Russia needs to determine final position on US withdrawal from Open Skies Treaty - Putin

Russian President said that It is important for the entire world as well.

NOVO-OGARYOVO, May 30. /TASS/. Russia needs to determine the final position on the US withdrawal from the Treaty on Open Skies, President Vladimir Putin said during an online meeting of the Russian Security Council on Saturday.

"We clearly need to determine the final position on the United States’ withdrawal from the Treaty on Open Skies. Besides, New START [the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty] will expire soon but no serious talks are underway on the issue, which is important not only for us but for the entire world as well. We need to discuss this," Putin said, addressing the permanent members of the Russian Security Council.

The meeting involved Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Federation Council (the upper house of parliament) Speaker Valentina Matviyenko, State Duma (the lower house of parliament) Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, deputy head of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev, Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev, Head of the Russian Presidential Office Anton Vaino, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Director Sergei Naryshkin and Presidential Envoy for Environmental Protection, Ecology and Transport Sergei Ivanov.

Open Skies Treaty

US President Donald Trump announced on May 21 that Washington intended to withdraw from the Treaty on Open Skies, which allows member states to conduct surveillance flights over one another's territories in order to verify arms control agreements. US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo specified later that the withdrawal would take effect in six months’ time. The US authorities cited Russia’s alleged violations of the treaty to justify the decision. Moscow has repeatedly rejected such allegations.

New START

New START, which came into force in 2011, limits Russia and the US to no more than 700 deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) and strategic bombers, no more than 1,550 deployed warheads and 800 deployed and non-deployed launchers. The Treaty is set to remain in effect for ten years (until 2021) unless a new document is signed to replace it. The document can also be extended for no more than five years (that is, until 2026) by mutual agreement of the parties.

Source: ITAR-TASS 31-05-2020

Ex-German chancellor calls for resolving differences with Russia through dialogue

"We need cooperation, not confrontation between the European Union and Russia", Gerhard Schroeder said.

BERLIN, May 30. /TASS/. Political differences between the European Union and Russia can only be resolved through dialogue, former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said in an exclusive interview with TASS.

"Federal Chancellor [Angela] Merkel and the Russian president hold conversations on a regular basis," said Schroeder, who served as German Chancellor from 1998 to 2005.

"I am sure that we can resolve political differences only through dialogue," he added. "This is why it is important to continue such discussions. We need cooperation, not confrontation between the European Union and Russia," Schroeder pointed out.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday that Berlin planned to give a new impetus to relations with Moscow during Germany’s EU presidency in the second half of 2020, but sanctions needed to remain in place until there was progress in the Minsk process.

Source: ITAR-TASS 30-05-2020

Moldovan president to visit Victory Parade in Moscow despite pandemic restrictions

The leader stressed that the mandatory quarantine upon returning to Moldova was cancelled for those making business trips abroad and have no symptoms of the disease after the return.

CHISINAU, May 29. /TASS/. Moldova’s President Igor Dodon has said that he will go to Moscow for the Victory Parade on June 24 despite the quarantine imposed amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"The decision to hold the Victory Parade is correct. This year we are celebrating the 75th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War. We are obliged to remember and respect our history. Those who do not remember their past have no future," Dodon said in the latest edition of the project President Answers in the social networks.

He stressed that the mandatory quarantine upon returning to Moldova was cancelled for those making business trips abroad and have no symptoms of the disease after the return.

Source: ITAR-TASS 29-05-2020

Russian Northern Fleet ships wrap up anti-submarine warfare drills in Barents Sea

The anti-submarine warfare forces will practice the final stage of the drills on May 26 and return to their permanent bases, according to the Fleet’s press office.

MURMANSK, May 26. /TASS/. The Northern Fleet ships completed anti-submarine warfare drills in the Barents Sea, the Fleet’s press office reported on Tuesday.

The drills that lasted several days involved the missile cruiser Marshal Ustinov, the large anti-submarine warfare ship Severomorsk and small anti-subsurface ships from the water area protection brigade of the Northern Fleet’s Kola Flotilla of All-Arms Forces, the press office specified.

"The ships’ maneuvers lasted several days. While searching for a notional enemy’s submarines in the close-in maritime zone, the naval sailors practiced inter-operability with anti-submarine warfare aviation. At various stages of the exercise, the tasks in the Barents Sea were accomplished by the crews of Tu-142, Il-38 and Ka-27PL anti-submarine warfare aircraft and helicopters, which operated from coastal aerodromes," the press office said in a statement.

Several submarines of the Kola Flotilla simulated the enemy force operating against the naval search and strike groups, the press office specified.

The anti-submarine warfare forces will practice the final stage of the drills on May 26 and return to their permanent bases, the statement says.

Source: ITAR-TASS 26-05-2020.

Special Aeroflot flight takes off from US to bring Russians home

The plane is expected to land at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport is 12:09 Moscow time.

NEW YORK, May 24. /TASS/. Russian citizens, who had earlier expressed their intention to return to their home country from the United States amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, departed from New York on Saturday aboard a special Aeroflot flight, JFK Airport’s said on its online list of departures.

The plane is expected to land at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport is 12:09 Moscow time on Sunday.

Russia’s US Ambassador Anatoly Antonov said the plane had 12 schoolchildren and 21 students on board.

A spokesperson for the Russian Youth of America organization, which assisted Russians stranded in the United States amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, said on Saturday that the plane has more than 370 people on board, including 12 babies and 11-12 schoolchildren.

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Zakharova said last month that the ministry would draw conclusions from the US authorities’ insufficient assistance in tracking down Russian school children. According to her earlier statements, high school students had gone to the United States from Russia under various educational and travel programs only to find problems with getting back home amid the pandemic. US officials have preferred to distance themselves from this problem and ignored messages from the Russian Embassy, Zakharova said.

Russia’s US Ambassador Anatoly Antonov said on April 3 that over 2,000 Russians informed diplomats about their intention to return to their home country. Subsequently, Russia’s flagship air carrier Aeroflot organized special flights to New York on April 7, 14, 28 and May 14, and from Los Angeles on May 4.

On March 18, Russia shut down its borders for all foreigners to curb the spread of coronavirus. Furthermore, international passenger air travel was fully suspended on March 27. In light of these developments, Russian citizens who found themselves stuck abroad and foreigners staying in Russia can return home by specially organized flights.

Source: ITAR-TASS 24-05-2020

Russia confirms intention to implement Open Skies Treaty

The country also expresses readiness for further dialogue, which is held on "the basis of mutual respect, and not in the language of ultimatums".

BRUSSELS, May 23. /TASS/. Russia confirms its intention to implement the Open Skies Treaty, the fate of which will be decided at a conference of the member-states, the Russian mission to NATO told TASS on Friday following an emergency meeting of the North Atlantic Council.

The meeting was convened to discuss the United States’ unilateral decision to withdraw from the Open Skies Treaty.

"The Russian side has reaffirmed its intention to continue implementing the provisions of the Treaty. We express our readiness for further dialogue, which is held on the basis of mutual respect, and not in the language of ultimatums - in the interests of European and international security," the mission said.

"All parties to the Treaty will have to clearly define their positions and to declare them at a special conference, the convening of which will be required to assess the consequences and the order of the further functioning of this important multilateral regime. The results of that conference will determine the fate of the Treaty," the mission concluded.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday declared Washington’s intention to pull out from the Open Skies Treaty, which enables its signatories to perform inspection flights over each other’s territories to monitor military activity. In a written statement US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo explained that the US decision to withdraw from the agreement would take effect six months after May 22. The United States claimed that alleged violations of the treaty by Russia were the official reason. Moscow dismissed these charges.

Source: ITAR-TASS 23-05-2020

Russian troops receive 1st batch of latest Koalitsiya-SV artillery systems

The weapon's firepower outstrips that of other artillery systems, according to the producer.

MOSCOW, May 22. /TASS/. The first batch of the latest Koalitsiya-SV artillery systems has arrived for the Russian troops, the press office of the state hi-tech corporation Rostec told TASS on Friday.

"This is the first delivery of the Koalitsiya-SV multiservice artillery system to the troops. Its firepower is based on the 152mm gun with a rate of fire of over 10 rounds per minute, which is higher than the speed of fire of other artillery systems," Rostec said.

Source: ITAR-TASS 22-05-2020

Putin decorates defense chief with 1st Class Order of Merits to the Fatherland

On Thursday, May 21, Sergei Shoigu celebrates his 65th birthday.

