Ukraine crisis. News in brief. Friday 01 April [Ukrainian sources]

FRIDAY

Please scroll down to view news items added during the day

News -
A further escalation in the war from Putin. 77 attacks by the Russians on Ukraine yesterday.
Sadly reports of one soldier killed (Zeitzev), and eight wounded. (most in Adeevka area)

Weather -
Amazing. +10 at 0800. High maybe of 20 today - but it will be a one-off.
But in the teens next week. Ok. Light sun after overnight rain now.
Update at 1300. hazy sunshine, +20. Looking out of my window I see a babushka wrapped up in a warm coat, and headscarf.
One would think it is -20, not +20... Old habits die hard. The warmest winter ever in Ukraine - my opinion. Spring is here for sure now.

Poro in the USA -
Two things I noted - the connection of loan guarantees with the "formation of a new government", and "cooperation with the IMF".
See below for more details from Pres website.

http://www.epravda.com.ua/news/2016/04/1/587719/
Німецька Lufthansa відновила польоти з Мюнхена до Одеси
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Don't ask me why, but the photo seems to be of an Austrian airlines plane!
April 01 joke?! Flights started yesterday.

http://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/ukrayina-ta-ssha-rozvinut-strategichne-partnerstvo-zustrich-36934
.....The Heads of State discussed the situation in Donbas and Crimea. They also coordinated efforts aimed at full implementation of the Minsk agreements by Russia.
The two Presidents discussed the development of strategic partnership between Ukraine and USA.
Particular attention was paid to the necessity of prompt formation of reform-oriented coalition and government in Ukraine.
President Obama confirmed willingness to provide the third tranche of loan guarantees in the amount of USD 1 billion upon completion of the formation of a new government in Ukraine....

from President's website. www.president.gov.ua



Not a lot of people get greeted by the Vice Pres and Foreign Sec at the same time!



Holodomor memorial

http://en.censor.net.ua/news/382130/new_coalition_not_to_be_formed_this_week_hroisman_says
..."Negotiations on creation of coalition of Petro Poroshenko Bloc (PPB), People's Front, and Batkivshchyna factions, as well as principles able to unite these factions into a coalition are now underway. Obviously, it is not going to happen this week. But I would like to stress that it is critical not just to form a coalition, to form a government, it is necessary to define the principles against which the coalition will operate, new government will be formed, what program will be adopted under the coalition agreement. ...
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1 billion dollar loan.
How much of this will Tymoshenko want in order to join a coalition?
From what I have been told, she is not short of money for her Presidential campaign.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/01/opinion/ukraines-unyielding-corruption.html?_r=0
....Mr. Poroshenko cannot simply allow one of Mr. Shokin’s cronies to slide into the ousted official’s tainted seat. He should immediately reinstate Mr. Sakvarelidze and begin a broad public discussion on the choice for the next prosecutor general, making clear that his mandate will be a thorough reform, and that the government will be fully behind it.
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Very much "opinion" section of the NYT.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-capitalism-propertymanager-idUSKCN0WX1MU?utm_source=twitter
A little-known Russian businessman from St Petersburg has provided properties to multiple women who share one common theme: President Vladimir Putin.
One of the women is Putin's younger daughter; two are close relatives of a woman Russian media have reported to be Putin's girlfriend – though the president has strongly denied any relationship.  And a fourth is a student who posed for a calendar celebrating the president's birthday. All of the properties are in upmarket gated complexes in and around Moscow.
Public records show Grigory Baevsky, a 47-year-old business associate of an old friend of Putin, sold or transferred the properties to three of the women. ...

Public records show that companies co-owned by Baevsky have benefited from state construction contracts worth at least 6 billion rubles ($89 million) in the past two years.
Baevsky has previously attracted little attention. His connection to Putin was uncovered by investigative journalist Roman Anin who was conducting research for the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project
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Corruption, Russian style. Some clear facts, unlike the mud-slinging games in Ukraine.

http://ru.slovoidilo.ua/2016/04/01/karta/karta-ato-situaciya-na-vostoke-ukrainy-na-1-aprelya

A lot of fighting north of Donetsk. Putin clearly trying to push further into Ukraine.

