Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appealed to Western allies asking them for help after Russia's most recent attack on Kyiv. "It is crucial that our forces have the necessary means to defend the country from Russian terror. I am grateful to each of our partners who help us. Timely delivery of interceptor missiles for our air defense, fulfilling agreements on defense systems, and electronic warfare production and supply are, without exaggeration, lifesaving efforts," Zelensky wrote on X. In the morning, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported explosions in the Ukrainian capital. A threat of a missile attack was declared in the city. It was later reported that explosions took place in Kyiv's suburbs.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said following a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte that the allies would continue helping Ukraine to prepare the country for the continuation of the conflict with Russia in 2025. The North Atlantic Alliance should adjust itself to "changes in Ukraine's needs" and the situation on the battlefield. The US Secretary of State made such statements amid reports about North Korean troops fighting Ukrainian forces on the front lines. Blinken also called on the allies to "respond harshly". NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who supports the idea of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, calls for the continuation of the "bloody massacre," Maria Zakharova, an official representative for the Russian Foreign Ministry said, RIA Novosti reports.

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Famous Russian journalist, chef and TV presenter Alexey Zimin died. He was 52. The reason for the journalist's death remains unknown. Alexey Zimin was born in Dubna, a suburban town near Moscow, on December 13, 1971. He held the position of deputy editor-in-chief of Afisha Magazine. Zimin also founded Afisha Eda food publication and served as editor-in-chief of Afisha Mir, GQ and Gourmet magazines. The journalist hosted "Cooking with Alexey Zimin" show on NTV channel organised and organised food festivals. Zimin also opened several cafes, bars and restaurants.

In 2011, Vladimir Putin, who then served as the Prime Minister, at a meeting with Joe Biden, who then served as the Vice President, suggested breaking stereotypes and introducing a visa-free regime between Russia and the United States. Joe Biden responded positively to the idea. Needless to say that Putin's suggestion did not receive any practical development at all.  Many in Russia advertise the Trump agenda these days not so much in the hope for the US-Russian relations to improve, but simply because the name of the US President-elect still makes headlines all over the world.   Moscow's PR agency Glavpiar sent an official appeal to President Putin with a proposal to reward Donald Trump for winning the election in order to improve the relations between Russia and the United States, Moskvichmag publication reports. 

On November 13, a US missile base was officially opened in Poland. The base is located in the town of Redzikowo, just 230 kilometers from the border with Russia's Kaliningrad enclave. During the ceremony, Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said that the event was of "historic significance for the security of Poland, the United States and NATO." "Current conflicts, for example in Ukraine or the Middle East, show us how important air and missile defense is,” Kosiniak-Kamysz said.

A "rare and complex" British Challenger 2 tank that Ukraine received from the UK was spotted in the Kursk region of Russia. "The destruction of a heavy British Challenger 2 tank, a rather rare and complex tank to operate, by the marines of our 155th brigade indicates the concentration of enemy efforts," Two Majors Telegram channel said. The fact that such rare military hardware was transferred to the Russian region indicates the intention of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to use all opportunities to hold positions in the Kursk region, authors of the channel added.

[Inter-Korea] :
South Korea’s spy agency said Wednesday that North Korean troops dispatched to Russia have moved to the front-line region of Kursk and are “already engaging in combat” against Ukraine. The National Intelligence Service(NIS) said North Korean soldiers dispatched to Russia have moved to the Kursk ...

[more...]

[Inter-Korea] :
The government reiterated that it will take “effective and phased” steps, in line with the principles of composure and restraint, in response to the battlefield deployment of North Korean troops in support of Russia in its war against Ukraine. Speaking to local reporters on Thursday, an official at ...

[more...]

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VIENNA, 12 July 2016 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today expressed concern about the decision of Federal Financial Monitoring Service in Russia to publish an updated “list of terrorists and extremists” which includes members of the media.

“Publishing this list could put the journalists at risk and jeopardize their safety,” Mijatović said. “It’s the government’s responsibility to ensure journalists’ safety; it should not put them in harm’s way based on state prosecutors’ suspicions under an anti-extremism law.”

On 12 July, the Federal Financial Monitoring Service, tasked with monitoring legal entities’ and individuals’ compliance with Russia's terrorist and extremist financing legislation, published a searchable list of some six thousand individuals on its website.

Previously held confidential, the list includes Crimean journalists Nikolay Semena from the Krym-realii online media, and Anna Andrievskaya from the Centre for Journalistic Investigations.

Mijatović noted that she and other intergovernmental bodies have repeatedly pointed to the shortcomings of anti-extremism legislation in Russia and voiced their concerns regarding its application, including past verdicts in relation to journalists and warnings to media entities.

“I call on the relevant authorities to take down the list with the names of the journalists and review the policy which puts those exercising their freedom of expression in danger,” Mijatović said. “Labeling journalists as terrorists because of their critical voices and critical reporting cannot be justified.”

Mijatović also pointed to a previous public statement in which she criticized amendments to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation that increased criminal liability for online calls for extremist activity to up to five years in prison (available atwww.osce.org/fom/120175).

In 2014, The Representative issued a communiqué on the impact of laws countering extremism on freedom of expression and freedom of the media (available at http://www.osce.org/fom/125186).

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. She provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom. 

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This report is for the media and the general public.

SUMMARY

Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs). The overall cross-border traffic decreased at both BCPs.

OPERATIONAL REMARKS

The OM is currently operating with 19 permanent international staff members, including the Chief Observer (CO). The Mission is supported administratively by a Vienna-based staff member.

OBSERVATIONS AT THE BORDER CROSSING POINTS

Persons crossing the border

The profile of the people crossing the border can be categorized as follows:

1. Adults travelling on foot or by car with little or no luggage;
2. Persons in military-style outfits;
3. Families (often including elderly people and/or children) travelling on foot or by car with a significant amount of luggage.

