09/09/2015 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - The scheduled meeting of the contact group in Minsk brought no results

"DPR" and "LPR" representatives Pushilin and Dainego

09.09.2015 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine News Agency

Topics from Media and Social Networks

• The scheduled meeting of the contact group in Minsk brought no results.
• Volunteer Mochanov was severely beaten in Donetsk region.
• The dismissed Head of the Customs Likarchuk reported on the undeclared UK property of Head of the State Fiscal Service Nasirov.

Key Events in Ukraine

• President Poroshenko insists on holding local elections in the Donbass territories controlled by Ukraine, including Mariupol. 700 OSCE observers will monitor the elections across the country.
• Right Sector leader Yarosh threatened the authorities with acts of nonviolent civil disobedience and armed resistance because of the detention of Right Sector activists in Odessa.
• Three judges of Pechersk court were dismissed from office for two months during investigation regarding miscarriage of justice. The Verkhovna Rada gave permission for their detention and arrest.
• The National Bank strengthened the hryvnia rate by 2%: 21.97 ₴/$ (-0.45 UAH), 24.45 ₴/€ (-0.55 UAH), 3.25 ₴/10 RUR (-0.01 UAH) .

Ukraine at War

• The situation in the combat zone in Donbass is relatively calm, with a firefight near Donetsk. One Ukrainian soldier was killed near Stanytsya Luhanska. While there are no open hostilities, the activities of militants’ subversive groups intensified.
• The United Nations Office for Human Rights recorded in the conflict area in Donbass an increase of casualties among civilians, including public executions by the militants.
• Members of the contact group in Minsk once again failed to agree on the withdrawal of weapons with  caliber of less than 100 mm and tanks. The next meeting is scheduled for September 15.
• The Head of Luhansk regional military-civilian administration Tuka said he was ready to resign if the murder of the anti-corruption mobile unit members is not investigated.

Ukraine and the World

• The National Security and Defense Council officially confirmed that Ukraine had not imposed sanctions against Russia. At the same time, the country's leaders demand the strengthening of the Western sanctions pressure on Russia. French Foreign Minister Fabius said that sanctions will not be lifted until the full implementation by Russian of the Minsk-II Agreements.
• Some of Ukraine’s lenders want to change the terms of restructuring due to unequal repayment terms compared to other bond holders.
• Leaders of the "Normandy 4" scheduled a meeting in Paris for early October to discuss the withdrawal of weapons with caliber of less than 100 mm  and tanks from the battle line in the Donbass. It will follow the meeting of foreign ministers in Berlin on September 12.
• Photos providing evidence of the participation of the Russian troops in the war in Syria were published in the Internet. Russia sent military transport aircrafts and assault ships to the area. The leaders of Germany and the United States warned Russia against interference in the conflict.