Civil war in Ukraine: News & discussion

[Hindustani78]

ATO troops destroy two UAVs | Міністерство оборони України
Tuesday, July 14. DONBAS – According to the press centre of the ‘anti-terror’ operation (ATO) HQ, the situation in the region is still tense. The number of attacks against the Ukrainian positions has increased over the past 24 hours.

Russian terrorist groups shelled the Ukrainian positions and local communities for 80 times. Bandits used 152 mm and 122 mm artillery for 5 times, 120 mm mortars for 32 times, as well as tanks and multiple rocket launchers.

Militants attacked the Ukrainian positions near Opytne, Avdiyvka, Mariynka, Novhorodske, Krasnohorivka, Mayorsk, Pisky, Vodyane, Leninske, Khimik, Krymske. The enemy’s sniper targeted the Ukrainian soldiers near Shyrokyne.

The enemy performed the aerial reconnaissance. Ukrainian military destroyed two enemy’s unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

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

Two policemen wounded in explosions at two police stations in west Ukraine - watch on - uatoday.tv
Right Sector and police have accused each other of initiating violence in Mukacheve

Two policemen were wounded in explosions at two district police stations in the west Ukrainian city of Lviv on Tuesday (July 14).

Ukraine's Interior Ministry said in a statement that the entrances to the stations had been booby-trapped with explosives and the safety clip of a grenade was found at one of the sites.

The explosive experts were seen working at the explosion scene.

Local police chief said the motives of those behind the crime may be political.

"We are going to build our investigative leads according to these particular motives - the aim to destabilise situation in the west of Ukraine, to spread panic among the population and to terrify (people)," Lviv regional police chief Dmytro Zaharia said.

On Saturday (July 11), two people were killed in a firefight between members of the ultranationalist group, Right Sector, and police in the town of Mukacheve in western Ukraine, prompting President Petro Poroshenko to call for all "illegal groups" to disarm.

Ukrainian MP Andriy Teteruk told Ukraine Today he understood the motives behind Right Sector's actions.

"They're [Right Sector] trying to destroy the corruption scheme near the border and I see they want to build ukraine without corruption but using very extreme methods. In my opinion we should stop them being able to use this kind of force."

Right Sector is one of a number of militarised groups that emerged during violent protests that toppled Moscow-backed President Viktor Yanukovych a year ago.

The militias went on to fight alongside Ukrainian troops in the east against Russian-backed militants, but concerns have risen over whether they could pose a challenge to President Poroshenko and the government or threaten public security.

Right Sector and police have accused each other of initiating violence in Mukacheve, but on Tuesday a spokesman for the group said two of its members had surrendered to the SBU security service.

 

[vostok]

Kiev forced to fight its own fascist militias
A pro-government Ukrainian militia accused of neo-Nazism has fought a gun battle with the country’s security forces that left at least three dead and several police vehicles destroyed by rocket-propelled grenades.

The fighting marks the first clash between Kiev and one of the country’s “volunteer battalions” who have led the fight against pro-Russian separatists.

The fierce confrontation in the city of Mukachevo, near Ukraine’s western border, involved members of Right Sector, a controversial nationalist group. Three policemen were among six injured, officials from the Ukrainian interior ministry said.

A stand-off with Ukrainian police continued yesterday while Right Sector announced that
...
Kiev forced to fight its own fascist militias | The Times

 

[Hindustani78]

Eight Ukraine soldiers killed in past 24 hours: Kiev | Zee News
Last Updated: Wednesday, July 15, 2015 - 16:20
Kiev: Eight Ukrainian troops have been killed and 16 wounded in the war-torn east as pro-Russian rebels launched one of their fiercest attacks since the signing of a shaky ceasefire deal, Kiev security officials said on Wednesday.

"Over the past day there was one of the most intense bombardments of Ukrainian territory since the signing of the Minsk agreement," Ukraine`s Security Council said in a statement, referring to the February peace deal. "Eight Ukrainian soldiers were killed and 16 were wounded", the statement said.

