By Dmitry Tymchuk, Coordinator, Information Resistance
09.04.2014 Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine
Operational data from the Information Resistance group:
At the same time as they are regrouping their forces, Ukrainian troops strike at clusters of manpower and materiel.
Clashes occurred in the areas of the settlements of Donetsk, Gorlivka, Stukalova Balka, Starobesheve, Amvrosiivka. Activity of the Russian-terrorist troops celebrated in Stanitsa-Luhansk raion [district] in Luhansk Oblast [region].
During the night, at least 100 Russian soldiers and terrorists were killed as a result of the actions of Ukrainian troops.
A reduction in the activity of shelling by occupational grouping of Russian-terrorist forces, but increased the number of fire blows dealt to the territory of Russia.
Mortar and MLRS [multiple launch rocket system] BM-21 Grad were fired on the positions of Ukrainian troops near Debaltseve, Nikopol, Faschivka, Krasna Talivka, Nova Hreblya.
From the territory of the Russian Federation, the positions of Ukrainian troops were struck in the districts of Vesela Hora,Dmitrivka, Peremoha, Valuiske. The shelling was carried out with the use of MLRS BM-30 Smerch. In the area of the settlement of Pobeda MLRS “Smerch” position of Ukrainian troops fired three times.
1. Russian occupiers clearly set Mariupol as their next target. Today, a battle took place under Shyrokyno. But it was – regular combat reconnaissance.
We don’t yet know how much blood will be spilled to defend Mariupol. According to our data, the Ukrainian command is also gathering a formidable force around the city – in fact, rather than just in word. The residents of Mariupol are also ready to stand and defend their city with their lives. This gives us hope that the tricolor plague will not pass [through].
At the same time, there is a threat of an active offense of Russian terrorist troops, even in the nearest hours. The enemy may try to capture as much territory as possible before any peace talks take place – that will be the area that Putin will try to turn into a “new Transnistria” in Donbas.
Grad near Mariupol:
2. While the Kremlin is going on about its “plan for peace,” and fighting continues in Donbas, the Russians are busy deploying ever more new units to Ukraine. A substantial reserve force is on standby.
Today, the National Security and Defense Council [RNBO of Ukraine] reported 14 battalion task forces and nearly 1,000 pieces of military equipment in the borderland areas of Russia adjacent to Ukraine.
According to our own data, the number of battalion task forces is higher; plus, there are reports of company task forces as well as sabotage reconnaissance groups. We do not wish to argue with the RNBO, but one thing is clear – Moscow certainly does not look in the mood for peace talks.
3. The unsavory resonance continues around the commander of the Prykarpattya territorial defense battalion, arrested for unauthorized departure from the ATO area. It becomes one of the many reasons [for soldiers] to express strong disapproval towards the military command, and to declare battlefield deserters to be heroes.
Personally, I am in no hurry to lock horns with anyone about this situation, and other similar ones. Let us remember that everyone has their own version of the truth (and by the way, because of the abandonment by some units of their positions, our troops recently ended up in the “boiler” entrapments, which resulted in significant loss). To establish the true picture – is the task of the investigation. If someone is then in disagreement with its conclusions – then we can argue.
At the same time, justice cannot be selective – especially in wartime. If the battalion commander sits behind bars, there is a place there as well for those gentlemen in the ranks and positions higher who also abandoned their forces and ran, as well as those whose mistakes or inaction result in the deaths of our guys.
For example, today, the Azov Battalion informed [us] that the rashists destroyed the battalion’s fortified area and the border guards, because of “generals who spent two hours promising accurate artillery fire – but then did nothing.” Should the names of these generals be communicated to the Military Prosecutor’s office, and the situation examined under close public scrutiny? One general punished today can mean hundreds, if not thousands of lives saved tomorrow.
The good news:
1. President Petro Poroshenko, together with the leaders of the USA, Germany, France, the UK, and Italy, agreed to the draft of a peace plan that should be adopted on the level of the “trilateral contact group,” with the participation of the representatives of terrorist organizations.
Personally, I have little faith in the possibility of peaceful dialogue without damage to our interests. There is hope here, in the side note made by Poroshenko – if the negotiations fail, another option is on the table, one he described as “decisive action.”
Let us await further developments – hoping for the best but preparing for the worst.
2. NATO does not promise [Ukraine] military aid, but will offer no objections if separate Alliance Member countries help Ukraine. This was said today by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
This is a position meant to please both sides – neither exactly refusing help to Kyiv, nor provoking Moscow’s anger. But we can recall that very recently, European countries balked at the mere discussion of military aid, even defensive arms. With that in mind, this is definite progress.
Plus, NATO speaks of creating four trust funds for Ukraine. It is known that such trust funds are filled at the request of separate member-countries of the Alliance. This means that our diplomatic corps must work hard in order for these “piggy banks” to work. I hope they will succeed.
3. The leaders of prominent Western countries gathered at the current NATO summit in Wales were in general approval of the idea to strengthen sanctions against Russia. The decision to that effect should be taken tomorrow.
Further comments here are superfluous. And now, at the wakes of their soldiers who died in Donbas, Russian folks have to eat homegrown turnips instead of parmesan. If further sanctions hit Russia – it will only be a plus.
NATO Wales 2014 @NATOWales · 09.04.2014 Signatures on the NATO style Military Covenant secured by UK at #NATOSummitUK.
