Speaking before colleagues in the Rada on Tuesday, Poroshenko Bloc leader Yuriy Lutsenko explained that Kiev's blockade against anti-Kiev forces in the Lugansk region should be expanded to Donetsk as well.
"The president believes that the cancerous tumor [referring to the territories not under Kiev's control] is subject to blockade. The practice of the head of the Lugansk military-civil administration Hennadiy Moskal, who has prohibited any movement of vehicles into and out of the occupied territory, is the correct policy."
Lutsenko called on the government to take 'strategic steps' to accelerate the reintegration of territories outside of Kiev's control. In his view, this will require the strengthening of the line of demarcation, and the establishment of a complete economic blockade of these areas.
"Either the Russian Federation removes its terrorist groups and gives Kiev the opportunity to reestablish control over the state border, or we will temporarily create a blockade on the front line," Lutsenko stated.
Donbass residents have been experiencing a humanitarian catastrophe as a result of a military operation launched by Kiev in April 2014, following local uprisings by residents opposed to the results of the Maidan coup d'etat. Kiev imposed an economic blockade on the region in November, 2014, leading to the withdrawal of all state support for state support for health, educational and social services.
