• Sanctions against Russia were extended by five countries

    Ukraine and four more countries have agreed with the EU Council’s decision to extend sanctions against Russia until the 15th of March 2017. These sanctions were initially imposed because of Russia’s involvement in the violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity. This was stated in a statement by the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, on the 24th of October.

    “The candidate countries of Montenegro and Albania, members of the …

  • Russian army units assumed combat duty in the Arctic

    According to Russia’s Deputy Defense Minister Dmitry Bulgakov, the military infrastructure in the Arctic has been developed to the point that several Russian army units have assumed combat duty in the region, TASS reported.

    "The infrastructure preparedness on all the Arctic islands has already allowed units there to assume combat duty," Bulgakov stated.

    The Deputy Defense Minister added that military facilities are still under construction in the Arctic, specifically in Tiksi, Anadyr, Vorkuta, …

  • NATO ships escort Russian flotilla along Portuguese coast on its way to Mediterranean

    NATO warships are monitoring Russia’s naval flotilla as it sails along the coast of Portugal on its way to the Mediterranean Sea where it will participate in military operations in support of the Syrian government, Interfax reported.

    Russia’s flotilla includes the country’s sole aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov.

    One Portuguese and one Spanish ship are currently monitoring the flotilla.

    Similarly, Portuguese P-3 surveillance aircraft are active in the area.

  • Turkish Foreign Minister: Turkey and Russia exchange military intelligence on Syria

    According to Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, the Turkish and Russian militaries maintain an open line of communication and exchange intelligence information regarding Syria, TASS reported.

    During an interview with Turkey’s 24 Canali TV, Çavuşoğlu stressed that such "cooperation is beneficial."

    "We say that in the context of the Euphrates Shield Operation, we cooperate with all parties fighting against the Islamic State. Now that relations with Russia have normalized, we have an …

  • The Kremlin: The Normandy Four did not discuss the deployment of an armed OSCE mission along the border

    The Kremlin stated that leaders of the “Normandy Four” countries did not discuss the deployment of the armed OSCE mission in the uncontrolled area of the Ukrainian-Russian border; rather, Russian President Vladimir Putin just gave his “potential consent.” This was stated by the Russian president’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov.

    “With regard to some armed police OSCE mission, I’d like to stress – it was only about service weapons, and in the event of such a mission, indeed, Putin responded …