Russia holds no discussions with US over criteria of ending sanctions, diplomat says

The diplomat said practical preparations are under way for a meeting between Putin and Trump.

MOSCOW, February 28. /TASS/. In its contacts with Washington Moscow has not discussed and does not discuss the criteria of the lifting of sanctions, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said at a round-table conference in the State Duma devoted to Russian-US relations on Tuesday.

"We have not discussed the criteria of the lifting of sanctions and we do not discuss them," he said.

"True, restrictions in a number of spheres are a hindrance to us, but to no greater extent than they are a hindrance to US export US President Donald Trump has vowed to promote."

"To a certain extent Russia has managed to use the situation to its own advantage to develop its own industries through the process of gradual import substitution," he explained. "It is up to Washington to decide, although by and large it is clear that mutually beneficial economic cooperation would be far easier to develop without restrictions. Also, without the climate of confrontation the restrictions breed it would be far easier to conduct a dialogue and address such intricate issues as the conflict in Syria," Ryabkov said.

Putin-Trump meeting

No understanding has been reached yet on the date and the place of a meeting between Russian and US Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump but practical preparations are under way, Ryabkov said.

"There is no understanding yet on the date and the place of holding such a meeting but practical preparations for it have been launched and there is mutual understanding with the US side on this score," the diplomat said at a roundtable discussion in the lower house of Russia’s parliament on Russian-US relations.

Fight against terrorism

Russia is ready to cooperate with the US in the fight against terrorists in Syria but obstacles built by Barack Obama hamper cooperation, Ryabkov said.

"The new US administration seems to understand the situation. Obviously, the main problem in Syria is not (President Bashar) al-Assad but international terrorism, which has turned the country into its stronghold," the Russian diplomat said.

"It is important that the new US administration confirms, particularly during its contacts with us, that it is ready to fight terrorists until they are defeated," Ryabkov added. "We are ready, too, but cooperation is hampered by another obstacle left by Obama, who imposed restrictions on the full-fledged military interaction."

Source: ITAR-TASS 28-02-2017

Donetsk water purification station recaptured from Ukrainian radicals

The water purification plant is located between Avdeyevka and Yasinovataya.

DONETSK, February 26. /TASS/. Militants of the Ukrainian radical nationalistic units retreated from territory of the Donetsk water purification plant, which they captured a day earlier to correct fire on territories of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), the republic’s spokesman Eduard Basurin told the Donetsk News Agency on Sunday.

"Ukraine’s military authorities did manage to push out the radical nationalists from territory of the Donetsk water purification station, however, the enemy continued enforcing the dugouts near the plant," he said.

The Ukrainian side, he continued, has not given any security guarantees for repairing of the electric lines near the plant.

On Saturday, the Donetsk water purification plant stopped operating and its personnel was evacuated after shelling from positions of the Ukrainian military, the Donetsk News Agency said. On February 23, the plant also reported shelling from positions of the Ukrainian military.

The water purification plant is located between Avdeyevka and Yasinovataya. The plant supplies water to settlements on either side of the front line, including Donetsk, Yasinovataya, Vasilyevka and Spartak controlled by the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), and Avdeyevka, Krasnogorovka and Verkhnetoretskoye controlled by Kiev. In the course of the continuing armed conflict, the plant has been under shelling many times already.

In late January, the situation along the line of contact in Donbass deteriorated, the number of shelling attacks dramatically increased. The number of destroyed buildings has been growing, there have been reports of civilian deaths.

On February 1, members the Contact Group on settling the conflict in eastern Ukraine held a meeting in the Belarusian capital of Minsk, demanding that hostilities in Donbass be stopped, weapons and military hardware be withdrawn from the line of contact area by February 5. However, the Ukrainian military has not implemented the decisions of the Contact Group.

On February 15, the Contact Group made a decision that all weapons banned by the Minsk agreements should be withdrawn from the line of contact by February 20. Foreign ministers of the four member states of the Normandy Quartet (Russia, France, Germany and Ukraine) upheld this initiative at a meeting held on February 18. However, on February 21, Kiev disrupted the weapons withdrawal process.

Source: ITAR-TASS 27-02-2017

Contact Group on Donbass settlement urges to ensure ceasefire in area - Olifer

According to press secretary, the disruption of the Donetsk water purification plant is "the result of ceasefire violations."

KIEV, February 25. /TASS/. The Contact Group on the settlement in eastern Ukraine has urged the Donbass areas not controlled by Kiev to ensure the ceasefire in order to restore the Donetsk water purification plant, press secretary of Kiev’s envoy to the Minsk talks Darya Olifer wrote on her Facebook page.

