My View - Russia’s invasion of Ukraine demands a decisive response

 

PermalinkLet’s be clear: Russia has invaded Ukraine. We can debate the reasons. But we can no longer debate the fact. Nor can we stand by and do nothing. It is time for the United States and Europeans to act. This weekend’s European Council meeting in Brussels and next week’s Nato summit in Wales should be devoted to forging an effective, and lasting, response.

 

Numerous reports from southeastern Ukraine make clear that Russian military forces are operating in Ukraine in ways that can only be described as an invasion. Russian artillery, long used to fire against Ukrainian forces from the Russian side of the border, is now firing from inside Ukraine. Russian tanks and armoured vehicles are rolling along Ukrainian roads. Russian airborne troops, captured by Ukrainian forces, openly admit that they had been sent there to disrupt Ukraine’s effort to retake control of its territory.

 

Why Russian President Vladimir Putin chose this moment to escalate is not immediately clear, but none of the plausible reasons offer any solace. At the least, the overt use of Russian forces is meant to forestall the defeat of the Russian-supported rebels in eastern Ukraine. In recent weeks, government forces were regaining significant ground in the east. Opening up a new front further south could force the Ukrainian military to shift its attention from the rebel-held areas and thus enable the rebels to strengthen their positions.

 

The Russian military effort is probably designed to establish effective control of key parts of Ukraine. The invasion route and focus in southeast Ukraine is consistent with an effort to establish a land route to Crimea, which since the illegal Russian annexation last March has been reachable only by sea and air. It is also consistent with an even more nefarious goal – establishing a territorial link between Russia and the Russian occupied Transnistria region in Moldova.

 

One thing should be clear. This is not about trying to influence Ukraine’s alignment with the west, as Mr Putin’s apologists continue to claim. For Mr Putin, the issue has never been whether Ukraine will have an economic relationship with the EU or be a member of Nato. To him, the issue is whether and how Russia can effectively control Ukraine.

 

The Russian invasion of a neighbouring country poses a serious threat not only to the European security environment, but to global order. If there is one principle that has undergirded that order since 1945 it is that states do not seize territory by force. That principle was blatantly violated in March, and it is again being violated today. At this point, calls for a ceasefire, for de-escalation, or a return to the negotiating table play right into Mr Putin’s hands. Instead, we need to take actions that will lead Moscow to withdraw its military forces from Ukraine and halt its support of rebel forces, and allow Kiev to retake complete control over all of Ukraine’s territory

.

Fortunately, over the next few days the leaders of EU, the US and Canada are slated to meet in Brussels and Cardiff, giving them the opportunity to decide on steps that can help bring about this result. These should include:

• First, a clear commitment by all 28 Nato allies to bolster their capacity to defend all of Nato’s territory. That requires an explicit guarantee by all 28 to halt a decade-plus of cuts in defence spending and begin to make the investments necessary for their security. It also requires a significant, forward presence of Nato air, sea, and land forces in central and eastern Europe, including Poland and the Baltic States. Such a presence needs to be visible and persistent, and should remain in place for as long as required.

• Second, western countries need to supply the Ukrainian military with advanced weapons and a steady supply of intelligence to bolster its ability to defend its territory. Concern that such assistance could be provocative to Moscow ignores the fact that it is Russia that has invaded Ukraine, and that Moscow can put a halt to the assistance by withdrawing its troops and end support of rebel forces.

• Finally, the EU and the US need to impose full-scale economic sanctions. That means real, Iran-style financial sanctions, including freezing Russian assets overseas and denying Russia access to the international financial system. It also means an immediate end to any arms deliveries to Russia, including those already under contract such as the French Mistral assault ships. And it means and end to any technical or financial support for Russia’s energy sector.

We are at a defining moment. If we ignore or prevaricate about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Mr Putin will succeed in upending the European order at a grave cost to Europe’s security. If we act decisively, and act now, Mr Putin will fail in his effort to seek Russian control over Ukraine and the territory of the former Soviet Union and Europe will again be secure.

Kyiv Confronts 'Russian' Armor As Moscow Announces New Aid Convoy

Ukraine says border guards have attacked a column of armored vehicles it says entered its territory from Russia, as Moscow announced its intention to send a second aid convoy into the country.

 

Ukrainian security spokesman Leonid Matyukhin said a column of "several dozen tanks and armored vehicles" crossed the border near the southeastern port city of Mariupol on August 25.

 

"The convoy has been stopped by border guards," Matyukhin said. "The battle is ongoing."

 

The clashes are reportedly taking place near the town of Novoazovsk, on the Azov Sea, about 10 kilometers from the Russian border.

 

Semen Semenchenko, the commander of the pro-government Azov militia, said on his Facebook page that the column's movement toward Novoazovsk had been accompanied by artillery shelling from across the border.

 

He said around 50 armored vehicles had crossed the border and that 40 of them were moving toward Mariupol.

 

"The invasion of the Russian occupiers is taking place," he said.

 

A Ukrainian military spokesman was quoted as saying that "Russian forces in the guise of Donbas fighters" have opened a new front in eastern Ukraine.

 

He said the main highway between Novoazovsk and Mariupol was still under the control of Ukrainian forces.

 

Until now, fighting in eastern Ukraine has been concentrated around the two big rebel-held cities of Donetsk and Luhansk, north of Mariupol.

 

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters on August 25 that Moscow planned to send a second humanitarian aid convoy into Ukraine and hoped for Kyiv's swift cooperation.

 

Russia drew condemnation from Kyiv and the West when it sent a huge convoy of trucks into eastern Ukraine last week without the government's consent or a Red Cross escort.

 

In other comments, Lavrov also said he "didn't see anything close to what could be considered humiliating" in publicly parading Ukrainian prisoners of wars through the streets of Donetsk over the weekend.

 

Correspondents say people watching the August 24 incident in Donetsk shouted "Fascists!" and threw garbage and empty bottles at the prisoners, who walked with their heads bowed.

 

Most of the prisoners were unshaven and disheveled. They were dressed either in combat fatigues or civilian clothes.

 

The move was widely criticized by rights organizations as a violation of the Geneva Conventions.

"Concerning the degrading treatment of war prisoners," Lavrov said, "let the lawyers handle it."

 

Martin Schaefer, a spokesman for the German Foreign Ministry, condemned the move on August 25 as "quite probably" a war crime.

 

"It is completely distasteful and it's just not done," Schaefer said.

 

Lavrov also said that Moscow was willing to use any form of diplomacy to end the conflict in Ukraine, "as long as there is a result."

 

His comments came a day ahead of planned talks on the Ukraine crisis in Minsk involving Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. Officials from the European Commission will also be in attendance.

 

According to the United Nations, more than 2,000 people have been killed and about 340,000 forced to flee their homes as a result of the conflict.

Poroshenko says Ukraine engaged in new war for independence

People carry a giant flag with colors of the Ukrainian national flag on August 24, 2014 as they march during celebrations to mark the 23rd anniversary of Ukraine's independence in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk, in the Donetsk region. Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko on August 24 decried Russian "aggression" as Kiev staged a symbolic Independence Day parade while battling pro-Moscow rebels in the east of the country. Pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine's eastern city of Donetsk paraded dozens of imprisoned government soldiers before a crowd of onlookers on August 24 in a bid to mock Kiev's Independence Day celebrations. AFP PHOTO/. AFP PHOTO/ OLEKSANDR RATUSHNIAK

 

Editor's Note: The following is the English-language translation of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's Aug. 24 Independence Day speech on Kyiv's Independence Square, also known as Maidan Nezalezhnosti.

 

 

Ukrainian Petro Poroshenko led the Independence Day military parade on Aug. 24 in Kyiv. Called “We swear allegiance to you, Ukraine,” the event marked the 23rd anniversary of Ukrainian statehood following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

 

Addressing compatriots, Poroshenko said: “Never in 23 years has this day been so majestic as today. People have never celebrated it as sincerely as today, with Ukrainian flag in every window, on every balcony. And all of it is happening despite hard times for the country”.

 

Poroshenko noted that developments of recent months became a real war for us though it hasn’t been declared. Probably, it will go down in history as the Patriotic War of 2014.

 

“The war against foreign aggression. For Ukraine, for its will, dignity and glory, for the people. For independence,” the president said.

 

Poroshenko emphasized that the struggle for victory has become a national movement. “I am confident that the battle for Ukraine, for independence will end up successfully for us due to the nationwide solidarity multiplied by courage and heroism of our warriors,” he stated.

 

He said that a new Ukrainian army has been born in the last six months of exhausting battles. The expression “defender of Motherland” has received concrete sense. 

 

“There are a lot of battles and dates in the heroic chronicle of the Ukrainian army worthy to become the Day of Defender of the Motherland. Ukraine will never again celebrate this holiday under military-historical calendar of Russia. "We will honor defenders of our motherland, not someone else’s!” the President emphasized.

 

Poroshenko thanked warriors for their allegiance to the oath, service to Ukraine, its sacrificial defense and noted that he would like to bow to every Ukrainian woman “who lost a husband or a son, a grandson or a brother,” “who believes in victory and is waiting for the return of her native, best, beloved.”

 

Poroshenko expressed particular gratitude to volunteers. “Your help has been especially important in the first weeks of aggression when we inherited the state without army, police, special services, weapons,” he said.

 

“Our enemy has been training hard for a long time to attack Ukraine. And we were not prepared for such an insidious treachery,” he said.

 

Emphasizing that the war was not Ukraine's choice and it had been inflicted from abroad, Poroshenko noted: “Our choice is peace, implementation of the peace plan for the Donbas which I have elaborated and offered in June already. But steps towards peace cannot be unilateral and be made at the cost of sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine,”

 

Noting that, unfortunately, Ukraine will always face a military threat, Poroshenko says that Ukraine must adjust to the new reality.

 

“We must always be ready to defend independence,” he said, pledging $3 billion in increased military spending through the end of 2017.

 

“We will manage to defend our independence, life and the security of everyone, our right to live freely on our Ukrainian land at the cost of colossal efforts of the entire nation,” Poroshenko said.

NSDC: Russian mercenaries dismantle equipment of Ukrainian defense companies and move it to Russia

 

Kyiv, August 23, 2014. Almost 180,000 people have fled the ATO zone and the occupied territory of Crimea, reported Colonel Andriy Lysenko, spokesperson of the Information and analytical center of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine during a press briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.

 

Colonel Lysenko said that the illegal crossing of the Russian-Ukrainian border by the “humanitarian convoy” is a blatant fact of Russian aggression, which was strongly condemned by world leaders, particularly by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, President Barack Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and others. According to the representative of the NSDC 184 trucks have returned from Ukraine to Russia (without inspection by representatives of Ukraine). Reportedly, some of these trucks have been loaded with equipment of the Ukrainian arms company “Topaz” (manufacturer of ESM “Kolchuga”) and of Luhansk Cartridge Factory.

 

Andrei Lysenko said that in the last 24 hours the ATO forces engaged the terrorists 27 times near Saur-Mohyla, settlements of Petrivske, Verhunsky Rozyizd, Blahodatne, Mariinka, Vesela Tarasivka, Krasna Poliana, Cherevkivka, Vasilivka, Kuteynikovo, Trudovske, Chelyuskinets, Malonikolaevka, Avdiyivka, Krinichnaya as well as destroyed several military vehicles of the terrorists. Yesterday at 20:00 near the village of Derkulske, Luhansk region, the border guards discovered and prevented the illegal crossing of the state border by the subversive and intelligence units of the terrorists.

