YouSaid · the spoken record

Yelchenko

lines on the record: 1,640
first: 1997-12-19
most recent: 2019-07-16
sittings or episodes: 226
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“Ukraine provides the maximum support possible to the work of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission, which is deployed in Ukraine at the invitation of its Government. Again, I will let the numbers speak for themselves. During the latest ceasefire period the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission reported just one case of a Mission convoy being stopped by the Ukrainian forces. What do we have on the other side? There have been 37 cases of limiting the freedom of movement of the OSCE monitors. In 2016 and 2017 all OSCE Special Monitoring Mission long-range unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) were shot down over the occupied territories. In 2018 the Mission restarted their use for monitoring purposes. The latest long-range UAV downing was on 27 October 2018. As a result, all UAVs are under constant threat.”
2019-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8461 (2019) · source
“Do I need to say that it is the Russian representatives that block any discussion of the issue? What about the withdrawal of all foreign armed formations, military equipment and mercenaries from the territory of Ukraine, in accordance with paragraph 10 of the package of measures? The picture is crystal clear. Reports of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission offer an additional insight into the presence of the Russian weapon systems and, by extension, of the Russian military, including radio reconnaissance systems, four different distinct electronic warfare systems, the latest radars and jamming stations in the occupied territories of Ukraine. Let us now have a look at how the sides implement the provision relating to the monitoring and verification by the OSCE Mission, as referred to in paragraph 3 of the package of measures.”
2019-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8461 (2019) · source
“During this period there were over 54,000 cases of ceasefire violations. In almost 6,000 cases the Russian forces used weapon systems prohibited by the Minsk agreements. Now, with regard to the heavy weapons withdrawal, Ukraine has withdrawn all the prescribed weapons as per paragraph 2 of the package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements. We regularly provide the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission with detailed inventory lists of such weapons. The most recent list was sent to the Mission on 9 February. There are numerous and regular cases of blatant violations of stationing heavy weapons by the other side in the immediate vicinity of the actual contact line, not the withdrawal line. There has been no progress in negotiations about creating a heavy-weapon-free area near Mariupol.”
2019-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8461 (2019) · source
“Since the Russian representative decided to quote some of the provisions of the Minsk agreements, but not as many as during the most recent meetings, I would also like to remind him that it was Russia that violated its commitments almost instantly following the signing of the Minsk documents. In particular, the Russian forces attacked and seized the city of Debaltseve on 16 to 18 February 2015, immediately after the Minsk package of measures, which established the comprehensive ceasefire as of 15 February, had been signed by the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France. The logic of the Minsk agreements envisages the immediate implementation of initial security provisions a ceasefire and heavy weapons withdrawal. From 2015 on, Russia has effectively sabotaged the implementation of ceasefire agreements 18 times - I repeat, 18 times.”
2019-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8461 (2019) · source
“The armed force of 35,000 in occupied Donbas is supported by over 2,100 Russian regular military, mostly in key command and control positions. Many of them already have a lot of experience in Syria. The total number of the Russian offensive strike group personnel along the Russian-Ukrainian border, including the groups adjacent to the occupied territories of Donbas and Crimea, is 87,750 military. Those are quite some numbers, are they not? Now the question: what do these numbers speak of in terms of Russia's real intentions? Do they show that the party in question wants to de-escalate the situation? I will let the Council draw its own conclusions.”
2019-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8461 (2019) · source
“The Russian side proposes a very selective approach to the implementation of the Minsk agreements, emphasizing the political elements in its own interpretation. However, it completely ignores its own obligations in the security and humanitarian spheres. Let me start with some numbers. As of the beginning of February, the Russian armed formations in Donbas have in their possession 496 main battle tanks - comparable to the arsenals of countries such as Germany, France and Indonesia- 938 armoured combat vehicles - similar to Peru and Kuwait - 128 multiple launch rocket systems - somewhat less than Indonesia - 776 artillery systems, including self- propelled ones - again, comparable to the numbers of such former Council members as Kazakhstan or Ethiopia.”
