Anonymous expert compilation, analysis, and reporting.
The rumors of Surkov’s departure make sense, in light of dozens of mistakes by the Kremlin. Very recent history shows a radical breakdown in areas which historically have been associated with Surkov.
</end editorial>
Rumors in Muscovy that Surkov is bugging out, not flatly denied by Peskov. Rodents jumping ship? Update on Indian S-400 procurement. Sudan deal. Russia to copy the NATO NCO model? Saudis bail from Russian LNG project. EU election updates.
Russia rejects UN ITLOS ruling producing many complaints in Ukraine. A video blog in which a young lady slams Ze’s proposal on putting any deals with Russia to a popular vote goes viral, stating that “agreements with Russia aren’t worth the paper on which they are written” – she has a point since Russia has not kept any agreements since Dolgorukiy in 1147AD decided Muscovy is entitled to own Ukraine. Giuliani makes more media waves doing a long and rather odd interview with Censor.net in Kyiv.
Donbas update. Report that the US will supply anti-ship missiles to Ukraine has been very popular in Ukrainian media.
Much political argument over reform bills, the impending election, and Ze’s startup Servant of the People party.
Kremlin comments on Putin aide Surkov’s resignation – news war | UNIAN
Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov has not confirmed the rumors that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aide, supervisor of the so-called “Luhansk and Donetsk People’s Republics” Vladislav Surkov resigned. “You know that we traditionally do not comment on any personnel rumors,” Peskov told journalists, answering a question about Surkov’s resignation, according to the Russian news agency RIA Novosti. To the journalists’ clarifying question whether these words mean there was no decree on resignation, Peskov said: “So far, we have not issued any decrees.” Reports that Surkov wrote a letter of resignation were spread on Telegram channels on May 24.
UAWire – India to buy Russian S-400 missile system
Indian authorities decided to buy S-400 missile system from Russia since these systems are used in China, reports Moneycontrol news website. According to the publication, India doesn’t intend to use the Russian S-400 missile system for defense purposes but plans to research their tactical and technical capabilities. The country also plans to test its Rafale fighter aircraft — in particular, their ability to penetrate China’s airspace, which is protected by the S-400 missile systems. Also, it is noted that the refusal of New Delhi to develop an aircraft fighter based on Su-57 in cooperation with Russia “seriously hit the budget of the Russian industry.” The contract with India for the supply of S-400 Triumph missile systems with a cost of more than $5 billion was signed in October 2018. India will receive five regimental sets of the system. The first one of them should be delivered to the country in the autumn of 2020.
UAWire – Russia signs military deal with Sudan
Russia has signed a military and technology cooperation agreement with Sudan, a country that has been under western sanctions for more than 20 years. The document, which was signed by Russia on 8 May and Sudan on 9 May, came into force on Friday. Its text was published on Russia’s official legal information portal. As part of the agreement, Russia and Sudan will collaborate in the training of soldiers and engineers, in military education, field medicine, the study of military history, topography and hydrography, and of sport and culture. Russian military ships will be allowed to enter Sudan’s ports. Furthermore, military aircraft are expected to visit by invitation, as well as teams of specialists for joint military projects and military training activities. “The parties undertake not to forward to a third party without prior written consent any information obtained or jointly created as part of the implementation of the current agreement,” the document reads.
