Ukraine news/Current

31 Jul. It is reported that Ukraine shelled residential Donetsk with cluster munition dispersing anti-personnel "petal" landmines; apparently "Uragan" munition was used.

On the Fleet Day, a drone attack, with a small DIY munition, on HQ of the Russian Black Sea fleet in Sevastopol. It is said that 6 people are wounded by flying glass.

29 Jul. Ukraine shelled a prison in Yelenovka where Ukrainian POWs from Mariupol were held. Is is said that 40 prisoners were killed and 130 wounded. Russia called for international investigation.

25 Jul. Bellingcat and their handlers in British intelligence fail in their plot to pay Russian air force pilots to hijack their planes and fly them to Ukraine,

Some sources 1, 2 claim that American multinationals bought 17 million hectars of Ukrainian agricultural land; that would be about half of all quality agricultural land and some 28 % of Ukrainian territory. Opposing sources estimate foreign multinationals land purcahses from 2.8 to 6 mln hectars

24 Jul. "Iranian drones for the Russian Army are already on their way - Ukrainian media"

US to give Ukraine hundreds of kamikaze drones

18 Jul. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accuses the West of a long practice of using "staged incidents" as a way of doing politics. (mirror, original in Russian) Lavrov fails to mention the 2013 sarin false-flag attack on Ghouta in Syria.

17 Jul. Both sides are believed to prepare major operations. Related: Ukr. general Malomuzh interview, covered in Russia under "Putin's ultimatum", here.

Rusvesna: "The UAF militants posted on the Web another video with what was left of the American M777 howitzer, destroyed by our gunners"

Report: "In the area of Krasnoarmeysk settlement, DPR, high-precision ground-based weapons destroyed a launcher and a transport-loading vehicle of a US-made HIMARS multiple launch rocket system" (with unclear video).

15 Jul. It is said that one HIMARS has found itself in Russia.

13 Jul. LPR forces destroyed/captured US-made M777 howitzer, video posted 1, 2.

12 Jul. TASS on Ukrainian MLRS strike on Novaya Kahovka city, Kherson region. Loss of life, destruction. HIMARS said to be used.

10 Jul. Chasov Yar, northern Donetsk region/DPR. Russian side says that the strike was on militants and foreign mercenaries, have a video and photo to back up the claim. Ukrowestern media report that 15 civilians were killed. (On the video, made by Ukr. militants, a running militant shouts, in Russian, that a civilian building is hit, mixed with expletives; another militants speaks English; before another missile flies over and explodes nearby).

Russian side says (with video) that its artillery destroyed a launching platform of Brimstone missile, inside a civilian-looking truck, after a missile was launched.

3 Jul. Report: Russian and allied forces delivered powerful strikes on strongly fortified Ukrainian positions in Avdeevka, apparently at or near a coke chemical plant. Those are among the positions from where residential areas of Donbass and Makeevka are regularly shelled, for a long time.

Ukraine fired missiles on Russian Kursk, Belgorod. In Belgorod, 5 civilians are killed, several wounded, several homes damaged, apparently by "Tochka U" missile. Russia attacked Ukrainian military targets in response.

Russian and allied forces takeover of Lisichansk is drawing to a close, after the area was surrounded, and key positions taken over by the Russians. Few remaining pockets of resistance are mopped up. Some Ukrainian forces possibly managed to retreat; exact counts are uncertain. There is celebratory footage from the city center by Chechen and Cossack units, and declaration of liberation of all of the LPR.

It is said that Kazakh 'Silky Way' ship from Novorossisk, RU, to a port in Turkey, with a cargo of grain (?) is either arrested or not allowed.

1 Jul. Lev Vershinin: Swedes bent (see also: A.S. Pushkin).

30 Jun. RU MoD: Russian forces left Zmeinyi island. Reason provided is a goodwill gesture showing that Russia does not prevent export of Ukrainian grain. Apparent other reason is that Ukrainian forces gathered artillery and MLRS which could overwhelm small island air defenses, and it was too onerous to defend by other means.

27 Jun. Fire at a shopping /TV center in Kremechug: (early) Russian version here (either a strike on a nearby plant, believed to be involved in repairing military equipment, or Ukrainian provocation); maps: apparently 1, 2. Ukrainian version: Western and Ukrainian media. Noted: G7 meeting; Ukrainian appeal to the UN; case-making for more Western weapons and aid to Ukraine. Some Ukr. media videos: (fire), (aftermath]).

Lavrov: as RU MoD explained, the strike was on "hangars where American and European weapons and ammunition arrived".

25 Jun. Severodonetsk is under Russian control. 1, 2, 3.

24 Jun. Ukrainian first use of US-made HIMARS is reported 1 (video), 2.

It is said that Ukraine is preparing counter-attack(s)

22 Jun. A drone attack on a refinery in the Rostov region - a fire broke out at the plant. (On the WW2 Nazi invasion day).

