Section: The Malaysian Insider (Malaysia)
Russian soldier detained in Ukraine, charged with terrorism
Ukraine’s state security service on Wednesday named a Russian army major who was detained by Ukrainian servicemen at the weekend with a cargo of military equipment in eastern Ukraine and said he had been charged with terrorism. State security chief Vasyl Hrytsak told reporters that Vladimir Starkov, 37, from Russia’s Kirov region, had...
Ukrainian army hobbled by bureaucracy
After more than a year of fighting in eastern Ukraine, the country’s army remains disorganised and poorly equipped. “The Defence Ministry needed to test underpants for a year before approving them for use. I’m not kidding,” president Petro Poroshenko told a meeting of regional chiefs this month. Building up an army to...
Actor Depardieu banned from Ukraine for support of Russia
Ukraine has banned French actor Gerard Depardieu from entering the country for five years, its state security service said on Wednesday, apparently for making comments that suggested he supported Russia’s annexation of Crimea last year. Government spokeswoman Olena Hitlyanska said the 66-year-old, known for films such as ‘Cyrano de...
Ceasefire brings limited respite for east Ukrainians
Natalya Brazhnikova goes to sell bread each day at a badly charred market on the outskirts of Donetsk in east Ukraine despite the risk of shelling and gunfire. Since her husband lost his job when the local coalmine closed because of fighting between government forces and pro-Russian separatists, their family has depended on the money she...
Intensified shelling in east Ukraine kills four civilians, soldier
Ukraine and pro-Russian rebels accused each other yesterday of shelling residential areas despite a ceasefire, reporting four civilians and one soldier killed following a week of the deadliest fighting in over a month. Separatists said one man was killed by shelling from Ukrainian forces in central Donetsk. A Reuters witness reported...
A year after MH17, intelligence agencies slow to share threat data with pilots
A year after the downing of MH17, Europe’s intelligence agencies remain reluctant to share information that might help airlines detect threats from ground-based conflicts in future, the region’s aviation safety chief said yesterday. Malaysia Airlines flight 17, flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was shot down over eastern Ukraine...
Ukrainian villagers gather at MH17 crash site on anniversary
Around 200 Ukrainian villagers gathered today on a field that was cleared of the scattered charred remains and personal belongings of 298 people killed aboard Flight MH17 one year ago. The locals – nearly all of them bused in by pro-Russian separatists who control parts of eastern Ukraine – waved flags of the self-proclaimed Donetsk...
Dutch remember MH17 victims, hunt those responsible
Dutch flags will fly at half-mast on Friday as families remember those killed when flight MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine a year ago, with all efforts now focused on catching those responsible. Around 2,000 grieving relatives are expected at a private ceremony in the central Netherlands, with Prime Minister Mark Rutte and other top…...
Far right group challenges Ukrainian government after shootout
A Ukrainian far right group demanded the resignation of the interior minister and said it would block roads around Kiev on Sunday in a standoff over a fatal gun battle that challenges the authority of the government. Kiev has called on Right Sector, which played a prominent role in protests that toppled Moscow-backed President Viktor…...
Russia confirms it opposes UN tribunal for MH17 culprits
Russia said Thursday it will oppose a draft UN resolution circulated by Malaysia on establishing an international tribunal to prosecute those behind the downing of Flight MH17 over Ukraine. Deputy UN Ambassador Petr Iliichev confirmed Moscow’s opposition to the plan, saying: “It’s not a good time and it’s...
