Feed aggregator

The United States and other world powers lifted a raft of crushing sanctions against Iran on Saturday as a landmark nuclear deal with Tehran took effect. Hours earlier, Iran released five Americans it had detained, including Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian.

A number of ceasefire violations were recorded in Donetsk and Luhansk. The Mission facilitated the delivery of urgently needed haemodialysis equipment for patients in Horlivka hospital no.2. The SMM observed damage to houses in Kominternove and was prevented from entering a building and adjacent yard in the village by “DPR” members. An SMM unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was damaged by small-arms fire in Luhansk region.

The SMM observed a number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. From a position at “DPR”-controlled Donetsk railway station (6km north-west of Donetsk city centre), the SMM heard one explosion and several bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire in an area 3-4km north of its position between 7:55 and 14:00hrs.[1] Between 17:10 and 18:53hrs on 14 January, while in the forward patrol base in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 45 mortar impacts (possibly 82mm), three shots – possibly from an automatic grenade launcher (AGL) – and an exchange of small-arms fire in an area 3-4km west of its location.

On 15 January two residents in an area 2km south of “DPR”-controlled Shyroka Balka (34km north-north-east of Donetsk, 7km west of Horlivka) told the SMM that they had heard incoming and outgoing mortar and artillery rounds in the area on the nights of 13 and 14 January. The SMM did not however, observe recent damage in the area.

In Luhansk, the situation remained relatively calm. The SMM, positioned near government-controlled Novoaidar (49km north-west of Luhansk) heard firing, which they assessed as anti-aircraft gunfire and/or fire from an armoured personnel carrier (BTR) and AGL shots, in an area to the east of its position. The SMM also heard explosions and shots assessed as training exercises near “LPR”-controlled Kruhlyk (31km south-west of Luhansk) and also near government-controlled Mykolaivka (75km north-west of Luhansk).

An SMM UAV was hit by small-arms fire over “LPR”-controlled Stakhanov (49km west of Luhansk) as it attempted to observe a factory complex occupied by armed “LPR” members.* Although the UAV’s observation capacity was lost, it was able to return to the take-off location. The UAV has been rendered inoperable due to the damage sustained. 

In relation to the implementation of the Addendum to the Package of measures, the SMM revisited Ukrainian Armed Forces’ permanent storage sites whose locations corresponded with the withdrawal lines. The SMM observed one tank (T-64) in addition to all weapons previously verified as withdrawn to one site. At another site, one tank (T-64) was missing and another tank, not listed in the inventory, had been added.

Beyond the withdrawal lines and outside storage sites, the SMM observed the following Addendum-regulated weapons: approximately 25 tanks near “LPR”-controlled Kruhlyk (31km south-west of Luhansk) and 35 tanks (T-72 and T-64) near “DPR”-controlled Ternove (57km east-north-east of Donetsk).

The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of heavy weapons foreseen in the Minsk Package of measures. The SMM has yet to receive the full information requested in the 16 October 2015 notification.

The SMM continues to visit locations known to the SMM as heavy weapons holding areas, even though they did not comply with the specific criteria set out for permanent storage sites in the 16 October notification.

In government-controlled areas beyond the respective withdrawal lines, the SMM revisited such holding areas and observed eight multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) (9P140 Uragan, 220mm).

In “DPR”-controlled areas beyond the respective withdrawal lines the SMM observed six howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) and 10 mortars (PM-38, 120mm), which are regulated under the Addendum to the Package of Measures.

The SMM observed the presence of other hardware: in an area 27km north-north-west of Mariupol, four Ukrainian Armed Forces trucks transporting ammunition boxes, which the SMM assessed as 82mm mortar boxes, in the direction of Mariupol; near “DPR”-controlled Ternove, a UAZ jeep with black registration plates, five trucks (four Ural, one Kamaz), and a total of 28 “DPR” members on training exercises or undertaking construction works.

