Ukraine crisis. News in Brief. Tuesday 11 August [Ukrainian sources]

TUESDAY

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

News -
Reading that Putin attacked Ukrainian forces 95 times yesterday.
Update at 1300. Sadly the ATO staff reporting 1 soldier dead, and 13 injured in yesterday's fighting against the Russian forces.
Shaun Walker has sunk to new lows. He has written an article in The Guardian saying that dill - in Russian Ukrop - a derogatory term for Ukrainians used by Russians - is the real "menace" for Russia. See the last entry at
https://ukraine-english-news.forumotion.com/t464-shaun-walker-kremlin-apologist.
Walker has spent a lot of time with his "DNR guys" in Donetsk, and he knows exactly what he is writing about.

Ukraine has been out of the western press for a week or so now. Many of the typical journalists have gone on a long holiday also.
But I noticed this morning on Euronews at 0700 that Ukraine was mentioned, with some video showing Poroshenko meeting with his army chief.
And basically saying that the intensity of the war was increasing, not decreasing. They also showed footage of the burnt out osce vehicles in Donetsk.

Weather -
20C at 0600 this morning. But little or no breeze.
Forecast is for 33 where I am. I saw37 forecast for Zaporozhia. So between 90 and 100 again.
Update - 1300. 35 and rising.

Gas price -
Russia just announced that the price for Europe likely to be in the range of 235-242 dollars. (for 1k cubic m)
It was trying to get 252 from Ukraine. But the talks failed.
Better than Tymoshenko's 400... Send her to Moscow, I say.

7:54
http://kriminal.tv/news/diversija-pod-nosom-u-boevikov-lnr-neizvestnie-pustili-pod-otkos-sostav-s-uglem.html
On the night of August 9, in the territory adjacent to the border region Krasnodon was derailed train with coal, which went in the direction of Russia.
As told informator.lg.ua sealed source, the composition consisted of 27 wagons. In consequence .. one car overturned and another blocked traffic on a nearby line..

http://news.liga.net/news/capital/6393731-v_stolitse_den_nezavisimosti_otprazdnuyut_paradom.htm
...
In Kiev will be held August 24 Independence Parade, general prayer in Sofia and the concert "European Symphony - Ukrainian Independence." It is reported by the press service of the Ministry of Culture.
"August 23 at the Sofia area will welcome the raising of the National Flag of Ukraine with the participation of the President of Ukraine, the heads of state and the opening of the exhibition battle flags of units of the Armed Forces, the National Guard of Ukraine, the State Border Service, who participated in the anti-terrorist operation," - said in a statement....
In memory of the fallen soldiers - defenders of Ukraine will be declared a nationwide minute of silence...
On Khreshchatyk and Independence Square will be a summary of the column of the Armed Forces, the National Guard under, the State Border Service - "Parade of Independence", during which the President of Ukraine will give the representatives of units (parts) battle flags.

8:13
http://news.liga.net/news/politics/6393742-ministr_oborony_velikobritanii_segodnya_pribudet_v_ukrainu.htm

[Better to send some anti-tank missiles than a bag of hot air.]

8:26
http://kriminal.tv/news/dnrivtsi-vlashtuvali-pogonu-zi-striljaninou-za-rosijskimi-tankistami-jaki-vidmovilisja-vouvati-v-ukrajini.html
[unclear to me what is going on here. Very short report.]

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2015/08/russian-troops-desert-army-ukraine-conflict-150811024648031.html
Stories of deserters contradict Kremlin's assertion that no government soldiers have been sent to the conflict zone.

[Video report. Talks about how soldiers were intimidated to go and fight in Ukraine. (about half way through 3 minute video)]

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/business/russian-recession-deepens-as-economy-shrinks-most-in-6-years/articleshow/48427656.cms
MOSCOW: Russia's recession worsened in the second quarter as gross domestic product shrank by 4.6 per cent compared with a year earlier, battered by lower oil prices and Western sanctions over Ukraine, official statistics showed Monday. ...
Some analysts said that the fresh drop in the oil price meant the outlook for Russia's economy was looking increasingly dark, especially as industry has failed to take advantage of the added competitiveness caused by the ruble's fall. ..

