Mr. Chairperson,

On behalf of the delegation of Ukraine let me deliver a statement on the subject of “Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine and illegal occupation of Crimea”.

At the last meeting of the FSС, the Russian delegation stated that it would not return to the topic of Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine.

However, if it is not discussed by the Russian side, it does not mean that it does not exist. We must take into account the existing problems in our region. And one of the biggest problems today is that the Russian Federation has concentrated its forces near the state border with Ukraine and on the territory of the temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation Crimean Peninsula and is preparing to increase its troops on borders with European Union Member States. We regard the situation near the Ukrainian-Russian state border and possible developments by Russia on EU borders as a growing military threat.

The Russian Federation also continues maintaining the armed conflict in Donbas. Russia carries on financing it, sending its troops, instructors and advisors, illegally supplying weapons, ammunition, and military equipment to the temporarily occupied areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Such behaviour can only belong to a direct party to the conflict. I think, each delegation, who expressed its opinion on the issue in this hall categorically rejected the attempts of the Russian side to exclude itself from the parties to the conflict.

Since the entry into force of the TCG agreement on additional measures to strengthen ceasefire on 27 July 2020 and until 6 June 2021, the Russian armed formations have violated the ceasefire 1880 times, including over 330 times with the use of Minsk-proscribed weapons, namely 152- and 122mm artillery systems, 82- and 120mm mortars and tanks near 25 residential areas (Pisky, Vodiane, Katerynivka, Krasnohorivka, Marinka, Novomykhailivka, Pivdenne, Shymy, Avdiivka, Hnutove, Zaitseve, Krymske, Lebedynske, Luhanske, Nevelske, Novhorodske, Novoluhanske, Novooleksandrivka, Opytne, Pavlopil, Pyshchevyk, Prychepylivka, Talakivka, Troitske, Shyrokyne, Bohdanivka, Zolote-4, Kamianka, Luhanske, Mayorsk, Myronivskyi, Novozvanivka, Novoselivka, Svitlodarsk, Shyrokyne).

Most of the armed provocations were observed on Mariupol, Avdiivka and Toretsk directions.

Russia also actively trains and transfers snipers to the conflict zone inflicting injuries and deaths among Ukrainian servicemen. Since the end of July 2020, 52 cases of the use of sniper fire by the Russian armed formations have been recorded resulting in 23 killed and 12 wounded among Ukrainian servicemen.

The Russian occupation forces regularly undertake actions aimed at mining the Ukrainian positions delivering mines both remotely and by subversive groups. Among them are landmines POM-2, MON-50, PFM-1, and PMN, the use of which is prohibited by respective international instruments. Most recently, on 31 May, another case of remote mining was observed near Zaitseve.

We strongly urge the Russian side to immediately cease the supply and further contamination of Ukrainian soil with landmines, other types of mines and explosive devices, and proceed with demining. 

The Russian occupation forces committed other violations of the Minsk agreements, including the use of UAVs – 69 times, development of new positions and reinforcement of existing ones – 29 cases, remotely delivered mines – 41 cases, shelling of civilian sites – 23 times.

As a result of ongoing Russia’s armed aggression for the abovementioned period, 38 Ukrainian servicemen lost their lives, and 117 – were wounded.

The Russian Federation has continued supplying its forces in Donbas with weaponry, ammunition, fuel, lubricants, and transferring manpower through the section of the Russian-Ukrainian state border, uncontrolled by the Government of Ukraine.

Currently, military logistics and combat support units, military advisors, instructors, specialists and servicemen of the armed forces of the Russian Federation amounting to 2800 people, and 40 pieces of weapons and military equipment of the regular units of the Russian armed forces, in particular armoured combat vehicles, are deployed in the temporarily occupied areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine.

These facts speak for themselves and undoubtedly testify to the ongoing violation by Russia of the OSCE fundamental principles, enshrined in the Helsinki Final Act, as to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and inviolability of borders as well as its commitments under OSCE politico-military instruments.