2019-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8461 (2019) · source
“I now turn to the subject of today's meeting. I must immediately ask my colleagues around the table for indulgence, since even an abridged account of the state of implementation of the Minsk agreements is quite extensive and, in all probability, my statement will last more than five minutes. I count on the Council's understanding. Today we heard an already well-known interpretation - or, to be more precise, misinterpretation - of the implementation of the Minsk agreements by the Russian representative. But the reality is quite different. All daily developments prove that it is only Russia and its ongoing military activity in the occupied territories of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine, as well as in Crimea, that for now constitute an unsurmountable obstacle to the peaceful resolution of the conflict.”
2019-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8461 (2019) · source
“Later the same month, on 24 January, the Russian forces randomly shelled the outskirts of Mariupol, killing 31 civilians. Let me now answer the question of the colleague from Germany about the Stanytsia Luhanska crossing point, which, by the way, was visited a couple of days ago jointly by the Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Mr. Klimkin, and the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Slovak Foreign Minister Lajcak. Our Minister of course repeated the commitment of the Ukrainian side to the opening of the checkpoint but, unfortunately, that is not enough because, as members may know, there is a bridge connecting the two sides. The bridge is almost completely destroyed. It needs to be repaired. The Ukrainian side needs access to the area and to the bridge for that, but to date that has unfortunately been denied by the other side.”
2019-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8461 (2019) · source
“That was yet another violation of the Minsk Protocol, of which paragraph 9 reads: "Ensure the holding of early local elections in accordance with the Law of Ukraine 'With respect to the temporary status of local self- government in certain areas of the Donetsk and the Lugansk regions . Worse, the recent holding in late November 2018 by the administration of the Russian occupation of another illegal so-called election in the occupied areas added insult to injury. It was a clear and deliberate provocation to undermine the Minsk agreements. The day of 25 November 2018 marks another significant development, when the Russian navy attacked Ukraine's two armoured boats and a tugboat in the Azov Sea. On 13 January 2015, the Russian forces shelled a checkpoint near the town of Volnovakha. Twelve civilians were killed and 18 more were wounded.”
2019-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8461 (2019) · source
“On 22 October, at a meeting of the Permanent Council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Russia blocked the adoption of the decision to extend the mandate of the OSCE observer mission at the Russian checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk to the entire uncontrolled part of the Ukrainian-Russian border. Incidentally, paragraph 4 of the aforementioned Minsk Protocol reads as follows: "Ensure permanent monitoring on the Ukrainian-Russian state border and verification by the OSCE, together with the creation of a security area in the border regions of Ukraine and the Russian Federation". On 2 November, illegal elections were held in the occupied areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.”
2019-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8461 (2019) · source
“The day of 17 July marks the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH-17, which was another terrorist attack by Russia. All 298 people onboard were killed. On 23-24 August, four battalion tactical groups of the Russian armed forces invaded the territory of Ukraine. The day of 5 September marks the signing of the Minsk Protocol, which, together with the Memorandum outlining the parameters for the implementation of commitments of the Minsk Protocol, constitutes the core of the Minsk agreements, with the package of measures for their implementation. For the record, on the Russian side, the document was signed by the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Ukraine, Mikhail Zurabov. That is with regard to the issue as to whether Russia is a party to the conflict or whether it has nothing to do with the conflict in Ukraine.”
2019-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8461 (2019) · source
“On 27 March 2014, the General Assembly adopted resolution 68/262, asserting that the so-called referendum had no validity and could not form the basis for any alteration of the status of Crimea. Incidentally, the Russian side is consistently pushing the narrative of the peaceful nature of events in Crimea. I will cite just one episode from 2014 for the Council's consideration. On 18 March, the Ukrainian warrant officer Serhiy Kokurin, a native of Crimea, was shot in the heart by two bullets during an assault by the Russian special forces on the Ukrainian cartographic station near Simferopol. He was the very first Ukrainian soldier killed by Russia in this war. On 14 June, the Russian forces shot down aUkrainian transport aircraft over the Luhansk airport, killing 40 Ukrainian paratroopers and nine crew members.”
2019-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8461 (2019) · source
“Since we cannot exclude the fact that the Russian delegation may make it a customary practice to call for thematic meetings related to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict based on the dates of certain significant events, let me try and put together an indicative list of dates, which is by no means exhaustive, for Council members to keep in mind while making preparations for the upcoming months. It is as follows. On 20 February 2014, Russia started its invasion of Crimea. A week from now there will be a General Assembly debate on that date, but perhaps someone will come up with the idea of having a discussion also in the Security Council. It is better to be prepared, just in case. The day of 16 March marks the holding of the infamous so-called referendum in Crimea.”
2019-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8461 (2019) · source
“I would like to start by expressing my delegation's appreciation to you, Mr. President, for this opportunity to participate in the Security Council discussion of an issue of the utmost concern to us. I also thank all our briefers - Mr. Jenca, Ms. Mueller, Ambassadors Apakan and Sajdik - for their inputs. We are profoundly grateful for their devoted efforts to assist my country. We would also like to express our gratitude to all Security Council members, in particular the new members, who spoke in support of Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty.”
2019-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8461 (2019) · source
“I will be very brief, because I think I was clear enough in my previous statement, which needs no further explanation. I just want to say that since the spring of 2014, we have heard a lot of epic Russian stories saying that "Crimea is ours" and "They are not there", meaning Russians in Donbas. I think everyone, at least in this Chamber, is completely fed up with all those stories. My brief comment is specifically for the benefit of Mr. Polyanskiy. The Kerch Strait can only be approached from the south, because the Sea ofAzov is located north of the Black Sea. When he said that the Ukrainian ships were brazenly moving northward in trying to enter the Kerch Strait, I could not understand what he meant. They were attacked by the Russian Navy while moving from the Kerch-Yenikale canal southward. The meeting rose at 12.50p.m.”
2018-11-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8410 (2018) · source
“Ukraine demands that Russia immediately release the 23 captured Ukrainian servicemen and all three Ukrainian ships. We also call on the international community to implement a new set of sanctions aimed at addressing the situation in the region, including against Russia's ports on the Sea of Azov. The increased political pressure on Moscow would help to de-escalate the security situation at sea and lift the block on the free crossing of the Kerch- Yenikale canal. If unopposed, the Kremlin regime will continue to commit other aggressive acts, creating ever more widespread conflict in the region.”
2018-11-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8410 (2018) · source
“The Kremlin's criminal regime has once again demonstrated that it will not end its aggressive policies and is ready to commit any acts of aggression against the Ukrainian State. The dramatic escalation of the situation in the region demands a rapid response from the international community. These events are yet another testament to the relevance of the General Assembly draft resolution prepared by Ukraine and a group of like-minded States regarding the issue of the militarization of Crimea, the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. Once again, we are grateful for today's strong statements in support okaraine, calling on the Russian Federation to guarantee freedom of navigation in the region and condemning Russia's acts of aggression in the Black Sea and the Sea ofAzov.”
2018-11-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8410 (2018) · source
“In response to the Russian delegation's scare stories about the alleged motives of Ukraine's President regarding the declaration of martial law, I will simply quote the statement that the President made just a couple of minutes ago, which is available online: "The martial law will last 30 days and will be over in the middle of December. In Early December, I will submit a draft decision of the Parliament regarding the date of the presidential elections, which, according to the Constitution, are to be held on 31 March 2019." Ukraine is ready to settle the situation in through political and diplomatic means. At the same time, we are ready to use all available means in exercising our right to self-defence, as provided for in Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations.”
2018-11-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8410 (2018) · source
“Nevertheless, further escalation of the situation by the Russian Federation should not be ruled out. According to available intelligence, there is a clear threat of invasion of Mariupol and the seizing of Berdyansk. Further aggressive acts and provocations by the FSB Border Guard Service and the Russian navy remain a realistic possibility. Due to those threats, yesterday the President of Ukraine supported the initiative of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine to propose to the Parliament of Ukraine to declare martial law for 60 days, but to cut it short to 30 days in order to avoid unnecessary speculation. The imposed martial law can be lifted at any time. It will have no negative effects on respect for human rights and the functioning of democratic institutions.”
2018-11-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8410 (2018) · source
“Russia's recent belligerent acts constitute yet another violation of international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, as well as existing bilateral agreements. This is a conscious provocation aimed at aggravating the security situation in the region with a view to Russia establishing full control over the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait. There is irrefutable evidence that the recent aggressive actions by Russia were planned and authorized by top Russian military leadership. Ukraine's restraint in its response clearly demonstrates that we are committed to solving the current situation by peaceful means and in full compliance with international law and existing bilateral obligations.”
2018-11-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8410 (2018) · source
“Nevertheless, the Russian Federation opted to purposefully block the passage of the Ukrainian ships, thus violating the freedom of navigation guaranteed by the Ukraine-Russia cooperation agreement on the use of the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait. Moreover, Russia committed an act of open military aggression against Ukraine by targeting, firing on and capturing three military vessels. I would like to remind everyone that, pursuant to article 3 (d) of the annex to General Assembly resolution 3314 (XXIX), "an attack by the armed forces of a State on the land, sea or air forces, or marine and air fleets of another State" qualifies as an act of aggression.”
2018-11-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8410 (2018) · source
“The treaty clearly provides for freedom of navigation for both civil and military vessels of Ukraine and Russia in the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait. This is the treaty in my hands, which was signed by the current Russian Government. (spoke in Russian) Mr. Polyanskiy cannot deny that this agreement has been signed by his side and needs to be upheld. (spoke in English) Secondly, the Russian Federation was duly informed well in advance through traditional channels of communication about the passing of the Ukrainian navy's group through the Kerch Strait. Thirdly, the Ukrainian Navy group strictly followed the orders of the traffic control service. As the Council can see, there were no provocations whatsoever from Ukraine's part.”
2018-11-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8410 (2018) · source
“After that, Ukrainian vessels were forced to stop and were seized by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) special forces. Six Ukrainian seamen are wounded, three seriously so and, according to information we have received, one is in critical condition. The video footage of ramming and shooting, as well as relevant audio recordings, have already been posted online and everybody can consult them to see what happened and how it happened. Throughout all those events, the Ukrainian side acted strictly in line with international law and the existing bilateral agreement with the Russian Federation. Ukraine's right to cross the Kerch- Yenikale canal is guaranteed by paragraph 1 of article 2 of the 2003 treaty between Ukraine and the Russian Federation on cooperation in the use of the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait.”
2018-11-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8410 (2018) · source
“Instead, I will limit myself to quoting a couple of exchanges that were intercepted. There is a conversation between the base in Kerch and the Russian boat Izumrud: "Hands up, hands up, everyone on board, hands up. Throw down your arms. We will shoot to kill." And then, finally, on who ordered the shooting, there is a communication from Izumrud. "I cannot connect with Izumrud, there is commotion in the air. They are shouting 'the Ukrainians are sinking' and what is going on with them I don't understand." And then, the commander from Kerch asks, "Who gave the order to shoot to kill?" And the captain of Izumrad replies: "It was me. According to your previous orders." The Ukrainian vessels Berdyansk and Nikopol were damaged.”
2018-11-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8410 (2018) · source
“After 7 p.m., due to the impossibility of passing through the Strait, the Ukrainian navy ships headed back to exit the Kerch Strait, turning away from the Strait and towards the open sea. They were immediately followed by a group of about 10 coast guard and Russian Black Sea fleet vessels. There are audio recordings of communications among the Russian vessel commanders regarding orders on how to proceed. Those recordings clearly demonstrate that the Russian military vessels were given orders to attack the Ukrainian vessels after the latter started to withdraw from the area. At approximately 8.30 p.m., the Russian side carried out the shoot-to-kill order. I have all of those recordings on my telephone, but I will not waste the Council's time now in playing them.”
