February 18, 2020. OTTAWA, ON. Early this morning, Russian forces launched attacks on Ukrainian positions near Zolote, Luhansk oblast. According to reports from the Ukrainian military, Ukrainian forces repelled the attacks and held their positions. According to the Ukrainian military, one Ukrainian soldier was killed and five Ukrainian soldiers were wounded in action.
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) expresses its deep condolences to the family of the Ukrainian soldier who gave his life today defending Ukraine from Russia’s invasion. Слава Героям! Вічная Пам’ять.
“It is clear that Russian president Putin has no intention of ending Russia’s war against Ukraine, despite attempts at negotiation and a series of concessions by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy,” stated Alexandra Chyczij, National President of the UCC. “Since President Zelenskyy’s meeting with Putin in December, Russia’s forces have not ceased fire for a single day. Today’s attack is another intentional escalation by Russia, and the international community must respond with increased sanctions and pressure on Russia to end its war against Ukraine and withdraw its armies from Donetsk, Luhansk and Crimea.”
The UCC calls on Canada to:
- In cooperation with the EU, the G7 and other like-minded nations, strengthen economic sanctions on Russia, including the removal of Russia from the SWIFT international payments system, in order to exert pressure on Russia to end its occupation of Crimea and invasion of eastern Ukraine;
- Together with NATO allies, increase military assistance to Ukraine, including increasing the provision of defensive weapons.
