Ukraine Inflamed By Russian Concessions
South Front, Mar 30 2022
On Mar 29, the Russian Defense Ministry decided to drastically reduce military activity in the Kiev and Chernihiv directions. This was stated by the ministry following another round of the Russian-Ukrainian negotiations held in Istanbul. The Russian military took such a decision “due to the fact that negotiations on the preparation of a treaty on the neutral and nuclear-free status of Ukraine, as well as on the provision of security guarantees to Ukraine, are moving into practical concerns.” The Russian military presence should be reduced in these regions “in order to increase mutual trust and create the necessary conditions for further negotiations and signing of the agreement.” The Russian military takes defensive positions around the capital and declared that they refused to offence in the region. The partial withdrawal of Russian troops to the territory of Belarus was reported by local media. It is still unclear to what extent the Russian military will “reduce its military activities” in the declared regions and how this will ensure the security of Russian forces remaining on the outskirts of Kiev, where the AFU grouping, supported by foreign militants, successfully prevented Russia’s advance in the region for weeks. Russian troops faced stiff resistance near the capital, as Ukraine also announced on March 28 that it had retaken a large suburb of Kiev, Irpen. A member of the Russian delegation added:
We proceed from the fact that the relevant basic decisions will be made in Kiev and conditions should be created for further normal work.
As a result, soon after the declared partial withdrawal, fierce clashes broke out on the outskirts of the capital. The AFU began to use Grads en masse, to which the Russian forces responded with MLRS strikes. Local sources confirmed that Kiev has never known such a ferocious shelling with the use of MLRS. Dozens of installations were involved, and thousands of rockets were fired. Fierce clashes continued near Irpen in the Kiev region. Previously, the situation in the Chernihiv region was relatively calm, and violent battles were reported much less frequently than on other fronts. After reports of the decision of the Russian command, the Governor of the Chernihiv region said that attacks were carried out on the city of Nizhyn at night and the shelling of Chernihiv itself continued.
The statement on the reduction of military activity in the declared regions does not mean the cessation of rocket fire at military facilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine throughout the territory of Ukraine. Fighting is also expected to intensify on the fronts of Donbass. Missile strikes are reported in the vicinity of Kharkov, Kiev, Khmelnitsky. According to the latest data, in Khmelnitsky, the strike targeted a storage of fuel and lubricants and an airfield. Ukrainian resources report that Russian troops opened fire on the AFU facilities in the Kharkiv region. It is reported that about 180 missiles from the Grad MLRS were fired at the positions of the AFU near the city. Escalation is also observed in the Donbas, where fierce fighting has not stopped. In the Lysychansk-Severodonetsk agglomeration, there is no change on the front lines. Attacks were carried out on the AFU facilities in Severodonetsk, Rubezhnoye, Popasnaya and Kremennaya. The Ukrainian side reported major clashes near the village of Kremennaya. Positional battles continue in the city of Rubezhnoye in the LPR. Some progress of Russian troops was reported in the Izyum direction. The Russians are slightly coming closer to Sloviansk.
Meanwhile, the AFU have intensified attacks on civilian infrastructure in the territory of the DPR and LPR. On the morning of Mar 30, one civilian was killed, 4 others were injured after an AFU shell hit a multi-storey building in Donetsk. In Mariupol, Russian and SPR troops continue to slowly mop up the city. Another outpost of the Azov regiment was reportedly taken under the DPR control. During these days the Russian army took control over several factories in the city. However, the Azov fighters provide fierce resistance and Russian advance is slowed down. The AFU became more active in the Mykolaiv region. After an unsuccessful counteroffensive towards Kherson, Ukrainian forces opened massive fire from MLRS and artillery on two villages near Kherson, and destroyed civilian houses. The Russians responded with precise strikes. On Mar 29, a rocket hit the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration. More than a dozen of casualties were reported. It is expected that the Mykolaiv region may become another main front after the military operations against the AFU in the Donbas are completed
DPR Special Forces Soldier Reveals Situation In Mariupol As It Is
South Front, Mar 30 2022
The fighting in Ukraine is accompanied by a fierce information war. Both sides of the conflict seek to embellish their successes and attribute defeats to their enemy. This is done by various means, up to the production of fakes and staged videos, which is mainly done by the Ukrainian side. In turn, the Russian side is trying to embellish its successes by choosing the needed shoots from fragments of video recordings. In the video, the soldiers of the special forces of the DPR described the real situation in Mariupol, criticizing the hooray-patriotic approach of many Russian and local journalists. He notes that there is a hard war going on, when the real victory may be achieved only on the battlefield, and not on the screens. He emphasizes that the approaches used by Ukrainian propagandists should be avoided, and it is necessary to provide the audience with the real image of the ongoing developments, as in a war, the one who tells the truth always wins.
