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Civil war in Ukraine: News & discussion

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has it not ended yet?


It is a very low intensity. There are OSCE peacekeepers doing peace keeping but sometimes the two sides take pot shots at each other for fun when they are bored. Ukraine war has less than 1% the intensity as Syria war.
 
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http://uatoday.tv/politics/173-ukrainian-troops-killed-in-donbas-in-2016-781544.html
http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/375082.html

Defence Minister reveals new statistics on casualties during pseudo truce in eastern Ukraine.


173 Ukrainian servicemen have been killed since the beginning of 2016, Ukraine's Defence Minister Stepan Poltorak said during a meeting with the Chief of the Defence Staff of the Armed Forces of Sweden Dennis Gyllensporre held in Stockholm, the press service of the Ukrainian Defence Ministry reports.

"Today Russia pursues its policy of deliberate escalation of the conflict. Since the beginning of 2016, the Russian occupation troops violated the ceasefire more than 12,000 times, which resulted in the death of 173 [Ukrainian] soldiers," said Poltorak.

He has also said that 6,000 Russian troops stay illegally in the Ukrainian territory at this time. The Ukrainian delegation also showed their Swedish counterparts "a video, which clearly shows how military equipment and weapons, vehicles with logistical supplies get through the state border with Russia into the occupied territory of Ukraine". However, Poltorak said that Ukraine continues the policy of a peaceful settlement.

The parties also discussed the plan of the Ukrainian-Swedish cooperation. In particular, the assistance to Ukraine in training tactical medics, the resumption of cooperation in the field of environmental safety and other issues have been discussed.

Ukraine's Defence Minister invited the Chief of Defence Staff of the Armed Forces of Sweden to visit Ukraine.

In turn, Dennis Gyllensporre noted that Ukraine is passing a major test, and at the same time, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are actively developing. Stressing readiness to share experience, especially with regard to interoperability with NATO member states, he said the Swedish side was pleased to accept the invitation to further enhance cooperation.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/375170.html
The withdrawal of forces and equipment in the area of Stanytsia Luhanska, the Luhansk region, will only happen after a successful withdrawal of hardware from the relevant area near Petrivske, the Donetsk region, provided that the regime of calm is observed, the Ukrainian representative to the Trilateral Contact Group on the settlement of the situation in Donbas Leonid Kuchma said.

"We raised the issue on principle yesterday, that we will not withdraw [the forces and equipment in the areas near Petrivske and Stanytsia Luhanska] simultaneously, because there were 18 shelling in the recent days from [September] 22 to [October] 4, and the framework agreement clearly stipulates: 'a complete ceasefire', so we will initiate this process then. We will see tomorrow. First we will see tomorrow [in Petrivske], whether we will have an opportunity to continue in Stanytsia Luhanska on Sunday or not," Kuchma told reporters during a working visit to the town of Obukhiv on Thursday.

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Ukrainian government troops and Russian-backed militants withdraw forces from the contact line between the villages of Bohdanivka and Petrivske in Donetsk region


The disengagement of forces and hardware has been successfully held near the villages of Bohdanivka and Petrivske close to the contact line in Donetsk region, according to Ukrainian Defense Ministry spokesman for Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) issues Andriy Lysenko.

"At 11:00 local time on Friday, the forces and hardware of Ukrainian and enemy troops were successfully disengaged in the area of Bohdanivka and Petrivske in the Mariupol direction," he said.

According to Lysenko, the ATO forces withdrew one kilometre to the west and took new, earlier prepared positions.

Lysenko also noted that the withdrawal process was verified by the Joint Center for Control and Coordination (JCCC) and the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (OSCE SMM) to Ukraine.

The Trilateral Contact Group on September 21 signed a framework agreement on withdrawal of forces and hardware from three sectors along the contact line.

The document stipulates that the condition for the start of the disengagement in the areas of Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote, and Petrivske shall be a truce for seven days in a row.

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http://uatoday.tv/crime/brazilian-mercenary-detained-in-kyiv-airport-photo-video-781979.html

The man is a member of terrorist organization DNR

A 32-year-old man was detained in international airport Boryspil by Security Service of Ukraine while trying to cross the state border. During the search, the police found in his luggage a military ID of the so-called DNR (Donetsk National Republic), a decoration order, signed by terrorist leader Strielkov, and a laptop with correspondence with terrorist leaders.

During investigation, the SBU officers found out that a Brazilian citizen Rafael Lusvargi has a nickname Golovorez ("Cut-throat") and is well-trained military. He has graduated from a military police academy and studied in a Russian university. The man has skills of an alpinist, military skier, radio operator. Lusvargi is also experienced at seizing hostages and working with explosives.

