Archive

February 14 – Prosecutor General of Ukraine in cooperation with Security Service of Ukraine has detained a former Chief of the Party of Regions Oleksandr Yefremov, – said Prosecutor General of Ukraine Viktor Shokin in his comment to Internet media "Ukrainska Pravda".

February 14 – At 0:00 the Armed Forces of Ukraine will cease fire along the contact line, – stated the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko during his address from the General Staff on February 14th.

February 14 – President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has said that peace agreements are in jeopardy as a result of the situation at Debaltseve lodgement. "The whole world is waiting tensely for tomorrow's morning with bated breath. Those who would like to derail the peace process at its outset, have been warned about the consequences. I am not going to say what Ukraine will do if the peace process is disrupted. I will say one thing – we will not turn another cheek if we are provoked and may the Lord forgive me for that", – said Poroshenko.

February 14 – Battalion Donbas soldiers captured 17 fighters in the area of the village Lohvyn in Donetsk region.

February 14 On February 14, terrorists are preparing a massive provocation, which may result in the entry of armed forces from RF. This was aired on Channel 5 by the spokesman of Sector M, Dmytro Chalyj. And they did accomplish this – they shelled with Hrads the Russian territory. Now Russia will blame the Ukrainian side for this.

February 14 In the internet there appeared a video which testifies to the gathering of armored artillery by the Russian side from Crimea to the administrative border with Ukraine.

February 14 – As a result of constant artillery shelling of Debaltsev by the fighters, "the city is burning", the building of the city police was hit directly by Hrad units. This was stated by the Head of the Regional Headquarters of MVS in Donetsk region, Viacheslav Abroskin.

February 13 – 11 Ukrainian military were killed and 40 injured in the ATO area in the last 24 hours, – NSDC spokesman Andriy Lysenko.

February 13 – According to new Minsk agreements, the city of Debaltseve should remain under Ukraine's control. However, Russian terrorists were given an order to gain control over the cities of Debaltseve and Mariupol by February 15th, – informed Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Petro Mekhed: "According to information available and taking into account the fact that there has been an agreement to cease fire on February 15th (0:00), Russian troops and pro-Russian militants were ordered to occupy Debaltseve and Mariupol".

February 13 – Soldiers of 79th brigade of Ukrainian army have detained a terrorist "Gnom" ("Dwarf") who is allegedly second in command at the detachment of Russian terrorists named "Somali". He personally participated in torturing Ukrainian military prisoners.

February 13 – A tank battle for the village of Shyrokine and an artillery battle for the village of Stakhanka have taken place – both are located close to Mariupol, – reports Ukrainian regiment "Azov".

February 13 – When the terrorists were shelling the town of Shchastya (Luhansk region), they killed and injured civilians at a local café.

February 13 – Right wing party "Pravyi Sektor" believes that that any agreements with separatists are unconstitutional and thus the party reserves its right to active military operations, – stated party leader Dmytro Yarosh.

February 13 – Russian terrorists have shelled the city of Artemivsk, which is located behind the combat line protected by Ukrainian forces.

February 13 – 4 people were killed and 16 injured as a result of shelling by Russian terrorists at the city of Hirnyk (Donetsk oblast).

February 13 – US Senate has passed a resolution on the release of Ukrainian pilot and member of Ukrainian Parliament Nadiya Savchenko.

February 13 – In the last hours before the beginning of the ceasefire, foreseen by the mutual agreements in Minsk, the danger of bloodshed only increases. This was stated by the German official Gernot Erler, an advisor to Merkel on Russia, reported the Bayerischer Rundfunk: "The risk is truly very high. In the last hours before the ceasefire, there exists the danger that the sides will attempt to increase losses among each other," he said. According to him, the heightening may lead to the reality that the readiness for a ceasefire will dwindle to nothing. "There is a diffference between Minsk-1 and Minsk-2. I see more concrete definitions in the new agreement. Also, backing up the new document are three preidents and a chancellor," noted the politician.

What Russia wants:From cold war to hot war

Russia's aggression in Ukraine is part of a broader, and more dangerous, confrontation with the West

Marco Bojcun: MINSK II: Land for a ceasefare, but not for pease

Lithuania's view on Minsk2

Putin's war on the West

Flawed deal in Minsk

Polish view on Minsk2

Ukraine's other war – on corruption (NATO Review)

Lilia Shevcova: The Kremlin Is Winning

By Taras Kuzio

What will the west do when Minsk-2 unravels?

European leaders desperate to avoid going down an Iranian-style route of economic and financial sanctions and to dissuade the US from sending weapons signed a second agreement to end the fighting in Ukraine on Thursday in the Belarus capital, Minsk. But it will be as unworkable as the first Minsk agreement signed in September 2014. The new agreement has weaknesses similar to those of its predecessor and will unravel in the next few months.

How will the weak Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) go about removing foreign troops and mercenaries? Will Russia really permit Ukraine to take control of its border next year, after local elections in March and the adoption of a new Ukrainian constitution that outlines some form regional devolution to the Donbas?

Indeed, could elections ever be considered free and far if they are held under the barrel of a gun? With crime rampant in the separatist-controlled Donbas, will it be safe to transfer funds for social payments and pensions from Kiev to the region and for taxes to be transferred back to the central government?

The reaction from leaders in the region was sceptical or cautious at best. Dalia Grybauskaitė, Lithuania's president, said Minsk-2 was a "weak" document; Bronisław Komorowski, Poland's president, said peace was still a faraway goal.

The main reason Minsk-2 will not hold is that the person who began the conflict – Russian President Vladimir Putin – has not achieved his strategic goal of destroying Ukraine as an independent state. Western sanctions have not served as a deterrent.

As Andrey Illarionov, a former economic adviser to Putin, reminded us this week:

the goal of Putin's war against Ukraine is an attempt at the inclusion of it, Belarus, and also Russian-speaking enclaves in other countries in some kind of geopolitical union called 'the Russian world,' with the liquidation or at least the limitation of their sovereignty.

The Donbas conflict will only end, he argues, if Putin gives up "the policy of denying the statehood, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine and other states with Russian or Russian speaking population".

Putin has always confused Russian speakers in Ukraine with Russians, and has talked of "17m Russians" living in Ukraine. That this is a misnomer can be seen from the weak support for separatism in the six Russian-speaking regions of eastern and southern Ukraine outside the Donbas.

US and EU leaders are unwilling to face the implications of a return to the Europe of the 1930s, with one country seeking to destroy another. They are desperate to put off the inevitable confrontation with Russia through negotiation. A year ago, when former US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton made an analogy between Nazi Germany and Putin's Russia defending their co-ethnics in other countries, she was ridiculed. But today, her critics agree with her.

Putin's demand for Ukraine to become a federal state is a non-starter. It has no support among the Ukrainian public or its elites and is an attempt at 'Bosnianising' the country. No federal country in the world gives its provinces a veto over foreign and defence policy, as Putin is insisting the Donbas must be given in Ukraine.

Putin's objective to install a pro-Russian leader, parliament and government presupposes the annulling of presidential and parliamentary elections held in May and October of last year that were recognised as free and fair by the OSCE, the Council of Europe and the EU. No sovereign country in the world would accept such a demand from its neighbour.

Putin's paranoia about Nato and EU enlargement into what he views as Russia's 'zone of privileged interests' is a misnomer. Although an April 2008 Nato summit in Bucharest named Ukraine and Georgia as future members, France and Germany have said they would veto this. The EU has never offered membership to Ukraine.

And who will persuade the Ukrainian parliament to overturn a December vote by a constitutional majority of 302 to move away from the non-bloc status that Putin wants Ukraine to return to?

When Minsk-2 unravels, what will US and EU leaders do next?

Ukraine will not agree to a Minsk-3. If Russia and the separatists again fail to implement the agreement, the only options open will be to remove Russia from the Swift international payments system, blacklist its president, prime minister and its foreign and defence ministers, and supply Ukraine with defensive military equipment, training and satellite intelligence.

You can't make the same mistake twice. The second time you make it, it's no longer a mistake. It's a choice.

Taras Kuzio is a research associate at the Centre for Political and Regional Studies, Canadian Institute for Ukrainian Studies, University of Alberta and non-resident fellow at the Center for Transatlantic Relations, School of Advanced International Relations, Johns Hopkins University.

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February 12 – "Normandy Four" negotiations concluded in Minsk with a disappointing result for Ukraine. Putin did not give in on a single point – there will be no withdrawal of Russian troops (they are, of course, nowhere close to Ukraine), no immediate resumption of control over the border, no reinstatement of sovereignty over occupied Crimea or Donbas. There are, however, the obligations on behalf of Ukraine to service social needs of separatists, legalize their armed gangs and hold fake elections under their watchful eye. The situation looks a lot like the surrender of Sudetenland (Czechoslovakia) to Hitler.

February 12 – Total financial assistance to Ukraine from the IMF and other organizations could amount to 40 billion dollars over 4 years, – said IMF's Managing Director Christine Lagarde.

February 12 – Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations has announced the preparations for the 14th so-called humanitarian aid convoy destined for Donbas – more weapons will be transported, no doubt.

February 12 – Russia has transferred another lot of military equipment and artillery to the territory of Ukraine, controlled by militants – approximately 50 tanks, 40 "Grad", "Uragan" and "Smerch" multiple rocket launch systems and 40 armored vehicles crossed Russian-Ukrainian border at border crossing point Izvaryne, – said NSDC spokesman Andriy Lysenko.

February 12 – The transfer of the amphibious assault ship "Vladivostok" (Mistral-class) to Russia could begin as early as next week.

February 12 – EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Federica Mogherini does not expect sanctions against Russia to be discussed during the summit of EU member-states leaders to be held on Thursday.

February 12 – Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Lamberto Zannier hassaid that at present it is impossible to determine whether the militants in Donbas are also soldiers of the regular Russian army. OSCE has completely exhausted itself as a security-oriented organization.

February 12 – Agreements reached in Minsk during the meeting of the leaders of the countries of the "Normandy quartet" are absolutely weak. This was stated by the President of Lithuania, Dalia Grybaskaite, to journalists in Brussels before the EU Summit. "The fundamental part of the resolution is the control of the borders. It was not agreed upon and not resolved," she noted. "This means that the border is open for crossing by whatever soldiers and whatever artillery," remarked Grybaskaite. "This means that the resolution is totally weak," emphasized the President of Lithuania. She is also not very optimistic about the agreements on the cease-fire.

"Five months ago we already had one agreement about a cease-fire which was not implemented. Let's see what happens with this one," underlined Grybaskaite. "We will observe in the next few days how at least these partial agreements will be implemented," she added.

War is hell! (photo report from occupied Vuhlehirsk)

Russia lies... great start to Minsk agreement (Savchenko cannot be released!!)

