Russian forces are closing in on the capital of Ukraine. To make a decisive assault, Russia is sending a huge amount of force. &nbsp;

A Russian military convoy, which stretches for about 40 miles (64 km), is currently heading towards Kyiv, showed satellite images taken by a US private company on Monday. It is way larger than the 17 miles (27 km) reported earlier in the day. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The convoy comprises hundreds of tanks and other vehicles. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-using-brutal-cluster-explosives-vacuum-bombs-in-ukraine-say-rights-groups-ukraines-envoy-to-us-457658">'Russia using ‘brutal’ cluster explosives, vacuum bombs in Ukraine'</a>

Additional ground forces deployments and ground attack helicopter units could also be seen in southern Belarus, which is less than 20 miles (32 km) north of the Ukraine border, Maxar Technologies also said. &nbsp;

<img alt="Brief 2" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1eb198f5-8cb4-4ec8-a6e8-c5f0b3accb90" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Ukraine%20s2.jpg" />

On Monday, Russian forces also shelled second-largest city of Ukraine, Kharkiv. It rocked a residential neighbourhood. &nbsp;&nbsp;

In Kharkiv, authorities said that at least seven people had been killed and dozens injured. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-ukraine-plan-second-round-of-conflict-talks-457449">Russia, Ukraine plan 'second round' of conflict talks</a>

In a video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said late on Monday, "I believe Russia is trying to put pressure (on Ukraine) with this simple method." &nbsp;&nbsp;

Kyiv was not prepared to make concessions "when one side is hitting each other with rocket artillery”, said Zelenskyy. &nbsp;&nbsp;

"They want to break our nationhood, that's why the capital is constantly under threat," Zelenskyy said. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Russian forces are closing in on the capital of Ukraine. To make a decisive assault, Russia is sending a huge amount of force. A Russian military convoy, which stretches for about 40 miles (64 km), is currently heading towards Kyiv, showed satellite images taken by a US private company on Monday.

Russian forces are closing in on the capital of Ukraine. To make a decisive assault, Russia is sending a huge amount of force. A Russian military convoy, which stretches for about 40 miles (64 km), is currently heading towards Kyiv, showed satellite images taken by a US private company on Monday. It is way larger than the 17 miles (27 km) reported earlier in the day. The convoy comprises hundreds of tanks and other vehicles. Also Read: 'Russia using ‘brutal’ cluster explosives, vacuum bombs in Ukraine' Additional ground forces deployments and ground attack helicopter units could also be seen in southern Belarus, which is less than 20 miles (32 km) north of the Ukraine border, Maxar Technologies also said. On Monday, Russian forces also shelled second-largest city of Ukraine, Kharkiv. It rocked a residential neighbourhood. In Kharkiv, authorities said that at least seven people had been killed and dozens injured. Also Read: Russia, Ukraine plan 'second round' of conflict talks In a video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said late on Monday, "I believe Russia is trying to put pressure (on Ukraine) with this simple method." Kyiv was not prepared to make concessions "when one side is hitting each other with rocket artillery”, said Zelenskyy. "They want to break our nationhood, that's why the capital is constantly under threat," Zelenskyy said. (With inputs from agencies)

64-km-long Russian military convoy heads for Kyiv, show satellite images

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. A disturbing video that went viral on social media forums showed a fast-moving military combat vehicle crushing a car in Ukraine. However, the driver who was sitting in the car was saved miraculously. In the video, the speeding military vehicle - that looked like a tank - can be seen running over a civilian's car in the outskirts of Kyiv after Russia announced "military operations" in Ukraine. As per a report by The Sun, the tank looked like Strela-10, which is used by both the Russian and Ukrainian armies. The report added that the vehicle visible in the video was apparently driven by pro-Russian "saboteurs". There's no official statement yet. ALSO READ | Amid Russia-Ukraine chaos, here's how an Indo-Ukrainian couple had a narrow escape The video of the incident has been circulating on social media since February 25 and a report by Sky News stated that the chilling incident took place a few kilometres away from the parliament building. The media outlet also noted that it identified the place and surroundings in the video by matching building and road markings on Google Maps. The publication mentioned that after the military vehicle left, people came forward to help the driver, who was trapped inside the car that was destroyed. WATCH | Ukraine's foreign ministry posts dramatic video of administration building being blown up in Kharkiv People who were trying to rescue the driver had to break open one of the gates to pull him out as the car was torn and the gates were jammed. While some said that it looked like a tank, but some of the media reports have claimed that the vehicle was Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) or CVR(T). In case it was CVR(T), its ground clearance might have saved the man as it is high. Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of photos and videos shared on social media. Lucky driver. He is alive! pic.twitter.com/Ry99BX375D — Ragıp Soylu (@ragipsoylu) February 25, 2022 × Meanwhile, the office of the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court on Monday said it will seek court approval to open an investigation into alleged war crimes in Ukraine.

Video: Ukraine-Russia conflict: Man miraculously saved after military combat vehicle runs over his car

After Ukraine refused to hold talks in Belarus, Russia said it has given orders to its army “to broaden its offensive” against its neighbour “from all directions”.

Russia’s defence ministry in a statement on Saturday, said, “After the Ukrainian side rejected the negotiation process, today all units were given orders to develop the advance from all directions in accordance with the operation's plans.”

On Friday, the Kremlin had said that Putin was ready to send a delegation to Belarus for talks with Ukraine, but the Kyiv leadership wanted talks in Warsaw instead.

The announcement came on the same day US President Joe Biden signed a memorandum to provide up to $600 million in "immediate military assistance" to Ukraine.

Earlier, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had announced that their force thwarted the Kremlin’s advancement to capture Kyiv.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/weve-derailed-their-plan-says-ukraine-president-zelensky-in-video-message-456786">&nbsp;'We've derailed their plan,' says Ukraine President Zelensky in video message</a>

Speaking in a new video address, the 44-year-old leader said, "We've derailed their plan."

But the Russian troops continued to march on with their coordinated attacks. They launched missile and artillery attacks on Ukrainian cities, including the capital, Kyiv.

They also reportedly took over the Kyiv hydroelectric power plant north of the capital, the Interfax news agency said, citing Ukraine’s energy ministry.

According to the United Kingdom’s defence ministry, the bulk of Russian forces involved in the advance on Kyiv were now 30 kilometres (19 miles) from the city centre.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-joe-biden-approves-military-aid-for-ukraine-worth-350-million-456773">US President Joe Biden approves military aid for Ukraine worth $350 million</a>

As of Saturday, at least 198 civilians, including three children, had been killed since Moscow launched the attack, Ukraine said.

Russia has not said how many of its soldiers have been killed in the invasion, which it calls a "special military operation."

Moscow has said that its goal is to "de-Nazify" Ukraine.

Watch |&nbsp;Countries shut their airspace amid Russian invasion of Ukraine

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/countries-shut-their-airspace-amid-russian-invasion-of-ukraine-456850/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

(With inputs from agencies)

After Ukraine refused to hold talks in Belarus, Russia said it has given orders to its army “to broaden its offensive” against its neighbour “from all directions”.

After Ukraine refused to hold talks in Belarus, Russia said it has given orders to its army “to broaden its offensive” against its neighbour “from all directions”. Russia’s defence ministry in a statement on Saturday, said, “After the Ukrainian side rejected the negotiation process, today all units were given orders to develop the advance from all directions in accordance with the operation's plans.” On Friday, the Kremlin had said that Putin was ready to send a delegation to Belarus for talks with Ukraine, but the Kyiv leadership wanted talks in Warsaw instead. The announcement came on the same day US President Joe Biden signed a memorandum to provide up to $600 million in "immediate military assistance" to Ukraine. Earlier, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had announced that their force thwarted the Kremlin’s advancement to capture Kyiv. Also read | 'We've derailed their plan,' says Ukraine President Zelensky in video message Speaking in a new video address, the 44-year-old leader said, "We've derailed their plan." But the Russian troops continued to march on with their coordinated attacks. They launched missile and artillery attacks on Ukrainian cities, including the capital, Kyiv. They also reportedly took over the Kyiv hydroelectric power plant north of the capital, the Interfax news agency said, citing Ukraine’s energy ministry. According to the United Kingdom’s defence ministry, the bulk of Russian forces involved in the advance on Kyiv were now 30 kilometres (19 miles) from the city centre. Also read | US President Joe Biden approves military aid for Ukraine worth $350 million As of Saturday, at least 198 civilians, including three children, had been killed since Moscow launched the attack, Ukraine said. Russia has not said how many of its soldiers have been killed in the invasion, which it calls a "special military operation." Moscow has said that its goal is to "de-Nazify" Ukraine. Watch | Countries shut their airspace amid Russian invasion of Ukraine (With inputs from agencies)

Russian army to broaden offensive ‘from all sides’ against Ukraine, says Kremlin

Senior Biden administration officials told lawmakers this past week that they believed the Russian military had assembled 70% of the forces it would need to mount a full invasion of Ukraine, painting the most ominous picture yet of the options that Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, has created for himself in recent weeks.

During six hours of closed meetings with House and Senate lawmakers Thursday, the officials warned that if Putin chose the most aggressive of his options, he could quickly surround or capture Kyiv, the capital, and remove the country’s democratically elected president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. They also warned that the invasion could prompt an enormous refugee crisis on the European continent, sending millions fleeing.

