On 22 August 2025, the Russian Federation Ministry of Defense filed a large maritime closure area that stretches from Murmansk, across the Barents, and into the Arctic to ensure safe lanes for missile launches from 27 to 31 August, with a local time window of 0300-2100 GMT each day. While the Russian-issued advisory offered noContinueContinue reading “Barents Sea Area Closures Reach the Arctic for Russian Navy Missile Launches Scheduled for 27-31 August 2025”
Author Archives: misterestes
1955: Soviet Scientists Float Idea of Launching an Artificial Earth Satellite by 1958 to Leadership
We all know the rest of the story. Sputnik was launched by the Soviet Union in early October, 1957, thanks to a plucky team of scientists and Khrushchev’s desire to beat the Americans. On 5 August 1955, eminent Soviet scientists Mikhail Khrunichev, Vasiliy Ryabikov, and Sergey Korolev wrote a second letter to Soviet leaders KhrushchevContinueContinue reading “1955: Soviet Scientists Float Idea of Launching an Artificial Earth Satellite by 1958 to Leadership”
1986: Gorbachev Reacts to US Mass Expulsion of Soviets on Heels of Reykjavik Summit
1986 was an exciting year in the world of foreign policy, especially for the Americans and Soviets. Here’s a brief rundown of events that sets the tone for this article: March 7: The United States orders the Soviet Union to reduce staff members of the Soviet, Ukrainian, and Belorussian missions to the United Nations toContinueContinue reading “1986: Gorbachev Reacts to US Mass Expulsion of Soviets on Heels of Reykjavik Summit”
On Putin’s Orders, Russian Ministry of Education Compiles First List of Patriotic Books for School Children
It was reported on 20 August 2025 that the Ministry of Education prepared the first official list of patriotic literature for extracurricular reading, on the instructions of President Vladimir Putin. These books are to appear in all school libraries across Russia. The works are divided by age and topic: “About the Motherland,” “The Great PatrioticContinueContinue reading “On Putin’s Orders, Russian Ministry of Education Compiles First List of Patriotic Books for School Children”
Russia’s Nuclear Industry Celebrates its 80th Anniversary with Publication of Top Secret Implementation Decree
Today (20 August 2025) marks the 80th anniversary of the official establishment of the Russian (then Soviet) nuclear industry. The event was marked by an open letter to the world, signed by Rosatom’s General Director Aleksey Likhachev, the Chairman of RPRAEP [the Russian Professional Union of Atomic Energy and Industry Workers] Vladimir Kuznetsov, and theContinueContinue reading “Russia’s Nuclear Industry Celebrates its 80th Anniversary with Publication of Top Secret Implementation Decree”
Russian Destroyer Severomorsk Conducts ASW Exercise in Barents Sea En Route to Arctic
A press release dated 19 August 2025 from the Russian Federation Ministry of Defense indicates that the large ASW ship (Udaloy-class destroyer) Severomorsk, on her way to the Arctic for a long deployment as part of Northern Fleet expeditionary detachment, took part in antisubmarine warfare maneuvers in the northern regions of the Barents Sea. TheContinueContinue reading “Russian Destroyer Severomorsk Conducts ASW Exercise in Barents Sea En Route to Arctic”
Russian Navy Baltic Fleet Minesweepers Conduct Exercise to Locate and Destroy Mines in the Baltic Sea
According to the Baltic Fleet Public Affairs Office on 19 August 2025, a Baltic Fleet naval minesweeper group, consisting of the offshore minesweepers Aleksandr Obukhov and Lev Chernavyn in the waters of the Baltic Sea, conducted an maneuvers to search for and neutralize mines. In the sea combat training range, the crew of the offshoreContinueContinue reading “Russian Navy Baltic Fleet Minesweepers Conduct Exercise to Locate and Destroy Mines in the Baltic Sea”
10+ Russian Navy Caspian Flotilla Ships Take to the Sea in Opposing Force Exercise
The Russian Federation Ministry of Defense Public Affairs Office reported on 19 August 2025 that more than 10 Caspian Flotilla ships put out to sea to participate in an opposing force exercise consisting of various tactical groups to practice performing assigned tasks. According to a press release, “During the exercise, the crews of guided missile,ContinueContinue reading “10+ Russian Navy Caspian Flotilla Ships Take to the Sea in Opposing Force Exercise”
Top Secret 1974 Politburo Records on the Solzhenitsyn Issue: Exile? Imprison? Expel?
By January 1974, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn was already well known throughout most of the Soviet Union as a rabble-rouser, trouble-maker, ne’er-do-well, and pretty good author. When he quietly sent his weighty manuscript for ‘Gulag Archipelago’ off to the YMCA Press to be published in Paris and New York City, many inside Kremlin circles were shocked, toContinueContinue reading “Top Secret 1974 Politburo Records on the Solzhenitsyn Issue: Exile? Imprison? Expel?”
Japan Prepares for Bacteriological Warfare Against the Soviet Union: New FSB Release
On 18 August 2025, the Russian Federal Security Service [FSB] (Omsk office) declassified and released from its archives a batch of materials related to Imperial Japan’s bacteriological warfare program and the creation of the notorious Detachment 731. Today we’ll be presenting a translation of the initial four-page ‘Special Report’ described below. Also included in theContinueContinue reading “Japan Prepares for Bacteriological Warfare Against the Soviet Union: New FSB Release”
Translating History 