OSCE: Tensions in the Donetsk region remain high

The level of tension in the Donbas region remains high. The observers of the Special Monitoring Mission of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) note the increase in violations of the ceasefire near the Donetsk region, the Principal Deputy Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, Alexander Hug, said at a press conference on Friday, July 15, 2016 in Kiev, according to Interfax-Ukraine.

“The level of violence remains high. The number of attacks …


Russia Today organizes tour to the Crimea for foreign journalists

Russian state-run TV channel Russia Today is organizing a trip for foreign journalists to visit the annexed Crimea. The visit is scheduled for the 16 of July. This was reported by a representative of the Independent Media Trade Union of Ukraine (from 2011 to 2016) Yuriy Lukanov, in his blog for the online edition of Detector Medіa.

Lukanov says he has a list of journalists who are planning to visit the occupied peninsula. It consists of 15 names. Among them are representatives of Radio Zones ( …


EU to fund pipeline to help Finland reduce its dependence on Russian energy

The European Union will provide €187.5 million for the construction of a gas pipeline which will allow Finland to reduce its dependence on Russian energy, Deutsche Welle reported.

On Friday, July 15, EU member states excepted the proposal of the European Commission to finance the construction of the pipeline, which will connect Estonia and Finland. This was reported on the website of the European Commission. The pipeline, which will begin operating in 2020, aims to reduce Finland's dependence …


Mayor of Ankara: Pilot who shot down Russian plane last year participated in coup attempt

According to the Mayor of Ankara, Melih Gökçek, one of the participants of the coup attempt in Turkey was the pilot of the F-16 fighter that shot down a Russian Su-24 frontline bomber over the Turkish-Syrian border in November of last year, RBC reported.

While many of the details of Friday night’s coup attempt in Turkey remain unclear, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has insinuated that Fethullah Gulen, a powerful US-based Muslim cleric, is behind the coup attempt.

At least 161 people …


Ukrainian Intelligence: LPR separatists laundered more than $300,000 through Ukrainian banks

The State Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) found accounts from the criminal group in some Ukrainian banks

Members of the so-called Luhansk People's Republic fraudulently laundered at least 8 million Ukrainian Hryvnia ($322,000) through financial institutions. The SSU stopped activities by this currency conversion center which provided various tax services, as reported by the SSU press-service.

“The ‘Converter’ (Conversion Center) was organized by four residents of the Luhansk and Kyiv …