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Civil war in Ukraine: News & discussion

https://www.unian.info/war/1777796-...ne-amid-uncertainty-over-missions-future.html


Canada, Britain and the United States have had military trainers in Ukraine since the summer of 2015, after Russia annexed Crimea and began supporting separatist forces in Ukraine's Donbas region.

Ukrainian and Canadian officials say those skills have been desperately needed given the amount of support Russia has provided to the rebels operating in the Donbas.

The conflict in eastern Ukraine has claimed close to 10,000 lives since April 2014, and left tens of thousands without homes and struggling to survive.

But Canada's training mission is set to expire at the end of March, and in spite of public appeals from the Ukrainian government, the Liberal government has not decided whether to extend it.


Despite the uncertainty, about 200 soldiers from Lord Strathcona's Horse are set to leave for Ukraine at the beginning of March – even if it means they only end up staying for a month.

The Edmonton-based soldiers will relieve counterparts from 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, based out of Shilo, Man., who have been on the ground training Ukrainian forces near the city of Lviv since August.

Meanwhile, 1 PPCLI, which is also based out of Edmonton and falls under Hetherington's command, will be providing the majority of troops for the start of Canada's mission in Latvia, which is expected to ramp up in the coming months before becoming fully operational in the summer.

Canada has committed to send about 450 troops to lead a multinational NATO force in the Baltic state, which is intended to deter any potential Russian aggression in the region. Hetherington described the Latvia mission as "a bit of back to the future" since it will be Canada's largest deployment to Europe since the end of the Cold War.

The Canadians will be joined in Latvia by counterparts from Italy, Spain, Poland, Albania and Slovenia, who Hetherington said will all work hand-in-hand with the Latvians on a daily basis.

"The Latvians will be our peers," he said. "This is not building an army. We are not training them." With 3rd Division also providing about 150 soldiers to Canada's mission in Iraq, the question remains how the government plans to find another 600 troops to send on a major peacekeeping mission in Africa.

Hetherington acknowledged that with Ukraine, Latvia and Iraq on his plate, he is "rounds complete," meaning he doesn't have much more to spare. But he was confident the military would be able to find enough troops from other places to be able to participate in a peacekeeping mission, if and when the government pulls the trigger. "It will depend on the task," Hetherington said.

"If push comes to shove, we can all get out the door and do what we need to do tomorrow. If you look back to the Afghan days where at any one time we could have had upwards of 3,500, and we kept going through that."

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https://www.unian.info/war/1778577-...ading-to-neighboring-belarus-eu-observer.html

To coincide with the parliamentary debate, Yan Melnikov, a Belarusian volunteer fighter in Ukraine, was in Brussels on Tuesday, February 14, to highlight what he calls the "rapidly deteriorating" humanitarian situation in the conflict zone.

The 23-year-old has spent the last three years supporting Ukrainian forces in Donbas and says that there is "little evidence" that EU economic sanctions against Russia have had any impact so far.

Melnikov said that the recent upsurge in fighting was the result of Russian-backed forces "once again" resorting to the use of heavy artillery which had put civilians at increased risk.

Much of the shelling and shooting, he said, had come from Russian-backed soldiers in built up residential areas which made it “impossible” for the opposing side to return fire. Melnikov, who is due to return to the frontline in two weeks, insisted that he had joined the Ukranian forces out of a desire to support freedom and democracy and not for any monetary gain.

"It is clear that sanctions are not working and they need to be intensified, he said, adding that "There is a great hardship in the region and it is getting worse with every passing day. Urgent action needs to be taken to address this."

The former tailor said he was one of about 300 Belarusians who are fighting in the area and fears that if Eastern Ukraine is annexed by Moscow, as was the case with Crimea in 2015, then his country could be "next on the Russian radar." "This is the big concern for a lot of my countrymen," he said.

"They fear that unless a clear signal is sent to Putin's Russia that the West, including the EU, will not tolerate such aggression, that Belarus could be next."

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http://www.mil.gov.ua/en/news/2017/...ns-with-120-mm-mortars-in-mariupol-direction/
Tuesday, February 14. DONBAS – According to the press centre of the ‘anti-terror’ operation (ATO) HQ, despite the ceasefire agreements, Russian occupational troops continue shelling Ukrainian positions with weapons, forbidden by the Minsk agreements.

Thereby, the enemy shelled Ukrainian positions with 120-mm mortars in Mariupol direction.

In Donetsk direction the occupants intensively fired on Ukrainian troops with BMPs and RPGs.

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http://www.interfax.com/newsinf.asp?id=735261
MINSK. Feb 15 (Interfax) - The sides have agreed to withdraw weapons and special equipment from the line of separation in Donbas by February 20, envoy of the Organization for Security and Co-operation (OSCE) in Europe in the Trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine Martin Sajdik said.

"Today it was agreed to withdraw the equipment prohibited under the Minsk agreements by February 20," Sajdik said in Minsk on Wednesday.

At today's meeting, the sides paid special attention to the complete ceasefire along the entire contact line in Donbas.

Sajdik went on to note in this regard that outbreaks of hostilities in the conflict area had significantly reduced since the previous Contact Group meeting. He also highlighted the major contribution that the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission had made to the reduction of tension in the region.

Sajdik also revealed that the Steinmeier formula had been among the political topics discussed in Minsk on Wednesday.

The Trilateral Contact Group on the Donbas situation met in Minsk earlier on Wednesday.

The group's next meeting is to be held on March 1, Sajdik said.

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http://www.interfax.com/newsinf.asp?id=735245
KYIV. Feb 15 (Interfax) - The blockade of railroad transportation with the regions of Donbas uncontrolled by Kyiv may lead to a halt of the country's metallurgical industry, Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman said.

"The blockade [...] will lead to a halt of the country's metallurgical enterprises. The metallurgical industry now employs 300,000 people. What we sell abroad makes up 20% of all of our state's foreign currency earnings. It cannot be called anything but sabotage of the economy!" Groysman said in opening an extraordinary government meeting on Wednesday.

The prime minister urged the blockade activists to unblock the passage of trains carrying commodities that are vital to the national economy. "I am calling on those who are blocking [the traffic] to unblock the delivery of only coal and whatever else related to the Ukrainian economy. You are welcome to block anything else and fight smuggling!" Groysman said.

Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, for his part, said the Alchevsk Coke-Chemical Plant has coal to last it nine days.

"Nine days, after that we will shut down the furnaces. After that, there will be one more week and we will stop all plants of Mariupol, and then also Kryviy Rih," he said.

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19:25
Kyiv deems unacceptable talking about any elections in Donbas until several essential conditions are met - spokesperson for Kuchma

18:12
DPR blames Kyiv for blocking discussion on Steinmeier formula at Minsk talks

18:04
Donbas railway blockade by radicals brings Yenakiieve Iron and Steel Works close to suspension of production

15:39
DPR observes 550 ceasefire breaches in past 24 hours

15:24
LPR hopes economic group on Donbas resumes work
 
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https://www.unian.info/war/1780161-ato-hq-49-militant-attacks-1-kia-3-wia-in-last-day.html
The combined Russian-separatist forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 49 times in the past 24 hours with one Ukrainian soldier reported as killed in action (KIA) and three wounded in action (WIA), according to the press service of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.

In the Mariupol sector, the occupiers fired mortars and shot from infantry fighting vehicles at the village of Vodiane. "The enemy opened fire from infantry fighting vehicles, heavy machine guns and small arms on the villages of Shyrokyne, Hnutove, Vodiane and Pavlopil. A sniper was active in the village of Novotroyitske," the report says.


In the Donetsk sector, Russia's hybrid military force fired 120mm and 82mm mortars on the Ukrainian positions near the town of Avdiyivka, and the villages of Opytne and Novoselivka Druha, as well as rocket-propelled grenades on the villages of Zaitseve and Pisky. In the Luhansk sector, the occupiers shelled the villages of Krymske, Novo-Oleksandrivka and Novozvanivka from mortars and grenade launchers. Additionally, a sniper was active near the village of Lobacheve.

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https://www.unian.info/war/1780636-...ce-show-aftermath-of-night-attacks-photo.html

The Russian occupation forces continue to fire on residential areas in the town of Avdiyivka, Chief of the National Police Department in Donetsk region Vyacheslav Abroskin wrote on Facebook. War 15:20, 16 February 2017 186


"The old part of the town is under their aimed fire. Only this night, three civilian houses on Kolosova Str. and Lermontov Str. were destroyed in a shelling," Abroskin said, adding that civilians were fortunately uninjured in the attack.

"An area near the industrial zone came under fire. As a result of explosions of shells on Levanevskoho Str., Soborna Str., and Lermontova Str., eight houses were damaged by shrapnel. Rooftops, walls, and windows suffered considerable damage," the press service of the National Police in Donetsk region reported.


A house on Kolosova Str. was completely burnt down in a direct hit. According to preliminary information, there were no casualties. In all cases, Avdiyivka police department initiated criminal proceedings under Part 2 Article 258 (terrorist act) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

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https://www.unian.info/war/1781726-ukraine-reports-3-kias-4-wias-in-donbas-on-feb-16.html
Three Ukrainian soldiers were killed in action (KIA) and four were wounded in action (WIA) as Russia's hybrid military forces have attacked Ukrainian positions 35 times since the beginning of Thursday, according to the press center of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.


In total, 35 attacks have been recorded. Unfortunately, three soldiers were killed and four were wounded," the ATO HQ wrote on Facebook on Thursday. Russia's hybrid military forces used mortars of different calibers to shell the town of Avdiyivka, and the villages of Kamyanka, Pisky, Zaitseve, and Verkhniotoretske in the Donetsk sector.

They used grenade launchers and small arms to fire on Kamyanka, Zaitseve, Pisky, and Avdiyivka. Zaitseve also came under sniper fire.


The village of Krymske in the Luhansk sector came under fire from 120mm and 82mm mortars. Grenade launchers and small arms were used to fire on the villages of Lobacheve and Novo-Oleksandrivka. Proscribed 120mm mortars were used to shell the village of Shyrokyne, which is close to the Ukrainian-controlled strategic port city of Mariupol.

Grenade launchers and small arms were used to attack the town of Maryinka, and the villages of Novoselivka, Vodiane, Lebedynske, Shyrokyne, Pavlopil and Hnutove. Shyrokyne was also attacked by enemy infantry fighting vehicles. What is more, anti-tank missiles were lobbed into the village of Bohdanivka.

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The Ukrainian armed forces consist 250,000 soldiers. There are also 130,000 police, National Guard, and border service troops," the minister said.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/403551.html
The sides have agreed to withdraw weapons and special equipment from the line of separation in Donbas by February 20, the envoy of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe in the Trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine Martin Sajdik said.

"Today it was agreed to withdraw the equipment prohibited under the Minsk agreements by February 20," Sajdik said in Minsk on Wednesday

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Militants launched an artillery strike on the residential sector in the old part of Avdiyivka (Donetsk region) last night, as a result private houses were ruined, one household was destroyed by fire. There is no information about the victims and survivors there.

According to Pokrovsky police department of the Donetsk region, a district, located near the industrial area, turned out to be under fire. Eight homes of local residents were damaged by shrapnel, one private home was burned down as a result of a direct hit.

Investigative police team is on the scene, assisting the civilian population and documenting the effects of militant shelling.

Avdiyivka police department has opened criminal proceedings under all the facts under Part 2 of Article 258 (act of terrorism) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/403602.html
President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has said about entrusting the government with reviewing and restricting the list of goods that are allowed to be transported across the collision line in Donbas.

"Yesterday, at a presidential administration meeting, which was attended by prime minister of Ukraine, we agreed to once again review and limit the list of goods that are allowed to be transported across the collision line," Poroshenko said at a solemn meeting dedicated to Day honoring the war veterans in other states in Kyiv on Thursday.

In addition, according to the president, security forces were instructed to strengthen the fight against smuggling.

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17:59
Over 4,300 people killed in Donbas since beginning of conflict - DPR ombudsman (Part 2)

17:23
Ukrainian govt to cut list of goods that can be transported across frontline in Donbas - Poroshenko

14:43
Ukrainian army shells Yasynuvata area, Spartak - DPR

14:18
LPR reports 9 attacks by Ukrainian army in past 24 hours

13:58
Railroad blockade in Donbas is factor destabilizing Ukraine - President Poroshenko

13:25
UKRAINE MAINTAINS LIMITED ECONOMIC RELATIONS WITH UNCONTROLLED AREAS OF DONBAS - POROSHENKO

13:22
UKRAINIAN NSDC TO MAKE ADDITIONAL DECISIONS ON DIVERSIFYING SUPPLIES OF POWER PLANT COAL ON THURSDAY - POROSHENKO
 
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https://www.unian.info/war/1782396-ato-hq-66-militant-attacks-3-kia-10-wia-in-last-day.html

The combined Russian-separatist forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 66 times in the past 24 hours with three Ukrainian soldiers reported as killed in action (KIA) and ten wounded in action (WIA), according to the press service of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.

In the Donetsk sector, they fired mortars of various calibers on the town of Avdiyivka and the villages of Kamianka, Pisky, Zaitseve, and Verkhniotoretske. "The Russian occupation forces shelled rocket-propelled grenades and small arms on Kamianka, Zaitseve, Avdiyivka and Pisky. A sniper was active in Zaitseve.

Additionally, the Ukrainian positions near Avdiyivka were attacked by a tank," the report says. In the Luhansk sector, the occupiers used 120mm and 82mm mortars in the village of Krymske, as well as rocket-propelled grenades and small arms in the villages of Lobacheve, Novozvanivka, Stanytsia Luhanska and Novo-Oleksandrivka.

On the Mariupol line, the militants opened fire from 120mm and 82mm mortars on the villages of Shyrokyne and Pavlopil, and rocket-propelled grenades and small arms -- on the town of Maryinka, and the villages of Novotroyitske, Novoselivka, Vodiane, Lebedynske, Shyrokyne, Pavlopil and Hnutove.

Armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles were used to attack Shyrokyne. Furthermore, enemy anti-tank missile systems shelled the village of Bohdanivka.
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Russian army corps in Donbas do not hesitate to use social infrastructure facilities as their bases, turning them into military targets, representing a terrorist threat to the civilian population in the area, the activists from the international OSINT community InformNapalm said.


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Horlivka-based boarding facility for the elderly and disabled before the war was home to 217 patients. Since the start of hostilities, some of them have been transferred to the town of Kostiantynivka. As of November 2015, some 50 people remained in Horlivka. "Since mid-2015, the Horlivka rest home has become a place of dislocation of the Russian occupation forces, as confirmed by Google Earth satellite imagery," the volunteers said.
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According to the separatist media, during the fighting in winter 2015, the facility was damaged as a shell hit the roof, smashing the windows. From the images available pictures, it becomes clear why the artillery targeted the building as military trucks were almost constantly spotted in this territory.

"'DPR' militants hesitate no more to post pictures of themselves posing in front of the Horlivka elderly care facility, commenting that they are "standing at the checkpoint." Thus, this social infrastructure facility has become a military base, in violation of international law," InformNapalm said.

http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/403846.html
Since the beginning of the conflict in eastern Ukraine 2,197 Ukrainian soldiers were killed, performing tasks there, Chief of General Staff – Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Viktor Muzhenko has said.

"Combat losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for this period amount to 2,197 people dead and about 8,000 wounded," Muzhenko said during a meeting with foreign military attaches in Kyiv on Friday.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/403891.html
Kyiv should begin working on the collection of exculpatory evidence of the Ukrainian military officials against which criminal cases are opened in Russia, Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander and chief of the General Staff Viktor Muzhenko said.

