Ukraine crisis. News in brief. Monday 20 March. [Ukrainian sources]

MONDAY

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NEWS:
PGO asks US to question Paul Manafort,.  US Congress to publicly discuss Russian intervention in presidential election. Clinton made an intriguing statement on the US.  British police arrested Russian hackers attempted to steal two million pounds from banks.  "Trump rating fell to a minimum since his inauguration.  The struggle of workers in the US will deal with people counselor Trump.

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March 20 Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives will hold a first public hearing on the intervention of Russia in last year's presidential election.

As Tsenzor.NET referring to Radio Liberty , the public hearings committee members hear a Federal Bureau of Investigation director James Komi and head of the National Security Agency Mike Rogers. Also invited former Assistant to the President for National Security Michael Flynn, who left his post after media reports about his ties to Russia.

The meeting will discuss the statement of US President Donald Trump that his predecessor, Barack Obama has organized the bugging of his staff during the presidential campaign.

Earlier, the office of the Director of National Intelligence published the unclassified portion of the report on cyber attacks by Russian hackers of the presidential elections in the US. The document stated that a campaign to help Republican Donald Trump win the US presidential election ordered the Russian President Vladimir Putin. US intelligence believes that "with high probability" Putin "ordered hacker attacks to influence the election."

ua.censor.net.ua, Original in Ukrainian / на українській мові

Ukrainian prosecutors want to question Paul Manafort in connection with a corruption investigation and have made repeated requests for assistance from the U.S. authorities.

Censor.NET reports citing CNN.

Prosecutors General's Office of Ukraine (PGO) said they have made seven separate appeals over the past two years for help in questioning President Donald Trump's former campaign manager, including letters to FBI Director James Comey and the U.S. Justice Department officials.

Ukrainian officials said the U.S. has not responded to those requests. U.S. authorities confirmed to CNN that the requests were received but declined further comment.

Under a "mutual legal assistance" treaty, the two countries have agreed to regularly assist each other in law enforcement efforts, such as gathering statements and other evidence for prosecutions.

The official requests from PGO in Kyiv started in Dec. 2014, and involve a corruption case targeting Ukraine's former Justice Minister Oleksandr Lavrynovych.

Manafort has not been charged with a crime. Prosecutors want him to testify, Ukraine's prosecutor for special investigations Serhii Horbatiuk said.

Prosecutors allege that Lavrynovych illegally diverted more than $1 million in government funds to a prominent New York City law firm - Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.

ua.censor.net.ua, Original in Ukrainian / на українській мові

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin has published a reaction to the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin's Twit on annexation of Crimea.

The Russian politician insulted Klimkin for his promise to return freedom to the Crimeans, Censor.NET reports citing Rogozin's Twitter.

''What a slowpoke! They have been free for three years now,'' Rogozin wrote.

Earlier, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin commented on the third anniversary of the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia. He wrote on Twitter that the freedom taken from the peninsula's residents "will be returned."

ua.censor.net.ua, Original in Ukrainian / на українській мові

Police in London arrested two Russian citizens suspected of laundering money through hacker attacks.

As Tsenzor.NET with reference to UNIAN , the Russians suspected of plotting to steal a British clearing banks for more than 2 million pounds. According to police, the man tried to steal using malicious computer programs.

ua.censor.net.ua, Original in Ukrainian / на українській мові

Former Secretary of State and former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton promised to "shed light" on the events taking place in the United States.

This edition reports New York Times .

Clinton made the following statement, speaking to members of the Society of Irish women to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

The major opponent of the current president, Donald Trump, Clinton said that she, like many of its followers, it is difficult to observe what is happening and why it intends to "shed light" on the current political situation. In his speech, Clinton also used the expression "get out of the woods", which in English means "find a way out of difficult situations." However, any clarifications that the same thing is going to tell you, no.

Speech Clinton listened to about 700 persons.

