Protests in Ukraine escalate

[Natalka]

Past 24 hours in the war zone

Russian occupation troops launch 10 attacks on Ukrainian positions in Donetsk, Luhansk and Mariupol sectors, 1 using heavy artillery and mortars proscribed by Minsk.

2 Ukrainian soldiers wounded.2 enemy militants killed, 4 wounded.

Russia's hybrid forces fire on civilian funeral bus in the village of Chermalyk near Mariupol.

Ukrainian Defence Ministry: "Russia has deployed 28 battalion tactical groups near Ukrainian border. They are staffed by contract servicemen & equipped with modern weapons & military hardware."

[Natalka]

Denys Tsurkan died of thrombosis in his native town on February 3, 2019.

Denys was born in Mykolayiv in 1987. From 2014 to 2015, he served in the 2nd Battalion of the 79th Airmobile Brigade. From 2005 to 2009, he served in the 1st Naval Infantry Battalion in Feodosiya, Crimea.

Вічна Пам’ять! Eternal Memory!

Герої не вмирають! Heroes Never Die!

[Natalka]

Past 24 hours in the war zone

Russian hybrid troops launch 8 attacks against Ukrainian positions in Donetsk, Luhansk and Mariupol sectors, 4 using heavy artillery and mortars proscribed by Minsk.

1 Ukrainian soldier killed, 1 wounded.6 enemy militants killed, 4 wounded.

President Petro Poroshenko says he is convinced Vladimir Putin doesn't need Crimea and Donbas – he wants to "put a Russian yoke back on entire Ukraine."

Admiral Ihor Voronchenko, Commander of Ukrainian Naval Forces: "We are building up the Ukrainian Navy in accordance with the latest priorities. All these issues are outlined in the Ukrainian Navy Development Strategy until 2035. This strategic document is being elaborated in close cooperation with experts from the U.S., the UK & other NATO member states.”

[Natalka]

30-year-old Oleksandr Konakh, nom de guerre “Sobr”, died tragically on February 5, 2019.

Oleksandr was from Chernihiv Oblast. He participated actively in the Revolution of Dignity as part of the “Cherepashky” unit. When war broke out in eastern Ukraine, he joined the 1st Separate Assault unit of Pravy Sektor as a volunteer, and fought in many hot spots, including Avdiyivka.

Oleksandr was honoured on the Maidan Nezalezhnosti.

Вічна Пам’ять! Eternal Memory!

Герої не вмирають! Heroes Never Die!

[Natalka]

Past 24 hours in the war zone

Russian hybrid forces launch 6 attacks against Ukrainian positions in Luhansk, Donetsk and Mariupol sectors, 2 using heavy artillery and mortars banned by Minsk - Vodyane, Pyshchevyk, Krymske, Troyitske.

No casualties on the Ukrainian side.1 enemy insurgent killed, 3 wounded.

33 Ukrainin convicts, who were sentenced before the outbreak of 2014 war, transferred from occupied Luhansk region to government-controlled territory of Ukraine.

Verkhovna Rada bans citizens of the Russian Federation from acting as election observers for the presidential and parliamentary elections in Ukraine.

[Natalka]

Ivan Yashchyshyn, nom de guerre “Solist”, passed away on February 4, 2019.

Ivan was born on Match 20, 1969 in Ivanivka, Kherson Oblast. He served with the 40th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade and fought at Ilovaisk and Debaltseve.

He was captured by enemy militants and freed in February, 2015.

Вічна Пам’ять! Eternal Memory!

Герої не вмирають! Heroes Never Die!

[Natalka]

40-year-old Oleksandr Novikov died tragically in his hometown on February 11, 2019.

Oleksandr was from Kyiv. When war broke out in 2014, he was one of the first to join the 12th Battalion in Donbas. He served in the 12th and 58th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade.

Oleksandr leaves behind his grieving wife and 2 sons.

Вічна Пам’ять! Eternal Memory!

Герої не вмирають! Heroes Never Die!

[Natalka]

Past 24 hours in the war zone

Russian-mercenaries launch 6 attacks against Ukrainian positions in Donetsk, Luhansk and Mariupol sectors, 1 using heavy artillery and mortars banned by Minsk.

1 Ukrainian soldier wounded.3 enemy militants killed, 2 wounded,

MFA Ukraine on 4th anniversary of "Minsk-2": Ukrainian positions in Donbas shelled daily; Russia blocking process of hostage exchange; Russian forces regularly restrict freedom of movement & access of OSCE observers,

UN General Assembly to discuss situation in Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia on February 20.

...
The Government of Ukraine has paid in total UAH 17.2 million ($634,000) in financial aid to 71 liberated captives, 77 families of political prisoners, and to 24 families of Ukrainian sailors captured by Russia, PM Volodymyr Groysman told today.

https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-pol...prisoners.html


...

[Natalka]

After occupying Crimea, Moscow has been reshaping the ethnic composition of the local population, bringing in hundreds of thousands of people from across Russia, and forcibly expulsing others. The authors of the report "Forcible Expulsion of the Civilian Population from the Occupied Territory by Russia" counted 2,425 such expulsions, deeming them a kind of "cleansing" for the continued colonization of Crimea by Russians, which in itself is a neo-imperial policy tool."The purpose of such a policy is to use in the future the thesis about the unwillingness of the 'people of Crimea' to return to the jurisdiction of Ukraine," the paper's authors note.

- much more background info here

http://euromaidanpress.com/2019/02/1...y-tool-report/

[Natalka]

Volodymyr Kabanov passed away in hospital when his heart gave out during surgery on February 13, 2019.

Volodymyr was born in 1960 in Mariupol, Donetsk Oblast. In 2014, he took part in all pro-Ukrainian rallies in Mariupol, and then volunteered for the front, serving as senior sergeant in the 56th Separate Mechanized Brigade. Volodymyr leaves behind his grieving mother and daughter.

Вічна Пам’ять! Eternal Memory!

Герої не вмирають! Heroes Never Die!

[Natalka]

Past 24 hours in the war zone

Russian-led troops launch 12 attacks on Ukrainian positions in Luhansk, Donetsk and Mariupol sectors, 8 using heavy artillery and mortars banned by Minsk.

3 Ukrainian soldiers wounded.2 enemy insurgents killed, 4 wounded.

Information Resistance OSINT group Ukraine reports Kremlin preparing new "referendum" in occupied Donbas.

NATO warships tol enter Black Sea in coming days to take part in naval drills.EU Statement on Security Situation in & around Ukraine: "OSCE Special Monitoring Mission must be provided with free, safe and unhindered access throughout Ukraine, including the territory of Crimea and along the Ukrainian-Russian state border."

https://cdn1-eeas.fpfis.tech.ec.euro...on_ukraine.pdf

[Natalka]

Past 24 hours in the war zone

Russian-backed troops launch 6 attacks on Ukrainian positions in Donetsk, Luhansk and Mariupol sectors, 1 using heavy wapons banned by Minsk - Avdiyivka, Pavlopil, Hnutove, Vodyane and Katerynivka.

1 Ukrainian soldier killed, 2 wounded.5 enemy militants killed, 4 wounded.

Ukraine has lost 2,945 soldiers from the beginning of war in Donbas. 948 soldiers killed after the signing of the Minsk agreements.

[Natalka]

This week we commemorate the memory of #HeavenlyHundred - over 100 Ukrainian patriots killed 5 years ago by the regime of the then president Yanukovych so that we remain European state.

On 18-20 February, 2014 - 75 people were killed! Nazar Voitovych was the youngest, 17.

Lest we forget our heroes


#RevolutionOfDignity

#Maidan

Today, hundreds of people worldwide participated in the commemoration of the Heaven's Hundred, the 104 protesters killed during the Euromaidan Revolution.

The initiative "Angels of commemoration" was organized by Anzhelica Rudnytska, a singer and civic activist. The paper angels, which were hung on trees, at monuments or just at home, symbolize the souls of the Ukrainians who gave their lives for freedom five years ago

. Photos below from are The Avenue of Heroes of Heaven Hundred in Kyiv, where government snipers shot 95 protesters during 18-20 February 2014.

[Natalka]

[Natalka]