Ukranian Crisis

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Twain

Active Member
Well does the EU want to be in a proxy war with Russia over Ukraine? I honestly don't think it's worth it.
The EU doesn't either at this point but that wasn't the point of the post. The point was what they could do but currently aren't doing.

What makes you say that?
Kerry: U.S. Taped Moscow

https://twitter.com/poroshenko/status/500746743194341376

Ukraine detains Russian military attaché for spying | Reuters


Ukraine Boasts of Rounding Up Russian Spies. Will Washington Notice?


The Security Service of Ukraine

The Security Service of Ukraine

The Security Service of Ukraine

The Security Service of Ukraine

Security Service of Ukraine Captured Russian Spy - Ukraine Investigation


Perhaps most importantly, Advice from someone who has had to deal with a russian invasion

What to Do When Russia Invades Your Country - The Daily Beast

I mean seriously Feanor, what could possibly make you believe that Russia doesn't have agents infiltrated into the Ukraine gov't and military?

Right. Let's give Ukraine top notch western gear... no way it'll get captured by separatists, or get sold to Russia by corrupt officers, or get inspected and it's secrets stolen by Russian spies.
Really you say this and just moment ago you tried to imply they aren't infiltrated with spies?

But anyway, who said anything about giving them "top notch" western gear? I certanily didn't. They can however give them some communications equipment that every mercenary with a 20 year old russian radio can't listen in on.

The EU and US can certainly help with intel, but can they help with the deep institutional reforms the Ukrainian military needs, in the middle of a war? Is that even the best way to win this war?
Can they help reform the Ukranian military? I'm sure they can, the question is how successful they will be. I do know there are a least a few Penragon advisers in Kiev now.

So far Ukraine has been winning through superior resources. If you really want to bolster their military, wouldn't that be the simplest and most direct way of doing so? Give them more gear, weapons, and munitions. They will mobilize more of their own people, and eventually beat the rebels into submission or destruction.

They may be doing that already with the transfer of T-72's and possibly Mig 29's from Hungary and later MI-8s (?) from Croatia. It wouldn't surprise me at all to see a lot of ex russian equipment from Eastern European countries start arriving in Ukraine in the coming weeks and months.
 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
As usual not exactly taken but rather contested, the DNR forces retreated to the nearby hill that controls the village, and now they are fighting in the village itself again.
Do you have more specific info or a source? In Russia is fine if you don't have english.

I mean seriously Feanor, what could possibly make you believe that Russia doesn't have agents infiltrated into the Ukraine gov't and military?
You misunderstand. I have no doubts Ukraine is thoroughly infiltrated. My question is, why you think the EU would be able to help with rooting them out?

Really you say this and just moment ago you tried to imply they aren't infiltrated with spies?
See above.

But anyway, who said anything about giving them "top notch" western gear? I certanily didn't. They can however give them some communications equipment that every mercenary with a 20 year old russian radio can't listen in on.
The Russian military has set up quite a bit of ELINT and EW gear on the Russia side of the border. I wouldn't be too surprised if they're listening in, and relaying to the rebels. You'd need modern gear, and lots of it. You'd also need to train operators at ever level.

They may be doing that already with the transfer of T-72's and possibly Mig 29's from Hungary and later MI-8s (?) from Croatia. It wouldn't surprise me at all to see a lot of ex russian equipment from Eastern European countries start arriving in Ukraine in the coming weeks and months.
Yep. That would be the most practical way of helping Ukraine win. The question will also be, however, whether Ukraine can make good use of that equipment. They're taking a pummeling right now that's rather surprising.
 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
Update.

The 30th Mech Brigade seems to have been defeated very decisively, at Saur Mogila. It was surrounded just east of Saur-Mogila, with elements of the 95th Airmobile. It looks like they've been basically wiped out, with brigade command captured by the rebels. Photos of the destruction.

