09:18 07.07.2015

Ukraine opposes hasty demilitarization of Shyrokyne – Kyiv official

3 min read
Ukraine opposes hasty demilitarization of Shyrokyne – Kyiv official

Ukraine cannot agree to the hasty demilitarization of the village of Shyrokyne, east of Mariupol, which is being forced upon it due to numerous breaches of the Minsk agreements by the opposing side, Yevhen Marchuk, former defense minister of Ukraine, who represents Ukraine in the sub-group on security in the Trilateral Contact Group, said.

"Ukraine, which has more than once offered Russia several options for the demilitarization of Shyrokyne, cannot hastily agree to the demilitarization of this long-suffering populated area," Marchuk said on Facebook on Monday.

Marchuk said "that is why the exploitation of the so-called good will gesture [departure from Shyrokyne of the forces opposing Kyiv] and the forcing on Ukraine of unacceptable conduct in no way influence the position of Ukraine." "The demilitarization of Shyrokyne is only just beginning," he said.

Marchuk said the main problem is that Kyiv's opponent has not fulfilled the Minsk agreements of February 12, 2015 and September 2014. "In violation of these agreements, they occupied Debaltseve and a part of Shyrokyne and invaded several so-called gray areas on the entire engagement line, and they continue using heavy weapons in attacks in breach of these agreements," Marchuk said.

Marchuk reiterated that Ukraine cannot agree to fast demilitarization of Shyrokyne for this reason.

Marchuk also recalled the unfulfilled agreement on Shyrokyne, which took place a month and a half ago. "It was the first attempt. But at the time the ceasefire regime lasted just over one day," he said.

Marchuk also reiterated that the Ukrainian troops' opponents "have left Shyrokyne, but have not changed their artillery positions."

"A tentative agreement has been reached that a round-the-clock observation point of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission will be installed in Shyrokyne and the SMM is increasing its personnel for that reason. The debate on the participation by the Ukrainian and Russian military who are included in the JCCC in the control of the situation in Shyrokyne in cooperation with the OSCE is nearing completion," Marchuk said.

Marchuk said "a lot of work remains to be done" on issues relating to the demilitarization of Shyrokyne and "not all issues have been agreed upon." Specifically, he mentioned the demining, issues relating to ensuring law and order, the solution of sanitary and epidemiological problems, the functioning of infrastructure facilities, and heavy weapons withdrawal (artillery, tanks and mortars) 15 km from the center of Shyrokyne.

"That is, the creation of a 30 km security zone. The matter is being discussed with Russia. It's routine and nervous work: precise geographical coordinates, topography, on-site evaluation, tactical and strategic circumstances, and many other things," Marchuk said.

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