Kyiv, October 11, 2014 – In order to ensure the defense of the liberated territories, to re-establish the work of local governments and prevent the terrorists from entering Ukrainian territories, three lines of defense are currently being built according to the presidential decree. Such statement was announced by the Colonel Andryi Lysenko, spokesman of the Information-Analytic Center of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine during his press briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.
Colonel Lysenko also spoke about the presidential visit to Donetsk and Luhansk regions. During the visit, Ukraine’s President checked the combat capability of the ATO forces, their readiness to serve during the autumn-winter period, as well as the improvement in government’s measures, aimed at securing peace on the liberated territories. Namely, the President visited the sentinel of Ukrainian Armed Forces near Kurakhove. During the visit, the extra attention was paid to the work improvement of the state’s and local governments. The President underscored that the cooperation between the military and the local governments is vital to bring peace and stability on the liberated territories. During his visit, Petro Poroshenko introduced the new head of the Donetsk region council – army general Oleksandr Kikhtenko as well as the new head of the Luhansk region council – Hennadiy Moskal. President Poroshenko ordered to prepare a draft law, which would enable to quickly establish local governments in villages, localities and cities, bearing in mind the pequliarities of the situation in the region.
At the moment, the negotiations within the trilateral monitoring mission are being held. The aim of the mission is to ensure the ceasefire regime, liberate the hostages and establish the control at the Ukrainian border. The key priority for Ukrainian authorities remains the enforcement of the Minsk agreements, which would ensure the peace in the Donbas region. «Ukrainian side is ready to withdraw the heavy artillery on the designated distance behind the separation line, once the terrorists stop shelling the positions of Ukrainian army and the city neighborhoods,» reported Andryi Lysenko. The opportunity of giving away the liberated cities back to the terrorists is impossible and not even to be discussed.
Despite the ceasefire regime, the situation in the eastern Ukraine remains tense. The terrorists made a false attempt to take over the Donetsk city airport. The attack was repelled; terrorists suffered great losses. Yesterday, at 16:45, not far from Dokuchaevsk, Donetsk region, terrorists shelled the vehicle column of the State’s Border Service. One Ukrainian serviceman died during the shelling.
Referring to the international support for Ukraine, Colonel Lysenko said that the government of Norway imposed the third tier of sanctions against the Russian Federation. The imposed measures come into force immediately. Additionally, head of the G20, minister of finance of Australia Joe Hockey said that the majority of the G20 and IMF members are ready to supply Ukraine with the additional monetary support.
