Video - Russian Senator Franz Kincevich on Current NATO Drills: No Threat to Russia, But Our Troops Are Ready.

Debt ridden Ukraine asks Russia for lower gas prices for coming winter season

Debt ridden Ukraine asks Russia for lower gas prices for coming winter season. (AP).

Emboldened by a deal with international creditors to write down part of its debt, Ukraine on Friday asked Russia for lower gas prices for the winter season.

Russia and Ukraine last year struck an emergency deal on prices through the winter. That deal has expired, however, and the sides have to hold new talks if Ukraine is to receive more Russian gas.

Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said on Friday he is convinced that Kiev and Moscow should go back to the last winter deal, which saw Ukraine pre-pay for gas but receive a sizeable discount.

"We are convinced that the only mechanism to ensure a gas transit to the EU as well as stable supplies to Ukraine is applying the same mechanism that was worked out last year between the EU, Ukraine and Russia," he said in comments released by his press office.

The Ukrainian government on Thursday reached a deal with its international bondholders to lighten its public debt burden. It will see the creditors write off 20 percent of their bond holdings, shrinking $19 billion in sovereign debt to $15.5 billion.

Russian creditors did not take part in talks, but Ukrainian Finance Minister Natalie Jaresko on Thursday insisted that Moscow should accept the same terms because "it would not get a better deal" than Ukraine's other creditors.

Moscow insists that it wants to be fully repaid for a $3 billion loan it gave to Ukraine. The debt is due at the end of the year.

Speaking to reporters late Thursday, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov noted that Russia's loan "was not a commercial one. We provided funds for Ukraine with a below-market interest rate."
 Hmmmm......"Gazprom" has asked the Stockholm arbitration to collect the $ 29.2 billion Gas debt from Ukraine.Read the full story here.

Related:   Belarus ready to increase Russian gas transit to EU if needed.

Belarus ready to increase Russian gas transit to EU if needed.

Belarus ready to increase Russian gas transit to EU if needed. (Taz).

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said Friday that his country was ready to increase the volume of Russian gas transiting through Belarus to Europe, if needed, Sputnik reported.

Earlier in the day, Lukashenko and Miller formally announced the construction of the multifunctional Gazprom Center in the Belarusian capital of Minsk.

Lukashenko emphasized that Belarus was not an "alien territory" for the Russian energy company.

Last month, Ukraine, via which Europe receives over 40 percent of its gas from Russia, ceased all purchases of gas from Gazprom because Kiev and Moscow were unable to reach an agreement on gas deliveries for the third quarter of 2015.


Moscow has repeatedly voiced concerns over Ukraine's reliability as a transit country. Hmmm.......Sounds like a long , Cold Russian winter is coming to the Ukraine.

Related: EU, Russia and Ukraine meeting, trying to resolve 'Winter' gas issue could take place at end of September.

EU, Russia and Ukraine meeting, trying to resolve 'Winter' gas issue could take place at end of September.

EU, Russia and Ukraine meeting, trying to resolve 'Winter' gas issue could take place at end of September. (RBTH).

The European Commission sent Russian and Ukrainian energy ministers a document which sets out the main points on which an agreement on gas supplies to Ukraine is needed, European Commission member for energy Miguel Arias Canete said.

"This paper will be discussed in bilateral meetings at the ministerial level. The first one will be on August 27 with the Ukrainian minister and possibly at the beginning of September with the Russian minister. There is a convergence that there will be probably a trilateral ministerial meeting at the end of September," Arias Canete said at a press conference in Brussels on August 20.

The document outlines the nature and timeline for the protocol, formula for prices and discounts, minimum purchase amounts and their financing.

The European Commission is working tirelessly in order to reach a new gas delivery protocol from Russia to Ukraine from October 2015 to March 2016, Arias Canete said.

"The commission wants very clearly to have the second winter package. This is our position", he said.

Arias Canete said that the last three-sided ministerial meeting on gas in Vienna finished without results. A draft protocol was readied for Vienna upon which the sides reached a working level agreement, however the positions changed on the ministerial level.

