MH17 investigation to suffer as Ukraine preps for war against Russian-backed rebels in Donetsk

The multinational team of aviation experts including three Australians had hoped to arrive at the crash site outside of rebel stronghold Donetsk to begin the forensic investigation of the cause of the crash, suspected to have been downed by a ground to air missile.

 

 

 

But late yesterday Ukraine ordered a mass mobilisation against the two remaining separatist stronghold cities of Donetsk and Luhansk, the latter of which is expected to be conquered by government troops by this weekend.

For the past three days outlaying towns and villages and satellite suburbs of the large cities have been seized back by Ukrainian troops with mixed reports on the number of casualties.

Vladimir Putin yesterday vowed Russia would do “everything in its power” to ensure the investigation can take place — with the Kiev Government interpreting the remark as a sign Russia would further aid the separatists.

 

 

 

During a meeting with Russia’s Security Council, Putin said Russia was willing to put pressure on the rebels, but that “that was not enough” to resolve the situation.

He condemned Kiev for continuing to shell parts of the region, asserting that international observers on the scene could “barely stick their heads out” because of safety concerns.

“Ultimately, there is a need to call on the authorities in Kiev to respect basic norms of decency, and at least for a short time implement a ceasefire,” he said.

It was his first lengthy response to the crisis involving the MH17 aircraft which crashed within rebel held territory, about 70km from Donetsk.

Despite Western sanctions, he said Moscow would stand by separatists in eastern Ukraine whom he described as part of a popular rising against an illegal coup.

“Russia is being presented with what is almost an ultimatum: ‘Let us destroy this part of the population that is ethnically and historically close to Russia and we will not impose sanctions against you,” Putin said. “This is a strange and unacceptable logic.”

 

 

 

Yesterday train and bus stations in Donetsk were packed as people scrambled to evacuate the city. Shops also began boarding up their windows despite having been closed anyway since the chaos began in earnest in March.

Road blocks and separatist outposts visited by News Corp Australia saw an increase in military activity while in the city itself plain clothed intelligence officers are moving about public squares randomly performing identification checks.

“I don’t think anybody believes there is not going to be a major war here, it is just a question of when,” said one militia man armed with an outdated bolt action rifle from the 1940s.

Forty-five days ago Kiev called up additional army reserves to move to the frontline but yesterday issued another decree to “declare and conduct partial mobilisation” to take the frontline of what it describes as an anti-terrorist operation.

Security chief Andriy Parubiy accused Russia of amassing 41,000 troops with 150 tanks and 400 armoured vehicles close to the Ukraine border.

 

 

 

He said the Russians had also mobilised other weapons systems such as the SU25 which is suspected of having been responsible for bringing MH17 down with the loss of almost 300 lives including 28 Australians.

Donetsk came under heavy shelling again yesterday as government troops closed in on the rebel stronghold city.

About 7pm local time the main rail line between that city and Ukraine capital Kiev was cut off with the tracks bombed as well as a bridge knocked out. Trains were being rerouted.

All cash machines in Donetsk are empty and banks have been closed for weeks. Almost 50 per cent of the population had fled since hostilities began. Hundreds of residents have fled the city in the past three days.

 

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