Andrey Kurkov: Picture of Donetsk

By Andrey Kurkov, Ukrainian novelist who writes in Russian
11.24.2014
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

About real life in the occupied DNR and “cute little fascists.”

Ramada

Russian writer Andrey Kurkov writes about this on his Facebook page.

“This evening I met with a man who had just come from Donetsk. He talked about life there. Two hotels are open and full of journalists – Ramada (room for $110 euro, spaghetti lunch $150 hyrvanias) and Park Inn, in the Hotel Liverpool – a torture chamber and prison, he does not know about the Premier Palace. Recently Zakharchenko met with students. The room was full, the students listened carefully about the future of the DNR then they asked about salaries. “What are you studying?” Zakharchenko asked with interest. “Chemistry” one student answered. “Study how to make bombs, then you’ll be able to make money for life!” advised the DNR head.

Every evening in the lobby of the Ramada a dozen men appear with submachine guns and a big man in camouflage comes down the stairs with a suitcase. This is the daily revenue collection, as it’s called. No one knows where he goes. Akhmetov is treated with silent respect, his foundation continues to feed the elderly citizens of Donetsk, mention the word “Yanukovych” and their faces show rage, then disgust.

The DNR transport minister in charge of the Donetsk railway carries a pistol under his jacket. He says that before Maidan he was the official representative of the Russian National Unity in Donetsk, this despite the fact that the RNU was officially prohibited in the Russian Federation.

He talks politely with journalists and gives an almost positive impression – a “cute little fascist” – is what a man who managed to talk with him called him. The picture of Donetsk is taking shape slowly and with difficulty, but not owing to Ukrainian journalists, who, apparently, are not there,” Kurkov writes.

Source: GlavPost.com

Posted in English, English News, Eyewitness stories, Pictures, South&Eastern Ukraine, War in Donbas | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dmitry Tymchuk: Let the Opposition Block Concern Themselves with Giraffe Husbandry

information_resistance_logo_engDmitry Tymchuk, Head of the Center for Military and Political Research, Coordinator of the Information Resistance group, founding member of the People’s Front party and National Deputy
11.29.2014
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

The “Opposition Block” is aspiring to head 3 committees in the [Verkhovna] Rada – the parliamentary procedure committee, the committee in the issues of freedom of speech, and the committee on the issues of culture and spirituality.

The idea of them heading the parliamentary procedure committee raises a lot of questions; the committee for culture and spirituality – even more questions. But the committee for freedom of speech? That is simply a low blow.

Sorry, but I physically cannot comprehend how the people who worked to systematically obliterate the very idea of “freedom of speech” during Yanukovych’s rule may be responsible for ensuring regulatory guarantees of freedom of speech. That would be equivalent to appointing a pedophile to be the Director of a kindergarten.

But, this problem goes far beyond the moral and ethical aspect. Let us remember that Ukraine is a victim of foreign aggression, and a very serious part of this aggression is the information war. Among the enemy’s weapons are the Russian media broadcasting, amongst others, to Ukrainian viewers, as well as the pro-Russian media in Ukraine. Does anyone have any doubts that our fifth column, represented by the “Opposition Block” is already on a mission to assist the subversive work of these media, as much as possible? Allowing its representatives in the information sphere would be a direct blow against Ukraine’s national security, while the country remains at war.

I understand that the West requires we “throw a bone” to the opposition. The West, which is well-fed, satisfied with its life, and has spent decades without the faintest idea what it is like to have war at home on its territory. But if we want the West’s support, we have to heed its voice. Plus, unfortunately, the “Opposition Block” is one of the channels for dialogue with eastern Ukraine. After all, our compatriots voted for these people. That we cannot ignore.

No problem! Let us take the existing 27 parliamentary committees, and add a few more (for example, a committee on the issues of giraffe husbandry, and a committee for particle physics). Let the opposition have their fun there. Even though I’m afraid those gentlemen will manage to crap things up even there.

Source: Dmitry Tymchuk FB

Posted in Dmitry Tymchuk, English, English News, Maidan Diary, War in Donbas | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Semyon Semyonchenko: This is not a time to divide portfolios

By Semyon Semyonchenko, Commander of the volunteer Donbas Battalion, representative of the “Samopomich Association Party” [“Self-Reliance” Party]
11.28.2014
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

Arriving at the location of the Donbas Battalion in Luhansk region, and returning to peaceful Kyiv through the bustle of Kharkiv, or the dug-in Dnipro, you understand that we have two countries. One lives in war mode. The other – in the mode of the world.

The concentration of Russian troops for strike, information warfare, for over eight months have crept onto the pages and screens of the Ukrainian media, hundreds of agents of the FSB, the GRU, thousands of characters from the “fifth column” coordinated from the Kremlin – all this seems not to exist. Reforms, reforms, local self-government, the division of portfolios and other topics fill the information space. We have lost Crimea and a part of the Donbas. The infection is creeping to Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhia and Odesa.

Underlying everything, there should be a plan made from three points:

Defeating Putin
Defeating Putin
Defeating Putin

To this should be directed all the resources of the state. Financial, informational, diplomatic.

Not gas, not credits, not any immediate benefits. These are not to replace one thing – the freedom and independence of Ukraine. This is the “red line” that Ukrainian politicians should not cross. Otherwise, we will lose everything.

This is not a time to divide portfolios – The enemy is at the gates.

Glory to Ukraine!

Source: Semyon Semyonchenko FB

Posted in "Voices" in English, English, Others, War in Donbas | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Dmitry Tymchuk: Military Updates, 11/28

information_resistance_logo_engDmitry Tymchuk, Head of the Center for Military and Political Research, Coordinator of the Information Resistance group
11.28.2014
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

Operational data from Information Resistance:

Over the past day about 50 attacks on the positions Ukrainian troops were recorded, in particular:
– In the direction of Donetsk – 22 attacks,
– In the direction Luhansk – 11
– In the direction Debaltseve – 10
– In the direction of Mariupol – 3
– In the direction of Pervomaisk – 1.

The total number of attacks by Russian-terrorist forces since the beginning of the so-called “ceasefire” has exceeded 3,580.

In the Petrovskyi district of Donetsk, 3 “wandering” insurgent 120mm mortars have been reported, transported on board of vehicles. After firing, the details quickly fold and leave the firing positions. Groups of shooters are providing cover for the mortar details. Enemy MLRS positions in the area have also been recorded.

By the Putilovsky Bridge in Donetsk, divisions of Russian-terrorist forces continue to arrive. At least 3 tanks with crews of Russian mercenaries have been reported. Ammunition is being delivered from the southern direction through Torez.

Near the district of Yakovlivka, 2 enemy batteries of cannon artillery (122-mm howitzer D-30) are firing on the positions of Ukrainian troops to the south of Avdiivka and near the ring road. Firing is done with spotting and target reconnaissance. In this area, Russian officers are carrying out effective firing control.

In the district of Hranitne, Russian-terrorist troops made new attempts to advance small groups toward Starohnativka [Donetsk Oblast]. These attempts have ended in failure. The enemy groups were discovered in time by Ukrainian troops, and fired upon.

“Wandering” enemy tanks appeared in the area of Vuhlehirsk–Debaltseve. Their crews take firing positions covertly, fire 5-6 shots, and then perform a sharp departure, under cover provided by mortar and machine-gun details, who are firing on the positions of Ukrainian troops. In the area of Vuhlehirsk, Ukrainian troops knocked out one of these tanks, then finished it off with a grenade launcher.

In the district of  Telmanove, a “combined battle group” of Russian-terrorist forces arrived. It’s composed of Russian “Cossacks” with the support of several BMP [infantry fighting vehicles] and two tanks.

From the side of Mykolaivka and Vesela Hora the opponent is delivering mortar fire on the positions of Ukrainian troops in the area of Stanytsa Luhansk and Trokhizbenka. The quality of fire by the enemy mortar operators is low. Ukrainian artillery opened return fire on the militants twice after the latter hit the residential sector of Trokhizbenka,.

Source: Dmitry Tymchuk FB

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Dmitry Tymchuk: Military Updates, 11/27

information_resistance_logo_engDmitry Tymchuk, Head of the Center for Military and Political Research, Coordinator of the Information Resistance group
11.27.2014
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

Operational data from Information Resistance:

During the past day, Russian-terrorist forces have committed some 50 attacks on the positions of Ukrainian troops. In particular:

• In the direction of Luhansk – 17 attacks;
• In the direction of Donetsk – 12 attacks;
• In the direction of Debaltseve – 10 attacks;
• In the Pervomaisk direction – 9 attacks;
• In the district of Hranitne – 2 attacks.  

In the district of Yasynuvatathe arrival of refill units for the formations of Russian-terrorist troops leading battles near Avdiivka and the airport in Donetsk was recorded. At the moment, the completion of the replenishment of about 600 militants – mostly from among the mercenaries from Russia, armed with light small arms, continues. The process of forming units out of the arriving manpower is ongoing.

With the onset of cold weather, in some units of the “DNR” mass desertion cases are gaining momentum as well as the spontaneous retreat of units at the “front.” In particular, the most widespread “willful abandonment of position” was found amongst the bandit groups operating in the districts of Donetsk, Horlivka, Telmanove, Novoazovsk. The leadership of the “DNR” are taking measures to rescue the situation by threatening severe punishment for such cases.

The transfer of enemy artillery north of Luhansk District continues. The arrival in Luhansk’s Kamyanobridskyi District of two divisions (24 guns) of cannon artillery was recorded. According to preliminary data, one of the divisions will continue to be deployed to the area of Alchevsk, the second – in the area of the village of Stanytsia Luhanska.

Representatives of the Russian command initiated an investigation into the mass theft of local militants’ material and technical needs, received in the form of “aid” from Russia. In particular, a number of investigations have been launched after the incident when several tons of diesel fuel were removed from the territory of the supply point in Snizhne and sold to private individuals. Such facts are recorded on almost all the bases and settlements in the occupied territories that supply Donbas. Russian command is demanding that the management of the “DNR” and “LNR” take urgent action to stop the mass thefts.

The deployment and use of additional artillery units south of Donetsk (district Dokuchajevsk and Olenivka) have demonstrated a lack of coordination and cooperation between the terrorists’ units and Russian forces. In particular, in the course of firing at an advanced unit of Ukrainian troops, insurgents’ point control and firing correction had incorrectly identified the emplacements of one artillery battalion of Ukrainian troops, which opened fire to suppress and destroy. As a result, a blow was dealt to their positions, one of the units of the Russian-terrorist troops suffered losses.

Source: Dmitry Tymchuk FB

Posted in Dmitry Tymchuk, English, English News, South&Eastern Ukraine, War in Donbas | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment