Tag: Rada

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.

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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.

Events of April 22th

dmitry_tymchukBy Dmitry Tymchuk, translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

Brothers and sisters,
Here’s the Summary for April 22, 2014

The bad news:

1. Easter holidays brought no hope that Russia and the extremists pay any heed to the Geneva agreements. Extremist acts continue.

On the part of the security forces, sadly, we see no effective response, not even in blocking the loci of this infection. This problem must be addressed, and urgently. At this time, the flames of terrorism have engulfed Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. Unless urgent action is taken, the next few days will see the entire region covered in such “Sloviansk-s.”

Especially since we continue receiving information about the diversions and provocations being prepared. By the way, today a journalist voiced an accusation against Information Resistance group – alleging that we are instigators because we “forecasted” the diversion in Kramatorsk two hours before it happened. Supposedly, our messages are spreading panic among the public.

Personally, I think that’s bull. Panic is spread by the events, not by messages. What’s more, such events can be avoided by using incoming information appropriately. But alas, this issue is not for us to address.

2. The deadline for refusal of Russian citizenship for residents of Crimea expired on April 18, and will not be extended. This was reported today by Sergei Kalyuzhny, Deputy Head of the Federal Migration service of Russia.

Earlier, the self-proclaimed Crimean princelings (Putin’s henchmen) from the “government of Crimea” swore that this term would be extended. Clearly, they are just like their master – liars through and through.

The bad news is, that this lie impacts the fates of hundreds and thousands of Crimeans who became hostages of the situation. While Ukraine, for some reason, has not voiced a single word of alarm about their future. Let alone any real attempts to solve these people’s problems. Lord High Officials, after losing Crimea, let us not lose our conscience yet.

3. Nelya Shtepa, the mayor of Sloviansk, continues to play the part of some surreal comedy character. One moment, she is with the separatists; the next, she swears that her support was not genuine.

She reminds me of the unnamed drunken major from Evelyn Waugh’s Vile Bodies. Now and again, appearing out of nowhere, spouting some gibberish, and vanishing again. To what end? Nobody knows.

Today, in an interview with Russian TV channel lifenews.ru, Shtepa, once again, started licking Putin (“very grateful to Putin for entering Crimea”) and the insurgents (“they are strong in spirit, they will defeat both the Right Sector, and the military – they will defeat everyone here.”)

If I had any commentary on this lady’s personality, it would only be very rude. Being a gentleman, I will keep such commentary to myself. But the bad part is that such lovely creatures [as Shtepa] are supplying Russian PutinTV with a picture that Moscow so sorely requires.

The good news:

1. The Cabinet of Ministers registered a bill on the amnesty of extremists with the [Verkhovna] Rada [Ukrainian Parliament]. This means an exemption from liability for those who didn’t cause too much trouble and decided to hand themselves over.

After the law is passed, the criminals have three days to make a decision. Personally, I’m not that in favor of cottoning up to terrorists. But in current conditions, this is still a good move, which allows those who unintentionally found themselves involved in separatism to leave this mess behind quietly. Let us see what results it brings.

2. Joseph Biden, Vice President of the United States, declared that the U.S. is entirely in support of Ukraine.

This means not only moral support in the current situation. This also means strategic perspective – for example, their readiness to help lower [Ukraine’s] dependence on energy resources supplied from Russia.

It should be understood that the very visit of the U.S. Vice President to Kyiv is already a powerful political declaration.

However, Joseph Biden is a rampant optimist. He says that Ukrainian politicians currently have “a historical chance” to create a truly united state. This, alas, is an illusion. Should Ukraine become truly united, it will happen through the efforts of Ukrainians themselves. It looks like the less our politicians meddle in this, the higher the chances for success.

3. The “People’s Militia” in Mykolayiv work together with the police, and successfully detain miscreants.

Today, the headquarters of the city’s “People’s Militia” reported that approximately ten pieces of traumatic and combat weapons were confiscated at block posts around Mykolayiv in the last few days; several people were detained.

This is a vivid example of a situation where people don’t expect favors from the law enforcement, but take the bull by the horns. This is especially important for the South. While everyone’s attention is drawn to the events in the East, the enemy keeps working here.

4. The Cabinet of Ministers allocated UAH 5.304 billion [USD 451.4 million] from the reserve fund of the State Budget for improvement of defense capabilities. Of this amount, the Ministry of Defense is set to receive UAH 3.1 billion [USD 263.8 million], the Interior Troops of the MIA, UAH 1.8 billion [USD 153.2 million], and the State Border Service, UAH 0.109 billion [USD 9.28 million].

This amount may not be that large, but the main question is how to manage it. Sadly, corruption remains a reality, and a thief in an official’s chair is a threat as large as an armed separatist in an ambush. I hope we can manage both of these types of threats.

