Ukraine War Update - 9 July 2015

Thursday, July 9, 2015  8:31 AM PDT

Crimea’s issue is done with, Russia’s Foreign Minister says

   (Censor.NET) --- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Russia has "closed" the issue of Crimea.

   He said this at a press briefing during the summit of BRICS and SCO Thursday, Censor.NET reports citing Ukrainska Pravda.

   According to him, any of the partners of the Russian Federation in these organizations "has not declared its non-recognition of the referendum results, which became the basis for the return of Crimea to Russia."

   "The leaders of BRICS and SCO will seal our common position on the full and faithful implementation of the Minsk Agreement in the documents that you will see in just a few hours," Lavrov said.

   "I think everyone understands that the issue with Crimea is over and done with. It was closed by the people of Crimea and decisions taken by the Russian Federation," the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry added.

Thursday, July 9, 2015  8:31 AM PDT

Militants steadily build up forces near Komsomolsk - OSCE

   (Censor.NET) --- OSCE SMM observers recorded accumulation of military equipment near the town of Komsomolsk (situated between Marinka and Donetsk, DPR-controlled)

   This was announced by the OSCE mission in Ukraine Deputy Head Alexander Hug at a briefing in Kiev on Thursday, Censor.NET reports citing Interfax-Ukraine.

   He said that the SMM observers were recording a steady increase of the number of military equipment. The UAV has recorded the presence of heavy weapons near the town of Komsomolsk. Four tanks, four trucks, 28 armoured personnel carriers, 60 military trucks have been spotted there just for one day. According to Alexander Hug, the special monitoring mission observes both sides holding regular military exercises often close to the demarcation line.

   Mr. Hug has clarified that it was the information gathered for the week.

   He stressed that the OSCE observers have repeatedly called on both sides to withdraw heavy weapons from the demarcation line including the weapons of caliber less than 100-mm.

Thursday, July 9, 2015  4:12 AM PDT

No one killed, one soldier wounded over past day, - ATO speaker

   (Censor.NET) --- One Ukrainian soldier was wounded in the course of the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) area on July 8.

   As reported by Censor.NET citing Ukrainski Novyny, this was announced by the Presidential Administration speaker on ATO matters Andrii Lysenko at a briefing.
   "One Ukrainian soldier was injured," he said.
   According to Lysenko, no Ukrainian soldiers were killed over the past day.
   He also added that two drone flights were recorded in the ATO area on July 8.

Thursday, July 9, 2015  1:35 AM PDT

Modernized T-80 tanks to be supplied to Ukraine army

   (Zik) --- Since Monday, Ukraine tank-building companies have started supplying modernized T-80 tanks to Ukraine army units fighting in Donbas, ZIK reports July 9,

   The modernization of tanks is carried out at the Malyshev tank plant in Kharkiv.

   The tanks’ turrets and bodies are modernized and a new Kontakt protective system installed to counter a wide variety of modern weapons used against tanks.

   The tanks are handed over to their crews, with tankmen taking a brief training course to get acquainted with new gadgets installed on the tanks.

Wednesday, July 8, 2015  23:42 PDT

Interior minister wants Donbas army volunteers to serve in new national police

   (Zik) --- By the year end there will be 6,200 new policemen enrolled on a competitive basis. Kiev’s force is 2,000 and started its operations on July 4. Soon, patrol police will appear on the streets of Lviv, Odesa, Kharkiv, Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said on 24 Kanal TV July 9.

   “I do hope that many volunteers now fighting in Donbas will join the national police,” Avakov said.

   One of them, Police Lt.-Col. Olemsandr Odizhny has been appointed chief of disbanded Odesa road police.

   Odizhny was platoon CO in the Luhansk oblast and took an active part in fighting near Georgiyivka against Donbas rebels.

Wednesday, July 8, 2015  11:36 AM PDT

Terrorists shelled Bakhchovyk and Pisky villages from heavy artillery, - ATO press center

   (Censor.NET) --- The situation in the zone of the antiterrorist operation remained stable and completely controlled by the Ukrainian troops on July 8.

   Censor.NET informs citing the situation report by the ATO press center.

   The report reads: "The pro-Russian gangs committed shelling of the positions of the defenders of Ukraine near Bakhchovyk village at the Mariupol direction using 152-mm caliber artillery at about 7 a.m.

   "The terrorists have been heavily shelling the Ukrainian troops' position near the villages of Pisky in the Donetsk region at about 2 p.m. and then from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. again.

   "Obviously, the violation of Minsk agreements has become a usual thing for the Kremlin puppets.

   "As of 6 p.m., the pro-Russian gangs have employed small arms, mortars, and grenade launchers more than 20 times to attack positions of the Ukrainian troops near the villages and cities of Opytne, Marinka, Avdiivka, and once again Pisky at the Donetsk direction, as well as Krymske, Stanytsia Luhanska, and Triokhizbenka villages in the Luhansk region.

   "It should be noted that the positions of the ATO forces are located outside these villages in order not to expose civilians to danger of criminal acts committed by the pro-Russian gangs.

   "The ATO forces' Command is advised of all the movements and places of deployment of personnel and equipment of the enemy. The situation in the ATO area is sufficiently controlled by the Ukrainian military," the report concludes.

Wednesday, July 8, 2015  8:53 AM PDT

Ukraine major banks file suits for compensations against Russia

   (Zik) --- July 7, the state-owned Oshchadbank announced it would demand UAH2 billion ($91 mn) in compensations from Russia for its lost property and assets in Crimea.

   July 8, Ukraine’s largest privately-owned bank, Privatbank, followed suit, saying it will take the case to Hague. 

   Privatbank claims to have lost its business in Crimea after Russia’s annexation. The bank had 337 branches on the peninsula and 30% of total peninsular bank’s deposits, RBK reports July 8.