Ukraine crisis. News in Brief.Sunday 19 July [Ukrainian sources]

SUNDAY

Please scroll down to view news items added during the course of the day

News -
The news that 4 civilians were killed and one soldier yesterday made Reuters news. They even said as a result of rebel shelling.
You wouldn't get this from Shaun Walker or Oliphant.
[Update - Reuters have changed this now. Saying both sides accused each other... Lavrov's games.]
Things in Crimea look to be going from bad to worse. No tourists, and more and more rubbish, and poorer and poorer water quality.
When I was in Sevastopol before the occuptation water quality was not super... Rather brown, presumably due to a lot of chlorine.
Also - a lot of sediment.
But now it must be really bad. Talk of building a pipeline from Russia... another billion dollars.

Weather -
Looks like there was some rain last night. This morning - about 20 already at 1000. Expect a high in the upper 20s.
Blue sky, and sunshine. Update. 11.30 27C.

Ukrainian weekends -
It was a friend's birthday yesterday. And I have 4 people sleeping over in the flat. I expected them yesterday, but not today...
But this often happens here. one guy sleeping on the balcony! He likes the fresh air!

10:04
Lavrov demanded to withdraw Ukrainian troops from Shirokino (Commander)
http://glavcom.ua/news/310458.html
[How about Russia withdrawing its troops occupying Ukraine, and admitting it shot down MH17? lavrov the liar. Lavrov the murderer.
Reading the article, I see his game.
He says that Russia withdrew from Shirokino, so now it is time for Ukraine to withdraw also.
And then we all know what will happen. Shirokino - the last stop before Mariupol. Putin's road to the Crimea, and beyond - Odessa, Budapest, Berlin, Paris... ]

The OSCE has documented reduction in the number attacks in the vicinity of Donetsk, - the report (Tsenzor.Net)
http://censor.net.ua/news/344465/obse_zafiksirovala_sokraschenie_kolichestva_obstrelov_v_okrestnostyah_donetska_17_iyulya_otchet

10:43
Pushkov predicted a protracted war in the Donbas (Hronika.info)
http://hronika.info/rossija/71656-pushkov-predrekaet-zatyazhnuyu-voynu-na-donbasse.html
This opinion was expressed in his Twitter chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the State Duma of Russia, Alexei Pushkov,
[No change. I think this is expected by most Ukrainians now. Russia will not stop the war, or the propaganda. Or the lies. ]

10:41
Gunmen fired on Stanitsa and Novotoshkovskoe with anti-aircraft guns and mortars, injured soldier - LOVGA (News of Donbass)
http://novosti.dn.ua/details/255454/

10:49
In Odessa, from the US military arrived 100 all-terrain Humvees: photo (LIGABusinessInform)
http://news.liga.net/news/politics/6210096-v_odessu_dostavili_iz_ssha_100_armeyskikh_vezdekhodov_humvee_foto.htm
"This morning, another 100 Humvees delivered to Ukraine in Odessa", - he wrote, noting that the delivery performance of the March promises to become US Vice President Joe Biden's support for the Ukrainian army.

[Expect to see Odessite cruising around in one tomorrow...
Joking aside, the young military guys will really appreciate these. They are used to watching lots of American films with people cruisin' around in these vehicles]

11:15
Putin planned to walk to Lviv - Portnikov told "plan Patrushev» (Zik.ua)
http://zik.ua/ua/news/2015/07/19/putin_planuvav_diyty_do_lvova__portnikov_rozpoviv_pro_plan_patrusheva_608623
In the spring of 2014 the implementation of "Operation Himmler" - or rather, its Russian tracing paper, let's call it "Operation Patrushev" - already in full swing. Donbass Russian commandos were deployed, the terror against the civilian population, in particular - against the Patriots of Ukraine.
[Likening Putin to Hitler. As so many have done now - from Prince Charles onwards. ]

11:15
The fall of the Boeing-777: Putin's fate predicted after Girkin (Sled.net.ua)
http://sled.net.ua/node/25109
Russian President Vladimir Putin after a militant Igor Strelkov (Girkin) may become a defendant in the trial of the catastrophe Malaysian Boeing-777 in Donbas....
"The reason why the name of Girkin appears first, is clear: it was his information about the destruction of the so-called Ukrainian military aircraft (July 17, 2014. - Approx. Ed.) Was later the first evidence that the airliner was shot down by Russian troops and their mercenaries "- said the journalist.
According Portnikov, in the future the list of those responsible for the tragedy will be expanded and may include, among others, the Chief of the armed forces of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.
[Likens the process to that in Serbia after the various massacres by the pro-Russians there. Now some face trial, after a decade or so.]

