Civil war in Ukraine: News & discussion

[Hindustani78]

10 November 2017
https://www.unian.info/war/2235314-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.

"The situation in the Donbas conflict zone did not change significantly at the end of the last day. The enemy continued shelling the Ukrainian positions, sometimes using mortars," the report says. After 18:00 Kyiv time, the militants opened fire from infantry weapons and 82mm mortars four times on the defenders of the village of Luhanske, which is in the Luhansk sector. Moreover, the Russian-backed mercenaries used the same weapons three times against the Ukrainian fortified positions near the village of Krymske.


The Ukrainian fortified positions near the villages of Triokhizbenka and Valuiske, as well as the town of Zolote also came under enemy fire.

In addition, at about 22:00 Kyiv time, the occupiers lobbed twenty 122mm artillery shells into areas close to the village of Stariy Aidar. In the Donetsk sector, the enemy opened fire from grenade launchers to attack the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near the town of Avdiyivka.

In the Mariupol sector, the invaders used infantry weapons near the village of Slavne in the evening. Over the past day, the ATO forces fired back 12 times.

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https://www.unian.info/war/2235984-...ts-into-ukrainian-armys-rear-ukraine-ngo.html
10 November 2017

The so-called "Intelligence Directorate of the Republican Guard of the Donetsk People's Republic ("DPR")" is implementing another large-scale operation to infiltrate agents into the Ukrainian-controlled areas of Donbas, according to Information Resistance, a Ukrainian non-governmental project on information security.

Three main channels are used: an "internally displaced person" (used rarely), a "militant deserter" (becomes more popular, in some cases they make up legends) and a "visiting relative," the NGO said.


"Sometimes there is a variation – a 'suffered' civil servant, mostly from the law enforcement, judicial system or local officials of district levels," it said.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/460896.html

As many as 425 civilians have been killed or injured in Donetsk and Luhansk regions in 2017, the Principal Deputy Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM), Alexander Hug, told a press conference at the Interfax-Ukraine press center in Kyiv on Friday.

The OSCE SMM confirms 425 civilian casualties since the beginning of this year, which is more than in the relevant period of 2016, Hug said.

Thirty-nine non-combatant casualties of this year in Donbas are children, Hug said.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/460979.html
The U.S. multinational inspection team, which will also include representatives of Canada and Denmark, will visit Ukraine on November 13 to monitor the military and political situation in the country's central and south-eastern regions, the press service of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry has reported.

"The U.S. multinational inspection team, which will also include representatives of Denmark and Canada, arrives in Ukraine on November 13 to monitor the military and political situation in the central and south-eastern regions of our country," the report says.

The inspection team is expected to visit military units and subdivisions in the area of the anti-terrorist operation in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. In addition, the U.S. side included the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea in the inspection area.

"Such events are important in the context of spreading reliable and unbiased information about the situation in Ukraine to the OSCE participating states, which will contribute to the efforts of the international community aimed at resolving the conflict," the ministry said.

The ministry also noted that in accordance with the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, this week Ukraine was visited by an inspection team from Germany, which also included representatives of France and Norway. On November 6-10, foreign inspectors visited a military unit in Chernihiv region.

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Chief of Ukrainian Signal Corps Major General Volodymyr Rapko announced it during a briefing in Kyiv.

“In 2018-2020, all combat military units will use Aselsan VHF radios. Some units will use Harris received as the US military assistance. Motorola will be used in operational support units”, Gen. Rapko said.

According to trials, the Aselsan VHF radios meet the Ukrainian army requirements in terms of compatibility, quality, and price. Moreover, these radios are planned to be manufactured in Ukraine.

PA Office of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

 

[Hindustani78]

https://www.unian.info/war/2237674-...cks-on-ukraine-troops-2-wias-in-last-day.html
11 November 2017
Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 33 times in the past 24 hours, with two Ukrainian soldiers reported as wounded in action (WIA), according to the press center of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.

https://www.unian.info/war/2237674-...cks-on-ukraine-troops-2-wias-in-last-day.html

"In the vicinity of the city of Donetsk, the militants used 82mm mortars and grenade launchers twice against the defenders of the town of Avdiyivka. Our fortified positions near the village of Zaitseve also came under fire from machine guns twice," the report says.


In the Luhansk sector, the invaders fired mortars on the Ukrainian fortified positions near the villages of Katerynivka and Donets. Moreover, they used infantry weapons near the villages of Luhanske and Stanytsia Luhanska. In the Mariupol sector, the Russian occupation forces opened fire from 120mm mortars near the villages of Pavlopil and Vodiane in the second half of the day.

The Ukrainian military fired back. Unfortunately, one Ukrainian soldier was wounded in that fighting.
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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/461115.html
Dzerzhynsky City Court in Donetsk region has sentenced three militants of the so-called "DPR" in absentia to life imprisonment for the killing of a 16-year-old resident of Kramatorsk, Stepan Chubenko, in 2014 for his active pro-Ukrainian position, the press service of the Donetsk Regional Prosecutor's Office has reported.

"Dzerzhynsky City Court fully supported the position of the prosecutor's office and sentenced three defendants to life imprisonment. Each of the convicts is obliged to pay UAH 1 million to the mother of the murdered young man," the report says.

According to the prosecutor's office, on July 22-28, 2014, a group of unidentified individuals, in preliminary collusion with members of illegal armed groups – Pohodin, Moskaliov, Sukhomlynov - illegally deprived the 16-year-old resident of Kramatorsk of his liberty. On July 28, the three mentioned militants killed the kidnapped teenager.

Subsequently, the body of the victim was delivered from the temporarily occupied territory of Donetsk region to Kramatorsk.

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[Hindustani78]

12 November 2017

Russia's hybrid military forces violated the ceasefire in Donbas 18 times in the past day, November 11, as a result of which one Ukrainian soldier was wounded, according to the press service of the Ukrainian Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.

https://www.unian.info/war/2238481-...-one-ukrainian-soldier-wounded-on-nov-11.html
https://www.unian.info/war/2238481-...-one-ukrainian-soldier-wounded-on-nov-11.html

"In total, the Russian occupation forces violated the truce 18 times in the past day. The ATO troops fired back to resolutely force the invaders into peace. One Ukrainian serviceman was wounded in fighting," the ATO Headquarters wrote on Facebook on Sunday, November 12.