20 Jun. Ukrainian forces attacked 3 Russian-manned oil drilling platforms in the Black Sea, near Zmeinyi island, off coast of Odessa. One platform was hit, 5 out of 12 workers were rescued, others are missing.

Donetsk remains under heavy shelling, a hospital is hit.

Russian missile strikes on ammo and fuel depots (1, 2, 3), military headquarters reported.

Lithuania is blocking railroad transit to Kaliningrad, Russia launched a strong protest.

11 Jun. DPR head Pushilin on condmened by DPR court British, Moroccan subjects: the convicts did not hide their crimes, and official London and Rabat did not apply to the Republic about their subjects. 5 Jun. Ukrainian shelling of Donetsk continued in the morning, NATO-supplied 155 mm is said to be used. Overnight, Russian forces performed strikes on military (and infrastructure?) targets in Kiev, Kramatorsk, and elsewhere (Ru MoD version: [text, video).

4 Jun. Heavy Ukrainian strikes on central Donetsk (said to be 40 "Grad" rockets). 5 civilians were killed, 20 wounded. Fighting elsewhere in Donbass continues (Ru MoD version) (Foreign Legion in Severodonetsk -ends with a man's medical evacuation).

Four Foreign Legion members were killed in Ukraine: Dutchman Ronald Vogelaara, 47-year-old Australian Michael O'Neill, Bjorn Benjamin Klavis and Wilfried Blair (1, 2 )

30 May. Chechen spetznaz sends a video report showing them in residential and central Severodonetsk, and in harmony with the civilians. It is said that Ukrainian forces still control the industrial zone (and unclear what else).

Earlier, interview with civilians in Severodonetsk interrupted by a shell exploding nearby. (While Ukrainians are geolocating on social media) - 1, 2.

Head of the Dnepr ter. defense Gennady Korban: "Kiev, Sumy, Chernigov and Kharkov urgently need to build a deep echeloned defense". He also called for mining the northern border of Ukraine.

Shelling of Donetsk by Ukraine with heavy weapons continues, it is said that at least 6 civilians are killed and 14 (in another report, 16) are wounded.

[https://t.me/truexanewsua/48940 “The shells were delivered. And yesterday and today is a sea of spills "]- Arestovich (Ukr.)

29 May. Donetsk is under sustained Ukrainian fire from NATO-supplied 155 mm artillery. Donetsk, Makeevka, Gorlovka are also shelled by other heavy weapons (Grad, Uragan). At least two civilians are killed, and several civilians are wounded.

27 May. Ukrainian former president Victor Yanukovich: "On the edge. Ukrainian statehood is decided now" (posted on Facebook, full text copied here)(reaction/criticism)

25 May. It is said that Ukrainian forces withdrew from Svetlodarsk, avoiding being surrounded.

24 May. Interview with Nikolai Patrushev, the secretary of the Russian security council.

19 May. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkUO0-_AsVE Song clip, in Ukr. mova], about Azovstal surrender and all that.

14 May. Gonzalo Lira: some 400 -700 Ukrainian soldiers may be dying per day, for no reason.

Tucker: There is something really wrong (regarding US aid vs US state of affairs).

Dmitry Medvedev comments on G7 statement.

Israel denies equipping Ukraine with Blue Spear missile through Estonia (that was claimed by a Ukrainian journalist and repeated in Russia at least by one opolcheie activist).

Updates, see Talk

10 May. ''An eyewitness photographed a giant convoy of grain trucks in the Moldovan port of Giurgiu on the Danube. Probably, trucks export grain from Ukraine to the EU.

5 May. Ukraine got access to high resolution optical satellite data

NYT: "U.S. Intelligence Is Helping Ukraine Kill Russian Generals, Officials Say"

1 May. Belgorod region, Russia. A fire at a RU MoD facility is reported, one person is lightly injured.

Governor of Kursk region, Russia: bridge destruction was the result of sabotage

Evacuation buses in Mariupol. It is said that about 80 civilians are evacuated from Azovstal. On videos, clear footage of some women and children; few young men in civilian closes are also shown from the back; they may or may not accompany some women and children. One middle-age man with bandaged hand briefly flashed. A woman speaks on camera, to tell they were hiding from shelling. Another, that Azov's men accused them of being pro-Russian, after breaking into their apartments and seeing some flags. It is said that those people were first taken to Bezymennoe, DPR, and then those who wanted to go to Ukraine were handled to Red Cross. It is said that earlier two groups of civilians, 25 and 21 people, left using humanitarian corridors.

Chinese regulators have held an emergency meeting with domestic and foreign banks to discuss how they could protect the country’s overseas assets from US-led sanctions similar to those imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

30 Apr. US AF is "ensuring the rapid movement of critical supplies and assistance to NATO allies and partners in support of Ukraine." . See also, US DoD.

US lend-lease act states that it is to protect civilian populations in Ukraine from Russian military invasion, and for other purposes; however it was introduced on Jan. 19, well before the military operation.

