Archive for the ‘Ukraine’ Category

Ukraine Military: Pro-Moscow Rebels Violated Ceasefire

DONETSK, Ukraine Ukraine's military accused Russian-backed separatists of fresh violations of a month-old ceasefire on Sunday, saying their forces came under attack in several parts of the east, including the airport at the big city of Donetsk. Two Ukrainian service staff were killed in the past 24 hours and six others were wounded, military spokesman Volodymyr Polyovy told a news conference in the capital Kiev, adding: "The terrorists are violating the terms of the ceasefire."

In Donetsk, where strategic buildings are controlled by separatists, a senior rebel official, Eduard Basulin, said three separatist fighters were killed and another 32 wounded in the past 24 hours, mainly in fighting around Donetsk airport. Rebels have been trying for weeks to dislodge government troops from the airport, which, with a modernized runway capable of taking heavy transporters, has strategic value. "The airport is a springboard for the city," Basulin told Reuters. "Our main task is to push them (government forces) away from the city so that they can no longer shell residential districts. "

Polyovy said there was also fighting around the towns of Debaltseve and Shchastye both further east towards the border with Russia. Basulin said three civilians had also been killed in Donetsk area in the past 24 hours and he blamed Ukrainian forces for shelling the city's outskirts from positions adjacent to the airport. The Ukrainian military denies firing on civilian targets and says it only replies to fire when it is attacked by separatists.

First published October 5 2014, 7:37 AM

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Ukraine Military: Pro-Moscow Rebels Violated Ceasefire

2 drones arrive in Ukraine to help monitor shaky truce in the east between rebels, govt troops

Published October 06, 2014

Nina Anatolyevna gestures in front of her burned private house after shelling in the town of Donetsk, eastern Ukraine Sunday, Oct. 5, 2014. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)(The Associated Press)

A fragment of a multiple missile 'Uragan', lies near a damaged private house after shelling in the town of Donetsk, eastern Ukraine Sunday, Oct. 5, 2014. According to rebels it comes from Ukrainian army's position. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)(The Associated Press)

A man embraces his relatives after shelling in the town of Donetsk, eastern Ukraine Sunday, Oct. 5, 2014. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)(The Associated Press)

KIEV, Ukraine Ukraine's prime minister says two drones have been delivered to the country so international observers can monitor the shaky cease-fire between government forces and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said Monday the drones will be given to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe after they are cleared by customs.

The Sept. 5 cease-fire has been routinely violated. The government-controlled airport in the biggest rebel-held city, Donetsk, is a key flashpoint and residential neighborhoods nearby are frequently hit by artillery crossfire.

Yatsenyuk says Russia is doing nothing to mitigate the hostilities. He accuses Moscow of stationing troops in Ukraine a claim Russia has denied.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov urged all to uphold the truce and warned against blaming all violations on rebels.

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2 drones arrive in Ukraine to help monitor shaky truce in the east between rebels, govt troops

Ukraine reports Norway gas deal to counter Russian cut

Kiev (AFP) - Ukraine said on Friday it had struck a gas deliveries deal with Norway's energy giant Statoil aimed at helping it avert the consequences of a months-long cut in Russian supplies.

The announcement represented a continuing drive by Kiev's new pro-Western leaders to tie their economic future to Europe and sever a decades-old dependence on the Kremlin that many Ukrainians feel has shackled their political rights.

But it also threatens to infuriate Moscow and complicate Statoil's effort to become one of the first global majors to access the potentially enormous wealth of untapped Arctic energy fields.

It signed a broad Arctic agreement with Russia's oil powerhouse Rosneft -- now the target of EU and US sanctions that are meant to punish the Kremlin for its actions in Ukraine -- in 2012.

The Norwegian deliveries deal's sensitivity was underscored when both Ukraine's state energy holding Naftogaz and Statoil refused to disclose the volumes or price of gas in the contract.

"The agreement marks a significant breakthrough for Naftogaz," chief executive Andriy Kobolev said in a statement.

"We are committed to integrating Ukraine fully into the EU energy market and working with the European Commission and other key actors to do so."

Russia nearly doubled Ukraine's gas price a few weeks after the February ouster in Kiev of a Kremlin-backed president who had earlier rejected a historic EU trade and political association pact.

The Russian state gas giant Gazprom cut deliveries to its western neighbour in mid-June after Kiev refused to pay the higher rate and all European mediation efforts failed.

A new round of EU-mediated talks between Moscow and Kiev failed to resolve the dispute last week and another meeting is still under discussion.

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Ukraine reports Norway gas deal to counter Russian cut

Russian Invasion to Ukraine. Crimean Episode. – Video


Russian Invasion to Ukraine. Crimean Episode.
In February, 2014, unmarked soldiers gradually took control of Crimean Peninsula. London-based military experts said they were likely Russian special forces, airborne units, and possibly commandos...

By: Taksi Fox

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Russian Invasion to Ukraine. Crimean Episode. - Video

Darth Vader Enters Ukraine Election: Ukrainian vote attracts host of Star Wars candidates – Video


Darth Vader Enters Ukraine Election: Ukrainian vote attracts host of Star Wars candidates
Candidates dressed as Star Wars characters will be taking part in this month #39;s parliamentary elections in Ukraine. Those standing for office include a number of candidates resembling Darth...

By: UKRAINE TODAY

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Darth Vader Enters Ukraine Election: Ukrainian vote attracts host of Star Wars candidates - Video