Igor
Strelkov – press conference (subtitled in English)
LPR and DPR Military Briefings, July 28, 2014
Translated from Russian by Gleb Bazov
July 27, 2014 - Order of Igor Strelkov
ORDER
of the Commander-in-Chief of the Donetsk People’s Republic Militia
July
27, 2014, in the City of Donetsk
With
respect to the introduction of measures to be applied to the
voluntarily surrendering servicemen of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Recently,
we have been observing a sharp increase in the number of servicemen
within the ranks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces unwilling to continue
fighting a fratricidal war against their own people and refusing to
obey the criminal orders of their command. Despite being subjected to
various types of punishment by their commanders and to violent duress
by the Nazis, all the way up to extrajudicial executions, such
servicemen, nevertheless, do not surrender to the forces of the DPR
Militia, fearful of being subjected to repressions by the latter.
Guided by considerations of humanity in the name of stopping the
bloodshed and saving the lives of Ukrainian servicemen, who were
forcibly sent into the area of the fratricidal war,
I
HEREBY ORDER:
All
the commanders and the fighters of the forces of the DPR Militia not
to open fire on groups or individual servicemen of the Ukrainian
Armed Forces that have raised a white flag or signified their
intention to surrender in another manner. After disarmament and
inspection to ensure that they carry no weapons, such persons are to
be permitted through the battle ranks of the Militia and concentrated
in special collection points for further transportation to the deep
rear under guard. Those persons are to be assigned the status of POW
[Prisoners of War].
In
accordance with the Geneva Conventions “Rules of Conducting
Warfare”, and the additional protocols thereto, such persons shall
be provided with such nutrition and medical assistance as may be
required. The use of executions, torture and humiliation in relation
to them is prohibited. Any contravention of this part is considered
to be a military offense and shall be punishable in accordance with
the Laws of Wartime.
There
shall be a formal accounting of all the above-noted persons and
information regarding them shall be sent to the Staff of the DPR
Militia for the determination of their future location in accordance
with three schemes that are based on personal choice. Persons that
voluntarily lay down arms and surrender to the forces of the DPR
Militia and that have not committed grave crimes in the course of the
hostilities on the territory of Novorossiya may choose:
to
return to their families in Ukraine;
to
join the ranks of the DPR Militia; and,
to
be sent to the territory of Russia as a temporarily interned person
(an option – as a refugee).
Minister
of Defence Commander
of the Militia
Of
the Donetsk People’s Republic - Colonel
I.I. Strelkov
00:55
– July 28, 2014 – Overview of the Military Situation
In
Shakhtersk, the battles are continuing at this time (00:55 MSK),
there is shelling, artillery strikes are being conducted also against
Gorlovka, and Gorlovka was also hit with an airstrike today. So far,
there is little information from the locations of battles.
In
Donetsk, high tensions persist; in the second half of the day the
Junta conducted strikes using Uragan MLRS from Elenovka. Battles
occurred in the area of the airport; in the evening, a column of
smoke was rising above it.
Ukies
continue to block the work of the OSCE monitors and are preventing
them from travelling to the site of the crash of the Malaysian
Boeing.
While
on the Lugansk front its has been relatively quiet (without taking
into account the constant artillery shelling in the course of the
night), then the night on the Donetsk front is expected to be far
from calm.
And
for the nightcap, for better sleep – our forces shot down a Su
aircraft over Antratsit. And so we hope that, despite everything, the
night in Donetsk will be calmer than the last several days.
July
28, 2014 – Briefing from the Staff of Aleksey Mozgovoi for July
25-27
Our
“ghosts” are again at work. After the withdrawal of the units
from the closing ring of encirclement, among the personnel of the
battalion and of separate units of the Militia certain measures were
taken aimed at reforming our troops and changing the tactics and the
performance quality of the operations aimed at eliminating the forces
of the enemy.
July
25th – Fighting near Lomovatovka – a column of the enemy that was
moving in the direction of Bryanka was stopped using the forces of
one of our squads. Three BTRs, a tank and several Ural trucks with
enemy troops were unable to break through a defence barrier organized
by 6 men. Ukies were forced to retreat …
July
26th – Through the joint efforts of the mortar crews of our
battalion and the artillery of the Cossack hundred, an area of enemy
fortifications near Pervomaisk was destroyed.
