Crisis in Ukraine: Daily Briefing – 28 September 2016, 6 PM Kyiv time

The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (RNBO) reported that yesterday towards Luhansk, Russian-terrorist forces fired on Ukrainian positions at Novozvanivka, Novoleksandrivka and Stanytsia Luhanska. Towards Donetsk, Russian-terrorist forces shelled Ukrainian positions at Avdiyivka with mortars. Towards Mariupol, Russian-terrorist forces fired on several Ukrainian positions along the Maryinka-Shyrokyne sector of the front. The RNBO reported that in the last 24 hours, no Ukrainian soldiers were killed or wounded in action.

The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) (The Netherlands, Ukraine, Malaysia, Australia, Belgium) into the downing of Flight-MH17 published the first results of its criminal investigation. The report states, “flight MH-17 was shot down by a BUK missile from the 9M38-series. According to the JIT there is also evidence identifying the launch location that involves an agricultural field near Pervomaiskyi which, at the time, was controlled by pro-Russian fighters. […] The investigation demonstrated that flight MH17 was shot down by a 9M38 series BUK missile. […] The system was transported from Russian territory into eastern Ukraine and was later transported on a white Volvo truck with a low-boy trailer. The truck was escorted by several other vehicles and by armed men in uniform. […] After the BUK missile had been fired, the BUK-TELAR initially drove off under its own power.  A short time later it was reloaded onto the Volvo truck and transported back to the Russian border. During the night, the convoy crossed the border into the territory of the Russian Federation. […] Now that we have established what happened, the investigation now focuses on the perpetrators. This will be a matter for the long haul. So far, the JIT has identified approximately 100 people who can be linked to the downing of MH17 or the transport of the BUK-TELAR. […] The JIT wishes to emphasise that it continues to seek additional information and evidence, including information from insider witnesses. Ukrainian law provides for lower sentences, and in certain circumstances relief from criminal liability, for those who cooperate with the investigation.” The full report is available at https://www.om.nl/onderwerpen/mh17-crash/@96068/jit-flight-mh17-shot/

US Army Europe reported, “Soldiers from Ukraine’s 1st Battalion, 93rd Mechanized Brigade graduated from a 55-day training rotation of Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine, Sep. 23, 2016, at the International Peacekeeping and Security Center. This marked the fourth rotation this year for JMTG-U. The training focuses on individual skills such as marksmanship and first aid all the way through collective skills to include platoon and company live-fires. All of these training objectives are a part of JMTG-U’s efforts to help increase Ukraine’s capacity for self-defense. […]The multinational training team included Soldiers of the 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division who completed their first of two rotations. […]Along with 6-8 CAV were instructors from Canadian, Lithuanian and Polish forces. The multinational forces worked together to deliver a standard program of instruction that was practical for the Ukrainian army but also focused on general NATO standards.[…]JMTG-U’s primary mission is about building a sustainable and enduring training capacity and capability within the Ukrainian armed forces. The focus is on direct training in the near term, while building capacity quickly through the consolidation and resourcing of dedicated training cadre to support the development of a combat training center at the IPSC.” The full article is available at https://www.army.mil/article/175630