Tu-95MS long-range bombers of the Russian Aerospace Forces conducted a planned flight over the neutral waters of Barents and the Norwegian seas.

⏱️The flight duration exceeded 7 hours.

✈️ Su-33 fighter jet crews of the Russian Navy escorted the bombers.

▫️At certain stages of the route, the long-range bombers were escorted by fighter jets of foreign countries.

⬆️Crews of long-range aviation regularly conduct flights over neutral waters of Arctic, North Atlantic, Pacific oceans, Black and Baltic seas. All flights of Russian Aerospace Forces aircraft are carried out in strict compliance with international rules on the use of airspace.⬇️

🔹 Russian Defence Ministry

⚡️Russian Aerospace Forces successfully launch Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket from Plesetsk Cosmodrome

On 25 December, at 5.11 p.m. (Moscow time), a combat crew of the Russian Aerospace Forces successfully launched a Soyuz-2.1a medium-class carrier rocket with spacecraft from the Russian Defence Ministry State Test Cosmodrome (Plesetsk Cosmodrome) in Arkhangelsk region.
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry

⬆️On 25 December, at 17:11, a combat crew of the Russian Aerospace Forces successfully launched a Soyuz-2.1a medium-class carrier rocket with spacecraft from the Russian Defence Ministry State Test Cosmodrome (Plesetsk Cosmodrome) in Arkhangelsk region.⬇️

▫️ The Soyuz-2.1a launching and the removal of spacecraft into the calculated orbit were carried out in normal mode. After launch, the Soyuz-2.1a medium-class carrier rocket with spacecraft was accepted for escort by means of the ground-based automated control system of the Main Test and Space Systems Control Center n.a. German Stepanovich Titov.

⏱ At the estimated time, the spacecraft were put into target orbits and taken to manage by the ground-based systems of the Russian Aerospace Forces.

🔌 The spacecraft is in stable communication with the ground, and its onboard systems are functioning as normally.

🔥 On New Year’s Eve, PIR Center is pleased to offer our readers – and experts worldwide – a gift of appreciation. We invite you today to the global premiere of the Security Index Yearbook 2026-2027 by PIR&MGIMO Vol. 2 Global Edition – a comprehensive analytical product that builds on the global premiere and reader success of Volume 1 (2024-2025).

🍀 Digital Edition of the Volume Two includes 10 sections and 29 chapters, prepared by 27 experts from Russia and other countries. The authors include renowned Russian experts in international security, ministers (including Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov), deputy ministers (including Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov), ambassadors, and former presidents (including former Kiribati leader Teburoro Tito).

🔎 The Yearbook covers a broad range of global security and arms control issues (including international information security and the military application of AI technologies), as well as the dynamics of Russia’s relations with key global political powers (China, the United States, leading Middle Eastern powers, etc.). Volume 2 devotes special attention to Africa, examining relations with the region through the lens of high technology and resource wars. Some of these issues are explored, among other things, through interviews with Russian and foreign experts, diplomats, and political figures. This allows for a comprehensive view of the issues raised, from both the inside and the outside.

📌 The Security Index Yearbook Vol. 2 is available on our website.

Acad. Anatoly Torkunov, Chairman of the International Editorial Board, Rector of MGIMO University in his Foreword to the Security Index Yearbook 2026-2027: «Volume Two of the Security Index Yearbook maintains the high standard set by its predecessor. Each contribution reflects the work of leading Russian experts and practitioners representing key research centers».

Volume Two of the Yearbook was prepared as part of PIR Center and MGIMO University consortium, and our joint project Global Security and High-Tech Breakthrough Opportunities for Russia on New Frontiers under the auspices of the Priority 2030 Program.

👉 Read more

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🇷🇺🇧🇾 Oreshnik missile system is put on combat duty in Republic of Belarus

A solemn ceremony was held in the Republic of Belarus to put a unit equipped with an Oreshnik mobile ground-based missile system on combat duty.

➡️ In the course of completing the military ritual of changing of the duty shifts, the flag of the Strategic Missile Forces was raised.

🖥 Specialists of launch, signal, security, and power supply crews, as well as drivers of missile system components were retrained using modern training equipment before going on combat duty.

▫️ In the Republic of Belarus, all conditions for combat duty and accommodation of Russian servicemen were created in advance.

🪖 The personnel are mastering new areas of combat patrol areas.

🔹 Russian Defence Ministry