Dmitry Peskov

2024-04-17

The military death toll in has surpassed 50,000, according to a Wednesday BBC report. Since the Russian invasion of the country in February 2022, tens of thousands of soldiers have been killed in what has been coined a ‘meat grinder strategy.’ The term refers to the way in which scores of Russian soldiers are deployed continuously in waves in order to wear down the Ukrainian army. As a result, the Ukrainian death toll in the second year of fighting has increased by 25% from the first year, the BBC noted. The figures have been acquired by independent media groups, BBC Russia, and volunteers who have accessed burial sites and open-source intelligence, such as social media, to collate information. Russian graveyards have also proliferated significantly, according to aerial images. Service members with the Freedom of Russia Legion under the Ukrainian Army prepare to fire a mortar at a Russian military position, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, in Donetsk region, Ukraine, March 21, 2023. (credit: REUTERS/Alex Babenko) The independent media group Mediazona reported 27,300 deaths on the Russian side in 2023 alone, according to the BBC. Moscow denied the findings, saying that this was not an official report. However, the death toll of Russian soldiers is believed to be higher than officially stated. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was the "exclusive prerogative of the Ministry of Defence" to release information regarding casualties due to stringent state secrets laws.  The BBC estimates state that 40% or more of Russian military fatalities were unaffiliated with the military before the invasion. This is likely because many of the veteran soldiers were killed or injured at the start of the war and replaced by l The BBC analysis does not include the militia fatalities in Donetsk and Lugansk in Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine. With these figures included, the Russian death toll would be even greater.  The invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February 2022 was the largest attack on a European country since the Second World War. Putin’s stated aim was to , a claim that has been refuted by critics of the war. Russian troops have in Ukraine, including the Bucha massacres, shortly after the war started on Feb 24, 2022. Ukraine's top prosecutor said that Russian crimes show a pattern of genocidal behavior that should be tried at the International Criminal Court. Ukraine alleges at least 125,000 war crimes by Russian forces. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-04-17

In the midst of escalating tensions following Iran's attack on Israel, the Kremlin urged both nations to exercise restraint and work towards de-escalation in the Middle East.  Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized the need for dialogue and moderation to prevent further escalation of the conflict. "We are extremely concerned about the escalation of tensions in the region and we call on all countries in the region to exercise restraint. Further escalation is in no one’s interests," Peskov stated during a press briefing. Highlighting Russia's ongoing engagement with both Iran and Israel, Peskov stressed the importance of constructive dialogue to mitigate the growing crisis in the region. In response to questions regarding whether Tehran had provided advance warning to Moscow about the strikes on Israel, Peskov declined to comment, stating, "I have nothing to say on the matter." Peskov's comments come after Russia said it of acting in self-defense, following an alleged Israeli strike in Damascus which killed several high-ranking military officials at an embassy compound site used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-04-10

Russia and Germany on Thursday urged countries in the Middle East to show restraint and Israel said it was preparing to "meet all its security needs" in a region on edge over an to strike Israel. The German airline Lufthansa, one of only two Western carriers , extended a suspension of its flights to the Iranian capital and Russia warned against travel to the Middle East. Iran has vowed revenge for the April 1 airstrike on its embassy compound in Damascus that killed a top Iranian general and six other , ratcheting up tension in a region already strained by the Gaza war. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was keeping up its war in Gaza but making security preparations elsewhere. "Whoever harms us, we will harm them. We are prepared to meet all of the security needs of the State of Israel, both defensively and offensively," he said in comments released following a visit to an air force base. People gather for the funeral of members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps who were killed in a suspected Israeli airstrike on the Iranian embassy complex in the Syrian capital Damascus, on the same day as Quds Day in Tehran, Iran, April 5, 2024. (credit: VIA REUTERS) Conflict has spread across the Middle East since the eruption of the Gaza war, with Iran-backed groups declaring support for the Palestinians waging attacks from Lebanon, Yemen and Iraq. Tehran has avoided direct confrontation with Israel or the United States, while declaring support for its allies. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called her Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian to urge "maximum restraint" to avoid further escalation. Russia's foreign ministry told citizens they should not travel to the Middle East, especially to Israel, Lebanon and the Palestinian territories. "Right now it's very important for everyone to maintain restraint so as not to lead to a complete destabilization of the situation in the region, which doesn't exactly shine with stability and predictability," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told a news briefing. Israel has not claimed responsibility for the April 1 attack, for which Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday Israel "must be punished and it shall be," adding that it was tantamount to an attack on Iranian soil. US President Joe Biden said on Wednesday Iran was threatening to launch a "significant attack in Israel," and that he had told Netanyahu that "our commitment to Israel security against these threats from Iran and its proxies is iron-clad." Iran is the third-largest oil producer in the OPEC group and oil prices rose after jumping a dollar a barrel in the previous session. Late on Wednesday, an Iranian news agency published an Arabic report on the X platform saying the air space over Tehran had been closed for military drills, but then removed the report and denied it had issued such news. Lufthansa said it would probably not fly to Tehran before April 13. Austrian Airlines said it was still planning to fly on Thursday but was adjusting timings to avoid crew having to disembark for an overnight layover. Iranian air space is also a key overflight route for Emirates' and Qatar Airways' flights to Europe and North America. Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Aeroflot and Air Arabia, among the airlines that fly to Tehran, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-04-03

Russia's Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday it had deployed additional forces in the Syrian-controlled areas of the Golan Heights, where Israel had allegedly struck at an increasing rate over the last few months. The forces, from Russia's military police, were tasked with de-escalating tensions in the Syrian provinces of Quneitra and Daraa, as well as monitoring the longstanding ceasefire issued as part of the Syrian Civil War. According to Russia, military posts belonging to the Syrian military are located below the Russian observation posts, set up to monitor "possible provocations." Russia's decision to make their presence in the Golan Heights comes after Moscow a strike, blamed on Israel, targeting the . Moscow called on the Jewish state to cease such "completely unacceptable" actions and has requested a meeting with the UN Security Council regarding the strike. Israeli soldiers use a tank during a military drill in the Golan Heights, February 20, 2024 (credit: REUTERS/AMIR COHEN) Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said such attacks violated all the foundations of international law. Russia had also continuously used Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights as a sticking point in arguing for its invasion of Ukraine  Last year, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused the United States of being "hypocritical" in its recognition of the Golan Heights as part of sovereign Israel. Lavrov, who , hinted that the US does not take its own vow to "respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all UN member states" seriously. Just before Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, its deputy ambassador to Geneva told the UN Security Council that " Israel’s sovereignty over Golan Heights that are part of Syria." ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-04-02

Russia said on Tuesday it had important matters to discuss with leaders and was working to remove the Taliban from its list of banned terrorist organizations. "This is a country that is next to us, and one way or another we communicate with them," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. "We need to resolve pressing issues, this also requires dialog, so in this regard we communicate with them like practically everyone else - they are the de facto authority in Afghanistan." Peskov did not elaborate on the "pressing issues," but Russia suffered its deadliest attack for 20 years last month when gunmen stormed a concert hall outside Moscow, killing at least 144 people. claimed responsbility and US officials said they had intelligence that it was the network's Afghan branch, Islamic State Khorasan, that was responsible. Russia has said it is also investigating a Ukrainian link, something Kyiv and the United States have strongly rejected. Taliban members on the second anniversary of the fall of Kabul, near the US embassy in the Afghan capital, Aug. 15, 2023 (credit: ALI KHARA/REUTERS) The in 2021 after the withdrawal of US-led foreign forces, but have remained until now on a list of organizations that Russia designates as terrorist. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-04-01

Iran reportedly provided Russia with a warning about a potential major terrorist operation on Russian soil prior to the massacre at the Crocus City Hall near Moscow last month.  According to three separate sources familiar with the matter who spoke to Reuters, Iran's intelligence alerted Moscow to the looming threat before the deadly attack unfolded. The assault, which took place on March 22, marked the deadliest attack inside Russia in two decades. Gunmen armed with automatic weapons indiscriminately opened fire on concertgoers, resulting in the deaths of at least 144 people. The Islamic State terrorist group later claimed responsibility for the violence. Notably, the United States had also issued a warning to Russia about the likelihood of a terrorist Islamist attack, but Moscow, skeptical of Washington's motives, downplayed the intelligence. However, Iran's warning holds more weight given the close diplomatic ties between Tehran and Moscow, particularly amidst Western sanctions imposed on both countries. Sources revealed that Iran shared information with Russia based on interrogations of individuals arrested in connection with deadly bombings in Iran earlier this year. In January, Iran apprehended 35 individuals, including a commander of ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K), the Afghanistan-based branch of the Islamic State, who were linked to twin bombings in the city of Kerman that claimed nearly 100 lives. Despite lacking specific details about the timing and exact target, Iran's alert to Russia emphasized the preparation for a significant terrorist operation. The information suggested that members of ISIS-K had already traveled to Russia in anticipation of the attack. The Kremlin has neither confirmed nor denied the reports, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov stating that he was unaware of the matter. Meanwhile, Iran's foreign ministry has yet to respond to requests for comment on the issue, while the White House refrained from providing any comment. The revelation underscores the complex security landscape in the region and the ongoing threat posed by terrorist organizations like ISIS-K. As investigations into the Moscow attack continue, questions linger about the extent of international cooperation in combating terrorism and addressing security challenges. While Russia has previously suggested a link between the attack and Ukraine, the latter has vehemently denied any involvement.  ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-03-25

