Protests in Ukraine escalate

[Natalka]

Past 24 hours in the war zone
Russian proxy troops launch 6 attacka against Ukrainian positions in Luhansk, Donetsk and Mariupol sectors.
One Ukrainian serviceman killed, two wounded.
#CHRISTMASTRUCE

United States Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations Kurt Volker believes that military clashes in Donbas in 2017 have been the most violent over past 3 years. However, in the end, Russia has failed to change the political course of Ukraine and obtained “just the opposite result.”

[Natalka]

56-year-old Yaroslav Kozak was killed in the war zone on December 27, 2017.
Yaroslav was born in Kolomyya, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast on March 7, 1961. He served in the 10th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade.
Вічна Пам’ять! Eternal Memory!
Герої не вмирають! Heroes Never Die!

[Natalka]

25-year-old Maksym Lipka was killed by a sniper bullet near Shakhta Butivka, Donetsk Oblast on December 26, 2017
Maksym was born in the village of Rivne, Kirovohrad Oblast on March 2, 1992. He served as Junior Lieutenant in the 40th Separate Artillery Brigade. . He enlisted in the Armed Forces of Ukraine in 2015.
Maksym leaves behind his grieving mother, wife and 2-year-old child.
Вічна Пам’ять! Eternal Memory!
Герої не вмирають! Heroes Never Die!

[Natalka]

Andriy Tovkach was killed during shelling near Shakhta Butivka, Donetsk Oblast on December 26, 2017.
Andriy was born in the RSFSR on April 3, 1978. He lived in Shyroke, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. He served as senior soldier, gunner in the 25th Separate Air Brigade. He was drafted in 2015, and first served in the 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade. He was demobilized and returned to work in Dnipro. In 2016, he enlisted in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Andriy leaves behind his father, brother, sister, wife and two daughters.
Вічна Пам’ять! Eternal Memory!
Герої не вмирають! Heroes Never Die!

[Natalka]

Past 24 hours in the war zone
The good and the bad: According to ATO headquarters, no attacks were launched by Russian proxy forces. What glorious news to report! According to some volunteers, shots and shelling were heard in the vicinity of Popasna, Luhansk Oblast.

Ukrainian envoy to the Minsk Trilateral Contact Group and First Deputy Parliament Speaker Iryna Herashchenko: "Many released hostages have old head injuries, teeth are knocked out, which evidences torture (many were severely beaten during their first hardest days)... Everyone will be provided with medical care, dental services. The Ministry of Social Policy is also working out all technical details so that the released receive a one-time monetary aid in the near future. The team of psychologists led by Vadym Svyrydenko is also actively working with the released and their families."

[Natalka]

Past 24 hours in the war zone
Russian occupation troops launch 5 attacks on Ukrainian positions in Donetsk, Luhansk and Mariupol sectors.
No casualties on the Ukrainian side.
#ChristmasTruce
Ukrainian positions near the Ukrainian-controlled strategic port city of Mariupol were the hot spot. In particular, the enemy opened fire from proscribed 120mm mortars along with 82mm mortars and infantry weapons to attack Ukrainian troops stationed outside the village of Pavlopil.

[Natalka]

Past 24 hours in the war zone
Russian terrorist forces launch 6 attacks on Ukrainian positions in Luhansk, Mariupol and Donetsk sectors.
Two Ukrainian servicemen wounded.

[Natalka]

First death of 2018….
Oleksandr Kovtun was killed by a landmine near Novotoshkivske, Luhansk Oblast on January 1, 2018.
Oleksandr was born in 1985 in Klyshky, Sumy Oblast. He enlisted in November 2016 and served in the 13th Battalion “Chernihiv” of the 58th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade.
Oleksandr leaves behind his grieving father and sister.
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 against Ukrainian positions in Donetsk, Luhansk and mariupol sectors.
One Ukrainian soldier wounded.
#ChristmasTruce
Renat Chubarov, Chairman of the Meijlis of the Crimean Tatar People: "60 Crimean Tatars are illegally imprisoned by the occupation forces in Crimea. Over 100 children have lost their fathers to Russian prisons..."

[Natalka]

Hutsuls getting ready for Rizdvo (Christmas) festivities in the village of Kryvorivnya, Verkhovyna Raion, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast.
By the way, that funny-looking tube you see in the pic and video is called a “trembita”, the longest instrument in the world.

[Natalka]

22-year-old Ivan Shelenhovych was killed during heavy shelling near Shakhta Butivka, Donetsk Oblast on December 29, 2017.
Ivan was born in Novopidkryazh/ Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on July 1, 1995. Before the war, he was a student at the Faculty of Chemistry, O. Honchar National University in Dnipro. He served in the 1st Battalion of the 25th Separate Air Brigade.
Вічна Пам’ять! Eternal Memory!
Герої не вмирають! Heroes Never Die!

[Natalka]

This magical Christmas tree was spotted not in any regional center, but in the small town of Lysianka of Cherkasy Oblast

[Natalka]

Past 24 hours in the war zone
No respite during #ChristmasTruce.
Russian occupation troops continue shelling Ukrainian positions, particularly at Svitlodarsk Bulge, Luhansk Oblast and Shakhta Butivka, Donetsk Oblast.
One Ukrainian serviceman wounded.

[Natalka]

Петро Порошенко‏Verified account @poroshenko 1h

We, Ukrainians, guard our customs. They make us special and dissimilar in others. Today we are with special warmth remember those, who lives in our heart. Thank you to parents, children, relatives and loved ones, friends and colleagues for the fact that we are together!

[Anna Michele]

Merry Christmas

I wish this was my spread and I could be with all of those I love that have passed