Sergeant Major: Russia copies the NATO experience
In the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation a new position has been introduced – Chief Sergeant. This was reported by the press service of the Southern Military District. “The Chief Sergeant is the first assistant to the unit commander, who can replace the officer’s time, provide discipline and personal example to set up a soldier’s team to succeed in combat training and professional training,” said Alexander Dvornikov, Colonel-General’s Commander of the Southern Military District. According to the district, 370 chief sergeants came to the training and methodological collection in Rostov-on-Don. Earlier, the troops of the district selected the best sergeant troops. A special requirement for the appointment of chief sergeants was the presence of leadership qualities and authority in a military team among subordinates and equal troops and among officers of the military unit. Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation Mykola Pankov spoke in 2011 about the fact that such a post may appear in the army. A similar position exists in the NATO country, where the chief sergeant coordinates and controls the sergeant corps. In the US, the sergeant is also an adviser to the defense minister and head of the joint committee of chiefs of staff. “This is a prospect not today, and not even tomorrow. We have an understanding of the need to introduce such an institution, but we would like to scrutinize our positions “, – said Pankov. According to him, the main difference of the new system from previous approaches to the recruitment of sergeants – a rigorous selection for appointment to a higher level only from the best military personnel, their compulsory education before this appointment. Vadim Astafyev, the head of the air defense press-service, called the introduction of a new post. “Chief sergeant is an elective office, which at the general meeting of a sergeant’s military unit (unit) is selected by the most trained junior commanders who have leadership qualities and an author in the military team among subordinates and equal military personnel,” Astafyev said. According to him, the “carried out” by the command of the commander of the troops of the Southern Military District Experiment “is intended to increase the authority of the sergeant, contribute to the strengthening of law and order and military discipline. In the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the posts of chief sergeants have been in place for several years now and appropriate centers have been set up for their approaches in several areas – instructors and leadership. The material was prepared by Stepan Ivasin
UAWire – Saudi Arabia backs out of major Russian LNG project
After a year and a half of negotiations, the Saudi Arabian national oil and gas company Saudi Aramco has decided not to buy a share in Novatek’s Arctic LNG-2 project, four informed sources told the Vedomosti news agency. Saudi Aramco, which was expected to invest around $5 billion in the project, was unhappy with the terms offered by Novatek. In addition, the Saudis were concerned by the risk of sanctions against the liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant, which would have been the largest in Russia with a capacity of 20 million tons per year. With Moscow and Riyadh having signed the first joint output limitation agreement in 20 years, many people expected Saudi Arabia to invest more actively in Russian projects, observes Dmitry Marinchenko, senior division director at Fitch. “But for some reason this is not happening,” he notes. Instead of investing in a Russian LNG plant, Saudi Arabia has decided to go with an American one. On 22 May, Saudi Aramco announced that it had signed a 20-year contract with the American company Sempra LNG to buy 5 million tons of LNG per year during the first phase of the Port Arthur LNG project and to acquire a 25% share in it. Novatek has managed to find investors in China. On 25 April, the company announced that it had signed a contract with China’s CNODC (fully owned by CNPC) and CNOOC, which will each obtain a 10% share in Arctic LNG-2. The French company Total also purchased a 10% share in 2018.
UAWire – NATO to adopt new military strategy in light of ‘growing Russian threat’
For the first time in recent decades, NATO’s military experts have reconsidered the alliance’s military strategy in connection with the “growing …
Head of Polish conservatives claims victory in European elections – media – news world | UNIAN
The leader of Poland’s ruling conservatives on Sunday claimed victory in the country’s European Parliament elections, but warned the real test for his party would come in a ballot to choose MPs later this year. The official results of Sunday’s voting were expected to be announced in the coming days.
Smaller Pro-EU Parties Surge in European Elections; Centrists Lose Seats
Early results Sunday suggest 751-seat parliament will be more fragmented than ever, nationalist populists made important gains but more modest than forecast
EU elections produce fragmented parliament amid high turnout | News | Al Jazeera
Centre right and centre left lose European Parliament seats to Greens and Liberals while Eurosceptic parties make gains.
Bloomberg: Former banker wins by landslide in Lithuania’s presidential vote – news world | UNIAN
A former bank economist won Lithuania’s presidential runoff by a landslide in a small victory for the pro-European Union forces trying to beat back challenges to the bloc’s liberal and multi-cultural values. Nauseda hopes to act as a non-partisan figure who can cool increasing animosity between the major political parties.
Ukraine calls on Putin to immediately release sailors by International Tribunal’s order
Ukraine demands the Russian Federation immediately release 24 illegally captured Ukrainian sailors in connection with the decision adopted by the UN International Tribunal the day before. — Ukrinform.
Kremlin not to execute Tribunal’s decision on release of Ukrainian sailors
27.05.19 11:55 – Kremlin not to execute Tribunal’s decision on release of Ukrainian sailors International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea wants Russia to release Ukrainian sailors till June 25. View news.
Russia to change nothing in case of captured Ukrainian sailors despite ITLOS order
The Kremlin’s stance on the possibility of release of Ukrainian sailors illegally seized by Russian officers remains the same, despite the order of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. — Ukrinform.
Leader of the People’s Front Party Arseniy Yatsenyuk says that the decision of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) obliging Russia to free Ukrainian sailors and ships requires an international reaction. ITLOS on May 25, 2019, ruled that Russia shall immediately release three Ukrainian naval vessels with the crews.
Special arbitration to be set up to hear case on Ukrainian POWs – Zerkal
Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister on European Integration Olena Zerkal has said the case of immunities of Ukrainian ships and sailors captured by Russia, in fact, will be considered a separate arbitration. She said the process could be lengthy.