Timothy Ash

Ukraine – deal thoughts

I guess with hindsight, a deal was always going to be done. Merkel was not going to get on a flight to Minsk, after Kyiv, Moscow, and Berlin, and not get something. And Putin needed to try and rebuild some bridges with Merkel, after seemingly upsetting her at Brisbane. Merkel is probably the honest broker in all this. She really feels for the Ukrainian position, but understands the real threat from Russia – she reads Putin better than any other Western leader, and cannot be bought. But it is Bismark-style real politik for Merkel, and she was desperate to stop the fighting – almost at any cost, which is entirely understandable. Hollande will likely get his aircraft carriers delivered, and sees all this as offering the hope of ressurection in terms of his presidency at home – a global leader, strutting the international stage and making Cameron, et al look like poodles, or rather a bulldog with no teeth. Putin gets his aircraft carriers, which will no doubt have a nice shiny berth now awaiting in Sebastopol. Putin also fended off near term threats of sanctions from the West, and can sell himself to allies in Europe (there are many) as a peacemaker – again heading off further sanctions threats. He has also not agreed to very much, as I don't think his signature is on the document, so if it fails (and it likely will) he can blame others. He has also headed off the threat of the US arming Ukraine – and therein he is in cahoots with Obama himself, who will see this deal as being useful in fending off calls from the DC consensus (including within his own administration) now to arm Ukraine – and can return to his own "splendid isolation" or "strategic patience" as it is now called stateside. That's a nice term for doing as little as possible. Poroshenko gets his IMF programme, and can try and roll out reforms attached to this to try and assure the supporters of Maydan that this team is really the Real Deal in terms of the reforms they so desire. Note the IMF press release was timed for 10am, just as news of the Minsk deal broke – so my sense is that someone was telling the Ukrainians that an IMF deal was contingent on a Minsk ceasefire deal. No ceasefire – no IMF deal. And the IMF gets to roll out its new programme, which it has been working on for months. Poroshenko probably also thinks that the ceasefire will buy time for Ukraine to regroup, rearm against the clear and present danger of further Russian intervention. But will it all stick/last? I just do not think so, as I still fail to see from this deal what is different to Minsk I in terms of delivery on Russian strategic objectives in Ukraine. Minsk I clearly did not deliver for Russia, hence that ceasefire did not last long, so let's see what is really different this time around. The issues of real autonomy/federalism, and border control don't appear to be properly addressed in this document. Constitutional reform towards the Russian agenda will be impossible for Poroshenko to deliver. And finally and fundamentally why I do not think that the status quo is sustainable – one year ago Russia felt the need to annex Crimea, and intervene in eastern Ukraine. But one year ago Ukraine was no threat to Russia as a) it was non aligned; b) popular support for Nato membership was low single digits, and there was little support in parliament or amongst political elites to drive Ukraine NATO membership. C) the west really did not want Ukraine in NATO as they saw this as a red rag to the Russian bull, and as events have proved could not defend Ukraine under NATO's TOR; c) the Ukrainian military had limited fighting capability as was proven in the early days of the conflict, but subsequently changed; d) the govt in Kyiv was weak and disarray and the Ukrainian economy on the brink of collapse; e) and as events have proven Russia had de facto control of Crimea via the stationing of 26,000 troops and the long term BSF agreement. And f) and finally Ukrainians were not anti-russian or even particularly anti-Putin. If Moscow was not a real threat a year ago, but Moscow felt compelled to intervene, look at the risk from a Russian perspective now from Ukraine – a) Ukraine is no longer non aligned. B) it now wants to join NATO and opinion polls now show majority support for this. C) Ukraine is rebuilding military capability and the military doctrine is now against the threat from Russia; d) Ukraine has a reform admin in Kyiv, which has a real chance of succeeding now with imf support. It can offer a rival and successful model of development to Putin's power vertical and sovereign democracy. E) Opinion polls show strong ukrainian opposition/distaste for the Putin regime. So, net-net the above still suggests the risk of further future Russian intervention in Ukraine.

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February 11 – The Russian proposal at the Summit in Minsk is unacceptable – president of Ukraine Poroshenko. Russia deliberately disrupts agreements.

February 11 – 19 Ukrainian military were killed and 78 wounded as a result of shelling near the burial mound "Hostra Mogyla" close to Debaltseve and at other locations within ATO area, – informed the spokesman for the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Vladyslav Seleznyov at a briefing on Wednesday morning.

February 11 – In Donbas pro-Russian militants shelled the positions of Ukrainian troops 27 times on the night of February 11th. Most of the attacks occurred in the direction of Luhansk. 87 pro-Russian militants and 42 units of military equipment were destroyed in the last 24 hours (including 12 tanks, 14 multiple rocket launchers and 16 armored vehicles).

February 11 – In Donetsk 6 people were killed and 8 wounded as a result of shelling at the bus station and entrance office of "Donetsk Metallurgical Plant".

February 11 – President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko spoke about a successful military operation at Debaltseve foothold: "Several successful operations were conducted yesterday at Debaltseve foothold. They allowed us to gain control over two municipalities and the contact line", – said Poroshenko.

February 11 – "People's Republic of Luhansk" and "People's Republic of Donetsk" demand that Ukraine stops the ATO and are requesting autonomy and new elections, – as stated in a protocol draft handed over on Tuesday night by the leaders of the terrorists to the contact group in Minsk.

February 11 – Russian Federal TV Station "Channel 5" has broadcast a story describing how quickly and easily Russian troops can enter European capitals and threatened the West with missile attacks. Show's authors vaguely disguised this information as campaign to hold "Victory Day parades" in the EU member-states capitals.

February 11 – Russia implemented a direct military intervention during the battle at the city of Debaltseve, – stated Lieutenant General Ben Hodges, Commander of Allied Land Command (NATO).

February 11 – Russian Foreign Ministry believes that border control issues should be should negotiated upon with the militants, which, in its turn, doesn't provide a solution to the problem, – stated Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

February 11 – Government is ready to establish martial law, should there be esalation of the situation in the east. This was stated by President Petro Poroshenko during a government meeting. Poroshenko emphasized that it is precisely "from the results of the summit that it will depend if we will be successful in stopping the aggressor by diplomatic means, or if we will switch into a very different course." I and the government, and Parliament are ready to make a decision to impose martial law in the entire territory of Ukraine," he noted.

"In no way will I delay this decision, if the the irresponsible acts of the aggressor bring about a serious continued escalation of the conflict," he emphasized. "I am convinced that our country can protect itself and that every person will do whatever posssible in order to demonstrate that victory will be ours. However, I stress, that I am a president of peace, and thatn through army means, the situation in Donbas should not be decided," he added.

Ukraine cannot be a buffer state

Photo report from eastern Ukraine

Help Ukraine seize this chance

Economist Edward Lucas Attacks Russia's RT and Sputnik for "manufacturing lies" and those working there as "freaks and propagandists"

Feature by BBC Monitoring on 9 February

Russian state media have hit back strongly at British journalist Edward Lucas after he criticized them at the recent Munich Security Conference and suggested that journalists working for them should be ostracized. One top TV presenter went as far as to brand Lucas a "village idiot".

At a panel discussion at the annual Munich Security Conference on 6 February, Lucas, a senior editor at The Economist and author of The New Cold War, accused the Kremlin's international media operations, RT (formerly known as Russia Today) and Sputnik (rebranded successor to the Voice of Russia) of "manufacturing lies".

He said the people working for them were "freaks and propagandists", who should be the target of a campaign of ostracism, according to records of the discussion published by RT and Russian state news agency RIA Novosti.[1]

"If anyone puts a CV on my desk and on that CV I see they worked for RT or Sputnik or one of these things, that CV is going into the bin," Lucas said. He added that people in the West were wrong to see working for the Kremlin's international media as a "first stage on the career ladder". "It's not, it's the last stage," he told the Munich conference.

