US launches biggest allied airborne drills since Cold War ended

US army soldiers take part in a joint military drill 

with Bulgaria's army at Novo Selo military ground 

on June 25, 2015 (AFP Photo/Dimitar Dilkoff)

   Brussels (AFP) --- The United States said Tuesday it has launched the biggest allied airborne drills in Europe since the Cold War ended, as fighting involving pro-Russian separatists escalated in eastern Ukraine.

   Nearly 5,000 soldiers from 11 NATO allies are taking part in four weeks of "simultaneous multinational airborne operations" across Germany, Italy, Bulgaria and Romania that began in Saturday, the US army said in a statement.

   "Swift Response 15 is the largest Allied airborne training event on the continent since the end of the Cold War," according to the statement from the US army in Grafenwohr in southern Germany.

   It is designed to help allied "high-readiness forces" act as one and "demonstrate the alliance's capacity to rapidly deploy and operate in support of maintaining a strong and secure Europe," it said.

   The statement made no reference to the crisis in Ukraine where government troops have been fighting pro-Russian separatists since April last year, which has claimed the lives of nearly 7,000 people.

   While the conflict eased after a truce in February, fighting has escalated in recent days.

   The fighting has stirred the highest tensions since the Cold War ended more than two decades ago as the West accuses Russia of not only arming the rebels but sending in troops to support them. Moscow denies the charges.

   NATO, a 28-country alliance led by the United States, last week defended the number of military exercises it has staged as a response to "growing Russian aggression" and refuted suggestions that they were helping make war in Europe more likely.

   The US army said the highlight of the drills will take place on 26 August when allied warplanes will drop more than 1,000 paratroopers and equipment the to Hohenfels training area in Germany.

   A similar drill will also take place the same day at the Novo Selo training area in Bulgaria, a former Soviet ally.

   Participating in the exercises until 13 September are more than 4,800 soldiers from Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Britain and the United States.

   It said the exercise marks the first time the US 82nd Airborne Division has operated in Europe since supporting NATO operations in Kosovo in 1999.

Ukraine War Update – 18 August 2015

Tuesday, August 18, 2015  5:18 AM PDT

   The Russian artillery unit of the 17th SMRBr (Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade) is fighting in Donbas: transfer of self-propelled artillery machine "MSTA-S" from Chechnya.

   (Censor.NET) --- A new investigation has revealed and identified artillery units of the 17th SMRBr (Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade) (military unit 65384, place of dislocation - Shali, Chechnya) of the 58th Combined Army of the Southern Military District of the Russian Federation, which took part in combat fighting in the Donbas, Mariupol direction, last fall.

   Informnapalm.org team continues to collect within its OSINT-intelligence undeniable facts of direct involvement of the Russian Army in the undeclared war against Ukraine, Censor.NET reports.

   Thanks to information and photos we got through study and analysis of the profile of a possible figurant of the Hague tribunal, soldier of artillery unit of the 17th SMRBr (Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade) Sgt. Konstantin Pashinin (vkontakte ID 218715797, archive https://archive.is/D2w92), we managed to track "combat" path of this artillery serviceman starting from the departure for "military exercises" in the Volgograd and Astrakhan regions of Russia in early summer of 2014 (where Russian units have unit and combat training) to leaving for the Rostov region of Russia and then to the Ukrainian Donbas.

   Russian soldiers usually dress up as "Novorossiya" militants (hazing appearance and white identification patches) and disguise their equipment as if it was purchased in local 'military stores' during their "Rostov-Chechnya in the Donbas has been identified. In particular, it was found that as of early fall 2014, self-propelled artillery machines MSTA-S of the 17th motorized brigade were located in the windy field of the Novoazov wind power station. Please see in details:

Ukrainian trips." Along with these 'tricks', exact geographical location of the artillery unit from

Despite the fact the photos in the albums of Sgt. Pashinin are scattered, (https://vk.com/id218715797?z=albums218715797, archive https://archive.is/pzKNX), investigators managed to set the chronology of "Rostov-Ukraine missions" and other important details thanks to them and videos from Youtube:

   - early summer 2014. In June, the artillery unit of the 17th SMRBr is seen in the Volgograd and Astrakhan regions of Russia on military exercise at Prudboy and Ashuluk firing fields;

- by July 30, 2014, self-propelled artillery machines "MSTA-S" of this brigade are seen being towed in Rostov-on-Don (see a screenshot from the video);

- the same day the same "MSTA-S" machines are seen on tracks on Taganrog highway, Russia (see a screenshot of the video).

Note: to make sure these machines in fact belong to the 17th SMRBr, one can compare the camouflage on these videos with that on the photos from VKontakte albums of Sgt. Konstantin Pashinin. They are identical. Also, one can see that the numbers of one of the machines are painted over with green and yellow. It is noteworthy that in the photo from his photo album one can see a machine with the number 524, where the figures 52 are on the green background, and the figure 4 is on the yellow one.

- Sept. 4, 2014. A SAU with the identical camouflage is seen in Novoazovsk, Ukraine (see a TV story by AlJazeera titled "Ukraine rebels advance towards Mariupol"). The numbers on the vehicle are painted over with light color. Here we have two options - this is not the 524 vehicle, or it is painted over again to hide the truth.

Note: analyzing this video, one can find some important details. They are the small white flags tied to the machines antennas (time mark 0.12-0.20 min), which are seen on Sgt. Konstantin Pashinin's photos, and white identification circles on transportation trucks cabins (see video on gasoline tanker "Ural", time mark 0.10 min).

- eventually, Sept. 24, 2014, the future "hero" of the Hague tribunal, Sgt. Konstantin Pashinin uploaded photos of his artillery machine "MSTA-S" in the windy field of Novoazov wind power station to his VKontakte page. The photos were presumably taken at the end of August - beginning of September.

Among the contacts of Sgt. Konstantin Pashinin, (archive https://archive.is/gC0zH) one can find other artillery soldiers of the 17th SMRBr who took part in the "Rostov-Ukraine mission". For example, some Pavel Kravchenko (VKontakte ID 252322040, archive https://archive.is/1BHZk). Despite his modest photo album, we managed to find some photos of the kind - BBQ on empty artillery shells and "Medal of Valor" which the Russian Ministry of Defense is generously giving away to the Donbas war veterans.

Tuesday, August 18, 2015  4:26 AM PDT

Five Russian citizens allegedly involved in international terrorism detained in Kiev

   KIEV, August 18 (Ukrinform). --- In one of the capital city districts Alpha Special Forces unit from the Security Service of Ukraine have detained five citizens of the Russian Federation that have been part of an international terrorist organization.

   The press-service of the SBU reports.

   "One of the detained is wanted by Interpol. Last year, he had been detained in a European country,, but he had escaped from custody after attacking the guards," the SBU noted.

   Security Service officers have seized handguns, ammunition and a grenade that were found in the suspects' possession. The officers found blueprints for making improvised explosive devices and components for them - the timer, micro elements, circuits, power sources in their rented apartment. These suspects are being checking for their possible role in preparing of terrorist acts in Kiev.

   A criminal investigation has been started regarding the detained Russian citizens; they were declared suspects in committing criminal actions. A court has ruled to hold them in custody.

Tuesday, August 18, 2015  3:53 AM PDT

One Ukrainian soldier killed in ATO area in past day

   KIEV, August 18 (Ukrinform). --- One Ukrainian serviceman was killed; another one was wounded in ATO area in past 24 hours.

   Spokesman for the Presidential Administration on the anti-terrorist operation, Colonel Oleksandr Motuzianyk said this at a briefing in Kiev, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

   "One Ukrainian serviceman was killed, one soldier was injured over the past day," he said.

Tuesday, August 18, 2015  3:53 AM PDT

50,000 Russian military concentrated at Ukrainian border; militants try to escalate the conflict, - General Staff

   (Censor.NET) --- Russia has concentrated 50,000 servicemen at the Ukrainian border, with militants trying to maximally escalate the conflict.

   As reported by Censor.NET referring to UNIAN, this was announced by the General Staff spokesperson Vladyslav Selezniov.

   He noted that "militants do not shun any means to exacerbate the situation as much as possible."

   "All this is happening along the events at the state border. As you know, about 50,000 Russian military are deployed on the state border between Ukraine and the Russian Federation," he said.

   According to Selezniov, such Russia's behavior is an attempt to put pressure on the Ukrainian side's hard-line stance during the Minsk talks.

   "All the actions by militants are aimed at conflict escalation, which again proves the representatives of the self-proclaimed "LPR" and "DPR" do not seek peace in this conflict, while taking maximum efforts to aggravate the situation," the spokesman stressed.

Tuesday, August 18, 2015  3:35 AM PDT

Occupied part of Donbas must be isolated from mainland Ukraine – Leonid Kravchuk

   (Zik) --- The first president of Ukraine, Leonid Kravchuk believes the rebel-held territory must be tightly sealed off until the situation is good for its liberation.

   Speaking to Novoje vremya Aug. 18, Kravchuk said the touchline should be perceived as a border. The empty rhetoric about humanism and Ukrainian living there should be dropped. We must cut off this territory until there is a chance to liberate it.

   The rebels should take the full burden of running the territory they ruined, Kravchuk said.

   “All links, political, economic and other, with the rebel-held Donbas must be severed. If the people there believe they want a new life, let them banish the rebels, like the Ukrainian had banished Yanukovych in the Maidan revolution in Kiev,” he said.

   The ex-president stressed the Minsk agreements are not implemented and only bring harm to Ukraine.

   That is why, Ukraine is to deploy any weapons the army needs at the touchline to repulse the hateful aggressors, he said. 

Tuesday, August 18, 2015  3:32 AM PDT

Rebels to humiliate Ukraine POWs at parade in Donetsk

   (Zik) --- To coincide with Ukraine’s Independence Day on Aug. 24, the separatists plan to make Ukraine POWs march in a humiliating way on Donetsk streets, SBU adviser Yury Tandit told Ukrayina 112 TV Aug. 18.

