Ukraine and pro-Russian separatists exchange prisoners

December 29, 2019 (BBC News Europe) Pro-Russian separatists and Ukraine have concluded a long-awaited prisoner exchange of 200 prisoners, the office of the Ukrainian president said. Ukraine's government received 76 captives, with the pro-Russian separatists reportedly taking 124. Russian and Ukrainian authorities agreed to the swap - which is aimed at improving ties - at talks in December. 

Relations between the two countries deteriorated in 2014, when Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean peninsula. Russian-backed rebels then began an insurgency in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of eastern Ukraine. More than 13,000 people have been killed in the conflict. This is the second prisoner exchange involving Russia and Ukraine. In September, 24 sailors seized by Russia in the Kerch Strait off Crimea in November 2018 were released and - controversially - a "person of interest" over the downing of flight MH17 which killed 298 people was handed to Russia. Sunday's swap took place at a check point near the industrial town of Horlivka in the Donetsk region. 

Ukraine, Sweden Discuss Security Cooperation

December 21, 2019 (https://eng.uatv.ua/) Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) Oleksiy Danilov held a meeting with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Sweden to Ukraine Tobias Thyberg on December 20th. During the meeting, the parties discussed the current issues of bilateral security cooperation and the possibilities of its further expansion, the NSDC’s press service stated. The NSDC secretary expressed gratitude for the support provided by Sweden to Ukraine in difficult times of countering external aggression and an unstable security environment.

“The war will gradually move to cyberspace, and cyber weapons will become the major weapon, and we must be ready to counter it. Cyber ??and information security are our key priorities,” Danilov said. Thyberg noted the positive dynamics of bilateral cooperation, particularly in the training of Ukrainian military within the framework of the Canadian UNIFIER mission and in providing expert support in the reform of the Security Service of Ukraine. The ambassador also suggested that it might be promising for Ukraine and Sweden to expand cooperation in the Navy, as Ukraine and Sweden are maritime nations, and our defense methods and structures are somewhat similar.

What happened to the wild nature more than 30 years after the Chernobyl disaster?

December 11, 2019 (coma.in.ua) The Chernobyl disaster was a nuclear accident that occurred on Saturday 26 April 1986, at the No. 4 nuclear reactor in the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, near the city of Pripyat. An area originally extending 30 kilometers in all directions from the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant is officially called the "zone of alienation." It is largely uninhabited, except for about 300 residents who have refused to leave. The area has largely reverted to forest, and has been overrun by wildlife because of a lack of competition with humans for space and resources.

These pictures were taken in the heart of the "zone of alienation" by the hidden camera. It's hard to believe that only 31 years have passed since people left this area. It's amazing how quickly nature has managed to restore life in the area of man-made disaster! It turns out that radiation is not as terrible for animals as for humans.

Normandy summit begins in Paris

December 9, 2019 (UNIAN) A Normandy summit of four leaders – Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, Vladimir Putin of Russia, Angela Merkel of Germany, and Emmanuel Macron of France – has begun in Paris. This summit has become Zelensky's first meeting with Putin since his election as Ukraine's president. Zelensky is set to negotiate the exchange of prisoners of war, a ceasefire and withdrawal of illegal armed formations from Donbas, eastern Ukraine. After the summit, Zelensky is scheduled to separately meet with Putin.

Kharkiv Armored Plant carried out unusual tests of the T-80BV tank, armed with a 125-mm cannon, accept by this a beer challenge taking from the Lviv Armored Plant

December 9, 2019 (from-ua.com) According to the developers, such a clear demonstration of the stabilizer of a tank’s gun shows that the gun is always precisely aimed at the target, even in off-road conditions. This will allow the gunner to destroy the target from the first shot. It is worth noting that earlier such tests were carried out by the Lviv Armored Plant. The test was that the mug with beer fixed on the barrel of the tank, which weight is 50 tons, did not fall and spill during the movement of the combat vehicle. In their test, the Kharkov gunsmiths went further - in addition to the beer mug, they put a glass of cognac on the cannon. And both tests were passed successfully.

U.S. reaffirms its support for Ukraine ahead of Normandy Four Summit

December 8, 2019 (UNIAN) The United States is committed to working with its Allies and partners to keep pressure on Russia to live up to its commitments and to begin the process of peacefully restoring Ukraine's full sovereignty over Donbas. The United States has reaffirmed its support for Ukraine ahead of the Normandy Four Summit in Paris on December 9. "The United States reaffirms our unwavering support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity in the lead up to the Normandy Format Summit. The United States is committed to working with our Allies and partners to keep pressure on Russia to live up to its commitments and to begin the process of peacefully restoring Ukraine's full sovereignty over Donbas," the U.S. said in a statement posted by the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine on Facebook. According to the statement, since 2014, the United States has provided a total of $3 billion in security and non-security assistance funds that support a broad range of Ukrainian institutions and organizations.

