Ukraine crisis. News in brief. Thursday 25 February [Ukrainian sources]

THURSDAY

Please scroll down to view news items added during the day

News -
Putin fires 56 times yesterday at Ukrainians
Update - 2 soldiers injured, again.

Weather -
Lovely sunny morning in Kiev. Such a contrast to the constant rain and sleet of yesterday.
Currently +2

Maidan -
I took a short walk on Maidan yesterday. No tents. The heavy rain maybe - ?
Very few people walking around. A few tourists. That was it.
The usual traffic jams on and around Kreshatik. Even the usual displays were down.
Basically back to normal.

Footie -
Great game at the Olympic Stadium last night. Unfortunately Dynamo lost 3-1.
Short report with some photos below. I have some videos also, and lots of other photos if needed. Contact.
Today -
Shalke v Shakhtar Donetsk. Game just started. 20.00. 0-0 first leg. Difficult for Shakhtar, but they have chances. 1-1 would see them through.

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/putins-children--life-crime-terror-on-the-edge-of-russia/560593.html
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Quite a substantial article about life in Russia's far east. Sounds like the Donbass. A wasteland.

http://www.rferl.org/content/ukraine-russia-lift-bans-cargo-truck-transits-february-25/27572562.html
===
I wouldn't trust the Russians on this.
Ukrainians have learnt that Russians are compulsive liars - Putin, Lavrov, Cherkin.
They never adhere to agreements.

Syrian opposition’s Ahrar ash Sham organization assumed responsibility for an operation against Russian servicemen in Latakia, Ukrmedia reports, citing Orient-News Feb. 25.

Ahrar ash Sham posted a video on Youtube, claiming the blow killed scores of Russian officers attending a meeting.

The mine was in a vehicle that was parked near the Russian staff on Feb. 21, the organization says.

zik.ua

The US volunteers will fight in the Georgian Legion, its CO Mamuk Mamulashvili told journalists Feb. 24, Espreso.TV reports.

 “The first volunteer, Brian Beranger, is already with us,” Mamulashvili said.
 
 “We are expecting a group of 10 American former servicemen. They are ex-trainers and will now fight in Donbas, the officer said.

zik.ua

OSCE observers have recorded van with "Cargo 200" inscription on its side (code word referring to casualties for transportation in Russia) crossing the Ukrainian-Russian border.

Censor.NET reports citing weekly update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of Feb. 23 2016

"On 22 February a van registered in Ukraine arriving at the border crossing point from the direction of the Russian Federation bore an inscription "funeral transport" written in Russian on its side and a sign reading "CARGO 200" in Russian on the windshield. The observers could not ascertain whether it was carrying a coffin. This van was observed entering the Russian Federation earlier on 21 February, at 05:50 in the morning."

censor.net.ua In Russian

British street musician Danny McEvoy has published an acoustic cover of the song "1944" selected to represent Ukraine at the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest by singer Jamala.

The musician released a cover of the Ukrainian singer's song on his YouTube channel, Censor.NET reports.



censor.net.ua In Russian

Feb. 24, 2016, Mykolaiv district court has tried the chief of staff - first deputy commander of the battalion of the 53rd Separate Mechanized Brigade and deputy commander for supplies and logistics of the same battalion. The servicemen have been found guilty of habitual negligence in office and sentenced to five days of military confinement.

Censor.NET reports citing the press service of the Military Prosecutor's Office of the Southern region.

The statement reads: "As previously reported, the Military Prosecutor's Office of the Southern region of Ukraine promptly responded to the situation at the Shyrokyi Lan range following the complaint filed by the soldiers of the 53rd Mechanized Brigade regarding poor living conditions.

"The servicemen's life conditions in the field camp were improved after the intervention of the Military Prosecutor's Office. In particular, they were provided washing, three hot meals, etc.

"In addition, the prosecutor's office made relevant steps: the protocols on administrative offenses were drawn up under Article 172-15 of the Administrative Code of Ukraine regarding the commanders who were directly responsible for the personnel deployment and provision of the necessary life conditions and food at the shooting ground.

"The court is to consider eight more protocols on administrative violations committed by the commanders of different levels from the battalion ones to deputy commanders of the Skhid Operations Command."

