Fifteen bodies were recovered from the scene of a brutal attack on fleeing refugees in Eastern Ukraine last week. The Ukrainian military pinned the blame on rebels, supplied by the Russian forces, who vehemently denied the allegations and instead blame the Ukrainian military for the incident. But considering that the refugees were fleeing the scenes of violence with the Ukrainian military for escort, Deputy Prime Minister of the rebel government Andrei Purgin’s allegations do not seem believable. Russia is still adamant on denying their involvement even though evidence proves otherwise. Over 250 trucks filled with what is supposed to humanitarian aid from Moscow sits just a few miles from the Ukrainian-Russia border because Kiev suspects foul play.
Meanwhile, the Russian people are starting to feel the strain of the embargo imposed by Russia on commodities from Western countries, with prices of food items rising by 10 percent. This move was in retaliation to the economic sanctions imposed by the US and the EU on finance and the energy sectors. The Russian government refuses to relent in the face of greater sanctions and instead is fighting back with sanctions of its own. But countries like Poland and Lithuania are affected adversely by the ban on fresh fruits and vegetables with shortages and rising prices.
The separatists have lost ground in the areas Luhansk and Donetsk in the past few days, and the fighting is only getting fiercer, with estimates putting the civilian death toll as high as 2000, with over 155,000 displaced. The international community is pushing for a ceasefire, but the state wants to continue pressing their advantage while it can. The city of Luhansk is running low on food, water and other supplies and both sides are getting more and more wanton with their targets. It will be increasingly harder for the Ukrainian government to keep its support base in Donetsk and Luhansk. More and more civilians will see the rebel militia as their protectors and the Ukrainian army as aggressors.