As early as 1 October, official Russian Federation Ministry of Defense publications began publishing information promoting an Armed Forces Mental Health Support Hotline. Specifically aimed at soldiers returning from the so-called “special military operation” in Ukraine and their families, the announcement states that hotline operators will provide cost-free, around-the-clock mental health assistance and informational psychologicalContinueContinue reading “Russian Ministry of Defense Promotes Mental Health Support for Soldiers Returning from Ukraine”
Category Archives: New Findings
Russia Suspends Right of Innocent Passage in Baltic Sea Along Coast of Kaliningrad For Remainder of 2025
On 8 October 2025, the Russian Federation Ministry of Defense published notification of “the suspension of right of innocent passage through the territorial waters of the Russian Federation” in the southeastern Baltic Sea “for foreign military ships and other state vessels operated for non-commercial purposes.” This declaration, which is in effect through 31 December 2025,ContinueContinue reading “Russia Suspends Right of Innocent Passage in Baltic Sea Along Coast of Kaliningrad For Remainder of 2025”
Russia Issues Arctic Barents Sea Maritime Closure for Missile Launches Along Novaya Zemlya Coastline
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”
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”
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”
Arctic Ocean Area Closures for Russian Navy Missile Launches Scheduled for 18-20 August 2025
On 11 August 2025, the Russian Federation Ministry of Defense filed three maritime closure areas that encompass the Arctic Ocean, Barents Sea, Kara Sea, and Cheshskaya Guba to ensure safe lanes for missile launches from 18 to 20 August, with a local time window of 1300-2100 GMT each day. While the Russian-issued advisory offered noContinueContinue reading “Arctic Ocean Area Closures for Russian Navy Missile Launches Scheduled for 18-20 August 2025”
Offshore Tug Under Construction for Russian Navy Sinks at Shipyard: Photos
10 August 2025: Translating History has received news that on August 9, 2025, in St. Petersburg, near the wall of Baltic Shipyard (part of United Shipbuilding Corporation), as a result of an accident, the Project 23470 offshore tugboat Kapitan Ushakov (factory number 414), which was being fitted out for the Russian Navy, capsized on itsContinueContinue reading “Offshore Tug Under Construction for Russian Navy Sinks at Shipyard: Photos”
New Patrol Craft with Chinese Engines Complete Sea Trials, Part of 2.7 Billion Ruble Contract for Russian Emergency Services
Kingisepp Machinery Plant (KMZ) has successfully completed sea trials with the RPK-640 and PK-500 patrol craft, based on a large contract for the Russian Emergency Services worth a total of 2.76 billion rubles. A press release published by KMZ noted that the vessels are part of a large contract for the construction of 199 multipurposeContinueContinue reading “New Patrol Craft with Chinese Engines Complete Sea Trials, Part of 2.7 Billion Ruble Contract for Russian Emergency Services”
Russia’s Largest Supplier of Speedboats for Military and Coast Guard Struggles with its “Unfriendly” Foreign Components
A report published in June 2025 by the Almaz Central Marine Design Bureau reveals that there are still challenges that continue to stymie the Russian Federation’s efforts to completely phase out imported components, especially in the realm of shipbuilding. Almaz highlights foreign components its own design and production of high-speed boats for the Russian MinistryContinueContinue reading “Russia’s Largest Supplier of Speedboats for Military and Coast Guard Struggles with its “Unfriendly” Foreign Components”
Translating History 