Putin Sets July 1 for Controversial Constitutional Vote

June 2, 2020 — Voice of America News reports: “Russian President Vladimir Putin has set July 1 as the date for the national vote on constitutional amendments that among other things would allow him to remain in power until 2036.

Putin announced the decision at a meeting with co-chairs of the working group on the preparation of the bill on June 1.

Ella Pamfilova, the chairwoman of the Central Election Committee, said she supports the idea, adding that the voting will start seven days prior the official date in order to avoid large crowds.

Pamfilova also said that in two or three regions an electronic voting system will be used, though she did not say which regions.

The bill of constitutional amendments was approved by lawmakers and approved by the Constitutional Court in March…”  (Vladimir Putin has been in power as either the Prime Minister or President of Russia since 1999.  With this Constitutional change, he is, in essence, setting himself up as ruler for life in Russia, much as Xi Jinping is set to be ruler for life in China.  Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39 predict the union of Russia and China [Revelation 16:12; Daniel 11:44] as leaders in the battle for the greatest war in history called Armageddon – Revelation 16:16.  Revelation 9:14 – 18 pictures its upcoming disastrous results.)

Russia Eyes Military Expansion in Northeast Syria

June 5, 2020 — Voice of America News reports: “Russian troops in Syria are looking to expand their military presence in the northeastern part of the war-ravaged country, local sources said.

A Russian military convoy arrived last week in a village near Syria’s border with Turkey and Iraq, where Russian officers reportedly met with local residents and discussed the possibility of building a military base in the vicinity.

A local reporter told VOA that the village Qasir Dib is located near the Kurdish-majority town of Malikiyah in Syria’s north-easternmost region.

‘I spoke with people who were present at the meeting,’ said Nishan Mohammad, a freelance reporter based in northeast Syria. ‘They confirmed that the Russians had expressed a desire to build a military base in the village.’

In recent months, Russia, a staunch backer of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, has increased its foothold the country’s northeast, which is largely controlled by local Kurdish forces…”  (Russia preparing to fulfill Ezekiel 38:1, 2, 8, 16; Joel 2:3, 20, 30 for the Armageddon campaign – Revelation 16:16 – which will be fought against America, the EU and the entire Western World. Islamic armies will align themselves with Russia and China for holy jihad – holy war – Ezekiel 38:13; Daniel 11:40; Isaiah 17:1; Ezekiel 38:5-7; Psalm 83: 4 – 7. See the next two reports.)

Russian aircraft intercepted 8 miles from U.S. airspace near Alaska

June 11, 2020 — SpaceWar.com reports: “U.S. fighter planes intercepted two waves of Russian bombers flying within eight miles of U.S. airspace near Alaska on Wednesday, officials said.

‘North American Aerospace Defense Command F-22 Raptors, supported by KC-135 Stratotankers and E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System, completed two intercepts of Russian Bomber formations entering the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone early this morning,’ the North American Aerospace Defense Command said Wednesday on Twitter.

‘The Russian military aircraft remained in international airspace and at no time did they enter United States sovereign airspace.’

The first Russian formation, of two Tu-95 bombers, two Su-35 fighter planes and an A-50 early warning and control aircraft, came within 20 nautical miles of the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone, a 200-mile long coastline with U.S. territorial airspace beginning 12 miles from the coast.

The second included Tu-95 bombers and an A-50 plane, came within 32 nautical miles, NORAD said. The Russian planes were identified and intercepted as they flew closer to U.S. territory than in recent years…”

U.S. intercepts more Russian military planes near Alaska

June 18, 2020 — SpaceWar.com reports: “U.S. fighter planes intercepted eight Russian military aircraft flying near Alaska in two separate incidents, NORAD announced Wednesday.

The intercepts, late Tuesday, mark the third and fourth such incidents in the past week, and the seventh and eighth in 2020, indicating an increase in Russian air activity on the U.S. border.

‘NORAD F-22 Raptors, supported by KC-135 Stratotankers and an E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System, successfully completed two intercepts of Russian bomber aircraft formations entering the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone last night,’ NORAD [North American Aerospace Defense Command] said in a series of Twitter messages. ‘The Russian military aircraft came within 32 nautical miles of Alaskan shores; however, remained in international airspace and at no time did they enter United States sovereign airspace.’

The first formation involved two Tu-95 bombers, which are capable of carrying nuclear missiles; two Su-35 fighter planes; and an A-50 warning and control plane. The second included two Tu-95s and one A-50…”