Kalashnikov begins serial production of new missile for Strela-10M air defense system

The concern stressed that the missile was a fire-and-forget weapon.

MOSCOW, December 24. /TASS/. The concern Kalashnikov (an affiliate of Rostec) has launched batch production of a new guided missile 9M333 for the air defense systems of the Strela-10M family, the concern’s press service said on Thursday.

"Onsite testing of the missile at the Donguz test site in the Orenburg Region has been completed successfully. The missile’s batch production has begun under a contract with the Defense Ministry," the news release runs.

Kalashnikov stressed that the newly-developed missile was a fire-and-forget weapon.

"The missile’s distinguishing feature is a self-homing warhead operating in three modes (optical contrast, infrared and anti-jamming), which is its key advantage over other weapons of the same class," the press service said.

The 9M333 missile is capable of hitting low-flying planes and helicopters amid optical jamming as well as drones and cruise missiles.

The air defense systems of the Strela-10M family provide protection for troops on the ground during combat and on the march from air attack and reconnaissance aircraft operating at low and very low altitudes. Currently it is one of the most widely used air defense systems in the world.

Source: ITAR-TASS 26-12-2020

Program for testing missile Tsirkon in 2020 completed successfully, source says

In the outgoing year three scheduled launches were made: two against naval targets and one against an on-land surface target, the source said.

MOSCOW, December 25. /TASS/. The program for flight-testing the hypersonic missile Tsirkon in 2020 has been completed, with three successful launches from the Northern Fleet’s frigate The Admiral Gorshkov carried out, a source in the defense-industrial complex told TASS.

"In the outgoing year three scheduled launches were made: two against naval targets and one against an on-land surface target," the source said. "The accuracy was amazing. All missiles hit the bull’s eye."

The military-industrial corporation NPO Mashinostroyeniya (an affiliate of the Tactical Missiles Corporation), which developed and manufactures the Tsirkon has refrained from comment.

For the first time a hypersonic cruise missile Tsirkon was launched from the frigate The Admiral Gorshkov at the beginning of October 2020. The missile, fired from the White Sea, hit a naval target in the Barents Sea. It developed a maximum speed of Mach 8 and rose to an altitude of 28 kilometers. The next launch followed in November. The Tsirkon hit a naval target 450 kilometers away and developed a speed of above Mach 8, the Defense Ministry said. On December 11 the Defense Ministry said there had been a third launch.

Test launches from The Admiral Gorshkov will be completed in 2021. Later, the missile will begin to be launched from the nuclear-powered submarine The Severodvinsk.

Source: ITAR-TASS 25-12-2020

Work on Sarmat ballistic missile nears completion — Putin

The system has been in the process of development since the 2000s to replace the R-36M2 Voyevoda ICBM.

MOSCOW, December 17. /TASS/. Work on the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile goes on actively and is now nearing completion, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

"Work on the Sarmat proceeds actively, and is now at the final stage. As for Poseidon [an unmanned underwater vehicle - TASS], work goes on well. Work on a missile with a nuclear global-distance system also proceeds as scheduled," he said at his annual news conference.

According to the president, work on other weapon systems that was announced in his state-of-the-nation address also proceeds as scheduled. "Some of them - the Kinzhal and the Peresvet laser weapon - have been put into service," he said.

The RS-28 Sarmat is a Russian advanced silo-based system with a heavy liquid-propellant intercontinental ballistic missile. It has been in the process of development since the 2000s to replace the R-36M2 Voyevoda ICBM. It weighs about 200 tonnes and has a throw weight of around 10 tonnes. The Sarmat is capable of breaching any existing and future missile defenses.

Source: ITAR-TASS 20-12-2020

Russia to build up support for Donbass, Putin says

That concerns support for production, solving social problems and infrastructure issues, Putin said.

MOSCOW, December 17. /TASS/. Russia will continue to upscale support for Donbass, Russian President Vladimir Putin told reporters at an annual news conference on Thursday.

"We, Russia, will support Donbass the way we did before. We will even build up our support for Donbass. That concerns support for production, solving social problems, infrastructure issues and so on," the head of state said.

"Without a doubt, you may rest assured that we realize the complexity of the situation in Donbass," Putin stressed responding to a question on the issue. "I repeat that not only will we [continue to provide] humanitarian assistance. We will continue to do so as far as direct cooperation is concerned."

Source: ITAR-TASS 17-12-2020

Russian MiG-31 fighter intercepts US spy plane over Bering Sea

After the foreign spy plane flew away from the Russian state border, the MiG-31 fighter safely returned to its home base.

MOSCOW, December 11. /TASS/. A MiG-31 fighter was scrambled to intercept a US Air Force RC-135 reconnaissance plane near the Russian borders over the Bering Sea, the Defense Ministry’s National Defense Control Center reported on Friday.

Russian radars detected an air target over the neutral waters of the Bering Sea approaching the Russian state border on December 11. A MiG-31 fighter from the Pacific Fleet’s air defense quick reaction alert forces was scrambled to prevent the violation of the state border, the National Defense Control Center said.

"The Russian fighter’s crew identified the air target as a US Air Force RC-135 strategic reconnaissance aircraft and escorted it," the Center said.

After the foreign spy plane flew away from the Russian state border, the MiG-31 fighter safely returned to its home base, the statement says.

"The Russian fighter’s flight proceeded in strict compliance with the international rules of using the airspace," the National Defense Control Center said.

The US aircraft was not allowed to violate the Russian state border, it stressed.

Source: ITAR-TASS 12-12-2020

Russian Navy frigate test-fires Tsirkon hypersonic missile from White Sea

The Tsirkon missile successfully struck the coastal target at a distance of over 350 km.

MOSCOW, December 11. /TASS/. The Project 22350 frigate Admiral Gorshkov successfully test-fired a Tsirkon hypersonic missile from the White Sea towards the proving ground in the northern Arkhangelsk Region, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Friday.

