Ukraine News. Thursday 30 August. [Ukrainian sources]

THURSDAY HEADLINES:
Kremlin agents detained in Ukraine who were preparing to ruin the election.  The largest international military exercises will be held in Ukraine.  Ukraine has agreed with Canada on the purchase of weapons needed to fight militants.  In Russia, the largest social networks set up a rebellion against Putin.  The French president spoke on "upgrading" relations with Russia.  The US Embassy called on Russia to stop the abduction of the Crimeans.  Russia has announced massive military exercises in the Mediterranean Sea.  "I'll crush you!" - shouted Putin on Poroshenko in Minsk. Former French President Hollande described in detail.  Documents on the termination of the agreement with Russia are ready. In Moscow, the top manager of Firtash, who escaped from Ukraine, was detained. Ukraine is close to signing a contract for the purchase of sniper rifles in Canada with a good range of damage. Poroshenko: "The dialogue between Kiev and Washington has never been as intense and fruitful as today". Russian men die almost immediately after retirement.

WEATHER:
Kyiv, Ukraine
20c / 66f HI | RealFeel 19c / 68f
Clear

During August, SBU staff exposed and blocked the activities of Russian propagandists who were preparing to intervene in the course of the upcoming presidential elections in Ukraine.

This is reported by the press center of the SBU.

Law enforcers found that Russian intelligence services through the Internet had attracted "cooperation" among Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih and Nikopol residents, who are administrators of social networking groups, bloggers. These citizens were supposed to publish political news sent from Russia and to attract "forgery" persons to register sites in the Ukrainian segment of domain names. On these resources, destructive publications were planned, including appeals for violent changes in the constitutional order of Ukraine and violation of its territorial integrity.

"Thus, the Russian Federation tried to distribute" fake "news and popularize certain pro-Russian participants in the election process, that is, it created a springboard for influencing the course of the upcoming presidential elections in Ukraine through manipulating public opinion on the Internet", - noted in the SBU.

Investigators of the SBU launched a criminal investigation into crimes against the foundations of Ukraine's national security.



apostrophe.ua  In Ukrainian/український

On Monday, September 3, the largest joint land forces in Ukraine will take place training units of the Armed Forces and military units of foreign states.

This is reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook.

It is noted that the opening of international exercises will take place on the territory of the International Center for Peacemaking and Safety of the National Academy of Ground Forces named after Hetman Petra Sagaidachny (village Starychi, Yavoriv district, Lviv oblast).

As reported by the "Apostrophe", July 31, the Ukrainian Armed Forces conducted training in the waters of the Sea of ​​Azov with the aim of training for preventing the landing of a hostile sea gun. Previously, on July 21, Ukrainian-American Sea Breeze-2018 training was completed in Odesa, Mykolayiv Oblasts and the north-western part of the Black Sea.

apostrophe.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Ukraine is negotiating with Canada on the supply of sniper rifles, which have a good defensive range.

Ukraine's Ambassador to Canada Andriy Shevchenko believes this, Interfax-Ukraine reports.

"We have several very important weapons contracts in the development, one of them is actually on the final straight line. I can say that it is a question of buying sniper rifles with a good range of damage that are very much needed by our servicemen... Now the contract is in the stage signing an export license", - he is sure.

According to him, there is hope that in the coming days the formal procedure will be completed.

As reported by the "Apostrophe", Volker earlier commented on the supply of US weapons to Ukraine . At the same time, the volumes of United States supplies of weapons to Ukraine are quite small compared with the number of tanks that the Russian Federation has placed in the Donbas.

apostrophe.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Social networks "Vkontakte" and "Classmates" refused to advertise "United Russia", where it is positioned as a "party of the president".

This was reported by Znak.

So, Mail.ru Group, which owns social networks, demanded from the pro-government party documents that officially confirm the party's support to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"There are no official documents supporting Putin's party, so they are not required by law. We do not use photo or video with the president, just the word" president. "However, Mail.ru insists on its right to reject any propaganda material. their tacit decisions taken on the Old Square, not a decree", - reports the publication.

apostrophe.ua  In Ukrainian/український

French President Emmanuel Macron urged the European Union to modernize its relations with Russia.

He said this during a press conference in Helsinki, reports Reuters.

The French president strongly advocated Europe's ability to defend its strategic interests and claim its financial independence in response to the new global economic and defense situation created by Donald Trump in the United States.

According to Macron, Europe has long relied on US defense, and while NATO remains important for it, the EU still needs to strengthen its own defense capabilities.

"It is in the interests of the EU to have strategic relations with Turkey and Russia. It's not about forgetting the events of the last years, that would be wrong, but you can cooperate more deeply, "said Macron.

In his opinion, relations with the Russian Federation can be "updated".

In July, the European Union for six months extended economic sanctions against Russia.

For the first time, the EU imposed sanctions on Russia in July 2014 as a response to Russia's "destabilizing actions in Ukraine."

On June 29, the European Parliament passed a decision to extend sanctions against Russia for the annexation of the Crimea and Sevastopol.

Also, on May 14, 2018, the European Union imposed sanctions against five individuals through the organization of "elections" in the annexed Crimea.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The US Embassy in Ukraine called on Russia to stop the abduction and persecution of the Crimeans.

The embassy reported on Twitter.

"Russia must return the Crimeans to their families and stop the tactics of enforced disappearances and torture in order to prosecute and suppress their political dissent," the statement said.

The embassy also mentions the history of Crimean Tatars Rizvan Abdurmanov, who disappeared in Crimea.

"In 2016, the 48-year-old Crimean Tatar Rizvan Abduramanov from the village of Batalnya went to Theodosia to get a new job. He did not return home anymore. We are deeply concerned about the disappearance of the Crimeans, in particular Rizhvan, "the embassy points out.

On August 29, in Simferopol, Russian security forces searched the activist of the Ukrainian Cultural Center Olga Pavlenko.

After the occupation of the Crimea by Russia, 55 cases of torture of local residents were recorded on the peninsula.

As it was reported, Ukraine would seek additional personal sanctions against Russia, in particular against those involved in violations of the rights of Ukrainians, their abductions and torture.

On October 5, 2017, the European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning the violation of human rights in the Crimea.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The Russian Defense Ministry announced that from 1 to 8 September it will conduct large-scale military exercises in the Mediterranean Sea with the involvement of 25 ships and about 30 planes.

It is reported by the Russian agency "Interfax" with reference to the Ministry of Defense of.

"According to the plan of training of the Russian Armed Forces under the command of the commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy, Admiral Volodymyr Korolev, from 1 to 8 September 2018, a large-scale study of the grouping of forces (troops) of the Navy and Airborne Forces of Russia will be carried out in the Mediterranean Sea," - said in a message.

The exercises will involve the ships of the North, Baltic, Black Sea Fleets and the Caspian Flotilla, as well as long-range, military-transport and naval aircraft.

Russia plans to deploy more than 25 ships and vessels, headed by the Marshal Ustinov missile cruiser, as well as engaging about 30 planes, including rocket-propelled and fighter jets.

In the military department of the Russian Federation noted that during the exercises will be completed a set of tasks for "anti-aircraft and anti-submarine-sabotage defense, as well as mitigation support."

Previously, it was reported that in September, Russia will train "East-2018", which should become the largest since 1981.

It was also reported that the military will participate in these exercises in China and Mongolia. In the United States, they are worried because of the training "East-18", because Russia will conduct a simulation of a nuclear strike.

hromadske.ua  In Ukrainian/український

A politician frankly describes the negotiation process and talks about Putin's then and present intentions.

This is reported by Tsensor.NET with reference to the  "Week".

Former French President Francois Hollande has published a book of memories titled "Lessons of Power." On her pages, he told about how the "Norman Four" talks in Minsk in February 2015 were concluded, culminating in the signing of the Minsk Agreements.

"The intentions of Vladimir Putin were quite obvious," says Olland. "He wanted to preserve his influence in the Russian-speaking regions and weaken the pro-European power in Kyiv as much as possible."



The politician recalls that the Russian presidents Vladimir Putin and Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, often went to the raised tone. At the same time, the head of the Kremlin directly threatened the leader of Ukraine and issued the fact that his troops are attacking Ukrainian forces in the Donbas.

"Poroshenko and Putin constantly raised their voice on each other, and the Russian president was so nervous that he began threatening to completely crush the army of his visitor, which revealed that Russian troops are in the east of the country." Putin shook his head and took hold of him, "Hollande recalls.

"Poroshenko was indifferent to defending the sovereignty of his country, while Putin sought autonomy for the" rebel provinces, "and wanted to put an end to the ceasefire for another three weeks. He was so rigid that he denied his direct connection with the terrorist leaders, saying that he could not demanded that they be consulted", - wrote the former president of France.



The politician recalls that the first draft of the Minsk agreements was made personally by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

"She did not allow anyone, even his advisers, to formulate the articles of the agreement," Francois Hollande says. "Such is her temperament and technique: she is very serious, diligent and attentive."

According to Holland, after a sleepless night devoted to the talks, the parties agreed on the ceasefire, the withdrawal of heavy weapons and the exchange of prisoners. But here the head of the Kremlin made an unexpected move.