"Journalistic Joe McCarthy"

Russian state media came back, all guns blazing, with Lucas even getting a whole slot to himself on state channel Rossiya 1's weekly current affairs news roundup Vesti Nedeli.[2]

Outspoken host Dmitriy Kiselev, who is also director-general of Sputnik's parent company Rossiya Segodnya (which confusingly translates as Russia Today), hurled a whole fistful of epithets at Lucas – "odious British journalist", "hysterical Londoner" and even "village idiot" – while rubbishing his analysis of Russian politics and accusing The Economist of practising censorship.

RT responded more primly, saying it was "absolutely outraged" by Lucas's "specious attacks", which, it said, were particularly "despicable" as several of its journalists were daily risking their lives to "report on stories nobody else dares to touch".[3]

Sputnik also had Lucas in its sights, describing him in one article as a "journalistic Joe McCarthy" – a reference to the US senator who instigated a witch-hunt against Communist sympathizers in the 1950s.[4]

Lucas himself appeared to revel in the backlash, responding to Kiselev in kind.

"Better than a Pulitzer prize? i get prime-time abuse from vile Kremlin mouthpiece Kiselov," he tweeted.[5]

He could also take comfort from the support of fellow Twitterati, who suggested he had got under RT's skin.

US journalist Michael Weiss observed that Lucas had "figured out RT hacks' Achilles heel", while Times columnist Oliver Kamm said he had "badly wounded them".[6][7]

Writer and Russia watcher Ben Judah also weighed in, saying Lucas had put the wind up RT. "Experts should refuse to appear on RT – or any other? disinformation channel", he added.[8]

"Misinformation"

RT and its supporters also entered the fray on Twitter.

One of its contributors, Robert Bridge, accused Lucas of being "scared to hear another side of the story", while the channel itself suggested his attack on its journalists may have been provoked by recent criticism of The Economist on its show In The Now.[9][10]

In The Now dismissed as "absurd" a claim by The Economist that Russian state TV "conceals" bad economic news from its viewers. It showed excerpts from top TV bulletins talking about the collapse of the rouble to prove the contrary. It also said that the story of the rouble's woes and the looming recession had been well covered in Russian newspapers. To suggest otherwise, it said, was to promote "misinformation".[11]

It called its analysis of The Economist's coverage a "tutorial on how to write a propaganda article".

But RT's criticism of The Economist was itself guilty of omission and distortion.

For example, it made no mention of the fact that on the day in mid December when the rouble tumbled by some 10 per cent, Rossiya 1 main news had ignored this story altogether.

Also, it illustrated its claim about the Russian press's economic coverage with screenshots not from leading newspapers but from news agencies and websites, one of them a little known business portal from the Volga republic of Tatarstan.

The panel discussion at the Munich conference, which also featured NATO commander and US general Philip Breedlove and Norwegian Defence Minister Ine Eriksen Soreide, looked more broadly at the issue of hybrid warfare and the role played in it by different media organizations.

According to a report by Judy Dempsey on the Carnegie Europe website, the participants said that one of the reasons why RT and its ilk have been able to make such an impact is the cutbacks at top Western international media, such as the BBC World Service and the Voice of America.[12]

[1] http://rt.com/op-edge/230315-rt-responds-lucas-munich/

[2] http://vesti7.ru/news?id=45745

[3] See note 1

[4] http://sputniknews.com/columnists/20150208/1017973545.html

[5] https://twitter.com/edwardlucas/status/564531479263600642

[6] https://twitter.com/michaeldweiss/status/564468359048486912

[7] https://twitter.com/OliverKamm/status/564408994853572609

[8] https://twitter.com/b_judah/status/564541740863193091

[9] https://twitter.com/Robert_Bridge/status/564665181549391873

[10] https://twitter.com/INTHENOWRT/status/564758039371472896

[11] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2H5X3WYm_3U

[12] http://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/?fa=58998

Source: BBC Monitoring research 9 Feb 15

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February 10 – Ukrainian military are returning to demarcation line as stated in Minsk agreements, – said NSDC spokesman Andriy Lysenko. According to Lysenko, counteroffensive operation continues. He also emphasized that situation is difficult near the city of Debaltseve, fights in the direction of Artemivsk-Debaltseve continue.

February 10 – According to UN estimates, 263 civilians have died during the conflict in Donbas from January 31st to February 5th. Merkel and Obama continue to think their thoughts – have they been doing it for too long?

February 10 – Seven most developed countries and the International Monetary Fund consider increasing financial assistance to Ukraine, which is on the verge of bankruptcy. Total aid package could amount to up to 40 billion USD. Overall in 2014 Ukraine has received 9 billion USD of funding from various sources and has paid back 14 billion USD of dollars in debt obligations.

February 10 – Russian social networks "Vkontakte" and "Odnoklassniki" are on US pirate list.

February 10 – During the day the militants shelled residential districts of the city of Kramatorsk and the airfield, where ATO's General Staff was located. 8 civilians were killed by the terrorists as a result of this attack. According to General Staff, the city was shelled from multiple launch rocket systems "Smerch". Russian artillery poses a great danger for anything located 120 km from the front – the Russians can fire at it at any time.

February 10 – President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko believes that the meeting in Minsk, which could be held on Wednesday in "Normandy" format", is one of the last chances for a diplomatic settlement of the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

February 10 – Sub-units of the National Guard in whose front guard was the special unit Azov

with the support of the Ukrainian Armed Forces broke through the enemy defense in the region of the city of Mariupol. This notification was made by the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksandr Turchynov in his commentary from the place of action, transmitted RNBO Press Service. According to his report, during the attack they took under control the cities of Pavlopol Kominternove, Lebedynsk, Berdiansk, Shyrokin and others. "The enemy suffered very serious losses in the fight. In disseminating the the Russian-terrorist groupings around Mariupol, our forces guaranteed a hopeful defense of the city, protecting from artillery shells the peaceful residents," emphasized Turchynov.

February 9 – Nine Ukrainian military were killed and twenty six were injured in the ATO area on February 8th, – said Ukrainian military spokesman Vladyslav Seleznyov.

