Section: War & conflict

      ”We do not feel guilty” – Putin comments on Crimea annexation, Donbas war
      Dec23

      ”We do not feel guilty” – Putin comments on Crimea annexation, Donbas war

      Russian President Vladimir Putin believes that Russia is not to blame for the war in Donbas and other tragedies that have taken place in Ukraine over the past three years. Speaking at a press conference on Friday, he said that Russia had not been the initiator of ”what has happened,” according to the Ukrainska Pravda online newspaper. ”We do not...

      Libyan plane hijacked, lands in Malta
      Dec23

      Libyan plane hijacked, lands in Malta

      An Afriqiyah Airways A320 with around 120 people on board has just landed in Malta after it was hijacked, according to Times of Malta. The plane was on an internal flight from Sebha to Tripoli and diverted by a hijacker who claimed to have a hand grenade, Times of Malta reports. A total of 111 passengers and seven crew members are on board the...

      U.S. State Department appeals to Russia about accords on ”ceasefire” in Eastern Ukraine
      Dec23

      U.S. State Department appeals to Russia about accords on ”ceasefire” in Eastern Ukraine

      The U.S. State Department hopes that a long-term truce will be established in Donbas in connection with the intention of parties to armed conflict to observe the ”ceasefire” from midnight on December 24. ”The United States welcomes the trilateral contact group`s announcement of an agreement for a holiday ceasefire in eastern Ukraine – excuse me –...

      Germany arrests two on terror charges – BBC
      Dec23

      Germany arrests two on terror charges – BBC

      Two men have been arrested in Germany on suspicion of planning an attack on a shopping center in Oberhausen near the Dutch border, police say, according to BBC News. The brothers, aged 31 and 28 and born in Kosovo, were detained early on Friday in Duisburg, BBC News reports. Germany is on high alert after Monday`s attack in Berlin, which left 12...

      OSCE reports 300% increase in use of banned weapon in Donbas last week
      Dec23

      OSCE reports 300% increase in use of banned weapon in Donbas last week

      Principal Deputy Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine Alexander Hug has reported about a 300% spike in the use of weapons banned under the Minsk peace agreements on Donbas. ”Last week the use of Minsk-proscribed weapons increased by approximately 300%,” he said at a briefing in Kyiv on Thursday. He also reported...

      Russian troops attacked Ukraine 24 times in last day: 2 Ukrainian soldiers killed, 11 wounded
      Dec23

      Russian troops attacked Ukraine 24 times in last day: 2 Ukrainian soldiers killed, 11 wounded

      Combined Russian-separatist forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in eastern Ukraine 24 times in the past 24 hours, according to the press service of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters. View map in full size In the Mariupol sector, the enemy fired 122mm artillery systems on the village of Novohryhorivka, as well as mortars on the...

      Russia plans to boost military presence at Ukraine borders – Russian Ministry of Defense
      Dec22

      Russia plans to boost military presence at Ukraine borders – Russian Ministry of Defense

      Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu has announced that Russia will take measures to strengthen its military grouping at the borders of Ukraine, according to an UNIAN correspondent in Russia. ”In 2017, the Ministry of Defense will have to deal with a number of priorities. First of all, to continue strengthening combat capabilities of the armed...

      After assassination of the Russian ambassador, Turkey and Russia are only getting closer
      Dec22

      After assassination of the Russian ambassador, Turkey and Russia are only getting closer

      The assassination of Russia`s ambassador to Turkey on Monday might have been expected to derail a fragile detente between the regimes of Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Instead, it has served to underline a budding alliance that could have the effect of excluding the United States from the endgame of Syria`s civil war and critically...

      U.S. State Depatment issues terrorist threat alert throughout Europe ahead of Christmas
      Dec22

      U.S. State Depatment issues terrorist threat alert throughout Europe ahead of Christmas

      The Department of State alerts U.S. citizens to the heightened risk of terrorist attacks throughout Europe, particularly during the holiday season. U.S. citizens should exercise caution at holiday festivals, events, and outdoor markets, according to the statement by the U.S. Department of State. ”Credible information indicates the Islamic State...

      Ukraine to release 15 Donbas militants, expects ”humanism” in response
      Dec22

      Ukraine to release 15 Donbas militants, expects ”humanism” in response

      Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has signed decree No. 561 to pardon nine convicts. The Head of State considered the petition for pardon of individuals convicted by Ukrainian courts and proposals by the Amnesty Commission, taking into account the severity of the crimes committed, the term of the actual sentence, the identity of convicts,...