Category: Neklasifikuota

Oleksandr Turchynov: We ruined our enemies’ plans – elections were held

Source: http://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/30440.html.

On the basis of information being received from all regions, villages, cities and townships of our country, we can say for sure that presidential elections were held in all regions of Ukraine. This was announced by Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Acting President of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov.

“Elections were open and transparent, voting was free, without artificial restrictions and administrative pressure,” he said expressing hope that the Central Election Commission “will promptly and objectively provide the count of votes”.

“I want to express gratitude to all citizens of Ukraine for being aware of the importance of the national expression of will,” he noted adding that voters were extremely active “almost all over Ukraine”.

“Also, I would like to express special gratefulness to members of district and precinct commissions of Donetsk and Luhansk regions who have honorably fulfilled their civil duty. We have ruined the plans of our enemies with these elections which, I hope, will be recognized by all civilized countries. This is our mutual victory,” the Acting President concluded.

 

The commander of the battalion “Donbass” spoke about the situation in the battalion

Source: inforesist.org

From Semen Semenchenko via a phone:

Yesterday was a hard day for the battalion “Donbass”. Our brothers were killed and wounded. But the life goes on. The battalion “Donbass” belongs to people, who link their hopes with us, hopes that sooner or later a peaceful life will return and a new Ukraine will be built.

For this reason I will answer the questions briefly.

1. I was not imprisoned, no prisoners were killed.

2. The main question of today is the fate of our wounded, who are really in danger.

3. We must take care of the patriots who gave their life in fight for Ukraine. In the near future I will tell about every one of them (apart from those, whose family may suffer from the disclosed information).

All these people will be buried as soldiers, with military honors, their families will be provided with all the necessary financial support, I ask people to help me with this.

The battalion “Donbaas” is outside politics and does not represent anyone but Ukrainian people, who want to establish the peace as soon as possible and achieve a better life on their land.

We have people from all regions of Ukraine, different nationalities, faiths and political preferences. There are those who do not belong to any party, there are supporters of the BYT, Solidarnost, Udar, there are people who support the “Right Sector”. They all took part in yesterday’s battle, fought bravely, tried to rescue their comrades, one of them was wounded, but to fight against armoured vehicles and professional snipers one needs regular Army units and none of them came to help us.

We are grateful to all patriots of Ukraine, regardless of their political views who jointed our ranks to defend our motherland.

They defend not only the right of people to peace in their country but also their right to freely defend their political views.

P.S. I would like to share the last news. Today two of our comrades, residents of the Donetsk region, who we thought to be dead, came back.

Ukrainian Ultras: A Global Ceasefire

Source: Euromaidanpr

Translated from: http://life.pravda.com.ua/society/2014/05/19/168875/

The football fans, which had been viewed earlier as radicals provoking mayhem by many, are now setting up grand shows akin to yesterday’s fire-show on the Pedestrian Bridge in Kiev in support of united Ukraine, protecting the activists from attacks and performing the “Putin – huilo” cheer in unison.


“Ukrainska Pravda. Zhittya” talked to several activists of the ultras movement and found out what now united the football fans who had feuded before.

Before it has been as follows: “Dynamo-Kiev” is fighting with “Chornomorets Odessa,” and Kharkiv “Metalist” – with “Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk” Clashes happened frequently between the fans of these teams. Now, however, “Metalist” ultras are walking shoulder-to-shoulder with “Dnipro” ultras in one march for united Ukraine, and “Chornomorets” fans are coming to Kiev to support “Dynamo.”

The unification of football fans started after “Berkut” had forcefully dispersed the students on Maidan. Back then, the ultras from enemy camps gathered for the first time on Mikhailovskaya Square. Later the leaders of the ultras movement addressed all the fans of Ukrainian football clubs with the proposal to sign a “gentlemen’s agreement” regarding a ceasefire.

“Everything lead up to it. When Maidan began, people from various regions came to Kiev, and already then everything spurred into action, the ultras started getting acquainted with each other,” tells ultras of the Simferopol football club “Tavriya” Oleg.“We are patriots of Ukraine, we understand who is to blame for everything in the country. We were greatly dissatisfied when the students were beaten. What is more, the ultras themselves have been subject to police repressions numerous times.”

“Three years ago the relations with many ultras were, to put it mildly, not very good,” says former organizer of the movement, and now simply a fan of Kharkiv “Metalist” Maksym “Cowboy.” “Now we have agreed on a global ceasefire. This happened for the first time in the Ukrainian fan movement, and in many other countries this had never happened! When a threat exists, like now, when the issue of the country’s integrity is relevant, there is something more than animosity between the clubs.”

The cheer “Putin – huilo” was invented by Kharkiv ultras. But there is no response as to who the author is. People’s masterpiece.

“About Putin – this is an old cheer of the Kharkiv “Metalist” during the times of feuding between Surkis (president of FC “Dynamo”)  and Yaroslavsky (former owner of “Metallist”),” explains Maksym. “Only instead of Putin, there was Surkis, Yaroslavskiy did not like him. The replacement of the enemy in light of the situation occurred easily. Therefore the current cheer became much more popular than the old one.”

The ultras movement proved to be a serious social force, probably, during the joint march of “Metallist” and “Dnipro” fans in Kharkiv on 27th of April. It was then when they were attacked by the representatives of the separatist movement. According to the ultras, the fans did not attack first during any of the latest clashes.

“We did not touch anyone and we wanted to avoid any conflicts,” tells Kharkiv ultras activist Igor. “The first victims appeared among our fans. After the instance in Kharkiv, both sides prepared for possible future conflicts: many acquired chains, bats, I saw traumatic rifles with some of the separatists. Meanwhile the police was completely idle back then and on 2nd of May in Odessa. Blood was spilt, and in such moments all sanity disappears. A necessity to protect oneself arises. And when the police doesn’t work, the people have a right to protect themselves.”

Ultras are not some mythical radical group. They are a sort of interest club, small communities of 10-30 people which communicate with one another. In each of these communities, as a rule, there are activists which go to fan pool assemblies, invent actions to support their teams – flashmobs, fire shows, performances.

The football clubs do not sponsor ultras activities – besides, maybe, global actions. The fans have a “universal bank,” to which they make monthly payments. The ultras are represented by a great variety of people.

“These are teenagers, and people whose children will get their passports soon. And students, businessmen, plumbers, governors,” says Igor. “Of course, a major part of the ultras are students, the youth, as they have a lot of lively energy and free time.”

After the beginning of Maidan the Simferopol ultras, like everyone else, supported the protest movement and became, essentially, the self-defense for pro-Ukrainian activists. Every meeting with blue-and-yellow flags was guarded by young men in sports wear. However, as soon as the Crimea became occupied territory, the ultras started receiving calls with the petition to appear in the security service – “just to talk.” The fans started receiving strange summons.

“The pressure on ultras started back in the autumn, long before the green men appeared,”says “Tavriya” fan Oleg. “The fans that supported the protest movement were being photographed, and their photos were handed out at Antimaidan meetings.”

According to one of the Simferopol ultras Olexiy, back in the end of November the current head of the Republic of the Crimea Sergey Aksionov tried to “buy” the ultras to participate in Antimaidan – he proposed that they become “titushky” for significant daily payments. The fans refused.

Now, after the Crimea ended up occupied, all the ultras who might have been hunted by the local “self-defense” left the peninsula. Younger men have “retreated into the shadows.”

“We refused to support “Tavriya” because we are really in danger,” says Oleg. “De facto the club has been left without fans and the majority of supporters. Now the stadium attendance is catastrophic: less than a thousand people come, and the games are, for some reason, being secured by representatives of the “self-defence,” however, in contrast, people have to be protected from them.

The situation with the club is very difficult. On one hand, it seems to me that the Russian sponsor will not take “Tavriya,” as the Crimea is occupied territory and it is unknown what will happen next. What is the Crimea is to return to Ukraine tomorrow? Besides, banks, establishments, the airport are not working. Who would want to invest money in this situation? What is more, we know that the Russian economy itself is not living out its best times now. On the other hand, Ukrainian sponsors will not invest money either. However, the leadership of the club is still waiting for mythical Russian funds.

The only way out is for the team to leave occupied territory and play in the neighbouring region “Tavriya” is a Ukrainian champion, laureate of the cup, and on the wave of patriotism it could be accepted as a club from the Crimea which did not want to remain in occupation and left to retain the history of the team.

If the scenario of the Crimean capture turned out to be possible – then why is this option not possible either?”

Now the ultras are thinking what will happen next to the fan movement.

If the fans that had been feuding for years managed to unite – further they could become a big moving force in Ukraine, and this force will surpass the framework of football.

“I would want for us never to return to the point when there was animosity between the ultras,” shares Maksym. “Of course, they are all young hot-headed men, and they need to play with enemies besides supporting their team. It is important for them to match their power, without any weapons or knives. This is a fist-fight tactic.

But, I think, there will be no more animosity between the ultras. Because henceforth we are all standing on one side of the barricades and want peace and unity.”

Vladyslav Selezniov: During one of the special operations of ATO two saboteurs trained in the Russian Federation were arrested

Source: http://uacrisis.org/

During the briefing over the phone in Ukrainian Crisis Media Centre Official speaker of the anti-terrorist operation Vladyslav Selezniov reported from the scene that the active phase of the ATO in the East of Ukraine goes on: “The last day was relatively quiet, during one of the special operations two saboteurs citizens of Ukraine, who confirmed to have been trained in the Russian Federation, were arrested”.

During the day two attacks on the positions of Ukrainian security forces near the cities of Slavyansk and Izyum were reverberated by the Ukrainian security forces. As a result there were no injures neither among civilians, nor among Ukrainian militaries. According to security officials, around 40 armed terrorists were shot, two were detained. Vladyslav Selezniov also said: “While arresting two saboteurs 4 sub-machine guns (RPG-26 and RPG-7), automatic Kalashnikov and other weapons were withdrawn. The detainees are giving evidence. They are known to fulfill the tasks aimed at commission of terrorist acts on the territory of Ukraine”.

“The contingent of ATO ensures the safety of the residents of the East of Ukraine. The terrorists fire at Ukrainian soldiers from the residential areas, understanding that Ukrainian security officials won’t fire in response under such conditions not to injure civilians,” – said Mr. Selezniov.

Mr. Selezniov also confirmed that Russian militaries and terrorists are trying to make a corridor to export dead bodies of militants in the border village Dymytrovka. Under different estimates there are from 50 to 100 bodies of terrorists in the morgue of Kramatorsk.

ATO official speaker told that the journalists of LifeNews channel now stay at State security service investigation structures: “They are safe. The investigators are working on video archives found. A lot of questions to those videos as well as to the journalists arise”.

Lie of the day. Russian media: a tragedy in Odessa was organized by the “Right Sector”

Source: Inforesist.org

Russian state media, in particular channels “Russia-1″ and “Russia-24″ informed on Wednesday that Russia wants to appeal to the Hague Tribunal accusing Ukrainian “Right Sector” in the organization of the tragedy in Odessa on the May 2, when during the events in the House of Trade Unions more than 40 people died. 

Here is how Russian Kremlin’s channel “Russia-1″ informed on Wednesday (ed.- 21st of May) about new developments of the Ukrainian investigation of the tragedy in the House of Trade Unions in Odessa on the 2nd of May: “The Russian Foreign Ministry is considering filing a lawsuit to the Hague Tribunal in connection with the tragic events in the House of Trade Unions in Odessa on May 2. A MEP from Latvia Tatiana Zhdanok encouraged to call the “Right Sector” to account for the use of chemical weapons in the building trade unions. “

The same channel on Tuesday organised another release of a program of “Special Correspondent” Arkady Mamontov named “Odessa. New Katyn”, where in the same spirit, even before the completion of the investigation of this tragedy, all blame is placed on “Kiev’s junta”, “Ukrainian fascists” and the “Right Sector”. Although new information of the investigative commission in Kiev testifies that as a result of the investigation of the events in Odessa on May 2 a suspicion of committing of a crime will be announced to Odessa City Council deputies from the party “Rodina” Sergei Bovbalan and Evgeny Khaikin. You can see it in this video (unfortunately, it’s in Russian):

Leader of the “LPR” V.Bolotov: militia will not allow elections in the region

Source: Inforesist.org

The leader of the “People’s Republic of Luhansk” Valeriy Bolotov stated that he will not allow to hold the Ukrainian presidential elections in the region on the 25th of May; he promised any sort of opposition, including use of force. 

“They (pro-Kiev forces – ed.) will try to organize voting stations by any means. We will not allow it. They will be attacked,” – said V. Bolotov.

He said that military troops and vehicles enter towns leaving behind themselves space, where “they are trying to hold elections”.

According to him it is mainly in the area from the side of Starobelsk.

“Pontoon connection go, as they don’t know that we mined the bridges,” – he said.

Bolotov has also informed that seal and other document for the elections are being transported to the region, however part of them is already seized by the militia.

The leader of the “People’s Republic of Luhansk” addressed residents of Luhansk and all the region asking them not to take part in the elections.

“Residents of the “People’s Republic of Luhansk” have nothing to do with this political profanity,” – he said.

Prosecutors, taking into account the events that occur in the Luhansk region, gathered enough evidence to qualify the activity of the so-called “governor” of Luhansk region Valery Bolotov as the creation of a terrorist organization.

Poles and Ukrainians protested against bloody French business

UPDATE (23rd of May): Bernard Grua, French activist,  is inviting everyone to peaceful protests against Mistral deal on June 1 in front of all French embassies, consulates, clubs and associations. More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/221560101386701/.

On 20th of May  a protest was held against the sale of “Mistral” warships to Russia at the French embassy in Warsaw. 

Few dozens Ukrainians and Poles, members of Warsaw Euromaidan and “Otwarty Dialog” foundation (“Open Dialog”) participated.

Protesters think that the decision by French government to continue military contract with Russia, concerning the two modern amphibious assault ships “Mistral”, is “shameful and unworthy of a country which declares its allegiance to ideals of democracy”.

“We cannot remain silent, when a state which kills Ukrainians, can freely purchase warships. We wish to be heard” – said Natalya Panchenko.

Protesters showed their resentment by making noise with vuvuzelas and clackers. “Why do you want to kill us?”, “Supporting Russia in killing Ukrainians brings shame for France” said protester’s banners.

People brought a water pool for children filled with red liquid, which symbolized blood. Toy warships were floating inside.

“It symbolizes a sea of blood, where Russian ships sold by France are sailing… It is our blood” – explained Panchenko.

It was announced that for now, France is not going to make decisions regarding selling two modern warships “Mistral” to Russia, as possible sanctions for occupation of Crimea. It appears, that the French don’t even want to think about Russia supporting terrorists in Donbas. Nothing personal, just business…

Photos by “Otwarty Dialog” fond

protest protest protest protest

protest

Fake photo of Slavyansk morgue

Translated from StopFake project dedicated to exposing mass-media distortions and propaganda about the events in Ukraine.

Website politikus.ru and some bloggers in LiveJournal published a photo which is supposed to be the city morgue of Slavyansk (Donetsk Region).

Slm

The caption of the photo reads “To mothers and wives of central and eastern Ukraine! Slavyansk city morgue is overfilled with bodies of Ukrainian soldiers, national guard and members of the “Right Sector”. They are being buried. Nobody is identifying names, surnames or patronyms, there is no time and no man power for such things. If your relatives who left to kill peaceful citizens have not contacted you recently please go and claim their bodies”.

However this photo was not taken in Slavyansk morgue.

This photo is 5 years old, it was previously published here with the caption “Bodies that are waiting to be identified in Ciudad Juarez, 02.18.2009. Bodies are from border towns of Mexico – “Dead history” of cartel wars, cruelty of which is rising with each year. (AP Photo/Guillermo Arias)”.

Slm2

Sergiy Shapoval: separatists are demoralized. They can be finished off

Source: http://inforesist.org/

A journalist of Lutsk’s newspaper “Volin Post” Sergiy Shapoval spent more than three weeks in captivity of Donetsk separatists. He was captured on the 26th of April after he tried to subscribe as a volunteer in Donbass people’s militia. Shapoval was going to join separatists to write a report about people who support the protest.

According to Sergiy, there is a real spy-phobia among separatists: they interrogate all volunteers fearing that members of the “Right Sector” will join them. After they found Sergiy’s journalist ID, he was tortured by electric shock, and for greater impact they put a wet cloth on his shoulder.

During interrogation there were present journalist of Anna News. After the torture, as if nothing happened, they recorded a video with the beaten journalist. Sergiy was forced to say that he is OK and that he is in Slavyansk.

Later this video was removed for YouTube. In total there were recorded 4 videos, in which Shapoval spoke a prepared in advance by separatists and Russian journalists text. They were also publishing articles on Sergiy’s behalf, which were portraying separatists move in a positive light.

