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During March and April 2021, the Russian military conducted a large-scale buildup in its regions bordering Ukraine, including Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014. Scores of videos appeared on TikTok, Telegram, Twitter, and other social media sites showing Russian military equipment, including tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, artillery, and air defense systems, moving toward or appearing in the vicinity of Ukraines borders. The United States Department of Defenses spokesperson John Kirby told reporters that the Russian buildup was even larger than during the peak of the fighting in 2014. Ukrainian officials estimated that the Russian military buildup would reach a total of 120,000 Russian troops with more than fifty-six battalion tactical groups (BTG). United States defense officials gave a lower estimate that 48 BTGs had moved into the border area and 80,000 Russian troops were in Crimea or elsewhere near Ukraines borders. To put this in perspective, the Russian military has approximately 850,000-900,000 servicemembers in total, and 168 constant readiness BTGs, according to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. If these estimates were accurate, the Russian military massed roughly 10-15% of its total manpower and approximately one third of its BTGs near Ukraines borders.

In response to the buildup, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, and President Joe Biden all called their Russian counterparts to discuss the situation. U.S. European Command (EUCOM) raised its alert status to its highest level. The buildup also coincided with an increase in fighting along the line of contact, with at least 36 Ukrainian servicemen killed thus far in 2021. The movement of Russian forces led to intense speculation about Russias intentions, including fears of a large-scale ground invasion. However, U.S. intelligence indicated that a large-scale ground invasion was unlikely because of a lack of prepositioned spare parts, field hospitals, ammunition, and other logistics necessary for such an operation. Likewise, EUCOM commander General Tod Wolters said on April 15 that there was a low to medium risk of a Russian ground invasion of Ukraine in the coming weeks.

On April 22, after the end of a large-scale exercise at the Opuk training area in Crimea, which included an amphibious landing, a helicopter air assault operation with two companies, and a multi-battalion airborne operation with more than two thousand paratroopers and sixty vehicles parachuted from forty Il-76MD transport aircraft, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced that the winter verification tests for the Western and Southern Military Districts had been a success and the troops would return to their permanent bases. However, he indicated that equipment from Central Military Districts 41st Combined Arms Army, which included BM-27 Uragan multiple launch rocket systems and Iskander-M short-range ballistic missile systems and other heavy equipment, would remain at the Pogonovo training area in Voronezh near Ukraines border until the Zapad 2021 strategic exercise in September. Furthermore, Shoigu did not state clearly whether all of the equipment and units deployed near Ukraines borders outside of Crimea would also return to their bases, nor how those units were employed during the snap inspection.

Two weeks after Shoigus announcement, U.S. defense officials said that Russia had removed only a few thousand troops and that there were approximately 80,000 servicemen near Ukraines borders, despite Shoigus order for most of those units to return to their permanent bases by May 1. Thus Russia can still escalate rapidly in Ukraine in the future, though the immediate threat of a serious escalation of fighting in the Donbas appears to have passed with Shoigus announcement.

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Russia's Coercive Diplomacy: Why Did the Kremlin Mass Its Forces Near Ukraine This Spring? - Foreign Policy Research Institute

Wearing traditional embroidered shirts, Pavlo Shykin, 27, and Dana Vitkovska, 26, were all smiles on Tuesday as their nation, Ukraine, celebrated 30 years of independence.

Thousands of Ukrainians flocked to Kreshatyk Street, the main vein of the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, as the country celebrated the landmark date with an impressive parade of soldiers, vehicles, planes and strike drones.

Shykin and Vitkovska are about to change their own independent status by getting married but gave Euronews a sense of how the nation is seen by people born shortly after the independence of 1991.

The soon-to-be-married couple lived through the economic and social turmoil of the 90s when Ukraine was trying to form a new nation out of a former Soviet republic. They were teenagers at the beginning of this millennium, just as Ukraine started to see economic growth, and they were both university students when the 'Revolution of Dignity' ousted former president Viktor Yanukovich in 2013-2014.

There's been a lot of different times. When we were born, they were very hard times for Ukraine. Our parents tell us that it was a very hard period. But the economic situation improved, we had growth, and the situation became much better. I dont remember the bad times, only the good ones, says Shykin, who, as an economist, is very much aware of the peaks and troughs of the nation's fiscal history. But his girlfriend Dana Vitkovksa sees a more psychological phenomenon at work.

People didnt feel like Ukrainians," she tells Euronews.

"They didnt have their own identity, but this situation is changing. You can see that people are becoming aware of the fact, that they are one nation. Maybe the war in the East is the reason that they embraced their identity. I think that it is becoming better every year.

The 2014 revolution that ousted president Yanukovich has many names. In the west, it is commonly known as Maidan. In Ukraine, it is often called the Revolution of Dignity. It is objectively one of the most defining moments of modern Ukrainian history, but also for Shykin, the revolution has a very special place.

I remember the Orange Revolution and the Revolution of Dignity. I was a student and I was on the Maidan and saw the fights against the Berkut (the riot police unit that has since been abolished), and we built barricades. For me, it was a real revolution of dignity. After that, I realised that I was Ukrainian and I wanted to be Ukrainian, says Shykin.

Still, according to the young couple, Ukraine has some way to go in the fight against corruption. But even though the state is struggling to rid itself of such a thing, argues Vitkovska, society is slowly changing.

It is not that easy to change all the people. We have 40 million people, and they are different. Many of them are old and used to live in conditions where you have to bribe someone or have connections, if you want something. Now I think many people change their mindset, but it is a long process, says Vitkovska.

This young couple is in no doubt about the importance of Ukrainian identity, and their need to fight for it, but what is it?

To be Ukrainian is to love our country and wanting it to prosper, says Shykin before Vitkova jumps in:

To love our culture, because I think we have to not let it die. A lot of people forget that our grandmothers used to make a lot by hand, that is a part of our culture. And for example, in Belarus, a lot of the people are speaking Russian instead of Belarusian. It is not for the best. You lose something valuable.

How does she see the future?

In 30 years, we will have children," says Vitkova. "They will be 25 years old, I hope they will learn to be proud of who they are, to live by the law. We will manage to fight corruption, the political situation will change for the better because people who are young now and fighting for Ukraine will be the political elite, says Vitkova.

Exactly 30 years ago on Tuesday, the Ukrainian parliament passed a declaration of independence cementing the fact that the USSR had collapsed. Ukraine was now its own state again, and for the first time in years, the country had to find its own way through the world.

Leonid Kravchuk was elected as the first president of Ukraine and served in a time of harsh economic recession. When the second president, Leonid Kuchma, ascended to power, the country began making up for the lost ground with strong economic growth.

In 2004, Kuchma left office. Ukraine was now left with the choice between electing Viktor Yanukovich or Viktor Yuschenko as president. Yanukovich was in favour of stronger ties with Russia, while Yuschenko had his eyes turned to the West.

Yanukovich won the election by a very tight margin, but alleged fraud and intimidation of voters had the supreme court rule the results null and void following massive protests that were later called the Orange Revolution.

Yuschenko won the election in the second run-off and served until 2010, where Yanukovich made a comeback and was elected president. During his time, he was accused of taking Ukrainian democracy down a more authoritarian road.

It all culminated in 2013 when Yanukovich did not sign the Association Agreement with the European Union and instead tried to snuggle up to the Kremlin. Again, protesters went to the streets and formed an enormous sit-in on Maidan Nezalezhnosti Independence Square.

They were met with police brutality and by the end, around 130 people had died. It would get a lot worse a lot quicker. Yanukovich was forced to resign in February 2014 after three months of protests and in March, Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula in southern Ukraine.

Every weekday, Uncovering Europe brings you a European story that goes beyond the headlines. Download the Euronews app to get a daily alert for this and other breaking news notifications. It's available on Apple and Android devices.

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Ukrainian independence at 30: Is the building of an identity its biggest achievement? - Euronews

The Ukroboronprom defense conglomerate has unveiled one of the largest foreign stands at IDEF 2021

Last week, Istanbul hosted Turkey's largest and worlds second-largest international defense exhibition, IDEF 2021. More than 1,200 arms and military equipment manufacturers from around the world were represented at the event, with 154 official delegations from 79 countries attending.

The main exposition includes the latest military and technological products and promising projects of Turkish defense companies. Stands set up by other countries are smaller in area, but no less interesting in terms of whats being showcased. One of the largest foreign stands was presented by the Ukroboronprom State Concern.

FROM AVIA TO AQUA: UKRAINES LEADING DEFENSE ENTERPRISES REPRESENTED ON UKROBORONPROMS STAND

More than a dozen Ukrainian defense companies were represented at Ukroboronproms stand (among more than 20 of them attending the event), including the Konotop Aircraft Repair Plant Aviacon, Research and Design Shipbuilding Center, the Morozov Kharkiv Design Bureau for Mechanical Engineering, the Malyshev Plant, the Zorya Mashproekt Research and Production Complex for Gas Turbine Construction, and others.

At the forefront of Ukroboronproms stand is a Vilkha rocket projectile, the Kvitnyk-E guided artillery shell with laser homing, R-360 Neptun cruise missile, and ATGM Skif.

Models of the Project 1760KR composite floating dock with a submarine, the Project 58208 Bohomol rocket artillery boat, and the Kaira-150 multifunctional boat occupied a special spot under the glass.

This year's exhibition is closed to the general public due to pandemic restrictions, but the stands are crowded anyway. Among the visitors are mostly official delegations (154 from 79 countries). And many are willing to have a closer look at the products by Ukrainian manufacturers.

JSC Motor Sich and JSC FED both have separate stands. These are highly acclaimed companies that are not new to the Turkish market. Therefore, they have arrived in Istanbul not to get acquainted with anyone, but to negotiate specific positions and to expand the horizons of cooperation, mostly with familiar, proven partners.

UKRAINIAN DEBUTS AND HARDENED PLAYERS

Ukraines Chernivtsi-based Inspecprom is participating for the first time. They have sealed orders in Ukraine, supplying products to the Armed Forces and the National Guard. The next stage for development is to enter international markets. A prominent spot on their stand is offered to the VPR-20 Sapphire infantry flamethrower.

Another Ukrainian company presented at a separate stand at IDEF 2021 is Spectechnomash Research and Production Center (Kremenchuh Cartridge Plant). It offers services and equipment for the manufacture of small arms ammo of all major calibers. The history of the firm dates back to 2017, when, after the onset of Russian aggression in 2014, leading specialists with the Luhansk Ammunition Plant decided to restore this enterprise in government-controlled Kremenchuh. Documentation and equipment remained in the occupied Luhansk, so the team began to rebuild the capacities, in fact, from scratch. Now they operate rather successfully, with the lion's share of orders coming from foreign customers.

AVIATION AND SPACE HIGH ON AGENDA

The Ukrainian delegation was headed by Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Strategic Industries Oleh Urusky. According to Vice PM, cooperation with Turkey in the military-industrial sector is of a strategic nature as the two countries continue to develop it within the framework of existing projects and to expand the range of cooperation.

Among the issues discussed at the highest level during the IDEF 2021 was expanding cooperation in the aviation industry, including on UAVs, helicopters, as well as exploring opportunities for establishing joint ventures, involving Turkish partners in setting up in Ukraine a number of industrial parks.

Interaction in space and aviation is especially interesting for both parties. The Ukrainian side is ready for mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of aircraft engine construction, joint use of outer space, and production of rocket carriers and satellite platforms.

Turkish partners have a special interest in deepening business relations, as evidenced by concrete successful examples. In particular, Ivchenko-Progress has been fruitfully cooperating with Turkeys Baykar Makina, which currently employs Ukrainian engines for their new generation of Aknc drones, and plans to install them on all the company's products in the future. Bayraktar TB2 strike drones are already in service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

These drones have been adopted by both our land and naval forces. On Independence Day, this model was presented at a military parade in Kyiv. Also in Turkey, the construction of the first MILGEM project ADA class corvette for the Ukrainian Navy is already underway. On the agenda is the creation of a joint venture production of UAVs. As Oleh Uruskyi told Ukrinform, now the project is at the stage of approving a production site.