   This humiliation is part of Russia’s policy to destabilize the situation in Donbas, the official said.

   Recall that last August the rebels marched a 50-strong column of Ukraine POWs in their worn and torn uniforms, washing the street after they had passed. 

   Russia then said the parade was no humiliation, while in Europe the march was condemned as a military crime.

Tuesday, August 18, 2015  1:29 AM PDT

Situation aggravates in Donbas, Independence Day to be "hot", - Lutsenko

   (Censor.NET) --- For several weeks on, eastern Ukraine has seen escalation of not only shelling, but also of raids by pro-Russian militants.

   As reported by Censor.NET citing UNIAN, this was announced by the Head of Poroshenko Bloc faction Yurii Lutsenko during Hero of the Day TV show.
   "Escalation of not only shelling, but also of raids by pro-Russian militants has been recorded in the Donbas. So, unfortunately, the Independence Day will be "hot"," the politician said.
   According to him, the Kremlin commits attacks to discredit the Ukrainian authorities.
   "Putin seeks to discredit the Ukrainian authorities. He wants an internal disorder in Ukraine, and there is nothing better for him than to prove the current government inapt to restrain the aggressor. This would cause mass discontent and create a fertile ground for any separatist and revenge actions in the center of the Ukrainian capital," he said.
   Aware of this situation and possible course of events, Lutsenko says he will be staying at the front line during the Independence Day.
   At the same time, he says the Ukrainian government has an opportunity, though not too quickly, to frustrate the Russian scenario.
   "The government must repeatedly do three things in order to defeat the enemies of the Ukrainian state. Firstly, to knock down the aggressor. There is a whole range of measures in this regard. Secondly, we must provide an ordinary Ukrainian with tangible and beneficial results of reforms. Thirdly, we need results in fighting corruption, which is thriving even now. Therefore, handcuffs on the hands of high-rank criminals would also help restore the Ukrainian authorities credibility," Lutsenko resumes.

Tuesday, August 18, 2015  12:46 AM PDT

Five-month-old girl severely injured in Marinka shelling, - Interior Ministry

   (Censor.NET) --- At around 1 a.m. terrorists shelled Marinka residential area, seriously wounding a five-month-old girl.

   As reported by Censor.NET, this is announced by the the Ministry of Internal Affairs Main Directorate in the Donetsk region press service.
   According to the authority, one of the shells exploded in the residential area on Ordzhonikidze Street, where a family with a five-month-old baby lived.
   "The girl got a shrapnel wound in the abdomen. She was rushed to Dnipropetrovsk and operated. The child's parents were not injured," the statement reads.
   Casualties and damage data is being specified.
   The Marinka police department investigation group has arrived at the scene.

Former Romanian president states when Moldova can join EU

   KIEV, August 18 (Ukrinform). --- The Republic of Moldova will be able to become a full member of the European Union only when it unites with Romania.

   This opinion was expressed by former Romanian President Traian Basescu, the Uukrinform own Moldova's correspondent reports.

   In his opinion, it is the right time for Moldova and Romania to hold a referendum on the matter.

   Earlier, Basescu has repeatedly declared that next strategic goal of Romania after joining the EU and NATO should be the unification with the Republic of Moldova.

   Prime Minister of Moldova Valeriu Strelet has rejected the possibility of merging the two countries, as this process is too expensive, and Romanians "will not sacrifice their well-being for the sake of unification." 

Russia Says Air Units Deploying South To Ashuluk For Drills

   (RFE/RL) --- Russia’s Defense Ministry says the first phase of joint air-defense exercises by the Commonwealth of Independent States began on August 18.

   The ministry says troops from 20 air-defense and missile-defense units in the Moscow region have been put on high alert for the CIS Combat Commonwealth 2015 exercises, which are schedule to continue until September 11.

   The ministry says the exercises involve more than 1,000 servicemen as well as surface-to-air defense missile systems, fighter jets, assault attack helicopters, aircraft used for close air support in ground attacks, and military transport planes.

   The ministry says that after the first phase of the exercises are completed, the troops and military hardware will be redeployed to the Ashuluk training range in southern Russia’s Astrakhan region.

   Ashuluk is about 500 kilometers from Russia’s border with eastern Ukraine.

   Troops from five other CIS countries are taking part in the military drills -- Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Armenia.

   Troops from other countries are participating as observers.

Ukraine War Update – 17 August 2015

Monday, August 17, 2015  4:56 AM PDT

Two Ukrainian soldiers killed, seven wounded in ATO area in past day

   KIEV, August 17 (Ukrinform). --- Two Ukrainian servicemen were killed; seven soldiers were wounded in ATO area in past 24 hours.

   Spokesman for the Presidential Administration on ATO, Colonel Andriy Lysenko said this at a briefing, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

   "Two Ukrainian servicemen were killed, seven soldiers were injured in ATO area over the past day," he said.