2018-11-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8410 (2018) · source
“After the ramming, the Russian vessels blocked the other two Ukrainian vessels from rendering assistance to the damaged vessel. All the while, the Russian vessels were trying to provoke Ukrainian seamen to open fire. At 1.22 p.m., two Russian Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopters approached the Ukrainian cutters at their anchorage spot at a height of 50 metres. They openly demonstrated their missile armaments and their laser-aiming device. After completing the dangerous manoeuvres, the helicopters departed towards the Crimean peninsula. From 1.40 pm. onwards, Russia physically blocked the passage beneath the so-called Kerch Bridge with the placement of first a tanker and then a cargo ship.”
2018-11-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8410 (2018) · source
“He did not receive an answer. Later the Russian maritime control officer directed the Ukrainian navy boat group to the so-called area of waiting. It was stated that Ukrainian vessels would soon be informed on the Kerch Strait passage procedure. And then all hell broke loose. At approximately 8.30 or 9 a.m., a Russian coast guard ship rammed the tugboat Yani Kapu and damaged it. The video of that attack is available online. A viewing will clearly show that the Ukrainian boat was trying to avoid the collision, while the Russian ship was deliberately carrying out the attack. I also have to warn viewers that if they happen to understand the Russian language, they will hear lots of profanities from the Russian sailors in that short video clip.”
2018-11-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8410 (2018) · source
“On 23 November, a Ukrainian Navy boat group, which included the small armoured boats Nikopol and Berdyansk and the tugboat Yani Kapa, began a planned transit from the Black Sea port of Odessa to the port of Mariupol in the Sea of Azov. The route and procedure of that passage were the same as in September, when the two Ukrainian naval vessels Donetsk and Korets sailed from Odessa to Mariupol. On 24 November, during the naval movement, the commander of the Ukrainian naval group received a notice from the Russian authorities concerning the closure of navigation in the Kerch Strait area. However, the international centre for navigation control located in Spain did not confirm that notification. On 25 November, the Ukrainian commander twice requested passage through Kerch Strait from the Russian maritime control services.”
2018-11-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8410 (2018) · source
“The Russian claim regarding a violation of the Russian border by Ukrainian naval ships is an outright lie that was invented just to cynically shift all the responsibility onto the Ukrainian side, consciously manipulating the facts and ignoring the evidence. In order for all Council members to better understand the situation, I would like to present the main facts of what happened during the past three days. First of all, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and article 2 of the treaty between Ukraine and the Russian Federation on cooperation in the use of the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait, the Ukrainian navy enjoys full freedom of navigation in the Kerch Strait and the Sea of Azov and, therefore, can pass through the Kerch Strait at any time.”
2018-11-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8410 (2018) · source
“In that regard, I have to emphasize that, according to the international law, Crimea and its respective territorial waters are Ukrainian territory, temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation. Therefore, there are no Russian borders in the area where the incident happened. I repeat - there are no Russian State borders around the Crimean peninsula. The Council has already heard the Russian interpretation of the events, which, as usual, has been concocted to mix reality with fiction, in the ultimate goal of misinforming, misleading and confusing the listener. Instead of real details about yesterday's incident, we heard epic stories about an apocalypse in Ukraine.”
2018-11-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8410 (2018) · source
“(spoke in English) We appreciate the convening of this briefing at the request of Ukraine. I would like to sincerely thank the members of the Security Council for the unwavering support for my country that they have demonstrated once again today. And, of course, I thank Under- Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo for her very useful update. We are convinced that it is of the utmost importance to discuss the recent developments near the Kerch Strait, since they constitute a clear threat to international peace and security. Before delving into the subject, I would like first to express my dismay at the attempt of the Russian Federation to manipulate the agenda of the Council and to have a meeting convened under an agenda item with the deceiving title "Violation of the borders of the Russian Federation".”
2018-11-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8410 (2018) · source
“Before coming here, I did what some of us normally do every morning. I searched on the Internet to find out what happened on this day in history. Here is what I found. Exactly on this day, 26 November, in 1939, the Soviet army orchestrated an incident by shelling the village of Mainula, near the Soviet-Finnish border. Then the Soviets claimed that the shelling had come from the Finnish side and used that as a pretext for their invasion of Finland on 30 November. That is how the so-called Winter War started, which eventually led to the expulsion of the Soviet Union from the League of Nations. That is interesting, is it not? That is a story about a failure to learn lessons. (spoke in Russian) Mr. Polyanskiy was the one to talk about who had learned lessons and who had not.”
2018-11-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8410 (2018) · source
“One thing is for sure - appeasing the Kremlin and playing along will not contribute to building a more stable and safer world. The meeting rose at 4.50 pm.”
2018-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8386 (2018) · source
“That has already played a significant role in the occupation of Crimea and in fuelling the conflict in Donbas. What is to be made of all this? It is both quite simple and extremely difficult at the same time. The keys to the resolution of the conflict lie in Moscow. On our part, we are ready for constructive engagement to end the conflict. Alas, such readiness is not yet present in Russia. As regrettable as it may be, until there is a tangible change in Russian policy towards building genuine neighbourly relations with countries around its borders, based on respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, instead of creating areas of instability and waging wars, the Council will continue to gather around this table to discuss the never-ending follies of Russia's expansionist and aggressive policies.”
2018-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8386 (2018) · source
“The health conditions of Volodymyr Balukh, Asan Chapuch, Emir-Usein Kuku, Stanislav Klykh, Ihor Hryb, Yevhen Panov and many others who do not receive appropriate medical assistance remains of great concern. I have behind me today Ms. Emine Dzhaparova, First Deputy Minister of Information Policy okaraine. She is a Crimean Tatar; she was born there. She lived and worked in Crimea and she had to leave after the Russian occupation. And she can tell a thousand stories about what is happening in the current reality of Crimea. That whole bleak picture would be incomplete without mentioning the massive campaign of propaganda and incitement of hatred against Ukraine and Ukrainians launched by the Russian Government. Russian State-owned media and public figures spend hours on prime-time television to promote insinuations about the Ukrainian people.”
2018-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8386 (2018) · source
“I would add to that the fact that during the period from 2014 to 2017, 108,000 people moved from the Russian Federation to Crimea and Sevastopol. What is that if not a deliberate policy to change the demographic composition of the region? Over 70 Ukrainian citizens have been detained in Russia and the occupied Crimea by Russian authorities under trumped-up, politically motivated charges. Oleg Sentsov, facing the threat of torture by force-feeding, had to terminate his hunger strike after a four-month struggle. His health has deteriorated dramatically and his condition remains critical. The recent decision of the European Parliament to award the Sakharov Prize to Oleg Sentsov is a powerful signal to all those illegally detained that they are not forgotten.”
2018-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8386 (2018) · source
“Russia keeps ignoring the order of the International Court of Justice, issued one year ago, that requires, among other things, for Russia to refrain from maintaining or imposing limitations on the ability of the Crimean Tatar community to preserve its representative institutions, including the Mejlis, as well as to ensure the availability of education in the Ukrainian language. Despite the clear meaning of that order, an entire year has passed in which Russia has continued its ban on the Mejlis and the number of students studying in the Ukrainian language dropped from more than 13,000 in the 2013-2014 academic year to just 172 in the 2017-2018 academic year. Let us take a moment and think of those numbers - more than 13,000 and 172. It is a great difference.”
