Donbas ceasefire violations reported, though Reznikov remains optimistic

The latest attempt at ceasefire in Donbas, which began
at midnight on July 27, was violated by Russian-backed fighters in three
incidents that day. Near the Donetsk village of Vodiane, the fighters fired
from handheld anti-tank grenade launchers and rifles, as reported by the Joint
Forces Operation press service. Near the village of Pivdenniy, the fighters
shot from automatic grenade launchers, high-caliber machine guns and rifles.
Near the village of Novomykhaylivka, the fighters fired from anti-tank grenade
launchers and engaged in mining operations. Ukrainian forces didn’t respond
with fire, in accordance with the ceasefire agreement, the press service said.

Nonetheless, Oleksiy Reznikov, the first deputy head
of the Ukrainian delegation to the Trilateral Contact Group, said “this doesn’t
mean it’s a ceasefire violation,” as reported by the Interfax-Ukraine news
agency that day. “This means that there are facts of violations,” he said. Such
alleged incidents need to be investigated, reported to the OSCE and punished,
he said. Meanwhile, the additional measures introduced for addressing ceasefire
violations must be undertaken. Ukraine will withdraw from the ceasefire
agreement if the shootings are a campaign of real aggression, not single,
random incidents of violations, he said, adding that he’s optimistic.

Presidents Zelensky and Putin held a telephone call on
July 26 during which they reiterated their support for ceasefire regime agreed
upon at the Trilateral Contact Group on July 22, the president’s office said.
They particularly agreed upon the additional measures in support of the
ceasefire, which include a prohibition on offensive and reconnaissance maneuvers,
a requirement that only top commanders resolve violations and only through
coordinating mechanisms, and a requirement that commanders make their orders
public to ensure they conform to the agreements and reflect their true actions,
among others.

Zelensky and Putin also discussed fulfilling the
agreements reached at the December Normandy Format summit in Paris, cooperation
in demining and withdrawing forces from the separation, opening new border
crossings and ensuring Red Cross access to war prisoners. Zelensky also raised
the issue of freeing more war prisoners, including Ruslan Suleimanov, whose
three-year-old son was found dead in a pit near his house in Crimea last week.
Authorities declared his death to be a drowning the morning of July 27.

Several hundred protesters gathered at the President’s
Office on July 27 to express their opposition to the additional ceasefire
measures, particularly the inability to respond to fire. The ceasefire
conditions practically give Russia its coveted role of an observer in the
conflict (which it is in fact fueling), while forcing Ukraine to deal directly
with the leaders of the self-declared republics in addressing ceasefire
violations, protest leaders said.

Zenon Zawada: The
Zelensky administration is continuing to attempt new approaches to resolve the
Donbas war, which it needs to do for its Western backers, as well as its
electorate that want an end. It’s the right thing to do politically, but we
don’t expect it will get anywhere since the Ukrainian forces are not going to
tolerate being sitting ducks for the Russian-backed fighters.

It’s also not realistic that these fighters will
uphold the ceasefire terms, which is why we’re not concerned about them being
to Russia’s advantage. Though it can be argued that Russia has gained a de
facto observer status of sorts, this won’t matter in the long run because this
ceasefire won’t last.