Ukraine News. Monday 17 December. [Ukrainian sources]

WEDNESDAY HEADLINES:
US Senate to Present New Announcement Report on Russia's Role in Trump Victory in Presidential Elections.  Lavrov: Poroshenko is planning a provocation on the border with Crimea. He will get an answer - it will be irritating. But we will not fight Ukraine, I promise yo".  UOC-MP declined to recognize the creation of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.  EU in early 2019 will send Ukraine an assessment mission to help the Azov region that has suffered from aggression.  If Russia recognizes "L / DNR", then it will lose the rest of Ukraine, - Lavrov. The European Union will give Ukraine 37 million euros for the implementation of the Association Agreement. Russia is again building up military forces on the border with Ukraine - Volker.

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Oxford experts and network analytics from Graphika Company have prepared a new report for the Senate intelligence committee of the United States, which explains the direct evidence of Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election in favor of a candidate from the Republican Party of Donald Trump.

As informs Censor.NET, according to the publication The Washington Post, at whose disposal is a draft document.

The work of analysts was aimed at the Russian Agency for Internet Research, as well as the activity of Russian bots and fake pages.

The publication notes that this report contains a thorough analysis of disinformation campaigns deployed by Russia in the United States in 2016-17. In their research, analysts relied on millions of posts, videos and photo materials of "major social and media platforms," ​​including Facebook, Twitter, Google, Instagram and YouTube. According to them, these sites were actively used by the Russians to influence the various electoral groups in order to raise the Trump rating and defame Democrats.

"It is clear that all reports were created clearly in the interests of the Republican Party, and especially Donald Trump," the authors of the report argue. "Trump is most often mentioned in information campaigns aimed at conservative and right-wing electorates, and these reports have prompted groups of voters to support For the main groups of voters who could have been threatened by Trump, other messages were prepared to try to confuse, distract and ultimately dissuade them from voting. "

The report also talks about the presence of evidence of Russian negligence, including the use of rubles to buy advertising and Russian telephone numbers for communication. In addition, the IP-addresses used by agents are stored, which are registered in St. Petersburg, where the Russian Agency for Internet Research is based.

censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The Russian authorities state that the Ukrainian side is preparing provocations on the border with the occupied Crimea.

As Censorz.NET reports, the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with the Russian edition of " Komsomolskaya Pravda".

"Poroshenko said that he would not continue the military situation unless there were provocations on the clash line in the Donbass or the administrative border with the Crimea. We have information ... that the Ukrainian military concentrated on the line of contact about 19 thousand people. military, a large number of equipment, they are helped by British and American instructors", - said the Russian minister.

"The additional information that appeared in us and which we tend to believe that during the last decade of December Poroshenko plans a provocation on the border with the Russian Federation, on the border with the Crimea, he will receive an answer - it will be irritating, our country is our borders," - said Lavrov.

"According to our data, they provoke a provocation on the border with Crimea together with their western curators," the Russian minister said.

At the same time, he said that Russia would not fight Ukraine.

"We will not fight Ukraine, I promise you," Lavrov said.

"Sometimes the recognition of the independence of the DPR and LNR and the declaration of war as you now propose - I can not imagine how Russia will go to war with Ukraine - sometimes it is a manifestation of nervous breakdown and weakness," - added the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate refused to recognize the creation of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

This is stated in the Address of the Holy Synod of the UOC-MP from December 17, reports Censor.NET.

"On December 15, 2018, a so-called Unification Council was held in Kyiv on the territory of the National Reserve Sofia Kyivskaya, in which it was announced that a new church organization called" Orthodox Church "was created, which arose as a result of the unification of two non-canonical structures: "Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church" and "Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev Patriarchate." Thus, these gatherings are a union of scholars and have nothing to do with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate - Ed.). The Church has essentially changed nothing, because the scholars have remained in a split, and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church remains the true Church of Christ in Ukraine, "the statement said.

"It's a shame that one of the initiators of today's trials for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church was the Constantinople Patriarchate, which argues its right to interfere in our church affairs by the fact that our church was once in its jurisdiction. In this regard, I would like to remind you that Russian The Orthodox Church has forcibly proclaimed its autocephaly as a result of betrayal by the Constantinople Patriarchate of the Orthodox Faith and the signing of the union with Rome at the Ferrara-Florence Cathedral in 1439.... Today, the Patriarch of Constantinople BP has no moral and canonical rights to interfere in the internal affairs and spiritual life of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate. - Ed.). Moreover, the actions of the Patriarchate of Constantinople has led to the possibility that the reunification of the Orthodox in Ukraine rejected a long time,

Recall that on December 15 at the Unity Council, the head of the Ukrainian local Orthodox Church elected Metropolitan of Pereyaslavl and Bila Tserkva Epiphany, a representative of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate.

