Ukraine News in brief. Friday 22 December. [Ukrainian sources]

FRIDAY HEADLINES:
Poroshenko will hold phone talks with Merkel and Tillerson today. There is no better way to restore to the Russian Federation any respect for international law than sanctions - Poroshenko.  Bellingcat has published a map of Ukraine's shelling from Russia.  Russian hackers tried to break the mail of more than 200 journalists around the world.  It all depends on us: named countries that can sell to Ukraine Javelin.  In Russia, they announced the completion of the withdrawal of troops from Syria.  Ukraine should not pay for the gas supplied by Gazprom to the territory of the occupied Donbas.  Photo courtesy of the "mole" from the Cabinet suspected of work on the special services of the Russian Federation.  For Russian gas for the occupied territories of Donbass, it is not necessary to pay - Stockholm arbitration.  Netherlands confirmed Saakashvili's right to citizenship.  In Samara may not have time to build a stadium for the World Cup 2018 to be held in Russia. In Ukraine, successfully tested the newest missile system "Velyka", which can adjust the flight trajectory.  Ukrainian kickboxer Kyshenko knocked Russian Chikhonin in the first round.   

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President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko on Friday plans to hold talks with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel.
As informs Tsensor.NET, informs Interfax-Ukraine.

"I want to state that immediately after our meeting with you, I will have a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and today there will be a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson," said P.Poroshenko at the celebrations on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Ukrainian diplomacy. in Kiev on Friday.

According to the newspaper, the President did not say what would be the subject of telephone conversations with A. Merkel and R. Tillerson, but experts do not exclude that the talk will talk about the situation that has developed around the SCCS in connection with the withdrawal of Russian observers.

ua.censor.net.ua    In Ukrainian/український

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko states that the best way to return to the Russian Federation is to restrict respect for international law, which is why the task of Ukrainian diplomacy remains to work on the expansion of the international coalition of Ukraine's support and strengthening of sanctions.

As informs Tsensor.NET with reference to Interfax-Ukraine, he announced this at a ceremony on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Ukrainian diplomacy in Kiev on



"There is no better way to restore in Russia at least some respect for international law than sanctions, freezing of assets, a ban on visits to civilized countries to those who are directly responsible for the aggressive policy of this state. This way, we must continue to go, gradually expanding the international a coalition of support of our state and strengthening of sanctions ", - said P.Poroshenko.

Read: During the winter session, the PACE will consider the humanitarian consequences of Russian aggression against Ukraine.

The President stressed that the efforts of the Ukrainian diplomatic corps should be aimed at uniting the efforts of the democratic world around the confrontation with the Russian aggressor, "as well as the fact that the aggressor answered for its actions."

"Therefore, relying on its historical experience, the world must understand what to expect from Moscow the miraculous degeneration of democracy is in vain, but trying to calm her - just short-sighted," - expressed the belief of P.Poroshenko.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The research network Bellingcat has published an interactive map with coordinates, from which Russia and the illegitimate armed formations controlled by it fired the east of Ukraine in the summer of 2014.

Proofs of crime are collected from open sources - using Google Earth maps.

In the search zone, 2254 potentially suitable objects were explored at 22 kilometers of the Ukrainian-Russian border along the Donetsk and Lugansk regions.

The researchers made snapshots of certain sites, repeating them on different days using the map in satellite mode.

According to the study, from the 518th place, Russian troops carried artillery shelling inside Ukraine. Another 305 are identified as probable fire positions in Russia or close to the border within Ukraine.

Bellingcat believes that the artillery attacks described and listed on the map can not be regarded as casual or provocative.

"These attacks can only be considered as a military action of the Russian Federation against Ukraine," convinced researchers.

Thus, they gathered evidence that in the summer of 2014 artillery units of the Russian armed forces at least 149 times fired on the territory of Ukraine.

Russia has not yet commented on the statements of the investigators.

Earlier, the Russian general threatened Bellingcat with the court through the appearance of his name in the investigation of the MH17.



 hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The Fancy Bear cyberspic group, which is associated with Russian intelligence services, tried to break the mailboxes of more than 200 journalists around the world. Hackers, in particular, tried to attack and email the head of the Public Natalia Gumenyuk.

This was reported by Associated Press.

It is noted that Fancy Bear was trying to crack about 50 correspondents of The New York Times and foreign media workers, in particular, in Russia, Ukraine, Moldova and the Baltic States.

"It was in March 2015. If we recall, this was just after Debaltsevo, signing the first Minsk agreements. In addition to filming in the East, I also played a lot in the West, in particular, there was a great interest in what was going on along the front line and with Russian propaganda. Then I just did not open a "virus-infected leaf".

It is interesting that before that, I received several messages from Gmail that tried to enter North Korea from my mail. It is clear that most likely, it was a conditional IP address. I would like to clarify that in fact at the same time there was a completely different story, when separately "Kiberberkut" distributed to Life.News, and then the First Channel (Russia), the fictional story about the other is allegedly "broken mail", - said Gumenyuk.

