unian--2020-09-29--Without water: Occupied Crimea turning into a desert

The Russian-occupied Crimea has been struggling without the Dnieper water as local ponds and rivers are drying up , as well as major reservoirs .
Amid the unfolding disaster , occupation authorities put blame on Ukraine , while pursuing response initiatives that could ultimately destroy the ecosystem across the peninsula .
The hot summer and the rainless start of autumn have led to the drying-up of Crimean reservoirs and the subsequent freshwater shortage .
Despite the fact that Ukrainian journalists are not allowed to Crimea , the Hroshi investigative journalists managed to obtain footage showing the sad picture of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the Crimean peninsula .
It has dried out .
Other strategic water bodies are suffering as well .
The Partyzanske , the Ayanske , and the Mizhgirske reservoirs are going shallow , too , and the consequences of the process are deplorable .
`` Wells have dried up in villages .
There 's a difficult situation in Southern Crimea starting from Yalta to Sudak , and in Kerch .
Well , in Simferopol and Sevastopol , too , '' locals say .
Shortage of water resources has hit local agriculture hard , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ industries for many Crimean regions .
Drought has reduced yields .
Some farms have lost up to half of their grapes .
Only precipitation , which , unfortunately , was almost non-existent , could save the situation .
`` In the area of Simferopol , in rural areas of Northern Crimea , water is supplied once a day .
And there are places where it is supplied twice a week , '' Crimean Tatar activist Edem Dudakov told Hroshi .
Even in the regional center of Simferopol , water is delivered on schedule @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day , and sometimes the water is rusty , Dudakov adds .
`` Previously , water flowed three times a day – for an hour and a half .
There was enough water , because everyone has tanks , '' says Serhiy Vasyliev , a villager living outside Simferopol .
But in early July , occupation authorities made people 's lives even difficult : Crimeans were told that their water supply system had been worn out and required replacement .
`` It seems that they decided to replace the pipes .
But it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ replacement .
Because the operating water system has been completely destroyed , '' Vasyliev says .
Now water supplies to their house have an even stricter schedule : `` Water flows for some 10-15 minutes .
Houses down the street are able to somehow collect a few buckets of water .
But those up the street , using automatic pumps , can get half a bucket max . ''
As in all other troubles , Russian occupation authorities put blame for water shortage on Ukraine 's decision to sever supplies via the North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ annexation of the peninsula .
However , in contrast to the occupation authorities , the local activist notes that even after the canal was closed , water did not disappear immediately .
So the problem is much wider than the blocked Ukrainian `` tap . ''
`` For all six years they have n't been saving water at all .
Fir all six years , our reservoirs have been drying up… They did n't want to spoil the picture of the 'Russian world ' , '' says Edem Dudakov .
At the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ en masse to the peninsula from mainland Russia .
`` Approximately 350,000 people – military , their families – are those special kinds of people who were relocated here with great benefits for the purchase of real estate , etc.
, '' says Dudakov .
At least 350,000 new residents is an impressive figure for Crimea .
That approximately equals the entire population of Simferopol .
That is , another big city was added to Crimea .
But it was not about savings .
On the contrary , new construction sites emerged , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ course , they all needed water .
But what happens next ?
Crimeans see two options .
The first is to negotiate with Ukraine or lay pipes to the Crimea from the Kuban region of Russia .
As for the latter , Russian President Vladimir Putin once gave locals such hope , saying he supports the idea and will help lay the line , '' locals tell journalists .
However , the option is really nothing more than a nice promise , journalists add .
After all , the arid Krasnodar Territory does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there is nothing to share with the Crimeans , which , incidentally , was even officially reported by the Russian Agency for Water Resources .
Also considered unlikely is an option with desalination of sea water due its extremely high cost .
So what 's left ?
Elimination of old wells and construction of new ones seems to be the only way out .
However , environmentalists are not amused about the idea as quality water , they predict , will be running out due to uncontrolled drilling of underground wells .
Even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drilling wells still takes time , which Crimea is lacking .
`` I think it will take a decade to drill wells , even if they can .
In each city of Crimea , there must be two to three crews working .
Then , I think , in ten years , they will cover 50-60 % of the peninsula 's water demand , '' said Yevhen Korzhenko , a hydrogeologist and experienced driller .
In addition , wells can only provide water to households , thus leaving the farmers out .
Therefore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other ways out .
In particular , recently the local public heard the news that some lab plane , deployed from Russia , will be shooting at the clouds to cause rain .
However , journalists add , this will not solve the global problem , while precipitation expectations are poor , complicating the situation further .
Ukraine will reopen the Northern Crimean canal only after Russia gives back the peninsula it illegally grabbed in 2014 .
Meanwhile , only 4 million cubic meters of water remain in the Simferopol Reservoir , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At the same time , Simferopol alone consumes more than 100,000 cubic meters a day .
Ponds and rivers are unable to resolve the crisis either .
One of Crimea 's waterways , the Biyuk-Karasu River , which feeds the Belogorsk Reservoir , has become very shallow , and its tributary , the Tanasu River , has dried up completely .
The day may soon come – perhaps in December – when the deepest artificial reservoir of Crimea – the Izobilnytske Reservoir , which provides fresh water to Alushta – will dry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a spelling error on our site , select it and press Ctrl+Enter

The Russian-occupied Crimea has been struggling without the Dnieper water as local ponds and rivers are drying up, as well as major reservoirs. Amid the unfolding disaster, occupation authorities put blame on Ukraine, while pursuing response initiatives that could ultimately destroy the ecosystem across the peninsula.
The hot summer and the rainless start of autumn have led to the drying-up of Crimean reservoirs and the subsequent freshwater shortage. Despite the fact that Ukrainian journalists are not allowed to Crimea, the Hroshi investigative journalists managed to obtain footage showing the sad picture of the Simferopol Reservoir, one of the largest on the Crimean peninsula. It has dried out.
Other strategic water bodies are suffering as well. The Partyzanske, the Ayanske, and the Mizhgirske reservoirs are going shallow, too, and the consequences of the process are deplorable.
"Wells have dried up in villages. There's a difficult situation in Southern Crimea starting from Yalta to Sudak, and in Kerch. Well, in Simferopol and Sevastopol, too," locals say.
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Shortage of water resources has hit local agriculture hard, especially winemaking – one of the main industries for many Crimean regions.
Drought has reduced yields. Some farms have lost up to half of their grapes. Only precipitation, which, unfortunately, was almost non-existent, could save the situation.
"In the area of Simferopol, in rural areas of Northern Crimea, water is supplied once a day. And there are places where it is supplied twice a week," Crimean Tatar activist Edem Dudakov told Hroshi.
Even in the regional center of Simferopol, water is delivered on schedule, for two or three hours a day, and sometimes the water is rusty, Dudakov adds.
"Previously, water flowed three times a day – for an hour and a half. There was enough water, because everyone has tanks," says Serhiy Vasyliev, a villager living outside Simferopol.
But in early July, occupation authorities made people's lives even difficult: Crimeans were told that their water supply system had been worn out and required replacement.
"It seems that they decided to replace the pipes. But it would be wrong to call this pipe replacement. Because the operating water system has been completely destroyed," Vasyliev says.
Now water supplies to their house have an even stricter schedule: "Water flows for some 10-15 minutes. Houses down the street are able to somehow collect a few buckets of water. But those up the street, using automatic pumps, can get half a bucket max."
As in all other troubles, Russian occupation authorities put blame for water shortage on Ukraine's decision to sever supplies via the North Crimean canal at the onset of Russian annexation of the peninsula.
However, in contrast to the occupation authorities, the local activist notes that even after the canal was closed, water did not disappear immediately. So the problem is much wider than the blocked Ukrainian "tap."
"For all six years they haven't been saving water at all. Fir all six years, our reservoirs have been drying up… They didn't want to spoil the picture of the 'Russian world'," says Edem Dudakov.
At the same time, people were urged to move en masse to the peninsula from mainland Russia. "Approximately 350,000 people – military, their families – are those special kinds of people who were relocated here with great benefits for the purchase of real estate, etc.," says Dudakov.
At least 350,000 new residents is an impressive figure for Crimea. That approximately equals the entire population of Simferopol. That is, another big city was added to Crimea. But it was not about savings. On the contrary, new construction sites emerged, including military bases. And, of course, they all needed water.
But what happens next? Crimeans see two options. The first is to negotiate with Ukraine or lay pipes to the Crimea from the Kuban region of Russia. As for the latter, Russian President Vladimir Putin once gave locals such hope, saying he supports the idea and will help lay the line," locals tell journalists.
However, the option is really nothing more than a nice promise, journalists add. After all, the arid Krasnodar Territory doesn't have enough water itself, so there is nothing to share with the Crimeans, which, incidentally, was even officially reported by the Russian Agency for Water Resources.
Also considered unlikely is an option with desalination of sea water due its extremely high cost. So what's left?
Elimination of old wells and construction of new ones seems to be the only way out. However, environmentalists are not amused about the idea as quality water, they predict, will be running out due to uncontrolled drilling of underground wells.
Even if ecologists' warnings are dismissed, drilling wells still takes time, which Crimea is lacking.
"I think it will take a decade to drill wells, even if they can. In each city of Crimea, there must be two to three crews working. Then, I think, in ten years, they will cover 50-60% of the peninsula's water demand," said Yevhen Korzhenko, a hydrogeologist and experienced driller.
In addition, wells can only provide water to households, thus leaving the farmers out. Therefore, occupation authorities are desperately looking for other ways out.
In particular, recently the local public heard the news that some lab plane, deployed from Russia, will be shooting at the clouds to cause rain. However, journalists add, this will not solve the global problem, while precipitation expectations are poor, complicating the situation further.
Ukraine will reopen the Northern Crimean canal only after Russia gives back the peninsula it illegally grabbed in 2014.
Meanwhile, only 4 million cubic meters of water remain in the Simferopol Reservoir, and 6 million – in the Partizansky Reservoir. At the same time, Simferopol alone consumes more than 100,000 cubic meters a day.
Ponds and rivers are unable to resolve the crisis either. One of Crimea's waterways, the Biyuk-Karasu River, which feeds the Belogorsk Reservoir, has become very shallow, and its tributary, the Tanasu River, has dried up completely. The day may soon come – perhaps in December – when the deepest artificial reservoir of Crimea – the Izobilnytske Reservoir, which provides fresh water to Alushta – will dry up, too.
Eva Nikolashvili