According to the press secretary of the UOC-KP Yevstratyi Zorya, according to the Statute, the name of the primate "is raised in all temples of the Church according to the formula" His Beatitude Epiphany, Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine, "and also specified that the official name of the local church is the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

At the beginning of next year, the EU will send a mission to Ukraine to assess the needs for assistance to regions affected by Russian aggression in the Kerch Strait.

According to Censor.NET, referring to the "European truth", this is stated in a joint statement on the results of the Council of the EU-Ukraine Association.

"The Association Council has discussed the possibility of providing targeted EU support to the Azov region, the EU expressed its willingness to take measures to further increase support, in particular, the affected regions of Ukraine, in this context, the EU plans to send an assessment mission to Ukraine in early 2019," the statement said.

It is noted that the EU will closely monitor the development of the situation in the region and is prepared to respond appropriately.

Recall that the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security, Federica Mogherini, said that the European Union is considering what further steps can be taken to support Ukraine's regions affected by the aggression in the Azov Sea.

censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov believes that Russia will lose the rest of Ukraine if it recognizes the self-proclaimed "DPR" and "LNR".

As informs Censor.NET with reference to TASS, he stated this at a press conference on Monday, December 17.

"Do you want to recognize" LNR "and" DPR "? And then? Lose the rest of Ukraine, leave it to the Nazis?" - he said.

Also, the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry stated that "the Ukrainian regime" has "all the features of the neo-Nazi".

"We do not fight with the Ukrainian regime, Ukrainian citizens who live in the Donbass are fighting with the Ukrainian regime, which has all the features of the Nazi and Neo-Nazi regime," the minister said.

At the same time, he noted that the internal problems of Ukraine "are much wider and much deeper than mere" LNR "and" DNR".

Lavrov also assures that Russia will not wage war with Ukraine.

"I believe that the Minsk agreements do not have alternatives. We will not fight with Ukraine, I promise you," Lavrov said.

Recall, December 14 in the "DPR" declared full alertness through the "offensive" of the Armed Forces, as previously stated in Moscow.

censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The Government of Ukraine and the European Commission signed a Financing Agreement for the 2018 Technical Cooperation Program, in which the EU will allocate 37 million euros for the implementation of the Association Agreement with the EU and help Ukrainian institutions to strengthen respect for democratic principles, human rights and fundamental freedoms.

According to Censor.NET, referring to the "European truth", the relevant document was signed on the margins of the 5th meeting of the EU-Ukraine Association Council, which takes place on Monday, December 17, in Brussels.

EU assistance will be provided on three main priorities.

In particular, the funds will be aimed at strengthening the institutional capacity of the Ukrainian authorities to implement EU legislative norms in Ukrainian legislation and ensure compliance with the Association Agreement in the following areas: environment, transport, energy, sanitary and phytosanitary control, accounting, standardization, electronic communication, cybersecurity.

The allocated funds will also be aimed at improving the legal framework and increasing the capacity of Ukrainian authorities and non-state actors to effectively promote the observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Ukraine.

The third direction that the EU has decided to support is to promote the participation of Ukrainian organizations in the EU program Horizon 2020.

censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Russia resumed the build-up of military forces on the border with Ukraine

This was said by the Special Representative of the United States Department of State for Ukraine Kurt Volker, according to Twitter journalist Terry Schultz.

"Kurt Volker confirms Ukraine's statements that Russia is once again building its forces at the border," she wrote.

He also supported NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, thanking Ukraine for "restraint" after the attack on the Azov Sea.

espreso.tv  In Ukrainian/український

Ukrainian Weekpredicts the political and social consequences that will result from the creation of a local church of Ukraine. The publication says that after the creation of a single Orthodox Church in Ukraine, the comprehensive delectation of Ukrainian Orthodoxy will be significantly accelerated. In the short-term, there may be inter-church and civil conflicts, which will become another element of hybrid aggression against Ukraine. It is likely that by the end of the year, Russian media will launch the appropriate fake, only instead of the caught boys there will appear monks or grandmothers. However, Moscow is unlikely to give the international community the idea of ​​a religious war in Ukraine, as previously failed to convince the reality of the war "civil". In the broader perspective, the situation is in favor of Ukraine, says the weekly newspaper. To overcome the Moscow strategy of usurping Ukrainian Orthodoxy, tomos had no less importance than the fall of Yanukovych's regime. Using the UOC (MP) as a means of destabilizing the situation in Ukraine, Moscow can cause a lot of trouble, but from the historical point of view it will be waving with fists after the fight, with the victory of Ukraine. And the more Russia waves with its fists, the UOC (MP) will soon become a radical but marginal opposition to the local church. In addition, the political toxicity of the UOC (MP) will increase as radicalization. This is emphasized in the material "Chain Reaction". with the victory of Ukraine. And the more Russia waves with its fists, the UOC (MP) will soon become a radical but marginal opposition to the local church. In addition, the political toxicity of the UOC (MP) will increase as radicalization. This is emphasized in the material "Chain Reaction". with the victory of Ukraine. And the more Russia waves with its fists, the UOC (MP) will soon become a radical but marginal opposition to the local church. In addition, the political toxicity of the UOC (MP) will increase as radicalization. This is emphasized in the material "Chain Reaction".

And in the publication "On the other side of tomos", "Ukrainian Week" tells what will be the transformation of Orthodox denominations after the Unity Council. The publication states that this Cathedral became a moment of truth and sonority, sometimes "X". At the same time, it is unlikely that it is possible now to fully appreciate the fact that it will actually change that suffering paper, written in ancient Greek style in the ruins of the former glory of the Byzantine Empire, a hand of zealous and very experienced in the religious policy of the phanariot. The weekly writes that the provision of tomosa, which generates a new non-Russian in Ukraine, but the church in the general Orthodox canonical sense, may become a detonator: a massive outflow of communities from the UOC (MP) will begin. Clergy and believers will decide on changing their confessional affiliation.

Dependence on the supply of liquefied gas from Russia is another challenge that Ukraine will have to face next year, convinces the "Mirror of the Week". Last year, auto gas sales surpassed demand for gas, and the stability of its deliveries to Ukraine became an element of energy security. But, probably, for a short time, predicts the publication. In order not to depend on Russian gas, we need to look for an alternative. Ukraine could export liquefied hydrocarbon gas from the US, which, according to newsreaders, is drowning in this product. Two tankers of 40 thousand tons Ukraine would be enough to close the monthly need for liquefied gas. Moreover, the price of the American resource in Ukraine in most cases will be competitive, experts say. However, the country has no ports capable of accepting such vessels. Yes, and with "Ukrzaliznytsya" operatively to import import fuel is practically impossible. The weekly stresses one of the reasons for the current search for stable supply channels for imported liquefied natural gas is the decline of Ukrainian production. From 2010 to 2017, the production of liquefied gas decreased by 43%. Small growth in 2018 was given by small producers, but flagships of the industry - "Ukrnafta" and "Ukrgazvidobuvannya" - continue to lose volume.

"Mirror of the Week"stresses that the importance of liquefied gas as a social motor fuel in Ukraine can not be overestimated. Due to its availability, millions of citizens during the economic crisis managed to save fuel costs at prewar levels in 2013. The failure of gas supplies in August 2017 and the subsequent rise in prices have already made it possible to measure the mood of the Ukrainian population, while riots in France show how people's dissatisfaction with expensive fuel might end. Especially if this subject is constantly heated. In Ukraine, even special efforts will not be needed - it is enough for Russia to stop or to reduce as much as possible the export of liquefied gas and its re-export through Belarus. Against this backdrop, the policy of the state looks rather strange, more precisely, its absence, stresses the contributor. Fuel, which rides a third of the country, in the field of government power simply is not present. In such circumstances, the protests of the "Eurobilliers" (the cause of which has a different nature, fundamentally different from the French rebellion) seem like shy germs of protest moods. There is no doubt that those who wish to grow protest shoots will quickly find. This is stated in the article "Auto gas in Ukraine: important and vulnerable"................

.radiosvoboda.org  In Ukrainian/український

Matters relating to national minorities should not be hostage to the development of Ukraine-NATO relations

This is the special representative of the US State Department for affairs of Ukraine Kurt Volker said during video marketing from Brussels, informs UNIAN.

"Hungary is blocking Ukraine's relations with NATO now, and I think it's very annoying. We have a country that Russia has attacked, Russia has seized Ukrainian territory, fighting is still ongoing every day in the Donbas," Volker said.

He reminded that Ukraine seeks partnership and cooperation with NATO.

"We are not in a position to schedule a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission at ministerial level, because Hungary is blocking it. These are facts that cause great disappointment," Volker added.

A special representative of the United States recalled that Hungary raises a question of respect for the Hungarian national minority in Ukraine. At the same time, he believes that Ukraine's policy to ensure that all its citizens speak the state language is well-founded, as well as the insistence of Hungary that its minority in Ukraine could study in Hungarian is also justified.

"This is something that can mainly be regulated bilaterally between Ukraine and Hungary on the basis of European principles, which are well worked out in other countries. Therefore, I think this is a problem, but I think this is an issue that can be solved" It is unacceptable, and if you want - not to see forest trees in order to keep the Ukraine-NATO relations hostage on bilateral issues regarding minorities that can be settled, "Volker said.

In his opinion, the issue of observance of minority rights is important, but it should not be an obstacle to cooperation with Ukraine within the framework of NATO.

espreso.tv  In Ukrainian/український

In the near future it will become known about additional supplies of military equipment to Ukraine

This was stated by a special representative of the State Department of Ukraine for issues Kurt Volker during a briefing in Brussels, according to "European Truth."

"We have the opportunity to sell additional equipment. This will be an appropriate announcement," Volker said.

He told that the Congress will be notified of the first tranches of military assistance in the coming months.

Earlier it was reported that NATO intends to transfer Ukrainian security equipment to Ukrainian military  equipment.

espreso.tv    In Ukrainian/український

American generals called the revival of the Ukrainian army in a short time a miracle

This was announced by the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, reports Espresso.

In 2014, Poroshenko asked American generals how much time it took to create a new army. They answered that 4-5 years to create one brigade. For Ukraine, this is necessary. 30. "Mr. President, not in your life," they said.

And now, US troops call the revival of the Ukrainian army a miracle and take on the military experience gained from Ukrainians.

"Not only are we going to take over the experience, but they also learn about our unique combat experience," the president said.

espreso.tv  In Ukrainian/український

Moscow is not ready to discuss with Kiev the release of a director-political prisoner.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia is thinking about the fate of the prisoners, in particular, about the Ukrainian director Oleg Sentsov, but to take a step towards Kiev is not going to take place. This Russian leader said at a meeting of the Council on the development of civil society and human rights in Russia, whose transcript is published on the Kremlin website, reports Censor.NET.

Director Alexander Sokurov told Putin that there is a lot of tension in the country, which is connected with problems of foreign policy and internal economic issues.

"The New Year will soon be... Maybe it makes sense to announce an amnesty, a presidential amnesty, in order to relieve some tension in the country?" - suggested the director.

"Is it possible to return to the fate of Oleg Sentsov? It's time that we may have to outperform those Ukrainian politicians, who no longer have any sense of it, and we should take a step," Putin asked Sokurov.

"It will not be possible to outstrip Ukrainian politicians, because they themselves do not know today what they will do tomorrow. They are here in the state of the Brownian movement, but nevertheless, think about the problems that you raised in the final phase of your speech, of course. We need to think about it, "Putin answered.

We remind you that the Ukrainian director Oleg Sentsov and the activist Oleksandr Kolchenko were detained in Crimea on May 10, 2014. They were accused of preparing the terrorist attacks, Kolchenko was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment, and Sentsov - up to 20.

On May 14, 2018, Sentsov declared a hunger strike demanding release of all Ukrainian political prisoners.

On October 5, Sentsov announced that he would stop the hunger strike the next day. He noted that, if continued, he would be forced to be fed due to his critical condition.

On October 25, Sentsov was awarded the European Parliament's "For Freedom of Thought" Sakharov Prize.

The award ceremony took place on December 12 in Strasbourg. The prize for the director was given to his cousin Natalia Kaplan and lawyer Dmitry Dinze.

censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution initiated by Ukraine that condemns Russia's actions in the Kerch Strait
This is reported by the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the United Nations on Twitter.

The UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution initiated by Ukraine that calls on Russia to withdraw its troops from the territory of the occupied Crimea and condemns the Russian military presence in the Black and Azov Seas.

"For" resolution voted 66 states, "against" - 19.

The resolution provides for the following points:

The presence of Russian troops in Crimea contradicts the territorial integrity of Ukraine and undermines the security of the neighboring countries.

The UN calls on Russia to refrain from obstructing free navigation in the waters of the Azov and Black Seas.

The resolution condemns the construction of the Kerch Bridge and the increase in the number of Russian warships in the Black and Azov Seas.

Russia is called to withdraw its armed forces from the Crimea and to de-capture the captured territory of Ukraine.

The UN expresses its concern over the seizure of Ukrainian sailors and ships on November 25, 2018, and calls for their release.

Expresses concern over long-term actions of the Russian Federation in parts of the Black Sea around the Crimea and the Azov Sea.

Expresses concern over Russia's militarization of the Crimea as an invading state.

In the address to the UN General Assembly, the Ukrainian deputies stressed : "The actions of the Russian Federation in the Kerch Strait are a continuation of the armed aggression against Ukraine, which began on February 20, 2014 and resulted in the illegal occupation of part of the territory of Ukraine - the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the city of Sevastopol and separate districts of Donetsk and Luhansk areas".

espreso.tv  In Ukrainian/український