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”.

During the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) meeting last week Ukraine introduced its action plan. The action plan provides all necessary conditions to bring an end to the conflict in Donbas.

According to President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, this document on the implementation of agreements reached in the Normandie and Minsk formats could be considered by the advisors to leaders of the Normandy Four on 13 November 2020. This a clear and detailed plan with concrete measures, deadlines, and assigned responsibility. It was drafted by a large group of experts. The President also underscored that over the period of the ceasefire regime established on 27 July 2020 in Donbas, the number of fatalities among the Ukrainian servicemen decreased tenfold and the number of shelling occasions decreased five and half times compared to last year. There is still no absolute ceasefire regime but the numbers are illustrative.   

Despite visible progress reached in the implementation of the agreement on the additional measures to consolidate the ceasefire regime agreed at the TCG meeting on 22 July 2020, the armed formations of the Russian Federation (RAF) continue armed provocations. In total, for the period from 27 July through 10 November 2020 the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (UAF) were shelled on 247 occasions near over 40 residential areas in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. On five instances armed formations of the Russian Federation conducted fire from the Minsk-proscribed weapons, 82 mm mortars near Avdiivka, Vodiane and Novhorodske.

The Russian armed formations also used forbidden UAVs on 34 occasions, including to drop grenade shells on the Ukrainian positions, and have been intensively fortifying their positions. Most recently, on 3 November, one of such forbidden UAV was shot down near Shumy. On 5 November, they used an UAV to drop VOG-17 grenade shell inflicting injuries to one Ukrainian servicemen.

These aforementioned armed provocations inflicted death to 3 Ukrainian servicemen and 10 Ukrainian servicemen were wounded in action. 

Ukrainian side considers such actions of the Russian armed formations as a blatant violation of the Minsk agreements and disregard of the TCG ceasefire arrangement of 22 July 2020, as well as deliberate steps to destabilize the situation in the temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation areas in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and adjacent territories and further instigation by Russia of the conflict it started.

Based on the data received from the observation groups of the Ukrainian side of the JCCC, it was established that the Russian armed formations continue to carry out engineering works to restore and strengthen existing positions along the entire line of contact, including with the use of engineering ammunition.

In particular, the JCCC recorded facts of gross violations by the Russian armed formations of the terms of paragraph "a" on Additional measures to consolidate the ceasefire and ensure compliance with a comprehensive, lasting and indefinite ceasefire (prohibition of offensive actions, which also mean any attempts to change positional deployment of troops, including additional engineering equipment of positions towards the enemy). You may see this on the slides (PRESENTATION). 

(Slide 1), 20.10-04.11.2020 in the area between the Butivka Mine and the settlement of Spartacus (coordinates 48°05'33"N, 37°46'22"E);

(Slide 1), 27-30.10.2020 in the area of Yasynuvata interchange (coordinates 48°07'02"N, 37°47'46"E);

(Slide 2), 20.10-04.11.2020 in the area of settlement Novotoshkivske (coordinates 48°42'54"N, 38°40'17"E);

(Slide 3), 03.11.2020 in the area of Donetsk airport (coordinates 48°04'40'N, 37°43'46'E; 48°04'24"N, 37°41'37"E);

(Slide 4), 03.11.2020 (again) in the area of settlement Shumy (coordinates 48°22'35"N, 37°56'59"E);

(no slides), 03.11.2020 in the area of the settlements of Shyrokyne (47°06´26ʺN, 37°50´18ʺE), Vodiane (47°08´49ʺN, 37°48´38ʺE) and Pikuzy (47°10´26ʺN, 37°48´06ʺE).

In connection with the identified violations, the Ukrainian side of the JCCC sent respective communications to the SMM (№№ 732-OSCE, 733- OSCE from 04.10.2020 and №№ 736- OSCE, 737- OSCE and 738- OSCE from 05.11.2020).

These facts of fortification of existing positions, equipment of new trenches and firing positions, as well as regular use of the UAVs to conduct reconnaissance activities of the defensive positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, fully explain the reluctance of the Russian armed formations to act in line with the truce.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine strive to adhere to the TCG agreement on the additional measures to consolidate the ceasefire regime of 22 July 2020. They open fire in response only in those cases when the lives of the Ukrainian servicemen and civilian population are endangered.