11:36
At the headquarters of ATO claim that Bezler returned to Gorlovka (Pulse of Kiev)
http://society.puls.kiev.ua/incident/339492.html
Former leader of the terrorists, Igor Gorlovka Bezler returned to Gorlovka, said Deputy Commander Staff Colonel Sergei Galushko ATO at a briefing in Kramatorsk July 17.
"The purpose of his visit - personal involvement in the distribution of spheres of influence between the criminal groups control over resources - in whose pocket these resources will go," - said Galushko.
Yesterday it was reported that checkpoints are now in Gorlovka control Bezlera people in the city and surrounding shortly Yenakiyevo and Panteleymonovka can go under his control.
[Presumably controlling cime, drugs, in his little area. Local bandit. Friend of Putin. One of Shaun Walker's "DNR guys". ]

11:56
Terrorists "DNR" and "LC" have reported withdrawal of heavy equipment from the front line (Pulse of Kiev)
http://society.puls.kiev.ua/incident/339496.html
[Garbage for the Shaun Walker school of journalism.
I'll believe it if and when there is peace. Lavrov, Putin, are serial liars. And Walker-type journalists write very clever propaganda. ]

11:59
In Makeyevka brewing rebellion: insurgents accused of shelling the city (Charter'97)
http://www.charter97.org/ru/news/2015/7/19/160455/
Residents of Makeyevka sure what the militants fired a massive bombardment Chervonogvardeysky district Makeyevka last night.
Citizens claim that the shelling was carried out 82 m mortar, it is confirmed by fragments of mines, reports 62.ua.
[Probably some drunk Russian soldiers - Shaun Walker's friends]

12:05
Militants fired at Popasna homes with "Grad" [missiles] and wounded soldier (Tyzhden.ua)
http://tyzhden.ua/News/141306
[0430 this morning]

12:24
Near Bakhmutka the battle - Speaker ATO (Day)
http://www.day.kiev.ua/uk/news/190715-bilya-bahmutky-buv-biy-spiker-ato
[reports of various attacks by the Russians along the front line. No reports of Ukrainian losses]

12:05
Boeing Donbas shot down on the orders of Putin - Russian journalist (Zik.ua)
http://zik.ua/ua/news/2015/07/19/boing_na_donbasi_zbyly_za_nakazom_putina__rosiyskyy_zhurnalist_608630

12:43
Portnikov told how the error militants confused with Boeing Putin's plans (FaceNews.UA)
http://www.facenews.ua/news/2015/285445/
Russia in July 2014 intended to accuse the Ukraine in the destruction of its civil aircraft and use this opportunity to attack with Russian troops to the western regions of the country, but ...the operation of the invasion failed.

====

Quite possible. At that time - a year ago - Putin was trying to promote his version of civil war in Ukraine, and every death was welcome for him.
he may have wanted some "scandal" - some foreign deaths. And he certainly got some. - to make a good story in the press.
But only Putin, and the Russian unit from Kursk who fired the missile, will know for sure what was targetted.
Did they deliberately choose a foreign airliner, or they were so incompetent that they shot it down by mistake?
And we can be sure that those Russian soldiers have by now disappeared for ever.

One other thing - the speed with which Putin withdrew his Buk missile launchers from the Donbass - never to return again - indicates that they shot it down by mistake - but - with Putin - who knows - perhaps all part of his plan. And then to eventually blame Strelkov-Girkin, his Russian buddy.

12:38
In Odessa, at the consulate of Russia protest against the actions in South Ossetia (News)
http://vesti-ukr.com/odessa/107761-v-odesse-pod-stanami-konsulstva-piketirovali-protiv-dejstvij-juzhnoj-osetii
The action near the consulate was attended by about two dozen activists who came with posters and national flags of Georgia.
The reason for the meeting became the authorities of the unrecognized South Ossetia, who voluntarily moved its southern border a kilometer deep into Georgian territory.
As a result, the "increments" territory under the control of armed groups in South Ossetia, supported by Russia, turned out to be the main oil pipeline, which belongs to the company "British Petroleum" and goes from Azerbaijan to Turkey
[Putin now taking more territory from Georgia also. Again. Hitler. No other word for it. Unless you are Shaun Walker, in which case he is a hero.]

Joke of the day from the Russian Goebbels, and producer of mega-fiction for the Russian "journalists" like Shaun Walker of Russiaprofile and The Guardian...Sergei Lavrov, Putin's goon. Putin's Goebbels.
======

12:42
Lavrov said of the need to implement the Minsk Agreement (ATN)
http://atn.ua/politika/lavrov-zayavil-o-neobhodimosti-vypolneniya-minskih-soglasheniy
[Whilst he and Putin continue to fire Grad missiles into residential areas, and send in hundreds more tanks into the Donbass, with a view to destroying Ukraine.
With the help of Shaun Walker's propaganda and his "DNR guys". Idiot. And 100 times, I say, Idiot. And mass-murderer to boot.
He should be put on trial for war crimes.
But this would always be blocked by Russia at the UN, not to mention opposition from the Stalin "banda" at The Guardian - editor Shameus Milne, and other Putin media outlets.]

The artillery fire guidance system, ARTA, installed by volunteers in Donbas, has brought its first results, volunteer Olha Reshetylova writes in Facebook July 18.

“Yesterday was one of the happiest days in my life. On Sunday we completed the installation of the Arta fire control system in one of the war zones in Donbas. The system links the artillery, reconnaissance and staffs of four brigades.

It was a big project which cost one million hryvnias and took 2 weeks to implement,” she wrote.

“Now we can coordinate artillery fire with our neighbors, hitting the targets our neighbors cannot reach. With the results obtained, we can change the course of the war,” one of the army officers said inspired by ARTA.

“The credit must be given to ARTA sponsors and developers, despite all the original skepticism,” Reshetilova stressed.

Work to expand the system and involve more brigades will continue. “We want our guys to retaliate quicker, save their lives and stop the Russian aggressors from encroaching on our land,” Olha Reshetilova said.

zik.ua

Russian-backed separatists in Ukraine say they are prepared to pull back smaller-caliber weapons from much of the line of contact with Kyiv’s forces.

Aleksandr Zakharchenko, a self-proclaimed leader of the rebels operating in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, said on July 18 that his forces are ready to pull back tanks and armored vehicles outfitted with weapons under 100mm 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) from the front line.

A spokesman for the Donetsk separatists, Denis Pushilin, called the move a “unilateral step” ahead of a July 21 meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group in Minsk focused on the implementation of February cease-fire.

Three civilians and one Ukrainian soldier have been reported killed over the past day in fighting in the country’s east. Ukrainian authorities and the rebels traded accusations of responsibility for the deaths.......

rferl.org

Late last night, a black Mercedes without license plates knocked the director of the Odessa Film Festival. This was said the head of Facebook Odessa Regional State Administration Mikhail Saakashvili.

According to him, in front of the police after the accident the car disappeared from the scene.

Saakashvili accused the local police, who "from the first minute began to hide the details of event, and to cover their tracks."

"Both I and the head of Internal Affairs are very serious. We will find the perpetrator, and these corrupt policemen put him along with him in the dock," - Saakashvili said, "not on the ran," he added.

glavnoe.ua

Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Taner Yydlyz commented on the progress of negotiations with the Russian company "Gazprom" of the project "Turkish Stream", which should allow the supply of Russian gas to Europe, bypassing Ukraine.

"Moscow sees us only as a transit country. For us, this makes no sense. We are interested in establishing a joint supply chain. The principal agreement on this issue was reached, however, Russia has gone back on their word," - he said.

According to the minister, "the flow of Turkish" should meet the interests of both Moscow and Ankara. "We will never agree to make concessions that threaten our interests," - he said, adding that the problem can not be solved only by providing discounts on gas.

The decision to build "the Turkish stream" was adopted after the cessation of work on the "South Stream", the first closed in December 2014 due to the EU's position in relation to the conflict in Ukraine. It is expected that its capacity will reach up to 60 billion cubic meters of gas per year.

glavnoe.ua

Setting fire on the territories controlled by the rebels was "the head of the 11th motorized rifle regiment of the NPT." This at a briefing in Kramatorsk deputy head Sergey Galushko ATO transmits 62.ua.

According to him, when the Russian Federation received incontrovertible evidence that the shelling of areas beyond the control of Ukraine conducted by militants, has this fact an explanation.

"Russian Federation, where there is irrefutable evidence that the gunmen were shooting it, on his DNI, explains it this way, that the fire is some third party", - he said.

At the headquarters of ATO also presented evidence that yesterday, July 18, gunmen fired on under their control Donetsk.

"Approximately at 20:00 I began firing from the village bar and Thumbsucker Makeyevka. Shelled central part of Donetsk. We have a radio interception fighters in the air," - said Galushko.

glavnoe.ua

Pro-Russian terrorists threaten to destroy the city Avdeevka Donetsk region, along with the location on its territory coking plants. This was announced by the head of the Ukrainian side in the Joint Center for Coordination and Control of the ceasefire (STSKK), Major-General Andrei Taran, transmit news of Donbass.



