The headline is a bit misleading. This force is used to provide internal security for Russia, so yes, they are soldiers but they’re not a regular part of the Russian army. They’re mainly used to suppress revolts (so they are not good people), provide protection services for politicians, protect state facilities, etc.
So what’s odd here is:
That Russia is ordering them to Ukraine.
That they’re refusing the order (again, these are not good people).
I think it really highlights the state of the ground forces in Ukraine. Are they aware of the situation in Ukraine and hence refusing to go? If they thought Russia was winning, then why refuse the order? Also, if Russia is starting to pull troops from internal security, then this is really bad for Russia. Again, it speaks to the lack of men and material on the front line, and starts to open up the possibility of internal revolt. A while back I posted that there are only so many assets can move to the front before they would have to use forces that are used to maintain internal order. I honestly did not think they would start to call on such reserves, since preserving the state should be highest priority. So this move surprises me.
Kind of a chicken/egg thing:
If things were going well, they wouldn’t need to move them but probably could because unrest would be relatively low.
If things are going badly, they need the troops but it is dangerous to move them because they are already apparently seeing mutiny issues (including apparently even in the forces in charge of suppressing mutiny/revolt).
Units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine restored control over the settlements of Demydiv, Dymer, Lytvynivka, Havrylivka, Kozarovychi, Zhovtneve, Hlybivka, Yasnohorodka, Talakun, Sukholuchcha, Lypivka, Gavronshchyna, Makovyshche, Mykolaivka, Khmilna, Kyiv region.
After the enemy withdrew, the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine took control of the settlements of Rudnya, Shevchenkove, Bobryk, Stara Basan, Nova Basan, Makeyevka, Pogreby, Bazhanivka, Volodymyrivka, Shnyakivka, Salne, Sofiyivka, and Gavrylivka.
They’ve pulled back about 50 miles east of Kyiv, and the governor of Chernihiv says that Russian forces are withdrawing from the city.
That just means they’re looking out for themselves, and likely believe that if they go to Ukraine that they probably won’t come back, unlike a day of suppressing unarmed civilians.
Here’s another map. It shows the liberated Ivankiv to the north-west of Kyiv, a crucial supply nexus to the Bucha-Irpin-Hostomel area. Its capture encircles the “Bucha pocket”, although there may not be many, if any, Russians left in the encircled area.
‘Moscow accuses Ukraine of conducting airstrike inside Russia.’ So? What do they expect when they start a war? That the country they attacked would just roll over and welcome them as liberators? Oh, wait… That IS what they expected.
That’s why Putin didn’t start a war. Remember, it’s a “special military operation”, only taking place in Ukraine. Striking a target inside Russia is obviously against the rules, hence the Russian indignation…
From a CNN video referring to the fuel depot attack (that I can’t watch at work) “Ukrainian attack in Russian city is one of Biden’s 'worst nightmares” Why? It might make Russia mad?
