US/NATO/EU and the desperate subversion of Ukraine

[John Dolva]

12:59 GMT:

Kiev authorities have decided to make their troops undergo lie detector tests to find Russian spies, Ukrainian MP Yury Sirotyuk from the Svoboda (Freedom) political party wrote on his Facebook page.

The politicians believe that the polygraph tests will improve the efficiency of the Ukrainian armed forces during their “anti-terrorist” operation in eastern Ukraine.

12:34 GMT:

The leaders of Russia, France and Germany have called for OSCE observers to take a more active role in monitoring the resolution of the Ukrainian conflict, a day after negotiating a new ceasefire with Kiev in Berlin, the Kremlin press service reports.

A previous mission had been hampered by the danger of violence and abductions, and had to be curtailed.

[John Dolva]

22:33 GMT:

More than 20 people have been killed in the last 24 hours, including two children, as a result of the shelling by the Ukrainian army in the eastern parts of the country, Russian children’s rights ombudsman Pavel Astakhov said, according to RIA Novosti.

21:12 GMT:

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) says that there are more Ukrainian refugees in Russia than the official figures state.

"The exact figures are unknown. If official data is there, but the data on those who staying with their friends and relatives, are difficult to obtain," the head of the ICRC regional delegation in Moscow Pascal Cuttat told RIA Novosti.

Павел Астахов предлагает открыть недействующие детдома для беженцев #Украина #Астахов #беженцы http://t.co/U1uyeU9VZW pic.twitter.com/DRi6PnzcJA

— Вечерняя Москва (@onlinevmru) July 3, 2014

The Red Cross, Cuttat says has no accurate data about victims of the conflict in Ukraine.

"I do not have specific numbers for the victims. But the situation is very complicated, and it affects not only those who are wounded. The Lives of all people have undergone major changes,” he said.

20:41 GMT:

Two buses carrying 85 Ukrainian refugees have arrived in Russia's Vladimir region. En route from Kramatorsk, the column sustained heavy fire from Ukrainian forces. No one was injured, RIA Novosti reports, citing an official from the Emrgencies Ministry.

A Russian psycologist is now on site helping the refugees, especially the children deal with the trauma.

Беженцы с востока Украины прибыли в #Дмитров`ский район. http://t.co/68Ne6dZKYl #Подмосковье pic.twitter.com/5REkNLlBVO

— Единое Подмосковье (@unitedmo) July 3, 2014

Meanwhile, the UN representative tasked with surveying Russia's preparedness to deal with the influx of refugees has praised Moscow's efforts as she visited camps in Voronezh.

“In the Voronezh region, we saw high organization at different levels, people find the legal, social and, most importantly, psychological help," said Zelmira Sinclair from UNHCR, the world's watchdog for refugees.

17:29 GMT:

The Donetsk and Lugansk regions say they are ready for a mutual ceasefire, but do not trust President Poroshenko’s intentions. Poroshenko stated earlier that a ceasefire was possible, but only if obeyed by both sides and if hostages are freed and Kiev’s control restored at Ukraine’s borders.

“I don’t believe in Poroshenko’s peaceful initiatives,” Fyodor Berezin, the deputy defense minister of the Donetsk People’s Republic said, RIA Novosti reported.

He also said that self-defense forces “have no hostages” but only “army prisoners,” while Kiev “has many of our hostages.”

15:52 GMT:

Smoke rising from residential areas in the town of Kramatorsk in the Donetsk Region after it was shelled by Kiev forces.

15:35 GMT:

Journalists working for Russia’s Channel One TV have come under fire in the city of Slavyansk in eastern Ukraine, the station said in a statement. The hotel where the crew is staying was shelled as the journalists were working.

The bombardment comes just days after Channel One cameraman Anatoly Klyan, 68, was killed in a mortar attack by Kiev forces.

13:42 GMT:

The Kiev forces are continuing to shell the village of Nikolayevka on the outskirts of Slavyansk, with eyewitnesses speaking of massive destruction and possible casualties.

“The military is using Smersh multiple-launch missile systems. Five or six high-rise buildings have been destroyed. Civilians may remain in the rubble,” the self-defense forces in Slavyansk told RIA-Novosti.

It’s also reported that a thermal electric power station in the village has caught fire as a result of the attack.

Nikolayevka is a strategic settlement as it provides routes connecting Slavyansk with other territories controlled by anti-government forces.

