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

Dannhill

Junior Member
Fortruss is turning into a pretty good news site for the civil war in the Donbass.

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


Frontline Update: NAF recon groups are in downtown Debaltsevo

February 9, 2015
Translated by Kristina Rus
Good evening, dear viewers. You are watching a review of the map of hostilities for Monday, February 9th.
Lets begin with the main news of the passing day - the physical closure of the Deblatsevo cauldron.
Today in the morning the fighters of Gorlovka army group from the side of Lozovoe and Gorlovka Malaya launched an attack on Longvinovo.
As a result of fighting, Longvinovo was taken under the complete control of the militia.
Along with Longvinovo, NAF fighters took strategically important heights - height 231 and height 301.
To the south from the area of Uglegorsk, NAF fighters attempted a break through, as a result of which the fighters were able to liberate several localities, such as Groznoye, Alexandrovskoye, Krasny Pakhar.
At the bottom of the cauldron, according to unconfirmed information, NAF is trying to sweep Poltavskoye. In the area of Kurgan and Mogila Ostraya clashes continue.
Militia slowly but surely is moving towards the outskirts of Polevoe. In Chernukhino, militia is continuing the operation to squeeze out parts of UAF.
At this time UAF is controlling several streets and a height West of Chernukhino.
Debaltsevo is not devoid of NAF attention, a probing of enemy defenses is ongoing.
From East and North recon-subversive groups of the militia rather freely move through downtown Debaltsevo.
The stongest positions of UAF in Debaltsevo are located in the south.
Heavy clashes are going on in the area of Novogrigorovka. Here Novorossia fighters already broke the defenses of UAF and are carrying out an operation to squeeze out UAF from the town.
From Luganskoe armored-tank columns of UAF have moved towards Nizhnee Lozovoe and Logvinovo.
With all the wishes of the Ukrainian side, the cauldron will not be deblocked, since militia had an opportunity to dig in pretty well in the area of Longvinovo and Nizhnee Lozovoe, and plus the heights will allow Novorossia artillery to carry out a strong art support.
In the area of the bottleneck Ukrainian side has at least one heavy BTG [battalion tactical group] in reserve.
It is still unclear what UAF will do with this reserve.
If they will try to deblock the cauldron, the militia from Krasny Pakhar, and most likely from Gorlovka, will begin to close a second cauldron.
If the BTG will remain in the bottleneck and will hold defense, then for the militia controlling the cauldron will be able much easier and much sooner to "boil" the cauldron
We can make a conclusion that NAF has thought out this operation to the smallest details.
In North-Western part of Lugansk People's Republic the situation has not changed overall. The artillery of LPR is carrying out heavy fire on the UAF cluster near Novotashkovka and Trehizbenka.
In the aera of Schastye and Stanitsa Luganskaya the situation has not changed in a long time.
For now the conflicting parties resort to exchange of artillery on these stretches of the front.
Lugansk artillery is firing on UAF positions in Stanitsa Luganskaya and the sronghold in the area of Olkhovaya.
In North-West of Gorlovka clashes occur in the area of Mayorsk. Artemovo, as well as Mayorsk is controlled by both sides. There is no complete control by Ukraine, as shown on the map.
The populated districts of Gorlovka are still shelled by the Ukrainian artillery, but the intensity of fire has sharply reduced. Likely it is connected with successful contra-battery work of militia artillery.
The night was very tense in Yasinovataya, Makeevka and Donetsk.
Last night around 12 pm, Donetsk was lighted up by a massive explosion, which created a giant fiery mushroom. The strike was carried out on the Donetsk Chemical Factory. It is located in the area of a "Second Platform". The wave of the blast was felt by the residents of Makeevka. Investigation is ongoing to determine what type of weapon used by the Ukrainian side could cause an explosion of such intensity. According to preliminary data the suspicion is it was Tochka U or Luna M.
Starting from the early morning and until now Kievsky, Kirovsky, Petrovsky, Kuibyshevsky districts are under constant fire.
In Petrovsky district Petrovsky bridge has been destroyed.
Dokuchaevsk and Elenovka are still under massive artillery fire of UAF.
From the side of Novognatovka and Bogdanovka UAF tanks and recon-subverisve groups regularly terrorize the residents of Styla.
On Mariupol front it is pretty quiet. Militia is trying to liquidate dozens of Ukrainian checkpoints, and carrying out reconnaissance work.
This is all for now, thank you for your attention, until next time!
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
 

Dannhill

Junior Member
US House of Representatives proposes bill arming Ukraine.

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


US Congress announces that House of Representatives introduced new legislation authorizing military and lethal aid to Ukraine through 2017.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — US House of Representatives introduced new legislation authorizing military and lethal aid to Ukraine through 2017, according to US Congress announcement.

“The Secretary of Defense is authorized, in coordination with the Secretary of State, to provide assistance, including training equipment, lethal weapons of a defensive nature, logistics support, supplies and services, and sustainment to the military and national security forces of Ukraine, through September 30, 2017,” Tuesday’s legislation read. “To carry out the provisions of this act there are authorized to be appropriated $1,000,000,000. Amounts authorized to be appropriated under this subsection are authorized to remain available until September 30, 2017.”



=
 

Dannhill

Junior Member
Regarding the crash of MH17, this must be the most secretive air crash investigation in aviation history. Shouldn't be that hard if the facts really point to the militia or Putin.

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


Dutch govt releases ‘redacted’ documents about aftermath of MH17 downing

The Dutch government released dozens of documents Tuesday about the aftermath of the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, but broadcaster RTL News said it would protest against the number of redactions.“We want the relevant facts so that a serious reconstruction can be made of the Cabinet’s performance” after the crash, RTL deputy editor Pieter Klein said. Flight 17 crashed in eastern Ukraine on July 17, killing all 298 people on board, and Dutch investigators are probing what is believed to be a surface-to-air missile strike. Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s government is under pressure to reveal all it knew about the risks of allowing passenger planes to fly over the conflict-torn area, AP said.
 

Dannhill

Junior Member
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


No one wins if Russia's economy falls apart.

Its trading partners -- countries and businesses -- are watching with concern as Russia scrambles to tackle a deepening economic crisis, sparked by plunging oil prices and punishing international sanctions.

The ruble has been in free fall and is already hurting earnings at global companies with operations in Russia.

Here are some of the biggest victims of Russia's deteriorating economy:

Germany: Europe's largest economy is most exposed to Russia. Last year, Germany's trade relationship with Russia was worth more than €76 billion ($95.4 billion). Tough Western economic sanctions over the Ukraine crisis
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
on exports and companies have put the brakes on investment.

Last month Germany said "geopolitical crises" had contributed to a sharp cut in its growth forecasts for this year and the next.

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


Trouble in Germany is the last thing the eurozone needs -- the currency bloc relies heavily on the economic heavyweight.

Rest of Europe: Russia buys plenty of goods from other European countries.

Moscow retaliated against Western sanctions in August by
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
of fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, milk and dairy products from Europe, as well as the United States, Australia and Canada.

It was unwelcome news for European producers who export a great deal of fruit, cheese and pork to Russia. Some 10% of EU food exports -- worth about $15 billion -- were delivered to Russia last year, making it Europe's second biggest customer.

Europe had to set aside around $156 million to
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


Energy companies: The deteriorating ruble has taken a chunk out of earnings at companies that do business with Russia.

BP (
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
) has warned that the tough sanctions would hurt. BP owns a large stake in Rosneft, Russia's biggest oil company, which is subject to U.S. trade restrictions. Shares of the company are down 25% this year as crumbling oil prices slug profits.

France's Total shelved plans for a shale exploration joint venture with Russia's Lukoil due to Western sanctions, crimping possible future earnings for the company. Other energy companies like Exxon Mobil (
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
) also have significant ties with Russia.

Automakers: U.S. auto giantFord (
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
)is one of the biggest carmakers in Russia and it has warned that the weaker ruble is hurting sales.

Volkswagen (
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
) blamed political tensions for an 8% drop in car sales in Russia in the first six months of the year. The German automaker's shares are down more than 12% this year.

France's Renault (
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
) too said that sales in Russia were suffering, while Peugeot Citroen warned in October that the sagging ruble was hurting the company.

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


Banks: Societé Generale's second quarter profits from its Russian unit fell 36%. Other banks that have sizeable exposures are Dutch lender Rabobank and Italy's Unicredit.

McDonald's, Adidas and other brands: Frosty relations between the U.S. and Russia is believed to be behind a crackdown on McDonald's (
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
) in the country. Regulatory authorities forced the
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
over accusations of sanitary violations. But the move was widely believed to have been politically motivated.

German sportswear company Adidas is shutting stores and scaling back expansion in Russia as tensions in the region hit consumer spending and the decline in the ruble dented profitability. Adidas slashed its 2014 earnings forecast by 20% to 30%, partly because of Russia.

Carlsberg, the Danish beer maker has issued two profit warnings this year on slowing Russian demand.

Coca-Cola (
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
) too has suffered. Shares of Coca-Cola HBC, which bottles and distributes beverages in Russia, have tanked 32% this year.
 

Dannhill

Junior Member
Obama calls Putin before Minsk talks to discuss E. Ukraine peace deal – White House

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


In the first talk in weeks, President Barack Obama called Vladimir Putin to discuss the crisis in eastern Ukraine and the upcoming meeting in Minsk to resolve the conflict, the White House said.

"President Obama underscored the rising human toll of the fighting and underscored the importance of President Putin seizing the opportunity presented by the ongoing discussions between Russia, France, Germany, and Ukraine to reach a peaceful resolution," the White House said.

According to the Kremlin, the discussion was focused on the “objectives of achieving a peaceful settlement of the acute crisis in Ukraine.”

“Vladimir Putin provided a detailed assessment of the situation in the southeast of Ukraine, with an emphasis on Russia’s recent proposals discussed, in particular, in the context of preparation for the [Minsk summit],” the statement reads.

“The presidents of Russia and the United States have emphasized the importance of a political – through dialogue – resolution of Ukraine’s internal conflict, the speedy cessation of bloodshed, and the protection of the legitimate rights of all Ukrainian citizens without exception, including in the southeast,” the Kremlin’s statement added.

Just before the statement, a contact group including representatives from Kiev, eastern Ukrainian rebels, Russia, and OSCE finished their preparations for the Normandy Four format talks set to take place Wednesday in Minsk. TASS news agency sources said the group worked out a ceasefire plan for eastern Ukraine and ways to monitor it. A heavy weapons withdrawal scheme was also reportedly agreed upon.

Another option reportedly on the table in Minsk would be creating a demilitarized zone in Donbass. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Germany, and France are expected to insist that Russia takes responsibility to establish it, RIA Novosti sources said.

The run-up to the crucial meeting saw pressure mounting on the sides of the talks. German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said the meeting is “another huge chance…to take a big first step towards de-escalation” in south-eastern Ukraine.

"But nothing has been resolved yet. The taking place of the summit alone is no guarantee of its success. I urge and expect Moscow and Kiev... to really seize this chance," Steinmeier said.

Following last week’s “substantive and constructive” five-hour talks between Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and French President Francois Hollande, a number of Western media reported that an ultimatum was issued to the Russian President. Merkel reportedly vowed more sanctions if Russia finds new peace proposals from France and Germany to be unsatisfactory.



However, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said that
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
has ever talked to the president [Putin] in the tone of an ultimatum – and couldn’t do so even if they wanted to.”

The European Union has already announced new sanctions against Russian officials and Ukrainian militias, but postponed enforcing them for a week, pending the new Minsk peace talks.

Despite failing to provide any convincing proof, the US and EU continue to blame Russia for masterminding the Ukraine conflict and supporting rebels who are fighting the Kiev government in the country's southeast – claims repeatedly denied by Moscow.

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


The Ukraine conflict began last April when Kiev sent regular forces and volunteer battalions to the southeastern Donetsk and Lugansk regions, after rebels there refused to recognize the country’s new, coup-imposed authorities. The death toll in the Ukraine conflict has exceeded 5,300 people, with over 12,000 injured, according to UN estimates.
 

Dannhill

Junior Member
Yes, those villages were in no-man's land. It's all for show to show how these volunteer battalions are winning "victories" where the regular army failed every time.
It's all for internal political consumption.

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


My Dutch newspaper NRC (
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
) writes today that the Azov battalion has attacked from Mariupol and has occupied three villages.
 

texx1

Junior Member
did you bother to read the previous post I had where it stated Germany had its greatest all time trade surplus and export after these sanctions were imposed?

I did but German GDP growth is telling a different story after sanctions were imposed.

From the same website that you linked in your previous post but looking at German Annualized GDP growth data.

1GCVmzS.png

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


Non-annualized GDP growth rate for 2014

dxukTWo.png

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


Sanctions was imposed on Russia starting from March 6 2014, the end of first quarter. If you look at German GDP annualized growth rate trend in 2014. 2.6% in the first quarter, 1.2 % in the second quarter, 1.4% in the third. GDP growth decreased after the first quarter. Sanctions probably contributed to some of the sharp drop of GDP growth after 1st quarter.

According to German Bundesbank, German 2015 growth forecast was downgraded by half to 1%. GDP outlook for 2014 was downgraded from 1.9% to 1.4%. The German central bank considered the loss of momentum in the second and third quarter as the reason for a flatter growth path.

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


What can be responsible for the sudden loss of momentum? EU peripherals? There is nothing sudden about EU peripherals' economic deterioration as it has been ongoing since 2011. China? The slowdown of Chinese economy has been talked about in the financial media since the middle of 2013.

Keeping in mind that sanctions on Russia is ongoing and is likely to get worse as situations in Ukraine continue to deteriorate. The momentum could get a lot worse this year when tougher sanctions and harsher counter sanctions continue to take place and that's most likely the reason Merkel wants to find a peace settlement so that the downward spiral would stop.

Your arguments in the last few posts is essentially that sanctions on Russia has a negligible impact on German economy because Russia is a relatively insignificant trading partner. Thus, sanctions are wise as they are somewhat painless. But the facts of 2014 German GDP growth trend clearly show sanctions do have a negative impact on growth rate which is the point I have been arguing all along.
 
Last edited:

delft

Brigadier
Yes, those villages were in no-man's land. It's all for show to show how these volunteer battalions are winning "victories" where the regular army failed every time.
It's all for internal political consumption.

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
@Jura
My paper said that the reconquest was claimed by the Azov battalion but when it concerned villages in a demilitarized zone occupied is the correct term.
I have been following international news for more than sixty years and try to remove framing in order to remain open to contradictory news items. That was clearly appropriate in this case.

I just read this morning's weekly comment by the foreign affairs commentator of my favorite radio station and this time he objects to the term "deadly defensive weapons" by President Obama. He calls it framing. He gives examples of the same weapon being used defensively and offensively and concludes with the observation that what Poroshenko c.s. wants to do is to attack.
 
@Jura
My paper said that the reconquest was claimed by the Azov battalion but when it concerned villages in a demilitarized zone occupied is the correct term.
...

delft: I don't care what you think about the Ukraine Conflict, but I'm remotely interested in what Western Europe mainstream media present, including Dutch ones -- in this case I need a translation since I don't know the Dutch language, and I'm of course unable to distinguish between
  • bezetten occupy, fill, garrison, man, sit in
  • innemen take, occupy, take up, capture, captivate, take in
  • in beslag nemen occupy, take up, confiscate, seize, impound, take
  • bekleden coat, occupy, clothe, drape, enrobe, robe
  • bezighouden keep at work, busy, occupy, amuse, exercise
  • beslaan cover, occupy, shoe, calkin, horseshoe, bind
  • bewonen inhabit, occupy, indwell, populate, denizen
and the verb you kindly translated as "occupy"
 
Top