Earlier "Apostrophe" reported error protection staff Donald Trump, who lost a laptop with confidential data on contacts Clinton and the Pope .

apostrophe.ua, Original in Ukrainian / на українській мові

The Russian Federation is trying to increase its influence in Serbia and other Balkan countries to destabilize the situation.

As the Tsenzor.NET referring to "Espresso", it said the head of the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs, David McAllister in an interview with Welt.

He noted that now the citizens of Serbia perceive Russia as one of its biggest supporters, which is why the EU should now make more visible its commitment to the Serbs.

"Moscow is trying to exert a strong influence on the media, some politicians and civil society of the Republic. Russia is pursuing deliberate destabilization in Serbia. It gives us great cause for concern", - said McAllister.

ua.censor.net.ua, Original in Ukrainian / на українській мові

Four pro-Russian militants tried to abandon their positions and were shot by their own comrades from IFV weapons.

Censor.NET reports citing Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

"In the early hours of March 18, four servicemen of the "9th separate assault motorized infantry regiment of the Marine Corps (Novoazovsk)" of the "1st Army Corps" of the Russian Federation tried to leave the militants' positions and moved towards Ukraine-controlled territory," the report reads.
The deserters were detected and shot from an IFV weapon by the militants.

ua.censor.net.ua, Original in Ukrainian / на українській мові

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is really investigating Russia's interference in the U.S. 2016 presidential election.

As reported by Censor.NET citing Ukrainski Novyny, this was announced by FBI Director James Comey at a meeting of the House Intelligence Committee.

Comey said he was authorized by the Ministry of Justice to confirm that the FBI is investigating the Russian government's efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election.

According to him, the investigation includes the examination of any potential contacts between Donald Trump's election campaign representatives and the Russian authorities. The official stressed the complexity of the probe and found it difficult to name the exact end date.

Comey refused to say the names of those investigated, only noting it will be very unpleasant for some of them. The investigation continues, and it's classified, the FBI chief said.

Earlier, Head of the U.S. House Intelligence Committee, Republican Devin Nunez, said he had found no evidence of collusion between the Donald Trump team and the Russian authorities during the presidential campaign.

ua.censor.net.ua , Original in Ukrainian / на українській мові

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has prepared a decision to ban the entry into the country for Russian singer Yulia Samoilova known for visiting occupied Crimea with concerts and chosen to represent Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 in Kyiv in May.

Censor.NET reports citing Interfax-Ukraine.

"The document to ban the entry has been prepared," SBU Head Vasyl Hrytsak told journalists on Monday in Kyiv.

As previously reported, Yulia Samoylova will represent Russia at the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest 2017 in Kyiv with the song Flame Is Burning. The singer is known to have given concerts in occupied Crimea.

The foreign minister of Ukraine considers such a decision of the Russian Federation to be yet another provocation. Russia, in turn, claims it sees nothing provocative in choosing Samoilova for taking part in the contest.

ua.censor.net.ua, Original in Ukrainian / на українській мові

A U.S. military commander says a U.S.-led battalion of more than 1,100 NATO soldiers will be deployed in Poland from the start of April as the alliances sets up a new force in response to the Russian occupation and annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula.

U.S. Army Lt. Colonel Steven Gventer, who heads the battle group, said on March 20 that the battalion was “a mission, not a cycle of training events.”

Gventer said “the purpose is to deter aggression in the Baltics and in Poland” and that the force is “fully ready to be lethal."

More than 900 U.S. soldiers, about 150 British troops, and some 120 Romanian soldiers will make up the battalion in northeastern Poland.

It is one four multinational formations across the Baltic region that Russia has condemned as an aggressive strategy on its frontiers.

Britain, Canada and Germany are leading the other three battlegroups in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania........

rferl.org

Along the coast of Barcelona Spanish Russian chemical tanker "Midvolha 2" provoked flooding of the Spanish fishing vessel El Fairell, resulting in two people were injured, two missing.

It is reported by RIA Novosti.

The incident occurred March 20 in 1.5 nautical miles (about 2.5 kilometers) from the port of Barcelona. The tanker was heading to Alexandria, he "ran" to the fishing vessel El Fairell, bringing it sank. Two fishermen from the vessel were rescued, they received minor injuries and hypothermia and were hospitalized.

The fate of two sailors from a Spanish vessel is unknown, the sea search operation did not produce results. They could be trapped in a flooded vessel, which is located at a depth of 150-170 meters. Divers at that depth can not work. So going to the accident site to deliver work that can descend to a depth of thousands of meters.

It is noted that after the incident, the Russian ship returned to port, the crew interrogated to understand how the collision occurred.

Tanker "Midvolha 2" was launched in August 2014, its load 6290 tons, length 140 meters, width 16 meters. Length potonuvsheho El Fairell boat was 25 meters, width of 6 meters. When the collision, the ship returned to the port of Barcelona.

As reported, "Apostrophe", in April 2016 a fire broke out on the Russian tanker "Palflot 2", which was in the Caspian Sea.

apostrophe.ua, Original in Ukrainian / на українській мові

US President Donald Trump said the need to examine the contacts of election headquarters of former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton to Russia. He wrote in his Twitter.

What about all of the contact with the Clinton campaign and the Russians? Also, is it true that the DNC would not let the FBI in to look?

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 20, 2017

"What about all contacts (representatives - Ed.) Election campaign Clinton with Russian? Also, is not it, that the DNC (Democratic National Committee of the party - Ed.) FBI would not consider it?" - Said in a statement.

The US president remembered his rival in the election before the start of the first round of hearings in Congress Intelligence Committee the issue of alleged interference in Russia's presidential election in the US.

Recall Trump opponents of the US Democratic Party accused members of his team in relations with the Kremlin, is suspected of interfering in the US presidential election.

Earlier, the media reported the purchase of Russian politicians, businessmen, bankers and real estate in the current US president, Donald Trump hundreds of millions of dollars.

apostrophe.ua, Original in Ukrainian / на українській мові

The District Court in Warsaw (Poland) lawyer Stanislav S. sentenced to four years in prison for spying for Russia. This is the agency PAP .

A lawyer who speaks Russian and Polish citizenship, pleaded not guilty. Defence insisted acquittal and the prosecution requested six years.

The materials of the criminal proceedings states that the prisoner was involved in intelligence activities of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Defense Ministry at the expense of state of Poland.

A man was arrested in October 2014, but the trial started in September 2016- th. It took place in a special room by the court are important state interests that appear in the case, and the use of materials covered by the law on the protection of classified material.

Recall, March 17, in Moldova were detained former deputy parliament Yuri Bolbochan in a case of espionage in favor of Russia.

apostrophe.ua , Original in Ukrainian / на українській мові

The main goal pursued by Russia for the conflict in Syria - lifting the West economic sanctions .

This is stated in the report of US intelligence and analysis company Stratfor , which has "Apostrophe".

Another important goal is to provide the Russians room to maneuver in the Black Sea and the Crimea. The report notes that the solution to these issues is directly dependent on the US and EU. In order to achieve the objectives of Moscow can donate a certain extent its relations with Israel and Turkey.

"Russia became involved in the Syrian conflict on the side of loyalists in part to create instruments of influence on the United States and other key states involved in the conflict, and it is constantly seeking ways to pressure. The decision of Moscow to Manbi may have been one of the first signs coordination between the US and Russia on a new administration in the White house. Although the result disappointed Turkey "- according to Stratfor.

Now, analysts predict, the Kremlin intends to rely on part in offensive operations in Rakka. According to them, it can help improve Russia's position and approach the lifting of sanctions.

Learn or prominyaye Putin friendship with Israel and Turkey on the lifting of sanctions, read the article on the website "Apostrophe".

apostrophe.ua, Original in Ukrainian / на українській мові