About 200 combat ships to take part in parades on Russia’s Navy Day

The parade will take place in St. Petersburg and Kronshtadt.

MOSCOW, June 30. /TASS/. About 200 combat ships will take part in parades on Russia’s Navy Day on July 26 across the country, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said at the ministry’s conference call on Tuesday.

"Overall, the festivities will involve about 200 warships of various classes, more than 100 items of combat hardware, up to 80 aircraft and about 15,000 personnel," the defense chief said.

Russia’s Main Naval Parade will take place in St. Petersburg and Kronshtadt, Shoigu said.

"We are planning to involve 46 ships, boats and submarines, 42 aircraft and over 4,000 personnel in it," the defense minister specified.

On the occasion of Russia’s Navy Day, naval parades are to be held at the bases of the Navy’s fleets and flotillas in Severomorsk, Baltiysk, Sevastopol, Kaspiysk, Vladivostok and the Russian naval logistics center of Tartus in Syria.

"I am drawing the attention of all commanders to the strict observance of the entire set of anti-epidemic measures to exclude any risks for the health of the parades’ participants," the defense chief stressed.

Source: ITAR-TASS 30-06-2020

Over 30 mln people take part in vote on Russian constitutional amendments

The turnout was 28.46%.

MOSCOW, June 28. /TASS/. More than 30 million people took part in the vote on the amendments to Russia’s Constitution in the past three days across the country and the turnout reached 28.46%, Central Election Commission Chairperson Ella Pamfilova said on Sunday.

"According to the latest data, over the past three days of holding the vote in Russia, including online voting, 30,917,512 citizens voted, and the turnout was 28.46%," Pamfilova told the CEC’s information center.

Nationwide voting on constitutional amendments started in Russia on June 25. The official voting day under the presidential decree is July 1 but due to the coronavirus situation the voting period was extended for a week. Vote counting will begin in regions after 20:00 local time on July 1, when polling stations close. Along with the extended voting period (from June 25 to July 1), people can cast their votes outside polling stations at specially organized voting areas, including outdoors, or use contactless voting at home. Additionally, residents of Moscow and the Nizhny Novgorod Region can vote online.

Source: ITAR-TASS 28-06-2020

Ukraine stalling decision-making within Contact Group on Donbass - Russian envoy

It seems that the main goal of Kiev during the talks is not comprehensive political regulation and not Donbass reintegration, Russia’s Permanent Envoy to the Contact Group for settlement in Donbass Boris Gryzlov said.

MOSCOW, June 26. /TASS/. Kiev remains unwilling to find a comprehensive resolution of the Donbass conflict, Russia’s Permanent Envoy to the Contact Group for settlement in Donbass Boris Gryzlov stated on the outcomes of the group’s video session on Thursday.

"Today’s session of the Contact Group has focused on the key issues of Donbass conflict regulation - the law on special status and the ceasefire control measures," he informed. "Ukraine is once again stalling the approval of necessary decisions. It seems that the main goal of Kiev during the talks is not comprehensive political regulation and not Donbass reintegration. We are aware of this stance of the Ukrainian government - to maintain anti-Russian sanctions under any pretence."

"Nevertheless, the Russian delegation will continue to act as mediator to achieve a result stipulated by the Minsk Agreements, calling on the OSCE to do the same," Gryzlov stressed.

Source: ITAR-TASS 26-06-2020

Doctors, nurses act as observers during Constitutional vote at Moscow hospitals

Earlier, Deputy Chairman of the Moscow City Election Commission Dmitry Reut told TASS that around 180 polling stations in the capital were organized at temporary locations, with the majority of them at medical facilities.

MOSCOW, June 25. /TASS/. The observation of the vote on the amendments to the Russian Constitution throughout Moscow’s medical facilities, even at COVID-19 clinics, is being organized with the participation of medical personnel from these hospitals, Deputy Chairman of the Moscow Civic Chamber Alexei Venediktov told the reporters on Thursday.

Earlier, Deputy Chairman of the Moscow City Election Commission Dmitry Reut told TASS that around 180 polling stations in the capital were organized at temporary locations, with the majority of them at medical facilities. These polling stations are also located in hospitals where patients with the coronavirus infection are being treated.

