Ukraine crisis. News in brief. Thursday 25 May, [Ukrainian sources]

THURSDAY

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NEWS:
Russia must be held accountable for its actions in Crimea, eastern Ukraine - Trump.  Court sentences Russia’s agent Apukhtin to 6-year imprisonment for separatism.  Poroshenko team falls apart, Zhdanov pointed to the threat of political revenge Kremlin in Ukraine.  In the FSB announced the arrest of terrorists in Moscow with explosives ISIL.  Since the beginning of the year in the Donbass 44 civilians were killed and 181 - injured. Sanctions against Russia - it is a matter of the EU and the US, but I support them, - Stoltenberg. Ukraine from July 1, may stop rail passenger service with the Russian Federation.

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Ukraine plans to discontinue passenger rail service to Russia on July 1.

About this newspaper " Kommersant ", citing sources close to the government, reports Tsenzor.NET .

"Ukraine is preparing to discontinue passenger rail communication with Russia roughly from July 1", - said the source.

According to him, the pretext for such a decision would be reluctance to "Russian Railways" (RZD) "stop passenger transportation in Russia from the ATO zone and, in particular, Donetsk, which violates the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. " At the moment, from the occupied Donetsk to Russia Taganrog runs train, the ticket price of which is 17 rubles.

In the State Administration of Railway Transport of Ukraine "Ukrzaliznytsia" said that Kiev has not officially take appropriate restrictive solutions.

"plans to suspend passenger has not officially confirmed nor in Kiev or Moscow However, the Ukrainian edition of the interlocutors insist. Decision "actively lobbying" the NSDC Secretary Oleksandr Turchynov and the speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Andrei Paruby, whose tough stance in recent years have increasingly been supported by President Petro Poroshenko "- the newspaper writes.

The Railways have said they have not received from Ukraine of any documents on the termination of passenger traffic with the Russian Federation.

ua.censor.net.ua , Original in Ukrainian / на українському

NATO supports the sanctions of the European Union and the US imposed against Russia in response to its aggression against Ukraine.

As reported Tsenzor.NET referring to " Ukrinform ", it was stated by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Thursday before a meeting of Heads of State and Government of the countries of the Alliance in Brussels.

"It's a question of the EU and the United States to impose economic sanctions, but I want to speak out in support of these sanctions." - said Stoltenberg.

He noted that Russia has always been on the agenda of NATO, and this issue will also be discussed at the meeting of the leaders of the Alliance today.

Stoltenberg also said that NATO is increasing its military presence on its eastern borders in response to Russia's aggressive actions in eastern Ukraine

ua.censor.net.ua , Original in Ukrainian / на українському  

Special Monitoring for Security and Cooperation Mission in Europe (OSCE SMM) states that since the beginning of the year 44 civilians were killed and 181 injured as a result of the conflict in Donbas.

This was at the briefing said the first deputy head of the OSCE mission in Ukraine Aleksandr Hug, transfers Tsenzor.NET with reference to Ukrainian News .

"Since the beginning of this year, as of May 24, we have confirmed information on 225 cases of civilian casualties 44 killed, 181 -. Wounded," - Hug said.

on May 15-21, when there was a decrease in the level of violence, the mission has recorded the presence of 6 civilian casualties, including 1 victim.

In the period from 8 to 14 May mission recorded the presence of 16 civilian casualties, among them - 5 dead.

During this entire period (8-21 May), according to Hug, 81% of civilians affected by the attacks, 14% - from the fire of small arms, and almost 5% due to the detonation min.

In addition, Hug said that from January 1 this year, the mission confirmed the information about 50 civilian casualties as a result of the detonation min.

Of the 34 wounded, he said, 14 women, 16 men and 4 children; 16 dead - 4 women, 11 men and 1 child.

ua.censor.net.ua , Original in Ukrainian / на українському  

The Kyiv district court of Kharkiv sentenced leader of the South-East movement Yurii Apukhtin, who headed the local Antimaidan in the spring of 2014, to six years in prison.
As reported by Censor.NET referring to UNIAN, the court found Apukhtin guilty of crimes punished by part 1 of article 294 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (riots) and part 3 of article 109 (calls for the overthrow of the constitutional order).

The court accepted as proven that Apukhtin publicly called to attack buses with the law enforcers who were maintaining public order on Svobody Square and inside the Kharkiv Regional State Administration building on April 8, 2014. He also called during several rallies not to recognize the acting authorities and show them organized resistance seeking federalization of the state and creation of an administrative-territorial unit which was to include Ukraine ' s southern and eastern regions.

The court qualified a plea of non-guilty made by Apukhtin as a desire to dodge responsibility.

The court sentenced him to six years in prison for multiple offenses. The court placed him in custody pending entering of his sentence into force on July 22.

In turn, the defendant said he considered his verdict unlawful. He added that those involved in bringing him to justice would pay heavy price.

"I consider the verdict to be unjustified. It is subject to cancellation, therefore, it will be definitely appealed against," Apukhtin's lawyer Dmytro Tikhonenkov told a briefing.

