DONETSK, Ukraine — Pro-Russian rebels celebrated their recent victory at Debaltseve with a festive rally on Monday in Donetsk, the main city they control, where soldiers received medals in Lenin Square and the crowd cheered and waved Soviet flags.
The soldiers appeared to be in an upbeat mood, marching into the square in disciplined formations on a sunny afternoon. After collecting their medals, they spoke of fighting onward to capture other towns in eastern Ukraine.
Morale is high on the separatist side of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, after rebel fighters pushed the Ukrainian army out of Debaltseve, a strategic railroad hub astride the main highway from Donetsk to Luhansk. They took the town with help from regular Russian troops despite a cease-fire agreement, according to Ukraine and Western governments.
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“Today, our opponents are negotiating with us, as they fear us and respect our strength,” he said. “This is, more than anything, thanks to you.”
Neil MacFarquhar contributed reporting from Moscow.
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