We have another flare-up at the front. Unfortunately, we have had to live with such things for three years already. Using mercenaries, the Russian forces carried out an attack on Ukrainian positions near the Avdiivka industrial zone. The Russian thugs targeted a nearby civilian neighborhood as well. Overall, we have been seeing flare-ups occurring along the whole length of the line of contact. For such attacks, Russia mostly uses so-called “cannon fodder,” that is, locally-recruited and imported mercenaries who densely cover battlefields in their dead bodies. For instance, it happened that way during the Battle of Debaltseve, where the occupying power suffered heavy losses. Of course, the Kremlin propagandists are trying to present those clashes as violations of the Minsk Agreements on the part of Ukraine. However, the question arises: did these loud mouths ever look at the map of the contact line as agreed during Minsk 2 talks? It, for example, shows Debaltseve and Dokuchaievsk as cities which should be controlled by the Ukrainian authorities. Ukrainian soldiers, meanwhile, freely admit that when repelling the Russian thugs’ attacks, they seize the opportunity to capture the enemy’s positions.
Press officer of the 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade Olena Mokrenchuk commented for The Day: “The windows of my rented apartment face a battlefield and offer a view of Donetsk. This situation was unfolding before my very eyes. For a few days, the Russian thugs were setting up lanterns, launching flares, and obviously preparing to attack. I have it all recorded on video. At 6:30 a.m. on January 29, they went on the attack. But we were ready for it. Ukrainian troops ‘welcomed’ the attackers and drove them back with ‘full honors.’ The adversary ran so fast that they lost their own trenches. Thus, our lads took their positions. We had four men killed, they lost nine according to the preliminary data, including the Vostok Battalion commander Ivan Hrek. In addition, they have 24 wounded, with 7 of them badly injured. It should be noted that I am currently in a civilian neighborhood, and we have found mortar craters here. That is, the thugs targeted local civilian population. There was a real risk that civilians could have been hurt. Flare-ups have been occurring along the whole length of the frontline, and we realize that Russia is trying to obtain some benefits in that way. I must say that we have to win somehow and stop this bloody mess. We need to restore justice and reclaim our land. First of all, we need it because the thugs and Russian troops will not leave Ukraine alone and will keep us on their toes. While at that, they attack not only our soldiers, but also civilians.”
Of course, it is an open question whether the military potential of Ukraine is sufficient to liberate further areas, at least those assigned to its control by the Minsk Agreements. Experts note that Russia may use our hypothetical offensive to weaken Ukraine’s position internationally. Unfortunately, the situation in world politics has been playing into the hands of Vladimir Putin so far, despite the sanctions. The latter, in turn, is clearly not going to abandon his plans to consolidate domination in Eastern Europe. Therefore, the formula proposed by the oligarch Viktor Pinchuk, who calls to exchange Crimea for the Donbas, is, to say the least, naive, treacherous, and not viable. The burning Donbas and constant flare-ups along the front line reflect Russia’s attempts to keep Ukraine in constant tension. Do not forget also that Russia has concentrated a powerful army near its border with Ukraine, not to mention its alliance with Belarus.
“The current situation on the front must be split into two parts,” deputy department chief of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense Serhii Halushko commented for The Day. “Firstly, we have the fact of the militants’ recent attack on Ukrainian forces in the Avdiivka industrial zone. The enemy used assault teams to try and capture our positions, but got ‘kicked in the teeth.’ The militants suffered serious losses, although we have suffered some too, as you know. As a result, a favorable situation emerged for Ukrainian troops which they exploited by improving their positions and capturing a few areas. Regarding Debaltseve and Dokuchaievsk, one should remember that under the Minsk Agreements, these areas should be controlled by the Ukrainian authorities. The fact that there are now Russian troops and mercenaries there, confirms that it is Russia that has been violating the Minsk Agreements.”