[John Dolva]

Germany, France and Russia Support Peace Efforts in Ukraine

Berlin, Jul 3 (Prensa Latina) German Chancellor Angela Merkel, discussed the Ukrainian crisis today with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and his French counterpart Francois Hollande, who expressed their support for a ceasefire in Ukraine.

According to the press service of the German Government, Merkel held a telephone conversation with Putin and Hollande about the situation in Ukraine, where last February, right-wing extremists assumed power following a break in the constitutional order.

The conversation took place hours after the meeting of foreign affairs ministers from France, Germany and Russia, which was attended also by the Foreign minister of Ukraine.

More than a thousand civilians have been killed in the punitive operations carried out under orders from multimillionaire President Piotr Poroshenko [who funded the fascist coup], who last Tuesday resumed war actions in southeast Ukraine, following a week of truce.

According to German media, Putin and Poroshenko said yesterday that a ceasefire was necessary, although militia in the southeast Ukrainian region had already denounced that the short truce was being used by the army to reorganize itself.

Still, a German spokesperson noted that during the telephone conversation, Merkel, Putin and Hollande agreed that an urgent truce is needed to halt the conflict, during which the armed forces also killed a number of journalists, mainly Russian.

From Rome, Italian minister of Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini said that on Monday she will travel to Moscow and Kiev to support the position of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the European Union regarding the Ukrainian crisis.

sus/sa/eav/pgh/To Modificado el ( jueves, 03 de julio de 2014 )

[John Dolva]

Friday, July 4

02:29 GMT:

Shelling of Kramatorsk has destroyed the building of the last working local newspaper “Technopolis”, RIA Novosti reports.

The publication claims, that now it will not be able to print its material. “Luckily, there are no victims,” the newspaper said, adding that because of the power outage, no one was at the building at the time of the strike.

[John Dolva]

NATO’s newest Eastern European members are handing over their Soviet arms stockpiles to the Ukrainian army, Russia’s Deputy PM Dmitry Rogozin says, adding that the alliance is in danger of pouring gasoline on the flames of that country’s civil war.

Rogozin, who supervises the Russian military industry, has tweeted that NATO is asking its newest members to get rid of operable Soviet military equipment and send it to Ukraine, to aid the miserable state of the country’s military hardware.

“In turn, the US is ready to compensate for the “losses” of the newly coopted NATO member states. The American military-industrial complex must be happy,” Rogozin wrote in his Twitter account.

“By the way, this is NATO’s commonplace to put out civil wars’ fire with aviation kerosene,” Rogozin added.

[John Dolva]

UGANSK, July 04. /ITAR-TASS/. Ukrainian army has delivered several artillery gun strikes on Bolshaya Vergunka, a suburb of the city of Luhansk, overnight to Friday, the press service of the self-proclaimed Luhansk people’s republic said on Friday. “Tanks of militia from the Lugansk people’s republic have moved to Bolshaya Vergunka” and shelled a Ukrainian military formation which was waging fire at the city, the press service said. Casualty reports are being specified.

Eyewitnesses said that several shells reached the central part of the city in the nighttime gunfire at the city. A woman was killed and a man was taken to regional hospital with a fragmentation wound by a projectile hitting a residential house in Menzhinsky Street, the press service of Luhansk city council said.

July 04, 2:58 World

One person killed, 20 wounded in east Ukrainian city shelling - militia

A man died of a gunshot wound in the 27th quarter of the city and seven people were wounded by shells hitting residential houses in different districts of Luhansk.

Several mines exploded at Luhansk regional cancer treatment clinic. Windows were broken down at hospital buildings which were massively damaged.

[John Dolva]

17:18 Russia

About 100 thousand Ukrainians ask for asylum in Russia — Deputy PM

17:09 World

Hollande, Merkel remind Poroshenko of importance to hold contact group meeting

Putin Tells Obama Russia, US Should Cooperate to Protect Global Stability

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday congratulated his US counterpart Barack Obama on Independence Day and said Russia and the US share the responsibility of protecting global security and stability, and should cooperate to the benefit of the world.

[John Dolva]

Friday, July 4

22:18 GMT:

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, will visit the US from July 7 to 9, according to Itar-tass. US president Barack Obama and Rasmussen will discuss the situation in Ukraine. Negotiations on this issue will be held on Tuesday.

22:02 GMT:

US ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt told the KievPost the US is to increase its security spending in the country to $23 million this year. The money is mainly to be used for non-lethal aid, including the improvement of border controls, purchase of night vision goggles and 2,000 suits of body armor for Ukrainian troops. Pyatt also cited closer military cooperation and training.

