In the area of the Joint Forces Operation on May 26, the Russian occupation forces violated the ceasefire once again and fired on Ukrainian defenders in the Donetsk oblast. The enemy used heavy machine guns and small arms, - JFO headquarters reported. As a result of the shelling, one AFU soldier received a bullet wound incompatible with life. The Joint Forces command expresses its deepest and heartfelt condolences to families and friends of the deceased warrior and notes that such insidious actions of the occupiers will not go unpunished. The enemy will be deservedly punished for its crimes. Situation in the area of the Joint Forces Operation remains fully controlled by Ukrainian defenders.
Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov supported getting the "DNR/LNR" armed gangs fully operational. This was reported by the Russian TASS. The Kremlin speaker made it clear that he believed in the statements of the "LNR" leader Leonid Pasechnik that Ukraine allegedly increased shelling of residential areas and infrastructure of the occupied Donbass and, on this basis, approved the militants' plans to forcefully "move the line of demarcation". Peskov noted that Moscow was "concerned about the ongoing shelling from the Ukrainian side". Peskov also stated that "such a tough position of the self-proclaimed "republics" is understandable against this background.
The Russians are preparing a bloody provocation in the Luhansk oblast. This was reported by the JFO headquarters with reference to the testimonies of residents of the village of Holubovske. It was reported that a group of collaborators from the "People's Police" of the "LNR" brought to Holubovske two howitzers, packages with bodies and a group of Russian journalists. "On May 24, local residents of Holubovske village witnessed a number of events. Around noon, a group of the "LNR People's Militia" soldiers arrived in the village in full gear, as well as 2 howitzers. Despite discontent among local residents, they were located on the outskirts of the residential areas", - the JFO headquarters reported. At the same time, a minivan with black plastic bags resembling bodies was seen in another part of the village. Local residents also saw a pickup truck with representatives of the media there. Comparing these events with the previously obtained intelligence information, the JFO headquarters warns of possible provocations in the area. "Pro-Russian terrorists, as directed by the FSB of the Russian Federation, are going to provoke a firefight in the area of responsibility of the 93rd brigade of the AFU and subsequently accuse the Ukrainian side of killing the local residents", - the JFO headquarters reported. According to military experts polled by OstroV, the nature of the enemy's actions suggests that the Russians expect to provoke our military into firing military equipment, which they defiantly roll on the front line in order to respond with more massive fire and accuse us of mass casualties among the civilians.
Full opening of checkpoints in the Donetsk oblast can be expected no earlier than June 22. This was reported in the Donetsk regional state administration. "The operation of the Joint Forces takes place in the region. Its commander issued an order stating that the ban on crossing the checkpoints will be valid until 23:59 on June 22, unless there are other instructions for this period", - the regional state administration reported.
Occupiers of the "DNR" excluded the Ukrainian hryvnia from the list of "legal" means of paying taxes and fees. This was stated in the amendments to the "law" on the tax system adopted by the so-called "people's council". The changes establish fixed rates for the "transit", sale and export of certain types of goods in Russian rubles, previously payable in Ukrainian hryvnias. The occupiers attribute this to the fact that "the Russian ruble is monetary unit in the uncontrolled territory of Donbass". Thus, the Ukrainian hryvnia is excluded from the list of "legal" means of payment, in which "customs" taxes and fees are being recorded and paid. Allegedly, this "will correspond to the chosen course of foreign policy of the "republic", aimed at harmonizing the legislation of the "DNR" and the Russian Federation".
The "imported" beer and tobacco products will rise in price in the occupied territory of Donetsk oblast. This is provided for by the amendments to the "law" on the tax system adopted by the so-called "people's council of the DNR". It was noted that these changes increase the "excise tax rates on imported beer and tobacco products". All the collaborators, who call themselves "deputies of the People's Council", have traditionally voted for this decision.
The "DNR" occupation authorities recognized 409 cases of COVID-19 as of May 25. It was noted that another 24 cases of COVID-19 were recorded in CADO over the penultimate day. In total, 293 people are under treatment, 103 were discharged, 13 of the patients died. Moreover, more than 40 infected patients are in critical condition.
The "LNR" occupation authorities recognized another fatal case from COVID-19. New data were voiced in the so-called "Ministry of Health of the LNR". "In total, as of 9.00 on May 26, there were 384 registered and confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection in the territory of the Luhansk People's Republic, 184 people were discharged, six patients died", - the "ministry" reported.
The so-called "DNR" adopted a "law" stipulating responsibility for refusing to consider the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army fascists and accomplices of the Nazis. This was reported by separatist media. The "DNR" focuses on the fact that this "law" is aimed at "prohibiting the rehabilitation and glorification of fascist accomplices in communication networks, on the Internet or television", and there will be administrative responsibility for its violation.
The accident at the pumping station in the so-called "LNR" left 7.8 thousand subscribers without water supply in the occupied Lutuhyne and the urban-type settlements of Uspenka and Heorhiivka, separatist media wrote. "The Hrushka pumping station was shut off on May 26 due to an emergency stop of the pumping unit… in connection with which the water supply in the settlements of Lutuhyne, Uspenka and Heorhiivka was cut off. 7800 subscribers were left without water supply", - the report said. Water supply will be resumed after the completion of repair work, the timing of which is not specified.