18-24.08.2014 | Weekly Highlights by “Digests & Analytics Ukraine” News Agency

War In Ukraine

• DNR militants celebrated Ukrainian Independence Day by parading Ukrainian hostages and POWs on the streets of Donets'k and trampling on Ukrainian flag.
• Half-empty “humanitarian convoy” from Russia containing more than 200 trucks has broken through the border avoiding inspection by Ukrainian border guards. It did not include International Red Cross personnel as well. Within 24 hours it left Ukrainian territory again avoiding inspection. Media reports have been circulated that on the way back the convoy carried equipment of Ukrainian military plants and bodies of Russian military personnel killed in action on Ukrainian territory.
• Massive shellings of Ukrainian towns in the Russian border zone are continuing. They use heavy artillery and internationally banned cluster bombs.
• Intense fighting with use of tanks and heavy artillery is ongoing in Donets'k region near strategic height of Savur-Mohyla and in the town of Illovays'k.

21.08.2014 Daily Highlights by “Digests & Analytics Ukraine” News Agency

Ukraine

• Military equipment and units, that will participate in the Independence Day parade in Kyiv, will afterwards depart to the combat area in Donbass.

• As claimed by the advisor of the President Poroshenko, parliament could be dismissed on August 27th. Existing parliamentary elections law allows elections through majority districts. This is being considered as an approach to obtain significant number of votes by the Party of Ukrainian Development, a direct heir of the Party of Regions.

• National Bank pushed back the exchange rate of Ukrainian Hryvnia (UAH) slightly: 13.11 UAH / 1$ (+11 cop), 17.42 UAH / 1€ (+24 cop), 3.62 UAH / 10 RUR (+4 cop).

• President Poroshenko decided to sell his business via the Rothschild investment company. From Ukrainian side the deal will be conducted by the company “Investment Capital Ukraine”, which's ex-general manager, Gontareva, became the Head of the National Bank of Ukraine.

18/08/2014 Daily Highlights by “Digests & Analytics Ukraine” News Agency

Ukraine

• Luhansk mayor, who had been collaborating with terrorists and have been recently captured by Aydar battalion, was reelased from detention by the court.
• National Bank slightly strengthened Ukrainian hryvnia: 13.07 UAH / 1$ (+6 cop), 17.50 UAH / 1€ (+6 cop), 3.63 UAH / 10 RUR (+1 cop).
• As terrorists weren’t able to guarantee security to the Red Cross specialists, customs clearance of the “humanitarian aid” haven’t been performed yet. Ukrainian border guards prevented the attempt of several Russian trucks to enter Ukraine through the checkpoint “Izvaryno”.
• As reported by the Washington Post, “Motor Sich” company from Zaporizhya continue to supply Russia with military produce.

Kyiv

• Kyiv authorities launched the investment competition on creation of the major network of points of sales, with direct access to consumers by the bread producers, aimed to prevent sharp price increases for the social types of bread.

War in Ukraine

• As per official reports from NSDC, fights are ongoing in the center of Luhans’k, Stanitsa Luhanska, Ilovays’k, as well as in the outskirts of Donets’k.
  Donbass terrorists receive powerful weapons such as multiple rocket launchers “Uragan”, use of prohibited by the international conventions antipersonnel mine cassette ammunition have been evidenced. Russia supply hundreds of heavy ammunition, armored technique, artillery systems and mercenaries to Donbass, through parts of the border uncontrolled by Ukrainian troops. Technique is being supplied without the license plates, mercenaries carry no insignia. Russia put surface-to-air missile systems on their side, that prevents the use of Ukrainian aviation in the borderline zones.
• Water supply to Donets’k was cut as terrorists damaged  main filtration station. 94 settlements have been cut from electricity supply within the Donets’k region, around half a million of inhabitants are cut off from the electricity supply, as reported by the region authorities.
• Organized refugees column was shelled by terrorists with multiple rocket launcher “Grad”, dozens of civilians were killed, including children. As stated by the head of the polish humanitarian mission this accident could be recognized as the crime against humanity.