The officials stressed that U.S. intelligence analysts still did not assess that Putin had made a final decision to invade. But satellite imagery, communications among Russian forces and images of Russian equipment on the move show that he has assembled everything he would need to undertake what the officials said would constitute the largest military operation on land in Europe since 1945.

They also warned of enormous possible human costs if Putin went ahead with a full invasion, including the potential deaths of 25,000 to 50,000 civilians, 5,000 to 25,000 members of the Ukrainian military and 3,000 to 10,000 members of the Russian military. The invasion, they said, could also result in 1 million to 5 million refugees, with many of them pouring into Poland.

Should Putin decide to invade, U.S. officials believe he is not likely to move until the second half of February. By that point, more ground will have frozen, making it easier to move heavy vehicles and equipment, and the Winter Olympics in Beijing will have ended or be winding down, which could help Putin avoid antagonizing President Xi Jinping of China, a critical ally for the Russian president.

The grim briefings were the latest salvo in weeks of grave messaging from the Biden administration about Putin’s plans. On the same day as the briefings, the administration also publicly warned that Russia may try to stage a false-flag operation suggesting that Russian-speaking populations are being attacked, which could create a pretext for an overt military operation. The drumbeat of warnings is part of a concerted campaign by the administration to expose Putin’s maneuvers in an attempt to build international pressure on him and make clear to him the risks to Russia of escalating the situation further.

Whether Putin decides to go through with a maximalist approach or a more scaled-down version is the question with which American, European and Ukrainian officials are all grappling.

For example, European officials, examining the same evidence, suggest that Putin could start smaller and test the reaction — with cyberattacks to paralyze Ukraine’s electric grid and communications, an invasion limited to the Russian-speaking territory in eastern Ukraine or an effort to cut the country in half, roughly along the Dnieper River. U.S. officials have acknowledged the possibility, especially if Putin wants to see if a smaller military action would create more divisions within Europe over whether to impose the most crushing economic sanctions.

Western intelligence officials also say they have picked up chatter suggesting Russian military leaders are confident they could take Ukraine in a blitzkrieg attack, but worry that they may not be able to hold on to the country, especially if the invasion sets off a significant insurgency. That has prompted speculation inside the NATO alliance that Putin might invade, seek to change the Ukrainian government and then partly withdraw his forces.

The briefings to Congress on Thursday were led by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin; Secretary of State Antony Blinken; Avril Haines, director of national intelligence; and Gen. Mark Milley, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The U.S. officials described to lawmakers five options that Putin could take, depending on the scope of his ambitions and his calculations about whether he would rather try to take the whole country quickly, no matter the human and economic cost to Russia, or attack it in pieces, in hopes of dividing Europe and NATO allies.

The options include a coup that would depose Zelenskyy; a limited incursion into eastern Ukraine similar to what Putin did when he annexed Crimea in 2014; an incursion into the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine accompanied by a Russian declaration of Donbas as an independent republic; or a Donbas incursion followed by an invasion and annexation of all of the eastern part of the country.

The worst-case assessment is that Putin is preparing to take the entire country — the scenario that would most likely produce the greatest casualties and, presumably, prompt the harshest sanctions from the United States and Europe.

Putin, Milley told lawmakers, is putting in the “military capability to do any and all, building himself a set of options.”

The unclassified parts of the briefings to lawmakers were described to The New York Times by officials in the room, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Diplomats and intelligence officials from three other countries involved in seeking to deter a Russian invasion confirmed the broad outlines of the status of Russian forces, although they disagreed about the importance of certain elements.

After hearing from administration officials, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., told reporters that a Russian invasion was a “near certainty.” He added that “if we now live in an era where someone can move into a country and just take it over and claim it as their own, I don’t think it’s going to stop at Ukraine,” echoing the fear that Putin may be trying to redraw the map of the continent to return to the days of the Soviet Union.

Increased planning in Russia’s military apparatus began last fall, Biden administration officials told lawmakers. The expansiveness of the effort alarmed intelligence analysts, who assessed that Putin had concluded that he would need some 150,000 troops from 110 battalion tactical groups to conquer Ukraine, which the Russian president views as a part of Russia.

The officials said that, as of this past week, Putin had amassed about 70% of the forces he would need to pull off a large-scale invasion to take the entire country, with more than 110,000 troops at the border with Ukraine from 83 battalion tactical groups. Some 14 additional groups were in transit to the border, the officials said.

They said Russian troops had been positioned in a manner that suggested a pincer movement, in which Russia would invade the country from three sides. Thirty thousand troops, according to U.S. and NATO estimates, are now in Belarus, which borders Ukraine to the north.

Ballistic missiles in Belarus, and to the east inside Russian territory, have captured British and Ukrainian attention in recent days. The Iskander-M missiles are mounted on mobile launchers, meaning they can be rolled closer to the border in short order, and they have a range of about 300 miles. That suggests that Putin, if he chose, could begin attacking cities and military emplacements before he moved any troops over the border.

Austin and Milley described to lawmakers a bristling array of additional Russian military assets that have encircled Ukraine. They include 11 amphibious assault ships, in the Black Sea and in the Mediterranean, with the capacity to carry five battalions of Russian marines who could land in Ukraine from the south, the officials said. In addition, Putin has deployed a number of submarines to the Black Sea, the defense officials told lawmakers.

Putin has also deployed Special Operations forces — about 1,500 troops — near and even inside the Ukrainian border, the officials told lawmakers. Those troops, they said, work closely with the Russian military intelligence agency, the GRU, which has in the past directed cyber and other attacks on foes.

European officials tend to be more skeptical that Putin would try to take the country in a large-scale invasion. Some believe that he would seek to take the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, where a grinding proxy war has been underway since 2014.

Another theory is that Putin could expand that operation in an effort to annex all of eastern Ukraine, up to the Dnieper River. Along the way he could try to decimate Ukrainian troops in that part of the country, roughly half of the Ukrainian military. That could incite panic in the western part of Ukraine — where resistance to Russia might be highest — and prompt people to flee the country. Over time, that could lead top government officials to flee or to try to rule from exile.

U.S. and European officials have made clear that a physical attack over the borders of Ukraine would lead to enormous sanctions on Russia’s banks, trade restrictions on semiconductors and other high-tech items and the freezing of the accounts of Russian oligarchs and leaders. But there is far less unanimity, as President Joe Biden himself has acknowledged, about how to respond to a “minor incursion.” Or even what a minor incursion might be.

European and U.S. officials worry that Putin might try to stage a coup in Kyiv. Another possibility is a cyberattack devised by Russia that tries to bring down parts or all of Ukraine’s electric and communications infrastructure, similar to the 2015 and 2016 attacks on parts of the country’s electric grid.

European officials say it is unclear how the Western allies would respond to such an attack. If they believed that the cyberoperations were a face-saving way for Putin to act and then retreat, they note, there might be a temptation to de-escalate and not seek to impose major sanctions, especially if there were few human casualties. On the other hand, a cyberattack could be a prelude to a full invasion, essentially cutting off Ukraine’s ability to communicate or track where Russian forces were coming from.

Senior Biden administration officials told lawmakers this past week that they believed the Russian military had assembled 70% of the forces it would need to mount a full invasion of Ukraine, painting the most ominous picture yet of the options that Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, has created for himself in recent weeks.