In the second half of the day, militants used various types of grenade launchers and machine guns to shell ATO positions outside the villages of Mayorsk, Luhanske, and Novoluhanske.

And at about 23:00, the enemy started firing from a 120mm mortar to attack the positions near Mayorsk. What is more, Ukrainian positions near the villages of Popasna and Katerynivka were attacked by the enemy in the evening.

After 18:00 local time on November 11, no enemy activity was reported in the Mariupol and Donetsk sector.

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[Hindustani78]

http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/461069.html

Illegal armed groups have violated the ceasefire in the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) zone in Donbas 33 times over the past 24 hours, with two Ukrainian servicemen reported as wounded, the press center of the ATO headquarters has reported on Facebook.

According to the report, militants used mortars of different calibers during the attacks on Ukrainian positions. The ATO forces returned fire 24 times.

In particular, militants opened fire twice from 82mm mortars and grenade launchers on the defenders of Avdiyivka, and they also fired twice from machine guns at Ukrainian positions near the village of Zaitseve.

In the Luhansk sector, militants used mortars to fire at Ukrainian strongholds near the village of Katerynivka, Popasna district, and the Donets railway station, In addition, they fired from infantry weapons near the village of Stanytsia Luhanska.

In the Mariupol sector, the enemy used 120mm mortars near Pavlopil and Vodiane in the second half of the day. Ukrainian fighters fired back. One Ukrainian serviceman was wounded in the fighting.

12 November 2017

Special forces in Kyiv have seized explosives found in a car; explosives experts and local investigators are now working on the scene of the incident, according to Kyiv police's press service.

"Members of a special purpose unit have spotted a suspicious Volkswagen car with two men on a parking lot of a shopping center in Darnytsky district's Osokorky area," the police said.

https://kiev.unian.info/2238891-car...ives-ready-for-use-seized-in-kyiv-photos.html
https://kiev.unian.info/2238891-car...ives-ready-for-use-seized-in-kyiv-photos.html

Some 6.5 kg of plastic explosives and 10 electric detonators were seized / Photo from Kyiv

Police's Facebook page During the examination of the car, the police found a backpack in the trunk with five briquettes of plastic explosives weighing 6.5 kg and 10 electric detonators. The explosives were prepared for use, the police said.

The men who were in the car were also detained.

"Investigators and SBU officers are now interviewing the young people who were transporting [the explosives] and who did not have any communications devices with them. They may have had accomplices. The investigators are now documenting and determining all the circumstances of the incident," the police said.

Chief of the National Police's main directorate in Kyiv Andriy Kryshchenko has placed all Kyiv patrols on alert.

They will be patrolling railway and subway stations and popular public places.

Some 200 National Guard members are involved in the operation.

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Read more on UNIAN: https://kiev.unian.info/2238891-car...ives-ready-for-use-seized-in-kyiv-photos.html

 

[Hindustani78]

https://www.unian.info/war/2238971-...rcenaries-fighting-abroad-incl-in-donbas.html

12 November 2017

The prosecutor's office of Serbia has opened 45 cases since the end of 2014 against Serbian mercenaries who have been fighting in military conflicts abroad, including in Russian-occupied Donbas, according to the Ukrainian news outlet Evropeiska Pravda.


The cases are designed to prosecute persons who fall within the scope of Article 386a of the Criminal Code of Serbia, representative for the prosecutor's office of Belgrade Tatjana Sekulic said, Evropeiska Pravda reported citing the Serbian edition Politika.

Last year, the prosecutor's office charged 24 people with such a crime.


The publication notes that only a few dozen Serbs are now fighting in Ukraine and Syria.

At the same time, the SBU Security Service of Ukraine said on October 11 that since the beginning of the Donbas war, more than 300 citizens of Serbia had been fighting in the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic territory alone.

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https://www.unian.info/war/2240966-...reportedly-to-seize-unauthorized-harvest.html

13 November 2017

The so-called head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic ("DPR"), Alexander Zakharchenko, has reportedly ordered to seize all crops, namely vegetables, fruit, grapes, etc., grown by households on "unauthorized" plots of land, according to the "republic's" website.


"Yields of agricultural plants and fruit from bushes, vineyards and trees, grown on unauthorized plots of land in state and municipal ownership are the property of the 'DPR,'" reads an "order" dated November 3, 2017.


The so-called "Revenue and Taxes Ministry" of the "DPR" has been granted unimpeded access to areas where these crops are harvested or stored, as well as given the right to seize yields. "In the event of unauthorized disposal of the crops specified in paragraph 1 of the 'decree,' legal entities, individual entrepreneurs, and individuals are obliged to reimburse costs of the crops," reads the document. The document is applicable retroactively, as of June 1, 2017.

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https://www.unian.info/war/2239201-...number-of-armed-provocations-in-last-day.html

13 November 2017

Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 33 times in the past 24 hours, according to the press center of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.


It is reported that the enemy is particularly active in violating the ceasefire agreements throughout the night hours. After dark, the militants became more active on the Svitlodarska Duha bulge.

The defenders of the village of Luhanske were attacked with 120mm and 82mm mortars, grenade launchers, small arms, and infantry fighting vehicles.

In the vicinity of the city of Donetsk, the enemy used infantry weapons near the towns of Avdiyivka and Maryinka, and Butivka coal mine.

In the Luhansk sector, the Russian occupation forces fired 82mm mortars, grenade launchers and small arms near the village of Katerynivka, as well as heavy machine guns on the defenders of the village of Valuiske.

Despite the increase in enemy fire activity, no Ukrainian soldier was killed or wounded in action.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/461303.html

Russia's hybrid military forces have attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 33 times in the past 24 hours, the press center of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) headquarters has reported.

"The situation in the ATO area remains complicated ... Compared to the previous days, the number of enemy armed provocations has almost doubled and reached 33. More than a dozen facts of using weapons by fighters are characterized by the use of mortars of different calibers," the ATO staff said on Facebook on Monday morning.

It is reported that the enemy is particularly active in violating the ceasefire agreements throughout the night hours. Despite the increase in enemy fire activity, no Ukrainian soldier was killed or wounded in action.