"The issues of how the voting at hospitals should be dealt with and how to go about monitoring the vote were discussed. Obviously, there a lot of places infected with coronavirus. The observers were ready to go there, and in Moscow there are 139 such sites at medical and non-COVID-19 [facilities], at hospitals and maternity clinics. Overall, there are 3,621 polls in Moscow. <...> the monitors could have been supplied with everything necessary, the observers themselves were ready, but at [the monitoring] headquarters we decided not to send the outside observers to the polls at medical facilities and maternity wards. If they have polling stations there, we suggested that the doctors and nurses should serve as the observers there," the official said.

He specified that observers were not dispatched to the polling stations located in medical institutions so as to prevent the spread of the infection.

"There is another category of polling stations — pre-trial detention centers. There our colleagues from the Public Monitoring Commission are assisting us. We are keeping in touch with them, and previous experience demonstrates that our colleagues from the commission are doing a great job and report to us on all the situations that unfold there. Everything is very well-organized there due to the specifics of the location," added Vadim Kovalev, first deputy head of the Public Center for Control and Monitoring of the All-Russian Vote, and the superintendent of the observers’ corps.

About the vote

The nationwide vote to amend the Russian Constitution started on Thursday, June 25 in all regions of Russia. The primary date to vote according to the decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin is July 1, but Russians can also cast their ballots during the week of June 25 to June 30. According to the directive of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, the polls will be open from June 25 to July 1 from 8 am to 8 pm local time in all Russian regions, the vote count will take place after 8 pm local time on July 1 for all seven days of voting.

Initially, the vote on the amendments to the Constitution was set to take place on April 22, but it was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. On June 1, at a meeting with the Central Election Commission leadership and the members of the working group on the amendments, Putin supported the proposal to hold the vote on July 1, later signing the corresponding decree.

In addition to voting before the primary date (June 25-30), constituents can also cast ballots outside of polling stations (including outdoor areas), use contactless voting at home, or remote electronic voting for some regions, and cast ballots at one’s place of residence using the Mobile Voter application. Additionally, the residents of Moscow and the Nizhny Novgorod region on June 5-21 applied to cast their electronic ballots remotely. The Central Election Commission accepted over 1 mln applications from Muscovites and over 140,000 from Nizhny Novgorod residents. The remote electronic vote will be held June 25-30.

Source: ITAR-TASS 25-06-2020

US says ready to work with Russia to seek solutions within Open Skies Treaty framework

WASHINGTON, June 23./TASS/. The US is ready to work with Russia to seek solutions related to the Open Skies Treaty, the 2020 Compliance Report of the US Department of State, issued late on Monday, said.

"For so long as the United States remains a Party to the Open Skies Treaty, it will continue to work closely with Allies and partners at the OSCC, its subordinate working groups, and other bilateral and multilateral venues to address Russia’s violations and improve the overall operation of the Treaty," the report said. "The United States also remains ready to work in good faith with Russia in seeking solutions to these issues," the 2020 Adherence to and Compliance with Arms Control, Nonproliferation, and Disarmament Agreements and Commitments (Compliance Report) said.

Source: ITAR-TASS 23-06-2020

Putin says memory of WWII absolutely sacred, as Russia marks Day of Remembrance and Sorrow

According to the Russian head of state, the memory of WWII gives one the strength to "serve our country, and moral oaths"

KUBINKA /Moscow Region/, June 22. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin is confident that the memory of the Great Patriotic War is sacred.

"For us, the Russian citizens, the memory of the Great Patriotic War and of all those who fought and sacrificed their lives, who struggled tooth and nail to bring victory closer, is absolutely sacred. It is always with us. It gives us strength to serve our country," Putin said during his visit to the Main Cathedral of the Russian Armed Forces in the Patriot Park located in Kubinka outside Moscow.

According to the Russian head of state, the memory of WWII gives one the strength to "serve our country, and moral oaths." "Oaths which we have no right to abandon and we will never back down from," President Putin stressed.

"Today, on the Day of Remembrance and Sorrow, we are turning to one of the most bitter, dramatic pages of our history. On June 22, 1941, WWII began on Russian territory," Putin said. He noted that the war "became a terrible and enormous tragedy, which claimed millions of lives, and left in its wake destruction, an unmitigated sense of loss, and deep unhealed wounds." President Putin is confident that "the war-time trials and tribulations had demonstrated the incredible strength and perseverance of our people, everlasting examples of bravery, genuine patriotism, and the devotion to the ancestral legacy of protecting and defending our native soil.".

