The Soviet Union wanted to use this bizarre plane to hunt American nuclear submarines

Source : http://nosint.blogspot.de

Throughout the Cold War the Soviet Union and the United States were constantly trying to check each other's military power. This drive for each country to outdo the other led to some truly bizarre pieces of military hardware.

One of the most astounding Soviet creations was the Bartini Beriev VVA-14. The plane, whose pontoons give it the bizarre look of a bomber airframe strapped to two Star Trek-like nacelles, was the work of Italian designer Robert Bartini.

It was envisioned as a vertical take-off amphibious aircraft designed to act as a defense against US nuclear submarines. It was supposed to be able to skim the surface of the water, allowing it to have eyes on underwater targets while keeping it safe from sub attacks.

Russia Appoints New Commander of Ground Troops in Crimea

Source  : http://sputniknews.com

MOSCOW, January 29 (Sputnik) – Russia has tasked Lt. Gen. Yuri Petrov, who was appointed deputy Black Sea Fleet commander earlier Thursday, with creating a combat-ready group of ground troops in Russia’s region of Crimea.

“The Black Sea Fleet command has been tasked with creating a combat-ready group of ground troops in Crimea, capable of repelling any threats and challenges. The new deputy commander will be in charge of this task,” a source in the Russian General Staff told RIA Novosti.

According to the source, additional ground forces were deployed in Crimea following the peninsula's reunification with Russia in March.

© SPUTNIK/ ALEXANDR KRYAZHEV

Russia Not to Deploy Units of Strategic Missile Forces in Crimea: Commander

The source pointed out that according to the agreement signed between Ukraine and Russia in 1997, the number of Black Sea Fleet troops could not exceed 25,000 in Crimea, though only 15,000 troops were deployed on the peninsula.

In March 2014, Crimea reunified with Russia following a referendum in which as many as 96 percent of voters were in favor of joining Russia. The West branded the move an "illegal annexation."

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/military/20150129/1017506635.html#ixzz3QNXR4gME

Long-range aviation crews have successfully completed the tasks in the plan of air patrol

Source  :  http://function.mil.ru

January 29, 2015, two strategic bombers Tu-95MS raised from an air base Engels, successfully completed the tasks according to plan air patrols.

Flight route passed over neutral waters near the Barents and Norwegian Seas, the Atlantic Ocean. Crews Tu-95MS completed two in-flight refueling of aircraft tankers
IL-78. The flight duration was more than 19 hours.

On the route of flight accompanied by long-range aircraft fighter-interceptor MiG-31 of the Air Forces of Russia.

At various stages of the tour crews range aviation aircraft were accompanied by the Royal Air Force "Typhoon", Norway «F-16" and the French "Mirage".

Long-range aviation pilots, according to the approved plan, regularly perform flights on Air patrols in the waters over neutral waters of the Arctic, Atlantic, Black Sea, Pacific Ocean, as a base, and with operational airfields.

All flights of the Air Force carried out in strict accordance with international regulations on the use of airspace over neutral waters, without violating the borders of other states.

Russia’s Sarmat 100-ton ballistic missile may be test launched in 2016-2017 — source

Source  :  http://itar-tass.com/en

MOSCOW, January 29. /TASS/. The 100-ton ballistic missile Sarmat may be test launched in one or 1.5 years after its drop tests that are planned for 2015, a Russian defense industry source told TASS on Thursday.

"If everything goes according to plan during the drop tests, if they pass successfully, then in a year or 1.5 years the missile will be test launched," the source said.

According to the source, the drop tests check the missile’s separate stages. "This is done on a speciatl stand to check the missile’s lift capacity," he said. "It’s difficult to speak of the timeframe now, but it is usually done at the end of the year," he added.

Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yury Borisov said that drop tests of the Sarmat missile had been planned for this year, and Commander of the Strategic Missile Forces (RVSN) Sergey Karakayev said the missile was to be commissioned in the army by 2020.

Sarmat’s characteristics are unknown, it is only known that the missile is to replace the world’s largest strategic missile Voyevoda (NATO reporting name - Satan). According to Borisov, the new rocker’s destructive payload will reach 10 tons.

Naval base in Cuba would be Russia's best response to US hawks

Source  :  http://english.pravda.ru

A new NATO command center will be created near Varna in Bulgaria: 40 commanders, trainers and liaison officers. The decision was made during the visit of US Secretary of State Kerry and NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg to Bulgaria. "I am in Bulgaria to show that NATO is as committed to Bulgaria as Bulgaria is to NATO," the alliance's Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said. Pravda.Ru asked Director of the Center for Public Policy Research, Vladimir Yevseyev, to comment on such a development. 

"Russia has been increasing its military potential in the Crimea, and it comes as a response to NATO's growing activity in the Black Sea region, when the alliance often violates the Montreux Convention. In Romania, they plan to build a base of interceptor missiles. Therefore, Russia has to strengthen its presence in the Crimea. What Russia does is enough to ensure the security of Russia. Yet, the involvement of Bulgaria harms primarily Bulgaria itself. The short-sighted policy of the Bulgarian leadership has already made Russia shut down the South Stream project, which struck a serious blow on the Bulgarian economy," said Vladimir Yevseyev.

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The expert noted that the deployment of any type of NATO infrastructure in Bulgaria forces Russia to use those locations as targets for a possible strike in the event of a hypothetical conflict. Thus, Bulgaria jeopardizes its own population. "I believe that the Bulgarian leaders need to reconsider their policy, as it is clear that Bulgaria's security will be weakened. I would not listen to encouraging statements from the USA. Bulgaria can look at what happened in Georgia, when in August of 2008, no one helped the country, despite numerous promises."

"There were plans to build such a center in Turkey, but the country declined the offer not to ruin the ties with Russia. Why has Bulgaria agreed to be at the forefront of the fight against the Russian Federation?"

"It was the USA that has grown the ruling elite ofBulgaria. The Bulgarian elite conduct the American foreign policy. It is understandable why Bulgaria has agreed to everything that it was offered. Yet, I do not understand what Bulgaria can get in return. Turkey is being much smarter at this point, I believe. Bulgaria wants to follow the example of Poland. However, this path is wrong, because at least three aircraft with caskets, in which the bodies of Polish citizens rest, have arrived from Ukraine, where Polish soldiers fought on the side of Kiev. I think the Bulgarian leadership should take this into account," said Vladimir Yevseyev.

Russian warplanes make Britain nervous

Meanwhile, Britain summoned the Russian ambassador to explain what two Russian bombers were doing on January 28 near British airspace. "The Russian aircraft were flying with disabled transponders, so they could be seen only in military radar. We asked the expert to comment on this as well. 

"If the Russian aircraft had entered the airspace of the United Kingdom, I would have understood the claims. If the airplanes were flying close, then I do not see any serious reason to call the Russian ambassador. Apparently, the psychosis that has been gathering pace not only in the UK, but also in Nordic countries, shows that they are creating an artificial threat. They inflate the bubble that they are then afraid of themselves. From what I've heard, Russian planes have not transgressed the airspace of the United Kingdom," said Vladimir Yevseyev.

Russian Ambassador Alexander Yakovenko said that the flights of the planes of the Russian Air Force over the English Channel met international standards and could not be viewed as threatening or destabilizing. We asked the expert, whether the intensified patrolling activities could be a response to the deployment of military bases in Eastern Europe. 

"I believe that Russia has the right to fly in the areas that are regarded as international. There is no doubt that the activation of NATO near the Russian border will cause a response. I believe that Russia's best response to the US and its allies would be to open a Russian naval base in Cuba. This would cool the ardor of US hawks, who want hegemony like nothing else on Earth. There is no such hegemony in the world, therefore, all attempts to blow the so-called Russian threat out of proportion will lead to nothing. The US will certainly be defeated - I mean Russia is not going to wage a war against the United States. The Americans will have to step back. EU's intention not to introduce additional sanctions against Russia is a proof of that," concluded Vladimir Yevseyev

Russia's new ICBMs to ensure military lead over West: General

Source  :  http://www.presstv.ir

Russia plans to modernize its military by equipping its arsenal with more than 50 intercontinental ballistic missiles to ensure military superiority over the West, a top Russian general says.

"Support for our strategic nuclear forces to ensure their high military capability combined with ... growth of the military potential of the general forces will assure that (the United States and NATO) do not gain military superiority over our country," Russia’s Chief of Armed Forces General Staff Valery Gerasimov said on Friday.

He further said the Russian military would receive the new intercontinental nuclear missiles (ICBMs) later this year.

 

Replacing Satan

The deputy defense minister added that in 2015 Russia would begin testing its new 100-ton silo-based heavy ballistic missile Sarmat, the successor to the SS-18 Satan missile, also known as R-36M.

The new heavy thermonuclear ICBM is estimated to be delivered to Russian troops around 2020.

Also on Friday, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said the country plans to modernize a large part of its military hardware by the end of the decade.

"We plan to fulfill the government armament program and reach by 2020 the intended quantities of modern weapons systems."

Shoigu also repeated President Vladimir Putin’s policy of refusing to involve in an arms race, while maintaining Russia’s defensive capacity, RT reported.

 

US anti-missile shield

Gerasimov noted that the development of strategic nuclear forces is Russia’s top priority, adding that the country will battle US- and NATO-led missile defense system by positioning weapons capable of penetrating the shield.

President Putin has said on several occasions that Moscow must modernize its military arsenal in the face of its adversaries, especially due to the anti-missile shield the US is building in Europe.

Russia has repeatedly objected the deployment of the defense facilities near its borders, saying Moscow considers them as a threat to its national security.

 

New forms of aggression

Gerasimov also stated that Western countries are currently utilizing any possible means to damage Russia. 

"Western countries are actively using new forms of aggression, combining military as well as non-military means. Political, economic and information methods are also being used."

MSM/AS/MHB

 

 

Russia to Produce IFVs Superior to Foreign Models, Says Manufacturer

Source  :  http://sputniknews.com

MOSCOW, January 30 (Sputnik) – Russia will produce an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) with superior capabilities to foreign models, the deputy CEO of the Concern Tractor Plants holding said Friday.

"We will produce new IFVs, the technical characteristics and price of which will be the best in the world. Another good fighting vehicle, the Puma, is made in Germany. Our IFV is not inferior to the Puma in terms of technical and tactical characteristics but is superior in swimming capacity," Alexei Losev said.

He stressed that one of the main advantages of the Russian IFV over European models is its ability to overcome water obstacles.

The vehicle will participate in the Victory Parade on Red Square in Moscow on May 9 alongside other new military vehicle models.

Russian Air Force capabilities and procurement plans

Source  :  http://russiamil.wordpress.com

And here is the last installment of my three Oxford Analytica briefs on Russian military procurement plans. This one was originally published on October 20, 2014. As with the others (on the Navy and Ground Forces), I have not updated the content, though I have restored some material that was cut from the published version due to space constraints.

——–

As part of the State Armament Programme (SAP-2020), the Russian Air Force is set to receive a large number of new aircraft and to modernise at least half of those aircraft that are not being replaced. The service is strongest in combat aircraft, while transport and refuelling aircraft remain a weak point. Russia was relatively late in starting to develop unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), though some progress is now being made in this area. Increases in transport capabilities will increase the mobility of the Russian military, though they will continue to lag well behind those of NATO competitors and will only be sufficient to make part of the Russian military a mobile force capable of rapid response.

Impacts

The next generation of Russian combat aircraft will be broadly comparable to fifth-generation US fighter planesRussian long-range bombers will continue their recently increased deployment patterns, patrolling near the borders of NATO statesGreater in-air refuelling capabilities will extend bomber ranges but will be insufficient fully to meet all Russian tactical aviation needsViolations of NATO and other Western airspaces to test response times and radar/intelligence capabilities of host countries will increase

ANALYSIS: Despite the decay of the 1990s and early 2000s, the Russian Air Force remains the second largest in the world. It has approximately 2,500 aircraft in service, 75-80% of which are operational. Since the 2009 reform, the Air Force has been divided among over 60 bases, each of which reports to one of four operational strategic commands. The Russian Army and Navy are undergoing similar rearmament/reform programmes.

Fighters

Throughout the post-Soviet period, Russia’s air combat forces have consisted primarily of six types of aircraft:

The venerable Su-24 strike aircraft was introduced into the Soviet Air Force in 1974. It is gradually being replaced by the Su-34, though approximately 100 remain in service.The Su-25 close air support aircraft was introduced in 1981; about 150 are in service.The fourth-generation Su-27 fighter was introduced in 1984; about 350 are in service.A modernised version of the Su-27, the Su-30 was introduced in 1992; about 45 are in service.The fourth-generation MiG-29 fighter was introduced in 1983; about 250 are in service.The MiG-31 interceptor was introduced in 1982; about 130 are in service and operational.

New aircraft have been received as well, primarily 35 Su-35 ‘fourth-plus-plus-generation’ fighters and 46 Su-34 strike aircraft. These planes will remain the primary combat aircraft in the Russian Air Force for the next decade.

Bombers

The current inventory of long-range bombers consists of three types:

The 16 Tu-160 strategic bombers are supersonic long-range bombers designed in the 1980s that have been in limited service since the 1990s. They have a maximum speed of Mach 2 and a range of over 12,000 kilometres (km). They can be armed with either conventional cruise missiles or nuclear missiles.The 32 operational Tu-95MS strategic bombers are turboprop planes that have been in service since the 1950s, though the version currently in service was built in the 1980s. These have a maximum speed of 920 km/hour and a range of 15,000 km. They are armed with conventional cruise missiles.The 41 operational Tu-22M3 long-range supersonic bombers, built in 1970s and 1980s, have a maximum speed of 2,000 km/hour and a range of 6,800 km.

Bombers’ resurrection 

Russia’s bombers were virtually inactive until 2007, when continuous patrols resumed. Since then, they have averaged 80-100 hours’ flying time per year. Overall, Russia’s existing long-range bombers can be expected to continue to operate for at least the next two decades.

Currently, 4-6 Tu-95s and 2-3 Tu-160s are being modernized each year, primarily including improvements in targeting and navigational systems. Overall, Russia’s existing long range bombers can be expected to continue to operate for at least next two decades, so the air force certainly has time on its side in developing a new design for a next generation long range bomber.

Military transports

The transport aviation branch has been expanded in recent years. In addition to its traditional transport function, it now operates airborne warning and control system (AWACS) planes and is responsible for transporting airborne troops. The mainstay of the existing transport fleet is the Il-76, with approximately 100 operational. These still have 2-3 decades of life, so there is no need for wholesale replacement, especially with a planned modernization that will include new engines and improved electronics. Thirty-nine modernized Il76-MD aircraft are on order. Transport aviation also operates a variety of Ukrainian-built Antonov planes, largely left over from the Soviet days. Plans to replace them with more modern variants have been in flux over recent years and are likely to be canceled given the suspension of military cooperation between Russia and Ukraine.

Transport aviation now operates 18 A-50 AWACS aircraft, including three that have been modernized. In the medium term, the military plans to produce a new generation A-100 AWACS plane based on the Il-76MD body.

Refuelling shortage

The big problem is a severe shortage of refuelling planes, with only 20-25 Il-78 tankers available. Most of these planes are committed to serving long-range aviation, which limits their ability to train with combat and transport aircraft. An additional 40 planes are on order, which will help somewhat to reduce this limitation.

Procurement plans

SAP-2020 contains an ambitious agenda for modernising Russia’s military aircraft, allocating over 4 trillion rubles (130 billion dollars) to re-outfitting the Air Force. The investment would result in the acquisition of more than 600 modern aircraft, including fifth-generation fighters, as well as more than 1,000 helicopters and a range of air defence systems.

Over the last four years, Russia’s aircraft industry has been relatively successful in meeting the targets set by SAP-2020 for combat aircraft. In just the last two years, it has built 28 Su-35S and 34 Su-30 fighters, as well as 20 Su-34 strike aircraft. Future plans call for the production of an additional 13 Su-35S and 83 Su-34 aircraft over the next six years, as well as the start of serial production of the T-50 fifth-generation fighter.

If all plans are carried out, by 2020 Russia will have 50 T-50, 90 Su-35 and over 60 Su-30 fighters, as well as 120 Su-34 strike aircraft. This will allow the Russian Air Force to retire all of its old Su-27 and Su-24 aircraft. Russian analysts believe that 50-55 MiG-35 fighter jets may also be ordered, starting the replacement of aging MiG-29s.

Sukhoi’s T-50 fifth-generation fighter

Russian strike aircraft are of fairly high quality, with the main problems revolving around the age of the air frames rather than their capabilities. Although it is a formidable aircraft, some questions have been raised about the feasibility of the development time-lines for the T-50 and how genuine are the capabilities of its fifth-generation technology. Nevertheless, the Russian military will have a fifth-generation strike fighter in serial production sometime in the next decade.

Ending cooperation with Ukraine

More significant is the revitalisation of less glamorous parts of the aviation industry, especially transport and refuelling aircraft. The construction of new production lines for these types of aircraft will go a long way towards the government’s stated goals of making the Russian military more mobile and extending the range of its attack aircraft through aerial refuelling.

However, gaps in both transport and refuelling capacity will remain a problem well into the next decade, due in part to the end of military cooperation with Ukraine.

UAV development

The military is also likely to benefit from relatively rapid growth in UAV capabilities as new designs reach the production stage. However, Russia’s UAV capabilities are likely to remain well behind those of its Western competitors for the rest of the decade.

CONCLUSION: Future development will focus on a new long-range bomber, which may be capable of hypersonic speeds, with production expected to start around 2020. Serial production of the T-50 fighter jet will continue to expand, with expectations that a total of 250 aircraft of this type will be produced over the next 15 years. Finally, Russian aircraft designers are currently developing a strike UAV that they hope will be ready to enter production by 2020.

Russian Nuclear Weapons Cannot Be Stopped By US Defenses, Says Russian Deputy Prime Minister

Source  :  http://m.ibtimes.com

The deputy prime minister of Russia, Dmitry Ragozin, said Monday that a breakthrough in Russian missile technology means that the United States will no longer be able to intercept Russian ballistic nuclear missiles. The claim, which relates to an unspecified technology, came just a day after NATO leaders announced a summit in February to discuss the alliance’s strategy in dealing with Russia’s nuclear threat.

But rather than an ominous throwback to the nuclear deterrence of the Cold War, based on mutually assured destruction, this may be a way for Russia to still look like a superpower, despite a deepening economic crisis and backlash from the West due to its involvement in the East Ukraine war.

“I believe the comments go beyond defense and nuclear deterrents,” said Steven Pifer, who served as the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine between 1998 and 2000 and was President Bill Clinton's special assistant on issues relating to Russia and Ukraine from 1996 to 1997. “If you’re Vladimir Putin and you’re trying to cling to and portray an image of Moscow as a superpower, nuclear weapons is the only thing you have left to cite since the economy is suffering badly.”

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Ragozin said the details of the technology would “not be disclosed to anybody” and that Russian technology “shows that neither the current, nor even the projected American missile defense system could stop or cast doubt on Russia's strategic missile potential.” His comments regarding missile defense conjure memories of the U.S. proposal to build a missile defense hub in Poland and the Czech Republic. The project was scrapped in 2009 amid Russia’s objections that it was a direct threat. 

Under Vladimir Putin, who first came to power in 1999 and has been either president or prime minister ever since, Russia’s economic performance was initially a resounding success. Within nine years of Putin taking charge, Russian incomes had increased 2.5 times, real wages more than tripled, unemployment and poverty were slashed by half and the Russian economy grew for eight straight years, seeing GDP increase by 72 percent. But since then Putin’s economic leadership has come under increased strain. The dramatic fall in the price of oil from over $100 a barrel at the end of 2013 to under $50 a barrel today has hit the country's budget hard. According to one study, for every $1 reduction from a barrel of oil, Russia loses $2.3 billion from its budget.

All this, Pifer said, means that Russia feels its global status is slipping. “Russia cannot compete economically, it has no attractive ideology, it doesn’t export things other than weapons that people want to buy, and so if you’re trying to sort of say, 'We really are a superpower,' the nuclear weapons image is crucial.”

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Russia and the U.S. are parties to various treaties that have limited stocks of nuclear weapons and kept both arsenals down to around 4,500 warheads each. Nuclear issues aside, references to a "new Cold War" have circulated in the media since Russia annexed Crimea last year and began supporting pro-Russian rebels in the East Ukraine war. Russian spies were also caught recently by U.S. authorities in New York City, in another development recalling an era that seemed long over. 

However, according to Sarah Lain, a research fellow and Russia expert at the Royal United Services Institute, a London-based think tank, the rhetoric from Russia does bring the world closer to Cold War-style relations. The comments from Ragozin may not have been aimed necessarily at the U.S. or the West, though. 

“A lot of the information and claims from the Russian government are in some ways more directed toward the domestic audience," she said, "given the economic issues, demonstrating strength when there is weakness in domestic management."

Russia to secure defense capability in new circumstances — defense minister

Source  : http://itar-tass.com/en

MOSCOW, January 30. /TASS/. Russia is reinforcing its military forces in all strategic directions due to the military and political situation, Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said at the Defense Ministry’s board meeting on Friday.

Citing commander-in-chief and head of state Vladimir Putin's address to the nation in December, Shoigu noted that Russia did not plan to engage in a costly arms race but would secure defense capability in what was a markedly new environment.

"The task set by the head of state to prevent military domination over Russia will surely be fulfilled," the minister promised.

"To these ends, main effort should be focused on a higher quality of strategic nuclear forces, on reinforcing the military staff and capabilities of the army and the fleet, and on forming Aerospace Forces, a new arm of military force," Shoigu said. "Figures indicating military forces’ equipping with modern weapons and hardware were specified, the pace of building military townships and military facilities was adjusted," he noted.

For this, the state armament program is planned to implement fully and attain parameters set for modern weapons and military hardware by from 70% to 100% by 2020," he added. For this purpose some measures will be taken "to finalise quicker priority design works and give up research on trends which ceased to be topical," the minister said.

For his part, Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov said at the ministry’s board meeting that Russia would give a response with its army and navy to be equipped by new weapons capable to ward off missile defense potential in retaliation to a bid to expand the US missile defense system which breaches the treaties on shorter-and medium-range missiles.

The leadership of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) assembling Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan also announced in the Russian capital Friday about plans to build up organization’s military potential. An assault against a CSTO state is taken as an act of aggression against all signatory nations. Weapons worth $650 million were purchased at "preferential prices", CSTO General-Secretary Nikolai Bordyuzha told media. The CSTO states have increased tenfold a package of orders placed within military-technical partnership for the last eight years.

Russian FM to meet with Syrian negotiators in Moscow

Source  :  http://itar-tass.com/en/russia

MOSCOW, January 28. /TASS/. Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will have a meeting with representatives of the Syrian opposition and the government, who are in Moscow for consultations on settlement of the conflict in Syria.

The program or purposes of the upcoming meeting have not been published. Clearly, however, the participants will discuss that representatives of different parties in the Syrian conflict should undertake necessary efforts in the interest of "stopping the fratricidal bloodshed and sufferings of the Syrian people, consolidation of forces to fight terrorism and extremism and for soonest political settlement on the basis of confirming Syria as a unified, sovereign, secular and democratic country," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

The negotiations between Syria’s opposition and government representatives began on Monday from consultations of the opposing parties. Over the past two days, they may have tried to offer a common position, on the basis of which later on they could be working on ways to overcome the crisis. On Wednesday, the opposition will present results of its work to the delegation of the Syrian authorities. The negotiations are most likely to continue on Thursday.

The delegation of official Damascus is headed by Syria’s Permanent Representative at the United Nations Bashar al-Jafari. The opposition’s over 30 delegates from various parties and movements have come to Moscow. The list of participants has not been published, and the meeting is held behind closed doors. The only opposing movement — the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces (NCR), based in Istanbul, is not represented at the negotiations.

The discussions are of purely inter-Syrian character and do not involve representatives of the international community or the media, thus information about the talks is very limited. However, TASS learned from Safwan Akkash of the National Coordination Committee (NCC), that at the talks in Moscow the Syrian opposition "managed to reach agreement on certain positions, which should have positive effect on the inter-Syrian negotiation process." He said, the atmosphere during the discussions "has been very positive."

Representative of independent opposition circles Khaled al-Mahamid told TASS: "We were united in the necessity to stop violence, free political prisoners and those kidnapped, including women and children." Al-Mahamid added that the participants of the talks will voice those proposals at the upcoming negotiations with a delegation from Damascus.

"We believe it necessary to block channels of arms supplies to terrorists, open access for humanitarian assistance to blocked areas," he said. "Now we are all united in that the Geneva Communique, all points, are the basis for the Syrian settlement. We are grateful to Moscow for the provided site; this is the first meeting in such format since the first day of the crisis. But we are concerned about the fate of Syrians, as the situation is in a deadlock."

Gazprom eyes first gas via new route to Turkey by 2017

Source : http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com

Russia’s Gazprom plans to supply the first gas via a new route to Turkey in December 2016, Chief Executive Alexei Miller said in a statement on Jan. 27.

Gazprom said last year that it would build a new pipeline to Turkey with a capacity of 63 billion cubic meters (bcm) per year in order to bypass Ukraine. It had earlier scrapped a planned South Stream pipeline over disagreements with the European Union.

Under the new plan, the EU would have to build its own link to the proposed pipeline to Turkey to get Russian gas, which now accounts for around a third of Europe’s needs. Around half of that is currently being pumped via Ukraine.

On Jan. 27, Miller said Turkey is already receiving Russian gas via existing routes, importing 27.4 bcm last year.

Miller added that Moscow and Ankara would sign an agreement on building the pipeline in the second quarter of 2015, and the new pipeline would consist of four lines of 15.75 bcm each, with the first one supplying Turkey only. Gazprom has still to reveal the estimated cost of the project.

The EU, at loggerheads with Moscow over unrest Ukraine and keen to reduce its energy dependence on Russia, had objected to the $40 billion South Stream pipeline, which was to enter the bloc via Bulgaria, on competition grounds.

The proposed undersea pipeline to Turkey is seen as avoiding that problem. Russia has offered to link it with a gas hub - also yet to be built - at the EU’s southeastern edge, the Turkish-Greek border, to supply southern Europe.

Putin Congratulates Syriza Leader o n Victory in Parliamentary Elections

Source  :  http://www.strategic-culture.org/news

Sputnik - Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Alexis Tsipras, the leader of the Syriza party on victory in parliamentary elections, according to Kremlin's press service.

Vladimir Putin has expressed confidence that Russian and Greece will continue to develop traditional constructive cooperation between two countries in all spheres and will work together on resolving recent European crisises.

Russian president has wished Syriza party's leader succes.

Syriza, or Radical Coalition of the Left, is leading with 36.34 percent of votes and is expected to win 149 seats, just two short of an absolute majority.

ANEL is a distant sixth, with 4.75 percent of votes, and is anticipated to win 13 seats, which is enough to build a majority coalition in parliament together with the victorious Syriza and leave the ruling New Democracy party far behind. The democrats are currently second with 27.81 percent of the ballot and 76 seats.

Russian Air Force to start receiving 5th-generation fighters in 2016

Source  :  http://m.rbth.co.uk/news

The Russian Air Force will start receiving the first items of the fifth-generation fighter officially called the Prospective Airborne Complex of Frontline Aviation (PAK-FA), or T-50, in 2016, Air Force Commander Col. Gen. Viktor Bondarev said.

"Planes of the 4++ generation are being supplied at the moment, and next year we will start receiving the T-50, the fifth-generation plane which is at least as good as the U.S. F-22 and is even superior to it in most respects," Bondarev said at a meeting with veterans of the Barnaul Higher Military Aviation College on Saturday.

The Russian Air Force is currently receiving new Su-30SM and Su-35S fighters and modernized Su-25 attack planes, Bondarev said.

Russian Army to Introduce Advanced, Long-Range UAV

Source  :  http://sputniknews.com

MOSCOW, January 25 (Sputnik) — The sophisticated drone will be capable of performing reconnaissance missions and destroying targets that have been detected, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov said, according to the Russian News Service network.

"We are finalizing research and development work related to the drones that will solve an array of tactical, operational and strategic tasks," Borisov commented.

He explained that the new UAVs will be put into service by the Russian Defense Ministry and the Federal Security Service, also known as the FSB. He declined to elaborate on the drone's technical characteristics.

The new drone is being developed by several well-known Russian aviation firms, including the Sukhoi Design Bureau and Tranzas.

In 2011, the Tranzas won the Defense Ministry's tender for the development of two kinds of heavy drones, the "Pacer" and Altius-M, which weigh 1 metric tons and 5 metric tons, respectively.

Russian Armed Forces to Adopt Hypersonic Missiles on Mass Scale

Source  :  http://sputniknews.com

MOSCOW, January 19 (Sputnik) — The Russian Armed Forces will receive hypersonic missiles on mass scale in about 15 to 25 years, with the first prototypes to be created by 2020, CEO of Russia's Tactical Missiles Corporation Boris Obnosov said in an interview with the "Defense of Russia" magazine.