 

Colonel Lysenko said that Russia continued attacking the Ukrainian territory. The particular incidents have been recorded near the villages of Kuteynikovo, Obryv and Markino. The shelling of the vicinity of Amvrosiivka village in the Donetsk region apparently has originated from the area of ​​the Gelmanovo village in Russia. Particularly noteworthy was the shelling near Novoazovsk, which is located on the coast of the Azov Sea, at a distance of 100 km from the area of ​​combat operations against terrorists. Total length of the Ukrainian border, which is regularly fired upon from the Russian territory extends for about 400 km. Some 100 km of this territory is still under the temporary control of the terrorists – said the speaker of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine.

Andriy Lysenko also reported that the terrorists regularly shelled residential areas and civilian districts in Donetsk, Luhansk, Makiivka, Yasinovata, Alchevsk, Krasny Luch, Lutuhino and village of Heorhiivka (Luhansk region).

 

NSDC spokesperson has noted of the kidnapping and the tragic death of the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Lithuania in Luhansk Mykola Zelenets, emphasizing that the EU has recognized this tragedy as an act of terrorism.

 

Andriy Lysenko also notified of five transit stations which have been deployed at the border of the ATO zone to meet internally displaced persons. They are designed to service between 70 and 400 people each and are located near the towns of Krasnoarmiysk, Volnovaha and Mariupol, Donetsk region, as well as near Svatovo and Lisichansk, Lugansk region.

Pavlo Petrenko: The Law “On Sanctions” has been sent to the President of Ukraine for signing

 

Kyiv, 22 August 2014 – “On 14 August 2014, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine passed a governmental bill ‘On Sanctions’, which was then sent to the President of Ukraine for signing. This bill was prepared upon the instruction of Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk by a sanctions committee set up by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. In essence, the bill creates a legislative framework for the imposition of both sectoral and personal sanctions against those foreign persons and countries that support the occupation of Ukraine, stand against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, finance and support terrorism and separatism and pursue an unfriendly policy towards our country,” said Pavlo Petrenko, Minister of Justice of Ukraine, during a press briefing at the Ukraine Crisis Media Center.

 

“This law has created a legal basis for Ukraine to take appropriate actions against aggressor states, first and foremost against the Russian Federation which is, beyond doubt, an aggressor state that occupied the Crimean Peninsula and is providing support, funds and supplies to terrorists,” he explained.

 

Mr. Petrenko stated that the government has also prepared proposals and a complete package of documents for the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) as a body responsible for the imposition of sanctions against specific persons and companies. Currently, the list comprises 65 companies involved in anti-Ukrainian actions and 176 individuals, mostly Russians, who are involved in unfriendly actions against Ukraine. These proposals must be reviewed by the NSDC after the Law of Ukraine “On Sanctions” enters into force. “Actions to be taken under the Law of Ukraine ‘On Sanctions’ under the decision of the NSDC may be open and public, or they may be closed and not subject to public disclosure,” noted Pavlo Petrenko. “This is a European practice. We will initiate the examination of this issue at the next NSDC meeting.”

 

Mr. Petrenko explained that open sanctions will primarily include economic sanctions, such as the prohibition for Russian entities to participate in the privatization of Ukrainian state property, prohibition for the Ukrainian state bodies, institutions and companies to spend public money on purchasing goods that originate from the Russian Federation and are sold by Russian businesses, some restrictive measures in the financial sector etc.

 

The Minister said: “I am convinced that this decision will be adopted. This is an adequate response to the unfriendly actions of the Russian Federation which is also already imposing sanctions against Ukrainian goods in the form of restrictions on imports to Russia. This first of all concerns food products.”

 

The Minister noted that “Russia’s imposing prohibitions and restrictions on imports from the EU member countries and the USA are sanctions against the Russian citizens. If you analyze Russia’s balance of trade for the last year, you will see that exports are valued at approximately USD 400bn while the imports are approximately USD 380bn. The biggest share in exports belongs to energy products while most of the imports are food products and hi-tech goods. Prohibition to import food products amounts to sanctions against its own citizens who will no longer be able to buy quality products at affordable prices. Russian politicians’ statements that the sanctions have no effect are groundless. Maybe Russian politicians themselves do not feel the sanctions because they have the money to afford high quality goods, but Russian citizens have already begun and will continue to feel them, and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin is directly and personally responsible for this.”

International experts advise on the Law of Ukraine on “Lustration”

 

“True reforms in Ukraine will not happen without lustration. Lustration has to be an effective and transparent process conducted with involvement of international observers. It is planned to establish special lustration tribunal. Public lustration committee and Ukrainian MPs will take into account recommendations of the international experts drafted by “Open Dialogue” Foundation. Such statement was made by Lyudmyla Kozlovska, President of the “Open Dialogue” International Foundation at a briefing in Ukraine Crisis Media Center.

 

According to Mrs. Kozlovska since last February when political changes occurred the Foundation has been supporting civil initiatives for decentralization of power and general lustration of state human resources. “The Foundation makes efforts to meet the expectations of Ukrainian and international society, they consider lustration a compulsory precondition to enable effective implementation of reforms in Ukraine,” noted President of the “Open Dialogue” Foundation.

 At the briefing Lyudmyla Kozlovska also noted that the Foundation closely cooperates with the Civic Lustration Committee headed by Yegor Sobolev on the issues of lustration, under lustration thorough checks on state officials are implied. Lustration Committee and MPs will use in law-making results of experts’ analytical work – conclusion and recommendations drafted in the framework of such cooperation.