"The trilateral Contact Group has urged particular regions of the Donetsk Region to ensure the ceasefire is enforced is order to carry out repair. The trilateral Contact Group has urged particular regions of the Donetsk Region to investigate accidents related to shelling attacks on an unarmed patrol of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) and at attack on a combat drone of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission," Olifer wrote.

According to press secretary, the disruption of the Donetsk water purification plant is "the result of ceasefire violations."

The Contact Group has confirmed the obligations assumed at the meeting on February 15, 2017 in Minsk, she added.

Earlier Eduard Basurin, defense spokesman of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), said that militants from Ukrainian nationalist armed units had captured facilities of the Donetsk water purification plant in early hours of Saturday.

The water purification plant is located between Avdeyevka and Yasinovataya. The plant supplies water to settlements on either side of the front line, including Donetsk, Yasinovataya, Vasilyevka and Spartak controlled by the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), and Avdeyevka, Krasnogorovka and Verkhnetoretskoye controlled by Kiev.

On February 1, members the Contact Group on settling the conflict in eastern Ukraine held a meeting in the Belarusian capital of Minsk, demanding that hostilities in Donbass be stopped, weapons and military hardware be withdrawn from the line of contact area by February 5. However, the Ukrainian military has not implemented the decisions of the Contact Group.

On February 15, the Contact Group made a decision that all weapons banned by the Minsk agreements should be withdrawn from the line of contact by February 20. Foreign ministers of the four member states of the Normandy Quartet (Russia, France, Germany and Ukraine) upheld this initiative at a meeting held on February 18.

Source: ITAR-TASS 26-02-2017

Kiev’s military launch more than 430 shells, mines on DPR - news agency

DONETSK, February 25. /TASS/. The Ukrainian military on Friday evening and during night to Saturday launched 435 mines, tank and artillery shells on DPR, the republic reported on Saturday.

"Between 18:00 and 02:00, the Ukrainian side launched 435 tank shells, artillery shells of 122 and 152mm and mines of 82 and 120mm on settlements along the line of engagement in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR)," the Donetsk News Agency quoted the source.

Under fire from positions of the Ukrainian military were the Donetsk airport, the Volvo Center, Trudovskiye, Alexandrovka, Staromikhailovka, Zaitsevo, Ozeryanskaya, Golmovsky, Mikhailovka, Zhabichevo, Spartak, Krutaya Balka, Vasilyevka, Veseloye, Sosnovskoye, Sakhanka, Kominternovo, Leninskoye, Oktyabr, Bezymennoye, Yasinovataya’s industrial area, Dokuchayevsk and Debaltsevo’s suburbs. Along with heavy weapons, the military used weapons of infantry fighting vehicles, various types of grenade launchers, automatic guns and small arms.

In late January, the situation along the line of contact in Donbass deteriorated, the number of shelling attacks dramatically increased. The number of destroyed buildings has been growing, there have been reports of civilian deaths.

On February 1, members the Contact Group on settling the conflict in eastern Ukraine held a meeting in the Belarusian capital of Minsk, demanding that hostilities in Donbass be stopped, weapons and military hardware be withdrawn from the line of contact area by February 5. However, the Ukrainian military have not implemented the decisions of the Contact Group.

On February 15, the Contact Group made a decision that all weapons banned by the Minsk agreements should be withdrawn from the line of contact by February 20. Foreign ministers of the four member states of the Normandy Quartet (Russia, France, Germany and Ukraine) upheld this initiative at a meeting held on February 18.

However, on February 21, Kiev disrupted the weapons withdrawal process.

Source: ITAR-TASS 25-02-2017

Ukrainian military shell Donetsk water purification plant

The Ukrainian military over the past 24 hours eleven times opened fire on the militia’s positions in the self-proclaimed LPR, the republic’s defense authority added on Thursday.

DONETSK, February 23. /TASS/. The Ukrainian military shelled on Thursday morning the Donetsk water purification plant, causing damage of filters building there, the plant’s Director General Oleg Mokryi said.

"Shelling of the area near the plant began at seven-thirty in the morning," he said. "About that time, first shells hit the plant: the roof is damaged, the filters are safe," the Donetsk News Agency quoted him.

The water purification plant continues working, he added.

"The personnel were in panic, people rushed to the bomb shelter," he continued. "We are trying to calm them down now, and to resume, if possible, regular work."

On February 18, the water purification plant was cut of electricity after shelling, and only in two days the repairing was over.

The purification station supplies water to settlements on either side of the front line, including Donetsk, Yasinovataya, Vasilyevka and Spartak controlled by the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), and Avdeyevka, Kranogorovka and Verkhnetoretskoye controlled by Kiev.