Source: ITAR-TASS 22-06-2020

French historian describes Putin’s article on WWII as ‘profound’

"I totally agree with what Putin said in his article. History must never be forgotten, as its lessons give us a better understanding of the present-day situation in the world," he said.

PARIS, June 20. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s article on preserving the historical truth about WWII is ‘profound’ and ‘extensive,’ French historian Jean-Pierre Arrignon has told TASS.

"This is a profound and extensive work," he said. "I totally agree with what Putin said in his article. History must never be forgotten, as its lessons give us a better understanding of the present-day situation in the world."

The expert acknowledged that "the Soviet Union made the biggest effort and suffered the heaviest losses in battles for liberating Europe, while the Western allies’ persistently refused to create the second front."

"I would like to support Russia’s initiative to preserve stability and security on the planet, which inevitably rests on the United Nations. In this context, I think that Russian-French partnership would be very useful. It might make an efficient contribution into efforts to stabilize the world order," he added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin published an article about WWII-related events in the National Interest magazine on Thursday. A section of the article was devoted to lessons of the Second World War and international cooperation issues.

On May 8, the White House published on Instagram a video of US President Donald Trump laying a wreath to a WWII memorial, with an inscription saying that the United States and the United Kingdom defeated Nazism on May 8, 1945. On May 10, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Russia was outraged by US attempts to belittle the Soviet Union’s contribution into the victory over Nazi Germany, and was set to have serious discussions on the issue with US officials.

Source: ITAR-TASS 20-06-2020

Crimean authorities reverse decision to cancel Victory Parade in Simferopol over pandemic

The military parade will take place on June 24, according to the Crimean head.

SIMFEROPOL, June 16. /TASS/. The Crimean authorities have reversed their decision on cancelling the Victory Parade in Simferopol and the military parade will take place on June 24, Crimea’s Head Sergei Aksyonov wrote on his VKontakte social network account on Tuesday.

The Crimean head announced earlier on Tuesday that the military parade devoted to the 75th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in the 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War scheduled to be held in Simferopol on June 24 would not take place for safety reasons due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"I never change my decisions but this is an unprecedented situation, which requires … a special approach," he wrote.

The decision to hold the Victory Parade in Simferopol on June 24 has been made "after lengthy consultations, including with the Defense Ministry of the Russian Federation and Rospotrebnadzor [the sanitary watchdog]" and "takes into account all the circumstances," the Crimean head stressed.

Crimea will take a set of "unprecedented measures" for ensuring safety during the novel coronavirus pandemic, Aksyonov said. "Understanding has been reached with the Defense Ministry of Russia and Commander of the Southern Military District Alexander Dvornikov who will provide full assistance. I am grateful to colleagues for such support, thanks to which we will be able to hold the anticipated Victory Parade in the Crimean capital. We all hoped for this decision deep in our hearts because this event is sacred for each of us," Aksyonov said.

It was earlier reported that the Victory Parade in Simferopol on June 24 would involve over 70 items of armament and military hardware, including T-72B3 tanks, Grad multiple launch rocket systems, Khrizantema self-propelled anti-tank missile systems and also over 1,000 personnel.

Russia postponed its military parade traditionally held on Moscow’s Red Square on May 9 for a later date due to the coronavirus pandemic.

At a video conference with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on May 26, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the Victory Parade would be held on Moscow’s Red Square on June 24.

The head of state explained he had chosen this date because June 24 was the day when in 1945 the legendary historic parade of victors took place, with soldiers, who fought for Moscow, defended Leningrad and Stalingrad, liberated Europe and stormed Berlin, marching on Red Square.

The Russian president instructed the defense chief to make sure that there weren’t any risks to the health of the military parade’s participants.

Source: ITAR-TASS 16-06-2020

Capacity utilization of Russian automobile plants is below 30% - newspaper

The segment of minivans suffered most in the commercial transport sector.

MOSCOW, June 13. /TASS/. Capacity utilization of systemic companies in the Russian automotive industry declined from 50% to less than 30% after two months of the lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, Izvestiya newspaper reports on Saturday, citing data of the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Automobiles production plummeted by 60.2% year-on-year in April 2020, according to the Russian statistical agency Rosstat. Key reasons for the decline was suspension of operations by automobile plants because of nonworking days in the country during the pandemic period, disruption of imported components’ deliveries and falling demand, the agency told the newspaper.

The segment of minivans suffered most in the commercial transport sector, GAZ Group told Izvestiya. The plant capacity utilization fell more than twofold in June 2020 on an annualized basis, according to Group data.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced nonworking days in the country from March 30 to May 12 in order to lower coronavirus infection spread rates. Operations of many economic spheres were suspended, except those that cannot be stopped: energy, construction and utilities sectors.

Source: ITAR-TASS 14-06-2020

One person died, three injured in gas explosion in Kazan

After the explosion, a fire broke out with a risk of spreading to other containers.

MOSCOW, June 13. /TASS/. One person died and three others were injured in an explosion of liquefied gas in a gas storage facility in Kazan, emergency services told TASS.

"Liquefied gas exploded at the Kazan cluster base of Gazprom Liquefied Gas, in an above-ground gas storage capacity of 100 cubic meters. As a result, one person died and three were injured," the source said.

After the explosion, a fire broke out with a risk of spreading to other containers.

Press service of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations confirmed that the explosion and fire occurred at an above-ground storage facility with a capacity of 100 cubic meters on the territory of the gas distribution station of Gazprom liquefied gas. Meanwhile, 11 units of fire-fighting and special equipment work at the scene.

Source: ITAR-TASS 13-06-2020

Russia’s upgraded Ka-52 gunship with long-range cruise missile to complete trials in 2022

During its upgrade, the Ka-52 helicopter will get a new long-range cruise missile codenamed ‘item 305’.

MOSCOW, June 11. /TASS/. The Kamov Ka-52M upgraded combat helicopter armed with a new long-range cruise missile is due to complete state trials by October 2022, according to the data posted on the government’s procurement website on Thursday.

"Taking part in state joint trials of upgraded Ka-52M helicopters. Finalizing the helicopters following the results of the state joint trials. The time limits for the contractual work: December 1, 2020 as its beginning and September 30, 2022 as its completion," the documents say.

During its upgrade, the Ka-52 helicopter will get a new long-range cruise missile codenamed ‘item 305,’ with which the Mi-28NM gunship was earlier armed with. The government procurement materials indicate that the upgraded helicopter will get an interface device for this missile, an airborne launcher and a command radio link for employing the missile.

The upgraded helicopter will also be furnished with a new round-the-clock sight system, the latest onboard communications and data exchange systems, satellite navigation equipment and other devices.

As the materials indicate, the first two helicopters will be upgraded before the end of November this year by re-equipping and finalizing the operational rotorcraft. The gunships are due to enter flight tests before May 31, 2021.

A TASS source reported in February that the upgrade would allow the Ka-52M to carry the latest ‘item 305’ airborne cruise missiles with an operational range of up to 100 km. As another source in the domestic defense industry told TASS in March 2019, the latest Russian airborne missile ‘item 305’ was undergoing trials aboard a Mi-28NM helicopter in a real warfare environment in Syria at that time.

Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexei Krivoruchko said in May last year that the Defense Ministry was going to conclude a contract with Russian Helicopters Group rotorcraft manufacturer (part of the state hi-tech corporation Rostec) on the delivery of 114 Ka-52M helicopters.

Russian Helicopters Group CEO Andrei Boginsky specified at the time that specialists were taking into account the Syrian combat experience in developing the gunship and the upgraded version would get new target detection and identification systems and longer-range weapons.

By its weapons suite, the Ka-52M will be standardized with the Mi family of helicopters. Compared to the Ka-52, its upgraded version will feature enhanced protection, the chief executive said.

Source: ITAR-TASS 11-06-2020

Zelensky not invited to Victory parade since Ukraine is not CIS member de facto — Kremlin

At his video conference with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on May 26, President Vladimir Putin announced that the anticipated Victory parade would be held on Moscow’s Red Square on June 24.

MOSCOW, June 10./TASS/. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky was not invited to attend the Victory parade in Moscow on June 24, since Ukraine is not a CIS member country de facto, and since it has not signaled its wish to share the joy of Victory Day celebrations, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Wednesday.

