Civil war in Ukraine: News & discussion
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Hindustani78
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Russian tanks arrive by rail at Ukraine border days after rocket launchers | Daily Mail Online
Nine tanks arrived in southern Russian town of Matveev Kurgan on Monday
Published: 23:38 GMT, 26 May 2015 | Updated: 06:57 GMT, 27 May 2015
A freight train pictured carrying a convoy tanks towards the Ukrainian border looks to escalate tensions between the two sides even further.
The nine tanks arrived in the southern town of Matveev Kurgan on Monday, before being driven along the streets on Tuesday.
The picture, taken on a mobile phone, comes just days after a huge convoy, including rocket launchers, military trucks without licence plates and armoured personnel carriers, was photographed driving along a road near the town.
Scroll down for video
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Spotted: The mobile phone pictures show the tanks on a freight train shortly after they arrived
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Conflict: Locals in Matveev Kugan look at the tanks after they stopped at the train station
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Normalised: The convoy's arrival seems to illicit little response from a family walking alongside
The arrival of the convoys will no doubt be seen as more aggression from the Russians towards their neighbours, who have been arming Ukraine's separatist rebels for months.
Matveev Kurgan is just 17 miles from the border, and just 72 miles from Donetsk, where some of the heaviest fighting of the 15-month conflict has taken place.
It holds a checkpoint between the two countries, but had to be evacuated temporarily in August last year when fighting got too near to the border, according to Russian news agency
Nine tanks arrived in southern Russian town of Matveev Kurgan on Monday
- Mobile phone snaps show them arriving on the back of a freight train
- Town is just 17 miles from Ukrainian border, where battles continue
Published: 23:38 GMT, 26 May 2015 | Updated: 06:57 GMT, 27 May 2015
A freight train pictured carrying a convoy tanks towards the Ukrainian border looks to escalate tensions between the two sides even further.
The nine tanks arrived in the southern town of Matveev Kurgan on Monday, before being driven along the streets on Tuesday.
The picture, taken on a mobile phone, comes just days after a huge convoy, including rocket launchers, military trucks without licence plates and armoured personnel carriers, was photographed driving along a road near the town.
Scroll down for video
+6
Spotted: The mobile phone pictures show the tanks on a freight train shortly after they arrived
+6
Conflict: Locals in Matveev Kugan look at the tanks after they stopped at the train station
+6
Normalised: The convoy's arrival seems to illicit little response from a family walking alongside
The arrival of the convoys will no doubt be seen as more aggression from the Russians towards their neighbours, who have been arming Ukraine's separatist rebels for months.
Matveev Kurgan is just 17 miles from the border, and just 72 miles from Donetsk, where some of the heaviest fighting of the 15-month conflict has taken place.
It holds a checkpoint between the two countries, but had to be evacuated temporarily in August last year when fighting got too near to the border, according to Russian news agency
Hindustani78
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Mobile dentist’s room for servicemen on the frontline | Міністерство оборони України
Wednesday, May 27. DONBAS — On May 26, Head of Donetsk Regional Military Civil Administration Oleksandr Kikhtenko and Deputy Chief of the ‘anti-terror’ operation Col. Serhiy Halushko visited fortification facilities between Artemivsk and Horlivka. They inspected the progress works of construction of fortifications. Such installations are equipped in the all strategic directions in the east of Ukraine.
Oleksandr Kikhtenko met with soldiers and officers and awarded them with certificates as well.
Head of Donetsk Regional Military Civil Administration handed over a mobile dentist’s room equipped with maxillofacial surgery equipment. This vehicle was bought due to the Memorandum signed by region high officials, military and volunteer organizations.
According to Oleksandr Kikhtenko, Health Care Department of the Regional State Administration will provide this vehicle with needed supplies.
This dentist’s room can operate several days and receive upto 30 patients.
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Militants shell positions of ATO forces using anti-tank guided missiles overnight| Ukrinform
KYIV, May 27 /Ukrinform/. Russian-backed militants in Donbas have continued to attack Ukrainian army positions in all areas of the front line from 18:00 on May 26 to 06:00 on May 27.
This is reported by the press center for the anti-terrorist operation.
In the direction of Donetsk the militants fired mortars on the village of Pisky, and fired rocket-propelled grenades, heavy machine guns and small arms on the village of Maryinka.
