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Developments in eastern Ukraine

Donetsk parliament speaker urges to prevent deterioration of situation in eastern republic

Ukraine has made things difficult with its complete blockade of Donabs so one of the main tasks is to stop the deterioration of the humanitarian situation, DPR Parliamentary Speaker Andrey Purgin says

© Valery Sharifulin/TASS

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Donbas self-defense forces should fit into peaceful life and take leadership positions

MOSCOW, 10 March. /TASS/. The People's Council of east Ukraine’s self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic should step up efforts to support the people of the region and prevent the humanitarian situation there from getting worse, Parliamentary Speaker Andrey Purgin said on Tuesday.

"Ukraine has made things difficult for us with its complete blockade. That is why one of our main tasks today is to stop the deterioration of the humanitarian situation, to handle distribution of aid deliveries, and to organize necessary social support," Purgin told the Donetsk news agency, adding that local authorities had managed to open soup kitchens and organize delivery of food and money to bed patients and other vulnerable social groups.

The ceasefire agreed between Ukrainian government forces and people’s militias last month helped to restore operations of government agencies in the republic and made it possible for refugees to return home, Purgin said.

"The situation has calmed down more or less. People are returning to their cities and the work of local government bodies is gradually improving, although it still leaves much to be desired," he added.

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Eastern Ukraine

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