unian--2020-09-29--Wage arrears across country exceed US$120.8 mln

Economically active enterprises saw their wage arrears up to UAH 2.198 billion ( US $ 77.6 million ) , which is 0.8 % more than reported on August 1 .
Wage arrears across Ukraine in August 2020 increased by 0.6 % to the previous month , amounting to UAH 3.42 billion ( US $ 120.8 million ) as of September 1 , the State Statistics Service reports .
Economically active enterprises saw their wage arrears up to UAH 2.198 billion ( US $ 77.6 million ) , which is 0.8 % more than reported on August 1 , the stats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2.5 % : DetailsThe latest report has no data from the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol , as well as the temporarily occupied areas in Donetsk and Luhansk regions .
• The minimum wage in Ukraine since January 1 , 2020 , has increased by UAH 550 ( US $ 19.43 ) , to UAH 4,723 ( US $ 166.83 ) per month , or UAH 28.31 ( US $ 1 ) per hour .
• In the 2020 state budget , the monthly subsistence minimum was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ January 1 , 2020 , at UAH 2,027 ( US $ 71.60 ) , from July 1 at UAH 2,118 ( US $ 74.81 ) , and from December 1 at UAH 2,189 ( US $ 77.32 ) .
• The average nominal wage of a full-time employee in Ukraine in June 2020 increased by 7.4 % on year , to UAH 11,579 ( US $ 409 ) .
• From September 1 , 2020 , the Cabinet increased the minimum wage to UAH 5,000 ( US $ 176.62 ) with a further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 211.94 ) from January 1 , 2021 , and to UAH 6,500 ( US $ 229.60 ) from July 1 , 2021 .

Wage arrears across country exceed US$120.8 mln
14:00, 29.09.20 997
Economically active enterprises saw their wage arrears up to UAH 2.198 billion (US$77.6 million), which is 0.8% more than reported on August 1.
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unian--2020-09-29--Ukraine sees no banking crisis amid economic recession – NBU

This is being observed for the first time ever , the regulator notes , adding that they see no significant risks for the banking sector 's capital and liquidity .
First Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine ( NBU ) Kateryna Rozhkova says the economic crisis in the country caused by the coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) pandemic is not accompanied by the banking system crisis .
`` Measures to cleanse and strengthen the banking system are really yielding results ... Not only the robustness of the banking system , but also the effectiveness of monetary policy – all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a big shock .
We can say we 've gone through the crisis relatively calmly .
At the onset of recession , we observed a deposit outflow from banks , but the situation stabilized within two weeks , '' she told an online conference on September 28 , according to an UNIAN correspondent .
The regulator does not see significant risks for the banking sector 's capital and liquidity , as it was the case during previous crises , but there are challenges to the banks ' profitability .
`` Banks ' revenue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past eight months , the banking sector 's profit , although remaining significant , has decreased compared on year , primarily due to the formation of reserves , '' the official said .
Moreover , banks were forced to incur additional expenses , especially in the early quarantine stages , to ensure both online operation and the work of branches in terms of security .
In addition , there was a decline in consumer demand , in particular , the volume of banking services decreased , which is reflected in the dynamics of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` However , according to our forecasts , the banking sector will remain profitable this year , '' she added .
As for the banks ' loan portfolios , it 's too early to give a final assessment of the quality of loan portfolios in the context of the ongoing adaptive quarantine and loan holidays , Rozhkova said .
Read alsoNBU revokes Arcada bank 's license '' Now we 're seeing deterioration in quality of the loan portfolio .
The restructuring is underway , so it 's too early to give final estimates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the growth rate of the consumer loan portfolio has decreased , we first have a situation where mortgages grew faster than consumer lending .
PrivatBank , Oschadbank , and Kredobank were in the lead .
Reducing the keyrate made the mortgage affordable in terms of cost for end consumers , '' she said .
In turn , Chairman of Board at Kyiv-based Raiffeisen Bank Aval Oleksandr Pysaruk noted that after the easing of quarantine restrictions in May , there had been a revival of all customer transactions , which indicates gradual economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the lowest in the Raiffeisen system , so I see no serious problems .
But we must understand why this is so – the country got out of strict lockdown as early as in May , and this can be seen in the volume of transactions .
All types of payments , including foreign exchange and card ones , started to rebound in June .
The economy has resumed functioning ; people receive salaries and spend money , which can be seen from transactions .
Therefore , the portfolio sees no significant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ banks ' net profit fell by 26.4 % in January-August 2020 year-on-year , to UAH 32.6 billion ( US $ 1.2 billion ) .

Ukraine sees no banking crisis amid economic recession – NBU
13:35, 29.09.20 2188
This is being observed for the first time ever, the regulator notes, adding that they see no significant risks for the banking sector's capital and liquidity.
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unian--2020-09-29--Ukraine marks 79th anniversary of Babyn Yar tragedy

Nazis have exterminated Jews , Gypsies , Soviet POWs , Ukrainian nationalists , patients of Kyiv 's psychiatric clinic , inmates of the local concentration camp and others whom they considered `` enemies '' in what 's believed to be one of WW2 's most horrifying massacres .
Ukraine on September 29 marks the 79th anniversary of the Babyn Yar ( Babi Yar ) tragedy , one of the most tragic pages in the history of World War II , when the Nazis launched mass executions of civilians in Kyiv .
`` Today we honor the memory of the victims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lives were taken as a result of the criminal and ruthless actions of the Nazi regime .
The tragedy of such scale remains our pain , not only for Ukraine , but for the whole world , '' Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Dmytro Razumkov said in an address posted on the parliament 's website .
According to the official , no matter how many years have passed since those terrible events , people have no right to forget about the causes and irreparable consequences of that tragedy .
`` Genocide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so we must do everything possible to prevent this from happening again .
Only by remembering these terrible pages of history can we build a safe future for our children , '' he said .
Read alsoZelensky holds video conference on construction of Babyn Yar Holocaust Memorial CenterRazumkov stressed that modern , democratic , and strong Ukraine remembers the hard lessons of the past and stands not to recognize any manifestations of intolerance .
He expressed confidence that only by uniting around important issues , protecting human life as the highest value @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ukrainians , is it possible to create a successful and prosperous state .
From September 1941 to the end of September 1943 , Babyn Yar was the site of regular massacres and burials carried out by Nazi Security Police ( Sicherheitspolizei ) and SD ( the SS intelligence service ) of the Einsatzgruppen , special action groups , along with the occupying authority of Kyiv .
Jews , Gypsies , Soviet prisoners of war , Ukrainian nationalists , patients of Kyiv 's psychiatric hospital , prisoners of the Syrets concentration camp , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were slain and buried in mass graves Babyn Yar .
Over 100,000 civilians and prisoners of war were massacred at the site during World War 2 .

Nazis have exterminated Jews, Gypsies, Soviet POWs, Ukrainian nationalists, patients of Kyiv's psychiatric clinic, inmates of the local concentration camp and others whom they considered "enemies" in what's believed to be one of WW2's most horrifying massacres.
Ukraine on September 29 marks the 79th anniversary of the Babyn Yar (Babi Yar) tragedy, one of the most tragic pages in the history of World War II, when the Nazis launched mass executions of civilians in Kyiv.
"Today we honor the memory of the victims of the Babyn Yar tragedy. Innocent lives were taken as a result of the criminal and ruthless actions of the Nazi regime. The tragedy of such scale remains our pain, not only for Ukraine, but for the whole world," Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Dmytro Razumkov said in an address posted on the parliament's website.
According to the official, no matter how many years have passed since those terrible events, people have no right to forget about the causes and irreparable consequences of that tragedy.
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"Genocide is the most terrible crime against humanity, so we must do everything possible to prevent this from happening again. Only by remembering these terrible pages of history can we build a safe future for our children," he said.
Read alsoZelensky holds video conference on construction of Babyn Yar Holocaust Memorial CenterRazumkov stressed that modern, democratic, and strong Ukraine remembers the hard lessons of the past and stands not to recognize any manifestations of intolerance. He expressed confidence that only by uniting around important issues, protecting human life as the highest value, and discarding differences that artificially divide Ukrainians, is it possible to create a successful and prosperous state.
Babyn Yar tragedy
From September 1941 to the end of September 1943, Babyn Yar was the site of regular massacres and burials carried out by Nazi Security Police (Sicherheitspolizei) and SD (the SS intelligence service) of the Einsatzgruppen, special action groups, along with the occupying authority of Kyiv.
Jews, Gypsies, Soviet prisoners of war, Ukrainian nationalists, patients of Kyiv's psychiatric hospital, prisoners of the Syrets concentration camp, and others whom the Nazis considered their enemies were slain and buried in mass graves Babyn Yar.
Over 100,000 civilians and prisoners of war were massacred at the site during World War 2.


unian--2020-09-29--Reservoir supplying water to Russia's Black Sea Fleet base in occupied Crimea almost dried up

The situation of Sevastopol 's freshwater supplies is rapidly deteriorating .
Crimea 's Chornorichenske water reservoir , the main source of freshwater for Sevastopol , home of Russia 's Black Sea Fleet base , is now less than half full amid continued drought .
The city 's water supply situation is rapidly deteriorating , blogger Wasily Crimea wrote on Twitter posting fresh photos of the water reservoir .
• In mid-August , Russia 's RIA Novosti said the volume of water in the Chornorichenske reservoir is 24.4 million cubic meters , i.e .
about 38 % of design volume .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ early July , the volume of water in the reservoir was 30.112 million cubic meters , so the decline stands at 5.7 million cubic meters in a month and a half .
• In May and June 2020 , the reservoir lost 4.5 million cubic meters of water .
Prior to Crimea occupation by Russia , Ukraine used to cover up to 85 % of the peninsula 's needs for freshwater through the North Crimean Canal .
After the Crimea annexation by Russia in 2014 , Ukraine severed water supplies to the occupied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ replenished from natural runoff reservoirs and underground sources .
Environmentalists say regular use of water from underground sources has led to soil salinization .
On September 7 , in Simferopol , Bakhchisarai , and Simferopol districts , due to ongoing drought and shallowing of reservoirs , the third , most severe , stage of water supply restrictions was introduced .
On the same day , an OHCHR representative said it is Russia who bears responsibility for ensuring water supplies to the occupied Crimea .
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba says restoration of water @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the context of the occupied peninsula 's end of occupation .
At the same time , there is no humanitarian crisis with freshwater in occupied Crimea whatsoever , chief of Ukraine 's diplomacy emphasizes .
`` The narrative about the 'humanitarian crisis ' was invented by Russian propaganda in order to convince the world that water supplies to Crimea are necessary . ''

Reservoir supplying water to Russia's Black Sea Fleet base in occupied Crimea almost dried up (Photo)
12:45, 29.09.20 7417
The situation of Sevastopol's freshwater supplies is rapidly deteriorating.
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unian--2020-09-29--Azerbaijan accuses Armenia of shelling its border region

Clashes on the contact line between the Azerbaijani and Armenian military in Nagorno-Karabakh region continued overnight .
On the morning of Tuesday , September 29 , the Armenian artillery started shelling Azerbaijan 's Dashkesan region , according to officials in Baku .
`` The Armenian side continues provocative actions against Azerbaijan .
Since 07:30 on September 29 , the Armenian military from the territory of Armenia 's Vardeni region have been shelling Dashkesan region of Azerbaijan , '' the Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan said , Interfax reports .
At the same time , representative of the Armenian Defense Ministry Artsrun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Azerbaijan `` have begun a strong artillery preparation , another attack is being prepared . ''
In turn , press secretary of the Armenian Defense Ministry Shushan Stepanyan also reported on the hostilities in the conflict zone , which continue `` with different intensity . ''
Read alsoUN Secretary-General calls on Armenia , Azerbaijan to stop Nagorno-Karabakh hostilitiesAccording to Azerbaijan 's Defense Ministry , clashes on the contact line between the Azerbaijani and Armenian military in Nagorno-Karabakh region continued overnight , with the Azerbaijani units destroying one tank , one vehicle , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the latter were trying to redeploy in the Fizuli-Jabrayil direction of the front line .
Also , a mixed convoy of armored vehicles and an artillery battery of the Armenian armed forces were destroyed .
Meanwhile , the Defense Ministry of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic reported 28 servicemen were killed on September 28 .
In total , 84 Karabakh soldiers have been killed since hostilities restarted .
Also , a nine-year-old child was killed as a result of shelling in the Karabakh town of Martakert , the Armenian public television reported .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Armenia and Azerbaijan resumed fighting in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region .
Both countries blamed each other for shelling as a result of which they suffered casualties .
Armenia and the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic declared martial law and general mobilization .
Azerbaijan , in turn , introduced martial law on September 28 .
Partial mobilization was announced in that country .
The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region began in 1988 , when the predominantly Armenian-populated Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the region , which ended with the signing of a ceasefire protocol .
Nagorno-Karabakh proclaimed itself an independent `` republic . ''
Azerbaijan did not recognize this , considering the territory to have been occupied by Armenia .

Clashes on the contact line between the Azerbaijani and Armenian military in Nagorno-Karabakh region continued overnight.
On the morning of Tuesday, September 29, the Armenian artillery started shelling Azerbaijan's Dashkesan region, according to officials in Baku.
"The Armenian side continues provocative actions against Azerbaijan. Since 07:30 on September 29, the Armenian military from the territory of Armenia's Vardeni region have been shelling Dashkesan region of Azerbaijan," the Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan said, Interfax reports.
At the same time, representative of the Armenian Defense Ministry Artsrun Hovhannisyan wrote on Facebook the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan "have begun a strong artillery preparation, another attack is being prepared."
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In turn, press secretary of the Armenian Defense Ministry Shushan Stepanyan also reported on the hostilities in the conflict zone, which continue "with different intensity."
Read alsoUN Secretary-General calls on Armenia, Azerbaijan to stop Nagorno-Karabakh hostilitiesAccording to Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry, clashes on the contact line between the Azerbaijani and Armenian military in Nagorno-Karabakh region continued overnight, with the Azerbaijani units destroying one tank, one vehicle, and up to 10 Armenian soldiers as the latter were trying to redeploy in the Fizuli-Jabrayil direction of the front line. Also, a mixed convoy of armored vehicles and an artillery battery of the Armenian armed forces were destroyed.
Meanwhile, the Defense Ministry of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic reported 28 servicemen were killed on September 28. In total, 84 Karabakh soldiers have been killed since hostilities restarted. Also, a nine-year-old child was killed as a result of shelling in the Karabakh town of Martakert, the Armenian public television reported.
Escalation in Nagorno-Karabakh: Recent developments
On the morning of Sunday, September 27, Armenia and Azerbaijan resumed fighting in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. Both countries blamed each other for shelling as a result of which they suffered casualties.
Armenia and the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic declared martial law and general mobilization.
Azerbaijan, in turn, introduced martial law on September 28. Partial mobilization was announced in that country.
Nagorno-Karabakh war: Background
The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region began in 1988, when the predominantly Armenian-populated Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic.
In 1991-1994, the bloodshed conflict continued in the region, which ended with the signing of a ceasefire protocol. Nagorno-Karabakh proclaimed itself an independent "republic." Azerbaijan did not recognize this, considering the territory to have been occupied by Armenia.


unian--2020-09-29--Amendments to resolution on local elections could jeopardize their legitimacy – Razumkov

Russia has been blocking the peace process within the Trilateral Contact Group , demanding that Ukraine hold local elections in the occupied areas of Donbas before the Kremlin withdraws troops and hands back to Ukraine control over the border in the region .
It is impossible to pass changes to the earlier adopted resolution on the holding of local elections across Ukraine , says Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Dmytro Razumkov .
Speaking at the Freedom of Speech panel show Monday evening , he reiterated the position he had voiced earlier , according to an UNIAN correspondent .
`` Amendments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , would be impossible today since legislation says the Verkhovna Rada shall announce elections no later than 90 days before the date of their holding , '' Razumkov said , noting that the issue has not been included in the plenary week 's agenda .
Also , he stressed , candidates have already been nominated and funding for the process has been released .
`` And today it is rather difficult to talk about what we can or can not do , based on the realities , '' added the chairman of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agreements as tools with which to break Ukraine 's sovereignty .
Its interpretation reverses key elements in the sequence of actions : elections in occupied Donbas would take place before Ukraine had reclaimed control of the border ; this would be followed by comprehensive autonomy for Russia 's proxy regimes , crippling the central authorities in Kyiv .
Ukraine would be unable to govern itself effectively or orient itself towards the West , according to Chatham House .
On July 15 , 2020 , the Verkhovna Rada adopted a resolution scheduling local elections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ note that the elections in the occupied territories of Crimea and Donbas shall not be scheduled or held .
On August 19 , at a meeting of the delegates to the Trilateral Contact Group on Donbas settlement , Ukraine 's delegation chief , first president of Ukraine Leonid Kravchuk informed the team members of the appeal he had submitted to the Verkhovna Rada to consider the issue of the resolution 's compliance with Law `` On a special procedure for local self-government in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions '' and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minsk agreements .
Since August 19 , Russia and its proxy forces have been blocking the TCG work demanding that Ukraine repeal part of the resolution on local elections that prohibits their holding in the occupied areas .

Russia has been blocking the peace process within the Trilateral Contact Group, demanding that Ukraine hold local elections in the occupied areas of Donbas before the Kremlin withdraws troops and hands back to Ukraine control over the border in the region.
It is impossible to pass changes to the earlier adopted resolution on the holding of local elections across Ukraine, says Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Dmytro Razumkov.
Speaking at the Freedom of Speech panel show Monday evening, he reiterated the position he had voiced earlier, according to an UNIAN correspondent.
"Amendments to this resolution, in my opinion, would be impossible today since legislation says the Verkhovna Rada shall announce elections no later than 90 days before the date of their holding," Razumkov said, noting that the issue has not been included in the plenary week's agenda.
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"Today, to make such changes to the resolution would mean to call into question the legitimacy of the entire process," said Razumkov.
Also, he stressed, candidates have already been nominated and funding for the process has been released.
"And today it is rather difficult to talk about what we can or cannot do, based on the realities," added the chairman of the Verkhovna Rada.
Local elections and Russia's demands on Donbas
Russia sees the Minsk agreements as tools with which to break Ukraine's sovereignty. Its interpretation reverses key elements in the sequence of actions: elections in occupied Donbas would take place before Ukraine had reclaimed control of the border; this would be followed by comprehensive autonomy for Russia's proxy regimes, crippling the central authorities in Kyiv. Ukraine would be unable to govern itself effectively or orient itself towards the West, according to Chatham House.
On July 15, 2020, the Verkhovna Rada adopted a resolution scheduling local elections across Ukraine for October 25. Legislators note that the elections in the occupied territories of Crimea and Donbas shall not be scheduled or held. On August 19, at a meeting of the delegates to the Trilateral Contact Group on Donbas settlement, Ukraine's delegation chief, first president of Ukraine Leonid Kravchuk informed the team members of the appeal he had submitted to the Verkhovna Rada to consider the issue of the resolution's compliance with Law "On a special procedure for local self-government in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions" and a Package of Measures for the implementation of Minsk agreements.
Since August 19, Russia and its proxy forces have been blocking the TCG work demanding that Ukraine repeal part of the resolution on local elections that prohibits their holding in the occupied areas.


unian--2020-09-29--Over 110 international observers accredited for work amid Ukraine local elections

There will be 81 representatives from the OSCE/ODIHR .
Ukraine 's Central Election Commission has already accredited 117 international observers for the October 25 local elections .
The commission at a meeting on September 28 allowed another two international organizations to have own observers , the CEC Secretariat 's media relations department said .
Read alsoElections in occupied Donbas possible only after complete de-occupation – Yermak Having considered the relevant applications on September 28 , the commission accredited 89 official observers for the local elections on October 25 : 81 from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Democratic Institute for International Affairs .
Thus , 117 official observers have already been accredited for the local elections : eight from two foreign states and 109 from four international organizations .
• On September 5 , preparations for the local polls , which are scheduled for October 25 , began in Ukraine .
• Under the calendar plan of measures to prepare and conduct of the local elections , September 24 inclusively is the deadline for candidates running to local councils and posts of village heads and mayors to submit documents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ registration .
• A candidate or a party that has nominated the candidate could by October 5 give up plans to take part in the elections .
• A party or a candidate must start campaigning the next day after their registration , and the campaign must end at 24:00 on October 24 .
• In addition , according to the plan , the territorial election commissions should create election commissions in their districts by October 9 .
• Voting will take place from 08:00 a.m. to 08:00 p.m. on October 25 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ results by November 6 inclusively .

There will be 81 representatives from the OSCE/ODIHR.
Ukraine's Central Election Commission has already accredited 117 international observers for the October 25 local elections.
The commission at a meeting on September 28 allowed another two international organizations to have own observers, the CEC Secretariat's media relations department said.
Read alsoElections in occupied Donbas possible only after complete de-occupation – Yermak
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Having considered the relevant applications on September 28, the commission accredited 89 official observers for the local elections on October 25: 81 from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and eight from the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs.
Thus, 117 official observers have already been accredited for the local elections: eight from two foreign states and 109 from four international organizations.
Ukraine 2020 local elections in brief


unian--2020-09-29--Next block of MH17 hearings to resume on Nov 3

The defense will have the opportunity to submit the other requests for further investigation .
The trial of four suspects in the July 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 will continue in November .
The decision was announced by Judge Hendrik Steenhuis at a meeting of the District Court of The Hague at the Schiphol Judicial Complex , a suburb of Amsterdam , on Monday , September 28 , according to an UNIAN correspondent .
The meeting was broadcast live on the official website on the MH17 trial .
Read alsoRelatives of MH17 crash to seek damages from suspects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will indeed suspend the [ consideration of the ] case [ today ] , and that applies in the cases of all four accused .
And this suspension will be until Tuesday , November 3 , 2020 , at 10 a.m. [ CET ] … We will continue in all four cases on November 3 , '' the judge said .
The Summary of the Day in Court for Monday , September 28 , also briefed on progress by the defense .
`` In recent weeks the members of counsel visited the Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Today the defense has adopted the position that these conversations have yielded so many new insights that they have not yet been able to submit additional requests for further investigation .
They have indicated that they will be able to submit all their requests on November 3 , 2020 , '' it said .
The court shall give the defense the opportunity to present the additional requests for investigation in the block of hearings starting on November 3 , 2020 .
The defense shall need to substantiate those requests properly , indicating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier .
`` In the next hearing block from November 3 , 2020 , the defense will have the opportunity to submit the other requests for further investigation .
The Public Prosecution Service will be able to respond .
In that hearing block the court shall take a decision on those requests as well , '' it said .
• Malaysia Airlines ' MH17 Boeing 777 heading from Amsterdam for Kuala Lumpur was shot down on July 17 , 2014 , over Russia-occupied territory in Donetsk region .
All 298 people on board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killed in the crash .
The majority of the victims , 196 , were citizens of the Netherlands .
The Dutch Safety Board October 13 , 2015 , issued a report on the causes of the accident .
It was revealed that the plane had been shot down by a Buk anti-aircraft missile system .
• The Joint Investigation Team ( JIT ) in its report published on September 28 , 2016 , confirmed that the plane had been downed by a Russian-made Buk brought to Ukraine from Russia .
• On June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four Russia-controlled military intelligence officers of involvement in a missile attack that shot down MH17 .
The first four suspects in the MH17 case are Russian terrorist Igor Girkin ( AKA `` Strelkov '' ) , who in the summer of 2014 was the so-called `` Minister of Defense of the Donetsk People 's Republic '' ( `` DPR '' ) ; Russian General Sergei Dubinsky ( nom de guerre `` Khmuryi '' ) , who led the `` DPR intelligence ; '' Oleg Pulatov ( nom de guerre `` Gyurza '' ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 2nd division of the GRU of the DPR ; '' as well as Leonid Kharchenko ( nom de guerre `` Krot '' ) , who was a leader of the `` reconnaissance battalion '' of Russia-led forces .

The defense will have the opportunity to submit the other requests for further investigation.
The trial of four suspects in the July 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 will continue in November.
The decision was announced by Judge Hendrik Steenhuis at a meeting of the District Court of The Hague at the Schiphol Judicial Complex, a suburb of Amsterdam, on Monday, September 28, according to an UNIAN correspondent. The meeting was broadcast live on the official website on the MH17 trial.
Read alsoRelatives of MH17 crash to seek damages from suspects, lawyers say – media
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"We will indeed suspend the [consideration of the] case [today], and that applies in the cases of all four accused. And this suspension will be until Tuesday, November 3, 2020, at 10 a.m. [CET]… We will continue in all four cases on November 3," the judge said.
The Summary of the Day in Court for Monday, September 28, also briefed on progress by the defense. "In recent weeks the members of counsel visited the Russian Federation and spoke with their client there. Today the defense has adopted the position that these conversations have yielded so many new insights that they have not yet been able to submit additional requests for further investigation. They have indicated that they will be able to submit all their requests on November 3, 2020," it said.
The court shall give the defense the opportunity to present the additional requests for investigation in the block of hearings starting on November 3, 2020. The defense shall need to substantiate those requests properly, indicating why those requests could not be submitted earlier.
"In the next hearing block from November 3, 2020, the defense will have the opportunity to submit the other requests for further investigation. The Public Prosecution Service will be able to respond. In that hearing block the court shall take a decision on those requests as well," it said.
Background


unian--2020-09-29--Hryvnia keeps sliding: fresh rates for Sept 29

The official forex rate against the euro for Tuesday is fixed at UAH 33.04 per euro .
The National Bank of Ukraine ( NBU ) has set the official forex rate for September 29 at UAH 28.31 to the U.S. dollar , which made the country 's national currency weaken by four kopiykas .
The official forex rate against the euro for Tuesday is fixed at UAH 33.04 per euro – the hryvnia lost 16 kopiykas in value since Monday , according to the NBU website .
Read alsoForex swings .
Should we expect dollar at UAH 30 at year-endThe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forex rates of the hryvnia against key foreign currencies for September 29 : US $ 100 will be quoted at UAH 2,830.62 ( UAH 2,826.73 as of September 28 ) ; EUR 100 will be quoted at UAH 3,303.76 ( UAH 3,287.63 as of September 28 ) .
By 16:00 Kyiv time on September 28 , hryvnia quotations against the dollar on the interbank forex market settled at UAH 28.29/28.31 to the dollar , while those against the euro were at UAH 33.03/33.05 .
The National Bank set the official forex rate for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. dollar , which made the country 's national currency weaken by two kopiykas .

Hryvnia keeps sliding: fresh rates for Sept 29
10:40, 29.09.20 5913
The official forex rate against the euro for Tuesday is fixed at UAH 33.04 per euro.
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unian--2020-09-29--COVID-19: Over 3,600 new cases reported as of Sept 29

Officials say 1,797 patients have already recovered .
Ukraine officials said 3,627 new active COVID-19 cases had been confirmed across country in the past 24 hours as of September 29 , 2020 .
The total number of cases from the start of corona outbreak grew to 204,932 , according to the interactive map released by the National Security and Defense Council .
Read alsoTravel amid COVID-19 : Foreigners now allowed to cross into Ukraine from Sept 28The map shows that 90,250 patients have already recovered , including 1,797 in the past day .
The death toll stands at 4,605 with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The government has reported 110,617 active cases and 270,678 suspicions since year-start .
The highest number of new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours was registered in Kyiv ( 416 ) , Kharkiv region ( 426 cases ) , Odesa region ( 271 ) , and Dnipropetrovsk region ( 200 ) .
The overall incidence per region is as follows : • 22,559 ( +416 ) in the city of Kyiv ; Data from Russia-occupied areas – the Autonomous Republic of Crimea , the city of Sevastopol , parts of Donetsk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The adaptive quarantine was introduced on August 1 .
The Ukrainian regions were split into the green , yellow , orange , and red zones depending on hospital load , the average number of PCR and ELISA tests , the ascertainment rate of COVID-19 , and daily spread dynamics .
Quarantine-related curbs differ in each zone .
The mildest ones are in the green zone , the regions included in the red zone will have to introduce the toughest restrictions .
On August 26 , the Cabinet of Ministers extended the adaptive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maksym Stepanov says the ministry has no plans to introduce a new lockdown in Ukraine yet .
The new quarantine zoning across Ukraine reviewed by the state and regional commissions on emergencies quarantine zoning in line with the latest reports on the epidemiological situation took effect on September 28 .

