Category: Russia

Hello,

A few months ago I wrote several articles about the Ukraine cargo ship Faina, that pirates had captured near Somalia! The ship was loaded with military hardware including 33 Tanks! It seems that Ukraine has been shipping for some time a lot of military weapons to multiples of destinations. The issue is not whether they should ship arms legally all over the world but whether the military could afford to sell it, did they sell illegally and that the money went to line the President of Ukraine’s pocket.

“Ukraine’s government has been accused of illegally trading in arms by its own parliamentary commission. An inquiry was launched to investigate whether laws were broken in the selling of weapons to Georgia. The head of the commission says President Viktor Yushchenko forced officials into damaging Ukraine’s own interests.” (Link)

It seems that President Viktor Yushchenko has been a bad President like so many around the world are this day and age. I mean: what good is it to become President if you can not become a billionaire? (Right?)

The Ukraine parliament has instigated a investigation into the allegations and it seems that the results are not looking very good. The Ukraine military is in shambles and has almost ceased to function, yet they sold 2.5 billion dollars worth of military hardware and only 200 million dollars got to the military. (Oops!)

Also from this investigation has surfaced the fact that Ukraine operated some of the rocket systems that were used to shell South Ossetia. This has become more fact than fiction now.

The fact is: Russian Rosoboronexport Company was offering to modernize Ukraine military production lines. It would have created better weaponry and also stimulated more jobs at our weapon factories. But when Russia learned that Kiev secretly sold arms to Georgia and fired the rockets that killed thousands, it reversed its once in a life time offer!

Meanwhile, the cargo ship Faina with Ukrainian weapons on-board is still being held by Somali pirates. Some sources claim part of the shipment wasn’t headed to Kenya, but to Southern Sudan, which is subject to an arms embargo. If this is proven correct, Kiev should face a serious international scandal.

Looks like it is time for a new President in Ukraine….. (Link)

Ukrainian Prime Minister, Yulia Timoshenko might want the job!

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

Hello,

I pulled out some more pictures of Israel and decided to post them. These came from my little Rekam camera and I almost forgot I took them on our recent trip for a visa to Russia. Most of them are from while we took a walk around the block from where Misha and Chelita live.

Svet and I just talked about missing Israel and thinking about when we will go back….

Hope you enjoyed the pictures of Israel, just follow these links and find more pictures of The Israel Trip… Link Link Link Link Link Link Link From Windows to Russia!

So lots of pictures on Israel.

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

RBC, 08.12.2008, Moscow 17:55:43.The oil supply swap scheme agreed upon by TNK-BP, Rosneft, and Transneft will enable the companies to save up to $50m per year, TNK-BP’s Vice President Jonathan Kollek told a briefing today. He reiterated that the contract signed by the companies provided for annual supplies of 13m tonnes of oil up until 2015. He also added that the agreement allowed Rosneft to meet its obligations to China without the construction of a pipeline.

RBC, 08.12.2008, Chisinau 17:08:02.The Moldova government has revised budget parameters, increasing the estimated budget deficit by $38.1m, or five times, to $47.7m. Corresponding amendments to the bill on the republic’s budget were approved during an extraordinary cabinet meeting. Similarly, the budget’s revenue and expenditure figures were also revised, a source in the government told RBC today. The amendments provide for a 3.8-percent rise in revenue to almost $1.450bn, as well as a 6.4-percent increase in expenditures to nearly $1.548bn.

RBC, 08.12.2008, Moscow 16:22:11.Transneft and CNPC (Chinese National Petroleum Corporation), along with China Development Bank, are gearing up to resume talks on the extension of a loan to the Russian pipeline giant, chief of Transneft’s press office Igor Dyomin told RBC today. He pointed out that negotiations with China’s representatives had never actually stopped, but were simply conducted less actively. With this in mind, the parties are expected to resume active talks on Wednesday, Dyomin noted.

RBC, 08.12.2008, Moscow 15:42:00.A lack of proper control over the use of R&D results not only leads to federal budget losses, but also creates conditions for an unauthorized exchange of technology with other countries and a loss of Russia’s advantages in high tech industries, said Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov at a meeting of a government commission for exports control. At the same time, however, he noted that exports control should not hinder the promotion of Russian high tech products on global markets. In this area, a flexible policy based on public-private partnership is necessary, Ivanov stressed. He added that the government, which invested huge amounts in R&D, particularly in military and dual-purpose technologies, as well as those intended for security purposes, had the right to expect certain economic benefits from such investments.

RBC, 08.12.2008, Moscow 15:32:27.Gazprom expects its foreign currency revenue from natural gas exports to non-CIS countries to amount to $64bn in 2008, the Russian energy holding’s spokesman Dmitry Semyonov said during today’s Russian oil and gas congress. He pointed out that exports to non-CIS countries would exceed 160bn cubic meters of natural gas in 2008. Meanwhile, the average export price for gas stood at $400 per 1,000 cubic meters.

