Video: Interview with Igor Strelkov, July 8, 2014
translation by Gleb Bazov
(three possible sources showing the same video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0kqTrTjc1c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zU30wrLrX-Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfmjjR1Y04A
Host: Good day, today, in the studio of our First Republican television channel, we welcome, for the purpose of making an address to the citizens of DPR [Donetsk People’s Republic], the Minister of Defence and the Chairman of the Security Council, Igor Ivanovich Strelkov …
Igor Strelkov: Good day.
Host: And the head of the People’s Militia of DPR, Pavel Gubarev.
Pavel Gubarev: Good evening.
Strelkov’s Address to DPR Citizens
Host: Igor Ivanovich, please go on.
Igor Strelkov: I would like to welcome all the viewers that are now watching and listening to me, and to say that, in this very difficult moment for the people of the Donetsk Republic, I am very glad that I am here with you, and that I can together with you defend your and our common Motherland, Russia, which, as I believe, stretches from the borders of the state formation called Ukraine and to the Far East.
It is precisely Russia that we are, here, fighting for, and, in conjunction, fighting for the rights of the Donetsk and the Lugansk Republics. We are fighting for your right to self-determination of your language, your culture, your way of life, and your right to be free from being forced into those imposed on you by people for whom your land and your society are merely the objects of political machinations and various financial speculation. People who are subject to external control and do not bother to hide it. That is what we have been fighting and will continue to fight. And I hope that we will continue to enjoy your support.
I did not prepare specifically to make an address; I spent the entire day involved in strategic planning. Accordingly, I will not be reading a text or making a speech prepared in advance. The staff of the television channel prepared a serious of questions for me. In answering these questions I expect to be able to satisfy your concerns with respect to what is happening, how the hostilities are proceeding, and how we plan to continue defending the Republic. So, I think we should now give our host the opportunity to proceed.
Time Had Come to Leave Slavyansk
Host: Igor Ivanovich, here is a key question that we always hear: why was Slavyansk surrendered and why did the forces redeploy to Donetsk and to the nearby cities?
Igor Strelkov: From the very inception of the hostilities, Slavyansk served as a shield for Donetsk. In taking our positions in Slavyansk, we set up a shield to protect the entire territory of DPR [Donetsk People’s Republic] and LPR [Lugansk People’s Republic]. We bore on the main brunt of the enemy offensive and diverted its forces, thereby giving the political leadership and the social leadership of the Republics an opportunity to organize and, in acting in accordance with our example, to take the reigns of [local] power from the Junta, to a certain degree preventing it from establishing itself.
That is why, when we ascertained that this task had been completed – this task specifically – that in both Donetsk and in Lugansk, governments had been established that conformed with the will of the people in terms of implementing state sovereignty and conducting the referendum and were capable of creating their own armed forces, [we understood] that our own task had been substantially fulfilled.
It is natural that Slavyansk has become, and remains, for me personally and for all of us a very important city, a city to which we are deeply connected. Undoubtedly, if we had the opportunity to retain it, we would have continued to defend it for as long as we could. However, the military situation that developed meant that continuing to hold Slavyansk would have led to impermissible losses on the part of the Militia, and the continuing retention of the city no longer carried any strategic or tactical purpose.
The enemy has amassed an enormous artillery and armoured group near the city. We could not continue to withstand it for much longer without sufficient quantities of heavy weaponry, artillery and, most importantly, ammunition. Step by step restraining the enemy, winning day after day, we continued to retreat to the boundaries of the city. And, finally, a day came when the situation developed to the point where we understood that the circle around the city had closed, and that the tactical plan of the enemy is not to attack us, but to simply level the city, destroy it with artillery and then run down our infantry with tanks.
We understood that we lacked sufficient weaponry to defend against such tactics. Seriously lacked. We also understood that the enemy would simply exterminate us over the course of several days, without us being able to inflict corresponding losses.
In this situation, a decision was made. I made that decision personally. I did not share this responsibility with anyone else. Although I made it known only to the Military Council that acted there. [The decision] was to withdraw, save the garrison and to save the city from meaningless destruction. It was, in fact, meaningless, because we would have been shelled to dust from a distance at which we had no ability to respond. [The decision made was also] to redeploy the battle-forged, experienced detachments to new positions where they could continued to defend the Republic.
Moreover, as we found out following our breakout from the encirclement, that same day the enemy took over Artyomovsk, expelling the fairly small Militia unit that was garrisoned there. This created a real danger that not only Slavyansk, but also the entire Kramatorsk-Druzhkovka-Konstantinovka region would be encircled and sieged. In fact, this is precisely why, because the enemy was about to cut off our lines of communication, a decision was made to withdraw also from all the other cities, since to defend them while encircled had practically no purpose. It would have resulted only in more unnecessary victims and unnecessary destruction.
Heroes of the Breakout from Slavyansk
Host: Thank you. I believe that the men who stayed behind to cover your withdrawal are heroes. Can you tell us more about them?
Igor Strelkov: It was no more then several dozen men who stayed behind to cover our retreat. In fact, they performed their task admirably well. As far as I am aware, at this point, the majority of them have broken out of the encirclement. Moreover, I was just informed that even the group that protected our retreat from Nikolayevka, that 13 fighters of that group made it out successfully and redeployed to Seversk, sustaining minimal casualties.
The Readiness of Donetsk to Withstand a Siege
Host: Good. Here is another question. Is the city of Donetsk ready, at this time, to defend against a prolonged siege, and, in time, for an offensive?
Igor Strelkov: Well, certainly, I cannot say that the city is ready for defence, if only because the city as a whole is still operating as if it were at peacetime. Virtually no defensive measures have been taken. The state of the city’s defensive preparations up until this time is at the level that Slavyansk was two months ago. In other words, the existing fortifications are sufficient to stop APCs [Armoured Personnel Carriers] and something like the National Guard or detachments of the Ministry of Interior.
As for the armoured columns of the enemy, which is now massively employing tanks and artillery, at this time, the city can defend against them only with great difficulty and at the cost of significant casualties among the Militia. However, we are taking urgent measures, on a daily basis, so as to ensure that the city is ready for battle. This is from the standpoint of erecting fortifications.
With respect to the mood of the population, it is certainly apparent that the residents of Donetsk continue to lead entirely peaceful lives. They are still having difficult understanding, or they refuse to believe that it can happen where the enemy, the Ukrainian punitive units, will unleash a massive artillery barrage and conduct massive airstrikes against residential areas. Well, we also did not believe it for a along time.
However, over the course of one month, or, more precisely, three months of being sieged, but one month of an active siege, we became convinced that the enemy has chosen the tactic not of acting against our armed units, the self-defence units of the Militia, but a terrorist tactic of destruction – the destruction of infrastructure, the destruction of industrial enterprises. However strange it may seem, and I do not find it strange at all, though some may, the primary targets subjected to strikes in Slavyansk and Kramatorsk were not the positions of the Militia, though they were perfectly well known, and not even the city districts, but factories and industrial enterprises.
In Nikolayevka, in particular, the enemy continued to shell the Thermal Power Plant for three days straight, despite the fact that there was not a single militiaman there. What is more, the shelling continued for one whole day after the Militia left the city. In other words, there was no [military] purpose to the shelling. In the same manner, shelling was conducted against the territory of a number of factories in Slavyansk where no militiaman had ever set foot. There were no checkpoints and not even outposts there. Nonetheless, they were regularly and meticulously blasted with artillery.
In other words, the purpose we are talking about here was not to clear the Militia from the city. That was not the intention. Their goal was to cause maximum possible destruction to the infrastructure while clearing the Militia out, thereby leaving people without jobs, without housing, without necessities of life. In effect, to fulfill the task of forcing the people into an exodus, by leaving them without the means to survive even following the cessation of hostilities.
