The head of the Donetsk Regional Military Administration (OVA), Pavel Kirilenko, in an interview with DW, responded to Amnesty International’s statement and spoke about the situation on the front line in Donbass.

Deutsche Welle: Mr. Kirilenko, what is the current situation in the regions of the Donetsk region where the intensity of hostilities is high?

Pavel Kirilenko: The situation at the front remains tense, but under control. The most tense areas are Bakhmutskoye, Soledarskoye, Severskoye and Avdeevskoye, namely the village of Peski, where the enemy tries to break through the defense of the Ukrainian Armed Forces as much as possible and reach new borders. But these attempts are unsuccessful, fire damage is inflicted on the enemy, who takes losses and retreats. In general, the front line is under constant bombardment.

– There are reports that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are even carrying out a counter-offensive in some areas, liberating settlements. Can you confirm this?

– Yes, some military operations are being carried out in the direction of Limansky, reconnaissance is being carried out there. However, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will report on the successes and consolidation of positions.

“Under the control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine 45 percent of the Donetsk region”

– What percentage of the Donetsk region remains under the control of Ukraine?

– Now 45% of the region remains under the control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Ukrainian authorities. Before the full-scale invasion (of Russia in Ukraine on February 24, 2022. – Ed.) was controlled by two-thirds. Most of the territories occupied by the invaders are occupied by Mariupol and Volnovakha. I don’t just call them “territories” because these cities are completely destroyed, as are the nearby settlements.

– Are there estimates of damage to infrastructure in the region as a result of a large-scale Russian invasion?

– Now only fixing is performed. There is a maximum detail of houses, critical and civil infrastructure. It is now impossible to name any fixed figure, because destruction occurs every day. Therefore, we will calculate all losses after our victory.

– Almost every day people, including civilians, also die in the region. Do you have data on the number of civilian casualties in the Donetsk region since February 24?

– Yea. There is information without taking into account Mariupol and Volnovakha, as investigative actions need to be carried out there. In particular, the exhumation of bodies, the discovery of hidden graves, which are produced by the occupants. For its implementation, however, it is necessary to vacate the entire territory of Donbass. So far, excluding Mariupol and Volnovakha, 685 people have died and another 1,759 have been injured.

“The AI ​​statement is made without knowing the whole state of affairs”

– The day before, the international human rights organization Amnesty International made a statement that caused outrage in Ukraine. It claims, in part, that Ukrainian troops endangered civilians by establishing bases and using weapons systems in populated residential areas, including schools and hospitals, while resisting the Russian invasion. Could you comment on this?

– The main thing we rely on is the Armed Forces of Ukraine, protecting Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence. And the Donetsk region is no exception. Therefore, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are located in the places where there is the greatest threat. First of all, on the front line, where you need to repel enemy attacks – it will be in settlements or beyond.

But the military administration also carries out part of the military operations within the limits of its competences, including the strengthening and defense of the territory of the region. All actions are coordinated with the on-site military command. I am sure that everything is being done to the maximum so that in the cities not a single shot from the Armed Forces of Ukraine hits the civilian population. In general, all people who understand that all protection (areas. – Red.) is in the APU, they help as much as possible. Therefore, I believe that the said declaration (Amnesty International. – Redninai) made without knowing the whole state of things. The Armed Forces of Ukraine exclusively carry out tasks aimed at detaining the enemy, his greatest destruction, counter-offensive and eviction of the territory.

“We need to get the population out so people don’t freeze”

– Now the Ukrainian authorities are trying to get people out of dangerous places. Mandatory evacuation of Donbass residents has recently started. What are the difficulties in this process?

– Authorities are trying to get people out not because the Armed Forces of Ukraine are close by. The evacuation is carried out because the Russian occupation troops are bombing all Donbass settlements. Both on the front line and from a distance. The bombing is carried out on civilian infrastructure and the population. Therefore, mandatory evacuation is carried out to preserve people’s life and health. The second reason is that the passage of the autumn-winter period will be extremely difficult due to hostilities. Therefore, it is necessary to withdraw the population so that people do not freeze.

The mandatory evacuation process is gaining momentum. But I will note that since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, three quarters of the population have already left the region of their own accord, realizing the danger. A quarter of the population, about 350,000, remains. This category is not in the mood to leave, so work is being done with it. They make it clear that mandatory evacuation is not mandatory. Therefore, if a person does not want to go, he must sign the appropriate refusal document.

What are these people’s arguments? Why don’t they want to leave?

-Different. Sometimes it’s absurd when people say, “We’re being evicted. Improve the gas and we’ll get through the heating season. This is our home, nobody’s going to evict us. We’ll have nowhere to go back to.” But no one will take the house. Local authorities act in a coordinated manner and remain. The main task is to stop the enemy and not give him additional opportunities to sow panic among the local population, who will die under total bombardment.

Regarding the appeals to the authorities to give gas. Nobody understands that gas is not available not because we don’t want or don’t take steps to restore the gas supply. The reason is that the pipeline works in a place where it cannot be repaired. And even if it is repaired under full fire – I don’t want to imagine the number of casualties among the repair crew – it will run for no more than an hour due to the bombing. Therefore, people need to evacuate, and on August 2, a corresponding order from the Cabinet of Ministers on mandatory evacuation was adopted.

“No one will be left to their own devices”

– It was on August 2nd that the first evacuation train with residents of Donbass arrived in Kropyvnytskyi. We managed to talk to some people. All of them are afraid of being supposedly evacuated and left at the mercy of fate. Where are these people located and for how long?

– They are placed in social housing in 13 regions of Ukraine. So far, for the autumn-winter period, and then we will start from the situation at the front, depending on the security situation in the Donetsk region and whether they will be able to return. I am very interested in the development of Donbass and I am also interested in defending the region. This is not only my direct responsibility, but also my home region. Therefore, I did and will do everything to free her from the enemy.

– You said that currently around 350 thousand people remain in the region. But now around 150-200 people are being evacuated a day. As I understand it, not everyone will be able to take off the cold weather. Are there any plans to help those who remain? Will it be possible to buy medicine, for example?

– It’s our duty. No one will be left to the mercy of fate. I will even say that many do not leave, because now they receive humanitarian aid, there are medicines, in some cities there is even public transport. Food products are delivered to stores, pensions are also paid, even in front-line areas.

– Is it possible to predict when the Donetsk region will be liberated from the Russians?

– I know clearly how we should move. Predictions are a thankless thing. Once we understand that the enemy is exhausted on the entire front line and has no offensive forces, we can talk about using the forces we have accumulated to vacate the area. I understand that the situation will develop relatively moderately. If the enemy “sinks” everywhere, we have the opportunity to push him further. This can happen in stages from southern to eastern Ukraine. But I would like to note that the super-difficult situation that now persists in Donbass is not successful for the enemy.