INSIDE RUSSIA
Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on reports that some residents of Latakia remained on the territory of Russian military bases
Russia is deeply troubled by the recent deadly outbreak of violence in Syria, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.
“The violence is ongoing out there [in Syria] and it cannot but raise our deep concern,” Peskov said at a news briefing. “This concern is shared by numerous countries and international organizations, including the United Nations.”
Peskov declined to comment on reports that some residents of Latakia remained on the territory of Russian military bases.
“We are not providing any comments regarding Russian [military] bases,” he said.
Russian First Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dmitry Polyansky announced earlier that Russia and the United States submitted a request with the UN Security Council asking to organize behind-the-doors consultations regarding the developments in Syria.
On March 6, clashes broke out between the security forces loyal to the new Syrian authorities and the armed groups supporting former Syrian President Bashar Assad in the provinces of Latakia, Tartus, and Homs.
The fiercest fighting took place in the city of Jableh, home to the Alawite religious minority, to which the Assad family belongs. The authorities sent army units and armored vehicles to those provinces, declaring a curfew in their main cities.
On March 8, the Syrian transitional government deployed additional forces to the coastal areas in order to restore security and suppress pockets of resistance by the ex-president’s armed supporters.
Lavrov, OSCE secretary-general to discuss security of journalists
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova earlier said that the talks will take place in Moscow on March 11
MOSCOW, March 10. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Secretary-General Feridun Sinirlioglu plan to discuss the security of reporters and raising the organization’s efficiency at their upcoming talks, the ministry said in a statement.
“It is planned to discuss during the meeting a wide range of issues of Russia’s interaction with the organization and its leadership. The Russian side intends to raise the issue of the safety of journalists and ways to increase the effectiveness of the OSCE’s relevant departments in this area,” it said.
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova earlier said that the talks will take place in Moscow on March 11. According to the diplomat, the organization continues to be in the “deepest existential and institutional crisis,” preventing it from playing a significant role in regional security.
Russian, Turkish diplomats discuss situation in Syria
The two diplomats also discussed prospects for settling the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in conformity with international law and the United Nations Charter, it said, adding that meeting was requested by the Turkish side
MOSCOW, March 10. /TASS/. The situation in the Middle East in light of the current developments in Syria was the focus of a meeting between Russian presidential envoy for the Middle East and African countries and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and Turkish Ambassador to Moscow Tanju Bilgic, the Russian foreign ministry said.
“The sides exchange views on the situation in the Middle East with a focus on current developments in Syria,” the ministry said. “The diplomats reiterated Moscow and Ankara’s commitment to coordinated efforts to promote a comprehensive settlement of the Syria crisis, proceeding from the need to ensure Syria’s unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty.”
The two diplomats also discussed prospects for settling the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in conformity with international law and the United Nations Charter, it said, adding that meeting was requested by the Turkish side.
On March 6, clashes broke out in various areas of the Latakia governorate between Syrian security forces and armed groups supporting former Syrian President Bashar Assad. The fiercest fighting took place in Jableh, home to Alawites, representatives of the religious minority, to which the Assad family belongs. The new authorities sent army units and armored vehicles to the three provinces, and curfews have been imposed in the main cities. These clashes are the biggest challenge that the transitional government in Damascus has faced since the change of power in December 2024.
OUTSIDE RUSSIA
Russian air regulator sees potential in widening cooperation with Iran
The participants determined the procedure of further action on flight safety improvement at their meeting
MOSCOW, March 10. /TASS/. Russia and Iran have all the conditions to strengthen and develop cooperation in the air transport sphere, head of the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency, Rosaviatsiya, Dmitry Yadrov said after talks with the delegation of Iranian aviation authorities.
“We discussed in detail the most important topics with counterparts from Iran: passenger and cargo transportation, airworthiness support, legislative particularities of interaction and supplies of domestic air navigation equipment that is of particularly high esteem of foreign partners for high quality. Our communication is fully aimed at increasing interaction between aviation authorities of the two countries. I believe we have all the conditions in place to strengthen and promote further cooperation,” Yadrov said, cited by the regulator’s press service.
The participants determined the procedure of further action on flight safety improvement at their meeting. A relevant intergovernmental agreement is being developed at present together with the Iranian side. The future document bases on the effective working arrangement in the airworthiness sphere signed in November 2024.
