EPN in Eastern Ukraine: People are very worried: “This will not end well”

KRAMATORSK Residents of Kramatorsk in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine are worried about the escalation of the threat.

– People are really mad at Putin. Everyone says they don’t want a war. People are starting to be genuinely worried about the war escalating, says ‘s on-site reporter Antti Kuronen.

He interviewed locals today about the situation. However, the interviewees are not going to leave the city unless Russia launches an attack.

In the morning, Kuronen saw Ukrainian army helicopters flying over the city. According to Kuronen, Ukrainian troops are preparing for Russia to bring its troops to the front. Kramatorsk is about 50 kilometers from the front.

– In the morning I saw four helicopters of the Ukrainian army. That is a significant observation, because no air force has actually been used in the war in eastern Ukraine since the spring of 2014. At the time, Russian troops shot down a few Ukrainian helicopters. The fact that the helicopters are in the air is a sign of preparedness and a tightening of the situation.

According to Kuronen, the Minsk agreement seems to be a dead letter. The agreement has tried to bring about a ceasefire. The big question is whether Russian troops will come to the front, Kuronen ponders.

The people met by Kuronen do not accept the Russian president Vladimir Putin yesterday’s decision to recognize the independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions under its control. At the same time, Putin announced the sending of troops to Donbass.

Had a walk with her husband Alla Beskrovna wanted to answer questions in English.

– We do not accept Putin’s decision to recognize the independence of the regions and the decision to transfer troops to eastern Ukraine. We do not want a war on our territory. Kramatorsk belongs to Ukraine, it has always belonged. We want to live in peace in our own country. Donetsk also belongs to Ukraine, Beskrovna said this morning.

He stated that he feared a large-scale war.

– Of course we’re worried. It is possible that Russia also wants Kramatorsk to be part of the Donetsk People’s Republic. Maybe they want our territory, maybe they want a war for the whole of Ukraine. We don’t want that.

Are you planning to leave Kramatorsk?

– I do not know whats happening. If the situation becomes dangerous, we will leave. So far, we have decided to stay.

Working as a salesperson Larissa calls on other countries to take stronger action against Putin.

– This is wrong. Putin hijacked the territories of another country. This is Ukraine. Crimea and the Donbas belong to us. Why don’t the foreign powers bring Putin to justice? This is not right. We must fight for our position.

What do you think of Putin?

Vitali for its part, it was clear that no good solution could be found to the current situation.

– This doesn’t end well. Let the leaders decide. One day this will end. I don’t know when, but it will end. We just have to survive as winners for this, the man said.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi accused Russia of scrapping its peace efforts, Reuters reported.

Zelenskyi that Russia’s solution violates Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Russia’s solution could mean the collapse of Minksk’s peace talks, according to Zelensky.

In his speech, the President of Ukraine said that Ukraine is not afraid of anything or anyone. According to Zelensky, Ukraine remains committed to a peaceful and diplomatic solution.

Later, Zelenskyi said Ukraine is considering

Ukraine may cut off diplomatic relations with Russia as Moscow recognized two regions of eastern Ukraine as independent, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi said on Tuesday.

Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksii Reznikov According to Russia, the decision means that the Kremlin is taking a new step towards reviving the Soviet Union.

Reznikov’s comments are reported by the news agency Reuters. Reznikov said Russia wants to divide Europe “by building a new Soviet Union, a new Warsaw Pact and a new Berlin Wall.”