The Speaker » Ukraine

Russia Plans Upcoming Census in Crimea

The Speaker — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 18:17:19 +0000

Russia has planned a census to be taken in Crimea in October. The census will include 33 questions, which will be answered by declaration and without documented proof, will be accounted by “foreigners temporarily residing in Crimea,” and will have special focus placed on foreigners working and studying in Crimea. The plans were announced this week by Krymstat, the statistical body of Russia’s Crimean occupation authority. Russian authorities have commented that they expect the census will provide a needed picture of the actual populace of Crimea, which they believe may have been misrepresented in past censuses. Among the 33 questions will be queries about date and place of birth, ethnic origin, migration activeness, citizenship, income sources, education, marital status, fertility and residence. A separate section will be devoted to housing conditions questions. The census will be based on declarations–not documents. Krymstat has stated that census takers will not require documentary validification for any census declarations. Krymstat also has said it they will include foreign residents in Crimea, and will place a focus on foreign nationals who have come to Crimea to work or study, although details as to how Krymstat would count or group foreigners have not been not given. Soldiers of the Black Sea Fleet will also be included in the census. A decree to organize the census was signed by Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev earlier this month. The census will cost approximately 387 million rubles, according to RIA Novosti. Accounting of the census will be conducted by “foreigners temporarily residing in Crimea,” reportedly. Specialists will examine in detail the working and student migrants category. Russian news sources have reported that the census is important as a recognition of the actual populace of Crimea, and also because Russian experts suspect Crimean Tatar organizations overestimate the strength of their people. By Day Blakely Donaldson

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UN Report: East Ukraine Armed Groups Causing “Reign of Fear and Terror”

The Speaker — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 21:50:19 +0000

The UN released a report on Ukraine Monday that stated that armed groups in Eastern Ukraine have caused a “total breakdown of law and order and a reign of fear and terror.” The report found that the armed groups “continue to abduct, detain, torture and execute people kept as hostages in order to intimidate and to exercise their power over the population in raw and brutal ways.” The report listed some of the 812 people reportedly abducted and detained by armed groups in Donetsk and Luhansk, and also listed various crimes allegedly committed by the armed groups, such as torture and ill-treatment, sexual violence, enforced disappearances and the planting of landmines and explosive remnants. “Some of those detained by the armed groups are local politicians, public officials and employees of the local coal mining industry,” the report said, “the majority are ordinary citizens, including teachers, journalists, members of the clergy and students.” The report also noted documents indicating that the armed groups were conducting “military tribunals” and group leaders were signing “execution orders.” Those executed were reported to be members of armed groups and a common criminal. The Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) is verifying the details of these reports with relatives of the victims and a witness, the UN reported. Since fighting broke out early this year, over 1,129 people have been killed and 3,442 wounded in Ukraine, according to UN and WHO estimates. The material cost of the damage done so far is estimated at $750 million USD. Over 100,000 people have been displaced. By Day Blakely Donaldson

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UN Warns Foreign Fighters in Ukraine Will Be Brought to Justice for Any War Crimes

The Speaker — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 04:43:21 +0000

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay stated Monday that foreign fighters and others currently active in East Ukraine would be brought to justice for any war crimes committed in East Ukraine. Pillay made the statement while issuing a new report by the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, and calling for care in preventing civilian casualties in Ukraine. “I would like to stress to all those involved in the conflict, including foreign fighters, that every effort will be made to ensure that anyone committing serious violations of international law, including war crimes, will be brought to justice, no matter who they are,” said Pillay. “I urge all sides to bring to an end the rule of the gun and restore respect for the rule of law and human rights.” Pillay also noted that the downing of Malaysian Air MH17 may qualify as a war crime. Pillay called for a “prompt, thorough, effective, independent and impartial investigation” into the downing of MH17. The UN Security Council also called for the investigation, and demanded armed groups currently active in Eastern Ukraine allow investigators unfettered access. By Day Blakely Donaldson

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Russian News Channel Airs Conflicting Before and After Reports of Suspected Downing of Malaysian Air MH17 [video]

The Speaker — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 21:01:05 +0000