www.bloomberg.com/energy/
1 minute ago
Crude Oil & Natural Gas
INDEX UNITS PRICE CHANGE %CHANGE CONTRACT TIME (EDT) 2 DAY
WTI Crude Oil (Nymex)
USD/bbl. 38.23 -0.11 -0.29% May 2016 5:09 AM
Brent Crude (ICE)
USD/bbl. 40.25 -0.08 -0.20% Jun 2016 5:09 AM
Natural Gas (Nymex)
USD/MMBtu 1.96 0.00 0.00% May 2016 5:09 AM

www.xe.com
Hryvnia steady at 26 to a dollar, near 30 to a euro, and 37 to a pound.
Euro quite a bit stronger today against the dollar. Don't ask me why.
Hryvnia for one dollar / one euro / one pound
Inverse: 26.0250 29.6710 37.2940

12:40
At night in the area ATO 1 soldier killed, 8 injured - Staff
http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2016/04/1/7104092/
...Lysenko said that one soldier was killed in Zaitsev, three more were wounded there. Also, five injured in military Avdiyivka, which remains the hottest point of the zone ATO...

http://en.censor.net.ua/video_news/381867/i_have_to_leave_by_april_15_as_long_as_military_ticket_is_for_free_i_will_call_you_in_cheliabinsk_russian
....In the middle of the talk the militant says that he needs to leave by April 15, otherwise he would not be able to get a free military ticket. Under Russian legislation, such tickets are only funded from the budget of the Defense Ministry, Interior Ministry, or State Emergency Service.



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Everybody knows now that the war in Ukraine is totally funded and supported on the terrorist side by Russia.
This is just one more small piece of evidence countering the lies of Putin, Lavrov, Cherkin, and the others guilty of the murder of thousands upon thousands of Ukrainian people.

http://crime-ua.com/node/14748
14:27
Drunk insurgent threw a grenade at residents of the occupation. There are injured (Crime)
In occupied Sverdlovsk of Luhansk region drunken gunman threw a grenade into a group of local residents.
This was on his Facebook page said the coordinator of the group "Information Resistance" MP Dmitry Tymchuk.
"In Sverdlovsk, on behalf of the leadership" of the 2nd AK LC "conducted an investigation into the throw grenades at civilians militant from the" 4th omsbr "- wrote Tymchuk.
According to him, in a grenade attack by the actions of militant six people were injured, two of them - serious.
"Gunman was in a state of alcoholic intoxication," - said the coordinator of the IP group.

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Humanitarian aid from Putin.
Guess what - this article was written by Shaun Walker. April Fools )))

http://www.eurointegration.com.ua/news/2016/04/1/7047150/

For opponents of the Association Agreement between the EU and Ukraine in the Netherlands, non-party activists GeenStijl, is Russian promoter Sergei Marhel.

This is stated in the article "European truth" , "Ukraine, we care less" - a report about the last days of campaigning in the Netherlands " .

In particular, before Marhel was often involved in the activities of Russian embassies in EU countries.

Currently, he is involved in activities arranged by the campaign against the Ukrainian Association in the Netherlands, using the badge organizer.

As noted in an article on this kind of events sounds a lot theses Russian propaganda, particularly that Ukraine integrate into the EU against her will, the "revolution" time of the Maidan, the need to respect Russia's interests, and that stopped the deal Association of Ukraine, Netherlands "save the EU from the wrath of Putin."

Also stresses the participation in events Pole Tomasz Matseycheka which Ukrainian community in the Netherlands called "Russian embassy staff provocateur." Matseychek goes from one to another panel discussion called journalist (though refused to mention the media) and accuses Ukraine to Russian oppression and dissent.

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Various people connected with the Russian embassies around the EU.

http://www.rferl.org/content/daily-vertical-news-flash-truth-on-russian-tv/27648215.html



....Appearing on a talk show on Channel One earlier this week, liberal politician Leonid Gozman said some remarkable things.
He said Russia was responsible for a war in eastern Ukraine that has killed more than 8,000 people and as a citizen of the Russian Federation, he bears responsibility for this.
He emphatically called on Vladimir Putin to release Ukrainian military pilot Nadia Savchenko.
And he appealed to Ukrainians, saying that all Russians do not support the "barbarism and cruelty" that Moscow has unleashed on their country.
Bravo.
Now Gozman, of course, was quickly shouted down by the host and other guests -- which is something of a metaphor for anybody expressing dissenting views in Russia today.
But his voice was heard....
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He's unlikely ever to appear on tv again in Russia whilst Putin's dictatorship lasts.

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/russian-bear-looms-over-dutch-voting-booth/564068.html
...."The image of Ukraine sketched by Putin is a twisted version of reality, but a large group of Dutch people see it as true," says Dutch politician Verhoeven.
"In that sense, the Kremlin has already reached its goal. Russia's spin-doctors can watch the referendum play out from their armchairs."
====
Soon we will really know how many idiots there are in Holland.

Commander of U.S. European Command Gen. Philip Breedlove said in the Latvian capital Riga Thursday, March 31, Censor.NET reports citing Defense News.

The United States and NATO are switching their defense policy from "assurance" to "deterrence" in Eastern Europe, this is how the top U.S. general commented on Pentagon's intentions to deploy an additional 4,200-strong armored brigade in Eastern Europe in 2017.

According to Breedlove, such actions come as response to Russia's foreign policy in the region.

"To the east and north we face a resurgent and aggressive Russia, and as we have continued to witness these last two years, Russia continues to seek to extend its influence on its periphery and beyond," he said.

As reported, the American armored brigade will be stationed alternately in Eastern European member states of the Alliance. Defense ministers of Latvia and Lithuania welcomed the decision, while Russia threatened with asymmetric actions in response.

censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

A Ukrainian delegation of religious leaders visited the Netherlands with a view toward promotion of Ukraine on the eve of a consultative referendum in the Netherlands on the approval of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU, reports the Institute of Religious Freedom.

On Tuesday, March 29, the meeting was held with the members of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affair of Senate of the Netherlands. Then Ukrainian religious leaders held a press conference.

Later, the Ukrainian delegation met with Ambassador of the Netherlands on Human Rights Case Van Baar and staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands.

In their speeches, the religious leaders of Ukraine stressed that after receiving the coveted independence in 1991, Ukraine has chosen a democratic path of development and the course of European integration. And it is not merely a political choice, but the choice of the Ukrainian people, which proved their desire to live in a country with high standards of human rights, the real guarantee of civil liberties, without corruption and dictatorship through their audacious civic position and self-sacrifice in the Revolution of Dignity (December 2013 - February 2014).

The meeting participants noted that against the backdrop of Russian hybrid war against the West, Ukraine had become and outpost of European democratic values, restraining the imperial ambitions of the aggressor. Ukrainian people paid a high price for their freedom, dignity and national sovereignty, which clearly testifies to the sincerity and the potential of its aspirations to build good relations with the Netherlands and other countries in the united Europe.....

ukrainebusiness.com.ua

By Bruce Vielmetti for the Wisconsin Journal-Sentinel, Milwaukee

A couple who fled Ukraine 21 years ago found a lot of what they were looking for in the United States — religious freedom, security, business opportunity, good schools and a comfortable life in Bayside.

Now, they have also experienced U.S. justice, sentenced to consecutive federal prison terms for their parts in an identity theft and tax fraud scheme that funneled more than a $1 million in bogus tax returns back to their native country.

Vladimir Sonin, 50, was sentenced Thursday to nearly five years in federal prison for his role in the international scam. He will start his sentence in May, and when he gets out of prison, his wife, Natalya Sonina, 47, will begin serving a 39 month prison term.

The couple is also responsible for about $308,000 in restitution.

U.S. Distict Judge J.P. Stadtmueller granted the sequential sentences to allow Sonina to continue raising the couple's four children.

Husband and wife will each serve three years of supervised release after they leave prison......

ukrainebusiness.com.ua

"According to Joseph Biden, the formation of a new government, oriented on reforms and cooperation with the IMF, opens possibilities for providing the third loan guarantee of $1 billion, as well as for assistance of other international financial institutions," Poroshenko's press service said.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was present at the Poroshenko-Biden meeting.

The parties discussed recent developments in Donbas in the context of Russian aggression. The parties agreed that Russia needs to meet security-related conditions to implement the political provisions of the Minsk agreements.

Biden also announced a U.S. decision to provide additional $335 million for reforms of the security sector of Ukraine, in particular of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard of Ukraine and the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.

Poroshenko and Biden also talked about possibilities of deploying an international security mission in Donbas.

The parties stressed the necessity of releasing Nadia Savchenko and urgent access of doctors to her.

They also agreed on the necessity for the sanctions against Russia to be continued until Moscow fully implements the Minsk agreements. They also discussed ways of greater engagement of the U.S. in the Minsk peace process..........

interfax.com.ua

A Ukrainian governmental delegation and over a dozen defense companies showcasing new programs are now at Defexpo, Defense News wrote.