Kiev forced to fight its own fascist militias
A pro-government Ukrainian militia accused of neo-Nazism has fought a gun battle with the country’s security forces that left at least three dead and several police vehicles destroyed by rocket-propelled grenades.

The fighting marks the first clash between Kiev and one of the country’s “volunteer battalions” who have led the fight against pro-Russian separatists.

The fierce confrontation in the city of Mukachevo, near Ukraine’s western border, involved members of Right Sector, a controversial nationalist group. Three policemen were among six injured, officials from the Ukrainian interior ministry said.

A stand-off with Ukrainian police continued yesterday while Right Sector announced that
...
Kiev forced to fight its own fascist militias | The Times

The violence first broke out at a café and then continued at a sports complex in Mukacheve at around 2 p.m. on Saturday, and involved around 20 Right Sector members and people close to lawmaker Mykhailo Lanyo who is from the area.

Right Sector is currently embroiled in a standoff in Mukacheve, Zakarpattya Oblast, where a shootout between members of the group and police resulted in three dead and triggered fears that the group might rebel against the post-EuroMaidan authorities.

*****************
Recently in the media there was an appeal fighters 128th individual mountain infantry brigade, deployed in Mukachevo, Transcarpathian region.Soldiers emphasized that "only 20 percent of personnel have the status of combatants and that they do not celebrate winning", although the crew was the main division who has defense Debaltsevo bridgehead. It was also announced problematic issue of compulsory compensation for lost value due to their own uniforms.To deal with all complaints about fighters in the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine created a special commission. The results of the Commission really confirm that there are some problems, but not everything looks as announced fighters.So, for teams participating in the anti-terrorist operation state awards received 655 soldiers, including two officers - the title of Hero of Ukraine, Ministry of Defense of Ukraine distinctions awarded 168 military brigade - Chief of the General Staff - 61 soldier. In addition, 34 officers received regular crew rank ahead of schedule.


****************
Escalation of situation in east of Ukraine | Міністерство оборони України
Wednesday, July 15. DONBAS — According to the press centre of the ‘anti-terror’ operation (ATO) HQ, the situation in the region escalated. Yesterday the militants performed 100 attacks against the Ukrainian positions and violated the ceasefire. They used 122 and 152 mm artillery, multiple rocket launchers, 120 mm mortars, and tanks.

Bandits shelled the Ukrainian govt positions near Avdiyvka, Vodyane, Pisky, Kirovo, Novhorodske, and Luhanske; Stanytsya Luhanska, Novotoshkivske, Krymske, Triokhizbenka, Talakivka, and Mykolayvka.

As of 6:00 a.m., this morning, the enemy has already shelled Ukrainian troops near Avdiyvka, Opytne, Starohnativka with 122 and 120 mm howitzers. At the midnight there was a fighting near Opytne ended in the enemy’s failure.


Press reports ATO Staff: the situation in the area of ATU worse. During the last day, July 14, 100 times the Kremlin mercenaries violated the ceasefire

19 times criminals used the positions of the defenders of Ukraine 152-mm and 122-mm guns, 33 times - 120 mm mortars, in 2 cases - MLRS, 13 times - the tanks.In particular, yesterday, from 18 th to 24 hours fell the largest number per day. Under dense fire positions were gangs ATU forces in regions inhabited Avdiivka, questionnaire, water, sand, Kirov, Novgorod, Lugansk, Donetsk that direction.In Lugansk area of Russian-terrorist forces were shelling our troops near the village Stanitsa Luganskaya, Novotoshkivske, Crimean, Trohizbenka.

In Mariupol direction the shots were heard only with small arms near the village Talakivka and Nikolayevka.Today, July 15, as of the 6th hour of the morning, recorded attacks our troops with 122-mm howitzers and 120 mm mortars in areas Avdeevka settlements, questionnaire, Starohnativka. Around midnight, Ukrainian soldiers found and gave rebuff sabotage and intelligence group of militants near the towns The questionnaire.Army forces ATO securely hold defensive lines, give a fitting rebuff the Russian-terrorist forces and are ready for any developments.
*******************

Unremitting attacks rock Stanytsia-Luhanska in east Ukraine - watch on - uatoday.tv
OSCE surveys damage by Russian-backed militants

Fighting between Russian-backed militants and Ukrainian troops continues in east Ukraine despite a ceasefire agreed to in February between the two sides.

