SITREPs
Combats SITREP from “Juan” Igla-S man protable anti aircraft missiles were found ‘abandoned’ beside a country road’ by Donbas Army, confirmed. Quantity unknown. A video of a Ukrainian Sukhoi ground attack plane being shot down 30 May is extant. No verification of the incident by witness account from a crash sight. The pilot ejecting is visible on the video. Ternopol: Some government buildings have been taken by the people, one
Seemyovka, Slavyansk, Kromatorsk and Donetsk City are under heavy artillery bombardment and aircraft bombing attacks for 2 hours and continuing. Civilian areas targeted. Civilian casualties are mounting, Donbas Army casualties unknown. Data provided 25 Brigade located on Karachun Mountain overlooking Slavyansk has been order to fire Grad systems early morning 31 May 2014 in full salvo. 3 launchers in place. Commander refused the order and was removed. Systems have been
1. Sporadic and heavy at times fighting around Slavyansk and the outlying villages on 29 May with no notable successes for the Nats Army and national guard units. Some losses reported for the national guard units. 2. A half battery of Grad missile launchers, BM-21, is in position within range of Mariupol. As of this morning that unit has not fired. Range of Grad missile is up to 35 kilometers.
Introduction: the broader background to the Ukrainian crisis Before looking at the latest developments in the Ukraine, I think that it is important to at least mention two major developments involving Russia. First, Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus have signed the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) and they will soon be joined by Armenia and Kyrgyzstan. Second, China has officially called for a new security alliance with Russia and Iran thereby proving
Residential areas of Slavyansk shelled by mortars and artillery starting at 11:00 local time. School #13 in Slavyansk was hit by a 12.2 cm mortar shell. School is also used as a kindergarten. 9 civilians injured including a 4 year old boy. Unknown if the casualties were at the school or in other areas under bombardment. Very strong fighting commenced approximately 15:30 local time in the area of Donetsk Airport
Heavy bombardment at night and early morning in Rubezhnoye in Lugansk Oblast. Civilian casualties unknown. More scattered fighting and probes around Slavyansk last night and this morning. Donetsk residents are actively assisting the Fed units in building barricades on city streets and setting up fighting positions. Reports of more fighting in the Donetsk Airport area last night and dawn this morning. Terminal at Donetsk Airport heavily damaged in the fighting
As is often the case, my previous SITREP has touched superficially on a number of issues which have raised some eyebrows and, since I have the time, I feel that it might be a good thing to clarify my position on some of them.A “limited” Russian military optionFirst, this is clearly a possibility whose main quality is that is falls short of a full-scale ground operation. However, those who advocate
Tanks are on the move west of Slavyansk, destination unknown, at least a Rota (Company, ergo 16 tanks if at full strength, which is doubtful. Normally any serving tank Rota will be at 75% max at any given time as tanks are under repair, and normally 60%. Under combat conditions it is 50% or less.) with accompanying support units such as BTR’s and BMP’s plus infantry. Unit unknown. Unconfirmed information
First, a “SITREP from the front lines” by “Juan” Donetsk Airport freight terminal is burned and partly destroyed. Kiev is believed to be in control of the airport at this time. Damage to the terminal building is unknown. The attempt to seize Donetsk Airport was reinforced by Vostok Brigade. Casualties were heavy in the brigade but numbers unknown. The Vostok Brigade wounded being transported to hospital in a truck were
This is the latest “SITREP from the front lines” sent by “Juan” to whom I am immensely grateful for sharing this information with us. The Saker ——- A lot has happened since I wrote the last items for the Saker. The situation in the south and east of Ukraine is quite fluid and changes by the hour. Early on 24 May 2014 strong movements of Nats units began, converging on
What was the main demand of the Maidanites? Oh yes, to expel a fat corrupt leader. Now, several months later it sure looks to me that they traded one fat and corrupt leader for another one. The big difference being that Yahukovich at least did not use force against his own people. Poroshenko has no such problems. Ukie oligarchs v2.0 The other difference – of sorts – is, I suppose,
Heavy fighting around Slavyansk increasing in tempo for the last 3 hours. Slavyansk under assault from 7 areas. Artillery is being used, at least one apartment building is burning in one of the outlying towns under assault. Self propelled arty, Msta-S reported, 15.2 cm howitzer type, are on the move with all their support echelons. Tanks are on the move, some heading for Slavyansk, some Donetsk. Grad batteries are on
Something really weird has just happened in the Ukraine. Everybody agrees that an attack took place on a checkpoint of the Ukrainian national guard near the city of Volnovakha (see map). 35 soldiers were wounded, 15 died (other figures quote 8 confirmed dead and an unknown number of evacuated bodies of attackers who got killed; one source says “13-20 fatalities”). The surviving soldiers say that out of 53 men, only
I am getting a lot of emails warning me that a massive assault seems imminent in the Slaviansk – Kramatorsk – Krasnyi Liman area. The local commander, Strelkov, has posted a warning about this and RT is also echoing the same concern. I am also getting warnings from contacts in the Ukraine. The Ukies are not too keen in fighting at night so I expect that attack to begin tomorrow
It’s not really news, but it still amazes me: for two days in a row no Jen Psaki, speaking for the regime in Washington, has declared that the USA has doubts about the real affiliation of the Russian journalists working for the Russian new outlet LifeNews. Even though the professional record of these journalist is in the public domain and very well know (they have worked for many years including
I think that we can all agree that the situation in the Ukraine is one of total chaos. Renat Akhmetov, the local oligarch-mobster, had declared that his companies will go on a “warning strike” for 3 hours per day because Akhmetov was angered that the authorities of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) had taken over the control of the railways which resulted in losses for his company. One of the
Short news highlights: Popular governor of Lugansk, Valerii Bolotov, shot by sniper, lost lots of blood but is in no danger. 7 Ukie soldiers killed by the resistance, one APC destroyed Lugansk and Donetsk are negotiating a unification The Donetsk Republic is creating its own military EU gives 1 billion to Banderastan Hungarians want a Hungarian autonomous region in southwestern Ukraine Gazprom switches to pre-payment Ukies refuse to pay to
From the reports coming out of the eastern Ukraine it appears that a real, coordinated, attack has been launched on Slaviansk. The attackers use the following tactic: a group of men in plainclothes (Right Sector? Foreign mercenaries? SBU?) attack a checkpoint pinning down the defenders. The checkpoint is then surrounded on both sides by armored personnel carriers and heavily armed infantry. Mi-24 helicopters approach from the air and a heavy
The Ukrainian offensive against the population of the eastern Ukraine is large, but does not seem to yield any tangible results so far. Here is a map of the affected cities: The worst situation appears to be in Kramatorsk were attacking force has fully surrounded the city and a number of elements have penetrated inside using secondary roads. It is hard to get a clear image of what is going
Some of you have understood my reference to Chechnia in the latest SITREP has an indication of the kind of tactics the Russian military would use if/when the Kremlin decides to intervene in the Ukraine.That is not at all what I meant and I apologize for misleading you.What I meant was to say that in extreme circumstances Putin was willing to use extreme measures. But let me reassure you all
