Tag: Donbass

Dmitry Tymchuk– On the Infiltration of Provocateurs and Saboteurs into Ukraine

Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

Concerning reports of provocateurs and saboteurs infiltrating into the territory of Ukraine

1. Antratsyt, Donetsk Region

Concerning yesterday’s sightings of KaMAZ trucks transporting extremists with Russian flags, in the town of Antratsyt [Donetsk Region]. Information about possible attempts of saboteurs to cross the border in this area was received by appropriate Ukrainian state authorities on the morning of May 5, 2014. Rapid measures were taken to increase security at the state border, involving additional forces of the State Border Guard Service, the Security Service of Ukraine [SBU], and the Armed Forces of Ukraine. There is no record of any motor transport columns carrying groups of people crossing the state border.

Special services and law enforcement authorities are currently investigating the situation. It is possible that the ‘sighting’ was organized by Donbass-based extremists in order to imitate a ‘breach of the border’ by extremists from Russia.

2. Border with Transnistria

According to our information, up to 250 ‘Putin’s tourists’ and saboteurs were transported to the territory of Ukraine from Transnistria over the past 3 days. Their task is to continue destabilizing the situation in the southern regions of our country. The planned peak of this destabilization is May 9th [Victory Day].

Previously, these individuals had arrived to Transnistria from Russia, coordinated by officers of the Russian Federal Security Service [FSB]. Information Resistance made numerous reports of this during March-April 2014. Currently, [Ukrainian] special services are taking measures to neutralize these extremist groups.

3. Crimea

Extremists coordinated by Russian special services continue arriving in Odessa from Crimea.

Due to the strict entry regulations ensured at the administrative border of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea by the forces of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, saboteurs and provocateurs adopted a new tactic. Ukrainian citizens residing in Crimea, being hired by Russian special services, travel to the mainland individually or in small groups, posing as peaceful citizens. Following that, they closely cooperate with local separatists and receive weapons after their arrival on-site.

Ukrainian special services are working to neutralize these saboteurs as well.

Dmitry Tymchuk: Events 6th of May

Brothers and sisters, the 6th of May.

The bad:

1. Thehead of SBU, V. Nalyvaichenko, said that the situation in the Donbass is complicated because the locals are under the influence of serious disinformation and do not trust the Interior Ministry, Security Service and the Ministry of Defense.

So here is a question: what did structures of Ukraine did to fight the powerful propaganda machine from Russia for the past 2 months? Where do we start with our counter-propaganda? Who is responsible for our information policy and IPSO (informational-psychological operations) at headquarters of ATO? Where is the coordinating agency of informational resistance, which was supposed to be created under the National Security Council? Many questions and zero answers.

Yes, it’s true that both state structures and among the citizens there are plenty of patriots who are doing this work [information and counter-propaganda] out of sheer enthusiasm. That’s a good thing. But informational resistance against Russian propaganda is a task primarily for the state with all its resources. It is impossible to win a real war while the war is being lost in the minds of people of the East.

2 . M.Koval the Defense Minister says that the government does not want to engage in a military confrontation with civilians of Donbass, so anti-terrorist operation is progressing slowly .

I agree with Mr Koval. Destroyed territory – is not an option. We’re not Russian troops in the Caucasus.

But I will repeat again – government finally somehow allowed the use of weapons during the active stages of ATO. Bless them. But it is not enough – please allow the military to open fire defending attacks on them and their protected objects. They can not fight armed terrorists with prayers and hymns.

3 . Russia sees no point in new negotiations with Ukraine if the Russian supported terrorists are not at the table.
I think for a start we need to ask Russia to share their great experience in conflict resolution, for example – the Caucasus.

And we will try in this list of civilian murders, destruction of entire communities and other bloody crimes, to find at least one allusion to the Russian desire to solve similar situation at the negotiating table.

The good:

1. The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine recommended that Acting President Oleksandr Turchynov appoint a person responsible for managing the anti-terrorist operation, as part of coordinating the security and defense authorities in the course of the ATO.

The coordination of security forces in the ATO – is a sore point operations. It is vital to solve this problem.

But I do not quite understand the need for another officer? Why can’t the commander of ATO provide such coordination – it is his direct responsibility, isn’t? And they will probably recommend five deputies each one for separate power structure. And then the decisions will be made during the debates. I do not think that such a system will be an efficient and correct for the situation .

Let’s wait and see how this is going to work, it is better than nothing. At least the problem has been noticed and someone is doing something about it.

Ukrainos_kariuomene-807x360

2 . Sergey Chebotar, the Deputy Interior Ministry participated at the press conference in Odessa regarding the tragic events of May the 2nd.