"Our programs have helped to launch crucial initiatives related to law enforcement, the fight against corruption, judicial reform, military reform and building democratic institutions. This assistance is administered according to U.S. laws and is regularly audited by U.S. inspectors general," reads the report. "We have consistently said that Ukraine's long-term success and resilience depends on its commitment to reform, in particular the fight against corruption. To succeed, Ukraine needs committed government officials and strong anti-corruption institutions." "We will stand with Ukraine as it fights the Russians, strengthens the rule of law, creates a healthier investment climate, reforms its defense sector, fights disinformation, and takes the steps necessary to ensure the final victory of those aligned on the side of justice and dignity," the statement says. As UNIAN reported earlier, the leaders of the Normandy Four states – Ukraine, France, Germany, and Russia – are scheduled to meet in Paris, France, on December 9.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged Sweden to increase business presence in Ukraine

December 6, 2019 (www.president.gov.ua) Ukraine is interested in large-scale projects in alternative energy, energy security, agriculture, IT sector, infrastructure and environmental protection, as stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy following the negotiations with Prime Minister of Sweden Stefan Löfven.

“I am very grateful to Sweden and personally to the Prime Minister for the continued support for Ukraine, for the practical assistance in implementing important reforms on decentralization, freedom of speech, environmental protection, energy conservation and energy security. It is a pleasure that Mr. Löfven fully shares the view that the best answer to all existing challenges and threats is to build a successful Ukraine,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during a joint press conference with Stefan Löfven in Kyiv.

The Head of State assured the Swedish Prime Minister that the assistance provided by the Swedish side to support reforms in Ukraine would be fully justified.

The President noted that Sweden was one of the largest trading partners of Ukraine in Northern Europe and an important investment partner. "We just have to expand it - it is a must. Our trade is really growing,” he said.

“I called on the Swedish side to increase its business presence in Ukraine. We are very interested in large-scale projects on alternative and renewable energy, energy security, agriculture, IT sector, infrastructure,” the President added.

In particular, during the Ukrainian-Swedish talks, Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine was working hard to improve energy efficiency. “This will make our economy much more competitive and increase Ukraine's energy security. We count on our active cooperation in this area,” the President stated.

Tests of Neptune cruise missile P-360 successfully completed in Ukraine

November 30, 2019 (112.com) Tests of the Neptune cruise missile P-360 successfully compete in Ukraine. During the tests, the missile performed a flight of several hundred kilometers, Defense Express reported citing Oleh Korostelev, General Director of the Ukrainian manufacturer Luch Design Bureau. "For the first time, we made an over 250 km desired track flight. That is, we can say now that the development of the aerial vehicle with the given characteristics has been completed," Korostelev said. Neptune uses a 150-kilogram high-explosive fragmentation (HE-FRAG) warhead and can be deployed on air, sea, and land platforms, though initial deployments are slated for Ukraine’s Azov Sea coastal missile defenses. The missile boasts a maximum effective range of just under 280 kilometers and is designed to destroy vessels with a displacement of up to 5,000 tons; frigates, generally; speed about 900 km/h, and the height of the flight above the crest of the waves - from 3 to 10 m.

The complex provides the simultaneous launch of up to 24 missiles (that is, a full volley of 6 launchers), with a launch interval in a volley of 3 to 5 seconds. The complex can be located up to 25 km from the coastline, and the required time for its deployment is up to 15 minutes. As it was reported earlier, missile test exercise took place in Odesa region, southern Ukraine.

Long-living scientist heads the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine for more than half a century

November 27, 2019 (UNIAN) A world-renowned outstanding scientist in the field of welding, metallurgy and metal technology, the President of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Borys Paton is celebrating today, November 27, his 101st birthday.

Borys Paton. Courtesy ZN.ua

He was born in Kyiv on November 27, 1918 in the family of scientist and founder of Paton Institute of Electric Welding in Kyiv, Professor Evgen Paton. His mother was a housewife. In 1941, he completed Kyiv Polytechnic Institute and became an engineer. Borys Paton joined the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine on November 18, 1958 and became its president in 1962. Currently, Borys Paton is the oldest president of the Academy of Sciences in the world. He made an incredibly important contribution to metal welding technology. Borys Paton created technologies for welding under water, in outer space and automatic welding of tank armor. 

