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Pro-Russian separatists assemble on July 16 on the field where MH17 crashed almost one year ago, killing all 298 on board.
Pro-Russian separatists assemble on July 16 on the field where MH17 crashed almost one year ago, killing all 298 on board.

Live Blog: Ukraine In Crisis (ARCHIVE)

Follow all of the developments as they happen

08:13 16.7.2015

08:12 16.7.2015

08:11 16.7.2015
Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk
Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk

Greece Could Learn From Britain, Ukaine, Yatsenyuk Says

Greece could learn a few lessons from Britain about how to live with less government spending and thrive, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said on July 15 after meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron.

"We have a lot in common with the United Kingdom," Yatsenyuk told Cameron. "You passed austerity and you made your economy really vibrant and robust. We did the same."

"So we can share our experiences with Greece in order to make the world better, to keep the European Union united," he said.

After the meeting, Britain announced it would send 50 troops to take part in a military exercise in Ukraine, in a show of support for Yatsenyuk's government.

"Britain strongly supports Ukraine and Ukraine's right to exist in peace with its neighbors," Cameron said. "We think the people of Ukraine should be able to choose their own future."

Yatsenyuk met with U.S. President Barack Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper earlier in the week.

Based on reporting by AFP and Interfax
00:11 16.7.2015

That will conclude our Ukraine in Crisis live blogging for July 15, 2015. Please join us again tomorrow.

00:10 16.7.2015

An interesting RFE/RL photogallery about how some lucky Ukrainian soldiers have been living in luxury homes and mansions after their owners fled the fighting.

