Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 Crashes in Ukraine

[Palinurus]

Thanks for digging a little deeper, Oxajil, while connecting some extra dots.

It's more than obvious that Dutch government circles have to tow the NATO line and thereby follow USA 'diktats' on all these matters in their own silly ways whenever they can, like in the influencing the upcoming elections narrative. I wouldn't have expected otherwise but it's always better to know the details of such to make sure we understand the bigger picture correctly.

Fake news indeed, or in other words: cementing the propaganda narratives with more clutter.

Thanks again.

 

[Oxajil]

It's more than obvious that Dutch government circles have to tow the NATO line and thereby follow USA 'diktats' on all these matters in their own silly ways whenever they can, like in the influencing the upcoming elections narrative.

Yes, it's quite sad!

A little update: The two journalists have now received most of their footage/data back. In this article journalist Spekkers says: "We didn't agree [with the MH17 research team] on a certain part of the video footage, so that has been sealed again and will go back to the judge."

Not quite sure what it was they didn't agree on, and what the footage was about. But at least they got most of their stuff back.

 

[bjorb]

Later on in the NRC article it is said that according to a "confidential departmental document" published on Jan 4th by the Dutch official counter-terrorism unit, Russia will try to influence Dutch elections on March 15 this year.

All I can say is: Fake News.

"confidential departmental document" = Western journalism in a nutshell.

I can't believe they are copying this US propagenda piece. I mean, according to polls only 30% of Americans believed it. That kind of shows you need another tactic. Are they all out of ideas? If everything fails, blame Russia !! Even when the majority of the populace can see right through this lie.

 

[Palinurus]

Today SOTT carries an RT article about an open letter to Trump petitioning for a new, unbiased and above all independent inquiry into the downing of MH17:

https://www.sott.net/article/340536-EU-journalists-and-experts-send-open-letter-to-Trump-asking-for-new-MH17-independent-inquiry

A group of European journalists and aviation experts has sent an open letter to Donald Trump asking him to back a new UN-run investigation into the 2014 crash of Flight MH17. The current Dutch-led inquiry is "neither independent nor convincing," they said.

The open letter, signed by 25 journalists, former civil aviation pilots and researchers from Germany, the Netherlands and Australia, was posted on the website (in Dutch) of Joost Niemoller - a Dutch journalist who publicly challenged the current investigation into the ill-fated Flight MH17, which was downed over Ukraine in July 2014.

With Trump having taken office as the new president of the United States, the letter says "there is now a real chance of resolving the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine," and also "hope of improving the quality of the investigation into the alleged shooting down of the MH17."

The experts suggested that the new investigation should include independent international researchers able to overcome governments' reluctance to disclose information, and should be overseen by the United Nations. At the moment, Ukraine's secret service (SBU) plays a major role in providing data to the Dutch investigators, while Russian investigators are being excluded from the process.

In September last year, the Dutch investigators said the aircraft was shot down with a missile from a Buk launch system that "was brought from the territory of the Russian Federation and after launch subsequently returned to the Russian Federation territory." The investigation stopped short of accusing Russia directly, saying that "we have determined that the weapons came from the Russian Federation."

continued...

 

[Palinurus]

Source: http://nltimes.nl/2017/01/26/new-mh17-salvage-mission-cards

New MH17 salvage mission in the cards

By Janene Pieters on January 26, 2017 - 10:01

A Ukrainian salvage service is planning another mission to search for and recover both MH17 wreckage and victims' belongings, the chairman of a local village council said to BNR (Dutch only). Natalja Volosjina, in charge of the village council of Petropavlovka, believes it will be safe enough for another salvage mission after the winter, and she hopes that a team from the Netherlands will also take part.

Petropavlovka is one of the three towns in the self-proclaimed independent Donetsk People's Republic where MH17 fell from the sky. Volosjina believes that a new salvage mission could happen in the spring because, she claims, there is hardly any fighting in the area between Ukrainian military and Russian-backed separatists. Right now, the only thing preventing a recovery operation are the winter conditions.

If local authorities are searching the crash site again, it is important that someone from the Dutch or Australian authorities goes along to see if anything can be found, CDA parliamentarian Pieter Omtzigt said to BNR (in Dutch). "The reason - the discovery of bones that seemed to belong to victims by Dutch journalist Michel Spekkers - makes clear that it makes sense to take a good look again in certain places", he said.

The Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 was shot down over eastern Ukraine in July 2014, killing all 298 people on board. 196 of them were Dutch. Since the accident, there's been numerous salvage operations, but some wreckage still remains in the crash area. Early this month the remaining MH17 wreckage made headlines when Dutch journalist Michel Spekkers visited the crash site himself and brought some items back, including a piece of bone that was identified as belonging to one of the victims.

 

[angelburst29]

Source: http://nltimes.nl/2017/01/26/new-mh17-salvage-mission-cards

New MH17 salvage mission in the cards

By Janene Pieters on January 26, 2017 - 10:01

A Ukrainian salvage service is planning another mission to search for and recover both MH17 wreckage and victims' belongings, the chairman of a local village council said to BNR (Dutch only). Natalja Volosjina, in charge of the village council of Petropavlovka, believes it will be safe enough for another salvage mission after the winter, and she hopes that a team from the Netherlands will also take part.

Petropavlovka is one of the three towns in the self-proclaimed independent Donetsk People's Republic where MH17 fell from the sky. Volosjina believes that a new salvage mission could happen in the spring because, she claims, there is hardly any fighting in the area between Ukrainian military and Russian-backed separatists. Right now, the only thing preventing a recovery operation are the winter conditions.

Thanks for the additional information, Palinurus.

Dutch investigators are sabotaging probe of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash in eastern Ukraine, former Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Forces Pyotr Deinekin told Sputnik on Sunday.

Dutch Investigators Sabotaging Probe of MH17 Crash – Ex-Russian Official
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201701301050138896-dutch-investigators-sabotage-mh17-investigation/

Earlier on Sunday, media reported that Dutch investigators failed to decode information provided by Russian radars.

"Do they really lack competence to decode information, disclose details provided [by the Russian party]? That is a clear excuse, if you want, sabotage," Deinekin said.

The Dutch state prosecutor intends to forward Russia another request for radar data from the MH17 plane crash site area, Wim de Bruin, the spokesman for the prosecutor's office, told Sputnik Monday.

Dutch Prosecutors to Send New Request to Russia for MH17 Radar Data
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201701301050151707-mh17-investigation-jit-russia-radar/

On Sunday, media reported that Dutch investigators failed to decode information provided by the Russian side in October.

"The radar data was provided in an unusual format. Therefore the Dutch prosecutor will send a supplementary request for legal assistance to the Russian Federation," the spokesman said.

 

[Palinurus]

Adding to the above, today SOTT carries an RT article elaborating on the difficulties with the Russian radar images:

https://www.sott.net/article/341117-Netherlands-claims-Russias-MH17-radar-data-cant-be-deciphered-further-information-needed

The Dutch prosecutor's office says it lacks information to read the radar images provided by Moscow after the Dutch-led team of international investigators published its report into the crash of MH17 in September.

"Further information is needed to properly understand the meaning of the radar images," a spokesman for the Dutch prosecutor's office said in Amsterdam on Saturday, as cited by Der Standard (in German). The spokesman claimed the format in which the data was presented by the Russian side in October has failed to meet international standards.

The Dutch investigators have forwarded a request to Moscow "to send the correct information", De Telegraaf reported (in Dutch), citing the spokesman for the prosecutor's office.

A similar request was reportedly sent by the International Organization for Air Safety, according to the publication.

Evert van Zijtveld, chairman of the MH147 Aviation Disaster Foundation, said the confusion with the interpretation of the radar data is a major setback.

"Therefore, there remain doubts about the true causes of the crash. This could not be allowed," he told Telegraaf, adding that the families of the victims are still in the dark about the course of the investigation.

"We still know officially nothing on the progress," Zijtveld said.

continued...

 

[Palinurus]

And SOTT added another one from RT today, this one more like an opinion piece featuring military expert Aleksandr Tazekhulakhov:

https://www.sott.net/article/341146-Are-Dutch-investigators-incompetent-or-attempting-to-protract-MH17-probe

 

[Oxajil]

Thanks for the updates angelburst29 and Palinurus. And I agree bjorn, blaming Russia whenever it suits them is sadly what they'll probably keep doing.