UK secures NATO style Military Covenant at #NATOSummitUK, strengthening support for our collective Armed Forces.
By Khrystyna Bondarenko, Chief Editor at Channel 5.ua
09.02.2014 Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine
[We are] alive.
The last Ukrainian checkpoint in the direction of Luhansk. A constant bombardment of Grads. In the morning, the alarm sounded – to battle. 15 km from us a convoy of heavy equipment with terrorists was moving. In the complete silence the sounds “chookh-chookh-chookh” [are heard] so clearly that the breath adapts itself to the rhythm.
It’s dark. [It’s] so dark that you can’t see your own feet. We have 20 minutes between the first and the second convoy to escape. The guys will take down the first one, but if there is a second aid [convoy] to the Separs [slang for “separatists”], it is not a done deal.
But we had nowhere to tear out of there to, as it turned out: to the right, there is a separsky checkpoint 4 km [from us], to the left is the territory which has already become foreign recently, straight ahead–Luhansk. We could go back, but there are no guarantees that our own troops won’t take us down there. Oh yeah, there was another option –walking in the green [forests]–funny, [we] dropped that one immediately.
We are waiting. We picked a trench for ourselves. “A coffin”– down into the ground, then into the depth and the concrete slab on top.
It’s scary to everyone. Without exceptions. The “Old One” [his call name] says that only people with mental disorders have no fear. [This] calms us down.
His men are without heavy equipment. A couple of Bucephalus [APCs]. But [they] will stand to the end. You can see it just by looking at them. These [types] won’t retreat. I’m proud of them. Scared for myself.
The portable radio plays all the time. In the green imager one can see the movements of the separov.
Adjustment, fire – with the AGS, then the BTR:
–The resulting report –Neutralized –All?
–One is crawling. Do you allow [me] to fire?
–Allowed
–Bu-bukh. And that’s it.
–Tomorrow the intelligence will go out about the bodies that were shot.
Meanwhile, the convoy of terrorists stopped. The patrol reports about two Urals [military trucks carrying] Grads. They are turning around. We’re f…..d, we all thought. But the commander calmly said: if it starts flying at us, you will see the white plumes in the sky, you [will] know where to run.
It flew!!! There are red plumes in the sky, they bombed to the left of us. Very close. The earth is shaking.
The Grads pounded. [They] huddled up and quickly left.
We are all sitting shell-shocked.
It dawns. Dawn is surreally beautiful here. They pour 100 grams [shots]. For the first time in 10 years I ask for a cigarette. One of the soldiers turns on the song “Come Back Alive” on his phone.
Tomorrow I’ll be in Kyiv already. And they will again be under fire. Such austere, tired and very courageous [men]. After this night we became almost family. “Old One,” “Cook,” “Snake,” “Trumpet,” “Santa,” “Frenchman,” “Phil.” Let them stay safe. Besides each other, no one else will protect them in this hot mess…
P.S.: For more about these guys, wait for the second series of the documentary film “Ukraine: Surviving In the Fire” on Channel 5.
By Nataliya Mykytyuk, for Patriot Defence
09.04.2014 Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine
A lot has been written about the importance of soldiers and medical instructors to not only have hemostatic kits, tourniquets CAT (Combat Application Tourniquet), Israeli bandages and so on, but also to be able to use it all!
So once again we emphasize that individual first aid kits are issued to those fighters who have been gone through the basic training !!!!
With the help of Lily Boyko, for the soldiers of the 80th and 24th battalions, training was conducted with the instructors of Patriot Defence: IFAK + Combat Lifesaver Training for Ukraine and American doctors (with years of experience in disaster medicine) – George, Sergey, Lyonya, Patrick – thank you !!!!
For 4 days (from August 25 to 28) of intense training on the ground, there were about 500 soldiers and medical instructors (including about 140 from the 24th).
It was something incredible! And our sniper and other fighters who had kits went to war with much knowledge of tactical medicine.
Please support the heroic efforts of Patriot Defence volunteers working to get Improved First Aid Kits and professional NATO combat medical training into the hands of Ukrainian soldiers to save lives.
By U.S. Embassy in Kyiv
09.04.2014 Re-posted to Voices of Ukraine
The Ukrainian government organized a display of military equipment captured in fighting in eastern Ukraine, much of which was reportedly supplied from Russia. All foreign military attachés accredited to Kyiv were invited to view the equipment.
(Can you name what they are?):
Rocket propelled grenade launch tubes RPG-18: “Mukha” (Russian) short-range, disposable light anti-tank rocket launcher. RPG-22: antitank disposable grenade launcher RPG-26: “Aglen” is a disposable anti-tank rocket launcher developed by the Soviet Union. It fires a single-stage rocket with jack-knife fins, which unfold after launch. The rocket carries a 72.5 millimeter diameter high explosive anti-tank single shaped charge warhead capable of penetrating 440 millimeters of armor, one meter of reinforced concrete or one and a half meters of brickwork. It has a maximum effective range of around 250 meters.
9K111 Fagot (Russian: 9K111 «Фагот»; English meaning of the word: “bassoon”) is a SACLOS wire-guided anti-tank missile system of the Soviet Union. “9M111” is the GRAU designation of the missile. Its NATO reporting name is AT-4 Spigot.
Voices of Ukraine 