Events of April 18th

dmitry_tymchukBrothers and sisters, Here’s the Summary for April 18, 2014.

The bad news

1. My skepticism yesterday about the Geneva agreements has, alas, turned out to be justified.

I would be very glad to be wrong. But when dealing with a con artist like Putin, it’s impossible to go wrong. His essence is to lie. All agreements with him are empty phrases.

Today, the Russian Foreign Ministry “explained” the meaning behind these agreements. When they specify the disarmament of illegal armed groups, they are really talking about the “Right Sector.” And when they talk about the release of occupied buildings, they really mean Kyiv and Maidan supporters.

Moscow says: disarm “yours” first, and then we’ll think if we should disarm our mongrels in eastern Ukraine, whether we withdraw Russian Spetsnaz and whether we release occupied administrative buildings in Donetsk oblast [region].

Does anyone still have illusions about the possibility of negotiations with Moscow? It has long been clear to anyone: one’s level of confidence in Putin can safely determine one’s level of mental development.

2. Communists thwarted the signing of an agreement between the Rada [Parliamentary] faction heads to stabilize the situation in east Ukraine.

This is savagery. In fact, there is a war against Ukraine. The enemy’s boots are trampling our land. We have already lost a part of [our] territory. In normal countries under these conditions, those citizens (and politicians are no exception) who interfere with work towards victory, are, at minimum, sent behind bars. And here, the enemy subversives sit in Parliament and gorge themselves on caviar bought with the taxes of Ukrainians whom they sold out. I don’t see the logic.

3. This news concern us, the Information Resistance group. I’ve been waiting for this for a long time, and it has [finally] happened. Knowing our bureaucrats, it was not difficult to predict.

The bottom line is that some aunts and uncles at government agencies, who suddenly became very inconvenienced by our group, have woken up. For a month and a half, since the beginning of March and during the invasion of Crimea, they have picked their noses and been engaged in solving obscure questions, and then suddenly decided to famously “PR themselves” during the anti-terrorist operation (ATO).

But here’s the thing: it turns out that the Information Resistance group interferes with their PR campaign, by its activity and the provision of operational information. Now there are behind-the-scenes antics in order to shut us up.

Still, I will keep names and positions to myself. Since there are many more adequate people in the same state agencies, who understand the importance of our work.

But I have also promised the higher leadership earlier: if law enforcement commanders say that we interfere, we will immediately quit work. We need 2 minutes and 20 seconds to terminate the activities of the “IR” group. Of these, 1 minute will be spent on phone conversation with the two other coordinators, and it will take 20 seconds to shut down the computer.

We hope, that common sense will prevail in government agencies, and not personal ambitions and the jealousy of individual bureaucrats.

The good news

1. The SBU [Security Service of Ukraine] representatives have announced today that the ongoing anti-terrorist operation in eastern Ukraine is suspended “due to Easter celebrations and the Geneva agreements.”

This statement sounded strange. How can you stop “military operations” without an armistice? Just [stop] “on occasion,” when the enemy does not intend to do so? And I’ve already mentioned the worth of the Geneva agreements.

I hurry to reassure you. The bottom line is that in fulfilling their part of the Geneva agreements, Ukraine really did proactively suspend operations by security forces. But this does not mean that they will simply relax over the [holiday] weekend and eat Easter eggs and sausage, laid out on a photocopy of the Geneva agreements.

The operation continues – separate groups of extremists are being blocked, territories and roads are being taken under control. As security forces assured us today, the operation only arrived at this format when satisfactory results might be possible, taking into account the severe restrictions put forward in the agreement (no casualties among “civilians”). Let’s wish them good luck!

2. Today, Ihor Kolomoyskyi, the Head of Dnipropetrovsk Regional State Administration, paid the first reward for a captured Russian subversive – $10,000.

I can say one thing – bravo! The use of monetary rewards is a great motivation. And a serious blow to extremist activity. They should no longer be able to sleep peacefully.

3. Zhytomyr Airborne troops from the 95th Separate Airmobile Brigade have recaptured two armored vehicles from extremists near Kramatorsk, which were previously seized by the enemy.

According to our emissaries, the fight was short and tough. If these guys were given orders to shoot to kill, the ranks of terrorists would have greatly thinned. And so, they shot in the air and legs. But it was enough to quickly discourage these degenerates from playing war games.

One conclusion: With the enemy, we can and must fight them. For, defeat awaits weakness and high political considerations. For determination, victory awaits.

And one more thing. Friends, all “IR” coordinators will work in the regions during weekends and holidays. We can share less information, but only the most important and most timely operative data.

Happy Easter to all of you! God bless you.