Nine Killed in Xenophobic Attacks in Russia in 2015

Several dozen people were injured and nine were killed in attacks fueled by radical xenophobia in Russia in 2015. According to the SOVA Human Rights Center for Information and Analysis, Moscow and St. Petersburg are the main centers of ethnic and racial violence in Russia. 

"The level of violence is still the highest in Moscow (3 dead, 26 wounded) and St. Petersburg (3 dead, 14 wounded). There are a noticeable number of victims in Moscow [oblast] (5 injured), Samara and Novosibirsk regions (3 …


Thirteen Placed on Interpol Wanted List for Crimes in Eastern Ukraine

The head of the Directorate of the National Police in the Donetsk region, Vyacheslav Ambroskin, reported that 13 extremely dangerous criminals were declared internationally wanted by Interpol for serious crimes; including crimes against the peace and security of mankind, which have been committed in the ATO zone.

According to him, the involvement of these people in serious crimes was confirmed despite the inability of police to access this zone. “We work in close collaboration with law …


Russia Halts Transit of Ukrainian Goods

The Russian Federation has imposed customs duties as well as a food embargo against Ukraine in an effort to protect its market from the influx of duty-free supplies entering the Ukraine from the European Union. The Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine (MEDTU) reported that Russia has fully halted the transit of Ukrainian goods into its territory as of 4 January 2016.

“This ban by the Russian Federation is not clear. It is unacceptable and discriminatory in nature. Therefore, …


New Gas Corridor to be Constructed between Poland and Ukraine

A new gas corridor, named the “North-South” corridor, will make it possible for gas to be transported from a Polish gas port in Świnoujście to other countries in Central and Eastern Europe. The Polish gas pipelines, Lwówek–Odolanów and Hermanowice–Strachocina, that will be constructed by the State “Gaz System” are critical parts of the gas corridor “North-South.”

Among other things, this corridor will provide the opportunity to pump liquefied natural gas, delivered to the Polish gas port in Ś …


Ukrainian Servicemen Receive NATO Training Certificates

The Ukrainian military received NATO certificates from Canadian instructors for the completion of a course on neutralization and countering improvised explosive devices. This was reported on the website of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

"In the Mine Action Center of the operational support command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which is stationed in the Khmelnitsky region, the Ukrainian servicemen were solemnly presented with NATO standard certificates that state the completion of the …