Officials say 1,797 patients have already recovered.
Ukraine officials said 3,627 new active COVID-19 cases had been confirmed across country in the past 24 hours as of September 29, 2020.
The total number of cases from the start of corona outbreak grew to 204,932, according to the interactive map released by the National Security and Defense Council.
Read alsoTravel amid COVID-19: Foreigners now allowed to cross into Ukraine from Sept 28The map shows that 90,250 patients have already recovered, including 1,797 in the past day.
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The death toll stands at 4,605 with 69 fatalities recorded in the past day.
The government has reported 110,617 active cases and 270,678 suspicions since year-start.
The highest number of new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours was registered in Kyiv (416), Kharkiv region (426 cases), Odesa region (271), and Dnipropetrovsk region (200).
The overall incidence per region is as follows:
22,559 (+416) in the city of Kyiv;
20,085 (+169) cases in Lviv region;
18,129 (+426) in Kharkiv region;
14,280 (+167) in Chernivtsi region;
13,577 (+132) in Ivano-Frankivsk region;
13,303 (+164) in Ternopil region;
13,350 (+271) in Odesa region;
12,302 (+157) in Rivne region;
9,735 (+81) in Zakarpattia region;
8,996 (+142) in Kyiv region;
7,911 (+136) in Volyn region;
6,062 (+88) in Vinnytsia region;
5,826 (+47) in Zhytomyr region;
5,896 (+149) in Khmelnytsky region;
5,551 (+200) in Dnipropetrovsk region;
4,099 (+103) in Chernihiv region;
4,008 (+195) in Sumy region;
3,895 (+122) in Zaporizhia region;
3,881 (+122) in Cherkasy region;
3,132 (+86) in Donetsk region (Ukrainian-controlled districts);
3,074 (+63) in Mykolaiv region;
2,107 (+135) in Poltava region;
1,090 (+13) in Kirovohrad region;
1,084 (+22) in Kherson region; and
1,000 (21) in Luhansk region (Ukrainian-controlled districts).
Data from Russia-occupied areas – the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the city of Sevastopol, parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions – is not available.
Quarantine in Ukraine: Background
The adaptive quarantine was introduced on August 1. The Ukrainian regions were split into the green, yellow, orange, and red zones depending on hospital load, the average number of PCR and ELISA tests, the ascertainment rate of COVID-19, and daily spread dynamics.
Quarantine-related curbs differ in each zone. The mildest ones are in the green zone, the regions included in the red zone will have to introduce the toughest restrictions.
On August 26, the Cabinet of Ministers extended the adaptive quarantine until November 1.
Health Minister Maksym Stepanov says the ministry has no plans to introduce a new lockdown in Ukraine yet.
The new quarantine zoning across Ukraine reviewed by the state and regional commissions on emergencies quarantine zoning in line with the latest reports on the epidemiological situation took effect on September 28.


unian--2020-09-29--Zelensky calls on lawmakers to quickly approve anti-graft strategy until 2024

It takes into account international recommendations , best practices and commitments of Ukraine .
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on lawmakers to approve the anti-corruption strategy for 2020-2024 as soon as possible .
The draft strategy outlined in a bill on principles of state anti-corruption policy for 2020-2024 was discussed at a meeting of the National Council on Anti-corruption Policy , which was chaired by the president , the presidential press service said .
Read alsoG7 ambassadors : Anti-corruption agencies ' integrity must be protected in Ukraine Zelensky , in particular , said that starting from 2018 , Ukraine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the field of the fight against corruption , which is one of the causes behind the low efficiency of anti-corruption agencies .
The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal , Chief of the National Agency of Ukraine on Corruption Prevention ( NACP ) Oleksandr Novikov , and Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova .
• The bill on principles of state anti-corruption policy for 2020-2024 was endorsed by Ukraine 's government on September 16 .
Bill no .
4135 has already been registered in parliament .
• The strategy contains five main @ @ @ @ @ @ @ functions ; digital transformation and open data ; convenient law-based services ; intolerance of the population for corruption ; and the inevitability of punishment .
• The strategy identifies eight main areas where changes are needed : the court , the prosecutor 's office , the police ; state regulation of economy ; public and private sectors of economy ; taxes and customs ; construction , land , infrastructure ; defense sector ; healthcare , social protection ; the system of preventing and combating corruption in general .
• Novikov said lawmakers should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of October , and within three months the NACP will work with the government to develop an action plan to implement the strategy .
• After the implementation of the document , the losses from corruption will be reduced by UAH 200 billion ( about US $ 7 billion ) a year , he said .
This , in turn , will help attract more investment .
• According to him , the strategy takes into account international recommendations , best practices and commitments of Ukraine , in particular , those specified in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monetary Fund and the European Union .
• Once adopted by the Verkhovna Rada , the strategy will be binding on all government agencies , both at the local and national levels .

It takes into account international recommendations, best practices and commitments of Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on lawmakers to approve the anti-corruption strategy for 2020-2024 as soon as possible.
The draft strategy outlined in a bill on principles of state anti-corruption policy for 2020-2024 was discussed at a meeting of the National Council on Anti-corruption Policy, which was chaired by the president, the presidential press service said.
Read alsoG7 ambassadors: Anti-corruption agencies' integrity must be protected in Ukraine
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Zelensky, in particular, said that starting from 2018, Ukraine has not had such a strategic document in the field of the fight against corruption, which is one of the causes behind the low efficiency of anti-corruption agencies.
"Society expects systematic and coordinated actions in preventing corruption and effective results of the activity of anti-corruption agencies of Ukraine," he said.
The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Chief of the National Agency of Ukraine on Corruption Prevention (NACP) Oleksandr Novikov, and Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova.
Strategy in detail


unian--2020-09-29--Donbas war update: Enemy violates truce five times on Sept 28

No casualties were recorded amid shelling in the past day .
Ukraine has reported five violations of the latest ceasefire by Russia-controlled armed groups in the Donbas warzone on Monday , September 28 .
`` In the past day , September 28 , the Russian Federation 's armed formations violated the ceasefire five times , '' the press center of Ukraine 's Joint Forces Operation ( JFO ) Command wrote on Facebook in an update as of 07:30 Kyiv time on September 29 , 2020 .
In particular , the enemy fired rifles in the morning , as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evening near the village of Starohnativka .
In addition , the enemy provoked the Ukrainian military with the use of rifles and a heavy machine gun near the town of Avdiyivka .
Another two ceasefire violations were recorded near the village of Shumy , where the enemy used rifles and an under-barrel grenade launcher .
Read alsoHead of Ukrainian intelligence believes Russia to go for another military incursion in UkraineNo casualties were recorded amid shelling in the past day .
Since Tuesday midnight , no attacks by Russia-controlled armed formations have been recorded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situation is under full control of the Ukrainian military .
• Participants in the Trilateral Contact Group ( Ukraine , Russia , and the OSCE ) on the peace settlement in Donbas on July 22 agreed on a full and comprehensive ceasefire along the contact line from 00:01 on Monday , July 27 .
• The new ceasefire regime was enforced at 00:01 Kyiv time on July 27 .
• On the very first day of the newly-agreed truce , Russia 's hybrid military forces mounted three attacks on Ukrainian positions in Donbas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more such violations over the latest period .

No casualties were recorded amid shelling in the past day.
Ukraine has reported five violations of the latest ceasefire by Russia-controlled armed groups in the Donbas warzone on Monday, September 28.
"In the past day, September 28, the Russian Federation's armed formations violated the ceasefire five times," the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation (JFO) Command wrote on Facebook in an update as of 07:30 Kyiv time on September 29, 2020.
In particular, the enemy fired rifles in the morning, as well as a tripod-mounted man-portable antitank gun in the evening near the village of Starohnativka. In addition, the enemy provoked the Ukrainian military with the use of rifles and a heavy machine gun near the town of Avdiyivka.
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Another two ceasefire violations were recorded near the village of Shumy, where the enemy used rifles and an under-barrel grenade launcher.
Read alsoHead of Ukrainian intelligence believes Russia to go for another military incursion in UkraineNo casualties were recorded amid shelling in the past day.
Since Tuesday midnight, no attacks by Russia-controlled armed formations have been recorded, the JFO HQ said.
The situation is under full control of the Ukrainian military.
Donbas ceasefire: Background


unian--2020-09-29--Ukraine can become key supplier of oilseeds to EU – expert

Ukraine is increasing oilseeds export to the EU , where member states cover only two-thirds of own demand .
Ukraine can become a key supplier of oilseeds and their processing products to the EU countries , says the Institute of Agrarian Economics National Research Center The EU is only able to cover some two-thirds of own demand , the Center 's press service reported with reference to Artem Pedorchenko , the expert with the pricing and agricultural market department .
Local producers only cover 58 % of the EU needs as the bloc annually imports about 22 million tonnes of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same time , Ukraine has over the past six years been increasing oilseeds export to the EU .
In the first half of 2020 , exports of Ukrainian oilseeds to the EU reached $ 145 million , 74 % up on year , while the export of oils and fats amounted to almost $ 960 million , which is higher than last year 's figure by 2.3 times .
Read alsoForecasts released for 2020 grain , legumes harvest '' In the third and fourth quarters of 2020 , noticeable shifts in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , are likely , which will be due to the supply of the new season 's harvest , which began for rapeseed in July , and for soybeans and sunflower seeds in September , as well as the rise in prices for these types of agricultural products on world markets , '' the report says .
• According to the Ukroliyaprom Association , Ukraine at the end of the 2019-2020 marketing year ( MY , September 2019 - August 2020 ) became a global leader in the export of sunflower oil .
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rose to $ 5.28 billion , which is 16.9 % more than in the previous season .

