Some more MH17 news via RFE/RL's news desk:
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) says its monitors, accompanied by Dutch and Australian experts, have reached the crash site of a Malaysian airliner in eastern Ukraine.
The pan-European security and rights body said on Twitter that "OSCE... monitors reach MH17 crash site for first time in almost [a] week, accompanied by four Dutch, Australian experts. Used new route to access."
The team arrived at the crash site after days of fierce fighting, which had prevented them from reaching the area.
Earlier today, Ukraine's military had announced a day-long pause to its military operation against pro-Russian separatists.
Deputy Prime Minister Volodymyr Hroysman said Ukrainian and Russian envoys, during talks in the Belarusian capital of Minsk, agreed on July 31 to keep open the route used by the monitors.
All 298 people on board were killed when the plane came down on July 17, allegedly shot down by pro-Russian separatists.
But reports say that clashes were still taking place in the immediate vicinity of the crash site, and explosions were heard in the area.
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has said there could still be as many as 80 bodies at the crash site.
(AFP, Reuters)
Ukraine says it has suspended its offensive against rebels so experts can reach #MH17 site http://t.co/prsfRQxOig
— Maxim Eristavi (@MaximEristavi) July 31, 2014
Brilliant noir sketch by @GuyChazan that captures the absurdity, and the darkening of the mood in Donetsk of late. http://t.co/izIFQSwIAY
— Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) July 31, 2014
Some serious hooey courtesy of ITAR-TASS World Service writer Lyudmila Alexandrova:
Russia can considerably reduce vine imports from traditional wine countries such as France, Italy and Spain in the near future. Experts predict a winemaking boom with a special contribution by Crimea and the city of Sevastopol. All the more so as foreign companies plan to participate despite the sanctions....
Winegrowing was neglected when Crimea was when part of Ukraine, with resorts built on the territories of many vineyards and recovery will take about 5-7 years, he added. Meanwhile, great opportunities for elite winemaking are offered by Sevastopol, said former city governor Alexey Chaly.
All part of Operation Depardieu, it seems. "Did not rule out" that it "could come in useful," huh?
French actor Grard Depardieu who has Russian citizenship has already been proposed as Crimea's chief winegrower to head the planned state committee on winemaking. Crimea's interim governor Sergey Aksyonov did not rule out Depardieu's professional advice could come in useful.
Here's today's map of the military situation in eastern Ukraine distributed by the National Security and Defense Council:
