Voices of Ukraine

Dmitry Tymchuk, Coordinator, Information Resistance
09.03.2014
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

Brothers and sisters!

Here’s the Summary for September 3, 2014 (for previous summary, please see Summary for September 2, 2014).

The bad news:

1. The Ukrainian troops are challenged with a task which they weren’t used to during the period of the ATO [anti-terrorism operation]: positional defense.

This entire time we’ve had a sort of semi-guerrilla war, in which we bet on maneuvers and raids. It worked while mostly local terrorists and Russian mercenaries fought against our forces. But now, when Donbas has suddenly ended up full of Russian regular troops, the main task of our command is to save their units from the boilers that have formed, the regrouping of forces, and withdrawal into defense – in order to then prepare an offensive.

The bad news is that the Russian-terrorist troops will take advantage of this operative pause in order to reinforce their positions: plus the Russians have more than enough reserve troops at the border. Of course, we can still hope for a “peaceful settlement,” which, it seems, is what the Ukrainian government is counting on – but it is quite doubtful whether the conditions of the terrorists turn out to be acceptable.

Under these conditions, the number of currently mobilized soldiers and volunteers is definitely insufficient for further action. Whereas, putting thousands of newly mobilized servicemen under the gun – is not the best political move before the elections. How Ukrainian leadership will operate under these conditions – is anyone’s guess.

2. A strange picture is forming. Putin, now and then, throws around extraordinary statements, and Peskov runs around after him explaining that Putin has been misunderstood. So it was with his “taking Kyiv within two weeks,” and today with his statement about the “agreement on a permanent ceasefire in Donbas.”

I understand that his joy over the occupation of Crimea made irrevocable changes to Putin’s psyche – a kind of aphasia. His mental mechanisms for language are evidently violated – he clearly and distinctly says one thing, but meanwhile he means something completely opposite.

Kremlin guys, please urgently get your boss a sensible neurolinguist. I feel sorry for the guy. And it remains a mystery how Peskov understands what Putin wanted to say. Looks like the bastard learned to read his master’s thoughts. Later Putin spoke of his “peace plan:” to withdraw Ukrainian troops, to cease fire, to not in any way interfere with the terrorists under the cover of Russian troops from settling on occupied territories. In short, Putin’s plan is a clear plan to deprive Ukraine of Donbas and turn the latter into a new Transnistria. Which is what we have said many times.

“State border of the republic of novorossiya”

3. Throughout the past three days we, the Information Resistance group, have been trying to find at least a hint of informational-psychological action (actions, operations, it makes no difference) of our profiling structures to deliver to the Russian soldiers in Ukraine and Russian society information on the status of the occupants. Alas, to no avail. Obviously, even if such actions are carried out (we have had quite a powerful informational-psychological operations structure within the Ministry of Defense since the beginning of March), they are very secretive. I would say, too much so.

Meanwhile we shouldn’t underestimate the actions aimed to demoralize the enemy and society of the opposing country. It is an integral part of all modern military operations.

The bottom line is that Russian troops invading Ukraine are criminals not only from the point of view of international law, but in fact Russian as well. As is known, after the annexation of Crimea, the decision of the Russian Federation Council to send troops into Ukraine was cancelled. Therefore, there is no legal justification for the current location of Russian troops in Donbas at all. I am convinced that nobody will ever be able to find written orders to invade – the Russian KGB leadership will take care of that.

In practice this means that the Russian soldiers will never receive the status of combatants, neither social ‘bonuses,’ in the case of the Russian occupier’s injury or death, and their families shouldn’t even dream of any kind of state pensions.

Esteemed Russian aggressors, your Head Commander has set you up stupidly, they won’t hang little medals around your necks for Donbas like they did for Crimea. On the contrary: should Putin’s mood or the government in Russia change, you will become war criminals in your own country.

Communicating this simple and enlightened thought to the Russians is needed.

The good news: 

1. The Cabinet of Ministers reported today: Ukraine is launching a national project, “The Wall,” to strengthen the border with Russia. A wall with barbed wire will stand 2 meters high along the entire border with the Russian Federation, with electrical currents running through some areas. The territory near the wall will be mined and ensured with protective trenches.