According to the intelligence, since November 2002 he had been to almost all "hot points" in the world. Two years ago, Rafael Lusvargi came to Ukraine and joined the Vikings terrorist group at the occupied Ukrainian territory. He also collaborated with Russian intelligence and trained mercenaries.
 
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http://uatoday.tv/news/intense-night-in-donbas-warzone-782214.html
Update:
4 Ukrainian soldiers were wounded in the conflict zone overnight, Ukraine's Defense Minister spokesman Oleksandr Motuzyanyk said Saturday, October 8. Another 2 servicemen suffered from contusion.

Story: Ukraine says that the Russian-backed separatist forces attacked its troops 38 times in the past 24 hours.

According to the country's Defense Ministry, the battles occurred in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

The militants again used high-caliber mortars to shell the positions of government forces.

They violated the ceasefire deal 15 times in the Luhansk region. Ukrainian soldiers were attacked with 152-mm, 122-mm and 120-mm artillery.

The combatants also opened fire 6 times near Donetsk, using mortars as well as machine guns and grenade launchers.

Kyiv also registered 17 attacks near Mariupol and Mariinka.

152mm 2A65 MSTA-B HOWITZER
  • Range:
    • 29 km (18 mi) base-bleed
    • 36 km (22 mi) rocket-assisted
  • Rate of fire: 6-8 rounds per minute
  • Weapon elevation: -4° to +68°
  • Weapon traverse: 360°
  • Deployment time: 22 minutes
  • Unit of fire: 50 rounds


122 mm
Effective firing range 15.4 km (9.6 mi)
21.9 km (13.6 mi)


2S31 Vena 120mm artillery system
Maximum firing range 7.2-13 km


http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/375422.html

Four Ukrainian servicemen have been wounded in the military operation area in Donbas over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian Defense Ministry spokesman Oleksandr Motuzianyk has said.

"No one has been killed over the past 24 hours, but four of our servicemen have been wounded, and two others have suffered concussion. All those injured are now in the hospital, and their health status is fair," Motuzianyk said at a news briefing in Kyiv on Saturday.
 
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http://uatoday.tv/politics/pullback-of-forces-in-donbas-pains-gains-and-new-threats-782584.html
11:35 Oct. 9, 2016

Disengagement of forces gives no security guarantees for Ukraine and lays no responsibility on Kremlin

The process of withdrawal of both Ukrainian and Russia-backed militant forces from the contact line in Donbas is carried out, but slowly and problematically, and may bring new threats, Ukrainian politicians fear.

The Trilateral Contact Group working on settlement of the conflict in eastern Ukraine has reached a framework agreement on withdrawing troops and heavy weapons from a demarcation line in Donbas on September 21. The covenant provides for the withdrawal of forces at three key sectors in eastern Ukraine. The document was signed by Ukraine's representative Leonid Kuchma, OSCE special representative Martin Sajdik, and Russia's Boris Gryzlov in a name of militant groups.

The deal bans troops from both sides from entering the three areas each of which comprises four square kilometers (1.5 square miles). These are Stanytsia Luhanska and Zolote in the Luhansk region, as well as Petrovske in the Donetsk region. All of them are important from the humanitarian point of view, former Prime Minister and Defence Minister of Ukraine, Yevhen Marchuk explained. According to him, if the first experience is successful, there will be a dozen or two more areas to be cleared of troops in order to gradually complete the process of withdrawal of forces along the whole front line, which is 426 km.


But even at this point Ukrainian analysts warned that the withdrawal agreement is not a total guarantee of cease-fire in the pullout areas. And that was a very true.

Already on September 30 it became clear that troop withdrawal fails to happen. Due to separatist shelling along the whole frontline, the withdrawal didn't take place, and delegates of the so-called "Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics" refused to participate in that day's Trilateral Contact Group meeting.

On October 1 militants finally pulled back their forces from the village of Zolote area, but refused to leave their strongholds near the villages of Stanytsia Luhanska and Petrivske. Next day Ukrainian army reported they suffer shelling every day of all agreed 7 days of a ‘complete cease-fire,' which was to be provided according to the framework agreement.

On Monday, October 3 Ukraine's military said the Russian-backed separatist forces attacked Ukrainian soldiers at a key area near Petrovske village. The attack took place right after the government forces were signaled to withdraw in accordance with the deal, reached by Ukraine, Russia and OSCE earlier. Kyiv demanded the proper reaction from OSCE SMM on this and other similar violation.

Finally, after a number of failures Contact Group set new dates for withdrawal of troops. The implementation of the Framework Decision on the pullback in Donbas was settled to be continued on October 7 and October 9 in the areas of Petrivske and Stanytsia Luhanska respectively.

The withdrawal will take place only in the absence of attacks, given the simultaneous pullback by the other side, and under the supervision of the OSCE SMM,' Darka Olifer, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian representative to the contact group Leonid Kuchma stressed.

