22/01/2015 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - There were mass civilian casualties as a result of shelling in Donetsk

22/01/2015 Daily Highlights by "Digests and Analytics - Ukraine" News Agency

Topics of the day

There were mass civilian casualties as a result of shelling in Donetsk. The situation in the battle zone in the Donbass escalated.

Key Events In Ukraine

• President Poroshenko held a meeting with the leaders of law enforcement agencies, where he offers to award soldiers who took part in the fighting in the Luhansk region and Donetsk airport.
• Another small settlement for temporary migrants, consisting of 189 units which can accommodate 300-400 people opened in Kharkiv. 1386 modules that can accommodate 3488 persons were delivered as humanitarian aid from Germany. All campuses will be opened before spring.
• NBU does not change the official FX rate of hryvnia: 15.77 UAH / USD (-0.01 UAH), 18.28 UAH/EUR, 2.41 UAH / 10 RUR (-0.02 UAH).

Kyiv Life

• 11 thousand people applied for 2 thousand vacancies in the new Kyiv patrol service in two days, 30% applicants are females.

War in Ukraine

• At least eight people were killed in Donetsk as a result of the bus stop shelling. The UN Security Council demanded an immediate investigation into the tragedy. According to the preliminary conclusions of experts, the firing was carried out by the mortar from the area in which hostilities are not taking place. DNR militants staged a demonstrative performance with the humiliation of the Ukrainian soldiers seized at the airport on the scene of the tragedy. International human rights organization Amnesty International is outraged by the abuse of prisoners.
• As a result of mortar fire damage and casualties recorded on other public transport stops, as well as in the residential areas.
• Fire on the Gorlivka, Avdeevka, Mar’inka, Schastya, Stanitsa Luganska also led to the destruction and numerous casualties.
• Shelling sharply intensified on populated areas and positions of the Ukrainian Army in the region of Debaltseve. Ukrainian troops repulsed tank assault by militants on the 31st roadblock on the highway "Bahmutka". There are fights on the northern outskirts of Gorlivka and around Mariupil. NSDC Secretary Turchynov said that the advent of the Russian army and mercenaries under the guise of LNR and DNR militants can begin in the near future.
• NATO continuously records the movement of Russian soldiers and equipment through the uncontrolled part of the Ukrainian border.
• The OSCE has recorded more than 5 thousand people killed in the Donbass.

Ukraine and the World

• Canadian Foreign Minister announced at the Davos economic forum about the continuation of the political isolation of Russia, as it continues to violate the terms of peace agreements and support the militants in the Donbass. German Chancellor Merkel condemned the annexation of the Crimea, and indicated that sanctions against Russia will not be canceled as long as reason for their introduction will not be eliminated.
• According to German Foreign Minister Steinmeier breakthrough has not been achieved, but progress is visible in the "Normandy Four" talks in Berlin to resolve the conflict in the Donbass.
• NATO Military Committee will deploy international headquarters in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Romania and Bulgaria for coordination between the armies of the East European members of the Alliance. The decision will be approved by NATO defense ministers in early February.
• Russian news agency TASS cut quarter of its employees because of reduced funding.
• The payment system PayPal cut off its service to customers in the Crimea.

Trends

• Ukrainian representative at the UN Council on Human Rights Vasilenko stated that the arguments against the introduction of the military state in Ukraine does not stand up to any criticism.