Among the specific agreements reached at IDEF 2021 is the creation of a Mi-17 helicopter repair base in Turkey (the agreement was signed between Ukrspecexport and the Turkish company THK Teknik A.S.). This document testifies to continued cooperation. Back in 2018, Ukrspecexport in partnership with THK Teknik A.S. won the tender for the repair of Mi-17 multi-role helicopters for the Turkish Gendarmerie Command. The terms of the tender provided for the repair of 18 helicopters. The current agreement has brought cooperation to a new level.

RUSSIA'S OPPOSITION TO UKRAINE-TURKEY DEFENSE COOPERATION IS IN PLACE BUT UNABLE TO AFFECT IT

In general, Ukrainian defense firms are reluctant to talk about their agreements with international partners. Such agreements "love silence", as they say, while Ukraines northern neighbor has been trying its best to hinder Ukrainian-Turkish cooperation in the field of defense.

Vadym Nozdria, Ukrspecexport CEO, told Ukrinform there are attempts by Russia to disrupt such cooperation. It ranges from certain manifestations of the information hybrid war to measures to compromise Ukrainian companies supplying products to the Turkish market.

"It could have had an effect, but Ukraine and Turkey are confidently building strategic relations, actively cooperating and, on principle, they dont pay attention to such manifestations. That is why we are repairing Turkish helicopters, supplying air defense systems, having prospects for strengthening cooperation in the naval sphere, said the head of Ukrspecexport. This state-owned enterprise last year earned more than $30 million on Turkish contracts (about 15% of foreign exchange earnings from all foreign trade contracts).

STRATEGIC PLANNING AND GUARANTEES BENEFITING COOPERATION

Turkish partners in the framework of IDEF 2021 stressed they are interested in expanding cooperation, as its current level is far from the available potential. But they expect some steps to be taken by Ukraine, too. In particular protection guarantees for their investments, simplification of bureaucratic procedures, and invariability of strategies and actions on the part of Ukraine in the future.

Practical steps have already been taken in this regard. On August 20, by his Decree, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky approved the Strategy for the Development of the Defense Industry of Ukraine, which will be implemented in three stages (the first one until 2022, the second until 2024, and the third until 2030). Based on this document, state programs for the development of the defense industry and import substitution will be prepared.

On the same day, at a meeting of the Government Committee on National Security and Defense, Strategic Industries, Fuel and Energy Complex and Infrastructure, the Government put forward the State Program for the Development of the Aviation Industry for 2021-2030. This area of cooperation between Ukraine and Turkey is among the most promising ones.

Olha Budnyk, Istanbul - Ankara

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Defense expo in Istanbul: Ukraines Vilkha, Kvitnyk-E, Kaira, and others - Ukrinform. Ukraine and world news

Based on information from the Monitoring Teams as of 19:30 26 August 2021. All times are in Eastern European Summer Time.

Summary

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 87 ceasefire violations, including 28 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 12 ceasefire violations in the region.

In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 155 ceasefire violations, including 51 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 107 ceasefire violations in the region.

The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. It recorded ceasefire violations close to the disengagement areas near Zolote and Petrivske.

The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable the operation and repairs to critical civilian infrastructure.

The Mission continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at four entry-exit checkpoints and three corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

The Missions freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at a heavy weapons holding area and a permanent storage site, at checkpoint of the armed formations, and at two border crossing points in non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Its unmanned aerial vehicles again experienced instances of GPS signal interference.

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OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) Daily Report 200/2021 issued on 27 August 2021 - Ukraine - ReliefWeb

NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoan calls on Ukraine to fully use the Enhanced Opportunities Partner (EOP) status.

There are also the issues of situational awareness, exchange of information, which is done more intimately, which is also very important. So I do believe that this status is bringing a lot. And I encourage our Ukrainian friends to fully benefit and fully use this very important instrument at our disposal, NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoan said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine news agency,

According to him, this new status gives an aspirant country like Ukraine access to more NATO exercises.

And we see already a positive impact of the new status on the exercises. I think we have 11 exercises that we are doing together including the most recent one - Sea Breeze, which was co-led by Ukraine and the US. We had 32 nations participating. That is a massive transformation, Geoan stressed.

As reported, on June 12, 2020, the Alliance granted Ukraine the Enhanced Opportunities Partner (EOP) status.

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NATO calls on Ukraine to fully use Enhanced Opportunities Partner status - Ukrinform. Ukraine and world news