Insights

US Department of State advise of ongoing violent clashes in Donetsk and Luhansk

On 27 June, the US Department of State issued a travel warning for Ukraine, advising that “Russian-led separatists continue to control areas in the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, where violent clashes have resulted in over 9,000 deaths. A ceasefire agreement established a de facto dividing line between Ukrainian government-controlled and non-government controlled areas of Ukraine, with a limited number of operational checkpoints controlled by government and Russian-led separatist forces. There have been multiple casualties due to land mines in areas previously controlled by the Russian-led separatists, and both sides of the contact line are mined. So-called “separatist leaders” have made statements indicating their desire to push the contact line to the administrative borders of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. Artillery and rocket attacks near the line of contact continue to occur regularly. Individuals, including U.S. citizens, have been threatened, detained, or kidnapped for hours or days after being stopped at separatist checkpoints, and one U.S. citizen working for OSCE’s Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine was killed inside the non-government controlled area of Donetsk. The Government of Ukraine has stated that foreigners, including U.S. citizens, who enter Ukraine from Russia through non-government controlled territory, will not be allowed through checkpoints into government-controlled territory.”

Those operating or residing in Ukraine are reminded of the ongoing conflict between the army and Russian backed separatists. Avoid all travel to the south-eastern parts of the country, due to the credible risk of violence. The situation in the rest of Ukraine, whilst more stable, is unpredictable and could change with little warning. Avoid large crowds and prepare to remain indoors should any protests and demonstrations escalate. Monitor local media for more information concerning the situation and follow all directives issued by local authorities.