2018-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8386 (2018) · source
“Furthermore, the threat of a maritime assault from the Azov direction in the case ofa large-scale military confrontation remains a source of security destabilization in the Donetsk region. In the occupied Crimea, active militarization proceeds at full speed. Russia has more than doubled the strength ofits military on the peninsula and continues to prepare Crimean military infrastructure for the deployment of nuclear weapons. That includes refurbishing Soviet-era nuclear warhead storage facilities. The human rights situation on the peninsula also remains highly alarming. The findings of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights confirm the continuing failure of the Russian Federation authorities, as the occupying power, to adequately guarantee and protect a wide range of human rights in Crimea.”
2018-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8386 (2018) · source
“Then there is the Kerch Strait Bridge, built unlawfully and unilaterally in violation of Ukraine's rights. It has become a major hindrance to international navigation. The bridge is only 35 metres high, and only vessels with an air draft of less than 33 metres and a length of less than 160 metres may safely pass under it. As a result, panamax vessels and many handymax vessels are now prevented from transiting the Kerch Strait. That has had a major impact on traffic to Ukraine's ports. Russia also uses the Sea of Azov as an additional channel to supply its forces in Donbas with weapons from the occupied territory of Crimea. According to our information, Russia has not given up on the idea of having a land corridor to Crimea.”
2018-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8386 (2018) · source
“Let us have a look at the Sea of Azov, which has been turned into another theatre of belligerent Russian actions against Ukraine. In the past six months, the Russian Federation has stopped, in an abusive manner, over 200 vessels bound for the Ukrainian ports of Mariupol and Berdyansk. As confirmed by the SMM, those interruptions to commercial shipping have caused economic and trade disruptions resulting in commercial losses for the ports, which employ thousands of people. Such actions are inconsistent with Russia's obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and breach the navigational rights of Ukraine and of the flag States of the stopped vessels. Vessels bound for Russian ports in the Sea of Azov have not been subjected to similar disruptive stoppages.”
2018-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8386 (2018) · source
“Maybe, as Russia often claims, that should be attributed to peaceful retired local coal miners, or maybe to the Russian military officers who decided to spend their vacation time picking mushrooms in the nearby forest. Injust the past three months, the SMM. has observed convoys, including trucks, on seven occasions on the same aforementioned unpaved road in the area near the border. We arejust talking about one small area near the border with the Russian Federation. Does anyone have any doubt as to who is in charge there? Does anyone believe the Russian narrative that there are independent authorities in Luhansk and Donetsk, and that Moscow is merely playing the role of mediator? Really? If anyone thinks that the only flash point in Ukraine-Russian relations is in Donbas, they would be gravely mistaken.”
2018-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8386 (2018) · source
“UAV spotted vehicles, including an anti-aircraft gun and an armoured personnel carrier, entering and exiting Ukraine in the middle of the night via an unpaved road near another Village in a non-Government-controlled area of the Donetsk region, near the border with the Russian Federation. In a final stroke, on 27 October an SMM. UAV spotted, in non-Government-controlled territories, a surface-to-air missile system known in Russian as Osa, which means "wasp" and English, and subsequently a convoy of seven trucks on a dirt road near the border with the Russian Federation. The UAV then experienced signal interference, which was determined to be caused by jamming, after which all communication with it was lost. The UAV did not return to its ground-control station and is considered lost.”
2018-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8386 (2018) · source
“spotted hundreds of ammunition crates, some of which were assessed to be brand new, as well as 118 crates of multiple-launch rocket-system rockets. According to reports of the SMM, its monitors also identified four distinct electronic warfare systems near a non-Government-controlled village. Do I have to say that those systems are employed exclusively by the Russian army? In September, the SMM. reported a convoy of 10 Kamaz canvas-covered cargo trucks near the border with the Russian Federation where there are no border crossing facilities. On three occasions, from 9 to 12 October, an SMM.”
