Crisis in Ukraine: Daily Briefing
9 September 2015, 8 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 a Russian-terrorist diversionary group attacked Ukrainian defense lines near Stanytsia Luhanska. The attack was repelled. At Shchastya, Russian-terrorist forces fired on Ukrainian positions with grenade launchers. Towards Donetsk, Russian-terrorist forces fired on Ukrainian positions between Avdiyivka and Spartak with small arms. There was no combat on the Mariupol sector of the front. The RNBO reported that in the last 24 hours, one Ukrainian soldier was killed.
- Ukraine recognizes jurisdiction of International Criminal Court on crimes against humanity and war crimes
On 8 September, Ukrainian Foreign Minister P. Klimkin delivered Ukraine’s statement to the International Criminal Court recognizing the Court’s jurisdiction over crimes against humanity and war crimes. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine stated, “With this statement, Ukraine recognizes the jurisdiction of the Court over all crimes committed on the territory of Ukraine from the beginning of the Russian Federation’s aggression against our state. […] From now the ICC will have jurisdiction over these crimes regardless of the citizenship of the persons, who committed them.”
- European Commission President: EU needs more unity on Russian sanctions
European Commission President J.C. Junker, in his State of the Union Address to European Parliament, stated, “The challenge of helping Ukraine to survive, to reform and to prosper is a European one. Ultimately, the Ukrainian dream, the dream of the Maidan is European: to live in a modern country, in a stable economy, in a sound and fair political system. Over the past twelve months, I have got to know President Poroshenko well […]He has begun a transformation of his country. He is fighting for peace. He deserves our support.[…] We need more unity when it comes to sanctions. The sanctions the EU has imposed on Russia have a cost for each of our economies, and repercussions on important sectors, like farming. But sanctions are a powerful tool in confronting aggression and violation of international law. They are a policy that needs to be kept in place until the Minsk Agreements are complied with in full. We will have to keep our nerve and our unity. […]The EU must show Russia the cost of confrontation but it must also make clear it is prepared to engage.”
- Ukraine PM: Any attempt by Russia to hold illegal elections in occupied Donetsk and Luhansk territories means a complete failure of Minsk agreements
Meeting with the Prime Minister of Poland E. Kopacz in Warsaw, Ukrainian PM A. Yatsenyuk stated that “Any attempts by the Russian Federation […] to hold any illegal elections in [occupied Donetsk and Luhansk] territories, mean a complete and total failure of the Minsk agreements. […] We […] demand that the Minsk agreements be implemented – stop shooting and killing Ukrainians, withdraw Russian armies and renew control over the border. Then this crisis, which was created by Russia, and this military aggression will cease.”
