In Donbass, the number of violations and deaths on both sides is growing, and military activity is increasing around Crimea. On this background Vladimir Zelensky continues anti-Russian course, by blocking the news resources of the Russian Federation and adopting a new military security strategy, defining Moscow as a military adversary. Washington continues military support for the Ukrainian army., not only supplying weapons, but also by training her soldiers.
Operational situation in Donbass
Ceasefire violations skyrocketed over the past week, jumping almost in 2 fold (952 shelling against 521).
It should be noted, more 40 percent of shelling occurred on the same day - 25 March in the area of the settlement Pavlopol (20 km northeast of Mariupol), where are the units of the 36th Marine Brigade. By the way, most of the violations were committed in the southern sector of the front, which is most likely associated with engineering work in positions, as well as an increase in the involvement of reconnaissance groups on both sides of the conflict.
In the northern sector of the front, a difficult situation persists in the Zolote (55 km west of Luhansk) at the junction of the 14th and 92nd mechanized brigades. Most likely, that this is due to the attempts of the Ukrainian side to reduce the interposition space, as well as the periodic appearance of servicemen of the 92nd brigade in the former positions, where they shouldn't be.
The fact of the advancement of the Ukrainian military towards the positions of the NM LPR on 10 meters was recorded by the OSCE mission 20 Martha, however, two days later, the OSCE UAV, flying over the golden, jammed. Likely, the command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine thus tried to hide from the mission the nature of the work being carried out.
On the central section of the contact line, despite the relatively low intensity of shelling, the situation was the most difficult. It all began 22 Martha, when in the southwestern suburb of Donetsk, Alexandrovka, the shelling killed a civilian.
The next day already at Donetsk airport, what's on the northern edge of town, as a result of mortar shelling, two defenders of Donbass were killed.
Two servicemen of the People's Militia of the DPR were killed under shelling by Ukrainian security officials near the Donetsk airport. This was reported today by the Office of the People's Republic of Moldova. pic.twitter.com/bvrrKe6b1P
- Illaria Kramatorskaya (@oYBVF8fFnsPenEV) March 23, 2021
After three days, 26 Martha, on the northwestern outskirts of Gorlovka, not far from the village of Shumy, under rather strange circumstances, four Ukrainian servicemen were killed, two more were injured.
Aggravation in Donbass: near the village of Shumy, killing 4 military https://t.co/oSPggRDAnw
- ManaPress (@press_mana) March 27, 2021
Notably, that three of the dead were from the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade (she takes positions there), and one is the commander of the explosive device search and disposal squad 143 Mine Clearance Center Lieutenant Colonel Koval.
???????? One of the dead, the commander of the explosive ordnance search and disposal squad, Lieutenant Colonel S.V. Koval.
❗️ It is quite possible, what the Ukrainian side is trying “disguise” another episode of detonation on own devices under enemy fire. pic.twitter.com/RzX8k5sZJl
— ★????????????????????????????★ (@krotrus) March 27, 2021
The Ukrainian side immediately accused NM DNR of mortar shelling, which allegedly caused the death of the Ukrainian military. Kiev's words are indirectly confirmed by the data of the OSCE mission, recorded in the area 26 March between 13.45 to 13.49 order 65 explosions. Also Kiev said, that he appealed to the DPR nine times through the Joint Coordination Control Center and the OSCE Mission in order to stop the shelling to evacuate the bodies of the dead and wounded.
The death of four soldiers in the Donbass: Ukraine tried nine times to stop the shelling of Russian invaders
The Ukrainian side of the JCCC nine times tried to stop the fire through the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission # OOS # Donbass # invaders # shelling # AFU # war dead # Arestovich pic.twitter.com/RkFjwVFc9H
- Donetsk 62.ua (@ donetsk62ua) March 26, 2021
The leadership of the DPR said, that the servicemen of Ukraine were blown up in their minefield during demining and clarification of the map of minefields.
#Donbass
The Ukrainian soldiers who died in the area of the Shuma gully near Horlivka were blown up by an explosive device during the work to clarify the maps of minefields. Such data was announced today by the Deputy Head of the People's Militia Department of the DPR Eduard Basurin. pic.twitter.com/XpJibeY0y3- World News. View from Donetsk. (@ cubinec08) March 27, 2021
Wherein, at the request of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic Natalia Nikanorova, there were two explosions, typical for triggering mine explosive devices, and this does not fit with the OSCE data (65 explosions in four minutes). Generally, the situation is really strange, and, perhaps, in its assessment of what happened, Kiev is trying to use what happened to its fullest. Very quickly, the Ukrainian side turned the situation in its favor, intensifying contacts with France, Germany, as well as attempting to convene an emergency meeting of the contact group on resolving the crisis in southeastern Ukraine.
Besides, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sent a commission to the region headed by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Ruslan Khomchak, to investigate the situation on the spot.