Apart
from that, over the past two days, the following was destroyed on the
Pervomaisk front:
transportation
trucks – 2 Urals and 1 GAZ-66;
armoured
vehicles – 4 BMPs and 2 tanks; and,
an
ammunition depot.
With
respect to Komissarovka – one tank, 3 BMPs and 1 Ural truck were
destroyed.
Overall,
the enemy suffered manpower losses of over 100 men. Our losses
constitute 2 lightly wounded, who have refused to leave their
positions.
July
28, 2014 – Information from the Media Agency ANNA-News
It
is July 27-28, and the battle for Shakhtersk continues.
Fighting
continued all night and, as of 10:00 on July 28 was still ongoing. In
the 8th district there is no telephone service or electricity; the
battles are being fought in the area of the 12th and the 15th mines.
The militiamen are spread out around the city and are firing at the
enemy; the strikes are being conducted using tanks and automatic
rifles.
On
July 27, a maneuverable armoured group of the enemy attacked the city
of Shakhtersk in the deep rear of the DPR army. Heavy clashes began
on the outskirts of the city. While the miner units of the DPR army
were repelling the attack, the staff of the Militia urgently sent
reinforcements from the side of Krasniy Luch and from other
directions toward Torez and, from there, to Shakhtersk.
The
city was entered by tanks, BMPs, Grad MLRS, trucks, minivans, and
light vehicles transporting fighters of the DPR Army. Among them was
one of Igor Strelkov’s main assault units – the special purpose,
spetsnaz Battalion “Kalmius”. Having dispersed, they entered into
battle with the Kiev occupation forces.
Civil
defence sirens were sounded in Shakhtersk, and several mobile
communication providers ceased operations. The streets emptied. There
was heavy fighting on the outskirts of the city; powerful blasts from
artillery and tank fire could be heard. There were also the sounds of
automatic weapons.
In
Shakhtersk, there are fierce street battles between the Militia and
the Nazi-guard.
Columns
of armoured vehicles were moving from various sides on the outskirts
of the city; eyewitness told us that lots hardware had passed through
Stashovka.
A
particularly heavy battle occurred in the area of the Militia’s
positions near the 20th mine, as a result of which several houses
burned down and enemy hardware was destroyed.
At
the turn toward Torez, on the outskirts of Zhuravlyovka, there were
intense tank battles, and short bursts of automatic weapons’ fire
sounded constantly.
Some
time following the arrival of the reinforcements, the enemy started
to retreat.
As
a result of the battle at the DPR positions near the 20th mine, the
Ukrainian armoured vehicles that remained operational retreated,
together with the infrantry, toward Ol’khovchik. Have sustained
manpower and military hardware losses, the enemy was expecting fire
to come from any private housing. National Guard would aim their
weapons at every fence. Ukrainian flags were taken off their armoured
vehicles and hidden.
Having
gained a foothold in Ol’chovchik, near Polevaya Street, the Junta
soldiers started to dig trenches near the forest plantation not far
from the 15th mine.
In
the morning of July 28, he clashes continued.
At
approximately 02:00 (MSK), a new battle commenced near Rassypnaya,
the fire is coming from tanks and automatic weapons.
The
decisive moments of the battle for Donbass have arrived.
Recall
that Shakhtersk is located on the second line of communications
between Lugansk and Donetsk, and its loss could have catastrophic
consequences for the defenders of Novorossiya. The decisive minutes
of the battle for Donbass have arrived.
The
essence of what is happening is that the Ukrainian military has begun
a long-planned operation involving simultaneous strikes on converging
directions from the south and from the north, bypassing Donetsk, in
order to create a large Donetsk cauldron. From the south they are
attacking the Shakhtersk-Torez area. From the north they are
attacking Gorlovka and Debaltsevo. Diversionary attacks are being
made on Pervomaisk and Donetsk.
The
goal is to cut off the lines of communications and to close the ring
of encirclement in Enakievo. This is the very scenario that Igor
Strelkov had warned us about. And it is precisely this tactic that
explains the sacrifice of the punitive forces in the Southern
Cauldron. Dying as cannon fodder, the hundreds of conscripts
nevertheless distract the forces of the Militia.
As
they are usually wont to do, the Ukrainian side has already reported
about a fantastically successful operation. According to their
statements, Shakhtersk has already been taken and purged of
militiamen. Allegedly, they are simultaneously attacking Debaltsevo,
Torez, and Snezhnoye, and hoisting their flags everywhere, all the
while moving around mechanized columns and hordes of tanks.
12:02
– July 28, 2014 – Information from the Media Agency “Novorossiya”
There
was an airstrike on Shakhtersk; enemy aircraft are in the air over
the city.
Ground
attack jets appeared over Shakhtersk. The Militia met them with
MANPADS fire; however, the aircraft were able to escape being hit by
deploying heat traps. After then, one of the ground attack craft
conducted an airstrike presumably in the area of the 20th mine.
11:57
– July 28, 2014 – Information from the Media Agency “Novorossiya”
In
Donetsk, following a night of shelling, there are again casualties
among the civilians.
Once
again there again was fighting in Donetsk in the night of July 27-28.
Explosions and shooting could be heard in all aread of the city. The
private housing sector of the Kuybyshevskiy district, within the
perimeter formed by the Stratonavtov, Marshala Zhukova, and
Artyomovskaya streets, became the epicenter of the artillery
shelling. Private housing was completely destroyed at the following
addresses: 64 Kovalko St., 69 Gradostroiteley St., 19 Velichkina St.
As well, in the garage cooperative “Zenit”, located at 3
Shakhterskaya Slava St., 7 metallic garages were destroyed. Apart
from that, electrical lines and the gas pipeline were damaged.
As
a result of the fighting that occurred at night, 8 civilians were
harmed, of whom 3 were mortally wounded.
As
of 09:30, explosions again can be heard in the city. This is being
reported by the residents of the Proletarskiy and the Budennovskiy
districts.
Today
in Donetsk, communal services and emergency crews are working. Public
transport appeared on the city motorways.
July
28, 2014 – Information from the DPR Press-Centre
Over
the past day, fierce battles have been continuing in the area of
Dmitrovka. This is being reported by the special correspondent of the
Committee for Social Communication (KCK).
The
DPR Army has withdrawn to the neighbouring Pavlovka; the forces of
the sides are unequal. The militiamen were forced to retreat under
massive mortar fire. A group of 20 reconnaissance volunteers stayed
behind in Dmitrovka. At this moment, there is no communications with
them.
According
to operational information, the Ukrainian military units under the
command of the Praviy Sector leader, Dmitriy Yarosh, are digging in
near Dmitrovka and Marinovka. According to the direct participants of
the battles, if they are stopped, the border with the Russian
Federation will be under DPR control, and, therefore, it is advisable
not to retreat, but to prepare a massive attack.
11:40
– July 28, 2014 – Briefing from the Staff of the DPR Militia
The
enemy was attempting to advance in order to cut off the Militia, and
it was partially successful because the offensive was large-scale in
nature. However, despite the overwhelming forces of the enemy, the
Militia was able to repel the attack. To the east of Shakhtersk the
enemy sustained colossal losses.
July
28, 2014 – Information from Journalists
Last
night, another attempt by the punitive forces to break through in the
vicinity of the Lugansk airport was registered. It was repelled.
Those that could returned to the airport.
July
28, 2014 – Military Situation Overview from Militiaman Prokhorov
The
fighting continues – at 09:40 (MSK), a skirmish was ongoing in the
area of Rassypnoye (near Torez).
In
Shakhtersk, skirmishes are also continuing; there was a battle in the
area of the 7th and the 8th districts of Shakhtersk. Fighting also
continues on the outskirts of Snezhnoye.
In
the area of the Saur-Mogila, a heavy battle was occurring. By the
way, DPR reinforcements have arrived in Torez. Everything also is in
order in Snezhnoye, so the danger to Saur-Mogila has been
neutralized.
In
Pervomaisk, the punitive forces have entered onto the territory of
the city (in the area of the school near the Novaya road).
The
situation in the occupied territories is of interest. We received
information that yesterday, at approximately 23:00, a checkpoint of
the Nazi-scum in the vicinity of the Golubiye Lakes (near Seversk)
was shelled using ATGM or RPG, following which Ukies pummeled the
forest from the mountain using Grad missiles.
