On 29 August 2025, the Russian Ministry of Defense issued two maritime closure areas in the Barents Sea and Motovskiy Zaliv for “special operations,” presumably involving the Russian Federation Navy (given the number of naval bases within a day’s sailing range – see images below). Note: The term “special operations” is not meant to implyContinueContinue reading “Russian Ministry of Defense Issues Maritime Closure Areas in Barents Sea for Special Operations, 2-7 September 2025”
Monthly Archives: August 2025
Cambridge Five Member Provides Information on UK, US, and Chinese Efforts to Encourage the USSR to Declare War on Japan
In a post from yesterday, we reported on the West’s efforts to convince the Soviet Union to declare war against Japan after the latter’s 7 December 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, stressing that it would offer the US a chance to make use of prime Soviet real estate in the Far East (to wit, SovietContinueContinue reading “Cambridge Five Member Provides Information on UK, US, and Chinese Efforts to Encourage the USSR to Declare War on Japan”
Vice Premier Malenkov Informed of Liberation of Auschwitz, 29 January 1945: “Heinous…”
Two days after the infamous concentration camp in Auschwitz was liberated, General Lieutenant Konstantin Kraynyukov was able to put down into a terse telegram some initial details of the camp itself and what it held. But before launching into descriptions, he felt rightly compelled to sum up his thoughts on what he had seen inContinueContinue reading “Vice Premier Malenkov Informed of Liberation of Auschwitz, 29 January 1945: “Heinous…””
Patrols Again: How Serious is Syria’s New Rapprochement with Russia? – Carnegie Politika
Another in our series of translations of timely and relevant Carnegie Politika articles. Patrols Again: How Serious is Syria’s New Rapprochement with Russia? 29 August 2025 Nikita Smagin Summary: The Al-Sharaa government is interested in establishing control over the entire territory of Syria. And over time, the Russian presence will become an obstacle to this,ContinueContinue reading “Patrols Again: How Serious is Syria’s New Rapprochement with Russia? – Carnegie Politika”
1979: More Bizarre KGB Warnings of Hostile Acts During 1980 Moscow Olympics
In 1979, the KGB continued sounding the klaxon regarding the nightmare scenarios they were busy uncovering in terms of hostile activities that would encompass the 1980 Olympic Games, doing irreparable harm to the Soviet Union’s otherwise pristine image. As we noted in our earlier post about the 1978 version of conspiracy theories, some of thisContinueContinue reading “1979: More Bizarre KGB Warnings of Hostile Acts During 1980 Moscow Olympics”
1941: Soviet Agent Reports West Wants USSR to Declare War on Japan to Open Military Bases in Far East for the Americans
A brief Top Secret cipher telegram was sent by Soviet agent VADIM from London on 10 December 1941, three days after the US naval base at Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japan. The report cites an 8 December wire sent by Halifax, in which he outlines a conversation with US Assistant Secretary of State DeanContinueContinue reading “1941: Soviet Agent Reports West Wants USSR to Declare War on Japan to Open Military Bases in Far East for the Americans”
1978 KGB Classified Document Pushes Bizarre Warnings Ahead of 1980 Moscow Olympic Games
We’ve all seen our share of crazy-pants conspiracy theories over the past decade, but they all pale in comparison to the dossier compiled by Yuriy Andropov’s KGB in 1978 during the run-up to the Moscow-held 1980 Olympics. The Top Secret report, “Concerning plans of Western intelligence services and foreign anti-Soviet organizations in connection with theContinueContinue reading “1978 KGB Classified Document Pushes Bizarre Warnings Ahead of 1980 Moscow Olympic Games”
1977 Top Secret KGB Document on Amnesty International’s Anti-Soviet Tendencies – “Just Ignore Them”
The following is the translation of a declassified Top Secret paper written by KGB Chairman Yuriy Andropov and Soviet Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrei Gromyko, addressed to the Central Committee of the CPSU: “Concerning measures in connection with the anti-Soviet aspirations in the activities of Amnesty International,” dated 7 June 1977. Top Secret SPECIAL FOLDERContinueContinue reading “1977 Top Secret KGB Document on Amnesty International’s Anti-Soviet Tendencies – “Just Ignore Them””
Russian Ministry of Defense Cancels Navy Missile Closure Activities Slated for 27-31 August
On 22 August 2025, TranslatingHistory reported that the Russian Ministry of Defense had filed a large maritime closure area that would stretch from Muransk into the Arctic, to be used for missile launches from 27 to 31 August. Yesterday, 25 August 2025, that closure area was cancelled with no further explanation. Postponements of such maritimeContinueContinue reading “Russian Ministry of Defense Cancels Navy Missile Closure Activities Slated for 27-31 August”
Top Secret 1945 Document Reveals Soviet Censors Ordered to Confiscate Mailed “Objectionable” Photographs of War Invalids
There are few testimonies and fewer photographs left about the life of Soviet disabled front-line soldiers after the war. This is a consequence of the near-total purge of the information by the NKVD: images and texts compromising the Soviet government were removed from everywhere, including personal correspondence. Even casual students of the history of theContinueContinue reading “Top Secret 1945 Document Reveals Soviet Censors Ordered to Confiscate Mailed “Objectionable” Photographs of War Invalids”
Translating History 