Ukraine crisis. News in brief. Monday 15 May. [Ukrainian sources]

MONDAY

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NEWS:
European Union supports extended sanctions against Russia  Russian militants ordered to ban Donbas monitors from traveling along 'unplanned routes.  Russian secret services make systemic efforts in Ukraine.  Putin asks the world will not intimidate North Korea. Putin happy that Russia did not go to Eurovision. Putin acknowledged or will run for president.

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The secret services of the Russian Federation monitor issues in Ukraine and region to find bases for provocations.

This was announced by Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) Head Vasyl Hrytsak during briefing on May 15, Censor.NET reports citing Gordon.

"We see a system -- not just single cases in a certain city or an event dedicated to something. We see systemic efforts of these secret services," Hrytsak said.

SBU head added that Russian secret services usually use methods like recruiting people from among patriotic citizens, and infiltrating their own sources in patriotic circles.

"Russian secret services conduct dense monitoring of our state and regional issues that are later used as a basis for holding events aimed at destabilization of the situation," he said.

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

Pro-Russian mercenaries demand that OSCE agrees its routes in the occupied Donbas with them.

As reported by Censor.NET, this was announced by OSCE's press service via LIGA.net on Monday.

"In their Soledar HQ, the Joint Center for Control and Coordination has provided the SMM with an instruction that was issued, as stated by Russian Armed Forces' representative, to "DPR" senior guards serving at checkpoints located in non-controlled areas of the Donetsk region," the press service said.

The document instructs the militants to stop OSCE patrols.

"To ban monitors from passing if they follow 'unplanned routes,' not to communicate with SMM members, and answer "I am not entitled to explain" if asked anything by SMM," the instructions read as quoted by the OSCE press service.

As reported, a United States national was killed in OSCE SUV blast April 23 near the village of Pryshyb in the militants-held territory of Ukraine's eastern Luhansk region. Two more monitors, nationals of Germany and the Czech Republic, were injured. The U.S. State Department said the tragedy "was inexcusable" and promised to punish the guilty.

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

Ukraine's FM said the meeting with his EU counterparts was "very meaningful."

Foreign ministers of the EU who participated in Friends of Ukraine informal meeting have supported extension of sanctions against Russia. This was announced by Ukraine's Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin in Brussels after the gathering, Censor.NET reports citing UNIAN.

"We had a very meaningful meeting with EU foreign ministers, as we managed to discuss security issues with strong messages regarding Ukraine, regarding support, and regarding more pressure on Russia," the minister said.

"Those who were present at the meeting clearly supported more pressure and, of course, extension of sanctions," Klimkin said.

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

Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted if he intends to run for president in 2018, says Tass .

At a press conference the head of state on the basis of an international economic forum in Beijing, one of the journalists said Putin's words that to answer the question - whether he would run in 2018 - should take time. In this regard, the media representative asked "whether time has passed."

"No," - said the president, then moved on to the next question.

As you know, the presidential elections in Russia to be held in March 2018, the official election campaign starts in December 2017. Under the Constitution, Putin has the right to run for a second consecutive presidential term.

glavcom.ua, Original in Ukrainian / на українській мові

Russian President Vladimir Putin commented holding in Ukraine the Eurovision Song Contest
It said the head of Russia at the summit in Beijing "are one - one way," according to RT.

He noted that the Russian government has adopted the right decision when a ban on entry to Ukraine Russian singer Julia Samoilova decided not to delegate to other Eurovision performers.

"In my opinion, the current Kiev authorities are unable to carry out activities of this magnitude," - said Putin.

espreso.tv , Original in Ukrainian / на українській мові

North Korea missile tests could lead to conflict escalation

This was during a summit in Beijing "are one - one way," said Russian President Vladimir Putin, said the publication AFP in its account in Twitter.

He noted that the launch of a ballistic missile power North Korea was counterproductive and dangerous. Thus, the president urged to stop intimidation toward North Korea and said that the conflict should be settled in the form of dialogue.

"Just for us to start this represented no threat. But it certainly provokes crises, and nothing in this no good" - quoted Putin publication "RIA Novosti".

#BREAKING Putin calls for an end to the "intimidation" of North Korea

— AFP news agency (@AFP) May 15, 2017

espreso.tv, Original in Ukrainian / на українській мові

The statement was a response to the defeat last weekend more than 200 000 computers in 150 countries virus program that blocked information and required to pay a $ 300 ransom for unlocking.

The massive expansion of the program on Friday WannaCrypt first registered in the UK and Spain.

Among the affected computer networks were in some hospitals of the British National Health Service (NHS). The local press wrote that in some cases, doctors were forced to cancel the operation.

President of Microsoft, Brad Smith, who is also the chief lawyer of the company, wrote last weekend that its experts "working around the clock to help customers shocked by this incident."

British Broadcasting Corporation reported that its analysis as of Monday morning found paying ransoms worth about $ 38,000.

Attackers demand money in Bitcoin cryptocurrency Web address, which is difficult to trace.

In Microsoft's special responsibility for the situation, because the virus affects computers is using the operating system Windows.

Brad Smith emphasizes that the attackers, who distributed the program "WannaCrypt", used the achievements National Security Agency (NSA), which were stolen by hackers...................

voanews.com, Original in Ukrainian / на українській мові

North Korean authorities said that a new ballistic missile state can tolerate severe nuclear warheads

This edition reports The Associated Press .

It is noted that the latest missile launch Hwasong-12 on 14 May, was the most successful because it has overcome the greatest distance than previous missiles North Korea.

Specialist aerospace John Schilling said that Hwasong-12 has demonstrated the ability to hit the US base on Guam in the Pacific, if necessary.

"This could be a significant step (DPRK - Ed.) Forward in the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles," - said the Shilling.

espreso.tv, Original in Ukrainian / на українській мові

The U.S. Embassy in Ukraine has expressed condolences due to most recent killing of four civilians in Avdiivka and urged to stop fighting in the Donbas.

Our thoughts w/people of #Avdivka&latest victims-inc2kids who lost entire family due2Russian aggression in easternUkraine.Fighting must stop

— U.S. Embassy Kyiv (@USEmbassyKyiv) May 15, 2017

On May 13, four civilians were killed in an attack by Russian militants upon Avdiivka. Two kids aged under 7 had been orphaned.

censor.net.ua , Original in Russian / На русском