Crisis in Ukraine: Daily Briefing
16 March 2015, 6 PM Kyiv time
1. Russian Invasion of Ukraine
The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (RNBO) reported at 13:00 Kyiv time that Kremlin-backed terrorists fired on Ukrainian positions with small arms, artillery, rocket-propelled grenades, mortars and rocket launchers in the past 24 hours. Provocations by Kremlin-backed terrorists occurred in settlements east of Mariupol, in Horlivka, and Pisky. The RNBO reported that in the last 24 hours, 1 Ukrainian soldier was killed. The number of wounded was not announced. In recent days, there is a concentration of forces, military vehicles and artillery systems and units of the Armed Forces in Luhansk, and in the vicinity of Shchastya and towards Mariupol. Militants are accumulating large stockpiles of ammunition.
2. Status of ceasefire fragile – NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg
“I can confirm that Russia is still in Eastern Ukraine. The borders are open, and this makes it easy to move back and forth. Russia has its forces there, equipment and training separatists,” said NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg.
3. Russian President Putin admits to overseeing invasion of Crimea
In the film, Russian President v. Putin is reportedly forthright about his personal involvement with the invasion of Crimea, saying he ordered it personally and managed it throughout. At the time, the Russian president made public statements in which is claimed, falsely, that Russia had sent no troops to Crimea, and that the thousands of armed men in insignia-free Russian uniforms who appeared throughout the region were locals. Putin claims he had ordered Russia on alert and was prepared to use nuclear weapons.
4. Illegally imprisoned Ukrainian Pilot Nadiya Savchenko resumes Hunger Strike
Ukrainian pilot, M.P., and representative to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Nadiya Savchenko resumed her hunger strike. Illegally imprisoned in a Moscow jail, Savchenko resumed her hunger strike today.
5. European Union reaffirms it will not recognize Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea
The EU reaffirmed that it will not recognize the illegal annexation by the Russian Federation of Crimea and continues to support Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Canada’s Foreign Minister Honourable Robert Nicholson issued a statement on Canada’s non-recognition of the Crimean referendum or illegal occupation. It is available at:
http://www.international.gc.
