Ukraine news/Archive/2018-09

27 Sep. DPR: Ukraine fired on marked ambulance car, killing two DPR soldiers (call names Sirena and Skif; photos) and wounding another soldier. A DPR soldier was wounded in Ukrainian shelling of Kominternovo in the south earlier, the ambulance was evacuating that soldier.

26 Sep. Alexander Hug is set to leave his post of assistant head of OSCE SMM on 31 Oct. (interview). The name of his successor was not released.

25 Sep. Pavel Gubarev is among those running for Head of DPR in 11 Nov.'18 elections. His campaign page is here.

24 Sep. Ukrainian media quoting Ukrainian volunteers: UAF forward position and equipment including infrared vision was destroyed by 120 mm mortar fire (this apparently it occurred near Svobodnoe, which according to Ukrainian sources was freshly captured by Ukraine; LPR responded to the news saying that this village was under Ukrainian control since 2014). 6 Ukrainian soldiers are said to be wounded.

23 Sep. The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, today, on Sunday, September 23, by the Church of St. Fokas Meshhorus in the City, in the presence of the Consul General of Ukraine, sent the message in every direction that Ukraine would receive Autocephaly shortly because it is its right.

DPR forces by return fire destroyed Ukrainian military position from which 'disordered fire' was conducted by Ukrainian forces

Two civilians wounded by Ukrainian fire in Sakhanka, south of DPR.

Two Ukrainian Navy ships passed under Crimea bridge, accompanied by Russian border patrol ships (and reportedly an American reconnaissance plane). Their entry in Russian exclusive territorial waters a day earlier was seen as provocative; later a formal request to pass was reported.

20 Sep. The US-American opolchenie fighter Russell "Texas" Bentley publishes his war memories as an eBook.

17 Sep. Poroshenko signed a law on the termination of the "Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership between Ukraine and Russia". The bill will be submitted to Rada which has the final word. (Poroshenko: There is a very high level of trust between Kyiv and Washington...)

Ukrainian News One journalist Darina Bilera attacked, beaten on live stream. News One: more attacks on journalist cases. In live stream, 14:41 on Dec. 17, Ukr. MoI spokesman Artem Shevchenko shown, saying (on 17 Sept) he is not going to talk to media with opposition agenda, such as News One. (According to a Russian source, an arrest was made after the attack).

15 Sep. Acting DPR head Pushilin: our investigators found that Zakharchenko assassination was carried out "with participation of the 5th department of SBU"; one man was arrested and is providing information; analysis of explosive device revealed high technologies not previously used by SBU, which led us to believe that Western special services were involved (report and statement on video).

14 Sep. Ukraine shelled Staromikahilovka in western Donetsk, houses were damaged (details provided). It is recalled that on 14 Sep. 2014 Ukraine intensely shelled Putilovka district of Donetsk for many hours, a market was destroyed where civilians were present; a schoolboy was killed when school 58 was hit (report and video from the scene, 2014).

10 Sep. DPR MOD: Ukraine continues to violate ceasefire agreements, fires 16 120-mm mortar shells in the evening. Detailed today's record of those and other violations is provided.

According to Russian FSB, they arrested in Smolensk region of Russia a man from Dagestan who was a member of ISIS, and was recruited by SBU to assassinate one of DPR opolchenie leaders (Cassad-videos). (SBU denied the charge).

9 Sep. Car of the pro-Russian president of Moldova Igor Dodon was involved in an accident and overturned (collision video), it is reported that 3 people were injured and some hospitalized; according to TASS Dodon 'was not hurt'.

MLRS 'Uragan' on show on the Russian side near Donbass border crossing -report

8 Sep. At Saur Mogila, the DPR celebrates the 75th anniversary of Donbass liberation from Nazi occupation.

Prime Minister of Abkhazia died in a traffic accident

7 Sep. DPR acting attorney general sent an opinion to DPR People's council pointing out that automatic appointment of Trapeznikov does not follow the law, and asked People's Council to appoint the acting head of the republic. At a session of People's Council, it was decided to appoint Denis Pushilin (Wikipedia) the acting Head of the republic. It was also decided to hold elections of the republic Head and the People's council deputies on 11 November, 2018. Pushilin interviews after his appointment, video, text.
 * Noted, Denis Pushilin is the leader of Ukrainian party MMM (video) which took part in Ukrainian local elections, 2015. Same MMM as the financial pyramid of Mavrodi. Those facts were highlighted by Russian patriotic opposition discussing the new appointment.

Simultaneously, LPR Council of People's Deputies decided to have elections of the Head of republic and council deputies on 11 November, 2018.

3 Sep. In DPR MoD daily briefing, more evidence of Ukrainian attack preparations in the south were presented, including drone photos, claims of psychological warfare, Ukrainian joint forces document which appeared on social media, intelligence report, etc.

Despite the 'school ceasefire' Ukraine shelled Zaitsevo near Gorlovka with incendiary munitions, destroying 5 houses on Yesenina street.

2 Sep. DPR MoD continues to warn about (allegedly) Ukrainian preparations to attack near Mariupol, (allegedly) with foreign help. Recent video from Kominternovo clearly shows a lot of shelling damage. DPR serviceman is telling on video that there are more drones flights, and noise from heavy equipment arriving and ammunition delivered.

1 Sep. Basurin: ''Our reconnaissance revealed the deployment of a strike group of Ukrainian invaders in the Mariupol direction under the cover of the "Storm-2018" exercises ...Sept. 14 a possible date of an attack..'' (Ukraine has quite small Navy, conducting "Storm-2018" exercises).