10/14/2015 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - Ukraine celebrated the Defender’s Day

Ukraine celebrated the Defender’s Day

10.14.2015 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine Agency

Topics from Media and Social Networks

• Ukraine celebrated the Defender’s Day.
• President Poroshenko flew a fighter aircraft in Zaporizhya.
• Moscow court sentenced a 73-year-old Ukrainian, former plant director, to a prison term for espionage.

Key Events in Ukraine

• President Poroshenko in Zaporizhya took part in the ceremony of transfer combat aircraft to army units and flew a Su-27 on the Defender's Day.
  For the occasion, 153 servicemen were awarded medals, including 11 posthumously. In his address, President said that the military service enlistment age would be 20, and the salaries to the military would be increased next year. According to him, deterrent forces were needed not only in Donbas, but also along the entire length of the border with Russia. He said he was convinced that the situation of the ceasefire gives a chance to regain the territory not by military, but by political and diplomatic means.

Kyiv

• Svoboda Party, the Right Sector and the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists held the "March of the Heroes"  in downtown Kyiv to celebrate the 73rd anniversary of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA).

Ukraine at War

• The night was quiet in the conflict area in Donbas. The Antiterrorist Operation Headquarters reported that the Ukrainian army was preparing to withdraw light artillery and mortars.
• Russia sent to Donbas another "convoy" including over 100 vehicles.

Ukraine and the World

• French Foreign Ministry said that the investigation into the MH17 crash was independent and transparent. Chinese Foreign Ministry said it acknowledged the report of the international commission and called for an objective investigation.
• Russia plans to complete the design works and start the construction of a gas pipeline to Crimea from Krasnodar region in early 2016. According to the occupation authorities, it will provide for all energy needs of the peninsula.
• Moscow court sentenced to six years in prison a 73-year-old Ukrainian citizen, former director general of a Poltava defense plant, for trying to buy in August 2014 "secret components for S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems to recover Ukraine’s anti-aircraft capability."
• EU plans to sign an agreement with Turkey on joint activities on the issue of migrants. As compensation for dealing with migrants and reducing their flow to Europe, European commissioners plan to grant Turkey certain benefits, including visa-free travel to the Schengen countries.
• The Netherlands will hold a referendum on the issue of EU-Ukraine association within six months. The result of the referendum will be advisory in nature, at least 30% of the voters need to vote for it to be valid.
• US would not cooperate with Russia on the settlement of the Syrian crisis and refused to receive in Washington the Russian delegation headed by Prime Minister Medvedev. The US State Department said that the refusal was due to Moscow's unwillingness to make a constructive contribution to the fight against the terrorist Islamic State.