UNSC ADOPTS RESOLUTION CONDEMNING ESCALATION IN EASTERN UKRAINE

Members of the Ukrainian armed forces ride on armoured personnel carriers near Debaltseve, eastern Ukraine, February 12, 2015. Photo by Gleb Garanich/Reuters

The recent military escalation in eastern Ukraine has drawn attention of the UN Security Council (UNSC).

The UNSC found the situation in the region very tense and adopted a statement on June 6 encouraging all parties in Ukraine to recommit to a 2015 peace agreement. The statement also expressed a “grave concern” at deteriorating situation in the Donbass region, where the conflict is developing.

All 15 UNSC members including the US and Russia agreed on the statement, which was the first pronouncement by the UNSC on Ukraine since January 2017.

The UNSC condemned “continuous violations of the ceasefire regime, especially the use of heavy weapons prohibited by the Minsk agreements, responsible for tragic deaths, including among civilians. ”

Last week, UN political chief Rosemary DiCarlo told the UNSC that “the relative calm that held in the early weeks of 2018 was followed in April and May by a sharp increase in the number of victims.”

“The security situation on the ground remains volatile,” DiCarlo said. “The killing, destruction and immense suffering continues” and “eastern Ukraine is facing a serious humanitarian crisis.”

Meanwhile, the military situation in eastern Ukraine remains tense with both sides involved in sporadic clashes.

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