Contents tagged with Donbas

  • Kremlin unhappy with U.S. reaction to separatist attacks on OSCE observers in Ukraine

    The Press Secretary to the President of Russia, Dmitry Peskov, did not like how the United States responded to insurgent attacks on the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) in the area of military activity in eastern Ukraine, as reported by the Russian news agency TASS.

    "We believe that it is necessary to be more careful in the assessment of the situation, especially in determining the source of provocation ... these same OSCE observers recorded repeatedly that the source of provocative …

  • Separatist leaders threaten Ukraine with the nationalization of companies because of the trade blockade

    On the 27th of February, Alexander Zakharchenko and Igor Plotnitsky, leaders of the territories of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions not controlled by Ukraine, sent an ultimatum to Kyiv. If on the Ukrainian side the blockade of the Donbas [which was started by war veterans in Eastern Ukraine with the goal of freeing Ukrainian prisoners and putting an end to trade with the separatists] continues, the separatist leaders will take control of the companies under Ukrainian jurisdiction which are in …

  • Who is next in chain of assassinations of separatist leaders

    Author: Dmytro Snegiryov, Head of Prava Sprava public initiative.

    The sudden death of the former head of the Luhansk People’s Republic, Valery Bolotov, and the assassination of the Chief of the LPR (Luhansk People’s Republic) People’s Militia, Colonel Oleg Anaschenko, in a car explosion, are connected with purges that have been taking place in the separatist republic after the failed coup.

    In September 2016, during interrogations, the Deputy Commander of the LPR People’s Militia, Vitaly …

  • Russian JCCC contingent refused to guarantee safety of electricians to repair power lines near Avdiivka

    The Russian contingent of the Joint Center on Control and Coordination of issues related to the ceasefire refused to guarantee the safety of electricians during the repair of power lines in Avdiivka. The Director of Avdiivka Coke and Chemical Plant, Musa Magomedov told 112 Ukraine TV that, “The maintenance crew already left an hour ago for Kostiantynivka, where they are based, because we received an official rejection today. The employees of DTEK [Donbas Fuel and Energy Company] were unable to …

  • Ukrainian Cabinet prepares to make a decision on Donbas blockade

    At its next meeting, the Cabinet of Ministers will consider the issue of trade arrangements with the uncontrolled territories in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. This was stated by the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Arsen Avakov, in an interview on TSN on Sunday evening, February 26th.

    “It is necessary to settle the matter of trade relations with the occupied territories. The corresponding decision was made by the National Security Council so that we could regulate this issue and …

  • OSCE calls for ceasefire at Donetsk water filtration plant

    The Special Monitoring Mission of the OSCE in Ukraine (OSCE SMM) insists on the cessation of shelling of the Donetsk filtration plant by all sides of the conflict in the Donbas. This position was announced in a statement by the Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, Ertugrul Apakan, which was published on Facebook on Friday, February 24.

    "The shelling of the filtration plant, as well as the fact that, contrary to their promises, these parties have still not taken away …

  • Italy has allocated 1 million Euro for the residents of the Donbas

    The Italian government has allocated €1 million to the UN World Food Programme and UNICEF to assist victims of the conflict in the Donbas. This was stated by the Ambassador of Italy to Ukraine, Davide La Cecilia, in a briefing on Thursday, February 23rd.

    “Italy will provide help to Ukraine this year. The Italian government and Italian Development Cooperation have allocated €1 million to help the people who have been affected in eastern Ukraine. Of the one million, €700,000 will be provided to …

  • OSCE will increase number of observers in the conflict zone in Eastern Ukraine

    The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) plans to increase the number of observers for its Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, in order to strengthen its technical capacity and increase patrol hours along the contact line in the conflict zone. Sebastian Kurz, the Austrian Foreign Minister who currently holds the OSCE Chairmanship, made the announcement at a UN Security Council meeting.

    Kurz, who visited Ukraine in January, called the level of violence in the east of …

  • Ukraine's Minister of Defense: There are 37,000 Ukrainian soldiers at the front line in the Donbas

    Presently, there are thirty-seven thousand Ukrainian soldiers at the front line in the Donbas, according to Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak, the website of the Ministry reports.

    Poltorak claims that the rest of the staff are on combat duty, in training centers, at the training sites and in the classrooms where the soldiers are learning from experience gained and making conclusions."

    "We are able to defend Ukraine and fulfill all the tasks facing the Armed Forces. The evidence of this is the 7 …

  • Ukraine accused Russia of political pressure and blackmail at the UN Security Council meeting

    Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations Volodymyr Yelchenko said at a meeting of the Security Council that Russia has gone out of its way to provoke and pressure Ukraine. According to him, Russia's actions bode ill for Europe.

    "Instead of conscientiously implementing Minsk agreements, Russia exerts political pressure, uses blackmail and conducts military provocations. Ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine and its negative consequences are among the main threats to …