I am firmly of the opinion that the current Ukrainian leadership and the leadership of the Ukrainian army will not shy away from doing the same to Donetsk. No one should have any illusions – even if we were to withdraw from here, they will not allow the residents of Donetsk to continue living here. The so-called United Europe does not want any competition from the Donetsk industry. They do not wish any competition from [our] scientists. All they want to remain here is a territory where they can source several hundred thousand or maybe even a few million units of cheap workforce, so as to put them to use in Europe. This is all that they want.
Pavel Gubarev: And the shale gas, of course.
Igor Strelkov: I will say nothing with respect to shale gas because I am not a specialist [in the area]. However, what is certain is that they are seeking to destroy the industrial core of Donbass, which, first of all, represents serious competition to the European industry and, second, works almost entirely, or at least to a significant degree, for the Russian military-industrial complex.
Sufficiency of the Militia Forces
Host: Judging by their declarations, they have no desire to see Russian people on our territory. However, we understand that this is our land – the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Lugansk People’s Republic. We will not leave our land. And now I would like to focus specifically on the Militia. Do we have enough militiamen? Counting the ones that Pavel Gubarev drafted for you?
Igor Strelkov: No, of course not. Certainly not. Even for a huge city of one million people, without counting the rest of the Republic, there are too few militiamen. The territory of the city is huge. The territory of the Republic that is controlled by the [DPR] government is also sufficiently large; it is very large.
To establish secure control over it and to defend it with the forces that we currently possess is not, per se, impossible; however, when faced with the enemy’s colossal superiority, I would even call it absolute domination in terms of armoured vehicles and artillery, without even taking into account its dominance in the air, it is exceedingly difficult to defend this territory with our existing forces.
I would also like to add to my earlier comments that it is impossible to make war halfway. It is a mistake to expect that someone somewhere somehow will be able to defend this Republic with small forces on a shoestring budget. We require a serious mobilization of resources. Unfortunately, the required resources, first and foremost in terms of armaments and ammunition, have not been prepared; they do not exist at the moment.
If such resources were available, we would have without hesitation implemented general mobilization. It does not matter if three quarters of military-age men would have run from it; the remaining quarter would have sufficed. Unfortunately, we have no such ability to mobilize. Nevertheless, we are in a position to arm, equip and train, even if in a cursory fashion, several thousand volunteers in a very short period of time.
I believe that approximately eight to ten thousand men would be sufficient to finally and irrevocably stop the Ukrainian army, which has been victorious first and foremost because we have very significant gaps in our defence and because of its mobility and its existing rear. Our operational rear remains in a very poor shape. Our supply lines are not too weak. But we will continue to fight and will keep stopping them.
Yet, without more active participation of the Donbass population in the defence, it will be very difficult to withstand them. We need people. I repeat to you, that we need to call up eight to ten thousand men into the ranks of the Militia to ensure our defence. Whether they volunteer or are conscripted makes no difference.
Military Professionals as well as Volunteers Required
Host: Is there a lack of volunteers with specific qualifications or professional knowledge?
Igor Strelkov: First of all, we need everyone. We need professionals with all types of military qualifications, as well as people without any specific knowledge. At war, people can be taught in the course of several days, particularly during active hostilities. And, conversely, super-qualified professional that never take part in wars, when they are deployed to the front and have to face real fire, often turn out to be simply unsuitable. That is how it works in the military.
Threat to Donetsk and Building a Contract Army
Host: We have a somewhat difficult question for you from our viewers. What should civilians do; what can they expect? How serious is the danger? You have outlined some of the issues already, but can you spell out the danger that we are facing?
Igor Strelkov: I do not wish to scare anyone, but I believe that, without real assistance from Russia, if Russia does not provide direct military aid, then the out-of-control Junta will certainly employ the full arsenal of forces and means at its disposal, especially because decisions are not made by them, but primarily across the ocean. And there they have resolved to destroy Donbass to the core. Either they will force Russia into a global war here, on the territory of Ukraine, or they will take everything they require without war. And that is why they will continue to advance, to bomb, to shell.
And I will repeat again: every man must make a choice for himself. If he is a man, he must be prepared to defend his Motherland. Well, of course, not everyone is capable of doing so on the basis of his moral and volitional characteristics. Far from everyone. Frankly speaking, however, the number of volunteers generated over the course of three month by the multimillion population of Donbass, the land of miners, where people are used to heavy and dangerous labour, has been too small. I would like to share an observation that many would have likely joined the Militia if there were [financial] guarantees for their families.
Host: Yes, that is true.
Igor Strelkov: Now there will be such [financial] guarantees. Starting this month, we are planning to pay members of the Militia sums that are fairly significant by local standards. Specifically, five to eight thousand hryvnia. We are planning to start making these payments in July. So, it may be that this will help those who are vacillating to finally find the strength to join our ranks. In other words, we will be establishing a contract army.
Negotiations with South Ossetia
Host: Ok, understood. Are there negotiations being conducted … well, you spoke about Russia … but what about South Ossetia, which has recognized our independence?
Igor Strelkov: In this case, I am not prepared to answer this question.
The Airstrikes Against Coal Mine No. 21 (Pokrovka)
Host: Understood. What happened to day at the Coal Mine No. 21 at Pokrovka?
Igor Strelkov: A Su-25 aircraft attacked and fired eight rockets at what they thought to be the positions of one of our detachments. But it missed.
Host: Are there wounded, killed?
Igor Strelkov: No, there were no casualties. I told you, it missed.
The Situation in Snezhnoye and at Saur-Mogila
Host: Ok, good. This is encouraging. And can you comment on the military situation at the city of Snezhnoye and at Saur-Mogila? How are our militiamen holding up there?
Igor Strelkov: They are holding well. A joint detachment is stationed there. First, I would like to mention that Battalion Vostok is stationed there, headed up by a sufficiently competent commander. He competently arranged his fighters, enabling them to continue to hold this key position with minimal casualties.
I believe that we will continue to hold Snezhnoye and areas in the vicinity. Substantial reinforcements have been directed there. We will not allow the enemy to achieve a breakthrough in the direction of the Don River, cutting off the corridor that now connects us to the Lugansk region.
Coordination with Lugansk
Host: Ok, so we have coordination with Lugansk at the moment?
Igor Strelkov: There is nothing to brag about at the moment. Our coordination is weak, but it is progressively getting better.
Unified Command and Armed Forces Recruitment
Host: And let us add here from the viewers and from myself, personally, there is a need for a unified coordination centre or for an army commandant’s office where volunteers could turn to enroll in the Militia, and from there be directed into various battalions in accordance with their preference. It is simply that we have several phone numbers that we have been providing during broadcasts. It would be helpful if there were a unified coordinator’s office.
Igor Strelkov: This, unfortunately, is the law of human psychology; history has shown this to be true on many occasions. The process of transforming guerrilla units into a regular army or even into regular armed formations is a very difficult one. It is very complex; it takes a long time. Characters clash and people’s ambitions get in the way. There are many objective and subjective factors involved. Unfortunately, there is no magic wand that could make it all come together quickly. Nevertheless, this task is a priority for us because, naturally, the continued existence of several different groups with separate command is impermissible. It is unacceptable both from the standpoint of conducting military operations and from the standpoint of keeping order in the army’s rearguard.
Today we finally convened a joint meeting that was attended by commanders of the Militia units as well as those who came from other regions, such as Battalion Vostok and Battalion Oplot. We reached an important agreement with respect to delimitation of our spheres of responsibility, with respect to creation of regional commandants’ offices and the joint office of the city commandant, and with respect to introduction of martial law in the areas adjacent to the positions of the enemy. So far we are not planning to institute either martial law or a curfew in the entire city. We will wait until the enemy applies force directly; we have decided not to complicate our citizens’ lives prematurely.
Negotiations with the Russian Federation
Host: Our government, Pushilin, Borodai, as I understand it, they are right now in Moscow. Andrei Purgin is here. Negotiations are being conducted with Moscow?
Igor Strelkov: I cannot comment on that because I am involved in purely military-related issues right now.
Host: Ok, fine. Thank you. We will then ask Katya Mikhailova to invite representatives of the Republic that have the requisite knowledge and are able to respond to these questions.
