Contents tagged with Donbas
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Ukrainian Security Service dismantles Russian spy network
The officers of the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) have detained at the Ukrainian-Russian border the head of the secret agent network of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, a former Ukrainian military, who planned to go to Russia to report to his bosses about the accomplished tasks, reported the SBU press service.
As the SBU counterintelligence has established, the former military was recruited by a staff member of the Security Service of the Russian Armed Forces during his visit …
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Germany to allocate €6 million in humanitarian aid for Donbas
The German government is increasing its financial support for the humanitarian activity carried out by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Ukraine.
In 2020, in addition to the already promised €2 million, an extra €4 million will be allocated. Furthermore, in 2021 Berlin plans to allocate another €2 million to this purpose.
Between 2019 and 2021, Germany will have provided a total of €12.3 million in financing for the ICRC’s humanitarian activity in Ukraine, DW reports.
A …
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Russia: Next Normandy Format summit can only take place after Donbas special status is included in Ukraine’s Constitution
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that a new summit in the Normandy Format can only take place after the decisions made at the previous summit have been implemented, especially the enshrinement of the “special status of the Donbas” in Ukrainian law, Interfax-Ukraine reports.
“I have not heard about a meeting of ministers in the Normandy Format being planned for one month’s time. Our colleagues are saying that another Normandy Format summit should be scheduled for as early as …
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MH17 case: Dutch prosecutors classify identities of 13 witnesses due to safety threats
The identities of 13 witnesses in the case concerning the Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 catastrophe will be kept secret on account of threats to their safety, NOS reports. According to the documents from the Netherlands Public Prosecution Office cited by the news outlet, the health and life of the witnesses are at a “significant risk”.
However, the motion to classify the identity of another witness was rejected by the investigative judge, citing the impossibility of guaranteeing his anonymity. …
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Pro-Russian militants attempt to break through Ukrainian defense lines in Donbas
On the night of February 22, pro-Russian militants tried to break through the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Donbas but were forced to retreat suffering losses, reported the press service of the Ukrainian Joint Forces Operation.
"Today, on the night of February 22, a failed attempt was made to break through the demarcation line by a sabotage and reconnaissance group of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation," the statement of the Ukrainian military command reads.
According …
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Ukrainian Defense Ministry: There are around 25,000 Russian soldiers in Donbas today
Ukrainian Defense Minister Andriy Zahorodniuk said that there are currently more than 25,000 Russian soldiers in the Donbas. He cited this figure on February 19 while talking to the press after a closed session of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence.
“It’s changing information. We see that there are more than 25,000, for sure,” Zahorodniuk noted.
The minister also speculated that, after the failed attempt to break through to the Zolote region (Luhansk …
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Ukraine’s General Staff confirms reports of abandoned positions due to militants’ attack in Luhansk region
During a closed session of the Verkhovna Rada committee on national security, defense and intelligence, a representative of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) confirmed the reports that the Ukrainian army had been forced to abandon several previously held positions after the militants’ attack. This was reported by the first deputy chairperson of the committee, Mykhailo Zabrodskyi (European Solidarity party).
“We can talk about a list of questions that were asked by …
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Volker: Zelensky has chosen a reasonable strategy for Donbas, but there should not be concessions
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s strategy, which avoids calling Russia the “aggressor-state”, makes it possible to avoid accusations against Ukraine from its western allies, said Kurt Volker, former US Special Representative for Ukraine, as cited by Eurointegration.
According to Volker, the people who question such behavior by the head of state should take into account the progress of international negotiations.
“Taking them into account, the strategy that Zelensky has chosen is, in …
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Ukraine blames Kremlin for Donbas escalation at UN Security Council session
During a session of the UN Security Council, Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Serhiy Kyslytsia brought up the topic of the conflict escalation in the Donbas.
“What is our status today? Apparently, an answer was given at 5 AM local time, when our positions came under attack. The attack, perpetrated today, on the fifth anniversary of the Debaltseve tragedy, was particularly shameless,” he said.
Kyslytsia remarked that the Armed Forces of Ukraine responded appropriately to this attack by the …
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Lavrov: Russia ready to pull out of April Normandy summit
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Russia is ready to pull out of the Normandy Format summit scheduled for April. He said that the date of the next summit has not been finalized, RBC news agency reports.
“When we hear our Normandy Format colleagues speaking about April as the date for convening the summit, it’s their wishes, their ideas that they are voicing. But not more than that,” said Lavrov on Monday, February 17.
He added that there are currently “no reasons to hold a …