Protests in Ukraine escalate

[Natalka]

Andriy Vytvytsky, call sign “Speaker”, was killed near Avdiyivka, Donetsk Oblast on January 16, 2018.
Andriy was born in Ivano-Frankivsk, Western Ukraine on December 31, 1987. He studied at the Roman Catholic Seminary in Lviv. He was an active participant of the Revolution of Dignity and immediately enlisted as a volunteer in Pravy Sektor.
Andriy leaves behind his grieving mother, wife and infant daughter.
Вічна Пам’ять! Eternal Memory!
Герої не вмирають! Heroes Never Die!

[Natalka]

Serhiy Ivanov, call sign “Akula” (Shark) was killed by a mine blast near Svitlodarsk Bulge, Donetsk Oblast on January 17, 2018. Two Ukrainian servicemen were killed and five wounded when their MT-LB vehicle slid off the icy road and hit a mine.
Serhiy was born on November 16, 1988, resided in Novi Sanzhary, Poltava Oblast. He served as sergeant and commander of a military vehicle in the 54th Separate Mechanized Brigade. He was mobilized in 2014, and then signed a contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Serhiy leaves behind his grieving mother.
Вічна Пам’ять! Eternal Memory!
Герої не вмирають! Heroes Never Die!

[Natalka]

Vodokhreshcha (literally: baptism in water), or the Feast of Baptism of Jesus Christ in the River Jordan is celebrated in Ukraine on January 19.



http://euromaidanpress.com/2016/01/1...cle/#arvlbdata

[Natalka]

Dmytro Beliaev was killed by a mine blast in Svitlodarsk Bulge, Donetsk Oblast on January 17, 2018. Two Ukrainian servicemen were killed and five wounded when their MT-LB vehicle slid off the icy road and hit a mine.
Dmytro was born in Melitopol, Zaporizhzhya Oblast on May 26, 1990. He served as driver and mechanic in the 54th Separate Mechanized Brigade.
Dmytro leaves behind his grieving wife and 6-year-old son.
Вічна Пам’ять! Eternal Memory!
Герої не вмирають! Heroes Never Die!

[Natalka]

Past 24 hours in the war zone
Russian occupation troops launch seven attacks on Ukrainian positions in Luhansk, Donetsk and Mariupol sectors.
No casualties on the Ukrainian side.

Principal Deputy Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine Alexander Hug: ""There was last week yet again deterioration in the security situation in eastern Ukraine. Last week, the OSCE SMM recorded almost 6,500 ceasefire violations, an almost 70% increase on the previous week."

On January 18, Vitalie Zara, an OSCE SMM observer from Moldova, was killed in a road accident in Kramatorsk, Donetsk Oblast.

[Natalka]

On January 22, Ukraine marks two significant historical dates. On this day in 1918, the Ukrainian People’s Republic proclaimed its independence by adopting the IV Universal of the Ukrainian Central Rada (parliament). A year later in Kyiv, the Act of Unity between the Ukraine’s People’s Republic and Western Ukrainian People’s Republic, two state entities which formed during Ukraine’s struggles to form its own states out of the shambles of the Russian and Austro-Hungarian Empires, was declared.

Residents, volunteers, students and soldiers in the village of Stanytsia Luhanska, Luhansk Oblast decided to commemorate the Day of Unity of Ukraine in an unusual way. With the assistance and participation of the village council, members of the civil-military Luhansk Territorial Group, soldiers and students, the blue-and-yellow State Flag of Ukraine rose into the sky above the city, travelling towards the front lines. The flag, measuring 6m by 11m, was made by volunteers from Donetsk Oblast and donated to the residents of the neighbouring Luhansk region as a symbol of Ukraine’s unity and an example of years of Ukrainian liberation movements throughout the early 20th century.
The students are chanting: “Разом і до кінця!” (Together, to the very end!)

