Ukraine news/Archive/2017-06

30 Jun. DPR ombudsman: in the past week, 1 soldier and 1 civilian man killed, 20 people (18 soldiers, 1 civilian man and 1 civilian woman) wounded. DPR MOD: in the past week, Ukraine fired 847 missiles, artllery, tank and mortar shells Eng., Rus.

LPR multimedia weekly report, showing shelling areas, with maps; 1089 shells in total. 11 houses damaged, 1 civilian wounded. Another Ukrainian RSG group apprehended, one wounded UAF soldier was abandoned by comrades, died in neutral zone.

29 Jun. Trade University building partially collapsed in central Donetsk, possibly explosion, casualties, but not confirmed. Emergency services so far believe that there are no casualties.

27 Jun. LPR: Ukrainian RSG attacked a group delivering food to contact line, killed 2 and captured 4, including Victor Ageev. Russian MOD: Victor Ageev never served under contract, only under draft, which ended in May, 2016. (Ukrainian HQ claims;lenta.ru-his documents). Graham Phillips and LPR reports suggest that those killed were first tortured, based on injuries observed.

Head of Ukrainian GRU reserve detachment Maxim Shapoval was killed when his Mercedes car exploded in Kiev; another man was wounded. (112.ua)(Rusvesna 1,2). 'In Kiev, it was already suggested (by Anton Gerashenko) that Russian services can be behind'.
 * He was the first Kiborg, had some role in guarding Voronenkov (23 Mar.), probably some business interest too. The attack day coincide with some anniversaries, including his detachment's (1,4 July)...

Ukrainian sources: 'Chernobyl station is monitored in manual regime due to cyber-attacks'

25 Jun. Ukraine will buy 2 mln tons of coal in Pennsylvania, USA, in order to reject Donbass coal. That was negotiated during Poroshenko visit to Washington.

24 Jun. In the first hours of the newest agreed ceasefire, Ukraine violated it 7 times, twice in Mariupol area (small firearms fire), 3 times near Donetsk (tank and mortar fire), 2 times near Gorlovka (small firearms). 'Bread' ceasefire, to gather crops, 24 Jun.- 31 Aug., was negotiated by the contact group on 21 Jun.

23 Jun. DPR MOD: in the past week, 328 ceasefire violations by Ukraine, 2840 missiles, artillery, tank and mortar shells fired. (Rus.)(Eng.)Ombudsman: 4 people (2 civilian women and 2 soldiers) were killed, 6 people (5 soldiers and 1 civilian man) wounded (1 soldier critically wounded -MOD).

22 Jun. Macron wants to know what is happening with Minsk agreements ("neither war nor peace"), and so plans to have a Normandy format meeting before G-20.

Preparation for Putin-Trump meeting at G-20 is not conducted in practice, according to both sides

Ukrainian journalist Igor Guzhva, chief editor of Ukrainian site strana.ua was arrested on charges of 'extortion' (later released on bail). His site sometimes published more accurate information on ATO events (e.g. reported on Ukrainian advance on Zhelobok, contradicting the official line). In his own words: now in each large media channel, a system of curators is being established, from presidential administration, government, and SNBO. They read through the news and say, this material goes, and this does not. This is channeled through owners and made to look nice, not a direct censorship. (Clip starts with him telling that all important policies are controlled 'by Americans', followed by jump cut)

21 Jun. NATO's F-16 (apparently Polish) closely approached Russian DM Shoigu plane flying over neutral waters of Baltic sea, and was steered off by escorting Su -27 -video. Shoigu was heading to Kaliningrad for a meeting on 'security issues from the Western strategic direction'.

DPR: 81 years old woman died from injuries received in Yasinovataya shelling by Ukraine on 19 Jun.

20 Jun. OSCE claimed (in initial twit version, now apparently softened) that their observers were assaulted in Yasinovataya by 'armed DPR men' (nobody was injured). DPR investigates, calls this a provocation (designed to coincide with Poroshenko visit to USA,  arrests some suspects, who are said to be not members of DPR armed forces or security services.