[And the Russia media will say that Putin is more popular than ever... ]
====

[See also]

Russian GDP plunges 4.6%
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-08-10/russian-economy-shrinks-4-6-as-oil-slump-risks-deeper-recession
The central bank said last month that it may worsen its forecast for a 3.2 percent contraction this year after domestic demand fared worse than anticipated in the first six months. Russia will endure a two-year economic contraction if crude prices remain at $60 through 2016, including a 1.2 percent slump next year, according to the central bank.

[And a graph to show why Putin is so popular now... right... according to Shaun Walker and the Russian propaganda machine... ]

AUGUST 5, 2015
http://www.pewglobal.org/2015/08/05/russia-putin-held-in-low-regard-around-the-world/

Outside its own borders, neither Russia nor its president, Vladimir Putin, receives much respect or support, according to a new Pew Research Center survey. A median of only 30% see Russia favorably in the nations outside of Russia. Its image trails that of the United States in nearly every region of the world. ...
Opinions of Russia are more unfavorable than favorable in 26 nations. The strongest negative sentiment is in Poland and Jordan (both 80%). The former is a legacy of a long history of bilateral tensions. Public opinion in Jordan may be influenced by Moscow’s current support for the regime of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria, Jordan’s neighbor and the source of hundreds of thousands of refugees in Jordan. Anti-Russian sentiment is also particularly strong in Israel (74%), Japan (73%), Germany (70%) and France (70%).
These are among the main findings of a Pew Research Center survey, conducted in 40 nations among 45,435 respondents from March 25 to May 27, 2015....
Putin’s Image Even Worse than That of Russia....

===

Quite a long article. A good read.

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/russian-foreign-ministry-gets-new-outspoken-mouthpiece/527716.html
Maria Zakharova, a Foreign Ministry official generally credited with a dramatic vulgarization of the tone of its official releases, has been appointed its top spokesperson, the ministry said in a statement Monday.

[Even more confrontational. Russia going backwards. Descending into barbarism.]

At night in the area ATO killed one soldier and 13 injured - Staff
http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2015/08/11/7077478/
Tuesday, August 11, 2015, 12:45
.."For the past day because of fighting one Ukrainian military killed 13 more of our military colleagues injured," - he said.
According to the colonel, these losses ATU forces experienced in Donetsk and Mariupol areas - mainly in Gorlovka, Donetsk and Starohnativkoyu.

http://www.5.ua/polityka/London-robytyme-vse-shchob-sanktsii-z-Rosii-ne-znialy-doky-vona-ne-pochne-vykonuvaty-Minski-uhody--Fellon--90004.html

[Fallon; British Defense Minister. Bag of hot air. Some anti-tank missiles would be of more use. ]

Nelson wrote:8:26
http://kriminal.tv/news/dnrivtsi-vlashtuvali-pogonu-zi-striljaninou-za-rosijskimi-tankistami-jaki-vidmovilisja-vouvati-v-ukrajini.html
[unclear to me what is going on here. Very short report.]

In the video, the guy is saying Ukrainians bombarded the factory and completely destroyed it (as you would expect).

The article does mention Russian soldiers leaving the front which, if you like, confirms for the 1,000th time their presence.

I think the Russian in the video says this as well at the end of the video.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/11795563/Michael-Fallon-warns-Ukraine-war-remains-red-hot-as-he-pledges-more-British-military-help.html
Mr Fallon said: “We shouldn't lose sight of just how serious this situation is. Seven thousand people have already died in the Ukraine, right on the doorstep of Europe, as Ukraine fights for its freedom. This is not a frozen conflict, it’s still red hot.”
He said he did not expect the conflict to end “anytime soon”.

[Words - but no real help, where it is really needed. Just hot air.
Similar report here in the Independent. ]

Britain to double number of Ukrainian troops it is training as Russian backed separatists launch biggest assault in six months
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/britain-to-double-number-of-ukrainian-troops-it-is-training-as-russian-backed-separatists-launch-biggest-assault-in-six-months-10449457.html

