unian--2020-02-24--Putin's bloody "peace". Why the Kremlin needs new escalation in Donbas

At five in the morning on February 18 , Zolote was rocked as if in an earthquake .
Such devastating shelling has n't been heard here since the beginning of war .
Residents again were forced to rush into bomb shelters .
Oleksandr Kishkinov confesses : he thought that after such a cannonade the invaders would try to seize the village .
Had it not been for the response of Ukrainian troops , the enemy would have already been there .
Oleksandr feared that the `` Russian World '' would make its way to Zolote , but said that most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the militants .
According to him , ninety-nine percent of those living in the village are waiting for Russian passports and Putin .
`` I tell many from our area that Putin 's forces might come .
And they say to me : 'Well , that 's great !
We 'll get Russian passports ' , '' he says .
It did n't take long to confirm Oleksandr 's words .
In ten minutes , a local old lady repeats – in pure Ukrainian language – the words she heard on TV .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' we ask .
`` You , Ukrainians , have come to the East with such hatred !
Putin… What does Putin have to do with all this ?
! ''
she responds indignantly .
`` But he has deployed his troops , '' we continue .
`` And have n't you , too ?
You have Georgians , Americans fighting along , You come to our land and start war here… '' the old woman says .
`` You say , 'yours ' .
Does this mean Ukraine is not your country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's you who came from the West and do your war here , '' she insists .
`` I 'm not from the West , I 'm from the East , '' I try to convince her .
`` East ?
What are you telling me ? ''
the lady says , being confident in her words .
Immediately after the battle in Zolote , the enemy launched an infowar campaign .
Hundreds of accounts in social network started spreading lies about the irreversible loss of the Ukrainian Army .
`` Disinformation is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Messages on social networks have flooded the internet , '' notes TSN Tyzhden 's special correspondent Andriy Tsaplienko .
The messages go along the following lines : `` The 72nd [ brigade ] was forced to retreat from five strongholds in Zolote , three KIAs , forces retreated to the town of Hirske , leaving Zolote behind for separatists . ''
`` Here it is , Zolote -4 .
We just arrived from there and we did n't see any separatists there , only looked into the eyes of calm and confident Ukrainian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the scene .
On this day , the whole world learned about the observation post , code-named `` Bania '' [ Sauna ] .
`` The battle unfolded at the observation post , the so-called Bania , manned by the 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade ...
Accordingly , we returned fire , employing all weapons available , '' said Chief of General Staff Ruslan Khomchak .
The observation post , from where Ukrainians had to retreat , was set up just recently , in January 2020 , in the area between the villages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Very close to enemy positions .
Several lightly-armed fighters observed the enemy from the old , abandoned trenches , dug at the beginning of the war .
One of those soldiers , Maksym Hitaylov , was killed in the battle .
In addition to the Bania post , the enemy tried to break through in two more directions .
We are moving closer to the point where the enemy was covering his infantry with tanks .
They arranged the so-called `` tank carousel '' .
As you know , a tank is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The attack was planned as an offensive operation .
Actually , that 's what it was .
The enemy struck with the artillery approaches to the Ukrainian positions .
Next came the assault groups .
And one more detail .
From where we are driving now , along the vast stretch of the front line , the enemy used a smoke screen to prevent us from seeing them .
This is a clear sign of the offensive .
Of course , the decision to carry out such operations is taken at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Andriy Tsaplienko says .
On the eighteenth of February , everyone , from the head of the General Staff to a simple gunner , understood who was on the other side .
`` The enemy employed tanks and a smoke screen , which testifies to the fact that the operation was elaborately planned .
Another sign is that there was a massive artillery fire ahead of the attack , '' says Andriy , a Ukrainian military .
The left flank of the enemy operation is Popasna .
Russian shells plowed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to destroy the memory of those who lay here .
Our soldiers search for what 's left of enemy ordnance .
If you are lucky , you will be able to figure out a projectile manufacturer : `` Here is the nose part where .
Here is an extension … 'Made in Russia ' . ''
And here 's the right flank .
Not far from the village of Krymske .
Yaroslav , the fighter we 're talking to , is celebrating his second Birthday .
A mine exploded three meters from him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scratch .
`` Adrenaline and joy .
What else ?
If you 're going to die , do it with a smile , right ? ''
he shares his impressions .
Now Yaroslav is ready to share the excess adrenaline : `` It ca n't be explained in words .
This is like some high speed chase adrenaline – you do n't know what will happen to you . ''
Now imagine this .
There are almost forty kilometers of front line between Krymske and Popasna .
And the enemy launched tonnes of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area within hours .
The Ukrainians lost one soldier and was forced to retreat from one of its observation posts .
The Russian attack was already hotly debated in New York that same evening , at the UN Security Council meeting .
But it was precisely Russia that asked for that meeting ... back on February 12 , around the time when – it was already evident – an offensive on Ukrainian positions was being plotted .
So let 's look at this , again .
The Ukrainians were attacked on the day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's request .
So the Moscow strategists were hoping to talk about the strike at the Security Council .
But why ?
The fact is that the attack in Zolote is only a small element of the global game led by Moscow .
It is likely that Russia is shifting the attention of the eternally concerned United Nations to Ukraine so that they do not notice the crimes elsewhere in the world .
Like , in Syria .
Why not ?
As the UNSC was debating on the Ukrainian war , dozens of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian air force and the Syrian troops with Russian generals behind their backs were shooting at soldiers of the Turkish army .
Some even talked about a new Russian-Turkish war .
And the Russians had to avoid it – just a half-step before gaining full control of Syria .
In preparation for the offensive on Idlib and the inevitable confrontation with Turkey , the Russians occupied key positions along the Turkish-Syrian border .
`` Beyond Qamishli , the capital of Syrian Kurds , lies the Turkish territory .
Multi-storey apartment blocks just several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And we were informed that right now we are under the close control of Turkish snipers , '' Andriy Tsaplienko reports from East Syria .
This is the main Russian base here .
And here they even tried to apprehend the camera crew as they were filming a Russian military patrol .
As soon as the Russians will force Turkey to give up their interests in Syria , Moscow will move even further – to try to remove the Americans from the region .
`` Russian mobile patrols are moving deep into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an inconspicuous creeping offensive .
Its goal is to gain control of the oil fields , where black gold is pumping along the roads , immediately turned into real money .
The only force that prevents the Russians from implementing their plan is the U.S. military , '' Tsaplienko says .
If the tricolor banner flies above the local oil fields , the `` Russian World '' may claim a win in Syria .
And after the victory – which Moscow is so close to – it will release its military resources and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ukraine .
Intelligence reports : invaders might try to penetrate Ukrainian defense lines in another area .
At the front line , Ukraine is once again preparing for another escalation .