Ukraine can become key supplier of oilseeds to EU – expert
09:00, 29.09.20 214
Ukraine is increasing oilseeds export to the EU, where member states cover only two-thirds of own demand.
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unian--2020-09-30--UN Security Council calls on Armenia, Azerbaijan to stop fighting

The Permanent Representative of Niger to the UN says a meeting might be held involving representatives of the parties to the conflict .
The UN Security Council has called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to immediately stop fighting .
This was announced by Permanent Representative of Niger to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for the month of September Abdou Abarry after a closed-door discussion that took place on Tuesday , September 29 .
Abdou Abarry also said that a meeting might be held with the participation of representatives of the parties to the conflict .
According to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be communication with the ambassadors of Armenia and Azerbaijan so that they `` could come to an understanding . ''
Only 15 member countries of the UN Security Council take part in closed-door meetings of the UN Security Council .
• On the morning of Sunday , September 27 , Armenia and Azerbaijan resumed fighting in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region .
Both countries blamed each other for shelling as a result of which they suffered casualties .
• Armenia and the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic declared martial law and general mobilization .
• Azerbaijan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on September 28 .
Partial mobilization was announced in that country .
• Azerbaijan said that during a successful offensive they took control of several villages of Nagorno-Karabakh , but Armenia denies the information .
• Both sides claim that they inflicted huge losses on the enemy , numbering hundreds of killed soldiers and dozens of destroyed units of military equipment .
• The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region began in 1988 , when the predominantly Armenian-populated Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conflict continued in the region , which ended with the signing of a ceasefire protocol .
Nagorno-Karabakh proclaimed itself an independent `` republic . ''
Azerbaijan did not recognize this , considering the territory to have been occupied by Armenia .

The Permanent Representative of Niger to the UN says a meeting might be held involving representatives of the parties to the conflict.
The UN Security Council has called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to immediately stop fighting.
This was announced by Permanent Representative of Niger to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for the month of September Abdou Abarry after a closed-door discussion that took place on Tuesday, September 29.
Read alsoAzerbaijan and Armenia reject peace talks on Nagorno-Karabakh
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"Security Council members voiced support for the call by the Secretary General on the sides to immediately stop fighting, de-escalate tensions and return to meaningful negotiations without delay," he said.
Abdou Abarry also said that a meeting might be held with the participation of representatives of the parties to the conflict.
According to him, if necessary, there will be communication with the ambassadors of Armenia and Azerbaijan so that they "could come to an understanding."
Only 15 member countries of the UN Security Council take part in closed-door meetings of the UN Security Council.
Escalation in Nagorno-Karabakh: Recent developments
On the morning of Sunday, September 27, Armenia and Azerbaijan resumed fighting in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. Both countries blamed each other for shelling as a result of which they suffered casualties.
Armenia and the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic declared martial law and general mobilization.
Azerbaijan, in turn, introduced martial law on September 28. Partial mobilization was announced in that country.
Azerbaijan said that during a successful offensive they took control of several villages of Nagorno-Karabakh, but Armenia denies the information.
Both sides claim that they inflicted huge losses on the enemy, numbering hundreds of killed soldiers and dozens of destroyed units of military equipment.
Nagorno-Karabakh war: Past developments


unian--2020-09-29--UK, Canada slap sanctions on Lukashenko, his son

The United Kingdom and Canada have imposed sanctions on Alexander Lukashenko with his son and six other Belarusian officials .
This is announced in a statement by the British government on September 29 .
Read alsoMacron says Lukashenko has to step down The new sanctions reportedly include a travel ban and asset freeze on eight individuals from the Belarusian regime , including Alexander Lukashenko , his son Viktor Lukashenko , and Igor Sergeenko , Head of the Presidential Administration .
`` The sanctions come into force with immediate effect , '' the British government concluded .
Recent developments in Belarus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential elections were held in Belarus .
• The country 's Central Election Commission announced the final election results .
In particular , 80.1 % of voters supported incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko , 10.1 % voted for his rival , Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , 1.67 % for Anna Kanopatskaya , 1.2 % for Andrey Dmitriev , and 1.14 % for Sergei Cherechnya .
Some 4.59 % voted against all candidates .
• Thousands took to the streets to protest what many believe was a rigged vote count .
Riot police violently cracked down on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Internal Affairs said about 7,000 protesters had been detained in different cities since August 9 .
On the evening of August 13 , the authorities started to release detainees .
• On August 16 , the March of Freedom , the largest protest in the history of Belarus , took place in Minsk .
Hundreds of thousands of people joined in .
• On August 17 , plants and factories across Belarus launched strikes .
• The Belarusian opposition created a Coordination Council for the Transfer of Power .
• The European Union @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and reached an agreement to impose sanctions against Belarusian officials in response to vote rigging and the use of violence against protesters .
Latvia , Lithuania , and Estonia have already imposed an entry ban on 30 citizens of Belarus .
Among them is the country 's President Alexander Lukashenko .
• On September 13 , law enforcement forces again brutally detained protesters during mass rallies throughout Belarus .
They used force even against women .
• On September 15 , the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted a statement on Belarus .
Ukrainian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country were unfair .
They condemned repression against protesters and vowed support for sanctions to be introduced by the European Union against Belarusian officials .
• On September 17 , the European Parliament announced that Alexander Lukashenko should not be recognized as the president of Belarus when his term expires on November 5 .
MEPs also declared the Coordination Council of the Belarusian opposition is now an interim representative body of Belarusians .

The measures include a travel ban and asset freeze.
The United Kingdom and Canada have imposed sanctions on Alexander Lukashenko with his son and six other Belarusian officials.
This is announced in a statement by the British government on September 29.
Read alsoMacron says Lukashenko has to step down
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"The UK has sanctioned 8 members of the Belarusian regime, including Alexander Lukashenko, for human rights violations in Belarus after the rigged elections," it said.
The new sanctions reportedly include a travel ban and asset freeze on eight individuals from the Belarusian regime, including Alexander Lukashenko, his son Viktor Lukashenko, and Igor Sergeenko, Head of the Presidential Administration.
Similar sanctions were imposed by Canada.
"The sanctions come into force with immediate effect," the British government concluded.
Earlier, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania imposed sanctions on 128 Belarusian officials, including President Alexander Lukashenko.
Recent developments in Belarus in brief


unian--2020-09-29--Azerbaijan and Armenia reject peace talks on Nagorno-Karabakh

The incidents signaled a further escalation of the conflict despite urgent appeals from the international community .
Baku and Yerevan have exchanged accusations of firing directly into each other 's territory and rejected pressure to hold peace talks as their conflict over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region threatened to mushroom into all-out war .
Both reported firing from the other side across their shared border , well to the west of the Nagorno-Karabakh region over which fierce fighting broke out between Azeri and ethnic Armenian forces on Sunday , Reuters reported on September 29 .
The incidents signaled a further escalation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia , the United States and others to halt it , Reuters said .
Azeri President Ilham Aliyev , speaking to Russian state television , flatly ruled out any possibility of talks .
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told the same channel they could not take place while fighting continued .
According to Reuters , further stoking tensions between the two former Soviet republics , Armenia said a Turkish F-16 fighter jet had shot down one of its warplanes over Armenian airspace , killing the pilot .
It provided no evidence of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ absolutely untrue , '' and Azerbaijan also denied it .
• On the morning of Sunday , September 27 , Armenia and Azerbaijan resumed fighting in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region .
Both countries blamed each other for shelling as a result of which they suffered casualties .
• Armenia and the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic declared martial law and general mobilization .
• Azerbaijan , in turn , introduced martial law on September 28 .
Partial mobilization was announced in that country .
• Azerbaijan said that during a successful offensive they took control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Armenia denies the information .
• Both sides claim that they inflicted huge losses on the enemy , numbering hundreds of killed soldiers and dozens of destroyed units of military equipment .
• The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region began in 1988 , when the predominantly Armenian-populated Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic .
• In 1991-1994 , the bloodshed conflict continued in the region , which ended with the signing of a ceasefire protocol .
Nagorno-Karabakh proclaimed itself an independent `` republic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , considering the territory to have been occupied by Armenia .

The incidents signaled a further escalation of the conflict despite urgent appeals from the international community.
Baku and Yerevan have exchanged accusations of firing directly into each other's territory and rejected pressure to hold peace talks as their conflict over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region threatened to mushroom into all-out war.
Both reported firing from the other side across their shared border, well to the west of the Nagorno-Karabakh region over which fierce fighting broke out between Azeri and ethnic Armenian forces on Sunday, Reuters reported on September 29.
Read alsoArmenia reports Azerbaijan's large-scale offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh region
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The incidents signaled a further escalation of the conflict despite urgent appeals from Russia, the United States and others to halt it, Reuters said.
Azeri President Ilham Aliyev, speaking to Russian state television, flatly ruled out any possibility of talks. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told the same channel they could not take place while fighting continued.
According to Reuters, further stoking tensions between the two former Soviet republics, Armenia said a Turkish F-16 fighter jet had shot down one of its warplanes over Armenian airspace, killing the pilot. It provided no evidence of the incident. Turkey called the claim "absolutely untrue," and Azerbaijan also denied it.
Escalation in Nagorno-Karabakh: Recent developments
On the morning of Sunday, September 27, Armenia and Azerbaijan resumed fighting in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. Both countries blamed each other for shelling as a result of which they suffered casualties.
Armenia and the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic declared martial law and general mobilization.
Azerbaijan, in turn, introduced martial law on September 28. Partial mobilization was announced in that country.
Azerbaijan said that during a successful offensive they took control of several villages of Nagorno-Karabakh, but Armenia denies the information.
Both sides claim that they inflicted huge losses on the enemy, numbering hundreds of killed soldiers and dozens of destroyed units of military equipment.
Nagorno-Karabakh war: Past developments


unian--2020-09-29--Constitutional Court puts off hearings on farmland market indefinitely

The court must decide whether a Ukrainian citizen has the right to freely dispose of land .
Former Ukrainian Member of Parliament Oleksiy Mushak says the Grand Chamber of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine ( CCU ) has put off the consideration of the case initiated by 48 lawmakers to probe whether the law on the farmland market is in line with the Constitution .
`` Constitutional hearings on the farmland market have begun today .
The court must decide whether a Ukrainian citizen has the right to freely manage land or not , '' Mushak said on Facebook on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Ukraine to speed up adoption of laws for farmland market '' The court began the session and then immediately announced its postponement to an unspecified date .
Therefore , many long-lasting debates on land-related issues are ahead , '' he added .
• On April 28 , 2020 , Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a bill into law to amend certain legislative acts of Ukraine on the conditions of circulation of farmland No .
552-IX , which was approved by the Verkhovna Rada on March 31 , 2020 .
• On May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Constitutional Court on the constitutionality of certain provisions of that law and the Land Code .
• On May 21 , the Constitutional Court received another submission from 53 lawmakers to declare the law on the farmland market unconstitutional .

