Dmitry Tymchuk, Head of the Center for Military and Political Research, Coordinator of the Information Resistance group, Member of Parliament (People’s Front)
02.18.2015
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine
Operational data from Information Resistance:
Fierce fighting continues in the vicinity of Debaltseve. To take this settlement under its control, the Russian-terrorist troop command threw all of its reserves into the fight.
Column of smoke near Debaltseve. Photo: Roland Oliphant
For example, in Stakhanov, which previously held large concentrations of local insurgents and Russian mercenaries, as well as weapons and equipment, by the morning of 02.18.2015, there remained only 300 terrorists at maximum, 2 BM-21 “Grad” vehicles (not combat-ready) and a mortar battery – other forces and resources were deployed near Debaltseve. A similar situation is in Horlivka, where all the resources were also transferred to the vicinity of Debaltseve (in particular, 11 tanks and 5 AFVs got moved from this area into Kalynivka and the area north of Vuhlehirsk). A “reinforcement” for insurgents passed from Donetsk to Yenakiieve through Yasynuvata – about 300 people, 4 tanks, 2 ZU-23-2, 3 trucks with D-30 towed howitzers, 2 BMP-2, 2 BTR-80, and 4 covered trucks. This manpower and vehicles were gathered in two districts of Donetsk (Petrovsky and Kuibyshev) to participate in the Debaltseve operation.
A new strike tactical force of Russian-terrorist troops which IR has reported about, who arrived earlier in Verhulivka yesterday morning (February 17, 2015) along with another company tactical group that operated here before, went on the offensive. Another enemy tactical group (up to two reinforced companies) hit Debaltseve from the northeast. Overall, the enemy has used about 25 tanks, up to 35 ACVs with the support of 3 artillery battalions in the fight (up to 40 barrel artillery and 12 MLRS units). As a result, the enemy was able to break into the city and initiate street combat there. The enemy continues to maintain fire control of the road between Debaltseve and Artemivsk from towering heights (towering (command) height 307.9 is also occupied by the enemy) and prevents the units defending themselves inside the city from re-supply. By yesterday evening, the Ukrainian artillery inflicted fire strikes on enemy combat formations in the vicinity of Lohvynove and east of Debaltseve.
On the outer perimeter of the bridgehead in the vicinity of Faschivka, Ukrainian troops repulsed an attempt by Russian-terrorist forces to attack a Ukrainian checkpoint. As a result of return fire by Ukrainian servicemen, a terrorist BMP-2 (it was abandoned by the crew) and a BTR- 70 (finished off from an RPG) have been destroyed. The enemy has been driven back with thick flank fire to its [former] start line.
In the vicinity of Shyrokyne, having occupied a tall residential building near the village yesterday morning, a division of Russian-terrorist forces began to carry out attacks on Ukrainian positions with two mortars. Two hours later, the division was shot down by Ukrainian troops and began to retreat toward Novoazovsk. As a result of return fire by Ukrainian troops, another terrorist group moved back to the northeast from the eastern edge of Shyrokyne under the cover of two tanks. One of the tanks was put out of action by the fire of Ukrainian units ([it] was evacuated).
East of Luhansk, a group of armored vehicles was recorded on the march, heading south. The group included 3 tanks, 4 BMP-2, a BMP-1, 2 BTR-80, and 5 covered trucks. This “demo” terrorist group has been put in place to depict a “withdrawal of heavy weapons” by Russian-terrorist forces “in execution of Minsk agreements.”
The ‘DNR’ [Donetsk people’s republic] police are trying to ban the formerly disabled insurgents (particularly with torn off limbs) from appearing in public. At the moment, the “policemen” are trying to conduct “outreach” activities, urging disabled terrorists to seldom leave their homes. Several conflicts over this have been observed.
Near Debaltseve
Source: Dmitry Tymchuk FB
Voices of Ukraine 
May be you could turn from being terrain-oriented to being force-oriented. Since you can keep track of those “tactical groups” you could target them one after the other.
By concentrating a superior, mobile force, with good arty support, you could isolate and destroy one “tactical group” and then withdraw, reorganise and then target the next one.
This operation has a strict time table (ie you don’t stay for too long and allow them to bring fire upon you), it relies first on surprise then speed. It’s a series of raids that aim to destroy or damage those groups one after the other. Chop off his arms ang legs so he cannot attack you.
This generates the body count that will make the russian mothers react and ask for their kids to be brought home (alive). That is what will bring peace.
By being terrain oriented you spread your small army thin, over vast expanses. And then you wait for them to strike you. This is wrong. You need to take the initiative, concentrate forces on the enemy’s weak points and force him to be reactive. This throws out his timetable and prevents him from making advances against you.
Is nice hear the ukranians repelling the russian army, but the problem is that their war actions never go to the surface with videos in YouTube with english titles in order to find it easyly by the people who do not speak russian or ukranian aorund the World. By contrast YouTube is full of pro russian and pro terrorists videos with english titles so, people around the World if the try to look for the war in Ukraine what they find is 100% videos uploaded by the russians where they show Ukranians routed. This is an information war that since the start of the conflict the russians won becasue the ukranians never took into consideration do what the russians were doing on YouTube for the people around the World who do not speak russian or ukranian. A big error for the Ukranians becasue the image people got about “our” warriors is bad. This has been sad and… strange.
Point taken and everyone regrets not having the money or means to counter such a tsunami of propaganda. But ‘strange’? Is it strange not to have a multimillion dollar propaganda industry to support the lies of a dictator? Ukraine is next to bankrupt. Are you volunteering to help in any way? Yes, very sad more critics don’t help more. Thanks.