LUGANSK, January 23. /TASS/: Ukraine’s security forces have kidnapped a serviceman of the self-proclaimed Lugansk People’s Republic, the LPR’s People’s Militia Spokesman Ivan Filiponenko said on Sunday.
"On January 22, a serviceman of the LPR’s People’s Militia was abducted by a sabotage group of the Ukrainian armed forces, while patrolling a section of the Svetlodarskaya bulge (a strategically important section near the Svetlodarsk village)," the LuganskInformCenter quoted Filiponenko as saying.
"During the investigation, it was established that the serviceman reported a suspicious activity in the woods and, without waiting for backup, [decided] to check the area, undoubtedly putting himself under attack. However, he probably prevented [Kiev forces] from further advancement in the republic," the People’s Militia spokesman noted.
The spokesman emphasized that Kiev’s moves contradicted the first paragraph of the additional ceasefire agreements, which banned reconnaissance and sabotage actions. Filiponenko called on the international observers to record the ceasefire violation by Kiev and assist in the return of the kidnapped soldier.
The People’s Militia also noted that the abducted serviceman could be tortured and subjected to various drugs for obtaining false testimony.
Since July 27, 2020, additional measures to control the ceasefire have been in effect in Donbass. Under the agreement, the Donbass conflicting parties are banned from carrying out offensive and reconnaissance operations, using any type of aircraft, opening fire and deploying heavy weapons in populated localities. However, despite the agreements, the Donbass conflict started to aggravate in late February. Intense clashes have resumed on the line of contact, causing deaths and casualties on both sides. On October 13, the situation was exacerbated again after Kiev’s forces captured the representative of the LPR office to the Joint Center for Control and Coordination.
