Ukraine News. Friday 6 April. [Ukrainian sources]

FRIDAY HEADLINES:
America stood aloof when Russia swallowed Crimea, US ambassador to United Hailey.   New US sanctions impact 15 Russian companies, 24 oligarchs, top officials and executives.  Six to 10 wealthy Russians said to be targeted by new US sanctions.  United States imposed sanctions against Russian businessmen and companies. In the list.  The Russian government will support companies that fall under US sanctions.  The US policy towards Ukraine after the appointment of Pompeo will not change. Violinist case: Four Russian diplomats left Canada.  "The assault on Salisbury was not a separate event," Stoltenberg called the reasons for the expulsion of Russian diplomats with NATO.  About 40 thousand Ukrainians left the Crimea through intimidation and repression of the invaders.  US Ambassador to UN Haley: "Russia is never going to be our friend".  Poisoned Russian ex-spy Skripal 'improving rapidly'.  The Violinist Pets, the fate of which was interested in, did not survive.  UK's ambassador to Berlin says Russia still has secret nerve agent program.  Ukraine’s defense minister: No plans to take control of Donbas by killing thousands of civilians as Russia did in Chechnya.  

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United States Permanent Representative to the UN, Nicky Haley, said that America was standing in the wrong direction in 2014 during the Russian occupation of Crimea.

She told about this during a speech to students at Duke University in North Carolina, reports Censor.NET.

"The United States was on the sidelines when Russia, for the first time since World War II, made an attempt to change the borders of Europe in 2014. Russia invaded Ukraine, swallowed Crimea and continues its actions in the eastern part of the country," said Haley, pointing out that this was a mistake. American leadership.

She also stressed that when America does not intercede for its allies and values, it loses.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has added 15 Russian entities and 24 nationals into its sanctions list.

As reported by Censor.NET citing the statement by the U.S. Treasury Department, the following names were included in the OFAC's list of designated persons:

Andrey Akimov, Chairman of the Management Board of Gazprombank; Vladimir Bogdanov; Oleg Deripaska; Alexey Dyumin; Mikhail Fradkov, Director of the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies; Sergei Fursenko; Oleg Govorun; Head of the Presidential Directorate for Social and Economic Cooperation with the Commonwealth of Independent States Member Countries, the Republic of Abkhazia, and the Republic of South Ossetia; Suleiman Kerimov; Vladimir Kolokoltsev, General of the Police of the Russian Federation; Konstantin Kosachev, Chairperson of the Council of the Russian Federation Committee on Foreign Affairs; Andrey Kostin; Alexey Miller; Nikolai Patrushev, Secretary of the Russian Federation Security Council; Vladislav Reznik; Igor Rotenberg; Kirill Shamalov; Evgeniy Shkolov, Aide to the President of the Russian Federation; Andrei Skoch; Alexander Torshin; Vladimir Ustinov; Timur Valiulin, Chief of the General Administration for Combating Extremism of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation; Viktor Vekselberg; Alexander Zharov, Head of the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology, and Mass Media; Viktor Zolotov, Director of the Federal Service of National Guard Troops and Commander of the National Guard Troops of the Russian Federation.

Sanctions were also imposed against the following entities:

Agroholding Kuban, Basic Element Limited (a.k.a. Bazovy Element), B-Finance LTD, EN+ Group PLC, Gaz Group, EuroSibEnergo JSC, Russian Machines (a.k.a. Russkie Mashiny), United Company Rusal PLC - linked to Deripaska;

Gazprom Burenie, NPV Engineering OJSC - linked to Igor Rotenberg;

Ladoga Menedzhment - linked to Kirill Shamalov;

Renova Group JSC, linked to Viktor Vekselberg;

Rosoboroneksport OJSC.

Russian Financial Corporation Bank JSC

The sanctions envisage assets freeze, seizure of real estate property and bank accounts of individuals and entities based in the United States, and imposition of travel ban.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The Trump administration plans to impose sanctions on Russian tycoons as early as this week under provisions of a law calling for retaliation against Moscow for meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

Plans call for targeting six to 10 so-called Russian oligarchs, though no firm decision has been made on the number, said the official who asked not to be identified discussing the sanctions before they’re announced, Censor.NET reports citing Bloomberg.

The administration is trying to satisfy pressure from Congress to act on a sanctions law passed last summer, the official said. The U.S. in January identified 210 wealthy Russians, top officials and business leaders for a list required under the law. The targets for the sanctions will be taken from a classified annex to the report, the official said.

