Ukraine News in brief. Wednesday 3 January. [Ukrainian sources]

WEDNESDAY HEADLINES:
Russia's statements about Ukraine are no longer credible, adviser McMaster.  Combined Approach: The West was called for an effective way to fight Putin's aggression.  In Syria, a Russian military helicopter crashed, it is dead.  Made in Ukraine: there was a video of testing a new powerful rocket complex for the UAF.  American star Paris Hilton has enlisted with an actor of Ukrainian origin.  
Russian Athletes Hit With Olympics Ban Not Sanctioned By Luge Group.  Closing Arguments Made In Tbilisi At Saakashvili's Trial In Absentia.  

WEATHER:
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Advisor to the President of the United States on National Security, Lt. Gen. Herbert McMaster, believes that it is necessary to find a way to withstand a rather advanced new strategy that Russia has improved on many parameters. According to the general, this new threat includes the use of misinformation, propaganda and social networks in order to split the society and set up social groups against one another.

This was stated in an interview with the agency of the Voice of America Adviser to the President of the United States on national security Herbert McMaster, reports Tsensor. NET.

"We have touched on this problem in our National Security Strategy, because it is important for us to speak openly about what separates and unites us as a nation, our aspirations and values, such as the rights of the individual, the rule of law and democracy," - said McMaster.

"The Russians also showed activity in Europe," the general said, "both during the recent French and Spanish referendums on the status of Catalonia, we saw their activity in Mexico, attempts to provoke a putsch in Montenegro, and to break the veil from the Russian destabilization campaign. the first important step that will allow everyone to see their true intentions, and, consequently, weaken their ability to sow insecurity in people and tune the community against one another, "says a national security adviser.

According to him, Russia still denies its involvement in such actions, but it does so less convincingly.

"The same people themselves said:" No, we did not beat the airliner and did not kill all these people, "" No, our soldiers are not in Crimea and in the east of Ukraine, "" We do not support the Syrian regime, responsible for mass murder of its own citizens with the use of chemical weapons. "Today, nobody believes in these words," McMaster convinced.

According to the general, each Arab state must understand what Russia specifically does in the Middle East, namely, it seeks to use Iran's destructive actions, which incite civil war in the region, arming and supporting terrorist groups such as Hezbollah. "For such support, Russia will have to pay a considerable price," McMaster said.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The situation in central and eastern Europe is intensifying , and Russia is inclined to use force in a hybrid war against the West.

This writes the former representative of Ukraine in political subgroup of trilateral contact group in Minsk diplomat Roman Immortal column at NV.UA.

"When Putin speaks of peace, his rating falls. But with the onset of the annexation of the Crimea and the aggression against Ukraine, his rating has jumped up sharply, that is, when Russia dictates the force factor, then society supports it," says Immortal.

The diplomat is confident that today "Europe and the world should create an anti-Putin coalition, which also must rely on the force factor."

"For example, helping Ukraine in shaping the army, providing weapons, engaging the NATO system while protecting the interests of states moving toward democracy, I see no alternative but to form a force that would resist Moscow, and the sooner the world will realize that power - this is a factor in deterring aggression, the sooner we can solve the accumulation of these problems, "- says the politician.

"Resolving such conflicts requires a combined approach: military force, economics, diplomacy, politics and other means." But within Ukraine, we still have aggression and occupation on the themes. "We do not have concrete answers on many issues. Therefore, I think that 2018 will not bring us nothing good, "Immortal believes.

Earlier, a Western political scientist, Olivier Vedrin, in an interview with the "Apostrophe" called the way how the West can deprive Putin of power in Russia.

apostrophe.ua  In Ukrainian/український

In Syria, a Russian military helicopter Mi-24 has suffered a catastrophe, two pilots were killed

This is reported by Russian " Interfax " with reference to the Ministry of Defense of Russia.

The incident occurred on December 31. The Russian department emphasizes that there was no shelling from the ground. The helicopter was disastrous due to technical malfunction.

"When carrying out a flight at the Hame airfield due to a technical malfunction, a Russian helicopter Mi-24 was crashed. During the rigorous landing at 15 kilometers from the airfield, both pilots were killed," the Russian Defense Ministry said.

According to the military department, the flight technician of the helicopter was injured, he was given medical assistance.

espreso.tv  In Ukrainian/український

Ukrainian operational-tactical missile complex "Thunder-2" has already passed the test of the missile engine.

YouTube has posted a video of a missile testing video.



Now, Thunder-2, a mobile installation which involves the transportation and launch of two land-to-ground missiles, is ready for field trials.

It is worth noting that the complex can hit targets at distances of up to 300 km. This corresponds to the parameters of the control mode of rocket technology.

The combat unit of a one-stage ballistic missile is projected at 480 kg. The combat part could be performed on a monoblock or cassette circuit. The monoblock scheme uses a fragmented-high-explosive or penetrating high-explosive fragmentation ampoule.