OSCE right watch dog recently reported that Russian-backed militant forces have build up a large concentration of military equipment along part of the front line in eastern Ukraine, sparking fears of another advance against government-held positions like these ones here.

OSCE members, background in blue vests, speak to journalists as local women carry a bag while walking by an exploded bridge between positions of Russia-backed rebels and Ukrainian government forces in Luhanska village, Luhansk region, eastern Ukraine, July 6, 2015 (AP Photo)

 

[vostok]

‘EU periphery countries taking brunt of US/EU interventionist policies in Ukraine’
Daniel McAdams is Executive Director of the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity. He served as foreign affairs advisor to US Congressman Ron Paul (R-Texas) for 12 years.
The EU and the US are the ones who created the chaos in Ukraine, said Daniel McAdams, of the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity. The countries on the EU periphery like Hungary have to take on the burden receiving thousands of refugees, he added.

Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko has called for a crackdown on paramilitary units working in the country, saying no political force should have armed squads at its disposal. The statement came after a violent stand-off in the western town of Mukachevo, between far-right extremists from the Right Sector group and the police.

RT: What is the Right Sector to Ukraine, do you think? And what’s the Western attitude now to the radical groups in Ukraine?

MA: I think the Right Sector, and I don’t want to overemphasize this, but I think the Right Sector troops are to Ukraine what Al-Qaeda is in Syria. They’ve been necessary and they’ve been supported by the US and the EU because they are the best fighters. We just saw [yesterday] that a tank battalion in the regular Ukrainian army made a video saying“we’re not going to fight anymore.” You’ve had problems with morale in the conscripted Ukrainian army. They don’t want to be there, they would rather be home.

The Right Sector is an ideological army like Al-Qaeda. Therefore they are motivated for other reasons to fight. Therefore, it would be very difficult to rein in groups like this. They were extremely useful in ratcheting up the violence for the Maidan. As a matter of fact, you needed to have that for the revolution to get off the ground. However, now you’re facing a Frankenstein monster that has been created by the US and by the EU, and they don’t know what to do about it.

In western Ukraine in the USSR you’ve seen a lot of extreme right groups, as well as in the western Ukraine. There were always skinhead demonstrations and these people are always active. They came to prominence in Maidan but they have been around for a number of years.

People in the West have started to believe their own propaganda. Any mention of neo-Nazis, extreme right wing, this is all just ‘Putin’s propaganda’. So therefore they have not considered this a possibility. US Congress has finally seen that there is a group called Right Sector that is putting SS stickers on their hats and logos on their hats and therefore is a danger.
...
‘EU periphery countries taking brunt of US/EU interventionist policies in Ukraine’ — RT Op-Edge

 

[Styx]

 

[gomerker23]

American dictatorship

Must read to believe: The 25 year old girl / actress in "I am Ukrainian" propaganda video is now deputy governor of Odessa - Red Pill Times


Siding with foreign interests to destroy your country’s [URL='http://www.********.com/view?i=a6b_1434951321']economy and constitution pays off:

The girl from “I am Ukrainian” video, Yulia Marushevskaya, has been appointed 3rd in command for Saakashvili’s team in Odessa, at just 25 years old. Saakashvili claimed that she has been “educated” in Harvard and Stanford, but Standford University states no one by that name studied there. She has no other qualifications and no experience. Well, at least she’s not a wanted pro-American strongman like her boss.[/URL]

The original “I am a Ukrainian” video was made by a Western team with connections to US gov’t.