Earlier on Sunday, media reported that Dutch investigators failed to decode information provided by Russian radars.

"Do they really lack competence to decode information, disclose details provided [by the Russian party]? That is a clear excuse, if you want, sabotage," Deinekin said.

And SOTT added another one from RT today, this one more like an opinion piece featuring military expert Aleksandr Tazekhulakhov:

https://www.sott.net/article/341146-Are-Dutch-investigators-incompetent-or-attempting-to-protract-MH17-probe

So, they're saying the data they got from Russia was in a format they can't use or don't know how to use? And it took them three months to figure out they can't use that data? Yeah, right! If it was a real investigation, they would've made sure to have all the data, before even starting the investigation. But as Joe wrote in one of his articles, they had the story already ready (Russia did it), and used 'data' that supported their theory.

Truth is, they can probably read the data Russia provided, but it's most likely not supporting their Buk-story. So best to pretend they never had a look at the data, and blame Russia again, for providing data that is unreadable.

Just to emphasize this bit from the article Palinurus posted above:

"Just let me remind you how it all happened. In July 2014, a few days after the tragedy, Russia sent the Netherlands the necessary video data. Why? Objective monitoring procedures stipulate that radar screens must be recorded on photo and video. But the Dutch prosecutor's office told us back then that that kind of data can be tampered with and requested for information in another format. There is no other internationally acknowledged and officially accepted format. Russia then gave the data taken directly from the radar station computer, and it cannot be falsified, changed or altered in any way," he told RT.

Now, Tazekhulakhov says, "all of a sudden we see that after we officially handed over the information in question," investigators in the Netherlands say that they cannot read it. "This is either a matter of professional incompetence or a desire to prolong the process of the investigation as much as possible because we understand very well that involving more officials at various levels means more money," he said.

 

[Niall]

That is such a lame excuse.

They may as well have said...

What did you say? Sorry, we can't hear you above the sound of how awesome our Western echo-chamber tells us we are."

They're dissimulating - which amounts to lying - no doubt as requested from above. The agenda remains 'demonize Putin', so they do what they're told.

 

[Palinurus]

Source: http://nltimes.nl/2017/01/31/mh17-survivors-shocked-request-trump-investigate-plane-crash

MH17 survivors shocked by request for Trump to investigate plane crash

By Janene Pieters on January 31, 2017 - 14:55

Relatives of MH17 victims are shocked by a letter to American president Donald Trump asking him to start an independent investigation into the downing of the Malaysia Airlines plane in eastern Ukraine in 2014. The letter was written by candidate parliamentarian Thierry Baudet and 25 others, the Volkskrant reports (in Dutch). The MH17 survivors say they want no part in these "propaganda theories".

In the letter - which Baudet told the newspaper he is singing as individual and to campaign for his party Forum voor Democratie - the letter writers say that the investigation by the Dutch Safety Board and the Joint Investigation Team is not "independent and not convincing". They turned to Trump because in the past he seemed to attach more importance to the Russian denial that they shot down MH17 than the detailed investigation of the JIT.

"The JIT gives veto power to Ukraine over what evidence may or may not be admitted. Why did the U.S. never release the primary radar images? Why did the Ukrainian air traffic control let the MH17 pilots carry out a route change? Is the team not suffering from tunnel vision that the offender is already known?" Baudet said to the newspaper. He hopes Trump will prompt a new independent investigation. "That would be a very good thing, instead of immediately blaming the Russians."

The letter (in Dutch) was sent to Trump on November 24th last year, a few weeks after he won the American elections.

The MH17 Foundation, which represents the relatives of the victims, denounced the letter. "The foundation and with it the relatives have no need to become a plaything in all these propaganda theories", Evert van Zijtveld of the foundation said to the newspaper.

