INSIDE RUSSIA
Russian and Turkmenistani Foreign Ministers to Meet in Moscow
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will to hold a meeting with his Turkmenistani counterpart Rashid Meredov on August 28.
The talks are going to take place in Moscow during Meredov’s working visit to Russia, Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
Lavrov and Meredov are expected to discuss various political, economic and humanitarian issues related to the bilateral relations between the two countries.
The foreign ministers have already conversed matters of Russian-Turkmenistani cooperation and the upcoming bilateral contacts.
Turkmenistan’s Foreign Ministry also noted that Lavrov and Meredov agreed to maintain active political dialogue.
Russia-US Work on Ukrainian Issue Should Be Conducted in Non-Public Format: Kremlin
Russia hopes that Trump’s mediatory efforts to resolve the situation in Ukraine will continue, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated.
More from the Kremlin:
Russia remains focused on resolving the conflict in Ukraine through political and diplomatic means.
There are no exact dates for a new meeting between the negotiating groups of Russia and Ukraine yet, but the heads of these groups are in contact
It’s not useful to discuss Russia-US negotiations on Ukraine without considering general context
Russia has a negative stance on discussions in Europe about the potential presence of European troops in Ukraine
Various issues related to Ukrainian settlement were discussed in talks between Putin and Trump in Alaska
Russia highly assesses the effectiveness of negotiations with the US in Alaska
FSB Detains Ukrainian Spy Plotting UAV Attack on Russian Airfield
The Russian Federal Security Forces (FSB) has detained a Ukrainian spy trained to install a navigation module for drone attacks on a Russian military airfield in Engels.
The man is a 35-year-old from Volgograd. From 2019 to 2022, he temporarily lived in the Lvov region of Ukraine. After his temporary residence permit expired, he stopped registering with Ukrainian migration authorities.
This led to his attention from the Ukrainian Security Service, and he was recruited for a mission to the Russian Federation to carry out a terrorist act in exchange for Ukrainian citizenship.
After undergoing training in Kiev, the man, following instructions from his handler, arrived in Volgograd under the guise of returning home. He then traveled to the Saratov region, where he planned to carry out the “mission.” He was detained at his residence before he could execute the plan.
Kalashnikov Gunmaker Launches Production of New Archangel UAVs for Russian Troops
The Kalashnikov Group also plans jointly with the Company Archangel to train operators of UAVs produced by the Group and drones of other manufacturers and also instructors
MOSCOW, August 27. /TASS/. The Kalashnikov Group will provide its production capacities for the Archangel individual enterprise to roll out unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) “highly in demand” in the area of the special military operation, the Kalashnikov press office reported on Wednesday.
“The Kalashnikov Group will join efforts with the Company Archangel, the developer of FPV drones, to launch the output of drones highly needed in the special military operation zone at the Group’s production capacities. Under the memorandum signed, the Company Archangel will select the best technological solutions of individual military-industrial companies and carry out their trials and combat testing in the special military operation area while the Group will ensure their output,” the statement reads.
The Kalashnikov Group also plans jointly with the Company Archangel to train operators of UAVs produced by the Group and drones of other manufacturers and also instructors, it said.
Archangel Project
The Archangel Project has been led by a group of enthusiasts since 2022. The Project’s centers are situated in various cities of Russia. As Mikhail Fillippov, Archangel Project founder and head, told TASS in April of this year, Archangel specialists offered a drone of the same name capable of accelerating to 280 km/h and striking various targets at a distance of up to 50 km. It was reported in June of this year that the new drone had been successfully tested in Crimea.
OUTSIDE RUSSIA
Russia-Iran Gas Cooperation: Status and Prospects
Russia will begin supplying Iran with gas later this year, according to Iran’s Ambassador to Moscow. This is part of a larger strategy to make Iran into a regional hub for Russian gas. Let’s break it down.
Humble Beginnings
Until recently, Russia exported relatively small amounts of natural gas to Iran.
That changed when in 2024, Moscow and Tehran signed an agreement for Russia to supply up to 300 million cubic meters of gas to Iran daily.
Why Import?
It is often cheaper for Iran to import gas to supply its densely populated northern provinces rather than to deliver it there from the gas-rich Iran’s south, explains Stanislav Mitrakhovich, leading expert at the Russia’s National Energy Security Fund and at the Financial University under the Russian Government.
