On March 15, President Petro Poroshenko called an emergency meeting of the NSDC (National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine) to ask it to halt all cargo traffic with the occupied territories in Eastern Ukraine:
Due to the escalation in the #ATO zone, the NSDC decided to stop the cargo movement along the delimitation line https://t.co/UZLG0V8ySW
— NSDC of Ukraine (@NSDC_ua) March 15, 2017
Imposing the blockade Ukraine demands to return seized businesses
Secretary of the NSDC Oleksandr Turchynov unveiled the Council’s decision for the press after the meeting, Ukraine demands to return Ukrainian steel and coal businesses seized by Russian-backed forces two weeks ago:
The NSDC decided to suspend the cargo movement across the delimitation line until paragraphs 1-2 of the Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Agreements of February 12, 2015 are implemented [immediate and full ceasefire, pull-out of all heavy weapons – YZ], and until the seized enterprises are returned under Ukrainian jurisdiction”.
Turchynov added:
“I’d like to inform you that the National Police and the National Guard will block all motorways and railroads leading to the contact line by 1 p.m. today, consistent with the National Security and Defense Council’s decision”
The Presidential Administration specified that the ban on cargo traffic is not applied to the international humanitarian aid:
Transfer of humanitarian aid by @UN, @ICRC & other organizations will remain unaffected
— The Bankova (@TheBankova) March 15, 2017
Tycoon’s company recognizes loss of its assets
Meanwhile, DTEK energy holding owned by Ukrainian oligarch Rinat Akhmetov has recognized that it lost control of its enterprises in the occupied areas, the enterprises listed are:
Donetsk Oblast:
- DTEK Komsomolets Donbasu coal mine
- DTEK Mospyne Coal Treatment Plant
- DTEK Energovuhillia ENE
- Zuivska thermal power station (DTEK Skhidenergo and JSC Techrempostavka)
- DTEK Donetskoblenergo PJSC
- JSC Techrempostavka [mentioned earlier on the same DTEK list – YZ]
- Elektronaladka Ltd
- DTEK Power Grid
- DTEK Service
Luhansk Oblast:
- DTEK Sverdlovantratsyt
- DTEK Rovenkyantratsyt
As we reported earlier, on March 1 the Russian-supported Luhansk and Donetsk “People’s Republics” (“LNR” and “DNR”) “nationalized” 46 Ukrainian assets in the occupied territories, at least 32 assets grabbed by occupation authorities were owned by oligarch Rinat Akhmetov.
Read more: What assets did Russia’s puppet republics seize from Ukraine? Full list
DTEK Skhidenergo and JSC Techrempostavka were not mentioned on the “DNR” list, however, Techrempostavka was a managing company of Zuivska thermal power station, which was mentioned by “DNR” as “nationalized”.
DTEK says the general managers of all these enterprises were notified of the need to re-register businesses in DNR/LNR and of the beginning of “asset inventory process”, the company states its position:
From this moment [March 15 – YZ] DTEK does not control the operation of these enterprises. The company regards as unacceptable the requirement to re-register our enterprises, any form of pressure will not force DTEK to change the jurisdiction of its assets.
President blames blockaders
At the NSDC session, President Petro Poroshenko claimed that the Government has significantly reduced the number of commodities that can be transported across the touch line, increased anti-smuggling activities and urged civil activists to carry out joint control but initiators of the blockade continued political turmoil:
“Local leaders of terrorists and Moscow accepted this pass from several Ukrainian political forces. Due to these synchronized actions, the situation in eastern Ukraine has been deteriorated substantially. Unfortunately, for Ukraine, not for its enemies,” Petro Poroshenko said. The situation on the frontline has been escalated as well, because Russia has recognized passports of the so-called republics and terrorists confiscated and seized Ukrainian enterprises at the direction of Moscow… Ukraine has lost its enterprises due to the joint efforts of terrorists and initiators of the blockade.
Germany calls to stop blocking railway connections to the Donbas
German Federal Government Spokesman Steffen Seibert has stated that Berlin is concerned about the blockade in Eastern Ukraine, Ukrinform reports. German statements refer to the civil blockade.
“The federal government appeals to all those who are blocking the important railway connection with Donbas: Stop doing this as such actions hamper not only attempts to reach a peaceful solution but provision of Ukraine with electricity as well,” Seibert said.
Russia calls on Ukraine to stop blockade
On March 15, Russia’s foreign ministry called on Ukraine to end the transport blockade of the occupied territories in the east of the country, saying that the situation risked turning into a “humanitarian catastrophe”. As usual, the ministry blamed Ukraine for the ongoing escalation of hostilities, conducted by the Russian-backed forces since late February.
- A trade blockade of the occupied parts of Donbas was launched on January 25 by demobilized soldiers and veterans of Ukrainian volunteer battalions under the direction of the several lawmakers, a rail section which connects occupied Luhansk to government-controlled cities was blocked.
- Blockade activists said that trading with the occupied areas is equal to trading on blood. In their opinion, the militants get their profits from commerce with Ukrainian companies. Authorities were of the opinion that the blockade should be ceased as the country’s energy security is under a threat.
- As a result of the blockade, several iron mills and coal companies situated in the occupied territory halted production.
- On March 1, “LDNR” (Luhansk and Donetsk “people’s republics”) “nationalized”46 companies, which were operating under Ukrainian jurisdiction on the occupied territories, paying taxes to Ukraine’s budget and salaries in hryvnia to their workers.
- On March 13, the police unblocked the railway line connecting occupied Yasynuvata and government-controlled Kostyantynivka, having detained 45 protesters.
Read more:
- What assets did Russia’s puppet republics seize from Ukraine? Full list
- Ukrainian police detain 45 amid crackdown on trade blockade with Russian-backed “republics”
- Donbas “republics” seize Ukrainian assets blaming blockade
- Donbas anti-“bloody trade” blockade exposes Ukraine’s energy woes
- Oligarch Akmetov’s plants in occupied Donbas stop production amid trade blockade
- Donbas coal blockade: 5 things you need to know
- Will the makeshift blockade in Donbas hit the Russian-backed enclaves’ economy?
- Ukrainian soldiers initiate trade blockade with occupied Donbas territories
