Contents tagged with crimea

  • Lukashenko refuses to recognize Crimea as Russian

    Belarus does not recognize the accession of Crimea to the Russian Federation until all Russian oligarchs do it, said Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

    During the "Big Conversation" with journalists, Lukashenka recalled the Budapest Memorandum of 1994, which guaranteed Ukraine territorial integrity within the borders at the time of withdrawal from the USSR in exchange for giving up nuclear weapons.

    The document was signed by Boris Yeltsin, Leonid Kuchma, Bill Clinton and the then …

  • Russia invites Lukashenko to visit Crimea

    “Crimea is ready to welcome the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko”, said the head of Crimea, Sergey Aksyonov, on his VKontakte page.

    "When our president and foreign ministry agree on the visit of the Belarusian leader, we will be happy to welcome Alexander Grigoryevich in Crimea," Aksyonov wrote.

    Aksyonov called Belarus the "closest" and "brotherly" country. The head of annexed Crimea expressed confidence that Lukashenko, as well as all other Belarusian citizens, will feel at home in …

  • Kyiv: Russia, fearing Sea Breeze–2021 exercises, has sent its entire Black Sea Fleet to the area

    Russia, fearful of Sea Breeze–2021 exercises, has sent its entire Black Sea Fleet to the area, reported the press service of the General Intelligence Directorate of Ukrainian Defense Ministry.

    "We see that to monitor the exercises, Russia has sent all the ships to the area, which are now not performing their usual tasks. The aggressor country is trying to demonstrate that it is ready to defend its interests by military force. But Russia clearly lacks the strength and resources in the Black Sea, …

  • Putin approves decree allowing Russian military to block Kerch Strait

    In a decree published on the Kremlin’s website, Russian President Vladimir Putin has allowed the Russian military to block the territories and waters around protected facilities to stop attempts of illegal infiltration.

    The explanatory note to the document says that the Russian National Guard protects the waters of the Kerch Strait, the bridge over it and the water area around the Russian power grid link with Crimea.

    In addition, according to Putin's decree, the military can cordon these …

  • Russian submarine begins drills in Black Sea amid Sea Breeze multinational exercises

    The Russian diesel submarine Kolpino, which can carry Kalibr cruise missiles, began the exercises in the Black Sea amid the international military maneuvers Sea Breeze 2021, which are headed by Ukraine and the United States and attended by other NATO members and their partners.

    "During the complex exercise, the submariners worked out algorithms for the management of the submarine during both regular and emergency surfacing and submerging, performed submerging to different depths with a maximum …

  • Putin: if the British destroyer had been sunk in Black Sea, the West would not have dared to start war with Russia

    The incident with the British destroyer HMS Defender approaching the coast of Crimea in the Black Sea is a planned provocation of London and Washington, but even if the Russian armed forces destroyed the ship, the world would not be on the verge of World War III, said Russian President Vladimir Putin during the annual TV program "Direct Line with Putin".

    According to him, the destroyer approaching the shores of Crimea has political and military components. It took place a few days after the …

  • Kremlin: Russia is ready to fight to keep Crimea

    Russia is ready to defend the inviolability of its borders using military methods, said Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, commenting on the incident in the Black Sea with the British destroyer HMS Defender.

    "We can appeal to common sense and demand respect for international law. If it does not help, we can drop bombs, not just on the course, but also on target, if colleagues do not understand," Ryabkov is quoted as saying by Interfax.

    The deputy minister stressed that the …

  • EU extends sanctions against Russia over annexation of Crimea

    The European Union has decided to extend sanctions against Russia because of the annexation of Ukrainian Crimea, reported the press service of the European Council.

    "The EU does not recognize the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by the Russian Federation and continues to condemn this violation of international law, in line with the declaration by the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on behalf of the EU on 25 February 2021," said the European Council in a …

  • Crimean authorities: Water found under the Sea of Azov is not suitable for consumption

    Russia's plan to use fresh water supplies found under the Sea of Azov to supply Crimea failed. The water is unsuitable for consumption, said the Head of Crimea, Sergey Aksenov.

    "There is some fresh water there," Aksenov said.

    He specified that the water reserves are not located very deep, and it would be easy to extract them. However, there is a serious problem. The water contains a lot of minerals.

    "How can it be used? It has to be cleaned up," Aksenov said.

    He added that water treatment …

  • Russia begins aviation and air defense exercises in Crimea

    Russia has started aviation and air defense exercises in the annexed Crimea, reports the Russian Defense Ministry.

    "In accordance with the combat training schedule, the anti-aircraft missile units of the Black Sea Fleet Army Corps have begun to work out joint tasks in the area of intensive aviation flights. Combat training activities are being carried out in the airbases and permanent deployment bases of Black Sea Fleet air defense units,” the statement reads.

    According to the Russian Defense …