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Donetsk People's Republic

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Donetsk People's Republic
Доне́цкая наро́дная респу́блика
Districts with government buildings under pro-Russian control or attempted control
Districts with government buildings under pro-Russian control or attempted control
Capital
and largest city
Donetsk
Government
• People's Governor
Pavel Gubarev[1]
LegislatureProvisional People's Government[2]
Donetsk People's Council
Independence from Ukraine
• Declared
7 April 2014
• Referendum
11 May 2014

The Donetsk People's Republic (Russian: Донецкая народная республика, Donetskaya narodnaya respublika) is a self-proclaimed state,[3][4] declared on 7 April 2014 by several hundred activists who currently occupy the Regional Administration Building in Donetsk,[5][6] as well as other cities in the region.[7] As of 10 April, it still controls the administration building, but has no electricity.[8][9] Donetsk People's Republic has not been recognized by any other state.[8] There is little evidence that the separatists enjoy any public support,[10][11][12] and The New York Times says that many locals consider it a 'crackpot project'.[8]

The building is occupied by the Donetsk Republic organization, a group banned in Ukraine since 2007. The group's leader, Andrei Purgin, was arrested weeks prior on charges of separatism.[13] The political leader of the state is the self-declared People's Governor Pavel Gubarev,[1] who is also currently under arrest on charges of separatism.[14]

According to the Kyiv Post, most of the protesters are 50 years or older, while inside the building, many of the occupiers are younger but from other cities like Mariupol, Kherson and Mykolaiv. Women are also inside the building.[15] Numerous Russian citizens, including leaders of various far-right militant groups, have also taken part in the events.[16]

Ukraine's Foreign Minister has appealed to Russia to end the series of "provocations" in its eastern regions.[17]

In addition to Donetsk city, as of 13 April, pro-Russian separatists have taken control of government buildings in other cities within the oblast, including Mariupol, Yenakiyeve, Makiyvivka, Kramatorsk, Druzhkivka and Sloviansk.[18][19]

Background

Ukrainian Riot Police guarding the entrance to the RSA building on 7 March.
See also: Donetsk Republic (organization) and 2014 pro-Russian protests in Ukraine

Similar attempts to seize the RSA building have been occurring since pro-Russian protests began in the Eastern and Southern regions of Ukraine in the wake of the 2014 Ukrainian revolution. Pro-Russian protesters previously occupied the Donetsk RSA from 1 March to 6 March, before being removed by the Security Service of Ukraine.[20][21] According to Ukrainian authorities the seizure of RSA's are part of "a script which has been written in the Russian Federation" to destabilize Ukraine and bring in Russian troops executed by "about 1,500 radicals in each region who spoke with clear Russian accents".[22]

Public opinion

In a poll conducted by Kyiv International Institute of Sociology in the first half of February 2014, 33.2% of polled in Donetsk Oblast believed "Ukraine and Russia must unite into a single state".[11] This figure was lower in 2013, with 29.8& of those questioned believing that Russia and Ukraine should unite. However, this has little relevance in what they believe the future should hold for Donetsk but rather the whole of Ukraine.

According to a poll conducted by the Donetsk Institute of Social Research and Policy Analysis, 66% of Donetsk residents view their future in a united Ukraine, 4.7% support separatism, while 18.2% support joining Russia.[23] A second poll conducted 26–29 March showed that 77% of residents condemned the takeover of administrative buildings, while 16% support such actions. Furthermore, 40.8% of Donetsk citizens support rallies for Ukraine's unity, while 26.5% support rallies which are pro-Russia.[10]

While support for regional independence is low, only a third of polled Donetsk inhabitants identified themselves as "citizens of Ukraine", preferring instead "Russian-speaking residents of Ukraine" or "residents of Donbass".[24]

History

Pro-Russian protesters occupying the Donetsk RSA building on 7 April 2014.
Veterans of the Soviet war in Afghanistan play a song in support of the protesters.
A map of the Donetsk Oblast in the occupied RSA building, defaced with the word "Russia" in Russian.
Fighter planes presumably of the Ukrainian Air Force fly over the occupied RSA building, 7 April.