Similar coverage here: http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2017/01/dutch-parliamentary-hopeful-signs-letter-to-trump-urging-new-mh17-probe/

 

[angelburst29]

Dutch Police to Study New Items on MH17 Crash Site - Prosecutor's Office
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201701101049431413-netherlands-nh17-crash-investigation/

On Saturday, Dutch police had confiscated materials concerning the MH17 crash from two independent Dutch journalists, Stefan Beck and Michel Spekkers, upon their arrival to the Netherlands from Donbas. Beck and Spekkers had gone to Ukraine to examine the site of the crash and to speak to the local residents.

I have to give the two independent Dutch journalists - a lot of credit - for taking it upon themselves, to go to Donbass, to investigate the crash site and approach the local residents to obtain further eye witness testimony. In an incident of this magnitude, simple investigative procedures were over looked or completely ignored, due to politics and personal agenda's. Why do they keep blaming Russia, yet ignore any information they provide? And why were they so quick to confiscate documentation on individual interviews (photos - video) and evidence gathered at the crash site? What are they trying to hide?

Personally, I feel that Beck and Spekkers should be compensated financially for expenses incurred in their trip to Ukraine and the information they gathered?

Russian Federal Air Transport Agency Rosaviatsia denied Dutch claims of Russia's radar data on MH17 crash allegedly violating international requirements.

Russia Denies Dutch Claims Radar Data on MH17 Crash Violating Int'l Requirements
https://sputniknews.com/russia/201701311050192710-mh17-russia-radar-data/

Rosaviatsia also stated that Russia has provided the Netherlands with MH17 crash primary radar data three months ago and since has not received any requests for help of Russian experts to decode the data.

"To date, we have received no requests from the Dutch side to involve our experts in decoding the primary radar data," Rosaviatsia Deputy Chief Oleg Storchevoy told reporters.


Media reports suggested on Sunday that Dutch investigators failed to decode information on the MH17 crash in eastern Ukraine provided by Russia last fall.

"There are no international requirements concerning such information and the way it is recorded," Storchevoy said.

He also voiced surprise that the Netherlands "cannot decode our [Russia's] data, with this fact being stated in media, but not making Russia aware of it."

Issues the Dutch-led Joint Investigation Team (JIT) is experiencing in decoding the MH17 crash radar data could have been resolved immediately through joint work with Russian experts, the Russian air transport agency said.

"The ICAO recommends to involve specialists, developers of equipment if an investigation takes place to decode the information and obtain objective data. The fact that it took the Dutch side took more than three months to provide such information is puzzling. Our data have been transferred last year. This is a purely technical matter, which can be immediately solved via cooperation."

Storchevoy noted that Russia is ready to provide its experts' help and needed information "so that the entire world learns the truth about the tragedy."

Rosaviatsia also said that the Netherlands is deliberately delaying the investigation into the Malaysian Airlines plane crash over southeastern Ukraine.

"We have repeatedly stated about the timing of the investigation involving work with the technical committee being deliberately delayed. It was brought to the attention that the desire of the Dutch Commission to deliberately mislead the public is the reason for the delay."

The MH17 plane crashed in eastern Ukraine in July 2014 while flying to Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam. All 298 passengers and crew aboard the aircraft died in the incident. The Ukrainian government forces and the local militias traded accusations regarding the incident, which occurred at the time of heavy fighting in the region.

The Dutch-led Joint Investigation Team (JIT) tasked with probing the crash announced in September that the MH17 airliner was allegedly downed by a Buk missile system, which they claimed had been brought from Russia and consequently returned there.

The Russian Defense Ministry cast doubt on the conclusions of the investigators, saying that no Russian missile systems, including Buk, have crossed the Russian-Ukrainian border at the time of the incident.

Over two dozen Dutch activists sent a letter to US President Donald Trump asking him to launch an investigation into the 2014 Malaysia Airlines MH17 crash over eastern Ukraine, local media said Tuesday.

Dutch Activists Ask Trump to Launch New MH17 Crash Probe - Reports
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201701311050200632-dutch-mh17-probe-trump/

The letter called on Trump to investigate the crash, for which Russia has been blamed, as the Dutch investigation was "not independent or convincing," while the new US president had previously cast doubt on conclusions made by Dutch investigators, the Volkskrant newspaper reported.

During his election campaign, Trump dismissed US government claims blaming Russia for the crash. The then presidential nominee said the plane could have even been shot down by a Russian-made missile but added there was no evidence to suggest it was Russia who fired it.

