{"id":66845,"date":"2017-02-06T21:51:44","date_gmt":"2017-02-06T21:51:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/uacrisis.org\/?p=52270"},"modified":"2017-02-14T13:06:43","modified_gmt":"2017-02-14T11:06:43","slug":"52270-weekly-digest-31-january-6-february-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/en\/52270-weekly-digest-31-january-6-february-2017","title":{"rendered":"Weekly Ukrainian digest, 31 January – 6 February, 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"

Weekly Update on Ukraine<\/span>
\nIssue 5\u00a0– 2017<\/span>
\nJanuary 31\u00a0– February 6,\u00a02017<\/span><\/h2>\n

Situation in the combat zone<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fighting for Avdiivka. <\/strong>Since the spike of hostilities in the area of Avdiivka on January 29 a total of 114 private houses and 22 apartments were damaged, reported<\/a> Head of the Donetsk regional state military-civic administration Pavlo Zhebrivsky on February 4. The railway station was damaged as well. Vice Prime Minister, Minister for Regional Development Hennadiy Zubko said that heat and power supply has been restored<\/a> in five- and nine-storied apartment buildings. Photos<\/a> of damages in the city. On February 5 Zhebrivsky said<\/a> intensity of the combat situation near Avdiivka had decreased. A total of 290 people were evacuated<\/a> from the city last week.<\/p>\n

\"tsifra-dnya-english\"<\/p>\n

Reasons for the escalation. <\/strong>Ukrainian media has put forward several hypotheses regarding the escalation near Avdiivka. Thus, a Ukrainian Pravda correspondent says<\/a> it all started from the \u201cmaneuvers\u201d of the Ukrainian army in the grey zone. According to her, Ukrainian troops ran into a group of militants on January 29. Combat started. Militants were not ready and asked for artillery support. Ukrainian troops moved forward to avoid the shelling and took the militant position. (Minsk Agreements were not violated). Militants are now trying to regain it. Another version suggests it is a fight for the strategic road that connects Donetsk and Horlivka (both occupied) that militants use to move equipment and ammunition. Among the versions that seem to be less fact-based is the decrease of financial support to militants on the part of Russia, railway blockade by Ukrainian combat veterans as well as Kremlin\u2019s pressure on the tycoon Rinat Akhmetov (who owns the Avdiivka Coke and Chemical Plant) resulting from his unwillingness to accept Moscow\u2019s terms in sharing the control over the \u201cOpposition Bloc\u201d party. OSCE is<\/a> thinking that the escalation of the situation in Donbas was not occasional and was purposefully provoked.<\/p>\n

Tanks in Avdiivka. <\/strong>BBC journalist Tom Burridge who was reporting from Avdiivka said he saw tanks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in town. Bellingcat investigated<\/a> the case. Defense Ministry said<\/a> that the tanks spotted in Avdiivka are part of the Ukrainian operational reserve and do not take part in combat actions.<\/p>\n

Attacks on Donetsk. <\/strong>Powerful explosion was reported<\/a> in Donetsk on February 2. Social media users assume that it was a militant ammunition depot to explode. Russia-backed militants, in their turn, released information that the Ukrainian troops were allegedly shelling Donetsk in response to the militant attack on Avdiivka. ATO press center said<\/a> Ukrainian troops are accused in order to provoke panic among the locals.<\/p>\n

Bellingcat published a report on the use of heavy weapons in the city of Donetsk (English version<\/a>). Russia-backed militants are firing from residential areas, thus putting under threat local residents. Ukraine\u2019s Security Service intercepted a phone call between \u201cDPR\u201d leaders in which they discuss Donetsk-based attacks (news in English<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Humanitarian situation. <\/strong>Militants did not let<\/a> 26 tons of humanitarian aid into the territories they control. Consignment was sent by the People in Need NGO from the government-controlled areas. Last year \u201cDPR\u201d stripped the organization off the \u201caccreditation\u201d to act in the occupied areas.<\/p>\n

Music keeps the spirits up: Berlin-based Ukrainian violin player plays in Avdiivka<\/strong><\/p>\n

