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☆ Russia may be stepping up its jamming attacks on NATO countries to 'learn and test' them, general says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia may be behind a rise in jamming attacks on neighboring countries, a top general said. AdvertisementRussia may be behind a surge in jamming attacks on neighboring countries with the goal of experimenting with them, a senior NATO general said. Herem's guess is that Russia is testing its electronic warfare systems on neighboring countries in anticipation of a future confrontation with NATO. Advertisement"Russia has demonstrated its electronic warfare capabilities elsewhere, not just in Ukraine and the Baltic countries," Herem told the outlet. Joakim Paasikivi of the Swedish Defense University said at the time that the interference in neighboring countries was probably caused by Russia.

Persons: Martin Herem, —, Herem, Joakim Paasikivi, Paasikivi, Jukka Savolainen, Elon Musk's, haven't Organizations: Bloomberg, Service, Estonian Defense Forces, NATO, Institute for, Swedish Defense University, SVT, Finnish Center of Excellence, Warfare, Space Watch, Elon, KU Locations: Russia, Finland, Poland, NATO, Ukraine, Baltic, Swedish, Leer

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia's science and higher education ministry has dismissed the head of a prestigious genetics institute who sparked controversy by contending that humans once lived for centuries and that the shorter lives of modern humans are due to their ancestors' sins, state news agency RIA-Novosti said Thursday. Although the report did not give a reason for the firing of Alexander Kudryavtsev, the influential Russian Orthodox Church called it religious discrimination. He also claimed that children “up to the seventh generation are responsible for the sins of their fathers,” according to the Russian news website Meduza. Political Cartoons View All 253 Images“We have already gone through Soviet times, when genetics was long considered a pseudoscience,” Lukyanov said. The Soviet Union under Josef Stalin suppressed conventional genetics in favor of the theories of Trofim Lysenko, who contended that acquired characteristics could be inherited by offspring.

Persons: Alexander Kudryavtsev, Fyodor Lukyanov, “, ” Lukyanov, Josef Stalin, Trofim Lysenko Organizations: MOSCOW, Novosti, Russian Academy of Science's Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, RIA, Soviet Locations: Russian

☆ Russia is stuffing an elite paratrooper force with poorly trained troops that are eroding its power, UK intel says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Russia is sending a new division of its VDV paratrooper force into Ukraine, the UK MOD said. AdvertisementRussia's once-elite paratrooper force is being padded out with low-quality soldiers that are eroding its elite status, according to UK intelligence. The UK Ministry of Defence gave an intelligence update on Thursday on the VDV — Russia's once-revered paratrooper force. It would bring the number of VDV division up to five, from its previous level of four, per the update. AdvertisementBut this division will "likely be poorly trained and is unlikely to meet the erstwhile elite standards of the VDV," the MOD said.

Persons: —, Russia's, GAD Organizations: MOD, Service, UK Ministry of Defence, 104th Guards Airborne Division, Business Locations: Russia, Ukraine, US, Kherson Oblast

LONDON (AP) — Russia's State Duma took a step forward Wednesday towards approving its biggest-ever federal budget which will increase spending by around 25% in 2024, with record amounts going on defense. Part of the Russian budget is secret as the Kremlin tries to conceal its military plans and sidestep scrutiny of its war in Ukraine. Analysts suggest Russia is in third place globally for defense spending behind China and the United States, which spends around $850 billion a year. The main driver of that growth is Russia's war in Ukraine, which is now as important to the Kremlin economically as it is politically. If there is a reduction in military spending, or a need to reduce spending which impacts living standards, it could send shockwaves through the Russian economy and significantly impact ordinary people.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, ”, Richard Connolly, Farida Rustamova, Maksim Tovkaylo, Alexandra Prokopenko, Anton Siluanov, “, Connolly, they’ve, ” Prokopenko, Prokopenko, — — David McHugh Organizations: —, Duma, Kremlin, Royal United Services Institute, Independent, Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, Russian Central Bank, Finance, Defense, Central Bank Locations: — Russia's, Russia, Ukraine, London, China, United States, Russian, West, India, Berlin, Frankfurt

☆ Putin says Russia got its troubled nuclear-powered cruise missile to work after years of failure and a deadly disaster
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Chris Panella | Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Putin says Russia tested an experimental nuclear-powered cruise missile. AdvertisementAdvertisementRussian leadership claims the country tested one of its new "super weapons," specifically the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile, and it purportedly worked. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the latest test of the cruise missile at the Valdai International Discussion Club, Russian state media reported on Thursday. Russia conducted a "successful test" of the "Burevestnik nuclear-powered global-range cruise missile," Putin said, per an AP translation of his remarks. The one-of-a-kind cruise missile has had a troubled history.