February 9 – German Chancellor Angela Merkel has put forward an ultimatum for Putin – she gave Russian President Vladimir Putin time until Wednesday to agree on a "road map" to end fighting in eastern Ukraine. If Russian Federation doesn't make concessions and decides to block the agreement, Merkel promised Putin further sanctions against Russian companies including, in particular, freezing of assets (sanctions may include defense industry and possibly financial sector). At the same time Merkel, who is publicly against the supply of arms to Ukraine, has told Putin in private that she will not resist Barack Obama if he decides to supply lethal weapons to Ukraine.

February 9 – Approximately 1,5 thousand Russian soldiers and 300 military vehicles have arrived from Russia in Ukraine over the weekend, – said NSDC spokesman Andriy Lysenko. He emphasized that Russian Federation continues to transfer ammunition to Ukraine.

February 9 – During the day terrorists continuously attempted to cut off the city of Debaltseve (controlled by Ukrainian troops) from main units of Ukrainian army. Their attempts to stop transport communication at the "road of life" Donetsk-Debaltseve have failed. Prior to negotiations, which will take place in Minsk on Wednesday, the terrorists would like to occupy Debaltseve because it is an important railway junction (to strengthen Putin's position).

February 9 – Prosecutor General of Ukraine Vitaliy Yarema has been dismissed at the request of Ukrainian Parliament.

February 9 – On Monday fourteen EU foreign ministers and French ambassador held a rally in Brussels demanding to release Ukrainian pilot Nadiya Savchenko who has been imprisoned by Russian authorities and is currently on hunger strike in Moscow.

February 9 – Citing own sources, Brussels media report that Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has asked the EU to postpone the implementation of new sanctions against Russia. Meanwhile, in Kyiv they claim that EU Council meeting could have resulted in no further sanctions introduced against Russia, whereas Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has helped to bring some sanctions about.

February 9 – The conflict in Ukraine will last for a long time, until the Ukrainian authorities do not reach a negotiation with the pro-Russian fighter-separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. This was stated by the President of the Russian Federation Volodymyr Putin in an interview with the Egyptian newspaper Al' – Akhram before his visit to Egypt. He continues to force Ukraine to sit at the table with terrorists.

February 9 – In Kharkiv the court found physician Olha Vorzheyinova guilty in that she cruelly attacked with her feet, the lying and wounded activist of the EuroMaidan. Olha Vorzheyinova did not admit her offense. She was sentenced to a punishment of one year and six months of curtailment of freedom.

by Ivo Daalder, Michele Flournoy, John Herbst, Jan Lodal, Steven Pifer, James Stavridis, Strobe Talbott and Charles Wald Preserving Ukraine's Independence, Resisting Russian Aggression. What the United States and NATO Must Do

The Woman Who Would Take on Vladimir Putin

The Bad Sad Mad Mr. Putin

Anne Applebaum

The long view with Russia

RESOLUTION CONSULTATION MEETING OF THE PLATFORM OF CRIMEAN TATAR ORGANISATIONS IN TURKEY (8 FEBRUARY 2015 – ANKARA)

Humanitarian crisis in Ukraine 'far larger than Europe appreciates'

Mariupol Next in LIne?

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February 8 – Number of victims of the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine could have reached 50 thousand people – data stated by the newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung (FAS), while referring to German secret service. Thus almost 10 times more people could have died in combat compared to official data.

February 8 – A pro-Ukrainian rally was held in Mariupol today instead of the announced protest planned by the separatists against mobilization, informed the Advisor to Interior Minister Anton Gerashchenko.

February 8 – As a result of a clash of Ukrainian military with the militants, Ukrainian soldiers have seized several rocket infantry flamethrowers "Shmel" ("Bumblebee"), which are only used in the Russian army.

February 8 – Military confrontation continues between Russian military/pro-Russian militants and Ukrainian forces in the ATO area, with the most challenging attacks happening near Debaltsevo, – informs NSDC spokesman Andriy Lysenko. 111 fire attacks by militants in 37 towns were recorded in the ATO area in the last 24 hours. According to intelligence, ATO forces have destroyed 14 units of military equipment, killed 70 terrorists and injured approximately 20.

February 8 – Petro Poroshenko, Vladimir Putin, Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande have agreed to meet in Minsk on February 11th "if a number of issues are conciliated". But Putin has already hinted that the "peace meeting" in Minsk may fail if all of these issues are not agreed upon.

February 8 – Disconnection of Russian banks from the international payment system SWIFT would create a worse relationship between the West and RF. This was stated by the Head of VTB bank, Andriy Kostin, according to TACC. He stated that the sanctions geared against RF, are proof of the economic war against Moscow. "This is how it is, all the attempts which are approved by the West – are methods of carrying on an economic war, trading, financial, said Kostin. "Disconnection from SWIFT – the usage of significantly of much more powerful "arms" in this war and, obviously,will mean a serious worsemimg of the general climate and the overall situation in relations with the West," he noted.

Combat intensifies in eastern Ukraine

Support for separatists lower than expected in eastern Ukraine

War expands in size and scope

Letter to Obama from US citizen

Andy Hunder

Ukrainian Institute, How to stop Vladimir Putin?

Report: Has the EU Learnt from the Ukraine Crisis? Changes to Security, Energy and Migration Governance

Natalija Jerjomenko

A message to Europe / Eine Botschaft an Europa

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February 7 – 5 Ukrainian military were killed and 26 injured in the conflict area in Donbas in the last 24 hours, – informedVolodymyr Polevyi, deputy head of the Information Center of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine.

February 7 – President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg during Munich Security Conference. NATO Secretary General has said that the alliance is strengthening collective security system as well as spoke about providing political and practical support to Ukraine on behalf of NATO.

February 7 – The West should not rule out military resolution of the conflict in Ukraine, – said on Saturday in MunichSupreme Allied Commander Europe of NATO Allied Command Operations, Gen. Philip Breedlove, writes Spiegel Online. "We are not talking about sending troops to Ukraine," – said Breedlove. In addition, he called Vladimir Putin's proposals on the resolution of the conflict in eastern Ukraine "totally unacceptable".