She also added that American journalists were asking why this could have happened.

"I answer that we all - the Ukrainian journalists who covered the conflict, were at risk."

Let's remind that in November Associated Press reported that Russian hackers Fancy Bear tried to break the mail of Ukrainian politicians.

It was reported that the same group of hackers had access to the Ministry of Defense's electronic mailboxes of Denmark for two years.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Ukraine can get Javelin rocket systems from Canada and the Czech Republic.

Oleg Zhdanov, a military expert, writes about this in his column on "Apostrophe".

"Do not forget that Canada has included us in the list of countries that can sell any weapons, so we can get Javelin in Canada, and we can end up with them, ultimately, through the Czech Republic, which also included Ukraine in the list of countries , which can be sold lethal weapons", - says Zhdanov.

According to the expert, the official decision of the US President's Administration on arms supply is very important for Ukraine. The further development of the situation depends on Ukraine.

Zhdanov also reminds that this year, Ukraine has already received $ 350 million in military technical assistance from the United States, including sanitary Hummer and sniper rifles.

"The next year includes lethal weapons - both air defense systems and small arms, the list has already been agreed by the Pentagon and the General Staff of the Armed Forces, so the only question is that we want to ask and that they are ready to provide us with this assistance," explains the expert.

apostrophe.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has reported to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the execution of the order on the withdrawal of Russian troops from Syria.

This was reported by TASS.

"Your order to withdraw the Russian troops from the Syrian Arab Republic has been fulfilled," Shoigu said at a meeting between Putin and the leadership of the Russian Ministry of Defense.

Shoigu also told the president that there are 3 military police battalions in Syria, a center of reconciliation of the parties and a base in the provinces of Khmeimim and Tartus.

On December 6, the head of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces announced the complete liberation of Syria from the militants of the radical Islamist group "Islamic State".

On December 11, Russian President Putin ordered the withdrawal of Russian troops from Syria to the points of permanent deployment in the territory of Russia.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The decision of Stockholm arbitration means that Naftogaz should not pay for gas that Gazprom has supplied to the temporarily occupied territories of Donbass since 2015.

This is also stated in the decision made today by the Stockholm Arbitration, reported at Naftogaz.

"The Stockholm arbitration has indicated that Naftogaz should not pay for gas volumes allegedly placed on temporarily occupied territories of Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts in any person other than Naftogaz," the statement said.

At the same time, future deliveries to these territories will not apply to Naftogaz until the end of occupation in eastern Ukraine.

"Such deliveries will not count towards the annual contractual volumes," Naftogaz said.

Earlier, Naftogaz declared that it won arbitration against Gazprom under a contract for the supply of gas for all contentious issues.

"The arbitral tribunal completely rejected the demands of Gazprom for the" take or pay "provisions of $ 56 billion for 2009-2017," - said in Naftogaz.

On October 11, the Stockholm Arbitration concluded a hearing in the case of Naftogaz and Gazprom under a contract for the supply of gas.

Naftogaz is suing Gazprom on 2 big issues - prices for Russian natural gas and gas transit.

On both issues, Gazprom filed counterclaims against Ukraine. The aggregate amount claimed by NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine to Gazprom amounts to more than $ 42.5 billion, against Gazprom's claims of $ 47.1 billion.

The decision issued on May 31 deals with the case of supplying Russian gas to Ukraine.

On June 1, Justice Minister Petrenko announced the recovery of the first sums from Gazprom.

Later, it became known that Naftogaz filed a $ 5 billion lawsuit against Russia in a court in The Hague through assets in the Crimea.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

In the network there were photos from the court session on the election of a preventive measure to the translator of the Prime Minister of Ukraine Stanislav Yezhov, accused of work on the special services of the Russian Federation.

Photo posted by UP.

The case is heard at the Shevchenko district court in Kyiv. Ezhov is in the so-called "aquarium" behind the glass. He refused to call the residence address in the presence of cameras. The journalists did not answer and constantly consulted with lawyers.




A few minutes after the meeting began, prosecutors filed a petition for holding a closed meeting. The lawyer did not protest. The judge allowed this petition. All journalists were asked to leave the hall.

It is noted that an open trial "may lead to disclosure of the secret".

Yezhov is suspected of treason - Part 1 of Art. 111 of the Criminal Code.

apostrophe.ua  In Ukrainian/український

This is reported by the press service of the NJSC "Naftogaz of Ukraine" in Twitter.

"The Stockholm arbitration has indicated that Naftogaz is not required to pay for gas volumes that were supposedly placed on temporarily occupied territories of Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts to any person other than Naftogaz. If briefly: to whom Gazprom gave that gas ORDLO, he will pay and pay", - explained in NJSC" Naftogaz of Ukraine".

The Stockholm arbitration also approved other decisions in favor of NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine in a dispute with Gazprom.

Thus, the court dismissed Gazprom's claim for a "take or pay" item in the amount of $56 billion in 2012-2017 and lowered the price for Russian gas for Naftogaz by 27.4% - from $485 to $352 per 1,000 cubic meters.

In addition, Naftogaz has succeeded in reducing mandatory annual volumes of gas purchases by more than ten times its needs.

-Recall that Gazprom claims that Naftogaz should pay Russia $ 2 billion.

-Naftogaz requires Gazprom $ 16 billion for gas transit.

espreso.tv  In Ukrainian/український

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands has confirmed the right of Mikheil Saakashvili to Dutch citizenship.

This was announced by the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of this country, Halbe Zeilstra, reports DW.

"He is married to a Netherlands subject, and according to the law, he can obtain a passport in the Netherlands if he applies," the minister said.

According to the spokeswoman of the Ministry of Justice of the Netherlands, Karin Donk, the immigration service of the country "determined that Saakashvili could be issued a temporary residence permit."

Earlier it was reported that Mikheil Saakashvili , who was deprived of Ukrainian citizenship, received a visa to travel to the Netherlands.

On July 26, Poroshenko, by decree, deprived Saakashvili of Ukrainian citizenship .

On December 8, Mikheil Saakashvili, deprived of citizenship, was arrested in Kyiv . On December 11, the Kyiv Pechersk court refused to prosecute prosecutors to take Mikheila Saakashvili under house arrest and release him at the time of the investigation. The prosecutor's office appealed the court's refusal.

Attorney General Yuriy Lutsenko said that Mikheil Saakashvili's protest rallies were at the expense of Sergei Kurchenko, a runaway oligarch, approaching ex-president Yanukovych.

Saakashvili refutes the charges . He called the "absolute fake" the prosecution of the GPU in a conspiracy with Kurchenko.

On December 19, Poroshenko's press service published a personal note to Saakashvili sent to the president. Saakashvili became indignant and recorded video conversations with Poroshenko after the publication of his personal letter.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

According to "Sport-Express" is currently building "Samara Arena" is a lag of two months from the stated terms. This information confirmed by the Acting Governor of Samara Region Dmitry Azarov: "Backlog and significant, has been in the previous period, was made a number of mistakes."

This Rostekhnadzor demands to stop construction for three months due to defects in the ceiling, columns, pylons and welds. Also found were violations of regulations on the safety of buildings under construction concreting sectors and rules for Electrical Installation. It is noted that the number of defects such that it could threaten security.

Rostekhnadzor has sent to the Arbitration Court of the Samara region of seven lawsuits general contractor building the stadium in Samara demanding the court to halt construction and to involve the general contractor responsible.

Note that Samara has to take six World Cup 2018: four group stage matches and two - playoffs.

Previously, "Apostrophe" reported that Russia described the humiliation that the world prepares Vladimir Putin before the World Cup 2018.

apostrophe.ua    In Ukrainian/український

In Ukraine there were successful tests of the newest national rocket system of the volley fire "Velya", firing missiles "earth-earth"

This was announced by President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko in Facebook.

"I congratulate all Ukrainians on the successful testing of the Ukrainian missile complex" Vielha. "He just received a report that all four rockets hit the target!" - wrote the president.

For the first time, the President announced on the project "Velyka" January 27, 2016 at a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council. The missile and control system were developed by the design bureau "Pivdenne" and "Luch".

The chassis of the new missile system will produce KrAZ on the basis of the KrAZ-7634, although the first tests took place on the chassis of the Belarusian MAZ-543.

Technical parameters of the missile "Alya" are classified, but it is known that its feature is a guidance system with the possibility of adjusting the trajectory already in flight. Rocket caliber - 300 mm.

According to the counselor of the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Yuriy Biryukov, the launcher has 12 missiles, each missile carries a combat unit weighing up to 250 kg and is allocated to the target separately from the rest. The weight of the rocket is 900-1000 kg.

All components for the production of "Vylchi" are domestic, including the new control system, new rocket fuel and a new military component.



espreso.tv  In Ukrainian/український

World Kickboxing and Thai boxing star - Odesa, Arthur Kisenko, held his next fight on the professional ring.

According to Tsensor.NET, referring to "Dumsky", Kyshenko took part in the prestigious Kunlun Fight 68 tournament taking place in China.

The rival of Kyshenka, acting in the weight category "up to 85 kilograms", became Russian Andrew Chikhonin. Odesa knocked out the Russian at the second minute of the first round. Chikhonin dumped on the floor of the ring a powerful blow with his left hand on the liver, after which he could not continue the fight.

"I will tell you honestly, the rival is a very good guy, he is one of the leading fighters in Russia in the weight category of eighty kilograms, but I did not have time to feel his strength. I did not give him time and opportunity to prove himself," Kisenko said after the fight.



ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український