Contents tagged with Donbas

  • OSCE mission threatened at gunpoint in eastern Ukraine

    The observers of the OSCE SMM reported that they were threatened by two armed supporters of the self-proclaimed Donetsk Peoples Republic (DPR) near Lukove, 72 kilometers south of Donetsk according to their July 29th report.

    OSCE SMM members were stopped by two armed representatives of the DPR who blocked the road with a jeep and pointed weapons in their direction. They ordered SMM observers to leave this area, the report explained. The OSCE SMM representatives followed the order.

    The report …

  • US diplomats: Despite statements to the contrary, Russia is not interested in peace in Ukraine

    U.S. Diplomats stress that Russia’s statements regarding their desire for peace in Ukraine differ from real events, as stated during by the U.S. Ambassador for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Daniel Baer, during a telephone conversation with European journalists as part of the Brussels Media Hub project.

    He stressed that the number of victims and attacks from the territory controlled by separatists has increased due to Russia’s actions. "The situation has escalated …

  • Ukrainian MP: 50,000 Russians fought in the Donbas

    Anton Herashchenko, a member of the “People’s Front” faction of parliament, wrote on his Facebook page that 50,000 Russians took part in hostilities on the territory of Ukraine. "These are not just speculations and assumptions but documentary evidence discovered by volunteers of the project 'Myrotvorets' [Peacemaker] in a mailbox belonging to Russian terrorist Maria Koleda. Koleda serves as a head of the terrorist press service of the terrorist organization, the Donetsk People’s Republic,” he …

  • Kuchma’s press secretary: Separatists refuse to negotiate on prisoner exchange

    In the framework of the meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group in Minsk, separatist representatives from the self-proclaimed Republics of the Donbas refuse to hold negotiations regarding the release of prisoners. This was reported on the Facebook page of Darka Olifer, the press-secretary of the Ukrainian representative in the Trilateral Contact Group, Leonid Kuchma, regarding the settlement of the conflict in the Donbas.

    According to Olifer, representatives from the so-called DPR and LPR “ …

  • Poroshenko agrees with Merkel’s call for stronger sanctions against Russia

    The President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, conducted a telephone call with the Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel. Both parties agreed to intensify the work in the Normandy format and in other sectors, the Presidential press service reported. In particular, the call concerned the development of a clear roadmap for the implementation of the Minsk Agreements, including Russia’s fulfillment of the security component.

    As noted in the report, the President of Ukraine pointed out Russia’s …

  • Ukrainian Intelligence: The number of prisoners of war held by Ukraine is much lower than separatists claim

    The Advisor to the Head of Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), Yuri Tandit, stated on the 112 Ukraine TV Channel that more than 300 people from the list received from separatists have never been in Ukraine. According to him, the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) stated that Ukraine holds 602 prisoners. “We don’t understand where these figures came from,” Tandit said.

    Tandit clarified that Ukrainian officials received data on 1102 prisoners in Minsk in 2015. SSU analyzed this information. “I took …

  • Ukrainian Intelligence: Russia continues to send weapons and soldiers to the Donbas

    Russia continues to supply its troops in the Donbas with personnel and weapons, according to a report released by the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

    According to the report, on the 24th of July, four trucks carrying 110 personnel and three guns were identified coming from Russia en route to Sverdlovsk in the Luhansk region.

    Ukraine has contacted representatives of the Special Monitoring Mission of the OSCE and reported on the presence of tanks, …

  • OSCE mini drone comes under fire in LPR-controlled area

    A mini unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) belonging to the OSCE’s Special Monitoring Mission came under fire near Kalynove, an area controlled by the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic, according to a report released by the OSCE.

    “The SMM heard four shots which it assessed as being fired from an assault rifle targeting the UAV. At the time of the incident, the UAV was flying 800 meters south-west of the launch site. The shots were fired from a location assessed as less than one kilometer west of …

  • Ukraine calls on the West to increase pressure on Russia to implement the Minsk Agreements

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine is deeply concerned about the severe deterioration of the security situation in eastern Ukraine.

    “We appeal to our international partners to strengthen political and diplomatic pressure on the Kremlin to stop the dangerous escalation of tension in the Donbas,” reported the statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

    The statement noted that Ukraine strictly adheres to its commitments; will continue to do everything possible to ensure that people …

  • Zakharchenko is ready to meet with Savchenko

    One of the separatist leaders in the Donbas, Alexander Zakharchenko, declared that he is ready to meet with the Batkivshchyna party deputy in the Verkhovna Rada, Nadiya Savchenko. This was reported in the separatists’ official statement on Monday, July 25, 2016.

    “A meeting is possible. However, first I need to understand what we would discuss. This neutral meeting [could be a PR strategy by] Savchenko. I'm willing to hear suggestions for the agenda. If Savchenko offers to discuss specific and …