Military
Monday 1 October 2018
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![Maria Zakharova]()
Maria Zakharova
Spokesperson, Russian Foreign Ministry
“We only know the first and last names of the suspects, there are photos, but nothing else: no passport numbers, no visa numbers, no additional data. Why this information today was not reflected in any way, neither publicly nor during the contact that took place at our Embassy with the British side, remains a big mystery.”
Read more...Britain has released publicly an abundance of details that can help Russia identify the suspects. In fact, Zakharova is responding “by the book” — in the form of classic Soviet military “Maskirovka.” -
![Maria Zakharova]()
Maria Zakharova
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson
“This demonstration of power potential is taking place in close proximity to Russian borders and has a clear anti-Russian orientation. Northern Europe and the Baltic region, previously calm militarily, are turning into a training ground for simulating large-scale military operations, setting up public opinion for the possibility of their transformation into a real theater of war.”
Read more...NATO began beefing up its forces in Eastern Europe to deter a potential Russian military threat after Moscow’s brief war with Georgia in 2008, followed by the annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and orchestration of a pro-Russian uprising in eastern Ukraine. -
![Sergei Lavrov]()
Sergei Lavrov
Russian Foreign Minister
Commenting on the chemical attack that allegedly took place on Syrian territory, Lavrov noted that ‘such situations have happened in the past -- 2016, Khan-Sheikhoun, 2017, East Ghouta.’ As the minister recalled, in the first case Russia insisted on an OPCW inspection, but ‘Western colleagues blocked the inspectors’ way’."
Read more...It was not the Western countries that tried to block OPCW inspections in Syria. Rather, Russia and the Syrian government have tried to block such inspections, and Russia has used its veto power on the U.N. Security Council to impede investigations into the use of chemical weapons in Syria. -
![Twitter Account of Russia’s Embassy in South Africa]()
Twitter Account of Russia’s Embassy in South Africa
Official Russian Foreign Ministry social media account
“Russian Defence Ministry: English-speaking ‘foreign specialists’ have arrived in #Syria to attempt staging chlorine chemical attack early this week. Latest intel indicates the hoax is planned to take place in the village of Kafr Zita (Hama province) #HoaxAlert”
Read more...The photograph is of the set of a Syrian government film. No evidence has ever been provided showing that rebels or their supporters staged a chemical attack anywhere in Syria. -
![Dmitry Peskov]()
Dmitry Peskov
Russian Presidential Press Secretary
"To say that Russia is stuck somewhere is incorrect, especially from our colleagues in Washington. Let's not forget that the U.S. military is also on Syrian soil."
Read more...Peskov is right to say the U.S. also has troops in Syria. However, the level of U.S. commitment is not the same compared to that of Russia, which has taken responsibility for propping up the regime of Bashar al-Assad. -
![Yevgeny Serebrennikov]()
Yevgeny Serebrennikov
Deputy chair of the Russian upper house's defense and security committee
“Russia fully complies with the Treaty on Open Skies. The US accusations are completely groundless.”
Read more...The Russian government has set distance limits to flights over the Kaliningrad Oblast, imposes altitude restrictions for the Moscow region, denies permission for Open Skies aircraft to fly within 10 kilometers of the Russian border with South Ossetia and Abkhazia. For its own observation flights over the United States Russia uses aircraft with disputed high-resolution digital electro-optical sensors. -
![Vedomosti]()
Vedomosti
Russian newspaper
“At an exhibition of trophy weapons captured in Syria, held in the Moscow region near Kubinka as part of the forum "Army-2018,” the Russian Ministry of Defense showed the US anti-tank missile system (ATGM) "Javelin.”
Read more...The weapon shown in the picture is a French APILAS system, not the Javelin. -
![Russian foreign ministry]()
Russian foreign ministry
“Apparently, our American colleagues do not want to present any evidence of the ‘Russian cyber interference,’ which they supposedly have, and that is to avoid shame. There is not and there cannot be any [such evidence].”
Read more...Russia’s interference is detailed in multiple, publicly-available cyber security reports. The shuttered internet domains are connected to Fancy Bear, which the reports say has compromised and attacked Western leaders, governments, political groups and private corporations. -
![Maria Zakharova]()
Maria Zakharova
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson
“MEDIA: "THE STATE DEPARTMENT CONFIRMED THAT IT WILL DIRECT $230 MILLION FOR STABILIZATION IN SYRIA TO OTHER GOALS.” Right: ISIS is no longer there, the irreconcilable militants are gone, the White Helmets also have been evacuated. Who would need money in Syria? Well, the State Department isn’t going to sponsor a peaceful life.”
Read more...Just days before Zakharova's Facebook post, the Russian Defense Ministry said the Islamic State has "escalated" attacks. Even Russian state media labeled a July suicide attack "worst violence in area since 2011." -
![Yan Novikov]()
Yan Novikov
CEO, Joint Stock Company (JSC) Concern Almaz-Antey
“[Global top 10]… confirms the latest years’ tendency for preservation of high demand for the Concern’s military production… The important future of our work in promoting military products for export is that it is being carried out under the conditions of continuous international sanctions against the company.”
Read more...Russia’s largest military manufacturer, JSC Concern Almaz-Antey, has increased its revenue by 36% and moved up in the Defense News “Top 100” global ranking from 11th in 2017 to 8th in 2018, in spite of being under the U.S. and EU sanctions. The company manufactures the Buk missile systems that shot down MH-17, killing all 298 people abroad. -
![Maria Zakharova]()
Maria Zakharova
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson
"We noted the participation of the United Nations Office (UNO) in the evacuation of the White Helmets, the UNO confirmed their involvement in these events. The UNHCR thereby supports the disinformation campaign [in Syria], arranged by these ‘fearless humanitarian workers.’ This is at the very least a big mistake."
Read more...The disinformation campaign about the White Helmets led by the Russia and Assad calls the White Helmets “terrorist collaborators,” without providing any proof. In fact, the volunteers work under the 1949 Geneva Convention to protect civilians in the Syria conflict zones. -
![Russian Embassy, UK Twitter Account]()
Russian Embassy, UK Twitter Account
Official Twitter account
“Imaginary ‘Russian threat’ is a great excuse to try and get more funding for the UK military budget. Food for thought.”
Read more...While it is debatable whether Russia’s Arctic ambitions pose a threat to British security at this time, Britain has very good, non-imaginary reasons to consider Russia a military and intelligence threat.