He informed that the head of the Chief Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs [in Odessa], as well as three of his deputies, had been dismissed. 160 people who participated in the riots on both sides were detained. From now on all people in masks will be detained. Quite a few of Interior Ministry’s personnel were sacked for cowardice.

The sacking business would be a lot more difficult in the East. According to Information resistance data, few police chiefs were paid to turn in their allegedly captured offices and departments. The amounts of $100.000 were mentioned.

I am appealing to  Mr. Avakov, our Interior Minister. To be honest, after complete stagnation of police departments ( I mean ignoring the problems with the local security forces in the East and South) I have no particular reason to trust you. But the current steps do inspire my confidence – I hope not only me, but many of my countrymen . If you will finish to clean the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the benefit – I will be the first raise my hat to you and ask to shake your hand.

3 . All structures of Maidan Self-defense will now operate under the Interior Ministry, the National Guard and Army. This decision was made by Self Defense Council, chaired by  A.Parubiy, the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council.

This is at last a decent answer to Moscow’s moans and wails about the disarmament of illegal armed groups in Kiev under the Geneva Agreement.

Well, Mr. Putin, now it’s your turn to show how you can keep your word. We have no illusions and we expect another avalanche of lies and excuses from Moscow. So let the world for the nth time see the true face of Kremlin.

Dmitry Tymchuk: Events in Odessa, May 2, 2014

Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

According to Information Resistance, yesterday’s provocations in Odessa, which caused numerous casualties, were the result of an operation conducted and coordinated by Russia.

From the beginning of March until the end of April 2014, we noted the arrival of Russian Armed Forces units and those of the Main Intelligence Directorate [GRU of the General Staff of Russian Armed Forces], as well as representatives of Russian Cossacks and ultra-nationalist organizations on the territory of Transnistria.

Since mid-April, our sources in the Republic of Moldova recorded the arrival of Russian groups with young athletic men in Chisinau, departing further into the territory of Transnistria. They were accompanied by Russian FSB operatives.

As a result, by the beginning of May, about 1,700 Russian servicemen and about 2,200 representatives of various Russian organizations (mostly, the Cossacks) coordinated by the FSB were located in Transnistria. Of the total number of Russian troops, about 800 people are represented by GRU units of the General Staff.

We relayed this information during the months of March and April in the Information Resistance reports.

According to our data, starting from the end of April, subversive and reconnaissance groups of Russian Spetsnaz and groups of instigators deployed to the territory of Ukraine, were tasked to destabilize the situation in southern Ukraine in conjunction with local pro-Russian separatists. And first of all–in Odessa.

The active phase of the operation aimed to capture the local [participating] public authorities , and was scheduled for May 9–when under the ideological slogans of Victory Day, an opportunity to initiate the activity of pro-Russian sympathizers among the local population was present. After achieving tactical successes in Odessa, similar actions by incoming ‘Putin’s tourists’ were to be initiated in Mykolayiv and Kherson.

However, the beginning of the active phase of the ATO in Slavyansk made ​​Russian leadership force events in southern Ukraine, in order to compel Ukrainian security forces to urgently deploy resources and means from Donbass. We observed the tragic result of this monstrous provocation yesterday in Odessa.

Chronicles of Slavyansk: May 2nd, 2014

By Dmitry Tymchuk, translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

9:30 PM EEST

A group of armed extremists has attacked, using small arms, the servicemen of the 95th Separate Airmobile Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the vicinity of the village of Andriyivka near Slavyansk, the Defense Ministry announced tonight.

“A violent combat confrontation is underway. At the present moment, two Ukrainian servicemen are confirmed dead,’ the Ministry noted.

Earlier, extremists attempted to prevent the execution of paratroopers’ assigned tasks by blocking the bridge.

At the same time, armed extremists used their usual tactics of terrorist formations–using local local residents, including women, to block [the pathway].

However, according to data reported to Ukrainian Pravda by an informed source, the Ukrainian military were surrounded by armed separatists; they have taken a defensive perimeter and are ‘ready to stand until the very end.’

Source: Pravda.com.ua

8:23 PM EEST

According to ‘InfoResist’ data from the field, in areas of Slavyansk controlled by mutineers, personal transport of locals is being hastily expropriated to stage a suspected break through out of besieged city.

Subversives received special instructions to avoid armed clashes while crossing the state border.

Pro-Russian terrorists in Donbass have been given a full opportunity to confront Ukrainian special forces themselves, without the active support of subversive and reconnaissance groups of the Russian Specnaz.