[Natalka]

Oleksandr Chopenko was killed during rifle fire near Hranitne, Donetsk Oblast on January 17, 2018.
Oleksandr was born in Sayivka, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on October 30, 1969. He served as commander of a machine gun platoon in the 11th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade “Kyyivska Rus”.
Oleksandr leaves behind his grieving wife and five children – four daughters and a son. His son served in the same division.
Вічна Пам’ять! Eternal Memory!
Герої не вмирають! Heroes Never Die!

[Natalka]

Past 24 hours in the war zone
Russian hybrid troops launch two attacks on Ukrainian positions in Luhansk, Donetsk and Mariupol sectors.
No casualties on the Ukrainian side.
Wounded commando of Russia's special forces unit in Donbas who was abandoned on the battlefield on January 19 after an attempt to approach Ukrainian positions saved by Ukrainian doctors. Currently in intensive care.

[Natalka]

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) promises to continue to support Ukraine in the struggle for its own freedom.

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress said this in its congratulations on the occasion of the Day of Unity, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"We promise our sisters and brothers in Ukraine to do everything possible to support their righteous struggle for freedom. We pray to God to protect Ukraine," the report reads.

"Today, on this remarkable day, we reaffirm our commitment to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. Due to the fact that justice always conquers evil, we are sure that one day, very soon, the yellow-and-blue flag will be again hoisted over the cities and villages of Crimea and Donbas," the UCC noted.
In addition, the UCC promises to always remember the heroic Ukrainian soldiers who defend the world from Russian aggression.

https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-soc...ggression.html

[Natalka]

Петро Порошенко‏Verified account @poroshenko 3h

Congratulations to all the happy Reunion and the 100 anniversary of proclamation of independence of UNR! Special thanks to-our soldiers, who protect the Ukraine Special congratulations-Ukrainians living in the conditions of occupation. Each day of separation, no matter how difficult it was not, brings us closer to an inevitable reunion

[Natalka]

President and his wife took part in the ceremony of laying flowers to the monuments to Taras Shevchenko and Mykhailo Hrushevsky

[Natalka]

54-year-old Vadym Hayukh, call sign “Hakha”, was laid to rest in his native city of Kherson on January 20, 2018. Vadym, born in 1963, died of a heart attack on the front lines on January 19.
Vadym served as instructor and paramedic in the 12th Reserve Regiment of Pravy Sektor.
Vadym was a legend in the military medical community. His comrades say he was an honest and sincere friend and a true patriot. Although he had already suffered two heart attacks, Vadym was always the first to fight. He was always willing to help out, and shared his medical knowledge and experience with his brothers… and he wanted to die serving his country. And so it happened…
Вічна Пам’ять! Eternal Memory!
Герої не вмирають! Heroes Never Die!

[Natalka]

Past 24 hours in the war zone
Russian occupation forces launch six attacks against Ukrainian positions in Donetsk, Luhansk and Mariupol sectors.
One Ukrainian soldier killed.
Russian occupation forces also use heavy weapons to shell occupied city of Dokuchayivsk, causing losses among civilians and thus attempting to create a situation to accuse the Ukrainian military of shelling civilian settlements along the front line.
U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Kurt Volker scheduled to hold a new round of talks with Russian presidential aide Vladislav Surkov in Dubai on January 26.

[Natalka]

Serhiy Serhiyenko, call sign “Poltava”, was killed during heavy shelling near the village of Luhanske, Svitlodarsk Bulge, Donetsk Oblast on January 22, 2018.
Serhiy was born on June 22, 1988 in Novoavramivka, Poltava Oblast. He served in the 54th Separate Mechanized Brigade.
Вічна Пам’ять! Eternal Memory!
Герої не вмирають! Heroes Never Die!

[Natalka]

Past 24 hours in the war zone
So happy to announce NO attacks launched in Donetsk, Luhansk or Mariupol sectors!!! Complete ceasefire gives Ukrainian servicemen more opportunities to rebuild destroyed infrastructure, set up transport links and carry out demining operations.

PACE calls on Russia to put an end to Donbas war and stop financial and military support to illegal armed units in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
According to PACE, more than 4 million people need humanitarian assistance, more than 10,000 people have died. more than 24,000 people wounded, more than 1.6 million people are internally displaced and almost half a million people seek asylum in other countries.