On January 23, the leader of the Donetsk People’s Republic, Alexander Zakharchenko, addressed the citizens of Ukraine:
You know perfectly well that yesterday, we gave you your dead soldiers.
To date, in the vicinity of the airport, the new terminal, the towns of Sands, Avdiyivka, Nikishin, Maori, near Gorlovka and other places where fierce fighting is going on, there are a lot of dead soldiers of the Ukrainian army. As you noticed yesterday, Ukrainian officers refused to take those killed. The number of Ukrainian soldiers killed is hard to know. Believe me, it has already exceeded a hundred people.
We call on the parents of those killed here! We guarantee issuance of the bodies, we promise complete security, assistance in identifying and transporting your sons home.
I would like to note the following. According to our intelligence, the Ukrainian armed forces brought three mobile crematoria into the ATO zone. You are all intelligent people and know perfectly well what the Ukrainian army will do with a crematorium!
I want to note once again — crematoria are needed to burn bodies. Once they are burned, your children will be reported missing or taken prisoner.
Dear parents! I’m sure each of your hearts aches for your child. I beg you, please contact your sons, find out where they are, in what units. And take control of the destiny of each of your children. Do not forget — this is a war, and for us they are enemies!
You may have noticed when watching on the Internet how the ordinary people of Donetsk perceive your sons: as occupiers and executioners! This is a mass phenomenon. You came to our land, you kill our children. You are here not as good friends and guests, but as enemies in arms!
The fate of your children is in your hands! Take care of your children.
Translation by Greg Butterfield
Red Star News + Translations 