Moscow and Kiev in ‘Positive Mood’ After Talks in Paris on Ending Ukraine Conflict

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig Oct 4, 2015 Russian and Ukrainian officials expressed cautious optimism following discussions in which Russia pushed for Ukraine to take back legal control of eastern territories. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Vladimir Putin Declares All Military Deaths State Secrets

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig May 29, 2015 The Russian president has declared that all military deaths -- in peacetime as well as wartime -- will be classified as state secrets, with violations punishable by up to seven years in prison. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

The War Zone of Donetsk, Ukraine

By Halyna Mokrushyna, CounterPunch May 17, 2015 When the people of the Donetsk area protested imposed changes, Kyiv launched an “anti-terrorist” operation against them. I saw firsthand these “terrorists,” who had decided to build something different from the oligarchic regime. Theirs is an enormous and difficult task. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Surge in Fighting Puts Ukrainian Truce in Doubt

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig May 3, 2015 Civilians are fleeing parts of east Ukraine as fighting there reaches its worst point since a shaky cease-fire was established in February. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

A Russian Soldier Talks of Fighting in Ukraine

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig Mar 25, 2015 Moscow denies its soldiers are crossing the border into Ukraine. But 20-year-old Russian conscript Dorji Batomunkuev told reporters how he was seriously injured near the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Ukraine Cuts Financial Ties to Rebel Territories

Peter Z. Scheer / Truthdig Nov 27, 2014 Just in time for the holidays, Kiev has limited access to credit cards and bank accounts, and promised to cut off funds for hospitals and schools. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Separatist Ukraine Elections Make U.S. Midterms Seem Even More Boring

Peter Z. Scheer / Truthdig Nov 5, 2014 This weekend some truly bizarre elections, featuring armed soldiers and artillery fire, were held in the self-styled People's Republic of Donetsk and the People's Republic of Luhansk. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Putin and Poroshenko Agree on a ‘Cease-Fire Process’ for East Ukraine

Natasha Hakimi Zapata / Truthdig Sep 3, 2014 The Kremlin stated Wednesday that although Russia "is not party" to the ongoing battles in the Donbass region of Ukraine, Presidents Vladimir Putin and Petro Poroshenko "coincided significantly" on ways to "settle the conflict" during a morning phone conversation. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Russian Troops Build Up at Ukrainian Border

Kasia Anderson / Truthdig Aug 5, 2014 The beefed-up presence of Russian forces on the Russia-Ukraine border in recent days has gotten the attention of NATO officials, who have counted some 20,000 troops in "battle-ready formations," the Financial Times reported on Tuesday. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Dozens Dead as Ukraine Claims Control of Donetsk Airport

Staff / Truthdig May 28, 2014 Ukraine said Tuesday it had recaptured the airport in the eastern city of Donetsk after a day of airstrikes and fierce gun battles with pro-Moscow separatist militants that left dozens of people dead. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Not Time to Turn Virtual War Into a Real One

William Pfaff / Truthdig Apr 23, 2014 A correspondent of the conservative Le Figaro, Adrien Jaulmes in Donetsk, reports Tuesday that what is taking place in the contested Russia-speaking areas resembles a "Potemkin" war, waged in the press and social media and on wall posters, but that has yet to produce any discernible popular movement. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Update: ‘Ukraine Is Not Ordering Its Jews to Register’

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig Apr 18, 2014 "Today, the Western press caught up with the Ukrainian rumor mill," The New Republic reports. "Apparently, the People's Republic of Donetsk had ordered all Jews over the age of 16 to pay a fee of $50 U.S. and register with the new 'authorities,' or face loss of citizenship or expulsion." Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )