Latest news with #Severomorsk
Russia Today
6 days ago
- General
- Russia Today
Ukraine's strikes on Russian airfields risk escalation
The recent Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian airfields reportedly hosting nuclear-capable bombers sharply increase the risk of escalation, Keith Kellogg, US President Donald Trump's special envoy, has warned. On Sunday, Kiev launched a drone raid targeting airfields in five regions, according to the Defense Ministry in Moscow. Officials in Kiev said that the attack was aimed at Russia's strategic aviation. Ukrainian media reports claimed that the airfields house Russian Tu-95 and Tu-22M strategic bombers, as well as an A-50 early warning and control plane. Russian officials said that the 'terrorist attack' was repelled with no casualties but that several aircraft caught fire. In an interview with Fox News on Tuesday, Kellogg suggested that the attack was upping the stakes in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. 'The risk levels are going way up,' he explained. 'When you attack an opponent's part of their national survival system, which is their nuclear triad… that means your risk level goes up because you don't know what the other side's going to do.' The envoy also noted that he was particularly concerned by reports – which were not confirmed by Moscow – that Ukraine also struck the Northern Fleet headquarters in Severomorsk, which would have meant that two of the three legs of Russia's nuclear triad were under attack. He added that when it comes to such kinds of attacks, 'it's not so much the damage you do on the triad itself… but it's the psychological impact you have.' Ukraine, according to the envoy, also wanted to show that it could 'raise the risk level to levels that are basically, to me, they've got to be unacceptable.' Earlier this week, the New York Times reported, citing sources, that Ukraine did not give advance notice to the US of the strikes, and that the two sides currently have no joint planning on operations inside Russian territory. NYT sources also believe that Moscow will mount 'a significant retaliation,' although specifics are yet unclear. Following the attacks, Dmitry Medvedev, a former Russian president who now serves as deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, warned that a response was 'inevitable.'
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
'Risk level goes up' — Ukraine's strike on Russian bombers could escalate war, US envoy Kellogg says
Ukraine's drone assault on Russia's strategic bomber fleet, known as Operation Spiderweb, could escalate the war and provoke unpredictable responses from Moscow, U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg said in an interview with Fox News on June 3. The operation, launched by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), reportedly targeted four airfields deep inside Russian territory, striking 41 aircraft and inflicting what Kyiv claims is $7 billion in damage. The targeted air bases reportedly housed Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 bombers, essential carriers of long-range cruise missiles used in Moscow's air strikes on Ukrainian cities. "I'm telling you the risk levels are going way up," Kellogg said. "When you attack an opponent's part of their national survival system, which is their nuclear triad, that means your risk level goes up because you don't know what the other side's going to do." According to the SBU, 117 drones were launched from mobile platforms across Russia, enabling simultaneous strikes on targets located thousands of kilometers from Ukraine's borders. Kellogg also pointed to reports of explosions at the Severomorsk naval base, home to some of Russia's most advanced submarines. Kyiv has not confirmed targeting Russia's Northern Fleet. "The one that really concerned me was the fact that there have been reports that they attacked the naval, the Northern Fleet headquarters in Severomorsk," Kellogg said. "And if that's the case — when you attack two legs of a triad — it's very clear the risk levels will go up." Russian officials have denied that the base was hit, and no independent confirmation has emerged. According to Kellogg, the attacks showed that Kyiv "is not lying down on that." "Ukraine is basically, 'We can play this game, too.' And they can raise the risk level to levels that are basically, to me, they've got to be unacceptable," he added. Join our community Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight. Support Us Despite the scale and strategic implications of the Ukrainian operation, Russian President Vladimir Putin has not publicly addressed the strike. U.S. President Donald Trump, who has positioned himself as a would-be peacemaker, has also remained silent. Pressed by reporters on June 3, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Trump was not informed in advance about the operation. "I would like to let the president speak on that himself," Leavitt said. She later added, "The president does not want to see this war prolonged. He wants this war to stop." Ukrainian officials say the operation took 18 months to plan. While Kyiv says the strike dealt a serious blow to Russia's strategic air capabilities, the full extent of the damage remains unverified. Operation Spiderweb marks one of the most sophisticated and far-reaching Ukrainian operations since the start of the full-scale war in 2022 — and a stark signal of Ukraine's growing capacity to strike deep inside Russian territory. Read also: Inside Russia, calls for peace come with conditions — and Kremlin talking points We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The Sun
