Ukraine crisis. News in brief. Monday 04 July. [Ukrainian sources]

MONDAY

Please scroll down to view news items added during the day

News:
61 attacks by Putin's forces. The average number of attacks is moving upwards and upwards.
I think Putin was expecting the EU to cave in on sanctions. But this didn't happen. So now he is steadily increasing the amount of fighting.  
Officially - two soldiers wounded yesterday.

Weather:
Cold. Wow. 15C at 0800 this morning. A real shock, after two weeks of 22 or so. And highs around 30.
Today - maybe high in the low 20s. And also cloudy. A real contrast.

ATO: Militants struck with prohibited 120 mm mortars
http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2016/07/4/7113607/
Monday, July 4, 2016, 7:38
Over the past day in the area of ​​anti-terrorist operation 61 militants again opened fire on positions forces ATO 38 times - in Donetsk, 20 - in Mariupol and 3 - in Lugansk areas.
The press center ATO Staff reports page on Facebook.
In Donetsk area under fire from 122 mm artillery hit Ukrainian strongholds in the sand and Zaitsev. Since banned Minsk II 120 mm mortars militants beat Avdeevka and Novgorod. Under fire from grenade hit Ukrainian position in Mar'yintsi, Lugansk, and Trinity and Pisky.
In Mariupol hottest area was under Shyrokynym. Here militants used a 122 mm artillery and 120 82 mm mortars, grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms. Also mortars caliber 120mm terrorists fired on Vodnaya and Krasnohorivtsi.
In Luhansk militants fired small arms in Ukrainian positions near Novoaleksandrivka and Novotoshkivskoho.

The last two weeks have been toasty.
Here is a photo of a beach on the banks of the Dnepr in Kiev



I happened to be on a metro train travelling through Gidropark on Saturday evening.
Wow... Normally 5 or 8 people get on at that Station. But during the weekend - I would say 200 got on when I went through.
The photo itself is from Sunday.
But - things have changed.
Perhaps on 22 or 24 today. And for the rest of the week quite a bit cooler.
Good news really, as it will reduce demand for air conditioning massively, AND - therefore reduce the demand for electricity - and coal.

Russia imposes new restrictions on transit of Ukrainian goods
http://www.unian.info/economics/1398740-russia-imposes-new-restrictions-on-transit-of-ukrainian-goods.html
....n particular, the current restrictions earlier imposed on Ukrainian goods heading to Kazakhstan now apply to transits to the Kyrgyz Republic. The legislative changes also provide for a complete ban of transit of embargoed goods. "These changes may temporarily cause a complete halt to the transit of goods from Ukraine via the Russian territory not only to the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic, but also to the third countries," the ministry said....
===
Putin extending the "economic war" against Ukraine.

Eastern Angst: Brexit Vote Sends Jitters Through Countries On EU's Fringe
http://www.rferl.org/content/brexit-vote-sends-jitters-through-countries-on-eu-fringe/27819091.html
....Oleksandr Zakharchenko, the leader of separatists who hold territory in the eastern Donetsk region, congratulated Britain and said he hoped the British referendum would change Europe's attitudes toward two unrecognized separatist 'republics' in Ukraine.
"Britain did what we did two years ago: we also held a referendum, voted, and left Ukraine," he said. "Fortunately for Britain, they didn't send planes against them, they are not calling them separatists."....
====

Not a bad read.

Third of Russians Expect Rigged 2016 Duma Elections
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/third-of-russians-expect-rigged-2016-duma-elections/574066.html
===
Actually 38%. No confidence in real democracy under Putin's dictatorship.
And remember that many would be scared to answer the poll accurately also - that's the conclusion of a different poll!

Yesterday two soldiers were wounded in the ATO zone - Staff
http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2016/07/4/7113638/
Monday, July 4, 2016, 12:52
One day in the area of counter-terrorist operations wounded two soldiers.
This at a traditional briefing on Monday, spokesman of the Presidential Administration on ATO Andrei Lysenko.
"For the past day because of fighting between Ukrainian military no killed there but two injured during enemy attacks," - said the colonel.

Russian gas transit via Ukraine up by one-third in 1H 2016
http://www.unian.info/economics/1398925-russian-gas-transit-via-ukraine-up-by-one-third-in-1h-2016.html
====
Ukraine gets income for this.

Ukraine to supply missiles to Polish fighter jets – media
http://www.unian.info/economics/1398726-ukraine-to-supply-missiles-to-polish-fighter-jets-media.html
....He noted that the aircraft were adapted to NATO standards, but they still carried the standard Russian armload. Therefore, Poland had to decide either on delivery of Russian missiles that seems questionable for many reasons, or search for another manufacturer.

"Only force and international sanctions can stop Putin's plans," - Speaker Parubii discontent with Minsk agreements
http://en.censor.net.ua/news/395861/only_force_and_international_sanctions_can_stop_putins_plans_speaker_parubii_discontent_with_minsk_agreements
....
At the same time, Parubii believes that Poroshenko did what [any] president should do: "He was doing his utmost to stabilize the front and avoid more deaths."
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I saw some of this programme on Parubi last night on tv. Some of the interview took place on a small boat on a lake in the Lviv area.
I haven't been too impressed with Parubi as a speaker. But - he did come across as genuine. He was at Maidan. So I think his intentions are good.

Poland says Gazprom supplies back to normal after unexplained drop
http://www.reuters.com/article/pgnig-gazprom-supplies-idUSL8N19O076
...Gaz-System spokesman Tomasz Pietrasienski told Reuters the operator had not received any explanation from Gazprom, and that its Ukrainian counterpart Ukrtransgaz hadn't either.
Gazprom was not immediately available for comment....

Soviet Sergey ‏@SovietSergey  2 ч.2 часа назад
We have a nice job for him at Gazprom. Soviet Sergey
The Guardian @guardian
Brexit live: Nigel Farage resigns as Ukip leader http://trib.al/uMXuYe1

Darth Putin ‏@DarthPutinKGB  1 ч1 час назад
Farage is resigning to become a member of the Duma. He's earned it.

Darth Putin ‏@DarthPutinKGB  37 мин.37 минут назад
Another arsonist who doesn't want to put out the fire.
#Farage

Darth Putin ретвитнул(а)
Rebecca Vincent ‏@rebecca_vincent  1 ч.1 час назад
Funny, that's what the rest of us want too https://twitter.com/timesredbox/status/749893503354867712 … #Brexit #EUref
Red Box @timesredbox
BREAKING: Nigel Farage has resigned as Ukip leader, saying "I want my life back".

Darth Putin ‏@DarthPutinKGB 15 ч.15 часов назад
Marine Le Pen's dream is to make the French team as white as the Icelandic one is.

The head of the European diplomacy Federica Mogherini is to visit Moscow, although no dates have been scheduled yet.

This was announced by Russia's permanent representative in the European Union Vladimir Chizhov, Censor.NET reports citing Interfax.

"I can say she is to visit. No dates scheduled yet," Chizhov said to journalists during the Monday live phone-in from Brussels.

The permanent representative linked the upcoming visit of Mogherini with 'continuing audit of the relationships between Russia and the EU'.

ua.censor.net.ua In Ukrainian/український

In 2015/2016, Ukraine companies exported 5 million tons of grain more than in the 2014/2015 marketing year, ministry for agricultural policy says.

Ukraine exported 17.354 million tons of wheat, 17.396 mn tons of corn, 44.09 thousand tons of barley, and 256 thousand tons of other grain, topping by 13% the 2014/2015 exports.

A new 2016/2017 marketing year starts on July 1and ends on June 30, 2017.

International grain trade brings Ukraine about $6 billion annually in revenues. Ukraine sells its grain to 90 countries worldwide.

zik.ua

Polish press published an open letter three former Presidents of Poland, intellectuals, journalists, community and religious leaders: "Thank you for your letter, and please forgive the wrongs inflicted on our brothers Ukrainian Polish hands."

The letter is a response to the President of Ukraine Leonid Kravchuk and Viktor Yushchenko, the Ukrainian church hierarchy and public figures to Polish society, asking pardon of guilt Ukrainian Poles, according to "historical truth"

We submit a letter of response unabridged:

"Ukrainian brothers,

in 1894, during the congress of Polish and Ukrainian writers and journalists in Lviv, poet, writer and thinker Ivan Franko said:" The whole Slavs no two such people who have the political and spiritual plane so firmly fused with them, so have many mutual respect, but despite this, so avoided each other like the Polish and Ukrainian. "
Over time, our common misfortune detachment was replaced by hatred and nationalism, and their bitter fruit - crime - which together experienced Polish and Ukrainian Volyn and Eastern Galicia, Kholm and Bieszczady and the Przemyśl land.

Especially us happy your letter letter with remarkable words "forgive and ask for forgiveness," which does not dodge responsibility for injustices inflicted on Poles in the forties of the last century.

We also honors the victims of fratricidal Polish-Ukrainian conflict.

Thank you for your letter, and please forgive the wrongs caused to our brothers Ukrainian Polish hands. We have before us a similar opinion was expressed by representatives of the Polish Catholic Church, to the mutual forgiveness of our peoples fervently urged Pope John Paul II.

For the combination worked tirelessly Jerzy Ґyedroyts and Jacek Kuron, and the presidents of our countries, let us not forget their heritage.

Guilt requires proper payment, which in between our nations is its creation of true brotherhood. Contrary Polish and Ukrainian cowardice, in prosperity, but also in evil times that might come to our common Europe that it threatens Russian nationalism and imperialism.

Threats easier to survive together. We continue to admire you and solidaryzuyemosya in the fight against the aggressor, which already occupies more than two years of Ukrainian land, trying to prevent the realization of your dream of living in a united Europe..................

glavcom.ua In Ukrainian/український

At home in the deputy prosecutor was removed more than a dozen expensive watches worth about 100 thousand dollars.

Around 10 pm on Monday from the premises Prosecutor of Rivne region Kiev special forces personnel "Alpha" brought Rivne region deputy prosecutor Andrew Borovik, whose function was supervising the preliminary investigation. The detention took place in the presence of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine Yuriy Lutsenko, head of the Security Service of Ukraine Vasyl Gritsak and Chief Military Prosecutor of Ukraine Anatoly Matios.

Lutsenko explained at the briefing, is one of four people detained in the course of a special operation combating illegal extraction of amber, which was attended by 400 "alfivtsiv." During the day in the 123 searches conducted in the official and private spaces. Among those arrested - and SBU colonel, whose name is not mentioned. Hrycak said that was detained and fifth person.

Operational steps, including recording conversations and other activities of suspects, sanctioned by the court, said Lutsenko.

"We see that there has been established a stable criminal organization headed by its deputy prosecutor who is now detained and will be delivered today to Kyiv," - said the prosecutor general.

At home in the deputy prosecutor was removed more than a dozen expensive watches worth about 100 thousand dollars. During the detention the prosecutor became ill, he was called an ambulance.

Special operation continues. Along spetspryznachentsi blocked cafe "Astoria", which was removed a huge batch of amber. It is not about hundreds of thousands of kilograms.

SBU and PGO said that so exposed and stopped the activities of one of the groups "amber mafia" in Rivne region.

glavcom.ua In Ukrainian/український

32 people fixed us today and who are suspected of committing crimes in a single group, said Avakov

Law enforcement agencies in organizing the criminal group with illegal extraction of amber in the Rivne region. 32 people suspected. This was at a briefing broadcast channel "112 Ukraine", said the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Arsen Avakov.

"32 people are fixed on us today and who are suspected of committing crimes in a single group," - said Avakov.

glavcom.ua In Ukrainian/український

The parliamentary faction "Block Poroshenko" decided to support removal of immunity of MP Oleksandr Onishchenko.

About this on his page in Facebook said deputy head of Alex Goncharenko.
"Faction MFP just at its meeting decided to support the lifting of immunity of MP Onishchenko, and give consent to his detention and arrest" - he wrote.

glavcom.ua In Ukrainian/український

The Russian side took a "mirror" measures to Polish citizens wishing to visit Kaliningrad region

In response to the suspension of preferential treatment by Poland on the Polish border travel for residents of the Kaliningrad region of Russia announced the introduction reflex action. According to the press service of the Foreign Ministry .

Russian Foreign Ministry reported that on June 30 the Polish government announced the decision from 4 July to suspend the provisions of the bilateral intergovernmental agreement on local border movement order on 14 December 2011, providing for the possibility of entry of residents of the Kaliningrad region into neighboring regions of Poland.

The Polish side reported that such measures are introduced for security reasons in connection with the Warsaw Summit (8-9 July) and World Youth Days in Krakow (26-31 July).

"The Russian side was informed of this unilateral decision without prior consultation. Also unclear relationship security held in Warsaw and Krakow measures to implement the agreement, the scope of which extends only to border areas Pomeranian and Warmia-Mazury voivodship. Certification of Warsaw temporary nature imposed restrictions take note, but let's see how it will be followed in practice, "- commented the decision of the Foreign Ministry.

Accordingly, the Foreign Ministry said that the principle of reciprocity, the Russian side has adopted corresponding "mirror" measures to Polish citizens wishing to visit the Kaliningrad region.

