Talk:Ukraine war casualties

What's in store for tomorrow?
Some strange noise with Strelkov (not a panicking type) talking about tomorrow's massive attack by UAF, and Petrovskiy/Khmuryi saying he has no idea about those "persons" (there is massive amount of UAF tanks, apparently). Well, no do I have any idea, only a hope there is some sanity still left. --Resup (talk) 21:09, 6 October 2014 (UTC)


 * Nuland is in town. --CE (talk) 22:23, 6 October 2014 (UTC)
 * I know but real Strelkov is unlikely to care, but care about tanks --Resup (talk) 22:40, 6 October 2014 (UTC)

Donbas claims 28,000 Ukies killed or injured
Incredible figures from rusvesna. "Total losses of Donbas punitive forces from 2 May to 31 August 2014 the total number they estimated (total forces) at 43,027 people, of which    27,888 people - (killed, wounded),    1649 - prisoners    13,500 deserters and missing

Are people not noticing this many soldiers being missing or coming home wounded? how are they being silenced about it?

Figures to 19 August were only 29,761 people, of which

17,672 people - (killed, wounded), 279 - prisoners 11,810 deserters and missing KatKan (talk) 05:55, 2 September 2014 (UTC)

Not clear how estimate was made (they try to count themselves, and likely have radio intercepts, but counting based on likely partial information may be tricky).

There are often reports that mothers demand answers about fate of their children, but do not receive an answer. A latest like this, video with a lot of shouting: Group of mothers of soldiers and officers involved in ATO under Lugansk, left with nothing from Lviv administration - they were told that Poroshenko was informed but they can only wait, whether someone will come out alive or not.

Ruban talked about recent extra 700 UAF POWs, mostly taken in battles under Ilovaisk, characterizing situation as "catastrophe". --Resup (talk) 13:09, 2 September 2014 (UTC)

Rebels: up to 3600 UAF wounded or killed in August--Resup (talk) 17:53, 2 September 2014 (UTC)

Ilovaysk
According to russvesna, quoting Senchenko, chair of temporary Rada investigation committee for Ilovaysk,   on 23 August  UAF  had  3400 less fighters  compared to 23 July in "sector D" = under Ilovaysk  --Resup (talk) 03:12, 10 October 2014 (UTC)

"Gruz 200" claim
Sep 25, 2014 "Gruz 200" attempts to count KIA based on communications from relatives, and unofficial reports they receive. They claim 3500 MIA, 300 confirmed KIA on Russian side, and 8000 on Ukrainian side. While official UAF KIA count presented in the same broadcast is 800. 300 on Ukrainian side, 80 on Russian side during ceasefire claimed.

Novorossia claimed about 28000 UAF killed or wounded; 1/4 of those killed would be a rough estimate, that would give an estimate of around 7000 UAF KIA/MIA by 31 August. Photo discussed in, dated 21 August, suggests over 2176 pro-Russians KIA/MIA.

Purgin estimate is 1000-1300 DNR KIA.

--Resup (talk) 06:07, 29 September 2014 (UTC)


 * It is being played up by Russia and and down by Ukraine of course. Well 1000s at Ilovaisk would be an exaggeration, but then they've often claimed 6 or 8 dead when NAF has counted 30 or 40.  Ukies are also claiming up to 1000 soldiers in captivity,which saves them having to admit they're dead.  Exchange programs are slow.  "“This process goes with difficulty, because it is hampered by militants in any way,” according to SBU Adviser Markiyan Lubkivsky.  Well, yeah, they got sick of being put to the expense of feeding and repatriating civilians caught off the street for exchanges.  I think 7000 type numbers might be too many, but we've yet to see how many mass graves there are, and the lakes haven't been searched either. Well, NO on second thoughts, with more thn 3000 CIVILIANS confirmed dead, the military may be a lot more. We can't go on how many not seen by relatives, as they could be in refugee camps etc and for a few it's a good chance to disappear and start a new life.KatKan (talk) 12:43, 7 October 2014 (UTC)

News on casualties
14:25 / 01.07.2014 Pushilin comments  on previous ceasefire, and humanitarian situation in Kramatorsk and Slavyansk. --Resup (talk) 16:47, 10 September 2014 (UTC)

August 19 Members of militias Donetsk and Lugansk national republics includes 19-23 thousand people, they are opposed 48-52 thousand Ukrainian military, said in a daily summary of the militia.

http://translate.yandex.net/tr-url/ru-en.en/vz.ru/news/2014/8/19/701132.html

oops this page sort of started itself KatKan (talk) 19:05, 19 August 2014 (UTC)
 * No worries - a good page to have. My first adds were a bit rough (copies) but now it's rolling (thanks CE) --Caustic Logic (talk) 23:39, 19 August 2014 (UTC)

For a section on nature of casualties, or something - I think we should cover that:
 * Yandex translated situation report:
 * 5. The Donetsk is controlled by the militia, a frontal assault from the West is hardly possible, and from North and South, the junta has got stuck in the battles for the transfer and Yasinovataya. In General, the city is now covered with shells and missiles attacks are openly terrorist in nature and aimed at the destruction of the civilian population and the development of a humanitarian catastrophe.

Is this not a better definion of terrorist, in nature, than anything the Kiev junta has come up with to support it's description of the federalists? --Caustic Logic (talk) 23:39, 19 August 2014 (UTC)

Rebels: " american mercenary killed" "Franko", apparently Ukrainian diaspora, possible Canadian accent suggested, Battalion "Donbass". Was granted Ukrainian citizenship, and apparently a double citizen (unclear). Volunteered to fight in UAF. Apparently, KIA. Prior interview with him given in Ukraine to a Western journalist is posted. 20.08.2014 - 4:23  --Chingachgook (talk) 01:22, 20 August 2014 (UTC)
 * Nothing odd or bad in this. Diaspora sometimes DOES "go home" to help in a fight, especially against the side that forced him or his parents to leave originally. Australia currently has several like this fighting in Syria (on the ISIS side), Government won't let them back in. KatKan (talk) 09:11, 21 August 2014 (UTC)

Rebels: Battalion Shaktersk (Ukraine AF): 2 killed, 6 wounded under Ilovaisk (Иловайск)

(Pro-Ukraine, in Ukranian): "Нелюди вели вогонь по транспорту, який йшов під білим прапором. В результаті 17 людей загинули на місті, і лише шістьом вдалося вижити", 17 KIA claimed --Chingachgook (talk) 01:29, 20 August 2014 (UTC)
 * In English " 17 people were killed in a fire fighters with mortars and "city" refugee convoy on August 18 in area towns Novosvitlivka-Hryaschuvate (Lugansk region). Lonely fired on transport, which was under a white flag. As a result, 17 people died in the city, and only six survived"" THIS IS THE REFUGEE CONVOY STORY AGAIN, again without images KatKan (talk) 09:11, 21 August 2014 (UTC)

Rebels: 17 August, 28-Brigade from Odessa, UAF: 9 KIA  --Chingachgook (talk) 01:51, 20 August 2014 (UTC)

City of Харцызск is shelled, Donbass region. Both sides claim that the other side is to blame

Pro-Ukraine claim: rebels shelled Еленовка, Donbass region, using Grad. "Preliminary information, nobody was killed"   --Chingachgook (talk) 02:09, 20 August 2014 (UTC)

Pro-Ukraine, in Ukrainian report on events on 18 August (no KIA figure provided) Ударні частини батальйону територіальної оборони "Донбас" протягом 18 серпня (August 18)  знищили блокпости терористів у Іловайську (Донецька область) та увійшли в місто з декількох напрямів. Про це на своїй сторінці у Facebook написав комбат Семен Семенченко. 


 * IN English "Impact of territorial defense battalion "Donbass" for August 18 (August 18) was destroyed in the terrorist roadblocks Ilovays'k (Donetsk region) and entered the city from several directions. This wrote commander Simon Semenchenko on its Facebook page. "

Pro-Ukraine, in Ukrainian report on events on 19 August ( UAF "Donbass" 4 KIA reported,  UAF "Shaktersk", 2 KIA, 6 wounded  ) В результаті важких боїв підрозділи батальйону територіальної оборони "Донбас" зазнали втрат і змушени були вийти з бою з Іловайську (Донецька область).Про це повідомляє прес-служба батальйону на своїй сторінці у Facebook.

Як повідомляється, станом на 22-у годину "бійці батальйону "Донбас" вийшли з бою під Іловайськом". "Весь день точився складний та запеклий бій, у результаті якого постраждала велика кількість військових "Донбасу". Кількість поранених уточнюється", - заявили у прес-службі.

Чотирьох бійців батальйону 19 серпня вбили терористи. У той же час у Twitter`i добровольчого батальйону "Шахтарськ" повідомили, що загін досі веде бій під Іловайськом та має втрати: 2 загиблих, 6 поранених. 


 * In English "Donbass "suffered losses and were forced to withdraw from the battle of Ilovays'k (Donetsk region) .About the press service of the battalion on his page on Facebook. Reportedly, at the 22nd hour "soldiers battalion" Donbass "came from the Battle of Ilovajskij."
 * "All day tochyvsya complex and fierce battle, in which a large number of injured military" Donbass ". Specified number of wounded," - said the press service. Four soldiers of the battalion killed August 19 terrorists. At the same time Twitter`i volunteer battalion "Miner" reported that the unit is still under Ilovajskij fight and has lost 2 killed, 6 wounded."

(pro-Ukraine, in Ukranian) Poroshenko had a chat with Lukashenko about situation on Ukranian Donbass

Президент України Петро Порошенко провів телефонну розмову з Президентом Республіки Білорусь Олександром Лукашенком. Про це ввечері 19 серпня повідомила прес-служба президента України

Зокрема зазначено, що Президент України подякував президентові Білорусі за можливість проведення 26 серпня у Мінську зустрічі високого рівня у форматі Україна – Європейський Союз – "Євразійська трійка".

Сторони також обговорили ряд питань двосторонніх відносин та врегулювання надзвичайної ситуації на українському Донбасі.
 * In English "President of Ukraine Poroshenko had a telephone conversation with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko.

This evening, August 19 press service of President of Ukraine In particular, states that the President of Ukraine thanked the President for the opportunity to Belarus on 26 August in Minsk high-level meeting in the Ukraine - European Union - "Eurasian Three". The parties also discussed a range of issues of bilateral relations and the settlement of an emergency in the Ukrainian Donbass."]

"Президенти України та Росії Петро Порошенко та Володимир Путін визначаться, чи зустрічатися їм найближчим часом в "нормандському форматі". " 

UAF Colonel Володимир Рубан discusses his (and his son) efforts on hostage or prisoners exchange, in this youtube video (starting around 13.55 or so). Major difficulties in such attempts discussed  --Chingachgook (talk) 11:25, 20 August 2014 (UTC)


 * I've added the English translations, while I was getting them anyway. STILL can't understand Ukrainian or Russian but am starting to read cyrillic letters ok. KatKan (talk) 09:11, 21 August 2014 (UTC)

Looks like huge collection of videos (2825 videos, coming from rebel side). Don't think anybody attempted to systematically look into this. --Resup (talk) 18:27, 2 September 2014 (UTC)

Ilovaisk, Donbas, 30.08.2014: rebels deliver food to residents, no water, no electricity, all shops are closed in the city. Elderly civilians spent 25 days in the basement hiding from shelling. --Resup (talk) 04:06, 3 September 2014 (UTC)

Video embedded in CNN report, dated 2 Sept, show shelling damage in Donetsk (to a multi-apartment dwelling), and show elderly wounded people in Donetsk hospital; ends with elderly woman who lost limbs due to shelling making a plea to Poroshenko, in Ukrainian, to stop the war --Resup (talk) 03:49, 3 September 2014 (UTC)


 * I came across a report that powser is being restored in Donetsk and Luhansk, which implies there is no fighting there now. Both airports are close to being fully back in Donbas hands. I'll post the links when I find them again. KatKan (talk) 08:50, 3 September 2014 (UTC)

There is a large collection of Novorossia videos. However, searching them by place/time seems difficult (no index). Some links are posted below.

