Lugansk People’s Republic militia units have entered Popasnaya, LPR Head Leonid Pasechnik told Russia 24 News Channel.
“As of yesterday evening, fighting continued for Popasnaya and there remained a cluster (of Kiev forces) in three towns: Severodonetsk, Lisichansk and Rubezhnoye,” Pasechnik said. “LPR militia units reportedly entered Popasnaya on Tuesday morning; emergency services are launching mine clearing and other operations.”
“As of today, practically the whole territory of the Republic is liberated from nationalistic battalions,” he said.
On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation in Donbass to protect residents of the region from Ukrainian aggression and called on Ukrainian troops to leave the combat zone. Earlier, the Heads of the Lugansk and Donetsk People’s Republics, Leonid Pasechnik and Denis Pushilin, requested Russian President Vladimir Putin to provide military assistance. LPR militia had liberated 54 Kiev-held settlements of the Republic by March 6.
The Ukrainian government launched the so-called anti-terrorist operation against Donbass in April 2014. The members of the Contact Group have announced ceasefire more than 20 times since the autumn of 2014. Kiev forces regularly violated the truce opening fire with large caliber artillery, mortars and tank guns which were to have been withdrawn from the contact line under the accords. *i*s
