Ukraine News in brief. Saturday 18 November. [Ukrainian sources]

SATURDAY HEADLINES:
The US refuses to issue visas to every third Ukrainian.  Russia will withdraw troops from the Donbas in the spring of 2018.  The delivery of lethal weapons to Ukraine involves reforms in the field of defense.  Russia's aggression demands from us a strong response in the form of deliveries to Ukraine of lethal weapons.  US State Department condemned attempts to deny the Holodomor in Ukraine.  Trump began to pay lawyers in the "Russian affair" from his own pocket.  NATO Secretary General: The door to Ukraine is open, but a number of requirements need to be met.  In the annexed Crimea, a passer-by-chance accidentally found a pre-Christian grave on the beach. The exchange of prisoners: Putin's new trick has been revealed in Ukraine.  In Kiev, a killer from Russia was arrested, in the account of which the murder of a journalist, politician and businessmen.  Hackers have stolen the data of ATO participants, breaking the computer of the State Service for Veterans Affairs.  

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The number of refusals to Ukrainian citizens in B-visas for travel to the US somewhat decreased compared to last year

This is  evidenced by  statistics from the US Department of State for 2017 fiscal year.

According to statistics, the proportion of refusals to Ukrainians is 34.54%, that is, at the entrance to the United States deny every third Ukrainian. Last year the rate of failure was 40.83%.

Mostly, the US refuses to issue visas to residents of the Federated States of Micronesia and Western Sahara (100% of refusals), as well as to the Republic of Palau (83.33%), Cuba (77.17%), Burundi (75.55%), Burkina Faso (75.74%), Somalia (75.5%), Afghanistan (72.14%), Eritrea (71.69%), Haiti (71.44%), Gambia (70.27%).

The least of all reject applicants from San Marino, Liechtenstein, Andorra and Monaco - the fraction of the bounce is 0%.

The number of refusals to Russians in non-immigrant visas in the United States is 11.61%.

It is noteworthy that the share of refusals for neighboring with the Americans of Canada is 41.14%.

espreso.tv, Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

The Russian Federation will withdraw its troops from the occupied territories of the East of Ukraine in the spring of 2018.

According to Tsensor.NET, Deputy Minister for Temporary Occupied Territories and Internally Displaced Persons Yuriy Grymchak in the program "Dossier" with Sergey Rudenko on the Espero TV channel .
"This information, which I personally emphasize, was received from several sources in Moscow, and I was even told about the exact time it will take place, this is March-April 2018," said Grymchak.
At the same time, he did not name the names of those people who reported to him.

"You understand what's the case, there are people who are very at risk when transmitting something (information is ed.)," The politician said.

In addition, according to the Deputy Minister, this view is also confirmed in open sources, which, he said, reported that "funding of the occupied areas from Russia for the next year is not foreseen."
"It is also known what month this funding will go - maximum, until September next (2018 - ed.) Year", - said the politician.

Grymchak also drew attention to the fact that in recent years, Russian troops during rotation do not leave the militants with anything from weapons and ammunition.

"They retreated and went out," he explained.

The behavior of the leaders of gangsters also proves the rapid withdrawal of Russian-terrorist troops from the temporarily occupied areas.

"Some executives began to look for housing in Abkhazia, Moscow region," Grymchak added.
As for the return of the Crimean peninsula to Ukraine, it will happen "when Russia falls far harder: both economically and internally."



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

US assistance, which includes $ 350 million in lethal weapons, will be provided under the condition of progress in the key reforms of the Ukrainian defense sector.

This was announced by American senator Rob Portman, reports Tsensor. NET with reference to Ukrinform .

"If the Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine continues and if Russia continues to use hybrid warfare technologies such as propaganda and misinformation, it is very important for the United States and NATO to provide continued economic, political and military support to Ukraine to ensure its democratic future. Independent Ukraine is a key element. not only Eastern Europe, but also affects the wider interests of the United States in the region and beyond, "said Portman.

According to him, the draft law describes in detail the conditions for the provision of assistance and lists such reforms in the Ukrainian "defense": the introduction of civilian control over the military, cooperation and coordination with parliamentary oversight of the military, the improvement of the security and safety management system and the security of sensitive foreign technologies.

The draft provides that defense assistance to Ukraine may for the first time be provided to strengthen marine protection. In addition, the provision of air and coastal defense radar, mine and mint equipment, coastal and coastal equipment is planned. The possibilities of assistance in the treatment and rehabilitation of Ukrainian servicemen considerably expanded.

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

US Senator, member of the Committee on Armed Forces James Inhof sent a letter to US President Dmitry Stream calling for Ukraine to agree on the provision of Ukraine's defense-related lethal weapons
This is reported by the embassy of Ukraine in the United States, reports Tsensor. NET.

According to the Ukrainian embassy, ​​referring to the message of Inhof in Twitter, the Senator emphasizes that this position is reflected in the recently adopted Congressional US Defense Budget for 2017-2018, which, in particular, provides for the provision of security assistance to Ukraine in the amount of 350 million US dollars.

In his letter, Senator Inof recalls the two-party appeal of 27 senators at the beginning of 2017 during the transitional administration, in which US lawmakers called on President Donald Trump to expand the amount of defense aid to Ukraine and provide it with lethal weapons.

James Inhof notes that Russia's capture of part of the Ukrainian lands has become unprecedented in modern history: "Since then, the constant aggression of Russia and its constant refusal to respect the territorial integrity of Ukraine requires us - those who respect the legal order, the strong answer. in the provision of lethal equipment within Ukraine's support so that it can protect itself and deter further Russian aggression."

The senator also noted personal impressions of the seriousness of the situation after two visits to Ukraine carried out to support the training mission conducted by the National Guard of Oklahoma State.

As it was reported, last week the US Senate approved a bill on "US budget for 2018 for the needs of national defense," which contains a $ 350 million allowance to provide security assistance to Ukraine.

The draft law authorizes the provision of Ukraine with lethal weapons of a defensive nature and substantially broadens the parameters of US support for Ukraine in the security and defense spheres.

The document includes provisions that allow US defense budgets to rehabilitate wounded Ukrainian servicemen in United States health facilities, train and train Ukrainian health professionals in this area, and to enhance the capabilities of the air and naval forces of Ukraine.

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

The United States honored the Holodomor events in Ukraine in 1932-33 and condemned the attempts to challenge this historical fact.

This is stated in a statement by the US State Department, distributed by the spokesperson Heather Neuert.

"This month, we recall and honor the millions of Ukrainians who died of hunger in the early 1930s as a result of the brutal policies of the Soviet era of Stalin's time. The barbaric seizure of Ukrainian land and crops, which led to the Holodomor, or "death from hunger", became one of the most brutal acts of the twentieth century, which turned the European breadbasket into a land of immeasurable human suffering", - the statement says.

The US foreign ministry stressed that they supported the Ukrainian people and "honor the memory of this tragedy caused by the Soviet authorities, and condemn attempts to deny this as a historical fact."

The United States also believes in a safe and prosperous Ukraine, "free from external aggression and occupation, and able to choose its own future."

Previously, the US Congress introduced a draft resolution on the recognition of the Holodomor as a genocide of Ukrainians.

hromadske.ua , Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

US President Donald Trump began to pay for the work of attorneys he hired because of an investigation initiated on the ties of his election campaign with the Russian Federation

Reuters reports.

Previously, to pay for the lawyers used donations received by Trump for the next election campaign, and funds from the budget of the Republican Party.

The National Committee of the Republican Party has confirmed that it no longer makes such payments.

In August, Reuters reported that over a month, over $ 230,000 had been paid to lawyers of Donald Trump.

The agency clarifies that several lawyers represent Trump's interests in the investigation of the US Special Forces Prosecutor regarding alleged Russian interference in elections held by the Special Prosecutor Robert Muller.

espreso.tv , Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

The doors of the North Atlantic Alliance are open to Ukraine, but all 29 members of the organization will accept the decision to accept their ranks.

This was stated by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg during the International Halifax Forum, Interfax-Ukraine reports.

"NATO doors are open, and the best proof is that since the end of the Cold War and to date, the number of NATO members has almost doubled. Secondly, this year we also received a new member. Montenegro joined us in the spring and 29 members joined NATO. Consequently, NATO's doors are open. Of course, in order to become a member of NATO, it is necessary to fulfill the requirements of the Alliance, to reform. and Georgia and Ukraine are now focusing on reforms, modernization of defense institutes, fighting corruption and strengthening democratic institutions, "he said.

Answering the question of the Alliance's attitude towards Ukraine's and Georgia's membership, he emphasized that NATO, Canada, and other allies are helping both Ukraine and Georgia implement reforms.

"In the end, the decision to accept or reject new members will be taken by 29 NATO members. No one else has the right to interfere, to veto this process. Each sovereign country has the right to determine its own course, and NATO will decide whether we will expand or not, "added Stoltenberg.

Ukraine's membership in NATO was supported by the Canadian Minister of Defense Khurjit Sajan.

"Ukraine has no stronger support than it receives from Canada. We have more than a million citizens of Ukrainian descent. We are very sensitive to what is happening in Ukraine today - to the illegal annexation of Crimea, events in the Donbass. First, we must solve these problems and work on reforms in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, so they eventually join NATO and become self-sufficient, which is in line with the interests of Ukraine itself, "he said.

Sajaan also confirmed that, provided these problems are resolved, Canada supports Ukraine's full membership in NATO.

"We can not forget about Ukraine. There are 200 of our military. Our efforts in Ukraine are not isolated, they are part of a broader effort, a collective signal of deterrence that is addressed to Russia, "said Sajan.

hromadske.ua , Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

On the central beach of Evpatoria in the annexed Crimea the passer-by has found a stone grave.

According to the website of the administration of the occupied city of the Russian Federation, the scientists attributed it to the era of Kerkinitida - the ancient Greek policy, which was located in this place from the middle of VI century BC.



The approximate age of the discovery - the end of IV - the beginning of III century BC, and, despite this, it is well preserved. In the stone box, the remains of the funeral inventory were found: astragalus (playing bones), two vessels and a small coin.



The small size of the stone box gave the scientists a reason to suppose that this was the tomb of the child.

hromadske.ua, Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

By discussing the topic of the exchange of prisoners , President Vladimir Putin is trying to "portray the aspirations of the peace process," and his quorum, Viktor Medvedchuk, pays attention to this .

This was stated by the coordinator of the "Information Resistance" group, People's Deputy Dmytro Tymchuk in an interview with "Apostrophe".

"As for the prisoners of war, this is such a unobtrusive PR Medvedchuk as a participant of this process, more precisely for his rankings and legitimacy in the eyes of Ukrainians, and he understands that if the Kremlin had a good will to exchange, what Ukraine has been saying for a very long time since from the very beginning, when it was stated that Kyiv was ready to change everyone at all, there was enough Putin's team to have this exchange carried out. Now it looks like the PR of the Kremlin in the sense that Russia is not only in words but also in fact interested in a peaceful dialogue around the conflict Donbas ", - he said.

Timchuk also said that Putin uses this tactic in negotiations on the introduction of a peacekeeping contingent.

Our interlocutor believes that in fact we can not understand the true motives of the Kremlin, because we do not know the details of the negotiations with Putin from the United States.

"But we really do not know the true information from the US side, which argues the White House in a dialogue with the Kremlin. Perhaps these arguments influenced the change of the Kremlin's strategy for Ukraine. At this moment, the Kremlin may have felt the effects of political isolation, economic sanctions and all that was caused by the consequences of Russia's aggression against Ukraine, "said Timchuk.

Read more about the exchange of captives and the strengthening of the troops of the occupants in the Donbass, read in an interview with Dmitry Timchuk, "Apostrophe". "Putin is changing strategy in Ukraine, Russia strengthens troops in the Donbas."

apostrophe.ua , Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

The Security Service of Ukraine, according to the information of the General Secretariat of Interpol, detained two Russian citizens of Chechen nationality, declared in the international search.

One of them, a native of Chechnya, is suspected of committing the alleged assassination of the editor-in-chief of the Russian edition of Forbes Paul Khlebnikov, informs the SBU press service on Saturday.

According to Interpol, a foreigner participated in a number of assassinated murders, including the editor-in-chief of the Russian edition of Forbes, a US citizen Paul Khlebnikov, and a deputy chairman, the head of the apparatus the Government of the Chechen Republic in 2001-2003, "the statement said.

According to intelligence from the intelligence service, after the flight from Russia, the detainee was part of an organized criminal group, which in Ukraine was engaged in extorting money from private entrepreneurs.

In addition, in Poltava region SBU officers detained another citizen of the Russian Federation, who was declared an international wanted. Formerly sentenced for committing serious and especially grave crimes as part of an organized group in the EU, a native of the city of Grozny for a long time hid from the investigation.

"According to Interpol, it became known that a Russian defendant, with the help of his accomplice, escaped from the premises of the court hall in Sandvik City in Norway in 2013. After committing other crimes related to the theft of prestige cars, a citizen of the Russian Federation was filed in an international search in French In order to avoid criminal liability, he hid in different countries forged passports ", - noted in the SBU.

The issue of choosing detainees for a preventive measure and conducting checks for their further extradition is currently being solved.

According to information disclosed by the Security Service, a person named Kazbek Dukuzov may be a Chechen who was involved in the death of Khlebnikov.

At one time, the assassination of Paul Khlebnikov accused the Chechens Musu Vakhayev and Kazbek Dukuzov. In 2006, they were acquitted, but the verdict was revoked by the Supreme Court. For a fresh consideration of the case Dukuzov did not appear - and was declared wanted. Both Vakhayev and Dukuzov were also accused of murdering the deputy head of the Chechen government, Yakov Sargunin, writes "Medusa . "

Khlebnikov was shot dead on July 9, 2004, when he left the editorial office. In the case about his murder accused Chechens Kazbek Dukuzov and Musu Vakhayev, as well as notary Fail Sadrtydinov, who allegedly hired them to commit a crime.

In 2006, they were acquitted, but the verdict was revoked by the Supreme Court. For a fresh consideration of the case Dukuzov did not appear - and was declared wanted. In 2015, the media reported that investigators had learned about the possible stay of Dukuzov in Chechnya.

Khlebnikov's assassination commissioner, according to the investigation, was one of the leaders of the Chechen rebels Khoj-Ahmed Nukhaev, on the basis of conversations with whom the journalist had previously written the book "Conversation with the Barbarian." Nukhaev was declared wanted. According to one version, he could be killed in Chechnya a few months before the assassination attempt on Khlebnikov.

espreso.tv , Original in Ukrainian / Українською мовою

Hackers got access to personal data of ATO participants, breaking the computer of the regional division of the State Service of Ukraine for War Veterans and anti-terrorist operations participants.

Tsensor.NET informs about it , citing the National Police Communications Department.

"Yesterday, November 16, one of the social networks posted information about allegedly breaking the servers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which allowed attackers to access the archives with personal data of the ATO participants. Specialists from the cyberpolice carried out the priority measures, the results of which did not find confirmation of information about server frauds Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.

Today we installed a computer, which broke the hackers to gain access to all information that was placed not only on this device, but also on the entire local network of the unit", - said Sergei Demedyuk, Head of the Department of Cyberpolicies.

He added that the owner of this information is the employee of the regional division of the State Service of Ukraine for War Veterans and participants ATO.

Police officers are now checking for ways to defeat the computer with malicious software. Law enforcers also establish individuals who may be involved in the commission of the incident.

Consideration of the opening of criminal proceedings under Art. 361 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

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