Civil war in Ukraine: News & discussion

[ultron]

3 Ukrainian servicemen got KIA in Donbas yesterday

more than 3375 Ukrainian soldiers got KIA in Donbas so far

http://memorybook.org.ua/

 

[Hindustani78]

Mi-2 military helicopter crashes near Kramatorsk, crew dies

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Humanitarian demining underway in Balaklia

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https://www.unian.info/war/1843044-...y-shellings-3-kia-8-wia-in-past-24-hours.html

Ukraine reports almost 90 enemy shellings, 3 KIA, 8 WIA in past 24 hours

The situation in the zone of the Anti-Terrorist Operation has become more intense as Russian-terrorist forces have attacked 88 times the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the past day, according to the ATO Headquarters.


"Russian-occupation forces hit the defenders of Troyitske from 152mm artillery systems, 120mm and 82mm mortars. 120mm mortars were also used by the enemy near Avdiyivka and Luhanske. 82mm mortar rounds were fired at the defenders of Kamianka, Verkhnetoretske and Avdiyivka. A tank fired at Ukrainian soldiers near Kamianka, and an IFV – at Ukrainian strong points near Verkhnetoretske and Pisky. Enemy snipers were active near Troyitske,” the report said.

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https://www.unian.info/war/1844804-osces-drone-in-donbas-comes-under-small-arms-fire-on-sunday.html

The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine has reported that its drone came under small-arms fire after an SMM patrol of four mission members in two armored vehicles stopped 500 meters north-east of government-controlled Orikhove-Donetske (44km north-west of Luhansk) to launch it on Sunday, March 26.


"At about 13:10, a couple minutes after launching a mid-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the SMM observed another UAV almost directly above the patrol's position, approaching from the south-south-west at a height of approximately 100 meters. The UAV was slightly larger than the SMM UAV and darker in color, with a larger wingspan and vertical wingtips. It sounded like it had an electric motor. The SMM immediately began the landing procedure for its own UAV. The other UAV flew over the SMM patrol's position, circled three times – steadily gaining altitude – and then departed to the west. Less than half a minute later, the SMM heard ten single shots of small-arms fire 200-300 meters west," the OSCE SMM said in its report on Monday, March 27.


The duration of the shooting was about 30 seconds, the monitors said.


"The SMM assessed that the shots were being fired in the direction of the SMM UAV, which was 200-300 meters west and at a height less than 100 meters. It landed normally, without any evident damage.

At 13:22 the SMM departed the area," the report said. The SMM informed the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination about the incident and requested that it follow up.

http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/411734.html

Militants shelled the residential sector of Avdiyivka using the BM-21 rocket fire system 'Grad' around noon on Sunday, as a result of which nine separate houses suffered damages, head of the Donetsk Regional Military-Civilian Administration Pavlo Zhebrivsky said.

"At about 12:00 the Russian invaders shelled Stara Avdiyivka from Grads mulitiple-rocket launchers. Nine separate houses were damaged. The information is being specified," the head of the Donetsk Regional State Administration wrote on his Twitter on Sunday afternoon.

At the same time, he specified on his Facebook page that the damaged houses were separate houses located in Belynsky, Dobroliubov and Kolosov Streets, but the nature of the damage is being specified.

"According to preliminary data, none of the civilians were injured," Zhebrivsky said.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/411733.html

Three Ukrainian soldiers were killed and another eight people were wounded in the area of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) in Donbas in the past 24 hours, Ukrainian Defense Ministry official Andriy Lysenko said.

"Three Ukrainian servicemen were killed and eight were wounded in action in the past 24 hours," Lysenko told a briefing in Kyiv on Monday.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/411617.html

Five people died, according to tentative data, in the crash of a Mil Mi-2 military helicopter in the Malynivka populated area not far from the town of Kramatorsk (Donetsk region), Defense Ministry spokesperson Oleksandr Motuzianyk said on Sunday evening.

"They are three crewmembers and two passengers," Motuzianyk said.

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry press service reported earlier that the Ukrainian Mi-2 military helicopter had crashed near Kramatorsk.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/411712.html

Ukraine's military prosecutor's office has issued a suspicion notice to the Russian Major General Aleksey Zavizyon, commander of the 41st military army of the Central Military District of the Russian Federation.

"Zavizyon, acting commander of the 1st Army Corps, an unlawful military formation of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), is suspected of conspiring with a group of Russian officials from February through June 2015 … of issuing orders, demanding their fulfillment and coordinating activities of subordinate illegal military formations which shelled positions of Ukraine's Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) forces and attacking Ukrainian troops and law-enforcement personnel," the suspicion notice says, according to the press service of Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office (PGO). The announcement says the illegal activities were carried out in occupied areas of Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Zavizyon is suspected of committing crimes under Part 3 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (deliberate attempts to violate Ukraine's territorial integrity and acts violating the Constitution leading to the death of citizens, as well as other crimes), Part 2 of Article 28, Part 2 of Article 437 (conducting war against Ukraine) and Part 1 of Article 258-3 (working with a terrorist organization).

The suspect has been put on the wanted list and a petition has been filed to order his immediate arrest and detainment," the PGO said.

According to publicly available information, Zavizyon, Aleksey Vladimirovich (born on May 13, 1965 in Estonia), was promoted to major general in 2007 and has commanded Russia's 41st Army, Central Military District of the Russian Federation's Armed Services since 2015.

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In the course of the visit to the mobile control point of the Chief of the National Guard of Ukraine, President Petro Poroshenko verified the functioning of the operational communications with the territorial command of the National Guard and the command of the National Guard in east of Ukraine.

The Head of State heard the latest information on the elimination of consequences of fire at the military depots near Balaklia. As of Monday morning, 12,000 local residents returned to the city. Demining of the territory is being continued.

Press Service of the President of Ukraine

http://www.mil.gov.ua/en/news/2017/03/27/ato-news-operational-information-of-ato-hq-press-centre/
According to the ATO HQ press centre, two servicemen were hit by a directed charge IED.

According to preliminary information, two servicemen were killed while accomplishing tasks assigned near Novoluhanske, Donetsk oblast.

The reasons are being investigated.

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12:40
193 National Guard members killed in Donbas - Poroshenko

09:08
LPR sees 14 attacks by Ukrainian army in past 24 hours

 

[ultron]

2 Ukrainian servicemen got KIA in Donbas today

 

[Hindustani78]

https://www.unian.info/war/1847164-two-ukrainian-soldiers-wounded-in-donbas-on-tuesday.html
Two Ukrainian soldiers were wounded in Donbas on Tuesday, March 28, according to the press center of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) headquarters.

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https://www.unian.info/war/1845199-...zone-58-enemy-shellings-in-past-24-hours.html
The situation in the zone of the Anti-Terrorist Operation in Donbas has stabilized, the number of enemy attacks on the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has decreased, with 58 cases of shelling recorded in the past day, ATO Headquarters reports.


"Most enemy shellings were reported in the Donetsk direction, where 122mm artillery was used against [Ukrainian] positions near Troyitske. Russian-occupation forces fired 120mm mortars on defenders of Avdiyivka, Troyitske, and Luhanske. 82mm mortars, grenade launchers of various types, and large-caliber machine guns were used by the enemy in the area of Avdiyivka, Kamianka, Pisky, Novhorodske, and Luhanske," the report said.

According to the headquarters, in Mariupol direction, the enemy fired 82mm mortars and grenade launchers on strong points of the Ukrainian troops near Krasnohorivka and Maryinka, and large-caliber machine guns – on the defenders of Novohryhorivka and Vodiane. Marines stationed in Shyrokine were fired upon from a ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft system. An enemy sniper was active near Pavlopil and Hnutove.

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UNIAN: https://www.unian.info/war/1845616-...d-to-seven-years-in-prison-in-il-76-case.html

Ukrainian army Gen. Viktor Nazarov has been sentenced to seven years in prison on charges of neglect of duty and inaction in the case of an Il-76 transport aircraft downed in Luhansk in 2014, which resulted in the death of 40 Ukrainian paratroopers, according to the media outlet InfoResist.


"Viktor Mykolayovych Nazarov is found guilty and sentenced to seven years in prison," a judge of Dnipropetrovsk region's Pavlohrad court read out the verdict on Monday, March 27, InfoResist reported.

The court ruled that Nazarov was sentenced under Part 3 of Article 425 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which foresees imprisonment from five to eight years as the punishment.

The court did not strip him of his major-general rank.

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry was obliged to pay compensation to the victims' family members for emotional distress, but only the parents and wives will get the money, which is set at UAH 500,000 per person.


The court accepted the proof provided by the prosecution, however, the judge also took into account the fact that the defendant has a positive personal record and has not been convicted before.

The judge said that the general could appeal for clemency and challenge the ruling in court.

As UNIAN reported earlier, the Il-76 plane was downed with the use of a Russian anti-aircraft system in June 2014 when landing at Luhansk airport. Nine crew members and 40 paratroopers of the 25th Dnipropetrovsk Separate Airborne Brigade aboard were killed in a terrorist act.


The Prosecutor General's Office opened a criminal case on charges of terrorism and initiated criminal proceedings against officers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Control Headquarters of the Anti-Terrorist Operation on charges of neglect of duty. Prosecutors claim the suspected ignored reports about an increase in terrorists' activity near the airport of Luhansk and the presence of portable anti-aircraft systems.

They had to take measures to land the aircraft safely.


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Promka (Avdiivka industrial zone): 1440 minutes of life (video)

According to Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine Lt. Gen. Ihor Pavlovskyi, it is scheduled to remove and destroy UXOs from the Balaklia depot.

The site for UXOs blasting is ready and located 10 km from the residential area. Specialists are currently renewing and repairing the infrastructure of the region. Town and villages return to normal life.

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09:36
Militiaman killed by Ukrainian fire - LPR

 

[Hindustani78]

https://www.unian.info/war/1847459-...a-hottest-spots-near-avdiyivka-troyitske.html

The situation in the zone of the Anti-Terrorist Operation remains tense as Russian-occupation troops shelled Ukrainian positions 61 times over the past day, that’s according to the ATO Headquarters

"In order to suppress the enemy activity, the ATO forces returned fire. Over the past day, three Ukrainian troops were wounded," the headquarters reported.

http://www.mil.gov.ua/en/news/2017/...under-control-territory-clearing-is-going-on/



“After the midnight there were only two detonations. All the tasks assigned for the previous day were fulfilled, the works are carried out as scheduled,” Lt. Gen. Ihor Pavlosvksyi, Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine, sad during a morning briefing.

He also mentioned that all the UXOs are destroyed at special site located at 10 km from the Balaklia.

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http://www.mil.gov.ua/en/news/2017/03/29/ato-news-enemy-uses-forbidden-weapons/

According to the ATO HQ press centre, the Russian occupational troops keep on shelling the ATO positions using the weaponry forbidden by the Minsk agreements.

The enemy used 125 mm gun, 122 mm artillery, and 82 mm mortars against the ATO positions near Vodyane, Shyrokyne, and Zenit.

According to preliminary data, there are no casualties among civil population.

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http://www.interfax.com/newsinf.asp?id=744143

KYIV. March 29 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said it is outraged by the Russian court's decision to arrest former prime minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk in absentia and called for international pressure on Russia to be increased.

"The absurd accusations of crimes that became the foundation for this decision have nothing to do with reality or common sense," the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said in a commentary released on Tuesday.

In this regard, the Foreign Ministry stated the deterioration of the justice system in Russia, which, as Kyiv believes, persecutes "Ukrainian political figures and ordinary Ukrainians, dozens of which are illegally held in Russian prisons." The ministry also called the situation with Yatsenyuk "an element of a hybrid war" that is being used to take attention away from the real crimes committed on the territory of Ukraine.

"We are calling on the global community to increase pressure on Russia for the purpose of halting aggression against Ukraine and restoring respect for the fundamental norms and principles of international law," the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said.

The Yessentuki City Court, Stavropol Territory, earlier arrested in absentia Arseniy Yatsenyuk, former prime minister of Ukraine and leader of the party People's Front, granting a request from an investigator from the Main Investigations Department of the Investigative Committee for the Northern Caucasus Federal District.

The investigators had requested Yatsenyuk's arrest in connection with the accusation of participation in an armed group. Yatsenyuk was also accused of premeditated murder with aggravating circumstances and preparations for a crime and attempted crime.

Alexander Bastrykin, the head of the Russian Investigative Committee, said in early September 2015 that Yatsenyuk had fought against the Russian troops in Chechnya in the 1990s as a member of the organization UNA-UNSO, which is banned in Russia.

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18:23
Security tightened at foreign embassies, consulates in Ukraine

10:48
LPR reports 13 Ukrainian army attacks in past 24 hours

 

[ultron]

2 Ukrainian servicemen got KIA in Donbas today

 

[Hindustani78]

Avdiyivka's industrial zone amid Donbas war

https://www.unian.info/war/1849784-...bas-in-over-80-enemy-attacks-in-past-day.html

The situation remains tense in the zone of the Anti-Terrorist Operation, with 83 enemy shellings of positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces recorded over the past day, according to the ATO Headquarters.

Russian occupation forces use weaponry of over 100mm caliber, in violation of the existing agreements, the Ukrainian military report.

"On the Mariupol line, strongpoints near Shyrokine, Hnutove and Vodiane were shelled with 122 mm artillery systems. Russian mercenaries also fired 120mm mortars at positions near Hnutove, and 82mm mortars, large-caliber machine guns and grenade launchers – at Maryinka, Vodiane and Pavlopil. An enemy tank fired at positions near Vodiane, while IFV weapons were used against Ukrainian marines deployed in Shyrokine. Enemy snipers were active near Hnutove and Vodiane," the HQ reported.


In the Donetsk direction, near Troyitske, the enemy used 152mm artillery. Strongpoints of Ukrainian troops near Avdiyivka, Troyitske, and Luhanske were shelled with 120mm mortars, while defenders of Opytne, Avdiyivka, and Kamianka were shelled with 82mm mortars. In Troyitske, an enemy tank opened fire, and an IFV – in Luhanske. Strongpoints near Kamianka and Nevelske were fired upon with large-caliber machine guns and grenade launchers of various types.

On the Luhansk line, near the village of Kalinovo-Popasna, the use by the enemy of a 122mm artillery was spotted. 120mm mortars, IFV weapons, and grenade launchers of various types were used by the enemy against Ukrainian positions near Krymske. The enemy also fired large-caliber machine guns and grenade launchers at positions near Stanytsia Luhanska and Novo-Oleksandrivka.

"Over the past day, two Ukrainian troops were killed in action and another three were wounded," the ATO press center reported. ATO forces returned fire to suppress the enemy's fire activity.

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https://www.unian.info/war/1850106-electricity-down-in-avdiyivka-water-supplies-suspended.html
As UNIAN reported earlier, a 110 kV high-voltage transmission line was damaged on March 29 amid fighting, leading to a suspension of power supplies to some 22,000 residents of Avdiyivka, the local coke plant, and Donetsk filtering station – provided of water supplies.
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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/412712.html
Over 20 civilians have been killed in the special operation zone in eastern Ukraine since the beginning of this year, OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) Principal Deputy Chief Monitor Alexander Hug in Ukraine said.

The past week saw seven casualties resulting from the conflict; the total casualty toll since the beginning of 2017 is 116, including 21 killed and 95 injured, Hug said at a briefing in Kyiv on Thursday.

This would not have happened, if there were no weapons there, Hug said.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/412703.html
The number of ceasefire violation instances on the Donbas contact line has risen by 60% over the past week, Alexander Hug, first deputy head of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Special Monitoring Mission (OSCE SMM) in Ukraine, said on Thursday.

The OSCE SMM registered 60% growth in the number of cases of ceasefire violation: in all, there have been 3,930 mortar, artillery and rocket explosions over the past week, up from 1,595 during the previous week, Hug said at a news briefing in Kyiv.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/412729.html
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko says he has instructed the Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff and the Defense Ministry to cease fire in Donbas starting from April 1.

"I've given all the necessary commands to the General Staff and the defense minister," Poroshenko said when asked by Interfax-Ukraine whether the Ukrainian military is ready to implement the agreements achieved in Minsk.



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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/412623.html
The Ukrainian military stands ready to fulfill the Minsk Agreements and observe a ceasefire in Donbas but will respond appropriately in the event of a threat to the lives of the troops or takeover of territories, Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak said.

"We are ready to fulfill the agreements. However, if there is a threat to our positions or the lives of our troops, we will not keep silent but will take measures to prevent the takeover of our territories or the death of our troops," Poltorak said at a joint news briefing with Georgian Defense Minister Levan Izoria in Kyiv on Thursday.

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March 30, 2017

20:07
Kyiv reports four soldiers hurt in Donbas fighting

19:08
LPR reports readiness for disengagement in Stanytsia Luhanska on April 6, hope that attempts will be successful

15:03
Ukrainian army reports 83 attacks on its positions in Donbas in past 24 hours

 

[Hindustani78]

Today, around 08:30, a vehicle exploded in the residential area of Mariupol, killing an operative of the SBU Security Service of Ukraine, Colonel Oleksandr Haraberyush, the security agency’s press service reported. Police deem the incident a terrorist act.

https://www.unian.info/war/1851894-...s-in-past-day-hottest-spot-near-luhanske.html

Enemy shellings of the Ukrainian troops in the zone of the Anti-Terrorist Operation continued in the past day, with 69 attacks of the Russian-occupation forces recorded on the position of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, ATO Headquarters wrote on Facebook.

"The Donetsk direction remains the epicenter of hostilities, with the settlement of Luhanske being the hottest spot over the past 24 hours, where Ukraine troops were fired upon with 122mm artillery, 120mm and 82mm mortars, IFVs, grenade launchers, and large-caliber machine guns. The enemy also fired 120mm and 82mm mortars on positions near Troyitske and Kamianka," the report reads.

According to the headquarters, an enemy tank fired on the defenders of Avdiyivka, while an IFV hit the strongpoints of Ukrainian troops in the area of Opytne. Grenade launchers were fired at positions near Zaitseve, and large-caliber machine guns – at the defenders of Nevelske."

In the Mariupol direction, the enemy fired 82mm mortars at Ukraine positions in the area of Maryinka, Krasnohorivka, and Pavlopil, while the enemy's IFV fired on the defenders of Maryinka and Shyrokine.

Russian-terrorist forces fired grenade launchers and large-caliber machine guns near Vodiane, Pavlopil, Maryinka, and Krasnohorivka. Enemy snipers were active near Novotroyitske," it was reported.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/412925.html
Over the past day, the militants carried out 69 shelling attacks on the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) zone, as a result of which two Ukrainian servicemen were killed, nine wounded and four injured, the press center of the ATO headquarters has reported.

The greatest number of bombardments fell on the Donetsk sector. The militants fired on Luhanske from artillery of 122 mm caliber, 120 mm and 82 mm mortars, weapons of the infantry combat vehicles, grenade launchers and heavy machine guns. Troyitske and Kamyanka were shelled from mortars of 120 mm and 82 mm caliber, Avdiyivka - from tanks, Opytne was attacked by the infantry combat vehicle armament, Zaitseve - from grenade launchers, and Nevelske with the use of large-caliber machine guns.

In the Mariupol sector, 82-mm mortar shells fired on Maryinka, Krasnohorivka and Pavlopil. Maryinka and Shyrokyne were shelled by militants with the help of armored vehicles, grenade launchers and machine guns were used to fire on Vodiane, Pavlopil, Maryinka, Krasnohorivka. The enemy's snipers attacked the vicinity of Novotroyitske.

In the Luhansk sector, the militants fired on Troyitske from 120 mm mortar shells, Novo-Oleksandrivka suffered from mortars of 82 mm caliber. Stanytsia Luhanska, Troyitske, Valuiske, Popasna and Novozvanivka were shelled by grenade launchers, Valuiske was attacked by the adversary's large-caliber machine guns.

"In view of the serious fire activity of the enemy, Ukrainian servicemen repeatedly returned fire," a message posted on the Facebook page of the press center of ATO headquarters, says.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/412983.html

Japan will provide $3.9 million to support people and communities affected by the conflict in eastern Ukraine, Japanese Ambassador to Ukraine Shigeki Sumi has said.

"I am pleased to announce that from April 2017 to March 2018, the Japanese government will allocate $4 million through the UN and the Red Cross in Ukraine for the recovery of Ukraine's east," he said at a press conference in Kyiv on Friday.

In particular, $1.01 million will be allocated through the United Nations Development Program for the economic recovery and restoration of critical infrastructure in the eastern regions of Ukraine, another $1.27 million for the restoration and development of peace. Some $0.97 million will be allocated through the International Organization for Migration for the restoration of unity and support for small businesses in local communities, which are affected by the conflict in Donbas. Some $0.87 million will be allocated through UNICEF for the development of the education sector in the government-controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions and the rest of the money will go to other projects.

Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Utility Services Hennadiy Zubko thanked Japan for its constant support of projects in Ukraine.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/413010.html
A press release issued on Friday by Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said the meeting took place in Brussels. During the talks, the sides discussed intensified fighting in eastern Ukraine and provocations by the Russian Federation and militant groups, who seized Ukrainian enterprises in occupied areas and introduced Russian rubles as the currency for occupied areas, as well as the introduction of quasi-tax and banking systems.

Klimkin said Russian steps are tantamount to deliberate violations of the Minsk agreements and urged the EU to respond immediately. He also expressed hope that EU procedures for granting Ukrainian visa-free travel to Europe would be completed in the near future, along with the ratification process of the EU-Ukraine Association agreement

The sides also discussed the timetable for further bilateral dialogue, including preparations for the Ukraine-EU summit scheduled for 2017.

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[Hindustani78]

The Kremlin found a way to "write off" thousands of pieces of military hardware and countless ammunition Russia has been regularly delivering to Donbas militants, according to MP Dmytro Tymchuk, who is also a coordinator Information Resistance online community.

The data on Russian stockpiles of weapons can be found in international reporting as they had been open at the times "when the Russian Federation still posed as a civilized state," Tymchuk said.


According to the Ukrainian MP, the Russian defense ministry has scheduled a large-scale write-off of weapons. As reported in the explanatory note to the draft amendments to Russian President’s Decree No. 775, until 2021, they plan to cut for scrap or otherwise dispose of 9,900 armored vehicles, 21,500 missile and artillery pieces, 7 million small arms, and 150 million units of ammunition.

"There is no doubt that a large part of these weapons and ammunition have already been "disposed of" or scheduled for being "written-off" in the Ukrainian Donbass, " Tymchuk noted.

 

[Hindustani78]

https://www.unian.info/war/1854694-...as-amid-37-attacks-on-ukraine-on-april-1.html

Russia's hybrid military forces on Saturday, April 1, continued provocations in Donbas and mounted 37 attacks on Ukrainian positions despite recent agreements reached by the Trilateral Contact Group in Minsk on a ceasefire along the entire contact line from 00:00 local time on the same day, according to the press center of the Ukrainian Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.

"Despite armed provocations by the enemy, Ukrainian servicemen have strictly been adhering to the ceasefire regime and have not fired back. Four Ukrainian defenders were wounded in action (WIA)," the ATO HQ said.

The Mariupol sector saw most of the attacks on the Ukrainian positions.

 

[Hindustani78]

https://www.unian.info/war/1854989-...inian-soldiers-in-donbas-younger-than-20.html

Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Viktor Muzhenko says that his decision to replace Ukrainian soldiers in Donbas who are younger than 20 has been supported by a dozen out of the 700 who are now participating in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) in the east of Ukraine.

21:55, 02 April 2017

"I'll tell you how patriotic the youth are. I've decided to replace all the 700 Ukrainian servicemen in the ATO zone who are younger than 20. The result is: 11 have agreed, the rest have remained," he wrote on Facebook on Sunday, April 2. As UNIAN reported earlier, the number of Ukrainian soldiers who were killed during the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) in Donbas as of November 21, 2016, was 2,145 men, according to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry.

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https://www.unian.info/war/1855284-ukraine-reports-over-30-attacks-in-donbas-1-wia-in-last-day.html
Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 32 times in the past 24 hours with one Ukrainian soldier reported as wounded in action (WIA), according to the press service of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.

The enemy was most active in the Mariupol sector, using 120mm mortars, grenade launchers of various systems, heavy machine guns and small arms on the Ukrainian Marines' positions near the village of Pavlopil. The militants also fired 82mm mortars, grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms on the defenders of the town of Krasnohorivka. Additionally, provocative fire from grenade launchers, machine guns and small arms was recorded near the villages of Vodiane, Shyrokyne, and Chermalyk.

The largest number of militant attacks in the Donetsk sector was registered near the town of Avdiyivka whose defenders came under fire from 82mm mortars, grenade launchers of various systems and heavy machine guns. The Russian occupation forces also used grenade launchers to shell the defenders of the villages of Zaitseve and Troyitske, and Butivka coal mine. Furthermore, heavy machine guns were used to fire on the Ukrainian positions near the villages of Kamianka and Opytne. A sniper was also active near Troyitske.


In the Luhansk sector, the invaders fired automatic grenade launchers on the Ukrainian fortified positions near the village of Krymske, as well as small arms on the defenders of the villages of Valuiske and Stanytsia Luhanska.

Despite armed enemy provocations, the Ukrainian servicemen were strictly observing the ceasefire regime and did not fire back.

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https://www.unian.info/war/1855664-...donbas-possible-disengagement-on-april-6.html

The disengagement of forces near the village of Stanytsia Luhanska scheduled for April 6 may take place in case of full compliance with the ceasefire regime by the militants, Chepurnoy said, Channel 112 Ukraine reported.

"There has been a certain positive trend. There were 37 attacks on April 1 and 32 attacks on April 2. The number and intensity of shelling incidents are decreasing, the frequency of the use of heavy systems is on the decline. Perhaps, on April 6, we will reach a milestone that there will be no shelling at all and the forces will be able to disengage normally," Chepurnoy said.

As UNIAN reported earlier, Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 32 times in the past 24 hours with one Ukrainian soldier reported as wounded in action.

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https://www.unian.info/war/1856131-...another-serviceman-in-donbas-by-accident.html

A Ukrainian soldier has shot another serviceman in the Donbas conflict zone as a result of careless handling of weapons, according to the press service of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.

A serviceman has shot another soldier today in a military unit whose personnel are carrying out combat missions in the ATO zone. According to preliminary reports, the tragedy occurred due to careless handling of weapons," it said in a report on Facebook on Monday, April 3. "The circumstances of the event are being clarified.

Representatives of the military law enforcement service, the military prosecutor's office and the National Police are working on the scene," the ATO HQ said.

 

[Hindustani78]

https://www.unian.info/war/1858666-ukraine-reports-2-kias-5-wias-in-past-24-hours.html

Two Ukrainian soldiers were killed and five were wounded in fighting in eastern Ukraine in the past 24 hours, according to a Ukrainian defense ministry spokesman.

"There were two killed in action (KIA) and another five wounded in action (WIA)," Defense Ministry speaker for Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) issues Oleksandr Motuzianyk said at a briefing in Kyiv on Tuesday, April 4, an UNIAN correspondent reported.

As UNIAN reported earlier, Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 48 times in the past 24 hours.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/413692.html
President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has said that the Russian side hasn't observed the ceasefire regime in Donbas for a single day since April 1.

"Today the chief of the General Staff and the defense minister reported me that the Russian side did not observe the ceasefire regime for a single day," he said at a press conference after talks with Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis in Riga on Tuesday.

"I am grateful to our European partners who are ready to extend sanctions against Russia in case the latter fails to demonstrate its readiness to cease fire and to implement the security package," the Ukrainian president said.

Vejonis regretted that the April 1 ceasefire deal for Donbas had been marred. "We were happy to hear about the agreement to cease fire in Donbas on April 1, yet we are disappointed that bombardments in Donbas continue and people are dying," he said, answering an Interfax-Ukraine question.

The agreements are not being implemented although the truce and the withdrawal of heavy weapons are important factors in the fulfillment of the Minsk Agreements, Vejonis said. "It is very important to ensure that Russia participates in this dialogue and demonstrates constructive behavior in order to resolve this conflict. Latvia and the international community hope that Russia will actively participate in the dialogue in order to stop the bloodshed in Donbas," the Latvian president said.

It was agreed at the March 29 meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group for Donbas in Minsk to cease fire in the conflict zone on April 1.

Ukraine is grateful to its partners in the EU and international partners for the continuation of the policy of sanctions against the country-aggressor, the Russian Federation, due to the non-fulfillment of the Minsk agreements, as stated by President Petro Poroshenko.

“I am grateful to our European partners that they are ready to demonstrate continuation of sanctions against Russia as an efficient mechanism to motivate Russia to adhere to the commitments undertaken with the signature of the Minsk agreements in case Russia does not demonstrate willingness to cease fire and introduce the security package,” Petro Poroshenko said during the joint press conference with President of Latvia Raimonds Vējonis.

The Head of State emphasized that Russia and pro-Russian militants do not fulfill the Minsk agreements and keep on violating the new ones, particularly the ceasefire regime declared at the initiative of Ukraine on April 1 on the eve of Easter.

“Unfortunately, there has been not a single day of compliance with this regime by the Russian party. On April 1 and 2 we saw some reduction in the use of heavy artillery and mortars. Unfortunately, yesterday we saw a drastic escalation — the number of attacks, in relation to April 1 and 2 increased 3 times. One Ukrainian soldier was killed. Small arms are also actively used,” Petro Poroshenko said. At the same time, Ukraine has a responsible attitude to the ceasefire regime and on the eve of April 1, the Minister of Defense and the Chief of the General Staff received clear instructions to strictly comply with the ceasefire regime.

The President informed that yesterday during his conversation with Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel and President of France François Hollande, it was agreed to coordinate the agenda for the Normandy format.

“We have agreed to initiate and offer the agenda for the summit in the Normandy format where we should resolutely demand the implementation of the Minsk agreements, discuss the roadmap of the Minsk agreements and implementation of this process,” the President said.

“Everyone was happy to hear that there was an agreement to establish peace in Donbas on April 1. However, we regret that the shelling is continued and people still die. Latvia and the international community hope that Russia will be an active participant of negotiations aimed to stop the bloodshed in Donbas,” the President of Latvia noted.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/414078.html

The Russian Federation has concentrated about 43,000 servicemen along the Ukrainian border, First Deputy Defense Minister of Ukraine Ivan Rusnak has said.

"On the territory of the Russian Federation, in the immediate vicinity of the Ukrainian border, there are currently deployed military units of the Russian Federation with more than 18,000 servicemen, 1,380 tanks and infantry fighting vehicles, about 300 artillery systems and Grad MLRS, 700 combat helicopters and aircraft, and 24 warships," he said during a meeting of the Ukraine-NATO interparliamentary council in Kyiv on Wednesday.

Rusnak informed that the Russian authorities are increasing the militarization of Crimea - the number of Russian troops in combat units on the peninsula is about 24,000 persons.


In addition, he said, the Russian military contingent of 1,000 people in the Trans-Dniester region of Moldova "can be used at any time to attack our territory."

The deputy minister said Russian authorities had formed two army corps numbering 36,000 people in the territory of Luhansk and Donetsk regions. The number of Russian regular units on the territories of Donbas that are not controlled by Kyiv amounts to 2,900 people.

"Russia is testing new ways and forms of combat operations and new weapons in Ukraine," the representative of the Defense Ministry said.

Rusnak did not rule out that the territory of Belarus "can also be used for invasion." He recalled that the plan of Russian-Belarusian military drills 'West-2017' provides for a large-scale redeploying of troops from Russia to Belarus using about 4,000 railway cars.

"Such large-scale movements can testify to Russia's plans to transfer a significant part of its personnel to Belarus and deploy a large-scale paramilitary group there. It is possible that Russia can use the military exercises for the next provocations on the territory of Ukraine and the Baltic states," Rusnak said.

 

[Hindustani78]

https://www.unian.info/war/1862384-ukraine-reports-2-wias-amid-29-enemy-attacks-in-last-day.html

Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 29 times in the past 24 hours with two Ukrainian soldiers reported as wounded in action (WIA), according to the press service of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.

The enemy was most active near the Ukrainian-held strategic port city of Mariupol. In particular, 82mm mortars, grenade launchers of various systems and heavy machine guns were used to attack the Ukrainian positions near the town of Krasnohorivka. The Ukrainian fortified positions near the villages of Pavlopil and Vodiane came under fire from grenade launchers and heavy machine guns. The militants also fired grenade launchers and small arms on the defenders of the town of Maryinka. Moreover, enemy snipers were active near Krasnohorivka, and the villages of Novotroyitske and Vodiane.

In the Donetsk sector, the largest number of violations was recorded near the town of Avdiyivka whose defenders were repeatedly attacked with 82mm mortars, grenade launchers of various systems and heavy machine guns. The Russian occupation forces also used machine guns and small arms against the defenders of the villages of Zaitseve and Pisky, which were also under sniper fire.

In the Luhansk sector, the militants used proscribed 120mm mortars to shell the Ukrainian positions near the village of Syze and anti-tank grenade launchers to attack the defenders of the village of Novo-Oleksandrivka. Despite armed provocations, the Ukrainian army strictly observed the ceasefire and did not fire back.

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https://www.unian.info/war/1862899-...ed-near-its-mini-uav-in-occupied-luhansk.html
The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine has reported small-arms shots near its mini unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in the Russian-occupied city of Luhansk.

Around 14:00 of April 5, the SMM observed, in violation of the respective withdrawal line, heavy weapons moving in the vicinity of an aerodrome in Luhansk – 1.2km north of the road M04," the OSCE SMM said in its spot report on Thursday, April 6. "At 16:30, an SMM patrol of four monitors in two armored vehicles arrived at a location 200m west of the aerodrome, in the south-eastern outskirts of "LPR"-controlled Luhansk city, to conduct a flight of its mini unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in the area."

The OSCE added that at 16:40, the SMM launched its mini-UAV. At around 16:42, while the UAV was about 650m east of the patrol's position, the SMM heard two bursts of small-arms fire (a total of 10-20 shots in the duration of 30 seconds), 1km east of the patrol's position. The SMM immediately flew the UAV back, and at 16:44, the UAV landed normally, without any evident damage. Shortly after, the SMM left the area. No SMM members were injured or UAV damaged. The SMM informed the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination about the incident and requested that it follow up.

"During its flight in the area, the UAV spotted three MLRS (BM-21 Grad, 122mm), five towed howitzers (2A65 Msta-B, 152mm), seven self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm), seven tanks (T-72) – all in violation of the respective withdrawal lines – as well as seven infantry fighting vehicles (BMP-2), 13 armored personnel carriers (five BTR-70, one BTR-80, seven MTLB, one of those mounted with anti-aircraft gun), six military-type trucks, and at least 35 men in military-style clothes," the OSCE said.

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[ultron]

more than 3395 Ukrainian soldiers killed in Donbas so far

http://memorybook.org.ua/