On 7 October 2025, the Russian Federation Ministry of Defense filed a maritime closure area in the Arctic portion of the Barents Sea to ensure safe lanes for Russian Navy missile launches from 12 to 14 October. The activities are to be conducted in a range extending from the eastern coastline of Kanin Peninsula northwardContinueContinue reading “Russia Issues Arctic Barents Sea Maritime Closure for Missile Launches Along Novaya Zemlya Coastline”
Author Archives: misterestes
Russia Issues Barents Sea Maritime Warning Notice for Special Activities West of Novaya Zemlya
On 6 October 2025, the Russian Federation Ministry of Defense filed a maritime navigational warning area in the Arctic portion of the Barents Sea to ensure safe lanes for Russian Navy “special activities” from 11 to 15 October. The activities are to be conducted due west of central Novaya Zemlya. Translation © 2025 by MichaelContinueContinue reading “Russia Issues Barents Sea Maritime Warning Notice for Special Activities West of Novaya Zemlya”
Russian Ministry of Defense Reveals Projected Military Spending through 2028
According to a recently published report from Russian website Mil.Press, in 2026, Russia will allocate 12.9 trillion rubles [$156,313,686] from the federal budget for defense. This is stated in the explanatory note to the draft budget for 2026, which was submitted to the State Duma on Monday, September 29. By comparison, the 2025 budget allocatedContinueContinue reading “Russian Ministry of Defense Reveals Projected Military Spending through 2028”
1943: Molotov Informs Gromyko, Sobolev of Acceptance of Terms of Italy’s Surrender to the Allies
The following is a translation of a 2 September 1943 Top Secret message from the People’s Commissar Of Foreign Affairs Of The USSR Vyacheslav Molotov To Soviet Ambassador To The US Andrey Gromyko and Soviet Charge D’Affairs Of The USSR In Great Britain Arkady Sobolev. 2 September 1943 Top Secret Priority On 26 AugustContinueContinue reading “1943: Molotov Informs Gromyko, Sobolev of Acceptance of Terms of Italy’s Surrender to the Allies”
1960: Soviet Intelligence Creates Pre-Election Political Profile of John F. Kennedy
The following translation is that of a 1960 profile of then-candidate John F. Kennedy, drafted by the Soviet intelligence organs to ensure the political leadership of the USSR was kept abreast of the man who would soon become President of the United States. While it’s no secret that intelligence agencies across the world compile psychologicalContinueContinue reading “1960: Soviet Intelligence Creates Pre-Election Political Profile of John F. Kennedy”
Three Top Secret Reports Highlight Japan’s More Militaristic Posture in Late November 1941
The following are translations of three separate Top Secret intelligence reports dispatched on 25 November 1941, based on covertly-acquired information from unidentified Soviet agents in Tokyo. The first spells out how events are expected to unfold in the event of a break in Japanese-American negotiations. The second lists the ultimatums that Japan intends to presentContinueContinue reading “Three Top Secret Reports Highlight Japan’s More Militaristic Posture in Late November 1941”
Soviet Spy in Tokyo Warns Japan Will Invade Thailand if US-Japanese Talks Do Not Bear Fruit
The following is a translation of a Top Secret cipher telegram dated 19 November 1941 from Tokyo about the Japanese intention to occupy Thailand if negotiations with the United States do not lead to the results desired by Japan. Many redactions were made during the declassification process, most notably approximately the first two thirds ofContinueContinue reading “Soviet Spy in Tokyo Warns Japan Will Invade Thailand if US-Japanese Talks Do Not Bear Fruit”
Russian Historical Society Provides Access to 800+ Newly Declassified WW2 Documents
On 17 September 2025, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Great Patriotic War, the Russian Historical Society has published a six-volume collection of over 800 archival documents, declassified by the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), covering the entire period of World War II — from Nazi Germany’s invasion of Poland to the defeat ofContinueContinue reading “Russian Historical Society Provides Access to 800+ Newly Declassified WW2 Documents”
November 1941: Top Secret Telegram Reveals Anthony Eden-Lord Halifax Discussion of UK/US Actions if Japan Attacks the Soviets
The following is a translation of an enciphered telegram from Anthony Eden to the British Embassy in Moscow on possible actions of the USA and England in the event of a Japanese attack on the USSR. Information originating from Soviet agent “List” (British civil servant John Cairncross) via VADIM (Soviet London resident Anatoly Gorsky). TOPContinueContinue reading “November 1941: Top Secret Telegram Reveals Anthony Eden-Lord Halifax Discussion of UK/US Actions if Japan Attacks the Soviets”
November 1941: Intercepted Communique from British Ambassador in Tokyo Refutes British Foreign Office Claims of Increased Chance of Japanese Attack on USSR
The following is a translation of an enciphered telegram from the British ambassador in Tokyo to the British Foreign Office, intercepted by British spy John Cairncross (known here as Soviet agent “List”), that a recent telegram from London inexplicably indicated that the possibility of a Japanese attack on the Soviet Union was on the rise.ContinueContinue reading “November 1941: Intercepted Communique from British Ambassador in Tokyo Refutes British Foreign Office Claims of Increased Chance of Japanese Attack on USSR”
Translating History 