Lugansk

It was just before 05:00 (Greek time) on Thursday, when Russian President Vladimir Putin - confirming the information leaked earlier by US intelligence - announced that he had ordered a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

"Washington's main goal in this case is not the fate of Ukraine at all, it is important for them to escalate tensions over the Russian Federation, to close the issue and then deal with China, as American political scientists write," Lavrov said in an interview with Sputnik radio station "Echo of Moscow", "Moscow Speaks" and "Komsomol Justice".

Turkey's foreign minister responded on Oct. 30 to accusations against the country about Ukraine's use of drones in the conflict-ridden eastern Donbas region.

Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said drones used by Ukraine may have been produced in Turkey but are used by Ukraine, thus Turkey cannot be blamed.

Ukraine lost 179 troops in the one-month battle with pro-Russian rebels that ended in defeat over the key eastern town of Debaltseve, Yuri Biryukov, an advisor to Ukraine?s president said on his Facebook page Feb. 21.
 
If that figure is confirmed, it would represent one of the bloodiest losses suffered by the Ukrainian side in the 10-month conflict. 

Ukrainian President Poroshenko on Feb. 18 called for European peacekeepers to enforce a shattered ceasefire deal in east Ukraine after a flashpoint strategic town fell to a fierce assault by pro-Russian rebels.
      

Ukrainian troops on Sept. 1 were battling a Russian tank contingent in the eastern city of Lugansk, Kiev said, accusing Moscow's army units of moving into large cities in the region.

Agreement on new shipment of humanitarian aid

MINSK -- Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko that Moscow should send humanitatrian aid to Ukraine.

According to reports, this will happen under the auspices of the ICRC and in cooperation with Kiev.

An irate mob smashed the Russian embassy's windows in Kiev and threw a Molotov cocktail against its walls June 14 in the wake of the downing by pro-Kremlin rebels of a military plane that killed 49 troops.

Russia "respects will of people in Donetsk and Lugansk"

MOSCOW -- Moscow "hopes that the referendums in the Donetsk and Lugansk will result in a civilized dialogue between representatives of Kiev, Donetsk and Lugansk."

This was announced by the Kremlin press service on Monday.

The European Union put Russian Deputy Premier Dmitry Kozak on an expanded sanctions list, joining the US in protesting Russia's actions in Ukraine.