 

Yegor Sobolev, Head of the Civic Lustration committee of Ukraine mentioned most illustrative cases demonstrating the need to hold immediate lustration especially when facing the treat to the state territorial integrity and sovereignty:

- facts of stealing budget  money (corruption practices) that remain at the disposal of law enforcement agencies and are directed to support the country’s defense system, in particular the units taking part in the anti-terrorist operation as well as facts of military sabotage on the part of civil servants and military commanders (probability of infiltration of foreign special services is high);

 

- possible violation of embargo on military cooperation of Ukraine with the Russian Federation as to the defense enterprises that continue implementing contracts on weaponry supply to the Russian Federation;

 

- continued cooperation between the Office of the Prosecutor’s General of Ukraine with the Russian Federation, Republic of Kazakhstan and other authoritarian CIS countries on persecution of political opponents, independent journalists and civil activists forced to immigrate to Ukraine and EU states with the use of Interpol mechanisms, international search and politically motivated extradition requests;

 - widespread use of immunity by many Ukrainian MPs as a way to avoid criminal and administrative charges (of corrupt nature in particular) etc.

Five Reasons Why This Weekend Might Be The Start Of The Endgame In Ukraine

It's a risky business, attempting to predict the outcome of the conflict in Ukraine. But this weekend's Kyiv visit by German Chancellor Angela Merkel has stirred hopes that a resolution to the Ukraine-Russia standoff and the bloody fighting in Donbas may finally be near. We look at five of the key factors in play.

 

1. This Is Germany We're Talking About

 

A number of Western officials have already visited Ukraine since fighting erupted between the Ukrainian military and pro-Russian separatists in April. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

 

But none brings as much to the table as Merkel, who oversees the largest economy in Europe, dominates foreign policy debate in the European Union, and -- as a Russian-speaker raised in Communist East Germany -- enjoys a more informed working relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin than many of her EU counterparts. 

 

Merkel's trip, which follows an invitation by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, is an obvious boost for Kyiv after months of flaccid EU interest. But the German leader has already set a tone of compromise. Speaking on August 18 in Riga, Merkel struck a delicate balance between the interests of East and West -- pledging a NATO response to any future Russian aggression in the Baltics or Poland but ruling out a permanent NATO presence in the region. Some media have speculated that she comes to Kyiv with a deal requiring gains and sacrifices on all sides.

 

A report in "The Independent" says the plan would formally hand Crimea to Russia in exchange for a withdrawal of Kremlin support in Donbas and a long-term gas deal that would include compensation for revenues lost in Crimea, including rent for the Black Sea Fleet. The deal would also forbid Moscow from future meddling in Kyiv's EU integration; Kyiv, in turn, would agree not to join NATO. The report's accuracy could not be independently confirmed.

 

2. The History Gods Say Yes. 

 

Merkel's visit coincides with two historically significant dates. August 23 marks the 75th anniversary of the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop non-aggression pact between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union whose notorious secret protocol cleared the way for a Soviet "sphere of influence" and Moscow's forced annexations of the Baltic States and parts of Romania, Poland, and Finland. 

 

A day later, Ukraine commemorates 23 years since its declaration of independence from the Soviet Union -- an anniversary whose traditional military parade holds particular resonance this year. 

 

To be sure, apt coincidences of history are no guarantee of cooperation on the ground. But any deal ending the Kremlin's revanchist campaign in Ukraine would be a fitting historical coda. 

 

3. Poroshenko And Putin Get Face Time. 

 

The last time these two men met was in June, when they joined world leaders in France to mark the 70th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy. They spoke briefly -- Merkel, significantly, was in the huddle -- but with little result. But the two men are now due to meet again on August 26 in Minsk, alongside an EU delegation led by foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and Putin's two main regional allies, Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka and Kazakh leader Nursultan Nazarbaev. 

 

Officials on all sides have outlined agenda issues in the blandest possible terms -- energy, humanitarian needs, and "wider political concerns" -- and there's still no guarantee that Poroshenko and Putin will meet face to face. But Ukrainian officials have hinted that progress is being made, with Poroshenko aide Valeriy Chaliy noting, "a clear diplomatic roadmap is taking shape" that will allow the parties "to talk about a move from war to peace." 

 

4. The Military Tide Appears To Be Turning. 

 

If Ukrainian officials appear upbeat, it may have less to do with diplomacy and more with battlefield success. The Ukrainian army, initially hampered by poor training and equipment, floundered badly in the early weeks of the fighting in April and May. 

 

Pro-Moscow separatists, suspected of receiving healthy shipments of arms and supplies from Russia, quickly seized large swathes of the Donbas, establishing de facto governments manned by Russian-born agents with fighting credentials earned in breakaway regions like Transdniester and Abkhazia.

 

The region's two largest cities, Luhansk and Donetsk, quickly fell under separatist control. Rebels began kidnapping and sometimes killing local residents, and used surface-to-air missiles to shoot down Ukrainian military planes -- and, it is suspected, the Malaysian Airlines passenger jet carrying 298 people, a horrific error that sent a wave of international condemnation crashing down on Putin for his suspected rebel support. 

 

In recent weeks, however, Ukrainian forces have made strategic gains, breaking through rebel corridors cutting off both Luhansk and Donetsk and laying what military spokesman Andriy Lysenko called the "preparatory work" for the cities' liberation. To be sure, the fighting is far from over. Bulletins from the war zones are murky and often contradictory, and many reports continue of Russian tanks and APCs heading into the region, rather than out. Most seriously, the intensified violence has come at a horrific human cost, with the death toll totaling more than 2,080 civilians and combatants. Even if separatist forces beat a hasty retreat, Kyiv will be left facing a shattered, resentful region. 

 

5. Russia Itself Might Want A Way Out

 

For a while, Moscow appeared to be profiting handsomely from its campaign in Ukraine -- particularly in Crimea, where it was able, with breathtaking efficiency, to return a lush southern territory to Russia, where many ribbon-wearing citizens thought it belonged all along.

 

But the war has started to pinch. In addition to suspected culpability in the MH17 shooting, the Kremlin has suffered a series of financial setbacks -- some of them self-induced. EU and U.S. sanctions have targeted, and disgruntled, some of the Kremlin's richest patrons, and Putin's own "patriotic" initiative -- banning Western food supplies -- is already causing a steep rise in prices and spotlighting the woeful state of Russia's agricultural sector. The Russian president, who has staked his political career on pocketbook principles, is eager to avoid domestic discontent. Many observers suggest that the Kremlin has already signaled that it's ready to step back on Ukraine -- and cite as an example the recent withdrawal of Moscow-born separatist leaders like Igor Strelkov, who was believed to be acting as the Kremlin's agent in Donbas.

 

In his uncharacteristically muted speech in Crimea last week, Putin asserted Russia's historic right to the territory but appeared to indicate the imperialist wish list would end there. To be sure, current hopes of detente could be early or off the mark. But a deal legitimizing Moscow's claim on Crimea would allow Putin to come home looking like a winner -- even as he loses Ukraine.

DNR and LNR should be designated as international terrorist organizations

 

DNR and LNR should be designated as international terrorist organizations

 

Next month President of the United States Barack Obama will preside over a meeting of the United Nations Security Council. He will address the issue of “foreign fighters traveling to conflict zones and joining terrorist organizations”. The agenda itself seems to be a perfect description of the actions of the Russian military and mercenaries who now travel to eastern Ukraine to join LNR and DNR in their terrorist activities against the citizens and armed forces of Ukraine. The terrorists killed hundreds of Ukrainian civilians and servicemen, wounded thousands, shot down up to a dozen helicopters and planes including the international flight MH17 with about 300 civilian passengers on board. How much more suffering should Ukrainian people and international community encounter before LNR and DNR are designated as terrorist organizations?

NSDC: Ukrainian troops captured two Russian airborne forces vehicles

Kyiv, August 21, 2014 – ATO troops continue combat to free the cities of Donetsk, Luhansk, Ilovaysk, Krasniy Luch, Shakhtarsk, Torez, Snizhne, Zugres, Horlivka and Stanychno-Luhanske from terrorists. “Ukrainian troops captured two BMD infantry fighting vehicles of the Russian Pskov airborne division during battle near Luhansk. The personnel and equipment belong to military unit #74268 of the first parachute regiment of the Pskov airborne division. A personal tablet belonging to the commander of the guard troop, lieutenant Popov, was found among the items onboard. The personnel of the BMD abandoned the vehicle,” stated NSDC Information Center spokesman Colonel Andriy Lysenko during a briefing at the Ukraine Crisis Media Center.

 

During their advance, the Ukrainian troops destroyed two terrorist tanks and two Grad systems, which the Russian mercenaries had used to fire at both ATO bases and residential buildings. “Combat continues in individual districts of Ilovaysk. Ukrainian servicemen are successfully rebuking terrorist attacks. Reinforcements for the ATO troops are arriving as we speak,” added the NSDC spokesman.

The terrorists shot down a Ukrainian Su-24M military jet, which was on its way back from a mission, in Luhansk oblast near the village of Novosvitlivka. Both pilots managed to eject.

 

In light of allegations that Russian humanitarian cargo vehicles crossed the Russia-Ukraine border, the MFA states that as of the evening of August 20, the Ukrainian Border and Customs Services did not carry out according clearance procedures. “The Ukrainian side will immediately begin appropriate work, as soon as it receives a final confirmation from the International Red Cross Committee regarding their readiness to deliver the cargo to its end destination. Amongst other things, one of the issues is that the International Red Cross Committee, which took responsibility for all logistical aspects, including the transportation route, storage and distribution of aid on Ukrainian territory, needs to receive all possible guarantees of security for both personnel and cargo. First and foremost, the Red Cross should receive such guarantees from the terrorist groups under Russian control and the Russian Federation itself. Ukraine understands that it is necessary the Red Cross synchronizes all assistance supplies for the civilians of Luhansk oblast, including those provided by the Ukrainian side, together with other state and international institutions. As of 12 o’clock today, border and customs clearance of the Russian humanity cargo did not start. However, orders were given to begin clearing the cargo in the nearest future,” explained the NSDC spokesman.

 

The terrorists in Luhansk have fired at one more refugee vehicle. The tragedy occurred on August 20, once more near the village of Khryashchuvate. “According to eyewitnesses, a big white flag was raised over the vehicle, however this did not stop the bandits. The mercenaries were shooting from the village of Samsonivske in Krasnodar district. A family with a child of five was inside the car. The child and the father died at the scene. The wife died in the arms of Ukrainian military medics,” noted Colonel Lysenko.

 

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko met with United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman, who is in Ukraine on orders of UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon. The President expressed his gratitude to the General Secretary for supporting peace and de-escalation in Donbas. The head of state emphasized that there is no internal conflict in Ukraine. “The people in Donetsk and Luhansk strive for peace. The implementation of the peace plan we proposed determines our actions. We are aware that the situation cannot be solved by means of war exclusively,” noted the President.

 

The head of state also mentioned Ukraine’s initiative to send international humanitarian aid to Luhansk, which, being under terrorist control, is on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe.

 

Valerie Amos, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, will visit Ukraine on August 21-24 and determine the ways of providing humanitarian aid to the east of Ukraine. “A column of humanitarian aid will also arrive in the east of Ukraine from Dnipropetrovsk tomorrow. The 200-ton cargo includes bare essentials: grains, flour, sugar, canned fish and meat, as well as baby food,” added Andriy Lysenko.

PHOTOS - Ukraine gets new evidence of Russian soldiers fighting on its turf

Ukraine received new evidence of Russian soldiers fighting on its territory when the army captured two armored personnel carriers on Aug. 20, which carried many valuable – and incriminating – documents. 

 A field manual for the Russian army shared by journalist Roman Bochkala.

