Latest Articles about Far East/Siberia
Russia to Deploy S-400 Anti-Aircraft Missiles in Kurile Islands
In recent weeks there has been a great deal written about the Russian decision to reinforce the Kurile Islands. There is no doubt that this step, announced in early February, is connected with the public polemics and diplomatic fireworks over the islands and Russia’s relationship... MORE
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 Russian Mistral will be built by the end of 2013, the second by 2015 and... MORE
Russia’s Navy Muscles Up and Looks East
According to Russia’s decade-long military procurement plan the Navy will receive 4.7 trillion rubles ($159 billion) of the total 20 trillion rubles ($678 billion), a figure that Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin considers as being scary (Vedomosti, December 14, 2010). Of course, this builds upon existing... MORE
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 since 1945. Japan claims the so-called Northern Territories of the Southern Kuriles: the Habomai islets,... MORE
Vostok 2010 and the Very Curious Hypothetical Opponent
Recently, Roger McDermott, a regular contributor to this publication, offered an excellent overview of the operational-strategic exercise being conducted in Eastern Siberia and the Russian Far East by the Russian armed forces (EDM, July 6). McDermott correctly pointed to the role of the exercise in... MORE
“Virtual” Defense of the Russian Far East: Vostok 2010
The biennial Vostok (East) 2010 operational-strategic exercise in the Siberian and Far East Russian military districts (MD’s), June 28 to July 8, was hailed by the top brass as the largest of its kind since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Defense ministry sources indicated... MORE