27 Apr. At nighttime, a fire at an ammo storage (said to be put out), and air defense activated in several regions of Russia near the border 1,2.

26 Apr. Lloyd Austin, CNN:  "we want to see Russia weakened to the degree that it can't do the kinds of things that it has done in invading Ukraine". A National Security Council spokesperson: "We want Ukraine to win."

More videos emerge from the huge munition depot in Balakleya, Kharkov region captured by Russian forces in early April. However, most of the warehouses at the depot were already destroyed in explosions in March 2017. Some people have credited the explosions to Petrov and Boshirov.

25 Apr. Opolchenie claims that there are large scale preparations for Ukro-Romanian assault on pro-Russian Transnister. Separately, security ministry in Transnister was attcked; it is reported that empty tubes from grenade/Shmel' launchers are seen.
 * Unknowns blew up a regional radio center in the Transnistria, which rebroadcasts Russian radio programs.

Two large unexplained fires in Bryansk, Russia (video, photo, versions), some 100 km from Ukrainian border. One of the fires is at oil storage, the other unspecified.

According to gov. Starovoit, in Kursk region, Russia, at 4.15 am, the air defenses shot down two Ukrainian drones.

Ukrainian sources report strikes on railroad traction substations in central Ukraine. Ru MoD: Six traction substations are destroyed by long-range high-precision weapons in the areas of the Krasnoe, Zdolbunov, Zhmerinka, Berdichev, Kovel and Korosten railway stations, through which Ukrainian forces in the Donbass are supplied with foreign weapons and military equipment.

23 Apr. It is said that Ukraine shelled a border post and a border village of Tyotkino in the Kursk region, Russia.

Ru MoD briefing on US and NATO preparations for a provocation accusing Russia of using nuclear, chemical or biological weapons (also here).

Russian humanitarian coordination center describes further Ukrainian provocations plans, including: exploding ammonia tank at a cold storage facility in Odessa, some 500 m from Ukrainian Navy base; provocations during Christian orthodox Easter celebrations; producing photovisuals of Bucha kind; etc.

Fact Sheet on U.S. Security Assistance for Ukraine

21 Apr. Putin ordered to block but not storm "Azovstal". (Opolchenie supported).

2o Apr. Two Russian oligarchs are found dead in Spain and Moscow, along with their butchered families.

18 Apr. Gonzalo Lira is presumed dead or captured after being missing for 3 days. (Released on April 22, 2022.) 17 Apr. Ru MoD briefing: (hostages in a mosque freed; an offer to "Azov" to surrender in Mariupol, but they have orders not to; Western mercenaries numbers).

LPR report: civilians shelled by retreating Ukrainian forces; Ukrainian forces getting killed or captured, many drafted from Western Ukraine; their policemen sent to front lines due to shortages; captured Western-manufactured anti-tank weapons shown and discussed.

16 Apr. Ru MoD Konashenkov: as of today, irretrievable Ukrainian losses are 23,367 people". "We will soon publish some data from Ukrainian documents on their losses, revealing the place of death, the burial places of the dead"
 * Killed and wounded - Ukr. military unit 3057 including "Azov"
 * Killed and wounded - 4th brigade, Ukr. national guards, military unit 3018, as of March 29.
 * Killed and wounded -9th Operational Regiment, Ukr. national guards, military unit 3029, as of March 29.
 * 27 separate brigade (military unit 3066) and 15 separate battalions (military unit 3055)
 * More military units of Ukr. national guards

It is reported that Il'icha plant in Mariupol is taken by Russian and L/DPR forces, remaining Ukrainian forces are at Azovstal plant and pockets nearby.

14 Apr. In the evening: air warning all over Ukraine; explosions in Zhitomir; explosions in Kiev (it is said that machine-building plant "Vizar" near Kiev where anti-aircraft missile systems and anti-ship missiles are manufactured and repaired was seriously damaged).

"Missile attack on the oil depot in Ivano-Frankovsk. Ukrainian channels report that the target has been hit and is on fire".

Governor of the Belgorod region, Russia, Vyacheslav Gladkov. “There was shelling from the Ukrainian side of our village Zhuravlyovka. There is damage to residential buildings and social facilities. " According to opolchenie, a number of people were wounded, several sseriously; a child was wounded.

Russian missile cruiser warship "Moskva" is "seriously damaged" near Sevastopol by munitions explosion following a fire, the crew is evacuated in stormy weather. Earlier Ukraine claimed that the ship was hit by their missiles. There are no further details or confirmations of either version of events.
 * ''"The source of fire has been localized. There is no open burning. Explosions of ammunition have stopped;" "the cruiser remains buoyant, and its main missile armament is not damaged".
 * ''RU MoD: Cruiser "Moskva" sank during towing in stormy seas.
 * Allegedly, in addition to "Neptune" anti-ship cruise missile, Ukraine could have Norwegian "Penguin" anti-ship missiles delivered with US lethal weapons assistance.
 * 16 Apr. Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Admiral Nikolai Evmenov met with the crew of the cruiser Moskva (embed. video).

12 Apr. Over 1000 Ukrainian marines surrended in Mariupol, said to DPR forces, some 300 of them wounded, 90 cannot walk themselves -video report.

8 Apr. In yet another false-flag attack Ukraine fires a Tochka-U ballistic missile at the Kramatorsk railway station, killing ~50 civilians. Western media parrots Ukrainian version of a Russian attack, despite the fact that Russia no longer uses Soviet Tochka-U missiles and such an attack would be opposite to Russia's purposes.

Apr 3. Ukrainian filmcrews find up to 400 hundred massacre victims in Bucha, four days after Russians leave the area.

31 Mar. Konashenkov: DPR forces, using trophy 'Stinger' missiles, shot down two Mi-8 helicopters evacuating Azov commanders from Mariupol. (Interviews with survivors appear to show that their helicopter was evacuating fighters/wounded fighters).

30 Mar. Russian forces leave Bucha, a town nothwest of Kiev.

27 Mar. Pasechnik: a referendum on LPR joining Russia will be held in the Republic, after liberation.

25 Mar. Scott Ritter about conflict in Ukraine.

Two civilian women are killed by Ukrainian shelling in Donetsk, at least 4 civllian women are severely wounded.

23 Mar. Lavrov about negotiations with Ukraine (full video).

Russia to sell gas to unfriendly nations in rubles.

Russia, NATO accused opposing side in preparing chemical weapons events - 1, 2.

19 Mar. After iniital advances, intense fighting (Mariupol, Avdeevka, suburbs of Kharkov, Kiev), with little change on the map. Russia did not announce mobilization, and initial force, of around 100K, is rather small; while aviation, artillery is of little use in cities full of civilians Russia tries to protect. (Ukraine announced general mobilization on Feb. 24).

Russia also failed to cut or counter militaristic propaganda on Ukrainian channels (like this).

Yurii Tkachev, chief editor of Timer-Odessa, is arrested by SBU. He was nowhere pro-Russian but tried - as he could - to be objective. 1, 2.

11 opposition parties are banned in Ukraine, including OPzZh (opposition party -for life) and Sharii party. 1, 2.

18 Mar. "Ukraine attacked Tekstilshchik market in the Kirovsky district of Donetsk. Four civilians were killed, the exact number of wounded is still unknown". "According to updated information, the shell hit a residential building on the street. Petrovsky, 111 c. All the dead were women born in 1960, 1972, 1974, 1997."

16 Mar. Azovites blow up the Mariupol Drama Theater, where up to 1200 people may have been sheltering. "Kiev" (speaking from Lviv) accuses the Russian air force of bombing the building. Local residents exposed the false-flag plan four days earlier.

14 Mar. [https://tass.com/emergencies/1421677? "'Tochka-U' strike in Donetsk] from a security camera", 2, 3, at least 20 killed. It is said that missile was shot down, apparently launched from Ukrainain-held Avdeevka.

13 Mar. Steshin: It is said that Ukraine is preparing two more provocations in Mariupol, against a mosque where Turkish citizen are hiding, and against a drama theater full of women, elderly and children.

10-12 Mar.: Map.

11 Mar. Head of the Russian National Defense Control Center, Col.-Gen. Mikhail Mizintsev: “Another provocation of nationalists was recorded in Kharkov, where, in order to conceal research work on nuclear topics, militants of territorial defense battalions blew up one of the buildings of the Physics and Technology Institute on Akademicheskaya Street. Up to 50 employees of the institution can be under the rubble.”
 * Ukrainian version of events: transformer hit by Russian shelling. (AFAIK, neither side provided photovisuals or other evidence)

Ibid, Video: Describes humanitarian corridors: few are open, and only to the West, [https://tass.ru/mezhdunarodnaya-panorama/14053067 despite over 2.6 mln. recorded requests to evacuate to Russia],

5 Msr. DPR. "Vakha", commander of "Sparta" battalion, was killed. According to Pushilin, it happened during evacuation of civilians from Volnovakha. Safe evacuation routes for civilians were agreed during second round of negotiations; however DPR said that civilians were prevented from evacuation by pro -Ukr forces who used it to regroup instead.

'' "In Kyiv, right at the Pechersk Court, SBU officers killed Kireev, a member of the Ukrainian delegation at the negotiations in Gomel with Russia. Allegedly "for treason."" It is also [https://colonelcassad.livejournal.com/7478208.html said that`Kireev was an agent of Ukr. GUR MoD which hailed him as a hero].

2/2 Mar. The Russian delegation arrived at the place of negotiations in Belovezhskaya Pushcha. TASS on second round results: humanitarian corridors is the only outcome agreed; yet, third round is expected next week, and more rounds "may be needed".

1 Mar. "Battles map for the past day" (as per source/unofficial)

DPR: In the past day, 4 civilians are killed, 23 civilians wounded by Ukrainian shelling.

