Ukraine News. Monday 26 March. [Ukrainian sources]

MONDAY HEADLINES:
US expels 60 Russian diplomats, closes Russian consulate in Seattle in response to UK poisoning.  European countries decided to send Russian diplomats.  Ukraine expels 13 Russian diplomats over Salisbury nerve agent attack.  Canada has expelled Russian diplomats through the Violinist case.  "Russia understands only such a language," - Klimkin on the expulsion of diplomats.  Ireland sends Russian diplomats in connection with the "Violinist case".  Deadly fire at shopping center in Russian Kemerovo claimed 64 lives (updated).  After ignition in the "Winter Cherry", the dispatcher switched off the alarm system, the fire exits of the shopping mall were blocked.  There are already warrants for the arrest of Russian assets of dubious origin, the head of the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defense.  Man suspected of espionage in favor of Russia was arrested in Poland: he provided information on the decision on the "North Stream-2".

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U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the expulsion of 60 Russians from the United States on Monday, including 12 people identified as Russian intelligence officers who have been stationed at the United Nations in New York.

As reported by Censor.NET citing The New York Times, the move was made in response to Russia’s alleged poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain.

The expulsion order, announced by administration officials, also closes the Russian consulate in Seattle. The Russians and their families have seven days to leave the United States, according to officials.

The expulsions are the toughest action taken against the Kremlin by President Trump, who has been criticized for not being firm enough with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia. The officials said the action was a coordinated effort with other allies. Poland on Monday announced it will expel the Russian ambassador and several other diplomats in response to the poisoning.

In a call with reporters, senior White House officials said that the move was to root out Russians actively engaging in intelligence operations against the country, and to show that the United States would stand with NATO allies. The officials said that the closure of the consulate in Seattle was ordered because of its proximity to a U.S. naval base.

"Today’s actions make the United States safer by reducing Russia’s ability to spy on Americans and to conduct covert operations that threaten America’s national security," the White House said in a statement.

The Kremlin has maintained that it had nothing to do with the poisoning.

Britain previously expelled 23 Russian diplomats over the poisoning, raising tensions between the two countries to a level not seen since the heights of the Cold War. The government vowed to crack down on Russian spies, corrupt elites and ill-gotten wealth in Britain.

Mr. Trump has been slower to act than leaders in Britain, France and Germany over the attack, in which Sergei V. Skripal, 66, a former spy, and his daughter, Yulia Skripal, 33, were attacked with a nerve agent.

The senior administration officials who described the expulsion order said the three weeks that lapsed between the attack and White House action was due to close coordination among about a dozen American allies.

Poland positioned itself to take a lead role in coordinating a response from the Eastern European nations traditionally most wary of their giant neighbor to the east.

The Russian ambassador to Poland, Sergei Andreyev, was summoned to the foreign ministry on Monday morning and informed of imminent diplomatic action against his country. The Polish foreign minister was expected to make an announcement later this afternoon.

Any expulsion of Russian diplomats would be an unprecedented move on Warsaw’s part, the first time they took diplomatic action against their neighbor due to Russian behavior outside of Poland.

Since Poland broke from the Soviet bloc in the 1990s, it has expelled Russian diplomats only twice — and both times to had to do with Russia’s spying activities in Poland.

en.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

A number of European countries have announced the decision to expel Russian diplomats in response to the poisoning of former intelligence officer Sergei Skripal in Britain.

In particular, at present, Germany, France, Denmark, the Netherlands, Estonia, Lithuania and the Czech Republic have announced the decision to send diplomats to the Russian Federation.

France, Germany and Poland will send four diplomats, the Czech Republic and Lithuania - three. Latvia and Estonia - one diplomat. Denmark has announced the expulsion of two diplomats.

The head of the European Council, Donald Tusk, said that a total of 14 EU countries had taken diplomatic measures against Russia through the Violence case.

Earlier, US authorities decided to send 60 Russian diplomats from the country through the Violinist case.

Ukraine approved a similar decision: President Petro Poroshenko announced the expulsion of 13 Russian diplomatic co-workers.

Recall that on March 14, Prime Minister of Britain Teresa May announced the expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats from the country , in connection with the possible involvement of Moscow in the poisoning of the former intelligence officer Sergei Skripal.

In discussing possible sanctions against Russia, the British Foreign Ministry head said sanctions against Putin's immediate surroundings .

In Russia, they announced the expulsion of British diplomats in response to measures taken by the United Kingdom.

The British government refuses to buy Russian gas and is looking for new suppliers.

On March 26, it became known that Britain issued orders for the arrest of Russian capital of dubious origin.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

In a spirit of solidarity with UK, Ukraine expels 13 diplomats of the Russian Federation from its territory.
"In response to a cynical chemical attack in Salisbury (UK), Ukraine, in a spirit of solidarity with our British partners and transatlantic allies, as well as in coordination with EU countries, decided to expel 13 of the remaining few Russian diplomats from the Ukrainian territory," the president's press office quoted Petro Poroshenko as saying, Censor.NET reports.

"As it is known, our diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation are de facto frozen. Russia once again confirmed its dismissive attitude not only to the sovereignty of independent states, but also to the value of human life. Ukraine feels it every day in the occupied Ukrainian Crimea and Donbas.

"Therefore, it is important as never before not to be limited to symbolic gestures. The next step is to increase the price for international crimes of Moscow, inter alia, through the increase of personal, financial and economic sanctions.

"Our joint response to the Kremlin will continue to be decisive and rigorous in order to prevent new human tragedies and ensure respect for international law," Ukraine's president said in a statement.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Canada reported that it sent four Russian diplomats in connection with the case of former intelligence officer of Russia Sergei Skripal poisoned in Great Britain.

This was reported by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Canada Christa Freeland, reports Reuters.

In addition, Canada has refused to accredit three more people through the poisoning of the Violinist.

"Diplomats were discovered by intelligence officers from Russia who used their diplomatic status to undermine Canada's security or interfere with our democracy," said Freeland.

Earlier, US authorities decided to send 60 Russian diplomats from the country through the Violinist case. Also, about the decision to send Russian diplomats reported 15 European countries.

Ukraine approved a similar decision: President Petro Poroshenko announced the expulsion of 13 Russian diplomatic co-workers.

Recall that on March 14, Prime Minister of Britain Teresa May announced the expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats from the country , in connection with the possible involvement of Moscow in the poisoning of the former intelligence officer Sergei Skripal.

In discussing possible sanctions against Russia, the British Foreign Ministry head said sanctions against Putin's immediate surroundings.

In Russia, they announced the expulsion of British diplomats in response to measures taken by the United Kingdom.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Foreign Minister of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin commented on the deportation of Russian diplomats.
According to sensor.NET, he wrote about this on Twitter.

The minister said: "Today's solidarity should only be the beginning, further strong and comprehensive actions are needed, Russia understands only such a language: Russian gas has a" neuroparalytic "effect for the whole of Europe, and Europe and Ukraine have to get rid of Russian gas dependence."

Recall that an investigation into an assassination attempt by Sergei Skryptal and his daughter, Julia, continues. Sergey Skryple, former Colonel of the GRU stockpile, who lived in the United Kingdom and was convicted in 2006 for espionage in favor of British intelligence services, was hurt by the poisoning of an unknown substance at the Salisbury shopping mall.

It should also be noted that on March 12, Prime Minister Teresa May announced that the British government had come to the conclusion that the responsibility for poisoning in Salisbury, a former employee of the GRU, Serhiy Skripal and his daughter, most likely, lies in Russia. She also reported that the victims were poisoned by the nerve-paralytic substance "Novachok", which was developed in the Russian Federation.

On Wednesday, March 14, May announced the decision of London to send 23 Russian diplomats who work for intelligence: "This will be the largest single expulsion in more than 30 years. This (this measure) reflects the fact that the Russian state is not the first time acting against our country "

On March 20, 23 employees of the Russian Embassy in London, as well as their families left Great Britain.

Earlier today Russian ambassadors were summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia.

At the EU summit, which ended March 23, the European Union countries supported the United Kingdom. Some countries, including Poland, are considering the expulsion of Russian diplomats.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said that 13 Russian diplomats are signing solidarity with their British partners and transatlantic allies and in coordination with the European Union.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Ireland believes it is right to consider the possibility of sending Russian diplomats as a sign of solidarity with Britain, Irish Finance Minister Pascal Donahueu said on Monday.

