Posted on 07/05/2014 7:54:40 AM PDT by 1rudeboy
Pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine have evacuated the city of Sloviansk, a crucial eastern stronghold, amid a large-scale offensive by the military.
Separatists said the "overwhelming numerical superiority" of the army had forced them to relocate to Kramatorsk.
Troops have hoisted the Ukrainian flag over Sloviansk's council building, and officials said soldiers were mopping up the last outposts of rebel resistance.
Two smaller towns are also reported to have been retaken by government troops.
Ukrainian forces launched an offensive against the separatists this week after a 10-day ceasefire broke down.
The BBC's David Stern in Kiev says the military's capture of Sloviansk - where the eastern insurgency began in April - is a major victory for the government.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
Sloviansk is key to controlling that region. Hopefully Ukraine can do a better job of controlling its borders than we do.
“Sloviansk is key to controlling that region.”
Yes, it is.
The city was doomed once it was surrounded, and the hill overlooking the town was taken. Kiev put 30+ heavy guns up there, and the rebels couldn’t remove them, despite several attempts.
It seems the rebels are moving much faster than the UK’s, though. Reports are they moved out enmass last night, through Kramatorsk, and are already in/ heading for Donetsk.
Russia is reporting more refugees on the border in the last 24 hours, than the entire episode combined.
Also, another IL-76 was destroyed at Donetslk airport last night.
The reason for Kiev’s strikes in the East...The ‘Yuzivska Gas field’ in Eastern Ukraine...and the coal mines.
The New Security Leader stating he will get ‘Crimea’ back...has nothing at all to do with Ukraine’s people. They are after the oil off Crime’s coast.
Ukraine is all about the oil and gas reserve fields previously earmarked for development.....and this before the Revolution. Has nothing to do with the people of Ukraine but with control of their resources and by whom.
The other reason is to prevent Russia’s relationships with Eu via resources he has thus far controlled. The US is determined to stop that at all costs.
Yeah, never mind the armed Russian thugs running around and terrorizing the local population.
The US/EU isn’t going to let the gas shale reserves in that area go....Donstak is “golden” for Kiev if they can take it back...Kiev has to have those fields. Then they’ll go after Crimea...to their own demise...Russia will indeed fight off any attempt toward Kiev.
Feel so bad for so many Ukrainians dying for those who are and will continue to rip off their resources while they die for what they see as their cause for freedom from Kiev Government. This will not have a good end for any Ukraiian citizen.
With the forces of Strelkov and Bezler now combined, this is going to make the Donetsk/Horlivka area a MUCH tougher nut to crack.
Adding Strelkov’s 2,000 now-battle-hardened veterans, and their equipment, to the several thousand around the Donetsk area is a big deal, especially with Donetsk now having a Heavy AA Capability.
Lots of reports and video of Donetsk Airport being under attack. An IL-76 and another Mil-8 reportedly destroyed on the ground.
....”With the forces of Strelkov and Bezler now combined, this is going to make the Donetsk/Horlivka area a MUCH tougher nut to crack”.....
That may prove so, as it has already......but the Russian/Ukrainian people are leaving in vast numbers now...which of course was a reason for the shelling...they’ll have nothing to return to with all the infrastructure being taken out. I hate saying it but it all is a form of ethnic cleansing unfortunately for the Russian’s who made Ukraine their home and the only one they have known.
When the International Companies go in to rebuild the infastructure the cost of living will be way to high for the average citizen to return.....not to mention the time it will take to rebuild.
I won’t be surprised if there’s a plan already to relocate Western Ukrainians and others to the East when it’s ready.
The biggest problem for the rebels (as it is for Kiev, as well), has been coordinating the several separate groups.
With Strelkov and Bezler combined, this will allow them to better coordinate. Bezler seems to be the stronger field commander, Strelkov the better overall one.
With the UK Army/NatGaurd still largely unreliable, the only really effective tool Kiev has is massive artillery bombardments. The rebels just don’t have an answer for that.
IMUO, this could allow Bezler to go after who he really wants to fight, the Right Sector Militia’s operating out of Dnipro.
Lugansk has raised a very large militia group, and seems to be holding their own right now.
Withdrawal militia now left Kramatorsk as well.
Withdrawal militia now left Kramatorsk as well.
to have a chance, the Ukraine has to make Putin and Russia feel the sting of the war Putin started. I don’t know how it will be done, but when that happens, Putin will be in a very precarious political position.
It’s not gonna happen. All that is left is to be amused by the Russians complaining about the mess they created.
It wasn’t abandoned. It was a strategic advance in the opposite direction.
There should have been a smiley face at the end of my post
Yes, good day yesterday. Next up Donetsk and Luhansk. Will be tougher, much bigger cities.
Putin is in trouble and he knows it, but worse so do his enemies.
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