FSB foils terror attack in Russia's Tatarstan

Two IS militants have been detained.

MOSCOW, July 31. /TASS/. A terror attack at an infrastructure facility in Russia’s Tatarstan in the Volga Federal District has been thwarted and two militants of the Islamic State terror group (outlawed in Russia), who are suspected of plotting it, have been detained, the Federal Security Service said.

"The Russian Federal Security Service jointly with the Russian Interior Ministry have foiled a terror attack at an infrastructure facility in Tatarstan as part of an earlier opened criminal case," the FSB said.

Two Russian citizens, who are members of the IS terror group, have been detained at the scene. According to the FSB, they were linked to recruiting local citizens to terror groups and terrorism propaganda.

Explosives and elements of self-made explosive devices have been seized from the suspects. The FSB has not revealed their names as the investigation continues.

Seventeen terrorist attacks were foiled in Russia in the six months of 2019, Russia’s First Deputy Prosecutor-General Alexander Buksman said on Tuesday.

Source: ITAR-TASS 31-07-2019

Russian diplomat slams Kiev’s plan to launch TV channel for Crimea, Donbass as madness

According to Maria Zakharova, it resembles more a Bible story than the present-day situation.

MOSCOW, July 30. /TASS/. Ukraine’s plans to launch a worldwide Russian-language TV channel look like madness amid restrictions imposed on the use of Russian in the country, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote on Facebook.

"It means, Kiev will launch a Russian-language channel to convince those in Ukraine who seek to protect their right to speak Russian that they are wrong," she said. "Just imagine: the Kiev authorities are allocating funds to reach out to the Russian-speaking audience around the world, while in their own country, a new language law allows the use Russian only as a language of private communication and religious rites," Zakharova noted.

"What is going on is just madness, it resembles more a Bible story than the present-day situation," the Russian diplomat added.

The Ukrainian presidential administration earlier announced plans to launch a worldwide Russian-language TV channel in order to win the hearts and minds of Ukrainians living all around the world, particularly in Crimea and Donbass.

Source: ITAR-TASS 30-07-2019

WWII munitions found at Battle of Stalingrad monument in Volgograd

The finds were dug up in the course of the restoration.

ROSTOV-ON-DON, July 29. /TASS/. Army engineers from Russia’s Southern Military District have eliminated WWII munitions found during restoration works at the Motherland Calls! monument in Volgograd devoted to the heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad, the District’s press office reported on Monday.

"The combat engineers of a motor rifle unit of the Southern Military District eliminated the munitions found at the foot of the Motherland Calls! sculpture on Mamayev Hill in Volgograd," the press office reported.

The WWII munitions were unearthed by workers in the course of the restoration. The munitions included a 76mm artillery shell and a grenade.

The munitions were destroyed at the Prudboi firing range.

Source: ITAR-TASS 29-07-2019

Russian Navy can fight back any aggressor, says Putin

Russian president pointed out that the plans for the country are to build a unique in its possibilities fleet, designed for a long time.

ST. PETERSBURG, July 28. /TASS/. Russian Navy is ready to fight back any aggressor, President Vladimir Putin said at the Main Naval Parade marking Russia’s Navy Day on Sunday.

"Our Navy ensures security of the country, its national interests and can properly repulse any aggressor," the president said.

This is guaranteed by unique weapons that Russia has, "but the most important is that the courage and training standards of the fleet crews, loyalty to the St. Andrew’s Flag and devotion to the Fatherland remain a special and lofty duty for them, the sailors stand to the end when they perform their combat missions," the president stressed.

"At the time of bitter trials, the seamen are ready to give their lives for their ship, their people and the Fatherland," Putin emphasized, citing numerous examples of heroism revealed by Russian sailors back in the 19th century, during World War II and most recent examples, like the courage of the crew during the fire onboard a Russian submersible in the Barents Sea.

"The Fatherland has always remembered and will always remember the feats of the Russian sailors," Putin pledged, thanking the seamen for seeking inspiration from heroic traditions, for their unity and strength, for bravery and courage, and for their service to the Fatherland.

He said Navy Day is celebrated across the whole country, which honors "all those who at different times in history served Russia faithfully and loyally, and who continue doing this on its borders and far away from the homeland".

