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Military operation in Ukraine

34 service members of Donetsk republic killed in past week, 141 wounded — spokesman

Eduard Basurin said that DPR and Russian service members continued to liberate the republic’s settlements

DONETSK, April 1. /TASS/. More than 30 soldiers of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) have been killed in the past week, Eduard Basurin, deputy chief of the DPR People’s Militia, said on Friday.

"Over the past week, 34 defenders of the Donetsk People’s Republic have fallen in the fight for independence, and 141 more have sustained wounds," he said.

Basurin said that DPR and Russian service members continued to liberate the republic’s settlements.

"Since the beginning of the current day, our servicemen have eliminated 32 Ukrainian nationalists," he said.

Tensions escalated along the contact line in Donbass on February 17. The Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR respectively) reported the heaviest shelling by Ukraine in months. On February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees on recognizing the DPR and LPR. Russia recognized the two republics within the administrative borders of Donetsk and Lugansk regions as they were at the beginning of 2014 stipulated in their constitutions.

On February 24, Putin launched a special military operation in Ukraine following a request for help from the leaders of two Donbass republics. The DPR and LPR mounted an operation to regain the areas that were controlled by Kiev.

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Foreign policy Military operation in Ukraine

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