11:31
(MSK) – With respect to Shakhtersk, we were informed that 2 Ukies
Su aircraft tried to bomb the city, but were chased away with MANPADS
salvos.
With
respect to Donetsk – the city is not surrounded.
You
will laugh, but the Ukrainian command has no idea what positions
their soldiers occupy or in what condition their units are. For
example, yesterday 2 Ukies tanks stopped near the Yasinovatovskiy
overpass in Donetsk. They stayed there several hours until the locals
(who emerged from the cellars) asked them: “What is it that you are
doing here, in the rear of the DPR troops?” (and at the same time
ripped off everything that they could from the tanks). Following
this, Ukies quickly faded away, running before they could get into
trouble.
And
this happens where things are more or less in order. As for what is
happening in the “intestine” – this the Ukie command finds out
from the relatives that get calls from the besieged troops. For
instance, the flight of the 75 Nikolayevka paratroopers was a
complete surprise for the ATO staff. Same with yesterday’s gang
fight in the city of Shchastye between the Alpha unit and the
mercenary Battalion Aidar (with the eventual participation of
paratroopers from the 80th Brigade).
At
this moment, there is no clear line of front, and, as we can see,
settlements easily pass from one side to another.
The
main outcome was yet another failed Ukie offensive that was intended
to de-blocaked the units surrounded in the “intestine”. They
threw their last reserves into battle, and, by the looks of it, have
now exhausted their offensive potential until the commencement of the
third wave of mobilization. Small local victories have had no bearing
on the overall operational situation.
13:40
– July 28, 2014 – Information from LifeNews Information Agency
The
Ukrainian army has not taken the Saur-Mogila height; fighting is
continuing. Earlier, the press service of the Ukrainian President
Pyotr Poroshenko disseminated information suggesting that the
strategically important point came under control of the Ukrainian
military.
The
Ukrainian forces were unable to take control of the Saur-Mogila
height near the city of Snezhnoye (DPR), where the Militia of the DPR
has been holding positions since the beginning of July. This
information was provided to LifeNews by the coordinator of the
information centre “South-Eastern Front”, Konstantin Knyrik.
According to his information, militiamen informed that fighting
continues in the area of the strategic height and of the neighbouring
villages Marinovka and Dmitrovka, and that there can be no talk about
surrendering Saur-Mogila.
15:00
– July 28, 2014 – Briefing from the Staff of the DPR Ministry of
Defence
DPR
Press Centre © http://dnr.today
On
July 27, the enemy undertook serious attempts at an offensive –
significant forces were pulled up to the sites of the breakthroughs,
and, in certain areas, they had success. However, the troops of the
DPR Armed Forces were able to thwart all the undertaken attempts.
In
particular, the attempted breakthrough by a large grouping of the
Ukrainian forces to the east of Shakhtersk led to the grouping
suffering simply colossal losses.
Whereas
before such losses could be promptly calculated, now, even as of the
morning of July 28, we are still unable conclusively to determine how
many of the servicemen of the Ukrainian army found their death on the
field of battle. Fighting in the Shakhtersk area continues.
In
Donetsk, following a night of shelling, there are again casualties
among the civilians.
Once
again there again was fighting in Donetsk in the night of July 27-28.
Explosions and shooting could be heard in all aread of the city. The
private housing sector of the Kuybyshevskiy district, within the
perimeter formed by the Stratonavtov, Marshala Zhukova, and
Artyomovskaya streets, became the epicenter of the artillery
shelling. Private housing was completely destroyed at the following
addresses: 64 Kovalko St., 69 Gradostroiteley St., 19 Velichkina St.
As well, in the garage cooperative “Zenit”, located at 3
Shakhterskaya Slava St., 7 metallic garages were destroyed. Apart
from that, electrical lines and the gas pipeline were damaged.
As
a result of the fighting that occurred at night, 8 civilians were
harmed, of whom 3 were mortally wounded.
As
of 09:30, explosions again can be heard in the city. This is being
reported by the residents of the Proletarskiy and the Budennovskiy
districts.
Today
in Donetsk, communal services and emergency crews are working. Public
transport appeared on the city motorways. Donetsk has not been
surrounded.
