Combined for July 2, 2014
Translated from Russian by Gleb Bazov
18:00 – July 1, 2014 – Briefing from Igor Strelkov
In the course of the night from June 30 – July 1, the enemy conducted a series of artillery strikes against Slavyansk, Semyonovka, Nikolayevka, and Kramatorsk, using howitzer, mortars and Grad MLRS [Note: BM-24 Grad MLRS].
In all the settlements there is significant destruction and wounded. In the morning, in the course of an artillery strike on Kramatorsk, a motor coach was hit. Four civilians died on the spot; two more died of their wounds at the hospital. Four more were wounded. The city was also attacked [from the air] by a Su-25 [ground attack jet].
In the course of the day on July 1, the enemy continued shelling all of the above-mentioned settlements; two militiamen were wounded. Our return strike at an enemy column that advanced into the area of Kombikormoviy destroyed and/or damaged 3 trucks with ammunition and 2 refuelling vehicles.
In the first half of the day, the enemy attempted to attack the positions of the Militia staffed by personnel from Mozgovoi’s Lisichansk Battalion in the area of the city of Seversk. The attack was repelled with significant losses [to the enemy]; two APCs were hit and burned down. The enemy returned the favour by continuing to shell Seversk with heavy artillery.
02:00-09:00 – July 2, 2014 – Morning Briefing from Locations
The night was difficult.
02:00 (UKR) – Armed Junta units opened fire on Nikolayevka, using MLRS [Note: Multiple Launch Rocket System]. The shelling came from the Meloviye Mountains. Heavy artillery fire was also directed against the Artyom district of Slavyansk. At night, maneuver-centric engagements continued on the outskirts of Slavyansk.
05:00 (UKR) – Once again MLRS shelling was opened on Nikolayevka, this time closer to the centre of the settlement. We are receiving information about large-scale destruction; this information is being verified. Communications between Nikolayevka and Slavyansk are problematic.
05:30 (UKR) – Close to an hour, artillery continue to fire at Karlovka, at the area of the damb. Infrequent volleys were noted in Donetsk. Automatic weapons fire and explosions in Dzerzhinsk, at the Militia checkpoint on the canal (on the road between Dzerzhinsk and Gorlovka); a ground attack jet could be heard.
06:00 (UKR) – Two Grad systems fired full volleys [Note: complete sets of ammunition] at the fields between Elenovka and Maryinka; several explosion of large-calibre artillery shells were noted.
07:30 (UKR) – From Gorlovka, a flight of [Ukrainian jets] proceeded from the direction of Gorlovka toward Slavyansk. With respect to Gorlovka – Golma was bombed in the morning, [Ukrainian force] hit the dolomite plant and the boarding school. Morning artillery strikes were also conducted in Donetsk.
08:30 (MSK) – Howitzer artillery strikes against Nikolayevka continue.
08:50-09:00 (MSK) – A full-set volley of MLRS rockets was launched from the southern side of Krasniy Liman toward Yampol.
08:59 – July 2, 2014 – Briefing from Fyodor Berezin
Ukrainian forces conducted a so-called “clean-up” in Gornyak.
In the city of Gornyak, in the Donetsk region, the NazGuard [Note: National Guard], together with Praviy Sector militants, conducted a so-called “clean-up.” They were identifying people that work or sympathize with DPR [Note: Donetsk People’s Republic] … At least one woman has been executed. The exact information about the murdered and the arrested [civilians] is so far unclear. Praviy Sector militants warned some of the passerby directly: “If you do not disappear in two weeks – we will end you all.”
European values – how did we live without them?
Thank you Kiev, thank you for Maidan!
10:48 – July 2, 2014 – Short Briefing from Igor Strelkov
All night the shelling of the city continued. There is a lot of destruction and many dead among the civilians. The same – in Kramatorsk. The Militia was not harmed by the shelling. Since the morning, there have been periodic artillery strikes against our positions and against the city. MchS [Note: Ministry of Emergency Situation] brigades and the militiamen are clearing the rubble of the destroyed buildings in various areas. We are counting corpses. I will report with numbers when the count has been completed. For now, we have definite information that a family of three was killed.
