Ukraine sends note of protest to Russia over ‘military parades’ in occupied Crimea and Donbas

“We regard holding the so-called "parades" of units of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation on June 24, 2020 on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Victory over Nazism in the territories of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, as well as of units of the Russian armed formations in the temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories in Donetsk and Luhansk regions as open contempt of the Russian side for the effective legislation of Ukraine and norms of international law, including UN General Assembly Resolution A/ Res/68/262 of March 27, 2014 ‘Territorial Integrity of Ukraine’,” the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine informs.

It is noted that this provocation reaffirms that Russia deliberately escalates tensions in Ukraine-Russia relations and does not want to resolve the problematic issues caused by Russia's armed aggression and occupation of part of Ukraine's sovereign territory.

Ukrainian diplomats also state that they view the Russian Federation's demonstration of military equipment during the so-called "military parades" in the temporarily occupied territories of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol as a continuation of militarization of Crimea which poses a serious threat to European security.

Ukraine demands that Russia immediately stop internationally illegal actions against the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and take comprehensive measures to de-occupy part of Ukraine's sovereign territory, in particular, to withdraw all its armed formations, military equipment, and mercenaries. The corresponding note of protest was sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

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