Assault On Mariupol And Developments On Eastern Front Lines
South Front, Mar 30 2022
Developments on the Eastern front lines are slow and static. However, there is some movement both in Mariupol and in the eastern direction as a whole. The destruction of the Azov regiment and the remaining AFU forces continues in Mariupol. On March 30, Russian troops took control over the Azov headquarters. On the Donbass front, situation remains the same. Positional battles and small advances are reported. There was some progress in the Izyum area. The Russians are slightly moving closer to Sloviansk. Near Kramatorsk, the AFU blew up a dam to slow down the Russian offensive in this direction. In the Lysychansk-Severodonetsk agglomeration, there are no changes on the front lines. DPR and Russian troops continue the mop up operations in Mariupol. DPR servicemen are mostly concentrated on moping up of the left-bank area of the city.
The DPR People’s Militia, supported by the Russian Navy, continue their offensive in Mariupol. Armored personnel carriers and tanks are actively used in the fighting to storm and cover the troops.
As DPR forces advance deep into the city, they discover more proofs of crimes committed by the Ukrainian nationalists against civilians. It was discovered that the Ukrainian military used Tochka-U missiles in the residential areas of Mariupol. The footage confirms the fact that the AFU and nationalist forces shelled civilian areas in the city with such type of missiles during the battles before the regions were secured by the DPR and civilians were evacuated.
One of the most significant DPR achievement in the recent days was the capture of one of the Azov regiment’s outposts. Pro-Russian troops claimed control over a strategically important “fortress”. After strenuous fighting, only separate militarized groups remained in the city.
During these days also the Russian army took several military-industrial facilities and factories. The footage proved that the Russian National Guard servicemen were deployed at ‘the Satellite’ plant in Mariupol.
However, not everything is as good for the Russian military in Mariupol as it is presented by some media. One of the DPR PM soldiers was interviewed in Mariupol and he gave a commentary on the matter. He noted, “The media presents the successes of military operations too rosily. But in fact, the fighting is very fierce. We have to fight for each house separately.” He noted that the Azov nationalist are well equipped are changing fast their positions. The claims that 80% of the city are under the DPR control are exaggerated, he added. The humanitarian situation in Mariupol was one of the main topics during the phone talks between Putin and Macron on Mar 29. The Russian side declared that France would not be able to conduct any humanitarian operations in Mariupol. Later, on Mar 30, Peskov confirmed that there was no progress on the agreement over the humanitarian operation in Mariupol during the phone call. In conclusion, the situation in Mariupol and on the Eastern front lines in general is very complex. The military developments are extremely slow, positional fighting continues, Russian and DPR forces face fierce resistance of the AFU units. The Russian Army and its allies continues to take control over new settlements. Following another round of negotiations between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations, which was held in Istanbul on Mar 29, representative of the Russian Ministry of Defence claimed that “the Russian military actions will be limited in the Kiev and Chernihiv regions.” The Russian pressure around the capital is reducing, what is a clear sign that a part of Russian forces will likely be sent to the Donbass region, where the largest AFU grouping is yet to be surrounded.