"The Project 22350 lead frigate Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov test-fired a Tsirkon hypersonic cruise missile from the White Sea against a target at the Chizha proving ground in the Arkhangelsk Region," the statement says.

The Tsirkon missile successfully struck the coastal target at a distance of over 350 km, the Defense Ministry said.

"The missile flew at a speed of over Mach 8," it said.

The Tsirkon hypersonic missile was test-launched as part of the trials of new weapons. The forces of the Northern Fleet’s Belomorsk naval base closed the area of the test-fire, the ministry said.

The frigate Admiral Gorshkov test-launched a Tsirkon hypersonic cruise missile for the first time in early October. The missile launched from the White Sea struck a sea target in the Barents Sea. The Tsirkon developed a speed of Mach 8 and climbed to an altitude of 28 km. The next test-launch took place in November. A Tsirkon missile successfully struck a sea target at a distance of 450 km, developing a speed of over Mach 8.

Tsirkon hypersonic missile

In February 2011, then-Deputy Defense Minister Vladimir Popovkin announced plans to develop the Tsirkon shipborne system with a hypersonic missile. According to media reports, the missile’s flight tests began in 2015.

In his State-of-the-Nation Address to the Federal Assembly in February 2019, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the work on the Tsirkon hypersonic missile was proceeding as scheduled. As the Russian leader said, the Tsirkon was capable of developing a speed of about Mach 9 and its striking range capability could exceed 1,000 km. The Russian leader also said that the Tsirkon could strike both naval and ground targets. Putin specified at the time there were plans to deploy Tsirkon on serial-produced surface ships and submarines, including the warships built or under construction for Kalibr cruise missiles.

Russia uses the 3S-14 universal shipborne launcher for the launches of Tsirkon hypersonic weapons and Kalibr cruise missiles. These launchers, in particular, are operational on Russian Navy Project 22350 frigates and Project 20380 corvettes.

Source: ITAR-TASS 11-12-2020

Russian peacekeepers report no ceasefire violations in Nagorno-Karabakh

The situation in the peacekeeping operation zone is calm.

MOSCOW, December 10. /TASS/. The ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh is being observed fully, with no violations or provocations reported during the past day, Dmitry Perepelkin, a deputy chief of the Russian peacekeeping contingent’s reconciliation center, said on Thursday.

"The peacekeeping contingent is exercising control, under its mandate, of the implementation of the agreements on the cessation of fire and hostilities along the contact line in Nagorno-Karabakh. The situation in the peacekeeping operation zone is calm. Neither ceasefire violations nor provocations were reported," he said.

According to Perepelkin, Russian peacekeepers are controlling the ceasefire at 23 observation posts and conduct patrol missions along the contact line and in the Lachinsky corridor. They also ensure safe movements of civilian population and escort refugees returning to the homes in Nagorno-Karabakh. Apart from that, Russian servicemen conduct humanitarian operations and help restore civil infrastructure facilities.

By today, more than 36,000 people have returned to Nagorno-Karabakh. Public transport, government, medical and educational establishments have resumed operation. The electricity supply system has been restored to 85% thanks to Russian peacekeepers. The gas supplies system has been fully restored.

The second military hospital has been organized in the settlement of Mardakert. Russian peacekeepers jointly with employees of the International Committee of the Red Cross have organized exchange of the bodies of those killed between the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides.

Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27, with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The area experienced flare-ups of violence in the summer of 2014, in April 2016 and this past July.

On November 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on a complete ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh starting from November 10. Under the document, the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides stopped at the positions that they had held and Russian peacekeepers were deployed to the region. The Russian peacekeeping contingent in Nagorno-Karabakh basically comprises units of the 15th separate motor rifle (peacekeeping) brigade of the Central Military District.

The Russian peacekeepers have set up observation posts along the engagement line in Nagorno-Karabakh and along the Lachinsky corridor that connects Armenia with the enclave to exercise control of the ceasefire observance. The peacekeeping mission’s command is stationed in Stepanakert in Nagorno-Karabakh. The situation in the area is monitored round-the-clock.

Source: ITAR-TASS 10-12-2020

FSB thwarts illegal border crossing attempt by three armed perpetrators from Ukraine

After exchanging fire one of them was killed, two others fled.

MOSCOW, December 4. /TASS/. Russian border guards have foiled an illegal border crossing attempt by three armed perpetrators from Ukraine. As the Public Relations Center of the Federal Security Service (FSB) told TASS, after exchanging fire one of them was killed, two others fled.

"The incident occurred at the section of the border under the FSB Directorate for the Belgorod and Voronezh Regions on December 4. A border guard detachment thwarted the border violation attempt from Ukraine into the Russian Federation by three armed unidentified individuals. During an attempt to detain them, the perpetrators responded with armed resistance," the Public Relations Center reported.

As a result of a retaliatory fire, one of them was fatally injured, the two others fled to the territory of Ukraine.

The investigation is underway. The FSB has not reported yet other details of the incident.

Source: ITAR-TASS 05-12-2020

Russia’s latest S-300 air defense units enter combat duty on Kuril Islands

Earlier, the commander of the Eastern Military District’s forces personally checked readiness to enter combat duty.

YUZHNO-SAKHALINSK, December 1. /TASS/. Units of Russia’s latest S-300V4 air defense missile system entered combat duty on the Kuril Islands, the press service of the Eastern Military District said on Tuesday.

"Units of the S-300V4 missile defense system entered combat duty on an air defense mission on the Kuril Islands," the statement said.

Earlier, Commander of the Eastern Military District’s forces Col. Gen. and the Hero of Russia Gennady Zhidko personally checked readiness to enter combat duty. He highly appreciated coordinated work of units and forces on duty during the drills when a signal was received on Russia’s air border violation.

