August 02, 2014

UKRAINE: JULY, 2014 Monthly Highlights by “Digests & Analytics Ukraine” News Agency

Pro-Russian terrorists shot down over the Donbas of Malaysian Airlines' plane with 298 passengers on board

Politics


  • President Poroshenko appealed to the international community, asking to recognize DPR and LPR as international terrorist organizations.
  • US, Canada and EU imposed sectoral sanctions against largest Russian companies and banks, as well as against those from terrorist organizations and Crimea, and also to the inner circle of Russian President Putin.
  • Archbishop of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) Vladimir passed away. Archbishop of Moscow didn’t attend the funeral "to avoid provocations"
  • Parliamentary groups «Udar» and «Svoboda» left the parliamentary coalition, allowing president Poroshenko appoint parliamentary re-elections.
  • Ukrainian Parliament adopted majority of bills, proposed by Ukrainian government,

July 31, 2014

30/07/2014 Daily Highlights by “Digests & Analytics Ukraine” News Agency

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said that Russia will submit to UN Security Council a resolution, proposing to put Russian peacekeeping forces  to protect the perimeter of the crash of Malaysian jetcraft
Ukraine
  • Mayor of Stakhanov town, Borisov, who had been actively cooperated with terrorists and organized a "referendum" on secession from Ukraine, was arrested for two months period of the investigation.
  • Official exchange rate of Ukrainian Hryvnia, as established by the National Bank of Ukraine is as fooolows: 12.00 UAH / 1$ (+2 cop), 16.11 UAH / 1€ (+1 cop), 3.36 UAH / 10 RUR (-3 cop).
  • Ukrainian government has abandoned plans of sharp increase of rent for natural resources use, including oil and gas.
  • List of objects to be privatized, have been strongly expanded by the Government of Arseniy Yatsenuk, including recreation, tourism, construction and mining enterprises. As claimed by Prime Minister planned privatization will be the largest in recent years.

Kyiv
  • Almost a one third of all rented apartments in Kiev are being occupied by settlers from Crimea and eastern Ukraine that led to cost of rent increase.

War in Ukraine
  • Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Groisman, announced on a briefing that Ukraine will not attempt to advance to the crash site of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 but, on the contrary, will seek the accession of international experts through coordination group meeting with the participation of the OSCE and the Russian ambassador in Minsk.
  • During the day, Ukrainian Armed Forces were fighting throughout Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Ilovajsk have been taken under control, counterattack on Avdiyivka successfully repulsed, military actions are ongoing in Pervomaysk. Terrorists stronghold have beed destroyed by air strike in Makyivka. Demining of liberated cities is ongoing. Donetsk, Luhansk and Gorlivka are under continuous erratic artillery shelling to create a "picture" for Russian TV channels. 19 civilians dead and 31 injured  in the Donetsk region. Rail links to mainland Ukraine being completely absent due to destruction of railways, electricity lines and bridges by terrorists. Shelling of Ukrainian army positions are ongoing from the Russian territory.
  • Ukrainian military have been ordered not to respond to provocations. 7 tanks broke through Ukrainian border from Russian territory.
  • Casualties of Ukrainian armed forces since the beginning of antiterrorist operation reached 363 killed and 1 434 wounded.
International

  • Council of Europe approved the list of sanctions against Russia and DPR and LPR terrorist organizations, including officials close to President Putin, military corporation "Almaz-Antey" Company "Dobrolet" and the Russian National Commercial Bank. In addition, EU banned the financing of several sectors of the economy and imports of goods and services from the Crimea.
  • According to NATO data, announced by commander of NATO forces in Europe Breedlove, number of Russian troops on the borders of Ukraine has risen to 12,000 people and continues to grow, intensifying military training, exercises, under war-like conditions as.
  • Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said in Dushanbe that Russia will submit to UN Security Council a resolution, proposing to put Russian peacekeeping forces "as the only means to protect the perimeter of the crash of the Malaysian Airlines MH17 flight". In response, Speaker of the National Security & Defense Council Lysenko stressed that Lavrov doesn’t fully capture the situation in the region, as Ukrainian military don’t conduct any combat operations in the area in accordance with the presidential decree and on the contrary, terrorists mined approaches and established powerful artillery strongholds.
  • Moscow stock exchange didn’t respond to the sanctions imposed by EU, Canada and USA.

July 30, 2014

29/07/2014 Daily Highlights by “Digests & Analytics Ukraine” News Agency

Ukraine
  • President Poroshenko approached the President of Belarus Lukashenko, to organize on July 31 in Minsk a meeting of the contact group on access of international experts to the crash site of MH17 Malaysian Airlines flight and hostages release. The group should above all include  ex-President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma, Russia's ambassador to Ukraine Zurabov and OSCE representatives. Lukashenko confirmed his readiness to arrange a meeting.
  • Hotline for relatives of the military, involved in the anti-terrorist operation, have been launched on behalf of President Poroshenko.

