Separatist leader threatens to attack Kiev
The leader of the so-called Donetsk People's Republic, Alexander Zakharchenko, threatened to attack Kiev, as reported by the separatist Donetsk News Agency website.
Zakharchenko asserts that at the forefront of the Donbas, Ukraine has divisions that allow it to "start the offensive." He was not able to give the approximate dates when Ukraine "will start the offensive," but stated that the separatists "are ready for this and have been waiting for it for several months already."
"The military situation on the contact line is complicated. Today there are units at the forefront that will allow Ukraine to start offensive actions. When it will happen exactly is a difficult question. We are ready for it and have been expecting it for several months already," Zakharchenko said.
The leader of the DPR said that for the Ukrainians, "it is going to be their last attack. As a result, our next talks will be in Kiev," he added.
At the meeting of the Contact Group in Minsk, an agreement on a ceasefire beginning on August 31, 2016 was reached in connection with the start of the new school year. This was announced in the presence of the separatists’ representatives. However, due to the fact that 25 firings were recorded the very next day, the Ukrainians initiated an urgent Skype conference. During the conference, the parties confirmed the need for a ceasefire again, starting from midday September 1st; however, information about separatist attacks appeared once again.
At the same time, according to Ukrainian headquarters, journalists from Russian TV channels were present at the forefront to record any "violations of the truce by the Ukrainians."