During a meeting with foreign military attaches in Kyiv on Friday, Muzhenko said that, according to his information, the Russian Investigative Committee has opened such cases against 37 servicemen of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, an Interfax correspondent reported.

"This isn't about six servicemen, this is about over 30 servicemen against which the Russian Investigative Committee has opened criminal cases. According to our information, there are 37 of them. I believe, in this situation, the Ukrainian law enforcement authorities also need to do relevant work and collect information on the innocence of these servicemen fulfilling their duty to their country," he said.

At the same time, Muzhenko said that "we do not understand how Russia is interpreting the opening of these criminal cases. In accordance with the charges, this is violation of the rules of warfare."

"Troops fulfilling their duty in defending their country need to be sure that the state will protect them," he said.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/403919.html
Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) has qualified recent shelling of residential areas in Avdiyivka as a terrorist act. One local resident died on February 16 and two other people received shrapnel wounds.

The Donetsk region's prosecutor's office said Russian hybrid forces shelled residents of Avdiyivka.

"Shrapnel from shell that landed in practically in the center of the city last night struck a man, born in 1973, in the neck. He was hospitalized, but died," a statement by the Donetsk prosecutor's office said.

A man born in 1983 received shrapnel wounds to the leg and a 77-year old man received burn wounds when a shell hit a residential flat.

As a result of shelling several high-rise flats were damaged.

The case has been entered into the single register for pretrial investigations pursuant to Part 3 of Article 258 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (terrorism).

As earlier reported, on Thursday at approximately 18.00 Russian hybrid forces shelled Avdiyivka with heavy weapons.

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22:07
Gunfire resumes on Donetsk approaches, in Avdiivka area

21:57
Withdrawal of forces in Stanytsia Luhanska disrupted by conflicting parties' non-adherence to ceasefire - OSCE SMM

21:50
Kyiv says one Ukrainian serviceman killed, three injured in Donbas on Friday

21:03
Ukrainian paramilitary held by Russian border guards while trying to infiltrate Crimea - Border Guard Directorate (Part 2)

16:33
LPR expects Kyiv's readiness for disengagement in Stanytsia Luhanska

16:32
DPR not to withdraw hardware from contact line until Ukraine does so - Zakharchenko (Part 2)

14:21
Artillery barrage practically stops after midnight, all relatively quiet on contact line - Donetsk

13:31
Zakharchenko: We are ready to liberate Kyiv-controlled Donbas areas in military way if political methods fail (Part 2)
 
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https://www.unian.info/war/1784497-russia-recognises-dpr-lpr-passports.html
Russia has recognised the validity of the identity (ID) "documents" issued by the authorities of the so-called "DNR" and "LPR" (Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics), according to a decree issued by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

As reported, the decree is signed "in order to protect the civil rights and freedoms." It also refers to "the generally recognised principles and norms of international humanitarian law." In addition to passports, birth certificates, academic credentials, marriage/divorce certificates, car licenses, and other IDs are considered valid as well.

The Putin's decree stipulates that the "passports" of the "DPR/LPR" are supposedly recognised temporarily until the situation in Donbas is settled. The pseudo- documents also ensure the right to enter Russia. "Citizens of Ukraine and stateless persons permanently residing in the territories of certain areas of Donetsk and Lugansk regions of Ukraine can enter/exit the Russian Federation without a visa on the basis of "ID documents" (minors under 16 – with "birth certificates") issued by the relevant "authorities" de-facto existing in these territories," the document said. Earlier, the RBC media outlet found out that the owners of the "DPR/LPR" passports could also use services of Russian railway, airlines, and hotels.

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https://www.unian.info/war/1784186-ukraine-volunteer-killed-in-donbas-ato-qh.html
A Ukrainian volunteer was killed as a result of shrapnel near the village of Krymske in ATO area on February 17, according to the press center of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.

"A Ukrainian volunteer, a representative of one of the national charities, was killed at about 16:30 near the village of Krymske on February 17. Soldiers knew him as a true patriot, devoted to the idea of independence of Ukraine. We express our condolences to the relatives of the deceased volunteer," the press center posted on Facebook.


The ATO Headquarters also reported 73 shell attacks and four Ukrainian soldiers wounded in action (WIA) in the past day. Two civilians were wounded as well in the town of Avdiyivka in Donbas.

As UNIAN reported earlier, one Ukrainian soldier was killed and three wounded due to militant attacks in Donbas on February 17.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/404097.html
Four soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine had been wounded in the ATO zone over the last 24 hours, speaker of the Defense Ministry for ATO issues Oleksandr Motuzianyk has said.

"Over the past day four Ukrainian servicemen were wounded. In addition, one volunteer was killed," he said at a briefing in Kyiv on Saturday.

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http://www.president.gov.ua/en/news...f-pro-viznannya-tak-zvanih-pasportiv-dn-40098
President: Russia’s decision to recognize so-called passports of "DPR" and "LPR" is another evidence of Russian occupation and violation of international law
18 February 2017 - 19:10

“For me it is another evidence of Russian occupation and violation of international law. It is very symbolical and cynical that it happened during the Munich Security Conference,” the Head of State noted.

At the meeting with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, the Ukrainian President informed him on that decision of Russian President Putin.

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https://www.unian.info/war/1784837-...-attack-near-avdiyivka-on-sunday-morning.html

A skirmish between Ukrainian troops and Russia's hybrid military forces near the Ukrainian-controlled town of Avdiyivka in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, was reported to have broken out at about 05:00 a.m. local time on Sunday, February 19, 2017, according to the press center of the Ukrainian Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.

"The militant attack has been repelled," the ATO HQ said in an update on Sunday morning. The total number of attacks on Ukrainian positions in the past 24 hours was 105 incidents, it said. Six Ukrainian soldiers were wounded in action; three had minor injuries over the period under review.

The enemy used proscribed 122mm artillery systems in the Donetsk sector to shell the village of Nevelske, the ATO HQ said. They also fired mortars, grenade launchers, large-caliber machine guns and small arms on Avdiyivka, and the villages of Novoluhanske, Pisky, Kamyanka, Nevelske, Troyitske, Luhanske, Novoselivka, Opytne, and Zaitseve. Novoluhanske also came under sniper fire, while Troyitske was attacked by an infantry fighting vehicle. In the Luhansk sector, mortars of various calibers were used to attack the villages of Novo-Oleksandrivka and Krymske. Grenade launchers were used to fire on the villages of Stanytsia Luhanska and Novozvanivka. The occupiers also used anti-tank missile systems to shell Krymske.

In the Mariupol sector, Russia's hybrid military forces used banned 122mm artillery systems to shell the villages of Vodiane and Novohryhorivka. Mortars of various calibers were used to attack the towns of Maryinka and Krasnohorivka, and the villages of Starohnativka, Vodiane, Pavlopil, and Novotroyitske. They also used grenades and small arms to fire on the villages of Pavlopil, Hnutove, Vodiane, Shyrokyne, and Talakivka. Shyrokyne was also attacked by enemy infantry fighting vehicles. In the evening, the invaders lobbed 30 Grad rockets onto Ukrainian positions close to the village of Vodiane.


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https://www.unian.info/war/1784992-...as-over-300-shells-lobbed-near-avdiyivka.html

A Ukrainian Defense Ministry spokesman has announced Russia's hybrid military forces continue shelling Ukrainian positions along the entire contact line, and new escalation has been reported near the Ukrainian-controlled town of Avdiyivka as Ukrainian troops deployed outside it come under attack, according to an UNIAN correspondent.

"Enemy troops enjoyed the support of mortars and tanks of Russia's occupation forces. The fighting lasted for seven hours without a break. According to rough estimates, the adversaries lobbed over 300 shells into areas near the town of Avdiyivka and fired over 70 tank projectiles. The situation near Avdiyivka is getting worse," Defense Ministry press secretary for Anti-Terrorist Operation issues Oleksandr Motuzianyk said at a briefing on Sunday, February 19. Enemy artillery projectiles damaged power lines on Saturday night, which caused blackouts in Avdiyivka again, Motuzianyk said. Ukraine's State Emergency Situations Service reported in turn that the water supply in the town had been suspended after the outage.


