Kiev’s using human shield to complicate Lisichansk, Severodonetsk liberation - Pasechnik

The use of Lisichansk and Severodonetsk civilians as a human shield by Ukrainian forces will complicate the liberation of these settlements, Lugansk People’s Republic Head Leonid Pasechnik said on Russia 24 Channel.

“The enemy organized a rather serious strongpoint in the towns of Lisichansk and Severodonetsk and intends to use civilian population as a shield, which will certainly complete the mission we’re facing because our primary objective is to provide maximum protection of the lives of the civilian population in the areas we’re liberating,” he said.

On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation to protect Donbass residents from Ukrainian aggression. Earlier, LPR and DPR Heads Leonid Pasechnik and Denis Pushilin asked the Russian leader to provide military assistance. As of now, some 80 percent of the LPR territory has been liberated.

The Ukrainian government launched the so-called anti-terrorist operation against Donbass in April 2014.  The peace talks participants have announced ceasefire more than 20 times since the autumn of 2014. Kiev forces regularly violated the truce opening fire with large caliber artillery, mortars and tank guns which were to have been withdrawn from the contact line under the accords. *i*s