30.06.2016 - 5:21

German journalists notorious for his russophobic articles persuades the Swedes they’ve been attacked by Russian submarine. Why?

In June 2016 influential German edition ‘Die Welt’ published the article titled “Russian submarines challenge NATO in Atlantics”.

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Its author Daniel-Dylan Bohmer whose everyday task is spreading anti-Russian stance (which is extremely profitable for many Western journalists now) is trying to persuade his readers that Russia, in defiance of common sense, provokes the United States and their NATO allies trying to transfer cold relationships into overt armed confrontation.

Bohmer’s "legacy"

Before we analyse the aforementoned article let’s have a closer look at his pevious articles.

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It’s not the first time Bohmer touches the topic connected with Russia, directly or indirectly. In particular he recently published articles titled: «Russian Submarine in La Manche: Putin’s double strategy of provocations» (June 2016) и «Containment of Russia should become normal — Estonian prime-minister».

Bohmer’s “love” to Russia has long traditions: for example back in February 2012 he wrote an overview: «Syrian rsolution: Russia’s egoistic game costs human lives».

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What does German journalist know about Russian submarines?

Bohmer claims that «Moscowincreased its underwater activity by 50 percent», giving no further explanations what exactly does it mean: whether submarines number rose by 50 percent or total underwater time of the submarines personnel was increased by half. Or may be it’s just author’s personal estimation towards Russian navy: meaning that they were inobservable and passive before and now they’ve sjown themselves at work at last.

As an evidence of his claims the author published photo of Russian submarine “Stariy Oskol” which was allegedly intercepted by one of the British Royal Navy ships:

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Well the best description of the whole story with “Stariy Oskol” is this commentary from Russian MoD spokesman:

«Diesel-electric submarine “Stariy Oskol” performs pscheduled interfleet passage to its base in Black Sea fleet after test operations fulfilment in Baltic and Nothern fleets.

The vessel is cruising up-top accompanied by dozer “Altay”.

Russian MoD is surprised that it has taken joint efforts of British Royal Navy and NATO allies to detect a submarine at a slow speed and up-top accompanied by a dozer», — Russian MoD officiila message reads.

So “Stariy Oskol” “detection” doesn’t look like revelation Moscow’s world supremacy plans.

Then Bohmer refers to opinion of an “expert” in Eurasian security, Director of Conflict Research Centre at London «Chatham House» Institute Keir Jiles. Mr. Jiles said that «what we see today has laready happened before, in Cold War era — but the Russians adhered the international rules then more than today and their actions were less risky».

But Jiles’ opinion can hardly be called objective as he is one of the auhors of te famous “analytic report” with a screaming title “Russian challenge” published by the aforementioned institute June 4, 2015. This report according to Russian MP Vasiiy Likhachev was aimed at “desinformation of Western authorities and repell them from cooperation with Russia”.

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Then report authors concluded that it was inefficient to build bilateral coperation with Russian side in political and diplomatic field and suggested a range of more constructive measures from their point of view. Among these measures were extensive support of Moscow’s opponents on post-Soviet field, search of new opportunities for influencing Russia’s population and preparation for “inevitable change of Russian political regime».

His claims concerning «Russia’s navy underwater activity» Bohmer illustrates with examples which are hardly persuasive.

For example he tells how «June 9 (2016 года) Sweden’s military had to stop military training in the end of April due to underwater activity of unidentified state in the training area».

It is niteworthy that Sweden officials were careful in wording then: they did not claim that some submarine approached their territory (not to speak of its identity). Swedish MoD spokesman Jesper Tengort told that the aea was combed by divers but found no evidence of any submarine.

But even official announcements of the Swedes did not hinder German journalist to attach an enigaic submarine to the Russian navy.

Developing his thought on Russian aggression Bohmer is aware that he has quite a few evidences as for enigmatic submarine and “unfriendly activity” so he passes onto the next topic, claiming that «a vawe of Russian provocations in the world is strongly connected to “a wave of of Russian provocations in the world».

Here he provides an example of “antisubmarine aircraft Tu-142М37 over Syria” on June 7th .

Where and when did Tu-142 fly?

We should mention that antisubmarine aircraft Tu-142М3 really appeared in the sky of Syrian Idlib province but it happened two days ago on 5th June. Its flight over Syria should not really be associated with some provocations towards Western countries.

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