Current Events and Links

See also:
War of Gog and Magog
The New Cold War

Russia tests 10-warhead ballistic missile

Dec. 27, 2014 - Col. Igor Yegorov, a spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry, announced the successful test of the RS-24 "Yars" ballistic missile on Friday. The weapon can deploy up to 10 warheads designed to overcome missile defense systems.

Source: World Bulletin

Prophetic Significance of Russia

Ukraine votes to drop non-aligned status

Dec. 23, 2014 - In a 303 to 8 vote Ukraine's parliament has voted to drop the country's non-aligned status and eventually begin to align itself with Nato, Europe and the West.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called the move "counterproductive" and said it would boost tensions.

Source: BBC

Russia angling for share in Israeli natural gas

Dec. 19, 2014 - Russia has expressed interest in Israel's Mediterranean gas fields.

Gazprom, for one, showed interest in becoming a partner in the Leviathan reserve, one of the most important in the Mediterranean Sea, but nothing substantive came of it.

Source: Hamodia

Editor's Note: We have taught for many years, even before the discovery of the great natural gas fields off Israel's coast, that this could be the motivation of the attack against Israel at some future time.

Sorry, Putin. Russia’s economy is doomed - Washington Post

Ukraine crisis: Russian troops crossed border, Nato says

Nov. 12, 2014 - US Gen Philip Breedlove, commander of NATO forces said that Russian military equipment and combat troops have entered Ukraine this week.

Heavy artillery fire rocked the east Ukrainian city of Donetsk, the industrial hub held by pro-Russian separatist rebels, on Wednesday morning. It was unclear whether the fire came from besieging government forces or the rebels themselves, or both.

Source: BBC

Henry Kissinger's Thoughts On The Islamic State, Ukraine And 'World Order'

Sept. 7, 2014 - In his new book, "World Order," preeminent statesman and historian Henry Kissinger explains the rise and fall of world powers from China to the present times. He considers Russia and Iran to be pivotal in the current World Order. He says that managing the ISIS crisis in the Middle East is less difficult than the threat of a nuclear Iran.

Kissinger also explains his view of the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine:

Ukraine itself has been part of Russia for 500 years. . . The ideal solution would be to have a Ukraine like Finland or Austria that can be a bridge between these two rather than an outpost.

Source: NPR

Update 11/3/14 - Time for a 'new world order?' No, it's already here - Putin has called for a “new world order,” with the aim of stabilizing the globe. He believes the US is abusing its role as global leader. - RT (Russia Today)

Henry Kissinger’s new world order - Prophecy Central's New World Order Section

Nato summit: Russia criticised over Ukraine crisis

Sept. 4, 2014 - Before the summit began, Ukraine's president briefed US and EU leaders on the ceasefire plan that they had made with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Approximatelly 2,600 people have died so far in the fightiing in Ukraine.

The West says it has evidence that Mr Putin is supporting the separatists with training and arms, and has sent Russian troops across the border. Russia denies the accusation.

Source: BBC

Kremlin warns Ukraine against joining NATO - Washington Post

Hagel: Russia, China Aim to Close Military Technology Gap With US - Voice of America

NATO Approves New Force Aimed at Deterring Russia - NewsMax

Russian General Seeks Nuclear First-Strike Option Against US - NewsMax

Ukraine and pro-Russia rebels sign ceasefire deal - BBC

Ukraine anounces ceasefire with Russia

Sept. 3, 2014 - A brief statement from Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's office said that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin have reached agreement on a permanent ceasefire in the Donbass (the eastern Ukraine regions). No details were given.

There was no immediate reaction from the Russia-backed separatists whom Ukrainian forces have been fighting since April. The rebels ignored a 10-day unilateral ceasefire that Poroshenko had called in June.

Source: Times of Israel

EU Gives Russia Ultimatum Over Ukraine Crisis

Sept. 1, 2014 - According to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko there are thousands of foreign troops and hundreds of foreign tanks inside Ukraine. He claims that tanks had been used to "destroy virtually every house" in the town of Novosvitlivka. He said that the attack threatens not only the peace and stability of Ukraine but also the peace and stability of all of Europe.

Meanwhile, an EU summit has reportedly taken "important steps" that will lead to tougher sanctions against Russia within a week.

Source: Sky News

Live Blog: Ukraine Crisis - BBC

We need to tell the truth about what Russia is doing in Ukraine - The Guardian - UK

What is Russia doing in Ukraine, and what can West do about it? - CNN

Putin and the Ukraine crisis will force moribund Nato to reinvent itself - Military alliance lost its role after cold war but can it respond effectively to the unconventional warfare of Russia and Isis? - The Guardian - UK

Nato accuses Russia of violating Ukraine sovereignty

Aug. 29, 2014 - Nato Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has accused Russia of a "blatant violation" of Ukraine's sovereignty by invading Ukraine to support pro-Russian rebels.

Russian President Vladimir Putin blamed the Ukrainian government for the crisis, comparing its siege of two cities held by separatists, Donetsk and Luhansk, to the siege of Leningrad by Nazi Germany in World War Two.

