Ukraine: Daily Briefing
19 January 2015, 7 PM Kyiv time
1. Russian Invasion of Ukraine
The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (RNBO) reported at 2:39 PM Kyiv time that according to operational information, 2 battalion tactical groups of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation crossed the Ukraine-Russia border. The RNBO reported at 12:30 PM Kyiv time that Kremlin-backed terrorists continued to shell Ukrainian positions with artillery, mortars and Grads (truck-mounted multiple rocket launchers. Kremlin-backed terrorists shelled Vuhlehirsk city, Donetsk oblast. Two children – a 7 year old and 16 old boy – were killed and a 9-year old girl was seriously injured. The RNBO reported that in the last 24 hours, 3 Ukrainian soldiers were killed and 66 Ukrainian soldiers were wounded. The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported at 10 AM Kyiv time that in the last 24 hours Kremlin-backed terrorists fired on Ukrainian positions 99 times. Intense fighting has taken place at the Donetsk airport in the last days; on 18 January the Ministry of Defense reported that the area around the airport is under the control of Ukrainian forces. The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported at 4 PM Kyiv time that Kremlin-backed terrorists shelled Debaltsevo, Donetsk oblast, killing three civilians including a 12-year old boy. 12 civilians were injured.
2. Ukrainian President: Ukraine ready for immediate meeting of Trilateral Contact Group
Meeting with PM of Poland E. Kopacz, Ukrainian President P. Poroshenko stated “Ukraine wants peace. We are ready for an immediate convening of the Trilateral Contact Group [Ukraine-OSCE-Russia] to ensure the preparation and signing of an implementation schedule of the Minsk Agreements.”
3. EU foreign ministers’ meeting: EU will not ease sanctions
Reuters reported that EU foreign ministers stated on Monday that there were no grounds to lift economic sanctions against Russia. Reuters quoted German Foreign Minister F-W Steinmeier as stating, “In light of the current events in eastern Ukraine, no one had the idea of loosening the sanctions.”
4. US President and UK PM agree on need to maintain sanctions against Russia, support Ukraine
In a joint press conference with UK PM D. Cameron, US President B. Obama stated, “We agree on the need to maintain strong sanctions against Russia until it ends its aggression in Ukraine, and on the need to support Ukraine as it implements important economic and democratic reforms.” Cameron stated, “Russia has chosen to tear up the international rulebook and trample over the affairs of a sovereign state. This threatens our stability and our prosperity. It is important that every country understands that, and that no one in Europe forgets our history. We cannot walk on by. So we will continue to put pressure on Russia to resolve this crisis diplomatically, and at the same time, we will continue our efforts to support Ukraine on the path of reform, including with financial assistance.”
5. UWC ‘Patriot Defence’ initiative organizes international conference on tactical medicine
On 19-21 January, an international conference “The Development, Standardization and Implementation of Tactical Medicine in Ukraine,” is taking place in Kyiv, organized by the Ukrainian World Congress’ humanitarian initiative “Patriot Defence”, which carries out tactical medical training for Ukrainian soldiers and has trained over 11,200 soldiers and distributed over 8,300 NATO-standard Improved First Aid Kits (IFAKs). The main themes of the conference are “Assessment of the current state of tactical medicine in Ukraine; Familiarization with international experience and current trends in tactical medicine; The implementation of international experience in the field of tactical medicine in Ukraine.” For more information on the conference and on how you can help the “Patriot Defence” initiative, please see http://patriotdefence.org/
