Ukrainian servicemen stand near weapons, seized from pro-Russian separatists, near Slaviansk in this July 8, 2014 file photo. Credit: REUTERS/Gleb Garanich/Files
Special Report: Where Ukraine's Separatists Get Their Weapons -- Reuters
(Reuters) - On the last day of May, a surface-to-air rocket was signed out of a military base near Moscow where it had been stored for more than 20 years.
According to the ornate Cyrillic handwriting in the weapon's Russian Defence Ministry logbook, seen by Reuters, the portable rocket, for use with an Igla rocket launcher, was destined for a base in Rostov, some 50 km (31 miles) from the Ukrainian border. In that area, say U.S. officials, lies a camp for training Ukrainian separatist fighters.
Three weeks later the rocket and its logbook turned up in eastern Ukraine, where government troops seized them from pro-Russian separatists.
The logbook, which is more than 20 pages long, records that rocket 03181 entered service on May 21, 1993, and had regular tests as recently as 2005 to make sure it was in fighting form. The seal of the Russian Defence Ministry has been stamped over the signature sending the weapon to Rostov.
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My Comment: This is a long report from Reuters that is heavily dependent on Ukraine government sources on one side, and pro-rebels from the other side. They all have their positions and agendas to push .... and as a result I would be very skeptical of the evidence that they are providing. But there is no question about one thing .... both sides are now heavily armed, and the fighting is intensifying with heavy weapons now being used. And while the Ukraine military has the advantage of more heavy weapons, air support, and greater numbers .... ousting the pro-Russian rebels from their strongholds is going to be difficult for the rebels also have some heavy weapons plus the advantage of knowing the terrain, having local support, and having Russia to run to as a safe haven if the situation becomes unbearable for them in eastern Ukraine.
2 comments:
Revolutions and insurgencies often have or need outside sponsors or allies. The American Revolution had the French and the Spanish.
The Spanish were very effective and took Mobile, Alabama and Pensacola, Florida form the British as well as other forts.
The good citizens of Havana met the payroll for the revolutionary army at the time of Yorktown. I am not sure how months of pay it was, but it was substantial. The U.S. "owes" the citizens of Havana as symbol of goodwill something for this (after the Castro brothers are gone).
The Spanish fleet protected French holding in the Caribbean freeing up De Grasse's fleet to head north to Yorktown. so 2 fleets were involved in the victory over the British in all actuality.
American's are sorely mistaken if they think they won the Revolutionary War by themselves. They could have but it would have taken a 2 or 3 years more or maybe several.
Like the American Revolution and others, the one in Eastern Ukraine has sponsors or allies.
I see no numbers or lettering on any of this equipment. Some have signs of possible paint over markings. Given that both sides use the same stuff, how can you tell where it came from?
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