Pavel Felgenhauer
Dr. Pavel E. Felgenhauer is a Moscow-based defense analyst and columnist for Novaya Gazeta. He served as senior research officer in the Soviet Academy of Sciences, from where he received his Ph.D. Dr. Felgenhauer has published widely on Russian foreign and defense policies, military doctrine, arms trade and the military-industrial complex. He comments regularly in local and international media on Russia’s defense-related problems.
Contact Pavel Felgenhauer
Articles by Pavel Felgenhauer
Russia Never as Strong as It Looks
In the early hours of February 24, President Vladimir Putin announced a “special military operation” in Ukraine, and tens of thousands of Russian soldiers and tanks poured into Ukraine, preceded
Demilitarize, Balkanize, ‘De-Nazify’: Russia’s Aggressive War Against Ukraine Begins
On February 21, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the Moscow-backed, breakaway Donbas statelets of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and the Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR) as independent sovereign countries,
Is the Russian Military Stepping Down or Feigning Withdrawal While Planning an Attack?
On February 14, Russian President Vladimir Putin met separately with his defense and foreign ministers, Sergei Shoigu and Sergei Lavrov, respectively. The Kremlin press service provided video footage of the
Macron Meets With Putin as Russian Warships Move Into Position
On February 7, French President Emmanuel Macron visited Moscow and spent over five hours talking with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in an attempt to negotiate a de-escalation of the
Kremlin Must Make Final Decision on War Soon as Diplomatic Runway Grows Short
At a joint presser in Moscow, on February 1, together with visiting friendly leader Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban, President Vladimir Putin accused the United States and its North Atlantic
Russia and NATO Locked in High-Risk Standoff in Mediterranean and Black Seas
On Wednesday, January 26, the United States’ ambassador in Moscow, John Sullivan, personally delivered a memorandum to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs containing the official US reply to earlier
Russian Troops Deploy to Belarus With Fanfare
Tensions have been flying high between Moscow and the West for months, with little prospect currently of imminent de-escalation. Stress is also mounting between Russia and Ukraine, as Russian military
US and Allies Fail to Pull Moscow Away From Beijing
During a video-conference on December 15, Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and Xi Jinping of China hailed close political, military and economic ties, as well as promoted their mutual personal
Is a Russo-US De-Escalation Feasible?
The stakes were high when Presidents Joseph Biden of the United States and Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation held a two-hour, bilateral video-conference on December 7 (see EDM, December
Putin’s Ultimatum to America
In the past several weeks, relations between Moscow and Washington nosedived, with multiple overlapping potential crises and increasingly toxic rhetoric aggravating an already dangerous situation. The Ukrainian crisis has been
Russia Brashly Demonstrates Its Anti-Satellite Capabilities
On November 15, the Russian military successfully tested a dual-use missile-defense/anti-satellite interceptor to destroy in orbit an old, dysfunctional Tselina-D intelligence-gathering satellite dubbed “Kosmos-1408.” The “dead” target satellite was flying
Belarus as Latest Front in Acute East-West Standoff
A new point of acute East-West tension has emerged on the Polish-Belarusian border. Minsk and the West have been at loggerheads since August 2020, when Belarus’s strongman, Alyaksandr Lukashenka (ruling
Internal Fruit of Russian Propaganda: The Political Repercussions of COVID-19 in Russia
October 2021 marked the most dramatic month-over-month increase in reported COVID-19 cases in the Russian Federation since the pandemic began, with up to 40,000 infections and over a thousand coronavirus-related
Moscow Severs Diplomatic Relations With NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Russia have effectively severed their diplomatic relations, which were established some 20 years ago, when both sides declared their Cold War rivalry was
A War and Peace Visit to Moscow
US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland spent two days in Moscow meeting with top foreign policy officials at a pivotal moment in bilateral relations when peace
Russian Authorities Expand and Tighten Clampdown on Opposition
On September 28, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB—one of the main successor organizations of the Soviet KGB) published an official order, Number 376, that lists some 60 ambiguous reference
Kremlin-Backed Forces Sweep Duma Elections
The general elections to the Russia State Duma (lower house of parliament) concluded on September 19, after three days of in-person and remote internet voting, with a total landslide victory
Zapad 2021 Ends Peacefully but East-West Tensions Still Simmer
The massive, Russo-Belarusian Zapad 2021 operational-strategic war games have ended. The scenario of this year’s iteration of Zapad (September 10–16) envisaged an attack on the Russo-Belarusian Union State by a
Massive Zapad 2021 War Games Begin
The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) has begun massive Zapad 2021 operational-strategic war games together with its smallish ally Belarus. The quadrennial Zapad (“West”) exercises are designed to test the
Russia Warns Ukraine and Other Neighbors to Draw Lessons From Fall of Kabul
The sudden collapse of the Afghan National Army and security forces, the fall of Kabul without a fight, President Ashraf Ghani fleeing the country, and the victorious Taliban taking everything
Biden-Putin Summit Failed to Reverse Downturn in Bilateral Relations
At their June 16, 2021, summit in Geneva, Presidents Joseph Biden and Vladimir Putin agreed to return their previously recalled ambassadors: Anatoly Antonov to Washington and John Sullivan to Moscow.
Disgruntlement Grows Within Leadership Ranks of Russian Navy
On July 25, Russia celebrated Navy Day (see EDM, July 26). With plenty of pomp and circumstance, naval parades were held at various Russian Military-Maritime Fleet (Voyenno-Morskoy Flot—VMF) bases, from
Checkmate: Russia’s So-Called Fifth-Generation Stealth Fighter
Despite another wave of deadly COVID-19 coronavirus infections ravaging Moscow and spreading out into the provinces, the Russian authorities went ahead with staging the MAKS-2021 air-and-space show on the outskirts
Amidst Taliban Gains, Russian Strategic Assets Threatened in Central Asia
On July 8, a high-ranking Taliban delegation came to Moscow and held talks with Zamir Kabulov, a former ambassador to Kabul, the Kremlin’s special envoy on Afghanistan and a department
Despite Western Warnings, Russia Moves Closer to China
The perception of China as a growing and global threat has become a bipartisan issue in Washington that more or less seamlessly persisted through the handover of power from the
Moscow Steps up Intimidation Campaign in Black Sea Region
During his annual televised national call-in show, on June 30, 2021, Russian President Vladimir Putin mostly talked about the COVID-19 pandemic, as the novel coronavirus is once again sweeping through
Russia Bungles Pre-Planned Intercept of UK Navy Vessel off Coast of Crimea
A shooting skirmish or a deadly collision between Russian and Western warships or aircraft in the Black Sea would almost certainly cause a serious crisis, evolving into a military confrontation,
Biden and Putin Project Optimism After Resolving Practically Nothing in Geneva
United States President Joseph Biden and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, met in Geneva, Switzerland, on June 16, for their first summit since Biden took office. Both countries have been
America is Back…But Russia is Back Too, Says Putin
President Joe Biden has landed in Britain on the first leg of a European tour to meet leaders of allied nations in a series of G7, NATO and US-EU summits
Moscow Announces Dramatic Expansion of Military Forces in Western Direction
On Monday, May 31, Russia’s long-serving defense minister, Army General Sergei Shoigu, delivered remarks at a meeting of the so-called Ministry of Defense Collegium (a top brass ministry panel). Among
Lukashenka Miscalculates International Response to Ryanair Intercept
A couple of decades ago, Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka was branded in Brussels as “Europe’s last dictator.” At that time, Russia’s strongman, President Vladimir Putin, was cultivating a close partnership
The Dimming Prospects of US-Russian Deescalation
United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his Russian counterpart, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, met for the first time in person on May 19, 2021, in Reykjavik, Iceland, on
Putin’s Russia Reverts Still Deeper Into Soviet Legacy
Under President Vladimir Putin’s rule, the annual May 9 grand military parade on Red Square in Moscow has transformed into the main ideological prop to legitimize his regime. Changes have
The Thorny Road to the Kremlin’s Desired Yalta-2021
Russian top officials—in particular, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (RIA Novosti, April 27) and Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev (Kommersant, April 8)—have for weeks been talking about the deepening crisis in
Russia’s Direct Action ‘Black Ops’ in Europe
In a recent column published by RIA Novosti, the deputy chairperson of the Russian Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, writes that Russia’s relations with the United States have reverted back to
Putin Delivers More Restrained National Address as Moscow Announces Partial Troop Withdrawal
President Vladimir Putin delivered his annual address to a joint session of both houses of parliament on April 21, in the historical Moscow Manege hall, adjacent to the Kremlin, with
Moscow Angered and Bewildered by Biden’s Summit Proposal Followed by Sanctions
As the tensions over the buildup of Russian forces on the Ukrainian border continued to escalate, United States President Joseph Biden phoned his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on April 13.
Tensions Escalate in Donbas and on Ukrainian Border
Increasingly deadly skirmishes between Moscow-backed “separatist” forces and the Ukrainian military in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbas have claimed the lives of dozens of combatants and civilians since January
Lost in Translation: US-Russian Discourse Escalates Further
Moscow announced, on March 17, that it is recalling “for consultations” its ambassador to Washington, Anatoly Antonov, after United States President Joseph Biden’s strong words against his Russian counterpart. In
Russia Escalates Its Proxy War in Eastern Ukraine
The ceasefire on the line of control in the breakaway Donbas region of eastern Ukraine is unraveling. In July 2020, both sides—the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) and the Moscow-backed “separatists”—agreed
Moscow Angered but Not Deterred by Newest Round of Western Sanctions
After repeatedly and unsuccessfully pleading with the Kremlin to release imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny, the European Union and the United States, in a coordinated move, imposed additional sanctions packages
Russia’s Iskander Missiles Fail in Karabakh but Cause Crisis in Armenia
The Second Karabakh War, between Armenia and Azerbaijan, began on September 27, 2020, and ended on November 9, 2020, with a Russian-brokered and guaranteed agreement. The conflict claimed the lives
Escalating Russian-Western Tensions Are Reflected in Confrontation in Donbas
In a high-profile interview with Rossiya state TV, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced that Moscow is ready to “sever relations with the European Union.” The EU is Russia’s most
Russian Aerospace Forces Journal Recommends Preventive Strike Against NATO
Josep Borrell, the European Union’s high representative for foreign and security policy, visited Moscow in person last week (February 5)—still highly unusual during the continuing global COVID-19 pandemic. Borell’s face-to-face
Navalny and Russia’s ‘Hybrid War’ in the Streets
Russian opposition leader and anti-corruption activist Alexi Navalny (44) was poisoned by the nerve agent Novichok during a visit to the Siberian city of Tomsk on August 20, 2020. Navalny
Kremlin Pleased With Swift Extension of New START
United States President Joseph Biden jolted the political-military leadership in Moscow with his eleventh-hour prolongation of the New START strategic nuclear arms control treaty that was scheduled to expire on
Moscow in Confrontational Mode Reacting to Biden’s Inauguration
The Kremlin-controlled Russian media and top officialdom have greeted President Joe Biden and his administration taking power in the US with a massive, almost hysterical propaganda broadside. Kremlin news outlets
Putin Exercises Free Hand in South Caucasus
Over the past several weeks, the United States has been preoccupied with the ongoing transition of power in the White House, a riot in the Capitol and a second impeachment
Disarray in Washington Catches Moscow off Guard
While a group of right-wing Donald Trump supporters caused havoc in Washington, DC, on January 6, 2021, Moscow officials were celebrating Orthodox Christmas Eve. President Vladimir Putin and his cohorts
While Reaching out to Incoming US Administration, Kremlin Signals Resumption of Bilateral Arms Race
In the wake of the December 14 vote by the Electoral College, which officially confirmed the election of Joseph Biden as the next President of the United States and Kamala
Russian Prepares for Total War With the West
According to the pro-Kremlin pollster FOM, the majority of Russians (53 percent) consider the threat of nuclear war “real,” with most believing the main threat is coming from the United
Kremlin Bracing for How Biden Presidency May Affect Bilateral Relations
Russian President Vladimir Putin has explained his refusal to congratulate the United States’ President-elect Joseph Biden on the fact that the outcome of the November 3, 2020, election has not
Russia to Build Naval Base in Sudan
President Vladimir Putin issued a decree authorizing Russia’s Ministry of Defense to sign an agreement with Sudan to create a permanent Russian military base, or “naval supply station” (punkt materialno-tekhnicheskogo
The Karabakh War Ends as Russian Troops Move In
The second Karabakh war, which began on September 27, 2020, ended this week, with Armenia soundly defeated and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan forced to accept the ceasefire demands made
Moscow Presents US as Sinking Into Chaos
Four years ago, in November 2016, Donald Trump’s victory in the United States presidential election was celebrated in Moscow. The news of Hillary Clinton conceding was greeted with spontaneous applause
Russia Watches as Karabakh War Reaches Decisive Turning Point
For more than a month now, Armenian and Azerbaijani forces have been fighting for the disputed territory of Karabakh and surrounding Armenian-occupied districts. Thousands of soldiers on both sides have
Kremlin Overrules Own Defense and Foreign Policy Establishment on Arms Control
With the election in the United States less than three weeks away, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a surprise strategic concession to the Donald Trump administration—apparently against the consensus opinion
The Kremlin Is Contingency Planning for a Biden Presidency
The Russian state TV propaganda machine continues to ridicule Democratic Party presidential contender Joseph Biden and promoting the incumbent, Donald Trump, portrayed as strong and full of energy after overcoming
Armenia Is Losing in Karabakh, and Russia Stays on the Sidelines
Armenia’s and Azerbaijan’s armed forces are fighting over the disputed region of Karabakh. The two sides have been preparing for a renewed war over this territory since the May 1994
Armenia in Dire Straits as Karabakh Conflict Reignites
The ceasefire agreement in Karabakh collapsed again on Sunday (September 27), and full-scale fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces is now in full swing for the fifth straight day, with
Moscow Reluctant to Prolong New START on Washington’s Terms
Media in Russia report that United States President Donald Trump’s administration wants to secure a nuclear arms control agreement with Moscow before Election Day, November 3, to be able to
Russia Reasserts Control Via Nonstop Military Exercises in Belarus
On September 14, Russian President Vladimir Putin met at his Sochi residence with his beleaguered Belarusian counterpart, Alyaksandr Lukashenka, who is under immense international and domestic pressure following the August
The Navalny Poisoning and Russia’s Nerve Agent Politics
Prominent Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny (44) suddenly became critically ill on August 20, onboard a passenger jet destined for Moscow soon after takeoff from the western Siberian city of
Putin’s Belarus Conundrum
In the midst of the political crisis that has engulfed Belarus since its August 9 presidential elections, the Russian state propaganda machine finds itself in an unusual position. The official
The Hypersonic Hype and Russia’s Diminished Nuclear Threshold
President Vladimir Putin used the July 26, 2020, Navy Day and the Main Navy Parade in St. Petersburg to once again promote Russia’s “superweapons,” which will ostensibly give the Russian
Russian Wagner Mercenaries Arrested in Belarus
On July 29, the Belarusian KGB and OMON special police forces arrested 32 Russians residing at a countryside resort, Belorusochka, just outside of Minsk. The Belarusian authorities have accused the
Russia Tests Combat Readiness Despite Pandemic
On July 17, Russia began massive “snap combat readiness” exercises of troops from the Western and Southern military districts, the Airborne Forces (Vozdushno-Desantnye Voyska—VDV) and marines of the North and
Renewed Armenian-Azerbaijani Fighting Threatens to Escalate Further
Armenian and Azerbaijani military forces are engaged in their most serious armed confrontation since the so-called Four-Day War of April 2016, when hundreds of soldiers on both sides were reportedly
Russian Journalist Community Stands up to FSB
Ivan Safronov, Jr. (30), a former Kommersant and Vedomosti defense correspondent, was arrested by the Federal Security Service’s (FSB) counterintelligence arm, in Moscow, on July 7, 2020, accused of treason
Vladimir Putin: Russia’s Eternal Leader
On January 15, 2020, during an annual address to a joint session of both houses of parliament, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the start of a process of constitutional reforms
Russia’s Delayed Victory Day Parade: A Grand Sales Pitch to Putin and to Foreign Customers
President Vladimir Putin has transformed the May 9 military parade on Moscow’s Red Square, which commemorates the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in May 1945, into a grand public relations
Moscow Defiant on Sentencing of US Citizen on Trumped-up Espionage Charges
Paul Whelan (50)—a Canadian-born United States resident, Marine Corps veteran (discharged for bad conduct) and director of a security firm—was arrested in Moscow, in December 2018, by the Federal Security
In Libyan Quagmire, Front Shifts East From Tripoli to Sirte
The main battle line of the Libyan civil war—between the Libyan National Army (LNA), led by the self-proclaimed Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, and forces loyal to the United Nations–recognized Government
Moscow Clarifies Its Nuclear Deterrence Policy
President Vladimir Putin issued a decree (ukaz) that signed into law a new strategic document: “The Foundations of Russian Federation State Policy on Nuclear Deterrence (“Osnovi Gosudarstvennoy Politiki Rossyskoy Federatsii
Washington Pulls out of Open Skies Treaty, Distressing Allies but Pleasing Moscow
President Donald Trump announced, on May 21, that the United States would be withdrawing from the 1992 Treaty on Open Skies, which permits reciprocated surveillance overflights of participating members’ military
Moscow-Supported Forces Besieging Tripoli Retreat
Russian President Vladimir Putin has been seeking to return to Libya since 2003, when United Nations sanctions on the country were dropped after Muammar Qaddafi made amends to the West,
Russian Navy Readies for Future Conflicts in Arctic
Expanding its military presence in the Arctic is currently one of the main priorities of Russian defense policy. Cold War–era military bases, mothballed after 1991, have, in recent years, been
This Year’s May 9 Victory Day Parade Threatened by COVID-19
The anniversary celebrations of victory over Nazi Germany in May 1945, which ended World War II in Europe, have become the main yearly public relations event in President Vladimir Putin’s
Russia’s Oil Production Is Incapable of Making Needed Cuts to Stabilize Price
The oil price fixing pact known as “OPEC+”—between the original oil-producing members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and some non-members, primarily Russia—was agreed in December 2016
The Kremlin Delegates Unpopular Closedown Measures to Governors
The chief surgeon of the main Russian coronavirus medical facility on the outskirts of Moscow, in Kommunarka, Denis Protsenko (44), has contracted COVID-19 and is in seclusion within his own