At the same time, in the area of Artemivsk, the militants fired anti-tank guided missiles, mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and small arms on the villages of Kirove, Leninske, Zolote, Bohuslavske, and Lozove. They also fired self-propelled artillery for almost an hour on the town of Popasna. A military clash took place between the villages of Leninske and Nelypivka at around midnight.
In the direction of Luhansk the militants fired tank shells, rockets and mortars on the town of Schastia. In addition to the above-mentioned weapons, the militants fired from infantry fighting vehicles, and used anti-aircraft guns and small arms on the villages of Stanytsia Luhanska, Krymske, and Sokolnyky.
In the direction of Mariupol the militants fired self-propelled guns, rocket-propelled grenades and mortars on the village of Shyrokyne. They also fired small arms on the village of Pavlopil. It was rather quiet in the direction of Mariupol after midnight.
During this period, the Ukrainian army observed reconnaissance overflights by enemy drones in the area of Mariupol, and in the areas of Donetskiy-Krymske, Triokhizbenka-Stariy Aidar, and Melova Hora-Shastya.
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The map reflecting the situation in Donbas as of 12.00 on May 27 has been released by the information and analytical center of the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council.
Members of Dzhokhar Dudaev Battalion stand in front of their base in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.
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Three killed, four wounded after militants shell Horlivka
27.05.2015
Militants of the terrorist organization 'Donetsk People's Republic' (DPR) shelled a residential area in the town of Horlivka, Donetsk region, overnight, killing three civilians killed and wounding four.
The prosecutor's office of Donetsk region has opened a criminal case under Article 258, Part 2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – a terrorist attack.
At around 19:00 on May 26, militants began a heavy artillery barrage on a residential area of Horlivka, the prosecutor's office has reported.
During the attack, a missile hit a house in the central district of the town killing three civilians, including an 11-year-old girl and her father. Four persons were wounded, including a ten-year-old boy and a newborn child.
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Wed May 27, 2015 6:15am EDT
One Ukrainian serviceman killed in eastern Ukraine: Kiev military| Reuters
One Ukrainian serviceman has been killed and eight other have been wounded in attacks by Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine despite a ceasefire, a Kiev military spokesman said on Wednesday.
Violence has fallen off significantly in Ukraine's east since a ceasefire was brokered in the Belarussian capital of Minsk in mid-February though government forces and separatists accuse one another of violations, with almost daily casualties.
Military spokesman Oleksander Motuzyanyk said at a briefing that separatists were keeping up regular attacks on government forces outside the rebel-controlled city of Donetsk and in the southeast near the strategic port city of Mariupol.
(Writing By Richard Balmforth; Editing by Toby Chopra)
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18+ Gorlovka - 26th May, Result of Ukrainian Shelling
They are Katya, aged eleven, died yesterday in a house in Gorlovka and his brother Zahar two seriously injured. Katya's father died. A shell destroyed a house
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Russia is feeling the hurt and wants to end the Ukraine debacle as soon as possible now.
Worst Not Over for Russia as Economy Shrinks 4.3% in April | Business | The Moscow Times
Exclusive: Russia masses heavy firepower on border with Ukraine - witness| Reuters
Worst Not Over for Russia as Economy Shrinks 4.3% in April | Business | The Moscow Times
Exclusive: Russia masses heavy firepower on border with Ukraine - witness| Reuters
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Poroshenko's Life Gets Sweeter While Ukraine Slides Into Economic Abyss
![1022653738[1].jpg](https://defence.pk/attachments/1022653738-1-jpg.225532/ "1022653738[1].jpg")
Petro Poroshenko's income increased sevenfold in the first year of his presidency while Ukraine's economy has been teetering on the brink of collapse as the country is ravaged by corruption, lack of reforms and a civil war.
According to public data, Poroshenko's 2013 income of 52 million hryvnia (approximately $6.3 million) skyrocketed to 369 million hryvnia (over $17 million) in twelve months. The income has largely come from selling securities, dividends, interest and real estate.
The Ukrainian president, dubbed the Chocolate King for owning a major sweets company, is estimated to be one of the wealthiest people in the country. His massive business empire also includes banking, agriculture, energy, auto and shipbuilding, as well as mass media.
The Roshen Confectionery Corporation is the crown jewel of Poroshenko's assets, which the politician promised to sell should he win the 2014 presidential election. The company is one of the largest confectionery corporations globally, with the Candy Industry Top 100 pacing it 18th three years ago.
Poroshenko secured 54.7 percent of the vote grabbing the victory in the first round held on May 25, 2014. One year on he still controls the majority of his assets, including Roshen. Hence, the impressive income.
Keep in mind that state officials are prohibited from owning a business under Ukraine's constitution.
Earlier this year, the Ukrainian president complained that it was hard to find buyers for Roshen, whose market value is estimated at $1.5 billion. Poroshenko wants $3 billion for the company, which one of the world's largest confectionery companies, Nestle, is ready to buy for no more than $1 billion.
Meanwhile, Roshen continues to thrive unlike the ever fragile national economy. In 2014, Roshen's profits increased nine-fold, while Ukrainia's GDP fell 15 percent, not to mention the $42.5 billion debt the country has to pay.
The hryvnia lost half of its value against the US dollar in the same time frame, which could partially account for the significant bump in Poroshenko's income if his accounts were in foreign currency. Forbes put Ukraine's president net worth at $1.3 billion.
Poroshenko's Life Gets Sweeter While Ukraine Slides Into Economic Abyss / Sputnik International
Petro Poroshenko's income increased sevenfold in the first year of his presidency while Ukraine's economy has been teetering on the brink of collapse as the country is ravaged by corruption, lack of reforms and a civil war.
According to public data, Poroshenko's 2013 income of 52 million hryvnia (approximately $6.3 million) skyrocketed to 369 million hryvnia (over $17 million) in twelve months. The income has largely come from selling securities, dividends, interest and real estate.
The Ukrainian president, dubbed the Chocolate King for owning a major sweets company, is estimated to be one of the wealthiest people in the country. His massive business empire also includes banking, agriculture, energy, auto and shipbuilding, as well as mass media.
The Roshen Confectionery Corporation is the crown jewel of Poroshenko's assets, which the politician promised to sell should he win the 2014 presidential election. The company is one of the largest confectionery corporations globally, with the Candy Industry Top 100 pacing it 18th three years ago.
Poroshenko secured 54.7 percent of the vote grabbing the victory in the first round held on May 25, 2014. One year on he still controls the majority of his assets, including Roshen. Hence, the impressive income.
Keep in mind that state officials are prohibited from owning a business under Ukraine's constitution.
Earlier this year, the Ukrainian president complained that it was hard to find buyers for Roshen, whose market value is estimated at $1.5 billion. Poroshenko wants $3 billion for the company, which one of the world's largest confectionery companies, Nestle, is ready to buy for no more than $1 billion.
Meanwhile, Roshen continues to thrive unlike the ever fragile national economy. In 2014, Roshen's profits increased nine-fold, while Ukrainia's GDP fell 15 percent, not to mention the $42.5 billion debt the country has to pay.
The hryvnia lost half of its value against the US dollar in the same time frame, which could partially account for the significant bump in Poroshenko's income if his accounts were in foreign currency. Forbes put Ukraine's president net worth at $1.3 billion.
Poroshenko's Life Gets Sweeter While Ukraine Slides Into Economic Abyss / Sputnik International
Hindustani78
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Ukrainian troops repel bandits’ attacks in Donetsk and Artemivsk directions | Міністерство оборони України
Thursday, May 28. DONBAS – The press centre of the ‘anti-terror’ operation (ATO) HQ reports, the illegal armed formations still shell the Ukrainian positions. Terrorists concentrated their attacks in Donetsk direction and shelled Pisky, Taramchuk, Berezove, and Mariynka. They used grenade launchers against Opytne, Novotroitske and Butovka mine; heavy machineguns against Avdiyvka.
A fighting was near Berezove where terrorists used Grad multiple rocket launcher.
In Luhansk direction, the illegal armed formations shelled Orikhove, Zhovte, Shchastya, Triokhizbenka, Bolotyane with mortars, grenade launchers, heavy machineguns, and small arms.
In Artemivsk direction: militants attacked Lozove, Troitske, and Novozvanivka. A fighting near Nelypivka ended in the enemy’s failure.
In Mariupol direction: Russian-backed terrorists shelled Shyrokyne with 120 mm mortars, Mykolayvka with 82 mm weapons.
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NY Times: 7 people killed in new Ukraine unrest - read on - uatoday.tv
There are civilians, Ukrainian army soldiers and militants among the dead
Ukrainian government and rebel officials say seven people have been killed over the last day of fighting between armed forces and separatists.
The regional government of Luhansk, which is loyal to Kyiv, said Wednesday that one civilian and one soldier were killed in mortar and grenade attacks.
