Category: Security policy

Chinese submarine newbuild recognised

This section of a satellite image from Planet Labs shows a Chinese shipyard in Huludao in the northern province of Liaoning - and a submarine in its dock. However, the size and top view do not quite correspond to the types known to date. As two green areas are also visible aft of the tower and cross-shaped control surfaces with a casing can be seen at the stern, experts suspect that this is the prototype of a submarine class equipped with vertical launchers (VLS) and pump-jet propulsion. Chinese plans China has been pursuing the goal of being able to launch land and sea-based cruise missiles from submerged boats (long-range offensive strike capability) for some time. Should the two greenish...

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Russians export oil in large quantities

Losses for Russia, but not massive Russia's seaborne crude oil exports from its western ports to Asian countries, especially India and China, rose again to more than 1 million barrels per day and could rise further. However, overall crude oil shipments remained virtually unchanged until 13 May as European Union countries continue to argue over a planned ban on Russian oil imports following the country's invasion of Ukraine. A total of 35 tankers loaded about 24.9 million barrels from Russian export terminals, according to ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg and reports from port agents. This put the...

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Croatia offers Adriatic ports for the transport of Ukrainian grain

The European Commission introduced the so-called "solidarity routes" at the beginning of May to improve connections between the EU and Ukraine for grain exports, while Ukrainian ports remain blocked due to the Russian invasion. Croatia's Adriatic ports could provide an alternative route for the transport of grain from Ukraine, Jutarnji List reported, citing the State Secretary of the Croatian Ministry of European and Foreign Affairs. Following his participation in the General Affairs Council of EU27 ministers in Brussels on 23 May, Andreja Metelko Zgombić said: "During the debate, I pointed out that Croatia's Adriatic ports are available and could offer an alternative route for...

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Operational drive on the northern flank

"Mecklenburg-Vorpommern" left Wilhelmshaven for a mission without the usual fuss. Although family members and the music corps were present, there have been no official press invitations for the time being since the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis. Parliamentary State Secretary Siemtje Möller and her Slovakian counterpart Marian Majer were present at the farewell ceremony, as a Slovakian team is also on board. "Following an interim overhaul, the ship and crew have now completed a good nine months of operational training with a clear focus on national and alliance defence tasks," said frigate captain Hendrik Wißler, according to a statement from the navy. The task now is to utilise these capabilities as part of the rapid...

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The sinking of the "Moskva"

The Russian guided missile cruiser "Москва", "Moskva", hull number 121, sank on 14 April 2022. The previous afternoon, information spread that the lead ship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet had been hit by coast-to-ship missiles. The Ministry of Defence in Moscow confirmed the sinking without mentioning the missile fire. Tass reports that ammunition exploded as a result of a fire, causing severe damage. The crew was evacuated, it added. Attempt at an analysis The hype surrounding the sinking of the cruiser, already stylised as a battleship by some media, is dying down. A salvage ship, the 110-year-old "Kommuna", was launched (MFO reported). The Russian...

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