On Sunday, 6 April 2014, 1,000-2,000[6] pro-Russia protesters attended a rally in Donetsk pushing for a Crimea-style referendum on independence from Ukraine.[25] The proposed referendum has no status-quo option.[15] After which, 200 separatists (according to Igor Dyomin, a spokesman for Donetsk local police, about 1,000[6]) pro-Russian protesters stormed and took control of the first two floors of the building, breaking down doors and smashing windows. The administration headquarters were empty, with only guards inside, as government officials would not work there on Sundays.[25] The separatists demanded that if an extraordinary session was not held by officials, announcing a referendum to join Russia, they would declare unilateral control by forming a "People's Mandate" at noon on 7 April, and dismiss all elected council members and MPs.[26][27][28] The people who voted within the RSA were not elected to the positions they assumed.[29] According to the Russian ITAR-TASS the declaration was voted by some regional legislators, however there are claims that neither the Donetsk city council nor district councils of the city delegated any representatives to the session.[30][31]

On 6 April, the group's leaders announced that a referendum, on whether Donetsk Oblast should "join the Russian Federation", would take place "no later than 11 May 2014."[32][33] Additionally, the group's leaders have appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin to send Russian peacekeeping forces to the region.[32][33][34]

On the morning of 8 April, the 'Patriotic Forces of Donbass', a pro-Kyiv group unrelated to Donetsk Republic organization who proclaimed independence and seized the council,[35] issued a statement on its Facebook page against the other group's declaration of independence, citing complaints from locals.[36][37][38] Their announcement stated that they would quash the potential state's establishment, cancel the referendum, and, on their part, stated that the declaration is illegal.[39] Protesters reportedly gave up some weapons too.[38] Despite this, the Donetsk Republic organization continued to occupy the RSA and declared themselves the legitimate authority, and upheld all previous calls for a referendum and the release of their leader Pavel Gubarev.[40][a] In the afternoon of 8 April, about a thousand people rallied in front of the RSA listening to speeches about the Donetsk People's Republic and to Soviet and Russian music.[41]

On the second day of the Republic, organizers decided to pour all of their alcohol out and announce a prohibition law after issues arose due to excess drinking in the building.[42]

Standoff and expansion

In response to the actions, acting Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov vowed to launch a major counter-terrorism operation against separatist movements in the country's eastern regions.[43] Later that day on 7 April, the SBU office in Donetsk was retaken by SBU Alpha Group.[44][45]

Ukrainian acting Interior Minister Arsen Avakov announced on 9 April that the separatist protests in Ukraine's eastern region would be resolved within 48 hours – either through negotiations or the use of force. "There are two opposite ways for resolving this conflict -- a political dialogue and the heavy-handed approach. We are ready for both," he said, according to official news agency Ukrinform. Acting President Olexander Turchynov has already signed a decree to take the Donetsk Regional State Administration "under state protection,"[46][47] and has offered amnesty to the separatists if they lay down their arms and surrender.[48] On the 11th, Prime Minister Yatsenyuk said he was against the use of law enforcement scenarios, "but there is a limit."[49]

On 12 April, unmarked pro-Russian soldiers seized the Interior Ministry office in Donetsk without resistance.[7] Following negotiations with those in the building, the head of the Donetsk Ministry of Internal Affairs resigned.[50] The police later denied that the building had been taken, but rather that the building had only been surrounded by pro-Russian protesters.[51] Former Berkut officers, who had been dissolved by the government following their actions during the February revolution, took part in the raid and sided with the separatists in Donetsk and spoke to the crowd outside the police department.[52][53]

Armed separatists attempted to capture a chemical plant housing a significant amount of explosives, but were repelled by the Ukrainian National Guard. Two of the attackers were arrested and a police officer was injured.[54]

Sloviansk

On 12 April masked men in army fatigues and bulletproof vests, armed with Kalashnikov assault rifles captured the executive committee building, the police department and SBU office in Sloviansk, a city in the northern part of the Donetsk Oblast.[7][55] According to the Ukrainian Interior Ministry the militant supporters of the Donetsk Republic fired indiscriminately on the building.[56] In raiding the police armory, the militants seized at least 400 handguns and 20 automatic weapons. "The aim of the takeover was the guns," a Ukrainian police statement said. "They are giving these guns to participants in the protest in Sloviansk."[53] The mayor of Sloviansk, Nelya Shtepa, supported the militants and claimed that the town administration building was seized by activists and militia volunteers, who removed the Ukrainian flag from the building and replaced it with a Russian one.[7] A group of 150 people supported the armed militants outside the police station in Sloviansk and were hostile to journalists, telling them to "go back to Kiev."[7] The following morning after the events in Sloviansk, the Ukrainian government announced a counter-terrorism operation would take place in the city.[57]