11:34 – July 2, 2014 – Reports from Eyewitnesses
This morning, in Slavyansk, one more Ukrainian aircraft was taken out. A Su-24 was hit over Semyonovka. Having sustained serious damage, the aircraft flew beyond the horizon.
After yesterday’s shelling of Kramatorsk, a woman’s corpse was located under the rubble on Rumyantseva street. The second floor collapsed into the first floor. There are 6 wounded from Krasnogorka.
13:05 – July 2, 2014 – Briefing from the Militia
Ukies continued to shell Saur Mogila since the morning – looks like mortar fire, as well as several volleys from a Vasilyok, and one volley from a Grad system. Around 13:00 it’s quiet.
About an hour ago, a airstrike was conducted against Lisichansk. Approximately 4 rockets were launched. There are craters at the “Proletariy” plant. We don’t have casualty information yet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tV8zK6VK0fo
Severodonetsk/Lisichansk Video #2
Severodonetsk/Lisichansk Video #3
10:30 (MSK) – Ukrainian aviation conducted an airstrike against the city of Seversk. There are victims.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIIhGqzYgcM
July 2, 2014 – Information from Itar-Tass
The Result of the ATO in Kramatorsk
Itar-Tass reports that, as a result of a massive artillery strike against Kramatorsk on July 2, 2014, from 05:00 – 06:30 (MSK), over 100 residential houses were destroyed and burned down in three separate areas of the city. The shelling was conducted using heavy artillery, including MLRS.
Itar-Tass does not have [definite] information about the wounded, but sources in the Militia are reporting that dozens of people died in the course of the last twenty-four hour period, all of the civilian.
13:10 – July 2, 2014 – Briefing from Igor Strelkov
I cannot confirm that a Su-24 was hit over Semyonovka. Yesterday, I received a report that there was a launch [of an SAM rocket], but that it missed. Today, we heard aircraft very high overhead, and they did not open fire.
Fierce fighting continues on the border. The Ukies have put all their strength toward closing off the last [border] corridor in the Lugansk region.
Here[, in Slavyansk], the enemy is conducting shelling of the city with direct fire.
Yes, by the way, with respect to yesterda’s Militia losses in Slavyansk-Kramatorsk-Semyonovka-Nikolayevka – according to confirmed information, they consist of two wounded. We are still in the process of determining how many civilians were wounded or have died, particularly over the course of the night. Just now, another terrorist shelling of the civilian districts in the Artyom settlement has ended.
July 2, 2014 – Latest Hourly Briefings
Tensions remained high in the first half of the day. As a result of the nighttime shelling in Slavyansk, the city has been entirely de-electrified.
11:00 (MSK) – A scout is observed above Bogorodichnoye.
11:34 (MSK) – An airstrike conducted by two flights of Ukrainian jets against Lisichansk and Seversk; there is destruction and victims. In Seversk, the smell of sulphur persists after the airstrike. The strike came from the direction of Severodonetsk and Konstantinovka. MLRS systems fired volleys against Slavyansk from the side of Drobyshev. In Lugansk, a flight of the [Ukie] Luftwaffe conducted airstrikes against a residential area. Ukrainian military also shelled the civilian districts of Lugansk with artillery. One of the shells hit School No. 14 in the Shevchenko district.
11:40 (MSK) – According to unconfirmed information, a Su jet has been shot down.
13:00 (MSK) – Yet another MLRS artillery strike against Slavyansk. Heavy artillery is firing at Nikolayevka.