Rebels say three civilians were killed in the city of Horlivka, which is under their control. Separatist emergency workers said a man and child died after their home was struck by shells. A woman and two children were pulled alive from the rubble.
Separatists say two fighters were also killed in fighting.
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Militia are ready to hand bodies of five military personnel over to Ukraine on Thursday - Interfax
DONETSK. May 28 (Interfax) - The self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) intends to hand over the bodies of five Ukrainian military personnel from Donetsk airport and the populated area of Sanzharovka to Ukraine on Thursday.
"The bodies of three Ukrainian military [personnel] from Donetsk airport and two military [personnel] killed in the populated area of Sanzharovka will be handed over to Ukraine today," Lilia Radionova, an official with the DPR committee on POWs, told reporters.
Thursday, May 28. DONBAS – The press centre of the ‘anti-terror’ operation (ATO) HQ reports, the illegal armed formations still shell the Ukrainian positions. Terrorists concentrated their attacks in Donetsk direction and shelled Pisky, Taramchuk, Berezove, and Mariynka. They used grenade launchers against Opytne, Novotroitske and Butovka mine; heavy machineguns against Avdiyvka.
A fighting was near Berezove where terrorists used Grad multiple rocket launcher.
In Luhansk direction, the illegal armed formations shelled Orikhove, Zhovte, Shchastya, Triokhizbenka, Bolotyane with mortars, grenade launchers, heavy machineguns, and small arms.
In Artemivsk direction: militants attacked Lozove, Troitske, and Novozvanivka. A fighting near Nelypivka ended in the enemy’s failure.
In Mariupol direction: Russian-backed terrorists shelled Shyrokyne with 120 mm mortars, Mykolayvka with 82 mm weapons.
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NY Times: 7 people killed in new Ukraine unrest - read on - uatoday.tv
There are civilians, Ukrainian army soldiers and militants among the dead
Ukrainian government and rebel officials say seven people have been killed over the last day of fighting between armed forces and separatists.
The regional government of Luhansk, which is loyal to Kyiv, said Wednesday that one civilian and one soldier were killed in mortar and grenade attacks.
Rebels say three civilians were killed in the city of Horlivka, which is under their control. Separatist emergency workers said a man and child died after their home was struck by shells. A woman and two children were pulled alive from the rubble.
Separatists say two fighters were also killed in fighting.
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Militia are ready to hand bodies of five military personnel over to Ukraine on Thursday - Interfax
DONETSK. May 28 (Interfax) - The self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) intends to hand over the bodies of five Ukrainian military personnel from Donetsk airport and the populated area of Sanzharovka to Ukraine on Thursday.
"The bodies of three Ukrainian military [personnel] from Donetsk airport and two military [personnel] killed in the populated area of Sanzharovka will be handed over to Ukraine today," Lilia Radionova, an official with the DPR committee on POWs, told reporters.
Hindustani78
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Terrorists shell Ukrainian positions in Donbas in all directions| Ukrinform
KYIV, May 29 /Ukrinform/. The terrorists have continued to shell positions of Ukrainian troops in eastern Ukraine in all directions.
This is reported by the press center for the anti-terrorist operation.
On Thursday, starting from 18:00, gunmen shelled the village of Shyrokyne using mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and small arms. After 20:00 there was no fining in the Mariupol sector.
In the Donetsk sector invaders fired 120mm mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machine guns at the villages of Pisky, Opytne and the town of Maryinka. Terrorists also used small arms.
In the Luhansk sector the enemy shelled the villages of Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote, Triokhizbenka and the town of Shastia using mainly grenade launchers.
In the Artemivsk sector militants fired grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms at the village of Kirove. After midnight there was no fining in the Artemivsk sector.
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About 50,000 Ukrainian military defend Donbas - Poroshenko| Ukrinform
KYIV, May 29 /Ukrinform/. The number of Ukrainian soldiers performing combat missions in the ATO area is currently about 50,000.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said this in interview to Ukrainian TV channels, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.
"Nowadays there are about 50,000 servicemen in the ATO zone alone. These are totally different soldiers and officers, they have combat experience and understanding of why they came there," Poroshenko said.
The President noted that last year there were between 3,000 to 5,000 soldiers ready for combat missions. "Simultaneously, there were from 17,000 to 23,000 soldiers in Donbas, who, of course, could not repel all attacks in the most dangerous directions," he said.
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An Azov Regiment soldier is seen along with the pictures of his killed comrades at the battalion’s base in Mariupol on May 25.
