Tensions in the Donbass conflict area in eastern Ukraine continue to increase massively. In the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic of Donetsk separatist leader Denis Pushilin called all men to arms to fight against Ukrainian government forces. Ukraine has repeatedly stressed that it is not planning an offensive against the pro-Russian separatists. Pushilin, in turn, spoke of massive shelling from the Ukrainian side. This information could not be verified. In Donetsk, two schools, a hospital and a substation were hit, the authorities there said.
From the regions controlled by pro-Moscow separatists, women and children in particular were brought to Russia in buses and trains. Tens of thousands came to emergency shelters in different parts of Russia. The men had to stay. “I call on the male population, everyone who can hold a weapon, to report to the district military commandos and to stand up for the protection of their families, children, women, mothers and for our fatherland,” said Puschilin.
Observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) had recently reported thousands of violations of the agreed ceasefire. Ukraine stressed that the fire would be returned but not attacked. That is not verifiable. Officially, Ukraine has been deviating from an additional agreement to the current ceasefire since autumn. “We have no ban on opening fire. Each commander makes his own decision on the spot,” said the commander of the government troops, Olexander Pavlyuk, in October.
Meanwhile, the FSB, the domestic intelligence service responsible for Russian border protection, announced that one of its posts in the Rostov region had been shot at and destroyed. Pictures were shown. Russian authorities had also previously reported such attacks from the Ukrainian side. That was not verifiable. The investigative committee in Moscow announced investigations. Moscow could also use an alleged attack on Russia by the Ukrainian side as a pretext for an invasion of the neighboring country.