For first time, Russia imposed a border zone along the border with Belarus
The Federal Security Service of Russia (FSB) established a border zone along the border with Belarus in the Pskov, Smolensk, and Bryansk regions, as was stated in the order of the Director of FSB, Alexander Bortnikov, which was published on the legal information website.
These border zones are necessary to "establish the necessary conditions for the protection of the border of the Russian Federation."
The regional offices of the FSB in the Smolensk, Pskov, and Bryansk regions will establish …
Media: Ukraine’s negotiations with the IMF on a new tranche have taken longer than expected
Ukraine and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have not yet concluded negotiations about granting Kyiv the fourth tranche under the Extended Fund Facility program (EFF) in the amount of $1 billion. This was reported by the Ukrainian News Agency.
According to the interlocutors of the agency, the parties still cannot agree on the time-frame of implementing the land and pension reforms in Ukraine.
"According to the optimistic scenario, if the pension and land reforms issues are agreed this …
Russian Defense Ministry summons Ukrainian military attache regarding attack on Ukrainian aircraft
On Wednesday evening, Russia's Defense Ministry invited the Ukrainian Defense Attaché in Russia for the delivery of a military-diplomatic note in connection with the Ukrainian aircraft’s flyby near the drill towers in the Black Sea. Interfax-Ukraine reported the details.
"The delivered note emphasized that the actions of the Ukrainian aircraft were regarded as provocative," said the official representative of the Russian Defense Ministry, Major-General Igor Konashenkov. According to him, the …
Turchynov instructed the Ukrainian military to prepare for a counter-offensive
The Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (RNBO), Oleksandr Turchynov, visited the front line in Avdiivka, and instructed the military to prepare for an attack from the separatists, as well as to be prepare for a counterattack, the press service of the RNBO reported.
"The military was tasked with refining the operational plans for the times of the offensive of the Russian hybrid troops while taking into account the preparation for effective counteroffensive steps," …
Poland to file a complaint to The Hague concerning Russian investigation of the Smolensk catastrophe
Poland plans to submit a complaint to the International Court of Justice in The Hague concerning the Russian investigation of the Smolensk catastrophe. This was announced on Wednesday by the Polish Foreign Minister, Witold Waszczykowski, as Radio Poland reported.
"At first we tried — for a year — to verify whether there is an opportunity to reach an agreement directly with the Russians. The Russians, as you know, reacted negatively, sometimes arrogantly ... We also tried to get support from …