Ukraine, Kiev: our soldier killed in clashes with separatists
The exchange of accusations between pro-Russian separatists and the Kiev army continues: the two sides accuse each other of attacks along the line of contact in the Donbass. During the night, the representatives of the pro-Russian republics said that the Ukrainian security forces opened fire on their positions. Ukrainian army denounced 12 ceasefire violations this morning after 66 cases in the previous 24 hours: separatists opened fire on more than 20 villages using heavy weapons, which are prohibited by the Minsk agreements, the army denounced. in Kiev.
Meanwhile, the leaders of Donetsk and Lugansk order the general mobilization. According to the Ria Novosti agency, the head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, Denis Pushilin, has announced the general mobilization. In a video message, Pushilin urged his compatriots “in reserve” to go “to the military commissariats. Today – he explained – I signed a decree for general mobilization”.
Previously, the leaders of the pro-Russian republics, Donetsk and Lugansk, had announced the temporary evacuation of citizens to Russia, in the Rostov region, starting with women, children and the elderly. According to Pushilin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will soon order the military to launch an offensive in the Donbass to invade the territory of the self-proclaimed separatist republics.
The leader of the self-proclaimed pro-Russian republic of Lugansk in Donbass, shortly after his counterpart in Donetsk, also proclaimed “general mobilization” on its territory. The leader, Leonid Pasechnik, has established this – Tass says – with a decree communicated online. The note released by the Russian agencies explains that the mobilization was decided to “create the conditions to repel the aggression” against the self-proclaimed secessionist republic by the Ukrainian authorities. The decree prescribes that “the units of the People’s Militia and other military and special formations are put into combat mode”. Pasechnik also imposed a ban on travel outside the republic for men between the ages of 18 and 55.
Ukraine, President Zelensky in flight for the Munich Conference
Despite fears of an impending Russian invasion, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, has not changed his plans and is flying to Munich, where he intends to take part in the annual Security Conference dedicated to the Ukrainian crisis. This was announced by the Ukrainian presidential office, adding that his return to Kiev is scheduled for the same day today.
(He follows…)