"We are here now [in] India for the long term to manage Soviet-era headaches, which India cannot manage alone," said Perto Fedoruk, chief adviser to Ukraine's largest defense industry consortium, Ukroboronprom.

"For nearly a decade Russia has forcefully blocked our entry," Fedoruk said.

"We have offered multiple solutions to give new life to Soviet-era weaponry [with Indian defense forces], as we are the original equipment manufacturer," he said.

According to a Ukrainian diplomat, "India cannot resolve the headaches of overloaded Soviet-era platforms without Ukraine."

"India has now permitted us to participate in defense programs independently, and we are offering a new solution to manage and refit the Soviet-era aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov [renamed as INS Vikramaditya], which is 50% cheaper than the Russian offer," said Mykola Gordienko, head of Ukroboronprom naval projects.

The Indian Navy is evaluating a proposal by Ukraine for overhaul and maintenance of gas turbines used in Delhi-class warships and the carrier Admiral Gorshkov.

The Ukroboronprom deputy director general of strategy, Artur Kheruvymov, said India plans to organize a "joint military technical commission for providing service support for Soviet-era weaponry."

"In addition, the two countries are also planning to form joint ventures in India for upgrading and overhaul and manufacture of spares for Soviet-built air defense systems, including the Kvadrat, OSA-AKM Strela-1, Tunguska, Shilka, portable IGLA and Strela-2 systems," Kheruvymov said.

Ukraine is doing more than $100 million in annual defense business with India, and aims to increase it to $500 million in the next three years, he said...................

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

The Foreign Ministry of Ukraine has condemned the arrival on March 30, 2016, of a group of Greek businessmen led by a member of the Council on tourism development of the municipality of Corinth, Georgios Iosifidis, in the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea and Sevastopol.

In a comment posted on the website of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, the agency points out that the visit has not been agreed with the Ukrainian side and was carried out in violation of the Ukrainian law.

"We consider such a trip of Greek citizens as a sign of disrespect of the state sovereignty of Ukraine, as an intentional neglect of the Ukrainian law and policies of Greece and the European Union concerning the non-recognition of the illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol," the statement reads.

In this regard, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry again called on all foreign citizens to adhere to the Ukrainian law and the rules of entry into the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine and exit from it. Kyiv will respond to any violations of these rules, the ministry said........

interfax.com.ua

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko met with the Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon. It is reported by the press service of the head of state.

Poroshenko stressed that the current nuclear security summit comes amid unprecedented violations that destroy the international security system and jeopardize the nuclear non-proliferation. Russia's aggression against Ukraine, the threat of the deployment of nuclear weapons in the Ukrainian Crimea directly contradict not only the Budapest Memorandum, but also violate the basic principles of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of nuclear weapons, he said.

"Ukraine renounced the third largest nuclear arsenal, but did not receive protection from Russian aggression," - Poroshenko said.

The sides discussed the issues of attracting more instruments and institutions of the UN system to stop the Russian aggression, including the deployment of an international security mission in Donbass.

UN Secretary General praised the active position of Ukraine as a non-permanent UN Security Council member.

Ukrainian President invited the management of the UN Secretariat to take part in activities in connection with the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster.

glavcom.ua In Russian/русский

On Friday, April 1 at 22:30 in Odesa in the residential area of ​​"Rainbow", 1 in the parking lot there was an explosion.

Unknown persons planted an explosive device under one of the cars, according Gromadska.

According to eyewitnesses from the parking ran two guys, and after about 2 minutes, an explosion occurred.

Arrived on the scene, rescuers and police said. From the parking belching smoke.

Who owns the car is still unknown.

obozrevatel.com In Russian/русский

On the night of April 1 in Donetsk, terrorists killed the director of the Center of Slavic Culture, composer and poet Nikolai Prysyazhnyuk.

This was reported on his Facebook page the deputy chief editor of "Shishkin Les" Elena Reznikov.

"At night, some evil, broke into his house in search of profit, reduced his days. He died a martyr's death. And the ongoing war on the Donetsk land leaves no chance to say goodbye to him ... Rest in peace, Nikolai!" - She wrote.

The so-called "police DNI" reported that the man found with his mistress with signs of violent death. A woman was also killed.

Mykola Prysyazhnyuk was born on the territory of present Ivano-Frankivsk region in 1961 and was repeatedly winner of national and international competitions.

obozrevatel.com In Russian/русский

Russia is no longer among the top three trading partners of the European Union.

Relevant data unveiled Eurostat.

It is reported that the volume of EU bilateral trade with Russia in 2015 amounted to 209.6 billion euros, which is 26% less than in 2014.

Thus, the trade turnover between the two fell to the values ​​of 2009, when Russia and the EU trade with each other at the level of 185 billion euros.

In the European Union's trading partners in 2015, the Russian Federation for the first time has given way to third place in Switzerland, where the turnover reached 253 billion euros. In first place is the USA (619 billion euros), the second - China (521 billion euros).

Despite this, the European Union remained the leading trading partner for the Russian Federation. Trade between Russia and the European Union began to fall even before the worsening of relations and the use of bilateral sanctions.

obozrevatel.com/ In Russian/русский

According to Ukraine army intelligence, 13 Russian servicemen were wounded in fighting on March 31 near Avdijyvka.

Nine of them belong to the 3rd Brigade (Horlivka) and 4 to the infantry brigade deployed in Donetsk, the army says.

Ukraine’s losses for the entire Donbas region amount to 9 servicemen wounded and one killed.

zik.ua

Ukraine conducts active negotiations with international partners regarding the placement of the Donbas armed OSCE police mission. The President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko said at a press conference in Washington, reports "Interfax-Ukraine" .

"One of the most likely and acceptable solution to this problem is the international component of security in the form of armed police of the OSCE mission. For this, we definitely need the OSCE decision, the extension of the mandate, and we are now effectively conduct negotiations with our parterres, in order to ensure the safety component "- quoted Poroshenko agency.

He stressed that Ukraine insists on the full implementation of the Minsk agreements.

"It is the firm position of Ukraine that, for the implementation of the Minsk agreements in full you must provide a security component. This safety component includes the fact that we must ensure that the cease-fire, effective removal of the arms monitoring regime and to ensure effective control of the uncontrolled portion of the Ukrainian-Russian border, "- said the president.

Poroshenko also noted that the police mission will be able to ensure security in the region to hold the elections in the Donbas on the basis of Ukrainian legislation.

glavcom.ua In Russian/русский

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko called for consultation with international partners regarding the threat of Russian deployment of nuclear weapons in the occupied Crimea. He said this at a Washington press conference, reports "Interfax-Ukraine" .

"We are confident that these consultations should be carried out in order to avoid the deployment of nuclear weapons", - quotes the president of the agency.

The Head of State expressed concern about the risks of RF placing nuclear weapons on the peninsula, "because according to the rules of international law, Ukraine is solely responsible for the deployment of nuclear weapons on its territory of elements."

"Since Crimea is Ukrainian territory, we are very concerned about the possible deployment of, and in accordance with the information of our intelligence, it plans to make the Russian Federation. We require very coherent and effective steps the international community to prevent drastic deterioration of the security situation in the Black Sea region through the placement in the Crimea nuclear weapons ", - said Poroshenko.

glavcom.ua In Russian/русский

Polish Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz believes that the presence of US troops in Poland would help to improve relations with Russia on a "stronger than you are, the more friends you have." The head of the Defense Ministry of Poland said on Friday, April 1 during a visit to the training ground in Drawsko Pomorskie, will host military exercises of NATO troops in June and allied countries "Anaconda."

Defense Minister said that the US Department of Defense has promised to send to the Central and Eastern Europe 4 thousand. Soldiers and about 2 thousand. Units of vehicles.

"The American team will be deployed in all of Central and Eastern Europe, not only in Poland" - said Antoni Macierewicz.

Scheduled for June maneuvers will become the largest military exercise in Poland since 1989. They will be attended by almost 30 thousand. Soldiers from NATO and allied countries. Defence Minister explained that these teachings - a large-scale military project, which will have a huge impact on the situation in Europe.

"Poland and the eastern flank of the country can feel safe thanks to the participation and membership in the largest and most powerful defense alliance of the world", - he stressed.

Training exercises are held with one hand on the eve of the NATO summit, and on the other - as a consequence of the US government's decision to strengthen the eastern flank of NATO. This decision is one of the most important decisions to prevent and stop potential threats to Poland.

"That is the purpose of these maneuvers - to stop any opponent and show the options available to the allies" - said Antoni Macierewicz.

glavcom.ua In Russian/русский