[Not everything accurate in the Independent. ..It writes about an attack - . 30 miles south of the port of Mariupol.... ? In the Avoz Sea?
But better than the Guardian. This is Shaun Walker's contribution - talk about denial.... ]
Dill with it: Russia’s obsession with the spindly herb menace
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/10/dill-russia-herb-pizza-sushi-soup-hummus-food-ruin
[The idiot simply reveals his inability to cook to the Guardian readers. Do they know that there is a war going on?
Or do they live in Shameus Milne territory - outer space? ]

http://time.com/3992031/ukraine-shelling-novolaspa-starohnativka-donetsk/
[Short, nothing much.
But it does talk about a battle
Both locations are about 30 miles south of Donetsk,
Not 30 miles south of Mariupol! ]

http://uatoday.tv/politics/ukrainian-troops-near-schastya-report-fresh-enemy-attacks-472766.html
[Resumed shelling. Presumably after the "humanitarian" convoy arrived from Putin for the terrorists]

http://en.cyplive.com/ru/news/gazprom-ozhidaet-srednyuyu-stoimost-gaza-dlya-evropy-na-urovne-235-242.html
..."Today, to talk about some exact figures is not meaningful, given the tendency to reduce the price of oil. We look forward to the year 2015 price range 235-242 dollars per thousand cubic meters," - said Zotov, responding to a question about the analyst's forecast the average price of gas sales companies in Europe.

===
Nothing more really in the short article.
Good news for Ukraine. Russia was pressing for 250 dollars in the talks a month ago. And now... 235... down another 5%. It all helps.

This from
www.bloomberg.com/energy/ 1 minute ago

Crude Oil & Natural Gas
INDEX UNITS PRICE CHANGE %CHANGE CONTRACT TIME ET 2 DAY
WTI Crude Oil (Nymex)
USD/bbl. 44.16 -0.80 -1.78% SEP 15 07:04:37
Brent Crude (ICE)
USD/bbl. 49.68 -0.73 -1.45% SEP 15 07:04:49
Crude Oil (Tokyo)
JPY/kl 40,370.00 -340.00 -0.84% JAN 16 07:04:34
Natural Gas (Nymex)
USD/MMBtu 2.81 -0.03 -1.23% SEP 15 07:05:05
=====

Brent had crawled briefly back over the 50 dollar mark, but now, in today's trading it is falling again.
Back below 50. Will West Texas go below 40? Personally I don't think so.
For shale gas extraction to be profitable you need a price of about 50 dollars.
Otherwise, with less availability the price will rise.
But problems for Putin, that is for sure.
Maybe this explains his decision to start the war in Ukraine big time again, increasing the shelling, and use of heavy weapons.
He realises he is running out of time, and that the Russian economy will shortly begin to crumble big time.

http://vlada.io/vlada_news/ukraina-sushhestvenno-uvelichila-import-elektroenergii-iz-rossii/
Ukraine has considerably increased its imports of electricity from Russia
In recent days Ukraine has considerably increased its imports of electricity from Russia with 800 MW of power on Monday to 1,200 MW on Tuesday.
"Sale price of imported electricity in GP" Energy "is - 90 kopecks / kWh, which is above the price of generating thermal power plants operating in the basic version (even schedule) with a price of about - 75 kopecks / kWh," - said in a statement.
====

I saw a report on the tv here last night - basically saying that Ukrainian power stations were running out of coal.
Thought -
I would summize that the heat is increasing the consumption of electricity on a big scale - air conditioning.
Often happens in LA also, during heat waves.
Although I have seen it snow in California in August - in the Sierra Nevadas

14:45
http://www.bagnet.org/news/ukraine/261339
[Anything else would be idiotic.
But the pro-Russian generals in the Ukrainian army, of which there are still many, would refuse this, given the chance. ]

14:45
http://www.charter97.org/ru/news/2015/8/11/164135/
According to him, "Cossacks" did not want to obey the leader "LNR". For his part, Igor Plotnitsky promised to stop any assistance to the formation of Dremova.
[Conflicts between the Lugansk leader, and the Russian cossacks there. Ongoing for many months. ]
[Just reading up on Plotnitsky on wiki, but in Russian - more there - Later in his life he started business trading in oil, got some gas stations, and then .. becomes involved in inspecting the quality of gas (petrol) on a government contract - I bet his gas stations always passed the quality control test!! ... conflict of interests? Only in Ukraine. Corruption rules. ]

http://vesti-ukr.com/kiev/110631-v-kieve-neverojatnaja-zhara-pobila-80-letnij-rekord
On Monday, August 10 has been fixed a new temperature record.
"Meteorologists Central Geophysical Observatory after 15 hours on Monday, August 10, the recorded temperature of + 34,7 ° C, which is more than 0,5 ° C in the pre-maximum value for that day, which was recorded in 1931," - said in a statement Central Geophysical Observatory.
Furthermore, it was exceeded and the previous value of the historical average daily temperature, which is recorded in 2010, to 0,2 ° C. The average daily temperature was + 27,2 ° C.
It has 11 temperature records since the beginning of the year, all of them in the direction of exceeding the previous values.
As reported, the weather forecasters predict in Ukraine anomalous heat up to 40 degrees.

[It's on days like this that I wish I had air conditioning! ]

http://www.rbc.ua/rus/news/krushenie-mh-sledovateli-izuchayut-predpolagaemye-1439295007.html

"In cooperation with the Security Council of the Netherlands International investigation team explores several pieces, possibly related to the system" Buk ". These parts have been received during the previous mission of collecting debris in the east of Ukraine and at the disposal of the criminal investigation group MH17 and Security Council of the Netherlands" - the report says.
The investigators noted that the found fragments of great interest, since they make it possible to obtain more data about what was involved in the crash. The team plans to bring to the study of fragments of forensic experts and experts in weapons.
It is noted that at the present time it is impossible to conclude that there is a causal link between the accident and discovered parts of the flight MN17.

[I am sure that Putin's "investigators" got to the site quick, with Shaun Walker's "DNR guys", and removed most of the Buk fragments. But they simply couldn't get everything. ]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-33865420
[More here now, from the BBC]
Fragments of a suspected Russian missile system have been found at the Flight MH17 crash site in eastern Ukraine, investigators say.
The joint team in the Netherlands says the parts, possibly from a Buk surface-to-air system, are "of particular interest" and could help determine who was involved in the crash.
[no more details]
====
If shown to be Buk, this reduces the options for elaborate fiction from the Kremlin's Shaun Walker School of journalists. Possible...
1. Obama personally flew over the site in a Cessna, and dropped fragments of a Buk system, simply to frame the innocent nice Russian peacekeeping soldiers. (known to the rest of the world, as murderers of children).
2. The Dutch investigators were abducted by Obama and replaced with CIA clones, to spread false information about the peaceloving Russian empire - I mean Federation.
3. Mickey Mouse was involved somewhere... in collusion with CIA sympathetic aliens ... .
4. I'm running out of options. ...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2015/08/10/central-and-eastern-europe-simmering-in-historic-heat-wave/
The core of the heat this week will likely focus in Poland where temperatures are forecast to be 10-25 degrees above normal each day. The heat has forced the first power supply curbs in the country since the 1980s, Bloomberg reported.
[It is toasty... ]

[see also]
Heatwave Forces First Polish Power Supply Curbs Since 1980s
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-08-10/poland-curbs-power-supplies-as-eastern-europe-sizzles

[The British often get a little bit extreme with their headlines... ]
Holiday heat warning: British tourist captures moment car MELTS in killer heatwave
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/597437/Killer-heatwave-Europe-car-melts-British-tourist

http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/dangerous-heat-wave-from-polan/51607149
By Eric Leister, Meteorologist
August 11, 2015; 8:43 AM ET [Today]
Amid this current heat wave, Warsaw set a new all-time August high temperature record on Saturday when the temperature peaked at 36.6 C (97.9 F). The previous record was 36.4 C (97.5 F) from August 1994, according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Tyler Roys.
The temperature surpassed at 32 C (90 F) on Tuesday, marking the eighth straight day of temperatures reaching that threshold. A weak cold front approaching from the north may keep temperatures below 32 C (90 F) on Thursday; however, the intense heat will return from Friday into the weekend.
While most summers feature at least a few days of 32 C (90 F) heat in Warsaw, this summer has been extreme with 11 days achieving such a feat through Aug. 11. Since 1994, the only other occurrences of at least seven consecutive days of such heat were July into August of 1994 and July of 2006.

[Could be a record high temperature for the month. Especially if this keeps going for another week.]

[Holiday in Egypt, think twice. 47C.= 117F ]
Temperatures soar in deadly Egypt heatwave
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/08/temperatures-soar-deadly-egypt-heat-wave-150810102739558.html
At least 21 people died, 66 others hospitalised as temperatures reach highs of 47 degrees Celsius amid high humidity.

The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Ivica Dacic says the observers of the Special Monitoring Mission in Donbas (SMM) were fired upon on Tuesday, Aug. 11.

