Russia Conducts Massive Military Drills
More than 155,000 servicemen, 4,000 armoured vehicles, 632 planes and helicopters and 84 vessels are taking part in the Vostok-2014 strategic exercises.
Russia
Iran, Russia Boost Nuclear Ties
The heads of Iran and Russia’s state-run nuclear agencies discussed the construction of new nuclear plants in Iran during a meeting held on Friday around the same time that Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, also sat down for a chat about Tehran’s ongoing nuclear negotiations with the West, according to regional reports.
Russian Bombers Practice Cruise Missile Strikes on U.S.
Two Russian strategic bombers conducted practice cruise missile attacks on the United States during a training mission last week that defense officials say appeared timed to the NATO summit in Wales.
Russian Military Captures Key Towns in Ukraine
Russian soldiers, tanks and heavy artillery began rolling into southeastern Ukraine in earnest Thursday, the Ukrainian government said, as well-armed detachments captured key towns, burned buildings and sent the underequipped Ukrainian forces into full retreat — a show of military force that the United States now considers an invasion in all but name.
Ukraine Says It Has Captured Russian Soldiers
Ukrainian security services on Monday released video footage purporting to show Russian servicemen who were captured by Ukrainian government forces while fighting alongside pro-Moscow rebels in Ukraine.
Holder Arrives As Protests Continue in Ferguson
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder arrived in Ferguson to lead the investigation into the shooting. It was revealed that Darren Wilson, the police officer whose fatal shooting of Michael Brown touched off more than a week of demonstrations, suffered severe facial injuries, including an orbital (eye socket) fracture, and was nearly beaten unconscious by Brown moments before firing his gun. Meanwhile, Community elders and the clergy were credited with helping to bring “a different dynamic” to protests in this St. Louis suburb, police said as fewer arrests took place.
Ukraine Crisis: Separatists Trained in Russia
One of the top rebel leaders in eastern Ukraine claims that his forces have recently received 1,200 fighters who had undergone training in Russia. The claim came during a speech to leading rebels, apparently recorded on Friday and posted to YouTube by a pro-separatist media outlet. His language suggested the men had already crossed the border.
Russia Responds to Sanctions: Bans All U.S. Food, EU Fruit and Vegs
Russia will ban all imports of food from the United States and all fruit and vegetables from Europe, Reuters reported.
Russia Bombers At Least 16 Incursions of U.S. Air Defense Zones
Russian strategic nuclear bombers conducted at least 16 incursions into northwestern U.S. air defense identification zones over the past 10 days, an unusually sharp increase in aerial penetrations.
NATO Says Russia Massing Troops Along Ukrainian Border
NATO is concerned that Russia has massed 20,000 combat-ready troops along Ukraine’s eastern border and could use the pretext of a humanitarian or peace-keeping mission to invade.
Pro-and-Anti-Israel Rallies Take Place Throughout the World
As the conflict in Gaza entered its third week, pro-and-anti Israel rallies took place throughout the world. Since the beginning of the war, a surge in anti-Jewish hate crimes has taken place especially in Europe, leading to fears among Jewish communities that Europe is no longer a safe haven for its population.
U.S. Accuses Russia of Violating Missile Treaty
The Obama administration has accused Russia of violating a 1987 nuclear missile treaty by testing a ground-launched cruise missile and says the U.S. is prepared for immediate high-level dialogue with Moscow over the matter, Fox News reported.
U.S. Releases Images Showing Russian Military Firing into Ukraine
The United States released a series of satellite images Sunday that appear to support its claims that Russian forces have fired across the border into Ukraine to support rebels there, suggesting a new level of direct Russian involvement in the conflict, USA Today reported.
Russia Supplying Weapons to Iraq
Russia has begun supplying military helicopters and fighters jets to Iraq, a report said Thursday, as Iraq’s defense minister visited Moscow to press for equipment to thwart a jihadist offensive, AFP reported.
Russia Involved in Malaysian Airline Crash
Russia supplied sophisticated missile launchers to separatists in Eastern Ukraine, a U.S. official told the Washington Post. Meanwhile, separatists prevented international investigators from gaining unfettered access to the crash site on Saturday.
Russia to Reopen Lourdes Spy Base in Cuba
Russia plans to reopen an electronic listening post in Cuba that was used during the Cold War, the BBC reported.
Russia Considers ‘Surgical Strikes’ Against Ukraine
Russia is considering ‘surgical retaliatory strikes’ after a Russian citizen was killed over the weekend, RIA Novosti reported.
Ukraine Says Russian Building its Troops Along its Border
Ukraine accused Russia of building up its troops along its border and said Russian Army officers joined separatists fighting against government troops.
Russia Developing Radar-Evading Missiles
Russia expected to have radar-evading ballistic missiles by 2021, according to the Washington Times.
BRICS Join to End Dollar Dominance
Russia and China will meet to continue negotiations of its ruble-yuan swap deal next week, in its quest to end the dominance of the dollar, the Voice of Russia reported.