Reference the "fake" Durbin letter.
Senator Durbin's office says this letter, supposedly proving US interference in Ukraine politics, is fake @Reuters https://twitter.com/ABC7Chicago/stat...98752302501888 …
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Reference the "fake" Durbin letter.
Senator Durbin's office says this letter, supposedly proving US interference in Ukraine politics, is fake @Reuters https://twitter.com/ABC7Chicago/stat...98752302501888 …
Wow. #HackingTeam "backdoored" their own product to let them do arbitrary SQL, itself vulnerable to #SQLinjection pic.twitter.com/qyPKANMbLH
.@privacyint paper: #HackingTeam 'wares assoc w/ attacks on political dissidents, journos & human rights defenders: https://www.privacyinternational.org...%20exports.pdf …
Our overview of network analysis and #HackingTeam software: http://www.crworkinggroup.com/blog/f...ckingteam.html …
FBI bought #HackingTeam spyware http://interc.pt/1ChHpWi HT sold software to plant child porn files. FBI arrested #MattDeHart for child porn.
Appears that Putin and his FM have been lying all along about the "so called junta" throwing out the former Ukrainian President now wanted by Interpol.
Seems in their own haste to collect money from the Ukraine they lifted a veil of secrecy in the fact that the "so called deposed President was forced to flee by a coup".
SO how can one be "forced out by a junta" WHEN you are already using a Russian military aircraft to move all of your personal property--SEEMS he was already planning on leaving??????
Secondly--am surprised they admitted to transporting so call defensive supplies to the Ukrainian Berkut--confirms direct Russian interference in the Maidan.
http://www.unian.info/politics/10976...ng-maidan.html
Secret flight of Yanukovich officials to Russia during Maidan
07.07.2015 | 08:35
Quote:
AN-26 military cargo aircraft, owned by Ukraine’s Ministry of the Interior, made a secret flight to Russia amid carnage on the Maidan in early 2014, according to gazeta.ru.
Russian aviation structures won the court case against Ukrainian Ministry of the Interior (precisely, its department of internal military forces) regarding debts for services provided to the AN-26 military cargo aircraft that had gone on a secret flight to Russia amid the Revolution of Dignity.
According to the Russian newspaper, the AN-26 aircraft made two secret flights in February 2014, one of which could carry to Russia the property of the entourage of Viktor Yanukovych, while the flight back might have brought to Kyiv non-lethal weapons to be used by the Berkut special police forces against the protesters.
"Senior officials used the military aircraft for the salvation of their families and property," said a source in the Russian Air Traffic Management (ATM) state corporation. According to the newspaper’s interlocutor from the circles close to the aviation services, the AN-26 aircraft was loaded with furniture, paintings, and jewelry when flying to Russia.
According to the sources in Russia’s security structures, the plane carried no cargo to Russia, but took back rubber bullets, stun grenades and equipment for the Ukrainian Berkut special police forces .
NOTE: They went empty to Russia but returned filled--in the previous paras they talk about personal property being shipped out--appears the FSB cannot get their stories correct.
Legal proceedings over the "classified" flight began on October 2, 2014. The ATM, subordinate to the Russian aviation corporation, which provides air navigation services and safety, filed a suit to the Moscow Arbitration Court with a demand to charge a fee for providing air traffic services over Russian territory to an aircraft owned by military unit No 2269 (Aviation unit of the Ministry of the Interior of Ukraine, located in the city of Alexandria, Kirovohrad region).
The claim states that an agreement on air navigation services was signed in September 2010 between the defendant and Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency. According to this agreement, the ATM has provided air navigation services to the AN-26 aircraft belonging to military unit No 2269 in February 2014, on its route to one of the Russian airfields and back.
The journalists asked ATM Deputy Director for International Cooperation and Protocol Nikolay Ivashov to comment on the issue, but the official refused, saying that all the information about the flight is classified.
If the flight has been declared "secret" by the Russians and yet they want payment for the flights--seems as if they will have a hard time with collecting until they indicate just why the flights were requested, by whom and to where????? Would you pay the bill unless those questions are answered and the Ukrainians have already stated--take it the Swedish Arbitration Court.
ATO Staff: Militants attack Ukrainian army more than 180 times over last four days
http://www.unian.info/politics/10977...four-days.html … pic.twitter.com/EYtZKUv3Lk
Appears as if either the Ukrainian guerrilla group "Shadows" and or the Ukrainian SF was at work--this was a critical attack route bridge for their armored units.
