A meeting with heads of power structures and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Russia’s provocative actions in the occupied Crimea and escalation of its actions in Donbas

Because of provocative actions of the Russian Federation in the occupied Crimea and escalation of its actions in Donbas, President Petro Poroshenko held a meeting with the heads of power structures and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov, Minister of Defense Stepan Poltorak, Chief of the General Staff Viktor Muzhenko, Chairman of the SSU Vasyl Hrycak, Minister of Foreign Affairs Pavlo Klimkin, Head of the State Border Service Viktor Nazarenko participated in the meeting.

The Commander-in-chief ordered to put on increased combat alert the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard, the State Border Service and the Security Service of Ukraine.

The President assigned border guards with a task to enhance pass control at checkpoints, and the National Guard and the National Police servicemen - to strengthen the protection of strategic facilities and infrastructure in order to prevent possible terrorist attacks. Chairman of the SSU was assigned to hold an emergency meeting of the Antiterrorist Center and set necessary tasks.

The President also ordered to provide the representatives of international human rights organizations and Ombudsman of Ukraine with the opportunity to visit Ukrainian citizens captured in the Crimea and to check the conditions of detention and ensure advocacy.

Heads of power structures reported on recent developments at the administrative border with the Crimea.

In such a way, the head of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine general lieutenant Valeriy Kondratyuk informed that, according to available information, there was an armed clash with the use of small arms between the servicemen of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and the Border Service of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation.