Ukraine: military (Aug '14 to mid-June '15) closed

[OUTLAW 09]

In the midst of the winter fighting Professor John Schindler has a column, 'Why Ukraine Is Losing' and draws an interesting comparison with Croatia, who truly mobilised and regained lost territory:http://20committee.com/2015/01/17/wh...ine-is-losing/

Would agree with the article with the simple exception Croatia got hidden NATO weapons support and was "privately and quietly allowed" to make their military moves.

The Ukraine has been bluntly told to adhere to the Minsk agreements if they want financial aid from the EU and especially the US and notice there has not been a single US visit since the last one from Biden AND NATO ie the US has refused weapons--AND not a single mention in any recent US open press conference and silence out of the Congress. Even in the face of the killing of 13 and wounding of 17 in the Russian missile strike this week--not even mentioned in the US press. check who bought it up in the UNSC--no one from the "allies-UK/US---strange right?

NATO/EU/US wants no military conflict with Russia and has made that clear repeatedly even as late as yesterday. Croatia did not have the same inhibitors that the Ukraine is having and had quiet understandings within NATO and the US.

If the report today of a Javelin ATM being used is correct then that is the first indication the Baltics are assisting the Ukraine as they recently purchased 16M dollars worth of them---that makes a real difference in a tank heavy environment.

Notice it is the Baltics and Poland that are verbally and militarily supporting the Ukraine---and no one else in either the EU and or NATO.

For that matter seven EU countries being held by France WANT to in fact loosen Russian sanctions and there was absolutely no push back today from the US/UK both of whom signed the 1994 Budapest Memorandum. Or did anyone hear that today from Obama in London?

The Ukraine has in fact mobilized and mobilized and has fought and fought and only has asked for defensive weapons and political support and what has comeback from the EU/NATO and the US.

Currently over 500 Russian tanks are inside the Ukraine with 10K Russian troops, over 400 rocket systems, over 800 IFVs, and four SS21 systems and yet NATO, EU and US and the global press have totally failed and or do not want to use the single word "war" and in 2008 everyone used the word and called it the "Russian-Georgian war".

Strange is it not?

Otherwise a good article---

[OUTLAW 09]

Remember I mentioned the Ukraine is being held to hold the ceasefire by the EU/US-this explains his actions as he cannot do anything different than he is currently doing if he wants EU assistance:
I dont get Poroshenko at all. UA forces are dying every day, and he's acting like the ceasefire is going perfect

#PravySektor resupplied #DonetskAirport #cyborgs today; not the regular #Ukraine Army... #Poroshenko didn't even say a word...

And the Ukraine is not fighting?:
23 Cyborgs / Ukrainian troops defending #Donetsk #airport were killed and wounded today.
3 KIA
20 WIA
pic.twitter.com/gVnJuEQQoe

Pictures of today. Ukrainian Soldiers evacuated the dead and wounded comrades.
http://inforesist.org/iz-aeroporta-v...ix-i-ranennyx/ …
pic.twitter.com/9r4W0TafUS

If true that there are now fighter aircraft inside the Ukraine--who is flying them and WHAT will the West say this time---not an invasion?
LifeNews reporting ”Donetsk Republic“ now has air force. Translation: Russia will begin bombing Ukraine with jets.”

Putin is Ukraine's greatest nation builder. Turned some useless ruins in Donetsk into a hugely powerful symbol that will stay forever

[OUTLAW 09]

In the face of perfect video footage taken at the exact moment of the Russian GRAD shellings that killed 13 and wounded 17 in a bus the Russians still state "it ain't us" and reject any hint it was them.

Ambassador of RF to the OSCE: OSCE data deny version of Kyiv and US about the reasons of tragedy near Volnovaha
http://liveuamap.com/en/2015/17-janu...-data-deny-the …

OSCE says though----
OSCE crater analysis of Grad rockets at #Volnovakha confirms launch from separatist territory
pic.twitter.com/p4Ds2HqRJC

Marcel van den Berg☁ @marcelvandenber
My next post will debunk the Russia Today documentary. Many lies in that one. Can't wait

[OUTLAW 09]

In the face of perfect video footage taken at the exact moment of the Russian GRAD shellings that killed 13 and wounded 17 in a bus the Russians still state "it ain't us" and reject any hint it was them.

