DPR Nationalizes Ukrainian State-Owned Enterprises: Leader

Former Ukrainian state-owned enterprises are "already de facto nationalized," leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic Alexander Zakharchenko said. Where Ukraine is a partial owner, DPR will have control only over those shares, according to him.

DONETSK, December 26 (Sputnik) — Ukrainian state-owned enterprises located in the territory of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) have been nationalized, the republic's leader Alexander Zakharchenko told Donetsk News Agency.

Former Ukrainian state-owned enterprises are "already de facto nationalized," the news agency quoted Zakharchenko as saying Friday.

According to Zakharchenko, where Ukraine is a partial owner, DPR will have control only over those shares.

As for the nationalization of private assets, this question should be treated "with great caution, carefully studying each individual case," Zakharchenko said.

In October, Zakharchenko announced that the DPR authorities were planning to nationalize distilleries. The mines located in the republic's territory, were under temporary administration of the local government.

In early December, the administration of the breakaway republic said that they did not intend to nationalize Ukrainian state-owned enterprises within the DPR, but stated that the companies required management.

Luhansk and Donetsk regions declared independence following a February coup, refusing to recognize the new Ukrainian authorities. The republics declared their sovereignty based on the results of referendums held in May.