Civil war in Ukraine: News & discussion

[Hindustani78]

Memorial to Heavenly Hundred Heroes in Donbas

https://www.unian.info/war/2169149-donbas-militants-again-use-grads-1-wia-in-last-day.html

Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 22 times in the past 24 hours, with one Ukrainian soldier reported as wounded in action (WIA), according to the press service of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.

In the Mariupol sector, the enemy was firing a 122mm Grad-P portable rocket launcher, rocket-propelled grenade launchers and a heavy machine gun on the Ukrainian positions near the village of Shyrokyne for one hour in the afternoon.

Later, the militants used an 82mm mortar there. Furthermore, starting from 18:00 Kyiv time, the enemy was firing a Grad MLR system on the Ukrainian fortified positions near the village of Talakivka, having launched 38 rockets. Militants also used 120mm mortars twice firing on the residential sector of the village of Vodiane.

In the Donetsk sector, the Ukrainian fortified positions near the town of Avdiyivka and the village of Nevelske came under fire from grenade launchers and heavy machine guns twice. The invaders shelled the Ukrainian positions near Butivka coal mine, and the villages of Zaitseve and Maiorsk.

In the Luhansk sector, the Ukrainian positions near the village of Triokhizbenka were attacked four times with the use of a grenade launcher and small arms. The Ukrainian military had to fire back, but one Ukrainian soldier was wounded.

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10:20, 05 October 2017

https://www.unian.info/war/2171154-ukraine-reports-2-wias-amid-19-enemy-attacks-in-last-day.html

Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 19 times in the past 24 hours, with two Ukrainian soldiers reported as wounded in action (WIA), according to the press service of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.

In the Donetsk sector, the enemy fired grenade launchers and small arms twice on the Ukrainian positions near the town of Avdiyivka. The occupiers used the same types of weapons near the village of Nevelske. At about 20:00 Kyiv time, one Ukrainian soldier was wounded in a grenade shelling near the village of Novoselivka Druha.

In the Luhansk sector, Russian occupation forces opened fire from 82mm mortars twice on the Ukrainian positions near the village of Krymske, where they also used grenade launchers and heavy machine guns.

A skirmish was reported near the town of Krasnohorivka in the Mariupol sector, resulting in one Ukrainian soldier suffering a shrapnel wound.

In addition, the Ukrainian fortified positions near the village of Vodiane came under enemy fire from heavy machine guns and small arms in the evening.

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05 October 2017

The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine has reported 26 tanks were spotted in the Russian-occupied areas outside the city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine.

https://www.unian.info/war/2173139-...n-russian-occupied-areas-outside-donetsk.html

"Beyond the withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites in non-government-controlled areas an SMM mini UAV spotted one stationary self-propelled mortar (2S9 Nona-S, 120mm) and 11 tanks (T-64B) in an area west of Manuilivka (65km east of Donetsk) and 15 tanks (T-64B) south-east of Ternove (57km east of Donetsk)," the OSCE SMM said in an update on October 5 based on information received as of 19:30 local time on October 4, 2017.

What is more, in violation of the respective withdrawal lines in non-government-controlled areas, an SMM mini unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted three self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) south-east of Ternove on October 3.

The SMM said its personnel observed fewer weapons at this location on October 3 compared with the last observation on September 20.

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Chief of the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces Gen. Viktor Muzhenko doubts that Ukrainian society is ready for a forceful solution to the Donbas issue, Ukrainska Pravda reports.

https://www.unian.info/war/2173319-...casualties-in-10-days-chief-of-gen-staff.html

At the same time, he added that during the exercises, special techniques are used to estimate losses. According to the chief of the General Staff, in a ten-day operation, also employing the air force, Ukraine could see casualties of some 10,000-12,000 troops, of whom 3,000 would be killed in action.

Talking about possible civilian casualties, the official has noted that the estimates put 10,000 civilian victims per 2,300 troops killed in action.

At the same time, Muzhenko said that according to the calculations made during the drills and taking into account possible forces on both the Ukrainian and Russian sides, the Ukrainian army is resilient enough to react adequately to a possible incursion not only in the east of Ukraine but also along the entire section of border with Russia.

Speaking about the possibility of introducing a peacekeeping mission to Ukraine, he recalled that it is practically impossible to implement the idea via the UN Security Council because Russia would definitely veto the move.


Russia, the official said, would not agree to the NATO mandate, while Ukraine will defy the CSTO mandate. At the same time, according to Muzhenko, both the U.S. and Canada are ready to deploy their peacekeeping contingent to Ukraine, but it is not clear whether Russia ever agrees to this. According to his estimates, the peacekeeping force could amount to several thousand troops.


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06 October 2017

https://www.unian.info/war/2173409-...4-times-in-last-day-employ-heavy-weapons.html

Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 24 times over the past 24 hours, according to the press service of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.


Just as in the previous several days, the enemy was most active in the Donetsk sector. In the evening hours and overnight, militants fired heavy machine guns and grenade launchers twice on the Ukrainian positions near the town of Avdiyivka, and the villages of Maiorsk and Opytne. The occupiers also used the same types of weapons near Butivka coal mine. Furthermore, they opened fire from infantry fighting vehicles near the village of Zaitseve.

In the Luhansk sector, the Russian occupation forces fired 82mm mortars twice on the defenders of the village of Lobacheve. The Ukrainian fortified positions near the villages of Stanytsia Luhanska, Valuiske and Krymske came under fire from anti-tank grenade launchers and small arms.

In the Mariupol sector, the Ukrainian positions near the villages of Shyrokyne, Pavlopil and Vodiane were attacked with grenade launchers and heavy machine guns. In addition to this weapon, the enemy also used infantry fighting vehicles near the village of Berezove.
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07 October 2017

https://www.unian.info/war/2175629-ukraine-reports-1-wia-amid-nine-enemy-attacks-in-last-day.html

Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas nine times in the past 24 hours, with one Ukrainian soldier reported as wounded in action (WIA), according to the press service of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.


The enemy reduced activity at the end of the past day. "After 18:00 Kyiv time, the militants did not use mortars and other heavy weapons, and the fire confrontation of our troops with the occupiers took place only near several settlements," the headquarters said.

In the evening, the Russian occupation forces were firing automatic grenade launchers and heavy machine guns for several hours on the Ukrainian positions near the town of Avdiyivka.

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07 October 2017

https://www.unian.info/war/2175719-ukraine-border-guards-69-officers-killed-since-ato.html

First Deputy Chairman of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine Vasyl Servatiuk has said that 69 border guards were killed since the beginning of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) in the east of Ukraine, according to the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.


The war took the lives of 69 border guards, 428 border guards were wounded, resulting in 35 border guards lost or partially lost their working capacity. Another five servicemen have gone missing," Servatiuk said on Friday during a meeting with the border guards who were injured while performing tasks in the ATO zone.

He also awarded 30 border guards with the Order of the President of Ukraine "For participation in the Anti-Terrorist Operation."

Servatiuk also said that 250 border guards had been awarded since 2014.


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08 October 2017

https://www.unian.info/war/2176546-...n-donbas-one-wounded-solider-in-last-day.html

Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian troops in the Anti-Terrorist Operation zone 19 times in the past day, October 7, as a result of which one Ukrainian soldier was wounded, according to the press center of the ATO Headquarters.


"The situation in the ATO zone escalated by the end of the day yesterday. If during daytime the number of enemy fire provocations was minimum, then the Russian occupation forces intensified attacks in all sectors after 18:00 local time," the ATO HQ said in an update on Sunday, October 8.

The Ukrainian troops had to fire back 11 times when there was a threat to their life, the ATO HQ wrote.


In the evening, militants had been shelling Ukrainian troops stationed on the southeastern outskirts of the town of Avdiyivka for several hours, using various types of grenade launchers, machine guns and small arms. The fortifications of Ukrainian troops near the villages of Mayorsk and Zaitseve also came under fire. One Ukrainian serviceman was wounded amid a grenade attack on areas near the village of Pisky at about 19:00 local time.

In the Mariupol sector, Russian-backed mercenaries used grenade launchers and large-caliber machine guns to shell Ukrainian positions outside the villages of Vodiane, Hnutove, and Starohnativka. At about 21:00 local time, they lobbed five 82mm mortar shells into areas close to the village of Talakivka. The number of provocations in the Luhansk sector, where the situation was relatively calm before, increased on October 7.

In particular, militants opened fire twice from different types of grenade launchers on Ukrainian strongholds near the village of Triokhizbenka in the evening. And about 23:00 local time, this village came under 82mm mortar fire. The enemy also mounted two attacks on areas near the village of Krymske at the end of the day.

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Ukrainian civil volunteer and activist Yuriy Mysyagin claims that an enemy reconnaissance group has been destroyed at the Svitlodarska Duha bulge in Donbas.

https://www.unian.info/war/2182146-...oup-destroyed-at-svitlodarska-duha-bulge.html

"Last night, our observers spotted an enemy subversive and reconnaissance group, consisting of three men, near one of our advanced positions," Mysyagin wrote on Facebook on Tuesday, October 10.

"It was not difficult for 'a certain third force' to eliminate the first of them, and after the other two were trying to evacuate the body of the deceased, the 'third force' killed them," he added.

Mysyagin said that the enemy removed the bodies at night and sent them to the morgue.

Russia's hybrid military forces systematically attempt to arrange provocations at the Svitlodarska Duha bulge, sources said.

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https://www.unian.info/war/2181721-ukraine-reports-15-enemy-attacks-4-wias-in-last-day.html

Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 15 times in the past 24 hours, as a result of which four Ukrainian soldiers were reported wounded in action (WIA), according to the press service of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.

From 16:00 and almost to 19:00 Kyiv time, the Ukrainian fortified positions near the village of Novo-Oleksandrivka were attacked four times, the enemy used various types of grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms. "Our military fired back from infantry weapons.

One Ukrainian soldier was wounded in that fighting at about 18:00 Kyiv time. In addition, the defenders of the village of Triokhizbenka came under enemy fire in the evening," the ATO HQ said.

In the Donetsk sector, the number of fire provocations somewhat decreased. At about 18:00 Kyiv time, another Ukrainian soldier was wounded in an attack on the Ukrainian positions by an infantry fighting vehicle near the village of Zaitseve. A heavy machine gun was also used. Moreover, the enemy used a machine gun near the village of Maiorsk at night.

In the Mariupol sector, two defenders of the village of Shyrokyne were wounded amid shelling of the Ukrainian fortified positions in the afternoon. In the evening, the occupiers opened fire from anti-tank grenade launchers and heavy machine guns near the villages of Starohnativka and Talakivka.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/454278.html
Ukrainian Security Service employees have detained two Ukrainian citizens planning a series of terrorist attacks against civilians, Security Service chief Vasyl Hrytsak said.

"The Security Service's main directorate for Donetsk and Luhansk regions has detained two citizens of Ukraine who were plotting a terrorist attack in Mariupol on orders from the 'DPR'," Hrytsak said at a news briefing in Kyiv.

The Security Service thus prevented a number of attacks, Hrytsak said. The first target was to be the Mariupol railway station, and passengers of a Mariupol-Kyiv train were to be its victims, he said.

 

[Hindustani78]

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http://www.mil.gov.ua/en/news/2017/...al-ukraine-(update)-as-of-morning-october-10/
About 900 troops and 81 vehicles assist Kalynivka explosions relief efforts. 38 EOD teams have already cleaned 15,101 ha of the depot technical area.

More than 150 tons of munitions were transported to other military units; as well 15 tons are ready to be transported.

Moreover, CIMICofficersconductoperationsto assistcivilianrespondersmitigatingpropertydamage.

People living in military town have come back to everyday life; social infrastructure is available as usual.

PA Office of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

 

[Hindustani78]

https://www.unian.info/war/2183851-...wia-amid-41-militant-attacks-in-last-day.html

Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 41 times in the past 24 hours, with one Ukrainian soldier reported as wounded in action (WIA), according to the press service of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.

War 10:40, 12 October 2017 178

"After 18:00 Kyiv time, the enemy used grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms twice against the Ukrainian fortified positions near the town of Avdiyivka, the village of Maiorsk, and Butivka coal mine. The Ukrainian defenders of the village of Pisky were attacked from machine guns and small arms four times. One Ukrainian soldier was wounded as a result of one of such attacks at about 18:00 Kyiv time. In addition, the Russian-backed occupiers used machine guns near the villages of Zaitseve and Nevelske at the end of the day," the report says.

In the Mariupol sector, the militants fired 82mm mortars and various types of grenade launchers on the Ukrainian fortified positions near the town of Maryinka, and the villages of Vodiane and Shyrokyne in the evening hours. Moreover, the enemy opened fire from infantry fighting vehicles twice near the village of Novotroyitske.

The situation also remained tense in the Luhansk sector. The invaders attacked the defenders of the village of Krymske twice with a tank, 82mm mortars, and anti-tank grenade launchers. Furthermore, the Ukrainian fortified positions near the village of Novo-Oleksandrivka came under enemy fire from infantry weapons twice overnight.

"In general, the illegal armed groups have violated the ceasefire 41 times over the past day. The ATO forces fired back 28 times, using the whole range of non-banned weapons. As a result of the hostilities, one Ukrainian soldier suffered a gun wound. He is at a military hospital at the moment. His condition is satisfactory. Enemy losses are being clarified," the ATO HQ said.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ukrainian volunteers' quadcopters for military reconnaissance

Ukraine de-miners on duty near Avdiyivka in Donbas

https://www.unian.info/war/2186056-ukraine-reports-1-wia-amid-22-militant-attacks-in-last-day.html

Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 22 times in the past 24 hours, with one Ukrainian soldier reported as wounded in action (WIA), according to the press service of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.


According to an update, the enemy continued to concentrate fire activity in the Donetsk sector, using mortars and all types of infantry weapons.

In the evening, the Russian occupation forces had been shelling the Ukrainian fortified positions near the Avdiyivka industrial zone for several hours, using grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms. At about 19:00 Kyiv time, the enemy launched six 82mm shells, aiming at the defenders of the village of Verkhniotoretske. In addition, the mercenaries opened fire from cannons of infantry fighting vehicles and machine guns near the village of Luhanske. Small arms were also used near the village of Kamianka at night.


In the Mariupol sector, the Ukrainian defenders of the village of Vodiane came under fire from heavy machine guns and an automatic grenade launcher twice. The Ukrainian fortified positions near the village of Starohnativka were also attacked twice with the use of machine guns.

Moreover, the enemy used an anti-tank grenade launcher near the village of Pavlopil. The situation was rather calm in the Luhansk sector in the evening. Only at about 18:00 Kyiv time, the occupiers started firing a machine gun at the Ukrainian fortified positions near the village of Novo-Oleksandrivka.
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https://www.unian.info/war/2186256-russian-proxies-lose-six-fighters-within-week-ukrainian-ngo.html

The Russian occupation forces lost six people in Donbas on October 3-10, according to Information Resistance, a Ukrainian non-governmental project on information security.


The confirmed losses of the occupiers include one militant of the 1st Army Corps of the 9th separate assault mechanized regiment of marine infantry (Novoazovsk), one militant of the 3rd separate motorized rifle brigade (Horlivka), one militant of the 5th separate motorized rifle brigade (Makiyivka), and one militant of the 11th separate motorized rifle regiment (Makiyivka).


In addition, the 6th separate motorized rifle regiment (Kadiyivka) of the 2nd Army Corps lost two fighters within a week. As UNIAN reported earlier, Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 22 times in the past 24 hours, with one Ukrainian soldier reported as wounded in action (WIA).
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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/454776.html

Donbas has seen over 313,000 attacks, mostly from heavy weapons that remain on the contact line, since the beginning of this year, Alexander Hug, the Principal Deputy Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Donbas, said from the Donetsk region during a press briefing on Skype on Friday.

There seem to be two parts of Donbas, Hug said. One of those parts is honoring the truce, the sides have agreed to clear or at least mark mines, observers have access to every area, and security is ensured, while in the other part of Donbas, observers have seen 313,332 ceasefire breaches since the beginning of this year, including about 200,000 breaches by means of heavy weapons stationed in prohibited areas, Hug said.

Observers have recorded about 3,500 cases of the unlawful deployment of heavy weapons by the two sides since January of this year.

The hostilities have inflicted 398 civilian casualties, including 327 injuries, since the beginning of the year, Hug said.

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On the eve of the Day of Defender of Ukraine, during official ceremonies in the Ministry of Defence in Kyiv, 9 commanders of brigades, 10 commanders of battalions, 15 commanders of companies and 20 commanders of platoons were awarded with medals and cash rewards amounting to UAH 30,000.

“Today, very dedicated, courage combat officers from military units which are accomplishing tasks or accomplished tasks in east of Ukraine are here. The success of combat operations depend on them”, the Minister stressed, “You learnt to act swiftly understanding responsibility for taken decisions. The commander (leader) role has increased”.

General Poltorak thanked commanders of 54th, 58th, 14th and 59th brigades.

“Your units were formed and manned in combat conditions within limited time. You coped with these tasks. Thank you for your dedication”, the Minister said.

http://www.mil.gov.ua/en/news/2017/...tions-keep-on-targeting-peaceful-settlements/

The Ukrainian party of JCCC reports that the illegal armed formations keep on targeting peaceful settlements and infrastructure facilities in east of Ukraine despite school ceasefire.

Today, an enemy’s sniper has targeted Marinka checkpoint. One Ukrainian border guard was wounded. Fortunately there are no casualties among civilians.

A monitoring group of the Ukrainian party of the JCCC works on the scene. The damage information is being updated.

Press Centre of the ATO HQ

 

[Hindustani78]

https://www.unian.info/war/2188229-russian-proxies-attack-ukraine-21-times-1-wia-in-last-day.html

Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 21 times in the past 24 hours, with one Ukrainian soldier reported as wounded in action (WIA), according to the press service of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.

In the Donetsk sector, the militants had been shelling the Ukrainian positions near the town of Avdiyivka for one hour in the evening, using grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms. At night, the Ukrainian positions near the villages of Maiorsk and Pisky came under machine gun fire. In addition, the enemy opened fire from infantry fighting vehicles near the village of Zaitseve.


In the Luhansk sector, the occupiers fired 82mm mortars, grenade launchers and machine guns twice on the defenders of the village of Novo-Oleksandrivka at the end of the day. The Ukrainian military fired back. Unfortunately, one Ukrainian soldier was wounded in that fighting at about 18:00 Kyiv time. Furthermore, the Russian-backed mercenaries used 82mm mortars near the village of Krymske in the evening. Anti-tank grenade launchers and small arms were also used near the villages of Stanytsia Luhanska and Valuiske.


In the Mariupol sector, the Ukrainian fortified positions near the villages of Shyrokyne, Hnutove and Vodiane were attacked with light infantry weapons.

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[Hindustani78]

Today, October 14, is the Day of Ukraine's Defender.

https://www.unian.info/society/2188201-ukraine-celebrating-defender-day-video.html

The national holiday was set by decree of President Petro Poroshenko of October 14, 2014. The choice of the date for the holiday was predetermined by the historical tradition of honoring the Ukrainian troops for the Christian holiday of Protection of Virgin Mary. October 14 is also the date of the establishment of UPA [Ukrainian Insurgent Army] and the Day of Ukrainian Cossacks.


Today the Ukrainian army amounts to 250,000 people. Some 26,000 contracts on military service have been concluded from the beginning of 2017. Over 20,000 women serve in the Ukrainian army. This is 8.5% of the total number of servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

This autumn, 10,500 young men will be recruited into the army. In 2017, Ukraine's army entered the top 30 best armies in the world.

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For exceptional courage and heroism, President Petro Poroshenko conferred the title “Hero of Ukraine” with the “Golden Star” order to intelligence man Oleksandr Kapush who was killed defending Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in the battles with the Russian aggressor. The Head of State handed the award to the parents of the defender Liudmyla Kniazivna and Vasyl Ivanovych.

“The feat of Oleksandr will remain forever in the people’s memory and become a symbol of unbroken morale of the Ukrainian defenders,” the President emphasized.

Press Service of the President of Ukraine

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[Hindustani78]

https://www.unian.info/war/2189959-ukraine-says-2-wounded-in-ato-zone-in-past-24-hours.html
At the end of the past day, the situation in the area of the Anti-Terrorist Operation remained tense, according to the ATO press center.

In general, over the past day, illegal armed groups violated the ceasefire 16 times, while two Ukrainian troops were wounded in action, the ATO press center wrote on Facebook.

After 18:00 Kyiv time, Russian-occupation forces continued shelling the Ukrainian positions, using mainly light infantry weapons.

"In the Donetsk direction, militants hit the fortified positions of the Ukrainian forces three times from small arms and large-caliber machine guns on the outskirts of Avdiyivka. Ukraine’s positions near Kamenka also came under the enemy fire from small arms. On the Prymorske line, the enemy fired twice at our strongpoints near Talakivka. About 23:00, one of our troops was injured by enemy fire," the report said.

In the evening hours, the Luhansk line remained silent.

It is noted that in response, the Armed Forces of Ukraine returned fire 11 times repelling the attacks.

Earlier at the Maryinka checkpoint, an enemy sniper wounded a Ukrainian border guard.

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On the Day of the Defender of Ukraine, President Petro Poroshenko and his wife Maryna Poroshenko prayed for the Ukrainian warriors.

The prayer was conducted by Patriarch of Kyiv and All Rus-Ukraine, Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Filaret.

The attendees prayed for peace in Ukraine and protection for the Ukrainian military. The presidential couple installed candles.

The prayer was also attended by Minister of Defense Stepan Poltorak, NSDC Secretary Oleksandr Turchynov, Head of the National Guard Yuriy Allerov, Head of the Security Service Vasyl Hrytsak, Head of the State Border Service Petro Tsyhykal, heads of other military structures, Head of the Presidential Administration Ihor Rainin and his deputies.



Press Service of the President of Ukraine

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http://www.mil.gov.ua/en/news/2017/...our-warriors-made-ukraine-unbroken-and-proud/
President Petro Poroshenko took part in the ceremony of taking oath by the graduates of Ivan Bohun Military Lyceum of Kyiv. The Head of State congratulated everyone on the Day of the Defender of Ukraine.

“When I look into the eyes of our warriors — on the frontline, on the parade, in the training area, during the Invictus Games — I feel that we are becoming stronger day by day. These men have made Ukraine unbroken and proud,” the Head of State noted.

The President reminded that three years ago, when Russia annexed Crimea, occupied part of Donbas and held diversified hybrid war against Ukraine, the Ukrainian calendar still had a holiday from the military-historic calendar of the country-aggressor. That is why, the Head of State signed a Decree to celebrate October 14 as the Day of the Defender of Ukraine. Then, the Verkhovna Rada has also made this new holiday a day off.

“This holiday is not only historic. It is topical, like no other. It is directly related to modern heroes: warriors, volunteers, medics, workers of defense enterprises,” Petro Poroshenko said.

According to him, the ceremony of taking oath by the lyceum students on October 14 has become a tradition. Among the students of the lyceum — 147 children of combatants.

The President noted that hundreds of commanders-graduates of the lyceum had received profound knowledge of modern approaches to the armed struggle, demonstrated high level of professionalism and skills.

The President emphasizes that today, lyceum students are joining this knightly order of Ukrainian soldiers. The Head of State noted that the young men chose a hard path of a man in uniform, the path of the defender of Ukraine: the military, border guard, intelligence officer, and years of exhausting training are ahead of them. He stresses that the state will not spare the effort to prepare lyceum students for the defense of the Homeland, as it is for them to build and defend an independent state of the 21st century.

“I have no doubt that among these grown-up teens are future officers and generals, ambassadors and ministers. Maybe, the future President. And, maybe, even the future NATO Secretary-General, as Ukraine will definitely become a member of the Alliance,” the President emphasized.

Petro Poroshenko also stressed that the memory of the Ukrainian fallen heroes would always remain in the heart of each of us. “We will not forget their feat,” the President said. The attendees honored all fallen heroes with a moment of silence.

Press Service of the President of Ukraine

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President Petro Poroshenko handed certificates for military equipment and weaponry to the AFU. The overall number of items exceeded 200.

“War has proved that one can win only uniting high morale, nationwide support and advanced weapons,” the President noted in the course of the working visit to Zhytomyr region on the Day of the Defender of Ukraine.

The Head of State reminded the conditions of the AFU in 2014, when the defense industry provided batches of weaponry that was enough only for a platoon. Today, the number of provided tanks will be enough for the whole tank brigade, as stated by Petro Poroshenko.

“The Ukrainian army will become stronger with this batch of more than 200 items of armored vehicles, artillery, aircrafts, anti-aircraft missile systems and other engineering samples,” the President said.

In general, in 2017, the AFU received 1300 items of weaponry and military equipment, more than 22 thousand of missiles and ammunition. “By the end of the year, troops will have received over a thousand units of armament and military equipment more,” Petro Poroshenko told. According to him, the increase in the AFU funding played a crucial role in the weaponry upgrade.

“In 2017, 64.5 billion hryvnias were allocated for the AFU. The draft state budget for 2018 plans to allocate almost 84 billion,” Petro Poroshenko informed. He added that the ratio is maintained so that at least 5% of GDP is allocated to the defense and security sector.

The President also emphasized that some of the equipment provided for the AFU today will be allocated to the reserve: “We are forming the reserve. We already have much more opportunities to quickly build up our combat capability”.

Press Service of the president of Ukraine

 

[Hindustani78]

President Petro Poroshenko examined the course of combat training of the AFU in the training center of Zhytomyr region.

The Head of State congratulated the military on a successful performance of the tasks. “The whole country saw your skills. This is already one of the most powerful armies on the continent. Well-trained, armed, with a unique combat experience. It demonstrates that we have something to defend the Ukrainian land,” the President said.

Petro Poroshenko said that the military equipment transferred today will be thoroughly inspected and tested. After that, part will be sent to the ATO area, the other one will be allocated to the reserve. The Head of State also noted the effectiveness of the equipment brought back from the ATO area and involved in the training.

“In the most difficult times in 2014-2016, you had the most difficult task — to stop the fully armed aggressor. And you honestly did it. That is why people today in Ukraine most of all pay tribute to the defenders of the Homeland,” the President said, congratulating the military on their holiday.

Press Service of the President of Ukraine

 

[Hindustani78]

https://www.unian.info/war/2191054-...ukraine-troops-2-kias-2-wias-in-last-day.html
Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 36 times in the past 24 hours, with two Ukrainian soldiers reported as killed in action (KIA) and another two as wounded in action (WIA), according to the press center of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.

In the evening hours, militants had been shelling our positions near Butivka coal mine twice for several hours, using grenade launchers and machine guns. The Ukrainian soldiers fired back. One Ukrainian soldier was wounded in that fighting. And at about 18:00 Kyiv time, one our defender was killed as a result of an enemy attack near the village of Kamianka. In addition, one Ukrainian soldier was killed near the village of Nevelske yesterday while stepping on an unknown explosive device," the report says.

In the Mariupol sector, the Russian-backed mercenaries used grenade launchers and machine guns three times, as well as 82mm mortars once against the Ukrainian fortified positions near the village of Vodiane. At about18:00 Kyiv time, they used a 120mm mortar near the village of Pavlopil. Another soldier was wounded during this shelling. Moreover, the enemy opened fire from infantry fighting vehicles on the Ukrainian positions near the village of Novotroyitske at midnight.

In the Luhansk sector, the invaders used small arms near the village of Novo-Oleksandrivka and the town of Popasna, as well as anti-tank grenade launchers and machine guns near the villages of Stanytsia Luhanska and Valuiske.

 

[Hindustani78]

https://www.unian.info/war/2195604-wagner-mercenaries-putins-private-army-in-donbas-media.html

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) recently unveiled a sensational report – the operation in Crimea, the shooting down of an IL-76 above Luhansk Airport, and the capture of Debaltseve, a crucial railway hub that Russian-separatist forces wrestled from the Ukrainian army in the winter of 2015 – were all done with the participation of a Russian Private Military Company called Wagner. Wagner is President Putin's private army, used in places where no laws exist, according to Euromaidan Press.

Special Forces Colonel Dmytro Utkin – call-sign "Wagner" – is the commander of the mercenary company. In 2016 a photo briefly emerged on the internet in which Utkin appeared together with Russian President Vladimir Putin. All who saw it treated it like proof that Putin has a state army, and his own private army. An army for all circumstances – even a sudden palace rebellion, Euromaidan Press reported.

Russian journalist Denys Korotkov since 2013 has reported on the Wagner private army, gradually gathering together the terrible truth. Mercenaries in Ukraine were paid 120,000 rubles per month (approximately $2,000 USD). In Syria, Wagner operatives are paid double that. Denys first unveiled personal applications of Wagner operatives, stating that he had nearly 2,000 of such documents. After publishing his investigation on the Saint Petersburg site "Fontanka," the journalist's address and other personal information appeared online. He received threats.

On October 7, chief of the Security Service of Ukraine Vasyl Hrytsak unveiled a sensational investigation into the part Wagner played in the majority of Russian military operations on Ukrainian soil from 2014 to 2015, beginning with the occupation of Crimea. The Wagner company, according to the information provided by the SBU and published by Russian journalists, consists of between 2,000 and 5,000 well-trained professional soldiers, as well as tanks, howitzers, and Multiple Launch Rocket Systems. They train in a special, secret training ground in Rostov Oblast. According to Russian journalists, Dmytro Utkin answers to only one person: the businessman Yevhen Prihozhyn, who is Putin's restaurateur. Appart from restaurants, Prihozhyn is connected to entities which secured a monopoly on provisions for the Russian army, and also with firms which defend Syrian oil and gas extraction. Prihozhyn takes for himself a quarter of the extracted fuel.

Recently, relations between the Russian Ministry of Defense and the Wagner private army have steeply declined. Information has appeared about the bad situation with armaments and payment delays for the mercenaries, and the wounded men of Wagner company are no longer flown back to Rostov on military airplanes, but in the baggage compartments of passenger jets.

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https://www.unian.info/war/2197599-ukraine-reports-15-enemy-attacks-in-donbas-over-last-day.html
Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 15 times in the past 24 hours, with no Ukrainian soldiers reported as killed or wounded in action, according to the press service of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.

In the evening hours of Thursday, militants were firing on the Ukrainian positions near Butivka coal mine twice, using machine guns and small arms. Starting from 19:00 and almost up until midnight, the enemy fired various types of grenade launchers and machine guns on the defenders of Avdiyivka. The occupiers also used the same weapons near the village of Verkhniotoretske.

"In the Mariupol sector, Russian-backed mercenaries used automatic weapons and anti-tank grenade launchers twice near the village of Vodiane. In addition, the defenders of the village of Hnutove came under enemy fire from heavy machine guns," the ATO HQ said. Only one shelling was recorded in the Luhansk sector.

At about 20:00 Kyiv time, the militants started firing a grenade launcher and small arms on the Ukrainian fortified positions near the town of Schastia.

https://www.unian.info/war/2195399-...ias-amid-53-militant-attacks-in-last-day.html

Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 53 times in the past 24 hours, with two Ukrainian soldiers reported as wounded in action (WIA) and one as injured while stepping on an unknown explosive device, according to the press service of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.

At the end of the past day, the situation in Donbas continued to escalate. The enemy significantly increased the number of fire provocations and used more often mortars of various calibers.

"More than half of the total number of shelling took place in the Donetsk sector. In the evening hours, militants fired 82mm mortars and grenade launchers of various types several times on the defenders of the town of Avdiyivka. The Ukrainian positions near the villages of Luhanske, Maiorsk and Kamianka also came under grenade launcher fire. At about 18:00 Kyiv time, one Ukrainian soldier was wounded near the village of Pisky as a result of the shelling of the Ukrainian fortified position with the use of 120mm mortars and infantry fighting vehicles. In addition, almost at midnight, the occupiers launched more than 20 mines of 120mm caliber near the village of Troyitske," the report says.

In the Luhansk sector, the enemy used 82mm mortars twice near the villages of Novotoshkivske and Novozvanivka. The Ukrainian positions near the village of Krymske and the town of Popasna were attacked with 120mm mortars. Moreover, the enemy fired automatic grenade launchers on the defenders of the villages of Troyitske, Novozvanivka and Novo-Oleksandrivka at night.

There were fewer attacks in the Mariupol sector at the end of the day. However, at about 19:00 Kyiv time, the Russian-backed mercenaries started firing an 82mm mortar near the village of Hnutove. Furthermore, they used a heavy machine gun near the village of Starohnativka.




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https://www.unian.info/war/2197579-...recover-seized-oil-rigs-off-crimea-coast.html
Russia’s REN TV showed a video of an airstrike on a decommissioned boat in the open sea in a blunt threat to apply the same force to the actual Ukrainian Navy warships once Kyiv attempts to regain control over its assets seized by Russia in the Black Sea as a result of Crimea occupation or attack vessels under the Russian flag.

In a drill recorded on video, Russian air force’s Su-30 SM aircraft engaged a group target, a small missile boat earlier decommissioned by the Black Sea Fleet.

The pilots trained maneuvering against anti-aircraft weapons, using means of electronic warfare and jamming before bombing the boat.

As UNIAN reported earlier, Russian occupation forces continue to extract gas from the Black Sea deposits in the exclusive (maritime) economic zone of Ukraine, according to the State Border Guard Service.

The national oil and gas holding Naftogaz of Ukraine has lodged a lawsuit against Russia with the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague (The Netherlands) demanding compensation of US$5 billion for damages the company suffered as a result of Russia's illegal seizure of its assets in Crimea, according to Naftogaz press service

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https://www.unian.info/war/2197359-...ral-of-involvement-in-shelling-avdiyivka.html

The Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) of Ukraine has declared suspicion to the Russian general who, holding a senior position at the so-called "DPR" (self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic) in eastern Ukraine, issued an order to attack the town of Avdiyivka in February this year, according to PGO's Public Relations Office.

A suspicion of committing gravest crimes provided by parts 2 and 3 of Art. 258, part 2 of Art. 437, part 2 of Art. 28, and part 2 of Art. 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine was declared to one of the officials of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, General of the Russian Army. He is charged with committing a terrorist act, which led to the death of people, the carrying out of an aggressive war, violation of the laws and customs of war, connected with the deliberate killing of people," the PGO said.

In particular, during the pre-trial investigation, it was established that the said general, while serving as the head of the "DPR" defense ministry, issued an order on artillery shelling of Avdiyivka in Donetsk region on February 1, 2017.

As a result of the attack, two Ukrainian soldiers and one civilian were killed, while 12 Ukrainian troops and three civilians were wounded.

In addition, 56 objects of civil infrastructure were damaged (destroyed). The maximum sentence of life imprisonment is provided for committing the said crimes, the PGO said

 

[Hindustani78]

https://www.unian.info/war/2199664-ukraine-reports-9-attacks-on-its-troops-in-donbas-oct-20.html
Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian troops in Donbas nine times on Friday, October 20, according to the press center of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.

The enemy intensified its attacks significantly near the town of Avdiyivka in the Donetsk sector.

"The militants shelled our strongholds [near Avdiyivka] three times, using various types of grenade launchers, infantry fighting vehicles, and small arms. They also launched 12 mines of 120mm caliber at around 16:00 Kyiv time. The ATO strong points near Butivka coal mine and the villages of Kamianka and Verkhnyotoretske also came under the enemy small arms fire," the ATO HQ posted on Facebook.


A total of six ceasefire violations have been recorded in the said area.


In the Luhansk sector, the Russia-backed militants were firing 39 mortar rounds of 82mm caliber for almost half an hour while using heavy machine guns and infantry fighting vehicles near the villages of Troyitske.

In the Mariupol sector, the militants opened fire from infantry weapons twice on Ukrainian positions outside the village of Hnutove.

The situation in the zone of the Anti-Terrorist Operation remains tense but controlled by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The ATO forces suppressed the enemy activity amid most attacks.

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https://www.unian.info/war/2199874-...tants-violate-truce-24-times-in-last-day.html

At the end of the day, the enemy's fire activity shifted from the Donetsk line to the Mariupol and Luhansk sectors. Ukrainian troops responded to the enemy asymmetrically 16 times, the headquarters wrote on Facebook.

In the evening, the militants opened fire from 120mm and 82mm mortars, as well as automatic grenade launchers near the village of Novo-Oleksandrivka in the Luhansk sector. They also fired a 120mm mortar on the Ukrainian positions stationed outside the village of Katerynivka, while using anti-tank grenade launchers near the town of Popasna.


In the Mariupol sector, the Russian-backed militants attacked the ATO positions near the village of Pavlopil with mortars and small arms twice. Moreover, they used infantry fighting vehicles outside the village of Novotroyitske, while automatic grenade launchers near the village of Vodiane.

In the Donetsk sector, the enemy opened fire from infantry weapons thrice on the Ukrainian fortified positions near the village of Zaitseve. The occupiers also used heavy machine guns in the vicinity of Maryinka.

 

[Hindustani78]

President, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko visited Avdiyivka, Donetsk region, to hold a meeting on the situation on the frontline together with Minister of Defense Stepan Poltorak, according to the president's press service.

War 18:09, 22 October 2017 121

Poroshenko communicated with the personnel of the 72nd separate mechanized brigade. The president discussed with the military the issue of food, money and material support of the unit, reads the report.

Poroshenko communicated with the personnel of the 72nd separate mechanized brigade. The president discussed with the military the issue of food, money and material support of the unit, reads the report.

https://www.unian.info/war/2201056-ukraine-reports-five-militant-attacks-1-wia-on-oct-22.html

Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian troops in Donbas five times on Sunday, October 22, with one Ukrainian soldier reported as wounded in action (WIA), according to the press center of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.

At about 01:00 Kyiv time, the militants opened fire on the Ukrainian fortified positions near the village of Shumy, which is in the Donetsk sector. The Ukrainian military fired back with the use of small arms, trying to force the enemy to adhere to the ceasefire. Unfortunately, one Ukrainian soldier was wounded in that fighting. In addition, the Ukrainian defenders of the town of Avdiyivka came under enemy fire today afternoon.

In the Luhansk sector, the Russian-backed mercenaries used automatic grenade launchers twice near the village of Stanytsia Luhanska at night.

Moreover, the enemy used the same weapons near the village of Vodiane, which is in the Mariupol sector.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/456406.html

Russia's hybrid military forces have attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 24 times in the past 24 hours, with no Ukrainian soldiers reported as killed or wounded in action, the press service of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) headquarters has reported.

Ukrainian armed Forces had to return fire 16 times.

"At the end of the past day enemy continued shelling Ukrainian positions in the ATO area. However, in during the day shelling was recorded in the Donetsk sector, after 18:00 shelling started in the Mariupol and Luhansk sectors," ATO headquarters wrote on their Facebook page early on Saturday.

In the evening hours of Friday, militants were firing on the Ukrainian positions near Novooleksandrivka, using 120 mm and 82 mm mortars and small arms. The Ukrainian checkpoint not far from Katerynivka was under fire from 120 mm mortar. Enemy used anti-tank grenade launchers near Popasna.

In the Mariupol sector, shelled the outskirts of Pavlopil twice using 120 mm mortars and various grenade launchers. They used infantry fighting vehicle's weapons near Novotroitske and grenade machine guns near Vodiane.

In the Donetsk sector, militants thrice fired at Ukrainian positions near Zaitseve using infantry weapons and used a large-caliber machine gun near Maryinka.

 

[Hindustani78]

https://www.unian.info/war/2201421-...easefire-in-past-day-one-soldier-wounded.html

Russia's hybrid military forces violated the ceasefire in Donbas 12 times in the past day, as a result of which one Ukrainian soldier was wounded, according to the press service of the Ukrainian Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.

09:23, 23 October 2017 137

The Ukrainian military had to fire back eight times / Photo from Ukraine's Defense Ministry

There were no drastic changes in the developments in the ATO zone in the past day. The enemy continued shelling positions of the Ukrainian army in all directions from time to time, using primarily infantry weapons," the report said.

The Ukrainian military had to fire back eight times. Ukrainian positions near the town of Avdiyivka and Butivka coal mine in the Donetsk sector came under fire in the evening.

The enemy used grenade launchers, machine guns and small arms. The village of Kamianka was attacked by an infantry fighting vehicle; anti-tank grenade launchers were also used. The attack lasted for more than an hour.