The SMM continued to monitor the security and humanitarian situation in “DPR”-controlled Kominternove (23km north-east of Mariupol) and surrounding areas. In the town, the SMM observed damage to homes consistent with shelling. One elderly woman showed the SMM the severely damaged roof of her home, assessed to have been caused by a large calibre round. The SMM also observed the wall of another house assessed as having been penetrated by an anti-tank guided missile fired from the south-west. The SMM analysed three fresh craters on a road near a “DPR” checkpoint, assessed as having been caused by 82mm mortar, but it could not determine the direction of fire. A “DPR” member showed the SMM a recent impact to a house said to be from an anti-tank guided missile (fagot). The Mission observed damage, but could not determine the direction of fire. Residents in Kominternove and in nearby Vodiane (19km north-west of Mariupol) told the SMM that they heard a loud explosion in the early hours of 15 January, which was corroborated by the Ukrainian Armed Forces and a “DPR” member. Residents said that their supply of food is irregular and that they lack medicine. Although gas is supplied to the village, residents told the SMM that they repair the lines themselves as specialized teams cannot enter due to movement restrictions and uncertainty as to who is responsible for repairs in this area. “DPR” members denied the SMM entry to a building and adjacent yard that they were guarding.*

Following dialogue facilitation efforts the Mission monitored the delivery of urgently needed haemodialysis equipment to hospital No. 2 in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk). The equipment, provided by the non-governmental organization (NGO) “Association Internationale de Coopération Médicale”, will allow 46 patients to receive dialysis. The chief doctor of the hospital had told the SMM on 15 December of the critical need for such equipment (see SMM Daily Report, 16 December 2015).

The Mission monitored demining works in areas close to civilian infrastructure. In government-controlled Zolote (60km north-west of Luhansk), the head of the demining team from the Ministry of Emergency Services showed the SMM two areas near the Karbonit water supply plant that are being demined. Work started on 29 December and will continue until 29 February. According to him, it is more difficult to carry out demining in winter as the equipment does not work well under cold weather conditions.

The SMM continued to monitor the situation in Kherson, Odessa, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Dnepropetrovsk, Chernivtsi and Kyiv.

*Restrictions to SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to the fulfilment of its mandate

The SMM is restrained in fulfilling its monitoring functions by restrictions imposed by the parties and security considerations, including mine threats, damaged infrastructure, and the unpredictability of the situation in Donbas. “LPR” members continue to prevent the SMM from monitoring many areas alongside the border in parts of Luhansk region not controlled by the Government.

Denial of access:

• “DPR” members denied the SMM entry to a building and adjacent yard they were guarding in Kominternove (23km north-west of Mariupol).

Delayed access:

• Armed “LPR” members stopped the SMM near the checkpoint south of the bridge to government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska (16km north-east of Luhansk), recorded the names of patrol members and vehicle registration numbers, delaying the SMM for 15 minutes.

Other impediments:

• The SMM UAV was hit by small-arms fire over “LPR”-controlled Stakhanov (49km west of Luhansk) rendering it inoperable.

[1] All times referred to in this report are in Eastern European Time

For a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table.

Related Stories

• Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30hrs, 14 January 2016
• Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30hrs, 13 January 2016
• OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine opens Forward Patrol Base in Stanytsia Luhanska

Az egyik szabadkai körforgalom kiépítése során, valahol a tervezés és a megvalósítás között félúton eltűntek a járdák és a bicikliutak, ezért most a polgárok kénytelenek a sárban közlekedni.

In an interview with German newspaper Die Welt, Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio admitted that he would love to play Vladimir Putin onscreen if provided with such an opportunity.

Conçu pour mettre en oeuvre des armes nucléaires, le bombardier stratégique B-52 Stratofortress effectua sa première mission de guerre en emportant des bombes lisses fixées sur des pylônes externes en 1965, lors de la guerre du Vietnam. Plus tard, cet appareil fut modernisé pour accroître sa capacité d’emport de munitions. En effet, le programme Big […]

Cet article Le vénérable bombardier B-52 n’a pas encore fini d’évoluer est apparu en premier sur Zone Militaire.