RBC, 08.12.2008, Moscow 13:47:25.The Bank of Moscow plans to approach Vnesheconombank for a subordinated loan of RUB 10bn (approx. USD 356m). In addition, the bank said in a statement, it could also ask for money to refinance its external debt (roughly USD 1bn) in 2009.

RBC, 08.12.2008, Moscow 12:35:02.Russia’s natural gas exports grew 9.1 percent to 147.5bn cubic meters between January and October 2008 against the same period of the previous year, the Federal Customs Service reported today. Similarly, Russia’s revenue from gas exports jumped 69.2 percent to $55.02bn. Exports to countries outside the CIS rose 10.8 percent to 134.1bn cubic meters, whereas exports to the CIS shrank 5.6 percent to $13.4bn cubic meters.

RBC, 08.12.2008, Moscow 11:51:13.In January-October 2008, Russia decreased its oil exports by 7.44 percent to 184.543m tonnes compared to the same period a year earlier, Russia’s Federal Customs Service reported. Meanwhile, oil export revenues rose 51.2 percent to $136.7bn. Oil exports to countries outside the CIS dropped almost 8 percent to 170.2m tonnes, while revenues grew 50.8 percent to $128.26bn. Exports to the CIS inched down 0.11 percent to just shy of 14.38m tonnes of oil, while revenues jumped 57.1 percent to over $8.443bn.

RBC, 08.12.2008, Moscow 10:37:35.The postponement of loan payments in 2009 will not be free for individuals, Deputy PM and Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin told journalists following a government meeting on economic issues. Although debt delays are to be paid for, he added, people will be able to choose a payment schedule that is convenient for them. The minister explained that the terms of payment deferral for people who had lost a job or part of their income would be similar to those for the postponement of mortgage loans. He stressed, however, that the terms of debt restructuring would be determined separately.

RBC, 05.12.2008, Moscow 19:30:01.During today’s meeting of OSCE foreign ministers in Helsinki, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called on the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe in South Ossetia connected with Georgia’s suspension of natural gas supplies to the region.

Hello,

These last few days while drinking my cup of coffee I had to stop and think about our friends (Roberto and Lydia) in Panama. (I read their blog all the time, The Silver People Chronicle). The issue is in my mind because their blog is about the Panama canal and the Russians have a Warship going through the canal for the first time since 1944!

A Russian warship is passing through the Panama Canal in Central America for the first time since 1944. The Admiral Chabanenko is on its way back to Russia after participating in military exercises with Venezuela’s Navy in the Caribbean.

The ship will stay in Panama for five days to take onboard supplies before heading to the Pacific Ocean.

It marks a return to the region of Russian naval vessels.

In 1944 four Soviet submarines passed through the canal. (Link)

This video is about the historic situation and Russia feels pretty good about going where the past forbid….

So after checking out the Russian Warship video go take a peek at Roberto and Lydias blog. It is a good read. (Link)

Update to the article:

Lydia from The Silver People Chronicle passed on in a comment:

Rev. Marvia Lawes who lives and works in Colon did, however, get a “choice spot” on Lake Gatun and she has a rather fascinating account of her impression when she saw it. You can read it at her blog Marvia’s Panama Journal.

You saw a real Russian warship? Yup. And not on TV either. I already hear the disbelief in the voice of my friends when I recount for them my latest adventure in Panama.

A Tweet from a friend tipped me off with a news alert that a Russian warship, the Admiral Chabanenko 650 would be passing through the Panama Canal on Friday December 5, 2008. This is the first time since 1944 at the time of World War II, that a Russian warship would make this voyage through the Canal. It sounded like something worth seeing.

I learnt from my sources that the Russian destroyer was scheduled to arrive in Colon Panama to transit Gatun Locks at around 17:40 pm on Friday. So my next move was to find someone to accompany me to the choice spot I got in order to take some photos to share with you. Well let me just say, adventures never quite go as planned, do they?

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Alexiy II, has died, Church officials say.

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Aleksy II, has died. He passed away on Friday morning at his home near Moscow. The Church leader, 79, had been ill in recent years and had undergone several operations. His health reportedly deteriorated after a visit to Kiev in July. In September he underwent a heart operation in a German hospital. A source in the Church said that the Patriarch died of heart failure.

But this didn’t stop him from working. The day before his death Aleksy II held a divine service in the Cathedral of Assumption of the Moscow Kremlin to celebrate the beginning of the Christmas fast. (Link)

Hello,

A few days ago we posted a article about building three Orthodox Churches in one day! We at that time was not sure when they where going to build them.

They built them….

It is a fast forward of the building process and it is neat! Just like the old days when churches and barns were built in a day by everyone in town.

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

RBC, 05.12.2008, Moscow 13:51:54.Inflation reached 0.8 percent in Russia in November and 12.5 percent for the first 11 months of 2008, the Russia’s Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat) said in a statement. In 2007, inflation stood at 1.2 percent in November, amounting to 10.6 percent for the first 11 months. Core inflation, which excludes price changes for certain goods prone to administrative and seasonality factors, was 1.1 percent in November 2008 and 12.7 percent from the beginning of the year.

RBC, 05.12.2008, Moscow 13:22:15.The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church is set to hold an emergency meeting today, due to the death of Patriarch Alexy II, the Moscow Patriarchate reported. According to the established procedure, an extraordinary Church Council will be held to elect a new patriarch. The successor to Alexius II will become the 16th Patriarch of All-Russia.

RBC, 05.12.2008, Moscow 12:18:34.Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has signed a bill on the execution of the federal budget in 2007, which was passed by the State Duma on November 19 and the Federation Council on November 26, 2008, the leader’s press office reported today.

RBC, 05.12.2008, Moscow 11:52:01.Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has signed into law amendments to existing federal legislation on customs tariffs. The document was adopted by the State Duma on November 21 and approved by the Federation Council on November 26, the Russian leader’s press office reported today.

RBC, 05.12.2008, Moscow 11:43:18.The Bank of Russia has decided to further widen the range of ruble’s fluctuations against the basket of two currencies by RUB 0.30 (approx. USD 0.011) at either end, a source in the Central Bank told RBC today.

RBC, 05.12.2008, Moscow 10:50:11.Rosoboronexport is planning to sign a contract for the supply of 80 Mi-17 multirole military and cargo helicopters to India, head of the Russian Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation (FSVTS) Mikhail Dmitriyev said in Delhi, where Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is scheduled to hold talks with India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Mayak radio station reported today.

RBC, 05.12.2008, Moscow 10:30:36.Russia’s monetary base (in the narrow sense of the term) decreased by RUB 132.6bn (approx. USD 4.74bn) to just shy of RUB 4.229 trillion (approx. USD 151.25bn) as of December 1, 2008 from a week earlier, the Bank of Russia’s external and public relations department reported. The figure stood at slightly over RUB 4.361 trillion (approx. USD 155.97bn) on November 24.

RBC, 04.12.2008, Moscow 19:28:28.Russian stocks traded mixed in the afternoon, following this morning’s trend. At midday, stocks inched up amid low trading activity, with leading indices reaching positive territory. Towards the close of business, however, a negative mood took hold of the RTS, with the index falling more than 1 percent below the psychologically important mark of 600 points. At closing, the RTS index was down 0.56 percent at 599.96 points. The MICEX index, however, edged up 0.17 percent today, finishing at 567.94 points.

RBC, 04.12.2008, Moscow 18:27:52.The ideology defined as “right-wing, liberal ideas, economic freedom, human rights, political democracy, and rapprochement with the West” finds support from 14 percent of Russians today, a poll conducted by the Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) showed. Liberalism is less popular than the nationalist-conservative and the left socialist ideologies, supported by 33 and 24 percent of respondents, respectively. Meanwhile, more than half of Russians (52 percent) have never voted for liberals in elections, and 49 percent do not plan to do so in the next election.

RBC, 04.12.2008, Moscow 17:33:14.For the first time since late September 2008, Russia’s reserves expanded $5bn to $454.9bn as of November 28, 2008. Experts link the slight rise to a $14bn increase in the National Wealth Fund in November. On top of that, a mere $2bn was spent to revaluate the currency. Analysts, however, regard the rise as temporary, predicting that the reserves will continue declining while the ruble remains overvalued. It is quite possible that the government will have to use the entire Reserve Fund to finance budget deficit, which, according to analysts, may widen to $35bn. The National Wealth Fund could be used as a source for investment or support for the pension system, analysts say. Part of the funds has recently been transferred to Vnesheconombank and will be used to purchase securities and extend subordinated loans to Russian banks.

RBC, 04.12.2008, Moscow 15:45:37.Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin believes that Georgians should decide for themselves what responsibility their politicians should bear for their actions that led to the drastic consequences in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, he said, answering Russians’ questions in a live broadcast on national television and radio. The Georgian leadership unleashed a bloodbath, massacring residents of South Ossetia and wiping out 10 Ossetian villages. Moreover, Russian peacekeepers were attacked and many of them killed. Putin believes this was a crime against the Georgian statehood and people. “Had there been no aggression, Russia would probably still be making efforts to facilitate Georgia’s territorial reintegration. After the aggression, it has become obvious that this was no longer possible,” Putin said.

Hello,

Today I watched a news flash that Putin explained to BBC that he will not return to the presidency before 2012, when presidential position comes up for renewal and only then will he decide if he wants to run at all.

