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Ten-year-old Sasha stands in a bomb shelter in Donetsk in eastern Ukraine.
Ten-year-old Sasha stands in a bomb shelter in Donetsk in eastern Ukraine.
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Live Blog: Ukraine In Crisis (Archive)

Follow all of the latest developments as they happen.

Final News Summary For September 29

-- We have started a new Ukraine Live Blog. Find it here.

-- Ukraine is marking 75 years since the World War II massacre of 33,771 Jews on the outskirts of Nazi-occupied Kyiv.

-- German Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to stabilize a fragile cease-fire in Ukraine and do all he could to improve what Merkel called a "catastrophic humanitarian situation" in Syria.

-- Russia's Supreme Court has upheld a decision by a Moscow-backed Crimean court to ban the Mejlis, the self-governing body of Crimean Tatars in the occupied Ukrainian territory.

* NOTE: Times are stated according to local time in Kyiv (GMT/UTC +3)

17:32 30.8.2016

An excerpt:

It remains unclear whether Moscow intends to launch a full-scale military attack on Ukraine, Pavel Felgengauer says; but if it plans to, there are compelling reasons – deteriorating weather in the fall and the new round of the Russian military draft in October – to think that it will begin in the next several weeks.

The Russian military analyst says that “Russian forces have been brought to full military readiness and moved up to the borders of Ukraine.” And while this at one level at least is only “saber rattling,” it is clear that it is possible that this will lead to a full-scale military conflict.

Indeed, if such an expanded invasion doesn’t begin, then it is far from understandable “why all this is being organized because the forces that have been moved forward are very serious.” To be sure, Moscow has not called up the reserves, but it doesn’t have to because “even without them,” Moscow can assemble “more than 100,000 men” for an attack.

16:50 30.8.2016

From RFE/RL's News Desk:

The Kremlin says Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold a number of high-level bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the upcoming G20 summit in Hangzhou, China, including with leaders from Turkey, Britain, and Saudi Arabia.

But a planned trilateral meeting of leaders from Russia, France, and Germany on the Ukraine crisis was called off due to rising tensions over the Crimean Peninsula, according to Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov.

Instead, Putin is to meet separately with French President Francois Hollande -- possibly on September 4 -- and German Chancellor Angela Merkel the following day.

Kyiv had been concerned about the prospect of Russia, Germany, and France discussing the situation in Ukraine without its input.

Based on reporting by Reuters and TASS

16:48 30.8.2016

16:17 30.8.2016

A news item from RFE/RL's Kazakh Service:

Kazakhstan Hunts Man Suspected Of Fighting Alongside Ukrainian Separatists

A court in Kazakhstan’s northwestern city of Aqtobe has added to the country's wanted list a local resident suspected of fighting alongside Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.

The court issued its ruling on August 30 after the suspect, Maksim Yermolov, failed to appear in court for a second time in the case.

Yermolov was detained in February 2015 after returning to Kazakhstan from eastern Ukraine, where he allegedly fought alongside pro-Russia separatists who are battling Ukrainian government forces.

Yermolov was charged with "taking part in military conflicts abroad" and ordered not to leave the city of Aqtobe.

His current whereabouts are unknown.

From 2014 to 2015, Kazakhstan jailed at least two Kazakh citizens for fighting against Ukrainian government forces in eastern Ukraine.

Four Kazakh citizens also were convicted during that period on charges of inciting separatism and ethnic hatred on the Internet in connection with Ukraine's conflict.

15:02 30.8.2016

Here's another item from our news desk:

Russian Man Jailed For Joining Ukrainian Forces

A court in Russia has jailed a Russian man for fighting against Kremlin-backed separatists in Ukraine's eastern region of Donetsk.

The Russian Investigative Committee said on August 30 that a court in the Kirov region found a 24-year-old local resident guilty of fighting as a mercenary for a foreign country and sentenced him to 2 1/2 years in jail.