July 28, 2014

21-27/07/2014 Weekly Highlights by “Digests & Analytics Ukraine” News Agency

21-27/07/2014 Weekly Highlights of Ukraine
War in Ukraine
  • Ukrainian troops captured Shakhtersk city that dissected DPR and LPR terrorist groups and interrupted weapons and mercenaries supply chain to Donetsk.  Antiterrorist coalition forces liberated Rubezhne, Soledar, Dzerzhinsk, Lysychansk and Severodonetsk, as well as started operation to clean Debalcevo, Pervomaisk and Torrez from terrorists. Since the beginning of anti-terrorist operations, ⅔ of territory previously controlled by terrorists have been already cleared, according to the information center of the NSDC.
  • Russian troops, in close cooperation with terrorists, shelled Ukrainian positions with artillery and multiple rocket launchers from Russian territory. Russia continue to supply terrorists with military equipment, gear, arms, ammunition and mercenaries, through section of the border in the Luhansk region, not guarded by Ukrainian border guards.
  • Russia continues to concentrate troops on the border of Ukraine, the threat of invasion is still high.
  • Terrorists shelled residential areas of Donbass cities with mortars and multiple rocket launch systems "Grad", dozens of civilians have been killed and injured, numerous houses and public buildings - destroyed. Bandits rob shops, steal cars, announced mobilization of men and curfew in the cities on the territory they control.
  • Terrorists shot down two Ukrainian military SU-25 jets with MANPADS over the combat area. Ukrainian military does not exclude that missiles could be launched from the Russian territory.
  • Results of preliminary analysis of "black boxes" from Malaysian Airlibes Boeing 777 crashed in Tores, confirm that the plane was shot down by a missile. Research of collected evidence is ongoing in the UK. Ukraine transferred the rights to investigate the incident to the Netherlands. Dead bodies of passengers transferred to the Netherlands for identification. DPR terrorists block access of international experts to the crash site and destroying evidence.
Economy
  • Gazprom and Centragas company, belonging to Mr. Firtash, started to liquidate the joint RosUkrEnergo venture, kneaded in a high-profile corruption scandals.
  • Official exchange rate OF Ukrainian Hryvnia slightly weakened during the week. Foreign exchange market practically didn’t react to parliament coalition dissolution and dismissal of the government.
  • Naftogaz estimated the cost of the Ukrainian gas transport system at the level of $ 25-35 billion, depending on the profitability of the transit business.
  • EU imposed additional sanctions against terrorists, persons involved in supporting terrorists in Donbas and number of companies and organizations involved in financing of terrorism and arms supplies.
Politics
  • Parliamentary groups “Udar” and “Freedom” left ruling coalition and thus launched the process of parliament reelection, as announced by speaker Turchinov during Verkhovna Rada meeting. Communist Party fraction have been dissolved by a separate decision.
  • Prime Minister Yatsenyuk resigned, appointing vice-premie minister Groisman as acting PM, due to the refusal of the Verkhovna Rada to vote for government bills to reorganize the gas transportation system and to fundi anti-terrorist operation.
  • President Poroshenko signed a decree on partial mobilization of men of different ages for the rotation of armed forces within the antiterrorism operation zone. Both under and postgraduate students are out of scope of mobilization.
  • Kremenchug mayor Babaev was killed on July 26 by unidentified killer. Lviv mayor's house was fired with grenade launcher the same day.  Police qualifies both cases as terrorist acts.
  • Dozens of mining reports of public buildings and shopping centers received in Kiev and Lviv. The information has not been confirmed, but the situation remains tense.
  • White House spokesman blamed Russia and President Putin personally for the terrorist act that led to the catastrophe of the Malaysian Airlines passenger airliner.
  • National Council on Radio and Television broadcasting in Ukraine has banned four Russian TV channels for dissemination of deliberately false information.
  • Voronezh court upheld the detention of Ukrainian pilot Nadiya Savchenko, kidnapped by LPR terrorists and illegally detained on the territory of Russia.
  • President Poroshenko appealed to the international community to recognize the LPR and DPR as international terrorist organizations.