As reported by Censor.NET citing RBK, it is announced in a statement posted on the organization's website.

"SMM monitors were again fired upon this afternoon in eastern Ukraine," the statement reads.

It is noted there was a significant increase of cease-fire violations yesterday in areas east and north of Mariupol. The area in and around Starohnativka is of particular concern at the moment.

"Once again, I strongly condemn any incidents or actions that hamper the SMM's work. Inviolability of SMM property should be fully ensured," Dacic stated.

censor.net.ua  In Russian

Despite the war in the east, Ukraine is a major exporter of corn to China.

This has been reported by AFP.

"During the first half of this year, Ukraine supplied 90% of total corn imports to China. Thus, Ukraine has become the main exporter of corn to the Chinese partners in 2015," the statement said.

The agency reminded that last year the grain export amounted to 34.5 million tons.

time-ua.com

"Russia and its backed separatists cannot conduct peace talks and fight at the same time. If they really want peace, they must adhere to the ceasefire, which was agreed in Minsk," he said.

He added that the United States was deeply concerned about the sharp intensification of hostilities in Donbas. He also urged the pro-Russian separatists to ensure the security of the OSCE SMM.

ukrinform.ua

First Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Yaroslav Krasnopolsky told reporters Tuesday at a press conference, a Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"We have already got "representatives" who are ready to build a seaport elevator at a 50,000-100,000 tonnes in capacity and raise around $2.5 billion from the Chinese investors," Krasnopolsky said.

He also noted protocols haven't been signed yet, but investors have already arrived in Ukraine and expressed their willingness to have the seaport elevator constructed.

ukrinform.ua

Some Russian soldiers are deserting the army because of the conflict in Ukraine. Their stories contradict the Kremlin's assertion that no government soldiers have been sent there, according to a journalist investigation by Al Jazeera.

Reporters talked to the channel as a contract of the Russian Armed Forces Alexander, whose military base is located in the city of Maikop in Russia's Adygeya region. The soldier says that he faces 10 years in prison for desertion because of refusal to participate in military operations in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, according to Al Jazeera.

"We were told, if you want to leave, pay your commanders," said the military.

At the same time, journalists say that this is not an isolated case. In Maikop, similar charges were pushed against at least five other soldiers. The troops left their military bases after receiving an order on deployment to border with Ukraine. The statistics are murky, and the real figure runs to at least 60 cases, or even more, when soldiers fled the army fearing possibility of being  sent to the war in Donbas.

The military said that those who had returned alive from Donbas, were intimidated. They were threatened with 13 years in prison if they did not take their words back.....................

To read further go to this link: unian.info In English

To read further go to this link: unian.ua In Ukrainian

The Russian government has moved to 2018 non-cooperation in the sphere of military-industrial complex (MIC) with Ukraine.

As the correspondent UNIAN in the Russian Federation, he said this, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozinv during a meeting of the Government Commission on import substitution.

"The terms of substitution, that for Ukraine, extreme position - this is 2018. The most difficult thing is, first of all, gas generators, power machines for a number of ships and aircraft engines for helicopters and airplanes. According to him, all necessary decisions ", - he said.

According to him, according to the plans and schedules import of military equipment from Ukraine relating to 186 models of weapons and special equipment, as well as thousands of specific products. From NATO and the European Union, Russia needs to replace about 800 models of weapons and military equipment, as well as tens of thousands of specific products, Rogozin added.

glavnoe.ua In Russian

Between terrorists and their leader in the Donbass a conflict arose in the material issue. This was reported by the press center of the ATO on my page to Facebook.

"The causes of discord have mercenaries - money and ways of their earnings. So 15 militants territorial defense battalion certain time terrorized the local businessmen and extortion in the village Bryanka. August 7 to somehow appease criminals, Bryanka profit" law enforcers "of Lugansk, accompanied by special forces unit "Omega" - said in a statement. "This event once again exacerbated the conflict in the gang environment where nonhumans for profit divided territory of influence," - said the headquarters of the special operation.

obozrevatel.com In Russian

For a continuation of this thread for Wednesday 12 August, go to
https://ukraine-english-news.forumotion.com/t924-ukraine-crisis-news-in-brief-wednesday-12-august-ukrainian-sources

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https://ukraine-english-news.forumotion.com/
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