Ukraine crisis. News in brief. Thursday 31 March [Ukrainian sources]

THURSDAY

Please scroll down to view news items added during the day

News -
49 attacks on Ukrainians yesterday by Putin and his army.

Weather -
Warm. +8 now at 0930. High maybe of 14.
Forecast for the next week - steadily warmer. ))

http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2016/03/31/7103912/
8:58
Poland plans to demolish the 500 Soviet monuments
Thursday, March 31, 2016, 4:56
Polish Institute of National Remembrance will present a project to demolish more than 500 monuments of gratitude to the Soviet Union.
This writes the Polish portal onet.pl.
Soviet monuments, as the Institute of National Remembrance (INN), symbolizing the supremacy of the Communist system on Poland and must be destroyed. National Project IEF will be sent to local authorities in the coming weeks.
"Preservation of monuments is a consequence of incomplete transformations in Poland early 90's. It was a fatal mistake, which for many years provides fuel used in propaganda and provocation aimed against our country," - the president said the INN Lukasz Kaminski.
We are talking about more than 500 monuments thanks to the Soviet Union. Mostly they were built by the Red Army and was not a result of spontaneous action Poles....
====
Putin's actions - aggression - producing a reaction in Poland. Only to be expected.

http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2016/03/31/7103920/
9:05
Russia does not fulfill the ceasefire agreement and the situation in Ukraine at the Donbass recently deteriorated.
This was stated by the Foreign Minister of Great Britain Philip Hammond, reports Reuters.
"We took a step back in the past few months, recorded more and more violations of the ceasefire," - said Hammond.
International observers have warned of increased violence in Eastern Ukraine and the claim that the militants, supported by Russia, turned heavy weapons back on the front line.
Western powers also claim that there are satellite images, videos and other evidence that Russia supplies weapons to militants and that Russian troops involved in the conflict that erupted after the annexation of the Crimea in 2014.
"We must not forget that it was the invasion of the sovereign territory of Ukraine. Russia illegally annexed Crimea in international law. Russia is the aggressor in this conflict," - said Hammond.

http://www.unian.info/war/1305102-poroshenko-says-over-120-ukrainians-held-in-militant-captivity-about-800-mias.html
..."After months of negotiations, we still cannot get over 120 Ukrainians from captivity in Donbas," he said at the forum titled "Ukraine's Battle for Freedom Continues" in Washington on Thursday....
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800 MIA.
I think you can safely say that there are well over 10,000 dead, to date in Putin's Ukraine war.

http://www.unian.info/kiev/1304998-grenade-thrown-at-mp-parasyuks-car-late-on-wed.html
====
Posted also by Admin yesterday.
But interesting to ask "why"?
Member of Ukrop. Independent MP.
He participated in Euromaidan protests late in 2013 – early in 2014, where he was a sotnik (commander) of a self-defense group on Maidan and became famous for his ultimatum speech on February 21, 2014, against the then president Viktor Yanukovych.
He also participated in the Ukrainian-Russian war as a member of the Dnipro-1 volunteer battalion.

http://www.unian.info/politics/1305156-russias-new-tactics.html
Over the last two years, a number of microstates, mainly those located in the Pacific, have introduced a visa-free regime with Russia.
... Fiji canceled visas for Russians, ....A year ago, it was Vanuatu, microstate in Melanesia, ... And now Mauritius, ...
However, I will explain what has really been happening....
Given the fact that Moscow has been losing bad in the Ukrainian (as well as Syrian and Turkish) issue in the UN General Assembly, it resorted to a good old buying of votes, desperately searching for any allies and attempting to secure at least some smallest foreign policy victories....
But Sergey Lavrov’s clowns can at least try to make it appear as if they are improving the situation at the UN for Russia, ...
People from a grim high-rise building on Smolenskaya Square in Moscow are buying the votes of those UN member states which traditionally abstain on “Ukrainian” resolutions....