2018-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8386 (2018) · source
“Their very existence would be impossible without Russia's direct financial aid, which amounts to $1.3 billion per year. The Russian armed forces exercise full command and control over military formations in the occupied areas of Ukraine. Here are just a few facts from the latest reports of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (SMM), since the Russian representative mentioned the interview with Mr. Hug. In August, its unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) detected convoys of cargo trucks illegally crossing at night the segment of the Ukrainian-Russian State border currently controlled by the Russian side. The convoy then drove to the town of Khrustalny, a well-known storage facility for Russian heavy weapons. Later, in the same village, the SMM.”
2018-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8386 (2018) · source
“A very inconvenient truth for the Russian side lies in the fact that there are no legitimate representatives of Luhansk and Donetsk, freely elected by the people. The persons sitting in the administrative buildings in Luhansk and Donetsk are simply Moscow's puppets, who are installed or removed from their positions at the whim of their Kremlin masters. The presence of Russian citizens and security personnel in those administrations, in addition to the provision of crucial financial and military support, continues to this day and remains a decisive factor in running the day-to-day governance in the occupied areas of Donbas. Russia continues to exercise full political and administrative control over the region. Moscow has created and supported the illegal armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk.”
2018-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8386 (2018) · source
“Since the scope oftoday's discussion was broadened by the Russian Federation with its sweeping assessments, unequivocal characterizations and historical overview, I wish to highlight the following points with regard to a much larger picture of Russia's destructive activities in and around Ukraine. By the way, I was somewhat surprised by the tone of the representative of the Russian Federation, which is becoming more and more undiplomatic, if not vulgar, with every successive Security Council meeting on Ukraine. We have all heard on numerous occasions the Russian mantra, which has also been repeated today, that the Ukrainian Government should engage directly with representatives of Luhansk and Donetsk.”
2018-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8386 (2018) · source
“None of us here has a crystal ball into the future, but there are indications that those so-called elections might serve as a stepping-stone towards a new cycle of Russian armed aggression. In that regard, I thank all members of the Security Council that have given their clear assessment of such actions by the Kremlin regime. Let me make it clear that only legitimately and lawfully elected officials can represent the local communities in Donbas, and not the Kremlin's puppets sent from or appointed by Moscow. Therefore, any elections that are to be recognized as such have to be conducted according to Ukrainian legislation, in line with the standards of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and under proper international monitoring.”
2018-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8386 (2018) · source
“The Russian Federation knows very well that those so-called elections violate the Constitution of Ukraine and Ukraine's law on interim local self-government order in certain areas of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, and goes against both the letter and the spirit of the Minsk agreements, which, as the Russian Federation is fond of recalling, were endorsed by resolution 2202 (2015) in 2015. On 4 October this year, the Ukrainian Parliament extended the validity of the aforementioned law until the end of 2019, yet again confirming Ukraine's adherence to its commitments under the Minsk agreements. Despite having more than enough time to assess the damage to the political process that those so-called elections will inflict, the Russian Federation is deliberately pushing forward with carrying out that provocation.”
2018-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8386 (2018) · source
“It is very unfortunate that the Kremlin chose the path of further escalation of the situation instead of the full implementation of the Minsk agreements. As Ukraine's Foreign Ministry stated on 7 September, the results of those fake elections will be null and void, will not have any legal effect and will be recognized neither by Ukraine nor by the international community. Moreover, such actions only undermine the Minsk agreements and inflict serious harm on international efforts to resolve a situation that arose as a result of the Russian military aggression and occupation of parts of Ukraine's territory.”
2018-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8386 (2018) · source
“I would therefore like to express my deepest disappointment over the stance of the Russian side, which appears to be hell- bent on sabotaging all genuine efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict and to bring peace to the war- torn regions of Donbas. The main trigger for today's discussion is the intention of the Russian occupation administration in the temporarily occupied territories of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine to hold so-called early elections, which in reality would amount to putting the leaders of armed gangs in the seats of illegitimate representative bodies. That is nothing but a provocation and an outrage against the Minsk agreements and Ukraine's sovereignty.”
2018-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8386 (2018) · source