Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleba yesterday denied reports by “Russian propaganda” claiming that Ukraine was planning offensive operations in the Donbas. “We categorically refute Russian disinformation reports on Ukraine’s alleged offensive operations or acts of sabotage in chemical production facilities. Ukraine does not conduct or plan any such actions in the Donbas. We are fully committed to diplomatic conflict resolution only,” Kuleba said, reported Ukrinform. Reznikov, the defense minister, also said on February 18 that Ukraine does not intend to take any military action against certain areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions or Crimea, as it saves the lives of its citizens.
But, in response to the offensive that Kuleba denied was happening, the leaders of the self-declared Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics announced general mobilizations of their forces. The DPR Head Denis Pushilin signed the decree on mobilization on Saturday morning calling on “all males capable to take up arms to rise to protect their families, children, wives, and mothers,” reported the Donetsk News Agency (DAN). The DPR legislature quickly approved the mobilization, which put the decree in effect.
LPR leader Leonid Pasechnik published a similar mobilization decree. “The People’s Council of the LPR, the LPR government shall be immediately notified about the announcement of mobilization.” The decree said the mobilization aims to create conditions for repelling an aggression against the LPR by Ukraine.
The mobilizations followed the start, yesterday, of the evacuations of civilians to Russia’s Rostov region. LPR Minister of Emergency Situations Yevgeny Katsavalov said this morning that 25,000 people have already left on their own. In addition, “An organized convoy is being formed for evacuation of 10,000 people,” Katsavalov said.
