Journalist killed by car bomb
KYIV – Pavel Sheremet, an award-winning journalist whose reporting challenged the authorities in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine over the past two decades, was killed on July 20 when the car he was driving was destroyed by a bomb in downtown Kyiv. Ukrainian Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko called Mr. Sheremet’s death a “murder,” saying the blast was caused by an “explosive device” and that all evidence points to an assassination. Colleagues said they believed it was linked to his work. Belarusian-born Mr. Sheremet, 44, a journalist at news website Ukrayinska Pravda, was driving to the offices of Radio Vesti to do a regular morning show when the bomb went off at about 7:45 a.m., officials said. The Internal Affairs Ministry said the explosives were planted underneath the car and the blast was set off by “possibly a remote-controlled or delayed-action” detonator. The ministry said Mr. Sheremet’s killers had acted “skillfully.” President Petro Poroshenko said in televised comments that he believes the killing was carried out “with one aim in mind: to destabilize the situation in the country, possibly ahead of further events.” He said he has requested assistance from the FBI in the murder investigation in order to ensure “maximum transparency.” Alyona Horbatko, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, confirmed to RFE/RL that the FBI would assist its Ukrainian counterparts in the case. (Christopher Miller of RFE/RL)
U.S. Embassy on Sheremet’s death
KYIV – The U.S. Embassy in Ukraine issued a statement on July 20 about the death that day of journalist Pavel Sheremet. The text reads: “We are shocked and saddened at the news of the death of prominent journalist Pavel Sheremet, who was killed in an unprecedented car explosion in Kyiv this morning. Pavel led a life of purpose and integrity in multiple countries. We respect him as a fearless practitioner and supporter of freedom of speech, the Revolution of Dignity and a brighter future for Ukraine. We welcome the statements by the police and prosecutor general that the circumstances surrounding his murder will be fully investigated and any perpetrators brought to justice. We extend our sympathies to his partner Olena Prytula, his family, his colleagues at Ukrayinska Pravda, and his many friends and defenders of freedom of media and speech in Ukraine. (U.S. Embassy Kyiv)
OSCE condemns murder of Sheremet
VIENNA – OSCE media freedom representative Dunja Mijatović on July 20 condemned the murder of journalist Pavel Sheremet, a journalist with Radio Vesti and the Ukrayinska Pravda who was killed in a car explosion. “This killing and its circumstances must be swiftly and thoroughly investigated, and the perpetrators brought to justice,” Ms. Mijatović said, noting President Petro Poroshenko’s strong condemnation of the act and immediate action to investigate. “We have lost a prominent and dedicated journalist and my sincere condolences go out to Sheremet’s family, friends and colleagues.” Mr. Sheremet, originally of Belarus and recipient of the 2002 OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Prize for Journalism and Democracy, worked as a journalist in Ukraine, Belarus and Russia during his career. “This morning’s gruesome incident reminds us all that the safety situation for journalists in Ukraine must be addressed effectively and timely,” Ms. Mijatović said. The representative of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe recalled the 2001 murder of the prominent Ukrainian journalist Heorhii Gongadze, the founder of Ukrayinska Pravda, and reiterated her call for the authorities to fully investigate that crime. (OSCE)
New commander has Ukrainian roots
OTTAWA – Lt.-Gen. Paul Wynnyk was appointed as commander of the Canadian Army on July 14, at a ceremony on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. The commander’s late father, Walter Wynnyk, who served during World War II with the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals, was born to Ukrainian immigrants in Stry, Alberta. Lt.-Gen. Wynnyk was commissioned into the Canadian Military Engineers in 1986. He has held numerous command appointments and most recently served as commander of the Canadian Forces Intelligence Command and as deputy commander of the Canadian Army. His decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal and the Afghan Baryal Medal (First Class). (Ukrainian Canadian Congress)
Yovanovitch confirmed as ambassador
WASHINGTON – Marie L. Yovanovitch of Connecticut, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of minister-counselor, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on July 14 to be the new ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Ukraine. Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch replaces Geoffrey Pyatt, who was confirmed as the new U.S. ambassador to Greece. The nominations were passed by voice vote before Congress left Washington for a seven-week recess. Ms. Yovanovitch previously served as U.S. ambassador to Armenia and Kyrgyzstan and was deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv in 2001-2004. (U.S.-Ukraine Business Council)
Committee OKs STAND for Ukraine bill
WASHINGTON – Rep. Eliot L. Engel, ranking member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, on July 14 welcomed approval by the committee of his comprehensive legislation to address the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. The STAND for Ukraine Act (H.R.5094), which he and Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) introduced in April along with a bipartisan group of 15 members, clarifies the U.S. position on Russia’s illegal occupation of Crimea, tightens sanctions on Russia and drives new innovations to provide support for Ukraine. Rep. Engel on July 14 delivered the following statement in support of his legislation: “The legislation underscores America’s support for Ukraine’s right to defend itself. Parts of Ukraine, as we know, are illegally occupied. So our aim with this bill is rooted in America’s non-recognition policies during the 50-year Soviet occupation of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. This bill links any sanctions relief to Russia fulfilling its obligations under the Minsk Agreement, as well as making Crimea-related sanctions permanent so long as the Russian occupation there continues. It also tightens sanctions enforcement with a new anti-evasion framework and requires regular reports on banks illegally controlling Ukrainian assets – particularly Russian banks in Crimea. Additionally, this bill tries to drive new private-sector investment to Ukraine, clamps down on Russia buying defense equipment or services from our NATO allies, targets human rights abuses in Russian-occupied areas, and calls for a strategy to push back against Russian propaganda.” Rep. Engle added, “We need to send a message to the people of Ukraine that we stand with them, and to Putin that his aggression and bullying won’t go unanswered.” (Office of Rep. Eliot L. Engel)