The S-300V4 is an advanced highly mobile air defense missile system designated to protect vital military and administrative facilities and groupings of forces against strikes by ballistic and aerodynamic air attack weapons. This is the fourth version of the upgraded S-300V battlefield anti-aircraft missile system.

Source: ITAR-TASS 01-12-2020

West uses technologies of staging mass riots in Russia and Belarus, says Lavrov

The Western media and officials "voice nearly ultimatums against us," he said.

MINSK, November 26. /TASS/. Western countries are employing technologies of organizing mass riots in Russia and Belarus, while their officials set ultimatums against Moscow and Minsk, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday.

"Russia and Belarus are under pressure aimed at changing our stance and limiting our countries’ development. The Western media and officials voice nearly ultimatums against us. There have been too many facts of meddling in domestic affairs. They are using the technology of organizing mass riots, and the opposition gets financial and other support," Lavrov said after a board meeting of the two countries’ Foreign Ministries.

In this situation the West is playing "a game without rules" style, Lavrov noted. "Without giving any evidence they are slapping unilateral sanctions. The work of cooperation formats, which had been built for years, is frozen," Russia’s top diplomat said.

Source: ITAR-TASS 28-11-2020

Russia to wrap up work on breakthrough S-500 air defense missile system in 2021

Russia is developing the S-500 with a view of its operation in the next 25 years.

MOSCOW, November 27. /TASS/. Russia will complete its work on the most advanced S-500 anti-aircraft missile system in 2021, Aerospace Force Deputy Commander-in-Chief Lieutenant-General Andrei Yudin said in an interview with the Defense Ministry’s Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper on Friday.

"It should be noted that the work on developing the S-500 mobile air defense and anti-ballistic missile system is scheduled to be completed in 2021," the general said.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov said at the Army-2020 international arms show that the S-500 system was already undergoing state trials and work was underway to purchase parts for its serial production.

Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexei Krivoruchko said in February that military specialists had held the trials of the world’s unrivaled surface-to-air missiles for the latest S-500 air defense system last year.

The deputy defense minister said in December 2019 that the preliminary tests of the S-500 anti-aircraft missile system would begin in 2020 and the commencement of its serial deliveries to the troops was scheduled for 2025.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu earlier said that the deliveries of the latest S-500 surface-to-air missile systems to the troops would begin in 2020. Russia has been training specialists to learn to operate the new system at the Military Academy of the Aerospace Force in Tver since 2017.

Russia is developing the S-500 with a view of its operation in the next 25 years. As the Western media reported, the new Russian missile system struck the target at a range of 481.2 km or 80 km more compared to any existing missile system.

Source: ITAR-TASS 27-11-2020

Putin extends counter-sanctions until end of 2021

The government has been instructed to ensure the implementation of the decree and, if necessary, make proposals to change the period of validity of these counter-sanctions.

MOSCOW, November 21. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree extending certain special economic measures against countries that have imposed sanctions on the Russian Federation until December 31, 2021. The document was published on Saturday on the official website of legal information.

The government has been instructed to ensure the implementation of the decree and, if necessary, make proposals to change the period of validity of these counter-sanctions.

In March 2014, due to the situation in Ukraine, the European Union and a number of countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, Switzerland, New Zealand, Iceland, began to impose sanctions on Russia. In particular, it included a sanctions lists of Russian individuals and legal entities. Restrictive measures included a ban on entry, freezing of accounts. In addition, the so-called sectoral sanctions were introduced: the assets of the companies falling under them were not frozen, but restrictions were imposed on medium and long-term lending.

In response, on August 6, 2014, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree, based on which the Russian government imposed a ban on imports of a number of food products from the United States, the European Union, Norway, Australia, and Canada.

After the EU countries extended sanctions against Russia on June 22, 2015, on June 24, Putin extended the food embargo for another year. Subsequently, it was extended three times, most recently on June 24, 2019, until the end of 2020.

In June 2019, Putin extended counter-sanctions until December 31, 2020, and amended the norms of the original decree on counter-sanctions from August 6, 2014, and the decree from October 22, 2018, on counter-sanctions against Ukraine.

Source: ITAR-TASS 21-11-2020

Russia developing new weapon to replace Iskander tactical missile system

The Iskander-M is unique and its upgraded potential "has been tapped by less than a half," Russia’s Missile Forces and Artillery chief stressed.

MOSCOW, November 19. /TASS/. Russia has laid the scientific groundwork for a new weapon to replace the Iskander tactical missile system, Russia’s Missile Forces and Artillery Chief Lieutenant-General Mikhail Matveyevsky said in an interview with the Rossiyskaya Gazeta newspaper on Thursday.

"The Iskander-M will comply with modern requirements for quite a long time and will remain the basic weapon for the missile forces and artillery at least until 2030… As for the future weapon, we can say that quite substantial scientific groundwork is already available today for its development," the general said.

The Iskander-M tactical missile system is unique and its upgraded potential "has been tapped by less than a half," he stressed.

Russia is currently carrying out scientific work on the concept of advanced rocket artillery armament. Efforts are simultaneously underway for upgrading the capabilities of existing weapon systems. Today the Russian artillery troops are receiving upgraded Tornado-G medium-caliber multiple launch rocket systems and modernized Tornado-S launchers, the general said.

The Iskander-M tactical missile system is designated to strike adversary low-sized and site targets to a range of up to 500 km: missile launchers, multiple launch rocket systems, long-range artillery, aircraft and helicopters at aerodromes, command posts and communications centers.

Source: ITAR-TASS 19-11-2020

Five prisoners in Russia sentenced to long terms for plotting terrorist attacks

The defendants in the case were found guilty under five sections of the Russian Criminal Code.

