Crisis in Ukraine: Daily Briefing
13 October 2015, 8 PM Kyiv time
- Russian Invasion of Ukraine
The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (RNBO) reported that yesterday Russian-terrorist forces fired on Ukrainian positions near Novotroitske with small arms. There were no other violations of the ceasefire by Russian-terrorist forces. The RNBO reported that in the last 24 hours, no Ukrainian soldiers were killed or wounded.
- Dutch Safety Board report: MH-17 shot down by Russian-made Buk missile
The Dutch Safety Board presented its report on the downing of Flight MH-17 in July 2014. The flight crashed as a result of a Russian-made Buk missile, the report states. “The board does not have the authority to apportion blame, under the rules governing international crash investigations. A separate Dutch-led criminal investigation is expected to publish its findings in several months’ time,” the BBC reported. In July 2015, Russia vetoed a UN resolution at the Security Council to set up an international tribunal into the downing of Flight MH-17.
- Ukraine’s President speaks with Prime Minister of the Netherlands
Ukraine’s President P. Poroshenko held a phone conversation with PM of the Netherlands M. Rutte. “The parties discussed further joint actions on the establishment of optimal mechanism for bringing to justice the perpetrators of the MH-17 tragedy. They agreed that final decision on such mechanism would be approved on the basis of the results of criminal investigation carried out jointly by Ukraine, the Netherlands, Australia, Malaysia and Belgium,” Poroshenko’s press service reported.
- NATO Parliamentary Assembly urges increased support of member states to Ukraine
In a resolution (Resolution 422, on Solidarity with Ukraine) adopted 12 October at the 2015 Annual Session, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, “1. Reiterating its firm support for the government and the people of Ukraine in their struggle for independence and territorial integrity and their pursuit of European and Euro-Atlantic integration; 2. Condemning in the strongest terms the illegal annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation and Russia’s continuing military aggression in eastern Ukraine as well as the detention of Nadiya Savchenko, Oleh Sentsov and other Ukrainians since the beginning of the conflict, in blatant violation of Russia’s international obligations and commitments under the Minsk agreements; […]” urged member governments and parliaments of NATO “ a. to redouble efforts to help Ukraine at this critical juncture by increasing diplomatic, political, financial, economic, material and expert assistance both bilaterally and through bodies such as NATO, the European Union and the NATO Parliamentary Assembly; b. to maintain political, diplomatic and economic pressure on Russia until Moscow fully implements its commitments under the Minsk agreements, convincingly demonstrates that it is willing to abide by international law, and ends the occupation of Ukrainian territories, including Crimea; […]” The resolutions of the Annual Session can be found at http://www.nato-pa.int/default.asp?CAT2=0&CAT1=2972&CAT0=2151&SHORTCUT=3960
- Nadiya Savchenko’s sister banned from Russia until 2020
Nadiya Savchenko’s lawyer, Mark Feygin, stated that Vira Savchenko, Nadiya’s sister, has been prohibited from travelling to Russia. Feygin wrote, “Nadiya Savchenko, is now deprived of her right to defense, because her sister Vira was a witness […] What’s left is to ban Savchenko’s mother, deprive Polozov and Novikov of their attorney’s status, put Feygin behind bars, and trumpet about the triumph of justice,” Radio Svoboda reported. Hearings in Nadiya Savchenko’s illegal Russian trial resume 15 October. Russia has ignored repeated calls from the international community for Savchenko’s immediate release.