Ukrainian positions near the town of Avdiyivka and Butivka coal mine in the Donetsk sector came under fire in the evening. The enemy used grenade launchers, machine guns and small arms. The village of Kamianka was attacked by an infantry fighting vehicle; anti-tank grenade launchers were also used. The attack lasted for more than an hour.

Russian proxies used large-caliber machine guns to fire on the villages of Shyrokyne and Starohnativka in the Mariupol sector. Ukrainian troops stationed near the village of Vodiane in the same sector came under fire.


In the evening. Ukrainian positions near the village of Krymske in the Luhansk sector were attacked with the use of 82mm mortars, automatic and anti-tank grenade launchers. The attack lasted for almost 1.5 hours.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/456586.html


Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has announced the upcoming rotation of the units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces participating in the anti-terrorist operation in Donbas, the presidential press service has reported.

The head of state said during his visit to the site of the 72nd separate mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Avdiyivka (Donetsk region) on October 22 that Armed Forces units would soon return to their permanent sites in Volyn region, Bila Tserkva (Kyiv region), Chuhuiv (Kharkiv region), and Severodonetsk (Luhansk region).

"Other brigades are coming to replace you, and they will hold your positions firmly," the press service quoted Poroshenko as saying.

He also said that the Ukrainian army had completely changed over the past three years and that the Ukrainian soldiers were guarantors of the independence of the Ukrainian state.

"A Ukrainian soldier is a warrior, who fights for his land without giving a single piece of land to the enemy, a warrior against whom Russian propaganda and hybrid war technologies proved to be ineffective, a warrior who shows the best examples of loyalty to oath, courage and heroism," Poroshenko said.

The president thanked the servicemen of the 72nd, 14th, 92nd and 53rd brigades of the Armed Forces for the brilliant accomplishment of the tasks assigned to them.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/456668.html

A Ukrainian citizen carrying handguns, grenades, and, presumably, mercury has exchanged fire with Russian border guards when trying to illegally cross the border, the Federal Security Service (FSB) public relations center said in a statement seen by Interfax on Monday.

"Officers of the Federal Security Service's border department in the Kursk region have detained a 31-year-old citizen of Ukraine for illegally crossing the state border into Russia," FSB said.

The man opened fire when the border guards tried to detain him and intended to escape to Ukraine.

"He sustained medium-grave injuries in the shootout," FSB said.

Two handguns, five grenades, 50 cartridges of caliber 5.45mm, and 26 ampoules presumably containing mercury were seized from the trespasser.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/456686.html

Illegal armed groups continue to block the work of the Zolote checkpoint in Luhansk region, which complicates the humanitarian situation in Donbas, the Ukrainian side of the Joint Center for Control and Coordination (JCCC) has reported.

"The Zolote entry and exit checkpoint near the town of Popasna began its work from October 20, 2017 in a regular mode at 07.00... The checkpoint, from the side of the occupied part of Luhansk region, remained closed from October 20. Illegal armed groups operating there refuse to ensure the crossing of the contact line by the civilian population and vehicles for its part," the press center of the anti-terrorist operation headquarters said on its page on Facebook on October 22.

According to deputy head of the Luhansk regional military and civil administration, Yury Klymenko, there were no official explanations from the militants, but unofficially their representatives appealed to the OSCE monitoring mission and said that at present they were not ready to open the checkpoint on their side due to technical circumstances and unsatisfactory condition of the road surface.

The report notes that the Ukrainian side of the JCCC fully supports the issues of setting up the full-fledged work of the Zolote checkpoint, which will help redistribute part of the passenger traffic and will largely relieve the Stanytsia Luhanska checkpoint. This, in turn, will significantly improve the humanitarian situation in the region and will help repair the bridge at the Stanytsia Luhanska checkpoint, the technical condition of which threatens the safe movement of civilians.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/456689.html

The Cabinet of Ministers has resolved the issue of stripping anti-terrorist operation (ATO) soldiers of the status of a participant in hostilities by introducing amendments to government resolution No. 413 of August 20, 2014, according to the Ukrainian Military Pages news site.

"The amendments made by Cabinet of Ministers resolution No. 789 of October 18, 2017 provide for the possibility of depriving persons participating in the anti-terrorist operation of their status as a participant in combat operations if there is a conviction that a person committed an intentional serious crime, that untrue information on participation in the ATO was provided, or if a person forwards a personal request," the report says.

At the same time, it notes that "the government amended the provision on the single state automated register of persons eligible for benefits, which was approved by Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine resolution No. 117 of January 29, 2003, on the inclusion in the register of relevant information about the loss of the right to benefits."

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President, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko arrived in Avdiivka, Donetsk region, to hold a meeting on the situation on the frontline together with Minister of Defense Stepan Poltorak.

The Head of State communicated with the personnel of the 72 separate mechanized brigade. The President discussed with the military the issue of food, money and material support of the unit.

Press Service of the President of Ukraine

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President Petro Poroshenko emphasizes that the Ukrainian army has completely changed over the past three years, and Ukrainian warriors are guarantors of Ukraine’s independence.

„I would like to say that the Ukrainian army has changed drastically. We have other material supplies, food supplies,” the Head of State noted during the visit to the 72 brigade in Avdiivka.

„But this is not the only component of the Ukrainian troops. First of all, it is a Ukrainian warrior. A warrior who fights for his land not giving up a single piece of land to the enemy. A warrior who made Russian propaganda and hybrid war technologies inefficient. A warrior who demonstrates the best examples of loyalty to the oath, courage and heroism,” Petro Poroshenko emphasized.

The Supreme Commander-in-Chief stressed: „Today, we demonstrate what the Ukrainian army is. Today, as President, I would like to thank warriors for an exemplary fulfillment of their tasks”.

„You are a guarantor of our state’s independence. The Ukrainian people believe you. The enemy fears you,” the Head of State said.

The President handed over certificates to award the best servicemen of the brigade.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.hindustantimes.com/world...ber-attacks/story-xh6yH298LZuHiw8BWx60lL.html
The chief of Ukraine’s cyber police said Ukraine was attacked on Tuesday by malware called BadRabbit, adding that the country was barely affected.

Earlier the airport in the southern city of Odessa said it had tightened security measures after being hit by a cyber attack, while the metro system in the capital Kiev reported a hack on its payment system.

Asked whether the malware BadRabbit was used in the attacks, Cyber Police Chief Serhiy Demedyuk said by text message “yes, correct”.

Ukraine, which believes Russia is behind regular attacks on its computer systems, is trying to roll out a national strategy to keep state institutions and major companies safe. Moscow denies that it is behind cyber attacks on its neighbour.

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https://www.unian.info/society/2205481-odesa-airport-kyiv-subway-attacked-by-hackers.html
On Tuesday, October 24, Odesa International Airport, Kyiv Metro and the Ministry of Infrastructure were attacked by hackers.

"The information system of Odesa International Airport came under a hacker attack. All airport services are operating in an enhanced mode," the airport said on Facebook.

