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Svetlana Voilova in front of her destroyed apartment in Krasnagorovka. (photo credit:SETH J. FRANTZMAN)

KRASNOGOROVKA - Svetlana Voilova stands by the gate to what was once her apartment in a long brick house in Eastern Ukraine. In late July 2017, it was hit by incendiary artillery shells and destroyed. Now all that remains of what were once nine apartments are the chimneys and shell of the home. One man wounded in the shelling died in a hospital and another is still recovering.

Voilovas home is on the Ukrainian government-run side of the cease-fire line established in February 2015, in an agreement between Russia, Ukraine and two separatist areas known as the Donetsk Peoples Republic and Luhansk Peoples Republic.

The 13-point plan was supposed to include a cease-fire and removal of heavy weapons from the line of contact between Ukrainian and separatist forces. It is monitored by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, or OSCE.

The conflict here has implications not only for relations between Russia and its neighbors, but also for NATO, European Union states and the United States, all of which have played a role in the conflict. The US, for instance, is reportedly in discussions to supply Ukraine with anti-tank weapons.

Despite the cease-fire, Ukrainian military personnel and civilians say that artillery shells regularly hit civilian buildings. From the 3rd of May, we had one wing of a school damaged and also the hospital, and in May, six apartments [were hit by shelling], says a military spokesman for the Ukrainian 92nd Brigade stationed in Krasnogorovka. In all, he details 41 buildings hit in shelling in this one town in recent months.

There is not one house here without damage, says Lena Meslitskaya, whose home is down the street from Voilovas burned apartment. These small brick homes surrounded by little vegetable gardens were built in the 1950s, when Stalin was in power. Meslitskaya has had to brick up and reinforce the windows from being shattered in the shelling.

For her mother, Maria, the war brings back memories of the Second World War. Born in 1928, Maria says she helped pick up the bodies of fallen soldiers after the battle of Kursk, the largest tank battle in history, which was fought in 1943.

Driving through towns that border the cease-fire line, evidence of the ongoing war is everywhere. Roofs are caved in from shells and some apartments that face toward Donetsk a city in separatist hands are deserted and windows shattered.

During the day the fighting is quiet, but at night gunfire is common. Heavier weapons, such as 120 mm. mortars, are also used, say Ukrainian officials. The OSCE says that both sides have committed violations over the years. In a tweet from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine on August 4, OSCE deputy director Alexander Hug said, Its time for sides to listen to the people of Donbass and to cease fire.

Before the war, Alina Kosse was director of a district center for childrens art. She says her town of Marinka was well-known in the area for producing talented youth, including ensembles that performed throughout Eastern Europe. After the conflict began in 2014, many people left their homes and the arts center was closed for a time.

Every day is Russian roulette, she says, showing bullets that have landed on her home, 2 km. from the cease-fire line. Her windows are sandbagged. I receive shrapnel in my roof, and this is considered a safe area, she says.

With the presence of the army in the town for three years, Kosse has tried to integrate the community with the soldiers. This area of Ukraine is Russian-speaking and when the war broke out some of these communities were briefly controlled by separatists, which means locals are not always reconciled with the Ukrainian government.

Kosse, whose family came from Greece to this region in the 18th century, argues that people should not betray their country. Its about motivation, it is in peoples hearts. My ancestors settled here. They are buried here. Why would I betray my history and roots?

Convincing locals to support the army is a central mission along the cease-fire line. In Avdiivka, Lt.-Col. Aleksander Samarsky, deputy-commander of the 72nd Mechanized Brigade, says he works to combat Russian propaganda. That involves working closely with civilians. So if some schools and kindergartens are damaged, then our soldiers will go to them, and we try to examine the psychological state of children. They also work to remove land mines from local farms, he says.

All along the cease-fire line the burden on civilian life is difficult. People whose lives were centered on work across the line have shifted careers. Even though they can cross back and forth at several points along hundreds of kilometers of front line, the checkpoints and security checks take hours, locals say.

But many of the older people have lived through times of privation before under the Soviets. At a local lake a few kilometers from the conflict, hundreds of youth in skimpy bathing suits splash in the war.

Like in so many places in the world, life still goes on in the shadow of war.

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Ukraine in focus: 'There is not a house here not damaged by war' - The Jerusalem Post

Ukraine Needs $3B and a Culture Change Inside Higher Ed (blog) The Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, Liliya Hrynevych, announced the need for 87 billion UAH (over US $3 billion) to reform the country's Soviet-modelled system of education. The Prime Minister, Volodymyr Groysman, conceded the accuracy of ...

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Ukraine Needs $3B and a Culture Change - Inside Higher Ed (blog)

There is an abundance of outrage in the United States about Russias alleged meddling in the 2016 presidential election. Multiple investigations are taking place, and Moscows conduct was a major justification for the sanctions legislation that Congress just passed. Some furious political figures and members of the media insist that the Putin governments interference constitutes an act of war. One especially agitated House member even compared it explicitly to the Pearl Harbor and 9/11 attacks.

Such umbrage might be more credible if the United States refrained from engaging in similar conduct. But the historical record shows that Washington has meddled in the political affairs of dozens of countriesincluding many democracies. An egregious example occurred in Ukraine during the Euromaidan Revolution of 2014.

Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych was not an admirable character. After his election in 2010, he used patronage and other instruments of state power in a flagrant fashion to the advantage of his political party. That high-handed behavior and legendary corruption alienated large portions of Ukraines population. As the Ukrainian economy languished and fell farther and farther behind those of Poland and other East European neighbors that had implemented significant market-oriented reforms, public anger at Yanukovych mounted. When he rejected the European Unions terms for an association agreement in late 2013, in favor of a Russian offer, angry demonstrators filled Kievs Independence Square, known as the Maidan, as well as sites in other cities.

Despite his leadership defects and character flaws, Yanukovych had been duly elected in balloting that international observers considered reasonably free and fairabout the best standard one can hope for outside the mature Western democracies. A decent respect for democratic institutions and procedures meant that he ought to be able to serve out his lawful term as president, which would end in 2016.

Neither the domestic opposition nor Washington and its European Union allies behaved in that fashion. Instead, Western leaders made it clear that they supported the efforts of demonstrators to force Yanukovych to reverse course and approve the EU agreement or, if he would not do so, to remove the president before his term expired. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), the ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, went to Kiev to show solidarity with the Euromaidan activists. McCain dined with opposition leaders, including members of the ultra right-wing Svoboda Party, and later appeared on stage in Maidan Square during a mass rally. He stood shoulder to shoulder with Svoboda leader Oleg Tyagnibok.

But McCains actions were a model of diplomatic restraint compared to the conduct of Victoria Nuland, the assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian Affairs. As Ukraines political crisis deepened, Nuland and her subordinates became more brazen in favoring the anti-Yanukovych demonstrators. Nuland noted in a speech to the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation on December 13, 2013, that she had traveled to Ukraine three times in the weeks following the start of the demonstrations. Visiting the Maidan on December 5, she handed out cookies to demonstrators and expressed support for their cause.

The extent of the Obama administrations meddling in Ukraines politics was breathtaking. Russian intelligence intercepted and leaked to the international media a Nuland telephone call in which she and U.S. ambassador to Ukraine Geoffey Pyatt discussed in detail their preferences for specific personnel in a post-Yanukovych government. The U.S-favored candidates included Arseniy Yatsenyuk, the man who became prime minister once Yanukovych was ousted from power. During the telephone call, Nuland stated enthusiastically that Yats is the guy who would do the best job.

Nuland and Pyatt were engaged in such planning at a time when Yanukovych was still Ukraines lawful president. It was startling to have diplomatic representatives of a foreign countryand a country that routinely touts the need to respect democratic processes and the sovereignty of other nationsto be scheming about removing an elected government and replacing it with officials meriting U.S. approval.

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America's Ukraine Hypocrisy - The National Interest Online (blog)

The seventh week of BIG3 play brought three-on-three action to Kentucky's Rupp Arena, as the teams jockeyed for position in the penultimate week of the regular season.

Trilogy and 3 Headed Monsters already locked themselves into the playoffs, and Power came into Sunday with an opportunity to join them. Ghost Ballers could also strengthen their playoff resume with a win over Tri-State, which entered tied for the worst record in the league.

Here is a look at how things played out in Lexington.

Tri-State 51, Ghost Ballers 43

Bonzi Wells scored 18 points as one of three Tri-State players in double figures as they pulled off a surprising 51-43 win over Ghost Ballers.

Tri-State trailed 12-4 in the first half but scored the final eight points of the first half to go into the break ahead 25-20. They never trailed again after that run and led by as many as nine.

Dominic McGuire (13 points) and Lee Nailon (12 points) were also in double figures.

Ricky Davis scored a team-high 15 points for Ghost Ballers, which dropped to 3-4 with the loss and will go into the final week in a battle for the final playoff spot. Ivan Johnson also scored 14 points.

Turnovers were the main factor in Ghost Ballers' struggles, with Davis being responsible for five of their 11 giveaways. Tri-State's three turnovers by comparison allowed them to shoot 42 times compared to 33 for Ghost Ballers.

