[By cutting off gas supply to Ukraine Moscow appears to have exercised its ultimate economic-diplomatic weapon, eschewing direct military invasion. It is not clear whether the gas pipeline burst in Ukraine is linked to that. The effects will clearly manifest in the days to come.]
I/III. http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/0616/624115-ukraine-russia/ Russia cuts off gas supply to Ukraine Monday 16 June 2014 23.37 Pro-Russian forces stand guard outside a branch of the National Bank of Ukraine in Donetsk Russia cut off gas to Ukraine today in a dispute over unpaid bills that could disrupt supplies to the rest of Europe and set back hopes for peace between the former Soviet neighbours. After the weekend loss of 49 troops when pro-Russian rebels shot down a military transport plane, Ukraine's new president ordered his forces to retake full control of the border with Russia. He said this could then pave the way for negotiations. Calling time on weeks of wrangling in talks over natural gas supplies, Russia said Ukraine had missed a deadline this morning to repay $1.95bn owed for previous purchases and announced Ukraine would now only get gas it has paid for in advance. At the same time, Russia insisted that Ukraine must let Russian gas flow across the country through international pipelines to Russia's clients in the European Union. It noted there could be a temptation for Ukraine to tap into those supplies in transit. Ukraine and Russia blamed each other for the failure to agree on the price of future gas deliveries and refused to abandon well established positions: Russia offering a discount and Ukraine rejecting that as a tool for political manipulation. The talks are bound up with the worst crisis between Russiaand Ukraine since the Soviet Union collapsed - a crisis that has brought Western sanctions on Moscow, the Russian annexation of Crimea and Cold War-style confrontations along the borders. Western-backed Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, elected last month to replace the Kremlin-friendly leader ousted in February, said today he wanted troops to regain full control of the border with Russia this week. After that, there could be a ceasefire and efforts to come up with a peace plan. "The ceasefire will be declared as soon as the border is secure," Mr Poroshenko told his security chiefs. "Declaring a ceasefire while the border is open would be irresponsible." His remarks underlined his concern that Russia is supporting the rebels by sending in tanks, guns and men. Hopes of a lowering of tension had already been dented before the gas talks failed by the downing of the plane near the eastern frontier, an attack on Russia's embassy in Kiev and new accusations from NATO that Russia is arming the Ukrainian rebels. II/III. http://rt.com/news/166532-gas-pipeline-blast-ukraine/ Gas transit pipeline explodes in Ukraine Published time: June 17, 2014 13:01 Edited time: June 17, 2014 17:09 Screenshot from youtube.com video An explosion has struck a pipeline in the central Ukrainian Poltava region. Witnesses say flames from the blast are up to 200 meter high. *"The explosion occurred at about 14:45 local time in a field,"* the local police press-service said in a statement. Due to the *"flame and the high temperatures,"* it was *"impossible to get closer to the epicenter."* The "Brotherhood" natural gas pipeline (Urengoy-Pomary-Uzhgorod) is about one kilometer away from the nearest settlement. No injuries have been reported from the blast. Fire fighting crews have been deployed to the scene. The blaze, which according to the Interior Ministry towered 100 meters high, was put out by *"between 4 and 5 pm."* Pipeline faucets have been temporary turned off, but transit of Russian gas to Europe is being realized through a reserve pipeline. A preliminary investigation found the explosion was caused by 'pipeline depressurization'. Ukraine's Interior Ministry also cites possible *"terrorism"* - based on locals *"hearing two loud booms before the fire."* But within just an hour of the blast Ukraine's acting Interior Minister Arsen Avakov blamed Russia. The Ministry statement <http://mvs.gov.ua/mvs/control/main/ru/publish/article/1080385> decried *"Sabotage of a gas pipeline in the Poltava region"* as *"another attempt by Russia to discredit Ukraine as a gas partner"* but didn't back up such a strong accusation with any additional information. Operating since 1967, the "Brotherhood" is the largest consumer gas pipeline in Europe, clocking in at 4,451 km. It cuts through Ukraine and runs into Slovakia, where it diverges in two directions; with one part supplying gas to the Czech Republic, Germany, France and Switzerland, and the other to Austria, Italy, Hungary and several countries in the Balkans. Pipeline faucets have been temporary turned off, but transit of Russian gas to Europe is being realized through a reserve pipeline. A preliminary investigation found the explosion was caused by 'pipeline depressurization'. Ukraine's Interior Ministry also cites possible *"terrorism"* - based on locals *"hearing two loud booms before the fire."* But within just an hour of the blast Ukraine's acting Interior Minister Arsen Avakov blamed Russia. The Ministry statement <http://mvs.gov.ua/mvs/control/main/ru/publish/article/1080385> decried *"Sabotage of a gas pipeline in the Poltava region"* as *"another attempt by Russia to discredit Ukraine as a gas partner"* but didn't back up such a strong accusation with any additional information. Operating since 1967, the "Brotherhood" is the largest consumer gas pipeline in Europe, clocking in at 4,451 km. It cuts through Ukraine and runs into Slovakia, where it diverges in two directions; with one part supplying gas to the Czech Republic, Germany, France and Switzerland, and the other to Austria, Italy, Hungary and several countries in the Balkans. The Poltava region, where Ukraine's oil and natural gas industry is concentrated, lies in the center of the country. This territory is under the protection of the Ukrainian army and has not been the scene of fighting between anti-government militias and government forces. Back in March, the leader of ultranationalist group Right Sector, Dmitry Yarosh, threatened to destroy <http://rt.com/news/yarosh-destroy-russia-pipelines-186/> Russian pipelines on Ukrainian territory to *"deprive our enemy [Russia] of its source of income."* III. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27886211 17 June 2014 Last updated at 15:20 - Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27886211&t=BBC+News+-+Ukraine+crisis%3A+Deadly+attack+on+Russian+TV+crew+> Twitter <http://twitter.com/home?status=BBC+News+-+Ukraine+crisis%3A+Deadly+attack+on+Russian+TV+crew++http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27886211> - Print <http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27886211?print=true> Ukraine crisis: Deadly attack on Russian TV crew Moscow described Igor Kornelyuk's death as a "crime of Ukrainian forces" A Russian state TV journalist has been killed in a mortar attack near a village outside the east Ukrainian city of Luhansk, Russian media report. Igor Kornelyuk died in hospital after the attack near Metalist while a colleague, sound engineer Anton Voloshin, was reported missing. Meanwhile, a major pipeline in Ukraine carrying gas from Russia to the rest of Europe was hit by a blast. However, European and Russian companies said gas exports were not affected. The explosion hit the Urengoy-Pomary-Uzhgorod Pipeline, also known as the Trans-Siberian Pipeline, in Ukraine's north-east. No one was reported injured by the blast. 'Attempted terrorist attack' It is not immediately clear what caused the blast. According to AFP news agency, Ukraine's state emergencies service said it appeared to have been the result of a puncture or loss of pressure. However, the energy ministry said it could have been an "attempted terrorist attack", Reuters reported. Ukraine's gas transport monopoly, a Slovak gas transit firm, and sources at Russian gas producer Gazprom, all told reporters that the transit of gas to Europe would not be affected. Gas was being delivered through a parallel pipeline, a Gazprom source said. The crater left by a mortar bomb in eastern Ukraine last week Meanwhile, Moscow condemned the killing of journalist Igor Kornelyuk, describing it as a "crime of Ukrainian forces". Italian photojournalist Andrea Rocchelli and prominent Russian human rights activist Andrey Mironov, who was accompanying him, were killed by mortar fire in eastern Ukraine last month. Hundreds of lives have been lost in fighting in Ukraine's Luhansk and Donetsk provinces, where pro-Russian rebels are battling government forces after declaring independence just over a month ago. Reports of three civilians killed overnight by a bombardment near the rebel-held town of Sloviansk, in Donetsk region, could not be verified independently. -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. 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