Ukraine News. Thursday 27 December. [Ukrainian sources]

THURSDAY HEADLINES:
Russia intercepted the US Air Force, which patrolled the territory near the occupied Crimea. The Foreign Ministry of Russia urged the West not to participate in the new "provocations" of Ukraine in the Kerch Strait. Putin is Europe's more dangerous than populism. "Velyka", "Flower", "Kolibri", "Bogdan" and "Sokol" - Poroshenko told about the plans for the mass production of Ukrainian weapons. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine appealed to the authorities of Italy through the supply of Italian equipment to the occupied Crimea in violation of sanctions. Ukraine has extended the embargo on import of goods from Russia. The growth of GDP in 2018 will amount to more than 3%. The change in the name of the UOC entails repression and "bloody conflicts" - the head of the ROC kyril. Politician Klich has not seen his wife, son and old parents for five years - the Ukrainian Embassy in the United Kingdom. The parliaments of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia will work together to combat hybrid threats. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia demands for Russian language in Ukraine "at least some status".

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The Russian air force intercepted an airborne intelligence aircraft of the Boeing RC-135V US Air Force, which began patrolling near the occupied Crimea.

As informs censor.NET, this is reported by the public service Aircraft Spots, which tracks the movement of planes.

"US Air Force RC-135V 64-14841 HARK51 was intercepted by Russian Air Force over the Black Sea near the Crimea," the statement said.



Later, the service reported that the reconnaissance aircraft continued its patrolling.



-US has lifted the ban on flights of American airlines to Kharkiv, Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia in 2014

-US Air Force reconnaissance aircraft tracked along the Kerch Strait passage of Ukrainian Navy ships in the Azov Sea

-"We must strengthen our efforts and press on Russia," - Klimkin on the US declaration on the Crimea

-It is highly unlikely that Trump will change his position regarding the Crimean occupation, - Huntsman

censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The Russian Foreign Ministry expressed hope that Western countries would not take part in any Ukrainian attempt to arrange a so-called "provocation" near the Kerch Strait and could refuse Kyiv to take action that could lead to "another tide of tension escalation in this region."

As censor.NET reports referring to "Gazeta.ru", the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia Maria Zakharova stated.

According to her, Moscow also asks to influence Kyiv and force itself to refrain from reckless steps.

"We expect that Western curators in Ukraine will not only refrain from participating in this completely insane initiative, but will also find ways to mitigate the ruling regime in Kyiv and force it to abandon the reckless moves that could lead to another round of escalation in the region," Zakharova said.

Earlier, on December 19, the head of the National Security and Defense Council, Alexander Turchynov, said that Ukraine is planning a new passage through the Kerch Strait and suggests involving OSCE representatives and other international organizations.

"If we stop and retreat, Russia will actually fulfill its task of capturing the Sea of ​​Azov, impose new self-appointed sea borders on the world in the Black Sea, de facto legalizing the occupation of the Crimea," Turchinov said.

UK Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson visited Ukraine last week, where he told his Ukrainian counterpart that the Black Sea did not belong to Russia and that Britain had shipped a ship of the Royal Navy to show that Kiev was not alone.

As reported, on November 25, the Russian Federation border battleships committed aggressive actions against Ukrainian ships, which carried out a planned transfer from the port of Odessa to the port of Mariupol Azov Sea. Special Forces of the Federal Security Service of Russia seized all three Ukrainian ships and 24 sailors, three of whom were injured.

On November 26, the Verkhovna Rada voted for the introduction of a military state for 30 days in Vinnytsa, Donetsk, Zaporozhye, Lugansk, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Sumy, Kharkiv, Kherson and Chernihiv regions, as well as the internal waters of the Azov-Kerch water area.

The decision to introduce a martial law was taken in connection with the act of aggression against Ukraine in the Kerch Strait.

In occupied Simferopol, all Russian sailors captured were arrested. They are threatened with up to 6 years' imprisonment.

The Crimean Prosecutor's Office has admitted captured Russian FSB of Ukrainian sailors to prisoners of war.

On November 30, seamen were transported to Moscow: 21 Ukrainians were taken to the Moscow prison "Lefortovo", three wounded - in "Sailor's silence".

50 Crimean and Russian lawyers expressed their willingness to defend them. The actions of defenders are coordinated by Mykola Polozov.

censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The main trend of the year that goes through the publication is called populism. Europe is experiencing turning points. But the main threat is not from the promising politicians, but from Russia and its leader Putin, according to the British edition.

This is stated in the material by Timon Delaney, published on the pages of The Times, reports Censor.NET.

Populists have shown themselves in many forms, the analyst writes.

The brightest of them is the "yellow waistcoats" protests in France that challenged President Emmanuel Macron's plans to reform both his own country and the European Union.

The "yellow vests" are aimed at the establishment of a mood that gave Brexit an impetus and brought to power Donald Trump in the United States.

However, according to the publication, the greatest threat to Europe comes from Russia.

"Vladimir Putin has shown that he can not only raise his rates in his invasion of Ukraine when he wants to, he also has tried western security systems through cyber attacks and interference in the Balkans and the Baltics, not to mention the killing of the opponents," the article reads. .

The Times notes that in 2019, NATO and the European Union will have to be more vigilant than ever because of Russia's behavior.

censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

In 2019, Ukraine will complete the development and launch of the testing of cruise missiles for defeat of naval targets, as well as launch mass production of missiles, ammunition and other weapons.
This is reported by Censor.NET and with reference to "Ukrainian News".

"In the new year we will complete the development and begin the state testing of the complex of ground-based cruise missiles for defeating the maritime and coastal targets of the Neptune project," the President said.

He noted that this weapon will significantly strengthen the Ukrainian Naval Forces.

"We have something to meet an enemy in the event of aggression from the sea," the head of state emphasized.

According to him, in 2019 a serial production of missiles "Velyka", self-propelled howitzers "Bogdan" will begin.

Also, controlled production of "Kvitnik" ammunition, drone drone "Sokil" and portable anti-aircraft missile complexes "Kolibri" will be launched.

Poroshenko noted that all armaments are manufactured at Ukrainian enterprises.


Launch of the "Velyka" rocket


Missile launch of Neptune


Patriotic Howitzer "Bogdan"

censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The Ukrainian Embassy in Italy has appealed to the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Confindustria General Confederation of Italian Industry to take measures against Italian companies that bypassed the sanctions supplying equipment to the Golden Beret Agribusiness Plant in the occupied Crimea.

This is stated in the response of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine to the Crimea information request. Realia, reports Censor.NET.

According to the agency, such actions by Italian companies may violate the sanctions regime introduced by the European Union in 2014. Also, in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine indicated that they asked the Italian companies to clarify the situation with the supply of equipment.

We remind that the launch of a new plant of the agro-firm "Golden Balk" took place in occupied Sevastopol on December 12 this year. According to representatives of the company, the plant installed the Italian equipment of the companies Bertolaso, Innotec, Robino & Galandrino, Gortani and others.

The Italian company Bertolaso ​​confirmed the fact of supply of equipment in the Crimea. Gortani company denied the fact of cooperation with the Crimean plant, although its symbol and telephone contacts are evident in the video presentation of the "Golden Bale". At the same time, Innotec and Robino & Galandrino did not confirm or refute the information about the agreement with the Crimean enterprise.

censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The Cabinet expanded the list of goods from Russia, which are prohibited for import, changes will come into force 10 days after the publication of the decree.

This is reported by RBC-Ukraine.

In particular, the list of goods forbidden for import from Russia supplemented the following positions:

corn starch; glucose and glucose syrup, not containing fructose or containing less than 20% by weight of glucose. % fructose in a dry state;

glucose and glucose syrup, with a dry state content of at least 20% by weight. %, but less than 50% by weight % fructose, except invert sugar;

maltodextrin and maltodextrin syrup.
It is also reported that these changes will take effect 10 days after the publication of the relevant resolution.

espreso.tv  In Ukrainian/український

In addition, industrial production and exports have grown, while the shadow economy has declined. But for a "real economic breakthrough," this is not enough.

According to Censor.NET, the first vice-premier Stepan Kubiv stated at a government meeting on December 27.



He noted that in 2018 managed to provide economic and industrial growth. This year, Ukrainian industrialists produced 2% more products than the past.

According to Kubiv, Ukrainian exports are also growing. In 2018, Ukraine supplied products worth almost $ 39 billion abroad.

Separately, the first deputy prime minister noted the success of negotiations on economic cooperation with foreign partners. In 2018 negotiations on the establishment of a free economic zone with Israel were completed, and in early 2019, this agreement will be signed. There have also been serious talks with China.

According to Kubi, the level of the shadow economy is shrinking.

For tangible results and a "real economic breakthrough," the economy needs to grow by 5-7% per year, the first vice prime minister said. According to Kubi, this can be achieved through investment, staffing, business simplification, infrastructure development, and local cooperation.

censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Kirill, expressed confidence that the change in the name of the UOC-MP in Ukraine would lead to repression, "power-stripping of temples" and "bloody conflicts."
It is reported by Censor.NET and with reference to Interfax.

"After the decision of the Ukrainian parliament, with the demands to change the name of the UOC, following these changes, there must be reprisals, of course. And it is clear that there is an ultimatum: if the church does not change its name, it will be discontinued, but if the church changes its name, then the strong pressure will begin, first of all on the people, on the public. Undoubtedly, the power actions will be started on the removal of the temples, "the head of the Russian Orthodox Church said on Wednesday in Moscow, summing up the results of the year at a meeting of the Supreme Council of the Church.

At the same time, Kirill noted that people in Ukraine "strong in faith, an emotional people, and, of course, everything that can happen around the temples, has the risk of turning into bloody conflicts." In this regard, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church ROC called for prayer "to preserve peace on the fraternal Ukrainian land".

As a reminder, the Verkhovna Rada on Thursday, December 20, adopted in general a law that obliges the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) in its name to indicate affiliation with the Russian Orthodox Church.

censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Ukrainian political prisoner Stanislav Klych, who is serving a 20-year term in the penal colony of the Russian Federation, has not seen his relatives for five years.

This was written by the Embassy of Ukraine in the UK on its Twitter page, informs Censor.NET.

"A Ukrainian political prisoner convicted in Russia for up to 20 years with fake accusations, Stanislav Klych did not see his wife, son and old parents for five years, he is under severe psychological pressure, his lawyer says that Stanislav is a little crazy" - noted in the message.

In a statement, diplomats also added a hashtag with the requirement to release Clichy.



Recall that in May 2016, the Supreme Court of Chechnya condemned Kliha and another Ukrainian Mykola Karpyuk to 20 and 22.5 years in prison, respectively, in the colony of a strict regime for allegedly involvement in the gang, murder and attempted murder of Russian servicemen. According to a Russian investigation, Klych and Karpyuk during the First Chechen War created groups in Ukraine to engage in battles against Russian troops for independent Chechnya.

The Ministry of Justice of Ukraine has repeatedly sent requests for the transfer of Karpyuk and Klicha to Russia.

During the "investigation" on Ukrainians, torture, which, according to human rights defenders, influenced Kliha's mental health, was used to knock out testimony.

The Human Rights Center "Memorial" in Russia has recognized Klich and Karpyuk as political prisoners. Amnesty International, an international human rights organization, said that those convicted in Russia, Karpyuk and Klych, were victims of a "parody of justice."

In April 2018, the appellate instance of the Sverdlovsk Regional Court decided to charge 1 million rubles of moral compensation to political prisoners of Ukrainians, Mykola Klich and Stanislav Karpyuk, for the "murder" of a Russian soldier in the first Chechen war.

censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Heads of Parliaments of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia - Andriy Parubiy, Andrian Kandu and Irakli Kobakhidze signed a joint declaration on combining efforts to combat hybrid threats.

This was informed on Wednesday in the press service of the Moldovan parliament, noting that the document was signed on the initiative of the Moldovan side, reports Censor.NET with reference to Ukrinform.

"Parliaments of Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia undertake, in accordance with national legislation, to create special centers for collecting, analyzing and disseminating information on existing hybrid threats. In addition, the legislative bodies of the three countries express their desire to join (as participants or observers) before The European Center and other European anti-hybrid threats, "the document said.

The Declaration notes that hybrid threats are aimed at undermining the foundations of democracy as sources of threats to energy, defense and transport systems, as well as to food security and the financial system.

The document pays particular attention to the fact that the global hybrid campaign unfolded after Russia's aggression against Ukraine in the Kerch Strait on November 25 this year.

Speakers of the parliaments of Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia express their hopes in support of the EU and the United States in the fight against hybrid threats and in order to consolidate security in the region.

Recall that the Navy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on November 25th reported that the border ships of the Russian Federation committed aggressive actions against Ukrainian ships, which carried out a planned transition from the port of Odessa to the port of Mariupol Azov Sea. In particular, the Russian border ship "Don" carried a ram of the Ukrainian raiding tug, which damaged the main engine of the ship, lining and liner fencing, as well as a life raft lost. The Navy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stressed that the intention to implement the transition was warned in advance and acted within the framework of international law.

At the same time, the Russian Federal Security Service says that the three Ukrainian warships in the Azov Sea "illegally entered the territorial waters of the Russian Federation and headed for the Kerch Strait."

Later, the Ukrainian Navy reported that the Russian Federal Security Service's boats were defeated by defeat to the "Berdyansk" MABAK, is wounded . And then they announced the seizure of all three ships by special forces of the Russian Federation and six wounded.

On November 26, the Verkhovna Rada voted for the introduction of a military state for 30 days in Vinnytsa, Donetsk, Zaporozhye, Lugansk, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Sumy, Kharkiv, Kherson and Chernihiv regions, as well as the internal waters of the Azov-Kerch water area.

The decision to introduce a martial law was taken in connection with the act of aggression against Ukraine in the Kerch Strait. As a result of illegal actions of Russian security forces, three ships of the Ukrainian Navy were captured and 24 Ukrainian servicemen captured. Under the control of the Russian Federation, the court of the occupied Simferopol has chosen a precautionary measure for 24 sailors to be detained until January 25, 2019.

On November 30, seamen were transported to Moscow: 21 Ukrainians were taken to the Moscow prison "Lefortovo", three wounded - in "Sailor's silence".

censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український

Lavrov is also outraged at the fact that Ukrainian deputies dare to talk about the rights of indigenous peoples in Russia.

The official spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Maria Zakharova, demanded "at least some status" for the Russian language in Ukraine, because it allegedly speaks "the majority". She stated this at a briefing in Moscow, said Cenzor.NET with reference to UNIAN.

"The majority of the country speaks Russian. It is spoken by city leaders, government representatives, journalists, and can not give it at least some status in a state whose culture was created, including using this language," Zakharova said. At the same time, she was outraged at the fact that recently a Verkhovna Rada held a round table on mass violations of the rights of indigenous peoples in the Russian Federation, including an attack on freedom of speech, conscience, assembly, and violation of rights to education in their own language.

"The Ukrainian deputies will do nothing more than discuss the situation with indigenous peoples in the Russian Federation," she said. The spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia has declared this situation "anecdotal".

"Obviously Ukrainian legislators believe that the current self-government policy towards national minorities, which in practice amounts to a refusal to exercise basic rights - namely, to live on the basis of their own culture, traditions, mother tongue, may seem to go away for some sort of standard , so they are trying to teach other states. Perhaps they started with us, then more and more will go and teach other states, "Zakharov thinks. "It's possible even to export its tried and tested experience of suppressing ethnic identity. Once again, the people's elected representatives of Ukraine resort to gross misrepresentation of reality, incompetent accents, speculation under the pretext of protecting the rights of indigenous peoples," Zakharova added.

At the same time, she did not specify why in the situation where in the Russian Federation, according to the latest census, lives more than 1.8 million Ukrainians, there is no Ukrainian school in this country.

censor.net.ua  In Ukrainian/український