A press release issued today, 4 August 2025, from Russia's Northern Shipyard - Sevmash - celebrated the 40th anniversary of the world's depth record (1027 meters) being set in 1985 by the Project 685 nuclear submarine Komsomolets, built at the Sevmash facility. To date, this record has not been surpassed by any fleet in theContinue reading "Ill-Fated Soviet Nuclear Submarine ‘Komsomolets’ Sets Depth Record on This Date in 1985"
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 MinistryContinue reading "Russia’s Largest Supplier of Speedboats for Military and Coast Guard Struggles with its “Unfriendly” Foreign Components"
Korean War, 1951: The North is Hesitant to Continue, but Stalin Finds the Conflict Too Useful to Allow it to End
Translating History continues its look at the early days of the Korean War with a new translation of a declassified Top Secret document from 1951, Document 5 in our series. Stalin’s position, as well as that of his entourage, regarding the Korean issue in the winter of 1951 is revealed by secret instructions from theContinue reading "Korean War, 1951: The North is Hesitant to Continue, but Stalin Finds the Conflict Too Useful to Allow it to End"
Two Versions of the Beginning of the Korean War, Stalin and Gromyko Embrace the Lie
Translating History continues its look at the early days of the Korean War with two new translations of declassified documents from 1950. The materials in the collection contain two versions of the origin of the Korean War of 1950-1953 and the degree of guilt of the DPRK and ROK in unleashing it. One of themContinue reading "Two Versions of the Beginning of the Korean War, Stalin and Gromyko Embrace the Lie"
Russian Navy Live Torpedo Fire Advisory for the Barents Sea
If this was the weekend you'd chosen to explore the Barents east of Rybachy Peninsula, your plans were most likely ruined. From 1 August through the evening hours of 6 August, a navigational warning was announced for the area highlighted above, where live torpedo fire is expected to take place. Those familiar with the areaContinue reading "Russian Navy Live Torpedo Fire Advisory for the Barents Sea"
Kremlin Suggests North Korea Slow its Roll in 1949, the Eve of the Korean War
Translating History has recently received a small bundle of declassified Russian-language materials related to Soviet diplomatic involvement in the Korean War, and will be publishing the translations thereof in the coming week. We hope they may be of interest to our readers. The materials can be divided into two groups. The first group includes officialContinue reading "Kremlin Suggests North Korea Slow its Roll in 1949, the Eve of the Korean War"
June 2025 Russian Ministry of Defense Report Reveals Drone-Defense Measures for Storage Depots
A report published by the Russian Federation Ministry of Defense in June 2025 provides a look at the latest modifications to its counter-drone measures employed as a response to Ukraine’s propensity to expand combat drone operations deep into Russian territory. The report, unclassified but not intended for broadest distribution, covered a number of different (mostlyContinue reading "June 2025 Russian Ministry of Defense Report Reveals Drone-Defense Measures for Storage Depots"
November 1944: SMERSH Interrogates Treblinka Death Camp Executioner, a Soviet Red Army Deserter
During the military operations on the frontlines during the Great Patriotic War, the counterintelligence agencies "SMERSH" of the various fronts, armies, corps and divisions, along with carrying out the tasks assigned to them to combat enemy intelligence agents, simultaneously conducted investigations of Hitler's atrocities, and carried out an active search for Nazi war criminals andContinue reading "November 1944: SMERSH Interrogates Treblinka Death Camp Executioner, a Soviet Red Army Deserter"
New Russian Helo Training Vessel Begins Factory Sea Trials
The Russian Project 14400 training vessel Nikolay Kamov begins factory sea trials today, 17 July 2025. The vessel was developed to train Russian Navy carrier-based helicopter crews. Equipment on board can imitate various sea conditions. She boasts a 900 ton displacement, is 70 m long, and 12 m wide. She can reach speeds of upContinue reading "New Russian Helo Training Vessel Begins Factory Sea Trials"
Russian FSB Declassifies and Publishes Materials from Potsdam Conference Preparations
To mark the 80th anniversary of the 16 July 1945 kick-off of the Potsdam Conference between the leaders of the Soviet Union, United States, and Great Britain, the Russian Federation Federal Security Service (FSB) has published a handful of materials, freshly declassified for the occasion. The following was translated from information cobbled together from aContinue reading "Russian FSB Declassifies and Publishes Materials from Potsdam Conference Preparations"
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