7:50 PM EEST

Temporary halt in activities by Ukrainian security forces was caused by negotiations with extremists regarding the release of OSCE representatives captured [in Slavyansk last Friday].

Special ops divisions engaged in the operation are fully prepared to continue operations.

5:15 PM EEST

The SBU has established the identity of ‘Abwehr’, whom I had mentioned this morning (he was supposed to take over command from ‘Strelok’).

According to information from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the subversive who went under the call-sign of Abwehr is a citizen of Russia (he also has a Ukrainian passport), Sergey Anatoliyevych Zdryliuk.

Born June 23, 1972 in Vinnytsia Region. Resided in Crimea for a long time. There he went through a special training course in a Russian camp, and on April 12, 2014, he came with Strelok to Donetsk Region to take part in subversive operations.

As a member of a group in charge of intelligence and subversion, he attacked SBU agents on April 13. During this attack, one SBU agent was killed and three were wounded.

5:05 PM EEST

On the possibility of Aksyonov‘s gangs arrival to Donbass from Crimea.

According to the ‘InfoResist’, both of the roads connecting Crimea with mainland Ukraine are currently under full control by the units of State Border Service of Ukraine and the Armed Forces of Ukraine at the administrative border of the ARC [Autonomous Republic of Crimea].

Units of [Ukrainian] security forces in the area are in full combat readiness.

Ukrainian border control servicemen have taken measures to prevent the entry of armed individuals from Crimea to the mainland. According to our sources at the State Border Service, the infiltration of militant units from Crimea is out of the question.

Earlier, Putin’s puppet in Crimea by the name of [Sergey] Aksyonov declared about the possible arrival of militants from Crimea to provide ‘assistance’ to pro-Russian separatists in Slavyansk. Also, a video message by the so-called ‘Crimean militia’ was distributed, in which certain individuals in camouflage announced that ‘today, two battalions of Crimea militia were advancing to the southeastern Ukraine.’

1:33 PM EEST

Shortly after our explanation of reasons behind the Russian delegation’s ‘disappearance’ in Donetsk region, Mr. Lukin ‘resurfaced.’

Earlier, after our report about a human shield being organized for terrorists by self-proclaimed mayor Vyacheslav Ponomarev of Slavyansk , ‘mayor’ urgently delivered a video message, in which he called upon the Slavyansk residents to stay home.

We cannot help but to express our satisfaction with such prompt reaction by Russia. We recommend that they keep up the good work.

12:30 PM EEST

According to operational data from ‘InfoResist’, a charter flight with a Russian delegation headed by Vladimir Lukin, which left for Ukraine without issuing a notice to Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, landed around 10:00 AM EEST in Donetsk airport.

Currently, as stated by Russian President’s Press secretary Dmitry Peskov, ‘the Russian side can’t yet establish communication with Lukin.’

According to our data, the ‘disappearance’ of Mr. Lukin Russian delegation is talking about is actually a provocation Kremlin planned in advance.

11:30 AM EEST

According to operational data from ‘InfoResist”, terrorists attempted to capture/seize the ‘Moscow-Mariupol’ passenger train.

In particular, an attempt was made to seize a train during its stop in Slavyansk (with train arrival in Slavyansk at 8:06 AM EEST).

Anti-terrorist units have thwarted the scenario of terrorists.

There are no casualties or wounded people.

According to operational data of the ‘InfoResist’, the self-proclaimed mayor of Slavyansk, Vyacheslav Ponomarev, personally organizes the use of civilians in the streets of Slavyansk to ‘protect’ the town from Ukrainian security forces.

The goal is to provide terrorists with a human shield that primarily consists of women and children.

Interestingly enough, our data shows that a few days ago Ponomarev himself arranged for his family to leave the Donbass area. Ukrainian law enforcement have information about their whereabouts.

11:00 AM EEST

According to operational data of the ‘InfoResist’, during the transfer of authority from the Russian subversive group commander ‘Arrow’ in Slavyansk to the Russian subversive ‘Abwehr’ located in Horlivka [Donetsk region], problems arose.

‘Abwehr’ refused to accept the command. This subversive is currently trying to leave the city of Horlivka.

Ukrainian troops are taking appropriate measures to arrest him.

10:50 AM EEST

According to operational data from ‘InfoResist’, currently 2 Mi-24 helicopters of Ukrainian special forces were shot down from MANPADS.

One Mi-8 helicopter was shot at from small arms, but managed to land.

Also, terrorists are actively using civilian population as a shield in Slavyansk.

10:45 AM EEST

According to field data from ‘InfoResist’, as we reported yesterday, a senior representative of Putin arrives in Ukraine–Vladimir Lukin, the former Commissioner for Human Rights in the Russian Federation until March 2014.

