Ukraine crisis. News in brief. Thursday 28 April [Ukrainian sources]

THURSDAY

Please scroll down to view news items added during the day

News -
29 attacks by Russian forces yesterday. One Ukrainian soldier wounded.
Vera Savchenko, sister of Nadia, supposedly to be allowed to leave Russia after being detained at the border (Rostov).
See 16 posts' down.

Weather -
A beautiful day. Blue sky. Sunshine. 14 at 09.00 hrs. High maybe of 19. 20 would be nice))

Footie -
Europa league semis today - first leg.
Shakhtar v Sevilla // Villareal v Lpool.
Very difficult game for Shakhtar. In my opinion, Sevilla are the strongest team left in the last 4.

Nuland -
created big waves in Ukraine yesterday. Supposedly she called for elections in the Donbass by July. And an amnesty for all terrorists.
When this was reported on Ukrainian tv my friends launched abuse at her on the tv, calling her a Putin agent.
She has since denied that she made the remarks. Nuland. Some US official for Europe.

5:49
http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2016/04/28/7106992/
====
Most of the oil and gas deposits in Ukraine are located in this area, south of Kharkiv, and in Poltava - by memory.
Amazingly, I was looking at a large detailed chart of this on an office wall in Kiev on Monday.
Very minor deposits in the west. Ivano-Frankivsk area.
But all fields are fairly small - but - every bit helps.

9:38
http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2016/04/28/7107003/
May 2 in Odessa, where two years ago there was a tragedy in the House of trade unions are preparing provocation.
This was stated by Advisor to the Chairman of the SBU Yuri Tandit in the air "on Channel 5."
"Drive 2 May 2014 using provocateurs who try actually compromising power and doing their best to some events of May 2, the day of the tragic events of 2014, all the same place," - he said.
"But we will do everything so that the city could live peacefully", - assured Tandit.

http://www.unian.info/politics/1332666-vira-savchenko-not-allowed-to-return-to-ukraine-at-ukraines-consulate-now.html
Ukrainian diplomat, permanent representative of Ukraine to the Council of Europe Dmytro Kuleba reports that Russian authorities have not let Vira Savchenko, the sister of Ukrainian pilot Nadia Savchenko, who is imprisoned in Russia, return to Ukraine after they attempted to detain her at the checkpoint of Chertkovo in Russia, Rostov region...
The Russian border guards claim that Vira Savchenko is wanted by the Russian police for insulting of a Chechen judge in the case of Ukrainian citizens Mykola Karpiuk and Stanislav Klykh.
=====
Putin is completely losing his marbles. North Korea - beckons closer and closer.

10:27
http://zn.ua/UKRAINE/mid-predupredil-ukraincev-ob-opasnostyah-poezdok-v-rf-212008_.html
...the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine. Foreign Ministry recommends citizens of Ukraine to carefully weigh the need to travel to Russia ...
====

I would reinforce this. And add that the same applies to any foreigners, whatever your passport, but particularly if you are from western Europe, Australia, Turkey or the USA.

http://www.unian.info/society/1332711-nearly-300-azov-troops-deployed-in-odesa-ahead-of-may-holidays-photos.html#ad-image-0
...."Indeed, one of the rapid response units of our regiment was deployed in Odessa. They arrived for exercises on the detection and neutralization of hostile, subversive and terrorist groups," Azov speaker Andriy Diachenko has told 112 Ukraine TV channel.....
====
Looks like they are expecting trouble from Putin's agents in Odessa.
Putin is still looking to start trouble there - as in the Donbass - and get his military corridor to Crimea and beyond, maybe to Transdniestr.

More photos at above link

http://www.unian.info/society/1332850-foreign-tv-host-schuster-can-go-back-on-air-ukraine-suspends-employment-ban.html
====
All excellent publicity for Schuster, who feeds off publicity.
My personal opinion - he is preparing to enter politics. Alongside Tymoshenko. But I don't have any inside info on this from Batkivshina.

