Ukraine crisis. News in brief. Thursday 13 October. [Ukrainian sources]

THURSDAY

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NEWS:
Putin admits sending Russian regular troops to Donbas.  Steinmeier acknowledged Donbas elections are not possible at the moment. Russians' trust in government and parliament halves over year while support for Putin stable, - survey.  In Lublin Russia to pay high price for Putin’s crimes – Russian journalist.  

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Addressing an investment forum in Russia Oct. 12, Putin again accused the United States of bankrolling the Ukrainian revolution in 2014, Ukrayinska Pravda reports Oct. 13.

 “We had to protect the Russian-speaking population in Donbas and Crimea,” Putin send, explaining the presence of Russian troops there.

Declaring he is for better relations with the US, Putin simultaneously lashed out at Washington, saying, “We had nothing to do with the 2014 coup in Ukraine. Our American partners were the major players behind the coup, funding the radical opposition although Yanukovych had signed all the demands of protesters and was ready for the early elections,” Putin said.

According to Ukraine army general staff, there are currently 6,000 Russian regular troops and 35 rebels bankrolled and technically supported by Russia.

zik.ua

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has acknowledged that elections in the Donbas are not possible yet.

This was announced by head of Ukraine's PACE delegation Volodymyr Ariev on Facebook, Censor.NET reports.

"I have asked Steinmeier several questions. He acknowledged that elections in the Donbas could not be held at the moment and that it is not yet possible to reach an agreement on the special status of separate areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. He believes there is no alternative to 'Minsk' [agreements - ed.] and that we have a lot of work waiting ahead. He failed to respond to my question about strengthening of sanctions against Russia," Ariev wrote.

Steinmeier also commented on Russia's return to PACE sessions hall by saying that conditions should be created for the Russian delegation in PACE, but Russia as well should meet the requirements of the Council of Europe.

"He said that the MPs who were connected to the Crimea annexation should not be in the Assembly," Ariev wrote quoting Steinmeier.

ua.censor.net.ua In Ukrainian/український

Over the last 12 months, the trust of Russian citizens in almost all public institutions has declined.


Censor.NET reports citing ZN.UA referring to a survey by Levada-Center.

As noted, the most significant decline in confidence is observed towards such political institutions as the government (45 percent in 2015 vs 26 percent in 2016), the State Duma (40 percent vs 22 percent) and regional authorities (38 percent vs 23 percent). The trust in these institutions is even lower than it had been prior to the occupation of Crimea.

According to the survey, the confidence in Russia's most trusted institutions has fallen insignificantly: the president (74 percent), the army (60 percent), state security authorities (46 percent) and the church (43 percent).

Russian media is trusted by 27 percent of Russian citizens, the police by 24 percent, judiciary by 22 percent, banks by 15 percent.

The survey was conducted during Sept. 23-26, 2016. 1,600 people from 137 settlements across Russia's 48 regions took part in the survey. The sampling error makes 3.4 percent.

ua.censor.net.ua/ In Ukrainian/український

Russia will be punished for the sufferings its leaders caused to the residents of Donbas and Crimea, Russian-based journalist Aleksandr Sytnyk says, Presa Ukrayiny reports Oct. 13.

Crimea was illegally grabbed by Russia, and in Donbas the Russians and their puppets murder Ukrainians every day. Russia and Putin will have to be held accountable for these deaths in the Hague tribunal, Sotnik says. 

So far, the Russians do not feel they have been cheated but te euphoria caused by the Crimea grab is passing. Soon, a lot of changes unfavorable for the Kremlin might happen, the journalist warns.

The Putin regime has caused so many crimes, the price for them will be very high, possibly, the disintegration of Russia, the journalist says.

zik.ua

Forecast grain harvest in Ukraine upheld

USDA in October this year upheld the forecast grain harvest in Ukraine in the 2016/2017 marketing year (July-June) - at 64 million tonnes, the forecast of grain exports increased by 1.4 million tons - up to 38, 5 million tons.