"It seems to us appropriate that Ireland will consider this issue within its jurisdiction," the minister said in an interview with the Times, reports Censor.NET, referring to Interfax-Ukraine.

"If we do not do this, then we may be asked why we are not acting in support of a country that is our ally," added P. Donohayev.

German authorities, as well as several other EU countries, may announce the expulsion of a group of Russian diplomats in the near future.

The EU leaders March 22 expressed support for the Great Britain in connection with the "Violinist case," agreeing with London's assessment that Russia "with a very high probability" is responsible for the attack using nerve-paralytic substance. The heads of the EU member states promised the head of the British government, Teresa May, full support for clarifying the details of the attack and agreeing on further steps.

Recall that an investigation into an assassination attempt by Sergei Skryptal and his daughter, Julia, continues. Sergey Skryple, former Colonel of the GRU stockpile, who lived in the United Kingdom and was convicted in 2006 for espionage in favor of British intelligence services, was hurt by the poisoning of an unknown substance at the Salisbury shopping mall.

It should also be noted that on March 12, Prime Minister Teresa May announced that the British government had come to the conclusion that the responsibility for poisoning in Salisbury, a former employee of the GRU, Serhiy Skripal and his daughter, most likely, lies in Russia. She also reported that the victims were poisoned by the nerve-paralytic substance "Novachok", which was developed in the Russian Federation.

On Wednesday, March 14, May announced the decision of London to send 23 Russian diplomats who work for intelligence: "This will be the largest single expulsion in more than 30 years. This (this measure) reflects the fact that the Russian state is not the first time acting against our country".

On March 20, 23 employees of the Russian Embassy in London, as well as their families left Great Britain.

Earlier today Russian ambassadors were summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia.

At the EU summit, which ended March 23, the European Union countries supported the United Kingdom. Some countries, including Poland, are considering the expulsion of Russian diplomats.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The death toll of fire at Zimnyaya Vishnya shopping center in the Russian city of Kemerovo on March 25 reached 64 persons.

As reported by Censor.NET, Russian Emergencies Minister Vladimir Puchkov told TASS news agency.

"We regretfully announce that the fire claimed 64 lives," the minister said. According to him, six bodies are still underneath the rubble.

the emergency operations center dealing with the fire told TASS news agency.

"Five more bodies were found near the cinema. The total number of victims is 53," the spokesperson for the emergency operations center said.

According to him, 12 people were taken to hospitals and another 36 persons were provided with outpatient care.

The rescuers are now reportedly searching for 16 more people.

"They can be in the cinema halls that collapsed from the fourth floor to the third one," the spokesperson told the news agency.

The Russian Investigative Committee also confirmed 53 victims in the fire.

"14 more bodies were retrieved in the search and rescue operation in the shopping center in Kemerovo. Therefore, the death of 53 persons has been confirmed as of now," a spokesperson for the Investigative Committee said.

The emergency operations center reported that the fire in the shopping center was extinguished and the rescuers started removing debris.

Russian Emergencies Ministry Deputy Head Vladlen Aksenov earlier reported about 48 victims.

According to Aksenov, examination of the building showed that there are still live embers inside. "Two of the three cinema halls collapsed from the fourth to the third floor," he added.

In terms of the number of victims, the fire in the Kemerovo shopping center is among the four deadliest ones that took place in Russia in the past century including the fire in the Samara police precinct in 1999, which claimed 57 lives, the one in Stanitsa Kamyshevskaya in the Krasnodar Territory in 2007, with 63 people killed, and the fire in the Perm-based Lame Horse night club that killed 153 persons in 2009.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Fire exits in the winter winter cherry shopping center in Kemer during the fire were blocked, and the alert system was turned off.

This is stated in the telegram channel of the Investigative Committee of Russia, informs Tsensor. NET.

"Serious violations were committed, both during the introduction of the shopping center in operation and in the course of its work. Fire exits in the shopping center were blocked. The investigation checks the information and other violations," - said the SC RF.

To date, the investigators have detained and questioned the four suspects. The issue of the detention of the fifth suspect is being resolved. This is an employee of a private security company, which, as a result of the investigation, received a signal of a fire, turned off the alert system.

Among the interrogators, the IC RF named the technical director of the company-owner of the building, the tenant of the premises, which, in the opinion of the investigation, began a fire, an employee and head of the organization, which served the fire alarm.

March 25 in the shopping and entertainment complex "Winter Cherry" in the Russian Kemer began a fire. To date, the death of 64 people confirmed, the bodies of 6 of them remain under the rubble of TC.

The number of victims of the fire in a shopping center in Kemer became one of the four largest in Russia for 100 years, along with a fire at the Samara APC in 1999, when 57 people were killed in Kamyshevskaya village in the Krasnodar Territory in 2007, when 63 people were killed and in the "Horseradish Horse" club in Perm in 2009, when 153 people became victims of fire.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

UK Secretary of Defense Gavin Williamson has announced the issuance of warrants for the arrest of Russian assets of dubious origin.

As informs sensor.NET with reference to Interfax-Ukraine, he stated this at a press conference in Tallinn on Monday.

According to him, the United Kingdom, in response to a chemical attack in Salisbury intends to take measures on Russian property of dubious origin.

"There are already warrants for the arrest of dubious property in respect of which the new law has just begun to be introduced in the United Kingdom. Our goal is to ensure that any unclearly acquired property is taken into account and that the necessary steps are taken," said the British minister.

"The government will work very diligently in the coming weeks and months and will ensure that these problems are dealt with," Williamson emphasized.

According to him, the purpose of the Russian president is to "make a split between Britain and its allies, but Estonia and many other countries have shown that this is impossible."

Williamson noted that he was not ready to tell about possible further steps of the Great Britain towards Russia, Prime Minister Teresa May should inform.

In turn, Estonian Defense Minister Yuri Ljub stated that "the Estonian government fully believes in the explanation of the Great Britain for a chemical attack in Salisbury."

"Estonia strongly condemns the illegal use of force in the United Kingdom, where chemical weapons were used on the territory of a sovereign state. We fully trust the British authorities' investigation and urge Russia to stop this illegal activity," Luik said.

He noted that Estonia provides "very strong political support to Great Britain", its further steps are still under consideration, they will be reported within a few days.

Recall that the ex-Colonel of the GRU stockpiles Sergey Skripal, who lived in the United Kingdom and was convicted in 2006 for espionage in favor of British intelligence services, was injured as a result of poisoning with an unknown substance at the Salisbury shopping mall.

Prime Minister Teresa May announced that the British government had come to the conclusion that responsibility for poisoning in Salisbury, a former employee of the GRU, Serhiy Skripal and his daughter, most likely, lies with Russia. She also reported that the victims were poisoned by the nerve-paralytic substance "Novachok", which was developed in the Russian Federation.

On Wednesday, March 14, May announced the decision of London to send 23 Russian diplomats who work for intelligence: "This will be the largest single expulsion in more than 30 years. This (this measure) reflects the fact that the Russian state is not the first time acting against our country "

March 20, 23 employees of the Russian Embassy in London, as well as their families left Great Britain.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The Polish Homeland Security Agency detained a spy suspected spouse in favor of Russia, which maintained contacts with Russian intelligence officers operating under cover.

The Polish Homeland Security Agency detained a spouse suspected of spying for Russia. Arrested was interested in the activities of the Ministry of Energy, - informs the TV channel TVP1, reports sensor.NET with reference to the Polish Radio.

According to the information, the detainee transmitted information on important gas contracts and decisions of Poland in the case of the Nord Stream gas pipeline.

It is reported that detained Marek V. maintained contacts with Russian intelligence officers who operated under the diplomatic cover at the Russian Embassy in Warsaw. The action was coordinated with the actions of other states of the European Union.

According to the speaker of the Polish special services coordinator Stanislav Zharin, the suspect had information on key projects for the Polish energy sector, was involved in obtaining European Union funds for diversification projects for gas supplies to Poland. According to the Homeland Security Agency, the man also provided information to Russian intelligence agencies on the forthcoming actions of the Polish government in the Nord Stream gas pipeline.

The detainee was taken into custody for three months. The man has been charged with espionage, for which he faces up to 10 years imprisonment.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український