Monday, August 17, 2015  4:03 AM PDT

Over half shelling occur near Donetsk - ATO

   KIEV, August 17 (Ukrinform). --- Over 50% of all ceasefire violations, committed by the militants in the ATO area, are recorded near Donetsk.

   Spokesman for the Presidential Administration on ATO, Colonel Andriy Lysenko said this at a briefing, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

   "The situation near Donetsk has not changed significantly. It is relatively quiet here only from 8:00 to 18:00. In the dark time, the enemy uses heavy weapons continuously. Over 50% of all ceasefire violations, committed by the invaders, fall on the Avdiyivka - Opytne - Pisky - Krasnohorivka - Marinka front line," Lysenko said.

   The spokesman added that the hostilities on the outskirts of Donetsk, in Mariupol direction, had resumed.

Monday, August 17, 2015  2:53 AM PDT

Situation in Ukraine's eastern regions. Map

   KIEV, August 17 (Ukrinform). --- The situation in eastern Ukraine remains tense. Despite the declared ceasefire, Russian-backed terrorists continue to fire at Ukrainian army positions and settlements in Donbas.

   The map reflecting the situation in Donbas as of 12.00 on August 17 has been released by the information and analytical center of the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council.

Monday, August 17, 2015  2:12 AM PDT

‘Donbas’ volunteer battalion redeployed back to touchline

   (Zik) --- ‘Donbas’ battalion volunteers are to return to the combat zone near Mariupol, UNIAN reports Aug. 17.

   A month ago, the battalion was pulled out of Shirokine, the area the rebels and Ukraine army agreed to demilitarize.

   As the rebels failed to withdraw heavy artillery from the area, the battalion is to take its positions close to the touchline.

   Mariupol residents protested the decision to withdraw the volunteers and replace them with Marines.

Sunday, August 16, 2015  23:56 PDT

Russian paint Ukrainian markings on their tanks in Novoazovsk

   (Zik) --- The flare-up of military confrontation in the Mariupol area is a fact. The rebels are using heavy artillery to shell the villages close to Mariupol, Podrobytsi reports Aug. 17.

   The demilitarization of Shyrokine has been disrupted, and the rebels are openly digging trenches there. They shell Ukraine Marines in Shyrokine using mortars, Sector M press officer says.

   How the situation will unfold in the future nobody can risk to predict, Podrobytsi says. One thing is clear – heavy artillery and Grads are in the area.

   The rebels in Novoazovsk started to paint Ukraine army markings on their tanks. 

Sunday, August 16, 2015  23:56 PDT

Rebels hit villages close to Mariupol, kill civilians

   (Zik) --- The rebels of the Donetsk breakaway republic did not shell the villages near Mariupol in the night of Aug. 17, the rebel representative says, Ria-Novosti reports.

   However, according to the Ukrainian army, its positions were shelled from 120-mm mortars in Bohdanivka and Starohnativka, the villages close to Mariupol. 

   The Azov regiment reports heavy artillery enemy fire on 4 villages near Mariupol – Lebedynske, Sartana, Shyrokina and Hnutovo.

   Three civilians were killed in the shelling of Sartana, Ukraine army reports.

Sunday, August 16, 2015  23:39 PDT

Two civilians killed, six wounded after militants shell Sartana village near Mariupol

   KIEV, August 17 (Ukrinform). --- Russian mercenaries shelled Sartana village near Mariupol on Sunday, killing two and wounding six civilians.

   This is reported by the press service of the Ukraine's Interior Ministry department in Donetsk region.

   According to the police, the doctors first reported on the killed man, found on Zaozerna Street. Later it became known about another victim of shelling, a girl aged about 20-22, whose body was found on Chervonoarmiyska Street.

   As of morning it became known that militants shelled four private houses. As a result of shelling, six civilians (four men, a woman and a child) got injuries of varying severity.

Ukraine War Update - 14 August 2015

Friday, August 14, 2015  3:21 AM PDT

One Ukrainian soldier killed, six wounded yesterday, - ATO speaker

   (Censor.NET) --- One soldier was killed and six more were injured in the ATO area Aug. 13.

   Presidential administration speaker on ATO Andrii Lysenko said at a briefing, Censor.NET reports.

   "One soldier was killed and six more received injuries during engagements over the past day," he said.

Friday, August 14, 2015  2:28 AM PDT

Militants block removal of Ukrainian soldiers' bodies from Donbas

(Ukraine Today) --- Volunteers of "Black Tulip" group risk their lives to bring back the bodies of soldiers killed in action in the east Ukraine

   UNIAN: Kremlin-backed militants do not allow a corridor for the Ukrainian 'Black Tulip' volunteer organization to remove Ukrainian soldiers' dead bodies from the Donbas conflict zone, Yaroslav Zhylkin, the chairman of NGO Narodna Pamyat [People's Memory] Union's board, wrote on Facebook.
   "Well, apparently something is going to happen there [in Donbas], …we haven't been given a corridor," he wrote.

   Zhylkin said it was not a typical situation for volunteers.

