Ukrainian army takes seven settlements in Donbass security zone

Taking advantage of the ceasefire, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have taken seven settlements in the Donbass security zone, representative of the Donetsk People’s Republic at the talks in Minsk Denis Pushilin says.

According to him, this may bring about full-scale renewal of military action in the area.

“We have addressed representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Martin Sajdik and ask him to let the Normandy Four know that the status quo was breached by those actions. Renewal of military action may follow after it,” he says.

The DPR representative also announced that “there are two meetings left till the end of the year” (meetings of the Contact Group on Dec 15 and 22). “We need to focus upon necessity of pullout of weapons, of the ceasefire; if military units come closer, if neutral settlements are taken, this may result in escalation of the conflict,” Pushilin warns. “No excuses of the Ukrainian party can be taken into account,” he concludes.

Two days before, the Ukrainian government forces took five villages in the buffer zone of the contact line mostly in southern part of the Donetsk People’s Republic.