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<p></p><p><del class="ministerial">The Ukrainian authorities estimate that there
are up to 3500 Russian nationals fighting in eastern Ukraine. We are also aware of
reports of a relatively small number of other nationals present in eastern Ukraine.
The presence of Russian fighters in Ukraine remains a key obstacle to progress in
implementing the Minsk peace agreement, which requires the withdrawal of all foreign
armed formations, military equipment and mercenaries from the territory of Ukraine.</del><ins
class="ministerial">Given that these territories are not under Government control,
there are clear logistical limitations to service provision by the Ukrainian Government
to civilians living there. Nonetheless, the Ukrainian Government continues to provide
water, heating and energy supplies to non-Government held areas. The UK provides close
support to the Ministry for Temporarily Occupied Territories and Internally Displaced
Persons and we welcome the Ukrainian Government’s efforts to pursue further ways to
provide support to those in non-Government controlled areas, including by facilitating
crossings and the transport of goods across the Line of Contact. However, the best
way to secure the provision of services to civilians across the Donbas would be a
full and comprehensive ceasefire; ongoing fighting poses a grave threat to vital utilities
as well as civilian lives, as seen recently in Avdiivka.</ins></p>
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