1. NATO Secretary General statement on the
attack on Mariupol
24 Jan. 2015
Press Release (2015) 015
Issued on 24 Jan. 2015
Last updated: 24 Jan. 2015 21:23
Fighting in eastern Ukraine has sharply escalated, with indications of a large-
scale offensive by Russian-backed separatists at multiple locations in the
Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts as well as against the city of Mariupol. This is
in utter disregard of the ceasefire. The shelling of residential areas in the city
of Mariupol from separatist-controlled territory has cost the lives of at least
20 civilians, and injured many more.
For several months we have seen the presence of Russian forces in eastern
Ukraine, as well as a substantial increase in Russian heavy equipment such
as tanks, artillery and advanced air defence systems. Russian troops in
eastern Ukraine are supporting these offensive operations with command and
control systems, air defence systems with advanced surface-to-air missiles,
unmanned aerial systems, advanced multiple rocket launcher systems, and
electronic warfare systems.
I strongly urge Russia to stop its military, political and financial support for the
separatists, stop destabilising Ukraine and respect its international
commitments.
