Ukraine: Daily Briefing – October 1, 2018, 5 PM Kyiv time

Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense reported at 12:30 PM Kyiv time that in the last 24 hours, no Ukrainian soldiers were killed and one Ukrainian soldier was wounded in action. In the last 24 hours, Russian-terrorist forces opened fire on Ukrainian positions on the Luhansk and Donetsk sectors of the front 28 times in total, including at least 5 times with heavy weapons. Returning fire, Ukrainian forces killed 4 and wounded 8 enemy combatants in the last 24 hours.

Ukraine’s Presidential Administration reported, “President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko held a phone conversation with Federal Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel.

           The parties discussed the situation in Donbas. The Ukrainian President stressed the importance of intensifying efforts for the liberation of all Ukrainian hostages, including Oleg Sentsov and Roman Sushchenko.

           They also touched upon the prospects of continuing sanctions against Russia. The interlocutors agreed to continue peacekeeping efforts and contacts at the highest level on the liberation of Ukrainian territories from the Russian aggression. Petro Poroshenko and Angela Merkel discussed the energy security agenda. The parties also negotiated the agenda of Angela Merkel’s visit to Ukraine that will take place this autumn.”

A soldier participates in last year’s Exercise ARDENT DEFENDER on October 24, 2017.  Photo – Department of National Defence

Exercise ARDENT DEFENDER, the largest counter-explosive threat training ever to take place in Canada, begins October 1 at CFB Borden and 4th Canadian Division Training Centre in Meaford, ON. For the first time in the history of the exercise, a unit from the Ukrainian Armed Forces is participating.

           Canada’s Department of National Defence stated, “The aim of the exercise is to refine skills needed to defeat explosive threats that could be faced during operations. This training aligns with Strong, Secure, Engaged: Canada’s Defence Policy, which lays out a clear plan for modernizing the suite of improvised explosive device detection and defeat capabilities required to operate in the modern security environment.

           Exercise ARDENT DEFENDER 2018 includes participation from various Canadian police agencies and other government departments, including Global Affairs Canada, the Ontario Provincial Police, the Peel Regional Police, the York Regional Police, the Niagara Regional Police, and the Sûreté du Québec.

          The exercise has also drawn participants from over 20 nations, and observers from the United Nations and NATO, making it one of the most multinational exercises hosted by the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).

          This year’s exercise will include a two-day scenario in the community of Meaford, Ontario, giving city preparedness officials, police agencies and first responders an opportunity to work with the CAF in a realistic training environment.”

Reuters reported, “Ukraine will build a military base on the Azov Sea and has sent more forces to the area to counter a worsening Russian threat, Ukraine’s armed forces head told Reuters, referring to an arm of the Black Sea that is a flashpoint of tensions with Moscow. […]

           Viktor Muzhenko, Chief of the General Staff, said Russia had moved beyond covert fighting in the Donbas region […] to building up its military presence on Ukraine’s borders and nakedly aggressive actions against ships sailing to Ukrainian ports.

           The Azov Sea, a strategic arm of the Black Sea where Russia and Ukraine share the coastline, has become a flashpoint this year. Ukraine says Russia is preventing scores of vessels from reaching Ukrainian ports through spurious inspections and detentions. Washington too has called on Russia to stop ‘harassing’ ships, and supplied Ukraine with U.S. patrol boats. […]