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Pro-Russian separatists attack Ukrainian Forces 37 times
On the 23rd of January, pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine violated the ceasefire agreement 37 times. The Chief Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine reported that weapons prohibited by the Minsk Agreements were observed in the cities of Donetsk and Bulavinskoye.
Information about the presence of weaponry–tanks, self-propelled guns (SPG) and 122-mm Grad rocket launchers-was provided by representatives of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission.
Ukrainian …
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Russian Capital Outflow Increased By 30 Percent Last Week Amid Ruble Crisis
The total outflow of means from funds invested in Russian assets increased to $91.8 million during the week beginning January 14th. According to Interfax, based on data provided by the Emerging Portfolio Fund Research (EPFR) analysts, last week investors withdrew $70 million from Russian investments—an outflow of means increased by 30%.
Sberbank CIB estimates the total net cash outflow from funds investing only in shares of the Russian Federation also increased to $42.1 million from January 14 …
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Authorities in Moscow reject application for anti-Kadyrov rally
City authorities in Moscow have rejected an application submitted by the liberal Yabloko party to hold a public rally to call for the removal of Ramzan Kadyrov, the head of the Chechen Republic.
Radio Free Europe reported that Yabloko instead plans to hold a rotating one-person picket on January 26th in front of President Putin’s administration building, as public demonstrations in Russia of more than one person must be approved by the authorities. Russian opposition groups report that it is …
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Russian Army to Add Four New Divisions
The Russian Defense Ministry announced a significant expansion of staff of their ground forces "in response to the increasing intensity of the NATO countries’ training." There are currently no Russian ground troops in Crimea.
The Russian Federation ground forces will be strengthened by combining existing sections of the Army into four new divisions, said the Russian Defense Ministry on Friday, January 22nd. "In 2016, three divisions will be formed in the Western territory and one in the …
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Gazprom: Ukraine's Transit Fine Is an Attempt to Exert Pressure
Gazprom claimed that the Anti-Monopoly Committee of Ukraine (AMCU) has no authority to regulate the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine. This was reported by Interfax, citing the press service of Gazprom on Friday, January 22nd. The Russian gas giant said that the decision of the AMCU to impose a $3.47 billion fine upon Gazprom was an "attempt to exert pressure."
"This arouses extreme surprise, because Gazprom does not carry out any business activities on the territory of Ukraine by passing …