Moreover, the Russian Federation is continuing aggression by supporting and financing terrorists’ actions in Ukraine.

In February 2014 the Russian Federation began its planned military aggression against Ukraine. As a result of military aggression, Russia has occupied the part of sovereign territory of Ukraine, namely the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol city. Russian Federation trying to perform the illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol City and change the status of the occupied territory of Ukraine, organized and conducted illegal "referendum" in the occupied territory of Ukraine, artificially created illegal and subordinate local authorities and illegally confiscated state and private property.

Today, Russia continues the armed aggression of Donetsk and Lugansk, by committing armed attacks on the territory of Ukraine, sending armed forces on the territory of Ukraine, training and sending terrorists on the territory of Ukraine etc.

On the background of the ongoing military aggression of the Russian Federation in the Donetsk and Lugansk, the activities of terrorist organizations controlled, funded and supported by the Russian Federation are thriving. In particular, since March 2014 in Ukraine are acting two illegal terrorist organizations "DNR" and "LNR", which willfully and knowingly are committing terrorist acts aimed at intimidation, murder, causing body harms to civilians, hostage-taking and acquisition of administrative buildings of state and local government. These terrorist organizations were established under the direct supervision and control of the Russian Federation and with its financial support.

Ukraine’s National security and defense council published intelligence data of actual steady flow of real convoys transferring manpower and heavy arms for separatists groups.

Ukraine’s intelligence data shows quantities of military vehicles that crossed Russia-Ukraine border, which is not controlled by Ukraine or either monitored by OSCE. An overview of military equipment that entered Ukraine during the period from October 30 to December 9, 2014: 1903 trucks, 20 buses with manpower, 402 armored fighting vehicles, 256 tanks, 138 multi-launch rocket system “Grad”, 42 artillery, 35 self-propelled artillery, 5 missile system “Buk”, 4 rocket complex of tactical missiles “Tochka”, 4 multi launch rocket system “Uragan”, heavy flamethrower system “Buratino”.

As the result of Russia’s actions in Ukraine, according to the UN estimations, at least 4,700 people have been killed and more than 10,000 have been injured in the conflict in eastern Ukraine since April 2014.

Eastern Ukraine is nearing a humanitarian catastrophe, as residents struggle to get food and medicine. According to UN figures, around 5.2 million people in Ukraine are living in conflict zones. Of that number, 1.4 million are in very vulnerable conditions and require assistance as they struggle with the cold winter, money problems, and lack of services.

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimates that over 1.7 million children have been affected by the crisis in Ukraine, with at least 130,000 displaced.

Moreover, up to 150 schools have been shut down due to fighting in the Donetsk region. Around 50,000 children did not return to school in September, as their places of learning were completely destroyed or shut down for safety reasons, UNICEF said in its report.

A total of US$32.4 million is needed to help children survive through the winter, the report concludes. The most needed items are warm clothes, shelter, hygiene supplies, and medicine.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) has been warning about the critical healthcare situation in southeastern Ukraine. It revealed in its latest report that due to a lack of doctors, medicine, and food, some patients are dying from hunger and cold.

In general the purpose of terrorist acts is to destabilize situation in Ukraine, develop separatist movements – so called people’s republics and, as a result show Ukraine as "failed state".

Position of Ukraine

The aggressive war unleashed by Russia against Ukraine is a giant violation of generally accepted standards and fundamental principles of international law, including the mandatory rules of international law jus cogens, brutal disregard to international commitments taken by Russia under the UN Charter and other international treaties and agreements.

Ukraine considers actions of the Russian Federation as internationally unlawful acts that foresee international responsibility. Ukraine urges Russia to international legal responsibility and requires complete termination of illegal acts, restitution of violated rights and providing assurances for not repeating of these internationally illegal acts in the future.

Thus, Ukraine comes from the Article 33 of the UN Charter that imposes on states peaceful settlement of any international disputes, and provides necessary instrument for this.

Ukraine has a strong desire and intention to resolve existing conflict with Russia through peace negotiations. This is also a position of all international community, in particular of the partners of Ukraine, who strongly support Ukraine’s efforts to restore its territorial integrity by peaceful means.

Embassy of Ukraine to the Republic of Cyprus