25/01/2015 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - Martial law was not announced at an emergency meeting of the National Security Council

25/01/2015 Daily Highlights by "Digests and Analytics - Ukraine" News Agency

Topics of the day 

Martial law was not announced at an emergency meeting of the National Security Council. Fighting in the Donbass doesn’t cease.

Key Events In Ukraine

• President Poroshenko held an emergency meeting of the National Security Council. It was decided to introduce sanctions against Russia, which has applied earlier by the Europe, USA and Canada. Cabinet was instructed to apply to the Hague Tribunal due to numerous crimes against humanity committed by militants DNR and LNR.
• Rallies in memory of victims of the militants shooting in Mariupol took place in the major cities of Ukraine.

Ukraine at War

• The intensity of the fighting in the Donbass not decreasing. Battles were fought near Dokuchaevsk, Maryinka, Avdiivka, Donets’k airport, Gorlivka, Debaltseve, Popasnaya, Schastya and Stanitsa Luhans’ka. Militants attacked position of the Ukrainian army and residential areas with artillery and MLRS systems. Schastya have been left by half of the citizens.
  Terrorists from Donetsk "republic" are declining their declarations for the attack on Mariupol.
• Head of Donetsk Regional State Administration estimated that the damage from Mariupol shelling is about 100 million UAH.

Ukraine and the World

• President Obama said the United States will consider all possible steps to deter Russian aggression except direct military intervention in the conflict.
• UN Security Council will held an emergency meeting dedicated to the escalation of the conflict in the Donbas and tragedy in Mariupol on Monday January, 26.
  German Chancellor Merkel urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to put pressure on Russia controlled fighters in the Donbas to resolve the situation and to continue the negotiation process.
  In the course of tripartite negotiations between the representatives of Russia, Ukraine and OCSE  action for the meeting of the foreign ministers of EU member states was coordinated to adopt additional measures against Russia in the case of continuing its support to militants in the Donbass.
• The law "On Martial State" was published In Belorussia, according to which the appearance of military personnel without insignia will be considered as invasion and determined which events will cause the introduction of martial law.

Trends

• In response to the allegations made in the “Dzerkalo Tyzhnya” publication about President Poroshenko he said that the airport supposed to be a demilitarized zone according to Minsk Agreement was. This completely contradicts his previous statements that the Ukrainian army will not surrender airport. In addition, the status of the agreements signed in Minsk is not defined, and they have not been ratified by the Verkhovna Rada.
• The question on staff changes in the prosecutor's office and the Army General Staff raised at all levels of society and in the army. Rejection of the decision on this question will divert disappointment from the authorities on the activities of the President Poroshenko.