10:42 #Donetsk region @BylByleva Bridge betw/#Vasylivka & #Rozdolne was blown up - it hasn't collapsed, but pylons are damaged
@BylByleva Bridge coordinates: 47.609299, 38.023120, it is on the way between occupied #Donetsk and #Novoazovsk
Russian Spetsnaz teams work in groups of up to 14 depending on mission set.
Militant group of 10-15 made an offensive attempt at Ukr forces in M sector near Bohdanivka /Telmanove area, repelled http://www.0629.com.ua/news/880993
Spetsnaz activities have been sparse the last week or so—interesting to see them again in the offensive.
Second reported Spetsnaz attacks—appears they are being used to exploit weak defensive points and or attempt beak through.
Militant groups tried to break thru into the rear of Ukr forces near Shchastia,
Stanytsia Luhanska, were pushed back https://www.facebook.com/dmitry.tymc...19711374824187 …
Russians still attack critical Ukrainian infrastructure.
Overnight into Jul07 heating plant in #Schastya was mortared from #Vesela_Hora" @lradar_official http://lugradar.net/2015/07/80825
First POW exchange by the mercenaries in over two months total violation of Minsk 2.
Prisoner exchange: Injured Ukrainian soldier will be handed over by the terrorists in Donets. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJBAVSX-Xz8 … pic.twitter.com/SqVvIfoEKe
NSDC of Ukraine ✔ @NSDC_ua
Map. Situation in eastern #Ukraine, July 7, 00:00 EET pic.twitter.com/IdqUl5661K
Militants increasingly firing on their own positions
http://www.unian.info/war/1097768-mi...positions.html … pic.twitter.com/OAxC5NUw5s
A development to watch--has gone numbers wise long past what is necessary to "normally" secure an international border.
Maps shows how Russia steadily increases its assimetrically large military presence near Baltic states http://fb.me/zioaJrio
Notice the well positioning of the Russian propaganda even in the IBT—the headline alludes to the German Government as a whole but the comments come from a German single MP on a business visit in the RF—especially interesting is the mentioned fact that 80% of the machine tools for producing the Russian aircraft are mainly German SO how are they avoiding the sanctions???
Siemens has also be caught shipping turbines for electrical plants to the Crimea in full violation of the sanctions YET they argue “hey we shipped them to Russia proper what they then do is not our concern—BUT is it they concern if they directly and fully know exactly where those turbines will end up??
http://www.ibtimes.com/germany-wants...onship-1997080
Germany Wants Russian Sanctions Lifted To Safeguard Economy And Continue Trade Relationship With Moscow
By Christopher Harress @Charress c.harress@ibtimes.com
on July 06 2015 5:22 PM EDT
Quote:
The Minsk II ceasefire must be respected by both Russia and Ukraine if sanctions against Moscow are to be lifted, said a German lawmaker on Monday, according to Tass, a pro-Russian news site. While Germany has been a leader in imposing sanctions against Russia for its annexation of Crimea and involvement in the eastern Ukraine conflict, Berlin has been concerned about the knock-on effect of sanctions on its $105 billion bilateral trade with Russia, which has steadily decreased as sanctions and the falling price of oil take a toll on the Russian economy.
"We in Germany would like the political foundation for the sanctions to go as soon as possible and the sanctions themselves become a thing of the past. But it is clear that for the sanctions to be lifted, the Minsk Accords need to be implemented," said Bernhard Kaster, chairman of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany faction in the Bundestag -- a legislative body in Germany -- and head of the Russia-Germany parliamentary group, told journalists in Novosibirsk, Russia.
Kaster said sanctions were still the best way to solve international disputes and to counter violence, as seen in the contested region of Donbas in eastern Ukraine. He, along with a trade delegation from the German parliament, visited the Chkalov Aircraft Factory in Novosibirsk -- which uses German-based manufacturers in the production of its Sukhoi super jet -- and met Russian counterparts to discuss trade between the two countries.
"We are going through troubled political times, exactly the times when talks should be maintained. This manufacturer works in close contact with German producers," Kaster said.
According to Sergey Smirnov, director of the Chkalov Aircraft Factory, 80 percent of the machines and other equipment used in the production process are made in Germany.
Russian forces continue attacks on Ukrainian positions. http://liveuamap.com https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKr6...ature=youtu.be … pic.twitter.com/hByLuwIlne
NSDC of Ukraine ✔ @NSDC_ua
SBU uncovered arms cache in Lysychansk. Seized 10 kg of TNT, F-1 and RGD-5 grenades pic.twitter.com/H00de64hxR
NSDC of Ukraine ✔ @NSDC_ua
Ukrainian operatives detained three militants in Kharkiv region. Their leader fought in Battle for Donetsk airport pic.twitter.com/HM6XUbjA43
Two Ukrainian servicemen hurt in shootings with militants on Krymske village http://24today.net/open/463995 pic.twitter.com/yRjhd24hm7
NSDC of Ukraine ✔ @NSDC_ua
Col. Lysenko: Ukrainian counter-intelligence detained 1 militant informer in Donetsk region.
NSDC of Ukraine ✔ @NSDC_ua
“DPR” self-declared “minister of defense” admitted they are jamming @OSCE_SMM UAVs with sophisticated military equipment
NSDC of Ukraine ✔ @NSDC_ua
Ukrainian servicemen spotted 4 flights of militant UAVs. Intense RU activity in Crimea: 8 UAVs at admin line with Kherson region
NSDC of Ukraine ✔ @NSDC_ua
Mariupol sector: Ukrainian troops clashed with militants near Bohdanivka village; brief mortar attack near Novotroyitske
NSDC of Ukraine ✔ @NSDC_ua
Donetsk sector: Fighting by Avdiivka, Maryinka; two armed provocations near Lozove, other two at Fenolna-Yasinuvata railway hub
NSDC of Ukraine ✔ @NSDC_ua
Luhansk sector: Militants targeted Zolote & Shchastya, damaging 2 power cabin, turbine room of Luhansk power station
NSDC of Ukraine ✔ @NSDC_ua
Russia-backed militants decreased intensity of attacks. Lowest number of heavy arms use in last two months.
ATO Spokesperson: 37 enemy fire assaults over the day. Around 90% of them – with small arms.
#Analysis #Map
Russian observation position on #Shyrokyne in 4 km East "The Rock" guesthouse.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6J3-jjic-M … pic.twitter.com/hHKMIheU09
ATO" representative: Militants shelled #Pavlopol from mortars and tanks. pic.twitter.com/PfZv8qY767
hackingTeam everything you want to know about exploits, security problems and their products is here http://ht.transparencytoolkit.org/KnowledgeBase
Ukraine Socialist Party chief, ex-Minister MFA (!) posted forged letter of US Sen Dick Durbin
http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukra...er-392857.html … pic.twitter.com/KMGm3afMxQ
Locals in militant-occupied Vuhlehirsk unhappy with 'authorities', plan protest
http://www.unian.info/society/109799...n-protest.html … pic.twitter.com/LNjhwphayD
@LUGANSK_TODAY
#Kremlin hybrid soldiers: 3405 km from Khanty-Mansi, #Russia to Popasna, #Ukraine. Read at http://lugansk-news.com/kremlin-hybr...pasna-ukraine/ … pic.twitter.com/H5zzSzsxFC
Kyiv Post ✔ @KyivPost
Author: Putin to blame for MH17 shootdown over #Ukraine, but will escape punishment
http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukra...on-392865.html … pic.twitter.com/bYj6ZO20Hy
AND Facebook is not political and does not resist Russia when asked for help—another great example of American business in support to Putin.
So just how much Russian black money was invested into FB??
Onlinemagazin @OnlineMagazin
#Facebook has blocked the site of the #Azov Regiment without notice. pic.twitter.com/xcJfYfvW4n
This FB page was never questioned before and at no time has Azov violated a single admin requirement--AND with no notice.
FB has been at the least extremely pro Russian friendly since the Crimea and as repeatedly blocked countless Ukrainian accounts simply because they were critical of Russian actions inside their country.
I guess one can call Facebook's action--"American democracy at work".
One has to love "COTS dual use products"--Garmin guiding Russian SU-34s.
At least it is an admission that Russian GPS is worthless for military use.
Spetsnaz even uses a navigation app for their smartphones. Hate to see the accuracy of their ICBMs????
RU fighter jets use Garmin commercial GPS. No wonder Kremlin adopter nuclear threats in its Maskirovka rhetoric pic.twitter.com/vZn45UcPAs
Cargo turnover of #Crimea ports down by 82% in 2014 to 2013. The real price of takeover: http://www.odin.tc/mbnew/read.asp?articleID=600 … pic.twitter.com/XB23fmJq0N
Putin’s War on #Ukraine Is More Important Than #Greek Debt via @Newsweek http://www.newsweek.com/putins-war-u...ek-debt-350505 …
Not exactly sure what the current problems with and or between the Russian mercenaries are--they seem to be intent on shelling themsleves--no exact reasoning for that.
This is another report of "self shelling".
Militants shelled towns they control: Telmanove, Svobodne. A child was killed, power and gas cut off https://www.facebook.com/mariupol.ob...47509228719347 …
AND they are not even blaming the Ukrainians for shelling them as is usually the case.
http://www.interpretermag.com/ukrain...o-murder/#9039
Separatist Envoys To Minsk Propose Further Demilitarisation And Weapons Withdrawals
16:11 (GMT)
Quote:
Denis Pushilin and Vyacheslav Deynego, representatives for the self-declared Donetsk and Lugansk People's republics at the Minsk peace talks, have given an interview to Russia's state-owned TASS news agency.
In the interview, Pushilin said that, depending on the outcome of the DNR's withdrawal from Shirokino, east of Mariupol, the separatists may propose the demilitarisation of other "hot spots" along the front line.
The Interpreter translates:
"If there is a positive result, if we achieve it, then we can consider a number of other 'hot spots,'" said Pushilin, noting that there is talk of several settlements in the Donetsk and Gorlovka areas. Among them, he named Marinka and Krasnogorovka.
At the same time, the DNR envoy stressed that the self-proclaimed republic expects the demilitarisation of settlements controlled by Kiev, in particular, Avdeyevka."
The balancing of Avdeyevka against Marinka and Krasnogorovka is odd here, as all three are Ukrainian-held settlements.
Pushilin continued:
"It's important for us to see mirror actions by Kiev. So far, we're seeing unconstructive actions by Kiev, pillaging."
While Russian-backed fighters have withdrawn from Shirokino, Ukrainian troops remain in their original positions in the village, claiming that vacating the settlement would leave Mariupol exposed to attacks from the heights to the east.
Withdrawal from Marinka or Avdeyevka would leave Ukrainian supply lines both to the south-west and north-east of Donetsk exposed. Furthermore, the faith of the Russian side in the Minsk negotiations has been shown to be of highly questionable value following the assault and capture of Debaltsevo in February, after the second Minsk agreement was signed.
Pushilin and Deynego also said that members of the Contact Group were discussing the introduction of further requirements for the withdrawal of weaponry from the front line.
This would affect mortars with a calibre of less than 100 mm, tanks and anti-tank weapons.
Deynego suggested that tanks be withdrawn at least 15 kilometres from the front line.
Pushilin said that the withdrawal of 82 mm mortars would be especially important as, he claimed, Ukrainian forces routinely conducted attacks with larger mortars (already due to be withdrawn in accordance with Minsk II) and lied that they were using 82 mm ones.
Of course, the Minsk II withdrawal demands have had little effect, with Russian-backed forces routinely using prohibited weapons including Grad rockets, 122 mm howitzers, 152 mm artillery and 120 mm mortars.
Ukraine has also returned heavy weaponry to the front line near Marinka after Russian-backed forces assaulted the Donetsk suburb on June 3.
-- Pierre Vaux
Latitude 67N SIGINT @uascan
More RuAF VHF comms consistent with SU27 fighters in Baltic Sea
This is an important Russian troop transfer to the Ukrainian border area as Russia has built several bases inside the Ukraine that are typically for armored units.
Russian 6th Tank Brigade Transferred to the Ukrainian border @en_informnapalm https://en.informnapalm.org/a-unit-o...rostov-oblast/ … #OSINT #tanks pic.twitter.com/lGlr4t0hAO
http://www.unian.info/war/1098102-at...n-tuesday.html
ATO press center reports about escalation in Donbas on Tuesday
07.07.2015 | 20:28
Quote:
The situation in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) zone in eastern Ukraine escalated during the day on Tuesday, the ATO press center wrote on Facebook.
Twenty-nine attacks on the ATO forces were registered as of 18:00 Kyiv time on that day, the press center said.
"Pro-Russian gangsters have blatantly been shelling the positions of the defenders of Ukraine, using 152mm-caliber artillery systems and 120mm-caliber mortars," the press center wrote.
In particular, militants fired from 120mm-caliber mortars on the ATO forces near the villages of Novhorodske and Pavlopil in Donetsk region.
"Ukrainian troops near the village of Hranitne were also under enemy 152mm artillery fire," the press center said.