February 7 – President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has held tripartite talks with Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel and US Vice President Joe Biden – "The parties have coordinated further steps and stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire as well as continued dialogue on the implementation of all provisions of the Minsk agreements".

February 7 – Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has publicized intercepted conversations, which suggest that Russian military are provoking clashes between the ATO forces and militants of "People's Republic of Donetsk". They must be getting new "arguments" ready for Putin's negotiations.

February 7 – Armed Forces and the National Guards of Ukraine have received new military equipment – a modernized armored vehicle "Spartan", equipped with heavy machine gun and "Stugna" missiles.

February 7 – Ukraine is ready to support ceasefire at any time, – stated the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko in his comments to journalists at Munich Security Conference. Whereas the issues of state's federal structure or the autonomy of certain regions (Putin's wishes), may only be decided at a national referendum, not in Moscow or Berlin. All is needed for peace in Donbas is closed borders with Russian Federation and withdrawal of Russian troops, not peacekeeping forces. In his speech at Munich Security Conference, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko presented the passports and military service cards of Russian soldiers who "must have gotten lost in Ukraine" and were detained by Ukrainian military.

Near Debaltseve after attack Russian terrorists appeared "cemetery" Russian tanks (video).

Poroshenko in Munich (20 min)

By Taras Kuzio

Arm Ukraine and force Putin back to the negotiating table

Russia, despite its repeated denials, is sending large quantities of military equipment to the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine along with 9,000 of its troops. Movement of Russian forces, including the Pantsir-S1 missile system, are being tracked by think tanks and western intelligence agencies. Only Russian professional (not conscript) troops and intelligence officers can operate highly sophisticated Russian military equipment – not irregular separatist forces.

Respected Russian military analyst Pavel Felgenhauer has concluded that the aim of Vladimir Putin, Russia's president, is to destroy Ukraine's independence by installing a satrap in Kiev similar to Chechen warlord Razman Kadyrov, thereby ending Kiev's goal of integration into Europe.

Putin reportedly told German Chancellor Angela Merkel that Kiev should deal with the separatists by buying them off with autonomy and money as he had in Chechnya, which to her was unacceptable.

Russia and its separatist proxies have never abided by the September Minsk peace accords and last month tore them up and demand a new agreement that would lend legitimacy to their territorial gains. Military assaults have claimed a growing number of civilian lives, including 40 in rocket attacks on the port city of Mariupol and a Luhansk hospital, with the total number of civilians killed rising to 5, 500, according to the UN. Growing numbers of combatants continue to die on both sides, as illustrated by these gruesome photos of a column of 16 Russian and separatist tanks that was destroyed yesterday.

In the face of the new Russian-backed offensive, pressure on US President Barack Obama to send defensive military equipment to Ukraine is becoming ever more intense. The release of a report for the Atlantic Council of the US by eight US ambassadors calling for military assistance was published along with a crescendo of commentaries in The Times, The Guardian, The Financial Times (here, here andhere), The Wall Street Journal (here and here), The Washington Post, The New York Times, The American Interest, The Christian Science Monitor, The Atlantic, The New York Post, The Boston Globe, The Los Angeles Times and Spiegel Online.

This chorus of support was backed by influential former US National Security adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. A bipartisan group led by Republican and Democratic Senators Rob Portman and Dick Durbin called for military assistance to Ukraine "to defend its sovereign borders against escalating Russian aggression".

The New York Times reported that the US was considering supplying arms to Ukraine, something reportedly confirmed by Douglas Lute, the US Ambassador to Nato. Ashton Carter, President Obama's choice to become his fourth Defence Secretary, said three days later he was "very much inclined" to provide arms to Ukraine to fight Russian-backed separatists.

Ukraine has been seeking western weapons since the summer of last year but so far has received only non-lethal equipment such as winter clothing, bullet proof vests and night vision goggles. The US did send 20 light counter-mortar radars late last year and, with two-decades of cooperation in Nato's Partnership for Peace programme, is beginning to train four companies of Ukraine's National Guard.

Arguments against the supply of weapons, the Wall Street Journal wrote, "look increasingly naïve". Nevertheless, Canadian commentators have pointed to Ukrainian corruption (see here and here) and the presence of "UkrainianNazis" as a way perhaps to justify the Stephen Harper government's decision not to providie military support. High levels of corruption never stopped the supply of Canadian military equipment and special force trainers to Pakistan, Iraq and Afghanistan. Although Putin and the Russian media have repeatedly raised accusations of"fascism" in Ukraine, it is the Russian (rather than the Ukrainian) regime that more closely resembles the political science definition of "fascism".

Nato will not send weapons to Ukraine but the UK, Poland and Canada would follow the US lead. President Obama is fighting against his own Democratic party if he sticks with the position of Chancellor Merkel, who continues to put naïve faith in a peaceful solution.

Economic sanctions (helped by falling oil prices) have not discouraged Putin's reckless and bloody intervention in eastern Ukraine. Some of those advocating military support to Ukraine believe – as in the 1980s through weapons supplied to the Afghan Mujahedeen – that only a growing number of casualties will force realignment in Russian policy to that of public opinion, two thirds of which is against intervention in eastern Ukraine.

The Donbas conflict, engineered and sustained by Moscow, is already Europe's worst security challenge since World War II. There have been 40 close military encountersin the air between Russia and the west since the annexation of the Crimea in March last year. Putin believes he is fighting a "Nato legion" through alleged Ukrainian proxies and has always claimed the Euromaidan revolution was a western-backed coup. Russian soldiers dying at the hands of western weapons would return the world to the Cold War of the 1980s, although it remains unclear which US congressman would today step up as the new Charlie Wilson.

Putin will stop his destabilisation of Ukraine and return to negotiations only when western arms equalise both sides on the battlefield.

Taras Kuzio is a research associate at the Centre for Political and Regional Studies, Canadian Institute forUkrainian Studies, University of Alberta and non-resident fellow at the Center for Transatlantic Relations, School of Advanced International Relations, Johns Hopkins University.

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February 6 – 2 Ukrainian military were killed and 26 injured in the ATO are in the last 24 hours, NSDC spokesman Andriy Lysenko.