She had to point that out because in the period from September 22 to October 4 2016, Stanytsia Luhanska was fired on 18 times. It should be noted that attacks are carried out at night, when the situation is not controlled by the OSCE SMM.

Only after that the disengagement of forces and hardware has been successfully held near the villages of Bohdanivka and Petrivske close to the contact line in Donetsk region, Ukrainian Defense Ministry spokesman for Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) issues Andriy Lysenko reported on Friday, October 7. Ukraine Today presented the photo report from the area, showing the pullback of Ukrainian troops.

Today, on October 9, was the day of the withdrawal of forces from the last of the three areas – Stanytsia Luhanska. Militants of so-called "Luhansk People's Republic" said they will begin the pullback on time – at least, that was the promise of Oleg Anaschenko, the head of the "LPR's People's Militia" (token name of the militant ‘2nd army cops,' actually commanded by Russian officers).

But this morning the head of the Luhansk military and civil administration Yuri Garbuz wrote on Facebook: "The withdrawal of Ukrainian in the village of Stanytsia Luhanska, scheduled for today, will not happen".

Later today Colonel Andriy Lysenko of Defense Ministry explained: "Given the systematic violations of the ‘regime of silence' and Framework Decision of Trilateral Contact Group on disengagement by the militants, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are forced to postpone the time of the withdrawal of troops site near the village of Stanytsia Luhanska". He told about 16 violations of the ceasefire by Russian militants in Luhansk region only, including massive artillery shelling in Popasna district near the freshly ‘demilitarized' area of Zolote. Militants fired more than 80 shells here, which needed several banned artillery batteries to be involved.


Under such circumstances, especially given the systematic violations of all the agreements by Kremlin and its proxies, the whole idea of the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces face day by day stronger opposition in Ukrainian political elites. PM of ‘Petro Poroshenko's Block' Mustafa Nayem on Facebook called it a part of ‘brutal Minsk, imposed to Ukraine'.

According to his data, Ukraine was offered to begin the implementation of the political part of Minsk agreements without the getting control over the border, which is crucial point for Ukrainian statehood, but already after the withdrawal of forces from the two-kilometer zone along the contact line.

"In the proposed embodiment, there is no point on the withdrawal of Russian military equipment and troops. It is proposed to compensate it with the disarmament of the existing forces. This Ukrainian troops offered to be removed to the barracks, while the military equipment on the occupied territories – not to withdrawn! – but stored in specially protected seal storages. The conditions contain no word on the control over the border. And not only by Ukrainian troops, but even the OSCE mission (!), which, I remind you, is specified in paragraph 4 of Minsk protocols. An additional condition, of course, is a truce. But at the same time – there are no guarantees of the armistice, and not a word about the consequences for the aggressor if the truce is violated," lawmaker says.

Nayem states: "Continued pressure on Ukraine in the issue of the implementation of the Minsk agreement in its current form is fraught with destabilization of the situation in the country, the consequences of which neither the Europeans nor the Americans stubbornly do not want to realize… Frankly: attempt to push through changes to the Constitution and the electoral law in the occupied territories in the Parliament without security guarantees today could lead to protests, provocations, public opposition, that somehow delegitimize Parliament of Ukraine and the President Petro Poroshenko".

Next day he wrote the post Ukraine faced the first signs of such reaction. "Samopomich" parliamentary faction appealed to the President for the clarification of the status of negotiators in Minsk, representing Ukraine. This was announced by MP Taras Pastukh, Zahid.net reports.

"Ukrainian negotiations are persons who have no official powers laid down by law. In fact, the decision on withdrawal of troops is taken by people who do not have any official authority. Who has delegated these people the mandate to solve such a strategically important issue for the government?" MP asks.

According to him, the withdrawal of troops will not solve the problem, but can lead to the formation of new buffer areas, which would be the next "quiet occupation" scenes.

"We have the sad experience of the adoption of the Minsk agreements that led to the deaths of soldiers in Debaltsevo, Ilovaysk and losses of Ukrainian territories. Who will be responsible for it? Today we offer a new scenario of withdrawal of troops that could lead to new tragedies," ‘Samopomich' stresses.

Lawmakers refer here to the Ilovaysk pocket, when Ukrainian units fighting the militants were rounded up and repelled by Russian invaders without any declaring a war and taking responsibility, and the battle of Debaltseve, the town attacked by Kremlin forces despite the Minsk-2 agreements and even during the talks.



Disengagement of troops areas on the Donbas situation map (red arrows)

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October 09, 2016
13:05
One Ukrainian soldier killed, another one wounded in Donbas in past 24 hours - Ukrainian Defense Ministry

October 8 2016

"One soldier of the DPR army was killed and another one injured during the shelling of our positions by Ukrainian combatants," Basurin said.
 
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