March 5, 2021
11 servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine died (click here) as a result of hostilities in Donbass from the beginning of the year to March 1, another 37 were wounded. For other reasons, in addition to combat, eight Ukrainian servicemen were killed in the environmental protection zone. Such data were provided by the Armed Forces of Ukraine in response to a request from Radio Svoboda.
During the ceasefire, which took effect on July 27, 15 servicemen were killed and 58 wounded. Non-combat losses in the same period - 47, according to the Armed Forces. They did not specify how many of these casualties were killed and how many were injured.
According to the Armed Forces, during the first anti-terrorist operation, then - OOS against Russian hybrid forces in the Donbass from 2014 to March 1, 2021 killed 2,675 Ukrainian servicemen, 10,188 - were wounded in hostilities. The number of non-combat losses is 1,175 people.
The armed conflict in Donbass has been going on since 2014 after the Russian occupation of Crimea. Ukraine and the West accuse Russia of armed support for the militants. The Kremlin denies the allegations and says only Russian "volunteers" may be in Donbass.
According to the UN, from April 2014 to January 31, 2021, the armed conflict in Donbass killed between 13,100 and 13,300 people....
According to the reporting of The Washington Post (click here), there were 3000 civilians killed thus far in the war. On the first attack upon Ukraine in 2014, it is reported 2000 died, both Ukraine military and civilians. It was the time of most intense fighting. Considering where we are now, it is easy to say there will be extensive deaths and injury to anyone in the path of the Russian military.
The yet realized commodity is the Ukraine military. As it stands today, it has been untried in wartime. The Ukraine national military have performed exercises to become familiar with their new weaponry, but, as to be able to assess their readiness and their capacity, no one is really saying anything which leads to the extensive build up by Russia.
Putin can't back down and become a sincere partner in peace because his politics don't allow it. But, considering the extent to which there is a build up of troops in eastern Ukraine, the support by The West of Ukraine must be impressive.
The Ukraine national military was never nothing until Yanukovych disarmed them and installed oligarch militias in major cities and towns. The reconstituted Ukraine military may be fairly strong, including it's missile capacity. They probably need to be taken seriously.
The Ukraine people do not want Russia back in their lives and that has been stated through social media and mainstream media many times. The resistence to allow Russia it's way to save the lives of the innocent simply is not the will of the Ukraine people.
In recent weeks, many presidents and prime ministers have found their way to Kyiv to speak with President Zelenskyy. I am not surprised President Zelenskyy is stating that Europe will be appaled at a blatant Russian invasion with no basis in fact to deter peace.
February 3, 2022By Herb Scribner
...What happened: Zelenskyy, (click here) who spoke after a meeting with U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday, said that any battle with Russia would impact all of Europe.
- “There will be, unfortunately, a tragedy if the escalation against our state begins. That is why I openly say: this will not be a war between Ukraine and Russia — this will be a war in Europe, full-scale war, because no one will give up their territories and people anymore,” he told reporters after speaking with Johnson,
Another move: On Tuesday, Zelenskyy signed a decree that would increase the size of Ukraine’s armed forces by 100,000 troops within the next three years, per Reuters.
- The decree also raises soldier salaries.
- “This decree (was prepared) not because we will soon have a war ... but so that soon and in the future there will be peace in Ukraine,” Zelenskyy told lawmakers, according to Reuters....
