On 19-21 March 2017 members of the UKIP Nigel Sussman and Richard Wood visited the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea in breach of Ukrainian laws and had a meeting with the so-called “Crimean leadership”.

In spite of numerous warnings of the Ukrainian Side, the mentioned UKIP members have defiantly violated the Ukrainian legislation as well as international law, having neglected the official position of the UK that remains committed to defending Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Embassy of Ukraine considers the actions of these individuals as a manifestation of a deliberate support of the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine, their endorsement of the Kremlin’s policy of human rights infringement in the occupied Crimea.

We strongly demand all foreign nationals to strictly abide by the Ukrainian legislation. Foreigners and stateless persons are allowed to enter and exit Crimea provided they have a special permit issued by the State Migration Service of Ukraine and only through the points of entry and exit controlled by the Ukrainian authorities.

The Embassy of Ukraine warned that Ukrainian authorities will adequately respond to any facts of violations of the established procedure and bring those responsible to account, in particular by imposing bans to enter the territory of Ukraine.