According to the US Office Online, forecast exports of feed grain increased from 21.13 to 22.93 million tons, including corn export forecast increased by 0.7 million tons to 17.7 million tons, barley left unchanged at 5 million tons.

Forecasts wheat remained unchanged - 27 million tons, while the forecast of exports increased by 0.5 million tons to 15.5 million tons.

Evaluation of crop feed grain is left unchanged - 37.05 million tons, including corn harvest forecast - 26 mln tonnes, barley - 9.7 million tons.

As reported, Ukraine Minagroprod expects grain harvest in 2016 at 62.3 million tons.

Ukrainian farmers until July 29 harvested on the area of 7.6 million hectares (79% of the forecast), namolotyvshy 29 million tons of grain.

glavcom.ua In Ukrainian/український

The court rejected the appeal of Ukraine on the compensation order her legal costs of President Viktor Yanukovych and his sons

The EU Court of Justice rejected the appeal of Ukraine on the compensation order her legal costs of former President Viktor Yanukovych and his sons in the amount of 6 million 378.4 thousand UAH. This is stated in the press release of the British law firm Joseph Hage Aaronson LLP.

"The European Court of Justice rejected the appeal of Ukraine on the compensation order her legal costs of President Viktor Yanukovych and his sons," - said in a press release.

"Despite the fact that in March 2015 the EU General Court ordered the Government of Ukraine to reimburse costs and expenses of President Yanukovych and his sons, and representatives of Ukraine waited more than a year before in June 2016 tried to challenge the decision of the European Court of Justice, the highest court EU ", - stated in a press release.

By a decision of 5 October 2016 the court rejected the appeal and confirmed that the Government of Ukraine has not only incurred "costs of the unsuccessful entry into the process, but also the costs of the unsuccessful attempt to appeal."

glavcom.ua In Ukrainian/український

Destruction of houses in Odesa

The victim - a man from the village Shyryayeve Odessa region, 1995 year of birth

In Odessa, Moldavanka happened to the destruction of residential houses, killed people. This was reported in the press service of the Odessa police patrol.

According to police, today afternoon Malinowski destruction occurred near residential 2-storey building on the street. General Tsvetaeva, 80. He died a young man.

Currently in place are working DSNS.

As specified UNIAN press service of the city administration Odessa victim - a man from the village Shyryayeve Odesa region, 1995 year of birth.

glavcom.ua In Ukrainian/український

The largest number of violations was concentrated in the northeast and east of Mariupol

Special monitoring mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said that more than 500 recorded explosions near Mariupol. This is stated in the report of the mission on October 12, released today at the OSCE.

"Special Monitoring Mission has documented more violations of the ceasefire in the Donetsk region compared to the previous reporting period," - noted in the mission.

According to the mission, the largest number of violations was concentrated in the northeast and east of Mariupol and near Avdeevki and Yasinovataya.

Observers say that by October 12 in Donetsk region recorded more than 550 bombings, when blasts of October 11 was recorded 355. "More than 500 explosions were reported in areas of north-east and east of Mariupol and 34 explosions recorded in the area Avdeevki-Yasinovataya" - said observers.

"In Lugansk region MSF also recorded more violations of the ceasefire compared to the previous reporting period, most of which occurred southwest of Katerynivka" - said in a report.

Thus, in the Luhansk region MSF has recorded 18 explosions than 12 explosions in the previous reporting period.

Also said that the mission was checking information about the death of civilians in Krasnohorivtsi. The local morgue SMM saw the remains of a woman (about 40 years of age), which were killed in the village. The mission notes that according to the information the doctor, wife killed, because come under military tracked vehicle.

"Mission continued to observe the process of breeding in the village Lugansk, Gold and Peter's. MSF has been limited in freedom of movement in all three areas, "- stressed observers.

