Suspects Identified by Probe of Downed Flight Over Ukraine
The Dutch investigation of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 identified four suspects, including a former leader of Russian-backed separatists in Ukraine (Washington Post)
The investigation also determined that Russia provided the missile launcher used in 2014 (Reuters)
Separately, the United States announced that an additional $250 million in aid and equipment will be deployed to the Ukrainian armed forces (U.S. News)
On Russia, Ukraine Urges Engagement and Pressure
While visiting Paris, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy urged diplomatic engagement between Russia, Ukraine, France, and Germany, despite a lack of progress in recent months (Associated Press)
Russia Expanding Military Buildup on Crimea
Satellite imagery shows Russia has moved five anti-air craft missile batteries along with additional troops and other weapons in to Crimea, and is working to improve old Soviet-era bases in the region in what intelligence officials called a “significant” buildup (Defense One)
New Ukrainian Leader Calls for Snap Election
In his inaugural speech today, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dissolved parliament, which is still dominated by the bloc of former President Petro Poroshenko, and called for early elections. Zelensky said his priority would be to end the separatist conflict in the country’s east (Deutsche Welle)
Putin Expands List of Ukrainians Eligible for Russian Passports
Russian President Vladimir Putin expanded an earlier decree offering expedited Russian citizenship to Ukrainians in regions held by Russia-backed separatists (Reuters)
EU Condemns Russian Decree on Citizenship for Ukrainians
The European Union condemned a decree signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday to expedite citizenship applications for Ukrainians living in territories held by Russia-backed separatists. Ukrainian President-Elect Volodymyr Zelensky’s office called Russia an aggressor state and said the move would not bring the countries closer to ending their conflict (Associated Press)
Ukraine’s Next President Vows Anticorruption Push
Aides to President-Elect Volodymyr Zelensky, who will take office by early June, said his administration will fight corruption by scrapping immunity for lawmakers and making public expenditures on the military more transparent (BBC)
Ukraine Imposes Sanctions on Russia
Ukraine signed an order to impose sanctions on 294 legal entities and 848 individuals regarding conflicts over the Kerch Strait between Ukrainian-annexed Crimea and Russia (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)
Russian Authorities Release Head of Ukraine’s Orthodox Church
The Archbishop of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine was released by Russian authorities after having been briefly detained at a bus station in Russian-annexed Crimea (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)
Ukraine Accuses Russia of Meddling in Election
Ukraine’s State Security Service accused Russia of interfering in the country’s election campaign and employing financial bribes to influence public opinion. Russian authorities denied any interference in the upcoming elections that will take place next month (Reuters)
Former Ukrainian President Found Guilty of Treason
A Kyiv court found former President Viktor Yanukovych, who lives in exile in Russia, guilty of treason for a 2014 crackdown on pro-West demonstrations and sentenced him to thirteen years in prison (Guardian)
Orthodox Church of Ukraine Granted Independence from Russian Orthodox Church
The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, the leading authority for Orthodox Christianity, recognized the independence of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The Russian Orthodox Church had previously overseen it (Associated Press)
Russia Says Crimea Security Fence Complete
Russia said the thirty-seven-mile fence splitting Crimea from the rest of Ukraine, which is topped with barbed wire and equipped with cameras, will prevent “infiltration attempts by saboteurs” (BBC)
Ukrainian President Calls Up Reservists
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced a partial call-up of reservists for training as part of the martial law that was imposed in parts of Ukraine (Associated Press)
Separately, Russia has partially “unlocked” Ukrainian ports on the Azov Sea (Reuters)
Ukraine Requests NATO Ship Deployment
President Petro Poroshenko asked the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to deploy ships to the Sea of Azov, between Ukraine and Russia, following this week’s attack on and seizure of three Ukrainian naval ships by Russia (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)
Russia to Deploy Missiles in Crimea
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko warned that his country “is under threat of full-scale war with Russia” (Guardian)
Russia announced today that it would deploy new surface-to-air missile systems in the Crimean peninsula (Reuters)
Ukraine Approves Martial Law
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed “serious concern” over Ukraine’s decision yesterday to impose martial law in parts of the country following a skirmish between Ukrainian and Russian naval vessels in the Kerch Strait, which separates Crimea from Russia. At least six Ukrainian sailors were wounded in the incident (Guardian)
Russia Seizes Three Ukrainian Ships
At least three Ukrainian sailors were wounded when Russia seized three Ukrainian ships after alleging they had entered Russian territorial waters near Crimea yesterday. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko proposed that parliament impose martial law (Reuters)
The United Nations is also scheduled to hold an emergency meeting on the situation (BBC)
Russia Announces Sanctions on Ukrainian Elites
Russia announced sanctions yesterday against more than three hundred Ukrainian elites and scores of Ukrainian-owned companies. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, whose son was included in the sanctions, said those targeted should feel like they received state awards (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)
UN Members Object to Elections in Eastern Ukraine
Members of the UN debated the legality of elections planned for November 11 in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of eastern Ukraine held by Russia separatists. U.S. Deputy Ambassador to the UN Jonathan Cohen said that the “shame elections staged by Russia” would violate the Minsk agreement (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)
Three Killed in Clashes in Eastern Ukraine
One Ukrainian soldier and two separatists were reportedly killed in eastern Ukraine. Both sides have accused each other of repeatedly violating cease-fire agreements (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)
Residents Evacuated in Ukraine After Arms Depot Explodes
The Ukrainian government deployed aircraft today to fight a massive fire that continues to burn after an arms depot in northern Ukraine began exploding yesterday morning. More than twelve thousand people have been evacuated from the area, and the government is investigating “possible sabotage” (Agence France-Presse)
Ukraine Joins Air Exercises With NATO
The United States, Ukraine, and seven other NATO countries began the twelve-day Clear Sky 2018 war games in western Ukraine yesterday (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)
U.S. Considering Sending Arms to Ukraine
The U.S. special envoy for Ukraine said the United States is considering sending additional lethal weaponry to the country amid concerns that Russia is increasing its military presence in the Sea of Azov (Radio Free Europe)
Ukrainian Soldier Killed in Clashes with Russia-Backed Separatists
Ukraine said one of its soldiers was killed and three others injured in clashes with Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. Kyiv and separatists accused each other of violating a ceasefire during the previous twenty-four hours (RFE/RL)