The issue of liberating a settlement captured by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the DPR remains extremely problematic.
The head of the republic, Denis Pushilin, announced this via video link from Donetsk on the Rossiya 1 TV channel, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“If we talk about Staromaryevka, 180 people are hostages of the situation. Moreover, the humanitarian situation there is getting worse, I’m talking about the lack of heat, the lack of food and other things, because people do not leave their houses, they are afraid of the huge number of armed people who are now there, who are building fortifications. Therefore, the situation is rapidly developing for the worse,” Pushilin said.
“Our communication with the populated area is periodic, because it is jammed by Ukrainian units, however, people find an opportunity. But it is fragmentary and periodic. As for the complete list of people, of course, we have it, because they were supported by the DPR.
Of course, there are children, old people, and just adults there. It is now extremely problematic to liberate peacefully, because it is in populated areas that positions have already been equipped, and it is at the entrance or entrance to a populated area that a checkpoint and other fortifications have been installed. Naturally, our units cannot work without some prerequisites for causing harm to the civilian population,” the head of the DPR noted.
“Therefore, attempts are now being made to involve international officials, who must, first of all, close the issue of a humanitarian nature, provide people with everything they need, and then there is the question of returning to the status quo regarding this settlement,” Pushilin said.
In turn, commenting on the situation, journalist and TV presenter Vladimir Solovyov was outraged by the inaction of the Russian authorities.
“Ukraine has captured the most important bridgehead on the other side. Ukraine has fundamentally changed the disposition of forces for a possible offensive, for which it is bringing up troops. And once again we lost our nerve. Ukraine is celebrating victory yesterday, they did not receive an answer,” the journalist said on the Solovyov LIVE channel.
“I have no questions for the LDNR. I have another question: 37 citizens of my country were in Nazi captivity, where is Russia’s position and why are our citizens not released? I’m ashamed that, having such military potential, we give the Nazi bastard the opportunity to mock our citizens,” Solovyov added.