Fulfilling the Peace Plan of the President of Ukraine as well as agreements reached in Minsk on September 5th and 19th, subdivisions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other special forces have been maintaining the ceasefire mode since 18:00 pm of September 05, 2014. Terrorists and Russian troops continue outshooting of ATO forces positions.
Beginning of the Peace Plan of the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko implementation allowed to make several important steps for normalization if the situation in Donbas.
In particular, within the boundaries of this plan implementation about 1200 non-combatants and Ukrainian servicemen detained by terrorists were released. Within last 24 hours 28 Ukrainian servicemen from 30th and 93rd brigades, 40th battalion and 6th border detachment were liberated.
Consistent position of Ukraine directed at settlement of peace and protection of citizens received support of the international community which was reflected in official decisions of leading institutions – UN General Assembly, European Council, European Parliament, OSCE and others. A number of countries are providing real support in bilateral format.
In particular, giving comments on the results of his visit to the USA, Petro Poroshenko said that Ukraine had the highest status of defense cooperation with the United States of America among all the countries who are not NATO members.
«We received everything we needed – reconnaissance, radar, observational and other defence equipment which allow to raise our weapons efficiency ten times, modernizing it “, – said the President.
Owing to the Peace Plan of the President of Ukraine fulfillment, Ukrainian humanitarian aid has been delivered to terrorists-controlled Luhansk through the intermediary of the Committee of International Red Cross in full compliance with all the standards of this foundation.
Another batch is expected to be delivered, there are still almost 600 tons of humanitarian freight in stock in Starobyelsk and Siverodonetsk, such as tinned food, cereals, sugar, flour, hygienic items. We would like to remind that Ukrainian authorities passed this aid to the International Red Cross as early as in August.
It is planned to create a Coordination council of Volunteers with participation of the President of Ukraine and the corresponding Ministries for more efficient provision of necessary aid to the soldiers of the Ukrainian Army. Initiatives jointly developed with volunteers, in particular, on deregulation in the sphere of charity and tax exemption for charity providers, will help to provide our troops with everything they need.
Situation in the ATO zone
Armed Forces of Ukraine and other special force subdivisions started implementing agreements reached on September 5th and 19th in Minsk. Preparation to heavy weapons withdrawal to 15-kilometers line is made.
In general, the tendency of illegal armed groupings to decrease use of heavy arms is observed. At the same time, yesterday terrorists and uncontrolled armed groupings outshot checkpoints and positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine nearby Donetsk airport as well as the following populated localities: Debaltseve, Vynohradne, Hnutove, Trudivske, Hranitne, Pisky and Hostra Mohyla hill.
Terrorists also carried out artillery assault at residential quarters in Putyvlskyi district of Maryinka town.
Ukrainian servicemen responded with fire only for self-defence when direct threat to life arose.
Within 24 hours two Ukrainian servicemen died and 2 were wounded.
There were no facts of infringement of Ukrainian state border or aerial domain within last 24 hours on the ground controlled by Ukrainian border detachments. There were no bombardments from the territory of Russian Federation either.
Situation in populated localities of the conflict zone
Militants from illegal armed formations continue intensify pressure on local inhabitants in Donetsk region. In particular, they demand from administration of budget institution to provide them with lists of those who showed up for work, explaining it as though with readiness to pay out wages. At the same time, according to the information collected, militants are paying for work using foodstuffs from Russian so-called “humanitarian” convoy.
Officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs on Kramatorsk launched an operation on finding illegal weapons and explosive objects, as local inhabitants massively own them. As of September 21, 2014 57 facts of illegal arms handling were registered. Police officers also confiscated 97 explosive hazards, over 1000 bullets to small-arms weapons, 27 guns, machine guns and РПГ-7 grenade guns. 18 administrative building were checked and cleared of mines with combat engineers and experts’ participation.
Response of international community to the events in Ukraine
US Minister of Finance Jack Lew stated that he expected steps towards conflict regulation in the East of Ukraine from Russia before G20 summit in Australia which would take place in November.
US Minister of Finance stated that the USA and Europe are ready to continue cooperation on the issue of sanctions against the Russian Federation until Russia stops threatening the sovereignty of Ukraine and participate, directly or indirectly, in combat activity in Ukrainian territory.
The deputy of European Parliament from the Netherlands Johannes Kornelis Van Baalen stated that the European Union possesses evidence of the Russian troops presence in Ukraine and does not consider Russia their partner anymore. «We have satellite pictures. EU has the evidence, NATO has the evidence, but Putin will nevertheless contradict them. Though, if there are no Russian troops in Ukraine, where are bodies of killed Russian soldiers coming from?» – asked the member of the European Parliament.
Supreme Allied Commander Europe of NATO Allied Command Operations, General Philip Breedlove emphasized on the necessity to be able to recognize a hybrid war. «We need all allies to be prepared in the best way possible to recognize what is happening. It is not always that everything happens as openly as in the case of “men in green”. First of all, everyone should be ready to spot the moment when such hybrid war starts», – emphasized Philip Breedlove. He also pointed out that NATO is to prepare allied nations so that they are able to cope with the war of such type efficiently and determine a possible aggressor.
Supreme Allied Commander Europe of NATO Allied Command Operations added that there are NATO experts with understanding of wars of hybrid types, so they are to train the allies so that everyone is able to recognize on spot who is who.
Philip Breedlove also mentioned the fact of Russian troops presence in the territory of Ukraine. «We do not know the exact number, but, evidently, there were much more several weeks ago. Part of them had been withdrawn. Nevertheless, Russian forces still remain in Eastern Ukraine», – he emphasized.
On September 22, 2014 it was the fifth time this year that a big reconnaissance ship of the Naval Forces of France proceeded through Bosphorus Strait towards the Black Sea.
NATO considers the presence of this and other ships in the Black Sea as support to Ukraine in battle against Russian aggression. The ship’s mission lies in intermitting and analysing all types of signals, including those received through satellites.
