MFA of Ukraine Condemns Attempts of Russia and its Proxies to Aggravate Security Situation in Donbas

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine strictly condemns yet another attempt of the Russian Federation and its proxies to aggravate the security situation in Donbas.

Despite the cease-fire, agreed during the recent meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group, the number of armed provocations against ATO forces along the contact line continues to grow.

Only on 17 January, militants shelled ATO positions and civilian objects 48 times. On 15 and 16 January - 40 and 36 times respectively. Moreover, except for small arms they also used 82-mm and 120-mm mortars, RPGs, anti-aircraft warfare and APC armament. Deliberate shooting at the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission vehicle on 16 January was a particularly outrageous action.

The nature of such actions proves their thorough planning. These actions undermine not only the core essence, logic and consecutiveness of Minsk agreements. They also derail all efforts undertaken by Ukraine and international community aimed at restoring peace and stability. In fact, they make implementation of the political part of peaceful settlement impossible.

The MFA of Ukraine draws attention of the international community to yet another proof of Russia’s deliberate neglect of Minsk agreements as well as its full responsibility for the situation in some areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Because of Kremlin’s deliberate policy of upholding its “hybrid war” against Ukraine, we are to state that in almost a year after the adoption of the Complex of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk agreements, situation in the East of Ukraine remains to be extremely fragile and far from restoring peace, security and regular life in areas suffering from terrorists.

The MFA of Ukraine calls on international partners not to fall for deceptive maneuvers of the Russian aggressor that constantly demonstrates impressive mismatches between its rhetoric and real actions. In this light, political pressure on the Russian Federation and implementation of diplomatic and restrictive measures are of a critical importance for the enforcement of Kremlin’s return to the international legal framework.

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