Donetsk. 26 May. Airport. Member Report
About three weeks ago I talked to people who were directly involved in one of the most unsuccessful operations of the Donetsk militia - an attempt to seize the airport in Donetsk. At my request, they compiled a text in which they described the events in detail from the point of view of the direct participant. Below is the text, as it came.
All conclusions and arguments that will be presented below are based on personal communication with the direct participants of the events described. Some evidence contradicted each other in detail and consumption figures, but, nevertheless, allowed to reconstruct a complete picture of the total number of tragic militia operations in the territory of the DNI. Some things due to certain reasons will not be called by their proper names. Knowledgeable people will understand.
Survivors militia fighters had a little time to conduct photo and video on the battlefield, so the accompanying illustrative material taken from open sources. Initially, our goal was to investigate the operation to seize Donetsk 26 Airport in May 2014, which resulted in the death of about 50 militias (not counting the losses of the unblocking units), the bulk of which were volunteers from Russia. This fact has already received official recognition of the leadership of the DPR, so we do not see any reason to hide it, including the presence of Russian volunteers.
This operation can be considered the most disastrous of all carried out by the militias of the Southeast, both in terms of the results achieved and the losses incurred. The next clash, guided and planned by Khodakovsky, was a battle near the Marinovka border point, as a result of which the militia suffered losses in manpower and equipment and did not fulfill the initial task.
The abundance of commanders and leaders in Donetsk, the lack of a single headquarters negatively affects the organization of defense of Donetsk itself. The city is completely unprepared for all-round defense. What is being done is not enough to keep Donetsk in the event of its full-scale assault with massive use of armored vehicles, which are now being actively re-established in Kharkov at the Malyshev factory, artillery and aviation.
Russian volunteers.
As part of the militias of the South-East includes a significant number of volunteers from Russia, fighting there for their personal convictions. Many of them have the combat experience of Afghanistan, Transnistria, Nagorno-Karabakh, and two Chechen campaigns. The detachment, which suffered great losses during the breakthrough from the Donetsk airport, began to gather in the middle of May 2014 in the Rostov region.
The gathering of volunteers took place through social networks and personal contacts; on-site assistance was provided by a public organization. Its Rostov branch was headed by a certain person, let's call him “Sergey Ivanovich”. Soon, three groups were formed, the elders of which became commanders with the callsigns "Granit", "North" and "Old". By decision of "Sergei Ivanovich," the squad leader was appointed "Iskra" (died at the breakthrough). “Iskra” in the past was an officer of the special militia forces and did not have sufficient combat, and even more command experience, as well as the intellectual level to manage the detachment. He was inclined to take rash decisions, which was revealed already in a combat situation.
Volunteers from the Crimea and Chechnya were added to the three groups in the Rostov Region. The total number of consolidated detachment was 120 people. The command of the detachment at the insistence of "Sergey Ivanovich" was carried out by the former officer Boris Sysenko, who in a critical situation was removed from the command of the detachment. On the night of 24 on 25 of May on 5 KAMAZ, the combined detachment moved to the side of Donetsk. The detachment was supposed to join the battalion "Vostok" and act under the command of Khodakovsky.
Due to the lack of adequate counter-intelligence cover in the squad, already on Russian territory, at least one enemy reconnaissance aircraft entered. It turned out, as it turned out, a fighter with the call sign "Schumacher". This means that even in the Russian territory, the enemy seeks to conduct active agent work, introducing spies into groups of volunteers. This man came along with the Crimean militia, he himself, in his words, comes from the Nikolaev region. He said that he had not done military service anywhere, but was on the territory of Ukraine on the wanted list of the current Ukrainian government. Asked for the driver's position.
Subsequently, in his backpack, accidentally opened (after the battle for the airport 26 in May), the following characteristic items were discovered: 1) walkie-talkie for communication with aviation, 2) scanner ICOM, 3) store to AK, clogged through one tracer (one of the acceptable ways to "highlight" the target in battle - tracer), 4) flash drive on 32 GB, which in electronic format there were special instructions for conducting sabotage operations in the enemy's rear, including instructions for adjusting artillery and aircraft fire. The presence of instructions and reference materials indicates that the adversary conducts mass training of agents in connection with the developments in the South-East of Ukraine. A professional intelligence officer would not have to compromise his documents.
Moreover, it is much easier to create a network of spies and informers in the conditions of the civil war. Schumacher, according to our information, was not detained and interrogated. Details below. Perhaps he is still one of the "fighters" of the DPR militia and continues to conduct intelligence activities in the interests of the SBU. Close to the "Schumacher" was the militia with the call sign "Odessa", which can also be an agent of the SBU. Compared with chloropicrin in the DOGA toilets, which caused discomforts among the militias and employees, the activity of such spies costs human lives.
The first oddities.
The group was met by the people of Khodakovsky. On the territory of Ukraine, one of the KAMAZ trucks, which was completely loaded with ammunition and armament (from the warehouses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine) “suddenly” could not crawl up the mountain. 20 minutes KAMAZ desperately strained, delaying the movement of the detachment. After which he was thrown, so as not to impede the nomination to the destination. Where is the KAMAZ itself and its cargo - we do not know. The militiamen were told that he had never climbed the mountain, and therefore was blown up along with the contents in order to avoid capture by the Ukrainian military. Neither the inevitable strong explosion, nor the bright night flash was heard or seen by anyone. Probably - weapon and the ammunition was stolen and sold out, since the demand for this business in the Southeast is now very large.
On May 25, an arriving militia unit took part in an improvised parade at a rally in front of the DOGA building, where it was incorporated into the Vostok battalion. Formally, they were not part of the "East", but obeyed the orders of Khodakovsky and Boris Sysenko. The latter was called the “General”; in the past, he was most likely a senior officer before entering the reserve.
(Video. Rally near the building of the Donetsk Regional State Administration 25 in May. The Vostok battalion cars are in blue coloring, they stand at the edges of the column, the militia cars in the center are in green coloring.)
The operation to "capture" the airport.
The operation to seize the Donetsk airport was originally a crime, since it contradicted the basics of tactical operations. Its organization and planning carried Khodakovsky which declaratively at the forefront put the existence of some informal agreements with the representatives of the Security Service and the command of the special forces of 3-shelf (Kirovogorad), guarding the airport. The presence of these "agreements" it in every way tried to convince Boris Sysenko and team leaders.
In the evening of May 25, a group of intelligence officers moved to the area of the Donetsk airport. "Granite" and "Old" on the basis of agreements reached Khodakovsky, met with Security Service officer who headed the service of the international airport security. The latter informed them of the situation around the airport, showed a diagram of the new terminal.
Upon arrival at the location of the headquarters of the "Granite" and "Old" we went to the meeting, which was attended by Khodakovsky, Sysenko and other officers. This group of persons, while planning the operation to seize a complex infrastructure facility, carried out drinking alcoholic beverages. The report of the commanders of the reconnaissance teams was not fully heard. Their arguments about surveillance and reconnaissance object before the seizure should last at least three days to get a complete picture of the situation at the airport and were not heard in the surrounding area. The scouts were ordered to leave the meeting.
In this case, the group commanders were given only the layout of the building of the new airport terminal, they did not have the general airport layout, plans for other buildings, as well as the underground communications scheme of the new terminal, in which the detachment soon found itself in a fire trap.
The planning of the operation was based on dubious information, in which Khodakovsky tried to convince the commanders of justice. First, he tried to convince everyone that the Kirovograd special forces, who were in the vicinity of the airport, due to some of the “agreements” reached, would not open fire on the militiamen. Making success of an operation dependent on agreements with an adversary is a sign of either treachery or dementia. Secondly, on the orders of Khodakovsky group has moved into the airport area did not bring MANPADS that were available.
As he would say later in an interview with RIANews, MANPADS at the militia were. But no one could have predicted that the Ukrainian army dare to strike from the air at the airport, which is the reconstruction of so much money was spent in the year 2012, so he ordered them not to take with me.
In terms of fighting for the airport, control of the runway and the airspace around the airport is important, but not the airport terminal itself. The enemy will be able to freely planted reinforcements in the form of landing like a helicopter and a transport aircraft. Without the presence of air defense systems (at least portable types of “Needles” MANPADS), it is impossible to carry out an operation to seize the existing airport. In this case, terminal capture, which was produced in May 26 2014 years, could be only vaguely understandable psychological effect. militia actions in Luhansk have shown that it is effective to the creation of no-fly zone over the airfield using light air defense weapons, such as MANPADS and memory-23, which are effective when approaching aircraft and helicopters to take off and landing. With him at the Donetsk airport from militia was only one dummy MANPADS. The operation started in the absence of a full investigation of the situation and total misinformation on the part of its organizers.
About 2.00 26 May Khodakovsky ordered the preparation for the nomination of the squad to capture the airport. According to him, the main task will be to the order "to pose for the cameras of journalists," because with kirovogradtsami (3 Spetsnaz Regiment) reached 100-% agreement on the dark each other fire.
About 3.00 a detachment of approximately 80 people moved to the airport to complete the task. The fighters partially occupied the building of the new airport terminal. The occupation of the airport terminal building took place without clashes.
About 7.00 reinforcements, including volunteers from Chechnya, entered the terminal.
About 10.00 Khodakovsky completed negotiations with the command kirovogoradskogo special forces and together with the soldiers of the former Donetsk "Alpha" left the airport. The immediate command was further carried out by Boris Sysenko.
After serving Khodakovsky considering reinforcements arrived in 7.00 number of militia occupied the airport was about 120 people. Further action Kirovograd special forces very different from the "agreements" that have been brought to Khodakovsky personnel militias. Ukrainian special forces positions located in the old airport terminal building and its surroundings. Openly and deliberately, kirovogradtsy steel emplacement for firing the terminal occupied by militias. Tightened mortars, set positions for the AGS-17 "Flame", dispersed snipers. Soon at the airport they were planted PMCs soldiers, who took positions in the control tower and the surrounding area airport.
About 11.00 the enemy opened fire on the militiamen who took the airport.
Blow air was delivered Mi-24 and Su-25, applied NURS-s and automatic guns. PMC snipers opened fire with sniper weapons. In fact, the oversight groups to guide the operation of Boris Sysenko of knowing what happened withdrew from his command by sending a fighter to the store "duty-free" for alcohol. At that time, as the squad led the fight, he carried out drinking alcohol, not possessing the necessary moral and psychological characteristics for the defense organization. Instead of the promised Khodakovsky light capture, he started the squad in the trap. In the future, the actual leadership of the detachments was carried out by the commanders of the groups, acting for some time at their discretion.
Kirovogoradsky special forces also opened fire from mortars, AGS-17 «Flame», machine guns and sniper rifles. back fire from equipped emplacements were organized. To do this, even escaped and folded stacks for cover from bullets and shrapnel ATMs. Then it became the basis for the militias accused of looting, although the airport the day before the cleaned the Ukrainian military.
Part of the fighters, not knowing that the enemy would soon strike the terminal with an air strike, took positions on the roof, set up firing points there, pulled AGS-17 “Flame”.
When the Ukrainian aviation began to work on them, the fighters began to depart from the roof. Materials used in the construction of the airport, in contact Nursi-s, shells and mines were given a huge number of other damaging elements and is a very poor shelter. The roof was covered with gravel, which also when hit by shells acted like striking elements.
The first losses appeared from the aviation fire on the militias who took positions on the roof. The longest position occupied Chechens who tried to hide behind the smokescreen. This measure was not very effective. Detachment loss soon made two dead and several (one killed and nearly all the wounded were from the Chechen detachment). Part of the existing electronic control doors were locked (though there was no power supply terminal terminated).
As a result, the waste has been carried out through the creation of "artificial exit." If everyone could get out at once, there would be less wounded. After the detachment of the detachment from the roof there remained the wounded and dead. Injured for a long time been able to pull out due to tight sniper fire, which was conducted with a control tower. All pulled out later, under heavy fire, only the third attempt. Fire air and artillery very well adjusted. The channel got into the "gift" of the Ukrainian radio were intercepted negotiations between one of the spotters and mortar gunners.
Photo control room 1 and 2
The distance from the new terminal to the dominant height over all other buildings of the control tower was 960 meters. Despite a considerable distance, sniper fire was very accurate. He was conducted from sniper weapons caliber not less than 12,7 mm (most likely - M-82 «Barrett" rifles or similar). To do this, heavy fire PMC snipers had something to suppress. From heavy weapons detachment I had only one 82-mm mortar and one ACS-17 «Flame" which is lowered from the roof.
The mines delivered to the mortar did not have fuses (!!!), and therefore they turned the much-needed fire support into a pile of iron. Militia members had to work at the control tower of the AGS-17 «Flame». The maximum firing range of the mounted grenade launcher is 1700 m, but the sighting is much smaller. Fire rig had long to adjust from the second terminal to the first floor results that weakened sniper fire. After that, the wounded were taken from the roof. Thus kirovogradtsy lip were willing to give the corridor to evacuate the wounded.