Constitutional Court puts off hearings on farmland market indefinitely
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The court must decide whether a Ukrainian citizen has the right to freely dispose of land.
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unian--2020-09-29--Poroshenko tests positive for coronavirus

He is on treatment at home now .
Former Ukrainian president and leader of the European Solidarity Party Petro Poroshenko has tested positive for the novel coronavirus .
He also informed he was planning to undergo treatment at home .
`` In the past six years , I got used to working being sick .
But this [ disease ] is more insidious .
Much more insidious .
Therefore , from today on , I 'm staying at home to undergo treatment , '' Poroshenko said .
Another prominent politician , leader of the Batkivshchyna Party , Ukrainian MP Yulia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus .
• On August 23 , Tymoshenko 's press secretary said the leader of the Batkivshchyna Party had tested positive for COVID-19 .
• Tymoshenko 's daughter Eugenia , as well as Eugenia 's husband Arthur Chechetkin , also fell ill , according to media reports .
• On August 25 , media reported the politician had been put on a ventilator .
• On August 26 , Ukrainian MP from the Batkivshchyna Party 's parliamentary faction Vadym Ivchenko said Tymoshenko was in critical condition .
• On September 2 , Tymoshenko @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her health condition .
• On September 11 , Tymoshenko 's recovery was announced by her press secretary , Maryna Soroka .

He is on treatment at home now.
Former Ukrainian president and leader of the European Solidarity Party Petro Poroshenko has tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
"I've got a positive test for COVID," he said on Facebook on September 29.
Read alsoTymoshenko recovers from coronavirus – press secretary
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He also informed he was planning to undergo treatment at home.
"In the past six years, I got used to working being sick. But this [disease] is more insidious. Much more insidious. Therefore, from today on, I'm staying at home to undergo treatment," Poroshenko said.
Another prominent politician, leader of the Batkivshchyna Party, Ukrainian MP Yulia Tymoshenko, has recently recovered from the coronavirus.
Tymoshenko contracts COVID-19: Background


unian--2020-09-29--Kuleba urges international community not to turn a blind eye to Russia's terrorist methods

Kuleba stressed the importance of consolidating international efforts to ensure the rights of victims of terrorism and provide them with adequate support , assistance and rehabilitation .
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba calls on the international community not to turn a blind eye to Russia 's terrorist methods in the temporarily occupied territories of Crimea and Donbas .
Speaking during a virtual 2nd ministerial meeting of the Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism , which took place as part of the general debate of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly , he condemned terrorism and violent extremism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ international peace and development , as reported on the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry 's website .
Read alsoZelensky elaborates on Crimea-related issues to be raised internationally Kuleba drew the attention of the participants to the experience of Ukraine , which has been opposing Russia 's armed aggression and terrorist methods in Donbas and Crimea for the seventh year in a row .
`` The international community should not turn a blind eye to the attempts of the state – a permanent member of the UN Security Council to silence human rights defenders , civil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ territories of Crimea and Donbas under the guise of carrying out counter-terrorism measures , '' the official said .
Kuleba also stressed the importance of consolidating international efforts to ensure the rights of victims of terrorism and provide them with adequate support , assistance and rehabilitation .
`` An equally important task is to bring to justice all organizers , supervisors and sponsors of terrorist activities , '' the minister said .
The Foreign Ministry clarified the Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism is an international political association of like-minded countries , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rights of people who have suffered as a result of terrorist acts .
More news reports on the subject : • Fear , irritation , distrust : difference between messages of terrorists and those of terrorist acts • Buying EU passport not to help Russians evade sanctions over war against Ukraine – media

Kuleba stressed the importance of consolidating international efforts to ensure the rights of victims of terrorism and provide them with adequate support, assistance and rehabilitation.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba calls on the international community not to turn a blind eye to Russia's terrorist methods in the temporarily occupied territories of Crimea and Donbas.
Speaking during an online 2nd ministerial meeting of the Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism, which took place as part of the general debate of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly, he condemned terrorism and violent extremism as one of the key challenges to international peace and development, as reported on the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry's website.
Read alsoZelensky elaborates on Crimea-related issues to be raised internationally
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Kuleba drew the participants' attention to the experience of Ukraine, which has been countering Russia's armed aggression and terrorist methods in Donbas and Crimea for the seventh year in a row.
"The international community should not turn a blind eye to the attempts of the state, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, to silence human rights defenders, civil activists and journalists in the temporarily occupied territories of Crimea and Donbas under the guise of carrying out counter-terrorism measures," the official said.
Kuleba also stressed the importance of consolidating international efforts to ensure the rights of victims of terrorism and provide them with adequate support, assistance and rehabilitation.
"An equally important task is to bring to justice all organizers, supervisors and sponsors of terrorist activities," the minister said.
The Foreign Ministry clarified the Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism is an international political association of like-minded countries, which deals with the problems of protecting the rights of people who have suffered as a result of terrorist acts.
More news reports on the subject:


unian--2020-09-29--Russia shuts down Kerch ferry service, earlier used to deploy troops in annexed Crimea

The facility is subject to U.S. sanctions after Russia occupied the peninsula .
Russia 's occupying administration has shut down the Kerch ferry service in annexed Crimea over a drop in demand for services to transport railroad cars by sea there .
That is according to the Russian-registered Crimean-based news agency Kryminform , referring to the AnRussTrans ferry operator .
The seaport also stopped working over the halt to the Kerch ferry service .
`` As an operator of the Crimean seaport , we can not continue maintaining the infrastructure and are forced to lay off all our specialists , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
According to the publication , about 300 employees have been working at the ferry crossing .
Most of them will lose their jobs .
Before Russia 's annexation of Crimea , the Kerch ferry , which was opened back in 1954 , had carried out border control at Port Krym ( `` Crimea '' ) and Port Kavkaz ( `` the Caucasus '' ) .
With Russia 's occupation of the peninsula , the facility came under U.S. sanctions : the Kremlin used the infrastructure to deploy its troops there .
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2014 after its troops had occupied the peninsula .
An illegal referendum was held for Crimeans to decide on accession to Russia .
De-facto Crimean authorities reported that allegedly 96.77 % of the Crimean population had voted for joining Russia .
• On March 18 , 2014 , the so-called `` agreement on the accession '' of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol to Russia was signed in the Kremlin .
• The West did not recognize the annexation in response to which sanctions against Russia were introduced .
• Ukraine 's parliament @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as the official date when the temporary occupation of Crimea began .

Russia shuts down Kerch ferry service, earlier used to deploy troops in annexed Crimea
18:58, 29.09.20 36684
The facility is subject to U.S. sanctions after Russia occupied the peninsula.
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unian--2020-09-29--Zelensky elaborates on Crimea-related issues to be raised internationally

The Ukrainian leader says geopolitical support is important to Ukraine .
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says the international platform regarding Crimea will discuss the release of Crimean Tatars and Ukrainians from prisons both in temporarily occupied Crimea and in Russia , as well as the end of the Russian occupation of the peninsula .
During a video conference with members of the European Parliament , he briefed them on Ukraine 's initiative to create an international platform designed to improve coordination and cooperation to counter security threats posed by the Russian occupation of Crimea , as well as promoting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the president 's press service .
Read alsoMFA says to invite Russia to partake in Crimea deoccupation platform '' Apart from the economy and money , geopolitical support is important to us .
Some of the things we want to pay attention to are the appearance and our proposal of the Crimean platform , '' he said .
`` A platform where we want to discuss the most important humanitarian issues , the issue of assistance to all Ukrainians – both Crimean Tatars and Ukrainians who have been imprisoned in Crimea and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , release of these citizens , as well as the end of the occupation of Crimea . ''
The video conference was attended by MEPs representing various political groups in the European Parliament , including Michael Gahler ( Germany ) , Petras Auštrevičius ( Lithuania ) , Niclas Herbst ( Germany ) , Frédérique Ries ( Belgium ) , Elżbieta Łukacijewska ( Poland ) , and Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz ( Poland ) .
• The previous EU-Ukraine summit was held in Kyiv on July 8 , 2019 .
• The 22nd Ukraine-EU summit is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be hosted by Brussels .

The Ukrainian leader says geopolitical support is important to Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says the international platform regarding Crimea will discuss the release of Crimean Tatars and Ukrainians from prisons both in temporarily occupied Crimea and in Russia, as well as the end of the Russian occupation of the peninsula.
During a video conference with members of the European Parliament, he briefed them on Ukraine's initiative to create an international platform designed to improve coordination and cooperation to counter security threats posed by the Russian occupation of Crimea, as well as promoting the protection of Crimeans' rights, according to the president's press service.
Read alsoMFA says to invite Russia to partake in Crimea deoccupation platform
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"Apart from the economy and money, geopolitical support is important to us. Some of the things we want to pay attention to are the appearance and our proposal of the Crimean platform," he said.
"A platform where we want to discuss the most important humanitarian issues, the issue of assistance to all Ukrainians – both Crimean Tatars and Ukrainians who have been imprisoned in Crimea and in Russia. This is the return, release of these citizens, as well as the end of the occupation of Crimea."
The video conference was attended by MEPs representing various political groups in the European Parliament, including Michael Gahler (Germany), Petras Auštrevičius (Lithuania), Niclas Herbst (Germany), Frédérique Ries (Belgium), Elżbieta Łukacijewska (Poland), and Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz (Poland).
Background


unian--2020-09-29--Ukraine's immutable course toward Europe even more relevant than before – Zelensky

The president reminded the next EU-Ukraine Summit is expected to be held in a week , and expressed hope it would be successful .
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says today Ukraine 's course toward the European Union is even more relevant than before .
During a video conference with members of the European Parliament , the president thanked for the consistent support of the European Parliament in advancing the ambitious Ukraine-EU agenda , as well as for the firm position of the European Union legislature on restoring the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and the de-occupation of Crimea , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The president reminded the next EU-Ukraine Summit is expected in a week and expressed hope it would be successful .
`` Today , the support of the European Union is very important for Ukraine , '' he added .
Read alsoZelensky calls on lawmakers to quickly approve anti-graft strategy until 2024The video conference was attended by MEPs representing various political groups in the European Parliament , including Michael Gahler ( Germany ) , Petras Auštrevičius ( Lithuania ) , Niclas Herbst ( Germany ) , Frédérique Ries ( Belgium ) , Elżbieta @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( Poland ) .
The previous EU-Ukraine summit was held in Kyiv on July 8 , 2019 .
The 22nd Ukraine-EU summit is scheduled for October 6 in Brussels .

The president reminded the next EU-Ukraine Summit is expected to be held in a week, and expressed hope it would be successful.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says today Ukraine's course toward the European Union is even more relevant than before.
During a video conference with members of the European Parliament, the president thanked for the consistent support of the European Parliament in advancing the ambitious Ukraine-EU agenda, as well as for the firm position of the European Union legislature on restoring the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and the de-occupation of Crimea, as reported by the presidential press service.
The president reminded the next EU-Ukraine Summit is expected in a week and expressed hope it would be successful.
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"Given the challenges that exist today, the immutable course toward Europe, the European Union is even more relevant for Ukraine than before," Zelensky said.
"Today, the support of the European Union is very important for Ukraine," he added.
Read alsoZelensky calls on lawmakers to quickly approve anti-graft strategy until 2024The video conference was attended by MEPs representing various political groups in the European Parliament, including Michael Gahler (Germany), Petras Auštrevičius (Lithuania), Niclas Herbst (Germany), Frédérique Ries (Belgium), Elżbieta Łukacijewska (Poland) and Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz (Poland).
Background
The previous EU-Ukraine summit was held in Kyiv on July 8, 2019.
The 22nd Ukraine-EU summit is scheduled for October 6 in Brussels.


unian--2020-09-30--Microsoft records over 13,000 gov't-supported cyber attacks over  two years, most originating in Rus

Microsoft records over 13,000 gov't-supported cyber attacks over  two years, most originating in Russia

Among other major actors are Iran , China , and North Korea .
Microsoft has delivered over 13,000 nation state notifications ( NSN ) over the past two years , most originating in Russia .
`` When a customer ( organization or individual account holder ) is targeted or compromised by nation state activities that Microsoft tracks , we deliver a nation state notification to the customer .
Over the past two years , Microsoft has delivered over 13,000 NSNs .
The highest percentage of NSNs represented activity originating in Russia , followed by Iran , China , North Korea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a Microsoft Digital Defense Report dated September 2020 .
Read alsoRFE/RL : U.S. releases cybersecurity advisory on new 'Drovorub ' Russian malwareRussian hackers : Background Russian hackers have been widely accused of meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election .
In particular , Russians had successfully gained access to voter lists in several U.S. states ahead of ballot day .
Microsoft said a Russian-linked hacker group , previously accused of hacking into DNC mail servers , was responsible for the attacks on the Windows operating system .
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia to stop cyber attacks aimed at destabilizing other countries .
In August 2020 , U.S. intelligence agencies warned about previously undisclosed Russian `` Drovorub '' malware .

Among other major actors are Iran, China, and North Korea.
Microsoft has delivered over 13,000 nation state notifications (NSN) over the past two years, most originating in Russia.
"When a customer (organization or individual account holder) is targeted or compromised by nation state activities that Microsoft tracks, we deliver a nation state notification to the customer. Over the past two years, Microsoft has delivered over 13,000 NSNs. The highest percentage of NSNs represented activity originating in Russia, followed by Iran, China, North Korea, and other countries," according to a Microsoft Digital Defense Report dated September 2020.
Read alsoRFE/RL: U.S. releases cybersecurity advisory on new 'Drovorub' Russian malwareRussian hackers: Background
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Russian hackers have been widely accused of meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. In particular, Russians had successfully gained access to voter lists in several U.S. states ahead of ballot day.
Microsoft said a Russian-linked hacker group, previously accused of hacking into DNC mail servers, was responsible for the attacks on the Windows operating system.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba at the UN Security Council called on Russia to stop cyber attacks aimed at destabilizing other countries.
In August 2020, U.S. intelligence agencies warned about previously undisclosed Russian "Drovorub" malware.


unian--2020-09-30--Zelensky sacks Fokin from TCG delegation amid Donbas statements row

The relevant decree was signed on September 30 .
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed Vitold Fokin from the post of First Deputy Chairman of the Ukrainian delegation to the Minsk Trilateral Contact Group ( TCG ) on Donbas following the latter 's controversial statements on Donbas .
The relevant decree was signed on September 30 , as reported on the president 's website .
Read alsoNSDC chief on Ukrainian negotiators ' notorious statements : `` Own opinions '' The decree comes into force on the day of its publication .
Vitold Fokin has claimed he `` does not see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia in Donbas ; he believes that mercenaries from 30 countries have been fighting against the Ukrainian Army in the east of Ukraine , and he is convinced a comprehensive pardon is required for those who committed crimes in Donbas .
All the members of the Parliament Committee who heard Fokin speaking at the Q & A , except those from the pro-Russian Opposition Platform – For Life Party , backed a motion asking President Volodymyr Zelensky to recall Fokin from the Ukrainian delegation at Minsk talks .
The official position of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was announced by Head of the delegation , Leonid Kravchuk , his First Deputy Oleksiy Reznikov , and Deputy Oleksandr Merezhko , in a joint statement : `` Mr. Fokin , like any person , has the right to his own position , no matter how strange it may seem .
But being part of the Ukrainian delegation at the negotiations with the TCG , we must adhere exclusively to the official position of our state , even when we do not participate in the negotiations . ''
Interior Minister Arsen Avakov , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response in which he criticized Fokin 's statement .
`` [ Mr. ] Fokin , thousands of our soldiers and civilians were killed in the war , which , as you claim , does not exist .
Tell that to the families of those who died from Russia 's multiple rocket launchers near Saur-Mohyla and Ilovaisk !
?
.. You scoundrel .
'They are n't there ' – these are the words of [ Russian President Vladimir ] Putin , rather than those of a representative of Ukraine , '' the minister said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Defense Council ( NSDC ) Serhiy Kryvonos dubbed Fokin a 'senile , blind fool . '
Head of the Ukrainian President 's Office Andriy Yermak said Fokin must resign over his controversial statements .
The President 's Office said they were `` struck by personal assessments and comments '' by Fokin on the war in Donbas and Crimea .
In response to a wave of public outrage , Fokin defied criticism , saying MPs were `` unwilling to figure things out '' and that he felt his `` phrases would be taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

The relevant decree was signed on September 30.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed Vitold Fokin from the post of First Deputy Chairman of the Ukrainian delegation to the Minsk Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) on Donbas following the latter's controversial statements on Donbas.
The relevant decree was signed on September 30, as reported on the president's website.
"To remove V. Fokin from the Ukrainian delegation to participate in the Trilateral Contact Group, relieving him of his duties as the first deputy chairman of the delegation," the document says.
Read alsoNSDC chief on Ukrainian negotiators' notorious statements: "Own opinions"The decree comes into force on the day of its publication.
Fokin's controversial statement: Reactions
Vitold Fokin has claimed he "does not see" a war ongoing between Ukraine and Russia in Donbas; he believes that mercenaries from 30 countries have been fighting against the Ukrainian Army in the east of Ukraine, and he is convinced a comprehensive pardon is required for those who committed crimes in Donbas.
All the members of the Parliament Committee who heard Fokin speaking at the Q&A, except those from the pro-Russian Opposition Platform – For Life Party, backed a motion asking President Volodymyr Zelensky to recall Fokin from the Ukrainian delegation at Minsk talks.
The official position of the Ukrainian delegation to the Trilateral Contact Group was announced by Head of the delegation, Leonid Kravchuk, his First Deputy Oleksiy Reznikov, and Deputy Oleksandr Merezhko, in a joint statement: "Mr. Fokin, like any person, has the right to his own position, no matter how strange it may seem. But being part of the Ukrainian delegation at the negotiations with the TCG, we must adhere exclusively to the official position of our state, even when we do not participate in the negotiations."
Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, in turn, posted an emotionally charged response in which he criticized Fokin's statement. "[Mr.] Fokin, thousands of our soldiers and civilians were killed in the war, which, as you claim, does not exist. Tell that to the families of those who died from Russia's multiple rocket launchers near Saur-Mohyla and Ilovaisk!? .. You scoundrel. 'They aren't there' – these are the words of [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, rather than those of a representative of Ukraine," the minister said.
Deputy Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) Serhiy Kryvonos dubbed Fokin a 'senile, blind fool.'
Head of the Ukrainian President's Office Andriy Yermak said Fokin must resign over his controversial statements.
The President's Office said they were "struck by personal assessments and comments" by Fokin on the war in Donbas and Crimea.
In response to a wave of public outrage, Fokin defied criticism, saying MPs were "unwilling to figure things out" and that he felt his "phrases would be taken out of context," Vesti reported.