Crisis in Ukraine: Daily Briefing – 20 January 2017, 6 PM Kyiv time

The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (RNBO) reported that yesterday towards Luhansk, Russian-terrorist forces shelled Ukrainian positions at Krymske with mortars and grenade launchers. Towards Donetsk, Russian-terrorist forces fired on Ukrainian positions at Avdiyivka, Svitlodarsk and north of Horlivka. Towards Mariupol, Russian-terrorist forces fired on Ukrainian positions at Hnutove, Vodyane and Shyrokyne. The RNBO reported that in the last 24 hours, no Ukrainian soldiers were killed or wounded.

On a visit to Kyiv, UK Defense Secretary Michael Fallon stated that “the United Kingdom stands firmly alongside Ukraine as the British Army prepares to broaden its already extended training package to all of the country’s armed forces. […] Meeting with Defence Minister of Ukraine, General of the Army Stepan Poltorak, the Defence Secretary confirmed that the UK’s short-term training teams (STTTs) will have trained 5,000 members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces by the end of March – 1,000 more than initially planned – and will now continue in their training role for another year. The Defence Secretary also agreed to explore how Britain’s training efforts in Ukraine could be maximised to produce long-term benefits on the ground, delivering a more comprehensive approach including by Train the Trainer (T3).” Fallon stated, “The values of freedom and democracy cannot be traded. Britain is stepping up on the global stage and standing firm with our Ukrainian friends.The UK is sending a clear message that we are committed to defending democracy across the world and support Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.”

Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko stated, “We are hopeful to continue fruitful Ukraine-USA cooperation and expect Transatlantic unity,” Poroshenko “emphasized that by the illegal annexation of Crimea and aggression in eastern Ukraine, Russia had violated the postwar global security system based on the UN Security Council,” his press service reported. Poroshenko stressed, “Productive cooperation, including security and defense sphere, is extremely important for Ukraine and global security.”

At a meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council on 19 January, US Deputy Chief of Mission Kate Byrnes stated, “Russia refuses to take responsibility for starting this conflict and continues to lie about its ongoing role in the fighting.  […] Direct Russian involvement in the conflict has continued up to the present day.  The Chair referred to a sharp increase of ceasefire violations on December 18.  This was in fact an offensive carried out by 150 combined Russian-separatist military personnel near Svitlodarsk […] The United States remains deeply concerned about serious abuses in Russia-occupied Crimea.  The Russian Federation has used trumped-up charges made against the residents of Crimea to silence the exercise of freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly, association, and religion or belief.  For example, a couple working for an independent NGO promoting Ukrainian language and culture, Andriy Vinogradov and Natalia Kharchenko, were detained this month on vague charges of extremism.  Russia recently added Crimean Tatar Mejlis deputy head Ilmi Umerov, as well as 19 other Crimean Tatars subjected to politically-motivated prosecution, to its list of so-called terrorists and extremists without basis.  Such actions must stop. […] Sanctions related to Russia’s occupation and attempted annexation of Crimea will remain in place until the occupation ends and Russia returns control of the peninsula to Ukraine.  We join our European and other partners in restating that our sanctions against Russia for its aggression in eastern Ukraine will remain until Russia fully implements its commitments under the Minsk agreements.”