Ukraine crisis. News in brief. Thursday 01 October [Ukrainian sources]

THURSDAY

Please scroll down to view news items added during the course of the day

News -
Putin's forces attacked the Ukrainian people twice yesterday.
Update at 1300. Two soldiers injured on a mine. (This is happening a lot.)

Weather -
Wow - cold this morning. Only 2 or 3C outside of the capital. A little warmer further south and east.
High of 13 only where I am. Maybe nearer 20 in some other places. A little warmer by the weekend.

Footie -
Shakhtar Donetsk got destroyed last night in the Champions league, 3-0 for Paris. Report a few posts down.
Akhmetov's pride and joy are no more. They were one of the up-coming teams in Europe. But Putin's war has destroyed everything.
Yet Akhmetov refuses to say one bad word about Putin or his terrorists, Shaun Walker's "DNR guys".

Observation 1 -
Putin has started attacking western backed anti-Assad, anti-ISIS groups in Syria. Why? I think he wants an extended conflict with America and the west to distract his obedient sheep at home (the Russian people who watch Russian tv believing it to be true) from the realities of economic depression.
Update - reading that Russian attacks have resumed. Hitting anti-ISIS-Assad groups again. Putin's plan must be to leave just ISIS and Assad. Then he can keep Assad, the dictator in power. Clear as crystal now, his tactics.
Observation 2 -
Lots and lots of otherwise closet-pen-pushing-overweight-lazy military people are now rushing to the ATO zone, for a couple of days, so they can fill in their forms for ATO status, and double their pay. They realise it is a good time to go now. Mega mega corruption throughout the Ukrainian military.

7:15
http://glavcom.ua/news/329106.html
====
Absolutely like Putin.
Putin used the same argument for the "civil war" in Ukraine. - it was the removal of Yanukovich that provoked the war.
Tiagnibok - it was the government that provoked the Svoboda demonstrators to kill Ukrainian soldiers.
The same logic as Putin.

http://telegraf.com.ua/mir/europa/2095715-azerbaydzhan-ugrozhaet-armenii-voynoy.html
"If the result of the negotiations will not become complete and unconditional withdrawal of Armenian forces (from Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas - Ed.), Azerbaijan will have to apply the right to defend itself to restore its sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders" - said Mamadyarov.
===
Maybe another war for Putin to get involved in!

http://www.ukrinform.ua/ukr/news/rosiya_v_siriii_bombila_pidtrimuvanih_ssha_povstantsiv___wsj_2101493
The first air strikes in the west of the Russian aircraft were directed against Syrian armed opposition forces that support and train professionals Central Intelligence Agency and their counterparts from allied countries.
This writes the Wall Street Journal, citing sources in the US administration.
"Attacks were directed in an area where the rebels were receiving funding and arms from the United States, and held training courses in American instructors" - the newspaper notes.
=====
Putin has had months to decide what to do in Syria. He knows exactly what he is doing. Defending the brutal regime of Assad, the dictator.

To be honest, not a great game. I thought about going to Lviv to see it, but - glad I didn't. Shakhtar aren't the team this season that they used to be. Probably too many worries off the field. And it doesn't look like they will return to Donetsk - maybe never. That more depends on Putin and Shaun Walker's "DNR guys" - otherwise known in Ukraine, as terrorists.
Frankly Shakhtar could have been 4-0 down at half time. Their defence was non-existent, and Paris SG wasted several chances.
In the 2nd half the Ukrainian team played better, and missed a couple of chances to get a goal back, but it was Ibrahimovic who inevitably scored the third.
Elsewhere in the Champions League both Manchester teams came back from 1-0 down to win 2-1. In Astana a good 2-2 draw with Galatasaray. Exciting finish. Ronaldo on target for Benitez's Real Madrid, although Malmo had their chances.
Coinclusion. Shakhtar are finished this season in the Champions League. Ukraine's hopes rest with Dynamo Kiev. They scored two good goals yesterday in Tel Aviv.

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/russian-airstrikes-unleash-new-devastation-in-syrian-region/536390.html
Syrians living in rebel-held areas of Homs province have seen a lot of destruction in four years of war, but say the Russian air force unleashed a whole new level of devastation in airstrikes on their towns on Wednesday.
===
Civilian dead, and children. Typical Russian attack. See also

Russia Begins Air Strikes in Syria
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/russia-begins-air-strikes-in-syria/536327.html
drew strong support from the Russian Orthodox Church.
The Church's head, Patriarch Kirill, said a "responsible decision" had been taken "for the protection of the Syrian people from calamities inflicted by the iniquity of terrorists,"
Dead civilians, yeah, that really helps protect them. The real Head of the Russian Orthodox Church is the devil - name V Putin.

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/putin-orders-memorial-to-victims-of-political-repression/536325.html
===
Joke of the Day from Putin. Like Hitler ordering a memorial to be built for victims of the Holocaust. Just like Hitler, Putin is sick in the head.

http://www.interpretermag.com/russian-su34s-tracked-from-russia-to-syria/#10199
===
Also at this link -

Area Hit By Russian Airstrikes In Homs Have Been Under Siege By Assad Forces For More Than a Year

The Aviationist Says Official Russian Video Shows Russian Aircraft Missed Their Target In Syria

Independent Russian News Site Meduza Interviews Homs Resident Who Says Russian Planes Struck Civilian Areas
While the Russian Defense Ministry claims it has made "surgical strikes" only on areas that are ISIS strongholds, multiple sources including The New York Times and The Independent as well as The Interpreter have been reporting throughout the day that the areas struck are those of opposition to Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, not ISIS.
=====

I'm waiting to see what Seamus Milne, editor at The Guardian says about this.
Milne, like Walker, idolizes Putin. Milne bizarrely sees Putin as representing "the workers" in his imaginary communist paradise.  
Milne has strongly backed Putin's violence against Ukraine, and has no problems sitting next to the great dictator.
Now Putin is clearly targetting the opposition to the brutal dictator Assad in Syria.
Does Milne support Assad also? Quite possibly. Extreme left wing, and extreme right wing merge in their idiology.
Not a word yet from Milne on Russia targetting civilians in Homs and other towns in Syria.
This from a couple of years ago - I presume nothing has changed in Milne's thinking. ...
Seumas Milne: support Assad to help Iran
https://shirazsocialist.wordpress.com/2012/02/08/seumas-milne-support-assad-to-help-iran/

http://ria.ru/world/20150930/1294016703.html
===
Note - this is a mega-Russian source. Ria.ru. But interesting. Putin's new puppet-man in the Donbass effectively saying that the war is over.
===
The representative of the self-proclaimed DNR Dennis Pushilin noted that the document on the withdrawal of equipment in the Donets Basin was signed by representatives of Russia, OSCE, Ukraine and the head of DNR, which means that its entry into force...
Half an hour ago signed (representative DNR) Alexander Zakharchenko. After that the document comes into force, and it can, in my opinion, testify about the end of the war, "- said Pushilin at a press conference.
He expressed the hope that "all local collision of small arms will be quickly located and stopped."
===
Of course - it could all be a Russian game. Putin is a mega-liar.
If his war in Syria finishes quickly, he may have to start the war again in Donbass. But Putin normally likes a long war to occupy the minds of his brainwashed subjects in Russia.

http://rusnovosti.ru/posts/389541
The Ministry of Justice will consider a request for the extradition of Nadia Savchenko
The question of its possible issuance of Ukraine can be discussed if the country recognizes the decision of the Russian authorities and will ensure that the homeland convicted will be punished
====
Now - wait a minute...
the court case is going on. She hasn't been found guilty yet!
But obviously the verdict was written by Putin and the Russian so-called "Ministry of Justice" some long time ago.

http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2015/10/1/7083265/
Thursday, October 1, 2015, 12:39
The last day in the area of ​​anti-terrorist operation passed without loss.
This at a traditional briefing on Thursday, spokesman for the Presidential Administration Andriy Lysenko ATO.
"Two Ukrainian soldiers were injured as a result of a landmine. It happened in Donetsk area. The dead in the ranks of forces over the past day ATO no."
According to him, over the past day was recorded three short armed provocations. Overflight of hostile drones were recorded.
Ukrainian Pravda
====
I've read else where of well over 20 incidents of fire yesterday.
Officially there were just two incidents.
But I would think that many of the Russian terrorists are now heading to Syria for Putin's next war.

12:38
http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2015/10/1/7083267/
====
Basically the Poles are going to Germany, Britain, Scandanavia, for work. Higher wages. And they, in their turn, are being replaced by Ukrainians in the cheap labor areas - agriculture, construction, and so on.
411,000. I'm not sure what the working population of Ukraine is, but that could be 2 or 3%.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/ukraine-pull-small-caliber-weapons-war-torn-east-34172670
The deal reached Tuesday in Minsk, Belarus, by the so-called Contact Group calls for tanks, artillery and also mortars up to 120 mm to be pulled back at least 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the front line. The withdrawal is expected to take 39 days.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak said on Thursday that Kiev will pull out all small-caliber weapons on Saturday if the ongoing cease-fire holds. A February deal calling for a pullback of large-caliber artillery has been largely observed.
====
The big big question is - will Putin observe this agreement, or not? The Russians are well known now to be mega-liars.

www.gazeta.ru - russian source, yes, - reporting that, if Assad goes, then Qatar plans to build a pipeline straight through to Turkey - undermining Gazprom's plans.
Is Putin's war now all about oil?
Source

Сирийские риски для «Газпрома» Syrian risk for Gazprom.
http://www.gazeta.ru/business/2015/09/30/7787825.shtml

http://time.com/4054941/putin-russia-syria/
...So Ukrainian experience gives reason for skepticism about Putin’s claim that Russia is intervening in Syria to help Europe with its refugee problem. The politics might well be exactly the opposite. Having found a powerful ally in its quest to end European integration, the European far right has followed Moscow’s lead on the Ukrainian conflict. But the natural subject of Putin’s allies in Europe is immigration. By supporting the Assad regime, Russia helps to produce the refugees that drive European politics rightward...
====
Interesting.
By producing millions of refugees for Europe to deal with, Putin is intentionally driving the rise of the far-right - fascism. Plus the odd nutcase communist like Seumas Milne at the Guardian.

http://www.unian.info/economics/1139715-ousted-assad-major-threat-to-gazprom.html
Toppling of Bashar al-Assad threatens to change the balance on the European gas market, as such developments will enable Qatar to build a direct pipeline through Syrian territory to Turkey, according to the Russian online newspaper gazeta.ru
====
Wow - didn't take long for that article - see two posts up - to get translated into English!

http://censor.net.ua/news/354399/rossiya_napravila_v_siriyu_podrazdeleniya_morskoyi_pehoty_chf_rf
====
Looks like serious war for Putin and Russia now in Syria.

17:10
http://hvylya.net/news/digest/zaharchenko-otkazyivaetsya-otvodit-tehniku-posle-zayavleniya-ob-okonchanii-voynyi.html
The leader of "DNR" Alexander Zakharchenko announced the suspension of removal of weapons in the conflict zone.
It is reported by UNIAN.
"According to the Minsk agreements, it should have been done earlier. Yesterday I signed a decree on withdrawal of weapons, but I very much doubt that it will be fulfilled, because the rhetoric of the Ukrainian military is very different from the rhetoric of Representatives in Minsk. This morning has been shot Donetsk "- said Zakharchenko.
===
Possible the headline is overdone. Time will tell.
It will all come down to what Putin really wants. Zakharchenko is a mere pawn. He must be worried about his own safety by now.
The Ukrainians will be after him, as will many on his own side.
I expect him to leave for Russia at some point.

www.bloomberg.com/energy/

Crude Oil & Natural Gas
INDEX UNITS PRICE CHANGE %CHANGE CONTRACT TIME ET 2 DAY
WTI Crude Oil (Nymex)
USD/bbl. 46.79 +1.70 +3.77% NOV 15 09:56:28
Brent Crude (ICE)
USD/bbl. 49.57 +1.20 +2.48% NOV 15 09:56:28
Crude Oil (Tokyo)
JPY/kl 37,200.00 +300.00 +0.81% MAR 16 09:55:55
Natural Gas (Nymex)
USD/MMBtu 2.48 -0.04 -1.62% NOV 15 09:56:34

West Texas up almost 4%. But gas strangely down.
Presume rises due to unease about Russian bombing of the Syrian people.

[headline in the Daily Telegraph, going to this link]
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/11903702/Russias-Vladimir-Putin-launches-strikes-in-Syria-on-Isil-to-US-anger-live-updates.html
Iran sent forces to Syria 10 days ago while Hizbollah are also preparing to join in after a second day of Russian bombing

see also
Putin has embarrassed us all in Syria. Welcome to the age of Russian power
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/11903976/Putin-has-embarrassed-us-all-in-Syria.-Welcome-to-the-age-of-Russian-power.html
Moscow's intervention will seal Bashar al-Assad in place and establish Moscow as an essential partner for almost any international problem