Wartime ammunition cache found in Crimea

The mortar shells date back to the period of 1941-1944.

SIMFEROPOL, April 29. / TASS /. An ammunition cache dating from World War II was found near the water storage located near the Frontovoye village in eastern Crimea, the Russian Border Service of the Federal Security Service’s regional department reported on Thursday.

"During the inspection of this area, two dozen 82 mm mortar shells were unearthed, which had been there since the active hostilities period of 1941-1944," the press service stated.

Border guards and police officers cordoned off the scene and mounted a watch. "Deactivation and destruction of ammunition will be carried out by the Emergencies Ministry’s branch in the Republic of Crimea," the Federal Security Service noted.

Source: ITAR-TASS 29-04-2021

Russia to lay out six warships and submarines on occasion of WWII Victory Day

The exact dates of laying down the latest warships have not been defined yet, according to the source.

MOSCOW, April 27. /TASS/. Russian shipbuilders will celebrate Victory Day on May 9 by laying down six warships and submarines, a source in the domestic shipbuilding industry told TASS on Tuesday.

"In early May, two Project 955A Borei-A-class strategic nuclear-powered missile-carrying underwater cruisers, two Project 20380 corvettes and two Project 636.3 submarines will be laid down," the source specified.

Two strategic underwater cruisers will be laid down at the Sevmash Shipyard, two corvettes at the Amur Shipbuilding Plant and two Varshavyanka-class conventional subs at the Admiralty Shipyard (all these enterprises are part of Russia’s United Shipbuilding Corporation). The exact dates of laying down the latest warships have not been defined yet, the source said.

The Sevmash Shipyard will lay the keels of the strategic underwater cruisers Dmitry Donskoi and Knyaz Potyomkin while the Admiralty Shipyard will lay down the submarines Mozhaisk and Yakutsk (the 5th and 6th vessels in a series of six Project 636.3 subs for the Russian Pacific Fleet). The corvettes expected to be laid down at the Amur Shipbuilding Plant have not received their names yet, the source said.

The press offices of the United Shipbuilding Corporation and its subordinate enterprises declined to comment on this information.

This year, Russia’s Victory Parade on Moscow’s Red Square to mark the 76th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in the 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War will involve over 12,000 troops, about 190 combat vehicles and 76 aircraft: 53 planes and 23 helicopters.

Source: ITAR-TASS 27-04-2021

Russia to expel five Polish diplomats in response to Warsaw’s actions

On April 15, Poland declared three Russian diplomats personae non gratae.

MOSCOW, April 16. /TASS/. Russia will expel five Polish diplomats in response to Warsaw’s actions, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement published on Friday.

"By the way, we noted how quick Warsaw was to chime in with the US administration, demanding that three Russian diplomats leave Poland. In turn, five Polish diplomats will be expelled from Russia," the ministry said.

On April 15, Poland declared three Russian diplomats personae non gratae.

Source: ITAR-TASS 17-04-2021

Moscow court arrests Ukrainian intelligence colonel for terrorism in absentia

In April last year, Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) apprehended two people, suspected of espionage for Ukrainian military intelligence.

MOSCOW, April 9. /TASS/. Moscow’s Lefortovo Court arrested the head of Ukrainian Military Intelligence Kherson Division commander Oleg Akhmedov in absentia, court press service told TASS Friday.

"The court ruled to put Akhmedov O.A. into custody for two months since his apprehension or extradition to Russia. He was charged in absentia with [terror attack, carried out by a group of people under prior conspiracy]," the court said.

In April last year, Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) apprehended two people, suspected of espionage for Ukrainian military intelligence. The spy group included a Ukrainian citizen and a Russian Armed Forces servicewoman, who, according to investigation, handed over a state secret to the Ukrainian military intelligence in 2017-2018. Criminal cases were initiated against them over charges of espionage and treason.

During the investigation, one suspect reportedly disclosed that they created stashes with explosives and ammo in Crimea under the order of Colonel Oleg Akhmedov of the Kherson military intelligence division.

According to Russian counter-intelligence, Akhmedov recruited and curated both suspects, who planned a number of sabotages on social and military infrastructure on the Russian territory.

Source: ITAR-TASS 10-04-2021

Kremlin concerned about possible resumption of full-scale military activities in Ukraine

It will pose a threat to Russia’s national security, the Kremlin spokesman said.

MOSCOW, April 9. /TASS/. The Kremlin is concerned about the possible resumption of full-scale military activities in Ukraine, which would threaten Russia’s national security, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday.

"There are concerns that Ukraine’s civil war will resume. And if a civil war with full-scale military activities resumes near our borders, it will pose a threat to Russia’s national security," he emphasized.