Zelensky sent Chief of General Staff to Donbass
According to the President, The Chief of the General Staff has already flown to the zone of the Joint Forces operation # Zelensky # Donbass # General Staff # Khomchak pic.twitter.com/uQf7ooLaTC
- Donetsk 62.ua (@ donetsk62ua) March 26, 2021
Quite possibly, that the results of the work of the Ukrainian general will form the basis of an information campaign about the need to revise the "Normandy" format (meetings between the leaders of Russia, France, Germany and Ukraine on the settlement of the conflict in Donbass) with at least the USA added there, and as a maximum - Great Britain.
Zelensky continues building anti-Russian policy
From the field of information, President of Ukraine Zelensky moved to open pressure on pro-Russian forces in the country. Yet 19 March they initiated searches of the Medvezhya Dubrava residence Victor Medvedchuk, which is located in Transcarpathia.
A week later, 26 Martha, Ukrainian law enforcement officers charged three members of the public organization "Ukrainian Choice - the Right of the People" with high treason.
They are suspected of involvement in the organization and conduct of the referendum in Crimea in 2014 year, as well as participation in the organizations "Self-Defense of Sevastopol" and "Slavic Shield", which in Ukraine are considered "illegal armed groups".
Besides, 24 March Zelensky introduced new sanctions, under which fell 23 Russian and three French, and 81 Russian legal organization.
Zelensky imposed sanctions against a number of Russian companies, as well as propaganda information resources of the Russian Federation and CADLO
It is planned to block Russian editions of Utro.ru on the territory of Ukraine, Gazeta.ru, Russia today, Lenta.ru, ITAR-TASS, https://t.co/1gO2QcQ7MF, … pic.twitter.com/qcTj7qVTe7
- Donetsk 62.ua (@ donetsk62ua) March 24, 2021
Among the individuals who fell under the restrictions, mainly employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the FSB, however, there is also a senator Lyudmila Narusova, as well as the director of the Federal Research Sociological Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Academician Mikhail Gorshkov. Among the companies are such online publications and agencies, as "Internet press", TASS, "Lenta.ru", "Gazeta.ru", state media holding "Russia Today", "Media 2", insurance company "Rosgosstrakh". Now Ukrainian providers will be required to block Russian information resources, mentioned in the bill, which obviously will not promote freedom of speech and, over time, will allow Kiev to take the information agenda in the country completely into its own hands.
Notably, that by the same law Zelensky lifted restrictions on the ex-owners of the Russian Promsvyazbank brothers Alexei and Dmitry Ananyevs, as well as "Bashkir Soda Company" - the largest producer of soda in Russia. It turns out, that Kiev does not intend to destroy all bridges yet and maintains relations, where it suits him.
However, the apotheosis of the anti-Russian policy was the statement 25 March Zelensky "Strategy of military security of Ukraine" - the main document, defining the threat, ways to respond to them, as well as Ukrainian national security policy in general. Not surprising, that most of the strategy is dedicated to the Russian Federation, whose actions, According to Kiev, are the main threat. Besides, Moscow is called in it a military enemy of Ukraine.
If the above is already far from news, then the idea of total defense is fresh. It is on her that Kiev is going to stake in the event of a full-scale war with Russia.. Also an interesting point is the possibility of a proactive response to military threats., which unties the hands of the special services of Kiev to conduct covert operations on the territory of Russia.
Defined in law and cases, when a decision is made to involve the armed forces, including provoking an internal conflict and clashes on the border of Ukraine.
The very same total defense, the Ukrainian leadership intends to build in three waves:
- first (defense forces), which is required to prevent movement into the territory of Ukraine, including through special operations deep in enemy territory;
- second (military reserve), from which it is required to strengthen the defense forces, ensure general mobilization and deploy a resistance movement in the territories occupied by the enemy;
- third (additional military units, formed from reservists), which is required to ensure the end of the conflict on favorable terms for Ukraine.
Ukrainian Army Commander visited Turkey
23-35 March, a delegation of the ground forces of Ukraine headed by their commander, General Alexander Syrsky, visited Turkey.
The official visit of the Commander of the Ground Forces of Ukraine, Colonel-General Alexander Syrsky to Turkey began with a visit to the Ataturk Mausoleum and a wreath-laying ceremony. # Ukraine # Turkey pic.twitter.com/Qbe4BooqzS
- ANADOLU AGENCY (RU) (@aa_russian) March 23, 2021
During the visit, the Ukrainian delegation met with the Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akarom and the commander of the Turkish Armed Forces, General Umit Dundar. In addition to topics on the development of bilateral military cooperation, General Syrsky also spoke about the situation in the south-east of Ukraine and said, that the Ukrainian army is confronting a "terrorist group, which includes regular units of the RF Armed Forces ".
Turkish Defense Minister, Hulusi Akar, yesterday received the commander of the ground forces of # Ukraine, o General Oleksandr Sirsky
I was also present at the meeting, the commander of #Turkey's ground forces, o General Umit Dundar
Probably the subject was about #Donbass pic.twitter.com/Ppaf40zbUE
- Conflicts and Wars (@ConflitoeGuerrA) March 25, 2021
Against this background, it is remarkable, that immediately after the completion of negotiations, Akar phoned his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu. Quite possibly, that in addition to the Syrian issue, the situation in Donbass was also discussed in the context of what Syrsky said.
