Ukraine crisis. News in brief. Wednesday 1 February. [Ukrainian sources]

WEDNESDAY

Please scroll to view news items added during the day.

NEWS:
Decree Trump complicated visas for Ukrainian. PACE called pro-Russian separatists immediately stop the attack on Avdiyivka.  Six civilians wounded, 26 houses damaged in Avdiivka due to enemy shelling since Jan. 29.  Russian militants make another attempt to storm positions near Avdiivka, attack rebuffed, battle continues.  

WEATHER:
-6c / 20f HI | RealFeel® -5c / 20f
Precipitation 60%
Areas of low clouds and freezing fog and cold

US President Decree Donald Trump has changed the conditions for obtaining visas for Ukrainian.

It informs Tsenzor.NET, reported by the Department of Consular Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

"Attention to citizens of Ukraine who are planning to issue a visa to the US. At the release of the US President's decree" Protecting the nation from foreign terrorists entering the United States "(PROTECTING the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States) from 27.01 .2017 g. report that Article 8 of the Decree introduces the obligation of the personal interview in the Consulate of US applicants, the validity of previous US visa which expired over a year before the filing date of the next visa "- said in a statement.

At the same time noted that the design of US visas to citizens of Ukraine for a year after the expiry of the previous visa is without a personal interview.

'Visas to enter the US citizens of Ukraine who first apply for a US visa, or the period of the previous visa expired a year ago, is in person at the consulate of the United States and the interview with an authorized employee of the US consulate, "- added to Office.

It is reported that on Sunday, January 29, tens of thousands of people in the United States came to protest against a decision Trump prohibit entry to the country to residents of seven Muslim countries. Protests were held in New York, Washington and Boston.

Note Trump 120 days suspended the program receiving refugees. Decree of the President of the United States for 90 days and prevented from entering the residents of seven countries.

After that aerportu were detained between 100 and 200 people, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. Including transit passengers. In several US cities held demonstrations, demanding to cancel the president signed a decree Donald Trump.

ua.censor.net.ua, In Ukrainian / на українській мові

Russian troops do not stop shelling Avdiivka, the Donetsk region.

Censor.NET reports citing Pokrovske police precinct in the Donetsk region.

"Law enforcers who serve in the frontline town round-the-clock continue documenting the aftermath of the shelling conducted from the occupied territory for the fourth day in a row. Town residents ask police officers for help and inform them of damages to their houses. Police officers continue documenting the aftermath of of the artillery shelling and provide assistance to those in need.

"Over the four days, six civilians have been wounded in Avdiivka, 26 houses damaged," the message of the police reads.

The police say more calls were received at their hotline this morning about four civilian houses damaged on Feb. 1 due to shelling.

The fighting in the vicinity of Avdiivka has been underway since late Saturday, Jan. 28.

After three days, Ukrainian soldiers managed to take enemy positions and improved their tactical set-up in the area. Unfortunately, casualties were reported among the military.

On Jan. 30, enemy strikes left the government-controlled town of Avdiivka without electricity, water and heat.

In the evening of Jan. 30, a state of emergency was declared in Avdiivka.

As reported by the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) Staff press center, militants carry out not stop attacks on Ukrainian positions near the town.

A regional coordination center to aid local population has been set up.

ua.censor.net.ua, In Ukrainian / на українській мові

In the morning of Feb. 1, militants again attempted to break through Ukrainian positions on the outskirts of Avdiivka. The attack failed.

Censor.NET reports citing the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) press center.

"Today, Russian occupation forces continued attacks on Ukrainian positions near Avdiivka. The enemy employed BM-21 Grad rocket systems, 152 mm artillery, grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms. Occupants attempted to storm our positions at night. The attack failed. The enemy retreated.

"At 7 a.m., 30 men strong Russian troops undertook another assault attempt. The enemy was stopped, but the battle continues. More information to follow," the report says.

As previously reported, 86 attacks on ATO forces positions were registered on Jan. 31. One Ukrainian soldier was killed, nine wounded, nine traumatized.

ua.censor.net.ua , In Ukrainian / на українській мові

The co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on Ukraine Ksukla Jordi (Spain) and Axel Fischer (Germany) expressed deep concern about the escalation of violence and violations of the truce in the area Avdeevki calling pro-Russian separatists immediately stop the offensive.

Reported Tsenzor.NET referring to the site of PACE.

"We urge the pro-Russian separatists immediately stop their advance toward Avdeevki and shelling of residential areas, which could lead to a humanitarian disaster and the need to evacuate civilians. All parties should strictly follow the ceasefire agreement and withdraw heavy weapons from the agreed bandgap according to Minsk agreements ", - stressed the speakers.

recalled that on the morning of Jan. 29 militants began active offensive operations in the area Avdeyevka industrial zone. After two days of aggravation Ukrainian soldiers were able to take positions of militants and improve your tactical position on this stretch of the contact line . It was also reported about the loss of Ukrainian soldiers . January 30 due to militant attacks Avdiyivka left without electricity, water and heat. The evening of January 30 in Avdiyivka was declared a state of emergency.

Yesterday, January 31 repair crews were unable to start work because STSKK Russian side has not provided proof ceasefire in Avdiyivka.

The city created operational headquarters for care . On the morning of February 1st militants tried to storm the position again Armed Forces near Avdeevka.

According Natspolitsiyi, as of the morning of 1 February 6 civilians wounded, 26 houses damaged in Avdiyivka as a result of attacks by militants city from January 29. Source: / n425905 Later it became known about the death of peaceful resident .

Today, February 1, the head of Donetsk VTSA Zhebrivskyi Paul said that the Russian side has provided written confirmation STSKK guarantee a ceasefire in Avdiyivka 17:00.

ua.censor.net.ua, In Ukrainian / на українській мові

The editorial board of the American edition of The Washington Post has expressed doubts about the chance that the escalation of hostilities in the Donbas occurred just after the telephone conversation Russian President Vladimir Putin to his US counterpart, Donald Trump.

This is stated in the material of The Washington You the Post.

Putin and Trump at the time of the conversation a lot of time devoted to the situation in Ukraine. Publishing Sources pointed out that US President named Ukraine "serious matter."

The publication says that Putin went to the escalation of hostilities in Avdivka area for two reasons: either because of unwillingness Trump to cancel the anti-Russian sanctions, or intending to disrupt the visit of the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko in Germany.

In addition, he writes The Washington Post, in 2016 Ukrainian economy has shown a slight increase, while Russia continues to be in recession. Thus, Putin seeks to prevent the recovery of the Ukrainian economy.

In addition, the newspaper notes, Putin is trying to push Trump not only the abolition of anti-Russian sanctions, but also to recognize the Russian spheres of influence, which includes Ukraine. In exchange, the Russian Federation is ready to offer the US "cooperation" in the struggle against the "Islamic State" in Syria.

v-n-zb.livejournal.com , In Russian / На русском

For two days in a row Russian hybrid army has been massively shelling Avdiivka, the Donetsk region, in violation of the Minsk agreements. Russian forces have been using cannon artillery, mortars and MLRSs.
As reported by Censor.NET citing recent open source investigation by InformNapalm volunteer intelligence community, the eyewitnesses uploaded and shared videos showing BM-21 Grad MLRS launching rockets from the area in close proximity to dense residential communities of Donetsk. Occupation troops resort to their usual human shield tactics being fully aware that Ukrainian Army would not strike back with artillery if this endangers residential areas.