Ambassador of RF to the OSCE: OSCE data deny version of Kyiv and US about the reasons of tragedy near Volnovaha
http://liveuamap.com/en/2015/17-janu...-data-deny-the …

OSCE says though----
OSCE crater analysis of Grad rockets at #Volnovakha confirms launch from separatist territory
pic.twitter.com/p4Ds2HqRJC

Marcel van den Berg☁ @marcelvandenber
My next post will debunk the Russia Today documentary. Many lies in that one. Can't wait

The Russians will have an extremely hard time debunking this excellent open source analysis of their GRAD shelling of a civilian bus killing 13.

Somebody might actually have seen and filmed the outgoing GRAD attack that hit #Volnovakha bus
http://ukraineatwar.blogspot.co.uk/2...mined-for.html …
pic.twitter.com/Fs912HFqjr

Possible launch location determined for Volnovakha attack
http://ukraineatwar.blogspot.co.uk/2...mined-for.html …
pic.twitter.com/6VWmzq2V5N

#Volnovakha video compilage of GRAD launches, CCTV, and dashcam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_G_dCApelw …
pic.twitter.com/xvjcN2TSF3

But they still try to divert the finger being correctly pointed at them just as in MH17 even in the face of 200% truth and evidence that has been in fact geotagged
MFA Russia ✔ @mfa_russia
#OSCE information disproves Kiev allegation of the guilty in the tragedy near Volnovakha
http://itar-tass.com/en/world/771741

[OUTLAW 09]

The Russians will have an extremely hard time debunking this excellent open source analysis of their GRAD shelling of a civilian bus killing 13.

Somebody might actually have seen and filmed the outgoing GRAD attack that hit #Volnovakha bus
http://ukraineatwar.blogspot.co.uk/2...mined-for.html …
pic.twitter.com/Fs912HFqjr

Possible launch location determined for Volnovakha attack
http://ukraineatwar.blogspot.co.uk/2...mined-for.html …
pic.twitter.com/6VWmzq2V5N

#Volnovakha video compilage of GRAD launches, CCTV, and dashcam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_G_dCApelw …
pic.twitter.com/xvjcN2TSF3

But they still try to divert the finger being correctly pointed at them just as in MH17 even in the face of 200% truth and evidence that has been in fact geotagged
MFA Russia ✔ @mfa_russia
#OSCE information disproves Kiev allegation of the guilty in the tragedy near Volnovakha
http://itar-tass.com/en/world/771741

When Russia is trapped by the truth then it is always someone else just as in MH17:

MOSCOW SLAMS UKRAINE, U.S. FOR BLAMING DEADLY ATTACK ON BUS IN VOLNOVAKHA ON MILITIA -Interfax

.@AricToler @bellingcat unpacks the multiple absurd & tangled DNR claims re #Volnovakha bus tragedy
https://www.bellingcat.com/news/uk-a...cre-narrative/ …

THIRD OSCE #Volnovakha fact-finding mission: 5 impacts examined; rockets came from NNE...
pic.twitter.com/is76xcDfDF

#Volnovakha video compilage of GRAD launches, CCTV, and dashcam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_G_dCApelw …
pic.twitter.com/xvjcN2TSF3

[OUTLAW 09]

Remember I mentioned the Ukraine is being held to hold the ceasefire by the EU/US-this explains his actions as he cannot do anything different than he is currently doing if he wants EU assistance:
I dont get Poroshenko at all. UA forces are dying every day, and he's acting like the ceasefire is going perfect

#PravySektor resupplied #DonetskAirport #cyborgs today; not the regular #Ukraine Army... #Poroshenko didn't even say a word...

And the Ukraine is not fighting?:
23 Cyborgs / Ukrainian troops defending #Donetsk #airport were killed and wounded today.
3 KIA
20 WIA
pic.twitter.com/gVnJuEQQoe

Pictures of today. Ukrainian Soldiers evacuated the dead and wounded comrades.
http://inforesist.org/iz-aeroporta-v...ix-i-ranennyx/ …
pic.twitter.com/9r4W0TafUS

If true that there are now fighter aircraft inside the Ukraine--who is flying them and WHAT will the West say this time---not an invasion?
LifeNews reporting ”Donetsk Republic“ now has air force. Translation: Russia will begin bombing Ukraine with jets.”

Putin is Ukraine's greatest nation builder. Turned some useless ruins in Donetsk into a hugely powerful symbol that will stay forever

The fighting today will have to go down as one of the hardest fought battles of the 21st century and the West did nothing- not even a press conference to even "complain" of Russian troops being invovled.

Report from airport #Donetsk,#Army&reporter:Today was one of most hellish days in airport area
pic.twitter.com/XZDJywm2yA

AND the Ukraine is not fighting?---not a word from the West---or did they somehow miss it? Does the West even understand the single word---war?
Especially since it is the West that has the Ukraine on a leash in order to not provoke Russia.

Twenty-three Ukrainian troops killed, nearly 100 wounded in past 24 hours - military operation spokesman http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/213221.html …

[OUTLAW 09]

For those in the Obama NSC--there is in fact now an open war between the Ukraine and Russia forced upon the Ukraine by a Russian "invasion not an incursion" and yet the typical head in the sand approach

Today Donetsk airport saw one of the biggest tank battles of the Russo-Ukrainian war. Right now Ukrainian tanks are streaming into the area

LIVE VIDEO Massive explosions #Donetsk Airport.(#Ukraine offensive clear around area?)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFk0WFyQlnk …
pic.twitter.com/vHyJCLnQs8

VIDEO - Ukrainian tanks are coming to the aid of the Donetsk airport.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nn4nMDeKvrY&sns=tw …
pic.twitter.com/lVYj8oSxtb

[davidbfpo]

See Post 1652 for a critique of the Ukrainian military effort to date.

I had read a similar article on the bizarrre civil government earlier this week, it is this 'The New Ukraine Is Run by Rogues, Sexpots, Warlords, Lunatics and Oligarchs' from a small circulation NY paper.
Link:http://observer.com/2015/01/the-new-...#ixzz3P7I4zFoh

[OUTLAW 09]

See Post 1652 for a critique of the Ukrainian military effort to date.

I had read a similar article on the bizarrre civil government earlier this week, it is this 'The New Ukraine Is Run by Rogues, Sexpots, Warlords, Lunatics and Oligarchs' from a small circulation NY paper.
Link:http://observer.com/2015/01/the-new-...#ixzz3P7I4zFoh

Davd--you bring up a good point---but the core problem is we in the West have never experienced nor seen since the end of WW2 the attempted restart of a government and it's country.

The Maidan was for a number of reasons but mostly though would be as Robert J often writes all about--- the rule of law and good governance---the Ukraine was never given a chance to develop out of the old Soviet system of state run enterprises ie subsidized coal for 300 a ton vs Polish for 65 and or SA for 85 a ton--the oligarchs took over much as they did in the old SU and here was the core trigger---the levels of corruption that permeated the Ukraine and their criminal gangs even rivaled those of Russia.

Basically the Ukraine is rebuilding on the fly literally on the fly--- a government, new security apparatus, new military, new draft systems, trying to limit the oligarchs, and attempting to reform it's state run businesses ALL while fighting a war.

Which to my knowledge has not been attempted in Europe since 1945---even the breakup of the Czechoslovakia went far easier although Slovakia is still struggling.

Historically the closest thing to the Ukraine upheaval would be our own Revolutionary War which by the way did not get any form of a stabile form of government until long after the fighting had stopped and we only survived when the French entered the war supporting us--which has not happened for the Ukraine---the France the Ukraine is looking for is the EU and NATO.

As for the fighting abilities--if one really looks at the period up to the Russian invasion using Russian tanks, artillery and troops on foreign soil the rag tag UA and especially the volunteer BNs basically did in effect defeat by early August the "mercenary separatists" with no assistance from the west outside of money. Which if then allowed to stand would have reunified the Ukraine--that is why Russia stepped in.

