For many European heads of state, the fuse of a major conflict could ignite on the ground of Donbass, in particular in the self-proclaimed Republic of Donetsk. If the inhabitants say they are tired of years of conflict, the separatist leaders them, often described as piloted militarily by Russia, remain absorbed by the question of the war.
The first thing you see when you pass the very guarded border post of the Russia towards the self-proclaimed Republic, there are long queues. Bags, packets, parcels… Many are the inhabitants in charge of all the products that are not found in this territory.
There are no major international groups in the Donbass: to get clothes or consumer products, you have to go mainly to Russia. There is no bank either, it is very often necessary to pay in cash and there is only one telephone operator who is local. The standard of living suffers and daily life unfolds under the weight of this conflict.
►To listen : Europe facing the specter of war
Except on weekends, Donetsk has lived under curfew for eight years now. At 11 p.m. everything closes and the city is plunged into darkness. Even if the front line is described as relatively calm at the moment, the artillery fire continues to ring out as soon as we approach it within a few kilometers. Many houses are still destroyed and uninhabited in this area; the authorities are trying to keep up appearances, but here they say they want a normal life.
Citizens of a country that does not exist
They would like a status, recognized diplomas, a passport that allows them to travel… For the inhabitants of Donetsk and its region, being a citizen of a country that does not exist is difficult. More and more of them are taking out Russian passports, 400,000 according to the latest estimates. A few voices in Moscow even went so far as to propose joining Russia in January.
This is not the Kremlin’s agenda and separatist leader Denis Pushilin knows it well: This is a complex question, really not simple and a decision can only be made by Russia taking into account all aspects of the geopolitical situation. “, he evaded during a press conference Thursday in Donetsk.
The leader of the self-proclaimed Republic, on the other hand, is much more direct when it comes to military aid. It was mentioned by several executives of the ruling party in the Russian Parliament.
” When you see how many weapons are now entering the territory of Ukraine, honestly, it would not be superfluoushe says. This would rebalance the situation, support the Republics from Russia. »
No plan of general mobilization of the population in sight insists on the other hand the leader. The population that continues to live, every day, amidst artillery fire echoing in the distance.