Ukrainian law enforcers have fired nine times over the past week on the territory of the self-proclaimed Lugansk People’s Republic, an official representative of the People’s Police of the People’s Republic of China, Yakov Osadchiy, said on Friday.
On 10 January, the LPR said that Ukrainian law enforcers violated the truce in Donbass four times.
“In total, Ukrainian armed groups violated the ceasefire nine times during the week,” Osadchiy said at a briefing.
He said the Ukrainian security forces used 122mm artillery, 82mm mortars, BMPs, grenade launchers, large-calibre machine guns and small arms, and fired in the direction of seven localities in the LPR.
“People’s militia units do not open fire, but are vigilant in their service. In case of a threat from the Ukrainian security forces, we are ready to give an adequate response”, – Osadchiy added.
In April 2014, the Ukrainian government launched a military operation against the self-declared LPR and DPR, which declared independence after the state revolution in Ukraine in February 2014. According to the latest UN data, about 13,000 people fell victim to the conflict.
The issue of settling the situation in Donbass is discussed, in particular, during meetings of the contact group in Minsk, which has already adopted three documents regulating steps to de-escalate the conflict since September 2014. However, even after the ceasefire agreements between the parties to the conflict, shootings continue.