Ukraine crisis. News in brief. Wednesday 30 November. [Ukrainian sources]

WEDNESDAY

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NEWS:
Ukrainian Armed Forces to conduct exercises regardless of Russia’s "missile" threats. Moscow threatens Kyiv to down its missiles and hit launching pads. Poroshenko announces contest for Odesa governor. Russia spends over $6B yearly on war with Ukraine.  Russia refuses to pay bills for water supply in occupied Luhansk.  Ukraine reports 1 KIA, 2 WIA in Donbas in last day.

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If Ukraine goes ahead with its plan to hold training missile launches near the border with Crimea, Russia will shoot down the missiles and hit the launching pads, Russia’s defense ministry told Ukraine’s military attaché in Moscow, DT reports, citing sources in Ukraine’s defense ministry.

Ukraine’s military attaché was summoned by Russia’s defense ministry on Nov. 22 as soon as Kyiv’s plans became known.

In his response, Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksandr Turchynov said the Russians should not panic.

He stressed the launches of missiles are in compliance with Ukraine’s international obligations and will be held in Ukraine’s sovereign air space.

zik.ua

Speaker of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine on the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) matters Andrii Lysenko says no one has the right to threaten Ukraine while the Armed Forces are committed to conduct scheduled exercises on its territory.

As reported by Censor.NET citing Ukrinform, he said commenting on the reports on Russia's threats to retaliate Ukraine's missile-firing test near the administrative border with occupied Crimea.

"We are going to carry out all firing tests and exercises on Ukraine's sovereign territory and no one will tell us what to do here," Lysenko said.

The speaker stresses that Ukraine is a state governed by the rule of law which holds all its military exercises according to schedule. Ukraine fulfills all its obligations under the international treaties to provide early exercise warnings according to the international standards while all scheduled activities will definitely be held.

"As for the threats, they cannot thwart plans of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to conduct exercises on the sovereign territory of Ukraine," Lysenko said.

Earlier, on Nov. 25, the Defense Ministry of the Russian Federation presented Ukraine's Defense Attaché in Moscow a diplomatic note in connection with Ukraine's plans to hold missile-firing exercise near occupied Crimea.

Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency said Nov. 29 that Ukraine had allegedly established new danger zones for flights over the neutral waters of the Black Sea and partly over the Black Sea territorial waters to the southwest and southeast of the occupied Crimean Peninsula.

ua.censor.net.ua, In Ukrainian / на українській мові

$3 billion is allocated for financing of the occupied areas, and over $3 billion - for military expenses.

This was announced by National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksandr Turchynov in an interview to Interfax-Ukraine, Censor.NET reports.

"According to our estimates, we are speaking of more than $6 billion yearly. $3 billion is spent on financial support of these occupied territories, and more than $3 billion - on military expenses," Turchynov said answering a question of how much Russia spends on support of occupied areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine.

ua.censor.net.ua , In Ukrainian / на українській мові

France and Germany have supported Ukraine’s demand that bills for water supply in Luhansk be paid by Russia, Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said Nov. 30, Espreso.TV reports.

 “I explained in detail the water-supply issue, proving that the Russian side is guilty of the impasse, refusing to reach a compromise.  Luhansk authorities are to pay for water supplied by Ukraine. They collect water payments from individuals and businesses,” Klimkin said.

The foreign minister also urged Luhansk authorities and their patron Russia to give access to the occupied territories to foreign observers.

zik.ua

A Ukrainian soldier was killed and another two were wounded in action in the zone of the Anti-Terrorist Operation in eastern Ukraine in the last 24 hours, according to Andriy Lysenko, speaker for the ATO at Ukraine’s Defense Ministry has told a Wednesday briefing, according to an UNIAN correspondent.

Lysenko said that the soldier was killed in Kamenka, while the two troops sustained wounds in enemy attacks near Novozvanivka.

As UNIAN reported earlier, according to the press center of the ATO Headquarters, Ukrainian positions came under fire 31 times over the past day. At the same time the terrorists fired at a number of settlements from different types of weapons, including banned arms.......

unian.info

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has announced an open competition for the position of chairman of the Odesa Regional State Administration.

Censor.NET reports citing a relevant order published on the presidential website.

"Announce a competition for the vacant post of chairman of the Odesa Regional State Administration," the order reads.

ua.censor.net.ua , In Ukrainian / на українській мові

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has canceled agreements with the Russian government on cooperation in the field of television and radio broadcasting and on cooperation in the information area.

"Draft resolution on termination of the agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of Ukraine on cooperation in the field of television and radio broadcasting and the agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the Russian Federation on cooperation in the field of information," said Stets, presenting the document.......

unian.info

Recently, the Russian Ministry of Defence disclosed logistical data of railway traffic to other countries for the upcoming year.

It revealed that the Kremlin is planning to significantly increase the amount of military cargo headed for Belarus.

This may be a sign that Moscow is preparing to redeploy a large number of Russian troops to Belarus in 2017.

A piece by Belarus Digest predicted that the Kremlin is trying to transform Belarus into a flash point for menacing NATO and Ukraine by deploying its military capabilities on Belarusian territory.

Unfortunately, this prediction is corroborated by the aforementioned logistic data, as well as the fruitlessness of the recent meeting between Alexander Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin in Moscow....................

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

Ordinary people have lost trust and US wheeler-dealing could push them towards Russia

Since Donald Trump won the US election, there has been anxiety over what the tycoon’s victory means for eastern Europe. Will Ukraine be the big loser as the new American president tries to cut a deal with Vladimir Putin over Syria? Can we expect a fresh round of Russian-inspired hybrid war in eastern Ukraine or even more Russian military incursions elsewhere in the region?

A new military scenario looks unlikely, if only because Mr Putin is desperate to see western sanctions on his country lifted. But the concern masks a more urgent problem. Even before Mr Trump won the White House, much of eastern Europe was already living in Trumpland, where business and politics are fused and politics is more about making deals than building institutions.

The sight of a billionaire businessman capturing power is familiar to the people of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia. Each is run, formally or informally, by a wealthy tycoon. The godfather of Georgian Dream, Georgia’s ruling party, former prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, is estimated to be worth about $5bn, more than one-third of his country’s gross domestic product. Moldova’s richest man, Vladimir Plahotniuc, is also its de facto leader, while Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko is one of the wealthiest men in his country.

For years, tiny Moldova was known as eastern Europe’s “champion of reform”. It was granted visa-free travel and an association agreement with the EU before any of its neighbours. Yet on November 13 Moldova apparently rejected Europe by electing Igor Dodon a pro-Russian socialist to the post of president, a position with limited constitutional powers but symbolic importance....................

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

Question conduct missile firing exercises as part of the Black Sea or not already on the political. This is in the comments Commander said Sergei Zhurets, director of information and consultancy Defense Express.

"Russia claimed the territory which is not. If we give in to this pressure and will not carry out tests, we recognize the right of the Russian Federation in Crimea, which is not. Purely technical questions plane turned into a political "- said the expert.

"I think the test should be carried out in any weather, without ignoring all actions of the Russian Federation. I believe that Ukraine does not cancel the test if the issue is not linked to willingness or unwillingness for such tests,"- said Zhurets.

glavcom.ua , In Ukrainian / на українській мові

This intimidation from Russia, said Tenyukh

Igor Tenyukh, acting Minister of Defense of Ukraine (February 27 - March 25, 2014) in the comments Commander said that Russia is bluffing and no impact on Ukraine because of our missile tests will not cause.

" This intimidation from Russia. Somehow Russia is asking us - came and took away the Crimea. She was not interested in any international rules. And we are acting in accordance with international rules, have the right to pursue their education. So I think it's bluffing and did not commit Russia", - said Tenyukh.

Recall, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine intends to hold the 1 st and 2 December the Black Sea missile test firings and. However, Russia, which occupied Crimea, adamantly against it. 26 November Defense Ministry sent a corresponding letter to the Defense Ministry of Ukraine, threatening that if the exercise zbyvatyme Ukrainian missile and attack the Ukrainian rocket launchers. Official Kyiv expressed concern similar reaction. They say that Ukraine has in its territory, all announced its intention to conduct training. Thus in Kiev do not exclude that the Russian statement can be materialized. "Given the actions of the Russian Federation over the years, from it you can expect a lot of bad and negative" - said Deputy Defense Minister of Ukraine Oleksandr Dubliany.

And, apparently, the Ukraine does not intend to abandon the exercise. Speaker of Defense for ATO Andrei Lysenko was even more categorical in statements. "We have a territory, and no one will tell us what to do" - he said. According to Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov, according to all international agreements, the sovereign airspace of Russia in the Black Sea ends in the middle of the Kerch Strait. Meanwhile troops of air defense in occupied Crimea switched to enhanced mode.

glavcom.ua , In Ukrainian / на українській мові

Four people turned to doctors for medical care

In a cafe in Kharkiv there was an explosion. There are victims.

The incident occurred at night on November 30. According to preliminary police data, the facility was faulty gas tank.

Most likely it is he exploded.

As a result of the incident, four people turned to doctors for medical help.

Law enforcement officers set all the circumstances of the event.

glavcom.ua , In Ukrainian / на українській мові

Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia are used to a billionaire businessman in power

Since Donald Trump won the US election, there has been anxiety over what the tycoon’s victory means for eastern Europe. Will Ukraine be the big loser as the American president tries to cut a deal with Vladimir Putin over Syria? Can we expect a fresh round of Russian-inspired hybrid war in eastern Ukraine or even more Russian military incursions elsewhere in the region?

