National Bank of Ukraine suspended69 the operations of its office in Donetsk region due to the threats by the representatives of the "Donetsk People's Republic”. On 15 May, the Ministry of Revenue and Duties of Ukraine also evacuated the staff of its directorate and tax inspections in the region. 264. On 7 June, the Ministry of Social Policy informed the HRMMU that all social payments had been made to the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. However, there were major challenges in delivering cash to Antratsyt in Luhansk region and Slovyansk and Kramatorsk in Donetsk region. The Ministry has already addressed the MoI and SBU to develop a mechanism of the safe delivery of cash to these regions if the situation remains the same or aggravates. 265. On 30 May, the head of Department of Marketing Communications of the Novokramatorskiy Machine-Building Plant Volodymyr Zhuliy spoke of the imminent “humanitarian catastrophe” in Kramatorsk, due to the termination of the work of the city department of the State Treasury of Ukraine since 20 May. In particular, Mr Zhuliy mentioned that thousands of the city’s pensioners, local governance workers, educators and public health workers were deprived of the means for existence. Reportedly, the Treasury’s debt to the workers and pensioners in Kramatorsk for the payments due in May already amounted to UAH 61.4 million. Increased lawlessness resulting in loss of individual property 266. On 15 May, the Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights informed the HRMMU that there are numerous incidents in Donetsk and Luhansk regions when the armed groups’ members seize personal phones and especially cars from ordinary citizens. The police rarely intervene or take any action, as they are usually unarmed and thus unable to perform their functions in the current situation. Consequently, although criminality is increasing, there is nobody to apply to in case of an alleged crime, and no effective means to intervene for police. It also becomes dangerous for persons to report about such crimes, so in most cases they chose to leave the region. The increase in criminality is, in the view of some, returning the regions to the “lawlessness of the 1990s”: 69 · For example, on 8 May, the private residence of a local activist was allegedly shot at from a car; the attackers broke into the house and looted everything of value. The police called by the neighbours, allegedly made several photos of the location, but did not even walk into the building. Reportedly, the activist left the region to Kharkiv with his family, due to previous threats to his life, including attempted arson of his home with Molotov cocktails on 4 May. · On 15 May, owners of car-dealerships in the cities of Donetsk and Luhansk regions formed rapid response groups to protect their businesses against attacks aimed at robbery that have multiplied since the beginning of May. · On 28 May, the HRMMU spoke to one of the local political leaders in the Donetsk region. He reported that his legal firm’s office was ruined when attackers took his computers, documentation on the legal cases and stole the firm’s car. He was also The staff of the Bank was evacuated, and online banking in the region was reportedly suspended. 116 | P a g e