Ukraine: Renewed clashes kill nine soldiers in the Donbass July 20

Event

Clashes between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed rebels resulted in the deaths of nine soldiers on Thursday, July 20. A resurgence of violence has erupted in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Mariupol after the leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR), Aleksandr Zakharchenko, declared the creation of a new state, “Malorossia“ (Little Russia), on Tuesday July 18. A Ukrainian military spokesperson announced that four soldiers lost their lives in tank and mortar fire, two by small arms, and three others were killed by a land mine. Much of the fighting was focused around Krasnogorovka and Novgorodskoye in Donetsk oblast.

According to Zakharchenko, Malorussia will assume control over all Ukrainian territory, except of the Russian-annexed Crimean Peninsula, with Kiev as the cultural center and Donetsk as the capital. No members of the international community have recognized the declaration and Russia’s envoy to the peace talks in Minsk said that the statement has no legal consequences. According to separatist media sources, the leader of the Luhansk People’s Republic, Igor Plotnitsky, was not consulted by the DNR prior to the declaration.

Context

Fighting continues to take place between Ukrainian and separatist forces in eastern Ukraine despite the ceasefire agreement that came into effect on April 1. On June 13, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) released a report that warned the fighting in eastern Ukraine has escalated in recent months. In accordance with the Minsk protocol (September 2014) and Minsk II (February 2015) a ceasefire has officially been in place for several years in eastern Ukraine (Donbass region) between Russian-backed separatists, who advocate closer ties with Russia, and the Ukrainian government. However, despite these agreements, fighting is regularly reported in the region. On April 23, an International Observer with the European Security (OSCE) was killed and two others were wounded by a landmine near Pryshyb (30 km [18.6 mi] northwest of Luhansk).

More than 10,000 people have been killed in the conflict since 2014. Ukraine has reported the deaths of 19 soldiers since April 1, 2017, while Russian separatists announced the deaths of ten soldiers in April.

Advice

Due to ongoing fighting between government forces and pro-Russian rebels in the east of the country, many Western governments advise against travel to Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts (Donbass region), as well as areas along the Russian border.