21:09 GMT:

A video showing Ukrainian army gunners preparing for a shelling on the outskirts of the town of Slavyansk, Donetsk region.

20:16 GMT:

Ukrainian military stationed at checkpoints in the village of Nikolayevka on the outskirts of Slavyansk, Donetsk region, shoot on sight at cars of civilians who are attempting to flee the area, reports Itar-Tass citing locals. Such actions contradict an earlier reached agreement and a promise by Kiev authorities to allow all those willing to leave the village unhampered. There were no immediate reports of casualties as a result of the shootings.

18:30 GMT:

Ten Russian border guards and security officials came under fire from shells launched from across the Ukrainian border, according to Rostov regional FSB chief Vasiliy Malaev.

The group went to a residential district in the Russian town of Donetsk after locals complained that several unexploded shells landed from the other side of the border. As specialists were preparing to defuse the explosives, shells from a new barrage began to explode all around, forcing the officers to evacuate civilians.

No one was wounded in the attack, but a police car was damaged.

14:21 GMT:

Moscow says Ukraine's "strident rhetoric" and military actions in the southeast of the country have intensified after its government held phone talks with US and UK officials on July 3.

"Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko spoke to US Vice-President Joe Biden, and Ukraine's Foreign Minister Pavel Klimkin spoke to UK Foreign Minister William Hague, who have in essence supported Kiev's actions," Russia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement July 4.

14:14 GMT:

In a new statement from Russia’s Foreign Ministry, Moscow "once again [urges] Ukrainian authorities to stop firing at civilian targets and residential neighborhoods, to consider saving ordinary people's lives.”

The statement, published after the new escalation of conflict in eastern Ukraine, says that Kiev's methods of solving the situation "through the use of force, ultimatums and releases of new demands" contradicts the Berlin Declaration, established by the Foreign Ministers of Germany, Russia, Ukraine and France on July 2.

According to Russian children’s rights ombudsman Pavel Astakhov, 20 people, including two children, have died in southeast Ukraine over the past day, the Foreign Ministry said.

12:44 GMT:

Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko has spoken with EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton over the phone, telling her that Kiev is ready for contact group talks on July 5, and suggested time and location to other participants, according to the presidential website.

10:26 GMT:

Self-defense forces in Donetsk have stated that the Kiev’s artillery have started shelling near the city.

“In Donetsk, heavy shelling is heard from the Karlovka-Krasnogorovka area,” the Donetsk People’s Republic tweeted. The artillery shelling began early in the morning.

The Ukrainian authorities have been conducting the so-called anti-terrorist campaign to crack down on the self-defense forces since April.

[John Dolva]

Ukrainian President Willing to Try Ceasefire Again in SE Ukraine

Kiev, Jul 4 (Prensa Latina) Ukrainian President Pioter Poroshenko today confirmed readiness to return to the ceasefire in the eastern part of the country if members of the militia and government troops repressing the Russian speaking population are willing to respect it.

Following a conversation with US Vice President Joseph Biden, the president said he was ready to return to ceasefire as soon as it was confirmed to him that both sides would respect it, according to a communique posted at the president's website.

Among the premises of the talks, Poroshenko mentions the total release of hostages and the restoration of border control under the monitoring of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

However, the communique underlines that the head of State is ready to begin substantial political negotiations with rebels, without any prior condition.

The vice minister of Defense for the self-proclaimed People's Republic of Donetsk (PRD), Fiodor Berezin, responded that there is willingness in that territory to agree on a mutual truce, but that he did not trust Poroshenko.

Berezin recalled that during the previous ceasefire, from June 20 to July 1, the troops sent by Kiev violated the truce many times.

"A ceasefire was not achieved for even a single day. The Ukrainian Army bombed our territory daily," stressed the vice minister of Defense.

The vice minister of Defense said that Poroshenko is using the word hostages incorrectly because they are actually holding prisoners of war. He also recalled that the Donetsk and Lugansk governments have repeatedly proposed a comprehensive prisoner exchange.

For his part, the vice minister of the PRD, Andrei Purguin, ruled out turning over to Ukraine control of the border with Russia, and noted that large quantities of humanitarian aid arrive at the Russian province of Rostov and it would be unacceptable for Kiev to block that aid.

sc/sa/Ajs/tgj/jpm Modificado el ( viernes, 04 de julio de 2014 )

[John Dolva]

Saturday, July 5

02:09 GMT:

Ukrainian refugees have arrived in Russia's Ryazan region, accompanied by members of the Emergencies Ministry. They are part of some 220 people that arrived from Crimea to Moscow aboard two Russian rescue planes.

