Technovation, global IT entrepreneurship contest among schoolgirls, launched in Ukraine

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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January 2 – One Ukrainian military was killed and 5 were wounded in the ATO are in the last 24 hours, – informed NSDC spokesman Andriy Lysenko.

January 2 – Russian terrorists have carried out 16 provocative shooting attacks on Ukrainian military positions, – informs ATO press center. By using small arms, rocket launchers and mortars, the terrorists fired at Donetsk airport (during the night), and by using small arms only – are near Chornukhyne village. The villages/towns of Stryi Aydar, Zolote, Popasna, Vuhlehirsk, Chermalyk have also suffered the effects of mortar attacks.

January 2 – The enemy began to group its battle formations and is relocating them closer to advanced positions of Ukrainian troops in the ATO area, – informs "Information Resistance" group.

January 2 – 2 new enemy formations, which include up to 200 people and 6 armored vehicles, have been recorded near the city of Volnovakha.

January 2 – Aamphibious self-propelled howitzer 2S1 "Gvozdika" has been recorded south of Starobeshevo (4 "Gvozdika" howitzers and several KAMAZ trucks with ammunition).

January 2 – Close to the town of Tryokhizbenka the terrorists have again started to practice "wandering tanks" tactics (they are using these tactics near Donetsk airport as well). Tank crew mostly consists of regular military of Russian Federation.

January 2 – The enemy has relocated an artillery group to its first line near the town of Granitne.

January 2 – Among the terrorists killed during an attack in the village of Pisky (close to Donetsk airport) 4 marines of the Russian Black Sea Fleet were identified, – informs "Information Resistance" group.

January 2 – Pro-Russian terrorists of the so-called "DNR" are mobilizing underage children into their gangs. This was announced by ATO spokesman Andriy Lysenko during the traditional Friday briefing: "According to the reconnaisance, with the goal of completing the evident gang formations, which the leadership of the so-called "DNR" is carrying out on the occuppied territories of the so-called "volunteer" mobilization of the local residents between the age of 16-18," he said.

Lysenko reminded that the involvement of under-age children in participating in the army actions and army services is a deep violation of the International Humanitarian Legal Law, especially Article 38 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Children.

Janaury 1 – In 2014 Russia established a series of anti-records. The gross national product of Russia, as of November 2014, for the first time since 2009 went into a minus level, the decrease constituted 0.5%.

This is not the only anti-record of the year – on December 15th, the exchange rate of a ruble to he dollar of the year had n a few hours decreased more than 8.5%. Until that moment the Russian money from the beginningof the year had devalued almost twice the amount.

The devaluation of the Russian ruble was preceeded by the lowering of gas prices throughout five months – due to the strengthening of the sanctions by EU and USA and Russian "anti-sanctions".

The decisions of the countries of Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to not decrease the quota of procuring gas, deteriorated the situation. After that the price for raw materials decreased, speeeding up the loss of capital from Russia and the inflation of the ruble.

The devaluation of the Russian ruble was preceeded by the lowering of gas prices throughout five months – due to the strengthening of the sanctions by EU and USA and Russian "anti-sanctions".

The decisions of the countries of Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to not decrease the quota of procuring gas, deteriorated the situation. After that the price for raw materials decreased, speeeding up the loss of capital from Russia and the inflation of the ruble.

The gold currency reserves of Russia continued to decrease, while the rating of support for Putin's actions, increased. This year the ministry of the Economic Development of Russia examined the official prognosis about the inflation of the ruble three times. The beginning prognosis to the end of the year was increased almost twice – from 4.8% to 9%. Realistically, as the Russian Minister of Finances Anton Syluanov stated on December 25th, "according to the year's summary, most probably the inflation will quickly rise to 11.5%, and possibly even somewhat higher."

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