International

• Energy Minister of Ukraine Prodan met with the Deputy Minister of Energy of the US, questions of energy security during absence of gas supply from Russia were discussed and participation of the US specialists to the work of the anticrisis energy council agreed.
• As reported by the Eurostat, since the beginning of the year export of goods from the EU member states to Russia declined by -14%, import from Russia by -7%.
• Bulgaria fully stopped construction of the “South Stream” pipeline until the project will not comply with the European legislation.
• Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Klimkin, announced during the breeding, that German Chancellor Merkel will come to Ukraine with special visit on 23rd of August. He also stressed that during negotiations in Berlin Russia refused to recognize facts of ammunition and mercenaries supply through its border, shillings of Ukrainian territory, as well as to allow effective border control by the OSCE observers.
• Verkhovna Rada speaker Turchynov during the joint press conference of the parliament spacers in Lithuania stressed, that compromises with aggressors hadn’t ever led to anything good. Ukraine is ready to protect Europe from Russian aggression but arms supply is necessary.
• European Union is ready to provide Ukraine with extra financial aid for refugees and re-settled subjects from the east of Ukraine, as confirmed by the EU representative responsible for humanitarian aspects and civil defense during the meeting with the Vice-Prime Minister Groysman.
• Prime Minister of Finland stressed that provision of the military aid to Ukraine from the side of the EU is impossible.
• OSCE observers, responsible for monitoring of the situation in Ukraine, will be provided by surveillance drones not earlier than by the end of the month.
• As reported by the Radio Liberty, anti Ukrainian propaganda in Russia have been just launched on children’s channels.

Trends

• Intensive preparation of troops for the winter campaign is ongoing from Russian and Ukrainian sides.
• Russia has no other option to resolve the transport connection with Crimeas but through the land route through Ukraine.

17/08/2014 Daily Highlights by “Digests & Analytics Ukraine” News Agency

Ukraine

• First part of trucks with Russian «humanitarian aid» reached the customs checkpoint Izvaryno. OSCE experts will check the shipment on monday or tuesday, transfer of goods will be performed only through the International Red Cross. Humanitarian aid, provided by Ukraine, is being already distributed by the Red Cross in 10 cities of Luhansk region.
• Slovyans'k inhabitants during the meeting decided to dismantle the monument of Lenin, as well as stressed subversive terrorists groups are acting in the city, as well as within the zone liberated by the Ukrainian army.

14.08.2014 Daily Highlights by “Digests & Analytics Ukraine” News Agency

Ukraine

• Verkhovna Rada declined to include into agenda any options of the election law with open lists. The law on elections funding  wasn’t adopted as well. The law on the gas transportation system (GTS) was adopted, giving an opportunity for companies with foreign capital from the EU and the US to operate gas transportation and accumulation processes, that in principle prohibits participation of Gasprom in the management of Ukrainian GTS. The law on taxation of enterprises within the free economic zone Crimea, was adopted in the second reading. The law on voluntary reunification of the territorial communities was sent for the second reading. The law on sanctions was adopted, providing opportunity for Ukraine to apply sanctions to foreign states, legal entities and physical persons from foreign countries and Ukraine, as well as to other subjects. The Parliament put into agenda the law on the prosecutors office, creating the office of the military  prosecutor. The law on lustration went through the first reading. The parliament went on vacations till the 2nd of September. Populous meeting took place near the Verkhovna Rada building during the session, in support of lustration law adoption.

11.08.2014 | Daily Highlights by “Digests & Analytics Ukraine” News Agency

Ukraine

• Traditional Sorochynska Fair have been cancelled by the Government due to the complicated socio-political situation in the country.
• Official Fx rate, established by the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU), continue to decline: 12.82 UAH / 1$ (-22 cop), 17.17 UAH / 1€ (-32 cop), 3.52 UAH / 10 RUR (-5 cop). Daily rates fluctuated within the range of 12.6-13.2 UAH / 1$ and 16.87-17.67 UAH / 1€. NBU explains Fx erosion by the military actions in the east of Ukraine, experts stress currency deficit on interbank trade. So far none of the NBU attempts to calm down the market with interventions have succeeded.

08/08/2014 Daily Highlights by “Digests & Analytics Ukraine” News Agency

Ukraine

• In response to the strong Russian military convoy with a «humanitarian mission», ostensibly agreed with the Red Cross, approached border of Ukraine, Ministry of Foreign affairs of Ukraine stressed that any attempt to interfere into Ukrainian internal affairs under the pretext of «peacekeeping forces» to «defend the humanitarian mission» will be treated by Ukraine as aggression. The country is fully capable to manage any humanitarian issues with the assistance of western partners and the Red Cross. US representative stressed at the UN Security Council meeting that unilateral entry of Russian «peacekeepers» to Ukraine will be treated by the US as invasion with all forthcoming consequences. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the UK called Russia to abstain from  «humanitarian intervention» to Ukraine.
• As reported by the Minister of Justice Petrenko, Ukraine is supposed to submit the legal suit on Russia to the International UN court in accusation for financing and support of terrorism in eastern Ukraine.
• President Poroshenko approved extension of the age limit for overall population of citizens subject to call-up for military services up to 60 years and for higher ranked officers up to 65 years.
• Ukrainian Government prepared the list for sectoral sanctions against Russia, including 65 enterprises and 172 citizens of Russia. Sanctions should be enacted by the law that Verkhovna Rada aims to adopt on August 12. Possible measures could include termination of the gas transit and no-fly zone for Russian aviation over the territory of Ukraine.