 

[vostok]

32nd humanitarian convoy from Russia arrived to Donetsk

 

[Hindustani78]

Militants completed about 90 attacks | Міністерство оборони України
Thursday, July 16. DONBAS — According to the press centre of the ‘anti-terror’ operation (ATO) HQ, the situation in the region is still tense. Yesterday, the Russian terrorist groups completed about 90 attacks against the Ukrainian army positions. Bandits used the weapons forbidden by the Minsk agreements for 33 times.

Russian terrorist groups shelled Kodema village with 152 mm artillery. There are casualties among civilians.

Militants attacked the Ukrainian positions near Avdiyvka, Novhorodske, Verkhniotoretske, Opytne, Kirovo, Pershe Travnya, Leninske, Mykolayvka-2, Mayorsk, and Starohnativka.

As of 6:00 a.m., July 16, the terrorists have opened harassing fire near Shchastya and in direction of the Donetsk airport with small arms.

****************
Major General Andriy Taran: The situation in the region is getting worse | Міністерство оборони України
Thursday, July 16. DONBAS — The Ukrainian party of the Joint Centre for the Ceasefire Control and Coordination (JCCC) states the situation in the east of Ukraine is tense, and it is getting worse in some regions.

On July 14, the JCCC military monitors attempted to cease fire in Donetsk, Horlivka, and Luhansk directions for 41 times.

Over the past days, the militants have accumulated heavy weapons, military equipment and strength along the whole frontline such as artillery systems and multiple rocket launchers in violation of the Minsk agreements.

Officials of the JCCC Ukrainian party call the Russian representatives for influencing the illegal armed formations in the region in order to stop these violations. These attempts are inefficient.

Almost every day militants shell local communities and civil facilities resulting in casualties among civilians.

Pro-Russian militants often open fire from residential quarters of cities and towns, even from schools and kids’ centres.

In the context of this instable situation, we are looking forward for more active role of such an international organization as the OSCE.

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

Recently the club in Odessa Military Medical Center of Southern region held a charity concert for the participants of the antiterrorist operation in the east who undergo treatment and rehabilitation in the medical facility.

treatment to Germany Soldier 28 th separate mechanized brigade Viktor Zhukov, who due to injury in June during Marinka foot amputated two lower limbs.

************
In Donetsk area antiterrorist operation reinforcements arrived as part of separate mechanized brigade. After the two-month training on the ground firing range "Wide lan" Armed Forces of Ukraine occupy a newly erected lines of defense.According to the commander of a mechanized battalion, Major Dmitri Gerasimenko, a short time his subordinates have populated the new fortifications of the trench, and a powerful technology.

The main task of the unit - keeping second-tier defense.- If the enemy break through the first line of defense, our task - to stop it at this limit and discard ago - said Dmitry Gerasimenko. - For this we have every opportunity. Strongholds of the arrival of fighters ready and fully equipped. The battalion is fully equipped and provided with equipment.

Most of our soldiers - among recruits volunteers, but there are those who have defended their homeland with arms.Despite a grueling journey that lasted nearly three days, the newcomers guys are not lost fighting spirit and optimism. Complaints about food and equipment are not. A little tired, but with smiles on their faces and faith in victory, they are ready for combat missions and protect Ukraine.

 

[Hindustani78]

Eleven Ukrainian soldiers wounded in ATO area in past 24 hours| Ukrinform
KYIV, July 16 /Ukrinform/. No Ukrainian servicemen were killed, while eleven soldiers were wounded in the area of the anti-terrorist operation in Donbas as a result of hostilities.

Spokesman for the Presidential Administration on the anti-terrorist operation, Colonel Oleksandr Motuzianyk said this at a briefing in Kyiv, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

" Fortunately, no Ukrainian servicemen were killed in past 24 hours, eleven soldiers were wounded as a result of military clashes over past 24 hours," he said.

******************
Civilians killed after militants shell village in Donbas| Ukrinform
KYIV, July 16 /Ukrinform/. The situation in the ATO area remains stably tense. The Russian-backed militants shelled the positions of Ukrainian forces 90 times for the past 24 hours. The gangs used weapons, banned by the Minsk agreements, 33 times.