"After dark, the militants became more active on the Svitlodarska Duha bulge. The defenders of the village of Luhanske were attacked with 120mm and 82mm mortars, grenade launchers, small arms, and infantry fighting vehicles. In the vicinity of the city of Donetsk, the enemy used infantry weapons near the towns of Avdiyivka and Maryinka, and Butovka coal mine.

In the Luhansk sector, the Russian occupation forces fired 82mm mortars, grenade launchers and small arms near the village of Katerynivka, as well as heavy machine guns on the defenders of the village of Valuiske.

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On November 10, officers of the Ukrainian party of the Joint Control and Coordination Centre recorded the ceasefire violations in Triokhizbenka village where militants used mortars and small arms against the private houses.

On November 09, the illegal armed formations launched attacks against Triokhizbenka village. Fortunately, there are no casualties among civilians.

These actions demonstrate militants’ unwillingness to observe the ceasefire and fulfill the Minsk agreements.

 

[Hindustani78]

https://www.unian.info/war/2241186-...-770-explosions-in-donbas-on-the-weekend.html
14 November 2017

Monitors of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine have reported over 770 explosions in Donetsk and Luhansk regions on the weekend.


"In Donetsk region, between the evenings of November 10 and 11, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including, however, more explosions (about 410), compared with the previous reporting period (about 340 explosions). Between the evenings of November 11 and 12, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including about 290 explosions, compared with the previous 24 hours," the OSCE SMM said in an update on November 13 based on information received as of 19:30 Kyiv time on November 12, 2017.


"In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations (three, all explosions), between the evenings of November 10 and 11, compared with the previous reporting period (16 explosions). It recorded more ceasefire violations, including about 70 explosions, between the evenings of November 11 and 12, compared with the previous 24 hours," the update said.

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https://www.unian.info/war/2241429-ukraine-reports-2-wias-amid-33-enemy-attacks-in-last-day.html
14 November 2017

Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 33 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.

After dark, the enemy significantly increased the number of shelling in the Luhansk sector. In particular, using 120mm mortars, grenade launchers and small arms, the occupiers shelled the defenders of the village of Novotoshkivske four times.

Russian-backed mercenaries used the same types of weapons against the Ukrainian fortified positions near the village of Travneve. Using infantry weapons, the militants also violated the ceasefire near the villages of Troyitske, Krymske, Zaitseve and Luhanske.

In the Donetsk sector, the Russian occupation forces opened fire from grenade launchers and small arms several times on the Ukrainian positions near the town of Avdiyivka. The defenders of the town of Maryinka were attacked with 82mm mortars and small arms. Moreover, the invaders lobbed five 120mm mines on the defenders of the village of Pavlopil, which is close to the port city of Mariupol. In addition, the Ukrainian fortified positions near the village of Shyrokyne came under grenade launcher fire.


The servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine returned fire 23 times over the last day.
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14 November 2017

On November 14, Russian members of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) have created "fake attacks" on the Donetsk filtration station, that's according to the press center of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.

"The JCCC's Ukrainian members report: this morning, the Russian side of the JCCC created "fake attacks" on the Donetsk filtration station by the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who allegedly used tank guns, shelling positions of the illegal armed forces in the direction of Avdiyivka-Yasynuvata. As a result of these 'shellings' the personnel of the Donetsk filtration station, which is located nearby, allegedly couldn't get to work on time. The Ukrainian side of the JCCC says there was no shelling by the units of the Armed Forces, while personnel of the station got to work on time and without any delays or obstructions," the report says.

The headquarters notes that the Donetsk filtration station is operating in a regular mode. "Such statements by the Russian side of the JCCC are nothing more than yet another falsification by illegal armed formations; they are voiced to compromise the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Today, the situation around the Donetsk filtration station clearly demonstrates that the leadership of the illegal armed formations continues to cynically ignore the interests of the civilian population on both sides of the demarcation line and is keen to further aggravate the armed conflict in Donbas," the ATO HQ said.

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As of October 13, 2017, there were 152 Ukrainian citizens held captive in Donbas, according to the SBU Security Service of Ukraine. Another 404 were reported missing.

"The number of hostages is on the rise – 157 Ukrainians are illegally held in captivity in the self-proclaimed republic in Donbas, and dozens are held captive in the Russian Federation. There has been no progress in releasing prisoners of war in the past 14 months," she said on Facebook.

She announced a meeting had been held between Ukrainian delegates in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and ambassadors of the member countries of the Council of Europe. "Today, an important conversation with the diplomatic corps took place with colleagues of all parliamentary factions, especially relevant pending the January session, which promises to be difficult – the Russians plan to return to the PACE – dead or alive – without fulfilling any conditions," she wrote.


Head of the Ukrainian delegation Volodymyr Ariev informed the diplomats about the work and position of the Ukrainian delegation.

"I, in turn, thanked all member countries of the Council of Europe for constructive dialogue and cooperation, advocated the synchronization of our efforts to maintain and protect the fundamental principles of the Council of Europe. We advocate that Russia return to the international legal field and begin, at last, to fulfill its obligations. The consequence of the Russian armed aggression is more than 10 thousand dead Ukrainians, more than 20 thousand wounded," she wrote.

"We, using the opportunity, spoke about a [possible] peacekeeping mission in Donbas. Russia's hybrid proposals for a 'mission to protect the [OSCE] mission along the contact line' is absolutely unacceptable. Peacekeepers must be present throughout the temporarily occupied territory, including an uncontrolled section of the Russian-Ukrainian border. We expect the support of our partners who are members of the United Nations and the Council of Europe, in this issue. called for special attention to the problem of the violation of fundamental human rights in the occupied Crimea and Donbas," she added.

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[Hindustani78]

https://www.unian.info/war/2243724-...ukraine-23-times-use-propelled-artillery.html

15 November 2017

Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 23 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.


At about 20:00 Kyiv time, the Russian occupation troops started firing 152mm rocket artillery systems on the defenders of the village of Zaitseve, which is in the Luhansk sector. The shelling lasted about two hours, with nearly a hundred shells launched. As a result of these attacks, one of the shells hit a residential house. Furthermore, the militants fired 120mm mortars near the village of Lozove as well as 82mm mortars on the Ukrainian fortified positions near the villages of Novhorodske and Luhanske. In addition, they fired from a tank near Novhorodske.