27/07/2014 Daily Highlights by “Digests & Analytics Ukraine” News Agency

Ukraine

  • Seversky Donets-Donbass channel have been restored, soon water will resupplied again to cities of Donetsk region.
  • Separatists that seized Kharkiv Regional State Administration in April this year, were released from prison on bail made ​​by former deputy Tsarev.
  • Naval parade dedicated to the Ukrainian Navy day, was held in Odessa, warships entered the port of Odessa on the raid.
  • Police dispersed the strike of soldiers' mothers, protesting against authorities violation of promise to withdraw Nikolaev airmobile brigade from encircling on the border in Luhansk region, where Ukrainian soldiers are facing cross fire from both terrorists and Russian army and bear heavy losses.

July 27, 2014

26/07/2014 Daily Highlights by “Digests & Analytics Ukraine” News Agency

Kremenchug Mayor, Oleg Babayev, was killed on Saturday morning.

Ukraine

  • Kremenchug Mayor, Oleg Babayev, was killed on Saturday morning. House of Lviv mayor, Sadovyj, was fired with grenade launcher the same day. Nobody have been hurt. Police launched an investigation on attempts of mayors assassinations.
  • President Poroshenko, during a visit to the training ground of National Guards, reported that Ukrainian army started to apply new and effective methods of warfare, allowing to save the lives of civilians and quickly neutralize terrorists.
  • Recently resigned Prime Minister Yatsenyuk said in an interview at «Schuster-Live" show that without international support Ukrainian gas transportation system will turn into a pile of scrap metal, on the other hand, appropriate support could provide the growth of transit revenues from $ 2 billion to $ 4 billion per year.

July 26, 2014

25/07/2014 Daily Highlights by “Digests & Analytics Ukraine” News Agency

Ukrainian military troops advanced to the outskirts of Gorlivka

Ukraine

  • Verkhovna Rada refused to vote for initiatives submitted by both the Government and the President, concerning reorganization of the gas transport system, amendments to the Tax Code and suggestions to increase military spending. Budget amendments will be considered during a special session of the Parliament on July 31, as well as admission of Australian police to the territory of Ukraine and and resignation of the Prime Minister Yatsenyuk. President Poroshenko consider working with the current Government of Ukraine. Appointment of the vice-premier minister Groisman as Acting Prime Minister have been published at the governmental portal.
  • Broadcasting of four Russian channels namely, RTR Planeta, Russia-24, NTV and TV-World Center-International, have been banned on the territory of Ukraine by the National Council for Television and Radio. These channels had been spreading false information about the situation in Ukraine, thats non compliant to the laws of Ukraine on Information, on TV Broadcasting and to the the European Convention on Transfrontier Broadcasting.

July 25, 2014

24/07/2014 Daily Highlights by “Digests & Analytics Ukraine” News Agency

Prime Minister Yatsenyuk, speaking in Parliament, announced his resignation
Ukraine
  • Fractions “Svoboda”, “Udar” as well as 19 individual deputies, left the ruling coalition in Verkhovna Rada and therefore, the coalition has ceased to exist – this was announced in the Parliament by its speaker Turchynov. If new coalition will not be formed within 30 days, president has the right to dissolve parliament and appoint parliamentary elections in three months, on October 26.
  • Parliament Speaker Turchynov announced the dissolution of the Communist Party fraction, based on Verkhovna Rada regulation amendments, recently signed by the President Poroshenko. 
  • Prime Minister Yatsenyuk, speaking in Parliament, announced his resignation in response to the collapse of the ruling coalition and blocking of government decisions be the parliament, in particular, reforms of gas transportation system and the allocation of additional funds for the army. Deputies speculate that Prime Minister resignation should be approved by Verkhovna Rada. Mr. Groisman could be appointed as an Acting Prime Minister, as leaked on Facebook by Interior Minister Avakov. President Poroshenko requested Speaker to arrange the confidence vote for the government on July 25 and offered Yatsenyuk to continue to work until the election of the new parliament.

July 22, 2014

21/07/2014 Daily Highlights by “Digests & Analytics Ukraine” News Agency

5 civilians killed in Donetsk from residential areas shelling with "Grad" missiles

Ukraine

  • President of Ukraine Poroshenko, based on decision of the National Security & Defense Council,submitted for approval to Parliament the decree on partial mobilization, aimed for national defense from proliferation of threat of terrorism and challenge to state security from attack from Russia.
  • Parliamentary from "Batkivshyna" group,  Kozhemjakin, stated earlier today at the conciliatory council, that President Poroshenko plans to dissolve the Parliament on August 26, as well as that groups «Udar» and «Svoboda» will leave coalition in advance before the event.
  • Ukrzaliznytsa re-opened high-speed rail communication with Hundai trains in Donetsk region, on the Kiev - Druzhkivka route. Druzhkivka have been previously liberated from terrorists by Ukrainian army.
  • National Bank set the following exchange rates of Ukrainian Hryvnia (UAH): 11.65 UAH / 1$ (+1 cop), 15.76 UAH / 1€ (+1 cop), 3.31 UAH / 10 RUR (-3 cop).