Vladimir Zelensky go to the sword with your referendum! – YouTube
Vasya Baraban Published on May 22, 2019 Vladimir Zelensky go to the sword with your referendum! “You have been given a choice between war and shame. You have chosen a shame and you will get a war,” Churchill said just about Chamberlain’s policy! Posted by Oksana Ivantsiv
Paul Goble Staunton, May 26 – Sometimes it takes a private person to point up what officials are not willing to face. That has just happened in Ukraine where blogger Vasya Baraban has punctured talk about talks with Moscow by pointing to what should be obvious: Ukraine would be trading its future with a country that has repeatedly demonstrated it won’t live up to its commitments. In a YouTube post that has gone viral, she says that the only things Moscow would accept in exchange for any concessions would be “the sovereignty of Ukraine and the future of our children” (censoru.net/35886-ukrainka-smelo-otvetila-zelenskomu-po-povodu-rossii-ja-ne-znaju-kak-vy-uchili-istoriju-moschnoe-video.html). She notes that Presidential Administration head Andrey Bogdan has said that “territory and citizens cannot be the subject of negotiations.” But if that is so, “what will be their subject? Our sovereignty? The Possibility for Ukraine to take decisions independently? The future of my daughter?” Baraban challenges Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky to answer and in doing so not to forget the fundamental reality that “agreements with Russia aren’t worth the paper on which they are written” and instead to remember that violating these fundamental values will undermine the domestic situation in his country. Any referendum on peace talks risks crossing such “red lines,” the young Ukrainian woman says. “A referendum in which a professor and general of an army int eh field have the same voice as someone who hasn’t even finished middle school is not democracy. It is instead a guaranteed power for frauds who will capable use uneducated people” against their country. “The people has no information, including maps, intelligence reports, and the work of experts,” she says. “The people has not international partners and specialists who conduct consultations. The people has no strategy which could be pursued for the achievement of its goals.” But what is worse, Baraban continues, “the people has no responsibility. The president must have such responsibility.” And she adds: “I do not know how well you studied history, but I did not badly.” And I can tell you that it reduces to one fact: Russia can’t be trusted as it will violate any agreement Kremlin officials sign.
Only the sovereignty of Ukraine and the future of our children can be the subject of so-called peace negotiations with Russia, about which President Vladimir Zelensky spoke recently. Blogger Vasya Drum posted a video on his Youtube channel, in which a Ukrainian demands Vladimir Zelensky to answer what our country is ready to offer in negotiations with Russia about the possible referendum about which the new head of the Presidential Administration spoke, Andrei Bogdan. “Territories and citizens, as Andrei Bogdan said, cannot be negotiated. And what will be the subject of negotiations? Our sovereignty? An opportunity for Ukraine to make a decision independently? The future of my daughter?” – Ukrainian asks Zelensky. She suggested that the head of state never forget the famous saying: “The treaties with Russia are not worth the paper on which they are written.” We note that recently a number of the most influential Ukrainian public organizations sent Vladimir Zelensky “A joint statement by representatives of civil society and public organizations about the first political steps of Vladimir Zelensky,” in which they “identified a list of possible red lines”: if the President violates them, this will inevitably lead to the deterioration of both the domestic and foreign situation around our country. ” Among such “red lines” and a referendum on peace talks with Russia. A referendum in which a professor and a general of a belligerent army have the same voice as a person who has not drawn out even a secondary school education is not a democracy. This is a guaranteed power of fraudsters who skillfully use uneducated people so that the professor and the general cannot decide anything. The people have no information, including maps, intelligence, expert conclusions … The people do not have international partners and specialists who hold consultations. People do not have a strategy that will be implemented to achieve the goal. Finally, people have no responsibility. The responsibility that the President should have. “I don’t know how you learned history, but I taught it quite well. And I can make you a short course, it boils down to just one sentence. All agreements with Russia are not worth even the paper on which they are written. What will be the subject of negotiations with Russia ? ” – directly asks the patriot. Finally, the girl emotionally made it clear that the idea of a referendum was one of the most failed initiatives of Zelensky.
Danyliuk: Minsk format of talks on peaceful settlement should be kept
Adviser to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, former finance minister of Ukraine Oleksandr Danyliuk has said that the Minsk format of negotiations on the peaceful settlement of the situation in eastern Ukraine should be kept. — Ukrinform.
Russia regrets on withdrawal of Medvedchuk from Donbas talks
27.05.19 16:40 – Russia regrets on withdrawal of Medvedchuk from Donbas talks The administration of President Zelenskyi specified that participation of Medvedchuk in Donbas talks is impossible. View news.
Vice PM Klympush-Tsintsadze: Normandy format talks without Ukraine are unacceptable
No negotiations with the Russian Federation without the participation of the Ukrainian side can be held within the Normandy format. — Ukrinform.
