11 August 2014
Pro-Russian separatists have been massively fleeing Luhansk dressed in civilian clothing, reported on Aug. 10 a local news portal, 0642.ua. Those remaining are attacking Ukrainian fighters with Grad rocket launches and artillery, the site reported. The terrorists have begun deserting their units and betraying them, confirmed the press center of the anti-terrorist operation the same evening. “They are looking for means of communicating with the anti-terrorist headquarters and through betrayals are trying to buy themselves a chance at life with valuable information,” the cetner’s Facebook page reported.
The city of Luhansk (population 424,000), which has been the site of armed fighting, has been without telephone service (both mobile and land line), electricity and water for eight days, the City Council reported on its website. Most stores are closed, fuel sources are exhausted and only a handful of pharmacies are operating. Local residents continue to report armed fighting in the city and surrounding districts. Meanwhile, the city of Donetsk (population 950,000) was filled with firearms volleys and automatic rounds the night of Aug. 9, reported the City Council website.
An atmosphere of fear and terror dominates Ukraine’s Donbas, consisting of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, reported on Aug. 8 Ivan Shimonovich, the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights. Pro-Russian separatists are kidnapping local residents, reaching about 924 so far, and are taking hostages, he said. The pro-Russian fighters have become more professional quickly as they are better organized and equipped, he said. Their political and military leadership consists of both Russian and Ukrainian citizens, he said.
Ukrainian military units near the Russian border were shot upon 25 times last week, 13 of them from within Russian territory, reported on Aug. 8 Andriy Lysenko, spokesman for the National Security and Defense Council.
Ukraine’s losses from Russian aggression, including economic barriers, could reach USD 7 bln by the year end, reported on Aug. 8 Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk. As a result, the Ukraine will have to re-orient itself on the European market and rely on aid from international financial institutions.
Zenon Zawada: Momentum continues to favor the Ukrainian forces against the pro-Russian separatists. Russia needs a drastic change in strategy to avoid defeat, for which observers are keeping a close watch. Ukrainian Presidential Administration Deputy Head Valery Chaliy told a television show on Aug. 8 that a Russian provocation was planned that day in which a peacekeeping mission – containing both humanitarian aid and military hardware –was supposed to cross into Ukraine.