DONETSK (Sputnik) — Head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic Alexander Zakharchenko postponed by a decree local elections from July 24 to November 6, 2016.
"In accordance with the law of the Donetsk People's Republic 'On local elections in the Donetsk People's Republic' I order by decree to postpone the date of municipal top executives' elections from July 24 to November 6, 2016," the decree reads.
Kiev has been conducting a military operation against Donbass independence supporters since spring 2014, when they refused to recognize the new coup-imposed Ukrainian government and declared sovereignty.
The Minsk deal on Ukraine's reconciliation was struck in February 2015 by Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France and later signed by Kiev and the Donbass self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Lugansk. Both warring parties have repeatedly accused each other of violating the truce despite agreeing to the ceasefire deal.