring the entire range of air-launched weapons for the Su-57 fighter jets, the deputy defense minister said.

The Detal Design Bureau, which is part of Tactical Missiles Corporation, produces components, including those of active homing warheads for anti-ship and air-to-air missiles used by actually all Russian combat aircraft and helicopters. In addition, the enterprise develops promising radar and navigation equipment and radio-altimeters for unmanned aerial vehicles and spacecraft.

The Su-57 is a fifth-generation multirole fighter designed to destroy all types of air targets at long and short distances and hit enemy ground and naval targets, overcoming its air defense capabilities.

The Su-57 took to the skies for the first time on January 29, 2010. Compared to its predecessors, the Su-57 combines the functions of an attack plane and a fighter jet while the use of composite materials and innovation technologies and the fighter’s aerodynamic configuration ensure the low level of radar and infrared signature.

The plane’s armament will include, in particular, hypersonic missiles. The fifth-generation fighter jet has been successfully tested in combat conditions in Syria.

Source: ITAR-TASS 30-05-2019

EU Parliament election shows growing number of sanctions policy opponents — politician

There are more people in Europe who are dissatisfied with current policy, Valentina Matviyenko believes.

MOSCOW, May 29. /TASS/. Russia is not expecting any drastic change in the European Parliament’s political course, but hopes that the voices of sober-minded politicians calling for improving ties with Moscow will be heard, Russian Federation Council (upper house of parliament) Speaker Valentina Matviyenko said in an interview with TASS.

"Today it is evident that the European Parliament’s political landscape has changed: for the first time in history two leading factions have lost their joint majority, which enabled them to make any decisions. Now they will have to come to terms and search for a compromise with political forces, which have strengthened their positions, most notably with nationalist MPs, euroskeptics, green and other parties," Matviyenko said. The appointment of the European Commission’s chief should demonstrate whether this compromise is possible.

This political environment shows that "there are more people in Europe who are dissatisfied with current policy," Matviyenko noted. More people believe that the Old World countries should become focused on its national interests. "The number of people is growing who call for improving relations with Russia and oppose the sanctions policy," she explained.

However, the number of these voices is not enough now to change the political course in the European Parliament’s work. "One should not expect that soon the situation may drastically change here," the upper house speaker said. Meanwhile sober-minded voices are becoming louder. "We expect that these politicians will be heard and they will get more supporters," she noted.

"The Europeans understand that cooperation with Russia is beneficial for Europe and it should not be neglected, especially taking into account the ongoing negative processes in global economy," Matviyenko said.

The elections to the European Parliament were held on May 23-26.

Source: ITAR-TASS 29-05-2019

Russia to upgrade operational cruise missiles to hypersonic weapons

Work is also underway to "make the missile universal both from the viewpoint of its targets and the launch platform that is used".

MOSCOW, May 28. /TASS/. Supersonic cruise missiles operational in the Russian Armed Forces will be upgraded by increasing their range and bringing their speed to the hypersonic level, CEO and Chief Designer of the Research and Production Association of Machine-Building (part of Tactical Missiles Corporation) Alexander Leonov told TASS on Tuesday.

"The general trend in the improvement of cruise missiles is towards bringing their speed to the hypersonic level and increasing the range of their operation… This is the direction, in which we are working," the chief executive said, responding to a question about the directions of improving these weapons, in particular, about possible changes in Oniks missiles.

Work is also underway to "make the missile universal both from the viewpoint of its targets and the launch platform that is used," he added.

The Research and Production Association of Machine-Building has developed the Oniks supersonic anti-ship missile, which is launched, like Kalibr cruise missiles, from standardized launching platforms and can be fired from such carriers as Project 22350 frigates and Project 885 Yasen-class submarines. The missile’s maximum speed exceeds the speed of the sound by more than 2.5 times during its flight and its operating range is 600 km.

The Research and Production Association of Machine-Building is the main contractor for developing Russia’s Tsirkon hypersonic missile.

Source: ITAR-TASS 28-05-2019

No prospects of Minsk deal’s implementation under Zelensky, notes Russian expert

 The new Ukrainian leader also said he would not sign a law on amnesty, another important point of the deal.

MOSCOW, May 27. /TASS/. Moscow sees no prospects that the Minsk peace deal will be fulfilled under new Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, Director of the Center for Current Policy Alexei Chesnakov said in an interview with Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper on Monday.

"There aren’t any prospects at all. Before assuming office he [Zelensky] had said in public that he would not implement them," Chesnakov said commenting on the prospects of fulfilling the Minsk agreements under Zelensky.

Zelensky emphasized that Donbass would not obtain a special political status, the expert said, stressing that "this is a direct and blatant refusal to meet a key and crucial requirement of the Minsk accords." The new Ukrainian leader also said he would not sign a law on amnesty, another important point of the deal. Zelensky also refused to hold talks with representatives of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics. "But the DPR and the LPR signed all Minsk agreements, a protocol, the 2014 memorandum and the 2015 Package of Measures, and also all documents of the Contact Group," the expert stressed.

The expert highlighted that the February 2015 deal envisaged the need for coordination of all aspects of settlement with representatives of the rebel Donbass regions.

Besides, Zelensky hinted that he is not planning to cancel the discriminatory language law, which violates the right of Donbass citizens to speak Russian stipulated by the Minsk agreements.

"Where are the Minsk agreements here? What has been left out of them? He shows disrespect for Donbass, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Germany, France and Russia, which stopped the war and outlined the ways of settling the problem of Ukraine’s southeast in a challenging discussion," Chesnakov stressed.

"Moreover, after Zelensky took up the reins, the Ukrainian army continues shelling Donbass. Everything now is like under Poroshenko."

Source: ITAR-TASS 27-05-2019

Kiev forces shell five settlements in Donetsk republic, official says

According to the DPR’s mission to the Joint Center for Control and Coordination, the total number of fired munitions has reached 299.

DONETSK, May 26. /TASS/. Ukraine’s forces have violated ceasefire six times in the past day shelling the territory of five settlements in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, Head of the DPR’s mission to the Joint Center for Control and Coordination (JCCC) Ruslan Yakubov said on Sunday.

"Over the past 24 hours the overall number of violations by the Ukrainian Armed Forces has reached six," Yakubov said, according to the Donetsk News Agency. "The total number of fired munitions is 299."

The shellings targeted the villages of Zhabichevo, Mineralnoye and Staromikhailovka, and also Spartak, Veseloye in the outskirts of Donetsk. The Kiev forces used 82mm mortars, armaments of infantry fighting vehicles and armored vehicles, antiaircraft mounts, grenade launchers and large-caliber small arms.

Currently, the spring ceasefire is formally in force in Donbass, which came into effect overnight to March 8. The Kiev forces violated it five minutes after it had been introduced.

Source: ITAR-TASS 26-05-2019

Upgraded Lebedev handgun may become standard weapon of Russia’s National Guard

The MPL-1 and MPL-2 are considered as likely standard weapons for Rosgvardiya’s crack units.

BALASHIKHA /Moscow Region/, May 24. /TASS/. Russia’s National Guard (Rosgvardiya) may replace its current standard weapon - the Makarov handgun - with upgraded versions of the Lebedev handgun (MPL-1 and MPL-2), the chief of Rosgvardiya’s weapons and hardware department, Aleksey Bezzubikov, told the science and engineering forum devoted to cutting-edge technologies created for Russia’s law enforcement agencies.

"At the moment we are considering the Lebedev handgun as an option. It is a fundamental upgrade of the PL-15," he said.

The MPL-1 and MPL-2 are considered as likely standard weapons for Rosgvardiya’s crack units.

"This weapon is of interest to us. We see it as a substitute for the Makarov handgun," Bezzubikov said.

Source: ITAR-TASS 25-05-2019

Russia to take counter-measures over US radar deployment in Norway

Military preparations near the Russian borders cannot be ignored, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

MOSCOW, May 23. /TASS/. Russia reserves the right to take retaliatory measures over the deployment of a US radar in Norway, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday.

"It is obvious that military preparations near the borders, be it the Russian or some other’s border, cannot be ignored by our country, like by any other country. We proceed from the fact that retaliatory measures will be taken to ensure our security," the diplomat stressed.

"The talk is about the US Globus II radar. The radar station is based just 50 km from the border with Russia and is serviced by the military intelligence of Norway," Zakharova said.

"It is no secret for anyone that the data received is transferred directly to the United States. In April 2016, the press release of the Norwegian armed forces said that the radar station would be upgraded in 2017-2020 to comprise a new radar [Globus III whose construction is currently underway]," the Russian diplomat said.

Russia regularly raised this issue before the Norwegian side, Zakharova pointed out.

"Norwegian officials get away from explaining for what purposes the upgraded station will be used. They confine themselves to the statements that the radar system ‘generally is not aimed against Russia," although it is located 50 km from Russia, the diplomat said.

"There are all grounds to believe that the radar will be tracking precisely the territory of the Russian Federation and will become a part of the US missile shield," the spokeswoman said.

"It is obvious that the deployment of the US radar in that area is not a purely Norwegian issue. This relates to the general context of keeping stability and predictability in the North," the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman stressed.