Russian Defense Ministry Preparing for Worst Case COVID-19 Scenario
On March 24, President Vladimir Putin canceled a visit to St. Petersburg and went instead to the new Kommunarka medical facility on the outskirts of Moscow that was hastily organized
Kremlin Under Siege From Simultaneous Health, Economic Crises
On January 15, 2020, as Russia slowly emerged from its prolonged New Year’s and Orthodox Christmas holidays, President Vladimir Putin suddenly announced a series of constitutional changes. The same day,
Putin and Erdoğan Scramble to Find Workable Idlib Ceasefire Formula
President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, met for an emergency summit in Moscow on March 5, in a last-ditch attempt to defuse the confrontation in the
Russia and Turkey Drift Toward War
Russian officials and the pro-Kremlin press have been praising the successful offensive against Idlib by troops loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The northwestern Syrian province is the last stronghold
Amid High-Level Personnel Reshuffle, Moscow Retains Hard-Nosed Policy Vis-à-Vis Ukraine
On February 18, President Vladimir Putin signed an ukaz (executive order) dismissing his long-time cohort and political advisor Vladislav Surkov (55). The Kremlin tradition known as nomenklatura requires that someone
Russia Analyst Pavel Felgenhauer Speaks With Washington Post About the Battle for Idlib
On February 13, the Washington Post published an article that cited an interview with long-time Jamestown contributor Pavel Felgenhauer, who discussed Russia's steadfast military calculus in northwestern Syria despite growing
Russian Defense Ministry Boasts Undermine Putin’s Peace Initiative
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) defense ministers gathered in Brussels, on February 12, to discuss how the Alliance should respond to Russia’s rapidly expanding non-strategic, long-range, dual-use (nuclear or
Moscow’s Rift With Minsk Reaches Critical Point
Belarus is officially Russia’s closest ally. In addition to joint membership in the Moscow-dominated Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO, a regional defense alliance) and Eurasian Economic Union, Belarus and Russia
Russian-Turkish Accords Start to Unravel in Libya and in Syria
At a summit in Istanbul, on January 8, 2020—an event officially earmarked to celebrate the beginning of exploitation of the TurkStream natural gas pipeline—Russian President Vladimir Putin and his host,
The Inconsistencies of Russia’s Policy on Libya
During the 1970s and 1980s, the Libyan regime of Muammar Qaddafi was Moscow’s ally in the Cold War against the West, and consequently it acquired many billions of dollars’ worth
With Reshuffle at the Top, the Kremlin Consolidates Russia
President Vladimir Putin once again surprised everyone by using his annual address to a joint session of both houses of parliament to announce constitutional changes, a government reshuffle and the
Putin’s Cool Demeanor at Paris Summit Shaken by Latest Sports Doping Crisis
In mid-February 2015, the Ukrainian military was teetering on defeat. A sustained Russian-led winter offensive had begun a month earlier, when the dirt roads and fields in Ukraine’s southeastern Donbas
Murder in a Berlin Park Scrambles Russia’s Diplomatic Overtures to Germany
On August 23, 2019, Georgian national and former Chechen rebel commander Zelimkhan Khangoshvili (40) was fired on by an assailant on a bicycle, in a Berlin public park. Khangoshvili died
After Almost a Year, Russia Returns Seized Ukrainian Naval Ships
Almost one year ago, on November 25, 2018, two small Ukrainian Gyurza-M-class gunboats, together with a tug, attempted to cross from the Black Sea through the Kerch Strait into the
Kremlin Plans for Long-Term, Zero-Sum Game in Global Standoff With Washington
Russia’s Security Council (SC) secretary, Nikolai Patrushev, penned a policy article published on November 11, in the government-run Rossiyskaya Gazeta. The piece covers the Russian military, long-term (up to 2035)
Russia Escalates Its Reliance on Nuclear Deterrence
It is a tradition for the Kremlin to organize a ceremonial introduction or reception of newly promoted top-rank commanders. In Russia, general-rank officers serve not only in the Armed Forces
Russia’s Perceived Major Victory in Syria Hits a Snag
On the morning of November 9, 2016, when the surprising news hit Moscow about Hillary Clinton conceding the presidential race in the United States to Donald Trump, there was spontaneous
Putin’s Intricate Syrian Balancing Act
For several years, the United States has fought the Islamic State in Syria without large troop deployments or any significant casualties by maintaining a close alliance with the Syrian Democratic
Moscow Celebrates as the US Military Pulls Away from Northern Syria
Military forces of the United States are in retreat in portions of Syria, relocating and airlifting service personnel and Special Forces that were operating together with Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces
Russia Exports Its Missile Early-Warning Knowhow to China
Russo-Chinese relations continue to improve (see EDM, July 25, 30) as both countries’ ties with the United States have grown increasingly strained. Moscow and Beijing describe their bilateral relationship as
Moscow Thinks West Is Ready to Abandon Kyiv
The Ukrainian crisis has been at the center of Russia’s confrontation with the West since February 2014, when a popular revolution, seen in Moscow as a Western-sponsored coup, ousted the
Russia Completes Massive Tsentr 2019 War Games With Enhanced Chinese Participation
Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu gave a rare lengthy interview to the popular paper Moskovsky Komsomolets—the first in seven years, since being appointed to head the Ministry of Defense in
Moscow Sees Saudi Drone Attack as an Opportunity
In an official statement, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced the September 14 multiple unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and cruise missile attacks on Saudi Arabia’s main Abaqaiq oil processing
Russian State Carries Out Massive Repressions After Local Elections
On September 8, 2019, local elections occurred in many regions of the Russian Federation, including St. Petersburg and Moscow, where the city council (Mosgorduma) was reelected. The capital city’s Mosgorduma
Russia and Turkey Reach Shaky Agreement on Syrian Idlib Province
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was the guest of honor on the opening day of the MAKS 2019 aerospace show, in Zhukovsky, on the outskirts of Moscow (see EDM, September
Fears of Western ‘Hybrid Warfare’ and Suppression of the Russian Opposition
On September 8, Moscow residents will elect members of the Mosgorduma, or city council. Moscow is the richest, politically most important and most populous subject of the Russian Federation, but
Russia Stays Mute on North Korean Launch of Apparent Iskander-Type Missiles
Last week (July 23), South Korean fighters repeatedly fired live warning shots as a Russian A-50U airborne warning and control system (AWACS) plane allegedly briefly violated Korean national airspace close
First Ever Sino-Russian Joint Air Patrol Barely Avoids Triggering Regional Conflict
The Chinese Ministry of National Defense published a white paper yesterday, July 24, entitled “China’s National Defense in a New Era.” The document accuses the United States of pursuing “unilateral
The Russian Sale of S-400 Missiles to Turkey May Change Power Equilibrium in the Middle East
For centuries, Russia has spent vast amounts of blood and treasure and fought multiple wars in the hopes to either directly annex the Turkish Straits—the Bosporus and the Dardanelles—or to
‘Losharik’ Submersible Disaster Handicaps Russian Naval Operations
On July 1, a secretive Russian AS-31 (Project 10831) nuclear-powered submersible suffered a deadly onboard fire and explosion while operating underwater in the Barents Sea, close to the entrance to
Jamestown Foundation Non-Resident Senior Fellow Pavel Felgenhauer and Analyst Aleksander Golts Interviewed by Meduza
Jamestown Foundation Non-Resident Senior Fellow Pavel Felgenhauer and Analyst Aleksander Golts were interviewed by Meduza in a recent article on the Russian submarine fire, Losharik. In the article, Felgenhauer and Golts
Putin and Trump to Meet in Osaka as Iranian Crisis Moves to Forefront
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov told journalists in Moscow that an agreement had been reached with the White House on a meeting with Donald Trump on
Moscow Faces Trial in The Hague Next Year Over Downed MH17 Airliner
Repercussions of the downing of Malaysian Airlines Boeing 777 Flight MH17, which was shot down over occupied Donbas (eastern Ukraine) on July 17, 2014, continue to haunt the Russian authorities.
Kremlin Rejects US Suggestions That Russian Military Personnel Are Pulling out of Venezuela
During the 2016 presidential campaign and many times since, United States President Donald Trump has told reporters or tweeted that having good relations with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin “is a
Russia’s New Electronic Warfare Capabilities in the Arctic
Last fall, during the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) massive Trident Juncture 2018 military exercises, 31 allied and partner countries, over 50,000 personnel, 10,000 vehicles, 150 aircraft and some 60
Sacking at Kommersant Tightens Noose on Press Freedom in Russia
Russia’s flagship business and political daily, Kommersant, just suffered a severe blow: On May 20, it was announced that the paper’s editor, Maxim Ivanov, and special correspondent Ivan Safronov were
Putin and Lavrov Rebuff Pompeo’s Overtures in Sochi
On May 3, United States President Donald Trump phoned Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and had “a long and very good conversation” discussing “trade, Venezuela, Ukraine, North Korea, Nuclear Arms Control
Victory Day 2019: Kremlin Envelopes Itself in Militaristic Fervor
As time presses on and memories of the May 1945 victory over Nazi Germany that ended World War II in Europe fade away, the annual May 9 Victory Day celebrations
Russia Steps Deeper Into the Venezuelan Battleground
In the early morning of April 30, in Caracas, opposition leader, speaker of the National Assembly and the self-proclaimed interim president of Venezuela, Juan Guaidó, declared that the Venezuelan Armed
Kremlin Sees New Window of Opportunity in Ukraine After Poroshenko’s Massive Electoral Loss
On March 31, 2019, the authorities released official results for the first-round of the Ukrainian presidential election. The incumbent, President Petro Poroshenko, came in second place with almost 16 percent
Moscow Touts the Threat of Direct East-West Confrontation
The independent pollster Levada Tsentr regularly tests Russians’ attitudes toward former Soviet dictator Josef Stalin, and it recently published a report showing that love, admiration and respect for Stalin is
Putin’s Russia Symbolically Reenacts Stalin’s Push Into Europe
On April 10, 2019, at 10 p.m., fireworks lit up the Moscow sky and a gun salute thundered through the city (Vzglyad, April 10). Gun salutes are a traditional way
Moscow Hopes Ukrainian President Poroshenko Will Finally Be Ousted
President Petro Poroshenko may be the most Moscow-hated Ukrainian politician today. The Russian state-run propaganda machine has been lambasting Poroshenko for months ahead of the March 31 presidential election, and
The Kremlin Prepares to Defend Venezuela’s Maduro Regime by All Means
A Russian task force of some 100 men has landed in the Venezuelan capital Caracas, arriving on two military planes—a super-large Antonov An-124 military transporter and an aging long-range Il-62M
Moscow Increasingly Ready for Major Military Confrontation
In the last several years, the Russian military has drastically increased its battle readiness in apparent preparation for a possible major conflict with an opposing massive ground force (see EDM,
Russia Claims Total Military Superiority in the Arctic
The steady and costly buildup of military might in the Arctic has apparently reached a level sufficient for Russia to claim sovereign rights over international waters along the entire length
A New Version of the ‘Gerasimov Doctrine’?
In January 2013, the newly appointed first deputy defense minister and chief of the General Staff, Army General Valery Gerasimov, spoke in Moscow at a meeting of the Academy of
Moscow Sees Threats Multiplying Everywhere
At the February 27 meeting of Russia’s top military chiefs (the Defense Ministry Collegium), the minister of defense, Army General Sergei Shoigu, described mounting external military threats in an unstable
Putin Promises Russians Prosperity While Challenging the West With Nuclear Superweapons
One year ago, on March 1, 2018, in his annual address to the parliament, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke at length about plans to kick-start the stagnant economy, increase household
With Prospect of New Sanctions, US-Russian Relations Continue to Deteriorate
A bipartisan bill introduced in the United States Senate—the Defending American Security from Kremlin Aggression Act (DASKA)—has generated significant nervousness in the corridors of power in Moscow. If passed and
Moscow Announces New Missiles After Washington Suspends Participation in INF Treaty
As soon as Washington announced its “suspension” of the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty beginning on February 2, 2019, Moscow responded by declaring its own “suspension” of the INF
Russia Following ‘Syrian Playbook’ in Its Approach to Venezuela
The economic and political crisis in Venezuela is seen in Russia as an imperialist conspiracy, led by the United States, to oust a Russian ally: the “legitimate” and “progressive” government
Russian-Japanese Negotiations Over Kurile Islands: Another Summit Without Much Progress
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe arrived in Moscow for another summit with President Vladimir Putin, on January 22. Abe and Putin have been meeting regularly during the last year in
A Renewed Nuclear Arms Race Between Russia and US Begins to Gather Pace
A last-ditch attempt by Russia and the United States to salvage the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty at a consultation meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, on January 15, ended in
A Year of Mounting US-Russian Tensions, and More to Come in 2019
Russia’s relations with the West steadily worsened throughout 2018, and hopes that the presumed positive chemistry between United States President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, might help
Termination of the INF Treaty: The End of Arms Control?
Some 30 years ago, Moscow and Washington undertook the first ever mass elimination of an entire class of nuclear weapons, as the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, signed by Presidents
Russia’s Attack of Ukrainian Naval Ships in Black Sea: First Shots of Possible Winter War?
On November 25, two Ukrainian gunboats, together with a tug, attempted to cross from the Black Sea through the Kerch Strait into the Sea of Azov, where Ukraine controls two
Growing Frustration in Moscow at Trump’s Inability to Deliver US-Russia Rapprochement
Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin had a brief encounter in Paris (a handshake and a short collective chat during lunch with other world leaders) on November 11, 2018, during
Moscow Closely Watching How Trump Will Behave After Midterms
United States National Security Advisor John Bolton came to Moscow at the end of October for a two-day visit to meet with President Vladimir Putin and most other Russian top
Russian Navy Suffers Another Blow as Aircraft Carrier Is Damaged While Undergoing Repairs
Russia’s sole aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, suffered another mishap while undergoing overhaul work (capitalny remont) at a dockyard in Roslyakovo, near Murmansk. The Kuznetsov was being renovated while moored
Russia Prepares to Make the Best of Scrapped INF Treaty
The United States’ National Security Advisor John Bolton arrived in Moscow on October 22, shortly after President Donald Trump announced Washington would withdraw from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF)
Russian and Western Militaries Training to Deploy Against Each Other
The massive strategic-operational war game Vostok 2018, held last September in the Russian Far East, officially involved up to 300,000 personnel and thousands of tanks and other heavy military equipment.
Selling Russian Arms in New Delhi: Seeking Revenue and Influence
President Vladimir Putin visited New Delhi last week (October 4–5) with a large posse of top businessmen and ministers to promote trade and large arms contracts. India has been a
The Agreements That Ended the Cold War Are Disintegrating
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) Nuclear Planning Group (NPG) was probably the Alliance’s most important and secretive institution during the Cold War. Notably, it worked out NATO members’ joint
Russian Ties With Israel Under Strain
Several Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) F-16 jets bombed and destroyed an industrial warehouse in the Syrian coastal city of Latakia, on September 17. According to Israeli sources, the warehouse contained
Russia’s Long-Term Interests Place Turkey Higher Than Syria
After protracted negotiations, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, hammered out a compromise, on September 17, in Sochi, to reinforce a fragile ceasefire in the
Russia Launches Massive Vostok 2018 War Games Together With China
The Russian minister of defense, Army General Sergei Shoigu, and his first deputy, the chief of the General Staff, Army General Valery Gerasimov, took over the country’s Armed Forces in
Regional Proxy Wars, Massive War Games and Punitive Sanction Define Russia’s Future
Sergei Skripal (66), a former Russian military intelligence (GRU) colonel, was arrested in Moscow in 2004 for allegedly being an agent of the United Kingdom’s MI6 intelligence service. In 2010,
Russia Threatens a Renewed War in Georgia to Prevent NATO Enlargement
On August 8, 2008, the simmering confrontation with constant shooting and shelling between Georgian government forces and Ossetian separatists armed, financed and supported by Russia suddenly turned into an all-out
Russian Navy Preparing to Take on US
Russian President Vladimir Putin loves the navy. Growing up in St. Petersburg—the old imperial capital built by Tsar Peter the Great as the center of Russian naval power—Putin may have
Russia Makes Further Gains in Syria After Helsinki
In the past several days, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and the first deputy defense minister and chief of the General Staff, General Valery Gerasimov, went on an unprecedented joint
Undisclosed Agenda of Helsinki Summit Leading to Speculation, Worries in Some Quarters
Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin seem to have established a good rapport during their summit in Helsinki, on July 16. The Russian media enthusiastically quoted Trump: “We got along
A ‘Fantastic’ NATO Summit as a Possible Bargaining Chip in Trump’s Talks With Putin
After the end of the Cold War, both the East and the West agreed they were no longer enemies, and Russian delegations regularly visited summits of the North Atlantic Treaty
Both Kremlin and White House Aim for Success in Helsinki
The visit by United States National Security Advisor John Bolton to Moscow to meet with President Vladimir Putin and other top Russian officials resulted in an agreement to hold a
Will Soccer Carnival Cover up Russia’s Highly Unpopular Pension Reform?
Nice summer weather in Moscow and in most of European Russia, in addition to the surprisingly good performance by the Russian national soccer team, have added to the carnival feeling
Putin-Trump: Another ‘Historic Summit’ in the Works After Singapore
Diplomatic sources from both Russia and the United States told this author (on June 13), on condition of anonymity, that preparations for the upcoming “historic summit” between Presidents Donald Trump
Russia, Israel and Iran Strike a Deal in Syria
Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman visited Moscow, on May 31, for talks with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and other Russian top brass. Lieberman was accompanied by several of his country’s
Russian Kremlin Critic Survives Murder Attempt in Kyiv After Being Reported Dead
The defense correspondent and fierce Kremlin critic Arkady Babchenko (41) was reported shot dead, on the evening of May 29, by an unidentified killer on the doorstep of his apartment
Russia’s Escalating War of Attrition With Ukraine
Dry and sunny summer weather in the southern wooded and steppe reaches of the Russian-Ukrainian border means trouble and potential military escalation as the land dries up after the spring
Putin’s Reformist Government—Will It Work?
Vladimir Putin first became Russian president in 2000—appointed by then–head of state Boris Yeltsin to succeed him. Last March, Putin was reelected in a landslide—winning over 76 percent of the
As Tensions Flare in the Middle East, Israel’s Netanyahu Flies to Moscow
The May 9 Victory Day commemoration is the year’s most important official event in President Vladimir Putin’s Russia—a country-wide extravaganza, marked by massive military parades. The largest of these is
Putin May Change His Government, but Will He Change His Policies?
Moscow is a semi-deserted city this week due to the Labor Day holiday. Political life is also on hold, and even the relentless state TV propaganda machine appears to have
Russo-Israeli Tensions on the Rise From S-300 Transfers to Syria
Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) jets have been hitting Syria intermittently, primarily targeting Iranian-connected assets, but also attacking the air-defense installations of president Bashar al-Assad’s Syrian Arab Army (SAA) (Haaretz, April
Russian Propaganda Pushes Back Against Western Airstrike on Syria’s Chemical Weapons Program
The April 14 coordinated missile attack by the United States, the United Kingdom and France, targeting Bashar al-Assad’s chemical weapons facilities, has been met in Moscow with a bout of
Fears in Moscow About Possible Escalation of Syrian Conflict Into War With US
A near-perfect storm has rocked Moscow, starting at the end of last week. On April 6, the United States Department of the Treasury published an additional blacklist of wealthy Russian
Russia Develops a New Ideology for a New Cold War
It has become increasingly common to proclaim the present standoff between Russia and the West as a “new cold war,” and one possibly worse and potentially more dangerous than the
Moscow Surprised by Western Show of Solidarity With Britain
The strong demonstration of Western solidarity with the United Kingdom in response to the March 4 poisoning of double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury, England, by
Putin Wins a Landslide Reelection, Helped by His Standoff With the West
President Vladimir Putin was reelected in a landslide on March 18, winning over 76 percent of the popular vote. With turnout of more than 67 percent, Putin obtained over 56
The New ‘Cold War’ With the West Heats Up
Sergei Skripal (66), a former Russian military intelligence (GRU) colonel, was arrested in Moscow in 2004 for allegedly being an agent of the United Kingdom’s MI6 intelligence service. Skripal was
Russia Seeks Total Military Domination Over West
During his annual address to the parliament, on March 1, Russian President Vladimir Putin unveiled an array of nuclear superweapons, claiming Russia has secretly overcome the mighty United States and
Putin Unveils Array of Nuclear ‘Super Weapons’ Aimed at US
In his annual address to the Russian parliament (on March 1), President Vladimir Putin began by speaking at length about plans to kick-start the stagnant economy, increase household incomes and
Russia’s New (Old) Heavy Army
After decades of reforms and transformations, and all the hype about hybrid warfare, it seems the Russian military is increasingly falling back on the good old tank-heavy model of the
Death of Military Contractors Illuminates Russia’s War by Proxy in Syria
Officials from the United States and Russia, together with non-governmental sources, all agree on the core narrative: On February 7, 2018, east of the Euphrates River, in the oil-rich province
Russia Accuses US of Supplying Missile That Brought Down Hero Su-25 Pilot Over Syria
Two Russian Su-25SM attack jets were overflying the rebel-controlled Idlib province in northwestern Syria, on February 3, when one of the planes was hit by an infrared-signature- homing surface-to-air missile
‘Kremlin Report’ Sanctions List a Dud After Top Russian Intel Chiefs Visit Washington
The rich and powerful in Moscow were waiting with bated breath for the publication of the so-called “Kremlin Report,” mandated by the United States Congress under the Countering America’s Adversaries
Moscow Strikes a Deal With Ankara Over the Kurds’ Heads
The Syrian civil war allowed the Kurds to form a semi-independent Democratic Federation of Northern Syria, also known as Rojava, dominated by the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and its affiliated
Russia Uses Korean Crisis to Score Points in Its Standoff With US
During a January 11 meeting with the editors of major Russian print media outlets, President Vladimir Putin praised the North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, as a mature and “absolutely
Despite Putin’s Declaration of Victory, Fighting Escalates in Syria
On December 11, 2017, President Vladimir Putin announced victory in Syria on the tarmac of Hmeymim airbase and the withdrawal of “a large part” of Russia’s forces. Putin told the
After Declaring Victory in Syria, Putin Reinforces Russia’s Middle Eastern Alliances
On December 11, President Vladimir Putin landed on the tarmac at Hmeymim—the main Russian military base in Syria—for a visit that was reported only after Putin’s jet was already safely
The Duration of Putin’s Lifelong Presidency Is Impossible to Predict
Russian President Vladimir Putin (65) announced, on December 6, that he will in fact be running in the upcoming presidential election, scheduled for March 18, 2018. His main potential opponents
The New Russian-US Cold War and the Korean Crisis
Sergei Rogov (69), pronounced earlier this month, “The crisis between Russia and the United States has reached the level equivalent to a new cold war. This Second Cold War [sic]
Russian Military Spreads Fake Intelligence
This week (November 14), the Russian Ministry of Defense posted on its official social media accounts a report about the Washington-led coalition and the United States military in northeastern Syria
Putin Hopes a ‘Ukraine for North Korea’ Trade May Be on the Table in Upcoming Meeting With Trump
In the coming days, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his counterpart from the United States, Donald Trump, are scheduled to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Đà Nẵng,
In Meeting With Human Rights Council, Putin Accuses US of Germ Warfare Preparations
Russia does not have any meaningful political opposition, and the Duma (lower chamber of parliament) is a rubber stamp: Several small official opposition fractions in the Duma do not even
‘Party of War’ Triumphs in Moscow
A long-term turf war over defense spending, between factions within President Vladimir Putin’s entourage, has raged for more than a year in Moscow. The so called “party of peace”—Putin’s liberal-inclined
Russia Declares Victory in Syria, but Its Open-Ended Commitment Will Not End
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced that his country’s military operation in Syria is “close to conclusion” (see EDM, October 17). The Islamic State—once a sizable quasi-state, stretching from the
Russian Mercenaries Fight and Die in Botched Operation in Syria
The advance into the oil and natural gas–rich northeastern Syrian province of Deir el-Zour by forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad and supported by Russian bombing sorties has been heralded
New US Ambassador Arrives in Moscow Amidst Worst Bilateral Relations Since 2014
Veteran career diplomat Ambassador John Tefft (68), who was pulled out of retirement to man the United States’ Moscow mission in 2014, following the acute crisis precipitated by Russia’s annexation
Syrian War and the Return of Zero-Sum Thinking in Russian-US Relations
Tensions flared between the United States and Russia, with Moscow’s top generals and diplomats insisting that Washington is siding with terrorist groups in Syria to attack Russian soldiers and their
Lukashenka and Russian Officials Part Ways During Zapad 2017
The Zapad 2017 military exercise is officially over. Russian tank and airborne (VDV) units are being withdrawn from Belarus as well as Kaliningrad, Leningrad and Pskov oblasts, and moved back
Strategic War Game Zapad 2017 Has Begun
Last November, in Minsk, at a session of the joint Russian-Belarusian “defense collegium,” Russia’s minister of defense, Army-General Sergei Shoigu, declared the upcoming strategic war game, Zapad 2017, to be
Russia Seizes Opportunity to Expand Drone Usage
During the Russian war in Afghanistan in the 1980s, and later the conflicts in Chechnya in the North Caucasus in the 1990s and 2000s, the Russian military went into
Russia Effectively Supports North Korea in Its Standoff With the US
Speaking to journalists after the conclusion of the latest leadership summit of the so-called BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), held in Xiamen, China, President Vladimir Putin
In Moscow, Trump Portrayed as Victim of US-Russian Confrontation
This week (August 1), US diplomatic staff in Moscow evacuated a residence (dacha) and a tattered warehouse complex in in the capital city as part of a delayed tit-for-tat retaliation
Moscow Considers Trump Too Weak to Be Useful
The US House of Representatives has with an overwhelming majority passed a bill reinforcing sanctions on Russia, Iran and North Korea, and the Senate seems ready to approve the bill
The Russian-Ukrainian Conflict Could Be Escalating
This week (July 18), Alexander Zakharchenko, the Russia-backed leader of the self-proclaimed and Moscow-supported “Donetsk People’s Republic” (DPR), declared that a new state—“Malorossia” or “Little Russia”—must be created to replace
Tired of Trump’s Inability to Deliver, Russia Lashes Out
The meeting of Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Hamburg, last week (July 7), during the G20 summit (see EDM, July 10), was awaited in Russia with great hopes
Baltic Standoff Highlights Cold War ‘Lite’ Between Russia and NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has completed its plan, announced last year (July 9, 2016) at the Alliance’s Warsaw Summit, to deploy four multinational battalions to Poland, Latvia, Estonia
Bitter US-Russian Standoff in Syria—More Hot Words Than Real Harm
A series of military incidents involving the United States, Russia, and their allies in Syria and the Baltic region have additionally hurt already strained US-Russian relations. As sign of its
Putin Addresses Country Days After Mass Arrests of Nonviolent Protesters in Moscow and St. Petersburg
President Vladimir Putin (64) has not yet officially announced whether he will run for a fourth term as head of state on March 18, 2018. During the traditional annual nationwide
Putin Angrily Denounces ‘Anti-Russian Hysteria’ in US
At the annual St. Petersburg Economic Forum last week (June 1–3), President Vladimir Putin repeatedly rejected accusations of Russian covert meddling in the 2016 United States presidential election (see EDM,
NATO and US: Enemies of Choice for Russia’s Military
This week (May 25), the leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) gathered in Brussels for a special summit. Hopes abounded in Moscow that the summit would not be
Putin Defends Trump and Ridicules His Enemies
Last week’s (May 10) visit of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to Washington to meet with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson as well as President Donald Trump in the
Russian Military Leaders Overtaken by Siege Mentality in Anticipation of Victory Day Celebrations
This year’s Victory Day in Russia—May 9—was again an all-national extravaganza, despite extremely cold and rainy weather in Moscow. According to the minister of defense, Army General Sergei Shoigu, military
Putin Calls for Safe Zones in Syria Under Russian Supervision
In an apparent attempt to revive the so-called “Astana peace process”—peace talks between the Syrian government and armed opposition in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana, under the auspices of Russia, Turkey and
Russian Military Braces for Possible Follow-Up Attacks by US in Syria and Beyond
Russian state propaganda has definitively changed its portrayal of United States President Donald Trump after the April 7 Tomahawk cruise missile strike on the Syrian airbase of Shayrat (Homs province).
Moscow and Damascus Accuse Rebels of Deploying WMDs All Over Syria
The United States’ April 7 cruise missile attack against a major Syrian airbase sent US-Russian relations into a nosedive. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s April 12 talks in Moscow
Deadly Bomb Explosion in St. Petersburg Metro Exposes Vulnerability of Russia’s Cities
Midday on Monday, April 3, a homemade bomb filled with metal shrapnel exploded in a train car of the St. Petersburg metro as it was moving between stations. It was
Russia Rocked by Massive Protest Demonstrations
On Sunday, March 26, tens of thousands of protesters gathered in the center of Moscow and in 80 other Russian regions to protest corruption in the top levels of government
Washington’s Dysfunction May Embolden Moscow as Russian Defector Gunned Down in Kyiv
Diplomats from the United States and Russian are preparing for US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s planned visit to Moscow next month (April 2017). Tillerson will be talking with his
Private Military Companies Forming Vanguard of Russian Foreign Operations
The massive Russian military involvement in Syria in support of President Bashar al-Assad may be the first move to reestablish Moscow’s influence over the entire Middle East (see EDM, March
Kremlin’s Hopes for a ‘Post-West’ World Order Recede
Just a couple of months ago, things looked to be going thoroughly President Vladimir Putin’s way. The 2016 elections in the United States gave the presidency to Donald Trump—a flamboyant
Moscow Preparing for ‘Asymmetrical’ Arms Race
United States President Donald Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress this week (February 28) did not mention the true elephant in the room—his administration’s plans regarding future US
Defense Minister Shoigu Promotes Russian Cyber Warfare Troops and Declares Victory in Syria
Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu used the shortened workweek before Red Army Day (February 23—officially rechristened “Defender of the Fatherland Day,” following the collapse of the Soviet Union) to promote Russia’s
Moscow Sees Anti-Russian Forces on the Rise in US Following Flynn’s Ouster
The ouster of the United States’ National Security Advisor, General Michael (Mike) Flynn, earlier this week (February 13) is seen in Moscow as a serious setback and a victory of
Putin Orders Air Force Into Topmost Battle Readiness
President Vladimir Putin ordered a snap military exercise of the Russian Aerospace Forces (Vozdushno-Kosmicheskye Sily—VKS), on February 7. The VKS was placed at top battle readiness: the missile- and anti-aircraft-defense
If Trump Hands Over Ukraine, He Will Make Russia Great Again
Over the course of the past month (January 2017), United States President Donald Trump significantly (by over 25 percent) surpassed President Vladimir Putin by the number of citations he has
Moscow Maneuvering to Become Supreme Arbiter in Syria
Last month (December 2016), the eastern half of Syria’s prewar most-populated city, Aleppo, held by opposition fighters since 2012, fell under a relentless assault from joint Iranian, Russian and pro-government
Kremlin Learning to Navigate Washington’s New Unpredictability
In the run-up to his inauguration this week (January 20), President-elect Donald Trump has been saying all the right words Moscow would seem to want to hear. The Kremlin openly
Russian Mission in Syria Beset by Problems Despite Victory in Aleppo
The sudden recapture by Islamic State (IS) of the Syrian desert town of Palmyra has caused embarrassment and recriminations in Moscow at a time when the Russian strategy in Syria
Chechen Special Battalions Sent to Syria as Reinforcements
The press and government officials in Moscow are applauding the seemingly imminent and total defeat of Syrian opposition fighters in eastern Aleppo. Forces loyal to Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, together
In Speech to Parliament, Putin Expresses Confidence in Russia’s Offensive Foreign and Defense Policies
In his annual address to the parliament, on December 1, President Vladimir Putin praised the Russian people for defying economic hardships, maintaining “patriotic” (i.e.: pro-Kremlin and pro-Putin) national unity, and
Liberal Economist Minister in Russian Cabinet Arrested for Alleged Bribe-Taking
The arrest (on November 15) of Alexei Ulyukaev (60), the minister of economic development of the Russian Federation, dominated the news coming out of Moscow this week. Ulyukaev is accused
Moscow Hopes Trump Administration Will Give Russia Free Hand to Suppress Syria and Ukraine
The news of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton conceding the race to Donald Trump was met with spontaneous applause by the Kremlin-controlled State Duma (lower house of the Russian parliament)
Strategic Assessment: Russia’s Relations With West Deteriorate as Military Prepares for ‘Resource Wars’
The following political landscape piece is a part of Eurasia Daily Monitor’s special quarterly series of strategic assessments of developments across Eurasia. These pieces examine recent important developments and trends
The Kuznetsov Smokescreen: Russia’s Peculiar Naval Taskforce to Syria
The Russian aerospace forces (Vozdushno Kosmicheskye Sily—VKS) continue to bomb the Syrian opposition, as Russia’s Iranian-led allies carry on land attacks against the rebel-controlled half of Aleppo. But meanwhile, Russia’s
Russian Actions in Syria Overshadow Kremlin’s Diplomatic Maneuvers on War in Eastern Ukraine
Three conflicts occurring simultaneously along separate fronts are currently vying for international attention: Russia and its allies continue to besiege the Syrian opposition forces in Aleppo, and a massive Russian
Russia Building New Bases to Counter United States
Last week (October 7), the Russian Duma unanimously ratified an agreement signed in August 2015 with the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to indefinitely lease for free the Khmeimim
Budgetary Fight in Moscow Sends US-Russian Relations Into Deep Crisis
US Secretary of State John Kerry’s attempts to hammer out a Syrian ceasefire agreement with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, have collapsed, leaving relations between Washington and Moscow in tatters.
Flight MH17 Tragedy—Another Front in Moscow’s Battle Against West
This week (September 28), a Dutch-led group of investigators from the Netherlands, Australia, Belgium, Malaysia and Ukraine published the preliminary results of their more-than-two-year investigation into the crash of flight
Russian Military Presence in Syria Increasing With Carrier Deploying to Eastern Mediterranean
It took several month of intermittent talks between the United States and Russia and many multi-hour marathon sessions between US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergey
Russian Military Resists Proposed Budget Cuts, Prepares for Major Ground War
As the dust settled, following the conclusion of the September 5–10 Kavkaz 2016 military exercise, the Russian Armed Forces entered into a budgetary battle with the Ministry of Finance. Russian
Massive Russian Troop Deployments and Exercises Held Close to Ukraine
The Russian Armed Forces have begun their pre-announced strategic military exercise “Kavkaz 2016” in Crimea, the North Caucasus, and the Black and Caspian Seas. Reportedly, the exercise, held on September
Putin and Erdoğan Prepare for a Decisive Russo-Turkish Summit
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will make his first foreign trip after the unsuccessful military coup to St. Petersburg to meet his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on August 9. In
Olympic Doping Scandal Overshadows Massive Infrastructural Overhaul of Downtown Moscow
The doping scandal, which may exclude Russian athletes from this summer’s Rio de Janeiro Olympics, is dominating the political news in Moscow at the moment. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)
Russia and the West Engage in Mutual Deterrence
After the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) summit in Warsaw last week (July 8–9), the NATO-Russian Council met in Brussels, on July 13, at the ambassadorial level. The meeting did
Putin Makes Promises on Confidence-Building Measures Russia Cannot Keep
Last week (July 1), during a visit to Helsinki, Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened that Finland’s security would be undermined if the Nordic country decided to join the North Atlantic
Russia’s Future: A Stability That Will Not Last, a Revolution That Will Not Win
The Russian economy is contracting, and household incomes are decreasing, but social and financial distress do not translate into sizable political or social protest. President Vladimir Putin continues to be
Russia and Turkey Mend Fences as US-Russian Relations Nosedive
Reports emerged in Moscow and Ankara, on June 24, that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan wrote his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, a letter apparently apologizing for the loss of a
Russian Strategic Goals in Syria Contradict US Policies
Last week, Russia’s defense minister, Army-General Sergei Shoigu inspected Russian troops fighting in Syria "under orders of President Vladimir Putin." On June 18, Shoigu visited the Russian operational command center
East-West Standoff in Europe Becoming Progressively Institutionalized
While continuing to exchange barbs, the West and Russia are building a more institutionalized pattern of standoff in Europe that involves increasingly predictable tit-for-tat mirrored actions. Both sides profess their
Euphoria in Kyiv and Soul-Searching in Moscow After Prisoner Exchange
Nadezhda Savchenko, a Ukrainian air force helicopter pilot, was captured by Moscow-backed separatist forces during fighting in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, in the summer of 2014, and ended
Western Policy Toward Russia: Swinging Between Deterrence and Appeasement
In trying to find a way to stop the bloodshed in Syria and settle the conflict in the breakaway eastern Ukrainian region of Donbas, Western foreign ministers have taken to
INF Treaty Increasingly in Danger, as Russia Balks at New Missile Defense Base in Romania
The United States missile defense (MD) base near the Romanian town of Deveselu, west of Bucharest, became operational this week, armed with 24 SM-3 Block IB interceptors, guided by a
An Unfrozen Karabakh Threatens to Ignite Entire Region
The Azerbaijani-Armenian confrontation over Azerbaijan’s breakaway territory of Karabakh has been simmering for years. The 1994 ceasefire was broken time and again, soldiers on both sides were killed year after
Fortress Russia: Pushing Foreigners Back
This week marked the 30th anniversary of the April 26, 1986, Chernobyl reactor meltdown—a nuclear disaster that saturated northern Ukraine, southern Belarus and parts of western Russia with radioactivity in
Russian Jets Fly Close to US Ship and Recon Aircraft Over Baltic Sea
Last week (April 12), two Russian Su-24 bombers closely overflew the guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook, in the Baltic Sea, in international airspace. The incident happened relatively close to the
Putin’s Main Target in Syria: Helping al-Assad Win the Civil War
On March 14, President Vladimir Putin surprised both friend and foe by announcing that the Russian military mission in Syria was “mostly accomplished” and ordering the withdrawal of “most of
Putin’s New Praetorian Guard
This week (April 6), without prior warning or any meaningful public debate, President Vladimir Putin announced a massive overhaul of security, public order and law enforcement in Russia by creating
Despite Bilateral Diplomatic Contacts, Russia Hardens Its View of US as the Enemy
According to Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, the frequency and intensity of high-level contacts between Russia and the United States “are unprecedented.” US Secretary of State John Kerry has regularly
The Brussels Terrorist Attacks: An Opportunity to Promote Putin’s Agenda
Following the March 22 terrorist attacks in Brussels, which killed over 30 people and injured hundreds, Russian officials responded by calling for unity in opposing the Islamic State (IS). They
The Russian ‘Withdrawal’ and Putin’s Brilliant Deception in Syria
In a surprise move, Monday (March 14), President Vladimir Putin announced the Russian military mission in Syria was “mostly accomplished” and ordered an immediate withdrawal of “most of our forces”
Faltering Revenues Jeopardize Russia’s Military Rearmament Program
The Russian Ministry of Finance is struggling to balance the budget, gutted by the low prices of oil and other Russian staple export commodities. The problem is made worse by
Fighting to Survive Budget Contraction, Kremlin Tries to Fix Oil Prices
On March 1, President Vladimir Putin gathered the CEOs of Russia’s oil majors in the Kremlin to discuss a possible freeze of crude production to boost oil prices. Oil is
Moscow Triumphant, as US in Full Retreat in Middle East
On February 22, which was a public holiday in Russia, President Vladimir Putin went on national television with a newsflash to announce that, after a phone call with the United
Russia’s S-300 Shipment to Iran Appears Stalled Again
The Iranian minister of defense, General Hossein Dehghan, was greeted with exclusive pomp during his visit this week (February 15–16) to Moscow. Dehghan was granted an audience in the Kremlin
Sudden Massive Snap Exercise and Mobilization of Russian Forces in Black Sea and Caspian Region Appears Aimed at Turkey
On Monday, February 8, Russia’s defense minister, Army-General Sergei Shoigu, announced that the military forces of the Southern and Central Military districts, the Aerospace Forces (Vozdushno Kosmicheskikh Sil—VKS) the airborne
Russian-Led forces Advance to Secure Syrian Borders With Turkey and Jordan
The Syria peace talks in Geneva, which are sponsored by the United Nations, have been postponed for three weeks by UN envoy Staffan de Mistura. The talks between the Damascus
The Russian Public Seems to Be Less Receptive to Hate Propaganda
Low oil and commodity prices have crippled the Russian economy, caused a massive devaluation of the ruble and a contraction of government budget expenditures. At a conference of the All-Russian
Donbas Fields Have Frozen Over, but for Now the Ceasefire Holds
One year ago, bloody battles raged throughout the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbas. The traditional autumn “rasputitsa” (mud season) usually ends by January: The dirt freezes, allowing trucks, troops and
Putin Calls on Germany to Mend Fences by Recognizing Russian ‘National’ Interests
It has become a cliché to write off President Vladimir Putin’s anti-Western pitches as only intended for internal consumption—uttered to rally the population around the Kremlin and dampen possible social
Putin Signs a National Security Strategy of Defiance and Pushback
Under existing legislation, Russia’s National Security Strategy (NSS) must be updated every six years. The previous version was approved in May 2009 by then-president Dmitry Medvedev, so a new NSS
Russia Hits Syria With More Long-Range Missiles
The Kremlin posted footage of a late-evening meeting between President Vladimir Putin and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, on December 8. Shoigu was filmed producing a flight recorder, or so-called “black
Russia and Turkey on War Footing
The Russian state-run propaganda machine is currently fanning anti-Turkish vitriol full-time. Economic ties between Russia and Turkey are being effectively severed, while military forces have been put on high alert.
Putin Accuses Islamic State of Downing Passenger Jet as Strategic Bombers Pound Syria
In an apparent sudden about-face, the Kremlin has accused the Islamic State (IS) of planting a bomb onboard Russian Metrojet Flight 9268, which disintegrated in midair after takeoff from the
Russia Leaks Data About Doomsday Underwater Nuclear Drone
President Vladimir Putin spent this past week vacationing in Sochi, just as this southwestern Russian coastal city was hit by an autumn storm and heavy rain. Russian government officials were
Metrojet Flight 9268 Crash Could Undermine Russian Public Support for Syria Bombing Campaign
On October 31, a Russian charter passenger jet, Airbus A321 Metrojet Flight 9268, disintegrated in midair some 23 minutes after takeoff from the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh to St.
Moscow Still Calling on West to Join ‘Broad’ Anti-IS Coalition, but Patience Is Running Thin
The Russian military has intensified the bombing campaign in Syria to its limit. Ministry of Defense (MoD) officials told journalists that, on October 27, Russian bombers flew 71 sorties and
Al-Assad Leaves Moscow, Assured of the Kremlin’s Unequivocal Support
This week (October 20), Syrian President Bashar al-Assad visited Moscow for talks with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in the Kremlin. Russia began an aerial bombing campaign in Syria on
The Russian-Backed Ground Offensive by al-Assad’s Forces Falters
The Russian air bombing campaign in Syria began on September 30, with about 20 sorties a day. The bombing drastically increased on October 8, to over 60 sorties and reached
With Quickly Growing Russian Involvement, the Decisive Ground Offensive in Syria Begins
The Russian state-controlled propaganda machine has been working around the clock to promote the success of Russia’s aerial bombing campaign in Syria, which began on September 30, to a reluctant
Russian Jets Bomb Syria
On September 30, the upper house of the Russia’s parliament—the Federation Council—unanimously rubberstamped a Kremlin request to use Russian troops abroad after a 15-minute closed session. President Vladimir Putin’s administration
Putin Strains Wobbly Western Unity on Syria
President Vladimir Putin is heading to New York to address the United Nations with a strong hand, while his United States counterpart, Barack Obama, seems weak and indecisive. According to
Putin Tests His Future New York Speech in Dushanbe
Speaking this week (September 15) in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, at a summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)—the Russian-dominated regional defense alliance—President Vladimir Putin detailed his understanding of regional and
Moscow Ups the Stakes in the Syrian Conflict
Reports of the alleged troop buildup in Syria of a “Russian expeditionary force” to support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, first appeared last month (August) in Israeli and Ukrainian online publications.
Autumn Pause Follows Donbas August Fighting
Fighting has dramatically subsided in eastern Ukraine by September 1. A couple of weeks ago, in mid-August, the situation was different and the guns were blazing. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei
August in Donbas: Will the War Spread?
The speaker of the Duma (Russian lower house of parliament), Sergei Naryshkin, published an article in the government daily Rossiyskaya Gazeta this week (August 9), making dark predictions about August
Lines of Communication Are Closing Between East and West
Last week (July 30), at a press conference in the newly furnished National Defense Center, on the Frunsinskaya embankment in downtown Moscow, Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov (60) presented the
Russia Vetoes UN Draft Resolution on MH17 Tribunal
Moscow vetoed a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) draft resolution that would have set up an international tribunal to investigate and prosecute those involved in the downing passenger airliner of
Putin’s Diplomatic Offensive Fails in Tokyo
As Russo-Western relations go from bad to worse, the Kremlin has been developing strategic ties with Asia. In a recent three-part policy manifesto, President Vladimir Putin’s adviser Sergei Glazyev declared
Moscow Rejects Dutch Findings and the Malaysian Proposal of an MH17 Crash Tribunal
On July 17, 2014, Malaysian passenger jet Flight MH17 was shot out of the sky over the territory of Ukrainian Donbas controlled by Moscow-backed separatists, killing all 298 people on
Extended List of ‘Undesirable’ Foreign NGOs Compiled in Moscow
A law banning foreign and international non-governmental organizations (NGO) as “undesirable” in Russia was approved by both houses of parliament and signed by President Vladimir Putin last May. A specific
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania May Be Bargaining Chips for Moscow in a Quid Pro Quo Game
The Russian Prosecutor General’s Office (Genprocuratura) announced it was investigating the legality of the independence of the Baltic States—Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania—which were recognized by the State Council of the
A Defensive Posture and a Feeling of Threat Prevail in Both Moscow and Brussels
Russian President Vladimir Putin has recently committed much time and effort to, on the one hand, intimidate and, on the other, to coax the Western public, businessmen and potential investors
Ukrainian Website Publishes Purported Detailed Russian Invasion Plan of Eastern Ukraine
On June 16, the Ukrainian website Mirotvorets published what are allegedly Russian military draft plans of a massive military invasion of eastern Ukraine. The invasion plan or “special operation of
Moscow Moves to Strengthen Iran in Its Standoff With West
Moscow and Tehran have been preparing an agreement to barter Iranian oil for Russian goods. This “goods for oil” trade seems to be finally going ahead this month, before the
The Ceasefire in Ukraine Is Crumbling as Russia Again Accuses Kyiv of Shooting Down Flight MH17
The fragile ceasefire in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine seems to be unwinding, and both sides accuse each other of being the aggressor. This week (June 3), the worst
Moscow Restoring Soviet-Style Repression and Aggression
This week (May 26), Russia’s Ministry of Justice added the private charitable foundation Dynasty, which specializes in distributing grants and stipends to Russian scientists, to the register of organizations that
Russia Prepares for Possible New Summer Military Campaign in Eastern Ukraine
Summer is the best time for major offensive military action in the Donbas region (Donetsk and Luhansk provinces) of eastern Ukraine. In the spring and autumn, long periods of bad
Boris Nemtsov’s Report on Russian War in Ukraine Is Published
The report “Putin. War” (“Putin. Voina”)—a summary of evidence of the involvement of the Russian military in the annexation of Crimea and in fighting in the eastern Ukrainian region of
Victory Day Frenzy Peaks in Moscow
Preparations for the May 9 Victory Day ceremonies and military parade in Moscow have the city on edge. Repeated real-time rehearsals have been blocking traffic as armor and troop formations
Russia’s State RIA News Agency: ‘Let the world fear us’
The May 9 Victory Day parade in Moscow is designed to impress the world and the home public with Russia’s relentless military might. But no one seems to be counting
Russia Paying Steep Price for Annexing Crimea
This week (April 21), Russian prime minister and former president Dmitry Medvedev spent several hours presenting to the State Duma (lower house of parliament) the annual government report on policies
Moscow Is Ready to Supply Iran With Powerful S-300 Missiles
This week (April 13), President Vladimir Putin signed an ukaz (presidential decree) to allow the export of S-300 anti-aircraft missiles to Iran. Putin’s decision overruled a previous ukaz signed by
Russian Military and Paramilitary Forces Preparing to Suppress Internal Dissent
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s approval ratings are sky-high, and his aggressive anti-Western policies enjoy wide support. Over 50 percent agree “Russia is moving in the right direction,” despite its present
Continued Confrontation With the West Will Prop up Putin’s Regime for Years
A fragile ceasefire is partially holding in Donbas (eastern Ukrainian region encompassing Donetsk and Luhansk provinces). Massive offensive operations have ceased and some heavy weapons have been withdrawn from the
The Kremlin’s Game of Threats
Last week (March 19), speaking at an annual conference of the Union of Russian Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP)—Russia’s main business lobbying group—President Vladimir Putin promoted a previously announced financial amnesty.
Putin Mobilizes Forces Preparing to Fight With NATO and US
This week (March 16–21), the Russian military began massive, “sudden” military exercises (“vnezapnaya proverka”). The authorities initially announced that the “sudden exercises” are intended to check out the battle readiness
A Treaty That Ended the Cold War in Europe Is Denounced in Moscow
This week, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced it will no longer attend the meetings of the Joint Consultative Group (JCG) of the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) treaty
The Murder of Boris Nemtsov: An Unsolved Conspiracy
Boris Nemtsov (55), former governor of Nizny Novgorod, former deputy Duma speaker, deputy prime minister under President Boris Yeltsin and, more recently, an opposition leader and vocal critic of President
Russia Proposes a Yalta-2 Geopolitical Tradeoff to Solve the Ukrainian Crisis
As the Ukraine crisis deepens and European countries increasingly worry about the possibility of an all-out confrontation with Russia, the Kremlin has begun to make public the basic conditions of
The Debacle in Debaltseve
The ceasefire agreement signed in Minsk last week (February 12) did not stop the fighting in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine (Donbas encompasses the Donetsk and Luhansk provinces). The
Another Ceasefire Agreement Signed in Minsk
A marathon summit in Minsk of the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France—which lasted for more than 15 hours nonstop, from the evening of February 11 to late morning
Russian Military Command Sees Need to Counter Growing Western Threat
The continuing bloody fighting in eastern Ukraine and the deepening crisis in relations with the West has prompted the Russian military to alter its defense development plans. A financial and
Minsk Ceasefire Agreements Are Dead, but the Russian Offensive Is Faltering
The Minsk ceasefire agreements, signed last September by the representatives of Russia, Ukraine, the Moscow-backed rebels and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), were designed to stop
Ukrainian Military Is Pushed Back in Heavy Fighting
The foreign ministers of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France met this week in Berlin in the so-called “Normandy format” to seek ways to scale down the recent upsurge in military
With Talks Fruitless, Fighting in Ukraine Intensifies
The falling ruble, two-digit inflation and obvious signs of a pending financial and economic meltdown apparently have not influenced Russia’s assertive foreign and defense policies. A proposed summit in Astana
Russian Financial System and Economy Hit by ‘Perfect Storm’
The last two weeks in Russia were a nonstop holiday, which only ends on January 12, when the nation returns to work as usual. The banks and the stock exchange
Moscow Hopes Hollande May Replace Unfriendly Merkel as Russia’s Main Interlocutor
In the spacious, though somewhat faded and dimly lit lavishness of the Soviet-built official air terminal of Vnukovo-2, on the afternoon of December 6, President Vladimir Putin met for two
Putin Calls for National Unity to Defeat US-Led Foes
On December 4, President Vladimir Putin addressed a joint session of Russia’s houses of parliament in the Kremlin. This annual address is the Russian equivalent of the State of the
Ukrainian Donbas Becomes a Russian Protectorate
In a transcript of a TV interview to German journalists published by the Kremlin this week, President Vladimir Putin declared: “There is war in the East of Ukraine. The Ukrainian
Ukrainian Crisis Fails to ‘Freeze’ as War of Attrition Continues
The wobbly ceasefire in Donbas (region of eastern Ukraine, encompassing Luhansk and Donetsk provinces), undermined by constant shelling and fighting, seems to be on the verge of total collapse. Both
Russia in Dangerous Transition, as Military and Political Tensions Mount
Russia’s central strategic nuclear command authority is being fully overhauled this year, organizationally as well as technically. Last January, Russia’s defense minister, Army-General Sergei Shoigu, announced that a brand new
As Confrontation With US Worsens, Moscow Hopes to Make Inroads Into Europe
The first of the two French-made helicopter-carrying Mistral-class assault ships, which Russia ordered in 2011, is reportedly ready for delivery. Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin announced that a Russian official
Siege Mentality Dominates in Moscow
Christophe de Margerie, 63, the CEO of French oil major Total, was killed as his executive jet crashed during takeoff on the runway of Moscow’s Vnukovo airport, at about midnight,
Preparing for War Against the US on All Fronts—A Net Assessment of Russia’s Defense and Foreign Policy Since the Start of 2014
In a series of recently published interviews, President Vladimir Putin (kremlin.ru, October 15), Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev (Interfax, October 15) and national security council secretary Nikolai Patrushev (Rossiyskaya Gazeta, October
A Global ‘Resources War’ Begins: ‘Hot’ on Some Fronts, ‘Cold’ on Others
Next month (November 2014), it will be 25 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall, which ended the Cold War. But a new cold war is apparently swiftly taking
The Russian Population Remains Confused and Not Ready for Mobilization
The spirit of a new cold war seems to be dominating Russia. The Kremlin, outraged by the punitive sanctions imposed by the West in response to Russia’s incursions into Ukraine,
Russia Prepares to Repel United States on All Fronts
The ceasefire in Donbas (eastern Ukrainian region encompassing Luhansk and Dontesk provinces) between Ukrainian and pro-Russia forces, announced on September 5, has been solidified by an additional agreement to withdraw
Yevtushenkov’s Arrest: A Stern Warning to All the Wealthy and Powerful
The Russian business community was shocked by the arrest this week (September 16) of one of Russia’s richest industrialists—billionaire-tycoon Vladimir Yevtushenkov (65), accused of money laundering. In 2009, Yevtushenkov acquired
Kremlin Sees Ukraine Crisis as Part of Overall US-Led Assault on Russia
The ceasefire agreement signed in Minsk, on September 5, by representatives of Ukraine, Russia and Moscow-backed rebels operating in Ukraine’s Donbas region (area including Luhansk and Donetsk provinces) seems to
Putin’s Battlefield Success May Lead to Ceasefire, Legalization of Donbas Rebellion
After a largely bloodless routing of Russia-backed separatist rebels in Ukraine’s southeastern industrial port city of Mariupol in June, a combined force of regular and volunteer Ukrainian military units has
Putin to Decide Next Moves in Standoff With West Over Ukraine
President Vladimir Putin gathered Duma deputies, national Security Council permanent members, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev—almost the entire Russian ruling elite—in Yalta, Crimea, to give a speech and a Q &
In Escalating Standoff With West, Russia Imposes Food Ban
In reply to Western sanctions over the Ukrainian crisis, the Russian government has announced a sweeping ban on the import of meat and meat products, fish and sea food, cheese,
Moscow Dismisses Western Sanctions, as Fighting in Donbas Intensifies
This week, the United States and the European Union imposed long-awaited and feared punitive economic sanctions aimed at sectors of the Russian economy and designed to change President Vladimir Putin’s
Russia and Rebels Claim Innocence on Flight MH17, Blame Ukraine and US
The Malaysian passenger jet Flight MH17, which crashed on July 17, killing 298 people, was apparently shot down over the territory of the Ukrainian region of Donbas, controlled by pro-Russia
US Seen as Archenemy as New Sanctions Hit Russia
On July 17, the United States imposed additional sanction to punish Russia for continuing to support the separatist rebellion in the far eastern Donbas region of Ukraine. Russia’s biggest oil
Total Rebel Defeat not Seen as an Acceptable Option in the Kremlin
The pro-Russia separatist rebellion in the Donbas seems to be teetering on the brink of a humiliating and bloody collapse. Last Saturday, July 5, the rebels led by Igor Girkin
Putin: Ukraine is a Battlefield for the New World Order
This week in Moscow President Vladimir Putin made a major foreign policy statement, while speaking to a worldwide gathering of Russian ambassadors and permanent diplomatic representatives. According to Putin, the
Complicated Intrigue and Maneuvering as Ceasefire in Ukraine Fumbles
The Ukrainian crisis continues to be the main topic of political and public interest in Moscow, completely overshadowing the world soccer championship. The Russian state TV propaganda machine daily broadcasts
Russian Troops Back on the Border, While Shoigu Brushes off Ukrainian Arms Embargo
In the Duma, on June 18, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reportedly told deputies: “Russian troops are ready for any eventuality in Ukraine.” The Q & A with Shoigu was classified,
Moscow’s Dilemma: Finlandization of Ukraine or Occupation?
Russia seems at a crossroads in the Ukrainian crisis, unsure how to proceed: to seek some negotiated compromise with Kyiv, or intensify its support for pro-Russian separatists in southeastern Ukraine?
Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus Form Eurasian Economic Union
On May 29, in the Kazakhstani capital of Astana, the presidents of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus signed a treaty to form the Eurasian Economic Union (EaEU)—a post-Soviet reintegration project vigorously
Possible Window of Opportunity for Diplomacy in the Ukrainian Crisis
The Russian military seems to have begun a genuine pullback of combat forces, which had been poised for almost three months on the eastern borders of Ukraine. On May 19,
US Restrictions Hurt Russian Space Defense and Commercial Projects
In response to Russia’s involvement in the Ukrainian crisis, the United States has tightened its export controls, and this has seriously hurt important Russian space projects. US authorities are apparently
The Self-Styled Separatist Referendum in Eastern Ukraine Is on Despite Putin’s Request
A glimmer of hope of a de-escalation of the Ukrainian crisis appeared on May 7, when President Vladimir Putin announced he will “ask the representatives of Southeast Ukraine [who] support
Rebuilding the USSR
This week, on May 1, an estimated 100,000-strong, pro-government demonstration of “working people” was allowed on Red Square for the first time since 1990. The march was organized by state-controlled
As Geneva Fails, Violence Escalates and Russian Troops Are on the Move
The agreement to de-escalate the Ukraine crisis, signed at a meeting last week in Geneva by top foreign policy executives of Russia, the United States, the European Union and Ukraine,
Putin Hovering on the Brink of a Massive Invasion of Ukraine
The Ukrainian crisis and the “reunification” of Crimea with the rest of Russia dominated President Vladimir Putin’s almost four-hour-long televised national phone-in—an annual PR performance that had been previously dominated
Armed Pro-Russian Activists in Lugansk May Trigger a Russian Invasion
A well-coordinated attack on local administrative buildings by pro-Russian activists in eastern Ukrainian cities Donetsk, Kharkiv and Lugansk began on April 6. Local police forces did little to stop the
NATO Foreign Ministers Try to Deter a Possible Russian Invasion of Ukraine
The unscheduled meeting in Paris of US Secretary of State John Kerry with his Russian counterpart, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, on March 30, had raised hopes in Moscow that a
Revisionist Radicals Accuse Putin of Being Too Soft on Ukraine, as Russia Takes on Status of Pariah State
President Vladimir Putin’s approval rating has reached a staggering 82.3 percent, the Kremlin-controlled pollster VTsIOM reported this week (March 27). Last January, the same polling outfit reported Putin’s rating at
With Crimea Secure, Russia’s Focus Shifts to Ukrainian Mainland
The last remnants of the Ukrainian military have been unceremoniously pushed out of Crimea by Russian forces, who are no longer posing as unidentified local self-defense militias. Some Ukrainian servicemen
Kremlin Refuses to Tolerate Any Dissent Over Its Ukrainian Policy
Moscow is preparing to legalize the annexation of Crimea as soon as possible. A special constitutional amendment is being rushed through parliament. To enact a “constitutional law,” all regional legislatures
Crimea Is Not the Endgame: Moscow Bent on Regime Change in Kyiv
On March 4, when President Vladimir Putin broke his public silence on events in Ukraine and Crimea, to many in Russia it seemed that the worst-case scenario of possible open
Yanukovych Recognized as Legitimate President in Exile in Russia
The sudden meltdown of President Viktor Yanukovych’s regime in Kyiv last week has surprised the Kremlin. On Wednesday February 19, during the height of the bloodbath in Kyiv, when dozens
Russia’s Ekho Moskvy Radio May Lose Its Independence
Ekho Moskvy is Russia’s most popular political talk radio station and the most popular radio station in the city of Moscow, with an estimated daily national audience of some 7
Egypt’s Military Strongman al-Sisi Comes to Moscow to Announce Presidential Bid, Fails to Finalize Ambitious Arms Deal
Almost all of Russia seems to be glued to the television, watching the Sochi Winter Olympics where Team Russia—currently in seventh place in the overall medal count—is apparently failing to
The Winter Olympics Begin Under a Cloud of Threat and Controversy
The 2014 Winter Olympics, which are estimated to have cost the Russian taxpayer some $50 billion, will be officially declared open this week (February 7) in Sochi by President Vladimir
Clampdown on Free Speech in Russia as Fallout From Ukrainian Crisis
Moscow-based, independent television cable news channel Dozhd (meaning “Rain”) has been accused of “extremism,” and a number of cable TV providers threatened to remove it from the TV-channel packages that
Tensions Grow Between Moscow and West, as the Situation in Kyiv Deteriorates
The escalating crisis in Ukraine is reverberating in Moscow, where the ruling elite is convinced the violent clashes in Kyiv between special police forces and protesters have been organized and
Russia Is Prepared to Sell Iranian Oil as Its Own
The Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and the Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem have flown to Moscow on the same plane this week to meet their Russian counterpart, Sergei
Perceived Imminent Terrorist Threat in Russia Triggers Unprecedented Security Clampdown
Two terrorist suicide bomb explosions in Volgograd (former Stalingrad)—on December 29 in the main city railroad station, and on December 30 on a packed city trolleybus—killed 34 people and injured
Putin Pushing Back Against the West and Its Presumed Agents
This week (December 10), the Russian Duma discussed the political crisis in Ukraine and passed unanimously a resolution condemning the Ukrainian opposition, which is demanding the resignation of the government
Moscow Believes Ukrainian Protests Are Western-Organized Conspiracy
Under Russian pressure, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych refused to sign an association and free-trade agreement with the European Union at the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius on November 29, triggering
Israeli PM Netanyahu in Moscow to Strengthen Ties with Russia
In an apparent last-ditch attempt to stop the so-called interim agreement to solve the Iranian nuclear problem that is being prepared in Geneva by the group of six nations—the United
Russia Preparing for Global Resource War
In an interview aired by state TV channel Rossiya last weekend, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu spelled out the three main military threats Russia is facing: international Islamist terrorism, the withdrawal
Russian Strategic Bombers Touch Down in Latin America
Two Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bombers have flown from their permanent base in Engels airbase in the Saratov oblast on the Volga River to Venezuela on October 28. From Venezuela, the
Shoigu to Build Office and Command Center Separate from General Staff
Next week will mark one year since Sergei Shoigu replaced Russia’s previous defense minister, Anatoly Serdyukov, who was disgraced by an inquiry into alleged corruption in the defense ministry–controlled holding
Shoigu Agrees to Maintain a Videolink to the Pentagon
This week, officials of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) were anticipating Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu’s first appearance at a NATO-Russia Council (NRC) defense ministerial. The NRC had not
Resurgent Russian Nationalism Flies in the Face of Putin’s Imperial Eurasian Union Plans
The fatal stabbing of an ethnic Russian, Yegor Shcherbakov, 25, in front of his girlfriend on October 10, allegedly by an Azerbaijani citizen living in Moscow, Orkhan Seynalov, 31, has
Russia on a Collision Course with the European Union
The Kremlin is demonstrating its growing anger with the European Union for encroaching onto the territory of the former Soviet Union, which Moscow considers its exclusive sphere of influence. An
Russia Ready to Use Force to Deny Other Countries Free Navigation of Arctic High Seas
Activists detained onboard the Greenpeace Arctic Sunrise research icebreaker by the Federal Security Service special forces (FSB spetsnaz) on September 19, have been all handed two-month pre-trial detention sentences by
Russian Forces Begin Zapad-2013, While Perceiving Threats in the Arctic, Central Asia and the East
This week (September 23), the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), held a summit in President Vladimir Putin’s Black Sea residence in Sochi. The Russian-led military alliance is made up of
An Uneasy Russo-American Accord on Syrian Chemical Weapons
The agreement between Russia and the United States to destroy the Syrian arsenal of chemical weapons was signed in Geneva last weekend on September 14, after several days of strenuous
Moscow Elated with a Diplomatic Scoop on Syria
Moscow was elated by the success of an unexpected diplomatic initiative this week on Syria that has postponed indefinitely a seemingly inevitable military assault by the United States. The strike
Putin Ridicules US While Defending Russia’s Democracy, Human and Gay Rights Record
Last month, the White House canceled President Barack Obama’s visit to Moscow in the first week of September for a summit with President Vladimir Putin because of mounting deadlock in
The Sinking of the INS Sindhurakshak Strains Russo-Indian Military-Technical Cooperation
A series of explosions and a deadly fire ravaged the Kilo-type (project 877EKM or Varshavyanka) 3,000-ton submarine INS Sindhurakshak on August 14 as it was moored in Mumbai harbor and
Obama’s Cancellation of Summit Meeting with Putin Reverberates in Moscow
It is now official: The White House has cancelled President Barack Obama’s visit to Moscow for a summit with his Russian counterpart, President Vladimir Putin, planned for September 3. Obama
Moscow and Tehran Building Closer Ties as Snowden Is Given Asylum
Russia and Iran have become allies in the Syrian crisis, together providing military and financial assistance and advanced armaments that are essential to keep the regime of Bashar al-Assad in
Moscow City Elections Turning into True Political Fight
Moscow should have been in the midst of its annual mid-summer dead season, with millions of Muscovites heading to the sea in Turkey, or Crimea, or to their small dacha
Russian Intelligence Intends to Gag Snowden and Keep Him in Russia
Edward Snowden, the contractor who worked as a systems administrator at a US National Security Agency (NSA) facility in Hawaii, arrived in Moscow from Hong Kong on June 23, apparently
Jamestown analyst Pavel Felgenhauer quoted by UPI
Jamestown analyst Pavel Felgenhauer's article The Payment of Kickbacks—A Norm in Russia’s Arms Trade was quoted by UPI in an article titled For Russia, $4.3 billion arms deal with Iraq
Russia’s General Prosecutor Demands Harsher Laws Against Political Dissidents and Businessmen
On July 5, President Vladimir Putin had a meeting with Mikhail Fedorov, presidential advisor and chairman of the Presidential Council on human rights (Soviet po pravam chyeloveka or SPCh), Vladimir
The Snowden Case as a Potential Disruptor of US-Russian Relations
Edward Snowden, the contractor who worked as a systems administrator at a United States National Security Agency (NSA) facility in Hawaii, apparently flew into Moscow from Hong Kong on Sunday,
Obama’s Nuclear Cuts Initiative Meets Frosty Response in Moscow
In a speech in Berlin this week (June 19), United States President Barack Obama called on Russia to jointly cut strategic nuclear weapons to 1,000 or fewer warheads for each.
EDM analysts cited in Eurasia Review article
Jamestown analysts Roger McDermott, Vladimir Socor, Pavel Felgenhauer, Georgiy Voloshin, Richard Weitz, and Dumitru Minzarari were cited in an article by Ariel Cohen in Eurasia Review.
Putin Believes US-Russian Relations Are Dominated by Zero-Sum Game
June 12 is Russia Day, a national holiday traditionally celebrated by awarding Russia’s annual State Prizes in the fields of science, technology, the arts and literature, followed by a lavish
Snap Elections of City Mayor in Moscow
After several days of media speculation fueled by news leaks, Moscow City Mayor Sergei Sobyanin (54) announced he is resigning to seek reelection in a snap ballot on September 8,
Russian S-300 Missiles Go to Syria in Defiance of West
The Barack Obama administration has been doing its best to befriend President Vladimir Putin’s regime, but seems to be failing. Despite intensive attempts by Europe, the United States and Israel
Putin Returning Russia to Its Soviet Past
Vladimir Putin’s third presidential term began on May 7, 2012, and has been dominated by an increasingly vicious campaign of suppression of civil society and of any public manifestations of
The Kremlin Antagonizes Obama Administration with Impunity
Last-minute efforts during recent meetings with President Vladimir Putin by British Prime Minister David Cameron, his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu and United States Secretary of State John Kerry to dissuade
Intrigue and Gossip Overwhelm Moscow after Surkov’s Downfall
Moscow is in the midst of the traditional long May holiday season: The city streets are largely deserted and traffic is light. Still those of the political class who stayed
The Uphill Job of Mending Fences with the Kremlin
Speaking to reporters after last week’s (April 25) lengthy, televised, national question-and-answer (Q & A) session, President Vladimir Putin declared he “was optimistic this tragedy [the April 15 Boston Marathon
Putin Appears in Denial About the Situation in Russia
For the eleventh time since 2000, President Vladimir Putin (60) ran a televised national question-and-answer (Q & A) session that lasted almost nonstop for five hours on April 25. Economic
Moscow and Washington Exchange Blacklists of Undesirables
Last week (April 12), the United States government published, in accordance with the US Magnitsky Act adopted last December, a list of 18 Russians accused of involvement in the death
Amid Paranoia, Moscow Increasingly Cracks Down on Human Rights Groups
Since last March, Russian and international human rights organizations—including such prominent ones as Memorial, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Transparency International and others—have been harassed by Russian law enforcement and
Putin’s Russia at a Crossroads Politically and Economically
The Russian government, the expert community in Moscow and the national economic elite are actively discussing the economic future of the nation and possible drastic financial policy changes as the
The Cyprus Financial Meltdown Disrupts Close Relations with Berlin and Europe
The European Union is Russia’s number one trading partner, and for many years Moscow was seeking to establish a privileged political and economic relationship with select Western European “friends” like
Meltdown of Russian Government-Sponsored Offshore Financing in Cyprus
The Cypriot financial meltdown has rocked Moscow. Russia provided Cyprus in 2011 with a 2.5 billion-euro ($3.2 billion) low interest loan and believed the European Union and the International Monetary
Russia Prepares for War with the US and NATO, While Lacking Resources
Sergei Shoigu, a former long-time emergency situations minister (MChS) and a former Moscow region governor is a well-known and popular figure in Russia—according to recent independent Leveda-Tsentr polls, he is
Moscow Attempts to Extend Its Strategic Influence from the Black Sea to Mediterranean
Last week (February 27), speaking at a gathering of Russia’s top civilian and military officials led by President Vladimir Putin (the so-called defense ministry “extended collegium”), Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu
Putin Sees Russia Surrounded by Foes, Struggling to Rebuild Its Military
Russia is always extremely secretive about everything and defense in particular, especially so under former KGB agent President Vladimir Putin. The Russian constitution, adopted in 1993, did include a clause
Russia’s Ruling Elite Engulfed in Anti-Corruption Scandals
This week, the Moscow political elite was shocked by the resignation of three Duma deputies from the ruling United Russia (UR) party: chairman of the Duma ethics committee Vladimir Pekhtin
Aggressive Nationalism and Anti-Americanism Are the Kremlin’s New Ideological Pillars
This week, speaking at a meeting of Russia’s top security officials—the so called “extended collegium” of the Federal Security Service or FSB—Alexander Bortnikov, the FSB chief, announced: “Geopolitical pressure on
Washington Attempts to Put Relations with Moscow ‘Back on Track’
According to Russian diplomatic sources, during a meeting last weekend in Munich on the sidelines of the annual international security conference, United States Vice President Joseph Biden assured Russian Foreign
US-Russian Relations Wither as the Kremlin Seeks out Internal and External Enemies
Since the rebellion against the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad began almost two years ago, many in the West and in the Arab World have eagerly awaited evidence of
Russia Is Isolated Politically and Technologically as Relations with West Worsen
Colonel General Vladimir Chirkin, the commander of the Russian ground forces, told journalists this week of Moscow’s decision to cancel the contract with the Defense Vehicles division of the Italian
Investigators Harass Serdyukov, While Military Reform Is Stalled
Last November, President Vladimir Putin sacked Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov, replacing him with Sergei Shoigu, a former long-time emergency situations minister (MChS), who was only last May appointed governor of
Putin Activates Anti-American PR Campaign
Moscow politics were dominated last month by the angry reaction of Russian officials to the Magnitsky Act. Adopted by the United States Congress in mid-December, this legislation bars US entry
Putin Tries to Formulate Political Agenda for His New Six-Year Term
Vladimir Putin delivered the annual presidential address to the joint session of parliament on December 12—his first after reelection to the Kremlin last March. The Kremlin was promoting the coming
Serdyukov Has Been Disgraced, but His Reforms Will Continue
A month ago on November 6, President Vladimir Putin sacked Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov, replacing him with Sergei Shoigu, a former long-time emergency situations minister (MChS), who was only last
Fighting Corruption Russian Style
The dismissal of Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov by President Vladimir Putin earlier this month as a result of an investigation of corruption in the defense ministry–controlled holding company “Oboronservis” (see
The Payment of Kickbacks—A Norm in Russia’s Arms Trade
A month ago, during a state visit to Moscow by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, the Russian government officially announced that an “arms trade package” worth $4.2 billion was agreed.
Putin Has Fired His Defense Minister
On November 6, President Vladimir Putin sacked Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov (50), replacing him with Sergei Shoigu (57), who was appointed governor of the Moscow region last May after serving
Defense Spending and Policy Discussions Are Splitting the Russian Elite
Last week, the public standing of one of President Vladimir Putin’s most powerful cohorts—Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov—was seriously undermined when Russia’s Investigation Committee (Slyedstvenny Kommitet Rossye—SKR) publicly accused the defense
Prosecutors Allege Large-Scale Corruption in Defense Ministry
Russia’s Investigation Committee (Slyedstvenny Kommitet Rossye—SKR) spokesman Vladimir Markin stunned Moscow on October 25 by publicly accusing the defense ministry–controlled holding company “Oboronservis” of corruption and of defrauding the federal
While Continuing to Back Damascus, Moscow Tries to Carry on with Ankara
Last week (October 10), the Turkish military scrambled two F-16 jet fighters to intercept a Syrian Air passenger Airbus flying from Moscow to Damascus. The plane landed at Ankara, its
While Increasingly Anti-Western, Russia Needs Foreign Military Technology
Last week, US federal prosecutors announced they have broken up a network of Russian agents that allegedly supplied the Russian military, intelligence agencies and defense industry with smuggled US-made electronic
Russian Policy in Georgia in a State of Flux
The victory by the Georgian Dream (GD) opposition coalition in the parliamentary elections on October 1 has surprised outside observers. According to the latest official results after practically all votes
A National Consensus in Moscow on Pursuing a Revisionist Strategy
In an interview published on September 26 in the official government Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Deputy Prime Minister in charge of armaments Dmitry Rogozin, highly praised President Vladimir Putin’s plans to “reindustrialize
Kremlin Undercuts Obama’s ‘Reset’ Policy by Expelling USAID from Russia
This week it was officially disclosed in Moscow and Washington that during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Vladivostok earlier this month Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told his United
After APEC Summit in Vladivostok, Moscow Declares War on EU
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum summit last week in Vladivostok has been declared to have been a resounding success in Moscow. The Kremlin has been criticized by the Russian
Putin Plans to Rearm Russia Against the West with Western Help
During the mass public protest demonstrations in Moscow that began last December, one of the most popular public slogans has been “Putin—vor [thief]!” This catchphrase unites opposition forces that in
Russian Policy on Iran and Syria in State of Disarray
Last month, the Russia Navy announced it was assembling a task force in the Mediterranean: one frigate, two corvettes, five landing craft with Marines on board, two rescue tugs and
Putin Confirms the Invasion of Georgia Was Preplanned
The fourth anniversary of the August 2008 Russo-Georgian war has been marked by a seemingly open spat between the supporters of President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. In
Putin Pledges Billions to Build a Blue-Water Navy
On July 29, the Russian Navy celebrated with public pomp its founding by Tsar Peter the Great 316 years ago. In an interview with RIA Novosti on July 27 that
Pro-Iranian Lobby Attempts to Revive Russia’s Sale of S-300 Missiles to Iran
This month, the government agency that oversees Russia’s arms exports and imports – the Federal Service on Military-Technical Cooperation (Federalnaya Sluzhba Voyenno-Tecknicheskogo Sotrudnichestva or FSVTS) – confirmed that Iran is
The Ruling Elite Is United in Opposing a Presumed Western Threat
Western governments continue to try to “shift” President Vladimir Putin and the Russian government on the crisis in Syria to allow the passage of a UN Security Council resolution to
Moscow Ready for a Confrontation with the West Over Syria
On July 9, speaking to Russian reporters at an air show near London, Vyacheslav Dzirkaln, a deputy director of Russia’s Federal Military-Technical Cooperation Service (FSVTS), which supervises the arms trade,
The West Attempts to Shift Russia on Syria
During weekend talks in Geneva about Syria, Western diplomats made an effort once again to enlist Moscow’s help in removing President Bashar al-Assad. Western attempts to shift Russia on Syria
The Failure of Military Reform in Russia
This week, Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov clashed with Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, publicly humiliating the former president. During a press-covered meeting of key cabinet ministers in a Soviet-built military residential
The Internal Political Crisis Increasingly Influences Putin’s Foreign Policy
The Moscow Center of Strategic Studies (CSS) – an influential think tank led by well-known economist, former parliamentarian and first deputy economics minister in Vladimir Putin’s first government, Mikhail Dmitriev
The Russian Military Prepares Expeditionary Forces, Allegedly for Deployment to Syria
Sources in the Russian Defense Ministry told Nezavisimaya Gazeta that troops are being prepared for combat deployment “outside the borders of Russia, possibly in Syria.” The 76th Pskov airborne division,
Continued Public Anti-Putin Protests in Moscow Influence Political Decision-Making
Russia’s rulers seem confused on how to stop the continued public anti-Vladimir Putin protests in Moscow, shifting from aggressive intimidation and use of force to attempts to disorient and pacify
US Ambassador in Russia Under Fire, Again
US ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul – former director for Russia and Eurasia on the US National Security Council, considered the architect of President Barack Obama’s “reset policy” of improved
Putin’s New Cabinet: A Team of Technocrats and Loyalists
The relatively lengthy process of forming a ruling cabinet and administration after Vladimir Putin’s inauguration on May 7, and the endorsement of Dmitry Medvedev as Prime Minister on May 8,
Police and Authorities Struggle to Control Unrest in Moscow
The forming of the new cabinet and presidential administration in Moscow after the inauguration of Vladimir Putin for a third six-year term as president on May 7, seems to have
Police Brutality Reactivates the Anti-Putin Movement in Moscow
President Vladimir Putin proceeded smoothly from inauguration on May 7 to overseeing a massive Soviet-style military parade on Red Square on May 9. Putin’s choice as Prime Minister, former president
Consumer Spending Spree Dampens Down Russia’s Pro-Democracy Movement
Vladimir Putin (59) has this week chaired his last meeting of the Russian government as Prime Minister. His presidential inauguration for a third six-year term is pending on May 7.
Russian Permanent Naval Deployment Resumed off Syria
Since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began in Syria more than a year ago, Western and Arab diplomats and journalists continue to ask the same question: When will Moscow
Putin Promises Russians a Great Future…While the Opposition Protests
President-elect Vladimir Putin is still legally Prime Minister until his inauguration on May 7. As Prime Minister, Putin is required to present to the Duma (the lower house of parliament)
The Russian Military Has an Action Plan Involving Georgia if Iran Is Attacked
Russian Defense Ministry sources told the semiofficial news agency Interfax that action plans are being finalized to react to an armed conflict involving Iran and its nuclear program. The General
Draconian Legislation Rushed in to Boost the Draft for the Russian Military
The Russian military is in serious trouble – its ranks are shrinking rapidly. Russia’s birthrate is low, the population is shrinking and with it the number of available conscripts, while
Moscow Sees Military Threats from All Directions
The outgoing president, Dmitry Medvedev, chaired this week a session of the “expanded Collegium of the Defense Ministry” – a gathering of the nation’s entire top brass. Medvedev and Anatoly
The Post-Electoral Powerfight in Moscow
The national election season is over in Russia. On May 7, President-elect Vladimir Putin will be inaugurated and a new administration must be installed in the Kremlin together with a
The Election Season Is Over in Russia and the Time for Repression Has Come
On March 4, Vladimir Putin won a crushing electoral victory and ensured a third six-year term in the Kremlin as Russia’s president. The Central Election Commission (CEC) published the final
Massive Repression of the Prodemocracy Opposition May Begin Next Week
In the last days before his seemingly inevitable reelection for a third 6-year term as president on March 4, Vladimir Putin aggressively attacked internal and external enemies. In the last
Putin Declares His Defense Agenda for the Next Decade
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, running for a third presidential term on March 4, has been publishing his election platform bit by bit as lengthy articles in different Moscow daily newspapers.
Spending Cuts and Tax Increases Pending After the Presidential Election
The First Deputy Defense Minister and Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Army-General Nikolai Makarov, during a press conference this week lambasted the Russian defense industry, which
Putin’s Corrupt Ruling Elite Fear the Fate of Arab Dictatorships
As Western nations and the Arab League are pressing a draft United Nations Security Council resolution that seeks to ease President Bashar al-Assad out of power and condemn the regime
Acute Anti-Americanism Is Now Official Policy in Moscow
As the new American ambassador – Michael McFaul – arrived in Moscow, the policy of improving Russo-US relations, known as “reset,” began to unravel. McFaul, as director for Russia and
Russia’s Former Permanent Representative to NATO Appointed As Deputy Prime Minister
In late December 2011, when Russian politicians and the public were preparing to spend almost two weeks off duty celebrating the New Year, President Dmitry Medvedev appointed the flamboyant anti-Western
Russian Capability to Project Influence Dwindles
On January 8, a Russian aircraft carrier group led by the Admiral Kuznetsov made a short visit to the Syrian port of Tartus, where Russia has maintained a small naval
Under Political Pressure, Putin Moves His Powerbase to the Kremlin
A massive pro-democracy movement has emerged in Russia, bringing together all shades of political opposition from leftist Marxists to pro-Nazi nationalists. Still, the backbone of the protest rallies on December
As Putin Reshuffles His Cronies, the Checkered Opposition Squabbles
The December 10 demonstration, gathered on Bolotnaya Square in downtown Moscow to protest massive election fraud during the December 4 Duma elections, was massive: the official count by state police
Authorities Move Troops and Hire Thugs to Suppress Pro-democracy Activists In Moscow
The ruling United Russia (UR) lost votes in the December 4 Duma elections compared to the landslide in the previous national poll in December 2007, but official results still gave
The Kremlin Prepares to Massively Falsify Duma Election Results
On November 27, one week before the parliamentary Duma elections in Russia, a congress of the ruling United Russia party unanimously endorsed Prime Minister and former President Vladimir Putin, as
Voters Will Pay For a Military Buildup After Electing Putin
Defense and security spending is skyrocketing in Russia. Paychecks for defense and interior ministry personnel will increase 2.5 to 3 times from January 2012, while Federal Security Service (FSB) and
Russia Rejects WTO-Iran Linkage
Last week, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, in charge of relations with the US, arms control, ballistic missile defense (BMD) and proliferation, told Jamestown that US-Russian relations are not
Military Reform In Russia Bypasses Military Intelligence
This week Russia’s military intelligence service (Glavnoye Razvedyvatelnoye Upravleniye –GRU) celebrated its official annual holiday – Military Spy Day (Dyen Voyennogo Razvedchyka). This professional holiday was established in October 2000
The Kremlin Struggles to Contain Ethnic Hatred
On November 4, Russia’s official National Unity Day holiday, Russian nationalists of differing creeds (about 40 grassroots nationalistic organizations in total) have been allowed by the authorities to stage their
The Great Russian People’s Jamahiriya
Last May, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin announced the formation of an All-Russia People’s Front (Obzherossiysky Narodni Front – ONF) – an amalgamation of masses of different regional and national public
Russia Tires of the Kalashnikov Rifle
The Russian defense ministry and defense industry have continued to trade insults as they quarrel over how to spend increased budget allocations earmarked to rearm the military with modern weapons.
Putin Prioritizes Rebuilding the Lost Empire
This week, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin – the ruling United Russia party’s official candidate for reelection as president for a third six-year term next March – published a major policy
Life-Long Rule For a Self-Appointed Tsar
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin decided to terminate the pretense of being officially second in command in Russia and announced that he will replace President Dmitry Medvedev in the Kremlin. At
High Profile Disasters In Russia: Transport Minister Retains His Post
This week, Russia’s long serving Transport Minister Igor Levitin was called to answer angry questions in the Duma after a series of tragic plane crashes and a riverboat sinking last
Russia Begins Tsentr 2011 Military Exercises
This week Army-General Nikolai Makarov, the Chief of the Russian General Staff told journalists in Moscow that the beginning of the Tsentr 2011 military exercises with Russian and Central Asian
The Fall of Gaddafi Angers Many In Moscow
The six month long civil war in Libya and the NATO air campaign to oust Colonel Muammar Gaddafi has created division within the ruling class in Moscow and aggravated anti-Western
The Uphill Task of Rearming the Russian Military
This week a major air show, MAKS-2011, opened near Moscow. The first MAKS air show was in 1993, and has since been held biannually, primarily to demonstrate Russia’s capability to
Moscow Believes It Has Successfully Isolated Georgia
On August 8 – the third anniversary of the beginning of the short-lived armed conflict with Georgia – the Kremlin press service announced that President Dmitry Medvedev had sent to
Collapse In Russian Military Morale Undermines Effectiveness
Massive corruption and misappropriation of government funds is a widespread ill in Russia that no one seems to know how to correct. Chief Military Prosecutor, Sergei Fridinsky, has frequently spoken
Pouring Money Fails to Redress Defense Industry Ills
The present Russian constitution, adopted in 1993, was specifically tailored to give the president (at the time – the late Boris Yeltsin) immense and unbalanced power in anticipation that this
Russian Arms: Bad Quality and Overpriced
The Russian defense industry is in crisis; its officials blame the defense ministry for withholding funds, while Defense Minister Anatoliy Serdyukov in turn accuses arms producers of making weapons of
Medvedev Increasingly Marginalized In the Face of Domestic Challenges
Russia has been hit by a number of manmade disasters. The worst is the sinking on July 10, of an old Bulgaria riverboat on the Volga River in Tatarstan. The
Solomonov Attacks Defense Ministry for Holding Back Funds
On July 6, Dmitry Medvedev was chairing a routine video-link conference from his country residence near Moscow with ministers and governors about the implementation of presidential initiatives to build kindergartens,
The Russian Sea-Based Deterrent Development Seems On Track
This week, the newest Russian naval Bulava R-30 3M30 (SS-NX-30) sea-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) was successfully launched for the first time from a brand-new Borei-class (project 955) nuclear strategic submarine
The Majority of Russians Feel Disfranchised
Last week at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, President Dmitry Medvedev outlined an ambitious program of political and economic reform. Medvedev touted an end of government manipulation of the
SCO Fails to Turn Into an “Eastern NATO”
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) comprising China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan was officially created on June 15, 2001. At the time the Taliban ruled Afghanistan, while the secular
Moscow’s BMD Cooperation Demands Do Not Seem Serious
This week in Brussels, during a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council (NRC), Russian Defense Minister Anatoliy Serdyukov discussed with his Western counterparts the seemingly intractable problem of Moscow’s opposition to
Putin Moves Russia From Authoritarianism to Totalitarianism
A group of 14 acclaimed Russian intellectuals, including human rights activists, artists, film directors, writers and aides of the late President Boris Yeltsin have published an open statement condemning the
Russians Oppose Any Ban on Arms Exports to Syria
On May 12, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) detained the Israeli military attaché in Moscow, Col. Vadim Leiderman, accused him of spying and expelled him within 48 hours. Leiderman, a
Moscow’s Political Observers Declare Medvedev Unqualified to Lead Russia
After serving as Russia’s figurehead president for more than three years, on May 18, Dmitry Medvedev held his first major press conference involving more than 800 journalists (some 500 Russian
Russia’s Defense Industry Faces Deep Crisis
More than 20,000 servicemen marched on Red Square in Moscow on May 9, to commemorate victory in the Great Patriot War—9,000 more than on the same day in 2010. The
Russia sees vindication of its killing practices in the death of Osama bin Laden
Russian officials reacted favorably to the killing of the al-Qaeda terrorist network leader Osama bin Laden by SEAL commandos during a raid of a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. The Kremlin
Putin’s “Modernization” Avoids Reforming Political Institutions
In an annual government report to the Duma on April 20 that lasted together with the Q&A more than four hours, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin outlined his economic and political
The Putin-Medvedev Ruling Tandem Disintegrates
Russia’s tandem rulers – President Dmitry Medvedev and former president and current Prime Minister Vladimir Putin – continue to profess their friendship, but these statements are increasingly unconvincing as the
Russian Conscript System Begins to Collapse
Speaking in the Kremlin this week to the top brass of the Russian military, security, law enforcement and other so called “power structures” President Dmitry Medvedev pledged to fully support
No Good Men, Weapons or Understanding of Modern Warfare in Russia
On March 18, speaking in the presence of President Dmitry Medvedev at the expanded session of the Russian defense ministry collegium, Defense Minister Anatoliy Serdyukov was upbeat about military reform
Putin and Medvedev Lead Opposing Coalitions in the Russian Elite
President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin publicly clashed over Russia’s response to the Western-led military action in Libya. This is the first major open rift in the tandem
Russian Military Considers the United States its Main Enemy in the Far East
Moscow has been hoping that the earthquake and tsunami disaster that hit Japan on March 11, may help overcome the acute crisis in its relations with Tokyo over the South
Biden’s Horse-Trading Mission in Moscow
US Vice President Joe Biden’s visit to Moscow has been planned primarily as a promotion of business ties and Western support for President Dmitry Medvedev’s announced modernization efforts. “We see
Russia’s GLONASS Positioning System Cannot Work Properly
Continued technical mishaps are undermining Russia’s efforts to modernize its military and defense industry. The Russian defense industry is in deep crisis while efforts to import Western technology, spearheaded by
Russian Rulers Cannot Rely On The Military During a Crisis
Popular uprisings rocking the Middle East are a cause for concern in Moscow, in particular, as the unrest may disrupt arms trade worth tens of billions of dollars. In 2010,
Russian Military Build-up in the Pacific May Not be Aimed at Japan
Russia seems to have found a place to deploy its two most modern French-built assault helicopter-carrying ships – in the Far East to help defend the Kurile Islands. The first
The US Threat Dominates Russian Defense Spending and Foreign Policy Decisions
Verbal confrontation between Moscow and Washington has decreased somewhat as during the 47th International Security Conference in Munich last week. During the conference, Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, and the
Slashed Russian Officers Re-called to Military Service and Promised Double Pay
This week a special meeting chaired by President, Dmitry Medvedev, with Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin, and the entire top Russian leadership in attendance made a final decision to enact a
Russia Faces Multiple Terrorist Threats
The Domodedovo airport bombing on January 24, that left 35 dead, including the alleged suicide bomber and more than 100 injured – Russians and foreigners – has overshadowed other important
Russia Faces Multiple Terrorist Threats
The Domodedovo airport bombing on January 24, that left 35 dead, including the alleged suicide bomber and more than 100 injured – Russians and foreigners – has overshadowed other important
Russia’s Five-Battalion-Strong Army
Russian military reform, initiated in the fall of 2008 after the short war with Georgia in August of the same year, has reached a critical junction: the old military machine
Moscow Discusses the Future Development of ICBM’s
The ruling United Russia faction has revealed in the Duma the amendments it will attach to the new START III arms control treaty. The ratification draft will contain several points
Moscow Inspired by the US Senate START Ratification
The Kremlin remained uncertain about whether US President, Barack Obama, would manage to push through the lame-duck Senate session the ratification of the new START III. There was fear in
Putin and Medvedev Regime Challenged by Nationalist Football Fans
Rioting by nationalist youths and football fans on December 11, in Moscow was followed by fresh outbreaks of violence on December 15. Russian and non-Russian rioters known in Russia as
Putin and Medvedev Regime Challenged by Nationalist Football Fans
Rioting by nationalist youths and football fans on December 11, in Moscow was followed by fresh outbreaks of violence on December 15. Russian and non-Russian rioters known in Russia as
Moscow Attempts to Convince US and NATO it is Ready for a Nuclear Arms Race
Russia has been long working to build an independent GPS (GLObal’'naya NAvigatsionnaya Sputnikovaya Sistema –GLONASS) system. Yet, on December 5, the program received a blow as 3 new GLONASS-M satellites
Putin and Medvedev Raise the Prospect of a New Arms Race
This week’s annual national address by President, Dmitry Medvedev, to a joint session of parliament sitting in the Kremlin together with the entire senior ruling elite, amazed the press in
Russian “Illegal” Spies in the US Were Betrayed by a Double Agent
The group of ten Russian spies arrested last June in the US by the FBI and later deported to Russia in a spy exchange was revealed by Moscow last week
Another Russian Journalist Attacked with Impunity
Last week a Kommersant reporter, Oleg Kashin (30), was attacked and severely beaten by two men near his rented apartment in the center of Moscow. The attack was filmed by
The Kurile Islands: a Key to Russia’s Maritime Nuclear Strategy
This week Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev, after completing a state visit to Vietnam, landed on the southern Kurile Island of Kunashir (Japanese name –Kunashiri) which has been under Russian rule
Russia is Demanding One-Sided Western Concessions
A number of British newspapers have reported from Brussels quoting NATO sources that “Russia has agreed to return to the war in Afghanistan at the request of Western states.” A
Russian Government Denies Reports of Serdyukov’s Dismissal
A tabloid Moscow weekly reported that Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin, has ordered Defense Minister, Anatoliy Serdyukov’s resignation (Argumenti Nedeli, October 20). High-level sources in the Russian government are reported to
Russia Procures Western Technology, While Struggling to Manufacture Modern Weapons
The Chairman of the Duma Defense Committee, Viktor Zavarzin, disclosed last week some details of previously secret future defense budget procurement plans. Procurement expenditure on new weapons will grow dramatically
NATO’s Charm Offensive Towards Russia Falls on Deaf Ears
NATO officials have recently once again attempted to bridge differences with Russia in the run-up to the November NATO summit in Lisbon. President, Dmitry Medvedev, was invited to Lisbon for
Putin Stays In The Shadows As Medvedev Ousts Luzhkov
The unceremonious ousting of veteran Moscow Mayor, Yuri Luzhkov, by President Dmitry Medvedev seemingly ended an acute political standoff between the city and the Kremlin (EDM, September 15, 21, 28).
Medvedev Scolds Defense Industry And Pledges Huge Spending
This week President Dmitry Medvedev chaired a special session of the Commission of Modernization and Technological Development of the Russian Economy, attended by ministers, administration officials, defense industry chiefs and
Luzhkov Fearlessly Fights Back Against Kremlin Attacks
As Moscow’s mayor since 1992, one of founders of the ruling United Russia party and one of its collective co-leaders, Yuri Luzhkov, 73, has become the target of furious public
Russian Authorities Distribute Blame for the Terrorist Attack
Twin suicide bombings approximately 50 minutes apart hit the Moscow metro on March 29, during the morning rush hour, detonating as trains arrived at busy stations, killing 39 people and
Russia Suspends Recruiting Cadets in Military Academies
The Russian defense ministry has announced that it will fully suspend the recruitment of new cadets for any of its military academies or schools for at least two years. The
Russian Air Force Chief Confirms S-300 Deployment in Abkhazia
The choking smog and smoke from wildfires left Moscow on August 10, but may return at the weekend, as weather forecasters predict a change in the wind direction from the
Medvedev Disciplines Top Naval Commanders for Negligence
A thick haze of acrid and choking smoke from wildfires mixed with car engine emissions blankets Moscow. A record heat wave has engulfed most of European Russia for more than
Medvedev Confirms Conscript Shortages
Russia’s attempts to build a modern military have run into a roadblock: there are not enough conscripts to fill the ranks. In the fall of 2008, the Russian military was
Russia Will Spend 20 Trillion Rubles on New Weapons
The new First Deputy Defense Minister, Colonel-General Vladimir Popovkin (retired), who is in charge of rearming the Russian military, told journalists at the Farnborough international air show, in the UK,
Russia Seeks to Impose New ABM Treaty on the US by Developing BMD
This week, the new First Deputy Defense Minister, Colonel-General Vladimir Popovkin (Retired), described in an interview in the official government newspaper, Rossiyskaya Gazeta, his priorities in reforming the defense ministry
Igor Sutyagin’s Imminent Release
The ten alleged Russian spies arrested in the US by the FBI that had used falsified identities to infiltrate the country embarrassed Moscow and became an irritant in the process
Spying: an Occupational Hazard in East-West Relations
A group of ten alleged Russian spies have been arrested in the US by the FBI and another individual in Cyprus in response to an American request. The alleged spies
Rearmament Declared the Main Issue in Russian Military Reform
A reshuffle of top military personnel was announced this week in Moscow. Deputy Defense Minister and Chief of Armaments, Colonel-General (retired) Vladimir Popovkin (52), was promoted to First Deputy Defense
Moscow Caught Unprepared by the Carnage in the Ferghana Valley
The outbreak of ethnic violence in southern Kyrgyzstan in the cities of Osh and Jalalabad between Kyrgyz and Uzbeks has left, according to the latest official figures, some 200 dead,
Russia Struggles to Modernize its Military
Russia’s attempts to rearm and modernize its military have run out of money as its defense industry is ailing. Last month President, Dmitry Medvedev, announced plans to spend 13 trillion
Moscow Objects to Patriots in Poland
Last week US-Russian relations were dominated by the arrival and deployment of US soldiers with Patriot missiles in Poland near the Russian border. The Patriot deployment was agreed between Warsaw
Plans for Defense Industry Westernization Meet Resistance
A meeting this week in the Kremlin to discuss defense spending and procurement plans, chaired by President Dmitry Medvedev and attended by key ministers, defense, security chiefs and Prime Minister
Sergei Ivanov Seeks Deals in Washington
The Russian authorities are seeking a major détente with the West. A draft of a revised foreign policy doctrine was leaked and extracts published by Russky Newsweek in Moscow this
Propaganda Overwhelms Russian Society
In Soviet times grandiose displays of military might during parades on Red Square in the center of Moscow were mostly designed to impress western Cold War adversaries. The last Soviet
Russian Military Personnel Crisis: Medvedev and the General Staff Join the Fray
It has been officially acknowledged that the Russian military faces a serious personnel crisis: the federal program to hire more contract soldiers has failed and their number will be reduced
Personnel Problems Impact on Russian Military Reform
Last week, during a meeting with human rights activists from the committee of soldier’s mothers as well as members of the Kremlin-approved public chamber, Defense Minister, Anatoliy Serdyukov, announced plans
Jubilant Medvedev Praises Yanukovych and Threatens Lukashenka
Yesterday, Moscow achieved one of its most important long-term strategic goals –to secure a continued military presence in Ukraine by keeping its base in Sevastopol, Crimea. During a summit in
Moscow Opens the Prospect of an Iranian Arms Embargo
After the signing of the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START-3) in the Czech capital Prague with President, Barack Obama, last week, Dmitry Medvedev arrived in Washington for the two-day
Moscow Signs the Nuclear Arms Treaty: Raising Hope for Additional Progress
Today in the Czech capital Prague, Presidents, Barack Obama, and Dmitry Medvedev, signed a new treaty to replace the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) that expired last December. Within
Russian Authorities Distribute Blame for the Terrorist Attack
Twin suicide bombings approximately 50 minutes apart hit the Moscow metro on March 29, during the morning rush hour, detonating as trains arrived at busy stations, killing 39 people and
Putin Outlines Critical Issues in US-Russian Relations
During last week’s visit to Moscow by US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, it was announced that the text of the START follow-on nuclear arms reduction treaty has almost been
Moscow Exploits TV Invasion Hoax to Isolate Georgia
On March 13, the pro-government, Imedi TV broadcasted what appeared to be a documentary report about a new Russian invasion that led to President Mikheil Saakashvili’s assassination. The program caused
Medvedev Acknowledges Problems in the “New Look” Armed Forces
Last week, President Dmitry Medvedev addressed a gathering of the Russian top brass in Moscow – the so called “extended defense ministry collegium.” Medvedev was upbeat about the military reform
France Fears the Loss of Mistral Sale
President Dmitry Medvedev’s state visit to Paris was dominated by talks on Iran and Russian aspirations to purchase up to four French Mistral-class advanced amphibious helicopter-carrier warships. French President, Nicolas
Moscow Finds US Non-Strategic BMD Plans Threatening
Russian officials – the Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and the Chief of the General Staff, First Deputy Defense Minister Army-General Nikolai Makarov – have told journalists that a nuclear arms
Russia Struggles to Establish a Viable Military Base in Abkhazia
This week, the Abkhaz separatist leader, Sergei Bagapsh, arrived in Moscow to sign a number of deals with President Dmitry Medvedev on military, logistical, financial and economic cooperation. The Russian
Military Doctrine Consolidates Xenophobia of the Russian Elites
The constitution of the new democratic Russia adopted in 1993 contains a special clause that the nation must have a public military doctrine to mark the end of the time
Russian Protests Grow as Economic Hardships Persist
The economic downturn in Russia seems to have transmuted into growing political discontent within the populace and the governing structures. Since last summer, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has been proclaiming
Moscow Offers a Zero-Sum Trade-off on Contentious Issues
This week, the First Deputy Defense Minister and Chief of the General Staff Army-General Nikolai Makarov attended a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council (NRC) in Brussels and accepted a framework
Stationing of Patriot Missiles Near Russian Border in Poland Threatens US-Russia Relations
It has been reported from Warsaw that a U.S. military base along with a battery of PAC2 and PAC3 Patriot missiles will be deployed next April in MorÄ…g, a town
START Treaty Not Ready, While Afghan Cooperation is Stalled
Moscow and Washington have failed to complete a strategic nuclear arms control agreement before the end of 2009. This failure may cast a long shadow on other more urgent issues,
The Bulava SLBM and the US-Russian Arms Talks
US-Russian nuclear arms reduction negotiators seem close to concluding a follow up strategic arms reduction treaty (START). The Russian press reports that Washington has agreed to serious concessions and that
Russia Removes Constitutional Constraints on Military Intervention Abroad
Last August, while celebrating the anniversary of the successful invasion of Georgia in August 2008, President Dmitry Medvedev introduced amendments to the 1996 Law on Defense aimed at allowing the
Terrorists Attack the St. Petersburg-Connected Elite
The bombing of the Nevsky Express, en route from Moscow to St. Petersburg, caused a crash that killed 26 people and injured more than one hundred. The alleged blast ruptured
Time Running Out to Achieve New Arms Control Treaty
The Barack Obama administration began nuclear arms control negotiations with Moscow this year, eager for swift progress to help “reset” bilateral relations and achieve progress on more sensitive issues such
Low Combat Readiness in the Russian Armed Forces Lowers Nuclear Threshold
This week the Moscow daily Gazeta published extracts of a leaked defense ministry document describing the results of military training this year –providing a rare opportunity to know firsthand the
Fissures Appear in the Power Vertical in Moscow
Local government elections held on October 11 in 75 regions of Russia were massively rigged by the authorities in favor of the ruling United Russia party. There is, of course,
Medvedev Chastises the Russian Defense Industry
Last month, the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev visited the large-scale military exercises Zapad 2009 held in Russia’s Baltic enclave of Kaliningrad and in Belarus. In Kaliningrad, Medvedev observed a landing
Tehran on the Brink of Procuring S-300 Missiles
The Russian-Iranian deal on advanced S-300 long-range anti-aircraft missiles may go ahead despite U.S. and Israeli objections. This week the Interfax news agency quoted an unnamed government source confirming that
Massive Vote-Rigging Exposed in Russia
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton traveled to Moscow this week in an effort to promote the “reset” in Russian-American relations, to secure collaboration on Afghanistan, Iran and North Korea,
Moscow Rejects Accusations of Assisting Iran’s Nuclear Weapons Program
The Russian press has picked up a story first report in the Sunday Times from October 4, quoting Russian and Israeli sources, that the Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu had
Danger Recedes of New Conflict in the South Caucasus
This week in an unusual demonstration of solidarity, the authorities in Tbilisi and Moscow jointly welcomed the E.U.-sponsored report on the origins of the August 2008 Russian-Georgian war, compiled by
Military Reform Raises the Specter of a Coup
This week Novaya Gazeta published transcripts of telephone conversations between the commander of the airborne troops (Vozdushno Desantnye Voyska or VDV) two star General Vladimir Shamanov, his son Yuri, VDV
Venezuela’s Multibillion Dollar Abkhazia and South Ossetia Recognition Fee
Last week Hugo Chavez, the flamboyant leftist President of Venezuela, while meeting in Moscow with President Dmitry Medvedev, announced the recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia -the
The Arctic Sea Saga Continues
The Arctic Sea, a Malta registered ship with a Russian crew, carrying a cargo of timber worth 2 million Euros from Finland to Algeria, was apparently hijacked on July 24
Russian Manipulation of History: “the Art of Interpretation”
To mark the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact by Russia (USSR) and Nazi Germany on August 23, 1939, the Foreign Intelligence Service (Sluzba Vneshnei Rzvedki or
Russian Military Weakness Could Delay Conflict with Ukraine
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has publicly attacked his Ukrainian counterpart Victor Yushchenko and called his administration's policies deliberately anti-Russian. In an open letter and in a video posting on his
Nuclear Submarines Deployed to Deter U.S. Interference in Russia’s Confrontation with Georgia
As the anniversary of the Russian invasion of Georgia in August 2008 approaches, the situation on the ceasefire line is becoming increasingly tense. Russia and its South Ossetian allies accuse
Russian Armed Forces Develop an “Information Pipeline”
From June 29 to July 6, the Russian military staged massive Kavkaz 2009 exercises involving air force, army and naval units. During Kavkaz-2009, forces were deployed on Georgia's borders and
The Bulava Designer Resigns
Last week the newest Russian Navy Bulava-30 (SS-NX-30) sea-based intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) disintegrated 28 seconds after launch. The latest crash came on top of a long string of unsuccessful
The Russian Military Concentration in the Caucasus
After visiting breakaway South Ossetia on July 13 and Russian troops based deep inside Georgia, President Dmitry Medvedev traveled to Novorossiysk to inspect Russia's main deepwater Black Sea port and
Obama Praised in Moscow for Moderation
President Barack Obama's administration wanted to make the Moscow summit a success, and their Russian counterparts, though more skeptical, decided to follow this approach. Positive speeches were made and a
Before the Summit, the U.S. Forgives Russia for Invading Georgia
On Monday July 6, President Barack Obama is expected in Moscow for a summit to discuss nuclear arms control, Iran, Afghanistan the post-Soviet space and other issues. It has been
U.S.-Russia Moscow Summit Presents Last Opportunity to Avoid War in Georgia
During the summit between presidents Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev in London on April 1, it was decided in the words of Obama, "to prepare by the end of this
Russian Military Chief Accuses Georgia of Preparing Aggression
The top Russian military commander, the Chief of the General Staff and First Deputy Defense Minister Army-General Nikolai Makarov during the Paris air show this week said: "Georgia is saber-rattling
Russian Military Weakness Increases Importance of Strategic Nuclear Forces
On June 5 the Russian Chief of the General Staff and First Deputy Defense Minister Army-General Nikolai Makarov gave an important press conference. Makarov began with a two hour statement
Moscow Struggling to Transform CSTO into a “Russian NATO”
After the war with Georgia last August, Moscow has attempted to transform the Russian-dominated seven-member Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) - a loose alliance that has served mostly as a
Russia Skeptical on Imposing Sanctions Against North Korea
Russia along with the rest of the international community strongly condemned the latest North Korean underground nuclear test this week. The Russian U.N. permanent representative Vitaly Churkin, censured North Korea
Medvedev Forms a Commission to Protect Russian History
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has recently made public comments about "the falsifiers of history," attacking the country and its heritage. This was a serious political statement of strategic importance -
“Falsifiers of History” Targeted by the Kremlin
In a special video posting on his official Kremlin blog President Dmitry Medvedev emphasized that the World War II Victory-Day on May 9 is an "all-Russian celebration, uniting the entire
Risk Increasing of Russian Intervention in Georgia
The situation in Georgia appears to be deteriorating rapidly. Last month the Georgian opposition parties began street protests in an effort to force President Mikhail Saakashvili to resign. Since April
Military Reform in Russia Plows Ahead
It was announced only last week that President Dmitry Medvedev signed an order dismissing four star General Valentin Korabelnikov -the all-powerful chief of military intelligence, the Main Intelligence Directorate or
Medvedev Tells the West to Keep Out of Georgia
Russia has reacted angrily to the forthcoming NATO-led Partnership for Peace (PfP) exercises in Georgia. President Dmitry Medvedev called the decision to hold the exercises "shortsighted and not worthy of
Russian Forces Deploying for Possible Action in Georgia
Last week Georgian opposition parties prepared to mount street protests to force President Mikhail Saakashvili to resign, while Russian forces began military exercises in the Caucasus that might be a
Russia Will Retain as Many Nuclear Weapons as Possible
On April 5 President Barack Obama in his speech in Prague, outlined his vision of a nuclear-free world: "This goal will not be reached quickly -perhaps not in my lifetime.
Obama and Medvedev Press the “Reset” Button on Arms Control
On April 1 the first face-to-face meeting of presidents Barrack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev took place before the G20 summit in London. In an official joint statement after their meeting
Russia’s Defense Modernization Without a Doctrine
President Dmitry Medvedev chaired a Security Council meeting this week in the Kremlin, with Russia's de facto ruler, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, present, to consider a specific publicly stated agenda:
Medvedev Publicly Supports Serdyukov
Since 2000 the Russian defense budget has grown manifold, as did the country's oil wealth. Last fall a three-year (2009-2011) budget was approved that envisaged hikes in defense spending (see
Wartime Approaching in the Caucasus
It is early springtime and in the mountain passes separating Georgia from Russia, there is snowfall one day and wet snow or rain the next. Avalanches and mudslides caused by
Washington’s Overtures Fail to Impress Moscow
President Barak Obama's administration has been preparing a set of wide-ranging initiatives to "reset" U.S.-Russian relations. Nuclear arms control talks are planned to resume; NATO officials have told reporters that
Tensions Increase in the Gulf over Iranian Nuclear Projects
This week Sergei Kiriyenko, the chief of Russia's Federal Atomic Energy Agency (Rosatom), went to the Persian Gulf port of Bushehr to announce that Russia had completed construction of Iran's
The Frozen S-300 Missiles Deal: A Signal to Obama or a Deal with Israel?
Iranian Defense Minister General Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar visited Moscow this week to discus the purchase of sensitive weapons systems, the antiaircraft S-300PMU-1 missiles in particular. According to the daily Kommersant, the
Russia’s Coming War with Georgia
Six months after the French-brokered agreement ended the Russo-Georgia war on August 12, 2008 the ceasefire continues to be fragile with constant incidents that both sides describe as "provocations." Last
A CSTO Rapid-Reaction Force Created as a NATO Counterweight
On February 4 the presidents of the Russian-dominated, seven-member Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) gathered in Moscow to sign an agreement to create a joint rapid-reaction force. In recent years
Moscow Sends the West Friendly Signals While Relations with Georgia Worsen
On January 28 Interfax news agency quoted an unnamed official in the Russian Defense Ministry that plans to deploy Iskander SS-26 missiles in the Kaliningrad region, which borders NATO member
The Russian Security Services—The Prime Murder Suspect
On Monday, January 19, at around 3:00 P.M., a Novaya Gazeta reporter Anastasiya Baburova, 25, and a prominent human rights lawyer Stanislav Markelov, 34, were shot in the head in
A Restart of U.S.-Russian Relations
During a confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, President-elect Barack Obama's choice for secretary of state, Hillary Rodham Clinton, criticized the outgoing Bush administration for having downgraded the
The Middle East—A Bridge Too Far for Moscow Today
During the Cold War, the Middle East was the theater of East-West confrontation, of proxy wars in which Moscow and Washington battled for influence in this strategic region. Today in
A Military Reform That Does Not Seem to Satisfy Anyone
Last October Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov revealed drastic plans to reform and cut the Russian military (see EDM, October 16). Since then, defense experts, the public, and thousands of officers
Little Room for Compromise over Missile Defense
Last minute attempts by the outgoing U.S. administration to reach some understanding with Moscow on outstanding arms-control issues have failed. This week RIA-Novosti quoted “a high-ranking source” in the Defense
Russia Further Curtails Media and Religious Freedom
President Dmitry Medvedev has been vocally promoting legal reform and the idea of press freedom in Russia. This week at an All-Russian Congress of Judges in Moscow, Medvedev once again
Russia Insists Ambitious Plans for Developing Far East Are Immune to Crisis
Russia's top officials insisted that the country's plans to develop the Far Eastern regions remained unaffected by the global economic downturn. The crisis will not force Russia to abandon its
Russia’s Radical Military Reform in Progress
Russia's Radical Military Reform in Progress Russia's top military commander, First Deputy Defense Minister and Chief of General Staff General Nikolai Makarov told journalists that the Russian army structure was
A Return of Putin to the Kremlin to Save the Nation?
President Dmitry Medvedev's address to the Federal Assembly had two principal political surprises, one internal and one external. Medvedev announced that the present Russian constitution, adapted by referendum in December
Little Hope in Moscow for a Breakthrough in Relations with U.S.
There seems to be a serious desire in Washington to try to improve faltering relations with Moscow, which were strained by the Russian invasion of Georgia in August. It is
GEORGIAN OFFICIALS ADMIT THEY MISREAD RUSSIAN INTENTIONS
The State Duma unanimously ratified treaties with the Georgian breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia that will formalize military, diplomatic, and economic ties and allow Moscow to deploy thousands
OFFICIALS WARN OF A POSSIBLE RUSSIA-GEORGIA WAR IN THE FUTURE
The withdrawal of Russian soldiers two weeks ago from the so-called "buffer security zones" around Georgia’s breakaway territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia did not stabilize the situation. The buffer
A RADICAL MILITARY REFORM PLAN
After a meeting of Russia's top brass this week, Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov disclosed drastic plans to reform and cut the Russian military. The executive decision to begin the reform
THE FINANCIAL CRISIS MAY CURTAIL KREMLIN PLANS FOR MODERNIZING ARMED FORCES
On September 15 President Dmitry Medvedev announced ambitious plans to rearm and modernize Russia’s armed forces. Medvedev announced that by 2020 Russia had to guarantee continued nuclear deterrence as well
MEDVEDEV’S PLANS FOR MILITARY REARMAMENT
At the end of August President Dmitry Medvedev announced five foreign policy priorities. The first and third points are benign: Russia will "recognize the fundamental principles of international law" and
RUSSIA’S GLOBAL WAR GAMES
This week the Russian armed forces began month-long strategic military exercises called Stability 2008. According to the Defense Ministry, the scenario suggests "a worsening of the situation and an escalation
WILL MORE MONEY HELP BUY MORE MODERN WEAPONS?
The 27,000-strong Georgian military is a 40th the size of the Russian military of over one million. Only several thousand solders from each side were directly involved in the war
MOSCOW EXTENDS CONFRONTATION WITH THE WEST TO THE CARIBBEAN
The Defense Ministry in Moscow announced this week that warships and long-range bombers would be deployed to the Caribbean for joint military exercises with Venezuela in November. Russia's most powerful
FURTHER RUSSIAN MILITARY ACTION IS POSSIBLE
After the EU summit on September 1 in Brussels, French President Nicolas Sarkozy told a press conference, "All of Europe is united" against Moscow's behavior in Georgia. "We can't go
RUSSIA IS READY FOR A MAJOR CONFRONTATION WITH THE WEST
A well-orchestrated surge of nationalistic pride seems to be driving Russia into a major confrontation with the West over the invasion of Georgia. The Russian media is full of brutal
THE RUSSIAN-GEORGIAN WAR WAS PREPLANNED IN MOSCOW
Last week military tension in Georgia's separatist region of South Ossetia escalated into all-out war. The Ossetian separatists were provoking a conflict to give the Russian military a pretext for
OSSETIAN SEPARATISTS ARE PROVOKING A MAJOR RUSSIAN INTERVENTION
Military tension in Georgia's separatist region of South Ossetia has been building up for several months. In June the head of the OSCE Mission to Georgia Teri Hakala told me
RUSSIAN RAILROAD TROOPS COMPLETE MISSION IN ABKHAZIA
On July 30, it was announced that Russian Railroad Troops have completed their mission in breakaway Abkhazia and are withdrawing. A battalion of some 400 men of reportedly unarmed Railroad
RUSSIAN OFFICIALS AND CHAVEZ TALK OF MILITARY BASES IN THE CARIBBEAN
Moscow officials hinted through the media on July 21 that Russian Tu-160 and Tu-95 strategic bombers, armed with nuclear-tipped long-range X-55 cruise missiles, may be deployed on Cuba, as an
RUSSIA IS STRONGER AND MORE AGGRESSIVE
This week President Dmitry Medvedev addressed a meeting of senior Foreign Ministry officials and ambassadors summoned worldwide to unveil a revised foreign policy concept. President Vladimir Putin signed the previous
RUSSIAN TANKS WILL BE EQUIPPED WITH FRENCH IR TV
It was announced this week that two top Russian generals have been ousted: the chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff Alexander Rukshin and the chief of
CHOOSING AN ENEMY, CHOOSING A STRATEGY, CHOOSING A DOCTRINE
Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov announced that the number of servicemen in the armed forces would be decreased from the present 1.13 million to one million by 2013. According to Serdyukov,
THE WEST IS CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT TO DO IN ABKHAZIA
Two explosions were reported on the railroad near Sokhumi, the capital of Georgia’s breakaway region of Abkhazia. The explosions happened near the positions of Russian Railroad Troops who are now
MOSCOW READY FOR MAJOR CONFRONTATIONS WITH PRO-WESTERN GEORGIA AND UKRAINE
In the past Russia strongly protested the expansion of NATO to include Central European states that were Soviet clients and former Warsaw Pact members during the Cold War, as well
MEDVEDEV’S SOFT-SPOKEN HARD-LINE STATEMENTS
Before taking office Russian President Dmitry Medvedev was presumed to be a "liberal," who would somehow modify Vladimir Putin's anti-Western rhetoric and authoritarian ways. Medvedev's statements are indeed somewhat more
SERDYUKOV ASSUMES FULL CONTROL OF THE DEFENSE MINISTRY
Russia's top general, First Deputy Defense Minister and Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Yuri Baluyevsky, has been moved to the Security Council, a body that in
MEDVEDEV CONTINUES HARD LINE ON MISSILE DEFENSE
The main theme of President Dmitry Medvedev’s election campaign was a pledge of “continuity” of the politics of his predecessor Vladimir Putin, who is now the prime minister. The promise
A GEORGIAN CHARM OFFENSIVE IN MOSCOW
In an apparent attempt to defuse a tense diplomatic and military conflict with Russia over the breakaway provinces of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the Georgian government is starting a major
RUSSIAN JOURNALISTS USED AS CHANNEL FOR TBILISI-MOSCOW CONTACTS
Last week Georgia and its breakaway province of Abkhazia were close to a war that would surely have involved Russia. An armed conflict could escalate into an all-out war, engulfing
OLD WEAPONS ON RED SQUARE
On May 5 a dress rehearsal for the military parade to be held on Red Square on May 9 paralyzed traffic for many hours in central Moscow, as tanks and
RUSSIA REINFORCES FORCES IN ABKHAZIA AS A POSSIBILITY OF ARMED CONFLICT LOOMS
On April 29 the Russian Foreign Ministry accused Georgia of concentrating forces and weapons in the upper part of the Kodori Gorge in Abkhazia. An official foreign ministry communiqué stated,
RUSSIA OFFERS GEORGIA A STICK AND A CARROT
On Sunday, April 20, an unarmed Georgian reconnaissance drone was shot down over the territory Abkhazia. The Georgian authorities alleged that a Russian Air Force MiG-29 fighter had downed the
POLAND IS CAUGHT BETWEEN MOSCOW AND WASHINGTON
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk won the parliamentary elections last November, promising to improve radically relations with Russia, which went sour under the previous administration of the Kacziynski brothers. Lech
PUTIN AND BUSH IRON OUT DIFFERENCES OVER MISSILE DEFENSE
Last week Russia's foreign policy transformed, at least in tone and spirit. The atmosphere of confrontation that has dominated official Russian statements and the state-controlled propaganda machine has been diluted
A DECISIVE WEEK IN EAST-WEST RELATIONS
This week’s NATO summit in Bucharest, Romania, which might invite Ukraine and Georgia to join the alliance, is seen in Moscow as a moment of truth that could decide the
KREMLIN MOUTHPIECE TO LEAVE GENERAL STAFF
When Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov met their U.S. counterparts, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Robert Gates, in Moscow March 17-18, one
NATO EXPANSION PUSHES MISSILE DEFENSE OFF RUSSIAN AGENDA
This week U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Robert Gates visited Moscow, but their arrival was not accompanied by any breakthroughs on U.S.-Russian differences on missile defense,
FUTURE PRIME MINISTER PUTIN INSISTS ON STILL BEING HEARD ON NATO
During a March 8 press conference with visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Russia's outgoing President Vladimir Putin expressed his acute annoyance with Western policies over Kosovar independence, NATO expansion, Afghanistan,
RUSSIA’S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS OFFER THE WEST CHANCE TO GET BACK TO BUSINESS
The March 2 election of Dmitry Medvedev to replace Russian President Vladimir Putin was as crooked as any election in Soviet times. The dull campaign and the inevitable result generated
KREMLIN CONTINUES TO BLAST THE WEST OVER KOSOVA
Mobs, angry over Kosovar independence, burned the U.S. Embassy in the Serbian capital Belgrade last week, promoting a new outburst of anti-Western, anti-U.S. rhetoric in Moscow. The pace was set
KOSOVA AND THE “FROZEN” CONFLICTS OF THE FORMER USSR
The leaders of the breakaway mini-states of Transnistria in Moldova, Karabakh in Azerbaijan, as well as Abkhazia and South Ossetia in Georgia welcomed Kosova's unilateral declaration of independence this week
RUSSIA WILL REGAIN DEMOGRAPHIC, ECONOMIC, AND MILITARY STRENGTH, PUTIN CLAIMS
Speaking to a session of the State Council on February 8, President Vladimir Putin outlined his vision of Russia’s development through the year 2020. The State Council is a consultative
DID GLONASS FAILURE SINK IVANOV’S CHANCE AT THE PRESIDENCY?
The Russian Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) has long been a priority in the development of Russian space technologies. Last March, in a major speech on the future of space
ROGOZIN TAKES UP NEW PORTFOLIO IN BRUSSELS
This week the outspoken anti-Western nationalist politician Dmitry Rogozin, 44, arrived in Brussels as Russia’s permanent representative to NATO. Rogozin replaces former Border Guard chief General Konstantin Totsky (see EDM,
MEDVEDEV, MILITARY PROMOTE DIFFERENT OUTLOOKS FOR RUSSIA
On Saturday, January 19, the first deputy defense minister and chief of the General Staff, four-star general Yuri Baluyevsky, announced that Russia must build an armed force that will be
MOSCOW RESUMES MAY PARADES TO DEMONSTRATE MILITARY STRENGTH
Full-scale, Soviet-style military parades – with displays of tanks and other military hardware – will return to Red Square beginning May 9. The decision to resume this public display of
PUTIN PRAISES SUCCESSFUL ICBM LAUNCHES
On December 25, Christmas Day, the Russian military test-fired two intercontinental ballistic missiles – one from land and the other from the sea. The Tula, a Delta-4 nuclear submarine, launched
BALUYEVSKY ESCALATES WAR OF WORDS OVER U.S. MISSILE DEFENSE
Last Saturday, December 15, at a press conference in Moscow, First Deputy Minister of Defense and Chief of the Russian General Staff General Yuri Baluyevsky, together with Deputy Foreign Minister
MEDVEDEV – A FACELESS FUTURE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT
Russian President Vladimir Putin has finally designated First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev as his preferred successor. Almost immediately, Medvedev announced that he will ask Putin to be his prime
KREMLIN LANDSLIDE WILL PROMOTE CONFRONTATION
The December 2 elections to the State Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament, predictably ended in a landslide victory for the ruling United Russia party, headed by President Vladimir Putin.
CHEMIZOV TO HEAD NEW RUSSIAN ARMS CONGLOMERATE
This week Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law a bill passed by parliament to create a new state corporation, Rostekhnologii. The corporation will take over the state arms trade
PUTIN PLEDGES MORE MONEY AND HOUSING FOR MILITARY
It is an old Russian military tradition to gather all of Russia's top military brass in Moscow in late November or early December for a meeting to "summarize the year's
RUSSIAN SOLDERS LEAVE SOUTH GEORGIA, OTHERS DEPLOYED IN THE NORTH
This week Russian military officially transfer control of Russia's last significant permanent military base in southern Georgia. The base was located along the Black Sea at Batumi, home of a
SAAKASHVILI: DEFIANT AND READY FOR ACTION
Last Saturday evening, November 3, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili granted me a two-hour interview in his office, which is a few minutes’ walk from parliament. Demonstrators have been protesting in
MOSCOW MAY DISPATCH FIREBRAND NATIONALIST TO NATO
The Russian Foreign Ministry has confirmed that the outspoken, anti-Western Dmitry Rogozin is about to be appointed to an important diplomatic position, and “This may be the post of permanent
U.S. FLOATS “ZERO OPTION” ON MISSILE DEFENSE IN EUROPE
The row between Moscow and Washington on missile defense (MD) has moved into the realm of Cold War rhetoric and typical Cold War “peace initiatives.” These are grand-sounding public offerings
TWO-PLUS-TWO TALKS IN MOSCOW LEAVE A BIG MINUS
Last week U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Robert Gates came to Moscow to discuss Pentagon plans to install ten missile interceptors in Poland, linked to a
DUSHANBE SUMMITS FOLLOW RUSSIAN AGENDA
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he is pleased with the success of the “triple summit” of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), and Eurasian
RUSSIA AND GEORGIA STILL TEETERING ON BRINK OF WAR
Last week Georgia’s former defense minister, Irakli Okruashvili, accused the country’s pro-Western President Mikheil Saakashvili of large-scale corruption and conspiring to kill Badri Patarkatsishvili, a prominent businessman. Okruashvili claimed that
SERDYUKOV’S FAKE RESIGNATION
Russia’s new prime minister, Viktor Zubkov, announced in Sochi last week that Acting Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov had submitted a letter of resignation to President Vladimir Putin. Zubkov said he
GENERAL DECLARES RUSSIAN NUKES SECURE
This month the secretive, nuclear 12th Main Directorate of the Defense Ministry celebrated its 60th birthday. Soviet dictator Josef Stalin created the directorate on September 6, 1947, to supervise nuclear
OLD RUSSIAN STRATEGIC BOMBERS CONTINUE TO MAKE NEWS
This summer Russian strategic bombers flew exercise missions to the North Pole, near Alaska, and down the coast of Norway toward Great Britain and other far-off destinations. During the Cold
POLITKOVSKAYA AND LITVINENKO MURDER CASES REMAIN CONTROVERSIAL
Investigative reporter Anna Politkovskaya, my friend and colleague from Novaya gazeta newspaper, was shot to death in an elevator in her apartment building last October. Anna was an outspoken critic
MOSCOW BLAMES TERRORISTS FOR TRAIN DERAILMENT
On Monday, August 13, a high-speed express passenger train traveling from Moscow to St. Petersburg derailed in Novgorod region after a remote-controlled landmine exploded under the tracks. Thirteen train cars
RUSSIAN ADMIRAL ANNOUNCES AMBITIOUS NAVAL BUILD-UP
President Vladimir Putin appointed Admiral Vladimir Masorin commander of the Russian Navy in 2005. This year Masorin will turn 60 and, under Russian law, he must retire from active service.
KREMLIN SABER RATTLING INCREASES AHEAD OF SCO SUMMIT
Last week Russian President Vladimir Putin, while meeting activists and leaders of pro-Kremlin youth movements, used rather bizarre language to describe Russia's standoff with Great Britain over the murder of
SOVIET-STYLE VEIL OF SECRECY HIDES RUSSIAN MISSILE FAILURES
Last month the Russian Navy announced a successful launch of the new Bulava (SS-NX-30) sea-based intercontinental ballistic missile. Igor Digalo, chief of the navy press service, declared, “The test was
DISTINCT CHILL SETTLES OVER U.S.-RUSSIAN RELATIONS
At first, it seemed that the "lobster summit" in Maine between U.S. President George W. Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this month had reversed the ever-widening Russo-Western fray.
MOSCOW RECONSIDERS ABANDONING CFE
In his annual address to the Russian Federal Assembly on April 26 President Vladimir Putin announced “a moratorium on Russia’s implementation of the CFE treaty until all NATO countries ratify
KREMLIN REJECTS “FOREIGN” APPROACH TO RUSSIAN HISTORY
Last week President Vladimir Putin met with a selected group of delegates attending a Kremlin-organized conference, “Timely Issues in Teaching Modern History and Social Science.” Putin told the teachers: “Many
THE STRANGE STORY OF MIG-31 JETS FOR SYRIA
Yesterday, June 19, Moscow's respected business daily Kommersant reported that Russia's arms trading monopoly Rosoboronexport has begun to fulfill an arms deal it secretly signed with Syria earlier this year
OFFER TO SHARE GABALA POLITICALLY ASTUTE, PRACTICALLY INADEQUATE
During the June 6-8 G-8 summit in Heiligendamm, Germany, Russian President Vladimir Putin apparently surprised President George W. Bush and other U.S. officials by offering joint use of a powerful
RUSSIA STILL SEES WEST AS PRIMARY ENEMY
During an extended interview with Western and Russian journalists before this week’s G-8 summit in Germany, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that if U.S. missile defense elements are deployed in
NEW RUSSIAN MISSILES MAY REVEAL INTENT OF EAST-WEST PARTNERSHIP
This week Russian President Vladimir Putin once again expressed the Kremlin's utter rejection of U.S. plans to base missile defense units in Europe. Speaking at a joint press conference with
RECRUITING PROFESSIONAL SERGEANTS RUSSIAN-STYLE
This week the Russian Ministry of Defense held a conference of sergeants and other serving non-commissioned officers at the base of the elite 27th army brigade, just outside Moscow. Some
DIPLOMATIC FRENZY AS NEW COLD WAR LOOMS
This week U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, en route to Moscow, told journalists that Russo-American relations are "not easy," but that the tensions do not amount to a new
PUTIN MAKES SWEETHEART ARMS DEALS TO BENEFIT HIS CRONIES
For several years, Russian arms traders have been negotiating to resume trade with Libya. Now reports suggest that a $2.2 billion deal is being readied and may be finalized later
PUTIN CANCELS CFE UNTIL NATO COUNTRIES PROPERLY “ADHERE” TO ITS PROVISIONS
The Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) treaty of 1990 has been in trouble for many years, but last week it became apparent that its long illness maybe terminal. During talks
YELTSIN – THE MAN WHO CREATED CONTEMPORARY RUSSIA
Former Russian President Boris Yeltsin died of heart failure in a Kremlin hospital on Monday, April 23. He was 76. His successor, Vladimir Putin, and other Russian and international dignitaries
RUSSIA LAUNCHES NEW STRATEGIC SUBMARINE
The Russian nuclear shipbuilding industry celebrated two successes on Sunday, April 15. At Sevmash -- Russia's largest nuclear submarine-building shipyard -- in Severodvinsk, located north of Moscow on the White
CIS AND OTHER ISSUES SOUR U.S.-RUSSIAN RELATIONS
While visiting Moscow last week, U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez painted a rosy picture of U.S.-Russian relations. "The only thing people read once in a while is that we have
OPERATION BITE CAPTURES RUSSIAN ATTENTION
The tentative alliance between Russia and the West on the Iranian nuclear issue that seemed to emerge last month may be fizzling out and replaced by a renewed controversy over
PUTIN’S ORDER TO CREATE MOUNTAIN TROOPS RESULTS IN COMPETING, HAPHAZARD FORCES
In August 2004 Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the creation of two special army mountain brigades in the Northern Caucasus. The Defense Ministry initially promised that the brigades would be
RUSSIAN SECURITY COUNCIL PLANS TO DRAFT MILITARY DOCTRINE
Last September the Moscow daily Gazeta printed extracts of a purported new Russian military doctrine, allegedly prepared in secret by a group of experts in the Defense Ministry and leaked
BUSHEHR REACTOR FURTHER STRAINS RELATIONS BETWEEN RUSSIA AND IRAN
Last fall Sergei Kiriyenko, chief of Russia’s Federal Atomic Energy Agency (Rosatom), announced that September 2007 is the final deadline for Iran to launch the Bushehr nuclear reactor (see EDM,
KOMMERSANT DEFENSE CORRESPONDENT FALLS TO HIS DEATH
Last Friday, March 2, Ivan Safronov, a defense correspondent for Kommersant newspaper, fell to his death from a fourth-story window in his apartment block in central Moscow. The Moscow police
RUSSIAN MILITARY PREPARE TO COUNTER U.S. THREAT
Russian leaders have expressed concern over planned U.S. missile defense deployments in Europe. Russian generals have gone further, threatening to abrogate the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty and to
RUSSIA SERIOUS ABOUT INF TREATY ABROGATION
The Russian military always disliked the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, signed in 1987 by Presidents Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev. The INF eliminated all U.S. and Russian ballistic missiles
A POTEMKIN DEMOCRACY, A POTEMKIN FREE MARKET, AND A POTEMKIN ARMS RACE
Using language rarely heard since the Cold War, last week Russian President Vladimir Putin blasted the United States, European Union, NATO, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and the
CONTRADICTORY KREMLIN STATEMENTS THWART ATTEMPTS TO FORMULATE COMPREHENSIVE DEFENSE AND SECURITY POLICY
The Russian constitution requires the country to have a military doctrine. President Vladimir Putin signed the present doctrine in April 2000, after his election, but before his inauguration, making him
RUSSIA REMAINS IN DENIAL REGARDING EXISTENCE OF NUCLEAR BAZAAR
Last week Georgian Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili disclosed that a sting operation had resulted in the February 1, 2006, arrest in Tbilisi of a Russian citizen, Oleg Khintsagov, who had
U.S. PROPOSAL TO BASE MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEMS IN POLAND, CZECH REPUBLIC, RAISES ALARM IN MOSCOW
Last year was a disaster in terms of Russia’s relations with the West. In December 2006 Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov summed up this “not easy” year by insisting that
IRAN TAKES DELIVERY OF RUSSIAN TOR-M1 MISSILES
Yesterday, January 16, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov announced that Russia had completed the delivery of modern Tor-M1 anti-aircraft missiles to Iran. Ivanov insisted that the missiles were "100% defensive
PRESIDENTIAL WHIMS AT ROOT OF RUSSIA-BELARUS OIL DISPUTE
Last month's acute conflict between Moscow and Minsk over natural gas prices has carried into the New Year as an oil-pricing dispute. This week the transport of oil through the
RUSSIAN ARMS TRADER HAS TIES FROM AFRICA TO KREMLIN
Last month Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree ordering all weapons exports to be handed over to the state arms trader Rosoboroneksport beginning March 1. The MiG corporation, the
THE RUSSIAN LOVE AFFAIR WITH PINOCHET
In Soviet times Chile’s General Augusto Pinochet, who died December 10 at the age of 91, was denounced as a ruthless dictator and a henchman of U.S. imperialists. On September
THE POLONIUM TRAIL LEADS TO MOSCOW
Officials investigating the lethal poisoning of former Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) officer Alexander Litvinenko in London have widened their inquiry to Moscow. U.K. Home Secretary John Reid told reporters,
RUSSIAN POLITICAL INTRIGUE MEANS PUTIN COULD NOT HAVE BEEN IN THE DARK ABOUT LITVINENKO ATTACK
The apparent murder of former Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) officer Alexander Litvinenko in London has caused an uproar in Britain and the West, but is not much of a
U.S. GREEN LIGHTS RUSSIAN WTO MEMBERSHIP, SEEKS AGREEMENT ON IRAN
Last July, just before the G-8 summit in St. Petersburg, Russian Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin told reporters that Washington and Moscow had reached a deal on Russian membership in the
MOSCOW HOPES CRISIS WILL DRIVE BAKIYEV BACK INTO RUSSIAN CAMP
The political and constitutional crisis in Kyrgyzstan is undermining the rule of President Kurmanbek Bakiyev and Prime Minister Felix Kulov, who came to power last year as the result of
PUTIN’S MILITARY NUMBERS JUST DON’T ADD UP
Last week Russian President Vladimir Putin held a well-staged national televised phone-in to answer rehearsed questions from selected citizens. Such phone-ins are performed in Russia once a year and provide
WESTERN SANCTIONS OVER IRAN DAMAGE RUSSIAN AVIATION INDUSTRY
Russian aircraft producer Sukhoi and the official arms trader Rosoboroneksport are beginning to feel the sanctions imposed last July by the U.S. Department of State for violating the Iran Non-Proliferation
MOSCOW MORE WORRIED ABOUT SAAKASHVILI THAN KIM JONG-IL
Among all of North Korea’s neighbors, Russia seems to be the least concerned with the recent nuclear test conducted by the reclusive regime of Kim Jong-Il. Of course, the Russian
KREMLIN SUGGESTS EXILED OLIGARCHS KILLED POLITKOVSKAYA TO EMBARRASS MOSCOW
Yesterday, October 10, Anna Politkovskaya, the 48-year-old star investigative reporter of the Novaya gazeta newspaper, was buried in Moscow. Politkovskaya was gunned down near her apartment building Saturday in an
PUTIN COMMENTS REVEAL DESIRE FOR REGIME CHANGE IN TBILISI
The ordeal of four Russian military intelligence officers arrested in Georgia on September 27 and charged with espionage (see EDM, October 2) ended when the men were expelled to Moscow
LIGHT SENTENCES FOR HIGH-PROFILE RUSSIAN HAZING CASE
A high-profile military hazing trial in Chelyabinsk ended yesterday, September 26. Private Andrei Sychyov had his legs amputated last January after being abused in the barracks and is still hospitalized
KIRIYENKO INSISTS BUSHEHR PLANT WILL BE OPERATIONAL BY SEPTEMBER 2007
On Monday September 18, the chief of the Federal Atomic Energy Agency (Rosatom), Sergei Kiriyenko, told reporters in Vienna that Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power reactor will be operational by September
IVANOV COMMENT SUGGESTS MOSCOW IGNORING NUCLEAR WEAPONS AGREEMENT WITH WASHINGTON
On Sunday September 10, during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin aboard the Baltic Fleet's flagship, the destroyer Nastoychivy, at the naval base Baltiysk, Kaliningrad, Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov
CARACAS GETS RECYCLED RUSSIAN WEAPONS TO REPEL ALLEGED U.S. PLAN TO ATTACK VENEZUELA
Hugo Chavez, the flamboyant leftist president of Venezuela, visited Russia last week as part of a tour of European and Asian countries that included Belarus and Iran. In Minsk and
WILL WESTERN PRAGMATISM TOWARD MOSCOW OUTLAST THE G-8 SUMMIT?
For several months the so-called Russian backslide on democracy has dominated public discussions during the run up to the G-8 summit in St. Petersburg. Would Western leaders address the "backslide"
The Kadyrovtsy: Moscow’s New Pawns in the South Caucasus?
Intermittent attacks, shootings, and explosions in Chechnya, Dagestan, Ingushetia, and Kabardino-Balkaria have punctured the relative stability that has existed in the North Caucasus since the Beslan school massacre in September
The Kadyrovtsy: Moscow’s New Pawns in the South Caucasus?
Intermittent attacks, shootings, and explosions in Chechnya, Dagestan, Ingushetia, and Kabardino-Balkaria have punctured the relative stability that has existed in the North Caucasus since the Beslan school massacre in September