Ukraine crisis. News in Brief. Thursday 20 August [Ukrainian sources]

THURSDAY

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

News -
The number of attacks by Putin's forces is down again, to 67. This from a high just a few days ago of over 150.
UPDATE - Sadly reading of 4 soldiers killed, and 14 injured.
Brent oil price falls below 47. A real problem now for Putin and financing of his imperial Reich war machine.
The ruble falling like a stone... 66... 67...
Sentsov quotes Bulgakov in brilliant closing speech in his trial. (posted separately by Admin, but also see below)

Weather -
More typrically late August weather. Cool in the mornings, and high in the early 20s. 70F. Comfortable, to be honest.
Blue sky and sunshine this morning, but only 10 at 0700.

Footie -
A good win for Shakhtar last night in Vienna. 0-1. One defender went to hospital after a clash of heads, but is out now. Going back to Ukraine.
A draw at "home" in Lviv - next Tuesday - will see them through to the group stages.
Lugansk play tonight against Warsaw, in Kiev.. That will be hard for them.

The New Police -
I saw the new police for the first time last week.
One thing struck me about them - they are thin! The old police - basically big tubs of goo.
Years of corruption and good eating due to their heavily bribe-packed salaries has taken its toll on the former officers.
The new police are thin and fit and young. And yes, they rather look like American police uniforms.

http://zik.ua/ua/news/2015/08/20/shtab_ato_za_dobu_boyovyky_obstrilyaly_ukrainskyh_viyskovyh_67_raziv_617712
18 hours until midnight almost always the enemy fired from grenade launchers and small arms, heavy machine guns our positions in the villages of Marinka, Opitnoe and Pisky. And about 19 hours mercenaries twice with 82-millimeter mortars pounded the ATU forces in Krasnohorivtsi.
[Chastye also attacked]

7:58
http://kriminal.tv/news/boeviki-dnr-gotovjat-referendum-o-vhogdenii-v-sostav-rossii.html
===
To be honest, many in Ukraine would be more than happy if the occupied Donbas joined up with Russia.
The area is destroyed, and full of criminals now. A wasteland. And would be a massive drain on the rest of the country.
I don't even think Putin wants this solution. Putin wants to control all of Ukraine.

7:57
http://glavcom.ua/news/318520.html
In the Rostov region is seen next column of [military] technology. This is reported by users in social networks.
According to them, due to the movement of the column, which is close to the highway in the Rostov Izvarino area the bus Luhansk-Kyiv was cancelled. They also reported that in the Rostov region seen tanks, and some of them moving singly, some - on trailers, others parked.

8:07
http://368.media/2015/08/20/v-odesse-kanal-torgovli-ugnannymi-inomarkami/
[If you want a nice stolen Range Rover, Odessa is clearly the place to go]

http://gordonua.com/news/money/Brent-obvalilas-nizhe-47-za-barrel-94850.html
[Even the Ukrainian news sources are reporting the falling oil price now.
They are beginning to understand its significance in giving Putin problems.
As well as helping to cut Ukraine inflation. ]
============

www.bloomberg.com/energy/ for current prices, 1 minute ago -

Crude Oil & Natural Gas
INDEX UNITS PRICE CHANGE %CHANGE CONTRACT TIME ET 2 DAY
WTI Crude Oil (Nymex)
USD/bbl. 40.56 -0.24 -0.59% SEP 15 00:43:59
Brent Crude (ICE)
USD/bbl. 46.89 -0.27 -0.57% OCT 15 00:51:39

Wow... Will West Texas Intermediate fall below 40 in the next few days?? That would be a shock. 2009 prices now.
Expect the ruble to fall further. Urals oil priced between WTI and Brent

www.xe.com 1 minute ago

Rubles to one dollar ...   euro ...   pound
Inverse: 66.6679 74.2193 104.568

While Putin plays games in Dutch made submarines in the Crimea the ruble is sinking underwater also.

http://www.rferl.org/content/crimean-director-sentsov-trial-transcript-russian-court-terror-charges/27197814.html
===
[posted separately by Admin.
Brilliant brilliant closing statement by Sentsov in his Putin show-trial in Rostov.
Quoting Bulgakov - a master stroke.
If you read one thing this year, it must be his closing statement in the article above. ]

http://www.rbc.ua/rus/news/obse-podkontrolnoy-boevikam-territorii-zakryty-1440050791.html
There are no problems with the admission of the OSCE mission in the territory controlled by the ATO [Ukraine].
On the Donbas 46% of the territory controlled by the rebels is closed to patrol the representatives of the Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) of the OSCE. This was reported in the press-center of the ATO to Facebook.

===
Putin breaking the Minsk agreement in every way possible. As we all know.

http://glavcom.ua/news/318500.html
The mother of the deceased ATO hero 36-year-old Vladimir Brazhnik was attacked in a taxi in Krasni Liman, Donetsk region. She attacked by local resident, a woman called her "mother of the fascist", reports "Explorer."
When 62-year-old mother of a fallen soldier came to the police department, to protect her rights, local law enforcement officers laughed at her....
The attack on the hero's mother happened immediately after the funeral.
[Putin's culture of hate and fear alive and kicking.]

Nelson wrote:7:58
http://kriminal.tv/news/boeviki-dnr-gotovjat-referendum-o-vhogdenii-v-sostav-rossii.html
===
To be honest, many in Ukraine would be more than happy if the occupied Donbas joined up with Russia.
The area is destroyed, and full of criminals now. A wasteland. And would be a massive drain on the rest of the country.
I don't even think Putin wants this solution. Putin wants to control all of Ukraine.

No! He simply wants the land route to his treasured stolen Crimea.

Yes, let him have his lawless, corrupt and waste land that is Donbas which will massively drain the Kremlin coffers but no other Ukrainian land. This scenario would be rather similar to having made one's cake and having to eat it although it tastes like ****!

You reap what you sow.

I agree.
I thought that is what i wrote. "occupied Donbas".
Yes. Just that - would be a massive failure for Putin, and a millstone for Russia.

Nelson wrote:I agree.
I thought that is what i wrote. "occupied Donbas".
Yes. Just that - would be a massive failure for Putin, and a millstone for Russia.

I was referring to the "Putin wants to control all of Ukraine" bit!

Nevertheless, we agree! 100%!

http://news.liga.net/news/politics/6463103-opublikovan_spisok_ukrainskikh_boytsov_pogibshikh_pod_ilovayskom.htm
[And likely this is not all.
Scroll down the list...  Putin the murderer, of so many young men. ]

12:00
http://svidok.ua/ua/news/article/18961-okupanti-donbasu-znajshli-novi-tila-v-rujinah-donetskogo-aeroportu-video

http://www.charter97.org/ru/news/2015/8/20/165410/
Subversive groups composed of volunteer fighters OUN battalion and 93rd separate mechanized brigade APU, militants attacked a village near Donetsk Zhabe and was able to kill at least three terrorists.

12:50
http://vesti-ukr.com/sport/111646-v-kieve-i-lvove-proizoshli-massovye-draki-s-futbolnymi-fanami-iz-polshi
В четверг, 20 августа, на стадионе "Динамо" имени Валерия Лобановского состоится матч "Заря" – "Легия".
Thurs 20 aug, stadium Dynamo, match Zarya [Lugansk] - Legia {Warsawa]
[And the game hasn't even started yet! ]

12:50
http://www.rbc.ua/rus/news/zone-ato-sutki-pogibli-boytsa-eshche-raneny-1440064025.html
[No further details
Strange after a significant drop in the number of attacks.
No explanation given. ]
====
This from a different source
http://zn.ua/UKRAINE/za-sutki-v-zone-ato-pogibli-chetvero-ukrainskih-voennyh-esche-14-raneny-186144_.html
.In The past during the day, August 20th, the largest militant activity was observed in the direction of Mariupol. The most tense area has become the front line of Ukrainian Defense Novotroitskoe - Bogdanovka - Starognatovka. "These borders yesterday held 4 enemy mortar and artillery attacks, mainly in the daytime. In this area, the enemy does not come into direct clash with the Ukrainian army, but regularly conducts indiscriminate fire from howitzers and" Grad "," - said the speaker of the administration President of Ukraine on the ATO Alexander Motuzyanik. In addition, over the past days in the zone of the antiterrorist operation in the Donbas, four members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were killed and 14 injured.

This from www.xe.com 1 minute ago
Rubles to one dollar // euro // pound
Inverse: 67.4626 75.2868 105.528

67 rubles to a dollar. 105 to a pound. When will it stop?
Putin has a serious currency crisis while he plays stupid games in the Black Sea.

http://www.politico.eu/article/kievs-hipster-revolution-russia-ukraine-culture/
With their finances shrinking, many young professionals are ditching their suits and expensive cars for a bike, a beard and a tattoo.
===
I'm probably too old to understand what this guy is going on about. The opera and philarmonia are still well attended by people in normal dress...
Article is a week old. I missed it. Apologies.
The author sounds like an interesting character. Studied physics with Richard Feynman.... so probably at Caltech, I would think. American/Indian heritage.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/08/20/uk-ukraine-crisis-casualties-idUKKCN0QP0WX20150820?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews
[Nothing that we haven't already reported on here.]

I mentioned at the top of this thread that one thing that suddenly struck me about the new police in Kiev - they are thin...
I found two photos on the internet to illustrate my point...

Old police - Looks like DAI - the traffic police...



And the new.... Do they look thinner, leaner, fitter, to you?

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/20/ukraine-criss-gas-idUSB5N0YY02F20150820
====
The last talks broke down in June. The price being discussed then was around 250 / thous cu m.
Ukraine seems in no rush to build up supplies, probably in the knowledge that the Russian gas price is likely to fall even further.
Russia should have come to an agreement in June. But politics is currently more important to Gazprom than finance. But for how long?

A composite mobile group of Phantom tax police unit, the SBU, military prosecutor office and border guard service has eliminated a terrorist food supply channel.

As reported by Censor.NET, this was announced by the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine press service.

According to intelligence, one of the abandoned railroad tracks near the village of Zolote was used to smuggle products. The dead-end line led to the terrorist-occupied territory, crossing the demarcation line.

Malefactors used a motorized cargo draisine to occasional supply products to terrorists.

This is proved by the fact that every time the draisine was on the move, it was covered by snipers and machine gunners from the occupied territory.

As a result of a special operation supported by military intelligence, the smugglers were detained while loading another batch of food. All those involved in the scheme are being currently identified.




censor.net.ua In Russian

Analyst: “The announcement of the talks is intended to send the signal to the Russian leadership that Western leaders will not engage in dialogue if Russia continues to aggravate the violence in Donbas. It’s also intended as a signal of support for Ukraine on its symbolic Independence Day holiday.”


KYIV, Aug 20, 2015 (UBO) – Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande are planning to meet on Aug. 24 in Berlin, Concorde Capital informed its clients in an online advisory today. The notification was based on an Aug. 19 announcement by the press service of the Presidential Administration.

Poroshenko will discuss the situation with safety in the region and will “offer a proposal with the goal of not allowing a negative scenario in the development of events in Donbas,” the announcement said. They will also discuss the current condition of upholding the Minsk accords, the implementation of the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement and a Ukraine-EU visa-free regime, ensuring energy security and implementing reforms in Ukraine. Poroshenko will visit Germany just after Independence Day commemorations on Aug. 24, the statement said.

This planned meeting, as well as future meetings between Poroshenko and EU leaders in Brussels, “testifies to the mutual deep concern regarding the deterioration of the situation with security in the region as a result of Russian aggression against Ukraine,” said Kostiantyn Yeliseyev, the deputy head of the Presidential Administration. “Against the background of active and targeted steps taken by Ukraine with the goal of fulfilling the Minsk accords in all of its dimensions …, conscious efforts by the Russian side to torpedo the peace process are being observed,” he said, as reported by the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.

The Aug. 24 trilateral talks between Poroshenko, Merkel and Hollande is not a meeting in the framework of the “Normandy format,” but a parallel process, said on Aug. 19 Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, as reported by Interfax. “Of course, we will intently follow its preparation and will attentively look at how it will conclude,” he said. “For us, there’s an obvious need to exert additional effort on Kyiv to convince it that accords and the obligations accepted in Minsk on Feb. 12 need to be fulfilled.”..........

To read further go to this link: ukrainebusiness.com.ua

The Ukrainian Security Service has warned the organization and conduct of pseudo-separatist actions in Kharkov and Odessa.

This was stated by the President Poroshenko in Kyiv on Thursday during the presentation of the keys to the apartments to employees of the SBU.

"Service has conducted several brilliant operations in Kharkov, Odessa, which eliminated the deployment scenarios pseudo-separatist rebellions, detained by foreign countries, ensuring peace and tranquility of the citizens", - said Poroshenko.

According to the President, SBU these operations conducted in the last month of the current year.

"The Security Service of Ukraine cleared more than 20 subversive groups, discontinued operations 18 agents' network of Russian secret services," - also said the president.

In addition, he reported on prevention SBU almost 20 terrorist attacks.

In the current year, according to him, the secret service officers detained in the Donbas 600 separatists and militants, seized more than 500 weapons, nearly 1 million pieces of ammunition, 250 kg of explosives.

glavcom.ua In Russian

Ukrainian soldiers will soon receive a new "city", tanks and "Peonies". The new technique has already gone to the area ATO.

About this on his page on Facebook told Adviser to the President of Ukraine Yuri Biryukov.

He also posted photos and videos of new technology.

"All the photos and video of today pales before that ... And yes, all of the capital reduction, with all plants" - Biryukov signed by one of the video.

As reported by the "Observer", previously Biryukov said that still does not know who gave the order to go into Ilovaysk.





obozrevatel.com In Russian

Ministry of Foreign Affairs delivered a note to Ambassador expects Germany because of the behavior of the diplomat during the conflict with the police, which was held on Monday at the Bessarabian Square in Kiev.

This is reported by Ukrainian News citing Interior Minister Arsen Avakov.

"The Foreign Ministry had summoned the ambassador to the corresponding notes. The rest - the diplomat will be responsible for their actions according to our law, "- said the Minister.

According to him, the diplomat threatened administrative sanctions and it may well be a driver's license away by the court.

As you know, earlier in the network has a video in which a man in a drunken state, clashes with the police because of the fact that his car with diplomatic plates prevented travel to the area of ​​Bessarabia.

During the conflict, the driver showed diplomatic documents and behaved aggressively.

glavcom.ua In Russian

Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded to hand over a bridge across the Kerch Strait by the end of 2018.

He stated this at a meeting in Novorossiysk on the development of transport infrastructure of southern Russia, reports RBC-Ukraine with reference to the Russian media.

"Obviously, the sea ports of the Crimea to fully earn only when the bridge will be built across the Kerch Strait. I very much hope that the construction period would be maintained. At the end of 2018, this strategic object to be delivered, "- said Putin.

He stressed that the construction of the bridge Kerch requires a "significant financial investment", adding that the budget possibilities of Russia "always and everywhere limited."

In this regard, Putin said that the need to think about how to stimulate additional investment. At the same time he called unacceptable "increase in costs and rise in construction."

glavcom.ua In Russian

Nato’s eastern European members are displaying “concrete interest” in buying German heavy weaponry, one of the country’s largest defence groups has revealed, as the Ukraine conflict exposes gaps in conventional deterrence.

Frank Haun, chief executive of KMW, the Munich-based manufacturer of the Bundeswehr’s Leopard tank, has told the Financial Times: “In the eastern EU and Nato countries, there is very concrete interest in the establishment or upgrading of specific capabilities. Nato is aware of the deficiencies in its conventional deterrent capability.”

Military action by Russian-backed groups against Ukrainian government forces has started to nudge policymakers back towards weaponry designed to resist a land assault, manufacturers and analysts added.

For Rheinmetall, the Düsseldorf-based defence and automotive company that supplies the cannon, ammunition and firing system for the Leopard tank, the Ukraine crisis has also spurred procurement............

Recommend to read further go to this link: ft.com

This war of Ukraine protecting and losing lives on behalf of Germany and other western European countries is at the same time making Germany money. They should be GIVING the arms to Ukraine for protecting them. But as we all know, they're in it for totally selfish reasons. The longer this conflict continues, the more money Germany will make. Same as Nixon did with Viet Nam. So Germany's not in any hurry to resolve this issue. The US and Canada have been doing much more for Ukraine than Germany, and Ukraine's not a US or Canadian state. They don't want this resolved quickly.

Remember that Germany's not the only European country in the mix. Ukraine's protecting ALL of them.

Throughout the day August 19 the situation around Donetsk airport was relatively quiet, the number of attacks has decreased. This is stated in the OSCE report, released today, reports "UNN" .

OSCE observers noted CMM reducing the number of attacks around the Donetsk airport. Thus, the observers mission counted 31 explosion of a broken 88- and 120-millimeter mortars. These attacks were carried out on both sides.

At the same time, the overall situation remains tense around Lugansk. Observers Mission notes a similar number of attacks that the previous day.

Also CMM OSCE came to the southern part of the bridge Villages Lugansk under the control of "LC". There is a representative of "LC" reported repeated shelling their positions for the last night. Observers recorded a fresh crater on the bridge, which was formed from the break-personnel mines, fired from 82-millimeter mortar shells from the northern direction.

Recall, for August 19 in the area of ​​counter-terrorism operation killed four Ukrainian military, another 14 were injured.

glavcom.ua In Russian

In the Kiev area law enforcement officers detained the lawyer and his two accomplices in the attempt to give a bribe of 230 thousand. Hryvnia one of the prosecutors area. This was reported in the press service of the Prosecutor's Office of Kyiv region.

As it turned out, the lawyer wanted money to "negotiate" with the prosecutor to change the qualifications in criminal proceedings, and took the investigation the defendant.

Advocaat and his accomplices were detained "on hot" during the first part of the transfer to the prosecutor of $ 35 thousand. Hryvnia.

On this fact opened proceedings under Part 3 st.369 (offer and provide undue advantage to the official, which occupies a responsible position) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Sanction the offending article provides a penalty of imprisonment up to 8 years.

Pre-trial investigation is continuing.

glavcom.ua In Russian

There have been losses of lives (troops) on both sides. On the ATO side, all daily recently there have been an increase, due to an increase in terrorists/Russian aggression. We all know the enemy's losing many more than the ATO is. That doesn't include the civilian lives that are being lost and the damage to buildings and homes.

Everyone would love for the west/NATO to go in and duke it out with the terrorists/Russian forces. That is simple to say, but look at the ramifications from doing that. We all know that there will be MANY more lives/troops lost MORE QUICKLY on both sides. We also know there will be more structural destruction. If something like that does happen, are the complainers going to be happier with 100's instead of one or two lost daily? That doesn't include the civilian lives. I don't like seeing any patriot or civilian losing their lives, but this comes with any battle. There's no such thing as no casualties during a battle. Many think it's so simple to go in and start killing. It's not, but it's easy to say it.

To make it short as I can give more details. The one that's hurting and losing the most is the Kremlin, on a daily basis. They're not only losing their troops/so's, husband's and father's. They're also losing 100's of millions of dollars, support and its economy from this battle. The country's going in the tank and that's a fact. They won't recoup from this in a couple of years. It'll take some time and more struggle from its society.

The longer this goes on the more they're going to lose and that's what they don't want. So they have to do something very soon and especially with the winter months coming. History will show you how bad it is to have a battle in eastern Europe in winter months. When Germany and Napoleon invaded, they lost a ton of troops. Then how long will an all-out battle last. Does anyone know?

Now think to yourself. Would you rather see one or two on average as it's been lately give their lives for their country, or would you rather see 100's in the ATO and who knows how many civilians lose their lives daily by shooting from hip? Think about it. It will be over. When only the Almighty knows. We can only hope for a fast ending with the least losses. Remember, they're fighting in Ukraine not Russia.

Western military technology will not minimize fatalities.

I don't like this as much as you all don't. But it's not our call.

In the city of Donetsk region Ugledar man was trying to sell two grenades to buy food.

This was reported in the press service of the city police department Ugledarskogo.

"In Ugledarsky police department received a report that one of the residents offers to buy him two grenades. Ammunition seized, the offender faces up to 7 years in prison, "- said in a statement.

According to the address left investigative team city police department, in the course of verification of these data confirmed the information.

When viewed things local, born in 1968, a Russian citizen, was found two grenades. He explained that the ammunition found in the forest belt outside the city. According to the offender, he was planning to sell grenades and use the proceeds to buy food.

The material evidence seized and sent for examination, the results of which will be given to the actions of the offender final legal assessment.

Criminal proceedings on the hour. 1 tbsp. 263 (illegal handling of weapons, ammunition or explosives) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The sanction of the article provides for punishment of imprisonment for a term of 3 to 7 years.

glavcom.ua In Russian