• Poland begins to purchase Iranian oil as an alternative to imports from Russia

    Oil trader Mercuria, the largest seller of Russian Urals oil in Poland, is closing down its oparations with Urals oil and emptying Russian oil out of its tanks in the port of Gdansk, Reuters reports.

    It is noted that the oil trader will use a tanker to bring in Iranian oil. Mercuria will send more than 250,000 tons of unsold Urals oil to Asia using the super tanker Atlantas (VLCC). The same tanker will bring back two million barrels of Iranian oil to Gdansk.

    According to the agency, Polish …

  • Gazprom decided to withdraw from Nord Stream-2 joint venture

    Gazprom, Shell, Uniper and Wintershall, which are all part of a consortium for the construction of Nord Stream 2 have withdrawn their application to create a joint venture. The group had already submitted the application to the Polish antimonopoly agency, as reported in the companies’ statement.

    This decision will not affect the gas pipeline project, the report says. It also will not affect the Nord Stream 2 construction schedule.

    The project will be implemented by a Swiss-registered Nord …

  • Ukrainian official: Russia is not ready for full-scale military operations

    The Ukrainian Deputy Minister for the Temporarily Occupied Territories, George Tuka, stated on Channel 112 Ukraine that Russia is not ready for full-scale military operations with Ukraine.  

    "Russia is not ready for full-scale military operations, and they have enough common sense not to do it. As for provocative actions, tactical actions with the aim to seize any locality; I suppose it may happen," Tuka said. According to him, servicemen from one of the sides may lose their composure.

    "As …

  • Military expert: Russia could involve the Navy and Air Force in a large-scale operation from Crimea

    Mikhail Samus, the Deputy Director of the Center for Army, Conversion and Disarmament Studies (CACDS), claimed in an interview with Krym.Realii that Crimea may be involved in a “big operation” in terms of air and sea power. He made reference to three groups of Russian shock troops stationed in the north, east and south of Ukraine, noting that Crimean land forces are not likely to comprise a main attack.

    "The support of submarines and surface vessels by cruise missiles, sea-borne troop landings, …

  • US General: Russia must allow international observers access to exercises in Crimea

    Russia must admit observers, including Western journalists, to the military exercise which will be held in the south of the country and in annexed Crimea. According to Reuters, this was the hard line presented by Lieutenant General Frederick Benjamin "Ben" Hodges, the commander of the United States Army in Europe.

    Hodges said that Russia could emulate military exercises that were held under the guidance of the USA and its allies in Europe, which allowed the country to send observers.

    "The …