"It became clear that at the moment there is no political will on both sides to agree on a new protocol. That is why the commission has informed the Normandy Group about the deadlock of the negotiations and asked for a stronger political steering from the heads of states and government commissars," he said.

He also outlined the arguments of the European Commission in favor of a protocol. First of all, it is necessary to ensure the gas supply to Ukraine in the coming winter. And although the situation has improved a bit compared to last year due to the reverse gas supplies from EU countries, "Ukraine still needs to fill its storages to at least 19 billion cubic meters (bcm) in order to prepare for a rough winter. 

The current level is 13.5 bcm. They need to buy more gas," Arias Canete said.

Additionally he said that it is necessary to guarantee the supply for Ukraine, while at the same time maintaining the transits of gas from Russia to the European Union, as it is in the interests of Moscow, so that they can retain their position as a reliable supplier. Hmmm.........I wouldn't count too much on a solution, in view of: "Gazprom" has asked the Stockholm arbitration to collect the $ 29.2 billion Gas debt from Ukraine.

"Gazprom" has asked the Stockholm arbitration to collect the $ 29.2 billion Gas debt from Ukraine.

"Gazprom" has asked the Stockholm arbitration to collect the $ 29.2 billion Gas debt from Ukraine. (RBC). [GoogleTranslate].

"Gazprom" said the amount of claims to "Naftogaz Ukrainy", transmitted to the Stockholm arbitration is $ 29.2 billion

The total amount of claims against "Gazprom" to "Naftogaz Ukraine", is $ 29.2 billion, follows from the report "Gazprom" for the second quarter 2015. The document notes that the company has specified the total amount of their claims in a counter lawsuit, filed in the Arbitration Institute of Stockholm Chamber of Commerce June 12, 2015.

At the beginning of May 2015 it was reported that the total amount of the claims of "Gazprom" to "Naftogaz Ukraine" in the Stockholm arbitration is $ 23.837 billion. However, in late May, the head of "Gazprom" Alexei Miller said the company will send a new view arbitration with the requirement to recover from the "Naftogaz Ukraine" another $ 8.197 billion in accordance with the rule spelled out in the contract "take-or-pay" for 2014.

The total amount of debt, "Naftogaz of Ukraine" with the additional requirements of Miller appreciated then at $ 29.477 billion.

Oral hearings on the suit of "Gazprom" to "Naftogaz Ukraine" in the Stockholm arbitration scheduled for February and March 2016, a decision may be rendered by the arbitrators at the end of June 2016.

In the report "Gazprom" also reported that in June 2015 the company "Gazprom export" initiated in the same Stockholm arbitration proceedings against the company SC "Turkmengaz". "Daughter" of "Gazprom" requested arbitration to revise the price of the purchased from GC "Turkmengaz" natural gas. Hmmm.....Ukraine is totally broke, ready to default and has no gas reserves for coming Winter.....Any guess what will happen next?

Large Russian military offensive in Ukraine possible within weeks: US analyst.

Large Russian military offensive in Ukraine possible within weeks: US analyst. (Unian).

Russian troops in east Ukraine could launch a major offensive within weeks, said American military analyst Phillip Karber in an interview with Ukraine Today.

“They have intelligence, they are run by Russian officers, there is Russian electronic warfare and they have heavy artillery brigades so they can orchestrate and coordinate….this is not the infrastructure you put in if you're expecting a ceasefire to last, this is the infrastructure you want to put in if you want to launch a major offensive, and not just one that goes a little way, but one that goes very deep," says Karber, arguing that the Kremlin hardly expects the Minsk ceasefire agreement to last, Ukraine Today reports.

Karber also suggested that Washington benefits from US Army training Ukrainian servicemen. According to Karber, the American instructors claim that they are “learning more from them than they are learning from us. They taking mass fire artillery strikes that we've never experienced, they are under UAV's constantly, we've never experienced that”.

Meanwhile, the Obama administration has stopped short of sending weapons to Ukraine, proclaiming that a diplomatic solution to the Donbas conflict is instead, the way forward.

See unian.info’s video section for more of the latest news from Ukraine in video from Ukraine Today, Ukraine’s 24-hour English-language news channel.