On 13 April, during a Ukrainian anti-terrorist operation, security forces attempted to retake the police station in Sloviansk but were met by gunfire against the militants held up inside. The building was contested for a short-period until Ukrainian troops pulled back. An officer was killed along with several injured including locals. According to the Ukrainian government the occupying gunmen received casualties.[58]


Separatism in other regions on Donetsk Oblast

In Horlivka, men attempted to seize the police department but were stopped. The purpose of the raid was an attempt to seize weapons, police said.[59] Police stated they would use firearms to defend against "criminals and terrorists."[60]

Pro-Russian extremists also reportedly tried to take the police station in Shakhtarsk, and seize the police station in Krasnyi Lyman.[7][61]

In Kramatorsk, northern Donetsk region, a shootout with police occurred as the separatists attacked the police station before capturing it.[62][63] Donbass Militia members tore off the sign of the station and raised the flag of the Donetsk Republic organization.[64] The gunmen then gave an ultimatum that if by Monday the city's mayor and his subordinates did not side with the Republic, then they would "take the executive committee;" a crowd of separatists rallied around the executive committee building and flew the Republican flag from the top of the building.[64][65] Other activists had already entered the city council building.[64] A Donetsk Republic representative adressed locals outside the police station, and was received negatively with booing.[64] Outside the city, separatists set up a road checkpoint near a local military airfield.[66]

In Druzhkivka, pro-Russian militants reportedly seized the district administration.[67][68]

Ukraine's Interior Ministry denied that Krasnyi Lyman, Kramatorsk, and Krasnoarmiisk's government buildings had fallen to separatists.[69]

In Artemivsk, separatists failed to capture the police station but entered the city council building and raised the flag of the Donetsk Republic from the roof of the building.[70]

Identity of militants

The well-organized and well-armed pro-Russian militants have been described as resembling those which occupied regions of Crimea during the 2014 Russian military intervention in Ukraine.[7][71] Former Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Admiral Ihor Kabanenko, claims the militants are Russian military reconnaissance and sabotage units.[72] Interior Minister Avakov stated the militants in Krasnyi Lyman used Russian-made AK-100 assault rifles fitted with grenade launchers, and that such weapons are only in issue in the Russian Federation. "The Government of Ukraine is considering the facts of today as a manifestation of external aggression by Russia," said Avakov.[62] US Secretary of State John Kerry said the militants "were equipped with specialized Russian weapons and the same uniforms as those worn by the Russian forces that invaded Crimea."[73]

Militants in Sloviansk appeared to include professional soldiers as well as retired veterans, civilian and volunteers, while those in Donetsk have been confirmed to include former Berkut riot police officers.[53] When asked by The Sunday Telegraph where the weapons had come from, one armed Afghanistan war veteran nodded at the Russian flag flying from the police station and said: "Look at that flag. You know which country that represents."[53] David Patrikarakos, a correspondent for the New Statesman said the following: "While at the other protests/occupations there were armed men and lots of ordinary people, here it almost universally armed and masked men in full military dress. Automatic weapons are everywhere. Clearly a professional military is here. There’s the usual smattering of local militia with bats and sticks but also a military presence. Of that there is no doubt." [74]

According to a spokesman for the Donetsk People's Republic, the militants in Sloviansk are "an independent group who are supporting the Donetsk protest,"[75] while militants in Sloviansk and Kramatorsk and have identified themselves as members of Pavel Gubarev's Donbass People's Militia.[64][76]

Leadership

Donetsk People's Council was formed out of protesters who occupied the building of the Donetsk Regional Council on 6 April 2014.[26][27][77]

Ukrainian presidential candidate Oleg Tsarov, who had recently been kicked out of the Party of Regions, traveled to Donetsk and said he was ready to become a leader of what he called the "South-east movement". Tsarov also assured separatists in Donetsk that will do everything to disrupt the presidential elections, which are scheduled for May 25. "I'm sure that will be no elections," he said. He then promised that he would create a "central authority" within the center of Donetsk.[78] Despite his stance towards the elections, he also insists on running in them, which has been met by a negative response by protesters who demand a referendum and boycott of the eletions.[79]