Ukrainian S-300 Systems Are Blown Up By Russian Missiles Amid Diplomatic Obscurity
South Front, Mar 30 2022
Despite alarming reports about the results of the Mar 29 round of the Ukrainian-Russian talks in Turkey, the Armed Forces of Russia continues their military operation in Ukraine. On Mar 30, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that a strike with high-precision air-launched missiles destroyed large fuel depots in the Starokonstantinov and Khmelnytsky regions, from which fuel was supplied for the grouping of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Donbass. Also, a strike with the operational-tactical missile system “Iskander” destroyed two large depots of missile and artillery weapons in the village of Kamenka, Donetsk Region.The Defense Ministry added that in the area of Tumen, Rivne Region, a Su-24 of the Ukrainian Air Force was shot down during an air battle. During the past day, the air defense of the Russian Aerospace Forces reportedly destroyed 10 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles in the areas of the settlements of Izyum, Novaya Kakhovka, Donetsk, Nikolaev, Berdyansk, Gorlovka, Lugansk and Rubizhne. At the same time, Russian operational-tactical aviation and missile forces hit 64 military facilities of Ukraine. This included four command posts, including the headquarters of the Ukrainian special operations forces in the area of the village of Bereznigovatoe, Mykolaiv Region, three anti-aircraft missile systems: one S-300 near the town of Malin, Zhytomyr region and two “Buk-M1” in the areas of Ugledar and Slavyansk.
Three installations of multiple launch rocket systems, two artillery batteries and 49 areas of concentration of Ukrainian military equipment and strongholds of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were also destroyed. The Russian military says that since the beginning of the military operation, Russian forces have destroyed 124 aircraft and 77 helicopters, 214 anti-aircraft missile systems, 321 unmanned aerial vehicles, 1,752 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 184 multiple rocket launchers, 734 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 1,640 units of special military vehicles. The Russian Defense Ministry also addressed the propaganda campaign waged by the Ukrainian government. A spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry said:
The Russian Defense Ministry has repeatedly exposed the cynical lies that the Kyiv nationalist regime uses to maintain its power in Ukraine and mislead the world community. For example, on Mar 20, President Zelensky, speaking with a video message to the Israeli Knesset, accused Russia of allegedly striking the city of Uman in Cherkasy Region. To heighten the dramatic effect, Zelensky stated:” This is a place that tens of thousands of Israelis visit every year for pilgrimage.” I would like to emphasize that in the course of a special military operation, the Russian Armed Forces do not strike civilian targets. Especially, places of worship and any other places of public worship. It is the Kyiv regime, in violation of international humanitarian law and simply morality, that uses such facilities as points for collecting and transporting weapons and Nazis to participate in hostilities. Today we present evidence received from a member of the Jewish community of Uman that the Zelensky regime used for this purpose the building of the new city synagogue, located on Shosseiny Lane 1. On Mar 21, that is, the day after Zelensky’s speech in the Knesset, the photographs recorded the formation of two columns with nationalists on the territory of the synagogue. I draw your attention to the fact that the property, weapons and ammunition stored in the synagogue building were first loaded by nationalists into dump trucks, and then disguised as bags with construction debris. At the same time, for the transportation of nationalists and foreign mercenaries from the western regions of Ukraine, as can be clearly seen in the photographs, buses that have the coloring of school vehicles with the corresponding signs “Children” are used. Thus, the object of the Jewish cult in Uman is deliberately used by the Kiev nationalist regime for military purposes. In order to provoke a conflict and political pressure of Jewish religious organizations on Russia in the event of a fire impact on it.
