What are details of embezzlement of the military equipment procurement for Ukrainian Army?

In October 2017, a journalist investigation on massive embezzlement in the defence industry was published. Some of the presented facts were known as early as in 2015, however, the general picture became clear in 2017 only. It was striking, to say the least. To procure the necessary military equipment and parts, numerous shell companies were used. They were operated by the families of state officials. A chain of companies was aimed not only to get the equipment quietly, but also to inflate its final price for the Ukrainian defence. The President's team managed to retort the corruption accusations by alleging that journalists wrecked a covert scheme of secret parts obtaining - as many countries are reluctant to sell arms to any country that is, in fact, at war.

Why Russia started blockade of the Sea of Azov

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Black_Sea_map.png

Report on Eastern Ukraine war developments.

In August 2018 Russia de facto started blockade of Ukrainian ports in the Sea of Azov:
- to spread panic in Mariupol (Donetsk Oblast);
- to gain support for occupation of land between Donetsk & the Crimea;
- to cut any possible NATO Navy support;
- to undermine Ukraine's trade.

What War Inside Ukraine Is Really About

What does Ukraine fight for? Is this arable land, industry of Luhansk and Donetsk, or resorts of the Crimea?

Widespread lack of understanding of the Russian aggression roots is a hugely important issue. Primitive analysts and shallow journalists pretend the war is about geopolitics, losing Soviet ties with Russia, cravings of the Russian-speakers etc.

Digest and Analysis of the Major War Events, Tragedies and Prospects in Ukraine in May 2017

May 2017 was a very strange month in eastern Ukraine war. The shelling of the Ukrainian Army positions intensified every other day. But some days were incredibly quiet. Yet the situation distinctly worsened after President of the USA Donald Trump had phone talk with President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin. Due to the strange Russian tradition, the heaviest shelling took place May 9, 2017, when Russians celebrate their Victory in Europe Day.

Is blockade an effective solution to weaken the Russian occupation of eastern Ukraine?

In December 2016 the forces calling themselves “the war veterans” started the blockade of the occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk region. Their primary explanation was that the official government of Kyiv cannot trade with the occupational authorities, providing thus them with the resources to wage war. The reaction of Hroisman’s Government was quite expectable: Donetsk coal supply was declared to be of strategic importance, as well as the contribution to the central budget of local export-oriented companies, mostly of metallurgy. Should the blockade of occupied eastern regions be held then?

Russian revenge: Why do Russians shell residential areas in Ukraine?

After 2013-2014 Euromaidan revolution, Russia occupied the Autonomous Republic of the Crimea and parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine. Putin might have been told that Ukrainians would not be reluctant to accept hybrid Russian invasion. At least that would seem logical continuation of Yanukovych rule aimed at rising introduction of Russian influence on Ukraine. But Ukrainian nation united to resist Russian aggression. Instead of providing military assistance to Ukraine according to Budapest Memorandum, the Western countries managed only to start Minsk talks that ended in ambiguous agreements. Yet, even their terms are not abidden by Russia. Its regular army violates Minsk agreements shelling civilians with no clear purpose.