October 6, 2023

In my Report # 291 released on September 3, 2023, I addressed some of the issues related to the U.S. nuclear weapons buildup in Europe and its willingness to deploy them in Ukraine by using U. S. dual-capable aircraft F-16. A number of readers have asked me for more information on this topic. The issue is much wider than dilemma of F-16 deliveries to Ukraine.

The United States intends to expand its nuclear presence on the European continent as a whole, in particular by additional deployment of heavy strategic bombers with nuclear weapons on board; increasing the number of dual-capable aircraft or DCA in NATO's Baltic Air Policing operation; and supplying Ukraine with fighter jets certified to deliver F-16 nuclear weapons

Therefore, the following analysis has three respective parts: deployment of the U.S. strategic nuclear forces in Europe, implementation of NATO’s “Baltic Air Policing” in the Baltic Sea area, and negative consequences of the potential delivery of F-16 DCA to Ukraine. The response will be given to a logical question: “Will all these factors increase the security on European continent and in Ukraine in particular?”

1. The first nuclear strike in Europe: strategic means for delivery

In October 2022 President Joseph Biden released its updated nuclear strategy called National Posture Review or NPR in short. His NPR is not less aggressive than Donald Trump’s similar document, as one U.S. study claimed.

The 2022 U.S. nuclear strategy clearly stated that its nuclear weapons will remain in the U.S. military capability for an indefinite period of time in the future

Its nuclear weapons will constitute an important element of a combined and broader triad than nuclear, which includes three operationally linked components: nuclear missile weapons, missile defense, and conventional forces. This is the so-called ‘Chicago Triad’ approved at the North Atlantic Alliance Summit in Chicago in May 2012. The term is unofficial, this is the term proposed and used by by the author. It is not incorporated in American official documents or research papers. But it makes sense to use it. Especially since this triple mixture of strategic and tactical tools of modern warfare has been repeated by all subsequent summits of that military alliance.

The 2022 U.S. Nuclear Strategy drew attention to the possibility of escalating combat operations conducted without the use of nuclear weapons into military operations that will be conducted with the use of nuclear weapons. It should be recalled that in recent years, the U.S. Armed Forces have arranged large-scale conventional military exercises that usually ended by delivering dummy nuclear strikes, especially very close to the borders of the Russian Federation, to the territory of Russia’s allies and friends.

The U.S. NPR of 2022 recorded a willingness to extend the employment of nuclear weapons, which have not been used in many decades since the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. To be fair, after these two tragic dates the United States intended to use its nuclear weapons in three regional conflicts (Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq), as well as in two acute and dramatic crises erupted between the USSR and the United States/NATO (the Cuban nuclear missile crisis and the Berlin military confrontation in the 1960s). So, in total: in five cases.

In words, the 2022 Nuclear Posture Review described the guidance for of reducing the readiness level of U.S. nuclear forces. That sounded positive. But when and at what level? And what is the basis for that viewpoint? What policy initiatives and military-technical measures have been articulated? In deeds, the situation is different. Have a look at this Table borrowed from the SIPRI Yearbook released in 2023:

It shows: the USA has formidable strategic and tactical nuclear arsenal to be used in the first strike.

Three components of the U.S. strategic nuclear triad will gradually be replaced.  The Joseph Biden Administration reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to the modernization of the U.S. nuclear triad and to the modernization programs for each of the components of that force structure

Between 2023 and 2027, the development of the new “Sentinel” U.S. ICBM, previously referred to in U.S. documents as a “ground-based strategic deterrent” or GBSD ICBM, will continue. It will replace the Minuteman-3 ICBMs in their entirety with the aim , that the number of Sentinel’s will remain unchanged – to have exactly 400 missiles as before. They will carry two types of warheads: “W87-0/Mk21” and “W87-0/Mk21A.” The appearance of these ICBMs will disprove the opinion of some Western and Russian experts who claim that the U.S. Strategic Nuclear Forces were going to switch over to a “dyad”, meaning that they will completely eliminate ground-based intercontinental-range nuclear missiles from the traditional strategic triad. This is an incorrect judgment. So far, it has never been happened in real terms.

About the Naval component of the U.S. Strategic Nuclear Forces: since 2030 “Ohio”-class SSBNs will be replaced by “Columbia”-class nuclear-powered missile submarines. Their total number of them will be brought minimally to 12 vessels. They will retain their former Trident II D5 SLBMs, which will complete the second phase of their service life extension program. The “W88 Alt 370” nuclear warhead replacement program will be implemented. Some SSBNs will keep SLBMs with low-yield warheads “W76-2”. It should be recalled that according to the U.S. political and military leadership’s views, these are warheads with a yield of 5 kilotons and less.

In parallel, the United States will assist the UK in replacing the nuclear warheads on British SSBNs.

The air-based Strategic Nuclear Forces or SNF will be represented by the modernized “B-52H” heavy strategic bomber (HSB) that will remain in service until 2050, as well as the new “B-21 Raider” strategic aircraft that will replace aging “B-2A” strategic bomber. The estimated total number of “B-21” should be at least 100 aircraft. There will be a replacement of the SLCM with an extended-range nuclear missile with a “W 80-4” nuclear warhead to be mounted on such HSBs that will be in ‘stand-off position’ in designated waiting areas in Europe while to be on regular patrol.

It was recorded that the U.S. side would like to reduce the readiness of its adversaries to launch a first nuclear strike or FNS against the United States. But the White House itself has not abandoned the notion to deliver a first nuclear strike. And it does not intend to cancel such FNS formula it in the future. But at the same time, no practical initiatives have been put forward to achieve this goal.

Since 2014, USSTRATCOM has integrated bombers more prominently into EUCOM planning and activated a standing war plan for Europe for first time since the end of the Cold War

Increased deployments in Europe in the form of revival of Cold War-style long-range strike exercises and occasional port call visits by the U.S. SSBNs to the United Kingdom are taking place. In 2019 five-aircraft “B 52H” formation flew over Norway and three-aircraft “B 52H” formation crossed the sky over the Baltic region. Several “B-52” that flew from Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota conducted interoperability training with aircraft from the Baltic Air Policing mission during a long-range strategic Bomber Task Force or BTF mission throughout Europe and the Baltic region. The bombers participated in the Baltic Operations or BALTOPS maritime exercise on June 7-16, 2020. Some long-range Bomber Task Force missions to Europe that time “have sharpened the Air Force’s ability to operate in Europe and will continue”, according to Air Force General Jeff Harrigian, the commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa. 

Two “B-2” bombers from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, two “B-52H” from Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, and two “B-52H” from Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana together conducted a strategic bomber mission in Europe on May 7, 2020 according to U.S. Strategic Command. The mission, which was designed to highlight the United State “synchronized strategic deterrence,” also included Indo-Pacific Command’s zone of operations.

Additionally, some “B-1” from the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota carried out a Bomber Task Force mission in Europe and the Black Sea region accompanied by Ukrainian “Su-27 Flankers” and “MiG-29” Fulcrums, and Turkish “KC-135”s for the first time ever on May 29, 2020.The coordinated events were conducted from February 3-12, 2020 and included a Bomber Task Force flight of “B-52H”. On February 3, 2020 a USAF “B-52H” bomber from Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, rendezvoused with a “B-52H” from Anderson Air Force Base, Guam, in the vicinity of Misawa Air Base, Japan, as part of a combined BTF and Continuous Bomber Presence mission. The two bombers also conducted bilateral joint training with 13 Japan Air Self Defense Force or JASDF F-2, four F-4, and 28 F-15, and six U.S. Air Force F-16 in the vicinity of Japan before returning to Andersen AFB.

The 2022 Nuclear Strategy at the same time openly stated the need to improve the reliability of the North Atlantic Alliance’s nuclear capability, as well as to foster closer cooperation between the U.S. Strategic Nuclear Forces and the nuclear forces of the United Kingdom and France

The combat readiness of medium-range DCA and the possibility of using the new high-precision guided “B 61-12” air-dropped bombs in forward-deployed areas, i.e., near Russian territory have not been reduced. Moreover, the level of operational readiness of ICBMs, SSBNs, and HSBs has not radically decreased, either. This can be seen from large-scale nuclear exercises of the U.S. and NATO, regular patrols of European and Pacific airspaces by the U.S. heavy strategic bombers near the borders of Russia and China, 24-hour multinational operations of the alliance Air Force with DCA flights close to Russian borders in the framework of the NATO operation Baltic Air Policing in the skies of the three Baltic States and Poland that commenced in March 2004 where NATO DCA are involved.

NATO countries have offered 19 their military airfields to land U.S. HSBs at any time  and without requesting the relevant permission from them. This factor cannot be neglected. All of them, having received their ‘permanent residence’ at military bases in the UK began practicing flights and landings at the Estonian airbase in Amari several years ago. U.S. HSBs like B-1B, B-52H and B-2A strategic bombers got the permission from London to land at the British AFBs any time.

2. NATO Air Force Operation: Baltic Air Policing

NATO’s Air Force Operation called Baltic Air Policing has been implemented during about last 20 years. It has added TNW deployment to four European NATO nations (Belgium, Germany, Italy sand the Netherlands) plus to Asian part of Turkey.

It is an extremely dangerous and destabilizing action from the point of view of Russia's national security interests. It is reminiscent of the October 1962 "Cuban Missile Crisis" initiated by Washington who initially deployed its NW in Turkey and Italy before that

The decision to conduct Baltic Air Policing Operation was made at the North Atlantic Council meeting on March 17, 2004, under the dubious pretext of "protecting the airspace of the Baltic States," as if someone had ever encroached on their airspace.

Almost two weeks later, after this decision was taken, the first NATO medium-range combat aircraft appeared on a rotational basis in the skies of the three Baltic States – Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia – who joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization as full-fledged members in 2004. The duration of this operation was determined as year-round, but at first with combat aircraft flying out for a few hours a day. But then their time in the air was brought to round-the-clock. Subsequently, the airspace of Poland, which became a member of the alliance in 1999, was also included in the zone of the operation that covers the airspace of the three named U.S. satellites in the transatlantic alliance and partly the sky over the Baltic Sea.

This operation was managed by the North Atlantic Air Force Joint Operations Center located in Uedem, Germany.

Half of the 31 current Allied nations have contributed fighter and fighter-bomber aircraft of various types, refueling and reconnaissance aircraft to this NATO air operation. Combat aircraft of the Air Forces of Belgium, the UK, Denmark, France, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Turkey, Norway, the Netherlands, Spain, the United States and the Federal Republic of Germany began to take part in it on a rotational basis.

The combat aircraft of the above-mentioned alliance of the “transatlantic solidarity” actively use not only the airspace of Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Poland, but also their air bases located, respectively, in the area of Latvian Lielvarde, Lithuanian Zokniai, Estonian Amari and Polish Lodz (Lask Air Force Base). After Poland and the three Baltic States joined the alliance, all these air bases underwent thorough modernization, after which they became multifunctional. So multifunctional that they can receive all three types of heavy strategic bombers in service with the United States, namely the B-1B, B-52H and B-2A strategic bombers.

As it can be seen from this list of participating countries, all three nuclear powers of the West, i.e. the UK, the USA and France, have allocated their air units for the specific Air Forces’ exercises. They began to steadily use in it their ‘dual-purpose’ fighter-bombers capable of carrying not only conventional weapons, but also nuclear weapons in the form of free-fall bombs, which sometimes exceed the power of nuclear warheads of some United States strategic intercontinental ballistic missiles of the Minuteman-3 type.

As it was noted in a March 2019 NATO press release, U.S. strategic nuclear forces sent six long-range B-52H heavy strategic bombers to the United Kingdom at once – as it has been announced, "to conduct a series of training events over Europe." But what those ‘activities’ were became clear a little later. At the end of last year, one of the heavy strategic bombers of this type carried out a training bombing raid on a Lithuanian firing range 60 kilometers from the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad Oblast. U.S. B-52H has landed in the Check Republic in February 2022 before Russia has launched its Special Military Operation to prevent Ukrainian-NATO aggression against Russia.

Commenting on the situation with the appearance of American heavy strategic bombers in the Baltic region, a member of the Latvian Parliament tried to shift the conversation to a slightly different aspect, saying that the Pentagon is not building special storage facilities for nuclear weapons in Latvia. It may be true that it is not building any, but this does not mean that there are no nuclear weapons on board the designated delivery vehicles belonging to the United States and other NATO members. At the same time, it cannot be said that they have them on board, since the Russian Federation has never conducted any military-technical inspections in this regard and still does not arrange them, simply due to the absence of a corresponding agreement with both Washington and the capitals of all three Baltic States.

NATO continues to strengthen the Air Force formation and to expand the combat missions of the Baltic Air Policing Operation

On June 14, 2016, the then Deputy Secretary General of NATO, Alexander Vershbow, met with the defense ministers of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia to sign a new agreement on mechanisms for organizing the use of airspace in support of the NATO Air Force's air patrol mission and other airspace activities in the Baltic Sea region.

During the signing ceremony, Alexander Vershbow emphasized that this agreement between the alliance and the three Baltic States will contribute to "enhancing the ability to prepare for operations in the airspace of the Baltic Sea Region." The question arises: to prepare for what actions? The then deputy Secretary General of the transatlantic alliance also added that the signed document sends "a clear signal of the Alliance's shared responsibility and determination to defend the territory and populations of NATO countries." To defend whom?

According to the transatlantic alliance's new Joint Air Power Strategy - in the original: NATO's Joint Air Power Strategy - approved on June 26, 2018, the Air Forces of its member states should be able to operate "in any terrain and under any conditions," including in heavily defended airspace and in areas with intense air traffic. The Baltic region falls under this interpretation of air activity proposed by the bloc's headquarters. Reaffirming the readiness to continue current air operations in various regions of the world, the named document aimed the North Atlantic Alliance states at continuing the development of additional offensive Air Force doctrines and the creation of new capabilities in this area.

Official NATO strategic documents indicated that the round-the-clock defense of the airspace of the Baltic States is based on the fact that they do not have a sufficient number of combat aircraft that could undertake the designated task. However, the peculiarities of such a long operation of the NATO Air Force in the Baltic skies with the practicing of specific tactical and strategic tasks indicate that it pursues offensive combat objectives of a wide spectrum.

As announced at the NATO summit held in Brussels in July 2018, the bloc agreed on a strategy for joint air capabilities that will be a key factor for the Alliance Air Force's peacetime air patrol missions. It also applied to Baltic Air Policing Operation.

Judging by the statements of NATO's top military and political leadership made several times, all these land, sea and air-based groupings can be "reinforced" to an even greater extent if necessary. Naturally, not because of the Coronavirus.

This operation, which some Russian specialists, who are not familiar with its key functional purpose, incorrectly translate its official name from English as "Baltic Air Police Operation", is by no means formed as some kind of "police mission" to control and ensure air traffic safety in this part of the European continent. The named operation in real terms is a forward-looking air combat action with far-reaching goals.

Why is the NATO Air Force's Baltic Air Policing Operation described as extremely dangerous and destabilizing? Obviously, it is not only because its air grouping complements the several forward-deployed multinational land-based combat groupings of the North Atlantic Alliance that have been also established on the territory of the four states of the Eastern and Southern zone of the Baltic Sea mentioned earlier, as well as the naval forces of their alliance permanently stationed in the Baltic Sea.

From the point of view of Russia’s national security, another circumstance is also significant.

It is a clear nuclear factor, which is present in the named airborne operation. Especially since its ‘zone of responsibility’ covers not only the skies over the three Baltic States and Poland, but also the airspace that extends over a part of the Baltic Sea adjacent to the territory of the Kaliningrad and Leningrad Regions

NATO decided to deploy Airborne Warning and Control System or AWACS surveillance planes to Shauliai, Lithuania. The first of two aircraft arrived at the end of September 2023 and will fly missions “to monitor Russian military activity near the Alliance’s borders”, but de facto with the aim to continue Ukrainian-NATO aggression against Russia. NATO has boosted its air presence in the eastern part of the transatlantic alliance using fighter jets, surveillance planes and tankers. In September 2023 the United States deployed four additional F-16 fighter aircraft to Romania to enhance NATO’s Balkan Air Policing mission.

Calling the deployment of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's nuclear-capable aircraft carriers "planned," its spokeswoman Oana Lungescu acknowledged that "it shows that the U.S. nuclear umbrella protects Europe and demonstrates the unique capabilities that the U.S. can deploy to Europe in a crisis situation." So, this is the real nuclear umbrella after all, and not some innocuous routine "Air Forces Patrol"?

Because of this potential nuclear component, such an alliance Air Force operation could well be considered a "Baltic Nuclear Crisis" or "Cuban Missile Crisis No. 3," given the actual "Cuban Missile Crisis No. 1" created by the United States in October 1962 and logically named "Cuban Missile Crisis No. 2." which was initiated by the members of the North Atlantic Alliance in December 1979, when the Alliance gave the "go-ahead" for the deployment of American nuclear ballistic missiles of the Pershing type and land-based Tomahawk cruise missiles in a number of European countries.

It seems that it is for the above-mentioned reasons that the Russian side needs to constantly raise before the United States and the other North Atlantic Treaty Organization States participating in this operation the issue of a complete cessation of the patrolling of the airspace of the Baltic States and the Baltic Sea area by NATO dual-capable combat aircraft and American heavy strategic bombers. Unfortunately, official statements by the Russian side on arms control issues hardly ever criticize this operation. Not everyone is even aware of its existence. Or they do not sufficiently realize its harmful consequences for both the regional situation and the global situation.

Raising the question from the Russian side about its complete cessation should be consistently active in any case. Such a demand should also appear as a response to the insistent statements of the United States and NATO that insist that Russia unilaterally reduce its types of weapons or reduce its military activities on its territory to zero, including in the Baltic area, particularly in the area of the Kaliningrad and Leningrad Regions.

3. Implications of F-16 DCA deliveries to Ukraine

The United States intends not only to expand its nuclear presence on the European continent, in particular by additional deployment of heavy strategic bombers with nuclear weapons on board; increasing the number of dual-capable aircraft in NATO's Baltic Air Policing operation. The USA intends to supply Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets certified to deliver nuclear weapons.

This U.S. decision potentially leads to an escalation of nuclear conflict not only in Ukraine, but also in other Eastern European countries. This is due to the fact that back in 2017 at the U.S. Air Force Base Kertland (New Mexico) it was announced that a modification of the B61 nuclear bomb was tested with an F-16 aircraft. As specified by the press service of the military facility, the test was conducted with a B61-12 warhead (without a nuclear charge), which was dropped down at the Nellis Testing Site in Nevada from an F-16 fighter-bomber. The test was conducted as part of a program to extend the B61's service life by upgrading its nuclear and non-nuclear components while improving its reliability and the robustness of its safety systems. As the base command explained, this was "the first B61-12 test utilizing the F-16".

This announcement by the U.S. Air Force was not unexpected. Moreover, it was expected. Developed in 1974 and put into service in 1978, the F-16 has F-16C, F-16D and F-16 MLO modifications that are capable of carrying nuclear weapons.

Therefore, if any of these modifications are transferred to Ukraine, it will mean that the U.S. will authorize other NATO countries (so far, the Netherlands and Denmark, but there will probably be others) to transfer tactical nuclear weapon carriers – B61-12 and B83 bombs – to Ukraine. The features of the B-61-12 bombs, as the most massively deployed in Europe, are discussed below. Regarding the B83 bombs, one should note the following: the B83 variable-power thermonuclear gravity bomb was developed by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in the late 1970s. It entered service in 1983.

With a maximum nuclear warhead yield of 1.2 megatons, the B83 is currently the most powerful U.S. nuclear weapon

This U.S. decision potentially leads to an escalation of nuclear conflict not only in Ukraine, but also in other Eastern European countries.

The combat radius of the F-16 is from 800 to 1700 km (depending on the loaded munition), and operational distance of missiles fixed from under its wing – up to 1900 km. Thus, by giving Ukraine F-16s, which are capable of delivering nuclear warheads anywhere in the European part of Russia, the USA. and NATO are deepening the implementation of the European strategy of nuclear sharing arrangements, which implies access of non-nuclear-weapon states that have F-16s in service to U.S. nuclear arsenals in Europe. With potential Ukraine’s F-16s, no one will be able to tell for sure which munition a particular crew has taken on board.

In this context Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said: "...in the course of combat operations, the Russian military will not examine whether each particular aircraft of the specified type is equipped for the delivery of nuclear weapons or not". Lavrov also noted that by transferring F-16 fighter jets to Kiev the USA and NATO are creating a threat of using nuclear weapons in Europe.

He called this an example of a very dangerous development – the appearance of these airplanes capable of carrying nuclear weapons to the Kiev regime will be seen by Russia as a threat from the West in the nuclear sphere. "We have informed the nuclear powers – the United States, Britain and France – that Russia cannot ignore the ability of these planes to carry nuclear weapons," the minister said, adding that "no assurances will help here." It should also be noted that according to many Russian and foreign experts, the transfer of F-16s to Ukraine may mean that the USA will try to find a reason to transfer tactical nuclear weapons to Ukraine as well.

Thus, the transfer of F-16s to Ukraine almost completely destroys the NPT and, accordingly, the Euro-Atlantic subsystem of global nuclear security. In addition, the increase in the number of F-35 fighter jets on the continent is a very strong indication of irresponsible U.S. activity that risks destroying the global nuclear security system by building up nuclear capabilities in Europe.

In 2021, the F-35A was certified to use the B61-12 guided nuclear bomb, which has an adjustable charge capacity (0.3; 1.5; 10 and 50 kt).

Recall that the U.S. Air Force F-35A fighters were developed in the early 2000s, the first flight took place in December 2006, serial production began in 2011, and the start of operation – in 2012. To date, more than 960 aircraft have been produced, which, in addition to the USA, have been delivered to Europe (the UK, Netherlands, Italy, Norway, Denmark, Poland, Germany), as well as to Australia, Japan, South Korea and Israel. Canada, Finland, Switzerland, Belgium, Singapore and Turkey are planning to purchase F-35s of various modifications (F-35A as ground-based fighter with conventional takeoff and landing for the Air Force; F-35B as short takeoff and vertical landing fighter; F-35C - deck fighter for the Navy). In total, it is planned to build about 3.5 thousand airplanes.

Thus, the F-35 aircraft is becoming the main fighter-bomber of NATO and U.S. allies in the Asia-Pacific region and the Middle East – that is, virtually all of our eventual adversaries, and we should be aware of the threat this aircraft poses, including for the destruction of the international global nuclear security system.

What are technical specifics of the F-35?

The F-35 aircraft has a speed of up to 1930 km/h (1.6 M), a combat radius of up to 1080 km without fuel tanks and aerial refueling, and is capable of carrying a very wide range of weapons: AIM-9, AIM-132 and AIM-120 air-to-air missiles, as well as Storm Shadow cruise missiles (already supplied to Ukraine by the UK) and AGM-158, JDAM guided bombs weighing up to 910 kg, CBU-103, CBU-104 and CBU-105 cluster bombs, AGM-154 guided aerial bombs and Brimstone anti-tank missiles (reportedly also supplied to Ukraine). Norway and Australia are funding work to adapt the advanced JSM anti-ship missile to the F-35.

According to the manufacturer, the F-35 will be able to launch these missiles and guided bombs from internal compartments at its maximum supersonic speeds.

Specifically for the F-35 fighter-bomber, the four-barrel GAU-22/A aircraft gun of 25 mm caliber was created. On the F-35A modification, the gun is installed inside the aircraft, with 180 rounds of ammunition. For modifications F-35B and F-35C developed a suspended container with a set of 220 shells, mounted under the fuselage. When creating the container used technology to reduce visibility. GAU-22/A cannons are armed with 25×137 mm FAP projectiles manufactured by Rheinmetall (Germany, planning a joint projects with Ukraine), in the U.S. Air Force are labeled PGU-48/B. The projectiles are designed to destroy ground and air targets, including armored ones. It is stated that the PGU-48/B has a tungsten core inside. The GAU-22/A has a rate of fire of up to 55 rounds per second with a muzzle velocity of over 1 km/sec. The weight of the projectile is over 200 grams.

In addition to conventional weapons, the F-35 is capable of carrying two B61 tactical nuclear bombs with a yield of 0.3 to 340 kt on internal suspension.

In the long term, the F-35A will replace the F-16 fighter as NATO's primary tactical nuclear weapons carrier.

In January 2023, a group of eight Dutch-owned F-35 fighter jets arrived in Poland to participate in two different NATO missions. At the same time, four fighters have already started patrolling NATO airspace over Eastern Europe since February 2022, and some others – since March 2023.

It should be noted that the Netherlands, a country that is ready to transfer F-16 fighters to Ukraine in the near future, regularly participates in "joint missions" where the use of nuclear weapons is practiced. This includes aircraft from so-called non-nuclear-weapon states. Aircraft involved in such missions are mandatorily equipped with equipment for the combat use of nuclear bombs. This gives grounds to say that the Dutch F-35s carry such equipment on board and are integrated into the NATO system of nuclear warfare in the European theater of combat operations.

It should be noted that one of the places where American nuclear bombs are stored in Europe is the Dutch Volkel airbase, where F-35 fighter jets are also based. And since carriers of nuclear weapons cannot be far from the stored warheads during the period of aggravation of the military and political situation, it cannot be ruled out that American thermonuclear bombs are also stored at one of the landing airfields in Poland. The most likely one is the Lask Air Force Base. Moreover, a U.S. Air Force detachment has been permanently stationed at Lask AFB since November 2012. Additional units periodically rotate to the base for exercises. These forces are believed to have nuclear capabilities and have joined nuclear exercises with NATO. Thus, F-16C/D fighter jets equipped to carry nuclear bombs have been periodically serviced at the Polish Lask AFB since 2014.

This confirms the high probability of deployed nuclear weapons at this base. It is currently the closest F-35 deployment base to Russia. It should be noted that Poland signed a contract with the United States to purchase 32 F-35A Lightning II fighter jets in January 2020. Manufacturing of the first aircraft for Poland was scheduled for 2022, Warsaw will receive the first aircraft no earlier than 2024. Earlier, a vice president of Lockheed Martin said that the Polish Air Force plans to deploy a squadron of 16 F-35A aircraft in the city of Kielcen, at the 21st Tactical Air Base Swidwin near the Baltic Sea coast. Another squadron of fighter jets will be stationed near the town of Laska in central Poland.

In addition, the F-35 fighters have now been equipped with the Valkyrie squadron, which is based at the Lakenheath AFB in the UK. It has a total of 27 F-35A Lightning II aircraft.

The number of fifth-generation fighters in Europe will increase. In September 2021, Air Force General Todd Walters, commander of the U.S. European Command and supreme commander of NATO's Combined Armed Forces in Europe, announced the plans of the alliance member states to deploy a total of 450 F-35 fighters of the national air force at 12 of their bases.

Thus, the deployment of F-35A Lightning II aircraft in Europe clearly contributes to the destruction of the international security system, including the Euro-Atlantic subsystem of the global nuclear security.

At the same time, this process poses a danger to this subsystem even if F-35A Lightning II aircraft are equipped with non-nuclear weapons, but with armor-piercing projectiles with depleted uranium (DU) rods, which, if used, will inevitably lead to the formation of radioactive contamination centers of various densities in Europe. The source of this contamination, namely DU, persists for tens of thousands of years, is carried by air and water masses, absorbed by animals together with natural fodder, etc., so the long-term consequences of the use of armor-piercing shells with DU ‘arrows’ are difficult to predict. But the risks of destroying the Euro-Atlantic global nuclear subsystem are even more aggravated by the deployment of the latest American B61-12 bombs at the U.S. bases in Europe.

What are basic features of B61-12 nuclear bomb?

The B61-12 is to replace all versions of the currently in service strategic (B61-7 and B61-10) and non-strategic (B61-3 and B61-4) B61 series bombs, except for the B61-11 anti-bunker bombs. Its mass increased to about 375 kg, while its dimensions remained the same. The B61-12 does not have a braking parachute as the previous version, but it has an inertial navigation system and a steerable tail fin in its tail section instead of fixed stabilizers. This makes the bomb steerable (a first in the U.S. nuclear bomb arsenal) and highly accurate. Its circular error probable or CEP from the target in the new bomb has decreased to about 30 meters (the current modifications have this figure is 110-170 meters). That is, the accuracy of hitting the target B61-12 increases up to six times, which is equal to the impact effect of increasing the power of the nuclear yield more than 20 times.

The B61-12 bombs use a modernized nuclear charge of the B61-4 bombs with the same power range (four – from 0.3 to 50 kt). Tests conducted without the nuclear charge showed that the bomb goes completely into the ground when dropped. This makes it suitable for destroying well-protected underground targets. The steerable tail section also offers the B61-12 some ability to glide toward to the target, which the current modifications lack, capable only of falling on a ballistic trajectory. This will allow carrier aircraft to drop the B61-12 at a greater distance from the target, thus reducing the likelihood of hitting them by missile defense.

At Pantex Plant in Texas, existing B61-3/-4/-7 and -10 nuclear bombs are converted into the B61-12 variant. The non-nuclear components of these bombs are repaired or replaced. Plutonium parts for the B61-12 are taken only from the atomic charges of the B61-4 bombs, while the thermonuclear components are to be rebuilt. In other words, it is essentially a matter of extending the life cycle of one modification, the B61-4, using selected non-nuclear components from the other three modifications (B61-3/-7 and -10) and adding a guided tail. A total of 480 old bombs are reportedly being converted into the B61-12.

The new bombs will have a service life extension program of at least 20 years, meaning they will be in service until the mid-2040s.

The B61-12 bomb can be used from the B2 strategic bomber, F-15, F-16, PA-200 Tornado fighter-bombers, as well as F-35, new B-21 Raider, F/A-18F aircraft

Overall, experts note that the B61-12 bomber ensures the combat capability of the air component of the U.S. strategic nuclear triad, as well as a future for bombers and dual-capable aircraft supporting NATO operations.

According to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko, the modernization of the B61 bomber transforms it from a deterrent weapon into a weapon that can actually be used on the battlefield, which is a lowering of the nuclear threshold. The U.S. military naturally objects to him. As U.S. Defense Department spokesman Patrick Ryder noted: "We don't want to discuss the details of our nuclear arsenal. We have been modernizing the B61s for several years to replace the old weapons with new B61-12s. This process has nothing to do with Ukraine."

According to foreign military experts, when nuclear-carrying aircraft are relocated and nuclear bombs are delivered (conditionally) to forward-based airfields in Poland, Slovakia and the Baltic States, the entire territory of Belarus and almost the entire European part of Russia are within their range, while the flight time to the targets near the western borders is reduced about 10 times (from 40-50 to 4-7 minutes) The accuracy of bombing, taking into account the power, allows the B61-12 bombs to hit almost any target, including protected ones.

The U.S. and NATO military leadership pays special attention to the implementation of the requirements of the program for the retraining of flight crews and engineering personnel of tactical aviation squadrons of non-nuclear-weapon states of the North Atlantic Alliance (hereinafter referred to as the Retraining Program or RetrPro in order to master the B61-12 aerial bomb and its use in nuclear operations in the European theater of operations.

The goal of the RetrPro

The goal of the RetrPro is to increase the combat potential and operational and strategic capabilities of the non-nuclear-weapon Air Forces of NATO member countries, and its objectives are: increasing the general level of theoretical and practical training of flight and engineering personnel, as well as flight leadership teams formed from the Armed Forces of Poland, Slovakia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and other non-nuclear-weapon states of the bloc involved in nuclear missions; strengthening the skills of the personnel of the aviation units of the armed forces of the countries that do not possess TNWs to prepare and use B61-12 nuclear bombs independently and as part of a grouping of alliance troops (forces).

The relevant facts have been published in open sources, and one can confidently assert: NATO nuclear weapons have long been placed in Poland with a high degree of probability, which is carefully concealed.

In general, the U.S. deployment of the latest fighter-bombers and nuclear bombs in Europe suggests that the F-35A/B61-12 bundle already present near our borders will significantly increase the combat capabilities of the U.S. nuclear arsenal in the region. The much more accurate guided nuclear bombs, even if less powerful than the B61-3 bombs they will replace, will actually have a more devastating effect. In addition, the low-observable fifth-generation F-35A fighters will greatly increase the likelihood of delivering these precision weapons to their targets.

It is fair to say that B61-12 bombs would increase the threat of nuclear war

A more accurate bomb with a lower yield (and also adjustable over a fairly wide range) lowers the nuclear threshold – it is usable against a wider range of targets, and policymakers and militaries can more easily decide to use it (including in the first nuclear strike) without fear of massive, indiscriminate civilian deaths (collateral damage) from the explosion and subsequent fallout. Therefore, the deployment of a significant number of modernized B61-12 bombs in Europe qualitatively increases the risks of destroying the global nuclear security system, at least its Euro-Atlantic global nuclear security subsystem.

These risks are determined not only by all the above-mentioned circumstances, but also by the fact that Russia, convinced of the futility of its attempts to keep the situation in Europe from sliding into intensified "nuclearization," has taken decisive actions to strengthen its security in recent years.

NATO nuclear storage facilities’ improvement

Realizing this, the U.S. and other NATO countries that host U.S. nuclear weapons are taking enhanced measures to improve their physical security. In particular, they are actively restoring and modernizing their nuclear ammunition storage facilities, which were built during the Cold War and have been mothballed since the late 1990s and early 2000s. At that time, nuclear warheads were stored at storage sites divided into three echelons: storage sites of type "A", "F", "C", "B"; supply sites of type "S"; and storage sites of type "Z";

Storage, supply, and storage sites designed for peacetime storage of nuclear ammunition are stationary complexes of special underground and semi-underground storage facilities, technical buildings, workshops, laboratories, administrative buildings, and other structures.

The area of a nuclear ammunition depot can be up to 12 km². The storage facilities are buried in the ground up to 5 m, 25-40 m long, 15-20 m wide, and 3-4 m high at the entrance. On the territory of the warehouse the storages are located at a distance of 30-60 m from each other. In front of each storage facility, an earthen protective rampart up to 15 m high is built at a small distance. To protect against lightning strikes, lightning rods are installed on the storages. The walls of the storages are reinforced concrete, up to one m thick. Their two entrances are closed by iron gates with electronic security locks.

The nuclear ammunition depot had a complex and carefully organized system of security and defense.

At 900 to 1,500 meters from the fence of the depot there were external security units located in prepared positions. The nuclear ammunition storage site had several restricted areas (restricted zone, restricted movement zone, and highly restricted zone) to which access was strictly limited. Patrols and fixed posts posted near the facilities and on guard towers were equipped with radios to maintain communication with the main checkpoint. Ground target detection radars and control systems, all kinds of signaling sensors, communication and warning equipment were used as technical means of early warning.

These storage sites seemed to have served their purpose, but according to U.S. defense budget documents, modernization has begun so that they can be used again to store U.S. nuclear weapons after decades of downtime. The Biden administration’s FY 2023 defense budget request included data on infrastructure investments in nuclear weapons storage sites in Belgium, the UK, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey. Hundreds of millions of dollars are requested for this, although even now in Europe, B61 bombs are stored in fairly secure underground vaults of the WS³ system (Weapons Storage and Security System, consisting of a weapons storage facility, and electronic monitoring and control systems) under the floor of highly secure aircraft shelters. Each vault can accommodate up to four B61 nuclear bombs directly underneath the carrier aircraft.

However, the already mentioned FY 2023 budget request to the U.S. Congress states that they NATO is "completing a $384 million infrastructure investment program at depots in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Turkey to upgrade security measures, communications systems, and facilities."

The Federation of American Scientists believes that, for example, the UK facility being upgraded is the U.S. airbase at Lakenheath, a hundred kilometers northeast of London. This base had 33 underground vaults that held 110 B61 bombs. The U.S. military withdrew its B61 warheads of earlier design from Lakenheath more than 15 years ago, marking the end of more than half a century of maintaining a U.S. nuclear arsenal in the UK. Since their withdrawal, the storage facilities have been mothballed. At the time of their withdrawal, these gravity bombs were considered militarily obsolete, and the international community had high hopes for further disarmament of the nuclear powers.

However, as already mentioned, as part of the Pentagon's new military preparations, the B61 has been given a new lease on life and requires reliable storage facilities.

Russian and foreign experts believe that the modernization of nuclear warhead storage facilities is a sign that the United States and NATO are preparing for a prolonged and possibly intensified confrontation with Russia

The NATO military has a false sense that the modernized storage facilities will make nuclear warheads invulnerable to Russia, because if they were built to withstand a Soviet nuclear strike with warheads of a few megatons of TNT, they will be able to withstand a modern Russian nuclear attack with warheads of hundreds of kilotons very effectively. However, these are profoundly erroneous notions. As the President of Russia Vladimir Putin noted in his address of February 24, 2022, modern Russia, even after the collapse of the USSR and the loss of a significant part of its potential, today is one of the most powerful nuclear powers in the world and, moreover, has certain advantages in a number of the latest types of weapons. In this regard, no one should have any doubts that a direct attack on Russia would lead to defeat and terrible consequences for any potential aggressor. That is, the placement of nuclear weapons in modernized storage facilities will only provoke Moscow to use the most powerful and advanced weapons against them, which will cause unpredictable consequences.

Thus, the modernization of nuclear weapons storage facilities in the European region will not secure these weapons, but, on the contrary, will cause a prompt and strong reaction from Russia.

Thus, the destructive policy of the United States, NATO and some of their satellites in the field of European security leads to the formation of new threats, inevitably leads to the erosion of strategic stability and increases the likelihood of combat or terrorist use of nuclear weapons, primarily against Russia

All this unambiguously leads to the disruption or even destruction of the Euro-Atlantic subsystem of global nuclear security. However, as a comprehensive analysis shows, this policy is characteristic of the United States not only in Europe, but also in other regions of the world. At the same time, the most dangerous and acute situation with global nuclear security threats and risks is in the Asia-Pacific region, since it is there that another node of tension has formed – between the United States, the PRC, North and South Korea, and others. This also directly affects the state of the Asia-Pacific subsystem of global nuclear security, the risks of destruction of which were presented.

Final brush

“As long as nuclear weapons exist, NATO will remain a nuclear alliance”. It has been once again stated in the Vilnius NATO Summit Communiqué in July 2023 (item 43) “As long as nuclear weapons exist…“? Can someone find any NATO commitments to downsize U.S. tactical nuclear weapons in Europe? No, not yet since mid-50s when the U.S.TNW have been brought to the European continent. However, the reality is that NATO's nuclear burden-sharing arrangements and continues U.S. deployment of NW in Europe have always been in full violation of the NPT and the basic principles of the European security.

The same mood is incorporated in item 44 of the Vilnius Communique: “NATO’s nuclear deterrence posture also relies on the United States’ nuclear weapons forward-deployed in Europe. National contributions, by Allies concerned, of dual-capable aircraft, as well as the provision of conventional forces and military capabilities in support of NATO’s nuclear deterrence mission, remain central to this effort”.

In item 45 NATO confirmed that it will take all necessary steps to ensure the credibility, effectiveness, safety and security of the nuclear deterrent mission. This includes continuing to modernize NATO’s nuclear capability and updating planning to increase flexibility and adaptability of the alliance’s nuclear forces. The alliance reaffirmed the imperative to ensure the broadest possible participation by allies concerned in NATO’s nuclear burden-sharing arrangements to demonstrate Alliance unity and resolve.

To cut a long story short: the USA and NATO as a military block have firm intention to convert Europe and Ukraine into a nuclear powder keg.

Ukrainian factor created by Washington and its allies is additional pretext in reaching such dangerous Armageddonish-type goal.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

Editor's note: you can read German version of the article down the page

February 27, 2023

1. Anti-war movements engulfed Europe and the USA. My open letter to Fray Alice Schwarzer and Frau Sahra Wagenknecht

On February 25, 2023 anti-war movements across Europe and the USA arranged many rallies against US/NATO arms deliveries to Ukraine that killed a lot of civilians and  destroyed thousands of houses, hospitals, schools and infrastructure facilities in the areas it wishes finally to give up.

As is known, Alice Schwarzer and Sahra Wagenknecht have drafted “Peace Manifesto” where they have called on the German Chancellor to stop the escalation in arms deliveries to Ukraine, urged to a ceasefire and peaceful settlement. Correctly and bravely.

However, two ladies made a number of inaccuracies in the appeal.

First, they said: “Women were raped, children frightened, an entire people traumatized” without making difference by whom and when. They put on the same table Ukrainian neo-Nazi who unleashed a brutal direct and collective armed aggression together with NATO countries – initially against Donbass in 2014 and later against Russia in 2022.  These two ladies have put Russia on the same table, though Russia only had to resist to such aggression carefully and deliberately incited and engineered by NATO. No one have so far presented any proved facts that Russians have allegedly been spotted to committing such inhuman acts. A Ukrainian ombudswoman was sacked for disseminating such lies about Russians.

Second, two ladies noted: “The Ukrainian population was brutally attacked by Russia and needs our solidarity.”

Your “solidarity”, Alice Schwarzer and Sahra Wagenknecht, should be addressed to the victims of combined Ukrainian/NATO aggression. It will be really honest appeal and a just action.

In her address Sahra Wagenknecht reminded the rally in Berlin that German tanks with specific crosses will again kill Russians like during the WWII.

However, she has forgotten to mention that for more than 80 years after the WWII the current citizens of Russia still remember the Nazi aggression against the Soviet Union. She failed to mention that Russians will remember for many decades to come that German tanks and other military hardware will kill many Russians once again.

Alice Schwarzer and Sahra Wagenknecht do not know that during its long recorded history Russia always won and ruined any aggressor and even military unions of aggressors who dared to attack the Russian Empire, the USSR and Russia.

Including in patriotic songs, e.g. two of them created by a young musician with a nickname “Shaman” (Yaroslav Dronov) born on November 22, 1991 in Russia. His songs have subtitles in English. Dozens of millions viewers in Russia listened to them:

(1) “I am Russian”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAPwIEWzqJE

(2) “Confession”:    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLh9WlHp13U

Can you feel in these songs, Alice Schwarzer and Sahra Wagenknecht, that Russia will prevent again any NATO aggression and against neo-Nazi? It is our fate to terminate Nazism.

If you are not able to understand this notion, please listen to these songs once again.

And look through exact figures as to how many civilians have been killed during such aggression specified in item 2, below.

2. DPR reports 4,449 civilians killed since escalation began

Some 4,449 civilians, including 132 children, were killed by Ukrainian/NATO bombardments of populated localities in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) since AFU began massive attack against Donbass on February 17, 2022, the DPR’s mission to the Joint Center for Control and Coordination of issues related to Ukrainian war crimes (JCCC) reported on February 27.

It also noted that 4,147 people, including 266 children, were wounded, with 93 civilian casualties, including 8 children, from blasts by antipersonnel mines, known as PFM-1 dispersed by AFU, and banned by the Ottawa Convention.

In the 375 days of the escalation, 15,888 shooting attacks were recorded, of which 15,556 were discharged from heavy weapons.

The situation at the Donbass engagement line flared up on February 17, 2022 when AFU started massive drive and bombardment of that region that never attacked Ukraine first and has not crossed the administrative border separating Donbass and Ukraine.

On February 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a televised address that in response to a request by the heads of the Donbass republics he had made a decision to carry out a special military operation in order to protect people "who have been suffering from abuse and genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years."

During the same period of time 92 civilians, including 21 children, have been killed by using Ukrainian/NATO heavy weapons in LPR. Around 4,000 houses and  450 social infrastructure buildings have been destroyed in that republic.

3. DPR head: Zelensky’s intention to capture Crimea is publicity stunt

Vladimir Zelensky said at a news conference on February 24 that Kiev is preparing to take back Crimea. Denis Pushilin, the interim head of the Donetsk People’s Republic, said Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s statement that Kiev was preparing military efforts to capture Crimea is nothing but a publicity stunt.

"It’s more like a PR stunt. It’s more like an effort to <...> raise the morale of Ukraine’s armed formations. Maybe, [the statement is meant] for the radical portion of society. It’s unlikely to result in any real actions," he said on Rossiya-24 television. In Pushilin’s view, Kiev wouldn’t have the potential to pull off anything like that. "That they are trying to identify some goals, paths is nothing but a publicity stunt. That’s how I see it."

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on February that the return of Crimea to Ukraine was impossible as the peninsula is an integral part of Russia.

After the February 2014 coup in Ukraine, the Crimean authorities held a referendum on reuniting with Russia. Most voters supported the idea (96.7% in Crimea and 95.6% in the city of Sevastopol), with turnout reaching 80%. In March 2014, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a treaty on Crimea’s reunification with Russia on March 18, 2014, which was ratified by the Federal Assembly on March 21, 2014. Despite the convincing outcome of the referendum, Kiev refused to recognize Crimea as part of Russia.

4. US spending more on Ukraine than in Afghanistan

Washington’s military aid to Kiev exceeds its annual outlays to fight America’s longest-ever war, a Statista analysis has shown

President Joe Biden’s administration has shelled out more money on military aid to help Ukraine to fight Russia than the US spent annually to fight its own war in Afghanistan, according to data compiled by German research firm Statista.

US military aid to Ukraine through mid-January, 2023, spanning the first 11 months of the conflict, totaled $46.6 billion, Statista said in a report this week, citing data from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy. That compared with an average annual military spend of $43.4 billion, in 2022 dollars, during the first ten years of the Afghanistan war.

“When calculating the average annual costs of previous wars in which the United States has been involved in, the true magnitude of the country’s Ukraine aid expenditure can be seen,” Statista data journalist Martin Armstrong said. The Ukraine total doesn’t include an additional $5 billion worth of weapons and equipment that the Pentagon sent to Kiev, he said.

The figures also exclude non-military aid, such as the $4.5 billion that Biden pledged to fund pensions, government salary and other public spending. All told, Washington has allocated $113 billion in Ukraine aid, and multiple administration officials have vowed to keep supporting Kiev “as long as it takes.”

Some Washington lawmakers, such as Representatives Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, a Democrat, and Georgia Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene, have called the Ukraine crisis a “proxy war” that the US and NATO are waging against Russia. Remarkably, even without officially deploying any troops in Ukraine or declaring itself a direct party to the conflict, the US is spending more than it doled out to fund its own war – in fact, the longest war in the nation’s history.

US Republican lawmakers, who won control of the Lower House in last November’s midterm elections, have called for tougher oversight of Washington's aid to Ukraine. Eleven Republicans introduced a bill earlier this month calling for an immediate halt to the aid program.

Warsaw began supplying munitions to Ukraine even before the start of a Special Military Operation on February 24, 2022, Polish National Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak told Metropolia Warszawska.

5. Less than half of Americans support Ukraine military aid

Nearly one year on from the launch of Russia’s military actions against unprovoked Ukraine aggression, many Americans oppose their government’s policy of providing massive military and economic assistance to Kiev, a new poll revealed on last week.

Less than half of US adults still agree with sending weapons to Ukraine, while only around one in four believes Washington should continue to play a “major role” in the conflict, the Associated Press-NORC poll showed.

The survey, conducted in late January 2023, found that 48% of Americans support continued military aid to Ukraine, down from 60% back in May, while 29% are opposed and 22% are unsure. Likewise, just 26% of poll respondents say the US should have a “major role” in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, down from 32% in May.

Americans also are increasingly reluctant to support continued economic aid to Ukraine, with just 37% approving and 38% opposing, the AP-NORC poll showed.

6. Half of citizens in 9 EU nations want quick end to Ukrainian aggression

Roughly half of the people in nine EU nations favor a swift end to the armed conflict in Ukraine initiated by it, even if it means Kiev would have to relinquish its claims on some of its former territory, a new opinion poll has suggested.

The results of the survey, which was conducted in Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and Spain, were reported on February 21 by Euroskopia – an alliance of polling agencies.

Some 48% of all respondents said they favored a quick resolution to the conflict, even if it meant Ukraine had to lose lands to achieve that goal. Only 32% opposed the idea of Kiev making sacrifices for peace.

Ukrainian officials pledged to fight until their forces seized control of all the territory the country considers its own, and EU leaders have vowed to help for as long as it takes.

Almost all Hungarians oppose sanctions illegally imposed on Russia.

Skepticism was particularly pronounced in Austria and Germany, where 64% and 60% respectively of those surveyed, favored a shortcut to peace. Euroskopia noted that this perspective clashed with the official stance of the German government, which has been among the most generous supporters in the EU in terms of military aid to Kiev.

Respondents in the Netherlands (27%) and Poland (28%) were the least supportive of making compromises to achieve peace, the poll indicated.

A majority (56%) of people in the nine EU nations want to continue shipping arms to Ukraine, but there was a dissenting minority. In Greece and Italy, 60% and 50% of survey participants opposed the military assistance, while 38% in each country said they approved of it.

7. Putin reveals Moscow’s main issue with US and NATO

The Russian president said his country is opposed to the emergence of a unipolar world that revolves around Washington’s interests

Moscow is striving to create a multipolar world rather than one that is centered around the US, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said. In an interview with Rossiya-1 TV channel on February 26, he argued that Washington was trying to mold the world exclusively to fit its own agenda.

Putin suggested that America’s “satellite states” are also well aware of these “egoistic” intentions. However, for the time being, they have chosen to turn a blind eye to this due to “various reasons connected first and foremost with huge dependence in the economic sphere and defense,” the Russian leader said. Some of Washington’s allies also see confrontation with Russia as a unifying cause, eclipsing any differences between them and the US, he added.

According to the Russian president, he opted for this course of action in light of a more aggressive NATO, which “has announced as its prime goal” Russia’s strategic defeat.

Putin also cited the US government’s efforts to attract European businesses to American soil, as well as a submarine deal last summer, which saw Canberra abruptly exit a contract with a French manufacturer in favor of a US competitor. That incident was humiliating for Paris, the president said.

Putin emphasized that Moscow “cannot and will not behave like this. ”In the end, such a stance – the fight for a multipolar world, for respect for each and everyone in the international arena, for taking into account everyone’s interests – I don’t have the slightest doubt, will prevail.”

Moscow will create completely different world relied on entirely different principles, based upon justice and equality, free from nuclear weapons, wars and conflicts.

Russia will rely upon the rational majority of nations in the world.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

***

27. Februar 2023

1. Antikriegsbewegungen in Europa und die USA. Offener Brief an Frau Alice Schwarzer und Frau Sahra Wagenknecht

Am 25. Februar 2023 organisierten Antikriegsbewegungen in ganz Europa und den USA viele Kundgebungen gegen US/NATO-Waffenlieferungen an die Ukraine, die vielen Zivilisten töteten und Tausende von Häusern, Krankenhäusern, Schulen und Infrastruktureinrichtungen in den zerstörten Gebieten, die sie letztendlich aufgeben wollen.

Alice Schwarzer und Sahra Wagenknecht haben bekanntlich ein „ Friedensmanifest“ verfasst, in dem sie den deutschen Bundeskanzler auffordern, die Eskalation der Waffenlieferungen an die Ukraine zu stoppen, zu Waffenstillstand und auf eine friedliche Lösung zu drängen. Richtig und mutig.

Die zwei Damen verbreiten jedoch eine Reihe von Ungenauigkeiten in ihrem Manifest.

Zuerst erklären sie: „Frauen wurden vergewaltigt, Kinder verängstigt, ein ganzes Volk traumatisiert“, ohne einen Unterschied zu machen, von wem und wann . Sie haben schreiben über ukrainische Neonazis, die zusammen mit NATO-Staaten eine brutale direkte und kollektive bewaffnete Aggression entfesselt haben – zunächst gegen Donbass im Jahr 2014 und später gegen Russland im Jahr 2022. Diese beiden Damen schreiben in der gleichen Weise über Russland, auch wenn Russland einer solchen vorsätzlichen Aggression nur widerstehen musste, die von der NATO angestiftet und inszeniert wurde. Niemand hat bisher bewiesene Tatsachen vorgelegt, dass Russen angeblich bei der Begehung dieser unmenschlichen Taten gesehen wurden. Eine ukrainische Ombudsfrau wurde sogar entlassen, weil sie solche Lügen über Russen verbreitet hatte.

Zweites stellen die zwei Damen fest: „Die ukrainische Bevölkerung wurde von Russland brutal angegriffen und braucht unsere Solidarität. „

Die Realität ist jedoch, dass die ukrainische und russische Bevölkerung im Donbass am 13. April 2014 von ukrainischen Neonazis brutal angegriffen wurde, weil das Kiewer Regime, angeführt von irrelevanten Personen in der Ukraine, ihnen die Verwendung der russischen Sprache verweigern wollte, das Recht ihre Kinder auf Russisch erziehe, sich zum orthodoxen Christentum zu bekennen und sich zu ihrer kulturellen und ethnischen Traditionen zu bekennen. ohne ukrainische Einschüchterung.

Ihre „Solidarität“, Alice Schwarzer und Sarah Wagenknecht, sollte an die Opfer der kombinierten ukrainisch/NATO-Aggression gerichtet sein. Dann würde es ein wirklich ehrlicher Appell und eine gerechte Handlung sein.

Innerhalb rechter und linker Antikriegs- und Antiatombewegungen darf keinerlei Solidarität mit Neonazis und Kriegshetzern demonstriert werden. Eine solche „Solidarität“ würde jede öffentliche Bewegung zerstören.

In ihrer Ansprache erinnerte Sarah Wagenknecht die Teilnehmer der Kundgebung in Berlin daran, dass deutsche Panzer mit bestimmten Kreuzen wieder gegen Russen kämpfen werden wie im Zweiten Weltkrieg.

Tatsächlich hat Sahra Wagenknecht jedoch vergessen zu erwähnen, dass sich die heutigen Bürger Russlands mehr als 80 Jahre nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg immer noch an die Nazi-Aggression gegen die Sowjetunion erinnern. Sie versäumte es auch zu erwähnen, dass sich die Russen noch viele Jahrzehnte lang daran erinnern werden, dass deutsche Panzer und andere Kampfgeräte wieder viele Russen töten werden.

Alice Schwarzer und Sahra Wagenknecht wissen nicht, dass Russland während seiner langen und dokumentierten Geschichte immer gegen jeden Angreifer und sogar Verbände von Angreifern gewonnen und sie vernichtend geschlagen hat, die es gewagt haben, das Russische Reich, die UdSSR und Russland anzugreifen.

Anregungen zum Nachdenken:

Die direkte und kombinierte unprovozierte Aggression der Ukraine und der NATO, die ursprünglich 2014 gegen Donbass und später 2022 gegen Russland begann, haben zu einer Welle von multinationalen Patriotismus in der Russischen Föderation geführt und zwar unter allen 189 Nationen und allen 5 wichtigsten global-religiösen Bekenntnissen.

Darunter auch in patriotischen Liedern, z.B. in zwei von einem jungen Musiker mit Spitznamen „Schamane“ (Yaroslav Dronov ), geboren am 22. November 1991 in Russland. Seine Lieder haben englische Untertitel und es gibt Dutzende Millionen von Fans in Russland:

(1) „Ich bin Russe“: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAPwIEWzqJE

(2) „Bekenntnis“: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLh9WlHp13U

Spüren Sie in diesen Liedern, Alice Schwarzer und Sarah Wagenknecht, dass Russland wieder jede NATO-Aggression und gegen Neonazi verhindern wird?

Und wenn Sie diesen Gedanken nicht verstehen können, hören Sie sich diese Lieder bitte noch einmal an.

Und sehen Sie sich sich bitte die genauen Zahlen an, wie viele Zivilisten während dieser Aggression getötet wurden, in Punkt 2 wie unten angegeben.

2. Die Volksrepublik Donezk (DVR) berichtet, dass seit Beginn der Eskalation 4.449 Zivilisten getötet wurden.

Etwa 4.449 Zivilisten, darunter 132 Kinder, wurden durch ukrainisch/NATO-Bombardierungen besiedelter Ortschaften in der Volksrepublik Donezk (DVR) getötet, seit das ukrainische Militär am 17. Februar 2022 mit dem massiven Angriff auf Donbass begann, wie die Mission der DVR beim Gemeinsamen Kontroll- und Koordinierungszentrum über Probleme im Zusammenhang mit ukrainischen Kriegsverbrechen (JCCC) am 27. Februar berichtete.

Es stellte darüberhinaus auch fest, dass 4.147 Menschen, darunter 266 Kinder, verwundet wurden, mit 93 zivilen Opfern, darunter 8 Kinder, die durch Explosionen von Antipersonenminen, bekannt als PFM-1, die von dem ukrainischen Militär eingesetzt werden und das obwohl die Ottawa-Konvention ihren Einsatz ausdrücklich verbietet.

In den 375 Tagen der Eskalation wurden 15.888 Schießereien registriert, davon 15.556 mit schweren Waffen.

Der Feind feuerte 101.665 Schuss Munition ab, darunter 39 Tochka-U-Raketen, 239 HIMARS-, 18 BM-30-Smerch- und 258 BM-27-Uragan-Raketen sowie 13.103 Projektile aus 122-mm-Mehrfachraketenwerfern und weitere 22.839 155-mm -NATO-Atilleriegeschosse.

Die Situation an der Donbass-Einsatzlinie flammte am 17. Februar 2022 auf, als das ukrainische Militär mit massiven Vorstößen und Bombardierungen dieser Region begann, die von sich aus Ukraine niemals zuerst angegriffen hat und auch die Verwaltungsgrenze zwischen Donbass und der Ukraine nicht überschritten hat.

Am 24. Februar 2022 sagte der russische Präsident Wladimir Putin in einer Fernsehansprache, dass er als Antwort auf eine Anfrage der Staatsoberhäupter der Donbass-Republiken die Entscheidung getroffen habe, eine spezielle Militäroperation durchzuführen, um diejenigen Menschen zu schützen, „die acht Jahre lang gelitten haben, durch den Missbrauch und durch den Völkermord seitens des Kiewer Regimes“.

Im selben Zeitraum wurden 92 Zivilisten, darunter 21 Kinder, durch den Einsatz schwerer ukrainischer/NATO-Waffen in der Volksrepublik Lugansk (LPR) getötet. In dieser Republik wurden rund 4.000 Häuser und 450 Gebäude der sozialen Infrastruktur zerstört.

3. Der Chef der Volksrepublik Donezk (DVR): Zelenskys Absicht, die Krim zu erobern, ist ein Werbegag

Wladimir Selenskyj erklärte auf einer Pressekonferenz am 24. Februar, Kiew bereite sich darauf vor, die Krim zurückzuerobern. Denis Pushilin , der Interimschef der Volksrepublik Donezk, sagte, die Erklärung des ukrainischen Präsidenten Wladimir Selenskyj, dass Kiew Maßnahmen zur Eroberung der Krim vorbereite, sei nichts als ein Werbegag.

„Es ist eher ein PR-Gag. Es ist eher ein Versuch, <…> die Moral der bewaffneten Formationen der Ukraine zu bestärken. Vielleicht ist [die Aussage] für den radikalen Teil der Gesellschaft gemeint. Es ist unwahrscheinlich, dass es zu echten Aktionen führt“, sagte er im Fernsehsender „Rossija-24“. Kiew hätte nach Ansicht von Puschilin nicht das Potenzial, so etwas durchziehen. „Dass sie versuchen, beliebige Ziele, udn Wege dahin zu identifizieren, ist nichts anderes als ein Werbegag. So sehe ich das.“

Kremlsprecher Dmitri Peskow sagte im Februar, die Rückgabe der Krim an die Ukraine sei unmöglich, da die Halbinsel ein integraler Bestandteil Russlands sei.

Nach dem Putsch im Februar 2014 in der Ukraine hielten die Behörden der Krim ein Referendum über die Wiedervereinigung mit Russland ab. Die meisten Wähler unterstützten die Idee (96,7 % auf der Krim und 95,6 % in der Stadt Sewastopol), wobei die Wahlbeteiligung 80 % erreichte. Im März 2014 unterzeichnete der russische Präsident Wladimir Putin und zwar am 18. März 2014 einen Vertrag über die Wiedervereinigung der Krim mit Russland, der am 21. März 2014 von der Bundesversammlung ratifiziert wurde. Trotz des überzeugenden Ergebnisses des Referendums weigerte sich Kiew, die Krim als Teil von Russland anzuerkennen.

4. Die USA geben mehr für die Ukraine aus als für Afghanistan

Laut einer Analyse von Statista über Washingtons Militärhilfe für Kiew sind die höchsten jährlichen Ausgaben für den längsten US-Krieg aller Zeiten, noch wesentlich mehr als für den Krieg in Afghanistan.

Laut Daten des deutschen Forschungsunternehmens Statista hat die Regierung von US-Präsident Joe Biden mehr Geld für Militärhilfe ausgegeben, um der Ukraine im Kampf gegen Russland zu helfen, als die USA jährlich für ihren eigenen Krieg in Afghanistan ausgegeben haben.

Die US-Militärhilfe für die Ukraine bis Mitte Januar 2023, die sich über die ersten 11 Monate des Konflikts erstreckte, beläuft sich auf insgesamt 46,6 Milliarden US-Dollar , sagte Statista in einem aktuellen Bericht unter Berufung auf Daten des Kieler Instituts für Weltwirtschaft. Dies im Vergleich zu durchschnittlichen jährlichen Militärausgaben von 43,4 Milliarden US-Dollar (in 2022 US-Dollar) während der ersten zehn Jahre des Afghanistan-Krieges.

„Wenn man die durchschnittlichen voraussichtlichen Kosten früherer Kriege berechnet, an denen die Vereinigten Staaten beteiligt waren, zeigt sich das wahre Ausmaß der Hilfsausgaben des Landes für die Ukraine“, sagte Statista-Datenjournalist Martin Armstrong. Die Summe für die Ukraine beinhaltet keine zusätzlichen Waffen und Ausrüstung im Wert von 5 Milliarden Dollar, die das Pentagon nach Kiew geschickt hat, sagte er.

Die Zahlen schließen auch nicht eingesetzte Hilfe ein, wie die 4,5 Milliarden US-Dollar, die US-Präsident Biden zur Finanzierung von Renten, Regierungsgehältern und anderen öffentlichen Ausgaben zugesagt hat. Alles in allem hat Washington 113 Milliarden US-Dollar an Hilfe für die Ukraine bereitgestellt, und mehrere Regierungsbeamte haben geschworen, Kiew „so lange wie nötig“ zu unterstützen.

Einige US-Gesetzgeber, wie der Abgeordnete Seth Moulton aus Massachusetts, ein Demokrat, und die Republikanerin Marjorie Taylor Greene aus Georgia, haben die Ukraine-Krise einen „Stellvertreterkrieg“ genannt, den die USA und die NATO gegen Russland führen. Bemerkenswerterweise geben die USA, selbst ohne offizielle Truppen in der Ukraine zu stationieren oder sich als direkte Konfliktpartei zu erklären, mehr aus, als sie ausgegeben haben, um ihren eigenen Krieg in Afghanistan zu finanzieren – tatsächlich den längsten Krieg in der Geschichte der Nation.

Umgerechnet in US-Dollar (mit Stand 2022) waren die US-Militärausgaben in der Ukraine weitaus höher als in Vietnam, wo sie im Jahresdurchschnitt zwischen 1965 bis 1975 durchschnittlich 90,9 Milliarden Dollar betrugen; Irak, insgesamt 125,1 Milliarden US-Dollar pro Jahr von 2003 bis 2010; und Korea, wo die jährlichen Kosten zwischen 1950 bis 1953 138,2 Milliarden Dollar betrugen.

Die Abgeordneten der US-Republikaner, die bei den Zwischenwahlen im vergangenen November die Kontrolle über das Unterhaus gewonnen hatten, haben eine strengere Überwachung der Ukraine-Hilfen Washingtons gefordert. Elf Republikaner brachten Anfang dieses Monats einen Gesetzentwurf ein, der eine sofortige Einstellung des Hilfsprogramms forderte.

Warschau habe bereits vor dem Beginn einer durchgeführten Spezialoperation am 24. Februar 2022 mit der Lieferung von Munition an die Ukraine begonnen, sagte der polnische Verteidigungsminister Mariusz Blaszczak gegenüber Metropolia Warszawska.

5. Weniger als die Hälfte der US-Amerikaner unterstützen die Militärhilfe für die Ukraine

Fast ein Jahr nach Beginn der russischen Militäraktionen gegen die unprovozierte ukrainische Aggression lehnen viele US-Amerikaner die Politik ihrer Regierung ab. Sie kritisieren die Politik der USA Kiew massiv zu unterstützen und wirtschaftliche Hilfe zu leisten. Dies ergab eine neue Umfrage von letzter Woche..

Weniger als die Hälfte der US-Amerikaner im Alter über 18 Jahre sind immer noch damit einverstanden, Waffen in die Ukraine zu schicken, während etwa nur jeder Vierte glaubt, dass Washington weiterhin eine „wichtige Rolle“ in dem Konflikt spielen sollte, Dies ergab eine aktuelle Umfrage von Associated Press-NORC.

Die Ende Januar 2023 durchgeführte Umfrage ergab, dass 48 % der US-Amerikaner eine Fortsetzung der Militärhilfe für die Ukraine unterstützen, gegenüber 60 % im Mai, während 29 % der US-Amerikaner dagegen sind und 22 % unsicher sind. Ebenso sagen nur 26 % der Umfrageteilnehmer, dass die USA eine „wichtige Rolle“ im Russland-Ukraine-Konflikt spielen sollten, gegenüber 32 % der Befragten im Mai 2022.

Die meiste Unterstützung kommt von den Demokraten. Nur 17 % der Republikaner wollen, dass Washington eine große Rolle in dem Konflikt spielt, im Vergleich zu 40 % der Demokraten.

Die US-Amerikaner zögern auch zunehmend, weitere Wirtschaftshilfe für die Ukraine zu unterstützen, mit nur 37 % Zustimmung und 38 % Ablehnung, wie die AP-NORC-Umfrage zeigte.

6. Die Hälfte der Bürger in 9 EU-Staaten wünscht ein schnelles Ende der ukrainischen Aggression

Rund die Hälfte der Menschen in neun EU-Staaten befürworten ein schnelles Ende des bewaffneten Konflikts in der Ukraine, auch wenn Kiew dafür seine Ansprüche auf Teile seines ehemaligen Territoriums aufgeben müsste, so eine neue Meinungsumfrage.

Die Ergebnisse der Umfrage, die in Österreich, Frankreich, Deutschland, Griechenland, Italien, den Niederlanden, Polen, Portugal und Spanien durchgeführt wurden, wurden am 21. Februar von Euroskopia – einem Zusammenschluss von Meinungsforschungsinstituten verlautbart.

Etwa 48 % aller Befragten geben demnach an, dass sie eine schnelle Lösung des Konflikts befürworten, selbst wenn dies bedeuteten würde, dass die Ukraine Teile ij´hres Territoriums verlieren würde, um dieses Ziel zu erreichen. Nur 32 % sprachen sich gegen die Idee aus, dass Kiew Opfer für den Frieden bringen sollte.

Ukrainische Beamte versprachen, zu kämpfen, bis ihre Streitkräfte die Kontrolle über das gesamte Territorium erlangten, das das Land als sein eigenes betrachtet, und EU-Spitzenpolitiker haben geschworen, so lange wie nötig Hilfe zu leisten

Fast alle Ungarn lehnen die illegal gegen Russland verhängten Sanktionen ab.

Besonders ausgeprägt war die Skepsis in Österreich und Deutschland, wo 64 % bzw. 60 % der Befragten ausdrücklich einen schnellen Weg zum Frieden befürworteten. Euroskopia stellt fest, dass diese Perspektive mit der offiziellen Haltung der deutschen Regierung kollidiert, die in Bezug auf die Militärhilfe für Kiew zu den großzügigsten Unterstützern in der EU gehört.

Die Umfrage ergab, dass die Mehrheit in den Niederlanden (27 %) und Polen (28 %) am wenigsten dafür waren, Kompromisse einzugehen, um Frieden zu erreichen.

Eine Mehrheit (56%) der Menschen in den neun EU-Staaten will weiterhin Waffen in die Ukraine liefern, aber es gab eine abweichende Minderheit. In Griechenland und Italien sprachen sich 60 % bzw. 50 % der Umfrageteilnehmer gegen die Militärhilfe aus, während 38 % in jedem Land sagten, sie befürworteten Militärhilfe.

7. Putin erklärt Moskaus Hauptproblem mit den USA und der NATO

Der russische Präsident sagte, sein Land sei gegen die Entstehung einer unipolaren Welt , die sich um die Interessen Washingtons dreht

Moskau strebe danach, eine multipolare Welt zu schaffen, statt einer, die sich um die USA dreht, sagte der russische Präsident Wladimir Putin. In einem Interview mit dem Fernsehsender Rossiya-1 vom 26. Februar argumentierte er, dass Washington versuche, die Welt ausschließlich nach seiner eigenen Agenda zu formen.

Der russische Präsiden Wladimir Putin deutete an, dass sich auch die „Satellitenstaaten“ der USA dieser „egoistischen“ Absichten bewusst seien. Vorläufig haben sie jedoch beschlossen, die Augen davor zu verschließen, und zwar aus „verschiedenen Gründen, die in erster Linie mit der enormen Abhängigkeit im Wirtschafts- und Verteidigungsbereich verbunden sei“, so der russische Präsident. Einige von Washingtons Verbündeten sehen die Konfrontation mit Russland auch als einen Grund, der alle Differenzen zwischen ihnen und den USA in den Schatten stellt, fügte der russische Präsident hinzu.

Putin behauptete auch, dass die westlichen Eliten nur dann zufrieden und bereit seien, „uns in die sogenannte Familie der zivilisierten Nationen aufzunehmen“, wenn Russland in mehrere unabhängige Staaten zerfällt. In einem solchen Szenario, sagte er, würde der Westen „[die daraus resultierenden Länder] unter seine Kontrolle stellen“. Er fügt hinzu, dass der Zerfall Russlands unter solchen Umständen die Existenz des russischen Volkes in seiner jetzigen Form in Frage stellen würde.

Nach Angaben des russischen Präsidenten habe er sich für seine konkrete Vorgehensweise entschieden, wegen der Politik einer äussert aggressiven NATO, die „als umfangreiches Ziel“ die strategischen Niederlage Russlands angekündigt hat.

Putin verwies auch auf die BeAnstregungen der US-Regierung, europäische Unternehmen in die USA zu locken, sowie auf einen U-Boot-Deal im abgelaufenen Sommer, bei dem Australien abrupt aus einem Vertrag mit einem französischen Hersteller zugunsten eines US-Konkurrenten ausgestiegen sei. Dieser Vorfall sei für Paris äußerst demütigend gewesen, sagte der russische Präsident.

Putin betonte, Moskau „kann und wird sich nicht so verhalten. „Am Ende wird sich eine solche Haltung – der Kampf für eine multipolare Welt, für Respekt für jeden und jeden auf der internationalen Bühne, für die Berücksichtigung der Interessen aller durchsetzen– da habe ich nicht den geringsten Zweifel,“

Moskau wird eine völlig andere Welt schaffen, die sich auf völlig andere Prinzipien stützt, basierend auf Gerechtigkeit und Gleichheit, frei von Atomwaffen, Kriegen und Konflikten.

Russland wird sich dabei auf die rationale Begründung der Mehrheit der Nationen der Welt verlassen.

Geschrieben von Wladimir P. Kosin
 

December 8, 2023

1.  President Putin will take part in 2024 presidential election

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced that he will seek re-election in 2024. Russia’s presidential election will be held between March 15 and March 17, 2024. The winner will be inaugurated in early May. If Putin wins, it will be his fifth term as the head of state. 

Any candidate for a president in Russia is elected by open and direct voting.

The Russian leader made such remarks at a ceremony held on December 8, 2023 where he awarded Hero of Russia medals to servicemen who had taken part in the Special Military Operation. Hero of the Donetsk People’s Republic Artyom Zhoga asked if Putin would run in 2024 and he replied in the affirmative.

According to a poll that the Public Opinion Foundation (FOM) released on December 7, 2023 about 70% of Russian citizens believe that Putin should run for another term in office, with another 15% saying that the incumbent should leave his current post but take a senior government position. Eight percent believe that the Russian leader should leave the political stage altogether.

2. Russia has made critical remarks on military aid to Kiev

Russia is categorically opposed to arms deliveries to Kiev that first launched unprovoked armed aggression against civilians in Donbas in 2014 and later against Russia, which was forced to fight back militarily only eight years later – on February 24, 2022.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov noted that any cargoes that contain weapons for Ukraine would be a legitimate target for Russian Armed Forces.

Russia's MFA said that NATO countries were "playing with fire" by supplying weapons to Ukraine. Lavrov claimed that the USA and NATO are directly involved in the armed aggression against Russia, "including not only by supplying weapons, but also by training personnel ... on the territory of the UK, Germany, Italy, and other countries."

Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that the West's pumping of weapons into Ukraine does not contribute to the success of Russian-Ukrainian negotiations and will have a negative effect.

NATO and the EU deadly weapons are widely used against civilians in Donbass, Novorossiya and Russia proper.

Since February 17, 2022 till November 27, 2023 the collective West destroyed in the Donetsk People’s Republic only: 12,940 houses; 3,137 social infrastructure buildings, including, 638 educational centers and 185 hospitals; 1,940 various vehicles. 2,314 critically important facilities have been razed to the ground.

The city of Schebekino in Donbass where there are no military facilities at all has been shelled by AFU 870 times killing and injuring many civilians, including kids.

Russia has never deliberately practiced shelling civilian targets in Ukraine.

President Putin has never said that he would order to conquer the Western Europe and the USA.

There are no such provisions in the Russian Military strategy.

Have Joe Biden’s advisers explained him such facts?

3. The West is decreasing military aid to Ukraine

The West is tired of the war in Ukraine, and the amount of promised Western aid to Kiev has decreased by 87 percent year-on-year from August to October 2023 –   from 16 billion Euros to two billion Euros, RND reported on December 7, citing data released by the Institute for World Economics in Kiel (IfW).

As Pentagon Chief Lloyd Austin said in last November, the contact group on Ukraine has already allocated more than 80 billion dollars in aid to Kiev since the beginning of the conflict.

The IfW notes that the trend of decreasing aid to Ukraine began months before the reporting period, with the decline in support affecting all areas - humanitarian, financial and military, DW reports.

"We see the strongest decline in military aid," IfW expert Pietro Bomprezzi clarified.

He explained the current situation by the absence of new military aid packages from the United States, which has so far supplied Ukraine with more weapons than all other countries. Due to the internal political struggle in the USA, the allocation of new large aid packages to Kiev has been blocked. Of the 42 countries supporting Ukraine, only less than half have promised new aid packages to Kiev in recent months.

The shortage of shells is particularly severe on the front. Ukraine has resumed its own ammunition production, but it is unable to produce the necessary quantities on its own. "Five to eight thousand shells are consumed every day, a volume no other country is able to produce," Gustav Gressel, a military expert at the European Council on Foreign Relations, told RND.

Ukrainian soldiers report that Russia is using 20-30 times more shells every day on the hottest section of the front in Avdiivka (or Avdeevka in Russian).

Another military expert, Niklas Mazur, does not rule out that Russia will be able to seize the initiative in the next phase of the war in 2024. Both experts are skeptical of calls for a ceasefire. Zelensky has still not revoked his own presidential decree that prohibits all Ukrainian citizens from holding any official talks on a political settlement with Moscow, including himself.

According to IfW, European countries and European institutions have collectively promised Ukraine more aid than the U.S. since the beginning of the war, but these are mostly long-term guarantees of financial assistance. Germany, Norway, Denmark and the United Kingdom, among others, have provided such guarantees, but many other NATO members have not followed suit.

Is rationality prevailing over miscalculation?

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

May 11, 2022

On May 9, the U.S. President Joseph Biden signed a lend-lease bill designed to simplify and accelerate the supply of various types of weapons to ultra-nationalist regime Ukraine. Thus, the American legislators, who had previously approved the bill in two chambers of Congress, essentially revived a similar law adopted in the United States during World War II, which allowed weapons and military equipment to be lended or leased to its allies. Its full title is: “To provide enhanced authority for the President to enter into agreements with the Government of Ukraine to lend or lease defense articles to that Government to protect civilian populations in Ukraine from Russian military invasion, and for other purposes.” It may be cited as the “Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022”.

The current bill was introduced on January 19 this year by Republican Senator John Cornyn, that is, more than a month before the beginning of Russia's special military operation undertaken to protect Donbass, as well as the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine, which began the third large-scale aggression against its citizens from February 14^th, 2022. That is ten days before Russian troops responded.

The "Biden Bill" temporarily cancels some requirements related to the president's authority to lease or lease defense assets if they are intended for the government of Ukraine or the governments of other Eastern European countries "affected by Russia's invasion" of Ukraine.

As you can see, the new law simplifies and accelerates the supply of American weapons to Ukraine for a long time.

The U.S. President should establish accelerated procedures to ensure the timely transfer of defense assets provided to Ukraine for lease or leasing in accordance with the new law.

The document stipulates that in the FY 2022-2023, that is, until October 1, 2024, an agreement on lending or leasing of defense assets signed in accordance with this bill is not subject to certain provisions that usually apply to lend-lease agreements, including a provision that usually indicates that the provision of defense funds lended or leased to other states may not exceed five years in duration. In particular, the bill cancelled the obligations provided for by the American Foreign Aid Laws of 1961 and the Arms Export Control Act of 1976.

The President may authorize the United States Government to lend or lease defense articles to the Government of Ukraine or to governments of Eastern European countries impacted by the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine to help bolster those countries' defense capabilities and protect their civilian populations “from potential invasion or ongoing aggression by the armed forces of the Government of the Russian Federation”.

Any loan or lease of defense articles to the Government of Ukraine under the first paragraph shall be subject to all applicable laws concerning the return of and reimbursement and repayment for defense articles loan or leased to foreign governments.

The document does not specify anywhere the type of weapons transferred with the two named forms of their use by the Ukrainian side. Therefore, the militaristic Ukrainian regime can be supplied with any types of weapons and military equipment, which are designated in the text by the term in general as "defense articles".

The 2022 bill gives the U.S. head of state expanded powers to conclude agreements with the Government of Ukraine on lending or leasing defense assets to the Ukrainian government or the governments of Eastern European countries "affected by the invasion of the Russian Federation into Ukraine" to help strengthen the defense capabilities of these countries and protect their civilian populations "from potential invasion or ongoing aggression from the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation".

It is specifically stipulated that any lending or leasing of defense assets to the Government of Ukraine is subject to all applicable laws concerning the return, reimbursement and repayment of the cost of defense articles lended or leased to foreign governments.

This means that Ukrainian taxpayers will have to pay for many years the inflated cost of various types of weapons and military equipment transferred to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In this regard, it may be recalled that the Russian Federation fully repaid its debt under the USSR-USA lend-lease agreement only in August 2006.

According to the new law, no later than 60 days after the date of its entry into force, the U.S. President shall establish expedited procedures for the delivery of any defense article loaned or leased to the Government of Ukraine under an agreement entered into under earlier subsection to ensure timely delivery of the article to that Government.

Thus, at the legislative level, the United States actually declared total combined war on Russia, becoming a large and diverse aggressor.

This war is being waged in all directions: military, political, trade and economic, and information and propaganda. If before Washington practiced only providing moral and small military and political support to the ultra-nationalist Ukrainian regime and was an accomplice of its criminal military activities against the citizens of Donbass, now it has become a direct aggressor against both the people of the DPR and the LPR, and against Russia as a whole.

Less than two days after the signing of the lend-lease law, the House of Representatives of Congress approved the allocation of almost $ 40 billion to Ukraine for military, economic and humanitarian "assistance" to the unpredictable Kiev regime, which has created a dangerous hotbed of tension in Europe. In particular, out of this amount, $6 billion should go to the provision of weapons and security assistance, $8.7 billion – for economic assistance and financing of the work of state services of Ukraine, $5 billion – for food aid to it and other countries of the world, $900 million. dollars are intended to support Ukrainian refugees. In addition, 3.9 billion will be allocated to strengthen American troops in Europe, which, excluding the NATO Rapid Reaction Forces (40 thousand troops), there are about 100 thousand soldiers and officers.

The new amount of 40 billion must be approved by the Senate, and then by Joseph Biden. It is ten billion more than the previous American tranche allocated to Kiev for the same purposes recently, and ten times exceeded the previous financial package provided to it, which was collected in April this year for similar financing. He personally sent a corresponding request to Congress for this additional funding. He urged lawmakers to immediately approve the draft law so that he could sign it in the near future, warning that otherwise the United States would soon be forced to suspend military and other assistance to Kiev, since the previous resources allocated by Congress are almost exhausted.

The White House welcomed the decision of the House of Representatives, while not forgetting to disclose the types and types of weapons and military equipment that are supposed to be transferred to the Ukrainian militarists. "The additional resources included in this bill will allow us to send more weapons, such as artillery and armored vehicles, as well as ammunition to Ukraine. They will also help us replenish our arsenals and support US troops on the territory of [other countries] of NATO," the press secretary of the American president, Jen Psaki, said in a statement.

Declaring its readiness to contribute to the cessation of hostilities in Ukraine and to achieve appropriate agreements by diplomatic means, Washington is actually acting the opposite: it is delaying Kiev's aggression against Donbass.

As in the past, Russia's adequate measures in response to the lend-lease act and the new financing of Kiev's war against Donbass will not take long to wait.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin 

June 7^th, 2022

1. New figures related to the SVO in Ukraine have been revealed

On May 7^th, 2022 Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu announced new figures related to the implementation of the Special Military Operation (SVO) in Ukraine. He addressed National Centre for State Defense Control in Moscow via a teleconference with the leadership of the national Armed Forces.

He said that a significant part of the LPR and DPR, including Svyatogorsk, has been liberated, including 97 percent of the LPR and 70 percent of the DPR. Over the past ten days, 51 pieces of foreign military equipment have been destroyed in Ukraine, including 21 howitzers [including U.S. M777] and two MLRS earlier sent to Ukraine. 6,489 Ukrainian military men surrendered. The seaports of Mariupol and Berdyansk at the Azov Sea, controlled by the RF, are operating normally and are ready to ship grain. Zaporozhskaya NPP, controlled by the Russian forces and generating nearly 50% of all Ukrainian nuclear generated energy is working normally.

Totally 33 coal mines, two oil fields and 14 gas fields taken over by Lugansk and Donetsk People's Republics during the SVO also continue to operate normally. The liberated territories contain up to 57% of Ukraine's steelmaking capacity.

While retreating, Ukrainian nationalists seek to cause maximum damage to these industries.  In turn, the Russian military, while liberating Donbass, is taking industry facilities under its protection, thus preserving the potential for the development of the region's economy.

The liberated territories Donbass can produce 10 million tons of grain crops and 1.4 million of vegetable crops per year.

An automobile communication between the territory of Russia along the mainland to the Crimea has been opened via Donbass. The unhindered water supply of the Crimean Peninsula through the North Crimean Canal that has been blocked by Kiev in violation of humanitarian law has been resumed. Railroad system between Russia, Donbass, Ukraine and Crimea resumed on six railway sections of total length 1,200 km. 

More than 27,000 tons of goods (food, basic necessities and medicines) have been handed over to civilians.

2. The Russian Ombudswoman made critical remarks on the ICRC

Tatyana Moskalkova, the Russian Ombudswoman, made critical statement on the inefficiency of the International Committee of the Red Cross in dealing with the Russian POW held in Ukraine: "It is of great concern that the International Committee of the Red Cross has so far never informed us about the visit of our Russian prisoners of war [in Ukraine]. We do not have information on how compliance with international norms and rules is monitored in relation to our servicemen who find themselves in this situation," she said.

At the same time, Tatyana Moskalkova noted that she visited Ukrainian POWs in Sevastopol and made sure that their rights were fully respected in accordance with international norms and principles, and are provided with all essential humanitarian needs: bed linen, food and medical care. "I held a personal meetings there. After that, at their request, I informed their relatives about their fate, what they asked for. It is very important that the humanitarian component of our line, the human rights commissioners, work," she added.

It was not the first attempt by the Russian Ombudswoman to knock the door to the ICRC in order to clarify this issue. All her efforts were in vain.

Last April she has asked the ICRC to help in arranging a visit to Russian servicemen held captive by Ukrainian forces, by noting that the ICRC had often served as “the last resort” for the relatives of prisoners of war in the past, as it was the only authority which could provide some information about their loved ones and describe their condition. She outlined that Moscow is unaware of the psychological and physical condition of the Russian servicemen. It is also unclear whether they are getting medical assistance or if the provisions of the Geneva Convention are being observed by the Ukrainian side. “It would be very bitter to realize that such a respected organization as the ICRC had forgotten about the universal principles of humanism, and, like many other international structures, is guided by double standards in relation to our prisoners,” the ombudswoman said.

However, according to Tatyana Moskalkova, neither the Russian government nor the soldiers’ relatives have so far received any information from the ICRC about POWs held in Ukraine. Total blackout.

“Therefore, I once again turned to the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mr. Peter Maurer, with a request to provide information about Russian prisoners of war and help me or my representatives visit them. I really hope that my other appeal will not go unnoticed,” Tatyana Moskalkova wrote.

3. Ukrainian nationalists set fire to the wooden religious skete in the DPR and grain in Mariupol

Testimonies of local residents and monks in liberated Svyatogorsk, Donetsk People's Republic, confirm that Ukrainian nationalists while retreating deliberately set fire to the wooden skete of All Saints' of the Russian Land on June 5.

They set fire to the newly built wooden skete of All Saints' of the Russian Land built in 2009 with a burst of incendiary ammunition. It was not only the monks who tried unsuccessfully to put out the burning skete, but also the members of the local territorial defence who came to help them. The nationalists prevented this by intimidation fire.

Such barbaric act is another evidence brought about by the hostile Ukrainian regime to religious traditions of its citizens. The values of the Ukrainian Nazis in Kiev are the opposite of the historical values of the Orthodox people in Ukraine.

Thus, Zelensky with his statements about Russia's allegedly conscious destruction of Ukraine's cultural heritage and his demands to expel Russia from UNESCO and the UNO for this once again lied not only to the Ukrainian people, but also to the entire international community.

Ukrainian Armed Forces also set fire to tonnes of grain in Mariupol port during retreat. Grain storage facility in Mariupol port could hold up to 57 tonnes of grain.

“On the territory of the port of Mariupol there is a large amount of grain, it is both corn grain and wheat grain. Judging by the smell and appearance, it is unfit for further use, most of it. This is conditioned by the fact that the enemy, retreating from the port, set fire to the granaries so that this grain would not reach the DPR, so that it would be impossible to use it in any way. It was put out for several days, but to no avail,” Yan Gagin, an adviser to the DPR’s head of government, told RIA Novosti.

4. Situation on the battlefields

On May 6th, Ukrainian barrier troops blew up a road bridge in the town of Svyatogorsk in the northern part of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR). The move left Ukrainian military units, namely remnants of the battalions of the 95th Airborne Assault Brigade and the 81st Separate Airborne Brigade trapped in the town.

“Cut off from the main forces and supply lines due to the destruction of the bridge, [the troops] abandoned military equipment and their weaponry and scattered along the bank” of the Seversky Donets river.

Despite the blockage, some 80 Ukrainian soldiers trapped in the town of Svyatogorsk managed to escape Russian troops by swimming Ukrainian military is using ‘barrier troops’, a discipline-keeping unit comprising hardcore nationalists, to prevent other units from retreating, usually killing them as ‘cowards’. Russian troops did not open fire at them giving them a chance to escape.