A number of Moscow representatives arrive to Donetsk on a charter flight with him.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry hasn’t been notified about the arrival of the delegation.

According to our data, the task of the delegation is to make loud accusatory statements over ‘gross violations of human rights’” by the Ukrainian authorities and security forces in eastern Ukraine.

Vladimir Lukin was the representative of Putin who arrived in Kiev on February 20, 2014 to participate in talks between Yanukovych and Maidan as a mediator from the Russian Federation. He became the sole representative of the parties who refused to sign an agreement between Yanukovych and opposition (in ‘non-compliance’ of which Moscow is presently blames the current Ukrainian authorities).

10:30 AM EEST

According to operational data from ‘InfoResist’, terrorists in Slavyansk are still prepared  to implement a provocation with possible loss of life, the planning of which we reported yesterday.

Its purpose is to simulate ‘atrocities’ by Ukrainian security forces. (We do not yet have any information regarding the ‘association’ of the alleged provocation representatives acting on behalf of the ‘Right Sector’ as planned yesterday).

Russian journalists are urgently gathered by terrorist leaders in an area, while they are still controlled by pro-Russian separatists.

Ukrainian troops still can not guarantee that they will thwart the provocation.

10:10 AM EEST

According to operational data from ‘InfoResist’, the commander of Russian diversives ‘Shooter’ with a group of subordinates intends to breakthrough from the Slavyansk.

Local separatists were notified that they should not particularly count on the Russian intervention.

Terrorist headquarters in Slavyansk is currently being disbanded – similar structure is organized in Horlivka. The command was transferred to a subversive with a callsign ‘Abwehr.’

10:00 AM EEST

According to operational data from ‘InfoResist’, special forces in Slavyansk closed the ‘ring’ around the main forces of terrorists.

There are reports that Russian subversives operating in the city and being the ‘core’ of the terrorist forces, intend to the fight off the encirclement on the border with Russia. Local separatists in this case will solve their own problems.

Ukrainian troops are taking measures to prevent the breakout.

8:00 AM EEST

According to ‘InfoResist’ data from the field, in areas of Slavyansk controlled by mutineers, personal transport of locals is being hastily expropriated to stage a suspected break through out of besieged city.

Also we have noticed signs of panic between petty criminals participating in terrorist activity in Slavyansk. These paid criminals it seems are not prepared to fight against Ukrainian military force for the ‘big ideas from Moscow’.

7:00 AM EEST

According to ‘InfoResist’ data, Ukrainian forces are controlling the majority of Slavyansk while continuing the active phase of anti-terrorist operation. At this moment, checkpoints of terrorists are pulled apart and the television center of the city is under control.

Terrorists are trying to escape. The main sources of resistance are located in the southeastern part of the city.

During the operation, a Mi-24 helicopter used by Ukrainian special forces, has been shot down by terrorists with two shots from MANPADS (the second helicopter that worked in pairs managed to safely retrieve).

Events of April 23th

dmitry_tymchukDmitry Tymchuk, translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

Brothers and sisters,
Here’s the Summary for April 23, 2014

The bad news:

1. The Russian Foreign Ministry has announced that Ukraine and the U.S. are “distorting the Geneva agreement,” as in they must disarm “Right Sector” and not the separatists. Also, Moscow calls on Kyiv to withdraw its troops from the eastern regions of Ukraine (even though Moscow itself says that Russian troops can be deployed on Russian territory in any location, and in any numbers it wants).

We’ve heard these fables before. What’s worse is that today, Lavrov [Russian Foreign Minister] began to threaten a Russian invasion in eastern Ukraine.

Even though a Russian military invasion has essentially been underway for two months already, we lost Crimea as a result [of it]. Today, Moscow wants to use the same scenario to chop off eastern Ukraine, and the south in the bargain. It’s not the first day that Russian Spetsnaz and Cossack gangs, managed by Putin have been running around Donbas.

Therefore, Lavrov’s threat – it is rather a statement of fact.

2. People begin to pull me up as soon as I admit to any criticism of [our] military leadership. I totally agree, at this moment we shouldn’t criticize the government and the army. But when some of the processes they manage go beyond reason, I can’t restrain myself.

Speaking of which – let’s talk about the “division” procedure for military leadership bonuses. The Head of the Finance Department of the Ministry of Defense Lt.-Gen. Ivan Marko gave a document to the Defense Minister to sign (with the petition the Chief of Staff), which he happily signed. 20 million UAH [USD 1.732 million] went to awards for “Spring Rain” military exercises. Ukrainian Ground Forces received 2.971 million UAH [USD 257,229] of this, the Air Force received 1.717 million UAH [USD 148,658] respectively, and the operational commands received some change.

