Pres @poroshenko said Ukr forces withdrew w/ mil equipment incl tanks, BMPs, self-propelled artillery, automotive vehicles - video address
Final Ukrainian units are walking their way out under cover of Ukrainian heavy artillery support in board daylight and surrounded by Russian troops and mercenaries---and this is a “Russian victory”?
If Ukrainian troops were able to bring their dead brothers-in-arms with, it means it wasn't a chaotic retreat.
80% of Ukrainian military units have withdrawn from #Debaltseve, have their arms with them, 2 more columns expected - president Poroshenko
One ambulance after another arriving in #Artemivsk, there are many casualties and wounded
via @ronzheimer
pic.twitter.com/fgWdLZGvte
At least 40 #Ukraine soldiers killed during withdrawl - Hromadske TV
This is not a bad number considering the sheer size of the Russian forces arrayed against them in this pocket.
This morning several Ukraine's Armed Forces and National Guard units withdrew from Debaltseve in an orderly and pre-planned manner.
Poroshenko said "that the forces of ATO took new frontiers in the Donbass and shamed Russia"
#Semenchenko: convoy breaking out of #Debaltseve w/out cover was attacked by tanks. Ukr artillery now supports, evac of WIA, KIA is underway
Ukrainian forces, departure from #Debaltseve. Tired but happy. Photos of HromandskeTV journalist Nastya Stanko. pic.twitter.com/gLvDS8QYea
When it all said and done actual figures will not have been more than 1 to 2K Ukrainians total involved in the fighting and yet they tied down over 6K Russian mercenaries and Russian troops.
Loses from one Ukrainian BN which had been surrounded indicate that even with loses the Russian military and merceanries numbers were 3 to 4 times more troops than the Ukranians had in Debaltseve.
Officer of Ukraian Krivbas battalion (40th battalion): "We got out, but not w.o with losses. About 10pc presumed dead, 10pc POWs"----equals roughly 60-80 from a unit that was cut off and totally surrounded and fought and walked their way out.
Even journalists working the Debaltseve Salient were outfoxed by the actual Ukrainian Army strength there as well.
Maxim Tucker @MaxRTucker
Reports indicate a thousand #Ukraine soldiers have managed to walk out of #Debaltseve. Poroshenko's claims that 80% withdrawn ring hollow
Other journalists are not getting it either---if you cannot win a total victory then drive the loses of the aggressor into the sky---a very old battlefield tactic that yes even the US saw in Vietnam.
Christopher Miller ✔ @ChristopherJM
.@poroshenko says #Ukraine forces "gave a blow in the teeth" to rebels in #Debaltseve.
https://twitter.com/poroshenko/statu...09018473631744 … But it's them retreating
As a counter comment:
But then again, Churchill praised Dunkirk evacuation as a victory even if British troops left ALL heavy arms in France.
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