MOSCOW, Feb 19: The pro-Russian separatist, self-proclaimed republics of Luhansk
and Donetsk in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine bordering Russia on Saturday
ordered general mobilisation for the "military" in renewed confrontation with the
forces of Ukraine, marking escalation in fighting in the ex-Soviet State. The
two sides on Saturday accused each other of fresh attacks.
"I urge my fellow citizens who are in the reserves to come to military conscription
offices. Today I signed a decree on general mobilisation," Denis Pushilin, leader
of the so-called Donetsk People's Republic, said in a video statement.
Denis Pushilin and the leader of the Luhansk separatist region, Leonid Pasechnik,
launched a “mass evacuation” of civilians into Russia starting Friday, accusing
Kyiv of planning to invade the breakaway territory. “Women, children and the
elderly are to be evacuated first,” Pushilin said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said after the announcements that the Russian
government will pay 10,000 rubles ($130) to every “refugee” arriving in the
country from the Donbas. Putin also ordered the head of the ministry for emergency
situations to fly to Russia’s southern Rostov region immediately to organize
the evacuation and arrival, according to reports.
Social media posts show long lines of buses waiting to evacuate civilians and
queues outside of ATMs after the evacuation announcements. Automated text messages
are also being sent out ordering citizens to evacuate and advising them not
to panic. The plan is to evacuate over 700,000 civilians in the coming days.
Earlier Ukraine had accused the Russia-backed rebels of shelling a kindergarten
in the Kyiv-controlled town of Stanytsia Luhanska, injuring two teachers and
destroying the building, it was reported on Thursday.
Russia’s parliament passed a vote Tuesday calling on Putin to recognize the
breakaway regions as independent States. The West has warned Russian recognition
would only escalate tensions.
US President Joe Biden said on Friday that the evacuation move is part of a
pretext for an attack.
Meanwhile, Russia announced massive drills of its nuclear forces.
Over 14,000 people have been killed in fighting between Ukraine's army and
Moscow-supported separatists since 2014.