"On February 18, a 110 kV high-voltage transmission line, Makiyivska 1-Avdiyivka Coke Plant No. 2, was damaged amid fighting, as a result of which, the power supply was discontinued in Avdiyivka (where about 22,000 people live)," the service said in a statement The water supply there was also suspended.

At the same time, the heat supply on Sunday morning was in normal mode due to Avdiyivka coke plant's heating system (air temperature in apartments was 20-25 degrees above zero), according to the service.

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14:31
DPR claims to have repelled Ukrainian military attack

14:02
Russian recognition of DPR/LPR documents incompatible with Minsk process - U.S. Embassy to Ukraine
 
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https://www.unian.info/war/1785447-...ttacks-in-donbas-1-kia-1-wia-in-last-day.html

Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 62 times in the past 24 hours with one Ukrainian soldier reported as killed in action (KIA) and one as wounded in action (WIA), according to the press service of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.

"In the Mariupol sector, the invaders fired mortars of various calibers on the villages of Hnutove, Novotroyitske, Lebedynske, and Zaitseve. Grenade launchers and heavy machine guns were used to shell the villages of Hnutove, Pavlopil, Hranitne, and Vodiane. Infantry fighting vehicles repeatedly attacked the village of Shyrokyne, while anti-tank missiles were lobbed into Vodiane. Additionally, a sniper was active in the town of Avdiyivka," the report says.

In the Donetsk sector, the occupiers used 120mm and 82mm mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and small arms to fire on Avdiyivka, and the villages of Troyitske, Zaitseve, Opytne, Kamianka, Luhanske, and Novhorodske.

In the Luhansk sector, the Russian occupation forces repeatedly shelled the village of Valuiske, using grenade launchers and small arms. The ATO HQ has called on civilians residing in the action area not to pick up fragments of shells, mines or other projectiles after attacks until police examine the scene.

"It will be difficult for our state to use them as evidence in an international court without proper examination, photos and video footage."

http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/404269.html

A fire that broke out on the base of the 16th Separate Motorized Infantry Battalion in Sumy region on Saturday has left two soldiers dead and one injured, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said on its website.

"Two servicemen have died and another one have been traumatized as a result of a fire that broke out at the premises of the 16th separate motorized infantry battalion in the Sumy region at 12:44 p.m. on February 18," the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said.

Currently, the fire has been localized, the ministry said.

"The injured serviceman has been admitted to a medical clinic where he received qualified treatment," it said.

sumy-region-map.jpg
 
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https://www.unian.info/war/1785936-ato-hq-truce-disrupted-no-conditions-for-withdrawal-of-arms.html

Ukrainian Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) press officer Leonid Matiukhin says that despite agreements to withdraw all heavy weapons from the demarcation line in Donbas by February 20, the Russian occupation forces have already carried out five attacks from midnight, according to TV Channel 112 Ukraine.

There are no prerequisites for the withdrawal of weapons and the introduction of a ceasefire along the contact line, he said. As UNIAN reported earlier, Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 62 times on Sunday, February 19, with one Ukrainian soldier reported as killed in action and one as wounded in action.


The Trilateral Contact Group on the settlement of the Donbas crisis agreed in Minsk on February 15 that February 20 is a new deadline for the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the contact line. UNIAN memo. The Trilateral Contact Group on February 12, 2015, signed a package of measures to implement the Minsk peace agreements on Donbas. Among the measures were a ceasefire and the withdrawal of all heavy weapons by both sides to create a 50km buffer zone for artillery systems whose caliber 100mm and larger, a 70km buffer zone for Grad multiple rocket launchers and a 140km buffer zone for Tornado-S, Uragan, Smerch multiple rocket launchers, and Tochka U tactical ballistic missile systems.
 
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http://zeenews.india.com/world/ukraine-soldier-killed-in-clashes-despite-ceasefire_1979307.html

Donetsk: One soldier has been killed and another wounded in eastern Ukraine, the army said Monday, as it accused rebels of breaking a new truce deal announced at the weekend.

Ukraine`s military spokesman Leonid Matyukhin said Russian-backed rebels had shelled his troops "on all fronts", resulting in one death and one injury over the past 24 hours.

But a military spokesman from the self-proclaimed Donetsk People`s Republic, Eduard Basurin, told AFP that the truce had largely held since midnight with "almost no attacks."

The fresh clashes cast a shadow over the new ceasefire deal announced after the foreign ministers of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France held talks in Munich on Saturday.

The agreement brought renewed hope of an end to 34 months of conflict in which nearly 10,000 people have been killed.

The conflict flared up again earlier this month with several dozen people killed around the flashpoint town of Avdiivka and both sides shifting heavy weaponry forward. Under the Minsk plan -- agreed in the Belarussian capital in 2015 -- the warring parties are meant to withdraw their big guns to create a buffer zone along the frontline.

Both sides have repeatedly violated the Minsk agreement and little progress has been made towards a political resolution of the conflict.

Ukraine accuses its neighbour Russia of launching the war in retaliation for the ouster of Kiev`s Moscow-backed president in 2014.

Russia however denies any role in the conflict.


First Published: Monday, February 20, 2017 - 16:52
 
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https://www.unian.info/war/1786397-...ldier-seriously-wounded-in-zaitseve-dies.html
The Ukrainian soldier who was seriously wounded in the village of Zaitseve in eastern Ukraine on February 16 died in a hospital behind enemy lines on Sunday, February 19, according to a Ukrainian defense ministry spokesman.

What is more, "one was killed in action (KIA) and another one was wounded in action (WIA) in the past 24 hours," Defense Ministry speaker for Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) issues Oleksandr Motuzianyk said at a briefing in Kyiv on Monday, February 20, a UNIAN correspondent reported.

He also informed about the established fact of death of a soldier who was missing in action (MIA) on Saturday, February 18.

The latter casualties are recorded near the town of Avdiyivka.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/404410.html

The gunfire has somewhat subsided in the anti-terrorist operation zone in eastern Ukraine, and 15 attacks have been seen since Monday morning without any heavy weapons involved, Ukrainian Defense Ministry spokesman Oleksandr Motuzianyk said.

The intensity of hostilities has markedly reduced, he said.

"We observed 15 attacks by the hostiles as of this noon, yet no heavy weapons have been fired so far," Motuzianyk said at a press briefing in Kyiv on Monday.

Ambassador Martin Sajdik, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office to the Trilateral Contact Group, said on February 15 that the sides had agreed to withdraw weapons and hardware banned by the Minsk Agreements from the Donbas contact line by February 20.

One Ukrainian serviceman was killed and another one suffered injuries in Donbas over the past day, Motuzianyk said.

"One Ukrainian serviceman has been killed and other one has suffered injuries in the hostilities in the past 24 hours. The death of a serviceman who got missing the day before yesterday has also been established. The Ukrainian army has incurred all those casualties in Avdiyivka," he said.

A Ukrainian soldier who was heavily injured in Zaitseve on February 16 died at a hospital in the rear on February 19, Motuzianyk said.

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Militants again disrupt withdrawal of weapons in Donbas, five shellings registered overnight
http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/404411.html

There are no preconditions for the withdrawal of weapons and for putting in place a ceasefire on the division line, Leonid Matiukhin, a representative of the press center of the headquarters of the anti-terrorist operation (ATO), said on 112.ua TV channel.

Five attacks were registered last night, he said.

"Honestly speaking, I don't see any preconditions. As to disengagement in Stanytsia Luhanska. I believe [militants] opened fire there several days ago. As far as I know, a ceasefire is to stay in place for at least one week under the agreements," Matiukhin said.

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

Monday, February 20. AVDIIVKA – Member of European Parliament Rebecca Harms, Co-Chair of Greens/European Free Alliance and documentary, visited frontline Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast.

Rebecca Harms visited the forward positions of Ukrainian soldiers, toured the city and areas that suffered the greatest damage from artillery shells of Russian-occupation forces last week. She also visited the destroyed homes of civilians.

“Being at the frontline, I was astonished by Ukrainian officers and soldiers who were the real heroes. They courageously protect civilians of Avdiivka and the whole Ukraine, I personally saw it in their eyes,” MEP Rebecca Harms said.

She also stressed that Ukraine won’t be left alone in its fight against the Russian aggression.

“Our European Parliament will do everything and always condemn this bold and hard attacks of the peaceful population which I saw here in Avdiyivka,” she said.

Rebecca Harms documented evidences of crimes against Ukraine, to transfer them to the International Tribunal.

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19:56
Donetsk has yet to begin removing weapons from contact line - DPR defense ministry (Part 3)

16:04
Avdiivka Coke Plant re-connected to power - general director

15:47
Donbas conflicting parties violating withdrawal agreements - OSCE

15:11
Kyiv currently sees no preconditions for withdrawal of weapons in Donbas due to night attacks by militia

14:56
Several hundred Ukrainian patriots march in central Kyiv

10:48
DPR denies migration surge after Russia recognizes Donbas IDs
 
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https://www.unian.info/war/1787431-ukraine-reports-nine-wias-after-74-attacks-in-last-day.html

Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 74 times in the past 24 hours with nine Ukrainian soldiers reported as wounded in action (WIA), according to the press service of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.

In the Mariupol sector, the Russian occupation forces used proscribed 120mm mortars to shell the village of Novotroyitske. Heavy machine guns and small arms were used to fire on the villages of Chermalyk, Talakivka, Hnutove, Starohnativka, Vodiane, and Shyrokyne. Additionally, enemy snipers were active in the villages of Vodiane, Pavlopil, Shyrokyne, Novotroyitske, and Hnutove.

"In the Donetsk sector, the occupiers used 120mm and 82mm mortars to shell the town of Avdiyivka, and the villages of Novoluhanske, Luhanske, Zaitseve, and Troyitske. Large-caliber machine guns and small arms were also used to fire on the town of Avdiyivka, and the villages of Pisky, Novoselivka, Verkhniotoretske, Kamianka, Luhanske, Zaitseve, and Zhovte. Furthermore, the enemy repeatedly used infantry fighting vehicles to attack the villages of Opytne and Luhanske. Snipers were working in Avdiyivka," the headquarters said.

In the Luhansk sector, Russia's hybrid military forces lobbed anti-tank missiles into the village of Novo-Oleksandrivka. Moreover, they used mortars, grenade launchers, small arms and anti-tank missile systems to fire on the village of Novozvanivka. The villages of Stanytsia Luhanska and Zhovte came under sniper fire.

As UNIAN reported earlier, a new truce in Donbas planned as of February 20 in keeping with last week's agreements in Minsk failed after the occupiers attacked Ukrainian positions in the early hours on the same day.

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https://www.unian.info/war/1786827-russia-supplies-tanks-missiles-to-lpr-dpr-sipri.html

Russia has been delivering various types of weapons to "rebel forces" in eastern Ukraine, according to the latest report by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the independent resource on global security, titled "Trends in International Arms Transfers, 2016."

"During 2012–16 Russia delivered weapons to 50 states and to rebel forces in Ukraine," the report reads. "Rebels in eastern Ukraine received tanks and other armoured vehicles as well as anti-tank and portable surface-to-air (SAM) missiles from Russia," the experts say.
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https://www.unian.info/politics/178...ree-years-of-russian-aggression-ministry.html

Nearly 10,000 people killed in Ukraine in three years of Russian aggression – ministry Over 9,800 people have been killed, about 23,000 have been wounded and almost 1.8 million have been forced to flee from the war in Donbas after Russia unleashed aggression against Ukraine three years ago, according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.


"The appalling number of victims highlights the immorality of Kremlin's war against the Ukrainian people: over 9,800 Ukrainian people were killed, about 23,000 were wounded and almost 1.8 million became internally displaced persons," the ministry said in a statement on the third anniversary of the Russian Federation's military aggression against Ukraine. Three years have passed since the treacherous attack by the neighboring state, despite its commitment to respect Ukraine's sovereignty and independence, as well as its status of one of the guarantors of security and territorial integrity of Ukraine under the 1994 Budapest Memorandum.

"Some 7.2% of Ukrainian territory has been seized by Russia and millions of citizens of Ukraine live there under occupation and amid endless terror. Russia persists in sending new fighters, weaponry and ammunition to Ukraine through the section of the Ukrainian-Russian state border of 409.7 km long, which remains out of control of the Ukrainian government," the statement said.


"Although the Revolution of Dignity clearly reconfirmed the aspirations of the Ukrainian people to build European, democratic and prosperous Ukraine, the Kremlin responded by attempting to deprive Ukrainians of the right to define their future by their own. Russia launched a well-planned military operation, which resulted in the temporary occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol as well as bloodshed in Donbas," the ministry said. Thereby Russia has challenged the value-based world order in an attempt to revive the geopolitical thinking of the past with domination of the rule of force and spheres of influence, the ministry said.

"Occupied Crimea, closed for any form of international control and monitoring, is now an area seeing systemic violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms, targeting, first of all, Ukrainian activists and the indigenous people of Crimea – Crimean Tatars. Citizens of Ukraine are being groundlessly detained and imprisoned, activists disappear without a trace, their families and friends are facing intimidation. The Mejlis, a representative body of the Crimean Tatar people, has been banned," the ministry described the current situation in the occupied territory.

13:37
LAVROV: DPR, LPR HEADS WERE RECOGNIZED WHEN MINSK AGREEMENTS WERE SIGNED

13:34
LAVROV ON DPR/LPR PASSPORTS IN RUSSIA: DOCUMENTS ISSUED BY UNRECOGNIZED AUTHORITIES MAY BE ACCEPTED AS WAY TO PROTECT RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS

13:33
RUSSIA'S EXECUTIVE ORDER ON RECOGNITION OF DONBAS RESIDENTS' DOCUMENTS IN LINE WITH SPIRIT, LETTER, GOALS OF MINSK II - LAVROV

http://www.interfax.com/newsinf.asp?id=736487
DONETSK. Feb 21 (Interfax) - The self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) Defense Ministry has reiterated the readiness of the Donbas warring sides to begin the withdrawal of forces and hardware from the frontline.

"The hardware is due to be withdrawn today. The Ukrainian side has confirmed the readiness for the disengagement, and the DPR is also prepared for the withdrawal. The OSCE will be controlling this process. It may take place tonight, following a videoconference between the sides," the ministry's spokesman told reporters on Tuesday.

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11:12
Ukrainian army attacks damage 8 homes - DPR Defense Ministry

09:55
Power supply fully restored in Avdiivka
 
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https://www.unian.info/politics/178...bilizing-ukraine-via-agents-of-influence.html

Ukraine’s security service has gone public with communication intercepts proving Moscow funds anti-Ukrainian motions in Rada and local councils across Ukraine.

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The contents of intercepted phone conversations reveal that a number of Ukrainian citizens, including an aide to the Ukrainian MP and NGO representatives, upon instructions of their supervisors from Russian security agencies promoted anti-Ukrainian motions in a number of regions across Ukraine, SBU chief Vasyl Hrytsak told reporters Tuesday.

"The SBU along with the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine has been investigatin into illegal activities of former 1st assistant of ex-Minister of Education [Dmytro] Tabachnik, A.V. Kuzmenko, and a representative of Ukrainian Choice organization [led by Viktor Medvedchuk, who is close to Vladimir Putin] P.O. Zolotarev," said Hrytsak.

He noted that these citizens had been talking about promoting for a certain payment anti-Ukrainian motions in the Zhytomir regional council.


According to the Chairman of the Security Service of Ukraine, Russia does not give up on its attempts to undermine political situation in Ukraine. "Those conversations that you have heard ... We will ask questions to those whose voice was recorded," said the SBU chief.

The recorded extracts from other conversations, presented at a briefing in a YouTube clip, reveal the intentions of certain Ukrainian citizens, including an aide to the Ukrainian member of parliament, to bribe parliamentarians, to campaign for certain issues or submit anti-Ukrainian motions for consideration.

******

Russia's occupation forces have changed tactics of warfare near the town of Avdiyivka: the intensity of attacks has decreased since morning, but enemy snipers have advanced to the forefront, according to a Ukrainian defense ministry spokesman.

The occupiers have changed tactics near Avdiyivka: the intensity of mortar attacks decreased in the morning, while enemy snipers came to the forefront," Defense Ministry speaker for Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) issues Oleksandr Motuzianyk said at a briefing in Kyiv on Tuesday, February 21, an UNIAN correspondent reported.


"Yesterday, a powerful barrage was reported in the village of Kamianka: it lasted almost seven hours," Motuzianyk said.

As UNIAN reported earlier, Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 74 times in the past 24 hours with nine Ukrainian soldiers reported as wounded in action (WIA).

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

http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/404654.html

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko believes sanctions against Russia should be stepped up after it recognized documents of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions beyond Kyiv control.

"From the point of view of international law this is an element of recognition of these illegal units and the de facto refusal from the Minsk process, because those steps are not compatible with the implementation of the Minsk agreements. We believe that this is an extremely disturbing phenomenon and it requires decisive actions up to strengthening the sanctions," the presidential press service quoted Poroshenko as saying at a meeting in Kyiv with European Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs Christos Stylianides.

The press service said that Poroshenko informed the European commissioner about constant violations of the Minsk agreements in Donbas. "We observe not only ceasefire violations, but also an utterly cynical decision to recognize the fake documents of the fake republics," he said.

Stylianides, in turn, said that the European Union continues to support Ukraine and make diplomatic efforts aimed at Russia's complete implementation of the Minsk agreements, which are based on absolute respect to Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/404643.html

Russia's recognition of documents issued in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions contradicts the Donbas settlement goals, the OSCE said in a statement posted on its website on Tuesday.

"The OSCE chairmanship expresses strong concern about this measure taken by the Russian Federation," the statement said.

"In our view, this decree is in contradiction to the objectives of the settlement process in eastern Ukraine," it said.

"The OSCE Chairmanship notes that documents issued on the sovereign territory of Ukraine are only valid if done so by the internationally recognized authorities," the statement said.

"While the OSCE Chairmanship supports efforts to normalize the situation of people living in Donbas and to encourage freedom of movement, it cautions that this should be done in full compliance with OSCE principles and commitments as well as the Minsk agreements," the statement said.

"Unilateral actions jeopardize efforts to resolve the crisis in and around Ukraine," it said.

Meanwhile, OSCE Secretary-General Lamberto Zannier said on Monday that the Russian president's decision to recognize documents issued by Donbas areas that the Ukrainian authorities do not control would not help settle the crisis in eastern Ukraine.

Such moves of Moscow are a step back from the already distant goal of ending the war in Donbas, he said, noting it would now be harder to implement the Minsk agreements.

The Kremlin has actually recognized documents issued by the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk republics and their leaders, Zannier said.

On February 18, President Vladimir Putin signed the Executive Order On Recognition in the Russian Federation of Documents and Vehicle Registration Plates Issued to Ukrainian Citizens and Stateless Persons Permanently Residing in Certain Districts of Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk Regions.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said, for his part, that the Russian decision to recognize documents issued by the self-proclaimed Donbas republics violated international law.

"To my mind, this is another proof of Russian occupation and breach of the international law," Poroshenko said after he had met with U.S. Vice-President Michael Pence on Saturday.

"That was cynically done at a time of the Munich Security Conference," he said, adding that he had informed the U.S. vice-president about the move.

In turn, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said that the decision of Moscow to recognize documents issued by certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions disagreed with the logic of the Minsk agreements.

"This is the logic of intentional escalation, the logic going through Avdiyivka; this is not just the logic of military escalation, this is the logic of humanitarian escalation, as well. This order is at variance with the very logic of the Minsk agreements in an absolutely fundamental way, and we are perfectly aware why this has been done," Klimkin told reporters in Munich on Saturday.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/404701.html

Prosecutor General of Ukraine Yuriy Lutsenko has announced an investigation to determine the involvement of deputies in separatist activities.

"Today, we have determined only the names of those who paid Moscow's money, and those who received Moscow's money. Further investigation will determine which MPs participated in this," Lutsenko said at a joint briefing with head of the SBU Vasyl Hrytsak in Kyiv on Tuesday.

According to him, if assistants of the people's deputies took part in separatist activities, organized by the Russian side, this does not mean that deputies themselves were involved.

"We can speak of the moral responsibility [of MPs] for choosing their assistants," Lutsenko said.

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

http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/404729.html

The statement made by representatives of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic that Ukraine has violated disengagement along the line of demarcation between Russian hybrid forces and Ukrainian troops is a provocation, according to the press center of the Anti-Terrorism Operation (ATO).

"How can we speak of a violation when there are today illegal armed formations in the Donetsk and Mariupol sectors, who are using heavy 120-mm weapons? We have withdrawn our heavy weapons a long time ago," ATO spokesman Leonid Matiukhin told the Kyiv-based Interfax-Ukraine news agency.

Matiukhin said, "The statement is another provocation."

**********
http://www.interfax.com/newsinf.asp?id=736685
February 21, 2017 20:12

Withdrawal of forces disrupted through Ukraine's fault - LPR (Part 2)
LUHANSK. Feb 21 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian party did not confirm its readiness to pull back the weaponry in Donbas, the press service of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) People's Militia said.

"Kyiv has been disrupting for the second consecutive day the agreements on withdrawal of weaponry, which have been reached in Minsk on February 15," the LPR military agency said in a statement.

The LPR People's Militia was ready to begin the disengagement of forces synchronously with the Ukrainian side, the document said.

"The Ukrainian side did not unfortunately reaffirm its readiness for this step that indicates its reluctance to stop the shelling of our territories and implement the Minsk Agreements even in this part," the self-proclaimed republic's defense agency said.

The People's Militia also said continuing attacks on the LPR territory also indicate that Ukraine had been unwilling to fulfil the Minsk Agreements.

"One shelling from the Katerynivka populated locality outside Kyiv's control against the People's Militia positions in the Molodizhne populated area was recorded as of 6 p.m. At the same time, hostiles used an 82mm mortar, having fired eight mines on the LPR territory," the agency said.

The LPR People's Militia earlier said that they had been ready to begin the disengagement of forces from the contact line in Donbas at 6 p.m. on Tuesday.

***********

19:39
Russia ready to discuss complicated issues with Minsk to find their resolution - Lavrov

19:53
Gryzlov blames Kyiv for collapse of heavy weapons withdrawal in Donbas

18:29
Withdrawal of military hardware disrupted through Ukraine's fault, OSCE-mediated talks yield no outcome - DPR Defense Ministry

18:28
LPR accuses Ukrainian military of placing artillery, Grad rocket multiple launchers near contact line in Donbas

18:00
Ukrainian prosecutor general promises to investigate some Rada deputies' collaboration with Russian intelligence services


http://www.interfax.com/newsinf.asp?pg=4&id=736601
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February 21, 2017 17:18

Kyiv wishes to see more progress on drafting Minsk Agreements roadmap

KYIV. Feb 21 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian side would like to see more advancement in elaboration and reconciliation of the roadmap for implementing the Minsk Agreements, Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko said.

"Regarding the roadmap [...] We would like to see more developments. Actually, the roadmap makes it possible for us to implement Minsk step by step," Prystaiko told Interfax in Kyiv on Tuesday.

He then clarified that the Ukrainian side hopes that "if every step is broken down into clear and understandable positions which can be monitored, then they can be implemented one by one"

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16:53
Russia to return 12 inmates from Crimean jails to Kyiv authorities on March 3 - Ukrainian Justice Ministry
 
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https://www.unian.info/war/1789876-russian-occupiers-fire-grads-on-ukraine-positions-in-vodiane.html
The Russian occupation forces fired Grad rocket launchers on the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the village of Vodiane, the press service of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters reported on Facebook.

According to the press center, the militants once again violated the Minsk agreements on February 22 and are now attempting to disrupt the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the demarcation line.

"A few hours ago, the positions of Ukrainian troops in Vodiane were attacked by the occupiers, using Grad systems, 122mm artillery systems, as well as 120mm and 82mm mortars. In addition, the enemy used 122mm artillery systems to shell our positions in the village of Shyrokyne [some 24 km away from the Ukrainian-held strategic port city of Mariupol]," the reports says.

According to the headquarters, the occupiers launched at least three projectiles from Grad P portable systems, seven 122mm artillery shells and 30 mines of various calibers.

*********
https://www.unian.info/war/1789656-...ttacks-in-donbas-one-wounded-in-last-day.html


Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 59 times in the past 24 hours with one Ukrainian soldier reported as wounded in action, according to the press service of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.

In the Mariupol sector, the occupiers used 120mm and 82mm mortars to shell the villages of Shyrokyne and Vodiane. Rocket-propelled grenades, heavy machine guns and small arms were used to fire on the villages of Hnutove, Talakivka, Vodiane, and Pavlopil. Additionally, the enemy used infantry fighting vehicles to attack the villages of Taramchuk and Shyrokyne.

"In the Donetsk sector, the Russian occupation forces used 120mm and 82mm mortars to shell the town of Avdiyivka, and the villages of Luhanske and Opytne, while rocket-propelled grenades, heavy machine guns and small arms were used to attack the villages of Luhanske, Zaitseve, and Kamianka. A sniper was also active in Kamianka. Moreover, Avdiyivka was attacked by a tank," the report says.

In the Luhansk sector, the enemy fired 82mm mortars on the villages of Katerynivka and Novo-Oleksandrivka, as well as rocket-propelled grenades on the village of Stanytsia Luhanska.

As UNIAN reported earlier, a new truce in Donbas planned as of February 20 in keeping with last week's agreements in Minsk failed after the occupiers attacked Ukrainian positions in the early hours on the same day.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/404802.html

Ukrainian government forces' positions came under attack by Grad rocket launchers and heavy machineguns near Vodiane and Shyrokyne in Donbas on Wednesday morning, the staff of the Anti-Terrorist operation (ATO) in eastern Ukraine said on Facebook.

Grad P rocket launchers, 122mm artillery, and 82mm and 120mm mortars shelled Ukrainian army positions in Vodiane just a few hours ago, the report said.

Ukrainian positions were bombarded by 122mm artillery in Shyrokyne, it said, adding that at least three Grad P projectiles, seven 122mm shells, and about 30 mines of various calibers were fired.

The militants "has again breached the Minsk agreements and are trying their best to disrupt the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the contact line," the staff said.

****************
 
.
Famed for its reliability in conflicts from Vietnam to Afghanistan, there are thought to be more than 100 million AK-47s, as the assault rifles are also known, in circulation.

A US ban on imports of the weapon under sanctions imposed over Russia’s interventions in Ukraine forced Kalashnikov to diversify and embark on cost cuts. The group’s chief executive Alexey Krivoruchko said that the challenge was being able to meet growing demand.

The AK-47 was developed by Mikhail Kalashnikov after the Second World War, inspired by complaints he had heard from Russian soldiers about their rifles while convalescing after a shoulder wound in 1942. It has been standard military issue in Russia since 1949.

It is believed that AK-47s have caused more deaths than artillery fire, air strikes and rocket attacks combined, according to broadcaster RT.

https://www.unian.info/politics/179...-soldiers-killed-amid-russian-aggression.html

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko says over 2,600 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed during Russian aggression, according to an UNIAN correspondent.

"As many as 2,608 Ukrainian soldiers were killed during the aggression, including 2,200 men from the Armed Forces of Ukraine," he said at a gathering of senior military officials, commanders of the Armed Forces, commanders of combat units and formations in the General Staff of Ukraine.

"I would ask you to honor their memory with a minute of silence," he said.

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

14:51
Ukraine unconditionally backs reinforcement of NATO's eastern flank - Poroshenko

14:33
Ukrainian president warns of Russia's invasion threat

13:10
POROSHENKO: RUSSIA ENLARGING MILITARY PRESENCE NEAR UKRAINIAN BORDER, THREAT OF INVASION OF UKRAINE PERSISTS

11:29
Ukrainian army accuses Donetsk militia of using rocket launchers
 
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https://www.unian.info/war/1791636-ukraine-reports-1-wia-after-54-attacks-in-last-day.html

Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 54 times in the past 24 hours with one Ukrainian soldier reported as wounded in action (WIA), according to the press service of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.

"In the Mariupol sector, the occupiers fired portable Grad rocket launchers, 122mm artillery systems and mortars of various calibers on the village of Vodiane. Mortars were also used to attack the villages of Lebedynske and Shyrokyne. Moreover, the enemy used heavy machine guns and small arms to fire on the villages of Hnutove, Vodiane, Shyrokyne and Pavlopil," the report says.

The villages of Luhanske, Troyitske and Zaitseve in the Donetsk sector came under mortar fire. What is more, the Russian occupation forces used grenade launchers of various systems and small arms to shell the town of Avdiyivka, and the villages of Opytne, Pisky, Zaitseve and Luhanske.Additionally, enemy infantry fighting vehicles were used to attack Luhanske.

"In the Luhansk sector, the invaders used 120mm mortars and rocket-propelled grenades to shell the village of Novozvanivka," the headquarters said.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/405172.html

The Cabinet of Ministers intends in March to approve the program of development of the Ukrainian aviation industry for the period until 2020, Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman has said.

"The program of development of the aviation industry until 2020 has been developed. The program is designed not only by officials, but real production workers, institutions, and we in March will approve this program," the premier said at a press briefing after a meeting on aviation issues at PJSC FED (Kharkiv).

Groysman noted investments in modern technologies are important in this area.

According to him, both public and private companies work in the field of aircraft building, whose efforts need to be combined.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/405248.html
A swift approval by the Normandy Four nations (France, Germany, Russia, Ukraine) of a roadmap aimed at fulfilling the Minsk agreements will facilitate their implementation, according to Oleksandr Motsyk, Ukraine's representative in the political subgroup of the Trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine.

"The roadmap is under consideration in the Normandy format, the delegations are working very hard and we are interested in this roadmap being prepared as quickly as possible, since it will be a kind of an implementation document for the Minsk agreements," Motsyk told Interfax-Ukraine on Thursday.

The agreements do not spell out all issues clearly and so a roadmap is necessary to outline a specific timeframe and how to implement provisions of the Minsk deal, the diplomat said.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/405267.html
Russia's hybrid military forces violated the ceasefire in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, 41 times from 00:00 to 18:00 on Thursday, February 23, which resulted in wounding two Ukrainian soldiers.

"In total, there have been 41 attacks. Two of our soldiers have been wounded," the press center of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) headquarters wrote on Facebook on Thursday.

The villages of Zaitseve and Kamianka in the Donetsk sector came under mortar fire. Grenade launchers and large-caliber machine guns were used to shell the villages of Novhorodske, Pisky, Verkhniotoretske, Luhanske, and Zaitseve, and the town of Avdiyivka. Novhorodske was also under sniper fire.

The town of Popasna and the village of Novozvanivka in the Luhansk sector came under mortar fire. Grenade launchers and large-caliber machine guns were used to fire on the villages of Troyitske, Krymske, and Novo-Oleksandrivka. Further, Novozvanivka was attacked by an enemy infantry fighting vehicle, and Troyitske came under fire launched from anti-aircraft systems.

The occupation forces stationed in the Mariupol sector used mortars of various calibers to shell the village of Taramchuk, while grenade launchers, large-caliber machine guns and small arms were used to fire on the villages of Vodiane, Pavlopil, Hnutove, and Shyrokyne. Shyrokyne also was under sniper fire.


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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/405107.html

Leader of the Petro Poroshenko Bloc faction Ihor Hryniv considers any initiatives for the transfer of Ukrainian territory under rent to the country-occupier unacceptable, the press service of the Petro Poroshenko Bloc party Solidarity said.

"We have a valid constitution and one doesn't need to invent things that are contrary to the Constitution of Ukraine. Crimea is Ukrainian territory. We do not sell our land and are not going to give anything for rent. Crimea is Ukrainian territory and the invaders should leave it," Hryniv said.


"This is not simply a private initiative. This initiative, unfortunately, was commenced by Victor Pinchuk as well. But he is a businessman, not a politician, whom we can somehow forgive such errors or statements, but we mustn't forgive such political illiteracy to a deputy of the Verkhovna Rada," he said.


He noted the inadmissibility of consideration of this issue exclusively in a pragmatic plane, for example, to discuss options for how much money it is possible to rent out Crimea.

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http://www.mil.gov.ua/en/news/2017/...full-scale-aggression-of-russia-still-exists/
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Threat of full-scale aggression of Russia still exists, as stated by President Petro Poroshenko at the operational meeting of the administrative board of the Armed Forces.

“This threat oozes out not only through the uncontrolled areas of border in Donbas, but along the entire border line with Russia and even wider, which convinces us of hostile intentions of the Russian Federation,” the Head of State in his speech.

The evidence of that is the deployment of up to 50 thousand Russian troops in close proximity to our borders. According to Petro Poroshenko, they have about 470 tanks, over 1700 armored combat vehicles, about 390 artillery systems and 220 multiple launch rocket systems, about 490 combat aircrafts, hundreds of helicopters, 24 warships.

“Russians create new and expand and modernize the existing bases, other objects of military infrastructure. By the way, there is no guarantees that this multitude will not come on us someday,” the Head of State said adding that rapid militarization of the occupied territories is taking place now.

“In Donbas, Russia formed two army corps consisting of 6 mechanized brigades, 1 infantry brigade, 3 regiments, 2 artillery brigades and other units. Their management, manning and comprehensive maintenance is ensured by the aggressor — Russia. Regular units of the armed forces of the Russian Federation are additionally involved in these troops. About 3.5 thousand people already,” the President informed.

The Head of State believes Russian military contingent in the Transnistria region of Moldova uncontrolled by Chișinău is also a menace for the Ukrainian borders. “It can be used for offensive on our territory anytime. And even though there are not too much of them there, they can create additional problems for us as a reinforcement to over 20 thousand warriors in the annexed Crimea,”

The President noted that Russia increases pressure from the north — on Belarus. At the same time, the leadership of that country assured the Ukrainian President that it “will not allow using the territory of Belarus for unfriendly actions towards us”. Belarus also banned the use of fake documents issued in the occupied territories of Ukraine in its territory.

Taking into account the abovementioned facts, Petro Poroshenko urged the neighboring countries and the Baltic States to be on guard. “From my own experience I would advise Belarusians and the Baltic States to be ready for any surprises from Moscow,” he said.

The Head of State noted that the whole Europe starts to understand the insatiable appetite of Russia, even though with a delay. It rattles the saber near the border, conducts powerful cyberattacks.

According to him, more and more spheres are being subject to cyberattacks, not only the Armed Forces, the General Staff and the energy sphere.

“Today they change tactics and attack brains of Ukrainians, Europeans, Americans. Russia funds pro-Russian and Eurosceptic parties. It brazenly interferes in the election campaigns, spreads fake news in the style of Goebbels. Moscow left footprints in the migrant crisis, which in fact was an attempt to destabilize the situation in the EU and beyond its borders, to break the EU,” Petro Poroshenko stressed.

He also recalled a public “joke” of the Russian leader about the limitless borders of his country. “Such statements are the most serious threat. Nazis motivated occupation of countries in the 40s with non-recognition of independence of some European nations. The basis of Russian policy as regards of Ukraine is the non-recognition of the right of Ukrainians to self-determination. And I have no grounds to believe that this basis will be amended in the nearest time,” the President noted.

“It is absolutely clear that flexing muscles is the main election technology. Unfortunately, hostile course towards Ukraine and the entire world is supported by Russian voters. Thus, it is obvious that Russia will try to implement its imperial plans both in the form of hybrid war and in the form of open aggression with large-scale use of military force in all directions,” Petro Poroshenko stated.

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Since the beginning of 2017, already 4.5 thousand Ukrainians have joined the ranks of the Armed Forces, as stated by President Petro Poroshenko.

“Last year, about 70 thousand Ukrainian volunteers signed contract with the Armed Forces. The quality of this personnel is much higher than that of the previous years. Since the beginning of this year, 4.5 thousand more Ukrainians have already joined the ranks of the AFU,” the President said at the operational meeting of the administrative board of the AFU.

“This allowed us to abandon the use of mobilization, even though I was criticized for that, and ensure manning of the troops with motivated contractors,” the Head of State emphasized.

Petro Poroshenko noted that the Minsk agreements provided enough time to ensure the needs of the frontline by professional volunteers.

According to the President, a powerful operational reserve of the first line was formed last year from demobilized warriors with a huge military experience. These servicemen are well-motivated, professional and patriotic. “These are over 130 thousand people,” he said.

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Wednesday, February 22. KYIV — “We have a clear understanding of what we need to do to accomplish the reforms in 2017”, Defense Minister of Ukraine General of the Army Stepan Poltorak said during the operational assembly of the Armed Forces command staff.

He said that currently 37 thousand troops defending Ukraine on the frontline in Donbas area. The remaining personnel are on duty and in training centers learning combat experience gained in ATO.

“We can defend Ukraine and do all job the Armed Forces have to. The 72th brigade in Avdiivka sets a good example of what our units are able to,” General of the Army Stepan Poltorak said.

Defense Minister thanked the President, who as Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is not just watching development of the reforms, but leading them.

“Thanks to his position we can stay afloat despite the fact that it’s hard enough to undergo reforms during the war. I am proud that we have such a Supreme Commander who is not afraid to take responsibility and head our country at very difficult times,” Stepan Poltorak said.

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It is planned to allocate about 9 billion hryvnias for the development and purchase of new armament and military equipment for the Ukrainian troops. It was stated by the President at the operational meeting of the administrative board of the AFU.

“Defense order is pretty modest in terms of global prices and expenditures of the aggressor. But it is pretty tangible for the Ukrainian budget and Ukrainian taxpayers,” the Head of State added.

According to the President, a priority for this year is the restoration of a reliable air defense system, creation of a powerful missile shield of Ukraine, accumulation of combat potential of aviation, artillery, production of ammunition, development of telecommunication systems, automated systems of command and control and intelligence.

The Head of State instructed to accelerate the reform of food supply and complete it by 2019.

Over 500 trainings were held in Ukraine in 2016 with involvement of foreign instructors. The President thanked our foreign partners for their assistance in the formation of a new Ukrainian army. “This is a different army already. It wages war differently. This is a bright example of our efficient cooperation,” Petro Poroshenko noted.

The President informed that during multinational exercises in 2017 major efforts will be focused on improving combat readiness of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and increasing the interoperability of our military units with units of the states-members of NATO.

The Head of State emphasized that Ukraine unconditionally supports and welcomes NATO’s efforts to strengthen the eastern flank of the Alliance, protect its member-states from hostile encroachment and attacks of the Russian Federation. “In Munich, I once again had a conversation with President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė, President of Poland Andrzej Duda and leaders of other countries where these troops are located. I can say that these countries really welcome these efforts,” Petro Poroshenko said.

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