Sergiy Shapoval told in his interview to Hubs who and what are these separatists.

Are the ideas of the People’s Republic of Donetsk supported in Donetsk?

Ordinary people in Donetsk do not support People’s Republic of Donetsk. Do you remember on Maidan there were hundreds of volunteers, who cooked and brought food.

In Donetsk the militants make their own sandwiches, and there are few announcements a day from the stage that they need women to cook food. I saw and heard it all, because I was in a room, which windows overlook the main entrance to the Donetsk Regional State Administration.

They didn’t even had enough mattresses. Some militants slept on the floor; they could not organise their everyday life.

In the evening there are patrols in town, presumably to protect the rule of law and at the same time take phones from locals. In the morning they show off who stole better phone.

The parking in front of the Regional Administration is packed with stolen cars. How do I know this? They talk about it – stolen cars.

Are separatists really afraid of the “Right Sector”? Or they understand that the rumors about this organisation are exaggerated?

This is their universal horror story. Whoever is caught is declared to be a member of the Right Sector. Whatever happens – this is all the Right Sector. They are wound up by the Russian TV, which even calls the National Guard the Right Sector.

Who are the people on the rally in front of the administration?

When I came there in the end of April there were many romantics, idealists, adventurers. The audience is 25 to 33 years old.

After the fire in Odessa’s House of Trade Unions on the 2nd of May there was a surge of volunteers. The corridors were packed with people. Some miners squads came.

After the referendum all thinned out. Now there are only young people there. Even on Saturday and Sunday, when there should be many people, there are only a couple of dozens of them. Maximum a hundred, when there is a meeting.

Compare this to the self organisation of participants in EuroMaidan, where they were able to create some structures, organise everyday life, cooperate. Separatists are only capable of impulse, which thins down rather quickly.

This is a very glaring fact. Separatist, who say that they will go all the way to the Polish border, take off their Georgian ribbons when them move more than 100 metres away form the Regional Administration. I have seen it myself. When I asked one girl why it is the case she answered – Don’t you understand how many fascists are here?

Then why the Regional Administration is still not freed?

Because they have machine guns. There are a lot of arms there. I have seen Kalashnikovs, I have seen antitank grenade and objects, which looked like anti-tank mines

There was information in the media that almost in every office in the Administration there is a prisoner. Is it so?

Yes, I have heard cries, heard how they lugged someone though the corridors. One can stand near the building and see how they walk people with hands cocked and heads wrapped in cloth. And so every day. In the best case scenario these people are forced to wash toilets, in the worst – they are tortured.

I was tortured in the editorial office of the newspaper “Life”. They have such editorial office and there I was tortured. Then, after interrogations, Russian journalists came, put a flag on the wall and told me to speak into camera and say that I am in Slavyansk. And say the text that they wrote for me.

What do people in the seized Regional Administration say about Akhmetov?

Bad thing in general. They were saying that he fires people form the mines for taking part in rallies. They also hate the Party of Regions and Tsaryov.

What does the place of protests, the tents village looks like?

Tents village is a loud name for it. There are two or three tents.

There is a stage, but it is always empty. Not like it was on Maidan, where everyone wanted to come out and say something. There, they either play “Get up, enormous country” (old Soviet song – ed.) or a granny reads her poems or a granddad tells how much he should like to throttle Liashko. Or they show reports and news of the channel “Russia 24″

A song “A war with people is bad. Maidan zip it” is very popular. They also have their own “Heaven’s Guard” and slogans “Glory to Russia – Glory to Donbas!”.

The Regional Administration itself is smashed. Everything, which could be taken out was taken out.

How did you mange to break free?

I would not be able to break free by myself. I would get caught and would be killed, that’s why I simply sat and waited. Yesterday a man came and told me that I have to eat and wash and that I was to be swapped. Three hours later a man in civilian came for me. He led me to a car. We went to what looked like the Donetsk airport. There were many people there, I recognised Victor Medvedchuk and Nestor Shufrich. I came to Medvedchuk and asked – why do you need this, why did you free me? He answered that this is his position – to help people who are in need.

What is your forecast for the development of events?

Separatists can be easily finished off. If they are not given any surge, like the one in Odessa. They are demoralised, they do not know what to do. They do not see any outcome. People’s Republic of Donetsk, for which they live half hungry and die exists only in the Donetsk Regional Administration.