Speaking at the Washington-based US Institute of Peace, General Joseph Votel, head of US Central Command (CENTCOM), said that American armed forces presence in Syria will be needed to stabilize the situation in regions liberated from terrorists, aid the return of civilians to their homes, and support the country’s long-term reconstruction. Votel’s area of operational responsibility includes the Middle East, East Africa and Central Asia.

 “A lot of good military progress [has been] made over …

Aleksandar Vulin, the Serbian Minister of Defense met with the Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu and reported afterwards that Serbia is negotiating with Russia for the supply of four Mi-35 combat helicopters and further military cooperation, Russia's TASS news agency reported.

"Recently, we have talked about the purchase of four Mi-17 transport helicopters and four Mi-35 combat helicopters. We have also discussed the continuation of military-technical cooperation, the further equipping …

The International Investigation Team (JIT) published a statement on the Dutch prosecutor’s website on April 3rd regarding the MH17 crash. “The missile launched from the Buk does not necessary have to be visible to the radar stations of Ust-Donetsk [a settlement in the Rostov region of Russia],” the statement says. “The missile is missing from the radar images due to flight properties—in particular, speed.”

The investigation team consists of representatives from investigative and legal bodies …

The main investigation department of the Investigative Committee of Russia opened a criminal case against the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Arsen Avakov.

The case concerns the decision of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to not allow Russian citizens to go to polling stations on the Ukrainian mainland during the presidential elections in Russia on March 18, 2018. These actions were qualified under Article 141, Part 2, Clause C of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation – impeding …

Andrey Kondrashov, the All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (VGTRK) journalist and press secretary of Vladimir Putin’s election headquarters, was appointed as first deputy general director of VGTRK, Russian RBC news agency reports. Previously, information regarding Kondrashov’s new post at VGTRK was reported by the Russian BBC service, referencing four unnamed employees of the holding.

When asked in an interview with the RBC whether the information about his new …

After Ukrainian coast guards detained the fishing vessel Nord, sailing under the Russian flag, in the Sea of Azov, Russian officers of the annexed Crimea declared it “Ukrainian state-level piracy.”

In particular, the command of the Black Sea Fleet, including naval aviation, declared its readiness to ensure the safety of navigation in the northeastern Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, reports RIA Novosti, citing a source in the security agencies of the Crimea.

“The aggressive actions of Ukrainian …

Russia has confirmed its decision to accelerate the delivery of Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile systems to Turkey. This was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin at a press conference following Russian-Turkish talks.

"Of course, we discussed the state of cooperation between Russia and Turkey in the military-technical sphere, and, in particular, the progress of the implementation of the delivery contract for S-400 Triumph anti-aircraft missile systems to Turkey. We decided to speed …

Russian Official Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova commented on the reports that the experts from the British military laboratory in Porton Down were unable to determine where the “Novichok” gas that poisoned Sergei and Yulia Skripal was produced.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if now or tomorrow Theresa May and that entire brilliant team said that all their statements in parliament and knocking together of world coalitions are the result of Russian hackers hacking Disney’s animation …