The man, whose identity was not disclosed, was detained after returning to Russia's Kirov region in September 2015. He had been fighting alongside Ukrainian armed forces against pro-Russian separatists for more than six months.

Fighting between Ukrainian government forces and Russia-backed separatists in Ukraine's eastern regions of Luhansk and Donetsk has killed more than 9,500 people since April 2014.

There have been numerous reports that many volunteers and mercenaries from former Soviet republics are fighting on both sides of the conflict.

Based on reporting by Interfax and RIA

14:57 30.8.2016

Here is today's map of the latest situation in the Donbas conflict zone, according to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry (CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE):

14:53 30.8.2016

14:49 30.8.2016

14:44 30.8.2016

Photographer Chris Collison has given us this gallery of images looking at the plight of miners on eastern Ukraine:

The Strife Of Eastern Ukraine's Coal Miners

Ukraine’s state-run coal mines are in crisis. Two years of war and political upheaval in eastern Ukraine have led to plummeting production levels, with damage at many facilities due to fighting, and large-scale depopulation as residents flee the conflict with Russian-backed separatists. The few state-owned coal enterprises still running are fighting to survive.

It's been a couple of months since the workers at the state-owned "Ukraina" coal mine, in the country’s eastern region of Donetsk, received their full salaries. Spring wages are only now trickling in, leaving families without enough money for basic items.

The Struggle Of Eastern Ukraine's Coal Miners

Miners return to the surface after completing their shifts at the Ukraina mine. In July, miners here went on hunger strike to protest the government’s failure to secure their regular salaries.
1/19 Miners return to the surface after completing their shifts at the Ukraina mine. In July, miners here went on hunger strike to protest the government’s failure to secure their regular salaries.
Ukraine’s state-run coal mines are in crisis. Two years of war and political upheaval in eastern Ukraine have led to plummeting production levels, with damage at many facilities due to fighting, and large-scale depopulation as residents flee the conflict with Russian-backed separatists. The few state-owned coal enterprises still running are fighting to survive.
A worker waits as miners ascend to the surface at the Ukraina coal mine. As well as war, coal mines in the east of Ukraine are facing the problem of being unprofitable. As the industry began to decline after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Ukraine's government has pumped billions of dollars into keeping the mines functioning. 
2/19 A worker waits as miners ascend to the surface at the Ukraina coal mine. As well as war, coal mines in the east of Ukraine are facing the problem of being unprofitable. As the industry began to decline after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Ukraine's government has pumped billions of dollars into keeping the mines functioning. 
Ukraine’s state-run coal mines are in crisis. Two years of war and political upheaval in eastern Ukraine have led to plummeting production levels, with damage at many facilities due to fighting, and large-scale depopulation as residents flee the conflict with Russian-backed separatists. The few state-owned coal enterprises still running are fighting to survive.
The Ukraina mine's main building. “The subsidies were a mistake,” said Andriy Gerus, from Ukraine’s National Energy and Utilities Regulation Commission. “They went to oligarchs and local decision makers. The mines did not use them to restructure.”
3/19 The Ukraina mine's main building. “The subsidies were a mistake,” said Andriy Gerus, from Ukraine’s National Energy and Utilities Regulation Commission. “They went to oligarchs and local decision makers. The mines did not use them to restructure.”
Ukraine’s state-run coal mines are in crisis. Two years of war and political upheaval in eastern Ukraine have led to plummeting production levels, with damage at many facilities due to fighting, and large-scale depopulation as residents flee the conflict with Russian-backed separatists. The few state-owned coal enterprises still running are fighting to survive.
A worker in a supply room at the Ukraina mine waits for colleagues to return to the surface. “If the Ukraina mine closes, it won’t just affect this town,” Artur Mirumian, the director of the mine said. “It will have an impact on all of the nearby communities."
4/19 A worker in a supply room at the Ukraina mine waits for colleagues to return to the surface. “If the Ukraina mine closes, it won’t just affect this town,” Artur Mirumian, the director of the mine said. “It will have an impact on all of the nearby communities."
Ukraine’s state-run coal mines are in crisis. Two years of war and political upheaval in eastern Ukraine have led to plummeting production levels, with damage at many facilities due to fighting, and large-scale depopulation as residents flee the conflict with Russian-backed separatists. The few state-owned coal enterprises still running are fighting to survive.
An administrator answers a call in the control room of the Ukraina mine. Director Mirumian says: "People here either work in the mine or in the production factory. There is nowhere else to work. This is a very important moment politically. Under no circumstances should this enterprise close. It would be a catastrophe.”
5/19 An administrator answers a call in the control room of the Ukraina mine. Director Mirumian says: "People here either work in the mine or in the production factory. There is nowhere else to work. This is a very important moment politically. Under no circumstances should this enterprise close. It would be a catastrophe.”
Ukraine’s state-run coal mines are in crisis. Two years of war and political upheaval in eastern Ukraine have led to plummeting production levels, with damage at many facilities due to fighting, and large-scale depopulation as residents flee the conflict with Russian-backed separatists. The few state-owned coal enterprises still running are fighting to survive.
Viktor Trifonov, a local trade union leader, stands near the doorway leading to the elevator shafts of the Ukraina coal mine. Coal production peaked in the early 1980s, and has been slowly declining ever since, but the war with Russia-backed separatists sent the production of raw materials into freefall. 
6/19 Viktor Trifonov, a local trade union leader, stands near the doorway leading to the elevator shafts of the Ukraina coal mine. Coal production peaked in the early 1980s, and has been slowly declining ever since, but the war with Russia-backed separatists sent the production of raw materials into freefall. 
Ukraine’s state-run coal mines are in crisis. Two years of war and political upheaval in eastern Ukraine have led to plummeting production levels, with damage at many facilities due to fighting, and large-scale depopulation as residents flee the conflict with Russian-backed separatists. The few state-owned coal enterprises still running are fighting to survive.
Coal awaits processing at a small facility near the town of Selidovo. Last year, Ukraine was forced to buy coal from abroad, importing it from as far away as South Africa.
7/19 Coal awaits processing at a small facility near the town of Selidovo. Last year, Ukraine was forced to buy coal from abroad, importing it from as far away as South Africa.
Ukraine’s state-run coal mines are in crisis. Two years of war and political upheaval in eastern Ukraine have led to plummeting production levels, with damage at many facilities due to fighting, and large-scale depopulation as residents flee the conflict with Russian-backed separatists. The few state-owned coal enterprises still running are fighting to survive.
Coal awaits processing at the facility.&nbsp;The government has promised not to import coal in 2016, but the current conflict over salaries has put pressure on domestic production.<br /> &nbsp;
8/19 Coal awaits processing at the facility. The government has promised not to import coal in 2016, but the current conflict over salaries has put pressure on domestic production.
 