February 6 – Russian President Vladimir Putin offered the leaders of France and Germany (Francois Hollande and Angela Merkel) to discuss his plan for Ukraine without the representatives of Ukraine. Today, they flew to Moscow to participate in negotiations. They previously they met with the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko. Citing its sources, Le Figaro (France) wrote that the plan of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande to resolve the conflict in Donbas includes non-aligned status and federalization of Ukraine. During the meeting of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande, the issue of Ukraine's federalization was not discussed, – informed Sviatoslav Tseholko, press secretary to President Poroshenko. According to Tseholko, Poroshenko has emphasized that Ukraine is and will remain a unitary state.

February 6 – The European Union will not compromise the independence and sovereignty of Ukraine, – said European Council President Donald Tusk in Brussels on Friday during a meeting with US Vice President Joe Biden.

February 6 – Evacuation of civilians from Debaltsevo has started; the city is under constant fire. Evacuation has been agreed upon by Ukrainian authorities and the militants – a group of busses transporting civilians, has left the city.

February 6 – National Bank of Ukraine has allowed the national currency (hryvnia) to slip to an absolute historic low compared to foreign currencies (US dollar) of 23.13 UAH per USD.

February 6 – In the village of Zholobok (Luhansk oblast), Ukrainian artillery has destroyed several hundred militants, – said the journalist Serhiy Ivanov, citing his sources. Apparently there are many people of "Asian appearance" among those dead. "Almost none of them were wearing bullet-proof vests and had only one submachine gun round to spare", – informed Ivanov.

February 6 – The version of resolving the conflict in Ukraine, proposed on the day before, by Russian President Volodymyr Putin was "too cymical." So reports The New York Times, referring to diplomatic sources. "This is not a peace plan. This is a map for the creation of a new Transdnistrovia or an Abkhaziya in Ukraine. This is a cynical attempt to avoid all obligations accepted at Minsk.," stated one of the highly placed diplomats on the basis of anonimity. On Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry reported that Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel and the President of France, Francois Olland received propositions from Putin as to resolving the conflict in Donbas. Details of this plan are unknown, officially neither side has commented at all.

Kerry noted that Merkel and Olland prepared their plans of achieving peace in Ukraine, with which they also flew to Kyiv on Thursday in order to talk these over with Petro Poroshenko. On Friday, Olland and Merkel will travel to Moscow where they are suppossed to meet with Putin. According to Russian media, Olland and Merkel may propose to Moscow and Kyiv to freeze the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

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February 4 – 4 Ukrainian military were killed and 25 injured in the ATO are in the last 24 hours, – informed the spokesman of NSDC Information Center Andriy Lysenko.

February 4 – Facilitated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government of Ukraine is preparing a bill to limit "sovereign immunity", which will enable Ukrainian citizens and businesses to sue Russia as a state. Thus MFA of Ukraine is preparing grounds to seize assets as a result of Crimea's annexation.

February 4 – Parliament of Ukraine has stripped the fourth President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych of his presidential title. The initiators of the law, point out that Yanukovych "has encroached power, which led to undermined foundations of national security and defense of Ukraine, as well as wrongful violation of human rights". Law enforcement authorities are currently searching for Yanukovych.

February 4 – Ukrainian Parliament has recognized the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (the Hague Tribunal) regarding the situation that has developed as a result of Russia's military aggression against Ukraine since February 27th 2014 and international crimes that have been committed in Ukraine.

February 4 – Officers of the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) have detained Lieutenant Colonel of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine who is one of the organizers of a fake attack on the Presidential Administration on February 3rd, – stated SSU Chief Valentyn Nalyvaichenko.

February 4 – Armed Forces of Ukraine have killed 11 Russian military who participated in the shelling of Mariupol on January 24th (Russian officer-terrorist who led the artillery attack and 10 his accomplices). All of them were killed near the village of Bezimenne (Novoazovsk rayon). Russian troops continue to hide the traces of these crimes. Russian soldiers have been transporting the bodies of the terrorists to Russia so that the relatives are able to bury them, – informed SSU Chief Valentyn Nalyvaichenko at a press conference. According to him, SSU has identified everyone who shelled Mariupol but "operation continues to identify terrorists who attacked civilians in Volnovakha and other areas".

February 4 – in the Donbas region the general number of fighters already exceeds 3 thousand people and they are continuing to increse their strength. This is written by the organizer of the group "Informational Opposition" and deputy Dmytro Tymchuk. "Within a 24-hour period we have noted the arrival of live forces on 24 covered trucks as well as 11 units of impenetrable carriers (including one tank)," writes Tymchuk.

February 4 – On Wednesday around 12 noon a hospital was shelled; casualties include wounded and killed.

February 4 – Counter reconnaissance of SBUhave apprehended near Horlivka a 44-year old corrector of artillery fire. "Her building was located at a height from which from her 7th floor there can be seen the armed technical force of ATO within a radius of 5 kilometers," informed a conversationalist. According to him, the woman corrected the fire and traced the track of the firings by the fighters at goals in Debaltsev, Myronivsk, Mayorsk, Vuhlehirsk. "She even had a looking glass and a photo camera. She went to different points and took photographs of what the ammunition hit," he added. "The woman said that she passed on these photographs to the fighters through her daughter who still attends school," he continued. He added that two sons of the woman are fighting on the side of the fighters of "DNR".

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February 3 – Russia began using barrier troops, which shoot its own army in the back, so that pro-Russian terrorists and Russian soldiers have nowhere to retreat. Putin, Stalin – can you see the difference? The retreat of pro-Russian terrorists near the town of Vuhlehirsk was stalled by barrier troops of the Dzerzhinsky Division of Russian Interior Ministry, – informed NSDC spokesman Andriy Lysenko.

February 3 – "There are almost no printed media in Ukrainian and no official versions of regional and municipal media in Ukrainian in Crimea today. Only one Ukrainian television show is being broadcast out of four that had existed before. Internet websites in Ukrainian are being disabled for Crimean residents", – stated Valeriya Lutkovska, Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights.

February 3 – ATO press center informs that after another Putin's "humanitarian aid convoy" has arrived in Ukraine, the number of attacks and their intensity has increased again, said ATO spokesman Olekdsandr Motuzyanyk. "After another convoy arrived from Russia, the number of attacks and their intensity has intensified significantly. That is to say that they [the militants and regular troops] basically received the ammunition they needed. Otherwise a question arises – where do the militants get so much ammunition from if they are able to continue attacks almost around the clock".

February 3 – At NATO headquarters they expect that in the near future Russian Federation will continue to absorb unrecognized territories that appeared as a result of conflicts involving Russia, – stated NATO official during a meeting with journalists (who asked not to be named).

February 3 – President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko plans to meet with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the end of this week, – informed NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu.

February 3 – in NATO headquarters they say that they expect a noticeable deterioration of the situation during the time of the interaction with journalists a NATO high official who asked that his name not be divulged, reported from Brussels a correspondent of European Truth. "Russia is ready to support the conflict in Ukraine as long as there will not be a political solution which suits Moscow. AAnd in this is the root of the problem," stated the representative of the Alliance. "No one knows how long the conflict in Ukraine will last and how specifically will be resolved. However, there are all reasons to expect that the safety situatioon in eastern Ukraine will deteriorate. And the proof of this lies not only in the events of the last few days but also in earlier facts," he added. The co-speaker also mentioned that Russia is strengthening its activity in the conflict. "The possible deterioration of the safety situation is also supported by the increaseof Russian presence in eastern Ukraine and we have valid affirmations to assuredly state that the Russian army is acting on the side of the separatists," he emphasized.

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U.S., UK, Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa

February 2 – Pro-Russian terrorists have announced "mobilization" and tight after that Russia has started to put together another "humanitarian aid convoy". Will be bringing more tanks in, not doubt.

February 2 – "According to intelligence of Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), a large amnesty is planned in the Russian Federation on the occasion of May 9th celebrations. It will result in the release of prisoners who could join the ranks of militants in the fight against Ukraine", – said the Advisor to the Chief of Security Service Markiyan Lubkivsky.

February 2 – Ukraine has decreased its gas reserves by 44.4%. Existing gas will be enough to survive the winter.

February 2 – In the last year Ukraine decreased offshore exports by 87% – i.e. tax evasion was reduced by 87%.

February 2 – Eight former senior US diplomats and military have issued a statement calling on the US government and NATO leaders to provide support to Ukraine, including in the form of lethal weapons. Document's name is "Preserving Ukraine's Independence, Resisting Russian Aggression: What the United States and NATO Must Do By: Steven Pifer, Strobe Talbott, Ambassador Ivo Daalder, Michele Flournoy, Ambassador John Herbst, Jan Lodal, Admiral James Stavridis and General Charles Wald.

February 2 – Russian Tu-95 bomber, which was intercepted near Great Britain last week, was carrying nuclear weapons, -writes British newspaper Express, citing sources in UK's Ministry of Defence.

Putin must be stopped

Europe's eastern War

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February 1 – 13 Ukrainian military were killed and 20 injured in the combat area in Donbas on January 31st, – informed NSDC representative Volodymyr Polevyi.

February 1 – Russian Armed Forces and terrorists have deployed 95% of their military equipment (machinery) in order to occupy the city of Debaltsevo. Ukrainian Armed Forces are retaining their position at an important railway junction of Debaltsevo. Heavy fighting continues. Ukrainians have retreated from the town of Vuhlehirsk, which is a suburb of Debaltsevo.

February 1 – Sievierodonetsk city councilor Serhiy Samarskyi has said that billionaire and former MP (Party of Regions) Rinat Akhmetov personally offered up to 25 million USD to security workers at thermal power plant in the town of Shchastia (Luhansk oblast) if they agree to lift the security – he must have wanted to let the terrorist have access to the power plant.

February 1 – Five Ukrainian military were freed from captivity in exchange for captive terrorists.

February 1 – Crosses in memory of victims of Mariupol shelling were installed near the Russian Embassy. 30 wooden crosses were installed by the activists on the lawn opposite the building – each cross has a name plaque with the name of a dead Mariupol resident and a phrase "Killed by Russian invaders."

February 1 – During the meeting in Minsk on January 31st, the representatives of "People's Republic of Donetsk" and "People's Republic of Luhansk" demanded that President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko issues a decree on unilateral ceasefire. "They demanded that the President of Ukraine should issue a decree on unilateral ceasefire, threatening otherwise to resume full-scale combat along entire front line", – said Leonid Kuchma, a representative for Ukraine during negotiations. They also demanded that the territory they control when the war is over, must be enlarged and insisted on defining the contact line as of January 31st and not according to Minsk agreements of September 19th, 2014. "In response to what assurances can be given that they do not come up with yet another contact line, they kept quiet", – said Kuchma. Typical blackmail from Putin. Following well in Hitler's footsteps.

January 31 – 15 Ukrainian military were killed, 33 injured, – informed NSDC spokesman Andriy Lysenko. Vuhlehirsk remains the location of the most intense fighting – -the terrorists are attempting to invade the city and occupy best positions to later invade more territories closer to Debaltseve, including the city itself. "The danger exists that the militants will attack Mariupol, however ATO forces are ready to properly deal with this attack ", – emphasized Lysenko. "According to intelligence, new units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are relocating. Russian soldiers are also stepping in for local pro-Russian militants at the frontline, – stated he.

January 31 – 8 civilians were killed as a result of shelling in the city of Horlivka, 19 civilians were injured.

January 31 – The militants are systematically destroying Donbas – for instance, there is no water, electricity or heat supply in Debaltseve and Avdiyivka as a result of all terrorist attacks, – informed NSDC spokesman Andriy Lysenko. Also there is no electricity in 62 cities of Donetsk oblast.

January 31 – In Debaltseve the terrorists haven't stopped shelling residential areas – 12 people were killed in gunfire, -stated the Head of Interior Ministry Department in Donetsk oblast Vyacheslav Abroskin. "Volunteers and police are transporting civilians and their families under constant shelling."

January 31 – Prosecutor General's Office has questioned former MP (Party of Regions) billionaire Rinat Akhmetov in the case of financing terrorism in Donbas, – stated Attorney General Vitaliy Yarema. According to Yarema, the prosecutor has been checking the information about involvement of other billionaires such as Nataliya Korolevska and Oleksandr Yefremov in financing terrorism in Donbas.

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