Source: ITAR-TASS 24-05-2019

About 40 upgraded T-80 tanks arrive for motorized infantry troops in Russian Far East

The tanks will reinforce armored units of the motorized infantry brigade in the Amur Region.

BLAGOVESHCHENSK, May 23. /TASS/. About 40 upgraded T-80 tanks have arrived for motor rifle troops stationed in the Amur Region in the Russian Far East, the press office of the Eastern Military District reported on Thursday.

"About 40 modern upgraded T-80 tanks have arrived for a motorized infantry large unit of the Eastern Military District stationed in the Amur Region. The tanks will reinforce armored units of the motorized infantry brigade in the Amur Region," the statement says.

The T-80 tank is distinguished by its gas turbine powerplant, for which it was called "a flying tank." The tank can develop a speed of over 70 km/h and cover a distance of about 500 km without refueling.

"The hardware proved its worth during its operation in extreme Arctic conditions, which largely corresponds to severe Far Eastern winters. The combat vehicles that have arrived will boost considerably the efficiency of using armored units in accomplishing combat training missions," the statement says.

Source: ITAR-TASS 23-05-2019

Russia's Pacific Fleet celebrates its birthday

Russia's Pacific Fleet consists of 57 warships and 21 submarines.

Russia's Pacific Fleet is celebrating its 288th anniversary, and according to tradition, it was founded on May 21, 1731. The fleet was known as the Okhotsk Military Flotilla (1731-1856) and the Siberian Military Flotilla (1856-1918) and formed to defend Russian interests in the Russian Far East region along the Pacific coast. Today, the fleet consists of 57 warships and 21 submarines.

Source: ITAR-TASS 22-05-2019

Russia to float out latest minesweeper on May 30

The Russian Black Sea Fleet expects to get the minesweeper Vladimir Yemelyanov in 2020.

MOSCOW, May 21. /TASS/. The Project 12700 third advanced minesweeper Vladimir Yemelyanov will be floated out at the Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard in St. Petersburg on May 30, a Navy spokesman said on Tuesday.

"The ships of this class have a unique and the world’s largest hull made of monolith glass-fiber reinforced plastic and the most advanced mine countermeasures armament," the spokesman said.

In the immediate future, "the Russian Navy will operate about 40 Project 12700 ships," the spokesman noted.

The Russian Black Sea Fleet expects to get the minesweeper Vladimir Yemelyanov in 2020 after the warship undergoes state trials. The minesweeper’s crew was formed by May 20.

Project 12700 Alexandrit-class coastal-type minesweepers are referred to the new generation of minesweeping forces and are designed to fight sea mines, which the new ships can encounter in the sea and at the seabed without entering the dangerous zone. The minesweepers can employ various sweeps, as well as remotely controlled and autonomous underwater drones. The minesweepers of this Project displace 890 tonnes, are 62 meters long and ten meters wide and have a crew of 44 men.

The Project 12700 lead ship Alexander Obukhov was delivered to the Navy in 2016. In late 2018, the Shipyard transferred the Project’s second (first serial-produced) minesweeper Ivan Antonov to the Navy.

Apart from the Vladimir Yemelyanov, two more Alexandrit-class minesweepers, the Georgy Kurbatov and the Yakov Balyayev, are being built at the Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard.

Source: ITAR-TASS 21-05-2019

Belarus eager to buy Russian-made Pantsyr, Tor air defense missile systems

Today, Russian-made air defense systems, Pantsyr and Tor complexes of various modifications and, undoubtedly, Mi-35 and Mi-17 helicopters are in demand in Belarus.

MOSCOW, May 17. /TASS/. Belarus shows interest in buying Russian-made air defense systems, including Pantsyr surface-to-air missile/gun complexes and Tor systems of various modifications, Head of Russia’s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport Alexander Mikheyev told TASS at the HeliRussia-2019 exhibition on Friday.

"Today, Russian-made air defense systems, Pantsyr and Tor complexes of various modifications and, undoubtedly, Mi-35 and Mi-17 helicopters are in demand in Belarus. The Ansat helicopter also evokes big interest, considering its characteristics and its price. This also refers to the Ka-226 helicopter and small arms," Mikheyev said as he summed up the results of the work of the Rosoboronexport delegation at the Milex-2019 arms show in Belarus.

In Belarus, Russia has many partners that are engaged in cooperation with all Russian enterprises, which produce aircraft, helicopters and the armor, the chief executive said.

"That is why, the Milex exhibition has a professional tinge from the viewpoint of the meetings of engineers, specialists and producers of first-and second-tier cooperation," the Rosoboronexport head said.

