Ukraine War Update - 24 April 2015

Friday, April 24, 2015  8:21 AM PDT

Kharkiv bans May holiday events over terror attack threat

   (Ukraine Today) --- Victory Day celebrations could be targeted by militant forces, regional officials say

   It was an explosion during a pro-Ukrainian rally that shocked the country. Four people were killed and 10 injured on February 22 when a bomb exploded near a group of marchers.

   Now, public events in Kharkiv during May holiday celebrations have been banned – because of the threat of a similar attack. Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said that Ukrainian regional authorities must study the security situation and apply to the court for the restriction or prohibition of activities if necessary.

   Ukraine will mark a series of holidays from May 1-9, culminating in the traditional May 9 celebration of Victory Day, commemorating victory over Nazi Germany in 1945. Both Kharkiv and Odesa have been targeted by a series of explosions in recent months.

   Militant leaders who have seized control of parts of Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk regions in the east of Ukraine have also said they want gain control of Kharkiv.

Friday, April 24, 2015  8:21 AM PDT

Final charges brought against Savchenko – Russian Federation Investigation Committee

   (Censor.NET) --- Illegally held in the Russian prison Ukrainian pilot Nadiya Savchenko has been brought final charges against.

   Representative of the Investigation Committee of the Russian Federation Vladimir Markin announced, Censor.NET informs citing TASS.

   "The criminal case against Savchenko will be severed into a separate proceeding in the near future to complete the investigation, submit materials to the parties for review and its subsequent transfer to the court," Markin said.

   "The department investigating crimes involving the use of prohibited means and methods of war, the Investigation Committee has charged citizen of Ukraine Nadiya Savchenko of committing crimes under part 5 of the Article 33, part 2 of the Article 105, part 3 of the Article 30, part 1 of the Article 322 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (aiding and abetting in the murder of two or more persons, aiding in the attempt of murder of two or more persons in a manner threatening lives of civilians, motivated by political hatred, committed by a group of persons, illegal crossing of the State border of the Russian Federation)," the report of the Investigation Committee of the Russian Federation reads.

Lawyer of the Ukrainian fighter pilot Mark Feigin said earlier (April 24- Ed.) that Savchenko would be charged with illegal crossing of the border on Friday.

   Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also said earlier that Savchenko can be amnestied under the Minsk agreements.

   "But in order to grant amnesty to the person one must first be judged and the court must make a decision," Lavrov said.

   It should be noted that the Russian Federation accuses Savchenko of committing the murder of Russian journalist Igor Kornelyuk and Anton Voloshin near Luhansk last summer as well as illegal crossing of the Russian border.

   At the same time, the main evidence points to the fact that Savchenko had already been imprisoned by the "LPR" terrorists when the Russian journalists were killed. In addition, it was reported that the terrorists took Ukrainian pilot to Russia forcibly.

Friday, April 24, 2015  8:10 AM PDT

Ukraine, NATO sign memorandum on trust fund for Kiev's army

   KIEV, April 24 (Ukrinform). --- Ukraine and NATO have signed a memorandum on setting up a trust fund for reforming of control and communications system of the Ukrainian armed forces.

   On behalf of the government Head of Ukraine's Mission to NATO, Ambassador Ihor Dolhov signed the document, an Ukrinform own correspondent in Brussels, Belgium, reported.

   "The memorandum is a necessary legal step to ensure the trust fund is used. It was created to implement the political decisions made by Heads of States and Governments of the Alliance. The purpose of this trust fund is to improve communications in the Armed Forces of Ukraine," the diplomat said.

   Dolhov noted that there will be shipments of equipment through the military-industrial complex of Ukraine to meet the needs of the Ukrainian armed forces in communications equipment that provides a reliable link as part of the practical steps for implementing the memorandum.

   "As of today, it has already been announced that contributions to this trust fund exceed EUR 1.2 million and this does not mean it is a final total amount," he said.

Friday, April 24, 2015  7:49 AM PDT

US State Department confirms it has evidence of Russian troops presence in Ukraine

   KIEV, April 24 (Ukrinform). --- The U.S. State Department has confirmed that it has evidence of of the Russian armed forces presence in the occupied regions of eastern Ukraine, but it acknowledged that it is very difficult to determine the exact number of troops.

   U.S. State Department spokesperson Marie Harf said this during her daily briefing in Washington, USA, on Thursday, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

   "It's really hard to get precise information about the Russian troop numbers specifically, but we know there's a substantial Russian presence," Harf said.

   She explained that the Russian military conceal their identity, acting without insignia. However, it is still not too difficult to identify them by the samples of modern weapons, which are used only by the Russian army, Harf said.

   Harf stressed that more concrete evidence had been announced by the State Department in its statement last Wednesday.

   The document, in particular, notes Russia's building up air its defense systems in eastern Ukraine and conducting military exercises for pro-Russian rebels using modern technology.

Friday, April 24, 2015  4:53 AM PDT

28th mechanized brigade neutralized two subversive groups of the enemy: One militant killed, six captured

   (Censor.NET) --- There are no casualties among the Ukrainian military.

   This is stated on the official Facebook page of the 28th separate mechanized brigade (SMB), Censor.NET reports.

   "On April 23, 2015 the 28th SMB conducted two successful combat operations.

   "On Thursday evening during the [enemy's] attempt o break through the checkpoint of the 28th mechanized brigade a fire engagement with sabotage and reconnaissance group of the enemy occurred near Berezove village. One militant was killed and six captured.

   "At 11 p.m. an enemy's sabotage and reconnaissance group was discovered near Mariinka. It was approaching a strong point of the 28th SMB on two off-road vehicles. After stopping the terrorists began covert movement in the direction of our positions. The fire destroyed the two vehicles car and an ammunition depot, the number of neutralized militants is being specified.

   "In both cases, there were no casualties on our side there," the statement reads.

Friday, April 24, 2015  4:27 AM PDT

No one killed over past day, one soldier wounded - NSDC

   (Censor.NET) --- Over the past day, no Ukrainian soldiers were killed in the ATO area. One Ukrainian soldier was wounded.

   This was announced by the presidential administration representative on the ATO matters, colonel Oleksandr Motuzianyk, Censor.NET reports citing RBK-Ukraine.

   "Over the past day, no Ukrainian soldiers were killed in combat in the ATO area; one soldier was wounded," Motuzianyk said.

Thursday, April 23, 2015  21:11 PDT

Ukrainian Army Rebuilds, With Allies' Help

   (RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service) --- The Ukrainian armed forces have had a baptism of fire in battles with Russian-backed separatists over the last year. But they have been unable to hold on to large swathes of territory, and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko says they need to be rebuilt from scratch. This week, U.S. trainers began training the Ukrainian National Guard. British and Georgian forces are also running training operations.