 

The vehicles were seized near the village of  Lutuhine, located 18 kilometers from Luhansk. The men carried IDs showing that they are paratroopers of the Pskov division’s airborne brigade No. 74268.

Andriy Lysenko, the spokesman of the National Security and Defense Council said at a briefing on Aug. 21 that it was a “full range of documents – from drivers licenses to military documentation.”

 

“There was a personal notebook of Lieutenant Popov, the platoon commander of the guard, among the belongings,” Lysenko said.

The machine gun marked with the name of Private Surnachov.

 

The Russian defense ministry slammed the allegations as false.

 

“This is the 1001th  piece of so-called evidence in the entire range of daily exposures of Russian presence on the territory of Ukraine,” Russian Major-General Igor Konashenko told RIA-Novosti,  the Russian state news agency.

 

“Probably the next ‘indisputable fact’ will be a Kalashnikov captured in a ‘fierce fight’ or an F-1 grenade with detailed personal diaries of allegedly Russian soldiers,” he added.

A passport of Nikolay Krygin, resident of Russia’s Pskov region.

 

But Roman Bochkala, a journalist of Ukrainian Inter TV channel, showed the footage with papers and a photo of the machine gun marked with the name of Private Surnachov, the passport of Nikolay Krygin, a resident of Russia’s Pskov region,  and a journal spelling out names of other soldiers who are probably taking part in hostilities in Ukraine.

 

There were also drill regulations for paratroopers, combat regulations of the Russian army, and several Russian credit cards captured, according to the photos published by Bochkala.

Russian credit cards found in captured APCs.

 

When the fight finished on Aug. 20, the battlefield had blue berets of paratroopers scattered all around, Bochkala wrote based on his talks to the Ukrainian soldiers who captured the vehicles.

 

Bochkala also published an anonymous message he received through Facebook, allegedly from the wife of one of the servicemen of Pskov airborne brigade. “Our husbands have been recently sent to Ukraine, allegedly for military exercises. They didn’t know where they were supposed to be sent. There have been neither phone calls, nor any ‘hellos’ since then. We are sitting and crying,” the message said.

Drill regulations for paratroopers.

 

“What kind of exercises could there possibly be abroad?” Bochkala said. He said the evidence will be shown to foreign ambassadors and representatives of international organizations.

 

Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko is scheduled to meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Minsk on Aug. 26 along with the leaders of European Union and presidents of Belarus and Kazakhstan.

One of two Russian APCs captured by Ukrainian soldiers near Luhansk.

The situation in the Eastern regions of Ukraine (August 20, 2014)

Dmitry Tymchuk’s Military Blog: Summary – August 19, 2014

Brothers and sisters!

 

The bad news:

 

1. Unfortunately, we can confirm the fact that the column of Russian military equipment broke through to Luhansk today to back up the local militants. Some of the equipment arrived from Russia earlier, while other vehicles entered Donbas today from the territory of the Russian Federation.

According to our data, a few dozen units of military equipment broke through into the neighborhood of Luhansk, up to 40 of them are heavy armored vehicles. Part of this column entered the city.
How the column of vehicles could have broken through the blockade line, considering the fact that Luhansk is being blocked by a circle of checkpoints and fortified strongpoints of ATO forces–we currently cannot say.

2. LNR [Luhansk People's Republic] terrorists argue that the shooting of the refugee convoy yesterday near Luhansk–was not them. This claim was made by I. [Ihor] Plotnitskiy, one of the insurgents’ leaders.

This statement could possibly confuse a casual observer who might erroneously think that this sinful deed that was committed, that such a terrible crime could be attributable to the ATO forces who shelled the convoy by mistake. If it were not for one “but.” The leader of the terrorists began swearing that the insurgents do not get thrown weapons from Russia, he said, “all military equipment is battle loot and was captured in battle.”

And here everything falls into place. It’s hard to assume that the insurgents could seize dozens of tanks and MLRS [Multiple Launch Rocket Systems] from the Ukrainian army, and it’s even less understandable where Ukrainian troops would get weapons and equipment available only in the Russian army, such as armored KamAZ trucks, the newest armored BTR-82 vehicles, Kord machine guns, AK [Kalashnikov] Series 100 automatic rifles, etc. etc.–this list is endless.

This lie about the weapons also proves the lie about the [fact of] the shelling of the convoy. But this little warlord, stuck deep in his lies, didn’t even use his brains when feeding his lies to the public.

The good news:

1. Our troops continue to liberate the land of the Donbas from pro-Russian and Russian filth. The cleanup of Ilovaysk is finishing, step by step Donetsk and Luhansk are being liberated. Combat is underway in the raion [district] settlements of Horlivka, Yasynuvata, Zhdanivka.

Moscow is seeking in any way to save its minions, already throwing them equipment and weapons without much secrecy. But only a maniac like Putin can continue to believe that the game is not over, and hope for some prospects for such criminal projects as the DNR and LNR [Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics]. Tragically, this maniacal Kremlin is paid for with the blood of our guys, but in no way cancels the impending victory.

2. The Ministry of the Interior reported that it fired nearly 3,700 law enforcement officers in the Donetsk and Luhansk region throughout the duration of the ATO. Dozens of criminal cases were filed against local police officers who changed their oath.

It is a process, the value of which can hardly be overestimated. Because what would be the point of the ATO, if yesterday’s terrorist accomplices controlled the city of Donbas again today, waiting for the “whistle” from Russia to start all over again?

To this, [I] can only add that such a process should have been aggressively launched against the local authorities as well. Since it was already begun, it recently somehow started clearly to abate.

3. The Deputy Chairman of the European Parliament R. [Ryszard] Czarnecki said that the Ukrainian authorities should not agree to negotiations with terrorists in the Donbas, as they are not a worthy partner for dialogue, and should make every effort to drive them out of the country.