Senior Biden administration officials told lawmakers this past week that they believed the Russian military had assembled 70% of the forces it would need to mount a full invasion of Ukraine, painting the most ominous picture yet of the options that Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, has created for himself in recent weeks. During six hours of closed meetings with House and Senate lawmakers Thursday, the officials warned that if Putin chose the most aggressive of his options, he could quickly surround or capture Kyiv, the capital, and remove the country’s democratically elected president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. They also warned that the invasion could prompt an enormous refugee crisis on the European continent, sending millions fleeing. The officials stressed that U.S. intelligence analysts still did not assess that Putin had made a final decision to invade. But satellite imagery, communications among Russian forces and images of Russian equipment on the move show that he has assembled everything he would need to undertake what the officials said would constitute the largest military operation on land in Europe since 1945. They also warned of enormous possible human costs if Putin went ahead with a full invasion, including the potential deaths of 25,000 to 50,000 civilians, 5,000 to 25,000 members of the Ukrainian military and 3,000 to 10,000 members of the Russian military. The invasion, they said, could also result in 1 million to 5 million refugees, with many of them pouring into Poland. Should Putin decide to invade, U.S. officials believe he is not likely to move until the second half of February. By that point, more ground will have frozen, making it easier to move heavy vehicles and equipment, and the Winter Olympics in Beijing will have ended or be winding down, which could help Putin avoid antagonizing President Xi Jinping of China, a critical ally for the Russian president. The grim briefings were the latest salvo in weeks of grave messaging from the Biden administration about Putin’s plans. On the same day as the briefings, the administration also publicly warned that Russia may try to stage a false-flag operation suggesting that Russian-speaking populations are being attacked, which could create a pretext for an overt military operation. The drumbeat of warnings is part of a concerted campaign by the administration to expose Putin’s maneuvers in an attempt to build international pressure on him and make clear to him the risks to Russia of escalating the situation further. Whether Putin decides to go through with a maximalist approach or a more scaled-down version is the question with which American, European and Ukrainian officials are all grappling. For example, European officials, examining the same evidence, suggest that Putin could start smaller and test the reaction — with cyberattacks to paralyze Ukraine’s electric grid and communications, an invasion limited to the Russian-speaking territory in eastern Ukraine or an effort to cut the country in half, roughly along the Dnieper River. U.S. officials have acknowledged the possibility, especially if Putin wants to see if a smaller military action would create more divisions within Europe over whether to impose the most crushing economic sanctions. Western intelligence officials also say they have picked up chatter suggesting Russian military leaders are confident they could take Ukraine in a blitzkrieg attack, but worry that they may not be able to hold on to the country, especially if the invasion sets off a significant insurgency. That has prompted speculation inside the NATO alliance that Putin might invade, seek to change the Ukrainian government and then partly withdraw his forces. The briefings to Congress on Thursday were led by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin; Secretary of State Antony Blinken; Avril Haines, director of national intelligence; and Gen. Mark Milley, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The U.S. officials described to lawmakers five options that Putin could take, depending on the scope of his ambitions and his calculations about whether he would rather try to take the whole country quickly, no matter the human and economic cost to Russia, or attack it in pieces, in hopes of dividing Europe and NATO allies. The options include a coup that would depose Zelenskyy; a limited incursion into eastern Ukraine similar to what Putin did when he annexed Crimea in 2014; an incursion into the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine accompanied by a Russian declaration of Donbas as an independent republic; or a Donbas incursion followed by an invasion and annexation of all of the eastern part of the country. The worst-case assessment is that Putin is preparing to take the entire country — the scenario that would most likely produce the greatest casualties and, presumably, prompt the harshest sanctions from the United States and Europe. Putin, Milley told lawmakers, is putting in the “military capability to do any and all, building himself a set of options.” The unclassified parts of the briefings to lawmakers were described to The New York Times by officials in the room, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Diplomats and intelligence officials from three other countries involved in seeking to deter a Russian invasion confirmed the broad outlines of the status of Russian forces, although they disagreed about the importance of certain elements. After hearing from administration officials, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., told reporters that a Russian invasion was a “near certainty.” He added that “if we now live in an era where someone can move into a country and just take it over and claim it as their own, I don’t think it’s going to stop at Ukraine,” echoing the fear that Putin may be trying to redraw the map of the continent to return to the days of the Soviet Union. Increased planning in Russia’s military apparatus began last fall, Biden administration officials told lawmakers. The expansiveness of the effort alarmed intelligence analysts, who assessed that Putin had concluded that he would need some 150,000 troops from 110 battalion tactical groups to conquer Ukraine, which the Russian president views as a part of Russia. The officials said that, as of this past week, Putin had amassed about 70% of the forces he would need to pull off a large-scale invasion to take the entire country, with more than 110,000 troops at the border with Ukraine from 83 battalion tactical groups. Some 14 additional groups were in transit to the border, the officials said. They said Russian troops had been positioned in a manner that suggested a pincer movement, in which Russia would invade the country from three sides. Thirty thousand troops, according to U.S. and NATO estimates, are now in Belarus, which borders Ukraine to the north. Ballistic missiles in Belarus, and to the east inside Russian territory, have captured British and Ukrainian attention in recent days. The Iskander-M missiles are mounted on mobile launchers, meaning they can be rolled closer to the border in short order, and they have a range of about 300 miles. That suggests that Putin, if he chose, could begin attacking cities and military emplacements before he moved any troops over the border. Austin and Milley described to lawmakers a bristling array of additional Russian military assets that have encircled Ukraine. They include 11 amphibious assault ships, in the Black Sea and in the Mediterranean, with the capacity to carry five battalions of Russian marines who could land in Ukraine from the south, the officials said. In addition, Putin has deployed a number of submarines to the Black Sea, the defense officials told lawmakers. Putin has also deployed Special Operations forces — about 1,500 troops — near and even inside the Ukrainian border, the officials told lawmakers. Those troops, they said, work closely with the Russian military intelligence agency, the GRU, which has in the past directed cyber and other attacks on foes. European officials tend to be more skeptical that Putin would try to take the country in a large-scale invasion. Some believe that he would seek to take the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, where a grinding proxy war has been underway since 2014. Another theory is that Putin could expand that operation in an effort to annex all of eastern Ukraine, up to the Dnieper River. Along the way he could try to decimate Ukrainian troops in that part of the country, roughly half of the Ukrainian military. That could incite panic in the western part of Ukraine — where resistance to Russia might be highest — and prompt people to flee the country. Over time, that could lead top government officials to flee or to try to rule from exile. U.S. and European officials have made clear that a physical attack over the borders of Ukraine would lead to enormous sanctions on Russia’s banks, trade restrictions on semiconductors and other high-tech items and the freezing of the accounts of Russian oligarchs and leaders. But there is far less unanimity, as President Joe Biden himself has acknowledged, about how to respond to a “minor incursion.” Or even what a minor incursion might be. European and U.S. officials worry that Putin might try to stage a coup in Kyiv. Another possibility is a cyberattack devised by Russia that tries to bring down parts or all of Ukraine’s electric and communications infrastructure, similar to the 2015 and 2016 attacks on parts of the country’s electric grid. European officials say it is unclear how the Western allies would respond to such an attack. If they believed that the cyberoperations were a face-saving way for Putin to act and then retreat, they note, there might be a temptation to de-escalate and not seek to impose major sanctions, especially if there were few human casualties. On the other hand, a cyberattack could be a prelude to a full invasion, essentially cutting off Ukraine’s ability to communicate or track where Russian forces were coming from.

US warns of grim toll if Putin pursues full invasion of Ukraine

For several months now since November, the leaders of the west, Russia, and indeed the United States have been engaged in an escalating war of words. The political shadow boxing has been over a possible Russian incursion into Ukraine, in the aftermath of Russia having amassed almost over a hundred thousand troops along the borders with eastern Ukraine.

Ukraine Conflict: First US reinforcement troops for EU arrive in Germany

Russia on Saturday denied reports which claimed Putin's regime was ready to launch an attack on Ukraine with 175,000 troops.

The Washington Post citing US officials reported that Russia was preparing an assault on Ukraine with 100 battalion tactical groups. The report claimed Moscow was planning a multi-front offensive.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/what-will-happen-if-russian-troops-invade-ukraine-431684">Also Read:&nbsp;What will happen if Russian troops invade Ukraine?</a>

The Russian foreign ministry dismissed the report blaming the US for aggravating the situation around Ukraine even as the Pentagon called for de-escalation.

Watch:&nbsp;Russia's military activity near Ukraine a worry, says General Milley

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russias-military-activity-near-ukraine-triggers-worry-says-us-general-mark-milley-433859/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The current crisis comes as US President Biden prepares to speak to Russian President Putin over the phone on Tuesday.

The US president had said on Friday that his administration was preparing a plan to make it "very, very difficult for Mr Putin to go ahead and do what people are worried he may do."&nbsp;Biden however did not go into the specifics of the plan.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/protests-in-ukraine-as-putin-marks-russias-unity-day-in-crimea-426813">Also Read:&nbsp;Protests in Ukraine as Putin marks Russia's Unity Day in Crimea</a>

Ukraine's defence minister had warned earlier that Russia was preparing to invade in January amid large scale build-up of troops at the border.

On Friday, Putin had hit out against Ukraine's deployment of Turkish drones in a phone call to President Erdogan.

Amid tensions on the Ukrainian border, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov had asked US secretary of state Antony Blinken to provide "security guarantees" that NATO will not extend its borders to Russia even as Ukraine said it won't abandon plans to join the European military alliance.

(With inputs from Agencies)

Russia on Saturday denied reports which claimed Putin's regime was ready to launch an attack on Ukraine with 175,000 troops. The Washington Post citing US officials reported that Russia was preparing an assault on Ukraine with 100 battalion tactical groups.

Russia on Saturday denied reports which claimed Putin's regime was ready to launch an attack on Ukraine with 175,000 troops. The Washington Post citing US officials reported that Russia was preparing an assault on Ukraine with 100 battalion tactical groups. The report claimed Moscow was planning a multi-front offensive. Also Read: What will happen if Russian troops invade Ukraine? The Russian foreign ministry dismissed the report blaming the US for aggravating the situation around Ukraine even as the Pentagon called for de-escalation. Watch: Russia's military activity near Ukraine a worry, says General Milley The current crisis comes as US President Biden prepares to speak to Russian President Putin over the phone on Tuesday. The US president had said on Friday that his administration was preparing a plan to make it "very, very difficult for Mr Putin to go ahead and do what people are worried he may do." Biden however did not go into the specifics of the plan. Also Read: Protests in Ukraine as Putin marks Russia's Unity Day in Crimea Ukraine's defence minister had warned earlier that Russia was preparing to invade in January amid large scale build-up of troops at the border. On Friday, Putin had hit out against Ukraine's deployment of Turkish drones in a phone call to President Erdogan. Amid tensions on the Ukrainian border, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov had asked US secretary of state Antony Blinken to provide "security guarantees" that NATO will not extend its borders to Russia even as Ukraine said it won't abandon plans to join the European military alliance. (With inputs from Agencies)

Russia planning to invade Ukraine with 175,000 troops: Report

The "Rapid Trident" military international military drills continued in Ukraine with fifteen countries gathered for the joint exercises.

One of the first drills included the simulation of the liberation of a captured town from hybrid extremist groups.