Two reports of the downing of a plane suspected to be Malaysian Air MH17 have been published by Russian news network LifeNews. The two television reports were aired before and after the identity of the Malaysian passenger plane was known, and reported conflicting testimonies by pro-Russian separatists active in Donetsk about responsibility for a plane crash near Torez, Donetsk that took place July 17. “Insurgents have reported a downed another Ukrainian military cargo aircraft,” the newscaster reported in the earlier broadcast. “The plane was flying over the city of Torez in the self-proclaimed Donetsk Republic at approximately 5 pm Moscow time . The AN-26 was flying over the city and was hit by a missile, there was an explosion, and the plane fell, with black smoke visible.” The reporter added that the location of Torez was near Snezhnoe and Saur-Mogila Hill–territories controlled by the rebels. This report accompanied social media posts by pro-Russian separatists, such as a post purportedly by militant leader Strelkov stated, “Near Torez we just downed an AN-26 plane. It’s lying near Progress Mine. We warned them–don’t fly in our sky.” The post accompanied the same picture presented in the LifeNews broadcast. After the identity of the Malaysian passenger plane was reported, the post was removed and claimed to have been a fake. The rebels later published statements that they did not have the equipment to down the plane, although the rebels have already downed several Ukrainian military planes with surface-to-air missiles, and had made statements that they would protect the sky over Donetsk with highly sophisticated surface-to-air Buk missile systems. The rebels asserted that the Malaysian jet was downed by the Ukrainian air force. The LifeNews reporter also noted that “according to some data, the plane was followed by a UA air force plane,” and that, according to Russian intelligence, the Ukrainian military had transported Buk systems to the area. Russian News Channel Airs Conflicting Before and After Reports of Suspected Downing of Malaysian Air MH17

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Massive Russian Forces Redeployment Started

The Speaker — Sun, 22 Jun 2014 08:01:52 +0000

As pre-announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin Saturday, Russian troops have begun relocating to designated areas, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense Sunday. The statements of the Russian Ministry of Defense on the massive redeployment were reported by RIA Novosti. “In the process of checking the combat readiness of troops… the military units have started large-scale relocation to designated areas,” said the Russian Ministry of Defense. In particular, tank and anti-aircraft missiles were loaded onto railway platforms, airborne units were moved to airfields, and some military units were moved. Putin had announced his intentions to redeploy the units Saturday as part of what Putin called a comprehensive review of sudden alertness. The review is expected to involve approximately 65,000 troops, 180 aircraft, 60 helicopters and over 5,500 units of weaponry and other military equipment. Additionally, the Russian side of the Gokuvo checkpoint in the Rostov region has been closed due to shooting in Ukraine, the Russian Border Guard told RIA Novosti. However, two other checkpoints, Kujbyshevo and Novoshahtisnk have been opened. Novoshahtinsk had reportedly been hit by mortar fire from Ukraine Friday, destroying buildings and utilities and injuring one employee of the customs post. RIA Novosti RIA Novosti

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Russia Moves Tanks Across Border, Pro-Russian Forces Shoot Down Second Ukrainian Carrier, EU Invites Russia to EU-Ukraine Trade Agreement Talks

The Speaker — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 19:11:13 +0000

One day after Russian tanks crossed the Russia-Ukraine border, the EU invited Russia to participate in EU-Ukraine trade agreement talks. The EU continues to include Russia in efforts toward peace in Ukraine, despite the continued violence of pro-Russian fighters in Ukraine, who, according to the Ukrainian government, the US government, NATO, the EU and others, are aided by Russia–allegations which, although supported by proof, Russia continues to deny. EU president Herman Van Rompuy made strong statements Saturday on Russia’s involvement in Ukraine. On Saturday, Van Rompuy said, “There is … no doubt that the armed fighters that are terrorizing and disrupting the lives of citizens in Ukraine, are enjoying external support, including arms supply and reinforcement through foreign fighters.” “As a neighboring state, Russia bears a primary responsibility in ensuring that any such traffic and external support through its borders is immediately stopped,” Van Rompuy further commented. The US State Department recently confirmed reports that Russian tanks had entered Ukraine, saying, “We assess that separatists in eastern Ukraine have acquired heavy weapons and military equipment from Russia, including Russian tanks and multiple rocket launchers… Russia will claim these tanks were taken from Ukrainian forces, but no Ukrainian tank units have been operating in that area. We are confident that these tanks came from Russia.” Russia Has Sent Tanks Into Ukraine, Says US State Department NATO supplied evidence about the veracity of the claims of Russian tanks entering Ukraine over the border. “The tanks do not bear markings or camouflage paint like those used by the Ukrainian military. In fact, they do not have markings at all, which is reminiscent of tactics used by Russian elements that were involved in destabilizing Crimea. “These images raise significant questions concerning Russia’s role in facilitating instability in eastern Ukraine and its involvement in the movement of military equipment from Russian territory into Ukraine. If these latest reports are confirmed, this would mark a grave escalation of the crisis in eastern Ukraine in violation of Russia’s Geneva commitments”. Last Friday, however, the president of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, restated its willingness to include Russia. “[C]oming back to the agreements with Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia that we are going to sign in Brussels in June 27,” said Barroso, “I want to reiterate our willingness, as European Union, to pursue talks with Russia, to discuss the concrete implementation of these agreements, in case there are any concerns on the Russian side. Of course we have to respect the content of these agreements, what was already decided by the governments of these countries, but if there are some concerns, if there are technical issues that the Russian authorities want to clarify, we are ready for it.” “So our message, as European Union, is a message of dialogue and cooperation, not a message of confrontation. At the same time we have to be firm in the respect of the sovereign right of any country to decide its own future.” The EU leader reiterated “an appeal to Russia to engage constructively with Ukraine and to give concrete steps and clear evidence of de-escalating efforts.” Meanwhile, the fighting in Eastern Ukraine continues. A second Ukrainian troop carrier plane was shot down at an airport near Luhansk airport Friday. The Il-76 transport plane was shot down with a MANPADs and was carrying 40 paratroopers and 9 crew. The Speaker KHPG Reuters Aviationist

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Approximately 200 Russian Army Vehicles Reported Moving Toward Ukraine Border

The Speaker — Sun, 15 Jun 2014 22:38:18 +0000

[Updated, but still ongoing. More details will be added.] A column of Russian military equipment, composed of perhaps 200 peices, has been videoed moving toward the Ukrainian border. The video shows 16 loader trucks carrying tanks. The column is reportedly moving toward the Dolzhansky crossing. These reports have not been officially verified. Information is being written as it is becomes available. [Update: the reports have now published in Podrobnosti, and is being reported on by several Western outlets.] Reports are also coming in from djp3tros and other sources on Twitter. Russia Has Sent Tanks Into Ukraine, Says US State Department Earlier Sunday, NATO released images it said showed Russian tanks had recently entered Ukraine from the same origin, the Russian city of Rostov. Russia had vigorously denied any truth to the claims of the Ukrainian government that Russian tanks had entered, but the US State Department confirmed the claims Saturday. [Updated] The Ukrainian military has since stated that their forces at the border are in full combat readiness, and that no advances on the border have been made in the past 24 hours. 74 vehicles can be counted in another video. Another video, posted Saturday, also shows large amounts of military vehicles moving toward Ukraine in Rostov. Around 45 vehicles are shown. Another video shows 14 vehicles. NATO Statement Youtube Mashable djp3tros podrobnosti

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Russia Has Sent Tanks Into Ukraine, Says US State Department

The Speaker — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 22:20:25 +0000

According to the US State Department, Russia has sent tanks, heavy weapons and rocket launchers into Ukraine over the past days, in order to support pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine, confirming statements recently provided by Ukrainian media sources. The State Department said there was video proof. “We assess that separatists in eastern Ukraine have acquired heavy weapons and military equipment from Russia, including Russian tanks and multiple rocket launchers,” said US State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf in a statement Friday. Three T-64 tanks, several MB-21 “or Grad” multiple rocket launchers, as well as military vehicles crossed into Ukraine from Russia in recent days, Harf said. Harf said the tanks are a type that Russian forces no longer use and predicted that Moscow would claim the tanks were taken from Ukrainian forces. Hraf’s statement referred to the type of tanks–ones Russian no longer used–and said, “Russia will claim these tanks were taken from Ukrainian forces, but no Ukrainian tank units have been operating in that area,” said the State Department. “We are confident that these tanks came from Russia.” “We also have information that Russia has accumulated multiple rocket launchers at this same deployment site in southwest Russia, and these rocket launchers also recently departed,” went the State Department statement. “Internet video has shown what we believe to be these same rocket launchers traveling through Luhansk.” Hraf stated, “This is unacceptable. A failure by Russia to de-escalate this situation will lead to additional costs.” IIP

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