Dmitry Tymchuk: Updates from the combat zone, September 8th, 2014

January 26 – 7 Ukrainian military were killed and 24 injured in the ATO area in the last 24 hours, – informed the spokesman for the General Staff of Ukrainian Armed Forces Vladyslas Seleznyov

January 26 – During a meeting on Monday, PACE Bureau (governing body of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe) has by a majority vote decided to recognize immunity of the member of Ukrainian parliament Nadiya Savchenko, -informed PACE President Anne Brasseur. Russia is now obligated to free Nadiya Savchenko. As usual, Russia is ignoring the whole thing and refuses to act.

January 26 – Artillery spotter who was involved in attack on Mariupol confirms that the shelling was done by Russian artillery battery. Spotter's last name is Kirsanov and he is a citizen of Ukraine. He was detained and the video of his interrogation was shown to journalists at Security Service of Ukraine. Russian officer (aka "Pepel) was in command of the unit, which carried out the shelling."

January 26 – Russia has begun using its military aviation near the border with Ukraine more often, – informed Deputy Head of Information and Analytical Center of the National Security and Defense Council Volodymyr Polyovyi. Aviation is needed only if Russia plans for a large-scale offensive.

January 25 – Russia is trying to force Ukrainian authorities to negotiate with terrorists, – stated Andrei Illarionov, former Adviser to the Russian President, when commenting on latest events in Mariupol.

January 25 – Dnipropetrovsk oblast, which is neighboring Donbas, is going to operate according to a special regime in order to ensure safety against the backdrop of a worsening situation in the ATO area, – informed Deputy Head of the Administration Svyatoslav Oliynyk.

January 25 – Ukraine is initiating an urgent meeting of NATO-Ukraine Commission to discuss current situation and further actions – President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko.

January 25 – Terrorists were planning to start a massive attack on Ukrainian forces on January 17th, but the actions of Ukrainian Armed Forces prevented this from happening – President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko.

January 25 – More than 1200 terrorists were disabled (805 killed and 405 injured) since terrorist groups decided to attack ATO forces, – informed Minister of Defence Stepan Poltorak during the National Security and Defense Council meeting on Sunday, January 25th.

January 25 – National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine has instructed the government to start the appeal procedure at Hague Tribunal on crimes against humanity committed by terrorists against Ukrainian citizens in 2014-2015 and on recognizing "People's Republic of Donetsk" and "People's Republic of Luhansk" as terrorist organizations.

January 25 – Russian President Vladimir Putin urged former President Viktor Yanukovych to "very powerfully strike" Maidan in order to suppress mass protests in Kyiv, – said Marshal of the Polish Sejm and former Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski in his Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung interview (German newspaper).

January 25 – The Chief of Staff of the 58th Army of the Southern Military District of Russia, Major General Sergey Kuzovlov is himself leading pro-Russian militants and Russian soldiers in their offensive against Ukrainian Armed Forces near the rayon city of Popasna, – informs ATO press center. Moscow curators of "People's Republic of Donetsk" and "People's Republic of Luhansk" have observed the inability of these groups to withstand organized actions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, decided to strengthen these groups with regular Russian troops.

January 25 – NATO Defense Ministers will meet in February to discuss possible nuclear threats on behalf of Russia, – reports Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung.

January 25 – On Thursday January 29th, the EU Council will hold an extraordinary meeting concerning the escalating situation in eastern Ukraine, particularly in Mariupol, – informed EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Federica Mogherini.

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January 30 – Russian armor crewman who was arrested has said that he was recruited by Russian law enforcement agents. He also said that new military equipment is being transferred from Russia to Ukraine. Captured crewman's last name is Gadzhyjev (b.1973), he is a citizen of Russia, native and resident of the village Levokumske (Levokumskoe rayon, Stavropol krai, Russian Federation). As part of an illegal armed group and terrorist organization "People's Republic of Luhansk" he has participated in hostilities against Ukrainian military units.

January 30 – Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has stated that its officers have detained two journalists from the TV crew of Russian LifeNews Channel. The journalists could be deported as a result of their activities that allegedly harm national interests of Ukraine and are not connected to journalism.

January 30 – Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has issued a statement saying that official Kyiv and other members of the tripartite contact group are ready to meet in Minsk with only the signatories of Minsk protocol and memorandum – the leaders of separatist, – informed Foreign Ministry spokesman Yevgen Perebiynis.

January 30 – President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has issued a decree aiming to prevent a disruption of the next stage of national military conscription. Poroshenko has instructed the General Staff to fully staff recruitment offices with necessary personnel and increase the "effectiveness of command and control, primarily by involving reserve officers". MP representing "Narodnyi Front" ("Popular Front") Anton Gerashchenko and non-affiliated MP Boris Filatov have proposed that Ukrainian Parliament criminalizes "public calls to evade conscription".

January 30 – "Battle is currently underway in Vuhlehirsk. Russian military and pro-Russian militants continuously attack and shell strongpoints and checkpoints of ATO forces. To stop artillery shelling by the enemy, Ukrainian military are implementing counterbattery activities. The militants are constantly maneuvering, which makes it more complicated to destroy them", -stated Deputy Head of the Information and Analytical Center Volodymyr Polyovyi.

January 30 – During their meeting in Brussels on Thursday, Foreign ministers of the EU states have been presented with unequivocal evidence of Russia's participation in the conflict in Donbas – reported Polish media agency PAP: "Materials that were presented clearly demonstrate that Russia supports separatists' actions – there is a large group of Russian troops located near the border with Ukraine. According to data available, Russia equips and trains the separatists".

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