Ukraine Revolt/Civil War News, Reports, Data, etc.

Kiev ignored EU request to close E. Ukraine airspace days before MH17 crash – report
Published time: December 07, 2014 20:27
Edited time: December 08, 2014 09:51

The European air traffic control regulator urged Kiev to close the southeast of Ukraine for civilian aircraft days before the MH17 flight was downed near Donetsk, but the plea was ignored by local authorities, a new report claims.

Eurocontrol experts spoke privately to their Ukrainian colleagues about the danger of the situation in the east of the country, unnamed sources in the organization told the Sunday Times newspaper.

They were reportedly concerned that by that time anti-Kiev militias had already downed about 20 Ukrainian military planes; that the communication frequencies were jammed in the Donetsk Region; and that the Russian and Ukrainian air-traffic controllers couldn’t exchange information.

However, Eurocontrol lacks power to affect national governments’ decisions, and Kiev continued to allow civil planes to use airspace over war-torn Donetsk and Lugansk regions, the report said.

Ukraine only agreed to raise the minimum height, at which civilian aircraft were required to fly over the region from 8 to 9.7 kilometers.

On July 17, Malaysia Airlines MH17 flight crashed in south-eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board.

The victims came from 10 nations, with the majority of the passengers having been citizens of the Netherlands.

The investigations by the Dutch Safety Board and an international investigation team are still underway, with Kiev and the militias trading blame for the tragedy.

The Boeing 777 was allegedly shot down, but it still unclear if it was done by a surface-to-air missile or by a military plane.

The families of some of the MH17 victims are suing Ukraine in the European Court of Human Rights for refusing to shut down the airspace over the battle zone.

READ MORE: Mother of German MH17 crash victim sues Ukraine in EU court

“I blame the Ukrainian authorities for not closing the airspace and Malaysia Airlines for not taking a decision to avoid it,” Robby Oehlers, who lost a cousin in the crash, told Sunday Times.

The lives of passengers of Malaysian jet were lost due to financial and political reasons, Elmar Giemulla, a lawyer for the families of four German victims.

“Presumably the Ukrainian authorities wanted to avoid losing the revenue from transit fees — up to $1 billion per year — and also for political reasons, as shutting your airspace means admitting a loss of control and a loss of sovereignty,” Giemulla said.

Eurocontrol (European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation) coordinates and plans air traffic control for all of Europe since 1960.

The organization currently has 40 member states, with Ukraine having joined in 2004.

Click to expand...

Canada sends military police to Ukraine to boost security
Published time: December 08, 2014 14:12
Edited time: December 08, 2014 19:09

Canada will send its military police to Ukraine as a part of a security cooperation agreement signed Monday that aims to help the government and security forces to protect the country's territorial integrity.

Canadian Defense Minister Rob Nicholson and his Ukrainian counterpart Stepan Poltorak signed a declaration of intent between the two ministries on Monday. It stated that the two countries are “committed to continue working together to strengthen the capacity of the Ukrainian government and its security forces to defend Ukraine’s territorial integrity and its people.”

“Today representatives of Canada’s military police will arrive in Ukraine to look into the possibilities of cooperation,” Nicholson told reporters in Kiev.

The declaration does not represent a legally binding commitment between Canada and Ukraine under international, Canadian or Ukrainian law, said the document.

“We have already achieved important successes in this regard, from years of military training and cooperation offered through Canada’s Military Training and Cooperation Program, to bilateral financial and equipment contributions, to strengthening multilateral collaboration through the Joint Commission,” the declaration stated.

Following his stop in Kiev, Nicholson will be visiting Poland to meet Polish government officials to further promote security and stability in Central and Eastern Europe, according to the Canadian government’s press release.

In August, Canada donated non-lethal military supplies to Ukraine, including targeted protection, medical and logistical equipment: helmets, ballistic eyewear, protective vests, first aid kits, tents and sleeping bags. Last month it sent cold weather clothing to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The aid is part of Canada’s commitment to support Ukraine with non-lethal military supplies.

In addition, Nicholson announced in late November his government's decision to send $11 million worth of aid to Ukraine.

Canada has been one of the harshest critics of the Kremlin’s policies over the Ukrainian crisis. Canada joined its Western allies by supporting the Kiev government and joined the US and EU sanctions imposed on a number of Russian individuals and companies. Canada also deployed Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) units and personnel to Central and Eastern Europe to “reinforce NATO’s collective defense.”

NATO forces have been fuelling tensions between the West and Russia by building up forces in Eastern Europe. Moscow has accused the alliance of undermining national security by bringing in more weapons to the region, to the Russian border, some of them with highly destructive power. The alliance has been regularly conducting drills in Eastern Europe, saying this is needed to build confidence in the respective governments of NATO’s protection.

Click to expand...