Reactions

Domestic

  • Donetsk City Council (and nine district councils of the city) distanced itself from the RSA occupiers and they stated (on 7 April): "The Donetsk city council and district councils continue working in the legal field. We see as ensuring the vital functions of the city as our main task".[31]
  • The Independent Trade Union of Miners in Donetsk announced it would not support the pro-Russian separatist movement.[80]
  • Some[who?] claimed that there is a similarity between this event and the Gleiwitz incident.[81]

Foreign

  •  Russia – On 7 April Russia's foreign ministry accused Ukrainian authorities of "blaming" the Russian government for all its troubles and stated "Ukrainian people want to get a clear answer from Kiev to all their questions. It's time to listen to these legal claims".[29][82] It also stated it was "carefully observing" events in the east and south of Ukraine, and again called for "real constitutional reform" that would turn Ukraine into a federation.[83] In an 7 April opinion piece in The Guardian Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov wrote that it was the west, and not Russia, that was guilty of destabilising Ukraine and that "Russia is doing all it can to promote early stabilisation in Ukraine".[83][84]
    •  Republic of Crimea - Crimean Deputy Prime Minister Rustam Temirgaliyev expressed the hope that the Donetsk Republic (as well as other south-eastern Ukrainian regions) would form a 'Ukrainian Federation' and join the Union State.[85]
  •  United States – US Secretary of State John Kerry said on 7 April 2014 that the events "did not appear to be spontaneous" and called on Russia to "publicly disavow the activities of separatists, saboteurs and provocateurs" in a phone call to his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.[29] A spokeswoman for the White House National Security Council has noted that the separatists appeared to be supported by Russia. "We saw similar so-called protest activities in Crimea before Russia's purported annexation," she said in a statement, adding: "We call on President (Vladimir) Putin and his government to cease all efforts to destabilize Ukraine, and we caution against further military intervention."[63]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The group stated they:
    1) do not recognize the Ukrainian authorities;
    2) consider themselves the legitimate authority;
    3) "sent into retirement" of all law enforcement officials appointed by the central government and Governor Serhiy Taruta;
    4) "prescribed" in the May 11 referendum on self-determination Donetsk;
    5) require the issuance of its leader Pavel Gubarev and others are detained separatists;
    6) require Ukraine to withdrawal its troops and paramilitary forces;
    7) start the process of finding mechanisms of cooperation with the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia and other separatist groups (in Kharkiv and Luhansk).[40]