Zelensky wishes success to Lithuanian president-elect
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has wished success to Lithuanian President-elect Gitanas Nauseda. — Ukrinform.
27.05.19 12:34 – Petition for recognizing Holodomor as genocide in Ukraine in 1932-1933 gains required number of votes on Bundestag An online petition posted on the website of the German parliament recognizing the Holodomor in Ukraine of 1932-1933 as genocide of the Ukrainian people was signed by more than 50,000 people. View news.
Paul Goble Staunton, May 26 – Moscow insists that Russian speakers are part of a Russian world that by definition must be under its control, and not surprisingly some former Soviet republics, including most recently Ukraine, have adopted policies intended to reduce or eliminate the use of Russian by their citizens, Vadim Shtepa says. But such policies, however much one can understand the impulses behind them, are counterproductive. On the one hand, they lend support to the mistaken Muscovite notion that languages are the property of any country or government. And on the other, they offend rather than attract those in these countries who use Russian (region.expert/russian-latin/). A far better and more effective approach, the editor of Region.Expert argues is to treat Russian as the Latin of the former Soviet empire, a language ever fewer people use because the empire is dying and one Moscow has no right to claim just as the Great Britain or the United States has no right to claim English as somehow uniquely its own. And on the other, the West needs to recognize that it can use Russian as a weapon against the Muscovite empire by creating a new television broadcast service in Russian to challenge the notions that Russian belongs to Moscow and that Russian-speakers in Russia and abroad are inevitably Putin supporters. The Russian language, he writes, “can be used against the empire. The clearest example is that many Ukrainian soldiers who have fought against Russian aggression are themselves Russian speakers. [In addition,] Belorusian Nobelist Svetlana Aleksiyevich also writes in Russian, but it is impossible to consider her works as ‘pro-Kremlin.’” “It’s possible,” Shtepa continues, “that one of the causes of the relative success of Kremlin propaganda is that Western countries have not created an alternative, a global and popular Russian-language television channel which could advocate democratic values” and “destroy the false stereotype that ‘all Russians are Putinists.’” “Language is above all a means of communication and ideologically neutral. For Ukraine, it would be much wiser not to struggle with Russian but to create alongside Ukrainian ones, Russian-language pro-European programs. And then,” the Russian regionalist says, “Kremlin propaganda would be powerless.” Almost 70 years ago, the West did create such a Russian-language service, Radio Liberty, which was based precisely on the knowledge and conviction that not all Russians were Stalinist. It played an important role in breaking the Soviet monopoly of information; and many Russian-speakers were encouraged to think their country could be other than what the Kremlin said. As someone who is proud to have served at RFE/RL twice, the author of these lines is very proud of that fact. But I believe that Shtepa is on to something because of a conjunction of technological and political changes that have reduced although hardly eliminated the importance of current RFE/RL broadcasts. First, all too many people in the West have unfortunately concluded that since Russia is no longer communist, it is not a problem. In many ways, under Vladimir Putin, Russia is more of a problem than it was in the last decades of Soviet rule; but few want to admit that or act on its implications at least for the long haul. Second, some involved with Western broadcasting have wanted to shift to what could be called a strategy of “journalism over everything else.” High-quality journalism is of course a threat to regimes like Putin’s which are based on lies and half-truths, but it is not enough. There needs to be a clear and forceful message about why democracy is right and dictatorship wrong. Third, RFE/RL during the Cold War broadcast via shortwave from abroad. That meant it could broadcast freely and without regard to the ideological convictions of the Kremlin which could jam but not affect editorial policy. Since 1991, reflecting new opportunities and a shift in listener tastes, it has broadcast on FM stations within the Russian Federation. The signal of its broadcasts is much easier to hear than it was, but that has come at a price: the host government, in this case the Russian, is in a position to impose many of its values on the station’s broadcasts, directly by closing such broadcasting from within its own borders and indirectly by threatening to do so. All too often, it appears, some involved in Western broadcasting fall into the dangerous trap laid by the Kremlin of avoiding certain topics or certain treatments so that they can continue to broadcast on others, putting them on a dangerous and slippery slope in which they restrict themselves lest the Putin regime restrict them. Fourth, RFE/RL’s Internet presence, which is produced and disseminated from abroad, is not only impressive but highlights what can be done when journalists committed not only to news but to democracy and freedom are able to do their work freely. Day after day, RFE/RL Internet producers produce stories that challenge the Kremlin dictatorship. But the Internet, as widespread as its use now is even in Russia, is not a solution. That is because most Russians like most people elsewhere use the Internet less as an alternative source of news than for entertainment. Consequently, however powerful the Internet offerings of RFE/RL are, they can’t compete on an equal basis with the new player on the block, television. And fifth, television is in fact the key. Putin is re-imposing Stalinism on Russia not by constructing a new GULAG, although he is quite prepared to arrest and even kill people to sustain his repressive and kleptocratic regime, but by using television to mold peoples’ minds, confident that no one is challenging him on that all-important front. But Putin could be proved wrong: there is an available alternative, albeit not an easy or inexpensive one: direct-to-home satellite television which would carry Western television broadcasts to the Russian people in ways that the Putinists would find far more difficult to block and even more difficult to counter. As Shtepa points out, the West has the ability to turn the information war against Moscow and to take it on in a place where the Kremlin assumes it is untouchable – Russian-language television.
