Wednesday results in the occupied territories of Donbas. The highlights

In the area of ​​the Operation of the Joint Forces on November 17, 9 violations of the ceasefire by the armed formations of the Russian Federation were recorded, 7 of which were with the use of weapons prohibited by the Minsk agreements, - the JFO headquarters reported. The enemy opened fire from 120 mm mortars in the direction of Nevelske. The occupiers fired from 120 mm mortars and heavy anti-tank grenade launchers in the area of ​​Novooleksandrivka. Russian mercenaries fired at our positions twice not far from Zolote-4, using 120 mm mortars and heavy anti-tank grenade launchers. The enemy troops fired from 152 mm artillery near the settlements of Kriakivka and Prychepylivka. The enemy fired from 82 mm mortars and anti-tank grenade launchers in the direction of Krymske. Our positions near Marinka came under fire from 82 mm mortars. In addition, an unmanned aerial vehicle, probably of the Orlan-10 type, was recorded in the Luhansk oblast crossing the collision line. Three members of the Joint Forces were injured as a result of hostile actions. The soldiers received medical assistance, they were evacuated to a hospital. The state of health of the wounded is satisfactory. Ukrainian defenders opened fire in return without using weapons prohibited by the Minsk agreements, and forced the enemy to stop shelling.

The so-called "republics of Donbas" are absolutely unviable without the support of Russia. This statement was made by Russian saboteur and terrorist Igor Girkin (Strelkov) on the air of one of the Russian video channels. The "LDNR" is not viable without a rear, which is Russia for it, in any case", - he said, answering the question whether it is possible to "build socialism" in the occupied Donbas. "What kind of socialism will you talk about? Just a normal life must be restored there, at first…", - Girkin estimated the "successes of state building" of the fake republics. "What are you talking about? War is the future of the LDNR, war in any case", - the saboteur predicted. In his opinion, having renounced open occupation of the east of Ukraine, Russia is "in the position of defender" at the current stage of the war. "Mucked up everything", - Girkin summed up, having laid the blame for this on Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Russian command of the "DNR/LNR" illegal armed formations began reserve training to increase the combat readiness of "reservists". This was reported by the Chief Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine. "The command of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continues to increase the combat and mobilization readiness of the formations and units of the 1st (Donetsk) and 2nd (Luhansk) Army Corps of the task grouping of the Russian occupation forces. The occupiers began to hold the next training of reservists in the temporarily occupied territory in the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts from November 15. Combat training and combat readiness training have been organized with those called up to the training", - the message said. The training is controlled by the headquarters commission of the 8th combined-arms army of the Southern Military District of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

Another 1046 cases of COVID-19 were detected in the occupied territory of the Donetsk oblast over the day. 98 patients died over the day, - the so-called "DNR Ministry of Health" reported. 18 026 patients are undergoing treatment (inpatient and outpatient), 7605 people have died since the beginning of the pandemic. 115 cases of "usual" pneumonia were also detected over the day, which is 10 cases more than in the previous day. Of these, 64 patients were hospitalized. In total, 2451 patients with pneumonia are undergoing treatment, of which 1447 are on oxygen support (+43 over the day).

Doctors registered 17 deaths from COVID-19 in the occupied Luhansk region over the day, separatist media wrote. Thus, doctors in CALO have "officially" registered 2777 deaths of patients diagnosed with coronavirus since the beginning of the pandemic.

About 200 people daily turn to occupation authorities of the "DNR" with applications to cross the demarcation line through checkpoints, - separatist Telegram-channel reported on November 17, citing the so-called "Healthy Movement operational headquarters". It was noted that there were twice as many such statements in the summer. The message emphasized that "the reason for leaving or entering must be valid". "This is an operational or educational necessity, family reunification, caring for a sick relative, going to a funeral or medical treatment or handing over disabled people", - the "DNR headquarters" told.

Hundreds of thousands of residents left occupied Donetsk during the war, and this trend continues - young people are leaving the city en masse. This was written about in the local segment of social networks. Thus, Donetsk restaurateur Andrey Begeza told the separatist Telegram channel that "if you count how many people left Donetsk during the war years, you get a whole district of the city, and given that very often young people leave, who could give new residents of the city, then, perhaps, more than a district". According to him, the outflow of personnel continues. "Everyone is leaving, but the overwhelming majority is young people under 40. Before you have time to train the waiter, he/she drops everything and goes to Russia", - Begeza said. The restaurateur admitted that there is no one to work with; there is a shortage of experts in every industry. And the reasons for leaving are war, closed borders, high prices and lack of prospects. In any case, it is easier to realize your potential where the population's ability to pay is higher. "And, perhaps, the people would be patient, if they were told how much more to suffer. But no one knows this", - the local restaurateur believed. The topic of mass departure of the Donetsk residents has been frequently discussed in social networks lately. "What strikes the eye in Donetsk is the small number of people on the streets… Those who left are: experts, mostly subject matter, parents with children, buyers of goods and services and personnel", - the Donetsk residents wrote and provided photos of the deserted central streets of Donetsk in support of their words.