Après un passage en force pour faire adopter la modification constitutionnelle qui lui permet de se présenter ad vitam aeternam aux « élections », le dictateur Denis Sassou Nguesso, qui n'a pas encore officialisé sa prochaine candidature, a décidé d'avancer la date de la prochaine présidentielle au 20 mars, plutôt qu'à l'été 2016 comme cela était prévu. L'objectif est de prendre de court une opposition en partie désorientée suite à la promulgation de la nouvelle Constitution, le 6 novembre dernier. Et hélas, (...) - 253 - janvier 2016 / Congo Brazzaville, Denis Sassou Nguesso, Armée française, Brèves d'Afrique et d'ailleurs

En 1972, Mongo Beti publie chez l'éditeur Maspero Main Basse sur le Cameroun, un essai politique qui tente de briser l'omerta sur les crimes de la dictature d'Amadou Ahidjo et de la puissance tutélaire de Paris, qui vient enfin d'anéantir la rébellion indépendantiste avec laquelle elle était aux prises depuis 15 ans. Le livre est immédiatement interdit, les stocks saisis, et l'écrivain né au Cameroun, professeur agrégé dans un lycée de Rouen, installé en France depuis vingt ans, se voit convoqué au (...) - 253 - janvier 2016 / Cameroun, Brèves d'Afrique et d'ailleurs

Par un jugement rendu le 10 décembre, la Cour européenne de justice a déclaré illégal l'acte du 8 mars 2012 du Conseil de l'Union européenne relatif à la conclusion de l'accord agricole entre l'UE et le Maroc. Il s'agit d'une victoire pour le Front Polisario qui avait saisi cette juridiction trois ans plus tôt, et d'un désaveu pour l'UE qui cautionne la politique coloniale du royaume marocain sur le Sahara occidental. Mais rappelons qu'il existe également, depuis 2013, un autre accord de coopération signé (...) - 253 - janvier 2016 / Union Européenne, Brèves d'Afrique et d'ailleurs, Sahara Occidental

Az esemény célja, hogy segítséget nyújtson azon vállalkozásoknak, amelyek élelmiszeripari beruházást terveznek megvalósítani, így a Nemzeti Agrárkamara megteremti annak a lehetőségét, hogy a lehetséges beszállítóikkal találkozzanak és a pályázati lehetőségekről tájékozódjanak.  A rendezvényre meghívott gyártó, forgalmazó és szolgáltató vállalkozások mindegyike referenciával rendelkezik, valamint részt vett korábbi pályázatok elszámolási folyamatában.

L'échec du putsch mené par le général Diendéré et l'ex Régiment de Sécurité présidentiel (RSP) a­-t­-il sonné le glas de l'impunité au Burkina ? La justice militaire burkinabé vient en effet de lancer un mandat d'arrêt contre Blaise Compaoré, accusé, comme Diendéré, d'« assassinat, attentat et recel de cadavre » au sujet de Sankara. 27 ans après sa prise du pouvoir, l'ex-­autocrate sera­-t­-il enfin jugé pour le crime fondateur de son régime ? En exil en Côte d'Ivoire où il a été exfiltré par l'armée française, il a (...) - 253 - janvier 2016 / Burkina Faso, Thomas Sankara, Brèves d'Afrique et d'ailleurs

La liste de ceux qui n'en finissent pas de signer « l'acte de décès de la Françafrique », selon l'expression de Bockel, l'ex et éphémère secrétaire d'État de Nicolas Sarkozy, n'en finit pas de s'allonger, au point qu'on s'étonne de cet acharnement sur un cadavre déjà maintes fois enterré. Le mois dernier, c'est Jean-­David Levitte, conseiller diplomatique sous Chirac et Sarkozy, qui affirmait : « La Françafrique a complètement disparu et depuis longtemps. C'est une époque révolue. » (JeuneAfrique.com, 13/11). Ce (...) - 253 - janvier 2016 / Médias / Communication, Françafrique, Brèves d'Afrique et d'ailleurs, Lionel Zinsou

