Ukraine: Dead soldier killed by pro-Russian separatists

The Ukrainian army says a soldier has been killed in a series of bombings by pro-Russian separatists this morning in the east. Ukrainewhere the escalation of violence this week raises concerns that it could lead to military action by Russia.

“During the bombing, a Ukrainian soldier was fatally wounded by a shell”confirmed the military administration in eastern Ukraine.

The Ukrainian military said on its Facebook page that it had recorded 19 violations of the ceasefire agreement by the separatists this morning compared to 66 cases in the previous 24 hours.

“General mobilization” in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic

The “general mobilization” was declared by the leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, which is at war with the Ukrainian government army.

“I call on my reserve compatriots to report to the military offices. “Today, I signed the general mobilization decree,” Dennis Pushilin said in a recorded message.

In fact, forbade men between the ages of 18 and 55 (ie at the age of carrying weapons) to leave the areawhile allowed authorities to seize vehicles and assets of companies and individuals for defense purposes.

The authorities of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic stated that Artillery shells fired by the Ukrainian government army damaged a water station in the Vasilyevka regionwhich serves areas on both sides of the demarcation line, while heavy artillery hit villages.

Electricity supply to part of the area was also cut off.

The same time, There have been several explosions and evacuations of areas, while both the US and the West appear confident that there will be a Russian invasion of Kiev..

The OSCE sees a “spectacular increase” in ceasefire violations

Observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) say note “dramatic increase” in violations of the ceasefire agreement in eastern Ukrainewhere pro-Russian separatists and government troops have been fighting since 2014.

They recorded a “spectacular increase” in hostilities along the front line, the OSCE said in a statement, estimating that the level of violence has now returned to where it was before the July 2020 agreement to consolidate the ceasefire.

He talked about 222 ceasefire violations on the front line in the Donetsk regioncontrolled by pro-Russian separatists, including 135 “explosions”, compared to 189 on Wednesday and 24 on Tuesday.

In Lugansk regionwhich are also controlled by pro-Russian separatists, the Organization spoke of 648 violations, including 519 “explosions”, compared to 402 on Wednesday and 129 on Tuesday.

The OSCE “calls members to strictly abide by all the commitments they have made and to take all necessary measures to reduce tensions“To work for immediate de-escalation for the benefit of innocent civilians on both sides of the front line who continue to suffer as a result of this conflict,” the statement added.

The organization, which includes both Russia and the United States, deployed an observer mission to Ukraine in 2014, following the annexation of the Crimean peninsula by Moscow and the outbreak of war between pro-Russian separatists and the Ukrainian army in eastern Ukraine. area also known as Donbass. The war has claimed the lives of more than 14,000 people, according to authorities in Kiev.

Zelensky at the Munich Conference

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will attend the Munich Security Conference and return home later that day, according to a statement from his office.

Zelensky’s journey has come to the fore due to concerns in Western countries that Russia will launch a military strike against Ukraine. and that he can do it while the president is out of the country.

Russia denies plans to attack neighboring country