This is reported by the ATO press center.

"The Russian-terrorist troops again shelled peaceful settlement of Donbas. At 20:50, the militants used 152mm artillery systems to fire on village of Kodema, Artemivsk district, Donetsk region. Several civilians were killed," reads the statement.

According to the ATO headquarters, the pro-Russian militants intensively shelled the ATO positions near Avdiyivka, Novhorodske, Verkhniotoretske, Opytne, Kirove, Pershe Travnia, Leninske, Mykolaivka-2, Mayorske, Starohnativka in Donetsk region.

As the press center reports, as of 6:00, July 16, the militants used small arms to fire on the positions of our forces near Shchastia (23km north of Luhansk) and in the direction of the Donetsk airport.

 

[Hindustani78]

No servicemen killed, two wounded in ATO area in past 24 hours| Ukrinform

KYIV, July 17 /Ukrinform/. No Ukrainian servicemen were killed, two soldiers were wounded in ATO area in past 24 hours

Spokesman for the Presidential Administration on ATO, Colonel Andriy Lysenko said this at a briefing, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"No casualties were among the Ukrainian servicemen for past 24 hours. Two of our soldiers were wounded," Lysenko said.

Conflict between Right Sector and government escalates (UPDATE, VIDEOS)

Spoiler

Representatives of the Right Sector said on July 12 that it was withdrawing some of its fighters from the war zone as the tense standoff between the nationalist group and the authorities escalated.

Observers have linked the conflict to cigarette smuggling in Zakarpattya Oblast, while the Right Sector describes the standoff as part of the government’s crackdown on volunteer units.

Chorny, commander of the fifth battalion of the Right Sector's Ukrainian Volunteer Corps, and Dmytro Savchenko, a spokesman for the right-wing group, said fighters of the fifth battalion were withdrawing from the war zone. Savchenko said they would take part in a Right Sector protest in Kyiv, though he added they were not going there "with assault rifles and machine guns."

The statements were contradicted by Alla Megel, head of the corps' information department, and Andrei Sharaskin, the corps' spokesman. They told the censor.net.ua news site that the unit's fighters were staying on the front line.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) demanded that a group of armed Right Sector activists near the city of Mukacheve in Zakarpattya Oblast lay down their weapons. The SBU said it would start arresting the activists if they refused to be disarmed.

The developments followed a shootout between Right Sector members on the one hand and police and security guards of lawmaker Mikhailo Lanyo, an ex-member of ousted President Viktor Yanukovych’s Party of Regions, on the other hand in Mukacheve on July 11.

The Right Sector says the conflict was initiated by Lanyo’s people and the police, while the authorities argue the right-wing group shot first.

Following the shootout, the Right Sector activists retreated to the village of Lavky near Mukacheve and then went along a mountain ridge towards the town of Perechyn and Velyky Berezny District, Mustafa Nayyem, a lawmaker from the Petro Poroshenko Bloc, wrote on Facebook on July 12. Right Sector leader Dmytro Yarosh arrived in Mukacheve on the same day in an effort to settle the conflict.

President Petro Poroshenko, SBU Chief Vasyl Hrytsak and Interior Minister Arsen Avakov are currently holding negotiations with Yarosh, Nayyem said.

Two of the 14 Right Sector fighters involved in the clashes in Zakarpattia Oblast voluntarily laid down their arms, Anton Gerashchenko, an aide to Avakov, said. But the Right Sector denied the statement, saying that none of its fighters had voluntarily surrendered.

Meanwhile, the government started moving military equipment towards Mukacheve, Hromadske Television reported. Helicopters were also seen in Mukacheve, according to eyewitness evidence.

Fears of further violent clashes intensified as the Right Sector also said the corps’ reserve units could be moved to any location in the country to support its demands and that the authorities were blocking its training bases.

The Right Sector also responded to the incident by launching nationwide protests for an indefinite period in at least 17 cities and demanding Avakov’s resignation and Lanyo’s arrest. The group has camped out near the presidential administration building in Kyiv since July 11 and set up tents in Dnipropetrovsk.

