The large-scale flying and tactical exercises of the Aviation of the Southern Military District (SMD) of the Russian Armed Forces have started in the Russian annexed Crimea, the press service of the Russian military agency reported. The exercises started on the 7th of June in the Rostov region of the Russian Federation.

“The helicopter regiment crews will work on detection and recognition of different ground targets and low-flying, low-speed aircraft, as well as the destruction of these …

According to the Austrian newspaper, Die Presse, citing Dutch diplomats, the Government of the Netherlands wants to modify certain provisions of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. The Dutch Government intended to take such a step after the referendum in April in which the Dutch voted against the ratification of the Association Agreement.

"The government in The Hague prefers quiet diplomacy behind the scenes. And now, when the Netherlands is holding the EU Presidency they have an opportunity …

A Russian An-26 military transport aircraft violated Estonian airspace yesterday, according to the Estonian Defense Forces website. "At 09:51 [Tuesday], a Russian An-26 entered into the air space of Estonia near the island of Vaindloo without permission," the web message stated.

The plane was in Estonian airspace for less than one minute. It flew with a proper flight plan and with its transponder turned on. According to the plan, the plane was to remain in international airspace. At the time …

Ukraine’s Minister of Energy and Coal Industry, Ihor Nasalik, has discussed the possibility of exporting electricity to Belarus once again with the Deputy Energy Minister of Belarus, Leonid Shenets. This was reported by the press service of the Ukrainian Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry.

The export of electricity from Ukraine to Belarus was halted in November 2014.

Belarus has proposed the restoration of Ukrainian-Belarusian working group on energy. This would be within the framework of …

The total amount of two loans to Iran will amount to about 2.5 billion Euros, the Russian Deputy Finance Minister, Sergiy Storchak, said. "The total amount of the two loans is about 2.5 billion Euros. One is a little more, the other is a little smaller," TASS quoted the official as saying. Storchak said that the Finance Ministry expects the negotiations will be completed and loan documents signed within two weeks.

"The domestic procedures of the parties have been completed. This issue will …

A group of Turkish nuclear energy experts toured the facilities of the unconventional equipment and pipes plant, Atomenergomash, which is a separate division of EnergoAtom, the National Nuclear Energy Generating Company of Ukraine.

According to Energoatom’s press service, the purpose of the visit of the Turkish delegation was to explore the prospects of involving the Ukrainian company in the construction of Akkuyu nuclear power plant in Turkey.

"The Turkish experts were also interested in …

Both servicemen and civilians are being held captive

On the 6th of June, the First Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, Iryna Herashchenko, reported that 113 Ukrainian citizens are still held captive by separatists supported by Russia in the Donbas, Radio Svoboda reports.

"There are both servicemen and civilians. Separatists are trying to exchange the release of hostages for amnesty and are demanding that their leaders are pardoned.  They have not provided any information as to where the …

Ukraine plans to completely abandon the practice of purchasing military equipment and spare parts manufactured in Russia by 2018. These plans are outlined in the Strategic Defense Bulletin approved by the President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, TASS reports.

By the end of this year, Kiev also plans to adopt a law which will provide for a law enforcement body within the Ukrainian army. The new agency will be able to conduct pre-trial investigations of crimes committed by servicemen.

By the end …