The joint multinational unit of the armed forces of Ukraine, Bulgaria, Romania and Poland are involved in the exercise with over 6,000 servicemen including around 150 representatives from the US armed forces taking part in the drills.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-engaged-in-new-cold-war-with-rivals-china-and-russia-say-most-europeans-in-poll-414905">Also Read:&nbsp;US engaged in new cold war with rivals China and Russia, say most Europeans in poll &nbsp;</a>

Ukraine which is at war with Russia-backed separatists since 2014 began hosting the joint military exercises with the US and other NATO troops on Monday.&nbsp;

Ukraine has been seeking integration with NATO in order to thwart Russia's military power on its border. The relations between Ukraine and Russia have been on the edge since 2014 when the Russian military annexed Crimea.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-military-spotted-near-ukraine-border-after-us-warning-376922">Also Read: Russian military spotted near Ukraine border after US warning</a>

The drills are set to last until October 1. The US said the exercise was meant to "enhance interoperability among allied and partner nations".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-to-review-russian-military-might-as-tensions-with-west-soar-383768">Also Read:&nbsp;Putin to review Russian military might as tensions with West soar&nbsp;</a>

The exercise comes after Russia staged a drill near EU borders of Russia and Belarus recently which Moscow said involved at least 200,000 troops even as nearly 20 Russian warships began large-scale live-fire exercises in the Black Sea on Monday.

The drills have become a major point of friction between Ukraine and Russia as Moscow&nbsp;gathered thousands of troops on Ukraine's border in April as tensions escalated in the region. Putin's regime however pulled back troops later.

(With inputs from Agencies) 
&nbsp;

The "Rapid Trident" military international military drills continued in Ukraine with fifteen countries gathered for the joint exercises. One of the first drills included the simulation of the liberation of a captured town from hybrid extremist groups.

The "Rapid Trident" military international military drills continued in Ukraine with fifteen countries gathered for the joint exercises. One of the first drills included the simulation of the liberation of a captured town from hybrid extremist groups. The joint multinational unit of the armed forces of Ukraine, Bulgaria, Romania and Poland are involved in the exercise with over 6,000 servicemen including around 150 representatives from the US armed forces taking part in the drills. Also Read: US engaged in new cold war with rivals China and Russia, say most Europeans in poll Ukraine which is at war with Russia-backed separatists since 2014 began hosting the joint military exercises with the US and other NATO troops on Monday. Ukraine has been seeking integration with NATO in order to thwart Russia's military power on its border. The relations between Ukraine and Russia have been on the edge since 2014 when the Russian military annexed Crimea. Also Read: Russian military spotted near Ukraine border after US warning The drills are set to last until October 1. The US said the exercise was meant to "enhance interoperability among allied and partner nations". Also Read: Putin to review Russian military might as tensions with West soar The exercise comes after Russia staged a drill near EU borders of Russia and Belarus recently which Moscow said involved at least 200,000 troops even as nearly 20 Russian warships began large-scale live-fire exercises in the Black Sea on Monday. The drills have become a major point of friction between Ukraine and Russia as Moscow gathered thousands of troops on Ukraine's border in April as tensions escalated in the region. Putin's regime however pulled back troops later. (With inputs from Agencies)

Ukraine conducts international military excercise amid tensions with Russia

Amid escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine, it has been reported that more than 10,000 Russian troops have been returning to their permanent bases.&nbsp;

Interfax news agency stated&nbsp;on Saturday (December 25), citing the Russian military that the troops are returning after month-long drills near the Ukraine border.&nbsp;

The reported withdrawal of troops comes amid speculations by the West that Moscow has been plotting to invade Ukraine.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/vladimir-putin-says-soviet-santa-is-real-force-behind-his-rapid-rise-439935">Vladimir Putin says Soviet Santa is 'real force' behind his rapid rise</a>

"A stage of combat coordination of divisions, combat crews, squads at motorised units...has been completed," Interfax news quoted the army as saying.

"More than 10,000 military servicemen... will march to their permanent deployment from the territory of the combined arms' area of drills," it added.

It has been understood that drills were held in several regions near Ukraine, including in Crimea, as well as in the southern Russian regions of Rostov and Kuban.

Heavy deployment of troops by Russia to the north, east and south of Ukraine had fuelled fears in Kyiv and Western capitals that Moscow was planning an attack.&nbsp;

ALSO READ&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-blocks-website-of-protest-monitoring-group-for-allegedly-promoting-terrorism-and-extremism-439910">Russia blocks website of protest monitoring group for allegedly promoting 'terrorism and extremism'</a>

Meanwhile, Russia has repeatedly declined the reports as it says that it can deploy its troops on its territory as it sees fit.&nbsp;

If reports are to be believed, an estimated number of Russian troops recently moved closer to Ukraine vary from 60,000 to 90,000.&nbsp;

Although, one US intelligence document indicated that the number could be ramped up as high as 175,000.&nbsp;

WATCH | French warship visits Ukrainian port amid escalating tensions with Russia

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Recently, the United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg to discuss concerns about Russia's military build-up on the borders of Ukraine.

"They discussed NATO's dual-track approach to Russia, noting the alliance remains ready for meaningful dialogue with Russia, while standing united to defend and protect allies," the US State Department said.

Amid escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine, it has been reported that more than 10,000 Russian troops have been returning to their permanent bases. Interfax news agency stated on Saturday (December 25), citing the Russian military that the troops are returning after month-long drills near the Ukraine border.

Amid escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine, it has been reported that more than 10,000 Russian troops have been returning to their permanent bases. Interfax news agency stated on Saturday (December 25), citing the Russian military that the troops are returning after month-long drills near the Ukraine border. The reported withdrawal of troops comes amid speculations by the West that Moscow has been plotting to invade Ukraine. ALSO READ | Vladimir Putin says Soviet Santa is 'real force' behind his rapid rise "A stage of combat coordination of divisions, combat crews, squads at motorised units...has been completed," Interfax news quoted the army as saying. "More than 10,000 military servicemen... will march to their permanent deployment from the territory of the combined arms' area of drills," it added. It has been understood that drills were held in several regions near Ukraine, including in Crimea, as well as in the southern Russian regions of Rostov and Kuban. Heavy deployment of troops by Russia to the north, east and south of Ukraine had fuelled fears in Kyiv and Western capitals that Moscow was planning an attack. ALSO READ | Russia blocks website of protest monitoring group for allegedly promoting 'terrorism and extremism' Meanwhile, Russia has repeatedly declined the reports as it says that it can deploy its troops on its territory as it sees fit. If reports are to be believed, an estimated number of Russian troops recently moved closer to Ukraine vary from 60,000 to 90,000. Although, one US intelligence document indicated that the number could be ramped up as high as 175,000. WATCH | French warship visits Ukrainian port amid escalating tensions with Russia × Recently, the United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg to discuss concerns about Russia's military build-up on the borders of Ukraine. "They discussed NATO's dual-track approach to Russia, noting the alliance remains ready for meaningful dialogue with Russia, while standing united to defend and protect allies," the US State Department said.

Thousands of Russian troops returning to bases after drills near Ukraine: Report

The Russian president Vladimir Putin's apparent obsession with Ukraine has brought in a new cold war-like situation. Russia's increasing military buildup along the Ukrainian border and also the latter's repeated warning of a possible retaliation have triggered fears of possible full-fledged conflict.

Vladimir Putin's Ukraine obsession escalates conflict

Tensions continue to escalate between Russia and Ukraine over the military buildup near the border, NATO Chief has issued a stern warning to Russia over its military aggression towards its neighbor.

Tensions continue to escalate between Russia and Ukraine

Ukraine: Army ready to repel any attack by Russia

Russian and Tajik troops on Friday held a joint exercise near Tajikistan's border with Afghanistan as part of efforts to prepare for potential security threats from Afghanistan.

Russian and Tajik troops hold joint drills at the Momirak firing range in Tajikistan

Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry on Monday evening announced that it has accidentally shot down Russian military Mi-24 helicopter over Armenia border, killing two crew members.

The Ministry explained that the error occurred because the helicopter flew close to the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, at the time when active military clashes are going on in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone.

"The flight took place in the dark, at low altitude, outside the air defence radar detection zone, the Russian Air Force helicopters have not previously been seen in the specified area. In the context of these factors and in light of the tense situation in the region and increased combat readiness in connection with possible provocations of the Armenian side, the duty combat crew made a decision to shoot to kill. The Azerbaijani side apologizes to the Russian side in connection with this tragic incident, which is accidental and was not directed against the Russian side," the ministry said. 
 
"The Azerbaijani side expresses its sincere condolences to the families of the deceased crew members and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured. The Azerbaijani side declares its readiness to pay appropriate compensation," the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said.

The crash occurred at 6:00 p.m. local time as the helicopter was escorting a motorcade to the Russian military base. Two of the helicopter’s flight crew members were killed and one was evacuated with moderate injuries.

.Earlier in a statement, the&nbsp;Russian defence ministry said that&nbsp;"On November 9, at about 17.30 Moscow time, while escorting a convoy of the 102nd Russian military base through the territory of the Republic of Armenia in the airspace near the Armenian settlement of Yeraskh near the border of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic (Republic of Azerbaijan), Russian helicopter Mi-24 was subjected to fire from the ground from MANPADS. As a result of the missile hit, the helicopter lost control and fell in a mountainous area on the territory of Armenia,".

The helicopter was subjected to fire from the ground from a man-portable air defence system (MANPADS), the Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday.

The videos of the crash shot by locals in the area started doing rounds on Twitter.