In Russiancensor.net.ua

The anti-terrorist operation (ATO) forces seized a large number of terrorists’ Russian-made weapons near Zaitseve.

Censor.NET reports citing the statement by the ATO press center.

"The battle near Zaitseve in the Donetsk region lasted all night long. This hot section of the front is situated in the "neutral" zone, which is held by a separate motorized infantry brigade, has been mentioned in each daily situation report of the ATO staff over a month.

"One of the brigade battalions engaged in combat, which started in the evening and lasted almost until morning. The enemy infantry, covered by machine guns and grenade launchers, set out on an offensive. The valiant and daring Ukrainian troops managed to force the separatists back from the height, which they were advancing from.

"Enemy weapons were found at the position abandoned by the Russian mercenaries, which they used to launch attacks against the Ukrainian troops. Anti-tank guided missiles designed to destroy tanks and armored vehicles and their less powerful counterpart Shmel rocket launcher produced in 2000 were found. There is evidence that these arms were produced in Russia, as they have the relevant marking and are in service with the Russian army," the statement reads.



According to the staff, the situation has once again proved that the Russian armed aggression in the Donbas continues: "Russia has masterminded the aggression. This country provides funds, equipment, and directly orchestrates it."



censor.net.ua In Russian

The Olympic Stadium in Kiev is easy to reach. Closest stop, obviously Olympiski on the metro. But note many stations are closed after the game to avoid congestion. Good and bad.
The stadium hosted the Euro 2012 final -



Small shops inside the stadium sell drinks and food. Ok prices. I had a pepsi for 20 hryvnia. Decent size. Note - no bottles allowed. You can't take any in.

At the main gate - shown below - from inside, you get checked twice. I was padded down, and a guy asked to check inside my bag. He only looked.
Being a foreigner you are likely to get searched less. My friend even had to take his coat off! Serious search.



The start of the game - Pellegrini in the dugout for Man C. Note also Kompany and Sterling in the photo.



Sterling was outstanding, although he did not score. The other outstanding players for me were Kompany - excellent. Even the Dynamo supporters surrounding me spoke very very highly about him. David Silva also - very impressive.

Admin got me a nice ticket, close to the action. Here - Sterling's amazing haircut.
Weather, incidentally - lucky. It was raining for 24 hours before the match, but stopped at about 2000 local time. There was a touch of sleet during the game at times, but very little.



The final score, I have to say, was fair.
Dynamo attacked well, but didn't finish when they should have done.
But their defence was surely lacking. Everytime Man C attacked they looked to have chances.
Final score -

http://ca.reuters.com/article/topNews/idCAKCN0VY150
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And probably will never do so.

The Security Service of Ukraine in conjunction with the National Anti-corruption Bureau and Internal Security Service of the National Police carried out the complex special operation to expose the major corruption practice organized by senior prosecutors and police officers in the Ternopil region.

The law enforcement officers have documented evidence of systematic extortion of bribes for dismissal of criminal proceedings at the stage of pretrial investigation, Censor.NET reports citing the SBU press center.

The members of the security agencies established identities of eleven Ternopil law enforcement officers involved in the corrupt practices.

Over 40 searches have been carried out within the criminal proceedings initiated by Part 3 of the Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. In particular, $50,000 have been seized from the office of the Deputy Prosecutor of the Ternopil region; grenades and rounds of various calibers were found at the place of residence of Police Main Directorate Deputy Chief.

The urgent measures of investigation to identify and bring to justice all local law enforcers involved in corrupt practices are underway.




censor.net.ua In Russian

http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2016/matches/live/index.html?day=8&session=2&match=2017192

match is also live on tv.
First leg was 0-0.
15 minutes gone in Germany. 0-0 still.
Europe league.

The Kremlin’s budget has come under severe pressure following the steep falls in global oil prices and the impact of the sanctions which were agreed following the war in Ukraine in 2014.

Moscow is looking for cracks in the West’s sanctions regime by seeking ways to access its capital markets while exploiting divisions in the EU over fallout from the Syrian conflict. Moscow’s direct intervention in Syria’s civil war has added to tensions between Russia and the US. Russia invited European, Chinese and US banks to bid for the bond issue and asked them to make a request for proposal.....................

