• Zakharchenko demands recognition of DPR as an independent state

    The leader of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), Alexander Zakharchenko, has stated that the separatists are ready to cooperate with Ukraine.  In return, they demand official recognition of the so-called DPR as an independent state.  Zakharchenko detailed these conditions to the RIA Novosti news agency.

    Zakharchenko is awaiting the recognition of the so-called DPR as an equal partner.  In addition, he hopes that Ukraine will implement all points of the Minsk Agreements, reformat …

  • Ukrainian Prosecutor General's office releases details on state funds appropriated by Yanukovych officials

    In 2015, Ukraine didn't return a single penny of the assets stolen by the former government officials during the reign of fugitive former President, Viktor Yanukovych, said Deputy Prosecutor General, Vitaliy Kasko, in an interview with LІGA.net.

    According to Kasko, 300,000 hryvnia had been returned, though none of this had been a part of the assets of former officials.

    The Deputy Prosecutor General said the budget contains provisions relating to refunds resulting from corruption all the way …

  • Aivaras Abromavičius met with Saakashvili before his Resignation

    The Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine, Aivaras Abromavičius, who recently resigned from his position, explained the reason for his meeting with the Governor of Odessa Oblast, Mikheil Saakashvili, on the eve of his resignation.

    “I appointed Saakashvili as the Chairperson of the Council on State-Owned Business Reforms before he was appointed as the Governor of Odessa-Oblast.  That is why I have a close relationship with him and we fight together against corruption in State- …

  • NATO to help develop Ukrainian Special Forces

    In the near future, Ukraine and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will reach an agreement that will see the creation of Ukrainian Special Operations Forces.  This was said by the Acting Head of the Mission of Ukraine to NATO, Yehor Bozhok, and was reported by the UNIAN news agency.

     “In the near future, I do not want to preempt this, but soon you will see concrete results and agreements regarding the establishment of the Special Operations Forces. We will sign this agreement with …

  • Berlin's Prosecutor's Office investigates Russian journalist

    Berlin prosecutors began a preliminary investigation into Ivan Blagy, a correspondent for Russia’s First Channel. This was reported to DW on the 7th of February by German lawyer, Martin Luithle. Luithle’s application for verifying the legitimacy of one of Blagy’s stories formed the basis of a criminal case.

    The story in question is about the alleged kidnapping and rape of a 13-year-old Russian-speaking young girl known as Lisa F. These alleged crimes occurred in Berlin and were reportedly …

  • Russia Accused of Assisting North Korea in Building Ballistic Missile

    The intelligence service of South Korea claims that the ballistic missile launched by North Korea on Sunday night was built with technology and resources obtained from Russia, as reported by Yonhap, citing an MP who attended the closed-door briefing of the South Korean security forces. Earlier, the media reported that at least one structural element of the launched missile was found in the sea near a South Korean island; it is believed to be the first stage of the rocket as reported by Glavnoe, …

  • Abromavičius Elaborates on the Corruption that led to his Resignation

    Aivaras Abromavičius, who had earlier resigned from his post as the Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine, stated that Andrey Pasishnik wanted to become his Deputy in order to control Naftogaz Ukrainy and other state-owned enterprises with the consent of the Presidential Administration. Abromavičius stated this publicly for the first time on the air of a Ukrainian TV Channel.

    The Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine refused to give the name of the person from …

  • Savchenko extradition procedure could start in March

    The extradition procedure of the illegally imprisoned Ukrainian pilot, Nadia Savchenko, may begin by mid-March.  This was stated by Savchenko’s lawyer, Mark Feygin, in an interview for Apostrophe.  Savchenko is currently imprisoned in Russia.

    “The verdict will be announced at the end of February or in early March, in just three and a half weeks.  The sentence will then come into legal force 10 days thereafter.  Savchenko refused to appeal, but I do not entirely agree with that.  I think that …

  • Sevastopol's electricity problems continue

    The city of Sevastopol is supplied with just 190 MW of electricity each day, which is insufficient during peak periods in the mornings and in the evenings.  This was stated by a technical director at PJSC: EC Sevastopolenergo, Viktor Shulzhenko, at a meeting to discuss plans for eliminating the consequences of electricity emergencies.  This was reported on the city's website.

     “So far for today, Sevastopol has received between 182 MW and 189 MW of electricity. For now, there are no cut-offs …

  • Syrian Opposition: Russia is not interested in a political solution to the conflict in Syria

    In the wake of the UN Special Envoy for Syria’s announcement  that Syrian peace talks in Geneva would be delayed until February 25th, Syrian opposition leader Bassma Kodmani blamed Russian aggression for the postponement. In an interview with Deutsche Welle, Kodmani told correspondent Naomi Conrad that it is clear that Russia is not interested in a political solution to the conflict that has ravaged Syria for nearly 5 years.

    “Were the Russians preparing all along to discredit the US in this …