Over
the past day, fierce battles have been continuing in the Dmitrovka
area. The DPR Army has withdrawn to the neighbouring Pavlovka; the
forces of the sides are unequal. The militiamen were forced to
retreat under massive mortar fire. A group of 20 reconnaissance
volunteers stayed behind in Dmitrovka. At this moment, there is no
communications with them.
In
the area of the Saur-Mogila, a heavy battle was occurring. By the
way, DPR reinforcements have arrived in Torez. Everything also is in
order in Snezhnoye, so the danger to Saur-Mogila has been
neutralized.
In
Pervomaisk, the punitive forces have entered onto the territory of
the city (in the area of the school near the Novaya road). The
fighting continues.
15:00
– July 28, 2014 – LPR Briefing for the First Part of the Day (as
of 15:00)
Today,
the fiercest clashes with the enemy on the outskirts of Lugansk
occurred in the area of the Georgievka settlement. Units of the LPR
were able to take control of the dominant height at the road
junction, while the enemy occupied positions closer to the settlement
itself.
Throughout
last night, in the morning, and throught the day, units of the DPR
conducted targeted shelling of the enemy’s positions in the places
of the greatest concentration of enemy forces. In particular, Lugansk
forces inflicted serious losses on the aggressor in the Georgievka
area, as well as near the settlement of Cheluskinets.
Yesterday
night the Ukrainian side launched two reconnaissance drones into the
skies over the city, and today at midday, an aircraft of the
Ukrainian Air Force conducted an airstrike on the settlement of
Novosvetlovka (Krasnodon region).
The
Ukrainian Armed Forces continued the shelling of Slavyansk, and, in
particular, mines and shells (presumably from a Tulpan heavy mortar
and a self-propelled artillery unit) hit in the areas of Rudnev
Street, School No. 35, and Shcherbakov Street.
Movement
of a large tank column toward Krasnoe-Perezvanovka was noted; units
of the LPR were brought into the state of heightened battle alert.
Yesterday,
in the vicinity of the settlement of Depreradovka, LPR units
inflicted serious losses on enemy forces; 1 tank, 2 BTRs and 15
fighters of the Ukrainian army were eliminated.
18:50
– July 28, 2014 – Information from a Journalist with LPR Press
Service, A. Toporov
Today
Ukies bombed a nursing home on the Geologicheskaya Street. This is
the Shcherbakov district in the south-eastern part of Lugansk. Five
elderly were killed. I do not know if they were children of the
[Great Patriotic] War, or even its participants, but it is highly
unlikely that they ever expected that the whistle of the shells,
familiar to all of us through black-and-white newsreels and Soviet
films, will ever come back to their home …
19:15
– July 28, 2014 – Commentary from LPR Prime Minister Bashirov
I
hope to God that I am mistaken. The video crew of the press service
is rushing over to Kambrod. Residents called us – a shell hit a
nursing home. Initial information: 5 were killed and UNKNOWN NUMBER
were wounded. The hospitals are waiting. Can you imagine the
difference between treating wounded who are 30-40 years old and
wounded elderly, who are 60-70 years old?!
Yes.
The news has been confirmed. And they could not even run …
July
28, 2014 – Novorossiya Military Briefing
18:55
– The Gorlovka Diocesan Administration came under artillery fire by
the Ukrainian punitive forces – corpses of the killed are killed
lying on the surrounding streets; church buildings were damaged.
18:54
– Ukraining military bombed a nursing home on the Geologicheskaya
Street. This is the Shcherbakov district in the south-eastern part of
Lugansk. Five elderly were killed. There is an unknown number of
wounded.
18:50
– Information from the DPR Press Centre: during the day, street
battles were ongoing between the Militia and the Ukrainian punitive
forces. The city essentially has been divided into two zones of
control. The city continues to be subjected to airstrikes and
artillery shelling by the Ukrainian army. Cluster ammunition, MLRS
and howitzers are being used.
18:44
– Over the past week, every morning (around 04:00 am) 3 MI-24 and 1
MI-8 helicopters have been taking off from the Kramatorsk airfield,
flying through Semyonovka in the southern direction. They return
having, by the looks of it, exhausted their ammunition.