These are, in my understanding, the words of a man, not a boy. Kyiv announced that it would welcome a peaceful dialogue, if such were possible (remember the sad experience of the “ceasefire” of June 20-30th?). But since [we] cannot come to an agreement amicably, we will have to postpone the ceremonies. It is wonderful that the European Parliament, earlier blinded by an unconvincing pacifism, began to understand this fact.

Meanwhile, a terrorist is nevertheless a terrorist, [even] in Africa. And this statement by the representative of the European Parliament can be considered an unofficial recognition of the DNR and LNR [Donetsk- and Luhansk People's Republics] as terrorist organizations, albeit by individual MEPs [Members of European Parliament]. Well, it’s up to an official recognition [now], which Ukraine is so yearning for.

Donbas Battalion: We are paying very dearly. But, for what? - By Maks Levin, photographer at lib.ua

Maks Levin

 

Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

 

Bad news, near Donetsk. From the words of Maks Dondyuk: Donbas [Battalion] is in Ilovaisk. Entrenched. Also there are motorized infantrymen there. There are armored vehicles. But really it’s a meat grinder there. Ours are being fired at with everything possible–Grads, mortars, anti-tank missiles, anti-aircraft guns, tanks, snipers. In the Donbas, [there are] 4–[Cargo] 200’s [killed]. More than a dozen wounded. They cannot in any way get out of Ilovaisk. The place where Donbas is now based is being shelled–Grads, mortars. Shells completely destroyed a bus that was standing in the yard.

 

According to Maks, Azov and Dnipro Battalions left Ilovaisk.
 

Support is VERY much needed, in order to hold the city.

 

Semyonchenko was in an armored vest, but a very serious shrapnel ended up in his shoulder blade–knocked him off his feet. And then again in the leg. And I thought that the battalion commanders are invincible.

 

They killed the amazing Ukrainian American “Franco” (Mark Paslavski), fuck. A cheerful diasporan with a Canadian accent, how he cussed in Ukrainian, so fantastically beautiful. I was to give him these photos–[they] printed them out. He dreamed of entering Donetsk and then returning to Kyiv, to sell an apartment in Lviv and settle somewhere comfortable in the Carpathian Mountains.

 

 

Mikhailyna [Skoryk, journalist and wife of Shulz]. I have no words. Hang in there. ‘Schulz’–such a calm and confident guy. It seems he wasn’t afraid of anything.

 

 

 

 

We are paying very dearly. But, for what?

 

“Urban warfare is the most difficult art of all close combat tactics. The enemy can wait for you anywhere and shoot from an attic, basement or a kindergarten. The terrorists are firing mortars from the part of the city they control not caring whether they hit residential buildings. Last night after the death of Ulybka (Smiley) four other heroes of the National Guard Donbas battalion were killed as well as four heroes from the Shakhtarsk special police battalion. Also a Ukrainian citizen of American origin call sign Franco from the Donbas battalion was killed,” –Adviser to the Interior Minister Anton Herashchenko on his Facebook page.

 

 

Mikhailyna Skoryk:

 He wanted to go out a hero. He went. In Ilovaisk. For Ukraine, for friends, for victory and for a peaceful Donbas.

 

No need to call. Or write. It’s enough to pray for peace and an end to this nightmare.

After fierce daytime fighting Defense Force Donbas entered Ilovaisk, which is a key defense object of separatists situated to the west from Donetsk.

 As of 19:00 terrorists are dislodged from half of the city. The fighting is still going on.

Ilovaisk

 

Semyon Semyonchenko, Donbas Battalion Commander, FB post August 19^th:
We are in Ilovaisk.

Yesterday the Donbas Battalion, a separate company of the Dniepr Battalion, and the 2nd Azov Battalion platoon were engaged in heavy fighting on the outskirts of the city. Faced with fierce resistance, suffering losses, Dniepr and Azov gained a foothold on the outskirts of the city. Their job was done perfectly. Attack units of the battalion Donbas, sweeping away terrorist roadblocks, entered the city from several directions, and by 19:00 took control of the eastern part of the city. Judging by the desperate running away of  supporters of the “Russian world,” we have already learned to do coverage and raids.

 

We are entrenched for the night right in the city, nutrition and psychological assistance to residents who are in the basements of office buildings and bomb shelters has been organized. To build on the success, it was decided not to be a static target at night but to organize a night raid. During the night, three checkpoints and four enemy firing points were destroyed. It has not even helped the separatists to fire the Grad at Donbas, into the very center of city, which the terrorists held onto directly from the territory of Donetsk. The movement of the column [convoy] which was supposed to help the terrorists was also blocked. By 5 am, about two thirds of the city was under control, the city is completely surrounded. We ask people not to leave their shelters, we will try to finish everything quickly. The rotation of combined BMP APU [auxiliary power unit] also could not get into the city, but the morning brought armored vehicles, they are now with us. Glory to Ukraine!

Ukraine makes it's mark in Putin's Moscow

So activists in Moscow have put the Ukrainian flag up on one of its tallest skyscrapers

American Donbas Battalion member dies in fierce fighting near Donetsk

An American-Ukrainian known only as "Franko" died on Aug. 19 while fighting with the Donbas Battalion in an attempt to free the city of Ilovaisk in Donetsk Oblast from Russian mercenaries and Kremlin-backed guerrillas.

 

An American has reportedly become the first foreign casualty on the Ukrainian side of the military conflict against Russian mercenaries and Kremlin-backed forces in eastern Ukraine. 

 

Identified only under his nom de guerre of "Franko", he reportedly died from heavy artillery fire while trying to free the town of Ilovaisk in Donetsk Oblast on Aug. 19 while serving in the volunteer Donbas Battalion, Liviy Bereg photographer Maks Levin stated on Facebook, citing another photographer, Maks Dondiuk, who has embedded himself in various Ukrainian service units.