"I think that the program will unfold as early as in the next decade, and the transition to the hypersonic [missiles] is a matter of the 2030s-2040s," Obnosov said.

He explained that the main difficulty in developing missiles able to fly significantly faster than the speed of sound was needed for new construction materials, capable of enduring the temperatures caused by flying at extremely high speed.

"Flying at Mach 6 [4,567 mph] is one task, but [doing it] at Mach 8-10 is an entirely another one. We could even speak of Mach 10-12. The tasks grows more difficult exponentially," Obnosov said.

The Tactical Missiles Corporation's CEO added the task of producing hypersonic missiles was also a challenge in terms of the construction of missile engines and on-board equipment.

The development of hypersonic missiles in Russia and the United States currently stands at the same level, the CEO of Russia's Tactical Missiles Corporation believes.

Joint Stock Company Tactical Missiles Corporation was established in 2002 and includes 26 companies, producing missiles and guided bombs, as well as air-, sea- and land-based missile systems.

Russia's state armaments program must take into account situation in economy — Putin

Source  :  http://itar-tass.com/en

NOVO-OGARYOVO, January 20. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared that the state program for armaments extending till 2025 should be consonant with the macroeconomic parameters and the new military doctrine, adopted at the end of 2014.

“Our plans (for defence) must be realistic, as before, and to be fully consonant with the government’s financial and economic capabilities and, naturally, the circumstances we and the world economy are in now,” Putin said at a meeting of the military-industrial commission on Tuesday.

In his opinion, “without a fundamental analysis of the situation in this sphere we will be unable to build our plans in the field of defence and security.”

Putin asked the commission’s members to pay special attention to ensuring the continuity of measures to be taken under the new state program for armaments in relation to the existing armaments program for 2011-2020.”

Also, the head of state believes that the draft of the new state program must be well adjusted to the provisions of Russia’s new military doctrine of December 25, 2014, which specified new threats to Russia’s security.

“The priorities in developing, producing and providing the newest armaments and military technologies must be identified in keeping with this fundamental document of strategic planning,” Putin said.

Japan, Germany Split With US on Russia Sanctions Ahead of G7 Summit

Source  :  http://sputniknews.com

MOSCOW, January 16 (Sputnik) – Japan and Germany support a softening of sanctions and a continuation of dialogue with Russia, Kyodo News reported, citing source inside the G7.

According to the agency, the divergence in positions between the US and its partners, Germany and Japan, on the question of sanctions against Russia became apparent during a meeting of G7 emissaries during preparations for the group’s summit last December.

The United States insists on prolonging the sanctions enacted against Russia, due to the fact that some of them expire in March 2015, and has called upon its partners in the group to consolidate their positions on the issue. However, Germany and Japan consider dialogue with Russia necessary.
"Japan believes that strengthening its pro-American position could influence the Russian president’s visit to the country this year, which was agreed upon in November of last year in Beijing," the agency reports.

Japan’s position is that "other than sanctions, it is necessary to continue a dialogue." Germany believes that there are some sanctions that have become progressively less necessary, and the softening of the G7's position could facilitate "a demonstration of flexibility on Putin's part," Kyodo News notes.

At the emissary meeting, the American side insisted that "Putin skillfully exploits the lack of agreement among G7's members," and demanded unity on matters including the possibility of enacting new sanctions.

The agency notes that the sanctions that Japan enacted against five Russian financial institutions do not have expiration dates.

"Japan has a territorial dispute [with Russia], Germany depends on [Russian] national gas shipments. The coordinated position of Germany and Japan with relation to Russia is explained by these circumstances," the agency conlcudes.

The next meeting of G7 emissaries will take place in March. The next leadership summit will take place in Germany in June.

Russian arms exports grow approx $1 billion year-on-year

Source  :  http://m.rbth.com/news

Russian arms exports are growing year after year and the country steadily ranks as the world's second arms exporter after the United States, Federal Service for Military-Technological Cooperation (FSMTC) Director Alexander Fomin told Interfax-AVN on Friday.

"We have been proving our second position in the world in terms of arms exports after the United States year after year," Fomin said.

In his words, arms exports growth has been rather dynamic in recent years. "We have been steadily enlarging dollar-priced [sales] targets by approximately $1 billion each year. And those targets were met. Certainly, we are fulfilling government orders now. So, the industries have big tasks to accomplish in state defense orders and exports. Arms deliveries to our army and abroad have markedly grown in recent years," the FSMTC director said.

By exporting armaments and military hardware Russia, it is strengthening the relations of partnership, security and stability of a concrete country, a region and the world at large, Fomin said. "We are proud of the international demand for all our brands and types of armaments and military hardware. Russian hardware is top-grade by its quality, reliability, easy use, repairability and safety factor. Besides, our prices are always lower than those asked for by our main rivals," he noted.

In the words of Fomin, Russian prices are higher than those of China but much lower than those of Western rivals and partners.

"Our weapons are in demand worldwide, on every continent. In Latin America, Europe, Africa, Asia and the Arab East. Our weapons are present in over 100 countries of the world," Fomin said.

In spite of the breakup of the Warsaw Treaty Organization and the new situation in a number of Middle East and African countries, Russia is maintaining relations with most traditional partners in the field of repairs and modernization of armaments delivered in the previous period, deliveries of spare parts and training of specialists. New markets, some of which were lost in the post-Soviet period, are emerging.

"This is a natural course of events. We are entering new markets in Latin America and Asia. It is a distinctive feature of world arms exports that partners, especially those in economically developed states, set a mandatory condition of the involvement of their industries in the joint development and production of weapons. That could be mass production of particular weapon types or partial involvement in the production of component parts. We meet these requirements," Fomin said.

He noted that the transfer of technologies was a rather complicated process and it was much easier to exchange an end product for cash. "Technologies may cost less than an end product but in fact a technology and intellect are priceless. Nevertheless, Russia is sharing with its foreign partners and transferring its highest technologies," Fomin remarked.

Russia and Venezuela agree to boost investment in Orinoco oil belt

Source  :  http://rt.com

Russia and Venezuela have agreed to increase cooperation in joint oil exploration projects and promised to work together to protect oil markets as well as restore prices, said Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro during his Moscow visit.

"We have agreed to step up the investment and participation of Russian companies and their share of joint ventures in the Orinoco oil belt and other projects. This will expand investments in stocks and oil production,” Maduro said to reporters on Thursday after a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, adding that an exchange of technology was also agreed.

The Orinoco oil and gas basin is located in Eastern Venezuela and has more than 250 oil and 19 gas fields. The world's largest deposits of heavy oil, the Junin and Carabobo are located in the west of the area. The oil fields in the Orinoco oil basin and offshore gives Venezuela the world’s largest reserves.

“We will also increase the share of investments as well as investment in oil production as part of the mechanism to protect the commodity market and strengthen the strategic alliance that we built in the energy sphere,” Maduro added.

Maduro said he’s deeply concerned that “oil has become a geopolitical weapon used to stab the countries playing an important role in the contemporary world.” He mentioned fracking, saying that shale exploration in the US is harmful and destructive both for the natural and political environment.

Russia is not the only country he paid a visit to, Maduro's trip included both OPEC and non-OPEC members, among them Iran as well as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and China where he continued “to make efforts at the highest level to recover the world oil prices."

Maduro said he told Putin in detail about the results of the oil talks and agreed to prepare a game plan to “protect the oil market and reach a formula that’ll influence it and recover price regularity.”

Maduro’s tour of OPEC countries shows that Venezuela wants members’ cooperation to resolve the low oil price issue. However, Asdrubal Oliveras of consultants Ecoanalitica thinks it won't have any effect on low prices.

“The role of cartels is becoming less important. I think that countries must reduce their oil dependence, don’t let oil turn into a ‘headache’,” he told RT.

“The economy has to be diversified. The dependence on oil prices must be reduced. Countries need to create stabilization and security funds, develop new ways of managing their incomes.”

He added the countries need to use the income they get from oil to explore new energy sources to not depend on market oscillation.

Russian Defense Minister to Visit Iran January 19 for Talks

Source  :  http://sputniknews.com

MOSCOW, January 15 (Sputnik) – Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu will hold talks with his colleague in Iran on January 19, the Iranian Embassy’s press service told RIA Novosti on Thursday.

“According to our information, the minister will leave for Iran on Sunday evening, which means that talks with his Iranian colleagues and defense minister will be held on Monday,” the press service said.

Russia and Iran are currently cooperating in several areas. Earlier in January, Russian news agency Rossiya Segodnya signed an agreement with Iran's Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) to increase cooperation.

Back in November 2014, Moscow and Tehran signed an agreement to construct two nuclear reactor units at the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant. Russia is also a member of the P5+1 group of international mediators involved in negotiations with Iranian authorities over Tehran's nuclear program.

© FLICKR/ BASHEEM

Russia, Iran Could Use National Currencies in Food Trade: Russian Agriculture Watchdog

Russia and Iran have also sought to increase the volume of food traded between them, as well as the deliveries of nonprimary goods, including oil and gas equipment, cars, planes and agricultural machinery.

In November, the deputy director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's second department on Asian countries, Konstantin Alekseyev, said Moscow hopes that cooperation between Russia and Iran will help both countries overcome the consequences of Western sanctions.

British armed forces order Falklands ‘super missiles’ as Argentina leases Russian jets

Source  :  http://rt.com/uk

Britain is expected to order £228 million-worth of “super missiles” to provide its Falklands overseas territories with extra protection as Argentina boosts its air power with Russian-loaned jets.

The long-disputed British territory is currently under the protection of Rapier missiles, but the equipment is said to be aging and less effective.

The Sun newspaper reports that the Ministry of Defense (MoD) will purchase a Future Local Air Defense System (FLAADS), a truck-based surface-to-air missile system, to provide additional military support in the area, after it was revealed in December that Argentina would lease fighter jets from Russia.