The Milex-2019 international arms show runs in Minsk on May 15-18. The exposition of Russian enterprises covers an area of over 500 sq. m. The Russian defense manufacturers Almaz-Antey, Rosoboronexport, Uralvagonzavod and Tecmash have put their products on display at the Milex exhibition.

Source: ITAR-TASS 19-05-2019

Ukrainian army shells Lugansk Republic six times over past 24 hours, says LPR militia

According to the spokesman, the fire was conducted from mortars.

LUGANSK, May 18. /TASS/. The Ukrainian army has shelled the positions of people’s militia in the self-proclaimed Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR) six times over the past 24 hours, the LPR defense ministry said on Saturday.

"The shelling targeted the areas of Pervomaisk, the urban-type settlement of Frunze, the villages of Zhelobok and Smeloye," the LuganskInformCenter news agency quoted a spokesman for the LPR people’s militia as saying.

According to the spokesman, the fire was conducted from mortars.

The Contact Group’s security subgroup agreed to declare a new ‘spring’ ceasefire in Donbass on March 7. It entered into force from the midnight of March 8 according to the Kiev time (01:00 Moscow time). However, the Ukrainian military broke the truce just five minutes after it had taken effect.

Source: ITAR-TASS 18-05-2019

Russia to take reciprocal measures in response to new US sanctions

The US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control earlier added Chechnya's Terek Special Rapid Response Team and five Russian nationals to the sanctions list.

WASHINGTON, May 17. /TASS/. Russia will take reciprocal measures in response to new US sanctions introduced on the basis of the Magnitsky Act, the Russian Embassy in Washington D.C. said in a statement released on Thursday.

"Washington's new anti-Russian steps are associated with the so-called Magnitsky Act," the embassy said. "They represent an attempt to force unilateral measures of coercion which go against international law and cannot be considered as a civilized way of communication between countries," the embassy added noting that "reciprocal measures will follow."

"When we responded reciprocally before, we always stressed that this is not our choice. We strive for cooperation with the United States in the long term. We are ready for this and think that this is a right choice," the embassy said.

"US sanctions against the Terek Special Rapid Response Team from Chechnya reflect either the intention to complicate international cooperation in the fight against terrorism, or the fear of the team's potential to operate in the Arctic. Moreover, such unconstructive decisions clearly go against the positive atmosphere of the recent Russian-US talks in Sochi," the embassy concluded.

The US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) earlier added Chechnya's Terek Special Rapid Response Team and five Russian nationals, including Terek's commander Abuzayed Vismuradov, to the sanctions list on the basis of the Magnitsky Act.

The Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act was passed by the US Congress and signed by then-President Barack Obama in December 2012. The law particularly specified sanctions against a number of Russian officials, including law enforcement officers, believed by Washington to have played a role in the death of Sergei Magnitsky, an auditor at the Hermitage Capital Management company, who died in a Moscow detention center in November 2009.

The act envisages sanctioning Russian officials whom the US considers to be responsible for human rights violations. It particularly allows the US government to freeze assets and ban visas for officials.

Source: ITAR-TASS 17-05-2019

Nearly half of Ukrainians ready to support idea of Donbass autonomy, poll shows

According to the survey, 24.5% of respondents support the idea of autonomy, while another 24.4% are likely to support it.

KIEV, May 16. /TASS/. Nearly half of Ukrainians support the idea of granting autonomy to the Donbass republics within Ukraine and finding a peaceful solution to the conflict, shows a poll conducted by the Social Monitoring center, the Rating sociological group and the Yaremenko Ukrainian Institute for Social Research.

According to the survey’s results, 24.5% of respondents support the idea of autonomy, while another 24.4% are likely to support it. At the same time, 20.7% of those polled spoke out against Donbass autonomy another 12.8% said they were likely to oppose such an initiative.

The poll involving 3,000 respondents was conducted in 24 Ukrainian regions and the capital of Kiev from April 30 to May 10. The margin of error does not exceed 1.83%.

Source:  ITAR-TASS 16-05-2019

Russia to upgrade T-72 main battle tanks for Belarus

The upgraded T-72B3s will be the most advanced and effective main battle tanks in the Belarusian Army, the source said.

MOSCOW, May 15. /TASS/. Russia will modernize another batch of T-72 main battle tanks for the Belarusian Army, Russia’s Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation told TASS at the 9th Milex-2019 international arms show in Minsk on Wednesday.

"The tanks modernized earlier were delivered to Minsk in November 2018. At present, the issue of modernizing another batch of tanks in the interests of the Defense Ministry of the Republic of Belarus is being considered," the federal agency said.

A source in the Belarusian Land Forces told TASS that fifteen T-72B tanks had been upgraded to the level of T-72B3 tanks of the 2016 version for the republican Defense Ministry.