President Donald Trump has been criticized by Republicans and Democrats for doing little to punish Russia for interfering in the U.S. election and for being slow to act on the sanctions law. An investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller into whether Trump’s campaign colluded with the Russian government has cast a shadow over his presidency, though Trump denies the accusation.

Read more: US intends to impose additional sanctions against Russia by Friday

Trump’s national security team has pressed for stronger action against Putin following the nerve-agent poisoning of a former Russian spy in the U.K. The U.S. expelled 60 Russian diplomats in a response to the poisoning coordinated with the U.K. and European allies.

The U.S. announced sanctions March 15 on a St. Petersburg-based "troll farm" and other Russian citizens and entities Mueller indicted in February for interfering in the U.S. election. That sanctions list also targeted individuals and entities the administration said were involved in cyber-attacks, including the 2017 NotPetya attack, described as the most damaging in history.

Trump’s outgoing national security adviser, H.R. McMaster, publicly called for a tougher line against Russia in speech Tuesday, saying in the face of Putin’s increasing aggression around the world, "We have failed to impose sufficient costs."

Asked about the planned sanctions, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday: "The phrase ‘Russian oligarchs’ is considered inappropriate. The time when there were oligarchs in Russia passed long ago, there are no oligarchs in Russia."

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The United States imposed sanctions against seven Russian oligarchs and 17 officials from the "Kremlin list". Also under the sanctions were 12 companies controlled by the businessmen who were on the list.

As informs Censor.NET this is reported on the website of the US Department of the Interior.

In sanctions tion spear approx hit Oleg Deripaska, Mikhail Fridman, Alexei Dyumin, Sergei Fursenko, Suleiman Kerimov, Cyril Shamalov, Viktor Vekselberg, Andrey Akimov, Vladimir Bogdanov, Oleg Govorun, Vladimir Kolokoltsev, Konstantin Kosachev, Andrei Kostin, Alexei Miller, Nikolai Patrushev, Vladislav Reznik, Igor Rothenberg, Yevhen Shkolov, Andriy Skoch, Alexander Torshin, Volodymyr Ustinov, Alexander Zharov and Viktor Zolotov.

Also, sanctions were imposed on the chairman of Gazprombank Andrey Akimov, CEO "Surhutn and ft of gas in " Vladimir Bogdanov, Tula region governor Alexei Dyumina, RISS Director Mikhail Fradkov, President of FC "Zenit" and former head of the Russian Football Union Sergei Fursenko.

Adding to curative lance Ku means freezing assets, seizure of real estate and possible bank accounts of individuals and legal entities in the US and prohibitions of entry into the country.

Individuals who are subject to sanctions:

Andriy Akimov, Chairman of the Board of Gazprombank

Vladimir Bogdanov, CEO "Surhutn and ft of gas in "

Oleg Deripaska, President of Rusal and En + Group

Oleksiy Dumin, Governor of the Tula region

Mikhail Fradkov, Director of the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies

Sergey Fursenko, president of Zenit football club

Oleg Govorun, Head of the Presidential Administration for Socio-Economic Cooperation with the CIS, Abkhazia and South Ossetia

Suleiman Kerimov, member of the Federation Council

Volodymyr Kolokoltsev, Minister of Internal Affairs of Russia

Kostiantyn Kosachev, Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs

Andriy Kostin, President - Chairman of the Board of VTB

Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Board of Gazprom

Mykola Patrushev, Secretary of the Security Council of Russia

Vladislav Reznik, deputy of the State Duma

Igor Rothenberg, Chairman of the Board of Directors of "EnPiI Engineering"

Cyril Shamalov, board member of "Sibur"

Eugene Shkolov, Assistant to the President of Russia

Andriy Skchch, deputy of the State Duma

Alexander Torshin, Deputy Chairman of the Bank of Russia

Volodymyr Ustinov, Plenipotentiary Representative of the Russian President in the Southern Federal District

Timur Valilein, Head of the Main Directorate for Combating Extremism of the Ministry of Internal Affairs

Victor Vekselberg, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Renova Group of Companies

Alexander Zharov, head Roskomna See

Viktor Zolotov, head Roshvardi th

Entities

Agroholding "Kuban"

"Basic element"

B-Finance Limited

En + Group

GAS

"Gazprom drilling"

"Eurosibenergo"

Ladoga Management

"EnPiInzhiniring"

Renova

Rosoboronexport

Russian financial corporation

Russian cars

"Rusal"

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia will support Russian companies that are in the new list of US sanctions.

This was announced by the head of the department Denis Manturov, reports Tsensor.NET and with reference to RIA Novosti .