The Right Sector also said on July 12 it was setting up checkpoints near Kyiv and other regions to prevent police from moving to Zakarpattia Oblast.

The causes of the conflict between the Right Sector and authorities have been attributed to alleged disagreements over smuggling between the nationalist group and Lanyo.

On July 12, Nayyem published a video of the beginning of the shootout between the Right Sector and Lanyo’s people.

The footage shows a man with a bloodied head lying below a Right Sector jeep. The man, whom Nayyem identifies as Yury Rusnak, a security guard protecting Lanyo’s property, is then carried into a jeep and subsequently handed over to medics when an ambulance comes. Rusnak is currently in a coma.

At 5.00 Vitaly Shymonyak, chief of Mukacheve’s police, comes and talks to the Right Sector members. At 5-20, Right Sector activists start shooting in the air.

Alexei Byk, a Right Sector spokesman, said on July 12 that the video was intentionally distorted, and the sound was only switched on when Right Sector activists were shooting. They could have responded to shots fired by the police, he said.

Eleven people, including police officers and civilians, were injured in the shootout, according to Mukacheve’s central hospital. Two Right Sector fighters were killed, and four were injured, the nationalist group said.

The Right Sector has argued that the conflict had been caused by its efforts to crack down on cigarette smuggling. They have accused Lanyo of running a protection racket for the illegal business and claimed that the police and Viktor Medvedchuk, a pro-Russian politician who is highly influential in Zakarpattia Oblast, had initiated an attack on the Right Sector.

Lanyo has denied the allegations, in turn accusing ex-Zakarpattya Oblast Governor Viktor Baloga of leading and financing the Right Sector’s branch in the region – a charge that Baloga denies.

The Right Sector has also been accused of involvement in smuggling.

Nayyem wrote on Facebook on July 12 that, based on information from locals, both the Right Sector and Lanyo could be involved in smuggling. He attributed the dispute to one side’s reluctance to pay protection money to the other side.

He also wrote that, in its talks with the authorities, the Right Sector was represented by Roman Stoiko, the son of an ex-SBU employee. Stoiko, who used to be a police officer, was fired in 2008-2009 and was allegedly caught smuggling cigarettes to Slovakia by hang glider in 2012-2013, Nayyem claimed.

Lawyer previously accused of large-scale fraud appointed to fight corruption

MP involved in Mukacheve incident tries to flee country - read on - uatoday.tv
Ex-Yanukovych party MP Mykhailo Lanyo attempted to leave Ukrainian territory

Mykhailo Lanyo, Ukrainian lawmaker believed to have been involved in a conflict in western Ukrainian town of Mukacheve, which resulted in a shootout on July 11, tried to flee Ukraine, according to a Border Guard Service official, an UNIAN correspondent reports.

Vasyl Servatyuk, deputy head of the Border Guard Service of Ukraine said at a meeting of a Parliament's temporary investigative commission into a Mukacheve incident that the MP changed his mind right at the border check point: "At the Tisa checkpoint there was a routine ID check. The deputy changed his mind and returned back to the Ukrainian territory."

The shootout occurred in Mukacheve on July 11 during a conflict between the Right Sector and the people close to Mykhailo Lanyo, Ukrainian MP.

According to representatives of the Right Sector organization, the Lanyo, himself, had called them to hold talks, because the Right Sector started interfering with the flows of contraband.

American dictatorship

Must read to believe: The 25 year old girl / actress in "I am Ukrainian" propaganda video is now deputy governor of Odessa - Red Pill Times


Siding with foreign interests to destroy your country’s economy and constitution pays off:

The girl from “I am Ukrainian” video, Yulia Marushevskaya, has been appointed 3rd in command for Saakashvili’s team in Odessa, at just 25 years old. Saakashvili claimed that she has been “educated” in Harvard and Stanford, but Standford University states no one by that name studied there. She has no other qualifications and no experience. Well, at least she’s not a wanted pro-American strongman like her boss.

The original “I am a Ukrainian” video was made by a Western team with connections to US gov’t.

Radio Liberty: Russian politician to be appointed Odesa deputy governor - read on - uatoday.tv

Maria Gaidar is a vocal critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin

The governor of Ukraine's Odesa region, Mikheil Saakashvili, has announced that Russian politician Maria Gaidar will be his deputy.

Saakashvili said on July 17 that he had asked Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to grant Gaidar Ukrainian citizenship and to formally appoint her to the post.

Saakashvili added that Gaidar will be supervising social issues in the region

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.ukrinform.ua/eng/news/one_ukrainian_soldier_killed_five_wounded_in_ato_area_for_past_24_hours_333106
KYIV, July 18 /Ukrinform/. One Ukrainian serviceman was killed, five soldiers were wounded as a result of hostilities in the ATO area over past 24 hours.

Spokesman for the Presidential Administration on ATO, Colonel Andriy Lysenko said this at a briefing, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"One soldier was killed, another five were wounded," Lysenko said.

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

Ukraine rebels: Ready to pull back tanks, smaller weapons
July 18, 2015
MOSCOW— Ukraine's Russia-backed separatist rebels say they are ready to pull back smaller-caliber weapons from much of the front line in eastern Ukraine.

Under a February armistice, both the rebels and the Ukrainian forces they are fighting were to pull back heavy weapons to create a buffer zone, but violations have been frequent and fighting continues. Ukrainian military spokesman Col. Andriy Lysenko said Saturday three civilians were killed in shelling of the town of Avdiivka.

Alexander Zakharchenko, leader of the Donetsk rebels, said Saturday his forces are ready to pull back their tanks and armored vehicles with weapons under 100mm, 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) from the front line except in "problem areas," the rebel Donetsk News Agency reported.

Rebels in the Luhansk region are ready for a similar move, it said.

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

Sat Jul 18, 2015 7:25am EDT
Rebel shelling in east Ukraine kills three civilians, soldier: Ukraine military| Reuters

Three civilians have been killed by shelling by pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine's separatist eastern regions, the Ukrainian military said on Saturday, following a week of the deadliest fighting in over a month.

One Ukrainian serviceman was also killed and four others were wounded, military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said in a televised briefing.

The rebels in turn accused Ukrainian forces of intensifying attacks and firing at civilian areas.

More than 6,500 people have been killed since the conflict broke out in eastern Ukraine in April last year. Attacks have lessened since a peace agreement was brokered in Minsk, Belarus, five months ago, but both sides accuse each other of violations.

"The vast majority of shelling and armed attacks by the rebels take place at night to avoid attracting the attention of international observers," Lysenko said.

He said separatists had focused their attacks on residential areas north-west of rebel-held Donetsk city and that a woman, her granddaughter and a 49-year-old man had been killed.

Rebels accused the Ukrainian military of shelling the frontline town of Krasnohorivka overnight, but reported no casualties.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which is monitoring the ceasefire, has said neither side have fully withdrawn heavy artillery from the frontline as required by the peace deal.

On Friday, the head of the OSCE Ivica Dacic described a worsening humanitarian crisis in the east and urged both sides to adhere to the Minsk agreement, which he said was the only chance to achieve peace.

(Reporting by Pavel Polityuk; Writing by Alessandra Prentice; Editing by Keith Weir)

 

[Hindustani78]

July 17, Kyiv region, in the village of Vasylkiv district Kozhukhivka said goodbye with a senior soldier Valentin AG Zagorodny.To conduct the funeral of Hero and give him honor arrived head of district administration Vladislav Odynets, military commissar Vasilkovskaja combined city military commissariat, Lieutenant Colonel Sergei Resin, Deputy Commander of Air Command "Center" to work with staff, Colonel Alexander Binkovskyy, village head Vasil Betz , Vasilkovskaja military garrison villagers, colleagues, friends, relatives.