Incidents with Militiamen in Donetsk
Igor Strelkov: I would like to add one more thing, a few words. Unfortunately, and I will not hide it, the arrival to Donetsk of a fairly substantial number of militiamen, many of whom did not make it out of the trenches for weeks, led to several incidents. Thankfully, no one was harmed in the process.
I ask the residents of Donetsk to please be understanding of the fact that the people who just arrived here were subjected not just to severe stress but to mortal danger for weeks and even months.
For example, the Semyonovka battalion would sometimes lose up to 20 men killed and wounded in one day. They were primarily wounded, of course, but still. The Militia was subjected to massive shelling using also chemical weapons, incendiary charges, cluster munitions, as well as artillery units of the heaviest calibre.
Not all of the fighters turned out to be sufficiently well prepared to arrive in an absolutely peaceful city after the hardships of trenches and the demolished and continuously shelled Slavyansk and Kramatorsk.
Not all of them reacted adequately to this sharp change in circumstances. And there were case when the fighters engaged in improper behavior toward the residents of the city. Or some of them may have imagined that everything is now permitted, since they are heroes. Well it is true; they are heroes for holding their positions under such fire.
Some were affronted. But, I repeat, that there were no victims and no one suffered serious harm as a result of these actions. I once again apologize for these incidents and wish to reassure you that the command of the Militia treats matters like these very harshly. [Incidents like these] demonstrate lack of discipline.
Besides, alcohol is prohibited in the Militia. This regulation existed in Slavyansk, and we will continue upholding it here in the most active manner. We will fight any signs of slovenliness in the harshest possible manner.
I must further add that, in the circumstances of wartime, we will punish most severely any infringements that are criminal in nature. Only grievous infringements, of course. Anything else is not within our scope of responsibilities.
Persons that are found to commit grievous criminal acts in our operational rear will be submitted to military field courts. Moreover, as I understand it, there are many morally unstable people here who try to take advantage of the temporary interregnum. The army, of course, will take all the necessary measures to instill order. There will be those who do not like it, but there is no other way.
Host: I think we have clarified the key questions. We should not hold Igor Ivanovich any longer. He has a lot of work to do. Thank you very much.
The so-called United Europe does not want any competition from the Donetsk industry. They do not wish any competition from [our] scientists. All they want to remain here is a territory where they can source several hundred thousand or maybe even a few million units of cheap workforce, so as to put them to use in Europe. This is all that they want.
He’s certainly not shy about framing EU as the enemy – a concept which is antithetical to everything that Putin has been working for, especially these last few months, in his efforts to drive a wedge between USA and EU.
If there was any good way for Strelkov to effectively open a door for Russia to get involved in this situation, this certainly wasn’t it.
Good cop, bad cop strategy, imo.
Well, EU is a puppet of US and Ukraine is a puppet of puppets. I don’t think EU wants more slaves, however they wouldn’t mind empty fields with no people there of any kind. They are all overpopulated to the brink and Brits are practically pushed into the sea by a constant arrival of new slaves.
They’re not interested in the local industry, culture or people, except if they used purely for organ harvesting.
Strelkov should’ve just explained to the people of Donbass that the US/EU collective just wants them dead.
Citizens living in European countries that are members of the EU are saying even harsher things about the EU than Strelkov does here.
No one loves the EU, ask Vicky Nuland what she thinks of it, and she owns it.
“He’s certainly not shy about framing EU as the enemy – a concept which is antithetical to everything that Putin has been working for, especially these last few months, in his efforts to drive a wedge between USA and EU.
If there was any good way for Strelkov to effectively open a door for Russia to get involved in this situation, this certainly wasn’t it.”
EU’s puppets bombing his towns and people to dust. He is entitle to say what ever he see fit. He is too polite in my opinion. He is trying to wining a war, not to appease the enemy. It is politician’s job to dealing with politics. Strelkov’s job is provide politician a strong hands with fact on the ground, some time, that also include strong language (in most cases, I’d think what said on the ground does not matter any way), and do you really think if he talk softly will help Putin in negotiation? It is really trying to read some of the comments here.
Russia beyond the Headlines,an interesting website in English, does translations of other Russian media, kinda like the Vineyard is doing.
http://rbth.com/international/2014/07/08/press_digest_kiev_begins_filtration_of_male_populations_in_seiz_38023.html
The msm spin –“Don’t Bomb Donestk” … Junta filmed handing out food and goodies to the poor locals after evil rebels evicted …
http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2014-07-08/don-t-bomb-donetsk
I don’t think that Russia is necessarily a fan of the EU either – more interested in bilateral relations with individual nations. Strelkov undoubtedly is referring to the association agreement and its anticipated effects on Ukraine.
I gleaned this from another blog.
Good before and after maps of the state of battlefield.
Strelkov ought to get off the TV and mic and VK social site and go to war.
He has amply potential to cut off and destroy large elements of the Kiev army. Heroics can’t win this war, propaganda can’t either. Strategy and tactics can. That Russian border is his life line. It’s shrinking.
Donbass 6/7/14
In connection with the ongoing active operations Ukrainian security forces in eastern Ukraine with the use of heavy weapons and combat aircraft, which resulted in killing civilians, including children, and destroyed civilian infrastructure settlements Donetsk and Lugansk regions, the Russian side decided suspend the transfer of official Kyiv weapons, military equipment and materiel Ukrainian armed forces from the territory of the Republic of Crimea the Russian Federation – the Foreign Ministry of Russia.
As noted in the Russian Foreign Ministry, the decision will be valid until the complete cessation of Ukrainian security forces fighting in the east of Ukraine and resolve the situation peacefully.
The above is a Google translation of this page.
http://lifenews.ru/mobile/news/136044
It’s hard to fathom how the residents of Donesk can’t see whats coming at them & to be so complacent as the Colonel is saying. . . . . and I see no reason to doubt him
Chris in Ch-Ch
Ha!
This strelkov dude is super smart. He just broke through the glass, again.
The paid army direction is shockingly smart tactic, on the same level or better then evacuation of slavyansk:
– paid soldiers, give him ability to select quality
– can hold them responsible for their act
– can offer to existing ukie army change of sides, for what it seems to me double the pay.
– will demoralize ukies paid solders, the pay on the other side is much better.
This is one smart dude. Then, when I thought a bit better, this does not seems to be his smarts, but higher instances. Given the fact he is former FSB, its not hard to imagine who is behind this and who is supplying the money. While he seems to be superior tactician(which again I suspect he has very good advisers), this move is fundamentally psychological change in the way they operate their army.
A-mazing.
Vladimir Suchan had an interesting post on his Facebook page.
—
As a minimum, what I think can be said is that Putin was always comfortable to lead and rule as if from behind, this he balanced from time to time with his several hours long interviews. This style now, however, starts looking as the lack or retreat of leadership. There is also a good deal of evidence that Moscow has been relying on and trusting in some possibility of a compromise or deal, using connections among various oligarchs. Perhaps similar to that kind of understanding Putin struck with most of the Russian oligarchs in Russia.
Instead of seeing this (pacification through mutual oligarchic rapprochement) as a workable solution, I see rather as a problem and hole in the fortress of Russia. Russia is a would-be Prometheus bound by the chains of oligarchy, and oligarchy has no desire to fight fascism in Ukraine. The situation is also severely compounded by hopelessly entangled old ideological lines and narratives. Ukrainian communists are part of the junta’s “representative” system, supporting the legitimacy of the regime. That’s why Ukrainian communists have been similar in their function to the discredited Party of Regions.
…
Going back to the tasks of the moment: Russia could have pre-empted the war in Donbass, as she did in Crimea, had she acted boldly and decisively. That window of opportunity closed a week after the referenda. If Russia fails to take further effective deterrent and pre-emptive actions, then the Empire will turn on massive-scale technologies of destabilization, chaos, and violence–from Ukraine, Central Asia (Ubzekistan is already almost on the verge of its own convulsion), and from within. Much of the organization, networks, people, tools, know-how is in an advanced state of preparation. The writing is on the wall.
In this regard, Syria, where numerous techniques of managed chaos were tested and applied, also offers numerous dearly paid lessons. One of which was this observation of a Syrian high ranking officer: “When the troubles began, we though that it would be a version of the Muslim Brotherhood uprising from 1982. In this regard, we totally underestimated and misjudged what has been prepared for us.”
—-
He thinks folks in Donetsk and Moscow are underestimating what the fascists have in mind, and have been working on for a long time.
https://www.facebook.com/vladimir.suchan/posts/10152219863218388
This appears to be a big step.
Republic of Carpathian Ruthenia, located at the far ‘west’ of Ukraine just signed with New Russia.
English translation from google…
During the Yalta Conference (July 2014) were held in particular formal negotiations between the government of the Republic of Carpathian Ruthenia (plenipotentiary representative – Getsko Peter Ivanovich, Prime Minister RPR) and the Parliament of the Union of People’s Republics of New Russia (plenipotentiary representative – Vladimir V. Rogov, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs Parliament SNRN). Following negotiations held in fraternal, cordial atmosphere, the parties held discussions on some issues of mutual interest. In a businesslike and constructive atmosphere agreed points of preliminary agreements and agreed to sign soon full-fledged interstate treaty of alliance and mutual assistance in the destruction of fascism in Eastern Europe and support areas occupied Kiev junta SNRN. The signing ceremony was attended by representatives of public organizations and the European Union, the United States and Canada.
Press Service of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union of People’s Republic of New Russia
Press office of the Prime Minister’s Respuboiki Carpathian Ruthenia
Signed an agreement between the Union and the People’s Republic Novorossia Republic Carpathian Ruthenia
can anyone else confirm this??
Thanks for posting this.
I think that the interview was originally translated here (another really good English-language blog about Ukraine):
http://slavyangrad.wordpress.com/2014/07/09/interview-with-strelkov-july-8-2014/
Important to give credit where credit is due.
Video of Kramatorsk completely deserted
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=ad0_1404818677
Strelkov ve said the truth about EU. This entity ve tried to steal their money with help of IMF.
Andrew,
Gleb Bazov, Большое спасибо for your translation.
I was itching for it :)
.
From here in Britain, Commander Igor Ivanovich’s comments seem to me restrained, intelligent, persuasively accurate, and of course coming from a supremely brave patriot. Respect!
BTW, my posting name here is my real one, and is a Cymreig name (Cymreig means in our own Cymraeg language what English-speakers mean when they say ‘Welsh’). Coming as I do from another relatively small country under long-term oppressive control by a neighbour country which is still violently imperialist even now, in its rulers’ attitudes and active behaviour, even though it’s become another mere underling-state of the vicious Washington state/bigbiz fascistic empire… well then, you can understand why I sympathise with the Novorossiyan peoples’ current armed struggle against murderous oppression by the Kiev-Junta Washington puppets, and their nazi thugs.
@exyu
“- can offer to existing ukie army change of sides, for what it seems to me double the pay.”
It has been my view for a long while that the Ukrainian outcome lays in how the military respond.
If the military sees leadership, discipline, stability, money and IMF ‘dooms-day’ austerity programmes replaced by a BRICS Development Bank support then it could be ‘about face’ 180 degrees and a new Kiev setup faster than Egypt’s Fattah al-Sisi came to power. No wonder there are reports of aircraft in Kiev ready 24/7 for a Saigon fly-out.
General officers of this quality do not come along every day. I wonder how many in Novorossiya understand how valuable this man is.
the pessimist:
I don’t think that Russia is necessarily a fan of the EU either – more interested in bilateral relations with individual nations.
Russia could only be a fan of the EU if it were actually allowed to enter it as a full member with Ukraine, Belarus, and Kazakhstan and then exercise the natural position it would hold in the organization, which is to say that of the undisputed leader. This would be a bloc of 210 million people, nearly three times the size of Germany, and larger than Germany, France, and the UK together.
So the real test of the European Union is whether it is actually open to all Europeans, which would include Russians. We of course already know the answer to that – the EU is not open to Russian membership, which thus exposes that the EU is simply yet another anti-Russian organization that is in reality organized and controlled by Washington, like NATO, with the defined purpose of taking territory to deprive it of influence, control, or rule by Russia.
the original Paul…
…agreement between the Union and the People’s Republic Novorossia Republic Carpathian Ruthenia
…can anyone else confirm this??
Thanks for the link. I hadn’t heard about this yet but it doesn’t surprise. I know quite a number of natives living throughout U., north south east and west, town and country, and I’ve said here before that there are many among the ordinary people who oppose the junta and their jackbooted stormtroops, who recognise the omnipresence of the US leading from behind, who aren’t expecting anything good from the EU-IMF austerity measures to come, and who sympathise with the Donbass resistance. This applies as much to TK/Ruthenia and even in Lvov/Galicia as elsewhere.
These people are necessarily keeping their heads down for now [although there are signs of opposition appearing in Kiev, for instance, the recent noisy interjections about the killing of children against Poro in the parliament, some as yet mild street protest in Kiev recently; expect these to grow as peopple find their voice and learn to see through the propaganda of the junta; that recent Ukr TV live show featuring the Times journalist who (oops) said things he wasn’t meant to must have opened a few eyes; etc.]…
As I have said before, we owe it to sympathetic people throughout Ukraine not to paint the picture too simplistically as an east/west, R/U thing, lest what results is a truly thorough Bosnian ethnic-cleansing scenario, entirely avoidable as yet. The complexity of the demography throughout U. is no doubt one of many factors feeding into Russia’s considerations.
This am WAPO published an Op-Ed by Z-Big in advance of his testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee today. This goes to show who’s crafting ZUSA foreign policy these days… Sigh.
The Op-Ed, titled “Putin’s Three Choices” is essentially thus:
1) Do as we say (NOT as we do)
2) Do nothing (i.e. continue to aid and abet the separatists) and we will sanction you back to 1917
3) Do it (i.e. invade UK) and we will Sampson you back to stone ages)
That’s the short version. Same old chit.
By the way — this crap was next to David Ignatius blathering about Sikes-Picot and setting up the talking points for carving up Iraq. Quelle surprise!
Total embarrassment. I’m tired of having to feel guilty for these fuks. I want them gone. Away from fomenting unrest and wreaking havoc worldwide in the name of US taxpayers.
Chapeau to Strelkov!
Some other news from the front:
The IMF is withholding the second tranche of its ‘loan’ as it was conditional on the country being intact. The original deadline has passed and has been extended. Strelkov and his men are hitting the oligarchs where it really hurts – their pockets!
The vile Ukrainian politicians are creeping out to milk Slavyansk for all it is worth to their election prospects. Liashko does who he does so well – threatens defenceless individuals. Poroshenko meets his fan club – note the baseball caps and logo of his close personal bodyguard and their distinctive weapons. And finally poor ill, and yet so brave, Tymonshenko donates blood for the wounded. She was fortunate to give. others had their blood taken by the Ukrainian regime.
Finally another interesting blog to watch – crimsonalter. He(or she) too offers analysis rather than rants.
Gleb Bazov
Thanks for translating the interview.
вот так
Ukrainian pilots Hope Savchenko charged
http://translate.yandex.net/tr-url/ru-en.ru/voicesevas.ru/news/yugo-vostok/2641-ukrainskoy-letchice-nadezhde-savchenko-predyavleno-obvinenie.html
“Hope Savchenko charged under article “Complicity in murder” . She is accused of involvement in the the attack on the Russian journalists broadcasting company VGTRK. Ukrainka was detained on the territory of Russia, and the court chose to it the preventive punishment in the form of detention for a period of two months.
– Novousmansky district court of Voronezh arrested Hope Savchenko until September 9, 2014. To complete the investigation Ukrainian pilots will remain in custody in the Voronezh jail, said LifeNews source in court.