Russia's security state has been ruthlessly effective at detaining Vladimir Putin's opponents but was caught off guard by a raising questions about its priorities, resources and intelligence gathering. Charged with hunting down Ukrainian saboteurs inside Russia, with keeping anti-Kremlin activists in check, and with disrupting the operations of hostile foreign intelligence agencies, the FSB, the main successor agency to the Soviet-era KGB, has its hands full. That, say former US intelligence officials and analysts, helps explain why it may have overlooked other threats, including that posed by Islamist terrorists, such as ISIS-K, which claimed “You can’t do everything,” Daniel Hoffman, a former senior CIA operations officer who served as the agency’s Moscow station chief, told Reuters. “You dial up the pressure on the locals and sometimes you don’t get the intelligence you need on a potential terrorist attack. That’s where they failed. Photo of the terrorists allegedly responsible for the terror attack in Moscow, March 23, 2024. (credit: Amaq News Agency) "It’s possible they’re overextended dealing with the war in Ukraine and dealing with political opposition. This one slipped through the cracks.” The FSB has said Friday's concert hall attack was "painstakingly" planned and that the gunmen had carefully hidden their weapons. Putin on Monday said that radical Islamists were the ones who had carried out the attack, but said that Russia still wanted to understand who had ordered it and said there were many questions for Ukraine to answer. Ukraine denies any involvement. When asked on Monday if the assault represented an intelligence service failure, the Kremlin said that Russia's standoff with the West meant intelligence-sharing was not happening in the way it used to. "Unfortunately, our world shows that no city, no country can be completely immune from the threat of terrorism," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Russia's intelligence services worked tirelessly to defend the country, he added. Still, Friday's shooting, in which at least 139 people were killed and 180 injured, has undermined one of Putin's longstanding pledges to the Russian people: to ensure stability and security. It has also shaken some residents of the Russian capital who have largely been insulated from the violence of the Ukraine war despite occasional drone strikes. Putin, a former KGB officer who won another six years in power earlier this month, has weathered similar crises before and there is no visible threat to his grip on power now. His response, judging from his previous behaviour and a statement on Saturday, will be to meet force with greater force. Four of 11 men detained in connection with the attack have been charged with terrorism and appeared in court after being interrogated: one apparently with his ear missing and one in a wheelchair amid calls from some lawmakers for the death penalty to be re-introduced. Peskov declined to answer a journalist's question about whether they had been tortured.  Whether the men were tasked by Islamic State as the terrorist group and the West asserts, or whether there may have been some kind of Ukrainian connection as Putin has hinted - and Kyiv has flatly denied - there were warning signs which do not appear to have been heeded. Security analysts said the manner in which the attack and escape were carried out was evidence of extensive reconnaissance of the venue beforehand and Russian media published CCTV footage of one of the gunmen visiting at an earlier date. On March 7, the US embassy in Moscow issued a security alert to Americans, telling them it was "monitoring reports that extremists have imminent plans to target large gatherings in Moscow, to include concerts". On March 19, three days before the killing spree, Putin delivered a speech to FSB chiefs in which he dismissed what he said were "provocative" Western warnings about a terrorist act. "All these actions resemble outright blackmail and the intention to intimidate and destabilise our society," said Putin. Nina Krushcheva, a professor of international affairs at The New School in New York, said the FSB appeared to have had Islamic State on its radar. But she said Putin's view that Russia was locked in an existential struggle with a U.S-led West would have made it difficult for Moscow to take at face value a security warning from the United States. "There's a lot of mistrust. It's not like America isn't involved in misinformation," she said. "In Putin's world, where it is an existential battle between Russia and the West that wants to undermine Russia and demolish it, of course he wouldn't believe it because how does he know from his own KGB background that America is not creating its own false flag (operation)." A false flag operation is an act committed with the intent of disguising the source of responsibility to pin blame on another party. John Sipher, who served a stint in Russia during his career in the CIA’s National Clandestine Service, said he believed the FSB may have dropped the ball because it was too busy focusing on political and other threats to Putin and his government. “The (security services) are more about protecting the Kremlin than they are about protecting the people,” said Sipher, who predicted that Putin would now use the attack to justify some new action or against the West and Ukraine. Another warning came on March 2 in southern Russia when FSB special forces killed six gunmen whom they identified as members of Islamic State. Three of the men were on a federal wanted list and the terrorists had killed three policemen the previous year. The FSB found a weapons stash. On March 7, the FSB said it had prevented an attack on a synagogue in Moscow that had been plotted by an Islamic State cell and that the attackers had been killed in a shootout. Riccardo Valle, a researcher on jihadist movements, said the March 2 incident should have set off warning lights. "I think the fact the security forces discovered that there is a network of Islamic State in Russia, and a strong one capable of acquiring weapons and putting up strong resistance against special forces - this should have raised the alarm in Moscow security agencies," Valle said in a phone interview. "Maybe it did but they were not able to prevent the attack in time," said Valle, director of research at the Islamabad-based research and news platform The Khorasan Diary. He said it was also clear from previous statements and attacks by ISIS-K, including on the Russian embassy in Kabul in 2022, that the group had Russia in its sights. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-03-04