http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/334443.html
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That shows that the blockade is working.
The Opposition Block - a mouthpiece for Yanukovich - Putin.
The solution is simple. The Russian forces and terrorists withdraw from the occupied lands. And then things can return to normal.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/30/multimillion-pound-wedding-russia-sting-jlo-gutseriev
Russia’s economy is in recession as it languishes under western sanctions and low oil prices. Three million people fell into poverty last year.
But oligarch Mikhail Gutseriev didn’t seem to be feeling the pinch as he shelled out millions ...
The impoverished Ingushetia has the highest unemployment of any region in Russia, and media noted that the wedding probably cost more than the region’s planned expenditures this year on health care and education.
Many social media users were disgusted by the extravagance, with one uploading a video of the elder Gutseriev advising Russians to “start saving on everything”.
===
Russia today.

http://telegraf.com.ua/mir/europa/2376789-parlament-latvii-prizval-rf-osvobodit-savchenko-i-drugih-politzaklyuchennyih.html
====
Savchenko was unknown in the west before Putin kidnapped her.
Now - perhaps - one of the most famous illegally held prisoners in the world.

http://economics.lb.ua/state/2016/03/31/331632_mvf_virazil_bespokoystvo_otsrochkoy.html
====
As I understand it, the increase was delayed from April 01 to May 01.
Tymoshenko is calling for reduced prices. Populist move. But it wins votes, and that's what Tymoshenko is all about.

According to insiders, Tymoshenko-led Batlibshchyna is vying for a vice premier’s seat in a new cabinet, expert Taras Berezovets said March 30, UNN reports.

“The parties agreed that Batkivshchyna is to join the ruling coalition with People’s Front and BPP. As an experienced politician, Yulia Tymoshenko is raising her claims,” Berezovets said.

Tymoshenko is actually a king-maker, with her lawmakers letting the coalition to surpass the simple majority level.

There is a likely option, experts say that the two major parties, BPP and People’s Front, may change their mind and form the coalition without Batkivshchyna by inviting majority lawmakers to join them.

zik.ua

Ukrainian fighter Dmytro Hodzenko died in a mortar attack this morning.
As reported by Censor.NET, his son, journalist of 24 Channel Oleksii Hodzenko wrote on Facebook.

"My father, the legendary fighter of the 17th battalion "Godzilla" was killed this morning. An enemy shell hit the house with soldiers, killing Dmytro with one of its fragments. We'll never forget you and never forgive. Your smile will stay forever with us!" he wrote.



Later, the son of the deceased soldier addressed his fellow journalists lest they televise the death of his father. "His mother is 80 years old and she constantly watches TV. Please, do not cover this topic for at least two days. I ask for repost."

censor.net.ua   In Ukrainian/український

The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission observed a large number of cease-fire violations in the Yasynuvata-Avdiivka area of the Donetsk region.

The OSCE SMM made 27 patrols and recorded a large number of cease-fire violations in the Donetsk region, mostly in the Yasynuvata-Avdiivka area. OSCE press service told LІGA.net today, March 31, Censor.NET reports.

Unlike the previous days, the SMM did not record any cease-fire violations at night from their position in Donetsk.

Whilst stationary 3 km west of Yasynuvata, on March 28, from 10:45 a.m. to 2:55 p.m., the SMM heard 139 undetermined explosions, 125 bursts of heavy machine-gun and 300 single shots of small-arms fire 2-7 km south-west of its position.

Whilst in Avdiivka, the SMM recorded 52 bursts of automatic grenade launcher fire, seven volleys of recoilless anti-tank gun (SPG-9, 73-mm), two impacts of a mortar round, one tank burst, and intensive small arms and heavy machine gun fire at a distance of 2-8 km east-southeast of its position.

censor.net.ua   In Ukrainian/український

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) says it has captured a Ukrainian security officer who volunteered to spy for Moscow and will send him back because they believe he is a double agent.

In a statement quoted by Russian news agencies, the FSB, the main KGB successor agency, said the man, Yuri Ivanchenko, was detained on March 26.