"As far as I know, [the invitation to Zelensky] was not sent," Peskov said when asked whether Moscow had sent an official invitation to the Ukrainian leader. In comments on this decision, he stressed that "the renewal of official invitations to the heads of the Commonwealth of Independent States’ nations is prioritized."

"A number of partners have said they want to come, to our joy. As we know, de facto and in many cases de jure Ukraine is not a member of the CIS, it shows no interest in continuing activity in its agencies this way or another, and has never signaled its wish to share the joy of Victory Day celebrations," Peskov added.

At his video conference with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on May 26, President Vladimir Putin announced that the anticipated Victory parade would be held on Moscow’s Red Square on June 24.

The head of state explained he had chosen this date because June 24 was the day when back in 1945 the legendary historic parade of victors took place on Red Square, involving soldiers, who fought for Moscow, defended Leningrad and Stalingrad, liberated Europe and stormed Berlin.

Source: ITAR-TASS 10-06-2020

Moscow certain NATO will share information about flights over Russia with US – ambassador

According to Russia’s Ambassador in Washington Anatoly Antonov, the situation around the treaty is a matter of serious concern, as another agreement forming the architecture of strategic stability is being dismantled.

WASHINGTON, June 6. /TASS/. Russia is convinced that NATO members will share intelligence about their flights over Russia with the United States after Washington’s pullout from the Open Skies Treaty, Russia’s Ambassador in Washington Anatoly Antonov told Russian reporters on Saturday.

"I have no doubt that the NATO countries will definitely share with the United States the information they will be receiving by their planes," the ambassador said when asked by TASS.

"It is a very serious issue which needs to be pondered over carefully so as to determine what we have to do in the current circumstances," he said.

"The most important thing is that we respond calmly to this situation. We are carefully studying the line of behavior of both the Western states and the US," Antonov said. "I am sure that after a certain period of time, appropriate steps will be taken to ensure the security of the Russian state."

According to the ambassador, the situation around the treaty is a matter of serious concern, as another agreement forming the architecture of strategic stability is being dismantled.

"Now we need to wait, as the US decision to withdraw from the treaty will come into force in six months. An emergency conference [of the signatories to the treaty], which is envisaged by the treaty provisions, will be convened to take concrete decisions," he explained.

"As for the Western European countries’ future ability or inability to use the US expertise in implementation of the treaty, they certainly can," Antonov said. "The matter is that in six months NATO members, non-NATO members in Europe and Russia will be implementing the treaty and will be issuing permits for flights over their territories and will make sure that we (the Russians - TASS) are not involved in any dangerous military activity. The US skies will be closed for us," he concluded.

US President Donald Trump declared on May 21 Washington was going to withdraw from the Treaty on Open Skies, which provides for inspection flights over member countries’ territories to monitor military activities. He motivated this step by Russia’s alleged violation of the treaty. US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said in a written statement that the decision to withdraw from the treaty will come into effect in six months after May 22.

Moscow denies these accusations and puts forward counterclaims. Thus, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Russia has already voiced its own claims to the United States concerning this treaty’s implementation.

The Treaty on Open Skies was signed in March 1992 in Helsinki by 23 member nations of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The main purposes of the open skies regime are to develop transparency, render assistance in monitoring compliance with the existing or future arms control agreements, broaden possibilities for preventing crises and managing crisis situations. The treaty establishes a program of unarmed aerial surveillance flights over the entire territory of its participants. Now, the treaty has more than 30 signatory states. Russia ratified the Treaty on Open Skies on May 26, 2001.

Source: ITAR-TASS 07-06-2020

Russia to respond adequately to expulsion of two diplomats from Czech Republic

It was "dishonest and inappropriate" of the Czech side to make such an unfriendly step, the Russian foreign ministry said.

MOSCOW, June 5. /TASS/. Russia will respond adequately to the expulsion of two employees of the Russian Culture Center in Prague, the Russian foreign ministry said on Friday.

It was "dishonest and inappropriate" of the Czech side to make such an unfriendly step, the ministry said. "The Czech authorities have done serious damage to the Russian-Czech relations, without any grounds," it noted. "Prague’s actions will be followed by an adequate response, moreover they will be reckoned with while developing Russia’s policy towards the Czech Republic. Such provocations should be answered for."