"Upon arrival in Ryazan region, the Ukrainian citizens were placed in two locations of temporary residence. Rescuers, firefighters, representatives of Social Welfare helped newcomers to settle in and provided them with everything necessary for living," the Emergency Ministry said in a statement.

Украинские беженцы доставлены в Рязанскую область Спасатели, пожарные, предста... http://t.co/KGuii8GoXX pic.twitter.com/oCVQmuAC8m

— Михаил Редров (@redrov1976) July 5, 2014

[John Dolva]

MOSCOW, July 4 (RIA Novosti) - The government of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR) has been dismissed, according to a corresponding decree made by the head of the republic, Valery Bolotov, posted on the LPR’s website Friday.

"In connection with the law ‘On the system of executive authorities of the Luhansk People's Republic’ coming into force, and the termination of the law ‘On the Cabinet of Ministers of the Luhansk People's Republic’ the government of the Luhansk People's Republic is to be dismissed,” the decree reads.

According to the republic’s website, Valery Bolotov appointed Marat Bashirov Acting Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic.

Vasily Nikitin, who was the chairman of the assembly of the self-proclaimed republic until the retirement of the cabinet, has been appointed Bashirov’s Acting First Deputy, alongside Dmitry Semenov.

The current ministers are to continue their work until the formation of the government.

Luhansk and Donetsk regions refused to recognize the legitimacy of the new Kiev authorities that came to power following the February regime change in the country. The regions held referendums on self-determination and declared themselves independent states. Soon after, the self-proclaimed republics started to form their own governments and law enforcement agencies.

At the end of June, the parliament of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic passed a constitutional law on confederation with the Luhansk People’s Republic into the Union of People’s Republics.

[John Dolva]

DONETSK, July 05. /ITAR-TASS/. Self defence forces of Ukraine’s Slavyansk left the city last night, Novosti Donbassa (News of Donbass) reports on Saturday.

“A big fighting was in the city at night,” the newspaper writes. Now the self defence forces “have gone by vehicles towards Kramatorsk and Artemovsk.” At the checkpoints around the city remain some defenders, who come from Slavyansk.

[John Dolva]

10:30 GMT:

Staff are being evacuated from the Donetsk regional administration, according to the press service of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, Itar-Tass reports. The reasons for the evacuation are as yet unclear. It comes at the time of a scheduled session by the Republic’s authorities.

[John Dolva]

saturday, July 5

21:30 GMT:

At least 80 wounded have been admitted to hospitals in Lugansk in the last 24 hours, as a result of Kiev's shelling of civilian quarters, Victor Avakyan, health minister of the self-proclaimed Lugansk People’s Republic, told RIA Novosti. He says that 56 patients are civilians while 24 come from the self-defense forces.

21:09 GMT:

Sounds of explosions and gunfire could be heard in the center of Donetsk, where the Ukrainian army is shelling the areas held by anti-Kiev forces, RIA reports citing eyewitnesses.

“Our roadblocks in Karlovka are being shelled from the direction of Galitsinovka and Zhelannoe Vtoroe villages,” self-defense source told the agency. “Their goal is to take Karlovka and then proceed in the direction of Donetsk airport,” where Kiev has concentrated massive forces, the source added.

20:15 GMT:

The Ukrainian army has resumed shelling of the outskirts of Slavyansk, locals told RIA. “There’s artillery shelling of Severnyi and Celinny neighborhoods,” witness said, adding that several fires have started in the area. Earlier the self-defense forces of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic left the cities of Slavyansk and Kramatorsk, but said that some of the militia men stayed inside the besieged cities along with the remaining civilian population.

16:40 GMT:

Ukrainian army tanks have entered the town of Kramatorsk, Donetsk region, reports a stringer for RT’s Ruptly video agency.

16:37 GMT:

A road bridge over the Seversky Donets River has been damaged by a blast, reports UNIAN agency, citing the Interior Ministry’s press-service in the Lugansk region.

Image from vk.com

16:13 GMT:

We r on the street next 2 anti-govt.forces HQ (frmr regional govt. build), center of #Lugansk in E.#Ukraine.Sounds of heavy shelling,near

— Maria Finoshina (@MFinoshina_RT) July 5, 2014

14:40 GMT:

According to the description, this video depicts Ukrainian army shelling the Saur-Grave memorial complex with a Grad multiple-rocket launcher. The memorial was built in late 1960s in the Donetsk Region on a hill that played an important strategic role in the WWII and was the site of bloody battles between the Soviet Army and Hitler’s troops.

