Ukraine demands that rebels in Donetsk surrender

Fighting raged Sunday in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk despite a request from the pro-Russian rebels for a cease-fire to prevent a "humanitarian catastrophe."

In a press conference in Kiev, Andriy Lysenko, a spokesman for Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, said the only way for the rebels in Donetsk to save their lives would be to "lay down their arms and give up."

He said the Ukrainian side hadn't seen the rebels show any real willingness to cooperate.

"If white flags come up and they lay down their arms, nobody is going to shoot at them," he said. "(But) we have not seen any practical steps yet, just a statement."

"This is a real war! It's impossible to live in this city, I've been sleeping in the basement for the past week," said Inna Drobyshevskaya, a 48-year-old lawyer in Donetsk.

"We don't want Novorossiya (New Russia) for this price," she added, referring to a term used by rebels to describe the parts of eastern Ukraine seeking independence from the government in Kiev.

Rebel leader Aleksandr Zakharchenko called for a cease-fire Saturday but his request was met warily by both the Ukrainian government in Kiev and the West....

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Western leaders have repeatedly accused Russia of providing arms and expertise to the rebels, something Russia denies.

Poroshenko issued a statement late Saturday saying that Ukraine was prepared to accept humanitarian assistance in eastern Ukraine. But he said the aid must come in without military assistance, pass through border checkpoints under Ukrainian control and be an international mission.

Poroshenko said he and German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed German participation in such a mission.

I red flag on this is the name the pro Russian rebels use, “People’s Republic” And they call the Ukrainians “fascists”. In the last 60 years every country called Peoples’s Republic have been the opposite.

There is an irony here. The name "People's Republic" came from Ahmetov's people who started the DNR project, and they are mostly gone. Ahmetov was the richest oligarch in the country, not much People there.

But: these people are gone from the leadership now. The prevailing ideology in the resistance seems to be a form of Christian socialism ... not that I understand fully what this is, and perhaps neither do they. Still interesting to see.

As for the demands of Donetsk surrender: Kiev must have a victory ASAP... those 4k MIA in the southern salient will be recognized as KIA quickly and acknowledgement of such losses is likely to destabilize the Junta. (Official stats: 363 KIA, real total likely toward 10k now).

They have to live under their government. They will say and think what they want. The forerunners of the governing Ultra Nationalists, the Ukrainian Nationalists(OUN) under Stepan Bandera sided with the Nazis days after Hitler invaded the USSR in WW2, even forming their own volunteer Ukrainian division of the SS. The nationalists killed their fair share of fellow Ukrainians, Poles, Jews and Russians. They actually had their own little holocaust to purge people they feared would not support them. As many as half a million people.

Since then the ultra nationalists have called Stepan Bandera a hero and publically stated they want to purge all non ethnic Ukrainians from the country.

The people who live there are stubborn and have long memories. The Kiev government will have to perform actions to win them over, not fit the “Nazi” stereotype.

Interesting description of a battle yesterday near “snow” (Szihne??), google translated from VK’s Strelkov page:

8/10/14 Posted by militias from the city of snowy.

“Under snow commander with the call” Black “and his men captured the tank and nearly two dozen machines.

We drove this tank on the field, like a hare. And the machines would take. We have the old “Kalash”, and these brand new weapons, all shiny. At first they wanted to surround us. There were about 40, two APCs and a tank.
And we have 18 people, we have two machines and the “fly”. They surround us could not, we were repulsed. We had one “200”, into parts of a machine gun burst. They, too, one died, they could not pick it up, moved away, well, we moved on. Look - and that is equipped as Rimbaud. New machine guns, grenades, PM, “Bronicas”, helmet, knee pads, well, all with him. I tell the children - in short, the hunt begins. I’m tired already, no weapons of normal, nothing. If you do not give - you pick.

Well, we went into the bypass on both sides. A ukry got two piles, two “betera” and after 100 meters - the tank. Watch exhibited weak, and most of the armor is sitting on. Well, in short, they began to shoot out of all that is. Threw grenades, and let them chop up the queues. One “beter” knocked out, but he was on the move, and the second was to maneuver. These “warriors” running behind him to hide, and he blows it back and forth, “dill” him run, hide. In short, we have a fight, and we want to laugh.

Suddenly, the tank was to create miracles. Started shooting. Where - is unclear. Rockets fly unclear where, and he beats down. The battle is already a hundred yards, he did not have to hold on, but it still shoots. Panicked, I guess. And then their crew apparently crazy. Tank off the road and went into the field. Buried in the wood, and turned the tower somewhere on the wheel slammed. Then backpedaled, almost its not crushed. Stopped and the tower twists. We do not know, we fight or throw machines and watch this movie.

The upshot was that he was stuck in a gully at the roadside. We thought it was over fuel. Well, I think - a trophy bold caught. And those “Terminator” have started to recede. They have several “200-x”, but they were not able to pick up the three left. And the tank left, and vending machines were scattered on the road and in the field. We gave them a “Stalingrad” arranged that they were not to have weapons.

Fight went 10 minutes, 15 may have six of us were wounded, and one very hard, but survived, thank God.
In general, collect trophies and come to the tank, look what happened to him. And there is the crew sat silently. We thought they were piled with all, and these were sitting there. And suddenly it came to life. Began to try to get out of the gully, got out and began to drive somewhere.

We was a shame we let him chase. Steel from the grenade launcher to shoot at him, do not know why, and throw grenades in front of him, so confusing to knock. 10 minutes was baiting. He stopped coming out crew, hands raised, something fluttering, shaking. We saw them - all understood. Kids just. Not that tank, and they can not be trusted with a moped. One cries, the other head lowered, “do not kill, please do not kill.” We felt sorry for them, as human beings. We gave them some water, they are afraid to take it.

In general, reassured them, they realized that killing and torture are not going to. Talking - they are from Dnepropetrovsk, from everyone else 20 no. How can children be sent to the slaughterhouse not fired - I do not understand. Another tank and trust. We did not take them prisoner. They said that they went home and hid until it’s over. But they are so going to do it.

That’s how the fight. We are “terrorists” and “bandits”, and they are the army, the defender of the people. But for some reason they are on my land, they kill civilians, and we have them disarmed and sent home without ransom and bullying. And who are the terrorists, I wonder? We have that, they blow up the house and take hostages? No, and I do not intend to. Therefore, though - on our side, and we are stronger and fighting spirit in us - above. And we will win. “
http://vk.com/strelkov_info

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