#ATO Press Center: 106 attacks on #Ukrainian Army positions in #Donetsk and #Lugansk Regions. http://t.co/FFYOGQUud2 pic.twitter.com/swDxls4idr

— Lugansk News Today (@LUGANSK_TODAY) August 7, 2015

(L) Recent sat (c/o @finriswolf) of Russian army depot (R) Krasnyi Luch, Luhansk reg, Ukraine https://t.co/yrFb1YNMl0 pic.twitter.com/jiUnAgXufc

— GorseFires Collectif (@GorseFires) August 7, 2015

Russian prosecutors to review legality of Baltic independence.

Russian prosecutors to review legality of Baltic independence. (Interfax).[Googletranslate].

Earlier, the Prosecutor General's Office acknowledged the illegal decision on the transfer of Crimea to Ukraine in 1954.

Russian Prosecutor General's office began checking the legality of recognition of the independence of the Baltic republics by the State Council of the USSR in 1991, "Interfax" on Tuesday, a source familiar with the situation.

"Legally, the decision to recognize the independence of the Baltic States is defective due to the fact that it was taken by an unconstitutional body," - said the agency interlocutor corresponding parliamentary inquiry into the main supervisory authority.

In his opinion, the answer to the appeal "would be the same as for the request to the Crimea." Source Agency said that Prosecutor General's Office has recognized the illegal decision on the transfer in 1954 of the Crimea from the RSFSR in the Ukraine, but, according to him, this decision has no real legal consequences.

"Prosecutor General's Office only stated a fact, namely, that the transfer of Crimea to Ukraine in the days of Nikita Khrushchev did not occur on a constitutional basis, since the relevant decisions are not taken by the competent authorities", - said the agency.

According to him, "in the present circumstances and realities that no authoritative body that could reverse this decision." "Although such a need has not. Crimea is again a part of Russia, and the question went to the political plane," - said the source.

However, he believes that the answer to the request of the Prosecutor General should be "more balanced". "Recognizing the illegal or that fateful decision, one can go too far - until the problem of the legitimacy of the Soviet Union and other countries" - said the source.

Because, he says, when making such decisions on a deputy's request "should take into account not only the legal but also the political aspect of the issues raised." Hmmm...So this time, they'll send lawyers in stead of little green men?

Video - Eye-witness: the Russian's wiped out TWO full mechanized Ukraine battalions in 3-mins using thermobaric weapons

Video - Eye-witness: the Russian's wiped out TWO full mechanized Ukraine battalions in 3-mins using thermobaric weapons. HT and Source: RobPulseNews.

Joseph Wood, Professor at The Institute of World Politics, and Phillip A. Karber, President of The Potomac Foundation and Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University, discussed " NATO and Central and Eastern Europe."

This panel was part of the The Fifth Annual Kosciuszko Chair Spring Symposium on the topic of "Between Russia and NATO: Security Challenges in Central and Eastern Europe." The event, which took place on April 25, 2015, was sponsored by The Institute of World Politics.

Surprise! - Belarus will deploy Russian S-300 missiles near the Polish border.

Surprise! - Belarus will deploy Russian S-300 missiles near the Polish border. (politnavigator).[GoogleTranslate].

Defense Minister of Belarus Andrei Ravkov said that Belarus received the Russian missile systems S-300 and will be located in Brest, Grodno and Vitebsk regions, respectively, at the borders of Poland and the Baltic countries.

This was reported by "Polish Radio".

Head of the Belarusian Defense Ministry also said that Minsk is negotiating to obtain from the new Russian air defense systems S-400.

General Ravkov added that his country considers the potential threat on its borders stay of NATO troops. He also noted that, to date, no country in the world is a potential opponent of Belarus.

The military said that Belarus will cooperate with NATO, and it does not prevent the strategic relationship with the Russian Federation.

As reported by "PolitNavigator" Warsaw previously stated about the need to be placed on Polish territory heavy weapons because of the "threat of the aggressive actions of Russia" in the region. And today, in Poland were carried out exercises NATO Response Force.