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Men detained in Luhansk region not Russian servicemen - Russian consul
29.05.2015
Konstantin Kravchuk, a lawyer for Russian citizen Alexander Alexandrov detained in Ukraine's Luhansk region, has articulated the stance of Russian Embassy consul Alexei Gruby, who said that Alexandrov and another detained Russian man, Yevgeny Yerofeyev, are 'mercenaries and 'policemen of the LPR', the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic.
"Such a position taken by Russia was announced by consul Alexei Gruby at a meeting with the Russians' lawyers - Konstantin Kravchuk and Oksana Sokolovskaya," the news service of the 1+1 TSN television station reported on Friday.
Kravchuk told TSN that he had met with the Russian consul on May 28.
"According to Gruby, Russia's official position today is that these servicemen, whose contract [with the Russian Armed Forces] expired in December 2014, are mercenaries and have nothing to do with the army," Kravchuk said, according to the TSN report.
"Gruby also confirmed that he would visit Alexandrov and Yerofeyev at the hospital and would try to get in touch with their families. The consul also promised to do everything possible to help their relatives come to Kyiv," it said.
Two Russian men were held near the town of Shchastya in the Donbas conflict area on May 16. The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) claims they are officers of the Russian Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU). One of them was injured in the arm, the other in the leg.
On May 19, Ukrainian investigators charged Captain Yerofeyev and Sergeant Alexander Alexandrov with crimes stipulated in Article 258 3 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code (participation in terrorist activities).
On May 18, the Russian Defense Ministry said that Alexandrov and Yerofeyev, who were captured in Luhansk region, "were not active members of the Russian Armed Forces at the time of their arrest on May 17."
On May 22, Kyiv's Shevchenko District Court ordered that both men be remanded into custody until July 19, inclusively.
At present, the men are being held at the Main Clinic Hospital of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry in Kyiv. They have undergone several surgeries.
Reuters / Wednesday, May 27, 2015
People surround a coffin with the body of Aleksey Mozgovoi, a militant leader of the separatist self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic, during a memorial service and a funeral of Mozgovoi and his subordinates in the town of Alchevsk in Luhansk region, Ukraine, May 27, 2015. Mozgovoi, a top rebel commander in east Ukraine, was killed along with around six others in an attack by an unknown group of assailants
KYIV, May 29 /Ukrinform/. The terrorists have continued to shell positions of Ukrainian troops in eastern Ukraine in all directions.
This is reported by the press center for the anti-terrorist operation.
On Thursday, starting from 18:00, gunmen shelled the village of Shyrokyne using mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and small arms. After 20:00 there was no fining in the Mariupol sector.
In the Donetsk sector invaders fired 120mm mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machine guns at the villages of Pisky, Opytne and the town of Maryinka. Terrorists also used small arms.
In the Luhansk sector the enemy shelled the villages of Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote, Triokhizbenka and the town of Shastia using mainly grenade launchers.
In the Artemivsk sector militants fired grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms at the village of Kirove. After midnight there was no fining in the Artemivsk sector.
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About 50,000 Ukrainian military defend Donbas - Poroshenko| Ukrinform
KYIV, May 29 /Ukrinform/. The number of Ukrainian soldiers performing combat missions in the ATO area is currently about 50,000.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said this in interview to Ukrainian TV channels, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.
"Nowadays there are about 50,000 servicemen in the ATO zone alone. These are totally different soldiers and officers, they have combat experience and understanding of why they came there," Poroshenko said.
The President noted that last year there were between 3,000 to 5,000 soldiers ready for combat missions. "Simultaneously, there were from 17,000 to 23,000 soldiers in Donbas, who, of course, could not repel all attacks in the most dangerous directions," he said.
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An Azov Regiment soldier is seen along with the pictures of his killed comrades at the battalion’s base in Mariupol on May 25.
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Men detained in Luhansk region not Russian servicemen - Russian consul
29.05.2015
Konstantin Kravchuk, a lawyer for Russian citizen Alexander Alexandrov detained in Ukraine's Luhansk region, has articulated the stance of Russian Embassy consul Alexei Gruby, who said that Alexandrov and another detained Russian man, Yevgeny Yerofeyev, are 'mercenaries and 'policemen of the LPR', the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic.
"Such a position taken by Russia was announced by consul Alexei Gruby at a meeting with the Russians' lawyers - Konstantin Kravchuk and Oksana Sokolovskaya," the news service of the 1+1 TSN television station reported on Friday.