According to preliminary information, Hope Savchenko is aiding in the shooting crew VGTRK under the Lugansk 17 June. Presumably, Navigator of the Ukrainian aviation was navodchica mortar calculation, aiming killing Russian journalists.
It is established that Savchenko is a female member of the armed forces of Ukraine military specialty “the operator gunner” helicopter Mi-24. According to the investigation, during the military actions in the region of Lugansk in June of the current year it entered into a battalion “Aydar”.
Knowing the location of the group of Russian journalists VGTRK and other civilians near the city of Lugansk, Savchenko handed them over to the soldiers of nazvanii. After that it coordinates was produced and mortar fire, which killed employees of VGTRK Igor Korneluk and Anton Voloshin.
With regards to detention Savchenko then, as it turned out, she was without documents, under the guise of refugees crossed the border of Russia. And when checking documents in one of the communities, the woman was detained for identification. Then it turned out that Savchenko held as suspected in a criminal case of murder of Russian journalists, said the official representative of Investigatory Committee (IC) of Russia Vladimir Markin.”
Rachal Maddow & co. is going to be upset…
вот так
Венгерский бизнесмен заказал Олега Ляшко (Hungarian businessman ordered Oleg Lyashko)
http://rusvesna.su/news/1404912444 (trans) http://translate.yandex.net/tr-url/ru-en.ru/rusvesna.su/news/1404912444
” Hungarian businessman Laszlo Varga has announced a prize of 150 thousand euros for the “head” Lyashko. The money will be transferred to any Bank in any city of the world in the name of the one who would shoot the executioner Lyashko.
As expressed himself Laszlo, its such a decision pushed the scene where Lyashko personally threatened an elderly person 15 years of imprisonment just for the fact that any resident of Slavyansk.
The stories of his grandfather, Hungary from the Nazis was liberated by the Soviet Army, which was at that time a boy and remembered how it was.
Grandfather before the end of his days caring for the graves of Soviet soldiers buried in the city of Debrecen. And after the death of his grandfather, businessman, along with his wife and sons continue to care for the graves.
About this Varga said today to the correspondent of the Hungarian television at the tomb of the unknown soldier in the capital of Hungary, Budapest. It sounded in the evening news.
“You will be released in 78 years, if I survive,” says Lyashko the old man with bound hands and bag over his head.”
Rachel Maddow will not be pleased about this, either…
вот так
Larchmonter445,
I posted this response to your comment on the other post but would like to continue the conversation so here it is again in case you missed it:
Nonsense!
Obama is a narcissistic, uncaring corporate tool but hardly a tyrant. He’s just Bush v.2.0, and that’s bad enough. Bob Kay’s points about the Deep State are rather more subtle than just blaming “the government”. Single family homes are not a government target now any more than they’ve ever been: if people lose jobs they can’t make their mortgage payments. That fact has nothing to do with “the government” and everything to do with corporate oligarchs of all stripes doing their level best to grab everything that isn’t nailed down and pay the few workers they keep too little to raise their families on. You guys still worship the Free Market and denigrate “takers” but that’s just what this is! Obama, and Congress, let them do that — it’s morally wrong and socially disastrous but hardly tyranny, it’s simply selling out. Decent regulation, smart regulation, would stop this stuff cold: now find me some Congresscritters (or potential Congresscritters) willing to re-regulate intelligently, and I’m not just talking the Fed.
And as for Obama’s hatred of white suburbs, wanting to force millions into urban centers, fleecing by Liberal (but never Conservative?) governments, and “militarized, extra-legal, unConstitutional, and systemic tyranny” — how ’bout you provide a couple facts, not just quotes from others on your side but actual things that have happened, that back up any of these wild statements. It’s much easier to blame Obama and Liberals for the mess that we’re in than recognize it’s just more of the same and you supported all of it until the official label on top went from Republican to Democrat.
There’s a lot in this country that desperately needs fixing but you’re scapegoating Liberals just like the Galicians scapegoat Russians; then you talk about guns being the solution and end with letting go of the old and embracing a new life of morals and values — presumably your morals and values as opposed to those of any other citizens perhaps not sharing all of them? Why? What gives you the right — just because they’re yours and you *believe* everyone else *ought* to live by them too? I’m sure I share most of them but I’ll be damned if ANYONE is going to tell me how to live my life: that’s not what this country has EVER been about. Freedom is the ability to make one’s own choices, thank you. So my biggest question for you is, after all the bad guys have been shot, what DO you plan to do next? Who will decide? We The People? Or only those who agree with you? I’d, frankly, call THAT tyranny.
Молния: Партизаны ликвидировали начштаба 5 батальона теробороны Прикарпатья (Zip: Guerrillas eliminated-of-staff 5 battalion turabolone Prykarpattia)
http://rusvesna.su/news/1404856845 (trans) http://translate.yandex.net/tr-url/ru-en.ru/rusvesna.su/news/1404856845
“Sheep killed by a bullet in the head. Chief of staff of the 5th battalion of territorial defense of Prykarpattia Yuri Nikolaevich RAM was liquidated accurate shot by a sniper.
“The battalion of territorial defense Ivano-Frankivsk region went into the zone late last week. In battalion – 421 people” – according to Ukrainian media.
However, now how many punishers in the battalion hard to say. One can say with confidence that not more than 420.”
вот так
YouTube заблокировал канал RT на русском по требованию украинца (YouTube blocked the channel RT in Russian at the request of Ukrainian)
http://vz.ru/news/2014/7/9/694812.html (trans) http://translate.yandex.net/tr-url/ru-en.ru/www.vz.ru/news/2014/7/9/694812.html
“Popular video hosting YouTube has limited functionality account RT Russian, which occupies a leading position in the Russian segment of video sharing among the media.
YouTube channel RT in Russian lost the opportunity to organize live broadcasts, which are very popular among users, as well as the ability to publish video on the so-called “closed” link. In addition, the prohibition referred to broadcast documentary channel RTД in Russian, which was available live on YouTube since December 2013.
The functional limitation account RT in Russian occurred in respect of application of the Ukrainian user authorship video, published on the channel. However, the rights to this video belong to videoagency RT RUPTLY that bought them from the user.
RT filed a complaint to block via the automatic YouTube, and appealed to the Russian representation of Google with a request to clarify the situation, however, respond to your request could not be obtained.
In June account RT Russian reached 200 million hits, confirming the status of the most popular Russian-language news channel on YouTube. According to the analytical portal SocialBakers, last 100 million hits account RT Russian reached in just 3 months, making it the first place in the list of fastest growing channels” in the category “Media”.
Direct broadcast of the channel invariably gather a greater number of viewers. In March of RT in the Russian broke the record by the number of viewers online broadcasts in Russian YouTube. Direct broadcast of the press conference and the treatment of Viktor Yanukovych at the same time looked over 360 thousand people, the majority of which live in Ukraine.
YouTube is not the first time restricts accounts RT. In March 2014 account RT English was not available to users within three hours: when you try to open the page I received the message that your account suspended due to numerous and serious violations of YouTube policy”. A similar situation happened two years earlier, then the channel RT on YouTube has been blocked for more than seven hours. Each lock press service of Google called “due to a technical error”.
That zionist/western fascist sense of freedom of the press at work again. I don’t see mention of this on the English language site. It should have been front paged.
вот так
The sniper Nadia Savchenko has ended up in Russian custody facing charges for the killing of two reporters in the war zone (providing targeting information). From ITAR-TASS: http://en.itar-tass.com/world/739721
Yonatan – “And finally poor ill, and yet so brave, Tymonshenko donates blood for the wounded. She was fortunate to give. others had their blood taken by the Ukrainian regime.”!!! Indeed.
Slavyansk was a “shield”, eh?
So.
First, we have this:
“…we ascertained that this task had been completed – this task specifically – that in both Donetsk and in Lugansk, governments had been established that conformed with the will of the people in terms of implementing state sovereignty and conducting the referendum and were capable of creating their own armed forces, [we understood] that our own task had been substantially fulfilled”.