"As soon as the Trilateral Contact Group for the settlement of the situation in Donbas began their meeting in Minsk today, "the illegal armed groups, as if following someone's order, started firing from 120mm mortars on the ATO positions." In particular, under fire were the villages of Novhorodske, Luhanske, Opytne, and Vodiane.
Militants also used small arms to shell the towns of Maryinka and Zolote, the villages of Pisky (near the destroyed Donetsk airport), Mayorske, Stanytsia Luhanska, and Lozove.
Two enemy drones were spotted in Luhansk region on Tuesday.
At the same time, the ATO press center assures that the situation in eastern Ukraine remains under control of the Ukrainian forces.
Russian army training on unmarked BMPs near Matveev Kurgan, 25km from Ukraine border: https://archive.is/CPJRO pic.twitter.com/am99nIVxIw
More weapons and ammo. Russia will send 3 supply convoys to Occupied part of Donbas http://liveuamap.com/en/2015/7-july-...-occupied-part …
Three soldiers were wounded by a mine explosion near Shchastya http://liveuamap.com/en/2015/7-july-...explosion-near … #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/7LxMWGogYk via @HromadskeTV
@el_roosevelt @bellingcat The same T-72B in Sambek, Rostov Oblast.
https://twitter.com/5urpher/status/613458621930864640 …
Curious looking number plate on this Russian (hybrid) army Kamaz: https://archive.is/OAj8y in #Donetsk pic.twitter.com/UkM94XGnyO
Situation in Donbas deteriorated. Hranitne shelled from artillery - ATO press center http://en.censor.net.ua/n342923 prin @censor_net
OSCE SMM confirms Lt-Gen Romanchuk has replaced Col-Gen Lentsov as head of Russian Federation Forces side to JCCC http://liveuamap.com/en/2015/7-july-...eplaced-colgen …
Right sector" denies that they didn't let OSCE observers in Avdeevka http://liveuamap.com/en/2015/7-july-...osce-observers …
SBU has arrested the spotter of fire of militants in Severodonetsk http://liveuamap.com/en/2015/7-july-...e-of-militants …
MTLBs & BMPs delivered by rail to Matveev Kurgan (RU) today (25km from #Ukraine border): https://instagram.com/p/41agKyFR23/ pic.twitter.com/a1yNNWO3OP
"We were promised money. But we were not paid and even food was of great rarity": Russian terrorist http://en.censor.net.ua/n342893 prin @censor_net
Reference the shot down of MH17-----
In this new interview the Chairman of the DNR Andrei Purgin says he's sure a Buk shot down #MH17 http://nieuws.tpo.nl/2015/07/07/rebe...ek-deugt-niet/ …
He is definitely not on the same sheet of Russian music that just yesterday claimed it was an Ukrainian fighter that shot down MH17.
Videos from Kuzminsky firing range: T-80U & painted over 2S3 Akatsiya https://instagram.com/p/4tHJ3osta2/ https://instagram.com/p/3OoPvgstRs/ pic.twitter.com/Eudw0YN90N
More on either an Ukrainian SF and or the guerrilla group "Shadows" interdiction of a crtical bridge for Russian armor units.
Strategically Important Bridge Supplying Russian-Backed Forces Damaged By Blast pic.twitter.com/UDAL3YNzrs http://liveuamap.com/en/2015/7-july-...-russianbacked …
Shellings are now starting------
Volleys of artillery in Donetsk http://liveuamap.com/en/2015/7-july-...ery-in-donetsk …
Shelling in Horlivka http://liveuamap.com/en/2015/7-july-...ng-in-horlivka …
OSCE continued to observe ceasefire violations at & around Donetsk airport yesterday. Recorded Over 60 explosions http://www.osce.org/ukraine-smm/170596 …
http://www.unian.info/war/1097768-mi...positions.html
Militants increasingly firing on their own positions
07.07.2015 | 11:53
Quote:
Russian-terrorist forces have been increasingly applying the tactics of firing on their own positions in order to discredit the Ukrainian military, the press officer of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Dmytro Hutsuliak said at a briefing in Kyiv on Tuesday, according to an UNIAN correspondent.
"The command of the ATO forces said that the Russian-terrorist troops were firing in the direction of their own positions more often. The main goal of these attacks is to discredit the Ukrainian military and accuse them of violating the ceasefire," he said.
According to Hutsuliak, the militants constantly provoke Ukrainian troops to return fire. However, the Ukrainian soldiers effectively suppress the firing points of the Russian-terrorist gangs with machine guns and grenade launchers.
