Section: War

      OSCE Special Representative Sajdik says when ”all-for-all” POW swaps in Donbas possible
      Dec22

      OSCE Special Representative Sajdik says when ”all-for-all” POW swaps in Donbas possible

      Ambassador Martin Sajdik, the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) on the implementation of the peace plan in the east of Ukraine, says that before prisoners of war (POW) in Donbas are swapped with the use of the ”all-for-all” formula, both sides should verify their POW...

      Ukraine at Minsk talks insists on disengagement in Debaltseve, occupied by Russian militants
      Dec22

      Ukraine at Minsk talks insists on disengagement in Debaltseve, occupied by Russian militants

      Darka Olifer, the spokesperson for ex-President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma who represents Ukraine in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) at Minsk peace talks on Donbas, says the Ukrainian side continues insisting that the contact line agreed as of September 19, 2014, should be observed and also demands disengagement of troops and equipment in the...

      Bellingcat presents interactive data map of Russia artillery attacs on Ukraine
      Dec21

      Bellingcat presents interactive data map of Russia artillery attacs on Ukraine

      Bellingcat, an international OSINT community, has presented an interactive data map of Russian artillery attacs on Ukraine in summer 2014. Bellingcat experts have used available satellite images and open sources to analyze hundreds of impact craters left after Russian artillery strikes in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, and spotted hundreds of firing...

      Two Chechen battalions to be deployed in Syria
      Dec21

      Two Chechen battalions to be deployed in Syria

      Russian authorities have ordered the Chechen leaders to form two new combat battalions to be deployed in Syria for Russia`s boots-on-the-ground operation, the Novaya Gazeta outlet has learned, according to Ukraine Today. The authorities of the Russia`s autonomous republic of Chechnya will form two battalions of 600 persons, the newspaper says,...

      Russia`s hybrid war against Ukraine ongoing for 25 years – U.S. Ambassador
      Dec21

      Russia`s hybrid war against Ukraine ongoing for 25 years – U.S. Ambassador

      Ambassador of the United States to Ukraine Marie L. Yovanovitch has said that the so-called ”hybrid war” of the Russian Federation against Ukraine began even before this term emerged. At a Kyiv presentation of the Foreign Policy Audit study, Yovanovitch said that over the 25 years since Ukraine had gained independence, the country remained in a...

      Release of hostages, escalation near Svitlodarsk to be discussed in Minsk on December 21
      Dec21

      Release of hostages, escalation near Svitlodarsk to be discussed in Minsk on December 21

      The release of hostages, the opening of the Zolote exit and entry checkpoint, as well as the aggravation of the situation at the Svitlodarsk arc will be discussed at the meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group in Minsk on December 21, 112 Ukraine TV channel reports. ”The meeting of the four working groups will begin, and at 14:00 local time...

      Turkey tells U.S. that Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen was behind Russian diplomat`s killings
      Dec21

      Turkey tells U.S. that Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen was behind Russian diplomat`s killings

      Turkey`s foreign minister has told U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry that Ankara and Moscow believe followers of Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen were behind the killing of Russian ambassador Andrei Karlov, ministry sources said on Tuesday, according to Reuters. Ankara has also accused Gulen of orchestrating a failed coup in July, a charge the...

      Trump administration`s top ”defense priorities” does not include any mention of Russia – Pentagon
      Dec21

      Trump administration`s top ”defense priorities” does not include any mention of Russia – Pentagon

      A Pentagon memo outlining the incoming Trump administration`s top ”defense priorities” does not include any mention of Russia, which has been identified by senior military officials as the No. 1 threat to the United States, according to Foreign Policy. ”People there [in Pentagon] now would be pretty concerned to see Russia not on the list,” said...

      Ukraine investigates cyberattack on Kyiv power grid
      Dec21

      Ukraine investigates cyberattack on Kyiv power grid

      Ukraine is investigating a suspected cyber attack on Kiev`s power grid at the weekend, the latest in a series of strikes on its energy and financial infrastructure, the head of the state-run power distributor said on Tuesday, according to Reuters. Vsevolod Kovalchuk, acting chief director of Ukrenergo, told Reuters that a power distribution...

      How ExxonMobil helped defeat Russia sanctions bill
      Dec21

      How ExxonMobil helped defeat Russia sanctions bill

      ExxonMobil successfully lobbied against a bill that would have made it harder for the next president to lift sanctions against Russia, clearing the way for the oil giant to restart a program worth billions of dollars if Donald Trump eases those restrictions as president, according to POLITICO. The company`s effort could be helped by outgoing CEO...