Ukraine crisis. News in brief. Sunday 07 February [Ukrainian sources]

SUNDAY

Please scroll down to view news items added during the day

News -
Putin fires at Ukrainians 47 times yesterday. A slight decrease on earlier in the week.
Friday - I did not report - apparently eleven (11) soldiers injured. No deaths.
Update - yesterday one soldier wounded - by sniper, Marinka

Weather -
A cool start to the day, but bright sunshine. -3. High maybe of +4. Above average. No snow, no ice.
The further west you go, the warmer it is. Lviv maybe +10 or 11 today!!!
Update - slill lovely sunshine. Already +3. I would expect maybe +5 by mid-afternoon.

00:37
http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2016/02/7/7098113/
The Netherlands does not intend to return to the idea of ​​an international tribunal to investigate the accident Boeing MN17 at the UN.
This was stated by the Foreign Minister of the Netherlands Bert Kunders at a meeting with journalists convey "Ukrainian News".
"The Government of the partners in the joint investigation team decided that the best option for prosecution of perpetrators of the tragedy to create the tribunal under UN auspices However, Russia blocked a decision", - he said.
Kunders noted that currently this option seems "dead end."
===
Now - why should Russia want to block such a decision? It would be laughable, if not for the 300 dead, 70 children. Such is Russia today.

http://www.unian.info/world/1257613-ft-ban-blames-russia-for-collapse-of-syria-talks.html
...In carefully chosen words, Mr. Ban warned that Russia and Syria were not being "faithful" in implementing UN Security Council Resolution 2254 adopted in December...
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For Ban, in my opinion, a mega-Russian sympathizer, this is quite something. Normally he is kissing Putin's boots.

http://en.censor.net.ua/news/372907/lavrovs_desire_is_not_enough_to_improve_relations_with_canada_russia_should_respect_territorial_integrity
===
100%
Lavrov. The word itself has become synonymous with lying.

http://en.censor.net.ua/news/372881/share_of_russias_budget_oil_and_gas_revenues_slumped_from_70_to_45_percent_pm_medvedev
We need to change ourselves and use the advantages of this situation and I call on everyone to do so," Medvedev said.
===
Others say the share was 50%. Not 70. Whatever, less money for Putin's mad war machine.

http://en.censor.net.ua/video_news/372985/russian_column_of_military_machines_moving_towards_feodosia_spotted_in_occupied_crimea_video



Ah - the peace-loving Russian nation. No guesses where these 70 vehicles are heading.. Donbass, for sure.

14:58 06.02.2016
http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/322819.html
===
It is looking more and more likely - to me - that Putin has decided upon a "frozen conflict" in the Donbass.
He will probably be able to bribe enough European MPs - particulary the Greeks, italian and French fascist and communist parties, to push for sanctions to be dropped.

https://www.rbc.ua/rus/news/pogoda-segodnya-ukraine-osadkov-temperatura-1454761236.html
In Kiev, in the afternoon from 2 to 4
Weather today: February 7, 2016 in Ukraine precipitation is expected daytime temperatures from 0 to +11. This was reported at the State Hydrometeorological Service of Emergency Situations (GSCHS) of Ukraine.
In the eastern region is expected to temperatures from 0 to 3, in the center of 1 to 4, in the south from 1 to 5, in the west of +2 to +11, in the north from +1 to +4.

====
Winter? What winter?

9:36
http://kriminal.tv/news/pervye_zhertvy_na_majdane_video_kotoroe_publikuetsja_vpervye.html
22 января 2014 года стал трагическим днем Майдана. В этот день погибли Михаил Жизневский и Сергей Нигоян. Убийцы не найдены и по сегодняшний день
22 Jan 2014 tragic day at Maidan. First victims - Mickael Zhiznevski and Serghei Higoyn.

I'm not really sure how new this is. 15 minute video, via youtube. Looks like the same one as in the link above.

www.bloomberg.com/energy/
Crude Oil & Natural Gas
INDEX UNITS PRICE CHANGE %CHANGE CONTRACT TIME ET 2 DAY
WTI Crude Oil (Nymex)
USD/bbl. 30.89 -0.83 -2.62% MAR 16 2016-02-05
Brent Crude (ICE)
USD/bbl. 34.06 -0.40 -1.16% APR 16 2016-02-05

Natural Gas (Nymex)
USD/MMBtu 2.06 +0.09 +4.61% MAR 16 2016-02-05
===
Although up a lot on the day, the Natural gas price is still amazingly low. It used to be double the price.

http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2016-01-12/how-ukraine-weaned-itself-off-russian-gas
...In the fall of 2014, Gazprom tried to cut exports to Europe to eliminate "reverse supplies," but, according to a Ukrainian estimate, that cost $5.5 billion in lost revenue and another $400 million in discounts to customers as compensation for failing to meet contractual obligations. In March 2015, Russian exports resumed in full....



The Russian company cannot attempt to manipulate with supplies to Europe for fear of losing share in a market that provides 52 percent of its revenue. That threat is all the more potent as Europe's gas consumption is falling, in part thanks to advances in sustainable energy. ...
===
And add to that what looks to me like being the warmest winter ever on record for Europe, for 2015-6.
see also

Rada lifts customs restrictions on reverse gas backhaul
http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/economic/322599.html

10:29
http://tyzhden.ua/News/157890
===
Ukraine seeking his extradition.

http://viknaodessa.od.ua/news/?news=128852
07.02.2016 | Company for the population of the Odessa region decreased by almost 6000, - statistics.
The population of the Odessa region for 11 months of 2015 decreased by 5.7 thousand. These are the data of the regional department of statistics. Thus, on December 1, 2015 the population of the Odessa region was 2.39 million, including 1.01 million live in the regional center. At the same time the population of Ukraine for the year decreased by 148,000., Reports "Correspondent" with reference to the State Statistics Service data. According to the UN forecast, while maintaining a negative dynamics in 2030 the number of Ukrainians decrease to 39 million.
===
6000 is not a major drop. 148,000 also is below what I would have expected.
I would also think that a lot of people have resettled from Crimea and Donbass into free Ukraine, notably in Kiev, Lviv, Vinnitsa and Odessa - basically the places which are the nicest. But clearly, during a time of war, the trend is downwards.

www.weatheronline.co.uk
Chart for Europe for Tuesday - prediction



Unreal. Low pressure system bringing relatively warm weather from southern Europe towards Ukraine.
The forecast for Kiev is only predicting say +4 during the day. 0 at night. Perhaps it is true. But even then, 5 degrees above normal!
But looking at this pressure chart I would expect perhaps even higher temperatures.
Ukraine really caught in a divide - the west looks to be warm. Maybe +10?! But the east - colder.
Kiev - in the middle.
Suggestion - forget skiing in the Carpathians. If Lviv is +10 or 11 for the next week, then the snow is going to melt. Avalanche risk will be high.
And as for me - I think I will delay buying my cross-country skis until next December!

http://www.economist.com/news/europe/21689991-prosecutor-general-accused-graft-and-dissident-punk-group-here-rap-about
...“I RUN the war on corruption here, or to be precise, I run the corruption here,” raps Nadya Tolokonnikova, one of the leaders of the art-punk protest collective Pussy Riot, in a new song aimed at Russia’s prosecutor-general, Yuri Chaika. In a video clip released on the internet on Wednesday, Ms Tolokonnikova ... under a portrait of Vladimir Putin. “Don’t worry, son, we’ll shut up all our competitors,” ...
====
American Noah Sneider writes in the Economist. I posted the video a couple of days' ago.
But here it is again.



1.5 million views.

http://nbnews.com.ua/ru/news/172631/
Sniper militants wounded Ukrainian soldier in Marinka
One Ukrainian soldier in Marinka (Donetsk region) during a day in the Donbas was wounded. This was on Sunday, February 7 at the briefing said the speaker of the Presidential Administration on anti-terrorist operation (ATO) Alexander Motuzyanik, reports BNN correspondent.
"In Marinka area during daylight were active enemy snipers. As a result of this Ukrainian soldier "was injured, - said Mr. Motuzyanik.
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Yesterday 11 wounded, today one?!

49 children were killed and 138 wounded in the Donetsk region since the beginning of the terrorist aggression.
Censor.NET reports citing the National Police Communication Department.

According to the report, 542 schools (155,000 students) of 1198 continue to function on Ukraine-controlled territory due to constant terrorist aggression.

"Because of constant shelling and destruction, 13 schools have been closed. All of them are located in border areas, in the vicinity of Avdiivka, Marinka, Vynohradne, Novotroitske, Myronivskyi, Pisky, and Opytne. Thus, two schools were closed because of the extensive damage and the danger of new attacks in Avdiivka and Krasnohorivka; all students were assigned to other educational institutions," the law enforcers informed.

Unsuitable for education schools remain closed because the situation across the demarcation line has escalated. The militants fire increasingly at civilians along the whole front line.

About a month ago, the militants shelled Novhorodske village with Grad rocked systems. Eight shells hit the ground next to the school, where 70 children and five teachers were at that moment. All of them survived by a miracle.






censor.net.ua In Russian

Statements by ‘DPR’ and ‘LPR’ representatives about possible ‘executions’ of captured Ukrainian soldiers are intended to blackmail Kyiv during the Minsk agreements and negotiations on prisoner exchange.

SBU adviser Yurii Tandit commented on the situation, Censor.NET reports.

"Ukraine is doing everything possible to bring the soldiers who remain in the 'DPR' captivity back. However, this issue has become particularly delicate, regarding strong interest of the both sides. Thus, the so-called DPR and LPR are trying to blackmail Ukrainian government. But one cannot seek publicity using such issues," Tandit said.

According to the official, the Ukrainians who were illegally detained on the temporarily occupied Donetsk and Luhansk regions are illegally convicted by local self-proclaimed 'governments' or 'courts'.

Earlier, Darya Morozova, the Ombudsman of the so-called DPR, told Russian media that the Ukrainian soldiers captured by the militants might be sentenced to death.

"Such arguments are always there when the next Minsk talks are approaching... The terrorists are trying to speak with us in terms of force," Tandit commented on the situation.


The advisor to the head of the SBU has also clarified the number of prisoners on both sides.

"At the beginning of January, we were ready to release 535 people. Last year, according to the all-for-all exchange formula we legally released 222 prisoners. On theirs part, the militants have liberated more than a hundred Ukrainian prisoners," Tandit said.

According to Yurii Tandit, much more exchanges were planned, but failed because of the representatives of the 'republics'. The 'DPR' militants have no legal grounds for execution of Ukrainian prisoners, but the terrorists' refusal to follow Ukrainian legislation puts lives and health of the hostages in danger.

"This is a very sensitive topic... You have to verify every word. We believe that we will manage to liberate all Ukrainians. Alas, there are crazy people among 'DPR' representatives," the official summarized.

Death penalty is prohibited in Ukraine, while a moratorium on death penalty is introduced in Russia. At the same time, the 'DPR' has adopted Criminal Code of the Soviet Union (edition of 1961), which allows such punishment as execution.

However, the 'DPR courts' didn't sentence to death even a single prisoner of war at the moment, although Ukrainian and international media occasionally report about extrajudicial executions in the occupied Donbas.

censor.net.ua In Russian

The ‘DPR’ terrorist organization is ready for economic cooperation with Ukraine on the basis of equal partnership.
The leader of the terrorists Alexander Zakharchenko declared, Censor.NET reports citing RIA Novosti.

"We are ready to cooperate with Ukraine, including the area of economic activity, but only as an independent state on the basis of equal partnership. And this is possible only after the fulfillment of all paragraphs of the Minsk agreements by Ukraine, reformating of the entire political system of Ukraine, and establishment of a lasting peace," he said.

"Nowadays, the only common point between Ukrainian and DPR's economics is the coal, which Donetsk sells to Ukraine in order to save the elderly, the disabled and other vulnerable people from winter cold. And then we are being paid quite irregularly," the militant declared.

censor.net.ua In Russian

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