“We note the potential of developing relations between the countries that cater for current realities and the accumulated experience of cooperation. We record steady growth of cargo transportation performed by Russian airlines: 171 metric ton in 2023 and 338 metric tons in 2024. The same results should be achieved in terms of passenger transportation: indicators of 2018-2019 are 1.5-2 times above the current ones thus far,” Yadrov noted. In 2024, 41,900 passengers were carried in the Iranian destination.
Air authorities of Russia and Iran are cooperating since 1999, when the governments of the two countries signed the air service agreement. Aeroflot makes two scheduled flights from Moscow to Tehran. Airplanes of Mahan Air make flights between the capitals of the two countries thrice per week.
Russia maintains coordination with US on Syrian issue
On March 6, clashes erupted in the provinces of Latakia, Tartus, and Homs between security forces loyal to the new Syrian authorities and supporters of former President Bashar Assad
UNITED NATIONS, March 10. /TASS/. Russia continues to coordinate with the United States regarding the escalating violence in Syria, according to Vasily Nebenzya, Russia’s permanent representative to the UN.
In response to a relevant question before closed-door consultations on Syria at the UN Security Council, Nebenzya stated, “Yes.” He further emphasized that the consultations, convened at the joint request of Moscow and Washington, would address the situation in Latakia, Syria. “There is a lot of violence there; people are fleeing their homes,” he noted.
On March 6, clashes erupted in the provinces of Latakia, Tartus, and Homs between security forces loyal to the new Syrian authorities and supporters of former President Bashar Assad. The most intense fighting occurred in the town of Jebla, which is predominantly home to Alawites, the religious minority to which the Assad family belongs. In response, the authorities deployed army units and armored vehicles to these provinces and imposed curfews in the major cities. On March 8, the Syrian transitional government dispatched additional forces to the coastal areas to restore security and suppress pockets of resistance from armed supporters of the former president.
According to the latest reports, 250 armed supporters of Assad have been killed since the onset of the violence in western Syria, while security forces loyal to the new authorities have lost 231 fighters. The civilian death toll has exceeded 900, with most of the killed being Alawites.
Russia’s voice loud in international arena
“The world understands that falsification of history and undermining of spiritual and moral values lead to degradation of state foundations and the loss of sovereignty,” the Russian top diplomat stated
MOSCOW, March 10. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is confident that Moscow’s voice is heard loudly in the world even during the current information war against Russia.
“Despite the information war waged by the collective West, our country’s voice is loud on the international arena,” the foreign minister said in an interview with the New Regions of Russia magazine.
“The world understands that falsification of history and undermining of spiritual and moral values lead to degradation of state foundations and the loss of sovereignty,” he said.
The minister added that “Ukraine is setting a tragic example.”
“We are supported by those who oppose the revival of Nazism in any form and manifestations. The overwhelming majority of the UN member states annually vote for the Russian General Assembly resolution on combating the glorification of this misanthropic ideology,” the Russian foreign minister said.
SPECIAL MILITARY OPERATION IN UKRAINE
Russian army enters Ukraine’s Dnepropetrovsk Region during battle for Krasnoarmeysk in DPR
Krasnoarmeysk serves as a crucial logistics hub for the Ukrainian forces in the DPR
ROSTOV-ON-DON, March 10. /TASS/. Russian forces have entered the territory of Ukraine’s Dnepropetrovsk Region during the battle for Krasnoarmeysk (Ukrainian name: Pokrovsk) in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), according to Viktor Vodolatsky, the first deputy chairman of the State Duma’s committee on CIS affairs, Eurasian integration, and relations with compatriots, who spoke to TASS.
Earlier, he stated that as the Ukrainian army prepared to retreat, they planted mines throughout the center of Krasnoarmeysk. The Ukrainian command has since abandoned the city, relocating its command centers to the Dnepropetrovsk Region.
“We have encircled Krasnoarmeysk. To the south of the city, we have already entered the Dnepropetrovsk Region,” Vodolatsky said. “Additional army reinforcements, nationalist battalions, and, most importantly, so-called mercenaries have been redeployed there. These are essentially regular units from France, Britain, and Germany, now fighting alongside the Zelensky regime,” he added.
Krasnoarmeysk serves as a crucial logistics hub for the Ukrainian forces in the DPR. Former Verkhovna Rada member Igor Mosiychuk (designated as a terrorist and extremist in Russia) remarked that the loss of the city would be a catastrophe for Ukraine.
