NewzIntel.com

Category: Russian Federation

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Urgent: All relevant parties should work to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East as soon as possible – Xi Jinping

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    ASTANA, June 17 (Xinhua) — All relevant parties should work to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East as soon as possible and prevent further escalation, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Tuesday during a meeting with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on the sidelines of the second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan.

    He said China was deeply concerned that Israel’s military strikes on Iran had led to a sudden escalation of tensions in the Middle East, adding that China opposed any action that violated the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of other countries.

    Military conflicts are not a solution to problems, and the escalation of the regional situation does not meet the common interests of the international community, the Chinese leader noted.

    China is ready to work with all parties to play a constructive role in restoring peace and stability in the Middle East, he said. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Power of Siberia 2 project remains relevant – Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation A. Novak

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Moscow, June 17 /Xinhua/ – China’s rapid economic development also implies an increase in gas consumption as a more environmentally friendly alternative to coal. Russia is one of the main suppliers of this fuel to China. Therefore, the Power of Siberia 2 project remains relevant. This was stated by Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alexander Novak in an interview with the Vedomosti newspaper.

    “China is one of the largest energy consumers in the world, and its rapid economic development, industrial growth and urbanization contribute to the constant increase in energy demand. Particularly noticeable is the growing role of natural gas, which is used as a more environmentally friendly alternative to coal,” A. Novak said.

    “The role of renewable energy sources has also increased significantly in China’s energy sector in recent years – the country is the undisputed leader in terms of installed solar and wind power generation capacity,” he noted, adding that the growth in the use of renewable energy sources does not mean abandoning natural gas. Gas is expected to be used as a “balancing” fuel in cases of insufficient electricity generation from renewable sources and will remain a guarantor of China’s energy security.

    Russia, which is the leader in natural gas reserves, remains one of the main suppliers of this fuel to China. “In this regard, the Power of Siberia 2 project undoubtedly remains relevant,” A. Novak emphasized. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Moscow Transport Advanced Development Center has turned 1 year old.

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    During this time, the technological and comfortable space has become a place where the transport of the future is created.

    The Center’s specialists successfully:

    The first unmanned tram in Russia has been launched. This fall, it will begin to operate regularly on a route with passengers.

    We have begun preparations for the launch of an unmanned metro train. At the first stage, which is planned for 2025, we will study the process of movement, stops, as well as opening and closing doors.

    We have developed technology for an unmanned police boat that will be able to automatically record violations on Moscow rivers.

    The first ticket systems laboratory in Russia tested automatic activation of online replenishment of the Troika and Muscovite cards, as well as the virtual Troika.

    “In May 2024, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin opened the Center for Advanced Development in the Kuntsevo district. Here, professionals with experience in leading Russian and international companies are implementing the most modern innovations in urban transport. The center has become not only an IT cluster for breakthrough projects, but also an adornment of the district, a place where you can gain new knowledge and exchange experiences. Since its opening, more than 30 lectures have been held here, attended by over 1.2 thousand people. Most of the listeners were interested in the topics of creating navigation, developing passenger services, as well as the history of the capital’s transport,” added Maxim Liksutov.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: A look into the future: the State University of Management will create a new methodology for demographic monitoring in Russia

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    The research team of the Research Institute of Public Policy and Management of the Sectoral Economy of the State University of Management, under the leadership of Director Oleg Sudorgin, is developing a methodology for demographic monitoring in the Russian Federation.

    The demographic situation is one of the key factors determining the future of Russia. The current family and demographic policy, which includes numerous measures to support the birth rate, including at the regional level, does not always take into account the underlying factors associated with the motivation to have children and create a large family. In connection with the adoption by the Government of the Russian Federation of the “Strategy of Actions for the Implementation of Family and Demographic Policy, Support of Large Families in the Russian Federation until 2036”, the project of the research team of the State University of Management is becoming especially relevant. The methodology being developed will take into account the analysis of key factors influencing demography (including indirect ones) and identify reserves for increasing the effectiveness of demographic policy.

    Within the framework of the project, specialized software will be developed based on the methods of decision theory and models of operations research, which will allow for an objective assessment of various activities within the demographic agenda and monitoring. This will allow for more informed decisions, minimizing risks and increasing cost efficiency.

    The results of the project will provide answers to key questions regarding the implementation of family and demographic policy measures in Russia:

    how to improve mechanisms for increasing the birth rate in modern conditions and increase motivation for having children; what incentives, embedded in support measures, will increase motivation for having children and having many children; what institutional conditions additionally need to be created, and what changes in the institutional environment are required to form a sustainable culture of having many children in the country.

    The project promises not only to identify reserves for increasing the effectiveness of demographic policy, but also to determine specific measures aimed at stimulating the birth rate, taking into account the specifics of each region.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Moscow Transport Advanced Development Center has turned one year old!

    In just a year, this innovative and comfortable space has become a hub for creating the transport of the future.

    The Center’s specialists have successfully:

    Launched Russia’s first autonomous tram. This fall, it will begin regular passenger service on its route.

    Started preparations for the launch of a driverless metro train. The first phase, scheduled for 2025, will study the process of movement, stops, and the opening and closing of doors.

    Developed technology for a driverless police boat capable of automatically detecting violations on Moscow’s rivers.

    Tested automatic activation of online top-ups for the Troika card and the Moscow resident card, as well as the virtual Troika in Russia’s first ticketing system laboratory.

    In May 2024, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin opened the Advanced Development Center in the Kuntsevo district. Here, professionals with experience in leading Russian and international companies are introducing the latest innovations to the city’s transport system. The Center has become not only an IT cluster for breakthrough projects, but also an asset to the district — a place to gain new knowledge and exchange experience. Since its opening, more than 30 lectures have been held here, with over 1,200 participants. The most popular topics included the creation of navigation systems, the development of passenger services, and the history of the capital’s transport, — added Maksim Liksutov.

    The Center for Advanced Development is truly shaping the future of Moscow’s urban mobility!

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Chief of the General Staff Speech at RUSI Land Warfare Conference 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    Chief of the General Staff Speech at RUSI Land Warfare Conference 2025

    The Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Roly Walker’s speech at the RUSI Land Warfare Conference, 17 June 2025

    Good afternoon.

    We are 54 nations, and 17 Army Chiefs taking part in this conference: that’s the power of shared missions and interests. Welcome, and thanks for coming.

    I concluded this event last year by reflecting on the grim strategic situation.

    Amongst other things:

    Russia had seemingly abandoned the principle of mutual co-existence with us here in Europe, and so we needed to prepare accordingly.

    I also said that we needed to see a fundamental shift in how we fight on and from the land.

    And that this transformation, importantly, would need to be matched by an equally transformative relationship with our defence industrial base.

    I offered a vision of how 5th Gen land forces could set the joint force up for the unfair fight.

    And I shared an ambition to double then triple the fighting power of our land forces, by 2027 and 2030 respectively.

    A year on, I think those reflections have been validated, not least by the Government’s SDR.

    Today I want to open the event with three reports: what the SDR means to us; a ‘we said – we’ve done’ look at the last 12 months; and a ‘what next – what more’ for the year ahead.

    To the SDR, whose analysis and recommendations I fully support.

    For me it’s a story of reversal and change, as well as massive collective opportunity.

    So, the reversal is really of a trajectory in defence policy that characterised the second era of NATO, that ‘peace dividend’ period that followed the Cold War. That trajectory is now shifting, definitively, as a matter of policy.

    And being in the third era of NATO, we are now in the business of focusing our preparedness and resolve to fight war at scale and over time.

    For me, as Army Chief, that means generating the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps as one of NATO’s two strategic reserve forces, in both mission and taskorg. That is why last year I put the British Army’s specialist enabling brigades under Com ARRC’s command last year, and why he now has tactical command of both the 1st and 3rd UK divisions. The Corps-level of fighting is also the focus for accelerated modernisation, alongside hardening the edge at every echelon within.

    Secondly, rebuilding a national arsenal, an ‘always on’ system of production that innovates in peacetime and scales in wartime. More of that in a minute.

    And thirdly it means strengthening our ties with society – it takes a country to fight and win a war –  which we will do through the Standing Joint Command headquartered in Aldershot, the traditional home of the British Army, to enhance resilience, prepare to regenerate force, and help defend the homeland. It takes a country to fight a war, after all.

    The change comes in the way we fight, as signalled in the SDR, as an increasingly integrated force.

    The case for integrating greater autonomy and more robotics into our fighting system is well understood, but to unlock the extraordinary power they offer, we have to digitise our system deeper and wider than we’re doing at the moment, which is why I could not be more pleased to see in the SDR the commitment of at least £1Bn for a Digital Targeting Web. We will soon get the data, the all-important commodity, moving horizontally not just vertically, at light speed, with a precision focus on the defeat mechanisms to an adversary’s fighting system, from top to bottom, from back to front, from the fundamentals of how they build that fighting system, to the frontlines where they might use it. To me, it’s an approach of corrosion and erosion from within, not just explosion from without.

    And finally, to the big opportunity, let me explain my vision for how fighting power and market power come together, with a model we call Growth Through Transformation, it’s a pitch not a plan, to make this real, from the foxhole to the factory floor.

    For the sake of argument let’s say the square on the screen represents a pair of attack helicopters, or a pair of tanks, or a pair of self-propelled howitzers. Today nearly 100% the British Army’s lethality – our ability to project destructive force over an adversary, while protecting ourselves from attack, and doing this sustainably so n+1 works for us (ie they run out before we do)– comes from these highly sophisticated crewed platforms, and nearly 100% of our equipment budget goes on sustaining those platforms we have and acquiring new ones.

    In themselves, they sustain a decent and traditional defence industrial sector, and given where we are with CR3, Boxer and AJAX, is building resilience as well as growing it. It could be more, given the total addressable market for modernising AFVs around the world is judged to be $43Bn over 10years. That’s opportunity we need to position ourselves for.

    But…if those are the only platforms we fight from the land with, no matter the wizardry of our digital targeting web, I reckon we lose. Or at the very least, it won’t be an unfair fight we’re after.

    That’s because T hey take months to produce and years to train competent crews for. They’re also increasingly on the wrong side of the cost curve when it comes to price per kill. A £20M tank and four experienced crew members lost to a £1k drone operated by kid with only a few days training – who probably isn’t even on the same map sheet as the tank.

    Let me be abundantly clear though, we are going to need survivable and lethal platforms for as long as land forces need to seize and hold terrain, which means boots on the ground to close with and kill the enemy, if it comes to it. We wouldn’t put troops there without a rifle, radio, body armour and helmet, so why would we put their vehicles there without guns, armour plating and comms?

    What we do need is to layer around them a series of attritable platforms, from which more sensors sense at greater distances, and more munitions are launched. They fly, float and drive, and are the new source of combat mass. You don’t want to lose them, but it’s not a tragedy if you do because, although sophisticated, they’re uncrewed.

    And around them is a third layer of consumable systems. These are your even cheaper single-use platforms, like one-way effectors. When they’re gone, they’re gone.

    And that’s how we are multiplying our fighting power, with a three-ring source of lethality.

    The challenge for the team her is that in the future I want 20% of our lethality to come from the survivable layer, 40% from the attritable, and 40% from consumable. That does not mean I want 1/5th the number of crewed platforms in the PoR, it’s that I want each one to be five times more lethal, survivable and sustainable. Because that’s how we’ll meet NATO’s land capability targets, as well as service our part in the regional plans.

    And I want to spend 50% of our money on the 20% of crewed and expensive, and 50% on the remaining 80% of attritable. Why the maths?

    An example. We could double the fighting power of that AH mission from 16 stowed kills from 16km standoff to 32 kills from the same distance, by buying two more attack helicopters and making it a four-ship mission. Or, for the same amount of money the two new AH cost us, we could layer attritable mule drones and consumable OWE to make that over 200 kills from over 50kms standoff. That starts to look a lot more lethal than 2x or 3x, is more survivable, and on the right side of the cost curve.

    I want to test this hypothesis with a prototype on Ex STDE27, and I’m really excited that we’re close to going to market to make this happen, and to make a market in Land ACP.

    Because here’s the strategic bit…to do this, we need to grow a completely new sector in our Defence Industrial Ecosystem. Bringing that hi/lo mix of crewed and uncrewed systems into being will, we think, as a minimum, create thousands of new highly specialised jobs in software, AI and advanced robotics.

    A lot of this is dual-use: military and civilian. Which attracts private investment because it scales. So this is not just about the 2.6% of GDP the Government has announced for UK Defence, but about making Defence a great place for venture capital and private equity to invest in.

    It allows us to access a total addressable market in drones of around £70Bn/10 for drones and £28Bn/10 for OWEs. That is pretty eye watering compared to the traditional system.

    And this is as much a system of production and stockpiles as it is developing skills and talent in society.

    This is how the necessary transformation in how we fight…becomes a virtue: an energised national arsenal stimulating economic growth, and direct benefit into society writ large.

    So, to the double!

    I described our soldiers as our competitive advantage: our point of difference. They are ingeniously creative and astonishingly resilient.

    They are enabling Techcraft at every level – the fusion of fieldcraft and technology – every day. “Give us the tools and we will finish the job” was Churchill’s shout, and it still applies today our soldiers today.

    Project Asgard is delivering. Not just our pathfinder to show we can find, fund, and fight transformative capabilities differently, better, cheaper, and faster. It’s a project that is flipping our Forward Land Forces in Estonia from a strategic tripwire into an invasion stopping capability. When Russian soldiers eventually return to barracks across the River Narva, they’re going to find the same lethal recce-strike systems there, which gave them such a mauling in the Donbas.

    Last July we talked about it…in August we decided to do it…the Defence Secretary announced it in October…January saw partners on contract working alongside us…in May we exercised it in Estonia…and next month our first public expo here in the UK.

    It’s a project that, through AI-fuelled, software defined, and network enabled capabilities we are confident has made 4 Light Brigade capable of acting 10 times faster and 10 times further than it could last year.

    It’s a project that fields the first NATO FLF equipped with one way effectors, capable of striking targets over 250km away, or from 250km stand-off.

    It’s a project that’s involved 20 industry partners, has already created 200 skilled jobs, and sees Allies looking to those same partners to build their own systems.

    It’s effects were integrated into the Estonian Ex GRIFFIN LIGHTNING, enabling the ESTDIV to find and strike deeper than ever, with much greater precision and at a higher kill rate, though I admit in a simulated exercise.

    So we’ve proved it, to a point with an MVP, now we start scaling to the Corps level, and we’ll continue to share our knowledge with our allies.

    But it’s not just about Asgard.

    A better trained force will often defeat a bigger and better equipped one. A lesson Goliath learned from David. Our new Land Training System is preparing us to do just that.

    In the last 3 months alone, 72 fighting sub-units have gone through a new intensive 10 week ‘combat training at echelon’ programme. Over the next 12 months, 400 sub-units or around 90% of the Army will complete that training, an 80% increase compared to 2020.

    We’ve trained over 3,000 drone pilots, with another 6,000 over the next year, as well as providing 200 simulators into unit lines.

    That system has improved battlegroup performance against KPIs by 30% this year, reducing sensor to shooter time by 33% already.

    That system has validated both of our divisions and seven brigades for their NATO combat tasks this year – which is an unprecedented state of readiness as judged by our peers.

    And we’re making good strides with equipment too, although there is always room for improvement.

    We’ve fielded 121 AJAX vehicles this year, expanding to 356 next year.

    We’ve begun to field Boxer this year, with 113 next.

    We’ve launched a joint c-UAS project with the US called Project VANAHEIM, involving 20 industry partners, on mission in Germany now developing the system.

    We’ve begun recapitalising our MLRS, with first variants in service next year, doubling our range from 80 to 160km.

    We’ve fielded 28,000 new SA80 assault rifles and 3,000 world-leading night vision goggles this year.

    With edge processing we’ve integrated AI into existing equipment such as our Bowman radios, reducing packet size and prioritising the flow of data for targeting purposes, and that has seen faster decision cycles, increasing by an order of magnitude our lethality.

    Our Corps HQ, on Project Convergence, with its industry partners embedded, combined three different software applications on a secret comms bearer creating a digital kill chain that made the Corps four times quicker at engaging individual targets, down from 16 mins to 4 mins for a fire mission.

    The effect over multiple missions was even greater. The software-centric solutions reduced the Corps HQ’s cognitive load between missions enabling them to kill 10 times as many targets in a day.

    That is why I welcome the SDR’s ambition to 10X our fighting power by 2035 – because with the right people, software, training, and technology it’s possible to do it.

    So, I believe we’re on track…for now…to doubling our fighting power by 2027. The results are encouraging though I absolutelyacknowledge not all soldiers in all formations are experiencing this transformation yet.

    Looking ahead, my main effort is to accelerate modernisation, prioritising the Corps and those closest to the fight, our Forward Land Forces.

    I want to deepen our integration with SMEs through Taskforce RAPSTONE, with a clearer front door, simplifying our requirements into shared problems to solve. In short, we’ll be a better customer, standing shoulder-to-shoulder as genuine mission partners, in perpetual prototyping mode.

    But finally and most importantly my focus this year is also on our people.

    It’s absolutely pointless transforming if we don’t have enough of the right people, create the right environment for them to thrive, nor teach them the right skills. This is not just about recruiting and TEAMWORK, important though they are.

    At a fundamental level, we are rethinking what it means to be a soldier in the 21st century, because 21st century soldiering is going to be different in so many ways. At the heart lies the need for strong ethical and moral values to withstand the pressures of combat, and we have a role to project that narrative deeper and wider into society, including our youth, whether through the cadets or educational pathways, or by the example of our service, not least to help protect them and ourselves from the toxic influences of racism, hate, homophobia, and misogyny, which are the antithesis of what we need in our soldiers and citizens.

    I’m reminded of Monty’s memoirs where he said I shall take away many impressions into the evening of life. But the one I shall treasure above all is the picture of the British soldier – staunch and tenacious in adversity, kind and gentle in victory – the figure to whom the nation has again and again, in the hour of adversity, owed its safety and its honour.

    That’s who we need and that’s who we want – the British soldier as the unrivalled force multiplier. And all that I have seen this year confirms the Army remains a place that creates memories for a lifetime, offering adventure, skills, camaraderie and a place of belonging – whoever you are, wherever you come from and whatever you do.

    It’s very common to find people in the Army who grew up in some of the most deprived areas of our country. Many chose to become cadets to build confidence and find new friends. Many, just six years after joining, are earning £45,000 a year, with apprenticeships under their belts and their families in good-value accommodation,. This is a story told up and down the land amongst our officers and soldiers…testament to the Army’s extraordinary record on social mobility and our status as the country’s leading provider of apprenticeships, with over 13,000 at any one time.

    So, to those who aspire to be make a difference, come and join us. Whether as a regular or a reserve, we’re making it easier and faster to do so, more digital and intuitive, and with greater choice and opportunity. You can change your life through the Army, so why don’t you? 

    To conclude this opening speech, you’d not be surprised to hear a Chief of the General Staff remind you of the uncertain and dangerous times we live in. They are, and I have.

    With the commitments outlined in the vision of the SDR, we are building ever more lethal land forces, capable of operating over ever greater distances, in ways that will make fighting us such an unfair proposition that no-one in the right mind would do so. But if they try, we would fight.

    That is the Army the Nation needs, NATO wants, and frankly, our soldiers deserve.

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The government has set a priority for environmentally friendly transport in public procurement

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Document

    Resolution of June 12, 2025 No. 889

    The government has adjusted the procedure for purchasing cars and vehicles for state and municipal needs, establishing priority for environmentally friendly types of transport in such purchases. A resolution on this has been signed.

    We are talking about changes to individual government regulations in the area of public procurement, which determine what goods and with what characteristics government customers can purchase.

    In particular, now, when making government purchases, they must primarily purchase vehicles that run on natural gas fuel and electric vehicles instead of vehicles that run on traditional types of fuel – diesel and gasoline.

    At the same time, purchasing petrol or diesel vehicles is permitted in exceptional cases – when justifying the impossibility of purchasing vehicles running on alternative types of fuel, for example, due to the absence of gas filling infrastructure and charging infrastructure for electric vehicles in the territory where the purchased vehicles are planned to be used.

    The decision will contribute to improving the environment and will support domestic enterprises producing environmentally friendly transport.

    The signed document introduces changes toGovernment Resolution of September 2, 2015 No. 926 AndGovernment Resolution of September 2, 2015 No. 927.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: Parameters of REPO auctions in rubles

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Central Bank of Russia (2) –

    Date of the auction Type of tool Term Date of execution of the first part of the transactions Date of execution of the second part of the transactions Maximum amount of funds provided* (billion rubles) Minimum possible rate in the application (% per annum)
    06/17/2025 Basic 7 d. 06/18/2025 06/25/2025 1 020 20.00
    06/10/2025 Basic 7 d. 06/11/2025 06/18/2025 920 20.00
    03.06.2025 Basic 7 d. 06.06.2025 06/11/2025 620 21.00

    Data available from 24.06.2009 to 17.06.2025.

    * A dash (—) in the column means that the repo auction is carried out without setting a limit, all received applications, subject to compliance with other requirements established for the specified operations, are satisfied in full.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Interview with Alexander Novak for Vedomosti newspaper

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Alexander Novak: The main factors of economic development are within our country.

    Question: One of the key tracks of the upcoming SPIEF is: “The World Economy – a New Platform for Global Growth”. Over the past few months, the world economy has experienced not just a series of shocks, but real tectonic shifts. In your opinion, is global growth, in the context of a general movement, possible or is the world steadily moving towards regionalization?

    A. Novak: Global economic growth will continue to some extent until 2030. However, the dynamics of its growth will depend on new challenges and threats that primarily affect global trade flows. This primarily concerns the increasing economic fragmentation of global markets – when trade, investment, exchange of services and technologies are subject to the logic of “mine” and “others”. As a result, investment activity and the well-being of the world’s population are declining.

    These processes did not begin yesterday. Since the early 2000s, the economic center of the world has been shifting from the West to the East. Developing countries, primarily China, are gaining a much greater role in the global economy. Of course, this situation does not suit those who are used to dictating their terms. And we increasingly see how, in order to counteract the growing influence of developing countries on the world economy, Western countries are making active attempts to maintain the status quo on the world stage and preserve their leadership.

    As a consequence, the strengthening of protectionism in the national economy and the revision of the existing results of globalization come to the fore. The main steps in this direction were the actual destruction of the multilateral mechanisms of the WTO, unilateral tariff and non-tariff restrictions on developing countries under the pretext of “threats to national interests”, and the introduction of various sanctions against competitors.

    The current escalation of tariff restrictions is also, of course, another consequence of the confrontation between the West and the rest of the world. The desire to maintain dominant positions in the global economy is happening by “pushing” bilateral agreements instead of multilateral ones. And such steps obviously lead to a new round of regionalization, observed since 2022, and the consolidation of countries within “blocs”.

    In the current conditions, the priority for us is to ensure the implementation of the national development agenda and the construction of sustainable partnerships with friendly countries with their own infrastructure to ensure the interests of these partnerships. This concerns the economic, financial and technological sovereignty of the Russian Federation, which, in the context of involvement in global value chains, requires, first of all, a reconfiguration of foreign economic relations with trading partners.

    I would like to remind you that we took into account the trends of regionalization of the global economy when preparing the Strategy for Foreign Economic Activity adopted by the government at the beginning of last year, therefore, relations with trading partners are built and developed taking into account the influence of geo-economic fragmentation and the opportunities opening up for Russia.

    Question: One of the undisputed leaders of destabilization has become the new US tariffs, which with a high degree of probability will lead to a redrawing of trade flows. What is this primarily for Russia – a risk or an opportunity? How many percent or percentage points of Russia’s GDP can a global trade war take away?

    A. Novak: Subtract or add? No, seriously, from the point of view of forecasting, the situation in world trade is currently the largest zone of uncertainty. There are a great many development options, their implementation depends on a large number of external and internal factors.

    The world is wider than individual Western countries and their circle of partners. Most likely, the situation with trade wars will not be universal. Some commodity flows will be redirected, as usually happens in trade wars.

    At the same time, there will be no repetition of the pandemic situation, when global trade stopped and trade flows collapsed. Therefore, the baseline forecast scenario approved by the government assumes that the growth rate of global trade will slow down, but will not go into recession.

    You are right, for us there are really two sides to the coin: risks and opportunities. The risks are related to the overall slowdown of the global economy, as well as demand and prices for traditional Russian export goods. On the other hand, this is a possible reduction in logistics costs, the opening of new niches, the substitution of Russian products for goods that will leave certain markets. From the point of view of imports, risks arise for our domestic market and domestic producers.

    And yet, no matter how the situation in the world develops, the main factors of the development of the Russian economy are not outside, but inside our country. The main one, with all the importance of the proactive work of the government and the Bank of Russia, is private entrepreneurial initiative. The flexibility and adaptive capacity of national business is the key to the stability of our economy in recent years. The main task of the authorities is to develop and support these qualities in every possible way.

    However, when you think about all the changes that you said were caused by “destabilizing US tariffs,” it is important to understand that tariffs are just a tool, and the goal is not to redirect trade flows. The goal, apparently, is to return key production chains to the native territory of the United States, to return production, competencies, infrastructure. Localization of value chains is what the Trump administration wants to achieve. What level of tariffs is needed to deploy investment? This is an interesting question. I think 10-15% of the final tariff, given how many times goods cross customs borders in the modern world, will be quite enough to create incentives to redirect investment flows. And the current 50% or 100% tariffs are nothing more than a negotiating position from which negotiating tactics have begun to form.

    Question: Is the government considering measures to stimulate investment activity of Russians? Can more active attraction of citizens’ funds to the stock market help businesses solve the problem of lack of financing?

    A. Novak: Yes, of course, measures to stimulate investment activity are being taken, including, as you know, within the framework of the national project “Efficient and Competitive Economy” and the federal project “Development of the Financial Market” included in it. Also, separate support measures of the federal projects “SME” and “Technology” are aimed at the development of SMEs and small technology companies by attracting funds from the financial market, respectively.

    In the context of achieving the “May decree” indicators, our citizens have the opportunity to invest in long-term instruments. For example, one of them is the Long-Term Savings Program, LTS. It involves the state creating conditions for the formation of long-term savings, which are formed both from personal funds and from the pension savings of citizens.

    This program is a new universal savings product that will allow everyone, with the stimulating support of the state, to form capital for their priority goals. PDS is especially relevant for families seeking to provide for the future of their children, create a financial safety net, purchase housing or pay for education. Together with banks, we are trying to actively inform citizens about the availability of such programs and the opportunities they provide.

    Another tool for stimulating investment is more active attraction of citizens’ funds to the stock market, which can have a significant impact on solving the problem of lack of financing for businesses. Firstly, attracting citizens’ funds will help diversify sources of financing for businesses. This will reduce companies’ dependence on bank loans and allow them to more easily adapt to changing economic conditions.

    In addition, active participation of citizens in the stock market can contribute to increasing the financial literacy of the population. Educated investors better understand the risks and opportunities, and accordingly, they make more informed investment decisions. This, in turn, creates a healthier investment environment and promotes economic growth.

    Of course, we understand that the designated incentives will work much better with a reduction in deposit rates. This applies to interest rates on both deposits and loans. According to our estimates, a gradual, correct cooling of the economy is already underway. Citizens will eventually withdraw from deposits and consider the possibility of diversifying their savings.

    Question: What drivers do you think the capital market might have in the current geopolitical and economic conditions?

    A. Novak: There are several such incentives or drivers now. The main “driver” is macroeconomic stability. Reducing inflation expectations, consistent and predictable economic policy contribute to the growth of investor confidence in the stock and bond market.

    Controlling inflation helps reduce investment risks and increases the attractiveness of assets in the capital market.

    In the context of sanctions pressure and limited access to international financial markets, Russian companies are seeking to find new sources of financing within the country. As a result, there is demand for financial instruments such as bonds and shares, and this can contribute to the growth of the stock market. An increase in the number of issuers and an expansion of the range of financial products offered also contribute to the development of the capital market.

    The development of infrastructure for attracting investment can also be an important driver. Authorities and financial institutions can introduce new mechanisms to support business, such as tax incentives for investors, programs to improve the financial literacy of the population, and the creation of more convenient conditions for entering the stock market. This will not only increase the number of investors, but also increase their confidence in financial instruments.

    In addition, in my opinion, digitalization and the development of financial technologies, digital platforms give a significant boost to the capital market. Another plus in this regard is that digital technologies contribute to the growth of liquidity and the reduction of transaction costs.

    Question: At the recent government strategy session on the National Model of Target Conditions for Doing Business, you specifically emphasized that by 2030, Russia should be among the top 20 countries in terms of the investment climate, as assessed by the World Bank B-READY rating. This rating will be discussed at the SPIEF. What do you see as the key priorities for improving the business climate in Russia? In what aspects are there the largest “development zones” today?

    A. Novak: First of all, I would like to clarify that the World Bank’s international rating of the business and investment climate is one of the bases for the formation of the National Model of Target Conditions for Doing Business, along with Russia’s national development goals and the rating of the state of the investment climate.

    When analyzing the data of the pilot study of the business climate in Russia, conducted by the Agency for Strategic Initiatives, “development zones” were identified. Within the areas of engineering infrastructure, labor standards, taxation, dispute resolution, businesses have the most difficulties with the effectiveness of law enforcement of public services, even taking into account the well-developed regulatory framework in the country. We have formed working groups that are currently developing initiatives to improve indicators, such as reducing the number of hours for preparing and submitting tax reports. We are talking about reporting, which currently amounts to about 160 hours per year. Another example: the implementation of initiatives to develop alternative forms of dispute resolution, primarily through arbitration courts and mediation.

    The opposite situation has developed in the areas of business registration, financial services, and bankruptcy procedures. The assessment shows the need to improve regulatory and legal acts in Russian legislation. For example, such initiatives as the development and adoption of norms on restructuring, on pre-trial debt restructuring in order to reduce the period of bankruptcy of companies. In addition, norms are being discussed that change the process of asset sales and asset replacement in bankruptcy proceedings.

    Focusing, among other things, on the international rating, we plan to present the key priorities and results of the formation of the National Model at the St. Petersburg Forum; we are open and will be glad to have as many interested parties as possible participate in the discussion.

    Question: Does the government have a scenario for economic development in which sanctions against Russia are relaxed? If so, which restrictions do you think would be the most realistic to lift?

    A. Novak: Such a scenario is among many forecasts developed by the Ministry of Economic Development, but it is not the main one. The basic forecast scenario approved by the government does not include any drastic changes in terms of sanctions pressure.

    Question: Oil prices are now also under the control of geopolitics. In your opinion, can we say that we are once again entering an “era of low prices”? Is OPEC’s decision to accelerate production growth relevant in this context? Is its adjustment being discussed?

    A. Novak: Global oil prices have historically been under pressure from both political factors and the balance of supply and demand. The key factor of volatility in recent years has been the situation in the Middle East and the risks of supply restrictions through the Strait of Hormuz, as well as the ongoing recovery of the global economy and the risks associated with trade wars unleashed by the United States.

    Historically, affordable prices provoke additional demand for oil while global fuel competition continues. And in general, the world is experiencing a need for additional volumes of raw materials. We believe that OPEC objectively assesses the situation regarding the prospects for global oil demand, and we highly appreciate the competence of OPEC experts.

    As for the issue of adjustment, OPEC countries are in constant contact, monitor the market situation and are ready to respond flexibly and promptly to any changes in the market situation. If necessary, the parameters of the deal can be adjusted in the future to ensure an optimal balance between supply and demand.

    And in the short term, oil prices are always under the power of geopolitics. For example, the current aggravation of the Israeli-Iranian conflict. The key questions that good economists ask in such cases of external shocks are whether the shock is temporary (short-term) or permanent (permanent) and from which side is it – demand or supply? And from these options, the scenario and development of optimal policy occurs.

    Question: The SPIEF is planning to discuss the balance of interests of producers and consumers in the global fuel and energy market. You personally participated in the formation of the current architecture of balance, which allowed the markets to be stabilized. Today, do you see risks of disruption of the balance of supply and demand in the oil market in the medium term?

    A. Novak: The data show that in April, the demand for oil in the world was about 103.1 mbps with supply at 103.7 mbps. Given the current state of the oil market and its overall balance, as well as the traditionally high demand season in the summer, it is extremely important for each country to fulfill its obligations.

    The radical change in the external economic environment (I mean the growing sanctions pressure, the unstable geopolitical situation in the Middle East, as well as the high volatility in the global oil market) confirms that the current mechanism for implementing the agreement is the most effective tool. It ensures maximum efficiency of oil production and state revenues. Thus, OPEC plays and will continue to play a coordinating role in the market, as it has been for the past five years.

    Question: SPIEF is traditionally a platform for international dialogue. In your opinion, what are the most important factors that will determine future relations between energy producing and consuming countries, and how can Russia contribute to strengthening cooperation and stability in this dynamic environment?

    A. Novak: We are witnessing a transformation of the energy market, where, against the backdrop of accelerating energy consumption, accelerated growth is observed in all types of energy resources, both traditional ones – oil, gas, coal, and renewable energy sources. A renaissance in demand for the development of nuclear power plants is observed.

    The key drivers have already become the growth of the population in developing countries and the extensive development of data processing systems. And all this against the backdrop of the introduction of artificial intelligence.

    The recent major power outages in Spain and Portugal show that it is important to provide the population with electricity at economically feasible prices. Also, in addition to domestic generation and the choice of the optimal source in the conditions of inter-fuel competition, it is very important to ensure the possibility of delivering primary resources at acceptable prices.

    In this regard, I cannot help but state the obvious. Russia is a key supplier of energy resources around the world. And not only oil, gas and LNG, but also coal, which in the context of growing demand is an important competitive advantage. Russia is also a reliable partner in the supply of its energy resources, all contract terms are observed, and, given the current realities in the world, only long-term contracts and responsible relationships can become guarantors of a stable supply of energy resources.

    Question: In your opinion, in connection with recent geopolitical events, does the recently approved Energy Strategy need to be adjusted, or does it already take into account all possible risks?

    A. Novak: When developing the Energy Strategy until 2050, a pool of scenarios was considered that assumed various internal and external prerequisites and results of the development of Russian energy. In particular, the Energy Strategy until 2050 takes into account the stress scenario, which assumes a significant decrease in the production indicators of the fuel and energy complex industries against the background of a reduction in export opportunities and a general deterioration in external operating conditions.

    The calculation of quantitative indicators within the framework of the strategy’s stress scenario made it possible to identify the main challenges for the Russian energy sector in each of its sectors and to develop special measures to mitigate the consequences if such a scenario is implemented.

    But, of course, in case of significant changes not taken into account in the wide range of strategy scenarios, adjustments can be made to it. However, the main areas of work will remain the same.

    Question: Is the Power of Siberia 2 project still relevant in the current conditions? Have you managed to reach an agreement with your colleagues from China on the cost of gas? If so, when can a contract be signed for the project and what volume of supplies is currently being discussed?

    A. Novak: China is one of the largest energy consumers in the world, and its rapid economic development, industrial growth and urbanization contribute to a constant increase in energy demand. Particularly noticeable is the growing role of natural gas, which is used as a cleaner alternative to coal. In 2024, gas demand in China amounted to about 430 billion cubic meters, compared to 373 billion cubic meters in 2021, that is, an increase of 15%.

    In recent years, the role of renewable energy sources has also increased significantly in China’s energy sector – the country is the undisputed leader in terms of installed solar and wind generation capacity. If in 2021 the figure was 636 GW, then by 2024 it reached about 1400 GW. However, the growth in the use of renewable energy sources does not mean abandoning natural gas. Gas is expected to be used as a “balancing” fuel in cases of insufficient electricity generation from renewable energy sources and will remain the guarantor of China’s energy security. According to the forecast of the International Energy Agency, in the scenario of current policies, China will increase gas consumption throughout the forecast period, until 2050. By this time, gas demand in China is expected to increase by more than 30% compared to 2023.

    Russia, which is the leader in natural gas reserves (currently 63.4 trillion cubic meters), remains one of the main suppliers of this fuel to China. In this regard, the Power of Siberia 2 project undoubtedly remains relevant. As for the rest, more detailed information directly on the project itself is the subject of commercial negotiations.

    Question: Are there plans to build an oil pipeline to China parallel to Power of Siberia 2? You spoke about the possibility of delivering up to 30 million tons of oil per year through it. Has China confirmed its interest in this project? In what time frame could such a pipeline be built? Is there a preliminary estimate of its cost?

    A. Novak: I repeat: since the implementation of the project is the responsibility of the specialized companies, the details of the agreements are classified as a commercial secret and were not made public. However, I will add that, according to OPEC forecasts, China’s demand for oil in 2023-2050 will grow by an average of 2.5% per year. Against this background, the implementation of new infrastructure projects appears to be an important part of the sphere of interests of China’s fuel and energy sector.

    Question: Are there any risks for the National Welfare Fund due to the reduction in oil and gas budget revenues? The Ministry of Finance is already considering the possibility of adjusting the cutoff price under the budget rule. In this case, what are the prospects for the Russian “piggy bank”? Do you think it is important to continue accumulating the National Welfare Fund?

    A. Novak: Today, the cutoff price according to the budget rule is $60/bbl, and the average Urals FOB in January–April 2025 fluctuates in the range of $59–60/bbl.

    But current world oil prices are a short-term consequence of the current market situation, taking into account the growing factor of trade wars and geopolitical tensions, and do not suit most key oil producers. Therefore, oil prices will be adjusted as the effect of “market shocks” is leveled out and will take on an upward trend.

    As for the National Welfare Fund, it is certainly important to continue to accumulate it. The fund not only allows for the implementation of social projects and the maintenance of the well-being of citizens, but also promotes the development of industry and infrastructure in Russia.

