Moments after the tragic news that Brazil's presidential candidate Eduardo Campos died in a plane crash [4], Russian Itar-Tass reported, citing press agency Novorossya, that another prominent public figure, this time the leader of the Donetsk rebels and the minister of defense of the Donetsk People's Republic has been "seriously injured."
[5]
From Itar-Tass [6]:
The Defence Minister of the People's Republic of Donetsk (DNI) Igor Strelkov has been seriously injured. This was reported by "Novorossia".
"Igor Strelkov was seriously wounded. This is what we were told by a source in the New Russia. The condition of the Minister of Defence of the DNI is serious, - the report says.
So far ITAR-TASS does not have confirmation of this report from other sources.
Igor Strelkov was appointed head of the Security Council and the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Donetsk May 15th. In June, he was added to the United States sanctions list.
It is possible that this news, so far unconfirmed, was the catalyst that sent stocks surging earlier as it may (or may not, depending on one's angle) indicate a de-escalation if only by necessity.
Update: it took minutes for another media outlet, a Russian one again, this tima RIA, [7]to deny the Itar-TASS report. Google translated
The DNR militia leadership denied the information about the alleged seriously wounded militia commander Igor Strelkov.
Earlier, some media reported that the Gunmen wounded and is in serious condition.
"This is nonsense," - told RIA Novosti Head of the Political Department of International Information Service of the Ministry of Defense DNI Vladislav Brig.
According to him, the information about it first appeared on "some incomprehensible fake resources created specifically for the stuffing of misinformation." He assured that with the shooting, "all right."
Press office of the self-proclaimed People's Republic of Donetsk also does not confirm information about the injury Strelkova. "We contacted the deputy Strelkova, Berezin, it is not this information confirms the" - told RIA Novosti press officer.
So just more disinformation, largely as expected on anything originating out of east Ukraine. Of course, if stocks indeed soared on this "report" when it originally came out, don't expect them to retrace any gains on the denial.