" For those Company and which come under the sanctions - will further support", - said Manturov.

As reported, the US Treasury announced on Friday that the State Department after consultation with the US administration imposed sanctions st on seven Russian businessmen and 12 companies, 17 government officials of Russia and against one of Russia with arms trafficking and associated it's a bank.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

US Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Jovanovic assured that US policy on Ukraine after the appointment of Mike Pompeo as Secretary of State would not change.

As Censor.NET informs, referring to Interfax-Ukraine, she said in an interview with the Focus magazine, answering a question about how the US policy on Ukraine will change after Mike Pompeo's arrival as secretary of state.

"Our foreign policy is determined by President Donald Trump ... Of course, every new head of the State Department has some of his own views and concepts, but I will repeat: in the end, everything is determined by the president, therefore the previous policy will continue," M. Yovanovich said.

The ambassador noted that he was pleased with US policy towards Ukraine and would like to see Ambassador Donald Trump and his vice president, Mike Pence, on a visit to Ukraine.

"We have a long history of supporting Ukraine since 1991, in some areas - even earlier, so it only continued with this administration, and even intensified," - said M. Yovanovich.

As it was reported, on March 13, US President Dmitry Trump removed Rex Tillerson from the post of Secretary of State and proposed for this position the candidature of the acting director of the CIA M.Pompeo.

From April 1, 2018, Undersecretary of State John Sullivan became Acting Secretary of State.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Four Russian diplomats, whom the Canadian government has decided to send out of the country as part of a coordinated action in connection with the case of former Colonel GRU Sergei Skrypal, left the territory of Canada.

As informs Censor.NET with reference to TASS, this was reported at the Russian Embassy in Ottawa.

"According to the requirement of the Canadian side, the diplomats left the country who were declared to be non-grata by Canada," said the representative of the diplomatic mission.

He did not report any other details.

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 injured as a result of poisoning with 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 GRG employee Sergey Skrypala 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.

At the EU summit, which ended March 23, the EU 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.

The deportation of Russian diplomats was announced by the United States , Canada and 14 European states, including Germany, France, Italy, Czech Republic and others. In the statements of Washington and Ottawa, the expatriate diplomats who were expelled were accused of having links with Russian intelligence and "abusing diplomatic powers." In addition, the United States announced the closure of the Russian Consulate General in Seattle.

As of March 28, after the poisoning of the former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter Julia in Great Britain, 28 countries and NATO have expelled 152 Russian diplomats suspected of working on Russian intelligence.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

NATO is very concerned about the continued aggressive behavior of Russia in the foreign policy arena.
According to Censor.NET, referring to Ukrinform , NATO Secretary General Yens Stoltenberg said.

"Of course, we are concerned about what we see: the more assertive Russia, which illegally annexes the Crimea, destabilizes eastern Ukraine, supports the Assad regime, organizes cyberattacks and interferes in internal democratic processes, and also takes other actions that undermine the internationally-based rule", - said Stoltenberg.

According to him, this very negative Russian trend has prompted members of NATO and partners to react decisively to the poisoning of the Violinist.

"The assault on Salisbury was not a separate event, but happened on the background of Russia's consistent long-term behavior, which was the reason for such a coordinated response," the NATO Secretary General said.

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 injured as a result of poisoning with 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 GRG employee Sergey Skrypala 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.

At the EU summit, which ended March 23, the EU 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 .

The deportation of Russian diplomats was announced by the United States , Canada and 14 European states, including Germany, France, Italy, Czech Republic and others. In the statements of Washington and Ottawa, the expatriate diplomats who were expelled were accused of having links with Russian intelligence and "abusing diplomatic powers." In addition, the United States announced the closure of the Russian Consulate General in Seattle.

As of March 28, after the poisoning of former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter Julia in Great Britain, 28 countries and NATO have expelled 152 Russian diplomats suspected of working on Russian intelligence.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

About 35-40 thousand Ukrainian citizens, in particular more than 20 thousand Crimean Tatars, left the peninsula and settled in other regions of Ukraine, caused intimidation, physical and psychological pressure on the part of the occupying power of Crimea.

According to the Censor.NET, referring to the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Sergei Kislytsia, deputy foreign minister, said in a speech at the international conference "Depoocation of the Crimea: when and how" in Lisbon.

He stressed that the Russian authorities are using such methods to eliminate any civic initiatives and opposition. The result of this policy was the illegal detention of about 60 Ukrainian citizens in Russia and the temporarily occupied Crimean territory as a result of fraudulent affairs.