In the Donetsk sector, the enemy lobbed over ten 120mm mines near the village of Verkhniotoretske.

Moreover, the enemy also actively used the entire range of infantry weapons on different parts of the front line. The defenders of a number of front-line settlements in both Luhansk and Donetsk regions came under enemy attacks, including near the towns of Svitlodarsk, Krasnohorivka and Avdiyivka, and the villages of Troyitske, Novhorodske, and Starohnativka.

Despite the fact that the enemy fire was rather dense, the Armed Forces of Ukraine returned fire after almost every enemy shelling.

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https://www.unian.info/society/2245...police-car-hits-anti-tank-mine-in-donbas.html


15 November 2017

A Ukrainian police car has hit an anti-tank mine near the village of Hnutove in Donetsk region, as a result of which a police major was killed and another two officers were wounded.

"An hour ago, a police major on duty was killed, two more policemen were wounded, they were rushed to hospital ... On their way to respond to a call, a car with Mariupol policemen of the patrol police's response group was blown up in a blast of an anti-tank mine near the village of Talakivka," Chief of the National Police Serhiy Kniazev said.


Yesterday there was no mine there, because our military freely moved along that place, he said.

Kniazev also said one more disguised landmine had been found in the nearby area. He also expressed his condolences to the relatives of the police officers.

The information was confirmed by the Ukrainian National Police's first deputy head Viacheslav Abroskin. "A service vehicle of the police traveling down the Talakivka-Hnutove road has hit an anti-tank mine planted by a militant group near the settlement of Hnutove in Donetsk region," he said on Wednesday.

"A police major born in 1981 has died of his wounds. Another two policemen were wounded. They are now in hospital," Abroskin wrote on his Facebook page.

Russian TV in Luhansk showing anti-personnel landmines that are being used by Russian forces.

 

[Hindustani78]

16 November 2017

Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 16 times in the past 24 hours, according to the press center of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.

https://www.unian.info/war/2245976-ukraine-reports-16-enemy-attacks-in-last-day.html
https://www.unian.info/war/2245976-ukraine-reports-16-enemy-attacks-in-last-day.html

In the Luhansk sector, the Russian occupation forces fired 120mm mortars on the defenders of the village of Travneve around midnight. One armed provocation was recorded near the villages of Oleksandrivka and Troyitske, and the town of Svitlodarsk last night, where the enemy used small arms and heavy machine guns.


In the Donetsk sector, Russian-backed mercenaries shelled the Ukrainian fortified positions using light infantry weapons. The defenders of the villages of Pisky and Talakivka near the strategic port city of Mariupol came under fire from grenade launchers and heavy machine guns, while the outskirts of the town of Avdiyivka and Butivka coal mine were attacked from small arms and heavy machine guns.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine returned fire 11 times.

Fortunately, no Ukrainian soldiers were killed or wounded in action.

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[URL]https://www.unian.info/war/2246054-ex-deputy-of-odesa-city-council-complicit-in-financing-lpr-dpr-militants-sbu.html[/URL]

16 November 2017

The SBU Security Service of Ukraine exposed the facts of financing of the illegal armed formations, the so-called "Donetsk People's Republic" ("DPR") and "Luhansk People's Republic" ("LPR"), by a former deputy of the Odesa City Council together with the management of a construction company, the SBU's press center reported.

Law enforcers have established that one of the major Odesa developers conceals part of the sold property in its financial reports and gets paid in cash. Then the money is transferred to one of the former deputies of the Odesa City Council, who has "interests" in the construction business.

"Special services officers documented that the deputy, earlier put on the international wanted list, found a safe haven in Russia and allocated a share of his profit for funding the so-called "DPR" and "LPR", the report says.

According to the SBU, in order to obtain additional evidence in the criminal proceedings opened under Part 2 Article 258-5 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, the officers are conducting searches at the premises of the construction company involved and the places of residence of persons targeted by the probe.

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https://www.unian.info/society/2246...cement-operation-underway-in-zakarpattia.html
16 November 2017

Today, November 16, military prosecutors, together with counterintelligence operatives of the SBU Security Service of Ukraine, border guards and national police internal security units began a special raid to document the illegal activities of persons who may be involved in the illegal seizure of land plot along the border strip in Zakarpattia region, as well as in the production and sales of drugs, according to the military prosecutor of the Western region Oleh Seniuk.

"This morning, a special operation was launched in Zakarpattia region as part of an investigation into the illegal activities of a gang who unlawfully alienated a land plot along the border strip in Zakarpattia region, as well as set up the illegal sale of highly dangerous drugs... both in Ukraine and abroad, with the use of these land plots adjacent to the border strip," Seniuk said.

He also noted that so far over 100 searches were conducted, both in private households and in premises of business entities. More than 60 operatives of the military prosecutor's office, some 50 officers of the special department of the State Border Guard Service, more than 70 counterintelligence agents of the SBU Security Service, as well as 70 vehicles and a helicopter are involved in the unprecedented raid.

The operation is under way.

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https://www.unian.info/politics/224...-in-donbas-than-british-army-has-klimkin.html

16 November 2017

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin in his exclusive comments to MailOnline has said the Russian Federation has sent in Donbas some 500 tanks, in addition to hundreds of other heavy weapons and thousands of Russian regular troops and mercenaries.

His stark warning comes after Theresa May sparked a row with Russia by accusing the country of trying to "undermine free societies" and "sow discord in the West", MailOnline reported. Ukraine's foreign minister said of the latest row: "Russia lies on an industrial scale."

"The world must better understand this and the nature of hybrid warfare as very clearly the British Prime Minister does." "We must finally wake up and unite against this Imperialist Neo-red threat posed to the free world by the current Kremlin administration," he added.

"We suffer at the hard end of Russia's hybrid war which they unleashed on the world in 2014 with the invasion Crimea and Donbas in my country," he said.

"Along with the tanks and guns and meddling in elections this is the nature of Russia's hybrid war waged on the west today." Klimkin added that while in Crimea, "the population now live under a repressive totalitarian regime of illegal occupation".

"We discuss Donbas, Russia says they are not there, despite having up to 500 tanks – four times as many operational tanks as the British Army – in addition to hundreds of other heavy weapons and thousands of Russian regular troops and mercenaries," he said.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/462266.html
"The Ukrainian side in this context confirmed its full commitment to the obligations it assumed," Olifer said.

Speaking of strikes on civilian infrastructure facilities, Olifer said that "the populated localities of Hranytne, Zaitseve, Maryinka, Vodyane, Shyrokyne, Avdiivka, and Trokhizbenka were shelled using weapons prohibited by the Minsk Agreements just recently."

During the work of the Trilateral Contact Group, the Ukrainian side also condemned the statement made by the head of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic, Igor Plotnitsky, who, according to Kyiv, doubts the restoration of Ukraine's sovereignty in Donbas, Olifer said. "Such statements contradict the Minsk Agreements and hinder the peace process," she said.

Additionally, work on release of hostages is continuing in the humanitarian subgroup. "We're taking all possible measures to ensure people's return to their families and loved one in the near future," she said.

The Ukrainian side brought up the following issues on the agenda of the political subgroup: the cancellation of Russia's recognition of documents issues by authorities of the self-proclaimed Donbas republics, the return of Ukrainian state and private property in Donbas without any conditions, forgoing the ruble zone, and establishing the border in the part of Donbas outside Ukraine's control, she said.

"We also insist on creating a special working subgroup on returning the uncontrolled section of the Russian-Ukrainian border to Ukraine's control," Olifer said.

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[Hindustani78]

https://www.unian.info/war/2248149-enemy-attacks-ukraine-forces-in-donbas-22-times-in-last-day.html

17 November 2017

Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 22 times in the past 24 hours, according to the press center of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.


In the Luhansk sector, the Svitlodarska Duha bulge became the epicenter of the confrontation. The enemy had been shelling the Ukrainian fortified positions near the village of Luhanske for about three hours, using 82mm mortars, grenade launchers, machine guns, and infantry fighting vehicles.

In total, over 90 shells were launched. The Ukrainian soldiers returned fire to almost every shelling. In addition, the defenders of the village of Makarove came under fire from 82mm mortars, grenade launchers and heavy machine guns in the evening. The enemy also provoked the Ukrainian troops by firing from small arms near the village of Krymske.


In the Donetsk sector, the situation was most tense near the Sea of Azov. Violating the Minsk accords, the enemy used 152mm artillery systems near the village of Vodiane, as well as 120mm mortars against the defenders of the villages of Pavlopil and Shyrokyne. The Ukrainian positions near the town of Avdiyivka were attacked with grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms. Moreover, the Ukrainian positions near the village of Novotroyitske came under grenade launcher fire, while the defenders of the village of Starohnativka were attacked by the illegal armed groups with heavy machine guns at the end of the day.

The Ukrainian military suppressed the enemy fire 15 times in the last day.

Fortunately, no Ukrainian soldiers were killed or wounded in action.
**********
https://www.unian.info/war/2248149-enemy-attacks-ukraine-forces-in-donbas-22-times-in-last-day.html

Rivne military training area hosts large-scale combat training drills with involvement of Mi-24 and Mi-8 helicopters of all brigades of Army Aviation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

According to Chief of Army Aviation Col. Ihor Yaremenko, ‘Crews of combat and transport aviation proved their readiness to act independently in the interests of ground units and to fulfill tasks, as well as demonstrated professionalism and skills”.

The best Mi-24 and Mi-8 helicopter flight will be defined following the results of these drills.

 

[Hindustani78]

https://www.unian.info/war/2250249-ukraine-reports-1-kia-amid-enemy-shellings-in-donbas.html

18 November 2017

The situation in the zone of the Anti-Terrorist Operation over the past day remained difficult as Russian-occupation forces continued violating ceasefire, using weapons proscribed by Minsk accords to engage Ukrainian troops, according to the press center of the ATO Headquarters.


Traditionally, the enemy actively violated ceasefire in the dark hours, the ATO HQ wrote on Facebook.

The Russian-occupation forces were especially active in the Luhansk direction. Militants fired 120-mm and 82-mm mortar shells at the defenders of the Triokhizbenka. The enemy repeatedly fired the same types of mortars and grenade launchers at the defenders of Troitske and Luhanske. Besides, 11 mortar shells of a 120-mm caliber were fired near Novozvanivka, while the positions of the AFU near Stanytsia Luhanska, Novoluhansk, Svitlodarsk and Zolote (twice) were fired upon from light infantry weapons.

On the Donetsk line, the situation was most tense near the Sea of Azov. Three times the invaders opened fire from mortars of various calibers, grenade launchers and small arms at Ukrainian soldiers who keep their ground near Pavlopil. The positions of the Ukrainian military in the suburb of Avdiyivka were shelled from grenade launchers, fired upon from heavy machine guns and small arms, while the defenders of Maryinka were fired upon from large-caliber machine guns.

"In general, over the past day, the occupiers violated the truce 25 times. In response, Ukrainian servicemen suppressed enemy fire 15 times.

A soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was killed in an enemy shelling. Another soldier was wounded and one - injured," the headquarters said.

************
https://www.unian.info/war/2250501-...most-dangerous-areas-for-civilians-media.html

The HALO Trust, a humanitarian mine-clearance organization, estimates that land mines have caused 1,796 casualties in eastern Ukraine — among them 238 civilians killed and a further 491 injured — since the start of the war in 2014. The rate of casualties from mines and unexploded ordnance has increased over the years — a trend likely to continue as displaced families return to areas where fighting has subsided, now riddled with explosive remnants.

Deaths of three Ukrainian soldiers from a land mine blast here last year put the area on the radar of the Danish Demining Group. Its manpower is drawn from the local population — supervisors say risks are manageable and training takes just a few weeks. In the Donbas twilight zone, this job is attractive. Pay is decent, the task empowering. This site is expected to be cleared within a year.

*************

 

[Hindustani78]

https://www.unian.info/war/2276106-...cks-on-ukraine-troops-3-wias-in-last-day.html

03 December 2017

Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 30 times in the past 24 hours, with three Ukrainian soldiers reported as wounded in action (WIA), according to the press center of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.

"Russian-occupation forces resumed shelling the ATO strongholds, using heavy artillery. In particular, the enemy actively violated ceasefire in the dark hours," the ATO HQ wrote on Facebook.

In the Luhansk sector, the hottest spot was at the Svitlodarska Duha bulge, where the occupiers lobbed over twenty 152mm shells near the village of Novoluhanske. The enemy also intensively fired mortars of various calibers, grenade launchers and small arms on the Ukrainian fortified positions outside the villages of Luhanske, Troyitske, Novo-Oleksandrivka, Novotoshkivske, and Novoluhanske, as well as on the outskirts of Zolote and Popasna. In the Donetsk sector, the situation was most tense near the Sea of Azov.

For several hours, the enemy had been firing 122mm artillery and mortars of various calibers near the villages of Vodiane and Shyrokyne. The Ukrainian strong points came under the enemy fire from 120mm mortars near the village of Talakivka, and from infantry weapons near the villages of Pavlopil and Hnutove. At dawn, the militants were shelling the Ukrainian positions from antitank missile system near the village of Opytne.

The invaders fired at least 200 rounds and shells on the ATO strongholds. The Russian-backed mercenaries also resumed shelling of the front-line settlements. The residential areas of the town of Avdiyivka, and the villages of Vodiane and Verkhniotoretske came under fire from mortars, grenade launchers and small arms. A 31-year-old woman was wounded as a result of the attack on Verkhniotoretske.

**************

 

[Hindustani78]

https://www.unian.info/war/2277049-...-ukraine-troops-1-kia-4-wias-in-last-day.html

04 December 2017 War

Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 38 times in the past 24 hours, with one Ukrainian soldier reported as killed in action (KIA) and another four as wounded in action (WIA), according to the press center of the Ukrainian Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.

"The Russian occupation forces more often shell the Ukrainian positions from weapons that should have been withdrawn from the contact line, including tanks," the ATO HQ said on Facebook on Monday, December 4.

In the Luhansk sector, the enemy was active near the villages of Troyitske and Luhanske after dark. Here, the militants used 120mm mortars. In addition, the invaders repeatedly fired grenade launchers and small arms to attack ATO positions near the town of Zolote, and the villages of Novo-Oleksandrivka, Zhovte and Krymske.

In Donetsk region, the epicenter of confrontation shifted from the Mariupol sector to the outskirts of the town of Avdiyivka in the Donetsk sector in the evening. Here, the occupiers repeatedly opened fire from all available infantry weapons, and closer to midnight the militants had been firing from a tank's cannon for more than an hour.

"The enemy used 82mm mortars against the Ukrainian troops in the villages of Verkhniotoretske and Lebedynske, while the defenders of the village of Talakivka and the town of Maryinka came under fire from grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms," the ATO HQ said.

**************
https://www.unian.info/war/2277201-...my-sabotage-group-near-pisky-1-wia-video.html
04 December 2017 War

A skirmish has taken place near the village of Pisky in Donbas, as a result of which one Ukrainian soldier has been wounded, according to the Ukrainian Military TV.

An enemy subversive and reconnaissance group attempted to seize the dominant heights over Pisky amid fog. The Ukrainian military noticed the militants with the help of a thermal imager, after which a fight began. The enemy attack was repulsed, the commander of a unit of the Armed Forces of Ukraine who was adjusting fire was wounded. Now he is in the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Mechnikov Clinical Hospital.

**************
https://www.unian.info/war/2278039-...-car-in-maiorsk-driver-shaken-but-unhurt.html

04 December 2017 War

Chairman of Donetsk Military and Civilian Administration Pavlo Zhebrivsky has confirmed the Russian occupation forces fired at a civilian car in the village of Maiorsk.

"Last night, the Russian-backed militants fired at a civilian car in Maiorsk. According to Chairman of Zaitseve Military and Civilian Administration, Volodymyr Vesiolkin, a bullet fired from the occupied area (from a slag heap of Izotov coal mine) hit the car while the driver, a local resident, was driving it into the garage. Miraculously, the man was shaken but unhurt," he wrote on Facebook.

According to Zhebrivsky, this is another confirmation that the words "ceasefire" and "security of civilians" are empty phrases for the pro-Russian militants.

***********
http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/466874.html

More than 2,500 civilians have been killed and 9,000 others injured since the beginning of the conflict in Donbas, according to a Humanitarian Response Plan 2018 for November 2017, which was published on the website humanitarianresponse.info.

"With the parties to the conflict failing to adhere to the various ceasefire agreements, more than 2,500 civilians have been killed since April 2014 and another 9,000 injured," reads the document posted on Monday.

The report notes that along the "contact line," an average of 40 armed clashes are recorded every day.

"Up to 200,0002 people living in the 5 km zone along the 'contact line' in the government controlled area regularly experience injury to or loss of loved ones or their neighbors, damage to property, and systematic barriers to accessing basic services," reads the report.

According to the report, the elderly constitute a significant proportion of the conflict-affected population in Ukraine, making up almost 30% of the 3.4 million people in need of humanitarian assistance and protection, and half the registered internally displaced persons (IDPs).

Humanitarian Response is a specialized digital service of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/466953.html

Illegal armed formations violated the truce in Donbas nine times from 00:00 to 18:00 local time on Monday, December 4; in particular, residential areas in the village of Travneve in Donetsk region's Bakhmutsky district came under fire, the press center of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters (HQ) has said.

"At night, the invaders used mortars to shell two private houses in the village of Travneve. Fortunately, the people were not hurt, but the roofs of the houses were damaged. In total, the Russian terrorist troops have already violated the ceasefire nine times since midnight," the ATO HQ wrote on Facebook on Monday.

During their attacks on the ATO forces, militants continue using the weapons that "should have been withdrawn from the contact line long ago."

In particular, they intensively used 82mm mortars, grenade launchers of various types, and infantry fighting vehicles' cannons to shell Ukrainian troops near the village of Pisky in Yasynuvata district in the Donetsk sector.

