Ukraine War Update - 10 June 2015

Wednesday, June 10, 2015  7:06 AM PDT

European Commissioner: Ukraine deserves EU membership

   KIEV, June 10 (Ukrinform). --- The prospect of Ukraine's membership in the European Union cannot solve all the problems of European integration, but it is a necessary condition, and Ukraine deserves it.

   Former European Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen said this during a presentation of the agency for modernization of Ukraine in Kiev on Wednesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

   "In Brussels, I was not able to give Ukraine what it deserves - a clear and reliable European perspective. Of course, all the problems will not be solved as soon as Ukraine receives such prospect, but it is an important condition," he stressed.

   Verheugen said that he did not participate in negotiations on approval of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU, but he attentively studied the document and concluded that this agreement was very demanding and full of challenges ever.

   According to him, if the provisions of the Association Agreement are implemented, Ukraine will be much better prepared for the EU membership than all new EU members.

   The former European commissioner said he understood the disappointment of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova after the Eastern Partnership Summit in Riga.

Wednesday, June 10, 2015  6:25 AM PDT

Fighting intensifies near Donetsk airport

   (UNIAN) --- Fighting has intensified around Donetsk airport, with Russian-backed militants moving armoured vehicles up to the line of contact, according to a statement made on Wednesday by Ukrainian Presidential Administration spokesman Andriy Lysenko.

   "Apart from using actively guns and mortars, the enemy has brought armoured vehicles - tanks and infantry fighting vehicles – up to the line of contact," he said.

   The situation in the area of Horlivka was not calm either, according to Lysenko. The sound of firing was heard in its western, northern and eastern suburbs.

   There are also reports of tanks and 152-mm artillery shells being used by the militants to the east and west of Svetlodarsk water reservoir.

   "It should be noted that the enemy is firing at our positions and settlements not only along the line of contact, but deep into Ukrainian territory at a distance of 5-10 km from the front, where shots can be fired only from artillery of 122 mm caliber or more," Lysenko said.

   At the same time, according to Lysenko, the most intense confrontations in the Luhansk area were near Zolote and Popasna, where militants launched a large mortar barrage that damaged power lines. Intense attacks with infantry combat vehicle were launched by the militants in the village of Krymske. Shooting from small arms and rocket-propelled grenades was also directed at the villages Shastya and Stanitsa Luhanska, which caused severe damage.

   Lysenko also noted that in near Mariupol, fighting was taking place only in the village of Shyrokyne. The clashes intensified in the second half of the day, Lysenko reported, with the militants actively using heavy weapons, such as 152-mm guns and Grad-P single-rocket launchers.

Wednesday, June 10, 2015  6:12 AM PDT

Russia is no longer strategic partner of EU, say MEPs

   (UNIAN) --- The EU must critically re-assess its relations with Russia, which have been profoundly damaged by Russia's deliberate violation of democratic principles, fundamental values and international law with its violent action and destabilization of its neighbours,  EP rapporteur Gabrielius Landsbergis said on Wednesday, according to the official Web site of the European Parliament.

   According to the report, the EU must now devise a soft-power contingency plan to counter Russia’s aggressive and divisive policies.

   "With its aggression against Ukraine and annexation of Crimea, the Russian leadership has put our relations at a crossroads. It is up to the Kremlin to decide now which way it will go – cooperation or deepening alienation," Landsbergis said.

   "I am convinced that the Russian people, as all of us, want peace, not war. A change in Russia can, and will, come from within. Meanwhile we must send a strong message to the Russian leadership that we stand united with the victims of its aggression and those who stand for the values the EU is founded on," he added.

   The resolution he steered through parliament was passed by 494 votes to 135, with 69 abstentions.

   "EU member states must maintain their unity in the context of Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and its direct involvement in the war in Ukraine as an “absolute priority,” MEPs said.

   They also called on EU countries to refrain from bilateral deals with Russia that could harm this unity. To ensure solidarity amongst the member states, a robust, rules-based European Energy Union should be created swiftly, MEPs said.

   The parliament called on the European Commission to earmark adequate funding without delay for concrete projects to counter Russian propaganda and misinformation within the EU and abroad and to program “more ambitious financial assistance” for Russian civil society. It expresses concern at the deterioration of human rights and the rule of law in Russia and calls for continued EU support for Russian human rights defenders.

