Ukraine pro-independence rebels want 100,000-member army

World Today

Ukraine’s government has reported fighting across all sections of their front line, and has appealed to the West for urgent international military assistance. CCTV’s Kate Parkinson reported this story from Donetsk, Ukraine.

As the pro-independence militia push forward with their offensive, separatist leader Alexander Zakharchenko — self-proclaimed head of the Donetsk People’s Republic — announced plans to mobilize more fighters.

“This is to increase our army to 100,000 people. It does not mean we will take in 100,000, but the joint army of Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics’ army should be 100,000,” Zakharchenko said.

He was also quoted by Russian news agencies as saying 10,000 men would be called up to join the rebel army. The mobilization would take place quickly, he said.

On the other side, the Ukrainian government is pressing ahead with a fourth wave of military recruitment aimed at raising an extra 50,000 men, although Kiev’s mobilization will take place over the course of a year, not in a matter of weeks as the separatists appear to be planning.

The separatists have previously threatened a full-scale offensive to push right out to the borders of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions — effectively doubling their territory. There is concern now in Kiev that these plans to boost their fighting force could mean they are preparing for a major operation.


Job Henning of Truman Project Fellow discusses Ukraine crisis

CCTV America interviewed Job Henning, co-founder of tech companies LinkPad and OpenRevolution, and a strategist focused on Eurasia, about the latest situation in Ukraine.