Germany accused Russia on Monday of leaking an intercepted recording of German military discussions about how to support Ukraine against the Kremlin's invasion in an attempt to divide Europe. Russian media last week published an audio recording of a meeting of senior German military officials held by Webex discussing weapons for Ukraine and a potential strike by Kyiv on a bridge in Crimea. Germany has confirmed the authenticity of the 38-minute call, saying it is investigating what it called an that was part of an "information war". Participants in the call discuss the possible delivery of Taurus cruise missiles to Kyiv, which Chancellor Olaf Scholz has publicly so far firmly rejected. They also discuss how France and Britain are delivering their cruise missiles. While there has been little public response so far from the allies to the recording, analysts say it is likely to strain ties given it is another major security breach and reveals the extent of German reluctance to get too involved in the war."This hybrid attack aimed to generate insecurity and divide us," a government spokesman said on Monday. "And that is exactly what we will not allow. We are in constant contact with our partners." Moscow accuses the "collective West" of using Ukraine to wage a proxy war against Russia. NATO says it is helping Ukraine to defend itself against a war of aggression. A spokesman for told reporters the leak was a matter for Germany to investigate and Britain would continue to work together with Germany to support Ukraine. Still, he added that Britain was the first country to provide long-range precision strike missiles to Ukraine "And we would encourage our allies to do the same. The Kremlin said on Monday the recording showed Germany's armed forces were discussing plans to launch strikes on Russian territory and questioned whether Scholz was in control of the situation. "The recording itself says that within the Bundeswehr, plans to launch strikes on Russian territory are being discussed substantively and concretely," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. "Here we have to find out whether the Bundeswehr is doing this on its initiative. Then the question is: how controllable is the Bundeswehr and how much does Scholz control the situation? Or is it part of German government policy?" Peskov said. He said both scenarios were "very bad. Both once again emphasize the direct involvement of the countries of the collective West in the conflict around Ukraine." The German government spokesman called accusations of war preparations "absurd" propaganda. said the Kremlin on Monday summoned Germany's ambassador to demand an explanation for the military discussions. A spokesperson for the German Foreign Ministry denied the ambassador was summoned, saying his appointment in the Russian foreign ministry had been planned for some time. The envoy, Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, left the foreign ministry without speaking to reporters after attending the meeting. It is the second time in the past week that Moscow has pounced on what it sees as evidence of Western intent to attack Russia directly. After French President Emmanuel Macron floated the possibility that European nations could send troops to Ukraine, allies of Putin said last week that any French troops would meet death and defeat like Napoleon's soldiers who invaded Russia in 1812. Putin said in a speech on Thursday that Western countries risked provoking a nuclear war if they sent troops to fight in Ukraine. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-02-22

