Ukraine's richest man opened an economic front against pro-Russia separatists in the industrial region he has long dominated, calling on tens of thousands of workers at his factories to oppose attempts to break up the country that he said are putting their jobs at risk.
The intervention by metals-and-mining tycoon Rinat Akhmetov comes amid signs of waning public support for the armed rebels in the eastern Donetsk region. Sentiment has shifted as violence and disorder have spread and as it becomes clear that Moscow isn't planning any quick annexation, as it did with nearby Crimea in March.
At the same time, the Kremlin has softened its line against presidential elections in Ukraine, which the government intends to hold Sunday despite threats by the separatists to disrupt them.
Ukraine's parliament in Kiev also reached out Tuesday by promising more financial autonomy to the regions and special status for the Russian language, which predominates in the east.
Mr. Akhmetov's criticism that the separatists are harming the region's economy is likely further to damp enthusiasm for the separatist cause, a trend that has frustrated its leaders in recent days. His large workforce looks to him to maintain wages and stability.
In a video address late Monday he denounced the self-proclaimed separatist government, describing its leaders as unknowns who had brought nothing but chaos to the region, known as the Donbas. "To maraud around cities and seize peaceful citizens--what is that?," Mr. Akhmetov said. "A fight for the happiness of our region? No. It is a fight against the residents of our region."
He also said their seizure of the railroad threatened industrial shipments that form the "heart of Donbas."
.. The commander of the Donetsk separatist forces, Igor Strelkov, released a video last weekend complaining that even though his militants had amassed sufficient weapons to wage war against Ukrainian forces, he wasn't attracting enough men willing to fight.
"I honestly admit, I never expected that in the whole region you wouldn't be able to find even a thousand men willing to risk their lives, " Mr. Strelkov said...Read the Full story HERE.
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