Military
Friday 8 February 2019
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“We proceed from the premise that Russia will not place intermediate-range or shorter-range weapons … either in Europe or in other regions of the world as long as U.S. weapons of this kind do not appear in corresponding regions of the world.”
Despite the U.S. withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed Russia won’t deploy such weapons “in Europe” if the U.S. does the same. There is evidence Russia already has done so. -
“Objectively, for the Americans contacts with ISIL are more interesting… – for spreading sabotage actions beyond the pales of Afghanistan. On the border with Turkmenistan there is a major offensive is being cooked by Islamic State and allied groups. That is where they may surface.”
The Afghan Special Forces confirmed they conducted the operation arresting Islamic State members and transferring them under the Afghan National Directorate of Security control. The U.S. was not involved. -
“At the Defense Ministry, which I have no connection with, I cannot negotiate the financing/supply of a private military contractor that doesn't exist.”
“Putin’s chef” denies both the existence of the Wagner Group and his role in bankrolling the mercenary band, which has served everywhere from Ukraine to Syria. But Prigozhin’s claims do not stand up to scrutiny. -
"It is specified that an anti-aircraft mount (ZU-23), a BTR-70 [armored personnel carrier] and one armored reconnaissance-patrol vehicle (BRDM-2) were found there [in Donbas] during the monitoring."
The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission report for January 22-23 does mention these vehicles, but they are all light armored vehicles that do not violate the Minsk agreement. -
“Demanding from the Russian side answers to queries by investigators that seemingly have already been fully answered by Russia, the Dutch authorities simply categorically refuse to give up their own secrets, which could be useful in the course of investigation.”
While the Joint Investigation Team has not shared with Russia all of the material from its ongoing investigation of the MH-17 shoot-down, they have concluded Russia is to blame for the downing, and say Moscow has not fully responded to the Joint Investigative Team requests. -
“All launches of ground-to-ground missiles were conducted at a range not exceeding the range of the INF limits. The only exceptions are missile launches of the Strategic Rocket Forces, the notifications for which were sent to the U.S.”
Russia’s 9M729 missile system has a range capability “well over” the range allowed by the INF Treaty. Russia has confirmed multiple launches of 9M729 missiles from fixed locations, including the Kapustin Yar missile range, as well as from the sea and mobile bases. -
“… the recent statement made by the Taliban about the targeted raid by the US special task force to capture a Taliban prison in the Afghan province of Badghis…All of the militants were moved by the special task force to an unknown destination…suggests that the US might have been trying to prevent a leak of information regarding what the ISIS members could reveal about their real sponsors.”
The Russian Foreign Ministry provided no evidence for any of its claims, which contradict well-established reality about the U.S. fight against the Islamic State and the Taliban. -
"Meanwhile, the investigation is still not allowed to tell the public where S. (Sergei) and Y. (Yulia) Skripal were, and what they were doing after they drove from their home in the direction of Porton Down laboratory with phones supposedly turned off on the morning of March 4."
The road on which the Skripals were spotted leads to Porton Down, but it also leads to the cemetery where Sergei’s wife and son are buried. It was established long ago that Sergei and his daughter drove to visit their graves. -
“This not fraught with anything for Russia; rather, (it is) for NASA and the USA.”
Following the withdrawal of NASA's invitation to Dmitry Rogozon, Vinogradov’s assessment is inaccurate: while it can be argued that the U.S. companies and NASA will have to change their plans, Russia, facing the loss of billions in U.S. funding, will be the biggest loser. -
"The Avangard is invulnerable to interception by any existing and prospective missile-defense means of the potential adversary.”
After testing the Avangard hypersonic glider, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed the rocket system is “invulnerable” to interception. And while the Avangard has stoked fears some corners, Putin’s claim it is impervious to existing and prospective missile-defense systems is unverified. -
"…unfounded claims... The Russian state and the Russian government have nothing to do with any meddling…”
The reports fore the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee comprise nearly 150 pages of densely packed information, publicly available online. There are specific examples of Russian IRA posts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. -
“Now about Wagner and what people are doing. Everyone must stay within the law, everyone. … We can ban private security activity in general, but one has only has to do this and, I think, they will come to you with a large number of petitions, demanding protection of this labor market. We have almost a million people working there. If this Wagner group is violating something, then the Prosecutor General’s Office should give a legal assessment.”
Wagner -- which has enjoyed support from the Russian defense establishment and is most likely a creation of the Russian Defense Ministry -- is in violation of the Russian law banning mercenary activity.