"The hottest spot in the Luhansk sector is the Svitlodarska Duha bulge. The enemy repeatedly shelled our defensive positions near the village of Luhanske, using mortars and grenade launchers. Positions near the village of Novoluhanske were attacked by an infantry fighting vehicle and a twin anti-aircraft gun mount. What is more, the enemy used grenade launchers to attack the defenders of the villages of Zhovte and Zaitseve, and large-caliber machine guns were used to fire on the defenders of the village of Troyitske," it said.

What is more, militants do not stop intensive reconnaissance along the Svitlodarska Duha, involving special operations teams "whose goal is to perform acts of provocations, subversive activity at transport infrastructure facilities, crowded places to continue accusing and discrediting the Armed Forces of Ukraine."

********



According to the Ukrainian party of JCCC, the Russian occupations troops keep on violating the Minsk agreements and international humanitarian law. They have increased the number of attacks, as well as increase the quantity of mines along the demarcation line.

There were found Russian antipersonnel fragmentation mines POM-2 in east of Ukraine. Their marking says they were manufactured in 1993 in Russia.

The Ukrainian part of the JCCC underlines that Ukraine does not produce these mines and does not supply them to the Ukrainian army.

There were no depots with mines and other engineering equipment in the region before the Russian intervention, thus all the mines used by terrorists are from Russia.

These actions just demonstrate their unwilling to observe the Minsk agreements and ceasefire.

Ukrainian party of the Joint Ceasefire Control Centre

 

[Hindustani78]

https://www.unian.info/war/2278751-...ter-georgia-war-ex-head-of-intel-service.html
04 December 2017

Russia began early preparations for aggression against Ukraine and started amassing a military grouping along Ukraine
borders after the war in Georgia, former head of the Main Intelligence Department of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine (2008-2010) and ex-chairman of the Foreign Intelligence Service (2014-2016) Viktor Gvozd told a Kyiv press conference Monday.

He noted that Russia's aggression has shown the importance of intelligence efforts in overcoming the challenges facing Ukraine: "The developments we have witnessed since 2014, the aggression against Ukraine showed how many challenges we are facing. They have focused our attention on how important the intelligence must be for our state," Gvozd said, according to an UNIAN correspondent.

He added that while he led Ukraine’s intelligence services at different periods of time, he felt that the efforts of intelligence operatives had been underestimated and misunderstood, as well as the very tool of intelligence. “And I was asking myself the question, why is that?” said Gvozd.

He added that he would not comment on personnel policy or any other internal issues. “As someone who has worked in intelligence, I will only speak about geopolitics and external issues," Gvozd added.

"When I was the head of military intelligence, I saw certain inconsistencies,” he said, noting that back in 2009, the intelligence agency already saw certain preparations on the part of the Russian Federation after Georgia war [an armed confrontation in South Ossetia in August 2008], when Russians “began to deploy groupings [of its armed forces] along our borders”.

Gvozd said that as early as in 2009, he realized that Ukraine needs to “change approaches to our intelligence efforts".

************
https://www.unian.info/war/2279329-ukraine-reports-3-wias-amid-21-enemy-attacks-in-last-day.html

05 December 2017 War

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

"The Svitlodarska Duha bulge, which is in the Luhansk sector, remained the most volatile confrontation area. Here, the largest intensity of shelling from mortars of various calibers and the entire range of infantry weapons was recorded near the village of Luhanske, and lasted almost during the whole day with small interruptions. A skirmish also occurred in this area, which lasted more than five hours. Our military repulsed a subversive and reconnaissance group of the militants from the 7th separate motorized rifle brigade of the 2nd Army Corps of the Southern Military District of Russia.

The enemy suffered losses as a result of the fight, namely one was killed and two others were wounded. In addition, the enemy used heavy machine guns against the defenders of the village of Novoluhanske," the report says.

Exposing the civilian population to danger, the militants fired 152mm artillery systems near the village of Vrubivka, a settlement that is located several kilometers from the contact line.

"More than two dozen 120mm shells were launched by the enemy on the Ukrainian fortified positions near the villages of Krymske and Prychepylivka. In the Donetsk sector, the Ukrainian fortified positions near the villages of Pisky and Kamianka repeatedly came under fire from 82mm mortars and infantry weapons," the ATO HQ said.

*************
https://www.unian.info/war/2279921-...ags-on-five-lpr-administrative-buildings.html

05 December 2017 War

The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine has spotted flags of the aggressor country, the Russian Federation, in the temporarily occupied city of Luhansk, according to Liga.net.

The observers for the first time saw that the flags of the Russian Federation were put up along with the flags of the so-called "Luhansk People's Republic" ("LPR") on some administrative buildings in Luhansk, the press service of the mission told LIGA.net. "These flags were on five buildings that are used by "LPR" members.

The flags of the Russian Federation were not seen on other administrative buildings," it said.

**************

According to the Ukrainian party of JCCC, despite the school ceasefire, militants keep on shelling villages along the demarcation line using the weapons forbidden by the Minsk agreements.

On Monday, December 04, the patrol of the monitoring group of the Ukrainian party of the JCCC visited Travneve (Donetsk oblast) where observed the damaged houses. Militants shelled the village with 120 mm mortars, automatic grenade launchers, and heavy machineguns.

These actions endanger life and health of civilians and cause humanitarian crisis in the region. The illegal armed formations damaged power lines near Holmivskyi supplying power to 200 citizens of Travneve.

**************

The Russian proxies shelled Vrubivka (Luhansk oblast) with 152 mm artillery. The illegal armed formations make attempts to threaten civilians by these actions and demonstrate violations of the Minsk agreements, as well as their willing to escalate the conflict in the region.

***********

as of December 04, 2017, states a sharp increase in the number of explosions at the Donetsk filtration station. The mission camera recorded 557 explosions in government-controlled territory (from east to west) compared with previous reporting period.

The Ukrainian party of the JCCC stresses the recorded facts demonstrate the real picture and show those who are really interested in escalation of situation in east of Ukraine.

**************

 

[Hindustani78]

https://www.unian.info/war/2281789-russian-proxies-attack-ukraine-24-times-in-last-day.html
06 December 2017

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

"In the Luhansk sector, the occupiers fired mortars of various calibers to attack the Ukrainian fortified positions near the villages of Luhanske, Zaitseve and Novoluhanske. The defenders of the villages of Krymske and Novoluhanske came under fire from grenade launchers and small arms," the report says.

