The following statements were issued by Ukrainian diaspora organizations on November 25.
Ukrainian World Congress
The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) condemns the military attack on 25 November 2018 by Russian Federation warships on Ukrainian navy ships carrying out a planned and routine maritime operation in the Sea of Azov. In the attack, weapons were used against the sailors, and according to preliminary information, six Ukrainian sailors were injured, two of them severely. The Ukrainian ships were seized and sailors were arrested.
President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko stated, “We have irrefutable evidence that this aggression, this attack on the Ukrainian Navy’s warships was not a mistake, not an accident, but a targeted action, including as regards the use of weapons against Ukrainian sailors, which had severe consequences.”
The UWC calls for the international community to:
• Take every available measure to secure the immediate release by the Russian Federation of all Ukrainian sailors illegally arrested in this military attack and their seized ships.
• Significantly strengthen sanctions against the Russian Federation for this latest brazen act of aggression against Ukraine’s sovereignty, including banning the Russian Federation from the SWIFT international payments system.
• Immediately rescind the Russian Federation’s invitation to the G-20 Summit to be held in Argentina 30 November-1 December 2018.
“The Ukrainian World Congress calls upon the international community to react swiftly and resolutely to this deliberate and unprovoked escalation of military aggression against Ukraine by the Russian Federation, and to strengthen support for Ukraine in the defense of its territorial integrity,” stated UWC President Eugene Czolij.
Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organizations
On 25 November 2018, Ukrainian naval vessels were attacked by Russian forces as they were departing from the area of the Kerch Strait and moving back into the Black Sea.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has announced that “Russian special forces have taken over some [Ukrainian] ships.” Over a half-dozen Ukrainian service members have been injured, and up to 20 are being held captive by Russian forces.
This was a premeditated and deliberate act of aggression against Ukraine by Russia. This latest attack is prohibited by the Minsk agreements and the violation warrants the strengthening of targeted economic sanctions against the Russian Federation until they fully comply with their international obligations.
The Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organizations (AFUO) – the peak body for Ukrainians in Australia – joins other members of the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) in calling on the Australian government and international community to voice their strong condemnation of such attacks and immediately take the following decisive measures:
• Demand that Russia immediately release all Ukrainian prisoners of war as well as over 70 Ukrainian political prisoners illegally jailed in Russian custody.
• Immediately block Russian president Vladimir Putin from attending the 2018 G-20 Buenos Aires summit on 30 November-1 December.
• Call for an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council to condemn Russia’s actions.
The AFUO has consistently maintained that it is in the best interests of the international community to assist Ukraine to defend its national security and territorial integrity, and in its efforts to institutionalize democratic and economic reforms.
The AFUO calls on the Australian government to:
• Demand withdrawal of covert and overt Russian forces and equipment from Ukraine and compliance with ceasefire agreements.
• Significantly strengthen sanctions – specifically sectoral sanctions – against the Russian Federation for this latest brazen act of aggression against Ukraine’s sovereignty, including banning Russia from the SWIFT international payments system.
• Respond to the changes to Ukraine’s Constitution regarding the strategic course for obtaining full membership of Ukraine in the EU and NATO with increased military and economic support.
“This blatant act by Russia needs to be dealt with swiftly. President Putin must feel the full brunt of international condemnation,” AFUO Chairman Stefan Romaniw said from Kyiv.
The AFUO has written to the Honorable Sen. Marise Payne, Australian minister for foreign affairs, calling on the Australian government to demand the immediate release of political prisoners and express its condemnation of Russia’s action.
Ukrainian Canadian Congress
On November 25, in a purposeful and unprovoked attack, Russian warships attacked and opened fire on Ukrainian navy ships in neutral waters in the Sea of Azov.
As of 12:30 a.m. Kyiv time November 26, at least six Ukrainian sailors are wounded and three Ukrainian ships were captured by Russian naval forces. Over 20 Ukrainian sailors are reported to be in Russian captivity. This was a premeditated and deliberate act of escalation of aggression against Ukraine by Russia, which has been waging war on Ukraine for over four years.
The international community must react forcefully to this disgraceful act of aggression by Russia. The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) calls on Canada, the U.S., the EU and all civilized nations to immediately take decisive measures to counter Russian aggression and:
1. Demand that Russia immediately release all Ukrainian sailors illegally seized today; all Ukrainian prisoners of war as well as over 70 Ukrainian political prisoners illegally jailed in Russian custody.
2. Significantly strengthen sanctions against Russia for this latest brazen act of aggression against Ukraine’s sovereignty, including banning Russia from the SWIFT international payments system.
3. Provide Ukraine with naval ships, missiles and other materiel as may be needed to defend itself against Russia’s naval aggression.
4. Immediately rescind Russia’s invitation to the G-20 Summit, to be held in Argentina November 30-December 1.
Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko stated, ”We have irrefutable evidence that today’s aggression against Ukrainian Navy boats was not an error or coincidence. It was an aimed action, including opening fire on Ukrainian naval personnel.”
Ukraine’s Parliament will meet on November 26 at 4 p.m. Kyiv time to consider a series of emergency measures proposed by President Poroshenko and the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine.
Ukrainian Congress Committee of America
On November 25, 2018, Ukrainian naval vessels were attacked by Russian forces as they were departing from the area of the Kerch Strait and moving back into the Black Sea. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced that “Russian special forces have taken over some [Ukrainian] ships.” Over a half-dozen Ukrainian service members have been injured, and up to 20 have been taken captive by Russian forces.
This was a premeditated and deliberate act of aggression against Ukraine by Russia. Once again, Russia continues to flaunt international law, and this blatant disregard of such demands the strengthening of targeted economic sanctions against the Russian Federation until they fully comply with their international obligations.
The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), the nation’s largest representative body of Americans of Ukrainian descent, calls upon the United States and the international community to voice their strong condemnation of such attacks and immediately take the following decisive measures:
1. Demand that Russia immediately release all Ukrainian prisoners of war as well as over 70 Ukrainian political prisoners illegally jailed in Russian custody.
2. Withdraw Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invitation to the 2018 G-20 Buenos Aires summit on 30 November-1 December.
3. Call for an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council to condemn Russia’s actions
It is in the national security interests of the United States to assist Ukraine in defense of its national security and territorial integrity and in its efforts to institutionalize democratic and economic reforms. The Ukraine Freedom Support Act, signed into law in 2014, declares unambiguously that the United States will “assist the government of Ukraine in restoring its sovereignty and territorial integrity in order to deter the government of the Russian Federation from further destabilizing and invading Ukraine and other independent countries.” As such, UCCA maintains its position since 2014 that the United States should:
• Demand withdrawal of covert and overt Russian forces and equipment from Ukraine and compliance with cease-fire agreements.
• Significantly strengthen sanctions – and specifically sectoral sanctions – against the Russian Federation for this latest brazen act of aggression against Ukraine’s sovereignty, including banning Russia from the SWIFT international payments system.
• Respond to the changes to Ukraine’s Constitution regarding the strategic course for obtaining full membership of Ukraine in the EU and NATO with increased military and economic support.