Restoring Donbas: the main events of August 3-9

11:20 / 09 Aug. 2015 / 519

Due to the energy crisis in Ukraine, it is necessary to resume the supply of coal from the uncontrolled territories of Donbas. 27 advisers immigrants on IDP’s issues will work in the Ministry of Social Policy. The creation of the buffer zone is initiated on the demarcation line. More details about key events related to the conflict in Donbas – in our weekly review of major news.

Situation on the uncontrolled territories of Donbas

Despite the Ukrainian control over the significant part of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine, situation in the industrial sector remains complicated. At the same time, objects, which are located on the demarcation line, have the biggest problems. Thus, this week Vuhlehirska power station, which was able to restart itself after reconstruction works, was forced to switch off its power units due to the shelling. In addition, Avdeevka Coke was on the verge of the stop due to the bombardment. Power supply and railway communications of the company were broken.

Not only shillings, but also deranged logistics creates problems for the enterprises. There is complicated situation with the supply of coal from the uncontrolled territories to the companies, which are located on the Ukrainian side. As a result, last week it became known that in Luhansk TPP is concentrated almost 50% of all stocks of anthracite in Ukraine. Coal of this brand is extremely needed in other power plants, but it is impossible to bring it out of Luhansk TPP. Later, Valery Voschevsky – the head of the interdepartmental group on preparation for the autumn-winter season – stated that Ukraine should export 800 thousand tons of anthracite per month from Donbas. In its turn, the leadership of the unrecognized DNR reported that the Ukrainian side is negotiating about possible purchase of coal.
Positive news for the region’s infrastructure was the fact that “Ukrzaliznytsya” restored traffic on the damaged section ferrying “Sentyanovka – Shipilova” and run a new train on the route “Kharkov – Lisichansk”. Among the local officials, George Tooke – the head of Donetsk regional military and civil administration – was the most active last week. The governor told about the budget of Luhansk region and said, who is the “roof” of smuggling in the region. Later in his blog on one of the Ukrainian websites, Tooke claimed that he has changed his attitude to the blockade of uncontrolled territories and interdependence of the parts of the region, which are on different sides of the demarcation line.

Renovation works in the region are proceeding in the dotted mode and with the facts of corruption. Thus, last week in Lisichansk 17 families, who were living in the building destroyed during the ATO, received a temporary accommodation. Security Service of Ukraine has found a scheme whereby officials were able to assign more than UAH 500 thousand, allocated for the reconstruction of housing in Popasnaya.

On the territory of Donbas, controlled by DNR and LNR

Last week it became known that DNR plans to switch to the Russian ruble entirely. This process is associated with deficiency of hryvnia in the region. Meanwhile, LNR stated about the registration of more than 28 700 companies and individual entrepreneurs on the territory under its control.

Among other statements by representatives of the “republics”, the most revealing was the fact that the leadership of DNR refused to recognize the new Law on local elections. They stated that its adoption contradicts the Minsk Agreement.

IDPs from Donbas

Last week, experts of “Restoring Donbas» told about the main problems of IDPs from ATO area. The most common problem is related to the crossing the demarcation line and formalization of the documents. In addition, last week, the experts of “Restoring Donbas” calculated regions, which have the greatest number of displaced persons (who have come during last month) and how many people left the territory of Donetsk region in July.

Meanwhile, Donetsk Regional State Administration announced the preparation of the regional program of integration, social adaptation and protection of internally displaced persons during 2015-2016. In addition, it became known that the Ministry of Social Policy plans to employ 27 advisers on internally displaced persons that will work in all regions of Ukraine.

Pass-entry system

Last week brought the news that Ukraine initiated the creation of a buffer zone on the demarcation line and removal of weapons of caliber less than 100 mm, as well as developing a new ideology on control entry / exit points in ATO area. We also discovered that the logistics centers on the demarcation line in Luhansk region will be opened in Stanitsas Luhansk and Novotoshkovke. In its turn, the construction of a logistics center towards the Mariupol for residents of temporarily uncontrolled part of Ukraine is on schedule.

International situation and activities of international organizations

Last week, Petro Poroshenko, the President of Ukraine, approved a memorandum with Germany for a loan of 500 million euros for the restoration of the eastern regions of Ukraine. Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation continues remains the same both controlled and uncontrolled territories of Ukraine. International humanitarian organizations are still providing various kinds of assistance to the population.

Last week, the International Red Cross provided an assistance for the rehabilitation of housing and living conditions affected by the fighting in the villages of Volnovakha district. It also sent humanitarian aid to the residents of Pavlopolya – 480 food and 219 hygiene kits. Besides humanitarian aid, it has been sent to the frontline Marinka, which is located directly on the front line and often under fire.

Help was provided by the international community last week to IDPs. Thus, in the Poltava region there was opened a home for immigrants with special needs. This project was carried out by the participation of the EU and UNDP. “Local development oriented to the community.” Concerning the subject of political negotiations in Minsk, last week it was held a regular meeting of the Contact Group on Donbas issues, where it was decided to restore infrastructure in the region. The OSCE stated that the talks was a failure, cause they did not have an agreement on the withdrawal of guns caliber 100 mm.

The restoring-donbass.com website - is an interactive platform, which was created by the "Restoring Donbas" community initiative of Oleksandr Klymenko. The latest news, blogs and analysis, background information and useful ads for IDPs and Donbas residents are available on the website.