Statement of the MFA on the ongoing provocations of the Russian side on the border with Ukraine

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine expresses its strong protest against another attempt to illegally cross the state border of Ukraine from the territory of the Russian Federation, which take place with the full connivance of the Russian authorities and unlawful inactivity by Russian border guards.

In particular, on May 21 in Krasnodonsky region of Lugansk Oblast Ukrainian border guards prevented an attempt of several groups of armed militants, who were escorting weapons and ammunition from the territory of the Russian Federation, to illegally break through the state border of Ukraine. The same day the Russian MI-8 helicopter violated the airspace of Ukraine in Sumy Oblast.

These and other provocations by Russian side in Ukraine are regarded as attempts to disrupt the presidential elections on 25 May and destabilize the situation in the eastern region of our country.

Yesterday's events at the Ukrainian-Russian border has once again confirmed the obvious: Russia continues to violate its international obligations and principles of international relations, hypocritically ignoring the Geneva agreement, deliberately choosing tactics to further aggravate the situation in Ukraine.

We call on the UN, the OSCE and the international community to condemn the aggressive policy of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and continue to take decisive actions in order to prevent disruption of elections in Ukraine and force the Kremlin to adhere to the international law and civilized relations with the outside world.