In the early 1970s and 1980s Borys Paton had advised the Soviet authorities not to build the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. It is well known, that Soviet politicians did not consider the prominent academician’s opinion. Now the whole world knows what catastrophic consequences this led to.

This is an aerial photo of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant taken two or three days after the 1986 explosion that spread clouds of radioactive dust across the western part of the Soviet Union and Europe.

(Volodymir Repik / AP)

Russia-made drone dropped a few cumulative grenades on Ukrainian position

November 26, 2019 (zn.ua) Ukrainian military men have shown consequences of the attack of the Russian unmanned aerial vehicle “Enix” (commonly known as a drone) on the positions of Ukrainian troops in the Anti-Terrorist Operation Zone. As one of the military men told, the drone was spotted due to its sound that resembles a sound of the electric mowing machine. Ukrainian military men fired at the drone while it was under their position but because of the bad weather it was not possible to take aim at it. The drone dropped six cumulative grenades RKG-ZEM and lost itself in the cloud. Luckily nobody was injured during this attack.

Shell hole left by cumulative grenade on the position of Ukrainian troops

Ukrainian reconnaissance reported that mentioned above drone “Enix” was manufactured in Kazan (Russian Federation) and long ago delivered to the combat area in the Eastern Ukraine.

Russian drone “Enix” on the launcher.

You may look a brief  Ukrainian video filmed on the position that suffered Russian drone's attack

U.S. State Department on Holodomor: Soviet Union could not break spirit of Ukrainian people

November 24, 2019 (UNIAN) U.S. State Department on Holodomor Remembrance Day has said the Soviet Union could not break the spirit of the Ukrainian people. "This November we honor and remember the millions of Ukrainians who perished eighty-six years ago during Holodomor, the catastrophic famine created by the barbaric policies of the Stalin regime," U.S. State Department Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said in a statement by on November 23, 2019. According to her, through the deliberate seizure of Ukrainian land and crops and forced collectivization, the Soviet Union caused widespread starvation and death and immeasurable human suffering. "While this horrific tragedy was one of the most atrocious of the twentieth century, the Soviet Union could not break the spirit of the Ukrainian people," she said. Ortagus said Ukraine is again under attack today. "Russia's occupation of Crimea and continued aggression in eastern Ukraine has resulted in roughly 13,000 deaths. Even still Moscow attempts to manipulate and destroy the aspirations of the people of Ukraine. But Russia's malign campaign misjudges Ukrainians resilience and ignores their desire for a better future. That campaign is doomed to fail," she said. Morgan Ortagus stressed as people around the world unite in remembrance of the Holodomor's innocent victims, the United States reaffirms its commitment to a democratic and prosperous Ukraine – secure within its internationally recognized borders and able to shape its own destiny.

The Holodomor  derived from  "to kill by starvation" was a famine in Soviet Ukraine in 1932 and 1933 that killed millions of Ukrainians. It is also known as the Terror-Famine and Famine-Genocide in Ukraine, and sometimes referred to as the Great Famine or the Ukrainian Genocide of 1932–33. It was part of the wider Soviet famine of 1932–33, which affected the major grain-producing areas of the country. During the Holodomor, millions of inhabitants of Ukraine, the majority of whom were ethnic Ukrainians, died of starvation in a peacetime catastrophe unprecedented in the history of Ukraine. Since 2006, the Holodomor has been recognized by Ukraine and 15 other countries as a genocide of the Ukrainian people carried out by the Soviet government.

Reconnaissance unit of the German Air Force in Poltava

Many interesting pictures taken in Poltava airfield and downtown during the German occupation were found recently in the Germany State Archives. Later on it turned out that many of them were taken by officers and soldiers who served in the Long-Distance Reconnaissance Squadron 3(F)/10 (Aufklärungsgruppe 10 'Tannenberg') that has been stationed in Poltava from late 1941-till late 1942.

In early 1941, the 3rd Long-Distance Reconnaissance Squadron was converted to Ju-88. From June 1941 it participated in operation “Barbarossa” and flew reconnaissance missions for the 18th German Army in the northern sector of the Eastern Front. Many of these pictures were included in my new book “Poltava in the time of the German-Russian war 1945-1941. View through the lens of camera”.

Ground crew with a Motorenanwärmer 38 (heater for engines) working on the Ju-88 D "Habicht (Hawk)" of the 3. / (F) 10 (see emblem on the nose) at the Poltava airfield - March 1942

Snowy winter of 1941 on Poltava airbase.

Flooded Poltava in early spring of 1942.

Luftwaffe officers in Poltava city park.

What would parenting be like if fathers took six months of parental leave? Take a look.

November 19, 2019 (The Washington Post) The photos all show seemingly mundane moments of family life: A parent bathing an infant in a kitchen sink, another wrangling toddlers into a stroller, or coaxing a forkful of food into a daughter’s mouth. If the parents had all been mothers, the photos wouldn’t be particularly exceptional. But all of the images are of men — fathers who, given generous parental paid leave by their government, chose to stay at home with their child for at least six months.

The images are part of a photo exhibition called “Swedish Dads,” a series of portraits of 45 fathers on display through November at the Embassy of Sweden in Kyiv. The exhibition, by Swedish photographer Johan Bävman, has toured 65 countries, but this is its first time in Ukraine. As he debuts his photo series for Ukrainian audience, Bävman hopes to tell a story of gender equality in parenting, of a new perception of masculinity and what a society could look like if it truly prioritized both.

Yesterday the exhibition was shown at the Office of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine

Whether another bust of the King will come to Poltava some day?

November 14, 2019 After the reconstruction, a hall dedicated to the history of Cossack Ukraine was reopened in the Poltava Regional Museum. In the museum, visitors can see household items, weapons, uniforms, a Cossack boat, portraits of Ukrainian hetmans, maps and much more. Among the exhibits of this hall there is also a bust of Charles XII, created by Swedish sculptor and historian Bernhard Englund and delivered to Poltava in 2009 by a delegation of the Swedish Military History Society (SMB) headed by Einar Lyth. 

During the presentation of the new museum hall, I asked the deputy director of the Poltava Regional Museum Volodymyr Moklyak about the prospect of transferring the bust created by Bernhard Englund to the Museum of the Battle of Poltava.

 He replied that such a transfer in the near future seems to be not possible and it might be easier to order another bust of the Swedish king and deliver it directly to the Museum of the Battle of Poltava.

Over 6,000 Ukrainians in prisons abroad – Rada's human rights committee

November 12, 2019 (UNIAN) Around 6,180 citizens of Ukraine are currently serving their sentences in foreign prisons. "There are 168 Ukrainians accused of transit of illegal migrants in Greek prisons alone," says Dmytro Lubynets, the chairman of an ad hoc group and the Committee on human rights, de-occupation and reintegration of the temporarily occupied territories in Donetsk, Luhansk regions and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the city of Sevastopol, national minorities and interethnic relations, according to the press service of the Verkhovna Rada's Office.

"Organized criminal groups very often invited them to allegedly work on cruise ships, but actually involved them in illegal trafficking. The terms of the punishment are from 20 to 280 years!" he said. "That is why we decided to create an ad hoc group from among representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the National Police, and the Ministry of Social Protection. It is designed to promptly develop concrete steps for the return of the Ukrainians home," he added. The group, which is seeking ways to return Ukrainian citizens serving sentences in Greece, has developed a plan of priority steps to start the process to bring them home. 

President Poroshenko starts re-registration of confectionery assets to his eldest son's name

November 7, 2019 (UNIAN) The fifth president of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, has started the process of re-registering confectionery assets to the name of his eldest son, Oleksiy Poroshenko. The change in the Central European Confectionery Company (CECC) beneficiary ownership was recorded in the open register of national public figures, the Anti-Corruption Action Center said. As of November 6, Oleksiy Poroshenko was listed as the CECC's beneficiary. The data is also confirmed by Ukraine's State Register of Legal Entities, Individual Entrepreneurs and NGOs. It states that control of the company was transferred to Oleksiy Poroshenko as a result of obtaining corporate rights of Dutch-registered Roshen Europe B. V., which owns an 85% stake in the CECC. Roshen did not deny the report, saying that only the beneficiaries knew about the reasons for the change of ownership, the Ukrainian media outlet Novoye Vremya said. 

The CECC is one of the key assets in the structure of Roshen Corporation and is the founder of a number of other enterprises. Simultaneously, there is a change in the beneficiary ownership of the following CECC-founded enterprises: LLC Roshen De Luxe, LLC CC Roshen, LLC Roshen-Volyn, LLC Roshen Svit, and others, which until recently had been declared by the fifth president. Petro Poroshenko remains the beneficiary of a number of other enterprises controlled by the CECC. As UNIAN reported earlier, Roshen Corporation, the largest confectionery manufacturer in Ukraine, reduced production at its factory in Lithuania and laid off two-thirds of workers.