Persons: Putin, —, Vladimir Putin, didn't, SERGEI GUNEYEV, Moscow, Donald Trump Organizations: Service, The New York Times, Russian Navy, Ukraine's, Sputnik, Getty, New York Times, CNBC, NATO, State Department Locations: Russia, Russian, Sochi, Moscow, United States, Nenoksa

☆ Ukraine's attacks on Crimea are hurting sales of Russia's S-400 air defense system, spy chief claims
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( Charles R. Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Recent attacks on Crimea may end up hurting Russia's defense industry, Ukraine's spy chief said. Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov said the attacks show "the obvious inability of Russian air defense systems." Ukraine has short-term military objectives being served by preoccupying — and destroying — Russia's air defense capabilities, Budanov said. But, he said, "from the political standpoint, we're also demonstrating the obvious inability of Russian air defense systems, which respectively makes them less lucrative on the world arms markets." "[W]hen the whole world sees that some drones are attacking Moscow, nobody wants to buy Russia air defense systems any longer," he said.

Persons: Ukraine's, Kyrylo Budanov, Budanov, Russia's, there's, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, preoccupying —, we're Organizations: Service, CNN, Institute for, NATO Locations: Crimea, Moscow, Wall, Silicon, Ukraine, Russia, Sevastopol, Washington, Olenivka, Crimean, Yevpatoriya, Turkey, Ankara, India, Kyiv

Western officials saw the summit with North Korea as an effort by Putin to secure a potential arms bonanza for his military. North Korea also could increase its ammunition production at Russia’s behest. Yang Uk, a security expert at South Korea’s Asan Institute for Policy Studies, noted that in addition to Soviet-designed armaments, North Korea also could share some of its latest military equipment. “There isn’t really much left in the policy toolbox in terms of addressing the challenges specifically from Russia and North Korea,” Park observed. It’s just basically not implementing sanctions.”A major factor Russia needs to consider while it seeks to expand ties with North Korea is China, Pyongyang's No.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, Putin, Kim, Josef Stalin, Kim Il Sung, ”, John Park, Harvard Kennedy, it’s, James O’Brien, James Nixey, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, “, Yang Uk, ” Yang, Leif, Eric Easley, “ Putin, ” Nixey, Antonio Guterres, “ It’s, It’s, Danica Kirka, Emma Burrows, Kim Tong, hyung, Kim Hyung Organizations: North, Putin, Harvard, U.S . State Department, Chatham House, South Korea’s Asan Institute, Policy Studies, Ewha University, U.S, Observers, Associated Press Locations: Pyongyang, Ukraine, Moscow, Asia, Korean, Korea, Russia, North Korea, ”, “, Eurasia, London, U.S, Central, Eastern Europe, South Korea’s, Soviet, Vostochny, Seoul, China, South Korea, Europe, Washington, russia, ukraine

☆ Forensic tests prove Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin died in a plane crash, Russian officials say
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-27 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Russia's Investigative Committee said it had confirmed the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin. The founder of the mercenary group Wagner was on board a plane crash that crashed on Wednesday. The statement did not offer any explanation as to why the plane had crashed. The statement didn't offer any details as to what might have caused the crash. The Kremlin cut a deal with Prigozhin to end the armed revolt that allowed him to walk free without any charges levied against him.

Persons: Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagner, —, Svetlana Petrenko, Prigozhin, Vladimir Putin Organizations: Service Locations: Wall, Silicon, MOSCOW

☆ Ukraine says it busted an all-female spy ring who fed crucial military intelligence to Russia and the Wagner Group
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ukraine says it's uncovered an all-female spy ring that passed military information to Russia. Ukraine's intelligence service said they were feeding Russia info on troop and vehicle movements. The group, based in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region, passed information on to both the FSB — Russia's main spy agency — and the pro-Russian mercenary Wagner Group, according to the announcement. The purported plan was foiled due to the SBU gaining advanced knowledge and putting on extra security measures, the agency said. It is unclear if the woman arrested was part of this alleged spy ring.

Persons: it's, —, Wagner, unmasking, Volodymyr Zelenskyy Organizations: Service, Counterintelligence, Ukraine's Security Service, Wagner Group Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Wall, Silicon, Ukraine's Donetsk, Ukrainian, Pokrovsk, Donetsk, Russian, Mykolaiv

☆ The world is back to July 2022 — Russia's junked a vital food grain deal and Europe may be teetering on the brink of another energy crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Russia said it would not extend the Black Sea grain deal that allows food exports out of Ukraine. IEA warned on Monday Europe could face an energy crisis this winter if Russian gas supplies are cut. As a result, the Black Sea grain deal was scuppered. Prices fell back to pre-war levels when the Black Sea grain deal was struck. "Fierce competition for gas supplies could also emerge if Northeast Asia experiences colder-than-usual weather and economic growth is stronger than expected in China."