Kravchuk told TSN that he had met with the Russian consul on May 28.
"According to Gruby, Russia's official position today is that these servicemen, whose contract [with the Russian Armed Forces] expired in December 2014, are mercenaries and have nothing to do with the army," Kravchuk said, according to the TSN report.
"Gruby also confirmed that he would visit Alexandrov and Yerofeyev at the hospital and would try to get in touch with their families. The consul also promised to do everything possible to help their relatives come to Kyiv," it said.
Two Russian men were held near the town of Shchastya in the Donbas conflict area on May 16. The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) claims they are officers of the Russian Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU). One of them was injured in the arm, the other in the leg.
On May 19, Ukrainian investigators charged Captain Yerofeyev and Sergeant Alexander Alexandrov with crimes stipulated in Article 258 3 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code (participation in terrorist activities).
On May 18, the Russian Defense Ministry said that Alexandrov and Yerofeyev, who were captured in Luhansk region, "were not active members of the Russian Armed Forces at the time of their arrest on May 17."
On May 22, Kyiv's Shevchenko District Court ordered that both men be remanded into custody until July 19, inclusively.
At present, the men are being held at the Main Clinic Hospital of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry in Kyiv. They have undergone several surgeries.
Reuters / Wednesday, May 27, 2015
People surround a coffin with the body of Aleksey Mozgovoi, a militant leader of the separatist self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic, during a memorial service and a funeral of Mozgovoi and his subordinates in the town of Alchevsk in Luhansk region, Ukraine, May 27, 2015. Mozgovoi, a top rebel commander in east Ukraine, was killed along with around six others in an attack by an unknown group of assailants
Hindustani78
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Special Report: Russian fighters, caught in Ukraine, cast adrift by Moscow| Reuters
Fri May 29, 2015 7:22am EDT
From his hospital bed in the Ukrainian capital, Russian fighter Alexander Alexandrov feels abandoned by his country, its leaders and even the local Russian consul.
Alexandrov, 28, says he's a Russian soldier who was captured in east Ukraine after being sent there on active duty with Russian special forces to help separatists fighting Kiev. He said he was serving on a three-year contract. "I never tore it up, I wrote no resignation request," he said. "I was carrying out my orders."
Yet Russian President Vladimir Putin, in the face of widespread evidence to the contrary, has repeatedly said there are no Russian soldiers in Ukraine – only volunteers who have gone to help the separatists of their own accord.
So Alexandrov and Yevgeny Yerofeyev, another Russian who was captured with him, find themselves pawns in the deepest confrontation between Moscow and the West since the Cold War.
They believe they should be treated as captured servicemen. But Moscow will not admit they are any such thing, or that it has sent any soldiers into Ukraine to help wrest swathes of east away from Kiev's control. To do so would undermine Moscow's claims that the separatist uprising there is a spontaneous reaction by Russian-speaking communities against Kiev.
The Kremlin has described the two men as Russian citizens, and Russia's defense ministry has said they are former soldiers who left the military before they were captured.
Disowned at home, the two men stand accused by Ukrainian authorities of being terrorists.
Fri May 29, 2015 7:22am EDT
From his hospital bed in the Ukrainian capital, Russian fighter Alexander Alexandrov feels abandoned by his country, its leaders and even the local Russian consul.
Alexandrov, 28, says he's a Russian soldier who was captured in east Ukraine after being sent there on active duty with Russian special forces to help separatists fighting Kiev. He said he was serving on a three-year contract. "I never tore it up, I wrote no resignation request," he said. "I was carrying out my orders."
Yet Russian President Vladimir Putin, in the face of widespread evidence to the contrary, has repeatedly said there are no Russian soldiers in Ukraine – only volunteers who have gone to help the separatists of their own accord.
So Alexandrov and Yevgeny Yerofeyev, another Russian who was captured with him, find themselves pawns in the deepest confrontation between Moscow and the West since the Cold War.
They believe they should be treated as captured servicemen. But Moscow will not admit they are any such thing, or that it has sent any soldiers into Ukraine to help wrest swathes of east away from Kiev's control. To do so would undermine Moscow's claims that the separatist uprising there is a spontaneous reaction by Russian-speaking communities against Kiev.
The Kremlin has described the two men as Russian citizens, and Russia's defense ministry has said they are former soldiers who left the military before they were captured.
Disowned at home, the two men stand accused by Ukrainian authorities of being terrorists.
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