In other developments, Russian high-precision air-based missiles have hit 2 command posts, 3 firing positions of artillery batteries, as well as 18 areas of Ukrainian manpower and military equipment concentration.

2 ammunition depots have been destroyed in the areas of Vrubovka and Yakovlevka in Lugansk People's Republic.

Operational-tactical aviation have hit 65 areas of AFU manpower and military equipment concentration.

The attacks have resulted in the elimination of more than 170 nationalists, 9 tanks, 2 Grad multiple rocket launchers, 1 battery of field artillery and 8 various purpose vehicles.

Russian air defence means have shot down 12 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles near Liptsy, Streleche, Dement'evka, Borodoyarskoe, Mar'ino, Petrovskoe, Grakovo, Malye Prokhody in Kharkov Region, as well as Vasil'ievka in Nikolaev Region, overnight.

Russian missile troops and artillery have hit 39 command posts, 49 firing positions of AFU artillery, as well as 426 areas of manpower and military equipment concentration.

The attacks have resulted in the elimination of more than 400 nationalists, 10 armoured vehicles, 3 Grad MLRS, 10 special combat vehicles, and 3 launchers of S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems near Kramatorsk.

In addition, shelling resulted in the destruction of one 155mm self-propelled howitzer (M109A3) donated by Norway, 2 US 155mm howitzers (M777), and 7 field artillery and mortars, including 1 203mm Pion self-propelled artillery mount.

In total, from 24^th February, 190 Ukrainian aircraft and 129 helicopters, 1,139 unmanned aerial vehicles, 333 anti-aircraft missile systems, 3,443 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 478 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,807 field artillery and mortars, as well as 3,464 units of special military vehicles were destroyed during the operation.

5. The DPR Justice Minister: some Azov nationalists will face death penalty

The death penalty awaits some fighters of the Azov regiment for their crimes against the civilian inhabitants of Donbas. This was announced by Yuriy Sirovatko, the Minister of Justice of the DPR. He stressed that capital punishment can be imposed only for especially grave crimes involving attempts on a person’s life. At the same time, Sirovatko recalled that such crimes “with particular cruelty number in the hundreds or even thousands” against residents of Donbass.

In his words, the rights of all Ukrainian prisoners of war, regardless of the type of military formation, were respected. All have been provided with normal food and the necessary medical care. According to reports, there are currently over 2,300 captured POWs of the Ukrainian nationalist battalions on the territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic alone.

Earlier, it was reported that a court case against British and Moroccan mercenaries who had fought in the Ukrainian Armed Forces started in Donetsk. The fighters face the death penalty.

The Prosecutor General’s Office of the LPR has opened about 600 criminal cases on the crimes of Ukrainian formations in that republic since the aggravation of the situation in the Donbass in February 2022, said the official representative of the department, Inna Semenova.

6. Head of Hungarian MFA shared the opinion that Zelensky has mental problems

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto supported the assumption of the Speaker of the country’s Parliament Laszlo Kever about the presence of mental problems with Vladimir Zelensky. Peter Szijjarto noted that the official government of Kyiv allowed itself unacceptable statements against Hungary.  “Based on all this, Laszlo Kever is absolutely right, even if the Ukrainians are outraged by this,” Szijjártó agreed. Earlier, Kever said that the statements of the President of Ukraine sometimes sound very strange and it is likely that Vladimir Zelensky faced “some kind of personal mental problem”.

Annex

1. KIEV CONTINUES THE THIRD AGGRESSION VS DONBASS

Day in, day out the Kiev criminal and failed regime continues shelling of civilians in Donbass hating it from 2014 when it unleashed three successive wars against its people.

On June 4, the rocket artillery of the Armed Forces of Ukraine delivered a massive blow to the Kuibyshev and Petrovsky districts of the capital of the DPR. Two civilians were killed, two more were seriously injured, a hospital, residential buildings were damaged, an ambulance was destroyed.

On June 5, the Ukrainian Armed Forces launched rocket attacks on residential areas in the center of Donetsk and the villages of Elenovka and Panteleimonovka. The strikes were carried out by the Grad MLRS and 122 mm and 155 mm artillery. Residential buildings, the Central Market, an electrical substation and a radio-television center were damaged. There are victims among the local population. It was established that the shelling was conducted from the territory of the Ukrainian-controlled settlement of Georgievka.

Every day the intensity of such Ukrainian "combat operations" with the targeted destruction of assets located outside the areas of combat operations increases. The Ukrainian Armed Forces suffer defeats and abandon previously held settlements in Donbass due to the multiple superiority of the Russian Armed Forces in firepower. In order to reduce the rates of occurrence of the armed forces and attract the attention of the West the command of the AFU, acting like retreating in 1943 the Nazi Germany, shelling everybody and everything every day.

On June 6 and 7, 2022 the AFU shelled Donbass with more than 300 shells and missiles per day. More than ten civilians were killed, two dozen of them injured. Ukrainian and the U.S., French, Polish and the UK heavy weapons have been used indiscriminately against houses, schools, hospitals and social infrastructure.

According to the UN High Commissioner, over 14,000 civilians have been killed in Donbass since 2014. And this figure continues to grow. Since the beginning of the Russian special military operation, the Investigative Committee of Russia (ICR) has initiated more than 800 criminal cases under articles for genocide and ill-treatment of the civilian population in Donbass. In cooperation with the law enforcement agencies of the DPR and the LPR, all the circumstances are being established and a thorough investigation of the crimes committed is being conducted. "All those involved in the brutal crimes against the civilians in Donbass will be identified and, of course, will be punished as they deserve," said Aleksandr Bastrykin, the Chairman of the ICR.

In addition, there has been a tendency for the AFU to strike at border settlements located on the territory of the Russian Federation. Since the end of April, various populated non-military areas located in the Belgorod, Kursk, Oryol, Voronezh and Bryansk Regions have been hit. The Kiev regime prefers not to take responsibility for the strikes, covering its criminal acts with provocations.

The Russian Federation has repeatedly warned both the Ukrainian authorities and the ‘Western partners’ supplying the Kiev regime with weapons about the imminent retaliatory actions and the elimination of any possibility of strikes both on peaceful settlements in Donbass and on the Russian territory. Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev assures that "when attacking our cities, the Russian Armed Forces will fulfill their threat and strike at the centers of criminal decision-making," which, according to him, are often located outside Ukraine.

Further supplies of weapons by Western countries to Ukraine not only lead to further escalation of the conflict, but also involve third countries in the so-far formally bilateral Russian-Ukrainian conflict. The situation will radically change if Western weapons are sanctioned to be used against assets on the territory of Russia, or will be directed against the civilian population of the south-east of Ukraine.

2. HUGE U.S. AND POLISH SPENDING ON UKRAINE. NOT TO BE RETURNED

On June 3, the American media publication Politico published a demand from the US Congress to Joseph Biden on the provision of a report on the expenditure of aid provided to Ukraine for more than $ 40 billion. Congressmen expressed doubt about the ability of the White House to account for the unprecedented amount of funds transferred, as well as to track the weapons and equipment supplied to Kiev that proved to be hostile, but inefficient. The Pentagon has previously barely coped with reports. Thus, information on the costs associated with ensuring the security of partners in Europe was not provided in a timely and incomplete manner.

The aid, estimated at such huge amount, is already the seventh package that the United States has allocated to Ukraine.

The first one was authorized on February 25, with two packages arriving in March and three in April. The Speaker of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Vyacheslav Volodin believes that Kiev directly receives no more than 15 percent of the funds allocated by ‘Western partners’. In the signed decree Joseph Biden carried out a detailed distribution of funds allocated to Ukraine.

35 percent of this amount will be used to finance the U.S. armed forces in Europe ($3.9 billion) and for replenishment of U.S. weapons stocks ($9 billion). More than 45 percent is also planned to be spent not on Ukraine, but on other countries, including world food security ($5 billion) and long-term support for NATO allies ($2 billion). About 5 percent more is provided for assistance to refugees ($1 billion) and for other purposes.

The United States, by providing Ukraine with so-called financial assistance, intends to extract significant economic benefits. Obligations to repay the full amount of the debt are imposed on Kiev who will lives with empty wallet during many decades to come. However, the Kiev regime, anticipating the next "cut" of the percentages they rely upon, turns a blind eye to the absence of almost $ 13 billion in the estimate of the intended purpose, which, first of all, the U.S. Congress was interested in.

A new type of business is flourishing in Ukraine itself – the sale of humanitarian aid coming from the West. Almost every day criminal cases are initiated against enterprising officials who make quick money on everything that comes as a gift to Ukrainians. But, apparently, three years staying behind the bars do not frighten anyone – the scale of thefts is only growing. Harvest sacks of money as soon as possible, and free from the country as quickly as you can. That is the credo of such ‘businessmen’.

Whole supermarkets have appeared on the network, ready to send fully assembled different types of weapons to anywhere in the world, including Africa, the USA, Germany and, of course, Ukraine. A Javelin AT missile costs at the ‘white markets’ (that is openly) in Ukraine $ 30.000. Lots in such stores with various firearms, ammunition and military attire have mashroomed there. It is even possible to sell and purchase weapons from Ukraine "from hand to hand". Individual sellers have already made more than thirty huge transactions.

More deadly weapons to be sent to Kiev from Poland to continue aggression vs Donbass.

The Polish authorities announced new arms supplies to Ukraine worth almost $630 million. Warsaw will sign a contract for the supply of weapons to Ukraine worth almost $630 million. This was stated by Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of State Assets of Poland Jacek Sasin. "As a matter of fact, we are now signing one of the largest, if not the largest, arms export contracts in the last 30 years. The sale of weapons for Ukrainians, to Ukraine," Moravetsky admitted. "There has not been such a contract in the Polish defense industry in the last 30 years," he said.

Earlier, the Polish government said that Poland had transferred weapons worth more than $1.6 billion to Ukraine. As reported by Polish Radio, the Ukrainian army received from Poland 18 Krab self-propelled howitzers, more than 200 T-72 tanks and several dozen infantry fighting vehicles.

The team of Volodymir Zelensky is not only unable to pay back foreign debts to wage three wars in 2014-2022, but it is a tricky thing that it not going to do it all.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

June 27, 2022

1. Lisichansk is in a cauldron

Ukrainian command is trying to stop the chaotic escape of Ukrainian servicemen near Lisichansk amid the success of Russian army within liberating Donbass.

A Right Sector Nazi barrier unit was sent to hold the personnel of the first battalion from 72nd Mechanised Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) near Volcheyarovka. Russian artillery has eliminated this unit.

The Ukrainian troops involved in operation towards Lisichansk are no longer controlled. Commander of 115th Independent Mechanised Brigade of the AFU who deployed its command post in the rear area has lost control over his units that caused losing 80 percent of manpower and about 70 percent of equipment of 138th Battalion from this brigade during operations.

According to Vitaly Kiselyov, Assistant Minister of Internal Affairs of the LPR, about 12 thousand Ukrainian military are now concentrated in the area of Lisichansk. Artillerymen of the LPR troops are giving nationalists in the city the last chance to surrender. The soldiers fire ‘leaflet shells’ to AFU positions for that purpose.

According to the NYT [“How Russia regained momentum in eastern Ukraine” released on June 22, 2022], “Victory in Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk [Ukrainian spelling] would see Russia claim full control of the Luhansk [Ukrainian spelling] region, one of the two areas that make up the Donbas [Ukrainian spelling].”

The LPR Ambassador to Russia Rodion Miroshnik said that all hostages taken by AFU on the territory of the Azot chemical plant have been released.

2. The fate of foreign mercenaries

On June 26, Russian units eliminated two sabotage and reconnaissance groups of mercenaries formed by 14 militants during the combats that took place 3 km from Lisichansk oil refinery (the LPR).

The first group was international and consisted of citizens from various European countries. The second was formed by mercenaries only from Georgia who were parts of the so-called Georgian Legion that is mostly composed of criminals. The eliminated Georgian mercenaries were involved in the brutal torture and murder of Russian servicemen near Kiev in March this year. Russian Defence Ministry has exact information about each mercenary involved in torturing and murdering Russian servicemen.

Mercenaries from Poland and more than 120 British, French and Americans are located in Lisichansk, which is being stormed by troops of the Luhansk People's Republic. This was reported to TASS on June 26 by the Assistant Minister of Internal Affairs of the LPR Vitaly Kiselyov."Small groups are trying to escape from Lisichansk to Soledar, Kramatorsk, and mercenaries even further - to the Pavlograd area.

There are some Poles, British - 37 people, French - 21 people and Americans - 64 people are also in Lisichansk," Kisilev added.

3. Situation on the battlefield in general

The United States will announce this week that it is sending Ukraine an advanced air defense system, U.S. officials said on June 27. The Biden administration intends to send to Ukraine a Norwegian-made NASAMS system (see photo below; © Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace) — an advanced, medium-to-long-range surface-to-air missile defense system — that will allow Ukraine to defend its forces from greater distances, an official familiar with the decision said. According to Jake Sullivan, President Biden’s National Security Adviser, told reporters at the G7 summit in Germany that the USA wishes “to finalize a package that includes advanced medium- and long-range air defense capabilities for the Ukrainians,” but did not provide further details on any specific system. He also added that the package would include some other items that are of urgent need, including ammunition for artillery and counter battery radar systems.

Moscow negatively reacted to reports of new weapons for Ukraine. Russia continues to safeguard its interests, the Kremlin has said in response to reports about Washington’s plans to send new missile systems to Ukraine. “We didn’t receive any notifications on the matter. As far as actions to defend [our] interests are concerned, [we are] making them on a regular basis,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on June 27. In his words, “flooding” Ukraine with foreign weapons will not change the course of the conflict and will only lead to more suffering and destruction in Ukraine.

Such announcement was regarded in Russian expert community as a move that can create some problems for the Russian Air Force operations, but does not stop Moscow’s commitment to reach the goals of its Special Military Operation launched to defend civilians in Donbass. Some Russian experts noted that such systems should be knocked down as soon as they are delivered by air and later appear on Ukrainian soil.

The US and other NATO countries have been increasingly supplying Kiev with heavy weapons to help it fight Russian troops. The recent deliveries include US-made M142 HIMARS multiple rocket launchers and M777 howitzers.

According to the official representative of the DPR: over the past day, the enemy fired more than two hundred and seventy shells from BM-21 Grad multiple launch rocket systems, artillery with a caliber of 152 and 122 mm, as well as 120 and 82- mm mortars.

AFU opened fire on Vasilyevka in the Zaporozhye Region liberated by Russia. According to preliminary data, a man was killed as a result of the shelling, said Vladimir Rogov, a member of the Zaporizhye Regional State Administration.

On June 26, Russian Aerospace Forces launched four high-precision air-based missiles at the workshops of Artyom missile corporation located in Shevchenkovsky district in Kiev which was being used to produce ammunition for MLRS used to shell civilians in Donbass. According to live recording data, all four missiles have reached the target.

The facility has been neutralized.

The Russian MoD noted that due to the apparent lack of communication between the Ukrainian anti-aircraft defense systems located in the city, two Ukrainian S-300 rockets were shot down by Ukrainian Buk interceptors, one of which fell on a residential building. Ukrainian S-300 and Buk-M1 air defence system crews had launched over ten air defence missiles.

 The information disseminated by the NYT on June 26, in an article entitled as “Russia launches barrage of missiles across Ukraine” that Russian missiles have hit a kindergarten is a fake. Civilian infrastructure of Kiev has not been affected by Russian pin-point accuracy missiles.

On the other hand, high-precision armament of Russian Aerospace Forces has neutralised the base of 106th Battalion from 63rd Mechanised Infantry Brigade of the AFU near Visunsk (Nikolayev Region).

Over 40 Ukrainian servicemen and 12 units of military equipment have been eliminated. Attacks have also resulted in the elimination of AFU manpower and military equipment in 27 areas, including those that formed part of the Right Sector near Lisichansk, as well as those of Azov and Kraken near Kharkov.

Five AFU command posts and 3 munitions, missile and artillery armament depots have been neutralised near Bereznegovatoye (Nikolayev Region) and Novodruzhesk (the LPR).

Operational-tactical and army aviation, missile troops and artillery have neutralised: 24 command posts, artillery and mortar units in 58 areas, as well as manpower and military equipment in 304 areas.

Within the counter-battery warfare towards Donetsk, high-precision armament of Russian Aerospace Forces has neutralised: 3 Grad MRLS plattoons near Avdeyevka and Dzerzhinsk, a platoon of the U.S.-made M-777 155-mm howitzers near Konstantinovka, 2 Giatsint 152-mm howitzer platoons near Kalinov and Artyomovo, as well as two Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system near Ocheretino and Novolugansk that had been launching attacks at Donetsk and other cities of the Donetsk People's Republic.

4. Ukraine pulls plug on nuclear cooperation with Russia

Ukraine’s nuclear regulator announced that its head ordered it to stop working with Russia due to the hostilities between the two nations.

A short statement published on June 27 by the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine said that last week, acting Chief Inspector Oleg Korikov ordered that two agreements with Moscow on nuclear regulation be nullified. Signed in 1996 and 2002, they set the legal framework for the agency’s cooperation and information sharing with its Russian counterpart, Rostekhnadzor.

Ukraine’s civilian nuclear industry was built when the country was part of the USSR, and for decades it relied on Russian expertise to keep it running. The Russian producer of nuclear fuel rods has long been the primary supplier of fuel for the nation’s power plants. Who will substitute it? There are several NPP in Ukraine still controlled by Kiev.

5. Zelensky sets deadline for the Ukrainian conflict

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has insisted that the conflict between Russia and Ukraine must be finished by the end of the year. Speaking to the G7 leaders on June 27, Zelensky also called for tougher sanctions against Moscow, according to Reuters, which cited two EU diplomats.

Speaking to the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the USA via video link, Zelensky reportedly stated that Ukrainian troops would have a much harder time fighting against Russian forces once the harsh winter conditions take hold, urging the G7 to do their utmost to end the conflict by the end of the year, while asking for anti-aircraft defense systems, as well as security guarantees.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

В комментарии телепрограмме "Вести 24" 20 января член-корреспондент РАВН В.П. Козин обратил внимание на неконкретное высказывание на нового шефа Пентагона о готовности США продлить Договор СНВ-3, поскольку оно не содержало никаких подробностей его возможной пролонгации администрацией Джозефа Байдена. Военный эксперт МГИМО  подверг критике "три предварительных условия" для продления срока этого договорного акта, которые ранее выдвигала администрация Дональда Трампа, так как они не отвечали национальной безопасности России и интересам укрепления глобальной стратегической стабильности. В.П. Козин также отметил, что при решении вопроса о пролонгации Договора СНВ-3 российская сторона должна учитывать реальную готовность или неготовность Вашингтона в полном объеме соблюдать все положения этого договора, вывести все свое ТЯО из пяти государств-членов НАТО на свою территорию, закрыть комбинированные оперативные базы системы ПРО, имеющие антироссийскую направленность и которые могут решать не только оборонительные, но и наступательные ударно-боевые задачи.

Как будут развиваться отношения в Евразии до 2025-2050 годов? Какова будет роль России в этом процессе?    

Подробные ответы на эти простые по форме и одновременно сложные по содержанию вопросы прогностического характера дает новая коллективная работа ряда авторов Центра военно-политических исследований МГИМО (Университета) МИД России «Долгосрочное прогнозирование развития отношений между локальными цивилизациями в Евразии», вышедшая в конце 2017 года (Москва: Изд. дом «Международные отношения», 2017. 357 с.; ISBN 978-5-906367-53-2). Эта монография продолжила практику выпуска ЦВПИ за последние годы целого ряда исследований аналитического и прогностического характера, касающихся перспективных военно-политических угроз нынешнего столетия и оптимального социально-экономического развития России. В подготовке нынешнего рецензируемого издания, содержащего авторскую методологию долгосрочного прогноза развития международных отношений на значительных геополитических пространствах, приняли участие профессор А.И. Подберезкин (директор Центра, руководитель авторского коллектива), М.В. Харкевич, О.Е. Родионов и О.А. Подберезкина.

Авторы дали общий прогноз развития международной обстановки в этой обширной части света и взаимоотношений между «локальными человеческими цивилизациями», нациями и государствами в Евразии вначале до 2025 года, а затем и до 2050 года в органической увязке с характерными особенностями развития общемировой военно-политической и финансово-экономической ситуации в XXI веке в целом, понимая под термином «локальной человеческой цивилизацией» (ЛЧЦ) определенную часть общества, существующую длительный период времени и проживающую на конкретной территории в устойчивых пространственных границах и объединенную общей системой ценностей, историческим наследием и видением общего будущего.

Позитивным вкладом авторов является то, что они рассмотрели в теоретическом и прикладном срезе вероятное развитие ключевых ЛЧЦ как по отдельности, так и в увязке с взаимоотношениями с сопредельными «локальными человеческими цивилизациями».

В издании рельефно и фактологически основательно отмечен отличающийся друг от друга механизм воздействия ключевых мировых игроков России и КНР, с одной стороны, а также США и западной ЛЧЦ в целом, с другой, на перспективное развитие обстановки в Евразии. Авторы исследования предполагают, что наряду с названными государствами на данной крупнейшей пространственной территории одновременно будут набирать силу и другие традиционные ЛЧЦ, к которым предлагается отнести индийскую, исламскую, индонезийскую и турецкую цивилизации.

В монографии делается вывод, что сценарий развития международных отношений в Евразии в среднесрочной перспективе до 2025 года будет определяться характером и параметрами взаимоотношений различных «локальных человеческих цивилизаций», существующих в этой части света, а также формируемыми ими союзами и коалициями. Одновременно авторы предостерегают от попыток выработки какого-то универсального подхода к созданию единой и взаимоприемлемой схемы развития ЛЧЦ в Евразии для последующих периодов времени, отмечая невозможность ее точного определения в силу воздействия поливариантных объективных и субъективных факторов на такой процесс, наличия ведущих игроков и негосударственных субъектов, преследующих различные цели.

Обращено внимание на опасность инерционного и замедленного развития России в различных областях в случае неприятия соответствующих динамичных мер. Отмечается, что хотя ее политическая роль и значение в мировых делах в перспективе будут возрастать, тем не менее, если Россия будет развиваться такими же темпами, как в последние годы, то вплоть до 2050 года она будет отставать в экономическом развитии от таких ведущих экономик мира как китайская, которая к этому сроку займет первое место в мире, а также от экономик Индии и США, которые, соответственно, выйдут на второе и третье места. Признавая, что «проблема инерционности и неадекватности принимаемых решений – самая трудная и наименее поддающаяся решению проблема современной России», составители монографии предлагают повысить эффективность управления и осуществить правильный «выбор вектора развития страны» (с. 250).

Коллектив авторов видят выход из сложившейся ситуации только в ускоренном и опережающем социально-экономическом и научно-техническом прогрессе России, достигаемом в рамках ее долгосрочной стратегии развития. Именно в подобном образе действий они рассматривают возможность противостоять военно-силовым методам западной ЛЧЦ, применение которых, по их мнению, к 2021-2025 годам может стать более активным. В этой связи предлагается повысить качество прогнозирования конфликтных ситуаций, в которых могут применяться описываемые методы, а также уровень разработки способов урегулирования подобных катаклизмов.

В монографии справедливо указывается на растущую военную активность и наращивание гибридных угроз НАТО вблизи границ России, в том числе за счет развертывания «сил передового базирования» и объединенных сил повышенной оперативной готовности (с.149-151). Как известно, в мае 2012 года страны-участницы Североатлантического союза на своем саммите в Чикаго создали «чикагскую триаду» – стратегическое объединение ракетно-ядерных, противоракетных и обычных вооружений трансатлантического альянса, которые предполагается использовать против Российской Федерации, ее союзников и друзей (особенности развития каждого элемента такого механизма подробно изложены в монографии: В.Козин. Чикагская триада» США и НАТО: ее последствия для России. М.: Изд-во имени Сабашниковых. 2016. 210 с., а также в монографии: V.Kozin. U.S. Tactical Nuclear Weapons: Reduction or Modernization? M.: Sabashnikov’s Publishing House. 2017. 556 pp.).

Авторы коллективного издания «Долгосрочное прогнозирование развития отношений между локальными цивилизациями в Евразии» приходят к выводу о том, что главной тенденцией развития международной обстановки в первой половине XXI века в Евразии будет усиление противоборства «локальных человеческих цивилизаций», которое «… в возрастающей степени будет опираться на силовые инструменты политики» (с.335). В этой связи высказываются предложения о внесении изменений в методику оценки и стратегического прогноза угроз национальной безопасности Российской Федерации, а также об уточнении оценки военно-политического характера существующих для нее внешних угроз и о пересмотре оценки потенциальных перспективных угроз ее национальной безопасности (с.342-346).

Авторы предполагают, что нынешняя американская администрация во главе с Дональдом Трампом будет стремиться сохранить «американское лидерство» в глобальной политике в течение всего периода его президентства. Более того, высказывается гипотеза, что такое лидерство и ставка на «первенство» не только сохранятся в результате избрания последующих президентов США после окончательного завершения его полномочий, но и, возможно, упрочатся. Высказывается предположение, что одновременно в среднесрочной перспективе укрепится возглавляемая Вашингтоном и широкая западная коалиция, которая на начало 2018 года насчитывала 73 государства (с.144).

Позитивным представляется включение в проведенное исследование сотрудниками ЦВПИ раздела об эволюции глобальной системы ПРО США и НАТО (с.161-165), о развитии в Соединенных Штатах ракетно-ядерных вооружений (с. 166-167), а также прогноза о возможности выхода Вашингтона из Договора о ликвидации ракет средней и меньшей дальности, подписанного в 1987 году, о чем недвусмысленно было заявлено в решениях американского Конгресса в прошедшем году.

С учетом различных факторов, определяющих внешнюю политику США в настоящее время после прихода к власти Республиканской партии на президентских выборах, делается вывод о том, что линия нынешнего 45-го американского президента на прагматизм и первенство имеет довольно «агрессивное измерение» (с. 154), что впоследствии подтвердила и подписанная 18 декабря 2017 года Дональдом Трампом «Стратегия национальной безопасности» страны, в критическом ключе воспринятая на официальном уровне в России и КНР.

Новая монография сотрудников ЦВПИ имеет большой иллюстративный материал в виде рисунков, таблиц, графиков и схем, которые позволяют лучше понять суждения и прогнозы ее составителей, а также содержит словарь, включающий свыше 70 терминологических определений.

Подготовленная монография вполне может представить интерес для широкого круга специалистов-теоретиков и экспертов-практиков, занимающихся теоретическими и прикладными вопросами стратегического прогнозирования развития международной обстановке в Евразии, а также различными аспектами планирования социально-экономического развития и военного строительства России в среднесрочной и долгосрочной перспективе. Представляется, что это перспективное и полезное издание также может быть включено в список рекомендуемой литературы при использовании в учебном процессе различных высших учебных и научно-исследовательских заведений, занимающихся вопросами долгосрочного прогнозирования и стратегической аналитики.

Автор: В.П. Козин – член-корреспондент Российской Академии естественных наук, профессор Академии военных наук Российской Федерации

Официально объявив в начале февраля этого года о приостановке своего участия в Договоре о ликвидации ракет средней и меньшей дальности 1987 года (ДРСМД), а затем и о полном выходе из него начиная со 2 августа этого года, Соединенные Штаты продолжают запущенный ими в одностороннем порядке процесс разрыва с этим важным договорным актом, который позволил к лету 1991 года уничтожить сразу два класса ядерных ракет средней и меньшей дальности.

Ранее казалось, что Договор устраивал Вашингтон во всех отношениях. Еще бы. По его условиям СССР уничтожил в два раза больше носителей ядерного оружия, чем США. Но теперь события развиваются совершенно по-другому сценарию, разработанному Белым домом. Сейчас он объясняет свое решение о выходе из ДРСМД фактом его «несоблюдения» российской стороной, якобы, путем создания и развертывания новой крылатой ракеты наземного базирования (КРНБ) с индексом 9М729.

Но никаких доказательств по этому поводу американская сторона предоставить до сих пор не смогла.Не удовлетворили ее и многочисленные разъяснения, которые Москва дала Вашингтону за последние пять лет в ходе около тридцати официальных консультаций, проведенных с американскими должностными лицами. Соединенные Штаты уже давно отвергли российские инициативы, направленные на урегулирование претензий в контексте выполнения договора 1987 года через взаимные меры транспарентности. Вашингтон не проявил готовности к продолжению диалога, а сделал необоснованный упор на предъявлении российской стороне странного по форме и неприемлемого по содержанию ультиматума, суть которого состояла в требовании уничтожения КРНБ 9М729.

Вполне справедлив вопрос: а не нарушала ли сама американская сторона ДРСМД? Факты, относящиеся «к упрямым вещам», говорят: нарушала. И не раз. За последние почти 20 лет Пентагон использовал ракеты-мишени средней и меньшей дальности 117 раз при проверке эффективности глобальной системы ПРО США. Это были новые ракеты-мишени шести вариантов, специально созданные в Соединенных Штатах для одновременного решения двух задач: тестирования ракет-перехватчиков системы ПРО, а также ракет средней и меньшей дальности.

Первое использование американскими военными ракет-перехватчиков «противоракетного щита» для перехвата ракеты-мишени меньшей дальности, подпадающей под терминологические определения договора, датируется 2 октября 1999 года. То есть, почти 20 лет назад.

Короче говоря, США уже давно фактически и в одностороннем порядке вышли из этого договора. Так в чем же заключаются истинные мотивы выхода американских контрагентов из ДРСМД, если до сих пор им не удалось доказать его «нарушения» Российской Федерацией?

Представляется, что таких мотивов у нынешнего американского руководства было несколько.

Первое. США хотят создать и разместить в Европе, Азии и Азиатско-Тихоокеанском регионе новые типы мобильно-грунтовых крылатых и баллистических ракет средней дальности в ядерном снаряжении с целью сдерживания мнимой «российской, китайской, иранской и северокорейской ракетной угрозы».

Второе. Вашингтон намерен повторить опасную ситуацию, созданную «двойным решением» НАТО, принятым в декабре 1979 года, когда альянс дал «зеленый свет» складированию 846 американских ядерных ракет средней дальности в ряде государств Европы, что вызвало острейший ракетно-ядерный кризис между США/НАТО и СССР.

Третье. В США рассчитывают добиться от России одностороннего согласия на уничтожение ряда современных баллистических и крылатых ракет меньшей, средней и даже межконтинентальной дальности, а также перспективные гиперзвуковые комплексы, которые никак не подпадают под определения договора 1987 года, только за то, что Вашингтон не выйдет из ДРСМД.

Четвертое. Через собственный инициативный отказ от ДРСМД нынешнее военно-политическое руководство Америки стремится вовлечь в диалог по вступлению в обновленный диалог по проблематике введения ограничений на ракеты средней и меньшей дальности Китай, который не желает становиться его участником.

Пятое. Искусственно обостряя ситуацию в ракетноядерной области, в Белом доме хотели бы оказать давление на своих союзников по НАТО, с тем чтобы все они сначала довели уровень собственных военных расходов относительно их ВВП до двух процентов, а в перспективе и до четырех.

Очевидно, что развал ДРСМД будет иметь самые негативные последствия для международной безопасности и глобальной стабильности. Может начаться гонка вооружений в нескольких сферах, например, в ракетно-ядерной, противоракетной и космической. Дальнейшей эрозии подвергнется вся система контроля над вооружениями, где и без того Вашингтон негативно относится к двенадцати договорам и соглашениям, заключенным ранее или выдвинутым в качестве международных проектов. Это чревато также серьёзными угрозами для сохранения режима нераспространения ядерного оружия и перспектив дальнейших ограничений ядерных вооружений.

Но Соединенные Штаты подобная перспектива явно не волнует. А жаль. В таком случае вся ответственность за обострение международной обстановки возлагается только на Вашингтон и его союзников по НАТО.

Автор: Владимир Козин, Источник: ИнфоШОС: Журнал Шанхайской организации сотрудничества

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Вся система мировой безопасности под угрозой – уверяют эксперты. Причина тому – громкое заявление президента США, прозвучавшее 21 октября. Трамп пригрозил выйти из договора о ликвидации ракет средней и меньшей дальности. Президент США на встрече со своими сторонниками в Неваде также обвинил Россию в том, что она «многие годы» нарушала это соглашение. Почему США готовы разорвать ключевой документ для мировой безопасности, который был подписан 31 год назад? К чему приведет стремление Трампа снова вернуть мир к однополярной модели? И какие последствия может иметь расторжение договора о ликвидации ракет средней и меньшей дальности, если у США будут полностью развязаны руки?

Программа "Специальный репортаж" на телеканале "Звезда". Эфир от 25.10.2018г.

Ведущий эксперт ЦВПИ МГИМО В.П. Козин в программе "Открытый эфир" на телеканале "Звезда".

Эфир от 13 ноября 2018г.

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Карибский кризис 1962-го года, когда Советский Союз в ответ на размещение Соединенными Штатами в Турции и Италии ядерных ракет средней дальности разместил свое ядерное оружие на Кубе, поставил мир на порог войны.

Тогда в течение нескольких дней кризис удалось разрешить дипломатическим путем. СССР согласился убрать свое ядерное оружие с Кубы при условии, что США дают гарантии безопасности острова и вывозят свои ракеты из Италии и Турции.

Сегодня российско-американские отношения вновь оказались на грани конфликта, подобно тому, как это было в 1962 году, но в еще более опасной форме.

Каким может быть исход нового ядерного противостояния, в интервью Baltnews рассказал член-корреспондент Академии военных наук РФ (РАВН), член-корреспондент Российской Академии естественных наук (РАЕН) Владимир Козин.

– Г-н Козин, Россия заявляет, что рассматривает вхождение в НАТО Украины и Грузии как "красные линии". Почему в 2004 году, когда в состав альянса вошли страны Балтии, подобной риторики со стороны Москвы не было?

– Мы всегда относились с большой настороженностью к расширению НАТО в восточном направлении, в том числе включению в альянс Литвы, Латвии и Эстонии.

Мы выступали и выступаем против того, что как раз именно с 2004 года была введена в действие операция военно-воздушных сил НАТО "Балтийское воздушное патрулирование", в которой принимают участие боевые самолеты пятнадцати государств – членов НАТО, то есть половина нынешнего списочного состава альянса из 30 государств.

В ней задействованы самолеты двойного назначения, в том числе принадлежащие трем хорошо известным ядерным государствам Запада – Великобритании, США и Франции. А также самолеты-носители ядерного оружия ряда европейских государств, которые не имеют своего собственного ядерного оружия, но размещают американское тактическое ядерное оружие в виде авиационных ядерных авиабомб, которые могут доставляться довольно быстро.

Военно-воздушная база Зокняй под Шяуляем в Литве, Лиелварде в Латвии, Эмари в Эстонии модернизированы и созданы для того, чтобы не только принимать истребители-бомбардировщики средней дальности, но и американские тяжелые стратегические бомбардировщики, которые однозначно являются носителями ядерного оружия. То есть не двойного назначения, а однозначно относимые к ядерным средствам доставки стратегического назначения.

Мы, конечно, выступали всегда против размещения различных тяжелых видов вооружений на территории государств Балтии, создания там различных многонациональных бригад Североатлантического пакта, вооруженных "до зубов", складских помещений для хранения оружия, командно-штабных структур альянса и так далее.

Вы правы, когда говорите, что в прошлом Российская Федерация в меньшей степени выступала против вхождения в НАТО государств, входивших ранее в СССР, чем сейчас. Все рассчитывала на какое-то понимание с их стороны, на развитие сотрудничества и укрепление равной безопасности. Не получилось. Все такие попытки с нашей стороны были восприняты в НАТО как "слабость" Москвы.

В настоящее время Россия особо выступает против вступления в НАТО Украины и Грузии, а также против вхождения туда и нейтральных государств – Швеции и Финляндии.

Украина уже проявила себя как как ультранационалистическое государство, имеет большие милитаристские амбиции, в частности, в отношении гражданского населения Донбасса – двух республик, которые были там образованы по решению их граждан. Грузия имеет территориальные претензии, это тоже неуравновешенное государство.

То есть, в последнем случае речь о государствах, которые однозначно будут ярыми противниками России, от них будет исходить угроза национальной безопасности РФ. Потому что там появятся не только операции типа "Балтийское воздушное патрулирование", а, скажем, "украинское" или "грузинское" воздушное патрулирование с использованием самолетов-носителей ядерного оружия, но и ударные средства наступательного характера – ракеты различной дальности, противоракетные средства и другие виды вооружений. Будут созданы новые военные базы, опорные пункты, командно-штабные структуры НАТО.

Я затронул Финляндию – государство, которое, как известно, после окончания Второй мировой войны и до сих пор официально проводит нейтральную внешнюю политику. К моему большому удивлению, нынешнее руководство страны приняло решение закупить у американцев 64 истребителя-бомбардировщика новейшего пятого поколения F-35A. Это сертифицированный самолет, который может нести на борту ядерные бомбы.

Зачем такое огромное количество ядерных средств доставки нейтральному государству Финляндии, которое, как обещают, уже в июне этого года на очередном саммите Североатлантического альянса в Мадриде может быть принято в альянс (об этом говорят западные государственные деятели уже чуть ли не в открытую)?

Вот эти носители ядерного оружия – самолеты F-35A – уже появились во многих государствах Европы, в частности в Норвегии, Дании, Италии. Италия уже направляет свои самолеты F-35A в воздушное пространство государств Балтии. И в мае этого года Италия получит уже первую партию новейших американских ядерных авиабомб B-61-12, которые имеют максимальный ядерный боезаряд 50 килотонн – это в три раза больше, чем известная хиросимская бомба, которую американцы сбросили в 1945 году на Хиросиму.

Пока после распада Советского Союза НАТО не расширялось на восток, у нас в целом отношения с альянсом были довольно ровные. Россия вступила в программу НАТО "Партнерство ради мира", впоследствии был создан Совет Россия – НАТО.

Мне довелось принимать участие в совместных с ВМС США и Великобританией, а также ВМФ России операциях по противодействию пиратству на морях, в отработке поисково-спасательных операций на море, совершать полеты на американских самолетах, высаживаться даже на американский атомный авианосец Kitty Hawk в Тихом океане.

Тогда был очень большой делегационный обмен по дипломатической и военной линиям, то есть все в целом развивалось в деловой атмосфере и без противостояния.

Но как только руководство НАТО решило принять в свои ряды практически все государства Европы, да еще с культивированием там русофобских и милитаристских настроений, то дело пошло наперекосяк. Потому что новые члены НАТО стали превращаться в плацдарм для создания угрозы национальной безопасности РФ.

Поэтому Россия и передала США и НАТО предложения о гарантиях безопасности 15 декабря прошлого года. Там нет никаких ультимативных требований. Все формулировки написаны на основе взаимности и с готовностью укрепить равновеликую безопасность для всех сторон. Если бы эти документы были одобрены в США и в НАТО, то, конечно, безопасность в Европе выиграла бы от этого.

У США и Североатлантического союза нет никаких оснований угрожать нам. И мы никому и не угрожаем. У нас более благородные задачи: сделать свою страну богаче, повысить уровень жизни населения, сделать Россию более эффективной и мощной страной.

– Какова вероятность того, что Запад даст эти письменные гарантии России?

– 20 января президент Джозеф Байден выступил на юбилейной пресс-конференции по случаю первого года своего вступления в должность. Я понял его так, что он готов до бесконечности разговаривать с нами по различным вопросам контроля над вооружениями и европейской безопасности, но не готов дать нам никаких письменных гарантий, особенно постатейно на два российских проекта, переданные в середине декабря прошлого года Соединенных Штатам и НАТО.

Генеральный секретарь НАТО Йенс Столтенберг вообще предложил продолжать переговоры с Москвой "за закрытыми дверями", не информируя о них мировую общественность. Значит – без письменных ответов?

17 января этого года появился еще один негативный признак того, что они никаких гарантий безопасности давать нам не будут.

Я имею в виду утвержденную в НАТО новую "Всеобъемлющую космическую политику". Суть ее  заключается в том, что космос  объявляется зоной военных действий, он повторяет по этому положению  действующую космическую стратегию  США.

Документ предусматривает распространение на все космическое пространство пятой статьи Вашингтонского договора о создании НАТО 1949 года. А в НАТО есть и ядерная, и другие стратегии. Все эти стратегии – и американские, и общенатовские – нацелены против РФ, КНР, Ирана, Северной Кореи. Если 17 января в альянсе "трансатлантической солидарности" приняли одно решение, то каким образом там через несколько дней дадут нам гарантии?

Если космос становится зоной потенциальных боевых действий, то как можно обеспечить гарантии безопасности в других четырех сферах – на море, на суше, в воздухе и в киберпространстве. Никак. Это вещи взаимосвязанные.

Поэтому я пессимистически смотрю на возможность получения письменного ответа американско-натовской стороны на два названных проекта Москвы.

Пока ничего позитивного в таком развитии событий я не вижу. Вижу только затягивание и, к сожалению, воинственные и необоснованные угрозы в адрес России и ее народа. Угрозы – увеличить в еще большем объеме военное присутствие НАТО у российских границ, ввести более жесткие торгово-экономические санкции, нарастить поставки оружия Украине не только по линии США, но и Великобритании.

Но это грубейшее нарушение одного из ведущих принципов Организации по безопасности и сотрудничеству в Европе (ОБСЕ): никогда и ни под каким предлогом нельзя поставлять оружие в районы, где имеются конфликтные ситуации.

– Какое развитие событий вам кажется наиболее вероятным, если положительного ответа от Запада так и не поступит? Как будет действовать Россия?

– Ответ будет простой, по латинской формуле "третьего не дано", то есть ответ военно-техническими методами.

Сейчас США и Россия располагают двумя национальными площадками нанесения потенциального удара по территории друг друга. Это континентальная часть, национальная территория сторон. Один к одному. Но у американцев есть еще "средства передового базирования". Это их термин – не наш.

Это комбинированные виды вооружений, которые складированы за пределами Соединенных Штатов и довольно близко от нашей территории.

Их средства передового базирования – это комбинированные ракетно-ядерные средства, противоракетные системы и силы общего назначения, в том числе тяжелая военная техника.

Итак, у них две зоны против одной нашей, откуда может быть нанесен удар. Соотношение: два к одному. Здесь они впереди. У России средств передового базирования у территории США нет.

Поэтому РФ должна уравнять эти два показателя – сделать два и два. То есть две национальные зоны – территория США и РФ остаются. Если Россия приобретает возможности размещения своих вооружений в зонах передового базирования, то есть близко от американского континента и как можно ближе к Европе, к натовским государствам, то тогда соотношение будет два и два. Счет сравняется. Но этого недостаточно.

Считаю, что мы должны сделать более выгодную нам математическую формулу соотношения сил. Сделать 2,5 – у нас и 2 – у американцев. 0,5 – это современные виды российских вооружений, которые либо уже поступили в состав вооруженных сил РФ, либо те, которые скоро поступят. Я имею в виду семь таких перспективных видов вооружений – то есть шесть, которые назвал наш президент в марте 2018 года, и сейчас появилась ракета "Циркон" – это седьмой вид.

Когда мы будем иметь соотношение военных потенциалов 2,5:2 в нашу пользу, то тогда мы можем чувствовать себя в полной безопасности.

– То есть можно говорить о приближении "Карибского кризиса 2.0"?

– Да, только это будет "Карибский кризис 3.0". Почему я перескакиваю? Первый был в октябре 1962 года. А "Карибский кризис 2.0" уже создан в небе трех государств Балтии с 2004 года, когда там появились самолеты двойного назначения – носители ядерного оружия США.

К сожалению, многие наши политологи вообще не знают об этой операции, впервые о ней слышат или переводят с английского Baltic Air Policing как "Балтийская полицейская операция" ВВС.

Но боевые самолеты не могут выполнять полицейские функции. Их функция – патрулирование. Причем опасное – круглосуточное и круглогодичное. Вблизи российских границ.

Вот почему я называю такое американское ракетно-ядерное наращивание "Карибским кризисом 2.0".

С учетом этого получится "Карибский кризис 3.0". Карибский кризис номер один мы преодолели, а вот на "Балтийское воздушное патрулирование НАТО", или "Карибский кризис 2.0", мы очень слабо реагируем. И в академическом плане среди специалистов, и в официальном плане.

Надо было сразу же поставить вопрос, когда эта операция была введена в действие в марте 2004 года. Смотрите, сколько лет она уже существует. Туда доставляются все новые самолеты носители ядерного оружия, вскоре в Европе появится новое тактическое ядерное оружие в виде B-61-12.

– Первый Карибский кризис удалось разрешить дипломатическим путем. Каким может быть исход "третьего Карибского кризиса"?

– Да, удалось разрешить благодаря жесткости тогдашнего советского руководства, я имею в виду Никиту Сергеевича Хрущева. Тогда СССР имел соотношение по ядерному оружию относительно США один к семнадцати. Но мы заставили американцев убрать свои ракеты средней дальности класса "Юпитер" с территории Турции и Италии.

Но, к сожалению, впопыхах не договорились, чтобы в Италии и Турции вообще американское тактическое ядерное оружие в будущем никогда не появлялось. Оно потом появилось и до сих пор находится там. И 35-й президент США Джон Фицджеральд Кеннеди тоже проявил понимание, что подвешивать ядерный Дамоклов меч над головами друг друга – это тупиковый путь. Его исход – это тотальная ядерная война, обмен ядерными ударами.

Так что надо тоже поставить наших американских оппонентов и наших натовских визави в точно такое же положение, как они поставили нас с этой операцией ВВС НАТО "Балтийское воздушное патрулирование".

– То есть, поставив ракеты у границ США, мы сможем потребовать уйти НАТО в том числе из Прибалтики, заставить их отказаться от этой программы воздушного патрулирования?

– Нам не придется даже что-то требовать, доказывать или просить. Они сами предложат: "Вы убираете ядерное оружие от берегов США, а мы уберем от рубежей РФ". Сами попросят как можно быстрее заключить соответствующее соглашение.

Только так. Они другого пути не понимают. Они до сих пор считают нас Давидом, а себя считают Голиафом. Но времена, когда Россия была ослаблена, уже прошли. Россия стала ведущей мировой державой в военно-политическом смысле.

Беседовала Кристина Храмцова. Источник: Baltnews

НАТО призвало Россию поддерживать "активный диалог" с США по договору о РСМД. Военный эксперт Владимир Козин в эфире радио Sputnik выразил мнение, что обстановка вокруг договора накаляется преднамеренно.

НАТО призывает Россию вести активный диалог с США по вопросу Договора о ликвидации ракет средней и меньшей дальности (ДРСМД), сообщается в заявлении Североатлантического совета.

"Члены альянса зафиксировали российскую ракетную систему, которая вызывает серьезное беспокойство. НАТО призывает Россию обратить внимание на это беспокойство, действуя основательно и прозрачно, а также принимать активное участие в техническом диалоге с США", – говорится в пресс-релизе на сайте НАТО.

"США действуют в соответствии со своими обязательствами по договору о РСМД и привержены тому, чтобы строго соблюдать их", – сообщается в заявлении.

Отмечается, что члены альянса приветствуют продолжение попыток США наладить взаимодействие с Россией в двусторонним и многостороннем форматах, включая Специальную контрольную комиссию, которая занимается разрешением вызывающих беспокойство вопросов о соблюдении Россией договора о РСМД.

Члены НАТО придерживаются единого мнения, что эффективный контроль вооружений остается существенным элементом стратегической стабильности и коллективной безопасности, поэтому члены альянса выступают за сохранение договора о РСМД, говорится в заявлении.

Президент России Владимир Путин в четверг на ежегодной пресс-конференции заявил, что США фактически вышли из договора о РСМД. При этом он напомнил, что Россия не выходила из основополагающих договоров, которые являлись краеугольным камнем международной безопасности, в том числе договоров по противоракетной обороне, в то время как США вышли из него в одностороннем порядке.

Профессор Академии военных наук РФ, ведущий эксперт Центра военно-политических исследований МГИМО Владимир Козин в эфире радио Sputnik отметил, что не Россия, а именно США нарушают ДРСМД.

"Натовцы обращаются не по адресу. Это мы должны предъявлять к ним претензии по поводу того, что они нарушают этот договор. До настоящего момента американская сторона никоим образом не доказала, что Россия нарушает этот договор: не названы места проведения так называемых испытаний каких-то там ракет, не названы типы ракет, в общем, нет никаких данных. При этом после того, как в 2002 году США вышли из договора об ограничении систем ПРО, у американских военных началась "свистопляска" с проведением испытаний противоракетной системы глобального базирования, когда в качестве учебных ракет стали использоваться и используются сейчас все те ракеты, которые запрещены ДРСМД. Кроме того, в этом году американский конгресс принял специальное решение о разработке крылатой ракеты наземного базирования, запрещенной ДРСМД. И под это уже выделены деньги – 58 млн долларов", – сказал Владимир Козин.

И США сейчас, по мнению военного эксперта, пытаются "прикрыть" собственные нарушения.

"Есть конкретные признаки того, что, во-первых, США уже неоднократно нарушали ДРСМД, испытывая противоракетные системы, и, во-вторых, они нарушат этот договор путем создания крылатой ракеты средней дальности, которую, кстати, США вполне могут передать своим союзникам по НАТО. Кроме того, в конгрессе США появилась резолюция, в которой прописано, что американцы могут выйти из договора – либо полностью, либо частично. Так что резюме такое: американцы в последнее время специально накалили обстановку вокруг так называемых российских нарушений, чтобы, прежде всего, прикрыть свои собственные приготовления, замаскировать собственные нарушения данного договорного акта", – считает Владимир Козин.

Россия и США неоднократно обвиняли друг друга в разработке систем, нарушающих договор. США предлагали России "вернуться к соблюдению" договора, Россия отвергала обвинения и, в свою очередь, предлагала США соблюдать договор о РСМД.

В МИД РФ ранее заявляли, что в Москве серьезно озабочены использованием США неаргументированных данных по договору как предлога для кампании о возможных ответных мерах против России. Глава российского внешнеполитического ведомства Сергей Лавров отмечал, что российское руководство неоднократно подтверждало приверженность обязательствам по РСМД и "каких-либо нарушений с нашей стороны не было". Министр также подчеркивал, что у Москвы "имеются весьма серьезные вопросы к США по поводу некоторых "вольностей" с выполнением договора самими американцами.

Источник: РИА Новости

В Пентагоне заявили, что предложения главы Минобороны РФ Сергея Шойгу его американскому коллеге Джеймсу Мэттису не свидетельствуют о готовности России спасти договор РСМД.

Предложения, направленные на прошлой неделе министром обороны РФ Сергеем Шойгу его американскому коллеге Джеймсу Мэттису, не содержат признаков того, что Россия заинтересована в сохранении договора о ракетах средней и меньшей дальности (ДРСМД), заявили РИА Новости в Пентагоне.

В минувшую субботу официальный представитель Минобороны РФ генерал-майор Игорь Конашенков сообщил, что Сергей Шойгу предложил Джеймсу Мэттису обсудить разногласия по условиям соблюдения ДРСМД. Шойгу в обращении подчеркнул, что российская сторона готова к открытому и предметному диалогу с Пентагоном по всем актуальным проблемам совместной повестки.

"На протяжении более пяти лет, в ходе более 30 встреч на всех уровнях российского правительства и пяти совещаний экспертов Россия никогда не демонстрировала каких-либо признаков того, что она стремится вернуться к соблюдению (ДРСМД). Ни одна из этих встреч не принесла прогресса из-за нежелания России признавать свои нарушения, не говоря уже о возвращении к полному и проверяемому соблюдению (договора). Предложение России на прошлой неделе не содержит никаких указаний на то, что она заинтересована в принятии этих шагов по спасению договора РСМД", – сказал представитель пресс-службы Пентагона Эрик Пэйхон.

В начале декабря госсекретарь США Майк Помпео заявил, что у России есть два месяца на то, чтобы "вернуться к выполнению" ДРСМД. Он добавил, что если этого не произойдет, Вашингтон приостановит обязательства по ДРСМД. В свою очередь, заместитель госсекретаря США по контролю над вооружениями и международной безопасности Андреа Томпсон заявила, что США призывают Россию отказаться от ракеты 9М729 (SSC-8) или модифицировать систему, чтобы ее дальность, как заявляют в Вашингтоне, не нарушала положения ДРСМД.

Профессор Академии военных наук РФ, ведущий эксперт Центра военно-политических исследований МГИМО Владимир Козин в эфире радио Sputnik прокомментировал ситуацию.

"До сих пор американцы не предоставили никому – ни нам, ни своим натовским союзникам, ни всему мировому сообществу – никаких доказательств того, что Россия вышла из этого договора. В то же самое время сами США уже десятки раз нарушали этот договор, сохранив часть подлежащих уничтожению ракет – или уничтожив, но произведя затем новые – которые они используют в качестве ракет-мишеней при испытании систем ПРО. Очередное такое испытание США провели 11 декабря в Тихом океане, когда была перехвачена, как они это обозначают, ракета "промежуточной дальности". Под промежуточной дальностью в данном случае они подразумевают дальность от 3 до 5,5 тысячи километров. А такие ракеты подпадают под действие договора РСМД", – отметил Владимир Козин.

По его мнению, отказ американских военных дать ответ на предложения министра обороны РФ ясно говорит об их намерениях.

"То, что американцы никак не ответили по существу, говорит о том, что они собираются на сей раз юридически выйти из этого соглашения (ДРСМД – ред.). Потому что фактически США вышли из него уже давно, в начале 2000-х, когда начали масштабные испытания систем ПРО с использованием в качестве мишеней ракет средней и меньшей дальности. И если у них – десятки нарушений, то у России – ноль, поэтому, говоря о том, что это мы якобы нарушаем договор, они просто "наводят тень на плетень"", – сказал Владимир Козин.

В последние годы Москва и Вашингтон регулярно обвиняют друг друга в нарушении договора о РСМД. Россия неоднократно заявляла, что строго соблюдает свои обязательства по договору. Министр иностранных дел РФ Сергей Лавров отмечал, что у Москвы есть весьма серьезные вопросы к США по поводу выполнения договора самими американцами. По словам Лаврова, обвинения США о нарушении Москвой ДРСМД голословны, ракета 9М729 была испытана на разрешенную договором дальность.

В частности, в Москве указывают, что Соединенные Штаты размещают на суше – на военной базе в Румынии, а также в Польше – установки, способные запускать ударные крылатые ракеты типа "Томагавк", что запрещено договором. Российская сторона также обращает внимание на то, что США разрабатывают ударные беспилотники, финансируют исследования по созданию крылатой ракеты наземного базирования.

Источник: РИА Новости

Полеты по Договору об открытом небе (ДОН) могут сорваться из-за Грузии, которая не желает открывать воздушное пространство для наблюдателей. В эфире радио Sputnik военный эксперт Владимир Козин отметил, что Тбилиси, видимо, есть что скрывать.

Наблюдательные полеты по Договору об открытом небе находятся на грани срыва по вине Грузии, сообщил РИА Новости военно-дипломатический источник. По его словам, Тбилиси не желает открывать воздушное пространство для российских самолетов. Из-за этой позиции консультативная комиссия по открытому небу уже несколько месяцев не может принять проект решения.

Следующее заседание комиссии пройдет в Вене в январе.

В эфире радио Sputnik профессор Академии военных наук РФ, ведущий эксперт Центра военно-политических исследований МГИМО Владимир Козин высказал мнение, что Грузии, видимо, есть что скрывать.

"Грузия боится, что мы сможем увидеть незаявленную военную деятельность, определенные военные приготовления. Нежелание открывать воздушное пространство является грубейшим нарушением договора, поскольку Грузия является страной-участницей. Если она намерена и дальше закрывать полеты российских самолетов с инспекторскими группами, то она должна выйти из этого договора, потому что частичное изъятие деятельности запрещено. Если бы Грузия пыталась выстраивать отношения на добрососедской основе, то она не делала бы таких негативных шагов. Значит, у грузинского руководства настрой не совсем позитивный, иначе бы они строго выполняли все положения Договора по открытому небу. Как говорится, честному человеку прятать нечего, а грабитель всегда припрятывает оружие под полой. Все, что делается в плане сокрытия определенной военной деятельности, может вызывать только подозрения, в том числе и в искренности того государства, которое вводит ограничения по Договору об открытом небе", – сказал Владимир Козин.

Договор по открытому небу был подписан в Хельсинки 24 марта 1992 года представителями 23 государств – членов ОБСЕ. Россия ратифицировала договор в мае 2001 года. Участники договора могут совершать облеты территорий друг друга с целью контроля военной деятельности.

В сентябре издание The Wall Street Journal сообщало, что Вашингтон готовится ограничить полеты российских военных самолетов над США в рамках договора. В частности, решение может коснуться территории Аляски и Гавайев. По данным газеты, эта мера вызвана российским запретом на полеты над Калининградом.

В Кремле призвали США выдвигать любые претензии в строгом соответствии с договором.

На этой неделе стало известно, что с января Москва вводит ограничения для США по Договору об открытом небе. По словам военно-дипломатического источника, Россия закроет часть аэродромов для американских самолетов-наблюдателей. Этот шаг стал ответом на аналогичные действия Вашингтона.

Источник: РИА Новости

24 февраля этого года МИД КНР распространил предложения "по урегулированию украинского кризиса" (прилагается ниже в переводе МИД КНР).

Документ, состоящий из 12 пунктов, содержит в целом взвешенные положения практического характера. Они представляются  более реалистическими, чем ранее озвученный президентом Зеленским "мирный план" политического урегулирования ситуации на Украине, которая вместе с Североатлантическим союзом сначала в 2014 году развязала агрессию против Донбасса, а затем в 2022 году и против России.

Вместе с тем, в китайском документе нет положения, которое осуждало бы масштабные поставки тяжелых видов вооружений для ВСУ со стороны стран-членов НАТО и ряда внеблоковых государств, а также требовало бы полного прекращения таких поставок. В денежном выражении они уже превысили 150 млрд. долларов, и их новые транши затягивают политическое урегулирование проблемы, созданной  Украиной и ее западными спонсорами, продлевают их прямую агрессию против России, а также создают опасный очаг напряженности в Европе.

В девятом пункте китайских предложений обращается внимание только на обеспечение вывоза «украинского зерна» по условиям известной четырехсторонней «Черноморской инициативы» от 22 июля 2022 года. Эта составная часть договоренности как раз выполняется. Но не реализуется вторая часть согласованного «пакета» договоренности, которая касается вывоза сельхозпродукции и удобрений из России. Москва не раз обращала внимание на это обстоятельство. Во время телефонного разговора президентов России и Турции, состоявшегося 24 февраля, вновь была подчёркнута необходимость добросовестного выполнения именно второй части «пакета», касающейся устранения препятствий для соответствующих поставок из России в наиболее нуждающиеся страны мира.

Автор: В.П. Козин, член-корреспондент Академии военных наук России

Приложение

ПОЗИЦИЯ КИТАЯ ПО ПОЛИТИЧЕСКОМУ УРЕГУЛИРОВАНИЮ УКРАИНСКОГО КРИЗИСА

("13 unresolved issues in arms control between Russia and the USA")

Лекция ведущего эксперта ЦВПИ МГИМО В.П. Козина, подготовленная для Массачусетского технологического института, США (МТИ).

6 октября 2020г.

Ведущий эксперт ЦВПИ МГИМО В.П. Козин в программе “Специальный репортаж” на телеканале “Звезда”.

Какую роль играет Украина в планах Вашингтона? И ради какой высшей цели Владимир Зеленский напугал жителей Украины?

Международный центр стратегической разведки объявил на Украине «красный» уровень опасности. А это значит, что боестолкновения могут начаться в течение ближайших двух недель. Почему названы именно эти даты? 

Эфир от 25 января 2022г.

Источник: телеканал “Звезда”

Ведущий эксперт центра военно-политических исследований МГИМО Владимир Козин в программе новостей канала «МИР 24».

В СССР 70 лет назад испытали атомную бомбу. О том, как создавался ядерный щит страны – корреспондент «МИР 24» Анна Бажайкина.

Семипалатинский полигон в Казахстане – эта земля пережила почти 500 атомных взрывов. Для испытаний его закрыли почти 30 лет назад. Но уровень радиации замеряют и сегодня. Местами фонит. Здесь испытали первую советскую атомную бомбу РДС-1.

Разделить ядро пытались еще в 30-ых. В начале Великой Отечественной научные институты прекратили работу. Однако осенью 41-го разведка донесла: США и Великобритания вовсю изучают атомную энергию и как ее использовать в военных целях. Советские ученые тут же возобновили работу. Руководить исследованиями назначили Игоря Курчатова. В итоге у них получилось.

«Бомба, которая была испытана – 22 килотонны. Это примерно столько же, сколько американская атомная бомба, которую сбросили на Нагасаки», – отметил член корреспондент академии военных наук, член-корреспондент РАЕН, ведущий эксперт центра военно-политических исследований МГИМО Владимир Козин.

Разработку советских ученых назвали РДС-1. Официально: реактивный двигатель специальный. В кулуарах называли: Родина дарит Сталину. Под полигон нашли равнину диаметром 20 километров в 170 километрах от Семипалатинска. Готовить его начали за два года. Строили здания, расставляли технику и загоны для животных. Чтобы детально изучить разрушительную силу атомного взрыва. И вот 29 августа 1949 года.

Небо над полигоном озарило ровно в семь утра. Бомбу подорвали на высоте 30 метров. Ударная волна смела все на своем пути. Земля дрожала даже в сотнях километров от полигона. Через 20 минут к месту взрыва отправили два танка со свинцовой защитой. С помощью них увидели – все постройки разрушены. На месте башни осталась огромная воронка.

«Это в дальнейшем привело к тому, что появился договор о нераспространении ядерного оружия, о запрещении испытаний ядерного оружия в трех средах», – сказал Владимир Козин.

Через два года после первого испытания в закрытом городе Арзамас-16 началось серийное производство атомной бомбы РДС-1. Они условно стали ядерным щитом страны, а США потеряли монополию на ядерное оружие.

Источник: «МИР 24»

Vladimir Kozin gave an interview to the Regis TV show (USA) on the issue of the military and political implications of 900 plus militants who surrendered at the Azovstal Steel Mill in Mariupol.

May 10, 2025

Will Kiev honor a 30-days truce that Ukrainian bosses and a limited number of European leaders are advocating?

No, not at all. It is Utopia. For several reasons. There are examples of gross violations of the previous ceasefire proposals only in the current year.

1. ‘The energy truce’ initiated by President Donald Trump last March has been violated by Ukraine 136 times. Russia has not violated it at all. Such a ceasefire lasted for 30 days. See: Report # 341 released on March 25.
2. ‘The Easter truce’ proposed by President Vladimir Putin due to Eater celebrations April 20-21. Ukraine torpedoed it 4,900 times. Russia has observed it, and reacted in response to initial Ukrainian attacks only. See: Report # 345 released on April 20.
3.  ‘The V-Day truce‘ – the latest ceasefire initiative proposed by Moscow has lasted during May 8-10 due to V-Day celebrations.

During this latest truce Russia has recorded 9,318 ceasefire violations by the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), according to the Russian MoD. Ukrainian troops carried out 2,669 attacks on Russian units’ positions by using cannon artillery, tank guns and mortars, as well as 46 MRLS. In addition, 6,562 strikes and HE ammunitions drops from UAVs were carried out. AFU also tried to intrude into adjacent Kursk and Belgorod Regions four times. A reminder: by March 2025 AFU has lost 76,000 as KIA and WIA in Kursk Region alone.

On the eve of such truce illegal ex-president president Vladimir Zelensky has twice threatened to attack nearly 30 foreign VIPs that wished to attend the Military Parade arranged near the Kremlin Palace on May 9, 2025.

So, why the leaders France, Germany, Poland and the UK are insisting on a new one month-long truce between Ukraine and Russia? Do not they see that Kiev has de facto violated all these ceasefire proposals listed earlier? Miscalculation.

The answer is: they would like to encourage Ukraine to continue such a large-scale aggression in the heart of Europe. Even during this new 30-days truce they expressed their intention to supply AFU with a new quantity of lethal weapons.

No, doubt:  Vladimir Zelensky will disrupt all kind of ceasefires – no matter on what occasions they would be proclaimed. History records vividly testify that.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

Dr. Vladimir Kozin and Scott Ritter, two experts, share their views on the war in Ukraine entering the "final phase"; explain who are Wagner Group and Tsar's Wolves; Zelinsky's threats to strike Crimea; and nuclear gaslighting. Scott presented the historical account of America's goal since the 1990's to make sure Russia would never be a threat to the US hegemony. He explains that America's goal has been regime change in Russia every since 2000 when VV Putin was elected president. The purpose of the war in Ukraine, the false narrative, threats, and the billions of dollars and equipment is to weaken the will of Russians to outs Putin and not to win the war.

Persistent references made by German leadership and other Western politicians in connection with the "poisoning of Alexei Navalny" by a certain combat chemical agent "Novichok" to the unsubstantiated conclusions of closed laboratories serving the armed forces and intelligence services of several NATO member states are not incidental.

The fact is that these organizations are now in their second year actively working on a new type of chemical warfare agent, the development of which began after the data on the research activity in this area came into the hands of Western experts. It is also important to note here that such substances are not produced in Russia at all. And Alexey Navalny himself could not survive if he was poisoned by some dangerous chemical warfare agent. He has not even had any signs of such “poisoning”. He was discharged from Omsk hospital without any signs of such poisoning. This was demonstrated by about 60 different tests and biological check-ups conducted at this medical facility.

Fraudulent British military and "MI-6" claims of case of poisoning of the Skripals’ father and daughter in the United Kingdom allowed to bring out of the shadow the theme of chemical compounds of the most dangerous class of allegedly "Novichok" chemical agent which does not exist in reality.

Such term was intentionally thrown in mass media by opponents of Russia with reference to the Soviet chemical “expert” Vil Mirzayanov who emigrated to the USA in political and informational field of Western countries. This term was specially spread in the West – initially in London – deliberately in Russian language in order to make Moscow "responsible" for creation and use of some chemical agents under such a specific name even linguistically, i.e. in connection with the Russian word "novichok", and also to teach the rest of the world to believe in such groundless accusation.

Most likely, the named military and special services have their own variant of the verbal name of a certain military grade poison in English, in addition to its obviously complex chemical formula or classified alphanumeric designation – for example, in the form of slang word "freshman", which just means in Russian "new pupil in the classroom or newcomer at school", as well as "a first-year student".

Thus, the achievements of NATO laboratories in this field were legalized – in this case under the pretext of the need to protect against another type of "Russian aggression", this time versus “chemical aggression”.

At the same time, research has begun in NATO countries aimed at ensuring the leading positions of the Western military alliance in the field of military chemistry. And the USA and EU sold the creation of the so-called "attributive mechanism of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons", the main purpose of which is to impose various types of trade, economic and financial sanctions against those countries where it is possible to conduct any kind of research not controlled by the West.

The Russian side believes that there are too many inconsistencies in the case of alleged “poisoning” of Alexei Navalny.

Recently the Permanent Mission of Russia to the European Union pointed out to representatives of this structure the key flaws in the version about his “poisoning”. And the first issue is related to the permission of the respective authorities to transport Alexey Navalny to Germany, where, if he was actually poisoned, could identify dangerous substances in his body. The Russian Permanent Mission also specified that the Russian authorities should not have resorted to poisoning this man, because according to the polls his rating does not exceed two percent.

It was pointed out that Alexey Navalny's companions hurriedly flew to Germany without giving evidence to Russian law-enforcement agencies. Attention was drawn to the way the bottle of water from which he was drinking and in which the poisonous substance was supposedly contained appeared in Germany. Why in Germany? Questions were asked: why did the German “Charite” clinic undertook enhanced security measures before detecting Navalny's "poisoning"; why the FRG still has not provided Russia with the results of the analyses of his “poisoning”; why the West was unwilling to acknowledge the fact that NATO countries are still developing poisonous warfare agents; why the German medics have avoided professional contact with Russian colleagues in that case; and how it can be understood that no military or civilian German toxicologist or doctor at the “Charite” clinic has ever been able to identify the problem. The Russian side also noted that all references to the impossibility to disclose the patient's medical history do not coincide with those political statements made during the stay of Alexey Navalny in an artificial coma in Germany.

Russia has no reason to launch an investigation into what happened to opposition activist Alexei Navalny until it has received data from Germany. Vasily Nebenzia, Russia’s permanent representative to this organization, stated this at a UN Security Council meeting. "Even a freshman of law school knows that any investigation must be preceded by evidence and facts based on the evidence available to us, otherwise our law enforcement agencies have no reason to launch an investigation," he said, adding that Russian doctors, who, by the way, initially saved Alexei Navalny, did not find any chemical substances during his medical tests.

The story with him is designed to formalize the next stage in the legal field: at the end of last year, experts from the secret laboratory of the German Bundeswehr in Berlin, the British secret chemical and biological laboratory in Porton Down known as Ministry of Defence’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, the Americans at Harvard University and the Czechs at the Faculty of Military Medicine of the Academy of the Czech Ministry of Defense in Hradec Kralove came to the same conclusions almost synchronously and independently of each other in terms of their combat properties, “Freshman” class agents are as lethal as the long-known "classic" sarin, soman or VX agents. And it is designed for battlefield and reputedly kills instantly.

But any lethal outcome due to the use of such "Freshman" agents can be delayed. Toxic effects on the respiratory, circulatory and peripheral nervous systems look like symptoms of asphyxiation or heart failure. In conditions of lack of time, or when it is impossible to conduct laboratory analysis of samples taken from victims of "Freshman" chemical agents, conventional methods of diagnosis do not guarantee the detection of the fact that the cause of death or severe poisoning was the result of employment of a warfare agent. Thus, a potential victim of nerve agent’s aggression may not receive adequate and timely medical care.

Findings made by experts from NATO countries on the symptoms found in Alexei Navalny indicate that they are conducting dangerous research in this class of highly toxic compounds. This means that these labs are producing these formulations and studying their combat properties, unfortunately for individuals whose names are, to some extent, known to the general public. They make such people as "victims for slaughter".

In fact, the world faced a purposeful disinformation campaign of the West, first of all the USA and the United Kingdom, covering up the legalization of their developments of deadly new generation of chemical warfare agents as well as sacrificing their “hard-working friends” to achieve destructive and provocative goals with deeper consequences in the international arena.

In fact, this is not just targeted poisoning of people, but also poisoning of the entire political and other atmosphere in the world at large with dangerous outcome.

By Vladimir Kozin

>>You can read the russian version of the article by clicking on the link<<



Доклад международных экспертов о положении в Афганистане и прогнозах развития там обстановки после вывода войск США с его территории. Приложенный доклад составлен на основе вебинара на тему "Афганистан на перепутье: перспективы мира и геополитический императив". Мероприятие было проведено под эгидой Пакистанского университета по науке и технике 2 июня с.г.  В вебинаре принял участие член-корреспондент РАВН В.П. Козин.

May 12, 2025

Due to direct and unprovoked Ukrainian military aggression against the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics that has been unleashed unilaterally of the neo-Nazi regime in Kiev since April 14, 2014, a number of children from both sides (Ukraine and Russia) have found their asylum in these two countries, especially in cases when their biological parents and other direct relatives have been killed or lost during military operations. The second wave of the Ukrainian aggression against Donbass began on February 17, 2022. It also added a lot of problems to children who lost their parents.

Unfortunately, information about the work of the Russian Federation and “The Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights on the rescue and protection of children's rights” is presented by foreign mass media and politicians in a distorted way: Russia assumes that in some cases it has been done intentionally, and in some cases – out of ignorance of the situation or due to lack of mere professionalism.

Any person who does not possess a reliable information should not disseminate false information on that matter

All children who came to Russia due to Ukrainian aggression that is still goes on, are fully registered by the state authorities. There a strict obligation to return to Ukraine all those children who have direct parents or direct relatives in Ukraine. By April 2025 Russia has returned to Ukraine more than 100 children who have rejoined their families.

In June 2023 Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that about 300 Ukrainian children who lost their parents were placed in Russian families, but not via an adoption, but on the basis of temporary, pre-guardianship, or temporary guardianship [ https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/6076214]. The Russian side claims that the transfer of Ukrainian children to the territory of Russia from the theater of military operations was for security reasons and in accordance with the international law, therefore it falls under the concept of humanitarian evacuation of children where military hostilities are underway.

Ukraine is conducting a mandatory evacuation, without the right to choose the side of the nomination, although, according to the available information, a number of families having children would like to settle at the territory of Russia. Ukraine conceals the names of children they have detained and other important information about their biological parents and direct relatives. More than 500 children have been removed illegally from Donbass, 170 have been sent to the Netherlands, 159 to Turkey, more than 100 to Germany and 43 to Lithuania.

Ukraine creates various legal and other obstacles thus preventing to return trapped or kidnapped children to four republics/regions that later have joined Russia in September 2023, namely Donetsk, and Lugansk People’s Republics, and Kherson and Zaporozhye Regions (Oblasts in original).

In the Document attached below, a reader can find a detailed information on the issue: “Activities of the Russian Federation Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights Maria Lvova-Belova to protect children during a Special Military Operation”. Issue № 3. June 19, 2024 [Document-0-308-src-1718870725.6647.pdf; in English]. Link: https://deti.gov.ru/uploads/magic/ru-RU/Document-0-308-src-1718870725.6647.pdf. Or the version in Russian: https://deti.gov.ru/Deyatelnost/documents/307.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

>>Part II. US grievances against Russia<<

>>Part III. Russia’s stance on the future of the INF treaty<<

Will the INF Treaty Be Kept Beyond Its 30th Anniversary?

Thirty years ago, on Dec. 8, 1987, the leaders of the USSR and the US – Mikhail Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan – signed a treaty to eliminate intermediate- and shorter-range missiles (the INF Treaty).

While it was being actively implemented, 1,846 Soviet and 846 American nuclear-armed, land-based, ballistic and cruise missiles with a range between 500 and 5,500 kilometers were destroyed.

After completely eliminating these missiles by the summer of 1991, both sides were satisfied that they had been able to fulfill all the provisions of this important bilateral agreement.

But beginning in June 2012, the administrations of Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump have become increasingly more insistent that Russia is violating this treaty.

Is this criticism justified?

Or is the very United States violating this treaty?

And if so, in what ways?

***

In December 1979, NATO adopted what was known as its Double-Track Decision. That alliance began preparations for a Western-European deployment of Pershing II ballistic missiles and Tomahawk ground-launched cruise missiles that were in their final stages of development, while simultaneously offering to begin negotiating with the Soviet Union on intermediate- and shorter-range nuclear forces. On Nov. 18, 1981, the United States declared its readiness to cancel the deployment of its Pershing II and Tomahawk missiles, if the Soviet Union would dismantle all its intermediate-range missiles in both the European and Asian parts of that country. But this would effectively mean a unilateral disarmament for the Soviets, since for every two Soviet SS-20 (RSD-10) missiles being deployed, the USSR would be retiring three SS-4 (R-12) and SS-5 (R-14) missiles.

And so Moscow turned down this proposal, but it initiated negotiations to dramatically reduce or to even completely discontinue all types of intermediate-range nuclear weapons (including the aircraft that carry them) and to suspend any updates on them while the negotiations were underway.

However, the United States declined that offer and in late 1983 began deploying new nuclear missiles in Europe, where the countries of the alliance already had 857 nuclear carriers in place, including 651 aircraft belonging to the US (the F-111, F-111A, and F-4, plus its carrier-based aircraft stationed along the borders of the European continent), as well as 64 ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads from the United Kingdom and 98 nuclear missiles and 44 bombers belonging to France, all of which could together carry more than 400 nuclear warheads.

At that time the Soviet Union only owned 938 examples of such weaponry. If the NATO nations stationed another 572 nuclear missiles on the European continent, at that point the arsenals of the alliance’s nuclear powers would be 50% larger than those of the Warsaw Treaty countries. Thus, the approximate parity in the two sides’ nuclear missiles would be substantially tilted in favor of the trans-Atlantic military alliance.

Consequently the Soviet Union called a halt to the negotiations that had already begun.

A new stage began when Mikhail Gorbachev reopened those talks upon being elected to lead the USSR. He was a proponent of measures to encourage global nuclear disarmament and in 1986 put forth a step-by-step plan to create a nuclear-free world.

The first round of negotiations on strategic nuclear weapons and intermediate-range nuclear missiles began in Geneva on March 12, 1985, but no specific agreements were reached.

The next round of negotiations was held in  Reykjavik (Iceland) in September of 1986. There the USSR announced that it was prepared to sign a separate agreement on intermediate-range missiles, under which Soviet and American missiles of this class would be removed from Europe within five years, with only 100 warheads mounted on such missiles to be retained in the Asian part of the USSR and in the US. At the same time, it was proposed that the USSR and the US agree to keep equal numbers of short-range tactical missiles, provided that neither side would deploy such missiles in Europe. Moscow also agreed “not to count” the nuclear weapons belonging to Great Britain and France. A decision on intermediate-range air carriers was postponed.

And so on Dec. 8, 1987, Mikhail Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan signed the open-ended Treaty on the Elimination of Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles. The two leaders exchanged not only the paper copies of the treaty itself, but also the pens with which they signed it. At the same time, two protocols were also signed (the Protocol on Procedures Governing the Elimination of the Missile Systems and the Inspection Protocol), in addition to the Memorandum of Understanding Regarding the Establishment of the Data Base for the Treaty.

During the negotiations that preceded the agreement, the Soviets were operating on the assumption that the Pershing II ballistic missiles were equipped with variable-yield, earth-penetrating warheads and high-precision guidance systems. This was a new innovation not previously seen on ballistic missiles of this type. The Tomahawk cruise missiles boasted improved guidance accuracy and were a difficult target for anti-aircraft defenses.

All this, along with the short flight times (8-10 minutes) of the American nuclear missiles deployed in Europe, posed a threat to Soviet central command posts, fixed intercontinental ballistic-missile launch sites, and other elements of the Soviet nuclear infrastructure inside the European part of the USSR. Moreover, Soviet intermediate-range nuclear missiles were not capable of reaching the US from their launch sites on the European continent, while their American counterparts could potentially land deep inside Soviet territory.

As recalled by the Special Advisor to the President and Secretary of State on Arms Control, Paul Nitze, Republican President Ronald Reagan was primarily motivated to sign the INF Treaty based on his fear of the serious threat posed to American and NATO installations in Europe and Asia by the Soviet SS-20 (RSD-10) missile, which had extended range capability and could accommodate up to three warheads each. [Department of State Bulletin. 1988. February. Vol. 88. Number 2131. p. 81.]

The Treaty on the Elimination of Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles took effect on June 1, 1988, after being ratified by both parties and upon the exchange of instruments of ratification.

The Gorbachev-Reagan Treaty did not apply to sea-based or air-launched missiles, nor did it stipulate the destruction of the missiles’ nuclear warheads.

In addition to the physical destruction of the missiles of the two classes mentioned above, the two sides pledged to eliminate, no later than three years after the treaty took effect, the launchers and launch canisters, launch facilities and auxiliary equipment, missile vehicles and simulators, launch pads, and other equipment stationed at 43 sites in Russia, 66 sites in other Soviet republics (Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine) and in two of its Warsaw Treaty allies: at six sites in East Germany and one in Czechoslovakia, as well as at 32 sites in the US and in five Western European countries (Washington’s NATO allies of Belgium, Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, and West Germany).

It should be noted that in 1984, three countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Great Britain, the US, and France) combined owned 50% more nuclear warheads on intermediate-range missiles and aircraft as did the USSR.
As a result of the INF Treaty , by May 28, 1991, 2,692 intermediate- and shorter-range missiles were destroyed: the Soviet Union destroyed 1,846, and the US – 846.

At that time, this arsenal represented only 4% of the world’s stockpiles of nuclear weapons.

Article VI of the treaty banned both the future production and flight-testing of any intermediate-range or shorter-range missiles, as well as the production of any stages or launchers of such missiles.

The INF Treaty made provision for a meticulous regime of verification. Each side had the right to conduct on-site inspections, both within the territory of the other country, as well as within the territories of the countries where the missiles targeted for destruction were currently deployed, and they were also permitted to use national technical means of verification. In order to conduct inspections within the territories of America’s NATO allies, on Dec. 11, 1987, Washington signed corresponding agreements with Belgium, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, and West Germany.

Over the course of 13 years of work, the two sides’ inspection teams conducted approximately 1,200 inspections of various types both inside each other’s countries, as well as in other states. On May 21, 2001, an agreement was signed in Moscow marking the completion of the regime of inspections under the INF Treaty. By mutual agreement, all inspections officially ended at midnight on May 31, 2001.The INF Treaty was the first international treaty to formalize the complete and irreversible destruction of two classes of nuclear-armed missiles.

In October 2007, Russia proposed an initiative to add a global dimension to the provisions of the INF Treaty – suggesting, in other words, that that bilateral agreement be transformed into a multilateral treaty. It is a fact that such types of weaponized missiles are owned by a large number of states – as many as 32, according to American researchers. [Brad Hicks, George Galdorisi, and Scott Truver. The Aegis BMD Global Enterprise// Naval War College Review. 2012. Summer. pp.67-68].

At the UN Conference on Disarmament in February 2008, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov introduced a document, titled “The Basic Elements of an International Legal Agreement to Eliminate Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range (Ground-Based) Missiles, Opened For Broad International Accession” which could serve as a prototype for a future multilateral agreement. But the United States, which had initially backed this idea, quickly dropped its support. It was also rejected by Washington’s nuclear allies: Great Britain and France.

Although the 1987 treaty is termless, the parties have the right to withdraw from it, six months after giving such notice, if they decide that extraordinary events related to the subject matter of the treaty have “jeopardized their supreme interests.”

But if the INF Treaty is beneficial for both sides, wouldn’t it be quite natural for both Russia and the US to scrupulously comply with all of its provisions?

To be continued…

Written by Vladimir Kozin, Source: OrientalReview

Dr. Vladimir Kozin joins Regis Tremblay  to discuss today's report that Wagner has cut off Artyomovsk/Bakhmut from resupplies, reinforcements, and retreat. The Russian forces have all of the transportation corridors blocked. 70% of the city has been captured with the remaining Ukrainian forces occupying the far western part of the city.

In another top story, a Russia war blogger was assassinated buy an improvised explosive device in a café in St Petersburg yesterday. Russian security services blame it on Kiev.

© Vladimir Kozin, 2020

Member of the Russian Academy of the Natural Sciences and a Member of the Russian Academy of Military Sciences;

Member, Scientific Council, Russian National Research Institute for Global Security;

 Member, Expert Group, Foreign Relations Committee, Russian Senate

 Lead Adviser, Center for Military and Political Studies, Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO)

Remarks at the International Video Conference. May, 2020

THE NUCLEAR NATIONS MUST START MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE ON CURBING NUCLEAR ARMS RACE AND ELIMINATE NUCLEAR ARSENALS BY 2045

I. General assessment of the level of nuclear confrontation and the situation in the nuclear arms control sphere

The overall assessment of the developments in these two interwoven domains is rather negative:

•  the level of nuclear confrontation during last several years has sharply increased;
•  the process in the nuclear arms control area has actually stalled, being characterized by unilateral withdrawal of the USA from the bilateral INF Treaty with Russia and the multilateral Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action Plan known as the Iranian Nuclear Deal, a clear-cut statement of the USA not to ratify the multilateral Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, and Washington’s intention to resume nuclear testing at Nevada desert and to install two types of low-yield nuclear weapons on strategic offensive arms delivery systems.

The present-day nuclear arms control process may be described by the following features:

1) retaining of nuclear strategy of the first-use or the first-strike of nuclear weapons by many nuclear nations;  2) watering down the functional features between offensive and defensive nuclear arms;  3) lowering down the threshold of using of nuclear weapons – both strategic and tactical, including the low-yield nuclear warheads;  4) seeking nuclear arms supremacy over other nuclear nations;  5) substantial increase in nuclear arms spending, including the percentage of spending on nuclear weapons in relation to overall military budgets;  6) wrong interpretation of the “strategic stability” terminology in the nuclear arms sphere;  7) neglecting the principle of equality and equal security in nuclear arms control;  8) lack of joint approach of the P-5 nations or the de jure nuclear powers towards nuclear arms control steps, and all nine nuclear-weapon states – both de jure and de facto – have assumed a negative stance on the existing Nuclear Weapons Prohibition Treaty. As of April 6, 2020, only 81 states have signed the Treaty and 36 have ratified it. But that is not enough, because it will enter into force if totally 50 countries will ratify it.

If such eight features are not reconsidered and still remain in force, the sound, practical, constructive and mutually beneficial nuclear arms control process will be impossible to attain for many years to come.

No doubt that the nuclear arms race that the world community has inherited from the last century, will be complemented by two new arms races, namely in missile defense and in outer space.

II. The situation is complicated by the fact that there are 13 unresolved issues in arms control between the USA and Russia:

1) U.S. negative stance on the New START extension for the next five years; 2) U.S. still has positive view to Tactical Nuclear Weapons’ Employment still stored outside the continental USA for nearly 70 years;  3) U.S. desire to deploy the new INF-related nuclear missiles in Europe and Asia; 4) U.S. intention to use a low-yield nuclear weapons having the yield of less than 5 kiloton;  5) U.S. use of Heavy Strategic Bombers near Russia, the People’s Republic of China, Iran and North Korea in the framework of the frequent air-patrol missions;  6) U.S./NATO Operation “Baltic Air Policing” conducted 24h/365 days over three Baltic nations (Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia), plus Poland involving Dual Capable Aircraft from all three Western nuclear nations;  7) retaining by the USA the First-Nuclear-Strike or First-Nuclear-Use clause, as well other directives such as “launch-on-warning”, “launch-prior-to-launch”, “escalation to de-escalation” reflected in the 2018 U.S. Nuclear Posture Review, and plus existing “nuclear sharing agreements” between the USA and many NATO countries;  8) U.S. refusal to proliferate the INCSEA or Incidents-At-Sea-Prevention-Agreements to SSBN/SSN sailing under water near Russian territory – with the aim to avoid collisions between them;  (9)  U.S. lack of desire to show the Russian inspectors some U.S. strategic nuclear arms delivery systems fitted in words for non-nuclear missions; 10) U.S. unlimited missile defense interceptors versus Russian strategic nuclear arms;  11) the USA has BMDS sites in Europe and Asia fitted with MK-41 that can load nuclear-tipped Ground-launched Cruise Missiles and Hypersonic Vehicles; 12) no U.S. desire to accept a proposal on moratorium for the INF-related missile in Europe and Asia-Pacific Region; and finally, 13) U.S. refusal to repeat once more the famous Presidents Reagan-Gorbachev’s saying that: “Nuclear war cannot be fought, because it cannot be won.”

III. New U.S. Nuclear Strategy: short analysis

President Donald Trump’s new national nuclear strategy enacted named as the 2018 NPR or Nuclear Posture Review contained much more reason to use nuclear arms in a first strike. The vagueness of some provisions implying a clear freedom of action in the use of nuclear missile weapons, says about the irresponsible approach of the American Administration to its use – almost at any time, and anywhere in the world.

The military and political core of the new U.S. nuclear strategy is the possibility of the initiative use of nuclear weapons in the first strike against almost any state in the world, including those that will use against the United States even general-purpose forces involved in any, even on a small scale and with minimal consequences. The list of grounds for the use of nuclear weapons also includes an attack using conventional weapons against nuclear forces, their control facilities and missile warning systems of the United States and its allies.

The 2018 NPR differs from the 2010 NPR stamped by President Barack Obama: in all it has 14 reasons for using nuclear weapons, while the latter had six reasons.

The 2018 NPR mentioned the following grounds for using nuclear weapons: the emergence and build-up of nuclear and non-nuclear strategic threats, including the threat of chemical, biological and cyber weapons, as well as the significant use of strategic non-nuclear weapons. It was stated that nuclear weapons could be used in the event of a nuclear attack on the United States, its allies and partners and in case of occurrence of new enemies of the United States, changes in policies and doctrine of these enemies, create new alliances among the opponents and the further spread of nuclear weapons and even the technological surprises in other states. The possibility of using nuclear weapons was not ruled out in the event of damage to American nuclear forces. In the introductory part to the 2018 NPR there was also a wording that allows the American President to use nuclear weapons in the event of a change in the geopolitical situation.

All these postulates indicate the expansion of the range of circumstances and reasons that can cause the order of the U.S. President to use nuclear weapons in the first strike. In this context, it should be recalled that in 2018, for the first time in more than forty years, the American Congress drew attention to the real possibility of the President of the USA to issue his own and final order to use nuclear weapons against any state in the world without authorization from the supreme legislative body and without declaring war on such a state.

President Donald Trump ignored this decision of Congress, which believed that such an order can be brought by the head of state to the country’s nuclear missile forces within 3-5 minutes, which can actually use nuclear weapons in the next 4-12 minutes. During his election campaign ten former nuclear launch officers who once manned missile silos and held the keys to execute a launch order signed a letter saying Donald Trump should not “have his finger on the button” because of his temperament. 

The 2018 NPR clearly stated that Washington will not abandon the postulate of the use of nuclear weapons in the first strike and will not support proposals to lower the level of combat readiness of national nuclear forces, but will keep in force the agreement of the mid-90s reached with Russia according to its initiative on mutual de-targeting of strategic nuclear missiles on each other’s territory.

Donald Trump’s NPR calls for the use of NW in the event of multilateral potential risks and threats –  six grounds clearly stated and eight deliberately vaguely formulated.

Namely, in the first batch of six grounds there are the following reasons for using nuclear weapons: 1) to deter potential adversaries from nuclear and non-nuclear attack of any scale  and under any conditions on p.20; 2) to respond to any non-nuclear strategic attack on p.21; 3) to protect its allies and partners from nuclear and non-nuclear attack on p.21;  4) if attack is launched vs nuclear forces of the U.S. allies on p. 21; 5) to respond to any attack vs the USA, its allied or partner civilian population and infrastructure on p. 21; and 6) to use low-yield nuclear weapons as a credible deterrence against regional aggression on p. 54. They have been clearly formulated.

However, there are too vague reasons, still not explained by Washington what the USA has in mind, namely: 1) if “operational shortfalls” reduce the effectiveness of the U.S. nuclear forces on p.38; 2) to deny “unexpected challenges” on p.38; 3) in the event of “a geopolitical challenge” that threatens an element of U.S. nuclear forces on p. 40; 4) to respond against “multiple future risks and uncertainties” on p.48; 5) to respond to  “new forms of aggression” on p. 21; 6) to respond to “emergence of new adversaries”, expansion of adversary nuclear forces, changes in adversary strategy and doctrine on p.38; 7) to use vs NPT member-states, if they violate it (p.21); and 8) to overcome  “technical  challenges”  or  “adversaries’ technological breakthroughs”, and in case of any cyberattacks (p.38).

As has been repeatedly recognized in American military and political documents, in the next ten years, the Pentagon will receive up to US $ 400 billion dollars for strengthening the nuclear missile component, and in the next 30 years – US $ 1.2 trillion at constant prices, or US $ 1.7 trillion adjusted for inflation. No country in the world can spend such enormous amount of money for such weapons of mass destruction.

V. Current Russian nuclear strategy

It is fundamentally important that the Russian nuclear doctrines of 2010 (the previous one) and 2014 (the current one) do not contain provisions on the possibility of using Russian nuclear weapons in regional or local conflicts, which is attributed by some Western researchers. There is no indication of the separate use of strategic and tactical nuclear weapons. The present Russian military doctrine of 2014 annulled all the different opinions on this topic expressed before its adoption by various experts who did not declare an official point of view.

In addition, in the Russian military doctrine of 2014 there is no word about any desire of Moscow to implement the strategy of extended nuclear deterrence or forward-based nuclear deterrence, that is, by placing its own nuclear weapons on the territory of foreign states closer to American territory. Crucially, the updated version of Russia’s 2014 military doctrine lacks language about its desire to deploy strike elements of the global missile defense infrastructure in the territories of foreign countries.

Paragraph 8 of the 2014 military doctrine uses the term “non-nuclear deterrence system”, which referred to a set of foreign policy, military and military-technical measures aimed at preventing aggression against the Russian Federation by “non-nuclear means”. Paragraph 16 of the 2014 Russian military doctrine recognized that nuclear weapons will remain an important factor in preventing the nuclear military conflicts and military conflicts involving conventional weapons in large-scale war and regional warfare. Of fundamental importance is the provision of paragraph 20 of that Russian doctrine which stated that the prevention of a nuclear military conflict, like any other military conflict, is the basis of the military policy of the Russian Federation.

Paragraph 27, which fixes two possibilities for using nuclear weapons by the Russian Federation: in the case of use against it and (or) its allies of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction (i.e., chemical and bacteriological weapons), as well as in the case of aggression against the Russian Federation with the use of conventional weapons, “when the very existence of the state is threatened.”

Thus, the current nuclear doctrine of the Russian Federation in brief can be qualified as the doctrine of “conditional defensive nuclear deterrence”. In contrast, the current American nuclear strategy can be characterized as the doctrine of “unconditional offensive nuclear deterrence”, since it provides for the initiative of the first preventive and pre-emptive nuclear strikes on almost any state of the globe, at any time and under any pretext.

VI. Potential human and environmental damages of using nuclear weapons

Many widely renown scholars and experts believe that even a limited use of nuclear weapons in a regional conflict will bring huge human losses and devastating material and environmental damages to many nations. Those case studies conducted in the last century and today by Western nuclear scientists arrive to the same sad and negative conclusions: any use of nuclear weapons – however limited – will bring an Armageddon scenario to many people.

Only one nuclear bomb dropped on Amsterdam with the population of around one million will sweep completely away this wonderful European city and its surrounding areas in a moment. One nuclear warhead of 500 kiloton delivered to New York or Moscow will kill nearly 5 million people in each case.

On June 19, 2019 Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) announced a provision he proposed banning the production of low-yield nuclear weapons passed the House the same day as a part of an appropriations package. The provision prohibits the research, development, production and deployment of low-yield nuclear warheads for submarine-launched ballistic missiles. In his introduction it was stated that so-called low-yield nuclear weapons have the potential to lower the threshold for using nuclear weapons and increase the risk of entering the U.S. into nuclear war.

In 2018 and 2019, he also introduced and reintroduced the Hold the LYNE Act – or Low-Yield Nuclear Explosive Act, which would prohibit the research, development, production and deployment of low-yield nuclear warheads for submarine-launched ballistic missiles.

In his words, “Low-yield nuclear bombs would yield horrific results. With the power to kill at least 80,000 people, these bombs could drag the U.S. and our allies into a devastating nuclear conflict. … A low-yield bomb simply puts us at risk for all-out nuclear Armageddon. I’m grateful this provision was included in this year’s Defense appropriations bill, so we can stop low-yield nuclear weapons from creating a high-risk situation”.

In that Act it was mentioned that a new low-yield nuclear weapon to be carried on a ballistic missile submarine “risks lowering the threshold for nuclear use and increasing the chance of miscalculation that could escalate into all-out nuclear exchange” and “when launched, such a low-yield nuclear warhead would be indistinguishable to an adversary from the high-yield W76 and W88 submarine launched warheads.”

The Act also warned that: the ballistic missile submarines of the United States have never carried low-yield nuclear warheads, and setting a historical precedent could undermine the unique and paramount role of ballistic-missile submarines as the assured, survivable second-strike capability of the United States to deter large-scale nuclear war. The Act concluded that the USA should reject policies that increase the likelihood of nuclear war and weaken national security, including investments in low-yield nuclear weapons.

Despite such opposition, a new nuclear warhead designed and produced during the Donald Trump Administration, has been deployed aboard a nuclear submarine of SSBN-class, the Pentagon confirmed at the end of 2019. The deployment of the W 76-2, a low-yield variant of the nuclear warhead traditionally used on the Trident SLBM, was first reported January 29, 2020 by the Federation of American Scientists. The first submarine to move out with the new weapon was the USS Tennessee (SSBN-734), deploying from Kings Bay Submarine Base in the state of Georgia at the end of 2019, FAS reported. 

The creation of a low-yield submarine launched warhead was one of two new designs called for in the 2018 Nuclear Posture Review. The warhead is designed to be smaller than the weapon detonated at Hiroshima, Japan, during World War II. The design is a modification of the W76-1 warhead for the Navy’s Trident ballistic missile that allowed the National Nuclear Security Administration to quickly turn around the design and production in roughly a year.

Opponents of the weapon question whether that doctrine is realistic, and also argue that no nuclear system can truly be non-strategic. Specific to the W76-2, members of the nonproliferation community have raised concerns that having a low-yield and high-yield warhead launched on the same SSBN creates a situation where an adversary doesn’t know which system is being used and therefore reacts as if the larger warhead has been launched.

Asked about the reported deployment of a new low-yield nuclear missile on Tennessee SSBN, a Pentagon spokesman stated that it is U.S. policy to neither “confirm nor deny” the presence of nuclear weapons abroad any naval vessel and declined to comment on the specific details of the FAS report what kind of naval platform was involved. However, in his statement, Undersecretary of Defense for Policy John Rood confirmed that the Navy has fielded the weapon that has been mentioned. 

Such deployment “strengthens deterrence and provides the United States a prompt, more survivable low-yield strategic weapon; supports our commitment to extended deterrence; and demonstrates to potential adversaries that there is no advantage to limited nuclear employment because the United States can credibly and decisively respond to any threat scenario,” John Rood directly wrote in the statement.

Taking into account his statement one can arrive at the conclusion that any type of the U.S. low-yield nuclear missiles should be considered as a very destabilizing weapon of mass destruction, because it can be used in many cases, and under many circumstances, and anywhere in the world.

There is a danger that any limited employment of nuclear weapons will be converted into a large-scale nuclear confrontation. In the first several hours of an all-out nuclear war 34 million people will die and 57 million will be injured. There will be a huge radioactive contamination of large populated areas and industrial centers. The situation may worsen if nuclear power plants or huge water dams will be destroyed in an exchange of nuclear arms attacks – be them conducted with strategic or tactical nuclear weapons.

VII. Practical suggestions: seven proposals to contain the nuclear arms race

There are the most immediate steps, and gradual measures to contain the ongoing nuclear arms race.

Amongst them there could be:

1. As the first step to be implemented in 2020: Russia and the USA plus all other nuclear-weapon states have to agree on no first-use or the first-strike of nuclear weapons.

2. The USA should extend the New START for the next five years, and return to the compliance with the INF Treaty (Russian SSC-8 or 9M729 missile is not covered by the former INF Treaty); the USA has to pull back all its TNW from Europe and pledge not to field them and the INF-related nuclear and non-nuclear missiles in Europe and the Asia-Pacific Region.

3. The USA and Russia should set up a proportion between missile defense system (MDS) interceptors & strategic offensive nuclear arms delivery systems, and agree about MDS no-deployment zones. The USA has to dismantle its MDS bases in Romania and Poland, South Korea and Japan.

4. The USA has to ratify the CTBT and pledge not to explode any nuclear devices at Nevada test site. Note: Russia has ratified it in 2000.

5. Russia and the USA have to proliferate the INCSEA accord on the SSBN and SSN while submerged at their respective Navies Training Areas.

6. The USA and NATO as a whole have to cancel «Baltic Air Policing Operation» in the airspace of three Baltic states and Poland where it uses the DCA aircraft.

7. Space-faring nations have to sign the international PAROS or Prevention of Arms Race in Outer Space/NFEWS Treaty or Now-First Employment of Weapons in Space Treaty.

If such arrangements will be impossible to implement as a package deal, at least one first step has to be examined with due attention: to reach a commitment of all P-5 on no-first nuclear strike against each other. It will constitute the real action to avoid an all-out nuclear war that has become highly likely in the present-day tense and hostile military and political environment.

All these measures can also be debated at the suggested the P-5 Summit on arms control if it is arranged later this year, presumably in New York city during the next regular UN General Assembly Session. No doubt that such measures will enhance predictability between the P-5 and improve regional and global security, and planetary strategic stability. As for nuclear risks, Moscow is working on a joint statement with the other permanent members of the UN Security Council on the inadmissibility of a nuclear war.

Unfortunately, the United States has failed to respond to Russia’s proposal to repeat once more the well-known Gorbachev-Reagan formula in a bilateral format. In this case Russia will try to make such a reconfirmation in a multilateral format during the upcoming P-5 Summit.

It is very sad that in light of the situation related to the COVID-19 pandemic the 2020 NPT Review Conference has been postponed to a later date, “as soon as the circumstances permit”, but no later than April 2021. Russian stance and priorities in nuclear disarmament have been comprehensively described in the Russian Working Paper submitted to the second Preparatory Committee for the 10^th NPT Review Conference. It stipulates a consensus-based incremental approach that implies consistent work on creating the right conditions that help the global community to continue down the path toward nuclear disarmament. Moscow still believes that complete elimination of nuclear weapons is only possible within comprehensive and complete disarmament and under conditions of equal and indivisible security for all, including nuclear states, in accordance with the NPT.

My personal view is that a nuclear-free world can be built by 2045 – by a centenary of the tragic use of nuclear bombs versus Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Or earlier than by 2045, if there is a world-wide consensus.

And the final brush: the highly virulent COVID-19 pandemic has brought so far too many innocent victims amongst almost all countries all over the world, and caused tremendous economic and financial losses needed to fight this horrible decease. At the beginning of April 2020 more than 1 million people have been infected by COVID-19, and more 65 thousand died.  Sat the end of May the same year more than 5.5 million people have got this highly virulent disease, and nearly 350 thousand passed away. It is a very sad reality.

But it will be much sadder reality, if any nuclear conflict intentionally or unintentionally will erupt – God forbid! – with much horrible consequences around the globe than the Corona virus per se has done. If you compare such results reached in the first several hours of an all-out nuclear war with figures already mentioned: 34 million people dead and 57 million injured. Or more.

That is why all of us will have to bear it in mind, and to take specific steps to avoid such a gloomy scenario.

Материал опубликован  в рамках спецпроекта ЦВПИ МГИМО 

Ukraine and Donbass accuse each other of heavy shelling

17 February, 2022

The reports came through after the Kremlin claimed the risk of conflict in the region remained high.

Heavy fire and explosions have been reported on the contact line in Ukraine’s war-torn Donbass region, with Kiev’s forces and those loyal to the two breakaway self-declared republics accusing each other of aggression hours after the Kremlin warned fresh fighting could be on the cards.

Leaders from the unrecognised separatist Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) in the east of Ukraine reported on Thursday [17 February, 2022] that government troops had attacked the outskirts of its territory. According to the DPR, units from Kiev fired at several towns and villages using 82 millimeter mortars, hand grenades, and rifles.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces subsequently reported that a settlement located near the Lugansk People’s Republic, the other breakaway territory in the region, had been attacked and photographs circulating online purport to show a kindergarten hit by a shell on the side controlled by government forces. Authorities stated that two civilians had been injured, missiles had hit the school, and half the area had lost electricity. The residents were evacuated.

The invasion is off, but the crisis isn’t over.

Kiev has been locked in a civil war with the two breakaway territories since 2014, when separatists declared independent republics following the ousting of then-President Viktor Yanukovych during mass street protests. Ukrainian officials, along with Western countries, have accused Russia of supporting the rebels and fueling the conflict.

Moscow denies being a party to the war, and does not officially recognize the Donetsk People’s Republic and Lugansk People’s Republic as independent states.

This week, however, the Russian parliament voted in favor of a motion addressed to President Vladimir Putin that called for Russia to announce its support for the independence of Donetsk and Lugansk, with 351 legislators backing the draft proposal and just 16 opposing. Putin has said that he favors a diplomatic solution and believes the Minsk agreements should be honored, but is yet to respond formally to the proposal.

On Wednesday [16 February, 2022], Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov claimed that it was quite likely that Ukraine would seek a military solution to the conflict. “The attention of our interlocutors is drawn to the fact that a military operation and an attempt to resolve problems with the use of force in the southeast are quite real,” he stated. “This probability is high and real.”

https://www.rt.com/russia/549672-ukraine-donbass-leaders-accuse/

Breakaway Ukrainian region orders evacuation

Civilians must flee from rebel-held Donetsk region to Russia, its head says

18 February, 2022

Ukrainian troops have been bolstered with arms supplies from Western nations and “are now prepositioned for combat and ready to take Donbass by force,” Denis Pushilin claimed in a statement on Friday, referring to his region and fellow breakaway entity, the Lugansk People’s Republic, by their collective name.

The Ukrainian rebels are expecting President Volodymyr Zelensky to order an offensive “in the nearest future.” Their military forces are prepared to fight, but civilians in rebel-controlled areas are at risk of being caught in the crossfire, the head of the Donetsk People’s Republic warned.

“That is why starting today, February 18, a mass evacuation of people to the Russian Federation has been organized,” he said, adding that vulnerable groups like women, children, and the elderly would be given priority.

Pushilin said Russian officials in the neighboring Rostov Region are expecting an inflow of evacuees and will provide them with what they need. There will be conditions at border crossings to expedite the process, he added. He urged people “to heed to the warning and take the right decision,” saying that the relocation would be temporary and would save lives.

https://www.rt.com/russia/549874-breakaway-ukrainian-region-evacuation/

Additional information

1. Ukrainian Armed Forces started a large-scale shelling of Donbas since February 16, 2022. They are using 122-mm MRLS Grad, 120-mm and 82-mm heavy artillery and mortars, etc. prohibited by the Minsk agreement. Firing started along the 400 km entire line of disengagement.

2. In doing so Ukrainian Armed Forces has violated the 2020 ceasefire agreement with Donbas: February 14=274 times, February 15= 154 times, February 16=591 times, February 17=500 times and February 18 (during the first half of the day)=more than 300 times.

3. Civilian targets like buildings, heavy-duty roads, railroads, electricity supply towers in Donbas are now destroyed by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

4. Ukrainian Armed Forces arranged a provocation by claiming that a kindergarten has been hit by Donbas fire (see please attached slides). Donbas has never done such act.

So far, the USA and its NATO allies have supplied Kiev with 1.500 ton of arms and ammunition (see slide).

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin 

A nuclear-free world can not be a partial one. It can be only universal, embracing all nuclear nations

On May 3^rd, 2019 US President Donald Trump has spoken by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the possibility of a “new nuclear agreement”. Regarding the possibility of such accord, Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters it could either be a new multilateral nuclear accord between the USA, Russia and China or the extension of the current U.S.-Russia strategic nuclear arrangement – namely, the New START.

However, both options have been regarded by many Russian and foreign experts as unworkable for two major reasons: first, nobody will sign a totally new  multilateral nuclear accord limited by three nuclear powers and neglecting the rest of the nuclear club consisting of six more nations processing nuclear capabilities, and second, the USA has not displayed any interest to extend the New START for the next five years after it expires in February 2021.

Russian officials and military experts have criticized Donald Trump’s idea articulated last April and at the beginning of May to elaborate a new accord on nuclear weapons and the delivery systems that would encompass all American, Russian and Chinese nuclear arms. Nuclear-free world cannot be a partial one. It can be only universal, embracing all nuclear nations.

Donald Trump’s proposals on nuclear arms disarmament are “not serious”, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said April 27, 2019. Sergei Ryabkov, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, noted last April that Moscow’s response to that offer would depend on the nature of any U.S. proposals. He underscored that further steps towards nuclear disarmament “… would require creating a number of prerequisites and taking into account many factors that have a direct impact on strategic stability”, including missile defense systems, cyber weapons, weapons development in space, and advanced conventional arms. Nuclear arms expert Jon Wolfsthal, who is a fellow with Harvard University and former Special Assistant to President Barack Obama for Arms Control and Nonproliferation, has observed in the Defense One edition May 2^nd, 2019 that Donald Trump’s idea to start talks on elaborating a new trilateral nuclear arms control treaty is likely a pipe dream or a “smoke screen” for scuttling yet another arms control agreement, and has the aim to kill the New START. In Jon Wolfsthal’s words, the current U.S. President appears willing to undo anything achieved by his predecessor “as some kind of ego-driven vendetta”.

Washington rejected Moscow’s proposal to consider in detail specific measures aimed at strengthening strategic stability, mainly emphasizing the solution of only two issues of particular interest to it: the possibility of recreating nuclear weapons and their means of delivery by Iran and the improvement of nuclear missile systems by North Korea.

The USA has been in the lengthy process to violate the New START as an important bilateral Russian-American nuclear arms control treaty, which has an impact on global strategic stability. It will expire on February 5, 2021. High ranking U. S. officials has publicly admitted that the U.S. side was not interested in extending its term for the next five years when it will expire by that date.

Over the past two years, in violation of the New START, the American Strategic Nuclear Forces have been re-equipping part of their strategic offensive nuclear arms, including four launchers at each of the existing 14 Ohio-class SSBNs and 41 B-52H heavy strategic bombers, unilaterally excluding them from the aggregate numbers specified by this Treaty. Such action gives the U.S side the opportunity to quickly increase the potential of their strategic offensive nuclear arms, increasing the number of strategic nuclear warheads by more than 1,200 units.

Besides that, in 2019, the current U.S. Administration continued to destroy the system of international treaties in the field of arms control and at the same time made significant efforts to strengthen the national Armed Forces on a global scale in accordance with its key slogans "America first!” and “Peace through strength". In December 2018, the 45^th Republican President has ordered to hammer out a draft military budget for FY 2020 in the amount of US $ 750 billion that is $ 25 billion more than the expenditures allocated for the same purpose in the FY 2019.

Washington continues to display a negative attitude to 12 more international treaties and agreements in the field of arms control. No other country in the world has ever broken off this alarming record. Some of these accords the USA deliberately violated, for example the INF Treaty, the NPT and the Open Skies Treaty.

The greater number of violations made by the USA in this domain was the violations of the INF Treaty which earlier has been labelled by high-ranking U.S. officials as a cornerstone of the global stability. During last twenty years this treaty has been violated by the U.S. side 117 times. Such violations have been recorded during testing of the American BMD system when its interceptors have been targeted at the INF test missiles involving six types of the shorter-range and medium-range ballistic and cruise test missiles prohibited by the INF accord. So, during such exercises Washington has violated namely Articles IV and VI of the Gorbachev-Reagan agreement signed more than 30 years ago.

Such reliable information was borrowed from two major official sources. First, from the press-releases issued by the Pentagon’s Missile Defense Agency each time when it has conducted flight tests to prove the efficiency of the global U.S. BMD “shield”. And, second, from specific reports prepared by the U.S. Congressional Research Service covering the records of these flight tests when the INF dummy missiles have been used as intercepted targets by the BMD system.

On the other hand, Russia has not violated the INF Treaty and is not going to be the initiator to torpedo it. During the last six years Washington has not tabled any vivid fact that Moscow has ‘violated’ the treaty. The cruise missile designated as ‘9M729’ does not fall into limitations of the Treaty, because it has maximum range of 480 km. The USA has got detailed Russian explanations on this matter.

It looks like that Washington will finally withdraw from the INF Treaty at the beginning of August 2019 because it has a two-fold task: to examine the viability of its own unlimited global BMD infrastructure, and to test the newly-developed INF missiles that would be deployed in Europe and in the Asia-Pacific Region.

A potential withdrawal of the USA from the INF Treaty:  1) will undermine the global strategic equation, push all nuclear-weapon states into a deep-seated mistrust, destroy the NPT regime and prompt all 32 states capable to produce intermediate-range missiles without any limitations; 2) will create a negative domino-style effect that will complicate nuclear arms control. Namely, in the military sphere it will block the potential resolution of the nuclear arms deal to be applied to the Korean Peninsula, may bring the U.S. nuclear weapons to Japan and the Republic of Korea. In the political domain such step will undermine specific solutions at the upcoming 2020 NPT Review Conference and erect unsurmountable obstacles for entry into force of the Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.            

There are several goals the United States is seeking by scrapping the INF Treaty: to produce and deploy in Europe and in Asia-Pacific several new INF-type nuclear-tipped ballistic and cruise missiles; to repeat the situation emerged before the 1979 NATO “double track decision”; to demand from Russia to unilaterally scrap ins INF non-compliant ballistic and cruise missiles; to engage the PRC in the new nuclear dialogue; to demand from its NATO allies to increase the military expenditures initially specified at 2 percent level from the GDP to 4 percent.

While maintaining its tactical nuclear capabilities on the European continent, the United States continues to violate Article I of the NPT, which prohibits nuclear-weapon states from deploying nuclear weapons on the territory of non-nuclear-weapon states. The National Nuclear Safety Administration is asking for $ 793 million in the 2020 FY budget to continue developing and production of B-61-12 free-fall nuclear bomb with high accuracy.

The United States unilaterally withdrew from the ABM Treaty in 2002 and is not going to return to its obligations. The relevant consultations aimed at finding a compromise between Moscow and Washington on the BMD systems deployments that have lasted for 12 years has ended with no practical solutions. The USA does not want to resume such dialogue and set up maximum unsurmountable ceilings on the BMD interceptors and their geographic deployment.

The United States refused to ratify at all some important agreements, such as the adapted Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE-1A) and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. On the contrary, the current U.S. nuclear strategy described in 2018 NPR provides for the resumption of nuclear tests at the nuclear test site in Nevada. Recently, the U.S. Administration has decided to drop out of and not to ratify the International Arms Trade Treaty, the 2013 pact designed to regulate the international trade of conventional arms, including the sale of heavy weapons, and to reduce the illicit arms trade.

Washington has unreasonably imposed a geographic constrains on the implementation of the Open Skies Treaty by banning overflights of Russian aircraft with relevant inspection teams over its upgraded missile defense centers emplaced in Alaska and Hawaii.

The current U.S. Administration has unilaterally withdrawn from the Vienna agreement on the Iranian nuclear program – the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Actions though it has been sanctioned by the UN Security Council.

Washington is in no hurry to completely eliminate chemical weapons in accordance with the global Convention on its prohibition (CWC), although Russia has already done so.

The White House refused to discuss the draft of two international treaties: the Treaty on European security and the Treaty on the prevention of the emplacement of weapons in outer space.  The same attitude is demonstrated by the American side to Moscow's proposal to extend the provisions of the Soviet-American Agreement on the prevention of incidents at the high seas of 1972 (INCSEA Agreement) to Russian and American submarines sailing in a submerged position, in order to prevent their underwater collisions though there have been already eleven cases involving them.

The USA does not have any intention to debate a draft PAROS Treaty – an accord on preventing arms race in outer space tabled initially in 2008, and to take a commitment not to be the first to deploy space-based strike weapons.

Approved by the 45^th U.S. President, the new ambitious nuclear strategy provides for lowering the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons by increasing the list of reasons for their use: it recorded 14 such cases against six, which were reflected in a similar strategy of his predecessor Barack Obama, and versus two clauses specified in the Russian nuclear posture. The current U.S. nuclear strategy provides for the possibility of using low-yield nuclear warheads of 5 kilotons and below to be used for the ‘escalation of de-escalation’ purposes.

Despite the objections of the U.S. Congress, President Donald Trump retained the exclusive right to unilaterally use of nuclear weapons under numerous pretexts, which has already caused concern inside two key parties of the country – not only the opposition Democratic, but also the ruling Republican GOP.

At the same time, the current American military and political leadership continues to implement the approved programs for the modernization of strategic and tactical nuclear weapons and their means of delivery, as well as the decisions aimed at creating a fundamentally new strategic nuclear triad with the complete replacement of all three components of the existing strategic nuclear weapons. The FY 2020 U.S. military budget requests include allocations of funds to continue to forge a qualitatively new strategic nuclear triad.

A Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report released last February has estimated that the USA would spend US $ 494 billion on nuclear weapons from fiscal years 2019-2028. That is an increase of $ 94 billion, or 23 percent from the CBO’s previous 10-year estimate of $ 400 billion, published in January 2017. The Trump’s Administration’s budget proposals contain increases for several nuclear weapons systems.

All these factors create a new military reality, which Moscow has to take into account in its policy aimed at strengthening the country's defense capability, the development of the Russian Armed Forces, as well as in the conduct of pro-active foreign policy on the international arena in general. The Russian Federation has created some completely new hypersonic systems to penetrate the U.S. BMD ‘shield’ that the USA will not be able to match for several years. It is a justifiable decision dictated by a specific, extraordinary developments.

In such dramatic circumstances there might emerge two additional global arms races – a missile defense arms race and a space-based arms race – that will complement the nuclear arms race that has never ceased since 1945. The USA will bear the sole responsibility for such unlucky scenario.

Written by Vladimir Kozin, Leading Expert, Center for Military-Political Studies, Moscow State Institute of International Relations, Member of the Russian Academies of Military Sciences and Natural Sciences

The U.S. President Donald Trump had a lengthy telecon with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on May 3, 2019, about the possibility of a “new nuclear agreement.” The American Press Secretary Sarah Sanders had shared a possibility in a press conference, that it could either be a new U.S.-Russia-China multilateral nuclear accord, or the extension of current U.S.- Russia strategic nuclear arrangement – the New START.

However, both options have been regarded by many Russian and foreign experts as unworkable for two major reasons: first, nobody will sign a totally new multilateral nuclear accord limited to only three nuclear powers and neglecting the club the U.S. has not displayed any interest in extending the New START for the next five years after it expires in February 2021. Russian officials and military experts have criticized President Trump’s idea made last April to elaborate a new accord on nuclear weapons and the delivery systems that would encompass all American, Russian and Chinese nuclear arms. His proposals on nuclear arms disarmament are “not serious,” as commented by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on April 27, 2019.

Sergei Ryabkov, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, noted last April that Moscow’s response to that offer would depend on the nature of any U.S. proposals. He underscored that further steps towards nuclear disarmament “… would require creating a number of prerequisites and taking into account many factors that have a direct impact on strategic stability,” including missile defense systems, cyber weapons, weapons development in space, and advanced conventional arms.

Nuclear arms expert Jon Wolfsthal, a Fellow with Harvard University and former Special Assistant to President Obama for Arms Control and Nonproliferation, has observed in the Defense One edition of May 2, 2019, that Trump’s idea to start talks on elaborating a new trilateral nuclear arms control treaty is likely a pipe dream or a “smoke screen” for scuttling yet another arms control agreement, and has the aim to kill the New START. In Wolfsthal’s words, the current U.S. President appears willing to undo anything achieved by his predecessor “as some kind of egodriven vendetta.”

Washington rejected Moscow’s proposal for a detailed consideration of specific measures aimed at strengthening strategic stability, mainly emphasizing the solution of only two issues of particular interest to it: the possibility of recreating nuclear weapons and their means of delivery by Iran, and the improvement of nuclear missile systems by North Korea.

The U.S. has been in the lengthy process to violate the New START as an important bilateral Russian-American nuclear arms control treaty, which has an impact on global strategic stability. It will expire on February 5, 2021. High ranking U.S. officials have publicly admitted that the U.S. side will not be interested in extending its term for the next five years.

Over the past two years, in violation of the New START, the American Strategic Nuclear Forces have been re-equipping part of their strategic offensive nuclear arms, including four launchers at each of the existing 14 Ohio-class SSBNs and 41 B-52H heavy strategic bombers, unilaterally excluding them from the aggregate numbers specified by this Treaty. Such action gives the U.S side the opportunity to quickly increase the potential of their strategic offensive nuclear arms, increasing the number of strategic nuclear warheads by more than 1,200 units.

Besides that, in 2019, the current U.S. administration continued to destroy the system of international treaties in the field of arms control and at the same time made significant efforts to strengthen the national Armed Forces on a global scale in accordance with its key slogans “America first!” and “Peace through strength.” In December 2018, the 45^th Republican President has ordered to hammer out a draft military budget for FY 2020 in the amount of $750 billion that is $25 billion more than the expenditures allocated for the same purpose in the FY 2019. Washington continues to display a negative attitude to 12 more international treaties and agreements in the field of arms control. No other country in the world has ever broken off this alarming record. Some of these accords that the U.S. deliberately violated include the INF Treaty, the NPT, and the Open Skies Treaty.

A major U.S. violation in this domain was the revocation of the INF Treaty, that earlier was labelled by the high-ranking U.S. officials as a cornerstone of global stability. During the last twenty years, this treaty has been violated 117 times by the U.S. side. Such violations have been recorded during testing of the American BMD system when its interceptors have been targeted at the INF test missiles involving six types of the shorter-range and medium-range ballistic and cruise test missiles prohibited by the INF accord. So, during such exercises Washington has violated Articles IV and VI of the Gorbachev-Reagan agreement signed more than 30 years ago.

This reliable information was borrowed from two major official sources. First, from the press-releases issued by the Pentagon’s Missile Defense Agency each time when it has conducted flight tests to prove the efficiency of global U.S. BMD “shield.” And, second, from specific reports prepared by the U.S. Congressional Research Service covering the records of these flight tests when the INF dummy missiles have been used as intercepted targets by the BMD system.

On the other hand, Russia has not violated the INF Treaty and is not going to be the initiator to torpedo it. During the last six years Washington has not tabled any clear evidence that Moscow has “violated” the treaty. The cruise missile designated as “9M729” does not fall into limitations of the Treaty, because it has maximum range of 480 kilometers. The U.S. has received detailed Russian explanations on this matter.

It looks like that Washington will finally withdraw from the INF Treaty at the beginning of August 2019, because it has a two-fold task: to examine the viability of its own unlimited global BMD infrastructure, and to test the newly developed INF missiles that would be deployed in Europe and in the Asia Pacific region.

A potential withdrawal of U.S. from the INF Treaty will: 1) undermine the global strategic equation, push all nuclear weapon states into a deep-seated mistrust, destroy the NPT regime and prompt all 32 states capable of producing intermediate range missiles without any limitations; 2) It will create a negative domino-style effect that will complicate nuclear arms control: in the military sphere it will block the potential resolution of the nuclear arms deal to be applied to the Korean Peninsula, may bring the U.S. nuclear weapons to Japan and the Republic of Korea; and in the political domain such step will undermine specific solutions at the upcoming 2020 NPT Review Conference and erect unsurmountable obstacles for entry into force of the Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

There are several goals that U.S. seeks by scrapping the INF Treaty: produce and deploy several new INF-type nuclear-tipped ballistic and cruise missiles in Europe and in Asia Pacific; repeat the situation that emerged before the 1979 NATO “double track decision”; demand from Russia to unilaterally scrap its INF non-compliant ballistic and cruise missiles; engage China in the new nuclear dialogue; demand from its NATO allies to increase the military expenditures initially specified at 2 percent level from the GDP to 4 percent.

While maintaining its tactical nuclear capabilities on the European continent, the U.S. continues to violate Article I of the NPT, which prohibits nuclear-weapon states from deploying nuclear weapons on the territory of non-nuclear-weapon states. The National Nuclear Safety Administration is asking for $793 million in the 2020 FY budget to continue development and production of B-61-12 free-fall nuclear bomb with high accuracy.

The U.S. unilaterally withdrew from the ABM Treaty in 2002 and is not going to return to its obligations. The relevant consultations aimed at finding a compromise between Moscow and Washington on the BMD systems deployments that have lasted for 12 years has ended with no practical solutions. The U.S. does not want to resume such dialogue and set up maximum unsurmountable ceilings on BMD interceptors and their geographic deployment. It also refused to ratify some important agreements, such as the adopted Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE-1A) and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. On the contrary, the current U.S. nuclear strategy described in 2018 NPR provides for the resumption of nuclear tests at the nuclear test site in Nevada. Recently, the U.S. Administration has decided to drop out of and not to ratify the International Arms Trade Treaty, the 2013 pact designed to regulate the international trade of conventional arms, including the sale of heavy weapons, and to reduce the illicit arms trade. Washington has unreasonably imposed geographic constrains on the implementation of the Open Skies Treaty by banning overflights of Russian aircraft with relevant inspection teams over its upgraded missile defense centers emplaced in Alaska and Hawaii.

The current U.S. Administration has unilaterally withdrawn from the Vienna agreement on the Iranian nuclear program – the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Actions though it has been sanctioned by the UN Security Council. Washington is in no hurry to completely eliminate chemical weapons in accordance with the global Convention on its prohibition (CWC), although Russia has already done so.

The White House refused to discuss the draft of two international treaties: the Treaty on European security and the Treaty on the prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space. The same attitude is demonstrated by the American side to Moscow’s proposal to extend the provisions of the Soviet- American Agreement on the prevention of incidents at the high seas of 1972 (INCSEA Agreement) to Russian and American submarines sailing in a submerged position, in order to prevent their underwater collisions though there have been already eleven cases involving them.

Moreover, the U.S. does not have any intention to debate a draft PAROS Treaty – an accord on preventing arms race in outer space tabled initially in 2008, and to take a commitment not to be the first to deploy space-based strike weapons. Approved by the 45th U.S. President, the new ambitious nuclear strategy provides for lowering the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons by increasing the list of reasons for their use: it recorded 14 such cases against six, which were reflected in a similar strategy of his predecessor Barack Obama, and versus two clauses specified in the Russian nuclear posture. The current U.S. nuclear strategy provides for the possibility of using low-yield nuclear warheads of 5 kilotons and below, to be used for the “escalation of de-escalation” purposes.

Despite the objections by the U.S. Congress, President Trump retained the exclusive right to unilaterally use nuclear weapons under numerous pretexts, which has already caused concern inside two key parties of the country – not only the Democrats who are in opposition, but also the ruling Republican GOP.

At the same time, the current American military and political leadership continues to implement the approved programs for the modernization of strategic and tactical nuclear weapons and their means of delivery, as well as the decisions aimed at creating a fundamentally new strategic nuclear triad with the complete replacement of all three components of the existing strategic nuclear weapons. The FY 2020 U.S. military budget requests include allocations of funds to continue to forge a qualitatively new strategic nuclear triad.

A Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report released last February has estimated that the U.S. would spend $494 billion on nuclear weapons from fiscal years 2019-28. That is an increase of $94 billion, or 23 percent from the CBO’s previous 10-year estimate of $400 billion, published in January 2017. The Trump’s administration’s budget proposals contain increases for several nuclear weapons systems.

All these factors create a new military reality, which Moscow has to take into account in its policy aimed at strengthening the country’s defense capability, the development of the Russian Armed Forces, as well as in the conduct of pro-active foreign policy on the international arena in general.

The Russian Federation has created some мcompletely new hypersonic systems to penetrate the U.S. BMD “shield” that the USA will not be able to match for several years.

In such dramatic circumstances there might emerge two additional global arms races – a missile defense arms race and a space-based arms race – that will complement the nuclear arms race that has never ceased since 1945. The sole responsibility for such unlucky scenario will be on the U.S., unless it contributes to the present nuclear world order the way it should be, with a focus on amicably resolving matters.

Written by  Vladimir P. Kozin,  Source: “Pakistan Politico” magazine

Ведущий эксперт ЦВПИ МГИМО В.П. Козин принял участие в качестве выступающего в видео-конференции по проблематике российско-американских отношений «Conversation on Russia, U.S., Peace, and War, with Vladimir Kozin and Ray McGovern», организованной международной НКО World BEYOND War (1,8 тыс. подписчиков) и американской НКО Center for Citizen Initiatives.

6 мая 2021.

Полностью видеозапись конференции можно посмотреть на канале организаторов (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liwPu...​)



(Translation of Vladimir Kozin's interview; original in Russian was released on November 27,2024; preface is written by Ukraina.ru)

December 10, 2024

Volodymyr Zelensky may receive nuclear weapons from the West, but he will not press the "Launch" button. In turn, Russia has every right to use any weapons to stop NATO and Ukraine. Corresponding member of the Academy of Military Sciences of Russia, historian, diplomat Vladimir Kozin told in an interview with the website Ukraina.ru about where the next Oreshnik, Kinzhal and Iskander missiles will fly if the West does not stop its aggression.

NATO is discussing the possibility of carrying out preventive high-precision strikes deep into Russian territory in the event of an armed conflict, said Admiral Rob Bauer, head of the Alliance's Military Committee, at a press conference in Brussels which was broadcast via YouTube channel on November 25, 2024.

Earlier, on November 21, The New York Times reported that officials from the USA and Europe suggested returning to Kyiv the nuclear weapons that Ukraine renounced after the collapse of the USSR.

Q: The West is talking about the possibility of transferring nuclear weapons to Ukraine. If this happens, what steps are possible on our part? After all, Zelensky wants to provoke Russia to use tactical nuclear weapons against Ukraine in order to isolate us in the world.

A: Firstly, as of today, November 27, 2024, neither Joe Biden, nor the US Secretary of Defense, nor the US Secretary of State have made any statements about the possible transfer of American nuclear weapons to Ukraine.

Since Ukraine and NATO are waging undeclared large-scale aggression against Russia, statements like the one that got into The New York Times are quite natural. There might be information or disinformation.

However, we must take into account any such leaks: it does not matter whether they are related to nuclear technologies, conventional weapons or nuclear arms delivery vehicles.

Secondly, the Americans have never transferred nuclear weapons even to NATO allies under their full control. Yes, they have deployed their nuclear weapons on the territory of four European countries and the Asian part of Turkey, but total control over the nuclear button, so to speak, remains in the hands of the United States.

Therefore, I am not sure that the Americans really plan to transfer nuclear weapons to Zelensky with the right to press the "Launch" button to strike Russian territory. This would be a gross violation of Article 1 of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty by the United States and Article 2 by Ukraine, which, let's say, would agree to accept weapons of mass destruction on its soil. Of course, such things should not be conveyed under any circumstances to the mentally unstable ex-president of Ukraine, and nowadays an ordinary citizen Zelensky. This is extremely dangerous.

Q: But let's imagine that such weapons have been handed over to Zelensky. What’s then?

A: First. In this case, Ukraine will use nuclear weapons and launch its first nuclear strike on Russian territory. Then – and this is beyond any doubt –
 it will be totally destroyed as a state by a retaliatory nuclear strike.

In this case, we will not be talking about the destruction of some plant in the sphere of military-industrial complex (MIC) or the presidential Administration located on Bankovaya Street in Kyiv – the entire military machine of Ukraine will be destroyed. I believe that we should make a special statement about such a possibility.

Second. We can use our nuclear technologies in accordance with the updated nuclear strategy called "Fundamentals of the State Policy of Russia in the Field of Nuclear Deterrence." And the result for Ukraine will be exactly in the same way as in the first case.

We have the right to do this. Ukraine initiated aggression first in Donbass, and later against Russia. By the way, our November 19, 2024 nuclear strategy uses the word "aggression" [of the West, Ukraine] everywhere. We need to take this into consideration in all political statements made by Russia.

What else is important? As is known, nuclear weapons and other non-nuclear arms are mainly delivered to Ukraine by NATO military transport aircraft. Therefore, Russia should declare all Ukrainian airspace as a ‘no-fly-zone’ or zone closed to flights by any military aircraft. Except civilian ones, of course.

Then NATO and Kyiv will clearly know that any military transport aircraft that are carrying artillery shells, long-range missiles, tanks and APCs for the Ukrainian Armed Forces will be destroyed by us when they cross the air border in the western part of Ukraine.

By the way, the F-16 aircraft that Denmark and the Netherlands are going to transfer to Ukraine on behalf of the NATO Alliance are certified for delivering tactical nuclear weapons.

We do not know whether Ukraine received all such aircraft or only some of them; one was even shot down by Ukrainian own AAD units. But there were no official statements from Kyiv. It is quite possible that the full F-16 aircraft package has either already been transferred to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, or they are planned to be delivered – as NATO did before by sending other combat systems.

Q: But, the war is not with Ukraine, but with the West. What will change if we deliver a strike on Ukraine, no matter what kind? After all, the USA and Europe are not hit, and they don’t care…

A: The nuclear strategy updated on November 19 provides for strikes against those countries that use any type of weapons against us. The USA uses long-range ATACMS systems, the UK and France employ Storm Shadow/SCALP. Moreover, Macron announced that soon after we issued a corresponding warning about our retaliatory strikes.

To ensure that our words are not just empty political statements, without real material consequences, we must take up actions. We must, as we used to say, resort to our power, and not just call someone for any order.

Unfortunately, we have repeatedly spoken about various ‘red lines’ and have taught the West with such statements that there are no specific actions on our part behind them.

Q: What practical measures can we take, in your opinion?

A: There is a military airfield in Rzeszow in Poland, where American military transport aircraft land. Why does this hub still exist peacefully? Why do U.S. heavy strategic bombers that deliver nuclear weapons land on the territory of the Czech Republic?

And in general, on the territory of 19 NATO member countries, the U.S. European allies, American heavy strategic bombers essentially use so called ‘air Schengen’ or visa-free entry and overfly rights, without any preliminary notifications. The U.S. aircraft land, fly, and patrol European airspace without any prior warnings.

Q: Okay, we will strike these airfields in Poland or the Czech Republic. But then we will be accused of being the first to start a war against NATO. And what then? How will our allies react to this?

A: We have not started this war. I want to emphasize this specifically. The war was unleashed by Ukraine on April 14, 2014 when Kyiv officially began military operation against Donbass following the Decree signed by Ukrainian president ad interim Oleksandr Turchinov who authorized to begin a massive military operation in the southeast of the country against Donbass. The is why our retaliatory actions have become defensive in nature and were aimed at protecting people of Donbass and Russian sovereignty and territorial integrity. Why should we be embarrassed like this: ‘Oh, how badly they might think of our behavior?’ I believe that we have the sacred right to give a full response to the real aggressor – insidious, evil, unyielding, as well as to its NATO allies.

Q: Earlier, General Igor Kirillov [Russian MoD] said that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have a ‘dirty bomb’ to be made of radioactive materials. This is not the first statement released by the Russian Defense Ministry about Ukraine violating the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Could it happen that Zelensky will use a ‘dirty bomb’ against us?

A: From a person ‘who has gone off the rails’ – I mean citizen Zelensky – you can expect anything. Moreover, he enjoys colossal military and political support from the outgoing American President Joe Biden. In conditions when the newly elected President Donald Trump keeps silence.

There are known Ukrainian research centers and industrial enterprises where ‘a dirty nuclear bomb’ can be hammered out. I believe that Russia needs to launch a preventive non-nuclear strike against such facilities – firing Oreshnik, Kinzhal and Iskander missiles. And we should not be afraid of any condemnation from outside, otherwise we can lead the situation to a dead end.

I repeat, we can be labelled as the victim of the aggression. That is why we have an undisputable duty to respond to it in any way. A hypothetical example: when you see an attacker with a machine gun next to you who can kill you, what will you do? If you do not open fire on him first, he will kill you. So, you will have to make a distinctive choice: either he will kill you, or you will have to kill him.

Another important point. We know that Zelensky gave orders to strike at Zaporoznskaya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) controlled by Russia. Unfortunately, in our information and explanatory activity we only recently reported overall figures of such strikes against ZNPP, against the adjacent territory and the neighboring city of Energodar, where ZNPP engineers live.

Ukrainian Armed Forces wanted to take Kursk NPP for the purpose of nuclear blackmailing. The same plans have been forged in Kursk Region.

The means for attacking all NPPs must be destroyed. It is necessary to develop measures to neutralize such threats.

Q: Why has U.S. President-elect Donald Trump still not commented on the missiles’ strikes deep into Russia, on recent Vladimir Putin's statements dealt with nuclear weapons and on the newest Oreshnik missile? What is behind this?

A: Donald Trump has indeed declared his readiness to end the Ukrainian crisis, as he put it, in 24 hours. But I want to draw your attention to the fact that his program for promptly ending the conflict in Ukraine remains unclear for two reasons.

First, he has not provided any details of this plan. And he is unlikely to announce them until he takes office on January 20 next year.

Second, there is a very appropriate question for colleagues who are showing warm optimism about Donald Trump's statements on the topic of Ukraine: "Are you sure that Mr. Trump is ready to resolve this problem in the interests of the Russian Federation?" I do not think he is ready to do this in favor of Moscow.

This will most likely be done in favor of the interests of Ukraine and NATO where the USA plays the party of the ‘leading violin’ in the Alliance. Therefore, Trump's optimistic attitude does not calm me down or lull me personally, but only raises many questions in my mind.

Why President-elect Donald Trump has not commented on the U.S. and the UK missiles’ strikes deep into Russian territory? If he is interested in stopping the aggression of Ukraine and NATO against us, he would have long time ago spoken out against such a move.

There is one more point that I would like to draw attention to. Donald Trump has a highly privileged friend – Elon Musk, who runs his own information and intelligence program Starlink in Ukraine.[1] And it works in the offensive interests of Ukraine against Russia.

Why Donald Trump, if he is sincerely interested in ending the Ukrainian conflict, has not advised Elon Musk to suspend his activity which contributes to the continuation of the crisis and to strengthening the Armed Forces of Ukraine? I even sent a letter to Donald Trump's son with an offer to answer this question. I received no response from him.

In addition, there is something else that worries me about Mr. Donald Trump's policy as the next President. During his last presidential term, six key U.S. military strategies have been published: national security strategy, national defense strategy, nuclear strategy (NPR), missile defense strategy, military space and cyber strategies.

They will certainly be updated when he takes office next January, but their essence will remain intact. And they will also prevent Donald Trump from resolving the Ukrainian crisis. Based on all circumstances outlined earlier, I am not sure that President Trump will take any real steps to resolve the conflict sponsored by the White House during Joe Biden’s presidency.

Q: In conclusion, a few words about how you responded to the Russian Oreshnik hypersonic missile strike on a Ukrainian military-industrial complex facility?

A: As is known, we seriously damaged Yuzhmash machinery plant, but we no longer destroy such targets anymore. However, after that we see that American ATACMS strikes followed on military facilities in the Kursk and Bryansk Regions. For the second time.

I believe that we need to clearly state on behalf of our leadership that every time the USA, the UK or France use long-range missiles against continental Russia – and it does not matter what facilities they strike: civilian or military ones – each time we will multiply our strikes on any other Yuzhmash-type plant by more than two or three times.

That is, we will increase attacks upon the number of critically important facilities on Ukrainian territory that will be hit. The only thing is that the civilians working at such enterprises should be warned beforehand about such strikes and leave the area.

>>Read the article in Russian<<

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has published an article in Der Spiegel magazine proposing a rethink of arms control measures to preserve peace in Europe. He points out that new technologies are being used to create weapons and that the line between nuclear and conventional weapons is becoming blurred, before going on to criticise the deployment of Russian missiles in Kaliningrad, although he does not provide any evidence to support his claim and admits that their deployment is not in violation of the INF Treaty.

The German foreign minister argues decisively in favour of the treaty being preserved, despite the US president’s recent public statement that he intends to withdraw from it. Maas believes that abandoning the INF Treaty would undo one of the greatest achievements in the area of disarmament. So, unlike the United States, Germany and its European allies will be pushing for it to remain in force, emphasises the foreign minister.

A key section of Heiko Maas’ article is his four-point proposal to strengthen international security.

He suggests a return to the practice of Europe, Russia and the US exchanging information on arms and arms control mechanisms; the establishment of a comprehensive regime of transparency for missiles and cruise missiles; China’s involvement for greater transparency in arms control matters; and the possible introduction of restrictions on high-speed strike systems and combat robots that could be used in military operations.

The German foreign minister’s initiative shows that Europe is growing uneasy over the United States’ skewed military policy, which could once again lead to the threat of a nuclear missile stand-off in Europe as happened in the 1980s following the NATO Double-Track Decision taken in December 1979.

With regards to the first point in Heiko Maas’ proposal, it would be worth remembering the 15 unresolved arms control issues that the US and other NATO member states have left hanging. These include American tactical nuclear weapons on European soil, Washington’s numerous violations of the INF Treaty involving the use of intermediate-range and shorter-range training missiles to check the effectiveness of its interceptor missile defence systems, the Pentagon’s deployment of the land and sea components of a global anti-missile shield in Europe and the maritime areas surrounding it, NATO’s build-up of substantial general purpose forces and Rapid Deployment Joint Task Forces, and the staging of large-scale military exercises of an offensive nature in many European countries.

To this list should be added the United States’ negative attitude towards both bilateral arms control treaties with Russia and multilateral ones. These include: the ABM Treaty (their unilateral withdrawal); the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (their refusal to ratify); the START III Treaty, the INF Treaty, and the Treaty on Open Skies (their violation); drafts of the international European Security Treaty and the Treaty on the Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space (their refusal to even discuss these drafts); and several other treaties. It should also be mentioned that the United States’ withdrawal from the INF Treaty could completely destroy the painstakingly constructed system of treaties and agreements in place to prevent an arms race. If the German minister is so concerned about strengthening European security, then why does he not say a word about the European Security Treaty, the text of which has been lying ignored on the tables of NATO member states for years, including Germany’s? If it’s no good, then suggest something better.

In this regard, it is unclear exactly what kind of new arms control measures the German foreign minister is talking about when the current arms control agenda has not even been determined.

The second point of Heiko Maas’ proposal on the monitoring of ballistic and cruise missiles cannot be implemented without a specially crafted international treaty mechanism. There are 32 countries around the world capable of developing weapons systems like these, so will he be able to persuade them all to take such a step? The minister does not say.

With regard to possibly widening control over the INF Treaty’s implementation, the reciprocal inspections carried out in connection with it came to an end back in 2001. But how can there be talk of new inspections, whether as part of the INF Treaty or not, if, as of 26 October 2018, the United States has already violated it 95 times by testing its strategic missile defence systems with the real, rather than computer-based, interception of intermediate-range and shorter-range training missiles and intends to carry on violating it? And what about the land- and sea-based nuclear cruise missiles that, at the United States’ initiative, are not covered by existing restrictive military and political measures? There is no mention of these in Heiko Maas’ proposal.

The German foreign minister’s mention of China, meanwhile, is selectively one-sided. Beijing has never been a party to agreements on the limitation or reduction of nuclear weapons. One could just as well raise the issue of ensuring transparency with regard to the existing nuclear missile systems of Great Britain, France and Israel, which all have nuclear assets, while the first two also have strategic nuclear weapons.

Germany should be included on this watch list, since, for many decades now, the country has housed American nuclear bombs capable of carrying out both tactical and strategic missions, as should four other NATO member states that also agreed to host them (Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey). And why not also raise the issue of putting a stop to NATO’s provocative Baltic air-policing mission that has been carried out in the skies over Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia around-the-clock since 2004 and involves the dual-capable aircraft of all three of the West’s nuclear powers, as well as the strike aircraft of the German Luftwaffe?

The German foreign minister’s fourth point regarding hypersonic weapons systems can probably only be considered if there is a global consensus for an increase in mutual trust and respect between states, and only after NATO’s three main nuclear powers have abandoned their offensive nuclear strategies, which are still based on the premise of unconditional offensive nuclear deterrence and the key directive of carrying out the first preventive and pre-emptive nuclear strike against a large number of countries.

Thus, the four ideas put forward by the German foreign minister can only be of interest in a certain context and provided that they contain a sincere and genuine desire to strengthen European security without a build up of surplus arms and large-scale military activities in a forward base area. Such initiatives could attract interest as long as they do not disrupt the legal framework for arms reduction and are implemented on the principle of security for all rather than security for some at the expense of others.

Unfortunately, Heiko Maas’ plan to strengthen arms control is poorly thought out and does not take adequate account of the true state of affairs in this area. His proposal puts the diametrically opposed military and political policies of the United States and Russia on an equal footing internationally and is also unbalanced with regard to China. The individual points, meanwhile, are nothing more than wishful thinking and bear no relation to the actual development of the arms control process currently being reduced to nothing thanks to Washington and its closest NATO allies, including Germany.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin, Source: Oriental Review.

There is a rather embarrassing negative perspective for maintaining rational military strategic parity between Russia and USA and Russia and NATO as a whole in the coming decades due to future tremendous expenditures of the USA for modernizing strategic and tactical nuclear forces that will require $ U.S. 1,2-1,7 trillion during next three decades for hammering out a qualitatively new strategic nuclear triad only. Substantial amount of money will be allocated for procurement of the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS), space-based strike assets and conventional arms as well. No other nation in the world can afford to spend such enormous amount of money.

The problem is complicated by the existing 15 unresolved issues in arms control between Moscow and Washington due to lack of desire of the latter to resolve the most burning issues, like limiting BMDS, taking the U.S. tactical nuclear weapons (TNW) from Europe and refraining from weaponization of outer space, etc.

A potential withdrawal of the USA from the INF Treaty no doubt:

1) will undermine the global strategic equation, push all nuclear-weapon states into a deep-seated mistrust, destroy the NPT regime and prompt all 32 states capable to produce intermediate-range missiles without any limitations;

2) will create a negative domino-style effect that will complicate nuclear arms control, namely:

1.    In military sphere it will block the potential resolution of the nuclear arms deal to be applied to the Korean Peninsula, may bring the U.S. nuclear weapons to Japan and the Republic of Korea, and

2.    In political domain such step will undermine specific solutions at the upcoming 2020 NPT Review Conference and erect unsurmountable obstacles for entry into force of the Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

The reality is that the USA has de facto already withdrawn from the INF Treaty by having violated it 95 times since 2001 while testing the efficiency of its BMDS when using dummy (mock) medium and shorter-range missiles, prohibited by the INF Treaty, as intercepted targets. Russian experts believe that they can be converted into nuclear-tipped ballistic and cruise missiles any moment.

There are three questions related to this fact: a) has the USA not destroyed all of them under the 1987 treaty (totally 846)? b) has Washington produced new INF missiles after destroying the old ones, and how many? c) does the Pentagon plan to make them nuclear-tipped?

Therefore, Moscow calls on Washington to ensure full and transparent compliance with INF Treaty.

On the other hand, Russia has not violated the INF Treaty and is not going to be the initiator to torpedo it. During the last 6 years Washington has not tabled any vivid fact that Moscow has ‘violated’ the treaty. The purpose of such U.S. disinformation of the world community is: a) to camouflage its own new INF assets; b) to prompt Moscow to scrap 4 types of Russian missiles that are not covered by the INF Treaty provisions, namely two ICBMs, one operational missile and the newest system named “Avangard”; c) to proliferate the 1987 Treaty to the PRC who is not the party of it; d) to deploy in Europe its new mobile ground-based nuclear-capable medium-range cruise missile in order to repeat the 1979 ‘double-track decision’ of NATO.

The cruise missile designated as 9M729 does not fall into limitations of the Treaty. Other types such as ‘SSC8’ or ‘SSC8-X’ does not exist. The USA has got detailed Russian explanations on this matter.

There is the risk of further intentions of nuclear weapon states to pool back from other international treaties in arms control area. The USA alone has assumed negative stance towards 12 bilateral and multilateral accords in this domain. It has either violated them (e.g., INF and the Open Sky Treaty), or unilaterally withdrawn (from the ABM accord), or refused to ratify them (like CFE-1A and CTBT), or declined to debate (like European Security Treaty and Treaty on Prevention of Arms Race in Outer Space).

The possibilities for using of low-yield nuclear weapons of less than 5 kiloton has sharply increased: there are 14 pretexts of using all kind of nuclear weapons in the current U.S. NPR versus two cases in the contemporary Russian nuclear doctrine. Such doctrine does not have any instructions to use tactical nuclear weapons or ‘low-yield NW’; in does not have any paragraph on ‘escalation of de-escalation” or vice versa. Current Russia’s nuclear doctrine is rooted on “conditional defensive nuclear deterrence” while the new U.S. one can be labelled as “unconditional offensive nuclear deterrence”. That is a striking difference between them.

Conventional arms race may be characterized by a huge accumulation of conventional arms in the form of stockpiling forward-based assets and conducting a large-scale military drills. In recent years the number of such exercises conducted by NATO have increased two-fold. Many NATO-led initially conventionally military exercises at the end of them are transformed into nuclear-borne drills. Half of them have anti-Russian feature. There will be more NATO forward-deployed troops in the Eastern and Southern Europe. The high-caliber heavy weapons deployments of the transatlantic alliance moving closer to Russia’s doorstep cause concern in Moscow.

The Baltic Air Policing Operation has been uninterruptedly conducted by NATO aircraft, including dual capable fighter-bombers of three Western nuclear powers in the Baltic airspace, since 2004. One more factor: the number of reconnaissance flights of NATO aircraft near Russian borders has increased 10 times – actually, there are such 15-20 reconnaissance aircraft per each week approaching Russian territory from all directions.

The confrontational situation that has emerged during last several years has even worsened due to the continuation of the Cold War that from 2014 has acquired a new image – the Colder War or the Cold War 2.0 – that has five striking differences with the first one.

The world community is witnessing not a new arms race, but rather new three-dimensional arms races: the nuclear one (it started last century), the newly-born missile defense arms race (it started in 2002 after the demise of the ABM Treaty) and the initial beginning of the outer space arms race (it commenced in 2008 when many nations refused to accept the PAROS Treaty).

Therefore, military confrontation in Europe can start under any pretext – be it a deliberate provocation or unintentional action. But any potential conflict here – either backed by conventional, nuclear and BMDS capabilities – can evolve into severe armed conflict between NATO and Russia that will be very difficult to contain. No doubt, it will bring a devastating effect to this densely-populated continent.

What are the practical suggestions how to avoid such a gloomy and highly unwelcomed scenarios?

A Special Arms Control Summit involving NATO, the OSCE, the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has to be convened. It has to declare a legally-binding no-first use of nuclear weapons pledge.  Such Summit should stop spreading of hostile information and painting each other black. To convene such Summit is a challenging task. It is not ‘a snap-type’ arrangement. But nevertheless the idea is knocking the door leading to the European security.

It is also expedient to reach an agreement on limiting the total number of strategic BMD interceptors and their geographic deployments. The U.S. operational BMDS bases in Romania and Poland that have both defensive and offensive capabilities have to be closed down comletely.

It is also vital to reach an accord not to field for more than 24 hours any kind of nuclear weapons, both strategic and tactical, outside national territory of the nuclear weapon states; to sign a new CFE Treaty applied to Europe covering the same five types of heavy weapons specified in the earlier CFE accords, and to cancel the Baltic Air Policing Operation for good.

It is important to reach a multilateral treaty banning space-based striking weapons in outer space.

Russia and Europe do not need any kind of arms race or any type of war – be it limited or all-out one.

So, why not to reach arms control agreements between Russia and Europe separately from the USA in order to maintain stable European security on completely different footing?

Only political will is required.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin, Source: OrientalReview

June 3, 2025

The second round of the direct talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations that have been held again in Istanbul on June 2^nd 2025 lasted for 1 hour and 4 minutes. Both delegations managed to resolve only humanitarian issues, and have exchanged their respective political memoranda on ending the hostilities.

Humanitarian issues once again

Russia and Ukraine once again have agreed on their largest prisoner exchange to date. Moscow will return to Ukraine the bodies of 6,000 its soldiers and officers who have been killed in action (KIA), and have been kept in Russia in refrigerators. Ukraine has not disclosed any information about how many Russian GIs it would be ready to hand over. Moscow does not know this figure.

Additionally, all POWs under 25, and soldiers having serious wounds or sickness will be exchanged on the principle ‘all for all’.

Moscow has proposed a temporary ceasefire for two to three days in several parts of the frontline to facilitate the collection of soldiers’ bodies and prevent potential outbreaks of disease in a summer time. Though the Ukrainian side has promised to review the proposal on short notice, the off-hand reaction of the former Ukrainian president to it was rather rude.

Russia and Ukraine also have agreed to establish medical commissions to help create exchange lists for severely injured soldiers without the need to wait for high-level political decisions, but bringing about the swaps regularly in a routine, simplified manner.

Russia demanded Ukraine stop false ‘child kidnapping’ claims

The two teams agreed that all children evacuated from combat zones are to be reunited with their families as soon as their parents or relatives are identified. Russia reminded that it has returned a total of 101 children to Ukraine since the escalation of the second phase of the Ukrainian aggression in February 2022. So far, the Ukrainian side handed over 22 children to Russia.

The reunification of children with their families is a matter of honor for Russia, the head of Moscow’s delegation and a presidential aide, Vladimir Medinsky commented on Kiev’s demands to return Ukrainian minors that have allegedly been ‘abducted’ by Russia.

Figures voiced by Ukraine at various international platforms, including the UNO and the OSCE, have nothing to do with reality, top Kremlin negotiator announced, adding that his team received a list of names of children Kiev wants to be returned. Russia denied the rumors that it has kidnapped 1.5 million or 200,000 or 20,000 Ukrainian kids. Ukrainian delegation has handed over to the Russian negotiators the list containing only 339 such names.

This list shows, unfortunately, that the Ukrainian authorities have intentionally staged a show, Medinsky outlined. “In reality, we are talking about dozens of children – none of whom were abducted. Not a single one. These are children saved by our soldiers, at the risk of their own lives, pulled from combat zones and evacuated.” Russia is looking for their parents, and when their parents are found, it will return these children, he added. In his words, “This shameful PR campaign must be stopped.”

Comparing two submitted memoranda

Russia handed over to the Ukrainian side its memorandum at the talks in Istanbul, which consists of three parts. Ukrainian delegation promised to study it in a week. It looks like that these two drafts will be tackled at the third round of talks between Kiev and Moscow to be set up later.

The first part of the Russian draft is how to achieve real long-term peace settlement. The second section describes what steps should be taken to make a full-fledged ceasefire possible. The third portion sets out the sequence of some practical steps and the timing of their implementation.

The main provisions of the memorandum are: international legal recognition of the entry of Crimea, Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republic, Zaporozhye and Kherson Regions (Oblasts) into Russia;  proclamation of Ukraine’s neutrality, its refusal to join military alliances; a ban on military activities of other states in Ukraine; nuclear-free status of Ukraine (no transit, no deployment); setting the maximum number of AFU; stopping foreign military aid to Kiev; Kiev’s refusal of making of sabotage acts against Russia; lifting of economic sanctions imposed against Russia; ensuring the rights and freedoms of the Russian-speaking population; prohibiting the glorification of Nazism and neo-Nazism; phased restoration of diplomatic and economic relations with Ukraine; mutual waiver of claims in connection with damage inflicted from military operations; addressing issues related to family reunification and displaced persons; presidential and parliamentary elections in Ukraine no later than 100 days after the lifting of martial law.

The current Russian memorandum also emphasizes that the peace treaty between Russia and Ukraine must be approved by a “legally binding resolution of the UN Security Council.” Only after that, the ratification, entry into force and implementation of the peace treaty is expected.

Ukrainian draft memorandum has not specified any consent with all these provisions. A reminder: during the 2022 negotiations with Russia Ukraine agreed with its neutrality and non-nuclear status formulated in the accord initialed by the heads of the two delegations, but not accepted by Zelensky at all.

What are the next steps?

The Ukrainian delegation has suggested holding the next direct meeting with Russian negotiators before the end of June (somewhere between June 20th and 30th), Rustem Umerov, Ukrainian Defense Minister has told newsmen after the talks.

Moscow has not commented on the exact dates of the third round. But no doubt, it will attend it and other meetings if they are needed.

It is clear that Kiev still wishes to join the transatlantic Alliance. The upcoming NATO Summit should express its clear-cut statement on this issue by stating that the former states of the Soviet Union, including Georgia and Ukraine, must retain their neutral, non-aligned status for the sake of maintaining equal and stable security in Europe. Unfortunately, NATO chieftains are still in favor of admitting Ukraine into its ranks somewhere in the future. There are even voices to help Ukrainian junta to recreate nuclear weapons that Ukraine possessed in the framework of the USSR or to share with it Western nuclear capabilities and their means of delivery.

The stumbling block at the future talks between Kiev and Moscow is a multifaceted gimmick.

On one hand, the West (the EU and NATO) is too critical to Russia blaming it for everything it has not done.

But on the other, the West is very candid with Ukraine: it incites Zelensky to continue fighting, generously stockpiles him with deadly weapons, intelligence and military experts/operators. The Western nations have hammered out nearly 30,000 different sectoral and individual sanctions against Russia, but they have not invented at least a single modest sanction versus Ukraine – de facto and de jure aggressor and terrorist state in Europe.

The West is lusting for a continuation of an all-out aggression against Russians living in Ukraine and against Russia as a whole. Soon after the second stage of the Russo-Ukrainian talks has ended in Istanbul, Zelensky publicly articulated his master plan to flare up war-mongerism in Europe.

If NATO and the EU do not reconsider their deadlocked strategy aimed at encouraging the barbaric aggressor, the war in that part of the world will go on endlessly despite many rounds of polite negotiations.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

March 12, 2025

The overall results of the US-Ukraine official talks held on March 11 in Jeddah are still intentionally concealed by the two sides. Only very short points have been disclosed.

“Ukraine expressed readiness to accept the US proposal to enact an immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire, which can be extended by mutual agreement of the parties, and which is subject to acceptance and concurrent implementation by the Russian Federation,” the joint US-Ukrainian statement reads.

During the meeting, the delegations discussed long-term security guarantees for Ukraine, US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz said without providing further detail. But why these guarantees have been hammered out for Ukraine only – the attacker and the intruder? Why not simultaneously to Russia – who is a real victim of 11-years old Ukrainian aggression and intrusion?

The meeting coincided with total resumption of the US striking military supplies & sharing sensitive intelligence information with Kiev will mean undermining Russia's national security interests as a victim of a combined direct Ukrainian/NATO aggression since 2014 & killing more Russian citizens by the US and European lethal weapons generously offered to illegal Kiev regime that bogged down into documented war crimes.

Such double support was unblocked after Kiev who is suffering huge losses on all fronts agreed to Washington’s idea for an “immediate” 30-day ceasefire with Russia. Is it acceptable? No. It should not be taken as a practical remedy.

Therefore, the EU has provided it with prompt and full support. It opens the way not only to the continuation of the direct aggression of Ukraine and NATO against Russia as a victim of united Ukraine/NATO/the EU aggression, but also to its qualitative escalation. In the light of new military-political environment, the USA, NATO, the EU and Ukraine will prolong such war over and over again. It will be easy for such Ukrainian leadership.

Some experts claim that the Jeddah agreement would open the door for Ukrainian admission into NATO and pave the way for the EU/NATO military contingents to be deployed in Ukraine under the cover of “peacekeepers’ with the aim on consolidation of the current ultra-nationalist regime entrenched in Kiev who is seeking to intensify the war with Russia.

Washington has said it will communicate these ‘Jeddah’ proposals to Russia shortly. Possibly, on March 13-14, 2025.

Moscow has yet to issue an official response to the statement following the US-Ukraine talks in Jeddah. President Vladimir Putin has previously indicated that any temporary ceasefire deal is unacceptable for the Russian side, arguing it would only allow Ukrainian Armed Forces to regroup and rearm on a new basis. The Russian leadership has previously signaled that the deal would only benefit Kiev and it’s the EU/NATO backers.

In terms of the qualitatively new buildup of weapons of mass destruction, each century has its own specific brand name. While the last century was labeled “the nuclear arms age,” the current century could be characterized as “the missile defense age” and “the space-based weapons age.” These three interlinked factors unfortunately define the current and future military-political environment on the globe.

Many experts believed that after the signing of seven major nuclear arms treaties by the two nuclear powers during the first phase of the Cold War, the elimination of their strategic offensive nuclear arms would be continued, and gradually include the other seven member nations of the “Nuclear Club.”

But they were mistaken: the process of reduction of nuclear weapons has stalled with no immediate chance to be resumed either on a bilateral or multilateral basis.

The rather alarming reality is that while during the last century there were more nuclear warheads in the hands of two nuclear giants who wished to reduce the chances of all-out nuclear war, today there is the opposite tendency. While the number of nuclear arms has been reduced by 80% during the past several decades, the chances that nuclear weapons will be used have increased because the threshold for using them has been lowered.

There are several explanations why this has happened.

Nuclear thinking still prevails in many nations. The fact is that 122 countries have supported the Nuclear Weapons Elimination Treaty since last summer. On the other hand, nearly 70 nations preferred to stay out, including all nine de jure and de facto nuclear-weapon states. Seven nuclear nations are not participating in nuclear arms control. Tactical nuclear weapons have never been the subject of official talks. Several nuclear nations have offensive nuclear doctrines. One nation has extended its nuclear deterrence strategy. There is a number of nuclear-free zones, but not in the Middle East.

There is a concept of “escalate to de-escalate,” that is, to de-escalate a regional non-nuclear conflict with the help of nuclear weapons. There are voices arguing not to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, and to resume nuclear testing in Nevada. A new pattern of military exercises has been introduced – transforming drills – whereby conventional maneuvers are enhanced by nuclear force. It has become a routine practice for high-ranking U.S. civilian officials who would be involved in the national decision-making process to take part in computerized nuclear war-gaming organized by the top military officers responsible for the deployment of nuclear weapons.

President Donald Trump’s predecessor, Barack Obama, cancelled a ‘minimum nuclear deterrence’ clause, and ushered in plans to modernize tactical nuclear weapons, and to hammer out a qualitatively new strategic nuclear triad comprised of the B-21 Raider strategic bomber, the Minuteman-IV ICBM, and the Columbia SSBN. This new strategic triad will begin to be implemented very soon, in 2026.

From 2017 till 2046, it will require $ 1.2 trillion, or $1.7 trillion adjusted for inflation. Neither of other nuclear-armed states can afford such an expense. It is several times higher than the money spent on nuclear forces by the all the other countries that possess nuclear weapons combined.

The fate of the 1987 INF Treaty is under very serious threat, and not by Russia. Vladimir Putin has repeated publicly over the past year, and as recently as October 2017, that the Kremlin would not be the first country to withdraw from the treaty. On the other hand, Russia is concerned that the Pentagon, while formally committing to compliance with the INF Treaty, has since 2001 violated this agreement 92 times by using mock ballistic missiles of ranges prohibited by the 1987 accord as target vehicles to test the efficiency of the BMD system.

The U.S. Congress in its reconciled version of the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act expressed clearly that the United States could suspend the INF Treaty in whole or in part. The recent decision by the Congress to develop a new ground-launched medium-range cruise missile will be an additional step in breaching the INF Treaty. This missile would be deployed in Europe by the U.S. Army, or transferred to key NATO allies who are not parties to this accord.

There is another factor that sometimes remains unnoticed. Half of NATO member states are involved in the year-round, 24-hour, 7-days-a-week Baltic Air Policing operations. These began in 2004 in the skies of the three Baltic states, with the participation of dual-capable aircraft (DCAs) from the three Western nuclear powers, which can carry either conventional or nuclear weapons.

The alliance’s DCA will be modernized, with the dual-capable F-35 Joint Strike Fighter eventually becoming the backbone of NATO’s theater-based nuclear deterrent capability. The countries that base these forces are being encouraged to upgrade their DCA as soon as possible. But Europe does not need foreign nuclear weapons.

There is a proposal to resurrect the nuclear capability of the Tomahawk sea-based cruise missile – known as TLAM-N, or Tomahawk land-attack missile nuclear – which was removed from U.S. Navy warships in the early 1990s and whose nuclear warheads were retired a decade ago. Today its proponents maintain that a revived TLAM-N would bolster the extended nuclear deterrence in the Middle East, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region.

The development of the nuclear-tipped air-launched Long-Range Stand-off Missile has already started. There are voices in favor of exploring ways to reinforce the nuclear deterrent by developing a nuclear version of the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM), and deploying low-yield nuclear-tipped missiles and nuclear free-fall bombs delivered by the newest B-21 strategic bombers and by the F-35 joint-strike fighter.

Moscow cannot ignore the fact that the United States is on track to complete the life-extension program for the nuclear B61 bombs on schedule in 2024, or even earlier. With its accuracy, reliability, and low-yield option of 0.3 kilotons, the B61-12 and its F-35 delivery platform will provide a substantial capability to complement the U.S. central strategic and tactical nuclear systems in Europe, the Middle East, the Gulf area, and the Asia-Pacific region.

The United States and NATO are building up their general-purpose forces, which include heavy weapons, and conduct large-scale military exercises of an offensive nature in regions bordering the territory of Russia and its allies. Since 2014, NATO has expanded its military activity in the immediate proximity to Russia by five times, and aerial reconnaissance near Russia, by ten times.

Besides worrisome changes in the security environment, there are many elements of continuity in the U.S. nuclear policy that could be incorporated in the updated Nuclear Posture Review to be released later this year or early 2018. It appears that it will not change U.S. general strategic nuclear goals. It may lower the bar for nuclear weapons deployment and open the door to developing “more usable” nuclear warheads.

Because of these factors, there is very little hope that the U.S.-Russian New START treaty (START-3 in Russian political vocabulary) will be extended for five years after it is set to expire in 2021. The Newest START/START-4 will seemingly wait for the same outcome.

Several factors may create formidable obstacles for the extension of New START or the pursuit of Newest START/START-4:

Factor 1. Continuation of unlimited and unrestrained proliferation of U.S. BMD interceptors. This problem could arise especially when the ratio between U.S. BMD interceptors and Russian strategic offensive arms delivery vehicles reaches a proportion of 3:1, and the ratio between the U.S. interceptors and Russian strategic warheads will be 2:1 (the AAD/BMD Patriot missile system are not counted here). If it happens, it will mean the end of strategic stability. The lower the ceiling of Russia’s SOA and the greater the number of the U.S. BMD interceptors that can hit them, the greater will be the American temptation to launch a first nuclear strike.

Factor 2. American tactical nuclear weapons deployment in four European states and the Asian part of Turkey offers no chance to start negotiations involving TNW – be it tactical arms reduction talks or tactical arms limitation talks, or even limited TNW confidence- and transparency-building measures. There is still geographic disparity in the TNW emplacement of the two sides: by the mid-1990s Moscow had pulled back all its TNW inventory to its territory, while the USA had not.

Factor 3. A new factor linked to the permanent basing of U.S. heavy strategic bombers in Europe, Asia, and the Asia-Pacific region. They fly over the Baltic Sea and land in Estonia.

So, after the New START aggregate ceilings will be met next February, Russia will have effectively exhausted its options for continuing negotiations exclusively with the American side to reduce nuclear SOA on a bilateral basis. It is obvious: all nuclear states should be involved in a corresponding process of further negotiations on downsizing their nuclear forces. First of all, this should pertain to Britain and France having reciprocal nuclear commitments. Their combined nuclear assets should be taken into account in order to ensure that they do not outweigh Russia’s nuclear potential.

President Donald Trump has inherited an “unconditional offensive nuclear deterrence” strategy that allows for a massive or a limited first nuclear strike on Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran. That is quite possible. Besides that, currently, Moscow and Washington have 16 unresolved arms control issues souring their relations.

In this context, it is expedient to recall that the entire U.S. ICBM arsenal is in full operational readiness (99.7%); nearly 50% of U.S. SSBNs are sailing the world oceans, ready to fire nuclear SLBMs; and around 25% of heavy strategic bombers are on full combat alert. The U.S Air Force is preparing to put these bombers back on 24-hour ready alert, a status not seen since 1991.

The existing U.S. system of launching nuclear arms by a single person has evolved more through tradition and precedent than by laws. The problem is so alarming that a number of U.S. Congressmen wish to limit the authority of any president to make a unilateral decision to use nuclear weapons at his own discretion.

The same practice exists in the DPRK. So, the leaders of these two countries can order a first nuclear strike against each other’s nation.

It was not serendipity that on November 14, 2017 the U.S. Senate held its first hearing in 41 years on the president’s authority to launch nuclear weapons. The essence of such an authority is that the order could be given initially any time and against any nation. The crux of the matter is that there are no checks on the president’s authority to start any type of nuclear war – limited or large-scale. A single verbal direction to the Pentagon war room will be sufficient for this action.

This issue is so important for the USA that on November 18, 2017 four-star General John Hyten, the head of U.S. Strategic Command, said he would refuse to execute an order from President Trump to launch a nuclear weapon if he believed it to be illegal. In January 2017, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden stated that it was hard to envision a plausible scenario in which the first use of nuclear weapons by the USA “would be necessary or make sense”.

At the same time, speaking in Canberra in July 2017, the U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander, Vice Admiral Scott Swift, admitted that he was ready to deliver a first nuclear attack on the People’s Republic of China “next week”, if the President of the United States would give him such an order.

Russia has a different nuclear authorization system. Three persons communicating together, by undisputable consensus, can launch nuclear weapons: the President, the Defense Minister, and the General Chief of Staff.

On January 24, 2017, identical versions of a bill titled the Restricting First-Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2017 were introduced in both chambers of Congress. The measure would prohibit the president from using the Armed Forces to conduct a first-use nuclear strike without permission from the Congress. Domestically, it is up to the U.S. lawmakers and military to modify the existing practice and responsibly limit presidential authority to order nuclear arms launch against any nation.

But, internationally, before any constraints are imposed on presidential authority to press the nuclear button it is expedient to enact the no-first use (NFU) pledge among all nuclear armed nations as soon as possible.

There are four major reasons for that. First, during the Cold War the USA had three false alarms, and during one of those it narrowly averted a nuclear catastrophe. Second, after 1945 the USA has intended to resort to nuclear weapons eight times, but luckily has not used them. Third, there is a great risk, if an incoming non-nuclear cruise or ballistic missile is interpreted by the opposite number to be a nuclear-tipped vehicle. Fourth, the window of opportunity to employ nuclear weapons in the recent years has been widened.

The existing nuclear missiles de-targeting agreements between Russia and three Western nuclear-weapons states cannot substitute the NFU pledge.

On November 16, 2017 William J. Perry, the former U.S. secretary of defense, and retired General James E. Cartwright, the former vice chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, observed in the Washington Post that “today’s greatest danger is not a Russian “bolt from the blue” massive nuclear attack, but rather a U.S. blunder – that is, the United States might accidentally stumble into nuclear war.” Perhaps for this reason, Daryl G. Kimball, executive director of the monthly magazine Arms Control Today, noted in December 2017, that “the fate of millions of people should not depend on the good judgment of one person…”

Last year President Vladimir Putin urged all nuclear weapon states to display responsibility and not to use nuclear weapons that will lead to the end of the civilization. He clearly stated that Russia stands for universal nuclear disarmament. In his words, even nuclear sable rattling is the most dangerous act.

Before the Nuclear Weapons Elimination Treaty is welcomed by the entire world community, the universal NFU notion should be implemented as soon as possible as a step facilitating the creation of a global nuclear zero option.

Written by Vladimir Kozin, Source: New defence order strategy

Local and International Perceptions of Security Threats in the MENA Region

In terms of WMD Russia has advocated and will support strengthening regional security and stability in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region which is very close to Russia and has deep-seated historic political, commercial, cultural and spiritual ties.

To this end Moscow will seek to ensure full implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action to settle the issue around the Iranian nuclear program based on the UN Security Council resolution 2231 of July 20, 2015 and relevant IAEA Board of Governors decisions. No doubt, Russia will assist this process in every possible way, because a U-turn approach could produce too many negative risks and challenges.

It would be extremely irrelevant to tear off this deal by the USA, first, because Iran is operating within the limits imposed on its nuclear activities in the 2015 Vienna deal;second, because it is a multilateral arrangement stamped by the UN Security Council;third, because ballistic missiles are not in the scope of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

The Russian Federation will support the notion to proclaim the Middle East as a WMD free-zone, which should encompass national nuclear weapons of Israel and the U.S. nuclear weapons deployed in the Asian part of Turkey after the Iranian nuclear deal was reached in 2015. It is high time to intensify debates on the implementation of this proposal shared by the majority of the Middle East nations and by Russia as a nuclear power. There are two non-governmental draft treaties on the Middle East WMD free-zone that could be debated, improved and shaped into an official accord.

There are some additional factors that have direct bearing on the MENA region and the globe at large.

In terms of the qualitatively new buildup of WMD each century has its own specific brand name. While last century was labeled as ‘a nuclear arms age’, the current century can be additionally characterized as ‘missile defense age’ and as ‘space-based weapons’ age’. These three interlinked factors unfortunately shape up the current and future military-political environment on the globe.

The positive feature is that two classic types of WMD – chemical and biological – have been almost entirely eliminated, except CW agents that have been frequently used by pseudo-caliphate ‘Islamic State’ in Syria. It is the setback that after persuading Damascus to get rid of CW agents under international control the world community failed to warn the armed terrorist factions in Syria not to use them, and failed to urge the producers of CW precursors to supply them to the quasi ‘Islamic State’.

Many experts believed that after signing seven major nuclear arms treaties during the first phase of the Cold War between two nuclear powers the elimination of their SOA or strategic offensive nuclear arms will be continued and gradually include other seven nations-members of the ‘Nuclear Club’.

But they have been mistaken: the nuclear WMD reduction process has stalled, with no immediate chances to be resumed either on bilateral or on multilateral basis.

There is a rather alarming reality that while last century there have been more nuclear warheads in the hands of two nuclear giants who wished to reduce the chances to start an all-out nuclear war, today there is a reversed tendency: while the number of nuclear arms have drastically reduced by 80 percent during several decades the chances for employment of nuclear weapons have increased due to lowering the threshold for using them.

There are several explanations of why it has happened.

Nuclear thinking is still prevailing in many nations. The fact: 122 countries in the world have supported the Nuclear Weapons Elimination Treaty opened for signature last summer. But, on the other hand, nearly 70 nations preferred to stay out, including all nine de jure and de facto nuclear-weapon states. Seven nuclear nations are still out of nuclear arms control. Tactical nuclear weapons have never been the subject of official talks. Several nuclear nations have offensive nuclear doctrines. One nation has extended nuclear deterrence strategy. There a number of nuclear-free zones, but not in the Middle East.

There is a concept of ‘de-escalation of escalation’ that is to de-escalate any regional non-nuclear conflagration with the help of nuclear weapons. There are voices not to ratify the CTBT and to resume nuclear testing in Nevada. A new pattern of military exercises has been introduced – transforming drills – when conventional maneuvers are enhanced by nuclear force. It has become a routine practice when the American high-ranking civilian officials involved in a decision-making process on a nationwide scale are invited to take part in the computerized nuclear war-gaming arranged by the top military men responsible for employment of nuclear weapons.

President Donald Trump’s predecessor Barack Obama has cancelled a ‘minimum nuclear deterrence’ clause, ushered in plans to modernize tactical nuclear weapons and to hammer out a qualitatively new strategic nuclear triad comprised of strategic bomber B-21 Raider, ICBM Minuteman-IV and SSBN Columbia. The creation of such new strategic triad will start very soon – from 2026.

From 2017 till 2046 it will require US $ 1,2 trillion in constant dollars or 1,7 trillion with the inflation correction. This amount of money is unaffordable for any other nuclear weapons state. It is several times higher than the money spent on nuclear forces by the rest of nuclear arms possessors combined.

The fate of the 1987 INF Treaty is under very serious threat to be scrapped, and not by Russia. It has been repeated publicly by Vladimir Putin during last year and in October 2017 that the Kremlin would not be the first to do this. Russia is concerned that, on the other hand, while formally committing its compliance with the INF Treaty, since 2001 the Pentagon have violated this arrangement 92 times while using mock ballistic missiles of all ranges prohibited by the 1987 accord as target vehicles to test the efficiency of the BMD system.

The U.S. Congress in its reconciled version of the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act expressed clear sense that the USA could suspend the operation of the INF Treaty in whole or in part. The recent decision by the Congress to develop a new ground-launched medium-range cruise missile will be an extra step in breaching the INF Treaty. It will be deployed in Europe by the U.S. Army or to be transferred to key NATO allies who are not parties to this accord.

There is another factor which sometimes remains unnoticed. Half of NATO member states are involved in the year-round, 24 hours, 7 days a week the Baltic Air Policing operations that have started in 2004 in the skies of three Baltic states where DCA or dual-capable aircraft from the three Western nuclear powers take part and can carry either conventional or nuclear weapons.

The alliance’s DCA will be modernized, with the dual-capable F-35 Joint Strike Fighter eventually becoming the backbone of NATO’s theater-based nuclear deterrent capability. The basing countries are encouraged to upgrade their DCA as soon as possible.

There is an idea to resurrect the nuclear capability of the Tomahawk sea-based cruise missile – known as TLAM-N or Tomahawk land-attack missile nuclear– which was removed from U.S. Navy warships in the early 1990s and whose nuclear warheads have been retired a decade ago. Today its proponents maintain that a revived TLAM-N would bolster extended nuclear deterrence in the Middle East, Europe and Asia-Pacific.

The development of nuclear-tipped air-launched Long-Range Stand-off Missile has already started. There are voices exploring ways of reinforcing the nuclear deterrent in favor of developing a nuclear version of the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM), and deploying low-yield nuclear-tipped missiles and nuclear free-fall bombs to be delivered by the newest B-21 strategic bombers and by JSFs F-35.

Moscow cannot neglect the fact that the United States is to complete the life extension program for the nuclear B61 bombs by 2024, as scheduled or earlier. With its accuracy, reliability, and low-yield option 0,3 kt the B61-12 and its F-35 delivery platform will provide a substantial capability to complement the U.S. central strategic and tactical nuclear systems in Europe, the Middle East, the Gulf area, and in the Asia-Pacific region.

The United States and NATO’s buildup of their general-purpose forces, which include heavy weapons, and conduct large-scale military exercises of an offensive nature in regions bordering the territory of Russia and its allies. Since 2014, NATO has expanded the military activity in the immediate proximity to Russia by five times and aerial reconnaissance near it ten times as much.

Besides worrisome changes in the security environment, there are many elements of continuity in the U.S. nuclear policy that could be incorporated in the updated Nuclear Posture Review to be released later this year or early 2018. It looks like that it will not change the U.S. general strategic nuclear goals. It can lower the threshold for nuclear use and open the door to developing “more usable” nuclear warheads.

Due to all these factors there is a very little hope that the New START between the USA and Russia (or START-3 in Russian political vocabulary) will be extended for extra five years after it will finally expire in 2021. The Newest START/START-4 will seemingly wait for the same outcome.

There are several factors that can create formidable obstacles en route towards the New START extension or forging the Newest START/START-4:

Factor 1. Continuation of unlimited and unrestrained proliferation of the U.S. BMD interceptors. The problem could arise especially when the ratio between U.S. BMD interceptors and Russian strategic offensive arms’ delivery vehicles will reach a proportion of 3:1, and the ration between the U.S. interceptors and Russian strategicwarheads will be 2:1 (the AAD/BMD Patriot missile system are not counted here). If it happens, there will be the end of strategic stability. The lower the ceiling of Russia’s SOA and the greater the number of the U.S. BMD interceptors that can hit them, the greater will be the American temptation to launch a first nuclear strike.

Factor 2. American tactical nuclear weapons’ deployment in four European states and the Asian part of Turkey offers no chances to start any negotiations involving TNW – be it tactical arms reduction talks or tactical arms limitation talks or even limited TNW confidence- and transparency-building measures. There is still geographic disparity in the TNW emplacement of the two sides: by mid 1990s Moscow has pulled back all its TNW inventory to its territory, while the USA has not.

Factor 3. Actually a new factor linked with permanent fielding of the U.S. heavy strategic bombers in Europe, Asia, and the Asia-Pacific region. They fly over the Baltic Sea and land in Estonia.

So, after the New START aggregate ceilings will be met next February, Russia will have effectively exhausted its options for continuing negotiations exclusively with the American side to reduce nuclear SOA on a bilateral basis. It is obvious: all nuclear states should be involved in a corresponding process of further negotiations leading to downsizing their nuclear forces. First of all, this should pertain to Britain and France having reciprocal nuclear commitments. Their combined nuclear assets should be taken into account in order to ensure that it does not outweigh Russia’s nuclear potential.

President Donald Trump has inherited ‘unconditional offensive nuclear deterrence’ strategy allowing either to deliver a massive or a limited first nuclear strike on Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran. That is quite possible. Currently, Moscow and Washington have 16 unresolved arms control issues souring their relations.

In this context it is expedient to remind that the entire U.S. ICBMs are in full operational readiness (99,7 percent), there are nearly 50 percent of all its SSBNs sailing in the World Oceans ready to fire nuclear SLBMs, and around 25 percent of heavy strategic bombers are on full combat alert. The U.S Air Force is preparing to put these bombers back on 24 hour ready alert, a status not seen after 1991.

The existing U.S. system of launching nuclear arms by a single person has more evolved through tradition and precedent than by laws. The problem is so alarming that a number of the U.S. Congressmen wish to limit the authority of any President who can make a unilateral decision to use nuclear weapons at his own discretion.

It was not serendipity that on November 14, 2017 the U.S. Senate held its first hearing in 41 years on the President’s authority to launch nuclear weapons. The essence of such authority is that the order could be given initially any time and against any nation. The crux of the matter is that there are no checks on the President’s nuclear authority to start any type of nuclear war – limited or a large-scale war. A single verbal direction to the Pentagon war room will be sufficient for this action.

This issue is so important for the USA that on November 18, 2017 four-star General John Hyten, the head of the U.S. Strategic Command said he would refuse to execute an order from President Donald Trump to launch a nuclear weapon if he believed its use was illegal. In January 2017 Joseph Biden, U.S. Vice President has stated that it was hard to envision a plausible scenario in which the first use of nuclear weapons by the USA “would be necessary or make sense”.

At the same time speaking in Canberra July 2017 the U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander, Vice Admiral Scott Swift admitted that he was ready to deliver a first nuclear blow on the People’s Republic of China “next week”, if the President of the United States gives such an order to him.

Russia has different nuclear authorization system. Three persons communicating together, by undisputable consensus, can launch nuclear weapons: namely the President, the Defense Minister and the General Chief of Staff.

On January 24, 2017, identical versions of a bill titled the Restricting First-Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2017 were introduced in both chambers of Congressprohibiting the President from using the Armed Forces to conduct a first-use nuclear strike without a permission given by Congress. Nationally, it is up to the U.S. lawmakers and military to modify the existing practice and responsibly restrict Presidential authority to order nuclear arms launch against any nation.

But, internationally, before any constraints are imposed on presidential authority to press a nuclear button it expedient to enact the no-first use (NFU) pledge between all nuclear armed nations as soon as possible.

There are four major reasons for that. First, during the Cold War the USA had three false alarms, and on one of those it narrowly averted a nuclear catastrophe. Second,after 1945 the USA has intended to resort to nuclear weapons eight times, but luckily it has not used them. Third, there is a great risk, if the incoming non-nuclear cruise or ballistic missile is interpreted by the opposite number as a nuclear-tipped vehicle.Fourth, the window of opportunity to employ nuclear weapons in the recent years has been widely opened.

The existing nuclear missiles’ de-targeting agreements between Russia and three Western nuclear-weapons states cannot substitute the NFU pledge.

On November 16, 2017 William J.Perry, the U.S. ex-Defense Secretary, and retired General James E. Cartwright, former Vice Chairman, U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, have observed in the Washington Post that today’s danger is not a Russia’s ‘bolt from the blue’ massive nuclear attack, but rather the U.S. blunder – that is the USA might accidentally stumble into nuclear war. Probably, for this reason Daryl G. Kimball, Executive Director of the monthly magazine Arms Control Today, noted in December 2017:“The fate of millions of people should not depend on the good judgment of one person …”.

Last year President Vladimir Putin urged all nuclear weapon states to display responsibility and not to use nuclear weapons that will lead to the end of the civilization. He clearly stated that Russia stands for universal nuclear disarmament. In his words, even nuclear sabre rattling is the most dangerous act.

Before the Nuclear Weapons Elimination Treaty is welcomed by the entire world community, the universal NFU notion should be implemented as soon as possible as a step facilitating the creation of a global nuclear zero option.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

March 25, 2025

Kiev does not want to honor ‘energy truce’

Many observers noted positively that ex-president Volodymyr Zelensky’s statement at a news conference on March 19, 2025 where he backed the US proposed pause in Ukrainian attacks on Russian targets. He claimed that he and President Donald Trump discussed the issue of proliferation a ceasefire accord “on energy and other civilian infrastructure” in their phone call. Zelensky even used the phrase: it would be “most likely” to apply the US initiative to “energy facilities” belonging to Ukraine and Russia.

“One of the first steps toward fully ending the war could be ending strikes on energy and other civilian infrastructure,” Zelensky later wrote on X social network after his call with the American president. “I supported this step, and Ukraine confirmed that we are ready to implement it.”

It would be better if President Donald Trump convinced him to formulate his statement not to attack Russian energy assets into a written form. However, such a logical step has not been made till now.

Despite these promises, Ukrainian attacks on energy facilities and critical infrastructure in Russia continued later the same day when the vague promise ‘most likely’ has been articulated by ex-Ukrainian president.

The score about damaged energy targets between Ukraine-Russia: 5:0

The Ukrainian Armed Forces:

• on March 19 hit an oil depot Kavkazskaya in Russia’s Krasnodar Region;
• on March 21 blew up a gas metering station near Sudzha in Kursk Region in such a way that it will take two years to repair it;
• on March 22 attacked operational gas-distribution station at Valuika, Belgorod Region;
• on March 23 used drones against operational Glebovskoye gas condensate field in Crimea;
•   on March 24 attacked by UAVs functional Kropotkinskaya oil pumping station belonging to the Caspian International Pipeline Consortium, Krasnodar Region.

Thus, Ukraine has violated the ‘energy truce’ suggested by President Donald Trump. Despite the statements made by Zelensky, including those announced publicly, the Kiev regime continues to plan, prepare, and conduct attacks targeting energy infrastructure, including the international one, situated on the territory of the Russian Federation.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

Vladimir Kozin gave an interview to the Regis TV show (USA) on the issue of nuclear arms control between Russia and the USA.

A fascinating and informative discussion about the INF Treaty and their involvement in it. Scott Ritter and Vladimir Kozin examine the nuclear arms race, when it began, how it escalated, and where we are today. Both are worried. We concluded with their thoughts of the situation in Ukraine today.

Vladimir P. Kozin: "Russia is not going to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine. This contradicts the Russian nuclear doctrine. The decision to increase the operational duty regime in its deterrence forces cannot be interpreted as an increase in the combat readiness of its nuclear forces".

Ведущий эксперт ЦВПИ МГИМО В.П. Козин дал интервью независимому телеканалу США «Реджис-шоу».

April 26, 2025

Kursk Region fully liberated from Ukrainians

The Russian military has completely liberated the border Kursk Region from Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF), President Vladimir Putin has said after being briefed on the battlefield situation by General Staff Chief, Army General Valery Gerasimov.

“The Kiev regime’s adventure has completely failed, and the huge losses suffered by the enemy, including among the most combat-ready, trained and equipped, including by Western models of equipment… will certainly be reflected along the entire line of combat contact,” he said.

The daring operation led to a complete crumbling of Ukrainian defenses. According to Gerasimov, total Ukrainian losses during the Kursk incursion amounted to more than 76,000 servicemen killed and wounded. It is more than total Ukrainian invasion force that invaded Donbass on February 17, 2022. During Russia’s counter-offensive in Kursk Region more than 7,700 units of military equipment, including 412 tanks, and 340 infantry fighting vehicles, and 314 APCs have been destroyed.

The Chief of the General Staff confirmed that Russia’s military effort in Kursk Region was supported by North Korean troops, whose assistance was provided under the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership signed last year between Russia and North Korea. "Soldiers and officers of the Korean People's Army, carrying out combat mission shoulder to shoulder with Russian servicemen, showed high professionalism during the repulse of the Ukrainian invasion, showed perseverance, courage and heroism in battle," Army General Gerasimov stressed.

Putin reaffirmed readiness for unconditional talks with Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated Moscow’s readiness for unconditional talks with Ukraine during a recent meeting with US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff. The meeting took place at the Kremlin Palace on April 25. It lasted for nearly three hours. Putin’s foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov and presidential investment CEO Kirill Dmitriev also took part in the meeting.

“The conversation allowed to further align Russian and US positions not only on Ukraine but also on a number of other international issues,” Ushakov noted, without going into details.

The Russian Defense Ministry provided an update on the outcome of the Easter truce celebrated on April 20th: Ukraine has violated it around 4,900 times, launched some 3,300 short-range drones at Russian positions, conducted artillery strikes and staged six offensive operations. Earlier, the Russian president proposed, to discuss bilaterally with the Ukrainian side the issue of non-strikes against civilian targets, but Kiev refused.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

Ведущий эксперт ЦВПИ МГИМО В.П. Козин в эфире канала медиагруппы «Патриот».

Контрнаступление ВСУ анонсировалось руководством Украины последние полгода. Почему сроки постоянно сдвигаются? Где и когда может начаться контрнаступление? О каком комбинированном маневре говорит Джон Кирби? Как повлияет провал контрнаступления ВСУ на политическую ситуацию в США? Что будет с руководством Украины в случае неудачного контрнаступления?

Dr. Vladimir Kozin joins Regis Tremblay to discuss Sergey Lavrov's address to the UN Security Council. As an associate of Lavrov, who has followed his career closely, Vladimir Kozin thinks this was the best speech he has ever given.

They also talked about how Ukraine is losing support in the US. Even a top general in the field admits that Ukraine is lacking troops, weapons, and artillery.

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Depuis 2011, la Russie et les États-Unis adhèrent aux directives du nouveau Traité de réduction des armes stratégiques (nouveau START), le considérant comme un accord pratique important pour le contrôle des armes nucléaires stratégiques. A la date du 5 février 2018, les deux parties devront respecter les limites imposées par le Traité sur les armes nucléaires stratégiques offensives, qui permettent à chaque partie de disposer d’un arsenal de 1 550 têtes nucléaires et de 800 lanceurs et bombardiers déployés et non déployés.

Il n’y a pas si longtemps, les analystes des médias américains demandaient à ce que le traité soit prorogé de cinq ans supplémentaires après son expiration en 2021, c’est-à-dire pour le maintenir en vigueur jusqu’en 2026.

Mais un certain nombre de questions liées aux problèmes de contrôle des armements russo-américains restent non résolues, allant de la défense antimissile à la prévention des incidents sous-marins impliquant des sous-marins, et bien plus encore.

La proposition d’étendre le nouveau START pour cinq autres années et de rédiger un nouveau traité START IV pourrait gagner du terrain si elle était considérée indépendamment des autres problèmes qui affectent fortement la stabilité régionale et mondiale. Cette proposition mériterait plus d’attention si un véritable «partenariat stratégique» existait entre Moscou et Washington – ainsi, dans l’atmosphère de confiance totale qui en résulterait, il n’y aurait pas d’approche diamétralement opposée pour résoudre de si nombreux problèmes internationaux urgents.

Mais malheureusement, rien de tout cela n’a été évident durant de nombreuses années. La relation entre la Russie et les États-Unis est actuellement dans un état de crise profonde. Washington a déclenché la Guerre froide 2.0 contre la Russie et, contrairement à la phase initiale de ce conflit (1945-1991), elle a pris une dimension entièrement nouvelle et plus dangereuse.

Naturellement, Moscou est prête à considérer les propositions officielles de Washington pour étendre le nouveau START, mais seulement si elles passent par les canaux officiels et non par les médias ou via les rangs des scientifiques et des chercheurs, parce que l’article 14 de ce traité stipule la bonne procédure à suivre.

De plus, on pourrait dire que du point de vue de la stabilité mondiale, il semble stratégiquement dangereux de fixer des limites qui seraient contraignantes jusqu’en 2026 sur les lanceurs, les bombardiers et les ogives, et aussi de poursuivre dans la voie d’autres réductions dans le cadre d’une sorte de nouveau traité (le plus récent START), pour les neuf raisons suivantes:

1. En 2020, soit six ans avant la date d’expiration du nouveau START, le rapport entre les systèmes américains de défense contre les missiles balistiques et les armes stratégiques offensives russes sera de 2 : 1, tandis que le rapport entre les missiles va même jusqu’à 3 : 1 (et aucun de ces scénarios ne prend en compte le système de missiles Patriot). L’accumulation incontrôlée des systèmes américains d’intercepteurs de défense antimissile et l’expansion sans entrave de leur zone de déploiement vont sérieusement aggraver cette dangereuse disparité. S’appuyant sur son avantage dans la défense antimissile balistique, les Etats-Unis pourraient facilement lancer une première frappe nucléaire non seulement sur l’Iran ou la Corée du Nord, mais même sur la Russie ou la Chine, et ensuite s’abriter contre toute frappe de représailles derrière un bouclier antimissile aussi imperméable. Plus le plafond des armes nucléaires stratégiques de la Russie est bas et plus le nombre d’intercepteurs dans le système de défense antimissile américain est élevé, plus il sera tentant pour Washington de lancer une première frappe nucléaire « préventive », contre la Russie en particulier.
2. Les armes nucléaires tactiques américaines sont déployées dans quatre États européens et la moitié de celles qui sont déployées en Asie le sont en Turquie, et celles-ci pourraient être utilisées pour lancer une première frappe nucléaire ou pour amplifier des frappes nucléaires lancées à l’aide d’armes stratégiques offensives. Il convient également de garder à l’esprit que les forces nucléaires américaines officiellement classées comme «tactiques» peuvent effectuer simultanément des tâches nucléaires tactiques et stratégiques, selon leur vecteur – que ce soit par avion tactique ou stratégique.
3. Les États-Unis utilisent des bombardiers stratégiques lourds dans le cadre de leurs exercices militaires ou comme «démonstration de force» en Europe, en Asie et dans la région Asie-Pacifique.
4. Washington viole régulièrement le Traité de 1987 sur les forces nucléaires à portée intermédiaire. Le Pentagone a déjà violé ce traité 92 fois depuis 2001 en testant l’efficacité des systèmes de défense antimissile américains et de ses alliés, en utilisant comme cibles les types de missiles balistiques à courte, moyenne portée et de portée intermédiaire interdits par ce traité. Le budget militaire américain pour 2018 a alloué 65 millions de dollars pour créer un nouveau missile de croisière nucléaire lancé au sol. De plus, il y a des voix à Washington qui plaident pour un retrait unilatéral des États-Unis de ce traité.
5. Les opérations de maintien de l’ordre dans la Baltique se poursuivent toute l’année dans les cieux des trois États baltes, en utilisant des aéronefs «à double capacité» des trois puissances nucléaires occidentales pouvant transporter des armes conventionnelles ou nucléaires.
6. Les États-Unis adhèrent à une doctrine de « dissuasion nucléaire offensive inconditionnelle », permettant une frappe nucléaire massive ou limitée contre la Russie, la Chine, la Corée du Nord et l’Iran.
7. Washington refuse obstinément de conclure un accord qui empêcherait l’arsenalisation de l’espace.
8. Les États-Unis et l’OTAN se sont engagés dans une accumulation effrénée de leurs forces polyvalentes, qui comprennent des armes lourdes, et mènent des exercices militaires à grande échelle de nature offensive dans les régions limitrophes du territoire de la Russie et de ses alliés. Depuis 2014, l’OTAN a étendu respectivement de 400% et 900% la reconnaissance militaire et aérienne qu’elle effectue à proximité immédiate de la Russie.
9. Les documents-cadres des États-Unis et de l’OTAN contiennent encore des déclarations inappropriées sur les actions de la Russie sur la scène internationale et sur le plan économique – des sanctions illégales contre pratiquement 400 institutions et entreprises russes différentes, plus 200 individus, ne contribuent en rien à restaurer une confiance mutuelle.

Une fois que les exigences du nouveau START auront été satisfaites en février 2018, la Russie aura effectivement épuisé ses options pour poursuivre les négociations avec les Américains afin de réduire les armes offensives stratégiques sur une base bilatérale.

Dans la même veine, tous les États nucléaires devraient être associés à un processus de négociation correspondant. Tout d’abord, cela devrait concerner la Grande-Bretagne et la France – les principaux alliés nucléaires des États-Unis, qui ont des engagements réciproques dans la mise en œuvre de la «dissuasion nucléaire offensive inconditionnelle.» Pour calculer comment équilibrer les capacités nucléaires futures de la Russie face aux trois puissances nucléaires occidentales, il faudra prendre en compte l’arsenal nucléaire combiné du Royaume-Uni, des États-Unis et de la France, afin de s’assurer que l’ensemble ne l’emporte pas sur le potentiel nucléaire de la Fédération de Russie.

Les commentateurs occidentaux essaient de répandre des rumeurs selon lesquelles les Russes ont déjà pris la décision d’étendre le nouveau START. Mais ce n’est pas le cas. Aucune décision de ce genre n’a encore été prise. Ils réfléchissent toujours à leurs positions sur cette question. Telle était la déclaration officielle russe le 20 octobre à la session plénière de la Conférence de non-prolifération de Moscou.

L’establishment militaire américain devra s’habituer à l’idée qu’il est futile d’exercer une pression médiatique sur la Russie en matière de désarmement et que tout effort supplémentaire pour progresser doit commencer par des mesures visant à restaurer la confiance mutuelle perdue, et s’attaquer aux nombreux problèmes de maîtrise des armements en question qui influent sur l’équilibre stratégique des puissances entre Moscou et Washington.

Par Vladimir Kozin, Source: Réseau International

Alexander Vershbow, deputy secretary general of NATO and former U.S. ambassador to Russia, published a comment entitled "NATO Missile Defense Is No Threat to Russia" in The Moscow Times on Nov. 12.

In his comment, Vershbow said an Oct. 29 Rossiiskaya Gazeta article incorrectly stated that land-based and sea-launched interceptor missiles in the U.S. national missile defense system "are designed for the total destruction of the warheads of short-, intermediate- and intercontinental-range ballistic missiles."

Vershbow urged readers to focus on the facts and physics, writing, "NATO's entire ballistic missile defense system, including the future site in Romania, will defend against short — and intermediate-range ballistic missiles." The interceptors to be deployed in all three phases of NATO's ballistic missile defense system "are not designed to defend against intercontinental missiles," Vershbow wrote.

For the sake of finding the truth on this issue, it is important to clarify the existing terminology of short-range ballistic missiles, medium-range ballistic missiles, intermediate-range ballistic missiles and intercontinental ballistic missiles. According to the Pentagon definition articulated by the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, short-range ballistic missiles are those that can fly up to 1,000 kilometers. Medium-range ballistic missiles have a range between 1,000 to 3,000 kilometers, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles can fly between 3,000 and 5,500 kilometers. Finally, intercontinental ballistic missiles have a range of 5,500 kilometers.

If Vershbow is correctly portraying the main mission of the future U.S. ballistic missile defense system in Romania and Poland, which will be deployed in 2015 and 2018, respectively, it would mean that they can hit the potential intermediate-range ballistic missiles at their maximum range of 5,500 kilometers and intercontinental missiles at their minimal range — the same 5,500 kilometers.

How, then, in real combat can anyone distinguish between the incoming ballistic missiles — whether they are intermediate-range ballistic missiles or intercontinental ballistic missiles — if their respective upper and lower limits coincide?

When Vice Admiral James Syring, the current director of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, spoke before the Senate Appropriations committee and Defense Subcommittee on July 17, he said, "In addition, we continue to develop the SM-3 Block IIA to enable U.S. and Japanese Aegis BMD ships to engage medium-range ballistic missiles and intermediate-range ballistic missiles and, when coupled with the upgraded Aegis missile defense weapon system, more sophisticated ballistic missile threats."

What did Syring mean by "more sophisticated ballistic missile threats"? Intercontinental ballistic missiles?

The U.S. did cancel Phase 4 of the European missile defense system, but Washington has not stopped research and development on these advanced interceptors, which means that they could be deployed in Europe in the future.

What is the difference for Moscow, if the U.S. and NATO deploy SM-3 Block IIA or SM-3 Block IIB systems near Russian territory if they both are still considered by the Pentagon as "forward-based weapons" in relation to Russia?

Moreover, Moscow does not have these missile defense systems and has no intention to store them near the U.S. As a result, an increasing number of analysts and members of the military are urging the Kremlin to respond more aggressively against U.S. missile defense installations.

The reaction is understandable. After 12 years of negotiations between Moscow and Washington on the missile defense problem, there are no legal checks and balances to contain the looming missile defense arms race between the two largest nuclear powers.

U.S.-Soviet relations during the last century was marked by a nuclear missiles arms race with a huge number of deployed and nondeployed strategic offensive nuclear arms and a very limited number of missile defense interceptors. Relations between the two countries during the current century are in danger of being marked by a missile defense arms race featured by a reverse strategic equation, when the number of interceptors could soon exceed the number of strategic offensive nuclear missiles.

Does the world really need another arms race in any form? Instead of ushering in a qualitatively new arms race, the nuclear powers have to hammer out a new multilateral Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.

By Vladimir Kozin
Read more: The Moscow Times  25.11.2013

Two experts, one Russian, the other American, discuss nuclear treaties abandoned, missile defense systems, and weapons in space. Missile Defense Systems are easily converted to offensive nuclear systems and are a great threat to Russia. There are no treaties and no agreements about developing weapon systems in space, another grave threat to humanity.

Here's the special report we discussed in the program.

Vladimir Kozin, expert on nuclear treaties, nuclear weapons, and war. Special advisor to the Russian presidential administration.

Subrata Ghorhroy, American engineer, is a Research Affiliate with the Program in Science, Technology, and Society at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA. He is also a Visiting Professor at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo.

March 14, 2025

The Kremlin response

At a press-conference in Moscow on March 13, President Vladimir Putin said that he is in favor of a 30-day ceasefire with Ukraine that could lead to a permanent peace. He stated that Russia “… agree with the proposals to stop hostilities. But our position is that this ceasefire should lead to a long-term peace and eliminate the initial causes of this crisis.” At the same time, he raised concerns regarding how such a truce be implemented in reality. Putin labeled such concerns as “nuances.”

In his words, Russia wants guarantees that during that interval Ukraine will not conduct additional forceful mobilization and will not receive weapons from outside. He excluded a chance to leave Kursk Region free by trapped Ukrainian GIs whom he labelled on March 11 as “terrorists” who have committed many crimes against civilians.

Putin also asked about potential verification of the ceasefire along 2,000 km Line of Combat Engagement, and wondered who will issue orders to lay down arms during such an end of hostilities.

Russia’s next steps

“These are all questions that demand a thorough examination from both sides”, Putin finalized.

He thanked President Donald Trump for paying much attention to the conflict resolution, and noted that there are relevant issues to be discussed with him. Earlier Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russian side is ready to promptly arrange a phone call with the US leader if needed.

Speaking to journalists the same evening Peskov confirmed Steve Witkoff’s visit to Moscow, stating that the US envoy had met with Putin to deliver “additional details” to the Russian leader. Putin also supplied him with “information and additional signals for President Trump,” Peskov noted, at the same time avoiding to disclose any details. He expressed cautious optimism over the deal.

The statement by the United States and Ukraine about the meeting in Jeddah actually is not an agreement. These provisions are the short thesis for the lecture. Or at least a joint communique. Therefore, it resembles the Minsk Agreements – documents without specific deadlines and without any responsibility for potential violations. That is why the Minsk accords have been easily violated by Kiev. Russia never violated them because it has never been an official part of them.

In this case a more practical approach is needed. It is necessary for Washington and Moscow to prepare full draft agreements: on a cease-fire, and subsequently b) on the establishment of enduring peace. Both texts should have a preamble and specific articles, and the names of signatories.

That’s the only way out from a gloomy and long impasse. Other options will be empty ballyhoo.

Ukrainian losses in Kursk Region

Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) in Kursk Region, western Russia, have been encircled and isolated, Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov said on March 11. He also announced that UAF suffered about 67,000 casualties in the area since August 6, 2024, the Ukrainian invasion. He said that enemy soldiers were surrendering, with 430 prisoners already taken by March 11. Ukrainian military contingent in the region occupies 14 percent of the territory captured by it since August 6, 2024. Currently, military command over Ukrainian troops in this zone is lost.

Gerasimov reported on the situation in Kursk Region during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at one of the command posts in the area.

According to Russian Defense Ministry, by March 12, 2025 since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk direction, the UAF losses amounted to more than 66,810 troops, 392 tanks, 314 infantry fighting vehicles, 275 armoured personnel carriers, 2,191 armoured fighting vehicles, 2,411 motor vehicles, 545 artillery guns, 52 MLRS launchers, including 13 of HIMARS and seven of MLRS made by the USA, 26 anti-aircraft missile launchers, one self-propelled anti-aircraft system, ten transport-loading vehicles,120 EW stations,16 counter-battery warfare radars, ten air defence radars, 56 units of engineering and other materiel, including 23 counter-obstacle vehicles, one UR-77 mine clearing vehicle, five bridge launchers, one engineering reconnaissance vehicle as well as 15 armoured recovery vehicles, and one command post vehicle.

Since March 13, 2025 Sudzha is under full Russian military control.

Total Ukrainian military losses since 2022

In total, since the beginning of the Special Military Operation, the AFU losses amounted to 657 aircraft, 283 helicopters; 46,361 unmanned aerial vehicles, 600 anti-aircraft missile systems; 22,127 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles; 1,526 MLRS combat vehicles; 22,508 field artillery guns and mortars, plus 32,717 units of support military vehicles.

Russia is still committed to eliminate the initial causes of this crisis in Europe, cased by Ukrainian aggression started since April 2014.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

March, 17, 2025

NATO “peacekeepers in Ukraine

The deployment of “peacekeepers” from NATO member states to Ukraine would trigger an all-out war between the military Alliance and Moscow, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev who currently serves as the Deputy Chair of Russia’s Security Council has warned. In recent weeks, the leaders of the UK and France have ramped up discussions about such a mission. “That means war with NATO”, he noted.

It is not the first negative response articulated in Russia on that issue. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made several statements that their deployment in Ukraine would create a direct threat to Russia from the transatlantic Alliance. Moscow’s explanation is that such NATO contingents will be involved in a direct military confrontation with it irrespective of the name-tags and the uniform they wear.

Despite such straight warnings British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said he was willing to station thousands of British troops in Ukraine for years in order to uphold any future peace deal brokered by the USA. In his words, the UK was prepared to put "boots on the ground and planes in the air" in order to make any agreement work. It follows a recent conference call between the UK and 29 allies – excluding the US – to discuss how a “peacekeeping” mission involving their troops could work in practice.

The fate of the Ukrainian GIs encircled in Kursk Region

On March 13, 2025, US President Donald Trump acknowledged that “thousands of Ukrainian troops are completely surrounded by the Russian military and in a very bad and vulnerable position” in Kursk Region and urged Moscow to “spare” their lives. In response, Vladimir Putin offered the servicemen guaranteed safety and merciful treatment if they surrender. He expressed hope that current Ukrainian military-political leaders might issue an order for the encircled Ukrainian GIs to lay down arms.

Kiev, meanwhile, has staunchly denied that its forces in Kursk Region are surrounded. In a post on Telegram on March 15, former Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky acknowledged that the situation in the area is “difficult” for Ukraine, but stated that “there is no encirclement” of Ukrainian troops.” The same view has been officially expressed by General Aleksandr Syrsky, Commander of Ukraine’s Ground Forces, and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga. All the reports about the encirclement “are false and fabricated by the Russians for political manipulation,” Ukrainian General Staff said in a statement on March 15. “We are continuing the operation in Kursk Region and will continue to do so,” the head of MFA stated later.

Instead, there are reports that foreign mercenaries in the area are preventing escaping Ukrainian troops to leave the territory by using weapons. Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) are still shelling not only Russian troops but trapped Ukrainian GIs as well, by employment of HIMARs MLRS and cluster munitions. Many Ukrainian soldiers have been kept there and convicted in military crimes in terms of civilians like intentional killings, raping and robbery. By now, the Russian MFA announced that 6,500 criminal cases have been opened against Ukrainian GIs operated along all fronts.

Russian offer to UAF in Kursk Region to surrender is still valid, but time is running out, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on March 16.

It has been confirmed that Putin and Trump will have a phone call on March 18.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

Dr. Vladimir Kozin explains the reality of the mass, unconditional surrender at the Asovstal Steel Mill in Mariupol. We also discuss the Nazi intensification of the indoctrination of Ukrainian kids since 2014. Frightening and repulsive. And, we discussed the sitrep of the intervention on the ground. Lugansk completely secured.

An interview to the Regis TV show (USA).

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Russia and the US have been adhering to the terms of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) since 2011, viewing it as an important practical agreement to control strategic nuclear weapons.  By Feb. 5, 2018, both sides are expected to have met the treaty’s limits on strategic offensive nuclear weapons, which allows each side a maximum arsenal of 1,550 nuclear warheads and 800 deployed and non-deployed launchers and bombers.

Not so long ago analysts in the US media were arguing for the treaty to be extended for an additional five years after it expires in 2021, i.e., to keep it functioning until 2026.

But a number of problems related to Russian-US arms-control issues remain unresolved, ranging from questions about missile defense to the prevention of underwater incidents involving submarines, and much more.

The proposal to extend New START for another five years and to draft a new START IV Treaty could gain traction if it were considered in isolation from other issues that powerfully impact regional and global stability.  That proposal would be more worthy of attention if a genuine “strategic partnership” existed between Moscow and Washington – then, in the resulting atmosphere of complete trust, there would be no diametrically opposed approaches to resolving so many pressing international problems.

But unfortunately, nothing of the sort has been evident for many years.  The relationship between Russia and the US is currently in a state of deep crisis.  Washington has unleashed Cold War 2.0 against Russia, and unlike the initial phase of that conflict (1945-1991), this has taken on an entirely new and more dangerous dimension.

Naturally Moscow is ready to consider Washington’s official proposals to extend New START, but only if they come through official channels and not from the media or the ranks of scientists and researchers, because Article 14 of this treaty stipulates the correct procedure for entertaining such a motion.

What’s more, one could also say that from the perspective of ensuring global stability, it seems strategically dangerous to set limits that would be binding until 2026 on launchers, bombers, and warheads, and also to continue down the path of further reductions under some kind of new treaty (the Newest START), for the following nine reasons:

1. By 2020, i.e., six years before New START’s extended expiration date, the ratio between US ballistic-missile defense systems and Russian strategic offensive weapons will be 2:1, while the ratio between US missile-defense interceptor systems vs. Russian strategic warheads will even reach as high as 3:1 (and neither of these scenarios takes into account the Patriot missile system). The uncontrolled buildup of US missile-defense interceptor systems and the unimpeded expansion of their zone of deployment will seriously worsen this dangerous disparity.  Relying on its advantage in ballistic-missile defense, the United States could easily launch a first nuclear strike not only on Iran or North Korea, but even on Russia or China, and then it would be sure to hide from any retaliatory strike under the cover of such an impermeable “missile shield.”  The lower the ceiling on Russia’s strategic nuclear weapons and the greater the number of interceptors in the US missile-defense system that can deflect them, the more tempting it will be for Washington to launch a first, “preemptive” nuclear strike, on Russia in particular.
2. American tactical nuclear weapons are deployed in four European states and the Asian half of Turkey, and those could be used to launch a first nuclear strike or to amplify nuclear strikes launched with the assistance of strategic offensive weapons. It should also be kept in mind that American nuclear forces that are officially classified as “tactical” can simultaneously carry out both tactical as well as strategic nuclear tasks, depending on their mode of delivery – whether by tactical or strategic aircraft.
3. The United States uses heavy strategic bombers as part of its military exercises or as a “show of force” in Europe, Asia, and the Asia-Pacific region.
4. Washington regularly violates the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. The Pentagon has already violated this treaty 92 times since 2001 while testing the effectiveness of the missile-defense systems of the US and its allies, by using as targets the types of short-, medium-, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles that are prohibited by that treaty.  The US military budget for 2018 has allocated $65 million to create a new ground-launched nuclear cruise missile.   In addition, there are voices in Washington that are arguing for a unilateral US withdrawal from this treaty.
5. The year-round, 24/7 Baltic Air Policing operations continue in the skies of three Baltic states, using “dual-capable” aircraft from the three Western nuclear powers that can carry either conventional or nuclear weapons.
6. The US adheres to a doctrine of “unconditional offensive nuclear deterrence,” allowing for either a massive or a limited first nuclear strike against Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran.
7. Washington stubbornly refuses to come any agreement that would prevent the weaponization of space.
8. The United States and NATO are engaged in an unrestrained buildup of their general-purpose forces, which include heavy weapons, and conduct large-scale military exercises of an offensive nature in regions bordering the territory of Russia and its allies. Since 2014, NATO has expanded the military and aerial reconnaissance it conducts in immediate proximity to Russia by 400% and 900%, respectively.
9. US and NATO framework documents still include inappropriate statements about Russia’s actions on the international stage, and in terms of economics – illegal sanctions are supported that punish as many as 400 different Russian institutions and businesses, plus 200 individuals, which in no way helps to restore mutual trust.

Once the demands of New START have been met in February 2018, Russia will have effectively exhausted its options for continuing negotiations with the Americans to reduce strategic offensive arms on a bilateral basis.

In a similar vein, all nuclear states should be involved in a corresponding process of negotiations.  First off, this should pertain to Britain and France – the primary nuclear allies of the United States, which have reciprocal commitments in the implementation of “unconditional offensive nuclear deterrence.” When calculating how to balance the future nuclear capabilities of Russia vs. the three Western nuclear powers, the combined nuclear arsenal of the United Kingdom, the US, and France should be taken into account, in order to ensure that that does not outweigh the nuclear potential of the Russian Federation.

Western commentators are trying to spread rumors that the Russians have already made up their minds about extending New START.  But that’s not so.  No such decision has been made as yet.  They are currently still thinking through their positions on this issue.  That was the official Russian pronouncement on Oct. 20 at the plenary session of the Moscow Nonproliferation Conference.

The US military establishment will have to get used to the idea that it is futile to exert media pressure on Russia when it comes to disarmament issues and that any further efforts to make progress must begin with steps to restore the mutual trust that has been lost and to address the many arms-control problems in question that are impacting the strategic balance of power between Moscow and Washington.

Written by Vladimir Kozin, Source: OrientalReview

Lesung des offenen Briefes von Dr. W. Kosin am Brandenburger Tor in Berlin.

Vladimir Kozin reports on his intel from Moscow at the run-up to war in Ukraine. Will America be willing to sacrifice Europe? Could this escalate into an all out nuclear war. The facts about what is really happening in Ukraine and the Donbass: Merica doesn't tell you this.

Vladimir P. Kozin: «Up to now, despite faked rumors disseminated by Western officials and mass media the Russian Armed Forces have not crossed Russian-Ukrainian border, and have not open fire on Ukrainian Armed Forces”.

In this special Pangea's Grandangolo episode Jean Marazzani Visconti interviews Vladimir Kozin, a Russian expert of the Political-Military Studies Center. The interview was done for the TV channel Byoblu, that aired on 15/11/2022, in the Russia Today (RT) headquarters in Moscow, of which we published an extract in episode 71 of Grandangolo.

Vladimir Kozin denounces the fact that the United States, after tearing the INF Treaty, are deploying in Europe close to Russia nuclear missiles with an intermediate radius, in addition to the new B61-12 nuclear bombs. Regarding these, he declares: “The B61-12 are already sent to Europe, contrary to what was announced by politician who will arrive in December. We have information that they have already arrived, because a specific plane such as the US fighter F-35A has already been delivered to NATO member countries. Also to Finland, which has not yet become a member of NATO in all respects but is waiting for ratification. Finland asked 65 F-35 capable of using nuclear weapons. And recently voices have come from Helsinki who would like to have US nuclear weapons on Finnish soil, as Germany has them, as Belgium has them, as Holland and Italy and Turkey have them. So Europe is becoming a nuclear powder keg”.

Vladimir Kozin defines the current situation "much worse than it was during the Cold War, much more lethal and more dangerous". He therefore feels that "if our territory is attacked with nuclear weapons or weapons of mass destruction, such as chemical or biological weapons, bacteriological and toxic, as well as nuclear, we will reply". When asked if Russia will hit the US nuclear bases in Europe, he replies: “Yes, this is certain. If we are attacked". Kozin defines all this "madness". He warns that, if a nuclear war comes, "there will be no winners or won, everyone will lose".

November 22, 2024

At the evening of November 21, 2024 President of Russia Vladimir Putin made the following video statement that contained a very strong warning to the USA and some of their allies who resorted to an extremely dangerous escalation of an all-out aggression against Russia. Herewith is the full text of his remarks. Highlights and notes are made by myself.

“I would like to inform the military personnel of the Russian Federation Armed Forces, citizens of our country, our friends across the globe, and those who persist in the illusion that a strategic defeat can be inflicted upon Russia, about the events taking place today in the zone of the special military operation, specifically following the attacks by Western long-range weapons against our territory.

The escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, instigated by the West, continues with the United States and its NATO allies previously announcing that they authorize the use of their long-range high-precision weapons for strikes inside the Russian Federation. Experts are well aware, and the Russian side has repeatedly highlighted it, that the use of such weapons is not possible without the direct involvement of military experts from the manufacturing nations.

On November 19, six ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles produced by the United States, and on November 21, during a combined missile assault involving British Storm Shadow systems and HIMARS systems produced by the USA, attacked military facilities inside the Russian Federation in the Bryansk and Kursk Regions. From that point onward, as we have repeatedly emphasized in prior communications, the regional conflict in Ukraine provoked by the West has assumed elements of a global nature. Our air defense systems successfully counteracted these incursions, preventing the enemy from achieving their apparent objectives.

The fire at the ammunition depot in the Bryansk Region, caused by the debris of ATACMS missiles, was extinguished without casualties or significant damage. In the Kursk Region, the attack targeted one of the command posts of our group North. Regrettably, the attack and the subsequent air defense battle resulted in casualties, both fatalities and injuries, among the perimeter security units and servicing staff. However, the command and operational staff of the control center suffered no casualties and continues to manage effectively the operations of our forces to eliminate and push enemy units out of the Kursk Region.

I wish to underscore once again that the use by the enemy of such weapons cannot affect the course of combat operations in the Special Military Operation zone. Our forces are making successful advances along the entire line of contact, and all objectives we have set will be accomplished.

In response to the deployment of American and British long-range weapons, on November 21, the Russian Armed Forces delivered a combined strike on a facility within Ukraine’s defense industrial complex. In field conditions, we also carried out tests of one of Russia’s latest medium-range ballistic missile systems [Note: that can fly from 1,000 to 5,500 km according to Russian-U.S. arms control treaties; it can carry several either conventional or nuclear warheads] – in this case, carrying a non-nuclear hypersonic ballistic missile that our engineers named Oreshnik [Note: in English it may be translated as “hazel-wood”]. The tests were successful, achieving the intended objective of the launch. In the city of Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine, one of the largest and most famous industrial complexes from the Soviet Union era, which continues to produce missiles and other armaments, was hit.

We are developing intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles [Note: shorter-range missile can fly from 500 to 1,000 km] in response to US plans to produce and deploy intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. We believe that the United States made a mistake by unilaterally destroying the INF Treaty in 2019 [Note: it took place during Donald Trump’s presidency under ungrounded pretexts] under a far-fetched pretext. Today, the United States is not only producing such equipment, but, as we can see, it has worked out ways to deploy its advanced missile systems to different regions of the world, including Europe, during training exercises for its troops. Moreover, in the course of these exercises, they are conducting training for using them.

As a reminder, Russia has voluntarily and unilaterally committed not to deploy intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles until US weapons of this kind appear in any region of the world.

To reiterate, we are conducting combat tests of the Oreshnik missile system in response to NATO’s aggressive actions against Russia. Our decision on further deployment of intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles will depend on the actions of the United States and its satellites.

We will determine the targets during further tests of our advanced missile systems based on the threats to the security of the Russian Federation. We consider ourselves entitled to use our weapons against military facilities of those countries that allow to use their weapons against our facilities, and in case of an escalation of aggressive actions, we will respond decisively and in mirror-like manner. I recommend that the ruling elites of the countries that are hatching plans to use their military contingents against Russia seriously consider this.

It goes without saying that when choosing, if necessary and as a retaliatory measure, targets to be hit by systems such as Oreshnik on Ukrainian territory, we will in advance suggest that civilians and citizens of friendly countries residing in those areas leave danger zones. We will do so for humanitarian reasons, openly and publicly, without fear of counter-moves coming from the enemy, who will also be receiving this information [Note: later, the presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov reported that Russia had officially notified the USA of the Oreshnik launch in advance through its national Nuclear Risk Reduction Center. The warning was sent automatically half an hour before the strike was made].

Why without fear? Because there are no means of countering such weapons today. Missiles attack targets at a speed of Mach 10, which is 2.5 to 3 kilometers per second. Air defense systems currently available in the world and missile defense systems being created by the Americans in Europe cannot intercept such missiles. It is impossible.

I would like to emphasize once again that it was not Russia, but the United States that destroyed the international security system and, by continuing to fight, cling to its hegemony, is pushing the whole world into a global conflict.

We have always preferred and are ready now to resolve all disputes by peaceful means. But we are also ready for any turn of events. If anyone still doubts this, make no mistake: there will always be a response.”

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

Vladimir Kozin on historic speech to the nation by President Putin. Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republic now under Russian protection.

Site visitor's comment - Thomas Scheck: «I too rejoice with the Russian people of the Donbass for this decision of the Russian Federation to protect them. Putin's strength, goodness and moral integrity is a beacon and example to the whole world. God bless Russia».

March 28, 2025

A new initiative: the main aim is to facilitate elections

Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested discussing the establishment of a temporary external administration, under the guidance of the UN and several countries.  Amongst them he mentioned BRICS members, the USA and the EU nations who might wish to support it. The aim would be to hold fair elections in the country, since Vladimir Zelensky’s presidential term officially expired in May 2024.

External states should facilitate elections in Ukraine to “establish a capable government that has the trust of the people”, Putin stressed. After that, the new authorities could begin negotiations with Moscow and sign a peace agreement “that would be recognized around the world and will be reliable and stable.”

In his words, Ukraine’s constitutional legitimacy has broken down due to the expiration of Vladimir Zelensky’s presidential term last May and the lack of elections since – rendering all of his government’s claims to authority invalid.

The main goal, according to Putin, would be to organize democratic elections and install a functioning, legitimate government trusted by citizens and recognized globally. He stated that only such leaders could sign peace agreements that would be recognized worldwide.

He mentioned that his new option is just one, because there could be other suggestions. 

Senator Karasin commented on the US-Russia talks in Riyadh

Senator Grigory Karasin who is the head of Foreign Relations Committee at the Senate, the upper Chamber of the Russian Parliament, noted that the meeting was open and professional, the two sides debated “quite wide” the range of issues, and admitted that the conversation was constructive, but wasn't especially productive.

In a short interview given to the Parliamentary newspaper Karasin said that by the end of a full day of negotiations that lasted nearly 12 hours with short intervals, both sides had gotten used to each other and began to speak more directly, without ambiguity.

He said that new meetings between American and Russian delegations in the future are quite possible.

Kiev again violated US-backed energy ceasefire

The Ukrainian military again has attacked Russia’s energy infrastructure in three separate regions, violating a US-mediated moratorium on such strikes, the Defense Ministry in Moscow has announced. The latest incidents took place in Belgorod, Kursk and Saratov Regions of Russia.

It means that since March 18 till March 28, 2025 Kiev has violated ‘energy truce’ eleven times. Russia is still committed to such ceasefire agreement.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

October 19, 2024

Why Zelensky wishes to get NW?

On October 18, 2024 Russian President Vladimir Putin in a clear-cut strong public statement said that Moscow would never allow Kiev to acquire nuclear weapons (NW), and any attempt to do this would be met with an appropriate Russian reaction. It was his first response to ex-Ukrainian president Vladimir Zelensky’s suggestion that Ukraine would need NW, should it not be granted NATO membership.

After promoting his ‘victory plan’ for the conflict with Russia to European officials, Zelensky disclosed on October 17 that speaking to Donald Trump while visiting the USA last month he told him: “What is the way out for us?’ Either Ukraine will have nuclear weapons, and they will serve as protection, or we need to be in some kind of an alliance. We don’t know any effective alliances except NATO”.

A-bomb on short notice

Zelensky’s “victory-plan” contains a provision to invade and capture Moscow and Leningrad plus two other Russian Central Regions. It reminds Hitler’s “Barbarossa Blitzkrieg” war plan hammered out by Nazi Germany before it started a massive aggression against the USSR in June 1941. The invasion force that time included 183 German divisions and 13 brigades, all of which were destroyed later.

Zelensky added that Kiev stands ready to produce an A-bomb on short notice, saying that the nuclear talk was only meant to imply there was no alternative for Ukraine to join the US-led nuclear transatlantic alliance.

Moscow’s response

Commenting on such a statement on October 18 at a press conference for media from BRICS countries in Moscow Putin said that Zelensky’s announcement was “another dangerous provocation.” 

Ukraine’s political leadership has repeatedly expressed a desire for NW, “even before the crisis turned hot,” Putin noted.

E.g., in February 2022, in a speech at the International Security Conference in Munich weeks before the escalation of the Ukrainian aggression against Donbass, Zelensky expressed regret at the decision to become a nuclear-free nation, suggesting that his country had “every right” to reverse it. By the mid 1990s Ukraine possessed both Soviet strategic/tactical NW and their means of delivery, but all of them had been totally returned to Russia.

What if Kiev is supplied with NW?

Asked whether another country, such as the UK, could secretly provide Ukraine with NW, the Russian leader said that it would be “impossible to hide,” and that Moscow is “capable of tracking down any movement in this direction.”

Last month, Putin announced a series of changes to Russia’s nuclear strategy, expanding the criteria for the use of the strategic nuclear deterrent. The move came as Kiev was requesting that NATO countries lift the restrictions on the use of foreign-supplied longer-range weapons for strikes deep inside continental Russia. The amended document also extended Russia’s nuclear umbrella to Belarus.

So far, the strategy has not been enacted by a presidential decree, and therefore has not been made public in full.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

March 19, 2025

It is a full text of the such press-release (original is in Russian)

“A phone conversation between Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump took place on March 18, 2025.

Reaffirming his commitment to a peaceful resolution of the conflict, President Putin expressed readiness to work closely with American partners on a thorough and comprehensive settlement. He emphasized that any agreement must be sustainable and long-term, addressing the root causes of the crisis while considering Russia’s legitimate security interests.

Regarding President Trump’s initiative for a 30-day ceasefire, the Russian side highlighted key concerns, including effective monitoring of the ceasefire across the entire front line, halting forced mobilization in Ukraine, and stopping the rearmament of its military. Russia also noted serious risks due to Kiev’s history of undermining previous agreements and drew attention to terrorist attacks carried out by Ukrainian militants against civilians in the Kursk region.

It was emphasized that a crucial condition for preventing further escalation and working toward a political-diplomatic resolution is the complete cessation of foreign military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. [1]

In response to Trump’s recent request to ensure the safety of Ukrainian troops encircled in Kursk Region, Putin confirmed that Russia is guided by humanitarian considerations. He assured his counterpart that Ukrainian soldiers who surrender will be granted safety and treated in accordance with Russian laws and international humanitarian norms.[2]

During the conversation, Trump proposed a mutual agreement between both sides to refrain from striking energy infrastructure for 30 days. Putin welcomed the initiative and immediately instructed the Russian military to comply.[3]

Putin also responded constructively to Trump’s proposal regarding maritime security in the Black Sea, and both leaders agreed to initiate negotiations to further refine the details of such an arrangement.

Putin informed Trump that on March 19, Russia and Ukraine would conduct a prisoner exchange involving 175 detainees from each side. Additionally, as a goodwill gesture, Russia will transfer 23 severely wounded Ukrainian soldiers who are currently receiving medical treatment in Russian hospitals.

Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to continuing efforts toward resolving the Ukraine conflict bilaterally, incorporating the proposals discussed. To facilitate this, Russian and American expert groups will be established.

Putin and Trump also discussed broader international issues, including the situation in the Middle East and the Red Sea region. They agreed to coordinate efforts to stabilize crisis areas and enhance cooperation on nuclear non-proliferation and global security, which, in turn, would improve the overall state of US-Russia relations. A positive example of such cooperation was their joint vote at the United Nations on a resolution regarding the Ukraine conflict.

Both leaders expressed mutual interest in normalizing bilateral relations, recognizing the shared responsibility of Russia and the United States in ensuring global security and stability. In this context, they explored various areas for potential cooperation, including discussions on mutually beneficial economic and energy partnerships.

Trump supported Putin’s idea of organizing hockey matches in the US and Russia between players from the NHL and KHL.

The presidents agreed to remain in contact on all discussed matters.” [4]

Russia intentionally hit its seven UAV to fulfil the phone call obligations

Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) confirmed in a statement on March 19 that it had “received an order from the Supreme Commander-in-Chief to halt strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.”

According to the ministry, when Putin’s order came in “seven Russian attack drones were in the air, targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure facilities related to the country’s military-industrial complex in Nikolaev Region.”

To fulfill the command, the Russian air defenses had to “neutralize” its own UAVs moving towards Ukraine. In particular, six drones were shot down by a Pantsir missile defense system and another by a fighter jet, it added.

Kiev immediately violated agreements reached during the phone call

Russian MoD also noted that “just several” hours after the call between Putin and Trump, “the Kiev regime carried out a deliberate attack with three fixed-wing drones on an energy infrastructure facility located in the village of Kavkazskaya in Russia’s Krasnodar Region.”

The strike damaged an on-site oil reservoir and caused a blaze. “Clearly, this was a premeditated provocation by the Kiev regime aimed at derailing the US President’s peace initiative,” the statement read.

The Kavkazskaya facility is used to transfer crude from rail-transported tanks to a pipeline operated by the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), an international firm that lists US energy giants Chevron and Mobil among its partners.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

November 30, 2024

On November 28, 2024 President Vladimir Putin answered media questions following his state visit to Kazakhstan and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Summit.

He pointed out that the decision of some NATO members to launch strikes at Russian territory using long-range high-precision weapons produced in the West would mean direct involvement of Western countries in the armed conflict, as it is simply impossible to deploy this type of weapons without directly involving the military personnel and the military specialists from the respective NATO countries. The President stressed that Russia would certainly respond to such acts of aggression against the Russian Federation. The timing, methods, and weapons employed will be determined by the General Staff of the MoD.

He noted that on November 28 in response to employment of the U.S. and the UK missiles strikes Russia fired 90 missiles and 100 unmanned strike vehicles against Ukrainian territory. Seventeen critical military, military-industrial, and auxiliary facilities that support the Ukrainian Armed Forces were struck.

In his words, Russia will not rule out the combat employment of Oreshnik hypersonic MRBM or Medium-Range Ballistic Missile on military-industrial facilities or command centers in Ukraine, including those located in Kiev. In so doing, Russia took in account that the Ukrainian authorities continue their attempts to target Russian critical assets, including those in St. Petersburg and Moscow.

Putin disclosed a number of the descriptive characteristics of the newly-developed missile.

He compared the use of several Oreshnik MRBMs in a single strike with the use of nuclear weapons, albeit they are not nuclear-tipped. A kinetic impact is a formidable force, akin to a meteorite impact. During an impact with any target Oreshnik’s strike elements are heated to a temperature of 4,000 degrees Celsius. Anything located in the strike center is obliterated into elemental particles, reduced to dust. Oreshnik can destroy highly fortified targets buried deep underground at a depth of three-four, possibly even more, floors below the surface. More power can be added to amplify the devastating effect of the missile.

Oreshnik cannot be intercepted by any NATO missile defense system.

Putin announced at the CSTO Summit that Russia produces significantly more various missiles than the entire NATO bloc can: “Russia has 10 times more of different missiles than the combined output of all NATO countries. Next year, we will increase the production by another 25 to 30 percent”.

Russian President warned that Moscow “would use all weapons” Russia has if Ukraine gets nuclear weapons. “We will not let this happen”, he firmly stated.  If Kiev creates a “dirty nuclear bomb” by scrambling up nuclear power plants’ waste, he continued, Russian response will be absolutely adequate to the threats to Russia.

Putin said that Moscow’s stance regarding the Ukraine settlement has not changed after the emergence of more and more new weapon systems. Russia is still ready for a negotiation process, and on the terms contained in his address to the Foreign Ministry leadership in Moscow last June.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

On April 14, 2014 NATO urged Ukrainian president a.i. Turchinov to unleash an all-out war against Donbass, and incited Zelensky to do the same on February 17, 2022 against Donbass, and later against Russia. In his turn Zelensky urged NATO to proliferate an all-out war against Russia. It is a vicious circle pushing the globe into nuclear abyss.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

 March 1, 2025

It is not necessary to repeat the story once again here as to how Ukrainian ordinary citizen Zelensky, ex-president of that state, insulted the people of the USA and its leader President Donald Trump during their meeting at the White House on February 28, 2025. Their conversation has been directly TV and radio broadcasted all around the globe, including the entire Russian Federation, and many, many times.

The overall comments so far made in Moscow were in support of President Trump’s commitment for re-forging a genuine, long-lasting peace in Europe, interrupted by direct unprovoked and brutal Ukrainian aggression against Donbass since April 2014 under instructions of the Ukrainian president ad interim Oleksandr Turchynov, and intensified in the cruel way under president Volodymir Zelensky exactly on February 17, 2022. Again, against Donbass. It happened just a week before Russian Armed Forces rushed for help to safe peaceful citizens of Donbass from physical extinction who decided not to stay within a country called Ukraine where the regime of ultra-nationalists have entrenched after a bloody coup engineered by NATO in February 2014.

First, while recently sitting at the White House Zelensky has forgotten highly respected ancient rules of paying politeness during visiting someone at his or her official residence or homeplace: to fully respect their owner. Unfortunately, he interrupted the host of the meeting many times by irrelevant comments with ugly grimaces.

Second, Zelensky like in many cases in the past demanded from the USA security guarantees and additional arms for the continuation of the war that costed more than one million Ukrainian soldiers as killed and injured. He also refused to pay back the money to the Untied States for arms and ammunition generously offered to Kiev regime by the previous Democratic Party Administration.

Third, Zelensky displayed disrespect towards the USA and its people in such a manner that caused even his earlier supporters to change their positive minds about him.

Fourth, Zelensky’s previous political statements and his openly demonstrated wrong behavior at the White House proved: he is for continuation of the endless aggression in Europe for many decades.

Fifth, on the other hand, he has shown that he is against any sound and constructive peace deal that will be able to finally put an end to such a disgusting war. Lusting for a direct involvement into recent Russo-US talks, Zelensky 26 times neglected Vladimir Putin’s offer to proclaim a Christmas ceasefire, and to reach a comprehensive peace accord between Moscow and Kiev with ironclad security guarantees.

Why Zelensky has done this especially at the White House on February 28, in front of many TV cameras and radio microphones?

Highly likely, a) to create an artificial united European-Ukrainian front against President Donald Trump with the selfish aim to topple him via poorly orchestrated and primitive provocation; and, b) to continue the war in Europe for the benefits of military industrial complexes in a number of NATO/EU states, and for Zelensky’s personal financial profiteering from the huge victims of the Ukrainian aggression.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

July 12, 2022

1. Novaya Kakhovka has been heavily shelled by AFU who used U.S. HIMARS

Novaya Kakhovka located in Kherson Region has been heavily shelled by Ukrainian war criminals in the evening July 11^th. A local official said that during this terrorist attack five people were killed and at least 90 injured. Some people are said to have been buried under the rubbles.

A kindergarten, hospital, church and a market place were also damaged. a fertilizer storage depot detonated due to the shelling.

The city is controlled by Russian forces. 

Local officials claimed that Ukrainian troops used US-delivered HIMARS multiple rocket launchers to attack Novaya Kakhovka. Local officials labelled such barbaric act as an act of terrorism.

AFU also shelled settlements located not far away from Zaporozhiye Nuclear Power Plant.

2. Humanitarian situation

The Russian Federation's Joint Coordination Headquarters for Humanitarian Response continues to record the Kiev regime's criminal actions against civilians.

It has been reliably established that Ukrainian nationalists are preparing yet another cynical provocation with civilian deaths in Slavyansk in Donetsk People's Republic to accuse the Russian Armed Forces of carrying out indiscriminate strikes against civilian targets. For this purpose, residents of nearby residential quarters are being held in the building of the Vocational Agrarian Lyceum (Nauka Street) under the pretext of allegedly ensuring security. At the same time, the building is mined and the militants plan to blow it up when Russian troops launch artillery strikes on military targets in the city.

Russia warned that the provocation about "Russian atrocities" is to be widely disseminated by the Kiev regime in the Ukrainian and Western media.

In addition, Ukrainian Armed Forces, as usual, continue to use educational institutions and social facilities for military purposes:

a) in Kharkov, AFU units and Polish mercenaries are based in the premises of the National Technical University (Poltavskyi Shlyah Street), artillery and MLRS are deployed, and there has been no deliberate evacuation of residents from nearby houses;

b) in Nikolaev, AFU units and territorial defence are deployed in kindergarten No. 126 (Mira Avenue) and school No. 11 (Kitoboyev Street);

c) in Pevnichnoye in Donetsk People's Republic, a stronghold with barracks has been equipped in kindergarten No. 10 (Novaya Street) to house fighters of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries; the approaches to the building are mined, but the local population is deliberately not informed of this;

d) in Shirokolanovka, Nikolaev Region, nationalists placed heavy weapons and armoured vehicles on the territory of the vocational school (Tsentralnaya Street) and placed sniper positions and MANPADs on the roofs.

Such actions by Kiev once again demonstrate an inhuman attitude towards the fate of the Ukrainian citizens and show a complete disregard for all norms of morality and international humanitarian law.

Russia emphasized once again that in carrying out the tasks of the special military operation, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation treat the local population extremely humanely and do not strike at civilian infrastructure facilities, unlike the Ukrainian armed formations.

In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 2,481,664 people have already been evacuated to Russia according to their will and desire, of which 390,578 are children.

More than 9,500 temporary accommodation centres continue to operate in the regions of the Russian Federation. The refugees are dealt with on an individual basis and are promptly assisted with various pressing issues relating to onward accommodation, employment assistance, places for children in kindergartens and educational institutions, and the provision of entitlements to social benefits.

3. Humanitarian aid distribution

So far, more than 45,000 tons of basic necessities, food and medicines have been prepared at the collection points. Since March 2, 2022, 42,450.9 tons of humanitarian cargo have already been delivered to Ukraine, 1,292 humanitarian actions have been carried out, including 3 actions in Zaporozhye region, as well as in Donetsk People's Republic, during which 215.2 tons of basic necessities, medicines and food were transferred to the civilian population of the liberated areas.

On July 11, 5 humanitarian actions have been planned and are currently being carried out in Kharkov region, in Donetsk People's Republics, during which 272 tons of basic necessities, medicine and food will be distributed.

4. Situation in the Back Sea

There are no significant developments in this section. Situation remains the same. Kiev does not want to deactivate and remove sea mines from sea zones it has placed to block shipping of goods in both directions from Odessa and other sea ports controlled by Kiev – to Ukraine and from Ukraine, including Ukrainian grain abroad.

5. Developments on the battlefield

High-precision Iskander land-based missiles near Berezan in Odessa Region have destroyed launchers of the US-made Harpoon anti-ship missile system.

High-precision air-based missile strike near Artemovsk in Donetsk People's Republic has destroyed 180 servicemen and 26 pieces of military equipment of 30th mechanized brigade of AFU.

In addition, high-precision weapons used of the Russian Aerospace Forces have destroyed 12 areas of AFU manpower and military equipment concentrations, 4 amunition depots of the 79th Airborne Assault Brigade near Matveevka, NIkolaev Region, and AFU armoured vehicle repair and recovery facility near Seversk.

As part of counter-battery fighting, 2 platoons of Grad multiple-launch rocket systems and 2 artillery platoons of Hyacinth-B howitzers have been destroyed at firing positions near Dzerzhinsk, Donetsk People's Republic.

Operational-tactical and army aviation, missile troops and artillery have neutralised 3 AFU command posts, 3 ammunition depots, 97 areas of Ukrainian artillery units at firing positions, as well as 111 areas of manpower and military equipment concentration.

In addition, 12 rockets of Uragan multiple-launch rocket system have been intercepted near Lisichansk in Lugansk People's Republic, Brazhkovka in Kharkov Region and Novaya Kakhovka in Kherson Region.

In total, 243 Ukrainian airplanes and 137 helicopters, 1,513 unmanned aerial vehicles, 354 anti-aircraft missile systems, 4,046 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 741 multiple launch rocket systems, 3,135 field artillery and mortars, as well as 4,165 units of special military vehicles were destroyed during the operation.

6. The fate of foreign "wild geese" in Ukraine

Russian Defence Ministry monitors and records by name all foreign mercenaries who have arrived in Ukraine to take part in combat operations.

As it has already mentioned, contrary to the false claims of the Kiev regime about allegedly 20,000 of foreign mercenaries arriving to Ukraine, their actual number is much lower. Moreover, it is steadily declining.

Over the past three weeks, the number of mercenaries in Ukraine has decreased from 3,221 to 2,741 as a result of the offensive actions of the units of the Russian Armed Forces and people's militia of Lugansk and Donetsk Republics.

During this time, despite the arrival of another 151 mercenaries, 391 militants have been killed. Another 240 "wild geese" rushed to flee outside Ukraine.

Poland again tops the list in terms of the speed and number of fighters killed during the period, with 166 Polish fighters killed.

 Among the Georgian representatives, 50 "soldiers of fortune" were killed, the UK lost another 23 mercenaries in Ukraine. Also, 21 Romanian and 15 Canadian fighters were killed in three weeks.

Updated data on the count of foreign mercenaries currently in Ukraine has been published on the Russian Defence Ministry's information resources on the Internet.

Once again, the Russian Armed Forces are identifying foreign mercenaries even as they prepare to enter Ukraine.

E.g., on July 6, two British citizens, Colin Scott and Adrian Davis, and three US citizens, Michael Vujkovic, Andrew Fox and Oliver Short, arrived at the foreign mercenary collection and accommodation centre located at 1 Kozmian street in Poland's Zamosc city. Russian MoD advised these citizens to come to their senses and return home alive.

Russian MoD reminded that under International Humanitarian Law, all foreign mercenaries are non-combatants and are not considered as POW. The best option that awaits them if captured alive is a trial and maximum terms of imprisonment.

The DPR has lifted off a moratorium on death penalties. Its Criminal Code is tougher that that of Russian Criminal Code.

7. Some other views in the USA

According to the U.S. correspondent Mike Glenn (The Washington Times, Sunday, July 10, 2022), while Ukraine gets more than $ 8 billion of U.S. war supplies since the start of the Biden administration, analysts ask how long it can go on.

[https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2022/jul/10/pentagons-own-supply-military-aid-going-ukraine-wo/?utm_source=yxnews&utm_medium=desktop].

The amount of military hardware sent to Ukraine pales in comparison to the $2 trillion that was spent in Afghanistan propping up a government in Kabul that collapsed in days once the U.S. military support dried up.

So far, the U.S. has provided Ukraine with 12 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and ammo; 126 M-777 howitzers of 155mm and more than 400,000 rounds; 20 Soviet-era Mi-17 helicopters; more than 6,500 Javelin anti-armor missiles; and more than 700 Switchblade tactical unmanned aerial systems.

Mike Glenn quoted a number of the U.S. citizens who put some unpleasant questions to the current U.S. Administration.

 “A military analyst with Defense Priorities think tank said merely shipping billions of dollars of equipment to a war zone is not a strategy. “How does that tie into what the Ukraine military’s plans are? What is the end result of this? What are the expected consequences of this?” said retired Army Lt. Col. Daniel L. Davis, a senior fellow with the libertarian-leaning think tank. “I can tell you that there are no answers to this. When you look at the cumulative total of all of it, it’s not a fraction of what Ukraine needs.”

Senator Mike Lee, Utah Republican noted: “We must always make sure Congress maintains its constitutional role of directing engagement in conflict and ensure that we are not spending unnecessary funds while in a time of historic inflation and ballooning national debt,” Mr. Lee said in a statement.

Senator John Kennedy, Louisiana Republican, introduced a bill that would establish a special inspector general for Ukraine to oversee the humanitarian, economic, and security assistance funding provided by the U.S. government. “Congress has already supported [Ukraine] with billions and billions of dollars in aid and military equipment,” Mr. Kennedy said. “America’s taxpayers deserve to know that their money is helping Ukraine beat back Russia effectively, and Congress needs to guarantee that oversight.”

A retired Marine Col. Mark Cancian, a senior adviser with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, stated: “We’ve been sending a lot of equipment and we’re in the process of sending a lot of financial aid,” he said. “Ukraine is still a very inefficient, corrupt country. If people start seeing evidence of corruption - oligarchs buying yachts with American money - that would undermine support.”

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

July 14, 2022

1. AFU terrorize civilians in Donbass

The DPR has completed collecting recent data on the dead and injured civilians on the territory it controls since February 24 till mid-July 2022: 247 civilians have been killed, including 16 children, and 1,493 civilians, including 83 children, have been wounded after indiscriminate and  barbaric fire by Armed Forces of Ukraine actively sponsored by the USA and NATO.

AFU also damaged in the DPR: 5452 residential houses; 1218 civil infrastructure facilities, including 72 medical facilities, 237 educational buildings, 445 social security assets, 32 critical infrastructure facilities, 432 electricity, water and gas supply facilities, and 667 vehicles.

In total, 5823 facts of shelling were recorded, 5494 of them with the use of heavy weapons – in many cases suoolied by the USA and NATO countries.

Against the DPR AFU fired 48,487 ammunition of various calibers, including 31 missiles from the Tochka-U missiles  (each having 15,000 bomblets), 14 BM-30 Smetch missiles, 149 BM-27 Hurricane MLRS missiles and 8,480 BM-21 Grad MLRS missiles.

The LPR reported about 291 civilians became victims of the AFU aggression, of which 72 people were killed and 219 were injured. As a result of the shelling, three children were killed and 19 children were injured.

The LPR recorded: 1030 attacks on the territory of the Republic by AFU using heavy weapons. In total, AFU used 10389 ammunition of various calibers, including missiles of the "Tochka-U" (33 missiles) and the American MLRS M142 HIMARS (21 missiles), MLRS (BM-21 "Grad", BM-27 "Uragan” (“Hurricane"), and BM-30 "Smerch") –  in all cases 2153 shells.

In Nova Kakhovka, hit by AFU heavy weapons July 11^th, totally 65 houses, 3 factories and almost 250 shops were damaged by the shelling, the region’s military and civil Administration reported. The American satellite Worldview-2 was spotted over New Kakhovka three days before the AFU made such strike.

Every day AFU fire 250-450 shells against peaceful, non-military areas in Donbass, waging war against its citizens and Russians, against cities.

Comment: all these attacks are considered as acts of terrorism and genocide according to international law. Such cruel attacks clearly testify that AFU is not fighting with the Russian Armed Forces, but rather with armless and innocent civilians. All these facts also prove that Moscow made a just and a right decision last February to save people in Donbass from the third Ukrainian aggression. AFU should be renamed as “BFU or Barbaric Forces of Ukraine”.

2. AFU attempted to attack Zaporozhye nuclear power plant (NPP)

AFU used of the kamikaze drone near operational Zaporozhye NPP – the biggest in Europe, controlled by Russian troops.  In addition, one more drone was eliminated by the Russian air defense systems near the heating water utility in the city of Energodar, military-civilian Administration spokesman said later in the day (July 12).

On Tuesday, July 12, Ukrainian neo-Nazis with the use of unmanned aerial vehicles struck two 120mm mines on buildings located in the immediate vicinity of the Zaporozhye NPP, - said the head of the National Defense Control Center of the Russian Federation, Colonel-General Mikhail Mizintsev. This is not the first cynical provocation of the Kiev regime at radiation-hazardous facilities. It endangers millions of Ukrainian citizens, and not only them.

Comment: The purpose of the attack was to prevent the visit the IAEA delegation to the Zaporozhye NPP or to create a radioactive disaster.

Russian experts found extra nuclear material not to be used by this NPP for routine operation.

While the Kherson Region in south Ukraine has been completely liberated, while in the Zaporozhye Region, about 27% of the territory is still under the control of Kyiv.

3. Biden reveals U.S. goal in Ukraine

Moscow must suffer “a strategic failure” during its military campaign in Ukraine, US President Joe Biden has said.  

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “assault on Ukraine is a challenge to the peace and stability everywhere in the world,” Biden told reporters during his trip to Jerusalem on July 14. 

Biden has also promised to continue supporting Kiev. But will this irrelevant step help to defuze the crisis? Never.

The Israeli government announced this week that it would send helmets, flak jackets, gas masks and other protective gear to Ukraine. Israel, however, has so far refused to supply Kiev with offensive weapons or impose sanctions on Moscow.

Washington has not only supplied long-range High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) to Kiev, but is providing intelligence on targets in Donbass and has even “unofficially” sent instructors to Ukraine to help with the hardware, the Russian Foreign Ministry claimed on July 14.

Two civilians have lost their lives, with another six sustaining injuries, as a result of Ukrainian shelling of the city of Donetsk, local authorities reported on July 14.  The leader of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), Denis Pushilin, said that the Ukrainian military had hit a bus terminal. Among the victims are a young woman “who was going home from work” and a bus driver, the official revealed. Two civilians have lost their lives, with another six sustaining injuries, as a result of Ukrainian shelling of the city of Donetsk, local authorities reported the same day.

Pushilin added that a US-supplied М777 howitzer had been used in the attack against an area where there are no military installations.

 One such howitzer has been captured during the fight. It will be carefully studied in Moscow.

4. Russia-Ukraine grain talks outcome revealed

Moscow and Kiev have agreed to create a “coordination center” on grain exports in Istanbul, Turkey who arrange the venue for the relevant talks at Turkish military base has said.

Russia and Ukraine have agreed to establish a joint coordination center on grain exports in Istanbul that will include representatives from all parties, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar told local media following the four-way talks that also involved Turkey and the UNO.

“An agreement has been reached on technical issues such as joint controls at the destination points and … the safety of navigation on the transfer routes,” Akar told journalists. Russian and Ukrainian delegations “should meet again in Turkey next week,” he said, adding that the parties would “review all the details once again” during that meeting.

5. Situation on the battlefields

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation in Ukraine. The enemy suffers significant losses in all directions.

High-precision air-based missiles destroyed over 350 AFU soldiers and 20 units of military equipment of Kakhovka task force reserve at a shipyard in Nikolaev city.

As a result of high-precision weapons strike of the Russian Aerospace Forces on a temporary deployment point of artillery battalion of 59th Motorized Infantry Brigade in the eastern Nikolaev city, up to 70 servicemen of AFU artillery units, 10 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled howitzers and over 10 units of vehicles and special equipment were destroyed.

Sabotage and reconnaissance group of 242nd battalion of 241st Territorial Defence Brigade transferred from Kiev has been eliminated near Dementiyevka, Kharkov region. Five militants killed on the spot and 10 more Ukrainian servicemen captured.

Over the past 24 hours, Russian Aerospace Forces destroyed 2 command posts near Bereznevatoye in Nikolaev region, 1 ammunition depot near Seversk, as well as 7 armoured vehicles of 60th Mechanized Brigade of AFU near Bilogor'e, Zaporozhye Region.

As part of counter-battery fighting, 1 platoon of Uragan multiple rocket launchers have been destroyed at firing positions near Kostantinovka in Donetsk People's Republic.

Operational-tactical and army aviation, missile troops and artillery have neutralized 11 command posts, 102 areas of artillery units at firing positions, as well as 123 areas of AFU manpower and military equipment concentration.

Russian fighters have shot down 3 aircraft of Ukrainian air force in the air: 1 Su-25 and 1 Su-24 near Novoukrainka and Barvenkovo in Donetsk People's Republic, as well as 1 MiG-29 near Bashtanka in Nikolaev region.

Russian air defence means have shot down another Su-25 of Ukrainian air force near Shirokoye, Nikolaev region.

Also, air defence means have shot down 9 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles near Dibrovnoye, Glubokoye, Luk'yantsy, Brazhkovka, Liptsy, Peschanoye in Kharkov region, Snegirevka in Nikolaev region and Karpovka in Donetsk People's Republic.

5 Ukrainian Tochka-U ballistic missiles have been intercepted over Veselaya Tarasovka, Pokrovskoye, Konstantinovka, Lisichansk in Lugansk People's Republic and Kostyrka in Kherson region.

18 Uragan multiple-launch rocket launchers have been shot down in the air near Topolskoye, Dolgen'koye, Suligovka in Kharkov region, Khartsyzsk, Avdeevka, Karpovka in Donetsk People's Republic, Rodakovo, Smeloye, Zimogor'e, Lotikovo in Lugansk People's Republic and Lugansk city.

High-precision strikes near Bereznegovatoye, Nikolaev Region, Konstantinovka and Kramatorsk, Donetsk People's Republic, hit temporary deployment points of units of 35th Marine Brigade, 54th Mechanized Brigade, 81st Airmobile Brigade and 109th Territorial Defence Brigade.

As a result of the strikes, the total losses of these formations amounted to up to 1,000 personnel and more than 100 pieces of military equipment.

High-precision weapons of the Russian Aerospace Forces hit temporary deployment point of 14th Mechanized Brigade battalion manned by nationalists and foreign mercenaries near Chasov Yar, Donetsk People's Republic. The attacks have resulted in the destruction of 43 militants and about 170 injured.

Russian army aviation hit temporary deployment point of 97th Battalion of 60th Mechanized Brigade of AFU near Malaya Tokmachka, Zaporozhye Region, with high-precision missiles. The attacks have resulted in the destruction of 30 militants and about 37 injured.

Conflicts and clashes with the use of weapons have increased among nationalist fighters.

On July 13, more than 200 fighters of the 226th Kraken nationalist formation refused to follow the command's order to move to the Kramatorsk area and claimed a "transfer" to the Kharkov city' territorial defence. During the ensuing fight with the commanders and the ensuing gunfight, six militants were killed.

High-precision sea-based Kalibr missiles destroyed multiple rocket launcher vehicles of 45th Artillery Brigade of AFU hidden in hangars at the high voltage equipment plant in Zaporozhye city.

In addition, high-precision weapons of the Russian Aerospace Forces destroyed 4 command posts, including those of 61st Infantry Jaeger Brigade of AFU near Bereznegovatoye in Nikolaev Region and 80th Airborne Assault Brigade near Kramatorsk, 3 ammunition depots near Soledar, Tat'yanovka in Donetsk People's Republic and Nikolaev, 1 fuel storage facility for military equipment near Kharkov, and 21 areas of manpower and military equipment concentration.

As part of the counter-battery fighting, 1 battery of multiple rocket launchers near Slavyansk, one platoon of MLRS near Nikolaevka in Donetsk People's Republic, and one artillery platoon of US-made M-777 howitzers at firing positions in Pervomaiskyi in Kharkov Region were destroyed.

Operational-tactical and army aviation, missile troops and artillery hit 19 command posts, 78 areas of artillery units in firing positions and 232 areas of AFU manpower and military equipment concentration.

Russian Aerospace Forces fighters have shot down 2 aircraft of Ukrainian air force in the air: 1 Su-24 near Slavyansk and 1 MiG-29 near Troitskoye, Donetsk People's Republic.

Russian air defence means destroyed 12 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles near Balakleya, Izyum, Lozovaya, Shchurovka in Kharkov Region, Snegirevka, Novaya Kakhovka in Nikolaev Region, Belogorovka, Karmazinovka, Slavyanoserbsk, Mikhailovka in Lugansk People's Republic and Derilovo in Donetsk People's Republic.

In addition, 2 Tochka-U ballistic missiles and 6 rockets of Uragan multiple-launch rocket system were intercepted near Novaya Kakhovka in Nikolaev Region.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

July 18, 2022

1. Ex-President Medvedev reminded Ukraine of the Doomsday

Some top-ranking Ukrainian politicians are trying to threaten the Russian Federation, meaning an attack on the Crimea, including the Crimean Bridge, but if something like this happens, then judgment day will come for them all, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev said at a meeting with veterans in Volgograd.

“Individual exalted, bloody clowns who pop up there from time to time with some statements are also trying to threaten us, meaning the attack on Crimea and so on. In this regard, I want to say that it is quite obvious that they understand the consequences of such statements. And the consequences are obvious that if something like this happens, for all of them there, the Day of Judgment [Doomsday] will come at once. Very fast and heavy. It will be very difficult to take cover,” Medvedev stressed.

“In some ways they envy us, our capabilities, in some ways, they probably fear us, but the most important thing for them is that conceptual task that does not change from year to year and passes from one government to another,” Medvedev concluded.

2. Lavrov: Germany and France ‘killed’ Minsk agreements

Berlin and Paris torpedoed the 2015 ceasefire deal for Donbass by shielding Kiev’s non-compliance, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said in an article published in Izvestia newspaper [the full text is posted at the MFA website: «Staged incidents as the Western approach to doing politics»; July 18, 2022// https://mid.ru/en/foreign_policy/news/1822333/].

Russia, Germany and France brokered the 2015 Minsk agreements between Ukraine and Donbass, which were designed to put an end to hostilities. But according to Lavrov, Berlin and Paris failed to ensure Kiev’s compliance.

The Russian Foreign Minister noted that former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko admitted the Minsk agreements meant nothing for Kiev, and Ukraine used them only to buy time. Lavrov said: “If anyone doubted that the Minsk Package was anything but yet another fake, Petr Poroshenko dispelled this myth by saying on June 17, 2022: “The Minsk Agreements did not mean anything to us, and we had no intention to carry them out… our goal was to remove the threat we faced… and win time in order to restore economic growth and rebuild the armed forces. We achieved this goal. Mission accomplished for the Minsk Agreements.” 

Lavrov also mentioned that in December 2019, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had a chance to fulfil the Minsk agreements at the so-called Normandy format summit held in Paris. After negotiations with leaders of Russia, Germany and France, Zelensky pledged to resolve issues surrounding the special status of Donbass. “Of course, he did nothing, and Berlin and Paris were shielding him once again,” he noted.

Lavrov added: “In December 2019, Zelensky got a chance to carry out the Minsk Agreements following the Normandy format summit in Paris. In the outcome document adopted at the highest level, the Ukrainian President undertook to resolve matters related to the special status of Donbass. Of course, he did not do anything, while Berlin and Paris once again covered up for him. The document and all the publicity accompanying its adoption turned out to be no more than a fake narrative promoted by Ukraine and the West to win some time for supplying more weapons to the Kiev regime, which follows Petr Poroshenko’s logic to the letter”.

Comment: So, President Zelensky and his predecessor Poroshenko publicly admitted that they never had any plans to implement the Minsk accord. They both used the arrangement to get more offensive weapons from the USA and NATO, and to enhance the Armed Forces of Ukraine, preparing them to launch the third large-scale aggression against population Donbass who decided not to live inside a neo-Nazi, undemocratic Ukraine.

Lavrov concluded: “If members of the western alliance are unable to live according to this principle, are not ready to build a truly universal architecture of equal security and cooperation, they should leave everyone alone, stop using threats and blackmail to recruit those who want to live on their own wits and acknowledge the right to freedom of choice by independent self-respecting countries. This is what democracy is all about, the real democracy, not one played out on a shabbily built political stage”.

3. Dmitry Kuleba actually confirmed Zelensky‘s obstruction to the talks

Kiev will be ready for talks with Moscow only after the latter’s "defeat on the battlefield," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba said.

"Let us first change the situation on the front, and then we will speak. Everyone understands that the talks are directly linked with the situation on the front. I say it to all partners: Russia is to sit down at the negotiating table only after the defeat on the battlefield. Otherwise, it will be a language of ultimatums again," he said in an interview with Forbes Ukraine, which came out on July 18.

According to the Ukrainian top diplomat, President Vladimir Zelensky has a principled position on this matter. "He doesn’t rule out possible talks, but there are no grounds for them now,” Kuleba noted.

The Russian-Ukrainian talks have been conducted since February 28. Several meetings were organized in Belarus, then the sides continued negotiations in the videoconference format. The last direct round of talks was held in Istanbul on March 29.

On April 12, Russian President Vladimir Putin told journalists that Kiev had deviated from the previous agreements and drove the process into a dead end. On April 20, Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow had handed over to Kiev a clearly-worded draft document on agreements and was waiting for a response.

On July 18 the Presidential aide Yury Ushakov stated that so far, there is no interest on the part of Kiev, as well as on the part of Western states to conduct the talks with Moscow. The Ukrainian delegation has not established any contacts with its Russian counterpart since the Istanbul round, he added.

4. LPR will send the fragments of U.S. HIMARS MLRS to the Russian IC

In an interview with RIA Novosti, an officer of the LPR representative office in the JCCC, Aleksey Getmansky, said that, if necessary, the agency would transfer fragments of American HIMARS MLRS, including those found at the site of attacks by Kyiv troops in Alchevsk, to investigators of the RF IC [Russian Investigation Committee], as evidence of war crimes committed by the Ukrainian Army, Aleksey Getmansky, an officer of the representative office, told RIA Novosti.

Comment: committed not only by the Ukrainian Army, but committed also by the USA who has supplied such barbaric weapon used against civilians in Donbass. The USA became a direct participant in atrocities conducted in this area.

“These are the fragments found at the scene of the incident in the city of Alchevsk, in this case, these are stabilizer blocks with plumage fired from the M142 HIMARS MLRS as a result of the shelling of the city of Alchevsk.

We are cooperating with the Investigation Committee of the Russian Federation, we are assisting them in removing fragments and fragments of any from the scene of the incident, when there is already a trial and a tribunal over Ukrainian criminals, this will all be an evidence base”, said the mission officer.

5. News from battlefields

By July 17 high-precision attacks launched by Russian Aerospace Forces at a provisional base of 92nd Mechanised Brigade deployed in Chuguyev (Kharkov region) have resulted in the elimination of up to 200 servicemen of 2nd and 3rd battalions, as well as over 10 armoured vehicles.

In view of considerable losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), there is an increasing number of desertion cases. A rifle company of 58th Battalion from 104th Separate Territorial Defence Brigade operationally subordinated to the commander of 108th Battalion from 10th Mountain Assault Brigade that operated near Verkhnekamentskoye (Donetsk People's Republic) completely abandoned its positions and withdrew towards unknown destination.

High-precision long-range air-based missiles have destroyed one depot in one of the buildings of an industrial entity in Odessa that storaged Harpoon anti-ship missiles delivered to Ukraine by NATO countries.

High-precision ground-based armament has destroyed one launching ramp and one reloading vehicle of U.S.-manufactured HIMARS MLRS deployed near Krasnoarmeysk (Donetsk People's Republic).

Attack launched at the base of 97th Battalion from 60th Mechanised Infantry Brigade of the AFU deployed near Novodanilovka (Zaporozhye Region) has resulted in the elimination of up to 65 nationalists and over 10 special motor vehicles.

In addition, high-precision attacks of Russian Aerospace Forces have eliminated 4 command posts, including those of a battalion from 59th Mechanised Infantry Brigade near Zelyony Gay (Nikolayev Region) and of 242nd Battalion from 241st Territorial Defence Brigade near Dergachi (Kharkov Region), 6 munitions depots near Bondarnoye and Vasyukovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Malinovka (Zaporozhye Region), Chervonoye (Sumy Region), as well as 19 areas of AFU manpower and military equipment, including 4 provisional bases of foreign mercenaries in Konstantinovka (Kharkov Region) and Dzerzhinsk (Donetsk People's Republic).

Within counter-battery warfare, 1 MRLS platoon, 9 Giantsint-B artillery howitzer and D-30 gun platoons near Verkhnekamenskoye, Serebryanka, Bondarnoye, Dronovka and Zvanovka (Donetsk People's Republic), as well as artillery units at their firing positions in 107 areas.

Operational-tactical and army aviation, missile troops and artillery have neutralised 21 command posts, 189 AFU manpower and military equipment concentration areas.

Fighter aviation of Russian Aerospace Forces have shot down 1 Ukrainian Mi-17 helicopter near Slavyansk (Donetsk People's Republic).

Russian air defence means have destroyed one Su-25 airplane of Ukrainian Air Forces near Velikaya Kamyshevakha (Kharkov region) and one Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle near Bolshiye Prokhody (Kharkov region).

One Ukrainian Tochka-U ballistic missile has been intercepted near Dmitrenko (Kherson region), 8 projectiles launched by Uragan and HIMARS MLRS have been intercepted near Izyum (Kharkov region), Tavriya (Zaporozhye Region) and Alchevsk (Lugansk People's Republic).

High-precision air-based missiles in Kostantinovka, Donetsk People's Republic, have neutralized temporary deployment point of mercenaries of so-called Ukrainian "Foreign Legion". The attacks have resulted in the elimination of more than 250 military personnel and 12 special vehicles.

By July 18 as a result of high-precision long-range air-based weaponry strike on temporary deployment point of battalion of 118th Territorial Defence Brigade of AFU in Vitovo, Cherkasskaya Region, up to 60 nationalists, 2 multiple rocket launchers and 4 artillery mounts have been destroyed.

A facility used by Ukraine’s “foreign legion” in Donbass has been targeted in a Russian missile strike that killed up to 250 mercenaries and destroyed a number of military vehicles, Moscow’s Ministry of Defense announced on July 18. “A temporary mercenary deployment point of the so-called Ukrainian ‘foreign legion’ was hit with high-precision air-launched missiles in the settlement of Konstantinovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic,” the ministry claimed. “Up to 250 foreign militants, seven armored vehicles, as well as 12 special purpose vehicles were taken out,” it added.

More than 10 Ukrainian Grad MLRS and 8 armoured vehicles have been destroyed near Udachnoye railway station in Donetsk People's Republic.

Also, two Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopters have been destroyed and two more helicopters suffered significant damage as a result of rocket artillery strike on AFU field airfield near Novyi Donbass, Donetsk People's Republic.

As part of counter-battery warfare, 2 batteries of Uragan MLRS near Predtechino, 3 platoons of Grad MLRS, 14 artillery platoons of Hyacinth-B howitzers and D-30 guns near Seversk, Verkhnekamenskoye, Serebryanka, Dronovka and Zvanovka, Donetsk People's Republic have been neutralized.

Operational-tactical and army aviation, missile troops and artillery have hit 14 command posts, including 28th Mechanized Brigade near Nikolaev, 60th Infantry Brigade near Novoaleksandrovka in Zaporozhye Region and 15th Battalion of 58th AFU Motorized Infantry Brigade in Pokrovskoye in Donetsk People's Republic, as well as 286 areas of AFU manpower and military equipment concentration.

One Buk-M1 self-propelled launcher near Kramatorsk in Donetsk People's Republic, 3 depots with missile and artillery weapons and one fuel depot near Novoaleksandrovka in Zaporozhye Region have been destroyed.

Russian air defence means have shot down 6 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles near Peschanoye, Chervonyi Oskol, Liptsy in Kharkov Region, Korsun' in Donetsk People's Republic and Novokamenka in Kherson Region.

Two shells of Uragan MLRS have been also intercepted near Stakhanov in Lugansk People's Republic.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

July 19, 2022

1. Humanitarian situation

On one hand, Russia, and other members of the Russian Federation as well as DPR, LPR, pay specific attention to improvement of the humanitarian situation in DPR and LPR, and many areas in Ukraine. Unfortunately, on the other, Kiev disregards humanitarian issue in many respects.

Russian MoD continues to record numerous facts of criminal actions by Kiev regime against civilians, as well as the use of civilian infrastructure for military purposes by Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU):

a) in Kharkov, AFU units are stationed on the territory of school No 8 (Saltovskoye Highway) artillery and MLRS positions have been deployed, without intentionally evacuating local residents from nearby houses;

b) in Pavlograd, Dnepropetrovsk Region, a nationalist stronghold has been deployed in school No 6 (Heroes of Ukraine Street), with ammunition depots in the basement;

c) in Dobropol'e, Donetsk People's Republic, soldiers of Ukrainian armed formations have equipped strongholds and ammunition depots on the lower and upper floors of apartment buildings (Solnechnyi Quarter Street); they have placed MLRS and armoured vehicles in yards; residents are not allowed to leave their flats; people are actually used by nationalists as human shield.

Furthermore, despite the threat of a food crisis and disregarding the well-being of their own people, the Kiev authorities are carrying out further provocations at agricultural facilities to accuse the Russian military of allegedly indiscriminate strikes against civilian targets and threatening Ukraine's food security:

a) in Kalinovka, Bakhmut district of Donetsk People's Republic, neo-Nazis have deployed artillery and MLRS at a grain storage facility, from which they systematically shell positions of the Russian Armed Forces, provoking them to return fire;

b) in Zaporozhye, Nikolaev, Kharkov and Kherson regions, AFU servicemen together with fighters from nationalist battalions are purposefully torching fields with crops using helicopters and artillery. According to official data collected in Donbass, Kiev artificially creating the issue of ‘Ukrainian grain blocked for export’, set fire on huge areas of grain vegetation in the areas belonging to Donbass. 200,000 tonnes of grain belonging to Donbass have been deliberately burned by AFU. Ukrainian hypocrisy and barbarism. 

These and other similar provocations by the Ukrainian authorities are taking place against a backdrop of ongoing hysteria by so called civilised West and their false accusations against the Russian Federation of artificially creating a food crisis in the world. Russian MoD warned in advance that fabricated material about alleged "Russian atrocities" is soon to be spread widely through the Western and Ukrainian media.

Such actions by Kiev once again demonstrate an inhuman attitude towards the fate of the Ukrainian citizens and show a complete disregard for all norms of morality and international humanitarian law.

Despite Russian repeated statements, these and other such facts, which flagrantly violate international humanitarian law, continue to go unheeded by the international community and international organisations.

Russia once again called on the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the International Committee of the Red Cross and other international organizations to stop turning a blind eye to the blatant crimes committed by Kiev authorities against their own people, to influence official Kiev and to take effective measures to prevent AFU from using civilian and medical infrastructure for military purposes.

2. Navigation in the Black Sea is still blocked by Kiev

Still 70 foreign vessels from 16 countries remain blocked by Kiev in six Ukrainian sea ports, namely in Kherson, Nikolaev, Chernomorsk, Ochakov, Odessa and Yuzhniy in northern part of the Black Sea.

The threat of shelling and high mine danger posed by official Kiev prevents vessels from entering the high seas unhindered.

As a result of the measures taken by the Russian Navy, the mine threat in the waters of the port of Mariupol has been eliminated and measures are being taken to restore the port infrastructure.

The Russian Armed Forces have created conditions for the operation of two maritime humanitarian corridors, which are safe lanes for ships:

a) in the Black Sea - to leave Kherson, Nikolaev, Chernomorsk, Ochakov, Odessa and Yuzhnyi ports in a south-westerly direction from Ukraine's territorial sea, 139 miles long and 3 miles wide;

b) in the Sea of Azov, to leave Mariupol port 115 miles long and 2 miles wide towards the Black Sea.

Detailed information in English and Russian on the modus operandi of the maritime humanitarian corridor is broadcast daily every 15 minutes on VHF radio on 14 and 16 international channels in English and Russian.

At the same time, the Kiev authorities continue to avoid engaging with representatives of states and ship-owning companies to resolve the issue of ensuring the safe passage of foreign vessels to the assembly area. The danger to navigation from Ukrainian mines activated by Kiev drifting off their anchors along the coasts of Black Sea states remains.

3. Situation on the battlefields

Kiev failed to regain control over any territory captured by the Allied Armed Forces (Russian, and DPR/LPR troops). They are constantly moving forward. One of obvious result is that Ukrainian intensity of shelling of populated areas in Donbass reduced, but has not stopped completely.

According to official data from the DPR JCCC, since the beginning of the Special Military Operation (SMO) on July 19, 1,211 civilians, including 93 children, have received injuries of various degrees on the territory within the borders before the beginning of the SMO. On the territory liberated during the operation, 1,495 civilians were injured, including 83 children.

5,628 residential buildings, 1,245 civil infrastructure facilities, 73 medical institutions, 242 educational institutions, 461 social security facilities, 32 critical infrastructure facilities, 436 electricity, water and gas supply facilities, 677 vehicles were damaged.

During the 153 days of escalation of the DPR JCCC, 6,153 facts of firing were recorded, including 5,824 with the use of heavy weapons. In total, the enemy fired 51,364 ammunition of various calibers, including 31 missiles from the Tochka-U ballistic missiles system, 14 missiles of the BM-30 Smerch MLRS, 152 MLRS missiles BM-27 “Uragan” and 9028 MLRS missiles BM-21 “Grad”.

At the same time high-precision weapons of the Russian Aerospace Forces have neutralized temporary deployment point of the Right Sector Nazi militia in Kamyshevakha, Zaporozhye Region. Up to 200 militants have been killed.

High-precision weapons have hit positions of battalion of 81st Airmobile Brigade of AFU near Dolina, Donetsk People's Republic. More than 60 personnel have been destroyed, as well as 7 armoured vehicles and 1 ammunition depot.

In addition, a high-precision weapons strike have destroyed ammunition depots for weapons supplied by the US and European countries near Belen'koye, Odessa Region.

To replenish the significant losses in personnel and equipment incurred by 66th and 72nd mechanized, 58th motorized infantry and 10th Mountain Assault Brigades of AFU operating in the Soledar direction, the forced mobilization of residents of Artemovsk, Chasov Yar, Soledar, Dzerzhinsk and other nearby settlements is under way. Vehicles are seized from local residents to equip the formations.

Within 24 hours, 4 platoons of Grad multiple-launch rocket systems, 13 artillery platoons of D-20 howitzers and 9 artillery platoons of D-30 guns have been neutralized in Seversk, Serebryanka, Dronovka, Opytnoye, Krasnoye, Zvanovka, Ivano-Dar'evka, Paraskovievka and Ivangrad, Donetsk People's Republic.

Operational-tactical and army aviation, missile troops and artillery have neutralized 7 command posts, including 81st Aero-mobile Brigade near Kramatorsk, Donetsk People's Republic, 60th Infantry Brigade near Kirovo, 128th Mountain Assault Brigade near Vozdvizhevka, Zaporozhye Region, 5 ammunition depots in Vasyukovka, Velyka Novoselka, Donetsk People's Republic, Novoaleksandrovka, Zaporozhye region, Pokrovskoye, Dnepropetrovsk Region, 2 fuel depots near Soledar and Novgorodskoye, DPR, as well as 197 areas of AFU manpower and military equipment concentration.

Russian air defence means have shot down 1 Mi-24 helicopter of Ukrainian air force near Pokrovskoye, DPR, and 4 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles near Peschanoye, Petropavlovka, Topolskoye and Izyum, Kharkov Region.

In addition, 4 Tochka-U ballistic missiles and 5 rockets of Uragan multiple-launch rocket system have been intercepted near Skadovsk and Novaya Kakhovka, Kherson Region and Chervonyi Oskol and Topolskoye, Kharkov Region.

July 20, 2022

1. Western weapon supplies will spur Russia to push forward and to change front line in Ukraine

The use of Western-supplied heavy weapons by Kiev will force Russia to move deeper into Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told RT and Sputnik on July 20.

Lavrov noted that when negotiators met in Istanbul, Turkey on March 29-30, they were discussing “one geography,” referring to the areas controlled by Russia and the forces of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR). “Our willingness to accept Ukrainian suggestions was based on the geography as of the end of March, 2022,” the minister clarified. “Now the geography is different. We’re not talking about the DPR, the LPR. We’re talking about Kherson Region, Zaporozhye Region and a number of other territories, and this process is ongoing.”

Lavrov accused the West of exacerbating the conflict by “pumping” Ukraine with heavy weapons, including M142 HIMARS MLRS and long-range munitions.“It means that we will have to put the line even further,” he said, adding that Moscow will not allow Ukrainian troops to threaten either Russia, or two Donbass republics.

During its offensive, Russian and allied troops captured parts of southern Ukraine and pushed Ukrainian troops out of many towns in Donbass. The peace talks, meanwhile, have remained stalled since the end of March, as Western politicians say that Kiev should not be pressured into giving up territory to Moscow.

 Russian Foreign Minister shared his views about the risks of a nuclear war with the West and how the Western-supplied heavy weapons affect the fighting on the ground, as well as the decision-making in Moscow.

Lavrov also discussed the effects of the sanctions on the European economy and the delivery of Russian gas to EU member states.

The same day the Russian Embassy in Washington released a statement, saying that people living in Russian-controlled areas will “decide on their future independently, by themselves.”

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has set up a specialized commission to control the use of foreign weapons. People’s Deputy Oleksiy Goncharenko announced this on Telegram.

2.  AFU tried to hit Zaporozhye NPP four times July 20

The authorities of city of Energodar reported four attacks by Ukrainian UAVs on the Zaporozhye NPP in a day on July 20^th. This was reported to RIA Novosti by the press service of the city Administration. Energodar is located very close to this NPP.

It is reported that the last attack was recorded at 16:01 (Moscow time). The building located nearby was damaged.

The Administration of the Zaporozhye Region also reported that the reactor part of the NPP was not damaged as a result of the attack, the radiation level is normal.

What will be the reaction of the IAEA?

3. Situation on the battlefields

During last 24 hours AFU shelled thirteen DPR settlements.

AFU fired 437 shells – twice as less than in the past when banderists fired more than 800 shells a day. In recent case AFU used Grad MLRS, gun artillery of 155 (it means of NATO caliber), 152 and 122 mm caliber, as well as 120 mm mortars.

One civilian was wounded as a result of the shelling. Nine residential buildings and two civilian infrastructure facilities were damaged.

At the same time Russian troops together with the troops of DPR and LPR continue to wipe out ultra-Nazi in Ukraine and demilitarize it for the sake of enhancing European security.

High-precision weapons strikes of the Russian Aerospace Forces against missile and artillery weapons depot of 14th Mechanized Brigade of AFU in Soledar in DPR have destroyed 19 units of armoured equipment and up to 40 nationalists.

High-precision weapons of the Russian Aerospace Forces have destroyed US-made Harpoon missile launcher near Usatovo, Odessa Region.

High-precision, long-range sea-based weapons have hit temporary deployment point of 35th Marine Brigade in Dachnoye, Odessa Region, where reservists for the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) were being trained. More than 60 personnel have been destroyed, as well as more than 10 foreign-made military vehicles.

As part of counter-battery warfare, 5 platoons of Grad multiple-launch rocket systems of 48th and 58th motorized infantry brigades, 6 artillery platoons of D-20 howitzers and 9 artillery platoons of D-30 mounts in Kurakhovo, Novomikhailovka, Konstantinovka and Georgievka in DPR have been neutralized.

Operational-tactical and army aviation, missile troops and artillery have hit 7 command posts, including units of 63rd Mechanized and 61st Infantry Brigades near Yavkino, Bereznevatoe, Visunsk and Kaluga in Nikolayev Region, 128th Mountain Assault Brigade in Verkhnekamenskoye district in Donetsk People's Republic, and 92nd Mechanized Brigade in Dolzhik district of Kharkov Region.

8 depots with missile and artillery weapons and ammunition have been destroyed near Praskoviyivka, Kostyantinovka, Artemovsk, Novovorontsovka in Kherson Region and Ternovatoye in Zaporozhye Region, as well as two fuel depots of 54th AFU Mechanized Brigade near Kurakhovo in DPR.

Russian Aerospace Forces' fighter aviation have shot down 2 Ukrainian air force aircraft in an aerial battle: 1 MiG-29 near Snigirevka, Nikolaev Region, and 1 Su-25 near Dobropol'e, Donetsk People's Republic.

Russian air defence means have shot down 4 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles near Blagodatovka, Yavorskoye, Kharkov Region, and Zugres, Donetsk People's Republic.

In addition, 9 projectiles of Uragan multiple-launch rocket system have been intercepted near Vasilenkovo in Kharkov Region, as well as Novoraisk, Krasnosel'skoye, Stepnoye, and Taras Shevchenko in Kherson Region.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

July 21, 2022

1. Putin’s predicament

Only “truly sovereign” states will succeed after “enormous” geopolitical transformations, the Russian leader claimed. A new epoch of world history is approaching and only “truly sovereign” states will be able to succeed in the changed environment, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on July 21.

Speaking at a business forum, he claimed that “truly revolutionary,” “enormous” changes would lead to the creation of a new, “harmonious, fairer and more community-focused and safe” world order. In this new epoch, “only truly sovereign states can ensure high growth dynamics,” he said.

By the term ‘sovereignty’ the Russian president means “freedom of national development, and thus of each person individually,” as well as “technological, cultural, intellectual, educational viability of the state” and a “responsible, active and nationally minded, nationally oriented civil society.”

Such a state, the President said, will serve as an example for others when it comes to “the standards and quality of people’s life, the protection of traditional values and high humanistic ideals.”

This kind of world is in sharp contrast to the Western-dominated unipolar world order, which, in Putin’s opinion, is “becoming a brake on the development of our civilization.”

He accused the West of being “racist and neo-colonial,” saying that its ideology “is becoming increasingly more like totalitarianism.” The president argued that despite attempts by Western elites to preserve the existing world order, the changes are “irreversible.”

Putin has been discussing the end of the “unipolar” world for a long time. In his famous 2007 Munich Security Conference speech, the Russian president said that “the unipolar world that had been proposed after the Cold War did not take place.” He explained that a world of “one master, one sovereign” is destructive not only for everyone within the system but also for the sovereign itself. He accused the US of neglecting the “basic principles of international law” and stressed that “unilateral and frequently illegitimate actions” had never solved any problems.

2.  Lavrov’s remarks made on July 20. 2022: full translation

In Report # 106 some highlights of the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s interview to a number of Russian news agencies have been published. Here is a link to full transcript of his remarks posted in English [ https://mid.ru/en/foreign_policy/news/1822901/].

3. Russia awaits IAEA’s reaction to Ukrainian attacks on NPP

Kiev regime's provocations against Ukraine's nuclear energy facilities continue unabated, threatening their safety.

Russia has sent an appeal to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) over the Ukrainian army’s attacks on the Zaporozhye NPP and is awaiting its reaction, Russian Foreign Ministry said at a briefing on July 21.

"We have already addressed the leadership of the IAEA’s Secretariat over this incident and are expecting the appropriate reaction on the part of the agency," the MFA announced.

According to the Ministry, the Ukrainian attacks on the Zaporozhye NPP confirm Kiev’s goal to create conditions for a nuclear catastrophe for all of Europe. "Ukraine continues provocations in order to create threats for nuclear facilities”.

On July 18, the Ukrainian armed forces attacked the premises of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant using a drone. Ukrainian nationalist formations actually used two kamikaze drones to attack facilities at the Zaporozhye NPP (one drone was destroyed on approach to the plant). It was only by sheer luck that this did not lead to damage to the plant's equipment and a man-made disaster. The strike was delivered several dozen meters away from the constructions that are critically important for the NPP’s security - storage facilities for spent nuclear fuel and a reactor cooling reservoir. Only by lucky coincidence this did not result in any damage to the plant’s equipment and a man-made catastrophe," Russian MFA emphasized.

The Foreign Ministry noted that on July 20, the Ukrainian army attacked that NPP using the drones again: namely four of them [see Report # 106 dated July 20].  During that strike 11 staffers of the NPP have been wounded, including four persons with heavy injuries.

It has been pointed out that such a catastrophe won’t be just a local problem. "The responsibility for the possible consequences of these actions by the Kiev regime rests both with Ukraine and with the states that provide military support to the criminal regime," Russian MFA noted.

Comment: the USA and all other NATO countries have denounced such Ukrainian dangerous acts

4. Humanitarian situation

Russian troops continue to record numerous facts of criminal actions by Kiev regime against civilians, as well as the use of medical infrastructure for military purposes by Ukrainian armed formations:

a) in Kostantinovka, Donetsk People's Republic, nationalists have equipped strongholds at Municipal Hospital No. 1 (O.Tikhogo Avenue), armoured vehicles and artillery have been placed in the surrounding area, and neo-Nazis are detaining staff and patients in the hospital under the pretext of alleged security, effectively using them as human shields;

b) in Zaliznoye, Donetsk People's Republic, militants of Aidar nationalist battalion have equipped barracks and firing points in a polyclinic building (Pioneer Avenue), the approaches to the facility are mined, but the local population is deliberately not informed about this;

c) in Toretsk (Tereshkova Street) and Druzhkovka (Donskoy Quarter Street), Donetsk People's Republic, AFU units are stationed in the buildings of medical preventive centres, weapons and ammunition depots are located, and armoured vehicles, artillery and MLRS are placed in the territories adjacent to the medical facilities;

d) in Nikolaev, AFU servicemen have equipped a stronghold in the building of a polyclinic (Pogranichnaya Street) and placed a large amount of military equipment in the immediate vicinity of the facility, without evacuating residents of nearby houses.

Despite repeated statements by the Russian Federation's Joint Coordination Headquarters for Humanitarian Response, to date, all such facts remain ignored by the World Health Organisation and the world community.

5. Medvedev: Ukrainian troops should be pushed back not only from Donetsk, but further

Dmitry Medvedev, Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman, said it was necessary to move the Ukrainian Armed Forces not only away from Donetsk, but also further. He made such statement during a meeting with displaced persons from Donbass and Ukraine in the Rostov Region, Interfax quoted him as saying.

“Not only from Donetsk, now it is wider. (…) Further away,” Medvedev said on a call for the AFU to move faster away from the DNR capital so that the shelling would stop.

The politician assured the displaced that all the tasks of the special operation to demilitarize and denationalize Ukraine would be fulfilled.

6. The UK to pump more arms into Ukraine

The shipment will include 1,600 anti-tank weapons and 50,000 artillery shells.

The UK will send Ukraine anti-tank weapons, drones, artillery guns and tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition, Defense Secretary Ben Wallace told Parliament on Thursday. Ukraine will receive more than 20 M109 and 26 L119 artillery guns, as well as counter-battery radar systems and more than 50,000 rounds of ammunition for its existing Soviet-era artillery systems.

The UK will also send 1,600 anti-tank weapons as well as drones, including hundreds of “loitering aerial munitions,” more commonly known as “suicide drones.”

The arms will be sent to Ukraine in the coming weeks, and Wallace’s announcement comes several weeks after outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledged an additional £1 billion ($1.2bn) in military support to Vladimir Zelensky’s government. In total, the UK has spent £2.3 billion on weapons and training for Kiev’s military since Russia’s military operation in Ukraine began in February.

This money has already paid for nearly 7,000 NLAW, Javelin and other anti-tank missiles, 16,000 artillery rounds, six mobile anti-air missile launchers, as well as a number of M270 rocket artillery systems and 120 armored vehicles.

Comment: by supplying Ukraine with more arms the UK and other NATO countries will complicate the survival of Ukraine.

7. Developments on the battlefields

Despite these deliveries Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) continue to suffer considerable losses.

According to verified data, the high-precision attack launched by Russian Aerospace Forces on July 16 at a provisional base deployed by nationalists in Imperiya recreation centre located in Konstantinovka (Odessa region) has resulted in the elimination of over 600 militants, including up to 120 foreign mercenaries.

In addition, according to precised data, the attack launched on July 17 at a provisional base of a unit of AFU deployed at a vegetable warehouse in Nikolayev has resulted in the elimination of over 320 nationalists.

In view of considerable losses in the eastern part of Ukraine, residents of the western regions mobilised to the AFU refuse to be sent to Donbass. All the servicemen of 100th Territorial Defence Brigade located in Lutsk (Volyna Region) have refused to be involved in operations. AFU command disarmed the brigade, the initiators were arrested, the formation would be reformed.

Operational-tactical and army aviation, missile troops and artillery continue launching attacks at the military facilities in Ukraine.

The list of neutralised targets includes 9 command posts, including one of 59th Marines Brigade in Nikolayev where foreign mercenaries were deployed, as well as one of 14th Mechanised Brigade near Artyomovsk and the HQ of the Security Service of Ukraine in Kramatorsk.

6 missile, artillery armament and munitions depots have been destroyed near Konstantinovka, Fyodorovka (DPR), Maliyevka (Dnepropetrovsk Region) and Nikolayev.

The list of targets neutralised within the counter-battery warfare includes one Uragan MLRS battery and one Akatsiya self-propelled howitzer battery with a counter-battery warfare radar near Zarozhnoye (Kharkov Region), 8 Ukrainian Grad MRLS platoons near Zvanovka, Kirovo, Soledar, Krasnoye, Platonovka (DPR), Dobropolye (Zaporozhye Region) and Shirokoye (Nikolayev Region), 9 D-20 howitzer platoons and 7 D-30 cannon platoons near Seversk, Kirovo, Novomikhailovka, Konstantinovka, Klescheyevka, Georgiyevka (DPR), Novopavlovka, Vesyoloye (Zaporozhye Region), as well as Dobroye (Nikolayev Region).

Fighter aviation of Russian Aerospace Forces has shot down one Su-25 airplane of Ukrainian Air Force near Kramatorsk (DPR).

In addition, Russian air defence means have shot down 1 Mi-8 helicopter of Ukrainian Air Force near Pervomaiskoye (Nikolayev region), one well as 5 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles near Topolskoye, Dementiyevka, Peschanoye (Kharkov Region), Yenakiyevo and Makeyevka (DPR).

8 projectiles launched by Uragan MLRS near Chernobayevka, Kazachyi Lageri (Kherson Region) and Kamenka (Kharkov Region) have been intercepted.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

July 22, 2022

1. Three countries signed a grain delivery deal backed by the UNO

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov signed a UN-brokered grain deal in Istanbul on July 22.

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu signed the agreement on behalf of Russia, and his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar inked the deal on Turkey’s behalf. Turkey, Ukraine, and the UN signed their part of the agreement. On behalf of Kiev, it was signed by Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Alexander Kubrakov. On behalf of the UN, the grain export deal was signed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said that two documents were aimed at solving the issue of food and grain exports to the global markets. "Today in Istanbul, two documents were signed aimed at solving the problems of supplying food and fertilizers to world markets. I want to emphasize that these documents are interconnected and represent a single package," Shoigu said at a ceremony held after the deal was signed.

The Russian Defense Minister added that the first document stipulates the United Nations to facilitate removal of restrictions on exports of Russian agricultural products.

"The second document defines the algorithm for the export of Ukrainian agricultural products from the Black Sea ports controlled by Ukraine," Shoigu said, adding that Kiev is responsible for security in Ukrainian territorial waters, including demining.

Commenting on the signed memorandum, a UN official explained that the Black Sea grain initiative is a renewable 120-day deal, but it should continue until the Russia-Ukraine conflict ends. The official added that it will take weeks to see ships transport grain in the Black Sea. "We were told earlier on in the negotiation by the Ukrainian side that they need about 10 days to prepare the ports to be ready to start moving again. So I think we're talking about, you know, a few weeks before we will see proper implementation of vessels going in and out," the official added.

Inspection teams under control of the Joint Coordination Center will make sure that vessels heading to Ukraine are not used to ship weapons to Ukraine, he said.

"There will be ships monitored across the Black Sea ... there will be an inspection of ships going in these ports ... The UN inspection team will be set up. The ships will be inspected making sure that there will be no weapons going into Ukraine," the UN official told during the briefing.

The export of Ukraine grain, foodstuff, fertilizer will be conducted across from the three ports, Odessa and two related ports," the UN official said.

2. Humanitarian situation

Russian troops continue to record numerous facts of criminal actions by Kiev regime against civilians, as well as the use of medical infrastructure for military purposes by Ukrainian armed formations:

a) in Kharkov, territorial defence units are stationed on the territory of Semyon Kuznetsov National University of Economics (Nauky Avenue) and an ammunition depot has been set up, while residents from nearby houses have not been deliberately evacuated;

b) in Dnepropetrovsk, AFU have equipped a stronghold at school No 23 (Yavornytskyi Avenue) and deployed artillery and armoured vehicles in the immediate vicinity of the school;

c) in Kramatorsk, Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), AFU have equipped firing positions and sniper points on the lower and upper floors of multi-storey residential buildings (Mashinostroiteley Boulevard), with MLRS placed in yards, while the militants keep local residents in their flats, effectively using them as human shields.

These and other similar facts of gross violations of international humanitarian law by the Kiev regime, despite repeated statements by the Russian Federation's Joint Coordination Headquarters for Humanitarian Response, have so far remained unnoticed by international organizations.

Furthermore, according to reliable information in Slavyansk, Donetsk People's Republic, Kiev regime has prepared another sophisticated provocation to discredit the Russian Armed Forces. In order to implement this, AFU servicemen dressed in Russian uniforms with St. George's ribbons defiantly looted private homes and physically assaulted civilians, while AFU information and psychological operations specialists filmed "acts of looting" allegedly carried out by the Russian Armed Forces. Russian MoD warned the international community in advance that Kiev authorities are planning to widely disseminate this latest fake story in the Ukrainian and Western media in the near future.

3. Situation on the battlefields

Official representative of DPR People’s Police made a statement on July 22:

The Ukrainian side continues to terrorize the civilian population of the DPR, inflicting massive artillery strikes on residential areas and civilian infrastructure, which in turn do not pose a danger to the enemy and are not military targets.

Over the past day, according to the DPR JCCC, the enemy fired six hundred and sixty shells from Grad multiple launch rocket systems, 155, 152 and 122-mm cannon artillery, as well as 120 and 82-mm mortars, and also used unguided aircraft missiles with a caliber 80 mm (without the use of aviation).

The fire was fired at the districts of sixteen settlements of the DPR. As a result of shelling, one civilian was killed and seven were injured.

Thirty-eight residential buildings and seven civilian infrastructure facilities were damaged.

The enemy continues to terrorize the civilian population of the Lugansk People’s Republic, shelling the civilian infrastructure of the settlements of the LPR, which do not have any military facilities. Over the past day, the armed formations of Ukraine used of American MLRS M142 HIMARS, firing three missiles. Information about the victims and damage is being specified.

On the other hand, Armed Forces of Ukraine are suffering considerable losses of armament delivered by Western countries.

From July 5 to 20, four launching ramps and one reloading vehicle for the U.S.-manufactured HIMARS MLRS delivered to Ukraine were eliminated by high-precision ground- and air-based armament.

Among them, 2 launching ramps were destroyed near Malotaranovka, 1 HIMARS and 1 reloading vehicle was destroyed near Krasnoarmeysk, as well as 4th launching ramp at the eastern suburb of Konstantinovka (DPR).

Attacks by high-precision ground-based armament have resulted in the elimination of a provisional base of Black Hundred nationalist group deployed in the school №23 in Kramatorsk (DPR). Up to 300 nationalists and over 40 units of special equipment have been eliminated.

Attacks launched by high-precision armament of Russian Aerospace Forces have resulted in the elimination of a missile and artillery armament depot of 59th Mechanised Infantry Brigade of the AFU deployed at an industrial area in the eastern part of Nikolayev. The enemy has lost up to 30 servicemen, 6 armoured and motor vehicles, over 2,000 projectiles for Grad MRLS, about 1,000 projectiles for Akatsiya self-propelled howitzers.

Operational-tactical and army aviation, missile troops and artillery continue launching attacks at the military facilities in Ukraine.

The list of neutralised targets includes: 6 command posts, including one of 92nd Mechanised Brigade near Rogan (Kharkov Region), 1 command and observation post of 72nd Mechanised Brigade of the AFU near Serebryanka (DPR), as well as 5 missile and artillery armament and munitions depots near Zaytsevo (DPR), Vishevoye and Uspenovka (Zaporozhye Region).

Within the counter-battery warfare, 4 Grad MLRS platoons, 24 D-20 howitzer and 13 D-30 cannon platoons have been neutralised.

Operational-tactical aviation of Russian Aerospace Forces has destroyed 1 launching ramp of Buk-M1 air defence system near Cherevkovka (DPR).

Russian air defence systems have shot down 12 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles near Malaya Kamyshevakha, Vernopolye, Oknino, Balakleya, Verbovka, Slatino, Dolgenkoye, Chervony Oskol, Peschanoye (Kharkov Region), Petrovskoye and Zlatoustovka (DPR).

In addition, 2 projectiles launched by Uragan MLRS have been intercepted near Topolskoye and Malaya Kamyshevakha (Kharkov Region).

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

July 23, 2022

1. Ukraine violates the Istanbul accord on agricultural goods’ deliveries

Sergey Bratchuk, a spokesman for the Odessa Military Administration, said that on July 23 Ukraine launched a cruise missile strike on the port of Odessa, a major trade hub in the country's southwest that was mentioned in the Istanbul arrangement as a sea port to export Ukrainian grain [see Report # 108 dated July 22]. At least four cruise missiles were used to target the facility, two of the projectiles were intercepted, while the two others hit the port’s infrastructure, Bratchuk clarified.

Such provocative attack came a day after a UN-brokered deal to unblock exports of grain and other agricultural goods from Ukrainian ports was reached [on July 22, 2022].

Under the Russia-UN memorandum, the United Nations undertakes to work toward lifting anti-Russian restrictions hampering exports of agricultural products and fertilizers. Another document envisages a mechanism of exporting grain from Ukraine-controlled Black Sea ports. An agreement between Russia, Turkey and the United Nations provides for the establishment of a quadrilateral Coordination Center to inspect ships sailing from Ukraine carrying grain to other countries, and to Ukraine to prevent weapons smuggling and rule out provocations. The center began its activity on July 23.

At the same time despite the Istanbul deal that facilitated to unhindered delivery of Ukrainian grain Armed Forces of Ukraine continue to destroy the grain crops in the fields of Donbass and in other liberated areas in Ukraine. For such purpose AFU use incendiary munitions.

Comment: striking port of Odessa mentioned for grain export a day after the signature of Istanbul agreements and destroying grain crops in the liberated regions in Donbass and other areas is particularly reprehensible and once again demonstrates Kiev’s total disregard for international law and its commitments, whose representative signed the accord during the presence of the UN Secretary General.

2. Situation in the Black Sea

70 foreign vessels from 16 countries remain blocked in six Ukrainian ports, including Kherson, Nikolaev, Chernomorsk, Ochakov, Odessa and Yuzhniy – all located in the Black Sea. The Kiev authorities continue to avoid engaging with representatives of states and ship-owning companies to resolve the issue of ensuring the safe passage of foreign vessels to the assembly area.

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have created the necessary conditions for the operation of two maritime ‘blue-navy’ humanitarian corridors that constitute safe lanes for navigation:

1) in the Black Sea (operational from 08:00 AM to 07:00 PM every day) to leave Kherson, Nikolaev, Chernomorsk, Ochakov, Odessa and Yuzhniy sea ports towards south-west from Ukraine's territorial sea, 139 miles long and 3 miles wide;

2) in the Sea of Azov (operational 24 hours every day) to leave Mariupol port, 115 miles long and 2 miles wide, towards the Black Sea.

Detailed information on the modus operandi of the maritime humanitarian corridors is broadcast daily every 15 minutes by VHF radio on 14 and 16 international Channels in English and Russian.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

The troops of Lugansk People's Republic, with fire support from the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, advanced from the beginning of the operation to a depth of up to 75 kilometers and blocked Svatovo village.  Five more residential areas were taken under control.

The troops of Donetsk People's Republic conducted successful offensive operations, taking control of five populated areas. The depth of the group's advance over the past day was 58 kilometers.

Advance detachments of the People's Militia of the DPR reached the administrative border of the Donetsk region and joined the military units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, which took control of the regions of Ukraine along the coast of the Sea of Azov.

The Russian Armed Forces took Kherson, South Ukraine. This regional center is under full control. Civil infrastructure, life support facilities for the population and urban transport operate on a daily basis. The city does not experience shortages in food and essential goods. Negotiations are ongoing between the Russian command, the administration of the city and the region to address issues of maintaining the functioning of social infrastructure facilities, ensuring law and order and the safety of the population.

The exit of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to the Sea of Azov coast is completely blocked. The city of Mariupol has been encircled completely by Russian Armed Forces. Two humanitarian corridors have been opened to give a chance the civilians to escape. Ukrainian troops and nazi battalions are preventing people to leave the area, especially foreign students. In some cases Ukrainian troops and nazi battalions used civilians as a human shield. Donbass is still being shelled by them violently. Main targets are as before: houses, hospitals and key supply systems.  

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continued to strike at the military infrastructure of Ukraine.

On March 1 and 2, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out a strike with long-range air and sea-based high-precision weapons. Two airfields and three air defense radars were hit.  The strikes excluded the defeat of civilian infrastructure and residential areas.

In total, since the beginning of the operation, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have hit 1,502 targets of the military infrastructure of Ukraine.

Of these: 51 command and control centers and a communication posts of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 38 S-300, Buk M-1 and Osa anti-aircraft missile systems, 47 aircraft on the ground and 11 aircraft in the air, 46 drones, 482 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 62 multiple rocket launch systems, 206 field artillery and mortars, 336 special military vehicles were destroyed (note: all these are accumulative figures counted from the beginning of the operation).

Russia’s ministry of defense has confirmed that the country’s military had struck a television tower in Kiev on March 1st, in what it called a bid to thwart “information attacks.” The broadcasting equipment of the TV tower was disabled.

The technological facilities of the Security Service of Ukraine and the 72nd Main Center for Psychological Operations were hit with high-precision weapons in Kiev.

2. The second round of talks between Russia and Ukraine was to take place March 2nd.  However, Ukrainian team informed that it would come to Belarus only March 3rd. The delay by Kiev is intentional: to buy time for military regrouping and to persuade Moscow to agree to a ceasefire and to withdraw Russian troops from Donbass and Ukraine – with the aim to gain military victory and retain ultra-nationalist status of Ukraine. Moscow insists on recognition of Crimea as a part of Russia, and DPR & LPR as independent states, to make Ukraine demilitarized, denazificated, as nuclear-free and non-aligned state, not hostile to Russia.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin 

July 25, 2022

1. Russian Joint Coordination Headquarters for Humanitarian Response in Ukraine issued an Emergency Statement on July 25, 2022

According to the Russian Defence Ministry, the Kiev regime has completed preparations for a monstrous provocation using highly toxic substances in Slavyansk. In the next few days, Security Service of Ukraine plan to blow up tanks with more than 120 tonnes of the chemically hazardous substance, hexane, at the oil and fats plant.

Explosion of the hexane tanks would create a toxic cloud that would spread more than 10 kilometers away. All residential areas of Slavyansk and nearby settlements will be in the chemical attack zone.

The specific cynicism of such inhuman actions by the Ukrainian authorities is that they are prepared to sacrifice tens of thousands of their own citizens living in Slavyansk, as well as servicemen of the Ukrainian armed formations stationed in the city, to achieve their criminal goals.

Hexane is a powerful neurotoxin and carcinogen. Irritating to skin, affects lungs if inhaled, acts as a strong narcotic, causes drowsiness, dizziness, peripheral nervous system damage, numbness of legs, central nervous system depression and eye irritation. Prolonged inhalation of hexane causes chronic poisoning, leading to serious nervous system disorders, manifested by decreased sensitivity, rapid fatigue, decreased muscle tone and headaches. However, because hexane is capable of igniting spontaneously at ambient temperatures of plus 23-38ºC (followed by intense combustion and high heat release), an explosion could also occur due to the abnormally high ambient air temperature currently prevailing in Slavyansk district. The most effective emergency measures for protection against hexane vapour are to take cover indoors and to close windows and doors tightly. In case of poisoning, ensure fresh air supply to the victim and protect the respiratory system and skin.

We recommend that the residents of Slavyansk and neighbouring localities take the necessary protective measures immediately.

The purpose of this provocation is to accuse the Russian Armed Forces and Donetsk People's Republic formations of allegedly indiscriminate strikes against potentially dangerous objects, using a well-established scenario, followed by extensive coverage in the Ukrainian and Western media.

We once again emphasize that during the special military operation, the Russian Armed Forces and military formations of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics are not targeting civilian infrastructure.

We call on the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to immediately influence the Ukrainian authorities and take effective measures to prevent this provocation.

2. Ukraine has not demined its sea ports so far

70 foreign vessels from 16 countries still remain blocked in six Ukrainian ports, including Kherson, Nikolaev, Ochakov, Chernomorsk, Odessa and Yuzhniy. The last three port are listed in the Istanbul agreement reached on July 22, 2022 as ports of exit to deliver Ukrainian grain and other agricultural products.

The threat of shelling and high mine danger posed by official Kiev prevent vessels from entering the high seas unhindered. Under the Istanbul deal, Ukrainian Armed Forces are responsible for conducting demining operations in the Black Sea, while Russian and Turkish Navies will escort all ships going out from these three ports controlled by Kiev along the Black Sea corridors and maintain security for all merchant vessels.

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have created the necessary conditions for the operation of two maritime humanitarian corridors that constitute safe lanes for navigation:

1) in the Black Sea (from 08:00 AM to 07:00 PM every day) to leave Kherson, Nikolaev, Chernomorsk, Ochakov, Odessa and Yuzhnyi ports towards south-west from Ukraine's territorial sea, 139 miles long and 3 miles wide;

2) in the Sea of Azov (uninterruptedly 24 hours each day) to leave Mariupol port, 115 miles long and 2 miles wide, towards the Black Sea.

Detailed information on the modus operandi of the maritime humanitarian corridors is broadcast daily every 15 minutes by VHF radio on 14 and 16 international Channels in English and Russian.

The Kiev authorities continue to avoid engaging with representatives of states and ship-owning companies to resolve the issue of ensuring the safe passage of foreign vessels to the assembly area. The danger to navigation from Ukrainian mines drifting off their anchors along the coasts of Black Sea states remains.

3. Russia hit Ukrainian Naval Base in Odessa. Ukraine hit its own commercial seaport in Odessa located far away from it

A Ukrainian military vessel and a stockpile of Harpoon missiles sent by the USA were hit during Saturday’s attack, on July 23, Russian Defense Ministry has said

The Russian Ministry of Defense has confirmed striking targets in the major Ukrainian port of Odessa on Saturday, revealing that its missiles hit military infrastructure and arms stockpiles. “In the seaport of Odessa, on the territory of a shipyard, a docked Ukrainian warship and a warehouse of Harpoon anti-ship missiles, supplied by the U.S. to the Kiev regime, have been destroyed by sea-based high-precision long-range missiles,” the ministry said on July 23.

The attack also crippled a repair facility where vessels of the Ukrainian Navy have been fixed.

Russian Armed Forces never attacked merchant seaport in Odessa.

It is very strange that Kiev ordered to shell merchant seaport in Odessa frlom where Ukrainian grain will be shipped abroad.

Russia's obligations under the agreements signed in Istanbul do not prohibit it from continuing a Special Military Operation, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said, commenting on the strike on Ukrainian military facilities in the port of Odessa.

"If we talk about the episode that occurred in Odessa, there is nothing in the commitments that Russia has undertaken, including within the framework of the agreements signed on July 22 in Istanbul, that would prohibit us from continuing a Special Military Operation, destroying military infrastructure and other military targets," he said at a briefing on the results of his meetings with the Foreign Minister of Congo.

The Russian Foreign Minister added that the targets hit were located in the military part of the Odessa port, the grain terminal is located at a considerable distance from it.

"There are no obstacles for grain to be delivered to customers in accordance with the agreements signed in Istanbul, and we did not create them," the Russian Foreign Minister stressed.

4. Humanitarian situation

Russian Armed Forces continue to record the facts of the inhumane treatment of civilians and use of civilian facilities for military purposes by Ukrainian armed groups.

In the Donetsk People's Republic:

a) in Artyomovsk, at lower and upper floors of residential buildings (Nezavisimosto Street), AFU units have deployed their strongpoints and firing positions, as well as armament and munitions depots in the basement;

b) in Konstantinovka, in the school №6 (Shestogo Sentyabrya Street), Territorial Defence units have deployed their manpower, as well as observation posts and firing positions at the approaches to the educational institution, while residents of the nearby buildings have not been evacuated;

c) in Kramatorsk, neo-Nazis have deployed their firing positions and munitions depots in residential buildings (Parkovaya Street). Militants restrict local residents to leave their houses with pretext of their alleged safety, all their attempts to evacuate to safe areas are severely suppressed;

d) in New York, in the school №16 (Yesenina Street), militants of Right Sector nationalist battalion have deployed MLRS and use them for launching periodical attacks at the positions of Russian Armed Forces in order to provoke a counter-attack, while residents of the nearby buildings are retained in the basement of the institution being used as a live shield.

In Belgorod-Dnestrovsky, Odessa Region, in the urban sports school (Nezavisimosti Street), militants of Ukrainian armed groups have deployed their manpower, as well as armoured equipment, MLRS and artillery at the adjacent territory, the approaches to the building have been mined, but local population has intentionally been left uninformed about it.

These acts committed by Ukrainian authorities show their inhumane treatment to the lives of Ukrainian citizens and total disregard to all norms and principles of the international humanitarian law. All of it occurs with the tacit consent of the collective West that continues turning a blind eye to the numerous war crimes of the Kiev regime.

Russian MoD emphasized again the Russian Armed Forces and units of Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics do not launch attacks at civilian infrastructure facilities during the special military operation.

5. Humanitarian aid distribution

Russian humanitarian aid is the only opportunity to stay alive for a considerable part of Ukrainians who were betrayed by their own authorities.

Over 51 thousand tonnes of prime necessity items, groceries, medication and medical products have been prepared at the collection points.

Since March 2, 2022, 47,184.7 tonnes of humanitarian goods within 1,350 humanitarian campaigns have been delivered to the Republics of Donbass and Ukraine.

Over the past 24 hours, the civilian population has been provided with 651,5 tonnes of humanitarian goods within 6 humanitarian campaigns held in the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, Zaporozhye, Kharkov and Kherson Regions.

6. Ukrainian plot to hijack Russian warplanes exposed by Moscow

According to information shared with RT, Kiev’s spies offered Russian pilots money and EU citizenship as a reward

Russian intelligence has claimed that it foiled a sophisticated plot from Ukrainian spies to hijack several military jets. A security official official and a pilot, who is said to have been targeted by Kiev's agents, have shared details of the operation with RT.

Russia's Federal Security Service (the FSB) has sensationally added that a leading figure from the US-government funded investigative organization Bellingcat – which presents itself as a journalistic grouping – was also involved in the scheme, which it believes was "supervised by NATO intelligence agencies." The FSB specifically pointed the finger at British operatives.

It explained that Russian pilots were promised passports from EU members states, and substantial cash rewards in order to participate in the plot.

Early in the ongoing conflict, the Ukrainians compiled a list of Russian military hardware, using publicly available information. They promised monetary rewards for potential defectors who managed to bring the equipment with them. The more elaborate the weapons were, the better the rewards that were promised, with warplanes, helicopters and tanks fetching the top payment of up to $1 million.

When the public call for defectors fell flat, Ukraine’s security service targeted individual Russian servicemen – pilots in particular – directly. They apparently traced and identified the airmen through the digital trail they left online, an operative with the Russian Security Service (the FSB) told RT TV reporter Maria Finoshina. Kiev appeared to be specifically interested in Russian Su-34 fighter-bombers and Tu-22M3 strategic aircraft, according to the source. 

A Su-34 pilot targeted in the plot told RT that he was initially reluctant to speak with the Ukrainian spies, believing the promise of $1 million for stealing warplanes and defecting to Kiev to be a prank. After realizing his interlocutors were serious about the proposal, he tipped off Russian intelligence, which then monitored subsequent conversations.

“Initially, of course, I took it as a joke, but after a period of talking it became clear that I was dealing with representatives of the Ukrainian intelligence service and their Western partners,” the pilot said. “Also, I was supposed to get passports of European states and a comfortable life abroad was promised.”

Kiev's intelligence operatives apparently believed the Russian pilots who they contacted were ready to commit treason and hijack their own warplanes, putting them in touch with a Ukrainian pilot to discuss technical details.

“They believed so much in the possibility of organizing the hijacking that they revealed the layout of their defense systems, altitude maps, and lots of other useful information to us,” the Russian airman said, adding that the information obtained from the Ukrainians was used during the military operation.

To prove that the pilots were actually able to pull off the hijacking and had access to the specific warplanes, Ukrainian intelligence demanded video proof from them. The pilots were paid between $4,000 and $7,000 per video, which showed them getting into the planes while holding pieces of paper with specific numbers.

The middleman claimed he had received orders directly from Christo Grozev, the Bulgarian ‘lead Russia investigator’ with Bellingcat, a controversial Western state-funded organization that was labeled “undesirable” in Russia earlier in July. Moscow has repeatedly questioned the independence of the investigative group, citing its close ties with intelligence agencies. “Grozev… did not actually explain anything to me, he just told me the name of the courier who would deliver the money by train,” the suspect claimed.

The alleged involvement of Grozev is not the only suggestion of Western influence in hijacking the planes. During the negotiations with the pilots, Ukrainian intelligence was able to procure two legitimate EU passports – one Slovakian and one Romanian – for wives of the pilots, as a guarantee for the would-be ‘defectors’.

Leaving Russia with such documents would have immediately turned the pilots’ families into “hostages” of Ukrainian intelligence, the FSB operative told RT, as “methods of blackmail, threats and pressure on relatives” have long been standard practice for them.

“Obviously, the operation itself was carried out with the support of Western and, primarily, British intelligence services. We know about Grozev’s involvement and MI6 not only from these statements,” he added, claiming that Ukrainian intelligence had recently “ceased hiding” its ties with foreign spies.

The plot also described an even a darker element, as the would-be-defectors were supposed to somehow deal with their fellow crew members, it was revealed. While the Su-34 has two crew members, the Tu-22M3 has four.

Ukrainian intelligence reportedly suggested that Russian pilots should drug their comrades with Clophelin (Clonidine), a medication used to treat high blood pressure and other ailments. In high doses, however, it has a strong sedative effect, which makes the drug ‘popular’ among criminals wishing to knock out their victims to rob them. Very high doses can also be lethal.

Since the medication is not easy to come by in Russia, Ukrainian intelligence is said to have arranged a dead drop involving the substance. The FSB says it later recovered a stash of the product.

“As the pilot, I was asked to knock out my co-pilot, and what would happen to him after that is not clear – even whether he would be kept alive,” the Russian serviceman said.

According to the FSB’s information, the Ukrainian side insisted the betrayed crew members would be safe and exchanged as POWs later on. The Russian pilot, however, expressed strong doubts about that.

7. News from the battlefields

According to official data from the DPR JCCC, from the beginning of the active phase of the 3^rd Ukrainian military aggression against Donbass started from February 17 to July 23, totally 262 civilians have been killed; 1,228 civilians, including 94 children, were injured with various degree of wounds in the territory within the borders before the beginning of the Special Military Operation or SMO. In the territory liberated during the SMO, 1,500 civilians were injured, including 84 children.

On the other hand, Russian Defence Ministry reported on the progress of the special military operation in Ukraine

High-precision sea-based long-range weapons near Bogdanovtsy, Khmelnitskyi region, have destroyed transshipment base with US-supplied ammunition for HIMARS multiple-launch rocket systems and shells for US M777 large-calibre howitzer used by the AFU to kill civilians in Donbass and in other areas in Ukraine.

An attempt of Ukrainian sabotage group to advance and land from fast landing boats on the territory of Kherson Region has been discovered in Dneprovskyi estuary. Two Ukrainian landing boats with saboteurs on board were destroyed as a result of strike.

High-precision weapons attack of the Russian Aerospace Forces on a temporary deployment point of 95th Airborne Assault Brigade of AFU has eliminated over 100 nationalists and foreign mercenaries in Kostantinovka, Donetsk People's Republic.

Operational-tactical and army aviation, missile troops and artillery strikes continue against military facilities in Ukraine.

6 command and observation posts have been neutralised, including units of 60th Infantry Brigade near Orekhov in Zaporozhye Region and 113th Territorial Defence Brigade near Klugino-Bashkirovka and Chuguyev in Kharkov Region. 4 missile and artillery weapons and ammunition depotsnear Lyubimovka, Dnepropetrovsk Region, Stepnoye, Zaporozhye Region, and Artemovsk, Donetsk People's Republic, as well as 1 radar of S-300 missile system near Nekremennoye, Donetsk People's Republic, have been destroyed.

As part of counter-battery warfare, 4 platoons of Grad multiple-launch rocket systems near Uspenovka, Markovo, Minkovka and Semenovka and 2 artillery platoons of D-20 howitzers have been suppressed, 3 artillery platoons of Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems, as well as 8 Ukrainian platoons of D-30 guns at firing positions near Dzerzhinsk, Georgiyevka, Vodyanoye, Novomikhailovka, Kurakhovo and Kamyshevka in Donetsk People's Republic.

Russian air defence means have shot down 6 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles near Kamenka, Brazhkovka, Malaya Kamyshevakha in Kharkov Region and Khartsyzsk in Donetsk People's Republic.

In addition, 6 shells of Uragan multiple-launch rocket system have been intercepted near Stakhanov in Lugansk People's Republic and Popasnaya in Donetsk People's Republic.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

July 27, 2022

1. A personal comment on the Istanbul deal

On July 22, in Istanbul, representatives of the UN, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine signed an agreement on lifting restrictions on the supply of Russian products for export and facilitating the export of Ukrainian grain and a number of other agricultural food products, such as sunflower oil.

A three-month period of validity of the agreements has been determined with the possibility of its subsequent extension. The signing of this document finally removes the baseless accusations made by the West of Moscow in the alleged blockade of the Black Sea seaports. The Russian side has never mined Ukrainian seaports to block the supply of Ukrainian agricultural products to other countries or for any other purposes.

President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stressed that Russia does not prevent the export of Ukrainian grain and if Ukraine itself mined its seaports, which it actually did, and not Russia, then any ships with food will be able to leave there unhindered after Kiev issues the order to demine Ukrainian seaports.

So, it is namely Kiev that itself has created numerous obstacles to grain exports, such as mining the Black Sea, setting fire to wheat stocks in the port of Mariupol, and also setting fire to fields sown with wheat in the Donbass not controlled by Kiev.

Commenting on the agreements reached, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu noted that the document assumes the involvement of the UNO in lifting restrictions on the export of agricultural products and fertilizers to world markets, and also regulates the export of Ukrainian grain through three seaports in the Black Sea controlled by Kiev – Odessa, Chernomorsk and Yuzhny. In addition, the agreement provides for the creation of a Quadrilateral Coordination Center under the auspices of the UNO, the removal of mines from Ukrainian territorial waters by Ukraine, and also regulates the procedure for coordinating, conducting, ensuring security and controlling the procedure for the export of grain and other agricultural products from Ukraine.

On the day of signing the Istanbul agreements, a number of high-ranking officials of European states noted that the deal would help to stabilize world food prices and was even intended to be the first step towards ending the war in Ukraine. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in an interview with a BBC correspondent, said that this is probably the most important thing he has done during his leadership of this international organization.

The representative of the U.S. State Department, Ned Price, confirmed live on the CNN that the White House welcomes this agreement. ABC published the position of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who played a significant role in the negotiations, who expressed hope that the deal would be a turning point in the war and called on both sides of the conflict to resume peace talks.

Despite the positive reaction of the world community and the opportunity to sell Ukrainian grain, which, by the way, does not exceed one percent of overall global grain production, representatives of the Kiev regime continued to call for condemnation of the Russian Federation and the need to bring it to justice.

But literally the next day after the signing of the package of Istanbul documents, the AFU intensified its subversive activities aimed at disrupting the Istanbul agreements of July 22: on July 23, the Ukrainian Armed Forces launched a missile attack on the Odessa seaport, which it controls, blaming Russia for this.

But Russia did not launch a missile attack on the Odessa seaport. It is easy to verify this on the basis of objective control data possessed by the U.S. Space Force, as well as the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

On July 23, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation did launch a missile attack, but not on the Odessa seaport, but on the territory of the Odessa Ship Repair Plant. As a result, the production facilities of this enterprise used for the repair and modernization of the Naval Forces of Ukraine were put out of operation and the warehouse of Harpoon anti-ship missiles delivered from the United States located there was destroyed. That is, a blow was actually struck at a military facility of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. But not a civilian merchant seaport located too far away from the Odessa Ship Repair Plant. The strike incapacitated the enterprise’s production capacities for the repair and upgrade of the Ukrainian Navy’s ships, the Russian MoD added.

Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the strike against the Odessa port’s military sites could not and would not affect the commencement of grain shipments in accordance with the Istanbul deals.

Vladimir Zelensky, despite the available video recordings of the results of the strike, was not slow to throw in a false message about the destruction of the alleged elevator and concluded that this attack "destroyed the very possibility" of dialogue with Moscow. His propaganda stunt was supported by U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrel, German and British Foreign Ministers Annalena Berbock and Liz Truss.

That is, all these persons displayed their complete incompetence and unprofessionalism. They didn't even bother to instruct their subordinates to check the information: who, where and when launched the missile strike. Although it is well known that these two facilities – Ship Repair Plant and Elevator – have different functional features and are separated from each other at a considerable distance. The Ukrainian president also deceived his Western curators, who simply have been obliged to listen his newly-invented lie.

So, thanks to Russia's and Turkey’s constructive position, the "Istanbul deal" on leveling “the threat of freezing Ukrainian grain export” was concluded.

But before its implementation, Ukraine itself must fully demine its three ports – Odessa, Chernomorsk and Yuzhny, intentionally mined by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Kiev should also not prevent to inspect its merchant ships sailing from these three seaports and to returning to them.

Istanbul expecting first ships to depart within days, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister confirmed. Turkish officials estimate grain exports from Ukraine, as agreed under last week’s Ankara- and UN-brokered deal between Moscow and Kiev, will start this week, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced on July 27.

“Based upon statements by our colleagues from Turkey where the Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) is located, they expect exports from Ukraine to start in the coming days,” Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko told reporters. He added, however, that, for its part, Moscow was hoping for the best, but could not rule out the deal crumbling. “We always hope for the best and expect that our partners will also implement two components of the grain deal – [that] concerning the export of grain from Ukraine, and [that] regarding the removal of restrictions on the export of Russian grain in general,” the official elaborated.

Highly likely, that Kiev can invent one more provocation aimed at blaming Russia for violating of the Istanbul deal or declare to refuse to inspect Ukrainian merchant ships in the Black Sea by international teams created during relevant Istanbul talks. One more option cannot be excluded, like Kiev’s delays in demining the sea areas close to three seaports in Ukraine mentioned in the accord reached on July 22.

2. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s statement on the Istanbul deal (Moscow, July 22, 2022)

A ceremony for the simultaneous signing of two documents on maritime shipping of Ukrainian grain and the export of Russian agricultural products – Initiatives for the safe transportation of grain and food from the ports of Ukraine and Memorandum of Understanding between the Russian Federation and the UN Secretariat on assisting the promotion of Russian food and fertilisers to international markets, respectively – was held in Istanbul on July 22.

Initially, both documents were part of the UN Secretary-General’s “package” initiative, which President Putin supported. However, during the course of the talks, Kiev made several attempts to sabotage the bundled approach to the agreement proposed by Antonio Guterres. Interestingly, the negotiators from the UN Secretariat promoted a position that did not quite align with the Secretary-General’s original initiative.

Be that as it may, due to the Russian delegation’s efforts, it was possible to maintain the comprehensive and depoliticised nature of the “package” agreement, thereby ensuring the maximum possible effort to meet the developing countries that are food importers halfway.

Russia will honour its commitments in this regard. The fact that the United States and its allies are using “food issues” in the interests of their geopolitical adventures is unacceptable and inhumane.

The Memorandum of Understanding on Russian exports of agricultural products was signed by First Deputy Prime Minister Andrey Belousov and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The main goal is to ensure transparent and unhindered shipments of Russian food and fertilisers, including the raw materials for their production, to international markets. In particular, this issue is about removing the obstacles that the USA and the EU have created in finance, insurance and logistics and exempting these particular products from the restrictive measures imposed on Russia.

The memorandum will remain valid for three years.

Russia, Turkey and Ukraine are the parties to the Ukrainian Grain Transport Initiative, with the United Nations acting in a support role. The goal is to promote safe shipping for grain, food and fertiliser exports, including ammonia, from the ports of Odessa, Chernomorsk and Yuzhny. The document provides a procedure for the passage of ships, their inspection, monitoring the functioning of the humanitarian corridor, the modality of demining and preventing dangerous incidents by the Istanbul-based special Joint Coordination Centre with representatives from Russia, Ukraine and Turkey and with support from the UNO.

The initiative is to run for 120 days with an option to renew for a similar period upon agreement of the parties.

It is gratifying to know that Washington and Brussels have stopped obstructing the efforts to achieve today’s agreements. The signing of the Russia-UN memorandum reiterated the absolutely artificial nature of the West’s attempts to shift the blame for the problems in supplying grain to international markets on Russia.

We hope the necessary efforts will be made to effectively implement these agreements soon. The UN assistance that is provided in good faith and the constructive approach of the international community, including the Western countries, will be instrumental in this. Given the significant share of Russian and Ukrainian agricultural products in international markets, ensuring uninterrupted shipping meets the pressing objectives of maintaining food security, especially for the developing and least developed countries. All of that should contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, including the eradication of hunger.

In closing, I would like to once again thank our Turkish partners, and personally President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, for their contribution to today’s results.

3. Advance team of Russian experts arrived in Istanbul

Quadrilateral Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) in Istanbul has started its work in accordance with the provisions of the comprehensive package deal signed on July 22, 2022 in the same city between Russia, Turkey and Ukraine with the UNO assistance and support.

The Russian delegation is headed by Rear Admiral Eduard Lujk.

The main task of the Russian experts in the JCC is to promptly resolve all necessary issues to bring the respective initiative to the stage of practical implementation.

The activities of the Russian representatives in the JCC are under special control of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation.

4. The USA intends to send more HIMARS to Kiev: Moscow’s response

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Ukrainian Defense Minister Alexey Reznikov discussed military aid to Ukraine in a recent phone conversation, including additional supplies of HIMARS multiple rocket launchers, the Pentagon said on July 26.

"Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke with Ukrainian Minister of Defence Oleksii Reznikov today to discuss the outcomes of the recent Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting and ongoing security assistance to Ukraine, to include the recent U.S. commitment of additional High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS)," Acting Pentagon Press Secretary Todd Breasseale said in a statement.

Austin reassured Reznikov that the United States was moving as quickly as possible to deliver equipment to Ukraine, the statement says.

Chief of the Ukrainian presidential office Andrey Yermak said on July 24 that US congressmen pledged to provide up to 30 HIMARS systems and munitions.

Initial reaction of Moscow to this announcement was rather tough.

The use by the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) against the Russian territory of American MLRS or other long-range NATO guns will lead to more than serious consequences. This was stated on Wednesday by the head of the Russian delegation at the talks in Vienna on military security and arms control Konstantin Gavrilov.

"Colleagues, do not let the overseas hosts blunt your vigilance: if the APU uses American MLRS or other NATO long-range guns against Russian territory, the consequences will be more than serious," he said at a meeting of the OSCE forum on security cooperation.

"Under these conditions, we will push the neo-Nazis away from our borders in proportion to the range of the missile systems used by Kiev. And then we'll see," the diplomat concluded.

Gavrilov also stated that pushing Europe to aggravate relations with Russia could expand the conflict zone. "Washington is pushing European satellites to cooperate closely with Kiev and aggravate relations with Moscow, forcing them to train Ukrainian soldiers and use their territory as a transit zone for arms supplies. These actions may lead to the expansion of the zone of armed conflict," he said.

5. Turkey: Russia wants to get the same drones used by Ukraine

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has revealed that both Russia and the United Arab Emirates are interested in cooperating with Baykar, the company producing the Bayraktar and Akinci strike drones.

The aircraft have been praised for their effectiveness on the battlefield, and have been used by Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.

Multiple media outlets in Turkey reported the story July 27, citing Erdogan’s remarks at a meeting of top AK party officials the previous. The revelation has caused a stir, since Baykar has exported about 50 drones to Ukraine just this year.

The UAE offered to build a Baykar factory, while Russian President Vladimir Putin said “let’s work together,” Erdogan told the party officials on July 26, according to CNN Turk. The reporting was echoed by other outlets, such as TGRT and Haber 7.

No more details were on offer, except that Putin’s alleged proposal came during last week’s meeting in Tehran, where he and Erdogan met with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to discuss the peace process in Syria and other matters.

6. Developments on the battlefields

Armed Forces of Ukraine continued to shell heavily Donetsk and some other cities in the DPR (total 11 settlements), and the city of Kherson that does not want to stay within a failed and ultra-Nazi state named Ukraine capable to create fake stories and unable to run the state affairs, economy and finance properly. On July 26 AFU fired 316 munitions against the DPR. Five 122-mm shells were fired, the DPR mission to the Joint Center for Control and Coordination said.

By now 130 children in Donbass have been killed by Ukrainian criminals.

AFU once again attacked Antonovsky bridge across the Dnieper near Kherson by using U.S. MLRS HIMARS supplied by President Biden to his counterpart Zelensky. The bridge was slightly damaged, but not destroyed. It has never been used by Russian troops. It has been used for civilian purposes. Kiev knows it for sure.

About 34,000 war crimes committed by Ukrainian security forces recorded in the DPR since 2014 by a Special Commission, said Natalya Nikonorova, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the DPR.

The LPR does not rule out that missiles with a range of 300 km were brought to Ukraine, but the Armed Forces of Ukraine are waiting for the U.S. order to use them as assistant to the head of the LPR Ministry of Internal Affairs put it.

Russian Defence Ministry reported on the progress of the special military operation in Ukraine on July 26 and 27.

On July 26 high-precision air-based missiles struck temporary deployment point of Foreign Legion units near Kostantinovka, Donetsk People's Republic and destroyed over 40 foreign mercenaries, most of them Poles.

As a result of high-precision weaponry strikes by the Russian Aerospace Forces near Nikolaev, 1 artillery battalion of 59th AFU Motorized Infantry Brigade has been eliminated with more than 70 per cent of its personnel and weapons losses.

As a result of operational-tactical aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces strike on battalion combat positions of 72nd Mechanized Brigade of AFU in Zaitsevo of Donetsk People's Republic, over 70 nationalists and 1 ammunition depot have been destroyed.

Operational-tactical and army aviation, missile troops and artillery strikes continue against military facilities in Ukraine.

During the day, 8 command posts have been destroyed, including units of 14th Mechanized Brigade near Sol', Donetsk People's Republic, 28th Mechanized and 79th Airborne Assault Brigades near Nikolaev, and 61st Infantry Brigade near Polygon in Nikolaev Region.

1 OSA-AKM anti-aircraft missile launcher near Bereznevatoye, Nikolaev Region, one US-made AN/TPQ-37 counter-battery radar near Yagodnoye, Donetsk People's Republic, and 8 ammunition depots near Kulbakino, Yavkino, Bakhmutskoye, Yakovlevka and Zaitsevo, Donetsk People's Republic.

Within counter-battery warfare 1 battery of Uragan multiple-launch rocket systems, 1 Giatsint-B howitzer artillery battery have been suppressed near Dzerzhinsk, Donetsk People's Republic, as well as 6 platoons of Grad multiple-launch rocket systems near Shirokoye, Bereznevatoye, Nikolaev Region, Ternovatoye, Yulievka, Zaporozhye Region, Paraskovievka, Krasnoye, Donetsk People's Republic.

In addition, 4 artillery platoons of D-20 howitzers, 7 platoons of Gvozdika self-propelled artillery units and 9 platoons of D-30 guns at firing positions in Seversk, Dzerzhinsk, Georhievka, Vodyanoye, Razdolnoye, Pereyezdnoye, Podgornoye, Severnoye, Donetsk People's Republic, Pershe Travnya, Dnipropetrovsk Region, Novopavlovka, Zatishye, Zaporozhye Region, Visunsk, Kalinovka, Nikolaev Region, Pyatigorskoye, Skripai and Petrovka, Kharkov Region.

Russian air defence systems have shot down 2 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles near Dmitrovka, Kharkov Region, and Vavilovo, Nikolaev Region.

The Uglegorsk thermal power plant has been completely liberated from units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, spokesman for the LPR People’s Militia Ivan Filiponenko said on July 27. "The Uglegorsk thermal power plant, which remained under the control of the Ukrainian Armed Forces after the liberation of Svetlodarsk, from where they were shelling the city, has come fully under our control, enemy units have been destroyed there," the spokesman told the Rossiya-1 TV channel.

According to Filiponenko, the power plant itself was seriously damaged. "As they were withdrawing, the enemy spared no effort, no ammunition to destroy the infrastructure of the power plant," he added.

The spokesman for the People's Militia also clarified that the enemy has now been pushed back from the town of Svetlodarsk. "And people are already much safer than they were, let us say, three days ago," he summed up.

On July 27, high-precision weapons of the Russian Aerospace Forces have destroyed temporary deployment points of 28th Mechanized Brigade and 79th Airborne Assault Brigade of AFU in Nikolaev on the territory of former factory of reinforced concrete products and Nikolaevstroytrans motor transport company. The enemy suffered losses of up to 200 servicemen and more than 20 armoured vehicles and specialised vehicles.

One company of 10th Mountain Assault Brigade of AFU has been completely destroyed as a result of shelling near Artemovsk. In addition, 53rd AFU Mechanized Brigade near Novomikhailovka, Donetsk People's Republic has effectively lost its combat effectiveness as a result of the destruction of a command post by high-precision strike.

Russian Aerospace Forces on July 24 destroyed more than 100 rockets for US-made HIMARS multiple-launch rocket system near Lyubimovka, Dnepropetrovsk Region, according to updated reports. Up to 120 servicemen of the military guarding the site have been eliminated, along with foreign mercenaries and technicians.

Operational-tactical and army aviation, missile troops and artillery strikes continue against military facilities in Ukraine.

During the day, 4 command and control posts of battalions of 54th Mechanized and 17th Tank Brigades, 107th Territorial Defence Brigade near Novomikhailovka, Zaitsevo and Seversk, Donetsk People's Republic, as well as 65th Mechanized Brigade of AFU near Malye Shcherbaki, Zaporozhye Region have been destroyed.

142 areas of manpower and military equipment concentration have been hit including foreign mercenaries at temporary deployment point at Ukrainian Energy Machines plant in Kharkov, as well as militants of Black Hundred formation near Artemovsk, Donetsk People's Republic.

8 ammunition depots have also been destroyed near Mayorsk and Seversk, Donetsk People's Republic, Novoandreevka, Malye Shcherbaki and Stepovoye, Zaporozhye Region and Kul'bakino, Nikolaev Region.

Within counter-battery warfare, 1 battery of Uragan multiple-launch rocket systems and Giatsint-B howitzer artillery battery near Dzerzhinsk, 1 battery of Grad MLRS near Bylbasovka, 2 platoons of Msta-B howitzer and 5 platoons of D-30 guns at firing positions near Otradovka, Dzerzhinsk, Novgorodskoye, Vodyanoye, Konstantinovka, Kurakhovo and Georgievka in Donetsk People's Republic have been destroyed.

Russian air defence means have shot down 1 Mi-8 helicopter of Ukrainian air force near Barmashovo, Nikolaev Region.

Also, 9 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been shot down near Petrovskoye, Novomayorskoye in Donetsk People's Republic, Barabashovka, Mykhailovka, Petropavlovka, Kamenka in Kharkov Region and Kuz'mino in Lugansk People's Republic.

In addition, 10 rockets of multiple-launch rocket systems Olha and HIMARS have been intercepted over Antonovka and Brilevka in Kherson Region, as well as Kherson city.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

July 29, 2022

1.  Ukraine had a reason to kill its own POWs

Bloody provocation was purposefully perpetrated by Kiev regime early morning on July 29.

US-made HIMARS MLRS struck a detention center near Yelenovka, the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) controlled by DPR, where Ukrainian servicemen, including captured Azov fighters, were being held as POWs. The facility in Yelenovka also held members of Ukraine’s Azov Battalion, whose fighters surrendered to Russian and Donbass forces during the siege of the Azovstal steel mill in Mariupol. The battalion is notorious because it includes fighters with nationalist and neo-Nazi views.

Due to this attack 53 Ukrainian POWs were killed and 75 injured. In addition, eight employees of the detention center were injured as well.

It was not the first attempt made by the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). They tried to eliminate them several times by shelling the detention center by long-range artillery and MLRS.

Some parts of the used HIMARS missiles have production numbers identifying that they have been manufactured in the USA.

This blatant provocation was committed in order to intimidate Ukrainian servicemen and prevent their surrender.

The second reason is that Ukrainian president wanted to eliminate key eye witnesses of his war crimes because he and his pals are afraid that Ukrainian POWs that were held at this detention center could tell a lot about the orders given by the Office of president Zelensky how to torture and to kill civilians having no desire to live in a failed, ultra-nationalist and banderist state called Ukraine.

Speaking to Russia’s TV Channel One, DPR head Denis Pushilin claimed that the Ukrainians “deliberately” targeted the detention center in order to kill Azov members who had been providing testimonies about possible war crimes by their commanders.

The circumstances of this provocation and criminal act are being investigated. The Investigative Committee of Russia has already opened a criminal case after the Ukrainian Armed Forces hit the detention center in Yelenovka.

Eduard Basurin, spokesman for the People’s Militia of the DPR, commented on the HIMARS strike by the AFU in Yelenovka. “This location was determined by the Ukrainian side itself when it negotiated the surrender, so they were held here all together. After the Ukrainian POWs began to talk about the crimes they had committed under the orders of the Ukrainian political authorities, the U.S. HIMARS system was struck here. The Ukrainian authorities even went as far as using this type of weaponry, of which they have very few, to silence those military personnel who started to tell the truth about what was happening here in Donbass,” he told reporters.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

August 2, 2022

1. On August 2, 2022 Russian MoD has issued the following statement:

Russian Defence Ministry has recorded and is taking into account for the future an official admission by General [Vadym] Skibitsky, Deputy Head of the Chief Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, that Washington directly coordinates each target for Kiev before strikes from US-made HIMARS MLRS.

Speaking to The Telegraph's British journalists, Skibitsky admitted that "before rocket launches, there are consultations between intelligence officials from both countries, which allow Washington to stop any potential attacks if they were unhappy with the intended target".

It is Biden administration that is directly responsible for all Kiev-approved rocket attacks on residential areas and civilian infrastructure in populated areas of Donbass and other regions, which have resulted in mass deaths of civilians.

No one else in Ukraine or in the world should have any doubts that the strikes by HIMARS rockets on Novaya Kakhovka on July 12, on Stakhanov on July 17, on Krasniy Luch on July 24, dozens of strikes on Donetsk and, of course, the July 29 strike on the detention facility in Elenovka, which killed 50 and injured 73 Ukrainian POWs, have been planned by Zelensky regime and approved by Washington.

2. AFU still conduct criminal actions against civilians

Russian troops continue to record numerous facts of criminal actions by Kiev regime against civilians, as well as the use of medical infrastructure for military purposes by Ukrainian armed formations:

a) in Seversk, Donetsk People's Republic, AFU have deployed artillery and MLRS on the territory of Zolotaya Rybka kindergarten (Molodezhnaya Street), from which they systematically shell Russian Armed Forces positions, provoking them to return fire;

b) in Odessa, Ukrainian armed formations have deployed MANPADs on the roof of the Musical Comedy Theatre (Panteleymonovskaya Street) and heavy weapons and armoured vehicles on the adjacent territory of the Ecology University dormitory (Lvovska Street);

c) in Cherkasy, Ukrainian nationalists have equipped firing positions for heavy artillery and MLRS in private households (Pushkin Street), while locals have not been evacuated.

Furthermore, it has been reliably established that in Dnepropetrovsk Region, militants of Ukrainian armed formations have mined a railway bridge and a road bridge across the Volch'ya River between the settlements of Chernenkovo and Novoskelevatoe, which they plan to blow up and accuse units of the Russian Armed Forces and Donetsk People's Republic of allegedly indiscriminate strikes on transport infrastructure.

Such actions by criminal Ukrainian authorities demonstrate complete indifference to the fate of their own citizens and absolute disregard for all norms of morality and the principles of international humanitarian law.

Russian MoD once again emphasizes that during the Special Military Operation, the Russian Armed Forces and military formations of Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics are not striking at civilian infrastructure facilities, are treating civilians extremely humanely and are providing them with comprehensive assistance and support.

3. Kiev still uses prohibited APM

Armed Forces of Ukraine or AFU continue to wage a barbaric and cruel war against civilians in Donbass and in some other parts of Ukraine by using MLRS and other long-range large caliber howitzers (155 mm).

Besides using M142 MLRS HIMARS produced and delivered to Ukrainian inhuman ultra-Nazi regime by the USA, Kiev began wider employment of anti-personnel mines (APM) known as PFM-1 “Lipestok” in Russian and “Pelustka” in Ukrainian that are prohibited by the international law as very dangerous and inflicting excessive injuries to people [see Report # 113].

On the contrary, AFU possess them and are widely used against civilians in Donbass despite the fact that Ukraine signed in 2005 and ratified in 2006 the relevant Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel mines and their employment (1997). AFU intentionally disperse them in densely populated areas and in the centers of the cities that do not have military facilities at all.

So far, four civilians in Donbass have been heavily injured by Ukrainian “Pelustka” PFM-1.

Russia has sent the UNO data on the use of banned PMF-1 by AFU. Dmitry Polyansky, Russia’s First Deputy Permanent Representative to the UNO, said in his Telegram channel that the UN Secretary General António Guterres and UN Security Council Chairman Zhang Jun had been sent information about the mines used by Ukrainian troops for civilian targets in Donbass using banned PMF-1 mines, with attached relevant photographic materials to it.

According to the report, the letter will be distributed as an official document of the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly.

4. Situation on the battlefields

As a result of Russian Aerospace Forces strike on combat positions of 54th Mechanized Brigade of AFU near Mar'inka in Donetsk People's Republic, more than 50 nationalists of 2nd Battalion of this unit have been destroyed.

High-precision weapons of the Russian Aerospace Forces struck on a temporary deployment point of the Ukrainian Foreign Legion near Nikolaev city. The attacks have resulted in the elimination of up to 250 nationalists and 20 units of military equipment. High-precision strikes of the Russian Aerospace Forces have eliminated up to 500 nationalists of 92nd Mechanised Brigade of AFU and large amount of military equipment in Merefa and Chuguyiv in Kharkov Region.

Shelling of combat positions of 16th Battalion of 58th AFU Motorized Infantry Brigade near Artemovsk have resulted in the elimination of over 130 nationalists. The remaining battalion servicemen, numbering up to 70, hurriedly left their positions and departed for Konotop, Sumy Region, where they were disarmed and declared deserters.

21st Battalion of 56th Motorized Infantry Brigade, which had suffered significant losses near Peski, came under artillery fire of AFU during its retreat to Vodyanoye and was almost completely eliminated.

Operational-tactical and army aviation, missile troops and artillery strikes continue against military facilities in Ukraine. Five command posts have been hit, including those of 36th Marine Brigade near Nikolaev, 92nd Mechanized Brigade near Tsyrkuny in Kharkov Region, as well as 142 areas of AFU manpower and military equipment concentration. Seven ammunition depots have been destroyed near Artemovsk, Kostantinovka, Ochertino in Donetsk People's Republic, Trudovoye in Zaporozhye Region and Nikolaev.

As part of counter-battery warfare two artillery batteries of Giatsint howitzers near Dzerzhinsk and Novhorodskoye, Donetsk People's Republic have been hit.

Four platoons of Grad MLRS and 9 artillery platoons at firing positions near Seversk, Kirovo, Artemovsk, Avdeevka, Peski, Orlovka, Shakhterskoye, Velikaya Novoselka in Donetsk People's Republic, Dobropolie in Zaporozhye Region, Shirokoye, Bereznevatoye in Nikolaev Region, Russkaya Lozovaya and Nortsovka in Kharkov Region.

Russian air defence means have shot down 5 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles near Moskalevka, Petropavlovka, Kopanki, Volkhov Yar in Kharkov Region and Sergeevka in Kherson Region. Two shells of Uragan multiple rocket launchers have also been intercepted near Kherson.

Meanwhile, Russia collected more than 52,000 tons of basic necessities, food and medicines have been prepared at the collection points.

Since March 2, 2022, 49,946.7 tons of humanitarian aid has already been delivered to Ukraine during 1,390 humanitarian actions have been carried out, including 5 actions in Kherson and Kharkov Regions, as well as in Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, during which 27.6 tons of basic necessities, medicines and food were transferred to the civilian population of the liberated areas.

5. Under the Istanbul food deal the first merchant ship left Odessa

On August 1, 2022, the first ship Razoni (flag of Sierra Leone, cargo - maize) departed from Odessa port to Tripoli port (Lebanon). The Russian Federation is taking a set of necessary measures to ensure the safety of civilian navigation and to prevent provocations along the crossing route.

The sea corridor through which Razoni is travelling is in the north-western part of the Black Sea. The control of the humanitarian operation for the departure of the first ship was planned with the active participation of Russian officers who are participating in the Joint Coordination Centre located in Istanbul.

The Russian Federation is taking a set of necessary measures to ensure the safety of civilian navigation and to prevent provocations along the crossing route. There also remains a danger to navigation and damage to port infrastructure from drifting Ukrainian mines off anchor along the coast of the Black Sea states.

The Russian Armed Forces have once again confirmed that two maritime humanitarian corridors, which are safe lanes for ships are still operational, including:

1)  in the Black Sea - to leave Kherson, Nikolaev, Chernomorsk, Ochakov, Odessa and Yuzhnyi ports in a south-westerly direction from Ukraine's territorial sea, 139 miles long and 3 miles wide;

2) in the Sea of Azov, to leave Mariupol port 115 miles long and 2 miles wide towards the Black Sea.

Detailed information in English and Russian on the modus operandi of the maritime humanitarian corridor is broadcast daily every 15 minutes on VHF radio on 14 and 16 international channels in English and Russian.

6. Ukrainian “Azov” nationalist group has been recognized as a terrorist faction

The Russian Supreme Court has designated the Ukrainian “Azov” nationalist battalion as a terrorist organization and outlawed its activities in Russia, TASS reported.

"To satisfy the administrative motion of the prosecutor general and to recognize the Ukrainian paramilitary unit “Azov” as a terrorist organization, banning its activities on the territory of the Russian Federation," the judge read out the decision.

The court announced only the operative part of the judgement. The ruling has not yet come into effect, and it may be appealed against in the Court of Appeal.

The suit was examined in the absence of representatives from the opposite side. Most of the hearing took place behind closed doors, journalists were only allowed to watch the broadcast at the stage of the examination of witnesses. The witnesses - Russian human rights activists and journalists, told the court about the numerous episodes of crimes committed by “Azov” militants. In the courtroom, they showed interviews with residents of Mariupol and Volnovakha, whose relatives had been killed, kidnapped, or tortured by militants from the “Azov” battalion.

Members of the organization recognized by the court as a terrorist organization are criminally liable. The founders and leaders are punished by 15 to 20 years in prison with a fine of up to 1 million rubles (over $16,500), while rank-and-file participants - from 5 to 10 years in jail with a fine of up to 500,000 rubles. Those who had voluntarily stopped participation in the activities of the organization before the investigation began, are exempt from criminal liability.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

August 3, 2022

On August 3^rd, 2022 Colonel General Alexander Fomin, Deputy Defence Minister, Russian MoD, addressed foreign military attachés accredited in Moscow. His statement was dealt with the humanitarian aspects of the Special Military Operation or SMO.

In particular, he briefed the foreign military diplomats on the efforts being made by the Russian Federation to observe the norms of international humanitarian law with regard to prisoners of war.

“Since the beginning of the special military operation in Ukraine, the Russian Federation has taken comprehensive measures to comply with international humanitarian law.

The relevant instructions to Russian servicemen were given by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu.

Alexander Fomin stated that the MoD work is based on the provisions of the 1949 Geneva Conventions, the Manual on International Humanitarian Law for the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, approved by order of the Russian Minister of Defence. The manual is a supplement to the statutory instruments and includes the main provisions of international humanitarian law, as well as recommendations for its application in the preparation for and during combat operations.

Painstaking efforts are being made to treat the detained Ukrainians in accordance with international humanitarian law, especially the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War.

Close contacts have been established with the relevant United Nations agencies and the International Committee of the Red Cross to provide humanitarian assistance to the population living in the territories liberated from the Ukrainian Nazis and also to work with prisoners of war.

In accordance with Article 122 of the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, the Russian Ministry of Defence formed a Reference Bureau for Prisoners of War in February this year. The Bureau transmits information on Ukrainian prisoners of war held by the Russian side to the ICRC.

Pursuant to Article 126 of the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, ICRC visits to places of detention are organised.

All detainees are treated in strict compliance with international humanitarian law: they are provided with decent living conditions, food standards in line with those of the Russian Armed Forces, and all necessary medical care, including complex high-tech operations using modern equipment.

In addition, in accordance with Article 71 of the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, all detainees are allowed to contact their relatives in Ukraine. Detainees make international phone calls and write letters to their home countries.

More than 1,500 such letters have been forwarded to Ukraine thanks to the ICRC's assistance.

Together with the UN and the ICRC, operations were successfully conducted in April-May 2022 to evacuate civilians from Azovstal plant and to withdraw AFU troops and “Azov” regiment fighters from this facility.

More than 3,000 people left Azovstal, including more than 2,400 servicemen of the Ukrainian armed forces and fighters from nationalist formations.

The operations were purely humanitarian in nature. Staff of international organisations confirmed the strict observance of international humanitarian law in their conduct.

The ICRC also facilitated a dialogue with Kiev on the exchange of prisoners of war and bodies of fallen servicemen. To date, 27 such actions have been carried out.

Pursuant to Article 112 of the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, the Russian Ministry of Defence has formed a permanent medical commission to examine sick and wounded prisoners of war and to take necessary decisions on them.

The Commission carries out its work in accordance with recommendations and principles drawn from the Geneva Convention.