It’s a good decision. Only, they should encourage this project to be converted from a national one into an international one, with the involvement of all of Russia’s neighbors. To surround Putin’s empire with barbed wire would be the right step. Animals should be caged.

2. The government begins work on the new Military doctrine. As Prime Minister A. Yatsenyuk noted, “with the clear definition of who is the aggressor and who is a threat. In this new defense doctrine, Russia should be recognized as an aggressor state and the main and only state that threatens our territorial integrity and national security.”

I applaud this – it’s long overdue. Just allow me a humble remark from the gallery: it’s worth it to start to develop a new National Security and Defense strategy, as the one adopted under Yanukovych in 2012 is complete pornography. And then take on the Military Doctrine, which must be based on the conceptual framework outlined in the Strategy. Of course, I do not insist, but it should be according to the logic of the process of preparing such documents. We should slowly get out of the habit of putting the cart before the horse.

3. The Parliamentary Committee on Legislative Support of Law Enforcement activities recommended that the Verkhovna Rada [Ukrainian Parliament] pass bill №4262, which provides a temporary termination of Ukrainian citizenship. This is for those who were convicted of crimes against national security (to deny citizenship is prohibited by the Constitution, but to temporarily suspend it – not a problem).

This is, as I understand it, a knight’s move. A stateless person can neither hold posts, nor dispose of property, and are even deprived of the right to vote. So, condemn every Regional [Party of Regionals member] and Communist longing for Russia to 90 years of suspension of citizenship, and the matter is closed. You say they won’t live that long? Well, gentlemen, this is not our problem. Let them long.

Source: Dmitry Tymchuk FB

By Dmitry Tymchuk, Coordinator, Information Resistance
09.02.2014
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

Operational data from the Information Resistance group:

The situation in the zone of military operations in the Donbas region remains extremely difficult. As a result of the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops as part of the re-grouping, Russian-terrorist troops took control of virtually all of the South region, further shifting units in the district of Luhansk and pursuing an offensive north of the Luhansk region.

At the same time the enemy seeks to take control of territory in the Donetsk Oblast [region] of the settlements from Donetsk to Mariupol. There is a transfer of enemy units towards the settlement of Volnovaha.

Active clashes [intense fighting] reported in the areas of the settlements of Debaltseve, Stukalova Balka, Starobesheve, Amvrosiivka.

Last night the Ukrainian troops were fired at more than 20 times. From artillery and mortar fire near the village of Krasny Yar, Vesela Hora, Stanitsa Luhansk. From a BM-30 Smerch positions near the village of Pobeda were shelled.

From the territory of Russia the BM-21 Grad [multiple launch rocket system] shot at Ukrainian security forces roadblocks near the village of Makarovo.

Source: Dmitry Tymchuk FB

* * *

By Dmitry Tymchuk, Coordinator, Information Resistance
09.02.2014
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

About the arrangements of the Presidents of Ukraine and Russia, Poroshenko and Putin, “on a permanent ceasefire in Donbas” – two points:

1. How can one believe Putin, who literally just a couple of days ago was talking about a corridor for the Ukrainian military withdrawal from Ilovaisk that ended in a massacre? We understand that in the case of Ilovaisk, Putin did no more than play the peacemaker. However, if his words are to be taken at face value (and, obviously, the Kremlin is counting on this), then it turns out that Putin has no influence on events in the Donbas. What can you negotiate with him about?

It is clear that any agreement with Russia is possible only after its acceptance of responsibility for the events in Donbas and its introduction of troops into Ukraine. Without this condition, all of Putin’s promises are nothing more than hot air.

2. If suddenly the miracle happens, Putin for the first time in my life would not be a liar, and Russian troops will cease offensive actions against the Ukrainian army, it will only be an indication that Moscow proceeds to the stage of “legalization” of the DNR and the LNR [Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics] as puppet quasi-governmental formations under the control of Russia. Then the “permanent” cessation of military action on our part is the final act in the process of saying farewell to Donbas.

Simply put, if we are going to fight for Donbas, a truce can only be temporary. I would be happy to be wrong, but I do not see other options.