   MEPs are also alarmed that Russia is positioning itself as a challenger to the international democratic community and its law-based order and is supporting and financing radical and extremist parties in the EU. They call for a coordinated mechanism to be set up by the Commission and EU member states to monitor financial, political or technical assistance provided by Russia to political parties and other organizations in the EU and to assess its influence over political life and public opinion. The commission should also propose legislation ensuring the full transparency of political funding and financing of political parties in the EU by stakeholders outside it, MEPs say.

   The resolution also condemns the “arbitrary” Russian blacklist banning 89 EU politicians and officials from its territory as an infringement of international law, a violation of universal standards and an impediment to transparency. This act is “counterproductive and detrimental to the already weak channels of communication,” MEPs regret, underlining that those targeted should be informed of the motives and have the right to appeal before an independent court.

   MEPs said that in the long run, a constructive and predictable relationship between the EU and Russia is desirable for their mutual benefit, but they said that cooperation can only be resumed if Russia respects the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, including Crimea, implements the Minsk agreements in full, and halts destabilizing military and security activities no the EU's borders.

   A separate resolution on the strategic military situation in the Black Sea Basin following the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia will be put to the vote on Thursday.

Wednesday, June 10, 2015  4:39 AM PDT

First and hopefully last national conflict is underway in Ukraine, - Poroshenko

   (Censor.NET) --- The first national conflict is currently underway in Ukraine.

   This was announced by Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko during his visit to Kiev national military hospital, Censor.NET reports citing Gordon.

   "The first, and hopefully, the last national conflict is currently underway in Ukraine," Poroshenko said.
   As reported, the Joint Staff informed that as of Tuesday, June 9, the situation in the anti-terrorist operation area remained tense.

Wednesday, June 10, 2015 3:24 AM PDT

Terrorists in occupied Donbas train children to fight for Russian Federation.

   (Censor.NET) --- VICE News followed the Vityaz Squad as they compete against other patriotic youth clubs at the Future Warrior Contest in Donetsk.

   Once a relic of the Soviet era, patriotic youth clubs in the Donetsk region of Ukraine are gaining new popularity, offering military training to their members. As young people practice assembling guns, marching, and military drills, a strong sense of allegiance flows through the ranks, with some members holding high aspirations of joining the Russian Federation army. Censor.NET reports citing VICE News.

Wednesday, June 10, 2015 3:02 AM PDT

No one killed over past day, seven soldiers wounded, - ATO speaker

   (Censor.NET) --- Seven Ukrainian soldiers were wounded in the course of the anti-terrorist operation on June 9.

   This was announced by the Presidential Administration representative on ATO matters, Colonel Andrii Lysenko, Censor.NET reports.

   "Over the past day, no Ukrainian soldiers were killed, seven were injured," he said.

Tuesday, June 9, 2015  22:12 PDT

Political expert sets likely targets for rebels’ attacks

   (Zik) --- As the talks in Minsk and meeting of work groups prevented Russia and its Donbas puppets from reaching their aims, the only leverage they can get over Kiev is stepping up the war in Donbas, political expert Serhy Sazonov writes for Obozrevatel June 10.

   New attacks, if successful, of course, will beef up rebels’ position at the peace talks. Even if the attacks are not successful, they will reduce the number of rebels Moscow has to maintain, he says. 

   As the tactics of Moscow and rebels is clear, the only thing unclear is the points of their future attacks. Moscow opts for forcing Ukraine to the table of negotiations – on Kremlin’s terms, that is, to return the occupied territories to Ukraine and preserve Moscow’s grip on running them.

   Therefore, the points of attacks have political and economic, rather than military dimension. Grabbing new territories won’t make Kiev obedient. That is why the targets of rebels’ attacks will be important infrastructure, not territories.

   There are three such infrastructure targets close to the rebels.

   The first is Mariupol, with its port being a single export window for local steel plants and the plants themselves vital for Ukraine economy.

   Kurakhove is likely to become the second target. The loss of the local therman power plant will deal a serious blow to the country’s energy system.

   The third target is likely to become Krasnoarmijsk and Dymytriv, the coal-mining area. The rebels hardly need any more mines as they already have the bulk of Ukraine’s coal industry. However, for Ukraine these mines are crucial, the expert forecast.