Vostochnyi night shelling. Vostochnyi shelling damage

Novosvetlovka - Locals Show Tochka-U Rocket Next to Houses


 * Village people show around, some yelling


 * Villager tells about UAF in the village UAF tanks fired from nearby houses and church; returned by rebels fire did not cause casualties but villager consider UAF actions as provocation.

Kominternovo

Village Pobeda 

Perevalsk 

Luhansk-rocket near kindergarten 

Berezovoe near Donetsk-Convoy destroyed --Resup (talk) 00:56, 8 September 2014 (UTC)

Kirovskoe, NW of Donetsk. --Resup (talk) 23:13, 15 September 2014 (UTC)

Fashevka (not much action shown).

Izvarino entrance point

near Gorlovka apparently

Enakievo (SE of Gorlovka), shelling damage during ATO operation. 0:30 wounded or killed child can be seen, 4:42 killed or wounded child can be seen,5:30 wounded or killed child seen.

.--Resup (talk) 13:14, 10 September 2014 (UTC)

NSDC is claiming that the shelling of residential areas is done by "terrorists in the guise of UA soldiers". They have lost all shame. --CE (talk) 13:24, 10 September 2014 (UTC)

Slavyansk, early video describing shelling tactics.

'Farewell of Slaviansk', documentary film by Alexandr Kots and Dmitry Stepashin. Documents transition from peace to all-out war (transition dated 2 May). Middle East scenes from previous assignments (Libya, Syria, Egypt) are interjected, it's clear where. 9:14 UAF helicopter pilot abandoned by UAF, saved by opolchenie (rebels). 9:30, 12:25 use of banned phosphorous ammo described. 11:19 to 13:30 Semenovka village situation shown. 17:57 'Drovosek' (woodcutter), a volunteer giving funerals to civilians in Slaviansk, talks about 5 killed civilians daily, half of them not identified. --Resup (talk) 14:09, 11 September 2014 (UTC)

Ukraine Attorney-General:under Ilovaisk, at least 200 UAF KIA. A doctor from Odessa: at least 700 WIA were evacuated from there; he has seen destroyed column of Dnepr 1 battalion, tens of KIA from Kirovograd and Vinnitsa; only 11 survived  from Roth ('rota') Svitiaz. ('Rota' is 50-100 soldiers).


 * More photos, videos from Ilovaisk.

.--Resup (talk) 13:41, 10 September 2014 (UTC)

This (pretty gross) rebel report quoting Oleg Lyashko, Ukrainian radical party Rada deputy, suggests total UAF KIA at over 8000 (source of that figure is not specified). He also claims to show a photo of a field crematorium, near a field hospital, at Novoaidar. Aerial photo of a structure with what appears to be a pipe is shown. --Resup (talk) 18:44, 12 September 2014 (UTC)

Luhansk Airport
29.09.2014 - 1:23 Report on operation against well-trained, night-vision equipped pro-Kiev detachment in Luhansk airport: Yakut interview. (A comment on minor detail: many males in the West, as well as in the Middle East, as well as elsewhere, are circumcised; no ethnicity or nationality conclusion is possible on that basis)--Resup (talk) 12:40, 14 October 2014 (UTC)

Donetsk Airport reports
29.09.2014. KP corresponent quoting Strelkov, about Donetsk airport. "They (UAF) are not in the air terminal, -they just have their forward positions there, but they are rather at the air defense installation at the airport, in a nuclear-proof bunker. Strelkov: " Ukrainian army does not like to attack, but the defense is good. Well, of course it's good, --they are Russian ... ". (There was a hope that UAF will withdraw from Donetsk airport, and an opportunity was given, but than fighting resumed and is on-going intense for several days, with casualties and lost tanks reported at the airport, and shelling of Donetsk city area by UAF. I guess Strelkov comment illustrates how senseless is that war, Russians fighting Russians).   --Resup (talk) 12:39, 29 September 2014 (UTC)

01.10.2014. Today, at the intersection of  Kiev Avenue and Polygraphic street in Donetsk, a  bus stop was hit by UAF  "Grad".   11 people were killed. It is possible that there may be more victims. 3 powerful UAF Grad (or other multiple launcher) volleys from Peski hit Kiev district of Donetsk. A school in Donetsk was hit by UAF. 3 people (2 parents and biology teacher) were killed. Building was damaged. Fighting for the airport continues. An opolchenie member reports that 25 UAF Airmobil brigade was withdrawn to Gvardeisk, Dnepropetrovsk region. Radio intercept suggests that remaining 79 UAF Airmobil brigade may be withdrawn (not confirmed). --Resup (talk) 05:24, 2 October 2014 (UTC)

Report: UAF has 5000 бойцов  Opolchenie Prokhorov about why they still have not taken the airport: "About UAF artillery positions used to shell Donetsk: they are not in Spartak, which is occupied by DNR. Most of shelling comes from Avdeevka, Krasnogrovka, etc. Artillery fire correction is done from the airport (by UAF). The old terminal is an old days Soviet (steel bar-reinforced) concrete cube that holds our artillery shells   (ОФС)   as if it is a real military  pillbox (дот). Especially Rapira shells. We are waiting for more powerful "flowers" with the "кум"'s ("кум"="best man").

Why we still have not taken the airport.

We said this many times. There were more than two thousand occupants (UAF) there until recently, + detachments in the nearby villages (a total of 4.5-5 thousand), a huge number of armored vehicles and artillery, and for the  5 months,  they  strengthened  what was already a  Reinforced Installation (УР) created by the Soviet engineers (this was a fashion - whatever we do  - it's an AK machine gun as a result - well, in the sense that all has serve  the defense). Completely blocking/surrounding the airport was unsuccessful, from July onward. And until now UAF moved around relatively freely (in tank-taxi - I posted a photo-- or single trucks and UAZ cars), and delivered cargo to the besieged. The maximum number of attacking opolchenie only once reached 700 people (plus half a dozen to a dozen tanks and artillery). More often - much less.

UAF until yesterday had at least a thousand sanitary (WIA+KIA) losses   at the airport - it's a real second Ilovajsk."

Psaki memo: UAF= pro-Kiev Ukrainian Armed Forces, any type. Opolchenie = Novorossia armed forces, formerly known as rebels. For meaning of Novorossia, consult "Taras Bulba", written, in Russian, by Ukrainian and Russian classic writer Gogol' in 1835, or Russian FM press release quoting the same, in Russian and Ukrainian, with other variant meanings discussed). Russian military is NOT a participant.  --Resup (talk) 12:52, 2 October 2014 (UTC)

Swiss Red Cross worker Laurent Etienne Du Pasquier (Switzerland) is killed in shelling in Donetsk. Also some civilian casualties [http://en.ria.ru/world/20141002/193577519/OSCE-Expresses-Concern-Over-Death-of-Swiss-Red-Cross-Worker-in.html OSCE Expresses Concern. ] Rebels feel Donetsk shelling is a revenge for them being close to control of the Airport. --Resup (talk) 17:52, 2 October 2014 (UTC)

Lukashenko (grudgingly) offering peacekeepers, if needed. Well, good to know, just in case. --Resup (talk) 19:46, 2 October 2014 (UTC)

Airport: UAF hiding in "catacombs" reported burned (kerosene fuel used). (There was an option for them to withdraw, shortly after Minsk2 agreements signed, they should have taken that, what's now is tragic and pointless) --Resup (talk) 13:56, 3 October 2014 (UTC)

UAF shelled airport (now in Novorossia hands), and hit a civilian area with white phosphorous munitions. Sky illuminated by high temperature burning material is shown on a photo. Civilian area of Putilovka is said to be hit, and fires reported. Conventions ban use of such munitions against military targets inside or near civilian areas. --Resup (talk) 22:31, 4 October 2014 (UTC)

Airport casualties
Some sources claim that 1000 Ukrainian solders have been killed in the latest fighting for the airport. Graham Phillips gives an even greater number: 4000 Ukrainians killed at the airport over the 4 month battle! -- Petri Krohn (talk) 01:08, 4 October 2014 (UTC)
 * Trying to Film at Donetsk Airport - 2nd October – Graham Phillips, Oct 3, 2014


 * We have the airport. A lot of people with badges SPARTA, some injured. I've put the video links on Saker and don't have the links now. Have only seen 1 comment there about kerosine,nothing anywhere else. KatKan (talk) 03:15, 4 October 2014 (UTC)
 * In the morning of 3.10.2014, opolchenia member Prokhorov reported that airport is still contested ("everybody kept what was theirs, he reports, --well of course, for as longs as UAF keeps Peski and Avdeevka, this music will go on for ever). But now the "flowers" " (2С5 «Гиацинт-С", suitable to destroy fortified targets) arrived (PS. borrowed from Luhansk), "so that annoying music may end now". That should help them take care of the old terminal building, which resisted their artillery so far. After that's gone, apparently some military type bunker still remains (Strelkov mentioned it once, quoted by KP newspaper, saying there is a nuc bunker). That is where apparently kerosine was used at tea time.
 * Drive-around video appears to be sometime on the same day, and they stop in some "administrative building" inside the airport, some 300 meters from the terminal. They say National Guard is still in the terminal. Maxim Shevchenko, human rights committee for the Russian President, is there. He wants to see the situation and look into reports that POWS are tortured. At (1:54) video shows bodies of Novorossia tank crew; they have cables attached to legs, and implication is that they were humiliated or tortured --Resup (talk) 04:12, 4 October 2014 (UTC)


 * Resup could you watch these for me too, please, and sum up what they say? copied from my post to Saker
 * Not sure what's happening here. They have a lot of people with SPARTA badges,which is Ukie? but everyone puts on white rag armbands and go off on a Ukie tank to look for wounded.


 * This is titled Russian mercenaries at the airport, but....
 * http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABuQ8NbWaYE
 * and another (in this they find/have a kitten, too)
 * https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXzR3BwQxho&feature=youtu.be KatKan (talk) 05:28, 4 October 2014 (UTC)


 * There is a shorter version (31:34) of the 38:32 long video (original) with English subtitles here. -- Petri Krohn (talk) 03:27, 5 October 2014 (UTC)


 * Incredible. In the video above from Petri, starting at 8:34 a long conversation with the opposing side by CELL PHONE. How do these guys know the enemy's cell phone numbers?KatKan (talk) 05:11, 5 October 2014 (UTC)
 * Have not seen white badges before, not sure; maybe more practical and easier to make and see that St. George/"colorad" band (or maybe stand for, ironically, "peacemaker" or something; or else for the White (as opposed to Red) army of the civil war of 1920's).  What you call SPARTA, may be DNR insignia, double-headed eagle; or we may look at different things. Tired now, will look another day, and update --Resup (talk) 06:14, 4 October 2014 (UTC)
 * yes, Sparta looks like a division from somewhere else, reinforcements. They use white as that is all the have -- tearing off lengths of bandages to wrap on their arms, so they all know they are together. A few even put some on their legs.KatKan (talk) 05:11, 5 October 2014 (UTC)
 * Shorter video: nothing striking, obviously artillery is used. A building, likely civilian,  is hit by shelling not far from opolchenie, in the beginning. At 2: 50  a tank (T 72 modernized?) is shown with  BMW and Taxi insignia; tank  used for riding but not for battle purposes in the video.  At (8:09) insignia shown is of DNR,  1 special batalion, tactical group (on top Somalia, partially obscured, I guess)  10:20 looks appears to be executed opolchenie fighters, 2 lined up bodies, 1 headless, one appears to have head wound from a close range