18:20
– Two refueling trucks and 1 BTR with several infantry atop the
armour came through Glinki, headed toward Kumachevo.
18:19
– The Ukrainian Air Force conducted a rocket-bomb strike at the
Lugansk Cartridge Works, also known as the Lenin plant.
July
28, 2014 – Commentary Regarding the Military Situation from
Militiaman Prokhorov
-
who now controls Debaltsevo and Enakievo?
Prokhorov:
I will tell you right away – I don’t have a full picture of what
is happening in the DPR; I only have a fragmentary understanding.
Yesterday, Debaltsevo was surrendered by the costumed Cossacks –
without battle. Ukies destroyed the local House of Culture and the
railway workers’ hospital, where wounded were recovering.
Reinforcements were sent there, and they are the ones maintaining the
resistance in the city. However, the larger part of the city is
controlled by Ukies. With respect to Enakievo, Bezler’s Gorlovka
militiamen are in control there. I was recently told that they’ve
declared an open hunting season in those parts.
-
with respct to Shakhtersk.
Prokhorov:
Ukies are only on the outskirts of Shakhtersk. Militiamen have
dispersed throughout the city. Skirmishes periodically occur in the
area of the settlement of the 12th mine and in the 7th and 8th
districts of the city.
-
with respect to Donetsk, Gorlovka and Popasnoye
Prokhorov:
Neither Donetsk nor Gorlovka have been cut off. Nothing of the sort.
Ukies were kicked out of Popasnoye.
By
the way, sniper continue to work in Lisichansk to this day. With
respect to Saur-Mogila, I was told that near Amvrosievka a Ukie
column was discovered (totaling approximately 30 vehicles) – we are
following its fate very closely.
Near
Dolzhanskiy, the 24th Lvov Brigade is in a state of panic – they
are requesting to be de-blockaded. I will remind you - the units of
the 24th, 28th, 72nd, and 51st mechanized brigades, of the 79th
Aeromobile, of the 3rd spetsnaz regiment, and of the combined border
guard detachment have been blocked inside the “intestine”.
July
29, 2014 – Video Footage and Photographs from the Field of Battle
The
routing of the Junta troops near Lugansk. Fresh video with the
outcomes of yesterday’s battles. Photographs from the Southern
Cauldron. The ground is practically burning under the feet of the
punitive forces.
July 29, 2014 – Information from the LPR Press Service
Five
elderly died in a nursing home in Lugansk as a result of shelling by
the Ukrainian army. Ukrainian saboteurs continue to conduct mortar
strikes on Lugansk. This time, a hospital, a firehouse and a nursing
home, where five elderly dies became their targets.
July
29, 2014 – Latest Hourly Briefings from Locations
In
Shakhtersk, fierce battles continue, there is no information about
losses yet. Near Saur-Mogila, all the attacks have been repelled;
Ukies are sustaining fairly serious losses, and the Militia has
entrenched itself well there. For now, we have news that a tank
company and several armoured vehicles have been destroyed.
With
respect to the 79th Brigade: Ukies, you spend your time [in this
forum], so let your guys know. In Nikolayev, they are now arresting
the mothers of the guys in the 79th Brigade, who are serving their
“motherland”. They were rather harshly dispersed, and a number of
criminal investigations have been opened. So tell them to think who
it is that they are fighting for.
23:05
(MSK) – Information from Seversk: bursts of automatic weapons’
fire can be heard coming from the side of Chernogorovka, and
explosions – from the side of the third settlement.
23:15
(MSK) – Intensive artillery shelling of Yasinovatoye has begun; a
number of shells hit a technical school. Fierce fighting near
Yasinovatoye, which began about an hour ago, is continuing. Battles
near Shakhtersk have resumed. And no, Torez has not been taken by
Ukies.
23:33
(MSK) – In Novosvetrlovka there is harsh shelling; eyewitnesse
report that residential dwellings have been hit.
00:00
(MSK) – A strike using Uragan MLRS was conducted from the side of
Elenovka in the direction of the Donetsk railway terminal.
00:44
(MSK) – In Lisichansk, shots can be heard; there is a skirmish at a
check point located at the exist from the city.
00:55
(MSK) – Howitzer artillery strikes are being conducted on
Mandrykino and Yasinovatoye.
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