I'm sourcing this from a pro-rebel source, but to be honest I was waiting for something of this sort. They were already surrounded, and from past experience this doesn't bode well for the Ukrainian military. We may get denials of this from the Ukrainian side, and maybe some elements of the brigade escaped.

http://ipic.su/img/img7/fs/BvYmcshCEAAQdyY.1408438492.jpg
http://ipic.su/img/img7/fs/BvYl7OOCAAA4af6.1408438482.jpg
http://ipic.su/img/img7/fs/BvYl6xcCUAAulOd.1408438474.jpg
http://ipic.su/img/img7/fs/BvYl68JCAAEaFE0.1408438463.jpg
http://ipic.su/img/img7/fs/original234.1408435313.jpg
http://ipic.su/img/img7/fs/original456.1408435304.jpg
http://ipic.su/img/img7/fs/BvWJiKOCEAAQL40.1408435273.jpg
http://ipic.su/img/img7/fs/234.1408435253.jpg
http://ipic.su/img/img7/fs/original6796.1408435241.jpg
зри в корень - Ополчение ДÐР заÑвило о разгроме украинÑкой 30-й бригады
Бойцы разбитой украинÑкой бригады: "Зачем Ð½Ð°Ñ Ð¿Ð¾Ñылали на Ñмерть?" | РИРÐовоÑти

Heavy fighting continues in Ilovaysk. Government troops seem to be advancing.

zloy_odessit -

Fighting is also continuing in Lugansk. Government troops seem to be advancing.

КрыÑа из нержавеющей Ñтали - Силы ÐТО взÑли под контроль чаÑÑ‚ÑŒ ЛуганÑка

The rebels seem to have retaken Misusinsk. Video from the clearing here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYi_QazLf5o

Reports out of Donetsk say that the city is running out of water.

зри в корень - Из Донецка: "Сутки уже нет воды. Ðарод выгреб вÑÑŽ воду из киоÑков..."

Government BM-21 Grad reloading, somewhere in Donbass.

КрыÑа из нержавеющей Ñтали - перезарÑдка БМ21 ГРÐД

Rumors of rebel BM-27 Uragan may be getting confirmation. There's a photo of an alleged unexploded rebel missile.

zloy_odessit -

Another map of the fighting. Also questionable. Amvrosievka, for example, was recently the site of heavy fighting, leaving destroyed government armor. Yet on this map it's pretty far behind government lines. There are other questionable moments. The map is also from a pro-rebel source.

Блог Ивана ОктÑбрÑ-КолорадÑкого - КурÑк или Сталинград?

Another Serbian fighter captured in Eastern Ukraine.

zloy_odessit -

More Russian aid being sent to Lugansk.

Блог Ивана ОктÑбрÑ-КолорадÑкого - Будни КЦПРЕщё один груз принÑÑ‚

Rebels.

КрыÑа из нержавеющей Ñтали - Т-64
КрыÑа из нержавеющей Ñтали - а в Ñто Ð²Ñ€ÐµÐ¼Ñ Ð² ЛуганÑке
КрыÑа из нержавеющей Ñтали - а в Ñто Ð²Ñ€ÐµÐ¼Ñ Ð² Донецке

Ukrainian MVD in Severo-Donetsk.

КрыÑа из нержавеющей Ñтали - МВД в Северодонецке

Rebel medals.

bmpd -

A pro-Kiev rally in Slavyansk.

Personal comment. I wish we had better photos, to see the real size of the crowd.

КрыÑа из нержавеющей Ñтали - а в Ñто Ð²Ñ€ÐµÐ¼Ñ Ð² СлавÑнÑке

The humanitarian convoy near the border in Rostov.

КрыÑа из нержавеющей Ñтали - Водители грузовиков гуманитарного груза вблизи пограничного пункта в РоÑтовÑкой облаÑти

A Right Sector propaganda video. A bit frightening.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76VHYiNm0BM
 

Relboon

New Member
Sorry for delay, rough time at work.
Do you have more specific info or a source? In Russia is fine if you don't have english.

Read more: http://www.defencetalk.com/forums/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=284414#ixzz3B3LEy25D
Source yurasumy -

A fun picture of Poroshenko with T-72 behind him, and there was so many discussions about UA army using only T-64 (for a very long time this was the main point in the Russia supplying weapons debates).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mijv8tfKRBE
DNR forces take another tank from UA army.
 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
Sorry for delay, rough time at work.

Source yurasumy -

A fun picture of Poroshenko with T-72 behind him, and there was so many discussions about UA army using only T-64 (for a very long time this was the main point in the Russia supplying weapons debates).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mijv8tfKRBE
DNR forces take another tank from UA army.
Photo's kind of old. it's from an expo where Poroshenko showed off new equipment for the National Guard. The T-72B along with the T-64B1M were meant for some new National Guard unit, along with the BTR-3 and BTR-4 APCs. I was wondering if you had a source backing the statement that Stanitsa Luganskaya was being contested. I was mainly interested in any detailed info on the fighting you had.
 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
Update.

