Crisis in Ukraine: Daily Briefing
31 August 2015, 8 PM Kyiv time
- Russian Invasion of Ukraine
The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (RNBO) reported that yesterday, the situation in eastern Ukraine continued to stabilize, and that there was no firing at several ‘hot spots’ – Stanytsia Luhanska, Shchastya, Zolote, Popasna, Maryinka. Towards Luhansk, Russian-terrorist forces fired on Ukrainian positions at Tryokhizbenka with grenade launchers. Towards Donetsk, Russian-terrorist forces fired on Ukrainian positions at Lozove and Luhanske village with small arms and grenade launchers. Near Horlivka, Russian-terrorist forces fired on Ukrainian positions at Kirove village with small arms. There were no attacks or shelling by Russian-terrorist forces on the Mariupol sector of the front. The RNBO reported that in the last 24 hours, no Ukrainian soldiers were killed and five were wounded.
- One National Guard serviceman killed, over 100 injured in attack outside Ukraine’s Parliament
During protests at Ukraine’s Parliament against proposed Constitutional changes on decentralization today one National Guard serviceman was killed and over 100 people were injured as one of the protestors threw a grenade into the line of National Guard personnel in front of the Parliament building. Minister of Internal Affairs A. Avakov reported that 122 people were injured. Several are in critical condition. Avakov stated that about 30 people were detained, including the man suspected of throwing the grenade. Ukrainian PM A. Yatsenyuk stated, “These political forces haven’t come to defend the Constitution, but to rape the Constitution and Ukraine. And, actually, they are worse than Russian gangsters and terrorists in the East. Those don’t hide that they are at war with Ukraine. However, these hiding behind the slogans of patriotism and love for Ukraine are destroying Ukrainian statehood. The recent crime committed under the flags of different political forces, including under the flags of the Svoboda political party must be investigated and punished. As a citizen of Ukraine, I demand, under Article 348 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, a life sentence for the person who threw the grenade, resulting in the death of an enlisted member of the National Guard of Ukraine. Also I appeal to all political forces, I emphasize, to each of them and, in particular, to the political forces in the coalition, with a demand to publicly condemn this crime, those politicians and the political forces who have caused the destabilization of the country, an insult to the Ukrainian Constitution, the murder of a young man and the injury of dozens of Ukrainian soldiers.”
- Parliament adopts Resolution on constitutional changes on decentralization
Ukraine’s Parliament adopted a resolution on preliminary approval of changes to the constitution on decentralization of powers, approving the changes in first reading. 265 MPs supported the resolution. In order to amend the constitution, 300 votes in a second reading will be required.
- Ukrainian President addresses nation after decentralization vote and attack at Parliament
In an address to the nation following the attack at Parliament today, Ukrainian President P. Poroshenko stated, “How can you call events that unfolded near the Verkhovna Rada other than a stab in the back?! It was an anti-Ukrainian action for which all organizers, all representatives of political forces without any exception must carry full responsibility. I will personally control the fulfillment of this, as I had a meeting with all heads of law enforcement and gave clear orders of conducting a transparent investigation and bringing both the organizers and perpetrators to justice. They have attempted to storm the Parliament. They have thrown a grenade. They have targeted a serviceman of the National Guard in his heart and killed him! They have wounded around 120 servicemen and police officers –many of whom took part in the Anti-Terrorist Operation, some of them are decorated with state awards. […]Today’s vote is not final, but it will provide a huge room for maneuver for the Ukrainian diplomacy. The final decision by the end of 2015 will need 300 votes. My fellow countrymen, I assure you this will depend on the developments in eastern Ukraine and whether Russia adheres to the Minsk agreements in the next months.
The draft constitutional amendments do not foresee special status for particular districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. This, in my view, is just a cliché that certain political parties employed as election strategy, an element of the dishonest information campaign against the Constitution and against the president. Moreover, we are crossing out a clause that allows an illusory opportunity for special status in Article 92 of the Constitution of Ukraine. This was done in order to eliminate any kind of legalistic ways to prevent the emergence of numerous fiefdoms. Speaking on the peculiarities of local self-governance in certain districts in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, it is defined by a particular law. This law has been approved twice by the previous and the current Parliament. Its timeframe – three years, and one year passed already. Most articles of this law are suspended. They can be enforced only after the fair elections on these territories according to the Ukrainian law and the OSCE standards. And only after the withdrawal of Russian troops and weapons from the territory of Ukraine, as well as the restoration of control over the entire Ukraine-Russia border. Is anyone against this?”
- RNBO: Russian-terrorist forces planning violent provocations for September 1
On 30 August, the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (RNBO) stated that according to intelligence from Ukrainian special services, the terrorists of the so-called Donetsk “Peoples’ Republic” have developed a plan to carry out violent provocations on September 1 (the first day of school). The plan “is a cynical crime – shelling of schools and other educational institutions in the region, and then to falsely accuse [Ukrainian] forces [of carrying out the shelling]. The militants are planning to use this provocation as a pretext to appeal to the Russian Federation with a request to officially and openly deploy so-called ‘peace-keeping forces.’”
- State Security Service, Presidential Administration presents irrefutable evidence of Russian armed forces participation in invasion of eastern Ukraine
On 28 August, the head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) V. Hrytsak and deputy head of the Presidential Administration A. Taranov presented irrefutable evidence of the participation of the Russian armed forces in the hostilities in eastern Ukraine. The Presidential Administration reported, “The proofs were gathered by the Ukrainian intelligence and confirmed by the intelligence of foreign states-partners of Ukraine. Detailed documental materials confirm constant and deliberate violation of the main provisions of the Minsk agreements by the Russian occupation forces concealed by the statements of Russia on the necessity of peaceful resolution of the conflict. Respective materials were also presented today to the diplomatic corps accredited in Ukraine. According to the Ukrainian security officials, radical change of Russian participation in hostilities in the east of Ukraine took place in summer 2015. The Ukrainian Armed Forces are now confronting not mixed Russian terrorist groups, but structured military units of the Russian regular army. Herewith, Putin’s regime keeps denying Russia’s involvement in the conflict. Russian troops in Donbas are directly guided by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.” The presentation is available at https://www.dropbox.com/s/vval5hz0dun6wf6/proof-eng.pdf?dl=0