Maryna Bondas is a violinist<\/a> of the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra. She has performed for military and volunteers in Avdiivka, Maryinka and Krasnohorivka. She went on a humanitarian mission to Avdiivka for the fourth time. \u201cI think music and arts in general can save people. Art is the same basic need as food and heat, it\u2019s just that people sometimes do not notice it.\u201d She is convinced that music gives hope and strength to fight, impulse to live further and build a new life. Bondas emphasized that after the war ends, it will continue in people\u2019s minds. It needs to be addressed already now. Video<\/a> of the violinist\u2019s performance in Avdiivka.<\/p>\n

\"muzika-ryatuye2\"<\/p>\n

Life in \u201cDPR\u201d and \u201cLPR\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Night-time raids started<\/a> in the \u201cDPR\u201d. \u201cCity at night\u201d operation was held on February 3-5. \u201cDPR\u2019s\u201d \u201claw enforcement\u201d said the operation aimed at \u201cdiscovering subversive groups as well as at preventing crimes and other violations at night.\u201d Six hundred \u201cDPR\u201d \u201claw enforcement staff\u201d took part in the raids. Four hundred and sixty five persons have been detained in course of the raids.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\"zhittya-dnr\"<\/p>\n

Trump-Poroshenko phone call: what did the presidents of the US and Ukraine talk about?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"rozmova-poroshenko-i-trampa\"<\/p>\n

On February 4 the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko had<\/a> a phone call with the US President Donald Trump. Bolstering strategic partnership between the two countries was in the center of discussion. Special focus was on the settlement of the situation in Donbas as well as achieving peace in a diplomatic and political way. Ukraine\u2019s Ambassador to the US Valeriy Chaly called<\/a> the talk \u201cconstructive, pragmatic and timely\u201d.<\/p>\n

A few days earlier, on February 2, Yuliya Tymoshenko met<\/a> with Trump. Sources say the talk was short, Trump said that he \u201cwill not leave Ukraine\u201d.<\/p>\n

Crimea: energy supply problems<\/strong><\/p>\n

Illegal authorities of the annexed peninsula claim that Crimea residents will no longer experience power supply problems. At the same time residents of Crimea\u2019s large cities \u2013 Kerch, Sudak and Yalta, keep complaining on social media on regular power cuts.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe network is not ready<\/a> to stand such a load, especially under low temperatures,\u201d said Viktor Plakida, Krymenergo director. Plakida calls on citizens to be saving power and consider the need to use electrical appliances.<\/p>\n

In autumn 2016 \u201chead\u201d of the illegal Crimean government Sergey Aksyonov said that the peninsula has enough energy to survive the winter without power cuts. To remind, Ukraine stopped power supplies to the annexed peninsula in December 2015.<\/p>\n

Human rights: Russia refused to extradite Sentsov and Kolchenko<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cRussia refused to extradite Ukrainians Oleg Sentsov and Oleksandr Kolchenko without grounds claiming they are Russian citizens. This \u2018citizenship\u2019 was forcibly granted to all Crimeans after the annexation,\u201d said Serhiy Petukhov, Ukraine\u2019s Deputy Minister of Justice for European integration.<\/p>\n

\"prava-lyudini-2\"<\/p>\n

The official noted that the Ministry will keep working to return Ukrainian political prisoners held in Russia. The Ministry will address international organizations, in the framework of the lawsuits filed to the European Court of Human Rights.<\/p>\n

In August 2015, Russian court held Oleg Sentsov and Oleksandr Kolchenko guilty of setting up a terrorist organization in Crimea, committing two terrorist acts and preparing another one as well as of an attempt to purchase explosives and illegal possession of weapons.<\/p>\n

Sport: Ukraine\u2019s achievements at the Winter Universiade 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ukrainian figure skaters Oleksandra Nazarova and Maksym Nikitin won gold at the Universiade in Kazakhstan\u2019s Almaty. It is Ukraine\u2019s second medal at the event after the victory of biathlete Nadiya Belkina.<\/p>\n

\"sport-2\"<\/p>\n

Ukraine is represented by 59 sportsmen in 10 categories at the 28th<\/sup> Universiade that is taking place<\/a> on January 29 \u2013 February 8. Ukraine\u2019s current medal count is eight \u2013 two gold, two silver and four bronze medals. Ukrainian national team ranks eight in the overall list.<\/p>\n