    Question: Is there a need to replace the export of raw materials and first-stage products with new high-tech goods? Are new mechanisms of support from the state needed for this?

    A. Novak: In the context of increased sanctions pressure on the Russian fuel and energy complex, active import substitution is taking place. In parallel, work is actively underway to complete the modernization of oil refineries to improve the quality of manufactured products. The volume of oil and gas engineering currently exceeds 500 billion rubles, and by 2030 it is planned to import-substitute critical equipment by 100%.

    If we look at it from the point of view of petrochemistry, then by 2030 it is planned to increase the volume of production of large-tonnage plastics several times – up to 14 million tons. The development of oil refining will allow to fully provide the domestic market at reasonable prices. In implementing all import substitution projects, Russia is ready to start exporting services and supplying energy on a turnkey basis, that is, from raw materials to the construction of processing complexes in other countries.

    Thus, key measures to support both mechanical engineering and secondary product manufacturing are already being implemented in our country. New measures and mechanisms of support from the state require working out the effects and assessing the impact on the industry.

    Question: The key topic of SPIEF: common values are the basis for growth in a multipolar world. At the beginning of our conversation, we already discussed economic regionalization, but no less important is the division by value orientations. Until recently, carbon neutrality seemed to be a common goal for all countries: programs were adopted, significant budgets were allocated to solve these problems. But Trump’s rise to the presidency of the United States violated the status quo. He said that too much emphasis on renewable energy sources threatens the security of the United States. Do you see in this a general reversal and a paradigm shift in public and political consciousness? In your opinion, how can we maintain a balance between the world of the present and the world of the future, taking into account the priorities of all generations?

    A. Novak: Look what we see today? The aggressive policy of achieving carbon neutrality to the detriment of economic efficiency and the trend towards global replacement of traditional energy sources with renewable energy sources is gradually shifting to a more pragmatic direction. Many countries are adapting their energy policies towards an economically balanced approach to choosing energy sources.

    According to BloombergNEF’s annual report, global energy transition investment in 2024 grew by 11%, exceeding $2 trillion for the first time. However, the growth rate was lower than in the previous three years, when investment grew by 24-29% per year. Thus, to achieve carbon neutrality and net-zero emissions goals by mid-century, global energy transition investment in 2025-2030 will need to average $5.6 trillion per year.

    But investors pulled more than $30 billion out of climate-focused funds last year, ending a four-year boom that saw the value of assets increase sevenfold to $541 billion. Despite a six-fold increase in energy transition investment over the past 10 years, it is still only 37% of what is needed to achieve carbon neutrality. China was the largest such market, with $818 billion in investment.

    Factors that significantly limit the possibilities for large-scale implementation of renewable energy sources include insufficient transmission capacity of electrical networks, the expansion of which significantly reduces the economic efficiency of such generation. There are also limitations associated with the dependence of production on weather conditions. And all this against the background of a low level of maturity of energy storage technologies.

    The recent energy crisis in Spain and Portugal further confirms that today it is the grid complex that is the least prepared element of the energy system to operate in the conditions of the energy transition. Therefore, in the conditions of the current level of development of energy systems and the risks caused by this, it is necessary, first of all, to ensure a balance between economic efficiency, reliability of energy supply and the level of greenhouse gas emissions.

    Source – Vedomosti newspaper

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Startup as a diploma: projects of GUU students among the best

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    Projects by students from the State University of Management were included in the TOP-50 of the All-Russian competition of final qualifying works in the format “Startup as a Diploma”.

    “Startup as a Diploma” is an all-Russian competition of final qualification works, which are real business projects created by one student or a team, demonstrating the level of preparation for independent professional activity. The purpose of the competition is to present the results of the “Startup as a Diploma” program as the potential for the development of youth entrepreneurship in the region.

    According to the results of the competition, projects by GUU students Danila Yakovlev and Mikhail Zorin were among the top 50.

    Danila Yakovlev’s project – innovative glass pebbles “

    Mikhail Zorin presented the HolterTECH wireless holter project, consisting of 12 cardiac sensors collecting and transmitting ECG to a recorder, which allows monitoring the heart from all sides and can be used in sports and medical products. The project solves the problems of both patients and clinics. Patients receive convenient and accurate methods of monitoring heart diseases, which minimizes the risk of missing disease symptoms. Clinics improve the quality of services provided to patients, which significantly increases their competitiveness.

    The authors of the best projects will take part in the Competition Final and the award ceremony for the winners and teams, which will take place on June 26-27 in Moscow at the site of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation.

    We congratulate our students and wish them further success!

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: City services are eliminating the consequences of the bad weather

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Heavy rain falls in some areas of the capital on June 17 during the day. The greatest amount of precipitation fell in the south of the city. According to weather forecasters, thunderstorms with rain are expected by the end of the day, and wind gusts may increase to 15 meters per second.

    Due to bad weather, teams and special equipment of the State Unitary Enterprise “Mosvodostok” are on duty on the city streets. City services promptly respond to incoming requests.

    Residents and visitors to the capital are asked to be careful on the street, not to take shelter under trees and not to park cars near them.

    In an emergency, you must call the emergency services at the single number 112 or the single helpline of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia for the city of Moscow: 7 495 637-31-01.

    Get the latest news quicklyofficial telegram channelthe city of Moscow.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/155374073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Russian Sinologists Win Special Book Prize of China

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, June 17 (Xinhua) — The China Special Book Award ceremony was held in Beijing on Tuesday, with 16 people from 12 countries receiving the top honor given to foreigners working in the book publishing industry.

    Among the laureates were three sinologists from Russia: the head of the Department of Oriental Languages at the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Alexander Semenov, the head of the Department of Interpretation at the Higher Courses of Foreign Languages at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tatyana Semenova, and professor at St. Petersburg State University Alexei Rodionov.

    The award winners have long paid attention to China’s development and deeply studied Chinese culture, translated, published and wrote a number of books telling stories about China to the world, making outstanding contributions to expanding international knowledge and understanding of China and promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, the ceremony said.

    Alexander Semenov studies the history and historiography of China, the foreign policy of the PRC, linguistics, translation, translation studies and methods of teaching the Chinese language, and Tatyana Semenova, his wife, studies the literature and culture of China, translation, translation studies and methods of teaching the Chinese language. They have jointly translated a number of books on Chinese politics.

    Alexey Rodionov has an academic interest in the history of 20th-century Chinese literature and Russian-Chinese literary relations. He has been engaged in literary translation and compilation of collections of contemporary Chinese literature for many years. According to available information, he has translated 26 works by contemporary Chinese writers, such as Lao She, Jia Pingwa, and Han Shaogong, and initiated the publication of collections of translations of contemporary Chinese literature.

    Since the prize was established in 2005, 219 translators, publishers and writers from 63 countries have won it. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Breaking: Chinese President Xi Jinping and Central Asian leaders sign Treaty of Eternal Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    ASTANA, June 17 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping and leaders of five Central Asian countries signed the Treaty of Eternal Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation here on Tuesday.

    Xi Jinping was accompanied by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Israel’s air strength is giving it a free hand over Iran

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Matthew Powell, Teaching Fellow in Strategic and Air Power Studies, University of Portsmouth

    Israel says it quickly gained air superiority over the Iranian capital, Tehran. Luciano Santandreu / Shutterstock

    Israel’s initial attack on Iranian nuclear and military facilities, alongside its assassination of top military officials and nuclear scientists, on June 13 has been followed by days of escalating strikes. Iran threatened “severe punishment” and quickly launched what were, in relative terms, smaller-scale missile attacks against Israeli territory.

    Israel’s military then expanded its assault on Iran, with the Israeli defence minister, Israel Katz, saying “Tehran will burn” if Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, “continues to fire missiles at the Israeli home front”. Israel hit dozens of targets in the Iranian capital, Tehran, on June 15, and has since issued evacuation orders for significant areas of the city.

    The exchange of attacks has put the varying military and defensive capabilities of Israel and Iran on stark display. In particular, it appears that Israel has been able to exercise a high degree of air superiority over Iran.

    Israel was able to use more than 200 manned aircraft in its initial attack, with its air force reportedly suffering zero casualties. Within 48 hours of starting the conflict, Israel said it had gained control of the skies above Tehran.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    This superiority has largely been gained through concerted efforts over the past year to destroy or degrade Iran’s air defence systems. In October 2024, for example, Israeli strikes targeted air defences protecting Iranian oil and gas facilities as well as those defending sites linked to Tehran’s nuclear programme and ballistic missile production.

    With a weakened air defence system, the Iranian military has been less able to prevent missile attacks and Israeli aircraft from entering its air space. This has given the Israeli military greater freedom of action in terms of the targets it chooses to attack – and greater freedom of choice when planning operations.

    Israeli aircraft have been dropping bombs from within Iran, instead of relying on long-range missiles. Iran, on the other hand, has been restricted to using its arsenal of missiles to strike Israel from distance.

    Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, made reference to the strategic importance of this aerial superiority on June 16. While confirming evacuation orders for the Iranian capital, he said: “The Israeli air force controls the skies over Tehran. This changes the entire campaign.”

    Netanyahu later did not rule out killing Khamenei, saying it would “end the conflict”. Katz repeated the threat the following day, warning Khamenei of a “fate similar to Saddam Hussein”.

    Iran has been far less effective than Israel in its response – which is no great surprise. Israel says it has destroyed “one-third” of the surface-to-surface missile launchers possessed by Iran. And the majority of the missiles and drones that have been fired by Iran into Israeli territory have been intercepted before striking their targets.