The Ukrainian airforce seems to be falling out of the skies at record rates. They lost an Su-24M on August 20th, and 3 helicopters over the last few days (2 Mi-8 and 1 Mi-24). The Mi-8 crew in both shootdowns is the same one. They successfully survived one shootdown, flew again, and are now hospitalized. This, in my opinion, shows a lack of pilots. A question that was discussed earlier. The Mi-24 crew is dead.

The situation is so bad that the US is even considering providing self-defense suites to the UkrAF.

militarizm:
militarizm: 18-20
bmpd -
СШРмогут поÑтавить бортовые комплекÑÑ‹ обороны украинÑкой авиации

A Tochka missile fell on Lugansk. Source claim it's a Tochka-U but it's clearly a regular Tochka.

MilitaryRussia.Ru / Military.Tomsk.Ru -

Rebels in Donetsk. I'm once again impressed by how many of them look old.

КрыÑа из нержавеющей Ñтали - а в Ñто Ð²Ñ€ÐµÐ¼Ñ Ð² Донецке

Battle damage in Lugansk.

КрыÑа из нержавеющей Ñтали - ЛуганÑк, повÑедневноÑÑ‚ÑŒ войны

Another probably fake announcement about capturing a Russian BMD-2 with bort number 275. However bort 275 is a BMD-4 not a BMD-2.

peremogi:
КрыÑа из нержавеющей Ñтали - БМП ВС РФ под Лутугино

Transnestria is mobilizing. Officially it's a training exercise involving reservists, but practically it amounts to a mobilization.

Ð’ ПриднеÑтровье началаÑÑŒ ÑÐºÑ€Ñ‹Ñ‚Ð°Ñ Ð¼Ð¾Ð±Ð¸Ð»Ð¸Ð·Ð°Ñ†Ð¸Ñ Ð²Ð¾ÐµÐ½Ð½Ð¾ÐбÑзанных

The National Guard is being given the job of guarding nuclear fuel transports, and space rockets in transport.

bmpd -

Ukrainian customs officials are letting through the Russian humanitarian aid.

Íîâîñòè NEWSru.com :: Óêðàèíà íà÷àëà îôîðìëåíèå ðîññèéñêîãî ãóìàíèòàðíîãî ãðóçà íà ÊÏÏ "Äîíåöê-Èçâàðèíî"
 

Twain

Active Member
Things are going to get ugly


NATO: Russian-manned units shelling Ukrainian troops


NATO officials said on Friday that Moscow has sent Russian-manned artillery units into Ukraine in recent days and was using them to shell Ukrainian forces as part of a "major escalation" of Russian involvement in the disputed region.

NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said the Western alliance had received numerous reports of the direct involvement of Russian forces, "including Russian airborne, air defense and special operations forces in Eastern Ukraine," The New York Times reports.
 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
A U.S. Veteran was apparently KIA in Ukraine.
US Army veteran, West Point grad killed fighting for Ukraine | Fox News

Russia went ahead and sent 30 aid trucks across the border without Ukrainian permission.
http://rt.com/news/182224-putin-merkel-aid-ukraine/

I wonder how the Ukrainian's will respond, this can certainly spin out of control.
A lot more then 30. Over 100 have crossed the border.

NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said the Western alliance had received numerous reports of the direct involvement of Russian forces, "including Russian airborne, air defense and special operations forces in Eastern Ukraine," The New York Times reports.
Emphasis mine. I've seen multiple reports claiming the same. Maybe it's true. Maybe it's not. Is there evidence?
 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
Update.

Another scene of destruction at Miusinsk. Rebels retook the town. Warning the video contains graphic materials.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wMU7_mKf-E
http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=224007&d=1408643107
http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=224008&d=1408643122
http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=224009&d=1408643135

Rebel unit Kalmius is counter-attacking near Snezhnoe, has taken two villages: Manuilovka and Petrovskoe. They took 13 Ukrainian soldiers prisoner. To be clear, the second link is the village in question. We're not talking about the town of Petrovskoe near Debal'tseve, but the village south-west of Snezhnoe. Manuilovka is directly north of it.

Note the captured BMP-2.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOznvf3WsqU
https://www.google.com/maps/place/P...2!3m1!1s0x40e054d3d5d2b301:0xc45c439c69c0bf2e

The captured prisoners from Petrovskoe and Manuilovka.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBq-RRXu7nw

More photos of destroyed vehicles. I think these are photos from the 30th Mech Bde, that was recently defeated by the rebels.

