Crisis in Ukraine: Daily Briefing
7 April 2015, 8 PM Kyiv time
1. Russian Invasion of Ukraine
The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (RNBO) reported at 12:30 PM Kyiv time that yesterday, Kremlin-backed terrorists fired on Ukrainian positions 5 times with 120-mm mortars, 3 times with artillery, and with tanks. Near Mariupol, Kremlin-backed terrorists attempted to take Shyrokyne; Ukrainian forces repelled the attacks. The RNBO reported that in the last 24 hours, no Ukrainian soldiers were killed and two were wounded. The press center of the anti-terrorism operation (ATO) further reported that from midnight to 6 PM Kyiv time on 7 April, Kremlin-backed terrorists fired on Ukrainian positions 20 times, 4 times with 120-mm mortars and attacked Ukrainian positions three times. Ukrainian forces repelled the attacks.
2. Ukraine public broadcasting launched
Ukrainian President P. Poroshenko signed the Law on Public Television and Radio Broadcasting. Public broadcaster comprises two independent national TV channels and three radio channels as well as oblast broadcasters. Ukrainian PM A Yatsenyuk stated that public television is established as a public joint stock company, not directly controlled by the government.
3. IMF First Deputy Managing Director: The Case for Supporting Ukrainian Economic Reforms
In a speech at the Petersen Institute, IMF First Deputy Managing Director D. Lipton stated, “The Fund’s job is to support members in crisis provided they are trying to put themselves right. That goal may be hard, but it is not unrealistic. To achieve it, Ukraine must pursue its reform program, and the international community must support that effort. The government has the right plan and the determination to follow through. The program has the backing of the Ukrainian people. So it is only right that we are standing with them.” A transcript of Lipton’s full speech can be found at http://www.imf.org/external/
4. Russian occupation regime in Crimea proposes replacing Anniversary of Crimean Tatar Deportation with “day of joy”
The Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group (KHPG) reported that D. Polonsky, first deputy prime minister of the Russian occupation authorities in Crimea, stated in an interview that May 18 – the day of the anniversary of the Deportation of the Crimean Tatar People in 1944 – commemorations should be stopped and Crimeans should instead celebrate a “day of joy.” KHPG quoted Polonsky as saying, “The cult of 18 May among Crimean Tatars was for decades artificially created by the leaders of the so-called Mejlis [sic] in order to give people an inferiority complex. […]From a day of mourning we must nonetheless move to a day of joy. [Sergei Aksyonov [ leader installed when Russia invaded] also supported the idea that April 21 should become a date uniting all Crimean peoples, a day of mass events.” KHPG stated. It was already clear that under Russian occupation, the traditional remembrance gathering or any mass events were likely to be cancelled, but the proposal to replace the commemorative event with a festive occasion is a truly shameful affront.”
