How many Russian troops are there in Eastern Ukraine

According to the informartion published by  “Information Resistance” group as of August 26, 2015 the following numbers of  Russian-terrorist forces are operating in the occupied areas of Eastern Ukraine

 (dynamics update for the last 2 months in brakets)

- Personnel - up to 45 thousand. (decrease of 3-5 thousand)

- Tanks - about 600 units. (increase of 200 units.);

- Armored Combat Vehicles - 1430-1450 units. (decrease of more than 400 units.);

- Artillery - approx. 770 units., Incl .:

a) …


Putin won his war in Ukraine

Marvin Kalb is senior adviser at the Pulitzer Center and a fellow at the Brookings Institution. His book “Imperial Gamble: Putin, Ukraine and the New Cold War” will be published this month.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/putin-won-in-ukraine/2015/09/07/02a0283c-5341-11e5-933e-7d06c647a395_story.html


Is Russia More Bark Than Bite?

As per Sir Andrew Wood, Chatham House

The received wisdom that Russia will always be ready to go further than the West in a confrontation over Ukraine is flawed.

‘The West could never prevail in a military confrontation over Ukraine with Russia, which would always be prepared to go further.’ This line, from a Financial Times editorial last week, reflects a commonly-held view among Western commentators about the crisis in eastern Ukraine. But if taken literally, it would imply that Vladimir …


Berlusconi visits annexed Crimea

Silvio Berlusconi, Former Italian Prime Minister arrived with a "private visit" in the Crimea annexed by Russia.  

Berlusconi arrived on September 11 in Yalta, where he plans to take in the sights and have "several meetings".

As admitted in the Kremlin on September 9, during the trip Berlusconi could meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Berlusconi is also expected to visit Sevastopol, and then go to Moscow and return to Italy on 13 September.

Earlier this year Berlusconi, who is a …


Russian troops join combat in Syria

According to a number of Lebanese sources, Russian forces have begun participating in military operations in Syria in support of government troops.

The unidentified sources, speaking to Reuters on Wednesday, gave the most forthright account yet from the region of what the United States fears is a deepening Russian military role in Syria's civil war, though one of the Lebanese sources said the number of Russians involved so far was small.

U.S. officials said Russia sent two tank landing ships …