"The current developments and Ukraine’s behavior in general create the risk of full-scale military activities. It is clear from various statements that Kiev does not completely reject the idea of using force to resolve its issue with the southeast," Peskov said.

He noted that the situation was extremely unstable along the line of contact in Donbass.

Tensions in Donbass started rising in late February, though the parties made an agreement on additional measures to ensure the ceasefire in July 2020. Intense shooting resumed on the line of contact, resulting in casualties to both sides. Ukraine said that Donbass was to blame, while the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics stressed that Kiev’s failure to implement the July agreement was the reason for escalating tensions.

Source: ITAR-TASS 09-04-2021

Russia’s MiG-31 fighter intercepts Norwegian spy plane over Barents Sea

The Russian fighter’s crew identified the air target as a Falcon 20.

MOSCOW, April 7. /TASS/. A Russian MiG-31 fighter jet intercepted a Norwegian Air Force Falcon 20 reconnaissance aircraft over the Barents Sea, Russia’s National Defense Control Center reported on Wednesday.

"On April 7, 2021, Russian airspace control systems detected an air target over the territory of Norway approaching Russia’s state border. A MiG-31 fighter from the Northern Fleet’s air defense quick reaction alert forces was scrambled to identify the air target and prevent it from violating the Russian state border," the Center said in a statement.

"The Russian fighter’s crew identified the air target as a Norwegian Air Force Falcon 20 radio-technical reconnaissance and electronic warfare aircraft and shadowed it over the Barents Sea," the statement says.

After the foreign spy plane flew away from Russia’s state border, the Russian fighter safely returned to its home airfield, the Center said.

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

"No violations of the Russian state border were allowed," it said.

Source: ITAR-TASS 07-04-2021

Five-year-old killed in DPR in Ukrainian drone strike - militia

One woman received wounds and was taken to hospital.

DONETSK, April 3. /TASS/. A child was killed in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) in a Ukrainian drone strike, the DPR People’s Militia wrote on the Telegram channel.

According to the DPR defense agency, Ukrainian troops dropped an explosive device from an unmanned aerial vehicle onto an inhabited locality in the DPR.

"At that moment two civilians were in their yard. As a result of Ukrainian militants’ criminal actions, a child born in 2016 was killed, while a local woman born in 1954 received wounds and was taken to hospital where she was provided with the required medical treatment," the DPR People’s Militia said in a statement.

The Donetsk news agency reported citing the DPR militia that the tragic accident took place in Aleksandrovskoye outside the town of Yenakievo.

The DPR defense agency pointed out that it was the second civilian death in the DPR from shelling by the Kiev forces in the past few weeks after an escalation along the contact line in Donbass. On March 22, the DPR reported that a civilian was killed by a Ukrainian sniper in a settlement in the west of Donetsk.

The DPR People’s Militia called on the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to document the strike delivered by Ukraine’s Armed Forces and to urge Ukraine to investigate into the incident so as to identify those responsible and to hold them accountable.

Source: ITAR-TASS 04-04-2021

Over 50 battalion tactical groups to fight enemy drones in southern Russia drills

As an important stage of the control check, the troops will live-fire guns as part of reconnaissance and fire systems.

ROSTOV-ON-DON, April 2. /TASS/. Over 50 battalion tactical groups of Russia’s Southern Military District will practice fighting enemy drones jointly with electronic warfare and air defense forces in drills, the District’s press office reported on Friday.

"Over 50 battalion tactical groups and tactical groups of the branches of the Southern Military District’s troops will practice interaction with electronic warfare and air defense units during a control check for the purpose of defense against unmanned aviation strikes," the press office said in a statement.

As the press office of the Southern Military District specified for TASS, the drills involve 50 battalion groups numbering 15,000 personnel.

The drills will also aim to assess the operations of the Southern Military District’s battalion tactical groups during their marches to the areas of multiservice force training grounds and command and control of attached army and assault aviation forces, in particular, when motor rifle units accomplish their tasks as part of a tactical airborne assault force, the statement says. As an important stage of the control check, the troops will live-fire guns as part of reconnaissance and fire systems. Tactical-level commanders will demonstrate their independence in solving the general battle plan and the ability to make outpacing, unconventional and surprise decisions for the enemy that allow seizing and retaining the initiative in a battle, the press office said. "The control check of the Southern Military District’s troops aims to raise the level of combat and operational training and improve the methods and forms of conducting drills, classes and exercises, taking into account the situation within the area of responsibility," the statement says.

Source: ITAR-TASS 03-04-2021