Russian Embassy in Asmara

⚓️#OnThisDay in 1941, the first Arctic convoy, codenamed Dervish, arrived at Archangelsk harbour. Seven vessels were escorted by the UK military ships. The convoy sailed from Liverpool with a stopover in Hvalfjörður, Iceland, and laid out a route for the further escort of ships delivering strategic cargoes to the northern ports of the Soviet Union during the Second World War. In accordance with their commitments made at the Moscow Conference in 1941, the Lend-Lease Act and other agreements, the United States and the UK used Arctic routes to supply the USSR with armaments, military hardware and other cargoes. The ships returned with strategic raw materials and other supplies. Sea deliveries of military cargoes through the Black and Baltic Seas were ruled out because of Hitler’s rapid advance towards Crimea and Leningrad whereas the route across the Pacific Ocean was too long. The Arctic route was the shortest but the Soviet Union did not have a fleet to carry half a million tones of military supplies. Given this, British sailors took over the burden of Arctic sea transport and its protection. The convoys were formed in the UK and after refueling in Iceland headed to northern Soviet ports. As a rule, an Arctic convoy consisted of seven to eight loaded transport ships, which sailed in line-ahead formation constantly changing their course to thwart submarine attacks. Arctic convoys became a vivid example of combat teamwork maintained by the navies of the anti-Hitler coalition during WWII. Their history keeps many examples of heroism and self-sacrifice of British, American and Soviet sailors and pilots, as well as citizens of other countries, who escorted the convoys in harsh polar conditions. 🕯 During the war, a total of 78 convoys were dispatched, with 85 merchant ships and 16 British Navy warships failing to reach their destination. More than 3,000 British sailors lost their lives. 💬 Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova (excerpt from the briefing of August 19, 2021): Russia and the UK are now paying tribute to the memory, heroism and dedication of those involved in the convoys. Their heroic crossing of the North Atlantic is forever inscribed in golden letters in the history of the liberation of Europe from Nazism. The further course of the war confirmed the Arctic Convoy’s significant contribution to the success of the joint struggle against the common enemy, which cannot be overestimated.

📸 Sasyk, the largest salt lake in Crimea. Photos: Sergey Malgavko/TASS

⚡️Russia's Position at the Seventy-Ninth Session of the UN General Assembly 🇷🇺🇺🇳Restoring the central and coordinating role of the Universal Organization in global affairs, which has been compromised as a result of Washington and its satellites' policies aimed at making the United Nations suit their agenda, is the main priority of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly. This task is enshrined in the Foreign Policy Concept of the Russian Federation. The activities of the United Nations should primarily aim to shape a more just, democratic and sustainable multipolar world order building on the principles of the UN Charter in their entirety and interrelation, first of all the principle of sovereign equality of states. Attempts by Westerners to promote their notorious concept of the "rules-based world order," which involves a revision of the decades-old international legal architecture, discreditation or arbitrary interpretation of the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and creation of alternative narrow decision-making formats bypassing the Universal Organization, must be strongly opposed. We should resolutely combat the flawed neocolonial practices employed by the collective West to slow down the objective historical process of the emergence of a genuinely multipolar world order, and retain its fading dominance and continue to prey on the countries of the world majority. 👉 This includes illegal unilateral sanctions, unfair trade agreements, restricting access to new technologies, plundering the resources of sovereign states, and even direct military interventions. Such actions harm the most vulnerable communities in affected countries and further delay the prospect of implementing the Sustainable Development Goals. Against this backdrop, the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations prepared a draft UN General Assembly resolution on "Eradication of colonialism in all its forms and manifestations." The main objectives of the document include declaring 14 December the Day of Struggle against Colonialism in all its forms and manifestations (to commemorate the date of the adoption of the UNGA Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples of 1960) as well as putting the relevant item on the General Assembly's agenda. The initiative was approved by the General Assembly Special Committee on Decolonization (C‑24) in June 2024. We call on all constructively minded partners to support it in the UNGA Fourth Committee, which will take place in autumn 2024. 📖 Read in full