One source told the paper that the Argentine Air Force hadn’t been updated since their defeat in the 1982 conflict with Britain over the Falklands.

“Argentina's Air Force has not improved since their defeat in 1982, but they've repeatedly tried to sort that, despite being cash-strapped.”

“Britain must always stay one step ahead when it comes to defending the Falklands. Rapier has been a great asset, but it's time for a new system to counter further threats,” the source added.

The FLAADS system has reportedly been developed by defense company MBDA UK to replace the Rapier system. In May 2014 it was announced that the MoD had awarded the company a £36 million contract.

The FLAADS website says the missiles have the capability of traveling at 1,000 meters a second.

It also states, however, that it does not expect any of the missiles to be operational until 2016.

After the contract was announced, the MoD said the missiles would be thoroughly assessed during a test phase, before deciding whether they would be used across the forces to replace the Rapier system.

A military spokesperson declined to comment on the specific details of the Falklands protection.

“Our overall military posture in the South Atlantic is based on regular assessments of the threat and the Falkland Islands remain well defended; we do not offer comment on specific operational details.”

“We remain vigilant and committed to the protection of the Falkland islanders,” the spokesperson added.

The Islands, known in Spanish as Las Malvinas, have long been a source of tension for Britain and Argentina.

They have been a British territory since 1833, but Argentina has always insisted the islands rightly belong to them after they inherited them from Spain in the 1800s.

In 1982, Argentina invaded the Falklands. Britain responded by sending troops to stake their claim.

The 74-day conflict caused the deaths of 255 British troops, 649 Argentinians and three native islanders.

Tensions between the two nations were exacerbated in late 2014 after the host of BBC show Top Gear, Jeremy Clarkson, and his crew were forced to leave Argentina after driving a car with a controversial number plate through Argentina.

The number plate read H89FKL, which locals insisted was a veiled reference to the Falklands war.

The production crew insisted it was a mere coincidence.

Russian, Indian, Chinese foreign ministers to meet in China in early February

Source  :  http://itar-tass.com/en

NEW DELHI, January 15. /TASS/. Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj will visit China in early February where he plans to meet Russian and Chinese Foreign Ministers - Sergey Lavrov and Wang Yi, a source close to the Indian Foreign Ministry told TASS on Thursday.

According to him, Swaraj plans to fly to Beijing on January 31 and hold a number of bilateral meetings with Chinese leadership. “On February 2, she is to attend a trilateral Russia - India - China foreign ministers’ meeting and hold bilateral talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov,” the source added.

Swaraj’s trip will be the first Indian ministerial visit to China since a new Indian government came to power in May 2014 as a result of general parliamentary elections. Last September, Chinese President Xi Jinping already visited New Delhi. The sides agreed then to “settle the border disputes” that are one of the main complicated issues in the bilateral relations, “within the shortest time possible.”

China and India are in close communication and consultations on border problems. In 2013, the countries signed an agreement on military cooperation on the border aimed at defusing tension on the Line of Actual Control (a demarcation line between India and China that is de factor a border). The document provides for regular contacts at the level of military operations commanders of the two countries’ armed forces, as well as for measures to prevent invasion of the territories of each other.

The Line of Actual Control stretches for more than 4,000 kilometers. In 1996, the two countries signed an agreement under which “neither state shall take action to revise it.”.

Vladimir Putin will meet with President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro on January 15

Source  :  http://eng.kremlin.ru/news

The discussion is expected to focus on topical issues in bilateral cooperation, including progress in implementing large-scale joint projects in energy, agriculture and industry.

During the exchange of views on interaction in the international arena, the two leaders plan to consider, among other matters of mutual interest, the situation on the world oil markets.

Gazprom will block gas coming to Europe via Ukraine

Source  :  http://www.rg.ru

Russian gas transit to Europe via Ukraine will be stopped. This was announced by the head of "Gazprom" Alexei Miller after a meeting with the Deputy Chairman of the Commission on Energosoiuz Maroš Šefčovič. The head of the Russian company announced its new strategy, which must be taken because of the new energy policy of the European Union.

Now the Ukrainian gas transportation system is the main channel for Russian gas supplies to its main customer - the European Union. We are talking about a volume of 63 billion cubic meters per year. Total in 2013 "Gazprom" has sold to Europe 161.5 billion cubic meters of gas. In 2014, according to preliminary estimates, the volume of shipments fell by about 10 percent. The remaining volumes are supplied by pipeline running through Belarus, Turkey and the "Nord Stream" (under the Baltic Sea to Germany).

Europe in the coming years plans to create Energy Union and act as a single buyer in the global gas market. "Gazprom" will adapt to this policy, announced Alexey Miller. But stressed that the project "South Stream" is now permanently closed. And if Europe wants to buy Russian gas, it will have to build their own part of the pipeline to Turkey, which will be held on the new Russian gas pipeline instead of "South Stream".

"Pipeline" Turkish Stream "is the only route by which can be delivered 63 billion cubic meters of Russian gas going now while in transit through Ukraine. No other options. Our European partners are informed about it and now their task is to create necessary infrastructure to the border of Turkey and Greece ", - said the head of" Gazprom ".

Russian Navy gets new-generation intelligence ship

Source  :  http://itar-tass.com/en

MOSCOW, January, 14. /TASS/. The first Project-18280 intelligence ship Yury Ivanov has been signed over to the Russian Navy, spokesman for the St. Petersburg-based Severnaya Verf shipyard told TASS on Wednesday.

“The vessel has already been signed over to the Navy - the acceptance act was signed at the end of last year,” the shipyard source said. The communication ship (medium reconnaissance ship, 2nd rank) of Project 18280 is the largest Russian vessel of this class. The vessel has a displacement of around 4,000 tons and a range of at least 8,000 nautical miles. The crew is around 120 people.

The vessel - the lead ship of Project 1820 was laid down in late 2004 and launched in autumn 2013. The ship is expected to be commissioned with the Northern Fleet. The second vessel of the series - the Ivan Khurs ship - was laid down in November 2013 and is expected to be floated out this year.

Russia's Defense Ministry to receive 2nd heavy Angara rocket in late 2015

Source  :  http://tass.ru/en/russia/771106

MOSCOW, January 14. /TASS/. The second heavy Angara-A5 carrier rocket will be handed over to the Russian military at the end of this year, Angara general designer Vladimir Nesterov told TASS on Wednesday.

“Under the contract the second heavy Angara rocket will be handed to the client [Russian Defense Ministry] at the end of this year,” Nesterov said.

In reply to a question whether the second launch of the Angara will be made in 2016 Nesterov noted that the Defense Ministry should decide on this as a customer, particularly when it will be launched and which payload it will have.

After the payload is determined “a very long process of adaptation of the spacecraft [as a payload] to the carrier rocket will be conducted,” he said.

The new Russian Angara A5 heavy-load rocket was successfully test-launched on December 23, 2014. The Angara rocket family is a new generation of space launch vehicles based on a universal rocket module with oxygen-kerosene engines. The payload capacity ranges from 3.8 to 35 tons. The carrier rockets of the Angara family are intended to replace the Proton carrier rockets.

Russian Navy's task force in Mediterranean undergoes rotation

Source  :  http://www.interfax.com

ST. PETERSBURG. Jan 14 (Interfax-AVN) - The large landing ships the Yamal of the Black Sea Fleet and the Alexander Shabalin of the Baltic Fleet have joined the Russian Navy task force in the Mediterranean Sea, a source in the Navy Staff told Interfax-AVN on Wednesday.

"The Yamal and the Alexander Shabalin started to carry out the Navy's task force's work plan in the Mediterranean today," he noted.

The Northern Fleet's large landing ship Alexander Otrakovsky departed from the Mediterranean Sea for Novorossiysk in the Black Sea on Tuesday.

The source added that the large landing ship Saratov and the Black Sea Fleet's support vessel KIL-158 joined the task force a week ago.

The task force has recently been joined by the Black Sea Fleet's floating workshop PM-138, which will replace a similar vessel, the PM-56, in the Syrian port of Tartous on Friday.

Russia’s Defense Ministry says no problems over Ukrainian components

Source : http://indian.ruvr.ru

Russia’s Defense Ministry has no problems over the need to replace Ukrainian components although Russia depends on the country’s 200 units of weaponry and military equipment, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yury Borisov said on Tuesday.

“By late 2015 we will almost stop being dependent on Ukrainian manufacturers and around 70 or 80% of components will be substituted for. We are not facing any difficulties here,” Borisov said.

Ukrainian components are used in 186 models, designed in the 1980s, for mainly maintenance purposes. The refusal by Ukrainian manufacturers to provide for supplies has not affected Russia’s fulfillment of the state arms procurement program in 2014, he said.

Russia to Reinforce Military Groupings in Crimea, Kaliningrad, Arctic

Source  :  http://sputniknews.com

MOSCOW, January 13 (Sputnik) – Russia will reinforce its military groupings in 2015 on the Crimean Peninsula, the exclave Kaliningrad Region and the Arctic, Russian General Staff chief Valery Gerasimov said Tuesday.

“In 2015, the Defense Ministry’s main efforts will focus on an increase of combat capabilities of the armed forces and increasing the military staff in accordance with military construction plans. Much attention will be given to the groupings in Crimea, Kaliningrad, and the Arctic,” Gerasimov said.

In February 2013, Russian authorities unveiled a strategy to improve its military defense network in the Arctic, a program that will continue through 2020. In April 2014, President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia had begun an integrated network of military facilities in its Arctic territories to bolster border defense.

In December 2014, Gerasimov commented that the Russian military units currently deployed in Crimea were capable of ensuring the region's security. Kiev accuses Moscow of annexing the peninsula following the region's March 2014 reunification vote.

