RIGA, May 22 (RIA Novosti) – People are lining up at army recruitment offices in the People's Republic of Luhansk, more willing to join in the republic's self-defense after a general mobilization was announced, Governor of the People's Republic of Luhansk Valery Bolotov said Thursday.
"The mobilization is going rapidly. We have queues lining up near the enlistment offices," Bolotov said in an interview with the Latvian radio station Baltkom.
The losses of the self-defense forces in the battles with Ukrainian security forces have been negligible, he said. "Basically, we have only wounded, their number is small. The invaders have lost about ten people, plus vehicles," Bolotov said.
The self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic earlier declared a general mobilization of men aged 18 to 45. Bolotov did not name the number of troops that the republic expects to muster in the mobilization.
The eastern Ukrainian region of Luhansk has been the epicenter of violent clashes between government soldiers and protesters following the beginning of a large-scale military operation by the Kiev authorities in mid-April. Both sides have suffered numerous casualties.
Though the Ukrainian parliament approved a so-called memorandum of peace and consent on Tuesday, calling on the return of troops stationed in eastern Ukraine to their permanent bases, the special operation in the region is still under way.