Vladimir Putin also noted that Russia plans to build a unique fleet.

"The heroism of sailors, the talent of naval commanders and ship-builders, daring of scientists and courage of pioneers have brought great naval glory to Russia. We will not only hold the bar high, but we will continue to move further - we will be building a unique in its possibilities fleet, designed for a long time, the fleet of a strong and sovereign state," the president stressed.

The Main Naval Parade in St. Petersburg and Kronshtadt involves more than 4,000 personnel, 43 warships and submarines as well as 41 aircraft. Naval parades are also held on Sunday in Baltiysk, Sevastopol, Severomorsk and Astrakhan, as well as in the Syrian port of Tartus.

Source: ITAR-TASS 28-07-2019

Austria seeks to revive spy scandal, Russian foreign ministry says

Austria’s interior ministry said on Thursday it had put Russian national Igor Zaitsev, 65, on the international wanted list on suspicion of spying for Russia’s military intelligence.

MOSCOW, July 26. /TASS/. Austria’s submission of Russian national Igor Zaitsev to the international wanted list on suspicion of spying for Russia’s military intelligence against Austria is an attempt to revive the hysteria around Russian spies, the Russian Foreign Ministry told TASS on Friday.

"We deeply regret that there are those who seek to revive last November’s ‘hot topic’ about Russian spies in Austria, which we thought has been resolved with our Austrian partners. At least, all our bilateral contacts with the Austrian leadership have been held in this atmosphere in the recent months," the ministry said.

"Notably, the accusations are worded in the notorious ‘highly likely’ style. Since such fakes are never meant to initiate a serious conversation, we see no point in commenting on them," the ministry stressed.

Austria’s interior ministry said on Thursday it had put Russian national Igor Zaitsev, 65, on the international wanted list on suspicion of spying for Russia’s General Staff Main Directorate, formerly known as the Main Intelligence Directorate, or GRU. The arrest warrant was issued by the Salzburg prosecutor’s office, which suspects Zaitsev of recruiting the retired Austrian colonel who was arrested in 2018 and charged with leaking secret information to Russia. Austrian police claim that the Russian national, a senior GRU officer, is suspected of coordinating the activities of the retired Austrian army officer to spy against Austria since 1987.

Source: ITAR-TASS 27-07-2019

Bank of Russia reduces key rate to 7.25%

 Russian economy’s growth rate is coming in lower than the Bank of Russia’s expectations, the regulator said.

MOSCOW, July 26. /TASS/. The Bank of Russia cuts the key rate by 25 basis points to 7.25%, noting continued inflation slowdown, the regulator says in its press release.

"Inflation slowdown is continuing. At the same time, inflation expectations remain elevated. Russian economy’s growth rate is coming in lower than the Bank of Russia’s expectations," the Central Bank says.

Poor economic activity along with temporary factors limits inflation risks over the short term horizon, the Bank of Russia notes.

Source: ITAR-TASS 27-07-2019

Russia’s Black Sea Fleet warships line up in Sevastopol Bay for Navy Day parade

 The parade will be held on July 28, when Russia celebrates Navy Day.

MOSCOW, July 25. /TASS/. The Black Sea Fleet’s warships have lined up in a parade formation in the Sevastopol Bay ahead of Russia’s Navy Day celebrations, the Fleet’s press office reported on Thursday.

"The Black Sea Fleet’s warships have completed forming their parade lineup in the Sevastopol Bay," the press office said in a statement.

Sevastopol residents and guests will be able to view the submarine Novorossiysk, the air-cushion missile ship Samum, the frigate Admiral Makarov, the missile gunboat R-60 and other warships.

Sevastopol Naval Parade Commanding Officer, Commander of the Squadron of Surface Ships Rear Admiral Oleg Krivorog was in charge of the warships’ parade lineup, the press office said.

Russia will celebrate Navy Day on July 28. Naval parades will be held in St. Petersburg, Baltiysk, Sevastopol, Severomorsk and Astrakhan, and also in the Syrian port of Tartus.

Russia’s Main Naval Parade in St. Petersburg and Kronshtadt on July 28 will involve 43 warships, 41 aircraft and more than 4,000 personnel.

Source: ITAR-TASS 25-07-2019