Three Days of Fighting in Ukraine's Donbas... Tensions Rise as Government Forces and Rebels Clash

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] As clashes between government forces and pro-Russian separatist rebels continue for the third day in the eastern Donbas region of Ukraine controlled by the rebels, the possibility of a 'proxy war' between the West and Russia is increasing.

According to major foreign media on the 19th, the Ukrainian government forces claimed that the pro-Russian separatist rebels controlling Donbas (Donetsk and Luhansk provinces) violated the ceasefire agreement 66 times in 24 hours the previous day and violated it 19 times again on this day.

Supported by military aid from the United States and other Western countries, the Ukrainian government forces announced that one of their soldiers was killed by rebel shelling on this day. This is the first time a death has been publicly reported in the clashes that began on the 17th. However, the rebels supported by Russia denied this, telling Russian state media that government forces shelled several villages in rebel-held areas. The West suspects that the armed actions occurring in the Donbas region are 'false flag operations' orchestrated by Russia to create a pretext for invading Ukraine.

Amid ongoing clashes, the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) each issued a 'general military mobilization order' on this day, citing an increased possibility of war with government forces. DPR leader Denis Pushilin said in a video statement that there were reports of a significant increase in the risk of combat with government forces, adding, "I have signed the general military mobilization order. All reservists are urged to report to military recruitment offices."

LPR leader Leonid Pasechnik also declared, "A general mobilization order is proclaimed within LPR territory." He further issued a decree stating that men aged 18 to 55 must not leave Luhansk province, and that authorities may arbitrarily requisition vehicles and other private property.

Earlier, the DPR and LPR, without presenting concrete evidence, warned of an imminent government attack and ordered women and children to evacuate across the border to Russia's Rostov region. Both sides announced plans to evacuate approximately 700,000 people.

Just one day later, on the 19th, the DPR Emergency Department reported that evacuations of Donetsk residents were underway, stating, "As of 6:30 a.m. today, a total of 6,603 people, including 2,436 children, have evacuated to Rostov, Russia." Russia opened border checkpoints on the Ukrainian side and established refugee camps to accommodate them.

The pro-Russian separatist forces in Donbas have clashed with the Ukrainian government since 2014, after Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula based on a referendum and the separatists declared independence by establishing the DPR and LPR. Although these republics are not internationally recognized, they receive support from Russia, which officially denies involvement. It is estimated that at least 14,000 people have died in the eight-year civil war between government forces and rebels in the Donbas region.

As of the 19th, the Ukrainian government stated that the Donbas region remains under its control, and President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to attend the Munich Security Conference in Germany as originally planned. However, he is expected to complete his schedule and return on the same day, and plans to meet with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, and others in Munich.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.