Kyiv Metro's computer system has also been attacked by hackers. This may be one of the modifications of the Petya.A virus, Frontnews reported, referring to its own sources.

As Kyiv Metro's press service reported on Facebook, the subway is operating as usual, except for banking services.

"The subway is working in normal mode, except for banking services (payment by contactless bank cards on the yellow turnstile or MasterPass)," the report says.

In addition, the Ministry of Infrastructure also came under cyber attack, 112 Ukraine reports with reference to sources. In turn, the cyberpolice said there were no cyberattacks on the website of the Ministry of Infrastructure.

"The ministry is carrying out technical work," the head of Ukraine's Cyberpolice, Colonel Serhiy Demydiuk, said.
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https://www.unian.info/politics/2205656-ukraine-seeing-new-wave-of-cyberattacks-sscipu.html
Computer Emergency Response Team of Ukraine (CERT-UA) of the State Service of Special Communication and Information Protection of Ukraine (SSCIPU) informs about the beginning of a new wave of cyberattacks on information resources of Ukraine.

The agency asked the owners of information and telecommunication systems, other information resources, primarily transport infrastructure, as well as ordinary Internet users to comply with the enhanced cybersecurity requirements (including those previously stated).

CERT-UA will provide additional information in the near future. As UNIAN reported earlier, on Tuesday, October 24, Odesa International Airport, Kyiv Metro and the Ministry of Infrastructure were attacked by hackers.
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https://www.unian.info/war/2205756-ato-hq-four-ukrainian-soldiers-killed-in-donbas-on-oct-24.html
Russia's hybrid military forces continued to violate the ceasefire in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, as of 18:00 on October 24, with two Ukrainian soldiers reported as killed in action in the Mariupol sector and another two were killed while stepping on an unknown explosive device, according to the press center of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.

"In the Donetsk sector, the occupiers used automatic grenade launchers and machine guns against the Ukrainian fortified positions near the village of Verkhniotoretske. They also fired the same weapons on the Ukrainian fortified positions near the village of Vodiane, which is in the Mariupol sector. Moreover, the defenders of the town of Maryinka came under enemy fire in the afternoon," the report says.

According to the press center, two Ukrainian soldiers were killed in action as a result of militant attacks in the Mariupol sector.

Another two fighters were injured while stepping on an unknown explosive device.

"In addition, two more soldiers were killed and one was injured in the same way in the Donetsk sector," the ATO HQ said.

 

[Hindustani78]

https://www.unian.info/war/2206551-...wn-their-uav-in-russian-occupied-donetsk.html
The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine has reported there was an attempt to shoot down its unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in the Russian-occupied city of Donetsk controlled by the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic ("DPR").

"On the morning of October 23, positioned on Kobrynskoi Street in the Trudivski area of 'DPR'-controlled Donetsk city's Petrovskyi district (15km south-west of Donetsk city centre), the SMM heard four-five bursts of small-arms fire 50-100m east of its position – in the area where the SMM was flying a mini UAV. The SMM assessed the shots as aimed at the UAV, which the SMM landed safely," the OSCE SMM said in its update based on information received as of 19:30 local time on October 23.

The SMM had informed the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) of the flight one hour before, as well as of its plans to conduct an additional flight.

The SMM decided not to conduct the second UAV flight.

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https://www.unian.info/war/2206219-...lties-four-killed-four-wounded-on-oct-24.html
Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian troops 15 times in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, in the past day, as a result of which four Ukrainian soldiers were killed and another four were wounded, according to the press center of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.

"Illegal armed formations violated the ceasefire 15 times in the past day. ATO forces resolutely responded to almost every enemy attack, using infantry weapons. Two Ukrainian soldiers were killed in action and another one was wounded in action. In addition, two were killed and three were injured in booby-trap blasts," the ATO HQ wrote on Facebook on Wednesday, October 25.

Ukrainian positions near the village of Vodiane in the Mariupol sector came under 82mm mortar fire twice and there was one attack with the use of an anti-tank grenade launcher. Militants twice used 82mm mortars and grenades to shell ATO positions near the village of Talakivka.

Attacks on the Armed Forces of Ukraine stationed near the town of Avdiyivka in the Donetsk sector lasted from 19:30 to almost 00:00, the ATO HQ said. The enemy used grenade launchers, large-caliber machine guns and small arms. Similar weapons were used near the villages of Zaitseve and Luhanske.

One Ukrainian soldier was wounded in an attack on Ukrainian positions near the village of Verkhniotoretske. Russian proxies used small arms near the village of Triokhizbenka in the Luhansk sector.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/457091.html
Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has stopped the spread of the virus, which attacked the Ukrainian segment of information systems on Tuesday, the SBU said.

"Specialists of the Security Service of Ukraine have established that the conveyance of the virus takes place using phishing emails with the return address, which is associated with Microsoft's technical support service. On October 24, the Kyiv subway and Odesa airport were subjected to a cyber attack. As a result of the virus of the cryptographic type, the functioning of the passenger registration service was blocked. The further spread of the virus has been discontinued. There are no threats to traffic safety," SBU said on its Facebook page on Tuesday evening.

At the same time, the SBU published recommendations for preventing unauthorized blocking of information systems.

The SBU reminded that on October 12 they warned about a possible large-scale cyber attack on state structures and private companies and provided relevant recommendations

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/457148.html
Russia is deliberately delaying the return of two Ukrainian border guards detained at the border in Sumy region, with the aim of exchanging them for employees of the Russian special services who were detained earlier on the administrative border with Crimea, Ukrainian State Border Service spokesman Oleh Slobodian has said.

"We suspect that Russia will most likely try to exchange two of our servicemen for two Russian border guards who we detained several months ago on the administrative border with the temporarily occupied Crimea," he said live on Espreso.TV late on Tuesday, October 24.

He said that the situation with border guards who disappeared when patrolling a section of the border in Sumy region could be solved at one meeting, but the Russian side refused to establish contact.

"As part of normal working cooperation, on peaceful sections of the border, this issue is resolved within one meeting within one or two days after the incident if there are no aggravating circumstances," Slobodian said.

He added that the State Border Service was still unaware of the whereabouts of the missing servicemen, their condition and how they got into Russia.

As reported, on October 3, two employees of the State Border Service of Ukraine disappeared in Sumy region near the border with Russia. Later, Russia officially confirmed the detention of two Ukrainian border guards. The Ukrainian consul was denied a conversation with the detainees. Later Slobodian said that the Russian side had agreed to a border representative meeting on the fate of the detained border guards.

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The delegation of the Azerbaijan Air Force led by Chief of Staff – First Deputy Commander of Air Force Major General Aliyev Ikram Zulfi ogly visited military units in Kyiv oblast.

In order to learn general structure and tasks of the Ukraine’s Air Force, armament, air defence the foreign delegation travelled to one of air defence units of the Air Command ‘Centre’.

The delegation also toured the training centre of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.