Putin had to bring this up because it seems that everyone and their brother seem to think he is going to make a early return to President. When Medvedev extended the presidential term from four to six years the journalist went crazy over the fact that they were sure that Putin may return to the presidency soon.

Putin stepped down this year after serving two consecutive terms like he was suppose to. Medvedev has had to endure a constant barrage of journalists that never give up on Putin coming back.

Putin said “The next presidential election will take place in 2012… For now, everyone must fulfill his duties in his place,”. (Link)

He spoke about the fact that he had a very effective relationship with Medvedev and that they have worked together for several years.

I think that Putin may not want to be back as President and will be happy as Prime Minister for along time.

So all those that seem to want to see Putin as Russian President again: It will be awhile and could never happen!

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

Hello,

Russia is busy and at it again. We have watched the roads and have seen more new cars than anytime in my life. We see a lot of new Chevy’s and Fords now Nissan tells us how much they made:

“Sales of Japanese Nissan automobiles in Russia rose 29.7 percent between January and November 2008, in comparison with the same period of 2007, to reach 134,677 vehicles, the Russian office of the company announced on Tuesday. November was not a particularly successful month for the company, however. It sold 7218 cars, 31.4 percent less than November 2007. Between January and November, Nissan sold 6970 Infiniti models (the maker’s luxury model), which is up 41.4 percent over last year. In November, it sold 719 Infinitis, an increase of 18 percent over November 2007.”

While Nissan has increased its luxury car market by over 41% the Russian Space Agency has extended its contract with NASA so that America can keep flying into space.

“Russia’s Federal Space Agency Roskosmos and the U.S. NASA have inked a modification to the current International Space Station contract for the pre-flight training of the U.S. crew members and the transportation services in 2011 and 2012, according to official webs of Roskosmos and NASA.”

Of course all this money from cars and space travel has to be kept somewhere. A bank merger to become one of the largest banks in Russia is happening as of now.

“The biggest holders of MDM Bank and Ursa Bank Sergei Popov and Igor Kim respectively are setting up a united bank holding that will emerge as one of the major private financial holdings in Russia, Interfax reported citing the official statement of both banks.”

While banks are heating up and growing we are having a growing heat wave. Moscow is not cold and records for warm temperatures are dropping everyday.

“The temperature in Moscow climbed to 6.6 degrees Celsius (44 degrees Fahrenheit) on Wednesday, breaking a 47-year-old record, the Russian meteorological website www.hmn.ru reported.”

Speaking of warming up: Russia, China and the USA refuse to sign a ban for cluster bombs.

“100 countries are meeting in Oslo on Wednesday in a summit aimed at banning cluster bombs. The explosives have been guilty of causing numerous injuries to civilians in many conflicts.”

Now that Russia, China and the USA are cluster bomb buddies and plan on using them at any opportunity maybe they should all get together and work on nano-science together. That would make some great science fiction movies come true.

“Russia’s bid to step away from an economy based on producing and exporting energy and metals has moved in several directions. One of them is Rosnano – a state-owned non-profit company that promotes and finances nano-science and nano-technology projects.”

So last but far from least is another issue that Russians seem to be working on:

“Sociologists report a drastic change in Russian people’s attitude to representatives of other nationalities. Russians’ sympathies to Georgians, Ukrainians and Americans reduced most of all. The sympathies of the Russian population reduced considerably to those, whom the Russian public opinion blames for the war in South Ossetia, including the USA”

Seems that Russia is having another wonderful week, we did not even touch upon the NATO issues that made the Kremlin happy!

Nor will we at this moment because “NATO called upon Russia on Wednesday to refrain from “Confrontational statements” that could further harm relations between the military alliance and Moscow.” 🙁

We think they mean statements like: “Georgia and Ukraine are unlikely to join NATO within the next two decades, a chief analyst at the Russian Institute for Military and Political Analysis said on Wednesday.” 🙂

So you did not hear about NATO from us! (shhhhhh)

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

Hello,

I was drinking my morning cup of coffee and reading about the project that the Orthodox Church has underway. Three new churches are to be built simultaneously and in one day in the Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian capitals. The remarkable Orthodox project being undertaken in Moscow, Kiev and Minsk marks one thousand and twenty years since the arrival of Christianity in Russia.(Link)

It was said on TV last night that they are using a prefabbed wood block system that will cut the cost by 60%. The cost is estimated at around $50,000 per church. This project is a start toward replacing churches that had been destroyed during the Stalin era.

The Orthodox Church says that it is not the glitter that makes a church but the spiritual hunger that makes a church. So costs will be kept at a minimum. Churches are to be located in areas that are lacking in churches from destruction. The day has not been announced yet for this one day event.

THE JUBILEE OF RUSSIA’S CHRISTENING: For all Orthodox believers of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus July 27th is traditionally a day of remembering the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir.

We are so glad to see the strong revival of the Orthodox Church in the old Soviet areas….

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.