"I believe this sentence to be unwarranted. I'm so outraged as a citizen. I see it as an undisguised political persecution. As for the indictment brought against Apukhtin today, everyone who was on the Maidan in 2014 can be brought similar charges against. But they cannot be brought against Apukhtin today," Tikhonenkov stressed.

As reported, the pre-trial investigation found that Apukhtin organized riots outside the Kharkiv Regional State Administration building in April 2014. He repeatedly called for a violent overthrow of the constitutional order, non-recognition of the acting authorities, creation of the so-called "Kharkiv People's Republic" (KhPR), and adoption of the "KhPR Constitution".

ua.censor.net.ua , Original in Ukrainian / на українському

U.S. President Donald Trump underscores importance of convincing Russia to fulfill its commitments under the Minsk Agreements.

As reported by Censor.NET citing the White House, Trump said Wednesday at meetings with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni.

The U.S. president reaffirmed transatlantic unity in holding Russia accountable for its actions in Crimea and eastern Ukraine, and noted the importance of convincing Russia to fulfill its commitments under the Minsk Agreements.

ua.censor.net.ua , Original in Ukrainian / на українському

Employees of the FSB in Moscow arrested members of a terrorist organization "Islamic State" who prepared the attacks in public transport.

It is reported by the Public Relations of the FSB, Russian news agency RIA Novosti.

It is noted that a group of terrorists were 4 people including a Russian citizen and 3 native of Central Asia.

The audit security forces found a laboratory for the production of explosives, home-made bomb components for making explosive devices and firearms, ammunition, grenades, literature and videos extremist and terrorist orientation.

Actions of terrorists led curators from Syria.

apostrophe.ua , Original in Ukrainian / на українському  

Amid growing likelihood of early elections crumbles team president Petro Poroshenko, which creates favorable conditions for the victory of pro-Kremlin political forces in Ukraine.

This opinion was expressed by military expert Oleg Zhdanov in a video blog on the "apostrophe" .

He pointed out that the team president loses key positions, such as the National Bank of Ukraine, where after a visit to Washington just ran Valeria Hontaryeva.

"She came and announced his last day working day and articulate it to the whole country through the media. It just bluntly said," I go, "and slammed the door," - said the expert.

According to him, such a demarche indicates that the team president begins to fall apart.

apostrophe.ua , Original in Ukrainian / на українському

US President Donald Trump and the European Union have a common position on Ukraine.

This was stated by the head of the European Council Donald Tusk after meeting with US President, reports "Espresso" .

Tusk said after meeting with the US President, it seems that now they Trump "are on the same wavelength with regard to Ukraine."

Note today, May 25, Donald Trump is involved in the summit, which takes place in Brussels.

Yesterday, March 24, US President Donald Trump at a meeting with Italian President and Prime Minister Mattarelleyu Sergio Paolo Gentiloni said that the Russian Federation should be held accountable for their actions in Crimea and Donbas and fulfill Minsk agreements.

apostrophe.ua , Original in Ukrainian / на українському

The repressive behavior of the Russian authorities indicates uncertainty and fears of the ruling elite.

This was told the Russian opposition politician, coordinator of the movement "Open Russia" Vladimir Kara-Murza in an interview with the Russian newspaper Delfi.

According to the opposition in Russia is practically impossible to assess the real support of the current government, because the repressive conditions of sociological principles work correctly.

In an environment where you can go to prison for opposition views, people are afraid to openly express dissatisfaction.

"We now hear that they have 80, 90 percent support. You know, when in power 90% support, it will not falsify the elections, journalists plugging his mouth and beat people. So the authorities looked hesitant and timid," - said.

As reported by "Apostrophe" earlier in Russia indicated on signs of paranoia President Vladimir Putin.

apostrophe.ua , Original in Ukrainian / на українському

Country replaces China as most feared state-sponsored attacker

The alleged Russian hacking of President Emmanuel Macron’s En Marche party on the final day of the French election campaign this month was perhaps no big surprise. To many who suspect Russia of trying to destabilise western democracy, the attack was a logical follow-on from its supposed interference in last year’s US presidential election.

This and other attacks on US and European targets have, in western eyes, made Russia the most feared state-sponsored cyber attacker. 

China, with its focus on corporate espionage, was previously considered the most serious threat but it has scaled back its operations, experts say. 

Russia has now taken this mantle in both the corporate and political arenas. Daniel Coats, the US’s director of National Intelligence, is clear about the threat the country poses. “Moscow has a highly advanced offensive cyber programme, and in recent years the Kremlin has assumed a more aggressive cyber posture,” he told the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence this month.

Mr Coats added: “This aggressiveness was evident in Russia’s efforts to influence the 2016 US election, and we assess that only Russia’s senior-most officials could have authorised the 2016 US election-focused data thefts and disclosures, based on the scope and sensitivity of the targets.”

James Lewis, senior vice-president at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington DC-based think-tank, says the Russians “probably feel that for the amount of turmoil they created in the US presidential campaign, what they did was something of a success”.....................

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