Contents tagged with Ukraine

  • Russia-backed militants to call for fixed-term military service in spring

    Intelligence: Militants are planning to hold call-up for fixed-term military service in spring

    The Chief Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported that militants are planning to hold a call-up for fixed-term military service in the occupied territories of Donbas, in the spring of 2016. The report noted that the decision was connected with a reduction of Russian mercenaries and an increase in the number of servicemen who wanted to terminate their contract with …

  • Despite decrease in casualties, situation remains tense for civilians in Eastern Ukraine

    The leading French magazine, Le Monde, reported on the number of victims of the armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine, citing a report by the UN Commission for Human Rights. The report highlighted that at least 9,098 have been killed and 20,732 people have been wounded as a result of military action in Eastern Ukraine since the start of hostilities last year.

    These casualties include civilians, Ukrainian government soldiers, and pro-Russian separatists. The report noted that from the 17th of …

  • President of Poland to Pay First Official Visit to Ukraine

    The presidential press-service of Ukraine reported that the President of Poland, Andrzej Duda, will pay his first official visit to Ukraine on December 14th. President Duda is scheduled to stay in Kiev for two days.

    The program of the visit includes negotiations between President Duda and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. The two leaders plan to discuss a wide range of issues from safety to strengthening bilateral cooperation.

    Readers may remember that Andrzej Duda took his oath of office …

  • Ukrainian prisoners still held by Donbass militants

    The Donbass region separatists are still holding 131 people hostage. Yari Tandit, advisor to the chairman of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), told Radio Freedom that they can only confirm the fate of 57 of those people. “We are looking for information on the places in which the remaining 74 hostages are situated,” said Tandit.

    On December 8th, Irina Gerashchenko reported that the insurgents of Donbass are still holding 140 Ukrainian prisoners. She is the chairman of the Parliamentary …

  • Poroshenko Criticizes Results of Ukrainian Fight against Corruption

    Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko delivered a warning against "calming" reports on the first stage of anti-corruption actions. He claimed that the results of current efforts to fight corruption were unsatisfactory and that more decisive steps would be required at the start of next year.

    "We have to prove that the system, carefully crafted during the entire year of 2015, finally works for Ukraine and is able to bring good results," Poroshenko said during the second meeting of the National …

  • Memory of Ukrainian Soldier Honored at U.S. Hockey Game

    At a hockey game in the United States people honored the memory of a Ukrainian-American soldier killed near Ilovaisk.

    During the hockey match in Newark between the New Jersey Devils and the Washington Capitals a photo of Mark Paslavskiy appeared on the scoreboard. The whole stadium lit up with the inscription “Heroes Among Us.” According to VIDIA, Paslavskiy was posthumously honored with the title of Hero of the Game.

    Paslavskiy, also known by the codename “Franko” was a former American Army …

  • Bordeaux City Hall Refused to Show Russian Propaganda Film about Crimea

    The Ukrainian Embassy in France reported that at least one Russian propaganda film won’t be seen by the French.

    In the French City of Bordeaux the film “Crimea - Path to the Motherland” was scheduled for screening in one of the city municipal halls on December 11th. Shot by TV channel “Russia-1”, the film tells about the annexation of Crimea by Russia and purports to justify the events that led to the war in Donbass.

    The Ukrainian Ambassador asked the mayor of Bordeaux to cancel the screening …

  • The Kremlin reacts to arrest of Russian citizens in Kyiv

    The Kremlin learned about the arrest of Russians from the media.

    Earlier, as a result of a special operation in Kyiv, one Russian citizen was killed and two others were arrested according to Ukraine's Security Service.

    The Kremlin has no information about the detention of Russian citizens during a special operation in Kiev. This was announced by Dmitry Peskov, Press Secretary for the Russian President, reports TASS (Russian News Agency). 

    “No, we don't have all the information. All we know …

  • Russia Demands Ukraine to Return to Soviet Standards

    Russia suggested that Kiev should completely refuse to work with European standards in the framework of the tripartite negotiations on the EU-Ukraine free trade zone from 2016.

    According to Moscow, it is necessary to return to the old industry standards of the Ukrainian regulatory field, which are not compatible with European standards.  In those areas old technical standards have already been adopted.

    The Russian Federation has demanded that Kiev revert to all GOST (USSR State Standards) and …

  • Italy Delays Decision on EU Sanctions against Russia

    At a meeting of European Union ambassadors the Italian diplomats requested further discussion on anti-Russian sanctions.  The exact date for discussion has not been appointed.

    As Radio Poland reports, the Italian proposal was supported by several other countries and as a result the decision about the sanctions’ extension was postponed.  According to sources in diplomatic circles, the discussion may resume on December 10 or be postponed until the EU Summit, scheduled for December 17-18.  The …