1 Ukrainian Soldier Wounded in Battle; 2 Civilians Injured by Mine; 3rd Anniversary of MH17, Still No Arrests

Our past report on the investigation can be found here. The ongoing investigation by Bellingcat can be seen here.

The Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders said in a statement that the criminal investigation is still ongoing, and the suspects will be tried in the Netherlands with close international cooperation.

The decision to hold the trial in the Netherlands occurred due to Russia’s veto of a resolution in 2015, calling for an international tribunal. Five countries, including Australia, Belgium, Malaysia, and Ukraine will assist the Dutch trial.

Victims of the crash came from 17 countries, with the largest number from the Netherlands. No suspects have been named, but 100 persons of interest have been identified. Earlier this month, the Netherlands signed a bilateral treaty with Ukraine on legal ooperation on the prosecution of the downing of MH17.

A Ukrainian soldier was wounded near Talakova today on the Mariupol line, Col Andriy Lysenko, spokesman for the Defense Ministry on ATO [Anti-Terrorist Operation] issues at a briefing today, Liga.net reported.

Col. Lysenko said there were 16 attacks in the previous reporting period, including with 82-mm and 120-mm mortar launchers, an armed BTR, grenade-launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms. Ukrainian fores returned fire.

Other News: 

A 16-year-old boy was killed in an explosion of an RGD-5 grenade in an apartment building on Dalnitskaya Street in Odessa, Liga.net reported. Two others were wounded. Police are investigation the incident.

A tractor driver, born 1964, suffered a shrapnel wound to his leg and  an official of the State Emergencies Committee, born 1994, suffered shrapnel wounds to the left side of his body, head, and left leg when the tractor the farmer was driving ran over a TM-62 anti-tank mine in Gnutovo in Donetsk Region, Liga.net reported, citing a JCCC report. Both men were taken to Mariupol City Hospital and are in satisfactory condition, doctors reported. 

Ukrainian military intelligence reported that a knife fight broke out between fighters from the North Caucasus and other Russian citizens of the 1st Separate Motorized Brigade (Kalmius), Liga.net reported. As a result several fighters suffered knife wound and one was hospitalized.

— Catherine A. Fitzpatrick