KRAMATORSK/DONETSK, Ukraine – Igor Mikhailovich, a member of Kramatorsk’s informal police and rescue service, is a huge man who is skilled in martial arts and doesn't shy from violence. Now he's on the lookout for "terrorist" sympathizers -- those who support Kremlin-backed separatists -- in the Donetsk Oblast city controlled by Ukraine's government.
‘We’ve estimated some 200 hundred intruders in the
city of Kramatorsk alone who’ve all fled the separatist-controlled regions, but
who still sympathize and pass on information to these terrorists,” Mikhailovich explains.
He is armed and patrolling a tram and looking for separatist sympathizers, but admits he doesn’t know what they look like. “There might be a separatist in this
tram. The problem is, you’ll never know,” Mikhailovich says.
Recently, the Ukrainian government established new
regulations for anyone leaving and entering separatist- controlled territory. A
so-called “propusk” or pass system requires everyone to provide the authorities with
personal information: address, travel plans, purpose for coming from or going to separatist terrority, current job.
If the information checks out OK, the person gets a permit.
The reason why Ukrainian authorities have adopted
these new procedures is that some Russian-led separatists have left the self-proclaimed
separatist republics, but still cooperate with the Kremlin fighters from behind Ukrainian lines.
Government military spokesman Ruslan Tkachuk calls it a step
forward in the fight against terrorists.”‘We have arrested many intruders,
and have obtained testimonies that large sabotage groups are active on
Ukrainian held territory. We need to be aware of this.”
Tkachuk admits that civilians are highly affected by
the new measures. “But this is a war. Civilians living on terrorist territory have had many
chances to leave. They chose not to. Hence we suspect them of actively
supporting their self-proclaimed government.”
The new system has made it more difficult for
civilians fleeing from the separatist-controlled regions, as the permit can only be obtained on Ukrainian territory.
However, in order to enter Ukrainian territory, one
must possess a permit.
So it’s almost a catch-22 situation.
But there are ways to get the permit.
Many civilians who want to leave the separatist area go to the first Ukrainian checkpoint and need to wait hoursto fill out a form amid increased fighting. Once they’ve filled out the
form they need to come back to the checkpoint 10 days later.
Others though choose to ask relatives to obtain a permit for them.
In the early morning at the bus station of Kramatorsk, a middle-aged
woman who goes by the name Valentina waits for the only bus that day that will
make the crossing to the separatist stronghold of Donetsk. She’s terrified, and at
first doesn’t want to talk to the press. However, she agrees to talk only if her last name is not published.
“My brother is still there. He’s 56 years old. He’s
worked his whole life as a miner. Now he’s lost his job, and turned to alcohol.
Finally, I’ve convinced him to leave his once beloved city,” Valentina says, shivering in the cold. “I obtained permission from the local police to give
my brother the permit so he can leave. It will be my first and last time going
to Donetsk during this stupid war,” Valentina explains.
In Donetsk a spokeswoman for the separatists calls the permit system idiotic.
“Because of Kyiv’s stupid measures our people are suffering already. Civilians are unable to
obtain cash in our republic because of Kyiv. So, yes, they need to cross the
border. More people will become afraid to cross it as Kyiv is actively creating
a humanitarian disaster,” the spokeswoman says.
Sefan Huijbom is a freelance Dutch journalist.
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