The conflict in the Donbass escalated as a result of clashes between the forces of the LPR and Ukraine. In Lugansk they said that the responsibility for escalation rests with Kiev - the Ukrainian military dealt a massive blow to the settlements of the self-proclaimed republic.

“Today, Ukrainian armed forces tried to conduct another sabotage in the area of ​​responsibility of the People’s Militia of the LPR. Attempts by the Ukrainian DRG (sabotage and reconnaissance group. - RT ) to penetrate the territory of the LPR are thwarted. There is no talk of any onset. After an unsuccessful attempt at sabotage, Ukrainian punishers opened artillery fire on the territory of the republic, ”said the head of the republic, Leonid Pasechnik.

According to the official representative of the LPR People’s Militia, Yakov Osadchy, in total, more than 50 shells and mines were fired by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, one civilian was injured, and houses were destroyed. At the same time, Osadchy stressed, Ukrainian forces attracted journalists to shoot materials exposing Lugansk to blame for the escalation of the confrontation.

“According to our information, the command of the operation of the combined forces involved the journalists of Ukrainian TV channels“ Channel 5, “1 + 1”, TSN and ICTV to shoot video materials in order to prepare videos that accuse the LPR People’s Police of violating the ceasefire, ”he said.

According to Osadchy, the Armed Forces of Ukraine stopped their shelling only after observers from the monitoring mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) arrived in the region.

“Having responded to our appeal, international observers from the OSCE SMM are currently monitoring the situation in the area of ​​the Golubovskoye settlement. The skillful actions of our defenders and the expeditious arrival of the mission’s staff in the area of ​​aggravation of the situation contributed to the cessation of this bloody provocation of the Ukrainian invaders, ”he said.

The aggravation of the conflict occurred due to the unwillingness of the President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky to end the conflict, despite the agreements concluded in recent months, said political analyst Ivan Mezyuho. He noted that the Ukrainian leader has the authority to stop the confrontation.

“The aggravation of the conflict in southeastern Ukraine was due to Kiev’s reluctance to establish peace in the Donbass. Zelensky has all the powers to end the fratricidal confrontation, nevertheless, Mr. Zelensky, despite the agreements in the framework of the Minsk agreements, in particular the Steinmeier formula, and those agreements that were reached during the Norman summit in Paris, did almost nothing so that the process of peaceful settlement of the conflict goes in the right direction, ”he told RT.

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Kiev has repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with its obligations. In particular, they imply ensuring the law on the special status of Donbass on an ongoing basis, after which local elections will be held in these territories. If the results of the vote are recognized by the OSCE as valid, Ukraine will be able to gain control over the border with Russia.

However, Kiev insists on transferring the border before the election. In particular, it is this issue Zelensky intends to raise at a future meeting in the Norman format - with the leaders of Russia, Germany and France.

In addition, Ukraine intends to seek entry into the Donbass peacekeeping contingent. According to Foreign Minister Vadim Priestayko, this issue will be raised during his speech at a meeting of the UN General Assembly.

Assessing the statements and actions of Kiev to resolve the conflict in the east of the country, Mezyuho stated that Zelensky was questioning the organization of the future summit.

“Today, it’s just right to say that Zelensky is doing everything to disrupt the new Norman summit,” the analyst said.

"Zelensky sets the paramilitary theme"

Vladimir Zelensky decided to convene a meeting of the National Security Council (NSDC), which will discuss the escalation.

“This is not just a cynical provocation, the purpose of which is to press on the Debaltsevian wound, which will never heal completely. This is an attempt to disrupt the peace process in the Donbass, which began to move forward, albeit in small, but relentless steps, ”he wrote on Facebook.

So, February 18th marks the fifth anniversary of the fighting in the area of ​​the city of Debaltseve, also known as the Debaltseve cauldron. According to their results, the Armed Forces of Ukraine were defeated and retreated, and the city was occupied by militias of the DPR and LPR. According to Kiev, 179 Ukrainian soldiers were killed, while the republics of Donbass report about 3 thousand dead soldiers of the Armed Forces. Data on the losses of militias also vary - from 30 (according to the position of the DPR) to 3 thousand (according to Ukraine).

Using such rhetoric, Zelensky intends to demonstrate that Ukraine is able to act in the Donbass by force, said Anton Bredikhin, scientific director of the Center for Ethnic and International Studies.

“Zelensky sets semi-military rhetoric, semi-radical, not diplomatic, because the Minsk agreements provide for a solution precisely through diplomacy. However, it is important for Zelensky to show that Ukraine has power. And, apparently, this aggravation shows. Probably, not to residents of Donbass, not residents of Ukraine, but to those who must find a common compromise with Zelensky at the international level, to resolve the process at the level of the Norman group, ”he said in an interview with RT.

According to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the current confrontation took place in the area of ​​the settlements of Novotoshkovskoye, Orekhovoye, Crimean and Khutor Volny. Kiev reports the death of one of its military, four more were injured. The Armed Forces of Ukraine also claim that one militia died, five were seriously injured.

“The reserve units from the combined forces are ready for use. The situation is fully controlled, ”said the headquarters of the operation of the operation of the combined forces of Ukraine.