TOSHKIVKA, Ukraine - The Ukrainian army and Kremlin-backed insurgents in Luhansk Oblast have announced a cease-fire starting Dec. 5, but locals are skeptical about the deal since shelling continues as of Dec. 2.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said in a Dec. 1 statement that the cease-fire agreement was reached by representatives of Ukraine, Russia and the pro-Russian separatists on Nov. 29. Igor Plotnitsky, head of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic, confirmed this on Dec. 2.
The agreement implies withdrawal of heavy military equipment by 15-29 kilometers from the frontline starting from Dec. 6, according to Plotnitsky.
A similar cease-fire deal was achieved regarding the area around the Donetsk airport, according to the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine. Andrei Purgin, chairman of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic’s legislature, mentioned that the deal comes into effect on Dec. 2. However, the press service for the Anti-Terrorist Operation reported that rebels started their attacks again late on Dec. 2.
A Dec. 1 news briefing of a joint group on cease-fire negotiations, Ukrainian Military TV’s YouTube channel
The recent wave of agreements came after the Sept. 5 cease-fire deal in Minsk led to poor progress in bringing peace to the rebel-held territory.
However, Luhansk Oblast residents have little faith that the shooting will stop in the nearest future. They refused to give their last names to the Kyiv Post due to concerns over personal security.
Svitlana, a 65-year-old retiree in Toshkivka, a small town of 4,400 residents, says the cease-fire was agreed but won’t be enforced. “Neither side wants to retreat,” she explained.
“You can see yourself what kind of cease-fire this is,” said another Toshkivka resident Kristina, 32, a weaver, as she pointed to the sounds of shelling in the background.
She added that she has never had any sentiment towards the separatist insurgents and supports the Ukrainian army that treats the locals well.
Ivan, a 62-year-old pensioner from Hirske, another town in Luhansk Oblast with some 10,300 residents, also stands by Ukrainian side in the war. The man calls himself a Banderovite after Ukraine’s Second World War-era nationalist Stepan Bandera.
Separatists were coming to Hirske on a regular basis at night to intimidate the population, he said.
He added, when a new Russian “humanitarian convoy” came to eastern Ukraine, shelling intensified. Many witness that what Russia calls “humanitarian aid” is nothing but weapons deliveries.
But people are not unanimous. A coal miner from Hirske aged 56, who didn’t even give his first name, said he doesn’t support either side in the conflict. “Both are hiding behind the civilians,” he emphasized.
Kyiv Post staff writer Oleg Sukhov can be reached at [email protected].