MOSCOW, November 16. /TASS/. The Second Western District Military Court has sentenced five prisoners to prison terms ranging from 8.5 to 24 years for recruiting their cellmates and plotting terrorist attacks as well as attempted murders of cadets of the Air Force Academy whose graduates are taking part in hostilities in Syria, the Public Relations Center of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) informed TASS on Monday.

"The FSB foiled the activities of a terrorist community formed in the correctional facility No.3 of Russia’s Federal Penitentiary Service in the Voronezh Region by Ruslan Bugakov born in 1974, Ruslan Chausov born in 1977, Genyas Gatjibaibov born in 1971, Maxim Stepanov born in 1989 and Sergei Mukhamatzyanov born in 1988 who were earlier convicted of grave offences," it noted.

Bugakov was sentenced to 24 years in a special regime penal colony with serving the first 5 years in a prison, Chausov - to 18 years in a special regime colony with the first 3 years in prison, Gatjibaibov - to 17 years in a special regime colony with first three years in prison, Stepanov - to 16 years in a special regime colony with serving the first 2 years in prison, and Mukhametzyanov - to 8 years and 6 months in a special regime colony with serving the first 2 years in prison.

"During the investigation, the involvement of community members in dragging prisoners released in 2019 and 2020 into terrorist activities was proved as well as in preparing a number of terrorist attacks, including the blowing up of an apartment building in Voronezh and attempted murders of law enforcement offices and cadets of the Air Force Academy named after Zhukovsky and Gagarin whose graduates take part in hostilities in Syria," the FSB said.

The verdict was handed down on November 13. The defendants in the case were found guilty under five sections of the Russian Criminal Code, specifically, attempted terrorist attacks, organization of a terrorist community and participation in it, facilitating terrorist activities, public calls for terrorist activities, justification of terrorist propaganda and public calls for extremist activities.

Source: ITAR-TASS 16-11-2020

Demand for holiday goods in Russia up by 2.5-fold

The largest Russian online retailer Wildberries said that spruce sales increased by almost 23 times.

MOSCOW, November 14. / TASS /. The largest Russian online retailer Wildberries studied the purchases of Russians between November 6 to 12 and noted a more than two-fold increase in demand for goods for home holidays compared to October of this year, the company said in a research report made available to TASS on Saturday.

"Between November 6-12, compared to the same week in October, the number of orders of goods for home holidays on Wildberries increased by 148%. The most dynamic growth in demand was for artificial Christmas trees (an increase in the number of orders by almost 23 times) and Christmas tree decorations (by 7 times in the Moscow region, the number of orders for holiday trees increased by 22 times, and in St. Petersburg by 14 times. The most popular models to order are the ones that cost between 8,000 and 15,000 rubles, and 150 to 180 centimeters in height," the company said.

The demand for portable karaoke microphones increased by 95% and for music speakers by 84%. Acoustic systems became 83% more popular in a week. The company attributes this increase in sales of holiday goods to the restrictions imposed on the operation of clubs, bars and restaurants due to the coronavirus.

"To create a festive atmosphere in an apartment or house, Russians chose floodlights (+ 90%), garlands (+ 437%) and balloons (+ 51%). Holiday sets became more popular by 103%, pinata sales went up by 100%, decorations for bottles and dishes by 328%," according to the analysts.

Between November 6-12, Russians also actively ordered dishes and accessories for the festive table. Sets for making cocktails became more popular by 162%, for making rolls - by 100%, for fondue - by 121%, decanters for wine - by 71%, ice buckets - by 128%, dishes - by 81%, and glasses - by 77%.

Wildberries operates in eight countries: Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan. According to the analytical agency InfoLine, Wildberries (the leader of the Russian Internet trade) in H1 2020 ranked seventh among all retailers in Russia in terms of revenue. Wildberries turnover in the first nine months of 2020 increased by 104%, to 285.6 bln rubles.

Source: ITAR-TASS 15-11-2020

Ceasefire observed along entire engagement line in Karabakh - Russia’s top brass

An exchange of the bodies of servicemen killed on the battlefield around the town of Shusha has begun with the assistance of Russian peacekeepers, the Defense Ministry Spokesman said

MOSCOW, November 14. /TASS/. The ceasefire is being observed along the entire engagement line in Nagorno-Karabakh, Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Major-General Igor Konashenkov said on Saturday.

"The ceasefire is being observed along the entire engagement line," the general said.

Also "12 observation posts of the Russian peacekeeping contingent have been set up along the engagement line in the area of the peacekeeping operation as of November 14 and they are monitoring the situation round-the-clock," he added.

An exchange of the bodies of servicemen killed on the battlefield around the town of Shusha has begun with the assistance of Russian peacekeepers, the spokesman said.

On November 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on a full ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh. As the Russian leader said, Azerbaijani and Armenian forces will remain at their current positions while Russian peacekeepers will be deployed to the region.

Source: ITAR-TASS 14-11-2020

Russian peacekeepers on their way to Nagorno-Karabakh after peace deal

A total of 1,960 peacekeepers, 90 armored personnel carriers and 380 vehicles and pieces of special equipment will be sent to Nagorno-Karabakh.

On November 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had signed a joint statement on a complete ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh that entered into force at midnight Moscow time on November 10. The Russian leader said the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides would retain the positions they held and Russian peacekeepers would be deployed to the region. The Russian peacekeepers will be deployed to the region for a period of five years but this term may be automatically extended for additional five-year periods, if necessary, the document on the Kremlin’s website says. A total of 1,960 peacekeepers, 90 armored personnel carriers and 380 vehicles and pieces of special equipment will be sent to Nagorno-Karabakh. See the images of Russian peacekeepers on their way to the disputed region.

Source: ITAR-TASS 10-11-2020

Russia doesn’t seek to please others, aims to consolidate itself, Putin says

The Russian President pointed out that he meant internal, spiritual consolidation.

