Mr. President,

 Thank you for convening today's urgent meeting.  Unfortunately since our last meeting on Ukraine on January 21, 2015 the situation in Ukraine deteriorated significantly.

On 24 January Russia-backed terrorists committed another heinous crime against humanity. As a result of the shelling of residential areas in Mariupol, in eastern Ukraine, more than 30 civilians have been killed and more than 100 wounded.

As the President of Ukraine stated – “Bloody murder of dozens of civilians and wounding nearly a hundred of people by pro-Russian terrorists in Mariupol is not only a terrorist attack. It is a crime against humanity that is the issue to be considered by the Hague Tribunal”.

Yesterday was yet another day of mourning in Ukraine. We express our gratitude to the whole civilized world for the strong solidarity with Ukraine in the wake of this horrible tragedy, for the deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and wishes of a swift recovery to those injured.

In this respect it is highly regretful that one of the permanent members of this Council, bestowed by the UN Charter with the primary responsibility for the maintenance on international peace and security, has once again showed its utter disrespect not only of the Charter but of human values by blocking Council’s condemnation of the heinous crime against humanity committed by terrorists in Mariupol.

Mr. President,

  According to the OSCE SMM Spot Report of 24 January, the bombardment was carried out using multiple Grad and Uragan rockets launched from inside terrorist-controlled territory.

I would like to quote this Report:

          “According to the impact analysis, the Grad rockets originated from a north-easterly direction, the area of Oktyabr (19km north-east of Olimpiiska Street), and the Uragan rockets from an easterly direction, the area of Zaichenko (15km east of Olimpiiska Street), both controlled by so called “Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DNR”).”

Mr. President,

Let me remind you that shelling took place after statements by one of the terrorist leaders about imminent attacks on Ukrainian cities, as well as a significant intensification of inflows of Russian armed forces and weapons into the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Last Saturday, supporters of the so-called "DNR" launched an attack on Mariupol. This was stated by the self-proclaimed leader of the so-called "DNR" Zakharchenko: “Today we launched an offensive against Mariupol. This will be the best monument to all our dead”. Thus, Zakharchenko admitted that the attack on the city is the handiwork of his "soldiers".  Other self-proclaimed leaders also announced the beginning of a “decisive phase of the offensive”. They said that their troops took control over towns of Krasniy Partisan, Verhnetroitske and Peski.

Ukraine appreciates UN Secretary-General’s clear and unambiguous statement denouncing unilateral withdrawal from the cease-fire by so-called rebel leadership, and particularly their provocative statements about claiming further territory, all of which constitute a violation of their commitments under the Minsk accords which need urgent revival. We are also grateful to Mr. Ban Ki-moon for his prompt and strong condemnation of the rocket attack indiscriminately launched into civilian areas, which, according to the Secretary-General, would constitute a violation of international humanitarian law.

Mr. President,

Should militants and Russia have complied with the Minsk agreements, this most dreadful tragedy since the beginning of the Russian aggression would not have happened. 

Interception of radio and phone conversations by the Security Service of Ukraine irrefutably indicates that the attack was organized by terrorists supported by Russia. The evidence of this is also Russia's blocking of the UN Security Council's statement condemning this horrible event and its complete silence – not a single word of reproach – on other terrorists' barbaric acts in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, such as the attack on Volnovakha, shameful behavior with Ukrainian hostages, tragedy at the trolleybus stop in Donetsk and many others.

Therefore, the Russian Federation, which continues to support terrorist activities and whose troops are directly involved in hostilities against Ukraine, is solely responsible for the murders of innocent civilians in Volnovakha, Debaltseve, Donetsk, Mariupol and many other towns and villages in Ukraine in recent weeks.

We seek international support that Russia will finally be compelled to keep its promises, rein in its proxies and stop sending troops and weaponry into Ukraine. We demand that Russia fully implement the Minsk agreements which it has thus far supported only in words, including the immediate withdrawal of all its armed forces from the territory of Ukraine, stabilization of the Ukrainian-Russian border and the establishment of international monitoring. It should also free without any further delay Ukrainian Pilot Nadia Savchenko, who is still on hunger strike endangering her life, Sentsov, Kolchenko and other Ukrainian citizens illegally held in Russia.

Mr. President,

Let me say a few words on the recent developments on humanitarian assistance to Donbas.

We are receiving the latest reports on the situation in Donetsk and Luhansk regions; in particular yesterday construction crews have resumed electricity, gas and water supply to a number of towns in Luhansk region, including heating.

The Government continues to provide the around-the clock monitoring of the operation of life support systems of settlements suffering from attacks of militants.

          A few hours ago President Poroshenko has held a meeting with European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management where the issues of assistance to the people affected by the actions of terrorists in the East of Ukraine were discussed.

          President has emphasized that "the actions of Russian-backed terrorists and regular Russian troops in the Donbas have led to extensive destruction and both physical and moral suffering of Ukrainians. Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians in the ATO area need humanitarian assistance.

The true one, not pseudo-assistance consisting of fuel for tanks and weapons for terrorists that the aggressor is going to send to the Donbas for the twelfth time already".

Mr. President,

We call on the international community to respond resolutely to the crimes of terrorists, increase all forms of pressure on those who sponsor and support them. Our position remains constant – the so-called “DNR” and “LNR” must be recognized as terrorist organizations.

Time and again we call on the Security Council to finally exercise its Charter responsibilities so as to prevent these terrorist groups from committing their crimes. The only way of doing so is to put an end to the Russian aggression against Ukraine. Today, as never before, we need joint decisive actions of the international community against terrorist organizations and those who control them.

Mr. President,

Let me summarize my statement with the words of our President: “We stand for peace, but we accept the enemy's challenge. We will defend our Homeland as true patriots.

We will do everything to stop the pain and suffering, to return peace to each Ukrainian family – from Lviv to Luhansk, from Chernihiv to Kerch.

Having united our efforts, we will defend our freedom!”

In this struggle for Ukraine, for Europe and, ultimately, for the UN Charter we count on Council’s solidarity and actions.

 

  Thank you, Mr. President.