⚡️Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation: Russia’s Defence Ministry has launched a multimedia section on its website to mark the 80th anniversary of the Lvov-Sandomierz Strategic Offensive and the liberation of western part of Soviet Ukraine from Nazi invaders. The Defence Ministry of Russia has launched a new historical project titled Never Forget the Lessons of History to mark 80 years since Western Ukraine’s liberation from the horrors of fascism and released declassified documents on how the Lvov-Sandomierz Strategic Offensive was planned and carried out between July 13 and August 29, 1944. The sixth strategic strike devastated the enemy’s strategic force — Army Group North Ukraine — and brought about the liberation of Soviet Ukraine’s western regions and southeast Poland from the Nazi invaders. The Soviet forces took control of a major bridgehead on Vistula’s western bank and used it to commence an offensive targeting Silesia, central Poland and on to the borders of Nazi Germany. 👉 This new multimedia section on the Defence Ministry’s website offers previously unpublished documents from the Ministry’s Central Archive: ▪️ directives from the General Headquarters ▪️ encrypted messages from various quarters ▪️ combat reports ▪️ maps and charts of the offensive ▪️ unique photographs and artefacts demonstrating the Red Army personnel’s courage and valour during the liberation of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic ▪️ multiple items providing evidence of the atrocities perpetrated by the Nazi invaders in western part of Soviet Ukraine ▪️ other documents that have never appeared in the public domain before. Excerpts from the documents published by Russia's Defence Ministry: 📰 The German invaders killed about 700,000 Soviet people in Lvov and across the Lvov Region, including men, women and children. The victims also included nationals from Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, the Netherlands, Great Britain, and the United States who were brought from German concentration camps (Leninskoye Znamya (Lenin’s Banner) newspaper of the political unit within the 2nd Guards Tank Army, December, 1944) 📰 Once a prosperous town in Soviet Ukraine, Slavuta turned into a major concentration camp after the Nazi invaders came there. The Soviet people referred to this horrific place as the Death Factory. There were only two options for those who were sent into this hell hole: death or forced labour for the Germans (Za Chest Rodiny (For the Motherland’s Honour) newspaper of the 1st Ukrainian Front, March, 1944) 📰 When the Red Army units liberated Slavuta from the Germans, they discovered a lazaret, or infirmary, for Soviet prisoners of war on the grounds of what used to serve as a military camp. There were over 500 people there who were suffering from extreme exhaustion or severe illness. They shared stories of how German doctors and the infirmary’s guards killed tens of thousands of people (Za Chest Rodiny newspaper of the 1st Ukrainian Front, July, 1944) 📄 Groups of Ukrainian and German nationalists broke through doors and windows, rushed into apartments and homes, and used their guns, knives and axes to kill people, including infants and the elderly, both men and women. They loaded the corpses into horse-drawn carriages, took them away and buried in pits. To conceal their crimes, they burned some families in sheds and then buried the burned corpses. While committing these atrocities, the perpetrators also looted and pillaged the homes of their victims (Report on the Atrocities Perpetrated by Ukrainian Nationalists in Mogilnitsy, Tarnopol Region, April, 1944)

📖 German colonialism in Africa has a chilling history - new book "The Long Shadow of German Colonialism: Amnesia, Denialism and Revisionism" explores how it lives on 🔗Read in full: https://telegra.ph/German-colonialism-in-Africa-has-a-chilling-history---new-book-explores-how-it-lives-on-08-05

Zelenskyy Bans Russian-Affiliated Church in Ukraine for Greater Independence ☦️ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a law aimed at regulating religious organizations with leadership based in Russia. The document was presented to the president for approval on 23 August and was officially signed the following day, 24 August. Read in full: https://telegra.ph/Zelenskyy-Bans-Russian-Affiliated-Church-in-Ukraine-for-Greater-Independence-08-27-2

📹 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s video message to the participants in the 6th BRICS+ Young Diplomats’ Forum(August 28, 2024) 💬 I would like to begin by offering my heartfelt greetings to the participants in the 6th Young Diplomats’ Forum which is taking place in the #BRICSplus format. It was the Foreign Ministry’s Council of Young Diplomats that initiated the first event of this kind in Ufa as part of Russia’s 2015 chairmanship. Since then, this platform has emerged as an effective tool for promoting horizontal ties between the BRICS foreign ministries. It is worth noting that Ufa, the capital of Bashkortostan, has been selected to host the 2024 meeting. It stands at the crossroads of civilisations, and people representing various religions, creeds and ethnic groups have been living here in peace and harmony for many centuries. This offers a vivid example of the way ethnic, religious and cultural diversity can serve as a foundation for promoting long-term development and sustaining mutual understanding. #BRICS countries have been relying on these very principles in their relations. 👉 The Forum’s main topic is The Role of Young Diplomats in Strengthening Multilateralism for Fairness in Global Development and Security. It covers a wide range of major issues for BRICS states, as well as for other like-minded countries. I welcome the fact that all partners share the association’s approaches to working together when responding to present-day global challenges. BRICS attracts more and more attention, which is a clear sign that our aspirations to build a fairer global architecture in international relations are aligned with deep-running and objective geopolitical shifts. The Global Majority has been very receptive to this vision, which demonstrates that what we do together is highly relevant and important. I am certain that your forum will contribute in its own way to strengthening the comprehensive partnership, atmosphere of friendship and trust between our countries and their people. 🌐 I wish all the participants every success, good health and fruitful work. Read in full #BRICS2024