MOSCOW, May 21. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on awarding Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu the 1st Class Order of Merits to the Fatherland with swords, the Kremlin’s press office reported on Thursday.

"President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin congratulated Defense Minister of Russia Sergei Shoigu on his 65th birthday and signed a decree on awarding the defense chief the ‘For Merits to the Fatherland 1st Class’ Order with swords," the press office said in a statement.

Sergei Shoigu was born on May 21, 1955 in the town of Chadan in the Tuva ASSR (currently, the Republic of Tyva). In 1977, he graduated from the Krasnoyarsk Polytechnic Institute as construction engineer.

In 1991-1994, he headed Russia’s State Committee for Civil Defense, Emergencies and Clean-Up of Natural Disasters.

In 1994-2012, Shoigu served as Russia’s emergencies minister. Between May 11 and November 6, 2012, he held the post of the Moscow Region governor. On November 6, 2012, Shoigu was appointed as Russia’s defense minister.

Shoigu is army general, Hero of Russia, with a PhD in Economy.

Source: ITAR-TASS 21-05-2020

Poland lacks strategic vision, if it views Russia as main threat — diplomat

Polish President Andrzej Duda signed on May 12 the country’s new national security strategy, in which Russia was designated as the main threat to Warsaw.

MOSCOW, May 20. /TASS/. The Polish leadership demonstrates absence of strategic vision as it continues viewing Russia as the main threat, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote on her Facebook on Wednesday.

In this regard, the diplomat drew attention to the comment Nobel Peace Prize laureate, former Polish President Lech Walesa made in an interview with TASS about Poland’s new national security strategy, in which Russia was named as the main threat.

"They don’t think ahead. They don’t have any ideas. They seek to build something on old foundations," Zakharova quoted Walesa as saying.

"Absolutely true! The use of old Cold War patterns testifies to the absence of strategic vision," the Russian diplomat stressed.

Polish President Andrzej Duda signed on May 12 the country’s new national security strategy, in which Russia was designated as the main threat to Warsaw.

Source: ITAR-TASS 20-05-2020

Russian Black Sea Fleet forces hold anti-submarine warfare drills

The crews of the submarines alternated their roles, first hunting for the enemy sub and then dodging the hunt, according to the Fleet’s press office.

SEVASTOPOL, May 19. /TASS/. The Black Sea Fleet ships and submarines searched for a notional enemy’s subs during drills, the Fleet’s press office reported on Tuesday.

"The crews of the diesel-electric submarines Rostov-on-Don and Kolpino of the Black Sea Fleet deployed to the sea for joint drills to search for and detect a notional enemy’s submarine. Under the combat training scenario, one of the submarines simulated an enemy sub while the crew of the second vessel searched for it," the press office said in a statement.

The crews of the submarines alternated their roles, first hunting for the enemy sub and then dodging the hunt, the statement says.

The submarines also practiced preparing the subs for their emergency deployment to the designated areas at Black Sea naval ranges, according to the statement.

The drills for searching for and tracking a notional enemy’s submarine simulated by the sub Kolpino also involved the crews of the small anti-submarine warfare ships Muromets and Yeisk. They carried out a set of preparatory exercises for employing torpedo weapons and held firings of practice torpedoes. The ships’ crews complied with the required time limits for employing torpedo weapons, the press office said.

The Admiralty Shipyard in St. Petersburg has built a series of six Project 636.3 diesel-electric submarines for the Black Sea Fleet. The three of them, the Veliky Novgorod, the Kolpino and the Rostov-on-Don, numerously delivered strikes with Kalibr-PL cruise missiles against terrorist targets in Syria.

Project 636.3 submarines are referred to the third generation of diesel-electric subs. These submarines are considered among the world’s most noiseless vessels. They develop a speed of up to 20 knots, can dive to a depth of about 300 meters and their sea endurance is 45 days. The sub has a crew of 52 men and displaces about 4,000 tonnes.

Project 636 submarines are considered to be the most noiseless among Russian conventional subs. They have been dubbed the ‘Black Hole’ for their unique quietness. They are also furnished with modern radar and communications systems, sonars and 533mm torpedoes.

Source: ITAR-TASS 19-05-2020

Russia’s modern weapons developed thanks to fundamental science – Putin

If it were not for well-developed fundamental science in Russia, there would be no modern types of weapons, Russian President said.

MOSCOW, May 16. /TASS/. If it were not for well-developed fundamental science in Russia, there would be no modern types of weapons, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with Russian Journalist Pavel Zarubin for Moscow. Kremlin program, a fragment of which was published on Instagram.

"We would never have modern, high-tech types of weapons that no country in the world yet has - how could we have done this if there were no fundamental science, scientific schools, engineering personnel? That would be absolutely impossible," Putin said.

Source: ITAR-TASS 17-05-2020

Ukraine goes ahead with its discriminatory policy of blocking Russian websites – Moscow

The statement says that the move remains just a "small share" of the Ukrainian government’s "consistent policy of repressions" against the media.

MOSCOW, May 16. /TASS/. Ukraine remains reluctant to review its discriminatory policy against Russian media websites and goes ahead with its access ban, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday.

"Once again, the Ukrainian leadership demonstrated in practice that it has no plans to review the discriminatory and illegitimate policy regarding Russian media outlets," the foreign ministry said, commenting on Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s decision to ban access to Russian websites and social media on the Ukrainian territory.

"We view this step as an act of direct censorship, aimed at removing alternative viewpoints from the country’s information space. Such actions constitute a blatant violation of fundamental principles of the international law, such as the freedom of expression and equal access to information," the ministry said in a statement.

The statement says that the move remains just a "small share" of the Ukrainian government’s "consistent policy of repressions" against the media. Within the framework of this policy, the authorities toughen laws and state regulations of the media sphere and resort to administrative and other forms of pressure on journalists, whose lives and freedom have long been in danger as a result of their professional activities.

"Up until now, a series of murders of journalists remains unsolved, including the crimes of 2014 that claimed the lives of Andrei Stenin, Anton Voloshin, Igor Kornelyuk and Anatoly Klyan," the ministry said.

Moreover, Moscow views as inadmissible the Ukrainian government’s policy of abetting the "Mirotvorets extremist website, which directly threatens the security of journalists."

"We call upon relevant international organizations and human rights NGOs, including OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Desir, to react properly. We also ask Kiev’s European and overseas partners to explain how the Ukrainian government’s policy corresponds to democratic values and principles," the ministry said.

Ban on Russian websites

On Friday, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has approved a decision of the National Security and Defense Council to extend a previously imposed ban on a number of Russian websites and social networks for three more years, according to the official website of the Ukrainian president.

The Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council submitted its proposal with the president on Wednesday requesting a prolongation of the national ban on Russian social networks for three more years. The Ukrainian parliament, Verkhovna Rada, passed a resolution on May 13 requesting an extension of sanctions against Russia-based Internet companies.

On May 15, 2017, then Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko signed into effect a decision made by the National Security and Defense Council on expanding the Russian sanctions list of 1,228 Russian individuals and 468 legal entities.

Sanctions were imposed on several TV channels and Internet companies, including 1C, ABBYY and their Ukrainian subsidiaries. In addition, Russia’s VKontakte and Odnoklassniki social networks, Mail.ru and Yandex companies were banned.

Source: ITAR-TASS 16-05-2020

Russian Navy oceanographic research vessel Admiral Vladimirsky clears Cape of Good Hope

The expedition started in December 2019 and will last until June this year

MOSCOW, May 15. /TASS/. The Russian Navy’s oceanographic research vessel Admiral Vladimirsky has left behind the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa and continues on its voyage in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, Russian Navy Spokesman Captain 1st Rank Igor Dygalo said on Friday.

"The oceanographic research vessel Admiral Vladimirsky has passed the Cape of Good Hope and the traverse of Cape Town, rounded the southern cap of Africa and continues on its voyage in the Atlantic Ocean," Dygalo said.

He also stated that the crew of the vessel is healthy and continues with the implementation of the set tasks.

The oceanographic research vessel is currently on the route of Russia’s round-the-world expedition devoted to the 200th anniversary of the discovery of the Antarctic by Russian explorers and the 250th anniversary of the birth of admiral and explorer Ivan Kruzenshtern. The expedition started in December 2019 and will last until June this year.

The hydrographic ship Marshal Gelovani and the oceanographic research ship Yantar are also taking part in the round-the-world expedition along different routes.

The oceanographic research vessel Admiral Vladimirsky was built in Szczecin (Poland) in 1975. The vessel is operational in Russia’s Baltic Fleet. It displaces 9,120 tonnes, has an operating range of 18,000 miles and a crew of 170 men.

Source: ITAR-TASS 15-05-2020

Ukraine reluctant to comply with Minsk accords, says Lugansk envoy

 Kiev’s representatives can neither explain nor prove why they do not consider representatives of the Donbass republics to be full-fledged participants in the negotiations, according to the envoy.

LUGANSK, May 13. /TASS/. Ukraine continues to shy away from the implementation of the Minsk agreements to resolve the conflict in the Donbass region, envoy of the Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR) to the political subgroup of the Contact Group for eastern Ukrainian settlement, Rodion Miroshnik said on Wednesday commenting on the subgroup’s meeting held on Wednesday.

"Kiev’s new representative in the political working group of the Contact Group came to today's meeting with the position that did not differ substantially from his predecessor’s [stance]," he wrote on his Telegram channel. According to Miroshnik, Kiev’s envoy said at the meeting that Ukraine would not comply with three of the 13 clauses of the Minsk agreements, specifically, the ones on holding elections in Donbass before transferring control over the border with Russia, enshrining the special status of Donbass in Ukraine’s Constitution and on the coordination of laws related to the Minsk accords passed by Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada (parliament) with representatives of the Lugansk and Donetsk people’s republics.

"To make sure that the talks are effective, Kiev needs to change its stance rather than envoys," Miroshnik noted.

Kiev’s representatives can neither explain nor prove why they do not consider representatives of the Donbass republics to be full-fledged participants in the negotiations, he went on to say. Miroshnik stressed that no effective solutions could be found without the LPR and DPR.

"It’s just more convenient for Kiev when the war in Donbass can be presented as an international conflict rather than an internal civil war, with Ukrainians killing Ukrainians," he added.

Source: ITAR-TASS 13-05-2020

Death toll in fire at Moscow suburban hospice rises to 11 — source

Three residents of the hospice remain in intensive care units.

MOSCOW, May 12. /TASS/. Two people injured in the fire at a private hospice in Krasnogorsk (Moscow Region) have died in hospital, the city’s press service informed TASS. The death toll from the fire has risen to 11.

"Tonight, the death toll from the tragedy that took place an a private living facility on the Tenistaya Street in Krasnogorsk has reached 11. Two people have died in hospital," the source informed.

The press service noted that three residents of the hospice remain in intensive care units, one is artificially ventilated.

A fire was reported at a private hospice in Krasnogorsk in the early hours of May 11. Nine people have died on the scene, and 8 are currently hospitalized.

In total, 29 people aged 66 to 99 were residing at the hospital. The fire took place in a sauna on the second floor. The fire was caused by faulty electrical wiring.

Source: ITAR-TASS 12-05-2020

Patriotism is Russia’s national idea, says Putin

According to Russian President, "patriotism means devoting oneself to the development of the country, its progress".

MOSCOW, May 10./TASS/. Patriotism is Russia’s national idea, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday, cautioning, however, against flag-waving moods.

"Yes, it’s patriotism, I think there can be nothing else here," Putin said when asked about the Russian national idea. But patriotism should not be spurious, he stressed in an interview with the program ‘Moscow. Kremlin. Putin" a fragment of which was uploaded to the Instagram page of its presenter Pavel Zarubin.

According to the president, "patriotism means devoting oneself to the development of the country, its progress". "But this does not mean that we must keep clinging to our heroic past, we must look ahead, into our no less heroic and successful future, and this is the ticket to success," the Russian leader stressed.

In December 2019, President Putin addressed the topic of patriotism at his annual news conference, saying that he saw it as the only possible ideology of the modern democratic society.

"In my opinion, patriotism is the only possible ideology in the modern democratic society. Patriotism in the broadest and best sense," the Russian leader said back then. "It must be depoliticized and aimed to strengthen the inner framework of the Russian state," he stressed.

Source: ITAR-TASS 10-05-2020

Putin lays flowers at Eternal Flame near Kremlin wall on WWII Victory Day

Putin will hold several more scheduled events on Saturday to mark the 75th anniversary of the Victory.

MOSCOW, May 9. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin laid red roses at the Eternal Flame at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the Alexander Garden, paying tribute to those fallen during the Soviet Union’s 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War against Nazi Germany.

From this place, the head of state addressed Russians on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Victory. As Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov earlier said, Putin will hold several more scheduled events on Saturday to mark the 75th anniversary of the Victory.

The Russian president traditionally lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier near the Kremlin wall on May 9. Normally, this ceremony takes place after the military parade on Red Square, which has been postponed this year over the epidemiological situation.

This time, the delegation that accompanied Putin was not numerous. A guard of honor and the presidential orchestra lined up in the alley of the Alexander Garden. After the Russian president delivered his speech, the anthem of Russia was performed and servicemen marched in a parade formation. The head of state also laid bouquets of carnations at the steles to Russian hero cities.

The remains of the Unknown Soldier were transferred from a common grave near Moscow and buried in a ceremony in the Alexander Garden in 1966. The memorial was unveiled the next year. The Guard of Honor was posted here in 1997 and is now Post No. 1.

Source: ITAR-TASS 09-05-2020

Putin congratulates leaders, nations of former Soviet Union on WW2 victory anniversary

The Russian leader emphasized that these countries treasure the memory of heroes whose bravery on the frontlines and selfless labor in the rear contributed to the defeat of Nazism.

MOSCOW, May 8. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has extended congratulations on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of victory in the Second World War to leaders and nations that formerly made up the Soviet Union, the Kremlin press service reports.

"Vladimir Putin sent congratulatory messages to the leaders and citizens of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Abkhazia, South Ossetia as well as the peoples of Georgia and Ukraine, on the 75th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War," the press service noted.

The Russian leader emphasized that these countries treasure the memory of heroes whose bravery on the frontlines and selfless labor in the rear contributed to the defeat of Nazism, which became our shared heritage. "It is the sacred duty of today’s generations to preserve forever the memory of those who defended the freedom of their native land at the cost of innumerable sacrifices and hardships, and to surround our dear veterans with care and attention," noted Putin.

The president also urged "resolute opposition to any attempts to rewrite the results of the Great Patriotic War, to whitewash or consign to oblivion the inhuman crimes committed by the Nazis and their accomplices."

He expressed confidence that "the shared memory of the heroic deeds of our fathers and grandfathers would have a constructive impact on bilateral cooperation in a variety of areas and on partnering to confront modern threats and challenges like the coronavirus pandemic."

The Russian leader extended words of sincere gratitude and good wishes to veterans, partisans and homefront workers.

Source: ITAR-TASS 08-05-2020

OSCE mission demonstrates full paralysis in Donbass - DPR head

According to Denis Pushilin, the DPR will use every means available when this international security organization completely ignores requests to establish safe conditions and ensure security for peaceful population.

DONETSK, May 5. /TASS/. The OSCE special monitoring mission to Ukraine is showing its complete incapacity in the Donbass conflict zone, head of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) Denis Pushilin said Monday, commenting on the latest shelling of the Ukrainian armed forces that wounded four civilians in the village of Alexandrovka, including three children.

"We have a question now, what is the meaning of existence and activity of such a respectable international organization as OSCE which is demonstrating its complete incapacity and cannot stand up to stymie terrorist activity of Ukraine," Donetsk news agency quoted him as saying.

According to Pushilin, the DPR will use every means available when this international security organization completely ignores requests to establish safe conditions and ensure security for peaceful population. "The lawlessness of Ukrainian military units cannot last forever," the DPR head stressed.

Meanwhile, the DPR foreign ministry revealed that the OSCE special monitoring mission officers refused to visit the shelling site and the wounded.

"They refused [to pay a visit] under a made-up pretext that hospitals cannot be visited which is just not true," DPR Foreign Minister Natalya Nikonorova said. "Therefore, they ignored their direct mission to ascertain all facts of ceasefire violations without any exceptions."

They called on negotiating process coordinators to undertake all the necessary measures outlined in the Minsk Agreements and the OSCE mission mandate to monitor ceasefire details.

Source: ITAR-TASS 05-05-2020

Russian army to receive more than 30 new Tornado family MLRS in 2020

This system comprises an upgraded combat vehicle equipped with an automated fire control system, new rockets and corrected rockets with the separated high explosive element.

MOSCOW, May 3. /TASS/. The Russian Armed Forces will get more than 30 new Tornado family multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) in 2020, the Defense Ministry said on Sunday.