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Video of Russian Mi-24 being shot down by Azerbaijani MANPAD <a href="https://t.co/7xz0z2kl8t">pic.twitter.com/7xz0z2kl8t</a>
— Vinod DX9 (@VinodDX9) <a href="https://twitter.com/VinodDX9/status/1325857134039293952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Russian Mi-24 shot down over Armenia. Details are being clarified. <a href="https://t.co/UYGUfErUc0">pic.twitter.com/UYGUfErUc0</a>
— ZOKA (@200_zoka) <a href="https://twitter.com/200_zoka/status/1325835111280087042?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2020</a></blockquote>
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(With inputs from agencies)

Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry on Monday evening announced that it has accidentally shot down Russian military Mi-24 helicopter over Armenia border, killing two crew members.

Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry on Monday evening announced that it has accidentally shot down Russian military Mi-24 helicopter over Armenia border, killing two crew members. The Ministry explained that the error occurred because the helicopter flew close to the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, at the time when active military clashes are going on in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone. "The flight took place in the dark, at low altitude, outside the air defence radar detection zone, the Russian Air Force helicopters have not previously been seen in the specified area. In the context of these factors and in light of the tense situation in the region and increased combat readiness in connection with possible provocations of the Armenian side, the duty combat crew made a decision to shoot to kill. The Azerbaijani side apologizes to the Russian side in connection with this tragic incident, which is accidental and was not directed against the Russian side," the ministry said. "The Azerbaijani side expresses its sincere condolences to the families of the deceased crew members and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured. The Azerbaijani side declares its readiness to pay appropriate compensation," the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said. The crash occurred at 6:00 p.m. local time as the helicopter was escorting a motorcade to the Russian military base. Two of the helicopter’s flight crew members were killed and one was evacuated with moderate injuries. .Earlier in a statement, the Russian defence ministry said that "On November 9, at about 17.30 Moscow time, while escorting a convoy of the 102nd Russian military base through the territory of the Republic of Armenia in the airspace near the Armenian settlement of Yeraskh near the border of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic (Republic of Azerbaijan), Russian helicopter Mi-24 was subjected to fire from the ground from MANPADS. As a result of the missile hit, the helicopter lost control and fell in a mountainous area on the territory of Armenia,". The helicopter was subjected to fire from the ground from a man-portable air defence system (MANPADS), the Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday. The videos of the crash shot by locals in the area started doing rounds on Twitter. Video of Russian Mi-24 being shot down by Azerbaijani MANPAD pic.twitter.com/7xz0z2kl8t — Vinod DX9 (@VinodDX9) November 9, 2020 × Russian Mi-24 shot down over Armenia. Details are being clarified. pic.twitter.com/UYGUfErUc0 — ZOKA (@200_zoka) November 9, 2020 × (With inputs from agencies)

Azerbaijan admits accidentally shooting down the Russian helicopter, offers apology

The Russian Military's Mi-24 helicopter was shot down on Monday in Armenia, the Defense Ministry in Moscow said.

The incident took place near the border with Azerbaijan.

The ministry said in a statement that the Mi-24 helicopter was hit by a man-portable air defence system close to the border with Azerbaijan, whose forces are fighting Armenian-backed separatists in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The crash occurred in the evening&nbsp;at 18:00 local time as the helicopter was escorting a motorcade to the Russian military base. Two of the helicopter’s flight crew members were killed and one was evacuated with moderate injuries. 
 
Russia’s military base in Armenia is investigating to determine who was responsible for the downing of the helicopter, the statement said. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

The Russian Military's Mi-24 helicopter was shot down on Monday in Armenia, the Defense Ministry in Moscow said. The incident took place near the border with Azerbaijan.

The Russian Military's Mi-24 helicopter was shot down on Monday in Armenia, the Defense Ministry in Moscow said. The incident took place near the border with Azerbaijan. The ministry said in a statement that the Mi-24 helicopter was hit by a man-portable air defence system close to the border with Azerbaijan, whose forces are fighting Armenian-backed separatists in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The crash occurred in the evening at 18:00 local time as the helicopter was escorting a motorcade to the Russian military base. Two of the helicopter’s flight crew members were killed and one was evacuated with moderate injuries. Russia’s military base in Armenia is investigating to determine who was responsible for the downing of the helicopter, the statement said. (With inputs from agencies)

Russian military's Mi-24 helicopter shot down in Armenia, 2 killed

A&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;serviceman killed three colleagues in a shooting Monday on a base near the southern city of Voronezh, news agencies reported citing the military.

"Three servicemen sustained lethal injuries as a result of the attack," Russia's Western Military District said in a statement carried by Interfax.

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"The command of the military unit, acting together with law enforcement agencies, is working to track down and detain the assailant," it added.&nbsp;

The statement said the attack began in the early hours of Monday.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-charges-six-russian-military-intelligence-officers-with-cyberattacks-336532">US charges six Russian military intelligence officers with cyberattacks</a>

An unnamed Interfax source said the shooting was sparked when an altercation broke out between the soldier and an officer during an inspection.

The soldier "grabbed a handgun" from the officer's holster and fired, the source said, with three colleagues reported dead.

Authorities on the military base were negotiating with the suspect who had locked himself in a building, Interfax reported.

Shootings at military facilities in Russia are not uncommon and rights groups have sounded the alarm over brutal hazing rituals that were routine in the 1990s but have improved in recent years.

In October last year, a&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;soldier opened fire on troops at a military base in Siberia, killing eight and injuring two in an attack he blamed on hazing that made his life "hell".

Military service is compulsory in Russia for men aged between 18 and 27, but many people use loopholes to evade conscription.

A Russian serviceman killed three colleagues in a shooting Monday on a base near the southern city of Voronezh, news agencies reported citing the military. "Three servicemen sustained lethal injuries as a result of the attack," Russia's Western Military District said in a statement carried by Interfax.

A Russian serviceman killed three colleagues in a shooting Monday on a base near the southern city of Voronezh, news agencies reported citing the military. "Three servicemen sustained lethal injuries as a result of the attack," Russia's Western Military District said in a statement carried by Interfax. "The command of the military unit, acting together with law enforcement agencies, is working to track down and detain the assailant," it added. The statement said the attack began in the early hours of Monday. Also read: US charges six Russian military intelligence officers with cyberattacks An unnamed Interfax source said the shooting was sparked when an altercation broke out between the soldier and an officer during an inspection. The soldier "grabbed a handgun" from the officer's holster and fired, the source said, with three colleagues reported dead. Authorities on the military base were negotiating with the suspect who had locked himself in a building, Interfax reported. Shootings at military facilities in Russia are not uncommon and rights groups have sounded the alarm over brutal hazing rituals that were routine in the 1990s but have improved in recent years. In October last year, a Russian soldier opened fire on troops at a military base in Siberia, killing eight and injuring two in an attack he blamed on hazing that made his life "hell". Military service is compulsory in Russia for men aged between 18 and 27, but many people use loopholes to evade conscription.

Three dead in axe and gun attack at Russian military base

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told his&nbsp;Azerbaijan counterpart&nbsp;Sakir Hasanov on Saturday that Russia is carrying out military exercises.

The drill includes nearly 150,000 troops and 400 aircrafts. While Shoigu described this as a reoutine check of the military's preparedness, the timing of these military exercises has fallen amid the rising tension and clashes between its ally Azerbaijan and Armenian forces.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-us-and-canada-accuse-russia-of-vaccine-research-hacking-314318">Also read:&nbsp;UK, US and Canada accuse Russia of vaccine research hacking</a>

In the past few days, more than a dozen Armenian and Azeri soldiers have been killed due to the increased&nbsp;clashes between the two former Soviet republics which have long been at odds over Azerbaijan`s breakaway, mainly ethnic Armenian region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Russia, which has a military base in Armenia, has urged both countries to cease fire and has offered to be a mediator and peace maker between the two nations.

Armenia has accused&nbsp;Azerbaijan of being a possible threat to national and global security after Azerbaijan&nbsp;warned Armenia it could strike the Metzamor nuclear power station if its Mingechavir reservoir or other strategic outlets were hit. Armenia claims that the threat counts as "a threat to commit terrorism".

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told his Azerbaijan counterpart Sakir Hasanov on Saturday that Russia is carrying out military exercises. The drill includes nearly 150,000 troops and 400 aircrafts.

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told his Azerbaijan counterpart Sakir Hasanov on Saturday that Russia is carrying out military exercises. The drill includes nearly 150,000 troops and 400 aircrafts. While Shoigu described this as a reoutine check of the military's preparedness, the timing of these military exercises has fallen amid the rising tension and clashes between its ally Azerbaijan and Armenian forces. Also read: UK, US and Canada accuse Russia of vaccine research hacking In the past few days, more than a dozen Armenian and Azeri soldiers have been killed due to the increased clashes between the two former Soviet republics which have long been at odds over Azerbaijan`s breakaway, mainly ethnic Armenian region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Russia, which has a military base in Armenia, has urged both countries to cease fire and has offered to be a mediator and peace maker between the two nations. Armenia has accused Azerbaijan of being a possible threat to national and global security after Azerbaijan warned Armenia it could strike the Metzamor nuclear power station if its Mingechavir reservoir or other strategic outlets were hit. Armenia claims that the threat counts as "a threat to commit terrorism".

Russia conducts 'routine' military exercise amid rising tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia

Russia has invited Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to attend a grand military parade in Moscow on June 24 marking the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory in the second World War, diplomatic sources said.

It is learnt that notwithstanding the escalating tension between Indian and Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh, the defence minister's office is positively considering the invitation due to India's decades-old military ties with Russia.

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The defence minister's office is positively considering the invitation, the sources said.

India is sending a tri-services contingent to participate in the military parade at Red Square in Moscow.

The Indian parade will be led by a colonel rank officer. The 75-member Indian team will participate in the parade alongside armed forces personnel from at least 11 countries including China.&nbsp;

Russia has invited Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to attend a grand military parade in Moscow on June 24 marking the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory in the second World War, diplomatic sources said.

Russia has invited Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to attend a grand military parade in Moscow on June 24 marking the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory in the second World War, diplomatic sources said. It is learnt that notwithstanding the escalating tension between Indian and Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh, the defence minister's office is positively considering the invitation due to India's decades-old military ties with Russia. Also read| Putin pushes idea of Russian-backed summit to stabilise world The defence minister's office is positively considering the invitation, the sources said. India is sending a tri-services contingent to participate in the military parade at Red Square in Moscow. The Indian parade will be led by a colonel rank officer. The 75-member Indian team will participate in the parade alongside armed forces personnel from at least 11 countries including China.

Rajnath Singh invited to grand military parade in Moscow on June 24

The Russian Military is on a mission to upgrade its nuclear arsenal. The Russians have tested a new missile - that can hit a target that was 2,100 kilometers away in Kazakhstan. Watch this story from Gravitas.

Gravitas: Russia flexes its nuclear muscle, tests a new intercontinental missile

Russia's&nbsp;military&nbsp;export sales have not fallen despite US&nbsp;sanctions, the head of state conglomerate&nbsp;Rostec&nbsp;said on Monday.

Rostec, whose business includes weapons manufacturer Kalashnikov as well as&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;Helicopters and United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), is among&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;firms that have been affected by&nbsp;sanctions&nbsp;imposed on the country over the annexation of Crimea from Ukraine and other factors.

Rosoboronexport, the state agency for&nbsp;exports&nbsp;and imports recorded&nbsp;military&nbsp;sales of $13.7 billion in 2018, slightly higher than the previous year,&nbsp;Rostec&nbsp;head Sergey Chemezov told reporters at the Dubai Airshow.

Sales for 2019 are expected to be like that of 2018 as the company has already recorded over $11 billion currently, he said.

“It is growing, that means our production is of higher quality and reliable.”

Chemezov said Russia would also continue its&nbsp;military&nbsp;cooperation with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates with several projects underway despite some western countries shunning the two Gulf states because of their role in the Yemen war.

Some countries such as Germany, Norway and others have restricted sale of arms to countries engaged in the Yemen war.

Russia always cooperates only with legitimate governments and has always advocated a diplomatic settlement of the conflict in Yemen. “At the same time, Saudi Arabia is our partner," Chemezov said.

Several projects are underway in cooperation with Saudi Arabia, including plans for a Kalashnikov plant in the Kingdom, he said, declining to give more details as negotiations are not yet completed.

Chemezov said there had been interested from the Middle East for Russia’s single-aisle passenger jet, the MC-21, that would compete with similar jets from Airbus and Boeing.&nbsp;Discussions are ongoing but no contract has been signed with any Middle East buyer, he said, declining to name potential customers.

Currently, there are orders for more than 170 of the planes, mostly from airlines in Russia.

“Regular production” of around 72 aircraft per year is planned. The first deliveries will begin in 2021, he said.

Asked whether an advance payment of $800 million was made by India to Russia relating to the S-400 long-range surface-to-air missile systems, Chemezov said the advance payment was done.&nbsp; “I don’t want to clarify the numbers, negotiations are underway, 2025 is the completion date.”

Russia's military export sales have not fallen despite US sanctions, the head of state conglomerate Rostec said on Monday. Rostec, whose business includes weapons manufacturer Kalashnikov as well as Russian Helicopters and United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), is among Russian firms that have been affected by sanctions imposed on the country over the annexation of Crimea from Ukraine and other factors.

Russia's military export sales have not fallen despite US sanctions, the head of state conglomerate Rostec said on Monday. Rostec, whose business includes weapons manufacturer Kalashnikov as well as Russian Helicopters and United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), is among Russian firms that have been affected by sanctions imposed on the country over the annexation of Crimea from Ukraine and other factors. Rosoboronexport, the state agency for exports and imports recorded military sales of $13.7 billion in 2018, slightly higher than the previous year, Rostec head Sergey Chemezov told reporters at the Dubai Airshow. Sales for 2019 are expected to be like that of 2018 as the company has already recorded over $11 billion currently, he said. “It is growing, that means our production is of higher quality and reliable.” Chemezov said Russia would also continue its military cooperation with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates with several projects underway despite some western countries shunning the two Gulf states because of their role in the Yemen war. Some countries such as Germany, Norway and others have restricted sale of arms to countries engaged in the Yemen war. Russia always cooperates only with legitimate governments and has always advocated a diplomatic settlement of the conflict in Yemen. “At the same time, Saudi Arabia is our partner," Chemezov said. Several projects are underway in cooperation with Saudi Arabia, including plans for a Kalashnikov plant in the Kingdom, he said, declining to give more details as negotiations are not yet completed. Chemezov said there had been interested from the Middle East for Russia’s single-aisle passenger jet, the MC-21, that would compete with similar jets from Airbus and Boeing. Discussions are ongoing but no contract has been signed with any Middle East buyer, he said, declining to name potential customers. Currently, there are orders for more than 170 of the planes, mostly from airlines in Russia. “Regular production” of around 72 aircraft per year is planned. The first deliveries will begin in 2021, he said. Asked whether an advance payment of $800 million was made by India to Russia relating to the S-400 long-range surface-to-air missile systems, Chemezov said the advance payment was done. “I don’t want to clarify the numbers, negotiations are underway, 2025 is the completion date.”

Russian military exports unaffected by United States sanctions: Rostec CEO

Russia staged large-scale aviation drills at the annexed Crimea peninsula this week with crews from Aerospace Forces from four Russian military districts and the Northern Fleet taking part.

Russia stages Airforce drills in annexed Crimea

A beluga whale found with a tight harness that appeared to be Russian made has raised the alarm of Norwegian officials and prompted speculation that the animal may have escaped from a Russian military facility. Watch this video to know more.

Norway fisherman removes harness from whale

Military tanks and other vehicles carrying missile launchers and weapons paraded through the streets of the Russian capital on Monday (April 29) as the country prepares to stage its annual Victory Day parade on Red Square.

Russian military might on display at WWII parade rehearsal in Moscow

Russian Defence Ministry on Thursday (April 11) published a video showing military drills in the annexed Crimean peninsula involving a battalion of S-400 missile defence systems.

Russia stages S-400 drills in annexed Crimea

Russia reaffirms presence in the Arctic

Russian rocket launched with secret military payload

US sanctions on Russian military exports have put the brakes on a $6 billion deal with India and may derail the arms purchases of other US allies around Asia, experts say.

Under a law that US President Donald Trump signed in August, any country trading with Russia's defence and intelligence sectors will face sanctions.

The law is designed to punish Russian President Vladimir Putin for the 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, involvement in the Syrian civil war and meddling in the 2016 US presidential election.

But American allies who buy weapons and equipment from Russia, the world's second-largest arms exporter, could suffer as well.

The highest-profile example is India, which wants to buy five S-400 long-range surface-to-air missile systems that the country's military sees as a game changer. The systems are touted as being able to counter the ballistic missiles and stealth aircraft that China is developing while overwhelming the capabilities of Pakistan, India's other main adversary.

The deal, which Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi struck as part of an inter-government agreement in 2016, has run headlong into the US sanctions law, two officials in Delhi said.

Indonesia and Vietnam also buy weapons from Russia while being regional partners of the United States. Jakarta closed a $1.14 billion pact for Sukhoi fighters recently, while Vietnam is seeking more jet fighter-bombers from Russia.

And with both Almaz-Antey Air and Space Defense Corporation, which makes the S-400, and Rosoboronexport, which negotiates Russian export deals, listed as under sanction, those deals have become trickier.

"The optics of a major arms purchase from Russia looks quite 'iffy' from the point of view of Western capitals, especially at a time when Russia-West relations are at an all-time low and India seeks strategic convergence with the West, including with the US" said Abhijnan Rej, a defence strategy expert at Observer Research Foundation, a New Delhi think tank.

The US-led airstrikes this month against facilities of the Syrian government, an ally of Russia, has further aggravated tensions between the superpowers.

A Russian source close to the Indian S-400 deal said: "a lot will depend on the confidence and sanity of our Indian partners."

Wider impact

The effects of the US sanctions law could be more sweeping than intended, said Cara Abercrombie, a visiting scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Vietnam, whose air force flies Russian-made Su-30 fighters and uses the S-300 air defence system, wants to continue modernising its inventory.

Vietnamese military scholar Carl Thayer said he believed Moscow was still pushing Hanoi to invest in state-of-the-art S-400 missile defences as part of its long-term military plans.

"I think it is clear that Russia is still pressing Vietnam for big deals," Thayer said, noting that the two countries already have had reciprocal visits by defence ministers this year.