A major offensive by Russian-controlled forces on Ukrainian positions on the night of February 18 raises questions, whether Moscow really strives for peace in Donbas as much as it claims in the international arena. But why did the Kremlin need a new escalation in Donbas on the same day that Russia convened the UN Security Council?
At five in the morning on February 18, Zolote was rocked as if in an earthquake. Such devastating shelling hasn't been heard here since the beginning of war. Residents again were forced to rush into bomb shelters. Oleksandr Kishkinov confesses: he thought that after such a cannonade the invaders would try to seize the village. Had it not been for the response of Ukrainian troops, the enemy would have already been there.
Oleksandr feared that the "Russian World" would make its way to Zolote, but said that most of his neighbors had opposite feelings for the militants. According to him, ninety-nine percent of those living in the village are waiting for Russian passports and Putin.
"I tell many from our area that Putin's forces might come. And they say to me: 'Well, that's great! We'll get Russian passports'," he says.
Видео дня
It didn't take long to confirm Oleksandr's words. In ten minutes, a local old lady repeats – in pure Ukrainian language – the words she heard on TV.
"Are you waiting for Putin?" we ask.
"You, Ukrainians, have come to the East with such hatred! Putin… What does Putin have to do with all this?!" she responds indignantly.
"But he has deployed his troops," we continue.
"And haven't you, too? You have Georgians, Americans fighting along, You come to our land and start war here…" the old woman says.
"You say, 'yours'. Does this mean Ukraine is not your country?" we ask.
"It's you who came from the West and do your war here," she insists.
"I'm not from the West, I'm from the East," I try to convince her.
"East? What are you telling me?" the lady says, being confident in her words.
Immediately after the battle in Zolote, the enemy launched an infowar campaign. Hundreds of accounts in social network started spreading lies about the irreversible loss of the Ukrainian Army.
"Disinformation is a more powerful weapon than guns. Messages on social networks have flooded the internet," notes TSN Tyzhden's special correspondent Andriy Tsaplienko.
The messages go along the following lines: "The 72nd [brigade] was forced to retreat from five strongholds in Zolote, three KIAs, forces retreated to the town of Horske, leaving Zolote behind for separatists."
"Here it is, Zolote -4. We just arrived from there and we didn't see any separatists there, only looked into the eyes of calm and confident Ukrainian troops," Tsaplienko assures, reporting from the scene.
On this day, the whole world learned about the observation post, code-named "Bania" [Sauna]. "The battle unfolded at the observation post, the so-called Bania, manned by the 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade... Accordingly, we returned fire, employing all weapons available," said Chief of General Staff Ruslan Khomchak.
The observation post, from where Ukrainians had to retreat, was set up just recently, in January 2020, in the area between the villages of Zolote, Orikhove and Novotoshkivske. Very close to enemy positions. Several lightly-armed fighters observed the enemy from the old, abandoned trenches, dug at the beginning of the war. One of those soldiers, Maksym Hitaylov, was killed in the battle. In addition to the Bania post, the enemy tried to break through in two more directions.
We are moving closer to the point where the enemy was covering his infantry with tanks. They arranged the so-called "tank carousel". As you know, a tank is a weapon used in an offensive breakthrough.
"The attack was planned as an offensive operation. Actually, that's what it was. The enemy struck with the artillery approaches to the Ukrainian positions. Next came the assault groups. And one more detail. From where we are driving now, along the vast stretch of the front line, the enemy used a smoke screen to prevent us from seeing them. This is a clear sign of the offensive. Of course, the decision to carry out such operations is taken at the strategic level, not by some militants," Andriy Tsaplienko says.
On the eighteenth of February, everyone, from the head of the General Staff to a simple gunner, understood who was on the other side.
"The enemy employed tanks and a smoke screen, which testifies to the fact that the operation was elaborately planned. Another sign is that there was a massive artillery fire ahead of the attack," says Andriy, a Ukrainian military.
The left flank of the enemy operation is Popasna. Russian shells plowed the local cemetery. As if they wanted to destroy the memory of those who lay here. Our soldiers search for what's left of enemy ordnance. If you are lucky, you will be able to figure out a projectile manufacturer: "Here is the nose part where. Here is an extension … 'Made in Russia'."
And here's the right flank. Not far from the village of Krymske. Yaroslav, the fighter we're talking to, is celebrating his second Birthday. A mine exploded three meters from him, but he didn't have a scratch.
"Adrenaline and joy. What else? If you're going to die, do it with a smile, right?" he shares his impressions.
Now Yaroslav is ready to share the excess adrenaline: "It can't be explained in words. This is like some high speed chase adrenaline – you don't know what will happen to you."
Now imagine this. There are almost forty kilometers of front line between Krymske and Popasna. And the enemy launched tonnes of ammunition of all areas across this whole area within hours. The Ukrainians lost one soldier and was forced to retreat from one of its observation posts.
The Russian attack was already hotly debated in New York that same evening, at the UN Security Council meeting. But it was precisely Russia that asked for that meeting ... back on February 12, around the time when – it was already evident – an offensive on Ukrainian positions was being plotted.
So let's look at this, again. The Ukrainians were attacked on the day the Security Council met. At Russia's request. So the Moscow strategists were hoping to talk about the strike at the Security Council. But why?
The fact is that the attack in Zolote is only a small element of the global game led by Moscow. It is likely that Russia is shifting the attention of the eternally concerned United Nations to Ukraine so that they do not notice the crimes elsewhere in the world. Like, in Syria. Why not?
As the UNSC was debating on the Ukrainian war, dozens of people were being killed in Syria by Russian air force and the Syrian troops with Russian generals behind their backs were shooting at soldiers of the Turkish army. Some even talked about a new Russian-Turkish war. And the Russians had to avoid it – just a half-step before gaining full control of Syria.
In preparation for the offensive on Idlib and the inevitable confrontation with Turkey, the Russians occupied key positions along the Turkish-Syrian border.
The Russian grouping entered the Qamishli airport.
"Beyond Qamishli, the capital of Syrian Kurds, lies the Turkish territory. Multi-storey apartment blocks just several hundred meters away are part of Turkey. And we were informed that right now we are under the close control of Turkish snipers," Andriy Tsaplienko reports from East Syria.
This is the main Russian base here. And here they even tried to apprehend the camera crew as they were filming a Russian military patrol. As soon as the Russians will force Turkey to give up their interests in Syria, Moscow will move even further – to try to remove the Americans from the region.
"Russian mobile patrols are moving deep into the Kurdish territory. It's like an inconspicuous creeping offensive. Its goal is to gain control of the oil fields, where black gold is pumping along the roads, immediately turned into real money. The only force that prevents the Russians from implementing their plan is the U.S. military," Tsaplienko says.
If the tricolor banner flies above the local oil fields, the "Russian World" may claim a win in Syria. And after the victory – which Moscow is so close to – it will release its military resources and be able to tighten its grip on Ukraine.
Intelligence reports: invaders might try to penetrate Ukrainian defense lines in another area. At the front line, Ukraine is once again preparing for another escalation.
Andriy Tsaplienko, Serhiy Shchekochikhin, Vitaliy Tkachuk


unian--2020-02-24--Car plows into carnival crowd in German town

At least 30 people have been injured .
A car has been driven into a crowd at a carnival parade @ @ @ @ @ Volkmarsen , police have said .
At least 30 people have been injured , Bild @ @ @ @ @ said the driver had been detained , according to the BBC .
The motive and @ @ @ @ @ as yet unclear .
Reports say the perpetrator is a local man in his twenties @ @ @ @ @ cited witnesses as saying the driver appeared to have deliberately targeted children and had driven @ @ @ @ @ full throttle '' , according to Reuters .
Large numbers of emergency workers are at @ @ @ @ @ town , which lies in the state of Hesse in western Germany .
The incident @ @ @ @ @ Rosenmontag , or Rose Monday - a carnival day throughout the country .
Local reports @ @ @ @ @ into a group of people at about 14:30 local time .
Images on social media @ @ @ @ @ description surrounded by emergency vehicles .

At least 30 people have been injured.
A car has been driven into a crowd at a carnival parade in the German town of Volkmarsen, police have said.
At least 30 people have been injured, Bild reports.
A police spokesman said the driver had been detained, according to the BBC.
Видео дня
The motive and nature of the incident are as yet unclear.
Reports say the perpetrator is a local man in his twenties.
German news website HNA cited witnesses as saying the driver appeared to have deliberately targeted children and had driven into the crowd "at full throttle", according to Reuters.
Large numbers of emergency workers are at the scene in the small town, which lies in the state of Hesse in western Germany.
The incident took place during celebrations for Rosenmontag, or Rose Monday - a carnival day throughout the country.
Local reports say a silver Mercedes drove into a group of people at about 14:30 local time.
Images on social media show a car matching that description surrounded by emergency vehicles.


unian--2020-02-24--Dutch-led investigation has eyewitness to Russian missile launch – media

The recently released intercepted phone calls mention the Russian defense minister , the deputy director of Russian intelligence , and a senior aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin .
An investigative team used open-source tools , including Google Maps and Google Earth , and videos and photos posted online , to trace the missile system all the way back to its suspected origin , a Russian military base in Kursk .
A multi-national investigation is heading to trial in the Netherlands with the hope that the evidence , collected in the almost six years since the tragedy , will bring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reports .
`` You have eyewitnesses to the missile launch , is that correct ?
More than one ... '' the 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley asked lead prosecutor Fred Westerbeke .
`` I 'd say I have an eyewitness , and how many ...
I did n't say how many .
The missile unit came `` from the 53rd brigade of the armed forces of the Russian Federation , '' Westerbecke went on to say , adding that `` there 's no doubt at all '' about it .
The police investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( JIT ) was established after the shootdown and is led by Dutch police , assisted by Australia , Ukraine , Malaysia , and Belgium .
Some of the earliest evidence in the case of MH17 was n't discovered by a traditional investigative body .
Instead , Bellingcat , an online investigative collective lead by Eliot Higgins , made a break in the case when it found videos and photos posted online , beginning the day of the shooting .
Following a trail of digital `` breadcrumbs , '' the group spotted and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the back of a flatbed truck , CBS News reports .
`` In this war zone of eastern Ukraine , there were a lot of people , average civilians , who were shooting videos and stills of military convoys going back and forth , '' Pelley tells 60 Minutes Overtime .
`` There were quite a number of photographs of this particular missile system which was on the bed of a flatbed truck . ''
Bellingcat 's Higgins showed 60 Minutes how his investigative team used open-source tools , including Google Maps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ photos posted online , to trace the missile system all the way back to its suspected origin , a Russian military base in Kursk .
Read alsoMH17 probe : Court hearings in Hague to begin on March 9 Higgins says the Bellingcat team was able to identify a phone number on the side of the flatbed truck .
The number belonged to a vehicle yard in the separatist-controlled part of eastern Ukraine .
Higgins says , `` In fact , people called that number up and asked the owner , 'What 's going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this photograph ? '
And he said his vehicle had been taken over by separatists some time earlier . ''
Bellingcat was also able to identify the location of the convoy by comparing images posted online to satellite imagery , in a process known as geolocation .
Matching multiple unique objects in the images , Bellingcat 's team was able to determine a precise location for each image .
The team used shadows in the images to determine the approximate time of day that the photo or video was taken .
The trail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Russia .
`` And in Kursk , there 's a missile brigade called the 53rd Air Defense Brigade , and we were able to establish for certain that the missile launcher came from that particular brigade , '' Higgins says .
The JIT would later independently verify Bellingcat 's findings as part of its wider investigation that included not just open source material , but intercepted phone calls , eyewitnesses and forensics , including shrapnel from the Buk missile found in the bodies of MH-17 's flight crew .
60 Minutes has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ access to top secret U.S. spy satellite material , but on the condition that it only be used to verify other accounts .
Because of its highly classified nature , the U.S. material will not be presented as evidence in court .
Today , even as the first trial in the shootdown of MH17 gets underway , the joint investigation is still far from over – they recently released intercepted phone calls that mention the Russian defense minister , the deputy director of Russian intelligence , and a senior aide to Russian President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a call for witnesses , '' lead prosecutor Fred Westerbeke tells 60 Minutes .
`` Who can tell us more about [ the ] probable involvement of them and how this went about ?
`` Does this trail lead all the way back to the Kremlin ? ''
Scott Pelley asks .
`` Can they make a case against any of these higher officials that are mentioned on these phone calls ?
We do n't know yet , but we do know that 's where the investigation is headed . ''

The recently released intercepted phone calls mention the Russian defense minister, the deputy director of Russian intelligence, and a senior aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
An investigative team used open-source tools, including Google Maps and Google Earth, and videos and photos posted online, to trace the missile system all the way back to its suspected origin, a Russian military base in Kursk.
A multi-national investigation is heading to trial in the Netherlands with the hope that the evidence, collected in the almost six years since the tragedy, will bring those responsible to justice, CBS News reports.
"You have eyewitnesses to the missile launch, is that correct? More than one..." the 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley asked lead prosecutor Fred Westerbeke.
Видео дня
"I'd say I have an eyewitness, and how many... I didn't say how many.
The missile unit came "from the 53rd brigade of the armed forces of the Russian Federation," Westerbecke went on to say, adding that "there's no doubt at all" about it.
The police investigation, known as the Joint Investigative Team (JIT) was established after the shootdown and is led by Dutch police, assisted by Australia, Ukraine, Malaysia, and Belgium.
Some of the earliest evidence in the case of MH17 wasn't discovered by a traditional investigative body. Instead, Bellingcat, an online investigative collective lead by Eliot Higgins, made a break in the case when it found videos and photos posted online, beginning the day of the shooting. Following a trail of digital "breadcrumbs," the group spotted and identified a Russian Buk TELAR missile system on the back of a flatbed truck, CBS News reports.
"In this war zone of eastern Ukraine, there were a lot of people, average civilians, who were shooting videos and stills of military convoys going back and forth," Pelley tells 60 Minutes Overtime. "There were quite a number of photographs of this particular missile system which was on the bed of a flatbed truck."
Bellingcat's Higgins showed 60 Minutes how his investigative team used open-source tools, including Google Maps and Google Earth, and videos and photos posted online, to trace the missile system all the way back to its suspected origin, a Russian military base in Kursk.
Read alsoMH17 probe: Court hearings in Hague to begin on March 9
Higgins says the Bellingcat team was able to identify a phone number on the side of the flatbed truck. The number belonged to a vehicle yard in the separatist-controlled part of eastern Ukraine. Higgins says, "In fact, people called that number up and asked the owner, 'What's going on? Why is your truck in this photograph?' And he said his vehicle had been taken over by separatists some time earlier."
Bellingcat was also able to identify the location of the convoy by comparing images posted online to satellite imagery, in a process known as geolocation. Matching multiple unique objects in the images, Bellingcat's team was able to determine a precise location for each image. The team used shadows in the images to determine the approximate time of day that the photo or video was taken. The trail led them all the way to Kursk, Russia.
"And in Kursk, there's a missile brigade called the 53rd Air Defense Brigade, and we were able to establish for certain that the missile launcher came from that particular brigade," Higgins says.
The JIT would later independently verify Bellingcat's findings as part of its wider investigation that included not just open source material, but intercepted phone calls, eyewitnesses and forensics, including shrapnel from the Buk missile found in the bodies of MH-17's flight crew.
Read alsoDutch prosecution serves charges on four MH17 defendants – media
60 Minutes has learned that Dutch investigators were also given access to top secret U.S. spy satellite material, but on the condition that it only be used to verify other accounts. Because of its highly classified nature, the U.S. material will not be presented as evidence in court.
Today, even as the first trial in the shootdown of MH17 gets underway, the joint investigation is still far from over – they recently released intercepted phone calls that mention the Russian defense minister, the deputy director of Russian intelligence, and a senior aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin. "We were doing a call for witnesses," lead prosecutor Fred Westerbeke tells 60 Minutes. "Who can tell us more about [the] probable involvement of them and how this went about?
"Does this trail lead all the way back to the Kremlin?" Scott Pelley asks. "Can they make a case against any of these higher officials that are mentioned on these phone calls? We don't know yet, but we do know that's where the investigation is headed."


unian--2020-02-24--Prime minister: All Ukrainian regions ready to detect novel coronavirus

He called on Ukrainians to avoid panic .
Ukrainian Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk assures that all regions of Ukraine are ready to detect the novel coronavirus , and the relevant services have been mobilized to prevent its possible spread .
`` We 've defined a group of countries with infection risks , therefore , there is an additional procedure for controlling flights from those countries , namely body temperature screening for passengers at Ukrainian airports .
If a person has symptoms of illness , we have each region prepared for this : there are teams of doctors dealing with infectious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he wrote on Facebook on February 24 .
He added that hospitals had already been designated to handle the possible accommodation of potential patients .
Read alsoSome 74 % of Ukrainians do n't support protests against evacuees from China – poll The national headquarters operates in Ukraine , which processes updates twice a day to detect possible cases of the coronavirus , he said .
Ukraine is also in close contact with the World Health Organization .
According to him , the people who have recently been evacuated from China feel good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Poltava region are satisfactory .
`` Some mobile operators have set up temporary towers at the medical center for comfortable communication between the evacuees and their relatives , '' he said .
Honcharuk assured that there was no reason for panic and called on Ukrainians not to respond to any provocation .
As UNIAN reported earlier , Ukraine 's National Security and Defense Council said it would inform the public on the daily basis about the health status of the evacuees from China , who have been placed under 14-day observation in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ukrainians and 27 foreigners evacuated from China 's Wuhan amid the outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus arrived in Ukraine on February 20 .
The evacuees were then bussed to the town of Novi Sanzhary in Poltava region and accommodated at a local medical center , which is within the Ukrainian Interior Ministry 's jurisdiction .

He called on Ukrainians to avoid panic.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk assures that all regions of Ukraine are ready to detect the novel coronavirus, and the relevant services have been mobilized to prevent its possible spread.
"We've defined a group of countries with infection risks, therefore, there is an additional procedure for controlling flights from those countries, namely body temperature screening for passengers at Ukrainian airports. If a person has symptoms of illness, we have each region prepared for this: there are teams of doctors dealing with infectious diseases who know all the protocols," he wrote on Facebook on February 24.
He added that hospitals had already been designated to handle the possible accommodation of potential patients.
Видео дня
Read alsoSome 74% of Ukrainians don't support protests against evacuees from China – poll
The national headquarters operates in Ukraine, which processes updates twice a day to detect possible cases of the coronavirus, he said. Ukraine is also in close contact with the World Health Organization.
According to him, the people who have recently been evacuated from China feel good, and the conditions of their stay in Poltava region are satisfactory.
"Some mobile operators have set up temporary towers at the medical center for comfortable communication between the evacuees and their relatives," he said.
Honcharuk assured that there was no reason for panic and called on Ukrainians not to respond to any provocation.
As UNIAN reported earlier, Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council said it would inform the public on the daily basis about the health status of the evacuees from China, who have been placed under 14-day observation in Poltava region.
A plane with 45 Ukrainians and 27 foreigners evacuated from China's Wuhan amid the outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus arrived in Ukraine on February 20. The evacuees were then bussed to the town of Novi Sanzhary in Poltava region and accommodated at a local medical center, which is within the Ukrainian Interior Ministry's jurisdiction.


unian--2020-02-24--Ukraine's customs may fail to reach February targets – PM Honcharuk

The price of energy resources , which account for a large share of income from imports , was also low .
Ukrainian Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk has said the Cabinet of Ministers expects that the State Tax Service in February 2020 will fulfill its revenue plan , while the State Customs Service may fail to reach its targets .
`` There are no figures for February , because it is not over yet .
But we expect that the Tax Service will implement the plan that was set in the budget .
As for the Customs Service , we expect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate differences since imports in the hryvnia [ Ukraine 's national currency ] are much cheaper .
That is , receipts from imported goods are much lower , as is the price of energy resources , which , as a rule , are subject to customs clearance and account for a significant share of the receipts , '' he said when presenting the government 's report in the Verkhovna Rada , Ukraine 's parliament , on February 21 .
As UNIAN reported earlier , Ukraine 's national budget in January 2020 received UAH @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) in revenue , which was 7 % down year-over-year and 21.5 % below the target set for the month .

Ukraine's customs may fail to reach February targets – PM Honcharuk
16:43, 24.02.20 1532
The price of energy resources, which account for a large share of income from imports, was also low.
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unian--2020-02-24--Russian occupiers in Donbas equipping new firing positions for self-propelled guns, tanks – intel

Last week the enemy intensified training for artillery units .
The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of @ @ @ @ @ Donbas are equipping new firing positions for self-propelled guns and tanks .
The invaders are @ @ @ @ @ of artillery ammunition in the areas of advanced positions .
According to an intelligence report @ @ @ @ @ Russian occupation forces is more actively training formations and units of the 1st ( Donetsk @ @ @ @ @ ) Army Corps for more intense hostilities .
`` In particular , last week the @ @ @ @ @ units who were practicing 'strikes ' against specified targets in the 'depths ' of the @ @ @ @ @ ' defense and fire support of its advanced units amid escalation , '' the report @ @

Last week the enemy intensified training for artillery units.
The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine says Russian occupiers in Donbas are equipping new firing positions for self-propelled guns and tanks.
Read alsoUkraine reports 14 enemy attacks in Donbas on Feb 23
The invaders are also building up additional stocks of artillery ammunition in the areas of advanced positions.
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According to an intelligence report, the command of the Russian occupation forces is more actively training formations and units of the 1st (Donetsk) and 2nd (Luhansk) Army Corps for more intense hostilities.
"In particular, last week the enemy intensified training for artillery units who were practicing 'strikes' against specified targets in the 'depths' of the [Ukrainian] Joint Forces' defense and fire support of its advanced units amid escalation," the report said.


unian--2020-02-24--Naftogaz to cut gas prices for industry by almost 15% from March 1

The price ceiling for industrial consumers will be lowered by 11.6 % on March 1 , 2020 .
National Joint-Stock Company Naftogaz of Ukraine will cut the minimum prices of natural gas for industrial consumers by 14.6 % from March 1 , 2020 , to UAH 3,981 , or US $ 163 ( excluding VAT and transportation costs ) per 1,000 cubic meters from UAH 4,661 , or US $ 191 , in February 2020 .
Read alsoWeek 's balance : Cabinet vows to pull labor market out of `` shadows '' , allocates UAH 4 bln in farmer support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in gas tariff At the same time , the maximum prices of natural gas for industrial consumers will be cut by 11.6 % from March 1 , 2020 , to UAH 4,606 , or US $ 188 ( excluding VAT and transportation costs ) per 1,000 cubic meters from UAH 5,208 , or US $ 213 , the company said in a statement .
Naftogaz quotations depend on the volume of purchases and payment terms , the company said .
UNIAN memo .
NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine is the largest state-run vertically integrated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for about 90 % of oil and gas production in Ukraine .
Naftogaz develops oil and gas fields , produces crude oil and natural gas .
Its core business is also transportation and trade in fuel through its own network of filling stations .

Naftogaz to cut gas prices for industry by almost 15% from March 1
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The price ceiling for industrial consumers will be lowered by 11.6% on March 1, 2020.
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unian--2020-02-24--Some 74% of Ukrainians don't support protests against evacuees from China – poll

Only 15 % of respondents say they back such protests .
A total of 74 % of Ukrainians do not support recent protests against the evacuation of citizens from China 's Wuhan amid the outbreak of the novel coronavirus with subsequent keeping them under observation in Ukraine .
Read alsoUkraine 's health minister : Evacuees from China show no signs of coronavirus ( Video ) Only 15 % of respondents back such protests , while 11 % are undecided , according to a survey conducted by the Rating sociological group .
The higher the level of education and income is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of protests against the evacuation is .
In the regional context , most of those who did not support such events ( 80 % ) live in the country 's south .
The poll was conducted on February 22-23 through personal formalized ( face-to-face ) interviews .
The study involved 1,200 respondents aged 18 and older .
The sample is representative of age , gender , region and type of settlement .
The margin of error is no more than 2.8 % .
As UNIAN reported earlier , local residents in the town @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on February 20 protested against the arrival of Ukrainian citizens and foreigners evacuated from China and accommodated at a local medical center , which is within the Ukrainian Interior Ministry 's jurisdiction .
Protesters threw stones at buses with the evacuees .
During the clashes , nine law enforcement officers were injured .
The police opened two criminal cases on the fact of mass riots in Novi Sanzhary and violence against law enforcement officers .
On February 21 , the police released 23 of the 24 most aggressive individuals detained during the protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On February 22 , he was placed under two months ' curfew .
The evacuees will stay in Novi Sanzhary under 14-day observation with a strict biosecurity regime .

Only 15% of respondents say they back such protests.
A total of 74% of Ukrainians do not support recent protests against the evacuation of citizens from China's Wuhan amid the outbreak of the novel coronavirus with subsequent keeping them under observation in Ukraine.
Read alsoUkraine's health minister: Evacuees from China show no signs of coronavirus (Video)
Only 15% of respondents back such protests, while 11% are undecided, according to a survey conducted by the Rating sociological group.
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The higher the level of education and income is, the higher the level of disapproval of protests against the evacuation is. In the regional context, most of those who did not support such events (80%) live in the country's south.
The poll was conducted on February 22-23 through personal formalized (face-to-face) interviews. The study involved 1,200 respondents aged 18 and older. The sample is representative of age, gender, region and type of settlement. The margin of error is no more than 2.8%.
As UNIAN reported earlier, local residents in the town of Novi Sanzhary, Poltava region, on February 20 protested against the arrival of Ukrainian citizens and foreigners evacuated from China and accommodated at a local medical center, which is within the Ukrainian Interior Ministry's jurisdiction. Protesters threw stones at buses with the evacuees.
During the clashes, nine law enforcement officers were injured. The police opened two criminal cases on the fact of mass riots in Novi Sanzhary and violence against law enforcement officers.
On February 21, the police released 23 of the 24 most aggressive individuals detained during the protests; one person remained under arrest. On February 22, he was placed under two months' curfew.
The evacuees will stay in Novi Sanzhary under 14-day observation with a strict biosecurity regime.


unian--2020-02-24--Mylovanov: Launch of farmland market not condition for Ukraine to receive new IMF program

The new program of cooperation with the IMF will be a positive signal for investors to inject money into Ukraine .
Ukrainian Minister for Development of Economy , Trade and Agriculture Tymofiy Mylovanov says the launch of the farmland market in Ukraine is not a condition for approval of a new three-year Extended Fund Facility ( EFF ) program for Ukraine by the International Monetary Fund ( IMF ) , Ukraine 's key lender .
`` This is not a condition for obtaining the program .
There are certain bills that are related to the land market .
It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fund 's main intent is to ensure either equal or better conditions for small- and medium-sized businesses .
But there is no precondition related to the land market in those agreements with the IMF , '' he said on a Ukrainian TV channel on February 22 .
According to Mylovanov , the new program of cooperation with the IMF will be a positive signal for investors to inject money into Ukraine .
`` I think that the amount is not large enough , even compared to [ US $ ] 50 billion that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the National Bank are high enough today .
This is not [ US $ ] 5 billion or [ US $ ] 10 billion , as it used to be , now we have US $ 25-26 billion in National Bank reserves .
Therefore , the amount itself is not critical for us from an economic point of view ... What is important that the IMF certifies for investors that the [ Ukrainian ] government 's economic policy is correct .
Basically , we need the program for this , '' the minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IMF experts began their work in Kyiv on February 20 .
The team 's visit aimed to discuss with Ukrainian authorities the policies toward accelerating economic growth and maintaining stability .
Ukraine 's authorities and the IMF staff in December 2019 reached an agreement on policies to underpin a new three-year US $ 5.5 billion EFF , while the Fund 's Executive Board is yet to approve the program .
Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine ( NBU ) Yakiv Smolii said a decision on the new EFF might be approved in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about preconditions for concluding an agreement on the new program , the chief banker recalled the need to adopt laws preventing courts from returning insolvent banks to former owners and the launch of farmland trade .
On November 13 , the Verkhovna Rada , Ukraine 's parliament , adopted draft law No .
2178-10 to amend certain legislative acts of Ukraine on farmland turnover in the first reading .
The document , which was submitted by the relevant committee , is designed to launch the farmland market in Ukraine from October 1 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Verkhovna Rada started considering the bill in the second reading .
Chairman of the Servant of the People parliamentary faction David Arakhamia says Ukraine 's parliament may finally vote for the bill in the middle of April .
In total , over 4,000 amendments to the draft law on the farmland market were submitted for the second reading .

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The new program of cooperation with the IMF will be a positive signal for investors to inject money into Ukraine.
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unian--2020-02-24--Bad weather leaves 251 towns and villages in Ukraine without power

Regional energy distribution companies deployed their repair teams to eliminate the aftermath of the blackouts .
Some 251 towns and @ @ @ @ @ regions have reported power cuts after the safety system was activated amid the bad weather @ @ @ @ @ winds .
Read alsoBad weather leaves 47 towns and villages in Ukraine without power In @ @ @ @ @ was disrupted in 70 towns and villages in Lviv region , 69 in Ivano-Frankivsk region @ @ @ @ @ , 23 in Volyn region , 12 in Chernivtsi region , 11 in Zhytomyr region @ @ @ @ @ region , the State Emergency Service 's press service has said .
Regional energy distribution @ @ @ @ @ to eliminate the aftermath of the blackouts .
Weather conditions in Ukraine are expected to @ @ @ @ @ a storm warning has been issued .

Regional energy distribution companies deployed their repair teams to eliminate the aftermath of the blackouts.
Some 251 towns and villages in Ukraine's seven regions have reported power cuts after the safety system was activated amid the bad weather, namely precipitation and strong winds.
Read alsoBad weather leaves 47 towns and villages in Ukraine without power
In particular, the electricity supply was disrupted in 70 towns and villages in Lviv region, 69 in Ivano-Frankivsk region, 65 in Ternopil region, 23 in Volyn region, 12 in Chernivtsi region, 11 in Zhytomyr region, and one in Rivne region, the State Emergency Service's press service has said.
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Regional energy distribution companies deployed their repair teams to eliminate the aftermath of the blackouts.
Weather conditions in Ukraine are expected to deteriorate on February 24, a storm warning has been issued.


unian--2020-02-24--Ukraine issues over 950,000 biometric travel passports to Donbas residents

As of February 12 , almost 150,500 travel passports were issued to citizens of Ukraine who had registration in Crimea @ @ @ @ @ February 2020 , over 950,000 biometric travel passports were issued by the Ukrainian authorities to @ @ @ @ @ in Donbas , eastern Ukraine .
Such data were provided by the State Migration Service @ @ @ @ @ Deutsche Welle 's Ukrainian service .
As of February 12 , some 150,466 foreign passports @ @ @ @ @ of Ukraine who had registration in Crimea or Sevastopol .
As UNIAN reported earlier , @ @ @ @ @ Mission to the United Nations , Ambassador Serhiy Kyslytsya said at a UN Security Council @ @ @ @ @ New York City on February 18 , 2020 , that Russia had issued over 200,000 @ @ @ @ @ the occupied parts of Donbas .

As of February 12, almost 150,500 travel passports were issued to citizens of Ukraine who had registration in Crimea or Sevastopol.
As of February 2020, over 950,000 biometric travel passports were issued by the Ukrainian authorities to citizens registered in Russia-occupied districts in Donbas, eastern Ukraine.
Read alsoAbout 40,000 Ukrainians granted "temporary asylum" in Russia – Russian media
Such data were provided by the State Migration Service of Ukraine, according to Deutsche Welle's Ukrainian service.
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As of February 12, some 150,466 foreign passports were also issued to citizens of Ukraine who had registration in Crimea or Sevastopol.
As UNIAN reported earlier, Chief of Ukraine's Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Ambassador Serhiy Kyslytsya said at a UN Security Council (UNSC) meeting in New York City on February 18, 2020, that Russia had issued over 200,000 passports to Ukrainians living in the occupied parts of Donbas.


unian--2020-02-28--World Health Organization upgrades global coronavirus risk to "very high"

WHO epidemiologists have been monitoring these developments continuously , The World Health Organization has upgraded the global risk from the novel coronavirus to `` very high '' as the virus continued to spread .
`` The continued increase in the number of COVID-19 cases , and the number of affected countries over the last few days , are clearly of concern , '' WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters on Friday .
Read alsoUkrainian woman under observation in Kyiv hospital after arriving from Italy with fever '' Our epidemiologists have been monitoring these developments continuously , and we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of spread and the risk of impact of COVID-19 to very high at a global level , '' he said .
WHO experts say they `` see at the moment are linked epidemics of COVID-19 in several countries , but most cases can still be traced to known contacts or clusters of cases .
We do not see evidence as yet that the virus is spreading freely in communities . ''
As UNIAN reported earlier , the Chinese authorities reported an outbreak of pneumonia of unknown origin in Wuhan late in December 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a new type of coronavirus , COVID-19 .
The virus is transmitted from person to person , with the incubation period lasting at least two weeks .
On January 30 , the World Health Organization declared an international emergency over the spread of the novel coronavirus from China .
`` In the past 24 hours , China reported 329 COVID19 cases – the lowest in over a month , '' the WHO said on February 28 .
`` As of 6 a.m. GVA time this morning , China had reported a total @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2,791 deaths .
Outside , there are now 4,351 cases in 49 countries and 67 deaths , ''

WHO epidemiologists have been monitoring these developments continuously.
The World Health Organization has upgraded the global risk from the novel coronavirus to "very high" as the virus continued to spread.
"The continued increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, and the number of affected countries over the last few days, are clearly of concern," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters on Friday.
Read alsoUkrainian woman under observation in Kyiv hospital after arriving from Italy with fever
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"Our epidemiologists have been monitoring these developments continuously, and we have now increased our assessment of the risk of spread and the risk of impact of COVID-19 to very high at a global level," he said.
WHO experts say they "see at the moment linked epidemics of COVID-19 in several countries, but most cases can still be traced to known contacts or clusters of cases. We do not see evidence as yet that the virus is spreading freely in communities."
As UNIAN reported earlier, the Chinese authorities reported an outbreak of pneumonia of unknown origin in Wuhan late in December 2019.
The causative agent of the disease was a new type of coronavirus, COVID-19. The virus is transmitted from person to person, with the incubation period lasting at least two weeks.
On January 30, the World Health Organization declared an international emergency over the spread of the novel coronavirus from China.
"In the past 24 hours, China reported 329 COVID-19 cases – the lowest in over a month," the WHO said on February 28. "As of 6 a.m. GVA time this morning, China had reported a total of 78,959 cases to WHO, including 2,791 deaths. Outside, there are now 4,351 cases in 49 countries and 67 deaths."


unian--2020-02-28--Almost 40% of Ukrainians have no bank accounts

Ukraine is still at the bottom of the ranking in terms of the number of POS terminals per 1,000 people in Europe .
CEO of Mastercard Europe SA Inga Andreieva says the share of adults who have no bank accounts in Ukraine is 37 % .
`` The level of financial inclusion in the country is 63 % , that is the share of those who have not bank accounts is 37 % .
What the Digital Transformation Ministry does is to show people that it is not 'scary , ' but convenient .
Financial inclusion in the Scandinavian countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the United Kingdom for 98 % , '' she said while presenting the business.diia.gov.ua national online platform on February 28 .
Andreieva emphasized that a 10 % increase in financial inclusion leads to the county 's GDP growth by 0.3 % , which will bring an additional UAH 10.6 billion ( US $ 431.6 million ) to the national budget .
At the same time , Ukraine is now catching up with European and world trends .
According to the National Bank 's statistics , eight out of 10 trade transactions in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while cashless payments , for the first time , exceeded 50 % of the total transactions .
`` Five years ago , cashless transactions accounted for only 25 % .
So , we are moving very well , but there is always something to strive for since there are European countries where this figure is 90 % , and even higher , '' she said .
In 2019 , the number of POS terminals for payments with bank cards was 333,000 , which was 19 % up from 2018 , the expert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terminals are contactless , which allows paying for purchases using modern gadgets ( smartphones and smartwatches ) , which makes the infrastructure even more convenient .
At the same time , Ukraine is still at the bottom of the ranking in terms of the number of POS terminals per 1,000 people in Europe .
`` Today , this figure is 8.4 terminals per 1,000 people .
In Europe , the average figure is 26 , that is eight times higher .
Therefore , we are focusing on the development of infrastructure , explaining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is primarily develop their business .
We have high hopes for the new business.diia platform , which will explain you how to open an account , what an entrepreneur card and cashless infrastructure mean , '' Andreieva summed up .
As UNIAN reported earlier , the number of transactions using payment cards in Ukrainian increased by 29 % in 2019 against 2018 , while their volume grew by 24 % , to UAH 3.6 trillion ( US $ 146.6 billion ) .

Almost 40% of Ukrainians have no bank accounts
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Ukraine is still at the bottom of the ranking in terms of the number of POS terminals per 1,000 people in Europe.
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unian--2020-02-28--Europa League: Shakhtar Donetsk to meet with German's Wolfsburg in Round of 16

Shakhtar Donetsk will meet German 's Wolfsburg in the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 .
According to the draw @ @ @ @ @ Nyon on February 28 , Shakhtar will play its first game away on March 12 @ @ @ @ @ will take place in Ukraine on March 19 .
At the previous stage , Shakhtar @ @ @ @ @ representative of Ukraine in the European football arena this year , beat Benfica ( 2-1 @ @ @ @

At the previous stage, Shakhtar eliminated Benfica (2-1, 3-3).
Shakhtar Donetsk will meet German's Wolfsburg in the UEFA Europa League Round of 16.
According to the draw, which took place in Nyon on February 28, Shakhtar will play its first game away on March 12, while the home game will take place in Ukraine on March 19.
At the previous stage, Shakhtar, which remained the only representative of Ukraine in the European football arena this year, beat Benfica (2-1 and 3-3).


unian--2020-02-28--E-money market in Ukraine more than doubles in 2019

The number of `` electronic wallets '' grew not so significantly , that is by 18 % , to 74 million .
The National Bank of Ukraine ( NBU ) say the total amount of electronic money issued in Ukraine in 2019 grew by almost 2.5 times , up to UAH 203 million ( US $ 8.3 million ) .
Transactions with electronic money in Ukraine over the period under review skyrocketed by more than 2.3 times , to UAH 16.7 billion ( US $ 680 million ) , according to the regulator 's infographic posted on Facebook on February @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the growing interest among market participants in this payment tool , '' the NBU said .
At the same time , the number of `` e-wallets '' grew not so significantly , that is , by 18 % , to 74 million .
Read alsoNBU strengthens official hryvnia to UAH 24.56 to U.S. dollar on Feb 28 The central bank reminds that the ceiling for e-money allowed to be stored in an unreplenishable electronic device , is UAH 4,000 ( US $ 163 ) .
At the same time , up to UAH @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be stored in a replenishable device , with transactions staying below a total of UAH 62,000 ( US $ 2,524 ) per year .
As UNIAN reported earlier , the National Bank continued to explore the possibility of issuing its own digital currency , e-hryvnia .
The regulator will be ready to implement the project after it is confident in technological readiness and the absence of threats to the country 's price and financial stability .

E-money market in Ukraine more than doubles in 2019
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The number of "electronic wallets" grew not so significantly, that is by 18%, to 74 million.
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unian--2020-02-28--Ukrainian military conduct large-scale drills to work out repelling amphibious assault on Azov Sea c

Ukrainian military conduct large-scale drills to work out repelling amphibious assault on Azov Sea coast – JFO HQ

The Ukrainian military has conducted large-scale live-fire drills titled `` Tailwind '' to work out joint efforts in repelling an amphibious assault on the coast of the Sea of Azov .
The drills were held at one of the training grounds within the Joint Forces Operation ( JFO ) zone .
A certain area of the Sea of Azov , where live fire exercises were carried out , was blocked for maritime navigation and air traffic .
`` The purpose of the exercises , which , in fact , is the main goal of the Mariupol tactical group , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repel the advanced enemy amphibious troops , force them back into the sea , and destroy them as they retreat , '' the JFO HQ said on Facebook .
Participants in the drills were military units of the Mariupol tactical group , including small armored artillery boats of the Navy , ships from the Marine Guard of the State Border Guard Service , engineering equipment of a separate regiment of operational support , as well as mechanized , tank , artillery , anti-aircraft and special units , naval infantry , crews of army @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aviation of the Air Force , as well as units of the National Guard of Ukraine .
In total , about 400 personnel , five ships and boats , 25 units of various artillery systems , including multiple launch rocket systems , 13 armored combat vehicles ( tanks , infantry fighting vehicles and various types of armored vehicles ) , two Mi-8 army helicopters and a Mi-14 naval helicopter were involved , as well as two Su-25 attack aircraft and two MiG-29 fighters .
`` Since the exercises are held in the context @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the area of the Joint Forces Operation , the situation was as close as possible to the actual projected developments , '' reads the report .

The exercise lasted two days.
The Ukrainian military has conducted large-scale live-fire drills titled "Tailwind" to work out joint efforts in repelling an amphibious assault on the coast of the Sea of Azov.
The drills were held at one of the training grounds within the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) zone. A certain area of the Sea of Azov, where live fire exercises were carried out, was blocked for maritime navigation and air traffic.
"The purpose of the exercises, which, in fact, is the main goal of the Mariupol tactical group, was to prevent landing of enemy forces and repel the advanced enemy amphibious troops, force them back into the sea, and destroy them as they retreat," the JFO HQ said on Facebook.
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Read alsoClose quarters combat training "kill house" opened for Ukrainian troops near Lviv (Video)
Participants in the drills were military units of the Mariupol tactical group, including small armored artillery boats of the Navy, ships from the Marine Guard of the State Border Guard Service, engineering equipment of a separate regiment of operational support, as well as mechanized, tank, artillery, anti-aircraft and special units, naval infantry, crews of army aviation of the Ground Forces and tactical aviation of the Air Force, as well as units of the National Guard of Ukraine.
In total, about 400 personnel, five ships and boats, 25 units of various artillery systems, including multiple launch rocket systems, 13 armored combat vehicles (tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and various types of armored vehicles), two Mi-8 army helicopters and a Mi-14 naval helicopter were involved, as well as two Su-25 attack aircraft and two MiG-29 fighters.
"Since the exercises are held in the context of countering Russian aggression and directly in the area of the Joint Forces Operation, the situation was as close as possible to the actual projected developments," reads the report.


unian--2020-02-28--Ukraine, Slovakia launch virtual gas reverse flow on March 1

So far , the Slovak GTS operator offers only a virtual gas revers capacity of 10 million cubic meters per day .
CEO of Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine ( GTSOU ) LLC Serhiy Makogon says the company will launched a virtual natural gas reverse flow from Slovakia on March 1 , 2020 , which was earlier impossible under the previous gas transit contract with Russia 's Gazprom .
`` A virtual gas reverse flow will start operating on the Ukraine-Slovakia border on March 1 .
We have been seeking and striving toward this for almost five years , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 28 .
Due to Gazprom , which was trying to limit Ukraine 's ability to import gas from the EU , the country in 2014 could not import gas via a virtual reverse system , the official said .
Thus , Ukraine had to build a new interconnector , namely the Vojany-Uzhgorod pipeline , to start gas supplies from Slovakia , which allowed it to withstand and avoid total dependence on Gazprom .
`` We needed to sign a direct agreement with the Slovak GTS operator and achieve the realization of this opportunity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] under the agreement .
Relevant changes have been made to Ukrainian legislation .
We thank the [ National Energy and Utilities Regulation Commission ] NEURC for their support !
Amendments to the Customs Code have been made as well .
But most importantly , we managed to remove Gazprom from our GMSs [ gas measuring stations ] on the country 's western borders , and now we completely control our relations with European GTS operators , '' he added .
Read alsoUkrainian lawmaker explains why Naftogaz could not be privatized However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virtual gas reverse flow capacity of 10 million cubic meters per day , while the company is seeking to have the capacity equal the full volume of gas transit from Ukraine to Slovakia .
According to Makogon , a virtual natural gas reverse flow from Hungary will also be launched soon .
The virtual reverse system significantly expands the possibilities for gas supplies from Ukraine to the EU , which significantly enhances the country 's energy security .
As UNIAN reported earlier , the Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine launched a virtual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ late January 2020 .
Ukraine in 2019 boosted natural gas imports by 34.4 % , or by 3.65 billion cubic meters ( bcm ) , up to 14.25 bcm .
In particular , 9.15 bcm of gas was imported via the Slovak gas transport corridor , while 1.4 bcm and 3.67 bcm was shipped from Poland and Hungary , respectively .

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So far, the Slovak GTS operator offers only a virtual gas revers capacity of 10 million cubic meters per day.
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unian--2020-02-28--U.S. needs to declare war on proxies like "DPR" and "LPR" – media

The most important takeaway from the killing of Qassem Suleimani does n't just have to do with Iran .
There has been no shortage of debate about the killing of Iranian military commander Qassem Suleimani and its effects on U.S. foreign policy toward Iran and the broader Middle East .
Not nearly enough has been said about whether it can broadly serve as a model for dealing with the problems posed by proxy forces elsewhere in the world .
By killing Suleimani , the United States indicated it would no longer tolerate Iran ’ s use of proxies to circumvent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other acts of terrorism and mass bloodshed .
Washington decided to deal with the source of the terrorism , not its emissaries .
The same principle should apply to the many proxy regimes established by various states , Russia most prominently , to circumvent responsibility for illegal military occupations , Svante Cornell , director of the American Foreign Policy Council ’ s Central Asia-Caucasus Institute , and Brenda Shaffer , a visiting researcher at Georgetown University , wrote for Foreign Policy .
Countries around the world are increasingly realizing that the most convenient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set up a proxy with the ceremonial trappings of a state , including governments , parliaments , and flags .
Why go through all that trouble ?
Because the norms of the liberal international order , which outlaw changing boundaries by force , risk leading to sanctions for the perpetrator state .
Creating a proxy regime generates a convenient falsehood that obfuscates reality and helps states evade such consequences .
The most systematic user of this tactic is Russia .
Since the early 1990s , it has manipulated ethnic conflicts in three different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entities over which it exerts control .
Moscow 's practice began in Moldova 's Transnistria region and in two breakaway territories of Georgia , Abkhazia and South Ossetia .
Following Vladimir Putin ’ s consolidation of power in the early 2000s , the Kremlin 's control of these territories became tighter .
Putin appointed Russian military and security officials to ministerial positions in the governing structures of these territories , indicating their direct subordination to Russia .
Following its 2008 war with Georgia , Russia established permanent military bases in Abkhazia and South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the two territories .
This allowed Moscow to create a fictive legal basis for its military presence , based on so-called interstate agreements it signed with its proxies .
But until the 2008 war , the United States and European Union treated Russia like an arbiter in these conflicts , long after it was clear it was in fact a party to them .
Twice a year , for example , Western powers approved extensions to the UN monitoring mission in the Abkhazia conflict that included overt praise for a Russian `` peacekeeping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Moscow 's effort to shore up Abkhazia 's separation from Georgia .
Even today , only rarely do Western powers refer to these lands as what they are : occupied territories .
Moscow 's tactic proved so successful in undermining the statehood of Georgia and Moldova that the Kremlin decided to use the same tactic in eastern Ukraine .
And it worked : Contrast the international reaction to any of these conflicts with Moscow 's invasion of Crimea .
Unlike these other cases , Moscow annexed Crimea outright , thereby accepting responsibility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serious sanctions that remain in force to this day .
But where Moscow hid behind the fiction of a `` Donetsk People 's Republic , '' which it created from thin air , it has largely escaped those consequences .
Read alsoCBS News : MH17 prosecutor says Russians `` have n't been helpful at all '' The danger of the use of proxies is that its effectiveness has made it increasingly popular .
When weighing options in Ukraine in 2014 and onward , Putin no doubt operated on the basis of the Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up proxies in eastern Ukraine would achieve the goal of undermining Ukraine and blocking its move toward NATO while carrying few costs for Russia .
While Putin may have underestimated the tenacity of the U.S.-led sanctions regime , his calculation was essentially correct .
Thus , because the West tolerated the proxy fiction in small states like Georgia and Moldova , it now has to deal with a threat to a much larger European state .
If that works , the strategy will be used elsewhere , too .
The proxy fiction by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the proxies facilitate illicit activity .
With no state formally acknowledging its control and therefore responsibility for activity in the proxy regimes , these regions have become centers of human trafficking , money laundering , and counterfeit goods production .
They are also likely locations of sanctions violations , for Russia and for Iran .
Read alsoUkraine says no justification for ex vice-governor of Irkutsk region to `` head '' occupied Donbas In the Middle East , the Trump administration understood that Iran 's use of proxies was helping it undermine U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states in its neighborhood .
It is now working to put an end to this subterfuge .
The time has now come for Washington to take steps to call the bluff in Eurasia as well and stop effectively rewarding the use of proxies that undermine conflict resolution efforts and the stability of key U.S. partners .

The most important takeaway from the killing of Qassem Suleimani doesn't just have to do with Iran.
There has been no shortage of debate about the killing of Iranian military commander Qassem Suleimani and its effects on U.S. foreign policy toward Iran and the broader Middle East. Not nearly enough has been said about whether it can broadly serve as a model for dealing with the problems posed by proxy forces elsewhere in the world.
By killing Suleimani, the United States indicated it would no longer tolerate Iran’s use of proxies to circumvent its responsibility for killing Americans and for other acts of terrorism and mass bloodshed. Washington decided to deal with the source of the terrorism, not its emissaries. The same principle should apply to the many proxy regimes established by various states, Russia most prominently, to circumvent responsibility for illegal military occupations, Svante Cornell, director of the American Foreign Policy Council’s Central Asia-Caucasus Institute, and Brenda Shaffer, a visiting researcher at Georgetown University, wrote for Foreign Policy.
Countries around the world are increasingly realizing that the most convenient way to occupy foreign territories is to set up a proxy with the ceremonial trappings of a state, including governments, parliaments, and flags. Why go through all that trouble? Because the norms of the liberal international order, which outlaw changing boundaries by force, risk leading to sanctions for the perpetrator state. Creating a proxy regime generates a convenient falsehood that obfuscates reality and helps states evade such consequences.
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The most systematic user of this tactic is Russia. Since the early 1990s, it has manipulated ethnic conflicts in three different states and helped set up nominally independent entities over which it exerts control. Moscow's practice began in Moldova's Transnistria region and in two breakaway territories of Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Following Vladimir Putin’s consolidation of power in the early 2000s, the Kremlin's control of these territories became tighter. Putin appointed Russian military and security officials to ministerial positions in the governing structures of these territories, indicating their direct subordination to Russia. Following its 2008 war with Georgia, Russia established permanent military bases in Abkhazia and South Ossetia and formally recognized the independence of the two territories. This allowed Moscow to create a fictive legal basis for its military presence, based on so-called interstate agreements it signed with its proxies.
But until the 2008 war, the United States and European Union treated Russia like an arbiter in these conflicts, long after it was clear it was in fact a party to them. Twice a year, for example, Western powers approved extensions to the UN monitoring mission in the Abkhazia conflict that included overt praise for a Russian "peacekeeping" force that in fact was part of Moscow's effort to shore up Abkhazia's separation from Georgia. Even today, only rarely do Western powers refer to these lands as what they are: occupied territories.
Moscow's tactic proved so successful in undermining the statehood of Georgia and Moldova that the Kremlin decided to use the same tactic in eastern Ukraine. And it worked: Contrast the international reaction to any of these conflicts with Moscow's invasion of Crimea. Unlike these other cases, Moscow annexed Crimea outright, thereby accepting responsibility for its actions. This led to serious sanctions that remain in force to this day. But where Moscow hid behind the fiction of a "Donetsk People's Republic," which it created from thin air, it has largely escaped those consequences.
Read alsoCBS News: MH17 prosecutor says Russians "haven't been helpful at all"
The danger of the use of proxies is that its effectiveness has made it increasingly popular. When weighing options in Ukraine in 2014 and onward, Putin no doubt operated on the basis of the Russian experience in Georgia and Moldova: Setting up proxies in eastern Ukraine would achieve the goal of undermining Ukraine and blocking its move toward NATO while carrying few costs for Russia. While Putin may have underestimated the tenacity of the U.S.-led sanctions regime, his calculation was essentially correct. Thus, because the West tolerated the proxy fiction in small states like Georgia and Moldova, it now has to deal with a threat to a much larger European state. If that works, the strategy will be used elsewhere, too.
The proxy fiction by design makes conflict resolution impossible. Also, the proxies facilitate illicit activity. With no state formally acknowledging its control and therefore responsibility for activity in the proxy regimes, these regions have become centers of human trafficking, money laundering, and counterfeit goods production. They are also likely locations of sanctions violations, for Russia and for Iran.
Read alsoUkraine says no justification for ex vice-governor of Irkutsk region to "head" occupied Donbas
In the Middle East, the Trump administration understood that Iran's use of proxies was helping it undermine U.S. interests and the stability of a half-dozen states in its neighborhood. It is now working to put an end to this subterfuge. The time has now come for Washington to take steps to call the bluff in Eurasia as well and stop effectively rewarding the use of proxies that undermine conflict resolution efforts and the stability of key U.S. partners.


unian--2020-02-28--Ukrainian woman under observation in Kyiv hospital after arriving from Italy with fever

No confirmation of coronavirus infection has followed so far .
On February 27 , a Ukrainian woman was hospitalized in Ukraine 's capital , Kyiv , immediately after arriving at Boryspil International Airport from Italy .
Ukrainian border guards during a temperature check recorded that the woman had fever before transferring her to one of Kyiv 's medical institutions as part of enhanced control measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection into Ukraine .
Press secretary of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine , Andriy Demchenko , told UNIAN that about 160,000 people crossing into Ukraine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the launch of enhanced border control measures .
Read alsoUkraine not going to evacuate its citizens from Italy yet – MFA As UNIAN reported earlier , the Chinese authorities reported an outbreak of pneumonia of unknown origin in Wuhan late in December 2019 .
The causative agent of the disease was a new type of coronavirus , COVID-19 .
The virus is transmitted from person to person , with the incubation period lasting at least two weeks .
On January 30 , the World Health Organization declared an international emergency over the spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @

No confirmation of coronavirus infection has followed so far.
On February 27, a Ukrainian woman was hospitalized in Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, immediately after arriving at Boryspil International Airport from Italy.
Ukrainian border guards during a temperature check recorded that the woman had fever before transferring her to one of Kyiv's medical institutions as part of enhanced control measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection into Ukraine.
Press secretary of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, Andriy Demchenko, told UNIAN that about 160,000 people crossing into Ukraine have been subjected to temperature screening since the launch of enhanced border control measures.
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Read alsoUkraine not going to evacuate its citizens from Italy yet – MFA
As UNIAN reported earlier, the Chinese authorities reported an outbreak of pneumonia of unknown origin in Wuhan late in December 2019.
The causative agent of the disease was a new type of coronavirus, COVID-19. The virus is transmitted from person to person, with the incubation period lasting at least two weeks.
On January 30, the World Health Organization declared an international emergency over the spread of the novel coronavirus from China.


unian--2020-02-28--Rada comes up with final version of national referendum bill

The text will be submitted for public discussion in the near future .
First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada @ @ @ @ @ Ruslan Stefanchuk says deputies have finalized the text of the bill on national referendum .
@ @ @ @ @ public discussion in the near future , he wrote on Facebook .
Also , the @ @ @ @ @ professional examination by `` leading international organizations in the field of the rule of the @ @ @ @ @ .
Read alsoBill on national referendum to be analyzed by foreign experts – MP Stefanchuk @ @ @ @ @ on February 17 , Stefanchuk said Parliament had drafted the final version of the bill @ @ @ @ @ On February 25 , he said the bill would be analyzed by foreign experts .

The text will be submitted for public discussion in the near future.
First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, Ruslan Stefanchuk says deputies have finalized the text of the bill on national referendum.
It will be submitted for public discussion in the near future, he wrote on Facebook.
Also, the text will be subject to professional examination by "leading international organizations in the field of the rule of the people," Stefanchuk added.
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Read alsoBill on national referendum to be analyzed by foreign experts – MP Stefanchuk
As UNIAN reported earlier, on February 17, Stefanchuk said Parliament had drafted the final version of the bill on an all-Ukrainian referendum. On February 25, he said the bill would be analyzed by foreign experts.


unian--2020-02-28--Ukraine condemns Assad, Russia's air raid on Turkish positions in Syria

Ukraine also expresses sincere condolences to the Turkish side , which has lost its military .
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine declares condemnation of the actions of the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the Russian Federation , which supports him , after an air attack on the positions of the Turkish military .
`` Ukraine is deeply concerned about the significant escalation of the situation in Idlib and condemns the actions of Bashar al-Assad 's regime and the Russian Federation , which supports it and renders it all possible assistance , as a result of which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on February 28 , 2020 .
Also , Ukraine has expressed sincere condolences to the Turkish side , whose troops were killed .
In addition , in solidarity with NATO and the international community , Ukraine has called for an immediate cessation of violence and the implementation of previously reached agreements to resolve the Syrian issue .
`` People 's suffering must be stopped and another humanitarian catastrophe in Syria prevented , '' the ministry added .
As UNIAN reported earlier , at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an air raid by Syrian government forces in the northwestern Idlib province , the governor in the southeastern province of Hatay said early on Friday , further raising the death toll , while also threatening an escalation and another refugee crisis .

Ukraine also expresses sincere condolences to the Turkish side, which has lost its military.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine declares condemnation of the actions of the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the Russian Federation, which supports him, after an air attack on the positions of the Turkish military.
"Ukraine is deeply concerned about the significant escalation of the situation in Idlib and condemns the actions of Bashar al-Assad's regime and the Russian Federation, which supports it and renders it all possible assistance, as a result of which both military and civilians are getting killed," the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on February 28, 2020.
Also, Ukraine has expressed sincere condolences to the Turkish side, whose troops were killed.
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Read alsoIn retaliation move, Turkey bombs Assad's forces in Idlib overnight Friday (Photo, video)
In addition, in solidarity with NATO and the international community, Ukraine has called for an immediate cessation of violence and the implementation of previously reached agreements to resolve the Syrian issue.
"People's suffering must be stopped and another humanitarian catastrophe in Syria prevented," the ministry added.
As UNIAN reported earlier, at least 33 Turkish soldiers were killed in an air raid by Syrian government forces in the northwestern Idlib province, the governor in the southeastern province of Hatay said early on Friday, further raising the death toll, while also threatening an escalation and another refugee crisis.


unian--2020-02-28--Court blocks accounts of Ukraine's public broadcaster over inherited debt

UA : PBC says coverage of the Olympics and Eurovision 2020 participation is now at limbo .
National Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine ( UA : PBC ) says its accounts have been blocked by decisions of the Ukrainian Justice Ministry of February 18 and February 6 , 2020 .
On February 18 , the Justice Ministry opened an enforcement proceeding to recover from the UA : PBC a debt in the amount of EUR 10.591.224,48 and UAH 73,080 ( EUR 2,442 ) in court fees in favor of JSC Euronews , UA : PBC wrote on Fecebook on February @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Television Company of Ukraine ( UA : PBC 's predecessor ) and Euronews began in 2010 .
Subsequently , the allocation of budgetary funds was suspended for royalty payments under the agreement on setting up the Ukrainian-language version of Euronews , which led to debt accumulation and a relevant lawsuit being filed .
UA : PBC inherited the debt as an assignee of all rights and obligations of the State National Television Company , which had ceased its operations .
Now the freeze of accounts has made it impossible to prepare for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is blocking Ukraine 's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 , and hindering the launch of new projects .
The move will also lead to a complete halt to company activities – both in Kyiv and Ukraine 's regions .
`` Hence , all funds received from the budget will be immediately transferred from the accounts of National Public Broadcasting Company to Euronews .
As a result , the Public Broadcaster will fail to receive almost UAH 300 million [ US $ 12.2 million ] from funds earmarked by the 2020 national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan will be disrupted , '' reads the statement .
UA : PBC has appealed and continues to address the relevant ministries to initiate allocation of funds from the national budget to urgently repay the debts of the previous broadcaster , as well as EUR 1.6 million in court fees , which the broadcaster is also obliged to pay off .

UA:PBC says coverage of the Olympics and Eurovision 2020 participation is now at limbo.
National Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine (UA:PBC) says its accounts have been blocked by decisions of the Ukrainian Justice Ministry of February 18 and February 6, 2020.
On February 18, the Justice Ministry opened an enforcement proceeding to recover from the UA:PBC a debt in the amount of EUR 10.591.224,48 and UAH 73,080 (EUR 2,442) in court fees in favor of JSC Euronews, UA:PBC wrote on Fecebook on February 28.
Cooperation between the State National Television Company of Ukraine (UA:PBC's predecessor) and Euronews began in 2010. Subsequently, the allocation of budgetary funds was suspended for royalty payments under the agreement on setting up the Ukrainian-language version of Euronews, which led to debt accumulation and a relevant lawsuit being filed.
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UA:PBC inherited the debt as an assignee of all rights and obligations of the State National Television Company, which had ceased its operations.
Read alsoGo_A wins national selection to represent Ukraine at Eurovision 2020 (Video)
Now the freeze of accounts has made it impossible to prepare for the coverage of the 2020 Olympic Games, is blocking Ukraine's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020, and hindering the launch of new projects.
The move will also lead to a complete halt to company activities – both in Kyiv and Ukraine's regions.
"Hence, all funds received from the budget will be immediately transferred from the accounts of National Public Broadcasting Company to Euronews. As a result, the Public Broadcaster will fail to receive almost UAH 300 million [US$12.2 million] from funds earmarked by the 2020 national budget, therefore the broadcaster's annual plan will be disrupted," reads the statement.
UA:PBC has appealed and continues to address the relevant ministries to initiate allocation of funds from the national budget to urgently repay the debts of the previous broadcaster, as well as EUR 1.6 million in court fees, which the broadcaster is also obliged to pay off.


unian--2020-02-28--Turkey says will not stop Syrian refugees reaching Europe after troops killed – Reuters

Some one million civilians have been displaced near the Turkish border since December as Russia-backed Syrian government forces seized territory from Turkey-backed Syrian rebels .
Turkey will no longer stop Syrian refugees from reaching Europe , a senior Turkish official said , as Ankara responded on Friday to the killing of 33 Turkish soldiers in an airstrike by Syrian government forces in Syria 's northwestern Idlib region .
President Tayyip Erdogan chaired an emergency meeting on the attack in Ankara overnight , while Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and Turkish force commanders directed operations in Syria at the Turkish border , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reports .
Turkey has sent thousands of troops and heavy military hardware into Syria and Erdogan has warned that Turkey would launch a full-scale offensive to repel Syrian forces unless they pulled back from Turkish observation posts in the region .
Turkey 's communications director , Fahrettin Altun , said that in retaliation , `` all known '' Syrian government targets were being fired on by Turkish air and land support units .
Some one million civilians have been displaced near the Turkish border since December as Russia-backed Syrian government forces seized territory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worst humanitarian crisis in the nine-year war .
In anticipation of the imminent arrival of refugees from Idlib , Turkish police , coastguard and border security officials have been ordered to stand down on refugees ' land and sea crossings , the Turkish official told Reuters .
`` We have decided , effectively immediately , not to stop Syrian refugees from reaching Europe by land or sea , '' said the official , who requested anonymity .
`` All refugees , including Syrians , are now welcome to cross into the European Union @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way for refugees to Europe would , if executed , reverse a pledge Turkey made to the European Union in 2016 and could quickly draw Western powers into the standoff over Idlib and stalled negotiations between Ankara and Moscow .
The burden of hosting refugees `` is too heavy for any single country to carry '' , the official said .
Turkey hosts some 3.7 million Syrian refugees and has repeated it can not handle more .
Under the 2016 deal , the European Union has provided billions of euros in aid in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ influx of migrants into Europe .

Some one million civilians have been displaced near the Turkish border since December as Russia-backed Syrian government forces seized territory from Turkey-backed Syrian rebels.
Turkey will no longer stop Syrian refugees from reaching Europe, a senior Turkish official said, as Ankara responded on Friday to the killing of 33 Turkish soldiers in an airstrike by Syrian government forces in Syria's northwestern Idlib region.
President Tayyip Erdogan chaired an emergency meeting on the attack in Ankara overnight, while Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and Turkish force commanders directed operations in Syria at the Turkish border, state-owned Anadolu news agency said, Reuters reports.
Turkey has sent thousands of troops and heavy military hardware into Syria and Erdogan has warned that Turkey would launch a full-scale offensive to repel Syrian forces unless they pulled back from Turkish observation posts in the region.
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Read alsoIn retaliation move, Turkey bombs Assad's forces in Idlib overnight Friday (Photo, video)
Turkey's communications director, Fahrettin Altun, said that in retaliation, "all known" Syrian government targets were being fired on by Turkish air and land support units.
Some one million civilians have been displaced near the Turkish border since December as Russia-backed Syrian government forces seized territory from Turkey-backed Syrian rebels, marking the worst humanitarian crisis in the nine-year war.
In anticipation of the imminent arrival of refugees from Idlib, Turkish police, coastguard and border security officials have been ordered to stand down on refugees' land and sea crossings, the Turkish official told Reuters.
"We have decided, effectively immediately, not to stop Syrian refugees from reaching Europe by land or sea," said the official, who requested anonymity.
"All refugees, including Syrians, are now welcome to cross into the European Union."
The threat to open the way for refugees to Europe would, if executed, reverse a pledge Turkey made to the European Union in 2016 and could quickly draw Western powers into the standoff over Idlib and stalled negotiations between Ankara and Moscow.
The burden of hosting refugees "is too heavy for any single country to carry", the official said.
Turkey hosts some 3.7 million Syrian refugees and has repeated it cannot handle more. Under the 2016 deal, the European Union has provided billions of euros in aid in return for Ankara agreeing to stem the influx of migrants into Europe.


unian--2020-02-28--Ukrainian prosecutors say luxury cars stolen in EU sold in Ukraine

Prosecutors have pressed charges against six individuals for creating a criminal organization and illegal possession of motor vehicles .
The Prosecutor General 's Office of Ukraine is verifying reports of the involvement of law enforcement officials in the unlawful actions by individuals who had been exposed selling across Ukraine luxury cars stolen in the European Union .
`` According to investigators , participants in the criminal organization executed leasing agreements on elite-class cars to themselves , as well as front persons .
Among such persons were representatives of private Ukrainian firms and foreign entrepreneurs from the European Union member states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Netherlands , Czech Republic , and others ) , '' the Prosecutor General 's Office said on February 26 .
`` The said persons , possibly with the help of corrupt accomplices in law enforcement , would clear vehicles at customs and register them with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine to receive registration and plates .
Subsequently , the vehicles would be sold .
The perpetrators have fooled dozens of foreign organizations since 2017 .
Having failed to receive lease payments , these organizations notified law enforcement to have their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There are 56 cases where the scheme was applied , which inflicted in EUR 4 million in losses , '' the report said .
Six individuals were notified of suspicion of creating a criminal organization and illegal possession of vehicles ( Part 1 of Article 255 , Part 4 of Article 28 , and Part 3 of Article 289 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine ) .
As part of the criminal investigation , more than 80 warranted searches were conducted in the cities of Kyiv and Lviv , as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zhytomyr , Zakarpattia , Lviv , Kyiv , Odesa , Rivne , and Kherson regions .
During raids , law enforcers seized paperwork , bank cards , 10 elite-class cars , a large number of license plates , cash , weapons , ammunition and drugs .
In addition , they seized several passports and driver 's licenses of other states , obviously with fake personal data .
`` Now the involvement of law enforcers who could be accomplices of the exposed group is being verified .
An investigation is under way , '' @ @ @ @

Prosecutors have pressed charges against six individuals for creating a criminal organization and illegal possession of motor vehicles.
The Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine is verifying reports of the involvement of law enforcement officials in the unlawful actions by individuals who had been exposed selling across Ukraine luxury cars stolen in the European Union.
"According to investigators, participants in the criminal organization executed leasing agreements on elite-class cars to themselves, as well as front persons. Among such persons were representatives of private Ukrainian firms and foreign entrepreneurs from the European Union member states (Republic of Poland, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Czech Republic, and others)," the Prosecutor General's Office said on February 26.
"The said persons, possibly with the help of corrupt accomplices in law enforcement, would clear vehicles at customs and register them with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine to receive registration and plates. Subsequently, the vehicles would be sold. The perpetrators have fooled dozens of foreign organizations since 2017. Having failed to receive lease payments, these organizations notified law enforcement to have their cars put on the international wanted list. There are 56 cases where the scheme was applied, which inflicted in EUR 4 million in losses," the report said.
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Read alsoIn Ukraine, cyberpolice operative demanded bribe in cryptocurrency
Six individuals were notified of suspicion of creating a criminal organization and illegal possession of vehicles (Part 1 of Article 255, Part 4 of Article 28, and Part 3 of Article 289 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
As part of the criminal investigation, more than 80 warranted searches were conducted in the cities of Kyiv and Lviv, as well as in Vinnytsia, Volyn, Dnipropetrovsk, Zhytomyr, Zakarpattia, Lviv, Kyiv, Odesa, Rivne, and Kherson regions.
During raids, law enforcers seized paperwork, bank cards, 10 elite-class cars, a large number of license plates, cash, weapons, ammunition and drugs. In addition, they seized several passports and driver's licenses of other states, obviously with fake personal data.
"Now the involvement of law enforcers who could be accomplices of the exposed group is being verified. An investigation is under way," reads the statement.


unian--2020-02-28--Any unemployed Ukrainians to be able to get over US$3,500 to start own business

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Any unemployed Ukrainians to be able to get over US$3,500 to start own business
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Moreover, they will not have to repay the funds.
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unian--2020-02-28--Ukraine opens probe against Biden over "pressure" on ex-prosecutor general – lawyer

The SBI in its public documents stopped short of naming a U.S. citizen targeted in the probe .
Ukraine 's State Bureau of Investigation has launched a proceeding into a U.S. citizen in connection with the alleged pressure on ex-prosecutor general of Ukraine Viktor Shokin .
The case targets former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden , claims Shokin 's lawyer , Oleksandr Teleshetskyi , according to TSN .
The lawyer says the Pechersk District Court in Kyiv has obliged the SBI to register the relevant criminal proceeding .
However , SBI in its public documents stopped short of naming a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Bureau only confirms the very fact of such investigation being launched .
As UNIAN reported earlier , former U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden has said that Ukrainian leaders sacked former Ukrainian Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin only after he had threatened them on behalf of the then-U.S. president , Barack Obama , to back off from providing a billion-dollar loan guarantee .
Viktor Shokin believes that he 's lost his post precisely due to the pressure of a senior U.S. official .
Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry confirmed that the Obama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the then-prosecutor general of Ukraine , Viktor Shokin .
`` All of us in the Administration were trying to get rid of that prosecutor .
From Obama to the secretary of state , to the vice president – all of us were working on that – the ambassador… '' Kerry said , according to the Voice of America .
`` We knew if Ukraine was going to survive , win the Revolution in the end , and the Maidan , they had to get rid of that prosecutor .
And they did @ @ @ @ @

The SBI in its public documents stopped short of naming a U.S. citizen targeted in the probe.
Ukraine's State Bureau of Investigation has launched a proceeding into a U.S. citizen in connection with the alleged pressure on ex-prosecutor general of Ukraine Viktor Shokin.
The case targets former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, claims Shokin's lawyer, Oleksandr Teleshetskyi, according to TSN.
The lawyer says the Pechersk District Court in Kyiv has obliged the SBI to register the relevant criminal proceeding.
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However, SBI in its public documents stopped short of naming a U.S. citizen targeted in the probe. The Bureau only confirms the very fact of such investigation being launched.
Read alsoCNN: Trump contradicts past denials, admits sending Giuliani to Ukraine
As UNIAN reported earlier, former U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden has said that Ukrainian leaders sacked former Ukrainian Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin only after he had threatened them on behalf of the then-U.S. president, Barack Obama, to back off from providing a billion-dollar loan guarantee.
Viktor Shokin believes that he's lost his post precisely due to the pressure of a senior U.S. official.
Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry confirmed that the Obama Administration had been working on the dismissal of the then-prosecutor general of Ukraine, Viktor Shokin.
"All of us in the Administration were trying to get rid of that prosecutor. From Obama to the secretary of state, to the vice president – all of us were working on that – the ambassador…" Kerry said, according to the Voice of America.
"We knew if Ukraine was going to survive, win the Revolution in the end, and the Maidan, they had to get rid of that prosecutor. And they did," Kerry said.