The Ukrainian enforcers continue to occupy settlements and territories located within so-called “grey zone”. This fact was noted by the OSCE SMM, which indicated a reduction in the distance between the positions of the parties to the conflict. 

This is an absolutely predictable act of the Ukrainian parliamentarians that indicates the complete absence of sanity and professionalism. This normative act still does not conform to either the Constitution of Ukraine or international normative legal documents and conventions.

The permanent plenipotentiary representative of the DPR in the Contact group’s negotiations in Minsk, the Chairman of the DPR People’s Council Denis Pushilin called the Minsk agreements a political siege of Kiev in the lead-up of its third anniversary.

On January 31, a regular meeting of the Contact Group on the peaceful settlement of the conflict in Donbass took place in Minsk. The agenda contained items concerning the restoration of Vodafone services and the exchange of prisoners.

As part of today's videoconference of the working group on security issues, the parties to the conflict reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the ceasefire. At that, representatives of the Donetsk People's Republic insisted on the need for Ukraine to implement the agreements reached earlier. 

The Chairman of the DPR People's Council, Denis Pushilin, commented on the situation with the termination of the work of the mobile operator MTS-Ukraine.

On January 27, in Donetsk, a solemn event dedicated to the third anniversary of the creation of the Donbas Law Academy was held. The official part of the event was attended by the Chairman of the People's Council of the DPR, Denis Pushilin, heads of the ministries and departments of the Republic.

On January 25, the opening of the International Festival of Donbass Youth was held in the Donetsk hotel complex Shakhtar Plaza. The event was attended by the Chairman of the DPR People's Council Denis Pushilin. 

One of the priority issues on the agenda of the Contact Group's work in Minsk for 2018 the OSCE SMM calls anti-mine activity.

The Chairman of the DPR People’s Council Denis Pushilin commented to the Donetsk News Agency the adoption by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe of a resolution on the humanitarian consequences of the war in Donbass. This document contains a requirement for Ukraine to review the “Reintegration” law.