Ambassador Volodymyr Yelchenko
Statement by Volodymyr Yelchenko, permanent representative of Ukraine to the United Nations, at the U.N. Security Council briefing on the situation in Ukraine, February 2.
I thank the briefers for the updated information they provided on the attack on town Avdiyivka (Donetsk region of Ukraine) by the Russian occupying forces and their proxies that led to humanitarian emergency in the area.
Distinguished colleagues, Ukraine continues to be fully committed to implementing the Minsk agreements in their entirety. The president of Ukraine has stressed on many occasions that there is no military solution in the Donbas; Ukrainian government is strongly focused on the peaceful and diplomatic means in this regard. Ukrainian forces continue respecting the ceasefire; they have a strict order to open fire only in response to attacks and assault actions of Russia-backed militants.
On the contrary, Russia as the party to the conflict in Donbas and its proxies blatantly violate Minsk agreements from the very beginning. They continued their attacks and occupied several Ukrainian towns and localities. As for now, Russian proxies occupied about 1,700 square kilometers leaving far beyond the contact line agreed in Minsk on September 19, 2014.
Before the “crisis in Avdiyivka” there was the battle for Debaltseve two years ago, captured by Russian forces immediately after Minsk summit on February 12, 2015, and contrary to decisions taken by leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France.
In early hours of Sunday, 29 January, Russian army and its proxies began massive artillery attacks on Avdiyivka and its suburbs from Donetsk and Yasynuvata residential areas, which are under control of the Russia-led terrorists, and sent assault units to storm positions of the Ukrainian armed forces. The Russian forces used multi rocket launcher systems Grad, tanks, 152mm and 122mm artillery, 120mm and 82mm mortars. All these weapons are forbidden under the Minsk agreement. On 29 January alone, the Ukrainian positions were shelled nearly 400 times.
According to the information that we just received, 15 minutes before the start of this briefing the separatist forces resumed shelling of residential areas of Avdiyivka using high-caliber artillery systems. Several residential buildings were hit, there are several fires around the town. One of the shells exploded close to a temporary heating station that was set up by the Ukrainian authorities to provide Avdiyivka residents with warmth in these freezing temperatures.
Shelling intensified on 30-31 January, including aimed at the objects of civilian infrastructure. As a result, the Donetsk water filtration plant and Avdiyivka coke plant, which provides heat for Avdiyivka, are now de-energized. The city is left without water, electricity and heat. Current temperature in Avdiyivka is minus 18°C; without central heating civilians will not survive. Sixteen thousand people ended up without water, electricity and heating, including 2,000 kids. Just imagine, 2,000 kids. Without heating. At minus 18°C. Ukrainian Emergency Services prepared to evacuate people from Avdiyivka.
Numerous attempts of the Ukrainian services to repair damaged infrastructure have been consistently blocked until February 1, 2017, by the Russia-led terrorists, which continued shelling, and by Russian part of the Joint Center for Control and Coordination (JCCC), which provided security guarantees necessary to reach the destroyed objects with unreasonable delay.
Destroying critical infrastructure and thus creating a humanitarian disaster is a terrorist tactic aimed primarily at civilians. This tactic obliterates the Russian propaganda myth about “peaceful miners” who fight against authorities with their shotguns. Locals would never do this to their neighbors, but those who came to Ukrainian soil as aggressors to destroy Ukrainian statehood do not hesitate to damage factories, houses, power lines. This tactic is not new for the Russian forces.
The mentioned Russia’s actions may qualify as a war crime. Ukraine will add evidence related to the recent escalation and indiscriminate attacks on the civilian infrastructure to our claim against Russia on terrorism to the International Court of Justice. This is the first but very important step in bringing Russia to justice for its mounting violations of the U.N. Charter and international law.
Distinguished colleagues, the Ukrainian government announced the emergency in Avdiyivka. We have managed to sustain the functioning of the heating system at a minimum level and to avoid a quick degradation of the situation into a humanitarian disaster. Eleven warming centers were set up, scores of field kitchens were deployed, kindergartens and hospitals function in the emergency mode. Additional police units were deployed to protect civil order and help in timely response to the emergency.
Events of recent days became a test for monitoring and coordination mechanisms in Donbas. Since the outbreak of hostilities, Ukraine repeatedly, literally hundreds of times, requested Russian representatives at the Joint Center for Control and Coordination (JCCC) to use their influence to stop hostilities. Out of 230 requests made in the period from 29 January until 1 February 2017 to stop hostilities in the area around Avdiyivka, all but two were ignored. On 31 January, Ukraine called for an urgent VTC meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) to stop tensions. Again, the Russian side and their proxies in Donbas did not show up, claiming that this is not the right time. Seriously? Not the right time?
Despite calls from all corners for a ceasefire and withdrawal of heavy weaponry, the militants continue shelling day and night. On 1 February, despite the appeal of the Trilateral Contact Group for immediate and comprehensive ceasefire at the region of Avdiyivka, Russian militants did not stop shooting even at the repair team that was trying to fix the damaged power line. They shelled residential buildings and last night shelled one of the roads assigned for the evacuation of civilians. This is war crime and nothing else. Look at this picture. This is an apartment building in Avdiyivka. At least 1,500 people lived there. It was shelled by terrorists. Inhabitants rushed out into freezing cold. It was -20 C degrees outside. This is beyond evil. Perpetrators, those who pulled the trigger and those who gave orders, should face justice. And they will.
It has to be mentioned that, while the content of the said appeal was discussed in the Trilateral Contact Group, the Russian side was against the formulations regarding repair work at the energy and power supply infrastructure. This is another clear evidence of the Kremlin’s intention to create a humanitarian catastrophe in Avdiyivka as it was done by the Russian army in Aleppo.
Two Ukrainian soldiers died and 14 were wounded in the past day. All together, 20 Ukrainian soldiers were killed and 134 were wounded by the Russian hybrid forces and Russia-backed militants since the beginning of this year.
We call on the Russian Federation to follow the ceasefire and to ensure the necessary secure conditions for the repairing works.
Distinguished colleagues, the attacks on and near Avdiyivka in the last days, as well as the continuing Russian aggression, underscored two important trends.
First, Russia and its proxies in Donbas continue to block and undermine the peaceful process by pursuing their political objectives through the indiscriminate use of force. There has to be no illusion about the Russian role in the Minsk agreements implementation. Every bit of a progress reached in the TCG or on the contact line is flagrantly destroyed by another assault by Russia-led terrorists.
Second, the existing mechanisms created to avoid further destabilization and to move forward with implementation of Minsk agreements are not as efficient as is necessary to fulfill their mandate. Despite the urgency of the situation, the TCG met only three days after the outbreak of hostilities. The JCCC appeared to be an ineffective tool in the crisis situation. All this due to the Russian non-cooperation. OSCE SMM observers still have serious restrictions to the freedom of movement on the territories temporary controlled by Russia backed militants, they lack 24/7 monitoring capabilities and relevant technical means.
Events around Avdiyivka upset Russia’s aspirations to resolve the conflict in Donbas by military means. Yes, the Ukrainian army proved its strength and ability to repeal the Russian offensive.
However, Ukraine pays a dramatically high price, losing its best sons and daughters in this war.
We do care about our people. The death of every single soldier or civilian is yet another scar on the soul of Ukraine. This is the picture of a 23-year-old officer, Andriy Kyzylo, killed on 29 January near Avdiyivka. Look in his eyes, Mr. Ambassador. It is your weapons and your compatriots who killed him.
Our people greet their fallen defenders on their knees.
Russian invaders are buried in unmarked graves. We are seeking peace and doing our utmost to take every step to bring it back to Ukraine.
And, therefore, we do not advocate a military solution and believe that available political means should be used.
Armed confrontation could be easily ended. The Russian Federation should stop arming militants and send[ing] its mercenaries and militaries to Ukraine.
Does anybody seriously think that rockets and artillery shells grow on trees in Donbas? We are talking about tens, if not hundreds of thousands of artilleries ammunition! Since November, we and international observers noted increased supply of ammunition and armor to militants from the Russian Federation. Now we see the consequences.
Distinguished colleagues, what is clear is that an international security presence on the ground needs to be enhanced to prevent such provocations in future and thus contribute to implementation of the Minsk agreements and ultimately – to the peaceful resolution.
We once again urge the Russian Federation to exercise its responsibility in following the Minsk commitments, specifically their security and humanitarian provisions. We urge Russia to halt support to terrorists and stop building hybrid terrorist armies in eastern Ukraine as well as its military build-up along Ukraine’s eastern borders.
Moreover, we call on the Russian Federation not to expand framework of the escalation. On 1 February Russian military forces shelled and damaged the Ukrainian aircraft An-26 while it was conducting a flight over the Odesa gas deposit region in the Black Sea in the exclusive maritime zone of Ukraine. This time, only lucky coincidence saved the crew from the Russian shelling. God knows what could happen next time.
The remedy to stop this Russian aggression against my country and to avoid further civilian sufferings is rather simple. What the international community needs to do is to step up pressure on the aggressor and urge the Russian Federation to get out of Ukraine.
I thank you.
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Further statement by Ambassador Yelchenko.
Indeed, today is a Groundhog Day. The first statement of the Russian delegation repeats word for word what it said in the consultations two days ago. As far as further statement is concerned, I don’t even want to comment on this cocktail of demagogy. I would like to stress that frivolous interpretations of the OSCE SMM reports are more than ridiculous. There’s no reference to Ukrainian forces in OSCE reports. I would rather trust assessments by Ambassador [Ertugrul] Apakan, who is with us today.
By the way, the Russian ambassador asserted that the coal factory in Avdiyivka was shelled by the Ukrainian forces. I have to clarify again that this factory is located on the territory controlled by the Ukrainian government, so the shells that rained down on the factory were propelled by the Russian guns. This was reported by all the briefers.
Russia blames President [Petro] Poroshenko and other high officials of Ukraine in stirring up violence around Avdiyivka. However, it is not Poroshenko who supplies terrorists with ammunition and armor.
One of them, captured during the recent attack on Avdiyivka, already confessed that the Russian officers in command of his unit gave orders to capture the town before the end of the last week.
The reality is simple. It is Russian weapons that kill Ukrainians. It is Russian soldiers and mercenaries [who] come to Ukraine to earn money for murdering. Recalling my remarks about resumption of shelling in Avdiyivka about an hour ago, I would like to inform the colleagues that as a result, at least two civilians were killed and another civilian injured. The shelling continues to batter residential areas, including a school building used for distribution of humanitarian supplies.
Thus, we do not exclude any escalations or provocations in and around Donetsk in further attempts to discredit the Ukrainian armed forces and the Ukrainian leadership. There is information about evacuation of civilians of Donetsk that we assess as a preparation to a possible provocation; a similar thing happened in August 2008 when Russia prepared to attack Georgia.
As I stated at the beginning of this meeting, we expected a serious professional dialogue. A dialogue that would bring an end to violence and help to avert humanitarian disaster and save lives. A denial of reality is not a way to achieve it.
It looks like Russia lives in a parallel reality created by propagandists from “Russia Today.” And this parallel reality is even more twisted when Ambassador [Vitaly] Churkin stands to talk about Crimea.
Nikki Haley/Facebook
Ambassador Nikki Haley, U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations, addresses the Security Council on February 2.
Ambassador Nikki Haley
Remarks by Ambassador Nikki Haley, U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations, at the U.N. Security Council briefing on the situation in Ukraine, February 2.
Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Undersecretary-General [Jeffrey] Feltman, Undersecretary-General [Stephen] O’Brien, and Ambassador [Ertugrul] Apakan for your useful and comprehensive briefings today.
This is my first appearance in this chamber as the permanent representative of the United States. It is an immense honor for me to sit behind the United States placard and to follow in the footsteps of so many giants of American diplomacy. It is humbling to be part of a body whose responsibility is nothing less than maintaining international peace and security. I look forward to working closely with each of you on this council. The United States is determined to push for action. There is no time to waste.
I consider it unfortunate that the occasion of my first appearance here is one in which I must condemn the aggressive actions of Russia. It is unfortunate because it is a replay of far too many instances over many years in which United States representatives have needed to do that. It should not have to be that way. We do want to better our relations with Russia. However, the dire situation in eastern Ukraine is one that demands clear and strong condemnation of Russian actions.
The sudden increase in fighting in eastern Ukraine has trapped thousands of civilians and destroyed vital infrastructure. And the crisis is spreading, endangering many thousands more. This escalation of violence must stop.
The United States stands with the people of Ukraine, who have suffered for nearly three years under Russian occupation and military intervention. Until Russia and the separatists it supports respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, this crisis will continue.
Eastern Ukraine, of course, is not the only part of the country suffering because of Russia’s aggressive actions. The United States continues to condemn and call for an immediate end to the Russian occupation of Crimea. Crimea is a part of Ukraine. Our Crimea-related sanctions will remain in place until Russia returns control over the peninsula to Ukraine. The basic principle of this United Nations is that states should live side by side in peace.
There is a clear path to restoring peace in eastern Ukraine: full and immediate implementation of the Minsk agreements, which the United States continues to support. For the people in eastern Ukraine, the stakes are high. With each passing day, more people are at risk of freezing to death or dying from a mortar blast.
The United States calls on Russia and the combined Russian-separatist forces to fulfill their commitments in the Minsk agreements and fully restore and respect the ceasefire. The Minsk agreements require the disengagement of forces and withdrawal of heavy weapons from both sides of the contact line. This is the formula for a sustainable ceasefire. Pulling back forces and taking heavy weapons out of this area will save lives. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Special Monitoring Mission must also be granted full, unfettered access. The presence of OSCE monitors can help calm tensions.
Cooperation on this issue is possible. Earlier this week, both Russia and Ukraine supported this council’s unanimous call to return to a ceasefire. It was the first time in years that this council was able to come together on Ukraine. The parties on the ground should heed this signal and hold their fire. The United States expects that those who can influence the groups that are fighting – in particular, Russia – will do everything possible to support an end to this escalation of violence. Thank you.