Personal lawyer and a friend of President Trump – about protecting Ukraine from aggression, the difficulties of establishing contacts with President Zelensky, Andrei Bogdan and Igor Kolomoisky, about the rules of dealing with the dishonest oligarchs who followed the United States in Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch, business contacts with Gennady Kernes. And also about why it is important for Ukraine and the United States to strengthen relations. The personal lawyer to President Trump Rudi Giuliani is almost 75 years old, but the former mayor of New York is enough for a thousand different things and activities. Wheel around the world, fight with the democrats in the front ranks of the Trump Warriors, conduct business, work with the law clients, lead Twitter – Giuliani manages everything. Including handing out interviews, like what he gave 2 weeks ago. On the Fox News TV channel, Juliani explained why he canceled his trip to Ukraine. The trip, the main purpose of which was to be a meeting with President Vladimir Zelensky. For viewers in general, the protramp TV channel much in the story of Giuliani was a wonder. In particular, a spectacular phrase about how Rudy “came out to a group of people, which includes the enemies of President Trump, in some cases – the United States, and in one case – already convicted for helping the democrats during the elections in 2016.” The interview with Giuliani made quite a stir in the United States and a sensation in Ukraine. No wonder: Trump’s personal lawyer (and old friend) calls the well-known “barn book of the Party of Regions” a fake, mentions the people’s deputy Sergei Leshchenko personally in this context, talks about some unclean oligarch, and also requires the Ukrainian authorities to investigate corruption vice president in the Obama Joe Biden government. In general, the topic of Biden should be considered key in the current lively interest of Giuliani (read: Trump) to Ukraine. Apparently, it is 76-year-old Democrat Joe Biden will compete with 72-year-old Trump in the next US presidential election. And any proven fact about possible corruption of Biden and his loved ones would be a great help in this election for Republicans. On the Ukrainian “battlefield” in Trump’s vast backstage and public war with Democrats, “Tsenzor. NO” already wrote last Friday. Read: this article contains many of the opinions and assessments made during the trip of journalists “Censor. NO” to Paris. Why to Paris? Because it was there that our conversation with Rudi Giuliani took place, which we bring to your attention. In addition to meetings in the French Senate, Giuliani in Paris also spoke with Ukrainian anti-corruption prosecutor Nazar Kholodnitsky. Companion Trump ryteresovat question of the intervention of Ukrainian politicians in the elections (we are talking about the very barn book of the Party of Regions, which hit Manafort). Now it is important for Trump’s comrades-in-arms that the evidence of the American side is supplemented by Ukrainian materials about the electoral intrigues of the Democrats in Ukraine. On the case of Igor Kolomoisky and money laundering, which leads the FBI, Giuliani chose not to talk. But he gave enough signals why the returned oligarch might be toxic for Zelensky. Источник: https://censor.net.ua/r3128991
Zelensky is surrounded by people loyal to Soros – Giuliani
The personal lawyer of President Trump Rudi Giuliani, speaking about the closest circle of President Vladimir Zelensky, noted that it’s one thing to surround yourself with decent people with different political views, and quite another to put the head of the Presidential Administration attorney who worked for top oligarch Igor Kolomoisky. He said this in an exclusive interview with Censor . NO . “I wanted to meet with the President (Zelensky. – Ed.) To say:” Mr. President, please do not let them persuade you to abandon these investigations (cases of the “black bookkeeping” of the Party of Regions, in which the former head of the election headquarters of the US President Donald Trump Paul Manafort. – Ed.). Let them continue. We need to end this once and for all. That is what will be the most important fragment in the picture of how they developed these false accusations against President Trump. Yes, there are other fragments (in our country, the UK, in Italy and in Cyprus) – not only in Ukraine. But this is an important fragment, “said Giuliani, answering the question of what the idea of an unsuccessful meeting with Zelensky should have been. “And then I asked for a meeting with the President, but instead there was a leak to the press that Leshchenko and someone else advised him to stop the investigation and not to meet with me. And when I started checking (and I didn’t know who were these people), people in the United States told me that they should not go, because this is a trap set up by democrats and people loyal to Soros. And now I see that the President is surrounded by them – Kolomoisky’s lawyer and several guys working with Soros and the message that President Trump would like to convey to him (and which I would convey), it sounds like this: “It’s not a good idea to surround yourself with the enemies of President