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What happened in Ukraine's orbit by 19 October 2018?
Summary
A look back at three events reported in the days before 19 October 2018: a church schism, a college massacre in Kerch and a fatal air exercise crash.
What did the news look like on 19 October 2018, and what had shaped the preceding days? Three reports stood out, touching religion, security and military cooperation.
A church split with Moscow
On 15 October 2018, the Russian Orthodox Church announced it would break communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. The step was a response to plans by Eastern Orthodox Church officials to recognise the autocephaly of two Ukrainian Orthodox Churches. Moscow said it hoped Constantinople would change its mind and so avoid a schism. As reported at the time, the move added an important new aspect to the rift between Russia and Ukraine.
Crash during international exercises
Also on 15 October 2018, a Ukrainian Air Force Su-27UB crashed in the Vinnytsia region during the international exercise Clear Sky 2018. Two pilots died: one a serviceman of the Ukrainian armed forces, the other from the Air National Guard of the United States.
Massacre in Kerch
On 17 October 2018, a mass killing at a polytechnic college in Kerch left 20 people dead and about 50 wounded, according to the toll reported at the time.
Together, these reports marked a week in which religious, military and security news from the region drew attention, each in a different way.
