ASSESSMENTS

The War by Other Means in Eastern Ukraine

Oct 25, 2016 | 09:00 GMT

A man pays his respects to Arsen "Motorola" Pavlov, a separatist battalion commander assassinated at his home in Donetsk on Oct. 16. Pavlov is just one of several rebel leaders targeted away from the battlefield in the past year.

(OLGA MALTSEVA/AFP/Getty Images)

Summary

The front lines seem to be following separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine. When an improvised explosive device detonated at his Donetsk apartment Oct. 16, Arsen "Motorola" Pavlov became the latest in a string of rebel commanders targeted outside the main zone of conflict. In the week since the assassination, speculation has swirled over which side of the fight orchestrated Pavlov's murder. Regardless of whether Ukraine, Russia or the separatists themselves perpetrated the hit, it could signal a turning point in the conflict.

The front lines seem to be following separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine. When an improvised explosive device detonated at his Donetsk apartment Oct. 16, Arsen "Motorola" Pavlov became the latest in a string of rebel commanders targeted outside the main conflict zone. In the week since the assassination, speculation has swirled over which side of the fight orchestrated Pavlov's murder. Regardless of whether Ukraine, Russia or the separatists themselves perpetrated the hit, it could signal a turning point in the enduring conflict....

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