Author: yreape

According to reports, Ukraine have declared a state of emergency, calling up military reservists aged 18-60 for service of up to one year. Reportedly, the document includes information bans that could destabilise the situation, and gives the government the right to conduct checks.

According to the report, the Ukrainian president said he still sought a diplomatic solution to the crisis. Reportedly, russia, who hit Ukraine’s international airport in Kyiv, were attacking the country’s military infrastructure. According to the report, black smoke was seen rising over the defence military intelligence headquarters in Kyiv.

Reportedly, russian ground forces, tanks and heavy equipment have crossed the border in several northern regions, in the east and from Crimea. According to the report, the russian defence ministry said it had neutralised Ukrainian military air bases and its air defence systems. Reportedly ten Ukrainian soldiers and forty civilians have been killed.

According to a report, leaders of France and a group of five Sahel countries began a two day summit to discuss the anti- insurgency operations, amid mounting local dissatisfaction over the military- heavy approach that has failed to stabilise the region. Reportedly, the leaders of five Sahel countries, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Mauritania and Chad are attending the summit in the Chadian capital of N’Djamena, with the french president attending by video link.

According to the report, the meeting comes a year after France boosted its forces in the Sahel in an attempt to gain momentum in the long running battle. Reportedly, despite military successes, insurgents control vast areas of territory. According to the report, six u.n. personnel have been killed in Mali this year, and France has lost five soldiers since December. Reportedly, thousands of soldiers and civilians have been killed, while more than two million people fled their homes.

According to the report, some experts believe there is a choice between concentrating solely on a military strategy or looking at governance, political representation, fiscal reforms and human rights issues.

Reportedly, Chad promised a year ago to send troops to the three point area of interest where the frontier of Mali, Niger and Burkina converge. According to the report, army officers overthrew Malian president, Ibrahim Keita following protests about his failure to end the conflict.

Reportedly, a 2015 peace deal was signed by the Malian government and the coordinated Azawad movement (Azawad is the Tuareg name for all Tuareg Berber areas). Points are; respect for the national unity and territorial integrity of Mali, recognition and promotion of cultural diversity, appreciation of the contribution made by all the people of Mali, particularly women and young people in building the nation. Effective management of their own affairs, promotion of balanced development, the rejection of violence as a means of political expression, and the use of dialogue to resolve differences.

According to a report, the president of Russia announced a special military operation in Donbas, early Thursday. Reportedly, at 5 am local time there were two explosions in Ukrainian controlled northern Donetsk. According to the report, Ukraine say there have been explosions in other cities including Kyiv.

Reportedly, Russia who have called for an end to nato expansion, said they do not intend to occupy areas outside Donbas. According to the report, troops are crossing the border from Donbas into Kharkiv. Reportedly, missile strikes have been waged on various cities, such as Odessa, Dnipro and Mariupal, and there have been unconfirmed reports of troops landing in the south.

According to reports, the european council are holding a summit on Friday to discuss the situation in eastern Ukraine.

Reportedly, the u.s. president said he was sanctioning the company that built the Nord stream 2 natural gas pipeline, a project fiercely opposed by the u.s.

According to a report, Europe could heat citizens homes and power industry for the rest of the cold weather period on current gas supplies. Reportedly, tanks were at an average of 31% capacity on February 21. According to the report, Germany did obtain 50% of its gas from the russian state owned Gazprom.

According to reports, a reinforcement of Russian forces in the Donbas region appear to be advancing to some degree. Reportedly, the u.s. have released a new round of sanctions for what they say is the beginning of a russian invasion of Ukraine. According to the report, the sanctions target russian oligarchs and banks. Reportedly, the u.s. say they will deploy some troops in the region.

According to reports, the eu are halting certification of the Nord stream 2 gas pipeline. Reportedly, the deteriorating crisis in the Ukraine puts at risk trade between Ireland and Russia, including €3 billion in IT services, over half a million cases of whiskey and €134 million in fertilizer.

The nato Munich security conference over the weekend probably outlined the sanctions. In a tv interview a uk spokesperson said Russia has deployed troops to Donbas under the guise of a peace keeping mission. The u.n. say they are in the Sahel as a peace keeping mission. Questionable since the region, which remains poor, is the third largest gold exporter in the world.

According to reports, the u.k. prime minister has announced the sanctioning of five Russian banks and three individuals. Reportedly, the banks are Rossiya, IS bank, General bank, Promszyas bank and the black sea bank. According to a report, the individuals are Gennady Timchenko and Boris and Igor Rotenberg. Reportedly, Gennady Timchenko is a business man who founded the investment group, Volga. According to reports, Igor and Boris Rotenberg are co owners of the largest construction company for gas pipelines in Russia. Reportedly, any assets they hold in the bank will be frozen.

According to a report, a decision in 2020 by the eu court of justice does not prevent member nations from having civil proceedings for confiscation which are unrelated to a finding of criminal offence, but is that ethical?

According to reports, in 2019 president Zelensky had a telephone call with the then president Donald Trump in which he was pressured to investigate the business affairs of Robert Hunter Biden, son of president Joe Biden.

Reportedly, Robert Biden owns a hedge fund investing in liquid assets. According to the report, Robert co-owns bhr partners along with chinese investors, including the bank of China ltd. Reportedly, the fund focuses on investment in, and reforms of state owned enterprises. According to the report, the fund was established specifically for the purpose of capital injection into sinopec marketing company (China petroleum and chemical corporation). Reportedly, the sinopec group is the world’s largest oil refining company. According to the report, its business includes oil and gas exploration and pipeline transportation of crude oil and natural gas.

Reportedly, there is a growing list of former business partners and associates who have been subpoenead in the department of justice’s three year trial regarding Robert Biden’s financial affairs. According to the report, the trial continued last week in a federal courthouse in Robert Biden’s home town of Delaware, with evidence been given on Tuesday morning, the details of which remain secret.

According to reports, Russia has deployed troops to Luhansk and Donetsk. The regions are known for their coal mines. Reportedly, russian seperatists control eighty eight of the hundred and twenty one coal mines in Donbas. According to the report, environmentalists warn that neglected mines are filled with ground water that threatens to contaminate the surrounding soil. Reportedly, businesses don’t rush to invest in a region affected by war, and miners are afraid of drowning. According to the report, a miner at the Tsentralna mine said, the battling water is a constant part of the job. The deeper the miners dig, the more water comes through the shafts.

Reportedly, the Yunkom mine was the scene of a controlled nuclear detonation in 1979 and has left a potentially radioactive capsule underground. According to a report, an investigation by the osce found that drainage in Yukom was disrupted due to the conflict. According to the report the seperatist lead people’s council of Donetsk judged the Yunkom mine would be flooded because of a lack of financing needed to continue to pump the water out. Reportedly, the whole region could be in danger of radioactive contamination.

Reportedly, the head of the Ukrainian delegation to the trilateral contact group in Minsk said that seperatist groups are closing a number of mines.

According to a report, the president of Russia has said Moscow will officially recognise the two breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. Reportedly, the recognition paves the way for Russia’s military cooperation and support. According to the report, the eu responded by describing it as a flagrant breach of international law, and promised sanctions. Reportedly, the u.s. say the decree will result in Donetsk and Luhansk being the subject of economic sanctions that will prohibit new investment, trade and financing in the regions, and on anyone operating in those areas. According to the report, these measures will be seperate from tougher sanctions if Russia invade Ukraine.

Reportedly, uk sanctions begin today. According to a report, as a result of Russia’s recognition of the two states, Canada will begin preparing sanctions.

Reportedly, russian mercenaries are stationed in Donetsk and Luhansk, though women, children and the elderly have been evacuated.

According to a report, Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky came into office in April 2019. Reportedly, one of his campaign promises was that he would only serve one term, that is five years. According to the report, inspite of pre-emptive attempts to block the move, during his swearing in speech he dissolved the Ukrainian parliament. Reportedly, snap elections were held in July. According to the report, the result was a one party majority, a novelty in Ukraine.

Reportedly, president Zelensky ‘s first major proposal to change the electoral system was rejected by the Ukrainian parliament. According to the report, he appointed Andriy Bohdan as head of administration and dismissed him in 2020. Reportedly, under new rules Andriy Bohdan is not entitled to hold any state office until 2024.

According to a report, president Zelinski appointed former president, Leonid Kuchma as representative of Ukraine in a tripartite group for a settlement in the Donbas conflict. According to the report, during Leonid Kuchman’s presidency there were numerous corruption scandals, and his popularity declined due to media exposure.

Reportedly, president Zelensky submitted a bill on the punishment for illicit enrichment, then cancelled it. According to a report, he was asked how much he received from the Rotterdam plus scheme which was the subject of a criminal investigation. Reportedly, the attorney general’s office replaced the procedural leader in the Rotterdam plus case. According to the report, the new prosecutor decided to close the case.