"Their release remains one of the main priorities of Ukraine and the international community," the deputy minister emphasized.

In turn, the First Deputy Minister of Information Policy of Ukraine Emine Jaaparova emphasized that, occupying the Crimea, the Russian Federation violated 407 bilateral and 80 international agreements with Ukraine. In order to integrate the Crimea into the legal space of the RF, thousands of legal and subordinate acts were adopted, including 15 constitutional laws. Unfortunately, the crimes of the Russian Federation continue among the main ones: the curtailment of all forms of freedom, the illegitimate elections of the President of the Russian Federation in the Ukrainian Crimea, the use of the TV and radio frequency resources of Ukraine for the purpose of propaganda against Ukraine, the militarization of the peninsula, prizes for the Russian army, the replacement of the civilian population, Mejlis and many others.

The press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also noted that the international conference "Depookration of the Crimea: when and how" was held by the Embassy of Ukraine in Portugal within the framework of the "Friends of the De-occupation of Crimea" international platform initiated by the President of Ukraine. Its main themes were the situation in the field of human rights in the occupied Crimea, the counteraction to the destruction of the Crimean Tatar heritage - the Bakhchysaray palace and the international support of Ukraine on the path of struggle for the restoration of territorial integrity.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Constant political debate is being held in the United States on whether Russia is a friend or not.
As reported by Censor.NET, this was said by U.S. Ambassador to UN Nikki Haley as she was giving a lecture at Duke University on the topic of confronting today’s global governance challenges on April 5.

"There is political debate that does happen in this country on whether Russia is our friend or whether they are not our friend. That's really the wrong question to have because Russia's never going to be our friend," the diplomat said.

"But having said that does not me an we don't want to work with them. But we work with them when we need to and we slap them when we need to. That's just the way it needs to be," Haley stressed.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Doctors say Russian former spy Sergei Skripal is no longer in a critical condition after being poisoned by a nerve agent.

As reported by Censor.NET, Salisbury District Hospital told BBC that Skripal is responding well to treatment and "improving rapidly".

Mr Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, have been in hospital for more than a month after being found unconscious on a bench in Salisbury. They had been poisoned with a toxic nerve agent called Novichok. Ms Skripal is conscious and talking in hospital.

Dr Christine Blanshard, medical director at Salisbury District Hospital said: "Last Thursday, I informed you that Yulia Skripal's condition had improved to stable.

"As Yulia herself says, her strength is growing daily and she can look forward to the day when she is well enough to leave the hospital.

"Any speculation on when that date will be is just that - speculation.

"In the meantime, Yulia has asked for privacy while she continues to get better - something I'd like to urge the media to respect."

Dr Blanshard added: "I also want to update you on the condition of her father, Sergei Skrypal. He is responding well to treatment, improving rapidly and is no longer in a critical condition."

Following the update on Mr Skrypal's condition, the Russian Embassy tweeted: "Good news!"

Former double agent Mr Skripal, who was jailed by Russia for spying for Britain's intelligence service but released as part of a spy swap between the US and Russia in 2010, was being visited by his daughter Yulia when the attack happened on 4 March.

The pair became ill in the centre of Salisbury after visiting The Mill pub and Zizzi restaurant.

The incident sparked an escalating diplomatic crisis between Russia and the West, with more than 20 countries expelling Russian envoys in solidarity with the UK.

On Thursday, Russia's ambassador to the UN, Vasily Nebenzia, told the UN Security Council that Britain was "playing with fire" and had invented a "fake story".

Mr Nebenzia said Britain's main goal had been "to discredit and even delegitimise" Russia and accused the government of waging a "propaganda war".

 ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

All pets who lived in the house of a former employee of the GRU of Russia Sergey Skrypala, were already dead at the moment - two guinea pigs died of dehydration, and the cat was drowned by a veterinarian.

This was reported by the British newspaper The Mirror, informs Censor. NET.

The newspaper said the veterinarian to manage to get into the house Fiddler only some time after poisoning with her daughter Julia as building th opechata la police . There the vet detected dead guinea pigs and a black Persian cat in a state of shock. He was taken to a laboratory at Porton-Downey, and later he fell asleep. The bodies of animals were burned .

Previously, the fate of the Skrypal animals was interested in the press secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia Maria Zakharova. In her opinion, if the house was poisoned with substances in , then "these living organisms should also suffer." On April 5, the Russian Embassy sent a request to the British Foreign Ministry, and Russia's ambassador to the UN Vasyl Nebenzez was interested in the livelihoods of the Security Council.

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 injured as a result of poisoning with 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 GRG employee Sergey Skrypala 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.

At the EU summit, which ended March 23, the EU 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 .

The deportation of Russian diplomats was announced by the United States , Canada and 14 European states, including Germany, France, Italy, Czech Republic and others. In the statements of Washington and Ottawa, the expatriate diplomats who were expelled were accused of having links with Russian intelligence and "abusing diplomatic powers." In addition, the United States announced the closure of the Russian Consulate General in Seattle.

As of March 28, after the poisoning of former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter Julia in Great Britain, 28 countries and NATO have expelled 152 Russian diplomats suspected of working on Russian intelligence.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

British intelligence services knew Russia was developing a secret stash of the deadly nerve agent used to poison former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.

As reported by Censor.NET citing British Mirror newspaper, Sir Sebastian Wood, British Ambassador to Germany, told Deutschlandfunk German radio station on Friday.

Asked whether the UK government has decided too quickly that Russia was behind the near-deadly attack, he said: "No. It is important to understand that this is an overall picture.

"It's not just the fact that we know that this neurotoxin is of a type that was originally developed in Russia, but also that our intelligence services know that the Russian government has kept a secret program of the Novichok nerve agent.

"They have even experimented on how best to administer small amounts of Novichok to kill people, and how people like Mr Skripal are being targeted by the Russian state and that there is even a history of state-sponsored killings in Russia, and therefore we have a very clear assessment that it is most likely an attack on behalf of the Russian state."

Speaking to Deutschlandfunk, he added: "We've shared our evidence with our allies, and obviously our allies have found this evidence convincing, and in front of the public we said that our intelligence services know that the Russian authorities experimented earlier on how best to use this nerve poison to kill people.

"So the evidence is clear enough. We have a strong belief that it was most likely an attack by the Russian state, and so we all had to act together."

Sir Sebastian said this is an established pattern of behaviour of the Russian government.

"We've seen hacker attacks on our ministries, we've seen data theft, interference in our policies and elections, spreading fake news to split our societies and even fuel hatred among our communities," he said.

Claiming that despite the chief of the investigating laboratory in Porton Down saying he cannot confirm if the poison was made in Russia, Sir Sebastian said "the overall picture is quite convincing".

He also said the Russian government is "clearly" pushing against the Chemical Weapons Convention by failing to disclose the programme.

As reported, Russian ex-spy Sergei Skripal, 66, and daughter Yulia Skripal, 33, remain critically ill in hospital, after they were found unconscious on a bench in the Wiltshire city on March 4. The UK government says they were poisoned with a nerve agent of a type developed by Russia called Novichok and PM Theresa May said she believed Moscow was "culpable."

UK expelled 23 Russian diplomats as part of a "full and robust" response – prompting Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to say it will "certainly" expel British diplomats in response.

On March 16, Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance had "no reason to doubt the findings and assessments by the British government" which suggested Russian responsibility. He said the "UK is not alone" and Nato allies gave "strong political support" to Britain, following a joint statement from the US, France and Germany backing Mrs May's government and a pledge of support from Australia.

British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson said that the U.K.'s government believes that it was likely Putin's decision to direct the use of a nerve agent on the streets of the U.K.

On March 26, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the expulsion of 60 Russians from the United States, including 12 people identified as Russian intelligence officers who have been stationed at the United Nations in New York.

 ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The Joint Forces’ actions in the Donbas will significantly differ from the military operation that Russia conducted against Chechnya in the 1990s.

As reported by Censor.NET, Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak said in an interview with Uriadovyi Kurier government newspaper.

"We do not plan to carry out large-scale offensive operation and seize the territory the way Russia did it in Chechnya – by killing thousands of civilians. Ukraine is a civilized country and it will address the return of all the territories occupied by the aggressor in a civilized manner," he said.

According to the minister, the adopted law on reintegration of the Donbas lays all the legal groundwork for the return of the occ
"This law allows us to effectively hold our positions giving the enemy zero chances to seize new territories. It also helps to pave way for the liberation of Ukrainian soil," Poltorak said.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Haley's words at Duke University in North Carolina reveals to Reuters.

"I know John Bolton well. I got advice from him, talked with him. I know his disdain for the UN, I share it, "she said.

"I think we will have good working relations," said the diplomat.

Earlier, Haley spoke in favor of reducing the amount of money spent by the United States on the United Nations and criticizing her for "anti-Israeli bias."

Bolton was the United States Ambassador to the United Nations for President George W. Bush. One day he said that if the United Nations headquarters in New York demolished 10 floors, then nothing would have changed.

According to the appointment of US President Donald Trump, April 9 Bolton will replace Herbert McMaster as National Security Advisor.

Recall that United States spokesman Necki Hayley has stated at the UN Security Council meeting that Russia is responsible for a chemical attack in the UK on Sergey Skripal and his daughter.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

In Russia, they say that in the laboratory of the State Research Institute of Organic Chemistry and Technology in the city of Shihan Saratov region has never stored chemical weapons, including the gas "Novichik".

This was stated by former head of the State Commission on Chemical Disposal Mikhail Babich, reports Interfax.

"This laboratory was not included in the scope of our work. All bases where chemical weapons were stored are known, and Shihani does not belong to them, "Babich said.

"There was an object in the Saratov region, but not in Shihan", he convinces.

Earlier, The Times, referring to British intelligence data, said that the nerve-paralytic substance Novicky, which was poisoned by Sergius and Julia, was made on a Russian military research base in the Saratov region.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said earlier that there was never any research on the development of chemicals with the code name "Novice" in Russia or the USSR.

Recall that on April 5, Julia Skripal made her first statement after she left the coma after being poisoned at Salisbury. She did not receive help from Russia.

A 66-year-old citizen of Russia Sergey Skrypal was hit by a hospital with severe poisoning on March 4. With him was his daughter.

The British investigation believes that the poisoning of the former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal would hardly have been carried out without the approval of the Kremlin.

Sergei Skrypal, Colonel of Military Intelligence of Russia on retirement in 2006, was sentenced to 13 years in prison for espionage in favor of Britain. He was found guilty of transmitting to the Secret Intelligence of Britain evidence of Russian agents who worked under cover in the EU.

The former intelligence officer was fired in an exchange between the United States and Russia in 2010. He was pardoned by then Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Then Russia, besides Violinist, sent Igor Sutyagin, Alexander Zaporizhzhya and Gennady Vasilenko to the United States. At the same time, 10 people were charged with espionage in favor of RF citizens, among them Anna Chapman. Soon, Violin became a political refuge in the UK.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Deputies of the State Duma of the RF on April 5, adopted in the third, final reading the bill, which introduces a new preventive measure - the prohibition of certain actions, in particular, to use the Internet.

The relevant bill is published on the website of the Parliament of the Russian Federation.

The bill says that the court may, instead of arresting a suspect, prohibit him from taking certain actions, in particular: to go beyond the limits of the residence in which the suspect or accused lives, at certain times, to be in certain places, and also to approach a certain distance to certain people and / or objects.

Also, the court may forbid to communicate with certain people, to send and receive postal and telegraph messages and to use means of communication and the Internet.

In addition, drivers who are accused of hitting people may prohibit driving a car, as they will be deprived of driver's license at the time of trial.

Following the ban, the Federal Penitentiary Service will monitor, which will use electronic bracelets and other means of control.

At the same time, the prohibition of certain actions can be applied in itself, and together with other precautionary measures - a guarantee and a house arrest.

The law will come into force after its approval by the Federation Council and signed by the President.

Previously, at the Legislative Assembly of Leningrad Oblast deputies initiated a bill that legitimately use social networks will be possible only with the receipt of a passport.

Earlier it was also reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin during the meeting of the All-Russian Popular Front, called sufficient restrictions on the Russian Internet.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

New US sanctions will not affect the upcoming meeting of US President Donald Trump with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

This was reported by Reuters.

According to the representative of the White House, the work on organizing a meeting with Putin in the future will continue.

"As the president said, he wants to have a good relationship with Russia, but it will depend on some actions of the Russians," said the spokesman.

Recall that in the United States they plan to impose sanctions against Russian oligarchs close to Russian President Vladimir Putin in the case of Moscow's interference in the 2016 presidential election.

April 2 at the White House confirmed that US President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin may soon meet.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

President Petro Poroshenko said he expects the National Security and Defense Council to propose to synchronize US sanctions against Russia.

Poroshenko informed about this on Facebook.

"I expect from the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, in the near future, comprehensive proposals on synchronization of Ukrainian and American sanctions regimes," Poroshenko wrote.

The president expressed hope that the European Union will similarly intensify and restrict measures against the oligarchs who are close to Putin.

Recall, the United States introduced new sanctions against Russian oligarchs close to President Vladimir Putin.

The sanctions relate to Moscow's alleged interference with the US presidential election in 2016. In general, 26 Russian businessmen, officials and businessmen close to Putin came under sanctions.

March 15, the US extended sanctions against Russia. Then the US imposed additional restrictions against 14 Russian people.

Recall that on January 29, the US Presidential Administration, Donald Trump, published a list of 114 Russian politicians and 96 oligarchs close to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The so-called "Kremlin list" included representatives of the Administration of President Putin and the Cabinet of Ministers of Russia, as well as businessmen whose wealth exceeded $ 1 billion.

Then it was reported that entering this list does not mean that the United States will automatically impose sanctions on individuals. However, the risk of being hit by sanctions is higher for the list of participants.

Putin, commenting on the report, said that he considered such a step unfriendly and joked, regretting that he was not included in the report.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The situation with the invasion of the Ukrainian territorial waters of the Russian vessel "Nord" indicates Russia's readiness to make a number of provocations in the waters of the Azov Sea.

About this "Apostrophe" was told by the coordinator of the "Information Resistance" group, People's Deputy Dmitry Timchuk.

"The Russians say that they are preparing not just provocations, but armed provocations. It remains to be guessed how it will look in practice, but I am convinced that the State Border Service of Ukraine and other armed forces will fulfill their functional duties, assigned to in full, and the State Border Service has officially stated that it will continue to respond to such incidents, "the MP said.

The main purpose of this provocation is an attempt to legitimize the annexation of the Crimea. Thus Russia is trying to force Ukraine to de facto recognize Crimea Russian.

"The Russians, in any possible way, are trying to prove that the" Crimea ours", respectively, the change in the territorial waters is also legal in terms of Russia. They will stand on this and demand that Ukraine and other countries recognize it. This is the rigorous installation of the Kremlin, which they are observing. And in this connection, various provocations are possible, "says Timchuk.

One of the biggest problems that the situation posed is a weak reaction from the West. European partners of Ukraine do not pay attention to the violation of Russia and do not raise this issue.

"Unfortunately, in this context, we are very weakly seeing the reaction of the international community. We do not see a reaction to the legal arrest of a Russian vessel by the Ukrainian side, we do not see absolutely no reaction of the international community on the construction of the Kerch Bridge, and it is strange - I think Ukraine will engage Focus, first of all, Europeans, on this problem", - summed up Timchuk.

apostrophe.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, dismissed 11 generals from government agencies such as the Ministry of the Interior, the Federal Service for the Execution of Punishments (FSUE), the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MOE) and the Investigative Committee (SC).

The corresponding decree on Friday, April 6, appeared on the portal of legal information.

It is worth noting that the document also specifies new appointments. About the reasons for personnel changes are not reported.

Among those who were dismissed were Pavlo Bugayev, deputy head of the Main Department for Road Safety of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and Andrei Bykov, Head of the Research Institute (Research Institute). In addition, Putin dismissed the head of the Ural Law Institute of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Alexander Hook and a number of heads of regional offices of the SC.

Also retired was Colonel-General Colonel Shamsutdin Tagirov, also Lieutenant-General Valeriy Zadorin and Lieutenant-General Police Igor Napalmov.

It is specified that 15 people received new posts. For example, Ivan Balashov has headed the Office of Operative Search Information, and Igor Butranov became Deputy Chief of the Main Control over Drug Trafficking.

According to a new decree, Alexander Dedov headed the Kaluga chief of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and Igor Zinoviev was appointed head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the central district of the capital. In addition, the head of the Russian Federation assigned Major-General Police Igor Kovalev a special rank of Major-General of the Internal Service.

apostrophe.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The official spokesman for the US administration, Sarah Sanders, said the United States expects Russia to change its behavior on the international scene through sanctions.

Reported Cenzor.NET with reference to Interfax-Ukraine.

"We would like Russia to change its behavior, we want to see significant changes. I'm not ready to go into details now, but again: what we want to see is a total change in Russia's behavior and we will continue to work on improving our relations."- said S. Sunders during a briefing in response to a journalist's question what Washington wants from Moscow.

Earlier on April 6, the US Treasury Department announced that after consulting with the State Department, the US administration imposed sanctions on seven Russian businessmen, 12 companies, 17 government officials of the Russian Federation, and against a Russian arms trade company and related bank.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that "Washington continues to scare back denial of US visas, threatening Russian business by freezing property and financial assets."

It is reported by Tsensor. NET with reference to the commentary of the Department of Information and Print of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia in connection with the new anti-Russian sanctions of the United States.

"The number of US attempts to crack down on Russia's sanctions on April 6 has exceeded five in 2006. Without reaching any result in the 50 previous sanction rounds, Washington continues to scare rejections of US visas, threatens Russian business with freezing of property and financial assets, that taking away private property and foreign money is called a robbery. Without waiting for the proper effect from the previous sanctions, the Washington politicians have reached such a pointless point, trying to strike at our companies who have long been maintaining business ties with the United States, from which thousands of jobs depend on. In other words, ordinary Americans and their own voters are struggling to ruin economic cooperation to themselves," the comment says.

"American democracy is clearly degrading, there remains only a desire to provide global hegemony to the United States by any means, in particular, because of pressure from countries that are conducting an independent line, as opposed to Washington's NATO allies, in their voice, as they have repeatedly pointed out, no measures of pressure will destroy Russia. From the chosen course, they only demonstrate the inability of the United States to achieve its goals and consolidate Russian society. Of course, do not leave the present and any new anti-Russian case without a strict answer. First of all, I would like to advise Washington more quickly to get rid of the illusions that we can speak with the language of sanctions,"- say the Foreign Ministry of.

Earlier on April 6, the US Treasury Department announced that, after consulting with the State Department, the US administration imposed sanctions on seven Russian businessmen, 12 companies, 17 government officials of the Russian Federation, and against a Russian arms trade company and related bank.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Amsterdam Arbitration Court denied SCM holding Ukrainian oligarch Rinat Akhmetov in defrosting Dutch assets. Debt dispute over Ukrtelecom continues.

This is reported by DW.

It is noted that the lawyers of Akhmetov's holding failed to convince arbitration judges in the Netherlands to defrost the company's assets.

The total amount of frozen funds is over 820 million dollars.

According to the court decision of April 5, which is available at DW, the assets remain blocked.

Recall that the Cypriot court decided to freeze the assets of the Ukrainian oligarch Rinat Akhmetov for $ 820.5 million in the case of Ukrtelecom. A court decision means a ban on the sale or re-registration of Akhmetov's assets.

SCM Akhmetov claims that the ultimate beneficiary of the ESU, which privatized Ukrtelecom in 2011, was the former head of the Security Service of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych, businessman Valery Khoroshkovsky , who acted in the interests of Dmitry Firtash.

At the same time, the Cabinet is already preparing to return Ukrtelecom to the state property.

Earlier it was reported that Akhmetov and the oligarch Dmitry Firtash will decide in court who will return Ukrtelecom to the state. It was also reported that the Supreme Court satisfied the requirements of Oschadbank to Ukrtelecom for an amount of UAH 850 million.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Russian embassy in the US said that under the pressure of "the country has always been united around its leader."

This is stated in the message of the embassy in Facebook, reports Censor.NET.

"Washington has again hit Russia-US relations, and now the captains of Russian business who refused to play the Washington-based scenario have been sanctioned." We are told that these measures are not directed against the Russian people. "Taken against the many thousands of companies found in the regular "penalty" list,"- said in a message.

"The systematic nature of the next sanctions attacks in Washington also says that opponents of the normalization of Russian-American relations have put in the" black list "the head of the international committee of the Federation Council KI Kosachova. This policy is tirelessly working to restore the ruined interparliamentary dialogue. additional absolutely nobody needs difficulty in this area, "- complain in the Russian embassy.

"In sanctions, we see the US aspiration to split Russian society, it will not work out." Under the external pressure, the country has always been united around its leader. The recently elected Russian Presidential election has shown support for the overwhelming majority of the Russian people, V.V.Putin, "summed up Russian embassy.

Earlier on April 6, the US Treasury Department announced that after consulting with the State Department, the US administration imposed sanctions on seven Russian businessmen, 12 companies, 17 government officials of the Russian Federation, and against a Russian arms trade company and related bank.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline violates the principles of transparency, non-discrimination and equal access.

This was stated by the Director General of Energy of the European Commission, Dominique Ristoroy, reports Interfax-Ukraine.

"Our position is clear: we believe that the North Stream 2 will not promote the diversification of sources and routes of gas supply," said Ristoroy at a briefing in Kiev on April 6.

He also added that the construction of the gas pipeline does not correspond to the goals set by the European Union.

Earlier, Finland and Germany allowed the construction of the North Stream 2 gas pipeline in their economic zones.

On April 5, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine called on the world not to support the construction of the Russian "North Stream-2" .

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko called supporters of the construction of a new Russian gas pipeline, "the accomplices of the Russian Federation". Poroshenko also said that North Stream 2 monopolizes Russia's supply of gas to the EU.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Moravecki said he believes North Stream 2 is dangerous for Europe , and especially for the Baltic region.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український