One of the leaders of the pro-autonomy insurgency in the Donetsk region has argued that an announcement by acting Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov that a national referendum on constitutional reform is possible next month is just a time-winning game to be able to "pull more troops here, into the east."
“We don’t trust these assurances and will make our own decisions
concerning our region,” the coordinator of the Self-Defense Forces of
Slovyansk told Interfax by phone.
The coordinator, who asked not to be named, said the Self-Defense
Forces had started talks with army units deployed in the region. Some of
the servicemen “have come over to our side, and we are in negotiations
with the rest,” he said.
Earlier, the coordinator had told Interfax that the Self-Defense
Forces had been put on full alert. “This morning has been quiet here.
Nevertheless provocations from the Kyiv government are possible after
the expiry of the ultimatum period. “We have put all our forces on full
alert. We will not surrender, we will fight to the end,” he said.
Turchynov on April 14 expressed support for proposals for a national
referendum on a reform that would turn Ukraine into a federal state. He
said the proposed plebiscite could be held simultaneously with a planned
presidential election on May 25.