 * Longer video. 2:03 Opolchenie Donbas insignia 6:25 jamming Rapira gun shot few times with prayers for it to work each time towards airport tower (8:35) very curious: Givi, opolchenie commander, who is local, born in Donbas (despite Caucasian accent and appearance), 1 special batalion, located in civilian area, gets on the phone with a colonel of UAF (93 Air Mobile) and demands that shelling of civilian area is stopped. Shelling in the vicinity can be heard couple of times during conversation. Givi tells he does not use tanks, and artillery in just a minor way and military justified way, and not now. Clearly shelling happens during heated conversation. Stern warning to stop or else given by Givi. He tells he knows where all UAF guns are, and complaints about shelling at 2.30 pm, and also from Avdeevka. An offer from Givi to leave the airport is given. Givi also tells that his team with white flag was shot by UAF. 15:53 the money given as a birthday present to a soldier. Parked tank shown, now not with BMW/Taxi logo, but Gvardiia Rossii sign. 21:45 Now I see Sparta sign, it appears to be for Motorola opolcheni group, compare with photo  Apparently this is a team to evacuate the wounded and also "clean-up" a building from some badass UAF, as part of it. They are shown riding on top of that tank, used as a taxi.  Somebody sings traditional Cossack song. 21:44 instructions to be prepared to defend from any side, and be ready for artillery used to suppress badass UAF, so that they can reach the building. It is said that in the past, they were let in, than shot; so they plan to prevent this from occurring again. Well visible white bands are used throughout. A woman briefly interviewed at some point, she is local, and needs no uninvited guests.  --Resup (talk) 00:52, 5 October 2014 (UTC)
 * I must repeat, INCREDIBLE they know the enemy's cell phone and keep ringing up to talk. Very odd. BUT the enemy then has no excuse for not giving up, they've been offered often enough and had the means to negotiate coming out alive. KatKan (talk) 05:11, 5 October 2014 (UTC)


 * Why not? there are no drones or precision weapons so it is safe to call --Resup (talk) 05:19, 5 October 2014 (UTC)

Donetsk Civilian Casualties
About 40 civilians are said to be killed in Donetsk, in two days around 9 October. Graham Phillips made a video in Donetsk morgue, vk, 18+, or here, Graham Philips, youtube. Should be in OSCE report, to verify numbers, did not compare. --Resup (talk) 11:28, 14 October 2014 (UTC)

Tochka U usage
Tochka U usage reports:

23.08.2014 Snezhnoe, 29-08-14 Snezhnoe

August 24 or 25 (quoting RIA Novosti) DONETSK. 'Cassettes (cluster) part of the rocket exploded in the air over Suvorov street in Kirov region of Donetsk. A middle age woman, a mother of 3 children, was seriously wounded. Rocket engine fell on Pinter (Пинтер) street, in the same area' quoting RIA correspondent

Rovnenki, August 2014

.--Resup (talk) 00:55, 14 September 2014 (UTC)

Smerch Usage reports
Apparently Smerch usage with cluster munition --Resup (talk) 13:50, 14 September 2014 (UTC)

(PS. Smerch and Uragan are quite similar, but Uragan rockets are a bit is smaller.)--Resup (talk) 23:13, 15 September 2014 (UTC)

Lithuanian "Honorary Consul"
BBC reports Aug. 22: Lithuania says its honorary consul in the rebel-held city of Luhansk in eastern Ukraine has been murdered by "terrorists" there.


 * Lithuania's Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius tweeted with "deep sorrow" that "Mr Mykola Zelenec kidnapped & brutally killed by terrorists there".
 * There has been no comment from the rebels yet on the Lithuanian diplomat's death.
 * Lithuania is among the most vociferous EU member states in its criticism of Russian actions in Ukraine. The EU and US accuse Russia of fomenting the separatist rebellion in eastern Ukraine.

So... why did they have an honorary diplomat in the rebels' capitol city, who only got killed as government forces are also there? --Caustic Logic (talk) 23:29, 22 August 2014 (UTC)


 * Okay, when they say Lithuania had "its honorary consul" there, it's not like a diplomat - certainly not an ambassador to the Lugansk Peoples' Republic. Latvia, at least, just announced it was ready to recognize the LPR and DPR ... as "terrorist organizations." Lithuania is probably about the same. He serves no official function, apparently. One source (from Dutch) explains "An "honorary consul" can be a citizen, as it were what moonlights as 'honorable representative' in a distant location." Apparently, he's not even Lituanian; Baltic review describes him as a "Ukrainian businessman and  Lithuanian honorary consul ... a sincere friend of Lithuania and Ukraine who had a lot of plans for the development of the two countries, including cultural and business ties." --Caustic Logic (talk) 09:15, 23 August 2014 (UTC)


 * So he sounds like a pro-free-market guy, most likely pro-Kiev, but presumably given the honorific title sometime well before this year's coup, referendum, and war, back when Lugansk was just another Ukrainian city. But all through the Spring and Summer he remained there in Lugansk, apparently, never fleeing nor being murdered by the "terrorists" running the town. Did he even wind up sympathizing with them perhaps? Only once Kiev's forces were also in town, putting people in trucks that get blown up and blaming terrorists and things like that .... terrorists are blamed for this brutal murder. Baltic review says Zelenec was "shot to death today by Russian-backed terrorists" and adds "The businessman Mykola Zelenec was kidnapped few days ago by a group of armed terrorists. Unfortunately,  his location was unknown. and today, he was brutally murdered by the terrorists." The motive isn't explained - apparently just to piss off Lithuanians and Europeans in general, to keep up the pressure on themselves and on Russia. They plan things like this to make themselves look bad in between blowing up their own neighborhoods just to make the other side look bad.... obviously! --Caustic Logic (talk) 09:15, 23 August 2014 (UTC)


 * Honorary consuls are normal residents of where they are, and do consular work as a sideline for the country concerned. They have no diplomatic status, unlike full time employed Consuls. Their plans for "cultural and business ties" typically would include some for their own businesses.
 * It is odd they say "his location was unknown. and today, he was brutally murdered by the terrorists". If location unknown, how do they even know he's dead, never mind by whose hand? did they return the body with a signed note, or what? and he was only shot, that is non-brutal, not like, say, having his car run over by a tank.


 * Congratulations, Caustic Logic. You have found the mysterious "Third Force". KatKan (talk) 11:17, 23 August 2014 (UTC)


 * What? No I didn't. Though this part of it might have Lithuanian contacts, direct or indirect ... But those are good points you raise. I was smelling it, but you put your finger right on it. They don't know where he was taken by the "terrorists" but from the haze, they're certain he was killed there. As for the "brutal" part, indeed shot sounds different. Considering the news lately, I was thinking the smart thing for these "terrorists" to do is behead the guy on video. Let's hope they didn't get that ambitious and/or did this before the Foley story broke to influence their thinking... And all this just as Lithuania's doing whatever it is that's got Russia noting how "idefatiguable" they have been at needling Russia and demonizing the federalists. --Caustic Logic (talk) 02:15, 24 August 2014 (UTC)

Mass Graves at Donetsk
A few photos have emerged of soldiers being buried near Donetsk, no details given. KatKan (talk) 20:23, 22 August 2014 (UTC)

On top this says that SBU (Security Service of Ukraine ) is ensuring the peace of the country. Insults to the grave suggest that those are rebels KIA. Obviously does not say much about total counts. He says the memory of our guys will live forever, but for those bastards, we will use crosses for fuel in winter. Suggests an issue with heating up with approaching cold weather.

Konstantin Preobrazhensky  comments : "Реальное фото, как вьівозят целую фуру 200-х кацапов в Ростовскую область:" means :" a real photo how a whole truckload (фура-kind of truck, not clear how big) of killed (insulting word meaning Russian) are moved to Rostov region". Well, insulting KIAs is not a good thing, let's say. --Chingachgook

Vladimir Sachenko А що на фото з права за числа на табличках? what is on the right photo, those numbers on those plates Today at 2:46 am|

I do not see an answer --Chingachgook (talk) 21:22, 22 August 2014 (UTC)


 * In another version of the images, the comment said "the homeless will use the crosses or heating" which is a much more neutral prediction.

The crosses photo labels say "soldier No. X" and the open grave site/ditch clearly just sows position numbers - indicating someone is recording the number and whatever is known about the body being put there. There will have to b months of exhumations and DNA testing to identify everyone. I just brought the photos to show efforts are being made.KatKan (talk) 21:44, 22 August 2014 (UTC)

Well, I don't know about another image but what I see here is Заказывали пруфы значительных потерь колорадов? Обратите внимание на величину участка земли на 2 фото и то, что пидорашки даже имена определить не могут. А сколько осталось гнить где-нибудь за сельским туалетом и на полях Донбасса... Память о наших бойцах будет жить вечно, а кресты на этих недомогилках вскоре срубят бомжи, дабы согреться зимой.

Did you ask for proofs of considerable "colorads' (=rebels) losses? . Take a close look on land plot on photo 2 and that for пидорашки (insult- meaning he is Russian/colorad] they could not even figure out names.  And how many more are left to rot  nearby a "village" toilet and in the fields of Donbass...The memory about our folks will live forever, but crosses over those 'incomplete/shallow/substandard' graves which will be soon cut by some bums, дабы (in order) to stay warm in winter.

It is very clearly saying here they will cut them for the purpose of staying warm This type of discussions are next to impossible to be conducted in English. SOmetimes russian or ukranian conversations are typed using Western letters (especially if writing from abroad ) but still in Russian or Ukranian language. This text is in Russian (not Ukrainian), but by pro-Ukranian. Discussion over there  use both Russian and Ukrainian. I do not see English language at all (and not even western letters used)

--Chingachgook (talk) 00:32, 23 August 2014 (UTC)
 * I put them into several translators. Maybe those are being polite about the bad words. Other things often come out quite different so I have to mentally combine them. A lot of the tone/attitude shows through anyway. KatKan (talk) 11:24, 23 August 2014 (UTC)

This is what that person literally said, it is probably mostly insult than a practical arrangement, but cold weather and probably not functional facilities would seem anyway an obvious concern which I wanted to highlight

The tone here is actually as bad as it get, there are people much better qualified for an opinion but it is something like using Shakespearean or older English to make the horror movie type effect, whatever this effect actually is called, can find words for this now but hope clear where I am heading. Like horror pictures show up, horror music playing, this sort of thing what is that they do to make a horror movie? (I do not watch them) (like B rated horror movie, not David Lynch)--Chingachgook (talk) 17:55, 23 August 2014 (UTC)

дабы: is this some sort of Shakespearean way to say 'in order for'/for the purpose of? (Something like this but experts would know much better --Chingachgook (talk) 18:07, 23 August 2014 (UTC)

ДАБЫ

ДАБЫ союз чтобы, для того, к тому, с тем чтобы; пожелательное да. for, in order for, to cause, affirmative yes This is from Vladimir Dal' who first attempted written record of spoken language. So something old would be their but that it would tend to dissapear in shortish more modern dictionaries



this is smt h like 1863-1866 --Chingachgook (talk) --Chingachgook (talk) 19:48, 23 August 2014 (UTC)

Well, looking at other sources gives preety much the same translation, it is also on wiktionary , listed as archaic, and gives a reference, in ( Ученые записки МОПИ), to a research paper from 1963 , with hopefully all history in the issue as anybody could figure in 1963 and anybody would care to dig now.

--Chingachgook (talk) 20:07, 23 August 2014 (UTC)

May be no process in place to deal with unknown soldiers
May be no process in place to deal with unknown solderers --Chingachgook (talk) 21:05, 22 August 2014 (UTC)


 * Once there is normal government, they need to set up something like War Graves Commission, to collect all notes made by anyone who buried anyone. World War 1 was 100 years ago - last year an Australian soldier who died in it was identified by DNA after some of his bones were ploughed up by a French farmer. So it can be done, if they really want to.KatKan (talk) 11:31, 23 August 2014 (UTC)

Daily casualties?

 * Sergey Bobkov @sbobkov 1:32 AM - 20 Aug 2014
 * ''All fighting near #Donetsk today cost #Ukrainian troops 483 KIA and 700+ WIA, per radio communication intercepts. #ATO #DNR

"Officials in Kiev said 722 people with Ukrainian government forces had died to date, a jump from 568 announced on Aug. 11" according to an Independence Day article on August 24. The numbers get smaller every day. Or they've picked one of the many types of forces fighting for them and only count the smallest as "government forces" for statistical purposes. How stupid do they think everyone is to believe this? KatKan (talk) 22:41, 24 August 2014 (UTC)

According to CNN reporter in the field, shown in the embedded video, Ukrainian medics dealt with 70 UAF war dead, on 31.08.2014, right in front of the reporter's location --Resup (talk) 21:45, 1 September 2014 (UTC)

Rebel report, 1 Sept.