The Ukrainians suffered a brutal defeat in a key battle in early August and hundreds were killed after the Russian Army stated they had the freedom to leave the encirclement BUT some on the blogs did point to the Russians doing the same thing in Chechnya and also killing hundreds there but Putin and his Generals said it would not happen--and it did and yet we the West seem to still "wanted to believe him". They were killed because the Russian troops and those supporting mercenaries all claimed they were fascists and Nazi's fighting for a junta which notice has not been said for a long while now.

Then they were pushed back by far superior Russian forces---but they slowed them to a standstill, and have been rebuilding, refitting, rearming all the while strangely holding to an unilateral ceasefire three times that never really was and WHY? Because the major EU members-France, Germany and even the UK pushed them to hold it while they dealt with Putin--BUT really all of the EU/NATO and the US was doing was attempting to avoid armed conflict with Putin using the Ukraine as a buffer.

Remember the last few former Ukrainian presidents over the last ten years totally drove the UA into the ground, cutting troop numbers, low pay, no rights and more especially mothballed a lot of their equipment and stopped purchasing anything new--so at the August invasion the UA was just a shell of an army.

So yes is democracy crazy right now in the Ukraine and countless axes are being ground but they have managed in fact to pass a series of new laws that if even half way implemented take the Ukraine out of the Soviet system once and for all---and it will be messy, dirty and hard but who said democracy is easy for an entire population which by the way is what they expressed at the Maidan they wanted--something else that Robert J writes here about--the self determination of an entire population meaning determined by themselves not by outsiders.

And here is the surprise the Ukrainian population while dreaming to be in the EU definitely knows it will be a hard slog but seem to be willing to go down that path if it means breaking from their Soviet/Russia past.

Putin has become for the Ukraine a great nation builder.

By the way the key for a successful going forward is the current airport fight largely overlooked by virtually most of the western media and western leaders. Notice today the combat at the airfield is extremely quiet--the Russians were stunned yesterday.

What occurred there over the last three days will rival Stalingrad for hand to hand fighting and heavy artillery strikes in a small area-- what turned the tide was the standing up of a large number of mid range UA/volunteer LTCs and COLs who had fought with NATO and the US in Iraq and AFG taking over tactical command coupled with an extremely experienced volunteer BN and the UA airborne that got aggressive and fought their way back in taking over the entire airport and pushing 2km past it and the Russian propaganda that was stating they are in full control and have won died a quick death late last night and is virtually silent today.

That sent a clear signal to the Russians that when allowed the UA can fight back and is good at it--that signal should have been sent sooner--and now this ties back into the original article---if the cost is high enough Putin will stop---yesterday the price was high enough.

Plus the accuracy of the UA artillery was vastly enhanced with the counter battery radars the US sent--that should not be forgotten also a signal to Putin. My complaint--IMHO it should have been far sooner along with drones and night vision.

[OUTLAW 09]

See Post 1652 for a critique of the Ukrainian military effort to date.

I had read a similar article on the bizarrre civil government earlier this week, it is this 'The New Ukraine Is Run by Rogues, Sexpots, Warlords, Lunatics and Oligarchs' from a small circulation NY paper.
Link:http://observer.com/2015/01/the-new-...#ixzz3P7I4zFoh

David--would like though to see what the professor would say and write about the Russian model that Putin is pushing under his "federated" concept---ie Bosnia.

[OUTLAW 09]

Needless to say that shelling is ABSOLUTELY INTENSE in #Donetsk today.
MLRS, artillery hitting EVERY SECOND since hours.

Footage of a large Grad launch in Donetsk, eastern #Ukraine today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahNEamuabGk …

attacking from inside civilian sectors, then complaining about return fire

Looking beyond #Donetsk:
Krymske, Shchastya, Trohizbenka, Pisky, Tonenke and Opytne were hit by Russian #Grad missiles over the last 12 hrs.

#Russia troll says these are"foreign" & "#NATO"...
When did #KrAZ of #Kremenchuk leave #Ukraine & join NATO? pic.twitter.com/GP717xPt83

Another example of delirious attempts to obscure #Volnovakha crime. From notorious Russian Propagandist
pic.twitter.com/NQNUkeCj19

[Chris jM]

If the report today of a Javelin ATM being used is correct then that is the first indication the Baltics are assisting the Ukraine as they recently purchased 16M dollars worth of them---that makes a real difference in a tank heavy environment.