19 Jun. DPR. A young woman was killed by Ukrainian shelling of Kominternovo. An old woman was wounded by Ukrainian shelling of Yasinovataya

It is said that Poroshenko administration on the eve of his US visit develops some new plan presented as halting ATO, some 'peaceful reintegration', possibly even change of legal status of rebel areas --and, somehow, emergency military rule in Ukrainian-held Donbass. DPR reaction after 3 years of war is skeptical.

18 Jun. DPR MOD: 1 DPR soldier was killed, at least two houses damaged. New provocations feared prior to Trump meeting with Poroshenko (who visits on 19-20 Jun), and contact group meeting on 21 Jun.

16 Jun. DPR MOD: 447 ceasefire violations by Ukraine, 3850 missiles, artillery, tank and mortar shells fired. 1 DPR soldier and 3 civilians were killed, 5 civilians were wounded (Rus.)(Eng.)

13 Jun. An old woman, 1939 DOB, was killed by Ukrainian sniper fire in Sakhanka -DAN news (Eng.)

12 Jun. Two civilians were killed in overnight Ukrainian shelling of Petrovskii and Kievskii districts of Donetsk. According to DPR MOD, with a video from the scene, OSCE did not attend the scene due to lack of asphalted road leading there. 'A shot fired from BMP-1 gun in Mar'inka took lives of 2 people, a mother and her son'. (Discussion).

Anna News correspondents recorded from Kalinovo Ukrainian night shelling of LPR (1:49-2:17;2:38), while that same Ukrainian position is shelled by Ukrainians themselves (2:16-2:27; 2:51-3:18; also around 4:00-4:40 from another direction). Lights in Popasnoe, Ukr. held, seen at 4:42. Camera is on a forward LPR position, there are no LPR positions in front of the camera. 5:46-6:02, cameraman is spotted and fired on, 120 mm mortar shell lands nearby. 6:07 -6:21, LPR is shelled some more; 6:23 more shots on LPR from Troitskoe. Ukrainian sources reported that UAF positions were shelled in Popasnoe and Troitskoe by the militants

11 Jun. 'Water of Donbass' pumping station near Yasinovataya lost power again due to Ukrainian shelling, affecting water supply in several large cities in soutwestern Donbass. Russian JCCC reps and plant operators came under Ukrainian fire when visiting the station (casualties were luckily avoided).

10 Jun. LPR weekly report (multimedia, Rus.) Ukraine fired 1506 mortar and artillery shells and grenades. Zhelobok attack: 7 houses destroyed, 2 civilians wounded. LPR claims that 11 UAF were killed and 18 wounded, bodies were left in the grey zone near Zhelobok, some of them could be saved if evacuated in time. On 7 June in the afternoon (Zhelobok attack day), OSCE SMM patrol near Muratovo (Ukrainian-held) heard 30 MLRS missiles. LPR: those were fired from Zolotoye (Ukrainian controlled).
 * Zhelobok report & photos, by "Prizrak' commissar 'Dobryi'.

DPR MOD: 395 ceasefire violations by Ukraine, 3800 missiles, artillery, tank and mortar shells fired (Rus.)(Eng.) DPR ombudsman: in the past week, 7 people (6 soldiers and 1 civilian woman) were killed, 24 people (16 soldiers, 1 civilian woman, 7 civilian men) were wounded. 736 DPR people are in Ukrainian custody (426 confirmed and 303 being verified; + 7 new petitions regarding DPR supporters arrested by Ukraine, dated from Aug. 2015 to June 2017).

8 Jun. In the past day, 1 DPR soldier was killed and 1 wounded.

LPR official report: in the past day, Ukraine fired 413 mortar and artillery shells banned by Minsk agreements. 4 soldiers and 2 civilians wounded, 7 houses destroyed.

