Ukraine rebels ‘want to take Briton’s Donetsk house’
A British businessman living in Ukraine tells Channel 4 News that his family fled Donetsk just in time. In his own words he explains how rebels are now seeking to requisition his house.
Richard Spinks, a successful businessman in Ukraine, has told Channel 4 News that on Friday afternoon he received a phone call in Kiev. Guards on the estate where he lives in the east of the country were negotiating with pro-Russian rebels who wanted to requisition his property.
His estate close to Donetsk, near the Russian border, had already been hit by mortar fire. Mr Spinks says he now expects to never return, but that his wife did made a dash through nine rebel checkpoints to rescue two cars.
Mr Spinks has said that due to an administrative error, his children were never given British passports, and that the British government and embassy were not responding to his calls about his children’s immigration status. He says he is stuck.
Richard Spinks tells Channel 4 News:
My family and myself are OK. We’re getting used to being stressed over the last eight months and expected having to leave would happen.
I just came to Kiev and met with a business partner who lives four doors down. His phone rang and security told him Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR or DNR) are moving into your house. They just came and said “We’re from the DNR and want to requisition your house.” These are £4.8m houses.
The leader of the DNR was a Santa Claus impersonator. Now living on a house on my street, it seems. I worked all my life to buy this house. Had to pay in cash. Now the whole amount is gone.
The leader of the Donetsk People’s Republic was a Santa Claus impersonator.
I can’t go back [as I’m wealthy]. I don’t want to be in a basement being tortured to death, or being ransomed. Told my wife [in Kiev] never to go back. I went to Canada. When I landed, my daughter said: “Mum’s gone on the train to go get the cars from the terrorists. “She got two of them back. Through nine military checkpoints. Against my instructions putting us all at risk. I haven’t told her what’s gone on in Donetsk.
In the last two hours the street was occupied. My guys are negotiating. Our entire area has been requisitioned. Once in my house they’ll break all my stuff and burn it. My house is full of English antiques. At my friend’s office a hundred men bought mattresses into our office, requisitioned it and threw the people out.
If the fighting continues, [the Ukrainian army] will shell our house. I got phone call three weeks ago. “Have you not moved your stuff?” Couldn’t get my stuff out in time. Had to throw everything and everyone in a train and just get out. Just got out [with my family] a day before the railway line was broke.
The ceasefire is meaningless. It’s just all gone. Years and years of work.
Within five days five mortars hit my friend’s estate. Decided to tell our guard to [stop negotiating with the rebels]. They are still on our doorstep with three armed guys saying please go to another property. The ceasefire is meaningless. It’s just all gone. Years and years of work.
My family is all safe in Kiev. We’ve got lost all of our personal photographs and possessions. What can we do. Can we sue Moscow?
You know how I found out my street was bombed? I was in Canada. I saw Sky News or something. The first shock I got was huge flames and smoke. I realised it was opposite my house. They were showing my house.