Video - Ukrainian drone confirmed concentration of Russian troops in Lugansk. 63 tanks detected in 2 hours

Video - Ukrainian drone confirmed concentration of Russian troops in Lugansk. 63 tanks detected in 2 hours.(Lugansk).[GoogleTranslated].

Intelligence unit of Ukrainian Army Regiment “Dnipro-1″ published a video recorded by the drone that was flying over Lugansk.

In 2 hours flight they confirmed concentration of Russian troops on the East of Ukraine. They checked several bases and found 63 tanks, 32 APCs and 96 military trucks. Read the full story here.

 

Putin: 'I'll see you and raise you' - 40+ ICBMs targeted for 2015 nuclear force boost

Putin: 'I'll see you and raise you' - 40+ ICBMs targeted for 2015 nuclear force boost. (RT).

Over 40 intercontinental ballistic missiles will be delivered to Russia’s strategic forces in 2015, President Vladimir Putin announced at the opening ceremony of the Army-2015 Expo, an international military forum held near Moscow.

“This year, our nuclear forces are going to get more than 40 intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of penetrating all existing, even the most advanced missile defenses,” the Russian president said, adding that the state would persist in paying specific attention to realization of a massive military rearmament program and modernization of the defense industry, Putin said.

Vladimir Putin also said that tests of a new radar station capable of beyond-the-horizon aerial target detection will start soon in Russia. The system will be directed westward. A similar radar station is also due to be deployed eastward. And in April a new radar station started operations in the city of Armavir, in southern Russia.

Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov says that NATO is provoking Russia into an arms race. Antonov’s statement was made referring to US plans to put its F-22 jets in Eastern Europe.

“I believe the statement must be looked at together with other similar statements, which have recently been numerous,” the deputy defense minister said. “A few days ago, reports started to turn up about certain [American] missiles put in a certain location and about certain ammunition depots in Eastern European countries and the Baltic. It looks like our colleagues from NATO member states are pushing us into an arms race,” he said. Hmmm.....And we're off at the Nuclear races.

Polish MP Jacek Saryusz-Wolski: 'Russia may use Belarus for troops deployment'.

Polish MP Jacek Saryusz-Wolski: 'Russia may use Belarus for troops deployment'. (charter97).

Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, a Polish MEP and deputy chairman of the Christian Democrats group, criticised Russia at the Wroclaw Global Forum. According to him, it's time to consider the issue of delivering weapons to Ukraine as the Minsk agreement is not implemented.

The politician spoke to Radio Svaboda about his vision of Russian-Belarusian relations.

– Does Russia really take Lukashenka as an ally? Is it ready to stake on him?

– We can hardly say that free and democratic elections would help Lukashenka. It would be a problem for him to overcome the 50% barrier if the media were free. To be short, free Belarus would most probably elect a new president. Russia is not going to allow free elections in Belarus, so you cannot believe in anything it says.

– Lukashenka began to use pro-Ukrainian rhetoric more than a year ago. But the recent military exercises on the border with Poland and Ukraine do not match his words. Does it mean that the leash on which Putin keeps Lukashenka became shorter?

– We need to look at what he does rather than what he says. He speaks to confuse both Moscow and the West. We shouldn't take his meanders seriously. He swings from side to side.

The facts are that Belarus has the common military space with Russia. The fact is the military exercises on the border. The fact is that if Belarus is needed to deploy Russian troops, it will be done. Unlike the West, I don't feel optimism about his or his propaganda's statements.

Belarus yesterday started large-scale command and staff military exercises in the Gomel region close to the Ukrainian border. The drills will last until June 18. It is planned to practice the phased strengthening of the state border in the southern direction. The drills involve the separate infantry company of the territorial troops consisting of reservists as well as territorial border guard and interior units of the Gomel region.

Video - Canada's PM Harper: "Putin's invasion of Ukraine ... must not be allowed to stand"

Ukraine Today: Ukraine's debt to private creditors should be restructured...in plain words: "We are broke and won't pay our debts"....expect fireworks.

Considering it's an election year for Harper and the large number of Ukrainian Canadians, it's 'normal' to hear this kind of talk.

Remains the fact that Ukraine is broke, has a mountain of debts from not paying their bills and no gas reserves for coming Winter.This situation is bound to escalate.