FACTBOX: Ukrainian forces’ atrocities, enemy losses: situation in Russia’s Kursk Region
Russian troops repelled three Ukrainian counterattacks in the Kursk Region over the past day
MOSCOW, March 10. /TASS/. The Ukrainian armed forces have lost a total of over 66,000 troops in the Kursk Region since the beginning of hostilities there, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.
Several civilians from the farmstead of Nikolsky in the Kursk Region’s Sudzha district were killed in fires started by Ukrainian soldiers during the advances of Russian forces, Valery Shirnov, an evacuated civilian, told TASS.
TASS has gathered key news about the situation in the region.
Progress on destroying Ukrainian formations
– Russian troops repelled three Ukrainian counterattacks in the Kursk Region over the past day.
– They also defeated the formations of a heavy mechanized brigade, five mechanized brigades, a motorized infantry brigade, an assault brigade, two air assault brigades, two territorial defense brigades and two assault regiments of the Ukrainian army near the settlements of Goncharovka, Guyevo, Zaoleshenka, Kazachya Loknya, 1st Knyazhy, Kositsa, Kurilovka, Loknya, Malaya Loknya, Oleshnya, Pushkarnoye, Sudzha, Cherkasskoye Porechnoye, Cherkasskaya Konopelka, and Yuzhny.
Ukrainian losses
– Over the past day, the Ukrainian army lost more than 340 troops, two tanks, seven infantry fighting vehicles, including a US-made Bradley IFV, five armored personnel carriers, 10 armored combat vehicles, 13 motor vehicles, three self-propelled artillery systems, eight field artillery guns, an AN/TPQ-50 counterbattery radar system, a counter-obstacle vehicle, as well as six UAV control posts and an ammunition depot.
– Two Ukrainian soldiers surrendered as prisoners of war.
– In total, during the fighting in the Kursk area, Kiev has lost over 66,270 troops, 389 tanks, 307 infantry fighting vehicles, 269 armored personnel carriers, 2,173 armored combat vehicles, 2,383 motor vehicles, 539 artillery guns, 52 multiple rocket launchers, including 13 HIMARS and seven MLRS of US manufacture, and 25 anti-aircraft missile launchers.
Statements by civilians
– Three civilians from liberated settlements in the Kursk Region in need of medical care after staying in the territories occupied by Ukrainian forces for a long time have been admitted to the Kursk Regional Clinical Hospital, Alexander Khinshtein, the region’s deputy head, said.
– He also announced the introduction of social benefits for children from border areas born after the Ukrainian incursion on August 6, 2024.
– Over 152,000 residents of the Kursk Region’s border areas have left their homes since August 2024 due to the Ukrainian armed forces’ incursion, Alexander Chepik, the region’s acting first deputy governor and head of the regional government, said.
– He added that the Russian Emergencies Ministry’s joint pyrotechnic detachment has disarmed more than 400 submunitions and 100 improvised explosive devices in the border areas of the Kursk Region since the beginning of the enemy incursion.
– According to his information, 496 residents of the Kursk Region have been injured in Ukrainian attacks since the beginning of the special operation, while 191 people have been killed.
Eyewitness account of Ukrainian army’s atrocities
– Amid the advances of Russian troops, the Ukrainian armed forces were shooting at the civilians’ windows or dropping munitions on their houses via drones, Valery Shirnov, an evacuated resident of the Sudzha district’s farmstead of Nikolsky, said.
– He also said that several residents of Nikolsky died due to Ukrainian soldiers burning down homes as the Russian Armed Forces were advancing.
– According to him, Ukrainian troops also refused to give food to the farmstead’s residents.
Over 15,000 mercenaries have fought in Ukraine against Russia since 2022
“They also participate in Ukrainian troops’ crimes against civilians and in torturing Russian servicemen,” Yulia Zhdanova said
VIENNA, March 10. /TASS/. More than 15,000 mercenaries from 115 countries have fought on the part of the Ukrainian army since the beginning of the special military operation, acting head of Russia’s delegation to the Vienna-based military security and arms control talks, Yulia Zhdanova, said.
“Since the beginning of the special military operation, more than 15,000 foreign mercenaries from 115 countries have come to Ukraine. Currently, there are around 2,000 mercenaries there. The biggest groups are from Poland, Georgia, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Romania,” she said at a roundtable meeting on problems of international law amid conflicts.
