Russia to set up Pacific Heavy Bomber Division to patrol seas near Japan, Hawaii, and Guam

Russia’s Ministry of Defence announced on 6 October the formation of a new long-range Heavy Bomber Division (Tyazheloy Bombardirovochnoy Aviatsionnoy Divizii, or HBD/TBAD). Stationed in the Far East, the unit’s role is to patrol the Pacific Ocean and, in particular, sea areas near to Japan, Hawaii, and Guam.

Russian Military Expert: ‘Russia Is Creating Three Strong Army Groups On The Border With Ukraine… Capable… Of Launching A Quick Strike In The Direction Of Kiev’

Russia- Ukraine border with potential directions of Russian attacks (source: Royal United Services Institute)

 

On July 15, the Russian daily Vedomosti published an article by a Russian military expert, Ruslan Pukhov, about Russian military planning objectives.[1] In his article, Pukhov explains that the concern exhibited by NATO members about the Baltic States’ security is misplaced, as Russia did not take any significant measure to bolster its military presence in the Kaliningrad region bordering on the Baltics. On the contrary, Russian forces were radically reduced in the area. 

Pukhov stressed that Russia avoids being drawn into a direct military rivalry with the West, but concentrates its forces around its main and fundamental security issue: Ukraine. Pukhov wrote that Russia is creating three strong army groups on its border with Ukraine, which are capable, if necessary, of launching a quick strike in the direction of Kiev. Therefore, Pukhov explained, current Russian military planning is divorced from any ‘threat from NATO’ or ‘threat to NATO’, but is geared towards creating a powerful force on the Ukrainian border, “which will allow the Kremlin to expand the range of possible [military] force options to the Ukrainian situation.”

95,000 Russian troops in massive military drill

Russia on Monday launched its largest military exercises of the year, Centre-2015, involving some 95,000 soldiers including ground troops, navy and airforce units.

The long-announced war games are “the most large-scale drill of 2015,” the defence ministry said.

Russia has recently intensified snap checks of its military might, testing its capabilities from the Arctic to the Far East as relations with the West have plunged to a post-Cold War low over the Ukraine crisis.

Year’s largest military drills kick off in Russia

MOSCOW, September 14. /TASS/. The Center-2015 strategic command and staff drills involving tens of thousands of servicemen have started on Monday in Russia’s Urals, the commander of the Central Military District has said.

Camouflage Skill: Russian Armed Forces Made Airfield Disappear for Hours

During exercises of the chemical and biological corps in the Samara region, army forces managed to make a highly critical facility invisible for a long time period. It was made invisible against visual intelligence and missile detection systems.

The ‘critical facility’ is a term used by specialists to describe a large military airfield, army headquarters and control bases, bridges of strategic importance, electric stations and other vital military infrastructure.

Russia to Deploy Armata Tanks, APCs, Air-Defense Missiles in Arctic

 

“Commanding officers of the Defense Ministry’s Transport Service will be meeting in Moscow on Tuesday to discuss the transport on railway platforms of Pantsir air defense missile complexes, Armata tanks, armored vehicles and other weapons systems to military units deployed in the country’s Arctic regions,” the statement said.

In all, nearly 70 officers from the Southern, Western, Central and Eastern Military Districts, as well as the Northern Fleet, will be taking part in the meeting.

Russia launches massive air force exercise with 250 aircraft

It’s common sense that with Russia announcing 4,000 military drills for 2015 — that’s 11 per day — that you cannot keep such a military running on high adrenaline and so intensely for so long without letting the pressure out. This is not to say war is on the horizon, but you normally wouldn’t do such a thing unless you’re preparing for one on a massive scale. Vladimir Putin must make good on his promises to defend Russian interests against the West at all costs, otherwise he’s out. He also wouldn’t be in power now if he didn’t tow the line of his handlers.

 

The Defense Ministry said in a statement Monday the drills will involve air force and air defense units of the Central, Western and Southern Military Districts totaling 12,000 servicemen. Combat aircraft will deploy to temporary bases and air defense systems will be sent to the Ashuluk and Kapustin Yar shooting ranges in southern Russia for training with live ammunition.

Vladimir Putin orders Russian troops onto ‘combat alert’ as Ukraine fighting spills across border

Tensions between Moscow and Kiev continue to mount with Vladimir Putin’s latest show of force as Russia dismisses Petro Poroshenko’s “peace plan” as an ultimatum

Vladimir Putin has ordered troops in central Russia onto “combat alert” in snap military drills a day after confirming the country is beefing up its presence on the Ukrainian border.