February 17 – Cabinet of Ministers states about the destruction of 20% of the economic potential of Ukraine as a result of the conflict in Donbas. Relevant data are presented in the report on the losses and damage suffered by Ukraine from Russian aggression, named as "The Black Book of Kremlin." On the whole, the war, carried out by Putin against Ukraine, has by today destroyed almost 20% of our current economic potential, including the approximate revenue and money flow. In particular, the budget did not receive close to 23 milliard UAH due to the occupation of Donbas and Crimea. The fighters destroyed 1.4 thousand of objects of railroad infra-structure and 1.5 thousand kilometers of automobile roads. There have been more than 9,000 living quarters destroyed. The overall amount of destruction amounts to 1 milliard UAH. According to previous calculations, Ukraine, due to the Russian aggression will not annually receive close to 3% GDP from agricultural entities.
February 17 – Canada is imposing sanctions against top Russian oil firm NK Rosneft OAO and the head of conglomerate Rostec, among others, in response to the actions of Russian-backed militants in Ukraine
February 17 – The United Nations Security Council called on all parties in eastern Ukraine to stop fighting and implement a European-brokered peace deal as an almost three-day-old ceasefire rapidly began to unravel.
February 17 – In a phone call with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has demanded a "tough reaction" from the West against Russia over the broken ceasefire. The truce began at midnight on Feb. 15.
February 17 – Kyiv has confirmed that pro-Russian separatists have seized parts of Debaltseve from government troops, and said fighting was continuing in the eastern Ukrainian town despite a cease-fire deal agreed last week in Minsk. Russian President Vladimir Putin said pro-Moscow rebels should allow Ukrainian government forces safe passage out of the encircled eastern town of Debaltseve but Kyiv should not prevent its troops from giving up their weapons.
Timothy Garton Ash
There'll be no peace while Putin is squatting in Ukraine's living room
No peace while Putin squats in Ukraine
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January 30: Battle is currently underway in Vuhlehirsk
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".
Canadian Institute for Ukrainian Studies
Democracy: Why Ukraine Matters
Protests against Gergiev and Netrebko
By Steven Pifer and Strobe Talbott
Ukraine needs America's help
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