Ukraine News. Thursday 18 October. [Ukrainian sources]

THURSDAY HEADLINES:
"We as a victim of aggression, as martyrs get to heaven, and they just die" - Putin on a nuclear war.  The president of Russia called the Kerch tragedy as a result of shootings in US schools.  Ukraine will not be able to conduct joint training with NATO in the Sea of ​​Azov, as this requires the consent of the RF, - Lavrov.  Kerch college attack death toll reaches 21. Vice Prime Minister of Italy has promised in Russia to say no to sanctions.  Russian State Duma threatens "catastrophic consequences" in today's statement "On aggravation of the situation in Ukraine".  Russia in 2016 became the world leader in "modern slavery" - the Council of Europe.  Russians will be imprisoned for violating the rules of entry into Ukraine. In the United States, they are proposing to hand over the Ukrainian Navy frigates such as Oliver Hazard Perry, the "Ukrainian Military Portal". "Burned Land Effect": Bloomberg spoke about new sanctions that the United States is preparing against Russia. The FSB demanded control over the Internet in Russia: "Without it, it's impossible to confront modern terrorist threats". Canada strongly condemns "insidious act of violence against young people" in occupied Kerch.

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President of the country-aggressor Vladimir Putin said that Russia is ready to use nuclear weapons only after it is convinced that a potential enemy strikes on it.

This is reported by Censor.NET with reference to Interfax .

"We do not have in our concept of using nuclear weapons a preventive blow, our concept is a response to a counter strike," he said, speaking at the Valdai Forum in Sochi.

The Russian leader stressed that this means that Russia is ready and will use nuclear weapons "only when it is convinced that someone, a potential aggressor, strikes Russia."

As Vladimir Putin explained, the essence of Russia's nuclear doctrine - "an appropriate counter strike" - is that "the aggressor must know: retaliation is inevitable, it will still be destroyed".

"And we as a victim of aggression, we as martyrs get into paradise, and they just get lost," Putin said, causing laughter in the hall. "Because they will not even have time to repent," he added.

ua.censor.net.ua    In Ukrainian/український

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the mass killing in Kerch was affected by tragic events at the US school

He said the October 18 meeting of the International Discussion Club " Valdai" .

"It all began with the famous tragic events in the schools in the United States: young people with unstable psyche, some kind of pseudo heroes create for themselves, " he said.

According to Putin, young people " grab this surrogate of heroism " because they do not create "the necessary, interesting and useful content " and accuses globalization and the Internet of this.

" This is apparently the result of globalization as no surprise. In social networks, the Internet community set goals" , - he said.

-Recall that on October 17, an explosion at the Polytechnic College broke out in Kerch in a Russian-occupied Crimea. At first, there were 10 dead and 50 wounded.

-A version of a possible gas explosion appeared in the media, but later the Russian authorities announced a terrorist attack by blasting an explosive device.

-Witnesses said that in addition to the explosion they heard shooting , some allegedly saw people with automatic machines. It was also reported that three suspects were detained and another wanted.

-Later it was reported that the body of the alleged executor of the terrorist attack was found in the building. Suppose he committed suicide.

-Due to events in Kerch Ukraine has stepped up security measures on the border with Crimea. The Crimean Prosecutor's Office opened the case on the fact of a terrorist attack . Poroshenko expressed condolences to the Ukrainians who lost their loved ones.

-The number of victims as a result of the explosion and firing at the college of occupied Kerch has increased to 21.

espreso.tv/  In Ukrainian/український

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov considers it unrealistic to carry out exercises of ships of Ukraine and NATO in the Azov Sea.

As informs Censor.NET, Interfax writes about it.

"Now Ukraine wants to call for NATO training in the Sea of ​​Azov, but it will not be possible to go there, because our treaty with Ukraine requires mutual consent for the passage of warships to the Sea of ​​Azov," said Lavrov in an interview with RT France, Paris Match and Le Figaro.

"But they want it, and they are actively engaged in it," Lavrov said.

According to the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry, NATO's actions on Russian borders are provocative.

"The accumulation of weapons at our borders, the adjustment to modernize the transport infrastructure in Europe, so that American heavy weapons, and, probably, the arms of other NATO countries, it was easier to choose our borders - frankly provocative training, not ours with China in the middle of Siberia, and in Ukraine, in Georgia and in the Black Sea, "Lavrov said.

The Russian Foreign Minister also added that the placement of an American division on a permanent basis in Poland would be a direct violation of the NATO-Russia Basic Act, and Russia will monitor such processes, because it concerns its security.

"All the training that NATO is currently conducting in the Baltic States, Poland, Romania, other countries, the deployment of contingents in Germany, Canada, England and, in my opinion, France in the Baltic, Poland, the idea of ​​our Polish colleagues to invite an American division into their territory that will be a direct violation of the NATO-Russia Basic Act, which prohibits the deployment of substantial combat forces on a permanent basis in the territories of NATO member states from Eastern and Central Europe - all these are very interesting processes, "he said.

Recall Ukraine intensified the grouping of the Armed Forces in the Azov direction in response to the aggressive actions of the Russian Federation. At the meeting of September 6, the National Security and Defense Council approved a package of measures aimed at protecting national interests in the southern regions, waters of the Azov and Black Seas.

In particular, it is about strengthening the naval presence in the Azov Sea, creating a ship-naval grouping of the Navy of the Armed Forces, developing the appropriate infrastructure, providing coast defense units with the latest high-precision rocket weapons, etc.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The death toll in the slaughter at the Polytechnic College in the Russian-occupied Crimea's Kerch has reached 21 people.

"A wounded boy died during transportation by helicopter to Simferopol," Mash Telegram channel said on Oct. 18, Censor.NET reports citing UNIAN.

According to other media reports, a girl has also died after the attack. "The girl has died. Thus, the death toll is 21 people," a source in the medical services told the Russian news agency TASS.

As reported, an explosion hit the Polytechnic College in the Russian-occupied Crimea's Kerch on Wednesday. Some 18 people were killed and at least 50 wounded, when an unidentified explosive device detonated. Witnesses reported the terror attack and automatic shooting in the college.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Vice Prime Minister of Italy Matteo Salvini said in Russia that Italy will not support the continuation of EU economic sanctions against the Russian Federation

With such a statement, he spoke during a business conference in Moscow on Wednesday, reports Reuters.

"If we are asked to confirm (sanctions), we will say no ... Of course, there's no sense in what they are," said Salvini.

However, on the question of whether Italy will veto the continuation of sanctions, Salvini replied: "We can play a joker veto only once in Europe."

The EU introduced economic sanctions against Russia in 2014 after the annexation of the Crimea and incitement to the conflict in the Donbas. Each year, the EU decides to extend sanctions. Validity of current restrictions ends in January.

Leaders are expected to vote for an extension of economic sanctions against Russia for another six months at the next EU summit, which will be held on December 13, and Italy may offer a proposal to finance the Russian small business as a condition for supporting the prolongation of sanctions.

espreso.tv  In Ukrainian/український

At the plenary meeting on Thursday, October 18, the deputies of the State Duma of the Russian Federation unanimously adopted the statement "On aggravation of the situation in Ukraine."

As the Cenzor.NET, outlined in a statement to the press service of the State Duma.

"The authorities of Ukraine, in essence, have become the path of transforming Ukraine into a bridgehead for the struggle against Russia and its people on all possible fronts and directions," the statement says.

An example, in the opinion of the Russian deputies, is, in particular, the attempts of the current Ukrainian authorities "to destroy the true Orthodox Church, legalize the scholars supported by the Ukrainian state and" sanctify "with their help the continuation of the war against Russian and Russian-speakers in the East of Ukraine."

"By sabotaging the Minsk treaties and at the same time claiming a worthy place in a number of other European powers, Ukraine continues to concentrate troops, shelling and assassinations in the Donbass, not having the first time resorting to terrorist acts to achieve its goals," the statement said.

"Ukraine has turned into a terrorist state, and the rulers of today's Ukraine are stained with the blood of Alexander Zakharchenko and many other sons and daughters of Donbass," the deputies of the DD said.

"The anxiety of deputies of the State Duma is also caused by laws adopted by Ukrainian parliamentarians: their norms are directly aimed at discriminating against the Russian-speaking population and, in fact, on a total ban on the use of the Russian language," the press service reports.

According to the Russian parliamentarians, the Ukrainian authorities are "Western sponsors and inspirational" for the actions of the Ukrainian authorities: DD draws attention to the actions of the United States and other NATO countries, which, "giving Ukraine arms and encouraging its anti-Russian policy, directly pushing the Ukrainian authorities to aggressive actions against their own people, to inter-ethnic and inter-confessional conflicts".

The document emphasizes that "an attempt at a new large-scale military offensive in Donbass, together with new facts of assassinations and terrorist acts against its population, will receive an adequate response and will inevitably lead to catastrophic consequences."

The State Duma states that the historic responsibility for the course of the rupture of Russian-Ukrainian relations lies with the leadership of modern Ukraine. "It's not too late to stop", - Russian parliamentarians will summarize.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

In 2016, the largest number of people who were held in slavery by force was recorded in Russia

This is stated in a statement of the Council of Europe on the occasion of the European Day for the Suppression of Forced Retaining People (Slavery), reports Ukrinform .

According to the Council of Europe, in Russia in the so-called "modern slavery" 8 million people were kept.

"The forced detention of people is rapidly becoming a crime spreading in Europe, a form of modern slave trade spreading in the world. The term" modern slavery "is increasingly used to identify a wide range of human rights violations, including sexual exploitation, forced labor, detention , domestic violence, trafficking in human beings, and the exploitation of children and forced marriage, "the Council of Europe said.

Statistics of the Council of Europe indicate that in 2016, 16.3 million people were registered in the world, whose terms were subject to the term "modern slavery", of which about 15 million are in Europe, including 8 million in Russia.

-Recall that in September 2018 in the Carpathian region detained a gang that forced more than 30 people into labor slavery.

espreso.tv  In Ukrainian/український

The Verkhovna Rada has passed a bill number 7017 on criminal liability for illegal entry into the territory of Ukraine

This is stated in the bill on the website of the Verkhovna Rada.

Thus, Article 331 was added to the Criminal Code of Ukraine with the corresponding content.

"The crossing of the state border of Ukraine by a person who has the citizenship (nationality) of the aggressor state or another person in the interests of the aggressor state, contrary to the national interests of Ukraine, in any way, outside the points of entry through the state border of Ukraine or at points of entry through the state border Ukraine without relevant documents or documents containing inaccurate information, is punishable by imprisonment for up to 3 years", - the bill says.

The same acts committed repeatedly or by a group of persons shall be punishable by imprisonment for a term of 3 to 5 years, and for the illegal crossing of the Ukrainian border with the use of weapons, shall be imprisoned for a term of 5 to 8 years.

The law is to be signed by the Verkhovna Rada Speaker and the President of Ukraine.

It should be noted that entry into the temporarily occupied territories of Luhansk, Donetsk and Crimea through closed entry points in uncontrolled areas of Ukraine is also a violation of Ukrainian legislation.

Recall that from the beginning of 2018, Russian citizens should pass their biometric data when entering Ukraine.

espreso.tv  In Ukrainian/український

The United States sent a letter to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine on the provision of military technical assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, among other things, for the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine through the military attache of the United States Embassy.

About it from own sources became known to the "Ukrainian military portal", reports Ceinsor.NET.

"Among the proposed issues is the issue of obtaining frigates type" Oliver Hazard Perry", which are at the disposal of the United States Navy and can be transferred within the framework of the program" Excess Defense Article", - said in the material UMP.

Also read: The Navy of the Armed Forces from the beginning of the year has been replenished with 8 ships and boats, - Commander Voronchenko

The publication observes that the said ships can significantly increase the defense capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Black Sea and Azov Opera Theater.

In the 2000s, Ukrainian ships were trained on these ships, and on March 25, 2009, a frigate of this type, the USS Klakring (FFG-42), went to Sevastopol.



Frigate USS Klakring (FFG-42) during a visit to Sevastopol

Frigates type Oliver Hazard Perry were built during 1975-2004. In total, 71 frigates were built at the US, Spain, Australia and Taiwan basements.

Now, in addition to the USA, frigates of this class are armed with fleets: Turkey - 8 units; Taiwan - 8 units; Australia - 6 units; Spain - 6 units; Egypt - 4 units; Poland - 2 units; Bahrain - 1 frigate; Pakistan - 1 frigate.

Recall that at the end of September in the United States a ceremony for the transfer of two patrol boats in the class of Iceland took place.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

US Congress is preparing to introduce restrictions for Russian state-owned banks. Then they will not be able to deal with financial organizations abroad.

The US Congress is considering extending US sanctions against Russia. It is proposed to introduce restrictions for large Russian state banks. According to Censor.NET, Bloomberg writes about it .

"It will be a big blow to the global energy trading system. It looks like a Rusal case, but sometimes worse," says Alexis Rodzianko, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia, commenting on the possible simultaneous imposition of sanctions against all Russian state lenders.

According to him, striking a bank that dominates the Russian financial sector and working closely with energy exporters of the country will be equivalent to "tactics of scorched earth" for diplomacy. The congress can adopt a bill on new sanctions in the coming weeks. This is not to be expected before the mid-term elections in the USA scheduled for November 6th. But the desire to increase the pressure on Moscow is widespread in both parties. The bill, which is considered by US congressmen, involves imposing broad restrictions on the transaction of some or all of the state banks of the Russian Federation, including Oschadbank and VTB.

"If this happens, no financial institution outside of Russia will deal with such a bank," said Alan Kartashkin, Partner of Debevoise & Plimpton, a law firm.

Rodzianko is convinced that it is unlikely that a new American strike will cover all state banks.

"This may be a less significant bank, which will be chosen in order to become an example," he assumed.

Russian state banks control 60% of the country's financial sector. Through them is the majority of transactions related to the export of Russian oil and gas. This trend only increased after more restrictive sanctions were imposed in 2014 against Rosneft and Gazprom.

Exporters may try to transfer their business to services of other Russian banks that will not be subject to sanctions or to seek help from foreign financial institutions.

"But this will create enormous difficulties. It will be a big commitment," said Alexander Daniilov, an analyst at Fitch.

The publication also reminds that in addition to the Senate also proposes to prohibit investors from buying securities of the Russian government. It will also be a serious blow to the Kremlin.

"The persecution of Russian sovereign debt from the category of steps that are tough enough to cause pain, but not so tough to strike directly in the face," said Dan Fried, a former State Department sanction officer.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The Russian intelligence agency said that the cyberspace should be under the control of the competent authorities, without which terrorist attacks can not be prevented and information security guaranteed at the proper level.

This was stated by the first deputy director of the FSB Sergey Smirnov, reports Censor.NET with reference to Rain.

"For us, professionals, it has long been clear that the cyberspace should be under the control of the competent authorities. Without this, we can not guarantee the proper security of information security and successfully counter current terrorist threats," Smirnov said.

He noted that the issue was related to terrorism, extremism and organized crime.

In Bishkek, at a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), they agreed to cooperate more closely with intelligence agencies in monitoring the Internet for such threats, Smirnov said. The meeting created a secure communications channel for the exchange of information on terrorists and extremists, discussed the expansion of data banks about such organizations and developed recommendations for questioning suspects in terrorism.

In the summer of 2018, the British human rights organization Article 19 stated in the UN about the threat of Russia's freedom of internet users around the world. According to the organization, in Russia, regularly adopting laws that are contrary to international standards for the right to information and privacy, and the authorities are putting undue pressure on Internet companies. Human rights activists have warned that if these processes continue in Russia, the free flow of information on the Internet will be severely restricted throughout the world.

Recall that on October 17 in the Kerch College an explosion broke out. According to the latest data, 18 people were killed, 40 were injured. The organizer of the attack on college - a 22-year-old resident of Kerch, he committed suicide.

Employees of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine took a number of measures to enhance security at the administrative border with the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea in connection with the explosion in Kerch. The Prosecutor's Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea opened a criminal investigation into a terrorist act in connection with an explosion in Kerch.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Canada expressed its condolences to the relatives of those killed during firing at the Polytechnic College of Kerch in the temporarily occupied Crimea.

This was stated by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Canada Christine Friland, according to Censor.NET with reference to Ukrinform.

"Canada expresses its deep condolences to relatives and friends of about 20 adolescents and dozens of wounded during mass shootings and an explosion at the polytechnic college in Kerch, and hopes for a quick and complete recovery of the victims," ​​said Freeland.

She added that Canada strongly condemns this "treacherous act of violence against youth".

At the same time, Friland noted that Canada continues to condemn the illegal occupation of the Crimea by Russia.

"Canada remains solid and determined in its support to the people of Crimea, which suffers terrible suffering since 2014. We reaffirm our condemnation of illegal occupation and Russia's invasion of Crimea," the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Canada noted.

Recall that on October 17 in the Kerch College an explosion broke out. According to the latest data, 18 people were killed, 40 were injured . The organizer of the attack on college - a 22-year-old resident of Kerch, he committed suicide.

Employees of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine took a number of measures to enhance security at the administrative border with the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea in connection with the explosion in Kerch. The Prosecutor's Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea opened a criminal investigation into a terrorist act in connection with an explosion in Kerch.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

UEFA dismisses Russian Rubin football club from participating in Eurocup tournaments

This is reported by the official site of UEFA.

The UEFA Trial Chamber has decided that the Kazan club will be excluded from the European Cup if it succeeds in its results in the Russian championship during the next two seasons.

The decision was made by the UEFA Arbitration Chamber for financial control over the fact that Rubin violated the terms of the agreement to comply with the rules of financial fair play.

In "Ruby" remains the right to appeal the verdict in the Sports Arbitrage Court.

-UEFA may disqualify the Portuguese "Benfica" for financial manipulation of the Portuguese club's leadership.

-Previously, Milan won the European Arbitral Tribunal for Disqualification from the European Arbitrazh Court.

espreso.tv  In Ukrainian/український