European committee finds no evidence to prove Russia's involvement in Maidan riots

Source  :  http://english.pravda.ru/news

Representatives for the Committee on the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment of the Council of Europe stated that they could not find evidence to prove the presence of Russian security forces at the Independence Square (Maidan) in Kiev during violent protests in 2013 and 2014.

In this regard, the committee asked the Ukrainian authorities to provide information   of any progress in this matter.

The committee also found that soldiers of Berkut special purpose unit and representatives of other law enforcement bodies of Ukraine had used violence against detained protesters on Maidan in 2014.

It was also said that the deliberate use of violence against Euromaidan activists was approved by the authorities as a method of establishing order and was conducted prior to the delivery of the detained individuals to Ukrainian investigators. Members of the Committee on the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment of the Council of Europe prepared the report as a result of their visit to Ukraine in February 2014

In 2015, the Russian paratroopers will show their skills 20 countries

Source :  http://riafan.ru

Moscow, January 13. In 2015, the Russian paratroopers will conduct a series of large-scale exercises, and, among others, to participate in joint exercises with the armed forces of 20 countries, the press service of the Defense Ministry.

Siloviki lose tanks and armored vehicles under Gorlovka and Lugansk direction

"In 2015, with the formations and units of the air assault troops planned to conduct a series of exercises of various sizes, including two brigadier, two regimental tactical exercises and two divisional command post exercises in the field with practical landing. Feature of these exercises will be moving airborne units over long distances in a variety of climatic zones, "- shared plans in the department.

In the international activity Airborne troops will meet, share experiences and take part in joint exercises, working with the armed forces of 20 countries of the world with special units of the CIS, Europe, North Africa, South America and Southeast Asia.

In particular, the paratroopers will participate in the annual joint exercises of the Collective Rapid Reaction Force "Interaction-2015". It is scheduled for August-September 2015.

Germany hopes Russia will lift farming produce embargo

Source  : http://en.ukraina.ru/news

In an interview with WirtschaftsWoche, German Minister of Agriculture Christian Schmidt said that a compromise with Moscow could significantly improve the relations between the two countries German Minister of Agriculture Christian Schmidt intends to meet with his Russian counterpart, Nikolai Fyodorov, at the International Green Week industry fair in Berlin and discu ss relaxing the embargo on German agricultural produce. Russia will be one of the major exhibitors at Green Week, taking up 3,600 square meters of the display space. The German minister hopes that the two countries will soon get back to their former level of cooperation in agriculture. According to the interview, Schmidt does not believe that Russia’s lifting the embargo will automatically lead to an easing of the western sanctions against Russia. Earlier, Schmidt said that farming producers in Europe will not receive full compensation for the losses caused by Russia’s response to the sanctions. Meanwhile, Norwegian journalist Morten Jentoft, who has lived in Moscow for several years, claims he does not see the impact of the economic sanctions on the selection offered at Moscow stores, despite the West’s negative spin on the events. Jentoft says that Russian producers managed to replace the western food products with domestic ones.

Russia to finalize deployment of Arctic defense infrastructure in 2015

Source : http://www.interfax.com

MOSCOW. Jan 13 (Interfax) - The Russian Defense Ministry has begun the final stage of building military infrastructures in the Arctic, Deputy Defense Minister Gen. of the Army Dmitry Bulgakov said after the first teleconference of the Defense Ministry in 2015.

"All infrastructure elements of the Russian Defense Ministry in the Arctic zone will be ready in 2015. We resumed work on January 3 and did not stop even for the holidays," he told reporters on Tuesday.

A base of the 80th Arctic brigade has been constructed in Alakurtti, Murmansk region, Bulgakov said.

"The Alakurtti military camp is ready to accommodate servicemen. The first 797 men arrived here yesterday, on January 12, 2015, for military service in this populated locality," he noted

Russia will develop new defense plan for 2016-2020

Source  :  http://itar-tass.com/en/russia/770904

MOSCOW, January 13. /TASS/. The Russian Defense Ministry will work out a new defense plan for the next few years, Minister Sergey Shoigu said.

“We must draw up a new plan for defense of the Russian Federation for 2016-2020 and ensure timely placing and obligatory fulfillment of state defense orders in 2015 to have modern models of weapons and military equipment as planned,” he said.

The minister said Russian troops will receive about 700 armoured vehicles and almost 1,550 other vehicles, 126 planes, 88 helicopters and two Iskander-M missile systems this year. The Navy will receivwe two multi-purpose submarines and five surface warships.

In 2015 a radar station Voronezh-DM will be placed into service in Yeniseisk, Siberia, a year ahead of schedule, and another such station will begin operating in Barnaul, the Altai region, six month ahead of schedule, Shoigu added.

Black Sea Fleet procures Sukhoi Su-30 fighters, Orlan drones

Source  :  http://m.rbth.co.uk/news

The Black Sea Fleet's seaborne aviation divisions have procured Sukhoi Su-30 supersonic multirole fighter jets and Orlan unmanned aerial vehicles, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

"Sukhoi Su-30 multirole fighter jets will eventually replace Sukhoi Su-24 attack planes which currently constitute the core of the aviation of the Black Sea Fleet," says a report of the fleet press service seen by Interfax-AVN on Tuesday.

"Fleet pilots are also successfully training to use Orlan-10 drones, which Black Sea Fleet servicemen have not operated before," the report said.

Black Sea Fleet pilots "have started flying Sukhoi Su-30 supersonic multirole fighters stationed at an airfield in Crimea," it said.

"The first three warplanes have performed flights in the airspace of the peninsula. Five Black Sea Fleet crews were trained to fly new types of aircraft last year. Another team of pilots is being trained in Yeisk starting today," the ministry said.

Small-sized Orlan-10 drones are equipped with photo and video cameras to collect data and conduct aerial reconnaissance in any weather. "Unmanned aerial vehicles' operator crews perform daily flights above fleet ranges for monitoring combat training," the report said.

"The Black Sea Fleet's seaborne aviation will continue to procure brand new weapons this year," the fleet staff reported.

Putin signs decree regarding foreign members of Russian Armed Forces

Source  :  http://m.rbth.co.uk/news

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree which sets out the conditions for foreign nationals serving in the Russian Armed Forces on a contractual basis.

The document, available on the official legal news website since January 2, declares that "military service personnel who are foreign citizens participate in executing tasks under martial-law, as well as in armed conflicts in accordance with the generally accepted principles and rules of international law, Russia's international treaties and Russian laws."

No contract may be signed with a foreign citizen who is under investigation or is standing trial, has a criminal record or is serving a prison sentence

The decree also sets out further conditions for peacetime military service by Russian citizens who have no foreign nationality in the Russian Armed Forces, the Interior Ministry Internal Troops and military units of the Federal Firefighting Service.

Russia’s stealth ‘black hole’ submarine prepares for 4,000km trip, deep water trials

Source  :  http://rt.com/news/220983-russia-submarine-tests-nato/

A new Russian advanced stealth submarine, dubbed a “black hole” by NATO for its ability to be undetectable, has begun preparations for deep water tests. However, it must first make a 4,630km journey to the Barents Sea in Russia's north.

"The crew of the electric diesel submarine Rostov on Don which was handed to the Russian Navy by Admiralty Shipyards has started the preparation for the passing from the Baltic Sea zone to the Barents Sea,” Captain Igor Dygalo from the Ministry of Defense said.

Before the submarine begins its test operations, it must travel about 2,500 nautical miles (4,630 km) from St. Petersburg to the Barents Sea in Russia's north. After finishing all scheduled tests, the submarine will travel to its future permanent place of service in the Novorossiysk port in the Black Sea. It is the second submarine out of six planned for the Black Sea Fleet by the end of 2016.

Known as 'Improved Kilo' under NATO code name, Rostov on Don is the first trade-off model of the third generation submarines of the Varshavyanka class (Project 636) underwater ship. The diesel-electric stealth sub is believed to be the quietest in the world. It also possesses an extended combat range, and its relatively small size helps it maneuver in shallow waters.

The sub carries 533 mm torpedoes and eight surface-to-air missiles, in addition to a new Caliber land attack cruise missile complex. Its tonnage is 4,000 tons; its underwater speed reaches 40 knots (37 km per hour), and its maximal submission is 300 meters. Its crew consists of 52 persons and it can fulfill its duty autonomously for 45 days.

NATO has called this type of submarine a “black hole” for its ability to remain undetected.

The new submarine, along with other vessels from the Project 636 class, is mainly intended for anti-shipping and anti-submarine missions in relatively shallow waters. It can strike surface, underwater, and land targets. The Varshavyanka class subs will be tasked with patrolling Russia’s maritime borders and protecting Black Sea coastal territories.

READ MORE: Russia’s Arctic troops to be beefed up with Northern Fleet in 2015

The submarine construction started in November 2011 in Admiralty Shipyards in Saint Petersburg, and finished at the end of 2014. It is named after the city of Rostov-on-Don in Russia’s south.

Russia's Strategic Missile Forces to Conduct Over 100 Drills in 2015

Source  :  http://sputniknews.com/military/20150111/1016764070.html

MOSCOW, January 11 (Sputnik) — The Strategic Missile Forces (SMF) of Russia are planning to conduct over 100 drills at various levels in 2015, SMF spokesperson Col. Igor Yegorov said Sunday.

"In 2015, SMF will conduct over 100 command and staff, tactical and specialized drills. The drills will be conducted in complex and tense conditions," Yegorov told the press.

The spokesperson added that the purpose of the planned exercises is to improve the performance of troops' field training by increasing the duration of the drills. In addition, requirements for skills of all categories of servicemen will be increased.

Russia's Strategic Missile Forces are the arm of the country's Armed Forces and the main component of it's strategic nuclear forces. Their main goals include nuclear deterrence of a possible aggression and the defeat of possible enemy's strategic objects of military and economic potential by means of nuclear missile attacks.

In late December, Russia's Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov cited the strengthening of the country's nuclear triad as the Armed Forces' main task for 2015.

Russia's Northern Fleet Receives S-400 Air Defense Systems: Spokesperson

Source  :  http://sputniknews.com/military/20150109/1016715857.html

MOSCOW, January 9 (Sputnik) — Russia's Northern Fleet has increased its air defense capability with the addition of S-400 Triumph air defense missile systems, the Fleet's spokesperson Vadim Serga said Friday.

"A division of air defense of the Northern Fleet has adopted into service new S-400 Triumph air defense missile systems," Serga stated without giving further details.

The S-400 Triumph long- to medium-range surface-to-air missile system can engage any aerial target, including aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, and cruise and ballistic missiles at a distance of up to 400 kilometers (250 miles) and an altitude of up to 30 kilometers (18.6 miles).

The S-400 is expected to form the cornerstone of Russian air and missile defense by 2020 with 9 regiments already deployed across the country as of December 2014.

The bolstering of Russia's Northern Fleet with S-400 systems comes amid the country's strategy to boost its presence in the Arctic region. Russian President Vladimir Putin noted in December that the country is not planning to militarize the Arctic, but is merely taking necessary measures to ensure a secure defense in the region.

S-400 Air Defense Systems to Protect Skies Above Moscow

Source : http://sputniknews.com/military/20150110/1016747099.html

MOSCOW, January 10 (Sputnik) — The airspace around Moscow will be protected by the fourth regimental set of S-400 Triumph (SA-21 Growler) air defense systems, Russian Defense Ministry’s spokesperson told RIA Novosti Saturday.

"In 2015, one of the air defense missile system regiments in the Moscow region… will adopt into service the modern long-range air defense missile system S-400 Triumph," Col. Alexei Zolotukhin, a spokesperson for Russia’s Aerospace Defense Forces, said.

This regimental set will be the fourth as three S-400 regiments are deployed near Moscow in the cities of Dmitrov, Zvenigorod and Elektrostal.

The S-400 Triumph long- to medium-range surface-to-air missile system can engage any aerial target, including aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, and cruise and ballistic missiles at a distance of up to 400 kilometers (250 miles) and an altitude of up to 30 kilometers (over 98,400 feet).

The S-400 is expected to form the cornerstone of Russian air and missile defense by 2020 with nine regiments already deployed across the country as of December 2014.

Russia should provide military cover for the construction of an alternative to the Panama Canal before the arrival of US Marines

Source  :  http://svpressa.ru/t/109377/

While the attention of the majority of Russians focused on the events in Ukraine, on the other side of the globe, in Nicaragua, the unfolding events whose significance for our country, may not be less than the case on our own continent. Embassy of the United States on the eve of demand from the government of this country to reveal information about the channel, which will connect soon the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and the construction of which began in the last days of the old year. It is expected to become an alternative to the existing Panama Canal, which is extremely concerned about the United States.
Their degree of anxiety is easy to understand if you remember that in order to build the Panama Canal, they once created in this area, then owned by Columbia, the separatist movement, its torn away and actually established a new state - Panama, under its own protectorate. Separatist leader Frenchman Byuno-cooked signed an agreement with the United States for two hours before the arrival of the official delegation of Panama in Washington. This contract (within the Monroe Doctrine, which declared the entire American continent zone of vital US interests) entitled The military and police intervention in the affairs of States, Panama, and what they enjoyed the whole XX century.
Over the past century Panama has repeatedly tried to regain control of the canal and its own territory. Rebellion broke out in 1927, 1947, 1959 and 1964, but to no avail. The last time, in 1989, the United States and all troops entered there, overthrew President Manuel Noriega, brought it to its territory and put away in jail, accused of drug trafficking. During the invasion killed more than 500 Panamanian citizens. So that States are clearly aware of the importance of control over this strategic target and are ready to shed blood for it. And now, there is an alternative.
The idea of ​​building a canal on the territory of Nicaragua is not new, but so far come close to its implementation failed. Only a year ago, Parliament adopted such a decision, and President Daniel Ortega, once one of the Soviet Union, signed it. Perhaps this old friendship with the socialist camp and played a role. After all, the main investor and contractor is China, albeit no longer a socialist, but still. Economic participation of Russia also assumed, but to a lesser extent than the Chinese. Our main function is not the case. Ortega too well aware of his powerful neighbor to the north, and therefore concluded an agreement with Russia on military cover-up of the project.
Under this agreement, the Russian warships and aircraft will be able to freely serve in the territorial waters of Nicaragua. There will also be created with all necessary technical infrastructure. Simply put, the two great powers, Russia and China together will press the third great power - the United States on the territory of its vital interests. In fact, it is the same as the secret US involvement in the initiation of the Ukrainian crisis. They wanted to force Russia to accept the inevitable and accept the unacceptable infringement of their rights. Russia did not agree. Now, here, is preparing to strike back in the opponent's territory.
And here there is a danger of a new conflict. US violently suppressed all previous attempts to deprive them of their monopoly right to control the transit, so why do they suck now? Suck. Attack them has already begun. The requirement to disclose information about the construction of the first step. In case of failure (with a hangover sovereign country must defend his actions on its territory?), It will be interpreted in a negative way and will be an occasion for a massive PR attack by the world's largest media. The same way as was information about downed over Donbas "Boeing". The main thing - to blame. For example, in the concealment of the potential environmental damage. If you agree to disclose details of the project, it will be found flaws, real or imaginary, and ... will be held exactly the same attack in media with the same conclusions.
This is not speculation: environmental organizations have already thrown into battle. Banking on the subject of drinking water. Like, Lake Nicaragua, through which will be part of the way the courts, should be used as a source of water. It's like the Khimki forest, through which supposedly can not hack a clearing for the road, because it is the same forest, birds and flowers. And then the initiator of the campaign receives award from the Americans, is running for election for Mayor of Khimki and safely forget about ecology. It turns out it was just a political tool for personal advancement. And disposable.
So, after the media and can be followed by real military attack on Nicaragua, especially if the Russian armed forces do not appear there soon. And them there is no - construction has already begun, but the agreement on military presence, the Russian government has approved only on January 2nd. Looks like our late, and late it can get expensive. US certainly have learned from the situation with the Crimea, where only the sudden appearance of "polite" people tore their plans for the arrangement on the peninsula own military base. One has only to US Marines, albeit for lawlessness, to appear in Nicaragua and all the grandiose plans can be thwarted. Yankees vyvezut Ortega with a bag on his head as his "colleague" of Panama. Why not? We must hurry, Shoigu.

Russian senator believes events in France should turn Europeans towards Russia

Source  :  http://itar-tass.com/en/russia/770583

MOSCOW, January 9. /TASS/. Events in France should bring about a U-turn in the European leaders’ attitudes towards Russia that has never threatened anyone and will not threaten in the future, Viktor Ozerov, the chairman of defence and security committee in the upper house of Russian parliament said on Friday.

Russia has long placed terrorism on the list of major threats to global security along with the proliferation of nuclear weapons and the spread of drugs trafficking, to say nothing of the aftermaths of terrorist acts the Russians themselves have lived through, Ozerov said.

“It’s important for the leaders of European countries and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to realize in this situation the main task today is to counteract to the challenges alarming the whole world rather than to introduce economic or political sanctions against Russia, a country that has never threatened anyone and isn’t going to do it ever,” he said.

“The events unfolding in France should bring about a U-turn in the conscious of many European leaders and in their stance on today’s relations with Russia,” Ozerov said.

Also, it is equally important to people around the world “to stay vigilant and to realize that it (international terrorism) poses danger not only to France,” he said.

“I’m confident the organizations engaging in counteraction to terrorism in Russia understand that it’s important to find allies in this struggle all over the world, to find those who are aware of the significance of consolidated efforts,” Ozerov said.

No Foreign Aircraft Violated Russian Airspace in 2014: Defense Ministry

Source  : http://sputniknews.com/russia/20150103/1016484451.html

MOSCOW, January 3 (Sputnik) — No violations of Russian airspace have been registered in the past year, Russian Defense Ministry spokesperson Igor Klimov said Saturday.

“In 2014… no violations of state borders by foreign aircraft or breach of air rules by domestic users were registered,” Klimov stated.

© PHOTO: WIKIPEDIA / KIRILL NAUMENKO

Moscow Denies Claims That Russian Il-20 Breached Estonian Airspace

Russian experts controlled the flights of more than 380,000 aircraft above the country’s territory during the year, he added.

Over the past year, a number of NATO members have expressed concern over Russia’s alleged violations of their airspace. The Russian Ministry of Defense has denied the claims, stating that the Russian Air Force’s flights are in compliance with international agreements.

Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia to connect national grids

Source : English.news.cn

TEHRAN, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Iran and Russia will connect their national grids via a transmission line through Azerbaijan in the near future, Tasnim news agency reported on Sunday.

Iran and Russia inked an agreement last September to match power systems in Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia. Negotiations were held afterward between Iran and Azerbaijan on constructing a 260-km long 400 kV transmission line linking the two neighboring countries within six months.

Construction of the power line is planned to complete by late March, which is the first step to connect power networks of Iran and Russia.

Iran is aiming to become the region's major energy hub, given its geographic location between the tropical area to its south and its northern neighbors in cold, sometimes polar climates, according to Iranian deputy energy minister.

Serbs trust Russia more than EU, US, NATO: Poll

Source  :  http://www.presstv.ir/Detail

A recent poll shows that Serbians trust Russia more than the European Union (EU), but still seek EU membership for its perceived benefits.

According to a survey published on Friday, 52 percent of Serbian citizens hold a positive view of Russia while the figure is 32 percent for the EU.

