with the armed groups in the area surrounding the town of Horlivka63 in the Donetsk region, and the armed groups operating in the border area of the Luhansk region near the border with the Russian Federation. Moreover, on the “official” “Donetsk People’s Republic” media outlet “Anna Info News”, the Slovyansk commander “Strelkov” Igor Girkin referred to “criminal groups” operating in the regions and that the “Donetsk People’s Republic” was lacking volunteers. 159. Regardless of the veracity of this information, the proliferation of armed groups has clearly exacerbated threats to the security of the population, posing a further challenge in ensuring the rule of law and accountability for the numerous illegal acts committed. The “Donetsk People’s Republic” has reported the presence among them of citizens of the Russian Federation, including from Chechnya and other republics in the North Caucasus. A particular call for women to join the armed groups was made on 17 May through a video released with Igor Girkin “Strelkov”, urging women of the Donetsk region to enlist in combat units. “Referendum” on “self-rule” held in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions on 11 May 160. On 11 May, a “referendum” on “self-rule” that was neither in accordance with the Constitution of Ukraine nor with effect under international law, took place in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The following question was asked: “Do you support the act of selfrule of the People’s Republic of Donetsk / People’s Republic of Luhansk?” The Government of Ukraine deemed the “referendum” illegal. 161. Reports suggest that there were a limited number of polling stations for the two regions. The official voter registration of the Central Election Commission was not used as a basis for the vote. Media outlets and journalists observing the “referendum” reported a number of violations (e.g. one person filling out several ballots; multiple voting; voting without documentation). 162. In the aftermath of the “referendum” of 11 May, the level of violence by armed groups intensified. At the same time, a new “government” was formed, and Alexander Borodai, a Russian citizen, nominated as “prime minister” of the “Donetsk People’s Republic”. A call was made for Ukrainian troops to leave the region. Casualties due to the escalation in intensity of fighting as Government aims to gain control of the territory 165. Reports illustrate that over the past month, attacks and fighting have been intensifying with an increased number of casualties. Fighting remained concentrated in the northern part of the Donetsk region and the border areas and south of the Luhansk region. In the Kharkiv region, one Ukrainian serviceman was killed in an ambush, near the city of Izyum, on the border with the Donetsk region, which serves as a basis for the security operations of the Ukrainian forces. 166. On 3 June, the Prosecutor General Oleg Mahnіtsky announced that 181 people had been killed since the start of the Government’s security operations on 14 April to regain control 63 Now reportedly under the control of an armed group led by Igor Bezler. 98 | P a g e