The FSB said on March 31 that Ivanchenko traveled to Moscow to offer his services to the FSB. It claimed that the CIA had helped the Ukrainian security service prepare Ivanchenko for the mission aimed at eventually exposing his Russian contacts. It said Ivanchenko will be sent home.....

rferl.org

At the end of 2015 Russia was in the top 10 countries on the outflow of dollar millionaires. This is evidenced by an analytical report of the consulting company New World Wealth «Migration of millionaires in 2015".

In the last year of the Russian left around 2 thousand. Man, the state of which exceeds $ 1 million, bringing the total number of dollar millionaires fell by 2% in Russia. At the same time, the report notes the great economic potential of Russia, however, the outflow of the richest people in the compilers of the report is a concern.

The key problems in the New World Wealth called government intervention in business and a clear anti-American rhetoric of the authorities. These problems degrade the country's investment climate and make it difficult to attract foreign investment into the Russian market.

At the level of the outflow of millionaires Russia took the sixth place. "Leader" rating - France, which left 10 thousand dollar millionaires in 2015, and their total number dropped by 3%.. Analysts said a rise in religious tensions in the country, which determines the dynamics of the outcome of the millionaires of France, and this trend is New World Wealth is projected to continue in the coming years.

Second place went to China, which left nine thousand dollar millionaires, or 1% of the total, closes the top three Italy -. 6 thousand millionaires, or 2% of the total.. The top 5 also hit India (4 th. Millionaires) and Greece (3 thous.).

Brazil and Spain shared with Russia 6-8-th places.

The most common dollar millionaires moved to Australia in 2015, moved to 8 thousand millionaires in the United States -. 7 thousand in Canada -. 5 thousand.

glavcom.ua In Russian/русский

United States of America will provide Ukraine 55 million dollars for disposal of rocket fuel, according to the press-service of the State Space Agency of Ukraine.

It is reported that a working meeting of heads of Goskosmosa Lubomir Szabados with the Agency's Director management to reduce the US Defense Threat Elizabeth George.

The sides discussed the current status and issues of cooperation in the framework of the final phase of cooperation between Ukraine and the United States for the storage and disposal of solid rocket motor fuel missile RS-22, at the facilities of the Pavlograd chemical factory.

"Today, recycling is subject to 2707.5 tons of rocket fuel that is 55% of the total. The United States reaffirmed their readiness to provide financial assistance for the implementation of this program in the amount of $ 55 million before the end of 2018 "-. Said in a statement.

glavcom.ua In Russian/русский

Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov and his Finnish colleague Petteri DEWA agreed on cooperation of law enforcement agencies of both countries, said the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.

It is reported that during the meeting of Ministers of Internal Affairs of Ukraine and Finland signed a joint statement on cooperation of law enforcement agencies.

Petteri DEWA said that Finland is ready to provide assistance to Ukraine in the process of European integration and in the conduct of the law enforcement system reform in particular.

"We are very satisfied with the visit and the level of discussion started with your experts. We offer cooperation in the fields of internal security and border management, "- said DEWA.

He also stressed that reforms in the Ukrainian police require a lot of time and effort.

The representative of the Finnish police Kauko Aaltomaa noted that the process of reforming the Finnish police began immediately after the end of World War II and continues to constantly: just passed three reform over the past six years.

DEWA said that in Ukraine the law enforcement system reform will continue for many years.

glavcom.ua In Russian/русский

The well-known Russian journalist Dmitry Tsilikin was found dead in his apartment in St. Petersburg, reports "Fontanka".

According to preliminary information, he died from stab wounds received more than two days ago. The last time Dmitry Tsilikin get in touch with family and friends at the end of last week, when he returned from a business trip to Riga. Concerned relatives began his active search for the lost and found, the report said.

At the crime scene work employees of criminal investigation department of the Kalinin district of St. Petersburg. At the time of the death of the journalist he was 54 years old.