   "It has rarely happened to us. Even during the siege of the Donetsk airport and the town of Debaltseve, we were able to get there," he said.

   Black Tulip (Cargo 200 Evacuation), a Ukrainian volunteer organization, was set up in September 2014 as a joint civil and military cooperation project of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, the National Museum of Military History of Ukraine and NGO Narodna Pamyat Union. About 120 volunteers from different regions of Ukraine have been involved in the mission.

   As of the end of February 2015, volunteers had withdrawn 390 dead bodies of Ukrainian troops from the Anti-Terrorist Operation zone in eastern Ukraine.

Friday, August 14, 2015  1:30 AM PDT

Militants shelled Marinka and Krasnohorivka with heavy artillery having wounded soldier, - Donetsk Regional Administration

   (Censor.NET) --- The Armed Forces of Ukraine serviceman was wounded in Marinka district of the Donetsk region.

   This was reported in the press service of the Donetsk Regional Military and Civil Administration, Censor.NET reports citing 112 Ukraine.

   "The towns of Marinka and Krasnohorivka were fired at with heavy artillery and small arms over the past day. The information on inflicted damage is currently specified," the statement reads.

   One serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was wounded as of 8 a.m. Aug. 14, Donetsk Regional Military and Civil Administration added.

   All public utilities of the district function normally.

Friday, August 14, 2015  1:00 AM PDT

Terrorists committed massive attack on residential neighborhood of Artemove village at night. Evidence transferred to OSCE.

   (Censor.NET) --- The Ukrainian Military observers of the Joint Center for Control and Coordination of the cease-fire (JCCC) record numerous war crimes committed by the pro-Russian militants against civilians in the Donbas.

   The ATO press center reports citing the press officer of the Ukrainian party of JCCC Ruslan Semeniuk, Censor.NET informs.

   According to him, the terrorists conducted a massive strike on the residential neighborhood of Artemove village located not far from Dzerzhynsk village in the Donetsk region on the night of Aug 12. The shelling was conducted with 122-mm and 152-mm artillery from the direction of the mine named after Yury Gagarin situated near Horlivka: "About 50 militants' shells hit Artemove from 11 p.m. Aug 12 to 02:30 a.m. Aug 13."

   "A four-apartment house was completely burnt as a result of the shelling, which left all the residents homeless. Several cars, bicycles, many fences, and outbuildings have been recorded damaged. There are craters from the shells of different calibers on the streets.

   "A three-storey building has its roof and windows damaged. A woman was wounded in the arm by shrapnel. The shelling also damaged windows, doors, and gas pipeline in a two-storey house. The power was also cut there.

   "The shells of 122-mm and 152-mm caliber have as well damaged power transmission line, three houses, a coalhouse, a car, killed a dog, broken windows and doors. Many houses have their walls, windows, doors, and roofs damaged.

   "In addition, 122-mm projectiles have damaged facade of the building, windows, doors, 15 meters of rails, outbuildings and fence at the train loading station in Artemove.

   "The facts of the barbarous destruction of the residential neighborhood and the railroad station in the Artemove village by the pro-Russian militants have been documented by the observers of the Ukrainian party of JCCC and handed over to the OSCE special monitoring mission," JCCC press officer Semeniuk said.

Friday, August 14, 2015  12:55 AM PDT

Terrorists shelled Avdiivka, wounding two women, - Interior Ministry

   (Censor.NET) --- At 2:40 a.m. Aug. 14 police office of Avdiivka was informed of an artillery shelling of the city. According to preliminary information, two women have been wounded.

   The shelling was reported by the Interior Ministry in the Donetsk region press service, Censor.NET informs. Later, more information was provided by the Chief Police Head of the region Viacheslav Abroskin.
   According to him, two women have been wounded.
   "Today, militants shelled historical part of Avdiivka with Grads. As usual, [they did it] at night, meanly, while civilians were sleeping. Two women, both born in 1959, received shrapnel wounds," Abroskin wrote on his Facebook page.
   More information of damages and casualties is being specified. Avdiivka city police officers are documenting the consequences of the shelling.

Friday, August 14, 2015  12:38 AM PDT

Militants attack Ukrainian army positions 95 times overnight

   KIEV, August 14 (Ukrinform). --- The combined Russian-separatist forces shelled Ukrainian army positions in eastern Ukraine 95 times on August 13.

   The press center of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) wrote on Facebook on Friday.

   "The Russian proxies started firing Grad multiple rocket launchers at about 22:00 Kiev time on ATO fortified positions near the villages of Talakivka, Pavlopil, and Starohnativka close to the Ukrainian-controlled city of Mariupol. They also fired 152mm artillery systems on Starohnativka and Talakivka. From 18:00 to midnight, the militants attacked the village of Novotroitske twice, using 120mm mortars," the report says.

   "At about 22:00 Kiev time, the occupiers started firing mortars and 152mm artillery systems on ATO forces in the village of Zaitseve in the Artemivsk sector," the press center said.

   "From midnight to 06:00 Kiev time on August 14, the militants used banned artillery nine times. They fired Grad rockets on ATO forces in Vodiane four times and in Opytne three times," the press center said.

Friday, August 14, 2015  12:24 AM PDT

 ‘LPR’ terrorists admitted that another Putin’s ‘humanitarian’ convoy contained vehicle spare parts

   (Censor.NET) --- The militants have admitted that Russian ‘humanitarian’ convoy, invaded Ukraine on May 14, contained vehicle spare parts.

   On May 14 , the Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) observed a convoy of 39 trucks, with Russian Federation license plates, and with the inscription "Humanitarian aid from the Russian Federation". The trucks entered Luhansk city proceeding from the direction of the Russian Federation. An 'LPR' interlocutor at one of the warehouses told SMM that the humanitarian aid shipment contained flour, wheat, sunflower oil, and cereals. However, the SMM was unable to verify this information.

   Censor.NET reports citing Radio Svoboda.
   At the same time, "three of the 39 trucks were sent to the 'LPR ministry of emergency and reconstruction'. An interlocutor, responsible for the warehouse, said that they contained vehicle spare parts," the OSCE representative confirmed.

   Ukrainian border guards were not allowed to verify the contents of the 26th illegal Putin's 'humanitarian convoy'.

Thursday, August 13, 2015  23:36 PDT

35th 'Putin's humanitarian convoy' left Russia for Donbas

   (Censor.NET) --- 35th 'Putin's humanitarian convoy' left Russia for the Donbas.

   As reported by Censor.NET citing Liga, this was announced by the Russian Federation Emergency Service.

   "Russia's Emergency Service convoy with aid for the Donbas has left for the Russian border. It counts over 100 trucks carrying more than 1,000 tons of cargo," the message reads.
   The authority states that the trucks carry food, medicines, and daily necessities.Before entering the territory of Ukraine, the convoy will divide into two, one heading to the Donetsk region, the other to the Luhansk region.
   As known, Russia allows neither Ukrainian border guards not Red Cross representatives to examine the cargo. Every time a convoy arrives to the Donbas, terrorists intensify their activities. Ukrainian party has stated multiple times that the Russian Federation sends weapons and other aid to mercenaries in its convoys.

   Kiev insists that the cargo from Russia were delivered to the Donbas via railway. Ukrainian border guards and Red Cross representatives announced that they were not able to examine the trucks that carry the so-called humanitarian aid.

Thursday, August 13, 2015  10:42 AM PDT

SBU exposes Russian FSB interference in local elections in Zakarpatya

   (Zik) --- The Security Service of Ukraine has foiled the attempts by Russia special services to influence preparations for the local elections in October 2015.

   Acting under the cover of a private Moscow-registered organization, foreign agents were trying to help local leftists to raise their popularity in Zakarpatya. Moscow patrons promised the leftists to bankroll their election campaign, SBU says.

   SBU warned one of the leftist party leaders that his actions can be qualified as state treason.

Thursday, August 13, 2015  9:53 AM PDT

Rebels ban access to OSCE observers – Alexander Hug

   (Zik) --- Rebels in the Luhansk separatist republic ban OSCE monitors to inspect the areas to which they had allegedly pulled out heavy artillery from the touchline, OSACE mission head Alexander Hug said Aug. 13, UNIAN reports.

   In some cases, last week OSCE monitors did not see any heavy artillery in the areas of withdrawal, Hug said.  

   The Ukrainian army also restricts access to OSCE monitors to deployment areas of heavy artillery by banning the monitors to approach the weapons to take their serial numbers, Hug complained.

Ukraine War Update - 13 August 2015

Thursday, August 13, 2015  9:45 AM PDT

General Staff shifts responsibility for Ilovaisk on soldiers, - Butusov

   (Censor.NET) --- Some facts in the General Staff report on Ilovaisk tragedy are wrong.

