Local military division got on youtube due an accusatory clip by an ex-officer. Khabarovsk authorities started actions to build a dam on Ussuriisky Island, which Russia shares with China. Forest fires in Yakutia have been spreading very quickly. Sakhalin’s institute for marine life research published a report on radioactive pollution of waters around the Kurils. Learn more in weekly report by FederalPress.
p { margin-bottom: 0.21cm; }strong { font-weight: bold; }Local military division got on youtube due an accusatory clip by an ex-officer. Khabarovsk authorities started actions to build a dam on Ussuriisky Island, which Russia shares with China. Forest fires in Yakutia have been spreading very quickly. Sakhalin’s institute for marine life research published a report on radioactive pollution of waters around the Kurils. Learn more in weekly report by FederalPress.
Dog’s life in the army
Former major of the army Igor Matveev published a video clip on youtube accusing neighboring army division of various violations. Particularly, ex-major mentioned dog food in cans with stickers saying it was beef stew. He also said there were 18 citizens of China illegally living on the division’s premises and breaking fire safety rules.
The clip produced a local sensation. Regional commanders of the army at first partly confirmed the facts mentioned but referring the disclosure to other officials. Later during the week, the clip was deleted from public access and replaced by another clip this time accusing Igor Matveev. The military division in question was taking care of 15 specially trained dogs and needed dog food for them, so there is no surprise they actually had dog food cans.
Borderline territory
After serious critique of the Plenipotentiary in the Far East, Khabarovsk regional authorities started active works on the Big Ussuriisky Island on the Amur River. Russia and China share the island together since 2008, national border lies across the island. Regional minister of industry and transport Vladimir Bychenko personally visited the Russian part of the island to launch the works to protect river banks. The dam will be finished in September this year.
The project requires many millions of rubles, of which only 17 percent is available. The rest of the amount is expected to arrive from the federal budget, but the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia and Ministry of Finances have not made any decision yet.
Sea port traded
”Vanino Commercial Sea Port” JSC previously owned by the Russian Federal Agency for Property Management was privatized. 55 percent of shares were sold at an auction gathering 15 participants including structures controlled by Oleg Deripaska, Suleiman Kerimov and others.
Controlling stack of shares rose in price by 11.6 times during the auction finally making 10.8 billion rubles. Unknown company from Moscow, Seltekhstroi, became the winner. Mass media announced that the company’s beneficiary was Oleg Mitvol, notorious ex-head of one of Moscow’s districts. However, in fact the company’s only founder currently is Ivan Mikoyan, grandson of Anastas Mikoyan, famous people’s commissar Soviet times.
Forest fires in Yakutia
Yakutia had serious troubles with fire fighting last week. EMERCOM recognized it one of the most endangered territories in the country. The square of forest fires grew from 29 to 60 thousand hectares in three days. Forestry agency accused local authorities of intentional concealing of the real figures when satellites shots showed a much larger territory. Yakutia’s government, in its turn, referred to the inaccuracy of the satellite fire spotting technology and to the shortage of human resources.
Spring came early to the region bringing dry weather and strong winds, which caused fast spread of fire, government’s public relations person Afanasy Egorov commented.
Radioactive checks
Scientific Research Institute for Fishery and Oceanography of Sakhalin (SakhNIRO) published report on the radioactive pollution of the area caused by Fukushima nuclear power plant accident.
According to SakhNIRO’s prognosis, significant quantities of radioactive isotopes were marked in the air around Honshu and Hokkaido islands as well as the south Kurils. Scientists say there is a chance of radioactive fallout at the disputable Kuril Islands and further settling down radionuclides in the fish tissue. South Kurils might also suffer from the polluted waters of Kuroshio Current meanders.
Sea bio resources of Sakhalin itself and at the north of the Kurils are not likely to be in any danger. Fish living around South Kurils is being checked for radiation monthly. Migrating fish like Alaska Pollack, Pacific Saury and squid need to be checked even more often, because they can also bring radiation.