"The upgrade of 10 more tanks is expected," the source said.

The upgraded T-72B3s will be the most advanced and effective main battle tanks in the Belarusian Army, the source added.

The Milex-2019 arms show runs in Minsk on May 15-18.

Source: ITAR-TASS 15-05-2019

Russian, Kazakh military to hold joint exercises in both countries 2019

Russia’s deputy defense minister said Russian and Kazakh military servicemen maintained close cooperation in joint operative and combat training events.

NUR-SULTAN, May 14. /TASS/. Russia and Kazakhstan will exchange military contingents for participation in exercises to be held in each other’s territory this year, Russia’s Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin said on Tuesday.

Kazakhstan’s military contingent will participate in the strategic command-staff exercise Center-2019 in Russia. In exchange, Russian military personnel will be delegated for taking part in the Shygys exercise in Kazakhstan, Fomin said at the beginning of Russian-Kazakh defense policy coordination consultations.

The two countries’ military personnel are to perform joint combat training tasks within the framework of the exercise to be held in accordance with the CSTO’s package of plans entitled Combat Brotherhood.

Fomin said Russian and Kazakh military servicemen maintained close cooperation in joint operative and combat training events.

"We pay special attention to this aspect of cooperation," Fomin said.

In particular, he emphasized the International Army Games.

"I would like to stress the active participation of the Kazakh army’s teams in these large-scale competitions. I wish you all high results and victories. We are very grateful to our Kazakh friends for hosting three contests," he said.

Source: ITAR-TASS 14-05-2019

Group of Northern Fleet ships enter Norwegian Sea

The group is heading to Severomorsk, the main base of the Northern Fleet.

MOSCOW, May 13. /TASS/. A group of Northern Fleet ships led by the Severomorsk large anti-submarine ship entered the Norwegian Sea on the way to the home base, the fleet’s press service reported on Monday.

"The Severomorsk large ant-submarine ship and the Vyazma medium sea tanker entered the southern part of the Norwegian Sea. The group is heading to Severomorsk, the main base of the Northern Fleet. It is expected to arrive at the end of the week," the statement says.

On May 9, the ships passed the English Channel, where the crews carried out a rally to commemorate the 74th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War, the press service said.

During the long voyage, which started in July 2018, the Severomorsk passed through the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, took part in the Main Naval Parade in the Kronstadt Roadstead and in the joint-force drills of the Russian Navy in the Mediterranean Sea. It also carried out a number of military-diplomatic tasks, called on the ports of Algiers, Victoria, Pemba, Antsiranana and Djibouti and took part in the Russian-Pakistani anti-piracy drills dubbed "Arabian Monsoon - 2018."

The ship was overhauled in Sevastopol from mid-January to early March, after which it continued its operation in the Mediterranean Sea.

The Northern Fleet’s crew covered more than 40,000 nautical miles and carried out tens of combat exercises, in which they trained to counter piracy and terrorist activity at sea, carry out the ship’s self-defense and search, identify and track submarines.

Source: ITAR-TASS 13-05-2019

Prisoner exchange in Donbass depends on Zelensky’s political will, politician says

Viktor Medvedchuk said earlier that outgoing Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko’s lack of political will was the main reason why the prisoner exchange process had stalled.

KIEV, May 11. /TASS/. It is possible to exchange prisoners in Donbass in three to five days if Ukraine’s President-Elect Vladimir Zelensky shows political will, Chairman of the Political Council of Ukraine’s Opposition Platform - For life party Viktor Medvedchuk wrote on Twitter on Saturday.

"It is possible to free our guys in Donetsk and Lugansk (there are 62 of them there) in three to five days. Zelensky needs to show political will for that," the tweet reads.

Medvedchuk said earlier that outgoing Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko’s lack of political will was the main reason why the prisoner exchange process had stalled. According to Medvedchuk, this is why he refused to participate in meetings of the Contact Group on resolving the situation in eastern Ukraine. In his view, the Ukrainian authorities had no intention to implement previously reached agreements on the "all-for-all" prisoner exchange.

The "all-for-all" prisoner swap is one of the key features of the Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Agreements, singed in February 2015. The latest prisoner exchange took place on December 27, 2017. Kiev handed 233 prisoners to the Donbass republics and received 73 prisoners in return. Both parties stressed that the prisoner exchange process had not been completed and they were determined to do everything possible to continue it. However, the parties have so far been unable to reach new agreements on the issue.

Source: ITAR-TASS 12-05-2019

Butina has been transferred from Alexandria jail, says attorney

Where she has been transferred is anybody’s guess so far.