MOSCOW, November 4. /TASS/. Russia’s ultimate goal is not to please others, but to strengthen its unity, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a video conference with representatives of religious denominations on Saturday.

Commenting on the constitutional amendments on family and the protection of traditional values, the president said, "You have said that some do not like what we do. It is very odd as we do not intrude, but assume that our goal is not to please anyone, but our goal is to strengthen ourselves."

Putin pointed out that he meant internal, spiritual consolidation.

"Based on respect for others, we believe that we will be treated with the same respect," he added.

Concluding the meeting, the president mentioned the law banning insults to the feelings of believers.

"It is right and we have made the right choice. However, it's not even that, it's not the laws, but our inner awareness that we have been living in a multi-ethnic state for more than a thousand years, and that we have succeeded in building it, merely because we respect and love one another," he concluded.

Source: ITAR-TASS 07-11-2020

Upgraded T-72B3 main battle tanks arrive for Russian troops

The upgrade includes a new fire control system with an automatic target tracker, according to the defense manufacturer.

MOSCOW, November 5. /TASS/. A batch of upgraded T-72B3 main battle tanks arrived for Russian troops, the press office of Uralvagonzavod defense manufacturer announced on Thursday.

"Uralvagonzavod (part of the state corporation Rostec) has dispatched a batch of upgraded T-72B3 tanks to the Defense Ministry of Russia," the press office said in a statement.

"The combat vehicles have received a new powerful engine, an advanced fire control system, a rear view camera and the driver mechanic’s display complex," the statement reads.

The work was carried out under the defense procurement plan, which envisaged that the tanks from the repair stock would undergo major overhaul and upgrade to the T-72B3 level, the press office said.

While developing the T-72 tank, specialists integrated substantial upgrade potential that is being actively used today. The upgrade has covered actually all the systems, improving the vehicles’ maneuverability and increasing their firepower and protection, including the armor shield," Uralvagonzavod said.

The upgraded T-72B3 tank comes with a new fire control system with an automatic target tracker, it added.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu earlier said that following the results of the International Army Games specialists proposed some technical solutions for boosting the T-72’s combat efficiency and reliability, which resulted in the T-72B3M modification that outshined foreign rivals by some characteristics.

Russia plans to upgrade all of its operational T-72 tanks, the defense chief said.

Source: ITAR-TASS 05-11-2020

Russia’s top brass to get first Su-57 fifth-generation fighter in December

The deliveries of Su-57 fighters with the second-stage engine are set to begin in 2022.

MOSCOW, November 2. /TASS/. Russia’s Defense Ministry will get the first serial-produced Su-57 fifth-generation fighter in December, a source in the defense industry told TASS on Monday.

"The Defense Ministry will get the first serial-produced Su-57 with the operational first-stage engine on the single military output day in December this year and four more such planes in 2021," the source said.

The new fighter’s delivery rate will eventually grow to 15 aircraft a year, the source said.

"As a result, the contract signed in 2019 on 76 Su-57s through 2028 will definitely be fulfilled on time," the source stressed.

The deliveries of Su-57 fighters with the second-stage engine are set to begin in 2022, the source said.

The Su-57 is a fifth-generation multirole fighter designed to destroy all types of air, ground and naval targets. The Su-57 fighter jet features stealth technology with the broad use of composite materials, is capable of developing supersonic cruising speed and is furnished with the most advanced onboard radio-electronic equipment, including a powerful onboard computer (the so-called electronic second pilot), the radar system spread across its body and some other innovations, in particular, armament placed inside its fuselage.

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 03-11-2020

Moscow to provide assistance to Yerevan if hostilities spill over to Armenia

The Russian Foreign Ministry noted that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to start consultations in order to determine the type and volume of assistance that Russia could provide to Armenia to ensure its security

MOSCOW, October 31. /TASS/. Moscow will provide all necessary assistance to Yerevan in accordance with the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between the two countries, if hostilities spill over to Armenia’s territory, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday.

It noted that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to start consultations in order to determine the type and volume of assistance that Russia could provide to Armenia to ensure its security. "We confirm the Russian Federation’s commitment to its allied obligations towards the Republic of Armenia, including those arising from the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Armenia of August 29, 1997," the ministry said.

The Russian Foreign Ministry added that some articles of that treaty presupposed specific actions in the event of a threat of an armed attack or an act of aggression against each other’s territory. "In accordance with the treaty, Russia will provide all necessary assistance to Yerevan, if fighting spills over to the territory of Armenia," it stressed.

"We once again call on the parties to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to agree on an immediate ceasefire, the de-escalation of tensions and a return to substantive negotiations in order to achieve a peaceful settlement based on the underlying principles in line with the agreements reached by the foreign ministers of the Russian Federation, the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia in Moscow on October 10," the Russian Foreign Ministry concluded.

Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27, with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Both parties to the conflict have reported casualties, among them civilians.

Baku and Yerevan have disputed sovereignty over Nagorno-Karabakh since February 1988, when the region declared secession from the Azerbaijani Soviet Socialist Republic. In the armed conflict of 1992-1994 Azerbaijan lost control of Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjoining districts.

Source: ITAR-TASS 31-10-2020

Russian Navy tracking NATO warships in Black Sea

The NATO mine countermeasures group includes the Hellenic Navy general support landing ship Aliakmon, the French Navy minehunter Orion, the Italian Navy ocean minesweeper Alghero and the Spanish Navy coastal minesweeper Duero.

MOSCOW, October 29. /TASS/. The Black Sea Fleet has launched continuous monitoring of a group of NATO’s warships that entered the Black Sea, Russia’s National Defense Control Center reported on Thursday.

"The Black Sea Fleet’s forces and capabilities have started to continuously monitor the NATO mine countermeasures naval group that entered the Black Sea on October 29, 2020," the Center said.

The NATO mine countermeasures group includes the Hellenic Navy general support landing ship Aliakmon, the French Navy minehunter Orion, the Italian Navy ocean minesweeper Alghero and the Spanish Navy coastal minesweeper Duero.

Source: ITAR-TASS 29-10-2020

Clashes continue in Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia says

Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27.

YEREVAN, October 27. /TASS/. Sporadic clashes continue in Nagorno-Karabakh between the Defense Army of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and Azerbaijan’s Armed Forces, the Armenian government’s Unified Information Center said in a statement on Tuesday.

"Local clashes continue along the line of contact. The Artsakh [Nagorno-Karabakh] Defense Army continues the combat task of maintaining control of the situation," the statement reads.

According to the information center, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces used unmanned aerial vehicles late on Monday, some of which "were downed by the Artsakh Defense Army’s air defense forces." "The enemy continues to shell residential areas, including the towns of Martuni and Martakert, as well as settlements in the Askeran district," the statement added.

On October 25, the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed to a US-brokered humanitarian ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh, which took effect on October 26.

On Monday morning, the Armenian Defense Ministry accused Baku of violating the ceasefire, saying that Azerbaijan had shelled the positions of the Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army along the northeastern sector of the line of contact. Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry, in turn, said that Baku was committed to the ceasefire and accused Armenia of violating the agreement.

Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27, with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The parties made ceasefire agreements twice but hostilities continue.

Source: ITAR-TASS 27-10-2020

Blast-hit tanker in Sea of Azov was in good repair, says emergencies ministry

The reason of the explosion will be defined by a commission.

MOSCOW, October 25. /TASS/. The Russian tanker General Azi Aslanov hit by an explosion in the Sea of Azov was in good repair, chief of the Emergency Ministry’s directorate in the Krasnodar Region Oleg Volynkin told reporters.

"According to the information we obtained, the vessel that underwent maintenance was in good repair. The reason of the explosion will be defined by a commission," he said.

The emergency response group will examine the scene of the accident concerning a possible oil and petroleum products spill, he added.

An explosion rocked the oil tanker General Azi Aslanov sailing under the Russian flag from the Kavkaz port to Rostov-on-Don without a cargo on Saturday. There were 13 crew members onboard. Ten of them were rescued.

The cause of the emergency is being investigated. Safety violations and hot work might have caused the explosion, a source in the emergency services told TASS earlier.

Source: ITAR-TASS 25-10-2020

Soyuz MS-16 reentry vehicle with three crew members onboard lands in Kazakhstan

Returning ISS crew evacuated from Soyuz MS-16 reentry vehicle.

MOSCOW, October 22. /TASS/. The Soyuz MS-16 spaceship’s reentry vehicle with Roscosmos cosmonauts Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner and NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy has landed in the steppe southeast of the city of Dzhezkazgan in Kazakhstan.

Broadcasting was available at the website of Russia’s state space corporation Roscosmos.

Ivanishin, Vagner and Cassidy are out of the Soyuz MS-16 spaceship’s reentry vehicle which landed early in Kazakhstan’s steppe. Ivanishin was the first to be evacuated from the capsule.

"Cosmonauts Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner and NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy feel well," Roscosmos said on its Twitter account.

The spaceship undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) at 02:32 Moscow time on Thursday.

The ISS current crew are Russian cosmonauts Sergei Ryzhikov and Sergei Kud-Sverchkov and US astronaut Kathleen Rubins.

A spokesman for the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center told TASS that because of the coronavirus situation Ivanishin and Vagner will be able to see only those of their family members who are not in a risk group and are coronavirus-negative. They will be able to see children under 12 and parents older than 65 "after a period of rehabilitation of five to seven days," the spokesman added.

While on a space mission, Ivanishin and Vagner conducted scientific experiments and took part in efforts to trace an air leak aboard the orbital outpost from August. On October 15, Ivanishin reported to Earth that a probable air leak location had been traced in the inter-section compartment of the Russian Zvezda module thanks to a tea bag. The leak might have been cause by a crack, which was temporarily sealed. The leak will be completely fixed when the Soyuz MS-16 lands, a source in the space industry told TASS.

Source: ITAR-TASS 24-10-2020

Two extremist cells eliminated in Russia’s North Caucasus Region

Its members actively promoted extremist ideology and recruited new supporters to the group, according to the Federal Security Service.

MOSCOW, October 23. /TASS/. The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) has eliminated two extremist cells in Karachay-Cherkessia and Dagestan, the FSB Public Relations Center informed TASS on Friday.

"The Federal Security Service in Malokarachayevsky District of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic and in the cities of Makhachkala, Kaspiysk and Izberbash in the Republic of Dagestan foiled the activities of two cells of the At Takfir wal-Hijra international extremist religious organization (outlawed in Russia) with a total number of more than 20 people," it said.

According to the FSB, its members actively promoted extremist ideology and recruited new supporters to the group. "They urged believers to reject secular laws and civil society institutions. They also advocated the creation of a theocratic Islamic state - a caliphate - in the North Caucasus," it noted.

During the searches, FSB officers seized, in particular, three grenades, three Makarov pistols, 190 copies of pseudo-religious literature and five handwritten texts of lectures by extremist preachers.

The FSB directorates in Karachay-Cherkessia and Dagestan have initiated criminal cases to identify the organization’s members and bring them to justice.

Source: ITAR-TASS 23-10-2020

Security services can do plenty to defend Russian, Belarusian interests, intel chief says

MINSK, October 22. /TASS/. Special services of Russia and Belarus have a great potential to ensure the two states’ interests and react adequately to the emerging threats and challenges, Russian Foreign Intelligence Service Head Sergei Naryshkin told a meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday.

"The security services can do a great deal to guarantee the interests of our countries and the interests of our citizens and protect them from those threats that emerge from time to time," Naryshkin affirmed.

