Russian military

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Russia Is Using a Novel Decoy Missile
Russia Is Using
a Novel Decoy Missile

Russia Is Using a Novel Decoy Missile

'New York Times' reports it may be why Ukraine has been struggling to intercept missiles

(Newser) - Ukraine has won praise for its ability to blunt the progress of Russia's military—see this assessment in the Conversation —but footage from Kyiv and elsewhere makes clear that aerial bombardments are still exacting a massive toll. One reason, reports the New York Times , is that Ukraine's...

Russia's 'Z' Symbol Means Nothing, and Everything

In the space of two weeks, the Z has evolved into Russia’s favorite nationalist insignia

(Newser) - The notorious white Z seen on Russian military vehicles in Ukraine has been a source of global speculation. As is sometimes the case when social media sleuths converge, most guesses proved to be overly complex and plain wrong. Per the BBC , citing a Russian special forces vet and pro-Kremlin newspapers,...

Experts Fear Russia's Use of Thermobaric Weaponry

Vacuums bombs could wreak serious damage if deployed

(Newser) - Thermobaric bombs have grabbed headlines lately as fears grow that Russia will intensify its assault on Ukraine’s major cities. There is no confirmed evidence that the Russians have used them yet, but a CNN crew spotted thermobaric rocket launchers crossing into Ukraine in the war’s opening days. It...

Russia Moves Naval Drills Away From Irish Fishermen

Industry had planned to protest exercises by carrying on in its usual waters

(Newser) - Update: Faced with the possibility of entanglement with a flotilla of small fishing boats off the coast of Ireland, Russia said Saturday it will move its naval exercises. A letter from Ambassador Yuriy Filatov posted on Facebook said the drills, planned for Feb. 3-8, will take place away from the...

Russia to Pull Troops Back Near Ukraine, Weapons to Remain

The heavy weapons will be used during military exercise later this year, per defense minister

(Newser) - Russia's defense minister on Thursday ordered troops back to their permanent bases following massive drills in Crimea that involved 10,000 troops, 1,200 military vehicles, 200 warplanes, and 60 navy ships in a show of force amid tensions with Ukraine. "I consider the goals of the snap...

Russia Tests New Super-Weapon in Arctic

Bases and troops are being strengthened, and the US and NATO have made countermoves

(Newser) - Taking advantage of warmer conditions brought by climate change, Russia is strengthening its military presence in the Arctic and testing new, more powerful weapons. Satellite images show bases being built up along Russia's Arctic coastline, CNN reports, including Cold War-era installations that are being refitted. The area close to...

Moscow Blames Israel After Missile Brings Down Plane

15 killed after Il-20 caught in Syria crossfire

(Newser) - A Russian reconnaissance aircraft was brought down by a Syrian missile over the Mediterranean early Tuesday, killing all 15 people on board, the Russian defense ministry says. The ministry blames Israel for the crash, saying the plane was caught in the crossfire as four Israeli fighters attacked targets in northwestern...

Russian Bombers Will Patrol Near US Shores

Kremlin resuming Cold War-era flights due to 'anti-Russia inclinations'

(Newser) - A "dangerous game of brinkmanship" just got a little closer to home: Russia is sending long-range bombers to do rounds "in the western Atlantic and eastern Pacific, as well as the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico," with Russia's defense minister blaming NATO's "anti-Russia...

Russian War Games the Biggest Since USSR Days

Effort may be aimed at China, Japan: experts

(Newser) - Economic struggles following the Soviet Union's collapse hit Russia's military hard—but today, its power was on full display in the country's biggest war games since the Soviet era. Some 160,000 troops and 5,000 tanks were deployed in Siberia and far eastern Russia, the AP...

Russia Tests New Stealth Fighter

Twin-engine jet is 5 years from regular military service

(Newser) - Russia successfully tested its first stealth fighter jet today, offering a boost to the country's aviation sector as well as its military. The Sukhoi T-50 is intended to match the stealth capabilities of the US F-22 Raptor, which it resembles. The dual-engine aircraft took off from Komsomolsk-on-Amur, in Siberia, and...

Russian Subs Patrol US Coast
 Russian Subs Patrol US Coast 

Russian Subs Patrol US Coast

(Newser) - First, Vladimir Putin shows off his biceps on vacation and now this: Two nuclear-powered Russian subs have been poking around the East Coast of the US, the New York Times reports. It's not clear what they're up to, but the move is a rare one that smacks of the Cold...

Russia to Build 6 New Nuclear Submarines

Russian navy beefing up nuclear capacity with cruise missile-equipped subs

(Newser) - Russia is building at least six new nuclear submarines equipped with long-distance cruise missiles, according to state-connected news agency Itar-Tass. One is expected to be on line by 2011, the rest by 2017. A Russian defense ministry source say the missiles, capable of carrying low-capacity nuclear warheads, "would be...

Medvedev: NATO Threat Means Russia Will Rearm

Prez says nuclear force is priority

(Newser) - Russia will rearm its military and boost its nuclear capabilities in response to NATO's growth, President Dmitry Medvedev told Russian military heads today. “Attempts to expand the military infrastructure of NATO near the borders of our country are continuing,” Medvedev said. That, alongside international terrorism and local concerns,...

Resurgent Russia Vows to Beef Up Military

'Colossus' created with $1B Venezuela military loan, oil deal

(Newser) - Russia signed a $1 billion military loan deal with Venezuela yesterday while pledging to upgrade its own military, the New York Times reports. The country plans to ratchet its defense budget back up to Cold War levels next year and intends to have new warships built by 2020. President Dmitry...

Russia Will Absorb South Ossetia 'in Several Years'

'Separatist regimes ... cut off from reality,' Georgian official fires back

(Newser) - Russia intends to absorb Georgia’s breakaway province of South Ossetia “in several years” or perhaps sooner, the speaker of the region’s parliament tells AP. In meetings this week in Moscow between Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and South Ossetian leader, Eduard Kokoity, the intent was “firmly stated...

US Aid Ship Arrives in Georgia
 US Aid Ship Arrives in Georgia

US Aid Ship Arrives in Georgia

(Newser) - A US Navy warship carrying humanitarian aid anchored at the Georgian port of Batumi today, sending a strong signal of support to an embattled ally as Russian forces built up around two separatist regions. But a top Russian general suggested that the presence of US and other NATO ships in...

West Worries as Russia Digs In
 West Worries as Russia Digs In

West Worries as Russia Digs In

Troops seen reinforcing positions in Georgia despite pullback agreement

(Newser) - Russian forces appear to be hunkering down rather than beginning their promised withdrawal from Georgian territory, the New York Times reports. Troops are digging in along the highway to Tbilisi and military vehicles are moving in both directions, alarming the West, according to Reuters. Pentagon officials say they have seen...

Russia Pledges to Start Georgia Pullout Tomorrow

Forces said to occupy villages, major highway and power plant

(Newser) - Dimitry Medvedev said today he'll start pulling troops out of Georgia tomorrow, but has no plans to withdraw from the separatist stronghold of South Ossetia, the BBC reports. The Russian president made the pledge after a phone conversation with Nicolas Sarkozy, who had brokered a ceasefire Friday. Despite signing the...

Bush Sends Aid, Rice to Georgia
 Bush Sends Aid, Rice to Georgia

Bush Sends Aid, Rice to Georgia

Role of Russian military in Georgia unclear

(Newser) - President Bush announced that the US would send humanitarian aid into Georgia today as hostilities threatened to overwhelm the fragile peace agreement, the New York Times reports. In announcing that he was dispatching Condoleezza Rice to mediate the dispute, Bush said that the US “stands with the democratically elected...

Thousands Flee as Russia Attacks Central Georgia

Russian army bombards Gori as war moves beyond provinces

(Newser) - Thousands of Georgians are fleeing the central city of Gori as the Russian army continues to wage major attacks beyond South Ossetia, reports the Times of London. Russia launched a massive aerial bombardment of Gori amid reports that it was on the verge of a ground invasion. The move from...

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