Vladimir Ruban, who in the past successfully negotiated priosners exchanges for the Ukrainian aide, has been brutally detained in a train by "Azov" people (video).

It is said that "Ukrainian ace" Oksanchenko, who bombed Lugansk, was shot down over Kiev

28 Feb. LPR forces have taken Schastie city.

DPR forces "started operation to liberate Kramatorsk"

''Tragedy in Donetsk. When carrying out restoration work in the Kiev region of Donetsk, a Donbassgaz brigade came under Ukrainian fire. [https://t.me/Prikhodko1970/2983 One locksmith was killed. Two were seriously injured]. The guys were repairing damage caaused by previous shelling, which occurred an hour before''

In the morning, "in Kharkov - a powerful rocket/missile attack", said to be Russian airstrikes on military targets.

27 Feb. Lukashenko about Ukrainian no-show at peace negotiations in Gomel, Belarus 1, 2, 3, 4. Suggesting that Zelesnkii is either not allowed to proceed, or, as his Ukrainian contact told him, is "inadequate, does not understand what is happening"
 * Updated, Ukrainian delegation said to go to negotiations, now at Ukraine-Belarus border.

26 Feb. Pushilin warns about Ukrainian plans to shell Ukrainian-held cities in the Donbass.

25 Feb. In the early morning, missile strikes on military targets in Kiev. One Kalibr missile was shot down by Ukraine and fell in residential area. Ukrainian forces fired Tochka U missile on a military airport in Millerovo, Rostov region. Aircraft said to be in the air and undamaged, but there are wounded; casualties are being verified.

Gorlovka. st. Sokolovsky, 15, school number 50 - a direct hit by Ukrainian shell. Two women, both schoolteachers, are killed.

Ukraine fired Tochka U missile, Grads, artillery on Donetsk

24 Feb. День Z (Z Day): After much speculation Russian forces start an invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainian forces offer little resistance.

DPR ombudsman, as of October, 2021: since the beginning of the armed conflict in the DPR, 5,022 people have died, including 91 children. The Ukrainian side is holding about 92 people. The list of missing persons includes 354 people.

"Putin decided to conduct an operation to denazify and demilitarize Ukraine"

"Explosions" reported. Kiev, Kharkov, Borispol airport mentioned.

Reports of forces landing in the Odessa region, a large landing ship (BDK) and helicopters are said to be involved. Ukraine denied landing reports.

CNN: An adviser for the Interior Minister of Ukraine, Anton Gerashchenko, has told journalists on an official WhatsApp group that Russian troops have landed in the city Odessa and are crossing the border in the city of Kharkov.

Reports of two shells hitting Belgorod, Russia. Aparently minor damage.

23 Feb. The heads of the DPR and LPR appealed to Putin with a request to assist in repelling aggression from Ukraine

LPR soldier Denis Ponomarev is killed by Ukrainian sniper near Zhelobok settlement.

In the past day, 4 DPR soldiers are wounded, 3 civilians killed.

LPR. At 23:35 on 22 Feb., the armed formations of Ukraine violated the ceasefire regime in the Zolotoe-4-Berezovskoye direction, using an anti-tank missile system (one guided missile). As a result of a direct hit in a car, two civilians were killed. Number of ceasefire violations on 21 Feb. increased to 65 (double the number on 17 and 18 Feb.) On 22 Feb, LPR shelled 114 times (1446 ammunitions: 297 shells, 554 mortar shells, 11 rockets and 584 grenades).

In the past several days, Ukraine continued to shell L/DPR in multiple locations.

Biden-Putin summit is off. Western sanctions are imposed.

Ukrainian PM Shmygal: fulfilling Putin's conditions (demilitarization, rejection of joining NATO, recognizing the decision of the inhabitants of the Crimean peninsula to reunite with Russia) is impossible.

The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine decided on the state of emergency in Ukraine, except for Donetsk and Lugansk regions (needs Rada confirmation). There is special regime in Ukraine-held parts of Donetsk and Lugansk regions since 2014, with changes in 2018

21 Feb. After a lecture in history, Putin signed in a televised report recognizing independence and sovereignty of L/DPR, and friendship, cooperation and assistance treaties with those, together with Pushilin and Pasechnik. Decrees are published: DPR, LPR.

Friendship treaties by now are ratified; full text of the draft is here

Putin instructed MoD to ensure peacekeeping functions in the Republics until the conclusion of relevant agreements. Not fully confirmed: the first units of Russian troops are already entering the L/DPR.

Putin told Macron and Scholz that he would soon sign a decree recognizing the DPR and LPR (1,[2).

RU security council meeting is being broadcast live.Recognition of L/DPR requests, security guarantees, Minsk non-fulfillment by Ukraine on agenda.

Pushilin and Pasechnik asked Putin to recognize L/DPR, to include friendship treaty and defense cooperation.