Opolchenie report: Zhelobok settlement, LPR (map) is under control of 'Prizrak' (LPR), and partially by Ukraine in the grey zone; before the attack, the situation was similar. Some heights which were captured by Ukraine remain under their control. Fierce artillery duels continue, and extend to Donetsk suburbs. 'Water of Donbass' report that equipment at a pumping station near Yasinovataya were damaged by Ukrainian shelling, and pumping cannot be restarted without repairs and clearing of unexploded munitions. Videos: (1) media, the head of the administration and the representative of LPR militia came under UAF shelling; (2)shells  hit  residential buildings on the streets of 50 years of the USSR, Michurin and Voikov in the city of Kirovsk.

Ukrainian losses in the past day according to the official report: 2 killed and 11 wounded (including 1 killed and 8 wounded in Zhelobok, in Rusvesna reading of the official data).

Small IED explosion at the US Embassy in Kiev, no damage or injuries.

7 Jun. BREAKING: UAF attacked from two directions near Zhelobok, LPR, on the day of a scheduled meeting in Minsk-Rusvesna report. Opolchenie report: UAF is using heavy artillery and tanks to override first line of defense. When attacks started, LPR defenders were ordered to use light weapons only. Residential areas in Kirovsk city center were shelled, serious destruction is reported. LPR spokesman: 2-3 platoons UAF involved in the attack. 6 Jun. DPR. In the past day, 7 people were wounded, 11 houses damaged by Ukrainian shelling.

3 June. US program of junior leader military training in Ukraine, with photos, and more multimedia on recent US deployment to Eastern Europe -Cassad.

2 June. DPR MOD weekly update (Rus.), (Eng.) 389 ceasefire violations by Ukraine, 3632 missiles, artillery, tank and mortar shells fired. DPR ombudsman: 2 DPR soldiers killed, 11 people (5 DPR soldiers, 3 civilian men, 3 civilian women) wounded (MOD gives lower numbers). 23 houses damaged. -All that in the background of announcements of new attempts of ceasefire.

LPR dismisses Kiev's reports on Ukrainian army advance (Eng). Anna news video report from Bakhmut road, near Zhelobok and Frunze, checkpoint 31, LPR--there have been no recent advances of Ukrainian forces. However, they occupy positions in grey zone for quite some time, in violation of Minsk agreements; LPR complained to OSCE many times.

1 Jun. Adam Osmaev, a Chechen accused in the past of preparing an attempt on Putin, was wounded in a shoot-out in Kiev with a man who presented himself as a French journalist. The attacker was also wounded by shots fired by Osmaev's wife. Ukrainian sources give different details, telling that Osmaev car was shot at.
 * Ukrainian media published a photo of the alleged attacker, who has Ukrainian internal and external passports. Gerashenko tries to make a case connecting the attacker to Russia. Ukrainian reports, photos suggest that he may be Arthur Denisultanov, who has a criminal past. It is said that he threatened  Umar Israilov, former Kadyrov bodygauard, later killed in Vienna, Austria. He was questioned in Austria  and testified against Kadyrov, but was not believed, sent back, and later claimed that his testimony was falsified by police.
 * A video with young Denisultanov involved in some protection for car sales business in St Petersburg was published by a journalist-(for-hire) Nevzorov.
 * Timer-Odessa interviewed Arthur Denisultanov-Kurmakaev. His version of events is that he was really interviewing Adam Osmaev and Amina Okueva for his book, about Chechens living abroad (but he is not known to be a writer/journalist). He says that he pretended to be 'Monde' correspondent as otherwise they will not meet him. He claimed that there was a box in the car with a foreign-made handgun; he 'had not see such a weapon before' and took it from the box. Osmaev saw a gun in his hands and shouted 'be careful', started to turn the gun in his hands; all that resulted in accidental shot fired. He further claimed that after this Osmanov and Okueva panicked and fired many shots hitting him from a close distance. Denisultanov filed a police report naming himself as a victim.
 * Longer version of Denisultanov interview, with video.
 * Glock handgun from which a shot at Osmaev was fired was officially registered and issued as an award weapon by Avakov (presumably to Osmaev--Timer omits it though, so some chance of Denisulatanov buying it remains). It is said that Denisultanov met with Osmaev 3 times prior to the shoot-out.
 * Added 3 Jan. 2019: Denisultanov is quoted telling a different version of those events