    But the strength of Israel’s so-called iron dome air defence system has, somewhat counter-intuitively, also offered Iran some advantages. In order to maintain the Iranian regime’s own internal security and stability, as well as its wider political aims of being a regional power, Tehran had to respond with a certain level of force.

    However, Iran is also fully aware of the protection the iron dome provides to the Israeli population. The Iranian government will still be able to point to the few missiles and drones that have reached their target, and the destruction they have caused, as evidence that it is able to project its power beyond its own borders and respond in the face of aggressive Israeli action.

    It is able to do so in the knowledge that the level of destruction and deaths of Israeli civilians, which so far stands at around 24 people, will be limited to such a degree that any further escalation by Israel will be seen as unjustified by the wider international community.

    However, as the destruction and death toll rises, it will become harder for either government to follow this path of logic. Iran has already criticised the Israeli military’s claim that it has conducted strikes in a precise manner and only against military targets, reporting that over 200 civilians have been killed in the strikes.

    It is here where mistakes and missteps could see events spiral out of control. This may lead to a wider and larger-scale conflict that neither side wants but is unable to prevent occurring. Iran, for its part, is reportedly signalling that it is seeking an end to hostilities and the resumption of talks over its nuclear programme.

    Wider consequences

    If the conflict does escalate, Israel will probably target Iranian military production facilities. The Israeli military has already issued a warning on social media, telling the Iranian people to stay away from all weapons manufacturing facilities.

    Other targets may include nuclear installations – though at least one, the heavily fortified Fordow nuclear site in central Iran, will not be targeted. Fordow is hidden in a mountain, with centrifuges located possibly as deep as 80 metres underground.

    Only the US military has the hardware capable of reaching this facility, so attacking the site would require US intervention. This is something the current Washington administration has proved reluctant to do, so far.

    But any escalation could have ramifications beyond the Middle East. Iran has supplied Shahed-type drones to Russia for use in its war in Ukraine, with them becoming a key part of Russia’s military strategy. However, Russia is now largely producing its own supplies of Shahed drones internally.

    A much more likely effect is the prolonging of the war in Ukraine as international attention shifts to de-escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. The international community has focused on trying to prevent further attacks, with the US president, Donald Trump, advocating for talks rather than more strikes.

    On June 15, Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social: “Iran and Israel should make a deal, and will make a deal, just like I got India and Pakistan to make.” Whether Israel and Iran take heed of his request will become clear over the coming days and weeks.

    Matthew Powell does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Israel’s air strength is giving it a free hand over Iran – https://theconversation.com/israels-air-strength-is-giving-it-a-free-hand-over-iran-259073

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK turns the screw on Putin as allies unite behind Ukraine

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    UK turns the screw on Putin as allies unite behind Ukraine

    The Prime Minister has ramped up economic pressure on Russia with a raft of new sanctions.

    • 30 new UK sanctions hit Russian finance, military and energy targets
    • Prime Minister ramps up pressure at G7 Summit as Putin continues to avoid peace.
    • Comes after further devastating Russian attacks on Kyiv in the last few hours

    The Prime Minister has ramped up economic pressure on Russia with a raft of new sanctions, as he galvanises support behind Ukraine at the G7 Summit in Canada today.  

    The 30 targets strike across Russia’s financial, military and energy sectors in response to Putin’s continued aggression. His repeated refusals to engage seriously in peace has redoubled the UK’s resolve to apply a stranglehold on the Russian economy. 

    The new sanctions crack down further on Putin’s shadow fleet, targeting 20 of his oil tankers. The UK is also tightening the net around those who enable Putin’s illicit oil trade, sanctioning Orion Star Group LLC and Valegro LLC-FZ, for their role in crewing and managing shadow fleet vessels.  

    Today’s action also targets Russia’s military capabilities, hitting the military agency leading the development of Russia’s underwater intelligence gathering operations (GUGI), protecting the UK from attacks on subsea infrastructure, restricting Putin’s war machine and increasing our security at home. 

    In addition, two UK residents Vladimir Pristoupa and Olech Tkacz operating a shadowy network of shell companies, have now been sanctioned for collectively funnelling over $120 million of electronics, many of which are on the Common High Priority goods list, to Russia. 

    These individuals, who live and own businesses in the UK, are responsible for supplying Russia with high tech electronics which are crucial to Putin’s war effort. The UK will not tolerate those who enable Putin to wage his illegal war, and today’s sanctions demonstrate there is nowhere to hide. 

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    “These sanctions strike right at the heart of Putin’s war machine, choking off his ability to continue his barbaric war in Ukraine. 

    “We know that our sanctions are hitting hard, so while Putin shows total disregard for peace, we will not hesitate to keep tightening the screws.

    “The threat posed by Russia cannot be underestimated, so I’m determined to take every step necessary to protect our national security and keep our country safe and secure.”

    Foreign Secretary, David Lammy said: 

    “With his continued attacks and needless bloodshed, it is clear that Putin has no interest in peace. 

    “Today’s sanctions show we will systematically dismantle his dangerous shadow fleet, starve his war machine, and support Ukraine to defend itself.     

    “The UK and our allies will not sit idly by whilst Putin’s cowardly inaction continues to cost lives.”  

    The UK also plans to move with partners to tighten the Oil Price Cap to hurt Russia’s oil revenues, while ensuring stability of the energy market.  

    We are determined to hit Putin where it hurts by striking at his oil revenues – the single most important source of funding for his barbaric war.

    Additional infomation

    • GUGI is the common name for the Main Directorate of Deep-Sea Research within Russia’s Ministry of Defence. 

    • A full list of today’s targets can be found here

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: HSE and the Moscow Transport Museum signed a cooperation agreement

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

    The cooperation is aimed at developing joint scientific and project activities, organizing educational courses and training personnel in the interdisciplinary field. The document was signed by Vice-Rector and Head of the HSE Staff Irina Martusevich and Director of the Moscow Transport Museum Oksana Bondarenko.

    The cooperation between the Moscow Transport Museum and the National Research University Higher School of Economics is especially symbolic: both institutions are united by a desire for modernization, openness to technological innovations, and a priority for digitalization. The partnership plans to develop research and educational initiatives that will combine engineering, humanitarian, and management approaches and thereby set a high bar for new forms of museum and academic work.

    The Transport Museum is an example of one of the most modern types of museum institutions, where the educational mission is closely linked to the development of applied knowledge. The focus on training a new generation of specialists capable of thinking interdisciplinary and confidently working in a technical and cultural environment makes this cooperation especially relevant. Together, the university and the museum create a space in which a culture of meaningful attitude to the urban environment, its history and future is formed. The partnership will open up the opportunity for HSE students to undergo internships and practical training in one of the youngest and most dynamically developing museum spaces in the capital. Joint events are planned for research staff: seminars, conferences and round tables.

    “Preserving historical heritage is one of the key tasks of both universities and museums. The cooperation between the Transport Museum and HSE is an important step towards this goal. The synergy between the museum’s skills in working with sources and artefacts and HSE’s project-oriented approach not only enriches both organizations, but also contributes to the formation of public consciousness, emphasizing the importance of the contribution of the past to our present,” says Irina Martusevich.

    “For us, cooperation with the Higher School of Economics is a space of opportunities and search, where young specialists can prove themselves in real conditions, and the museum can find new, and most importantly, bold solutions for its exhibition and educational projects. We also have an ambition to become a museum-institute, which, in collaboration with the National Research University Higher School of Economics, will open a unique direction for training in-demand museum personnel. As a museum that tells about the culture of movement, it is important for us to follow the most advanced ideas and create relevant, modern projects. And it seems to us that students are the best ones to cope with this task, offering non-standard concepts that we can discuss and implement together,” said Oksana Bondarenko.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The impact of the key rate – banks are massively worsening the terms of deposits

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Mainfin Bank –

    How have the deposit rates changed in the top 20 banks?

    The wave of rate cuts is an expected trend against the backdrop of the decision taken by the Central Bank of the Russian Federation. Most banks of the top 20 have already revised their terms deposits. Thus, on June 17, the average interest rates for deposits consist of:

    18.9% for a term of three months (a decrease of 0.6 percentage points); 18.2% for products opened for six months (a discount of almost 1 percentage point); 17.4% for deposits for a term of 12 months (the yield dropped by more than 1 percentage point).

    “Even before the key rate was lowered, the industry was seeing a trend towards worsening deposit conditions – the decision by the Central Bank of the Russian Federation accelerated this trend,” experts note.

    However, the changes in the industry did not come as a surprise – under the influence of the regulator’s policy, experts expected a reduction in rates on savings products. At the same time, banks began to review the terms and conditions credit programs – the negative dynamics will continue in the near future.

    Which banks have already revised their deposit terms?

    Russian banks immediately began revising their rates after the Central Bank of the Russian Federation’s decision. Among the first major financial institutions to reduce their deposit rates were:

    The most favorable conditions for deposits are maintained when opening a deposit for a short period (usually up to three months). Banks also offer special conditions for new depositors – increased rates apply when opening for the first time contribution or savings account.

    14:30 06/17/2025

    Source:

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    HTTPS: //Mainfin.ru/novosti/villation-keystorms-stavka-banks-mass-yudsat-consequences-on-classes

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: New sidewalks and ground crossings will appear near the Teply Stan station

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The project for planning the street and road network near the Teply Stan metro station has been approved. The corresponding resolution was signed by Sergei Sobyanin.

    According to the project, over three kilometers of roads will be reorganized, Projected Driveways No. 1226 (from Mikhail Greshilov Street to Projected Driveway No. 5408) and 1229 will be built. In addition, Projected Driveways No. 1224 and 5408, sections of Profsoyuznaya and Mikhail Greshilov Streets (from Novoyasenevsky Prospekt to Projected Driveway No. 1226 in the direction of Golubinskaya Street) will be reconstructed.