Culture: Ukrainian Fashion Week, Ukrainian becomes chief conductor at the Graz Opera<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kyiv hosts the 40th<\/sup> jubilee edition of the Ukrainian Fashion Week. Collection by Lilia Poustovit<\/a> \u2013 a fashion pioneer, on board since the very first fashion week in 1997, opened the event. Follow the fashion shows online<\/a> until February 9, check out photos<\/a> of the presented Fall\/Winter 2017\/18 collections. Earlier Vogue.com published an article \u201cUkraine\u2019s Influence on the Runway Is Bigger Than You Think<\/a>\u201d. The online media looks into how garments of the traditional Ukrainian costume become part of collections produced by internationally renowned fashion houses. The media also publishes street style images<\/a> that include the outfits from Vozianov<\/a> fashion show presented in the framework of the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Days Kyiv<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"6-2-17-cultura-vozianov-bestinua-pic-3\"<\/p>\n

Ukrainian Oksana Lyniv passed the competition and became<\/a> chief conductor at the Graz Philharmonic Orchestra and the Graz Opera, Austria. Lyniv is the first woman in almost 150 years to have taken the position. She was conducting concerts and operas in Germany, France, Romania, Estonia and Switzerland. In 2015 she was awarded as best conductor while working as Assistant Music Director at the Bavarian State Opera. Watch<\/a> excerpts from the concert the musician conducted at the premises of the former Lviv tram depot in December 2016.<\/p>\n

Our selection of English-language materials by Ukrainian media<\/strong><\/p>\n

Reportage<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201dAvdiivka is recovering after shelling. What\u2019s going on in the city\u201d<\/a> \u2013 Hromadske International<\/p>\n

\u201dFirst direct contact: Poroshenko and Trump to boost bilateral dialogue\u201d<\/a> – UNIAN<\/p>\n

\u201dMerkel promises Poroshenko not to allow any geopolitical deals behind Kyiv’s back\u201d<\/a> – UNIAN<\/p>\n

\u201dUkraine bids final farewell to soldiers killed in the battle for Avdiivka \u2013 photos\u201d<\/a> – The Day<\/p>\n

\u00abUkraine doctor killed in car hit by militant anti-tank missile near Svitlodarska bulge\u201d<\/a> – UNIAN<\/p>\n

\u201dWe burn wood inside our apartments to warm up\u201d<\/a> \u2013 Hromadske International reports from Maryinka and Krasnohorivka<\/p>\n

\u201dWhy demobilized Ukrainian soldiers block \u2018LPR\u2019-bound train\u201d<\/a> \u2013 Hromadske International<\/p>\n

Interview<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201dIt is critical to prevent the Kremlin\u2019s complete withdrawal to a parallel reality\u201d<\/a> \u2013 UNIAN\u2019s interview with Ukraine\u2019s acting envoy to NATO<\/p>\n

Opinion <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201dRussian speculations around \u2018grey zone\u2019\u201d<\/a> \u2013 column for UNIAN of the military expert Ihor Romanenko<\/p>\n

Analytical materials <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

“Economy sees growth, Avdiivka sees fire”<\/a> \u2013 UNIAN\u2019s weekly analytical digest<\/p>\n

\u201dConservation\u201d<\/a> \u2013 Ukrainian politics analyzed by \u201cLivy Bereh\u201d editor-in-chief Sonia Koshkina<\/p>\n

\n\t\n\t\t\"\"\t\t\n\t\t\tView Gallery<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t12 images\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/figure>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Weekly Update on Ukraine Issue 5\u00a0– 2017 January 31\u00a0– February 6,\u00a02017 Situation in the combat zone Fighting for Avdiivka. Since the spike of hostilities in the area of Avdiivka on January 29 a total of 114 private houses and 22 apartments were damaged, reported Head of the Donetsk regional state military-civic administration Pavlo Zhebrivsky on […] More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":66846,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[705,748],"tags":[],"section":[743],"form":[800],"yoast_head":"\nWeekly Ukrainian digest, 31 January - 6 February, 2017 | UACRISIS.ORG<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Weekly Update on Ukraine Issue 5\u00a0- 2017 January 31\u00a0- February 6,\u00a02017 Situation in the combat zone Fighting for Avdiivka. 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