Ukrainian side regards such actions of the Russian Federation as a blatant violation of the Minsk agreements and disregard of the TCG agreement on additional measures to strengthen ceasefire of 22 July 2020. Such deliberate steps to destabilize the situation in the temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation areas in Donetsk and Luhansk regions and adjacent territories can only further escalate the conflict.

Amid these destabilizing actions, according to the SMM reports, the Mission’s UAVs continue to be severely interfered with during their scheduled flights on the temporarily occupied territory of Donbas. Only last week these assets were subject to jamming 27 times during 54 flights.

Between 30 and 31 May, the SMM lost two of its UAVs near Veselohorivka and Trokhizbenka settlements due to jamming from the Russian radio electronic warfare systems.

In total, according to the SMM reports, during April alone, the Mission observed 396 cases of jamming, 300 of which occurred in the temporarily occupied areas. Since the mid-March 2021, the occupants have been actively jamming the UAVs flights over the government-controlled area. More than 100 such cases have been observed so far.  

These actions are aimed at discrediting the Armed Forces of Ukraine. A significant portion of interference occurs in the Bakhmut – Konstantynivka - Stepanivka take-off and landing area for long-range UAVs S-100. This type of UAV allows monitoring of the uncontrolled segment of the Ukrainian-Russian state border, which makes it an indispensable asset to ensure implementation of the SMM mandate. 

Considering the high efficiency of the S-100, the Russian armed formations systematically restrict their use. Between March and April 2021, three aircraft were disabled, and their flights were delayed for almost a month.

Russian warfare systems are intensively employed from the temporarily occupied residential areas of Donetsk, Horlivka, Pervomaisk and Bezimenne. This creates a large area for jamming of the control signal of UAVs, primarily those of a long-range type. The most severe interference is carried out at the time of landing in the government-controlled area. 

One of such Russian systems, RB-636 Svet-KU, was observed by the SMM recently, on May 29, near the temporarily occupied Novoazovsk. This system entered service with the armed forces of the Russia Federation in 2012. Among other Russian electronic warfare systems observed by the SMM previously were, inter alia, R-330Zh Zhitel, R-934B Synytsia and RB-341V Leer-3.

The technical characteristics of the radio electronic warfare systems used by the Russian Federation in the temporarily occupied territories allow interfering with the Mission's UAVs control systems at a range of up to 90km. At the same time, the range of RB-341V Leer-3 system, which can be used from an air carrier, in particular Orlan-10 UAV, may reach 120km. On 31 May, near Sanzharivka settlement the Armed Forces of Ukraine disrupted the flight of Orlan-10 UAV that crossed the line of contact.

For its part, the Armed Forces of Ukraine guarantee the SMM unimpeded access to all facilities and areas in the government-controlled territories, while the Russian occupation administrations exert systematic pressure on the SMM patrols and severely limit the implementation of the mandate of the Mission. According to the Ukrainian side of the JCCC, more than 95% of all cases of obstruction of the SMM activities is observed in the temporarily occupied territories.

Esteemed colleagues,

While Russia continues to fuel the conflict in the east of Ukraine by all means, it retains large numbers of troops, weapons and military equipment near the border with Ukraine in Voronezh, Belgorod and Rostov regions, and in the temporarily occupied Crimea.

The Russian Federation only pays lip service to the withdrawal of its forces. In total, only about 10,000 servicemen have been withdrawn.

We reiterate our call on the Russian Federation to live up to its commitments under the Vienna Document 2011 and provide all necessary measures of transparency regarding its military activities, including the withdrawal of troops and those units and military equipment remaining at the border with Ukraine. In this regard, we strongly encourage the Russian side to heed the recommendations expressed at the 14 April joint PC-FSC meeting and address questions and concerns raised during the follow-up meetings of the PC and FSC.

In conclusion, we urge the Russian Federation to stop its aggression against Ukraine, reverse its illegal occupation of Crimea, de-occupy parts of Donbas, and restore freedom of navigation in the Black Sea, through the Kerch Strait and in the Sea of Azov. Russia must fully implement its commitments under the Minsk agreements, including the withdrawal of its armed forces, mercenaries, armed formations, and weapons from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

Thank you, Mr. Chairperson.