The letter, signed by 26 people, including several well-known journalists such as Thierry Baudet and Joost Niemoller, was sent to Trump in November, two months before he came into office.

The signatories questioned the lack of US radar images and explanations as to why Ukrainian air traffic control let the plane change its route to fly over the war-torn Donbass region.

 

[Oxajil]

That is such a lame excuse.

They may as well have said...

What did you say? Sorry, we can't hear you above the sound of how awesome our Western echo-chamber tells us we are."

They're dissimulating - which amounts to lying - no doubt as requested from above. The agenda remains 'demonize Putin', so they do what they're told.

Yes, exactly!

Meanwhile, Dutch investigators "were given insight into the information" the US provided, which no doubt included the non-existent footage Kerry talked about shortly after the crash (which after countless of requests still hasn't been shown to the public). But when it comes to actual real data provided by Russia, it's "thanks, but no thanks."

I have to give the two independent Dutch journalists - a lot of credit - for taking it upon themselves, to go to Donbass, to investigate the crash site and approach the local residents to obtain further eye witness testimony. In an incident of this magnitude, simple investigative procedures were over looked or completely ignored, due to politics and personal agenda's. Why do they keep blaming Russia, yet ignore any information they provide? And why were they so quick to confiscate documentation on individual interviews (photos - video) and evidence gathered at the crash site? What are they trying to hide?

Personally, I feel that Beck and Spekkers should be compensated financially for expenses incurred in their trip to Ukraine and the information they gathered?

I feel the same way, angelburst29. What they're probably hiding or wanting to prevent is any information being shared that could challenge their 'Russia did it' narrative. The point all along was to demonize Putin as Niall notes above, it never was about actually investigating the crash. So when news came out that two Dutch journalists are there and doing research, all alarm bells went off at JIT and their material had to be confiscated and checked as soon as they were back.

MH17 survivors shocked by request for Trump to investigate plane crash

Relatives of MH17 victims are shocked by a letter to American president Donald Trump asking him to start an independent investigation into the downing of the Malaysia Airlines plane in eastern Ukraine in 2014.

I saw at least one tweet by one of the MH17 survivors who said that he wasn't shocked at all of the above, implying that he would like an independent investigation to be conducted. I wonder if Trump will respond, but he probably has his hands full at the moment. I thought his comment on the MH17 crash at the time was quite interesting: "It may have been their weapon, but they didn't use it, they didn't fire it, they even said the other side fired it to blame them. I mean to be honest with you, you'll probably never know for sure."

 

[Palinurus]

More expert technical background info about the Russian primary radar data on SOTT today via a Sputnik article:

https://www.sott.net/article/341318-Experts-Decoding-Russias-MH17-data-could-take-minutes-if-Netherlands-works-directly-with-Russia

<snip>

Although Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia) did not specify which format was used when transferring primary radar data to the Netherlands, the agency pointed out that there were no international requirements regarding the list of such information and formats of recording.

"There is not a standard. For Air Traffic Control ASTERIX is becoming a standard, which is used in Western Europe (Eurocontrol affiliates, such as The Netherlands) and other countries. You should be aware that two of the most relevant Air Traffic Control producers, Indra and Thales, are European, so this format is also used in many other countries," Besada confirmed.

Another expert, Gaspare Galati, mirrored this view, stating that decoding radar data in other formats can be long depending on the documentation available and on software tools available for each format.

"The most common format for civil radar data, due to EUROCONTROL, is called ASTERIX and includes both radar plots and radar tracks, making easy their exchange. The European Air traffic Services (ATS) organizations use it. I do not know about Russia," Galati, Full Professor of Radar at University of Rome Tor Vergata, told Sputnik.

It remains unclear if the interface of one of the radar and control system production plants of the Russian defense manufacturer Almaz-Antey, which recorded the radar data from the MH17 flight crash site in July 2014, is compliant with ASTERIX, but the company states its Topaz Air Traffic Control (ATC) System conforms with standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Juan Besada also noted that Russian air control systems developed last century greatly differed from the ATC systems in Europe.

