Pro-separatist leaders of civil society organizations in the Donbas region have accused Ukraine of “declaring war” on its own people and turning them into “beggars” after the Ukrainian government announced it will stop paying pensions and other social benefits to people living in separatist-controlled areas effective Dec. 1.
“The Ukrainian government has declared war not on people bearing arms, but on its own citizens,” the statement published on the separatist website DNR Today on Nov. 12 said. It was signed by the head of the coordinating council of the Public Association of Donbas, Alena Yakovenko, representative of the Refugee Union of Ukraine, Elena Kravchenko, and editor and chief of the Russian magazine Russky Reportyor, Vitaly Leibin, among others.
Following controversial elections in the separatist controlled east that Western and Ukrainian leaders said violated the Minsk ceasefire accord, Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenuk announced that Ukraine would stop payments to rebel-controlled territories in the southeast.
Under the Minsk ceasefire accord, rebel-controlled areas would officially stay within the boundaries of the Ukrainian state, with the Ukrainian government paying for social services, while Russian-backed insurgent leaders maintain extensive autonomy. In contravention to the Minsk accord, however, the insurgents held their own legislative and presidential elections on Nov. 2.
“Once we clear the Russian terrorists from the territory of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, we will retake control of these areas and pay everyone what they are entitled to.” Yatsenyuk said at a Cabinet meeting on Nov. 7. “Today, paying money in those areas will mean that it won’t reach the people it is intended for and will instead go to Russian gangsters. And that is nothing less that a direct support of Russian terrorism,” he concluded.
Ukraine is under considerable financial strain as it attempts to form a new government and stabilize the falling national currency before it receives the next loan tranche from the International Monetary Fund early next year. Nonetheless, Ukraine has not hesitated to promise money for Ukrainian-controlled areas of Donbas, with the prime minister announcing on Nov. 12 that Hr 300 million would be spent to rebuild the area.
The rebels’ letter also accuses Ukraine of depriving refugees outside of Ukraine of pensions and benefits they are entitled to. Since March, 400,996 Ukrainians have applied for refugee status or temporary asylum in Russia, where they cannot receive Ukrainian benefits. A further 454,456 have been registered as displaced persons within Ukraine, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs as of Nov. 7. Individuals displaced within Ukraine are able register and receive benefits.
Even with social welfare payments still officially in place, it is difficult for people trapped in rebel-controlled areas to collect them from a technical standpoint. Most banks have closed there and most ATMs are not operational. In order to withdraw money from accounts, people must travel themselves or give their bank cards to others who are traveling to Ukrainian-controlled areas where banks are still operational.