Congressmen urge Obama to visit Ukraine
WASHINGTON – Rep. Brendan F. Boyle (R-Pa.) and the House Ukraine Caucus co-chairs, Reps. Marcy Kaptur, Sander Levin and Michael Fitzpatrick, led a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to visit Ukraine prior to the end of his term. Fifteen members of the U.S. House of Representatives joined in on signing the June 23 letter. This bipartisan effort underscores that a visit by the president to Ukraine would highlight and enhance the strategic partnership between the two countries, as well as enhance the strong cooperation needed to implement reforms in Ukraine. “During President Obama’s term, the Ukrainian people have endured tumultuous times from the Maidan Revolution, the annexation of Crimea by Russia and the invasion of Eastern Ukraine,” said Rep. Boyle. “A visit by President Obama would represent an important symbol that the United States continues to stand with the people of Ukraine and lead the international community in support for the peace, security and freedom that they deserve.” The letter expressed the commitment of the Congress to work with President Obama on continued support for Ukraine. The letter was sent before President Obama traveled to Warsaw for the NATO summit on July 7-9. (Office of Rep. Brendan Boyle)
USAF secretary’s meetings in Kyiv
KYIV – U.S. Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James departed Kyiv on July 15 following meetings with Ukraine defense department leaders in which they discussed support and cooperation between the U.S. and Ukrainian air forces. Following her meetings, Secretary James said, “I had very informative conversations with Acting Minister of Defense Rusnak and Lt.-Gen. Drozdov on where we should focus cooperation between our air forces. The support that the Ukrainian air force provides to U.N. and NATO missions around the world contributes to global security and helps promote international stability.” On July 14, Secretary James met with Acting Minister of Defense Ivan Rusnak; Commander of the Air Force, Ukrainian Armed Forces Lt.-Gen. Serhiy Drozdov; Director of the Department of Military Policy, Strategic Planning and International Cooperation, Gen.-Maj. Anatolii Petrenko; and Acting First Deputy Chief of the General Staff Gen.-Maj. Victor Nazarov. In addition, the USAF secretary visited the Antonov Aeronautics Company facility. Secretary James’ visit to Ukraine is part of a regional tour to advance security cooperation of the United States and discuss the war on terror and other security concerns. “Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and occupation and attempted annexation of Crimea remain a great concern to all of us and threatens our shared vision of a Europe that is whole, free, and at peace. Our goal is to deepen the relationship between our air forces and assist Ukraine in becoming fully NATO interoperable by 2020,” Secretary James said. (U.S. Embassy Kyiv)
Seven Ukrainian soldiers killed in east
KYIV – Ukraine said seven government soldiers have been killed in the past 24 hours in clashes with pro-Russia separatists in the country’s east, making July the deadliest month for the Ukrainian military in nearly a year. Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said another 14 soldiers were also wounded. It is the highest daily death toll since Ukraine reported seven of its soldiers killed on May 24. The surge of violence recently comes in spite of an 18-month-old peace deal known as the Minsk agreement, which imposed a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine. Col. Lysenko said the pro-Russia separatists had been firing high-caliber mortars at government positions. He said hot spots included the separatist-controlled town of Horlivka and the outskirts of separatist-controlled eastern Luhansk region. “On average, every attack lasts for at least 30 minutes and can last for up to two hours. That’s how it was yesterday,” Col. Lysenko said. Separatist leaders have accused Ukrainian troops of intensifying shelling on separatist-held territory. (RFE/RL, based on reporting by Reuters and AFP)
Russia to deploy anti-missile defense
MOSCOW – Russia plans to deploy the advanced S-400 missile-defense system in the occupied Ukrainian region of Crimea. The deputy commander of the Russian Army’s 18th Air Defense Regiment, based in Feodosia, told Russian media on July 15 that the state-of-the-art system should be deployed by August. It is unclear whether they will replace or augment the S-300 systems currently deployed there. The S-400 is capable of tracking some 300 targets and engaging three dozen simultaneously. It has a range of several hundred kilometers. Russia annexed the Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula in March 2014, a move widely rejected by the international community. The Crimean port of Sevastopol is the home base of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. (RFE/RL, based on reporting by RIA-Novosti and AFP)
Russia accuses OSCE monitor of spying
KYIV – Russia’s main security agency, the FSB, has said it detained a Ukrainian employed by international ceasefire monitors, accusing him of spying on Kremlin-backed separatists in Ukraine’s war-torn east. The Federal Security Service said on July 18 that the man, Artem Shestakov, worked as an interpreter for the Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
The FSB charged that, while working in separatist-controlled territory in the eastern Luhansk region, Mr. Shestakov had collected intelligence information for the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). “Specifically, he divulged data on the movement of military equipment and manpower, the locations of military units and their commanders’ telephone numbers to Kyiv,” the FSB said. The agency said that it detained Shestakov on Russian territory, though it didn’t specify where or when. Аnd it said he had confessed to spying, including passing on information about Pavel Dryomov, a separatist Cossack leader in Luhansk who it claimed was killed by Ukrainian security services on December 12. The agency said it later released Shestakov, and sent him back to Ukraine, because his activities did not undermine Russia’s security. Oleksandr Tkachuk, the SBU’s chief of staff, told RFE/RL that the claims are “complete nonsense,” and he said the fact that Mr. Shestakov was released “indirectly confirms his innocence.” Alexandra Taylor, an OSCE spokeswoman, would not confirm Mr. Shestakov was in fact the monitor in question, but said that the FSB report made it clear he was the person detained. She said Mr. Shestakov was likely detained in the past three days while on leave. (Christopher Miller of RFE/RL)