The on-board missile system is inertial, complete with navigation and guidance systems of various types (radar, opto-electronic).

There is evidence that a range of 280 km is a formal limitation for the export version of missiles. For its own army, the range can be increased to 450-500 km.

apostrophe.ua  In Ukrainian/український

American fashion model, actress, singer and "secular lioness" Paris Hilton has enlisted with the American actor of Ukrainian origin Chris Zilkoy

This star reported in its Instagram.

"I said yes! I'm so happy and glad to get the love of my life." My best friend and native soul, he is perfect for me in everything. "Such loyal, loyal, loving and kind. I feel like the happiest girl on the world!" - wrote Paris.

Chris Zielka is an American actor and model of Ukrainian origin. He was born in Ohio, but his ancestors are Ukrainians. His true surname is Setlmayr, and Zilka is the maiden name of the mother, which he took as a creative pseudonym.



-Recall that in late November, engagement was announced by British Prince Gary and American actress Megan Mark. To marry a couple is planning on May 19, 2018.

espreso.tv  In Ukrainian/український

Russian luge athletes who were banned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for doping violations at the Sochi Games are not facing sanctions from the International Luge Federation, the federation has announced.

Tatyana Ivanova and Albert Demchenko won silver medals at the 2014 Olympics. They were banned for life from the Olympics by the IOC last month and ordered to return their Sochi medals, in some of the latest fallout from the doping scandal that has overshadowed Russia, which hosted the Sochi Games.

But the luge federation said after a meeting of its disciplinary commission that it was "unable to ascertain with full conviction" that the two Russia luge athletes were involved in doping.

The federation's decision against sanctions does not override the IOC's ruling when it comes to the Pyeongchang Games in South Korea next month. Both athletes will remain ineligible for credentials there.................

rferl.org Click here for full access of entire article in English

Closing arguments have been made in a Tbilisi court at the trial in absentia of former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, who faces charges connected to a 2006 murder case.

Judge Giorgi Arvevadze announced on January 3 that the final hearing had been completed. He recessed the court before issuing his ruling.

Saakashvili, who now resides in Kyiv, has been charged with "abuse of power" and accused of trying to cover up evidence about the murder of Georgian banker Sandro Girgvliani.

Saakashvili is also charged with abusing his presidential powers by issuing pardons for four men who were convicted in 2006 of murdering Girgvliani.

Girgvliani, who headed the foreign department of United Georgian Bank, was found dead in January 2006 outside of Tbilisi with multiple injuries after he was seen arguing in a bar with high-ranking Interior Ministry officials........

rferl.org Click here for full access of entire article in English

On December 31, radical Islamists fired at the Russian air base Khmeimim in Syria from mortar shells, which resulted in the destruction of at least four Su-24 bombers, two Su-35s fighter jets and an An-72 military transport aircraft. The incident in Khmeimimi can be considered one of the most serious for all the time of the participation of the Russian Federation in the war in Syria.
It is reported by Tsensor.NET with reference to "Kommersant".

About the extraordinary event at the Syrian airbase Khmeim "Kommersant" became known from the two military-diplomatic sources. In order not to delve into the details, they reported that the militants of one of the terrorist groups fired at the Russian military facility in Syria, resulting in the actual destruction of four Su-24 bombers, two Su-35S fighter jets, one AN-72 transporter, and a warehouse munitions that were detonated after the hit of a mortar shell.

In total, according to unofficial data, more than ten servicemen could suffer. In the RF Ministry of Defense, the incident has not yet commented: the military only officially confirmed the death of two pilots, pilots that day, a Russian helicopter Mi-24. According to the RF Ministry of Defense, no fire impact on the helicopter did not occur - the technology itself.

Read on "Tsensor.NET": There was no explosion aboard the Russian Defense Ministry Tu-154, which fell to the Black Sea, as a consequence of the Russian Federation

The incident in Khmeimimi can be considered one of the most serious for all the time of the participation of the Russian Federation in the war in Syria. First, all losses - both fighting and not - had a single character during the campaign, the massive defeat of Russian technology was not fixed. Second, until December 31, Russian air defense systems did not allow any violation of the security zones of the bases in Tartusi and Khmeimimi. However, on that day, the air defense system did not help.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

US Ambassador to Ukraine Mari Jovanovich believes that Ukraine should confirm its commitment to fight corruption, including through the creation of the Anti-Corruption Court.

According to Tsensor.NET , she wrote about this in an article for the publication " New time".

"Corruption is not just a political problem: because of it real losses are borne by real people." Corruption constrains foreign investment, pulls down GDP, quenches willingness to risk and fueled entrepreneurship, deprives citizens of the income earned by such taxation, budgeting and procurement procedures that fill the pockets of those who are in power. Corruption generates poverty. Ukrainians understand it.

In surveys and conversations, they often call corruption a key obstacle to progress. The overwhelming majority of people believe that politicians put their private interests above the public good. Ukraine's security and sovereignty depend not only on the victory over foreign aggression, but also on the internal struggle against corruption, without which no country can create institutions that are stable both for external interference and internal manipulation, "Yovanovich said.

"In order for Ukraine to succeed, its leaders must reaffirm their commitment to eradicating corruption, which means the creation of an Anti-corruption Court with a high standard of integrity based on the views of the Venice Commission, providing the NABU and SAP instruments and the necessary independence to carry out its tasks, reforming the NAM in order to implement it. its mandate to prevent corruption, and not to crush anti-corruption reformers, "the ambassador emphasized.

As previously reported, yesterday the text of the presidential bill (No. 7440) on the Supreme Anticorruption Court was promulgated on the website of the Verkhovna Rada . In addition, the text of the accompanying bill on amendments to the law "On the Judiciary and Status of Judges" was published on the Parliament's website in connection with the adoption of the Law of Ukraine "On the Highest Anticorruption Court" (No. 7441).

As reported, on December 22, the Verkhovna Rada registered a bill "On the Highest Anticorruption Court" introduced by President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The network is actively discussing a new caricature of the famous Russian artist Sergei Yalkin, who in a new picture showed that the Kremlin and Russian President Vladimir Putin are waiting for the new year without the most important source of money.

The corresponding picture is posted on the "DW (Russian)" page on Twitter.

So, Yalkin reacted to the news that in the Russian Federation, as of January 1, 2018, the Reserve Fund, which in recent years was one of the main sources of "blocking holes" in the budget of the Russian Federation, completely exhausted.



"Yeah ... this year there are no sacks with a bastard", "And then only on corpses of people and not otherwise!", "The pod is going to get on another illegal presidential term against the backdrop of an economic collapse and will continue to finish the country. The main thing is to preserve stolen from his people and avoid responsibility for the failures of all the reforms", - write on the Internet.

apostrophe.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Foreign Minister of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin believes that Moscow's attempt to hold the presidential elections in 2018 in the annexed Crimea makes them "questionable in terms of their legitimacy."

He said this at a meeting with his German counterpart Sigmar Gabriel, according to Tsensor. NET with reference to the Twitter Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

"Russia has postponed the date of its election to the anniversary of the illegal referendum that took place in the Crimea, which was a deliberate step." An attempt to organize these elections in the territory of the occupied Crimea makes them highly questionable in terms of their legitimacy, "Klimkin said.

Recall that the presidential election in Russia will be March 18, 2018. Earlier, the presidential elections were held in early March, but this tradition was corrected and moved on March 18, the day when Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an agreement with the occupation "power" of the Crimea on his accession to Russia.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

District Administrative Court of Kiev denied ex-president of Georgia, leader of the party "Movement of new forces" Mikheil Saakashvili in recognition of illegal decision of the Office of the State Migration Service (DMS) in the Kyiv region, according to which he was denied recognition as a refugee or a person who needs additional protection after deprivation of citizenship of Ukraine.
Reported Tsenzor.NET with reference to Interfax-Ukraine.

The relevant decision was adopted on Wednesday. The judge of the District Administrative Court of Kyiv announced the decision: "To satisfy the claim to completely refuse".

At the time of the announcement of the decision M. Saakashvili was not in the courtroom.

As previously reported, Saakashvili was taken to the Pechersk court on the morning of December 11. He is suspected of facilitating a criminal group under Article 256 of the Criminal Code. Politics is threatened by 3 to 5 years behind bars.

The prosecution party has filed a petition for the decision to elect Saakashvili as a preventive measure round-the-clock house arrest.

The Pechersk District Court did not satisfy the prosecutor's request to elect a preventive measure in the form of a round-the-clock home arrest of Saakashvili at the time of the investigation.

Recall that on December 5, law enforcement officers detained Saakashvili . According to the SBU, he is suspected of facilitating the participation of criminal organizations . It should be noted that during a search in Saakashvili's apartment, he rose to the roof of the house where he was detained by law enforcement officers . Later, it became known that the activists took Saakashvili out of the car of the law-enforcers.

In addition, Prosecutor General Lutsenko at a briefing stated that Saakashvili's shares were financed by Kurchenko . Also, the GPU unveiled "Negotiations of Saakashvili's associate and representative of Kurchenko" and "negotiations between Kurchenko and Saakashvili" : "I want to build some long history with you."

In the evening, December 8, law enforcement officers arrested Mikheil Saakashvili in Solomyansky district of Kyiv . Section 256 of the Criminal Code, which was enacted to him (assistance to members of criminal organizations and concealment of their criminal activity), provides for 5 to 10 years of imprisonment.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український