So he left Slavyansk and came to Donetsk, where:
“…I cannot say that the city is ready for defence, if only because the city as a whole is still operating as if it were at peacetime. Virtually no defensive measures have been taken.”
And
“it is certainly apparent that the residents of Donetsk continue to lead entirely peaceful lives”.
Under an elected, active mayor still loyal to Kiev, I should add.
Mission accomplished, oh yes, Colonel. Or should I say, Minister of Defense?
This is also great. He abandoned Slavyansk because:
“[The decision] was to withdraw, save the garrison and to save the city from meaningless destruction. It was, in fact, meaningless, because we would have been shelled to dust from a distance at which we had no ability to respond.”
And now he’s in Donetsk, perfectly understanding that:
“the current Ukrainian leadership and the leadership of the Ukrainian army will not shy away from doing the same to Donetsk.”
So what will he do when the Ukes start shelling Donetsk too? Retreat to the border? Far as I know, he still doesn’t have sufficient quantities of arty to mount effective counterbattery fire.
And the local population doesn’t give a hoot about the Ukes coming. It never really did. I would not be surprised if Strelkov eventually ended up with Donetsk residents asking him to clear out.
This is baron Wrangel all over again. A sad parody of the Crimea situation in 1920.
No, I’m not gloating. Far from it.
BOPOH
Hello
looked up Baron Wrangel on wiki
yes…the messed up drama looks similar
several websites have Ukie game program
with posed fighters….from terek wolves to
strelkov dressed up at some re ennactment
he looks lost in all the picks
lost…like someone you would not go ask directions from
One blog says nobody over there has a clue where this
guy is from….or why he is even there
granted…websites pro nazi nato will cast the east
with doubt and doublethink…just for fun
I’m wondering if the reality in the east is exactly this
confused….with cossack nazi vs cossack putin
If so….no wonder Moscow is quiet…..what exactly do
you say to a situation where the horse the cossack is posing on….
Is smarter than the rider?
This conflict looks as dark as serb vs croate with muslim
chaser
Was Ukraine the place where criminals from europe and
or eurasia fled to……some uber australia?
the pug said…
Thanks for the link
The latest article from Mike Whitney is worth a read. Here’s an excerpt:
“
This is the new anarchic “Mad Max” template Washington is applying wherever it intervenes. The intention is to dissolve the nation-state in order to remove any obstacle to resource extraction, which is why failed states are popping up wherever the US sticks its big nose. It’s all by design. Chaos is the objective. Simply put: It’s easier to steal whatever one wants when there’s no center of power to resist.
This is why political leaders in Europe are so worried, because they don’t like the idea of sharing a border with Somalia, which is exactly what Ukraine is going to look like when the US is done with it.
In Ukraine, the US is using a divide and conquer strategy to pit the EU against trading partner Moscow. The State Department and CIA helped to topple Ukraine’s elected President Viktor Yanukovych and install a US stooge in Kiev who was ordered to cut off the flow of Russian gas to the EU and lure Putin into a protracted guerilla war in Ukraine. The bigwigs in Washington figured that, with some provocation, Putin would react the same way he did when Georgia invaded South Ossetia in 2006. But, so far, Putin has resisted the temptation to get involved which is why new puppet president Petro Poroshenko has gone all “Jackie Chan” and stepped up the provocations by pummeling east Ukraine mercilessly. It’s just a way of goading Putin into sending in the tanks.
But here’s the odd part: Washington doesn’t have a back-up plan. It’s obvious by the way Poroshenko keeps doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result. That demonstrates that there’s no Plan B. Either Poroshenko lures Putin across the border and into the conflict, or the neocon plan falls apart, which it will if they can’t demonize Putin as a “dangerous aggressor” who can’t be trusted as a business partner.
So all Putin has to do is sit-tight and he wins, mainly because the EU needs Moscow’s gas…
“
BOPOH, while we can debate whether the move from Slavyansk was wise the proof will be in what comes next and will not be settled by arguments here. That said the offered explanation makes sense. The DPR needs an army under unified command if it is to face off against the junta and protect its fledgling independence – not some disparate militia groups defending various towns. Given the rumors that Akhmetov was in the process of cutting a deal with Kiev (bolstered by Poroshenko’s pronouncements in Slavyansk yesterday) it also appears that betrayal was coming around the corner in short order. Now we will see what happens.
Russia seems hesitantly supportive at this point, based on public behavior, and is doing those things that have relatively small political cost while trying to gain support in Europe (and elsewhere) to force a settlement. These efforts seem to be having some success.
While the DPR and LPR have many problems Kiev has more – despite having a large advantage in the military conflict… for the time being anyway.
A polite request for the Russian team. Would they please consider translating this video of Putin in fine form, if they have time. I’m sure all the English speakers here would greatly appreciate it.
Look at the current Holocaust in Gaza carried out by the Jewish botchers of Israel (with the active support of every major Jewish organisation in the world). This is to be the fate of Novorussia.
How so? Well the Palestinians receive billions in aid from fellow Muslim nations, just as the ethnic Russians of Ukraine receive ‘aid’ from Mother Russia. But no nation formally stands with Palestine, or offers a formal military alliance to protect its peoples from the evil racist monsters that rule in Israel.
Internationally, Russia and Putin stand with Kiev, the EU and USA. Putin claims this is the only ‘responsible’ way to behave. Now think about what this form of tactic gets the Palestinian people, and think about how NATO and Kiev will use the ‘Israeli option’ against Novorussia over and over again in the near future.
When the Palestinians announce a ‘unified’ government, and went to the UN to formally join UN bodies, the Jewish leadership of Israel declared that it would EXTERMINATE all Palestinian leaders, and all Palestinian infrastructure. A few months later, with a sea of zionist lies in the mainstream media, Israel declared it had its excuse, and the Holocaust began.
Without DIRECT Russian intervention, Novorussia will suffer this exact same fate over and over again. Each time, NATO will sit back for a year or so, allowing the Humans of Novorussia to rebuild, and find new leadership, and then NATO proxies will HOLOCAUST Novorussia until the leadership and key infrastructures are exterminated. A few years later, this will be repeated, and again and again.
Look how the Palestinians GAVE UP every viable means of fighting the neo-Nazis of Israel in order to attempt to find ‘peace’ and justice. Now, the vile evil butchers of Israel boast their Holocausts against Palestinians have near ZERO Israeli casualties. Hundreds of Palestinian children, women and men dead for every Jewish terrorist that dies attacking them.
Today, the Humans of Novorussia inflict more harm against the Israeli-backed neo-Nazi butchers from Kiev than the Nazis inflict against the defenders. This will NOT be the case ‘tomorrow’. NATO proxies are already using the method of ‘targeted assassinations’ by Israeli designed drones. Kiev is gradually implementing an Israeli-identical military infrastructure around and within Novorussia.
The Israeli method of butchering civilian ‘resistance’ (which includes ALL non-military people of influence), when sufficiently implemented, CANNOT be fought with ad-hoc, ordinary resistance, no matter how well motivated and armed. If Russia continues to refuse to draw a line in the sand, Novorussia’s future will be EXACTLY the same as Gaza.
Huge organ trading potentials – i.e. real, especially since the BBC takes the time out to minimise. Rumours apparently began with the fallen among Kiev’s troops. It has been rumoured that children have disappeared to the USA, and blogs are talking about planes arriving in Ukr with equipment.
http://nsnbc.me/2014/07/09/organ-harvesting-ukraine-goes-unreported/
@Lohmann But here’s the odd part: Washington doesn’t have a back-up plan.
Well, they can always pay for bogus “polls” that prove everyone in the world really ***really**** hhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaates Russia and Putin, and have their pathetic-but-incredibly-powerful MSM mouthpieces run breathless stories about them.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/10/world/europe/public-opinion-against-russia-hardens-after-ukraine-intervention-poll-finds.html
Hey, it worked with Saddam and Gaddafi, didn’t it?