The Czech media reported back in April, citing sources in the Czech special services, that a Russian national holding a diplomatic passport had allegedly arrived in Prague carrying ricin, a highly potent toxin. The man allegedly headed to the Russian embassy and the poison could be meant for several Czech municipal politicians who had been behind the dismantling of the monument to Soviet Marshal Konev.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis said back then he doubted those allegations could have anything with the reality and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov slammed those allegations as absurd, saying that no one "in full possession of his faculties" could take them as anything real.

On June 5, Russia’s embassy in Prague received a note from the Czech foreign ministry notifying of the expulsion of two embassy staffers. Before that, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis told a news conference that two Russian diplomats had been declared personae non grata. He admitted however that the ricin case had proved to be fabricated. It followed a false signal from a Russian embassy employee to the Czech counterintelligence services about allegedly plotted attack on Czech officials, he said.

Source: ITAR-TASS 06-05-2020

Russia beefs up forces to fortify defense of Western boundary

In early June, high level of military activity of the US and its NATO allies was reported near Russian borders.

MOSCOW, June 5. /TASS/. The guard tank army of Russia’s Western Military District was reinforced to protect the country on the Western strategic direction, the military district told journalists Friday.

In late May, Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu said that the Western strategic direction remains under the highest threat for Russia’s military security, adding that, in accordance with the 2019-2025 plan of action, Russia conducts a complex of measures to neutralize the emerging threats.

"The Separate Guards Motorized Rifle Sevastopol Red Banner Brigade named after the 60th anniversary of the USSR was included in the Guards Red Banner Tank Army of the Western Military District to perform tasks on ensuring the defense of the Russian Federation in the Western strategic direction," the district’s press service said, adding that the motorized brigade has been deployed in the Novomoskovsky Administrative District of Moscow.

"It is armed with modern weapons and military and specialized vehicles, such as T-90A tanks, BTR-82A armored carriers, BMP-3 combat vehicles, and 9A34 Strela-10 and 2S6M Tunguska air defense systems," the press service said.

In early June, head of the Main Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces’ General Staff Sergei Rudskoi noted that Russian Ministry of Defense consistently registered high level of military activity of the US and its NATO allies near Russian borders, adding that the alliance also ramped up its exercises that bear a distinct anti-Russian character.

Source: ITAR-TASS 05-06-2020

Russian Black Sea Fleet deploys over 30 warships for drills

During the week, the ships’ crews will conduct sole and joint artillery and missile firings against naval, coastal and air targets, according to the Fleet’s press office.

SEVASTOPOL, June 2. /TASS/. The Black Sea Fleet ships, vessels and boats have deployed to naval ranges for drills, the Fleet’s press office reported on Tuesday.

"The Black Sea Fleet’s 37 surface ships, boats and support vessels have deployed to naval ranges for a series of naval drills. At the initial stage, the crews practiced emergency response preparedness for a battle and their deployment with the subsequent departure from the bases for the designated areas," the press office said in a statement.

During the week, the ships’ crews will conduct sole and joint artillery and missile firings against naval, coastal and air targets. The sailors will also practice marine training elements, including joint deployment and maneuvering in various formations, the statement says.

The summer training period kicked off in Russia’s Black Sea Fleet on June 1. For the first time, it opened with a review of the ships in the Sevastopol roadstead. The Black Sea Fleet commander reviewed the formation of ships aboard a communications boat and checked the forces’ readiness for accomplishing assigned missions. Following this, the crews of ships and boats set off for the Fleet’s combat training naval ranges.

Source: ITAR-TASS 02-06-2020

Russia has not made any decisions on opening borders for foreigners yet — Kremlin

In any case, the closed borders regime does not apply to official visits of delegations, the Kremlin spokesman said.

MOSCOW, June 1. /TASS/. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov is not aware whether Russia will decide to open its borders for foreigners by June 24, however, the closed borders regime does not apply to official guests of the Victory Day parade set to take place on that day.

"So far, we have not made any decisions regarding opening borders for all foreigners, so I cannot say whether there will be such decisions by the time the parades are held," he told reporters on Monday. "In any case, the closed borders regime does not apply to official visits of delegations, especially at the top level."

Source: ITAR-TASS 01-06-2020