You're reading: Veterans block railroad to prevent trade with separatist-held territories

Donbas war veterans of the Ukrainian government forces’ have blocked the stretch of railroad connecting Luhansk, Lysychansk, and Popasna between Horske and Zolote to prevent trade with the part of Ukrainian territory not controlled by Kyiv, Semen Semenchenko, a Verkhovna Rada deputy from the Samopomich faction, said on Facebook.

By blocking 12 trains and over 700 carriages with goods from going further on to Donbas, the veterans so started what they call the third phase of an operation to freeze trade with “the enemy,” Semenchenko said.

The first freight train was stopped between Horske and Zolote on Jan. 25 afternoon, Semenchenko said. The activists intend to use a welding machine to weld the train to the tracks, he said.