📹 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s video address to the organisers and participants of the 6th International Municipal BRICS Forum(August 27, 2024) 💬 I am pleased to welcome the organisers and participants of the 6th International Municipal BRICS Forum, which is being hosted by Moscow, a city famous not only for its unique history, architecture, and vibrant cultural and sports scene, but also for its advancements in modern urban development, transportation, infrastructure, and organisation of urban life. I am confident that the Russian capital, along with other Russian cities, has much to share with our partners from #BRICS countries. In turn, we are interested in learning from the best practices of our friends. The relevance of these mutually enriching exchanges is clear: according to expert estimates, the share of urban residents is rising steadily and is now in excess of 56 percent of the world population. This dictates the need to devise a long-term and well-considered policy aimed at promoting the steady development of municipalities and creating a comfortable urban environment for all residents. Municipal and regional cooperation within BRICS is making strides and holds a significant place on the agenda. In June of this year, the BRICS Association of Cities and Municipalities was launched, and Nizhny Novgorod hosted a highly successful Forum of Twinned Cities and Municipal Formations. I am confident that the 6th International Municipal BRICS Forum will make a unique contribution to strengthening ties between our countries and peoples. The number of forum participants, over 5,000 delegates from about 500 cities worldwide, as well as the packed agenda for upcoming discussions, serve as clear evidence of the relevance of this event. You will discuss current issues related to urban economics and advanced urban science, introduction of digital and environmentally friendly technologies, access to quality education and healthcare, and the establishment of connections between business communities. On a separate note, I would like to commend the work done by the Moscow authorities, who have created all the necessary conditions for productive work during the forum. I am certain that all guests of the Russian capital will fully appreciate its hospitality. Your forum provides additional opportunities for establishing useful contacts, coordinating promising joint projects, and strengthening friendship and trust between our peoples. 🤝 I wish you productive discussions and all the best. #BRICS2024

A large African expedition of the Russian Federal Agency for Fisheries will depart from Kaliningrad It will take place in the Indian and Atlantic Oceans until the beginning of 2026. The research vessel "Atlantniro" will conduct research of marine bioresources in the zones of Morocco, Mauritania, Nigeria, Cameroon, Sao Tome and Principe, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, the Republic of Congo, Angola. The research vessel "Atlantis" will carry out work in the sea waters of Mauritania, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, the Republic of Guinea, Sierra Leone, Mozambique, Madagascar, Mauritius, Oman, Eritrea. https://tass.ru/obschestvo/21649213

The Moscow Zoo is celebrating the birthday of Katyusha, the first-ever giant panda born in Russia. Photos: Sergey Karpukhin/TASS

📄 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s greetings to hosts, participants and guests of the 16th Spasskaya Tower International Military Music Festival (August 23, 2024) ✍️ I’m pleased to greet the hosts, participants and guests of the 16th Spasskaya Tower International Military Music Festival. Over the years, the contest has established itself as an unparalleled creative competition between army orchestras from different countries and has become an integral part of the Russian capital’s vibrant cultural scene. Now that the international situation has seriously aggravated in the wake of the destructive policy pursued by the countries of the historical West led by the US, the role of international humanitarian exchanges in maintaining an atmosphere of friendship, trust and mutual understanding between nations can hardly be overestimated. I’m pleased to state that this event makes its own contribution to common efforts in this regard. Holding the festival is a compelling example of the fact that the attempts to cancel Russia have failed. I’m convinced that the festival will take place in a traditionally warm and informal atmosphere, and the audiences will enjoy the refined skills of military musical performers. 🤝 Everyone please enjoy the show and all the best.

🏅 On August 23, Russia celebrates the Day of Military Glory. #OnThisDay in 1943, the Red Army achieved a decisive victory over the Nazi invaders in the Battle of Kursk, which turned the tide of the Great Patriotic War. This battle raged for long 50 days and nights and became one of the biggest combat operations in history, involving over 4 million people, over 69,000 artillery guns and mortars, more than 13,000 tanks and self-propelled artillery units, and up to 12,000 planes on both sides. Ahead of the battle, Soviet commanders Konstantin Rokosovsky and Nikolai Vatutin received intelligence reports and knew when the German offensive would begin. They ordered all the weapons at their disposal to target the enemy positions just 30 or 40 minutes before the operation began, just as the Wehrmacht soldiers were taking their positions. ⚔️ On July 12, a major tank battle took place near Prokhorovka with the legendary Soviet #T34 tanks engaging the German machines in close combat. The Soviet artillery also played its part by launching 200 train car loads of shells against the enemy every day. With the victory in the Battle of Kursk, the USSR seized the strategic initiative and did not lose it until the end of the war. The victorious operation on the Kursk Bulge enabled the Soviet forces to liberate Kharkov on August 23, followed by combat operations to liberate Ukraine. 🎖The Soviet forces demonstrated their courage, resilience and mass heroism in the Battle of Kursk. Over 100,000 of them received orders and medals, and 231 people received the Hero of the Soviet Union title. 📹The Russian Military Historical Society