To read further go to this link: (Financial Times)

Sir, I’d like to object to the letter (February 23) from Robert Cooper, who finds the text of the Minsk 2 agreement unintelligible. It is certified even by Chatham House experts that Minsk 2 serves the interests of all parties, including Russia, and meets the requirements of a negotiated solution, as opposed to a military one. It is accompanied by a timetable of measures to implement it. Their sequence is also important, and that means that constitutional reform and amnesty must precede restoration of the Ukrainian authorities’ control over the border with Russia..............

To read further go to this link:  (Financial Times)

US police arrested a student, who was 23-year-old citizen of Ukraine with an expired visa and forged documents, reports Associated Press.

According to law enforcement officers, who arrived in the United States on short-term visa Arthur Samarin he introduced himself in a school in Harrisburg (PA) as the Escher Potts.

It is noted that a citizen of Ukraine had a good progress and was in the National Honor Society - school organization, bringing together talented students.

Samarin was also active in the social life of the institution, he was also a member of the Marine Cadet programs. The Ukrainian had with him and the driver's license issued in the state, in the Potts name.

He was arrested, he was charged with identity theft and forgery.

glavcom.ua In Russian

Sorry bud, but nobody's above the law, especially when documents are forged. The US isn't Ukraine or Russia, where a small bribe saves your rear.

US President Barack Obama in his address, said operation VKS Russia has strengthened the Syrian government and worsened the humanitarian situation in the country.

According to him, "it is not just a civil war in Syria, but also a proxy war between regional powers."

"The intervention of Russia conducted airstrikes and it strengthened the Assad regime, and only worsened the humanitarian catastrophe in Syria", - said the head of state.

He noted that many people in Syria, including children, are hungry for a long time.

glavcom.ua In Russian

Ukrainian singer Jamala Crimean Tatar origin named best solo artist of 2016 on YUNA-music awards, according to the official group of the singer in Facebook. Jamal also became the winner in the category "Best Album": her album "Podih" won first place. There was a singer in the category "Best Song" song "Zliva", was performed by Jamal and Andrew Hlivnyuk.

The ceremony music awards held on Thursday evening.

Among other winners YUNA-2016 Music Awards:

Best pop group Time and Glass.

Best Rock Group: Okean Elzy.

Best video: Trimai - Christina nightingale.

Discovery of the Year: Alekseev

Event of the year: Skryabin. Concert in memory.

Best actor Management: Alex Potapenko Irina Gorovaya (MOZGI Entertainment).

At the same time, many Ukrainian artists basically do not participate in the ceremony. So, this year the event is ignored singer Svetlana Loboda. Producer Loboda Natella Krapivina in their Facebook wrote that "the organizers of the award Yuna do not lose hope for our coming." Last year, contest Krapivnina accused of bias. She said she did not understand "how the voting and decision-makers, and artists who are handing out this award."

Recall musical award YUNA - annual national award that celebrates the best figures of musical art. General producer of the Award, Paul Shilko.

glavcom.ua In Russian

unless a ransom is paid, according to FlashNord with reference to a comment of shipowner Bourbon Company.

"Reported that the hostages would be shot, if not followed by ransom," - said the employee, noting that "the ransom by terrorists has not yet been named."

Earlier it was reported that the hostage-taking of members of «Bourbon Liberty 251" crew support vessel the pirates demand ransom.

glavcom.ua In Russian

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has congratulated Ukrainian football club "Shakhtar" with the victory in the match with the German "Schalke."

"Our applause to you," Miner "! A brilliant game! ", - Said in a statement released to Poroshenko page in social networks on Thursday night.

As reported, on Thursday night Donetsk "Miner" beat on the road with the score 3: 0 German "Schalke" in the second leg of the 1/16 finals of the Europa League.

glavcom.ua In Russian

Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine filed a case against PAO KB "Privatbank". This is stated in the press service of the Committee.

The Antimonopoly Committee noted that appealed to the "Privatbank" with the requirement to provide information under the two "oil" investigations, but were refused.

"ACU sent demands to the" Privatbank "for information, including containing banking secrecy. However, "Prvatbank" refused to provide such information. In this regard, the Committee initiated a case ", - noted in the press-service.

