Here is today's map of the security situation in eastern Ukraine, according to the National Security and Defense Council (click to expand):
EU to vote on Ukraine visa liberalization in October:
By RFE/RL
European Parliament President Martin Schulz says he hopes the bloc will vote on visa liberalization for Ukraine in October.
Schulz, speaking at an EU summit in Bratislava on September 16, said that before the European Parliament can vote on the issue, it must be approved by the parliamentary civil-liberties committee in a vote scheduled for September 29.
Ukraine, Georgia, Kosovo, and Turkey are all seeking visa liberalization to the EU's Schengen zone this year.
Earlier this month, the civil-liberties committee voted for visa liberalization for Georgia.
Berlin had refused to support the measures before the summer, citing a spike of crimes allegedly committed by Georgians in Germany.
The committee also voted in favor of similar move for Kosovo but it opted against opening negotiations with the EU member states until Pristina has fulfilled all criteria, including solving a border dispute with Montenegro and fight organized crime.
Poroshenko: Russia has made Crimea "concentration camp"
By RFE/RL
KYIV -- Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has accused Russia of transforming Crimea in to a "concentration camp" and urged Western states to impose new sanctions on Moscow.
Speaking at the annual Yalta European Strategy (YES) forum in Kyiv, Poroshenko said Russia had pursued a "repressive policy" against Ukrainian citizens in Crimea, including Crimean Tatars, since it seized control of the peninsula in March 2014.
He said the United States, European Union, and others should maintain existing sanctions on Russia over its interference in Ukraine and impose new sanctions targeting specific industries.
"It is necessary to introduce new sectoral sanctions, we won't achieve anything without sanctions," Poroshenko said.
Poroshenko has long sought lethal weapons for the conflict with Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine, but he said "unity and solidarity" are more important than Western arms.
He suggested implementation of the Minsk peace accord hinges on Russia, saying, "Not a single step forward will be taken until Russia withdraws its troops to a safe distance and carries out measures in the sphere of security."
Addressing reforms, Poroshenko promised 200 new judges would be appointed, calling Ukraine's judiciary "the last bastion of corruption."