The Head of Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR) Igor Plotnitsky left LPR to Russia. The motorcade carrying Plotnitsky, Chief of his Administration Irina Teytsman and head of the LPR TV and radio network Anastasiya Shurkayeva and others left LPR through the Izvarino border crossing to Russia. Plotnitsky later arrived in Moscow by plane.
According to reprots, Plotnitsky has resigned from his post. However, this still has to be confirmed.
The government offices were still occupied by armed personnel, allegedly consisting of LPR’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) State Security Ministry staff. According to Liga.net, now the militants are occupying the territory only near the offices of Luhansk 24 TV station.
A Ukrainian saboteur group was detained by DPR officials. 10 people were detained on suspicion of attempted assassination of several key DPR and LPR officials. Ukrainian Armed Forces entered towns near Svetlodarsk, bordering with LPR.
On November 22, refusing to step down as the Minister of Internal Affairs, Igor Kornet and the staff loyal to him arrested more than 50 people, including the Prosecutor General of LPR Vitaly Podobry, LPR’s military prosecutor Sergey Rakhno and their attendants on suspicion of collaborating with Ukraine. After questioning the rest of the staff of LPR’s Prosecutor’s office, most people were free to go. Several members of staff gave testimonies. Teytsman and Shurkayeva were reported to be arrested, but reports were not confirmed.
On November 21, several military vehicles arrived to Luhansk from Donetsk.
Former Security Council Secretary of DPR, head of Patriotic Forces of Donbass organization Alexander Khodakovsky says that unification is the best possible option for DPR and LPR considering the situation.
“The proposition is simple: quickly get as much votes as needed in DPR and LNR People’s Soviets, and proclaim the reunification referendums. Commence the voting as soon as possible to legitimize the process, and then elect the head and the officials,” Khodakovsky wrote on his social media page.
He was convinced that this plan may be realized as soon as the summer of 2018.
“Then we’ll see Moscow’s position: will they still call it our internal matter, our will they remind us of Minsk? Up until today the Americans and the Ukrainians both said, that we do not exist and will not exist [as a political entity], refused to negotiate, but I promise you: as soon as unification begins, everyone will raise hell about violations of Minsk [agreements]. Continue averting your eyes, continue calling it an internal matter, and everyone wins,” he said.