InformNapalm investigators have analyzed one of the videos to define the position of the spotted MRLS and its firing direction. The video captured BM-21 Grad MLRS firing rockets. It was filmed on Jan. 31, 2017 at 10:40 a.m. (local time). According to eyewitnesses, it was the sixth "pack" (1 pack = 40 rockets) fired by Russian troops from this position starting from Jan. 30, 2017. InformNapalm volunteers have discovered that rockets were fired from the spot located in Budionivsky district of Donetsk - between the ring road and wood line, 250 meters from Sigma superstore and 450 meters from Kozachok kindergarten located in Donskoi district of Donetsk. Geolocation and georeference is shown in the screenshot below (click to enlarge). Exclamation point marker indicates the MLRS position, the red arrow shows the firing



Avdiivka that endured intense shelling in the recent days is located 16.5 kilometers from the firing position along the indicated direction of the shooting. The maximum range of 9M22 \ 9M22U high-explosive fragmentation rocket projectile is 20.4 kilometers.



Apparently, Russian hybrid forces follow the advice of their leader - President Putin, who clearly explained the war tactics employed in the Donbas: "Let's see anyone from the military dare shoot at their own people who we will be behind - not in front but behind. Let them try to shoot at women and children". In violation of the Minsk agreements the Russian hybrid forces continue using heavy weapons (that were supposed to be removed from the contact line two years ago) and employ barbaric terrorist tactics of warfare firing from residential areas.

ua.censor.net.ua , In Ukrainian / на українській мові

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Russia should use its "considerable influence" with militants in the Donbas to end what he described as "the most serious spike in violations" of a shaky truce there in a long time.

As reported by Censor.NET citing Reuters, Stoltenberg said the ceas-efire in eastern Ukraine has been violated more than 5,600 times in recent days, leaving some 20,000 people without electricity amid freezing temperatures.

He called for the respect for the so-called Minsk peace agreement for eastern Ukraine and for fulfilling its key provision that envisages a withdrawal of heavy weaponry from the area.

Earlier, on Jan 31, 2017, NATO chief expressed support for sanctions against Russia.

ua.censor.net.ua, In Ukrainian / на українській мові

132 persons (including 70 children) were evacuated from the war-torn town of Avdiivka (the Donetsk region) as at 4 p.m. Feb. 1.

Censor.NET reports citing the statement by the press office of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.

According to the latest update, 20 persons were taken from Avdiivka's assisted-care facility to the one in the village of Biletske in the Dobropillia district of the Donetsk region;

86 persons (including 62 children) were taken to Perlyna Donechchyny and Smarahdove Mistechko recreation and retreat centers in the town of Sviatohirsk in the Sloviansk district;

11 persons (including four children) were taken to Mariupol;

13 persons (including three children) were harbored by chaplain of the Gospel Church in Pokrovsk;

Two persons (including 1 child) were harbored by chaplain of the Gospel Church in Kostiantynivka.





The residents can receive assistance at the emergency station operating in the town (seven tents installed by the State Emergency Service and one more - by a charitable organization); get warm in three stationary warming centers, which have already helped more than 3,200 people; get hot meals in any of three kitchen wagons across the town. The outside temperature is 7 degrees below zero.

ua.censor.net.ua , In Ukrainian / на українській мові

The Russian terrorist forces committed 36 attacks on the Ukrainian troops’ positions today. Two Ukrainian soldiers were killed and six were wounded.

Censor.NET reports citing the latest update by the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) Staff press center.

The statement reads: "The invaders continued shelling Avdiivka with heavy weapons including BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launchers, 152 and 122 mm artillery, and tanks today. The Russian occupation forces made several attempts to storm the defenders of Ukraine in the morning following massive strikes with Grads and cannon artillery. They were forced to retreat suffering heavy losses.

"In Mariupol direction, Krasnohorivka was fired upon with a tank, 122 mm artillery, 120 and 82 mm mortars, grenade launchers and small arms. Bohdanivka village was shelled with 122 mm cannons. Marinka and Chermalyk came under mortar strikes. The enemy employed grenade launchers, large-caliber machine guns, and small arms against Shyrokyne, Novotroitske, Novomykhailivka, and Novohryhorivka.

"The invaders shelled Vrubivka village in Luhansk direction with 152 mm artillery, Katerynivka and Popasna came under mortar strikes, while Krymske was fired upon with small arms."

ua.censor.net.ua, In Ukrainian / на українській мові

President of the United States Donald Trump informed of the latest developments in eastern Ukraine.

This was stated by spokesman Sean Spicer White House at a briefing in Washington, which took place on broadcast TV channel CBS News, transfers Tsenzor.NET with reference to UNIAN.

Spicer asked to comment on the fighting taking place in Ukraine. In particular, journalists asked Press Secretary of the White House: "Does the president feels that Russia is experiencing it?".

"President regularly inform the Council of National Security and his team as a whole about what is happening in Ukraine," - said Spicer.

A spokesman for the White House said that will provide more information next time.

ua.censor.net.ua , In Ukrainian / на українській мові

Renewed fighting between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatist rebels has been raging since last weekend around the town of Avdiivka, a violation of the peace deal that has held, with sporadic violations, for the past two years. At least 10 people have been killed, dozens wounded, and thousands are in need of humanitarian assistance in subzero temperatures. Each side blames the other for restarting the fighting, which is normal, but the difference this time is that no one is really sure how the United States will respond.

Under Barack Obama, the U.S. backed Kiev in the conflict and sanctioned Russia for the annexation of Crimea and for supporting the separatists in Eastern Ukraine. (Russia denies supporting them.) The new violence comes amid speculation that President Donald Trump, whose ties to Russia have been, shall we say, closely scrutinized, is planning to lift those sanctions. The fighting seems like a sign of Russia testing to see what it can get away with under the new administration. Though the Ukrainian government also has an incentive to play up the violence as evidence of why the sanctions should not be lifted.

The White House has declined to comment on the situation, and the State Department has put out only a neutral statement of concern that breaks with past practice by not making note of Russian support for the separatists or even mentioning Russia at all.

Not everyone in the department is so reticent, though. Kate Byrnes of the U.S. mission to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the multinational organization tasked with monitoring breaches of the peace deal in Ukraine, Tuesday blamed the fighting on “a combined Russian-separatist assault” and called on “Russia to stop the violence, honor the ceasefire, withdraw heavy weapons, and end attempts to seize new territory.”.......

slate.com

Ukraine will transfer to the International Criminal Court one of the bullets that hit the aircraft AN-26 Navy during the attack on Russia Odessa gas field in the Black Sea.

As the Tsenzor.NET, it said the chief military prosecutor of Ukraine Anatoly Matios broadcast channel "112 Ukraine".

"The military prosecutor's office immediately after the arrival of the aircraft registered proceedings, is conducting an examination to determine cartridges, because it is evidence. This is evidence of the hybrid military aggression after the annexation of Crimea. The bullet that was removed for examination damaged aircraft over the territory of Ukraine, from which no one has not disown - is proof. Who is fired, we can not set, but the area of responsibility of senior management of the state of - the competence of the international criminal court. this evidence is collected and handed them back, "- said Matios.

As reported Tsenzor.NET airplane Navy Ukraine An-26 was shot today at 10:20 of the Odessa gas field in the Black Sea.

By plane opened fire with small arms on board the small anti-submarine ship Russian Black Sea Fleet. In addition, the AN-26 accompanied detection station anti-missile system. Ukrainian plane was damaged hull, the crew was hurt.

ua.censor.net.ua, In Ukrainian / на українській мові

At the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet Ukrainian Navy rejected the message of fire on February 1 AN-26.

As the Tsenzor.NET referring to "Novaya Gazeta" , it follows from the official response headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

"This morning between 11: 30-12: 00 on Kyiv time Armed Forces Ukrainian aircraft An-26, board number 53, committed two distinct provocative actions at extremely low altitude on Russian drilling platforms" Tauris "and" Crimea-1 "in Black sea. The second event Ukrainian An-26 plane crash to prevent possible through contact with the mast platforms, worker protection unit drilling platforms submitted four lights with "alarm" pistol "- said the representative of the Staff of the Black sea Fleet.

He added that "everyone who has ever held in his hands signaling pistol or New Year's fireworks without saying of course that no threat to the aircraft was not and could not be."

As reported Tsenzor.NET airplane Navy Ukraine An-26 was shot today at 10:20 of the Odessa gas field in the Black Sea.

By plane opened fire with small arms on board the small anti-submarine ship Russian Black Sea Fleet. In addition, the AN-26 accompanied detection station anti-missile system. Ukrainian plane was damaged hull, the crew was hurt.

ua.censor.net.ua , In Ukrainian / на українській мові

Russian representatives to the Joint Center for Control and Coordination (JCCC) have provided written confirmation of guarantees of the ceasefire, Head of the Donetsk Military and Civil Administration Pavlo Zhebrivskiy wrote on Facebook

Repair crews have already been deployed in locations where power lines had been damaged. A team of electricians from the militant-occupied territories also arrived at the scene. The scale of damage and the amount of restoration work required will be determined following proper assessment, Zhebrivskiy said......

unian.info

More than 10 civilians have been killed and dozens more wounded in some of the heaviest outburst of violence in Donbas in months that may provoke an early test of President Trump’s ability to manage negotiations with the Kremlin over the thorny conflict, The Washington Post reported.

The uptick in fighting came just days after Trump’s first telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, when the two discussed the conflict in Ukraine and declared plans to improve relations, according to WP. Earlier during his presidential campaign, Trump echoed Russian talking points about Ukraine, saying that Putin had not sent his military into the country and that most people in Crimea, the peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014, did not want to be a part of Ukraine. The U.S. State Department on Tuesday, January 31, called for an immediate ceasefire, as well as the U.S. Mission to the OSCE, which urged Russia to stop attempts to seize new territory beyond the line of contact. "Today for the first time in days Grad multiple rocket launchers and heavy artillery were used against the civilian population and our units," Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said during a meeting with security officials Tuesday. "The shelling is massive." The situation has grown so dire that Ukrainian authorities have announced that as many as 12,000 people may be evacuated starting Wednesday as electricity and water supplies to the city have been cut in the fighting.......

unian.info

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization has shelved a plan to meet with Ukrainian officials about the alliance's missile-defense system, Western officials said, a new sign the alliance is trying to avoid provoking Russia, according to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

NATO had considered meeting with Ukraine to discuss the possibility that debris or an errant interceptor could fall on their territory if the alliance's missile-defense system were used, the WSJ said. The decision not to meet with Ukraine comes as the alliance is at an awkward moment with Russia. NATO is beginning to build up its deterrent force on Russia's border—the first German forces set out on Tuesday—even as President Donald Trump looks to build relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Inside the alliance, diplomats are discussing ways to expand dialogue with Russia, with some officials expecting that Mr. Trump may seek to have the alliance cooperate more with Moscow.

The system is designed to intercept ballistic missiles fired from Iran, which, U.S. officials said, recently conducted a new test. The missile-defense system—which consists of radar and interceptors in Romania as well at sea—came under full alliance control last year. NATO officials have long insisted the system is neither designed for nor capable of shooting down Russia's numerous and sophisticated nuclear missiles. But Moscow has viewed such assertions with deep suspicion and long called on NATO to agree to limits to its missile shield—agreements rejected in Washington and Brussels..................

Access complete text of the editorial:  unian.info/politics In English

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's press secretary Svyatoslav Tsegolko has confirmed an attempt by the Russian side to fire on a Ukrainian An-26 transport plane, which had a training flight in Ukraine's maritime economic zone over the Black Sea on Wednesday, February 1.





unian.info