RUSSIA MONITOR MONTHLY 09/2021
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Lukoil Pushes For Hydrocarbon Expansion In Kazakh Caspian Sea Block
Russia’s oil giant Lukoil would help Kazakhstan develop oil fields located in its portion of the Caspian Sea, according to Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The statement was made during the 17th Interregional Cooperation Forum of Kazakhstan and Russia held online on September 30.
Russia-Hungary New Gas Deal: Gazprom Halts Transit Through Ukraine
The Ukrainian Gas Transmission System operator said Russia’s Gazprom had suspended its gas transit through Ukraine from October 1, on the same day that a new gas deal between Hungary and Russia took effect. The agreement outraged Kyiv and triggered a diplomatic row between Ukraine and Hungary. This shows how Russia is seeking to make political use of gas pipelines that bypass Ukraine and Poland. Moscow is sparking conflict between the countries in the region while compromising Ukraine’s security and also that of other European states.
Sochi Meeting: Russia and Turkey Still Divided Over Syria
The long-awaited meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan that took place on September 29 in Sochi did not make any breakthrough in the Russia-Turkey ties. They look good despite tensions in Syria. It seems that Erdogan sought to use the meeting with Putin as a bargaining chip in his relations with Washington.
Tajikistan Could Thwart Russia’s Push Towards Taliban
The huge Vostok Oil project was a key issue of discussion when India’s oil and gas minister sat down for talks with Rosneft’s Igor Sechin. Shri Hardeep S Puri arrived in Vladivostok to take part in the Eastern Economic Forum. He made a stop-over in Moscow to meet Sechin before heading to the Russian Far East.
Russia vs Ukraine: Where Do “Red Lines” Run?
The idea of NATO membership for Ukraine is the worst-case scenario for Russia that staunchly opposes also the potential broadening of NATO infrastructure on Ukrainian territory. This time the Kremlin is using Alexander Lukashenko to attain its goals. The intention is to send a strong signal to the West that Russia and Belarus would recognize NATO military bases in Ukraine as a casus belli.
Tatarstan’s Top Oil Asset To Pay Dividends
Tatneft is paying out a dividend of 16.52 roubles per share for the results in the six first months of 2021, according to the company’s shareholders. On September 30, an extraordinary meeting of the company’s shareholders took place in Kazan, alongside a meeting of the board of directors chaired by the president of Tatarstan.
Russia Lunges Into Mali, Sends Wagner Group Mercenaries And Weapons
The Ukrainian Gas Transmission System operator said Russia’s Gazprom had suspended its gas transit through Ukraine from October 1, on the same day that a new gas deal between Hungary and Russia took effect. The agreement outraged Kyiv and triggered a diplomatic row between Ukraine and Hungary. This shows how Russia is seeking to make political use of gas pipelines that bypass Ukraine and Poland. Moscow is sparking conflict between the countries in the region while compromising Ukraine’s security and also that of other European states.
Russia Endures Fourth Wave of Coronavirus Pandemic
Russia is seeing a devastating health situation as one in two regions is grappling with a spike in new coronavirus cases. In the last days of September, Russia reported its highest coronavirus death toll. Undoubtedly, Russia is battered with a long-awaited fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic.
Sechin Invites India to the Arctic
The huge Vostok Oil project was a key issue of discussion when India’s oil and gas minister sat down for talks with Rosneft’s Igor Sechin. Shri Hardeep S Puri arrived in Vladivostok to take part in the Eastern Economic Forum. He made a stop-over in Moscow to meet Sechin before heading to the Russian Far East.
Russia Pumps More Crude Oil
Russia’s crude oil output jumped in September thanks to some decisions made by OPEC+. However, it is vital for Gazprom to rebuild export capacities after a fire at a facility in Siberia.
Kabul Meeting: A Common Front of Russia, China, Pakistan?
