Ukrainian separatists expropriate all firms in Donetsk, Luhansk

DONETSK, Mar 1 (PRIME) -- Self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk republics in the east of Ukraine expropriated all Ukrainian companies on Wednesday, Head of the Donetsk republic Alexander Zakharchenko said at a meeting with workers of the region.

“External management was introduced at all the facilities in the zone of responsibility of the industry ministry,” Zakharchenko said.

He also said in a written statement that transition to external management will be over until the end of the day.

According to earlier statements, the measure is response to transport blockade by Kiev.

Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the step is understandable to a certain degree. “I do not think that the word takeover is applicable there and I do not think that it is correct to call this a takeover. We are, in principle, witnesses of regions repelled by their own state, which found themselves in an even direr situation in conditions of a full blockade orchestrated by extremist individuals.”

The official called for unblocking humanitarian aid deliveries. He said that Russia has some influence on the separatists but does not control them directly.

Peskov declined to comment on the possibility of opening the Russian market for products of companies of the republics.

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