Crisis in Ukraine: Daily Briefing
3 September 2015, 6 PM Kyiv time
- Russian Invasion of Ukraine
The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (RNBO) reported at 12:30 PM Kyiv time that yesterday towards Luhansk, Russian-terrorist forces shelled Ukrainian positions at Novotoshkivske with mortars. At Shchastya and Krymske, Russian-terrorist forces fired on Ukrainian positions with small arms. Towards Donetsk, Russian-terrorist forces fired on Ukrainian positions south of Avdiyivka and near Spartak with small arms and grenade launchers. Near Krasnohorivka and Maryinka, Russian-terrorist forces fired on Ukrainian positions with small arms. There was no combat in the Mariupol sector of the front. The RNBO reported no Ukrainian military casualties in the past 24 hours.
- National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine adopts new military doctrine
The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (RNBO) on 2 September adopted a new military doctrine, submitted for approval to the President. The military doctrine is the “basic document for defense planning and the basis of development of conceptions and state programs of reforming the armed forces, other military formations, weapons and military hardware, and the defense-industrial complex,” the RNBO stated. The new doctrine “declares Russia to be a military opponent and [outlines] the conditions for liberating temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine; is based on the high probability of the use against Ukraine of large-scale military force as the main threat to the national security of Ukraine in the military sphere; confirms the rejection of the policy of non-bloc status and confirms the renewal of a strategic course for Euro-Atlantic integration.” At the RNBO meeting, President Poroshenko stated, that the doctrine sets the task of ensuring full compatibility of the Ukrainian armed forces with NATO forces by 2020, and that “I insist that the final version must provide for the achievement of not only criteria, but also full NATO membership.”
- Ukraine Ministry of Finance signs agreement with German state bank to support Deposit Guarantee Fund
Ukraine’s Minister of Finance N. Jaresko and R. Ziller, of the German state bank KfW, signed an agreement providing Ukraine with a 200 million Euro loan, guaranteed by the German government. “This money will support the Deposit guarantee fund (DGF) which is responsible for returning deposits of Ukrainian citizens from bankrupt banks, and the withdrawal of such institutions from the market,” the Ministry of Finance stated. Finance Minister N. Jaresko stated, “This agreement will give an opportunity to millions of ordinary citizens to receive their deposits from problematic banks within the state guaranteed limit and will also contribute to the recovery of the banking system of our country.”
- State Security Service of Ukraine thwarts attempted bombing of Kyiv apartment block
The State Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) stated that they detained four members of a “pro-Russian nongovernmental organization” planning to blow up an apartment block in the Obolon district of Kyiv. The organizer of the group, born in Sakhalin oblast, Russia, and three other men, were detained “near a reception point collecting assistance for Ukrainian soldiers,” on the first floor of an apartment building. The terrorist group resisted arrest and detonated a grenade, the SBU stated. Criminal proceedings have been opened into the attempted act of terrorism, the SBU stated.
- NATO opens six new headquarters in eastern Europe
NATO Secretary General J. Stoltenberg attended the inauguration of the NATO Force Intergration Unit (NFIU) in Vilnius today. The NFIU in Lithuania is one of six new headquarters opened this month, together with ones in Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Poland and Romania. According to a NATO release, “Set up in response to new security challenges, the NFIUs are small headquarters and not military bases. They are part of the Readiness Action Plan, the biggest reinforcement of NATO’s collective defence since the end of the Cold War. Manned by around 40 staff each, half national and half international, the NFIUs will help in rapid deployment of Allied forces to the Eastern part of the Alliance if necessary. They will also support collective defence planning and help coordinate training and exercises.” Stoltenberg stated at the inauguration, “We seek confrontation with no one. But we find ourselves in a world of more and more complex challenges. Like a more assertive Russia. Moscow continues to fuel the violence in Ukraine by providing the separatists with forces, equipment, and training. Russia and the separatists must demonstrate their commitment to the Minsk Agreements not only in words, but also in deeds.”
