Prime Minister: Russian terrorists target to halt metallurgical complex of Ukraine by destroying Avdiivka Coke Plant

Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk instructed to immediately include Avdiivka into the list of settlements within the ATO zone and to shore up defense of the town, in particular of the Coke and Chemical Plant. He announced at a Government meeting on Wednesday, January 21.

"Now Russian terrorists have intensified their attacks," Arseniy Yatsenyuk stressed and added that he had received information about “a barrage of fire on Avdiivka".

"36 thousand people in Avdiivka have suffered for the fifth day without water", he stressed.

The main target of these Russian terrorists in Avdiivka, according to Arseniy Yatsenyuk, is to destroy one of Europe's largest coke plants. "For a long period of time the Russians have been shelling it from Grads. And if the plant is destroyed, it means that they want to halt the entire metallurgical complex of Ukraine", explained the Head of Government, at this he reminded that it is impossible to melt steel without coke.

"We are forced to take prompt decisions to deliver coke from other countries, but this cannot be done fast. It is quite clear that the task of the Russian terrorists is to destroy Ukrainians and to destroy the Ukrainian economy," said Arseniy Yatsenyuk.

Prime Minister of Ukraine has commissioned Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Utilities of Ukraine Hennadii Zubko to urgently include Avdiivka into the list of fire-affected territories in the anti-terrorist operation zone.

Moreover, he instructed to assess with the mayor of Avdiivka the needs for funding from the Reserve Fund, "The Government is ready to help."

Arseniy Yatseniuk also informed that officers of the State Emergency Service had been sent to Avdiivka coke plant. He appealed to Hennadii Zubko to contact the owners of the plant, "What they need there - what forces and tools. We should take urgent action in this issue".

The Prime Minister addressed namely the Defence Ministry of Ukraine and the Interior Ministry of Ukraine to reinforce defence and protection of Avdiivka, "to do everything in power to protect civilians from Russian terrorists".

He also said that Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Arsen Avakov and the Secretary of National Security and Defence Oleksandr Turchynov are in Avdiivka now.

"It is quite clear, what is the cause of escalation of the situation. The fact that Russia continues sending its troops from the Russian territory, has two targets. The first is to disrupt the mobilization process and disrupt the preparation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to an effective defence. And the second purpose is to disrupt our negotiations with foreign partners, and with the International Monetary Fund as well", explained Arseniy Yatsenyuk.

The Head of Government reminded that these days the President of Ukraine is in Davos, where he is to hold a meeting with a managing director of the International Monetary Fund. Together with the President Davos is attended by a Government’s delegation, Minister of Finance of Ukraine, and the Minister of Economy of Ukraine is due to depart there, "As western support for our reforms is of extreme importance".