Ополченцы сообщают, что общие потери карателей за ночь составили один самолёт СУ-25, два вертолета МИ-8, два танка, до шести установок «Град», два бронетранспортёра, до четырнадцати орудий и минометов, до двадцати четырёх единиц автомобильной техники, два склада с боеприпасами. Потери в живой силе: до 100 человек убитыми и ранеными. Захвачены в плен тринадцать человек.

Google translate: Militia reported that the total loss of punishers per night: ​​one SU-25 aircraft, two Mi-8 helicopters, two tanks, up to six units "Grad", two armored personnel carriers, and fourteen guns and mortars, up to twenty-four units of motor vehicles, two warehouses ammunition. Casualties:up to 100 killed and wounded. Captured thirteen people. (Also, high total loss numbers of UAF suggested in the article). They also claim that 5 or 6 NATO officers are "blocked in Mariupol." --Resup (talk) 23:33, 1 September 2014 (UTC)
 * NATO spokeswoman denies there are anty NATO people there. But an analyst quoted in Pravda says they've been there since July - ""A NATO information group arrived in Kiev from Estonia in March 2014 (16 officers of NATO cyber center). The group launched active anti-Russian activities. In July, 6 officers of the NATO cyber center set up a point for conducting information warfare against Russia. The main point is located in Kiev,..." KatKan (talk) 05:32, 2 September 2014 (UTC)

Morgues
Zaporizhya: -- Petri Krohn (talk) 22:14, 16 September 2014 (UTC)
 * Tortured by Kremlin-backed militants – Halya Coynash, Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group, 15.09.14
 * ''Military recruitment offices confirm that 87 bodies of soldiers were brought to the Zaporizhya morgue at the beginning of September, and that a large number of bodies have been brought to the oblast. They say that they were all men who died fighting.


 * Останки 7 украинских воинов нашли под Старобешево (Remains of 7 Ukrainian soldiers found near Starobeshevo) – Info Resist, 17 September 2014
 * ''As of the morning of September 17 the search party found and exhumed the remains of 87 soldiers of the Ukrainian army and law enforcement officers who died in the ATO. The work was done in the area of ​​Saur-Mogila, Ilovaisk, Starobeshevo.


 * В морге Старобельска две недели находятся 27 тел солдат 80-й бригады и батальона «Айдар» (The morgue Starobelska two weeks are 27 bodies of soldiers of 80th Brigade and Aidar Battalion) – RusVesna, 24 September 2014
 * ''DPR requests militia headquarters command AFU take 27 unidentified bodies of soldiers 80th Separate Airmobile Brigade and Aidar Battalion  from the morgue in Starobilsk.
 * ''"In the morgue Starobelska Lugansk People's Republic for two weeks are 27 unidentified bodies of soldiers 80 separate airmobile brigade and battalion" Aydar ".
 * ''They lie from 9 September. Most of the 80th Airborne Brigade of the city of Lviv. And some of them of the battalion "Aydar". All the bodies were taken without papers from the field, to identify without relatives is not possible.
 * ''Mortuary workers have repeatedly appealed to the military for help in installing individual and transfer them to their hometowns, but from no reaction was received. Please Ukrainian command take the bodies of their fighters. "


 * Sergey Bobkov ‏@sbobkov on Twitter:
 * ''Per govt officials, there are still 552 bodies of #Ukrainian soldiers (all KIA during #ATO) that could not be identified in the morgues.

-- Petri Krohn (talk) 14:27, 24 September 2014 (UTC)

Strikes of Note

 * July 11, central Lugansk: after acknowledging "at least 30 soldiers" were killed somewhere near the Russian border in a federalist missile strike, an AP report noted the promise to "react swiftly." Later in the day, this article argues with geo-location, they may have tried to destroy the still-running Lugansk train station. Instead, a 3rd floor apartment just north of it took the blow from the north, killing at least one person - an older woman unfortunately shown under the rubble with he broken head. Many more would have died if the projectile hadn't lost as much altitude by that point. --Caustic Logic (talk) 11:17, 22 August 2014 (UTC)


 * August 19, Zughres/Zuhres: "Fifteen people were killed and 19 injured in mortar fire in Donetsk region’s village of Zugres on Wednesday, local authorities said, citing health officials. Among those killed were three children." (report-Russian)

72nd Brigade

 * Interrogation of a Ukrainian POW conscript – ENG SUBS
 * ''The real losses of the 72nd Brigade were never announced. They spoke about 100 men, but in reality the whole brigade was exterminated. Besides those who surrendered.


 * The real State of the Ukrainian Army in the ATO - ENG SUBS
 * ''If you compare the number of casualties. it's more than 9 years of Afghanistan.
 * Wikipedia: Soviet Forces: 14,453 Killed (total)Petri Krohn (talk)23 August 2014 (UTC)


 * You can see from what they're wearing, at least 4 different styles of camo. Their own running shoes or flip flops. USA sent them a planeload of good field rations. Blackmarket, figures.
 * Does anyone know what their vehicles are? First time I've seen light grey ones like that. It looks like winter (snow) camouflage. Not a good sign, if it is.KatKan (talk) 03:44, 23 August 2014 (UTC)

Missing soldiers
There was a Kiev battalion of ~4000 men which seems to have disappeared (24 Mechanised Brigade??) About 73 of them turned up in Kiev and are being treated as possible deserters. Apparently they were given permission to retreat, and they (sensibly IMHO) decided to retreat all the way home to Kiev. The other 4000 are not listed as dead. So where are they? slipped home? changed sides? escaped to Russia as refugees? captured? KatKan (talk) 08:20, 21 August 2014 (UTC)


 * I thought so. From early August:
 * "On Sunday, Vasili Malayev, spokesman for the Rostov Oblast FSB Border Service said that twelve junta soldiers laid down their arms and crossed into Russia in Rostov Oblast, saying “They laid down their arms and crossed into Russia at the Gukovo border checkpoint. Now, we’re investigating why they did this. The soldiers crossed into Russia on Saturday, they were from the Ukrainian Army’s 72 Mechanized Brigade. There were previous instances of junta troops rallying to Russia. In late July, more than 40 junta troops left their units and asked the DNR and LNR opolchenie to help them escape to Russia because they didn’t want to fight against their own people. All the junta troops came through the Donetsk border post in Rostov Oblast. They thanked the opolchenietsy who helped them."
 * from an excellent blog KatKan (talk) 09:54, 21 August 2014 (UTC)

Who is left?
Not casualties (yet) but available to throw into battle? don't know how much wishful thinking there is in this article, but it's an overview of the forces they think are available to Kiev. From Russian source but very interesting. Good analysis of how house to house fighting will end up destroying all the houses. Very scary. KatKan (talk) 08:20, 21 August 2014 (UTC)
 * From the bookkeeping I have been doing here (Ukrainian Armed Forces) I would say that no one. -- Petri Krohn (talk) 19:22, 7 September 2014 (UTC)
 * That means it's only private armies left. Those are vicious and Government has little control over them. Bad news. Meanwhile polls show all the "war" parties losing popularity. Is there a Rada worth of decent non-extreme people? KatKan (talk) 21:01, 7 September 2014 (UTC)

POWS?
Well, whatever is politically correct way to have this story in nadiya-savchenko I see no reason why not to have her released in some appropriately near future. No other cases I am clearly aware of, there was mentioning of ~ 300 UAF POWs  whom Ruban was chasing but that was from a while ago. I have not seen estimates of NAF POWs. Ruban was saying things like every extra day in captivity is very bad (if you are surrounded, it might be not possible to be too accommodating for prisoners) --Chingachgook (talk) 09:43, 21 August 2014 (UTC)

Some hints that some prisoners were not treated well, no definite details


 * Not new, interview with what seems to be 2 prisoners of war, complaining they weren't allowed to vote. i suspect when they're allowed to they won't be voting for the present government. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUO00Hi2A3E KatKan (talk) 04:01, 23 August 2014 (UTC)

Interesting is that when they were asked how do they feel about the commander, one of them say no feelings, the other is  say they are treated as cannon fodder, around 0.46 or so. Where that leads us, if anywhere, not sure. --Chingachgook (talk) 08:29, 23 August 2014 (UTC)

Some prisoners are shown to be moved from somehere to somewhere else. It is unclear who is formally in charge in what is hopefully a start of some sort of prisoner exchange process --Chingachgook (talk) 01:49, 25 August 2014 (UTC)

Just STOP THE WAR and let everyone go home.KatKan (talk) 07:10, 25 August 2014 (UTC)

Seconded --Chingachgook (talk) 07:30, 25 August 2014 (UTC)

Russian POWs
Kiev claims to have captured some Russian "paratroopers" inside Ukraine. Russia allegedly confirms they're Russian but says were there by accident. In a customary propaganda move,they've been forced to make pro-Kiev statements. How do I know the statements are not their own? " "They told us that the Bandera crowd is bad and the uprising is good. But when we were taken hostage, our eyes were opened ...." NO WAY RUSSIA would refer to Kiev as "Bandera" -- that is a Donbass expression which would be meaningless in Russia. Plus he looks like he's reading it.--KatKan (talk) 18:59, 26 August 2014 (UTC)

Itar-Tass: "all Russian paratroopers returned to Russia" --Resup (talk) 00:50, 31 August 2014 (UTC)

Apparently, Russian Embassy in Kiev staff members are "freed". --Resup (talk) 01:52, 31 August 2014 (UTC)
 * Very interesting, that. I'll have to look again closer - were grenades mentioned in connection with their arrests? --Caustic Logic (talk) 05:50, 31 August 2014 (UTC)
 * "Despite showing their diplomatic passports, they were detained when they were leaving a cafe, under an absurd pretext: ostensibly, they were carrying grenades with them. " from original story. According to TASS they were employed as guards. No more detail anywhere. Absolutely not a thing in Western media. KatKan (talk) 06:47, 31 August 2014 (UTC)

UAF POWS in Novorossia
1. Полковник, командир бригады Помогайло Владимир Анатольевич

2. Полковник, зам. ком. бригады Самойлов Сергей Анатольевич

3. Подполковник, зам. по летной работе Волков Виталий Петрович

4. Подполковник, старший штурман Дякив Александр Юрьевич

5. Майор, нач. службы безопасности полетов Стромыло Игорь Геннадьевич

6. Майор, нач. боевой подготовки Николаенко Артем Викторович

7. Майор, зам. комэска Овчинников Вячеслав Юрьевич

8. Капитан, командир звена Жуков Максим Николаевич

9. Капитан, командир звена Ручка Илья Николаевич

10.Подполковник, комэск Дзюбенко Вадим Валерьевич

11. Майор, зам. комэска Лагачев Владимир Владимирович

12. Капитан, командир звена Волошин Владислав Валерьевич

13. Полковник, нач. штаба бригады Матыцин Борис Николаевич

14 - подполковник Шевцов Юрий Сергеевич, пилот сбитого 21 июля в районе населенного пункта Мариновка самолета СУ-25, доставлен в штаб армии Юго-Востока, 12.02.1982 года рождения, уроженец г. Горловка, Донецкой области, проживает в общежитии военного городка по адресу г. Николаев, ул. Аэродромная, командир эскадрильи 299 бригады тактической авиации Украины, наносившей авиаудары по Донбассу, с местом дислокации в городе Николаев.

Google translate:

1 Colonel, brigade commander Pomogailo Vladimir A.

2 Colonel, Deputy. com. Sergey Samoilov Brigade

3 Lieutenant Colonel, Deputy. flight operation Volkov Vitaly

4 Colonel, senior navigator Dyakiv Alexander Y.

5 Major, beg. Service safety Strom Igor G.

6 Mayor, beg. combat training Nikolaenko Artem Viktorovich

7 Mayor, Deputy. squadron leader Vyacheslav Ovchinnikov

8 Captain, wing commander, Maxim Zhukov

9 Captain, commander of the handle Ilya Nikolayevich

10.Podpolkovnik, squadron commander Dziubenko Vadim

11 Mayor, Deputy. Lagachev squadron leader Vladimir Vladimirovich

12 Captain, wing commander, Voloshin Vladislav

13 Col., beg. brigade headquarters Matytsin Boris

14 - Lieutenant Colonel Yuri Shevtsov, the pilot shot down on July 21 in the area of ​​settlement Marinovka aircraft SU-25, delivered to the headquarters of the Army of the South-East, born 12.02.1982, in Gorlovka, Donetsk region, living in a dorm at the military camp Nikolaev, st. Airfield, Squadron 299 brigade tactical aviation of Ukraine, stationed in Nikolaev.