This is while only 12 and six percent of Serbians like the US and NATO, respectively.

Despite their relatively low opinion of the EU, 54 percent of the people in Serbia still want to join the bloc as they believe its membership would greatly help fight corruption, reduce unemployment and improve the economic situation in the Balkan country.

The survey results came a day after Serbia took over the chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The organization has recently intensified its efforts to broker peace talks between Kiev, Moscow, and pro-Russia forces of eastern Ukraine.

Following the takeover, Serbia’s Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic announced that his country would do its best to de-escalate the tensions between Moscow and the western-backed Ukrainian government in a bid to end the deadly clashes in eastern Ukraine.

Commentators say Serbia can play an effective role in mediating between Russia and Ukraine as it enjoys friendly ties with Moscow and also aims to expand its relations with the EU, a position which turns Belgrade into a mutually acceptable mediator.

Ukraine and Russia are in a serious row as Kiev and its Western allies accuse Moscow of supporting pro-Russia forces in east Ukraine, saying the Russian intervention poses a security threat to Ukraine and all other neighboring states. Russia categorically denies the allegation.

FNR/HMV/SS

Russian Commandos Train for Arctic Combat

Source  :  http://sputniknews.com/military

Russian army special forces units have had their first training sessions in Arctic warfare, under plans to boost the country’s military presence in the region, a Western Military District spokesman said Monday.

MOSCOW, October 14 (RIA Novosti) – Russian army special forces units have had their first training sessions in Arctic warfare, under plans to boost the country’s military presence in the region, a Western Military District spokesman said Monday.

According to Col. Oleg Kochetkov, Russian special forces reconnaissance units have carried out a number of training missions on the Kola Peninsula under an experimental program simulating combat in the polar regions’ mountainous terrain.

“Combat training missions involving elements of mountaineering in the conditions of the extreme north are a new experience for reconnaissance units that normally train in the mountains in southern Russia,” Kochetkov said.

The official said the drills included practicing survival techniques such as finding potable water and food, setting up camp and covert movement through inhabited areas.

He added that the soldiers employed various types of camouflage adapted to local terrain and held their first ‘sniper duels’ in polar conditions.

Russia has officially set itself the goal of deploying a combined-arms force by 2020, including military, border, and coast guard units, to protect its political and economic interests in the Arctic and boost Russia’s military security.

According to the Russian military, two arctic brigades will be deployed in Russia’s extreme north over the next few years. Russia also plans to return to mothballed Soviet-era

Arctic airfields and establish a permanent naval presence along the strategically important Northern Sea Route.

The Arctic, believed to have vast untapped natural resources, has increasingly been at the center of disputes between the United States, Russia, Canada, Norway, and Denmark in recent years, as rising temperatures lead to a reduction in sea ice, opening up access to lucrative offshore oil and gas deposits.

Russia to Form Air Army in Arctic in 2015: Army Chief

Source  :  http://sputniknews.com/military/20141229/1016376016.html

Russian Army Prioritizes Strengthening of Strategic Nuclear Forces in 2015

MOSCOW, December 29 (Sputnik) — A joint air and air defense army will be formed and deployed in the Arctic in 2015, Chief of the Russian General Staff, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, said Monday.

"The united strategic command in the Arctic is currently based on Russia's Northern Fleet, which is responsible for ensuring security in the region in all forms of armed conflict," Gerasimov said in an interview with Rossiya-24 television.

"We have already assigned an air defense division to the fleet, and we will form a joint air and air defense army there," the army chief said.

The formation of Russia's Air Army in the Arctic is part of the country's strategy to boost its presence in the region.

Under the strategy, Russian Defense Ministry plans to reopen airfields and ports on the New Siberian Islands and the Franz Josef Land archipelago, and at least seven airfields on the continental part of the Arctic Circle.

Russia also revealed its plans to build at least 13 airfields and 10 radar stations in the Arctic to ensure country's military security and to strengthen its political and economic position in the Arctic. Moreover, the country intends to create a unified network of naval facilities in the region for advanced warships and submarines.

China to receive Russian S-400 systems in exchange for political support

Source :  http://english.pravda.ru/world/asia/28-11-2014/129162-china_russia-0/

Last week, Chinese officials supported the position of Russia on both the Crimea and the Ukrainian conflict. Soon afterwards, it was reported that Russia sold S-400 air defense systems to the Celestial Empire. The contract was evaluated at $3 billion. Is there a connection between these events? China can wait, but it can not wait now. 

"We are opposed to any nation gaining independence through a referendum. As for the Crimea, there are peculiarities to it. We know the history of the affiliation of the Crimea well," acting director of the Department for European and Central Asian Affairs of China's Foreign Affairs Ministry,  Gui Congyou said, as quoted by the South China newspaper. Deputy Head of the Department of CPC Central Committee on International Relations, Zhou Li said: "Russia and China face various challenges. But I can say with certainty that soon we will face even greater challenges. We have to fight together, protecting the interests of our countries. The main thing is not to let the Americans drive a wedge between our countries," said the official.

On Thursday, it was reported that Russia was selling S-400 Triumf systems to China. Beijing intends to buy at least six divisions of the renowned missile systems worth more than three billion dollars, the Vedomosti newspaper said with reference to its sources. Noteworthy, Rosoboronexport officials refused to comment on the news, whereas a representative of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation refuted the information. 

Should Russia develop this scheme of cooperation with China? To do this, one needs to know China's immediate needs and be able to bargain. The principle is as follows: China gives Russia strong political support (what Russia needs a lot), and Russia gives China its arms.

Some Russian experts critically pointed out the fact that the above-mentioned statements were released from "minor Chinese officials." However, China's top diplomats, unlike their European counterparts, do not demonstrate vivid emotions and outspokenness. "This is considered disadvantageous and even dangerous, because statements from top officials are extremely difficult to disavow without losing face afterwards. In China, in order to voice sharp transitions from one diplomatic platform to another, there are positions of "Acting Head of Department for Europe and Central Asia Affairs" and the like. Both of those second-line officials turned out to be in the company of Russians - diplomats and journalists - just in time and used the chance to their advantage. The world has every reason to think over the problem," the South China newspaper said. 

Russia should try and make China's top officials speak out as well. In light of aggressive policy of the United States in the Asia-Pacific region, which is expressed in discussions of war with China, up to a nuclear conflict, China desperately needs modern air defense systems, and it is Russia that can give them to the country. 

Chinese military expert Li Jie said in an interview with People's Daily that "S-400 can quickly improve our air and missile defense and ensure rapid absorption of related technologies." "S-400 is a vertical launch system, they are capable of striking any target in any direction, including aircraft and missiles. More importantly, the S-400 is particularly suitable for interception operations with strong electronic interference in the background. These are very important advantages in future wars," said Li Jie. The expert believes that "on the issue of Ukraine, Western countries show all-sided pressure on political, economic, military and other Russian systems, especially after the fall of oil prices. Given the acute shortage of investment, Russia remains in an urgent need of help from China." The expert expects a "sincere first step" from Russia, and the sale of S-400 systems to China could be such a step, he believes. Li Jie noted that China had no achievements in military technology, for example, in the engine-building industry, but cooperation with Russia may help fill this gap.

"China is trying to pull everything it cal from Russia, - Mikhail Karpov, a sinologist, Associate Professor at the Higher School of Economics told Pravda.Ru. - China is the main beneficiary of the evolving geopolitical situation in the world. The country will be achieving its goals with Russia's help. China may like our territories. Russia already provides an opportunity to the Chinese people to migrate. The Chinese take direct participation in the capital of Russian businesses too. The peculiarity of Chinese policy is known throughout the world. They will go deep into Russia against the background of the geopolitical situation. From their position, they are right, they are acting in their own interests."

From the point of view of the expert, Russia's large gas contract with China was a "head feint before the United States," to show the Americans that "we are with China." "In fact, the commercial component of the agreement is not clear. To a large extent, this is a political component. It still remains unknown what the contract will eventually lead to, given big problems with the development of the gas fields under the contract," said Mikhail Karpov.

Andrei Devyatov, Deputy Director of the Institute of Sino-Russian strategic cooperation, secretary of the Union of Russian military sinologists, does not believe the Chinese either. "From the time of Sun Tzu, the Chinese policy is an endless path of tricks," he told Pravda.Ru.  As for the S-400, the expert believes that the Chinese took advantage of the moment, when Russia found itself in the dollar trap. "It was Russia that had to sell the systems to China," he said. 

However, three billion dollars will come to Russia as a compensation for the non-delivery of French Mistrals.  This is not the amount that could solve the problem of Russia's dollar liquidity.

After all, China needs to understand that after Hong Kong, it will have Macau that has already announced its readiness to hold a referendum on further principles of relations with mainland China. The situation in Hong Kong was stabilized quickly, but the referendum in Macau became a previously unthinkable challenge for Beijing. It appears that China will continue to deal with Washington's pressure in the Pacific Rim in the future as it is very easy to provoke a military conflict for the possession of islands there. China needs to make its own first sincere step towards Russia - give the country political support on the top level. 

As for the "penetration" into Russia, these fears are exaggerated. In the western and northern parts of China - those that border on Russia - are home to only six percent of the Chinese population. The Chinese do not like the Russian climate, it is too cold for them here. Russia needs to learn to work with China.

In the spring of 2014, the Kommersant reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized the delivery of S-400 systems to China. This summer, the head of the presidential administration, Sergei Ivanov, said that the first foreign recipient of the S-400 system will be China; he named a preliminary delivery date - 2016. The first missile regiment of S-400 was deployed in the Moscow region in 2007. The second one - in the Kaliningrad region. In 2010, China bought 15 multi-channel anti-aircraft missile systems S-300 from Russia. Each of those systems can simultaneously direct up to 12 missiles. Yet, those missiles have no control over the sky over Taiwan. The S-400 can do it.