Ukraine’s NSDC: Explosions in Donetsk provocation to disrupt Minsk talks

Saturday, January 31, 2015 - 09:31 (EET) Section: Latest news

A series of explosions in Donetsk is a purposeful provocation to disrupt peace process and next meeting of Trilateral contact group talks in Minsk.
Deputy Head of Information and Analytical Center of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council Volodymyr Poliovy made the statement on Friday night at a briefing of Ukrainian crisis media center, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.
“A series of blasts resulted in casualties among civilians in Donetsk today. We are talking about killed and many wounded civilians. Information about the number of casualties is pending … According to preliminary assessments, the current attack (in Donetsk – Ed.) can be considered as a provocative act aimed at disrupting a peace process and meeting of Trilateral contact group,” he said.
The representative of the National Security Council IAC expressed condolences to the families of killed and injured civilians.
It was noted that Ukrainian army was not involved in shelling of Donetsk. “Ukrainian artillery never shelled residential areas of the city. Ukrainian army did not participate in any active fighting in Donetsk area today. Our military is shelling only gunmen and their positions outside the residential areas,” the official said.
At the same time, he said that according to gunmen, three Russians who carried out attacks on the city using a mobile artillery unit were detained in Donetsk yesterday.