It is reported that Tsilikin LGITMiK graduated from 1982 to 1990, served as an actor in the theater named after Akimov Comedy. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, he took up journalism, and published in the newspaper "Rush Hour." There, he worked his way up from a correspondent, "Culture and Society" block editor. Parallel Tsilikin worked in television. In particular, he was the author and presenter of programs on RTR, Channel Five and the radio station "Echo of Petersburg". In the 2000s, Dmitry Tsilikin published in a large number of newspapers and magazines: "Vedomosti", "Kommersant», Vogue, Elle, «Expert", "Profile", "DP".

glavcom.ua In Russian/русский

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will meet with President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko April 1 at the summit on nuclear security fields, which will be held in Washington.

"The Secretary-General is going to discuss with the President Poroshenko situation in Ukraine", - the official representative of the secretary general Stefan Dyuzharrik said.

The Secretary General also plans to hold a bilateral meeting with French President Francois Hollande and attend a working dinner, which hosts US President Barack Obama.

glavcom.ua In Russian/русский

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko in Washington met with representatives of leading American military industry companies involved in the supply of goods and services for military purposes in Ukraine.

The President expressed his gratitude to those present at the meeting for their important contribution to the American side in Ukraine's defense capability strengthening. He stressed the need to strengthen bilateral cooperation to curb the ongoing armed aggression against Ukraine at the Donbass.

The Head of State noted opportunities for synergies between the Ukrainian military-industrial complex enterprises and the United States for a variety of promising areas, including in the framework of cooperation in matters of production of weapons and equipment, attracting US technologies and investments in joint projects in Ukraine.

glavcom.ua In Russian/русский

If the parties do not reach an agreement on quotas for permits for 2016, road transport of goods between Russia and Poland may temporarily stop after the 15th of April, he said the deputy head of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation Nikolai Asaul, reports "RIA Novosti" .

"The debate continues, there remains the likelihood that we do not reach a mutually satisfactory solution, and transportation may be temporarily suspended. This possibility can not be ruled out after April 15 if there is no agreement on a new quota ", - he said.

At the same time, he noted that the representatives of the Polish side left notes on how they will work in the new legislation in 2016.

It was reported earlier that Russia does not intend to meet Poland in the forthcoming on this week's negotiations on the issue of permits for cargo trucking.

glavcom.ua In Russian/русский

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with American entrepreneur of Chinese origin and the former wife of media mogul Rupert Murdoch Wendi Deng, wrote on Thursday, March 31 American celebrity magazine US Weekly. The publication notes that it is a rumor reported by the TV channel "Rain" .

The magazine writes that information about Putin's novel and Deng for several years. A source "close to the influential leader", said the relationship "serious".

According to the magazine, Deng was spotted aboard a yacht on the island of Saint-Barthélemy with businessman Roman Abramovich March 28.

Murdoch divorced Deng, which was married 14 years, in June 2013 after rumors of her affair with the former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. The politician has denied a relationship with her.

In February 2016, Murdoch married for the fourth time on the former model Jerry Hall, which is about 20 years, met with the lead singer of The Rolling Stones Mick Jagger.

In May 2015 the Swiss tabloid Blick wrote (also noting that this is speculation) that Putin could be accompanied by an athlete and a State Duma deputy Alina Kabaeva, who traveled to Switzerland to give birth. Publication said that she was born a child "may be the third joint child Putin and Kabaeva."

A spokesman for the Russian president, Dmitry Peskov, said then that the information is untrue.

Vladimir and Lyudmila Putin announced the divorce in 2013. In January 2016 it was announced that the former president's wife married Arthur Ocheretny, who heads the Center for Development of Interpersonal Communications.

US Weekly magazine was founded in 1977 by New York Times Company, in 1980 it was sold Macfadden Media. In 1986 it was acquired by Straight Arrow Publishers Inc., now known as Wenner Media LLC. Wenner Media also publishes magazines Rolling Stone and Men's Journal. The magazine is published once a month and in writing about the relationship of celebrities, fashion and entertainment.

glavcom.ua/ In Russian/русский