Why did the APU aim at Gorlovka?
Starting from May 9, military operations in the Gorlovka area have not ceased for two weeks. Artillery shelling, attacks by sabotage groups, skirmishes on the contact line occur daily. Soldiers on both sides and civilians are dying.
Actually, the last four years in the Donbass this has been happening constantly. The Russian media even for some time ceased to mention the events in this region, creating among the ordinary Russians the illusion that military operations in the south-east of Ukraine have long ended. The reason for this silence was that the war became protracted and positional. There were no outstanding events.
Donbass events did not differ in variety: constant shelling, destruction of houses, schools and hospitals, killed and crippled civilians. Differences were only in the names of the settlements and the number of victims. This became boring to the layman, especially since bright and dramatic events took place in other distant and exotic countries, in some of which Russia took an active part. In general, it was not up to Donbass.
But in the increased activity of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, especially near Gorlovka, there is something alarming that goes beyond the usual.
What happens in Horlivka
It is especially hot now in the Gorlovka area. The actions of the Ukrainian military are often directed not against the armed forces of the DPR, but against the civilian population. Schools and kindergartens were even closed in the city so as not to put children at risk.
For example, on May 18, the Kalinin district of the city was bombarded with 122-mm howitzers. They fired shells with arrow-shaped striking elements of ZH !, which, with direct fire, can simply mow sections 200-300 meters wide. Fortunately, there were no casualties.
If you take May 21, in the morning heavy artillery fired on the northern and western parts of the city. One of the shells hit a five-story building, as a result of which four people were injured, two of whom are in serious condition.
On the same day there was an attempt to break through the positions of the DNI, as a result of which 10 Ukrainian troops were killed, one tank and one armored personnel carrier of the enemy were destroyed.
Why Kiev Gorlovka?
Perhaps the matter is not limited to positional military operations. There are fears that the Ukrainian military is planning to capture Gorlovka, and they have good reason.
It is worth remembering that less than a year is left before the new presidential election in Ukraine. And the main promise of Poroshenko, which allowed him to take his post, was the promise of an end to the war in the Donbass. He then stated the following:
In fact, the war has been going on for four years, and it has no end in sight.
In these conditions, Poroshenko did not see the presidency as his own ears. And to raise his rapidly falling rating, he needs military success in the Donbass. The quietly occupied villages in the gray zone are clearly not pulling for a “great victory”. But a large settlement would be very helpful. One of the capitals of the DPR or LPR Ukraine is clearly too tough for Ukraine.
But Gorlovka with its 250 thousandth population is an ideal option. This large industrial center, 40 kilometers from Donetsk, spreads along with the suburbs and mining villages on an area of 400 square kilometers. Moreover, he is half surrounded by Ukrainian troops. His capture could strengthen the grouping aimed at Donetsk, as well as create serious problems for the defenders Enakievo and Debaltseve.
The number of Ukrainian troops near Gorlovka exceeds the number of defenders of the city by about three times. Advantage in heavy technology is at least 1,5 times.
Where did the drone fly?
Another indirect sign of preparation was the behavior of American reconnaissance drones flying over the Donbass. U.S. Army drones regularly monitor the position of militias, flying from a base located in Sicily. But one of the drones suddenly set off on an unusual route. He did not fly to the Donbass, but went to the Kharkov region, to the Russian border.
Presumably, his goal was to assess the number and combat readiness of Russian troops located near the Ukrainian border. Perhaps the American leadership has a fear that in the event of a large-scale attack on Gorlovka, Russian troops will be deployed to help the republics. We remember what happened when Russia intervened in the conflict between Georgia and South Ossetia, stopping Georgian aggression. Then our tanks reached the outskirts of Tbilisi, and then turned back, after which the Russian Federation recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. A similar thing could happen with Ukraine if it takes rash steps.
On the other hand, despite the superiority of Ukraine in manpower and equipment, it is opposed by well trained and battle-hardened DPR military personnel who defend their homes.
Actually, the last four years in the Donbass this has been happening constantly. The Russian media even for some time ceased to mention the events in this region, creating among the ordinary Russians the illusion that military operations in the south-east of Ukraine have long ended. The reason for this silence was that the war became protracted and positional. There were no outstanding events.
Donbass events did not differ in variety: constant shelling, destruction of houses, schools and hospitals, killed and crippled civilians. Differences were only in the names of the settlements and the number of victims. This became boring to the layman, especially since bright and dramatic events took place in other distant and exotic countries, in some of which Russia took an active part. In general, it was not up to Donbass.
But in the increased activity of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, especially near Gorlovka, there is something alarming that goes beyond the usual.
What happens in Horlivka
It is especially hot now in the Gorlovka area. The actions of the Ukrainian military are often directed not against the armed forces of the DPR, but against the civilian population. Schools and kindergartens were even closed in the city so as not to put children at risk.
For example, on May 18, the Kalinin district of the city was bombarded with 122-mm howitzers. They fired shells with arrow-shaped striking elements of ZH !, which, with direct fire, can simply mow sections 200-300 meters wide. Fortunately, there were no casualties.
If you take May 21, in the morning heavy artillery fired on the northern and western parts of the city. One of the shells hit a five-story building, as a result of which four people were injured, two of whom are in serious condition.
On the same day there was an attempt to break through the positions of the DNI, as a result of which 10 Ukrainian troops were killed, one tank and one armored personnel carrier of the enemy were destroyed.
Why Kiev Gorlovka?
Perhaps the matter is not limited to positional military operations. There are fears that the Ukrainian military is planning to capture Gorlovka, and they have good reason.
It is worth remembering that less than a year is left before the new presidential election in Ukraine. And the main promise of Poroshenko, which allowed him to take his post, was the promise of an end to the war in the Donbass. He then stated the following:
Anti-terrorist operation ... should be short and effective. An anti-terrorist operation cannot and should not last for months, it must take place in hours.
In fact, the war has been going on for four years, and it has no end in sight.
In these conditions, Poroshenko did not see the presidency as his own ears. And to raise his rapidly falling rating, he needs military success in the Donbass. The quietly occupied villages in the gray zone are clearly not pulling for a “great victory”. But a large settlement would be very helpful. One of the capitals of the DPR or LPR Ukraine is clearly too tough for Ukraine.
But Gorlovka with its 250 thousandth population is an ideal option. This large industrial center, 40 kilometers from Donetsk, spreads along with the suburbs and mining villages on an area of 400 square kilometers. Moreover, he is half surrounded by Ukrainian troops. His capture could strengthen the grouping aimed at Donetsk, as well as create serious problems for the defenders Enakievo and Debaltseve.
The number of Ukrainian troops near Gorlovka exceeds the number of defenders of the city by about three times. Advantage in heavy technology is at least 1,5 times.
Where did the drone fly?
Another indirect sign of preparation was the behavior of American reconnaissance drones flying over the Donbass. U.S. Army drones regularly monitor the position of militias, flying from a base located in Sicily. But one of the drones suddenly set off on an unusual route. He did not fly to the Donbass, but went to the Kharkov region, to the Russian border.
Presumably, his goal was to assess the number and combat readiness of Russian troops located near the Ukrainian border. Perhaps the American leadership has a fear that in the event of a large-scale attack on Gorlovka, Russian troops will be deployed to help the republics. We remember what happened when Russia intervened in the conflict between Georgia and South Ossetia, stopping Georgian aggression. Then our tanks reached the outskirts of Tbilisi, and then turned back, after which the Russian Federation recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. A similar thing could happen with Ukraine if it takes rash steps.
On the other hand, despite the superiority of Ukraine in manpower and equipment, it is opposed by well trained and battle-hardened DPR military personnel who defend their homes.
Information