L'année 2015 aura été une année faste pour le terrorisme, puisque les tristes événements de janvier et de novembre auront justifié de graves atteintes aux libertés individuelles, notamment au droit à la sûreté et au respect de sa vie privée ainsi qu'à la liberté d'aller et venir et autres droits constitutionnellement protégés en théorie, avec l'accord de tous les partis représentés au Parlement. Moins de dix hommes n'auraient pas pu à eux seuls mettre ainsi à bas ces grands principes démocratiques s'ils (...) - 253 - janvier 2016 / Colonialisme, Édito, Terrorisme, Partis politiques francais

According to the managing partner of the British audit and consulting company EY (formerly Ernst & Young) Joe Watt said that Russia will never lose its global strategic importance.

US hostage on avoiding Burkina Faso attackers

Le Logiciel unique à vocation interarmées de la solde (Louvois) n’a cessé d’être la source d’innombrables dysfonctionnements dans le paiement des soldes dues aux militaires de l’armée de Terre, de la Marine nationale et du Service de Santé des armées depuis son entrée en service, en 2011. Et, la dissolution, dans le même temps, des  […]

Cet article Le successeur de Louvois replacera « l’homme au coeur du système » est apparu en premier sur Zone Militaire.

KYIV, 16 January 2016 - The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) today opened a new Forward Patrol Base in the Luhansk region, becoming the Mission’s eighth such Base in the Donbas.

The new Base in Stanytsia Luhanska will extend the monitors’ presence in the areas where most incidents take place, thereby enabling the Mission to follow up on the incidents faster and more efficiently.

“As with the other Forward Patrol Bases established by the SMM earlier, this Base in Stanytsia Luhanska will help us enhance our monitoring and reporting, and contribute to easing tensions in the east,” said Principal Deputy Chief Monitor Alexander Hug.

Forward Patrol Bases differ from SMM offices or hubs as they are located closer to the contact line and accommodate a smaller number of monitors who are rotated on a weekly basis.

Previously the SMM has opened Forward Patrol Bases in the following locations - four in government-controlled areas: Volnovakha, Krasnoarmiisk, Svitlodarsk (Donetsk region) and in Novoaidar (Luhansk region); as well as three in areas outside of government control: in Stakhanov (Luhansk region), and in Horlivka and Debaltseve (Donetsk region).

Related Stories

• OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine opens two Forward Patrol Bases in Krasnoarmiisk and Svitlodarsk
• The provisions of Minsk agreement have been agreed, they must and can be implemented - OSCE Principal Deputy Chief Monitor in Ukraine
• Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30hrs, 14 January 2016

When peace finally comes to Syria, Russia is open to investing in the Syrian economy and infrastructure, Ziyad Sabsabi, the official representative of Russia’s Chechen Republic in Moscow, said during his official visit to Syria.

The stakes are getting higher in the battle between the state and the Internet giants.

Au moment où, paniqués par la progression de Daesh en Libye, certains en sont quasiment arrivés à croire qu’il était possible de soutenir une partie des jihadistes contre les autres, le massacre commis à Ouagadougou venant après celui de l’hôtel Radisson de Bamako le 20 novembre 2015, rappelle que nous sommes en présence d’un même phénomène. Comme en Syrie, où le président Poutine ne cesse de  dire qu’il n’y a pas plus de jihadistes « modérés » qu’au Sahel.Au-delà de la description événementielle et journalistique, l’analyse du massacre qui vient de se produire à Ouagadougou peut se faire autour de quatre points : 
La suite de cette analyse est réservée aux abonnés à l'Afrique Réelle. Pour la recevoir par courriel, vous devez être abonné.Pour s'abonner, cliquer ici