14:13 GMT:

An air raid by Ukrainian forces caused the evacuation of people from the building of the Donetsk regional administration, Boris Litvinov, the chief of staff of the People's Republic of Donetsk, reported Saturday.

"The militia asked us to leave the building for a couple of hours to avoid possible casualties," Litvinov said, adding that "the Cabinet functioned as normal."

13:39 GMT:

A group of unidentified people wearing masks have attacked the Kiev offices of Vesti newspaper.

According to Igor Guzhva, the editor-in-chief of the Russian-language paper, about 50 people “wearing balaclavas” arrived at the office around noon Saturday.

“They were throwing stones, smoke pellets. Witnesses said that shots were being heard. And then they ran away,” he told Ukraine’s Channel 112 TV. “That all took them just about one or two minutes.”

As a result of the attack, a couple of computer monitors in the newsroom were crushed; there are stones and broken glass on the floor.

Police are investigating the incident, Guzhva said, adding that despite the attack, the newspaper will be published Monday as planned.

В Киеве разгромили редакцию "Вестей". pic.twitter.com/0bF9K8GEfb

— Антимайдан (@myrevolutionrus) July 5, 2014

11:32 GMT:

Russia’s Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case in response to a Russian crime scene investigation team being shelled in the Rostov region from Ukrainian territory near the “Donetsk” checkpoint, committee spokesman Vladimir Markin said.

Markin said those shelled wore jackets bearing “Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation” signs. They were checking whether Russian territory had been shelled by Ukrainian troops.

“The investigative team found traces of shelling in a forest on Russian territory,” Itar-Tass quoted Markin as saying. “Field engineers started to check them out. At that moment Ukrainian troops, the Ukrainian National Guard and Right Sector militants fired not less than eight shots from unidentified weapons, by unidentified missiles.”

[John Dolva]

Russia Suspends Delivery of Armaments to Kiev from Crimea

Kiev, Jul 5 (Prensa Latina) Russia suspended today delivery of military equipment to the Ukrainian Armed Forces that are still in Crimean territory, due to the violence of the repressive operation carried out against the population of the country''s southeastern region.

A statement issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry explained that the decision was made due to the military actions taken by the Ukrainian Army, using heavy armaments and air force, causing the death of civilian population, including children.

The text published at the ministerial website said as a result of the mass bombings, civil infrastructure have been destroyed in localities of the regions of Donetsk and Lugansk.

The decision will remain in force until Kiev declares a cease-fire and the situation is resolved in a peaceful way, the document said.

Transference of the arsenals of the Ukrainian units that did not join the Russian Armed Forces in Crimea began in March, after reintegration of the peninsula to the Russian Federation and it has not concluded yet, according reports.

Ukrainian Air Force planes attacked today the airport of Donetsk, in the vicinity of which shootings and explosions were heard, witnesses told the news agency RIA Novosti.

The threat of an air raid caused today evacuation of the regional city hall of Donetsk, according to a military spokesman of the self proclaimed People's Republic of Donetsk (PRD), the television station News Channel 24 reported.

Previously, members of the self-defense of Slaviansk confirmed that they had abandoned the besieged and destroyed city by Kiev's troops in repeated air raids, attacks with multiple missile launchers, artillery and bombs that have been prohibited by international conventions.

Ukrainian President Pioter Poroshenko ordered to hoist the Ukrainia's flag at the city hall of Slaviansk, a territory of the self-proclaimed PRD, which medial outlets have compared to Guernica, the Spanish city destroyed by fascist bombings during the Civil War in that country (1936-1939).

Vladimir Pavlenko, mayor of Slaviansk, stated that a convoy of militia members managed to break the military siege of the city, heading for Kramatorsk.

Another of the pro-Russia leaders of the PRD, Pavel Guvarev said the rebels had a minimum number of casualties and were heading for Donetsk and Gorlovka.

Leaders of the militia activists told RIA Novosti that a small group of the rebel forces remain in Slaviansk and have the purpose of maintaining their resistance.

Meanwhile, Interfax reported that the Russian border check point in Donetsk was damaged by rockets launched from Ukrainian territory that exploded in a close area. The check point was closed down because combats still continue in the Ukrainian territory, the news agency concluded.

iom/ga/jpm