Russian-Backed Separatists Impose Curfew and Censorship in Occupied Eastern Ukraine: Latest Updates and Analysis

2023-09-24 17:31:00

Russian-backed separatists impose curfew, censor communications in occupied eastern Ukraine, Russian state media report

Denis Pushilin, head of the Donetsk People’s Republic, during a press conference at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2022 on June 16, 2022. Credit: Maksim Konstantinov/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images

The curfew and communications censorship came into effect this Sunday in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, in eastern Ukraine, according to Russian state media.

Curfew: The curfew will last from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. local time on weekdays, starting this Monday, according to a decree signed by the region’s leader, Denis Pushilin, backed by Russia, reported the state news agency TASS.

Some public officials and employees will be exempt from the order, including repair workers and those who oversee the supply of food and other essential items. Police, security personnel and people with special passes will also be allowed to circulate during curfew hours.

Pushilin signed the decree on September 18, but it came into effect on Sunday, when it was published, according to TASS.

Censorship: an additional decree imposes military censorship on mail, Internet communications and telephone conversations, according to TASS.

Under the order, the Russian Federal Security Service and the so-called “Ministry of Information” of the DPR will develop and implement censorship measures, according to TASS.

Local officials characterized the move as an effort to combat saboteurs and enemy reconnaissance agents, according to state news agency RIA Novosti.

Key context: The war broke out in 2014 following Russian-backed rebels seized government buildings in towns and cities across eastern Ukraine. Heavy fighting left parts of Ukraine’s Luhansk and Donetsk regions in the hands of Russian-backed separatists.

The areas controlled by the separatists were renamed the Luhansk and Donetsk People’s Republics. The Ukrainian government in Kyiv claims that the two regions are temporarily occupied by Russia. They have not been recognized by any government other than Russia and their close allies are Syria and North Korea.

The Ukrainian government has steadfastly refused to engage directly with the leaders of the two self-proclaimed governments, and has set its sights on regaining control of the territories in its fight once morest Russia’s full-scale invasion.

CNN’s Rob Picheta contributed to this report

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