A new military scenario looks unlikely, if only because Mr Putin is desperate to see western sanctions on his country lifted. But the concern masks a more urgent problem.

Even before Mr Trump won the White House, much of eastern Europe was living in Trumpland, where business and politics are fused and politics is more about making deals than building institutions.

The sight of a billionaire businessman capturing power is familiar to the citizens of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia. Each is run, formally or informally, by a wealthy tycoon. Bidzina Ivanishvili, the former prime minister and the godfather of the ruling party Georgian Dream, is estimated to be worth about $5bn, more than one-third of Georgia’s gross domestic product...............

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

The senators asked Obama to declassify information about ties with the US elections

A team of US senators from the Democratic Party has asked President Barack Obama to publish more information on possible intervention in Russia's presidential election in the US, according to The Atlantic .

The letter was sent to the president on Tuesday. It was signed by six members of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a board member of the armed forces. In it they asked to reveal additional information about the Russian government and US elections, which should be declassified and publicly available. "By that similar calls were heard before the House of Representatives.

In July 2016 hackers broke into the servers of the US Democratic Party. Democratic candidate for president, Hillary Clinton said that this involved the Russian special services.

In October, the US government officially accused Russia of hacking address US political parties, as well as interference in the presidential elections in the country. The Kremlin called the allegations "nonsense."

October 3rd US Secretary of State John Kerry said that America will respond to hacker attacks on President Barack Obama set time.

Recall, despite the defeat in the presidential election in the US, Hillary Clinton increased the lead of Donald Trump on the total number of votes cast for it. As the processing of election results lead from Clinton Trump is already 2 million votes.

Presidential elections in the US on 8 November. The victory in the elections won Republican Donald Trump, he will become the 45th US president. His inauguration will take place on 20 January 2017.

Trump won, gaining 290 electoral votes needed at 270. His rival from the Democratic Party, Hillary Clinton received only 218 votes.

ua.112.ua , In Ukrainian / на українській мові

According to Peskov, Putin and Erdogan between "held a wide exchange of views

Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the Syrian situation in Aleppo Syria as a whole, said the Kremlin press service.

About the conversation was reported. In a statement, the Kremlin said that the president continued, "a thorough exchange of views on the Syrian issues, including the situation in Aleppo."

A spokesman for the Russian president, Dmitry Peskov, in an interview with reporters also did not disclose details of the call, limiting the phrase that between Putin and Erdogan "held a wide exchange of views."

On the eve of the Kremlin demanded clarification concerning the application Erdogan that Turkey Syrian aim of the operation - to overthrow the regime of Bashar al-Assad, which Russia considers legitimate president of Syria and its ally.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the Turkish army carried out jointly with the Free Syrian Army from August 2016 on the territory of Syria "Operation Shield Euphrates" is to overthrow Assad.

"We are here to restore justice. We came to Syria to end the rule of the cruel tyrant Assad, who has held the country's state terror" - said the Turkish president.

ua.112.ua, In Ukrainian / на українській мові

Support for Ukraine from the United States prevented the expectations of that could easily "get to Kyiv."

This was stated by US Secretary of State, John Kerry, said the US Embassy in Ukraine on his Facebook.

"We strongly support a democratic Ukraine, and those who complain should look at the reality: our approval, our involvement, our support for Ukraine actually prevented the expectations of that is easily accessible to Kyiv" - said Kerry.

According to him, during the last year Moscow has paid a huge price as a result of sanctions.



Recall, the European Union formally extended sectoral sanctions against Russia due to annexation of Crimea and Donbas military aggression, by 31 January 2017. In addition, the US imposed new restrictions against three Russian companies.

ukr.obozrevatel.com , In Ukrainian / на українській мові

Russia has moved to a new stage and provoke an escalation of military aggression against Ukraine.

This was stated by Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Alexander Turchinov, the press service of the National Security Council.

"The threats to use weapons against Ukraine - an attempt to transfer the active phase of the hybrid war that Russia is against our country over the last three years", - he said in response to a statement on readiness of its armed forces to strike military targets in Ukrainian territory.

Turchynov added that along with threats to use weapons, Russia deploys new Division directly at the Ukrainian border.

"November 29 in Moscow at the meeting of the Defense Ministry Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has reported on the completion of two mechanized infantry divisions (3 rd and 144 th MSD 20 and Western PA) deployed in the Belgorod and Voronezh regions in close proximity to the Ukrainian border" - said Turchinov, adding that the division is fully staffed (70% are contract soldiers) and equipped with modern weapons and military equipment.

ukr.obozrevatel.com , In Ukrainian / на українській мові