Photo, video of (14) are shown in the source. (1-13) in the list are characterized as his pals; there exact circumstances are not fully clear but they appear to be POWs. Article says that their personal information is removed from social network accounts.

--Resup (talk) 00:50, 31 August 2014 (UTC)

Russia hands over 63 Ukrainian servicemen to Ukraine, deputy commander says--Resup (talk) 02:26, 31 August 2014 (UTC)

This 31.08.2014 - 2:35 dated article show UAF POWs (Azov, Dnepr, Donbass battalion foot soldiers,+some officers). This happens under Ilovaisk, in Novorossia. "Despite reports in Ukrainian media that POWs were shot, Novorossiia AF show video with them held prisoners, although not in greatest shape,but alive". "We will not free them any more, they will help us to reconstruct Donbas." . I see, I guess, 18+ people on video, and about 40 people in panoramic video take starting at 2:16 and ending 2:23 on the video. I did not attempt more careful people count.

2:47 Officers, stand up, go to those other officers

3:03 You are an officer of which battalion? Answer unclear (negative answer to Dnepr or Donbass; OK we say just an officer; you go there now)

3:24 because you were killing civilians in our cities, it will be fare that you help reconstruct Donbas. Do you think it is fair? Yeah from prisoners goes. Thank you for your understanding.

--Resup (talk) 10:18, 31 August 2014 (UTC)

Donbas/Novorossia POWS in Ukraine
Novorossia: prisoners exchange temporary halted

Кононов: «Ко мне обратились матери детей, которые находятся либо в СБУ, либо еще где-то, и уже больше девяти дней украинская сторона не может выдать пятерых человек, которые были запрошены еще более десяти дней назад по запросу родителей. Вот как ведет себя украинская сторона. Поэтому все обмены военнопленными на данный момент я прекратил»

Novorossia, Kononov: "I was approached by mothers of  soldiers  who are either in the SBU, or somewhere else, and for more than nine days of the Ukrainian side cannot handle back to us five people that were requested more than ten days ago at the request of parents. Here's how the Ukrainian side behaves. Therefore,  I have temporary halted the exchanges of prisoners".

Kononov adds that Ukrainian army conscripts were freed.

--Resup (talk) 03:01, 1 September 2014 (UTC)

Rebels: Poroshenko announced that 1200 UAF POWs to be handed to Kiev by rebels. Rebels: details are being confirmed --Resup (talk) 14:40, 8 September 2014 (UTC)

Rebel Mozgovoi fighters ('Ghost brigade') show  what they describe as a burial of Novorossia POWs, with signs of execution and torture. They were alerted by the locals; who in particular reported that 2 POWs were tortured all night. Rebels also suggest that grave may contain explosive 'traps' (unclear whether it was the case). --Resup (talk) 18:46, 14 September 2014 (UTC)

Released Novorossia POW was beaten, tortured by UAF National Guard (swastika and opolchenets burned on the body; says that water-boarding and rack used) Second POW who was with him is still at SBU (3:25).--Resup (talk) 13:45, 25 September 2014 (UTC)

POW Exchanges
They're doing them on a matched number basis. Apparently Ukies have taken very few prisoners, so are forced to get other offenders out of jail to exchange. NYTimes first ever story that is not against NR. KatKan (talk) 18:28, 25 September 2014 (UTC)


 * And they're not getting their own back in very good condition. This poor young guy is totally shattered. http://dnr-news.com/video/5504-lugansk-obmen-plennymi-na-blokpostu.html KatKan (talk) 11:20, 13 October 2014 (UTC)


 * Indeed it appears that when Ukraine releases prisoners, they are typically/often in bad shape, or not actually real prisoners. While Novorossia typically treats prisoners well. There is evidence of goodwill on Novorossia side, they released some prisoners to parents well before ceasfire. Right after ceasefire, there was an impression that Novorossia supports all-for-all format, but than some hostilities returned which made this quite impossible. Maybe things will turn for better under stronger version of peace. The ball seems to be on Ukrainian side, they may consider releasing all prisoners in poor physical condition, as a goodwill gesture. --Resup (talk) 15:57, 13 October 2014 (UTC)

MIA
It is reported that SBU has 2400 UAF POW or MIA listed. Novorossia reported about 600 UAF POWs (minus those exchanged very recently). It looks like there are about 1800 "official" UAF MIAs. This count may not include volunteer pro-Ukraine battalions   --Resup (talk) 11:28, 17 September 2014 (UTC)

MAJOR difficulties of POW MIA work
Ruban's POW MIA work on government side were heard reporting MAJOR difficulties. This mission is not really done by government, it is done by a military officer, who set something up. But this officer by his code of conduct cannot tell his boss to cause the desired outcome. His only option is to wait for journos to yell so much that something will happen (But yelling of all those journos is inverse proportional to their reasonableness ).

To put this in short, I would do this (1) ask Ruban what needs to happen (2) make sure this does happen (or else, nothing good will happen)--Chingachgook (talk) 11:03, 21 August 2014 (UTC)


 * This is a HUGE problem. It will take a new and reconciliatory Government to handle it. Because


 * some POWS taken by Donbas are changing sides
 * some weren't even actually really taken prisoner
 * some MIA are missing on purpose (a welcoming country is real close)
 * these are a permanent propaganda thorn in their side
 * if anyone was mistreated by the Kiev side, once they're home they'll talk.

These guys are in a situation where they might be killed any minute. They don't plan very far ahead. When it's time to go home they will fear reprisals for where they've been. (Similar reason for why the Donbass guys cannot surrender or stop fighting. Fighting possibly extends their lives, in comparison to surrendering).

But if these are not sorted out, they'll never know who got killed and quickly buried. So the Government will never have peace from the relatives.

This poor mangled country is 100 or more years overdue for national reconciliation. Otherwise the hate will just fester and the trouble start up over and over. KatKan (talk) 17:57, 21 August 2014 (UTC)

Unhappy conscripts, with unhappy consequences
Some reports suggesting mothers or conscripts very unhappy to be drafted to fight in a pointless war. In some areas, whole areas were against draft. Once you are drafted, it becomes a matter of honor to fight, whether or not you believe it is for a right cause. Culturally, being a deserter is an insult. Majority of UAF fighting are drafted, not volunteered (not certain on law of the land but believe service is required). Somebody who withdrew too far may be in very serious trouble (possibly shot). It is plausible that small number of crazy people are herding much bigger pack of conscripts into a fight, with withdrawing not a plausible option. Some talk of such tactics were heard. That may be a reason for large losses,  unprepared and unwilling conscripts are lead from behind to die. Another issue is that once you got unwilling soldiers, what you do is to put the biggest artillery gun you can find to blast place in front of you into small enough pieces before venturing out there to figure out what was there at all. Rebels are constantly saying that loyalists use this type of tactics, they slowly shell things out with big (artillery) guns   --Chingachgook (talk) 10:05, 21 August 2014 (UTC)


 * "There was massive draft dodging in all three junta call-ups. They also raised politically reliable (but militarily worthless) “National Guard” and Territorial Defence units… therefore, the drafts of manpower didn’t go into formed professional formations, but into undisciplined, untrained, and badly equipped new units."


 * "the junta appointed Galician Uniate hillbillies as political commissars, with the power to shoot “deserters” and “malingerers”. To put it bluntly, the junta forces have received no real reinforcements since the beginning of the war. Let’s not be coy… it takes at least 9-12 months to recruit, train, form, and gel a combat unit. That’s a bare minimum. The junta’s thrown nothing into battle but uniformed Euromaidantsy terrorists, nothing more.


 * In short, the junta’s fighting the one kind of war that it can’t win… a war of attrition in a land where the people hate them (and hate them worse with each airstrike and artillery bombardment). Besides this, there’s much discontent, which the junta toady press suppresses (the reporting of such, not the disorders)."


 * "A V Zakharchenko, the Chairman of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR) Government, said at a briefing in Donetsk, “Ukrainian troops are rallying en masse to the side of the DNR. One of the officers of the 25 Airmobile Brigade took a BMP and rallied to our side. As of today, he took command of one of our units. This isn’t the only case of such. I understand that other units are ready to surrender in the near future in Dmitrovka and Kozhevni (a village on Russian border where the opolchenie surround junta forces). The regular Ukrainian professional soldiers don’t understand why they’re here, what they’re fighting for, and what they’re dying for. On the other hand, we’re fighting for our land, for our children, our homes. We’re in our homeland; we have something real to fight for. The morale of a unit that’s fighting for its homeland is of an order of magnitude higher than that of a unit that fights for money or that doesn’t understand why it’s at war. In fact, mostly, the Ukrainian regular soldiers aren’t our enemies; they’re our allies. There are even instances where the Ukrainian Army fights the Dnepr and Aidar Battalions. Now, not far from Ilovaisk, there’s heavy fire between Ukrainian regular troops and territorial defence battalions of the so-called ‘National Guard’”."


 * all from blog I linked elsewhere KatKan (talk) 12:50, 21 August 2014 (UTC)


 * A few days ago I read a blog from a Internal Security (?) soldier, I'll link it if I find it again. Fighting at Saur Magila for days, plate of porridge for breakfast, borscht for lunch, nothing else. ONCE they got one pack of excellent American field rations, he wrote it all ends up in the generals' camps. No first aid kits, no ground sheets, 24 hours to move out wounded (if they live that long). Once some "rebels" came and gave them food and blankets. Other troops with them were conscripts in one group, regulars in another, some "volunteers". Uniforms all over the place mixed up, they have to mark themselves with yellow Scotch tape to know they're on the same side, shot for a while at some with red tape, turned out they'd run out of yellow. Total disaster and headlessness. I can see some deserting into Russia just to get a meal. KatKan (talk) 13:01, 21 August 2014 (UTC)


 * Interesting, snippets and blog, although the author seems to have a religious lense I don't care for. Subscribed anyway. Here's a video I posted elsewhere yesterday, which fits very well. --CE (talk) 13:07, 21 August 2014 (UTC)
 * VayoSyshgZA


 * yeah there's a lot of religious and racist ranting on some of these, I don't care for all that name-calling, but they all do it, as a way of dehumanising people they may have to kill. Easier that way.


 * Here I found where I got the above story from. It is very long but very detailed, 2 good interviews, telling what it's like for the people doing the hard work. Scroll down to the big image of Saur Magila where it begins.vineyardsaker It's heartbreaking, and there's months more of it to come. KatKan (talk) 13:20, 21 August 2014 (UTC)

Stopping hostilities may be difficult
This may be difficult. On government side, going without a security is not a plausible option. But security may be provided by not the most sensible of all of the people, let's put it like that. (So, for example, talk is heard of rebels volunteering to provide security for government officials). Response to that suggestion was not heard. There are also some elections coming and some yelling is kicked up (not clear on exact details, but some right sector marches on Kiev were threatened recently). Such considerations may put considerable pressure on participants, (whether the threat is actually real or not). It looks like there were clearly signals from government searching for peace, but something else preventing it. There appear to be no clear sign that hostilities are actually residing at the moment, it looks like pretty much the same. --Chingachgook (talk) 10:05, 21 August 2014 (UTC)

Moscow proposes cease-fire --Chingachgook (talk) 16:37, 21 August 2014 (UTC)


 * Kiev does not trust Russia not to hit them from behind.


 * This is happening on a land which Moscow considers 'somewhat' theirs (before Lenin moved it to Ukraine) . But certainly does not considers Kiev theirs, and has no intention of taking Kiev. Even with Donbas, it is kind of cost-benefit situation. Moscow is fuzzy about even Donbas, and there is simply no momentum or intention to move situation further --Chingachgook (talk) 19:56, 21 August 2014 (UTC)


 * Some of the country has some sympathy for Donbass but not for Russia.
 * This is complicated issue, there are many ties, human, cultural, historical. It was on good side before all this started, and will settle back to good side eventually when it is over--Chingachgook (talk) 19:58, 21 August 2014 (UTC)


 * The Donbass youth are hopeful.
 * Well, my entry here is that they are in some serious mess on every level from head to toe, and continued shooting is not going to move that mess in a very hopeful direction. The most hopeful would be as open situation as possible (and flying drone is not exactly that way). To move it in a hopeful direction, there need to be trade and all sorts of exchanges, while right now it is going in exactly opposite, Syrian-type way. Drone is really only good to sell some fake and no other point . As little droning if possible for hope and change  --Chingachgook (talk) 20:21, 21 August 2014 (UTC)


 * The Donbass elders can remember Soviet times. Donbass doesn't trust Kiev not to hit them from behind.
 * Kiev CANNOT possibly hit Donbas (and especially from behind, well, should I really continue here?)--Chingachgook (talk) 19:58, 21 August 2014 (UTC)


 * United Nations probably doesn't want to get involved (veto powers aside) but a neutral force standing between would ease the tensions best. Ceasefire would have to include no moving of equipment around (so no setting up for the restart). KatKan (talk) 18:22, 21 August 2014 (UTC)


 * See no problem here . (Rebels appear promising not to shoot some stupid drones, well those drones looks a bit far fetched, will do no real harm, but this is rather pointless military and does not add to trust issue. This is more for some Western imagination . If they need some weapons, they will take them from UAF if the have to, but they do not really have to, as there is no point for them to move somewhere. They will just sit where they are at the moment --Chingachgook (talk) 19:58, 21 August 2014 (UTC)


 * Saur Mogila is ugly and horrible, in my opinion. It glorifies war. Makes it look heroic. It should be fixed up just enough to not fall down on some tourists. Otherwise leave it as it is as a REAL monument to what war REALLY is. Too many countries spend big money on war memorials while cutting the pensions of disabled servicemen. Let it stand. KatKan (talk) 18:22, 21 August 2014 (UTC)


 * Good idea to let it stand that way, but apparently too late. Hours ago pictures emerged showing its fall. --CE (talk) 18:37, 21 August 2014 (UTC)


 * Well, this will either stop sometime soon, or else it will go on for quite a while,--if not forever, -- and cost a lot of lives . So it has to stop "soon". But if it has to stop soon anyway, then any rationally thinking person would try to stop this immedeately, as a delay does not change anything and just means more people killed. There is clearly a sense of winding down, with Poroshenko saying everybody is tired of war and this kind of thing. So any rational person will press for urgent cease-fire. Full trust may never come, and unlikely to come before people stop killing each other. If they have issues they may talk them over. Hitting from behind is quite impossible, everybody still keeps their weapons, just stop shooting them. There seem to be any neutral force available, sizes of their guns may be bigger than those blue helmets. Nato is impossible. There is no other way (apart of doing this stupid thing forever) --Chingachgook (talk) 18:57, 21 August 2014 (UTC)


 * I really cannot care less on whether they fix the monument or not, concern is people getting killed for no rational reason --Chingachgook (talk) 19:01, 21 August 2014 (UTC)


 * Actually, as far as good military folks, they sort of trust each other, but they either shoot at each other, or they don't . Politicians, I do not know, no alternative politics to push seem to be available, where this politicking would go? Do what? If they got their brains straight, they should do it  --Chingachgook (talk) 19:07, 21 August 2014 (UTC)


 * I mean actual ceasefire, not a resolution released of course . UN resolution just by itself is not going to suddenly fix something --Chingachgook (talk) 19:21, 21 August 2014 (UTC)

This whole idea of Moscow intention of moving anywhere is simply wrong. It is not there now, and it is not moving there. Even Rouban said, we are not fighting with Moscow, we are fighting with guys with whom we were together on Maidan (which imply that it is pointless for any rational person) (and I could said it any better, really) --Chingachgook (talk) 20:04, 21 August 2014 (UTC)

Well we got a sudden trucking issue back again. --Chingachgook (talk) 20:34, 21 August 2014 (UTC)

Well, basically it is stopped means it is over. Somebody should just stop this nonsense --Chingachgook (talk) 20:34, 21 August 2014 (UTC)

Itar-Tass: "EU: Russia must make concrete steps to establis peace in Ukraine". Photo shows lots of empty chairs, and flags.

Are they waiting for somebody? Unclear why nobody moves a ceasefire. Hey, how about ceasefire, now ? --Resup (talk) 01:23, 31 August 2014 (UTC)

31 August, 13:46 UTC+4. Putin calls for immediate cessation of military activities in Ukraine. Photo, dated 30 August, shows trolleybus burned after shelling hit in Donetsk. No response to the call can be found in the article. --Resup (talk) 10:30, 31 August 2014 (UTC)

13:37 UTC+4 (?)  31.08.2014 "Putin:there is an agreement with Poroshenko on peaceful resolution of the conflict.--Resup (talk) 10:58, 31 August 2014 (UTC)

CNN: Ukraine warns of return to 'full-scale war' over crisis with Russia --Resup (talk) 11:08, 31 August 2014 (UTC)

Thorbjørn Jagland, Council of Europe secretary, ex Norway PM, supported immediate stopping of bloodshed and de-escalation of rhetoric from all sides --Resup (talk) 12:30, 4 September 2014 (UTC)

Right to war protest
Like, what's particularly wrong with this picture ? (Certainly, made my only smile for the whole bloody day).Chingachgook (talk) 10:05, 21 August 2014 (UTC)
 * So. It is starting. Dancing in the church nobody liked. The flag many secretly liked. Imprisoning these kids many won't like. Eyes will start to open. KatKan (talk) 12:32, 21 August 2014 (UTC)
 * I didn't read the story, but what's wrong with the picture - IMO, didn't make me smile - is that those colors are particularly ugly at the moment, and being smeared in everyone's face in a taunt. Like haha, we're coming for you next. Someone was jailed? I hope it's proportional to the vandalism crime ("hooliganism" might be fair too) and not politicized up or down (I finally read that part). And sanity needs slapped back into Ukraine ASAP. (then again, I'm a bit startled to learn how offensive I find the colors by now ... maybe I'm just not thinking straight) --Caustic Logic (talk) 23:04, 21 August 2014 (UTC)

Lack of trained negotiators
Some were trained but are nowhere be found. Rouban is THE ONLY (!!!!) negotiator in that land. --Chingachgook (talk) 12:17, 21 August 2014 (UTC)

Wounded
I guess at this point we have no clue, there may be no electricity or no facilities etc. Right now, it is comfortable whether to run around doing stupid things but we are moving into colder weather which will create additional issues --Chingachgook (talk) 12:37, 21 August 2014 (UTC)

WIA: an article on rebel site describes some problems. In particular,

1. UAF losses are greatly under-estimated by Ukrainian mass media and the government. If earlier, at the beginning of the punitive operation we received 3-5 day wounded soldiers, and when there was 10, it was almost an emergency. Now day 30-40 is the norm.

4 About volunteers (volunteers who help gather support for the wounded). Since the beginning of punitive action several "volunteer sotnia (team)" emerged. They would open some accounts ,as they say, to collect moneys for the wounded (author is ironic here). In cases when well-wishers bring to the hospital some appliances (refrigerators, televisions, air conditioning), the 'volunteers' ask for receipts for those appliances, which they than submit to their reports (so it appears to be their expenses, author implies). Everyone sees it, even SBU-agents  directly say - "We see everything, we know everything . But now we do not want to touch this with a six foot pole- too much howling will rise!" --Resup (talk) 07:58, 5 September 2014 (UTC)

Zaporozhye body parts

 * ''Moved from Talk:Slavyansk


 * Ампутовані частини тіла закопували у лісосмугах (Amputated body parts buried in forest) – CCA Interior Ministry of Ukraine in Zaporozhye region, Sep 5, 2014
 * ''Employees of the Department of Civil Service for Combating Economic Crimes Zaporizhzhya City Department of Internal Affairs of Ukraine in Zaporizhzhya region exposed a criminal group, which for a long time appropriated funds that were allocated for the disposal of so-called "clinical waste": amputated body parts, and so on. Instead, they just necessary cremation prykopuvaly in forest.

I was about to post this yesterday, but then had a look at the explanation the Interior Ministry had given: hospitals and common criminals. On second thought there might be far more to this story, that the Ukrainian media is not telling us. Were these body parts really "clinical waste" or just used cannon fodder? I did not look at the video, but in the one thumbnail screenshot there was a log that did not seem to be in need of amputation. As far as I can tell, these can be the loose limbs left on some killing field after the rocket cannons have snatched the tastier bits. Even if the explanation was true, one must ask how many wounded soldiers will it take to generate 1000kg of amputated limbs? -- Petri Krohn (talk) 11:09, 7 September 2014 (UTC)
 * Some of what's is shown is definitely amputated parts, some other towards the end less clear but can be the same. Something like 300-600 people seriously wounded and/or requiring amputations. May be 5 to 10 times more total estimate of wounded admitted in Zaporozhye region hospitals would be a crude estimate. People running field hospitals will be able to give better estimate of what it takes to generate 1 ton --Resup (talk) 12:30, 7 September 2014 (UTC)
 * Highly specialized hospital for the wounded, will likely be designed for small number patience, may be 200  well-equipped high-tech beds. Equipment will be almost certainly foreign and hard to get. They will be doing neurosurgery in addition to amputations --Resup (talk) 14:15, 7 September 2014 (UTC)


 * The official explanation sounds plausible to me as this is a common scam. The same thing was happening in Ireland about 14 years ago: disposal of clinical waste including body parts from the Dublin hospitals was outsourced to contractors who simply dumped the waste in the Wicklow hills to the south of the city.  If 1-2 hospitals with active surgical units generate 10 kg body parts per week, it would take 2 years to accumulate 1000 kg.  The underlying disease may not be obvious in a video: for instance an above knee amputation may be necessary for blocked arteries even though only the foot is ischaemic, because the blood supply below the knee isn't enough for a stump to heal.  Pmr9 (talk) 20:49, 7 September 2014 (UTC)
 * Clinical waste is not just amputated limbs. It includes everything blood stained, ie sheets, covers, disposable instruments, swabs, catheters, surgeon's bloodied scrubs etc so it builds up to a lot fairly fast. ALL dangerous waste is expensive to dispose, and dumping of it instead is fairly common, even for dangerous chemicals and nuclear waste. On second thoughts, they may stockpile it in part of the mortuary, and had to get rid of it in a hurry when the power went off. And the contractor may have had contracts with other hospitals, too.  KatKan (talk) 21:16, 7 September 2014 (UTC)

Treated in foreign hospitals
Ten Ukrainians are being treated in an Estonian hospital.
 * Заренков утверждает, что о бесчинствах украинских раненых в больнице ему рассказал не пациент (Zarenkov argues that the excesses of the Ukrainian wounded in hospital, he was not told the patient) – Delfi.ee, 07. October 2014
 * ''"Ten men with serious injuries, the combatants and sweeps in the Donbas, arrived at the invitation of the Estonian government in Estonia for treatment. Behave as winners: smoking, without leaving the House, right in the beds, rude staff, nights screaming their songs, and with doctors and nurses refuse to speak in Russian. Say - it is the language of the enemy. Estonian and English, of course, do not understand, require them to speak Ukrainian. Doctors are afraid of how to maidan not started right at the hospital. Perhaps if we could ride, the ride would make the whole hospital, "- wrote Zarenkov.

-- Petri Krohn (talk) 23:28, 8 October 2014 (UTC)
 * Nice types. Sound like entitled little rich b...s maybe from some well-funded storm trooper battalion? certainly not third wave conscripts. KatKan (talk) 01:57, 9 October 2014 (UTC)
 * Thought so. On closer inspection, "...”It's ten men. There are representatives of the Ministry of defence, that is the military. There are representatives of the volunteer battalions. In this group, as far as I remember, civilians there,”..." from further down in the story.KatKan (talk) 02:02, 9 October 2014 (UTC)

Hardware supply from Ukraine to the Rebels
This claim was made on captured hardware types and quantities. Claim is made by CyberBerkut on rebel site. They claim to know those numbers.  They claim this is based on intercepted reports of UAF за период с 8 по 15 августа Армией Юго-Востока было захвачено: Т-64 — 18 ед., БМП — 24 ед., БТР — 11 ед., БРДМ — 2 ед., БМД — 9 ед., РСЗО «Ураган» — 2 ед., САУ 2С4 «Тюльпан» — 2 ед., САУ 2С9 «Нона» — 2 ед., САУ 2С1 «Гвоздика» — 10 ед., минометов 82-мм — 6 ед., ЗУ-23-2 — 3 ед, автомобилей — 44 ед.

В общей сложности, с 20 июня по 15 августа в ходе проведения карательной операции, как следует из докладов самих военных, ополченцы захватили у украинской армии: Т-64 — 65 ед., БМП — 69 ед., БТР — 39 ед., БРДМ — 2 ед., БМД — 9 ед., РСЗО БМ-21 «Град» — 24 ед., РСЗО «Ураган» — 2 ед., САУ 2С4 «Тюльпан» — 2 ед., САУ 2С9 «Нона» — 6 ед., САУ 2С1 «Гвоздика» — 25 ед., Д-30 — 10 ед., минометов 82-мм — 32 ед., ЗУ-23-2 — 18 ед, автомобилей — 124 ед. --Chingachgook (talk) 14:05, 21 August 2014 (UTC)

I guess there should be someplace to watch any detailed claims made by parties involved, on any issue somebody cares, I am not going to follow closely those discussions --Chingachgook (talk) 14:59, 21 August 2014 (UTC)


 * The above in English
 * for the period from 8 to 15 August, the Army of the Southeast was captured: T-64 - 18 units., BMP - 24., BTR - 11 units., BRDM - 2 units., BMD - 9 units., MRL "Hurricane" - 2 units., SAU 2C4 "Tulip" - 2 units., SAU 2S9 "Nona" - 2 units., SAU 2C1 "Carnation" - 10 pcs., mortars 82 mm - 6 units., ZU-23-2 - 3 units, vehicles - 44 units.


 * In total, from June 20 to August 15, during the punitive action, according to the reports of the military itself, the militia captured from the Ukrainian Army: T-64 - 65 units., BMP - 69 pcs., BTR - 39 pcs., BRDM - 2 units., BMD - 9 units., MLRS BM-21 "Grad" - 24., MRL "Hurricane" - 2 units., SAU 2C4 "Tulip" - 2 units., SAU 2S9 "Nona" - 6 units ., SAU 2C1 "Carnation" - 25 pcs., D-30 - 10 units., mortars 82 mm - 32 pcs., ZU-23-2 - 18 units, vehicles - 124 units.

Some of these may not be in usable condition. And if this is from June they'd have lost some back, to, or broke or burnt them.

I posted a video yesterday of quite a bit of armaments being picked up and take away from an abandoned Kiev checkpoint. So they are certainly taking some, if maybe not as many as they are saying. But the numbers are not huge, so don't seem to be exaggerated for propaganda value.

Many of the items I don't know what they are. But 65 TANKS that is HUGE.

I want to see them taking some AMERICAN equipment, even if it's only "not combat" stuff, and POST IT ONLINE to prove they are capturing useful supplies. I read the latest lot of US gear includes APC (armoured personnel carriers). Seeing Donbass boys riding around on those on national US television might turn things around. KatKan (talk) 18:09, 21 August 2014 (UTC)

Trade much better than drone
Well, no way to escape this topic in any case, war or peace scenario--Chingachgook (talk) 20:52, 21 August 2014 (UTC)

There is a lot to talk about trade and all sort of science, cultural exchanges. Why not to focus on that rather than a drone? This is an incredibly strong point where everybody will not just move, but run, as a maniac, in the correct direction

Or figure out how to undo destruction, at the very least

This drone thing is just some very sick imagination. (And if you put it there--it may just stay there) --Chingachgook (talk) 21:03, 21 August 2014 (UTC)

(Well, unless somebody wants to push a trade in drones, but this does not sound as a very strong proposition ...) --Chingachgook (talk) 21:39, 21 August 2014 (UTC)

Refugees
From BBC site August 20

KatKan (talk) 21:29, 21 August 2014 (UTC)
 * At least 2,119 people have been killed and 5,043 wounded since mid-April, according to a UN report on 7 August
 * 951 civilians have been killed in Donetsk region alone, the official regional authorities said on 20 August
 * Official casualty counts only record certified deaths while in some particularly dangerous parts of the war zone, such as Luhansk region, victims are said to have been buried informally, for instance in gardens
 * Rebels (and some military sources) accuse the government of concealing the true numbers of soldiers killed
 * 155,800 people have fled elsewhere in Ukraine while at least 188,000 have gone to Russia

Well, we had some discussion of that which suggest larger overall numbers, but I have no idea, and no time , and means, to dig all that stuff , maybe it is somewhere else published --Chingachgook (talk) 21:46, 21 August 2014 (UTC)
 * I've not seen anything better than this. Guessing. No one person or organisation knows. Will take months to find out, a sort of census would have to be done, and they'd need know who is still in a camp somewhere, too. KatKan (talk) 22:11, 21 August 2014 (UTC)

Well, that would be like 20 per day in official report, but than we have seen a single day and place something in 500 range (which might be from some unusually large event) So given that, it does suggest potentially much larger total count, but does not really tell what the real count would be. I was not following closely and do not remember even what sort of numbers were reported, and what sort of battles were fought. Trying to estimate this without knowing would require a serious effort.--Chingachgook (talk) 22:56, 21 August 2014 (UTC)

Also, Donetsk for example, used to have 1 around 1 million population, so that 1 million, and Lugansk 0.5 million, so at least those nearly 1.5 million are either displaced or lives in grossly bad situation, with a lot of potential for much worth (total affected number of people seriously larger than in the official report. Can't say more for now. --Chingachgook (talk) 23:20, 21 August 2014 (UTC)--Resup (talk) 12:48, 6 September 2014 (UTC)

In WW2, which had quite similar tactics, it of sort 1:1 civilian vs military, so total REBEL  military deaths, which may be known from intercept and reports, would suggest about the same number of killed civilians --Chingachgook (talk) 23:29, 21 August 2014 (UTC).

Once official displaced number is about 1/5 of what it really is, we may be looking at potentially of order maybe total 1500-2000 officially in Lugansk +Donetsk, and 5 times more   in reality   , 8-10 K. Can't say more for now --Chingachgook (talk) 23:45, 21 August 2014 (UTC)


 * See what I added to the article page under "refugees". pre$$titutes like those at the BBC tend to just cite the number of people who applied for something in Russia, but they can just cross the border visa-free and do nothing, like the majority apparently did (so far). The numbers add up to a million displaced people, with 4/5 going to Russia. That alone debunks the narrative of "Putins terrorists" against the poor people of Ukraine. --CE (talk) 00:24, 22 August 2014 (UTC)
 * So it makes sense to send 280 trucks to help people stay at home, instead of having to build tent cities for them. Which won't be enough with winter on the way. There would also be people with friends on the other side (border people come and go) and staying there, not in a camp. So, like Kiev's troop death numbers, we need to add one zero at least, to come near the truth. KatKan (talk) 11:45, 23 August 2014 (UTC)

Saw this AP report from "liberated" (devastated) Lysychansk August 18:
 * Many in this predominantly Russian-speaking town of 105,000 are sympathetic to the rebels' cause but have accepted the Ukrainian army's victory as the better option because they don't believe they could live peacefully under rebel rule.

Funny, that. They could, if Kiev let them, but ... some learn they can't live at all under rebel rule - a loud blast, searing pain, then fade to black tells them so. Others learn rebels are incapable of keeping the electricity, water, and phones on under the constant shelling. Hospitals can barely run. There's hardly any food left and it's expensive. Under the medieval sieges of the type Western proxies from Libya to Ukraine are allowed to use now, life gets hard until the Western proxies get their way. These locals in the empire's path join tens of millions of others and growing that have had lives wrecked in just these last few years' worth of regime change and mop-up projects. --Caustic Logic (talk) 11:15, 26 August 2014 (UTC)

According to Russia's Federal Migration Service (FMS), more than 130 thousand Ukrainians had asked for an asylum in Russia, and in the last 5 months more than 820 thousand Ukrainians had "for the first time entered and stayed" Russia FMS (Itar-Tass). --Resup (talk) 06:32, 30 August 2014 (UTC)

Itar-Tass. OSCE: Lugansk remained without electricity and water, which could lead to a humanitarian catastrophe. Only one hospital in the city is working. --Resup (talk) 14:53, 2 September 2014 (UTC)

Itar-Tass: PACE to set up panel to probe into violence episodes in Ukraine, dozens died in a fire started by Right Sector radicals and supporters from the Maidan Self-Defense Force in Ukraine’s southern city of Odessa on May 2 --Resup (talk) 15:59, 2 September 2014 (UTC)

Donetsk republic information minister seriously wounded photographing delivering humanitarian aid near Donesk airport, few hours before the ceasefire. --Resup (talk) 14:27, 6 September 2014 (UTC) Russia is reported to have over 1000 points for temporary placement of refugees (that was easy in summer but winter is another matter) --Resup (talk) 13:09, 6 September 2014 (UTC)
 * Rostov Region, Russia: 53,000 refugees from Donbas reported . Most stay with relatives or friends. 1779 people stay in a temporary refugee camp.
 * Novosibirsk region: 1700 refugees in total (500 are children), in 24 refugee points. 273 children are at school. 309 adults are employed.
 * Russia's Far East : 5470 refugees
 * Sverdlovsk region: 975 Ukrainian refugees, in 30 refugee points. 19 refugees were reported to get a descent job at a factory. (Irony on) Is this a double-use factory? They produce 'fire-resistant materials' which may stand for bricks. And what do they built with those bricks, who knows. Could be very dangerous (Irony off).
 * Irkutsk region: 1542 refugees up to publication date, including at least 273 children, more people coming
 * Mordovia: 1943 refugees including 294 children, and 17 with special needs . 897 refugees places with relatives or friends.
 * Omsk region: 800 refugees
 * Kuzbas: around 1900 refugees

Itar-Tass published quite detailed information, with regional information reflected on the map --Resup (talk) 16:16, 20 September 2014 (UTC)

Civilian deaths
(Viacheslav Nikonov, ruling United Russia party, State Duma): Russia asks to investigate civilian deaths in Donbas. Recently, graves near mine pit 22 Communar (Коммунар), Donetsk region were discovered; 4 killed civilians, 2 of them women, confirmed, rape and torture reported. Report describes the finding as mass civilian grave (details appear unclear, mine pit is flooded, more bodies suspected). --Resup (talk) 12:40, 24 September 2014 (UTC)
 * Itar-Tass quoting Zaharchenko, Novorosssia. Civilian body count increased to 40; Ukrainian soldiers and Novorosssia POW bodies in two nearby graves.--Resup (talk) 08:14, 25 September 2014 (UTC)

Schastye video--Resup (talk) 13:49, 25 September 2014 (UTC)
 * Good to see them reporting the finds to OSCE, there's some chance of getting some official investigation done. They could actually use some international help to find ALL the unmarked graves and exhume everyone.  They need to search the lakes, too. Even if nobody gets charged, just to get everyone properly buried.KatKan (talk) 15:22, 25 September 2014 (UTC)

Donetsk: 2-3 weekes before Minsk agreement, there were 15-20 civilians killed daily. Recently, there were civilian casualties again, from nearby the airport  areas. There are '''about 5 times wore killed women than man. Most casualties due to shrapnel wounds. ''' Morques are full, not just in Donetsk, but in other cities,

I also remember it was stated somewhere that proportion of children killed is higher than was seen in other conflicts (did not save the link).

Purgin: according to my estimates, more that 4000 were killed in DNR. 2/3 to 3/4 of them are civilians. 90% were killed by shelling. There are about 400 unidentified victims in Donetsk morgue, 80% are civilians. --Resup (talk) 13:59, 1 October 2014 (UTC)

DNR: School number 57 shelled in Donetsk on the first day of the (delayed by 1 month) school year. BBC report. Dolgov, Russian FM representative: highlights school shelling and previous humanitarian issues. --Resup (talk) 15:38, 1 October 2014 (UTC)

Graham Phillips reports from the morgue in Donetsk:
 * ''On camera, the doctors at Donetsk morgue are scared to tell you how many killed in Donetsk.
 * ''Off-camera, today and yesterday, 'over 40 civilians killed by Ukrainian shelling'.
 * ''In the morgue, simply, piles of bodies.

-- Petri Krohn (talk) 18:59, 8 October 2014 (UTC)

Consular Information
List of countries citizens of which I heard in the news to be involved, in no particular order, and not from former SU Sweden french "american" British?

--Chingachgook (talk) 06:40, 26 August 2014 (UTC)

Missing People
Russia's ministry for emergency situations (having very good past record of handling emergencies) opened a web page to look for people went missing during emergency situations or other life events. --Resup (talk) 10:28, 5 September 2014 (UTC)

Red Cross
Red Cross

what would be the most sensible way to contact Red Cross, as close to Donbas as it gets, for somebody located in that area ? Maybe we should put here this information, if available. --Chingachgook (talk) 08:13, 26 August 2014 (UTC)

A report on Red Cross activities in Donbas (delivered 60 tons air to Luhansk, not involved in 3 aid convoy from Russia, plan to focus on areas of expertise like assisting hospitals, educating on land mines. Collecting building materials for restoration of houses in Slavyansk.) --Resup (talk) 13:03, 20 September 2014 (UTC)

Medicine
There are about 2.9 % of diabetics in Ukraine (1.3 million, with population 45 million). Therefore, out of roughly 1.5 million people in Donbas, 43,000 will be diabetics. A diabetic will need something from 1 to 3 grams of insulin daily, I believe. While 10 gram vial of insulin will cost insulin will cost anywhere from at least $24 (in USA) to about $2 (in Egypt or Iran). So somebody will need to spend anywhere from 100,000 to 1 million $ to give one 10-mil vial to each diabetic; that will last from 3 days to about a week or so. Wondering how they are dealing with this issue? Who gives them insulin? --Resup (talk) 14:38, 7 September 2014 (UTC)
 * A lot of diabetics don't get insulin. They get other drugs, often in tablet form. (That's not to say these would be any better available or affordable). People with all kinds of chronic diseases will suffer until medical services return to part-way normal. The Red Cross may help as they are very active, and can obtain things from international sources. They would also be a good "neutral" group to assess what the hospitals need most. KatKan (talk) 16:52, 7 September 2014 (UTC)
 * It will be good if Red Cross is involved. But currently, my understanding is that Donbas residents are supplied with crucial medicine by the 'rebels'. A lot of civilians are in Russia (at least 800K ).Majority of them stay with relatives and friends; and funding being raised in some private unregulated manner  e.g. here in Novosibirsk . Private-channel refugees may not have access to medicine, they need medical policy number to be admitted, but this is likely a headache and I guess few will bother to do it. Some help is provided by Russia's Ministry for Emergency Situations, but they appear to be overwhelmed. Most civilians likely have no clue how they can get  help from the  Red Cross, and even how to contact the Red Cross. Medicine is available in Russia, but cheaper medicine is likely counterfeit or placebo; and it is very difficult to tell whether something sold in pharmacies, in lower price range, is real or fake. --Resup (talk) 14:11, 8 September 2014 (UTC)

Funerals
The Kiev government can no longer afford to provide funerals services fro those killed in action. Either they must be totally broke, or there is an overwhelming number of dead. -- Petri Krohn (talk) 18:36, 8 September 2014 (UTC)
 * Киев говорит, что не может хоронить погибших на востоке Украины бесплатно (Kiev says that he can not bury the dead in eastern Ukraine for free) – Vesti.ru, September 8, 2014

Graveyard in Dnepropetrovsk
Graveyard in Dnepropetrovsk: Unknown soldiers numbers 6076-6554 (Original video now deleted.) -- Petri Krohn (talk) 03:59, 7 October 2014 (UTC)

Video Lady comments:
 * 0:06 – I am now at a burial place in the vicinity of Dnepropetrovsk
 * 1:51 – Graves are labeled by numbers, and DNA samples are kept in a morgue in Dneprpetrovsk, Mechnikov hospital
 * 2:29 – 200 more bodies are in the process of being identified
 * 2:47 – 'Putin should stop conflict and withdraw troops'
 * 3:23 – Graves with flowers and crosses are those where 'authorities in Dnepropetrovsk believe that those are Ukrainian soldiers' . Crosses are numbered and have 'unknown defender of Ukraine' label
 * 3:55 – a lot of bodies arrive, they are brought by plane
 * 4:52 – numbers on graves refer to DNA samples (we see numbers 6552, 6554, 6544, 6447, 6076, 6077, 6346, so at least 6076-6554 are there)
 * 5:29 – 'Putin is to blame, he and his cohort'

Concludes with 'such a sad report I have today.' So she maybe a Ukrainian reporter, possibly blogger or activist; I am not aware of such a report being published   --Resup (talk) 02:53, 8 October 2014 (UTC)


 * Not all numbers are buried at this graveyard. The numbers are the consecutive numbers at the registry at the morgue. Every corpse gets a number when it enters the morgue. Some people are identified and released to relatives. Only the ones that could not be identified end up at this lot. The running numbers only apply to this one morgue in Dnepropetrovsk. Other cities have their oven registries and numbers. The graveyard in Lugansk photographed by Graham Phillips showed morgue numbers around 1000.
 * Based on the numbers I come up with this guestimate of Ukrainian war casualties (KIA):
 * In morgues:
 * Dnepropetrovsk: 7000
 * Kharkov: 4000
 * Zaporizhia: 3000
 * Mass graves on the battlefield: 10,000
 * Total: 24,000
 * -- Petri Krohn (talk) 18:50, 8 October 2014 (UTC)
 * Video Lady mentions, in passing, possibility that not all buried are UAF KIA, and mentions possibility of 'cross-dressing' . She does not explain why there would be large scale 'cross dressing', or give anything to support this. But flowered graves are those when apparently authorities have some evidence it was UAF. It is not clear how it was decided. There may be subtle spins involved in all this, like slowly releasing truth, giving some room for doubt. --Resup (talk) 19:07, 8 October 2014 (UTC)

re numbers: there are exhumations being done in former battlefields, the bodies/remains being taken to proper morgues. Especially as many would be in shallow graves. These would be from both sides. Also backyard burials in shelled towns would be being dug up to be properly reburied. So there would be some double-counting going on. But 24,000 is only about 100 a day, quite feasible if we consider some of the huge loss areas. They have yet to check the lakes a lot of bodies were supposedly dropped into, back when they still had helicopters.

re "cross dressing" I don't see anyone stripping mangled bodies to put different uniforms on them. But, many on both sides had to buy their own equipment and uniforms, especially 2nd and 4rd wave Ukr conscripts/volunteers, so there is no one unified official uniform they'd be wearing. The nice matching well equipped ones with the best embroidered badges are oligarch-supported volunteers (although the more popular NAF ones seem fairly well dressed now, probably from donations). Flowered graves might be where they had papers or were otherwise identified, and relatives have been there. There also was a story that some 80 volunteer (Azov etc) bodies had not been claimed from some morgue. But yes, certainly images panning across hundreds of prepared graves do seem to be slowly preparing the population for much bigger KIA numbers than they've been told so far. Government is no doubt hoping it doesn't come out before the elections. KatKan (talk) 22:36, 8 October 2014 (UTC)

Do we have any definite numbers for Kharkov, Zaporizhia count? I missed or don't remember. They may be all in Dnepropetrovsk (easier to control) --Resup (talk) 22:43, 8 October 2014 (UTC)

After listening video lady, I was under impression that those flowers are on the back of crosses for unknown soldiers, and this is what I think the video shows. There is no mentioning of anybody identified. (Perhaps official count is those identified? I do not really know what official count counts) --Resup (talk) 22:53, 8 October 2014 (UTC)


 * Kharkov and Zaporizhia have both been mentioned as sites of military hospitals and morgues. The numbers are just based on their relative importance, and... say loose body parts; one whole body for every 300 g of loose leg.
 * I do not think that many bodies from battle field mass graves would end up in the morgues yet. This could not be done in secret. The number 10,000 is partly based on the losses in the cauldrons. Most mass graves would be in the cauldron areas and all of these are now controlled by NAF. Some are Kiev held areas, like Popeda. There were also reports of a thousand Ukie bodies near Slavyansk. -- Petri Krohn (talk) 23:14, 8 October 2014 (UTC)

Novorossiyan deaths?
Everyone on the Novorossiyan side seems to agree that NAF casualties are by far smaller than the ATO losses. I have seen few reliable report of deaths. There have been some funerals of local NAF fighters killed. I have seen a few in Slavyansk, one someplace I cannot remember, one on Saur Mogila and today one in Stakhanov. All had a similar format; public, formal and publicized. All these had multiple victims killed at the same time. What happened to all the tens of thousands of terrorist ATO claims to have killed? -- Petri Krohn (talk) 03:07, 21 September 2014 (UTC)

Russian deaths?
Graveyard: (''Yes, this is in Russia. Split section. -- Petri Krohn (talk) 00:42, 24 September 2014 (UTC)) It should be possible to count the graves. -- Petri Krohn (talk) 10:58, 23 September 2014 (UTC)
 * Secrete Grave yard where russian troops are buried in east ukraine – Aug 28, 2014
 * This video is made at a graveyard in Pskov, Russia. It was alleged that some Russians who died in Ukraine may be buried there. It was also alleged that some may be on active duty, the count  is on a scale  from a few cases, to a scale of ten or so, not on such large scale as the  overall graveyard footage suggests. Peskov, the President's spokesman, recently promised that those allegations will be looked at, and a response will be provided. Lev Shlosberg, a politician from Pskov (Iabloko party), who was one of the first to raise concerns, had officially asked for information of circumstances of death of 12 soldiers.   --Resup (talk) 12:32, 23 September 2014 (UTC)
 * TV Rain found three graves of current or former paratroopers. Born 1974, 1984, 1993, died August 18th, 19th and 20th. -- Petri Krohn (talk) 00:42, 24 September 2014 (UTC)

Someone died on August 13th: -- Petri Krohn (talk) 19:04, 8 October 2014 (UTC)
 * 'He wasn't a volunteer,' says wife of a Russian officer who died in Donbas – Novaya Gazeta, reprinted by Kyiv Post, Oct. 7, 2014

Lists of casualties

 * Списки убитых солдат ВСУ в одном морге Днепропетровска (List of dead soldiers in one APU morgue in Dnepropetrovsk) – Voenkor, 16/09/2014
 * ''The number of dead soldiers "ATO" tens of thousands. Hide these losses junta is becoming increasingly difficult.
 * ''In the order of our agency got a list of fallen soldiers whose bodies arrived at the morgue of one of the many hospitals in Dnepropetrovsk. List obtained from a source in the staff of the health facilities.
 * ''In just a short period of time the expert pathologists had to carry out an autopsy over 274 bodies, many of which were not identified. Most of the following bodies and remain in the morgue refrigerators. And wives and mothers of dead soldiers still quiet polite tellers of the call center.

Novorossiya air Force?
This seems to shows an NR battalion find and test fly some ancient aircraft. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_oXGSWW_M8 of course they'd need to register it and get Air Traffic control permission to fly it, so..... they may not get much Kiev co-operation on that. KatKan (talk) 17:37, 10 October 2014 (UTC)

HELP I'm LOST HERE

 * ''Moved to Category talk:Leaks

This issue was already discussed in Category talk:Leaks on September 16th. -- Petri Krohn (talk) 23:42, 6 October 2014 (UTC)