"I am aware many years ago Indra (Spanish produced of Air Traffic Control systems) worked in developing some systems in Russia, and they were astonished to see how different some things were. But I am talking about 15-20 years ago. I imagine now the Russian systems would be much more similar to European ones and much more interoperable," the Spanish engineering expert explained.

However, Russia's VNIIRA, the long-standing developer of the automated air traffic control systems, states that its systems developed in the ninetieths and early 2000th years are fully satisfying the EUROCONTROL recommendations and compliant with ASTERIX.

continued...

 

[angelburst29]

Source: http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2017/01/journalist-outraged-as-police-seize-equipment-on-return-from-mh17-crash-site/

Journalist outraged as police seize equipment on return from MH17 crash site

January 9, 2017

A journalist who brought back pieces of wreckage from a visit to the MH17 crash site in Ukraine has accused Dutch police who confiscated his camera and computer equipment of being needlessly heavy-handed.

Michel Spekkers was interviewed by officers when he landed at Schiphol airport on Saturday. Police claimed he refused to hand over pieces of wreckage, including fragments of bone that could be human remains, that were in his luggage. They said Spekkers tried to smuggle the items into the country by getting a companion to carry his bag through customs.

Spekkers told Omroep Brabant (Dutch only) he had agreed to hand over all the pieces of wreckage voluntarily, with the exception of some audio files that could have been used to identify his sources. He insists he ‘never for a minute’ thought of trying to keep the items.

[...] ‘I was taken away and the conversation fairly quickly took a wrong turn, so that along with the items from MH17 that I handed over voluntarily they also confiscated all my photographic material, laptops and phones.’

Spekkers visited the site during a two-week visit to Russia and Ukraine and said pieces of debris, including human bones, were still strewn across the fields where the plane came down. He gathered up several items in a bin bag and stuffed it into his rucksack for the journey home.
[...]

Similar here: http://nltimes.nl/2017/01/09/reporter-caught-mh17-debris-schiphol

Just some thoughts on this confiscation and recent developments in Ukraine. I may be reading these events wrong but I suspect Kiev and it's backers (Biden, McCain & NATO) are trying to take possession "of the crash site"? What are they trying to hide? Is there something in the soil - residual from contents loaded in the cargo bay - that Flight 17 was carrying? Or traces of what was used to bring the plane down?

In the same time frame as Beck and Spekkers were in Ukraine, at the crash site and interviewing residents in the area, there was this report in the Ukrainian thread: http://cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php/topic,37292.msg695693.html#msg695693

Journalist Patrick Lancaster harassed by FBI
http://novorossia.today/fbi-pays-visit-well-known-american-journalist-patrick-lancasters-mother-united-states/

18.12.2016 ~ A freelance journalist from the United States, Patrick Lancaster, well-known in Donbass, was subjected to the FBI harassment. Intelligence agents paid a visit to his mother who lives in the United States, in an attempt to find out where he was and what he was doing. He wrote about it on his page in the social network Vkontakte.

On Dec. 30,2016 - US Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham arrived in Kiev to receive "the Order of Freedom" by President Petro Poroshenko.

McCain receives Award of Freedom for his support for Ukraine against Russia aggression
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnMb1R1XsyM (1:40 min.)

Dec 30, 2016 - President Petro Poroshenko presented US Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham with the Order of Freedom and the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise respectively, ahead of a US delegation meeting in Kiev on Friday.

On Jan. 3, 2017 - McCain orders the Ukrainian authorities to escalate the conflict in Donbass.

US Senator McCain Orders Attack And Bombing On Civilian Areas With Lethal Weapons, Trying To Occupy The Donbass Republics
http://novorossia.today/155869-2/

Jan. 9, 2017 - BREAKING: Politie Schiphol confisceert materiaal Donbass journalisten
http://blikopnosjournaal.blogspot.nl/2017/01/breaking-politie-schiphol-confisceert.html

Jan. 11, 2017 - UKRAINE SAYS IT CAPTURED NEW POSITIONS IN EASTERN UKRAINE
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_UKRAINE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

In a briefing published on the Ukrainian defense ministry's website, Motuzyanyk confirmed reports that government forces have captured "new important" positions north of the rebel stronghold Donetsk.