Persons: It's, Dmitry Peskov Organizations: Service, Kremlin, TASS, UN, International Energy Agency, European Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Europe, Russian, Moscow, Asia, China, EU

☆ Grenada's passport-selling boom offering rich Russians a Caribbean shortcut to US visas could be over
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-09 | by ( Nathan Rennolds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Grenada runs a "Citizenship by Investment" program, offering a "golden passport" from $150,000. Demand for the program surged following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Russians called up as part of the partial mobilization go through military training in Rostov on October 21, 2022. But Grenada has flip-flopped on its decision to allow Russians to take part in the program. The office for the Grenada Citizenship by Investment program did not respond to Insider's request for comment.

Persons: Richard Hallam, —, Arkady Budnitsky, Irina Batrakova Organizations: Investment, Service, Privacy, Transformation Fund, Bloomberg, Grenada's Ministry of Finance, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Batrakova, Grenada Citizenship Locations: Grenada, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Russia, Russians, Rostov

☆ There are more F-35s flying today than all other stealth aircraft combined
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Alex Hollings | Sandboxx News | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

But with over 890 F-35s delivered, there are more of them flying than all other stealth aircraft. With more than 890 F-35s delivered to date, there are more of these advanced fighters flying for nations around the world today than all other stealth aircraft on the planet ... combined. Jerod Harris/Getty ImagesAlthough the world's first stealth aircraft to enter operational service, the F-117 Nighthawk, began flying four decades ago now, the number of different stealth platforms in service today remains relatively small. There are about twice as many F-35s today than all other stealth aircraft combinedBritish Royal Air Force F-35s and a US Air Force B-2 fly along the English coast near Dover. Here are the tallies of stealth aircraft in service today, from most to least:

☆ Terrifying video of Russian plane losing cabin pressure mid-flight shows how dangerous it's gotten to fly in Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A video of the incident shows panicked passengers with oxygen masks on their faces. An expert told Insider that Western jets are deteriorating due to a lack of servicing and parts. Musician Andrey Saltanov, who was also on the flight and verified the video to Insider, said: "The plane turned out to be ancient. The main federal investigating authority in Russia told RIA Novosti that the flight was forced to land "due to depressurization of the aircraft cabin," adding that an investigation is ongoing. One expert told Insider that flying in Russia could become increasingly dangerous.

☆ Terrifying video shows a Russian plane losing cabin pressure mid-flight — showing how dangerous it's gotten to fly in Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A video of the incident shows panicked passengers with oxygen masks on their faces. An expert told Insider that Western jets are deteriorating due to a lack of servicing and parts. The main federal investigating authority in Russia told RIA Novosti that the flight was forced to land "due to depressurization of the aircraft cabin," adding that an investigation is ongoing. One expert told Insider that flying in Russia could become increasingly dangerous. "Access to spare parts, which are sanctioned, is very limited," Denis Brailsford, the head of asset management at the UK's leading aviation consultancy group IBA, told Insider.

☆ Russia's economy has finally fallen into recession, 8 months after it invaded Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Russia's GDP fell 4% on-year in the third quarter of 2022 — its second straight quarterly decline. This followed a 4.1% year-on-year decline in its second-quarter GDP — meaning the country has fallen into a technical recession after two straight quarterly contractions. Nabiullina's assessment of the economy followed months of intensifying sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. And while firm energy prices had propped up Russia's economy for a while, the tide seems to be turning — in part, due to President Vladimir Putin's partial mobilization order that sent many fleeing the draft. Russia's central bank expects the country's economy to contract by 3% to 3.5% in 2022, Nabiullina said on Tuesday, according to an official transcript.

☆ A failed war helped bring down the Soviet Union. Now Putin's failing war in Ukraine might set Russia up for a bleak future.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Joy Neumeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

The Soviet Union's war in Afghanistan and Russia's current war in Ukraine have obvious similarities in their disastrous planning and execution. In the 1990s, Afghanistan veterans' sense of aggrievement fused with that of veterans returning from Boris Yeltsin's war in Chechnya. Putin's war, Russia's futurePutin meets soldiers at a military training center outside the town of Ryazan in October. While glasnost-era revelations about the Soviet war shocked the country into supporting withdrawal, these days there is little left to expose. Public self-criticism surrounding the Soviet war in Afghanistan, however brief and contested, shows that reassessment of imperial ambitions is possible.

☆ Crisis-hit Sri Lanka — which ran out of fuel earlier this year — snaps up cheap Russian oil for the first time ever
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Sri Lanka has been buying large amounts of Russian crude since March 2022. Three months ago, Sri Lanka said it was sending an official delegation to Russia to negotiate oil deals amid a crippling fuel shortage. But it's just one of the emerging markets dealing with economic crises now lining up to buy discounted Russian oil. It's unlikely that Sri Lanka had ever purchased Russian crude before March this year, Kpler's lead crude analyst Viktor Katona said. The US has banned Russian crude and the European Union set to implement an oil embargo on Russian oil by the end of the year.

☆ The war in Ukraine may keep Russia's new Su-75 stealth fighter jet out of the air
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-09 | by ( Maya Carlin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The Su-75 "Checkmate" is Russia's attempt at building a fifth-generation fighter for export. Originally revealed at the MAKS Airshow last year, the Su-75 was hailed as a solid move by Russia's United Aerospace Corporation, building off the Su-57 platform — Russia's first fifth-generation fighter. Stats and specsA Su-75 Checkmate prototype at MAKS-2021 in July 2021. They note that "The Checkmate fighter is outfitted with versatile armaments capable of fighting any threat: from unsheltered command posts to especially sensitive targets for a potential enemy." Additionally, if the production estimates of the Su-75 continue to be delayed, foreign clients may look elsewhere to fulfill their fighter needs.

☆ Airline tickets could become even more expensive, aviation execs warn
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Walsh added that while consumers are paying higher ticket prices, airlines are not necessarily making a profit. watch nowAirline ticket prices have spiked by 25% in the past year — the biggest annual jump since 1989. Russia-Ukraine warBut another factor could contribute to even higher ticket prices — Russia's announcement of a military mobilization, said Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker. Oil prices jumped by more than 2% after Putin's announcement, following concerns of an escalation of the war in Ukraine and squeezing oil and gas supplies. Hopes for affordable sustainable fuelAl Baker called for more investments in alternative fuel, and that Qatar Airlines is "ready to invest in sustainable aviation fuel" on the condition that it is "reasonably priced."

☆ A former top Russian finance official says Western sanctions have been at most 40% effective — but says economic growth will be interrupted for years
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Sanctions against Russia have been 30% to 40% effective, a former finance official told Reuters. His comments come as Russia's economy continues to appear resilient almost seven months into trade restrictions. While sanctions have not been entirely effectively, Vyugin told Reuters that "the main result of sanctions is that the economic growth process in Russia has been interrupted for several years." Russia's economy ministry expects GDP to contract by 2.9% in 2022, a government official said earlier in September, per Reuters. This will apply to the tech sector, where Russia is reliant on imports, Vyugin told the news agency.

☆ Even as the West tries to wean itself off Russian oil, Moscow has found itself yet another buyer: Myanmar
▼ + stars: | 2022-08-19 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Myanmar is buying Russian oil, which it says is "high-quality" and cheap. This time, Myanmar is joining the line to buy Russian gas and fuel oil, according to Reuters and Bloomberg. He said military chief Min Aung Hlaing sealed a fuel oil deal with Russia during a trip to Moscow in July. Russian fuel oil exports are expected to start arriving in Myanmar in September, Reuters reported, citing local media. Myanmar is the latest in a list of crisis-hit countries — including Sri Lanka and Laos — to actively seek out Russian oil.

☆ Everything you need to know about silovarchs — Russia's security elites — and the power they wield
▼ + stars: | 2022-04-10 | by ( Sam Tabahriti | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Russia's security elites are silovarchs, a term combining "oligarch" and "siloviki" ("people of force.") Analyst Hugo Crosthwaite said silovarchs are closer to President Vladimir Putin than oligarchs. According to Treisman, oligarchs do not hold a great deal of political influence, while silovarchs are more powerful. Table of Silovarchs Viktor Ivanov – former chair of the board for Almaz-Antei and Aeroflot – had a career in Soviet KGB and Russian FSB. Rashid Nurgaliev– former interior minister and deputy secretary of the Security Council – is Army General and worked for the FSB.

☆ The US pledged to 'defend every inch of NATO territory' after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. So which countries does that include?
▼ + stars: | 2022-02-25 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

The US and NATO pledged to protect "every inch of NATO territory" amid Russia's assault on Ukraine. "Our forces are not going to Europe to fight in Ukraine, but to defend our NATO allies." But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has appealed directly to NATO members in the year since Russia's invasion — a plea, he said, that was initially met with silence. Allowing Ukraine to join NATO at the current moment would require all NATO members to come to Ukraine's immediate defense, prompting near-global war against Russia. Here is a full list of NATO members and the year they joined the organization:

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