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A Ukrainian serviceman stands guard in the city of Schastye in the Luhansk region late last month.
A Ukrainian serviceman stands guard in the city of Schastye in the Luhansk region late last month.
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Live Blog: Ukraine In Crisis (Archive)

Final News Summary For September 1, 2017

-- EDITOR'S NOTE: We have started a new Ukraine Live Blog as of September 2, 2017. Find it here.

-- Ukraine says it will introduce new border-crossing rules from next year, affecting citizens of “countries that pose risks for Ukraine.”

-- The Association Agreement strengthening ties between Ukraine and the European Union entered into force on September 1, marking an end to four years of political drama surrounding the accord.

-- The trial of Crimean journalist Mykola Semena will resume later this month after the first hearing in weeks produced little progress toward a resolution of the politically charged case.

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

12:15 14.10.2016

12:32 14.10.2016

Right-Wing Azov Battalion enters political arena:

By RFE/RL

KYIV -- Ukraine's far-right Azov Battalion has officially created a political party.

Greeted by chants of "Death to enemies!" at an inaugural party congress in Kyiv on October 14, Azov's new political head, Nazar Kravchenko, told some 300 attendees, many in military fatigues, that the party would work to defend Ukraine against Russian aggression.

The gathering coincided with traditional nationalist events marking the creation of the controversial World War II-era Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) and to celebrate Ukrainian Cossacks.

It also marks the second annual Day of Defenders, a holiday established following Russia's seizure of Crimea and interference in eastern Ukraine, where a war has killed more than 9,600 people since April 2014.

Credited with recapturing the strategic port city of Mariupol from Russia-backed separatists in 2014, Azov is a former volunteer militia now included in the National Guard.

Due to members' far-right ideology and militancy, detractors believe the fighting force might also pose a threat to President Petro Poroshenko and the stability of the state.

Kravchenko told the Hromadske news site he hopes forming a party will give Azov greater political influence.

"There are several ways of coming to power, but we are trying something through elections, but we have all sorts of possibilities," he said.

Azov's symbol is similar to the Nazi Wolfsangel but the group claims it is comprised of the letters N and I, meaning "national idea."

Human rights organizations have accused the Azov Battalion of torture.

13:37 14.10.2016

13:57 14.10.2016

RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service is broadcasting live from the "March of Nations" in Kyiv:

14:04 14.10.2016

These images document a week in the lives of the men in a volunteer nationalist battalion fighting against Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. While many volunteer battalions were absorbed into the official Ukrainian military, some are still on the front lines, operating in unofficial relationships with government forces. These men are positioned in a rundown building just outside Donetsk, where the war drags on despite an official cease-fire agreement. The photos were taken in early October.

A Week With Ukraine's Volunteer Fighters

The volunteers prepare their weapons after intelligence reports indicate a heavy night of fighting lies ahead. On the left is Avram, an Orthodox Jew from western Ukraine. The Russian media has portrayed Ukraine's leaders as fascists, but he says he has never experienced anti-Semitism in his country.
1/17 The volunteers prepare their weapons after intelligence reports indicate a heavy night of fighting lies ahead. On the left is Avram, an Orthodox Jew from western Ukraine. The Russian media has portrayed Ukraine's leaders as fascists, but he says he has never experienced anti-Semitism in his country.
These images document a week in the lives of the men in a volunteer nationalist battalion fighting against Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.
View over Maryinka, near Donetsk. These buildings are the frontline position for Ukrainian troops, with separatists just 400 meters away.
2/17 View over Maryinka, near Donetsk. These buildings are the frontline position for Ukrainian troops, with separatists just 400 meters away.
These images document a week in the lives of the men in a volunteer nationalist battalion fighting against Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Posing next to a bullet-riddled fridge, this is "Chikatilo" -- nicknamed after a Soviet-era serial killer. Before the war, he was a taxi driver.
3/17 Posing next to a bullet-riddled fridge, this is "Chikatilo" -- nicknamed after a Soviet-era serial killer. Before the war, he was a taxi driver.
These images document a week in the lives of the men in a volunteer nationalist battalion fighting against Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.
With few resources, volunteers need to be creative. Here, "Leshiy" is improvising a treatment for a comrade with a toothache. Prior to the war, Leshiy worked for 11 years as a manager for Nestle.
4/17 With few resources, volunteers need to be creative. Here, "Leshiy" is improvising a treatment for a comrade with a toothache. Prior to the war, Leshiy worked for 11 years as a manager for Nestle.
These images document a week in the lives of the men in a volunteer nationalist battalion fighting against Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Earlier in the conflict, Leshiy was a sniper. "Nobody likes you when you're a sniper," he says, "not even the men you fight with. We scare everyone."
5/17 Earlier in the conflict, Leshiy was a sniper. "Nobody likes you when you're a sniper," he says, "not even the men you fight with. We scare everyone."
These images document a week in the lives of the men in a volunteer nationalist battalion fighting against Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.
"Prom" is a 51-year-old former Soviet soldier. He spent 10 years in a Soviet prison for stabbing another man, but says he doesn’t regret it. "The Soviet Union was a tough place to live, and I did what I had to do to survive." He says he has no intention of leaving the front line. "They’ll have to take me out in a body bag, because I’m not leaving this place."
6/17 "Prom" is a 51-year-old former Soviet soldier. He spent 10 years in a Soviet prison for stabbing another man, but says he doesn’t regret it. "The Soviet Union was a tough place to live, and I did what I had to do to survive." He says he has no intention of leaving the front line. "They’ll have to take me out in a body bag, because I’m not leaving this place."
These images document a week in the lives of the men in a volunteer nationalist battalion fighting against Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.
A soldier who goes by the nom de guerre "Nestor" stands in the kitchen. A native of Russia, Nestor's decision to fight on the Ukrainian side may be unusual, but is not unheard of.
7/17 A soldier who goes by the nom de guerre "Nestor" stands in the kitchen. A native of Russia, Nestor's decision to fight on the Ukrainian side may be unusual, but is not unheard of.
These images document a week in the lives of the men in a volunteer nationalist battalion fighting against Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.
A building in a once middle-class part of Maryinka, which was previously occupied by the separatists, now sits empty. Inside is an unexploded artillery shell that soldiers fear could detonate if they enter.
8/17 A building in a once middle-class part of Maryinka, which was previously occupied by the separatists, now sits empty. Inside is an unexploded artillery shell that soldiers fear could detonate if they enter.
These images document a week in the lives of the men in a volunteer nationalist battalion fighting against Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.
"Tuna" makes dinner. He once ran his own business, but joined the unit a few months ago and pays monthly salaries to some of the fighters out of his own pocket.
9/17 "Tuna" makes dinner. He once ran his own business, but joined the unit a few months ago and pays monthly salaries to some of the fighters out of his own pocket.
These images document a week in the lives of the men in a volunteer nationalist battalion fighting against Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Tuna and two others open letters from Ukrainian children, which came as part of a package delivered by volunteers. The letters encourage them to keep fighting.
10/17 Tuna and two others open letters from Ukrainian children, which came as part of a package delivered by volunteers. The letters encourage them to keep fighting.
These images document a week in the lives of the men in a volunteer nationalist battalion fighting against Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Avram pauses for a cigarette during a a firefight that has lasted for more than an hour. When he first arrived in eastern Ukraine, he was in a 12-man unit with just four rifles between them. "Some of us only had knives, some found grenades, and we just fought however we could."
11/17 Avram pauses for a cigarette during a a firefight that has lasted for more than an hour. When he first arrived in eastern Ukraine, he was in a 12-man unit with just four rifles between them. "Some of us only had knives, some found grenades, and we just fought however we could."
These images document a week in the lives of the men in a volunteer nationalist battalion fighting against Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.
On the left is "Little One," a servicemen in Ukraine's official armed forces, whose commander housed him with the volunteers. Days after this picture was taken, Little One was wounded in battle and will now spend two months in the hospital. He was a week away from being demobilized.
12/17 On the left is "Little One," a servicemen in Ukraine's official armed forces, whose commander housed him with the volunteers. Days after this picture was taken, Little One was wounded in battle and will now spend two months in the hospital. He was a week away from being demobilized.
These images document a week in the lives of the men in a volunteer nationalist battalion fighting against Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Little One inspects his weapon during the quiet of the daytime. Avram stands to his left.
13/17 Little One inspects his weapon during the quiet of the daytime. Avram stands to his left.
These images document a week in the lives of the men in a volunteer nationalist battalion fighting against Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Time to relax around the kitchen table, during a late-night lull in fighting. Tuna, on the left, has been at war for nearly five months now.
14/17 Time to relax around the kitchen table, during a late-night lull in fighting. Tuna, on the left, has been at war for nearly five months now.
These images document a week in the lives of the men in a volunteer nationalist battalion fighting against Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.
A soldier wears a bulletproof vest with a Star of David drawn on the front. Although the soldiers in this battalion are nationalists, they fight alongside a unit of Jewish volunteer soldiers who also declare themselves to be Ukrainian nationalists.
15/17 A soldier wears a bulletproof vest with a Star of David drawn on the front. Although the soldiers in this battalion are nationalists, they fight alongside a unit of Jewish volunteer soldiers who also declare themselves to be Ukrainian nationalists.
These images document a week in the lives of the men in a volunteer nationalist battalion fighting against Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.
During the morning, fighting rarely occurs because OSCE monitors are observing the cease-fire. The men use the time to clean and maintain their weapons.
16/17 During the morning, fighting rarely occurs because OSCE monitors are observing the cease-fire. The men use the time to clean and maintain their weapons.
These images document a week in the lives of the men in a volunteer nationalist battalion fighting against Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.
A destroyed Ukrainian tank on the road leading to the war-torn town of Pisky. The writing on the tank reads: "They gave their lives for Ukraine." Pisky was once a wealthy suburb of Donetsk but has been completely devastated by the war.
17/17 A destroyed Ukrainian tank on the road leading to the war-torn town of Pisky. The writing on the tank reads: "They gave their lives for Ukraine." Pisky was once a wealthy suburb of Donetsk but has been completely devastated by the war.
These images document a week in the lives of the men in a volunteer nationalist battalion fighting against Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.
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14:47 14.10.2016

14:51 14.10.2016

14:59 14.10.2016

15:04 14.10.2016

Here is today's map of the security situation in eastern Ukraine, according to the National Security and Defense Council (click to enlarge):

16:10 14.10.2016

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