WASHINGTON, May 11. /TASS/. The Russian citizen Maria Butina, who is currently serving a prison sentence in the US for espionage, has been transferred from the jail in Alexandria, Virginia, where she has stayed until now, her attorney Robert Driscoll told TASS on Friday.

"I have contacted the prison authorities, she is not there. Where she has been transferred is anybody’s guess so far," he said.

The US Federal Bureau of Prisons told TASS earlier that Butina would stay at a detention center in Alexandria, Virginia, and would be released from custody on November 5, 2019.

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 December 13, Butina pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the US law governing foreign agents operating in the country and signed a plea bargain.

Butina went to the United States for a college course. Last spring she obtained a master’s degree in international relations from American University.

Source: ITAR-TASS 11-05-2019

Over 10 mln people join Immortal Regiment marches in Russia

In 2018, the Immortal Regiment marches brought together the same number of ten million people.

MOSCOW, May 9. /TASS/. More than ten million people have taken part in the Immortal Regiment marches across Russia, Interior Ministry Spokeswoman Irina Volk told TASS on Thursday.

"More than ten million people have participated in the event across the country," she said.

In 2018, the 'Immortal Regiment' marches brought together the same number of ten million people.

The ‘Immortal Regiment’ march is an annual event held throughout Russia and in other countries on May 9. The event is dedicated to victory in the Great Patriotic War (as WWII is called in Russia) that claimed lives of about 28 million Soviet people, both soldiers and civilians. During the march, people carry portraits of their relatives who fought or died during the war.

The idea was born in the Russian Siberian city of Tyumen in 2007 when the march was called the Victors’ Parade. In 2012, another Siberian city of Tomsk picked up the torch renaming the rally as ‘Immortal Regiment.’ The next year, about 120 cities joined in. A year later, people carried portraits of their relatives, who fought during WWII, in 500 cities in seven countries. Since 2015, the ‘Immortal Regiment’ march has officially become a nationwide event.

Source:  ITAR-TASS 10-05-2019

Victory Day Parade in Moscow

Russia celebrates the 74th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s Victory over Nazi Germany.

The parade devoted to the 74th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s Victory over Nazi Germany in the 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War began in Moscow’s Red Square.

The parade began with the march of the banner group of the Preobrazhesnky Regiment’s Honor Guard’s battalion carrying the Russian flag and the legendary Victory Banner across Red Square. The Victory Banner was hoisted over the Reichstag by soldiers of the 150th Idritskaya division in May 1945.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, war veterans and guests are staying on the central tribune in Red Square. Russian Defense Minister Army General Sergei Shoigu is reviewing the parade, which is commanded by Land Forces Commander-in-Chief Army General Oleg Salyukov.

Over 13,000 troops and more than 130 items of advanced weapon systems are involved in the Victory Day Parade in Moscow’s Red Square.

Source: ITAR-TASS 09-05-2019

Russian upgraded Su-25 attack aircraft to get sighting system with artificial intelligence

The target acquisition system with artificial intelligence will be able to independently identify hostile targets, keep them in sight and guide missiles.

MOSCOW, May 8. /TASS/. Russia’s upgraded Su-25SM3 attack aircraft will get an onboard target acquisition and sighting system with artificial intelligence elements to allow pilots to strike designated targets actually without their participation, a source in the defense industry told TASS on Wednesday.

"As part of further upgrade of attack aircraft, the latest Su-25SM3 versions will be furnished with a new sighting system. It will be fully automated and a pilot will only have to select a target on the screen and all the rest will be done by artificial intelligence," the source said.

The target acquisition system with artificial intelligence will be able to independently identify hostile targets, keep them in sight and guide missiles. The new technology has been integrated into the unified troop command and control system, which allows mapping an optimal route towards the target and the trajectory of using weapons. Upgraded attack aircraft will also be able to receive data on targets from external sources through the command and control system.

A source in the aircraft-building industry earlier told TASS that the upgraded Mi-28NM attack helicopter would get a similar system with artificial intelligence.

Expert opinion

As Editor-in-Chief of the Arsenal of the Fatherland journal Viktor Murakhovsky told TASS, the new system is capable of accomplishing a whole range of tasks. "This includes re-targeting during a flight, the issuance of new flight assignments and integration into the battlefield reconnaissance and information space," he said.

The new target acquisition system really features artificial intelligence elements, the chief editor said. "When picking a target, the aircraft’s onboard information and control system automatically maps the most optimal route towards this target in compliance with the selected tactics… The system can also offer options for employing the weapon payload against such a target, the variants of tactical and air maneuvers with regard to this target," the expert explained.

Besides, the attack aircraft equipped with this system can guide weapons using target acquisition from external sources, the expert said.

"It can get target acquisition from ground-based hardware, for example, from the Strelets reconnaissance, control and communications system [part of the Ratnik soldier combat gear]," the expert concluded.

The Su-25SM3 is a modernized version of the Su-25 attack aircraft. The plane is capable of destroying small-size ground installations and air targets at any time of day or night. The attack aircraft’s combat efficiency has increased threefold compared to other modifications. As distinct from its predecessors, the upgraded aircraft is equipped with the Glonass satellite navigation system that offers a possibility of programming a final point on the map with an accuracy of up to 10 meters while the cockpit has a digital display with an option of projecting the ground and air situation.

Source: ITAR-TASS 08-05-2019

Advanced silent mortars start arriving for Russian Army

According to a defence industry source, the 2B25 mortar is capable of silently destroying a target at a distance of over 1 km.

MOSCOW, May 7. /TASS/. The Russian Army has started to receive the most advanced 2B25 ‘Gull’ silent mortars, a source in the defense industry told TASS on Tuesday.

"The deliveries of 2B25 silent mortars to the troops have begun. In particular, special-purpose units received several dozen such mortars recently. During its operation, the Gull proved its worth as an easy-to-operate and reliable weapon, which is actually stealthy," the source said.

The 2B25 mortar is capable of silently destroying a target at a distance of over 1 km, the source added.

The deliveries of 2B25 mortars to the Russian Army will be continued, the source said, without giving any other details.

Russia will further carry out its work to improve silent mortars, the source noted. "Currently, specialists are studying the possibility of developing a silent mortar of a smaller caliber, presumably, a 60mm gun capable of striking targets at a distance of up to 3.5-4 km."

The 82mm 2B25 ‘Gull’ mortar has been developed by the Burevestnik Central Research and Development Institute (part of the Uralvagonzavod defense manufacturer within the state hi-tech corporation Rostec). The mortar’s stated characteristics suggest that it is capable of striking targets at a distance of up to 1,200 m and at a rate of fire of 15 rounds per minute. The 2B25 is currently the sole silent mortar on the world arms market.

Source: ITAR-TASS 07-05-2019

Immortal Regiment march takes place in Sydney for seventh time

Earlier the Immortal Regiment walked along the streets of Melbourne, attracting over 100 people.

SYDNEY, May 5. /TASS/. The Immortal Regiment march commemorating World War II heroes has started in Australian cities. The participants in the procession walked along the central streets of Sydney on Sunday.

"The Immortal Regiment event traditionally attracts a great number of fellow countrymen in Australia, though there are not so many Russians here, but nevertheless our column is becoming increasingly crowded each year. Over 100 people have gathered in the city center carrying portraits of their grandfathers and great grandfathers today despite a heavy rainfall, to commemorate the heroes who died during World War II," the coordinator of the march Kseniya Trifonova told TASS.

The Immortal Regiment column walked along Sydney’s central streets from Martin Place to the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (Anzac) memorial where the participants laid flowers to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and observed a moment of silence. The people in the column carried not only the portraits of World War II veterans, but also the Russian and Australian flags.

According to the coordinator of the procession in Sydney, the Immortal Regiment event has already become a tradition for Australia. "Marches have been held in Sydney since 2013, though initially the column walked well before Victory Day, on April 25, on Anzac Day. However, this is the third year that it takes place as a completely independent event, which we are attempting to hold on the weekend closest to Victory Day for as many fellow countrymen to be able to participate in it as possible, since people like it," Trifonova said.

The Immortal Regiment event is extremely important not only for Russia-and CIS-born marchers as each year it attracts a growing number of Australians interested in the history of World War II and the role of the Soviet people in achieving the victory in it, the participants of the procession said.

Earlier the Immortal Regiment walked along the streets of Melbourne, attracting over 100 people. On Monday, May 6, the column will walk along the streets of Brisbane. On May 12, New Zealand’s Auckland will join the Immortal Regiment march.

The Immortal Regiment procession is a public event where people carry photos of their relatives who participated in the Great Patriotic War. The first march was held in the Siberian city of Tyumen in 2007, under the name of the Parade of the Victorious. In 2013, the procession was held in 120 cities. In the following year, citizens of 500 cities in seven countries walked along the streets carrying the portraits of veterans. Sydney joined the event in 2013. The Immortal Regiment marches have taken place in Brisbane since 2015, and in Melbourne - since 2017.

Source: ITAR-TASS 05-05-2019

Four soldiers injured, one dead after ammunition explosion in the Urals

According to preliminary data, the military servicemen, violating safety requirements, lighted a campfire, which caused the explosion of ammunition.