In particular, the information requested in the investigation of the AMC, launched on the basis of fulfillment of PJSC "Ukrtatnafta", PJSC "SPC-Galicia", LLC "Galnafta", "TD" Prikarpattyanaftotreyd ", LLC" Kotlas "," Poligonal ", LLC" Garant -UTN "anticompetitive concerted actions distorted the sale of oil and gas condensate.

In addition, the AMC would receive from "Privatbank" information as part of the investigation on the same grounds with respect to LLC "Ukrgeoekologiya" and NPP "Ukrgazgeoavtomatika".

glavcom.ua In Russian

The prosecutor's office has enough evidence base to plunder the former head of the Ministry of taxes and fees Alexander Klimenko 616 million UAH. This was the TV channel «112.ua» said the prosecutor of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine Vladislav Kutsenko.

"We have all the data collected and sufficiently serious evidence base, which confirms the involvement of directly to Mr. Klimenko, the theft of USD UAH 616 million during his stay in the post of the head of the tax," - he said.

Kutsenko noted that the prosecutor's office has repeatedly stated that the court's delay the decision on the beginning of the conviction in absentia proceedings.

"Meanwhile, we will not stop. Believe me, we have a court decision will be thoroughly investigated. We'll see which way we act, but we will definitely start the investigation in absentia Klimenko, "- he promised.

glavcom.ua In Russian



Amended USD to UAH. Surprised google translate has not yet found a means to distinguish between currencies!

The draft resolution Russia and the United States in support of the ceasefire in Syria was circulated in the UN Security Council, according to "RIA Novosti" .

This was stated by Chairman of the Security Council, Permanent Representative of Venezuela to the UN, Rafael Ramirez. "We have received a draft resolution in support of the political process in Syria", - he said.

According to a joint statement of the United States and Russia on Syria, from 27 February should come ceasefire between the Syrian government forces and armed groups of the country's opposition.

glavcom.ua In Russian

The elections in the occupied part of Donbass are possible only if they are carrying out for the Ukrainian legislation, and in the presence of observers of the OSCE mission. On this broadcast , "Channel 5" said the representative of Ukraine in the political subgroup tripartite contact group Roman Immortal.

The diplomat assured that the other conditions does not recognize the will of the European Community.

We recall that on Thursday on elections in the occupied territories expressed the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkyavichus. According to him, now it is impossible to hold them in the Donbass, because there is no full Ukrainian government.

He also noted that while Russia does not recognize itself party to the conflict, to talk about the implementation of the Minsk agreements, it would be naive.

glavcom.ua In Russian

The representative of Ukraine in the political subgroup of the Trilateral contact group to resolve the situation in the Donbass Roman Immortal in "Channel 5" Air said that the truce in Syria - the case that Ukraine need to strain.

"This is the case (a truce in Syria - Ed), where Ukraine needs to exert. After all, even a cursory assessment suggests that this arrangement does not reach the result. If we can connect these kak-to agreement with the rebels, we can understand that the impact on government forces that have a segment that dominates in this confrontation - it LIH against which today do not have enough forces - neither in the USA nor in Russia, the more that Russia is opposed not only LIH as bombing the rebels. That's where the problem ", - he said.

According to Bezsmertny, activation of attacks in the east of Ukraine - this is another segment of the global conflict with Russia.

"It is obvious that there is a substitution of the game. As a result, it will exacerbate the debate over the situation in Ukraine. This means that the exchange of fire, which are now active on the boundary line in Ukraine - it is still one segment of this global conflict. It is obvious that we have no time to relax, "- said the representative of Ukraine in the political subgroup of the Trilateral contact group on the settlement of the situation in the Donbas.

glavcom.ua In Russian

The OSCE mission again recorded banned weapons in the occupied village of Peace. According to observers in their report, they saw 4 howitzer D-30 caliber 122 mm, which are prohibited by the Minsk Agreement.

mission representatives noted that the weapon is at a distance in accordance with the Minsk Agreement, however, is allocated to storage sites of weapons.

Earlier, the Special Representatives of the OSCE monitoring mission recorded 8 tanks in the district of Lugansk airport.

glavcom.ua In Russian