The Russian-backed head of Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, has said that the blockade of the administrative border between mainland Ukraine and the peninsula has endorsed goods supply from Russia, the Crimean Desk of RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service reports.
"Today the Kerch ferry crossing works smoothly. In the last three days cargo transportation has increased 15 percent. The number of trucks has increased significantly and , I think, the growth will continue," he said.
Aksyonov said an increase in cargo transportation will only accelerate the expulsion of Ukrainian goods from shops in Crimea.
The blockade, initiated by Crimean Tatars, began on September 20. Activists believe that Ukrainian companies should cut their business ties because of Russia’s annexation of the peninsula.
Senator John McCain said today in Odesa that the United States will continue to help Ukraine. At the same time, he emphasized the importance of Ukraine's fight against corruption.
"I intend to discuss many issues with the president and prime minister, but it is our view that there still needs to be work done on the issue of corruption," he said.
McCain once again said that Russia was "a gas station masquerading as a country" and called Russian President Vladimir Putin "a bully and a thug."
The Sevastopol Gazette reports that Vladimir Galichy, a former member of the Sevastopol city council who voted in favour of unification with Russia after the takeover of Crimea last year, has been arrested by the Ukrainian authorities.
According to the report, Galichy was heading back into Crimea from mainland Ukraine when he was stopped yesterday afternoon by Ukrainian border guards at the Kalanchak checkpoint on the frontier between Ukrainian and Russian-controlled territory.
Aleksandr Zakharchenko is a leader of the pro-Russian separatists in Donetsk.
Senator John McCain is visiting Odesa today.
Tyzhden (Week) is reporting that the government has allocated 140 million hryvnyas ($6.6 million) for "sherrifs" in villages. So, naturally, Chuck Norris: