MOSCOW. Jan 30 (Interfax) - Self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic leader Alexander Zakharchenko has promised to spare the life of Ukrainian soldiers trapped in Debaltseve and let them go home if the soldiers lay down arms.
"I would like to address all military servicemen of Ukraine. Guys, I am offering you to lay down arms and leave. You are fighting a wrong side. You still have a chance to save your lives and escape unharmed. Surrender and you will live. I promise that all of you will return home," he said in a program aired by the Rossiya 24 television channel.
Zakharchenko said that the militia had sealed the Debaltseve pocket.
"Any movement on the road can be suppressed by fire starting today. Everyone leaving this pocket in the next two or three hours will come under crossfire of our artillery," the DPR leader said.
DPR defense ministry representative Eduard Basurin said earlier that the militia had taken control of Mykhailivka.
"Mykhailivka is another town fully controlled by the militia. Vuhlehirsk is controlled by half. This is a dominating ground near Yenakiieve and it is important for further defense," the Novorossiya news agency quoted Basurin as saying.
In his words, the army lost nine tanks and seven infantry combat vehicles. A total of 117 servicemen were killed and 67 were wounded.
Ukrainian General Staff Chief Viktor Muzhenko said on Thursday afternoon that the hostilities were most intensive in the east and the south of Debaltseve. "There are a number of threats and we are taking measures towards their prevention and liquidation," he stated.