Anonymous 15:46
“The Israeli method of butchering civilian ‘resistance’ (which includes ALL non-military people of influence), when sufficiently implemented, CANNOT be fought with ad-hoc, ordinary resistance, no matter how well motivated and armed. If Russia continues to refuse to draw a line in the sand, Novorussia’s future will be EXACTLY the same as Gaza.” I am afraid that you have it right.
I also do not agree with talk of “Russian Winter” will cement Kiev’s demise. A very cold winter without heating will add pressure to Kiev government, but also will bring hard ship to NAF, as well as make movement difficulty for them as. There is also a chance the winter will be mild, or Kiev could pull a rabbit out of its hat. Do not under estimate your enemy. The only thing guarantees Kiev’s demise is for NAF to score one victory after another, to grew rapidly, to ensure the fall of government by force. A contract army is very good start, now where are the necessary equipment?
Nora,
I answered at the original post of yours.
I won’t continue here.
Rose colored psychosis has set over your mind. America is in Deep State tyranny.
The facts of the last few years sums it all up. Each administration of both parties since Johnson.
Dallas ’63 was the watershed.
The only difference recently is the monetization of the Cultural Revolution v2.0. The bankers are driving the carriage.
Everything of value will be stripped away from the people who earned it, built it and own it.
Excellent interview online with temporarily sidelined Putin advisor and Russian opinion leader, the nationalist – Eurasianist Alexander Dugin, pointing out the colossal error of Putin’s ways in appeasing his pro-EU oligarchs.
Dugin says “When Kiev finishes with the revolt in Donetsk and Luhansk, the next target will be Crimea … War is inevitable. Either we start to fight now, or we shall have to fight later.”
‘With Ukraine rebels on the ropes, some Russians ask: Where is Putin?’ by Fred Weir
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2014/0707/With-Ukraine-rebels-on-the-ropes-some-Russians-ask-Where-is-Putin-video
Next tactic coming up from Kiev: armed drone warfare. Prepare and execute the guerilla and acquire anti-drone technology if possible. Expand the conflict into other oblasts.
USA Today has an explanation for the sudden fall of Slavyansk – some surprises after the armistice:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/07/08/ukraine-rolls-on-separatists-while-russia-holds-back/12364479/
Ukrainian Defense Minister Valery Heletey said earlier that there will be no cease-fire until rebels put down their weapons. Ukrainian forces seized Russian-made anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles left behind by fleeing separatists in the city of Slovyansk, where they were routed by government forces Saturday, Heletey said on the ministry’s website.
Ukraine used aerial surveillance gathered during the cease-fire and enough ground-attack aircraft cobbled together from cannibalized parts to launch strafing and bombing runs against separatist encampments the night the cease-fire ended. “Because previous attacks had usually been in support of ground operations and done piecemeal, the proxy forces didn’t seem to see this coming, and their open stored concentrations and fixed targets suffered because of it,” Karber said in an e-mail from Ukraine. A newly improvised device mounted on Ukrainian aircraft prevented the separatists’ Russian-made anti-aircraft missiles from locking onto their targets, but Ukraine’s air force stands little chance against a potential Russian attack.
On the ground, Ukraine’s first goal was to seal the 350-mile border between the Luhansk and Donetsk regions and Russia. That has been only partially effective. A company of Russian-supplied tanks crossed the border Friday by traveling over plowed fields, Karber said, citing Ukrainian military sources.
In an article in the Voice of Russia today president Putin said :
“You said that one had to be foolish to deny what had happened. You know, I think one has to be impudent to deny what happened. But, unfortunately, this impudence, like 70 years ago, often achieves its purpose. Goebbels said: the bigger a lie is, the faster it will be accepted. And he used to achieve his goals,” Putin said at a meeting with representatives of international religious organizations.
“I believe that today, those who juggle with history, try to belittle the merits of those who destroyed Nazism, and vice versa, swap criminals with their victims – they follow the same logic: the more improbable a lie is, the faster it will be believed,” added Putin.
Commenting on the statement that hatred against a whole nation on account of ethnic descent is crazy, Putin noted that he had also thought so before, but now he believed that it was much worse.
“Today, I think it’s more dangerous than madness. The use of such anti-human measures is a conscious policy aimed at achieving one’s sordid motives,” Putin said.
So I would say he is actually very aware of the nature of the beast he/Russia faces, and I personally do not believe he is taking the threat lightly so one can only hope and believe that steps are indeed afoot of which we the general public know nothing about to counter the nefarious machinations of the US/EU axis of evil. What those steps are and their probable effectiveness will only become clear in the fullness of time as I also happen to be of the same opinion as Dugin ; Russia will either have to fight now or later on their own territory when the war comes home to Russia, as their enemies in Washington will have no other outcome.
Dugin says “When Kiev finishes with the revolt in Donetsk and Luhansk, the next target will be Crimea … War is inevitable. Either we start to fight now, or we shall have to fight later.”
Crimea is Russia. Putin will unwrap the tactical nukes.Call on the Red Phone. Brussels will get colitis and Obama will run play golf.
There will be no proxy war on Russian land. That includes Crimea.
The war strategy in defense of Russia and its interests is not ‘engage and defeat’. It’s ‘indicate nukes’ and everyone stands down.
If Kiev even masses an division or weapons that threaten Russia (Crimea, too), Putin goes to nukes.
Dugin wanted to see a video game victory.
He is not a strategist. He is a theorist. No one lets guys like that into the decision making.
Hell, we’d all be running the show somewhere if Dugin was at the controls.
Who here didn’t want to go kick ass in Ukraine?
Consequences matter.
Putin is in charge because of his wisdom, not his bravado. He is in charge of Russia’s future, not Russia’s utopian dreams.
Great powers learn to use other means besides their great military power.
Kiev, in the scheme of things, is an annoyance.
Novorossiya is a premature headache (and heartache).
Russia is on the cusp of a monumental comeback and war is not the path to that glory.
“General” Dugin has no army, no clue and has made himself an irritant.
He should be writing incitements to the American public and sleeping Germans who are cashing in bloodmoney for their oligarchs and MICs.
Dugin should do something useful with his mind and talent to stop the Hegemon and NATO.
Anonymous 17:01 said…
“Dugin says “When Kiev finishes with the revolt in Donetsk and Luhansk, the next target will be Crimea … War is inevitable. Either we start to fight now, or we shall have to fight later.” “
__
Russia’s Lavrov Would Not Suggest Attack on Crimea to Anyone
…even if it is an attempt to return it to Ukraine.
“I wouldn’t suggest that to anyone. We have a doctrine of national security and it clearly illustrates what actions should be taken in this case,” Lavrov said
http://en.ria.ru/russia/20140709/190857004/Russias-Lavrov-Would-Not-Suggest-Attack-on-Crimea-to-Anyone.html
.
Neutral observer observation
Russia is in trouble unless it has been massively underreporting NG losses. The Russians would have every reason to do that and play the victim instead (securing European sympathy for the locals). Poroshenko and Avakov would have every reason also to pretend big losses were not happening in several scenarios.
The constant inability to capture simple airports has to be a rope a dope feint to give young nationalists overconfidence Otherwise the whole rebellion will have only created a confident experienced giant NATO allied army.
Dear Nora,
You are correct. The basis of freedom is choice. We get to choose which side to carry.
We live in communities which by their nature requires cooperating with others that are not necessarily “tribe”. It may be as simple as not taking a neighbors parking spot in front of their house. Even though its not really “theirs”. We learn living harmoniously with others is the basis of a good and happy life. It requires basic consideration of another’s need. And a willingness to meet that need. It’s the application of the Golden Rule. Doing unto others.
I don’t believe in treason. It’s living a lie. Which is exhausting. Dual-citizenship is another form of it. A house divided. I don’t CHOOSE to live that way. America may be a false construct. But its the only one I know.
