Hindustani78
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State Department Daily Press Briefing
17 April 2015
U.S. Department of State
Daily Press Briefing Index
Washington, D.C.
Friday, April 17, 2015
12:28 p.m. EDT
Briefer: Marie Harf, Acting Spokesperson
QUESTION: -- could I just follow up on the presence of Russian military – or Russian soldiers --
MS HARF: You can.
QUESTION: -- in the Ukraine? Now you mentioned this yesterday. Do you know what the strength level of these units? Are they battalion strength, company strength, brigade strength, or individuals?
MS HARF: I can check on the numbers. I know there’s a lot – a huge number. I just don’t know what the exact number is. We do know that Russian military forces continue to operate in eastern Ukraine, and as the Secretary has said, no amount of propaganda can make true what we know blatantly to be false. So I think we are very focused on the fact that Russia can live up to its Minsk obligations here, can pull back. There is a diplomatic off-ramp here. They haven’t taken it yet, though.
QUESTION: Do they operate in combat capacity, or do they operate in an advisory kind of capacity?
MS HARF: Well, I think a couple points. Russia has sent heavy weapons to the front lines in eastern Ukraine in violation of the Minsk agreements. They have command and control elements in eastern Ukraine to coordinate military operations there. They’ve trained separatist fighters in gunnery and artillery firing. They maintain advanced surface-to-air missile systems near the front lines, also in violation of the Minsk agreement. So I think that’s a very clear picture of how active Russia is in the fight in eastern Ukraine, and I know that’s something, of course, we’ve talked about a lot.
17 April 2015
U.S. Department of State
Daily Press Briefing Index
Washington, D.C.
Friday, April 17, 2015
12:28 p.m. EDT
Briefer: Marie Harf, Acting Spokesperson
QUESTION: -- could I just follow up on the presence of Russian military – or Russian soldiers --
MS HARF: You can.
QUESTION: -- in the Ukraine? Now you mentioned this yesterday. Do you know what the strength level of these units? Are they battalion strength, company strength, brigade strength, or individuals?
MS HARF: I can check on the numbers. I know there’s a lot – a huge number. I just don’t know what the exact number is. We do know that Russian military forces continue to operate in eastern Ukraine, and as the Secretary has said, no amount of propaganda can make true what we know blatantly to be false. So I think we are very focused on the fact that Russia can live up to its Minsk obligations here, can pull back. There is a diplomatic off-ramp here. They haven’t taken it yet, though.
QUESTION: Do they operate in combat capacity, or do they operate in an advisory kind of capacity?
MS HARF: Well, I think a couple points. Russia has sent heavy weapons to the front lines in eastern Ukraine in violation of the Minsk agreements. They have command and control elements in eastern Ukraine to coordinate military operations there. They’ve trained separatist fighters in gunnery and artillery firing. They maintain advanced surface-to-air missile systems near the front lines, also in violation of the Minsk agreement. So I think that’s a very clear picture of how active Russia is in the fight in eastern Ukraine, and I know that’s something, of course, we’ve talked about a lot.