The senior soldier Valentin Zagorodny military service in 128 separate mechanized brigade Operational Command "West" Army of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as commander of the mortar 2 mortar branch mortar platoon fire support company.

July 14, 2015 during the preparation and mortar positions Situated mine barrages Valentin hit a hostile anti-personnel minefields in the area of urban villages Belovodsk Luhansk region.

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

A man walks through the yard of his home destroyed from shelling between Ukrainian Forces and pro-Russian separatists in Berdyianske village, in the Donetsk region on July 1, 2015.

 

[gomerker23]

 

[vostok]

Budapest Ready to Protect Ethnic Hungarians Living in Ukraine
Hungary is seriously concerned about the outbreak of violence in Mukacheve between Ukraine's Right Sector and local police, and about the fate of close to 150,000 ethnic Hungarians living in the Zakarpattia Region. Moreover, Budapest has stated its readiness to take all necessary measures to protect the minority, Ukrainian news hub Vesti reports.
In an interview for Hungarian business daily Napi Gazdasag, János Lázár, minister in charge of Hungary's Prime Minister's Office, said that the Hungarian government is seriously concerned about the violence in Zakarpattia, and is ready to protect ethnic Hungarians living in Ukraine. "If Hungarians living in Zakarpattia come under threat, and they are forced to flee, we will help all of them and will take them all in," Lázár noted.
...
Budapest Ready to Protect Ethnic Hungarians Living in Ukraine / Sputnik International

 

[Hindustani78]

No servicemen killed, five wounded in ATO area in past 24 hours| Ukrinform
KYIV, July 20 /Ukrinform/. No Ukrainian servicemen were killed, five soldiers were wounded in ATO area in past 24 hours

Spokesman for the Presidential Administration on ATO, Colonel Andriy Lysenko said this at a briefing, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"No casualties were among the Ukrainian servicemen for past 24 hours. Five of our soldiers were wounded," Lysenko said.

******************
Ukrainian positions shelled 75 times over past 24 hours| Ukrinform
KYIV, July 20 /Ukrinform/. The situation in eastern Ukraine remains stably tense, the Russian-terrorist forces continue shelling the ATO positions.

This is reported by the ATO press center.

Over past 24 hours, July 19, the militants used 152mm and 122mm artillery systems six times, 120mm mortars were used 18 times, tanks were used six times. On July 19, the militants launched 75 attacks on the Ukrainian positions.

In particular, the attacks were launched on the ATO positions near Mykolayivka, Pisky, Mayorske, Zaitseve, Hranite, Krasnohorivka, Kirove (Donetsk region), Shchastia, Stanytsia Luhanska, Lebedynske (Luhansk region). About 30 attacks were launched on the positions of Ukrainian military near Marinka (35 km south-west of Donetsk).

As of 6:00 today, July 20, the militants shelled the positions of Ukrainian servicemen, using 120mm mortars.

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


Ukrainian soldiers who protect our country from pro-Russian gangs in Artemovsk direction, persistently and intensively work on maintaining and improving individual skill of the major areas of combat training and interoperability units.In particular, the military shooting ranges fitted near the unit's units regularly conducted practical training on fire training.

Vehicle search reveals UAH 8 mln heading to militants (Photo) : UNIAN news

Police officials seize UAH 8 million discovered at a roadblock set up on a Mariupol-Donetsk highway in a vehicle heading toward militant-controlled territories in Donbas, according to the interior minister.

facebook.com/arsen.avakov
"Separatists won’t get their money! The money will stay in Ukarine. The effective work of law enforcement officials will be awarded," Arsen Avakov, Ukraine’s Interior Minister wrote on Facebook.

In turn, the president’s advisor Yuriy Biriukov noted that the right people from the Security Service of Ukraine, the State Border Guard Service, and the State Fiscal Service started real work in the zone of the Anti-terrorist operation.

"There they are, spotting a vehicle, random at first sight, at the Bugas roadblock with eight million in cash. [The money was hidden] In a spare tire, in the doors, in the seats…” he posted on social networks.