The sick and wounded are examined and repatriated in a timely manner.

To date, 18 people have been handed over to the Ukrainian side following the commission's decisions.

The videos of torture and abuse posted on the Internet by the perpetrators of the horrific acts of violence against the captured servicemen of the Russian Armed Forces and DPR and LPR are widely known. There have been numerous cases of beatings, deliberate maiming, extrajudicial killings and failure to provide medical care to Russian servicemen.

In addition, Ukrainian Nazis exert psychological pressure on relatives of detained servicemen and extort money from them.

Alexander Fomin shared some statistics summarized from a survey of Russian, DPR and LPR military personnel released from captivity.

81% of servicemen were beaten and physically abused.

55% of servicemen were forcibly involved in filming propaganda videos and videoconferences.

46% of servicewomen did not receive medical treatment.

79% of servicemen were not given the opportunity to contact their relatives.

19% of soldiers were provided with inadequate or poor quality food. For example, at the SSU detention facility in Kiev, food was provided once a day: a piece of bread, 50 grams of porridge and a glass of water. The soldiers were wearing masks covering their eyes at all times.

All these facts are regularly reported to the relevant humanitarian agencies with a request to influence official Kiev.

However, Russian MoD continues to record cases of violations of international humanitarian law, obligations under international conventions and rules of war by the Ukrainian military.

AFU uses civilians as human shields and places heavy weapons in densely populated areas at social facilities, medical institutions and cultural heritage sites.

The shelling of residential areas in DPR and LPR, including with Western-made weapons, continues unabated.

Anti-personnel mines and booby traps prohibited by the 1997 Ottawa Convention are used against civilians, and cluster munitions are also used.

And this is despite Kiev's claims of alleged compliance with its international obligations under the Convention.

With the patronage of the West, the Kiev authorities do not limit themselves by any moral or legal standards. On a daily basis, members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and nationalist battalions commit crimes that are not properly appreciated by the international community.

The shelling of markets, train stations, residential areas, humanitarian aid distribution points and other crowded places continues in Donetsk, Yasinovataya, Gorlovka, Makeevka, Svyatogorsk and many other settlements and towns in Donbass.

At the same time, a lot of falsified information is being posted on the Internet about alleged crimes committed by servicemen of the Russian Armed Forces.

Such connivance on the part of the international community, as well as the Ukrainian authorities' desire to hide their crimes, in our opinion, led to the tragedy in Elenovka, where Ukrainian armed forces shelled a place where Ukrainian prisoners of war were held.

On July 29, 2022, at 00:20AM Ukrainian Armed Forces deliberately struck the temporary detention centre in Elenovka in Donetsk People's Republic (Correctional Colony 120, located 12 km south of Donetsk city) with a US-made HIMARS MLRS.

At the time of the strike, the detention centre was holding prisoners of war, including surrendered “Azov” fighters.

There were 193 people in the block that was hit. Most of them were members of the “Azov” regiment. The shelling killed 50 and injured 73 POWs. Eight staff members of the detention centre were also injured.

The direction of the roof rupture and the focus of the fire directly indicate that the impact was from the northwest direction. The strike came from Maryinka - Kurakhovo - Sergeyevka - Pokrovsk - Udachnoye direction.

The photo shows the distinctive fragments of the rocket that struck the building with “Azov” fighters - they are fragments of the US rocket launcher HIMARS.

Alexander Fomin draw attention of the audience to the analysis of the chronology of events:

On May 20, 2022, surrendered members of “Azov” Nationalist Regiment were taken to the detention centre in Elenovka. The Ukrainian side insisted on this particular place of detention. On July 28, 2022, a video confession of “Azov” crimes by Dmitriy Kozatskyi was published.

As a result, on the night of July 28-29, 2022, an attack was carried out on detention centre in Elenovka.

The speaker acquainted the participants in the briefing with the statements of Ukrainian servicemen who were held in detention centre in Elenovka.

A large number of Ukrainian soldiers are now voluntarily laying down their arms, knowing the humane treatment of prisoners of war on the Russian side. The provocation in Elenovka is intended to intimidate AFU soldiers and is an attempt to counter their surrender.

It is an established practice that the Ukrainian authorities, without citing any evidence, try to shift the responsibility for the deaths of Ukrainian prisoners of war onto the Russian Federation.

Unfortunately, the chorus of unsubstantiated accusations against us is increasingly being joined by representatives of the Western leadership.

Pentagon website posted a statement from a senior US Department of Defense official that quote, "if it did happen to be a Ukrainian strike, they didn't mean to do it..." end of quote. We regard this statement as a clumsy attempt to justify the Kiev regime's provocation.

The US claims that HIMARS are highly accurate and hit exactly the targets they were aimed at.

At the same time, Kiev stresses that the AFU actively uses space and aerial reconnaissance data received from the US Armed Forces and their allies in planning fire strikes, while US representatives are preparing firing missions. The totality of these facts only confirms the guilt of the Kiev regime for the murder of its citizens.

To conclude the briefing, Deputy Defence Minister mentioned once again the reasons why the Ukrainian Armed Forces struck at detention centre in Elenovka.

Zelensky advocates for a unified assessment from the Western community that coincides with the Ukrainian interpretation of these events, blaming the Russian side for the strike on Elenovka.

As for the objectives of the Special Military Operation, they will be met in full, Colonel General Alexander Fomin concluded.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

August 4,2022

On August 4^th, 2022 Russian MoD publicly announced at a special briefing the results of the analysis of documents related to illegal military biological activities of the USA in Ukraine

The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation continues to analyse the military and biological activities of the USA and its allies in Ukraine and elsewhere in the world in the light of new information obtained in the liberated territories.

Work continues on the study of biological samples from Ukrainian soldiers who have voluntarily laid down their arms. As we noted earlier, high concentrations of antibiotics were found in their blood, as well as immunological markers indicative of exposure to the renal syndrome and West Nile pathogens, which were being studied by the Pentagon as part of the Ukrainian UP-4 and UP-8 projects.

Particular attention should be paid to the discovery of narcotic drugs, including opioids such as methadone, codepsin, codeterp, as well as ephedrine-type substances: t-phedrine and tri-phedrine, at positions abandoned by Ukrainian military personnel.

The synthetic drug methadone is used in the treatment of drug addiction as a substitute therapy.

As a reminder, in Nazi Germany during World War II, especially between 1943 and 1945, pervitin tablets, an amphetamine derivative, were given to soldiers in order to reduce the psycho-emotional burden, primarily to SS troops.

The drug was also used en masse by US troops in the Korean and Vietnam wars.

A side effect of such addictive drugs is primarily excessive aggression, which explains the extreme cruelty towards civilians displayed by some Ukrainian servicemen, as well as the shelling of towns in Donbass.

In view of the available information on the use of potent stimulants by AFU servicemen, we are studying incoming samples for the presence of this class of compounds. Their traces persist in human organs and tissues for a long time (e.g., in hair - up to six months).

The results will be handed over to the Investigative Committee and used as evidence in investigations into war crimes committed by the Kiev regime.

A few weeks ago, during the Special Military Operation, Rubezhnoye in Lugansk People's Republic was liberated. Documents have been found in the laboratory of the Pharmbiotest medical centre located at 9 Pochaivska Street, confirming that research had been carried out in Ukraine for several years on behalf of the so-called Big Pharma. Clinical trials of unregistered drugs with potentially serious side-effects have been carried out on local residents.

Russia examined the premises of the centre responsible for clinical trials of medicinal products on volunteers. Evidence was found in them that Western customers regularly visited Pharmbiotest and were allowed access to all stages of the research process. For the convenience of their work, the inscriptions on equipment, room names and working documentation have been duplicated in English.

To avoid reputational risks and legal costs in case of failed trials of new drugs, US and European companies conducted clinical trials on Ukrainian citizens. Volunteer pay was minimal and fatalities could easily be concealed. Neither have there been any serious inspections or oversight by the local authorities.

This is in line with the Western concept of delocalising the most internationally controversial research. In Ukraine, military personnel, low-income citizens and one of the most vulnerable categories of the population, patients in psychiatric hospitals, have been used for this purpose.

Russian MoD continues to analyse the documentary material uncovered in Rubezhnoye settlement laboratory.

Against the background of the US administration's assurances that the genetic information obtained from Ukrainian citizens will be used "...exclusively for peaceful purposes...", I would like to quote a statement by Jason Crow of the US House Intelligence Committee at the North American Security Conference in July 2022.

Crow warned Americans about the dangers of giving their DNA to private companies for testing because: "...there is a possibility that test results will be sold to third parties... and the information obtained could be used to develop biological weapons targeting specific groups... or individuals."

Given the US administration's interest in the study of "narrowly targeted" biological agents, such statements force a fresh look at the causes of the new coronavirus pandemic and the role of US military biologists in the emergence and spread of the COVID-19 pathogen.

In May 2022, Jeffrey Sachs - a leading expert in the respected medical journal The Lancet and professor at Columbia University, the leading academic institution for global biosecurity, told a conference in Spain that "...the coronavirus was artificially created and is very likely to have been created using American advances in biotechnology...".

According to our experts, this is evidenced by the uncharacteristic variability of the genovariants that cause different peaks in the incidence of coronaviruses, significant differences in lethality and contagiousness, uneven geographical distribution, and the unpredictable nature of the epidemic process as a whole. It appears that despite efforts to contain and isolate the disease, the pandemic is being artificially fuelled by the introduction of new variants of the virus in a particular region.

Since 2009, the agency has funded the Predict programme, which has investigated new species of coronaviruses by capturing bats that carry the viruses. One of the contractors for the project was Metabiota, a company known for its military-biological activities in Ukraine.

Characteristically, in 2019 – before the first COVID-19 cases appeared – the US Johns Hopkins Institute hosted an exercise called 'Event-201', which practised dealing with an epidemic of a previously unknown coronavirus, which, according to the legend of the exercise, was transmitted from bats to humans via an intermediate host, namely pigs. This is how the 'Spanish flu' virus, which has killed tens of millions of people, became pandemic.

The implementation of the COVID-19 scenario and USAID's emergency wind-down of the Predict programme in 2019 suggest the deliberate nature of the pandemic and US involvement in its emergence.

Note the letter from the head of the AFU Sanitary and Epidemiological Department to the director of Labyrinth Ukraine, Karen Saylors. In it, the Ukrainian Armed Forces command declares its readiness to cooperate with USAID on administering vaccines to military personnel and on collecting, processing and transmitting information of interest to the US side.

The choice of the US Agency for International Development to coordinate the work may have been prompted by increasing Russian concern over the activities of Ukrainian bio-laboratories, an attempt to "take the US defence agency out of the loop" and avoid accusations of developing biological weapons. It has been established that Labyrinth Ukraine is a division of the US company Labyrinth Global Health, and its founders are former employees of Metabiota, a key Pentagon contractor in the military-biological field.

 Labyrinth Ukraine took part in UP-9 and UP-10 projects, which studied the spread of African swine fever in Ukraine and Eastern Europe.

Russian MoD pointed out that as part of the US Department of Defense's biological threat reduction programme, one of Labyrinth Global Health's research areas has been the study of coronaviruses and monkeypox virus.

On July 23, 2022 the World Health Organisation declared the outbreak of monkeypox an international health emergency, and to date the disease has been reported in 76 countries, with over 26,000 cases.

Thus, it is a clear trend: infectious disease agents that reach the Pentagon's zone of interest are subsequently pandemic, with US pharmaceutical companies and their patrons, the leaders of the US Democratic Party, as the beneficiaries.

Russia MoD has previously documented the use of biological weapons by the United States in Cuba. It was about the deliberate spread of Dengue, African swine fever and diseases of economically important crops on the island. I would like to give another example from the US military biology dossier.

In 1997, the Cuban government brought to the attention of the world community the fact that the United States had violated the requirements of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention. The charge was based on the testimony of a Cuban pilot who recorded the spraying from a US aircraft of a quarantine biological agent, the palm thrips, which could damage one of Cuba's key agricultural industries.

Although it was possible to initiate an extraordinary meeting of BWC States Parties on this issue, the incident was not investigated due to the lack of a Convention verification mechanism, which the Russian Federation insists on establishing.

Such impunity has contributed to the continued use of bioweapons technology by Washington in Latin America, including the assassination of undesirable politicians.

On July 18, 2022, the President of the Republic of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, publicly declared the involvement of the United States in the assassination of former head of state Hugo Chávez.

According to information available to Venezuela, U.S. security services have been working since 2002 on possible ways to eliminate the Venezuelan leader, who has pursued an active anti-American policy. Numerous assassination attempts involving members of the US embassy in Caracas were uncovered and thwarted.

In violation of international law, the United States has been involved in the development of drugs that, when administered in the short term, cause chronic disease and develop various forms of cancer. According to the Venezuelan side, a similar drug was used to poison Chávez by Claudio Díaz, a member of the presidential entourage. She fled Venezuela with the assistance of US intelligence agencies and was subsequently removed to the US to avoid possible publicity about the details of her cooperation with US intelligence agencies.

A causal link between the Venezuelan leader's death and the development of biological weapons is confirmed by forensic evidence and the testimony of Cuban doctors who treated Chavez about the atypical course of the disease and its resistance to the use of medicines.

Mass demonstrations against Pentagon-funded biolaboratories have taken place in a number of countries around the world. The Eurasian Economic Union's civil society organisations have passed a resolution to close such biosites.

In this context, Russian MoD is already seeing a change in the approach of the US military's work in the biological field in other countries. For example, states in which the US conducts dual-targeted research have been asked to sign a collective statement of cooperation with the US solely to "...enhance global health security and reduce the impact of infectious diseases on populations...". It is the word "global" and the rest of the text that draws attention: "led by the United States".

However, additional funding will be available through the Biohazard Reduction Programme for countries loyal to the US initiative.

The Russian Ministry of Defence will continue to analyse the documentary evidence of the US bioweapons programme in Ukraine and will keep you informed of the results.

  *   *   *

The State Duma does not expect the truth from the United States about the appearance of the coronavirus, but Duma believes that it is high time for WHO to take care of the secrets and scale of American military biolabs, said Irina Yarovaya, Vice Speaker of the State Duma (“United Russia” faction), co-chair of the Parliamentary Commission investigating the activities of the U.S. biological laboratories in Ukraine. "The Ministry of Defense presented serious facts. It would be wrong to ignore them," she underscored publicly on August 4^th,2022.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

August 6, 2022

1. Moscow: Ukraine risking another Chernobyl by hitting its NPP

Russia has urged the UN and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to make Ukraine stop the “shelling” of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant (NPP) in Zaporozhye. Moscow accused Ukrainian troops of firing artillery shells at the Zaporozhskaya NPP in the country’s southern Zaporozhye Region on August 4.

The plant was seized by Russian forces in late February, when Moscow launched its Special Military Operation (SMO) in the neighboring country. The facility continues to operate with Ukrainian staff under Russian control.

Igor Vishnevetsky, a senior non-proliferation and arms control official at the Russian Foreign Ministry, warned that the shelling of the plant risks triggering an event similar to the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster caused by Ukrainian operators at the plant. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, “parts of the equipment” at the plant are out of power due to the shelling, and a fire broke out at the facility and was quickly put out. The ministry claimed that “by sheer luck,” the Ukrainian shells did not cause a bigger fire and “a possible nuclear disaster.”

The ministry said that Ukrainian troops also shelled the adjacent city of Energodar, causing power outages and disruptions of water supply.

“We would like to appeal to international organizations, especially to the UN and the IAEA, as well as to the countries that have influence on the Kiev regime, so they would take action in order to make the shelling of the nuclear power plant stop immediately”, Russian diplomat said.

In order to prevent the IAEA officials to visit the Zaporozhskaya NPP with inspection President Zelensky ordered to shell this NPP several times.

2. Humanitarian situation

Russian MoD continues to record numerous facts of criminal actions by Kiev regime against civilians, as well as the use of social infrastructure for military purposes by Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU):

a) in Novaya Vodolaga, Kharkov Region, AFU stronghold have equipped in the building of Lyceum No. 3 (Grigoriya Donets Street), with roadblocks and firing points set up on the approaches to the educational institution, while no local residents were evacuated from nearby residential buildings;

b) in Slavyansk, Donetsk People's Republic, Ukrainian armed formations have equipped firing positions and sniper points in the training buildings and dormitory of a technical college (Tsentralnaya Street), and neo-Nazis are holding residents of nearby houses in the premises, using them as human shields;

c) in Varvarovka, Nikolaev Region, territorial defence units are stationed at the children's music school (Odessa highway), an ammunition warehouse has been set up and the approaches to the school have been mined, but the population has not been deliberately informed of this.

In addition, in Seversk (Yamskaya Street) and Soledar (Svobody Street), Donetsk People's Republic, Ukrainian nationalists have equipped firing positions with heavy artillery and MLRS in private households, from which they systematically shell units of the Russian Armed Forces in order to provoke retaliatory fire. The Kiev authorities plan to use these cynical provocations in the near future to accuse Russian servicemen of allegedly indiscriminate strikes against civilians, followed by extensive coverage in the Ukrainian and Western media.

Such actions by criminal Ukrainian authorities demonstrate complete indifference to the fate of their own citizens and absolute disregard for all norms of morality and the principles of international humanitarian law.

3. Reconstruction in liberated areas

The Military Construction Complex of the Russian MoD continues to build and reconstruct vital facilities aimed at restoring of the infrastructure social facilities in Donbass:

A) in Donetsk People's Republic:

in Mariupol: the first phase of residential district (12 residential buildings with 1,011 flats, scheduled for completion in September-November 2022) and an administrative and rescue centre for EMERCOM (scheduled for completion in December 2022); 60-bed multi-purpose medical centre (scheduled for completion in September 2022); pathologoanatomic building with medical-forensic unit (scheduled for completion in October 2022); Saur-Mogila memorial complex (scheduled for completion in September 2022); in Volnovakha - water pipeline over 20 km long (scheduled for completion in September 2022).

B) in Lugansk People's Republic:

in Lugansk: 200-bed multi-purpose medical centre (scheduled for completion in October 2022); in Rovenki - water pipeline over 40 km long (scheduled for completion in October 2022).

4. Distribution of humanitarian aid

For a great part of Ukrainians, effectively betrayed by their own criminal authorities, Russian humanitarian aid remains the only way to survive many civilians.

More than 53,000 tons of basic necessities, food and medicines have been prepared at the collection points.

Since March 2, 2022, 51,100 tons of humanitarian cargo have already been delivered to Ukraine, 1,404 humanitarian actions have been carried out, including 3 actions in Kherson and Kharkov regions, as well as in Donetsk People's Republic, during which 141.3 tons of basic necessities, medicines and food were transferred to the civilian population of the liberated areas.

5. Implementation of the Istanbul food delivery deal by sea

The Panama-flagged ship Navistar, carrying around 33,000 tons of Ukrainian corn to Ireland, has reached Turkey’s Bosphorus Strait and dropped anchor in Istanbul, the Turkish Defense Ministry confirmed in a tweet on August 5.

The vessel is now expected to undergo an inspection by the members of the Joint Coordination Center before proceeding to its destination, the ministry said, adding that the check is due to take place within “hours.” The inspection group will include officials from Turkey, Russia, Ukraine and the UN, the Turkish media said.

The Navistar left the port of Odessa on August 4 under a deal negotiated by Ukraine and Russia and mediated by Turkey and the UNO last month. Two other ships – the Maltese-flagged Rojen and the Turkish-flagged Polarnet – left the Ukrainian port of Chernomorsk on the same day.

The Rojen is transporting about 13,000 tons of corn to Ireland, while the Polarnet will be bringing around 12,000 tons of the same commodity to the Turkish port of Karasu. Both ships have already entered Turkish territorial waters, according to some media reports, and are expected to arrive at Bosporus shortly.

The Russian Armed Forces have created conditions for the operation of two maritime humanitarian corridors, which are safe lanes for ships:

1) in the Black Sea - to leave Kherson, Nikolaev, Chernomorsk, Ochakov, Odessa and Yuzhnyi ports in a south-westerly direction from Ukraine's territorial sea, 139 miles long and 3 miles wide;

2) in the Sea of Azov, to leave Mariupol port 115 miles long and 2 miles wide towards the Black Sea.

6. Kiev has no desire to continue talks with Moscow

Ukraine is not ready for serious negotiations on the settlement, the conditions put forward by it are ridiculous. This was announced on August 5, by Dmitry Polyansky, First Deputy Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the UNO. Kiev interrupted the talks with Moscow since the end of March 2022.

“As for the peace talks, Ukraine does not show any signs of a responsible position. They have some demands that cannot be put on the table in serious negotiations. Therefore, we have not yet come to this. Ukraine only makes political statements that it is theoretically ready for negotiations with Russia. But they are ready to negotiate if Russia withdraws its troops, even from Donbass and Crimea, which is simply ridiculous. So, we don’t have a realistic partner yet, so the special military operation continues,” Polyansky clarified.

7. Kiev still violates international laws

Agnes Callamard, Amnesty International Secretary General, has defended Amnesty International’s report on violations of international law by the AFU.

Recall that human rights activists have stated, the deployment of Ukrainian troops in schools and hospitals. Callamard noted that there had been documented strikes by the Ukrainian military from residential buildings in 19 cities.

Following this, Amnesty International was criticised by many in the West, with Zelensky saying the organisation was trying to “shift the blame onto the victim”.

“The conclusions were based on evidence gathered through extensive investigations that were conducted in accordance with strict standards and procedures,” Callamard’s response was quoted by RIA Novosti.

8. Developments of the situation on the battlefields

The Ukrainian side continues to terrorize the civilian population of the DPR by launching massive artillery strikes on residential areas and civilian infrastructure facilities, which never posed any danger to the enemy and are not considered as military facilities.

Over the past 24 hours, according to the JCCC of the DPR, AFU fired 434 shells from Uragan and Grad MLRS of 155mm, 152mm and 122mm artillery, as well as 120mm mortars.

The shelling took place in the areas of eleven settlements in the DPR.

As a result of the shelling, six civilians were killed and thirty were wounded.

Thirty-eight residential houses and eleven civilian infrastructure objects were damaged.

Kiev still uses prohibited mimes against civilians. According to the JCCC, as of 08:35AM, two rockets from Ukrainian Uragan MLRS with Lepestok PFM-1 anti-personnel mines (APM), as well as 20 rockets from Grad MLRS rocket launchers were fired at the Kirovsky district of the DPR capital.

By August 6, totally 19 civilians have been injured by stepping on such highly dangerous mines. One of the them has died of heavy wounds.

As a result of shelling by AFU, a civilian was killed in Kirovskyy district of Donetsk. A garage on Shmidta Lane was also reported to have caught fire. On Mudrova Street, a direct strike hit to a house.

From 08:00AM on 2 August to 08:00AM on 3 August – two people were killed and 25 more civilians were wounded as a result of shelling in the territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic.

On the other hand, the Russian Armed Forces continue strikes against military facilities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces using information received from intelligence and special purpose units.

A platoon of flamethrowers has been tasked with destroying Ukrainian armed forces' strongholds on the path of Russian armoured vehicles in the Special Military Operation zone. The modern Schmel-M mobile infantry flamethrower has a significant range and high power. It is designed to destroy the enemy's manpower, which is located primarily in various kinds of buildings and protective structures, to disable automobiles and lightly armoured vehicles, to destroy fortified objects, ground or semi-buried structures erected from stone, brick or concrete.

Data released on August 4:

As a result of high-precision strikes of the Russian Aerospace Forces on positions of the 92nd Mechanized Brigade near Kharkov, up to 130 servicemen and 13 armoured vehicles have been destroyed.

Temporary deployment point of units of the 95th Airborne Assault Brigade near Konstantinovka, Donetsk People's Republic, has been hit. The attacks have resulted in the elimination of up to 400 nationalists and 20 units of military equipment.

As a result of active offensive by Russian troops and DPR and LPR people's militias near Soledar, Artemovsk and Avdeevka in Donetsk People's Republic, units of 54th Mechanized, 56th and 58th Mechanized Infantry brigades of AFU, having lost their combat efficiency due to heavy losses, abandoned their positions.

Operational-tactical and army aviation, missile troops and artillery strikes continue against military facilities in Ukraine.

Two command posts, including those of the 95th Airborne Assault Brigade near Konstantinovka in Donetsk People's Republic and nationalist formations near Ternovatoye in Zaporozhye Region, as well as 194 areas of AFU manpower and military equipment concentration have been hit.

Two missile and artillery ammunition depots near Novoivanovka, Zaporozhye Region, and 1 fuel storage facility for Ukrainian military equipment near Zaporozhye-2 railway station have been destroyed.

Three platoons of Grad MLRS, 4 platoons of Gvozdika guns and 3 platoons of D-30 howitzers at firing positions near Lastochkino, Petrovskoye and Avdeevka of Donetsk People's Republic have been suppressed as part of the counter-battery warfare.

Russian air defence means have shot down 4 unmanned aerial vehicles near Andreevka, Druzhnoye in Donetsk People's Republic and Izyum and Dmitrovka in Kharkov Region.

In addition, 5 shells of multiple-launch rocket systems have been intercepted near Druzhnoye, Donetsk People's Republic, and Solnechnoye and Muzykovka, Kherson Region.

Data released on August 5:

High-precision air-based missiles of the Russian Aerospace Forces have struck temporary deployment point of two howitzer artillery divisions of 44th Artillery Brigade of AFU and missile and artillery weapons depots near Novoivanovka, Zaporozhye Region.

Up to 150 servicemen, 2 American M777 howitzers and up to 1,500 rounds of ammunition, 6 Msta-B howitzers, 8 artillery mounts of various modifications, around 350 shells for Grad MLRS and seven unmanned aerial vehicles have been destroyed.

9 locals have been injured in a conflict with unit commanders of 92nd Mechanised Brigade of AFU In Kharkov Region.

The compound's command attempted to evict civilians from their homes in order to house foreign mercenaries, as well as equip military and artillery positions.

Nationalists and foreign mercenaries opened fire to suppress the protests, leaving 4 local residents in Shestakovo and 5 in Verkhnyi Saltov with gunshot wounds of varying degrees of severity.

Operational-tactical and army aviation, missile troops and artillery strikes continue against military facilities in Ukraine.

4 command posts have been hit, including those of the 58th Motorized Infantry Brigade near Artemivsk, the 54th Mechanized Brigade near Seversk in Donetsk People's Republic, a temporary nationalist formation deployment point near Vyvodovo in Dnepropetrovsk Region, as well as 182 areas of AFU personnel and military equipment concentration.

2 missile and artillery weapons and ammunition depots have been destroyed near Artemovsk in Donetsk People's Republic.

During counter-battery warfare, 3 platoons of D-30 howitzers and 1 platoon of Grad MLRS near Chuguyev, Kharkov Region, have been suppressed at firing positions near Dzerzhinsk, Novgorodskoye and Nikolaevka in Donetsk People's Republic.

Russian air defence means have shot down 5 unmanned aerial vehicles near Yasinovataya, Krasnopolye in Donetsk People's Republic, Bukino, Suligovka and Kurilovka in Kharkov Region.

In addition, 3 shells of MLRS  have been intercepted near Mineralnoye in Donetsk People's Republic and Izyum in Kharkov Region, and 3 Tochka-U ballistic missiles have been shot down near Aleshkovskyi Peski in Kherson Region.

In total, 261 Ukrainian airplanes and 145 helicopters, 1,685 unmanned aerial vehicles, 361 anti-aircraft missile systems, 4,254 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 789 multiple launch rocket systems, 3,267 field artillery and mortars, as well as 4,716 special military vehicles were destroyed during the SMO.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

August 7, 2022

1. What are they?

On August 4, the international human rights organization Amnesty International published a report on Ukraine's violation of the laws of warfare and international humanitarian law, in which it said that the Ukrainian military is deploying military equipment and weapons in schools, hospitals and residential areas, turning them into military strongholds. Secretary General of the organization Agnes Callamard emphasized: "We have documented that the Armed Forces of Ukraine put civilians in a risky position and violated the laws of war during actions in crowded places."

The report also noted the absence of any actions by Kiev to organize the evacuation of civilians from the areas where combat operations are underway. The conclusions set out in the document are based on data obtained during visits by human rights defenders to settlements in the south-east of Ukraine, namely Kharkiv Region and Odessa.

Amnesty International has a lot of weight in the international arena and has proven itself by publishing impartial and reliable reports, the content of which is taken into account even by the governments of European states. For drawing attention to human rights violations and activities aimed at no compliance with international standards, the organization was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, as well as the UN Prize in the field of human rights.

On July 29, Amnesty International leaders sent a letter to the Government of Ukraine listing numerous Ukrainian cities and villages where described violations were documented and provided GPS coordinates of 24 places, including schools and hospitals, where Ukrainian soldiers were stationed. Amnesty International waited for the answer by August 3^rd, 2022. But there was no response from Kiev at all. On the contrary, on the day of the publication of the report, almost all Ukrainian officials hastened to make unfounded denials. The voiced statements, filled only with slogans about the inadmissibility of criticizing the "victim" and the need to concentrate efforts on the accusations of the "aggressor", completely lacked any facts.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Kuleba on his Facebook page saw in "such behavior" a kind of "false equivalence". Advisor to the Office of the President of Ukraine Podolyak on Twitter branded Amnesty International disgrace for "participating in the Russian disinformation and propaganda campaign." The Minister of Defense of Ukraine Alexey Reznikov in an interview with a journalist of the American media organization "Politico" accused the drafters of the report, in his opinion, aimed at undermining his personal authority in the "loss of adequacy". President of Ukraine Zelensky also found no weighty arguments and regarded the report as an attempt to "shift responsibility from the aggressor to the victim."

The head of Amnesty International in Ukraine Oksana Pokalchuk, who was forced to leave her post on August 5, said on social networks that the data used was obtained not from the branch she heads, but from international researchers. A Facebook post written to her confirmed that the arguments of the Ukrainian office, "which was not involved in the preparation or writing of the publication text," were not based on an analysis of the reliability of the data used, but were reduced only to "the inadmissibility of such material."

In turn, American human rights activist Ajamu Baraka said that Amnesty International had exposed "the lies of President of Ukraine V. Zelensky, who suppressed the obvious facts of war crimes of Ukrainian troops." In addition, readers of the British edition of the Daily Mail were shocked by the data provided in the report. In the comments they left, they noted that the Ukrainian authorities purposefully lead their people to slaughter and accused V. Zelensky of destroying the country under the guise of allegedly helping citizens of Ukraine. Visitors to the website of the French newspaper Le Figaro also accused the head of Ukraine of a lack of desire to resolve the crisis and noted the validity of the statements of the authors of the report.

During a Special Military Operation, the Russian Defense Ministry has repeatedly accused the Armed Forces of Ukraine for using residential and social facilities to house troops and equipment.

For example, on August 4, the Russian MoD reported that the Ukrainian military used a school in Novaya Vodolaga, Kharkov Region, a technical school in Slavyansk, Donetsk People's Republic, a children's music school in Varvarovka, Nikolaev Region [see please Report # 117 dated August 6]. Official representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation also cited numerous proofs of the use of "human shield" tactics by Ukrainian Armed Forces.

In many Reports issued so far, such facts have been cataloged to a great extent.

Despite the abundance of facts and collected evidence, the Kiev regime,

 which is in the current illusion of impunity, obviously does not intend

 to recognize its war crimes already recorded at the international level many times.

2. Kiev intended to create the next Chernobyl disaster

In addition to Report # 117 released on August 6, 2022 there is a need to add it with some more information.

On August 5, one of the units of the 45th Artillery Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine carried out three artillery strikes on the territory of the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant and the city of Energodar situated not far away from it. The strikes were carried out from firing positions near the village of Marganets, located on the Ukrainian army-controlled shore of the Kakhovsky Water Reservoir.

Zaporozhye NPP is the largest nuclear power facility in Europe

As a result of the shelling, a flare-up of hydrogen occurred at the corresponding substation of the NPP, part of the equipment of Power Unit No. 3 was de-energized, the generated capacity of Power Unit No. 4 was reduced, electricity and water supply to the districts of the city of Energodar has been partially cut off. The fire at the station was promptly eliminated by emergency services. In the immediate vicinity of the places of fall of the Ukrainian shells there is an oil-fuel economy and an oxygen substation, in case of falling into which a powerful explosion and a large fire should be expected.

I. Vishnevetsky, Deputy Director of the Department for Nonproliferation and Arms Control of the Russian Foreign Ministry, commenting on the criminal incident of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, announced the intention of the Russian Federation to resume the activities of the IAEA to inspect the Zaporozhye NPP. However, the UN Secretariat, following the line of Ukrainian propagandists carried out in the Western media, at the very last moment cancelled a carefully worked-out trip.

Earlier, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the Director General of the IAEA, Mariano Grossi, informed the world community about the blocking by the Ukrainian side of the permission for the admission of representatives of the organization headed by him to the NPP. On the contrary, the Russian Federation, after establishing control over Energodar, has repeatedly reported its readiness to receive an international inspection.

It is no coincidence that this cynical provocation was carried out by the Kiev regime simultaneously with the holding in New York, under the auspices of the United Nations, of an international Review Conference on the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

Earlier, the territory of the Zaporozhye NPP had already become the target of the APU, which struck using unmanned aerial vehicles. The deployment of electronic warfare systems of the Russian Armed Forces at the facility made it impossible to use UAVs, which prompted the Ukrainian military to use less accurate, but more destructive artillery. Zelensky's team is once again trying to present the strikes allegedly carried out by the actions of the Russian army, which controls the nuclear power facility.

Such provocations at potentially dangerous facilities arranged by the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been carried out regularly by order from Kiev.

Such provocations have been implemented both at NPP and at other industrial enterprises.

E.g. on March 9, 2022 Ukrainian artillery damaged the power supply system of the Chernobyl NPP, which led to its complete de-energization. On April 5, Ukrainian units retreating from Rubezhny blew up a tank with hydrochloric acid on the territory of the “Zarya” industrial enterprise. On May 31, Ukrainian nationalist formations, leaving the territory of the “Azov” plant in Severodonetsk, ignoring the danger of hitting the local population, detonated a tank with nitric acid.

The Kiev regime, anticipating huge financial injections from the United States and Europe, despite the deadly danger both for its own population and for European states, continues to commit high-profile crimes and accuse the Russian side of them. Zelensky's team is carrying out acts of nuclear terrorism, which require immediate condemnation by international organizations and the adoption of productive measures to prevent further criminal actions that could lead to a catastrophe on a pan-European scale.

Only unprofessional “experts” in the West not familiar with the global history of attacking NPP and factories producing various dangerous chemical substances can claim that Russia allegedly attacked them.

But such “experts” do not know that there are no such facts recorded so far due to their non-professionalism and ignorance.

On the other hand, the current failed and ultra nationalist Kiev regime has made several attempts to destroy such facilities and create very dangerous situation in Ukraine and in Europe with the help of blackmail.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

August 9, 2022

1. For attacking ZNPP Zelensky should be sacked and imprisoned as inadequate and mentally ill person

For direct orders to destroy Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) by weapons inadequate Ukrainian president Zelensky should be sacked and sent to prison for indefinite term for endangering security in Europe in the form of nuclear terrorism.

Recently Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) made three attempts to hit and destroy the most important sections of the ZNPP, namely its six nuclear reactors that are still operating or cooling system that could lead to melting these reactors or the storage for containing spent nuclear fuel. The latest three attempts happened on July 20^th, and continued on August 5^th and 7^th, 2022. This NPP is the largest in Europe. It generates 20% of all electricity produced in Ukraine and 50% of all electricity generated by all Ukrainian NPP.

On August 7, Zelensky regime committed a new act of nuclear terrorism at the energy infrastructure of Zaporozhye NPP to create a humanitarian disaster in Kherson and Zaporozhye Regions.

At around 12:40PM on August 7^th Ukrainian units of the 44th Artillery Brigade shelled the ZNPP from near Marganets controlled by AFU, on the opposite bank of Kakhovka Water Reservoir. Ukrainian shelling damaged Kakhovskaya high-voltage line, which supply electricity to Zaporozhye and Kherson Regions.

A power surge occurred at Zaporozhye NPP, causing smoke in the plant's open switchgear. The safety system was also activated, cutting off the power supply. Fire crews arrived and the smoke was extinguished.

The capacity of nuclear reactors ## 5 and 6 was reduced to 500 MW each that is  twice as less of the output of their total power by plant technicians to prevent disruption of the activity of this NPP.

Such actions performed by Kiev ultra-nationalist regime show that Zelensky and his team lost any reason and wisdom, and make many millions of Europeans as hostages of their nuclear terrorism and blackmail.

According to Russian estimates, the vast territory in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova and Turkey plus the entire Black Sea will be radioactively contaminated, if Zelensky widely supported by the USA and NATO will explode the ZNPP. 

The potential disaster at the ZNPP will be much more dangerous that those that happened in Chernobyl NPP built in Ukraine and Fukushima NPP located in Japan.

It is widely known that before the Special Military Operation that started since February 24, 2022 Zelensky urged to create ‘a dirty nuclear bomb’ to be used against Donbass, but failed. He is a real mad man and should spent many decades behind the bars rather than getting huge economic and military aid from the USA and NATO countries.

Only the USA has delivered long-range weapons and other military equipment to a failed and uncapable Ukrainian regime 18 times since Joseph Biden became the U.S. president. Such aid amounted to $ 9.8 billion from January 2021 till nowadays, and totally 11.8 from 2014 till August 8, 2022.

The world community should not sit idle, and watch peacefully such gloomy developments like hitting Ukrainian NPP many times by Ukrainian Armed Forces.

2. Kiev again uses civilians as a human shield

Russian Armed Forces continue to record numerous facts of criminal actions by Kiev regime against civilians, as well as the use of civilian infrastructure for military purposes by Ukrainian armed formations:

a) in Krasnotorka, Donetsk People's Republic, Ukrainian nationalists have deployed artillery and MLRS in private households (Krasnogorsk, Krzhizhanovskogo Street), from which they systematically shell Russian Armed Forces positions provoking them to return fire, with the militants keeping local residents in their homes, effectively using them as human shields;

b) in Nikolaev, territorial defence units are deployed in the buildings of the Black Sea National University (Desantnikov Street) and School No. 16 (Gorky Street), ammunition depots are equipped, armoured vehicles have been placed in the immediate vicinity of the educational institutions and residents from nearby houses have not been deliberately evacuated;

c) in Artemovsk, Donetsk People's Republic, neo-Nazis have equipped artillery and mortar positions in courtyards of residential buildings (Blagoveshchenskaya Street). Under the pretext of alleged security, the militants have forbidden local residents to leave their homes, and all their attempts to evacuate to safe areas on their own are being severely curtailed;

d) in Mirnograd, Donetsk People's Republic, AFU units have equipped a stronghold and ammunition depot in the building of School No. I (Gagarin Street), set up roadblocks around the school and mined the approaches to the institution, but the local population was not deliberately warned about this.

In addition, according to reliable information, militants of Ukrainian armed formations in Vasynovka, Zaporozhye Region, have mined a road bridge over Zherebets River, which they plan to blow up and accuse Russian units of allegedly indiscriminate strikes on important transport infrastructure in a well-established scenario with coverage in the Ukrainian and Western media.

Such actions by criminal Ukrainian authorities demonstrate complete indifference to the fate of their own citizens and absolute disregard for all norms of morality and the principles of international humanitarian law.

Russian MoD once again emphasizes that during the special military operation, the Russian Armed Forces and military formations of Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics are not striking at civilian infrastructure facilities, are treating civilians extremely humanely and are providing civilians with comprehensive assistance and support.

3. Implementation of the Istanbul deal on delivery of food from Ukraine

As part of the implementation of the Understanding on the Safe Transportation of Grain from Ukrainian Ports Initiative, on August 7, 2022, dry cargo ship Reva Wind (Marshall Islands, cargo - maize) left Odessa port, dry cargo vessels Riva Wind (Marshall Islands, cargo - maize) left Odessa port, tanker Mustafa Nekati (Turkey, cargo - sunflower oil), dry cargo ships Star Helen (Marshall Islands, cargo - flour) and Glory (Marshall Islands, cargo - maize) from Chernomorsk port; on August 8, 2022. - dry cargo vessels Arizona (Liberia, cargo - corn) from Chernomorsk port and Sakura (Liberia, cargo - soybean) from Yuzhny seaport. The Russian Federation is strictly adhering to its commitments in order to implement the agreements reached to ensure the export of grain crops and mineral fertilisers from Ukrainian ports.

However, 61 foreign vessels from 14 countries remain blocked in six ports in Ukraine, namely in Kherson, Nikolaev, Chernomorsk, Ochakov, Odessa and Yuzhny. There also remains a danger to navigation and damage to port infrastructure from drifting Ukrainian mines off anchor along the coast of the Black Sea states.

The Russian Armed Forces have created conditions for the operation of two maritime humanitarian corridors, which are safe lanes for ships:

1) in the Black Sea (daily from 08:00 to 19:00 (Moscow time) - to leave Kherson, Nikolaev, Chernomorsk, Ochakov, Odessa and Yuzhnyi ports in a south-westerly direction from Ukraine's territorial sea, 139 miles long and 3 miles wide;

2) in the Sea of Azov, to leave Mariupol port 115 miles long and 2 miles wide towards the Black Sea.

Detailed information in English and Russian on the modus operandi of the maritime humanitarian corridor is broadcast daily every 15 minutes on VHF radio on 14 and 16 international channels in English and Russian.

4. The fate of foreign mercenaries in Ukraine

Russian Defence Ministry continues to monitor activity of foreign mercenaries who have arrived in Ukraine to take part in combat operations illegally.

Over almost four weeks (from July 8 to August 5, 2022) the number of foreign mercenaries in Ukraine decreased from 2,741 to 2,192 as a result of the offensive actions of the Russian Armed Forces and the units of the people's militias of Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics.

Meanwhile, 175 more "soldiers of fortune" have arrived in Ukraine in recent weeks, including 81 fighters from Georgia.

At the same time, the number of mercenaries arriving in Ukraine does not outweigh the losses in their ranks. 335 foreign fighters have been reliably confirmed killed during this period, including 36 mercenaries from Canada, 33 from Romania and 21 from the USA have been eliminated.

Another 389 ‘soldiers of fortune’ left Ukrainian territory on their own wishing not to die for unknown goals and motivation.

Poland still leads in the rate of reduction of mercenaries in Ukraine. 99 have been eliminated and 146 fighters have fled for various reasons.

5. Situation on the battlefields

The Ukrainian side continues to terrorize the civilian population of the Donetsk People’s Republic, carrying out massive artillery strikes on residential areas and civilian infrastructure facilities.

Over the past 24 hours, according to the JCCC of the DPR, the enemy fired 420 shells from HIMARS, Uragan and Grad multiple rocket launchers, 155mm, 152mm and 122mm barrel artillery, as well as 120mm mortars.

The shelling took place in the districts of ten populated areas of the Republic. As a result of the shelling, four civilians were killed and seventeen wounded. Forty-five residential houses and three civilian infrastructure objects were damaged. Additional information on civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure is being clarified.

The following enemy weapons and military equipment were destroyed by joint actions of the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Russian Federation Armed Forces: one D-30 122-mm howitzer, one Furya UAV and two APCs. Two enemy firing positioins were suppressed in the areas of Avdiivka and Novomikhailovka.

Kiev continues to disperse APM PFM-1 in densely populated areas in Donbass. So far 33 persons have been injured by such mines prohibited by the Ottawa Convention, signed and ratified by Ukraine.

On the other hand, Russian high-precision long-range air-based missiles have destroyed an active deeply buried command post of AFU Air Force near Voronivtsa, Vinnitsy Region.

High-precision, long-range sea-based weapons have hit a large ammunition depot near Uman, Cherkasskaya Region. More than 300 rockets for HIMARS MLRS have been destroyed, as well as large amount of ammunition for US M777 howitzers.

As a result of active offensive actions by Russian troops, the 2nd Mechanised Battalion of the 14th Mechanised Brigade lost its combat effectiveness. Having lost more than 340 men killed and wounded, the remaining personnel abandoned their positions.

Operational-tactical and army aviation, missile troops and artillery strikes continue against military facilities in Ukraine.

2 command posts near Seversk and Ochertino, Donetsk People's Republic, 3 ammunition depots near Krasnogorovka, Donetsk People's Republic, Zhovtnevoye, Nikolayev Region and Osokorovka, Kherson Region, as well as 123 areas of AFU personnel and military equipment concentration have been hit.

In the course of counter-battery warfare, 2 artillery batteries, including American M777-A2 howitzers, have been hit near Veseloye, Donetsk People's Republic.

In addition, 2 platoons of multiple-launch rocket systems near Lastochkino and 6 artillery platoons of self-propelled and towed howitzers near near Razdolovka, Orlovka and Georgiyevka in Donetsk People's Republic have been suppressed.

Russian air defence means have shot down one MiG-29 aircraft of Ukrainian Air Force near Toretskoye in Donetsk People's Republic.

17 rockets from HIMARS MLRS have been intercepted near Kherson city and Novaya Kakhovka, Kherson Region, and Melitopol, Zaporozhye Region.

3 Ukrainian drones have been shot down near Petrovskoye, the Rutchenkovo railway station in Donetsk People's Republic, as well as Mospanovo in Kharkov Region.

1. Trapped people

2. More strikes

3. “Radioactive terrorism” by Kiev

August 10, 2022

On August 8, 2022 Russia officially informed the USA about the withdrawal of its facilities from inspection activities under the New START for American inspectors on Russian territory.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation explained that due to the aviation restrictions imposed by Washington and its allies and the tightening of the visa regime in transit countries, Russian inspectors, unlike their American counterparts, are unable to arrive in the USA. The reason for this decision was a notification received from the American side of the intention to conduct an inspection on Russian territory in the coming days, which, under the circumstances, Sergei Ryabkov, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, described as "an outright provocation."

The Russian Foreign Ministry stressed that Moscow unconditionally intends to comply with the provisions of the New START and is ready to discuss the resumption of inspections, but "from the most realistic positions." The Interfax news agency quotes Vladimir Dzhabarov, First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs, who said that Russia's decision to temporarily withdraw its facilities from inspection activities is the result of a powerful anti-Russian policy carried out over the past 10-15 years and not connected with the conduct of a Special Military Operation in Ukraine.

The U.S. Embassy in Moscow refused to comment on the situation in detail, but assured that Washington allegedly remains committed to New START.

A number of international arms control experts agree that the treaty can continue to exist without inspections, the suspension of which is still evidence of a further deterioration in relations between Moscow and Washington. Ankit Panda, an expert on nuclear policy at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, traditionally abstracted away from the reasons and called Russia's response "a cynical attempt to put pressure on the United States" in connection with the sanctions that the West imposed on Russia "for its invasion to Ukraine". In making such statement, Ankit Panda displayed ignorance and proved that he is does not aware the situation. Before making such empty accusations he should ask the U.S. State Department about the reality in this issue.

In the media resources of the international TV company Aljazeera, Moscow's actions are viewed as counteracting the U.S. desire to "create unilateral advantages" and deprive Russia of "the right to conduct inspections on American soil."

Currently, the New START is, in fact, the last agreement between former Cold War rivals. The document, which expires in February 2026, limits the stockpile of nuclear warheads, intercontinental ballistic missiles, strategic heavy bombers and submarine-launched ballistic missiles. The BBC notes that Moscow imposed a ban on inspections a week after U.S. President Joseph Biden announced his readiness to work on a new agreement. But it is important to note that Russian response was de facto a response to the U.S. initially imposed blockade on Russian New START inspectors to visit the USA.

The Guardian rightly points out that New START is "still in place, and despite the inspection situation, Russia continues to report nuclear stockpile moves or status changes." Former NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller and ex-head of the U.S. delegation at the talks on the New START with Moscow told the publication that in recent months the number of such notifications received by the U.S. State Department has increased, which undoubtedly indicates Moscow's commitment to comply with arms control agreements.

Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman of the UN Secretary General, called on Russia and the United States to solve the problems of access to inspection of the implementation of the treaty. He noted that the New START is "an important element of international peace and security and the only remaining bilateral agreement on nuclear arms control." The Wall Street Journal quoted Daryl Kimbal, Executive Director of the U.S. Arms Control Association, who also recommended that both Moscow and Washington, regardless of differences, "… resume inspections, and begin negotiations on a new agreement [on Strategic Offensive Arms]," which is designed to reduce the degree of nuclear danger in the world. Former Senior Director for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation at the National Security Council under former President Barack Obama, expressed the hope that what is happening is “a kind of political pothole, rather than a new major obstacle to stability".

It should be more accurate to address concerns in the West on interruption of the New START inspections not to Washington and Moscow together, but to Washington first, who blocked entry of Russian inspectors on the continental USA under the New START provisions.

August 16, 2022

1. Vladimir Putin, President of Russia:

Ladies and gentlemen,

Esteemed foreign guests,

Let me welcome you to the anniversary 10th Moscow Conference on International Security. Over the past decade, your representative forum has become a significant venue for discussing the most pressing military-political problems.

Today, such an open discussion is particularly pertinent. The situation in the world is changing dynamically and the outlines of a multipolar world order are taking shape. An increasing number of countries and peoples are choosing a path of free and sovereign development based on their own distinct identity, traditions and values.

These objective processes are being opposed by the Western globalist elites, who provoke chaos, fanning long-standing and new conflicts and pursuing the so-called containment policy, which in fact amounts to the subversion of any alternative, sovereign development options. Thus, they are doing all they can to keep hold onto the hegemony and power that are slipping from their hands; they are attempting to retain countries and peoples in the grip of what is essentially a neocolonial order. Their hegemony means stagnation for the rest of the world and for the entire civilisation; it means obscurantism, cancellation of culture, and neoliberal totalitarianism.

They are using all expedients. The United States and its vassals grossly interfere in the internal affairs of sovereign states by staging provocations, organising coups, or inciting civil wars. By threats, blackmail, and pressure, they are trying to force independent states to submit to their will and follow rules that are alien to them. This is being done with just one aim in view, which is to preserve their domination, the centuries-old model that enables them to sponge on everything in the world. But a model of this sort can only be retained by force.

This is why the collective West – the so-called collective West – is deliberately undermining the European security system and knocking together ever new military alliances. NATO is crawling east and building up its military infrastructure. Among other things, it is deploying missile defence systems and enhancing the strike capabilities of its offensive forces. This is hypocritically attributed to the need to strengthen security in Europe, but in fact quite the opposite is taking place. Moreover, the proposals on mutual security measures, which Russia put forward last December, were once again disregarded.

They need conflicts to retain their hegemony. It is for this reason that they have destined the Ukrainian people to being used as cannon fodder. They have implemented the anti-Russia project and connived at the dissemination of the neo-Nazi ideology. They looked the other way when residents of Donbass were killed in their thousands and continued to pour weapons, including heavy weapons, for use by the Kiev regime, something that they persist in doing now.

Under these circumstances, we have taken the decision to conduct a special military operation in Ukraine, a decision which is in full conformity with the Charter of the United Nations. It has been clearly spelled out that the aims of this operation are to ensure the security of Russia and its citizens and protect the residents of Donbass from genocide.

The situation in Ukraine shows that the United States is attempting to draw out this conflict. It acts in the same way elsewhere, fomenting the conflict potential in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. As is common knowledge, the US has recently made another deliberate attempt to fuel the flames and stir up trouble in the Asia-Pacific. The US escapade towards Taiwan is not just a voyage by an irresponsible politician, but part of the purpose-oriented and deliberate US strategy designed to destabilise the situation and sow chaos in the region and the world. It is a brazen demonstration of disrespect for other countries and their own international commitments. We regard this as a thoroughly planned provocation.

It is clear that by taking these actions the Western globalist elites are attempting, among other things, to divert the attention of their own citizens from pressing socioeconomic problems, such as plummeting living standards, unemployment, poverty, and deindustrialisation. They want to shift the blame for their own failures to other countries, namely Russia and China, which are defending their point of view and designing a sovereign development policy without submitting to the diktat of the supranational elites.

We also see that the collective West is striving to expand its bloc-based system to the Asia-Pacific region, like it did with NATO in Europe. To this end, they are creating aggressive military-political unions such as AUKUS and others.

It is obvious that it is only possible to reduce tensions in the world, overcome military-political threats and risks, improve trust between countries and ensure their sustainable development through a radical strengthening of the contemporary system of a multipolar world.

I reiterate that the era of the unipolar world is becoming a thing of the past. No matter how strongly the beneficiaries of the current globalist model cling to the familiar state of affairs, it is doomed. The historic geopolitical changes are going in a totally different direction.

And, of course, your conference is another important proof of the objective processes forming a multipolar world, bringing together representatives from many countries who want to discuss security issues on an equal footing, and conduct a dialogue that takes into account the interests of all parties, without exception.

I want to emphasise that the multipolar world, based on international law and more just relations, opens up new opportunities for counteracting common threats, such as regional conflicts and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, terrorism and cybercrime. All these challenges are global, and therefore it would be impossible to overcome them without combining the efforts and potentials of all states.

As before, Russia will actively and assertively participate in such coordinated joint efforts; together with its allies, partners and fellow thinkers, it will improve the existing mechanisms of international security and create new ones, as well as consistently strengthen the national armed forces and other security structures by providing them with advanced weapons and military equipment. Russia will secure its national interests, as well as the protection of its allies, and take other steps towards building of a more democratic world where the rights of all peoples and cultural and civilisational diversity are guaranteed.

We need to restore respect for international law, for its fundamental norms and principles. And, of course, it is important to promote such universal and commonly acknowledged agencies as the United Nations and other international dialogue platforms. The UN Security Council and the General Assembly, as it was intended initially, are supposed to serve as effective tools to reduce international tensions and prevent conflicts, as well as facilitate the provision of reliable security and wellbeing of countries and peoples.

In conclusion, I want to thank the conference organisers for their major preparatory work and I wish all participants substantial discussions.

I am sure that the forum will continue to make a significant contribution to the strengthening of peace and stability on our planet and facilitate the development of constructive dialogue and partnership.

Thank you for your attention.

2. Sergei Shoigu, the Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation, General of the Army:

Ladies and gentlemen!

It is a pleasure to welcome you to the 10th Moscow Conference on International Security.

This conference comes at a time of radical change in global and regional security. The unconditional dominance of the US and its allies is a thing of the past. On February 24, 2022, the start of the special military operation in Ukraine marked the end of the unipolar world.

Multipolarity has become a reality. The poles of this world are clearly defined. The main difference between them is that some respect the interests of sovereign states and take into account the cultural and historical particularities of countries and peoples, while others disregard them. There have been numerous discussions on this topic during previous sessions of the Moscow conference.

In Europe, the security situation is worse than at the peak of the Cold War. The alliance's military activities have become as aggressive and anti-Russian as possible. Significant US forces have been redeployed to the continent, and the number of coalition troops in Eastern and Central Europe has increased manifold.

It is important to note that the deployment of additional NATO Joint Force formations on the bloc's "eastern flank" had already started before the start of the special military operation in Ukraine.

NATO has dropped its masks. The aggressive nature of the bloc was no longer concealed by the wording of the coalition's purely defensive orientation. Today, the alliance's strategic planning documents enshrine claims to global dominance. Alliance's interests include Africa, the Middle East and the Pacific Rim.

In the West's view, the established system of international relations should be replaced by a so-called rules-based world order. The logic here is simple and ultimatumatic. Either the alliance's "democratic partner" candidate loses sovereignty and becomes supposedly on the "right side of history". Or it is relegated to the category of so-called authoritarian regimes, against which all kinds of measures, up to and including coercive pressure, can be used.

Given that the Conference is attended by heads of defence agencies and security experts from different regions of the world, I would like to highlight some aspects of the special military operation in Ukraine.

In Ukraine, the Russian military is being confronted by combined Western forces that run the leadership of that country in a hybrid war against Russia.

The supply of weapons and military equipment to Ukraine is being stepped up, and training of the Ukrainian army is being carried out. Huge financial resources are transferred to maintain the viability of the nationalist regime.

The actions of Ukraine's armed forces are planned and coordinated by foreign military advisers. Reconnaissance data is supplied from all available NATO sources. The use of armaments is supervised by Western specialists.

NATO's efforts are aimed at prolonging the agony of the Kiev regime. However, we know for a fact that no one in NATO has any doubt that the goals of the Russian leadership's special military operation will be achieved, and that plans to strategically and economically weaken Russia are failing. The dollar has not reached the ceiling of 200 roubles, as predicted by the US president, the Russian economy has stood firm.

The special military operation has dispelled the myth of "super-weapons" supplied to Ukraine by the West, which are capable of fundamentally changing the situation on the front. Initially, they were talking about deliveries of Javelin anti-tank systems, some kind of "unique" drones. Lately, the Westerners have been promoting the role of super-weapons with HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems and long-range howitzers. However, these weapons also grind to a halt in battle. They did not make a significant impact. The Russian weapons, for their part, have proved their best qualities in combat.

We are taking a close look at trophy weapons from the West. The features and their specific qualities are taken into account in order to improve the way combat operations are conducted and the effectiveness of Russian armaments.

The supply of NATO weapons to Kiev means that Western countries are responsible for their inhumane use and for the deaths of civilians in Donbass and in the liberated territories. Ukrainian armed forces operations are planned in Washington and London. Not only are the coordinates of the targets to be attacked provided by Western intelligence, but the input of this data into weapons systems is conducted under the full control of Western specialists.

Kiev's role in the West's combat approach has been reduced to supplying manpower, which is seen as expendable. This explains the huge loss of personnel in Ukraine's armed forces and territorial defence formations.

So far, the real figures of dead soldiers and mobilised so-called territorial defence forces have been concealed by the Kiev leadership.

In time, however, this information will become public. The testimonies of POWs of AFU allow us to form a realistic picture of what is happening on the other side of the front. The dismissive attitude towards the loss of foreign soldiers reinforces the thesis that NATO has purely selfish interests in Ukraine. Clearly, Britain's colonial experience as the main sponsor of the Kiev regime has come in very handy for London in dealing with the current leadership in Kiev.

Against this background, speculation is spreading in the media about the alleged use of Russian tactical nuclear weapons in the special military operation or the readiness to use chemical weapons. All of these information gibberish are lies.

From a military point of view, there is no need to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine to achieve its goals. The main purpose of Russian nuclear weapons is to deter a nuclear attack. Its use is limited to extraordinary circumstances as defined in the Russian guideline documents, which are open to public inspection.

The allegations about the possible use of chemical weapons in Ukraine are also absurd. Let me remind you that, unlike the US, such weapons were completely destroyed in our country back in 2017 as part of our international obligations. Meanwhile, poisoning provocations have become the hallmark of Western-sponsored so-called civil society organisations such as the White Helmets in Syria.

The information provocations are aimed at distracting attention from the facts discovered in Ukraine that US experts have conducted banned military and biological research.

Currently, a significant amount of data has been accumulated and is regularly made available to the general public. Work will continue in this direction.

S military-biological activities in Ukraine are not exceptional. Pentagon-controlled laboratories have been established and operate in many post-Soviet, Asian, African and Latin American countries. Local authorities generally have no control over research carried out on their premises that poses a lethal threat to the local population. The consequences of epidemics, I believe, were felt by all during the period of the fight against the spread of coronavirus.

 would like to focus separately on the humanitarian aspects of the special military operation. Compliance with the Geneva Conventions on the rules of war has always been and remains the focus of commanders at all levels. Since the beginning of the operation, orders have been issued stipulating the procedures to be followed by soldiers in dealing with civilians and enemy prisoners of war.

In the territories liberated from nationalists, the troops are actively involved in the delivery of humanitarian aid, the restoration of infrastructure and the maintenance of law and order. This was the case in Syria, in Nagorno-Karabakh, and it is also the case in Donbass.

On humanitarian issues, there has been fruitful cooperation with the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross. We are grateful for the constructive, depoliticised cooperation of the leaders and staff of these organisations who interact with us. In particular, under the auspices of the UN and with Turkey's active role, the difficult problem of grain exports from Ukraine's Black Sea ports was resolved. The Red Cross specialists carry out an important mediation mission in relation to captured soldiers.

NATO has recently initiated a new phase of alliance enlargement, with Sweden and Finland joining the military bloc. The claim that the reason for this was the Russian special operation is untrue.

The practical rapprochement between these countries and the alliance has been ongoing for many years. In fact, the regional association NORDEFCO (Committee for Nordic Defence Cooperation) is a northern affiliate of NATO and serves as a cover for these countries' participation in joint military training activities.

Of course, the official involvement of Helsinki and Stockholm in NATO's strategic planning and the possible allocation of territory to these states for deployment of strike weapons will change the security environment in the Baltic region and the Arctic and will require a reconsideration of approaches to defence of Russian territory.

Certain conclusions have already been reached and are enshrined in the updated Maritime Doctrine approved by the President of the Russian Federation on July 31. Work will continue in this area.

The reinforcement of the NATO military grouping on the "eastern flank" completes the degradation of the trust and arms control mechanisms that emerged in Europe during the Cold War. A few years ago, experts proposed that the European experience should be used to build confidence-building measures, in particular in the Pacific Rim. Now, of all the "baggage" of the Euro-dialogue, only the idea of bloc confrontation is exported to Asia, which has not brought anything positive to security in Europe.

Today, no one remembers the US destruction of the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, the Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Limitation Treaty and the Open Skies Treaty. Although previously these agreements were crucial for disarmament and confidence-building.

Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which was conceived as a platform for dialogue and consideration of different views, has become a generator of anti-Russian narratives.

Vienna Document 2011 remains formally in force, but there are no prospects for practical implementation. In the absence of trust between the parties, the verification mechanism effectively becomes a source of intelligence, which is not in the spirit of this agreement.

The situation with regard to the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty is also complicated. The agreement remains in force until 2026. On the Russian side the commitments are fulfilled, the declared levels of carriers and warheads are maintained within the established limits.

U.S. claims that Russia must earn the right to continue dialogue with the U.S. do not resist criticism. Arms control is a two-way street.

The result is only achievable if the interests and commitment of all participants are balanced. I believe that the Russian experience of interaction with the West in the field of disarmament shows that the so-called rules-based peace it promotes does not involve the implementation of treaty obligations in the traditional sense. This fact needs to be taken into account when entering into agreements, especially in the field of security and arms control.

Western opposition to the consolidation of a multipolar world, along with Europe, is most active in the Asia-Pacific region, where the US has begun to dismantle the existing ASEAN-based system of regional cooperation. This started with the announcement of the AUKUS initiative by the US, Australia and the UK. Plans to expand this partnership to include new regional partners have not been concealed. AUKUS is merging with NATO, which in turn claimed a dominant role in the Asia-Pacific region at the June summit. This is despite the fact that all NATO countries are thousands of miles away from the region.

On 2 August, the Russian Federation marked the 77th anniversary of the Soviet Union's entry into the war with Japan, the occasion for which was Tokyo's militarist policy. The defeat of Japanese forces in the Far East effectively sealed the end of World War II and provided the start for the liberation of the peoples of Asia from colonial oppression. The assistance of the USSR was of key importance. We remember and are proud of the legacy of our ancestors, including those who laid the foundation for military cooperation between Russia and the countries of the Asia-Pacific region.

Another dangerous regional trend is the AUKUS focus on developing a nuclear submarine fleet in Australia. The implementation of this plan would have a complex negative impact on global and regional security, creating the conditions for undermining the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

The US claims that nuclear-powered submarines are needed in Australia ostensibly to offset China's growing naval capabilities. This logic in fact replicates the actions of the US in justifying its exit from the Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missile Treaty. The collapse of this agreement was also motivated by the need to offset Russian and Chinese efforts to develop missiles with a range allegedly prohibited by the treaty.

In the global context, the appearance of a nuclear-powered fleet in Australia will provide an excuse for other states to begin developing similar armaments. Pandora's box will be opened, the global nuclear arms race will resume.

AUKUS has the potential to develop into a politico-military alliance. It cannot be excluded that NATO's experience with joint nuclear planning and joint "allied" nuclear exercises will also be transferred to the region. The technical basis for this is already being laid by the active promotion of US-made aircraft. The participation of nuclear and non-nuclear weapon states in joint exercises on the use of nuclear weapons is contrary to obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Transferring nuclear training from Europe will blow up the region.

Although it can be assumed that this is precisely the purpose of the US. The provocative landing in Taiwan of a third person of the US bureaucratic hierarchy is another move to destabilise the situation.

Block-less, equal interaction in the region is an achievement that should not be lost due to externally imposed phobias and attempts to counter a multipolar world.

Mechanisms for interaction and dialogue with extra-regional partners are created and are proving their relevance and effectiveness. First and foremost is the ASEAN Defence Ministers' and Partners' Meeting, the so-called "ADMM-Plus" format. Its diverse activities focus on security issues of relevance to the Asia-Pacific region.

In addition, there is positive experience of cooperation within the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, of implementing mutually beneficial projects on a bilateral basis.

As before, we are ready to share our experience of combat training, in particular during the Vostok-2022 strategic exercise to be held in the near future.

Despite significant successes in the fight against terrorism in the Middle East, the threat of international terrorist groups taking over the initiative remains. The Syrian military, in cooperation with allies and partners and with the support of the Russian Aerospace Forces, continues to suppress spikes in terrorist activity. We see a particular danger in using the Kurdish factor to unsettle the situation in Syria.

The engagement of the guarantor countries in the Astana format remains virtually the only legal and effective mechanism to address security concerns in Syria. We welcome the increased engagement between the Syrian leadership and the Arab world. Overcoming contradictions created by outside forces is possible and necessary.

The role of the military in building trust between countries is an important element in the search for political solutions. We expect that the Moscow conference will be one of the rallying points for the stabilisation of the situation in the Near East.

After the rapid withdrawal of US and NATO forces from Afghanistan, the situation in the Central Asian region remains extremely tense. Afghanistan's new leadership faces serious military and economic challenges. The legacy of two decades of alliance troop presence is a disappointing one. As a result, there remains a high level of terrorist danger in the region.

The security problems of Central Asia can only be solved by coordinated action by all the countries and international organisations concerned. For our part, we will continue to support our Collective Security Treaty Organisation allies in enhancing the capabilities of national armed forces.

It is important to keep the topic of Afghanistan on the agenda of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation discussions. Russia, China, India, Iran and Pakistan together could make a significant contribution not only to stabilising the region, but also to preventing the threat from spreading beyond its borders.

The security of each region, despite the general trends of a multipolar world, has its own peculiarities.

For Africa, the specificity lies in the desire of the countries of the collective West to return to the order and rules of engagement typical of the colonial period. Neo-colonialism is imposed through military pressure on governments of sovereign countries and support for separatist and terrorist movements. A case in point is Libya, where statehood has still not been restored after the NATO invasion. Another example is the situation in West Africa, where European troops have been deployed on the pretext of combating terrorism. For decades, these EU missions had been fighting terrorists, training national security forces, until they recognised the utter failure of their own efforts.

I would like to point out that African governments and leaders are holding their own, as they call it, in the context of a multipolar world, to pursue their own agenda of independence, sovereignty, economic development and defence capabilities.

The Russian Ministry of Defence is seeking to expand cooperation with African countries in the field of military and military-technical cooperation. Interest in the participation of national teams and delegations from Africa in the Army International Games and the "ARMY 2022" IMTF has increased significantly. It is very encouraging that prominent military commanders from our friendly states - Burundi, Cameroon, Guinea, Mali, Sudan, Uganda, Chad, Ethiopia and the Republic of South Africa - are present in this hall today. We appreciate your support and intend to increase cooperation on mutually beneficial projects.

Latin America today faces serious security challenges because of the American desire to maintain influence in the region under the provisions of the so-called Monroe Doctrine. Liberal values, whose adherence is seen by the US as agreeing to live in a world based on their rules, in fact mask the true objective - to build up a military presence by blocking the possibility of sovereign development of states.

U.S. policy focuses on deterring engagement by countries in the region with any other pole of power outside Washington's control. The purpose of this policy is to involve the region in a confrontation with Russia and the PRC, to destroy traditional ties and to block new forms of cooperation in the military and military-technical spheres.

Anti-Russian information campaigns are launched in Latin America, hiding the truth about the causes and course of the special military operation in Ukraine. Analogies can be drawn to the British actions during the conflict in the Falkland Islands. What is happening in the Western media today with the coverage of the Russian special military operation was also happening when the media was chorally broadcasting only one point of view - that of London.

The question arises: are such policies in the fundamental interest of the countries of the region? The answer is clear - no. We hope that during the discussions at the conference we will hear assessments of the situation in Latin America from our partners from Venezuela and Nicaragua.

The Tenth Moscow Conference on International Security has a special importance for the Russian Ministry of Defence as organiser of the forum for a number of reasons.

Firstly, the conference is taking place during the ongoing special military operation in Ukraine. Despite attempts of the US and NATO to isolate Russia once again, your participation in the forum is a visible confirmation that these plans have collapsed. We appreciate your support.

Secondly, a multipolar world is the reality of today. The transition from dominance by a single global leader to several centres of gravity is not an easy one. However, this creates real conditions for the development of sovereign states.

Thirdly, the role of military agencies is changing in the new realities. The military not only guarantees a secure environment for economic development, but through military cooperation it builds predictability and trust between countries.

Finally, this is the tenth anniversary conference, which allows for a kind of review of what has been achieved over the years. It is important to observe how the priorities of the discussions have changed, and which conclusions and recommendations from the forum have been put into practice over the years. A short historical overview, prepared by Russian experts, can be viewed on the monitors between plenary sessions.

I wish you all good health and interesting contacts and discussions during your stay in Moscow.

Thank you for your attention.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

August 16, 2022

On August 14, new gas tariffs came into force in Moldova, the price of blue fuel for household consumers increased by 23.4%.

According to experts, tariffs will double by autumn. The population of the country has massively started harvesting firewood, which is sorely lacking. Manufacturers of autonomous heating sources, in particular, biomass pellets and briquettes, have raised prices due to a shortage of raw materials. Against the backdrop of a pan-European economic downturn, the Moldovan economy is in a state of crisis. The decrease in the income of the population is taking place against the background of an increase in the cost of the consumer basket. The collapse of production is accompanied by a rise in the unemployment rate. Founded in 1899, the largest Moldovan brick plant "Macon", which did not stop working during two world wars and the collapse of the socialist camp, could not withstand "integration into the European economic system" and ceased to exist.

Due to the difficult socio-economic situation dissatisfaction with the authorities is growing in Moldovan society, as evidenced by the steady decline in its popularity. The Moldovan data collection and analysis company Date Intelligente (iData) has published the results of a sociological survey of residents of the country conducted at the end of June 2022. The data obtained indicate that the level of trust in the current president of Moldova, M. Sande, is falling, while the rating of ex-president I. Dodon is growing.

For reference: Maia Sande - 22.2% (in May - 25.9%), honorary chairman of the Socialist Party Igor Dodon - 18.3% (in May - 15.3%), head of the Shor party Ilana Shor - 7.5 %, Mayor of Chisinau Ion Ceban - 3%, deputy from the party "Shor" Marina Tauber - 1.7%, ex-premier Ion Chicu - 1.2%, chairman of the Communist Party Vladimir Voronin - 1.1%, the rest of the candidates gained 3.9% of the vote).

Institute for Marketing and Surveys (IMAS)

On July 20 he presented the results of the study of the political preferences of the citizens of the Republic of Moldova "Public Opinion Barometer". Studies have shown that 62% of respondents are dissatisfied with living conditions, 72% believe that the country is moving in the “wrong direction”. It should be noted that 23% of respondents believe that I. Dodon is capable of leading the country out of the crisis, against 21%, who retained confidence in the pro-European course of policy of M. Sandu. 9% of respondents pin their hopes on I. Cheban, and 7% on I. Shor.

Along with this, about 75% of citizens are disappointed with the government of N. Gavrilitsa, calling the current Cabinet "the worst in the last 10 years." More than a third say that living standards have worsened since the liberal team came to power, 60% are in favor of early parliamentary and presidential elections. In case of early presidential elections, 25.4% would vote for I.Dodon, 24.4% for M.Sandu, in third place - I.Cheban with a result of 9.2%.

In the unfavorable conditions for the ruling elite, M. Sandu's team directed its efforts to neutralize the potential of the opposition. The arrest of the ex-president and honorary chairman of the Socialist Party I. Dodon has been extended. At the same time, the survey results discussed above show that almost two-thirds of Moldovan citizens see political motives in the arrest of the ex-president, 63% believe that M. Sandu and the ruling pro-European party “Action and solidarity. The chairman of the parliamentary faction "Shor" M. Tauber was charged with illegal foreign financing and corruption violations. After the removal of parliamentary immunity, she was placed in a pre-trial detention center.

Several dozen members of the faction are being searched.

Despite the threat of disruption of the heating season, Prime Minister of Moldova N. Gavrilitsa announced the decision of the government of the republic not to renew the contract with Gazprom. Simultaneously in the regional mass media, people are inspired with hope for supposedly coordinated financial and humanitarian support from the “collective West”. The “no alternative” of the European integration course and imaginary successes in rapprochement with the European Union are emphasized, the solution of the issue on accession to which, Chisinau plans to submit to a national referendum.

Thus, realizing the inability to normalize the socio-economic situation and contain the rise in prices, the ruling elite will continue to blame for the failures of their own policy on the opposition, which is gaining political weight. Leaders objectionable to the authorities, especially those who propose a solution to problems by resuming dialogue with Moscow, will be subjected to further harassment.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

August 17, 2022

Despite the emergency UN Security Council meeting held on August 11, 2022 (Moscow time), exclusively devoted to Ukrainian attacks against Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), Kiev’s failed and criminal regime continue to intentionally shell this the largest NPP in Europe. It did it before the meeting, on July 20, August 5 and 7, and even several hours before the UN SC debates, and several times after that – on August 12, 14, 16 and 17, 2022.

Located near the city of Energodar in southern Ukraine, the Zaporozhye facility is the largest nuclear plant in Europe fitted with six nuclear reactors. It has been under Russian security control and Ukrainian technical operators since the beginning of Moscow’s military operation in Ukraine.

In the result of such attacks one reactor unit was disconnected from the electrical grid, triggering its emergency protection system and setting generators into operation to ensure power supply. There was also shelling in a nitrogen-oxygen station.  Kiev’s “reckless” actions are pushing the world ever closer to a major nuclear disaster, Russia’s ambassador to the UNO, Vassily Nebenzia, told the Security Council on August 11.

Why the current neo-Nazi administration is so brave to use nuclear blackmail and nuclear terrorism that is by threatening to attack ZNPP despite the generally accepted views in the world community that any attack on any type of NPP could lead to a regional and global disaster caused by the radioactive contamination?

On August 16, local government administration member Vladimir Rogov told Russian media that Ukrainian forces had fired multiple rockets directly at the coolant systems and nuclear waste storage site inside the facility. Since the storage site is out in the open, any hit would result in the release of nuclear waste ranging from dozens to hundreds of kilograms and lead to contamination of the area, the official explained.

A total of nine countries could be contaminated if the Russian-controlled Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant in southern Ukraine is hit by multiple launch rocket systems, Vladimir Kuznetsov, a former chief inspector of the USSR’s nuclear authority told the press.

I count eleven such countries that will effected. Their number will depend on the winds’ direction.

The are several reasons for that gloomy scenario.

First. The UNO and the IAEA leaders namely Secretary General Antonio Guterres and Director General Rafael Grossi, respectively, do not criticize president Zelensky for such war crimes.

They never asked Kiev to stop shelling ZNPP.

They only generously permitted to themselves to produce commonly used phrases like “We denounce such attacks”. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency Rafael Grossi, told the Security Council that the situation at the plant was under control and that there was “no immediate danger” to its safety as of yet (strange statement of the head of the IAEA about “no immediate danger” to the safety of the NPP). At the same time, he urged Russia and Ukraine to provide the IAEA access to the facility “as soon as possible.” One more unprofessional statement. Russia demands such IAEA on-site inspections initially at the Chernobyl NPP and many times at ZNPP from March 2022.

Kiev though there are a lot of remnants Both high-ranking officials never criticized the aggressor – of ammunition used by AFU and collected at the sites of attacks, like Ukrainian MLRS, Polish drones with bombs and long-range U.S heavy artillery. They are material evidence. By the way, during attack on August 17 two Ukrainian fire coordinators who shared targets sites with the AFU, have been captured. Naturally, they are additional human witnesses.

The UN has called the attacks “suicidal” and proposed sending an International Atomic Energy Agency delegation to the site to provide “technical support” and help avoid a further escalation.

  Second. The UNO and the IAEA leaders have never sent the IAEA inspection teams to the ZNPP. The IAEA Director General Grossi promised to do dispatch such team last March, but have not organize any such visit.

Third. Previously, they torpedoed to send any inspection teams Chernobyl NPP also shelled by Armed forces of Ukraine in spring this year.

Forth. The UNO and the IAEA leaders still have not specified any date for such long awaited the IAEA trip to ZNPP.

So, taking all these factors into account the chief clown implanted by the USA and NATO in Ukraine Zelensky still neglects the global concerns over potential nuclear catastrophe in Europe. Encouraged by these two international leaders Kiev recently attacked not only ZNPP, but Kakhovskaya Hydroelectic Power Station or KHPS located on the Russian territory proper that supplies electricity to Kakhovka NPP. Such aim is clear: the aim is to cut off electricity to Kakhovka NPP and to destroy it.

What are real intentions of Zelensky who is attacking Ukrainian NPP?

One of them is “to demilitarize the ZNPP”, to create a DMZ around it.

What does it mean?

The aim is to remove Russian troops from ZNPP, and sent there AFU contingents instead of them. Antonio Guterres has made a similar request, calling for the establishment of a demilitarized zone around the plant but without singling out Russian or Ukrainian forces. The U.S. Under Secretary for arms control and international security affairs, Bonnie Jenkins, demanded Moscow withdraw its troops. At the same time, she also backed Guterres’ call for a demilitarized zone meaning an area around the ZNPP and the withdrawal of Russian troops that control the area.

What is behind such scheme?

The task is to blackmail the Europeans in terms of nuclear disaster at the ZNPP without any hindrances. If Kiev dared to shell ZNPP many times in the presence of Russian troops, can you imagine what Zelensky will do if there no Russian military contingents at the ZNPP?

“The conclusion suggests itself: by destroying the energy infrastructure, the Kiev regime is exposing the many millions of people on the European continent to the danger of a nuclear cataclysm, with the connivance of Washington,” the Russian Foreign Ministry noted.

August 18, 2022

1. On August 18, 2022 Russian MoD spokesman made the following statement concerning Kiev’s plans to destroy Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP):

“On August 19, 2022 the Kiev regime is preparing another provocation at Zaporozhye NPP during the visit of UN Secretary-General António Guterres to Ukraine, as a result of which the Russian Federation will be blamed for creating a man-made disaster at the power plant.

In order to prepare for the provocation, the command of Dnepro operational-tactical group is deploying radiation observation posts near Zaporozhye by August 19. Also, the command is organizing training exercises for units of 108th Territorial Defence Brigade, 44th Artillery Brigade and military units deployed at Zaporozhye on measures to be taken in conditions of radioactive contamination of the area.

Besides, units of 704th RCBD [Radiological, Chemical and Bacteriological Defense] Regiment of AFU are to complete concentration in Zaporozhye area by August 19,2022 and be ready for fixing the accident at Zaporizhzhia NPP as well as for carrying out a set of measures for demonstration of supposedly liquidation of its consequences.

Units of 44th Artillery Brigade of AFU are planning to launch artillery strikes on the territory of ZNPP from firing positions located in Nikopol on August 19.

The Russian Armed Forces will be blamed for their consequences.

Ukrainian leadership has repeatedly spread rumours that Russian troops have occupied the nuclear power plant and are shelling AFU with long-range artillery systems while shielding themselves behind NPP.

We would like to point out that the Russian troops have no heavy weapons either on the territory of the plant or in the surrounding areas. Only security units are stationed there.

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are taking all necessary measures to ensure the security of Zaporozhye NPP”.

2. Illustrative material to the statement (slides are attached separately)

Slide 1: Briefing according to the results of the analysis of a possible provocation at Zaporozhye NPP (title only)

Slide 2:

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation is conducting an analysis of the development of the situation at the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant.

Starting from July 18, 2022, the station has been subjected to systematic shelling by the armed forces of Ukraine from multiple launch rocket systems, cannon artillery and using unmanned aerial vehicles.

As of August 18, 2022, that is one month later, Kiev implemented 12 attacks, during which more than 50 artillery shells and 5 kamikaze drones with high explosive were recorded on the territory of the ZNPP.

The Russian Defense Ministry conducted an investigation and established that the strikes were delivered from the direction of the settlements of the cities of Marganets and Nikopol.

As a result of the shelling, auxiliary support systems for the station were damaged, as well as life support facilities located in the city of Energodar.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the Ukrainian side, together with their handlers from the USA, is trying to play the card, causing, in their opinion, a minor accident at the nuclear power plant and, thereby, disrupting the normal and safe operation of the NPP, blaming in this Russia.

Slide 3:

The Ukrainian side has repeatedly stated that the strikes on the station are carried out by the Russian Armed Forces, and Russian heavy weapons are located on the territory of the NPP, from which shelling is carried out at the targets of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

We are ready to present real very high resolution images to the IAEA. A sample is placed on a slide, which shows that weapons, especially heavy ones, are not placed at the territory of this station. This was also stated by the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation to the UN Secretary General Guterres during recent telephone call between them.

We know that in the presence of a large number of military and commercial foreign satellites, the same information can be presented to the world community and the American side.

At the same time, the USA is hushing up objective data about the shelling and the situation at the nuclear power plant, thereby encouraging the impunity of the Kyiv regime and contributing to the possible development of a nuclear catastrophe in Europe.

Slide 4:

I would like to note that it is no coincidence that the media widely cites the conclusions made by specialists from the U.S. Agency for Arms Control and Disarmament (Washington City, DC) and a number of other similar institutions of Western countries, and not the IAEA, which has the right to draw such conclusions, that a large-scale catastrophe at the Zaporozhye NPP is unlikely.

According to them, the thickness of the concrete shelters of its nuclear reactors is 10 meters, in addition, the station was designed and built taking into account the need to overcome the consequences of such incidents as the fall of a civilian aircraft.

At the same time, it is not excluded that a direct hit of large-caliber artillery shells in a dry spent nuclear fuel storage facility will lead to radioactive contamination of the area within a radius of up to 20 km, and an emergency at a nuclear reactor maximum – up to 30 km. At the same time, it is emphasized that the risks of the spread of radiation in the territory of European countries are assessed as minimal.

Thus, according to American experts, the consequences of the nuclear incident at the Zaporozhye NPP will be limited and will not affect the territory of European countries.

That is a very wrong assessment.

Slide 5:

At the same time, I would like to remind the UN Secretariat and the entire world community that the principal cause of the accidents at the Chernobyl NPP and the Fukushima NPP, despite the fact that in the first case there were experiments with a nuclear reactor, and in the second case, an earthquake and a tsunami, - this is a failure of support systems, power supply disruption, partial and complete blackout of cooling systems, which led to to overheating of nuclear fuel and destruction of the reactor.

At the Fukushima nuclear power plant, only at first glance it may seem that the consequences are insignificant. Up to 500,000 people underwent a phased forced evacuation, and the consequences of the release of radioactive water into the ocean will be felt by descendants.

Unfortunately, it looks like that such case has been forgotten.

Slide 6:

According to Russian experts, due to the dangerous actions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a similar situation may arise at the Zaporozhye NPP.

So, in case of failure of standby diesel generators and mobile pumps, in case of an emergency, the core of reactors will overheat and, as a result, the destruction of reactor plants at the largest in Europe a nuclear power plant with the release of radioactive substances into the atmosphere and carry them over hundreds of kilometers.

Such an emergency will cause mass migration of the population and will have more catastrophic consequences than the impending gas energy crisis in Europe, which is confirmed by the forecast of a number of European relevant organizations.

All this, according to their plan, should be the result of the military operations of the Russian Armed Forces on the territory of the nuclear power plant, the incompetence of Russian specialists involved in the operation of this nuclear facility.

For the purpose of staging, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are planning to fully deploy radiation monitoring posts in the formations, military units and subunits deployed in the Zaporozhye Region to fully deploy radiation monitoring posts, provide 100 percent of military personnel with NBC protection equipment, conduct training in chemical and radiation protection and other safety measures. In particular, units of the 44th separate Artillery Brigade were ordered to be ready for action by August 19, 2022 in conditions of radiation contamination of the area.

Same way, to the area of ​​the Zaporozhye NPP, units are being transferred 704 Separate Regiment of the RCB for the protection of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Artillery strikes on the Zaporozhye NPP are planned from the city blocks of the city of Nikopol.

Such "performance" will be accompanied by public alerts about the increase in background radiation and other "special effects". The staging is being carried out in the interests of influencing the UN Secretary General and the international community to cover up decisions that are beneficial to Kyiv.

The ultimate goal of the provocation is the creation of an exclusion zone (up to 30 km), the introduction of international forces and foreign observers to the territory of the Zaporozhye NPP, as well as the accusation of the Russian Armed Forces of attacking the plant protected by Russian troops.

As a conclusion from the above, we would like to draw your attention to the fact that if the negative development of the situation related to the shelling of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant by Ukrainian Armed Forces continues, the issue of transferring into the "cold reserve" of nuclear reactors # 5 and # 6 will be considered. It will subsequently lead to the shutdown of the overall Zaporozhye NPP.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin
 

August 19, 2022

On August 2, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan.

During the meeting with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, she said that Washington would not relinquish its commitment to Taipei, calling her visit "part of a larger struggle for the future of democracy." In a post-arrival Washington Post article, the American politician expressed admiration for "Taiwan's commitment to a democratic government", and concern over the sharp rise in tensions in the region in recent years.” The reason for the "great hype" around the visit to Taiwan, she identified "the position she holds."

The world community closely watched the progress of the visit. Among the consequences of this obscure demarche was even the possible unleashing of a third world war. The PRC prudently did not take aggressive action, but obviously plans and implements adequate responses.

In a briefing broadcast by CNN, John Kirby, the White House National Security Council's strategic communications coordinator, said the USA "will continue to support Taiwan, defend a free and open Indo-Pacific, strive to maintain communication with Beijing," while excluding the possibility of armed confrontation. He added that the recent visit does not mean a violation of China's territorial sovereignty.

On the same day, the official website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry published the country's unequivocal position on Pelosi's visit, which was declared a major political provocation and a serious violation of China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

China's Xinhua News Agency quoted National Foreign Minister Wang Yi as saying that Beijing would leave no room for Taipei's pro-independence forces to act. He emphasized that the reunification of China with Taiwan is a historical inevitability, and attempts to use the island to contain China are doomed to failure.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Chinese officials, including CCP leader Xi Jinping in a telephone conversation with President Biden, warned the US against Mrs. Pelosi's visit to Taiwan. After her arrival in Taipei, Beijing said it was preparing live-fire military exercises this week.

in the areas surrounding the island. In turn, in an interview with the British edition of The Guardian, Chinese Ambassador to the UK Zheng Jieguang warned London against trying to repeat the precedent set by the United States. “Such visits will be regarded as interference in China’s internal affairs and will lead to to serious consequences in Sino-British relations."

