Russian-backed fighters included in announced inspection of Ukraine territory

Russian-backed fighters will be included in an inspection
of a Ukrainian-controlled district where a ceasefire violation is believed to
have occurred in war-torn Donbas, the President’s Office announced on its
website on Sept. 9. The inspection was scheduled to have occurred at 2:00 p.m.
on Sept. 10 in the vicinity of the village of Shumy in the Donetsk region
involving an OSCE representative “with the extremely limited manifestation of
the presence of (Russian-backed) fighters,” the statement said, adding that the
agreement was reached by the Trilateral Contact Group to resolve the armed
conflict. Media outlets have yet to confirm whether the inspection occurred,
and the precise role played by the Russian-backed fighters.

Recall, the Zelensky administration, in close
cooperation with the OSCE, initiated what has been the longest lasting
ceasefire in the Donbas war, which began on July 27. Part of the success has
been attributed to newly implemented coordinating mechanisms. The
first major violation of this ceasefire was alleged by Russian-backed Donetsk
People’s Republic leader Denys Pushylin to have occurred on Sept. 7 by
Ukrainian soldiers in the vicinity of Shumy. He threatened retaliatory fire,
while the Ukrainian army denied his claims.

“Those who have gotten used to earning a living from
the war politically or financially have begun to engage in provocations, spread
fake news, and so forth. The President’s Office categorically condemns such an
approach to resolving any issues. With the goal of refuting fake news and
disallowing new provocations, today an agreement was reached on a joint
inspection of the district of Shumy with the participation of an OSCE
coordinator,” the president’s statement said.

Zenon Zawada: This is the
latest episode of the Zelensky administration consistently demonstrating its
eagerness to accommodate Russian demands in the peace process. Led by
President’s Office head Andriy Yermak, the administration has demonstrated it
will concede to the Russians as much as its Western partners will allow in
accomplishing its agenda of what can be summarized as, “peace at almost any
price” (and formally stated on Sept. 9 as preserving the lives of Ukrainian
soldiers and civilians as a key priority.)

At the same time, the details of this development
have yet to be confirmed, including whether Ukraine’s Western partners in the
Normandy Four offered their approval (and whether they will be critical if they
didn’t). What role the fighters played is also critical. But similar to the “advisory councils” episode, the mere setting of this precedent is a
potential Pandora’s box that could be exploited to the fullest by the Russians.