Ukraine crisis. News in brief. Tuesday 24 November [Ukrainian sources]

TUESDAY

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News -
Putin's terrorists fire at Ukrainians 30 times last night.
Update - 4 soldiers injured yesterday. 2 in fighting, two on a mine.
Turkey shoots down a Russian Su-24. Video below.
Ukrainian news watching this story with great interest. No military reaction from Putin. He can't stand up to Nato. Only bully smaller countries. Thug.

Weather -
Zero this morning. And will be like this all week, if the forecast is correct.
Warmer further south, in the Odessa area, and also further east. No rain.

Footie -
Champions League today. Porto v Dynamo Kiev. Porto are favorites.
Also Barcelona v Roma. In Dynamo's group, Chelsea are away to Mac Tel-Aviv.

http://www.unn.com.ua/uk/news/1523420-boyoviki-veli-vogon-po-pozitsiyakh-zsu-iz-zenitnikh-ustanovok-i-granatometiv-shtab-ato
Overall invaders 30 times provocative opened fire in the direction of our troops.
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All along the frontline.

7:07
http://nr2.com.ua/News/economy_and_business/V-Krymu-spekulyanty-v-pyat-raz-podnyali-ceny-na-svechi-112054.html

7:04
http://obozrevatel.com/crime/01243-grabyat-nagrablennoe-terroristyi-razvernuli-na-donbasse-biznes.htm
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Widespread racketeering. Even scrap metal from Donetsk airport! Bandits.
Anybody doing business now is targeted for a cut, or worse.

http://gazeta.ua/articles/life/_poshkodzheni-opori-linij-elektroperedach-na-hersonschini-sogodni-planuyut-zaminiti/661426
====
They said that yesterday.

http://www.newstatesman.com/world/europe/2015/11/ukraine-finally-getting-grips-its-corruption-problem
“There are a lot of politicians here who are not motivated. Being optimistic, maybe 25 per cent of us want proper reform. In reality, it’s probably less.”
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Decades of endemic corruption at every level of society are not going to change in a day or a year.
Perhaps in 5 or 10 years' time the majority of bribery scams will have gone? Time will tell.

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The NATO’s Baltic air policing mission scrambled its fighters four times last week to escort the Russian military aircraft flying over the Baltic Sea.

Censor.NET reports citing Delfi.

According to the outlet, IL-76 military transport aircraft was escorted twice. In addition, NATO fighter jets escorted the Russian An-26, IL-20, and IL-22. At the same time, the Ministry of Defense of Lithuania noted that the military transport aircraft flew under a pre-agreed flight plan with their transponders turned off, but their pilots kept in touch with dispatchers.

Baltic air policing mission fighters are based in Lithuania and Estonia.

censor.net.ua In Russian

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/11/19/uk-northkorea-rights-un-idUKKCN0T82P920151119
A United Nations General Assembly committee on Thursday condemned what it said were rampant and planned human rights abuses in North Korea, but Pyongyang denounced the accusation as a hostile plot organised by the United States and its allies.
The non-binding resolution adopted by the 193-nation assembly's Third Committee, which was drafted by the European Union and Japan, cited "ongoing systematic, widespread and gross violations of human rights" in North Korea....
The resolution was adopted with 112 votes in favour, 19 against and 50 abstentions.
====
So - who do we think voted against the resolution ... yes - you guessed it...
Russia!! Syria!! Belarus!!. ... etc.



Countries at the top of Seamus Milne and Jeremy Corbyn's "places to visit" list.

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/drunk-russian-sailor-crashes-cargo-ship-off-scottish-coast/550521.html
In a deadpan statement, the investigation found that the officer on duty “had become inattentive due to the effects of alcohol consumption,” a statement on the UK government's website said.
Russian news outlet TV Dozhd reported that the officer was a Russian who had consumed half a liter of rum — eight times the legal limit — before taking his post.

The Russian officer failed to notice that his ship was off course and steaming toward the shore at full speed. And the result - whoops...

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-11-23/sabotage-in-crimea-risks-military-move-by-putin
The Russian-annexed peninsula is cast into darkness. If the pain gets worse, will the Kremlin carve out a land bridge, defying the West?
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There are some in Ukraine who would welcome an escalation in the war against Russia.

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Porto v Dynamo Kiev: Knockouts in reach for Portuguese powerhouse
http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/porto-v-dynamo-kiev-knockouts-reach-portuguese-powerhouse#f3BhyiqLh9v46MO2.99
Kiev travel to Portugal knowing that failure to win, coupled with a Chelsea victory at Maccabi Tel Aviv, will see them eliminated from the competition,

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/24/world/europe/crimea-tatar-power-lines-ukraine.html?_r=0
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Quite similar to Telegraph report above.

10:24
http://www.radiosvoboda.org/content/article/27383613.html
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In short, they are a bunch of crooks.
Drive through a red light - you are above the law. Steal a few million - no problem, I'm a deputy!

10:34
http://galinfo.com.ua/news/u_donetsk_shchodnya_prybuvayut_desyatky_vantazhivok_iz_boieprypasamy__tymchuk_212500.html

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http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-34907983
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Interesting development. Found this on youtube -





Turkey shoots down 'Russian military plane' on Syria border
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/12013212/Turkey-shoots-down-Russian-military-plane-on-Syria-border.html
The aircraft crashed in the Kizildag region of Turkey's Hatay province and the Turkish military said the plane was warned 10 times in five minutes

===
Read elsewhere. Hollande is in Washington today to try to persuade Obama to allow Russia to join the US led coalition.
The Hatay province where the plane was flying over supposedly is still disputed by Syria - i.e. Assad. So maybe Putin was playing for Assad in flying over this area of Turkey.

Nelson wrote:http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-34907983
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So maybe Putin was playing for Assad in flying over this area of Turkey.

Of course he was.

http://www.eurointegration.com.ua/news/2015/11/24/7041222/
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Apparently Lavrov is due to visit Turkey on the 25th ... mmm.. tomorrow! Could be interesting.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/11/24/us-mideast-crisis-syria-turkey-idUSKBN0TD0IR20151124
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said the warplane crashed in a mountainous area in the northern countryside of Latakia province, where there had been aerial bombardment earlier and where pro-government forces have been battling insurgents on the ground.
"A Russian pilot," a voice is heard saying in the video sent to Reuters as men gather around the man on the ground. "God is great," is also heard.
The rebel group that sent the video operates in the northwestern area of Syria, where groups including the Free Syrian Army are active but Islamic State, which has beheaded captives in the past, has no known presence.
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Putin clearly not attacking ISIL, but the Free Syrian Army and others. Again.
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Mr Putin described the incident as a "stab in the back" committed by "accomplices of terrorists",,,
The Turkish foreign ministry also summoned the Russian ambassador last week to warn him that there would be "serious consequences" if the Russian air force did not immediately stop bombing "civilian Turkmen villages" in Bayir Bucak..
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-34907983

Russian helicopter destroyed?
In what appears to be a separate incident, another Syrian rebel group - the Free Syrian Army’s First Coastal Division - says it has hit a Russia helicopter on Turkmen Mountain, using a TOW anti-tank missile, writes Louisa Loveluck, Middle East Correspondent.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/12013212/Turkey-shoots-down-Russian-military-plane-on-Syria-border-live.html
Above at 12.47 in thread.
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Will Russians on holiday become targets in Antalya?! There must be lots of them there...

Nelson wrote:http://interfax.com.ua/news/general/306330.html

Were there any relations in the first place?

I just listened to the entire press conference of Obama - and some of Hollande - at the White house a few minutes ago.
Basically Obama was ok on the issue of the shooting down of the Russian war plane.
He said Turkey had a right to defend its borders.
He also said that Russia was attacking the moderate opposition to Assad, rather than just Isil.
That - one presumes - is why this Russian plane was in that area. There are no ISIL terrorists there - just villagers of Turkish descent - but people who are opposed to dictator Assad.
Obama also said that he was happy to work with Putin, but only when they came to have one plan to defeat ISIL. Not to support dictator Assad.
Hollande basically said the same, from what I heard. Russia has been attacking those against Assad rather than ISIL.

So - it seems to me as if Russia and Putin are once again isolated. Putin supports Assad, and is bombing villages with people of Turkish descent.
Obama and Hollande want to attack ISIL only, and not support Assad.

Hollande goes to Moscow on Thursday. Will Hollande sing from the same song sheet, or do a deal with Putin in return for cheap gas?
We will know later if he has principles - or not.

====
I just looked at both the BBC and The Telegraph for their reaction to the press conference.
Nothing.
They are still carrying the old stories about Putin being angry. From about 6 hours ago!

Sanctions are Putin's concern and he's been talking to many key countries to get them lifted, but it's not working for him. That's what he'll do again, when he speaks to Hollande. They're buddies, a-la Schroeder. Then Hollande will go to the group holding sanctions on Russia and ask for leniency.

BRUSSELS (AP) - US, NATO officials say Russian jet entered Turkish airspace before it was shot down
====
Also
#BREAKING Turkish President Erdoğan on downed #Russia plane: Russia is bombing #Bayirbucak Turkmens and claiming they are targeting #ISIS.
7:48 PM - 24 Nov 2015
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also
Barack Obama: Turkey has a right to defend its airspace
In a joint press conference with Francois Hollande at the White House, Barack Obama said this morning's incident pointed to a "recurring problem with Russia's operations", that problem being that Russia is operating near the Turkish border and striking non-Isil targets.
[All these from www.telegraph.co.uk]

18:00 - NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will give a statement to the press following the meeting of the North Atlantic Council requested by Turkey
http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/events_67375.htm?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=smc&utm_campaign=20151124%2Bsg%2Bturkey%2Brussia%2Bnac

1800 has long since passed, I think.

Live now. 2020

Stoltenberg says information from other allies backs up what Turkey said - the Russian plane entered Turkish airspace.
Stoltenberg keeps stating the need for calm. And the need to "avoid such situations in the future".

The pro-Moscow Orthodox church priests in Donbas tell their worshippers to oppose the de-Communization law passed by Rada, ZIK reports Nov. 24.

Under the law, cities and towns, streets and squares bearing the names of Communist officials are to be renamed.

They are to get back their old historical names as well as the names of Ukrainian patriots who fought against Stalin Russification of Donbas.

zik.ua

Most of the attacks by Russia sofar have been targetted towards areas where ISIL is not present. - quote.

No contact between Nato and Russia. But Turkey has been in contact with the Russian authorities.

Q. How was the plane shot down? A. Assessments are consistent with what Turkey said earlier today.

That is it!! End of conference. 2030. That was short. About 7 minutes long, I would say.
So Nato confirms that the Russian fighter entered Turkish airspace. So Putin is lying. Not for the first time.
====

My thoughts -
it looks like Putin has further isolated himself. And Russia now has a new enemy. Turkey.
Everybody is saying that Putin is targetting Assad's enemies. And hardly touching ISIL. Obama basically said the same.
So chances of working together look slim. Unless Russia changes position - which is unlikely.
Result - isolation.
Isolation over Ukraine. Isolation over Syria.

=====
Now 2046.
I just looked at CNN, BBC, Euronews. Nothing about Nato conference, and nothing about Obama conference with Hollande either.
These big news networks are amazingly slow to report stories.
Some Ukrainian sites already reporting that Nato confirms Russian jet entered Turkey.
Other sites reporting now about Obama and Hollande. But the big news networks still focussing on Putin and his reaction. Slow. And behind the times.
===
The Telegraph is now reporting about the Nato press conference, at
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/12013212/Turkey-shoots-down-Russian-military-plane-on-Syria-border-live.html

When asked upon his sentencing before a Russian military court in Rostov-on-Don on August 25 whether he understood the charges against him, he and co-defendant Oleksandr Kolchenko, who received a 10-year sentence, sang Ukraine's national anthem. On November 24, he declined to testify.

"I have nothing to say," Sentsov said at the hearing before the Russian Supreme Court in Moscow. "This is a dull television show."

WATCH: Oleh Sentsov And Oleksandr Kolchenko Sing Ukraine's National Anthem Upon Being Sentenced In August



Sentsov, a native of Crimea, was arrested in May 2014 on suspicion of planning the fire-bombings of two pro-Russian organizations.

After being convicted on August 25, the 39-year old said that a "trial by occupiers cannot be fair by definition."

The Supreme Court on November 24 upheld the 10-year sentence of co-defendant Kolchenko as well.

The prosecution of Sentsov and Kolchenko has been widely criticized as retaliation for their outspoken opposition to Russia's annexation of Crimea.

A UN resolution overwhelmingly asserted in 2014 that the peninsula remained part of Ukraine, although Russian authorities have installed their own institutions and exercise day-to-day control............

To read further go to this link:  rferl.org 

With a budget of EUR 1.46 billion, the project aims to help the cultural sector reach its economic potential and contribute to a country's growth and development. ‘Creative Europe' is open to cultural organizations from both EU and non-EU states. Ukraine was set to join last year but failed to sign an agreement ahead of a scheduled deadline...........

uatoday.tv

Why Is Ukraine Supplying Electricity To Crimea In The First Place?

Ukraine’s electricity sector is run by a state company called Ukrenergo. It is a network of electricity, heating, and other energy facilities with a common mode of generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity and heat. Therefore, it may not make any decisions about cutting power supplies on its own, especially if these decisions go against Ukrainian law or any other contract Ukrenergo previously signed.

Ukraine is also a signatory of the 1991 Energy Charter Treaty, a document that defines the rule of cross-border work for the energy industry. The document specifically states that “the transit of energy materials and products may not be interrupted or reduced in the case of a dispute on transit arrangements before the relevant dispute settlement procedures have been followed.”

If Ukraine were to reduce its electricity supply to Crimea, it would also have to reduce the capacity of its own nuclear power plants as the energy markets of Ukraine and Crimea are interconnected. Ukraine already reduced the capacities of four of its nuclear plants.

“Thus we damage, even if a little bit, the energy market, because it increases the cost of electricity production. Moreover, we need to provide for Kherson and Mykolaiv oblasts. We already, unfortunately, see evidence that parts of these oblasts may be without power," said Yuriy Korolchuk, an expert from the Institute of Energy, in an interview with RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service.

Ukraine will also suffer financial losses from a cut in electricity. The country’s energy minister, Volodymyr Demchyshyn, said that Kyiv made approximately 300 million hryvnas (more than $12.5 million) in the last 10 months through electricity sales to Crimea.

Why Doesn’t Russia Supply Crimea With Electricity?

Ukraine was covering all additional Crimean electricity needs before the current crisis. Therefore, for Russia, it wasn’t a pressing issue. But the peninsula is not connected to Russia by land, so providing it with electricity without going through Ukraine is a difficult proposition.

Russian Energy Minister Aleksandr Novak has promised that by the end of December the first part of an energy bridge between Russia and Crimea will be finished, allowing Russian electricity to cover 70-80 percent of the peninsula’s electricity needs. Russia plans to finish the construction in May 2016.

“Crimea will be completely provided with electricity by its own generation and energy system transfers from Russia,” said Novak.

However, Ukraine’s former minister of energy and coal industry, Vadym Ulyda, says that Crimea would need at least two to three years to become energy-independent from Ukraine. While construction of the energy bridge between Ukraine and Russia will soon be completed, it won’t immediately be technically ready to bring relief to the peninsula.

For now, Russia is planning to send 300 low-power generators to Crimea.



Recommend to read further go to this link:  rferl.org