Stop the Kremlin

The latest news from the Donbas is more and more alarming. The two sides are in fact getting ready for new large-scale hostilities that can break out at any moment. The Russian side’s goal was clear from the very beginning – to destroy Ukrainian statehood. At present, Crimea has already been annexed and a part of the Donbas remains occupied. The latest events show that the Kremlin is not going to stop, which some Ukrainian politicians have naively expected it to do. Moreover, after the parliamentary elections in Ukraine, it has entered into a new phase of the conflict’s escalation.

COMMENTARIES

Nazar TORBA, commanding officer, 3rd Patrol Company, Luhansk oblast:

“I can say that mortar and howitzer fire has been on the rise lately. But, on the whole, the situation has remained practically unchanged in the past two weeks – the terrorists are heavily shelling our positions, as before. Mortar men are ‘playing soccer’ and firing shells, multiple rocket launchers keep roaring, also as before. I think the rebels’ objective is to destroy our equipment and deal a psychological blow to the personnel. The morale of our military is at its highest. Everybody is prepared to hold out until the victory.

“At present, the Ukrainian armed forces have brought up quite a large number of armored vehicles – tanks and APCs – and artillery. Therefore, the defense line is well-protected. We have the means to repel a frontal attack by the Russian and terrorist troops. But, knowing the strength of our troops in the battle area, the enemy is unlikely to attack us head-on. Moreover, our troops are prepared not only to defend, but also to advance and liberate the occupied territories. I think Russia is afraid of our offensive onto the seized territories, so it is reinforcing its positions with the newly-delivered equipment. And we can always see that it is none other than Russian equipment because, for example, T-72 tanks are only available in the Russian, not Ukrainian, army.”

Myroslav HAI, anti-terrorist operation veteran, civic volunteer:

“I would describe the situation as shelling serving as a preparation for a possible offensive. Our boys on the frontlines are getting shelled all the time. Volunteers and officers from the line of fire tell us that they are now getting shot at much more frequently than even three days ago.

“Our soldiers detected the enemy moving in armored vehicles near Debaltseve. The town itself was being shelled by Grad rockets, so it was impossible to get there because of closed checkpoints. Generally, checkpoints are closed only rarely, when the enemy shells our positions. The adversary keeps up actively building up its forces.

“At the moment, all our units note the presence of Russian military equipment in the ‘buffer zone.’ Ukraine never had so many tanks and Grad rocket launchers in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and they are not available on the open market either. Therefore, saying that this equipment was ‘captured by terrorists’ is silly and pointless.

“I can say now that the Defense Ministry is doing something to bring supplies to our troops, although it is still quite limited. Improvements are visible, nonetheless. We also have wherewithal to respond to aggression, as our side is also engaged in a strength buildup, increasing the number of checkpoints, bringing more equipment, building military bases and getting more soldiers to the warzone. They are constructing a proper line of defense as required by sound military practice. The nation is being prepared for defense.”