It is claimed that Ukrainian RSG is destroyed on Russian territory by FSB and RU Souther district armed forces, alleged details here, as per the source. (Doubts noted). Earlier report gave location of the fight as Kuznetsy settlement (what's the point going there?), apparently near Novoazovsk, where RSG brekthrough was reported; but this report give location as Miatikinskaya settlement (where shelling was reported a day earlier), apparently 180 km nortwest, close to Lugansk. (Noted, small settlments with common names could be mismapped). Ukraine denies charges.

Non-regular Russian security council meeting will take place.

DPR: '' “At approximately 08:10 am in the Novoazovsky district of the DPR, an enemy sabotage group broke through.” According to the Ministry of State Security, Ukrainian militants tried to reach the Russian border. But they were met by the People's Militia units. A fight is ongoing. "As a result of the breakthrough, a warehouse of rocket and artillery weapons of the People's Militia Department of the DPR was blown up" '' (I'd be cautious here, background-based...).

Noted, Russia closed airspace over large part of Azov sea, 21-26 Feb. for firing exercises.

Social media: RU tanks with anti-Javelin roof, TOS-1A «Solntsepek", signed with Z, are shown and claimed to be near Ukrainian border.

RU FSB: ''On 21 Feb., at 09:50, an unidentified projectile fired from the territory of Ukraine completely destroyed the place of service of the border patrols of the border guards of the FSB of Russia in the Rostov region, located at a distance of about 150 meters from the Russian-Ukrainian border. There were no casualties, sappers are on the scene'' (TASS).

At about half past three in the morning in the Trudovskiye district of the city of Donetsk, at the intersection of Dunayevsky and Markin streets, as a result of mortar shelling by Ukrainian forces at a public transport stop, a civilian was killed - a miner who was going to the morning shift (photos/video), unblurred in this ([https://colonelcassad.livejournal.com/7455688.html collection)].

20 Feb. Putin-Macron: Elysee Fr, En., Kremlin Ru, En

Macron proposed that a summit could be held between Biden and Putin, who have each accepted the principle of such a summit. Its content will be prepared by Blinken and Lavrov meeting on 24 Feb. It can only be held if Russia does not invade Ukraine.

Rada MP Kyva: The genocide of the Ukrainian people by the hands of the authorities and Nazi groups controlled by it!!! The authorities tried to kill the head of the Kharkov anti-fascist movement - "Patriots for Life"

Belarus DM: "Due to the increase in military activity near the external borders of the Union State and the aggravation of the situation in the Donbass, the Presidents of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation decided to continue checking the response forces of the Union State"

LPR (Filiponenko): "At around 5 am on February 20, the militants of the 79th Airborne Assault Brigade made an attempt to attack the positions of the People's Militia in the area of ​​the settlement of Pionerskoye, forcing the Seversky Donets River. As a result of the clash, the enemy suffered losses and retreated." "The criminal actions of the Ukrainian armed formations led to the destruction of five residential buildings and casualties among the civilian population."

Water supply is cut to part of DPR and some Ukrainian-held areas after Ukrainian shelling or sabotage. More than 23,000 residents were left without water, over 50 social facilities - boiler houses, hospitals, kindergartens, schools.

19 Feb. DPR. "Special forces of the Ministry of State Security of the Donetsk People's Republic in the city of Donetsk blocked an enemy sabotage and terrorist group that planned to blow up electrical substations, gas pipelines and filter stations on the territory of the Republic." "Two special forces soldiers received gunshot wounds". Video: 1, 2, pro-Ukr doubts.

Russian media: two exploded Ukrainian Grad shells found on Russian territory, stanitsa (settlement) Mitiakinskaya, Tarasovskii district, Rostov region. Another report says that a house is hit in hutor (settlement) Patronovka in the same area/district. Some visuals are claimed here. Russian investigation committee-signed video here. Ukrainian sources try to make a case that this is an incident from August 1 (or 11) of 2014; however visuals found so far differ.

Heads of LPR and DPR signed decrees declaring general mobilization

Rada MP Ilya Kyva: "massacre and genocide are being prepared" (1, 2). Yesterday, many witnessed how the journalist and editor-in-chief of Censor.net Yuri Butusov (minion of Yatsenyuk, a friend and financial partner of Akhmetov), vilely, from the back, hit MP Nestor Shufrich, head of the Committee on Freedom of Speech of the Supreme Council of Ukraine.

18 Feb. Tatyana Montian makes a powerful presentation at UNSC meeting (Eng., Rus), accusing the West in arranging the coup and pushing for war; being a defense lawyer points out grave human rights violations in Ukraine. Oleg Tsarev warns that a terror campaign against non-supporters may be waged in Ukraine as Zelenskii is getting ready to start the war.

L/DPR evacuations: only children, women and the elderly can enter Russia through the checkpoints; military-age men remain in Donbass - they are asked to join the militia (see also; in another report, men aged 18-65 are not allowed to leave at Uspenka border crossing to Russia).

Several large explosions in Lugansk on gas pipeline and pumping station reported, with a video of a large fire.

DPR. "The car blown up in the center of Donetsk belongs to Denis Sinenkov, head of the People's Militia Department".

LPR. Red Cross convoy came under fire near Lugansk. Ukraine accused LPR forces; LPR denied any role calling it a provocation. Heavy fighting is reported later in the evening near Ukrainian-held Schastie.

DPR. Pushilin announced evacuation of civilians (video)

LPR head Pasechnik calls for civilians to evacuate to Russia.

Putin comments on situation in Ukraine during joint press conference with Lukashenko. Basurin: according to information received from the DPR Ministry of State Security, at about 4:00 am in Gorlovka, a group of Ukrainian saboteurs attempted to blow up an ammonia storage tank at the Stirol plant. During the attack, a security guard who discovered the group of saboteurs was wounded.

Basurin: tonight, a sabotage group from the Vostok Special Purpose Center (the former 3rd Special Forces Regiment of the SOF) tried to penetrate the territory of the oil depot in the Yelenovka area blow up the tanks, believing that fuel and oil were stored in them. Large-scale catastrophy was avoided due to law enforcement agencies immediate response to the call of the security guard, preventing the attack.

"Death online", video. Ukrainian sources claim that video is staged.

Ukrainian source: "Tonight, on the communication lines of the Vodafone operator in the cities of Lisichansk (Shakhterskaya St.) and Slavyansk (Vokzalnaya St.), unknown people cut fiber-optic cables - the Ministry of Internal Affairs reports a sabotage."

17 Feb. The morning after hoax Russian invasion day, serious deterioration of security situation, due to intense Ukrainian shelling, on all the separation line. L/DPR forces are returning fire. (Meanwhile, Ukrainian sources are publishing mirrror-imaged reports).

There are two (unconfirmed) opolchenie reports on evacuation of state workers, families and childcare facilities, from Donetsk and Dokuchaevsk (DPR) and Alexandrovka (LPR). However, Konstantin Chalyi, head of Alexandrovka administration, said that there is currently no evacuation order.

In the afternoon, opolchenie reported intense, targeted shelling of LPR positions under Bahmutka,one of possible directions of Ukrainian attack (mentioning without providing details some casualties and positions destruction).

Russian FM published reaction to American response on security guarantees

In the morning, a video is said to show smoke rising over the Russian embassy building in Kiev.

13 Feb. Opolchenie: According to reports from the front line, Ukrainian forces in the Sakhanka-Kominternovo area this afternoon and evening repeatedly cleared minefields in front of DPR forces front line using UR-77 "Zmei (Snake) Gorynych" mine clearing vehicles (as it is expensive, probably for a reason).

Ukraine received Stinger missiles and other equipment from Lithuania, two more planeloads of weapons from the US (said to be 17 in total so far).

11 Feb. More "Russia's attack dates", Feb 16, denied, and no publiclly available evidence (links in Talk)

Pushilin (1,2): Highly publicized in the Western media, stories about the “Russian offensive against Ukraine” were developed in 2017 by Kiev as a military exercise legend.

9 Feb. DPR : ''the source materials of not yet edited fake Ukrainian videos fell into the hands of the DPR forces. The video shows the positions of the Ukrainian military near Avdeevka. A DPR sniper allegedly "killed" a soldier there who was allegedly standing in a trench'' (video).

7 Feb. Macron-Putin talks in Moscow. Press conference. 2-7 Feb. DPR. Large number of false reports of explosive devices planted in schools, government buildings, after a confirmed explosive device in a government building in Donetsk. Almost 500 buildings had to be checked. Around New Year, similar false reports in Ukraine.

6 Feb. DPR soldier is killed by Ukrainian sniper fire.

2 Feb. Croatian president Zoran Milanovic accuses Britain of '''pushing Ukraine to war.

1 Feb. DPR soldier is killed by an explosive device dropped by Ukrainian drone.

31 Jan. UNSC meeting on Ukraine is called by the West.
 * The vote on holding an open meeting passed 10-2, with Russia and China opposed (video-"quiet diplomacy"), and India, Gabon and Kenya abstaining. The vote needed nine votes to be approved.
 * RU rep Nebenzia left the meeting (video), explaining it by the need to meet UN Gen Sec prior to Russia assuming rotating presidency from Feb 1, with a meeting on Minsk agreements implementation scheduled in February already.

Yurii Goluban, SBU "Alpha" veteran who is said (1, 2, 3) to join "Vostok" battalion, DPR, in 2014 but in 2017 took part in (possibly staged) events in Ukrainian-held Slavynsk and rewarded by Poroshenko, is  arrested in Kiev during protests in front of the office of the president, accused of preparing mass distrurbances/"bloody Maidan". 29 Jan. In Alexandrovka, a civilian man, school locksmith Leonid B. 54, has a hip wound after a shot of Ukrainian sniper, in direct line of sight. The man is said to have Russian citizenship.