YEKATERINBURG, May 4. /TASS/. Five military servicemen have been wounded after the ammunition exploded at a shooting range in Russia’s Sverdlovsk Region, one of them died of wounds, the press service of the Central Military District told reporters on Saturday.

"The Central Military District’s commission and the military prosecutor’s office are ascertaining the circumstances of the accident that occurred at a shooting range in the Sverdlovsk Region, which killed one military servicemen, while four others were wounded. According to preliminary data, on May 3, 2019, the military servicemen, violating safety requirements, lighted a campfire, which caused the explosion of ammunition," the press service said.

It added that the wounded individuals had been promptly taken to the garrison’s military hospital where they received the necessary medical care.

Source: ITAR-TASS 04-05-2019

Russian Navy to receive 40 advanced minesweepers by 2030

Anti-mine defense ships are being serially built as part of the efforts to develop and rearm the Navy’s minesweeping forces.

MOSCOW, April 30. /TASS/. The Russian Navy plans to operate about 40 Project 12700 mine countermeasures vessels by 2030, Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Vladimir Korolyov said at a meeting on surface shipbuilding on Tuesday.

"Anti-mine defense ships are being serially built as part of the efforts to develop and rearm the Navy’s minesweeping forces. Before 2030, the Russian Navy plans to operate about 40 Project 12700 mine countermeasures ships," the Navy chief said.

The third newest ship of this series, the Vladimir Yemelyanov, will be floated out until the end of the second quarter of 2019.

The minesweeper is under construction at the Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard in St. Petersburg in northwest Russia. Two more warships of this Project, the Georgiy Kurbatov and the Yakov Balyayev, are at the Shipyard’s slipways featuring a different extent of their readiness.

Russian Navy Shipbuilding Chief Vladimir Tryapichnikov earlier said that the Fleet expected to get 40 Project 12700 fiberglass minesweepers by 2030-2050. The capacities of the Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard allow it to build two minesweepers a year and subsequently three mine countermeasures vessels annually for the Navy.

Project 12700 minesweepers

The Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard is using the most advanced Russian technologies unrivaled in world shipbuilding to construct these minesweepers. The ships of this Project have a unique and the world’s largest hull made of monolith glass-fiber reinforced plastic. The hull weighs considerably less compared to its metal version while its strength increases significantly. This hull is completely unsusceptible to corrosion while its service life is practically unlimited, given compliance with the standards of its operation.

Project 12700 has been developed by the Almaz Central Marine Design Bureau for the Russian Navy. The warships of this type are referred to the new generation of minesweeping forces and are designed to fight sea mines, which the new ships can encounter in the sea and at the seabed without entering the dangerous zone. The minesweepers can employ various sweeps, as well as remotely controlled and autonomous underwater drones to fight mines. The minesweepers of this Project displace 890 tonnes, are 62 meters long and ten meters wide and have a crew of 44 men.

Source: ITAR-TASS 03-05-2019

Kiev forces shell Donetsk filter station, ceasefire control center says

Eight munitions were fired, but no casualties have been reported.

DONETSK, May 2. /TASS/. Ukraine’s forces opened fire at the Donetsk water filter station on Thursday, and its workers are now hiding in a shelter, the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic’s mission to the Joint Center for Ceasefire Control and Coordination said.

"At 13:15 p.m. the Ukrainian Armed Forces opened fire from the Avdeyevka settlement from the direction of Yasinovataya using 120mm mortars and also large-caliber machine guns. The Donetsk filter station came under fire," the JCCC said, according to the Donetsk News Agency.

Eight munitions were fired, but so far no casualties have been reported by the authorities.

At the April 24 Contact Group’s meeting its participants failed to agree on an all-encompassing and lasting ceasefire. Russia’s envoy to the peace talks Boris Gryzlov said the Ukrainian delegation continued stonewalling the efforts on establishing a lasting ceasefire in Donbass and refused to coordinate additional measures on control over fulfilling the truce.

Source: ITAR-TASS 02-05-2019

Over 100,000 take part in May 1 demonstration in Moscow - police

Police, troops of the National Guard and members of people’s guards are ensuring security and public order.

MOSCOW, May 1. /TASS/. More than 100,000 people gathered in Moscow for a demonstration of trade unions dedicated to Spring and Labor Day, the Interior Ministry’s press service told TASS on Wednesday.

"A demonstration is being held in Moscow organized by the Moscow Federation of Trade Unions, which is dedicated to celebrating Spring and Labor Day," a spokesman said.

Police, troops of the National Guard and members of people’s guards are ensuring security and public order.

Source: ITAR-TASS 01-05-2019