Putin bets on equating the pro-Russian militias of Donetsk and Luganks with the Russian Armed Forces

July 7. () –

Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown his willingness to equate the pro-Russian militias of the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, in eastern Ukraine, with the Russian Armed Forces.

“As for equating the military of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and the Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR) with the Russian military, I fully support it. Moreover, this is being implemented in practice,” Putin said. according to the Russian news agency TASS.

This consideration would grant the militiamen of Donetsk and Lugansk social protection and material security in combat, as well as recognition as war veterans when they finish their services for the Army.

The proposal, formulated during a meeting of the Russian leader with the rest of the representatives of the Parliament, also includes the border guards.

“I consider it very important that the border guards serving in the Belgorod, Kursk, Briansk, Voronezh regions are given the same, because they are in fact real participants in a military operation,” said Russian Right-wing leader Sergei Mironov.