The average number of entries/exits decreased overall from 12,017 to 11,778[1] per day for both BCPs compared to last week. The average net flow for both BCPs went from plus 16 (i.e. more entries to the Russian Federation) to minus 95 (i.e. more exits from the Russian Federation).

The Donetsk BCP continued to experience more traffic than the Gukovo BCP. The cross-border movements registered at both BCPs accounted for just 35 per cent of all entries/exits in Rostov region.

Persons in military-style outfits

During the reporting period, the number of men and women in military-style outfits crossing the border in both directions increased from 80 last week to 85 this week at both BCPs; 49 of them crossed into the Russian Federation, while 36 of them crossed into Ukraine. Approximately 72 per cent of this category’s crossings occurred at the Donetsk BCP. Men and women continued to cross the border individually or in groups. Most individuals crossed by foot, however, some made use of private vehicles, buses or minivans, making it more difficult for the observer teams (OTs) to observe their movement across the border, especially since many of the private vehicles have tinted windows, and buses and minivans have drawn curtains.

Families with a significant amount of luggage

During the reporting period, the OTs observed families, often with elderly people and/or children, crossing at both BCPs with a significant amount of luggage or travelling in heavily loaded cars. Seven families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation while four were observed crossing into Ukraine.

Bus connections

Regular local and long-distance bus connections continued to operate between Ukraine (Luhansk region) and cities in the Russian Federation. In addition to regular bus connections, the OTs continued to observe bus connections on irregular routes. Often the buses do not state their route; instead they just have a sign on the windshield stating “Irregular”.

Among the bus connections observed by the OTs, the following “irregular” routes or destinations were noted: Luhansk-Sevastopol; Rovenki-Kyiv; Luhansk-Kyiv; Stakhanov-Gelendzhik; Kharkiv; and Sevastopol.

On some occasions, the OTs noticed the bus drivers removing the itinerary signs from the windshields of their buses. The majority of long-distance coaches commuting between Luhansk region and cities in the Russian Federation have licence plates issued in Luhansk region.

Trucks

The OM continued to observe trucks crossing the border in both directions and at both BCPs. Compared to the previous week, the number of trucks increased from 679 to 710; 391 of these trucks crossed to the Russian Federation and 319 crossed to Ukraine. Most of the trucks observed by the OTs were registered in Luhansk region.

Separately, the OTs also observed tanker trucks crossing the border in both directions. The number of tanker trucks decreased from 56 last week to 48 this week. These trucks were observed crossing the border at both BCPs. The trucks mainly had the words “Propane” and “Flammable” written across the tanks in either Russian or Ukrainian. The majority of tanker trucks have hazard signs, indicating that they are transporting propane or a mix of propane with butane.

All trucks undergo systematic inspection by Russian Federation officials, which may include an X-ray check. No X-ray checks could be observed at the Gukovo BCP since the OT has no view of the mobile X-ray unit, but it could be heard operating several times during the reporting period. One hundred and two X-ray checks were observed at the Donetsk BCP. Out of the 102 trucks scanned during the reporting period, 68 trucks (67 per cent) were bound for Ukraine; the remaining 34 trucks (33 per cent) crossed into the Russian Federation.

Minivans

The OM continued to observe passenger and cargo minivans[2] crossing the border in both directions and at both BCPs. The OTs observed minivans predominantly registered in Luhansk region; however, the OTs frequently saw minivans registered in the Russian Federation.

Compared to the previous week, the number of cargo minivans increased from 247 to 319; 138 crossed to the Russian Federation and 181 to Ukraine.

Trains

The OTs continued to pick up the sound of trains running on the train tracks located approximately 150 metres south-west of the Gukovo BCP. During the reporting week, the OTs heard trains on 21 occasions; the OTs estimated that fourteen trains were travelling to the Russian Federation and seven trains were bound for Ukraine. The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine was informed about the trains bound for Ukraine. Visual observation was not possible because of the line of trees located between the train tracks and the BCP and unfavourable light conditions.

Other observations

The majority of vehicles crossing the border have licence plates issued in Luhansk region or in the Russian Federation. On two separate occasions the OT also noticed cars with Hungarian and Belarusian plates.

The OTs continued to observe vehicles with Ukrainian licence plates, including articulated trucks with “LPR” or “Novorossiya” stickers, or in rare cases “DPR” stickers on their licence plates masking the Ukrainian flag.

During the reporting period the OTs observed ambulances on three occasions. The OTs on the spot could not confirm if there were persons requiring medical treatment on board.

On 28 July at 14:20 hrs the OT at Donetsk BCP noticed that the BCP was closed (fence doors were locked) and the lines were cleared from pedestrians and all the visible barriers were lowered. OT observed border guards walking up and down talking on the radios. At the same time one SUV (Ford), with Russian Federation registration plates with two persons in military style outfit inside, underwent an X-ray check. The SUV was entering the Russian Federation from Ukraine. After the X-ray check the Russian Federation customs officers performed a detailed check of the luggage inside the vehicle. At 14:50 hrs the BCP was opened again. Around 16:00 hrs the SUV left the BCP.

On 30 July at 16:00 hrs at the Donetsk BCP one minivan for funeral services crossed the border from the Russian Federation to Ukraine. The OT could not confirm if it had cargo or passengers.

For trends and figures at a glance covering the reporting period from 19 July to 26 July 2016 see the attachment here.

[1] Data received from Rostov region Border Guard Service.

[2] Cargo minivans: light commercial vehicles with a maximum authorized mass of more than 3.5 t and not more than 7.5 t; with or without a trailer with a maximum mass of less than 750 kg (small cargo vehicles which correspond to driving license C1).                             

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• Weekly Update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 26 July 2016
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