The self-proclaimed ‘Donetsk people’s republic’ (‘DPR’) announced on Nov. 29 that is has adopted a ‘law’ defining what it claims to be its ‘state territory’. Unlike the actual area under ‘DPR’ control, the document asserts that the borders encompass the entire Donetsk oblast. Since this so-called ‘republic’ has only been ‘recognized’ by one equally illegitimate Russian-controlled territory (South Ossetia), the move is formally meaningless. Politically, it is not, as it comes just 10 days before a scheduled ‘Normandy summit’ between the Presidents of Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany and flies in the face of the Minsk Accords.
Russia's War Against Ukraine
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Halya Coynash: Russia-led forces in Donbas claim more Ukrainian territory
People watch multiple launch rocket system of pro-Russian rebels patroling in the center of Donetsk during WWII Victory Day parade on May 9, 2017.