Putin has two options: Option slow retreat and the option of an insane escalation.

Putin has two options: Option slow retreat and the option of an insane escalation.(Espreso) [Google translate].

- Hello, Andrei. I read your tweet, where he wrote that Putin now has a choice: "To lose power as banal thief or lose power as the leader of the embattled Russian world." Once you have written that the Federation Council may soon come. Could you explain what you mean

- The fact that Moscow was made two very curious statement. 

Chairman of the Federation Council, Mrs. Matvienko, Russian senators asked not to go too far from Moscow, as in the near future may be called an extraordinary meeting of the Federation Council. This could explain some bills in the Duma, they say they need to take place before the summer holidays by the Federation Council. But just half an hour after it was made, Mr. Sands, who somehow suddenly decided to remind the city and the world that actually Putin can once again turn to the Federation Council with a request to give him authority to use the Armed Forces beyond our borders. This is all very worrying signals. They can, of course, be considered as part of the continuous military blackmail, which deals with Putin. But right now I would rate the likelihood of military escalation as a higher than even a few weeks ago.

Quite close to my assessment of the situation given, for example, is very far away from me in the next man Prohanov Sabbath Solovyov. However, he has formulated it somewhat differently according to their political outlook. He said: "We have a choice of either World War III or the second restructuring." The second restructuring in its language - Putin's retreat, his political defeat and displacement. Prohanov continued: "Perestroika, we still lose, and World War III can be won. So let's go to the Third World War. "

I believe that something similar can move and head of Putin himself. Therefore, the next few days, a week - they are very important. And it's strange attack at Marinka two days ago also seems to me not accidental, but an attempt to "feel out" the situation including within his own entourage. . I think that everything will depend on how Putin single-handedly controls the situation.

We are going through very troubled days. An intermediate situation can not continue indefinitely. Choice - escalation or slow retreat - the Kremlin in general, or Putin, if he is single-handedly controls the entire system of government should take in the near future.

- Recently, there are reports from Russian sources, with reference to the same Valentina Matvienko, that the Federation Council can vote for the accession of Transnistria. And, given that Ukraine has blocked Transnistria, this news sounds very anxious. Do you think Russia will dare even to the annexation of Transnistria?

- You know, taking off his head, the hair do not cry. Transnistria, it is a tactic. The question is different: whether the regime will be decided on a real war with Ukraine, Moldova and, indeed, with the West? Where he decides: the Donbas, Moldova, or maybe it is now actively offering Russian media to throw special squad to Odessa, grab Saakashvili, bring him in a cage to Moscow and Putin, his one seat hangs - it is technical details.

Very anxious, of course, what is being discussed and aggravation of the situation around Transnistria. It simply underscores that the scenario of military escalation, in spite of all his madness, is regarded very seriously. And where they will arrange a new provocation: in Marinka, Tiraspol or in Odessa - this is not essential. Now Putin will have to decide for themselves the question or slow, very boring, viscous and hopeless retreat, or challenge the West and the fate and the insane escalation, in which, as said Mr. Prokhanov, "What if we have a chance and win ? '

- What do you think, what will be the reaction of the West, because, in principle, have already begun and military provocations is absolutely clear that the Minsk Agreement thwarted?

- Today I watched meeting of the Security Council. At that time Samantha Power "drove a muzzle on the table" Churkin accident. But the Security Council in fact does not solve anything. Performances of the British and American representatives were, however, rigid and clearly indicate what they see as the culprit running escalation.

I have no doubt that the reaction of the West to be very sharp. I think that the basis for this conclusion is all that is said and what makes the West over the past two to three weeks with respect to Putin and the Kremlin's power. The West warned Moscow about the consequences of military escalation in very uncertain terms.

The point is not to be sympathetic to the Western Ukraine or the absence of such sympathies. The West is now most acute problem solve their own security. Because about Ukraine because he could tell, and he said, Obama and Rasmussen on the first day of the conflict a year ago: "Ukraine is not a member of NATO, so our military intervention is absolutely impossible." And there will be a military intervention. Yes this is not necessary. The West has enough economic and political means to inflict a humiliating defeat Putin.

They certainly it will cause, because if they would allow Putin to triumph in Moldova, Ukraine or anywhere else, then the next day his "little green men" will appear in the Baltic states on the territory of a NATO member country. 

There will not be able to avoid a war with Russia. If Western politicians betray Estonia - a member of NATO, do not fulfill their obligations under para. 5 of the NATO Charter, then it will be the infamous end of NATO, the end of the West as a subject of world politics, leaving the United States from the world stage as a guarantor of the security of the West.

And if they come to the aid of Estonia - a war with nuclear power, led by a person in a different reality, and brandishing nuclear weapons. It's unthinkable choice. Therefore, as I see the situation, the West made a firm decision not to bring the situation to such a choice, and stop Putin here and now in Ukraine, with the maximum use of a set of economic and political means, but «without boots on the ground».

Pick up the rhetoric of recent days. All influential Western leaders speak with one voice. Obviously, they were discussing the issue and Putin came to a common denominator. Thus, the Canadian Prime Minister said: "As long as Putin in the Kremlin - is no place for Russia in the Group of Eight will not." However, shrederovsky "fosterling" Steinmeier - Germany's foreign minister, to try something squeak that "in fact, we need Russia to solve some issues in Iran and Syria." But then he straightened Merkel sharply.

For the West, came a kind of "moment of truth". This situation is quite unusual for Putin. His game with the nuclear blackmail in political poker burst. For a year these Trenin, Lukyanov, Karaganov on any "informal talks" with the American political scientists sincerely whispered: "Well, understand, after all, Ukraine more important for us than for you. Therefore, we will raise rates until the use of nuclear weapons. You still flinch and turn away. " West did not flinch, did not give up and will stand up to Putin is very tough. Therefore, a new and very unpleasant situation for him. Hmmm....If i were Putin the 05 July at 03,00 AM would seem a good time to start. Read the full story here.

European Parliament: Russia is considering the possibility of nuclear strikes on Warsaw.

European Parliament: Russia is considering the possibility of nuclear strikes on Warsaw. (Charter97).

The Vice-President of the European Parliament, Polish politician Ryszard Czarnecki declared it on Polskie radio, Ukrinform reports.

He says the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs has adopted a so-called Black Sea report - draft resolution on strategic and military situation in the Black Sea basin, which mentions that Russia has conducted exercises on nuclear attack on Poland.

"EU-Russia relationships are the worst over the years. After all, the Black Sea report, adopted by the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs on Monday, proves it. It mentions that Russia has conducted exercises on nuclear attack on our country. This document is very skeptical towards Russia, this is a consequence of the EU continued tough course", the Vice-President of the European Parliament stated.

He stressed the failure of most European leaders to visit the Victory Day celebrations in Moscow on May 9 had a bad impact on the Russians, and it was the EU "accurate hit". The politician explains that the Victory Day for Russia has always been something extraordinary. Such anniversary is the way to demonstrate its power and the fact that Moscow should be taken into account.

"Until recently, Western leaders respected the view and arrived to Moscow. This time everything has changed. Putin expected softening of leading Western countries' line, but he was wrong", Czarnecki said.

It should be reminded that according to Polish media, Moscow rehearsed nuclear attack on Warsaw during joint exercises in Belarus in 2009 and 2013.

Thousands of Russian soldiers were involved. Except for a preventive nuclear strike, maneuvers also included "the suppression of a rebellion" of the Polish minority, as well as the invasion the territory of the Baltic States with a breakthrough to the Kaliningrad region.

According Czarnecki, the European Parliament rejected suggestions the former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who said, "Forget about the Crimea and begin to build a relationship with Russia, recognizing that Crimea is part of the Russian Federation." "In such a consent of the European Parliament is not and will not" - said vice-president. [Google Translated].

Related: Russian Planes Can Deliver Nuclear Strike Even At London From Belarus....or is the 'target' Brussels?

Video - Attempt to tow Russia's broken down Armata T-14 tank on Red Square in Moscow.

Hmmmm......Russia’s Armata Tank to Have No Match Among Western competitors.......You can say that again 'Comrade'

Russia’s Armata Tank to Have No Match Among Western competitors.

Russia’s Armata Tank to Have No Match Among Western competitors. (Sputnik).

The T-14 Armata tank will be the main feature of the May Victory Day Parade on the Red Square in Moscow. The technical innovations of Armata platfrom make the Russian tank an absolute leader among its Western analogues, a US media agency claims.

Russia’s cutting-edge Armata tank which was previously unveiled during a Victory Day parade rehearsal in Moscow will surpass all Western versions, according to a US media agency.

Before the final rehearsal of the May 9 parade the T-14 tank was shown to the public with its turret masked with fabric. Monday was the first time the Armata was shown uncovered.

The tank is going to steal the show at the Victory Day parade on the Red Square, Moscow on May 9.

In addition, more than 16,500 servicemen and nearly 200 pieces of weaponry will be involved in the event.

The key feature of the new tank is its unmanned remotely-controlled turret, with three crew members seated in an armored capsule at the front of the tank's hull. The crew controls the tank’s gun remotely.

Such a construction increases the safety of the crew and its firing efficiency. The technical innovations used in designing the Armata make the Russian tank an absolute leader among its Western analogues, AP says.

Engineers designed the Armata platform also to be used for other combat vehicles, including an infantry combat vehicle and a self-propelled gun. The versatility of the platform will contribute to reducing production costs and to facilitating repair and maintenance works. Hmmm.....Who has the know how to work on these on the battlefield, or do they presume Armata can't breakdown? Read the full story here. More on new Russian 'armament' here. (Russian).

Armata tank pic.twitter.com/ensHfo0uZZ

— Jewish Russophile (@JewRussophile) May 4, 2015

Russian Bal missile system successfully passes first firing drill in Primorye.

Russian Bal missile system successfully passes first firing drill in Primorye. (RBTH).

The Pacific Fleet's coast guard brigade has successfully used a Bal missile system in a firing drill. The system entered service with the brigade late last year, the Russian Defense Ministry has reported.

"The missile launches were carried out by over 400 personnel and involved about 20 pieces of combat and auxiliary gear," the Eastern Military District's press service said in a statement, received by Interfax-AVN on Tuesday.

"The missiles were fired at a sea target in compliance with the set standards," the statement says.

Before the launch the crew accomplished a 200-kilometer long march across Southern Primorye from its base. "The personnel deployed the system hastily at an unprepared position and launched a missile at a sea target in compliance with the set standards. Naval aircraft and controller ships involved in the firing drill confirmed that the target had been hit," the press release says.

Earlier, TASS had reported that the Bal-E CMS “consists of a self-propelled command control and communications centre, self-propelled launchers, a transport and reloader machine and communications vehicle, a total of- up to 11 special vehicles.” It added that the system “is capable of hitting targets at ranges up to 120 kilometers at any time and under any weather conditions.”

The Bal-E CMS is usually equipped with KH-35 anti-ship missiles, which have fully autonomous after-launch missile guidance. The Bal-E can single fire or conduct salvo fires of up to 32 missiles at any one time. Each Bal-E missile system is equipped with 64 missiles.

Video - EMP - Electronic Armageddon......For Iran?

Explorer: Electronic Armageddon from Toby Roberts on Vimeo.

Russia Has Right to Place Nuclear Weapons in Crimea.

Russia Has Right to Place Nuclear Weapons in Crimea.(SP).

Moscow has the right to place nuclear weapons in Crimea, but is not currently planning to do so, the head of the Department for Nonproliferation and Control of Arms of the Russian Foreign Ministry Mikhail Ulyanov said Wednesday.

"Obviously, Russia has the right to place nuclear arms on its territory, if it considers it necessary, in any region. I am not aware of any presence of nuclear weapons in Crimea, I do not know anything about plans of placing them there, but in principle we presume that we have this right, obviously, but Kiev, of course, believes differently," Ulyanov said at a press conference in Moscow.

Last December, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Russia reserves the right to place nuclear weapons on any part of its territory, including in Crimea. Later the same month, US Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland vowed that Washington and its allies would respond to possible stationing of nuclear weapons in the peninsula. Read the full story here.