Ukraine’s state-run coal mines are in crisis. Two years of war and political upheaval in eastern Ukraine have led to plummeting production levels, with damage at many facilities due to fighting, and large-scale depopulation as residents flee the conflict with Russian-backed separatists. The few state-owned coal enterprises still running are fighting to survive.
Viktor Trifonov outside the Central mine in Myrnohrad.&nbsp;&ldquo;We don&rsquo;t want anything special -- just to live like normal people,&quot; he says. &quot;We just want to be paid our salaries.&rdquo; On August 9, Trifonov <a href="http://kvpu.org.ua/en/news/6/1557-minersunionleaderresortedtoselfimmolationact" target="_blank">attempted self-immolation</a> during a press conference.&nbsp;
9/19 Viktor Trifonov outside the Central mine in Myrnohrad. “We don’t want anything special -- just to live like normal people," he says. "We just want to be paid our salaries.” On August 9, Trifonov attempted self-immolation during a press conference. 
Ukraine’s state-run coal mines are in crisis. Two years of war and political upheaval in eastern Ukraine have led to plummeting production levels, with damage at many facilities due to fighting, and large-scale depopulation as residents flee the conflict with Russian-backed separatists. The few state-owned coal enterprises still running are fighting to survive.
Tatiana Ivanovna, a pensioner in Starayakolona whose husband worked in a mine, said the new authorities were not concerned about the problems facing mining towns and were ignoring the situation of workers in the region&rsquo;s traditional industries. &ldquo;The salaries of the teachers and medical workers have gone up, but not the salaries of the miners. All of the young people will leave if the mine closes,&rdquo; Ivanovna said. &ldquo;If the mine closes, the town will die.&rdquo;
10/19 Tatiana Ivanovna, a pensioner in Starayakolona whose husband worked in a mine, said the new authorities were not concerned about the problems facing mining towns and were ignoring the situation of workers in the region’s traditional industries. “The salaries of the teachers and medical workers have gone up, but not the salaries of the miners. All of the young people will leave if the mine closes,” Ivanovna said. “If the mine closes, the town will die.”
Ukraine’s state-run coal mines are in crisis. Two years of war and political upheaval in eastern Ukraine have led to plummeting production levels, with damage at many facilities due to fighting, and large-scale depopulation as residents flee the conflict with Russian-backed separatists. The few state-owned coal enterprises still running are fighting to survive.
Sergei Dorokh stands with his mining helmet outside his home in the economically depressed neighborhood of Starayakolona in Myrnohrad. Dorokh worked in mining for five years before getting a job as a rescue worker at a local emergency service, responding to accidents at mining facilities in the region. The World Bank and other critics say Ukrainian mines have obsolete equipment and dangerous working environments.
11/19 Sergei Dorokh stands with his mining helmet outside his home in the economically depressed neighborhood of Starayakolona in Myrnohrad. Dorokh worked in mining for five years before getting a job as a rescue worker at a local emergency service, responding to accidents at mining facilities in the region. The World Bank and other critics say Ukrainian mines have obsolete equipment and dangerous working environments.
Ukraine’s state-run coal mines are in crisis. Two years of war and political upheaval in eastern Ukraine have led to plummeting production levels, with damage at many facilities due to fighting, and large-scale depopulation as residents flee the conflict with Russian-backed separatists. The few state-owned coal enterprises still running are fighting to survive.
Homes in Starayakolona.&nbsp;
12/19 Homes in Starayakolona. 
Ukraine’s state-run coal mines are in crisis. Two years of war and political upheaval in eastern Ukraine have led to plummeting production levels, with damage at many facilities due to fighting, and large-scale depopulation as residents flee the conflict with Russian-backed separatists. The few state-owned coal enterprises still running are fighting to survive.
Vasiliy Alekseevich stands outside his home in the town of Myrnohrad. Alekseevich worked in mining for 30 years and largely blames Russia&rsquo;s aggression against Ukraine for the current crisis in the industry. &ldquo;It wasn&rsquo;t too bad,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We worked, and the salaries, well they weren&rsquo;t great, but we lived.&rdquo; &ldquo;The most important thing is that this conflict ends, and that Russia gets out of here,&rdquo; Alekseevich said. &ldquo;My father was Russian, my mother was Ukrainian. I was raised here, I worked here, and retired here. This is my land -- our land. We do not need Russian occupiers.&rdquo;
13/19 Vasiliy Alekseevich stands outside his home in the town of Myrnohrad. Alekseevich worked in mining for 30 years and largely blames Russia’s aggression against Ukraine for the current crisis in the industry. “It wasn’t too bad,” he said. “We worked, and the salaries, well they weren’t great, but we lived.” “The most important thing is that this conflict ends, and that Russia gets out of here,” Alekseevich said. “My father was Russian, my mother was Ukrainian. I was raised here, I worked here, and retired here. This is my land -- our land. We do not need Russian occupiers.”
Ukraine’s state-run coal mines are in crisis. Two years of war and political upheaval in eastern Ukraine have led to plummeting production levels, with damage at many facilities due to fighting, and large-scale depopulation as residents flee the conflict with Russian-backed separatists. The few state-owned coal enterprises still running are fighting to survive.
Nikolai Ivanovich, an 86-year-old pensioner, stands outside his home in the town of Myrnohrad. He said his pension was not enough, and prices were on the rise. &ldquo;I had to sell my car because my pension was too low. That&rsquo;s how we live now.&rdquo;&nbsp;
14/19 Nikolai Ivanovich, an 86-year-old pensioner, stands outside his home in the town of Myrnohrad. He said his pension was not enough, and prices were on the rise. “I had to sell my car because my pension was too low. That’s how we live now.” 
Ukraine’s state-run coal mines are in crisis. Two years of war and political upheaval in eastern Ukraine have led to plummeting production levels, with damage at many facilities due to fighting, and large-scale depopulation as residents flee the conflict with Russian-backed separatists. The few state-owned coal enterprises still running are fighting to survive.
The Central mine of Myrnohrad.&nbsp;
15/19 The Central mine of Myrnohrad. 
Ukraine’s state-run coal mines are in crisis. Two years of war and political upheaval in eastern Ukraine have led to plummeting production levels, with damage at many facilities due to fighting, and large-scale depopulation as residents flee the conflict with Russian-backed separatists. The few state-owned coal enterprises still running are fighting to survive.
Signs on a mine administration building criticize the Ukrainian government for failing to pay salaries to coal miners.
16/19 Signs on a mine administration building criticize the Ukrainian government for failing to pay salaries to coal miners.
Ukraine’s state-run coal mines are in crisis. Two years of war and political upheaval in eastern Ukraine have led to plummeting production levels, with damage at many facilities due to fighting, and large-scale depopulation as residents flee the conflict with Russian-backed separatists. The few state-owned coal enterprises still running are fighting to survive.
Several hundred people gathered in the main square of the town of Selidovo on July 10 to demand that the Ukrainian government pay salaries owed to the workers of state-owned coal mines.
17/19 Several hundred people gathered in the main square of the town of Selidovo on July 10 to demand that the Ukrainian government pay salaries owed to the workers of state-owned coal mines.
Ukraine’s state-run coal mines are in crisis. Two years of war and political upheaval in eastern Ukraine have led to plummeting production levels, with damage at many facilities due to fighting, and large-scale depopulation as residents flee the conflict with Russian-backed separatists. The few state-owned coal enterprises still running are fighting to survive.
A young miner in the Ukraina mine.&nbsp;&ldquo;Soon we won&rsquo;t even be able to buy bread,&rdquo; said Vera Nikolaivna, a pensioner whose husband worked as a miner.
18/19 A young miner in the Ukraina mine. “Soon we won’t even be able to buy bread,” said Vera Nikolaivna, a pensioner whose husband worked as a miner.
Ukraine’s state-run coal mines are in crisis. Two years of war and political upheaval in eastern Ukraine have led to plummeting production levels, with damage at many facilities due to fighting, and large-scale depopulation as residents flee the conflict with Russian-backed separatists. The few state-owned coal enterprises still running are fighting to survive.
A lump of coal in Selidovo. Nikolaivna says, &ldquo;Before, coal mining was the most honorable profession in the Donbas (region of eastern Ukraine). People went to work with pleasure. They produced coal. It was proud work -- very hard, but honorable work.&rdquo;&nbsp;
19/19 A lump of coal in Selidovo. Nikolaivna says, “Before, coal mining was the most honorable profession in the Donbas (region of eastern Ukraine). People went to work with pleasure. They produced coal. It was proud work -- very hard, but honorable work.” 
Ukraine’s state-run coal mines are in crisis. Two years of war and political upheaval in eastern Ukraine have led to plummeting production levels, with damage at many facilities due to fighting, and large-scale depopulation as residents flee the conflict with Russian-backed separatists. The few state-owned coal enterprises still running are fighting to survive.
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