Source: BBC

'Russian Invasion' of Ukraine Prompts UN Emergency Meeting - ABC

U.S. says Russia has 'outright lied' about Ukraine - USA Today

Russian armored columns said to capture key Ukrainian towns - Washington Post

Update 1-Don't mess with nuclear Russia, Putin says - Reuters

Ukraine 'slipping out of control', Germany warns - BBC

2 tank columns from Russia enter Ukraine

Aug. 28, 2014 - Two columns of Russian tanks and military vehicles have overpowered a Ukrainian border post and entered southeastern Ukraine.

A top NATO official said at least 1,000 Russian troops have poured into Ukraine with sophisticated equipment and have been in direct "contact" with Ukrainian soldiers, resulting in casualties.

Another 20,000 Russian troops are thought to be stationed at the border.

Source: Chron

Live: Ukraine accuses Russia of invasion - BBC

U.S. official says 1,000 Russian troops enter Ukraine - CNN

Ukraine crisis: Russia aid convoy 'invades Ukraine'

Aug. 22, 2014 -

Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko has accused Russia of a "flagrant violation of international law" after Russian humanitarian aid lorries entered Ukraine without permission.

More than 100 large trucks from Russia forced their way through a Ukrainian border crossing without customs inspection, border control or International Red Cross escort -- all of which is a violation of international law.

The incursion was called a "direct invasion" by Ukraine's security chief Valentyn Nalyvaychenko. Nevertheless he said that no force would be used against the convoy.

Source: BBC

Russian aid or Trojan Horse? - BBC

Update 8/23/14 - Russian aid trucks begin to leave Ukraine - Fox

Russian aid convoy near Ukraine's border

Aug. 14, 2014 - A Russian convoy of more than 200 vehicles is heading toward a border crossing controlled by pro-Russian rebels in the Luhansk region. The large trucks are said to be carrying humanitarian supplies, but Ukraine officials are concerned that they might be bringing Russian military forces or supplies for the rebels.

The route suggested Russia was intent on not abiding by a tentative agreement to deliver aid to a government-controlled border checkpoint in the Kharkiv region, where it could more easily be inspected by Ukraine and the Red Cross.

A spokesman for Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council warned that, if the Russians do not allow inspection of the cargo, the convoy will be blocked with all the forces available.

Source: USA Today

Update: 8/15/14 - Ukraine says dozens of its border officials in Russia inspecting aid convoy with Red Cross - US News and World Report

Ukraine may block Russian humanitarian aid convoy

Aug. 12, 2014 - Russia is sending a huge convoy of vehicles with humanitarian aid for Ukraine civilians trapped by fighting in the area held by pro-Russia rebels. Nearly 300 vehicles loaded with grain, baby food and medicine will arrive at the border in the next two days. However, The Ukraine government may not allow the convoy because,

There are Western concerns that Russia is using humanitarian assistance as a pretext to invade eastern Ukraine.

Source: BBC

Ukraine conflict: Russian aid or Trojan Horse? - BBC

Ukraine says trucks carrying purported aid from Russia won't be allowed across border - Fox

NATO: Russia Could Be Poised to Invade Eastern Ukraine

Aug. 6, 2014 - With 20,000 combat-ready troops on Ukraine's eastern border, Russia might be planning to invade Eastern Ukraine.

"We share the concern that Russia could use the pretext of a humanitarian or peacekeeping mission as an excuse to send troops into eastern Ukraine," NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said Wednesday.

U.S. President Barack Obama prefers to continue economic sanctions against Russia instead of providing Ukraine with lethal military aid at this time.

Source: Voice of America

Russia steps up help for rebels in Ukraine war

July 26, 2014 -

Rather than backing down after last week's downing of a civilian passenger jet, Russia appears to be intervening more aggressively in the war in eastern Ukraine in what US and Ukrainian officials call a dangerous escalation.

Russia continues to build up its forces along their border with Ukraine, including tanks and other heavy weapons.

Two days ago Russia launched artillery attacks across the border into Ukraine.

Source: Econommic Times

Cold War II - Time

EU signs pacts with Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova

Jun. 27, 2014 -

Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova have signed partnership agreements with the European Union, in a move strongly opposed by Russia.
The pact - which would bind the three countries more closely to the West both economically and politically - is at the heart of the crisis in Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that it would split Ukraine in two. Russians in general are unhappy with the trend of former Soviet states drifting toward Europe and possibly becoming part of the European Union.

Source: BBC

Russia to ban US from using Space Station over Ukraine sanctions

May 14, 2014 -

Russia is to deny the US future use of the International Space Station beyond 2020 and will also bar its rocket engines from launching US military satellites as it hits back at American sanctions imposed over Ukraine crisis.

Currently the space station is manned by both U.S. and Russian astronauts, but all of them must use Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft to get there and back.

Source: Telegraph

East Ukraine Referendum Raises Fears of Civil War

May 11, 2014 -

Rebels pressed ahead with a referendum on self-rule in east Ukraine on Sunday and fighting flared anew in a conflict that has raised fears of civil war and pitched Russia and the West into their worst crisis since the Cold War.

Source: NewsMax