   This is announced by the Censor.NET Chief Editor Yurii Butusov on his Facebook page.
   "Heroes of Ilovaisk are killed once again after a year. This time, with a lie. This time, by their comrades," Butusov outrages.
   "I've just read the General Staff report on its version of the Ilovaisk tragedy. It's a shame in front of hundreds of dead guys we let the liars and scoundrels desecrate their memory and shift all responsibility on the dead soldiers," Butusov says.
   According to Butusov, its one of the most cynical and false allegations reads:
   "The anti-terrorist operation HQ and the General Staff started to receive intelligence data on columns of military equipment of the Russian armed forces crossing the state border of Ukraine on Aug. 25, 2014."
   "Do you know why they are lying they learnt about the Russian invasion on Aug. 25? To justify the ATO Commander Viktor Muzhenko, who traveled to parade in Kiev on Aug. 24 to receive shoulder boards of colonel-general, while Ukraine was being intruded. At the time Muzhenko was putting the boards on, his soldiers were dying near Ilovaisk and no measures were taken by the ATO command. And now, in order to hide the crime, the General Staff falsifies the report having removed the official documents from it..., " he continues.
   According to the journalist, Ukrainian military intelligence warned about the invasion in early August. A BMD-2 IFV was captured near Heorhiievka on Aug. 20. A journalist Roman Bochkala wrote on Aug. 21: "Board number 275, from the 1st Airborne Company, military unit No. 74268, Pskov Airborne Division (platoon commander Lieutenant Popov). I talked to guys having dealt with Russian paratroopers. They are fighters of the 24th Brigade of the Ukrainian armed forces and the special forces unit "Storm". The battle took place near the village of Heorhiievka. The battlefield was strewn with blue berets and Rollton noodle packs (Russian instant noodles - ed.) The pictures show an IFV and with a PKT machine gun mounted on bearing the name of a gunner - private N.D. Surnachev. The same name and initials are listed in the evening roll-call journal, as well as the names of other Russian soldiers apparently fighting in Ukraine." This IFV is currently in Kiev at the Motherland Monument (among other exhibits evidencing of Russian invasion of Ukraine - ed.)
   "The war diary of the D sector has records confirmed by officers from the Verkhovna Rada investigative commission that at 2:30 p.m., Aug. 23 the ATO Commander Muzhenko and the Chief of Staff Nazarov were informed by General Lytvyn of the invasion of Russian troops witnessed by Ukrainian officers, in particular, Colonel Romyhailo, who had repeatedly reported to the ATO HQ. Aug. 24, the ATO command received detailed reports on the Russian invasion from the SBU, border guards, military, the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine, the Chief Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. At 5 p.m. I contacted the 28th Brigade company commander Dmytro Zavadskyi, who was in Starobesheve, and he told me he was personally watching Russian tanks cut the main road to Ilovaisk and that soldiers disguised as locals approached Russian military. Surely, this information was communicated via all channels including the ATO HQ.
   "We need a trial the soonest possible and a verdict. The court should present all the documents and orders for everyone to become aware of what happened and who is to blame. Anyone who deliberately delays the trial is a partner in crime, the same as Putin's murderers," Butusov concludes.

Thursday, August 13, 2015  9:15 AM PDT

Donbas rebels admit heavy casualties near Starohnativka

   (Zik) --- Donetsk rebels admit they lost 136 servicemen killed during the Aug. 10 battle near Starohnativka, a source told Apostrof Aug. 13.

   Simultaneously, separatists disseminate information that Ukraine army is preparing a major offensive. They even started to evacuate local residents from touchline areas.

   Meanwhile, Ukraine army intelligence reports that the rebels do little to engineer defensive positions, saying it is an indication that the separatists have other plans than defense. 

Thursday, August 13, 2015 2:43 AM PDT

Two soldiers killed, 10 wounded yesterday, - NSDC

   (Censor.NET) --- Over the past day, two Ukrainian soldiers were killed in combat activities in the east of Ukraine, 10 received wounds.

   This was announced by the NSDC Secretary Oleksandr Turchynov from B sector of the Ukrainian defense, Censor.NET informed citing NSDC press service.
   "Over the past day of our work in the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) area, the enemy shelled the Ukrainian positions 153 times," Turchynov said, adding this killed two soldiers and wounded 10.
   The NSDC secretary called this day "a black all time high" since the Minsk agreements were signed.
   "This intensity of fire corresponds to that of active hostilities," Turchynov stressed.

Thursday, August 13, 2015  2:34 AM PDT

Militants shelled Stanytsia Luhanska suburbs with 122-mm artillery in the morning, - Luhansk region Governor Tuka

   (Censor.NET) --- The terrorists continue actively using heavy weapons banned by Minsk II.

   It is reported by the press service of the Luhansk regional military and civil administration, Censor.NET informs.

   The statement reads: "The terrorists shelled the village of Bolotene in the Stanytsia Luhanska district with 122-mm artillery today at 7 a.m. The information on casualties or inflicted damage is being specified. The attacks from small arms were recorded in Stanytsia Luhanska. The gas pipeline was damaged on the outskirts of the village but it has already been repaired in the morning.

   "A soldier of Kiev-2 special patrol police battalion received injuries having tripped a land mine in the Krymske village in Novoaidar district."

   "The militants again employed weapons banned by the Minsk agreements in the morning. They just impact civilian population disregarding international law and simple sense of humanity," head of the Luhansk regional military-civilian administration Heorhii Tuka said.

   The night was calm in other traditional flash points including Shchastia, Troitske, Popasna, and Novotoshkivske not counting minor shootouts.

Thursday, August 13, 2015  12:26 AM PDT

Three civilians injured, power cut by terrorists’ shelling of Avdiivka, – Donetsk region police

   (Censor.NET) --- The militants’ shelling of Avdiivka in the Donetsk region inflicted injuries to three civilians; two more people were wounded in an attack on Dzerzhynsk, the Donetsk region.

   Censor.NET reports citing the statement of the Donetsk region police head Viacheslav Abroskin on Facebook.

   "The militants start shelling our towns when the night is setting in. This night was not an exception: those monsters were shelling civilians in all fronts, not neglecting the occupied territories," he wrote.

