Slavyansk: volunteer corps members are battling against Kyiv’s army
“At present, fighting is under way on the approaches to Slavyanbsk near Andreyevka and Semyonovka Villages, the town of Krasny Liman, and Mount Karagun. They (the military) pressurize us morally and do not give a respite. Bombardment has been going on unceasingly since 14:00 (13:00, Moscow time) on Thursday. They (the attackers) are firing from mortars and large-caliber machine-guns. There are also data that they are bringing up heavy military hardware,” Ilya said.
“Our immediate task is to hold the line and edge them away from the city,” Ilya said.
The VCM spokesman related that the road had been cut off by armoured personnel carriers and checkpoints and all the motorists are subjected to body searches.
“It is difficult to ride into Slavyask for young people aged from 20 to 36,” the VCM spokesman said, specifying that, regardless of age, all the motorists are subjected to a thorough frisk. “The military carry out body searches and rummage through personal belongings, even feminine ones,” the VCM spokesman said, adding that National Guard troopers ask questions in Ukrainian and “get irritated if people do not understand and ask them to repeat the questions”.
People who arrive with photo or video cameras arouse the troopers’ particular suspicion. “The troopers look all the sequences and photo camera recordings through. If any questions arise, they contact their headquarters and consult them,” he added. Motor vehicles are are also inspected thoroughly: even spare wheels are removed and ripped open.
11 Ukraine soldiers killed in clashes with militia near Slavyansk, Kramatorsk
The people’s mayor of Slavyansk, Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, claims that Ukraine’s security forces suffered heavy losses during clashes with militiamen outside of Slavyansk and Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine, on Wednesday evening.
“Eleven people were killed and 24 were injured on the adversary’s side. One person was killed on our side. The adversary keeps firing on Slavyansk and Kramatorsk all the time. They are not storming [the cities], but are trying to trigger panic among the population,” he said.
Both the militia and the civilian population of Slavyansk and Kramatorsk are “furious” with the Ukrainian Armed Forces for their constant attacks and provocations, Ponomaryov said.
“Our people are angry. They are prepared to resist the adversary using everything at hand. The adversary has driven the people to despair, and an ever-growing number of civilians are enrolling in the militia,” Ponomaryov said.
The Ukrainian security forces continue to strike against the outskirts of Slavyansk and Kramatorsk at the moment, he said.
“They are firing at the outskirts. They are using mortars, among other weapons. We have no other choice but to respond. Gunfire is underway in Slavyansk now, but it has already stopped in Kramatorsk,” he said.
Donetsk sets ultimatum for Kyiv troops to withdraw within 24 hours
Self-defense forces of Donetsk set an ultimatum for the Kyiv military troops to withdraw from the region within 24 hours, otherwise they will block posts in the Donetsk region, and troops will be taken by force, RIA Novosti reports. “I give 24 hours for them to withdraw all troops, all forces,” deputy commander of the Donetsk self-defense forces said in a statement on Wednesday.
According to the deputy commander of the People’s Militia of Donbass, Sergei Zdrilyuk special command units will start to operate in the areas if Ukrainian armored vehicles will not be withdrawn and the checkpoints are not abandoned.
“If the armored vehicles are not pulled back, the roadblocks of the so-called legitimate authorities are not removed, I will have enough power and means – the commander supported me today – to destroy and burn everything. Reconnaissance and sabotage groups are ready to move and some are steady,” deputy commander of the pro-autonomy militia of Donbass, Sergey Zdrilyuk, told RIA Novosti.
The statement follows referendums in Donetsk and Lugansk regions, which showed that the majority of voters support self-rule amid an intensified military operation by Kyiv.
Almost 90 percent of voters in Donetsk region have endorsed political independence from Kyiv, the head of the Central Election Commission of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, Roman Lyagin, previously announced.
In Lugansk region, 96.2 percent of voters supported the region’s self-rule, according to final figures announced by the local election commission.
After the referendum, the Donetsk People’s Republic proclaimed itself a sovereign state and asked Moscow to consider its accession into Russia.