A new book on Poltava's history has been issued

November 1, 2019 My new book "Poltava in the time of the German-Russian war 1941-1945. View through the lens of camera" written in co-authorship with famous Ukrainian historian Viktor Reveguk was presented yesterday in Poltava Regional Museum. Poltava Regional Council decided to time the publication of the book to coincide with the celebration of the 75th anniversary of liberation of Ukraine from the Nazi invaders. 

The book is dedicated to the insufficiently known period of Poltava's history when the city was under German occupation from September 19, 1941 till 23 October 1943. The main feature of this book is more than 250 photos taken during 1941-1944 that were found in many archives of Russian Federation, Germany, and United States. 

Many of these pictures were purchased due to financial support of Svenskt Militärhistoriskt Bibliotek. Unfortunately this book was published  in a small print run but nevertheless all who attended the presentation were able to purchase this undoubtedly interesting book.

Day of liberation of Ukraine from Nazi invaders marked on October 28

October 29, 2019 (112.UA) On October 28, Ukraine marks a memorable event in its history – the Day of liberation of Ukraine from fascist invaders. It is a national holiday dedicated to the removal of German Nazi forces and their allies during World War II out of the territory of modern Ukraine. This day was chosen because it is believed that the last Nazi Reich soldier was expelled from the territory of Ukraine on this day in 1944. According to the official statement, the holiday was introduced “for the nation-wide celebration of the liberation of Ukraine from fascist invaders and to honor heroic act and sacrifice of Ukrainian people during World War II.” During World War II (1939-1945), the battles significant for the liberation of Europe from fascism took place in Ukraine. On October 27, 1944, Uzhhorod was retaken from the Germans, and Soviet troops arrived at what would be the modern western border of Ukraine. On 28 October 1944, the last territory of current Ukraine (near Uzhhorod, then part of the Kingdom of Hungary) was cleared of German troops; this is annually celebrated in Ukraine on 28 October) as the “anniversary of the liberation of Ukraine from the Nazis.” In total, the Armed Forces of the USSR held 15 assault operations involving half of all Soviet forces – 2.3 million people – on the territory of Ukrainian SSR in 1943–1944.

After the Revolution of Dignity in Ukraine, the name “Day of the liberation of Ukraine from fascist invaders” is considered inaccurate. Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance (UINR) insisted on using the term “expulsion of Nazi occupants from Ukraine” instead of “liberation from fascist invaders.” “The term “liberation” means freedom, but in 1944 Ukraine did not become free. With the expulsion of Nazi occupants, it did not gain freedom, but found itself under the other rule which resulted in mass repressions and deportations, including hounded thousands of Ukrainians, Poles, and the whole Crimean Tatar people,” then head of UINR Volodymyr Viatrovych said.

Liberation of Kyiv from fascist invaders in WWII, Kyiv

According to him, the thesis of more than 70 years of liberation “is a continuation of Soviet propaganda clichés that Russia still uses in the war against Ukraine.” The UINR emphasized that during the Second World War, the Soviet Union set the goal not to liberate Ukrainian people, but to restore the totalitarian regime on the territory of modern Ukraine. Ukrainian people regained freedom on August 24, 1991 - the liberation of Ukraine happened only with the collapse of the Soviet Union. However, the name of the holiday has not been changed on the official level and remained the Day of the liberation of Ukraine from fascist invaders.

MINISTER OF DEFENSE OF UKRAINE HAS STARTED A WORKING VISIT TO NATO HEADQUARTERS

October 24, 2019 (Defence Express) On October 24, delegation of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has started a working visit to NATO Headquarters to participate in a meetings of the North Atlantic Council (NAC) at the level of Defense Ministers of the contributor states to NATO’s “Resolute Support” training and advisory mission in Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The Minister of Defense of Ukraine Andriy Zagorodnyuk is scheduled to hold meetings with the Ministers of Defense of the United Kingdom, Canada, Lithuania, Poland and the United States in QUINT format. Bilateral meetings with the NATO Secretary General (in short format), the Executive Director of the European Defense Agency as well as with the Heads of Delegation of the other contributor states to the NATO’s “Resolute Support” training and advisory mission in Islamic Republic of Afghanistan are also scheduled to take place during a visit.