Moscow and Beijing are pushing for an inclusive government in Afghanistan. At the same time, they are seeking friendly ties with the new government in Kabul as soon as possible. These efforts were channeled into a visit of Russian and Chinese special envoys for Afghanistan. Not only did they join forces, but there were also accompanied by a representative of Pakistan, a country that has the biggest influence on the Taliban and their policy.
Lukoil Voices Concern Over Ghana Oil Assets
Russian energy giant Lukoil said Ghana’s plans to acquire a bigger stake in one of its key oil projects could pose a risk to its execution. The Russian giant is concerned over deteriorating project conditions as a Ghana state corporation acquired stakes from a private Norway-based energy firm.
Russian Navy Drills Shooting Targets in Occupied Crimea
Russia’s navy practiced firing at sea-based targets using its Bastion coastal missile defense system. The drills coincide with the exercises in Ukraine involving the use of vessels in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. With time, place, and the type of weapons used, it is possible to state that the Russian war games are a response to the Joint Efforts 2021 exercises as Moscow is flexing its military muscles.
State Duma Vote: Test Before Rigging Presidential Election
The State Duma vote on September 17–19 was a testing ground for the regime that tested new methods of voter fraud in addition to well-proven practices. What seems most important in this respect is allowing for voting online in some Russian regions. Possibly this method will be extended to most places, or even the whole country, making it easier for the regime to falsify the vote.
Unsurprising State Duma “Elections” in Russia
The three-day State Duma vote was nothing but a meaningless ritual as its results are consistent with the Kremlin’s earlier objectives. Russia’s United Party won a strong majority in a parliamentary vote while making up for a slight loss of seats in the lower house of the parliament by a new systemic opposition faction in the State Duma seated by parties loyal to the Kremlin.
Peace Mission-2021: CSO Countries Involved In Joint Drills
Russia and China are taking part in yet another military drill. The Peace Mission-2021 joint anti-terrorism military exercise is centered on the threat from the Taliban. As a couple of Central Asian countries are involved in the drills, they seem to be more afraid of an Islamic Afghanistan more than they are reluctant to see China’s growing reach with tacit consent from Moscow.
Russian “Elections” Overshadowed By Donbas War
Ukrainian state officials informed that possibly hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian residents in the occupied part of Donbas are being forced to cast their ballots in Russia’s parliamentary elections. But pro-Russian rebel fighters violate the ceasefire each fire, shelling Ukraine positions with weapons banned under the Minsk agreements. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky does not rule out that Russia would start a regular war with his country.
Russia Is Common Threat to Poland and Baltic States
The Zapad-2021 drills and the EU-Belarus border crisis are both the reminder that it is the northern section of NATO’s eastern flank that is most vulnerable to any threat from Russia. Due to their location and military weakness, the three Baltic countries may feel particularly fearful of Russian pressure. It is only with the continued military support from the North Atlantic Alliance that these states could hope to deter Moscow. One example is the Air Policing Mission that aims to preserve the security of the airspace of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia.
Progressive “Integration”: Lukashenko Gives Belarus Into Russian Hands
The presidents of Russia and Belarus met in Moscow yet did not sign chapters to a union state between the two countries. Nonetheless, the two leaders spoke of most thorny issues, notably energy, and adopted a somewhat common stance. Integration between Russia and Belarus––or rather pushing the latter country into Moscow’s clutches––is gaining momentum. Possibly by the end of the year Russia and Belarus will take some critical decisions that those in favor of an independent Belarus will find challenging to reverse in the future.
The Mysterious Death of Putin’s Trusted General
An unfortunate accident was supposed to be the cause of death of the Minister of Emergency Situations, General Yevgeny Zinichev, official statements say. For many years, Zinichev was a trusted man of Vladimir Putin, who guided his career. Zinichev was a personal security officer, the Governor of Kaliningrad Oblast, the Deputy Director of the Federal Security Service, and the Head of one of the important state power ministries.
Warsaw Institute
