• Former Chairman of the Supreme Council of the LPR declared wanted by separatist authorities

    The Prosecutor’s Office of the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic declared that the former Chairman of the Supreme Council of the self-declared republic, Aleksey Karyakin, is wanted.

    Karyakin is accused of “an attempt on the life of a law enforcement officer and a serviceman, the deliberate damage of property resulting in significant damage, illegal acquisition, [and the] possession, transportation or carrying of firearms and ammunition.”

    According to journalist Denis Kazansky, “on September …

  • Activist: Corruption in Russia and the Crimea poses a threat to Russia's national security

    The Deputy Director of the Crimean Anti-Corruption Front movement and Head of the Foundation of the Self-Organization of the Crimean population, Alexander Zabara, notes that the level of corruption in the Crimea is causing serious concerns and poses a threat to the national security of the Russian Federation.

    “The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, said that it is necessary to fight corruption and all its forms without fear. These issues should be actively addressed in the Crimea. People …

  • Separatists arrest Russian battalion leader

    Russian journalist, Marina Akhmedova, has confirmed that the so-called Ministry of State Security (MGB) of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) has arrested Alexei Smirnov. He is the commander of the so-called Angel battalion. She posted this on her Facebook page.

    “Alexei Smirnov, also known as Angel, was arrested. He is now in the custody of the MGB of the DPR. The charges are theft of humanitarian aid. It's hard to do it, but at this point I will refrain from making angry …

  • Ukraine to receive $500 million loan from World Bank

    The World Bank will provide $500 million worth of credit guarantees to Ukraine for natural gas purchases for heating in the near future, reported Satu Kahkonen, the World Bank Country Director for Belarus, Moldova, and Ukraine.

    “Yes, we’ve got some projects that are being prepared for Ukraine. One of them is a $500 million project – a guarantee for the government of Ukraine for gas purchasing,” she said.

    Satu Kahkonen noted that the guarantee could come “in the nearest future,” taking into …

  • Ukraine has requested that the UK make efforts to halt activities of pro-Kremlin journalist Graham Phillips

    The Ambassador of Ukraine to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Natalia Galibarenko, has requested that the United Kingdom make every possible effort to halt the activity of pro-Russian propagandist and British citizen, Graham Phillips.

    An open letter from the Ukrainian diplomat states that Graham Phillips arrived in eastern Ukraine in 2014-2015, where he had been working for pro-Russian separatists. This letter was published by the press service of the Embassy of …

  • Despite sanctions, European supermarkets operate in Crimea

    According to Reuters, the Metro and Auchan European supermarket chains are operating in the annexed Crimea despite EU sanctions.

    Products exported to these shops from Russia come through the port of Kerch, even though the European sanctions prohibit this, sources at the agency says.

    According to these sanctions, EU companies cannot do business in the Crimea. Reuters reports that the representatives of Metro and Auchan have stated that they are not violating the sanctions as their stores are …

  • US officials begin to see cracks in Russia's Syria strategy

    Experts believe that Moscow's chances to benefit from intervention in Syria via the lifting of European sanctions has been reduced due to the collapse of the ceasefire.

    According to some representatives of the U.S. government, the cracks in Moscow’s strategy began to emerge on Wednesday, September 21st during the United Nations Security Council high level meeting when Russia changed its explanations about the attack on a humanitarian convoy that resulted in 20 deaths.

    The Russian officials …

  • US House approves sending lethal weapons to Ukraine

    The US House of Representatives has unanimously approved supplying lethal defensive weapons systems to Ukraine. This was stated in the House bill named ‘On the support of stability and democracy in Ukraine’, which had previously been supported by the Foreign Affairs Committee. This was reported on the website of the lower chamber of the US Congress.

    The Embassy of Ukraine in the US reported that the document was initiated by the Co-Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of …

  • Ukraine begins preparation for withdrawal of forces from the Donbas

    The withdrawal of troops and weapons along three areas of the contact line has started, said Yevhen Marchuk, the Ukrainian Special Representative in one of the subgroups of the Trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine. He hopes that withdrawal along the remaining four areas will follow.

    Ukraine started preparations for the withdrawal of the troops and weapons along the frontline in the Donbas region. Withdrawal will take place along three areas defined in the framework agreement of the Tripartite …

  • Biden: Kyiv shouldn't give the EU a reason to lift sanctions on Russia

    The Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden, called on Ukraine to speed up the reform process, warning that some European countries are waiting for a reason to remove the sanctions against Russia.

    “We know that there are at least five countries that will refuse to participate in the continued extension of sanctions against Russia, should Ukraine give the European Union a reason to do so,” Biden said in his speech before the Foreign Affairs Council in New York on the 21st of September. …