NNA – The Embassy of Ukraine in Beirut shared the following statement issued earlier by Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
The Russian armed formations have unleashed provocative firing along the entire length of the contact line in Donbas, significantly aggravating the already tense security situation.
During 18 February alone, Russia violated the ceasefire 66 times, including 52 times with the use of weapons prohibited under the Minsk agreements.
The following Ukrainian villages have been shelled from the occupied territories, damaging civilian infrastructure and causing injuries to civilians and Ukrainian military:
STANYTSIA LUHANSKA (6 times), SHCHASTIA (7 times), NOVOTOSHKIVSKE (1 time), ZOLOTE (2 times), POPASNA (3 times), SVITLODARSK (13 times), PIVDENNE (7 times), AVDIIVKA (1 time), PISKY (3 times), MARIINKA (1 time), BOHDANIVKA (7 times), HRANITNE (4 times), MARIUPOL (2 times).
In addition to that, Russia’s illegal military formations launched 622 firearms attacks on the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
On 18 February, Russia also shelled the humanitarian convoy of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees near the crossing point SHCHASTIA as the convoy was returning from the non-government-controlled areas.
The shelling and provocative fire represent gross violation by the armed formations of the Russian Federation of the additional measures to strengthen the ceasefire agreed within the Trilateral Contact Group on 22 July 2020. Russia is also violating its commitments under the Minsk agreements and the agreements reached by the leaders of the Normandy Format at their 2019 summit in Paris.
Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has stated on numerous occasions that the government of Ukraine does NOT intend to launch an offensive operation in the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. He also stressed that Ukraine is NOT conducting or planning any sabotage acts in Donbas. We remain firmly committed to the political settlement and, together with our partners, pursue the diplomatic dialogue.
We call on our partners to condemn immediately the ceasefire violations by the Russian armed formations in Donbas and urge Moscow to deescalate. The new wave of military aggression against Ukraine will lead to severe consequences not only for security of Ukraine but also for security of the entire Europe.
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