Are there are any updates as to whether the Ukrainian Army has / has employed Javelin?

That would be an interesting development - would any of the Baltic states risk FMO/EULA processes and jeopardise their ability to tap into the US DoD-approved military arsenal by shifting weapons without the permission of Washington?

I also note that only Estonia and Lithuania have Javelin, with Latvia having the Israeli Spike (according to Jane's reporting).

[kaur]

Outlaw, what is your logic! If there is Javelin in Ukraine, why they are from Baltic states? Maybe France helped them? Is there any Javelin at all

[OUTLAW 09]

Are there are any updates as to whether the Ukrainian Army has / has employed Javelin?

That would be an interesting development - would any of the Baltic states risk FMO/EULA processes and jeopardise their ability to tap into the US DoD-approved military arsenal by shifting weapons without the permission of Washington?

I also note that only Estonia and Lithuania have Javelin, with Latvia having the Israeli Spike (according to Jane's reporting).

If one looks at the reported use---it appeared only once and never again and from a blogger not common on this particular blog BUT that said the following;

On the really bad fighting day at the airport which was Saturday following a really bad Friday for the defenders a number of Russian T72bs were supporting a Russian Marine Infantry unit that has been identified in their assault on the new terminal area--total of three/four tanks had the building surrounded and were firing point blank into the building.

Suddenly a reported series of two tank explosions occurred drastically reducing the effectiveness of the Russian assault into the area and the Russian Marines took a beating --have posted their unit emblem and a video of their being at the airport--last week during another attack there had been the reporting of the killing of several Russian Marines but largely ignored by western media which is par for the course these days.

As the airport defenders had no heavy ATMs was surprised by the initial report and the blogging world wrote it off to artillery strikes but if one paid attention to the actual reports the "tanks simply exploded" and there was at the same time a pause in shelling which then writes off artillery as the cause for the explosions.

Something hit the tanks and it was not artillery---have also learned by watching the ebb and flow of the blog reports and remember even the UA soldiers were blogging from inside the buildings while under attack--at no time did they report the use of any ATMs. The UA did not start their evening counterassault with tanks until around 1600-1700 and the 72s had been hit in the morning.

Some one wanted the west to fully understand ATMs had been used and their effectiveness in the fight---that particular blogger has never come back so it was a one time event--definitely was not the typical Russian troll at work trying to cause confusion around the argument the US supplied weapons as they did yesterday with the AR15s--absolutely no Russian troll jumped on it which shows to me they totally missed the blog.

Suspect the ATM came from the Baltics and would the US close one eye ---yes they would--- as they are on the official record of not delivering weapons to the Ukraine---but the US Ukrainian newly signed support law "does allow" for the shipping of defensive weapons and ATMs fall under that law. So in effect there would have been no violation of US laws.

By the way right now there are 5 different Islamist groups firing US ATMs in Syria and no one has seemed to be interested in a law violation there--strange is it not?

[OUTLAW 09]

#BREAKING
Moscow talks of a withdrawal of heavy weapons while its #Msta_B shells #Luhansk obl
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSRFTVqqvno …
pic.twitter.com/2wnWYkgd

Militants shelled Debaltseve. 15-20 shells hit city center. 10 wounded civilians incl a kid http://mvs.gov.ua/mvs/control/main/u...rticle/1314815 …
pic.twitter.com/CoYkohO810

Militants shell #Donbas localities w/Grad. Hnutove was fired @ w/Grad, anti-tank missile syst 8times -ATO news center
pic.twitter.com/udu2T8HFpv

Russian Naval Infantry (Marines) storm #DonetskAirport https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5CQ1edznoc …
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_I...y_%28Russia%29 …
pic.twitter.com/QrZxSlJ6pY

Grozny may be in Russia, but its huge anti-Charlie Hebdo demonstration happening now looks like a Hezbollah war rally
pic.twitter.com/BXQ7NQjqfV

@Mariupol_TV Vasilyeva:Russian flamethrower battalion responsible for tragedy at #Volnovaha http://www.mariupol.tv/news/war/mari..._vasileva.html … pic.twitter.com/6u1VaNTWyg

Yet another handy guide: How to identify Russian units in Ukraine with tactical amrkings http://ukraineatwar.blogspot.co.uk/2...n-ukraine.html … pic.twitter.com/vrVPGT1px7

Turkey says Putin has not fulfilled a single promise made to Crimean Tatars since annexation of Crimea:
http://goo.gl/QWM2sM

[OUTLAW 09]

I often write here at SWJ about the "weaponization of information": for some info war---here are two great examples:

And we the west are nowhere close to being even in the info war game--Russia has long ago won it and we did not even come in the top 30.