    Modern bus stops will be installed for passengers of ground city transport. Additional sidewalks and ground crossings will be arranged for pedestrians, and bike paths for cyclists.

    The implementation of the planning project will improve transport services for the integrated development area, bounded by Profsoyuznaya, Golubinskaya streets and the Moscow Ring Road.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/mayor/tkhemes/12953050/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Monument to Russian metro builders to be erected on Sokolnicheskaya Square

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    A monument to the “Metro Builders of Russia” will be erected on Sokolnicheskaya Square in the capital. The corresponding decree of the Moscow Government was signed Sergei Sobyanin.

    The monument will appear in the Moscow Metro square – next to Rusakovskaya Street, where in December 1931, in the courtyard of house 13, construction began on the first stage of the Moscow Metro from Sokolniki to Park Kultury, which opened in 1935.

    The front part of the composition will feature two dynamic figures: one will depict a metro builder from the 1930s, the other a modern representative of this profession, which is important for the city. Both figures will be placed in a niche resembling a metro tunnel, against the background of the Metrostroy emblem. The back of the monument will feature a map of the capital from 1935 with the first scheme of the Moscow metro.

    The design and production of the monument is planned to be completed in 2025.

     

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/mayor/tkhemes/12954050/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Seven people trapped after carbon monoxide leak in tunnel in southwest China

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    CHONGQING, June 17 (Xinhua) — Seven people were trapped Tuesday afternoon due to a carbon monoxide leak in a tunnel under construction on a high-speed railway in southwest China’s Chongqing, local authorities said.

    So far, four people have been rescued, while three remain trapped. The incident occurred in the Zhongliangshan tunnel on the Xi’an-Chongqing high-speed railway.

    Rescue operations continue. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Xi Jinping calls on China, Tajikistan to expand bilateral trade and investment

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    ASTANA, June 17 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called on China and Tajikistan to expand the scale of bilateral trade and investment.

    Xi Jinping made the statement at a meeting with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon on the sidelines of the second China-Central Asia summit in the Kazakh capital Astana.

    The Chinese leader recalled that during his visit to Tajikistan last year, he and E. Rahmon jointly announced the elevation of bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic cooperation and partnership in a new era, developed new plans and reached new agreements on comprehensive cooperation.

    According to him, both sides should implement these agreements in a timely manner, bring more practical results and promote the high-quality construction of a Chinese-Tajik community with a common future.

    Xi Jinping stressed that China is a reliable neighbor and partner of Tajikistan and firmly supports Tajikistan in protecting its national independence, sovereignty and security.

    China and Tajikistan should give full play to the role of the strategic dialogue mechanism between the foreign ministers of the two countries, coordinate and promote cooperation in various fields, Xi said.

    The two countries should also expand the scale of bilateral trade and investment, further accelerate the implementation of transport infrastructure projects and continuously promote connectivity, the Chinese leader said.

    He pointed out that the role of the Confucius Institutes, Lu Ban Workshop and the Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine should be fully utilized, and that the Chinese Culture Day, which will be held in Tajikistan this fall, should be well organized.

    China and Tajikistan should further strengthen cooperation in law enforcement and security and step up efforts to combat terrorism, separatism and extremism, he noted.

    The two countries share common interests in upholding multilateralism and safeguarding the international trade and economic order, he said, calling on both sides to strengthen coordination and cooperation within multilateral mechanisms, including the China-Central Asia cooperation mechanism.

    China supports Tajikistan’s important role in global climate governance, the Chinese leader added. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Lightning: China is ready to cooperate with Central Asian countries to defend international justice, counter hegemonism and power politics – Xi Jinping

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Xinhua | 17.06.2025

    Key words: China, Central Asia

    Source: Xinhua

    Lightning: China is ready to cooperate with Central Asian countries to safeguard international justice, oppose hegemonism and power politics – Xi Jinping Lightning: China is ready to cooperate with Central Asian countries to safeguard international justice, oppose hegemonism and power politics – Xi Jinping

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China, EU agree to deepen ecology and environment cooperation at ministerial dialogue

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, June 17 (Xinhua) — China and the European Union (EU) reaffirmed their commitment to ecology and environment cooperation during the 10th ministerial dialogue on environmental policy held in Brussels last Friday, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment said Tuesday.

    The dialogue, co-chaired by China’s Minister of Ecology and Environment Huang Runqiu and Jessica Rosewall, European Commissioner for Environment, Water Sustainability and a Competitive Circular Economy, focused on key areas such as biodiversity conservation, the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Framework for Biodiversity, contacts and exchanges on the development of international instruments on plastic pollution, the latest achievements in pollution prevention and control, and joint promotion of the multilateral environmental governance process.

    Both sides commended the tangible results achieved under the auspices of the China-EU High-Level Dialogue on Environment and Climate Change.

    This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the EU. Huang Runqiu called for stronger solidarity and more joint action amid growing global environmental and climate challenges.

    Huang Runqiu also called on both sides to better play their roles in the dialogue mechanism, implement the goals and tasks set in the dialogue, focus on deepening pragmatic cooperation in key areas, jointly advance the process of multilateral governance of ecology and environment, and build a multilateral exchange platform, thus laying a sound foundation for deepening cooperation on ecology and environment between China and the EU.

    J. Rosewall commended China’s leading role in facilitating the achievement of the historic Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and stressed the need to further increase financial support to ensure the effective implementation of the goals and objectives of this framework.

    J. Rosewall also stressed the importance of further engagement with China in areas such as developing international instruments on plastic pollution, combating air and chemical pollution, protecting water resources and deforestation-free supply chains to advance global efforts on environmental and climate governance. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The 2025 Summer Davos Forum will take place at the end of June

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, June 17 (Xinhua) — The 2025 Summer Davos forum will be held from June 24 to 26 in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin, event organizers said Tuesday.

    The 2025 Summer Davos Forum, also known as the 16th annual meeting of emerging global leaders of the World Economic Forum (WEF), will be held under the theme “Entrepreneurship in a New Era” this year and will bring together about 1,800 participants from more than 90 countries and regions, the forum organizers said at a press conference in Beijing.

    This year’s forum will focus on five key areas: interpreting the global economy, China’s prospects, industries in a changing world, investing in people and the planet, and new energy and materials.

    This year, China will reaffirm its positive stance of high-level opening-up to the outside world and share the dividends and opportunities of its development with the rest of the world, according to Chen Shuai, an official with the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese vice premier to attend 28th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Chinese vice premier to attend 28th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum

    BEIJING, June 17 — Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang will attend the 28th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in Russia from June 19 to 21, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson announced on Tuesday.

    Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, was invited by the government of the Russian Federation, spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a daily news briefing.

    The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum is an important platform for discussing global economic governance and fostering international consensus on cooperation, Guo said.

    This year’s forum, themed “Shared Values: The Foundation of Growth in a Multipolar World,” will explore effective approaches to addressing global challenges, Guo noted, adding that Ding will attend forum activities and meet with relevant Russian leaders.

    China looks forward to strengthening communication and exchanges with all parties, consolidating consensus on cooperation, promoting the common values of humanity, and advancing an equal and orderly world multipolarization and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, so as to inject strong impetus into improving global governance and promoting world development and prosperity, Guo said.

    China is also willing to work with Russia to effectively implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, deepen comprehensive practical cooperation, and continuously advance the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era, Guo added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Action plan of SCO member states in the field of digital transformation adopted at a meeting in China’s Xinjiang

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    URUMQI, June 17 (Xinhua) — The action plan of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states in the field of digital transformation was reviewed and adopted at the 4th meeting of heads of ministries and departments of the SCO member states responsible for the development of information and communication technologies (ICT), which was held in Karamay city of northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Tuesday.

    The plan aims to deepen exchanges and cooperation among SCO member states in the fields of developing digital transformation policies, building digital infrastructure, digital government, cloud computing, digitalization of small and medium enterprises, developing and applying digital technologies, exchanging digital technology experts, etc., with the aim of bridging the digital divide between member countries and enhancing regional digital competitiveness.

    Deputy Minister of Industry and Information Technology of the People’s Republic of China Xiong Jijun called promoting sustainable development and accelerating modernization common goals of the SCO member countries.

    According to him, China is ready to work with all parties to improve the quality and level of cooperation among the member states of the organization by improving institutional mechanisms, strengthening political dialogue, deepening practical cooperation in the field of digital technologies and ICT, promoting the transformation and modernization of industries, building a more just, accessible and inclusive digital world, thereby contributing to the formation of a community of shared destiny of the SCO.

    In their speeches, the participants of the meeting unanimously noted that digital transformation is an important engine for global economic development and comprehensive social progress, and declared their readiness, adhering to the “Shanghai Spirit”, to promote continuous achievement of new achievements in cooperation in the field of digital technologies and ICT.

    The parties agreed that the next meeting will be held in Kyrgyzstan in 2026. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China welcomes joint statement by 21 Arab and Islamic countries on Israel-Iran conflict

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, June 17 (Xinhua) — China welcomes the joint statement by 21 Arab and Islamic countries on the Israel-Iran conflict and is willing to work with relevant parties to help ease the situation, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Tuesday.

    A joint statement issued by the foreign ministers of 21 countries called for respect for the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of other countries, upholding the principle of good-neighbourliness and friendship, and resolving disputes peacefully.

    In response to a reporter’s question at a regular departmental press conference, Guo Jiakun said that Israel’s attack on Iran provoked a sudden escalation of the situation in the region, which attracted increased attention from the international community.

    According to him, the main priority is to end the fire and the war, take effective measures to prevent the conflict from escalating, prevent the region from plunging into even greater unrest, and return to the path of political resolution of problems through dialogue and negotiations.

    China welcomes the joint statement and highly appreciates the efforts made by relevant countries to ease tensions, Guo Jiakun said, adding that China is willing to maintain communication with all parties concerned and play a constructive role in helping to ease the situation. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Russians’ interest in the Chinese city of Shanghai is steadily growing

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, June 17 (Xinhua) — Russians’ interest in the Chinese city of Shanghai is steadily growing, according to data from the city’s immigration service.

    In the period from the beginning of January to June 12, 2025, Russia took 6th place in the tourist flow to Shanghai in terms of the number of tourists, writes the newspaper Xinmin Wanbao.

    According to this indicator, the top 10 countries include the Republic of Korea, Japan, the USA, Thailand, Malaysia, Russia, Singapore, Germany, Vietnam and Australia.

    According to official data, Shanghai received a total of over 2.3 million foreign tourists during the period, an increase of 45.6 percent year-on-year.

    Shanghai’s tourism boom is believed to be due to the ongoing optimization of its visa-free policy. China has introduced a visa-free regime for citizens of 47 countries and extended the permitted stay under visa-free transit to 240 hours for citizens of 55 countries.

    Statistics show that during the reporting period, about 1.27 million foreigners made visa-free tourist trips to Shanghai. Their share exceeded 50 percent.

    To make it more convenient for foreigners to travel to the city, the local immigration service hotline 12367 has introduced service functions in Russian and other languages. In addition, police officers who speak foreign languages, including Russian, English, Japanese, Korean and Arabic, are on duty at passport control points. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Rosneft Improves Anti-Corrosion Technologies

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Rosneft – Rosneft – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Specialists from the Rosneft Scientific Institute in Izhevsk have developed and tested an innovative method for assessing the corrosion rate of oil well equipment. The economic effect of using the innovation will average 1.4 million rubles per well over 5 years.

    The essence of the new approach is to measure the corrosion rate using steel plates directly in the thermobaric conditions of wells. The process is carried out using special immersion probes, also developed by the institute’s specialists. Previously existing practices involve measuring the corrosion rate inside the cavity of ground infrastructure pipelines.

    The developed method allows for precise determination of the minimum effective dosages of corrosion inhibitors, ensuring the target level of well protection*, increasing the period of trouble-free operation, and avoiding costly operations of lifting and dismantling well equipment.

    The positive result of this work will reduce the overall costs of protecting the underground equipment of Udmurtneft named after V.I. Kudinov (the Company’s production asset). Work is currently underway to replicate the technology at other Rosneft facilities.

    * according to the Interstate Standard “Corrosion of Metals and Alloys” ISO 9224-2022, the rate of general corrosion of equipment should not exceed 0.1 mm/year.

    Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft June 17, 2025

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Iran-Israel conflict: Foreign Secretary’s statement

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Oral statement to Parliament

    Iran-Israel conflict: Foreign Secretary’s statement

    The Foreign Secretary made a statement to the House of Commons on 16 June 2025, updating on the Israel-Iran conflict.

    With permission, Mr Speaker, I will remind the House that the Foreign Office has been responding to 2 crises this past week.

    My Honourable Friend, Minister Falconer, will update on the Government’s extensive efforts to assist those who lost loved ones in Thursday’s devastating Air India plane crash.

    Just 9 days ago, I was in Delhi, strengthening our friendship. Our nations are mourning together. My thoughts are with all those suffering such terrible loss.

    With permission, Madam Deputy Speaker, I will now turn to the Middle East. Early last Friday morning, Israel launched extensive strikes across Iran. Targets including military sites, including the Iranian enrichment facility at Natanz, and key commanders and nuclear scientists.

    The last 72 hours has seen Iranian ballistic missile and drone strikes across Israel, killing at least 21 Israelis and injuring hundreds more. And Israeli strikes have continued, including on targets in Tehran, with the Iranian authorities reporting scores of civilian casualties. 

    Prime Minister Netanyahu has said his operations will “continue for as many days as it takes to remove the threat”. Supreme Leader Khameini has said Israel “must expect severe punishment”.

    Madam Deputy Speaker, in such crisis our first priority is of course the welfare of British nationals. On Friday, we swiftly stood up a crisis team in London and the region, and yesterday I announced that we now advise against all travel to Israel as well as our long-standing travel of not travelling to Iran.

    Madam Deputy Speaker, today I can update the House that we are asking all British nationals in Israel to register their presence with the FCDO, so that we can share important information on the situation and leaving the country.

    And I can announce today that we are further updating our Travel Advice to signpost border crossing points, and sending Rapid Deployment Teams to Egypt and Jordan to bolster our consular presence near the border with Israel, which has already been supporting British nationals on the ground.

    Israel and Iran have closed their airspace until further notice, and our ability therefore to provide support in Iran is extremely limited. British nationals in the region should closely monitor our Travel Advice for further updates.

    Madam Deputy Speaker, the situation remains fast-moving. We expect more strikes in the days to come. This is a moment of grave danger for the region.

    I want to be clear, the United Kingdom was not involved in the strikes against Iran. This is a military action conducted by Israel.

    It should come as no surprise that Israel considers the Iranian nuclear programme an existential threat. Khameini said in 2018 that Israel was a “cancerous tumour” that should be “removed and eradicated”.

    We have always supported Israeli security – that’s why Britain has sought to prevent Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon through extensive diplomacy. We agree with President Trump when he says negotiations are necessary and must lead to a deal.

    That has long been the view, Mr Speaker, of the so-called ‘E3’ – Britain, France and Germany – with whom we have worked so closely on this issue. The view of all of the G7 who have backed the efforts of President Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff. And for more than 2 decades, the cross-party view in this House.

    Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton and Lord Hague of Richmond led diplomatic efforts on the issue. Baroness May of Maidenhead and the former Right Honourable Member for Uxbridge did too, and this Government has continued to pursue negotiations, joining France and Germany in 5 rounds of talks with Iran this year alone.

    Ours is a hard-headed realist assessment of how best to tackle this grave threat. Fundamentally, no military action can put and end to Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

    Madam Deputy Speaker, just last week, the International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors passed a non-compliance resolution against Iran, the first such IAEA finding in 14 years.

    The Director-General’s Comprehensive Report details Iran’s failure to declare nuclear materials. Iran remains the only state without nuclear weapons accumulating uranium at such dangerously high levels. Its total enriched stockpile is now 40 times the limit in the JCPoA, and their nuclear programme is part of a wider pattern of destabilising activity.

    The Government has taken firm action in response. When they transferred ballistic missiles for use in Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine, we imposed extensive sanctions including against Iran Air, and cancelled our bilateral air services agreement.

    In the face of unacceptable IRGC threats here in the UK – with some 20 foiled plots since 2022 – the CPS has for the first time charged Iranian nationals under the National Security Act, and we have placed the Iranian state, including the IRGC, on the enhanced tier of the new Foreign Influence Registration Scheme.

    Madam Deputy Speaker, a widening war would have grave and unpredictable consequences, including for our partners in Jordan and the Gulf. The horrors of Gaza worsening, tensions in Lebanon, Syria and Iraq rising, the Houthi threat continuing.

    That’s why the Government’s firm view, as it was last October in the ballistic missile attack on Israel, is that further escalation in the Middle East is not in Britain’s interests, nor the interests of Israel, Iran or the region.

    There are hundreds of thousands of British nationals living in the region. And with Iran a major oil producer, and one fifth of total world oil consumption flowing through the Straits of Hormuz, escalating conflict poses real risks for the global economy.

    As missiles rain down, Israel has a right to defend itself and its citizens. But our priority now is de-escalation.

    Our message to both Israel and Iran is clear. Step back. Show restraint. Don’t get pulled ever deeper into a catastrophic conflict, whose consequences nobody can control.

    Madam Deputy Speaker, the Prime Minister chaired COBR on the situation last Friday and spoke to PM Netanyahu, President Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He is now at the G7 Summit in Canada, discussing with our closest allies how to ease tensions.

    And the Government has deployed additional assets to the region, including jets for contingency support to UK forces and potentially our regional allies concerned about the escalating conflict.

    In the last 72 hours, my Honourable Friend the Minister for the Middle East and I have been flat out trying to carve out space for diplomacy. I have spoken to both Israeli Foreign Minister Sa’ar and Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi, underlining Britain’s focus on de-escalation.

    I have also met Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal. I’ve had calls with US Secretary Rubio, EU High Representative Kallas and my counterparts from France and Germany, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Jordan, Turkey and Iraq. These conversations are part of a collective drive to prevent a spiralling conflict.

    Madam Deputy Speaker, this new crisis has arisen as the appalling situation in Gaza continues. This weekend, hospitals in Gaza reported over 50 people were killed and more than 500 injured while trying to access food.

    This Government will not take our eye off the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. We will not stop calling for aid restrictions to be lifted and an immediate ceasefire. We will not forget about the hostages.

    This morning, I met Yocheved Lifschitz and her family, whose courage and dignity in the face of Hamas’ barbarism was a reminder of the plight of those still cruelly held in Gaza. We will not stop striving to free the hostages and end that war.

    Madam Deputy Speaker, our vision remains unchanged. An end to Iran’s nuclear programme and destabilising regional activity. Israel, secure in its borders and at peace with its neighbours. A sovereign Palestinian state, as part of the two-state solution.

    Diplomacy is indispensable to each of these goals. Britain will keep pressing all sides to choose a diplomatic path out of this crisis.

    I commend this statement to the House.

    Updates to this page

    Published 16 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –