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Developments in eastern Ukraine

Head of self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic resigns

Valery Bolotov says it's a fact that Luhansk on the brink of a humanitarian disaster

Valery Bolotov ITAR-TASS/Alexander Ryumin

Valery Bolotov

© ITAR-TASS/Alexander Ryumin

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Isolated Luhansk on verge of survival — city administration

LUHANSK, August 14. /ITAR-TASS/. Head of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic (LNR) in Ukraine Valery Bolotov said he resigns. "I've decided to temporarily quit the post of head of the Luansk People's Republic," Bolotov told reporters on Thursday. "The impact of the wound is preventing me from being fully efficient at this post."

He said he would ask LNR Defense Minister Igor Plotnitsky to replace him, promising to continue the struggle. "I'm a resident of Luhansk; it's my home, and I will continue to fight for our common ideals," he said, adding that he was confident that the LNR would be successful.

He acknowledged a difficult situation in the self-proclaimed republic, saying Kiev had sent a large taskforce against LNR cities in a purposeful move to destroy LNR infrastructure.

"It's a fact that we're on the brink of a humanitarian disaster," he said, urging the republic's leadership to exert themselves to strenuous efforts to work for the sake of people's lives.

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Eastern Ukraine

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