At the same time, it is important to note that according to the available information, the current military situation for the Russian Armed Forces is not easy. The actual picture of the conflict demonstrates that the air defense capabilities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were not fully suppressed as well as the initial estimation of these capabilities were downplayed. The current active military developments are mostly focused on the region of the Donbass, where Russian-led forces are finishing the operation to take control of Mariupol city. Another hot point is the Severodonetsk-Lysichansk agglomeration, where the garrison of Kyiv’s forces is yet to be fully eliminated. The rest of forces of the Kyiv government in the region use the time that they have to deliver regular strikes on civilian targets in DPR and LPR. In particular, residential areas of Donetsk city are being deliberately targeted by Ukrainian artillery. Meanwhile, various sources report that the Russian Armed Forces have concentrated a large number of military equipment in Kursk Region (Russia). Reports suggest that these forces will be employed for the second phase of the Russian advance in Ukraine. Summing up the current developments inside and around Ukraine, even of Moscow and Kyiv reach some kind of tentative agreement on the diplomatic de-escalation of the situation, the real easing of international and regional tensions will not be possible. The Ukrainian agreement and its foreign sponsors will make all what is possible to sabotage implementation or misrepresent the essence of any agreement and instigate the war in the region.
Another Information Provocation Against Russia Succeeded
South Front, Mar 30 2022
On Mar 29, Russian General Vladimir Shamanov claimed that the AFU servicemen who shot Russian prisoners of war and watched them suffering have already been captured by the Russian special forces:
Those who mocked our servicemen did not rejoice for long. After three days our special forces captured these ruffians. Today they are lying at their feet, begging for mercy. I’ll tell you their names. One ruffian was called Sergei Velichko, nickname Chili. The second is Konstantin Nemechev. Both ruffians grew up as Nazis from the fan group of the local Metalist football club. They told this themselves already at the first interrogations. And this is what will happen to everyone who will treat our prisoners of war unworthily, violating the Geneva Convention.
A few hours later, the Ukrainian Nazi named Chili recorded a video in which he ridiculed Shamanov, confirming that he and another leader of the nationalist militants who tortured Russian fighters are safe and sound in Kharkiv.
This is another example of a successful information provocation, which was aimed at discrediting one of the most authoritative high-ranking chiefs of the Russian militants. The victim of the provocation was the legendary General Shamanov. This person enjoys indisputable authority among the servicemen of the Airborne Forces and special units of the Russian Federation. Today, General Shamanov is the only living commander who showed outstanding generalship abilities during the campaigns in the North Caucasus in the 1990s and early 2000s. He has always been a “bone in the throat” of pro-Western forces in Russia. It is no coincidence that the information provocation was aimed specifically at him.
Heavy Fighting Reported. Russian Troops Moving Out From Kiev, Chernihiv
South Front, Mar 29 2022
UPD: Powerful explosions are reported throughout the Kiev region. The AFU opened fire using multiple Grad systems. Hundreds of MLRS rockets are targeting Bucha, Gostomel, Moshun, Irpen and Borispol. On Mar 29, the Russian Defense Ministry decided to drastically reduce military activity in the Kiev and Chernihiv directions. This was stated by the ministry following the results of the Russian-Ukrainian negotiations:
Due to the fact that negotiations on the preparation of a treaty on the neutral and nuclear-free status of Ukraine, as well as on the provision of security guarantees to Ukraine, are moving into a practical concerns, taking into account the principles discussed during today’s meeting, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation made a decision to drastically, at times, reduce military activity in the Kiev and Chernihiv directions in order to increase mutual trust and create the necessary conditions for further negotiations and achieving the ultimate goal, coordination and signing of the above-mentioned agreement. We proceed from the fact that the relevant basic decisions will be made in Kiev and conditions should be created for further normal work.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will report in more detail on the decisions taken upon the return of the Russian delegation to Moscow. The declared partial withdraw of Russian troops from the Kiev and Chernihiv is a clear sign of the Russian reinforcement on the Donbass front lines. Month after the military operation began in Ukraine, Russian military officials declared the liberation of the Donbass region the main task for its troops. It is still unclear to what extent the Russian military will “reduce its military activity” in the declared regions and how this will ensure the security of Russian forces remaining on the outskirts of Kiev, where the AFU grouping, supported by foreign militants, successfully prevented Russia’s advance in the region for weeks. Russian troops faced stiff resistance near the capital, as Ukraine also announced on Mar 28 that it had retaken a large suburb of Kiev, Irpen. The Kremlin hopes that the Kiev military “would have made the appropriate basic decisions.” However, the ongoing events in Mariupol have confirmed that Ukrainian nationalist formations do not obey Kiev’s orders. They will not miss their chance to take revenge on the “Russian aggressors” who remained near the capital. The notorious wild warfare of Ukrainian nationalists is not regulated by the Kiev regime, nor by any international conventions. Meanwhile, footage reportedly showing Russian forces leaving the Kiev and Chernihiv regions heading towards Belarus was spread online. Some Belarusian media reported that large columns of military equipment of the Russian Federation were spotted moving to Belarus from Ukraine for the second day. Russian units withdrawn from the Kiev region passed through the Gomel region in Belarus.
Some Ukrainian media also reported that Russian forces have partially withdrawn from Kyiv and Chernihiv, warning that the Russian army is regrouping in the east to concentrate its military power in the area. While the MSM reported traditionally citing anonymous senior sources in the US administration that US intelligence is already observing the withdrawal of part of the Russian troops from Kiev, Pentagon spox Kirby declared that a small amount of Russian troops have been positioned away from Kyiv. He claimed: “This is not a real withdrawal. We should be prepared to watch for a major offensive in other areas of Ukraine.” According to some reports that are yet to be confirmed, the US and its allies are already discussing a potential additional $500m in assistance to Ukraine.
Large Explosion At Military Facility In Belgorod Region Of Russia
South Front, Mar 29 2022
On Mar 29, a large explosion was reported in the village of Krasny Oktyabr in the Belgorod region of Russia. Apparently, the warehouse of Russian rocket and artillery weapons was destroyed. Ukrainian sources reported that the warehouse of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in the Belgorod region was hit by a Ukrainian Tochka-U missile. The governor of the Belgorod region Gladkov is yet to confirm if the explosion was a result of the attack from Ukraine. He claimed:
The incident took place near the village of Krasny Oktyabr. The head of the village is now in place. There are no casualties among the residents. There is no destruction on the territory of the village. All emergency services are working on site. I will inform you about the cause of the incident later.
4 servicemen were wounded, according to Russian media. If confirmed, the Ukrainian strike has a very symbolic meaning, as it was carried out right after the decision of the Russian military command to partially withdraw its military from the Kiev and Chernihiv regions “in order to increase mutual trust and create the necessary conditions for further negotiations and achieving the ultimate goal which is coordination and signing of the agreement.”
Restless Night In Ukraine: War Hotspots In Flames
South Front, Mar 29 2022
Tensions in the battlefields of Ukraine persist. Hostilities continued on various front lines. Some tactical successes were achieved during the night operations by the Russian and DPR/LPR troops. On the evening of Mar 28, high-precision air-launched cruise missiles destroyed a large fuel base near the settlement of Klevan in the Rivne region. Fuel supplies for Ukrainian military equipment to the suburbs of Kiev were carried out from this base. In terms of tactical maneuvers, there were no particular strategic accomplishments recorded. The Russian and Ukrainian armies engaged in exchanges of fire on all fronts during that night. The Russian military destroyed a battery of BM-21 «Grad» multiple rocket launchers of the Ukrainian army:
During the military operations, artillery units of the Russian airborne troops support paratroop units with fire, destroy fixed firing points and conduct counter-battery warfare against the artillery units of the AFU. Footage of a mortar unit performing strikes on enemy military facilities, equipment, and manpower was shared by the Russian MoD.
The Russian troops destroyed the fourth operational brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine, which was based in the city of Gostomel in the Kiev region. During the battle, several tanks were hit and more were abandoned.
On Mar 28, the special forces of the DPR People’s Militia continued their offensive in the Gorlivka direction. DPR sources shared a video showing the destruction of a Ukrainian firing point in the Gorlivka area. Judging by the radio interception, there were several Ukrainian soldiers in that dugout.
In the video below, the Russian marines and the DPR troops storm the base of the Azov national battalion in the central region of Mariupol carried put the successful assault operation and took control over one of the Azov military bases.
On the morning of Mar 29, the fierce fighting took place in Gorlivka and Avdeevka. There was also the AFU shelling on the residential areas recorded in the following directions:
- Novoselovka-Mikhailovka (4 mortars fired)
- Avdeevka-Yasinovataya (4 mortars fired)
- Lastochkino-Kashtanovoe (20 rockets from BM-21 «Grads» were fired)
- Krasnogorovka-Donetsk (8 shells fired)
All of the above-mentioned settlements are located in the Donetsk region.
On Mar 29, another Ukrainian Tochka-U missile was shot down by the DPR air defense forces over Donetsk. 24 Tochka-U missiles have been fired across the republic so far.
Fighters of the Russian Aerospace Forces are demilitarizing the aircraft of the AFU Air Force in the skies of Ukraine.
Forces of the Russia’s national guard continue the mop-up operation in the town of Rubezhnoe in the LPR. Mass evacuation of civilians continues. Servicemen of the Russia’s national guard are sweeping houses from snipers on the upper floors, providing cover for the LPR Army, fighting looters, and maintaining order in areas under their control. Unfortunately, casualties among civilians are not avoided.
While no major military successes are claimed by any of the warring sides, Kiev and Moscow agreed for another round of negotiations. The Russian-Ukrainian talks will be held at the Dolmabahce Palace on the shores of the Bosphorus. They are scheduled to begin at 10:30 the local time. Both delegations are already in Istanbul. The Russian delegation is headed by Russian presidential adviser Vladimir Medinsky. Ukraine is represented by Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov, advisor to the head of the presidential office Mikhail Podolyak, and representative of the parliamentary faction Servants of the People David Arahamiya.
Alarming Results Of Another Round Of Negotiations Between Ukraine And Russia
South Front, Mar 29 2022
Russia and Ukraine have completed another round of talks in Istanbul. Both sides made statements following the results of the first round of negotiations. After the completion of the next round of negotiations, the Russian delegation finally received “a clearly formulated position and proposals (from Ukraine) that will be studied and brought to the leadership of the country,” the head of the Russian delegation Medinsky said. Ukraine agrees to consolidate its neutral status and to refuse to deploy foreign military bases, provided that it receives security guarantees similar to the Article 5 of the NATO treaty. A member of the Kiev delegation, Alexander Chaly, commented on the legal aspects of the security guarantee system proposed by Ukraine as follows:
These are clear legally binding guarantees of Ukraine’s security, which in their content and form should be similar to Article 5 of NATO. That is, if Ukraine is the object of any aggression, military attack or military operation, we have the right to demand immediate consultations within 3 days. If these consultations do not lead to any diplomatic solution to the problem, then the guarantor countries should provide us with military assistance and weapons. And even, it is not excluded, to close the airspace over Ukraine. If we manage to consolidate these key provisions, Ukraine will be in a position to actually fix its current status as a non-aligned and nuclear-free state in the form of permanent neutrality, which has historically already been fixed in our Declaration of Sovereignty of 1990. Under such guarantees, we will not deploy foreign military bases, military contingents on our territory, and we will not join military-political alliances. Military exercises on our territory will take place with the consent of the guarantor countries. Crucially, nothing in the future treaty will deny Ukraine’s right to join the EU. The guarantor countries enter into commitment to facilitate these processes. Another member of the Ukrainian delegation, David Arahamia, said that Ukraine sees the countries members of the UNSC as guarantors of its security, some of them have already given their preliminary consent. “Who do we see as guarantors? Firstly, the countries of the UNSC: Great Britain, China, Russia are also included there, but we will separately discussed, Germany, Canada, Poland, Israel, Turkey,” Arahamiya said at a briefing following the talks between Russia and Ukraine.
According to him, some of the countries have already given preliminary consent to become guarantors of security for Ukraine. In addition, it is assumed that other countries, if they want, will later be able to join this international treaty.
Mikhail Podolyak, adviser to the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, a member of the Ukrainian delegation, said that during the negotiations in Istanbul, the Russian side was asked to negotiate the status of Crimea and Sevastopol for 15 years and during this time not to try to resolve the issue by military means. In his turn, the head of the Russian delegation, Medinsky, also briefly voiced Kiev’s position and commented on some lacunae of the proposed document. Moscow’s official proposals have are yet to be proclaimed. Medinsky said:
We have received written proposals from the Ukrainian delegation, as I understand, agreed with the leadership of Ukraine, which are briefly as follows: Ukraine is declared a permanently neutral state under international legal guarantees in order to implement a non-aligned, nuclear-free status. The following is a list of guarantor states guaranteeing the security of Ukraine. These security guarantees do not apply to the territories of Crimea and Sevastopol, ie Ukraine refuses to seek to return Crimea and Sevastopol by military means, and declares that this is possible only through negotiations, diplomatically, etc. Of course, this does not correspond in any way to our position, but Ukraine has formulated its approach. This also does not apply to that part of Ukraine, which it calls separate districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. What are these separate areas Ukraine formulates separately, and what are the territories of these separate areas Russia formulates in its own way. Ukraine refuses to join military alliances, to deploy foreign military bases, contingents, military exercises on the territory of Ukraine, without the consent of the guarantor states, including the Russian Federation. For its part, the Russian Federation does not object to Ukraine’s desire to join the European Union. (These words are not the position of the Russian Federation, Medinsky only voices the document proposed by Kiev)
Further, the statuses are prescribed in some detail, what the guarantor states should do, since Ukraine becomes a neutral non-aligned state. The procedure for the entry into force of the agreement, the procedure for its temporary application, the procedure for changing legislation and legal documents in accordance with the Constitution of Ukraine are prescribed. And it is emphasized once again that the disputed issues of Crimea and Sevastopol between Russia and Ukraine are resolved only through bilateral negotiations. Ukraine also requests the final decision to be formalized at the meeting of the heads of the states. On this occasion, I have already said that we are making a step towards Ukraine and we are talking about the possibility of holding a meeting of the state leaders within the framework of a meeting of Foreign Ministers when initialing the treaty. It is necessary to create the document itself for this to understand what we agreed on. After that the Foreign Ministers initialize the agreement, and the state leaders may meet four together. In this way, any remaining issues can be resolved. These are by no means a provision of the treaty. These are the proposals of the Ukrainian side, which we consider a constructive step towards finding a compromise and which will be considered by Russia and an appropriate response will be given. Thank you.
According to Medinsky, Russia is making two steps towards Ukraine for de-escalation. Medinsky explained that these steps relate to the political and military parts. The interview of the head of the Russian delegation is perceived ambiguously. Having voiced Kiev’s demands, Moscow does not declare its clear position in the negotiation process, and Medinsky has not voiced the path which Russia is ready to take to end the military operation. It is surprising why the official representative, having fully voiced all the Ukrainian demands, did not voice the demands and position of the Russian Federation, allegedly making it clear that Moscow ingeneral does not exclude the possibility of their adoption, with the exception of some nuances that still need to be discussed.
The composition of the Russian delegation seems extremely strange. The head of the delegation, Medinsky, is not a professional diplomat. Before becoming an Assistant to the President of Russia in 2020, he was the Minister of Culture. The professional career of the representative of the Ministry of Defense of Russia, Alexander Fomin, has not been connected with the command of army units or with the planning of any military operations since 1993. Since that time, he has always been involved in military-technical cooperation and in the management of defense complex campaigns. At the same time, following the negotiations round, there was no a single statement from another high-ranking member of the delegation, a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia. It seems that this is either the intent or the lack of professionalism of individuals influencing the Russian state policy. It is also possible that such softness is a special tactic of Russian diplomacy. Since Moscow has not yet officially responded to the Ukrainian proposals, official comments are expected from representatives of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Kremlin.
At the same time, on the battlefield, the Russian “step towards Ukraine” did not take long to wait. On Mar 29, the Russian Defense Ministry decided to drastically reduce military activity in the Kiev and Chernihiv directions. This was stated by the ministry following the results of the Russian-Ukrainian negotiations:
Due to the fact that negotiations on the preparation of a treaty on the neutral and nuclear-free status of Ukraine, as well as on the provision of security guarantees to Ukraine, are moving into a practical concerns, taking into account the principles discussed during today’s meeting, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation made a decision to drastically, at times, reduce military activity in the Kiev and Chernihiv directions in order to increase mutual trust and create the necessary conditions for further negotiations and achieving the ultimate goal – coordination and signing of the above-mentioned agreement. We proceed from the fact that the relevant basic decisions will be made in Kiev and conditions should be created for further normal work.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will report in more detail on the decisions taken upon the return of the Russian delegation to Moscow. Such a decision of the Russian Ministry of Defense is an important signal of Moscow’s readiness to make significant concessions in solving the crisis in Ukraine. Of course, this maneuver can weaken the positions of Russian forces on the front lines in Ukraine. Apparently, Russia intends to continue the concentration of its forces in the east of Ukraine in order to suppress the enemy’s defense in the territories of the recognized Donetsk and Lugansk republics. However, the reduction of pressure in the Kiev and Chernihiv regions will also allow the transfer of AFU forces to the east. This decision significantly reduces the position of the Russian Federation in the negotiation process as well. Russia also made concessions by agreeing to negotiate in Turkey, which, although it has not joined the sanctions against Russia, continues to indirectly participate in military operations in Ukraine, supplying Kiev with weapons.
Moscow’s possible consent to the Kiev’s proposals may mean the Russia’s unconditional military and diplomatic defeat. The history of mankind has not known a single example when ensuring the security of a state carried out according to the Kiev’s scheme would lead to the creation of its real status quo. Agreeing to the Kiev’s demands will only be a preparation for Russia’s new war not only against Ukraine, but against the entire West. This diplomatic step would be the beginning of another global conflict. The West is always betting on a coup in Russia. By renouncing its territorial claims to Crimea and the Donbass region, Kiev is imposing a treaty, according to which NATO countries will definitely enter the war on the side of Ukraine in the next armed conflict. Judging by the case of the Minsk Agreements, Kiev has clearly demonstrated its unwillingness to comply with international agreements. Since the proposed security guarantees do not apply to the territories of Crimea and Donbass, which the parties have yet to determine, Ukraine will be able to continue its attacks on Donbass, and may launch another military operation against the population of Crimea. If Russia agrees to the proposals, in 15 years, which Kiev allocates for negotiations on the status of Crimea, and even much faster, Ukraine will have the opportunity to destabilize the situation in Crimea by supporting the pro-Ukrainian part of the population, including Crimean Tatars, given that Moscow’s “status” will be significantly damaged if it does not reach the declared aims of the military operation in Ukraine. If Russia responds to the possible aggression from Ukraine, NATO countries will be involved to “protect the security of Ukraine.”
Pile Of Azov Fighters’ Corpses Amid Appeal Of DPR Marine
South Front, Mar 29 2022
There is no joy in victory when the war is brother against brother.
DPR Soldier Saved Woman And Child Covered Them By His Body
South Front, Mar 29 2022
In Mariupol, a DPR soldier managed to push a woman and a child into an entrance hall during a mortar attack by the Ukrainian armed forces and covered them with his body. The soldier died after sustaining multiple shrapnel wounds in his back.
Rocket Hit Building Of Regional Council In Nikolaev
South Front, Mar 29 2022
At 8:30 am on Mar 29, a powerful blow was heard in Mykolaiv. Locals reported that a rocket hit the area of Sobornaya Square near the buildings of the city and regional councils. In the morning, footage of the destroyed building of the regional administration was shared by local Ukrainian authorities. The office of the governor of Nikolaev Vitaly Kim was reportedly destroyed right in this part of the building. Today, he is one of the most famous Ukrainian politicians who is endlessly filming videos from his office. The rocket reportedly hit units of the Ukrainian National Guard in the building. According to Mr Kim, casualties among civilians were avoided, 3 soldiers were likely killed.
Niqnaq 