According to him, the militants who fired mortars on the eve of the occupied center of Donetsk, threaten to strike at Avdeevka "if in Donetsk will be released one more round."

glavnoe.ua

Ukrainian tv - now.
Poroshenko - recorded message -  on various channels, explaining the situation regarding the constitutional changes with regard to the Donbass.
As I thought, a couple of days ago, 288 votes is not enough for constitutional changes.
And Liashko and Samopomich are against making them. 300 votes - 2/3rds are needed.
What did the President say?
I think is is here, word for word, in Ukrainian.
======

Звернення Президента щодо проекту змін до Конституції
Address of the President of Ukraine on the draft amendments to the Constitution
http://www.president.gov.ua/news/zvernennya-prezidenta-shodo-proektu-zmin-do-konstituciyi-35681
[extracts, transl online]
... Some factions which I believed and continue to believe to be our partners suddenly attacked my peace plan.
...The stumbling block was the provision contained in the transitional provisions of the Constitution. ...
...Neither the law nor the draft amendments to the Constitution and there can be no special status for those areas. And the word is not about a special status for the Donbass. Instead, and in Donbas, and in all regions of Ukraine local communities receive significantly more power and features. Perhaps that is why 288 people's deputies supported the referral of the project to the Constitutional Court....
However changes attacked Russia and its puppets from so-called NPT and FSC. And this is in itself shows that we are on the right track.
This should remove all fears of the Ukrainian parliament factions that joined the group of critics amendments to the Constitution.
[We will] Make every effort to to the final vote on the changes [in the] autumn persuade those MPs to support them.

Here is his speech. 6 1/2 minutes long. Obviously in Ukrainian. I expect a good translation to appear on the President's website in a day or two.

19:50
Ukrainian expert: Russian offensive is inevitable, bloody denouement is getting closer (FaceNews.UA)
http://www.facenews.ua/news/2015/285480/
[Several similar stories like this today. Could be true. Time will tell.]

Tomorrow there may be storms in Ukraine
http://glavnoe.ua/news/n234752
In the next day the weather western, northern, and central regions of the day will determine the active weather front, the rest of - hot air mass, said on Sunday Ukrgidromettsentr.
The western, northern and central regions of most of the intermittent rain, thunderstorms, hail and squalls sometimes 15-20m / s; in the western regions heavy rains in some places, large hail, squalls 25-30m / s; the rest of the rain.
[Had a brief thunderstorm this afternoon. Suggesting more tomorrow. We'll see. The rain is needed. ]

Gunmen fire on positions of strength ATO about Marinka more than 20 times - headquarters (RBC-Ukraine)
http://www.rbc.ua/rus/news/boeviki-obstrelyali-pozitsii-sil-ato-okolo-1437325093.html

Ukraine army will be forced to redeploy to battle zone the heavy artillery pulled back under the Minsk agreements if the rebels continue to shell civilians and army positions, head of the Joint Center for Control and Coordination Andry Taran told journalists July 19, Novosti Donbasa reports.

If the enemy continues to shell Avdijyvka and the coke coal plant, Ukraine army will pull back its heavy artillery, he said.

Earlier, the rebels said they will wipe Avdijyvka away together with the plant.

Taran also said the rebels shelled Donetsk July 18, saying the fire was opened by the Ukrainian army.

[url=zik.ua/en/news/2015/07/19/ukraine_army_may_redeploy_heavy_artillery_back_to_battle_zone_608709]zik.ua[/url]

The terrorists themselves shelled Donetsk from self-propelled artillery weapons on July 18. Later they pointed the weapons at Avdiivka and fired at Avdiivka Coke Plant.

Acording to Andrii Taran, representative of Ukraine at the Joint Center for Control and Coordination (JCCC), the militants fired 22 shells in the direction of Avdiivka Coke Plant, Censor.NET reports citing Novosti.dn.ua.
It was done to provoke return fire by the APU and to accuse Ukrainian troops in the Donetsk shelling.

Taran has also reported that General Ivanchuk, representative of Russia at JCCC departed to Donetsk on the morning of July 18 "to deliberately put OSCE representatives under Russian fire and then to bring Russian journalists in order to show a fake picture of Donetsk shelling on Russian TV."
Taran said that Ukrainian side of the JCCC has asked Russian generals to withdraw the militants' heavy vehicles from residential areas. However, the militants continue provoking Ukrainian troops by shelling residential areas of the occupied towns forcing them to return fire.
Read also: Civilians were wounded as terrorists shelled Marinka residential areas - Abroskin
Taran and Serhii Halushko, deputy head of the ATO in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, presented a radio interception of 'DPR' militants which evidences that the militants fired from the territory of the covered market in Donetsk and not from the Ukrainian side, as claimed by the militants.

"The shelling from heavy weapons banned by the Minsk agreements started around 8 p.m. The militants fired from Durna Balka (Kalynivskyi district of Donetsk city). Donetsk center was shelled, namely, Voroshylovskyi district (Panfilova, Shchorsa, and Universytetska Streets)," Halushko said.



[url=censor.net.ua/news/344488/terroristy_spetsialno_obstrelyali_donetsk_chtoby_sprovotsirovat_otvetnyyi_ogon_ukrainskih_voinov_stskk]censor.net.ua: In Russian[/url]

Chairman of the Odessa Regional State Administration Mikhail Saakashvili said the threats by the former chairman of the Dnipropetrovsk regional state administration, member of the supervisory board of the largest oil company "Ukrnafta" Igor Kolomoisky. He said this in an interview with the program "TSN Tyzhden" on channel 1 + 1.

"He worries - the owner of your channel (Kolomoisky) - because it knows very well that I can not buy and I can not be intimidated. But he has sent me and threat ", - Saakashvili said.

At the same time the governor noted that law enforcement agencies have documented the involvement Kolomoisky to corruption.

Recall, May 30, President Poroshenko appointed chairman of the Odessa Regional State Administration of former President Mikheil Saakashvili (2008-2013).

glavcom.ua: In Russian

Chairman of the Odessa Regional State Administration Mikhail Saakashvili said that law enforcement officers found the car, which drove into the director of the film festival, and detained the driver. About this he wrote in the social network Facebook.

"They found the car, which drove into the director of the film festival, and detained the driver. Now bring proceedings against policemen who wanted to hush up the case. Lortkipanidze Bravo! And so it should be every time!"- Wrote Saakashvili.

As reported by "Commander" in Odessa on the street Azarov yesterday, July 18, was hit by a car without license plates and the director of the Odessa Film Festival in front of the police fled the scene.

glavcom.ua: In Russian

Stupid police continue thinking it's business as usual. They're going to learn quickly that things are changing and they might find themselves without a job. Really stupid DYPAKIS!

President Poroshenko said that more than 20 prosecutors caught red-handed. Thus he wrote on his page on the social network Facebook.

"For more than 20 prosecutors caught red-handed. Already 3000 prosecutors dismissed. However, building a new prosecutor's office ", - said in a statement.

glavcom.ua: In Russian

Inside the prosecution is the resistance to fight corruption. In an interview with ICTV channel said the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, reports UNN .

"I confirm that David and Gritsak and others were asked to meet with me and said that they have experience and they are asking for political support for the implementation of these materials. I said that I do not interfere directly in the case, but politically you have a complete my support, "- he said.
He also said that the special operation was carried on, searched, were established crimes committed by two representatives of the General Prosecutor's Office and the Regional Prosecutor's Office.
He also noted that V.Shokina asked to report on this issue.

"He's just a day comes to me and says, for my information, which I own, I looked through the case and I am sure that those prosecutors who took bribes - wine, David has my full support," - he said.
He also noted that he was not surprised processes that started on.

"Further, there began some internal processes, I'm not surprised. Inside the GPO, if a person - Attorney General, Deputy fighting corruption is the resistance" - said the head of state.

Poroshenko also noted that more than two dozen prosecutors arrested red-handed and arrested.

unn.com.ua: In Ukrainian

The changes to the Constitution that provide for a special procedure for local government in some areas of Donbass not assume any threat, because there are a number of fuses. This was in an interview with ICTV channel said the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, reports UNN.

"I emphasize that today we have to do everything to return the territory of Ukraine. It is not that we commend someone something, but rather there is no Ukrainian authorities there hard-working anti-Ukrainian Kremlin propaganda in occupied territory there are millions of Ukrainian who have back home, "- said Poroshenko

He overcame that all the partners that make up the coalition of pro-Ukrainian worldwide supported these changes.

"The US, Canada, European Union, Australia. The only thing someone did not like - Russia. And this means that we do everything correctly," - he added.

"If someone tries to make changes that disagreement with the principle of sovereignty and territorial integrity of her, I as president or any other president, be sure to use the right of veto and not allow to threaten and abuse. Do not believe the myths, no threats can arise because there are a number of precautions, "- said the President.

Recall, the Verkhovna Rada on July 16 supported the referral to the Constitutional Court president's bill to amend the Constitution to decentralize.

unn.com.ua: In Ukrainian