I tend to ignore all the blather about guns and gays and other crap they want you to focus on as they destroy all that one holds dear. Each illusion I shed means less baggage to drag with me. That’s the key. These overlords — the deep-state elites — have SO MUCH BAGGAGE and STUFF they can’t shed. It’s their BIGGEST weakness.
I am not Russian. Not a drop. My admiration originates from non-tribal sensibility. I admire the fortitude of Russians. They have lived closer-to-the-ground than almost every other modern people. It gives them an authenticity. They have less illusions to shed than almost anyone else. It’s their strength. And it will be the reason they endure and prevail. My hat is off to them and theirs.
Take care.
Larchmonter445,
“The government” isn’t the problem; the problem is that it’s owned lock, stock and barrel by the very same oligarchs who keep feeding you propaganda splitting We The People into warring camps so that we won’t unite and get rid of them. Liberals are arrogant fools but you’re no better, just angrier, more emotional and determined to somehow save the country by, what, acting like Pravy Sektor and going bang! bang! at anyone you don’t like? Then what?
You Patriots are part, and only part, of the very same 27% who supported Bush through thick and thin. That means that 73% of us, plus or minus, *don’t* see things the way you do, *and are every bit as American as you are*, whether you’re blind to that fact or not. This country belongs to all of us, not just you.
But there’s no point whatever in attempting a rational discussion until you can provide facts to buttress your claims or at least respond to what I actually wrote instead spewing the usual fact-free sound-bites and vague, inaccurate stereotypes. Facts are who, what, when, where and how — anything else is a rumor or, at best, an allegation.
Oh, and do try reading the Constitution some time. The whole thing. I’ve still got my copy from high school; knew it pretty well then, still do. You might also try the Federalist Papers if you really want to know what our Founding Fathers had in mind. Hint: you might find it rather surprising.
And finally, your accusations against me are absurd, but also quite rude: is that really the way you want to come across?
A lot of people focus on Putin and his difficult choices, but what about Rinat Ahmetov? He has had to step up pulling all the strings for Poroshenko to stop the destruction plans. But what if Poroshenko’s puppetmasters tell him to go ahead with scorched earth tactics? Ahmetov can not sit this one out anymore. He can either confront Strelkov’s popularity and try to put down the resistance and risk losing everything or join the resistance. One way or the other he stands to lose a lot with the wrong decision.
Strelkovs popularity is an issue
I view some military success in aircraft downed
mil assets destroyed…and images of fighters in groups
posing in the detetmined photo opp
but then we have Oprah winnfry strelkov….
Re ennactment Roman legion soldier….then
commissar outfit and heres a machine gun
and then retreat…
Theres something wrong here….my spidey sense wonders
where the sabotage and gladio stay behind is
why west ukie drive around with few worries
why Kiev is collabo Paris 1941
Somebodey blow something up please
and no more Oprah winnfry
How about cossack walking toward captured nato
merc
and then a hand reachs to block the camera
Fight like Cossack….fight like it was Stalingrad or Kursk
exyu:
I agree that it’s important for the soldiers to be paid. These people are barely surviving economically and asking them to volunteer would be simply too much to ask.
My only question is who finances this? And who finances the other side?
Hopefully not the same guy…?
Best wishes
Anonymous in Finland
FWIW, an intriguing report supposedly based on Ukie military data that 6 T-72 tanks, recently refurbished at a plant in Kharkiv, exploded when the tankers tried to fire the gun. Four tanks were located at Slavyansk and 2 at Kramatorsk. The losses have been blamed on the Donbass army.
Another post shows the current Ukie military leadership. Heck, they’ve almost got as many leaders as they have reliable capable troops.
Anonymous 18:26
Regarding Ahmetov, I suspect Kolomoisky is being groomed to replace, or sees himself as replacing, Poroshenko. He has a large private army and is keen to establish laws allowing property owned, or used ?, by the ‘rebels’ to be confiscated. I suspect he would not say no to any actions leading to the demise of Ahmetov, irrespective of whatever choice he makes. He has every personal incentive to go scorched earth anway, and his supporters have threatened Poroshenko (long, worth reading) and warned him not to go against Kolomoisky. “Their task is to obtain a carte-blanche for the management of the Dnepropetrovsk region, to make it a personal fiefdom, which they will control it by using their own private armies.”. In addition it is Filatov, “a government official, which directly threatens its leader – the President of Ukraine!”
A Bernard-Henri Levy body double has been spotted in Mariupol. Perhaps, given their precarious financial position, the Ukies couldn’t afford the real thing. After a days of seeing images of Liashko liberating Slavyansk for his audience of 5 of his supporters and Tymoshenko saving the wounded Urkrainian nation, I need a cleansing shower. This is becoming too surreal.
Pessimist:
“The DPR needs an army under unified command if it is to face off against the junta and protect its fledgling independence – not some disparate militia groups defending various towns.”
That it does. Unfortunately, short of exemplary shootings of disobedient commanders, there is nothing besides Strelkov’s moral authority that can weld them together. The problem is that he has just abandoned four towns full (or so it has been said) of PRD supporters, and there are already persistent rumours of them being brutally mistreated – or even killed wholesale – by the “Nazis”. Considering that most of Strelkov’s militia hails from that area, the effect on morale is going to be rather detrimental. You’ve noticed, perhaps, the mention of an incident between the Donetsk locals and Strelkov’s militiamen in the interview? That’s the first tiny little alarm bell that has rung.
Add to it the fact that some militiamen are already openly questioning the necessity for Strelkov’s move. Top it off with the recurring rumors of corruption and betrayal in the higher echelons of PRD (which Strelkov has now fully immersed himself in) and stir. Careful, the mix is poisonous. And explosive.
So let me restate this: in order to institute any sort of cohesion within the PRD rank and file, you have to shake up all of its executive personnel from top to bottom (and replace the top entirely). Strelkov alone is probably incapable of accomplishing that. He will need allies, which will turn him into a politician. That will further erode his myth of an immaculate hero and cause further divisions within the ranks. In short, the Hero who could unite the PRD has died in Slavyansk.
BOPOH
Nora,
You don’t have a clue about me being a patriot or a Patriot. And you really are a horse’s ass to think I ever supported Bush 1,2 or3. . . or a Party or an ideology at any time.
I dont’ know why you want to fight on ground you know nothing.
It’s irrelevant here. By the way I’ve won some famous legal fights in Federal court, so I think you ought to pull back on challenging my knowledge of law, government and the Constitution.
The American system of government and its economics are ruined. Only the capacity for theft, rape and chaos remains.
Stop baiting folks about what you think we know or don’t know. You’re sounding like the cretin Anonymous making a fool of himself regularly.
Engage someone else. I leave you, to your unicorns.
@Anonymous in Finland 09 July, 2014 18:43
“My only question is who finances this?”
Do not worry. The militia has secured, confiscated, funds from Privatbank owned by an oligarch, who hates Russians. Knowing something about this man, I guess he is very angry now. He financed the Azov battallion, a Pravi Sector/Svoboda battallion that may have foreign Fascist volunteers. Now his money has been turned against him and Azov may no longer exist. His name is Igor Kolomoisky. He never planned on financing the militia. Such is the fate of those who serve evil.
Anonymous in Sweden
Larchmonter445,
You’ve made some highly inflammatory statements and provided precisely zero data to back up any one of them, just more stale sound-bites and outrageous ad hominem attacks. It’s sad, too, because you seem to be able to sift fact from fiction quite a bit better when talking about Ukraine. What you don’t recognize is that the same “game” played on Galicians is being played on you: they’ve been useful idiots in The Great Game for a long time now, and as long as you demonize your fellow-citizens, you are too.
@ know the truth
Putin did worse in Chechnya and Dagestan, he’s a hypocrite for pretending killing separatists and rebels is fascism. Any nation worth its integrity would strangle this nation dissolving rebellion in its cradle- ask Assad. And don’t tell me ukraine is an artificial construct and not a real nation, neither is Russia, or any other state. They are all artificially constructed and consecrated with myths, the only difference is that the older artificial constructs attempt to deny the right of newer states to exist because they hate competition.