Блог ÐлекÑандра Шакуна - Уничтоженные Грады карателей и талиÑман ополченцев

Photos of government troops.

https://imageshack.com/i/pbthw5UJj
https://imageshack.com/i/iqWbVWPzj
https://imageshack.com/i/pduSWFCDj
https://imageshack.com/i/kmuXBFD1j
https://imageshack.com/i/p9u1aoLJj
https://imageshack.com/i/p2F4h19nj
https://imageshack.com/i/iqe0ukF8j
https://imageshack.com/i/pcDXygNOj
https://imageshack.com/i/iq0gKQjQj
https://imageshack.com/i/iq94L35zj
https://imageshack.com/i/ex6JsJWQj
https://imageshack.com/i/kqOjJ7UKj

Rebels near Ilovaysk.

зри в корень - Ополченцы под ИловайÑком (ÐлекÑандр Геллер)

Ukrainian troops near Ilovaysk.

КрыÑа из нержавеющей Ñтали - под ИловайÑком

Government troops leaving Ilovaysk.

Personal comment: Can't identify who's leaving, where they're going, and whether this is a tactical retreat by that unit, or a general withdrawal. Don't read too much into it.

Блог ÐлекÑандра Шакуна - Каратели уходÑÑ‚ из ИловайÑка

Rebel forces, T-64s and BMP-2s, are preparing to counter-attack towards Lugansk.

Силы Ð¾Ð¿Ð¾Ð»Ñ‡ÐµÐ½Ð¸Ñ Ð³Ð¾Ñ‚Ð¾Ð²ÑÑ‚ÑÑ Ð´ÐµÐ±Ð»Ð¾ÐºÐ¸Ñ€Ð¾Ð²Ð°Ñ‚ÑŒ ЛуганÑк

Rebels on Donetsk report that they found the body of a Russian journalist, who was presumed missing. It was found near Snezhnoe.

Íîâîñòè NEWSru.com :: Äîíåöêèå ñåïàðàòèñòû çàÿâèëè, ÷òî íàøëè òåëî ðîññèéñêîãî æóðíàëèñòà

Evacuation of civilians by the rebels from Yasinovataya.

Блог ÐлекÑандра Шакуна - ЯÑиноватаÑ. Ð*вакуациÑ.

NATO condemns the entry of the Russian humanitarian convoy.

Íîâîñòè NEWSru.com :: Â ÍÀÒÎ îñóäèëè ââîä ðîññèéñêîãî ãóìàíèòàðíîãî êîíâîÿ íà Óêðàèíó

Photos of the humanitarian aid trucks. The second link is from Lugansk, where the first trucks have begun to arrive. The easy arrival of Russian trucks in Lugansk once again makes me question, is the city surrounded or not?

КрыÑа из нержавеющей Ñтали - ЧаÑÑ‚ÑŒ камазов Ñ Ð³ÑƒÐ¼Ð°Ð½Ð¸Ñ‚Ð°Ñ€Ð½Ñ‹Ð¼ грузом уже в ЛуганÑке
КрыÑа из нержавеющей Ñтали - ЛуганÑк, гуманитарный груз

The Kiev BTRZ is stepping up production of BTR-3s for the military.

КиевÑкий бронетанковый ремонтный завод перешел на работу в две Ñмены

China declined the US offer to join in sanctions against Russia.

Íîâîñòè NEWSru.com :: Êèòàé íå óâèäåë ïîëüçû â ñàíêöèÿõ ïðîòèâ Ðîññèè: îíè íå ïîìîãóò óðåãóëèðîâàòü êðèç Óêðàèíå

The news about a handover of Croatian Mi-8MTV-1 to Ukraine turns out to be untrue, and no official offer was made by the US to provide UH-60 Blackhawks as replacements.

bmpd -

The Saur-Mogila monument fell over.

КрыÑа из нержавеющей Ñтали - на Саур Могиле упала Ñтела...

Ukraine is requesting an acceleration of the transfer of IMF funds, and that they go into the acting state budget to allow them to cover expenses.

КрыÑа из нержавеющей Ñтали - Кто бы мог подумать?!
 

Twain

Active Member
Emphasis mine. I've seen multiple reports claiming the same. Maybe it's true. Maybe it's not. Is there evidence?
It really doesn't matter if it's true or not, If Nato (and The EU) are convinced there are russian troops in Ukraine, they will base their decisions on that reality.
 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
It really doesn't matter if it's true or not, If Nato (and The EU) are convinced there are russian troops in Ukraine, they will base their decisions on that reality.
If you want to go that route, we have to go one step further and say that we don't know whether NATO is convinced or not. All we know is that they're publicly stating they're convinced. What they actually base their decision making on could be entirely different information.

