Biden condemns Russia's creation of joint military force with Abkhazia
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has condemned Russia’s ratification of a treaty on establishing a joint armed force with Abkhazia, a breakaway region in Georgia, according to a White House statement.
During a phone conversation with Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, Biden “reiterated U.S. support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.”
On Wednesday, the Russian State Duma ratified the agreement establishing a joint armed …
U.S. reconnaissance aircraft flies over Russia's naval base in Syria, another over Kaliningrad
A U.S. Air Force reconnaissance aircraft flew over Russia’s Baltic Sea exclave of Kaliningrad on Saturday, Interfax reported, citing websites that track the movement of military aircraft.
A U.S. RC-135W with tail number 62-4139 reportedly took off from RAF Mildenhall in the U.K. and flew off the coast of Kaliningrad.
Also on Saturday, a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft with tail number 168 761 flew over Russia’s Tartus naval base in Syria.
The Poseidon, which took off from the …
Lithuanian army to receive new AXMC sniper rifles
The Lithuanian army has received new AXMC sniper rifles, which have twice the range of the weapons that are currently in the army’s arsenal, Delfi reported, with reference to the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defense.
The sniper rifles purchased for EUR 1.3 million from the UK manufacturer Accuracy International will be distributed among battalions and training facilities by the end of 2016. The distinctive feature of the AXMC sniper rifle is that it can use bullets of two calibers – 338 …
Poroshenko: Moscow asked Ukraine to buy Russian gas
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said that in the spring, Russia asked Ukraine to buy its gas. However, Kyiv refused.
"All talks about there being rolling blackouts in winter, about Ukraine being left without heating and coal, about Ukrainians not having enough gas in their underground storage facilities, have stopped. We, in spite of the war, have built an economically strong and independent state,” he said on Wednesday during his working visit to Lviv.
“I was pleased when the Russians …
Ukraine has tripled the combat strength of their missile forces
In comparison to 2014, the combat strength of the Ukrainian missile forces has tripled. According to Interfax-Ukraine, this was said by the Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Viktor Muzhenko.“The combat strength of the troops has tripled since 2014. Today, there are specific measures being implemented to enhance the combat potential of the missile troops and the artillery. Their organizational structure is being improved, systematic modernization is being executed and new …