PMC snipers fired on both the militia and Kirovograd special forces. Perhaps this was due to poor coordination of actions by the opponents, perhaps because of the agreements reached on the evacuation of the wounded. As a result, the deputy commander of kirovogradtsev really gave orders to open fire from the memory-23 of the control room, where snipers operated. Anyway, many militiamen were wounded by fire is kirovogradtsev.
At this point of time in Donetsk already knew about the failure of the operation. Hastily prepared operation deprotected occupied the airport detachment. It was attended by about 400-500 people. The main problem remained the lack of coordination and unified command. The fighting around the airport 26 May were: 1) battalion "Vostok" Khodakovsky and detachment of the former Donetsk "Alpha", 2) fighters Beard, 3) detachment Zdrilyuka, 4) detachment Pushilin, 5) "Hold".
These units also suffered significant losses from sniper fire, and also, possibly, from friendly fire in conditions of poor coordination of actions. Snipers work in almost all approaches to the airport: METRO store in the area (destroyed two mercenary from the Baltic states), from Spartak (sniper working with a construction crane) from the cemetery, and the runway, one of the 9-storey houses on the street Stratonavts.
Then followed frankly provocative actions. "Spark" was ordered by the mobile communication (from someone !!!) to go for a breakthrough, as the airport is surrounded by a Ukrainian military. Do not wait for the night and leave in small groups, but right now, while the “ring” has not closed, it is loaded onto KAMAZ trucks and goes into the city, taking two dead and a few wounded. On the side of Donetsk they will provide a corridor. In fact, tight encirclement was only around the new terminal. On the territory of the airport fire on the militia continued to kirovogradtsy in the vicinity were snipers PMCs. Significant enemy forces, who took in a dense ring of the airport, was not. The militias were able to plunge into only two KAMAZ vehicles, and access to the other two was tightly blocked by fire of snipers. Therefore, the KAMAZ-s were laden people to the top. At the airport there was only a cover group. She will depart later on Zelenka and will not suffer losses killed.
About 18.30 two KAMAZ-and went on break from the airport. Having received information that are surrounded, KAMAZ-s going at full speed, the soldiers were firing at anything that moves, even at rest. The initiator of this tactic was "Iskra". Perhaps, at the entrance to the city limits, this played its tragic role.
A pedestrian cover group advanced through Zelenka about 19.15-19.20. Casualties she suffered and safely returned to Donetsk, which is a further indication that no tight encirclement was not around the airport. When the group went on a "breakthrough", Boris Sysenko stayed in a cover band. He died of a heart attack on the eve of the retreat group from the airport. Before breaking into Zelenka, the group had to overcome 300 meters under fire from snipers and machine guns.
KAMAZ shooting with militias.
On vozde to Donetsk from the airport at that time were concentrated in an ambush the soldiers of the battalion "Vostok" in the amount of about 80 1 people from second-and 2-th battalion bases (established by the name of departments) and other parts of the militia. They received information that a breakthrough in Donetsk from the airport are the soldiers of the National Guard of Ukraine. An order was given to shoot to kill. Two KAMAZ-and with militias, leaving the airport were destroyed fighters battalion "Vostok" dense fire from small arms and grenade launchers. There was no Ukrainian special forces in an ambush, was the order to open fire on their same soldiers.
The first KAMAZ was hit and rolled over on Kiev Prospekt near the shop "Magnolia." There were more survivors in it than in the second. KAMAZ second was shot down on the street. Stratonavts near Putilovsky bridge.
When KAMAZ was riddled and broken, and movement around them stopped, the men of "East" crept closer and saw corpses on the ribbons. The driver of the second KAMAZ and received numerous wounds and blew himself up with a grenade. Second undermining carried out one of the remaining militias in the minds of the wounded (in the past fought in Afghanistan) They thought that the fire was conducted Ukrainian soldiers. Of the 46 fighters who moved in two KAMAZ vehicles, the 35 survived. A few days after the treacherous operation of Chechen volunteers left the DNI. A significant part of the "Vostok" battalion from the awareness of the tragic consequences of the operation deserted in the coming days.
Waste
After arriving at the base, the fighters after the breakthrough from the airport revealed strange facts. Private property, and the remaining arms of victims were forcibly taken by the return time. AGS-17 «Flame", riding in one of the s-undermined KAMAZ soon surfaced Detachment Pushilin. The realization that they were betrayed and sent to command in the name of the slaughterhouse Khodakovsky made them spread out around the city. Further more. Several fighters camped on leave on the outskirts of Donetsk came "Schumacher" and "Odessa" (presumably - spyware). They are friendly to visit the soldiers and away (allegedly on the orders of) loss to the location of the battalion "Vostok". After some time, attracted the attention of militia children crying and women screaming, "Do not shoot!" From the courtyard of the neighboring house. Jumping into the bushes, they saw armed men in camouflage uniforms surrounded the house next door. Sonderkommanda arrived, most likely in the dark confused structure. Most likely, their task was to clean up the survivors of the massacre.
After that, the surviving fighters had only one option left - to leave Donetsk. We decided to break through to Bezler in Gorlovka. Part of the wounded survivors of the massacre at the airport, were able to move to Gorlovka, in order to avoid "accidents". There are also new interesting details. It turns out that Bezler himself was preparing the operation to seize the Donetsk airport, developed it for five days, conducted reconnaissance. This became known to the enemy, most likely, Ukrainian agents also work for Bezler. Instead of storming decided to "storm" Khodakovsky putting together volunteers SWAT team. People with experience in special operations, infantry were thrown on a treacherous shot.
"Mole" with the call sign "Schumacher" could calculate the chance that the "Besa". Departed to Gorlovka of Donetsk militia were able to organize the transport of their belongings. Accidentally, as often happens, carrying hooked backpack "Schumacher". When they opened it, they found very interesting contents (see the beginning). Read more - received demands to return the bag and its contents. There was a refusal.
Betrayal.
Why what happened during the withdrawal of militias from Donetsk Airport should be seen as a betrayal? In conditions of poor organization and chaos, losses from their fire in a war are inevitable. The fact that this was betrayal, in addition to many other signs, is indicated by the subsequent coverage of events. Look at this photo.
The most terrible thing on it - not a pile of bullet-riddled and splinters militias, the worst - it professional camera lenses on right.
Here is a video where a crowd of reporters, including Ukrainian and Western media launch in Donetsk morgue for shooting dead.
