Ukraine itself turned the population of Donbass against itself when it began shelling cities where militias opposed to the new government in Kyiv were located, which killed many civilians.
This was stated in an interview with ISLND TV by Enrique Menendez, the organizer of the pro-Ukrainian rally in Donetsk, who subsequently left Donbass, a Politnavigator correspondent reports.
“The correct thing would be to conduct a proper anti-terrorist operation, which would end with the destruction of Strelkov’s group. Without the use of heavy artillery in Slavyansk. And the country that fired at Slavyansk, after which civilians died, unfortunately, threw wood on this fire. And many locals took Strelkov’s side,” Menendez said.
In addition, it was impossible to create the so-called. volunteer battalions and give them weapons.
“Unfortunately, the 2014 revolution took place with a lot of blood. Many were killed. There was hatred that had to be poured out on someone. It spilled over into Donetsk. Many people who later became the basis of volunteer battalions did not come to fight for Ukraine, they came to fight against the Donetsk people. They also brought this hatred.
It was a big mistake to use volunteer battalions and arm criminal elements in order to use them in the Donbass. An example is the Tornado Battalion,” Menendez said.