fortification

These new fortifications carved in the Ukrainian dirt chart a deteriorating situation here in Donetsk.

But Ukraine is estimated to have held onto about 30% of Donetsk, including several key cities and fortifications, at a cost of tens of thousands of Ukrainian lives.

"If we withdraw from the Donbas today - our fortifications, our terrain, the heights we control - we will clearly open a bridgehead for the Russians to prepare an offensive," he said.

Under his leadership - and with large sums of government money - Governor Starovoit had launched the construction of defensive fortifications along the border.

He was arrested in April and was later accused of embezzling funds that had been allocated for the building of fortifications on the border with Ukraine.