The action plan is partially implemented, but does not address strategic issues

1. Donbas reintegration: achievements of 2017
The analytical group of “Donetsk Institute of Information”
Editor: Vitalii Sizov
​ December 2017

2. Introduction
On January 11, 2017, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the order ​«On a plan of
measures aimed at the implementation of certain principles of state domestic policy in
separate districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, where state bodies temporarily do not
exercise their power»​ (hereinafter - the Plan).
According to the document, the Ministry of Temporary Occupied Territories and Internally
Displaced Persons on a quarterly basis, by the 15th of the following month, is required to
provide information on the state of implementation of the plan of measures, and, together with
other government bodies involved in the implementation of plan of measures, to fulfil the tasks
of the plan of measures to comply with the requirements of legislation.
Before the anniversary of this document approval, non-governmental organization “Donetsk
Information Institute” (hereinafter - DII) has monitored the implementation of certain items of
the Plan by state authorities.
Checkpoints
According to the Plan, it was planned to ​"improve the procedures Order on the control of
movement of people, vehicles and cargo (goods) across the contact line within Donetsk and
Luhansk regions"​ and "equipping of entry/exit checkpoints of the movement of vehicles and
cargo (goods) across the contact line with technical video control systems". According to the
State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, February to October of 2017, at the entry/exit
checkpoints, the number of work places was increased from ​84​ to ​178​, technological processes
were optimized​ ​(in order to increase traffic handling capacity of the checkpoints in the
processing of technological schemes for the movement of people and vehicles, the separation of
pedestrian and road traffic flows and the introduction of reverse movement of vehicles in all
lanes in case the traffic increases, was provided​)​, and more than 130 surveillance cameras have
been installed.
Donetsk Regional State Administration informs that 4 new module points for the border and
fiscal services work, two heating points and information stands were installed on ​“Maiorsk”
entry/exit checkpoint​. On ​“Mariinka” entry/exit checkpoint​ a module for the doctor
and a module for SSU focal point.
On the territory of Luhansk region, there is only one operating checkpoint. The Regional State
Administration reports on the possibility of promptly opening of
“Stakhanov-Zolote-Hirne-Lysychansk” entry/exit checkpoint​, closed for security
reasons.
The Plan indicates that it is planned ​to organize the proper functioning of the optimum quantity
of humanitarian and logistics centres near the entry/exit checkpoints​. According to the regional

3. authorities, as of December 1, 2017, for technical and security reasons, there is no possibility on
the territory of the Luhansk region to organize humanitarian sites or humanitarian and logistics
centres. According to the regional Administration, the opening of the humanitarian and logistics
centre in ​Novotoshkivske​ settlement was not possible due to the fact that the permission from
the National Security and Defence Council was not received.
In Donetsk region ​38.4​ thousand people have taken advantage of ​“Maiorsk” ​and
“Novotroitske” ​logistics centres services since the beginning of their work.
Order of movement across the contact line
The Plan refers to the need to provide opportunities for the citizens living in an uncontrolled
territory ​to purchase essential goods​. It is also about ​creating favourable conditions for the
provision of administrative services ​to Ukrainian citizens who live in uncontrolled territory or in
settlements along the contact line.
The headquarters of the Anti-Terrorist Centre at the Security Service of Ukraine reported that
changes were made to the Temporary Order on the control of movement of people, vehicles and
cargo (goods) across the contact line within Donetsk and Luhansk regions. In particular, a
section was added on the procedure for the movement of persons, vehicles and goods to
humanitarian and logistics centres. Also, changes were made to ​paragraph 5. 1​, allowing
people who have their documents processed or change passport photos, to go through control
presenting a certificate given by the State Migration Service of Ukraine about the submission of
documents and obtaining a passport. The categories of vehicles on which the movement to and
from the temporarily uncontrolled territory are permitted have also been clarified. Local
authorities report on assistance to citizens in obtaining administrative services.
Broadcasting and media
In this direction, the Plan provides for the following steps: 1) dissemination of social advertising,
videos aimed at the formation of a tolerant society; 2) popularization of books, art albums, audio
and audio-visual works of Ukrainian authors among citizens residing in uncontrolled territory,
and their distribution; 3) promoting compliance with the principle of independence and
self-sufficiency of the mass media by creating conditions for the dissemination of information in
state and other languages ​​(including Russian); 4) promotion of the publication and distribution
of audio and audio-visual works, printed editions in various languages.
The Radio Broadcasting, Radio Communication and Television Concern of Ukraine reported
that in the 9 months of 2017, 6 new FM broadcasting transmitters of various capacities with
antenna-feeder systems were installed to fulfil the decision of the Commission on Ensuring the
Stable Functioning of the National Television and Radio Broadcasting System under the
Ministry of Information Policy of Ukraine; a medium-wave transmitter with a power of 25 kW is
installed together with an antenna-feeder system; the program of the “LLC Information Agency

4. PRAVDATUT” was launched in the digital multiplex of the TV-transmitter of 22 high-quality
television of the DVB-T standard; the power of analogue television transmitter of 61 high-quality
television TV channel “DoTebe” was increased to 2.0 kW; the works on the transfer of analogue
TV transmitters of 12 TVK and 30 high-quality television from the urban-type settlement
Ocheretyne to the city of Avdiivka were carried out.
The National Council of Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine reported that it was
working on radio and television signal coverage expanding, issuing broadcasting licenses and
informing about the completion of the construction of ​134​ meters-high telecommunication
tower in Bakhmutivtka, Luhansk region.
The Ministry of Information Policy of Ukraine has developed the Strategy of information
reintegration of Donbas. The free printed newspapers: commercial ​Fakty Donbassa​ (“Facts of
Donbas”), ​Donbass Inform​ (of the Ministry of Information Policy), ​Visti Donbasu​ (“News of
Donbas”) (of Donetsk Regional Military and Civil Administration) are distributed at entry/exit
checkpoints in the ATO zone. All-Ukrainian and regional information campaigns on overcoming
public stereotypes about Donbas residents are held with the participation of the MIP.
Building ties with residents of uncontrolled territories
In order to promote the creation of a united cultural space of Ukraine; the creation of conditions
for people on the controlled territory to meet their personal cultural needs, the Plan foresees to
fulfil the following measures in 2017: 1) organizing and conducting cultural and artistic events
involving citizens from uncontrolled territories, in particular exhibitions, presentations,
concerts, performances, circus performances, etc. (subject to the requirements of security); 2)
organization of dialogue between community representatives on solving common issues related
to the solution of humanitarian and other problems of a local nature; 3) interaction with trade
unions of enterprises, whose employees ensure the functioning of controlled production
facilities of enterprises located in uncontrolled territory, in order to promote the realization of
workers' rights; 4) involving representatives of international organizations with experience in
mediation with a view to peaceful settlement of conflicts, establishing a dialogue between
persons living in uncontrolled and controlled territories; 5) involving young people and women
in the civil movement through programs that will promote their role as peacekeepers, support
for civil society organizations in promoting structured dialogues on promoting tolerance; 6)
distribution of social advertising, videos aimed at forming a tolerant society; 7) popularization of
books, art albums, audio and audio-visual works of Ukrainian authors among citizens living on
uncontrolled territory, and their distribution.
The Luhansk Regional Military and Civil Administration reported that carrying out of cultural
and artistic actions for people living in an uncontrolled area was complicated in 2017 by security
issues. Nevertheless, the recovery of children from uncontrolled territories and dialogue
meetings between civil society representatives were organized. Officials of the Department of
Physical Culture and Sports of the Donetsk regional state administration report that “work is

5. being done to attract residents of the uncontrolled territory to competitions” and more than ​319
such regional events were conducted over ​9​ months, but citizens from uncontrolled territories
did not take part in them.
The Luhansk Regional State Administration reported that they could not promote the works of
Ukrainian authors and disseminate them among the residents of uncontrolled territories
because of the lack of a legislative definition of the list of materials for distribution, as well as
sources of funding, distribution and allocation mechanisms.
Economy and business
The Plan provided for the process for regulating legal relations between SFS authorities and
taxpayers whose production facilities are located in an uncontrolled territory. It was planned to
develop and submit to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine proposals on amendments to the
legislation on simplification of tax and accounting reporting, as well as the peculiarities of
conducting tax audits, while increasing the liability for submission of inaccurate information
contained in such reporting. The Ministry of Finance of Ukraine informed that the Law of
Ukraine dated 21/12/2016 (before the Cabinet of Ministers’ decree) No. 1797-VIII “Amendments
to the Tax Code of Ukraine regarding improvement of investment climate in Ukraine”
complemented article 10 of section XX “Transitional provisions” of the Tax Code of Ukraine by
paragraph 38, which introduced ​special taxation conditions​ ​for the period of the
antiterrorist operation for taxpayers, whose location as of April 14, 2014 was the territory of
settlements on which the state authorities temporarily do not exercise their power, or
settlements along the contact line.
Conclusions
● The action plan is partially implemented, but does not address strategic issues.
● The plan needs updating and the formation of new practical and clear goals through
involving the public and international organizations in this process.
● The Plan needs an understandable system for evaluating and monitoring of its
implementation. The evaluation of success may be quantitative indicators of the
involvement of the residents of uncontrolled territories in Ukrainian public life (the
percentage of students who take
external independent estimation and enter Ukrainian higher education institutions, the
number of children from the uncontrolled territory, participating in sports competitions
in the controlled territory, etc.)