Trilogy 50, Power 45

Rashad McCants scored 20 points, Al Harrington added 14 and James White had 12 as Trilogy continued its rampage over the BIG3 with a comeback 50-45 win over power.

Trilogy trailed 25-14 after a disjointed first half that saw them allow Power to go on a 16-2 run to close the half. But McCants came out scorching to start the second half, scoring eight of his team's first 10 points, including knocking down a four-point shot. The North Carolina product knocked down nine of his 15 shots on the evening and had the team's only two steals.

Harrington knocked down six of his 10 shots as part of a strong effort inside, while White got his 12 on an efficient 4-of-6 shooting. Trilogy is the lone remaining unbeaten at 7-0.

Power, which could have clinched a playoff berth with a win, is now 4-3. DeShawn Stevenson knocked down five shots from three-point range on his way to a team-high 19 points. Cuttino Mobley added 17.

3's Company 51, Killer 3s 48

Andre Owens scored 20 points and Al Thornton added 15, as 3's Company came from behind in the second half for a 51-48 win over Killer 3s.

Owens hit a pair of threes and played a team-high 52 minutes in what was essentially a playoff knockout game. Now 3's Company sits at 3-4 and has a real opportunity to make the final postseason spot with a win next week.

DerMarr Johnson added 10 points to round out 3's Company's double-digit scorers.

Stephen Jackson did his part to keep Killer 3s in the playoff hunt, scoring a game-high 25 points. Chauncey Billups added 10 but was inefficient throughout, making just a pair of his 11 shot chances.

Killer 3s are eliminated from playoff contention with a 2-5 record.

Allen Iverson did not play for 3's Company due to a one-game suspension.

3 Headed Monsters 50, Ball Hogs 34

Rashard Lewis scored 17 points and Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf added 14, as 3 Headed Monsters efficiently took care of business on their way to a 50-34 win over Ball Hogs.

The 3 Headed Monsters made 21 of their 40 shots from the field and did not trail after pulling ahead 11-9 early in the first half. Lewis also added 11 rebounds as part of a continued strong effort from the former NBA All-Star.

Every Monster scored at least four points and none were on the floor for more than 20 minutes in what essentially turned into a rout.

Ball Hogs, which are limping their way to a last-place finish, now sit 1-6. Derrick Byars was their only player in double figures, as they struggled their way to a 14-of-39 performance from the field.

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BIG3 League Basketball 2017 Results: Rashad McCants, Trilogy Remain Undefeated - Bleacher Report

CINCINNATI Before youre tempted to ordain the Los Angeles Dodgers as World Series champions for the first time in 29 years, a little history lesson might be in order.

First, only one player who has any sort of prominent role with the Dodgers, Chase Utley, even has been in a World Series. Second, and probably more importantly, only six of the 22 National League teams who have finished with the leagues best record since the three-tiered playoffs began in 1995 have made it to the World Series. And only two of them have won, with one being the Chicago Cubs last year. The other club was the 1995 Atlanta Braves, who won the World Series the first year there were three rounds of playoffs and then never again.

Four other clubs, including the Cardinals 100-win teams in 2004 and 2013, made it to the World Series but didnt win.

Third, how will lefthanded ace Clayton Kershaws back behave the rest of the year? Last year, after returning from back problems that cost him more than two months, Kershaw was relatively strong in the last month of the regular season. But in 24 1/3 postseason innings, including the time he was called upon to save the final game of the division series, he allowed 12 runs and had nothing left in Game 6 of the league championship , when he and the Dodgers were shut out 5-0 in Chicago as the Cubs punched their World Series ticket.

But what the Dodgers have done so far, is amazing, said Whitey Herzog, who steered his Kansas City Royals to a lengthy, similar rush 40 years ago.

Their pitching has been awfully steady, said Herzog. Their bullpen has been outstanding. And that kid (Cody Bellinger) is hitting all those home runs. Theyve won so many games late in the game. Really amazing.

This year, the Dodgers were 10-12 before going 66-20 in their next 84 games. At a later point in the 1977 season, Herzogs Royals were 28-31 and then went 63-23, including winning 16 in a row starting on Aug. 31 of that year. They lost one, then won eight more in succession, running that hot streak to 24 victories in 25 games. They would finish 74-29 after June 16, which was roughly what the Dodgers record was before the weekend.

Herzog, noting how the Dodgers managed to win the division last year when Kershaw was out for so long, gave credit to manager Dave Roberts, who was in his first year then. He did one helluva job, said Herzog. He seems enthusiastic. Of course, its easy to be enthusiastic every day when you win. Its when youre losing every day that it seems to lag.

The Dodgers have an outside shot at 116 wins, the major league record for a season held by the 1906 Chicago Cubs in a 154-game season and the Seattle Mariners in 2001 in a 162-game season. It is worth noting that neither of those clubs won the World Series either.

Theyve got to keep playing like hell to do that, said Herzog. Is it sustainable? I guess its sustainable. They wont get rained out. But without Kershaw (who is out several more weeks), it doesnt seem possible to do that.

Herzog can remember the 1977 season as if it was yesterday. On the night the Royals stretched their winning streak to 16, they beat Oakland twice in extra innings in a twi-night doubleheader that was delayed by rain in Kansas City and didnt end until nearly 3:30 a.m.

There were torrential rains in the area and seven people drowned that night, recalled Herzog. There almost was an eighth as Herzogs son, David, had his car sucked into an open manhole but made it out alive.

The next night, Herzog said his team, understandably, was tired and lost to Seattles Doc Medich before putting together the eight-game winning streak.

Gene Mauch, who was managing Minnesota then, said that no team in the division was good enough to pull away, Herzog said. We won 16 in a row and Texas won 13 games out of 17 and lost 3 games in the standings.

It amazing how things happened how it just seemed everything worked out for us, said Herzog. We didnt have a great bullpen, but we had a lot of guys who pitched in and did their job.

But there was disappointment at the end, when the Royals lost the American League championship series to the New York Yankees three games to two, dropping the last two games at home.

And Billy Martin benched Reggie Jackson for the fifth game, said Herzog. Then he goes on to become Mr. October the next week. Figure that one out.

The Royals scored twice in the first inning of the last game and were nursing a 3-1 lead into the eighth but allowed one run in the eighth and three in the ninth as the Yankees won 5-3, delaying Kansas Citys first World Series appearance for three more years.

Thats one game Ill never forget, said Herzog.

In Game 4 of that series, Herzog yanked first baseman John Mayberry, who seemed ill, after he dropped a pop foul. He didnt play Mayberry, who had 23 homers that year, in Game 5, as he suspected that Mayberry may have been under the influence of something the day before.

Herzog said baseball can use the publicity generated by the Dodgers long stretch of torrid baseball and the chance they could approach the record for wins if they could keep it up. Otherwise, there are very few divisional pennant races and he said he was tired of hearing about the knockout game, meaning the one-game playoff in each league to open the postseason.

Three of the six division pacesetters the Dodgers, Washington and Houston have leads of more than 10 games, which, if taken to the end of the season, would mark the first time that has happened since 2002 when Atlanta, the Cardinals, Boston and Minnesota all won their divisions by 10 games or more.

That was the year that both wild-card teams, San Francisco and Anaheim, qualified for the World Series with the Angels winning. Since then, there have been four other wild-card teams to win the World Series Florida (2003), Boston (2004), the 2011 Cardinals and San Francisco (2014).

They raise hell about the wild-card winning too many times, said Herzog. If theyre going to continue to have five-game series in the division round they should play seven games with no days off they should reward the team which has the best record and plays the knockout winner. The way it stands now, the knockout winner is even (in home games) after four games. Give the wild-card winner the third game at home and the other four games you play at the team with the best record. That way, the knockout winner would have to win at least twice on the field of the team with the best record, plus its own home game.

Still an avid watcher of baseball as he nears age 86, Herzog said he cringes when he sees players swinging from their butt. He laments long games and said he had a discussion about this with commissioner Rob Manfred last week at the Hall of Fame ceremonies in Cooperstown, N.Y.

It used to be that you would see about 265 pitches for a nine-inning game, Herzog said. Every morning when I get up, I dont check to see who got the winning hit. I check the number of pitches. Right now, there are about 285 pitches in a game and how many games do you see 320 or 360 pitches in nine innings?

Now, how are you going to do this? Are you going to play seven-inning games? Or are you are going to play with two strikes and three balls? Thats messing with the rules and youd better not do that. But weve got too many throwers and not enough pitchers.

Young pitchers ... all they care about is what the radar gun says. Why dont you take them out of the stadiums and take them out of the broadcast booths? Let the scouts be the only ones who have them. That might help them become pitchers.

Too many counts go to 3-2, Herzog said, because of nit-picking, instead of the outcome of an at-bat being settled at 0-2.

You can do something about this in the minor leagues, he said. Let them throw 125 pitches but tell all your young kids not to waste pitches out of the strike zone. Then they can accomplish that before they even get to the big leagues.

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Hummel: Can the Dodgers go all the way? - STLtoday.com