In late January, the situation along the line of contact in Donbass deteriorated, the number of shelling attacks dramatically increased. The number of destroyed buildings has been growing, there have been reports of civilian deaths.

Ukrainian military 11 times violate ceasefire

The Ukrainian military over the past 24 hours eleven times opened fire on the militia’s positions in the self-proclaimed Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR), the republic’s defense authority said on Tursday.

"Kalinovo was shelled five times from 120 and 82mm mortars, weapons of IFVs, grenade launchers, and positions in Kalinovka were shelled three times from Luganskoye," LuganskInformCenter quoted the defense authority.

The Ukrainian military also shelled positions in Lozovoye and in Logvinovo, the source added.

In late January, the situation along the line of contact in Donbass deteriorated, the number of shelling attacks dramatically increased. The number of destroyed buildings has been growing, there have been reports of civilian deaths.

On February 1, members the Contact Group on settling the conflict in eastern Ukraine held a meeting in the Belarusian capital of Minsk, demanding that hostilities in Donbass be stopped, weapons and military hardware be withdrawn from the line of contact area by February 5. However, the Ukrainian military has not implemented the decisions of the Contact Group.

On February 15, the Contact Group made a decision that all weapons banned by the Minsk agreements should be withdrawn from the line of contact by February 20. Foreign ministers of the four member states of the Normandy Quartet (Russia, France, Germany and Ukraine) upheld this initiative at a meeting held on February 18.

However, on February 21, Kiev disrupted the weapons withdrawal process.

Source: ITAR-TASS 24-02-2017

Kremlin says Russia's constitution ensures women’s rights to run for president

One of the MPs said earlier that his party could nominate a female candidate for Russia’s 2018 presidential election.

MOSCOW, February 22. /TASS/. The Russian Constitution does not hold back women in any way from becoming the country’s president, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday.

"As for female presidential candidates, the answer is very simple - the Constitution of the Russian Federation - it provides a precise explanation of who can run for the presidency," Peskov stated.

"[Russia’s constitution stipulates that those running for the office of president] men and women are eligible, there is no separation," he added.

Sergey Mironov, leader of A Just Russia party, said earlier that his party could nominate a female candidate for Russia’s 2018 presidential election.

Source: ITAR-TASS 23-02-2017

Poll shows surge in Putin’s favorable ratings among Americans

According to the poll, the Americans see Russian President Vladimir Putin in a better light than they did two years ago.

WASHINGTON, February 22. /TASS/. Americans now see Russian President Vladimir Putin in a better light than they did before, a Gallup poll says. According to the poll results, Putin’s image has risen by leaps and bounds among Republicans.

"Americans see Russian President Vladimir Putin in a better light than they did two years ago," the poll says. 

"Twenty-two percent now say they have a favorable opinion of Putin, up from 13% in 2015 and the highest percentage for a positive view of the Russian leader since 2003. His negative rating remains unchanged at 72%, while fewer Americans say they have no opinion of him."

The pollster added that "a major reason for the overall rise in Putin's favorable rating this year is Republicans’ more positive views of the Russian leader, from 12% in 2015 to 32% today." "This comes at a time when President Donald Trump wants to improve relations with Russia, after somewhat frosty relations between the two countries during Barack Obama's presidency."

According to the survey results, views on Putin among "independent voters" also have grown more positive in the last two years, but to a lesser extent than those of Republicans. Opinions among Democrats have become slightly less positive, with just 10% viewing Putin favorably today."

In recent years, the Obama administration and its affiliated media regularly launched a steady stream of smear campaigns against Russia. The new Trump administration has expressed willingness to get along with Russia, but Congress and the US media still continue to whip up anti-Russian rhetoric.

Gallup conducted the poll on February 1-5 among more than 1,000 of adults across the US.

Source: ITAR-TASS 22-02-2017

Putin: Russia's UN envoy Churkin suffered no defeats

Vladimir Putin calls UN envoy Vitaly Churkin, who died in New York on Monday, one of the most prominent Russian diplomats.

MOSCOW, February 21. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has described Russia’s UN envoy Vitaly Churkin, who died in New York on Monday at 64 years of age, as one of the most prominent diplomats who brilliantly coped with his tasks and never suffered defeats. Putin’s message addressed to the diplomat’s widow Irina Churkina and his children, Anastasiya and Maksim, was published on the Kremlin’s website on Tuesday.

"Please accept the deepest condolences over the death of your husband and father. His premature demise is the gravest and truly irrecoverable loss for Russia’s foreign policy. It was sudden and this makes the grief over the loss so acute," Putin said. He pointed out that Churkin "without an exaggeration was one of the most outstanding diplomats," a professional of the highest level, a man of profound intellect and remarkable energy, a person of great charm and sense of humor, "who enjoyed his colleague’s sincere respect and tremendous authority with his foreign partners." Putin said Churkin’s achievements in different high-ranking jobs at the Foreign Ministry’s central staff and abroad were hard to overestimate, "but his capabilities were displayed most brightly when he was Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations."

"For more than ten years, sometimes in the most strenuous conditions he firmly and systematically pressed for Russia’s stance on the most important world issues, which required immense efforts and complete self-sacrifice. However hard the tasks were, he brilliantly coped with them and never suffered defeats," Putin said.

"Churkin was a true patriot and citizen. Bright memories of this man will live on in the hearts of all those who knew him," Putin said.

Vitaly Churkin died on February 20, one day before his 65th birthday. Starting from April 2006 he was Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations in New York and Russia’s representative in the UN Security Council. Churkin died at his office desk, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

Source: ITAR-TASS 21-02-2017

Russian MP says Ukraine morphed into hotbed of controlled instability after coup

MOSCOW, February 20. /TASS/. After the coup, Ukraine turned into a source of controlled instability, which has been damaging Russia’s interests, Chairman of the Russian State Duma (lower house of parliament) Defense Committee, Hero of Russia Vladimir Shamanov said at a meeting with foreign military attaches accredited in Russia. The meeting was dedicated to the Duma’s 2016 legislative activities aimed at ensuring the country’s security.

"As a result [of the Ukrainian coup], sponsors of the current regime in Kiev actually succeeded in turning Ukraine into a source of long-term controlled instability which has been inflicting direct damage on Russia’s political, economic and military interests," Shamanov stressed.

He added that the "Maidan" coup chieftains who "started a civil war in the country’s southwestern region taking advantage of radical nationalist idea cultivated by Bandera and his fascist flunkies, have shed much blood and still continue the carnage." However, it is Russia who is being blamed for the negative developments in southeast Ukraine, the senior lawmaker noted: 

"They just try to shift responsibility". 

Source: ITAR=TASS 20-02-2017

Putin signs decree on recognition of documents given to Donbass people

The Kremlin’s press service says that it was done "so as to protect rights and freedoms of a person and a citizen".

MOSCOW, February 18. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree ‘On recognition in the Russian Federation of the documents and license plates of vehicles issued to Ukraine’s citizens and persons without citizenship, who permanently reside in the areas of certain districts of Ukraine’s Donetsk and Lugansk regions."

The Kremlin’s press service says that it was done "so as to protect rights and freedoms of a person and a citizen and in accordance with generally accepted principles and norms of international humanitarian law."

In particularly, the president emphasized in the decree that these measures are "provisional until a political solution is found to the situation in certain areas of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions of Ukraine on the basis of the Minsk agreements."

"The Russian Federation recognizes the identity documents, education and/or qualification documents; certificates of birth, marriage (divorce), change of name, death; vehicle ownership certificates and license plates of vehicles issued by relevant bodies (organizations), de facto operating in the given areas, to citizens of Ukraine and persons without citizenship permanently residing in those areas," the decree reads.

Ukrainian nationals and stateless persons who permanently live in the certain areas of Ukraine’s Donetsk and Lugansk regions will be able to enter Russia and leave it without applying for visas, just upon presenting IDs issued by relevant bodies de facto operating in the given areas.

The president instructed the cabinet to take necessary steps for implementing the decree that comes into force since the date of signing.

Source: ITAR-TASS 19-02-2017

Kremlin says conclusions on Russian-US relations could be drawn after leaders meet

According to Peskov, it is still unclear when the first meeting between Putin and Trump could take place.

MOSCOW, February 17. /TASS/. The Kremlin still has no illusions concerning the possibility of improving Russian-US relations but believes it will be possible to draw conclusions only after Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump hold a meeting, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

"It has been only a month [since Trump’s inauguration] so it is too early to draw any conclusions and make assessments, especially since the two leaders haven’t met yet," he said. According to Peskov, it was still unclear when the first meeting between Putin and Trump could take place.

"After they meet each other in person and have substantial talks, it will be clear where we could cooperate and what differences remain," the Kremlin spokesman added.

"As for satisfaction and disappointment (from Trump’s first month in office), we have been saying in the past several months that we view the world with open eyes and never no illusions so we have nothing to be disappointed at," Peskov said.

Source: ITAR-TASS 18-02-2017

Renewed Red Army Choir gives first concert in Moscow

The concert took place at the Central Theater of the Russian Army.

MOSCOW, February 16. /TASS/. Red Army Alexandrov Choir, an internationally acclaimed performing ensemble, on Thursday gave the first concert in Moscow since December 25, 2016, when 64 of its singers, dancers and musicians died in an air accident near Sochi.

The concert took place at the Central Theater of the Russian Army.

"The renewed Alexandrov Choir (a second name of the ensemble that refers to its founder, Alexander Alexandrov - TASS) gives the first performance after renewal here on this stage today," Deputy

Defense Minister Nikolai Pankov told the audiences at the beginning of the concert.

"On December 25, the tragedy took away the lives of our friends," he went on. "We remember them and love them and they will remain the kernel of this ensemble forever. But life continues and our duty today is to Alexandrov Choir it afoot."

He said that the Defense Ministry had viewed the renewal of the renowned performing group within the shortest possible period as a task of paramount importance for itself.

"Over a very short term, we did huge work and you’ll see its results tonight," Pankov said. "Alexandrov Choir has always given inspiration to people in the most critical situations. They received applause from spectators in more than seventy countries and I hope the performers will show us today this choir has retained its unique sounding and a powerful emanation of energies."

The choir has offered contracts to the best of the best, he deputy minister said.

"Commitment to serving this country was as important a criterion during election of new performers as the perfect artistic merits," Pankov said. "I’m confident the new voices will give a powerful impulse to further development of this ensemble and will help build up its traditions."

Thursday’s performance became first one in a very tightly packed schedule of concerts. On February 23, Alexandrov Choir will appear at the State Kremlin Palace in a concert devoted to Homeland Defenders’ Day and on February 24, at a ceremony of opening the 3rd World Military Games in Sochi.

Source: ITAR-TASS 17-02-2017

Ukraine declares emergency situation on electricity market due to coal shortage

The government has declared emergency in the wake of an acute shortage of anthracite coal.

KIEV, February 15. /TASS/. Ukrainian cabinet has supported a recommendation by the ministry of energy and coalmining to introduce provisional emergency situation measures in the wake of an acute shortage of anthracite coal, which emerged after the far-right radicals began a blockade of railways leading to the areas of eastern Ukraine uncontrolled by the pro-Kiev forces.

"A decision has been taken to introduce measures of this kind," Prime Minister Vladimir Groysman said at a regular meeting of the cabinet after reports by Igor Nasalik, the minister of energy and coalmines, the Gennady Zubko, the minister of regional development and construction.

Nasalik said the emergency situation regulations implied micromanagement at power-generating facilities so as to minimize the operations of thermal power plants, which burn anthracite coal.

Priority will be given to nuclear plants while the output capacity of thermal power generating units operating in the so-called hot standby mode, that is, the ones that can be activated instantaneously in case of outage of nuclear power-generating units will reduce to 500 megawatts from 1,000 megawatts.

Nasalik also warmed about the introduction of rolling outages of power supplies that would help to put the production and consumption of electricity in the country into balance.

"Today’s decision will stay in effect for one month (thirty calendar days as of the date of endorsement - TASS) and can be prolonged for one more month," Nasalik said. "This means it will hold effect for not more than two months."

Ukrainian thermal power plans have come to grips with shortages of anthracite coal supplied from coalmines in the areas of Donbass outside of the pro-Kiev forces’ control in the aftermath of a blockade of railway lines. Former militants from the so-called "volunteer battalions" began it with support from the right-wing radical deputies of the Verkhovna Rada national parliament on January 25.

Specifically, the radicals are blocking the railway lines, by which anthracite coal is hauled to the thermal and thermos-electric plants from the mighty coalmines located in the self-proclaimed unrecognized Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics.

They claim that the blockade is necessary to plug the channels for an inflow of contraband commodities allegedly trickling into Ukraine alongside with coal.

Nasalik said earlier this week the reserves of anthracite coal in Ukraine totaled 842,000 tons at the moment while the average daily consumption of the fuel stood at 30,000 tons. In practical terms, the figures meant that, depending on the patterns of consumption, the reserve was enough to keep the power generating system in operation for forty or so days.

Nasalik also warned that disruptions in the national electric power grids might begin already in fourteen days’ time.

Nonetheless, Anatoly Vinogrdosky, a coordinator of the Donbass blockade said the radicals would continue their campaign.

Source: ITAR-TASS 16-02-2017

OSCE observers monitoring railway blockade in Donbass — report

The blockade was imposed on January 25 by former militants from the so-called ‘volunteer battalions’.

VIENNA, February 14. /TASS/. Observers from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission continue monitoring blockade of railway tracks along the contact line, an SMM report for February 13 said.

It quoted the head of a railway station terminal in Yasynuvata as telling the SMM that no cargo trains had arrived from government-controlled Kostiantynivka (60km north of Donetsk) in the past three days.

"On 12 February, in government-controlled Hirske (63km west of Luhansk), the SMM observed two unarmed men in camouflage fatigues who remained near a tent at the site of a railway track blocked by tree trunks. The SMM noted that one police officer was present at the scene," the report went on.

"In "DPR"-controlled Yenakiieve (41km north-east of Donetsk) a manager at a steel plant told the Mission that if the blockage of railway traffic to and from areas not controlled by the Government continued, the plant’s two blast furnaces would become inoperable within a month," observers noted.

"He said that the closure of the factory could endanger up to 15,000 jobs in the steel industry," the report said, also quoting representatives of a power plant in government-controlled Mykolaivka (95km north of Donetsk) as saying "the blockade affected coal supplies to the plant which provided heating for about 15,000 people".

"The men went on to say that the power plant was dependent on a type of coal found in areas not controlled by the Government," the report added.

The blockade was imposed on January 25 by former militants from the so-called ‘volunteer battalions’ with support from the right-wing radical deputies of the Verkhovna Rada national parliament.

Specifically, the radicals are blocking the railway lines, by which anthracite coal is hauled to the thermal and thermos-electric plants from the mighty coalmines located in the self-proclaimed unrecognized Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics.

The radicals claim that the blockade is necessary to plug the channels for an inflow of contraband commodities allegedly trickling into Ukraine alongside with coal.

Ukraine’s energy and coalmines minister Igor Nasalik said on Monday the reserves of anthracite coal in Ukraine totaled 842,000 tons at the moment while the average daily consumption of the fuel stood at 30,000 tons. This means that, depending on the patterns of consumption, the reserve is enough to keep the power generating system in operation for 40 or so days.

Nasalik also warned that disruptions in the national electric power grids might already in fourteen days’ time.

Nonetheless, Anatoly Vinogrdosky, a coordinator of the Donbass blockade said the radicals would continue their campaign.

Source: ITAR-TASS 15-02-2017

Troops in western Russia go on combat alert in snap check

Motor rifle, artillery, missile and antiaircraft missile brigades have been put on high alert.

KALININGRAD, February 14. /TASS/. A snap combat readiness check has kicked off in Russia’s Western Military District, the District’s press office reported on Tuesday.

"By decision of Western Military District Acting Commander Lieutenant-General Viktor Astapov, a sudden combat readiness check of the district’s units and formations has started today," the press office said in a statement.

"Motor rifle, artillery, missile and antiaircraft missile brigades, control and command brigades, logistics formations, an army aviation brigade, the Leningrad naval base, and also military recruitment offices of St. Petersburg, the Pskov and the Novgorod Regions and the Republic of Karelia have been put on high alert," the statement said.

Servicemen are currently using their organic military hardware to make marches within their units to the designated areas where they will start performing assigned tasks, the statement said.

Field mobile control and communications posts have been deployed at a specialized practice range in the Leningrad Region to ensure real-time information exchange and troops’ coordination through the regional defense control center of the Western Military District’s headquarters.

Source: ITAR-TASS 14-02-2017

Russia’s Investigative Committee gets evidence that Ukraine used mass destruction weapons

The Ukrainian military used the Tochka-U missile systems while shelling populated localities in the Lugansk region, according to the committee.

MOSCOW, February 13. /TASS/. The Russian Investigative Committee has received irrefutable evidence that the Ukrainian armed forces used weapons of mass destruction in southeastern Ukraine, the committee’s spokesperson, Svetlana Petrenko, said.

"Within the framework of a criminal investigation into developments in southeastern Ukraine, Russian investigators have received and procedurally documented the irrefutable evidence that the Ukrainian armed forces used weapons of mass destruction, namely, the Tochka-U tactical missile systems against civilians during the armed conflict. Russian Investigative Committee officers have procedurally documented the evidence that the Ukrainian military used the Tochka-U missile systems while shelling populated localities in the Lugansk region: in Lugansk, in the village of Novosvetlovka and Ternovoye, and the Krasnodon district, in the city of Rovenki and in Lugansk’s Yubileiny inhabited locality," she said.

According to investigation data, the Ukrainian military used missiles equipped with high-explosive fragmentation and cluster warheads against civilians in the Donbass region. "A focused high-explosive warhead detonates generating up to 14,500 fragments, with the kill zone being 2-3 hectares. Missiles equipped with cluster warheads eliminate manpower and soft-skinned vehicles in the open space in the area from 3.5 to 7 hectares with up to 15,800 fragments," Petrenko said.

She noted that the Tochka missile systems developed back in the 1970s are one of the most powerful weapons in the arsenal of the modern Ukrainian army, adding that they can be equipped with conventional, nuclear and chemical weapons.

"Of course, such weapons can be classified as weapons of mass destruction, which have extremely high destructive power in a large area. These weapons have been designed to inflict mass casualties or destruction in relatively large spaces and are intended to wipe out as many people as possible within its coverage area," Petrenko added.

She emphasized that international agreements prohibit the use of weapons that leave no chance of survival to both the warring parties and civilians during shootouts or military conflicts. The use of such indiscriminate weapons simultaneously entails civilian casualties and excessive damage of civilian assets.

"The Ukrainian servicemen acted contrary to the Minsk agreements, as well as the provisions of the 1949 Geneva Convention for the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War and the additional protocol to it," Petrenko said, adding that the use of such weapons indicates that the authorities in Kiev are pursuing the aim of the total annihilation of the population and infrastructure in southeastern Ukraine.

           
Source: ITAR-TASS 13-02-2017

Syrian forces supported by Russian air strikes retake ISIS reinforced position near Al-Bab

Russia’s Defense Ministry said that the government forces destroyed 650 militants, two tanks and four IFVs and 18 all-terrain vehicles with heavy weaponry and other equipment.

MOSCOW, February 11. /TASS/. Syrian government forces supported by Russian air strikes have retaken the town of Tadef, the most reinforced position of Islamic State near the city of Al-Bab, and reached the contact line with the Free Syrian Army as it was coordinated with Turkey, Russia’s Defense Ministry said on Saturday.

"On February 11, during an offensive operation in the northwest of the Aleppo province, the Syrian Armed Forces, supported by aviation of the Russian Aerospace Force, have liberated from ISIS terrorists (previously known as IS - eds. TASS) the populated locality of Tadef, the militants’ most reinforced position near the city of Al-Bab," the ministry said in a statement.

"The offensive operation resulted in the Syrian government forces’ approach to the contact line coordinated with the Turkish side," it said.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said that the government forces destroyed 650 militants, two tanks and four IFVs and 18 all-terrain vehicles with heavy weaponry and other equipment.

"Moreover, control has been regained over the road to Raqqa, along which ISIS military groups in the town of Al-Bab have been supplied with weapons and ammunition," the Russian defense ministry said.

Earlier on Saturday, the Lebanese television channel Al-Manar said that Syrian government forces were at a distance of 1.5 km from Al-Bab, besieged in the north and west by Syrian opposition units supported by Turkish troops. In August 2016, Turkey launched a military operation in northern Syria, code-named as Operation Euphrates Shield.

Source: ITAR-TASS 12-02-2017

Donbass investigators prove involvement of Ukrainian secret services in Givi’s murder

The Donetsk News Agency quoted the command as saying two versions of Givi’s death were under consideration at the moment.

DONETSK, February 10. /TASS/. Investigative agencies of the self-proclaimed unrecognized Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) have proved collaboration between the Ukrainian secret services and a number of individuals involved in the assassination of Mikhail Tolstykh, the commander of the Somalia battalion of the Donbass self-defense guard who was more broadly known under the nickname Givi, the DPR operational command said on Thursday.

The Donetsk News Agency quoted the command as saying two versions of Givi’s death were under consideration at the moment. Number one suggested the use of a Shmel antipersonnel flamethrower and the second, demolition of an explosive.

Eduard Basurin, the official spokesman for the DPR operational command said earlier he was confident Givi’s assassination had been steered by the Ukrainian secret services. He also said he did not rule out a possible involvement of Zoryan Shkiryak, an advisor to the Ukrainian Interior Minister in the operation to eliminate the intrepid commander.

Givi, 36 at the time of his death, was killed on February 8 by a shot from a Shmel antipersonnel flamethrower. He was buried at the same cemetery as another famous commander of the Donbass self-defense forces, Arsen Pavlov (nicked Motorola) who was killed in the night hours of October 16 inside his house in Donetsk. Their graves are located close to each other.

Donetsk republic authorities called a three-day morning in connection with his death.

The Office of the Donetsk republic’s Main Military Prosecutor ordered a criminal investigation of the assassination.

Source: ITAR-TASS 11-02-2017

Escalation in Donbass manifests Kiev’s gross violation of Minsk agreements — Lavrov

"Kiev’s actions confirm its unwillingness to opt for the peaceful settlement of the problems", the Russian Foreign Minister said.

MOSCOW, February 10. /TASS/. Escalating tensions in Donbass manifest a gross violation of the Minsk agreements by Kiev and confirms unwillingness of the Kiev authorities to solve problems peacefully, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with the Izvestia daily on Friday.

"What we see now is a gross violation by Ukraine of its commitments under the Minsk agreements, which it is not going to implement in all appearances," the minister said. "Instead of efforts towards achieving a stable peace, the Kiev authorities are stubbornly trying to achieve a military solution to the conflict. The outcome of this adventurism for them in 2014-2015 is well known," Lavrov added.

He said radical and nationalist forces in Kiev are responsible for the worsening of the situation seen along the whole line of contact in Donbass. "This is documented in reports of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission," the diplomat added.

According to Lavrov, "Kiev’s actions confirm its unwillingness to opt for the peaceful settlement of the problems". "On the whole, the question emerges - how the Ukrainian authorities see a road to peace in their country if they consistently destroy people who they seem to consider their fellow countrymen," he went on.

"If the Kiev rulers indeed want the settlement of the conflict, they have only one way out - to immediately stop armed provocations, to comply with the existing agreements on the ceasefire and to finally start implementing all provisions of the Minsk Package of Measures, including those that concern political aspects of the settlement," Lavrov said.

The Minsk agreements have no alternative, the diplomat stressed. "Our contacts with foreign partners, first of all in the Normandy Four (Russia, Germany, Ukraine and France) as well as with the US, show that for all differences in views regarding the situation in Ukraine, we are at one as to a need for a dialog between the sides in the conflict with an aim to search for accord and compromise," the Russian diplomat added.

"As for the prospects - the ball is in the Kiev’s court," he went on. "Nobody can implement political demands of the Minsk Package of Measures for the Ukrainian authorities - passing the law on a special status, on local elections in Donbass, having a constitutional reform," Lavrov said, noting that these are the moves "of key importance for achieving peace in Ukraine".

Source: ITAR-TASS 10-02-2017

Crimean Tatars call on UN GA to recognize Crimea as part of Russia

Crimean Tatars are convinced that "international law does not establish any prohibitory rules on matters of secession".

THE UNITED NATIONS, February 8. /TASS/. Russia has handed to the United Nations an appeal of the Crimean Tatar civil movement Kyrym, which requests to recognize the Black Sea peninsula’s accession to Russia as compliant with norms of international law, to condemn Crimea’s blockade and to help lift anti-Russian sanctions imposed by Western countries.

The appeal was attached to a letter sent to President of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly Peter Thomson by Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN Vitaly Churkin. The letter was posted on the UN website on Wednesday.

The appeal, approved by Kyrym movement in Simferopol on 10 December 2016, says that " <...> violent coup d’etat in Ukraine," in 2014 "which involved arson, the storming of administrative buildings and aggression against law enforcement forces resulting in numerous fatalities and considerable injuries, was a grave development that endangered the life, liberty and security of the people of Crimea."

In the wake of those developments, Crimea’s authorities "chose the only valid course of action: to create the independent sovereign State of the Republic of Crimea, to hold a referendum on 16 March 2014 and, based on the outcome thereof, to join Russia and, consequently, leave Ukraine. There is absolutely no doubt about the genuineness of the will expressed by the large majority of the population of Crimea in the referendum, which averted serious consequences for security, peace and stability in Europe."

Crimean Tatars are convinced that "international law does not establish any prohibitory rules on matters of secession," and reminded that this notion should not be replaced with the word annexation (forcible transition of one state’s land by another state).

Kyrym called on the UN General Assembly to admit that the declaration of independence of the Republic of Crimea and its free association with the Russian Federation are not incompatible with the norms of international law," to condemn "the policy of economic, trade and financial blockading of the Russian Federation, the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol" and to lift "the political and economic sanctions" imposed on them.

The Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol, a city with a special status on the Crimean Peninsula, where most residents are Russians, refused to recognize the legitimacy of Kiev authorities brought to power amid riots during a coup in Ukraine in February 2014. Crimea and Sevastopol adopted declarations of independence on March 11, 2014. They held a referendum on March 16, 2014, in which 96.77% of Crimeans and 95.6% of Sevastopol voters chose to secede from Ukraine and join Russia.

On 27 March 2014, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a Ukraine-drafted resolution that branded the referendum as illegitimate and urged countries and international organizations not to recognize Crimea part of Russia.

On 15 November 2016, the General Assembly voted for another Ukraine-drafted resolution, which condemned alleged human rights violations in Crimea. The four-page document condemned the infringement of human rights as well as the use of discriminatory measures against the inhabitants of Crimea, including Crimean Tatars, Ukrainians and representatives of other ethnic groups and religious confessions.

Meanwhile, the Crimean Tatars’ Kyrym movement said that "in all the years since independence was achieved in Ukraine, not one single piece of legislation was adopted to restore the political, economic, social and cultural rights of the Crimean Tatar people. This encouraged the authorities to commit arbitrary acts and violence against Crimean Tatar returnees and to disregard their rights to political, religious and socioeconomic development."

Source: ITAR-TASS 09-02-2017