A Russian Navy ship made an aggressive approach on a U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the Arabian Sea on Thursday, the Navy’s Fifth Fleet said in a statement. Russia has denied the incident, according to news reports. The USS Farragut (DDG 99) was conducting routine operations in the northern Arabian Sea when it was “aggressively approached” by a Russian Navy … [Read more...]
Russia and Ukraine Reach Deal on Gas Transit to Europe
By Vladimir Soldatkin and Natalia Zinets MOSCOW/KIEV, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Russian and Ukrainian companies signed a final five-year agreement safeguarding Russian gas transit to Europe via Ukraine, Kremlin-controlled gas giant Gazprom and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday night. The deal, which came just 24 hours before the current agreement expires on … [Read more...]
Carrier Fire Points to Weakness Behind Moscow’s Military Might
By Peter Apps LONDON, Dec 19 (Reuters) - It's been a mixed month for Russia and its military. In Syria, they took control of the former Islamic State capital Raqqa, strengthening their hand following the withdrawal of U.S. troops. In Ukraine, a new ceasefire should leave Moscow in control of territory it seized five years ago. Meanwhile in Murmansk, its only aircraft carrier … [Read more...]
Coast Guard: Russian Spy Ship Operating in ‘Unsafe Manner’ Off Southeastern United States
The U.S. Coast Guard is alerting mariners to the possible presence of a Russian surveillance ship that has been conducting unsafe operations off the southeastern coast of United States. According to a Marine Safety Information Bulletin issued by USCG Sector Charleston on Monday, the Coast Guard has received reports indicating that the Russian Navy's Viktor Leonov (AGI-175) … [Read more...]
World’s Largest Nuclear-Powered Icebreaker Completes Stage One Sea Trials
Russia’s largest and most powerful nuclear-powered icebreaker has returned from its first round of sea trials before its planned delivery in 2020. The icebreaker, named Arktika, is under construction at Russia’s Baltic Shipyard in St. Petersburg. The vessel will displace 33,540 tonnes and is equipped with two nuclear reactors each with 175 MW thermal capacity, … [Read more...]