References

  1. ^ a b ""Donetsk Republic" while there is still and wants the Customs Union". Ukrayinska Pravda. 8 April 2014. require the release of its leader Paul Gubarev and other detained separatists;
  2. ^ "Сепаратисты в Донецкой ОГА готовятся к штурму и формируют "новое временное правительство" ФОТО". novosti.dn.ua (in Russian). 8 April 2014.
  3. ^ Rachkevych, Mark (10 April 2014). "Donetsk separatists hold oblast government headquarters". Kyiv Post. Donetsk. Archived from the original on 10 April 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2014. [...] home to the self-proclaimed People's Republic of Donetsk. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ "Ukraine activists declare Donetsk sovereignty". Al Jazeera. Al Jazeera Media Network. 7 April 2014. Archived from the original on 11 April 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2014. Pro-Russian activists who seized the main administration building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetskhave proclaimed the creation of a sovereign "people's republic" independent of Kiev rule. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ In Donetsk, several hundred protesters who had occupied a regional administration building declared a “People’s Republic of Donetsk”, Washington Post, April 7, 2014
  6. ^ a b c "Ukraine: Pro-Russians storm offices in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv". BBC News. 6 April 2014.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Rachkevych, Mark (12 April 2014). "Armed pro-Russian extremists launch coordinated attacks in Donetsk Oblast, seize buildings and set up checkpoints". Kyiv Post.
  8. ^ a b c Higgins, Andrew (11 April 2014). "In Eastern Ukraine, a One-Building, Pro-Russia Realm Persists Despite Criticism". New York Times. an imaginary new nation that nobody, not even Russia, recognizes.
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  11. ^ a b "How relations between Ukraine and Russia should look like? Public opinion polls' results". Kyiv International Institute of Sociology. 4 March 2014.
  12. ^ Lally, Kathy; Englund, Will (7 April 2014). "Uptick in eastern Ukraine tension prompts worries about Russia's next move". Washington Post. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  13. ^ SBU detained the leader of Donetsk Republic. Espreso. 19 March 2014
  14. ^ "Pro-Russian Gubarev, a symbol of east Ukraine separatism". GlobalPost. 10 March 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  15. ^ a b "Pro-Russians fortify barricade of gubernatorial building in Donetsk". Kyiv Post. 10 April 2014.
  16. ^ http://novosti.dn.ua/details/219773/
  17. ^ [1]
  18. ^ "Live - East Ukraine crisis". BBC News. 13 April 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2014. 11:19:Pro-Russian forces have now also taken control of the town council building in Mariupol in the Donetsk region, according to a Ukrainian news website. This would mean five towns or cities in eastern Ukraine have now had government buildings taken over by pro-Russians: Mariupol, Yenakiyeve, Kramatorsk, Druzhkovka and Sloviansk.
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  26. ^ a b "Воскресный штурм ДонОГА в фотографиях". novosti.dn.ua (in Russian). 6 April 2014.
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  32. ^ a b "Activists declare Donetsk republic after capturing regional administration in Eastern Ukraine". RT News. 7 April 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  33. ^ a b "Regional legislators proclaim industrial center Donetsk People's Republic". ITAR-TASS. 7 April 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  34. ^ "обращение народа Донбасса к Путину В.В." YouTube.
  35. ^ [2]
  36. ^ (8 April 2014). Донецкая республика не продержалась и дня? ("Donestk Republic did not last a day?"), pravda.com.ua
  37. ^ (8 April 2014). Решение о создании «Донецкой народной республики» отменено (Decision to establish a "people's republic of Donetsk" canceled), Gazeta.ru
  38. ^ a b Ukraine forces retake Kharkiv building, pro-Russians hold out elsewhere, Euronews (2 April 2014)
  39. ^ [3]
  40. ^ a b Template:Uk icon "Donetsk Republic" while there is still and wants the Customs Union, Ukrayinska Pravda (8 April 2014)
  41. ^ Pro-Russian protesters build barricades at Donetsk city hall, BBC News (8 April 2014)
  42. ^ Ostrovsky, Simon (12 April 2014). "Russian Roulette: The Invasion of Ukraine (Dispatch Twenty Three)". VICE News. It's day 2 of the People's Republic of Donetsk, and it smells like there was a huge frat party here, because earlier today they decided to pour all their alcohol out onto the barricades out front because apparently there's been a problem with a little bit too much drinking inside the building.
  43. ^ "Pro-Russian Group in Donetsk declare independence from Ukraine". IANS. news.biharprabha.com. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
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  46. ^ http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/09/world/europe/ukraine-crisis/index.html
  47. ^ http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/04/9/7021915/
  48. ^ http://novosti.dn.ua/details/222329/
  49. ^ http://novosti.dn.ua/details/222442/
  50. ^ "Сепаратисти змусили керівника Донецької облміліції піти у відставку". Ukrainska Pravda. 12 April 2014.
  51. ^ http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/04/12/7022212/
  52. ^ http://lifenews.ru/news/131113
  53. ^ a b c d Oliphant, Roland (12 April 2014). "Fears of full-scale Russian invasion as eastern Ukraine cities toppled". Telegraph.
  54. ^ http://zn.ua/UKRAINE/v-donecke-separatisty-pytalis-zahvatit-himzavod-143159_.html
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  60. ^ http://novosti.dn.ua/details/222549/
  61. ^ http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/shootout-in-kramatorsk-next-on-wave-of-russian-assault-on-donetsk-oblast-343255.html
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  69. ^ http://www.interfax.ru/world/371249
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  79. ^ http://www.kyivpost.com/content/politics/pro-kremlin-lawmaker-tsariov-backs-separatists-goes-looking-for-support-in-luhansk-343236.html
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  83. ^ a b Ukraine crisis escalates as pro-Russia activists declare independence in Donetsk, The Guardian (7 April 2014)
  84. ^ Sergei Lavrov: It's not Russia that is destabilising Ukraine, The Guardian (7 April 2014)
  85. ^ http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/04/12/7022211/
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