12-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Satellite pics show Putin on the march as Russia masses troops 35 miles from Nato border with 2k soldiers & helicopters
SATELLITE images have revealed how Vladimir Putin is assembling Russian troops just 35 miles from the border with Finland. The photos show increased military activity at four locations inside Russia - Kamenka, Petrozavodsk, Severomorsk-2, and Olenya. 7 7 7 It is thought that Russia is building accommodation for troops and deploying helicopters and vehicles at the four military bases, according to analysts. At Kamenka - just 37 miles from the Finnish border - more than 130 military tents have been put up since February. The previously undeveloped area now looks as thought it could house up to 2,000 soldiers, according to SVT. At Petrozavodsk - around 109 miles from the border - three large storage halls, capable of holding around 50 armoured vehicles each, have been built. It is thought that the new structures may be intended to conceal the true number of vehicles stationed there. At Severomorsk-2 multiple helicopters can be seen at the base. And at Olenya there has been further military activity, as Ukrainian sources have suggested the base is responsible for a number of attacks on Ukrainian targets. The shocking images were obtained by Swedish broadcaster SVT from Planet Labs. And the photos have a chilling resemblance to images captured before the Russian tyrant launched his war on Ukraine. US officials raised the alarm after satellite images showing Russian troops massing on the border with Ukraine were revealed in November 2021. The Kremlin denied claims that they were preparing for war at the time. But less than four months later Putin invaded Ukraine, sparking three long years of brutal conflict. The increased military activity on the border with Finland comes after the arctic nation joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation two years ago. Finland has historically been a neutral nation - acting under the influence of the Soviet Union until its collapse in 1991. But after the Kremlin's brutal invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 Finland pushed for Nato's backing - despite having defended itself alone for many years. The arctic nation joined Nato in April 2023. And Sweden also joined the alliance in March 2024. What is Nato? By Lydia Doye NATO is an alliance of countries from Europe and North America which promises security for all its members. The alliance was formed in 1949 in response to fears of Soviet expansion during the Cold War. Nato now has 31 members including the United Kingdom, the United States, and France. The most recent country to join Nato is Sweden, which became a member on March 7, 2024. Finland joined the alliance in April 2023. On a basic level, Nato operates on the principle that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. 7 7 In response, Putin declared it would take the "necessary measures" to counter the aggressive decisions of Finland and its NATO allies. Russia has repeatedly accused Nato of acting as an aggressor and has vowed to defend itself by any means. Last month Finland's Deputy Chief of Defence Lieutenant, General Vesa Virtanen, raised concerns over Russia's actions on the border. He said that Russia is "deliberately testing NATO's unity" to see if it will trigger Article 5 - the alliance's collective defence clause. Sweden's Chief of Defence Michael Claesson said: 'When we applied for NATO membership, Russia said it would take such steps. "We are now seeing that happen.' In response, Russia appears to have been preparing for war by ramping up its facilities on the border. 7
Daily Mail
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Why is Putin massing troops on the border of Finland? Military build-up similar to the prelude to Ukraine war sparks alarm in NATO
Satellite images have revealed how Moscow is bulking up its military presence on the Finnish border - in a chilling echo of pictures taken of Russian bases before Putin launched his war in Ukraine. Moscow is building troop accommodation, aircraft deployment infrastructure and other facilities at key military bases, analysts have said, in a sign it is seeking to reinforce its capabilities in the border region. The pictures, which were obtained by Swedish broadcaster SVT from Planet Labs, suggest there has been activity at four locations inside Russia - Kamenka, Petrozavodsk, Severomorsk-2, and Olenya. In Kamenka, which is around 35 miles from the Finnish border and was previously undeveloped, more than 130 military tents capable of housing 2,000 troops are said to have been set up since February. Kremlin officials hit back at Finland and Sweden 's recent accession to NATO with a vague threat of 'military-technical response measures' - which now appear to be well underway. 'When we applied for NATO membership, Russia said it would take such steps. We are now seeing that happen,' Sweden's Chief of Defence Michael Claesson said. In November 2021, US officials expressed concern over satellite images showing Russian troops massing on the border with Ukraine - a claim the Kremlin dismissed as unfounded. Less than four months later, Putin launched his full-scale war on Ukraine. Moscow has accused NATO of acting as an aggressor rather than a defensive alliance, and has repeatedly vowed to defend itself by any means, using GPS jamming and other methods. Finland's accession to NATO on April 4, 2023, which extended the alliance's border with Russia by over 800 miles, provoked fury in Moscow, with analysts saying Russia began increasing its capabilities on its western border in response. 'This is a sign of increasing activity,' Finnish military analyst Emil Kastehelmi, who is following the developments, told SVT. In Petrozavodsk, around 100 miles from the Finnish border, three large warehouses have been built which experts suggest are storage halls for armoured vehicles. The existing halls would be able to fit around 50, with another under construction, according to the latest images from late April. Further north in Olenya, Russian bombers are stationed which have been carrying out raids on targets in Ukraine, according to Kyiv. Last month, Finland's Deputy Chief of Defence Lieutenant General Vesa Virtanen expressed concerns over Russia's actions on the border, stating that the Kremlin is 'deliberately testing NATO's unity' to see if it will trigger Article 5 - the alliance's collective defence clause. Speaking to German newspaper Welt, Virtanen said Russia has been testing Article 5 with hybrid war tactics including cyberattacks and mass cross-border migration, and is now erecting new equipment to station Russian troops along its border. 'During the war there were about 20,000 soldiers stationed and about four standby brigades, now we see that Russia is building new infrastructure and as soon as they can, more troops in this region,' Virtanen warned. The army chief explained that they are reorganising themselves from the brigades and there would likely be around four to five divisions, an army corps, and a supporting unit. Satellite images from 2021 appear to show the presence of a large ground forces deployment on the northern edge of the town of Yelnya, in Russia, near the Ukrainian border 'So there will be more troops there in the future than before the Ukraine war,' he added, while reassuring that Finland has been ready to defend its allies for decades. In response to Finland's NATO membership, Putin announced the establishment of the 'Leningrad Military District' near the Finnish border and the deployment of additional military units to the area. But the Russian dictator has repeatedly dismissed concerns over a potential attack on NATO members as 'complete nonsense', asserting that Russia has no interest in engaging in conflict with the alliance. When Washington highlighted a military build-up across Ukraine's border in 2021, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphatically dismissed the reports, saying there was no need to 'waste time' on 'low-quality' claims.
BBC News
19-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Royal Navy and RAF shadow Russian ships in UK waters
UK warships have shadowed a Russian task group as it passed through British waters, the Royal Navy has 23 frigate HMS Somerset and minehunter HMS Cattistock, along with RFA Tidesurge and Navy helicopters, monitored and reported every move of the four Russian vessels as they passed through the English Channel and the North Sea .The Russian ships, which included destroyer RFN Severomorsk, landing ship RFN Alexander Shabalin and two transport ships, MV Sparta IV and MV Siyanie Severa, were sailing east towards the Baltic marks the third time in six weeks that the Royal Navy has shadowed Russian task groups returning from Syria. The Royal Navy said its operation began on Sunday after tanker Tidesurge had monitored the destroyer in the North Sea and through the Strait of Somerset and her Merlin helicopter from 814 Naval Air Squadron then began shadowing the Russian task group's escort, Severomorsk, south of Portsmouth and the RAF deployed a P8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth, collecting vital information as the Russians made their journey. The Udaloy-class Severomorsk then met the cargo and landing ships in the western reaches of the Channel, off Cornwall, where minehunter HMS Cattistock was already monitoring the Russian the Russian ships sailed back east through the Channel and the North Sea towards the Baltic Sea, the Royal Navy ships deployed powerful sensors and launched the Merlin and Wildcat helicopters to report on every Officer of HMS Somerset Joel Roberts, said of the operation that the ship's company had shown "great professionalism" and praised the strength of the co-ordinated Nato response, saying that "the ability to deliver integration of air and maritime operations remain some of our greatest assets." The first recent operation saw the Royal Navy shadow a Russian task group in mid-February when HMS Iron Duke, HMS Tyne and RFA Tideforce monitored five ships, including three merchant vessels, as they sailed from Syria heading to a Russian Baltic weeks later, HMS Somerset was used to complete a three-day mission watching RFN Boikiy as the corvette escorted a merchant vessel on its occasion was the first time Russian ships had been spotted or monitored in UK waters. In January, Defence Secretary John Healey told MPs the Royal Navy had monitored a Russian spy ship - accusing the vessel, Yantar, of being used to gather intelligence and map the UK's underwater in June 2024 a Russian submarine was spotted off Scotland's west coast before it arrived in Havana, Cuba, a week of the latest operation, Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard said he was "grateful" to all the personnel who shadowed the Russian convoy."Russia should be in no doubt that the UK will defend our waters," he said.
