Poroshenko approves strategy for combating terrorism

The decree to that effect, No. 53/2019, has been published on the website of the head of state.

The president instructed the Cabinet of Ministers, with the participation of the Security Service of Ukraine, the Foreign Intelligence Service, and the State Guard Department, to draw up and approve a two-month plan for the implementation of the strategy.

In addition, the head of state instructed the SBU, with the participation of other actors in the fight against terrorism, to prepare and submit within two months for consideration by the president the proposals regarding the procedure for conducting a review of the national system on combating terrorism.

According to the strategy, the document "defines the purpose, tasks, main principles and areas for improvement of the nationwide system on combating terrorism in view of current terrorist threats to the national security of Ukraine and the forecast for their development."

According to the strategy, at the present time the greatest terrorist threat to Ukraine is Russia's aggressive policy aimed at destabilizing the situation in the state, including by means of the instigation of separatist manifestations and comprehensive support for the sabotage and terrorist activity of puppet quasi-government entities in the temporarily occupied territories in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

According to the document, the actions of illegal armed groups "DPR" and "LPR," in particular, the shelling of civilian facilities and infrastructure, causing numerous civilian casualties, sabotage, impediments to the work of observers of international organizations, threats to their lives and health, are characterized in international law enforcement practice as terrorist.

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