As government troops pushed pro-Russian separatists out of their strongholds in eastern Ukraine on July 5, the nation's leaders grew more optimistic about the near-term prospects of the anti-terrorist operation.
“Today we have a watershed moment in the fight against terrorism in the east of our country,” said Speaker Oleksandr Turchynov, who visited a check point outside of Sloviansk after government troops took over the city and raised Ukraine’s blue and yellow flag over city hall.
“Separatists tried to turn Sloviansk into a symbol of fight with our motherland, but this city will become the symbol of the victory of independent and united Ukraine over Russian mercenaries and terrorists,” Turchynov said.
Speaker Oleksandr Turchynov speaks to reporters of RADA channel at a checkpoint near Sloviansk on July 5.
One soldier died and four were wounded as a result of a shootout at Karachun Hill on the outskirts of Sloviansk, the ATO press center said in a statement. Two infantry combat vehicles were damaged on the Ukrainian side. However, one tank and three armored personnel carriers (APCs) were destroyed on the separatist side. Three female snipers surrendered to the government troops, according to the ATO press center. The report was not independently confirmed.
In a video address late on July 5, President Petro Poroshenko confirmed the city of Sloviansk “now proudly flies the flag of Ukraine,” but was cautiously optimistic about the day’s victory.
“It’s not a complete victory, and no time for fireworks. But cleaning Sloviansk of a heavily armed gang of monsters is of great symbolic importance,” he said.
President Petro Poroshenko addresses the nation about the military victory in Sloviansk on July 5.
Apart from Soloviansk, the Ukrainian army took over the town of Krasny Lyman, and continued moving to the east and south of Donetsk region, according to a video statement by Speaker Turchynov. However, government troops had previously controlled Krasny Lyman. When the Kyiv Post visited on June 26, they were firmly in control of the city as well as several surrounding villages. Turchynov said in the afternoon that special units continued to comb Krasny Lyman to find the remains of terrorist units in the city.
“After the check is over, Krasny Lyman will be returned to civil administration. I will sign today a decree appointing the head of district administration. I hope that the mayor who was forced to leave his place of work will also return to be able to work. I hope that starting with Krasny Lyman normal life will start to return to Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts,” he said.
As separatists got pushed out of their strongholds, signs emerged that they were getting desperate.
Igor Strelkov, also known as Igor Girkin, a rebel commander who Ukraine believes to be a Russian intelligence officer, told Russia’s LifeNews on July 4, that without Moscow’s assistance and because of the buildup of Ukrainian forces around Sloviansk it would be nearly impossible to hold ground.
“Naturally, seeing the destruction and the death of the civilian population, militiamen are starting to lose the will to continue fighting,” he said.
Igor Strelkov speaks with LifeNews in Sloviansk on July 4.
Many of the fighters of Donetsk People’s Republic were moving into Donetsk, eye witnesses and officials at the city administration told Interfax-Ukraine. Some 150 wounded insurgents arrived to Donetsk hospitals, the agency reported, quoting Andrei Purgin, the self-proclaimed deputy prime minister of the DPR.
The Donetsk authorities said there were periodic shootouts at the destroyed airport in Donetsk. “We’re asking the residents not to move around the city without a dire need,” the city government said in a statement. Local media reported also reported gunfire as well as explosions around the city.
People in Donetsk are fearing that the next large-scale battle will be in their city.
“Now that the militia forces have left Sloviansk, we fear that the Ukrainian security forces will get into Donetsk as well and that hostilities will start, and so, worrying about the security of our families, we’ve decided to leave the city and make our way toward the Russian border, to places where there is provisional accommodation for refugees,” local resident Aliona Bondarenko told Interfax-Ukraine.
There were signs of continued terrorist activity in Luhansk region, too. A bridge across the Siverskiy-Donets River was blown up in the village of Tryohizbenka. The Interior Ministry said the explosion took place on July 4, and the road is no longer usable.
The government said it will continue the ATO until all terrorists are destroyed.
“We need to finish the anti-terrorist operation to make sure there is no more threat to the lives of the civilians, and its end means full destruction of all terrorist and subversive groupings that are located on the territory of Donbas,” Turchynov said.
