Thread by @ZimermanErik

The #Ukarinian regime does many things in its desperate fight to remain relevant & in power, but it is often quite predictable. This one I nailed on the head.

The order came all the way from #Zelensky. Forced evacuation of the rest (still UA-held) Donetsk.

https://twitter.com/ZimermanErik/status/1550534492590325760

"A government decision was made on the mandatory evacuation of the #Donetsk region" he said. Zelensky said hundreds of thousands of people remain in the #Donbas near the fighting and admitted that many refused to leave (they don't mind the Russians coming):

"Many refuse to leave but it still needs to be done, “If you have the opportunity, please talk to those who still remain in the combat zones in Donbas. Please convince them that it is necessary to leave." His motivations were not clear, we only got the absurd statement that:

"The more people leave [the] Donetsk region now, the fewer people the #Russian army will have time to kill,”. However he did say that those residents who would leave would be given compensation, an attempt to buy the loyalty that he does not naturally posses. These are hard times

in a place that isn't wealthy in the best of times, and money can be a big incentive. Who knows if & when they ever do receive any, & how much that may end up being. Separately, UA media quoted Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk trying to add some justification. She said the

evacuation had to take place before winter because there will not be gas for heating in the area. Many, including strong supporters of #Ukraine, were left confused by the call. John Herbst, former US ambassador to Ukraine said "I don't know why Zelensky issued the call..".

Mr. @JohnEdHerbst, if you are saying you don't know as part of your duties, that is one thing, but if you truly don't know then please refer to the quoted thread for what motivates the UA move. Mr. Herbst is Senior Director of the Eurasia Center at the Atlantic Council. Starting

2016, one of the Atlantic Council's largest donor for several years was #Burisma Holdings, of #HunterBiden fame. Now it remains to be seen what force will be used by the Ukrainian state to remove the residents of the Donbas, and if we will be able to see any evidence of it.

Exactly as predicted, UA went from keeping populations at the front by force, to now evacuating them by force. Ukraine has decided that if it cannot keep jurisdiction and control over #Russian speaking areas of eastern #Ukraine, it will at least keep them over their residents.