But with the United States working hard to promote sales of American military hardware, and sanctions against Russia's exporting agencies, Vietnam's plans could prove overly costly. 
Indonesia, meanwhile, said the delivery of the first couple of Sukhoi Su-35 jets out of a total of 11 is on track for this year. Officials said that so far they did not anticipate any changes to the deal with the Russians.

Indonesian defence officials declined to describe what, if anything, they might do to tackle the fallout of the sanctions imposed on Russian arms sales.

A thorny problem

Indian foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale and defence secretary Sanjay Mitra held discussions with US officials in Washington last month to try to find a solution, a second Indian official said.

The issue is crucial to the Indian military, because without Russian parts, supplies and maintenance help, "our ships won't sail, our planes won't fly," the official said. "We can hardly be the regional security provider that America wants us to be at this rate."

One way to avoid secondary sanctions would be if the US determines that India is reducing its dependence on Russian arms, said Atman Trivedi, managing director of Hills & Company, a Washington-based firm that advises on international trade and investment.

Russian hardware represented 62 percent of the country's total weapons imports during the past five years, compared with 79 percent in 2008-2012, the Stockholm Peace Research Institute said in a report last month.

The US administration could also declare that imposing sanctions on India, a major defence partner, would hurt US national security interests. That would allow a waiver permitting India to do business with Russia.

The United States has emerged as India's No. 2 weapons supplier, closing $15 billion worth of deals over the last decade. Now Lockheed Martin and Boeing are leading the race to provide India with a fleet of new fighter-bombers, one of the world's largest open tenders.

"The intent of the legislation was never to disrupt US-India defence relations, which Congress has repeatedly recognised in law as a strategic priority to the US," said Benjamin Schwartz, aerospace and defence head at the United States India Business Council.

Abercrombie of Carnegie added that if Congress grants waivers to India, it may also need to do so for other countries such as Vietnam and Indonesia.

"The bottom line: India warrants an exemption from these secondary sanctions, as does any country with which the US is forging new and strategically important defence relations," she said.

India wants to buy five S-400 long-range surface-to-air missile systems that the country's military sees as a game changer.

US sanctions on Russian military exports have put the brakes on a $6 billion deal with India and may derail the arms purchases of other US allies around Asia, experts say. Under a law that US President Donald Trump signed in August, any country trading with Russia's defence and intelligence sectors will face sanctions. The law is designed to punish Russian President Vladimir Putin for the 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, involvement in the Syrian civil war and meddling in the 2016 US presidential election. But American allies who buy weapons and equipment from Russia, the world's second-largest arms exporter, could suffer as well. The highest-profile example is India, which wants to buy five S-400 long-range surface-to-air missile systems that the country's military sees as a game changer. The systems are touted as being able to counter the ballistic missiles and stealth aircraft that China is developing while overwhelming the capabilities of Pakistan, India's other main adversary. The deal, which Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi struck as part of an inter-government agreement in 2016, has run headlong into the US sanctions law, two officials in Delhi said. Indonesia and Vietnam also buy weapons from Russia while being regional partners of the United States. Jakarta closed a $1.14 billion pact for Sukhoi fighters recently, while Vietnam is seeking more jet fighter-bombers from Russia. And with both Almaz-Antey Air and Space Defense Corporation, which makes the S-400, and Rosoboronexport, which negotiates Russian export deals, listed as under sanction, those deals have become trickier. "The optics of a major arms purchase from Russia looks quite 'iffy' from the point of view of Western capitals, especially at a time when Russia-West relations are at an all-time low and India seeks strategic convergence with the West, including with the US" said Abhijnan Rej, a defence strategy expert at Observer Research Foundation, a New Delhi think tank. The US-led airstrikes this month against facilities of the Syrian government, an ally of Russia, has further aggravated tensions between the superpowers. A Russian source close to the Indian S-400 deal said: "a lot will depend on the confidence and sanity of our Indian partners." Wider impact The effects of the US sanctions law could be more sweeping than intended, said Cara Abercrombie, a visiting scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Vietnam, whose air force flies Russian-made Su-30 fighters and uses the S-300 air defence system, wants to continue modernising its inventory. Vietnamese military scholar Carl Thayer said he believed Moscow was still pushing Hanoi to invest in state-of-the-art S-400 missile defences as part of its long-term military plans. "I think it is clear that Russia is still pressing Vietnam for big deals," Thayer said, noting that the two countries already have had reciprocal visits by defence ministers this year. But with the United States working hard to promote sales of American military hardware, and sanctions against Russia's exporting agencies, Vietnam's plans could prove overly costly. Indonesia, meanwhile, said the delivery of the first couple of Sukhoi Su-35 jets out of a total of 11 is on track for this year. Officials said that so far they did not anticipate any changes to the deal with the Russians. Indonesian defence officials declined to describe what, if anything, they might do to tackle the fallout of the sanctions imposed on Russian arms sales. A thorny problem Indian foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale and defence secretary Sanjay Mitra held discussions with US officials in Washington last month to try to find a solution, a second Indian official said. The issue is crucial to the Indian military, because without Russian parts, supplies and maintenance help, "our ships won't sail, our planes won't fly," the official said. "We can hardly be the regional security provider that America wants us to be at this rate." One way to avoid secondary sanctions would be if the US determines that India is reducing its dependence on Russian arms, said Atman Trivedi, managing director of Hills & Company, a Washington-based firm that advises on international trade and investment. Russian hardware represented 62 percent of the country's total weapons imports during the past five years, compared with 79 percent in 2008-2012, the Stockholm Peace Research Institute said in a report last month. The US administration could also declare that imposing sanctions on India, a major defence partner, would hurt US national security interests. That would allow a waiver permitting India to do business with Russia. The United States has emerged as India's No. 2 weapons supplier, closing $15 billion worth of deals over the last decade. Now Lockheed Martin and Boeing are leading the race to provide India with a fleet of new fighter-bombers, one of the world's largest open tenders. "The intent of the legislation was never to disrupt US-India defence relations, which Congress has repeatedly recognised in law as a strategic priority to the US," said Benjamin Schwartz, aerospace and defence head at the United States India Business Council. Abercrombie of Carnegie added that if Congress grants waivers to India, it may also need to do so for other countries such as Vietnam and Indonesia. "The bottom line: India warrants an exemption from these secondary sanctions, as does any country with which the US is forging new and strategically important defence relations," she said.

US sanctions on Russian arms put brakes on $6 billion deal with India

The Russian military said late on Sunday that it had managed to evacuate 52 civilians, including 26 children, from Syria&#39;s rebel-held eastern Ghouta after talks with local authorities.

The civilians, inhabitants of the town of Misraba, were taken to a temporary refugee camp where they were receiving medical aid, the Russian military said in a statement.

The Russian military said late on Sunday that it had managed to evacuate 52 civilians, including 26 children

The Russian military said late on Sunday that it had managed to evacuate 52 civilians, including 26 children, from Syria's rebel-held eastern Ghouta after talks with local authorities. The civilians, inhabitants of the town of Misraba, were taken to a temporary refugee camp where they were receiving medical aid, the Russian military said in a statement.

Russian military says it evacuated 52 civilians from Syria's Ghouta

The Russian military said Tuesday that rebels were being allowed to leave Syria&#39;s Eastern Ghouta enclave via a humanitarian corridor together with their families and firearms, news agencies reported.

&quot;This time the humanitarian corridor was open not just for Eastern Ghouta&#39;s civilians but for fighters with their families,&quot; Russian military officer Vladimir Zolotukhin in Eastern Ghouta was quoted as saying.

&quot;Members of illegal armed groups are allowed to carry personal weapons,&quot; he added, without clarifying what options would be available to any rebels who arrived in the government-controlled zone.

Moscow has been managing a corridor out of the besieged Eastern Ghouta region for eight days, with a daily &quot;humanitarian pause&quot; between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm meant to encourage civilians to leave the zone.

But the plan, which was also supposed to give a chance for aid and medical supplies to reach those in need, has mostly failed to work as the region outside Damascus remains under continued regime bombardment.

Moscow has accused the rebels in Eastern Ghouta of blocking civilians from using the corridor. On Monday, only 13 people were able to exit the enclave together with a UN convoy, the Russian military said.&nbsp;

Zolotukhin said fire from rebel-controlled areas in the enclave hit a hospital in a Damascus suburb Monday but that attacks on the corridor subsided on Tuesday.

More than 780 civilians including 170 children have been killed since the Syrian regime launched the assault on Eastern Ghouta on February 18.

By early Tuesday, government troops controlled 40 percent of the enclave, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Fighters were allowed to leave with their families and firearms

The Russian military said Tuesday that rebels were being allowed to leave Syria's Eastern Ghouta enclave via a humanitarian corridor together with their families and firearms, news agencies reported. "This time the humanitarian corridor was open not just for Eastern Ghouta's civilians but for fighters with their families," Russian military officer Vladimir Zolotukhin in Eastern Ghouta was quoted as saying. "Members of illegal armed groups are allowed to carry personal weapons," he added, without clarifying what options would be available to any rebels who arrived in the government-controlled zone. Moscow has been managing a corridor out of the besieged Eastern Ghouta region for eight days, with a daily "humanitarian pause" between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm meant to encourage civilians to leave the zone. But the plan, which was also supposed to give a chance for aid and medical supplies to reach those in need, has mostly failed to work as the region outside Damascus remains under continued regime bombardment. Moscow has accused the rebels in Eastern Ghouta of blocking civilians from using the corridor. On Monday, only 13 people were able to exit the enclave together with a UN convoy, the Russian military said. Zolotukhin said fire from rebel-controlled areas in the enclave hit a hospital in a Damascus suburb Monday but that attacks on the corridor subsided on Tuesday. More than 780 civilians including 170 children have been killed since the Syrian regime launched the assault on Eastern Ghouta on February 18. By early Tuesday, government troops controlled 40 percent of the enclave, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Russia says rebels allowed to leave Syria's Eastern Ghouta: Agencies

Russian President <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-releases-putin-list-of-russians-eligible-for-sanctions-31216">Vladimir Putin in an array of video clips</a> unveiled a new range of nuclear weapons including intercontinental ballistic missile, a small nuclear warhead that could be attached to cruise missiles, underwater nuclear drones, a supersonic weapon and a laser weapon.

&quot;I can say that <a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-unveiling-ceremony-of-statue-of-mikhail-kalashnikov-the-russian-inventor-of-the-fabled-ak-47-assault-rifle-466">Russia has developed an unmanned submarine</a> that can operate at great depth,&quot; the Russian president said, adding ominously,&quot;it can travel transcontinental distance, with a speed many folds faster than conventional submarines, the most advanced torpedoes, and all types of ships, even the fastest.&quot;

&quot;This is absolutely fantastic,&quot; he declared excitedly.

The Russian president who will be fighting the next presidential elections due to be held in a few days in which he is widely expected to win drew huge cheers as he presented the next generation weapons to the Russian public.

&quot;Unmanned submarines can be armed with conventional and nuclear warheads, this allows them to strike a wide range of targets,&quot; Putin said.

&quot;Low attitude, difficult to notice cruise missile carrying a nuclear warhead, with a virtually unlimited range and an unpredictable trajectory and capability to bypass interception lines, it&#39;s invincible to all existing and prospective air defence and missile defence systems,&quot; he told the crowd as he displayed the images on a video screen.

The presentation made on a giant screen in central Moscow was not just a display of Russian military capability but a virtual vision of Putin&#39;s Russia projecting himself as a &quot;strong man&quot;.&nbsp;

&quot;The most important stage of development of modern arms systems is the creation of a high-precision, supersonic missile aerospace system that has no equivalents in the world.&quot;

&quot;Its tests have been successfully concluded,&quot; he added.

The Russian leader also voiced concerns about a new US&nbsp;nuclear doctrine, saying that Russia&#39;s own doctrine was defensive and only envisaged the use of nuclear weapons in response to an attack.

Russia has repeatedly said it is keen to hold talks with the United States about the &quot;balance&quot;&nbsp;of strategic nuclear power.

The Russian president who will be fighting the next presidential elections due to be held in a few days in which he is widely expected to win

Russian President Vladimir Putin in an array of video clips unveiled a new range of nuclear weapons including intercontinental ballistic missile, a small nuclear warhead that could be attached to cruise missiles, underwater nuclear drones, a supersonic weapon and a laser weapon. "I can say that Russia has developed an unmanned submarine that can operate at great depth," the Russian president said, adding ominously,"it can travel transcontinental distance, with a speed many folds faster than conventional submarines, the most advanced torpedoes, and all types of ships, even the fastest." "This is absolutely fantastic," he declared excitedly. The Russian president who will be fighting the next presidential elections due to be held in a few days in which he is widely expected to win drew huge cheers as he presented the next generation weapons to the Russian public. "Unmanned submarines can be armed with conventional and nuclear warheads, this allows them to strike a wide range of targets," Putin said. "Low attitude, difficult to notice cruise missile carrying a nuclear warhead, with a virtually unlimited range and an unpredictable trajectory and capability to bypass interception lines, it's invincible to all existing and prospective air defence and missile defence systems," he told the crowd as he displayed the images on a video screen. The presentation made on a giant screen in central Moscow was not just a display of Russian military capability but a virtual vision of Putin's Russia projecting himself as a "strong man". "The most important stage of development of modern arms systems is the creation of a high-precision, supersonic missile aerospace system that has no equivalents in the world." "Its tests have been successfully concluded," he added. The Russian leader also voiced concerns about a new US nuclear doctrine, saying that Russia's own doctrine was defensive and only envisaged the use of nuclear weapons in response to an attack. Russia has repeatedly said it is keen to hold talks with the United States about the "balance" of strategic nuclear power.

Watch: Putin makes stunning presentation on Russia's missile & nuclear capability

Russia on Thursday angrily reacted to British military &#39;&#39;escorting&quot; its aircraft carrier through the English Channel and its description as a &quot;ship of shame&quot;.&nbsp;

Britain&#39;s defence minister Michael Fallon had described Admiral Kuznetsov as a &quot;ship of shame&quot; for its role in Moscow&#39;s Syria operation and said his armed forces were watching it closely to protect British national security, Reuters&nbsp;reported.

&quot;The aim of such statements, and the kind of show being played out with the escort of our ships, is to distract the attention of British tax payers from the real state of the British Royal Navy,&quot; said Igor Konashenkov, spokesman for the Russian Defence Ministry.

<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IZwMONYUD7Y" width="560"></iframe></center>

Britain&#39;s Royal Air Force (RAF) Typhoon jets and a Royal Navy frigate escorted the Admiral Kuznetsov on Wednesday as it returned from a mission off Syria to its base in northern Russia.

&quot;Firstly, Russian naval vessels don&#39;t need senseless escort services. They know their navigating channel and heading,&quot; Konashenkov said in a statement.

&quot;Secondly, I would advise Mr Fallon to devote more attention to the British navy, especially since, as the English press recently noted, there are grounds for doing that.&quot;&nbsp;

He was referring to media reports that a test-firing of a missile from a British submarine off Florida last year had gone wrong, with the missile veering off course towards the US. 
&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from Reuters)

Britain's defence minister described the Russian vessel as a 'ship of shame' for its role in Moscow's Syria operation

Russia on Thursday angrily reacted to British military ''escorting" its aircraft carrier through the English Channel and its description as a "ship of shame". Britain's defence minister Michael Fallon had described Admiral Kuznetsov as a "ship of shame" for its role in Moscow's Syria operation and said his armed forces were watching it closely to protect British national security, Reuters reported. "The aim of such statements, and the kind of show being played out with the escort of our ships, is to distract the attention of British tax payers from the real state of the British Royal Navy," said Igor Konashenkov, spokesman for the Russian Defence Ministry. Britain's Royal Air Force (RAF) Typhoon jets and a Royal Navy frigate escorted the Admiral Kuznetsov on Wednesday as it returned from a mission off Syria to its base in northern Russia. "Firstly, Russian naval vessels don't need senseless escort services. They know their navigating channel and heading," Konashenkov said in a statement. "Secondly, I would advise Mr Fallon to devote more attention to the British navy, especially since, as the English press recently noted, there are grounds for doing that." He was referring to media reports that a test-firing of a missile from a British submarine off Florida last year had gone wrong, with the missile veering off course towards the US. (WION with inputs from Reuters)

British, Russia stand-off on the English Channel

Russian forces arrived in Pakistan on Friday for their first-ever joint military exercise with the Pakistani Army, reported the Hindustan Times. 
 
Lieutenant-General Asim Saleem Bajwa, the director-general of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Armed Forces, tweeted photographs of the Russian forces after they arrived in Rawalpindi.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
A contingent of Russian ground forces arrived Pak for 1st ever Pak- Russian joint exercise (2 weeks) from 24 Sep to 10 Oct 2016 <a href="https://t.co/eWzQMlENL6">pic.twitter.com/eWzQMlENL6</a>
&mdash; Gen Asim Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/AsimBajwaISPR/status/779189706672275456">September 23, 2016</a></blockquote>
 
The joint military exercise, starting on September 24, was earlier reported to have been cancelled in the wake of the September 18 attack on an Indian army base in Jammu and Kashmir that left 18 soldiers dead. 
 
The military drill named &lsquo;Friendship 2016&rsquo; is a first between the two countries. It will continue till October 7, according to the Pakistan media. 
 
The drill will be held in&nbsp;Cherat&nbsp;located in the Khyber Pakhuntkwa province of Pakistan. 
 
About 200 soldiers from each side will take part in the two-week war-game, reported the Hindustan Times. 
 
(WION) 
 
&nbsp;

The military drill named 'Friendship 2016' was earlier reported to have been cancelled following the Uri attack

Russian forces arrived in Pakistan on Friday for their first-ever joint military exercise with the Pakistani Army, reported the Hindustan Times. Lieutenant-General Asim Saleem Bajwa, the director-general of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Armed Forces, tweeted photographs of the Russian forces after they arrived in Rawalpindi. A contingent of Russian ground forces arrived Pak for 1st ever Pak- Russian joint exercise (2 weeks) from 24 Sep to 10 Oct 2016 pic.twitter.com/eWzQMlENL6 — Gen Asim Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) September 23, 2016 The joint military exercise, starting on September 24, was earlier reported to have been cancelled in the wake of the September 18 attack on an Indian army base in Jammu and Kashmir that left 18 soldiers dead. The military drill named ‘Friendship 2016’ is a first between the two countries. It will continue till October 7, according to the Pakistan media. The drill will be held in Cherat located in the Khyber Pakhuntkwa province of Pakistan. About 200 soldiers from each side will take part in the two-week war-game, reported the Hindustan Times. (WION)

Russian forces arrive in Pakistan for first-ever joint military exercise

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