According to the Russian foreign intelligence chief, Minsk will host a joint meeting of the two countries’ special services’ boards. "We are holding it [the meeting] at a difficult time. I absolutely agree with the estimates on the degree of tensions in the world in general, including around our countries," Naryshkin said.

Source: ITAR-TASS 22-10-2020

Su-34 bomber crashes in Russian Far East, pilots eject to safety

The crew members have now been evacuated to the home airfield.

MOSCOW, October 21. /TASS/. A Sukhoi Su-34 frontline bomber crashed in the Khabarovsk Region in the Russian Far East, with pilots ejecting to safety, the press office of the Eastern Military District reported on Wednesday.

The bomber crashed during a training flight on October 21, the press office said.

"The pilots ejected. There is no threat to their health. The crew members have now been evacuated to their home airfield," the press office specified.

The bomber crashed in a wooded and low-land area. The combat plane performed its training flight without an ammunition load and the crash caused no damage on the ground, it said.

"A commission of the Eastern Military District has been sent to the incident site to establish the causes and circumstances of the crash," the press office said.

The Su-34 multirole supersonic fighter-bomber is designated to effectively strike enemy ground and air targets day and night in any weather conditions.

The Su-34 carries long-range air-to-surface and air-to-air missile armament with the multi-channel employment capability. The Su-34 has an operating range of 4,000 km, can develop a maximum speed of 1,900 km/h and is capable of carrying a weapon payload of up to 8 tonnes.

Source: ITAR-TASS 21-10-2020

Two Russian Tu-95MS strategic bombers perform flight over Arctic and Far East

The bombers were escorted by US Air Force F-22 fighter jets.

MOSCOW, October 20. /TASS/. Two Russian Tupolev Tu-95MS strategic missile-carrying bombers performed a scheduled flight over the neutral waters of the Arctic and the northern part of the Far East, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Tuesday.

"Two Tu-95MS strategic missile-carrying bombers of long-range aviation performed a scheduled flight in the airspace over the neutral waters of the Chukchi, Beaufort, Bering and Okhotsk Seas. The flight lasted about 12 hours," the statement says.

At some sections of the route, the bombers were escorted by Su-35S fighters of Russia’s Aerospace Force, MiG-31 aircraft of the Russian Navy’s naval aviation, and also by US Air Force F-22 fighter jets, the ministry said.

The pilots of Russia’s long-range aviation regularly perform flights over the neutral waters of the Arctic, the Northern Atlantic, the Black and Baltic Seas and the Pacific Ocean, the statement says.

"The aircraft of Russia’s Aerospace Force perform all the flights in strict compliance with the international rules of using the airspace," the Defense Ministry stressed.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) reported earlier on Tuesday that US Air Force fighter aircraft intercepted two Russian Tu-95 bombers escorted by two Su-35 fighters near Alaskan shores on Monday evening. NORAD said in a statement that all the Russian aircraft remained in the international airspace and at no time entered sovereign airspace.

Source: ITAR-TASS 20-10-2020

Yerevan says Karabakh army ready to deliver strikes at enemy deployed at border with Iran

The Armenian defense ministry informed that it was said to the Iranian side that the Azerbaijani army must relocate combat operations to a safe distance from the border with Iran

YEREVAN, October 16. /TASS/. The defense army of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh republic reserves the right to deliver strikes at Azerbaijani troops pulled to the border with Iran, Levon Aivazyan, chief of the Armenian defense ministry’s defense policy management and international cooperation directorate, said on Friday at a meeting with Iranian embassy’s defense attache Bahman Sadeghi.

"Despite the numerous calls from the Armenian side, the Azerbaijani armed forces continue to be pulled to and conduct operations along the border with Iran. On behalf of the Arstakh (the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh republic - TASS) defense army, Levon Aivazyan states that in case the situation in the above mentioned area remained the same the defense army reserved the right to deliver strikes at the Azerbaijani armed forces in this area," the Armenian defense ministry said after the meeting.

According to the ministry, it was said to the Iranian side that the Azerbaijani army must relocate combat operations to a safe distance from the border with Iran.

Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27, with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The area experienced flare-ups of violence in the summer of 2014, in April 2016 and this past July. Azerbaijan and Armenia have imposed martial law and launched mobilization efforts. Both parties to the conflict have reported casualties, among them civilians.

The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the highland region of Nagorno-Karabakh, a disputed territory that had been part of Azerbaijan before the Soviet Union break-up, but primarily populated by ethnic Armenians, broke out in February 1988 after the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1992-1994, tensions boiled over and exploded into large-scale military action for control over the enclave and seven adjacent territories after Azerbaijan lost control of them. Talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement have been ongoing since 1992 under the OSCE Minsk Group, led by its three co-chairs - Russia, France and the United States.

Source: ITAR-TASS 16-10-2020

Suspected gunman who killed three in Nizhny Novgorod bus shooting found dead

A source in the law enforcement agencies said the man had committed suicide.

MOSCOW, October 13. /TASS/. Police and the National Guard officers found the body of a young man, who is suspected of killing three citizens of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, in western Russia, the Interior Ministry’s regional department told TASS on Tuesday.

Earlier, a source in the law enforcement agencies said the man had committed suicide.

"Police officers together with members of Rosgvardiya [the Russian National Guard] in the region found the body of an 18-year-old resident of Nizhny Novgorod, who is suspected of killing three people," the press service said. The body was discovered in a forest near the Bolsheorlovskoye settlement in the Borsky district.

According to preliminary data, the young man had come to the village to visit his relatives. A criminal case was launched, pressing charges of murder of two or more people (Part 2 of Article 105 of the Russian Criminal Code).

On the evening of October 12, a man opened fire in the Bolsheorlovskoe settlement in the Nizhny Novgorod Region and later fled the scene. Russia’s Investigative Committee’s regional directorate reported that three people had been killed and three more had been wounded. Special purpose police units and a rapid deployment task force were dispatched to the crime scene to apprehend the armed assailant. Law enforcement sources told TASS that the shooting was initiated by a local 18-year-old resident Daniil Monakhov.

The incident was triggered by a conflict between him and his grandmother whom he had wounded by firing a rifle. The woman was rushed to a local hospital in serious condition. The shooter also gunned down his neighbor and then killed two more people at a bus stop. Two more women were also wounded there. Later, the source told TASS that the grandmother died in the hospital and the number of victims climbed to four.

Source: ITAR-TASS 13-10-2020

Stepanakert comes under shelling again

Armenia’s Cabinet of Ministers information center has reported that explosions were heard in the city.

YEREVAN, October 12. /TASS/. Armenia’s Cabinet of Ministers information center has reported that Stepanakert was shelled again by Azerbaijan’s armed forces on Sunday night.

"Stepanakert is under fire again. Explosions are heard in the city," the statement said.

At the talks, mediated by Russia and held in Moscow on October 9, Azerbaijan and Armenia had agreed on a ceasefire. It came into effect at 12.00 local time on Saturday, October 10 for humanitarian reasons, in order to trade detainees and recover the bodies of those killed in fighting. However that very evening the opposing sides again blamed each other of ceasefire violations and renewal of strikes.

Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27, with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The area experienced flare-ups of violence in the summer of 2014, in April 2016 and this past July. Azerbaijan and Armenia have imposed martial law and launched mobilization efforts. Both parties to the conflict have reported casualties, among them civilians.

The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, a disputed territory that had been part of Azerbaijan before the Soviet Union break-up, but primarily populated by ethnic Armenians, broke out in February 1988 after the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1992-1994, tensions boiled over and exploded into large-scale military action for control over the enclave and seven adjacent territories after Azerbaijan lost control of them. Talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement have been ongoing since 1992 under the OSCE Minsk Group, led by its three co-chairs - Russia, France and the United States.

Source: ITAR-TASS 12-10-2020

Azerbaijani, Armenian top diplomats sign joint document after talks in Moscow - Lavrov

A ceasefire agreement in Nagorno-Karabakh starting on October 10 has been reached after trilateral consultations in Moscow.

MOSCOW, October 10. /TASS/. A ceasefire agreement in Nagorno-Karabakh starting on 12:00 on October 10 has been reached after trilateral consultations in Moscow between foreign ministers of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Saturday.

"A ceasefire is declared to begin on October 10 at 12:00 with the humanitarian aim of exchanging prisoners of war and other captured persons as well as to exchange bodies of victims with the facilitation of the International Committee of the Red Cross and in line with its regulations," Lavrov stated early on Saturday citing a joint statement, signed by the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan.

"Detailed parameters of the ceasefire regime will be agreed upon in the near future," the Russian minister stated citing the signed document.

The document also states that Azerbaijan and Armenia agreed to begin practical talks with the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group representatives on the peace settlement in Nagorno-Karabakh.

"The Republics of Azerbaijan and Armenia, with the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs and based on the principles of conflict settlements, begin practical negotiations with the main task of reaching the peace settlement as soon as possible," the statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry reads.

"All involved parties have confirmed their adherence to the invariability of the negotiating process," the statement added.

Azerbaijan and Armenia agreed to begin practical talks with the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group representatives on the peace settlement in Nagorno-Karabakh, a joint statement, adopted by the Russian, Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers, said.

The Russian, Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign Ministers - Sergey Lavrov, Jeyhun Bayramov and Zohrab Mnatsakanyan correspondingly - held talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement for more than 10 hours. Their meeting started at 16.30 Moscow time and Foreign Minister Lavrov appeared to journalists to read out provisions from the adopted statement late after 2:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27, with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The area experienced flare-ups of violence in the summer of 2014, in April 2016 and this past July. Azerbaijan and Armenia have imposed martial law and launched mobilization efforts. Both parties to the conflict have reported casualties, among them civilians.

Source: ITAR-TASS 10-10-2020

Munitions explode at military base near Ryazan in central Russia after fire

According to an emergency service source, the fire continues to spread because of wind gusts and the shells are exploding nearly every ten seconds.

MOSCOW, October 7. /TASS/. An ammunition depot went on fire on the territory of a military garrison near Ryazan in central Russia, with sporadic explosions taking place, the press office of the Western Military District reported on Wednesday.

The blaze occurred near the settlement of Zheltukhino after the grass caught fire, the press office said.

"A gusty wind spread the fire to the artillery ammunition storage site. The military garrison’s on-duty fire-fighting team started to extinguish the blaze but failed to stop the fire outbreak. Sporadic munition explosions are currently observed on the technical premises of the military base," the Western Military District said.

Reports from the scene say that the military and civilian personnel have been evacuated and there are no injuries.

According to an emergency service source, the fire continues to spread because of wind gusts and the shells are exploding nearly every ten seconds. "The fire has not been contained and the shells are exploding about every ten seconds," the source said.

The local fire-fighting and rescue service has sent teams and a fire-fighting train to the scene of the incident. An Il-76 plane of Russia’s Emergencies Ministry is ready to join the fire-fighting effort.

Traffic on the R-22 "Kaspiy" highway has been halted. According to the Emergencies Ministry, over 1,600 locals, including almost 150 children, have been evacuated from 14 settlements in the Ryazan Region. "According to preliminary data, over 1,600 people have been evacuated from 14 settlements," the Ministry's press service said.

"Evacuation has been organized in cooperation with Skopinsky District's authorities," the regional government disclosed. "First and foremost, all children have been evacuated from the settlements: 130 schoolchildren and 16 younger children. All of them are currently with their relatives, in a safe zone."

Source: ITAR-TASS 07-10-2020