Azerbaijani Link
Transit of Russian natural gas via Azerbaijan is expected to begin via the existing infrastructure i.e. it does not require laying any additional pipelines, at this time.
Big Plans
First large-scale shipments of Russian gas to Iran via Azerbaijan, up to 2 billion cubic meters (bcm) annually, are expected to begin by the end of this year.
The volume of Russian gas exports can later be raised to as much as 55 bcm per year.
Gas Ambitions
Iran can itself become a major supplier of natural gas to global markets, assuming that it obtains and introduces the required technologies and finds a way to deal with Western sanctions, Stanislav Mitrakhovich believes.
Russian, Chinese submarines conduct first joint patrol in Asia-Pacific region
The Pacific Fleet said that after performing their mission, the crews returned to their home bases
MOSCOW, August 27. /TASS/. Diesel-electric submarines of the Russian Navy and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy have conducted a joint patrol in the Asia-Pacific region for the first time in history, Russia’s Pacific Fleet said in a statement.
“The joint patrol was launched in early August, after the Russian-Chinese drills Maritime Interaction 2025 had concluded in the Sea of Japan. The diesel-electric submarine Volkhov of the Pacific Fleet and a submarine of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy took to patrolling along an approved route in the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea,” the statement reads.
The Pacific Fleet added that after performing their mission, the crews returned to their home bases.
The Volkhov has already returned to the naval base in Vladivostok; the submarine covered over 2,000 nautical miles during its voyage. “The Gromky corvette and the Foty Krylov rescue tugboat provided support to the first submarine patrol,” the statement notes.
The Pacific Fleet pointed out that the Admiral Tributs large anti-submarine warfare ship of the Pacific Fleet, and the Shaoxing destroyer and the Qiandaohu replenishment ship of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy had conducted a joint patrol earlier in the year.
The main goal of the fifth joint Russia-China patrol mission is to strengthen naval cooperation between the two countries, ensure peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, monitor the maritime area and protect Russian and Chinese maritime economic facilities. The first joint Russia-China patrol in the Asia-Pacific region was conducted in 2021 and has since become an annual practice.
Russian-Belarusian Joint Drills Zapad 2025 Strictly Defensive — Security Official
All the maneuvers of the Zapad 2025 strategic drills have been moved deep into Belarusian territory to ease tension
MINSK, August 27. /TASS/. The upcoming Russia-Belarus strategic joint drills Zapad 2025 are strictly defensive in nature, Belarusian Security Council State Secretary Alexander Volfovich said on Wednesday.
“A lot has already been said by our head of state and the senior staff of the [Belarusian] Defense Ministry that the exercise [Zapad 2025] is regular and takes place once every two years. These drills have no offensive goals,” the state-run BelTA news agency quoted the security official as saying.
“In neighboring countries, exercises are conducted with purely offensive objectives,” he continued. “Our drills pursue a solely defensive goal: to protect the [Russia-Belarus] Union State,” he stressed.
All the maneuvers of the Zapad 2025 strategic drills have been moved deep into Belarusian territory to ease tension, although the initial plan envisaged involving actually all the training grounds in the western Brest and Grodno regions, Volfovich explained.
“Meanwhile, our neighbors have deployed a military grouping at training grounds near our border for drills in response to our well-wishing rhetoric,” he noted. “For example, today over 1,000 troops are stationed at the Pabrade training ground just 15 kilometers from our border. How should we respond to this?”
“Additional aviation units have been relocated to airfields in Poland and the Baltic states, where over 148 aircraft are now stationed. Other activities are also underway that cause concern and, perhaps, pursue the goal of provoking us into retaliatory measures,” the official stressed.
“But we are sensible people and will not provoke anyone. We are monitoring the situation and are prepared to give a firm rebuff to any ill-wishers, if they venture to make an incursion into our territory. We will not give up our land: we will defend it to our last breath, as our ancestors did,” Volfovich added.
The joint Russian-Belarusian Zapad 2025 drills will run between September 12 and 16 in Belarus and focus on ensuring the Union State’s military security. The Russian and Belarusian troops will practice repelling air strikes and fighting saboteurs along with planning the use of nuclear weapons and Oreshnik hypersonic missile systems.
SPECIAL MILITARY OPERATION IN UKRAINE
Russian Troops Liberate Pervoye Maya Community in Donetsk Region Over Past Day — Top Brass
Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicted more than 400 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed three enemy armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported
MOSCOW, August 27. /TASS/. Russian troops liberated the community of Pervoye Maya in the Donetsk region over the past 24 hours in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Wednesday.