http://www.interfax.com/newsinf.asp?id=670365
KYIV. April 28 (Interfax) - Over half of Ukrainians feel negative about the special status of Donbas, according to a poll conducted by the Razumkov Center's sociological service in March.
Judging by the poll results that were published on Thursday, 56.4% of the respondents 'do not support the special status of Donbas', 23.8% of the respondents 'back it', and 19.8% are 'undecided'....
According to the poll, a relative majority of respondents 'do not want an amnesty' for all members of the separatist movements, who have not committed serious felonies (42.3%); the idea is supported of 31.2% of respondents, and the rest are 'unable to answer the question'. ...
====
[Please note - this is the Russian, not Ukrainian interfax site (in English).]
This is going to be a serious political problem in the coming months.
The war against Russia has dragged on and on. And people's attitudes towards Russia and Russians is hardening by the day. Understandably so, as the death toll mounts.

http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/economic/340610.html
Ukrainian and Belarusian aviation authorities have reached an agreement to increase frequency of flights on the Kyiv-Minsk route to 11 flights a day for each side....
====
Of course, now the main alternative route to Moscow, given that there are no direct flights between Kiev and the occupiers' capital.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-ukraine-crisis-france-idUKKCN0XP1C7
....Former president Nicolas Sarkozy's Republicans party, as well as centre-right and far-left groups voted for lifting the sanctions. The Socialists and Greens voted against the resolution put forward by conservative lawmaker Thierry Mariani.
"(The sanctions are) totally ineffective today to solve this international crisis and are dangerous for France's interests," Mariani, who represents French residents in eastern Europe and Russia, said....
====
Boycott French goods. And don't visit there either.
Bizarre how the far-left (communists) and far-right (fascists) unite in support of Putin.

http://www.rferl.org/content/russia-public-property-records-elite-vanish/27701919.html
....Kremlin foes, journalists, and anticorruption activists in recent months have uncovered evidence that entries in the official federal real-estate database have been quietly edited, in some cases obscuring ownership of expensive properties thought to be controlled by members of Russia's political elite.
Moreover, the Russian intelligence community is pushing draft legislation that would curb access to personal information in public real-estate records, thus shielding these details from inquisitive journalists and the broader public.....
====
One mega corrupt empire, Putin's Russia.

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/human-rights-event-attacked-in-moscow/567483.html
....“Memorial was holding a very important event at Dom Kino in central Moscow, but the guests and the participants were attacked by a group of aggressive protesters who threw green disinfectant and ammonia at them as they tried to enter the building,” Zhemkova said.
The protests in front of the Dom Kino building were organized by the People's Liberation Front nationalist movement (NOD), local media sources reported.
Roughly 20 NOD activists congregated outside Dom Kino, holding banners reading “we don't need alternative history,” and shouting “fascists.”
Among those attacked was acclaimed Russian novelist Lyudmila Ulitskaya. The writer, who headed the jury at the competition, was sprayed in the face with green disinfectant.
A number of international guests were also present, including the German ambassador to Russia ...
Police arriving on the scene said that the protest was a one-man picket and took no action.....
=====
Surprised the French didn't join in the attack. Or the Greek fascists. They could shout "fascists" at the human rights people. Fascists accusing people of being fascists.
Only in today's Russia.

16:05
https://charter97.org/ru/news/2016/4/28/201815/
...Charter97.org reported via the Directorate of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine.
Reported ordinary facts of supplies from the territory of Russian arms and military equipment, fuel and lubricants. Gains in Human Settlements:
Ilovaysk - echelon with military equipment (three tanks, two 122-mm MLRS "Grad", two self-propelled guns) and diesel fuel (350 tons);
Khartsyzsk - echelon with military equipment (eight T-72 tanks, four BMP-2, four BMD-2, six 122 mm howitzer D-30);
Novoazovsk - two armored personnel carriers, two trucks, three tanker;
Krasnodon - three trucks, three tankers ...
====
Putin turning the Donbass into a Russian military base. Transdniestr. Another wasteland created by Putin.

http://112.international/politics/russian-authorities-let-vira-savchenko-leave-russia-4432.html
The decision to restrict Vira Savchenko’s exit from Russia was cancelled, due to putting her on the federal wanted list; she will be able to leave the country by the end of the day, TASS reports.   ...

====
please note - here - Russian news source

Source: decision to restrict exit from the Russian Vera Savchenko canceled
Policy on April 28 14:36 update date: April 28, 15:06 UTC + 3
In the next few hours she would be able to leave Russia...
http://tass.ru/politika/3247313

Ukraine's Defense Intelligence has published another proof of Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine - a recording of phone talk between Maj. Gen. of the Russian Armed Forces Gurulev and Maj. Gen. of the Russian Armed Forces Kuzovlev. Attention! Profane language!

As reported by Censor.NET, the military discuss issues related to deployment of Russia's army corps in the occupied Donbas. The conversation took place on Nov. 1, 2014.

According to the Defense Intelligence, the deployment of these units started in November 2014. The formation of Russia's occupation forces in the territory of the self-styled "DPR" and "LPR" was carried out on the basis of battalion tactical groups of the Russian Armed Forces and disparate illegal armed groups controlled by GRU and FSB officers.

censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

AUDIO: There's an audio at the link above which has many words bleeped out, if you know the language.

Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) has published more evidence of participation of Russian citizens in the armed conflict in the Donbas on the side of pro-Russian terrorists.

As reported by Censor.NET citing the SBU' Facebook page, Alexander Bekish, Russian citizen born in 1980, served in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation between 2000 and 2006 and fought in combat activities in the Chechen republic. In April 2015 he joined 'Oktava' terrorist gang. In late 2015 he became the senior sergeant of the "intelligence office of the republican guard" of the "Donetsk People's Republic."

SBU also obtained evidence of participation of other Russian citizens in combat activities on the side of pro-Russian terrorists - Andrey Smychkov and Sergey Obezyuk.



Documents at this link: censor.net.ua In Russian/русский

At the meeting with leaders of Ukrainian business and international companies working in Ukraine, President Petro Poroshenko noted the importance of continuation of judicial reform and making respective amendments to the Constitution.

Censor.NET reports citing the president's press office.

"Justice should be sought for truth, not money," the head of state said.

The president emphasized that he was doing and would do everything possible within his constitutional powers to ensure the implementation of the course of reforms declared by him.

"Thank you for your support. However, the success of reforms depends not only on me, but on all of us today. Otherwise, current judges will not be substituted," the head of state said.

The president added that "today, judges complain about their hard work - low wages, abolition of lifetime maintenance. Still, nobody leaves the post, because they can ensure a salary for 10 years ahead with one decision".

Petro Poroshenko noted that he had held a meeting with the head of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau, head of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecution, head of the Security Service, Interior Minister, and chairman of the Supreme Council of Justice in order to ensure a thorough screening of every judge.

However, the president stressed that the voting for the constitutional reform was key. "Each of you should speak of it. If anyone says that he has a better project, it means that the existing order is being preserved and it is a crime," the president emphasized.

Petro Poroshenko urges business representatives to submit their proposals on the content of the law on judiciary that will promote full reboot of the judicial system to the respective working group.

censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Former Ambassador of Ukraine to Belarus Roman Bezsmertnyi stops his activity as member of the subgroup on political affairs of the Trilateral Contact Group to resolve the situation in the east of Ukraine.

He said in an interview with Europeiska Pravda, Censor.NET reports.

"I took the decision and informed all the involved parties, starting from those providing technical support of the process and including the president, that I had finished this stage in my life. I quit the Minsk process and I am not going to volunteer at this diplomatic field anymore," Bezsmertnyi said.

In addition, he noted that the political subgroup operated in defiance of the Minsk agreements, "Everyone agreed from the very beginning that the group will start working only after the security issues are settled. However, the first items of the Minsk deal have not been actually fulfilled. I have a reasonable question in this regard: what are we negotiating about?"

censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

State owned TV and Radio Company Ltava CEO Yevhen Lopushynskyi was taken to intensive care unit with two stab wounds.

Censor.NET reports citing Poltavshchyna online news outlet.

State owned TV and Radio Company Ltava CEO was taken to the hospital with two stab wounds in the region of heart today, April 28. He is currently undergoing surgical operation.

According to preliminary information, it was a suicide attempt. The doctors said that Yevhen Lopushynskyi's condition was critical but stable.

censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The report of Russian crimes in the Donbas in 2014, which was transferred to the International Criminal Court (ICC) on April 22, stirred interest in The Hague.

This was announced by Sejm MP Małgorzata Gosiewska, who had personally passed the document, on her Facebook page, Censor.NET informs citing Ukrinform.

"The announcement of suspicion of commitment a number of crimes under the Rome statute, as well as the report with evidence on 500 pages have stirred great interest. The meeting (with representatives of the ICC prosecutor's bureau) lasted for hour and a half, and the talk covered mostly the methodology with which the evidence has been gathered and identification of criminals made," Gosiewska said.

According to her, the length of the meeting and detailed questions asked by the Court's representatives made her believe that the case is considered serious.

Gosiewska said that the materials will be examined from the legal and factual points of view. Based on them, the prosecutor's bureau will make a decision to start investigation against persons identified in the report, the MP stressed.

She added that after the investigation starts, the evidence can be replenished with more information from other witnesses.

Gosiewska informed that she filed the documents assisted by Polish office in The Hague. The report was prepared by her for the ICC in the Hague.


censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The security situation in eastern Ukraine is worsening, with cease-fire violations at their highest level in months, the chief OSCE monitor warned on April 28.

The statement by Ertugrul Apakan, head of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, came as four civilians were reported killed in shelling in eastern Ukraine.

"During the past weeks, the OSCE has registered the highest number of cease-fire violations in months," Apakan said in a briefing of the Permanent Council of the OSCE in Vienna. "Armed violence in eastern Ukraine has once again reached worrying levels."

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), a pan-European rights and security body, independently monitors the conflict.

The current cease-fire was agreed under a deal known as Minsk II, which was brokered in February 2015 by France and Germany and also signed by Russia, Ukraine, the Russia-backed separatists, and the OSCE.

Apakan warned that artillery and mortars banned under Minsk II "are being used again in increased numbers."

"A sustainable cease-fire is of central importance to the further implementation of the Minsk agreements," Apakan told the council. "Now is the time for the sides to show visible and decisive action to restore it."..................

To read further go to this link:  rferl.org

Russian President Vladimir Putin's intentions to withdraw troops from Syria were smoke and mirrors, while Russia has been rolling in even more troops and equipment.

Censor.NET reports referring to an article by Heritage Foundation experts Alexis Mrachek and Luke Coffey for The Daily Signal.

"Russian President Vladimir Putin has once again proven that he cannot be trusted," they note.

The experts recall that on March 14, Putin began ordering troops to return home from Syria. It is true that some troops did leave the country. But, the authors say, this announcement was more about distracting the world and portraying Russia as part of the solution in Syria rather than being part of the problem.

Even though Russia might have removed some troops, it left behind advanced anti-aircraft systems, plenty of fighter planes and bombers, and hundreds of troops and special forces. The experts remind that Russia entered Syria last year with only a naval base located at Tartus and is now leaving Syria with an additional air base at Hmeimim. Less than a month later, evidence was released of more troops filtering back into the war-torn country. The cover story was that they were supposedly there to clear out a number of mines, but no one really knew their true intentions. Russia is still conducting airstrikes, even after their cessation of hostilities agreement with the United States.

"Russian special forces and air force helping Assad's army were involved in fighting for the ancient city of Palmyra. There is talk that a Russian-supported offensive against Aleppo is in the works," the authors say, adding that Russia is currently transporting artillery units into northern Syria.

According to Ben Rhodes, a deputy national security adviser for the U.S., President Barack Obama told Putin that "Russia should focus its efforts on the diplomatic process." However, it doesn't seem like Moscow will heed this instruction.

"Russia doesn't exactly have the best track record for keeping its word. Moscow routinely violates its cease-fire arrangement with Ukraine and continues to supply weapons to Ukrainian separatists," the article notes.

The authors suggest that Russia is increasing its intervention in Syria to show that it is a global power. Another explanation is to use its influence in Syria to secure a stronger negotiating position on other issues like Ukraine.

"Whether it is in Georgia, Ukraine, or Syria, Putin will do anything to make it seem that Russia is a global power on equal footing with the United States. As long as the West lets him get away with it, Putin will keep on lying. It is time for the world to wake up," the experts conclude.

censor.net.ua In Russian/русский

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that to show to Russia for the Soviet Union demands action to pay billions of dollars of compensation accounts of Latvia in the country can only "sick people", reports RIA "Novosti".

"Gone are the good, with the preservation of contacts. No thanks for that no one saw or heard. Moreover, immediately began to say that the Soviet Union their "raped, used, exploited," - said the Minister.

According to Lavrov, at a time when the Baltic States from the Soviet Union, Moscow nobody "holding force". The diplomat believes that today require compensation from Russia for the development of industry, modernization of the economy of Latvia can only "people have a faulty mentality."

Earlier it was reported that a special commission has estimated the approximate damage caused by the actions of the Latvian economy of the USSR, at € 185 billion.

glavcom.ua In Russian/русский