Ukraine – 4/3 Sitrep
Compiled by: Robert Homans
@rhomansjr
April 3, 2022
4/3 Sitrep – (Comments of mine are in bold face)
When I was growing up there was a television program called, “Ripley’s Believe it or Not”. It was a favorite as it brought to light interesting things such as the fact that a Preying Mantis is the only insect that can rotate its head 180 degrees. It rarely displayed human facts, other than curiosities such as the fattest man or the tallest woman in the world.
If that program was still running today, to astound it would have to move far beyond curiosities. It would need to display atrocities such as Mobutu Sese Seko’s special purpose palace where he indulged in cannibalism.
Another of Ripley’s favorites would surely be Putin. It goes without saying that Ripley would dedicate a slot to Putin’s concentration of Russian forces to take Donbas. The goal to ensure that Putin could give a victory speech at the annual military parade on Moscow’s Red Square, May 9.
Ripley would end the Putin slot with an astounding unexpected fact. For Putin it would be that he failed to take Donbas and that led to his demise.
The ending phrase would be something like, “From Victory to Defeat, Believe it or Not”.
Russian forces fled from Kyiv Oblast yesterday and are packing their bags in Chernihiv and Sumy to flee today. However, they, or at least their commanders have learnt something from losing for 37 days in a row.
Dull and incompetent though they are, the Russians have finally realized that when they travel in long convoys, they present an irresistible and very accessible target for ambush and counterattack. The Russians have finally realized that their mere presence does not make Ukrainian forces cower in fear. They have finally understood that they must protect themselves day and night or be liquidated.
To minimize losses while retreating from Kyiv the Russians planned and established a defensive ring that moved in step with their retreat. We believe this is the first Russian military plan that worked in Ukraine.
Unfortunately for Belarus the Russians are retreating through their country. Yesterday Belarus media reported that retreating Russian forces had six motorway accidents destroying civilian Belarus cars and trucks. It appears that the first stop will be Gomel, near the Belarus Russia border.
Fortunately for Belarus it appears that they will not have to send their army to fight in Ukraine, as Russia also realized that at maximum it can only threaten small regions of Ukraine and not the entire country. It is clear from today that the Western 2/3 of Ukraine will no longer be subject to ground force attack in the near future. Cruise missile and rocket attacks will almost certainly continue.
Belarus journalists reported that no rockets or missiles, were fired on Ukraine from Belarus on April 2. They reported that only one fighter bomber lifted off in the direction of Ukraine yesterday.
Russia may now concentrate its ground forces in Donbas and a small strip of land along the Azov and Black Sea coasts. However, given their failure to break Ukraine’s defensive lines in Donbas we expect that on May 9 the only victory Moscow will be able to celebrate is the end of the Second World War.
Ukraine continues to benefit from support and assistance.
· The Ukrainian embassy to Great Britain purchased thirty armored ambulances with donations collected in GB.
· The United States of America is sending Ukraine Russian tanks.
· The British Prime Minister said they will buy Ukraine anti-ship missiles.
· Italy has joined the list of countries ready to guarantee Ukraine’s security as part of the peace process.
· Pope Francis said he is planning on coming to Ukraine to support peace.
NATIONAL
Ukraine’s refugee flow has reversed. Ukrainian customs and immigration reported that since the start of the war 620,000 Ukrainians have returned. Over the last week the number of returning women and children overtook the number of returning men.
Ukraine’s State Investigation Bureau started the process to nationalize another 1,400 Russian and Belarus rail cars in the country.
Ukrainian intelligence reports that two Battalion Tactical Groups of the 4th Russian army were sent back to their bases in Russia yesterday because the soldiers refused to continue fighting.
Zelensky thanked citizens in occupied communities who continue to protest against occupiers for their courage and support of Ukraine.
The Ukrainian women of occupied Izium, Kharkiv Oblast, baked and distributed sweet rolls to Russian soldiers. The rolls were poisoned. Two soldiers died, another 30 are in intensive care and another 50 have been hospitalized.
To date 158 children have been killed and 258 are wounded.
Ukraine is likely to shift the focus of its aerial forces from attacking columns and troop concentration in the north to the south and east. The most likely initial target will be to relieve the encirclement of Mariupol.
The Complicity of the Russian Orthodox Church, Moscow Patriarchate, in Mass Murder -
I would like to add my thoughts, regarding the murder of innocent Ukrainians that are being discovered in the liberated cities of Bucha and Irpin, and elsewhere in Ukraine.
I remember seeing a video of the day that Bosnian Serb militias murdered approximately 8,000 Bosnian men in the City of Srebrenica. The video showed 3 Serbian Orthodox priests blessing the Bosnian Serb militiamen, prior to them going off and committing mass murder. I said to myself, “I hope that, along with Ratko Mladić and Radovan Karadžić, the 2 Bosnian Serb leaders who ordered the mass murder of approximately 8,000 Bosnians, that the 3 Orthodox priests also get sent to the International Criminal Court and be subjected to the same punishment as Mladić and Karadžić.” What happened in Srebrenica is now being repeated in Ukraine on a larger scale, under the blessing of the Russian Orthodox Church, Moscow Patriarchate.
Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church, Moscow Patriarchate, has described Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a “Holy War.” In my mind, this makes Kirill a war criminal, along with every other metropolitan or priest of the Russian Orthodox Church, Moscow Patriarchate, who gave their blessings and succor to the Russian troops who carried out the massacres in Irpin and Bucha, and the mass deportations of Ukrainians to Russia that has taken place in Mariupol, and every city and town in Ukraine where these atrocities have taken place and are taking place.
Pope Francis I is scheduled to come to Kyiv in the coming days. During his visit to Ukraine, I hope that Pope Francis does two things: 1. Condemn Kirill and every other metropolitan and priest in the Russian Orthodox Church, Moscow Patriarchate, who have used Christianity as a cover to legitimize mass murder; 2. Physically stand together with both the Heads of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Greek Catholic Church of Ukraine. Greek Catholics recognize Pope Francis as their Spiritual Leader. For decades, the Russian Orthodox Church, Moscow Patriarchate, has tried to drive a wedge between the Roman Catholic and Greek Catholic churches, and they have been complicit in past persecutions of priests and followers of the Greek Catholic Church. Furthermore, the Russian Orthodox Church has never recognized the independence of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Along with condemning Kirill, the Heads of these 3 churches standing together will send the strongest possible message to both Putin and Kirill that the Russian Orthodox Church, Moscow Patriarchate, stands accused before the World of complicity in crimes against humanity.
NORTHERN UKRAINE
Municipal authorities that returned to Bucha uncovered a mass civilian grave with over 230 bodies. Most of those in the graves had their hands tied behind their backs. In addition to those found in the grave civilian corpses, and Russian military corpses are being uncovered everywhere.
Ukrainian soldiers that took over Gostomel, north of Kyiv, are finding numerous cases of looting. The Russians took the loot with them but left the Russian corpses littered throughout the community. There are reports that Russian soldiers who have returned to Belarus have set up flea markets, for the purpose of selling looted items taken from Ukrainians. If a Russian soldier stole 2 fur coats, keep one and get cash for the other.
Russian occupiers ignored an animal shelter in Borodianka north of Kyiv. 150 out of an estimated 500 survived but require emergency intervention to bring them back from starvation.
Returning Ukrainian authorities to the community of Motyzhyn, Buchanski county found the bodies of the village elder and his wife who were kidnapped 10 days ago. They also found a mass grave with over 30 bodies. Most of those in the mass grave had their hands tied behind their backs.
The body of a photojournalist was found in the woods north of Kyiv with two bullet wounds to the head. The journalist had been missing since March 13.
The night of April 2nd was the first night from the start of the invasion without explosions according to the mayor. He said that the Russians retreated from most of the communities surrounding Chernihiv.
Ukraine’s military command indicated that Russia continues to maintain a few checkpoints on northern approaches to Chernihiv. However, the command said that the bulk of troops in 41st army around Chernihiv have retreated or are preparing to do so.
The head of the Ukraine’s military administration of Sumy Oblast said that a large force of Russians have entered Konotop county thirty kilometers from the border with Russia. The new wave of invaders is guarding a corridor to allow soldiers to retreat from Chernihiv and Sumy oblasts.
The community of Buryn and city of Putivlya, five kilometers from Russia have been encircled and the occupying soldiers are conducting house to searches for men and arms.
Kharkiv Oblast administration estimates that the city of Izium is 80% destroyed.
The county hospital in Balakley, located between Kharkiv and Izium was hit by artillery fire. Local authorities are evacuating 70 patients to Kharkiv.
The community of Lozovaia, near the administrative border of Kharkiv and Dnipro Oblast was hit by rocket fire destroying four homes, killing 6, and wounding 4.
DONBAS
Russian forces continue trying to storm Mariupol, and try to reach Rubizhno, Popasno, Troichke, Avdiivka, Mariinky and Krasnohorivky. Ukraine’s military command said that over the last twenty-four hours six sorties were destroyed. Moscow lost 80 attacking soldiers, 2 tanks, 3 armored personnel carriers, 1 artillery system, and one ballistic rocket battery.
Shelling continues in both Oblasts.
Russian forces destroyed a dam on the Izium river flooding the Sviatohorsk Russian Orthodox Monastery.
Russia forces need further training. On 3 separate days, the Russians have fired shells into a building in Severo Donetsk, in spite of the fact that the building had been destroyed by shelling before the invasion started.
Russian shelling started a forest fire near Krmenoi, Luhansk Oblast.
Four mayors in Luhansk Oblast have gone over to the Russian side. These include the mayors of Rubizhno, Milovo, Markivchi and Stanychi Lyhansk. Treason charges have been laid against all four.
Communities of both sides of the front in Luhansk Oblast lost gas for most of the last twenty-four hours after the main gas line in the Oblast was hit by artillery shelling. The line has been repaired.
Mariupol’s iron works named after Ilich are no longer operable due to shelling. The owner Renat Akhmetov says he has no plans to restart operations until Mariupol is under full Ukrainian control.
A Lithuanian filmmaker was killed by Russian machine gun fire while trying to leave Mariupol.
Civilians forcefully evacuated to Russian controlled areas of Donetsk protested yesterday demanding to return to Ukrainian territory.
SOUTHERN UKRAINE
Four Ukrainian demonstrators were wounded in a peaceful protest in Enehodar, Zaporizhia Oblast, against Russian occupation. Enehodar is the site of the largest nuclear power complex in Ukraine.
Russian forces blocked a column of four hundred cars evacuating civilians from Melitopol for more than fifteen hours yesterday.
Russia’s failure to establish puppet governments in Kherson and Zaporizhia has forced it to change tactics. Its current approach is to kidnap Ukrainians, block humanitarian aid, and prevent civilian evacuations. Based on Russian performance in the North we are afraid that those being kidnapped will be killed.
Fighting continues throughout the Oblast as Russian forces are trying to halt Ukrainian counterattacks.
Numbers killed from the rocket attack on the Mykolaiv administration building reached 36 yesterday.
People living in Odesa were advised to close their windows and stay indoors following yesterday’s rocket attacks. Ukraine managed to intercept three rockets but five hit the city. The mayor indicated that the likelihood of continued shelling by naval vessels and or rocket attacks remains.
CENTRAL UKRAINE I
The rocket attacks the day before yesterday has destroyed the Kremenchug oil refinery, in Poltava Oblast.
Russia fired rockets at Myrhorod, Poltava Oblast, yesterday damaging civilian infrastructure. Myrhorod is a resort and farming community.
The rocket attacks on Pavlohrad, Dnipro Oblast, have disrupted rail movement because they damaged tracks and a switching yard. Ukrainian railways said things will be back to normal by Turesday.
⚡️ "В Павлограде прозвучали два взрыва. Удар пришёлся по железной дороге. Поврежден путепровод, подвижной состав. Также взрывом повредило несколько домов. Пострадавших и жертв нет", — сообщил городской глава Павлограда Анатолий Вершина
Comparing Soviet invasion of Afghanistan to Russian invasion of Ukraine using Wikipedia and Ukraine Ministry of Defense Daily Bulletins. Soviet and Russian military losses not including captured equipment.
SOURCES
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/
https://invite.viber.com/?g2=AQBD3wxTrZ6XUU7IdXeHUfjVCydekezQCCGuwYnT6qPd1r7n1aVbFIewa6ng6Lis
That last bit, in Russian: ""Two explosions were heard in Pavlograd. The blast hit the railroad. The overpass and rolling stock were damaged. The explosion also damaged several houses. There were no victims or casualties," said Pavlograd city head Anatoly Vershina".
Every man, woman, and child able to shoulder, aim, and shoot a firearm should be provided with one, and it should be open season on Russians - hunt them down and kill them. If they're going to treat civilians like combatants, civilians should act as combatants - peace treaty, ceasefire, or not - for the next 30 years or so. Ten or twenty dead civilians in a town - that's badly disciplined troops - but 400, that's a deliberate policy choice. Jesse James was 14 when he joined my great-great-grandfather's irregular militia in Liberty, Missouri - he could ride and shoot a rifle, so 14 wasn't too young... If the people who did that atrocity are found, they should be scalped and hanged, with a really *slow* drop...
I hope more oil supply depots - like that "civilian" one in Belgorod - go up in flames, the Ukrainians need to be doing more of that sort of thing...
And so the tragedy continues. Thanks for more than we ordinarily know.