In the Donetsk sector, the enemy shelled the defenders of the village of Vodiane several times, using mortars and grenade launchers, as well as small arms near the village of Starohnativka. Moreover, the Russian-backed mercenaries violated the ceasefire near the town of Avdiyivka, using mortars and grenade launchers.

In addition, they opened fire from infantry fighting vehicles and grenade launchers near the village of Bohdanivka. Fortunately, no Ukrainian soldiers were killed or wounded in action.

**************

06 December 2017

Ukrainian Defense Minister, Army General Stepan Poltorak says the conflict in Donbas is in its active phase and it is not a frozen conflict, according to the ministry's press service.

https://www.unian.info/war/2282616-...active-phase-rather-than-frozen-conflict.html

"I think it's too early to talk about a frozen conflict when our positions and populated areas have been shelled 14,000 times this year alone, to talk about a frozen conflict when 400 civilians have been killed this year alone," Poltorak told a Ukrainian TV channel in an interview, the press service reported.

"I don't think this is a frozen conflict. It is in an active phase – there are hostilities, clashes and shelling every day. You get information from the Anti-Terrorist Operation zone and are aware of what has been happening there," Poltorak said.

He stressed that the main task of the Armed Forces is to defend Ukraine, its territorial integrity and protect the Ukrainian people.

Poltorak stressed that the Russian Federation should withdraw its forces from Donetsk and Luhansk and return Crimea to Ukraine.

***************

http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/467521.html

Ukraine's Ministry for Temporarily Occupied Territories and Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) has said that Germany's DHL, Adidas and Puma violate the legal regime for temporarily occupied territory of Crimea.

"The operation of the above-mentioned foreign companies (DHL Express, Adidas AG, Puma SE) in Crimea contradicts the policy of non-recognition provided in the UN General Assembly resolution on territorial integrity of Ukraine No. 68/262 dated March 27, 2014, and violates the established European Union restrictive measures (sanctions) against the Russian Federation," the ministry said on December 6.

The ministry said that these companies placed information on their website, according to which the address of their stores in Crimea have the Russian Federation in the section "country."

According to the report, the ministry appealed to the relevant authorities in order to take measures and protect independence, state sovereignty, security and territorial integrity and inviolability of the state borders and national interests of Ukraine.

***************

http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/467502.html

Militants shelled Ukrainian army positions 24 times on Tuesday, the press service of the headquarters of the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) in Donbas reported.

Militants fired grenade launchers, mortars, small arms, and weapons of infantry combat vehicles against Ukrainian army positions in Donetsk and Luhansk sectors, the headquarters said.

According to it, the Ukrainian army sustained no casualties.

***************

While visiting the Donetsk Filtration Station, the International observers of the OSCE SMM recorded the consequences of attacks launched by militants.

According to the report of the OSCE SMM of December 05, 2017, militants used 120 mm mortars and launched attacks from southern east positions which are under control of the militants.

If one chlorine reservoir of the Donetsk Filtration Station is damaged, a humanitarian catastrophe will be inevitable in the region and local citizens will live without potable water.

All these actions of the illegal armed formations prove their unwilling to observe the Minsk agreements and provoke humanitarian catastrophe in the region.

*************

The Head of State especially stressed the need to ensure decent accommodation of military personnel. He stressed that, together with the creation of the new army and the restoration of the combat capabilities of the troops, one of his main priorities was to provide decent social conditions for military personnel.

“Over the past two years, almost two and a half thousand servicemen in the Armed Forces have received apartments. More than two thousand premises were built for those who serve in the National Guard, in the Security Service, at the border, in the Special Transport Service,” Petro Poroshenko said. At the same time, he noted that the Verkhovna Rada had voted in favor of the Law, which subordinated the Special Transport Service to the Ministry of Defense.

“New barracks are being built all over the country, inter alia, here. Although, it is hard to call these new buildings with such an obsolete name,” the President said. According to the President, he initiated a large-scale project of construction of modern dormitories, not barracks for contractors.

“In two years I am planning to move 25 thousand servicemen from tents and moldy Soviet barracks to modern and comfortable premises,” Petro Poroshenko emphasized.

The Head of State informed that the construction of 91 dormitories had already begun. In the second half of 2018, 93 more will be built.

Petro Poroshenko emphasized that he would continue doing everything possible to improve the legislative provision of social protection of servicemen.

In the presence of Ukrainian soldiers, the President signed the Law “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine on the Provision of Accommodation for Servicemen and Family Members of Servicemen who Perished while Performing their Military Duties”.

 

[Hindustani78]

President Petro Poroshenko visited the premiere of the movie „Cyborgs”. The Head of State thanked the creative team that produced the movie and congratulated those present on the Day of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Petro Poroshenko also presented the Order „For Merits” of the third degree to director of the movie Akhtem Seitablayev.

The Head of State thanked the creative team for the fact that the Day of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was chosen for the premiere. He stressed that due to the joint efforts of the entire Ukrainian people, he had managed to create „one of the most powerful armies on the European continent”. „An army with a combat experience, for which the highest price was paid. More than 2,750 Ukrainian soldiers, including almost 2,400 AFU servicemen gave their lives for Ukraine to be preserved. For each piece of native land,” the President stressed.

„It is difficult to overestimate the uniqueness of the work that was done. The movie is based on absolutely accurate documentary material and made in close cooperation with our ATO heroes. And a large number of phrases and episodes are taken from real life. The name ‚Cyborgs’, which our enemies — aggressors, wanted to use to offend us, on the contrary, became synonymous with courage, persistence and patriotism of the Ukrainian warrior,” Petro Poroshenko said. „This word will be in the history of the Ukrainian army, as well as of the Donetsk airport, forever,” he added.

*************

According to the press centre of the ATO HQ, the Russian proxies keep on shelling the Ukrainian army positions along the whole frontline.

The enemy uses heavy weapons forbidden by the Minsk agreements.

The hotspot was in Pryazovia (Cis-Azov region) where militants launched attacks using mortars and other weapons and shelled ATO positions near Vodiane and Shyrokyne.