“They also participate in Ukrainian troops’ crimes against civilians and in torturing Russian servicemen,” she said.
According to Zhdanova, one of Russia’s key tasks now is to collect evidence of crimes committed by foreign mercenaries in Russia’s territory. “Based on the evidence that has been gathered, as many as 871 mercenaries have already been charged and 652 have been put on the international wanted list,” she added.
Russian forces pound Ukrainian army, equipment in over 150 areas in past day
Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicted more than 30 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed three enemy military vehicles in its area of responsibility in the Kharkov Region over the past day, the ministry reported
MOSCOW, March 10. /TASS/. Russian forces struck Ukrainian manpower and military hardware in more than 150 areas over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Monday.
“Operational/tactical aircraft, attack unmanned aerial vehicles, missile troops and artillery of the Russian groups of forces struck military airfield infrastructure facilities and massed manpower and equipment of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries in 152 areas,” the ministry said in a statement.
Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicts over 30 casualties on Ukrainian army in Kharkov area
Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicted more than 30 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed three enemy military vehicles in its area of responsibility in the Kharkov Region over the past day, the ministry reported.
“Battlegroup North units operating in the Kharkov direction inflicted losses on formations of three motorized infantry brigades of the Ukrainian army and a territorial defense brigade in areas near the settlements of Volchansk and Kazachya Lopan in the Kharkov Region,” the ministry said.
The Ukrainian army lost more than 30 personnel and three motor vehicles in that frontline area over the past 24 hours, it specified.
Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicts 210 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day
Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicted roughly 210 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed a US-made counterbattery radar station in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.
“Battlegroup West units improved their tactical position and inflicted losses among manpower and equipment of four mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian army in areas near the settlements of Kondrashovka, Zagoruikovka, Monachinovka, Gorokhovatka and Podvysokoye in the Kharkov Region,” the ministry said.
The Ukrainian army’s losses in that frontline area over the past 24 hours amounted to 210 personnel, two armored combat vehicles, five motor vehicles, two Western-made field artillery guns, an electronic warfare station and a US-made AN/TPQ-50 counterbattery radar station, it specified.
Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicts 270 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day
Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicted roughly 270 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed three enemy ammunition depots in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.
“Battlegroup South units gained better lines and positions and inflicted losses on formations of two mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian army, a territorial defense brigade and two National Guard brigades in areas near the settlements of Grigorovka, Konstantinovka, Shcherbinovka, Dronovka and Druzhkovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic,” the ministry said.
The Ukrainian army lost an estimated 270 personnel, two armored combat vehicles, six motor vehicles, six field artillery guns and three field ammunition depots in that frontline area over the past 24 hours, it specified.
Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicts 490 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day
Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicted roughly 490 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed an enemy tank and a Grad multiple launch rocket system in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.
“Battlegroup Center units kept advancing deep into the enemy’s defenses and inflicted losses on formations of two mechanized brigades, an assault brigade, two jaeger brigades of the Ukrainian army, a marine infantry brigade and a National Guard brigade in areas near the settlements of Uspenovka, Novopavlovka, Udachnoye, Petrovskoye, Alekseyevka and Krasnoarmeisk in the Donetsk People’s Republic,” the ministry said.
The Ukrainian army lost an estimated 490 personnel, a tank, an armored combat vehicle, a Grad multiple rocket launcher, six motor vehicles and four field artillery guns in that frontline area over the past 24 hours, it specified.
Russia’s Battlegroup East inflicts over 120 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day
Russia’s Battlegroup East inflicted more than 120 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed an enemy tank and three vehicles in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.
“Battlegroup East units inflicted losses on formations of two mechanized brigades, a jaeger brigade of the Ukrainian army and a marine infantry brigade in areas near the settlements of Fyodorovka, Bogatyr, Vesyoloye and Razliv in the Donetsk People’s Republic,” the ministry said.
The Ukrainian army lost more than 120 personnel, a tank and three motor vehicles in that frontline area over the past 24 hours, it specified.
Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr inflicts 65 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day
Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr inflicted roughly 65 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed an enemy artillery gun in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.
“Battlegroup Dnepr units inflicted losses on manpower and equipment of a mechanized brigade and a mountain assault brigade of the Ukrainian army in areas near the settlements of Pyatikhatki and Pavlovka in the Zaporozhye Region and Novonikolayevka in the Kherson Region,” the ministry said.
The Ukrainian army lost an estimated 65 personnel, five motor vehicles and a field artillery gun in that frontline area over the past 24 hours, it specified.
Russian air defenses down Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter jet over past day
Russian air defense forces shot down a Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter jet and 50 enemy unmanned aerial vehicles over the past day, the ministry reported.
“Air defense capabilities shot down a Ukrainian Air Force MiG-29 aircraft in an air combat, and also five JDAM guided aerial bombs and seven rockets of the HIMARS multiple launch rocket system of US manufacture and 50 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles,” the ministry said.
Overall, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 657 Ukrainian warplanes, 283 helicopters, 45,927 unmanned aerial vehicles, 600 surface-to-air missile systems, 22,097 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,526 multiple rocket launchers, 22,403 field artillery guns and mortars and 32,658 special military motor vehicles since the start of the special military operation, the ministry reported.
INSIGHTS
Struggle For the Arctic: What Are the Major Regional Powers’ Strategies and Military Capabilities?
Canada has approved a 20-year, $1.86 billion spending spree on military support hubs in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. The money will be spent on airfields, logistics bases and new equipment. How does Canada’s Arctic defense buildup and regional strategy compare to those of other powers? Sputnik explores.
Russia
Arctic strategy centered on coastal and air space defense and protection of maritime trade routes.
Regional defense capabilities greater than all other Arctic powers combined, with over 100K troops permanently stationed at 40+ bases, at locations including Franz Josef Land, Novaya Zemlya and Wrangel Island.
Major Army units include the 12K+ troop 200th and 80th Arctic Motorized Rifle Brigades, and the 10K+ troop Arctic Coastal Defense Forces. MiG-31 jets, S-400 and Bastion air, missile and coastal defense systems and early warning sites deployed.
Northern Fleet’s Borei and Delfin-class boomers and Yasen and Shchuka-B cruise missile and attack subs patrol the area.
40+ nuclear and diesel icebreakers aid power projection.
USA
Strategy focused on missile defense, intelligence-gathering and surveillance, and since recently, a new effort to back up shelf claims against neighbors.
Has 2 aging Arctic-ready icebreakers, the Polar Star and the Healy, but 3 new cutters under construction.
Air and missile defense capabilities in Fairbanks and Anchorage, Alaska and Thule, Greenland. Army, Navy and Coast Guard sites at Fairbanks, Delta Junction and Kodiak. About 25,000 permanently stationed troops.
Canada
“Sovereignty assertion” focus of military patrols, investment and international legal claims.
Operates CFS Alert – the northernmost permanent base on Earth, on Ellesmere Island, plus Joint Task Force North HQ in Yellowknife, Nanisivik Naval Facility, CFB Goose Bay, four RCAF airfields, and early warning radar operated under NORAD.
Fields 7 heavy and medium icebreakers and building 2 more.
200-500 troops stationed in the Arctic at any given time. Troop numbers go up during annual “Operation Nanook” wargames.
Denmark
Arctic strategy focused on sovereignty assertion in Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and the Arctic shelf via ground and naval patrols.
200-300 troops stationed in the Arctic at any given time (plus 500 rotating personnel). Permanent presence at Joint Arctic Command in Nuuk, Greenland in addition to Sirius dog sled special forces excursions on the island.
No Arctic icebreakers, but three Knud Rasmussen-class patrol vessels.
Norway
Arctic strategy prioritizing role as a NATO forward base for ops against Russia, built on regular bloc ground, air and naval drills.
About 3,500 permanent Arctic troops with Brigade Nord, Porsanger Battalion and Finnmark Land Defense. Air bases at Evenes, Andoya and Bardufoss, and naval facilities at Sortland and Bergen.
Two icebreakers, plus three ice-capable patrol vessels.
Finland & Sweden
No Arctic shelf claims of their own, but do possess land above the Arctic Circle. Strategies focused on sustaining military presence in the high north and abetting NATO.
Sweden has three Arctic bases, plus an Arctic patrol air base at Lulea, Saab GoldenEye AEW&C patrols and a contingent of snowmobile troops. 5,000 troop permanent presence.
Finland maintains the Jaeger Brigade of Arctic infantry in Lapland, a string of bases along the northern border with Russia, and the Rovaniemi Air Base for regional air ops. 3,000 active-duty Arctic troops, expandable to hundreds of thousands of draftees in an emergency.
