Protests in Ukraine escalate

[Natalka]

Music video (in English) in support of 21 September 2014 Peace March against war between Russia and Ukraine. Song by Christian Tessen. Photos of refugees from war zone taken by Kira Dzhafarova at "Station Kharkov" volunteer center in Kharkiv, Ukraine.

[Natalka]

Terrorists attack Ukrainian contingent near Debaltseve, resulting in many casualties

2014/09/20 • terrorists are continuing their bombardment of a Ukrainian army checkpoint not far from Debaltseve, Donetsk Oblast.

Oleksiy Savych, Commander of the 11th Battalion, “Kyivan Rus”, reports that the battalion officers were ordered to withdraw their equipment and artillery further to the rear. The enemy fighters have capitalized on the situation and as a result have been opening fire in the direction of the ATO forces.

“They do not acknowledge the existence of the front lines,” says Savych. “As a military man, I have technical training from books and films to recognize two lines. That’s how a neutral zone is created. So 15 km away, that’s where our army is located; and a second line, where the others are positioned. 50 km would be better. The territory between us should be open to peacekeepers, but must be clear except for the civilians who live there. However, what they’ve done is set up all their heavy equipment there.”

The commander has informed Channel 5.ua that the current number of casualties stands at 2 fatal and 16 wounded

“Today alone, shelling of the main checkpoint has resulted in 5 wounded, but thankfully there are no “200s”. We are subjected to the constant firing of mortars and other artillery. One battalion vehicle was destroyed yesterday, together with several pieces of military equipment. For all intents and purposes, a crucible is being created at Debaltseve, isolating it from the town to the north because the roads are within range of artillery fire. In the evenings, the terrorists target the highways around Debaltseve, aiming for our equipment. On one occasion, they barely missed our first aid vehicle.”

The commander explained that the senior command removed all heavy weapons from the area in accordance with the requirements of the Minsk ceasefire agreement. Now, however, their battalion has been deprived of crucial firepower. They have made the decision not to move the battalion’s own artillery away from the front.

“The enemy weapons we face can only be operated by regular units of the Russian military. The tanks and self-propelled artillery (SAU) they possess are not the kind that just anyone can learn to operate in a matter of months. It takes years to master these weapons, and the people using them have good training.”
Savych remains optimistic that the opportunity still exists to evacuate the ATO forces from Debaltseve.


http://euromaidanpress.com/2014/09/2...ny-casualties/

[Natalka]

ATO update from the NSDC for September 21

Terrorists do not hold ceasefire after Minsk Agreements - multiple attacks and shelling registered. 2 Ukrainian soldiers dead, 8 wounded.

Ukrainian military hold truce despite attacks, that include shelling of Donetsk International Airport. The military opens fire only in response, 40 terrorists killed.

Russia continues violating Ukrainian airspace - drones around Mariupol and helicopters in Luhansk oblast spotted.

Ukrainian military will withdraw heavy weapons simultaneously with rebel forces only after first point (full ceasefire) will be fulfilled

[Natalka]

Live now - peace march in Moscow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQN0hEYQYlc

[Natalka]

Auckland, New Zealand



Ekaterinburg








St. Petersburg

[Natalka]

Mariupol March for Peace

[Natalka]

Vienna, Austria



Odessa



Kharkiv



First arrest in St. Petersburg

[Natalka]

Munich, Germany



Moscow, near the Kremlin



Kremlin special police forces

[Natalka]

London



Prague



Milan



Dublin



Paris

[Natalka]

Rome








Tallinn, Estonia

[Natalka]

Kamchatka. One woman on demo against war
(had to look it up! It's a peninsula in far east Russia)





Norway





Stockholm, Sweden

[Natalka]

President Poroshenko on International Peace Day: Ukraine protects global freedom

The Ukrainian army is protecting the democratic rights and freedom of the entire Western world, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said.

"Ukraine has stood up not just to protect its territory; our Donbas is also where the eastern border of global democracy and freedom lies," Poroshenko wrote in a Facebook post. "Today, our guys are protecting not just their land but also the democratic rights and freedom of independent Poland, the Baltic States, Romania and Hungary, and of all the Western world."

He congratulated everyone on the International Day of Peace and stressed that Ukraine was prepared to fight for peace to the end: "If we need to we will fight to our last breath. However, if there is a way to stop the bloodshed we are obliged to use it. Because we are not fighting to destroy the enemy. We are fighting to protect peace."

[Natalka]

Istanbul, Turkey



Sloviansk city





Oslo



Cyprus



Madrid

[Natalka]

Schastye, Lugansk "Schastye is Happiness"

[Natalka]

(I'll just put this here, since I don't want to start a new thread about it.... and it's Ukr. related)

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress – Manitoba Provincial Council
Official Unveiling of the Holodomor Statue: “Bitter Memories of Childhood” on the grounds of the Manitoba Legislative Building. The statue will be located near the monument to Taras Shevchenko.