Source: Dmitry Tymchuk FB

Dmitry Tymchuk, Coordinator, Information Resistance
09.01.2014
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

Brothers and sisters!

Here’s the Summary for September 2, 2014 (for previous summary, please see Summary for September 1, 2014).

The bad news:

1. Our troops have left a number of settlements. We retreat. But I would not focus on the fact that the retreat is a loss. Much more important in this given situation is something else. If our command is really only withdrawing troops in order to prevent their falling into the boilers of being encircled and to regroup (and this is the official version) – it is not a tragedy, but the right solution, without which a further advance is not possible.

But is this [really] so, and does the command have adequate plans for further action – we will find out in the next few days. My personal opinion: is that there is, unfortunately, very little cause for optimism.

2. Just yesterday I was talking about the fact that Putin does not need Donbas as part of Ukraine (although at the talks in Minsk, the terrorists were crawling under the banner of some kind of “autonomy” for the DNR and LNR [Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics] within our country), and this, alas, unfortunately came true.

The Donetsk and Luhansk Kremlin’s puppets hastily forgot about their yesterday’s theses and are already in full cry that they don’t want to be part of Ukraine. This girlish inconsistency of the terrorists’ can be easily explained: it looks like they received new orders from Moscow, which has decided to continue masking its true plans. Thus, it is understood that Donbas in the form of an autonomy is not suitable to become a bridgehead for the further capture of the southern and eastern oblasts of Ukraine. For this, the Kremlin needs another Transnistria totally under its control.

It is another reason to believe that it is only possible to sit down at the negotiations table with the terrorists and Russians only by having made peace with Moscow’s occupation of Ukraine. The only benefit of these negotiations can only be in prisoner exchange.

The good news:

1. It is becoming clear to our troops that the Russian troops are incomparably better prepared for battle than terrorist groups, but it is possible (and necessary) to fight them. If we do – to my deep regret – retreat and accept the loss, it does not at all mean that the enemy is invincible. For each step across Ukrainian soil – the occupants pay with their blood.

The Russian military hospital in Rostov no longer accepts the wounded – it is completely packed to capacity (taking into account that they have not been working with “vata” for a long time, but only regular Russian soldiers). The Russians are taking their wounded to Petersburg, but even there “there are no beds left.” Every time the aggressors have their arms and legs ripped off is yet another step to the enlightenment of the idiotic Russian society.

We are also receiving data that the Russian command sets the task to local authorities on the occupied territories of Donbas to allocate land for the burial of destroyed Russian soldiers. Putin is afraid to drive all the corpses back to Russia, there are too many of them – and the resonance with the “preemptively retired” Russian soldiers is escalating in Russia. Well, it’s a fate well worthy of an occupant: to be buried in an unmarked grave like a dog, and in a foreign land even.

Mr. Putin, please take your cannon fodder back. They shouldn’t pollute our land.

2. Russian occupants and terrorists tried to break through to Mariupol from Novoazovsk, however this attempt was repelled by border servicemen and the Azov Battalion.

For the fact that the attack was repelled – honor and praise for our guys. But there is no doubt that it was a battle for reconnaissance purposes and training for a serious advance (we have already reported that a simultaneous naval, or combined aerial-naval operation are possible). I hope we are really prepared for such enemy action.

3. The Kremlin for the second consecutive day [is sending out] heart-rending wails that Putin and his statement to the head of the EU Commission about “taking Kyiv within two weeks” were misunderstood. They say, cunning Barroso snatched the phrase out of context. They threaten to publish the audio recording of the conversation, but they don’t do it (just like in the movies: what a cunning person – offers a bribe but does not give it).

I personally have no doubt that Putin, drunk with impunity and invincibility, could blurt out such a thing. It’s in his spirit. But the Kremlin’s frantic attempts to justify it suggests that he still has some decency left. However we all know that the best way to make Russia stop in its advance is to give it a convincing kick in the teeth.

A Russian terrorist walks to the Novoazovsk border crossing point, in eastern Ukraine. Photograph: Sergei Grits/AP

Source: Dmitry Tymchuk FB
Photo source