In a sharp rebuke, the Kremlin criticized U.S. President Joe Biden's recent comments about Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating that they were demeaning for the United States and hinted at an attempt to appear as a "Hollywood cowboy." During a fundraiser in San Francisco on Wednesday, Biden referred to Putin as a "crazy SOB," expressing concerns about the possibility of nuclear conflict while emphasizing climate change as the primary existential threat to humanity. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded to Biden's remarks, stating, "The use of such language against the head of another state by the president of the United States is unlikely to infringe on our president, President Putin, but it debases those who use such vocabulary." This post can't be displayed because social networks cookies have been deactivated. You can activate them by clicking manage preferences. Peskov further remarked that Biden's choice of words was perhaps an effort to mimic a Hollywood cowboy persona, but he doubted its effectiveness.  He emphasized that Putin had never used crude language when addressing American officials, adding, "Therefore, I think that such vocabulary debases America itself." ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-02-20

The United States is gearing up to unveil a significant package of sanctions against Russia on Friday in response to the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, announced White House national security spokesperson John Kirby on Tuesday. The impending sanctions are poised to hold Russia accountable for both Navalny's death and its actions throughout the two-year war in Ukraine. However, Kirby refrained from providing specific details regarding the sanctions measures during the announcement. In a press briefing, Kirby emphasized the U.S.'s insistence on obtaining "complete transparency" from Russia concerning the circumstances surrounding Navalny's demise at an Arctic penal colony last Friday.  While the Russian prison service attributed Navalny's death to him falling unconscious during a walk, U.S. President Joe Biden directly implicated Russian President Vladimir Putin in the incident. The forthcoming sanctions build upon the wide array of punitive measures already imposed by the U.S, in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Kirby reiterated the U.S. stance, emphasizing that regardless of the narrative presented by the Russian government, accountability for Navalny's death ultimately rests with Putin and his administration. Efforts by the U.S. embassy in Moscow to acquire additional information regarding Navalny's death have encountered challenges, with Kirby highlighting the difficulty in ascertaining the accuracy of Russian assertions regarding the incident. Meanwhile, Navalny's spokesperson confirmed and asserted that he was "murdered." However, uncertainties persist regarding the exact circumstances of his demise, including the whereabouts of his body. The Kremlin swiftly rejected accusations of foul play, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissing them as "unfounded" and "insolent." Despite mounting international pressure, Russia maintains its stance of denying responsibility for Navalny's death. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-02-16

Jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, 47, is dead, the prison service of the Yamalo-Nenets region where he had been serving his sentence said on Friday. According to the prison service statement, "after a walk, Navalny started feeling unwell, almost immediately losing consciousness. Ambulance arrived at the scene to register Navalny's death." Navalny's press secretary, Kira Yarmysh, said that she has no confirmation of information about the death of the politician, reported Russian media outlet RBK. This post can't be displayed because social networks cookies have been deactivated. You can activate them by clicking manage preferences. The Kremlin's spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Vladimir Putin has been notified of Navalny's death. Kremlin announced a "statement" by Putin later during the day. The authorities said the cause of death was unclear. State-controlled media outlet RT said the politician died because of a blood clot. Navalny's defender Leonid Solovyev visited the politician on Wednesday. "Everything was fine then," Solovyev told Russian oppositional media outlet Novaya Gazeta. This post can't be displayed because social networks cookies have been deactivated. You can activate them by clicking manage preferences. Navalny's ally Leonid Volkov: "“We have no reason to believe state propaganda. If this is true, then not 'Navalny died,' but 'Putin killed Navalny' and only that. But I don’t trust them a penny." The first world leader to comment on reports of the death of Alexei Navalny was Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs. "Whatever your thoughts about Alexey Navalny as the politician, he was just brutally murdered by the Kremlin. That’s a fact and that is something one should know about the true nature of Russia’s current regime. My condolences to the family and friends,” the president said in a statement. This post can't be displayed because social networks cookies have been deactivated. You can activate them by clicking manage preferences. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commented on Navalny's death: "He was obviously killed by Putin, like thousands of others who were tortured because of this one creature. Putin doesn’t care who dies, as long as he maintains his position," quoted RBK-Ukraine. French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné stated that Navalny paid with his life for resisting oppressions. "His death in a penal colony reminds us of the reality of Vladimir Putin's regime. To his family, his loved ones and the Russian people, France sends its condolences." Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg called for the investigation. "Russia has serious questions to answer," he added. President of the European Council Charles Michel stated: "Alexei Navalny fought for the values of freedom and democracy. For his ideals, he made the ultimate sacrifice. He added that "the EU holds the Russian regime for sole responsible for this tragic death" and extended deepest condolences to his family and those who fight for democracy." "Fighters die. But the fight for freedom never ends." This post can't be displayed because social networks cookies have been deactivated. You can activate them by clicking manage preferences. This is a developing story ...قراءة المزيد

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