But to me it does matter. I'm not NATO or the EU. I don't have decisions to make. I want to know what's actually going on. Hence why I'd like to see the evidence, if it exists.
 

Capt. Ironpants

Active Member
This is most disturbing:
Lithuanian diplomat
BBC News - Ukraine crisis: Lithuania envoy killed in Luhansk
A bit more info here: Lithuanian honorary consul kidnapped and killed in Luhansk - EN.DELFI According to this story, he was kidnapped twelve days ago, but I've never seen any news about that -- perhaps they were keeping it quiet, in hopes of rescuing him?

Oddly, the story hasn't shown up in the American press yet (perhaps they don't know what to make of it, because, according to them, Lugansk was completely taken by Kiev days ago), but there is a statement from State: Death of Mykola Zelenec, Lithuania's Honorary Consul in Luhansk

There is nothing about it I could see on the OSCE's mission in Ukraine twitter feed or daily reports: https://twitter.com/OSCE_SMM

Only this statement from OSCE Vienna: Killing of Mykola Zelenc demonstrates urgent need to stop violent escalation in eastern Ukraine, says Swiss OSCE Permanent Council Chair | OSCE
 

Goknub

Active Member
Considering Lithuania has been one of the most anti-Russian countries in this conflict, including actively countering Russia on the Security Council I think it's more a surprise they thought to maintain this position in the first place.

The rebels are fighting a desperate conflict that's turning against them, they are likely to attack anyone supporting the Ukrainian govt.
 

gf0012-aust

Grumpy Old Man
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
Considering Lithuania has been one of the most anti-Russian countries in this conflict, including actively countering Russia on the Security Council I think it's more a surprise they thought to maintain this position in the first place.

The rebels are fighting a desperate conflict that's turning against them, they are likely to attack anyone supporting the Ukrainian govt.

Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland have all sought for more permanent NATO forces based in their countries since Russia hijacked Crimea

The Estonians have been warning NATO ever since 2010 that this (Russia and an attempt to reclaim ex Baltic WARPAC countries) was going to happen.
 
Last edited:

wsb05

Member
Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland have all sought for more permanent NATO forces based in their countries since Russia hijacked Croatia

The Estonians have been warning NATO ever since 2010 that this (Russia and an attempt to reclaim ex Baltic WARPAC countries) was going to happen.
Croitia?
 

gf0012-aust

Grumpy Old Man
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
Croatia is considered to be south central europe

baltic countries are those that have shorelines along the Baltic Sea: In alphabetic order:

Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, and Sweden.
 

KiwiRob

Well-Known Member
Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland have all sought for more permanent NATO forces based in their countries since Russia hijacked Croatia

The Estonians have been warning NATO ever since 2010 that this (Russia and an attempt to reclaim ex Baltic WARPAC countries) was going to happen.
When and what did Russia try to do with Croatia?

Latvia and Estonia have large minorities of Russians, upwards of 26%, mostly urban, if the govts of those two countries continue to make there Russian citizens second class citizens then they are asking for trouble. I don't think Russia itself will get involved but the local Russian population have legitimate issues which will need addressing or there probably will be trouble.
 

gf0012-aust

Grumpy Old Man
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
When and what did Russia try to do with Croatia?

Latvia and Estonia have large minorities of Russians, upwards of 26%, mostly urban, if the govts of those two countries continue to make there Russian citizens second class citizens then they are asking for trouble. I don't think Russia itself will get involved but the local Russian population have legitimate issues which will need addressing or there probably will be trouble.
no idea about croatia - I didn't raise it - the OP did
 

Capt. Ironpants

Active Member
Considering Lithuania has been one of the most anti-Russian countries in this conflict, including actively countering Russia on the Security Council I think it's more a surprise they thought to maintain this position in the first place.

The rebels are fighting a desperate conflict that's turning against them, they are likely to attack anyone supporting the Ukrainian govt.
I thought it quite odd that he would be in Lugansk, and wondered why he was there.

Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland have all sought for more permanent NATO forces based in their countries since Russia hijacked Croatia

The Estonians have been warning NATO ever since 2010 that this (Russia and an attempt to reclaim ex Baltic WARPAC countries) was going to happen.
Surely you meant Crimea, not Croatia?
 
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