Ukraine News in brief. Sunday 22 October. [Ukrainian sources]

TODAY'S HEADLINES:
A Russian submarine and a warship were noticed near the borders of Latvia.  In Italy, 2 regions that have supported the annexation of the Crimea, hold referendums for the expansion of autonomy. In the occupied Donbass, pro-Ukrainian sentiment is growing.

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In the vicinity of Latvia in its exclusive economic zone, Russian submarines and a warship were seen.

This is stated in the message of the National Armed Forces of Latvia.

"In the Latvian exclusive economic zone 15 nautical miles from the territorial waters, the Navy identified a Russian ship of the PARCH class and a submarine of the KILO class on October 22," the Latvian Armed Forces informed.

A month later, in August, the Russian ship also approached the maritime borders of Latvia .

According to the Ministry of Defense of Latvia, Russian military aircraft and ships in 2016 approached the borders of the country 209 times, in 2015 - more than 270 times, and in 2014 - more than 250.

In early October, an instruction was published in Latvia on combating recruitment and spying.

hromadske.ua , Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

The two richest regions of Italy - Lombardy and Veneto - are holding referendums on the expansion of autonomy on October 22.

This is reported by ANSA.

Referendums are held with the permission of the Constitutional Court, since any region of Italy is allowed to raise such issues in accordance with the constitution of Italy.

There is no quorum in Lombardy, that is, it is supposed that the referendum took place, regardless of the number of voters in the polling stations.

The referendum in Veneto provides for a quorum of 50% plus one voters of those who have the right to vote.

None of the regions does not appeal to voters to consider independence from the rest of Italy.

Regional leaders want more authority for local authorities in areas such as security, migration, education and the environment.

It is anticipated that both regions will vote for enlargement.

It should be noted that on May 18, 2016, the regional council of Veneto - the northeastern region of Italy with the center in Venice - supported the resolution on recognizing the Crimea as part of the Russian Federation and the call to the Italian government to lift sanctions against Russia.

A similar resolution was adopted by the council of Liguria on June 29, and in July 2016 it was supported by the regional council of Lombardy.

hromadske.ua , Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

Among the population of the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, pro-Ukrainian sentiment continues to grow.

As informs Tsensor.NET with reference to UNIAN , about it at a briefing said spokesman of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine on ATO Oleksandr Motuzianik.

"According to the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the population of the temporarily occupied territories of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions continued to grow pro-Ukrainian sentiment and dissatisfaction with the actions of the Russian-occupying forces. In this regard, the enemy increased the number of trainings and the bringing of so-called units to a higher degree. alert practicing with mandatory elements such as repel attacks subversive groups and support local people and organizations circular Defense "- ck Head said.

According to Motuzianik, cases of beating civil servants of Russian servicemen have become more frequent in the Donbass. "Due to the increase in the number of cases of beating by local population of Russian servicemen, the dismissal of the personnel is limited," he said.

ua.censor.net.ua , Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

The doctor who has treated 19-year-old Pavlo Hryb since early childhood has warned of potentially grave consequences if Russia continues to refuse the young Ukrainian proper medical treatment. Instead of allowing Ukrainian doctors to examine Hryb, as demanded by the European Court of Human Rights, Russia’s FSB has instead concentrated on circulating misleading information about the young man and the charges against him. Since Pavlo’s Russian lawyer, Andrei Sabinin, has been forced to sign an undertaking not to divulge any information, details are scant but quite sufficient to expose the serious flaws in the claims made.

Hryb’s state of health

Despite the restrictions placed upon him, Sabinin has been able to provide enough information about Hryb’s condition and the continuing failure to provide him with medication to arouse concern. The young man does not look well and is himself very worried that he will not receive the qualified medical care and medication which his condition requires.

It is likely that this is deliberate policy aimed at increasing pressure on the young man who was initially refused access to a lawyer or the Ukrainian consul. Once the European Court of Human Rights intervened, Russia could no longer maintain his total isolation. It has instead carried out an imitation medical examination and is now claiming that Hryb does not have any condition that would prevent him being held in custody.

This was accepted by the court in Krasnodar who on Oct 18 extended his detention until 4 January 2018. It is unlikely to convince the Court in Strasbourg, as it flies in the face of medical documentation chronicling a lifelong serious diagnosis which has meant he has permanent disability status and which forced him to take a break from his university studies within months after commencing.

At a press conference on Oct 18, Vasyl Prytula, Professor of the Faculty of Pediatric Surgery at the Bohomolets National Medical University and Hryb’s doctor, spoke of the young man’s condition which even under normal conditions would be classified as of medium severity. Where the patient is under stress and in unfavourable conditions, and deprived of supporting therapy, his state of health can only be qualified as grave.

He added that the details provided by Sabinin of ulcers on Hryb’s face, and possibly elsewhere, his bloodshot eyes and weakness could herald haemorrhages or other complications. People with Hryb’s diagnosis, he explains, need to be treated in high-level hospitals. His is a complicated illness that not all doctors know how to treat.

His colleague, Professor Yury Kuchin drew attention to the lack of any need to hold the young man in a SIZO [remand prison], which is simply inhumane given the potential dangers, even to life, for a person in his condition.

As reported, a team of doctors, including Prytula, who has treated Pavlo since he was four, were prevented from seeing the young man on Oct 12.

The FSB’s version................

Access complete text of the editorial:  khpg.org In English