Ukraine crisis. News in brief. Saturday 30 April [Ukrainian sources]

SATURDAY

Please scroll down to view news items added during the day

News -
40 attacks by nutcase Putin and his Russians on Ukraine yesterday.
2 Ukrainian soldiers dead, 4 wounded.
May 01 weekend - combined with Easter.
Traffic out of Kiev - and no doubt many other Ukrainian cities, was - awful - yesterday afternoon.
Here - a photo I took - note the traffic jams (tailbacks) leaving the city - and very little going in.



Weather -
Already 16 at 0900. Expect high of 20 today in the capital. Light sunshine, some clouds.

5:42
http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2016/04/30/7107231/
===
This is a sign how far things have come.
Lithuania - formerly occupied by Russian forces in the "Soviet Union" - now asking for German troops to defend it from the Russians.

22:14
Shuster said that the hunger strike suspended
http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2016/04/29/7107216/
"I am not a politician..."
====
His program was on tv last night, as always.
He is very much a politician, a strong supporter of Tymoshenko.
His hunger strike - turned out to be a one day diet. But a good publicity move, as always, with Schuster.

Vitaly Churkin, the Russian permanent representative to the United Nations, dismissed the claim by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko that his government supports the proposal to introduce armed OSCE police forces in the Donbas conflict zone, Concorde Capital informed its clients in an online advisory.

“It’s no coincidence that one after the other, new ideas come out of the Ukrainian government for a resolution there, whether it’s UN peacekeepers or heavily armed police,” said Churkin during the April 28 UN Security Council meeting, as reported by the UNIAN news agency. “It’s very convenient to first intentionally heighten tensions, and then propose options to resolve them, which have no basis in reality.”

Martin Schaefer, a spokesman for the German Foreign Ministry, also dismissed Poroshenko’s claim that his government supports the proposal to introduce armed OSCE police. Changes to the “absolutely civilian nature” of the OSCE observing mission in Donbas were not discussed with the participation of Germany or France, neither within the framework of the OSCE, nor the Normandy format, he said on April 27, as reported by the Ukrinform news agency.

The Ukrainian government has repeatedly proposed over an extended period the introduction of an armed mission in the Donbas conflict zone, Schaefer said. “But there’s no precedent for such an armed mission,” he said. “It’s hard for us to imagine at the given moment how an armed OSCE mission would look like, whose goal it would be to provide security for elections in regions occupied by separatists.” The introduction of an armed mission would involve “an entire series of complicated legal, political, practical and military issues,” he said.

Recall, Poroshenko said in an April 24 television interview that his government’s proposal for armed OSCE police in Donbas has the support of Russia, as well as the Normandy format partners, which refers to France and Germany.

Concorde analyst Zenon Zawada added: “The Ukrainian president has a disturbing pattern of making statements “out of left field,” as the Americans say, or with little basis in reality. We didn’t expect him to do so on an issue of international security as sensitive as this.

“His lack of responsible leadership in this conflict is beginning to erode Western support for Ukraine, as demonstrated by the April 28 vote in the French lower house of parliament to support a resolution calling on the government to begin lifting economic sanctions against Russia.”.......

ukrainebusiness.com.ua

Sounds like Germany would rather have this conflict continue. Perhaps they'd prefer Putin end-up with eastern Ukraine, then invest in it. I don't trust Germany as far as I can throw them.

And France are looking into lifting the sanctions which was spoken about within their parliament.

Ukraine can't depend on western Europe's support as we can see. Now Poroshenko wants to hopefully get a hold of this fighting and bring it to a minimum by getting OSCE police in play and the west doesn't want it. Doesn't make any sense whatsoever, unless as I said, Germany's quite happy with the status quo, for their future advantage. They know how lucrative industries in eastern Europe can be and get in bed with the Kremlin to gain for it.

As for Churkin, he's a clown. I don't want to waste my time on his rants. He sounded scared throughout the UNSC session as the rest of the members were piling up on the Kremlin. So the pressure's still on Putin to do something a smart person would do and get the hell out and work on his own country's major issues.

The court press service reported that the executive committee asked to ban meetings and other public events in the period from May 2 through May 10 for some nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and individuals.

The court took into account that on May 2, 2016 law enforcers will be involved in Odesa on Kulikovo Pole where peaceful public events will take place. They may not have a possibility of policing public events in different districts of the city.

The court partially satisfied the city council's claim and restricted the right of some NGOs and citizens to hold public events on May 2, 2016 on Dmuska Square in Odesa..........

interfax.com.ua

Two Ukrainian troops were killed in the area of the anti-territory operation (ATO) in Donbas in the past 24 hours, and four were wounded, reads a report posted on Saturday on the website of the information analysis center of National Security of Ukraine.

interfax.com.u

"Pirates of the Caribbean" star Orlando Bloom has paid an unannounced visit to war-scarred eastern Ukraine in his role as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Children's Emergency Fund.

