Russia Considering ‘Surgical Strike’ on Ukraine - Report.

Russia Considering ‘Surgical Strike’ on Ukraine - Report. (RaiNovosti).

Moscow is considering “surgical retaliatory strikes” on the Ukrainian territory after the standoff has led to first civilian victims among Russians on Russia’s territory, a Kremlin source told Kommersant Monday.

“Our patience is not boundless,” the source told the newspaper, stressing that “this means not a massive action but exclusively targeted single strikes on positions from which the Russian territory is fired at.”

The Russian side “knows for sure the site where the fire comes from,” the source said.

The proposed plan echoes a statement by a deputy speaker of Russia’s upper house, Yevgeniy Bushmin, who told RIA Novosti Sunday that using precision weapons in response to Ukraine’s shelling would prevent further Kiev’s attacks of Russia’s territory.

«There is a feeling that if before firing was not aimed against Russian border guards, now provocations have been on the rise as there is no other means of forcing us to join in the standoff with Ukraine’s security troops," said Bushmin who represents Rostov Region in the Federation Council.

«The only way to fight against this like civilized countries do, namely the US and the EU. We should use precision weapons, like Israel, to destroy those who fired this shell [on Russia’s Donetsk]," the lawmaker said.

On Sunday, one Russian citizen was killed when a shell exploded in a yard of a house in Donetsk, a town in southern Russia’s Rostov Region. Another shell hit a house, injuring two women, a 82-year-old mother and her daughter. The elderly woman was hospitalized with brain concussion and fractures.

The Russian Foreign Ministry announced Sunday it protests the shelling calling it a provocation that might have irreversible consequences. Deputy Russian Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin said earlier that Russia promises «harsh demarches» against Ukrainian authorities over the incident.

Military Il-76 jet downed by anti-Kiev forces in Lugansk - Ukraine's defense min.

Military IL-76 jet downed by anti-Kiev forces in Lugansk - Ukraine's defense min. (RT).

Anti-Kiev forces took down a Ukrainian military Il-76 jet as it was landing in Lugansk, the country’s Defense Ministry said. It did not provide details on casualties.

TSN.ua news website earlier cited an army source as saying that around 30 paratroopers were killed as self-defense forces hit the jet with a rocket early on Saturday.

The plane was transporting rotating military personnel and had “troops, machinery, equipment and food,” the ministry said in a statement.

The Il-76 is a heavy military transport aircraft that usually has a crew of seven and can transport up to 167 soldiers with weapons.

Meanwhile in Donetsk region, shooting resumed in Slavyansk and Kramatorsk late on Friday as the Ukrainian military continued its crackdown on self-defense forces in the country's east, a self-defense representative said.

Update:

 

Sergei Lavrov: Russia delivers humanitarian aid to the south-east of Ukraine through the militias.

Sergei Lavrov: Russia delivers humanitarian aid to the south-east of Ukraine through the militias. (RT).

Russia delivers humanitarian aid southeast Ukraine through militias. This was stated by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at a meeting with OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier.

Russia delivers humanitarian aid to the east and south of Ukraine with the assistance of volunteers, as the Kiev authorities do not cooperate in this matter. On this, as reported by ITAR-TASS, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

"We provide assistance in ways that are at our disposal, with the support of volunteers, who are concerned about their children, mothers, wives carry these burdens," - said Lavrov. More here.

Russia, Ukraine, EU gas talks fail to reach deal, get ready for shutoff.

Russia, Ukraine, EU gas talks fail to reach deal, get ready for shutoff. (RT).

Oettinger specified that there are some remaining open issues and different positions between the parties.

He indicated that talks will continue tomorrow as Ukrainian and Russian delegates talk with their governments and decide if they want to continue the negotiations.

"The talks will continue either Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning," Commission spokeswoman Sabine Berger told Reuters.

Russia, Ukraine and the EU for the first time discussed the price for the supplied Russian gas to Ukraine, including payments for June-August, Russia's Energy Minister Aleksandr Novak said after the three-party gas talks ended.

Russia has proposed "a very constructive plan, which we believe all stakeholders could and should accept,” Novak said, including the repayment schedules for the remaining debt Ukraine owes Gazprom.

$1.454 billion of Ukraine’s undisputed debt to Gazprom remains unpaid. This is the debt for Russian gas delivered to Ukraine in November and December of 2013.

The parties discussed repayments for the past November-December supplies, Novak said, adding that the need to pay back $1.451 billion by June 10 remains unchanged, as well as the partial repayment of $500 million debt accumulated for April and May.

Earlier on Monday, Ukraine’s energy and coal industry minister Yury Prodan said Kiev will pay the debt for Russian gas after the new gas price is confirmed.


Gazprom says Ukraine owes it $4.46 billion in unpaid bills and is running up more debt at a rate of more than $1 billion per month.

Meanwhile, Kiev says its debt for 2013 and 2014 as of April 1 stood at $2.2 billion. It paid $786 million last week which covered the gas supplied in the first quarter of this year.

Ukraine receives about half of its natural gas from the Russian energy giant, and about 16 percent of Europe’s annual demand passes through Ukrainian pipelines.

A compromise agreement reached in May was broken by Kiev after it failed to repay $2 billion to Gazprom. The second part of that deal included another $500 million to be paid no later than June 7.

On Monday, Aleksey Miller said that Gazprom will wait another seven days for the debt to be paid in full before it switches Kiev to a prepayment system for natural gas.Hmmm.....If you don't pay your Hydro in Europe or noth America they shut you off, the law is the same for everyone.

Video - Refugees on their way to Rostov made a video campaign - DontKillUs urging Kiev to stop 'ATO' in the area.

NATO sends second electronic surveillance ship to the Black Sea.

NATO sends second electronic surveillance ship to the Black Sea. (ITAR-TASS).[GoogleTranslate].

They intend to conduct electronic reconnaissance military facilities of the Black Sea Fleet, said the General Staff of the Russian Navy

Two reconnaissance NATO ships are expected in the coming days will be included in the Black Sea for electronic reconnaissance military installations Russian Black Sea Fleet, ITAR-TASS reported a source in the General Staff of the Russian Navy.

"Thus, in view of the French frigate Surcouf and the U.S. Navy guided missile cruiser Vella Gulf, continues to be in the Black Sea, Black Sea group of NATO ships could reach four combat units," - he said.

"reconnaissance ship Navy Italy Elettra, who planned enter into the Black Sea, June 8 in the marine waters yet, his arrival is possible from day to day. Also expected to return to the Black Sea in the next few days the French intelligence ship Dupuy de Lome, who left him only at the end of May, "- said the source.

"political aim of such a presence - to provide moral support to the Kiev authorities, the practical military - military conduct electronic intelligence objects BSF stationed on the peninsula along the coastline, as well as important administrative and strategic facilities in the coastal area, "- said the source.

According to him, the U.S. Navy cruiser Vella Gulf is still in the Romanian port of Constanta, a French frigate Surcouf operates in the western Black Sea. "In Odessa, in the direction which Surcouf moved last week, and he did not come, perhaps, once again not to tease or provoke Russia", - said the source.

As explained, in turn, ITAR-TASS expert on naval armaments Vladimir Shcherbakov, frigate Surcouf, unlike Dupuy de Lome, «is not specialized for reconnaissance tasks, but in an area about 30 miles from the coast (about 50 km) is capable of effectively "feelers" of its equipment ground objects. "

"In particular, he (Surcouf) can carry out all types of radio interception negotiations, including telephone calls and e-mails," - said the expert.

Montreux Convention Compliance In accordance with the Montreux Convention, warships non-coastal states can not be in the Black Sea more than 21 days.

Thus, Vella Gulf, past the Straits May 23, will have to leave the waters of the sea no later than June 13 evening, and Surcouf - until the evening of June 18.Read the full story here.