Israel told Russia ahead of a possible invasion of Ukraine it will need help in evacuating its citizens & diplomats from the country. Israeli officials said the message was passed today in a phone call between foreign ministry DG @AlonUshpiz & Russian DFM Bogdanov
2 year agoNew @Maxar satellite images from the past 48 hours continue to show heightened military activity in Belarus, Crimea, and western Russia. Pics below are from Feb. 15 and show a new pontoon bridge over the Prypyat River in Belarus
WSJ reported that Saudi is snubbing US demands to up production, sticking with Russia, member of OPEC+
Russia continues to build up military capabilities near Ukraine, including armored vehicles, helicopters, and a field hospital: Britain's top defense intel official "Russia has the military mass in place to conduct an invasion of Ukraine" said Lt Gen Sir Jim Hockenhull
2 year agoThere's been some imagery going around social media that is allegedly the "counter-measure" Russia used to ward off what Moscow says was a US submarine in its territorial waters in the Pacific (see below). The US military now says it's classic Russian MOD misinformation
The State Dept has stood up a task force on Ukraine in recent days, says @StateDeptSpox. He says it's a large team operating. Task forces are often stood up at the department to coordinate response to high-level situations, often crises, that cut across bureaus & agencies
.@StateDeptSpox Ned Price says Russia is spreading falsehoods, making up false claims of "genocide" of ethnic Russians in eastern Ukraine-possibly as a pretext for another invasion
"We are particularly concerned" of mention by President Putin and others about baseless claims of "genocide" in Donbas as a pretext for military action by Russia in Ukraine, adds @StateDeptSpox
2 year ago"More Russian forces, not fewer" at the border with Ukraine and they're "moving into fighting position," according to @StateDeptSpox
The @StateDept announces that @SecBlinken will travel to Germany for the Munich Security Conference @MunSecConf-coordinating with allies on Russia's threat to Ukraine will be high on the agenda
2 year agoSentinel-1 shows signs of activity at the outskirts of Oktyabrskiy, Belgorod Oblast
US has a range of options in response if Russia recognizes Luhansk as an independent republic, says @PressSec
Ukraine's Defence Minister says latest intelligence report shows no evidence of Russian withdrawal, still has 140,000 troops near borders
In Moscow, Russia, the security agencies detained prominent political commentator, professor Valery Solovey @V_Solovey on a criminal charge of inciting hatred. They also detained his son Pavel. Police searched their homes and seized devices
CNN has learned a Navy P-8 had an "extremely close" encounter with multiple Russian military jets over international waters in Med this weekend, according to multiple US officials. Maneuvers by the Russians were described as "unsafe and unprofessional."
Ukrainian FM Dmytro Kuleba: We continue to demand transparency from Russia, which ignored yesterday's meeting in the framework of the Vienna Document
Russia has 'just as many troops' as before on Ukraine border: French foreign minister
2 year agoNATO chief Stoltenberg: "What we see today is that Russia maintains a massive invasion force ready to attack”
"Over the last several years, we have observed and documented a host of malicious activity conducted by Russian state-sponsored cyber actors targeting US critical infrastructure" per @CISAJen in statement
2 year ago.@CISAgov @FBI @NSAGov warn Russia cyber actors targeting defense contractors with: - Brute force techniques; - Spearphishing emails; - Harvested credentials; - Mapping Active Directory; - Maintaining access for months
.@CISAgov @FBI @NSAGov issuing cybersecuurity advisory on Russia targeting US defense contractors supporting @USArmy @usairforce @USNavy @SpaceForceDoD & intelligence agencies Goal was to get info on weapons development, communications infrastructure, research & more
NATO defense ministers say they are "gravely concerned" by Russia's "large scale, unprovoked and unjustified" military build up around Ukraine. "Russia's actions pose a serious threat to Euro-Atlantic security," the stmt says
.@jensstoltenberg says Russia's military moves show it is willing to contest the fundamental principles of Europe's security, including by using force. "This is the new normal in Europe
Speaking in Brussels, NATO's @jensstoltenberg calls the Russian threat vs Ukraine the "most serious security crisis in decades." "There are signs from Moscow diplomacy should continue. But so far we see no signs of de-escalation on the ground, not troops or equipment
2 year agoTos-1A at Zolotukhino station. Kursk Oblast
2 year agoThese aggressive remarks by a spokesperson from China's MOFA during today's briefing are quite telling--an indication that China is further backing up Russia's rhetoric over Ukraine
2 year agoTanks filmed in Tomarovka, Belgorod region
2 year agoMilitary equipment possible in the forest near Unecha, Bryansk region
Russia's Investigative Committee claims mass graves of hundreds of civilians killed by Ukrainian shelling found
The Russian Security Council said that the West is conducting a carefully planned information operation against Russia, as on the eve of the American invasion of Iraq, it is aimed at limiting the combat training of Russian troops