(Slide 5) The SMM continues to receive information from the Russian armed formations with accusations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in conducting engineering works along the line of contact. We would like to draw your attention to the negligence with which the Russian armed formations provide the coordinates of places where the Armed Forces of Ukraine allegedly conduct engineering works.

Thus, in one of such communications (No. 1130 of 08.11.2020) it was stated that “on 26 October 2020, engineering works were observed at the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near the residential area of Pisky (47º04'22.656, 37º41'35.405)”. When applying these coordinates on a topographic map, we can see that the site of engineering works is located directly in the Sea of Azov. Other coordinates mentioned in this communication are located behind the line of contact, on the temporarily occupied territories. You may see this information on the slide.

In order to prove the fact of open provocations by the Russian armed formations, the Ukrainian side of JCCC conducted verification of the data provided in other communications of the Russian armed formations on the ground. The information obtained in the result of this verification activities unequivocally confirm that there are no fortifying engineering works on the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine under these coordinates.

The Russian Federation has been supplying its forces in Donbas with weaponry, ammunition, fuel and lubricants and manpower through the uncontrolled by the Government of Ukraine section of the Russian-Ukrainian state border, located in the temporarily occupied territories of Donbas. On 16 September, 5 railway cars filled with ammunition entered Ukraine from Russia through the residential area of Chervona Mohyla. On the same day, Russia sent 4 trucks “KAMAZ” loaded with antitank missile systems 9K111-1 “Konkurs-2” through the residential area of Diakove, Donetsk region. On 25 September, 11 trucks “Kamaz” (with a trailer) loaded with ammunition for grenade launchers SPG-9 (4 vehicles) and grenade launchers RPG-8, RPG-22 (7 vehicles) entered Ukraine from Russia through Diakove and headed towards the city of Luhansk. On 17 October, a convoy of 1 tank, 5 armoured fighting vehicles and 16 trucks “Ural” was seen entering Ukraine from Russia through the residential area of Savur-Mohyla.

On 3 October, 6 railway cisterns with 360 tons of fuel and lubricants entered Ukraine from Russia through the railway station in the city of Luhansk. From 21 September through 12 October, the Ukrainian side registered 40 railway cisterns with approximately 3120 tons of fuel and lubricants entering Ukraine from Russia through the residential area of Rovenky.       

Moreover, according to the information at hand, currently, military logistics and combat support units, military advisors and instructors of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, amounting to 2100 persons, and 40 pieces of weapons and military equipment of the regular units of the Armed Forces of Russia are deployed in the temporarily occupied areas of Donbas.

These facts point 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. The SMM, given its mandate, should examine these facts and give its unbiased assessment.   

Notwithstanding the challenging circumstances, Ukraine has been proactively restoring civilian infrastructure, improving living conditions and carrying out demining in the conflict-affected areas under Government control, with the SMM observing the adherence to localised ceasefires. We are grateful to the Mission for its dedicated and restless work on this track. As result of these efforts, the Ukrainian side together with its partners accomplished all necessary measures for the launch of two new entry-exit checkpoints in Zolote and Schastia in line with the TCG decision, and renewal of the operation of all entry-exit checkpoints at the contact line.

Against the background of relative silence in Donbas, on 6 November, the Russian Federation promulgated the Presidential Decree, which once again attempts to legitimize the unlawful issuance of documents and vehicle registration plates to the Donetsk and Luhansk regions residents, as well as granting them Russian citizenship in a simplified procedure.

We consider these steps as yet another element of Russian aggression which entails not only military, but legal means. This unlawful decision contradicts Russia's obligations under the Minsk Agreements and undermines efforts within the Normandy Format and the TCG, directed towards maintaining ceasefire regime and seeking a peaceful resolution to the international armed conflict, instigated, led and sustained by Russia, in Donbas. Therefore, we strongly urge the Russian side to immediately cancel these unlawful decisions and eliminate their negative consequences.

In conclusion, we urge the Russian Federation to stop its aggression against Ukraine, reverse its illegal occupation of Crimea, de-occupy parts of the 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 withdrawal of its forces, illegal armed formations and weapons from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

Thank you, Mr. Chairperson.