Posted on 12/12/2004 2:08:32 PM PST by Tailgunner Joe
500 Russian commandos from the "Vityaz" division were stationed near Kyiv with the possible goal of evacuating president Kuchma and important documents.
A British specialized periodical, Jane's Intelligence Digest, has made this information public in a story entitled "Spetsnaz in Ukraine".
Referring to an officer in Ukraine's air force, the periodical informs about three planes form Russia, which had brought 500 Vityaz soldiers for placement near Kyiv.
According to the digest's sources, twenty of these Russian commandos have joined president Kuchma personal security force. Jane's Intelligence Digest thinks this shows that Kuchma has no trust in his own security.
Russians supposedly did not intend to participate in supressing the orange revolution - only to evacuate Mr. Kuchma and his head of administration (Mr. Medvedchuk) along with their families and documents that carry are of importance to Kremlin.
JID claims that, to this end, helicopter groups were prepared and placed near Kyiv, which can (given the need) evacuate Mr. Kuchma from the capital. With cover provided by several hundred of Russian soldiers, he would be taken to a military airfield, from which he would fly to Russia.
Jane's Intelligence Digest indicates that, naturally, Ukraine's SBU secret service and Russia's Ministry of Internal Affairs deny these reports.
Fine, then if several hunderd russian soldiers wake up dead, there would be no problem....
ping
Add on (I forgot), warrior.
This is all fake! George Soros planted this! /sarcasm
Bump
God, grant a free and independent Ukraine.
Joe, I would love to have a Jane's subsccription, but cannot afford their rates. However, if you are going to post articles with links, which cannot easily be confirmed, then please send me a copy?
Spetsnaz deploy in Ukraine
Following recent JID revelations concerning Moscow's involvement in the election crisis in Ukraine, intelligence is emerging that confirms in detail the deployment of Russian Spetsnaz special forces (see JID 3 December 2004). Our Ukraine correspondent reports. Up to 500 members of Russian Spetsnaz forces from the Vityaz special forces division in Bryansk are currently deployed at a Ukrainian Interior Ministry (MVS) military base in Irpin, near Kiev. Two transports flew ...
08-Dec-2004
Here's the whole article as posted at Maidan:
JANE'S INTELLIGENCE DIGEST: Spetsnaz Deploy in Ukraine JANE'S INTELLIGENCE DIGEST
Spetsnaz deploy in Ukraine Following recent JID revelations concerning Moscow's involvement in the election crisis in Ukraine, intelligence is emerging that confirms in detail the deployment of Russian Spetsnaz special forces (see JID 3 December 2004). Our Ukraine correspondent reports.
Up to 500 members of Russian Spetsnaz forces from the Vityaz special forces division in Bryansk are currently deployed at a Ukrainian Interior Ministry (MVS) military base in Irpin, near Kiev. Two transports flew them into the Gostomel aerodrome near Irpin between 1 and 3 am on 24 November, three days after the hotly disputed second round of the presidential election on 21 November. A third transport flew into the military aerodrome near Vasylkiv, Kiev on 24 November.
Although some reports suggested that outgoing President Leonid Kuchma had requested Russian support to quell popular unrest following accusations of election fraud, JID's Ukrainian sources stress that the use of Russian troops against civilians was never likely to form part of the government's strategy. In fact, divided loyalties within Ukraine's security forces surfaced after the second round of the elections.
Members of Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) have long been working secretly with supporters of opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko. Between the first and second rounds of the poll, the SBU illicitly taped mobile telephone conversations between key figures surrounding Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych. Recordings were passed to Yushchenko following the second round of voting and have been submitted as evidence to the Supreme Court, which was investigating election fraud.
Ukraine's military is also predominantly pro-Yushchenko. Many officers adopted a pro-Western position as a result of Ukraine's involvement in NATO's Partnership for Peace programme during the last decade. Four days after the second round of the election, the former SBU chairman and Defence Minister Yevhen Marchuk defected to the Yushchenko camp. Given serious questions about the loyalty of the armed forces, it would prove difficult - if not impossible - for Kuchma to declare a state of emergency. In any case, such a step requires parliamentary approval which will not be forthcoming.
However, the position of the Interior Ministry (MVS) is very different. The MVS has taken up many of the functions of the Soviet-era KGB and has been active against the opposition. Nevertheless, during the recent demonstrations, the MVS ranks split. Police and cadets defected to the Yushchenko camp while most special forces units and MVS internal troops have remained loyal to Kuchma. Only in western Ukraine did the MVS Spetsnaz units declare their loyalty to Yushchenko.
Meanwhile, Interior Ministry riot control police (Berkut) have continued to guard the presidential administration against attempts by crowds loyal to Yushchenko to storm the building. Plans to occupy the presidential headquarters immediately after the second round of voting were rejected in favour of a blockade. Protesters would first have had to break through the unarmed 'Berkut' ranks and then through a line of armed presidential guards who had received orders to shoot.
The deployment of the Russian Spetsnaz in Ukraine has two main objectives. The first is to evacuate Kuchma and his immediate family if the 'Orange revolution' turns violent. Twenty of the 500 Russian Spetsnaz form Kuchma's personal bodyguard, a sign that he no longer trusts Ukrainian forces.
The second task entrusted to the Russian Spetsnaz is to remove secret documents from the presidential headquarters. However, Yushchenko's supporters have already intercepted some papers that the authorities have attempted to smuggle from rear entrances of the presidential headquarters.
The two groups of Russian Spetsnaz that flew into Irpin and Vasylkiv included two personal bodyguard details for Kuchma and the head of the presidential administration Viktor Medvedchuk. A further detail is responsible for conveying potentially incriminating documents to Russia. These three units, each with 20 members, are deployed in Kiev.
The bulk of the remainder of the Spetsnaz are being kept in reserve in Irpin, outside Kiev, to secure the route for an emergency evacuation of Kuchma, Medvedchuk and their families should the conflict escalate. In such an eventuality helicopters would be sent from Irpin with additional Russian forces.
Predictably, the SBU has stated that there are no foreign Spetsnaz troops deployed in Ukraine. The Russian Interior Ministry has also denied the reports. However, evidence of the Spetsnaz presence was provided by a military officer loyal to Yushchenko, the deputy commander of the air force brigade stationed at Kiev's airport. He reported that the Russians are disguised in Ukrainian police uniforms.
The current deployment of Russian special forces on Ukrainian soil has no legal basis. No agreement between Ukraine and Russia permits the Ukrainian president to invite foreign troops into the country without parliament's approval.
In fact, the intervention reveals the degree to which the Kremlin has become inextricably involved in the Ukrainian presidential elections. Russian 'political technologists' and an alleged $300 million in financial subsidies have played key roles in Yanukovych's campaign. Ukrainians living in Russia were also transported home in order to vote.
Putin himself made two highly publicised visits to Ukraine to endorse Yanukovych on the eves of rounds one and two of the election. The Russian president was quick to congratulate Yanukovych on his 'victory' two days before the Central Election Commission announced the official results - which have since been overturned by Ukraine's Supreme Court.
Ping
Yes, because the MSM is sooo good at telling us the truths, like: Bush lost, Gore won; Bush lost, Kerry won; Republicans are idiots; Iraq is a quagmire; Afghanistan is lost; the military hates Bush; abortion is good; Christmas is evil. But on this one, after telling 99% lies they are telling you only the truth. Sure and how about that beach front property in Idaho?
Excellent post.
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