What for? For the report. There is a hard and fast rule - to hide your losses, even less so - never to show them in all the bloody details. First of all, it undermines the morale of its soldiers and the civilian population, who are counting on protection from the military. Here we consciously and massively replicated leafless all media footage of mutilated bodies of militia. This not only allows you to report back to the customer, but is valid for many becomes a signal to think about whether to fight for the DNI.
Do not undertake to judge, coincidence or not, but back on May 20-go "guide DNR" (itself a strong abstraction) intends to nationalize the company Akhmetov (curator Khodakovsky)
But by June from these plans publicly refuse. It is possible that this comes from the realization that the power block of the DPR, if not completely, then partially, is controlled by Akhmetov. The same can be said about the political bloc.
Marinovka.
Additional evidence of this - the battle for the border point Marinovka 5 2014 June. There, Hodakovsky again plans and manages. The legend is the same: border guards are demoralized and willing to surrender. Operation top secret, but it takes Western journalists of the newspaper Sunday Times, that have three days with a group of volunteers, of course, with its mobile phones and Internet access. Subsequently, this operation will be the basis for one of the best reports of the Frontier Service of Ukraine for all the time of the ATO.
The fighters arrived at the position to attack the border guards. Begin to unload from the BTR-a and vehicles. Immediately the first mines arrive, exactly to the area where the column stops. An experienced gaze of one of the fighters fixes sighting pegs for mortars at the landing point. Instead of wanting to surrender border guards dense wall of fire. The flanks cover the divisions of the battalion "Vostok" and "Oplot". Very soon, the cover on the flanks as the wind blew. The militia entered into a difficult battle with the enemy, located on the previously prepared firing positions. Air was struck from the air. MANPADS did not fire a single 4 ... As a result, they had to make a breakthrough in the direction of Russia. Sunday Times journalist Michael Franchetti accompanying the squad with gusto describes how not to Russian territory in 80 detachment of militia freely enters, that is none other than the another official confirmation of Russia's support for terrorists operating in the South-East of Ukraine.
Then very strange things happen. Khodakovsky is among the militias that have fallen into the territory of Russia as a result of the battle. There he is about four days. Then calmly returned to Donetsk. By this point in time, our special services should have had complete information about what happened at the Donetsk airport, including the role of Khodakovsky in these events. This man should not only be questioned and released, but also detained as a traitor. Why this did not happen, we do not know.
The border.
After the traitorous operation to seize the Donetsk airport in the DPR, there are several wounded militias from Russia. Their evacuation does not require any official confessions or actions. But, nevertheless, it is not carried out. The wounded are taken out on the initiative of the Russian militia who survived the battle for the airport. On the border with Russia, transport with the wounded is kept for five hours. Among them are people with detached lower limbs, gangrene has started in one of the wounded in the arm, many require the introduction of painkillers.
There is a total interrogation and verification. Although it is clear that even Ukrainian spies without legs will not escape anywhere. Transportation of the wounded is done at the expense of the militias, transportation of the dead - at the expense of relatives. “Sergey Ivanovich” who has gone into hard drinking in Rostov does not render the slightest assistance in organizing the placement of the wounded in medical institutions. Lightly wounded from inevitability appear on the base of volunteers, thereby unmasking its location. From there they are chased away by Sergey Ivanovich. Their placement in hospitals and support fall on the shoulders of surviving militias who have departed to Russia for rest and recovery.
Conclusions
Why did the leadership of Russian militia units arriving in the South-East initially start up on traitors such as Khodakovsky? Why are their support and maintenance so poorly adjusted? There are several working answers to these questions.
Version one. "Fifth column".
The Russian leadership really informally supports the DPR and the LPR, not limited to work in the information space. In this case, senior officials involved "public organizations" and "charities" or are subversive, because were recruited - bought by the enemy, or are completely incompetent from the professional point of view. There is nothing unusual in this version, the columns were sold both in the first and in the second Chechen campaigns. In this sense, the approach of Sergei Ivanovich, the actions of Boris Sysenko, or the fact that Khodakovsky returned to Donetsk after being detained by Russian border guards are evidence in favor of this version. If it is true - must be followed by immediate staffing decisions, but, first of all, the organization of quality counterintelligence cover everything that is Russian in the South East of Ukraine. The situation when traitors lead connections, and agents of the Security Service of Ukraine are introduced into groups still in Russia, is unacceptable.
Version two. Clearing passionaries
According to this version, the Russian leadership really made "conclusions" from the Kiev Maidan. The war in the south-east from this point of view is not used as a means of creating on the ruins of the former Ukrainian Republic Novorossia buffer, but not least, as a way of disposing of explosive weight in Russia. Despite the rise in Putin’s rating, the level of corruption within the country remains extremely high, and the rise in the standard of living of the main strata of the population is extremely low. To avoid Maidan in Russia in a situation of worsening socio-economic crisis, it is better to remove the hottest group of the population, ready at the first call to take up arms and go to the barricades.
The improvement of the Russian elite in recent years has been declarative in nature and has not been accompanied by a radical redistribution of economic leverage within the country. It is extremely doubtful that the main part of the Russian elite (far from being Russian, as everyone is well aware of), supports the idea of gathering Russian lands, which is favored by Strelkov. For these people, at best, we can only talk about collecting new markets, which is not equal to the first. Since the DNRs and the LPRs destroyed by the war may turn out to be not so much economic assets as social burdens, it may not seem expedient for many to address this issue. But if it has a chance to get rid of potential dissenters willing to reformat the existing political landscape by force, here they are and corridors in the South-East, and Khodakovsky as commanders.
What to do?
In the situation of uncertainty and the lack of accurate information about the decisions taken by the Russian leadership, however, it is necessary to formulate a definite position on the Ukrainian issue. In particular, for those people who have a certain military experience and intend to take part in the hostilities in the South-East. Regardless of the mood of the Russian elite, the future of Russia is now really being decided in Ukraine. Very soon, it will probably be decided on the Central Asian borders of the country.
If you have no experience of participation in hostilities, or at least military service, then it is better to abandon the idea of a trip. Unprepared romantics die first. Try to get basic military skills, good, now there is such an opportunity without the need to serve in the army, even if it involves some expenses. They will still be useful to you to protect the motherland in the future.
If there is experience and motivation, check the transition channel offered by the employees of “public organizations” and “charitable foundations”.
All conclusions and arguments that will be presented below are based on personal communication with the direct participants of the events described. Some evidence contradicted each other in detail and consumption figures, but, nevertheless, allowed to reconstruct a complete picture of the total number of tragic militia operations in the territory of the DNI. Some things due to certain reasons will not be called by their proper names. Knowledgeable people will understand.
Survivors militia fighters had a little time to conduct photo and video on the battlefield, so the accompanying illustrative material taken from open sources. Initially, our goal was to investigate the operation to seize Donetsk 26 Airport in May 2014, which resulted in the death of about 50 militias (not counting the losses of the unblocking units), the bulk of which were volunteers from Russia. This fact has already received official recognition of the leadership of the DPR, so we do not see any reason to hide it, including the presence of Russian volunteers.
This operation can be considered the most disastrous of all carried out by the militias of the Southeast, both in terms of the results achieved and the losses incurred. The next clash, guided and planned by Khodakovsky, was a battle near the Marinovka border point, as a result of which the militia suffered losses in manpower and equipment and did not fulfill the initial task.
The abundance of commanders and leaders in Donetsk, the lack of a single headquarters negatively affects the organization of defense of Donetsk itself. The city is completely unprepared for all-round defense. What is being done is not enough to keep Donetsk in the event of its full-scale assault with massive use of armored vehicles, which are now being actively re-established in Kharkov at the Malyshev factory, artillery and aviation.
Russian volunteers.
As part of the militias of the South-East includes a significant number of volunteers from Russia, fighting there for their personal convictions. Many of them have the combat experience of Afghanistan, Transnistria, Nagorno-Karabakh, and two Chechen campaigns. The detachment, which suffered great losses during the breakthrough from the Donetsk airport, began to gather in the middle of May 2014 in the Rostov region.
The gathering of volunteers took place through social networks and personal contacts; on-site assistance was provided by a public organization. Its Rostov branch was headed by a certain person, let's call him “Sergey Ivanovich”. Soon, three groups were formed, the elders of which became commanders with the callsigns "Granit", "North" and "Old". By decision of "Sergei Ivanovich," the squad leader was appointed "Iskra" (died at the breakthrough). “Iskra” in the past was an officer of the special militia forces and did not have sufficient combat, and even more command experience, as well as the intellectual level to manage the detachment. He was inclined to take rash decisions, which was revealed already in a combat situation.
Volunteers from the Crimea and Chechnya were added to the three groups in the Rostov Region. The total number of consolidated detachment was 120 people. The command of the detachment at the insistence of "Sergey Ivanovich" was carried out by the former officer Boris Sysenko, who in a critical situation was removed from the command of the detachment. On the night of 24 on 25 of May on 5 KAMAZ, the combined detachment moved to the side of Donetsk. The detachment was supposed to join the battalion "Vostok" and act under the command of Khodakovsky.
Khodakovsky
Due to the lack of adequate counter-intelligence cover in the squad, already on Russian territory, at least one enemy reconnaissance aircraft entered. It turned out, as it turned out, a fighter with the call sign "Schumacher". This means that even in the Russian territory, the enemy seeks to conduct active agent work, introducing spies into groups of volunteers. This man came along with the Crimean militia, he himself, in his words, comes from the Nikolaev region. He said that he had not done military service anywhere, but was on the territory of Ukraine on the wanted list of the current Ukrainian government. Asked for the driver's position.
Subsequently, in his backpack, accidentally opened (after the battle for the airport 26 in May), the following characteristic items were discovered: 1) walkie-talkie for communication with aviation, 2) scanner ICOM, 3) store to AK, clogged through one tracer (one of the acceptable ways to "highlight" the target in battle - tracer), 4) flash drive on 32 GB, which in electronic format there were special instructions for conducting sabotage operations in the enemy's rear, including instructions for adjusting artillery and aircraft fire. The presence of instructions and reference materials indicates that the adversary conducts mass training of agents in connection with the developments in the South-East of Ukraine. A professional intelligence officer would not have to compromise his documents.
Moreover, it is much easier to create a network of spies and informers in the conditions of the civil war. Schumacher, according to our information, was not detained and interrogated. Details below. Perhaps he is still one of the "fighters" of the DPR militia and continues to conduct intelligence activities in the interests of the SBU. Close to the "Schumacher" was the militia with the call sign "Odessa", which can also be an agent of the SBU. Compared with chloropicrin in the DOGA toilets, which caused discomforts among the militias and employees, the activity of such spies costs human lives.
The first oddities.
The group was met by the people of Khodakovsky. On the territory of Ukraine, one of the KAMAZ trucks, which was completely loaded with ammunition and armament (from the warehouses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine) “suddenly” could not crawl up the mountain. 20 minutes KAMAZ desperately strained, delaying the movement of the detachment. After which he was thrown, so as not to impede the nomination to the destination. Where is the KAMAZ itself and its cargo - we do not know. The militiamen were told that he had never climbed the mountain, and therefore was blown up along with the contents in order to avoid capture by the Ukrainian military. Neither the inevitable strong explosion, nor the bright night flash was heard or seen by anyone. Probably - weapon and the ammunition was stolen and sold out, since the demand for this business in the Southeast is now very large.
On May 25, an arriving militia unit took part in an improvised parade at a rally in front of the DOGA building, where it was incorporated into the Vostok battalion. Formally, they were not part of the "East", but obeyed the orders of Khodakovsky and Boris Sysenko. The latter was called the “General”; in the past, he was most likely a senior officer before entering the reserve.
(Video. Rally near the building of the Donetsk Regional State Administration 25 in May. The Vostok battalion cars are in blue coloring, they stand at the edges of the column, the militia cars in the center are in green coloring.)
The operation to "capture" the airport.
The operation to seize the Donetsk airport was originally a crime, since it contradicted the basics of tactical operations. Its organization and planning carried Khodakovsky which declaratively at the forefront put the existence of some informal agreements with the representatives of the Security Service and the command of the special forces of 3-shelf (Kirovogorad), guarding the airport. The presence of these "agreements" it in every way tried to convince Boris Sysenko and team leaders.
In the evening of May 25, a group of intelligence officers moved to the area of the Donetsk airport. "Granite" and "Old" on the basis of agreements reached Khodakovsky, met with Security Service officer who headed the service of the international airport security. The latter informed them of the situation around the airport, showed a diagram of the new terminal.
Upon arrival at the location of the headquarters of the "Granite" and "Old" we went to the meeting, which was attended by Khodakovsky, Sysenko and other officers. This group of persons, while planning the operation to seize a complex infrastructure facility, carried out drinking alcoholic beverages. The report of the commanders of the reconnaissance teams was not fully heard. Their arguments about surveillance and reconnaissance object before the seizure should last at least three days to get a complete picture of the situation at the airport and were not heard in the surrounding area. The scouts were ordered to leave the meeting.
In this case, the group commanders were given only the layout of the building of the new airport terminal, they did not have the general airport layout, plans for other buildings, as well as the underground communications scheme of the new terminal, in which the detachment soon found itself in a fire trap.
The planning of the operation was based on dubious information, in which Khodakovsky tried to convince the commanders of justice. First, he tried to convince everyone that the Kirovograd special forces, who were in the vicinity of the airport, due to some of the “agreements” reached, would not open fire on the militiamen. Making success of an operation dependent on agreements with an adversary is a sign of either treachery or dementia. Secondly, on the orders of Khodakovsky group has moved into the airport area did not bring MANPADS that were available.
As he would say later in an interview with RIANews, MANPADS at the militia were. But no one could have predicted that the Ukrainian army dare to strike from the air at the airport, which is the reconstruction of so much money was spent in the year 2012, so he ordered them not to take with me.
In terms of fighting for the airport, control of the runway and the airspace around the airport is important, but not the airport terminal itself. The enemy will be able to freely planted reinforcements in the form of landing like a helicopter and a transport aircraft. Without the presence of air defense systems (at least portable types of “Needles” MANPADS), it is impossible to carry out an operation to seize the existing airport. In this case, terminal capture, which was produced in May 26 2014 years, could be only vaguely understandable psychological effect. militia actions in Luhansk have shown that it is effective to the creation of no-fly zone over the airfield using light air defense weapons, such as MANPADS and memory-23, which are effective when approaching aircraft and helicopters to take off and landing. With him at the Donetsk airport from militia was only one dummy MANPADS. The operation started in the absence of a full investigation of the situation and total misinformation on the part of its organizers.
About 2.00 26 May Khodakovsky ordered the preparation for the nomination of the squad to capture the airport. According to him, the main task will be to the order "to pose for the cameras of journalists," because with kirovogradtsami (3 Spetsnaz Regiment) reached 100-% agreement on the dark each other fire.
About 3.00 a detachment of approximately 80 people moved to the airport to complete the task. The fighters partially occupied the building of the new airport terminal. The occupation of the airport terminal building took place without clashes.
About 7.00 reinforcements, including volunteers from Chechnya, entered the terminal.
About 10.00 Khodakovsky completed negotiations with the command kirovogoradskogo special forces and together with the soldiers of the former Donetsk "Alpha" left the airport. The immediate command was further carried out by Boris Sysenko.
After serving Khodakovsky considering reinforcements arrived in 7.00 number of militia occupied the airport was about 120 people. Further action Kirovograd special forces very different from the "agreements" that have been brought to Khodakovsky personnel militias. Ukrainian special forces positions located in the old airport terminal building and its surroundings. Openly and deliberately, kirovogradtsy steel emplacement for firing the terminal occupied by militias. Tightened mortars, set positions for the AGS-17 "Flame", dispersed snipers. Soon at the airport they were planted PMCs soldiers, who took positions in the control tower and the surrounding area airport.
About 11.00 the enemy opened fire on the militiamen who took the airport.
Blow air was delivered Mi-24 and Su-25, applied NURS-s and automatic guns. PMC snipers opened fire with sniper weapons. In fact, the oversight groups to guide the operation of Boris Sysenko of knowing what happened withdrew from his command by sending a fighter to the store "duty-free" for alcohol. At that time, as the squad led the fight, he carried out drinking alcohol, not possessing the necessary moral and psychological characteristics for the defense organization. Instead of the promised Khodakovsky light capture, he started the squad in the trap. In the future, the actual leadership of the detachments was carried out by the commanders of the groups, acting for some time at their discretion.
Kirovogoradsky special forces also opened fire from mortars, AGS-17 «Flame», machine guns and sniper rifles. back fire from equipped emplacements were organized. To do this, even escaped and folded stacks for cover from bullets and shrapnel ATMs. Then it became the basis for the militias accused of looting, although the airport the day before the cleaned the Ukrainian military.
Part of the fighters, not knowing that the enemy would soon strike the terminal with an air strike, took positions on the roof, set up firing points there, pulled AGS-17 “Flame”.
Militia on the roof
"Gypsy" with AGS and "Mir" on the roof. The “Gypsy” will soon receive a slight wound to the head as a result of an air strike on the terminal, but will remain in service. It will be lost in one of KAMAZ-s at the break. "Peace" will be lost during the breakthrough, his body will lie for three days under sniper fire before the militia could pick it up.
When the Ukrainian aviation began to work on them, the fighters began to depart from the roof. Materials used in the construction of the airport, in contact Nursi-s, shells and mines were given a huge number of other damaging elements and is a very poor shelter. The roof was covered with gravel, which also when hit by shells acted like striking elements.
The first losses appeared from the aviation fire on the militias who took positions on the roof. The longest position occupied Chechens who tried to hide behind the smokescreen. This measure was not very effective. Detachment loss soon made two dead and several (one killed and nearly all the wounded were from the Chechen detachment). Part of the existing electronic control doors were locked (though there was no power supply terminal terminated).
As a result, the waste has been carried out through the creation of "artificial exit." If everyone could get out at once, there would be less wounded. After the detachment of the detachment from the roof there remained the wounded and dead. Injured for a long time been able to pull out due to tight sniper fire, which was conducted with a control tower. All pulled out later, under heavy fire, only the third attempt. Fire air and artillery very well adjusted. The channel got into the "gift" of the Ukrainian radio were intercepted negotiations between one of the spotters and mortar gunners.
Photo control room 1 and 2
Dispatch-1
Dispatch-2
The distance from the new terminal to the dominant height over all other buildings of the control tower was 960 meters. Despite a considerable distance, sniper fire was very accurate. He was conducted from sniper weapons caliber not less than 12,7 mm (most likely - M-82 «Barrett" rifles or similar). To do this, heavy fire PMC snipers had something to suppress. From heavy weapons detachment I had only one 82-mm mortar and one ACS-17 «Flame" which is lowered from the roof.
The mines delivered to the mortar did not have fuses (!!!), and therefore they turned the much-needed fire support into a pile of iron. Militia members had to work at the control tower of the AGS-17 «Flame». The maximum firing range of the mounted grenade launcher is 1700 m, but the sighting is much smaller. Fire rig had long to adjust from the second terminal to the first floor results that weakened sniper fire. After that, the wounded were taken from the roof. Thus kirovogradtsy lip were willing to give the corridor to evacuate the wounded.
PMC snipers fired on both the militia and Kirovograd special forces. Perhaps this was due to poor coordination of actions by the opponents, perhaps because of the agreements reached on the evacuation of the wounded. As a result, the deputy commander of kirovogradtsev really gave orders to open fire from the memory-23 of the control room, where snipers operated. Anyway, many militiamen were wounded by fire is kirovogradtsev.
At this point of time in Donetsk already knew about the failure of the operation. Hastily prepared operation deprotected occupied the airport detachment. It was attended by about 400-500 people. The main problem remained the lack of coordination and unified command. The fighting around the airport 26 May were: 1) battalion "Vostok" Khodakovsky and detachment of the former Donetsk "Alpha", 2) fighters Beard, 3) detachment Zdrilyuka, 4) detachment Pushilin, 5) "Hold".
These units also suffered significant losses from sniper fire, and also, possibly, from friendly fire in conditions of poor coordination of actions. Snipers work in almost all approaches to the airport: METRO store in the area (destroyed two mercenary from the Baltic states), from Spartak (sniper working with a construction crane) from the cemetery, and the runway, one of the 9-storey houses on the street Stratonavts.
Then followed frankly provocative actions. "Spark" was ordered by the mobile communication (from someone !!!) to go for a breakthrough, as the airport is surrounded by a Ukrainian military. Do not wait for the night and leave in small groups, but right now, while the “ring” has not closed, it is loaded onto KAMAZ trucks and goes into the city, taking two dead and a few wounded. On the side of Donetsk they will provide a corridor. In fact, tight encirclement was only around the new terminal. On the territory of the airport fire on the militia continued to kirovogradtsy in the vicinity were snipers PMCs. Significant enemy forces, who took in a dense ring of the airport, was not. The militias were able to plunge into only two KAMAZ vehicles, and access to the other two was tightly blocked by fire of snipers. Therefore, the KAMAZ-s were laden people to the top. At the airport there was only a cover group. She will depart later on Zelenka and will not suffer losses killed.
About 18.30 two KAMAZ-and went on break from the airport. Having received information that are surrounded, KAMAZ-s going at full speed, the soldiers were firing at anything that moves, even at rest. The initiator of this tactic was "Iskra". Perhaps, at the entrance to the city limits, this played its tragic role.
A pedestrian cover group advanced through Zelenka about 19.15-19.20. Casualties she suffered and safely returned to Donetsk, which is a further indication that no tight encirclement was not around the airport. When the group went on a "breakthrough", Boris Sysenko stayed in a cover band. He died of a heart attack on the eve of the retreat group from the airport. Before breaking into Zelenka, the group had to overcome 300 meters under fire from snipers and machine guns.
KAMAZ shooting with militias.
On vozde to Donetsk from the airport at that time were concentrated in an ambush the soldiers of the battalion "Vostok" in the amount of about 80 1 people from second-and 2-th battalion bases (established by the name of departments) and other parts of the militia. They received information that a breakthrough in Donetsk from the airport are the soldiers of the National Guard of Ukraine. An order was given to shoot to kill. Two KAMAZ-and with militias, leaving the airport were destroyed fighters battalion "Vostok" dense fire from small arms and grenade launchers. There was no Ukrainian special forces in an ambush, was the order to open fire on their same soldiers.
Kamaz. Kiev Avenue
The first KAMAZ was hit and rolled over on Kiev Prospekt near the shop "Magnolia." There were more survivors in it than in the second. KAMAZ second was shot down on the street. Stratonavts near Putilovsky bridge.
When KAMAZ was riddled and broken, and movement around them stopped, the men of "East" crept closer and saw corpses on the ribbons. The driver of the second KAMAZ and received numerous wounds and blew himself up with a grenade. Second undermining carried out one of the remaining militias in the minds of the wounded (in the past fought in Afghanistan) They thought that the fire was conducted Ukrainian soldiers. Of the 46 fighters who moved in two KAMAZ vehicles, the 35 survived. A few days after the treacherous operation of Chechen volunteers left the DNI. A significant part of the "Vostok" battalion from the awareness of the tragic consequences of the operation deserted in the coming days.
Waste
After arriving at the base, the fighters after the breakthrough from the airport revealed strange facts. Private property, and the remaining arms of victims were forcibly taken by the return time. AGS-17 «Flame", riding in one of the s-undermined KAMAZ soon surfaced Detachment Pushilin. The realization that they were betrayed and sent to command in the name of the slaughterhouse Khodakovsky made them spread out around the city. Further more. Several fighters camped on leave on the outskirts of Donetsk came "Schumacher" and "Odessa" (presumably - spyware). They are friendly to visit the soldiers and away (allegedly on the orders of) loss to the location of the battalion "Vostok". After some time, attracted the attention of militia children crying and women screaming, "Do not shoot!" From the courtyard of the neighboring house. Jumping into the bushes, they saw armed men in camouflage uniforms surrounded the house next door. Sonderkommanda arrived, most likely in the dark confused structure. Most likely, their task was to clean up the survivors of the massacre.
After that, the surviving fighters had only one option left - to leave Donetsk. We decided to break through to Bezler in Gorlovka. Part of the wounded survivors of the massacre at the airport, were able to move to Gorlovka, in order to avoid "accidents". There are also new interesting details. It turns out that Bezler himself was preparing the operation to seize the Donetsk airport, developed it for five days, conducted reconnaissance. This became known to the enemy, most likely, Ukrainian agents also work for Bezler. Instead of storming decided to "storm" Khodakovsky putting together volunteers SWAT team. People with experience in special operations, infantry were thrown on a treacherous shot.
"Mole" with the call sign "Schumacher" could calculate the chance that the "Besa". Departed to Gorlovka of Donetsk militia were able to organize the transport of their belongings. Accidentally, as often happens, carrying hooked backpack "Schumacher". When they opened it, they found very interesting contents (see the beginning). Read more - received demands to return the bag and its contents. There was a refusal.
Betrayal.
Why what happened during the withdrawal of militias from Donetsk Airport should be seen as a betrayal? In conditions of poor organization and chaos, losses from their fire in a war are inevitable. The fact that this was betrayal, in addition to many other signs, is indicated by the subsequent coverage of events. Look at this photo.
The most terrible thing on it - not a pile of bullet-riddled and splinters militias, the worst - it professional camera lenses on right.
Here is a video where a crowd of reporters, including Ukrainian and Western media launch in Donetsk morgue for shooting dead.
What for? For the report. There is a hard and fast rule - to hide your losses, even less so - never to show them in all the bloody details. First of all, it undermines the morale of its soldiers and the civilian population, who are counting on protection from the military. Here we consciously and massively replicated leafless all media footage of mutilated bodies of militia. This not only allows you to report back to the customer, but is valid for many becomes a signal to think about whether to fight for the DNI.
Do not undertake to judge, coincidence or not, but back on May 20-go "guide DNR" (itself a strong abstraction) intends to nationalize the company Akhmetov (curator Khodakovsky)
But by June from these plans publicly refuse. It is possible that this comes from the realization that the power block of the DPR, if not completely, then partially, is controlled by Akhmetov. The same can be said about the political bloc.
Marinovka.
Additional evidence of this - the battle for the border point Marinovka 5 2014 June. There, Hodakovsky again plans and manages. The legend is the same: border guards are demoralized and willing to surrender. Operation top secret, but it takes Western journalists of the newspaper Sunday Times, that have three days with a group of volunteers, of course, with its mobile phones and Internet access. Subsequently, this operation will be the basis for one of the best reports of the Frontier Service of Ukraine for all the time of the ATO.
The fighters arrived at the position to attack the border guards. Begin to unload from the BTR-a and vehicles. Immediately the first mines arrive, exactly to the area where the column stops. An experienced gaze of one of the fighters fixes sighting pegs for mortars at the landing point. Instead of wanting to surrender border guards dense wall of fire. The flanks cover the divisions of the battalion "Vostok" and "Oplot". Very soon, the cover on the flanks as the wind blew. The militia entered into a difficult battle with the enemy, located on the previously prepared firing positions. Air was struck from the air. MANPADS did not fire a single 4 ... As a result, they had to make a breakthrough in the direction of Russia. Sunday Times journalist Michael Franchetti accompanying the squad with gusto describes how not to Russian territory in 80 detachment of militia freely enters, that is none other than the another official confirmation of Russia's support for terrorists operating in the South-East of Ukraine.
BTR "East"
Photo report of the Ukrainian border guards about the victorious battle
Then very strange things happen. Khodakovsky is among the militias that have fallen into the territory of Russia as a result of the battle. There he is about four days. Then calmly returned to Donetsk. By this point in time, our special services should have had complete information about what happened at the Donetsk airport, including the role of Khodakovsky in these events. This man should not only be questioned and released, but also detained as a traitor. Why this did not happen, we do not know.
The border.
After the traitorous operation to seize the Donetsk airport in the DPR, there are several wounded militias from Russia. Their evacuation does not require any official confessions or actions. But, nevertheless, it is not carried out. The wounded are taken out on the initiative of the Russian militia who survived the battle for the airport. On the border with Russia, transport with the wounded is kept for five hours. Among them are people with detached lower limbs, gangrene has started in one of the wounded in the arm, many require the introduction of painkillers.
There is a total interrogation and verification. Although it is clear that even Ukrainian spies without legs will not escape anywhere. Transportation of the wounded is done at the expense of the militias, transportation of the dead - at the expense of relatives. “Sergey Ivanovich” who has gone into hard drinking in Rostov does not render the slightest assistance in organizing the placement of the wounded in medical institutions. Lightly wounded from inevitability appear on the base of volunteers, thereby unmasking its location. From there they are chased away by Sergey Ivanovich. Their placement in hospitals and support fall on the shoulders of surviving militias who have departed to Russia for rest and recovery.
Conclusions
Why did the leadership of Russian militia units arriving in the South-East initially start up on traitors such as Khodakovsky? Why are their support and maintenance so poorly adjusted? There are several working answers to these questions.
Version one. "Fifth column".
The Russian leadership really informally supports the DPR and the LPR, not limited to work in the information space. In this case, senior officials involved "public organizations" and "charities" or are subversive, because were recruited - bought by the enemy, or are completely incompetent from the professional point of view. There is nothing unusual in this version, the columns were sold both in the first and in the second Chechen campaigns. In this sense, the approach of Sergei Ivanovich, the actions of Boris Sysenko, or the fact that Khodakovsky returned to Donetsk after being detained by Russian border guards are evidence in favor of this version. If it is true - must be followed by immediate staffing decisions, but, first of all, the organization of quality counterintelligence cover everything that is Russian in the South East of Ukraine. The situation when traitors lead connections, and agents of the Security Service of Ukraine are introduced into groups still in Russia, is unacceptable.
Version two. Clearing passionaries
According to this version, the Russian leadership really made "conclusions" from the Kiev Maidan. The war in the south-east from this point of view is not used as a means of creating on the ruins of the former Ukrainian Republic Novorossia buffer, but not least, as a way of disposing of explosive weight in Russia. Despite the rise in Putin’s rating, the level of corruption within the country remains extremely high, and the rise in the standard of living of the main strata of the population is extremely low. To avoid Maidan in Russia in a situation of worsening socio-economic crisis, it is better to remove the hottest group of the population, ready at the first call to take up arms and go to the barricades.
The improvement of the Russian elite in recent years has been declarative in nature and has not been accompanied by a radical redistribution of economic leverage within the country. It is extremely doubtful that the main part of the Russian elite (far from being Russian, as everyone is well aware of), supports the idea of gathering Russian lands, which is favored by Strelkov. For these people, at best, we can only talk about collecting new markets, which is not equal to the first. Since the DNRs and the LPRs destroyed by the war may turn out to be not so much economic assets as social burdens, it may not seem expedient for many to address this issue. But if it has a chance to get rid of potential dissenters willing to reformat the existing political landscape by force, here they are and corridors in the South-East, and Khodakovsky as commanders.
What to do?
In the situation of uncertainty and the lack of accurate information about the decisions taken by the Russian leadership, however, it is necessary to formulate a definite position on the Ukrainian issue. In particular, for those people who have a certain military experience and intend to take part in the hostilities in the South-East. Regardless of the mood of the Russian elite, the future of Russia is now really being decided in Ukraine. Very soon, it will probably be decided on the Central Asian borders of the country.
If you have no experience of participation in hostilities, or at least military service, then it is better to abandon the idea of a trip. Unprepared romantics die first. Try to get basic military skills, good, now there is such an opportunity without the need to serve in the army, even if it involves some expenses. They will still be useful to you to protect the motherland in the future.
If there is experience and motivation, check the transition channel offered by the employees of “public organizations” and “charitable foundations”.
Information