14:30 (MSK) – We are starting to receive the first information about destruction in Lugansk – a number of administrative building and the residential district in the Ostrovkiy district [have been badly damaged]; there are many dead among the civilian population. News of the sulphur smell have not yet been 100% confirmed. According to preliminary data, 10 civilians, including a child, died as a result of an airstrike against Kandrashovka (LPR [Lugansk People’s Republic]). We are clarifying the details.
15:15 (MSK) – An air attack siren is again heard in Lugansk.
20:29 – July 2, 2014 – Briefing from Alexander Mozgovoi
At 06:00 in the morning, the Ukrainian army conducted airstrikes against the cities of Lisichansk and Seversk. In Lisichansk, the airstrikes were directed against the glass factory; there are wounded. In Seversk, a [Ukrainian] Grad system shelled the city simultaneously with the end of the airstrike.
In the course of the battles, the Militia damaged 2 aircraft and inflicted losses on the enemy manpower in the range of 70-100 men [both dead and wounded]. Among the Militia, we lost 10 men as “300s” [Note: WIA/Wounded in Action]. Right now, the Militia are reinforcing the existing checkpoints and firing positions. From the Ukrainian side we are observing an advance with tanks (earlier they employed APCs [Note: Armoured Personnel Carriers]
July 2, 2014 – Interview with Igor Strelkov
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOusm0QgVf4
Well, in this case, we cannot be talking about a victory, because we have suffered losses in the battles. The enemy, overall, although it is taking them longer than they were hoping for, is continuing with the intended task of squeezing the ring of encirclement around Slavyansk.
Today the enemy attacked Nikolayevka, supported by enormous numbers of artillery and a large group of tanks and not sparing its ammunition. In the course of the attack, strikes were conducted [indiscriminately] against the positions of the militia and against residential areas.
A purposeful directed strike was conducted against the water supply system. The system enabled water to flow, under its own weight, to Kramatorsk and Slavyansk. As a result, both cities have been left entirely without running water. Now the cities simply do not have any external water supply other than artesian wells and, maybe, rivers. If anything is a humanitarian catastrophe, then [what is happening now in Kramatorsk and Slavyansk] is it. I guess this is what they consider to be a part of the “anti-terrorist operation.”
Furthermore, the enemy attacked our positions at Semyonovka. We faced a fairly difficult battle there, considering that the enemy showered our positions with Grad rockets. We have several dead and wounded. Our combined losses are over 10 men.In the course of the battle, our militiamen managed to hit a tank. Unfortunately, the fighter who hit the tank died. However, the enemy was in effect conducting reconnaissance through battle. This indicates that battles on this front will continue tomorrow, or, possibly, even today.
For now, we were able to hold Nikolayevka as well as Semyonovka. As payback, the enemy is shelling the cities, both Slavyansk and the neighbouring Kramatorsk, with Grad rockets. The cities are currently under fire. You have already seen the destruction [caused by the Ukrainian army]. I think there is nothing the enemy has not already tried and done that I can show you.
Today, a civilian motor-coach was subjected to artillery fire in the area between the centre of the city and Cherepkovka. Two civilians died, three were wounded. I can’t even estimate anymore the number of civilians who were or wounded during the day.
We continue to fight the battle, and, now, we have been completely encircled. Nevertheless, we will fight to the end. Since we can no longer expect any help from anywhere, we will continue to defend our motherland where it’s most needed. This is because we understand perfectly well that we stand between Russia [and the enemy]. And, if Russia is defeated here, it will not be just a bunch of militiamen defeated, it will be Russia and the Russian people who will suffer defeat.
They have employed the Msta-S [Note: Msta-S Self-Propelled Howitzer] artillery complex – i.e. a 152mm long-range long-barrel artillery unit. They brought 6 of such units here, to Slavyansk. They are conducting strikes from a fairly close range. They understand perfectly well that we are unable to reach them even at such close distances. We have no means of doing so, even if simply because the city is blockaded and we have very few shells [left]. We are expecting the enemy infantry, but we do not know when they will come.
Surrounded with very few shells left. What happened with that military base the militia took that was supposed to have the huge supply of tanks? Was that report accurate?
So, for all of the Ukie propaganda about a Russian invasion and the hopeful speculation about a little Russian help here and there (possibly forcing planes to land or even shooting them down), it doesn’t appear there is ANY sign of Russia to be found, otherwise it doesn’t seem the militia would be surrounded and running out shells.
Is Putin thinking he can actually stave off a direct invasion of Russia by playing nice and reasonable or is that Russia really isn’t able to act and win?
Gleb Bazov
Thanks for compiling and translating these briefings. Great job.
Anonymous 12:52
Ukies complaining at border of Russian helos in their airspace at border crossing. see Itar Tass news.
That, the Ukies could see. There is a lot of action they can’t see.
The Art of War is deception. You might want to see long columns of Russian tanks with the tricolor flags flying, but that ain’t what goes on in the real world.
The Donbass sieges of Slavyansk and Kramatorsk are the cause of Strelkov creating citadels to be attacked. Normally, in guerrilla warfare, militias don’t start a set-piece war without the correct equipment. So he can’t exchange long range artillery fire. That was his strategy. A mistake?
You expect to see something that is never going to happen. Russia is not going to invade unless Kiev massacres in scale. Ten or twenty at a time is not big enough in the calculus of international law.
But the new FM agreement to create a new ceasefire ratchets up the pressure on Kiev.
This is just the reality. Civilians will be blown to pieces for weeks more.
We are not seeing the dead on the other side. We are not seeing the damage done by the militia to men sitting inside those APC’s and tanks each day.
Get off the Putin won’t act, can’t act stuff.
You and the world can’t see what the Russians are doing inside Donbass.
But the Ukies feel it. The US understands it. NATO is very apprehensive about it.
Heads are rolling in Kiev military command already. Soon the political lineup in Kiev will change.
You think this is because they are achieving their goals?
The Kiev Army is so exposed in their present positions. They are so fearful, they are probing with tanks. Just timidity is mind-boggling. You send out scouts in tanks?
There was an anti-tank missile takeout of an armored vehicle on LiveLeak this morning.
This was shot at five hundred or so yards, maybe further. The terrain offers cover between wide open areas. Good for the tanks if you have air cover. The Ukies lose a plane or two every day. They can only continue their siege under these conditions for a few more weeks.
The Ukies are getting desperate.
They can shell from a distance. They lose when they assault. They added hundreds of tanks during the ceasefire and still don’t have the cahones to attack. They are using artillery to destroy small villages. Ethnic cleansing is the game.
Slayvansk and Kramatorsk will be leveled, but the ground will be held by the militia.
Putin’s actions at this point are mostly underwater. His goal is not just to kick the Ukie Zio-Nazis out of Novorussiya. He has to create a whole new world!
Russian-Germany axis is the most important development of all times, this is something that never been done before. Personally, I believe that Putin is the only leader in the world who is capable of pulling it off.
Larchmonter445 said “The Ukies are getting desperate.”
Again, keep it real, folks.
07/03/2014 17:40 Posted by I. Strelkov:
“They will not stop in the Slovianks. Conversely, once they’ll take it, they’ll attack with a vengeance. They harvested missile launchers months ahead, their morale is high (they understand their enormous advantage and see our weakness). They really are going to finish the campaign on July 12. Fully. Reach the border and clean up major cities. … We shall not last till the 12th…”
Russia is not going to invade unless Kiev massacres in scale.
==============================
It’s curious, that’s just what I thought Kiev was doing all the time: massacring in scale and indiscriminately.
It must be the fact that I cannot see the big picture; I see just a miriad of small pictures of killed children, women and old people.
We are north of several thousands now, ten or twenty at time. Those still alive miss everything and could very well die “naturally”, by disease or malnutrition. I just hope they’ll do ten or twenty at time; it would be a pity to disturb the chess game, to embarass the big strategy.
Anonymous 15:52
Propaganda, disinformation, Rope-a-Dope.
For a month it has been the end of the world in his briefings. You can’t even trust the numbers he gives. He is part of the propaganda.
Would you send a hundred tanks into Slavyansk, General Anonymous?
Larchmonter445 said…03 July, 2014 16:31
Disinformation is useful for various purposes, especially if the disinformer thinks the disinformed believe the disinformation and act on it.
No point to lose patience, or “blow” his cover.
I am not the same anonymous unless of course you believe me to be.
I have a request for the military-minded among us: might it be possible from all the data here, in Anna News, from Juan, etc. for one of you guys to figure out if there is a real strategy here by Kiev as opposed to randomly blowing up whatever and whomever? I still can’t keep howitzers, mortars and all those acronyms straight but if I could look at a map while one of you discusses whatever it is they’re trying to accomplish blowing up all these places I also have trouble keeping straight, I might be able to hold onto it for a while and at least *feel* like I understand what’s happening other than BANG! BANG! BOOM! BOOM! Blood.
Killing civilians is bad enough — is all this bloodshed really, truly random? Or do they have some kind of a plan? It might be a smidge less Evil if they were actually trying to accomplish something at least semi-strategic, as opposed to shooting fish in a barrel. Because if the borders are closed, that’s what those people are, just fish in a barrel.
Larchmonter 445:
For a month it has been the end of the world in his briefings. You can’t even trust the numbers he gives. He is part of the propaganda.
I keep saying Strelkov’s real purpose is to suck up all the media oxygen and Ukie firepower, and allow secure development of the complete takeover of the rear in Donetsk and Lugansk by DNR/LC forces.
Just finished reading this. Forget my request — there’s no need to understand, just pray. Even I get it.
Gleb,
I don’t know how your fingers can stop shaking long enough to type this.
Such incredible Evil… Just such incredible, incredible Evil.
Nora, an answer is due anyway.
Larchmonter is right, as he usually is, when he notes that the Ukies don’t dare “going in”. They have three types of troops at hand: draftees just can’t go in as they lack both training and morale. Mercenaries have the training but not the will; also this is not what they are trained for, nor what US doctrine suggests. Pravy Sektor and their like would gladly go in for a massacre, but not for a fight.
All this does not mean, however, that they are necessarily losing. They have an enormous advantage in weapons, a total one in artillery and aircraft. They can keep pounding the besieged town until everything crumbles in front of them. Mao said that the militiaman must move amongst the people as a fish swims in the sea: they probably simply mean to take away the water.
Larchmonter says: “Slavyansk and Kramatorsk will be leveled but the ground will be held by the militia”. In these terms he is, for once, wrong. A regular army, and a good one, can do so; Donbass militia can’t. When everybody is dead or gone, who resupplies, who feeds, who shelters them (not to mention moral support, essential for a militia)?
Against such tactics – which are perfectly in line with US practice, with the only peculiar exception of the First Gulf War – sending some men in green doesn’t help.
The problem would be with public opinion, but this has been avoided simply silencing the Media on the subject. In Western Europe no TV news mentioned Donbass after the “magnanimous” Poroshenko’s peace plan!
So, unfortunately, I fear that time is on the Ukri side.
Rockerduck
Strelkov’s reports are never rosy happy reading material. The situation has always been desperate. This is Poroshenko’s big attack. The one that is supposed to crush the “dirt” and “parasites” in Eastern Ukraine, in his words. I don’t read that the NDF’s are being crushed. The civilian’s are definitely suffering more than usually. Don’t expect Strelkov to ever announce impending victory in one of these reports. Not only is he too cautious for that he has (tactically) absolutely no incentive to do so. If the end ever really comes, he wont drop what he’s doing to tell us about It. The reports will simply stop. He will be too busy fighting, or dying to make them.
Dear Nora
Evil does not do it justice. This blog posting gives two maps showing one major reason for all the murder in Donbass region. Every time you pass a SHell gas station, remember what is being done to help them make a profit. Remember that Biden has his fingers in the pie too.
One other reason for the destruction, other than driving out the Russian-speaking Ukrainians, is that the EU has promised 1.5 billion euro for rebuilding, which I am sure will only be the start. The Ukrainian junta has no reason to be cautious as the European taxpayers will end up paying for damage arising from this ethnic cleansing, even as they try to pretend it isn’t happening.
Evil, evil, evil people.
Larchmonter, Anon 12:52 here. No, I didn’t say I expected a ground invasion with flags flying. No way would I expect that or find it prudent. I was thinking more along the lines of providing material support in light of Strelkov’s comment about running low on shells. Beats me what’s going on and he could be playing possum. I get that. It’s just that as long as I see towns flattened I’m inclined to think that it’s true the militia is unable to respond to certain types of assaults. Sorry, I don’t know military stuff so I can’t be specific but Strelkov says these things in his reports. All I’m asking is that when the nazis are shelling and the militia cannot take out their tanks or whatever they’re using, HOW COME? Why haven’t they been supplied, by Russia, with the necessary means to do so? That’s what I mean about no sign of Russia to be found, contrary to both Ukie propaganda and the hopeful speculation from all of us pro Donbass people. If he’s playing possum, for real, I wouldn’t expect to see whole towns and their infrastructure destroyed, you know?
BTW, Anonymous 15:52 quotes Strelkov saying “We shall not last until the 12th”. I don’t think I read in Gleb’s translation/update posted here. Did I miss that or is that from another source? I’m seeing Strelkov quotes all over that are not what I’m seeing from Gleb (who I totally trust), sometimes attributed to that VK site. Are these all legit or is there some monkey business afoot with fake Strelkov reports out there?
@Nora: Same here. I need a list of types of artillery, starting from big to small; a list of all of the towns that have been or are under attack, with a good map. I’d also like a list of players, as I have hard time keeping all of the names straight, from militia personnel to mayors, governors, officials, etc. (our side).
@ anonymous @ 15:36
I read that piece @ zero hedge by “Tyler Durden” and with all due respect to you, I don’t have much respect for what that Nom de plum has to say. To the extent I read Zero Hedge at all, which isn’t often, I avoid his stuff. The facts as they really stand are COMPLETLEY antithetical to there being some German/Russian “axis” in the works. Germany, to the small extent that it is independent from Washington and Brussels at all, is for Germany alone. Germany, from all the extant fats, is increasingly HOSTILE to Russia. I read This
http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/07/03/the-efflorescence-of-
american-fascism/
and its quite interesting. It analyses Obamas apparently unhinged actions from a perspective that makes sense. Obama has a pathological need to “best Putin”, to “outsmart Putin”. Its gotten to the point that he has begun to demand that large American and European business interests harm themselves in the name of his vendetta. The “Ideology” of Obama..this IS UNHEARD OF!!! Obama exists to serve capitalism…not the other way round. Anyway its worth a read.
in one of Strelkov’s recent briefings he mentions reports put out in his name but not from him. We’re good here, Gleb knows the difference, but in the wild it’s wicked.
Anon/Rockerduck
The cities have underground bomb shelters from WWII. Extensive tunnels and shelters. With the crumbled buildings above, a guerrilla force could hold the ground while the “conquerors” were then in range of militia artillery with ‘preset’ coordinates, GPS guidance or IEDs. There are all sorts of magic that could be possible.
And US military doctrine barely applies to the US any longer. It could not apply to Uki infantry. They are actually being held in set pieces for fear the Russians will move and decimate them.
Rolling forward costs them every time, everywhere.
They don’t at all look like a modern army.
I just play an armchair general. But facts speak loudly. The yellow in their flag dominates the blue.
The artillery and tanks are there to cleanse the region and drive out and kill the population, not to fight a war.
