Dear friends,
I am sorry to report that I will again have to be away from my keyboard for most of the day. Therefore, I will again leave an open thread for you to use to keep the discussion going. Please do not use that time to attack anybody personally.
Right now I will just say this:
There are reports from different sources which all point to the same fact: it appears the Ukie force in the “southern cauldron” has been thoroughly defeated and that what is left of it is retreating in chaos and panic. Apparently the Resistance managed to defeat this large force (3’000-5’000 soldiers supported by heavy equipment) with no fire support from the Russian side.
The Ukie forces are also apparently retreating form Donetsk even though some sources are also claiming that Donetsk is under attack. Russian sources report that Strelkov imposed a curfew on the city. Still, there is pretty good evidence that some towns near Donetsk have been abandoned by retreating Ukie forces.
Still no clear news from the Lugansk airport. I think that what is going on is that the Ukies control only part of the airport, but that this part is very heavily fortified and very well defended. So even though the Ukies are surrounded, the Resistance cannot “crack” their defenses yet. I wonder when the newly “acquired” Resistance artillery will be used to put an end to this siege.
The best info so far is on the Russian version website of Colonel Cassad:
http://colonelcassad.livejournal.com/
There is an English version which, of course, is delayed by the time needed to translate:
http://cassad-eng.livejournal.com/
If I get any SITREPs I will post them this evening (GMT-5). Until then, I live you the open thread.
Kind regards to all,
The Saker
Saker Message:
Well, contrary to all reports yesterday, it looks like, overnight, US managed to strongarm EU countries into agreeing to sanctions against Russia.
This is only being reported by western propaganda arms (Bloomberg, etc) as an unverified leak – which means that pressure is still being applied – but still…
It was really nice being able to pretend, for 24 hours, that EU leaders actually had backbones.
Danger.
When a side in a war starts to loose they can act like crazies. The Kiev Junta is full of “freaks”. Now we will have crazy freaks.
Danger.
@ALL – Flash Update to July 16, 2014 Briefings
15:50 – July 16, 2014 – Briefing From the Militia
Marinovka has been taken by the Militia. The punitive forces have been totally encircled. The southern cauldron has been firmly sealed. The Ukrainian forces have only one chance to survive – to surrender to the Militia or to be interned on the territory of Russia.
On other areas of the southern front, the Militia also continues an active offensive. Artillery attacks on the Junta columns are being conducted. The Militia periodically uses Grad systems.
Kind regards, Gleb Bazov
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQbXO828Vio&feature=kp
More power to the Militia of Novorossiya, momentum is with you now, hard earned success due to intelligence and bravery.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYG5J4s0D_s
Espina in the soon to be independent Republic of Scotland :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQbXO828Vio&feature=kp
More power to the Militia of Novorossiya, momentum is with you now, hard earned success due to intelligence and bravery.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYG5J4s0D_s
Espina in the soon to be independent Republic of Scotland :)
Bravo, Donbass militia! I suspect this will go down in military history as a classic example of this kind of maneuver. Typically after such a massive blow, one can hope for further territorial gains following the massive demoralisation of the Ukie forces. However, the extremists safely sitting away from the front will be furious and perhaps even more dangerous.
I was rather hoping that the Ukies could be forced into Russian territory, but it seems the Ukies have mined at least some of the border. This was presumably to keep Russians out, protecting the their rear during the anticipated encirclement of the Donbass forces. Now they are trapped between hostile Donbass forces and their own land mines. Tricky!