Recall SMM OSCE reported that a number of vehicles and personnel at three sites in the Donbass envisaged framework agreement contact group was lead from the contact line . OSCE is not patrolled at night breeding areas in the districts of settlements Stanitsa Luganskaya, Gold and Bogdanivka-Petrivske due to poor visibility and safety reasons.

glavcom.ua In Ukrainian/український

Assuming that Putin really wants to provoke a world war, it seems that this saber-rattling has two specific objectives.

While the West accuses Russia of disrupting the negotiations on Syria, Moscow - as in the case of Ukraine - offers its citizens and everyone who is willing to listen, very different subjects: the uncompromising US, determined to keep Islamic terrorists who are struggling with the legitimate Syrian government writes the Financial Times.

"Yet, if we assume that Putin really wants to provoke a world war, it seems that this saber-rattling has two specific goals. First, Russia was to ensure that changes to the US president to help Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to gain an advantage, crushed the rebels controlled the east of Aleppo. It does everything we can to deter Washington from interfering, and she pours in Syrian city as much destruction that survived the Chechen capital Grozny during their separatist war 16 years ago, "- says the article.

Secondly, according to the newspaper, Putin in terms of his return to the plutonium deal included a "shopping list in case negotiations with any newly elected US leader." If this is Trump, on such terms as the Kremlin is ready to "deal" promised the Republican candidate. If this is Clinton, who launched the infamous "reset" relations with Russia on the post of Secretary of State, she will understand that the new restart is only possible in very different circumstances, the author notes.

"Prior to the elections and after the intense weeks we expect", - predicts edition.

glavcom.ua In Ukrainian/український

The West is afraid to drive Russian President Vladimir Putin into a corner because of the presence in Moscow of nuclear weapons, said the Foreign Ministry

Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Olena Zerkal believes that the West is afraid to drive Russian President Vladimir Putin into a corner because of the presence in Moscow of nuclear weapons.

"They are afraid that Putin, being driven into a corner, could use something, the more they would never be taken advantage of," - said Elena mirror.

According to her, disconnection SWIFT, as a sanction against Russia, while not considered.

"Back in 2014 when we went to the last wave of sanctions, we discuss with European partners the opportunity and left it as a last means of pressure. But exclude that possibility exists, we are now at least we can not. Of course, it could be a step due to some very unexpected events, but we hope that these measures will not have to take, "- said the mirror.

She acknowledged that this summer Ukrainian diplomats were not confident in maintaining sanctions against Russia.

Now, according Zerkal Vladimir Putin its actions in Syria gives additional leverage to Ukraine for talks with leaders of Western countries on the continuation and strengthening of sanctions against Russia.

glavcom.ua In Ukrainian/український

Yanukovych gave information about the new address of residence General Prosecutor of Ukraine

Viktor Yanukovych received political asylum in Russia and provided information about the new address of residence General Prosecutor of Ukraine, and therefore expects renovation investigation against itself in the case Maidan.
The broadcast Public lawyer said the former president of Ukraine Vitaliy Serdyuk.

"Yanukovych submitted to the Russian Prosecutor General information about the address of residence a year ago. During this address from the Prosecutor General's Office demanded the investigation, "- said Vitaliy Serdyuk.

"Viktor Yanukovych tried more than two years to resume investigation of the case and achieve transfer it to the court."

According Serdyuk, Prosecutor General's Office refused to accept Yanukovych's residence, not to renew the investigation. However, after the official confirmation from the Russian Prosecutor General's competent authorities shall lose its last argument against the renovation of the case, said the lawyer.

According to him, the investigating bodies and Prosecutor General's Office have become hostages of politicians and do not conduct any action to investigate against Yanukovych, but had come to the former president at residence and to run.

"Now the task of protection - to restore these things and pass them the quickest way to the court to be able in the community to find out who should bear responsibility for them," - said the lawyer.

He also said that Viktor Yanukovych has not received Russian citizenship and does not intend to take it.

Recall the Department of Migration Interior Ministry official confirmed that the former president, Viktor Yanukovych fugitive in Russia under temporary asylum granted to him and is aware of the General Prosecutor of Ukraine.

glavcom.ua In Ukrainian/український

An Aeroflot passenger plane was evacuated at Geneva airport on Thursday and a Russian man was arrested after saying there was a bomb on board, the prosecutor's office in the Swiss city said.

The man told an airline ticket desk just before 1 p.m. local time (7 a.m. ET) that there was a bomb on a plane at the airport, it said in a statement.

"The aircraft, already preparing for take-off on the tarmac, was recalled to its stand. The passengers were taken off, nobody was hurt," it said. Aeroflot said passengers booked on its flight 2381 to Moscow would be transferred to other aircraft.

The man who made the threat was arrested and later admitted making a false bomb threat, saying he had been joking, the prosecutor's office said in a second statement................

Access complete text of the editorial:  reuters.com  In English

Lawmaker and PACE member Nadiya Savchenko who had spent 2 years in a rebels’ prison told PACE members she had gone to the rebel-held territories and communicated with her former captors, European Pravda reports Oct. 13.

Her talks with rebels were so detailed she could feel a change in their mood, Savchenko said.

“70% of the rebels, even my captors, regret they had taken up the arms,” Savchenko claimed.

“The living conditions in the occupied Donbas are miserable. There is a lack of food. Rebels join the army for 15,000 rubles ($240) a month.

The COs of units are Russians. It is actually the Russian army,” Savchenko said.

zik.ua

Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Ivanna Klympush-Tsyntsadze met with senior strategic advisor to Ukraine General John Abizaid.

Censor.NET reports citing the press service of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

Klympush-Tsyntsadze praised the support to the reform of the defense sector provided by the United States. She informed the American counterpart that Ukraine was spending 5 percent of its GDP for the national security and defense.

General Abizaid was impressed by the scale of funding.

According to the U.S. advisor, many reforms have already been implemented in Ukraine but a lot of work is still to be done. He noted that NATO and the U.S. were interested in providing further support to the security and defense reforms in Ukraine. John Abizaid underscored the importance of the already existing solid conceptual framework including the Strategic Defense Bulletin for further reform.

Speaking on the practical implementation of reforms, Mr. Abizaid did not rule out a possible bureaucratic resistance. However, in his opinion, it should not be a significant obstacle since such countries as Lithuania and Poland have successfully overcome similar problems. General Abizaid noted the importance of creation of the Council for Defense Sector Reform, which should include high-ranked strategic advisors from the UK, Canada, Germany, Poland and Lithuania. These advisors will be involved in development of strategic directions of the defense sector reform and monitor its progress.

"The Ukrainian soldiers, who will be trained, armed and equipped under the NATO standards and will be capable to give a rebuff to the aggressor and win battles much more efficiently should become a meaningful result of a real reform of the security and defense sector," Klympush-Tsyntsadze said.

The parties underscored the importance of international unity on the issues of global security and deterrence of the Russian aggression as well as solidarity in response to the violation of international law by the Kremlin.

ua.censor.net.ua In Ukrainian/український

"Meetings of experts will be held, and a pretty serious discussion will take place," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on October 13. "If these expert meetings end with a positive result, there will appear such a chance" for the summit in Berlin on October 19.

In Berlin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman said further work was needed by advisers before any meeting between the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany, and France was possible.

Meanwhile, French President Francois Hollande called on all parties to commit to a detailed "road map" setting out the steps required for "the reestablishment of Ukraine's control of its border with Russia."

Hollande's office issued the statement after talks by telephone with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko........

rferl.org

Russia has mounted a campaign of covert economic and political measures to manipulate five countries in central and eastern Europe, discredit the West's liberal democratic model, and undermine trans-Atlantic ties, a report by a private U.S. research group said, according to Reuters.

"In certain countries, Russian influence has become so pervasive and endemic that it has challenged national stability as well as a country's Western orientation and Euro-Atlantic stability," said the report of a 16-month study by the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington and the Sofia, Bulgaria-based Center for the Study of Democracy, Reuters wrote. The report is released amid an unprecedented debate in the United States over whether Russia is attempting to interfere in the upcoming presidential election with cyber attacks and the release of emails from the campaign of Democratic Party candidate Hillary Clinton. The former U.S. Secretary of State's campaign has said the Kremlin is trying to help Republican Donald Trump win the White House.

On Friday, the U.S. government for the first time formally accused Russia of hacking Democratic Party organizations. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday rejected allegations of any interference in the elections. A former U.S. State Department official is the report's lead author and U.S. officials said they concur with the findings on Russia's involvement in Eastern Europe. "The Russians have been engaged in a sustained campaign to recapture what Putin considers their rightful buffer in Eastern Europe, and to undermine not just NATO and the EU, but the entire democratic foundation of both institutions," said a U.S. official who has studied Russian behaviour since before the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991. Read also A powerful Russian weapon: The spread of false stories – NYT The official requested anonymity because, he said, the White House has ordered officials not to publicly discuss hostile Russian activities....................

Access complete text of the editorial: unian.info  In English

On the eve of the US presidential elections, the current state and the prospects of the US-Russian relations are a frequent subject of the debates and numerous media publications. However, all of them typically concentrate on a particular aspect of the relations, while leaving the general picture outside their focus.

There is no question that the nature of the US-Russian relations is largely determined by their nuclear and missile arsenals capable of destroying both countries. That was recognized by Washington and Moscow during the Cold War and is still generally accepted today. Without a doubt, the relations between two super powers have recently reached their lowest point since the height of the Cold War times. In this context, one should not forget the strategic plans of Putin towards the US that are often masked by Kremlin's assurances of common interests, especially since when those interests differ, so do the tactics of the Russian leader.

As for the tactics, sometimes Vladimir Putin likes to blackmail Washington. For example, that was his approach most recently when he announced his decision to walk away from a long-standing plutonium disposal agreement with the United States. By the way, this attempt to publicly blackmail a counterpart by threatening to pull out of a treaty, in itself, speaks volumes about Mr. Putin's view of the outside world and the US..................

Access complete text of the editorial:  uatoday.tv In English

The current situation on the world scene like a "cold war under development"

Syrian President Bashar Assad said the smell in the air of the Third World War. He said this in an interview with "Komsomolskaya Pravda".

Assad the question of whether or not the Syrian conflict start World War III, said that now the main source of the problem is terrorism. He added that the current situation on the world scene like a "cold war under development."

"We see an escalation of the conflict, but the main goal (USA) - to save the American hegemony over the world, not to allow anyone to be a partner in the political or international arena, be it Russia or even its allies in the West. Therefore, it is the smell of war, which you describe as the third world war, there is in the air, but it's not a direct military clash, "- he said.

Recall that Russian aircraft have resumed attacks on residential neighborhoods in the east of Aleppo , which is under the control of rebels. According to Syrian activists, the city is undergoing the most massive bombardment in recent days.

As reported, on October 11 in Syria Russian military planes resumed bombing of rebel-controlled parts of Aleppo. As a result avianalotu least 41 people died, among them - children.

Earlier, the chairman of the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs Elmar Brok, chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Bundestag and member of the CDU Norbert Rettґen and Catherine Ґerinґ-Ekkardt of the Green Party said about the need to introduce new sanctions against Russia because of Moscow's actions in Syria, leading to the deaths of many civil.

At the same time, the prime ministers of three German federal states were against the introduction of new sanctions against Russia because of the situation in Syria and called the existing sanctions counterproductive.

Also, October 7 Russian State Duma ratified the Russian-Syrian agreement on the permanent placement of Russian aviation group in Syria. With the ratification of all present unanimously voted 446 deputies.

The document was signed on August 26, 2015 in Damascus, and almost a year later, August 9, 2016, submitted by the President of Russia to the State Duma.

Recall the famous financier George Soros turned to the Russians and the world community to influence Russian President Vladimir Putin on the issue of the military campaign in Syria.

glavcom.ua In Ukrainian/український

The delegation included 18 people

The delegation of deputies of regional councils and representatives of business community of Italy arrived in occupied Crimea. The chairman of the board of the "Yalta International Economic Forum" Andrei Nazarov, reports RIA "Novosti" .

It is reported that "official part" of the visit will last from 14 to 16 October. The delegation consisted of 18 members representing the five regions of Italy.

Recall, July 29 in the Crimea occupied by a delegation of 11 French MPs led by deputy Natszboriv, co-chairman of the Association "Franco-Russian Dialogue" Thierry Mariani. There they were accompanied by the head of the Duma Committee on CIS Affairs Leonid Slutsky.

Note that half of the members of the French delegation attending the second time occupied Crimea. Past trip took place in summer 2015

Later it became known that the Crimean prosecutor's office opened a case on the French deputies who visited the peninsula.

Note Italian Foreign Ministry said the support of the territorial integrity of Ukraine . In turn, the Ukrainian diplomats have repeatedly said that the visit of foreign citizens in the occupied territories without the consent of the Crimea Ukrainian party violate the law.

ua.112.ua In Ukrainian/український

Obama will discuss with his advisers Aleppo on October 14

President Barack Obama meeting with advisers on foreign policy, which will be held October 14 to discuss options for military operations in Aleppo, including a proposal to inflict air strikes on military bases Bashar Assad. This agency reported Reuters , citing senior US officials.

It is noted that some senior officials believe that the US must act more aggressively in Syria not to lose influence on the Syrian opposition groups as well as Arab, Turkish and Kurdish allies. Among the options considered - air strikes on military bases Syrian troops, their ammunition depots, radar and anti-aircraft bases. However, according to the source, Obama is unlikely for it to not started direct confrontation with Russia.

Another course of action - to allow US allies in Syria Syrian opposition groups to deliver more sophisticated weapons except anti-aircraft missiles. However, at a meeting with Obama a final decision on further plans for Syria can not be accepted, said the interlocutors Reuters.

Earlier editions reported that the US is discussing tough, including power, response options for the restoration of the fighting in Aleppo Syria.

Earlier it was reported that Paris is preparing an appeal to the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in The Hague for consultations beginning on investigations of possible war crimes committed in Syria.

Recall that Russia has blocked a UN Security Council resolution on Aleppo , prepared by France. Later, the UN Security Council voted against the resolution of on Aleppo .

At the same time, the Syrian opposition is demanding the EU to introduce new sanctions against Russia because of air strikes .

8 October High Representative of the Syrian opposition negotiating committee Bassma kodmann said that since the troops massed attacks by Assad and Russia Aleppo killed 400 civilians.

ua.112.ua In Ukrainian/український

The European Court of Ukraine ordered the government to compensate the legal costs of ex-president Viktor Yanukovych.

This is stated in a press release the British law firm Joseph Hage Aaronson LLP , which is published on their official website.

"The European Court of Justice rejected the appeal of Ukraine on the compensation order her legal costs of President Viktor Yanukovych and his sons," - said in a press release.

Rellizom According to the company, despite the fact that in March 2015 the EU General Court ordered the government to reimburse legal fees Ukraine President Yanukovych and his sons, "the representatives of Ukraine waited more than a year before the June 2016 attempted to appeal the decision of the European court of justice, the highest court of the EU. "

The decision of the court of 5 October Ukrainian government not only incurred expenses in connection with a failed entry into the process, but also the costs of the unsuccessful attempt to appeal.

As reported by the "Observer", in March, the Court of Justice ordered Ukraine to pay Viktor Yanukovych and his sons UAH 6.3 million as compensation for their costs as plaintiffs in the case of cancellation of property sanctions.

ukr.obozrevatel.com In Ukrainian/український