“Battlegroup Center units liberated the settlement of Pervoye Maya in the Donetsk People’s Republic in offensive operations,” the ministry said in a statement.
Kiev loses 1,275 troops along engagement line in past day — latest figures
The Ukrainian army lost roughly 1,275 troops in battles with Russian forces in all the frontline areas over the past 24 hours, according to the latest data on the special military operation in Ukraine released by Russia’s Defense Ministry.
The latest figures show that the Ukrainian army lost over 175 troops and four armored combat vehicles in the responsibility area of Russia’s Battlegroup North, more than 230 troops and seven armored combat vehicles in the responsibility area of the Battlegroup West and roughly 190 troops and a tank in the responsibility area of the Battlegroup South.
During the last 24-hour period, the Ukrainian army also lost over 400 troops and three armored combat vehicles in the responsibility area of Russia’s Battlegroup Center, roughly 215 troops and two armored combat vehicles in the responsibility area of the Battlegroup East and more than 65 troops and seven jamming stations in the responsibility area of the Battlegroup Dnepr, the latest figures show.
Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicts over 175 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day
Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicted more than 175 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed four enemy armored combat vehicles in its areas of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.
“Battlegroup North units inflicted losses on manpower and equipment of two mechanized brigades, two air assault brigades, a tank brigade, an assault regiment of the Ukrainian army and a National Guard regiment in areas near the settlements of Kondratovka, Staraya Guta, Pavlovka, Andreyevka, Yunakovka and Sadki in the Sumy Region,” the ministry said.
In the Kharkov direction, Battlegroup North units inflicted losses on formations of a mechanized brigade and a motorized infantry brigade of the Ukrainian army in areas near the settlements of Volchansk and Melovoye in the Kharkov Region, the ministry said.
The Ukrainian army lost more than 175 personnel, four armored combat vehicles, six motor vehicles, seven artillery guns and two electronic warfare stations in those frontline areas over the past 24 hours, it specified.
In addition, Russian forces destroyed three ammunition and five materiel depots of the Ukrainian army, it said.
Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicts over 230 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day
Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicted more than 230 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed seven enemy armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.
“Battlegroup West units improved their tactical position and inflicted losses on formations of a mechanized brigade, two assault brigades of the Ukrainian army and a territorial defense brigade in areas near the settlements of Malinovka, Izyum and Kupyansk in the Kharkov Region and Drobyshevo in the Donetsk People’s Republic,” the ministry said.
The Ukrainian army lost more than 230 personnel, seven armored combat vehicles, 15 motor vehicles and four field artillery guns, including three Western-made weapons in that frontline area over the past 24 hours, it specified.
In addition, Russian forces destroyed four electronic warfare stations and four ammunition depots of the Ukrainian army, it said.
Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicts 190 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day
Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicted roughly 190 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed an enemy tank in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.
“Battlegroup South units gained better lines and positions and inflicted losses on manpower and equipment of two mechanized brigades and an airmobile brigade of the Ukrainian army in areas near the settlements of Aleksandro-Shultino, Serebryanka and Druzhkovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic,” the ministry said.
The Ukrainian army lost an estimated 190 personnel, a tank and three motor vehicles in that frontline area over the past 24 hours, it specified.
In addition, Russian forces destroyed an ammunition depot of the Ukrainian army, it said.
Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicts over 400 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day
Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicted more than 400 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed three enemy armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.
During the last 24-hour period, Battlegroup Center units “inflicted losses on formations of four mechanized brigades, three air assault brigades, a jaeger brigade of the Ukrainian army, two marine infantry brigades, a territorial defense brigade and two National Guard brigades in areas near the settlements of Novotroitskoye, Krasnoarmeysk, Dobropolye, Toretskoye, Kutuzovka, Rodinskoye, Dimitrov, Zolotoi Kolodez and Novonikolayevka in the Donetsk People’s Republic,” the ministry said.
The Ukrainian army lost more than 400 personnel, three armored combat vehicles, six motor vehicles and five artillery guns in that frontline area over the past 24 hours, it specified.
Russia’s Battlegroup East inflicts 215 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day
Russia’s Battlegroup East inflicted roughly 215 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed two enemy armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.