28 Jan. Fourth plane from USA delivered "81 tons of ammunition of various calibers" to Ukraine. More planes said to arrive next week. "Up to 45 planes".

27 Jan. LPR soldier is killed defending a checkpoint at Svetlodar arc (Artiom Artiomenko, DOB 1983, Gorlovka; recently obtained Russian citienship).

24 Jan. Basurin: Ukrainian Armed Forces step up preparations for offensive in Donbass.

23 Jan. Denis Pushilin, in an interview on anniversary of Ukrainian shelling of Bosse area in Donetsk (Jan 22, 2015, video) which killed multiple civilians: the West ignored Ukrainian shelling for years; creates media hysteria and sends to Ukraine lots of advanced weapons; while Ukrainian groups deployed 120 thousand strong force, and have groups ready for sabotage operations; but despite Western hysteria, we do not plan an attack.

21 Jan. Denis Pushilin in interview to RT Arabic: Ukraine is saturated with Western weapons, instructors; provocations and industrial sabotage is prepared by Ukrainian RSG (counter-claims, see here).

Photos of pallets of weapons sent by US to Ukraine (some signposted rocket/launcher; Javellin joint venture). 14 photos. Includes M141 bunker defeat munitions. 19 Jan. Ziuganov's faction introduced in Duma a draft resolution to appeal to Putin to recognize L/DPR. It is motivated by Ukraine's non-fulfillment of Minsk agreements. Resolution proposal was supported by other factions. However, Oleg Tsarev believes that this won't happen, at least in the near future, for keeping political leverage of Minsk agreements.

14 Jan, LPR reports multiple ceasefire violations by Ukraine. One LPR soldier is killed. LPR forces returned fire, and report that "by preliminary information" one Ukrainian soldier is killed and 2 wounded

9 Jan. L/DPR came under renewed Ukrainian shelling, after a reported lull (from 18 Dec. in LPR, 4 Jan. in DPR)

6 Jan. Russian AF started to transport troops to Kazakhstan, following CSTO decision (1, 2, 3)

"Intense shoot-out" between troops and armed protesters in Alma-Aty has been reported

5 Jan. Kazakhstan president Tokayev makes economic concessions to satisfy some of protesters demands, dismisses the government, and dismisses former long-time ruler Nazarbaev, who "anointed" Tokayev for presidency, from the security chief post he retained.

Kazakhstan mines about 41% of world's uranium (as of 2019)

4-5 Jan. Maidan-like events in Kazakhstan. Internet appears cut. It is said that protesters distribute weapons. Kazakh MOI: 8 policemen killed, 317 injured. CSTO will send peacekeepers] (1, 2). Video from Alma-Aty (some shooting, police sirens). "Unknown regime's snipers" seen by instigators based abroad. Fugitive banker Ablyazov called himself "protest leader" in Kazakhstan

Highlights from the past
30 Apr. U.S. Confirms Delivery Of Javelin Antitank Missiles To Ukraine

Poroshenko announced end of ATO and start of 'joint operation of armed forces', which is aimed at 'defending territorial integrity' and will only end 'when the last piece of Ukrainian land is liberated, including Crimea', which is somehow supposed to happen by 'political-diplomatic means'.

Videos

 * Family of 7 home hit by shelling in Donetsk, published 11 May 2017
 * DPR Sakhanka: life goes on under shelling, 11 Oct. 2016
 * 'Suburbia of life', about the effect of the war on life in small villages and towns. Shelling, destruction, economic hardship. Slow running, in Russian. Sept. 29, 2016.

More videos on talk page

Photos

 * Recent history in a nutshell in those photos to the right:


 * Aftermaths of Ukrainian shelling of the village Zheltoe (Yellow), LPR, 29 Nov. 2016 lug-info.

OSCE

 * SMM Ukraine

Official Ukrainian sources

 * ATO press releases and maps, Ukraine Crisis Media Center(google search; sample schedule search).
 * At about 30 April 2018, replaced by Ukrainian 'joint forces operation' (Facebook).
 * Official website of Ukrainian president
 * National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine
 * Verhovna Rada

Ukrainian media

 * Newsone.ua
 * Strana.ua
 * 112.ua
 * TSN
 * inter.ua
 * kyivpost.com
 * dumskaya.net (Odessa, pro goverment)

DPR and LPR

 * DPR: DAN news (Eng).; DPR MOD, Russ.; DPR ombudsman, Russ.
 * DPR MoD
 * LPR: lug-info (Eng).
 * Donbass international news agency, DoNi news (Eng.)

Agreements

 * 22.7.15 Under-100 mm weapons withdrawal was agreed Poroshenko statement: ' I hope it will be the real beginning of the ceasefire'.
 * 12.2.15 Two documents were agreed: on measures on implementing Minsk protocol (English language PDF here).
 * Ukrainian special status law: analysis.