Statement on "Russia's on-going aggression against Ukraine and illegal occupation of Crimea"

The permanent representative of Ukraine to the international organizations in Vienna I. Prokopchuk pronounced a statement from the Ukraine’s Delegation to the 1112^th meeting of the Permanent Council of the OSCE on 8 September 2016.

“Last Monday marked two years since the first document of the Minsk Agreements – the Protocol - was signed on 5 September 2014 by the Trilateral Contact Group of Ukraine, Russia and the OSCE as a mediator following the direct incursion of the Russian regular troops into Donbas”, reads the document.

“Russian incursion triggered intense hostilities on the ground, in particular near the city of Ilovaysk – the place of one of the most shameful crimes, committed by the Russian Army in Donbas. At least 366 Ukrainian servicemen were killed and 429 were wounded there while leaving the city in the so-called “green corridor” under the guarantees of commanders of the Russian troops,” the statement contains.

“Ukraine has consistently demonstrated its commitment to full implementation of the Minsk Agreements as a basis for peaceful resolution of the conflict by political means with full respect to Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. Regrettably, the unwillingness of Russia to act in the same vein resulted in continuing violence of different intensity, in loss of life and destruction”, the statement of the Delegation of Ukraine to the 1112^th meeting of the Permanent Council reads.

The Permanent Representative emphasized that it remains a matter of urgency to achieve full implementation of initial security provisions of the Minsk Agreements two years after the first document was signed.

“We reiterate our call on Russia to restore its respect for the norms of international law and the OSCE principles and commitments, to embark on practical implementation of the Minsk agreements, including by withdrawing its troops, mercenaries and military hardware, and reverse the illegal occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol”, the statement reads.

Full text as delivered by the Delegation of Ukraine to the 1112^th meeting of the Permanent Council, 8 September 2016

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