"They will act to restore order former Warsaw movement according to the agreements", - reported in the Foreign Ministry.

As previously reported, on July 4 Poland temporarily suspended the local border traffic between Poland and Ukraine as regards entry and stay in Poland, residents of border regions of Ukraine, which have permits issued by the relevant authorities of Poland.

glavcom.ua In Ukrainian/український

More than 100 Idaho Soldiers are currently there to receive equipment and supplies, which will be used during the exercise occurring July 27 to Aug. 7 at the Romanian Land Force Combat Training Center in Cincu, Romania.

Saber Guardian is an annual multinational exercise that rotates among Romania, Bulgaria and Ukraine, and this year will include nearly 3,000 personnel from 11 countries – Romania, United States, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Canada, Georgia, Moldova, Poland, Turkey and Ukraine.

The 116th is comprised of units and personnel from the Idaho, Montana and Oregon Army National Guards augmented with the 125th Multi-role Bridge Company of the South Carolina Army National Guard. Approximately 1,000 more personnel from the 116th Brigade Combat Team will join roughly 1,500 Soldiers from other U.S.-based units later this month to participate in the exercise.

It took personnel approximately 26 hours to offload the ship that left Charleston, S.C. two weeks prior carrying approximately 300 wheeled and tracked military vehicles belonging to the 116th Brigade and South Carolina’s 122nd Engineer Battalion. Now underway is the task of filling railcars with tanks, Bradley Fighting Vehicles, HUMVEEs and other equipment bound for central Romania.........

ukrainebusiness.com.ua

On July 13, Brussels will host the presentation of Russia and Hybrid Warfare by Yuriy Fedorov, expert in Russian foreign and security policy.

Representatives of the Ukrainian Centre for Army, Conversion and Disarmament (CACDS) will present the analysis of Russian warfare methods. The first section of the book describes the “hybrid” nature of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, in particular, historical myths that are used to justify this conflict, Putin’s strategy, preparations for a full-scale war, the nature and structure of Russia’s “hybrid” forces, and tactics and results of hybrid warfare........

ukrainebusiness.com.ua

"The Ukrainian side is strongly opposed to any use of children and adolescents in the war. We once again addressed the Russian Federation with the demand to provide information concerning the children unlawfully taken out of the territory of Ukraine, we also expressed deep concern about the non-admission of international humanitarian organizations, including UNICEF, to children and special children's institutions on the occupied territories," she wrote on a Facebook page after a meeting of the humanitarian subgroup of the trilateral contact group in Minsk on Monday.

Gerashchenko also sais that Ukraine is ready to evacuate children's homes for the terminally ill, bedridden children from Luhansk region and involve the Red Cross International Committee into this process, if there is a consent of the second party.

"We agreed that the issue of protection of children's rights will be raised at one of the next meetings of humanitarian groups in order to arrive at a specific decision," she summed up adding that the meeting was also attended by the Ukrainian president's commissioner for children's rights, Mykola Kuleba......

interfax.com.ua

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday in a July Fourth message to President Barack Obama that he hopes ties between the two countries will get back on track.

Relations between Moscow and Washington hit a post-Cold War low in 2014, when Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and threw its weight behind separatists in eastern Ukraine. The Kremlin, however, has recently sought rapprochement with the United States.........

uatoday.tv/

Turkey could let Russia use its Incirlik air base to fight the Islamic state terrorist group (banned in Russia) in Syria, as follows from the words of Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, according to Russian news agency TASS.

"We will cooperate with everybody who is fighting Islamic State," Cavusoglu said, TASS reports.

"Ankara has opened the Incirlik airbase to all those wishing to join the active fight," said the minister.......

uatoday.tv

In 2014, blogger actively supported and covered Antymaydan and pro stocks in Kharkiv.

Employees of the Security Service of Ukraine detained at Boryspil region Kharkiv blogger Andrew Warts, which was suspected of infringement of territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine for a long time hiding in Russia, said the agency "Interfax-Ukraine" a source in law enforcement.

"He was detained at Boryspil. It was yesterday (Sunday). It came not from Russia - there is a plane to fly us. What country - can not say, "- said the source agency.

In 2014 actively supported the wart and covered Antymaydan shares and pro Kharkiv. He was later declared wanted on suspicion of infringement of territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine (art. 110 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). Had gone into hiding in Russia.

In May, a number of websites published information Wart be forcibly expelled from Russia for "violation of immigration laws."

glavcom.ua In Ukrainian/український