Dmitry Tymchuk, Head of the Center for Military and Political Research, Coordinator of the Information Resistance group, Member of Parliament (People’s Front)
10.22.2015
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

Operational data from Information Resistance: (the socio-political situation in the regions of Donbas on 10/22/2015)

Russian command has declared terms for the return to Russia of citizens of the Russian Federation that are fighting in Donbas among Russian-terrorist troops (servicemen of the Russian Federation Armed Forces as well as mercenaries). Such citizens will be allowed to return only if they conclude a contract with the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation for an onward posting to Syria. To sign this contract, the persons concerned must provide an identity photo in triplicate and copies of personal documents. So far, only a small number of servicemen of the Russian Federation Armed Forces and Russian mercenaries in Donbas have agreed to sign this contract.

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In occupied areas of the Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts, special units of the Federal Security Service [FSB] of the Russian Federation, working together with the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Federation Armed Forces [GRU], have initiated “persuasion” measures against commanders and fighters of the armed gangs who have not been following orders to cease fire on the front line. The most common threats used as part of the “persuasion” process are imprisonment and physical violence. An “FSB liquidator unit” is due to arrive in the Luhansk People’s Republic [LNR] from the Russian Federation on 10.25.2015 in order to carry out a purge of individuals who disagree with the change of [LNR’s] strategy from “joining the Russian Federation” to “Donbas as a special-status region of Ukraine,” along with the worst criminal elements. According to received reports, a low-level purge of this type is already underway in the Krasnodonskyi district of Luhansk oblast.

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After the end of the “conscription for military service,” military commissariats in the “Donetsk People’s Republic [DNR]” have launched an urgent appeal for contract recruitment to the ranks of the “DNR” armed forces. “Contract soldiers” (rank and file) are promised a monthly pay of RUR 20,000 [$320]. Given the high level of unemployment in the temporarily occupied territories, local residents may find this type of “job placement” attractive. At the same time, serious problems with wage and social benefit payments have arisen in the “DNR,” owing to difficulties with receiving financing from Russia. It is not clear whether the financing of “DNR servicemen’s pay” is guaranteed.

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At the “DNR” checkpoint near Oleksandrivka (Mar’inskyi district, Donetsk oblast), a local civilian has been shot dead while attempting to leave the temporarily occupied territory. The “DNR” top leadership has forbidden the media to cover this incident. According to the terrorists’ official version, a militant was forced to use his weapon after being “assaulted by a civilian.”

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Gas deliveries from Russia to the “DNR” through the “Prokhorivka” checkpoint have been stopped. In this regard, the “Donbassgaz” state corporation has been making urgent calls to industrial customers, demanding that they stop consuming natural gas.
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The Russian “supervisors” of the “LNR” are considering the possibility of appointing the “LNR Minister of Justice,” Oleksander Shubin, as “Chairman of the Central Election Commission” to ensure “an effective local election campaign” (elections are scheduled for 21 February, 2016). Previously, Oleksander Shubin figured in several corruption scandals in the “LNR.” In the summer of this year, a group [of employees] at the “LNR Ministry of Justice” lodged a complaint with the “LNR Prosecutor General” concerning the “misappropriation by the Minister of Justice, Oleksander Shubin, of funds collected by territorial departments.” Following that, some of the “ministry’s” most enterprising employees were sacked.

Militant SAU [search attack unit, self-propelled artillery] stands on logs. Source

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