Ukraine-Sammler: Die Gewalt flammt wieder auf

Es scheint leider wieder dringend nötig, den Osten der Ukraine im Auge zu behalten: In den vergangenen Tagen ist die Waffenruhe dort noch brüchiger als ohnehin schon – besser gesagt: Es wird wieder gekämpft. Schwerpunkt der Auseinandersetzungen ist die Stadt Awdijiwka (englische Transkription Avdiivka; oben in der Karte markiert) im Bezirk Donezk.

Aus dem aktuellen Bericht der Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) der OSZE vom (heutigen) Mittwoch:

The SMM noted a significant increase in ceasefire violations recorded in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions and recorded the widespread use of multiple-launch-rocket systems in Avdiivka, Yasynuvata and Horlivka. The number of explosions in Donetsk region was the highest yet recorded by the SMM. While the majority of violations were in the wider area of Avdiivka-Yasynuvata, the SMM recorded hundreds of explosions in different areas of the contact line. The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines and on the move on both sides of the contact line.

The Mission monitored the humanitarian situation in Avdiivka, and followed up on reports of civilian casualties and saw damage caused by shelling in Troitske and Novooleksandrivka. The SMM continued monitoring the three disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske but its access remained restricted.* The SMM was denied access to Yasynuvata. The SMM visited border areas currently not under control of the Government. In Kyiv the SMM monitored a protest against the reported arrest in Crimea of a Crimean Tatar lawyer.

Aus dem Bericht der Washington Post dazu:

AVDIIVKA, Ukraine — Russian-backed separatists kept up a rocket and artillery attack on this frigid city Wednesday, in an upsurge in violence that could pose an early and difficult foreign policy challenge to the new Trump administration.
A planned evacuation of Adviivka, organized by the Ukrainian government, found few takers Wednesday. Only 145 residents chose to board buses that would take them away from the fighting; 88 were children.Sporadic shelling of Avdiivka, on the front line between separatists and regular Ukrainian forces, had intensified early this week, shortly after President Trump and Russian President Vladi­mir Putin had their first phone conversation.

Und besorgte Blicke von der NATO, gemeldet von AFP:

The head of NATO warned on Wednesday that Ukraine faced its worst violence „in a long time“ as global alarm rang out over a spike in bloodshed that has killed 19 people in the European Union’s backyard.
Government forces and Russian-backed separatists exchanged mortar and rocket fire for a fourth day around the flashpoint eastern town of Avdiivka that sits just north of the rebels‘ de facto capital Donetsk.

Von Radio Free Europe:

War returned with a fury four days ago to the eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiyivka. On February 1, around 7:30 a.m., a salvo of rockets rained down on the city of 22,000, residents say. Katya Volkova, mother and grandmother, was one of them, killed on the road from her house as she walked to the market.
Nearly three years since first erupting, the war here in eastern Ukraine has exploded anew, with deadly fighting between government forces and Russia-backed separatists reported up and down the 450-kilometer front line.
Avdiyivka has been hit the hardest. Roughly since January 28, day and night, outgoing and incoming artillery salvos have been almost ceaseless.

Weiter nach Entwicklung, gerne in den Kommentaren – das ist dann wohl wieder die Zeit für Ukraine-Sammler.

(Karte: OpenStreetMap)