Donetsk, Sep 5 — DAN. The events happening in Donbass were caused by the neo-Nazi regime which seized power by force in 2014 and unleashed hostilities in the region, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with participants in the ecological forum in Kamchatka on Monday.

“The tragedy taking place in Donbass resulted from the actions of the nationalist, neo-Nazi regime, which seized power through force in 2014 and then launched combat activities in Donbass, ” TASS quoted Putin as saying.  “It twice held large-scale military operations using heavy firepower, aviation, heavy weapons, and so forth. And this is all continuing to this day.”

Russia’s attempts to resolve the conflict peacefully were unavailing due to the position taken by Kiev, so Russia deems it its duty to help Donbass residents, he added. The Russian leader also said that the courage which residents of the region show on frontlines is amazing.

“I’m simply amazed at the courage of these people including those who fight for their Motherland on the frontline. They are not professional servicemen; two corps were formed with local residents who fight better than professional servicemen, very courageously, bravely and effectively, ” he said.

The People’s Republics and Russia have been conducting a a special military operation in Donbass since February 24. As of now the LPR territory is fully liberated; in the DPR, invaders have been dislodged from 275 settlements.*jk