   According to Abroskin, the terrorists committed shelling of Kirov Street vicinity in Dzerzhynsk: "Shrapnel injuries were inflicted to a woman born in 1982, and an elderly man born in 1936."

   Abroskin also wrote that the terrorists shelled Avdiivka with D-30 guns today: "Several houses in the old part of the town have been ruined. The town was again left without power due to the damaged power transmission lines. Shrapnel injuries were inflicted to woman, born in 1954, and two men born in 1960 and 1928. Avdiivka police crime scene investigation team is examining damaged houses."

Wednesday, August 12, 2015  23:31 PDT

Ukraine Posts Video Of Captured ‘Russian Soldier’ Asking For Putin’s Help

   (RFE/RL) --- Ukraine’s state security agency has released a new video purporting to show a Russian Army officer who was detained last month in eastern Ukraine appealing to President Vladimir Putin to secure his release.
   The soldier in the video was identified by the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) as Major Vladimir Starkov, who Ukrainian officials say has admitted that he was serving in Russia’s armed forces at the time of his capture.
   Ukraine is likely to use the video to bolster its case that Russia is backing separatists fighting Kiev’s forces in eastern Ukraine in the 15-month-long conflict and undermining a cease-fire deal reached in February in Minsk.
   Russia has repeatedly denied its soldiers are fighting in Ukraine, despite mounting evidence to the contrary. The Kremlin has conceded that Russian citizens, including servicemen, have fought alongside the rebels but says they are volunteers operating outside of official control. 

   Moscow has also denied providing heavy, sophisticated weaponry that has been repeatedly seen in eastern Ukraine to separatist forces.
    In the video published on August 13 on YouTube by the SBU, the man, who does not identify himself, is shown wearing a camouflage jacket and is clean-shaven except for a mustache and goatee.
   Speaking Russian, he appeals directly to Putin to acknowledge his service and asks the Russian president to help free him.
   "I'm not a combat officer. I am only a 'paper,' a clerical officer," he says.
   "I served 19 years in the Russian Army. And now they don't acknowledge me. They're saying there's no one by that name. He didn't serve. How could they do such a thing?" he adds. 

'I'm Not A Terrorist'

   It was unclear when the two-minute video was made or whether the man was pressured to make the claims. SBU chief Vasyl Hrytsak told reporters earlier that Starkov had been detained on July 26 at a checkpoint outside the separatist-held city of Donetsk.

   Hrytsak said on July 29 that Starkov had been charged with terrorism, an allegation denied by the man shown in a video released by the SBU on August 13.

   "I'm not a terrorist. I didn't come here to kill anyone. Before my detention, I didn't put up any resistance because I knew that officially, we weren't enemies," the man says. 

   "I request that someone acknowledges that I'm a [Russian] soldier and helps me somehow transfer out of here," he adds.
   Following Ukraine’s announcement of Starkov’s detention, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov repeated denials of Russian involvement in the conflict.
   A day earlier, meanwhile, Euronews also published excerpts of an interview with a man who appears to be the same man from the SBU video. In the interview, the man -- whom Euronews also identifies as Starkov -- was quoted as describing how he was ordered to go to Ukraine.
   "Senior officers gathered us in a conference room and announced that our positions would be the same as promised, but we should do our military service in Ukraine: in the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics," he was quoted as saying, using the names of the self-proclaimed separatist governments.

   "It was forbidden to inform our relatives about this," Euronews quoted him as saying.
   After months of relative lull, fighting has flared again in parts of eastern Ukraine, with heavy artillery reported near the strategic Azov Sea port of Mariupol. 

Ukraine's government blamed separatist forces for the escalation in fighting, while the Kremlin in turn accused Kiev of stoking the violence. 

   The United Nations says more 6,500 people have been killed in the conflict between Ukraine’s military armed forces the separatists in eastern Ukraine since fighting erupted there in April 2014, a month after Russia’s annexation of Ukraine's Crimea territory that a majority of UN members deemed illegitimate.
   Ukraine announced earlier this year that it had captured two active Russian servicemen -- Yevgeny Yerofeyev and Aleksandr Aleksandrov -- who were fighting Kiev’s forces in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine.

   The two men have said they were conducting a reconnaissance mission the Russian military at the time of their capture, though Moscow claims they were not on active duty at the time.

Wednesday, August 12, 2015  13:22 PDT

Donbas rebels getting ready to attack – general staff

   (Zik) --- The concentration of enemy troops near the touchline indicates the rebels are preparing for a major attack, Ukraine army general staff says Aug. 12, Ukrayinska Pravda reports.

   “The rebels are beating their breasts saying the Ukrainian army is to launch an offensive. However, they are not doing anything to build defensive fortifications,” the Ukrainian army says.

   “Intelligence reports confirm that the rebels and Russian troops are getting ready to attack, not defend themselves.

   The army is ready to return to the front the heavy artillery and tanks pulled out under the Minsk agreements, like it happened during the recent enemy attack on Starohnativka when Ukraine army artillery was used to repulse the enemy attack,” the general staff spokesman said.