Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1517379
nment was also under pressure from Western diplomacy, reassuring that a diplomacy-driven solution was possible, hence asking Kyiv not to engage in any active action. The Ukrainian units, iso- lated at their bases, surrendered to the Russians, one by one. Some of the soldiers decided to return to the unoc- cupied part of Ukraine, to continue the- ir service in the Armed Forces. Most of them, however, stayed in Crimea. The new government in Kyiv, meanwhile, focused on several key internal policy areas. First, the state control system had to be restored in a way, that would make the decisions made in Kyiv effec- tive in many regions. Numerous people were dismissed on the local level, which somewhat normalized the situation. Secondly, Kyiv was getting ready for the presidential, and then parliamen- tary elections. In a situation in which the temporarily appointed Chairman of the Supreme Council Turchynov was the acting President, with the actual Pre- sident staying in Russia, being ready to sign any document in line with the Kremlin's intent, electing a new head of state who would be undoubtedly reco- gnized and respected was a top priority for the Ukrainian defense and stability. Thirdly, Kyiv was trying to assemble a loyal military force quickly, expected to be able to provide Ukraine with military power capable of defending the country from Russian hybrid warfare. Nobody believed that Ukraine would be able to resist a full-scale invasion at the time. In the springtime, Russia started to engage in destabilizing activities in key regions in southeastern Ukraine. In Kharkiv, Donbas, or Odessa. In Kharkiv, the policing forces managed to handle the uprising of Russian combatants. In Odesa, bloodshed happened as a result of fights between supporters of Rus- sia and those standing behind Ukraine, with the Police and uniformed services supporting the Russian side. The riots and fights resulted in the pro-Russian forces losing the battle in the end, and the situation in southern Ukraine was stabilized. Meanwhile, neither were enough Police forces supporting Kyiv present in Donbas, nor was the num- ber of patriots sufficient to stop the aggressive, pro-Russian combatants. Akhmetov, the Ukrainian oligarch from the Donbas region who also had a key influence on the politics and economy there, was trying to buy time, acting as a mediator between the authorities, and the pro-Russian combatants, also keeping his neutrality and keeping his business protected in the region. This situation was interrupted brutally by armed groups from Russia entering the Donbas area, capturing cities in the region and preparing them for possible defense, with an intent to separate the region from Ukraine. Only then was Kyiv able to understand that waiting is not the way to go, and all forces were deployed to Donbas. Ukrainian „ATO" (Anti-Terrorist Operation) Forces Kyiv replaced the leadership within the Ministry of Defense, the Armed Forces, and also the Intelligence Services. The operation in Crimea had specific cha- racteristics of the so-called hybrid war- fare, and thus the Ukrainian National Guard was resuscitated, as a tool that was expected to counter such threats. Similarly, as in the case of newly for- med Intelligence, the National Guard was formed partially by newly formed, highly-motivated volunteer units, and partially by former units of Internal Forces, special riot units formed back in the Soviet Era and conducting recru- itment process through conscription. The first volunteer National Guard units were primarily formed by Maidan vo- lunteers - volunteer elements brought to life by those protesting against pro- -Russian authorities between 2013 and 2014, to protect the protesters from attacks of militia and pro-Russian com- batants. The establishment of the Territorial De- fense component was announced simul- taneously. This branch could be joined by volunteers willing to protect peace in the given region of the country. The theory was, for these units, to be used in their districts, to protect infrastruc- ture and counter potential acts of sa- botage. Each district was to create at least one battalion. Whereas, should no budget or resources be available at the central level, the local authorities had to carry that burden. They were looking for bases, means of transport, and funding for those units on their own. The Armed Forces solely provided ba- sic armament, and, if capacity as such existent, drill/training instructors. The birth of the Ukrainian Territorial Defen- www.fragoutmag.com