A letter from Nadia Savchenko…

Maidan Community Sector, Lviv: Dear friends!

George Soros

A New Policy to Rescue Ukraine

January 9 – Four Ukrainian military were killed, eight wounded in the last 24 hours, – informed NSDC spokesman Andriy Lysenko. He believes that this is due to arrival of new Russian "humanitarian aid convoy" – weapons, ammunition and terrorists have again arrived from Russia.

January 9 – Russia hasn't provided any positive signs about the conflict in Ukraine, thus there are no reasons to lift EU sanctions, – stated Foreign Minister of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius on Friday ("Interfax-Ukraine"). He made this statement a day after EU Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini said that she can see "limited positive signs on behalf of Russia". Lithuanian Minister has stressed that Russia continues to support armed groups in eastern Ukraine and sends humanitarian convoys, which are not permitted to be inspected by the representatives of Ukraine or the Red Cross.

January 9 – Russia became fifth on the list of countries with a high probability of default, ahead of several countries with speculative rating, including Lebanon, Egypt, Portugal.

January 9 – Lithuania, United Kingdom, Denmark and Estonia have addressed the European Commission regarding an action plan against Russian propaganda campaign (as stated in a letter by foreign ministers of the four countries, addressed to Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, – reports Delfi.lt). The letter was signed by foreign ministers of Lithuania, the United Kingdom, of Denmark and Estonia Linas Linkevičius, Philip Hammond, Martin Lidegaard and Keit Pentus-Rosimannus. They also warned that "Russia is rapidly expanding its campaign of misinformation and propaganda" in support "of political and military goals of the Russian government".

January 9 – Ukrainian officer Nadiya Savchenko has been on a hunger strike for 28 days and has lost 10 kilograms. Her attorney Mark Feigin wrote this on his Twitter. Savchenko was transfered to a solitary cell: "She was put in a solitary cell due to her hunger strike," he said. Savchenko is on a hunger strike since December 13th. In Russia she is accused of beinginvolved in the death of Russian journalists. She denies any of these accusations; her defense claims that Savchenko was kidnapped by Russian terrorists and was forcibly taken beyond the territory of Ukraine. In September Savchenko was already held in a solitary cell. At present she is a deputy of Parliament from "Batkivshchyna" Party and a delegate in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

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Maidan Community Sector, Lviv: Dear friends!

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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