 

According to the photographer, the Donbas Battalion, had come under heavy fire by various barrages of GRAD, Fagot and other types of artillery, in addition to tank and sniper fire.

“There is no way for them to get out of Ilovask,” wrote Levin citing his colleague. He added that two other volunteer battalions, Azov and Dnipro, managed to leave the area earlier in the day.

 

Both photographers, Levin and Dondiuk, have been embedded with various Ukrainian units, including the Donbas Battalion. 

 

The facebook page of Donbass Battalion stated that four of its members died in the fighting, while the number of wounded is still being clarified. Among the wounded was battalion leader Semyon Semenchenko. He underwent surgery in a Dnipropetrovsk hospital and is expected to recover in two to three weeks, the statement said.

 

In a Vice News report in which he featured prominently, Franko said he was a private in a six-man squad within the battalion, while claiming to have “professional military experience.” His code name apparently was inspired by the famed Ukrainian writer Ivan Franko. In the video, he speaks with what sounds like an east coast American accent and appears to be aged in his 60s. He emphasized in the interview that he had taken on Ukrainian citizenship before joining the fight in the east. According to photographer Levin, Franko owned property in Ukraine and may have lived in the country.

 

He was a “cheerful diaspora (member)…who beautifully cursed in Ukrainian,” remarked Levin. He added that Franko wished to “enter Donetsk (as a liberator) and to return to Kyiv, sell his apartment in Lviv and settle somewhere in the calm Carpathian Mountains.”

The Donbas Battalion was formed early in June. At least 80 percent of its members are from eastern Ukraine. According to the Interior Ministry to which the irregular volunteer battalions are subordinated, 25 battalions are currently engaged in the war zone in Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts.

Franko told Vice News that he assumed Ukrainian citizenship before joining the Donbas Battalion to fight against the Russian invasion of eastern Ukraine. (Maks Levin)

Franko RIP - American Volunteer - He Died for Ukrainian Freedom

 

Submariners World is sad to report "Franko," the American fighting for #Ukraine, is confirmed dead. He spoke to VICE news 2 week's ago.

 

 

The decline of Russian economy in 2014

 

Many believe that sanctions against Russia don’t really work and should be lifted. Nevertheless the infographics below depicts the dynamics of RTSI index which proves the opposite. Sanctions do have an effect and may be serve as a powerful stimulus for those who seem to ignore the internationally recognized pacts, agreements and obligations…

 

NSDC: 15 bodies found after yesterday’s civilian shooting

Kyiv, August 19, 2014 – 15 bodies of the civilians who died when the mercenaries fired “Grad” systems and mine launchers at the refugee transport column were found by the end of last night, reported NSDC Information Center spokesman colonel Andriy Lysenko during a briefing at the Ukraine Crisis Media Center. “Yesterday, the terrorists opened fire near Khryashchuvate at a column of refugees who were leaving under white flags. As it turned out, the column was headed from Luhansk to Lutugyne, which is under Ukrainian control. Combat engineers and forensic experts are currently working at the scene,” added colonel Lysenko.

ATO troops continue advancing and reinforcing their positions at the designated borderlines in the outskirts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Horlivka, Pervomaysk, and are concentrating their efforts to preserve their position on Savur-Mohyla. Terrorist counterattacks were successfully rebuked throughout the day. Positional combat for Yasynuvata and Zhdanivka in Donetsk oblast continues. “Ukrainian troops also blocked Ilovaysk and Alchevsk. As of 10 a.m., the National Guardsmen have already freed two-thirds of Ilovaysk and cut off supply routes for manpower and equipment to the Russian mercenaries. Two KamAZ trucks that were sent from Donetsk to aid the mercenaries in Ilovaysk were fired at, one of them was neutralized together with the terrorists, the other was forced to return back to Donetsk,” added the NSDC spokesman.

 

Russia continues to increase its military presence in Rostov oblast. Reserve servicemen summoned to the national assembly are being sent to the Ukrainian border. In particular, Russian armed forces near the Ukrainian border have increased in number on account of military tactical groups from Yekaterinburg, the tank department of the 35 individual motorized sniper brigade from Briansk oblast of the Russian Federation, the 74 individual motorized sniper brigade from Kemerovo oblast.

 

NATO General Secretary Anders Fogh Rasmussen and Commander of the Army in Europe General Philip Breedlove condemned the support of terrorists and increase of Russian presence at the Ukrainian border. They noted the existence of indisputable evidence of Russia’s disruptive activity on Ukrainian territory. In this context they emphasized the necessity of continued presence of NATO troops in Eastern Europe. “Day after day, we see evidence of a disruptive Russian presence inside Ukraine, the massing of combat-ready troops around its borders and a cynical attempt to rebrand Russia as the provider of humanitarian aid,” says the statement.

 

The Ukrainian President ordered to conduct preparations to organize a humanitarian corridor for the Russian cargo through the state border. “As of 9 a.m., work to document the humanitarian cargo was not carried out in light of the fact that terrorist organizations “DNR” and “LNR” refused to provide security guarantees to the Red Cross representatives. A leading group of Red Cross Committee employees was sent to Luhansk in order to evaluate the situation and organize the delivery of the humanitarian cargo. Today a group of three people plans to arrive in Ukraine from Donetsk of Rostov oblast in Russia through the “Donetsk – Izvarino” checkpoint,” noted the NSDC spokesman.

 

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko held consultations with German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel. The President applauded the German government’s support of international dialogue during the four-party meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Germany, Ukraine, France and Russia.

 

 The heads of state agreed that the next step would be a meeting on the highest level. Head of the Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Ministry Pavlo Klimkin announced that Mrs. Merkel would arrive in Ukraine on August 23, on the eve of Independence Day.

Donetsk residents filled up a weapon emplacement dug up by Putin's Russian Terrorist's in civilian quarter