The American edition of The New York Times wrote that Pelosi's act is reckless, risky and irresponsible. Her ill-advised visit to Taiwan will not make the world a safer place. On the contrary, the US will have even more problems not only with China, but also with its "closest ally" - Russia. Earlier, Biden and his national security adviser Jake Sullivan held a series of meetings with the Chinese leadership, pleading with Beijing not to enter the Ukraine conflict. The editorial noted that China has refused military assistance to Putin, while the United States and NATO have provided Ukraine with a significant amount of weapons that have caused damage to the armed forces of Russia, supposedly an ally of China. It is clear that Pelosi's provocative actions will be followed by a revision of the hard-won agreements.

Readers of the website of the Japanese TV channel NHK were also distrustful of the visit of the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan. Many speculated that the move would exacerbate the situation in the region. The Japanese are concerned that the United States is using the island to provoke the PRC, just as they used Ukraine to provoke Russia.

In 1995-1996, the so-called "Taiwan crisis" occurred, when, as a retribution for the visit of the president of the partially recognized state of Shanghai to the States, China launched missiles off the coast of the island. Only after sending a group of US Navy warships to the region did China retreat. Today, the Biden administration is in a predicament in a hypothetical confrontation with a stronger Beijing. An attempt to demonstrate impunity and permissiveness will inevitably lead to a fall in the authority of the United States.

On August 14, following in the footsteps of Nancy Pelosi, a delegation of U.S. congressmen led by Democratic Senator Ed Markey arrived in Taiwan. The purpose of the unannounced visit was to meet with senior Taiwanese officials to discuss issues of bilateral relations, regional security, trade and investment, global supply chains, climate change, and other initiatives of mutual interest. In addition to Ed Markey, the group also included Congressmen John Garamendi (D), Alan Lowenthal (D), Don Byer (D) and Amata Radevagen (R).

The visit took place despite the attempts of the coordinator of the U.S. National Security Council J. Kirby to soften the rhetoric and to prevent the escalation of tensions in bilateral relations in connection with the "Taiwan tour" of the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the National Congress. Leveling the consequences of Pelosi's "demarche", he stated that Beijing exaggerated the consequences of the visit of a third official of the American state and the U.S. commitment to the "one China" policy. However, after several days it became obvious that Washington has nevertheless embarked on the path of a new political confrontation with the PRC.

Chinese media outlet South China Morning Post (SCMP), citing an official representative of the Eastern Theater Command of the PLA, announced the exercises scheduled for the near future, the purpose of which is "preparation for operations to protect and blockade the self-governed island by the combined forces."

Traditionally, the USA does not intend to strengthen its leading position in the international arena alone. How many times the beneficiaries justify the creation of a real threat of a large-scale conflict with the fabricated need to fight for the “triumph of world democracy”. Thus, members of Formosa, an informal association of legislators from European countries, Canada and the European Parliament, pledged to "support Taiwan" through "regular visits, joint dialogues or cooperation." In turn, Bundestag member Holger Baker announced that a German parliamentary delegation would visit Taiwan in the first half of October 2022. In November-December, a group of members of the British House of Commons, headed by the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Tom Tugendhat, intends to arrive on the island.

All previous and future visits of politicians from NATO countries to Taiwan show that the Western community began a new policy: to tie up Taipei to Washington, London, Berlin, etc. via “parliamentary diplomacy” blocking potential unification of the PRC with Taiwan.

The similarity of the methods used by the Americans to ensure dominance in various regions of the world, their direct disregard for the principle of the indivisibility of security, are clearly manifested as in the situation around Ukraine, and in relation to Taiwan. Through Washington's promotion of a "free and open Indo-Pacific" strategy aimed at creating narrow-bloc structures and pushing NATO into Southeast Asia, it reduces the level of collective security. Experts agree that the consequences of such a U.S. policy are aimed at inciting an armed conflict in the Asia-Pacific region.

Addressing the participants in the Moscow International Conference on Security on August 16^th, 2022 President Vladimir Putin outlined:

“The situation in Ukraine shows that the United States is attempting to draw out this conflict. It acts in the same way elsewhere, fomenting the conflict potential in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. As is common knowledge, the USA has recently made another deliberate attempt to fuel the flames and stir up trouble in the Asia-Pacific. The US escapade towards Taiwan is not just a voyage by an irresponsible politician, but part of the purpose-oriented and deliberate U.S. strategy designed to destabilize the situation and sow chaos in the region and the world. It is a brazen demonstration of disrespect for other countries and their own international commitments. We regard this as a thoroughly planned provocation”.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

 

1. Moscow disrupted NATO-Ukrainian schemes

2. On March 6th, 2022 Russian troops continued the military operation according to the plan and real situation

3. Kiev’s lust for nuclear & biological weapons

4. Kiev still shelled Donbass, damaging civilian infrastructure, and prevented civilians to leave Mariupol via humanitarian corridor

5. Zelensky’s fate is determined

August 23, 2022

1. The USA incites Kiev to hit Crimea

Washington’s continued support for Kiev during Moscow’s military operation has put the USA on the verge of becoming party to the Ukrainian conflict, Russia’s deputy Foreign Minister, Sergey Ryabkov has said.

“We don't want escalation. We’d like to avoid a situation, in which the US becomes a party to the conflict, but so far we don’t see any readiness of the other side to take these warnings seriously,” Ryabkov told Rossiya 1 TV channel on August 19.

Moscow rejects Washington's explanation, that providing Ukraine with weapons and other aid is justified by Kiev’s right to self-defense, he pointed out.

“Excuse me, what kind of self-defense is it if they are already openly talking about the possibility of attacking targets deep in the Russian territory, in Crimea?” the Deputy FM wondered.

According to Ryabkov, such statements are being made by the Ukrainian side “not just under the blind eye of the US and NATO, but with the encouragement of this kind of sentiment, approaches, plans and ideas directly from Washington,” Ryabkov insisted.

“The ever more obvious and deeper involvement in Ukraine in terms of countering our military operation, in fact, puts this country, the US, on the verge of turning into a party to the conflict,” he reiterated.

The US has been the strongest supporter of Kiev amid its conflict with Russia, providing Kiev with billions of dollars in military and financial aid, as well as intelligence data. Washington’s deliveries to the Ukrainian military have included such sophisticated hardware as HIMARS multiple rocket launchers, M777 howitzers and combat drones.

On August 19 that U.S. President Joe Biden announced another lethal aid package for Kiev of around $800 million. It is 19^th ‘basket”’ of weapons he has initiated that would be sent to a very failed country named Ukraine.

An unnamed official from the Biden administration told Politico on August 18 that the White House had no problem with Ukraine attacking Crimea, which became part of Russia after a 2014 referendum staged in response to a violent coup. The USA believes that Kiev can strike any target on its territory, and “Crimea is Ukraine,” the American official insisted.

2. Kiev openly declared itself the successor of Ukrainian nationalists

This was stated by Sergei Shoigu, Russian Defence Minister, at the First International Anti-Fascist Congress.

“The Verkhovna Rada [Ukrainian Parliament] proclaimed the OUN-UPA fighters for national independence. After the collapse of the USSR, Washington did everything to create an antipode of Russia from Ukraine”, added the head of the Ministry of Defense. These Ukrainian organizations organization have been recognized as extremist and banned on the territory of Russia by decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation made on November 17, 2014.

Thousands of Ukrainian children have been poisoned by the neo-Nazi ideology in the years since the maidan coup in February.  Grown-ups have consistently taught them hatred, calling it patriotism. To that end, the country established a whole network of children's camps, whose instructors had served as punishers in the Donbass.

'Let Moscow Lie in Ruins!' In 2017, the American TV network NBC aired a story about the Azovets children's summer camp near Kiev. Children living in the Ukrainian capital and nearby districts spent their vacations there.

At first glance, there was nothing "criminal" about the camp's program: drills, military training, the reconstruction of battles, and survival skills. However, the main purpose of the program was to ferment an aggressive ideological narrative among these young Ukrainian patriots. A video shot by an NBC journalist showed children chanting inspirationally:

"What is our motto? We are the children of Ukraine! Let Moscow lie in ruins, we don't care! We will conquer the whole world! Death to Russkies!"

This was their motto. This is what their "big brothers", instructors from the neo-Nazi Azov Battalion, taught them.

A Ukrainian girl in the Azovets military camp near Kiev, shouting: Let Moscow lie in ruins! We don't care! Footage from a news report by the American broadcaster NBC.

A Ukrainian girl in the Azovets military camp near Kiev, shouting: "Let Moscow lie in ruins! We don't care!" Footage from a news report by the American broadcaster NBC.

The purpose of their mission was clearly designated: to wage war on Russians, to destroy the Russians as their main and worst enemy. This is how they were indoctrinated with a sense of belonging to the "great cause”.

NBC presented an interview with the camp instructors. They discuss their mission: “The children don't know what war is, and we have to tell them what it is, because retaking Crimea and taking over Kuban are ahead of us.” Kuban is a historical and geographical region of Southern Russia located mostly in the Krasnodar region. Their plans were clearly outlined.

In 2019, Spanish correspondent Ethel Bonet from El Confidencial shared her impressions of the paramilitary children's camp “Leader” near Kiev.

“Eight-year-old Victoria seems like an ordinary girl. And her dreams for the future can hardly be called very different from those of her peers: she dreams of becoming a fashion designer. Or maybe a model when she grows up. But the little girl already feels like a soldier. And one does not preclude her future in the ranks of combatants of Ukrainian army. At war with whom? But her instructors explain this to her. Those either who have been in battles against the ‘pro-Russian separatists’ or who have taken part in sabotage operations by the Ukrainian armed forces in the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk republics.”

The journalist noted that “Victoria's determination frightens even adults,” and cited the child's words:

“There is only one Ukraine, and we have to protect it. That's why I came here. I want to learn how to fight. I really enjoy shooting a pistol and walking around in military camouflage.”

In 2018, the Leader paramilitary camp hosted up to 200 children aged 7 to 16 during a 20-day shift. The camp ran for three summer months. Full board was $18 a day. The camp's regimen was rigorous, packed to the brim with drills. Moving between facilities was strictly in formation.

The daily physical training “menu” included swimming, running, physical exercises, obstacle courses, climbing rope. Children were taught to handle firearms: seven-year-olds easily disassembled and assembled automatic rifles blindfolded. They mastered shooting from pneumatic weapons.

The background sounds were ultra-nationalist anthems. The marching in formation and the chanting of the slogans “Ukraine Is Above All!”, “Heroes Are Immortal, Enemies Must Die!”, “Leader Opens the Path! Ukraine Is United! Victory or Death!”

There are dozens of such children's military camps in Ukraine. In the years since the so-called Revolution of Dignity, thousands of young Ukrainians have gone through this school of radicalism and hatred. If the goals of the ideologists of neo-Nazism were quite obvious, what did the parents hope for and what did they want to achieve by sending their children voluntarily to a place where they were trained to be aggressive ethnic nationalists?

Family psychologist Yekaterina Sivanova explained the dangers facing children who attend such "patriotic" camps and how it can affect their psyche:

“In this example, the accents placed by adults are important. Children are being indoctrinated to believe that those people are not human, that they must be killed. The child has no right to doubt; he takes it on faith that those are not people, relying on the opinion of the adults in charge.

3. Ukrainian ambassador accused of ‘ethnic hatred’

Kazakhstan’s Presidential Board condemned Ukrainian diplomat who spoke about ‘killing Russians’.

Such remarks made this week by the Ukrainian envoy about killing Russians are completely “unacceptable,” the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan (APK) has stated. 

Pyotr Vrublevsky, the Ukrainian ambassador to the Central Asian country, his photo being attached here, told a local blogger in an interview about the Ukraine conflict on August 22: “We are trying to kill as many [Russians] as possible. The more Russians we kill now, the fewer our children will have to.”

“In our country, where peace and unity are the key principles of state policy and societal consolidation, such statements are unacceptable and inappropriate, no matter who makes them,” the APK, an advisory body to the president of Kazakhstan, said in a statement released on August 23.

Comment: Is he really ‘an ambassador’ or ’a diplomat’? He de facto and de jure is a gangster, and should be declared as ‘persona non grata’ without any delay. That is the overwhelming mood in Russia.

4. The Ukrainian economy is expected to plunge by 40% this year

The Ukrainian economy is expected to plunge by 40% this year, according to S&P Global Ratings, which raised the country’s foreign currency sovereign credit ratings on Friday, adding that Kiev had completed a distressed debt restructuring.

The agency’s forecast coincides with that of Kiev, issued on the same day.

Economic Development and Trade Minister Yulia Sviridenko said on Friday that Ukraine’s GDP in the remaining months of 2022 could fall by up to 40%, citing the conflict with Russia as a major reason.

Boosting the country’s credit score of foreign debt to CCC+ “reflects strong committed international financial support to Ukraine, coupled with eroding, albeit still relatively high, foreign exchange reserves,” the agency said in a statement.

Major rating agencies declare Ukraine in defaultREAD MORE: Major rating agencies declare Ukraine in default

In its latest upgrade, S&P joined Fitch, which raised Ukraine’s credit score on Thursday. However, S&P warned that “given the ongoing conflict with Russia, Ukraine’s ability to stay current on its debt is highly dependent on factors largely outside of government control.”

Earlier this month, both agencies lowered Ukraine’s foreign currency ratings to ‘selective default’ and ‘restricted default’, respectively, saying the country’s debt restructuring was seen as distressed.

The downgrade came shortly after state-run firms Ukrenergo and Ukravtodor requested a two-year freeze on payments on almost $20 billion in international bonds. The country’s overseas creditors agreed to suspend interest payments and postpone the maturity date of the bonds by two years.

5. Kiev intends to steal Russian gas to Europe once again

Former speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Dmytro Razumkov has assured that stealing Russian gas in transit is legal.

Kiev should start confiscating the gas that Russia supplies to Europe through the territory of Ukraine and sell it independently to the union, former Rada speaker and former head of the ruling party Sluha Naroda, MP Dmytro Razumkov said on Facebook. He opined that the gas belongs to Russia as long as it does not cross the EU border, which means it is subject to Ukrainian legislation on the confiscation of Russian assets.

“The gas that is transported through the territory of Ukraine, it is Russian. Up to the border with Europe it is Russian gas. And what do we do under the law? We can confiscate it,” Razumkov wrote.

Last time Kiev has stolen Russian natural transit gas supplied to Europe in 2009. The West never criticized Ukraine for such robbery.

6. Ukraine still commits genocide crimes against civilians in Donbass

Over the past day August 20th, according to the Representative Office of the JCCC in the DPR, AFU fired two hundred and sixty-eight ammunition from Grad multiple launch rocket systems, 155, 152 and 122-mm cannon artillery, as well as 120-mm mortars.

The fire was fired at the districts of eleven settlements of the Republic. As a result of shelling, two civilians were killed, one was injured of varying severity. Eleven houses were damaged.

Over the past day, according to the Representative Office of the JCCC in the DPR, the enemy fired two hundred and sixty-eight ammunition from Grad multiple launch rocket systems, 155, 152 and 122-mm cannon artillery, as well as 120-mm mortars.

The fire was fired at the districts of eleven settlements of the Republic. As a result of shelling, two civilians were killed, one was injured of varying severity. Eleven houses were damaged.

Over the past day, according to the Representative Office of the JCCC in the DPR, the enemy fired two hundred and sixty-eight ammunition from Grad multiple launch rocket systems, 155, 152 and 122-mm cannon artillery, as well as 120-mm mortars.

The shelling took place against the districts of eleven settlements of the republic. As a result of shelling, two civilians were killed, one was injured of varying severity. Eleven houses have been partly destroyed.

7. The U.S. State Department urged U.S. citizens to leave Ukraine immediately

The U.S. Department of State has called on Americans to leave the territory of Ukraine as soon as possible. A statement issued to this effect was published on 23 August, 2022 on the official website of the American Embassy in Kiev  [source:  https://ua.usembassy.gov/security-alert-u-s-embassy-kyiv-ukraine-6/?utm_source=yxnews&utm_medium=desktop]

It is noted that the situation throughout Ukraine remains unstable and may deteriorate “without warning”. The U.S. Embassy cited safe private ground transportation options as the preferred method of evacuation.

Th Embassy advised the following actions to take: to know the location of your closest shelter or protected space; to follow the instructions from local authorities and seek shelter immediately in the event of mortar and/or rocket fire; to regularly monitor local and international news and social media news channels; to ensure travel documents are valid and easily accessible, and six more measures.

8. Situation on the battlefields

Ukrainian troops have shelled residential buildings in Donetsk using NATO-supplied 155mm caliber artillery, city officials claimed on August 22. An apartment complex in the capital of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) “took a direct hit,” Mayor Alexey Kulemzin wrote on Telegram. Three civilians were killed, he added.

On August 23 AFU again shelled Donetsk by using U.S. M142 HIMARS and long-range artillery. Four civilians have been killed and ten were injured. The Office of the head of the DPR Administration has been hit. Nobody has been hurt.

The Russian Armed Forces have destroyed with Kalibr cruise missiles an ammunition depot in the Odessa Region, where missiles for U.S. multiple rocket launchers HIMARS were stored, Russian Defense Ministry reported on August 21

High-precision sea-based long-range Kalibr missiles near the village of Mayorskoye in the Odessa Region destroyed an ammunition depot with missiles for the American HIMARS multiple-launch rocket systems and Western-made anti-aircraft systems," the MoD said.

The Kalibr (NATO classification: SS-N-27 Sizzler) is a Russian cruise missile developed and produced by the Novator Design Bureau. The Russian Armed Forces currently use two modifications of these missiles: Kalibr-NK (ship-based) and Kalibr-PL (mounted on submarines).

The exact characteristics of the Kalibr are not known for certain. According to various data, range of these missiles is up to 375 km against sea targets and up to 2,600 km against land targets, maximum weight of the HE warhead is 500 kg.

The complex entered the service of the Russian Navy in 2012. The missiles were first used during the military operation against terrorists in Syria. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the missile was used on 13 occasions, with a total of at least 99 missiles fired at terrorist targets.

9. Turkey comments on progress of Ukrainian grain deal

“Since August 1, a total of 53 vessels have sailed for grain shipments, 27 of which have departed from Ukrainian ports,” Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said at Istanbul’s Joint Coordination Center.

However, earlier last week, the Kremlin, commenting on a call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, noted that “obstacles for the Russian grain [exports] persist,” which has an adverse effect on the world’s food security.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. addressed this problem to some extent, reiterating that “it is important that all governments and the private sector cooperate to bring” food and fertilizers to market.

“Without fertilizer in 2022, there may not be enough food in 2023,” he warned. “Getting more food and fertilizer out of Ukraine and Russia is critical to further calm commodity markets and lower prices for consumers.”

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

August 24, 2022

1. The Russian envoy briefed the UN Security Council on recent Ukrainian attacks on the ZNPP.

Russia has submitted photographic evidence of several Ukrainian rocket and artillery attacks on the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant or ZNPP to the UN Security Council, Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said on August 23 according to Moscow time. He also briefed the SC on the most recent attacks, arranged by Kiev in August, some of which involved NATO-supplied weapons, and insisted that Russia does not use the site as a military base and does not deploy heavy weapons there.

“The Russian Ministry of Defense is ready to provide the IAEA with high-resolution images, which show that weapons, especially heavy ones, are not placed on the territory of the station,” he added.

In addition to the photographic evidence of Ukrainian shelling of the plant, Nebenzia entered into the record a timeline of strikes, named the Ukrainian artillery unit involved, and specified which strikes featured M777 howitzers given to Ukraine by the Pentagon.

“It seems that our colleagues exist in some kind of their own parallel reality, in which the Russian military shells the ZNPP it is protecting, using American systems at that,” Nebenzia said. He also noted that there is a normal co-operation between Ukrainian operators at the plant and Russian soldiers responsible for its security.

Contrary to insinuations by Kiev and its Western backers, Nebenzia noted, Moscow had given consent to the IAEA to visit the ZNPP back in June, before the Ukrainian drone, artillery and rocket attacks began. But Kiev disrupted such inspection visit.

Nebenzia blamed the USA and its allies for tolerating “criminal” behavior by Ukraine – from the shelling of the ZNPP to the car bomb that killed Russian journalist Darya Dugina in Moscow over the weekend (some details are in item 2).

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said on August 23 he would personally head the agency mission to the ZNPP in the coming days, and that the UN nuclear watchdog intends to establish a permanent presence on site. But he linked the trip to the results of negotiations with Kiev that insists that the team should go there via Ukraine.

2. Russia blamed Ukraine for killing Darya Dugina

The murder of a 29 years old journalist Darya Dugina was committed by a Ukrainian national, the Russian Federal Security Service claimed.

The car bombing outside Moscow on August 20, 2022 which took the life of journalist Darya Dugina [her photo with her father below], was orchestrated and carried out by Ukrainian secret services, the Russian Federal Security Service or FSB has stated.

Dugina was killed while returning from a festival held in Moscow Region. She was the daughter of a political commentator Aleksandr Dugin. Like her father, she was known for her vocal support of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine defending civilians in Donbass and in other areas in Ukraine.

The Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences to the relatives of Darya Dugina. He called Darya as a “talented person with a radiant personality and true Russian heart”.  She “showed with her actions what it means to be a patriot of Russia,” the president added, blasting her murder as a “heinous and cruel crime.” The Russian president has posthumously awarded Darya Dugina the Order of Courage.

In a statement on August 22, the FSB said that Ukrainian national Natalya Vovk, also known as Natalya Shaban [her photo is below] was born in 1979 and having links with the AFU and “Azov” nationalist faction, carried out the bombing.

According to the FSB, Vovk arrived in Russia with her teenage daughter on July 23, 2022 and rented an apartment in the building in Moscow where the victim also lived. Vovk and her daughter attended the ‘Tradition’ festival on August 20, where Aleksandr Dugin delivered a lecture and his daughter was present, the FSB said.

Investigators stated earlier that a bomb was planted under the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado SUV Dugina used to leave the event. The bomb was detonated remotely, killing Dugina as she was driving on a highway.

Her father who was travelling behind her in another car became an eye witness of the explosion.

Vovk then urgently left Moscow with her daughter for Estonia on August 21.

The FSB added that Vovk used only one car with a license plate from the Donetsk People’s Republic when entering Russia, but replaced it with a Kazakhstan license plate when driving in Moscow, and a Ukrainian plate when crossing into Estonia. Ordinary citizens do not change plate numbers during short trips so many times.

Moscow will show no mercy towards those responsible for the death of Darya Dugina, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said. “I consider it a barbaric crime for which no forgiveness can be granted,” he said.

Pope Francis has denounced the killing of Darya Dugina,

August 26, 2022

1. On the August 25, 2022 the Council of the State Duma, the lower house of the Russian Federal Assembly (Parliament), unanimously adopted the following statement supported by the leaders of all political parties represented at the State Duma:

Statement of the Council of the State Duma on the threats arising from the shelling of the ZNPP Ukrainian military units

The Council of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation strongly condemns the ongoing shelling by Ukrainian military units of Europe's largest Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) over the past few weeks.

The critical infrastructure of ZNPP is subjected to missile and artillery strikes, the violation of nuclear and physical safety of which threatens a large-scale catastrophe in the center of the European continent. The consequences of the reckless actions of Kiev, which gives orders to shell the ZNPP, can become truly terrifying.

On the territory of the Russian Federation, Ukrainian saboteurs undermine power lines leading to the Kursk nuclear power plant.

A series of major accidents at nuclear power plants, obviously, did not teach Kiev and its NATO patrons anything. Russophobic ideology outweighs the principles of nuclear security.

It is only thanks to the dedication of the Russian servicemen who carry out their duty as part of a special military operation in Ukraine that it has been possible so far to provide the necessary protection for the main facilities of the ZNPP and the nearby city of Energodar.

The inherently terrorist attacks on the ZNPP are violations of international humanitarian law, which entails the responsibility of the states involved and politicians who give criminal orders and carry them out.

Russia constantly raises in the UN Security Council the question of the inadmissibility of strikes against the ZNPP by Ukraine. Gives irrefutable evidence of the crimes of the Kyiv regime. Calls on countries that influence Kyiv to force the Ukrainian side to immediately stop shelling.

Western countries are becoming accomplices and accomplices in crimes, supplying Ukraine with ever heavier types of weapons. By condoning the barbaric attacks on the ZNPP, the sponsors of Kyiv endanger the peoples of their countries, which is irresponsible and inadmissible.

The Council of the State Duma, which includes, among other things, the heads of factions of all political parties represented in the State Duma, calls on the UN and the IAEA, as well as national parliaments, inter-parliamentary organizations and bodies:

- give a fundamental assessment of the criminal actions of Kyiv;

- to demand from the authorities of Ukraine an immediate cessation of shelling of the ZNPP and other objects, the destruction of which carries the danger of radioactive, chemical and biological contamination and a tech man-made disaster.

The Council of the State Duma demands to stop the supply of weapons to Ukraine, with which the anti-people Kyiv regime kills and maims people, creates the risk of a nuclear catastrophe.

We appeal to the citizens of Ukraine with a request to realize the terrible consequences of the criminal and provocative policy of the Kyiv regime.

The Council of the State Duma reaffirms the readiness of the Russian side to do everything necessary to organize an international IAEA mission to the Zaporizhia NPP so that the agency’s specialists can testify on the spot that there are threats posed as a result of constant Ukrainian attacks on the nuclear power plant, which are fraught with tragic consequences for all mankind.”

Moscow, August 25, 2022

Original in Russian

Заявление Совета Государственной Думы об угрозах, возникающих в результате обстрелов украинскими военными формированиями Запорожской атомной электростанции

Совет Государственной Думы Федерального Собрания Российской Федерации решительно осуждает продолжающиеся в течение последних нескольких недель обстрелы украинскими военными формированиями крупнейшей в Европе Запорожской атомной электростанции (ЗАЭС).

Ракетно-артиллерийским ударам подвергается критически важная инфраструктура ЗАЭС, нарушение ядерной и физической безопасности которой грозит масштабной катастрофой в центре Европейского континента. Последствия безрассудных действий Киева, отдающего приказы об обстрелах ЗАЭС, могут стать поистине ужасающими.

На территории Российской Федерации украинские диверсанты подрывают линии электропередач, ведущие к Курской АЭС.

Ряд крупных аварий на АЭС, очевидным образом, ничему не научили Киев и его натовских покровителей. Русофобская идеология перевешивает принципы ядерной безопасности.

Только благодаря самоотверженности российских военнослужащих, выполняющих свой долг в рамках специальной военной операции на Украине, до настоящего времени удается обеспечивать необходимую защиту основных объектов ЗАЭС и близлежащего города Энергодара.

Террористические по своей сути нападения на ЗАЭС являются нарушениями международного гуманитарного права, что влечет ответственность причастных государств и политиков, которые отдают преступные приказы и их исполняют.

Россия постоянно поднимает в Совете Безопасности ООН вопрос о недопустимости ударов по ЗАЭС со стороны Украины. Приводит неопровержимые доказательства преступлений киевского режима. Призывает страны, влияющие на Киев, принудить украинскую сторону к немедленному прекращению обстрелов.

Соучастниками и пособниками преступлений становятся страны Запада, снабжающие Украину все более тяжелыми видами вооружения. Попустительствуя варварским атакам на ЗАЭС, спонсоры Киева ставят под угрозу народы своих стран, что безответственно и недопустимо.

Совет Государственной Думы, в состав которого входят в том числе руководители фракций всех представленных в Государственной Думе политических партий, призывает ООН и МАГАТЭ, а также национальные парламенты, межпарламентские организации и органы:

-  дать принципиальную оценку преступным действиям Киева;

- потребовать от властей Украины немедленного прекращения обстрелов ЗАЭС и других объектов, разрушение которых несет опасность радиоактивного, химического и биологического заражения и техногенной катастрофы.

Cовет Государственной Думы требует прекратить поставки на Украину вооружений, которыми антинародный киевский режим убивает и калечит людей, создает риск возникновения ядерной катастрофы.

Обращаемся к гражданам Украины с просьбой осознать страшные последствия преступной и провокационной политики киевского режима.

Совет Государственной Думы подтверждает готовность российской стороны сделать все необходимое для организации международной миссии МАГАТЭ на ЗАЭС с тем, чтобы специалисты агентства могли на месте засвидетельствовать наличие угроз, создаваемых в результате постоянных украинских атак на атомную электростанцию, чреватых трагическими последствиями для всего человечества.

Москва, 25 августа 2022 года

2. AFU again shelled the ZNPP

What are the reasons behind such statement issued by the Council of the Russian State Duma?

The Russian Ministry of Defense said Ukrainian forces have inflicted several strikes on the territory of the station in recent days, using, in particular, drones, heavy artillery and multiple launch rocket systems. In most cases, the attacks are repelled by air defense systems, but some shells hit the infrastructure and the area of the nuclear waste repository, which raises the risk of radiation leaks. Another method is to destroy Kakhovskaya Hydropower Station and to leave ZNPP without water used as a cooler. Such HPS has been attacked by Armed forces of Ukraine or AFU several times in July and August 2022.

In the Zaporozhye Region, nearly 30 shellings per day were made by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, of which on August 23, 17 strikes were aimed at ZNPP, the head of the military and civil Administration there reported.

Security systems have been activated at the plant after a power outage, which temporarily left the facility without electricity, members of the Administration in the Ukrainian region have claimed.

The plant has since been connected to an alternative source of power, according to officials. The blackout is said to have been caused by massive wildfires in the area, which were started by Ukrainian shelling, theу said.

Fires, which have engulfed parts of the steppe and woods surrounding the city of Energodar, led to short-circuits in the local grid, leaving not only parts of Zaporozhye Region without power, but also the neighboring Kherson Region.

The head of the military-civil Administration of Energodar, Yevgeny Balitski, has been quoted by media as saying: “According to preliminary information, because of massive shelling by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which has continued since last night, fields and undergrowth caught fire. This led to a short-circuit in the grid.” He added that two power units were turned off, after which the Zaporozhye Region was left without power supply.

In addition, 19 shells of the US-made HIMARS MLRS have been intercepted near Kakhovskaya HPP, Kherson and Donetsk cities.

Two workers at the Zaporozhye facility have been providing information to AFU, the Russian National Guard protecting ZNPP with assault rifles has claimed.

Russian forces have detained two employees of the ZNPP, who have been providing information on troops and hardware locations to Kiev’s forces, the Russian National Guard (Rosgvardiya) said on August 24.

“Apart from that, a violator of access control [to the plant], an accomplice of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who transmitted the coordinates of the movement of columns of Russian military hardware, has been detained,” they added.

After seizing security control of the power station on March 4, 2022, Russian forces have detained 26 violators of access control to the plant – the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, the National Guard revealed.

It noted that “Specialists of the nuclear, biological and chemical defense of the National Guard, together with colleagues from the Ministry of Defense, daily, several times a day, monitor the situation by measuring radiation levels at control points along the perimeter of the facility.”

Earlier, the Ukrainian company Energoatom – the ZNPP’s operator – claimed that for the first time in nearly 40 years ever it had been completely disconnected from the power grid.

On August 23, the media resource Zaporozhsky Vestnik said electricity supply for Melitopol, Energodar and a number of other localities of the Zaporozhye Region had been disrupted due to the Ukrainian army’s shelling of Energodar. A field near Energodar reportedly caught fire, which caused a short circuit at a substation.

In recent weeks, the ZNPP and nearby city of Energodar have been repeatedly shelled by Ukrainian Armed Forces. The attacks damaged multiple buildings on the premises of the plant, causing fires and power outages, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.

The daily list of recent Ukrainian attacks has been made public on August 23, 2022 (the USA space satellites could verify all these cases):

• on August 11, the Armed Forces of Ukraine fired at the ZNPP with 152 mm guns, damaging equipment for cooling the reactors;
• on August 14, Ukrainian artillery shelled the ZNPP using M777 howitzers supplied by the United States, and also used two guided munitions; a man was killed in Energodar due to shelling, and another was injured;
• on August 15, the Armed Forces of Ukraine fired 30 shells from 152 mm guns at this city;
• on August 17, Ukrainian troops fired 11 shells and launched a Polish-made kamikaze drone, inflicted three strikes at Energodar;
• on August 18, the city was fired upon by heavy artillery seven times;
• on August 20, the Armed Forces of Ukraine once again opened fire on the territory of ZNPP from howitzers transferred by the United States;
• on August 22, a drone of the Ukrainian Armed Forces attacked the laboratory building No. 2 at the ZNPP;
• In the past 24 hours, ZNPP has been shelled twice by Ukrainian troops with large-calibre artillery guns. As a result of the shelling, four munitions exploded near oxygen and nitrogen station, and another one in the area of the special building No. 1. AFU artillery position from which the territory of the nuclear power plant was shelled has been detected to the west of the city of Marganets located in Dnepropetrovsk Region, controlled by AFU. During last day, Ukrainian artillery have launched seven large-calibre artillery strikes against NPP area.The shelling was carried out from Ukrainian troops' firing positions near Nikopol', Marganets, Vyshetarasovka and Chervonogrigorovka, located on the opposite bank of Kakhovka reservoir.

It should be noted that The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists frequently publishes faked stories about ZNPP and camouflage all facts dealt Ukrainian attacks on it.

Recently it offered the readers the interview with Oleh Savitskyi [by Jessica McKenzie, August 19, 2022], a board member of the non-governmental organization Ecoaction and a climate and energy policy ‘expert’ (?) with the Ukrainian Climate who disseminated fairy tales about ZNPP and protected Kiev’s nuclear terrorism who constantly is shelling the plant just for four real purposes: 1) to blame Russia for what it does not do (shelling of ZNPP); 2) to disguise its blackmailing efforts its own attacks on ZNPP; 3) to get more money and deadly offensive weapons from the West; and 4) to intimidate the world community with nuclear disaster at ZNPP after getting a free hand to manipulate with its reactors after Russian National Guard would supposedly leave the territory of the plant, thus wishing to repeat the Chernobyl NPP disaster in 1986.

Oleh Savitskyi also claimed that Russia “kidnapped hundreds of people” (?). Where? What are their names? He did not name any. And will never do. Because it is a lie. There are no complains of ’kidnapping’ from all ethnic Ukrainians and Russians who have already moved into Russia after Ukrainian atrocities that started since 2014.

3. Protesters in Moscow called out West over Ukraine’s use of APM on civilians

Demonstrations against the use of air-dropped anti-personnel mines or APM were held in Moscow on August 24 near the Embassies of the USA and France in Moscow to protest the use of scatterable APM by NATO-backed Ukraine.

The protesters taped images of the mines to the sidewalk around the Embassies. The stickers featured a QR code leading to a website explaining what the PFM-1 mines are and accusing Ukraine of dropping them on Donbass cities.

Kiev’s aim is evident: to make more civilians in Donbass crippled or dead.

By now Armed Forces of Ukraine dispersed more than 19,000 such mines in Donbass. 47 civilians, including two kids have been injured, one man died.

Ukraine has large stockpiles of different types of mine, including an estimated six million PFM-1 mines as of 2011. The country was supposed to dispose of its stocks of the mine to comply with its ligations, but refused.

Thus, Ukraine violates the Ottawa Convention on banning APM. Kiev has signed and ratified it.

4. Russian ex-president envisions military junta in Kiev

A coup is the only alternative to a civilian government accepting Russia’s terms for peace, former Russian president and now deputy chair of the Russian National Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev said.

He outlined the scenario as one of two options that he believes to be viable for Ukraine. The other was if the government of President Vladimir Zelensky changed its tune and agreed to Russia’s terms for ending hostilities. Either way, Russia will get what it wants from Ukraine, the official stressed.

5. Who spends more? And what for?

The USA spends more money on the Armed Forces of Ukraine than Ukraine itself. Since January 2021, Washington has provided Ukraine with military aid roughly three times its annual defense budget, a White House spokeswoman said.

6. Ukraine’s anti-Russian statement at the UNO was backed by less than a third of its members

Of the 193 states, only 58 agree with the position of Kiev. These are European countries, the USA, Great Britain, Georgia, Turkey, Switzerland, as well as several countries in Asia and Latin America.

The statement unjustifiably criticized Russia’s actions and called on it to immediately stop combat operations.

7. Russian Armed Forces will soon increase its military personnel

The Russian president signs a decree on adding more troops to the Armed Forces. The document, published on the Government’s website, adds 137,000 men to the ranks of the Armed Forces from January 1, 2023 bringing the total quantity to 1,150628 military men. The previous figure fixed by the law in November 2017 was 1,013628 military men.

By that time the overall strength of the RAF will be 2,039758 persons (military men plus 889,139 civilians working in the Armed Forces included).

Some Russian analysts suggest that such move is not only dealt with the third Ukrainian aggression and genocide versus Donbass (they are is still continued), but with additional potential NATO enlargement in Northern Europe that might happen in 2022.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

August, 27, 2022

 1. Ukraine still adheres to “nuclear terrorism”

The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) has stated that the Kiev regime continued to engage in "nuclear terrorism” by targeting the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), firing long-range artillery projectiles at the territory of the facility located in the heart of Europe.

Unfortunately, such dangerous and barbaric actions

are still continued by president Zelensky without any interruption despite the debates devoted to the issue at two emergency meetings at the UN Security Council meetings held on August 11 and 23, 2022 [see previous Reports for additional details].

“Over the last 24 hours, artillery units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have shelled the territory of the ZNPP three times. A total of 17 shells were fired, four of which hit the roof of special building No. 1, where 168 assemblies with American nuclear fuel from the Westinghouse [Electric Corporation] company are stored,” the Russian MoD said.

The Ministry added that “another 10 shells exploded 30 meters away from the dry storage of spent nuclear fuel, and three more projectiles detonated in the area of special building No. 2, which houses the fresh nuclear fuel storage unit of the TVEL nuclear fuel company and the storage of solid radioactive waste.

The Russian MoD also noted that Ukrainian sheeling was arranged again from the city of Marganets, located in Dnepropetrovsk Region, still controlled by the ultra-Nazi regimes entrenched in Kiev.

 One U.S. howitzer М777 that fired at ZNPP was destroyed by Russian troops there.

The local authorities reported that in the morning on Saturday August 27 Ukrainian troops had launched 20 artillery strikes on the city of Energodar, including five on the ZNPP's territory directly.

At the same time monitoring of the technical condition of the ZNPP and ensuring its functioning is carried out by regular technical personnel. The Russian special military formation protects the external perimeter of the nuclear plant. There are no heavy weapons in the area of the NPP”, the Russian MoD said.

2. Does the USA see any profits in arming Ukraine?

On August 7, a documentary film entitled “Arming Ukraine” was presented at the Internet resource of the American TV channel CBS. In a few hours, the picture gained over 250 thousand viewers. Several thousand viewers left their comments. Many were outraged by the information about the disappearance of up to 70 percent of the weapons sent to Kiev, purchased by the current U.S. administration at the expense of taxpayers. The audience reacted with indignation watching the video in which a cache of Western weapons is located in a Ukrainian residential building, which is a violation of the rules of war and explains the facts of attacks on city blocks, which are presented by the Kiev regime as evidence of alleged Moscow’s “cruelty”. Many comments stressed the need to organize reliable control over arms supplies to Ukraine from the Western countries nowadays totaling nearly 50, including 30 members of NATO.

The film reminded the Americans of the circumstances of the urgent flight of the U.S. military contingent from Afghanistan, when weapons worth $ 80 billion fell into the hands of the Taliban Islamic movement. As a result, modern types of weapons, intelligence and communications equipment are used by militants in India and Pakistan. Today, the danger is potential import of “Ukrainian weapons and military equipment” to carry out terrorist attacks in American cities.

The footage drew criticism from the White House. The Biden administration’s policy of providing military-technical aid to “one of the most corrupt countries in the world” is called as short-sighted and unnecessarily wasteful of money from the U.S. federal budget.

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, member of the House of Representatives (Republican, Georgia) noted that the content presented in the film fully confirms the correctness of her position on the inexpediency of providing military-technical assistance to Kiev [some U.S. weapons taken in Ukraine have been exhibited near Moscow in August 2022 at the International Forum “Army-2022”; see photo on the right].

Suggesting how Russia and Ukraine can reach a peace deal and end their six-month conflict, the divisive lawmaker said she was opposed to the U.S. funding a “proxy war” in Ukraine. “I am completely against funding this proxy war with nuclear Russia and Ukraine. I think we should be caring about our country. Of course, no one supports what happens there, everybody feels sorry for the Ukrainian people and all that, but you know what, our country matters, so to me, I’m not concerned at all about Ukraine. I’m concerned about America,” she underscored.

In her words, the proxy war there needs to end, and the USA does not need to be funding war over there. She claimed that the USA does not want a war with Russia, and nobody else does except the military industrial complex here in the USA

Congresswoman Lauren Opal Boebert (Republican, Colorado) criticized Washington’s intention to increase the scale of support for Ukraine in conditions when a significant part of the weapons sent by the West to Kiev do not reach the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the battlefield.

Probably, in connection with the initiated wave of criticism against the current U.S. administration, on the same day the video materials were removed from the Internet resource. Unfounded accusations of spreading false information and “pro-Russian orientation” and the staged nature of the film have been aimed at the CBS TV network.

The film confirmed the loss in Ukraine of a significant part of the weapons supplied by the West, served as another link in the chain of growing negative reaction in American society regarding the intentions of the Joseph Biden administration to continue providing military-technical assistance to Kiev without any interruptions.

What is the reaction of some U.S. officials?

The USA spends more money on the Armed Forces of Ukraine than Ukraine itself. Since January 2021, Washington has provided Ukraine with military aid roughly three times its annual defense budget, a White House spokeswoman said.

The Pentagon’s acting Inspector General Sean O’Donnell told Bloomberg on August 25 that his office will test the effectiveness of the system that tracks U.S. weapons shipped to Ukraine as part of the Defense Department’s multi-billion dollar military assistance program [see photo below: the U.S. M777 howitzer captured in Ukraine at the International Forum “Army-2022”].

“As far as we can tell, right now, everything that is supposed to shoot and go boom, they are using every bit of it,” the official said, adding that the system needs to be double-checked as the Ukrainians use “hand receipts” to trace supplied arms. “I don’t think they have much fidelity” as to where it ends up, O’Donnell noted.

The Inspector General office will be looking into the weapons shipments to ensure that they are not being diverted to the black market, according to the report. Concerns over such risks have been voiced by various European and international law enforcement agencies, following evidence that at least some easier-to-smuggle Western arms have ended up in the hands of gunrunners offering them to clients online.

U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan earlier voiced concerns that supplying Ukraine with ATACMS missiles could escalate the conflict and lead to a world war. ATACMS or MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System is a larger tactical-level ballistic missile that can travel up to 300km.

Washington is not supplying Kiev with longer-range ATACMS missiles at present because most Russian targets are within range of other weapons, a senior Pentagon official has explained. The assessment was made by U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl as he briefed the media on military assistance being provided to Ukraine. Kahl said the reason for not sending them was purely military and based on the reports that Ukraine provides to the USA.

It has been announced recently in Washington that the White House has ordered to send one more “basket” of lethal arms to be delivered to failed Kiev regime that should be replaced a long time ago for war crimes, inefficiency and nuclear blackmail. It is 20^th such “basket” for $ 2.98 billion since February 24, 2022.

The package, which marks the single largest tranche since Russia launched SMO in Ukraine six months ago to defend civilians in Donbass, includes six more of the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems with additional ammunition, up to 245,000 rounds of 155mm artillery ammunition; 65,000 rounds of 120mm mortar ammunition; up to 24 counter-artillery radars; and unnamed laser-guided rocket systems. The USA plans to send the M982 Excalibur, which is a laser-guided projectile made by Raytheon.

The 19th package announced just two weeks ago for $775 million, included new drones, armored vehicles and artillery also used to damage ZNPP.

These two August packages are as part of the $40 billion in security and economic aid passed by Congress and signed into law by Biden in May, 2022.

The shipments indicated that Washington and Kiev expect hard fighting on the ground in the coming weeks or months. Obviously, with the strategic goal: to worsen European and global military and political situation.

August 31, 2022

1. Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) suffered heavy losses

As a result of the defeat of the Ukrainian offensive on Zelensky's personal orders in Nikolaev-Krivoi Rog and other directions, AFU suffered heavy losses for a very short time – for the first time. Ukrainian 524 “major offensive” widely advertised by Ukrainian and Western mass media has vanished in the haze.

During the last two days of unsuccessful attacks in the Nikolaev-Krivoy Rog and other directions,

Ukrainian troops also lost four combat aircraft: two Su-25s, one Su-24 and one MiG-29. Three Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopters were shot down in the air. During repel of the enemy offensive the Russian troops have defeated units of 128th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade of AFU redeployed from western Ukraine.

Just in two days …

The leaders of the USA, the UK, Canada, FRG, etc: don’t you wish to stop the third aggression launched by Kiev against Donbass and against other areas in Ukraine dreaming for living outside neo-Nazi Ukraine? Don’t you understand that your blood money will never help the butcher-in-Kiev?

Reality for you: since February 24, 2022 Kiev has not liberated any of its territory.

2. Developments on the other fronts (if you have not time to read it full, just see the latest data in the box below)

High-precision ground-based weapons near Aleksandrovka, Dnepropetrovsk Region, have hit a temporary deployment point and an ammunition depot of 1st Tank Brigade of AFU. More than 200 fighters, including about 40 foreign mercenaries, more than 20 armoured vehicles and a large quantity of artillery shells have been destroyed.

Concentrated strikes have been carried out near Konstantinovka in Donetsk People's Republic against a temporary mercenary position of Foreign Legion formation as well as a command post of Kraken nationalist formation.  The strikes have resulted in the destruction of over 100 militants and 7 units of military equipment.

In Krivoi Rog city in Dnepropetrovsk Region, Russian Aerospace Forces precision weapons have destroyed the production shops of the Intervzryvprom plant where explosives and other products for the Ukrainian Armed Forces were being manufactured.

Operational-tactical and army aviation, missile troops and artillery strikes continue against military facilities in Ukraine. 5 command posts have been hit, including those of 108th and 65th Mechanized Brigades near Vodyanoye in Donetsk People's Republic and Veselyanka in Zaporozhye Region, 35th and 36th brigades of AFU Marines near Nikolaev, a nationalist formation in Kharkov city, and 52 artillery units, 142 areas of manpower and and military equipment concentration.

3 missile and artillery ammunition depots near Sarny in Rovnenskyi Region, Krivoi Rog in Dnepropetrovsk Region and Vernopol'e in Kharkov Region have been destroyed.

Russian air defence means have shot down 2 Su-25 airplane of Ukrainian air force near Krasnoye Znamya, Nikolaev Region.

 5 UAVs have been also shot down near Valeriyanovka in Donetsk People's Republic, Chubarevka in Zaporozhye Region, Kapitolovka, Izyum and Krasnoye in Kharkov Region. In addition, 3 Ukrainian Tochka-U ballistic missiles, as well as 53 shells of multiple rocket launchers have been intercepted near Kherson, Novaya Kakhovka in Kherson Region, Antonivskyi Bridge and Kakhovskaya HPP. Including: 44 of HIMARS, 5 of Olkha and 4 of Uragan.

3. Kiev regime continues shelling ZNPP on the eve of the IAEA team visit

Ukraine continues to arrange a man-made nuclear disaster at Zaporozhye NPP (ZNPP), thus blocking the visit of the IAEA inspectors to that place:

On August 29, Ukrainian troops used 4 Polish-made strike kamikadze drones at the plant. All the drones were intercepted by Russian means. One of the drones fell on the roof of Special Building No 1, which stores US-made nuclear fuel and solid radioactive waste. Damage and casualties were avoided.

On August 30, Ukrainian artillery fired 2 shells into the territory of the nuclear power plant, which exploded near Special Building No 1.

On August 31, several hours before the IAEA inspection team’s arrival to ZNPP was expected to reach ZNPP, Zelensky’s troops have shelled more by 60 missiles and artillery ammunition. Several shells hit depot of fresh nuclear fuel.

All Ukrainian attacks came from artillery positions of AFU near Marganets, Dnepropetrovsk Region. Russian Armed Forces artillery return fire have suppressed enemy firepower.

Kiev intentionally shelled ZNPP several hours before the UN SC meeting was convened on August 23, and soon after it was closed.

The same story repeats today.

And the U.S. State Department says that it does not know who is responsible for such shelling of the biggest NPP in Europe (?)

Incredible unprofessionalism. That’s on one hand.

On the other – it is covering up a war criminal and nuclear blackmailer – Zelensky. Still: “WANTED”.

Like in a U.S. publicly posted police announcement.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

September, 5 , 2022

1. Kiev continues nuclear terrorism. It has a specific blackmail scheme

Despite the presence of IAEA representatives at Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, Kiev regime continues provocations aimed at posing a threat to create a technological disaster at ZNPP.

While Kiev regime and its western sponsors were preparing an operation aimed at capturing Zaporozhye nuclear power plant on September 1, the international community had to be informed about the establishment of Kiev's control over the plant by specially selected and prepared 'mass media representatives' from Ukraine, USA and United Kingdom in presence of the mission from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

With this purpose, as it was confirmed on September 2 in the public statement by Zelensky, Kiev regime added extra motor cars with Ukrainian and Western journalists on board to the convoy of IAEA without prior arrangement with anybody. The attempt to carry out this provocation was made by Kiev in disregard of mission's working scenario documentally predetermined by IAEA Secretariat and UN Department for Safety and Security.

According to thoroughly studied and agreed documents, the access to the territory of ZNPP was to be provided only pursuant to the lists previously presented by Russian MoD to UN Department for Safety and Security. There are no representatives of Ukrainian or other mass media tasked to accompany IAEA's convoy on September 1 from Kiev-controlled territory to ZNPP in the agreed lists. Zelensky blocked any participation of Ukrainian journalists in the reporting to the IAEA visit to ZNPP.

Despite that order, some persons disguised as “newsmen” wanted to visit ZNPP with specific aims. Considering this fact, in order to implement the security arrangements for IAEA mission's work, all unauthorised “journalists” were stopped and did not get access to cross the delimitation line together with IAEA's convoy.

It has been established that the group of faked “newsmen” without IDs or with faked IDs was tasked to immediately report to the world that ZNPP has been captured by AFU in the presence of the IAEA and declared as “a DMZ”. After that with a free hand in its activity at this plant Kiev could have implemented any wrong-doing with the facility, even melt down any nuclear reactor or several reactors and blackmail any nation by enhanced radiation.  The next step would have been to demand from Russia to sign “a treaty” specifying provisions totally favorable to Kiev.

In the morning on September 1, the group of bona fide journalists that arrived in Energodar city where ZNPP is located witnessed the unsuccessful attempt to assault ZNPP by Ukrainian saboteurs and by heavy artillery shelling launched by AFU at Zaporozhye nuclear power plant and residential areas of Energodar exactly from Nikopol and Marganetz controlled by Zelensky.

After so many attacks made by Ukrainian military only one reactor is operating at the plant – and not at full capacity

"Today, as a result of a fire caused by shelling, the (last working) transmission line was disconnected," Energoatom, Ukraine's state nuclear power company, incorrectly announced in a statement on Telegram on September 5, without mentioning who was responsible for such act, but at the same preferred not to point at Moscow only as it usually did.

[see  Reuters report: https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/last-reactor-unit-ukraine-nuclear-plant-disconnects-after-shelling-energoatom-2022-09-05/].

According to the IAEA, two members of the International Atomic Energy Agency mission have been left at the plant as observers. The other group of inspectors left ZNPP on September 5 at 9:00 AM.  Rafael Grossi, DG of the IAEA, left the area earlier

 The reasons why Kiev still shells ZNPP have been disclosed by Petro Kotin, head of the during an interview with Reuters September 5, 2022 that it was vital that a mission by a UN inspectors’ team to the plant should lead to the end of Russia's “occupation of the facility” and called for new missions to the site, including by UN peacekeepers

The only way to ensure the safety of the ZNPP is the withdrawal of Russian troops from its territory, echoed his words French President Emmanuel Macron who does not understand the real situation in and around the plant, and stubbornly wishing to protect Zelensky’s nuclear terrorism by shelling the facility every day.

But Kotin and Macron should know that as it stands for September 5, under Zelensky’s orders, since July 18 Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) attacked ZNPP:

• 32 times,
• by 124 artillery shells,
• by 26 kamikaze drones with HE,
• and conducted two major sabotage attempts in order to capture the plant.

For this reason Russia has a legitimate right to increase its troops at ZNPP. Otherwise, it would be too late to react.

2. The latest chronology of Kiev’s ZNPP shelling

On September 3, AFU used 8 unmanned aerial vehicles armed with outboard projectiles for launching attacks at the plant. They have been diverted from the plant by ECM and forced to “land” in an unpopulated area where they were destroyed.

On September 4, Ukrainian troops used an attack drone, which was destroyed by Russian ECM, on the territory of the nuclear power plant. It fell one kilometer from the plant's territory. Nothing was harmed.

On September 5, AFU again attacked ZNPP with three artillery shells and one drone with a bomb on board. The impact was on the special building, the communication ceiling, a water tank near reactor # 2, and the concrete fence of ZNPP.

All these cases can be easily verified by the U.S. and NATO satellites and by other means, e.g. by Western and Ukrainian projectiles’ remnants and fragments collected on spot at ZNPP since July 18 till now.

Totally more than 20,000 residents in Energodar signed a petition demanding from Kiev to stop destruction of ZNPP.

3. Ukrainian “counteroffensive”. No positive gains

Kiev regime continues its unsuccessful attempts to consolidate at several areas towards Nikolayev-Krivoy Rog direction. Aviation of Russian Aerospace Forces, missile troops and artillery launch attacks at the units and reserve forces of tAFU.

The enemy has lost 11 tanks, 17 infantry combat vehicles, including 4 U.S.-manufactured Bradley vehicles, 10 other ACVs, 5 pick-ups with large-calibre machine guns and over 150 servicemen at the abovementioned direction.

Fighter aviation of Russian Aerospace Forces have shot down Su-25 assault fighter of Ukrainian Air Force near Romanovka (Nikolayev Region).

4. Situation on the other battlefields

“Over the past day, the mission reported 40 facts of firing by the armed formations of Ukraine. In the Donetsk direction, the enemy used MLRS “Hurricane”, “Grad”, artillery 155, 152 and 122 mm. On Gorlovsky – MLRS “Grad”, artillery 155, 152 and 122 mm, tank and mortars 120 mm fire by releasing 199 units of various ammunition”, the DPR official representative said.

High-precision armament of Russian Aerospace Forces has eliminated provisional bases of the units from 80th Air Assault Brigade and a munitions depot near Kramatorsk (Donetsk People's Republic). Over 120 Ukrainian servicemen and 11 armoured and special motor vehicles have been eliminated.

Concentrated fire attacks launched at the positions of the units from 30th Mechanised and 95 Air Assault Brigades near Gusarovka (Kharkov Region) and Adamovka (Donetsk People's Republic) have resulted in the elimination of 110 militants. AFU command is manning the abovementioned formations with mobilised citizens from western and central regions of Ukraine, including women.

High-precision attack of Russian Aerospace Forces launched at 2 bases of foreign mercenaries near Kurakhovo (DPR) resulted in the elimination of 50 foreign militants.

Operational-tactical and army aviation, missile troops and artillery continue launching attacks at the military facilities in Ukraine.

Over the past 24 hours, 4 command posts, including: the headquarters of Kraken nationalist group near Kharkov, 66th Mechanised Brigade near Yelizavetovka (Donetsk People's Republic), 65th Mechanised Brigade near Nikolskoye (Zaporozhye Region), as well as 57 artillery units, 189 AFU manpower and military equipment concentration areas have been neutralised. Three munitions depots near Seversk (Donetsk People's Republic), Nikolskoye and Malinovka (Zaporozhye region) have been destroyed. Russian air defence means have shot down 5 unmanned aerial vehicles near Balakleya, Pershotravnevoye (Kharkov region), Zvitne Bazhannya, Ivanovka and Zelyony Gai (Donetsk People's Republic).

Three U.S.-made HARM anti-radar missiles have been intercepted near Novaya Kakhovka (Kherson Region), as well as 7 MRLS projectiles near Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant, including 4 HIMARS and 3 Olkha.

In total, 289 airplanes and 151 helicopters, 1,872 unmanned aerial vehicles, 372 air defence missile systems, 4,804 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 824 combat vehicles equipped with multiple rocket-launching systems, 3,367 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 5,276 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the Special Military Operation.

5.  Russian aims have not changed

Addressing the meeting in the Far East on September 5 Russian President Vladimir Putin has laid responsibility for the tragedy in Donbass on the Ukrainian "neo-Nazi regime", as well as stressing that all of Moscow's attempts to resolve the issue peacefully have failed. Russia launched the SMO in Ukraine on February 24 following a request from the two Donbass republics to protect them against barbaric attacks of Ukrainian forces. The operation came after Kiev failed to implement the Minsk agreements on Donbass reintegration over the course of eight years.

"This [tragedy] is the result of the actions of the nationalist, neo-Nazi regime, which seized power [in Ukraine] by force in 2014 and then launched hostilities in Donbass. It conducted two major military operations [in Donbass] using artillery, aviation, heavy equipment, and so on. And this is what is still happening there," Putin said.

The president stated that it was Russia's obligation to help the people of Donbass, who, he said, were bravely defending their land at times better than professional military.

Putin described Kiev's actions in Donbass as "genocide".

September 8, 2022

1. The latest IAEA Report has some setbacks

The IAEA released its Report on its inspection visit to Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant or ZNPP urging to create a safety zone [here and later “Zaporozhye” has Russian spelling]. IAEA inspectors registered many damages inflicted by Forces of Ukraine or AFU at the ZNPP, and called to resort to measures of preventing a nuclear disaster at the facility.

The Report contains 52 pages and 175 paragraphs. It was made public on September 6, 2022.

"Since April, a considerable number of events at the ZNPP have significantly compromised the Seven Pillars," the statement reads adding that a team of IAEA experts "closely witnessed shelling in the vicinity of the ZNPP…, the team observed damage at different locations caused by reported events with some of the damage being close to the reactor buildings."

Note: Seven Pillars included:

1) the physical integrity of the facilities — whether it is the reactors, fuel ponds or radioactive waste stores — must be maintained;

2) all safety and security systems and equipment must be fully functional at all times;

3) the operating staff must be able to fulfil their safety and security duties and have the capacity to make decisions free of undue pressure;

4). there must be secure off-site power supply from the grid for all nuclear sites;

5) there must be uninterrupted logistical supply chains and transportation to and from the sites;

6) there must be effective on-site and off-site radiation monitoring systems and emergency preparedness and response measures;

7) there must be reliable communications with the regulator and others.

The IAEA urged to immediately set up ‘a nuclear safety and security protection zone around the ZNPP" or NSSPZ. The agency stated its readiness to immediately launch consultations on this issue because such step will help to prevent a nuclear incident that may be possibly provoked by  military actions.

"Pending the end of the conflict and re-establishment of stable conditions there is an urgent need for interim measures to prevent a nuclear accident arising from physical damage caused by military means. This can be achieved by the immediate establishment of a nuclear safety and security protection zone."  The Report, however, failed to specify in what way NSSPZ around the pklantwill be arranged if Russian National Guards maintain such security.

The plant does not need additional aid from outside sources, especially from Ukraine who has shelled it nearly 40 times and used more than 150 projectiles totally since July 18, 2022.

The agency also recommended it was necessary to re-establish a reserve power supply to the ZNPP, required for the operation of its cooling systems as well as at the other stations. "The IAEA recommends that the off-site power supply line redundancy as designed should be re-established and available at any time, and that all military activities that may affect the power supply systems end." AFU tried to hit the plant power supply systems several times.

It is strange to see the call made by the IAEA DG Rafael Grossi incorporated in the IAEA Report to remove special Russian trucks located at the ZNPP that belong to Nuclear, Biological, Chemical and Radiological Defence troops of the Russian Federation. The IAEA recommendation was very strange: such vehicles having no weapons are more dangerous that all Ukrainian attacks on ZNPP. Naturally, they should stay there.

It is also irrelevant that all Ukrainian shellings against the facility have been recorded in the IAEA Report as if they have been done by Russia. There are no material evidence or space-based satellite images that could prove that Russia attacked the plant.

2. Kiev disregards the IAEA and the UNO call to stop shelling ZNPP

In its Report the IAEA recommended: "That shelling on site and in its vicinity should be stopped immediately to avoid any further damages to the plant and associated facilities, for the safety of the operating staff and to maintain the physical integrity to support safe and secure operation”.

Despite such recommendation Kiev regime continues its shelling of ZNPP aimed at creating a possible technological disaster and with such measure to win the aggression.

15 artillery attacks launched at the city of Energodar and ZNPP by AFU have been recorded over the past 24 hours. Ukrainian artillery has launched a total of 20 projectiles, including three of them directly at the nuclear power plant.

One of the projectiles has impacted the roof of the special building №1, the second has impacted the area between the special building №1 and the second power generator, the third has exploded near the tankers designed for storing distilled water near the power plant № 2.

The fire was being conducted from Ukrainian positions deployed near Marganets (Dnepropetrovsk Region). AFU units have been neutralised by a counter-attack launched by Russian artillery located too far away from ZNPP.

3. Izvestia: The IAEA’s proposal to resolve ZNPP dilemma

The creation of a nuclear security zone around ZNPP is needed, according to one of the key recommendations that the IAEA made public after its visit to the facility. Previously, Ukraine, supported by Western countries and the UN Secretariat, also proposed forming a demilitarized zone. Russia completely rejected this idea since, in its opinion, international control over the nuclear plant would mean practically giving the facility up to the Ukrainians and creating additional risks. That said, Russia notes that the IAEA’s recommendations are vague and general.

"The report by the IAEA group of experts is of a rather general and non-specific nature - the entire wording is very vague," Chairman of the Federation Council’s (Upper House or Senate in short) Foreign Affairs Committee Grigory Karasin told Izvestia. He added that these conclusions shouldn’t be dismissed and should be discussed in greater detail both within the framework of the IAEA and the UN in order to prevent a catastrophe at the nuclear facility and ensure a restraint from the Ukrainians.

4. The Kremlin: Russia provides aid to LPR and DPR based on the UN Charter

Russia is providing aid to the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR) in full compliance with the UN Charter, Russian President Vladimir Putin said when answering questions at a plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) on September 7 in Vladivostock, Russian Far East.

"We are doing this [providing aid – TASS]. Does this comply with the UN Charter? It does. There is Article 51 of the UN Charter which mentions self-defense. And we, as a party to this agreement, are obligated under this clause, under this UN Charter article, to provide aid to our allies. This is just what we are doing. Here is a simple sequence and logic in full compliance with international law," Putin stressed.

He cited the simple sequence related to international law and the justification of Russia’s actions in defending the LPR and DPR. He reiterated that the UN Charter talks about a nation’s right to self-determination: during the Kosovo crisis, the International Court of Justice made a decision according to which, if a part of some territories wants to declare its independence, it does not have to ask permission from its country’s central government. "This is applicable to Kosovo. So, it applies to the DPR and LPR - isn't it the same? Yes, it’s all the same. And if they have the right to this, and they do have it in accordance with the UN Charter and a nation’s right to self-determination, they - by implementing this right - declared their independence. Do they have this right from the standpoint of international law and the UN Charter? They do. And this right is confirmed by the relevant decision of the UN Court in application to Kosovo," the head of state explained.

"If we recognize them, can we conclude an international agreement on friendship, cooperation and mutual aid? Of course, we can. We signed this agreement, it was ratified by the Russian parliament and their parliaments, and there are certain obligations for the Russian side - to provide them with aid, even in the event of aggression.

In this case, aggression by the Kiev regime which is essentially illegitimate because it was founded on a coup d’etat as its original source of power in Ukraine nowadays," the Russian leader outlined.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin
 

1. Russia announces new safe passage routes

2. Situation at the fronts

3. Kiev’s radioactive blackmail goes on

September 11, 2022

1. Russian MoD: Special Military Operation or SMO continues (dated September 10, 2022)

High-precision armament of Russian Aerospace Forces has neutralised the headquarters of 5th National Guard Brigade, the provisional bases of the units from 92nd Mechanised Brigade and Kraken nationalist group deployed near Balakleya and Chuguyev (Kharkov region), as well as the command post of 54th Mechanised Brigade deployed near Ray-Aleksandrovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The attack has resulted in the elimination of up to 300 Ukrainian servicemen and up to 15 units of military equipment.

Operational-tactical and army aviation, missile troops and artillery continue launching attacks at the military facilities in Ukraine.

7 AFU command posts have been neutralised near Rozovka, Ocheretino, Vodyanoye, Novomikhaylovka and Ugledar (Donetsk People's Republic), Snigiryovka and Novonikolayevka (Nikolayev region), as well as 48 artillery units, 178 AFU manpower and military equipment concentration areas.

6 missile, artillery armament and munitions depots have been destroyed near Kurakhovo, Konstantinovka and Seversk (Donetsk People's Republic), Dnepr and Radushnoye (Dnepropetrovsk region), Gulyay Pole (Zaporozhye region).

One radar for detecting and tracking air targets has been destroyed near Kaluga (Nikolayev region).

Within the counter-battery warfare, 2 plattoons of rocket artillery and 5 plattoons of cannon artillery of the AFU have been neutralised near Georgiyevka, Krasnogorovka, Antonovka, Romanovka, Ocheretino, Novgorodskoye and Novosyolovka Pervaya (Donetsk People's Republic).

One U.S.-manufactured 155-mm M-777 howitzer has been destroyed near Novosyolovka Pervaya (Donetsk People's Republic).

Air defence means have shot down 13 unmanned aerial vehicles near Chkalovo and Belyayevka (Kherson region), Krasnoye (Kharkov region), Smeloye, Staromlynovka and Novoukrainskoye (Zaporozhye region), as well as near Novoandreyevka, Valeryanovka, Kirillovka and Panteleymonovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

5 projectiles launched by HIMARS MRLS have been destroyed in air near Novaya Kakhovka (Kherson region).

In total, 293 airplanes and 152 helicopters, 1,916 unmanned aerial vehicles, 374 air defence missile systems, 4,870 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 830 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 3,375 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 5,432 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the SMO.

2.  Statement by Russian MoD dated September 10:

To achieve the stated goals of the SMO to liberate Donbass, it was decided to regroup the Russian troops stationed in the Balakleya and Izyum areas to increase efforts in the Donetsk direction.

For this purpose, within [last] three days, an operation was conducted to roll back and organize the transfer of the Izyum-Balakleya group of troops to the territory of the Donetsk People's Republic.

In the course of this operation a number of distracting and demonstration activities imitating the real actions of troops, were carried out.

In order to prevent damage to the Russian troops, the enemy was attacked with powerful fire with the use of aviation, missile forces and artillery.

Over [the past] three days, more than two thousand Ukrainian and foreign fighters, as well as more than a hundred units of armored vehicles and artillery pieces were destroyed.

3. Russian MoD: SMO has not been stopped (dated September 9)

The Armed Forces of Ukraine made various unsuccessful attempts to attack, suffered losses and withdrew their forces at Nikolayev-Krivoy Rog direction.

Manpower and military equipment of 46th Airmobile Brigade, 35th Marines' Brigade and 61st Chaser Infantry Brigade have been neutralised near Bezymennoye, Novogrigoryevka (Nikolayev region) and Sukhoy Stavok (Kherson region).

The enemy has lost a total of 3 tanks, 4 infantry combat vehicles and 7 other armoured vehicles, 2 pick-ups with large-calibre machine guns and over 270 servicemen at Nikolayev-Krivoy Rog direction.

High-precision attacks of Russian Aerospace Forces have resulted in the neutralisation of the command posts of Kraken nationalist group deployed near Prishib (Kharkov region) and 93rd Mechanised Brigade near Artyomovsk (Donetsk People's Republic). Over 50 nationalists, as well as 16 units of special military equipment and motor vehicles have been eliminated.

Attacks launched by high-precision ground-based armament at the provisional bases of the units from 127th Territorial Defence Brigade and 14th Mechanised Brigade deployed near Kharkov have resulted in the elimination of over 50 and wounding over 120 Ukrainian servicemen.

Operational-tactical and army aviation, missile troops and artillery continue launching attacks at the military facilities in Ukraine.

8 AFU command posts have been neutralised near Lebyazhye, Chervony Yar, Gusarovka and Liman (Kharkov region), Maryinka and Ray-Aleksandrovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Krivoy Rog (Dnepropetrovsk region), Gulyay Pole (Zaporozhye region), as well as 52 artillery units, 153 AFU manpower and military equipment concentration areas.

Eight AFU missile, artillery and munitions depots have been destroyed near Chuguyev (Kharkov region) and Radushnoye (Dnepropetrovsk region).

One combat vehicle of U.S.-manufactured HIMARS multiple rocket-launching system has been destroyed near Chervony Donets (Kharkov region).

One U.S.-made M-777 howitzer has been destroyed near Rovnopolye (Zaporozhye Region).

Air defence means have shot down 6 unmanned aerial vehicles near Izyum (Kharkov region), Staromlinovka, Kirillovka, Slavnoye and Makeyevka (Donetsk People's Republic), as well as Sladkaya Balka (Zaporozhye region).

18 projectiles launched by HIMARS and Olkha MRLS have been destroyed in air near Novaya Kakhovka and Golaya Pristan (Kherson region), as well as near Kakhovka hydroelectric plant.

In total, 293 airplanes and 152 helicopters, 1,916 unmanned aerial vehicles, 374 air defence missile systems, 4,870 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 827 combat vehicles equipped with MRLS, 3,371 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 5,417 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the SMO.

4.  Russian MoD statement (dated September 8)

Due to high losses of the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) that formed the basis of the attack group, Ukrainian troops have held no offensive operations at Nikolayev-Krivoy Rog direction. That is in the South of Ukraine.

Russian Aerospace Forces, missile troops and artillery continue launching high-precision attacks at AFU units and reserve forces at the abovementioned direction.

The list of neutralised targets includes the command posts of 63rd Mechanised Brigade of the AFU near Bereznegovatoye (Nikolayev region), the manpower and military equipment of 46 Airmobile, 57th Mechanised Infantry and 28th Mechanised brigades of the AFU near Sukhoy Stavok, Petrovskoye, Plotnitskoye landmark (Kherson region), Murakhovka and Ternoviye Pody (Nikolayev region).

One munitions depot has been destroyed near Murakhovka (Nikolayev region).

Fighter aviation of Russian Aerospace Forces has shot down 1 Su-25 of Ukrainian Air Force near Konstantinovka (Nikolayev region).

Due to high losses caused by concentrated fire attacks of Russian Armed Forces launched at the positions of 59th Mechanised Infantry Brigade of the AFU near Ukrainka, Zelyony Gay and Novogrivoryevka (Nikolayev region), Ukrainian servicemen refused to fulfil combat tasks and commenced withdrawing to the rear areas.

The enemy has lost a total of 2 tanks, 6 infantry combat vehicles and 5 other armoured vehicles, 7 pickups with large-calibre machine guns and over 190 servicemen at Nikolayev-Krivoy Rog direction over the past 24 hours.

High-precision attacks of Russian Aerospace Forces have resulted in the neutralisation of the provisional bases of the units from 95th Air Assault Brigade near Slavyansk and 81st Airmobile Brigade near Kramatorsk (Donetsk People's Republic). Up to 120 Ukrainian servicemen, 15 armoured and motor vehicles have been eliminated.

Operational-tactical and army aviation, missile troops and artillery continue launching attacks at the military facilities in Ukraine.

5 AFU command posts, including those of 72nd Mechanised, 58th and 53rd Mechanised Infantry brigades near Dzerzhinsk, Soledar and Artyomovsk (Donetsk People's Republic), 1st Tank Brigade near Novonikolayevka (Zaporozhye region), as well as 51 artillery units, 167 AFU manpower and military equipment concentration areas.

5 missile, artillery and munitions depots have been destroyed near Trudovoye (Zaporozhye region), Kurakhovo, Konstantinovka, Seversk (Donetsk People's Republic) and Balakleya (Kharkov region).

Moreover, 1 launching ramp of Buk-M1 air defence missile system has been destroyed near Belaya Krinitsa (Nikolayev region), as well as 1 air target detecting and tracking radar near Malomikhaylovka (Dnepropetrovsk region).

Air defence means of Russian Aerospace Forces have shot down 13 unmanned aerial vehicles near Chervonosyolovka, Ocheretovatoye and Aleksandrovka (Zaporozhye region), Vladimirovka, Mandrykino railway station, Kirillovka and Novoandreyevka (Donetsk People's Republic), Lyubimovka, Kreshchenovka, Kirovo and Tomina Balka (Kherson region), Alisovka (Kharkov region), Senkovka (Chernigov region), as well as Tochka-U ballistic missile near Rakovka (Kherson region).

19 MRLS projectiles, including 16 launched by HIMARS, have been intercepted near Novaya Kakhovka, Molodyozhnoye (Kherson region), Novoosinovo, Grushevka (Kharkov region) and 3 rocket-propelled projectiles launched by Olkha MRLS near Antonovka (Kherson region).

In total, 293 airplanes and 152 helicopters, 1,910 unmanned aerial vehicles, 374 air defence missile systems, 4,863 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 826 combat vehicles equipped with MRLS, 3,369 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 5,387 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.

5. Ukraine still attacks ZNPP: the IAEA is silent as before

Kiev regime continues its provocations aimed at creating a possible technological disaster at Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (NPP).

Six artillery attacks launched at Energodar city have been recordered on September, 9-10. A total of 27 projectiles have been launched from Marganets city located at the opposite shore of Kakhovka Reservoir and controlled by AFU. The attack launched at the power transmission line has resulted in leaving the city without electricity.

Enemy firepower has been neutralised by Russian artillery's counter-attack launched by units located far away from ZNPP.

Authorities of Zaporozhye Region reported on September 11 about the shutdown of the sixth power unit of ZNPP, Vladimir Rogov, a member of the Zaporozhye Region’s Main Council of the Administration, said.

That was the result of uninterrupted shelling of ZNPP by Ukrainian troops verified by space-based system of verification, aerial control, counter-battery fire radars and a great number of fragments from Ukrainian and the U.S. artillery ammunition that have been found and collected. Two main places still controlled by Ukrainian troops where from AFU fired at ZNPP have been identified: the cities of Nikopol and Marganets. Three Ukrainian heavily armed groups from these places have made three unsuccessful attempts to capture the plant. One such attempt has been made when the IAEA team was at ZNPP.

On the other hand, Kiev failed to submit any material and electronic (video or photo) evidence of the alleged “attacks of ZNPP made by Russian forces”.  Kiev also was not able to find out the areas of such “attacks”. Naturally.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

September 12, 2022

 Six months in, the fight in Ukraine is far from finished. But for those in Kiev and its supporters in NATO/EU, even before the success of the last few days, there are signs that Russian military machine could not run out of steam and limit or forget two major goals announced by Moscow in February: to reach denazification and demilitarization of a neo-Nazi regime implanted as a highly virulent mushroom by Washington.

In many cases Russia has clearly stated such strategy, making a strong emphasis on several notions: to liberate not only LPR (it has been liberated already) and DPR (with 80 percent of its land freed from Armed Forces of Ukraine or AFU). Russia will also keep Crimea as a permanent part of the national territory, plus will help the civilians of the Southern and Northern regions of the rest of Ukraine to make a free choice with whom to live – inside Ukraine or inside Russia.

Several villages and some miner settlements in the North and in the South of Ukraine without any strategic significance have been left by Russian troops. Many Ukrainian GIs and foreign mercenaries became KIA.

Highly advertised at the end of the last August Ukrainian ”counteroffensive” to be launched on the Southern battlefields has stopped completely.

 High-precision missile attacks of Russian Aerospace Forces have resulted in the neutralisation of the units from 63rd Mechanised and 46th Airmobile Brigades at Nikolayev-Krivoy Rog direction near Kostromka and Belogorka (Kherson Region). AFU lost a total of over 300 servicemen dead and up to 1,000 wounded over the past 24 hours at the abovementioned operational direction. A very successful result has been attained: a huge AFU munitions depot that storaged 45 thousand tonnes of munitions has been destroyed near Voznesensk (Nikolayev Region).

Russian Aerospace Forces, missile troops and artillery continue launching high-precision attacks at AFU units and reserve forces in Kharkov Region. AFU operation unleashed by Kiev at the beginning of September up North has bogged down with heavy AFU losses.

Manpower and military equipment of Kraken nationalist group, 113th Territorial Defence Brigade and 93rd Mechanised Brigade have been neutralised near Kupyansk and Izyum.  The strikes have resulted in the elimination of the military personnel and military equipment of the units of the 14th and 92nd Mechanized Brigades of the AFU in that region. AFU has lost up to 250 servicemen and over 20 units of military equipment there; 36 artillery units, 125 manpower and military equipment concentration areas have been destroyed in the DPR.

On these battlegrounds Russian Armed Forces have used highly effective heavy weapons on a massive scale, including “Solntsepyok”. It is a 220-mm heavy flamethrower system having 24 or 30-barrel multiple rocket launcher fitted with thermobaric warheads (photo is below). It is impossible to escape from its firewall.

Russian military experts do not exclude to employ heavy strategic bombers with non-nuclear guided air-dropped bombs and air-launched missiles against the Ukrainian military reserves concentrated in some areas of Ukraine.

AFU soldiers wounded during an attempted “counterattack” in Kherson Region complained about catastrophic losses, a shortage of shells and a dramatic lagging behind the Russian army in terms of technology.

A pin-point accurate Russian strikes have been delivered against AFU and nationalists massed in the DPR, Cherkassy, Zaporozhye, Kherson, Kharkov and other regions in Ukraine.

Russian Armed Forces have air supremacy and enough heavy munitions to penetrate any Ukrainian defense.

Danne Lyone, who came from Sweden to fight on the side of Kiev, complained on social media that after intense fighting in recent days, three men of his platoon’s 22 men – including himself – were left in the ranks only. The rest, he said, were killed or seriously wounded.  As one example, Lyon cited the case of an anti-tank grenade that landed in a bunker. Four foreign fighters were in the stronghold at the time. Two of them, wrote the Swedish mercenary, were killed on the spot, while the other two were seriously wounded and knocked out of action. A mercenary with the call sign “Messi” had his leg blown off.

If Kiev rulers continue the third armed aggression and the policy of genocide against civilians living in Donbass and in other areas in Ukraine, Russian military response will be crystal clear – to find Ukrainian GIs everywhere they use weapons versus armless people wishing not to stay in such cruel and barbaric state called “Ukraine” and against Zaporozhye NPP. Each day AFU is shelling residential and social infrastructure in these areas by heavy weapons – firing nearly 300-400 shells, mines and rockets per day, and around 20-30 rounds at Zaporozhye NPP damaging its fresh and spent nuclear fuel, cooling system and electric grid.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

September 27, 2022

1. The majority of voters in four regions expressed their wish to live in Russia

Four separate referenda held in two independent republics in Donbass and in two regions in southern Ukraine, namely Kherson and Zaporozhye Oblast or Regions between September 23-27 ended at 16:00 hours local time on September 27^th, 2022.

According to preliminary results (with 15% of ballot papers counted by 17:00 Moscow time) overwhelming majority of voters have OKeyed admission of all these regions to the Russian Federation as equal subjects.

All referenda have been recognized as valid. They have witnessed very high level of participation of voters despite permanent heavy shelling of the residential areas in all four regions by heavy weapons, including the U.S.-made MLRS HIMARS, by Armed Forces of Ukraine in violation of the UN Charter, the OSCE decisions and the EU basic principles.

The preliminary results will be announced on September 28^th, and final results – some days later.

Such fantastic returns ran counter to Mrs Annalena Baerbock, German Foreign Minister’s allegations, who in a Marcus Lanza’s TV program have disseminated false information about the referenda by claiming that the voters are shot, they are raped, and then they have to put crosses for three days while soldiers with Kalashnikovs [assault rifles] in their hands stand next to them.

Where she has got this false information? Nowhere. Such cases have not been recorded during the referenda. More than 200 foreign observers who have arrived to these regions have not confirmed such false allegations. And no local citizen has lodged any respective complaint, by the way.

The German Ambassador in Moscow should be summoned to the Russian MFA to give explanations why Baerbock has used such unverified propaganda with a very bad smell. She has undermined her political carrier by many coarse and unverified false statements earlier.

This is one more and the latest vivid example of her wrong behavior. Shame that she still represents Germany as the head of the German diplomatic service.

2. Why the majority of citizens in four named regions have voted for joining Russia?

No long arguments and explanations – there are plenty of them to catalogue them here. No time. Later. Just official figures:

In LPR

Since 2014 till February 24, 2022:

killed – 1771 (here and in all other cases atrocities have been done by Armed Forces of Ukraine);

wounded - 3350;

children killed – 38;

children wounded – 91;

social infrastructure buildings destroyed – more than 7200;

social infrastructure buildings damaged – more than 26000

Since February 24 till September 23, 2022:

killed – 91;

wounded – 292;

children killed – 7;

children wounded – 26;

social infrastructure buildings destroyed – 252;

social infrastructure buildings damaged  – 2846

In DPR:

Since 2014 till February 24, 2022:

killed – 9178;

wounded  – более 24629;

children killed– 120;

children wounded– 548;

(NOTE: all data below for social infrastructure buildings is collected since 2017)

social infrastructure buildings destroyed – 2895;

social infrastructure buildings damaged  – 9987

Since February 24 till September 23, 2022:

killed – 908;

wounded – 3475;

children killed– 26;

social infrastructure buildings destroyed – 1790;

social infrastructure buildings damaged – 7470

3. Kiev regime continues shelling ZNPP

On September 26, Ukrainian artillery shelled residential areas of Energodar and the territory adjacent to the nuclear power plant. During the day, Ukrainian artillery fired 59 shells. Four of them exploded near Kazachaya Street in Energodar, and one hit a water utility near Zaporozhye nuclear power plant or ZNPP. The shelling was carried out from cities of Marganets and Nikopol (Dnepropetrovsk Region), controlled by the AFU. Enemy firepower has been neutralized by Russian artillery's counter-attack.

In addition, the attempts of the AFU to strike the territory of the ZNPP by eight loitering unmanned aerial vehicles also launched by AFU have been prevented. All Ukrainian UAVs were shot down outside the territory of the nuclear plant.

October 1, 2022

1. President of Russia Vladimir Putin’s statement at a ceremony for signing the treaties on the accession of the Donetsk People's Republic, the Lugansk People's Republic, the Zaporozhye Region and the Kherson Region to the Russian Federation

(Moscow, Grand Kremlin Palace’s St George Hall. September 30,2022).

“Citizens of Russia, citizens of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, residents of the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, deputies of the State Duma, senators of the Russian Federation,

As you know, referendums have been held in the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics and the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions. The ballots have been counted and the results have been announced. The people have made their unequivocal choice.

Today we will sign treaties on the accession of the Donetsk People’s Republic, Lugansk People’s Republic, Zaporozhye Region and Kherson Region to the Russian Federation. I have no doubt that the Federal Assembly will support the constitutional laws on the accession to Russia and the establishment of four new regions, our new constituent entities of the Russian Federation, because this is the will of millions of people. (Applause.)

It is undoubtedly their right, an inherent right sealed in Article 1 of the UN Charter, which directly states the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples.

I repeat, it is an inherent right of the people. It is based on our historical affinity, and it is that right that led generations of our predecessors, those who built and defended Russia for centuries since the period of Ancient Rus, to victory.

Here in Novorossiya, [Pyotr] Rumyantsev, [Alexander] Suvorov and [Fyodor] Ushakov fought their battles, and Catherine the Great and [Grigory] Potyomkin founded new cities. Our grandfathers and great-grandfathers fought here to the bitter end during the Great Patriotic War.

We will always remember the heroes of the Russian Spring, those who refused to accept the neo-Nazi coup d'état in Ukraine in 2014, all those who died for the right to speak their native language, to preserve their culture, traditions and religion, and for the very right to live. We remember the soldiers of Donbass, the martyrs of the “Odessa Khatyn,” the victims of inhuman terrorist attacks carried out by the Kiev regime. We commemorate volunteers and militiamen, civilians, children, women, senior citizens, Russians, Ukrainians, people of various nationalities; popular leader of Donetsk Alexander Zakharchenko; military commanders Arsen Pavlov and Vladimir Zhoga, Olga Kochura and Alexei Mozgovoy; prosecutor of the Lugansk Republic Sergei Gorenko; paratrooper Nurmagomed Gadzhimagomedov and all our soldiers and officers who died a hero’s death during the special military operation. They are heroes. (Applause.) Heroes of great Russia. Please join me in a minute of silence to honour their memory.

(Minute of silence.)

Thank you.

Behind the choice of millions of residents in the Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics, in the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, is our common destiny and thousand-year history. People have passed this spiritual connection on to their children and grandchildren. Despite all the trials they endured, they carried the love for Russia through the years. This is something no one can destroy. That is why both older generations and young people – those who were born after the tragic collapse of the Soviet Union – have voted for our unity, for our common future.

In 1991 in Belovezhskaya Pushcha, representatives of the party elite of that time made a decision to terminate the Soviet Union, without asking ordinary citizens what they wanted, and people suddenly found themselves cut off from their homeland. This tore apart and dismembered our national community and triggered a national catastrophe. Just like the government quietly demarcated the borders of Soviet republics, acting behind the scenes after the 1917 revolution, the last leaders of the Soviet Union, contrary to the direct expression of the will of the majority of people in the referendum of 1991, destroyed our great country, and simply made the people in the former republics face this as an accomplished fact.

I can admit that they didn’t even know what they were doing and what consequences their actions would have in the end. But it doesn't matter now. There is no Soviet Union anymore; we cannot return to the past. Actually, Russia no longer needs it today; this isn’t our ambition. But there is nothing stronger than the determination of millions of people who, by their culture, religion, traditions, and language, consider themselves part of Russia, whose ancestors lived in a single country for centuries. There is nothing stronger than their determination to return to their true historical homeland.

For eight long years, people in Donbass were subjected to genocide, shelling and blockades; in Kherson and Zaporozhye, a criminal policy was pursued to cultivate hatred for Russia, for everything Russian. Now too, during the referendums, the Kiev regime threatened schoolteachers, women who worked in election commissions with reprisals and death. Kiev threatened millions of people who came to express their will with repression. But the people of Donbass, Zaporozhye and Kherson weren’t broken, and they had their say.

I want the Kiev authorities and their true handlers in the West to hear me now, and I want everyone to remember this: the people living in Lugansk and Donetsk, in Kherson and Zaporozhye have become our citizens, forever. (Applause.)

We call on the Kiev regime to immediately cease fire and all hostilities; to end the war it unleashed back in 2014 and return to the negotiating table. We are ready for this, as we have said more than once. But the choice of the people in Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporozhye and Kherson will not be discussed. The decision has been made, and Russia will not betray it. (Applause.) Kiev’s current authorities should respect this free expression of the people’s will; there is no other way. This is the only way to peace.

We will defend our land with all the forces and resources we have, and we will do everything we can to ensure the safety of our people. This is the great liberating mission of our nation.

We will definitely rebuild the destroyed cities and towns, the residential buildings, schools, hospitals, theatres and museums. We will restore and develop industrial enterprises, factories, infrastructure, as well as the social security, pension, healthcare and education systems.

We will certainly work to improve the level of security. Together we will make sure that citizens in the new regions can feel the support of all the people of Russia, of the entire nation, all the republics, territories and regions of our vast Motherland. (Applause.)

Friends, colleagues,

Today I would like to address our soldiers and officers who are taking part in the special military operation, the fighters of Donbass and Novorossiya, those who went to military recruitment offices after receiving a call-up paper under the executive order on partial mobilisation, and those who did this voluntarily, answering the call of their hearts. I would like to address their parents, wives and children, to tell them what our people are fighting for, what kind of enemy we are up against, and who is pushing the world into new wars and crises and deriving blood-stained benefits from this tragedy.

Our compatriots, our brothers and sisters in Ukraine who are part of our united people have seen with their own eyes what the ruling class of the so-called West have prepared for humanity as a whole. They have dropped their masks and shown what they are really made of.

When the Soviet Union collapsed, the West decided that the world and all of us would permanently accede to its dictates. In 1991, the West thought that Russia would never rise after such shocks and would fall to pieces on its own. This almost happened. We remember the horrible 1990s, hungry, cold and hopeless. But Russia remained standing, came alive, grew stronger and occupied its rightful place in the world.

Meanwhile, the West continued and continues looking for another chance to strike a blow at us, to weaken and break up Russia, which they have always dreamed about, to divide our state and set our peoples against each other, and to condemn them to poverty and extinction. They cannot rest easy knowing that there is such a great country with this huge territory in the world, with its natural wealth, resources and people who cannot and will not do someone else’s bidding.

The West is ready to cross every line to preserve the neo-colonial system which allows it to live off the world, to plunder it thanks to the domination of the dollar and technology, to collect an actual tribute from humanity, to extract its primary source of unearned prosperity, the rent paid to the hegemon. The preservation of this annuity is their main, real and absolutely self-serving motivation. This is why total de-sovereignisation is in their interest. This explains their aggression towards independent states, traditional values and authentic cultures, their attempts to undermine international and integration processes, new global currencies and technological development centres they cannot control. It is critically important for them to force all countries to surrender their sovereignty to the United States.

In certain countries, the ruling elites voluntarily agree to do this, voluntarily agree to become vassals; others are bribed or intimidated. And if this does not work, they destroy entire states, leaving behind humanitarian disasters, devastation, ruins, millions of wrecked and mangled human lives, terrorist enclaves, social disaster zones, protectorates, colonies and semi-colonies. They don't care. All they care about is their own benefit.

I want to underscore again that their insatiability and determination to preserve their unfettered dominance are the real causes of the hybrid war that the collective West is waging against Russia. They do not want us to be free; they want us to be a colony. They do not want equal cooperation; they want to loot. They do not want to see us a free society, but a mass of soulless slaves.

They see our thought and our philosophy as a direct threat. That is why they target our philosophers for assassination. Our culture and art present a danger to them, so they are trying to ban them. Our development and prosperity are also a threat to them because competition is growing. They do not want or need Russia, but we do. (Applause.)

I would like to remind you that in the past, ambitions of world domination have repeatedly shattered against the courage and resilience of our people. Russia will always be Russia. We will continue to defend our values and our Motherland.

The West is counting on impunity, on being able to get away with anything. As a matter of fact, this was actually the case until recently. Strategic security agreements have been trashed; agreements reached at the highest political level have been declared tall tales; firm promises not to expand NATO to the east gave way to dirty deception as soon as our former leaders bought into them; missile defence, intermediate-range and shorter-range missile treaties have been unilaterally dismantled under far-fetched pretexts.

And all we hear is, the West is insisting on a rules-based order. Where did that come from anyway? Who has ever seen these rules? Who agreed or approved them? Listen, this is just a lot of nonsense, utter deceit, double standards, or even triple standards! They must think we’re stupid.

Russia is a great thousand-year-old power, a whole civilisation, and it is not going to live by such makeshift, false rules. (Applause.)

It was the so-called West that trampled on the principle of the inviolability of borders, and now it is deciding, at its own discretion, who has the right to self-determination and who does not, who is unworthy of it. It is unclear what their decisions are based on or who gave them the right to decide in the first place. They just assumed it.

That is why the choice of the people in Crimea, Sevastopol, Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporozhye and Kherson makes them so furiously angry. The West does not have any moral right to weigh in, or even utter a word about freedom of democracy. It does not and it never did.

Western elites not only deny national sovereignty and international law. Their hegemony has pronounced features of totalitarianism, despotism and apartheid. They brazenly divide the world into their vassals – the so-called civilised countries – and all the rest, who, according to the designs of today's Western racists, should be added to the list of barbarians and savages. False labels like “rogue country” or “authoritarian regime” are already available, and are used to stigmatise entire nations and states, which is nothing new. There is nothing new in this: deep down, the Western elites have remained the same colonisers. They discriminate and divide peoples into the top tier and the rest.

We have never agreed to and will never agree to such political nationalism and racism. What else, if not racism, is the Russophobia being spread around the world? What, if not racism, is the West’s dogmatic conviction that its civilisation and neoliberal culture is an indisputable model for the entire world to follow? “You’re either with us or against us.” It even sounds strange.

Western elites are even shifting repentance for their own historical crimes on everyone else, demanding that the citizens of their countries and other peoples confess to things they have nothing to do with at all, for example, the period of colonial conquests.

It is worth reminding the West that it began its colonial policy back in the Middle Ages, followed by the worldwide slave trade, the genocide of Indian tribes in America, the plunder of India and Africa, the wars of England and France against China, as a result of which it was forced to open its ports to the opium trade. What they did was get entire nations hooked on drugs and purposefully exterminated entire ethnic groups for the sake of grabbing land and resources, hunting people like animals. This is contrary to human nature, truth, freedom and justice.

While we – we are proud that in the 20th century our country led the anti-colonial movement, which opened up opportunities for many peoples around the world to make progress, reduce poverty and inequality, and defeat hunger and disease.

To emphasise, one of the reasons for the centuries-old Russophobia, the Western elites’ unconcealed animosity toward Russia is precisely the fact that we did not allow them to rob us during the period of colonial conquests and forced the Europeans to trade with us on mutually beneficial terms. This was achieved by creating a strong centralised state in Russia, which grew and got stronger based on the great moral values​​of Orthodox Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Buddhism, as well as Russian culture and the Russian word that were open to all.

There were numerous plans to invade Russia. Such attempts were made during the Time of Troubles in the 17th century and in the period of ordeals after the 1917 revolution. All of them failed. The West managed to grab hold of Russia’s wealth only in the late 20th century, when the state had been destroyed. They called us friends and partners, but they treated us like a colony, using various schemes to pump trillions of dollars out of the country. We remember. We have not forgotten anything.

A few days ago, people in Donetsk and Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporozhye declared their support for restoring our historical unity. Thank you! (Applause.)

Western countries have been saying for centuries that they bring freedom and democracy to other nations. Nothing could be further from the truth. Instead of bringing democracy they suppressed and exploited, and instead of giving freedom they enslaved and oppressed. The unipolar world is inherently anti-democratic and unfree; it is false and hypocritical through and through.

The United States is the only country in the world that has used nuclear weapons twice, destroying the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan. And they created a precedent.

Recall that during WWII the United States and Britain reduced Dresden, Hamburg, Cologne and many other German cities to rubble, without the least military necessity. It was done ostentatiously and, to repeat, without any military necessity. They had only one goal, as with the nuclear bombing of Japanese cities: to intimidate our country and the rest of the world.

The United States left a deep scar in the memory of the people of Korea and Vietnam with their carpet bombings and use of napalm and chemical weapons.

It actually continues to occupy Germany, Japan, the Republic of Korea and other countries, which they cynically refer to as equals and allies. Look now, what kind of alliance is that? The whole world knows that the top officials in these countries are being spied on and that their offices and homes are bugged. It is a disgrace, a disgrace for those who do this and for those who, like slaves, silently and meekly swallow this arrogant behaviour.

They call the orders and threats they make to their vassals Euro-Atlantic solidarity, and the creation of biological weapons and the use of human test subjects, including in Ukraine, noble medical research.

It is their destructive policies, wars and plunder that have unleashed today’s massive wave of migrants. Millions of people endure hardships and humiliation or die by the thousands trying to reach Europe.

They are exporting grain from Ukraine now. Where are they taking it under the guise of ensuring the food security of the poorest countries? Where is it going? They are taking it to the self-same European countries. Only five percent has been delivered to the poorest countries. More cheating and naked deception again.

In effect, the American elite is using the tragedy of these people to weaken its rivals, to destroy nation states. This goes for Europe and for the identities of France, Italy, Spain and other countries with centuries-long histories.

Washington demands more and more sanctions against Russia and the majority of European politicians obediently go along with it. They clearly understand that by pressuring the EU to completely give up Russian energy and other resources, the United States is practically pushing Europe toward deindustrialisation in a bid to get its hands on the entire European market. These European elites understand everything – they do, but they prefer to serve the interests of others. This is no longer servility but direct betrayal of their own peoples. God bless, it is up to them.

But the Anglo-Saxons believe sanctions are no longer enough and now they have turned to subversion. It seems incredible but it is a fact – by causing explosions on Nord Stream’s international gas pipelines passing along the bottom of the Baltic Sea, they have actually embarked on the destruction of Europe’s entire energy infrastructure. It is clear to everyone who stands to gain. Those who benefit are responsible, of course.

The dictates of the US are backed up by crude force, on the law of the fist. Sometimes it is beautifully wrapped sometimes there is no wrapping at all but the gist is the same – the law of the fist. Hence, the deployment and maintenance of hundreds of military bases in all corners of the world, NATO expansion, and attempts to cobble together new military alliances, such as AUKUS and the like. Much is being done to create a Washington-Seoul-Tokyo military-political chain. All states that possess or aspire to genuine strategic sovereignty and are capable of challenging Western hegemony, are automatically declared enemies.

These are the principles that underlie US and NATO military doctrines that require total domination. Western elites are presenting their neocolonialist plans with the same hypocrisy, claiming peaceful intentions, talking about some kind of deterrence. This evasive word migrates from one strategy to another but really only means one thing – undermining any and all sovereign centres of power.

We have already heard about the deterrence of Russia, China and Iran. I believe next in line are other countries of Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East, as well as current US partners and allies. After all, we know that when they are displeased, they introduce sanctions against their allies as well – against this or that bank or company. This is their practice and they will expand it. They have everything in their sights, including our next-door neighbours – the CIS countries.

At the same time, the West has clearly been engaged in wishful thinking for a long time. In launching the sanctions blitzkrieg against Russia, for example, they thought that they could once again line up the whole world at their command. As it turns out, however, such a bright prospect does not excite everyone – other than complete political masochists and admirers of other unconventional forms of international relations. Most states refuse to ”snap a salute“ and instead choose the sensible path of cooperation with Russia.

The West clearly did not expect such insubordination. They simply got used to acting according to a template, to grab whatever they please, by blackmail, bribery, intimidation, and convinced themselves that these methods would work forever, as if they had fossilised in the past.

Such self-confidence is a direct product not only of the notorious concept of exceptionalism – although it never ceases to amaze – but also of the real ”information hunger“ in the West. The truth has been drowned in an ocean of myths, illusions and fakes, using extremely aggressive propaganda, lying like Goebbels. The more unbelievable the lie, the quicker people will believe it – that is how they operate, according to this principle.

But people cannot be fed with printed dollars and euros. You can't feed them with those pieces of paper, and the virtual, inflated capitalisation of western social media companies can't heat their homes. Everything I am saying is important. And what I just said is no less so: you can't feed anyone with paper – you need food; and you can't heat anyone’s home with these inflated capitalisations – you need energy.

That is why politicians in Europe have to convince their fellow citizens to eat less, take a shower less often and dress warmer at home. And those who start asking fair questions like “Why is that, in fact?” are immediately declared enemies, extremists and radicals. They point back at Russia and say: that is the source of all your troubles. More lies.

I want to make special note of the fact that there is every reason to believe that the Western elites are not going to look for constructive ways out of the global food and energy crisis that they and they alone are to blame for, as a result of their long-term policy, dating back long before our special military operation in Ukraine, in Donbass. They have no intention of solving the problems of injustice and inequality. I am afraid they would rather use other formulas they are more comfortable with.

And here it is important to recall that the West bailed itself out of its early 20th century challenges with World War I. Profits from World War II helped the United States finally overcome the Great Depression and become the largest economy in the world, and to impose on the planet the power of the dollar as a global reserve currency. And the 1980s crisis – things came to a head in the 1980s again – the West emerged from it unscathed largely by appropriating the inheritance and resources of the collapsed and defunct Soviet Union. That's a fact.

Now, in order to free itself from the latest web of challenges, they need to dismantle Russia as well as other states that choose a sovereign path of development, at all costs, to be able to further plunder other nations’ wealth and use it to patch their own holes. If this does not happen, I cannot rule out that they will try to trigger a collapse of the entire system, and blame everything on that, or, God forbid, decide to use the old formula of economic growth through war.

Russia is aware of its responsibility to the international community and will make every effort to ensure that cooler heads prevail.

The current neocolonial model is ultimately doomed; this much is obvious. But I repeat that its real masters will cling to it to the end. They simply have nothing to offer the world except to maintain the same system of plundering and racketeering.

They do not give a damn about the natural right of billions of people, the majority of humanity, to freedom and justice, the right to determine their own future. They have already moved on to the radical denial of moral, religious, and family values.

Let’s answer some very simple questions for ourselves. Now I would like to return to what I said and want to address also all citizens of the country – not just the colleagues that are in the hall – but all citizens of Russia: do we want to have here, in our country, in Russia, “parent number one, parent number two and parent number three” (they have completely lost it!) instead of mother and father? Do we want our schools to impose on our children, from their earliest days in school, perversions that lead to degradation and extinction? Do we want to drum into their heads the ideas that certain other genders exist along with women and men and to offer them gender reassignment surgery? Is that what we want for our country and our children? This is all unacceptable to us. We have a different future of our own.

Let me repeat that the dictatorship of the Western elites targets all societies, including the citizens of Western countries themselves. This is a challenge to all. This complete renunciation of what it means to be human, the overthrow of faith and traditional values, and the suppression of freedom are coming to resemble a “religion in reverse” – pure Satanism. Exposing false messiahs, Jesus Christ said in the Sermon on the Mount: “By their fruits ye shall know them.” These poisonous fruits are already obvious to people, and not only in our country but also in all countries, including many people in the West itself.

The world has entered a period of a fundamental, revolutionary transformation. New centres of power are emerging. They represent the majority – the majority! – of the international community. They are ready not only to declare their interests but also to protect them. They see in multipolarity an opportunity to strengthen their sovereignty, which means gaining genuine freedom, historical prospects, and the right to their own independent, creative and distinctive forms of development, to a harmonious process.

As I have already said, we have many like-minded people in Europe and the United States, and we feel and see their support. An essentially emancipatory, anti-colonial movement against unipolar hegemony is taking shape in the most diverse countries and societies. Its power will only grow with time. It is this force that will determine our future geopolitical reality.

Friends,

Today, we are fighting for a just and free path, first of all for ourselves, for Russia, in order to leave dictate and despotism in the past. I am convinced that countries and peoples understand that a policy based on the exceptionalism of whoever it may be and the suppression of other cultures and peoples is inherently criminal, and that we must close this shameful chapter. The ongoing collapse of Western hegemony is irreversible. And I repeat: things will never be the same.

The battlefield to which destiny and history have called us is a battlefield for our people, for the great historical Russia. (Applause.) For the great historical Russia, for future generations, our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. We must protect them against enslavement and monstrous experiments that are designed to cripple their minds and souls.

Today, we are fighting so that it would never occur to anyone that Russia, our people, our language, or our culture can be erased from history. Today, we need a consolidated society, and this consolidation can only be based on sovereignty, freedom, creation, and justice. Our values ​​are humanity, mercy and compassion.

And I want to close with the words of a true patriot Ivan Ilyin: “If I consider Russia my Motherland, that means that I love as a Russian, contemplate and think, sing and speak as a Russian; that I believe in the spiritual strength of the Russian people. Its spirit is my spirit; its destiny is my destiny; its suffering is my grief; and its prosperity is my joy.”

Behind these words stands a glorious spiritual choice, which, for more than a thousand years of Russian statehood, was followed by many generations of our ancestors. Today, we are making this choice; the citizens of the Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics and the residents of the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions have made this choice. They made the choice to be with their people, to be with their Motherland, to share in its destiny, and to be victorious together with it.

The truth is with us, and behind us is Russia! (Applause)”

2. Russia vetoed a UN Security Council draft resolution

Russia vetoed a UN Security Council draft resolution designed to condemn Moscow for incorporating four former Ukrainian regions who overwhelmingly decided not to stay in ultra-Nazi Ukraine. Ten members voted in favor, one (Russia) against and four others abstained.

Russian Ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia called the US-Albanian draft resolution a "low-grade provocation with a goal that is clear to all."

3. The White House wishes to expand the war in Europe

The USA alone has poured over $ 10 billion in cash into Ukraine's pro-Western political establishment and NGO through the 1990s, 2000s, and early 2010s, and delivered billions of dollars in additional financial and “security assistance” in the aftermath of the 2014 coup d'etat in Kiev to shore up the new government's war against the Donbass. It started in 2014.

US military support will include the $1.1 billion in "additional security assistance" as it has been announced recently that will add more than $15 billion already allocated since. Biden became the president. "And I look forward to signing legislation from Congress that will provide an additional $12 billion to support Ukraine”, he said on September 30.

President Zelensky refused to talk to President Putin after four territories joined Russia.

Note: see data on human losses and material damages inflicted by AFU in DPR and LPR from 2014 till 2022 reflected in Report # 146 dated September 27, 2022

3. AFU opened artillery fire on the city of Energodar

Riverside areas in Energodar where Zaporozhye NPP is located in the Zaporozhye Region, Russian Federation, came under artillery attack from Ukrainian Armed Forces, the city’s Military-civilian administration reported on October 1. Ukrainian nationalists opened artillery fire on the city’s riverside areas. Thirteen explosions with no casualties were reported, the officials said.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

1. U.S. aid to Kiev in violation of BWC

2. Ukrainian Armed Forces still block free exodus of civilians

3. The USA and NATO with the EU still dream to supply arms to Kiev

4. Military operation “Free Ukraine” is underway

October 6, 2022

1. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov addressed the Senate on referenda

(October 4)

[Speaker] Ms Matviyenko, Senators,

As per the instructions of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, I submit for your consideration the federal laws on the ratification of treaties between the Russian Federation and the Donetsk People’s Republic, Lugansk People’s Republic, Zaporozhye Region and Kherson Region on their accession to the Russian Federation and on the establishment of new constituent entities of the Russian Federation.

You know the contents of these draft laws very well. During their drafting, the President of Russia held the necessary consultations, including with the Federation Council. The Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation issued its opinion the day before yesterday. The State Duma ratified the laws yesterday.

These documents clearly set out the procedure for the integration of four independent states into Russia and guarantee the rights of their people as citizens of the Russian Federation in all areas, including language, culture, traditions, social protection and economic development.

The decisions on the integration of the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics and the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions into the Russian Federation are based on the free expression of will by their people made during the referendums on September 23-27, 2022. The people of these territories were able to express their will independently and freely, which has been confirmed by numerous observers, including international ones. The citizens of these republics and regions made a conscious choice based on the right to self-determination.

This is fully in keeping with the principle of equality and self-determination  enshrined in the UN Charter, the 1970 Declaration On Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and many other documents. The abovementioned Declaration, which was unanimously adopted at the UN General Assembly, reads: “Every State has the duty to refrain from any forcible action that deprives peoples … of their right to self-determination and freedom and independence.” In accordance with the Declaration, peoples can resist such forcible action and are entitled to seek and receive the support of the international community.

A great deal is being said today publicly that the principle of territorial integrity, also enshrined in the UN Charter, has an absolute priority over the right to self-determination. In this connection, I would like to draw the attention of those who may be interested that the Declaration of the UN General Assembly (1970) contains a clear answer to the proponents of this view. The Declaration seals the duty of states to respect the territorial integrity of states “conducting themselves in compliance with the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples… and thus possessed of a government representing the whole people belonging to the territory.”

There is no need to prove that the Kiev regime does not meet the said criteria and has for years grossly and massively violated the abovementioned UN requirements. It has long become something foreign and hostile to all residents of Ukraine, who cannot imagine living their lives without feeling part of the Russian civilisation and whom President Zelensky urged to “beat it to Russia” a year ago. It is utterly clear that this regime does not and cannot represent millions of citizens against whom it has unleashed a war.

The radical nationalists who seized power in Ukraine following a government coup in February 2014 have conducted a policy of suppression with regard to Ukraine’s Russians and Russian speakers throughout the subsequent period. They have branded as terrorists the residents of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, who refused to recognize the criminal Maidan authorities. The Armed Forces of Ukraine and neo-Nazi battalions were taking cruel vengeance on the people of Donbass by shelling their cities and villages practically every day, killing and crippling people, destroying civilian infrastructure, and trying to stifle them with an inhuman blockade.

Kiev openly derailed the Minsk Agreements as approved by the UN Security Council, and was not held accountable for this. In the meantime, the West was cynically looking the other way as if not noticing the Ukrainian radicals’ actions meant to solve the “problem of Donbass” by force – Plan B, as they called it. Moreover, the West was actually encouraging them to implement this scenario. In his speech in the Kremlin on September 30, President of Russia Vladimir Putin described in detail the true intentions harboured by the United States and its satellites with regard to using the Zelensky regime to wage war against Russia.

Ukraine itself has in fact turned into an aggressive totalitarian state that approves discriminatory laws, carries out forced Ukrainisation, encourages Russophobia, and violates language, educational, cultural and other human rights on a large scale. Supported by the authorities, the Ukrainian legislature adopts laws disseminating the ideology of Nazism and ethnic and religious intolerance. Ukrainian officials are no longer ashamed of their neo-Nazi essence and openly urge all and sundry to kill Russians the world over.

Russia could not but come to the rescue of the long-suffering people of Donbass. Nor can it fail to defend the residents of the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions from this inhuman regime.

The decisions taken at the referendums in the two republics and the two regions are a response to neo-Nazi Ukraine’s atrocities and the fulfilment of the people’s long-standing aspiration to reunite with their historical homeland.

On behalf of the President of the Russian Federation, I ask the Federation Council to approve the abovementioned laws, Lavrov prpposed.

2. Press release on the filing of Russia’s written objections to the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice in the case initiated by Kiev in February 2022 under the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (5 October 2022)

On October 3, the Russian Federation submitted to the International Court of Justice its written objections to the jurisdiction of the court to consider the merits of the claim filed by Kiev in February 2022 against our country under the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

It is clearly and unambiguously explained in the document that Kiev's claims are actually limited to challenging the legality of the special military operation in accordance with the United Nations Charter and the status of the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics. The Convention has nothing to do with these matters.

The Russian side emphasised that the Ukrainian side has again abused the procedural right to appeal to the International Court of Justice. In particular, it chose the 1948 Convention as the basis for its claim because it is the only international treaty to which both Russia and Ukraine are parties that allows recourse to the Court and does not require the mandatory pre-trial stage of dispute settlement.

Russia's objections also cite the real genesis of the armed conflict in Ukraine, which was initiated by Kiev against Donbass in 2014.

3. Russian MFA response to UN Secretary-General statement on referenda

Question: On September 29, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres went on record with a very tough statement describing the referendums in Donbass and the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions as an “annexation.”  Has he offered any additional public explanations after that?

MFA official spokesperson:

First of all, a Secretary-General can have no independent “position,” especially on territorial issues. Under the UN Charter, this office implies the performance of functions of the top UN administrative official. This has been clearly indicated in the comments of the Russian Permanent Mission to the United Nations and by the Foreign Ministry spokesperson.

During his briefing on October 5, Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General Stephane Dujarric, a person who speaks on behalf of Mr Guterres, seemed to be trying to find an excuse.  But, in truth, we heard nothing new or reassuring.  The Secretariat has once again reaffirmed its biased and unprincipled approach to the Ukrainian issue. We are sure that this situation must be changed. It is not to the advantage of the UN Secretariat or its head.

To believe the UN official, Mr Guterres made his September 29 statements based on the General Assembly’s decisions. Obviously, he meant Resolution 68/262, which was put to the vote in March 2014 and the subsequent anti-Russia decisions approved by the 11th special session of the UN General Assembly, which were also supported by far from all member states of the United Nations.

Paradoxically, the Secretariat representatives, while belabouring the General Assembly’s non-consensus decisions, forget about the documents that were unanimously approved by the UN Security Council. One such document was Security Council Resolution 2202 approving the Package of Measures for the implementation of the Minsk Agreements. For seven years, Kiev openly violated its provisions. Specifically, both Petr Poroshenko and Vladimir Zelensky had no scruples about saying in public that it was null and void. We waited in vain for a denunciatory response from the UN Secretariat, something that prompts the conclusion that the UN Secretariat is highly selective about implementing the member states’ decisions.

The Secretariat representatives “forget” an important point, while speaking about the need to preserve Ukraine’ territorial integrity and basing themselves on some provisions of the UN Charter and the 1970 Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations. The latter document states clearly that the above principle is only applicable to states “possessed of a government representing the whole people belonging to the territory without distinction as to race, creed or colour.” It is obvious that the Kiev authorities do not answer the description. Moreover, “Every State has the duty to refrain from any forcible action which deprives peoples referred to above in the elaboration of the present principle of their right to self-determination and freedom and independence.”  I think there is no need to remind everyone of the seven-year-long shelling of Donbass.

On the whole, there are no “turning points” in the Secretariat’s rhetoric. The only thing they proved able to do was to polish slightly the Russophobic statements by the most rabid supporters of the Kiev regime.

4. Russian MFA: The USA should admit its direct involvement in the Ukrainian affairs

It is time for the US State Department to admit its involvement in the situation in Ukraine, from regime change to motives for blowing up gas pipelines, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said at a briefing on October 6. "It's time for Washington to speak loudly, frankly and clearly about its true involvement in the situation in Ukraine, from regime change to their motives for destroying gas pipelines," it was said

As the diplomat noted, the Russian Foreign Ministry "has never heard a statement from official Washington that they do not support or in any way criticize the Kiev regime for all the horror it has done here over the years." "Has that happened! Even once, even one statement about this?" she pointed out, "Sometimes they might have mumbled somewhere in the State Department that they were either not following the situation, or they were, and that was it. There were no condemnations, no direct accusations." There is no point in "picking out individual elements of what was done under the direct supervision or participation of American intelligence services and what was not."

"Washington has guided, protected and led the Kiev regime for many years. This is a question of shared responsibility for what the US has done to this country and to the region as a whole," MFA spokesperson concluded.

5. Elon Musk feuds with US Senator over Ukraine

Many in Eastern Ukraine would “prefer Russia,” Tesla CEO told Lindsey Graham

Russians make up the majority in some territories in Eastern Ukraine, and they would like to be a part of Russia, Tesla and Space X CEO Elon Musk said on October 6, responding to criticism by US Senator Lindsey Graham of his stance on the conflict.

Graham had castigated Musk for not understanding “the facts of the Russian invasion of Ukraine” after the billionaire presented a peace plan to end hostilities between Moscow and Kiev. Musk’s latest comments come after he proposed a plan to end the Ukraine conflict, suggesting that Moscow should redo referenda of the annexed regions under UN supervision while Kiev would commit to neutrality and drop its claim to Crimea, which overwhelmingly voted to join Russia in 2014.

Mask’s peace plan was met amongst Russian public both in positive and negative ways.

In a positive way Russian citizens noted his recognition of Crimea as the Russian territory, and his remarks that Crimea should enjoy the right to use was from Dnepr River that was blocked by Kiev illegally by a dam. On the other hand, Russian citizens reminded Mask that citizens in Donbass have already arranged two separate referenda – in 2014 and 2022 – were they by vast majority have voted to join Russia. Russian citizens were unhappy that Mask has allocated $ 80 mln for Ukraine, but zero dollars to Russia, and supplied Ukrainian Army with his hi-tech communication devices that have been found at the Azovstal steel mill.

According to Musk, in any given conflict region, it is the people who should decide which country they want to live in. “Most of Ukraine unequivocally wants to be part of Ukraine, but some eastern portions have Russian majorities and prefer Russia,” he said.

Musk posted a map with results of the 2012 parliamentary election in Ukraine that took place two years prior to a coup in Kiev. It showed that large swathes of eastern and southern Ukraine supported the pro-Russia Party of Regions. “Obviously, not everyone who voted for the pro-Russia party wanted to join Russia, but it would also be inaccurate to say that none did,” he explained.

His stance sparked outcry among several Ukrainian officials, with Kiev’s outgoing unpolite and rude ambassador to Berlin Andrey Melnik going as far as to tell Musk to “f**k off.” President Vladimir Zelensky reacted in a more reserved manner by holding a poll, asking his followers on Twitter “which Elon Musk” they “like more”: the one “who supports Ukraine,” or the one “who supports Russia”. Initially, the majority of respondents preferred to support Russia.

6. Peace in Ukraine possible if Biden Administration halts military aid - ex-US Senator

Chances for peace between Russia and Ukraine are possible only when the USA stops sending billions of dollars in weapons to Kiev, former Virginia State Senator Richard Black said.

Last week, the United States pledged an additional $1.1 billion in security assistance to Ukraine, including the provision of 18 new HIMARS systems.

"I think that there may be some chance for peace when people begin to realize that we [the United States] need to stop sending money for weapons across the globe," Black noted. "I think the West’s determination was that the war should continue, regardless of how many Ukrainians died in the process. And certainly, you know, not caring how many Russians died in the process."

The overspending that has been taking place in the West, he added, has destabilized the currency markets and caused all sorts of economic dislocations. Black said the US needs to start taking care of things back home rather than sending military aid, especially given the economy is becoming shakier by the day.

7. AFU gangsterism against civilians goes on ….

Without any desire to recognize the results of September 2022 four referenda and the fact that four territories joined Russia, Kiev incited by the USA, NATO and EU continues to shell nowadays Russian territory by heavy weapons, each day attacking 10-15 residential areas per day, as well as Zaporozhye NPP that became Russian property after Zaporozhye Region joined Russia. E.g. on October 5 the plant was shelled 46 times with the aim to destroy it.  During last two days several civilians have been killed and a dozen have been injured in various settlements on newly acceded territories.

Kiev has announced plans to overflood ZNPP completely by the Dnepr River by exploding the dam built in the upper stream of the river the largest in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces confessed [on this video; link is: https://en.news-front.info/2022/10/05/once-in-a-village-shoot-everyone-this-was-the-order-given-to-ukrainian-soldiers-of-the-25th-afu-brigade-during-one-of-the-battles/ ] that they killed civilians, even women and children, and threw grenades into cellars where people were hiding in the basements.

“Once in the village – shoot everyone,” was the order given to Ukrainian soldiers from the 25th AFU Brigade during one of the battles. According to their own words, they killed civilians, even women and children, and threw grenades into cellars where people were hiding.

But they decided to talk about these atrocities only because their commanders then left them on the front line and ordered them to finish off the wounded so as not to organize evacuation.

“When we were in the village, people were asking for evacuation, asking for help, but they were brutally shot. Our guys were shooting three hundred people,” said an AFU soldier.

8. Situation on the battlefield

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.

Up to 3 battalion tactical groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine or AFU made an unsuccessful attempt to resume their offensive towards Pershotravnevoye, Kislovka and Berestovoye at Kupyansk direction. Decisive action of Russian forces has resulted in repelling all the attacks. Up to 120 servicemen of AFU 5 tanks, 12 armoured combat vehicles and 14 motor vehicles have been eliminated.

Kiev regime's military units have conducted no active operations at Krasny Liman direction.

2 Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups have been eliminated by Russian artillery fire near Petrovskoye (Kharkov Region, Russia). The attack has resulted in the elimination of 25 militants and 2 pickups with large-calibre machine guns mounted.

Offensive of the allied forces has resulted in the liberation of Zaytsevo (DPR, Russia) at Artyomovsk direction. The offensive has resulted in the elimination of over 120 personnel from 58th Mechanised Infantry and 128th Mountain Assault Brigades of the AFU, as well as 3 infantry combat vehicles.

Attacks launched by army aviation of Russian Aerospace Forces near Novy Komar (DPR) have resulted in the elimination of up to 60 servicemen from 56th Mechanised Infantry Brigade of the AFU, 2 tanks and 5 motor vehicles.

4 enemy battalion tactical groups made numerous attempts to break through the defence of Russian forces towards Dudchany, Sukhanovo, Sadok, Bruskinskoye at Andreyevka-Krivoy Rog direction.

The enemy has been driven from the defence line of Russian forces. Over 100 Ukrainian personnel, 6 tanks, 8 armoured combat vehicles and 9 motor vehicles have been eliminated.

Missile and air defence attacks launched by Russian Aerospace Forces at the provisional bases of 35th Marine Brigade of the AFU near Davydov Brod (Kherson region), 46yh Airmobile Brigade of the AFU near Murakhovka (Nikolayev Region), 60th Infantry Brigade near Trifonovka and Novaya Kamenka (Kherson Region, Russia) have resulted in the elimination of over 280 Ukrainian personnel and 9 units of military equipment.

High-precision missile attacks of Russian Aerospace Forces near Velikoye Artakovo (Nikolayev Region), Novogrigorovka and Belaya Krinitsa (KhersonRregion) have resulted in the destruction of 3 pontoon crossings of the AFU over Ingulets river.

4 missile, artillery armament and munitions depots have been destroyed near Seversk and Vodyanoye (DPR), as well as near Zaporozhye. Within the counter-battery warfare, 2 Ukrainian Grad MLRS batteries have been neutralised by missile attacks near Dvurechnaya (Kharkov Region) and Karpovka (DPR).

Fighter aviation of Russian Aerospace Forces have shot down 2 airplanes of Ukrainian Air Force: 1 MiG-29 near Novogrodovka and 1 Su-24 near Sviridonovka (DPR).

Air defence facilities have destroyed 9 Ukrainian UAVs near Chervonoarmeyskoye, Dmitriyenko, Charivnoye (Kherson Region), Pokrovskoye, Poltava, Troitskoye (Lugansk People's Republic, Russia), Orlinskoye and Mospino (DPR).

Moreover, 3 projectiles launched by Olkha MLRS have been shot down in air near Velikaya Novosyolka (DPR).

In total, 315 airplanes and 157 helicopters, 2,160 unmanned aerial vehicles, 379 air defence missile systems, 5,412 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 862 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 3,452 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 6,316 special military vehicles have been destroyed during the Special Military Operation.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

October 8, 2022

The blast on Europe’s longest 19-km bridge called Crimean or sometimes Kerch Bridge connecting Crimea with the mainland Russia occurred at around 6 AM local time on October 8.

It caused to collapse of two bridge spans [see photo] of its automobile road. Russia’s National Anti-Terrorism Committee said that a truck blew up as it was traveling along the bridge from Crimea to Russia.

"Today, at 6:07am, a truck was blown up on the motorway section of the Crimean Bridge from the Taman Peninsula, which caught fire seven fuel tanks of a train travelling to the Crimean Peninsula. Two motorway sections of the bridge have partially collapsed," the report says. Three persons were killed travelling nearby.

It looks like that the truck has been packed with high explosives. The driver has been identified.

The fire has been extinguished very quickly – by 10:30 AM. A repair activity on the bridge will start on October 8. The Crimean authorities said that ferry service would be provided while the bridge is being repaired. Four sea ferries are to be used.

Crimean head Sergey Aksenov said that the ferry crossing in Crimea is ready for launch and will start working from October 8. He added that, according to what one can see, one motorway section of the Crimean bridge - from Kerch to Russian - is intact. The movement of ships in the Kerch Strait did not stop, the Russian Federal Agency for Sea and Inland Water Transport (Rosmorrechflot) announced.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has instructed to create a Government Commission to investigate the case.

Who has done it?

An aide to President Vladimir Zelensky, Mikhail Podoliak, warned on Twitter earlier that what happened at the bridge was “just the beginning.” Ukrainian MoD in a written form has also taken up Kiev’s responsibility for the terrorist attack against the bridge.  Ukrainian officials close to Zelensky and his predecessors many tines threatened to destroy the Crimean Bridge.

Russia can deliver a more sophisticated military blow on Ukraine itself and on the battlefield in particular, because such provocative action means the escalation of hostile Ukrainian activity on the Russian territory, damaging and disrupting key transport infrastructure of the federal importance used to deliver essential foodstuff, medical equipment, construction materials, transport fuel and lubricants, etc to a great number of people; gradually expanding it to more and more areas on its territory and endangering the lives of more and more civilians people. Such Ukrainian gangsterism initiated and sponsored by current Ukrainian leaders in also designed and implemented to hamper a free movement of travelers to Crimea and back to the mainland Russia, including a lot of tourists and enthusiasts who desire to see the ancient city of Khersones located in Crimea – the initial birthplace of Christianity in Russia.

The current Russians are other nations living in the vast and mighty Great Russian Federation are fully committed to defend all its territory and all its facilities and material assets in any place and at any time.

Moscow has a full and undeniable right to defend such critical infrastructure of strategic importance with all means it has at its disposal nowadays and it would have at its discretion. The Russian Armed Forces can use such gangsterism as a pretext to attack a number of Ukrainian facilities also related to critical infrastructure. Such powerful response can be done any time and in any place on Ukrainian territory by using the word of a famous Russian warrior named Duke Alexander Nevsky who after defeating the knights of the Teutonic Order who wished to conquer a European part of Russia in the 13^th century exclaimed eloquently: “Those who will come to us with swords, will perish with the help of swords. The Russian land has relied and will rely on such a notion”.

Those who has not realized it – be them in Kiev or Washington or London, etc, will keep deep-seated sorrow in their memory for many decades to come.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

March 9^th, 2022

1. Classified Ukrainian instructions

Russia's Ministry of Defence has made public documents confirming preparation by Kiev authorities of an offensive operation in Donbass scheduled for March 2022 (see slides attached below).

The release includes images of six pages. Written in the Ukrainian language and bearing the traits of official paperwork, they appear to be classified papers of the Ukrainian National Guard.

2. Ukrainians flee en masse as major cities encircled

Ukrainian ultra-nazi formations continued to prevent too many Ukrainians trapped in a number of engulfed cities to leave them and escape abroad. Around 5 mln persons wish to go to the Western Europe and more than 2 mln civilians prefer to move into Russia and Belarus. The other explanation of civilians’ blockade is that president Zelensky ordered total mobilization of male Ukrainians from 18 to 60 years old.

3. Attacks on ChNPP

Ukrainian nationalist forces attacked a substation and the power lines which provide the Chernobyl nuclear power plant (NPP) with electricity, Russian deputy defence minister Nikolai Pankov said. The Ukrainian side avoids the organization of repair and restoration work. The International Atomic Energy Agency sought to ease fears by indicating in a pair of tweets that it sees "no critical impact on safety" at the plant despite the loss of power. It added that heat load of spent fuel storage pool and volume of cooling water at this NPP is sufficient for effective heat removal without need for electrical supply. Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko assured that the mothballed plant, which produces no power of its own, has the capability to maintain power independently using onsite diesel generators.

4. Military operation is underway

During March 9th interceptor-bombers of the Russian Aerospace Forces destroyed 49 military targets. Among them: 2 command posts, 6 radar stations, 4 ammunition and fuel depots and 37 sites containing weapons and military equipment.

From February 24^th, 2022 total 2786 military facilities in Ukraine were destroyed during the operation.

Destroyed were: 953 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 101 multiple rocket launch systems, 351 field artillery and mortars, 718 special military vehicles, 93 unmanned aerial vehicles.

 Elimination of the Ukrainian Air Force. By the beginning of the special operation, the Ukrainian armed forces had up to 250 active combat aircraft and helicopters. The Russian Aerospace Forces destroyed 89 combat aircraft and 57 helicopters on the ground and in the air. Part of the Ukrainian aircraft flew to Romania and does not participate in hostilities. 90 percent of the Ukrainian military airfields have been disabled. There are no trained Ukrainian pilots of the first and second class left.

 Destruction of the Ukrainian air defense systems. During the special operation, the Russian Armed Forces destroyed 137 S-300, Buk M-1 and S-125 anti-aircraft missile systems. This is more than 90 percent of the long-range and medium-range anti-aircraft missile systems in service. 81 Ukrainian air defence radar stations were destroyed. This led to the loss of combat control of aviation and air defence of Ukraine. At present, the air defence system is incapable of providing significant countermeasures to Russian aircraft.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin 

November 28, 2022

The Ninth Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) will take place in Geneva, Switzerland, from 28 November to 16 December 2022. Such sessions are organised every five years in accordance with Article 12 of the Convention to examine the present state of the BWC, compliance challenges, and to review scientific and technological advancements having dual-use potential.

The Consultative Meeting was convened on the initiative of the Russian Federation in September 2022. Russia also addressed the concerns of BWC breaches by Ukraine and the USA to the UN Security Council in October, the same year.

Western nations actively hindered the Security Council decision on an international probe into the operations of US biolaboratories in Ukraine. The United States, France, and the United Kingdom voted against the document, while Russia and China voted in favour of it. Other nations, including India, Mexico, and Norway (NATO member), abstained from voting.

Despite the fact that the resolution did not get the necessary number of votes, and the Security Council did not trigger the investigative mechanism, the voting results illustrate that the United States’ military-biological actions in Ukraine arouse concerns among even its closest friends.

On October 18, the White House released a new Biodefence Strategy (USBS), with a budget of $88 bln, including $17 bln in the first year.

The document states that it is a vital interest of the United States to manage the risk of biological incidents, and that the response to their occurrence would be harsh and rapid. The United States is attempting to meddle in the domestic affairs of other countries once more. So, the USBS mentioned  to  take steps to mitigate those risks, regardless of whether they originate in the United States or abroad.

One of the Strategy’s primary objectives is to develop ways of individual and collective biological protection for US military personnel in various theaters of military operations. The goal is to continue research on the agents that cause extremely deadly infectious illnesses that are endemic to certain areas.

To avoid charges of military-biological activity at the Pentagon, formal engagement of US military biologists in international initiatives will be limited through increased involvement of civil institutions as Department of Defense contractors.

As part of the Strategy, the United States seeks to strengthen worldwide control over the global biological environment and reserves the right to perform ‘dual-use’ research, including research conducted outside of national boundaries.

One more proof

Another strategic planning document is the updated Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) strategy through 2027, which explicitly acknowledges its dual role. It is to not only provide protection, but also combat support to military units. According to the strategy, one of DTRA's priority tasks is to ensure the military superiority of the US armed forces over the enemy.

At the same time, DTRA's activities are carefully concealed, including from the Americans themselves. Thus, on 10 November, a 345-page document concerning the financing of Black & Veatch and its activities in Ukraine was obtained at the request of the non-profit organisation named Judicial Watch.

It should be noted that dozens of pages of the Pentagon papers have been censored, and information concerning contractors and research results gained in Ukraine has been totally removed.

The papers disclosed once again indicate Kiev-Washington cooperation, as well as attempts to create pathogen control in Ukrainian laboratories by installing the PACS system, portions of which were provided to Ukraine under the title US Government property.

This corresponds to the materials Russia has at its disposal, which include the project registration card and contract documents approved by the Ukrainian Ministry of Economy.

As previously reported, the PACS system enables the Pentagon to track the location and use of highly dangerous pathogens in laboratories around the world in real time, as well as access the results of ethically and legally ambiguous experiments.

One example of such research is work being done in the United States to improve the pathogenic qualities of the pathogen COVID-19.

Despite the fact that the US Department of Health and Human Services has decided to investigate the university’s management, the 'Boston experiment' highlights the lack of government oversight of genetic engineering and synthetic biology research in the USA. Despite the substantial biological dangers, the research was conducted with US government money and without the necessary authorisation from the national biosafety agency.

US research into the pathogenic properties of microorganisms is forcing US administration officials in charge of countering biological threats to reconsider their statements.

One of them is former National Security Adviser John Bolton. Take note of Mr. Bolton’s September 2000 report Rebuilding America’s Defenses. According to the document, quote: ‘... advanced forms of biological warfare that can “target” specific genotypes may transform biological warfare from the realm of terror to a politically useful tool.’

In 2001, Bolton led the US delegation to the BWC's Fifth Review Conference. As a result of the consultations, the US side completely halted work on the verification mechanism and rejected the proposed processes for verifying potential biological weapons storage sites, citing that it threatened their national interests.

In early November, the US journal The Intercept conducted an examination of National Institutes of Health data connected to safety breaches in biological laboratories in the US in line with the US Federal Freedom of Information Act. Over the last 18 years, more than 5,500 pages of incident reports were evaluated.

It has been concluded that research conducted in high-security laboratories (BSL-3 and BSL-4) at the universities of Washington, Minnesota, and Illinois resulted in internal laboratory infections and increased the risk of further spread of genetically modified viral fever pathogens, severe acute respiratory syndrome, highly pathogenic avian influenza, and other infections. Numerous breaches of basic pathogen handling rules have been documented, as well as attempts by biolaboratory management to conceal the facts of accidents and breakdowns of filter-ventilation systems and protective equipment.

Violation of the rules

Here are just a few of them.

On 2 September 2011, a laboratory incident occurred at the US National Institutes of Health in New York. After being bitten by a laboratory animal infected with a recombinant influenza virus, a researcher was sent home to be quarantined without supervision in the most populous city in the United States.

Between April 2013 and March 2014, cases of laboratory animals infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome escaped from zoned premises at the University of North Carolina.

In September 2016, while conducting experiments on animals infected with a recombinant strain of the Chikungunya virus, a graduate student at the University of Washington punctured her glove. In a gross violation of safety regulations, the employee only washed her hands, removed her protective gear and left the laboratory without telling anyone about the incident or taking steps to isolate herself. Four days later, she was diagnosed with an acute form of the disease.

The system for controlling safety violations in the US biolaboratories is decentralised and covers only facilities that receive federal funding. There is little or no oversight of private laboratories, even though they conduct research with highly dangerous pathogens. The lack of uniform standards for such facilities creates risks of bypassing the BWC and grossly violating biosafety requirements.

The high risk of accidents in US biolaboratories is one of the reasons for their withdrawal from national jurisdiction and transfer to the territory of third countries, including Ukraine and other post-Soviet states. This explains the worsening of the epidemic situation in their locations and the emergence of diseases and their vectors that are not typical of these regions.

During the Special Military Operation launched in response of Ukrainian aggression started 10 days before that – exactly on February 14, 2022 – , it became known that the Pentagon's bioweapons programmes in Ukraine were being carried out in violation of Articles 1 and 4 of the BWC. An examination of papers discovered in Ukrainian biolaboratories provides evidence that biological weapons components were being produced in close proximity to Russian borders.

This is confirmed by the work contracts, approved registration cards, reporting documents of the Pentagon’s contractors: Black & Veatch, Metabiota, CH2M-HILL.

The nomenclature of pathogens that were studied in the framework of UP and TAP Ukrainian projects had nothing to do with the problems relevant to public health in Ukraine. Moreover, the main accent was made on the study of naturally focal and especially dangerous infections, which are regarded as potential biological weapons agents. For example, the objective of the TAP-2 project was to study actinobacillus mallei, cases of which have never been recorded in Ukraine.

The US DoD-controlled testing of infectious disease agents and poisonous chemicals on Ukrainian military members and the mentally ill, two of the most vulnerable groups of population, is of special concern.

In its previous reports Russian MoD referenced a ruling of the Centre for Public Health of Ukraine's Ethics Committee, dated 12 June 2019, for conducting research with unknown hazards to participants' lives and health. Despite the fact that the research programme only included standard blood sampling, the document requires reporting “...minor incidents involving volunteers to the US bioethics committee within 72 hours of the incident, and serious incidents, including subject death, within 24 hours of the incident”.

The world community has been facing new threats since 2016, the date of the Eighth Review Conference, including pandemic spread of human and animal infections (COVID-19, monkeypox, African swine fever), risks posed by modern advances in biotechnology and synthetic biology, and military and biological activities by the Pentagon in various parts of the world.

Russian proposals

The Russian Federation has repeatedly pointed to evidence that the United States and its allies are conducting dual-use programs outside their national borders, including through the operation of bio-laboratories under their control and so-called shared-use laboratories funded by these States’ military departments or organisations affiliated with them.

Many questions concerning the true goals of the Pentagon's research programs have been raised in numerous international venues, but have so far gone unanswered. We want to return to them during the Ninth Review Conference of the BWC States Parties.

In response to new challenges and dangers, the Russian Federation suggests the following:

The actual implementation of these ideas will increase the openness of national biological programmes and the compliance of all States Parties with the provisions of the BWC.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

Attachment:

December, 7, 2022

1. Putin specified current location of the mobilized personnel

On December 7 Russian President Vladimir Putin made some remarks at meeting of the Council for Civil Society and Human Rights – a consultative body to the head of state, tasked with assisting him in guaranteeing and protecting human rights and freedoms in Russia.

The partial mobilization began in the country with a presidential decree in late September, with the Defense Ministry later announcing its call-up 300,000 reservists. On October 31, the Russian president said that the mobilization is over.

2. Russian offensive operation continues

Russian Minister of Defence, General of the Army Sergei Shoigu made some remarks at the special teleconference with the leadership of the Russian Armed Forces on December 6.

The Russian Armed Forces are launching massive, long-range, precision-guided strikes against the military administration, defence industry complex, and related facilities to crush Ukraine's military potential. Enemy losses in November amounted to over 8,300 troops, five aircraft, ten helicopters, 149 tanks, and over 300 armoured fighting vehicles.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces' troops and equipment were severely damaged in Lugansk-Donetsk and South Donetsk directions. The Russian Armed Forces will continue to protect critical facilities in the liberated territories.

Russian troops recently liberated Maiorsk, Pavlovka, Opytnoye, Andreevka, Belogorovka Yuzhnaya and Kurdyumovka in Donbass.

Russia's troops are taking all measures to ensure the safety of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant or ZNPP. The Kiev regime, for its part, is attempting to create a nuclear disaster by deliberately shelling the site.

However, some of them have an impact on infrastructure that are critical to the safe running of a nuclear power station. Russia classifies these Ukrainian attacks as nuclear terrorism.

The IAEA headed by Rafael Grossi still believes that ZNPP is shelled by Russia, thought the station is located at the Russian territory since October 5, 2022. He failed to present any evidence of the alleged ‘Russian attacks’ against the station.

3. In what way ZNPP nuclear security and physical safety can be guaranteed?

1. Russia will guarantee full nuclear security and physical safety for ZNPP by its own Armed Forces and own operators on the site.

2. Russia will never withdraw its Armed Forces and National Guard units from ZNPP and other territory related to Zaporozhye Region controlled by it.

3. Russia demands that the UNO and IAEA must demand from Ukraine full cessation of shelling and provocations against ZNPP and the city of Energodar.

4.Ukraine should create a demilitarized zone on its controlled territory with the radius of 400 km deep into its territory.

5. Russia will deliver a mighty blow on Ukraine if it attempts to violate such zone and continues to blackmail the world community by nuclear weapons or by radioactive contamination of Europe.

6. Russia reserves the right to destroy any Ukrainian industrial assets and research facilities if Ukraine resorts to any attempt to create ‘a dirty nuclear bomb’ or any radioactive device.

4. Russian MoD made a statement on Ukrainian drone attacks

On the morning of December 5, the Kiev regime attempted to attack by Soviet-made UAVs the military airfields at Dyagilevo in the Ryazan Region and Engels in the Saratov Region in an effort to disable Russian long-range aircraft. The maximum range from Ukrainian-Russian border was around 650 km.

Russian air defence forces intercepted the Ukrainian UAVs as they were flying at a low altitude. The crash and explosion of the wreckage on the Russian airfields caused minor damage to the hull armour of the two airplanes.

Three Russian maintenance personnel on the airfield suffered fatal injuries. Another four servicemen wounded were taken to medical facilities where they were given all the necessary medical care.

Despite attempts by the Kiev regime to disrupt the combat operations of Russian Long-Range Aviation by an act of terrorism, today at around 3 pm (Moscow time) the command and control system and related defense complex facilities, communication hubs, power plants, and military units of Ukraine were struck with high-precision long-range air and sea-based weapons.

The objective of the strike has been achieved. All of the designated 17 targets were engaged.

5. EU member says it can no longer accept Ukrainian refugees

People arriving in Estonia will be urged to move on to Finland, Prime Minister Kallas has said. Estonia will not be able to handle a possible new influx of refugees from Ukraine and expects other EU nations, such as Finland, to accommodate them, she announced, by adding that everything has its limit, and once we are no longer able to accept people because we ran out of housing and jobs, then others will do more. Tallinn already has a tentative agreement with Helsinki on the issue, she stated on December 6 in a radio interview.

Many of these people demand special services and VIP treatment and extra ‘humanitarian’ money for themselves, insult Europeans and expand crimes and prostitution. Many of them smuggle weapons to Europe and cultivate ethnic hatred, racism and barbaric neo-nazi ideology that are gradually engulfing the European soil.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

December 21,2022

1. Major improvements, including those in the nuclear triad

On December 21, President Vladimir Putin spoke at an expanded meeting of the Defense Ministry Board at the National Defense Management Center where the key areas of Army and Navy development including the Special Military Operation or SMO have been discussed.

The main aim of the Russian geopolitical adversaries has been to “dismember” Russia, Vladimir Putin outlined.

He noted that the military potential and capabilities of almost all major NATO countries are actively used against Russia, and outlined that the respective experience should be studied and taken into account by the Armed Forces and the defense-industrial complex, especially during the SMO. The President expressed confidence that the SMO tasks would undoubtedly be accomplished on all territories of the Russian Federation, including the new territories, and the safe life of all our citizens will be ensured.

The President has emphasized that Russia would continue to maintain and improve combat readiness of the nuclear triad that is the main guarantee of preserving sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country as well as strategic parity and the global balance of power.

Russia will continue the development of the hypersonic missile systems that are unique in their characteristics and have no analogues in the world. Russia will continue rearming the Strategic Missile Forces with the modern Avangard system having a hypersonic warhead. In the near future, the Sarmat ICBM will be put on combat duty for the first time. The Yars ICBM will be additionally supplied to the troops. At the beginning of January 2023, the frigate “Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov” will enter combat service with the latest version of Zircon sea-based hypersonic missile systems.

The President underscored: “We don't have any restrictions on funding. The country, the Government give everything the Army asks for, everything.” But he pledged that national economy will not be militarized.

Vladimir Putin asked the Ministry of Defense to be attentive to all civilian initiatives, including taking criticism into account and responding to it correctly and in a timely manner.

2. Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu’s report: major points

In his report Army General Sergey Shoigu also noted that currently, the military capabilities and potential of almost all major NATO countries are being actively used against Russia. In his words, in Ukraine, Russian servicemen are being countered by combined Western forces. The U.S. and its allies are pumping the Kiev regime with weapons, training soldiers, providing intelligence, sending advisers and mercenaries, and waging an information and sanctions war against us.

The Ukrainian leadership is resorting to prohibited methods of confrontation, including terrorist attacks and contract murders, and the firing of heavy weapons at civilians. Western countries are trying to ignore all of this, as well as elements of nuclear blackmail, such as the provocations against the Zaporozhye NPP and the so-called ‘dirty nuclear bomb’ scenario.

Russian forces continue to destroy military targets, launch massive high-precision strikes against Ukrainian military command system, military-industrial complex enterprises and related facilities, including energy ones. The chain of supply of foreign weapons is being destroyed and Ukraine's military potential is being crushed. At the same time, all preventive measures are being taken to prevent civilian losses.

To make up for the losses, the United States and NATO countries have multiplied their military aid to the Kiev regime. Twenty-seven countries have already spent $97 billion on arms supplies to Ukraine, much more than what the Americans abandoned in Afghanistan. There are NATO staff officers, artillerymen and other specialists in the combat zone in Ukraine. More than 500 US and NATO spacecraft operate in the interests of AFU, of which more than 70 are military, the rest are dual-capable space vehicles.

The U.S. and its allies spend a great deal of money on information and psychological pressure on Russia and our allies. Russia has fully understood what the supposedly "free Western press" is all about. Thousands of fakes about the events in Ukraine are published daily on command from Washington, according to the same templates. Hundreds of television agencies, tens of thousands of print media outlets, and media resources on social networks and messengers are working for this.

The total silence of the Western media about the war crimes of the Ukrainian military is the height of cynicism. At the same time, the criminal regime in Kyiv and neo-Nazis are being glorified. The terrorist methods of the AFU are presented as legitimate self-defense or presented as the actions of Russian units. Ukrainian nationalists have taken on the role of barrier troops. Every day we receive data on the shooting of AFU servicemen evading from taking part in combat missions.

Recent partial mobilization totaling 300,000 men in Russia has increased the combat capabilities of the troops and intensified combat operations. Russian troops liberated five times the territory that the Luhansk and Donetsk People's Republics had occupied before February 24, 2022. There were more than 20,000 men enlisted as volunteers as well.

The amount of funds foreseen in 2022, taking into account the additional supply of weapons and equipment, made it possible to increase the number of basic models sent to the Russian troops by 30%, while the number of ammunition for rocket and artillery armament and aircraft means of destruction by 69 to 109%.

Overall, the Russian Armed Forces have met all the targets set for 2022. Their combat capabilities have grown by more than 13%. The target level of maintaining the country's defense capabilities has been achieved.

Increase the conscription age from 18 to 21 and raise the upper age limit to 30 for recruitment into the Russian Armed Forces on a phased basis.

Given NATO's desire to build up its military capabilities near Russia's borders and expand the Alliance to Finland and Sweden, steps need to be taken to create a corresponding group of forces in North Western part of Russia.

Create two interdomain strategic territorial joined groupings of the Armed Forces – the Moscow and Leningrad Military Districts.

Continue to improve the composition and structure of the branches of the Armed Forces, increasing the responsibility of the major commands for the preparation and use of military groupings and formations.

Form three motorized rifle divisions, including those as part of combined arms formations in the Kherson and Zaporozhye Regions, as well as an army corps in Karelia.

Seven motorized rifle brigades in the Western, Central and Eastern Military Districts and the Northern Fleet should be transformed into motorized rifle divisions.

Two additional airborne assault divisions should be formed in the Airborne Forces.

For each combined-Armed Forces (Tank) Army, maintain a mixed aviation division and an army aviation brigade, numbering 80-100 combat helicopters.

In addition, to form three directorates in aviation divisions, eight bomber aviation regiments, one fighter aviation regiment, and six brigades of Army aviation.

To create artillery reserves in strategic areas, form five artillery divisions in Military Districts, as well as high-capacity artillery brigades.

In the coastal forces of the Navy there is the need to form five Marines Divisions on the basis of existing Marines brigades.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

March 13^th, 2022

1. The humanitarian situation in Ukraine is getting worse

It continues to deteriorate rapidly, and in some cities it is catastrophic.

Armed formations of nationalists are mining residential areas, destroying bridges, roads, and life support facilities. They create strongholds in residential areas, hospitals, schools, kindergartens. In besieged Mariupol, armed gangs of neo-Nazis staged another so-called "looting raid" on residential buildings, during which, under threat of physical violence, they took the last food, clothing and valuables from civilians. Those who showed the slightest resistance were shot on the spot. In Volnovakha they shelled a maternity hospital by direct tank and MPLS Grad fire before they retreated and exploded a number of its sections. Eight civilians have been found dead at this place (see attached slide).

Many refugee that luckily managed to escape are telling the world the whole truth about this tragedy. They compare these Ukrainian atrocities with those conducted by Nazi Germany during the WWII in Europe.

Russian forces have liberated the settlement of Nikolskoye, where members of the "Aidar" battalion set up an artillery position. At least 300 people, including monks, who had been taken hostage by Ukrainian radicals at Nikolskoye, were freed by the Russian troops unharmed.

Russian President Vladimir Putin called on French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during a telephone conversation with them on March 12^th to influence Kiev to force its nationalist battalions to stop committing crimes. Putin namely recalled that these groups have thwarted efforts to evacuate citizens via humanitarian corridors on many occasions. He also cited the numerous incidences of the "flagrant violation" of international humanitarian laws by Ukrainian security forces.

2. Humanitarian corridors

 On March 12^th, at 10:00 AM local time Russia again provided humanitarian corridors for the eighth time leading from Kiev, Chernigov, Sumy, Kharkov and Mariupol, along one humanitarian corridor directed to the Russian Federation, and one more through the territories controlled by the Kiev authorities towards the western borders of Ukraine. Of these ten routes the Ukrainian side added one more - in Zhytomyr direction. It was accepted.

However, no notifications of the population in Kiev, Chernigov, Kharkov, Sumy and Mariupol cities were given by the Ukrainian side. On the contrary the nationalists did not stop shooting. They intentionally block people wishing to escape to Russia and Belarus thus depriving the right of refugees to go freely to any place they desire and to find the shortest possible way to find a safer place.

Was it necessary and expedient for the USA and NATO backed by the EU to implant pro-Western presidents in Kiev to get such terrible results?

So far only 9,787 people, including 1,738 children, were evacuated from the dangerous zones of various regions of Ukraine, as well as the Lugansk and Donetsk People's Republics, during the day without the participation of the Ukrainian side.

By March 12^th, more than 231,000 people have been evacuated to Russia since the beginning of the special military operation. 51,996 of them were children.

The Kiev authorities does not offer humanitarian assistance to the trapped people in need.

On the contrary, Russia delivered totally 1,935 tons of humanitarian cargo to Ukraine, 237 humanitarian actions have been carried out, including 22 actions in Kiev, Kharkov, Zaporozhye and Chernigov Regions, as well as in Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics, during which 264 tons of basic necessities, medicines and food were distributed among civilian population of the liberated areas.

3. Russia issues a strong warning to the West

 The ‘mindless’ handover of weapons to Kiev makes arms convoys ‘legitimate targets,’ Moscow said. Supplying Ukraine with Western arms only serves to worsen the ongoing conflict between Moscow and Kiev, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on Saturday, March 12^th, warning that Russian forces could potentially target such deliveries. “It is the US that is the major source of international tension,” he noted, slamming America’s “material support for the criminal regime in Kiev.” He also warned that the “mindless handover” of “dangerous arms” like portable air-defense and anti-tank missiles poses a threat to Western nations themselves. 

Last week, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also expressed concerns over such weapons getting “into the wrong hands” after the conflict ends. Portable air-defense missiles could pose a particular risk to civil aviation in the skies over Ukraine or Europe for years to come, he added. 

President Biden totally allocated $ 1,2 billion for continuation of the existence of ultra-nazi regime in Kiev and for the extermination of Ukrainians.

4. Developments at the battlespace

 Despite slowdown in movement into Ukrainian territory due to the humanitarian factor, Russian Armed Forces continue their drive with the aim to liberate Ukraine and Europe from newly-born Nazism, like they did in 1945 (see attached slide).

According to Russian MoD, during March 12^th, Russian Aerospace Forces shot down one Mi-24 helicopter and three unmanned aerial vehicles, including one Bayraktar TB-2 drone of the Ukrainian Air Forces.

Russian operational-tactical piloted and unmanned aviation hit 79 military infrastructure assets of Ukraine, including: 4 command/control and communication centers, two anti-aircraft missile systems, three multiple launch rocket systems (MRLS), one electronic warfare station, 6 ammunition and fuel depots and 54 areas packed with military equipment.

In total, during the operation that began February 24^th, 2022 till now 3,687 Ukrainian military facilities have been destroyed and disabled.

Destroyed were: 99 aircraft, 128 unmanned aerial vehicles, 1,194 tanks and APVs, 121 MRLS, 443 field artillery guns and mortars, 991 special military vehicles.

Russian MoD for the first time disclosed the use of a new high-altitude drone capable to destroy ground targets from the altitude of 3 kilometers.

5. Chernobyl and Zaporozhie NPPs under control

 There is still full Ukrainian civil management at them monitored by some Russian experts from Rosatom. Ukrainian security officers have been disarmed and sent back home. Russian troops are now securing the situation around these NPPs. Electricity to the Chernobyl plant is supplied directly from Belarus, because Ukrainian saboteurs exploded its electric supply station.

Russia still remembers when the Chernobyl nuclear disaster took place in 1986 due to a human blunder: Ukrainian operators melted down reactor # 4 due to unauthorized “experiment”. Enhanced radiation level was recorded that year even too far away – at Sellafield NPP, Cumbria, the UK.

Note: all previous, current and future reports were, are and will be prepared upon official information.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin 



January 9, 2023

1. Kiev: Russia offered a ‘Korea-style‘ peace deal. No, it is a political fake

Aleksey Danilov, the head of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, on January 8 said that Russia wanted to impose a truce that would split Ukrainian lands into two states, similar to how the Korean Peninsula is divided.  "They [Russians] are currently offering us a Korean option. On one side we will have certain Ukrainians, and on the other side we will have different Ukrainians," Danilov said in a TV interview according to Ukrainian news channel TSN.

"I know for certain that one of the options they could offer us is the ‘38th parallel,'" Danilov said. He claimed that Dmitry Kozak, the deputy head of Russia’s Presidential Administration, has been speaking to EU politicians and conveying the message that they are ready for many concessions in order to recognize the status quo and to force Kiev into some kind of truce.

The 1950–53 Korean War ended with a truce that formalized the 38th parallel as the de-facto official border between North Korea and South Korea.

Some Russian experts made critical remarks to Danilov’s allegations. As one of them has put it: “The implementation of this plan would mean one thing. There will be a permanent armed confrontation between Ukraine and Russia, unless there are sane, non-corrupt, and friendly leaders in Kiev who are friendly to their own citizens and to the Russian Federation. If there are "two Ukraines," as there are two Koreas, then the pro-Western part of Ukraine will join NATO, deploy U.S. nuclear and anti-missile weapons, and continue to destabilize Europe and the world as a whole.” [See original at: https://ukraina.ru/20230109/1042467118.html. The whole text of the interview will be posted in English on January 10]

2. Emergency statement by Joint Coordination Headquarters of the Russian Federation for Humanitarian Response in Ukraine. Note: not to be read by too emotional persons

Intelligence services of Ukraine have prepared a new large-scale anti-Russian provocation aimed at discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and accusing Russian servicemen of allegedly committing war crimes.

On the eve of the Orthodox Christmas, representatives of the State Bureau of Investigation and the Security Service of Ukraine arranged for opening graves in cemeteries near Kazachya Lopan, Velikiy Burluk, Shypovatoye and Khatnoye (Kharkov region), where local citizens, who died of natural causes during the deployment of Russian troops in these areas from  February 24 to September 6, 2022, were buried.

After the exhumation, the bodies of Ukrainian citizens were further disfigured and thrown into specially prepared ‘pits’ on the outskirts of these settlements to create false ‘evidence’ of ‘torture’ and ‘shooting’ of civilians allegedly committed by Russian servicemen.

Representatives of the Ukrainian intelligence services and law enforcement agencies are currently photographing and videotaping the bodies of the dead Ukrainian citizens, as well as are imitating the work of ‘forensic experts’ and other ‘legal proceedings’ in the presence of fake ‘witnesses’.

3. Violation of a proposed Russian ceasefire by Ukraine

The combined grouping of Russian troops observed the ceasefire along the entire line of contact from 12:00 AM on January, 6 until 24:00 PM. on January 7, 2023 in the areas of the Special Military Operation.

Within the ceasefire, not observed by Ukrainian president and his NATO bosses, the AFU continued to conduct heavy shelling of residential areas in DPR and LPR and other regions.

In Kupyansk and Krasniy Liman directions, the AFU has fired 78 artillery and mortar shells.  In Soledar, Avdeyevka and Maryinka directions, the enemy used large-calibre artillery fire 155 times.  More than AFU 160 large-calibre shells and 20 multiple-laucnh rockets have been fired at residential areas of Donetsk.  The enemy opened artillery fire 89 times in Zaporozhye Region.  In Kherson and Krivoy Rog directions, Ukrainian artillery has been used 55 times.

Russian forces had to use a return fire to suppress AFU artillery that had been firing on residential areas in these areas during the Orthodox Christmas.

4. A justifiable vendetta

As a result of the criminal attack of Kiev regime, in the first minutes of January 1, 2023, against Russian military personnel near Makeevka, not far from Donetsk city (Donetsk People's Republic), where 89 Russian have been killed by AFU intentional bombardment, the command of the combined group of Russian troops carried out a retaliatory operation.

 Over the past 24 hours, Russian reconnaissance units have uncovered and reliably confirmed through several independent sources the temporary deployment sites of the AFU in Kramatorsk controlled by Ukrainian side. There were over 700 Ukrainian servicemen in dormitory No 28 and over 600 servicemen in dormitory No 47.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin
 

January 13, 2023

1. Moscow announced new head of the SMO

The head of the Russian General Staff, Army General Valery Gerasimov, and the First Deputy of the Defense Minister at the same time, has been appointed to lead Moscow’s Joint Forces Group suppressing Ukrainian aggression, Russian MoD said on January 11. The former commander of the Special Military Operation or SMO, Army General Sergey Surovikin, has been made his deputy.

Two other generals were also appointed as Gerasimov’s deputies in the ongoing military campaign in Ukraine. One of them is the Russian Ground Forces commander, Army General Oleg Salyukov. An experienced career officer, he served as a battalion commander and head of the Far-East Military District before becoming a deputy head of the General Staff and then Ground Forces commander. The other is Colonel General Aleksey Kim, a deputy head of the General Staff. He previously headed Russia’s Combined Arms Academy of the Armed Forces and is known as an experienced military specialist. He is also a professor and holds an academic degree in military sciences.

The need to “raise the operation command level” was linked to an “increased scale of the combat missions,” and the need for closer coordination between various services and branches of the Armed Forces, and also improve logistics support and command effectiveness for the Russian forces in Ukraine, the MoD added.

Gerasimov is known as one of Russia’s top military commanders and a renowned strategist, who has earned the respect of Kiev’s top commander, Valery Zaluzhny. Back in September 2022, he told the Time that he had “learned from Gerasimov.” “I read everything he ever wrote… He is the smartest of men, and my expectations of him were enormous,” the Ukrainian general admitted at that time. Gerasimov has visited troops fighting in Ukraine on several occasions to improve coordination between the forces, but did not take over direct operational command until now.

The decision by the Kremlin to return Russia’s top commander to direct the war efforts in Ukraine comes at a pivotal point in the conflict, possibly heralding a fresh Russian offensive as Moscow grapples for success on the battlefield, noted the WSJ [https://www.wsj.com/articles/russia-aims-to-regain-offensive-in-ukraine-war-with-new-commander-11673553592]

The elevation of the SMO command has been welcomed in Russia. Many military experts label it as a desire to enhance concentration of military power against combined and direct Ukrainian-NATO aggression against Russia and its civilians.

2. Kremlin comments on major Donbass battle

Russia will continue its Donbass offensive, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on January 11, after the country’s Defense Ministry reported that airborne troops had blocked the Ukrainian-held mining city of Soledar. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the private Russian military private company Wagner Group, sometimes unofficially called as “Musicians” later confirmed that his soldiers had completely seized the city. It happened on the next day, January 12.

“Truly gigantic work has been done,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. He described the fighting as “absolutely selfless, heroic actions not only in Soledar, but in many other areas where offensives are taking place.”

3. Moscow and Minsk will respond collectively if attacked separately or together

The use of force by Kiev against Russia or Belarus or a Ukrainian invasion of either of the two Union countries would be enough to trigger a collective response, a senior Russian diplomat told TASS.

Commenting on potential scenarios of having Belarus involved in the conflict in Ukraine, Director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Second CIS Department Alexey Polishchuk referred to the latest military doctrine of the Union State under which the use of force against either of the two Union members would be viewed as an attack on the entire Union State and said there were similar commitments on mutual support in the event of any foreign aggression against the Collective Security Treaty Organization or CSTO.

"Our countries supply weapons and components for the production of military hardware to each other, cooperate in border protection issues, and enhance the combat capability of the common Russian-Belarusian air defense system. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has repeatedly warned his country would retaliate in the event of a Ukrainian attack on Belarus or any other provocation. The republic has the sovereign right to defend its territory through all means available and Minsk can count on Russia’s full support here," the diplomat explained.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

March 14^th, 2022

1. Kiev used cluster missile vs civilians in Donetsk

On March 13^th, 2022 Ukrainian troops deliberately used operational ballistic missile Tochka-U tipped with cluster munitions against civilians in the commercial street in the center of Donetsk. 20 peaceful citizens were killed, and 36 were heavily wounded at the spot. There are no military facilities there (see PPT slides attached separately from the scene).

There are no critical remarks from the NATO capitals to such wild attack that is run counter to the international convention banning genocide, namely Article 1 and 2. Dead silence comes inside and outside NATO and from the UNO.

Ukrainian Armed Forces have never stopped shelling of Donbass either before February 24^th, 2022 when the operation aimed at the liberation of Donbass Ukrainian nationalists or after that date. Every day they used heavy artillery and mortars (122 and 120 mm), MRLSs and sometimes ballistic missiles.

There are too many voices in Russia to stop any political talks with Kiev as a useless action.

Russian MoD announced that it will continue to destroy Ukrainian military industrial complex used to produce weapons during three Ukrainian aggressions against Donbass (in 2014, 2015 and 2022).

2. Russian troops destroyed Ukrainian firing range

It is located at the Ukrainian military base Yavorovsky about 30 km from Lvov, Western Ukraine, with 180 (180) foreign mercenaries assembled there killed and more than 30 persons wounded. Ukraine stopped its campaign to hire more “soldiers of fortune” to fight with Ukrainians who hate the idea to live in the country with undemocratic and inhuman regime.

At the same time 16.000 (16.000) volunteers from various countries expressed their desire to help freedom fighters in Donbass and to go there. Moscow OK’ed such intention and permitted them to go to Donbass and in the liberated areas.

3.  Developments at the battlefields

By evening March 13^th Russian Armed Forces have destroyed totally 3920 various Ukrainian military facilities.

From February 24^th, 2022 till March 13th there have been destroyed 100 aircraft, 145 drones, 1298 tanks and ACV/APCs, 124 MRLS, 469 field artillery guns and mortars, 1047 special military vehicles.

Russian troops have captured the Azov Sea Ukrainian naval base near Berdyansk without any resistance. Three Ukrainian combat vessels have been captured, there crews having disappeared leaving plenty of arms and ammunitions.

Around Mariupol – the major Ukrainian stronghold in the south-eastern area after Volnovakha – any resistance of nazi formations been suppressed. Such victory helped plenty of refugees to move from that hell arranged by ultra-nationalists without any hindrances. If Mariupol falls – the fate of Kiev will be doomed. The Chechen elite forces are very near the Ukrainian capital.



Written by Vladimir P. Kozin 

January 14, 2023

1. Russia reacts negatively to Turkish support of Zelensky’s ‘peace plan’

Turkey’s stated support of the “so-called peace plan” formulated by Ukrainian President Zelensky does not change the fact that Russia considers it unacceptable, Russian Foreign Ministry said on January 11.

The ‘peace plan’ was presented by Zelensky at the G 20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia, last November. It involves a full Russian withdrawal from territories that Kiev considers to be its own and long-term support of Ukraine by international donors. Such and other paragraphs are not acceptable to Moscow.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who represented Russia at the gathering in Bali, called Zelensky’s virtual address “militant, Russophobic and aggressive” and dismissed his ten-point agenda as “unrealistic and inadequate.”

The Kremlin called such proposals a non-starter, insisting that if Ukraine wants peace it should take into account “the new realities,” referring to the four former Ukrainian regions that voted to join Russia last fall, after Crimea did the same in 2014 following a coup in Kiev.

If resumed, the talks between Russia and Ukraine will most likely be direct, without mediators, which would be the best option, Alexey Polishchuk, director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Second CIS Department monitoring Ukraine, said in an interview with TASS.

The diplomat noted that last year’s talks with the Ukrainian side were direct. "Until now we have only interacted with the Ukrainians directly, using the platforms that were kindly provided to us, which we really appreciate. Three rounds of the Russian-Ukrainian dialogue were held in Belarus and one in Turkey in February-April of last year. Later almost daily contacts were held via video link. Those were direct talks with the Ukrainians," he emphasized.

2. Last year the number of forcible seizures of churches belonging to Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) has increased almost 20-fold

The Ukrainian authorities intensified their policy of hostility towards the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), in 2022 the number of raids on its churches and illegal re-registration of parishes increased many times. In 2022, such 129 seizures of churches were recorded. This is stated in the 2022 Annual report of Metropolitan Anthony, the UOC chief administrator.

The OCU was created by merging the two schismatic organizations in Ukraine in 2018, at the initiative of former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Patriarch Bartholomew.

It was also noted in the  2022 Report that "artificially intensified religious hatred towards the UOC", "representatives of other confessions <...>, abusing their positions of power and authority, make illegal and unfounded accusations against the UOC", "violations of the rights of believers of the UOC continue" and their feelings are insulted.

The manager of the church affairs drew attention to the fact that on December 9, 2022 the Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy submitted four anti-church bills to the Verkhovna Rada or Parliament of Ukraine.

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church's Synodal Legal Department previously stated that the draft laws violate the rights of believers of the canonical church and are aimed at its liquidation. According to the lawyers, the bills simplify the transition of the UOC communities into subordination of the so-called Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), create preconditions for raiding of churches and monasteries, including the Pochayiv and Kyiv-Pechersk lurches, and are aimed at a complete ban on the UOC.

In recent months, the Ukrainian authorities have stepped up their actions against the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The SBU or Security Service of Ukraine has been conducting searches in UOC churches, and several hierarchs have been charged with treason and subversion. On December 1, 2022 Ukrainian President Zelensky issued a decree that enacted a decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, which, in fact, was aimed at banning the UOC. In particular, the decree instructed to introduce to the parliament a bill to ban religious organizations affiliated with the centers of influence in the Russian Federation.

[source: https://tass.ru/obschestvo/16691353]

So, various democratic freedoms in Ukraine have been banned a long time ago by pro-western Ukrainian leaders. Now, they say, the time has come to limit and to ban religious beliefs.

Despite this: no response from the Pope, no response from NATO and the EU states on all these undemocratic phenomena.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

February 7, 2023

1. Ukraine is accused of using chemical warfare agents

Russian military commanders have reported that Ukrainian troops deployed a type of chemical weapon against Russian units in Donbass by using drones. Such CW agents have caused coughing, lacrimination and weakness among a number of servicemen on the battlefield.

Speaking to Russian television on February 6, Denis Pushilin, the acting governor of the Donetsk People’s Republic, said his office has been receiving reports about chemical warfare for at least two weeks. Ukrainian troops have reportedly been deploying “chemical compounds that make our military service members ill,” he announced.

Chemical warfare is forbidden under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), an international treaty that took effect in 1997 and to which both Ukraine and Russia are signatories. Russia has already destroyed all its CW agents, while Ukraine and the USA have not.

2. Biden explained refusal to send F-16s to Ukraine

America’s F-16 fighter jets should remain in the country and not be sent to Ukraine, US President Joe Biden said on February 6. Earlier, he signaled that Washington has no plans to send the warplanes to Kiev. Speaking to reporters on the White House South Lawn, Biden was asked to explain why he is against F-16 deliveries for Ukraine. “Because we should keep them here. That’s a totally different situation,” he replied, without elaborating.

His refusal, however, does not eliminate the possibility that Washington could approve the re-export of the warplanes from other countries. In an interview with the Financial Times last month, a senior executive with Lockheed Martin, which produces F-16s, said that there is “a lot of conversation about third party transfer of F-16s” to Ukraine.

In an interview on February 6, Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak was asked whether Warsaw will hand over its F-16 jets to Ukraine. He replied: “we have too few of them, only 48 [aircraft].” This comes after Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said he is open to deliveries of warplanes, but only if this is a “decision of the whole of NATO.”

Russia has repeatedly warned the West against supplying Ukraine with weapons, arguing that it will only prolong the conflict. Moscow promised to destroy all NATO arms along their delivery channels.

"In the first month of this year alone, Ukraine's loses amounted to more than 6,500 servicemen, 26 aircraft, 7 helicopters, 208 unmanned aerial vehicles, 341 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 40 multiple rocket launchers," Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on February 7 in Moscow.

The minister added that Russian Armed Forces continue to destroy all weapons and equipment supplied to Ukraine. "Russian troops continue to destroy all weapons and equipment supplied to Kiev, both on delivery routes and in combat positions," Shoigu added.

3. Ukraine is to replace its current defense minister

Ukrainian Defense Minister Aleksey Reznikov, will be relieved of his duties and instead appointed minister for strategic industries, according to David Arakhamia, parliamentary faction head of President Zelensky’s political party. The planned reshuffle follows multiple corruption scandals and resignations by other officials, including Reznikov’s deputy.

He is best known for his veiled threats of more strikes and terrorist attacks deeper into Russian territory. In October 2022, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) called Budanov a key suspect behind the car bombing attack on the Crimean Bridge. He is also known as having a wrist bracelet with fascist swastika.

VIPs close to the Ukrainian president claim that Reznikov is the most “logical” candidate to head the Ministry of Strategic Industries, given his “expertise” in securing Western military aid at Ramstein Air Base meetings and directing the endless flow of heavy weaponry for the Ukrainian army.

Multiple senior Ukrainian officials have resigned or have been fired in recent weeks, some in relation to an alleged graft scandal affecting the Defense Ministry. According to a Ukrainian media investigation, various foodstuffs for the military ended up costing several times more than average retail prices. In Ukraine it became a routine practice.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin
 

1. Humanitarian situation is still complicated

2. Operation “Liberation” goes on

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin 

February 9, 2023

1. Moscow assesses prospects for peace with Kiev

Russia’s UN envoy Vassily Nebenzia has called on the West to stop using Ukrainians in a “proxy war” that actually has turned into a direct combined armed aggression of Ukraine and NATO against Russia.

The West is only prolonging the bloodshed in Ukraine by supplying Kiev with weapons and waging a proxy war against Moscow, Vassily Nebenzia, Russia’s permanent representative to the UN, said on February 7. The statement came the same day US President Joe Biden vowed in Congress to support Ukraine for “as long as it takes.”

“The prospects of peace will be closer when the flooding of Ukraine with weapons stops… and when they realistically listen to our concerns,” Nebenzia told reporters at a press conference in NYC. He urged Ukraine’s Western backers to stop “using Ukrainians to wage a proxy war against us.”

Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine nearly a year ago, citing the need to protect the people of Donbass from genocide, and Kiev’s intentions not to implement the 2014-2015 Minsk peace accords at all.

2. Ukrainian opposition leader:  Zelensky 'set fire' to Ukraine

President Vladimir Zelensky has brought Ukraine to destruction in the name of Western interests because he is too incompetent and ambitious to govern it properly, famous opposition leader Viktor Medvedchuk recently observed.

Medvedchuk formerly led the largest opposition political party in Ukraine, now banned, called as Opposition Platform - For Life party which won the second largest number of parliamentary seats in Ukraine’s 2019 elections. Zelensky first placed Medvedchuk under house arrest, then sent him to a “dungeon” run by the Ukrainian SBU or Ukrainian Security Service, where the opposition politician said he was exposed to “constant psychological pressure and humiliation.”

Medvedchuk now lives in exile, after being arrested in Ukraine under false convictions, and later has been exchanged for some Ukrainian POW. Medvedchuk still considers himself a Ukrainian citizen and lawmaker, and is building a team of like-minded people to represent those he claims are suppressed by the current government in Kiev. He advocates closer ties with Russia and rejected Kiev’s pro-NATO stance.

Zelensky was elected in 2019 as a “peace candidate” who pledged to put an end to the warmongering policies of his predecessor, Pyotr Poroshenko, Medvedchuk claimed in an article published by RIA Novosti on February 8. But instead of becoming “a sentence” for Poroshenko, which was his campaign promise, Zelensky became a sentence for Ukraine, the politician said.

The new leader had a mandate to rebalance Ukraine’s political system and make the country neutral and peaceful, Medvedchuk wrote. But this required a boring routine and difficult work. Zelensky “failed to put the nation in order, and found that blaming Russia rather than his own incompetence for the problems” was easier, he said.

By the end of 2020, polls showed a decline in the popularity of Zelensky’s party, and likely defeat in the next presidential election by a candidate proposed by the party led by Medvedchuk, he noted. An escalation of tensions with Russia and later open hostilities launched by Kiev’s regime saved Zelensky’s career, the politician said.

Today, the West flatters him at every opportunity. What luck! A ruler who would destroy his country for a photo op, boost his ratings on the blood and suffering of his citizens. Zelensky slaughtered law and stability for the sake of applause and posturing.

The actual role of the Ukrainian president is that of a “fifth columnist” working against the interests of his own nation and Europe's, considering the price it pays for the Ukraine conflict, Medvedchuk stated.

Zelensky hopes that a military victory would wash away all the things he has done to crush his political opponents and to “lease his nation as a battlefield.” But Ukraine has “already lost,” and soon this reality will catch up with him, according to Medvedchuk.

The president “acts like a winner, speaks like a winner, poses like a winner. But victory is nowhere near,” he said. Continued conflict is the only thing that delays the reckoning for the president, the politician believes.

When Zelensky claims Ukraine is united, he omits that this unity was forced at gunpoint, Medvedchuk asserted in his January 2023 publication.

Today’s Ukraine violates every provision of its own Constitution, Medvedchuk argued, and “ceased to be independent and sovereign” after the February 2014 coup, when it “passed completely under external control of the West.”

It should be added: current Ukrainian regime as a dangerous HE mine placed under European and global security.

3. Sunak: the UK to ship long-range arms to Kiev, to begin training its pilots

The UK will expand training for Ukrainian servicemen by starting to train jet pilots, and will ship longer-range weapons to Kiev, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in a statement on February 8. "I am proud that today we will expand that training from soldiers to marines and fighter jet pilots," Sunak said.

According to the Prime Minister’s office, Ukrainian pilots will develop skills that will allow them to be able to "fly sophisticated NATO-standard fighter jets in the future."

Earlier, the Prime Minister’s Office noted that the shortest jet pilot training course in the UK will last 36 months.

4. Nord Streams: The report of investigative journalist Seymour Hersh

 The report on Washington's involvement in the explosions at Nord Streams has once again pointed to the need for an open international investigation into the incidents and punishment for those responsible, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on February 9.

On Wednesday, Hersh, a Pulitzer Prize winner, published a report saying that US Navy divers during NATO Baltops Naval exercises in the summer of 2022 planted high explosives to destroy the Nord Stream pipelines, which Norway activated three months later. According to the report, US President Joe Biden decided to sabotage the Nord Streams after more than nine months of secret discussions with the US national security team.

It is remarkable for the depth of analysis, the official put it, noting that it would be at least unfair to ignore it, especially for such a country as Germany, which, in fact, as a result of this terrorist act, was deprived of a very important energy facility.

On December 22, 2022 President Vladimir Putin has labelled the explosion as the act of “state terrorism”.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin

February, 14, 2023

Members of the State Duma adopted an Appeal by the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation to the world Parliaments in connection with the US military biological activity outside its territory. The appeal was made public on February 14, 2023.

The document was prepared by the Parliamentary Commission on Investigation into the Activities of the US Biological Laboratories on the Territory of Ukraine, which concluded that “the US biomedical programme is being implemented and funded by the Pentagon and is of a secret and military-applied nature”. The Parliamentary Commission consists of 14 Members of the State Duma and 14 Senators. The Deputy Chairwoman of the State Duma Irina Yarovaya and Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev are the Co-Chairs of the Commission.