But the General Staff got the fattest piece – 9.640 million UAH [USD 834,631]!

Brothers, well, this is beastliness. The General Staff did not lift a finger during the withdrawal of troops from Crimea. Now, if our servicemen in eastern Ukraine do open fire in self-defense, they do so against the wishes of the General Staff, and under the responsibility of commanders on the ground. During the “Spring Rain” military exercises, the planes were crashing and tanks exploded. Mobilization, which the General Staff is responsible for, has turned into a sad circus.

Every second of these strategists should be put on trial, and they give themselves bonuses. Incidentally, they are raising money for the army among ordinary citizens meanwhile – they are saying that the military budget is not enough. How can this be?

3. Russian militaries are mining the border of Crimea with mainland Ukraine. They should have set a grate along the coast of Crimea that says, “Do not feed the occupiers.”

Overall, if Russia were smart, they would have mined all their border areas, not the occupied peninsula. So that its rabid dogs did not get scattered all over the world.

The good news:

1. At the moment, we have nothing over which to criticize the course of the anti-terrorist operation (ATO). Our current assessment of the situation showed that actions by security forces within the past 24 hours have become quite organized. On the surface, this is just the tip of the iceberg in the form of ongoing work.

I understand that these words will incur the wrath of many skeptics of the ATO. At the moment, their skepticism is fully justified. But I would suggest that they do not rush their judgments. If there is something to criticize – we will not force ourselves to wait.

Today, the special forces part of the Interior Ministry freed the Sviatohorsk, Donetsk oblast [region] from an armed separatist group. Hopefully, this is the first sign of more good things to come.

2. Since Monday, April 21 we, the Information Resistance group, have noted the sharp decrease in the number of representatives of the GRU of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces in the territory of settlements in the Donetsk oblast occupied by extremists.

At this moment, we are not able to say whether this is due to their exfiltration (withdrawal to the Russian territory) or their transfer to other Donbas raions [districts]. Let’s hope it’s the former. In any case, we are monitoring the situation.

3. Donetsk oblast Governor Serhiy Taruta urged mayors and raion heads to explain the implications of a “People’s Republic of Donetsk” to ordinary citizens.

Simply stated, “In two months, no one will pay your pensions, and you will be able get them from nowhere… Miners will not receive their wages because there will be no place to which to sell coal, and all benefit recipients like mothers with children, as well as the disabled, will also have nowhere from which to get any money.”

His words went into the ears of the kids holding Russian flags.

Regarding the Anti-terrorist operation

Since April 18th, all coordinators of the IS group (“Informational Shield”) are out in the regions of the country. We plan to release a general review later tonite. Here is a quote from the said review regarding Anti terrorist operation (ATO).

ATO

Anti terrorist operation has not yet been manifested as it should have and it seems it has lost its momentum.
During the first stages of the operation, military forces were issued with restraints by Ukrainian government (a guarantee to avoid civilian casualties, even if they are armed and hostile, and their activity can be deemed as terrorism). These restraints were a serious hamper to successful progress of an ATO. Even more so, after Geneva agreement, these restraints became a strict condition.

The problem with the military forces is the ban of destructive arms use. One of a very few exceptions in Mariupol, where a unit of National Guard resisted an armed attack on military unit. In reality soldiers are only allowed the use weapons on occasions provided by Ukrainian law N 877-VII (877-18) changed Crew and Patrol statute. And even on those occasions the use of weaponry can only be non-destructive.

There are reported incidents of commanders ordering troops to sign against destructive weapon application. This obviously had a very negative effect on the course of events and in general the effectiveness of military forces suffered greatly.

Furthermore, particularly after Geneva agreement, ATO has become an OS(operation stabilize), according to Western terminology. Main goals being: containment of settlements and districts with high concentration of mutineers, crewing of containment check points, area patrols. Main forces – units of Ukrainian military.

For reasons unknown to us, military command did not implement the required measures for OS. At the same time, military units and their commanders exhibit their readiness for such actions.

Conclusions

For the Ukrainian military successful implementation of ATO should be a simple task. There is plenty of experience from participation in similar campaigns. For example appearance in KFOR and Multi-National Force – Iraq (MNF–I).
Every contingent had a review about its results with recommendations for techniques of organizing further activity. Military command just need to study the reviews and set approximate guidelines for Ukrainian military forces actions in Donbass.

But most important is setting a clear order regarding employment of military forces with precise tasks and targets for the operation. And also an order for interaction between Ukrainian forces and other military groups or special forces.