Ukraine crisis. News in brief. Friday 17 February. [Ukrainian sources]

FRIDAY

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NEWS:
US Mission to OSCE: Fighting in one area can quickly ignite clashes elsewhere along line of contact.  Three Ukrainian soldiers killed, 10 wounded over past day.  The leader of the militants threatened to win the Donbass Zakharchenko: "It is our collective task".  Polish journalist on firing militants Avdeevka: "Especially fired at civilian homes, where it is known that people just sit at home and dinner.".  Four Russian servicemen arrested in Luhansk for robbery and attempted rape of a local woman.  In the State Duma of the Russian Federation offered to send to the Eurovision Song Contest in Kiev Kobzon and Army Choir Aleksandrov.

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The risk of another escalation of hostilities in the Donbas remains high due to constant provocations on the part of Russia's hybrid troops and the presence of scores of proscribed hardware at the demarcation line.

This was announced by Chargé d'Affaires to the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna Kate Byrnes, Censor.NET reports.

"We are deeply concerned about information with regard to the presence of Russian military equipment and personnel in separatist-held areas," the U.S. official said.

She recalled that the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine's Feb. 8 weekly report noted 170 weapons in violation of withdrawal lines.

"The close proximity of so many heavy weapons keeps the risk of escalation dangerously high," she said.

Referring to a previous statement by the EU, the U.S. representative stressed that the Russians "deny their responsibility, distort the facts and hinder efforts to resolve the conflict." Unfortunately, according to her, it will be difficult for Ukrainian forces to withdraw their weapons when combined Russian-separatist forces continue to advance, digging into new positions in Sokilnyky and Stanytsia Luhanska.

"Fighting in one area can quickly ignite clashes elsewhere along the line of contact," the diplomat noted. She stressed that both sides must uphold their commitments to withdraw forces from disengagement areas and hold their fire.

"A renewed commitment to a full and lasting cease-fire is urgently needed to protect civilians and critical infrastructure," Byrnes added.

As reported earlier, the OSCE recorded 94 explosions in the Donbas on Feb. 15.

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

Three Ukrainian soldiers died and 10 received injuries in the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) area on Feb. 16.

Censor.NET reports citing the latest update by the ATO Staff press center.

"Unfortunately, three our soldiers were killed, 10 wounded," the message reads.

On Feb. 15, militants carried out 49 attacks on Ukrainian positions.

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

The leader of "DNI" Alexander Zakharchenko has once again declared its readiness to take military action to free the territory of Donbas militants with a view to the occupation.

According Tsenzor.NET with reference to the Russian "Interfax" , he said this at a press conference today in occupied Lugansk.

"We have always said that the liberation of the occupied territories of Donetsk and Lugansk regions - it is our collective task and we have always said that it is desirable to do it by political means if they do not understand, then let me remind you that we can do it and the military.." - he said.

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

Polish journalist Monica Andrushevsky told details shelling February 16 militants Avdeevka. She is confident that the separatists fired on peaceful quarters not accident.



"Three explosions, one after the other. Less than 500 meters from us. Already frame shook the windows. People scream that got into the house on Gagarin 1. Residents of five-story building surrounded by Avdeevka. Instead of one of the balconies gaping big hole from the explosion . It is a mortar of 120 mm caliber, lined with a territory of the separatists. caliber, which is banned by legendary already the Minsk agreements. On the street dust, full of glass fragments. One of the wreckage fell into the head passes right next to the man. He died in the hospital. " Mama I'm alive! "- cries a little girl on the phone between us squeeze rescuers and Ukrainian soldiers go up the stairs a few apartments completely in ruins Fortunately, most empty fifth floor down to the fourth quarter -...... covered third. From the rubble hear the voices of two people. "We are not injured. We want to get out. Let us out! "The neighbors who live near here, put things." What can I say ?! Alive. I do not know why. If the projectile hit a few meters further .... "- Says one of the women just all were at home" - says the Polish journalist Источник: http://censor.net.ua/p428428





According to her, it is clear that the gunmen were firing at civilians is no accident A Ukrainian troops could not bombard residential area, as to their positions a few kilometers..

" This error is simply impossible. Specially fired at civilian homes. In the 18 hours. When it is known that people just sit at home and dinner "- Andrushevsky notes. Источник: http://censor.net.ua/p428428

According to her, in the morning, rescuers continue to search among the debris of a woman who may have been on the fifth floor.



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

In Donbas arrested 4 military Armed Forces, who robbed a local woman, caused her bodily harm and attempted to rape her.

As reported Tsenzor.NET , it said in a statement the press service of the Defense Ministry GUR to Facebook.

"Robbed a local woman, caused her bodily harm and attempted rape February 15 arrested four soldiers 7 separate motorized rifle brigade (Bryanka) 2 AA (Lugansk), the Armed Forces," - said in a statement.

Read the "Tsenzor.NET": Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the OSCE on the occupied Donbas report: "Without attention were killings, disappearances of civilians and the impunity of the Russian military and the militants".

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

Deputy Chairman of the State Duma faction "Fair Russia" Oleg Nilov offered to send to Russia at Eurovision Song Contest 2017 in Kiev, singer Iosif Kobzon and Ukrainophobia Song and Dance Ensemble of the Russian Army named after AV Alexandrov.

"My suggestion is: God bless Joseph Davidovich, send it it together with the choir in Kiev Alexandrova 9 May (for the competition), and if they (Ukraine) refuse, for whatever there reasons, let's take the appropriate action," - he said in Friday, 17 February, at a meeting of the Russian State Duma deputy, reports Tsenzor.NET with reference to Newsru.com .

This Nilov compared the organization of Eurovision in Kiev with the intervention. "One intervention is prepared in such a culture, whether that flank It was on May 9 in Kiev -. The mother of Russian cities - appointed as the Eurovision Song Contest, and is the first time ever on May 9th Eurovision is not started, can turn into a coven when attempting to known forces (competition). , "- said the parliamentarian.

Ukraine won the right to take the Eurovision after winning singer Jamala with the song "1944" at the competition in Stockholm last year. The final is scheduled for May 13 semi-finals scheduled for 9 and 11 May.

A total of Eurovision-2017 will perform singers from 43 countries.

Recall, Iosif Kobzon in 2015 was incorporated by the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine in the list of Russian leaders, who pose a threat to national security.

As for Ensemble Alexandrov, on the eve of the chorus, soloists, orchestra and ballet dancers chief of army staff Russia introduced newcomers during a concert on the stage of the Central Academic Theatre of the Russian Army. 64 ensemble members were killed in the crash of Tu-154 bound for Syria. The aircraft fell into the Black Sea in the morning December 25, 2016. Killing all 92 people aboard. After this tragedy has been declared in the set of the ensemble.

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

Ukrainian border guards has reported increased activity of the Russian armed forces near the administrative border with the temporarily occupied Crimea in the past 24 hours, according to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.

In particular, border guards of Kherson and Berdyansk units have spotted three Russian helicopters lurking along the administrative border without crossing it into mainland Ukraine. They also observed a Rys-type reconnaissance balloon launched close to the border line.

In addition, border guards observed maneuvering by Russian military hardware and troops on their positions close to the administrative border......

unian.info/politics

Avdiivka is still under attack. One of the militant’s shells hit boiler facility of the local secondary school.

Head of the Donetsk military and civil regional state administration Pavlo Zhebrivskyi wrote on Facebook, Censor.NET reports.

"Muscovites continue shelling Avdiivka. One of the shells hit the boiler facility of the secondary school No. 4. Gas from the damaged pipeline caught fire. Utilities crews, which left for the scene, have already stopped the gas leak. The shells are now land on the outskirts and hit positions of the members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine," he wrote.

As reported, the militants shelled Avdiivka's residential neighborhoods late Feb. 16 inflicting damage and civilian casualties.

A local resident, born in 1973, received shrapnel wounds to the neck and head after a projectile landed virtually in Avdiivka's downtown. The man was taken to the hospital, but the doctors failed to save him.

Besides, another local resident, born in 1983, received shrapnel wound to his foot. A 77-year-old man suffered burns caused by damaged heating system after his house was hit by projectile.

In addition, several other apartment houses were damaged in militants' strikes.

The prosecutor's office determined this shelling of Avdiivka's residential neighborhoods as a terrorist attack.

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