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PERMANENT MISSIONOF UKRAINE

TO THE UNITED NATIONS

Phone : (212) 759 70 03Fax : (212) 355 94 55

220 East 51st StreetNew York, N.Y.,10022 E-mail: uno_us@mfa.gov.ua

http://www.mfa.gov.ua/uno

# 4132/23-188/1-258

To: all Permanent and Observer Missionsto the United Nations 3 March, 2014

Recent developments in Ukraine (Crimea) have demonstrated the deterioration of thesituation.

A draft law on annexation of the Crimea was registered today in the Russian Parliament.Yesterday, 2 March, trying to capture the armory of Ukrainian Air Tactical brigade (near

Sevastopol) Russian Armed Forces used stun grenades against Ukrainian soldiers. As a resultUkrainian officer sustained brain-contusion and shock and was brought to medical facility.

Tonight, Russian Air Forces aircrafts twice illegally entered Ukrainian airspacethreatening air security. These incidents received proper reaction from Ukrainian Air Forces, asUkrainian aircraft immediately took off towards violators and was in the alert zone ready to actagainst violators of State airspace border, which allowed avoiding serious consequences.

Today Ukrainian military base in Kerch was surrounded by Russian soldiers.

Russian Military blocked Ukrainian military units in Novoozernoe, Perevalnoye andFeodosia, demanding to surrender and seal arms and ammunition, while promising to ensuresecurity with submachine gunners of Russia. Ukrainian navy troops refused to comply with theRussians orders.

Ukrainian Navy ships have been blocked in Sevastopol Bay by Russian Navy vesselKIL-158, seagoing tugs and patrol boats of the RF Navy.

The representatives of the Russian Navy delieverd an ultimatum to the personnel ofcorvette "Ternopil" and command ship "Slavutich" to lay down their arms until 18.00 March 3and leave the ships otherwise they will open tile fire. Ukrainian sailors clearly stated the oath ofallegiance to Ukrainian people.

Today the first attempt has been made to capture the Ukrainian Navy Headquarters byarmed men, and the other attempt is expected.

Russian Special Forces continue to capture the military and border facilities in theCrimea, offering Ukrainian army to voluntary surrender until 18.00 today.

In Feodosia City the Russian Kozaks groups have been capturing all administrativebuildings and started to distribute the arms to civil volunteers to form the self-protectiongroups.

Ukrainian Border Service headquarters in Crimea has been captured and blocked byRussian troops. At noon, Russian soldiers with military trucks broke down the doors, destroyedworkstations and communications equipment.

There has been drastic increase of pressure from Russian military on Ukrainian borderguard officers. During seizures of border guard units there was brutal use of physical force,threat of weapon and menace. Professionals of Russian Special Forces try to performpsychological pressure on border guard officers and in categorical form demand to obey to thenew authorities of the Crimea Autonomous Republic. They actively make attempts to crimppersonnel, call for information on investigation-operational divisions and information onoperating personnel.

Russian military forces continue implementing their plan of complete blockade ofcommunications in Crimea, in order to cut communication of Ukrainian Armed Forces inCrimea with General Staff.

Russian military nearly every half hour commit provocations in Crimea.

A series of provocations were carried out over the past few days, which would aim tolegalize the presence of Russian military contingent in Crimea.

In contrary, Ukrainian armed forces are protecting their staffs, military units and bases,and are not responding to any provocations that occurred over the past days.

Due to blockade of all state institutions in Crimea by the Russian Armed Forces, theseinstitutions are almost unable to function properly, which creates social tensions in population.

Today, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine officially informed about the rapidincrease in number of military machines and equipment on the Russian territory along theEastern border of Ukraine, namely Kharkiv, Lugansk and Donetsk regions. It includes, 9 trainsof military equipment (APC) unloaded from Voronezh side, 5 armoured vehicles (APC) and 2mechanical transport vehicles from Bochkove- Leninskoye with field kitchen.

Governor of Rostov region of Russia ordered to deploy camps in Russian districtsbordering Ukraine.

Such activities of Russian Armed Forces indicate their preparation for a possibleinvasion by Russia into Ukraine not only in Crimea, but also in to Eastern regions in Ukraine.

As of today, since 24 February, approximately 16,000 Russian troops have beendeployed in Crimea by the military ships, helicopters, cargo airplanes from theneighboring territory of the Russian Federation. The Russian troops keep taking theirattempts to seize, block and control crucial governmental and military objects of Ukrainein Crimea: the Parliament of Crimea, all civil and military airports, means ofcommunications, radio stations, customs service, military and coastguard bases,Headquarters of the Ukraine's Navy in Crimea. All main roads are blocked. Also a largenumber of Russian military troops is ready for being redeployed from Novorosiysk.

Access to the Black Sea is blocked by 10 Russian Navy vessels, including vessels ofBaltic Fleet.

Permanent Mission of Ukraine will continue to inform all Permanent and Observer Missions to theUnited Nations on the latest developments of the situation in Ukraine.

Actions by the Government of Ukraine for normalization of the situation in Crimea

The leadership of Ukraine takes appropriate measures aimed at political resolution of theconflict with the participation of the UN, OSCE and other international organizations.

The Law of Ukraine "On State Language Policy", adopted in 2012 (protecting languagesof national minorities) is still in effect. Acting President used his right no to sign draft adoptedby the Parliament. As of now, Russian language is as protected as it was before on all territoryof Ukraine, particularly and especially in Crimea.

Acting President Turchynov has mandated to establish a worldng group for "immediateelaboration of a new Law of Ukraine "On Language", to consist of all ethnic groups andnational minorities.

Yesterday, highly respected persons have been appointed as Governors of Eastern andSouthern regions of Ukraine. All of them are locals of those regions, and not members of anypolitical party. It was an important step to calm down situation.

Members of new Ukrainian Government come from different regions of Ukraine,including Eastern and Southern regions. These people will duly represent interests of thoseregions. 4 (four) ministers of Ukrainian Government were born in Russia.

Despite existing economic problems, Government of Ukraine has provided necessaryfinancing to the population of Crimea in order to avoid social tensions.

Acting President Turchynov supported the establishment of the "Council of NationalTrust." He stressed that the country will always protect rights of its people "no matter whatlanguage they speak, no matter where they live, and no matter what church they go to."