"The delivery of more than thirty modern multiple launch rocket systems to units of rocket troops and artillery of the Russian Federation Armed Forces is planned by the end of this year. Tornado-G and Tornado-S MLRS will be handed over by manufacturing companies to the Russian Defense Ministry within the framework of performing the state defense order," the Ministry said.

The Russian 300-mm MLRS Tornado-S comprises an upgraded combat vehicle equipped with an automated fire control system, new rockets and corrected rockets with the separated high explosive element. The 122-mm MLRS Tornado-G is intended for firing against manpower, armored vehicles, artillery batteries and command posts.

Source: ITAR-TASS 04-05-2020

Putin to lay flowers to Eternal Flame in Moscow and address nation on May 9

Earlier large-scale public events, including the Victory Parade on Moscow’s Red Square, to mark the 75th anniversary of the of the Soviet Union’s victory in the Great Patriotic War have been postponed amid the coronavirus epidemic.

MOSCOW, May 2. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to lay flowers to the Eternal Flame in central Moscow on May 9 and address the nation, Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Saturday.

"We expect that on May 9 the president will lay flowers to the Eternal Flame and will address the nation from that site," he said in an interview with the Moscow. Kremlin. Putin program. A fragment of the program was posed on the Instagram account of its host, Pavel Zarubin.

At a meeting with the permanent members of the Russian Security Council on April 16, Putin said that large-scale public events, including the Victory Parade on Moscow’s Red Square, to mark the 75th anniversary of the of the Soviet Union’s victory in the Great Patriotic War (the Eastern Front during WWII where Russia fought against Nazi Germany) had been postponed amid the coronavirus epidemic. The president pledged the parade and the Immortal Regiment march would be organized as soon as the infection threat was gone. On April 28, Putin announced an air parade and salvos on May 9.

Source: ITAR-TASS 03-05-2020

Two men injured after gas bottle explosion at Russia’s largest floating factory

One of them is in serious condition.

VLADIVOSTOK, May 2. /TASS/. Two individuals were injured due to the gas bottle explosion at the Russia’s largest floating factory Vsevolod Sibirtsev in Nakhodka, the Marine Rescue and Coordination Center in Vladivostok told TASS.

"The bottle explosion occurred during hot work. Two individuals were injured. One of them is in serious condition," the Center said.

Vsevolod Sibirtsev is one of two largest floating factories across the globe. The vessel is 179 meters long and has the displacement of 26,000 tonnes.

Source: ITAR-TASS 02-05-2020

Germany to share archive information about Soviet POWs at TASS on May 6

The total archive contains information about the plight of 500,000 Soviet citizens.

MOSCOW, April 30. /TASS/. Germany is about to hand over to Russia the first batch of digitized archive information about Soviet prisoners of war who had been kept at German camps during World War II. The special ceremony will take place at the TASS head office in Moscow on May 6, the German embassy said.

"The handover of digitized copies of documents from Germany’s federal archive within the framework of the German-Russian project for searching for and digitizing archive materials concerning Soviet and German prisoners of war and interned persons dating back to World War II will take place in Moscow," the embassy said. "The ceremony will be held at the TASS press-center, with Germany’s ambassador to Russia Geza Andreas von Geyr and Russia’s special presidential representative for international cultural cooperation Mikhail Shvydkoi taking part.

Messages of greeting will be read out from Germany’s Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. There will be a presentation of the "German-Russian project for searching for and digitizing archive materials concerning Soviet and German prisoners of war and its humanitarian and political significance."

Germany will open to Russian specialists information about Soviet prisoners of war and forced laborers, which is kept at the federal archive in Koblenz. The archive contains information about the plight of 500,000 Soviet citizens.

It is expected that taking part in the online conference will be the President of the German People's Union for the Care of Military Graves, Wolfgang Schneiderhan, and the President of Germany’s Federal Archives, Michael Hollman.

At the TASS press-center Germany will be represented by German embassy officials and staffers of the German Historical Institute in Moscow, and Russia, by the deputy chief of the Federal Archive Agency Andrei Yurasov, director of the Russian State Military Archive Vladimir Tarasov, president of ELAR corporation Sergei Balandyuk, the Russian Defense Minster’s aide Alexander Kirilin, and chief of the Defense Ministry’s Directorate for Commemorating Fallen Soldiers Pavel Sheludchenko.

Source: ITAR-TASS 01-05-2020