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Russia, Norway begin Barents-2018 naval rescue exercise

The Barents exercise is the sole search-and-rescue drills held by Russia and Norway in the Arctic annually

© ITAR-TASS photo

OSLO, May 30. /TASS/. The joint Russian-Norwegian sea rescue exercise, Barents-2018, has begun at the two states’ maritime border in the Varangerfjord area in the Barents Sea, the Norwegian Coastal Administration said on its website.

The main phase of the drills, to be directed by Norway this year, will take place on Wednesday. According to the scenario, Russian rescuers will assist their Norwegian colleagues in a search and rescue mission for a ship in distress.

The sides will also train joint response to an oil spill in the Barents Sea.

The Northern Fleet earlier said it would be represented by the SB-523 rescue tugboat, the Elbrus ice-capable logistics support vessel, an Il-38 antisubmarine warfare plane able to carry out search-and-rescue operations, and a Mi-8 helicopter.

The Barents exercise is the sole search-and-rescue drills held by Russia and Norway in the Arctic annually.

The maneuvers are held under the Russian-Norwegian intergovernmental agreement of October 4, 1995 on cooperation in searching for missing people and people in distress in the Barents Sea. The exercise is directed by the Russian and the Norwegian sides by turns.

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Putin says Oreshnik missile system cutting-edge innovation by Russia, not Soviet byproduct

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Here are the key statements, made during the meeting

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"An automated warning was sent 30 minutes before the launch," Dmitry Peskov said

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Japanese government refrains from commenting on Russia’s latest hypersonic missile

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Lukashenko tells Putin situation is "starting to get tense with Wagner"

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Belarusian president believes humanity is on the brink of World War III

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Putin’s recent statements reflect long-standing policy, expert says

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Zelensky shook up by Russia’s response to permission to attack it — Lavrov

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Press review: Russia fires missile at Ukraine plant and Biden forgives Kiev $4.65 bln debt

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, November 22nd

Russian air defense deflects attacks with Western missiles — Putin

"As a result, the goals that the enemy apparently set have not been achieved," the Russian leader said

Russian ambassador says UK prime minister doesn’t understand situation in Ukraine

Turning to the Labour Party’s domestic policies, Andrey Kelin said Starmer’s plans to spur the economy were "not met with applause by the population

Ex-German chancellor never expected Russia to tolerate Ukraine’s NATO membership — memoir

Angela Merkel added that another fallacy was the belief that the status "would act as a deterrent," and that Moscow "would accept these developments without taking action"

Oreshnik missile to go into serial production, Putin says

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Zelensky to have no input if Russia, US negotiate, ex-Prime Minister says

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Israel carries out four strikes on building in Beirut

At least four people were killed and 23 suffered injuries in an Israeli airstrike

US missile defense base in Poland long among Russian army’s targets — Foreign Ministry

Maria Zakharova stated that the US-NATO construction project, ongoing for nearly a decade with complete disregard to Russian security concerns, has consistently been a focus of Russia's attention

Ukraine conflict entering decisive phase, Polish PM says

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Russia forced to roll out new weapons as West fuels conflict, Minsk says

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US decision to allow missile strikes deep into Russia fuels global escalation — Slovak PM

Robert Fico also rejected the belief that this escalation would not impact "those living far away, in Spain, England, or America"

Trump seeks to restore peace in entire world — transition team on Putin’s address

Trump’s inauguration will take place on January 20, 2025

Russia entitled to use weapons against military sites of states attacking it — Duma

"Russia has repeatedly stated that such actions will receive a response – and it will be a stronger one," Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin stressed

Russia hammers Ukrainian military-industrial facilities, energy sites over week

Russian forces liberated seven communities in the Donetsk People’s Republic over the past week, the Defense Ministry reported

US journalist calls US President Joe Biden’s government 'the fascist state'

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Russia’s Oreshnik has no analogues worldwide — Putin

"We know what kind of developments are being carried out there, but this will happen tomorrow or in a year or two, but we have such a system already today," the president said

Lukashenko grants asylum to Schmidt persecuted on political grounds by Poland

The head of state also approved citizenship applications from foreign nationals and stateless persons residing in the country

Trump to tap Richard Grenell as US special envoy on Ukraine — agency

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