The QUINT is an informal decision-making group consisting of the United States and the Big Four of Western Europe (France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom). It operates as a "directoire" of various entities such as NATO and the G7/G20

The letter written by the little Ukrainian girl to defenders of Ukraine who’re fighting in the Eastern Ukraine

October 18, 2019 (UNIAN) This touching letter was written by Ukrainian girl and enclosed to the parcel containing some candies and clothes. The parcel was sent to the Eastern Ukraine that is suffering Russian aggression.

Hello, My name is Marja, I am 8 years old. Please hand over enclosed clothes to children who are living in the combat area. They hardly can buy any cloths there. Please give enclosed candies to soldiers who are sad and miss their folks so much. I wish them to return home with victory as quick as possible. I and my mom prayed for them and lit candles in the church. Glory to Ukraine! Please spend my money as you think best.

Stoltenberg believes Ukraine's further integration with the Alliance will depend on reform progress.

October 15, 2019 (UNIAN) NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, speaking at the meeting of the organization's Parliamentary Assembly in London, has called on the European Union to provide a more practical support to Ukraine. In a few weeks, "the whole North Atlantic Council will go to Ukraine, visit Ukraine, and express our strong political support, and I urge also NATO Allies to provide even more practical support to Ukraine. They need our support. This is about supporting Ukraine, but it is also about upholding and supporting a rules-based order, which is of great importance for all of us," Stoltenberg said in his address.

Foto REUTERS

The secretary general added that on the path of Ukraine's further Euro-Atlantic integration, including membership, "the focus should be on reforms, on how to modernize Ukraine's defense and security institutions". As UNIAN reported earlier, NATO officials will visit Ukraine Oct 31. During their stay, the delegation will visit Kyiv and Odesa. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko expressed hope that NATO leaders would get a clear picture of the developments in the Black Sea area and approve a corresponding aid package, also called "Black Sea Package" that the Alliance had earlier offered Ukraine.

On Defenders Day, President Zelensky congratulates troops in Donbas

October 15, 2019 (UNIAN) President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky during a visit to Donetsk region congratulated Ukrainian military servicemen on Defenders Day. Addressing the troops, Zelensky noted that "there were times when the whole country lived too carelessly," Donbas News reports. According to the president, then it seemed that the war was something very distant. "At that time, the state either didn't care much, or at all, about its own army," he added. Zelensky emphasized that in order to realize that “shortsightedness and naive childish gullibility,” Ukraine pay a "too high a price", including the loss of a part of territories and thousands of people. 

The president explained that meant the Russian annexation of Crimea and the war in Donbas. Zelensky stressed that Ukraine managed to "be reborn", "get on its feet, wipe off the dust and say: 'You wish'." After addressing the military, Zelensky presented a number of state awards.

President Volodymyr Zelensky meets the press Thursday — all day long.

October 11, 2019 (Youtube) A press-marathon was held by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky all day yesterday (Oct. 10), in central Kyiv. The goal was to have a new and open format where journalists can ask the president all of their questions. Three-hundred journalists met with the president in the Kyiv Food Market, a popular newly opened food hall.

Estonia not to accept even one asylum seeker, enough problems with Ukrainians – Interior minister

October 9, 2019 (UNIAN) Estonian Interior Minister Mart Helme has said Estonia will not accept asylum seekers, as the country has enough problems with immigrants coming from Ukraine. At a meeting of interior ministers in Luxembourg on Tuesday, he said Estonia was currently facing very strong immigration pressure from former Soviet Union countries, ERR News reported. "When we look at it, asylum seekers do not come to us from the Middle East or Africa, but from Ukraine. Second place was Georgia, then Moldova, and only then came Afghanistan and such countries," Helme said. Helme said that Estonia currently has enough problems with immigrants coming from Ukraine.

"We are still struggling with this immigration pressure, and we don't see much understanding for us. Ukrainians tend to integrate into the Russian-speaking community and for us, it's a cultural and demographic problem, and if someone says it's not a problem, [for us] it's a very serious problem. And if we start opening second and third fronts to take Latin America, Venezuela, the Middle East, and then sub-Saharan West Africa, we have no power," he said. The interior minister said Estonia needs to make its position very clear to everyone. "In order to prevent the arrival of people whom we cannot accept and those we do not want to accept, we must take this position. We have long stated our position. As long as we, that is EKRE [the Conservative People's Party of Estonia], are in government, Estonia will not accept immigrants," Helme said.
He did not expand upon what the problems with Ukrainians were or what problems have been raised. Last month he suggested an inquiry should be launched to stop Ukrainians moving to Estonia under the European Union's Schengen agreement. Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu quickly said this would not be possible. Helme also believes Ukrainians who move to Estonia for work, which the vast majority do rather than seeking asylum, should face "systematic scrutiny."