Spacious Homes Become Soldiers' Barracks In Pisky

A soldier of the 93rd Brigade cooks his meal in a fireplace. Most of the soldiers don’t come from wealthy backgrounds themselves and enjoy living in expensive dwellings -- even if they're partly destroyed.
1/12 A soldier of the 93rd Brigade cooks his meal in a fireplace. Most of the soldiers don’t come from wealthy backgrounds themselves and enjoy living in expensive dwellings -- even if they're partly destroyed.
The town of Pisky, near Donetsk, used to be home to some of the wealthier residents of eastern Ukraine. But as the Donbas region spiraled into conflict last year, rich and poor alike abandoned their homes. The larger houses, some worth millions of dollars, have now been appropriated by Ukrainian government forces. As they wait for the next clash with Russian-backed separatists, the troops sleep, train, and cook in the luxury mansions of the region's upper classes. (Photos by James Sprankle)
A soldier nicknamed Wolf checks out a dirty swimming pool at a mansion in Pisky.
2/12 A soldier nicknamed Wolf checks out a dirty swimming pool at a mansion in Pisky.
The town of Pisky, near Donetsk, used to be home to some of the wealthier residents of eastern Ukraine. But as the Donbas region spiraled into conflict last year, rich and poor alike abandoned their homes. The larger houses, some worth millions of dollars, have now been appropriated by Ukrainian government forces. As they wait for the next clash with Russian-backed separatists, the troops sleep, train, and cook in the luxury mansions of the region's upper classes. (Photos by James Sprankle)
Soldiers spend their down time cleaning their weapons and reading in the library of a mansion.
3/12 Soldiers spend their down time cleaning their weapons and reading in the library of a mansion.
The town of Pisky, near Donetsk, used to be home to some of the wealthier residents of eastern Ukraine. But as the Donbas region spiraled into conflict last year, rich and poor alike abandoned their homes. The larger houses, some worth millions of dollars, have now been appropriated by Ukrainian government forces. As they wait for the next clash with Russian-backed separatists, the troops sleep, train, and cook in the luxury mansions of the region's upper classes. (Photos by James Sprankle)
A photo album left by a family who abandoned their house after fighting started around Donetsk
4/12 A photo album left by a family who abandoned their house after fighting started around Donetsk
The town of Pisky, near Donetsk, used to be home to some of the wealthier residents of eastern Ukraine. But as the Donbas region spiraled into conflict last year, rich and poor alike abandoned their homes. The larger houses, some worth millions of dollars, have now been appropriated by Ukrainian government forces. As they wait for the next clash with Russian-backed separatists, the troops sleep, train, and cook in the luxury mansions of the region's upper classes. (Photos by James Sprankle)
Soldiers of the 93rd Brigade watch as their comrades walk toward Pisky. Venturing outside of their temporary barracks means being exposed to shelling and machine-gun fire.
5/12 Soldiers of the 93rd Brigade watch as their comrades walk toward Pisky. Venturing outside of their temporary barracks means being exposed to shelling and machine-gun fire.
The town of Pisky, near Donetsk, used to be home to some of the wealthier residents of eastern Ukraine. But as the Donbas region spiraled into conflict last year, rich and poor alike abandoned their homes. The larger houses, some worth millions of dollars, have now been appropriated by Ukrainian government forces. As they wait for the next clash with Russian-backed separatists, the troops sleep, train, and cook in the luxury mansions of the region's upper classes. (Photos by James Sprankle)
A soldier nicknamed Casanova fires a grenade launcher toward separatist positions in Donetsk from the driveway of a house in Pisky.
6/12 A soldier nicknamed Casanova fires a grenade launcher toward separatist positions in Donetsk from the driveway of a house in Pisky.
The town of Pisky, near Donetsk, used to be home to some of the wealthier residents of eastern Ukraine. But as the Donbas region spiraled into conflict last year, rich and poor alike abandoned their homes. The larger houses, some worth millions of dollars, have now been appropriated by Ukrainian government forces. As they wait for the next clash with Russian-backed separatists, the troops sleep, train, and cook in the luxury mansions of the region's upper classes. (Photos by James Sprankle)
A soldier picks fruit off a tree while carrying supplies back to his unit’s house.
7/12 A soldier picks fruit off a tree while carrying supplies back to his unit’s house.
The town of Pisky, near Donetsk, used to be home to some of the wealthier residents of eastern Ukraine. But as the Donbas region spiraled into conflict last year, rich and poor alike abandoned their homes. The larger houses, some worth millions of dollars, have now been appropriated by Ukrainian government forces. As they wait for the next clash with Russian-backed separatists, the troops sleep, train, and cook in the luxury mansions of the region's upper classes. (Photos by James Sprankle)
Soldiers known as Dice and Habib hang out in the driveway of a four-story house.
8/12 Soldiers known as Dice and Habib hang out in the driveway of a four-story house.
The town of Pisky, near Donetsk, used to be home to some of the wealthier residents of eastern Ukraine. But as the Donbas region spiraled into conflict last year, rich and poor alike abandoned their homes. The larger houses, some worth millions of dollars, have now been appropriated by Ukrainian government forces. As they wait for the next clash with Russian-backed separatists, the troops sleep, train, and cook in the luxury mansions of the region's upper classes. (Photos by James Sprankle)
A young soldier from the 93rd Brigade plays a video game, Counter Strike, during a break.
9/12 A young soldier from the 93rd Brigade plays a video game, Counter Strike, during a break.
The town of Pisky, near Donetsk, used to be home to some of the wealthier residents of eastern Ukraine. But as the Donbas region spiraled into conflict last year, rich and poor alike abandoned their homes. The larger houses, some worth millions of dollars, have now been appropriated by Ukrainian government forces. As they wait for the next clash with Russian-backed separatists, the troops sleep, train, and cook in the luxury mansions of the region's upper classes. (Photos by James Sprankle)
Soldiers use a garage as a kitchen, dining room, and storage facility. 
10/12 Soldiers use a garage as a kitchen, dining room, and storage facility. 
The town of Pisky, near Donetsk, used to be home to some of the wealthier residents of eastern Ukraine. But as the Donbas region spiraled into conflict last year, rich and poor alike abandoned their homes. The larger houses, some worth millions of dollars, have now been appropriated by Ukrainian government forces. As they wait for the next clash with Russian-backed separatists, the troops sleep, train, and cook in the luxury mansions of the region's upper classes. (Photos by James Sprankle)
Dice pulls in a fishing line during a swimming trip outside of Pisky. 
11/12 Dice pulls in a fishing line during a swimming trip outside of Pisky. 
The town of Pisky, near Donetsk, used to be home to some of the wealthier residents of eastern Ukraine. But as the Donbas region spiraled into conflict last year, rich and poor alike abandoned their homes. The larger houses, some worth millions of dollars, have now been appropriated by Ukrainian government forces. As they wait for the next clash with Russian-backed separatists, the troops sleep, train, and cook in the luxury mansions of the region's upper classes. (Photos by James Sprankle)
Dan and Chemist, from the 93rd Brigade, walk toward their front line positions, where they will spend the next few hours observing enemy positions in Donetsk.
12/12 Dan and Chemist, from the 93rd Brigade, walk toward their front line positions, where they will spend the next few hours observing enemy positions in Donetsk.
The town of Pisky, near Donetsk, used to be home to some of the wealthier residents of eastern Ukraine. But as the Donbas region spiraled into conflict last year, rich and poor alike abandoned their homes. The larger houses, some worth millions of dollars, have now been appropriated by Ukrainian government forces. As they wait for the next clash with Russian-backed separatists, the troops sleep, train, and cook in the luxury mansions of the region's upper classes. (Photos by James Sprankle)
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00:02 16.7.2015

From our news desk:

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said a large-scale reshuffle is needed in the western region of Zakarpattya.

Poroshenko was speaking in the region's capital city of Uzhhorod on July 15 while presenting the new head of the Zakarpattya regional administration, Hennadiy Moskal.

Moskal -- who replaces Valeriy Lunchenko -- was the former head of the eastern Luhansk region, where Ukraine's armed forces have been fighting against pro-Russian separatists for over a year.

"Criminals, smugglers, and law enforcement bodies have grown together in Zakarpattya since the early 1990s and nobody in the years of independence has succeeded in tearing them apart,” Poroshenko said, adding that the situation will not improve without a serious reshuffle.

Deadly shootings between the ultranationalist Right Sector and local police took place over the weekend in Zakarpattya.

The gunbattle in Zakarpattya's city of Mukacheve on July 11 highlighted tensions between the government and nationalist groups that played a role in the protests that pushed Moscow-backed President Viktor Yanukovych from power last year but now challenge the authority of the pro-Western leaders in power.

Based on reporting by Interfax and UNIAN

23:58 15.7.2015

23:54 15.7.2015

23:53 15.7.2015

23:52 15.7.2015

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