Trump.” Because it’s one thing to surround yourself with decent people with different political views, and quite another to put a guy who works as a top lawyer the oligarch, who is said to have withdrawn billions from your bank, “said Giuliani. Also read: Clients Giuliani Fruman and Parnassus wrote a statement on the preparation of the murder on Kolomoisky “My advice is this: let’s see what he does. I don’t say: small words are worth it. And although I think that the intentions voiced by Zelensky are very good, I share them – and I find some actions very contradictory. And it’s important that you and said the right things, and did them. So let’s see. But in general, all this is politics and diplomacy. Professionally, I’m only concerned that the investigation is not interrupted. And I didn’t hear it (President Zelensky. – Ed .) I talked about this. I do not see anything difficult to say – “Someone it investigates. “Or:” The investigation will be passed on to this person, we will investigate it fully – and let everything be as it will be. “It’s easy to say. We’ll see if he does it,” said Trump’s personal lawyer. Also see: Lutsenko “pulled Ukraine into a dirty game” to save his post – Leshchenko. VIDEO The full version of the interview with Rudi Giuliani: “The US Embassy in Ukraine is involved in the dirty campaign against Trump and in helping Soros. You can’t lecture you about corruption and read our own corrupt official against this background” read HERE . Recall, on March 21, it became known that the GPU would initiate a criminal investigation as to whether the Ukrainian law-enforcement agencies deliberately “leaked” financial documents in which the head of Trump’s election campaign, Paul Manafort, appeared during the 2016 presidential campaign in the USA, in order to influence election results in favor of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. Drainage of the black bookkeeping by the Party of Regions Media USA caused Manafort to resign as the head of the Trump campaign and led to one of the key accusations of investigating a deal with the Kremlin that had plagued Trump over the past two and a half years. According to Lutsenko, the investigation began after the Ukrainian deputy Borislav Rosenblat published an audio recording with the words of a high-ranking law enforcement officer (Artem Sytnik. – Ed.) That his agency had merged the financial reports of Manafort to help the Clinton campaign. The parliamentarian also obtained a court decision that the transfer of documents is essentially an “illegal intervention in the American election campaign.” The National Anti-Corruption Bureau denies information about the possible influence of the bureau on the presidential elections in the United States , as previously stated by the Prosecutor General Yury Lutsenko. Источник: https://censor.net.ua/n3129001
Giuliani accuses Yovanovitch of information campaign against Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump’s lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, has accused former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch of “finding dirty information and creating it on people in the Trump campaign.” — Ukrinform.
Ukraine reports three enemy attacks in Donbas warzone in past day – news war | UNIAN
Russia’s hybrid military forces on May 26 mounted three attacks on Ukrainian army positions in Donbas. Ukraine Army reported no casualties over the period under review.
Three attacks by Russian proxies yesterday: no losses among Ukrainian soldiers
27.05.19 09:50 – Three attacks by Russian proxies yesterday: no losses among Ukrainian soldiers May 26, the Russian occupying forces attacked JFO positions three times. View news.
Ukraine is a “laboratory” for testing Russian attacks in the cyberspace and the military
Ukraine is a “laboratory” for testing Russian attacks in the cyberspace and the military. This was stated by journalists at the opening of the Second National Khakaton by the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Ivanna Klimpush Tsintsadze. As informs Defense Express , this is reported by UNN. “Of course, Ukraine is a frontier and to a certain extent a laboratory for testing Russian attacks not only in the cyberspace, but also in the military sector. The Russian Federation uses its newest weapon on the line of differentiation: that weapon that has not been registered by the armed forces until now” , – said the deputy prime minister. She also emphasized that cybersecurity is an industry that is currently developing itself as an industry faster than the state is able to respond to its development. Klimpush-Tsintsadze stressed the importance of having recommendations and answers to the question of how the state and private structures can cooperate. Publication by topic: FROM MACIAVELL TO WORK OF WAR: HUMAN GREAT BRITAIN GRAPHICS “We would have been very successful if we had the mechanisms of cooperation, interaction between the state and private structures in different sectors. I hope that several such keys for further development and changes of the same legislation or procedures can be proposed this week,” she added. As previously announced by Defense Express , the second National Defense Hackaton will be held in Kyiv.
