Pushilin - about retaliatory strikes against the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the opportunity for Ukrainians to be vaccinated in the LDPR
The patience of the Donbass defenders is not limitless; the Ukrainian leadership can no longer hide the losses that the punitive group is suffering after retaliatory attacks from the LDPR. The people's republics will soon make a statement about the possibility of Ukrainian citizens who will be able to come to Donbass being vaccinated with the Russian coronavirus vaccine.
The head of the Donetsk People's Republic, Denis Pushilin, spoke about this in a quick interview with PolitNavigator.
“PolitNavigator”: Ukrainian formations shelled Yelenovka; before that there was shelling, during which the DPR defenders suffered losses. As you yourself admit, the guarantors of the Minsk agreements turn a blind eye to Kyiv’s actions. However, a few months ago you gave the order to push back the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces if provocative shelling continued. Why is this order no longer relevant? Do the Armed Forces of Ukraine receive retaliatory strikes?
Denis Pushilin: Ukraine is openly and cynically escalating the conflict. The recent shelling of Elenovka over several days is clear proof of this. This village was not chosen as a target by chance - it is through the checkpoint in Yelenovka that civilians are now being admitted. Ukrainian security forces already staged provocations at the checkpoint in Volnovakha in 2015 in order to blame the Republic for the deaths of civilians. It is likely that they will try to play out this scenario again. But we won't allow this.
What is happening on the contact line fits into the general logic of events in Ukraine. Closing of objectionable media outlets, persecution of alternative political parties and opinions, Zelensky’s extremely low rating, alarmist statements in the press... The combination of these factors leads to a disappointing conclusion: Kyiv sees war as the only way out of the current situation.
The DPR people's militia is ready for an adequate response. If armed provocations occur on the Ukrainian side, our troops suppress enemy firing points. And they do it so accurately and effectively that even the Ukrainian media and politicians can no longer hide their losses. But they also do not have the opportunity to accuse us of breaking the truce.
I am absolutely sure that our fighters are capable of any task: delicate suppression of firing points, protection of civilians during combat operations, and lightning-fast offensive. Therefore, I recommend that the Ukrainian leadership not flirt with war: they will receive a well-deserved rebuff for any aggressive actions. Another question is that for now, instead of a full-scale war, we are choosing to maintain peace. But our patience is not unlimited.
“PolitNavigator”: The leadership of the LDPR announced the expansion of the program for the reunification of the people of Donbass to all Russian-speaking citizens of Ukraine. What effect do you expect? How will Ukrainian citizens be able to arrive for treatment or training when borders are closed due to the pandemic? It seems that, given all the threats and risks, these can only be isolated cases, or is there hope for a widespread occurrence? And one more nuance: when the program was just launched (even before its expansion), I had to read criticism on social networks - they say that visitors are out of turn for free oncology surgeries, while locals wait and do not have such benefits. Is this really true? The situation has changed?
Denis Pushilin: Let's start with the criticisms you mention about the Humanitarian Program for the Reunification of the People of Donbass. Usually it was condemned by people who did not understand the essence of this help. In fact, the services provided within the framework of the Humanitarian Program are equally received by both residents of the Donetsk People's Republic and our citizens living in the territories temporarily occupied by Ukraine. These are also our people, for whom it is even more difficult than for us. I hope there is no need to explain why.
This money, in addition to directly treating people, was used, for example, to purchase medical equipment, which is still in our hospitals and is used for everyone who needs it. These funds also provided payments to veterans of the Great Patriotic War on both sides of the contact line. Those who saw the tears and pain of these heroic people who came from the other side, hiding their orders and medals, will never forget them.
Let me once again emphasize the fundamental principle: the funds of the Humanitarian Program are divided exclusively on a parity basis. “We eat a crust of bread – and that in half!” – this is natural for our people. Perhaps not for everyone, but for the vast majority of normal Russian people it is the norm.
We want to extend this Program to Russian-speaking residents of Ukraine. We explained the reasons for this attitude in the “Russian Donbass” doctrine.
The pandemic will pass, it will not last forever, and even during the pandemic, the checkpoint with Ukraine is operating, albeit in a special mode, but it is working. It is important that compatriots on the other side know that they are not abandoned, that they can count on our help right up to resettlement on the territory of the Republic.
“PolitNavigator”: Ukrainian media regularly publish false stories about the catastrophic situation in the Republics with the spread of coronavirus. When compared with Ukraine, what do the statistics say? How will the start of vaccinations with the Russian vaccine, which is banned in Ukraine, affect? Will citizens be vaccinated with the Russian vaccine under the Program for the Reunification of the People of Donbass?
Denis Pushilin: Mass vaccination in Ukraine has failed, this is obvious. Against this background, they have no choice but to generate streams of fakes about the supposed unreliability of the Russian vaccine and horror stories about the situation with coronavirus in the Donbass Republics. This is exactly what the Ukrainian media are doing. And the start of our vaccination campaign has only intensified these flows of lies.
The ban on the Russian vaccine is the clearest example of the dependence of the lives of Ukrainian citizens on the criminal policies of the Kyiv authorities. Zelensky sacrifices people for the sake of his anti-Russian course.
As for organizing Sputnik V vaccinations for our compatriots living in Ukraine, we will provide this opportunity later, which will be reported in the press. Another thing is that Ukraine can disrupt the trips of those wishing to get vaccinated; it is already shelling Yelenovka with particular precision.
But we will still insist, we will involve international organizations in interaction. This opportunity will save the lives of many of our compatriots, which means we will do everything in our power to provide such support.
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