Jan. 16, 2017 - US VP Biden Arrives in Ukraine for Last Meeting With Poroshenko
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201701161049627445-us-ukraine-biden-visit/

Ukraine's Military continues buildup on Donetsk border
http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/01/ukraines-military-continues-buildup-on.html

Scouts from the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) has identified 12 tanks near the contact line, and new artillery pieces and mortars of the UAF (Ukrainian Armed Forces).

Jan. 19, 2017 - Ukrainian Parliament Adopts Law Allowing Admission of Foreign Troops for Drills
https://sputniknews.com/military/201701191049756832-ukraine-verkhovna-rada-law-foreign-troops-admission/

President Poroshenko asked the parliament to approve his decision to allow the admission of foreign troops on the territory of the country to take part in military drills in 2017. These drills would include the Sea Breeze-2017 and Rapid Trident-2017 exercises.

The law applies to the US military troops, as well as outfits from other countries, NATO members and states taking part in the "Partnership for Peace" program. That would mean up to 3,000 servicemen with weapons, military equipment, up to six warplanes and helicopters.

Jan. 20, 2017 - About 7,500 Foreign Soldiers to Take Part in 2017 Drills in Ukraine
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201701201049809695-ukraine-foreign-soldiers/

Around 7,500 foreign servicemen and about 12,500 Ukrainian soldiers will participate in military drills in Ukraine this year, spokesperson of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry Dmytro Hutsulyak said on Friday.

Reports of Kiev unleashing heavy weapons in trying to gain control of the Donetsk Airport, while cutting off electricity and water in neighboring areas, along with heavy shelling of residential buildings. Reports that the Kremlin claims "Independent Battalions" (Special forces) were sent in by Ukraine.

Monday 30.01.2017 - Nazi Ukrainian army attacked DPR Donetsk People’s Republic in the surrounding areas of the Airport – Including Yasinovataya – Avdeevka
http://novorossia.today/ukraine-coup-leader-poroshenko-nazi-henchmen-backed-senator-mccain-unleash-heavy-weapons-fire-civilian-areas-donbass-republics/

The Nazi Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) attacked the army of the Donetsk People’s republic in the area of the Donetsk airport, as well as in the area of Yasinovataya and Avdeevka, said the representative of the DPR Defense Ministry, Eduard Basurin.

According to him, the attack resulted in nine Ukrainian soldiers killed and another 15 wounded.

Six villages in the south of the Donetsk People’s Republic are completely without electricity as a result of the overnight shelling by the Nazi Ukrainian military.

The central water supply unit of Donetsk is without water and stopped due to the shelling. ‘It is not due to the shelling on the DFP, but interruptions in the supply of electricity (110 kV), which goes from Yasinovataya. Under the threat of the suspension of water supply are five districts of Donetsk.

Jan. 31, 2017 - Donbass on Brink of Humanitarian Disaster, Conflict Parties Blame Each Other
https://sputniknews.com/analysis/201701311050203150-donbass-disaster-parties-blame/

On Tuesday, spokesman for the Ukrainian Defense Ministry Alexander Motuzyanik said that three Ukrainian officers had been killed and 24 more injured over the past 24 hours adding that the industrial area in the town of Avdiivka remained "the hot spot."

"There is reliable data, which proves that yesterday, there was an attempt from the independent groups to attack the territory under control of Donbass republics," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Moreover, people are left without running water, electricity and central heating under the temperature of minus 20 degrees Celsius (minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit).

Jan. 31, 2017 - DPR, LPR Urge Applying Pressure on Kiev to Stop Violence, Blockade of Donbass
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201701311050199371-dpr-lpr-pressure-kiev-violence/


Kremlin Says Ukrainian Independent Battalions Involved in Avdiivka Attack
https://sputniknews.com/politics/201701311050198739-kremlin-ukraine-battalions-avdiivka/


Kiev's Aggression in Donbass Derails Minsk Deal - Kremlin
https://sputniknews.com/politics/201701311050188925-donbass-violence-kremlin/

Five populated block-of-flats destroyed in Donetsk by the shelling
http://novorossia.today/five-populated-block-of-flats-destroyed-in-donetsk-by-the-shelling/