Some big news just in from Kyiv:
Ukrainian Court Sentences Two Russians On Terrorism Charges
A Ukrainian court has sentenced two Russian nationals to 14 years in jail each on charges of fighting alongside Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.
On April 18, the Holosiiv District Court in Kyiv found Aleksandr Aleksandrov and Yevgeny Yerofeyev guilty of conducting terrorist acts and aggressive military activities in Ukraine's east and sentenced them the same day.
The two pleaded not guilty and retracted previous video statements admitting they were on active duty with the Russian military when they were captured in the Luhansk region in May 2015. Both maintain that the statements were made under duress.
Moscow contends Yerofeyev and Aleksandrov were no longer employed by the state when they were captured.
Russia denies accusations that it is providing weapons, training, and personnel to support pro-Russian separatists fighting government forces in eastern Ukraine.
Based on reporting by Interfax and TASS
Here's an item from RFE/RL's Belarus Service
Alleged Right Sector Fighter On Trial In Minsk
MINSK -- A Belarusian national accused of fighting alongside Ukraine's radical organization Right Sector went on trial in Minsk on April 18.
Taras Avatarau, a resident of the Belarusian eastern city of Navapolatsk, has been charged with trafficking weapons and explosive devices.
Avatarau was detained in November on his arrival by train from Ukraine to Minsk. Investigators confiscated a pistol and an explosive device from him.
According to the investigators, Avatarau has fought as a volunteer alongside Right Sector members against Russia-backed separatists in Ukraine's eastern regions of Luhansk and Donetsk.
Right Sector played a key role in street protests in Kyiv that toppled former Moscow-backed President Viktor Yanukovych in February 2014.
The group has been banned in Russia as terrorist.
A group of hackers claim they have uncovered how Russia steals coal from Ukraine's Donbas region:
The international volunteer group InformNapalm has completed a detailed analyze of files which have been obtained from the «UKV» group of hackers, collected from emails at the Ministry of Transport of «DPR» and Donetsk Railways.
The files were submitted for analysis by a data devotee «KiDap» at the Ukrainian Cyber Force Group «FM». During our analysis of the material, we noticed some «regularities» in the transport of coal and raised some interesting questions.
During relatively quiet times on the battle front, people begin to pay more attention to issues such as corruption, smuggling and the government’s delicate movements. For example, sensational details of an ecological disaster with amber mining in western Ukraine or constant arrests of people who smuggle goods into the uncontrolled areas, such as smart phones, meat and dairy products. Read More