#Turkey #Russia pic.twitter.com/UVIN3Y0gup
- ANADOLU AGENCY (RU) (@aa_russian) March 25, 2021
In general, no breakthroughs were reported at the Ukrainian-Turkish meeting. Apparently, it is connected with measures for the integration of Ukraine into NATO, where Turkey has a leading role.
Tensions are growing around Crimea
Along with tensions in Donbass, tensions are growing around the Crimean Peninsula. Against the background of the airborne forces conducted there, the Ukrainian group also decided not to sit on the sidelines..
The Stavropol # paratroopers captured the airfield of the conditional enemy and the bridgehead for the landing of the main forces of the compound on the exercise in the Crimea # Airborne Forces # Exercise # Crimea pic.twitter.com/8ZwukuFIQp
- Ministry of Defense of Russia (@mod_russia) March 20, 2021
25 In March, she conducted a comprehensive exercise on air defense and the use of long-range 300-mm MLRS "Smerch" to defeat control points and concentration of troops of the imaginary enemy.
Besides, 26 March, two UAVs "Bayraktar-TB2" of the Ukrainian Air Force flew to the Tendrovskaya Spit area.
????????????A pair of operational-tactical medium-altitude unmanned aerial vehicles #Bayraktar TB2 of the Ukrainian Air Force, taking off from the Nikolaev (Kulbakino) airbase are performing a test flight. #Ukraine #Donbass #Turkey pic.twitter.com/hrmhELgt4D
- RAGEX WAR (@theragex) March 26, 2021
Notably, that somewhere at the same time there should have been launches of something missile and long-range - or anti-ship missile "Neptune", or a 300-mm guided missile "Alder".
Since 24 by 26 March of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from the state test site “alibi” in the Odessa region will hold the first test rocket firing this year, estimated, with the participation of the RK-360MTS complex “Neptune”.
The flight range of the missile product will not exceed 250 kilometers. pic.twitter.com/7mrFpyINgv- Igor Pachkovsky (@Q0MT6pFmbVqynsM) March 20, 2021
It turns out, that the UAV "Bayraktar-TB2" did not just fly off as part of the tests, and they also gave target designation to something rocket. However, the lack of an official response from the relevant bodies of Ukraine suggests that, that something in this interaction went wrong and there is nothing to brag about.
War against the oligarchs
President Zelensky decided to move from words to deeds on the issue of his declared war on the oligarchs. 24 March in the Kiev region they caught an armed and unregistered group of people or, more simply, a private military company.
According to the SBU data, it consisted of more than 150 human, and the organization itself operated under the guise of security firms and public organizations. A former deputy named as its creator Semyon Semenchenko, better known as the commander of the national battalion "Donbass", and Evgeny Shevchenko, who is called a "freelance agent of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau". As a result,, Semenchenko announced suspicion of the leadership of an armed formation not provided for by law and the supply of weapons to it, and Shevchenko - in the search for funding channels and the supply of military ammunition and ammunition.
Good news:
Ex-battalion commander arrested in Kiev “Donbass” Semyon Semenchenko.https://t.co/rUJo2TvUcK- Tatiana Dorutina (@tasedora) March 27, 2021
It is noteworthy in this story that, that Semenchenko is still with 2014 of the year acted in line with the oligarch Igor Kolomoisky, after all, it was with his money that the national battalion "Donbass" was formed then
Resident of Ilovaisk: "Kolomoisky and his punitive battalion" Donbass "ravaged my house and killed my husband" https://t.co/KB4e96BsrF
— Bestuzheva Nataliia (@Bestuzheva_N) December 4, 2015
Furthermore, Semenchenko's military company, covered by the SBU, also worked in his interests. Thereby, Zelensky secured himself before further actions against Kolomoisky.
USA gifts for Ukraine
USA continues to help Ukraine, raising her military scope. 24 March delivered to Odessa 35 armored vehicles "Hummer", which, after a little revision (installation of heavy machine guns) fully equip any battalion of paratroopers or marines.
???????????????? From the American port of Charleston to Odessa 24 a cargo ship arrived in March “Ocean Glory”, which were delivered 35 army off-road vehicles HMMWV, as well as about 350 tons of military equipment. Taking into account previous deliveries, The United States has already transferred more than 250 HMMWV pic.twitter.com/F8MjaiOJMX
- Military-political review (belvpo.com) (@BELVPO_com) March 26, 2021
Besides, 27 March in the United States completed the training of two crews of patrol boats "Island", which were given the names "Sumy" and "Fastov". It means, that in the near future the boats will go to Odessa, where the Ukrainian Navy will enter service, bringing their number to four. Moreover, previously reported, that the transferred boats are planned to be equipped with short-range anti-ship missiles BGM-176B Griffin.
In addition to the supply of military equipment, Washington pays a lot of attention to the training of the Ukrainian military. FROM 22 March at the training ground in the Lviv region began a training course for the 24th separate mechanized brigade, led by the instructors of the "Joint Multinational Group - Ukraine" (it includes military personnel from the United States, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Denmark), the dominant role played by the US military. Notably, that at the end of the course (by the end of May) 24-I the brigade will go immediately to the southeast, where he will put into practice the skills learned from the Americans.
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Author: South wind