"The ATO command says that the Ukrainian military strictly observe the Minsk agreements and fire on the militants only in case of a direct threat to the life of Ukrainian soldiers or civilians in Donbas. At the same time, the Ukrainian armed forces only use the allowed weapons," the press officer said.
IF this is in fact correct THEN is an interesting turniong point regardless of whether the fighting is still occurring.
Russia attempted to get the Ukraine to pay for the electricity and natural gas they were shipping to the mercenaries and the Ukraine refused and argued that they are not bound by any legal contract to pay and for Russia if they wanted to they could take it to the Swedish Court--WHICH russia did not do.
This Russian tactic had been successful in their Georgian enclave so they assumed it would work again.
I have stated here a number of times that while Russia want a "frozen conflict" it was appearing more and more than in fact the Ukraine was "freezing Russia into a serious problem"--how to extract itself from the eastern Ukraine without a serious loss of even more money which has been estimated to be costing Russia 30 to 40M USDs per day to support the mercenaries.
In addition today there was a report from the Russian Finance Ministry indicating that out of the 500 banks in Russia 300 might have to be shut down due to bank failures and only 100 will remain---Russia is having some serious unannounced financial issues that some analysts stated would be occurring in the 3rd quater--this decision on the electricity can mean that this is in fact.
If one also looks at the apparent battlefiled failures by the newly from Russian regulars trained mercenary forces and that virtual no new territory has been captured since Feb. even the early battlefield successes have not been repeated.
http://news.yahoo.com/russia-cuts-of...155519945.html
Russia cuts off power supplies to Ukraine rebels: Kiev
AFP By Dmitry Zaks
1 hour ago
Quote:
Kiev (AFP) - Kiev said Tuesday that Russia had cut off electricity to Ukraine's rebel-run regions in what appears to be another sign that Moscow is losing interest in plans to splinter its neighbour.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has gone through an extended spell without peppering his speeches with mentions of a "New Russia" (Novorossiya) made up of Ukrainian lands that were once under tsarist control.
The veteran Kremlin leader had fervently promoted the project while the separatists were gaining ground along Ukraine's eastern industrial heartland toward the end of last year.
But Ukrainian insurgents who claimed to be in charge of re-creating a part of the old Russian empire have in recent weeks complained of a sudden lack of interest from the Kremlin and a dire shortage of funds.
Ukraine's Energy Minister Volodymyr Demchyshyn said Tuesday that energy-rich Russia had recently also stopped supplying electricity to the militia-run regions of Lugansk and Donetsk because bills were not being paid.
"We held fairly productive negotiations with the Russians," Interfax-Ukraine quoted Demchyshyn as telling an energy ministry meeting.
"We have been able to switch off four lines that ran from Russia to territories outside our control."
The energy minister said the cables supplied an allowance of $15 million (14 million euros) of power a month.
View gallery
A man walks through the yard of his home, destroyed …
A man walks through the yard of his home, destroyed from shelling between Ukrainian Forces and pro-R …
"That money was not being paid," Demchyshyn said.
There was no immediate response to his comments from either Moscow or the rebels themselves.
- Chronic shortages -
Their 15-month revolt against Kiev's new pro-Western position saw the rebels carve out a region about the size of Wales that is home to 3.5 million people and shares a 500-kilometre (300-mile) border with Russia.
But much of the region remains a ghost of its proud image as the economic driving engine of the former Soviet Union's second-largest state.
Most of the coalmines and steel mills have been either shuttered or cannot operate because of chronic shortages of electricity.
Kiev policy hawks such as Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk have also pushed through a raft of measures designed to erect a punitive "economic blockade" of rebel-run territory.
Yatsenyuk ordered Ukraine's power suppliers to halt all deliveries to the separatists on May 1.
Natural gas flows from the rest of Ukraine to the east have also been significantly lowered.
Russia had earlier promised to make up for the shortage by building extensions and branches to existing gas pipelines.
It remains unclear where those plans stand today. Kiev officials believe the fighters may be smuggling in small supplies of gas through hastily-erected -- and considerably smaller -- pipes that cross parts of the Ukrainian-Russian border under their control
Demchyshyn's comments came ahead of a new round of negotiations Tuesday in the Belarussian capital Minsk aimed at ending a conflict that has claimed more than 6,500 lives. Efforts to stop the fighting seem locked in stalemate.
The EU-mediated meeting will see Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's personal envoy speak to the Moscow-appointed negotiator in the presence of separatist representatives who are not formally part of the talks.