U.S. clears $39 million sale of Javelin missiles to Ukraine

October 6, 2019 (Defence Blog) The United States is set to sell more military equipment to Ukraine, according to a statement issued Thursday by the Department of Defense. Earlier this year, the Defense Department made plans to provide some $250 million in aid to Ukraine, with the goal of transitioning that aid before the end of the fiscal year. The department was largely successful in that goal, a Pentagon spokesman said. “As of today, the bulk of this $250 million is on contract, the rest should be out soon,” Jonathan Rath Hoffman, the assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs, said during a news conference at the Pentagon today. The Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in its statement that the State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Ukraine for one Javelin missiles and related equipment and support.

The approval, which was announced by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency on 03 October, covers the one hundred fifty Javelin missiles, ten Javelin Command Launch Units, training devices, transportation, support equipment, technical data and publications as well as other equipment and support for an estimated cost not to exceed $39.2 million. “This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by improving the security of Ukraine,” the DSCA said. “The Javelin system will help Ukraine build its long-term defense capacity to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity in order to meet its national defense requirements.” The United States has been one of Kyiv’s staunchest supporters since Moscow’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the subsequent outbreak of fighting in Ukraine’s eastern Donbass region that has killed more than 10,000 people.

Seven dead after WWII B-17 plane crashes, erupts into flames at Bradley Airport

October 3, 2019 (NBCNews) Seven people aboard a vintage World War II plane were killed Wednesday when it crashed shortly after takeoff, erupting into flames at Bradley International Airport, just outside of Hartford, Connecticut, authorities said. State Police Commissioner James Rovella told reporters at an evening news conference that the families of all but three of the victims had been contacted. The flight took off at 9:45 a.m. before reporting five minutes later that it was having difficulties, authorities said. "We observed that the aircraft was not gaining altitude," Connecticut Airport Authority Executive Director Kevin Dillon said. The plane tried to return to the airport when it crashed at 9:54 a.m., officials said.

A Boeing B-17 used by the U.S. military during World War II. Many such heavy bombers were deployed in Poltava during the operation “Frantic Joe” 

There were 13 people on board the Boeing B-17, two pilots, one attendant, and 10 passengers. Another person on the ground was injured when the plane slid off the runway and slammed into a building used to house the airport's deicing equipment, officials said. Witness Brian Hamer, who lives in Norton, Massachusetts, was less than a mile away from the airport when he spotted the B-17, “which you don’t normally see,” flying low overhead. Hamer saw smoke coming from the back of the craft and heard one engine sputter. “Then we heard all the rumbling and the thunder, and all the smoke comes up and we kind of figured it wasn’t good,” Hamer said. Another witness, Antonio Arreguin, was parked at a construction site 250 yards from the crash site when he heard an explosion — and felt the heat from the ensuing fire. “In front of me, I see this big ball of orange fire, and I knew something happened,” Arreguin said. “The ball of fire was very big.” Hartford Hospital received six patients from the crash, three were initially listed in critical condition, two in moderate condition and one with just minor injuries, doctors there said.

Read a full articleand see a video at https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/vintage-b-17-plane-crashes-erupts-flames-bradley-international-airport-n1061161

Ukrainian Army Inducts Turkish Combat Drones

September 30, 2019 (DefenceWorld.net) Turkey’s Bayraktar TB2 combat drones were pressed to service by the Ukrainian Army, the country’s defense ministry announced on Saturday. Ukraine announced the deal for the purchase of Turkish combat drones for its army in mid-January. Turkish UAV manufacturer Baykar was to produce six Bayraktar TB2 and deliver them to Ukraine in a year. Along with the UAVs, three ground control station systems and equipment was also mentioned to be delivered.The value of the contract is not known.

The TB2 armed UAV, was developed for tactical reconnaissance and surveillance missions and it can also carry ammo, do assaults, and has laser target acquisition. It has a service ceiling of 8,239 meters (27,030 feet) and a flight endurance of 24 hours. It can carry 150 kilograms (330 pounds) of payload and can be operated day and night.

One of Ukraine's largest exhibitions on Donbas war opens in Kyiv

September 30, 2019 (UNIAN) One of Ukraine's largest exhibitions on the war of Donbas has opened in Kyiv. The Ukrainian East project features real artifacts collected not only by museum workers, but also by the military, the families of victims and journalists, the TV news service TSN reported.

On display are over 10,000 items collected during the war. These are documents, and personal belongings, Ukrainian flags, uniforms, books, weapons, eyewitness evidence, traffic signs, and even a piano. The National Museum of the History of Ukraine in World War II (27 Lavrska Street) houses the exhibition. The Ukrainian East project has been implemented with the support of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation, Amuseum, and the Luhansk Regional Museum.

Zelensky, Trump holding bilateral meeting in New York (video)

September 29, 2019 (UNIAN) Presidents Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine and Donald Trump of the United States are holding a bilateral meeting in New York City. This was reported by the Office of the President of Ukraine. The negotiations are taking place on the sidelines of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly. Prior to that, Zelensky and Trump met at an official reception organized by the U.S.President and First Lady on September 24. As UNIAN reported earlier, Zelensky on September 24 attended the opening of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly in New York. 

On the sidelines of the session, he held a series of meetings with heads of state and international organizations, and also communicated with members of business circles and investors. On September 25, Zelensky delivered a speech during the high-level General Debate of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly.

PARTICIPATION IN TEKNOFEST ISTANBUL AEROSPACE AND TECHNOLOGY FESTIVAL 2019 BECAME A NEW STEP TOWARDS COOPERATION WITH TYURKEY IN AIRCRAFT INDUSTRY

September 24, 2019 (antonov.com) Within a period between 17th and 22nd of September 2019, ANTONOV Company took part in TEKNOFEST ISTANBUL Aerospace and Technology Festival 2019. The Company’s delegation was headed by Oleksandr Donets, President of ANTONOV Company.

In the course of presentation of modern ANTONOV’s aviation programmes the meetings at the high state level were conducted. Aivaras Abromavichius, director general of SC Ukroboronprom, Serhiy Kryvonos, Deputy Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine in the Republic of Turkey Andrii Sybiha took part in the negotiations from Ukrainian party. Suleyman Soylu, Minister of the Interior in the Republic of Turkey, together with Arsen Avakov, Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine visited AN-178 aircraft. “AN-178 is a very good airplane. Besides, our helicopters Mi-17 are being modernized in Ukraine. This is an example of very successful cooperation with you”, – quoted Mr. Soylu by press service of Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. Summarizing results of ANTONOV’s participation in TEKNOFEST ISTANBUL Aerospace and Technology Festival 2019, head of the Company Oleksandr Donets noted: “This event was very important for us to provide manufacturers of Turkey with further information about modern ANTONOV’s projects. We had possibility to discuss directions of future cooperation. The key event of the negotiation process was meeting with Ismail Demir, President of Defense Industries in the Republic of Turkey, and Mustafa Varank, Minister of Industry and Technology in the Republic of Turkey. Aspects of strategic partnership in aircraft industry were set”.

Today Poltava celebrates the Liberation Day

September 23, 2019 On September 23, 1943 the Red Army liberated the city of Poltava, that has been turned by German army into a powerful defense center in the Ukraine to the east of the Dnieper. In the fighting for the liberation of the town of Poltava, troops commanded by Lieutenant General Zhadov, Lieutenant General Managarov and airmen commanded by Lieutenant General of Aviation Goryunov, distinguished themselves, especially the 9th Guards Airborne Division (Colonel Sazonov), the 13th Guards Red Banner Infantry Division (Major General Baklanov), the 66th Guards Infantry Division (Major General Yakshin), the 95th Guards Infantry Division (Major General Nikichenko), the 97th Guards Infantry Division (Colonel Antsiferov), the 84th Kharkov Infantry Division (Major General Bunyashin), the 42nd Light Artillery Brigade (Colonel Skorodumov), the 301st Anti-tank Artillery Regiment (Lieutenant Colonel Vlassenko), the 57th Tank Regiment (Lieutenant Colonel Federov), the 431st Engineering Battalion (Lieutenant Colonel Boltusevich), the 294th Fighter Aviation Division (Lieutenant Colonel Taranenko) and the 266th Attack Aviation Division (Colonel Rodyakin). A unique picture below was taken by the Soviet press photographer Yakov Ryumkin during the fighting somewhere near Poltava in late September 1943. As you can see the master had no time to adjust his camera during such a quick advance of the Soviet combat group. On the background you can see battered German self-propelled gun.

It was very dangerous to shoot such photos when bullets whistled over his camera but nevertheless many military press photographers risked their lives to capture WWII as it really was. 

Photographer Yakov Ryumkin near the Brandenburg Gate (Potsdam). The photo was taken in 1945.

The Memorial to the Soldiers' Glory in Poltava