"Fully 20,000 journalists employed by the state are now compelled to help the Kremlin fight its propaganda war ..." http://www.themoscowtimes.com/opinio...nd/514371.html …

"Documents Show How Russia’s Troll Army Hit America" Not only America, but a key piece. http://www.buzzfeed.com/maxseddon/do...erm=.dblyVQGNX …

[OUTLAW 09]

So here is Russian Occupation Forces response to Ukraine MFA's offer of ceasefire: #DonetskAirport being shelled now
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRujbSn6pUU …

Pro-#Russia|n media, you fail. Not airport, but "Metro" mall not far from it. Airports don't sell flowers or bread!
NOTE: the Russian news media was trying yesterday in video reports to indicate they were still in the airport terminal but ended up using a destroyed Ukrainian mall in Donetsk as the background claiming it was the airport

Ukrainian authorities have fully closed traffic into areas of Luhansk Oblast occupied by Russia @HromadskeTV reports.
pic.twitter.com/kkldqzpwVh

The battle in the Shastye
http://liveuamap.com/en/2015/19-janu...n-the-shastye- … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uE9vIOPNb80

More photo evidence suggesting missile that shot down #MH17 provided by Russia @bellingcat
https://www.bellingcat.com/news/uk-a...ne-and-russia/ …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVl_wY7glSk …

Russian media spins lie that Putin suggests "Ukraine conflicting parties cease fire, pull back artillery guns 100mm+" !!
Heavy fighting continues along many of the front lines between Russian and Ukrainian forces. There is a tank battle at Donetsk airport.

#ATO battle-groups assault&destroyed enemy position which fired in"Cyborgs"airport,enemy withdrew to residential areas of #Donetsk #Ukraine

"Who controls what of Donetsk airport – a clarification attempt"
http://conflictreport.info/2015/01/1...ation-attempt/ …

INTENSE GRAD ATTACK IN #DONETSK RIGHT NOW, ENDLESS EXPLOSIONS
Very different sound of fighting today, a lot of tank fire very near the cam (?!)

[OUTLAW 09]

ATO spokesperson: #LPR claims they have own “Air Force” of 2 jets. This can be used to hide the use of #Russia|n aviation

In case Rus aviation is used against civilians or Ukr military forces, air targets will be destroyed - ATO spox Lysenko

Listening thru headphones #DonetskAirport webcam: Today is wider variety of weapons being fired over wider area. Intense fighting.

BREAKING: 3 #Ukraine soldiers were killed and 66 (!!!) got wounded in the last 24 hours - ATO spokesperson

Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of #Ukraine on state of implementation of the #Minsk agreements...
http://fb.me/6izCotIUD

Per Minsk accords heavy equip needs b withdrawn 15km, would mean terrorists leav half of Donetsk w/out control, thus they need airport - ATO

ATO Headquarters: Militants suffer substantial losses of manpower and equipment at Donetsk airport
http://uatoday.tv/news/ato-headquart...rt-403603.html …

I can't understand: where is "cease" and where is "fire" at the map?
pic.twitter.com/LSRTgfdLJf

BREAKINGNEWS
Ukrainian or Russian offensive?!
Reports of an invasion army ground assault on #Pisky right now!!

[OUTLAW 09]

No wonder the Russian info war is so busy attempting to push back on their shelling of a Ukrainian bus killing 13.

#SBU:#Zakharchenko - Prime suspect in the shooting attack #terrorist of the bus #Volnovaha #Ukraine
pic.twitter.com/5rv3m3BmSv

Remember he recently claimed to actually have seen the physical shot down of MH17 at 15kms but did not explain why he was in the crash site area at the exact time of the shot down.