The DPR has opened the Yelenovka checkpoint so citizens can go to Ukraine

Today, on June 22, the Yelenovka checkpoint has opened up so residents of the Republic are able to leave for the territory of Ukraine, a correspondent of the DPR Official Website reports.

DPR Commissioner for Human Rights and representative of the Republic to the Minsk subgroup on humanitarian issues Darya Morozova commented on this event.

“The authorities of the Donetsk People’s Republic were forced to unilaterally open the Yelenovka checkpoint, as the Ukrainian side categorically has been refusing to negotiate with us directly for two months, to draw up a joint concept for opening of checkpoints and left us no other option, because we cannot confine people who need to go to the territory of Ukraine. This would be a human rights violation and this is wrong.

In my opinion, Mr. Zelenskyy has assumed the wrong position, he does not want to listen to either the Minsk format or the humanitarian subgroup, which has repeatedly raised this issue during the meetings.

Over the past week, about five more letters have been sent to the Ukrainian side with proposals for the concept of joint opening of checkpoints, as well as a notice that we are unilaterally opening them. However, the Ukrainian side has not given us any reply. We regarded this silence as consent, so the first car has already passed through to the territory of Ukraine,” Darya Morozova informed.

She explained that the original idea was to open humanitarian corridors for entry and exit.

“The Ukrainian side, through official negotiators, proposed granting passage based on the lists. The first lists were sent to the Ukrainian side two months ago. We have carried out the actions aimed at protecting human rights,” Darya Morozova said.

She also told that the Yelenovka checkpoint was chosen because it is fit out with everything necessary to comfortably cross the delimitation line. Darya Morozova added that the opening of the Yenovka checkpoint was the necessary measure.

It should be noted that a large-scale modernization was carried out at the Yelenovka checkpoint back in 2019. Prefab office spaces were erected over an area of 10 thousand square meters, which, according to the project, suggests a fivefold increase in traffic capacity at the checkpoint. The renovated complex has toilets, a first-aid station, an administrative services center, parking, its adjacent territory was improved.