Russia Monitor Articles
Kadyrov’s Hitmen
A Chechen asylum seeker was shot dead outside the Austrian capital whilst Georgian secret services have foiled a plot to kill a journalist. These seemingly look like two different stories yet have much more in common: they involve hitmen that kill either for the Chechen strongman Ramzan Kadyrov or the Kremlin.
Water Shortage in Crimea: Russia May Make a New Move Against Ukraine
Moscow may decide on a military option to gain control of water for the peninsula, Ukrainian military officers say. Of course, that is nothing but a Russian excuse.
Bregancon Program: France’s Macron Tilts Towards Russia
The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has placed French-Russian rapprochement in limbo for roughly six months following its official kickoff in August 2019 during a meeting at the Fort de Bregancon, a summer residence of the president of France. But now the whole process is gaining momentum.
Putin Signs Decree on Constitutional Changes After Falsified “Plebiscite”
Russia’s constitutional amendments came into force on July 4. Putin signed the decree two days after the Central Election Commission announced the final results of a national vote. Its outcome might have gone in line with what Kremlin senior officials could expect.
Roscosmos “Spy Ring”: Russia’s FSB Detains Researchers on Treason Charges
Russian security forces have arrested Ivan Safronov, a former journalist who works as an aide to the head of Russia’s space agency, in a move that marks yet another case of detention on treason charges.
Gazprom’s Oil and Natural Gas Exports Fall Sharply
The coronavirus crisis and the ongoing oil price war have both taken its toll on Russia’s hydrocarbon trade. Russia’s state energy major Gazprom saw the worst outcomes as it has lost a portion of the European sales market, with ever-dropping gas prices.
Russia Close to Reach Oil Output Quotas
Throughout June, Russian oil and gas condensate production averaged 1.272 million tons, or 9.323 million barrels per day (bpd). Russia has stuck to its duties under the OPEC+ oil cuts, official data shows.
Turkey Buys Less Russian Gas
Turkey has been importing less gas from Russia yet the increase of Russian energy commodities is illusory, with Turkish data showing a significant drop in natural gas imports from Iran. Also, Turkey’s liquefied natural gas imports have outpaced the purchase of natural gas through pipelines.
A Holiday for Putin’s “Democracy”: Outcome Known From the Top
The proposed constitutional amendments have come into force, with a nationwide plebiscite being nothing but a political theater. The public vote on them is seen as more of a national opinion poll, designed to lend legitimacy to the amendments and solidify Vladimir Putin’s grip on power.
Russia Is the Main Oil Supplier for Belarus. An Alternative? Symbolic
Following an oil struggle between Belarus and Russia, there have occurred some shifts in how Minsk buys its crude supplies. Its purchases come mostly from Russia yet with no firm guarantees.
Hungary to Join TurkStream Gas Pipeline
The supervisory board of Hungary’s pipeline operator FGSZ greenlighted a plan of investment into the construction of a gas pipeline to Serbia by October 2021, the company said in a statement.
An Increase in U.S. and Russian Aerial Activity over the North Pacific
The United States has taken action to respond to Russia’s beefed-up aerial activity around each other’s border in the Pacific. Recent weeks have seen a couple of incidents with both sides intercepting each other’s planes flying towards the two’s borders.
Rosneft-Transneft War: Russian Oil Pipeline Operator Warns of Financial Disaster
Russian oil pipeline operator Transneft has reiterated the company would be in big trouble once oil transportation costs slumped significantly sometime soon, halving the company’s total income.
Lukoil Starts Drilling in the Caspian Sea
Russian oil major Lukoil said it has started drilling of an exploration well at the Shirotno-Rakushechnaya prospect structure north of the V.I. Grayfer oilfield. The company has also begun to study Khazri and Titonskaya features in the south of the same sea area.
Warsaw Institute