"Suddenly, Putin said that they should consult with the leaders of the separatists, their emissaries are also in Minsk, where exactly? At some hotel or in the next room with us? At least, we did not see them," - said Olland.



After that, Putin left, and Merkel, Hollande and Poroshenko had a little nap in the chairs. On the ninth morning it became known that the deal was "not suitable" for the terrorists.

"We insist on an immediate meeting with the Russian president and find out that while we tried, as we could, sleep in the negotiating room, he settled in a large office with a bed, even seems comfortable ... He rested for these two hours and had a much more fresh look, than we... "- recalls Olland.

The former president of France argues in the pages of his book about Vladimir Putin's then-present intentions.

"His goal is to weaken Kyiv as much as possible in the hope of seeing a team in power later on, more tolerant of Russia's interests and more distant from the European Union. He mostly does not want Ukraine to join NATO and gain weapons that could change the balance of power," says Olland.

François Hollande was the president of France from 2012 to 2017. He was the first of the "Norman Four" to step down from power and was given the freedom to tell everything he considered necessary. More to run for the post of head of state is not going to Holland.

 ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

A package of documents has already been prepared for the denunciation by Ukraine of the Treaty on Cooperation with the Russian Federation.

According to Censor.NET, referring to Ukrinform , Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said this.

"This package has already been prepared. In the coming days, we will formalize it," he told reporters.

It should be noted that the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership between Ukraine and the Russian Federation was ratified by the Verkhovna Rada in January 1998. The document consolidated the principles of strategic partnership, recognition of the inviolability of existing borders, respect for territorial integrity and mutual commitment not to use their territory to the detriment of each other's security.

Recall August 28, Poroshenko said that Ukraine plans to break the treaty on friendship and cooperation with the Russian Federation.

ua.censor.net.ua    In Ukrainian/український

On the morning of August 29 in Moscow, at the request of the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine, policemen, together with representatives of Interpol, detained Vladimir Korolkov, a former general director of the Zaporizhzhya Titanium Magnesium Plant, owned by Dmitry Firtash, at the workplace.

Kommersant reports.

It is noted that Korolkov worked in Moscow as a technologist. He refused a few months ago to Ukrainian citizenship by filing documents for Russian.

The Ukrainian side insists on the immediate extradition of the detainee.

Recall that Korolkov was declared Ukraine in an international search in 2017 as part of an investigation into a criminal case involving theft of UAH 492 million allocated for the technical modernization of the enterprise.

apostrophe.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Ukraine and Canada are actively negotiating arms supply

As informs Censor.NET, he informed the agency "Interfax-Ukraine".

"We have several very important arms contracts in the development, one of them is actually on the final line. I can say that it is a question of buying sniper rifles with a good range of damage that are very much needed by our troops... Now the contract is in the stage of signing export license", - informed the ambassador. Shevchenko expressed hope that in the coming days the formal procedure will be completed.

As reported, Ukraine has filed a request to official Washington for procurement of air defense systems worth $750 million for one unit. This was announced on August 29 by the Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States V. Chaly.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The level of relations between the United States and Ukraine is the highest in history.
This was announced by President Petro Poroshenko, reports Censor.NET.



"The dialogue between Kiev and Washington has never been as intense and fruitful as today. It's worth the decision of the President of the United States to provide Ukraine with defense lethal weapons," the head of state said during the 13th meeting of the Ambassadors of Ukraine in Kyiv on August 28.

According to him, this is not only a result of the incredible volume of diplomatic work, but also the best evidence that there is a high level of trust between Kiev and Washington.

Recall that the administration of US President Donald Trump approved the sale of lethal defensive weapons to Ukraine in 2017, and the first batch of anti-tank complexes Javelin has already been delivered.

In an interview with BBC News Ukraine, the head of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Viktor Muzhenko said that the unit, which was armed with Javelin, was trained and ready to use them.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

According to statistics, men in Russia die almost immediately after retirement.

As informs Censor.NET, this is what Facebook is writing about " Present Time".

The retirement age in each country is yours. And the average life expectancy is also. The publication compared these figures and found out in which countries of the former USSR the longest survive on retirement.

So, according to statistics, Russian men die almost immediately after retirement.



On August 29, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with a special teleconference on raising the retirement age. He has put forward a few proposals that mitigate the reform of pensions, formulated by the government. Among them - the retirement of women for 60 years, additional labor guarantees for people from 50 years old, benefits for people of particularly dangerous professions.

July 19, the State Duma of Russia in the first reading adopted a bill on raising the retirement age in Russia. It can be raised from 55 to 63 years for women and from 60 to 65 years for men.

ua.censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український