The announcement by #Russian Defence Ministry on Tuesday on Vostok-22 strategic command post exercises during August 30-September 5 gives a big message to the West in political and military terms.
Thread 1/
The announcement said, “In addition to the troops (forces) of the Eastern Military District, units of the Airborne Troops, Long Range Aviation and Military Transport Aviation, as well as military contingents from other states, will be involved in these manoeuvres.”
2/
If there is going to be participation by #China, it will be highly significant in the present context of global politics, especially in the Far East.
Vostok 2018, held exactly four years ago, was the first time such a massive military exercise was held after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. (At the height of the #ColdWar in 1981 under Leonid Brezhnev, the #Soviet Union held its last Vostok exercise).
In the event, Vostok 2018 turned into a Russia-China gun show.
The RF put more than 300k troops in the field alongside 36k of tanks, helicopters, and weapons of every sort for huge war game in #Russia far-eastern reaches, and invited the #Chinese PLA to play along.
5/
And a whole new groove in international affairs began appearing, signifying that the interests of #Russia and #China have once again begun to align — this time around, in response to #USA military power under a pugnacious president, Donald Trump.
6/
On the sidelines of the exercise, Presidents Vladimir #Putin and Xi Jinping had a breakfast of blinis together in #Vladivostok. It was a powerful signal that #Russia no longer saw #China as an adversary but as a potential military ally.
7/
It was widely noted internationally as heralding a major shift in the co-relation of forces in world politics.
To be sure, any #Chinese participation in Vostok 2022 will be similarly subjected to close analysis by #Washington and its allies ...
8/
... at a time of heightened tension in #USA-#China relations, with #Beijing warning last week to take “resolute and strong measures” should the Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi proceed with reported plans to visit #Taiwan. 9/
#China has vowed to annex #Taiwan by force if necessary, and has advertised that threat by flying warplanes near Taiwanese airspace and holding military exercises based on invasion scenarios.
10/
At meeting in Singapore early July with Chairman, US Joint Chiefs of Staff,the chief of the Joint Staff Department of China’s Central Military Commission Gen. Li Zuocheng had warned that #Chinese PLA would resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. 11/
"If anyone creates a wanton provocation, they will be met with the firm counterattack from the #Chinese people.”
12/
However, at the end of the day, #Chinese participation in Vostok 2022 will be seen as an expression of solidarity with #Russia in the best spirit of the February 4 joint statement by the two leaderships ...
13/
..which states that “Friendship between the two States has no limits, there are no ‘forbidden’ areas of cooperation”
No matter the usual mantra that the Vostok2022 is not directed against any third party,its optics will be as a counter to the US pressure on #Russia and #China 14/
Both #Russia and #China face new security challenges in the Far East in the recent period — especially, the revival of “militarism” in #Japan, #NATO’s growing Asia-Pacific posturing, and the belligerence in the #USA’ provocations over #Taiwan. 15/
Tass news agency has reported that #Russian Defence Ministry has proposed certain amendments to Russia’s Federal Law “On territorial waters, territorial sea and the contiguous zone of the Russian Federation” ...
16/
... putting restrictions on the passage of foreign military ships through the Northern Sea Route connecting #Europe and East #Asia.
17/
The proposed amendment will require foreign military and state ships to sail through the Northern Sea Route without entering ports or naval bases, and, furthermore, seek permission from the #Russian authorities at least 90 days in advance. 18/
The amendment will be effectively restricting the use of the shortest sea route to #Asia for the western navies operating in the Asia-Pacific region.
Significantly, this #Russian move comes in the wake of the #NATO’s plans to forge stronger security links between ... 19/
..the North Atlantic area and AsiaPacific countries Japan,South Korea,Australia and New Zealand in a coordinated strategy to counter #China’s rise.
Equally,the staging of Vostok2022 comes at a juncture when #Russia military operations in #Ukraine are entering a crucial phase 20/
In a major speech in #Moscow on July 7 at a meeting with leaders of the parliament, #Putin warned that everyone should understand that #Russia “by and large hasn’t started anything seriously yet” in #Ukraine. 21/
To be sure, Vostok 2022 flies in the face of western propaganda that #Russian military capabilities are steadily weakening due to the conflict in #Ukraine. The MOD announcement on Vostok 2022 made it a point to touch on it indirectly.
22/
The MOD statement said, “A number of foreign media are spreading inaccurate information about alleged mobilisation activities.
23/
Please note that only a part of the Armed Forces of the #Russian Federation is involved in the special military operation, the number of which is sufficient to fulfil all the tasks set by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief.
24/
“Moreover, none of the planned operational and combat training and military-technical and international cooperation activities of the Russian Ministry of Defence have been cancelled and will be provided with the necessary personnel, weapons, military equipment and materials.” 25/
This is only logical, since, following the massive haemorrhage suffered by the #Ukrainian military in the past 5-month period, the military balance is now working favourably for the #Russian forces. 26/
Equally, the #Russian military strategy to grind the #Ukrainian forces with heavy artillery and missile strikes and the slow pace of the conflict also meant that the operations are sustainable over a prolonged period. 27/
At any rate, given the hostile posturing of the #NATO forces all along #Russia’s western borders, it is inconceivable that #Moscow would have risked by heavily committing its forces to the #Ukraine operations. 28/
Interestingly, #Germany’s army chief Lieutenant General Alfons Mais told Handelsblatt newspaper recently in an interview that #Russia has “almost inexhaustible” resources. 29/
The focus of Vostok 2022 will be “on the use of groupings of troops (forces) to ensure military security.” It will be staged in 12 different locations spread across the Eastern Military District, one of #Russia’s five military districts ... 30/
, with a vast geographical spread of 7 million sq. kilometres, headquartered in Khabarovsk on the Amur river in the #Russian Far East near the Russia-#China border, and comprises the regions up to Sakhalin Oblast, which includes Kuril Islands.
by M.K. Bhadrakumar, Katehon
31/31
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
Appears #Germany is now coming to the obvious realisation that #nordstream2 is now an option they must consider.
Assuming #Russia is prepared to pump any gas along it. 50% capacity is already allocated elsewhere.
by The Sirius Report
Appears #China has closed the airspace over the #Taiwan Strait clearly due to the anticipation of the arrival of Pelosi in Taipei. The closure of airspace was initiated via a military exercise in #Fujian province involving live-fire.
by The Sirius Report 2/
So #Pelosi’s office has put out a press release of her Asia trip and itinerary. She is visiting, #Singapore, #Japan, Malaysia and South Korea.
"Our air defense works, but even from downed missiles, mines can fall to the ground and remain active. I ask all residents NOT to let their children out of the house and to exercise maximum vigilance when moving around the city until the sappers of Ministry of Emergency ..." 3/
#Ukrainian sources say that #Russia is preparing for an offensive in the #Kharkov and #Kherson theatres of the conflict. In particular,it is alleged that as many as 6 BTGs, mostly consisting of airborne troops, have been moved from #Mariupol to Novaya Kakhovka in the last week 1/
The 106th Tula Airborne Division, whose officers have already arrived for reconnaissance, is said to be pulling in pontoon crossings as well. There are now 14-15 amphibious assault troops BTGs with a total strength of up to 8,5k people concentrated in the South Buzh direction. 2/
In addition, heavy equipment is being stockpiled in the #Belgorod region, waiting for its time, which will most likely come in the fall. Although full-scale offensive operations by the #Russian Armed Forces are still out of the question until the end of the battle for #Donbass 3/
Rybar analysis of strike on #Olenivka in Volnovakha penal colony⚡️
❗️Strike indicated from the northwestern 🇺🇦 direction❗️
The strike was carried out on the annex located in the northern part of Volnovakha penal colony №120. #Donbass#WarCrimesOfUkraine 1/
Given the limited number of places in the #DPR#LPRcorrectional facilities and the total number of #POWs of war of more than 10 thousand people, the colony is used at full capacity. All possible facilities are being filled #Donbass#WarCrimesOfUkraine#olenivka 2/
Analysis from the scene confirms that the eastern part of the building was hit the hardest, with a powerful fire and explosion that blew out the windows. However, there was only one point of impact: a break in the roof near the ridge. #Donbass#WarCrimesOfUkraine#olenivka 3/
Detractors of SMO often complain that the #Russian army advances too slowly. They say the battles are fought over endless villages, followed by an assault on some third-rate towns. "In five months of war the Russians have not taken a single regional center," they say.
2/
Well, this only shows that our opponents either do not know or have begun to forget what #Ukraine as a geographical area is and what the #Donbass is like.
The highlights of #Russian Foreign Minister Sergey #Lavrov’s interview with Sputnik and RT:
🔹The #EU is forced to make amendments to sanctions against Russia as they have exceeded their potential;
1/
🔹#Russia is not happy about energy issues that #Europe is currently facing, but "will not worry about it too much";
🔹Western countries are trying to drag #UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres into their “games” around #Ukrainian grain; 2/
🔹Moscow has sent a signal to Guterres about the need to include a clause on #Russian grain in the Istanbul agreements;
🔹It can hardly be in #Europe’s interests to fully cut off ties with #Russia and switch to liquefied natural gas supplies from the #USA;