Ukrainian television showed the 39-year-old British actor, who made his breakthrough as Legolas in "The Lord of the Rings," touring a school Wednesday in Slavyansk, a former pro-Russian rebel stronghold now under the Western-backed government's control.

In a video clip that went viral in Ukraine, Bloom was shown walking down the school's hallway with girls chasing him and shouting: "He is real! He is real! It's Legolas!"

Many Ukrainian social media users were convinced that the video was a fake, but Bloom's visit was soon confirmed by UNICEF.

"Orlando Bloom is in Ukraine on an official visit as a goodwill ambassador, and is meeting children affected during the conflict," the Fund's Kiev spokeswoman Anna Sukhodolska told AFP.

"The details of his visit and the program are not being disclosed for safety reasons," she added.

Around 9,200 people have died since parts of Ukraine's mostly Russian-speaking eastern industrial heartland revolted two months after the ouster of Kiev's Moscow-backed president in February 2014.

A series of truce agreements have helped reduce the violence, although sporadic clashes persist.

chinapost.com.tw

U.S. President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry have announced they will attend the upcoming NATO summit in Warsaw which will be held in July, reports Radio Poland.

"The President and I look forward to joining you in July for the NATO Summit in Warsaw, which will be a fitting showcase for the continued strength and resolve of our Alliance in a period of considerable stress," Kerry wrote in an open letter to Poles on Friday. "The bonds between our two peoples extend back to the period of American independence, were invigorated through solidarity at Cold War's end, and have been strengthened further by our joint commitment to shared ideals of democracy and the rule of law."........

uatoday.tv

The organisers of the 2016 Eurovision said the guidelines for the use of flags and banners at the Song Contest, issued On April 28, were a draft version and were not intended for publication.

"On Thursday afternoon, a draft version of the flag policy for the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest was published on the website of the Globe Arena and ticket agency AXS. The document included a non-exhaustive list of examples of flags that under the flag policy are prohibited in the venue. This document was not intended to be published," the European Broadcasting Union said in an official statement on its Facebook page.

The organisers added that they "understand and acknowledge the sensitivities" of the issue and apologised to everyone who felt offended by the list..........

To read further go to this link:  uatoday.tv

16:48
Photo Kyiv center was an armed clash is injured
http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2016/04/30/7107280/
In the center of Kyiv on the area of ​​Bessarabia between two groups of individuals conflict, in which one person was injured, according to preliminary data - with traumatic weapons.
It is reported "Interfax-Ukraine" referring to the Department Natspolitsiyi in Kiev....
===
Berrarabsky Square. Man shot in head. Some argument...!

NATO is preparing to put four battalions in Poland and the Baltic countries. The alliance is going to deploy 4000 troops to reinforce its eastern wing and support allies who are concerned about Russia's aggression.

According to the WSJ, the battalions will be provided by Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States. Robert Work, the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defence, confirms the general numbers of the troops. Work says the buildup is a response to Moscow's military activity near the Baltic countries.......

uatoday.tv

Head Office of the Ministry of Defense intelligence of Ukraine set the next evidence for the involvement of staff members of the regular Russian Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in the fighting in the east of Ukraine.

In particular, the exploration found that as the "chief of engineering service 1 AC (Donetsk) Center of territorial troops (Novocherkassk, Russia) Southern Software (Rostov-on-Don), the Armed Forces" is the Russian Armed Forces, Major Umaev Zalibekov Kasumovich. "We know that Zalibekov Umaev born 25.05.1980, in seconds. Ullubiyaul, Karabudakhkentsky district, Republic of Dagestan, in 2002 he graduated from the Tyumen branch of the Military Engineering University, resides in the art. Watchtower, Zelenchukskaya district, Karachay-Cherkess Republic ", - said in a statement GUR.

Umaev sent Donbass to perform criminal orders in March 2015 from his post as chief of engineering service 34 separate motorized rifle brigade (Watchtower, Zelenchukskaya district, Karachay-Cherkess Republic) 49 Army of the Armed Forces Southern IN.



Before a trip to the Donbass Umaev was chief of engineering service 34 separate motorized rifle brigade (Watchtower, Zelenchukskaya district, Karachay-Cherkess Republic) 49 Army of the Armed Forces Southern IN. In 2014, 34 units were omsbr the territory temporarily occupied Crimea.

Exploration noted that in 34 omsbr also served as major general of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Mikhail S. Zusko, including as commander of 34 omsbr (2011-2014.), which is the beginning of the armed aggression of Russia against Ukraine was directly involved in the formation and in the summer at the end of fall 2014 commanded the 1 AA (Donetsk, Ukraine) 12 Reserve Command (in Vol. h. Center regional forces, Novocherkassk, Russia) Russian Armed forces Southern IN.



"Being on the post of the Chief of Engineers, 1 AC (Donetsk, Ukraine), the Russian Armed Forces, Major Umaev performed some personal requests of the Armed Forces Major General Zusko, who had already left the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine. This included transportation to Russian property stolen at the enterprises occupied the Donets Basin and from individuals, "- said the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine GUR.

According to intelligence reports, the Russian Armed Forces, Major Umaev directly involved in the organization and conduct of mine-blasting, aimed at the destruction of infrastructure and industrial projects in the occupied territory of Donbass, a mining area and preparing saboteurs demolition.

glavcom.ua In Russian/русский

http://www.unian.info/world/1335128-kiselyov-leaks-russias-controversial-chief-propagandists-mail-hacked.html
Email and WhatsApp accounts reportedly belonging to Dmitry Kiselyov, Russia's controversial chief propagandist, were hacked on April 29 and the Anonymous International group put the data array up for sale ...
Some fragments of the array were made public, revealing ... his desperate struggle for the lifting of Western sanctions against him ....
Although Kiselyov feels good in Russia and Crimea, he doesn't cease attempts to find ways to visit the West where he used to regularly spend his holidays.
Thus, according to his emails, he attempted to hire expensive European lawyers to press for rolling back the sanctions against him.
====
Original, in Russian, here
http://theins.ru/politika/23180
Includes photos, documents.

http://www.unian.info/world/1335160-us-bill-links-russia-sanctions-relief-to-crimeas-return-to-ukraine-rfe-rl.html
..."It's time for the United States to stand up and reiterate that it will not tolerate Russia's aggression," he said.....
====
That is interesting! But will it pass?
In Europe sanctions are only linked to Minsk. Putin stopping the war.
But Russia returning Crimea to Ukraine? I don't see Putin ever doing this while he is President.
====
Original here, also in English
U.S. Bill Links Russia Sanctions Relief To Crimea's Return To Ukraine
http://www.rferl.org/content/ukraine-us-bill-sanctions/27707600.html

The network was reminded of a video in 2009, in which the newly appointed head of the Lugansk military and civil administration Yuri Garbuz in a media interview said about the unity of Ukrainians and Russians.

The corresponding video is published on YouTube-channel golenko .

While Garbuz district administration headed by Markov Lugansk region.

In particular, it was mentioned in the story of the Epiphany celebrations in the region, which is the official general cornet of the Ukrainian Cossacks and stands for "unity of Russian and Ukrainian people."

"I would not want us to come to this as our war. Remember the civil war. It is not right that historians try chto-to change. One people, one Spirit and one faith, and one truth" - then said Garbuz.

obozrevatel.com   In Ukrainian/український

That's why there shouldn't be any special status. If it is given, you'll have the Kremlin running the region via their own planted Russian puppets.

===========
Nelson update.
I think I've found the video - from 2009!!
Adin zemla, adin dooch - one land, one soul.....

http://novosti.dn.ua/details/273666/
McDonald's is investigating the emergence of clone restaurants in Luhansk

22:13 / 04.29.2016 - Donbass News
McDonald's lawyers are investigating how the occupied Lugansk opened burgernuyu style American chain at the site of its cafes, closed two years ago, reports Reuters.
"Our lawyers are working on this issue", - said the representative of the Ukrainian office of McDonald's.
The company ceased operations in Lugansk, in May 2014 in view of safety. After that, the room fast food restaurant network was illegally seized in Lugansk....
====
Found this video on youtube -

Russian occupants of the “1st Army Corps” (AC), suffered more losses in the Donbas.

Censor.NET reports citing Intelligence department of the Ministry of Defense.

One serviceman of the sabotage and reconnaissance group (SRG) of the 9th separate assault motorized rifle Marine Corps regiment (Novoazovsk) of the 1st AC wounded in the vicinity of Sakhanka;

Moreover, it was reported about five killed and seven wounded servicemen of the SRGs of the 11th separate motorized rifle regiment (Makiivka) of the 1st AC acted in the area of Avdiivka;

Two Russian soldiers of the sabotage and reconnaissance groups of the "5th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade" (Makiivka) and "4th battalion of territorial defense" (Dokuchaevsk) were killed and four more wounded near Dokuchaievsk.

censor.net.ua In Russian/русский

Ukraine is consistently implementing the Minsk agreements and does not respond to provocative terrorists’ attacks.

This was announced by the representative of Ukraine in the trilateral contact group Leonid Kuchma.

Kuchma's press secretary Darka Olifer published his statement on Facebook, Censor.NET reports.

"Yesterday, the Trilateral Contact Group in Minsk expressed support for a complete cease-fire since April 30, 2016. However, as of the current day, the cease-fire violations in some districts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions are reported. The truce was violated in Shyrokyne, Avdiivka, Marinka, were mortar attacks were reported," the statement reads.

"Ukraine is consistently implementing the Minsk agreements and does not respond to provocative terrorists' attacks.

In this situation, I call upon the Russian Federation, as well as 'DPR' and "LPR' representatives to fulfill their obligations for the cease-fire on the eve of Easter holidays," Kuchma declared.

censor.net.ua   In Ukrainian/український

The Austrian lawyer of Ukrainian businessman Dmytro Firtash Dieter Bohmdorfer has said that German and Austrian authorities do not have accusations against his client, and the raid in Firtash's house in Vienna was performed as part of a case where Firtash is a witness, not suspect.

He said that the only case being heard is the claim of the United States. The Austrian court issued a verdict that the case is politically motivated and now the counterclaim is being heard, the press service of Firtash told Interfax-Ukraine on Saturday.

Bohmdorfer said that German prosecutor's office in Schwerin confirmed officially in a letter that Firtash is not a suspect in the case where the activities of a German consultant are being investigated. This disproves statements made by Ukrainian Ambassador to Austria Oleksandr Scherba on April 20.

Bohmdorfer expressed concern about the statements of the Ukrainian diplomat.

The lawyer filed an application on behalf of Firtash to the Ukrainian foreign minister to take measures to compensate damage caused by the ambassador's statements to his client.......................

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

U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt hopes that Ukraine has already come through the hardest times in Donbas war.

Watch also 'Borders cannot be changed through military means in the 21st century' - Pyatt

"We have a good understanding of the ordeal Ukraine had to live through during two years of Russian aggression. On the other hand, we think that the most difficult times of the conflict are already in the past. And now you are building a true European democracy, which has been Ukraine's key objective for the last 25 years," Pyatt said at a meeting with Mariupol students, according to Hromadske Radio.

Pyatt added that local elections are crucial to reintegrate Donbas into Ukraine, but they should be held when there are no Russian troops in eastern Ukraine:...........

To read further go to this link:  uatoday.tv

Poland behaves inappropriately European state by removing the Soviet military monuments, said Assistant Deputy Minister of Defence, Major-General Alexander Kirilin.

Russia demands from Poland punish those responsible for the desecration of war memorial in Wroclaw

"The Polish authorities are trying to strike some kind of database, these sites are not in the tombs, are the monuments raised by local authorities. However, of course, is not worthy of a European state, which was occupied by Nazi Germany, and that without the help of the Soviet Union would never freed from Nazi occupation, "- he said on radio RSN.

glavcom.ua In Russian/русский

Ukraine's taken down Lenin and Petrovsky statues. They want to get rid of the soviet skin that seems to stay on ignorantly. So now it's Poland's chance to do the same. The kremlin just wants to keep the soviet mentality and history alive. They can't accept the idea that millions are finally courageous enough to no longer fear current overdue destruction of the Rmanov serfdom ideology that's dying on the vine.

Today in downtown Kiev on Bessarabia Square shot in the head a young man.

According to the channel 112 Ukraine from the scene, witnesses said, it all started with an argument that escalated into a fight. One of the participants of the fight pulled out a gun and fired.

The wounded were hospitalized, he provided assistance.

It is known that the parties to the conflict immediately fled from the scene - left on the vehicle, they are searching for.

As reported edition dtp.kiev.ua wounded about 20 years.

glavcom.ua In Russian/русский

At the beginning of 2016 more than a hundred Russian citizens officially recognized as refugees on the territory of Ukraine. This UNN reported in the response to journalistic inquiry to the State Migration Service of Ukraine.

"As of January 1, 2016, Ukraine registered GMR 102 is a native of the Russian Federation, which is officially recognized as refugees", - said in a statement.

It also reported that refugees in Ukraine are recognized and some people from other CIS countries.

"On account of the State Migration Service is 195 refugees, who are from Armenia, 129 refugees from Azerbaijan", - informed the SMS.

glavcom.ua In Russian/русский

Life must be bad in Russia, to come to a country that's in the middle of a war with their initial country. Doesn't say much good for the way Putin's running things.

One woman was killed, another in intensive care due to an accident at the plant "Crimean Titan" in Armenian. This was reported by pro-government agency "Kryminform" referring to the management of the Crimean Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations.

"At 10.45 we received a message that there was tysyachekubovoy water tank rupture. Near the tank were two women, a stream of water hit them, one woman was injured and hospitalized in Krasnoperekopsk hospital, the second - died from his injuries, "- noted in the press-service of the department.

According to preliminary data MOE specialists, the cause of PE was the poor technical condition of the water tank.

In Crimea MOE website no information about the incident. Law enforcement agencies of the peninsula has not yet commented on the incident.

"Crimean Titan" is a holding Ukrainian businessman Dmitry Firtash's Group DF.

glavcom.ua In Russian/русский