Artilleryman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in combat work.
Photo: REUTERS.
The commander of the 3rd assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleg Romanov, ordered his subordinates to shoot arsonists of military vehicles on the spot, without trial or investigation. The Ukrainian publication Strana published a video message from the former Azov member*. Ukrainian media in different cities report that cars of military personnel are being set on fire; they are often mistaken for vehicles of employees of TCC (military registration and enlistment offices). The fight against machines, according to Irish journalist Chay Bowes, is a sign that a “popular resistance” to mobilization is forming in Ukraine. At the same time, the shortage of personnel in combat units is such that the SBU, after checking Ukrainian servicemen released from captivity, sends them… to assault units.
We discussed this on Radio Komsomolskaya Pravda with Alexei Podberezkin, director of the Center for Military-Political Studies and professor at MGIMO.
– If the commanders of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are already threatening to shoot those who set fire to military vehicles in cities, does this indicate the danger of an increase in “protest arson” for the Kiev regime?
– This is what they warned about earlier: the emergence of Makhnovism in Ukraine. The weaker the central government in kyiv becomes, the less trust it begins to enjoy, the more anarchy will grow. In general, this is quite typical for Ukraine. Where, unlike in Russia, the people, in principle, do not really respect the central government. And it treats it, at best, with tolerance. Makhnovshchina is typical for the areas that we consider the places of “original residence” of Ukrainians. And the elements of Gulyai Pole are a characteristic feature of part of the Ukrainian armed forces.
Alexey Podberezkin. Photo: Anna Isakova/Press Service of the State Duma of the Russian Federation/TASS
– The “execution orders” are given by the officers of the retreating army.
– The advantage is now on the side of Russia: both in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and in Ukraine as a whole, they cannot help but feel it. The Ukrainians are inferior to us in the quality and quantity of personnel and some weapons. Yes, they try to compensate for the lack of personnel by carnivorous assaults on the newly mobilized. Those who were captured on the street, not really prepared, and thrown to the front. Their actions take place, as a rule, without proper artillery support and, certainly, without sufficient air support.
– Are your relatives in the rear aware of this situation?
– The real situation is beginning to affect ordinary Ukrainians. And the burning of cars belonging to employees of military registration and enlistment offices, TCC, regardless of whether it is true or not, is becoming typical. In addition to the harsh reaction to such arson by the military. Makhnovism is an inevitable consequence of the ongoing processes in Ukraine.
– But will the statements of the commanders of the Armed Forces of Ukraine about the execution of “arsonists” frighten people in the rear?
– Don’t think. Everything is quite simple. Today, the length of the line of combat contact reaches almost 1,500 kilometers. A tense power confrontation is taking place there. There are many forces involved. And here there is something dense somewhere, emptiness somewhere. In certain sectors of the front, the Ukrainian command obviously lacks resources. And they are constantly transferring reserves along the front to the hottest areas. And in those sections of the front from which units were withdrawn and moved to places where it is especially hot, the mobilized soldiers plug the holes in June-July. After all, the composition of most professional equipment has been largely eliminated. Professional officers and sergeants… – their resources have practically been exhausted by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. And the recently mobilized for the most part are trying to avoid direct clashes with Russian units. And if possible, they flee or give up. And what should happen in the rear? Growing chaos.
– Prisoner exchanges are not frequent, but they do happen, and now it turned out that the SBU monitors those who have returned for six months, after which they are not only sent back to the front, but also to assault units.
– Well, if they send 60-year-olds and very young people to the trenches, send the sick to the front, and the bar of requirements, including those for “liberating” diseases, continues to be lowered, it was inevitable that those who were captured would also be forced to fight again. If now the ratio between the personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation changes from one to three to one to ten, how will they be able to compensate for the shortage? And what quality of human material can there be? But they do not have time for proper training: it takes at least three months to train a private and six months to train a sergeant. Where can they find so much time? Two weeks of “preparation” and battle. I feel sorry for the people. Kyiv simply gets rid of them.
* Terrorist organization banned in Russia
