DONETSK, November 6 (RIA Novosti) – The self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) has to defend itself as Kiev de-facto resumed a full-scale military action in eastern Ukraine, DPR leader Andrei Purgin said Thursday.
“A full-scale war is underway. We are under attack, and we are defending ourselves,” he said.
Earlier on Thursday DPR reported that a tank column of Kiev security officials had entered Donetsk suburbs, and fire in Donetsk surroundings was resumed. On Monday night fighting was resumed near the Donetsk airport.
Following a February coup in Kiev, residents of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine established people's republics that later declared independence. An armed conflict escalated in eastern Ukraine in mid-April, when Kiev launched a military operation against independence supporters in the region.
On Sunday the self-proclaimed republics held elections for the heads of local governments and representatives of legislative bodies.
Ukraine's central authorities have refused to recognize the elections and to participate in bilateral talks with the representatives of eastern Ukraine.