“Battlegroup East units kept advancing deep into the enemy’s defenses and inflicted losses on manpower and equipment of three mechanized brigades, an assault regiment of the Ukrainian army and two territorial defense brigades in areas near the settlements of Velikomikhailovka, Beryozovoye, Gavrilovka, Sosnovka and Yanvarskoye in the Dnepropetrovsk Region and Novogrigorovka in the Zaporozhye Region,” the ministry said.
The Ukrainian army lost an estimated 215 personnel, two armored combat vehicles, six motor vehicles and an electronic warfare station in that frontline area over the past 24 hours, it specified.
In addition, Russian forces destroyed an ammunition depot and a materiel depot of the Ukrainian army, it said.
Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr inflicts over 65 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day
Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr inflicted more than 65 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed seven enemy jamming stations in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.
“Battlegroup Dnepr units inflicted losses on formations of a mechanized brigade and a coastal defense brigade of the Ukrainian army in areas near the settlements of Novotroitskoye in the Zaporozhye Region and Antonovka in the Kherson Region,” the ministry said.
The Ukrainian army lost more than 65 personnel, 12 motor vehicles, an artillery gun and seven electronic warfare stations in that frontline area over the past 24 hours, it specified.
In addition, Russian forces destroyed three materiel depots of the Ukrainian army, it said.
Russian troops strike Ukrainian UAV control posts, assembly sites over past day
Russian troops struck Ukrainian UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) assembly sites and control posts over the past 24 hours, the ministry reported.
“Operational/tactical aircraft, attack unmanned aerial vehicles, missile troops and artillery of the Russian groups of forces struck a Ukrainian air defense radar, control posts and assembly sites of unmanned aerial vehicles,” the ministry said.
In addition, Russian troops struck temporary deployment areas of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries in 149 locations, the ministry said.
Russian air defenses intercept 162 Ukrainian UAVs, two smart bombs over past day
Russian air defense forces shot down 162 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles and two smart bombs over the past 24 hours, the ministry reported.
“Air defense capabilities shot down two guided aerial bombs, two rockets of the US-made HIMARS multiple launch rocket system and 162 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles,” the ministry said.
Overall, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 665 Ukrainian warplanes, 283 helicopters, 79,826 unmanned aerial vehicles, 625 surface-to-air missile systems, 24,817 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,588 multiple rocket launchers, 28,968 field artillery guns and mortars and 40,480 special military motor vehicles since the start of the special military operation, the ministry reported.
INSIGHTS
Izvestia: Russia Boosts Arctic Transport Potential with New Route to Counter Western Blockade Risks
Russia is developing a new Arctic logistics corridor to bypass Western restrictions, with cargo flows through Western Siberia alone potentially reaching 100 mln tons, Izvestia reported citing the Maritime Board. Presidential Aide and chairman of the Maritime Board Nikolay Patrushev stated that Russia would guarantee the security of the Northern Sea Route. According to him, the Transarctic transport corridor, via the Ob-Irtysh basin, could be integrated with China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
“For our country, the Arctic region has always carried profound economic, scientific, cultural, and political significance. Rational development of Arctic resources, strengthening regional infrastructure, and transforming the Northern Sea Route into a safe, year-round, and competitive national transportation artery are the main goals of national maritime policy,” Patrushev emphasized.
Currently, Yamal LNG and Sakhalin-2 are the only sector projects not under Western sanctions, due to foreign participation in them, Igor Yushkov from the National Energy Security Fund told the newspaper.
At the same time, the successful development of new economic ventures in the Arctic will depend largely on secure and reliable maritime connections.
“First and foremost, it is necessary to ensure a high level of readiness to respond to emergencies of both natural and man-made origin. Measures should also be taken to advance domestic communication and hydrometeorological support systems,” Patrushev underlined.
The Arctic is, in many ways, Russia’s future, holding immense reserves of natural resources. While the exact scale of these reserves is still unknown, scientists are confident that the region’s resource potential is vast, Deputy Director of the Institute of History and Politics at Moscow State Pedagogical University Vladimir Shapovalov told Izvestia.
For the Northern Sea Route to compete with Baltic ports, infrastructure expansion is essential, Yushkov added, while also noting the seasonal limits of navigation. Shapovalov further stressed that the Arctic is Russia’s frontier territory, bordered by unfriendly NATO states, including the US, Canada, Norway, and Denmark, all of which maintain hostile stances toward Moscow. Safeguarding Russia’s Arctic interests is therefore a top national priority.