Malaysian airlines flight catastrophe

  • Prime Minister of Ukraine Yatsenyuk announced at the briefing that Ukrainian authorities are ready to pass the leadership of Malaysian airliner catastrophe investigation to Netherlands.
  • Vice Prime Minister Groisman, Head of the Government Investigation Commission of the catastrophe, said at a briefing that all bodies have been found at the crash site. Train with the bodies have been sent to Donetsk, and then will approach in Kharkiv, for further examination and identification.
  • President Poroshenko said in an interview with CNN that he’ve appealed to the US Congress with proposal to recognize DPR and LPR as international terrorist organizations .
  • During meetings and telephone conversations with the foreign ministers of Malaysia, representative of the Prime Minister of Australia and the President of Poland, President of Ukraine Poroshenko notified partners that Ukraine is ready to provide international experts all the necessary materials, but terrorists are trying to destroy the evidence of their crime and prevent the investigation.
  • Based on the analysis of shrapnel holes images from the airplane housing wreckages, international experts concluded that missile hit the plane near the front of the cargo, and that it have been shot released from the missile system known as "Buk".

July 20, 2014

19/07/2014 Daily Highlights by “Digests & Analytics Ukraine” News Agency

Terrorist don't admit international experts to access crash site in Torez, Ukraine

Ukraine

  • Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council Secretary Mr. Parubiy, said in an interview that antiterrorist operation in Ukraine is not a local event but rather a global war of the nuclear power terrorist state with the global security system. Mr. Paubiy as well stressed that several months ago he proposed at NATO meeting n Vilnius to create anti-Putin anti-terrorist coalition and introduce strong sanctions against Russia, and now all countries are facing expansion if the threat and their citizens can not feel secure anymore.

Kyiv

  • Kyiv mayor Mr. Klitschko created civil defense council and urged Kiev citizens to be vigilant and careful in crowded places. More than 20 reports of mining and planning of terrorist acts received over the past four days. This is done to disorient, disorganize and sputter local authorities.

War in Ukraine

  • 14 aircraft and helicopters have been shot down by terrorists during the period of open military confrontation in eastern Ukraine. Sky over the Donbas haven’t been yet closed in the upper echelons, as up until recently terrorists hadn’t any air defense units able to operate on great heights, but these have been delivered from Russia just few days ago - said at a press briefing the Minister of Regional Development Mr. Groisman.
  • Ukrainian military unblocked Donetsk airport and extended the zone of influence on the suburbs near Donetsk - as reported by Minister of Defense Mr. Geletey.
  • Terrorists shelled Ukrainian military positions with multiple rocket launchers «Grad" throughout the day, including those near Donetsk and Luhansk airports. Once shelling was conducted from Russian village Novaya Nadezhda in Rostov region - as reported in the press center of the anti-terrorist operation. Shelling of Ukrainian military with mortars from Russian territory have been as well documented. 3 Ukrainian soldiers killed and 10 injured from insurgent attack on National Guards convoy near Artemivsk.  Russian military equipment continue to infiltrate Ukraine through the parts of the border, controlled by terrorists.
  • As reported by Luhansk authorities, 20 civilians have been killed in Luhansk during the day in from mortars shelling and streets shootings. Civilian casualties in Luhansk since the start of hostility reached about 250 killed and 850 injured, according to the OSCE.

July 18, 2014

17/07/2014 Daily Highlights by “Digests & Analytics Ukraine” News Agency

Malaysia Airlines aircraft have been shooted by terrorists in East Ukraine. Marauders at work

Ukraine

  • At the National Security & Defense Council meeting, President of Ukraine Mr. Poroshenko discussed with security forces representatives the need to mobilize and introduction of martial law, taking into account participation of foreign states in war in Ukraine. He stressed that evidence do exist on direct Russian aggression againt Ukraine, and instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to respond to the facts of aggression.

  • Official exchange rate of Ukrainian Hryvnia (UAH) has slightly changed as established by the National Bank of Ukraine: 11.71 UAH / 1$ (+1 cop), 15.85 UAH / 1€ (-10 cop), 3.40 UAH / 10 RUR.

  • Director of the Kiev armored vehicles factory was detained by Security Service of Ukraine in accusation of embezzling public funds aimed to repair and upgrade armored personnel carriers and cashing them through a fictitious firm.

  • Industrial production decreased by almost -5%, compared to the same period last year, in the first half of year in Ukraine. Decline was more than -2% in May.