American EP-3E Aries works along the Crimean coast
The Patrol Plane EP-3E Aries of the United States Navy performs a flight in the Black Sea area off the coast of the occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea. This is reported by the Ukrainian Military Portal The flight began at about 10 o’clock in Kyiv. Orion EP-3E Flight Route: Flight route EP-3E Orion May 27, 2019 Map: PlaneRadar The Lockheed EP-3E Orion patrol aircraft was developed by the American Lockheed company based on the Lockheed L-188 Electra civilian aircraft. It is equipped with a powerful complex of modern equipment required for monitoring in the area of patrolling. Brief technical characteristics of the aircraft: Maximum speed : 780 km / h Range of flight : 4 400 km Cruising speed : 650 km / h Type of engine : Allison T56
Pentagon to supply Ukraine with anti-ship missiles – Defence Blog
Washington is ready to expand arms supplies to Ukraine in order to build up the country’s naval forces in the face of continuing Russian support for eastern separatists, according to the Embassy of Ukraine in the USA. The Ukrainian Embassy said on Thursday that the U.S. Senate suggests increasing up to $300 million and significantly expand assistance to Ukraine’s security sector in the U.S. defense budget for 2020. “The U.S. Senate Armed Forces Committee has approved a draft National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2020, which authorized the Pentagon to allocate $300 million to provide security assistance to Ukraine, which is $50 million more than the current year’s appropriations,” it said on Facebook. Also stated in an announcement the money will be used to expand the U.S assistance in strengthening the defense capability of the Armed Forces of Ukraine by incorporating coastal defenses and anti-ship missiles. “Of this amount, $100 million should be directed solely at lethal types of weapons,” noticed in post. The proposed transfer comes as fighting between Ukrainian troops and Russian-backed separatists has increased in recent days, and the United States is taking steps to deter aggressive military actions by Moscow. Washington has long been opposed to Russia’s aggressive actions in Ukraine.
SpaceX’s 60 satellites spotted over Ukraine. Video
May 26, 60 Starlink satellites of Elon Musk’s SpaceX company launched into space for a global Internet project were spotted flying over Ukraine. — Ukrinform.
Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Oksana Syroid said that Russia was trying to take advantage of the change of power in Ukraine, and this is evident from the rhetoric of some factions. This was stated by Syroid at the conciliation council, correspondent Censor reports. “We have no temporarily uncontrolled territories. The legislation defines temporarily occupied territories. These are parts of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions and the Crimea. It is Russia that occupied our territories and should be treated as an occupier,” she said. According to her, Russia will be responsible under international law. She also called on deputies to support the bill that allows determining compensation from Russia. Источник:https://censor.net.ua/n3129047
Ukrainian President’s Party Names New Head, Will ‘Interview’ Candidates For July Elections
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s newly formed political party has appointed campaign adviser Dmytro Razumkov as its head and will interview prospective candidates to fill its party list ah…
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s envoy to the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament, Ruslan Stefanchuk says the bill for the impeachment of the president and the recall of Members of Parliament (MPs) has already been written. There is a doubt whether it is politically expedient to submit the bill to the parliament of this convocation.
Zelensky addresses Ukrainian lawmakers – news politics | UNIAN
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has addressed the lawmakers and called to vote for reform bills, as well as not to use the rostrum as a platform for personal PR campaign. Read alsoUkraine’s CEC opens account for parliamentary candidates, names amount of cash deposit “Despite the fact that your activity almost completely destroyed the legitimacy of the Verkhovna Rada, you have a chance to restore at least some public confidence in representative democracy. To do this, you just need to start voting for the reform bills, which were developed by Ukrainian and Western experts. They remain without consideration for years, although the citizens and the country are waiting for them,” he wrote on Facebook on May 27. In addition, the president urged not to spoil these bills with “corruption antics.” “At the same time, I am confident the Central Election Commission will fulfill its functional responsibilities for the organization of the electoral process,” Zelensky said. As UNIAN reported earlier, Ukraine’s new President Volodymyr Zelensky on May 21 signed a decree disbanding the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament. On May 23, the decree on the early termination of the powers of the Verkhovna Rada and the appointment of early elections on July 21, 2019 was published in the government’s official newspaper Uriadovy Kurier.
Zelensky urges MPs not to turn parliament into election campaigning platform
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged people’s deputies to support over the next two months the reformist bills developed by Ukrainian and Western specialists. — Ukrinform.
Servant of the People seeking one-party majority in future Rada – election HQ head
The Servant of the People party has set itself the task of obtaining a one-party majority in the future Verkhovna Rada on the basis of early parliamentary elections.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s adviser, former Finance Minister of Ukraine Oleksandr Danyliuk says Ukraine’s government will submit a proposal to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to start a new program of financing the country after the elections to the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament, and the formation of a new Cabinet of Ministers. Danyliuk believes the Ukrainian government should continue to fulfill the conditions of the current IMF program, not hiding behind political reasons.
Zelensky’s spox Razumkov heads Servant of the People Party – news politics | UNIAN
Dmytro Razumkov, a spokesman for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, has become the head of the Servant of the People Party. Razumkov said he was elected at the party congress.
Parubiy: Verkhovna Rada this week to consider issue of government’s resignation
Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Andriy Parubiy has said that on Thursday, May 30, MPs will consider the issue of government’s resignation. — Ukrinform.
Parliament may consider impeachment bill on May 29
Verkhovna Rada Chairman Andriy Parubiy has said that President Volodymyr Zelensky has three more days to table in parliament his bill on impeachment, otherwise the parliament will consider a draft law submitted by deputies. — Ukrinform.
Servant of the People party’s head considers default unlikely way for Ukraine
KYIV. May 27 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The declaration of default by Ukraine offered by businessman Ihor Kolomoisky and the refusal to pay foreign debts is unlikely to be realized, head of the Servant of the People party Dmytro Razumkov has said.
Prosecutor General of Ukraine Yuriy Lutsenko in 2017-2018 intended to open criminal cases on five credit lines of PrivatBank, but could not do this because of the decision of ex-Finance Minister Oleksandr Danyliuk to begin proceeds in the High Court of Justice of England and Wales.
Former finance minister, advisor of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Oleksandr Danyliuk has said that accusations of Ukrainian Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko against him that he allegedly resisted to prosecution of former owners of PrivatBank are manipulations. He, in turn, accused the prosecutor general of sabotaging the court litigation with the ex-owners of the bank in London.
Ukraine’s outgoing Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman says he has decided not to join former President Petro Poroshenko’s force for running for parliament. On May 24, he announced the creation of a new party, “Ukrainian Strategy.”
Coordination Council of Ukrainian Communities created in Norway
Ukrainians living in the Kingdom of Norway have created the Coordination Council of Ukrainian Communities of Norway. — Ukrinform.
UAWire – Media: Kolomoisky fled Israel fearing extradition to the US
The Ukrainian oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky left Israel in a hurry, fearing prosecution and subsequent deportation to the US, reports the Telegram channel The Newsroom. “Two unrelated sources have told us that Kolomoisky returned because the FBI had him pinned in Israel. The amount of information on the oligarch’s schemes is supposedly so large that the local Mossad had already gladly made plans to hand him over to the Americans, despite the fact that Israel does not extradite its own citizens to anyone (which is why Kolomoisky went there from Switzerland),” the Telegram channel states. In its post, the channel remarks that Kolomoisky returned to Ukraine in the hope that the newly elected president, Volodymyr Zelensky, whose election campaign he supported, will not extradite him to the US out of gratitude. “However, it is clear that this plan is not to the Americans’ liking. Especially since upon returning, Kolomoisky has already managed to kick two acquaintances of Trump’s friend Rudolph Giuliani, who tried to organize his meeting with Zelensky,” the Newroom writes. Trump’s personal attorney, Rudolph Giuliani, recently called on the new Ukrainian government to start investigating Kolomoisky, since he had allegedly threatened American citizens. Giuliani also advised Zelensky to rid himself of all the oligarch’s people in his close circle. Apparently he was referring to Kolomoisky’s lawyer, Andriy Bohdan, who has been appointed head of the presidential administration. “The US continues to circle Kolomoisky, as if on a hunt, and this circle is constantly growing smaller. According to our information, two days ago Giuliani was in Paris discussing the oligarch not only with the head of the Ukrainian Specialized Anti-corruption Prosecution, Nazar Holodnitsky, but also with the French prosecutor. What he wanted to dig up on Kolomoisky in France is not known. It is possible that he discussed the details of the extradition agreement between the two countries,” the article continues. Ihor Kolomoisky, who has both Ukrainian and Israeli citizenship, returned to Ukraine on 16 May. He denied that his return was linked to Zelensky’s victory in the elections.
Four Guards Injured In Ukraine Prison Violence Apparently Sparked By Searches
Four prison guards have been injured in what Ukrainian law enforcement authorities said was a riot by inmates at a penitentiary in the Odesa region.
Justice minister Petrenko: 60% of Ukraine’s voters are women
Women account for 60% of voters in Ukraine. — Ukrinform.
To Inform is to Influence 