Ukraine's attempt to carry out an act of terror by using an unmanned aerial vehicle which was intercepted by the Lugansk People’s Republic militia, has again proved its “peaceful” intentions to settle the Donbass conflict, LPR Head Leonid Pasechnik said.
Eye-witnesses said on July 24 that a Ukrainian drone fell in the Metallist settlement area, Slavyanoserbsk district. The drone had two home-made bombs on board which were rendered harmless by LPR militia engineers. Ukraine’s Zapad Special Operations Centre planned to use the UAV to carry out an act of terror in central Lugansk, the LPR militia said.
“The incident at the weekend has again proved that Kiev has no intention to stop strikes, special operations or provocations. For the Ukrainian government, a “peaceful settlement" of the Donbass conflict means organizing terrorist attacks to kill our citizens,” Pasechnik said.
The LPR Head said that the data obtained from the drone compute showed that Kiev forces had planned to drop the bombs in the House of Government and Theatre Square area in central Lugansk.
“It is terrible to imagine the number of victims, including children who could have been killed in this terrorist attack. There is a children’s playground next to the House of Government while Theatre Square is always crowded. Kiev’s inhuman act violates not only the Minsk accords, but also all the existing norms of international law,” he said.
The Additional Measures to Strengthen the Ceasefire, agreed by the Contact Group members and effective since 00:01 July 27, 2020, ban offensive and commando operations, use of unmanned aerial vehicles, deployment of heavy armaments in or in proximity to residential areas etc. The additional measures envision punishment for violators and the use of the coordination mechanism to respond to ceasefire violations. Return fire is allowed in case of offensive, if the order is given by the leadership of Ukrainian forces or DPR and LPR People’s Militias after the unsuccessful attempt to use the coordination mechanism. The Contact Group shall be notified about such orders.
The Ukrainian government launched the so-called anti-terrorist operation against Donbass in April 2014. Conflict settlement relies on the Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Agreements, signed on February 12, 2015 in the Belarussian capital by the Contact Group members and coordinated by the Normandy Four heads of states (Russia, Germany, France and Ukraine). The document provides for ceasefire and withdrawal of heavy weapons from the contact line. *i*s
