Wednesday results in the occupied territories of Donbass. The highlights

In the area of the Joint Forces Operation on July 17, the armed forces of the Russian Federation violated the ceasefire six times, - the press center of the JFO reported. The enemy fired at the positions of our units from grenade launchers of various systems, large-caliber machine guns and small arms. There are no records of losses from our side as a result of the enemy shelling. Our units gave an adequate response to shelling by the armed formations of the Russian Federation.

Russia would not recognize the independence of the so-called "DNR" and "LNR". This was stated by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. "Our position on this issue is well known. In accordance with the Minsk Set of Measures, one of the guarantors of which is Russia, Donbas should be given a special status, which is permanently enshrined in the Constitution Ukraine. We believe that it is necessary today to focus on the implementation of the Minsk agreements, approved by the UN Security Council resolution and having a binding character", - Lavrov stated.

Most Russian journalists expressed no desire to participate in mourning events in connection with the anniversary of the Malaysian Boeing shoot down over the Donbass. Special correspondent of Novaya Gazeta Pavel Kanygin announced this on the air of the Eсho Moskvy radio station. "Unfortunately, almost none of the Russian journalists dared to come to this ceremony. This is very bad. It would be quite important for families who have lost their loved ones in a catastrophe to see that there is a society in Russia that soberly assesses the situation in the country, understands what happened. But there will be no more than three journalists from Russia", - Kanygin said.

A resident of Ilovaysk who was involved in the activities of illegal armed formations was detained by the National Guard during crossing of the checkpoint, - the press center of the Joint Forces reported. "A passenger of a regular bus that followed the route Mariupol-Donetsk, resident of Ilovaisk – citizen S., who was involved in the activities of illegal armed formations of the so-called "DNR" as a result of checking in the search base of the National Police of Ukraine, was identified and detained", - the report said.

About 200 "media" operate in the occupied territory of the Luhansk oblast. This was stated by the so-called "Deputy Minister of Communications and Mass Media" of the "LNR" Yuriy Pershykov, separatist media wrote. According to him, as of today, 205 media are registered in the "LNR", 133 of which are "public" and 72 are private. 14 of them do not carry out activities.