That little village yesterday could have been taken with five APC’s. They bombed it. It’s three miles from a checkpoint bridge that could not hold against five APC’s and two tanks.
The Uki’s are chickenshit. And the future for them is total dismantlement. If I were a strategic planner for Russia, I would destroy any hope for Ukraine to ever again have a weapon larger than a sidearm. Russia must leave them with no military. There can never been a threat of Ukraine ever again thinking they will attack anyone anywhere.
Russia will give the militia the weapons it needs.
Most of us have never been in a real war. Some of us don’t understand the suffering, unless it is explained to us.
In the Western world, we know poverty, homelessness and terminal diseases do exist. Some know hunger and pain. We have some idea of what that is like, but do we really feel the pain of others? Do we understand the plight of the civilians in Novorossiya? Do we understand what war does? Do we love our neighbour? Do we dare talking about death? People don’t just “pass on”, they are not simply “gone”, they die and the bodies start smelling. The fate of all of us. Look at reality.
I have never seen war, but I have a terminal disease and count the days. I know hunger from my youth, but I have never been homeless. However, in the 90s, I survived in a small cottage on an island in a cold place under almost 19th century conditions. I carried wood on my back from the forest. I couldn’t take a shower and clothes had to be washed in the cold water of the ocean when there was no ice. I understand well how the civilians in Donbass live their lives without electricity and water in some places. At least that I understand.
All of you, please try to imagine how the civilians think and feel in this cruel conflict.
Will the eastern defenders of constitutionality and potential federalisation begin to use pits and other anti-tank and anti-APC measures if the latest “ceasefire” is breached by the nazis?
I know saker, Larchmonter 445 and a few others seems have unshakable believe that Putin is perform flawlessly. I agreed until I saw NAF still lack tools to take out UKR artillery and tanks. It was painful obvious before, if RF is really helping, she is not doing a very good job, as she have been doing from start. She is falling behind curve. All the action off the field taking by RF so far this last month are wonderful, However, it still not change the fact NAF is out gunned, and civilian is dying in drives. It is not time to patting self on the back, for how much you have done, but it is time to re-access and how to do it more effectively. Unless some one really think more suffering is good for some geopolitical purpose, if so, that some one need to be shot.
While people here think Putin is doing great, he is, but the rest of world does not know, and does not care. Yes, the day will come, maybe very soon for truth to be known to masses, but that is not going to happen by putin’s time table So all he did may be for history books, for after thoughts after the war, but it at least had not turn the public opinion to RF side, in that sense, Putin has lost.
I have saying this from beginning, RF need to show the world, stop mess with me. All the ground work has been laid so far, brilliantly. However, the ultra-most important message is send on the ground, by wining the war. Destroy those enemies, break them in pieces, and never able to get up again (accomplished in court). This message also need to be send timely. What is the point to kiss Merkel while her puppets kill your people in thousands? How about turn the table around, take Merkel out cheerfully while your big guns taking her puppets out one by one,. I bet that will be a lot more satisfying date, and I bet it will get a lot more traction in any future negotiation too. Time is not on RF side. The message need to be send soon.
By the way, I believe Strelkov is at where he is, say what he is saying for a reason as Andrew state may time’s before. I think he is doing great job.
Larchmonter 445,
whatever our military background, from former chief of staff to the last of amateurs, here we all play the armchair general.
This said,
“They don’t at all look like a modern army. The Uki’s are chickenshit”. I agree.
“The cities have underground bomb shelters from WWII. Extensive tunnels and shelters”. I doubt it, at least in this scale. The area was quickly conquered by the Italians (not the most frightful of armies) and left behind. The 1941 counteroffensive was a movement battle and when the Soviets finally retook the area there were not intensive aerial bombings nor trench war.
“The artillery and tanks are there to cleanse the region and drive out and kill the population, not to fight a war.” That is what I say, and that is the problem…
Rockerduck