ATO HQ: Militants, their families planning to flee to Russia

REUTERS

Matiukhin claims that statements made by the leaders of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republic terrorist organizations on the rescheduling of their local "elections," the withdrawal of military equipment from the demarcation line and "the use by Russian supervisors of tough sanctions against the commanders of local gangs disagreeing with the ideology of the Minsk agreements have caused a panic among the militants."

"Many of those who have participated in the armed conflict have been cherishing plans to move to permanent residence in the Russian Federation together with their families," he said.

"The one whose hands are not stained with blood is getting rid of weapons," he added.