Latest Statements from Igor Strelkov

Dear friends,

I just want to express a heartfelt "THANK YOU!!" to Gleb Bazov for translating all these statements and for submitting them for publication on this blog.  Whatever opinion any one of us has of Strelkov, he is for sure one of the most important and interesting actors in this war and one which the corporate media tries hard to ignore.  Without the work of people like Gleb Bazov Strelkov's views would never get any kind of exposure in the English-speaking world (except on RT, of course).  So I am very grateful to Gleb for his most important and difficult work!

The Saker
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BRIEFING FROM IGOR STRELKOV, June 20, 2006, 11:19
Translated From Russian by Gleb Bazov
Original: http://icorpus.ru/svodka-ot-strelkova-20-06-2014-1119/
In the course of the night, the Slavyansk garrison continued to receive detachments and individual fighters that broke through the encirclement in the region of Yampol. As of this moment, approximately half of the detachments have returned.
According to some reports, the strike force of the enemy in yesterday’s [June 19, 2014] battle was comprised of foreign PMC [Private Military Corporation] fighters, armed with Western-manufactured small arms, including Bull-Pap assault rifles. The mercenaries suffered heavy casualties.
At this time, the city of Slavyansk remains under DPR militia control. The enemy is conducting artillery strikes of the militia positions in the vicinity of Lisichansk. Aviation and ground assault jets of the enemy are conduction airstrikes. There has been no change to the enemy positions around Slavyansk. The enemy is placing landmines on the outskirts of the city and conducting artillery strikes against civilian districts.
Four civilians were killed and 21 were wounded over the course of the last 24 hours. Our intelligence reports ongoing transfers of Ukrainian forces and foreign mercenaries in the direction of the city of Donetsk.

BRIEFING FROM IGOR STRELKOV, June 20, 2006, 12:32
Translated From Russian by Gleb Bazov
Original: http://icorpus.ru/svodka-ot-strelkova-20-06-2014-1232/
The enemy is unfolding its forces for a simultaneous assault on Kramatorsk and Slavyansk. Three are groups of enemy forces near Kramatorsk: in the west (from the direction of Sergeevka), at Karachun (from the direction of Yasnogorka) and at Malinovka. There is also a significant concentration of [enemy] forces and equipment in the vicinity of the Slavyansk city sign (“Slavyansk stella”). Only thing that is unclear is where exactly they will strike. It is possible that [the enemy will strike] against the Cherevkovka village (on the outskirts of Slavyansk).
On the Nikolayevka side, there is a column or armoured vehicles approximately 3 kilometres in length. Their direction is toward Nikolayevka-Semyonovka-Slavyansk. Mmm-hmm … we are like a bone stuck in their throat. They threw everything, so as to deal with as in a “grown-up” fashion. We are ready for an attack. It’s a pity only that our forces are minimal at best.

BRIEFING FROM IGOR STRELKOV, June 20, 2014, 14:10
Translated From Russian by Gleb Bazov
Original: http://icorpus.ru/kommentarij-strelkova-20-06-2014-1410/
If our sources in Izyum are to be trusted, the number of wounded, that were relocated there or sent to Kharkov after this battle, exceeds 300 men. However, I cannot guarantee this information – [it came to us] by way of the gossip mill.
On the other hand, the numbers publicized by the Ukie media may well be right. Our losses in dead and wounded are approximately half of [the enemy losses] – our battalion was not destroyed, merely dispersed. It is now slowly coming together again. Once they are all back, our irretrievable losses will become clear. For now, there are 15 wounded in the hospital. They were evacuated in the first hours of the battle and at the end.

BRIEFING FROM IGOR STRELKOV, June 20, 2014, 16:32
In answer to: “What happened to the morning advance of the Ukrainian forces?”
Translated From Russian by Gleb Bazov
Original: http://icorpus.ru/otvet-strelkova-na-vopros-chem-zakonchilas-utrennee-vydvizhenie-pravitelstvennyx-vojsk-20-06-2014-1623/
They turned around and left, all of them. Our battle group (from Lisichansk) has again occupied Yampol – those fighters that were unable to break through across the bridges to the south shore are now returning as well. They are taking up their previous positions.
I am glad that the appeal to Russia was not left unanswered – the mere movement of Russian forces toward the border stopped the Ukies’ attempt to break through to our rear.

BRIEFING FROM IGOR STRELKOV, June 20
In answer to: “Do you have accounts in social networks?”
Translated From Russian by Gleb Bazov
Original: http://icorpus.ru/otvet-strelkova-na-vopros-est-li-u-vas-akkaunty-v-socialnyx-setyax-20-06-2014-1631/
No, I have none.

Briefing from Igor Strelkov, June 20, 2014, 18:20
Translated From Russian by Gleb Bazov
Original: http://icorpus.ru/svodka-ot-strelkova-20-06-2014-1820/
Contrary to our expectations, by noon our intelligence revealed a retreat of the main forces of the enemy from the vicinity of the Krivaya Luka settlement back to Kirovsk. The intelligence unit of the Lisichansk battalion conducted a clean-up of the location at the site of yesterday’s [June 19, 2014] battle. Thus, [they] discovered an enemy “BMP” APC that was hit yesterday. The APC was towed back to Lisichansk for repairs.
In order to avoid possible breakthroughs of [enemy] heavy armoured vehicles toward Seversk, the bridge in the Zakotnoye village, across the Severskiy Donets river, was blown up. The bridge in the Krivaya Luka settlement was taken under control by the militia.
At this time, we are in the process of gathering the personnel of the Krasniy Liman detachment. The goal is to regroup and retake prior positions.
Minor gunfire and skirmishes occurred in the vicinity of Slavyansk and Kramatorsk. The enemy continues to conduct artillery strikes against Semyonovka and also to reinforce and place landmines around its positions near these cities.
We are continuing to observe the movement of [armoured vehicles] in the vicinity of Donetsk. They are headed toward the city and toward the border with the Rostov oblast [Russian Federation].
In the first half of the day, Ukrainian aviation patrolled the region of Gorlovka, searching for land targets. We have not received any information that any such targets were hit.

Igor Strelkov’s Interview, June 20, 2014
Strelkov: “I am glad that our appeal to Russia for help did not go unheard.”
Commentary to the Events of June 19 and 20
Translated From Russian by Gleb Bazov
Original: http://zavtra.ru/content/view/strelkov-rad-chto-prizyiv-o-pomoschi-k-rossii-ne-ostalsya-neuslyishannyim/ - also Rusvesna.su
Q: Various Ukrainian mass media outlets published information about the losses of the [Ukrainian] punitive forces, and [according to them] the total figure is approximately 35 dead and 40 wounded.
A: If our sources in Izyum are to be trusted, the number of wounded, that were relocated there or sent to Kharkov after this battle, exceeds 300 men. However, I cannot guarantee this information – [it came to us] by way of the gossip mill. On the other hand, the numbers publicized by the Ukie media may well be right. Our losses in dead and wounded are approximately half of [the enemy losses] – our battalion was not destroyed, merely dispersed. It is now slowly coming together again. Once they are all back, our irretrievable losses will become clear. For now, there are 15 wounded in the hospital. They were evacuated in the first hours of the battle and at the end.
Q: What happened to the morning advance of the government forces? Are they still standing in columns, or have they been turned around to go hunt the tank forces [of the Novorossiya Armed Forces (“NAF”)]?
A: They turned around and left, all of them. Our battle group (from Lisichansk) has again occupied Yampol – those fighters that were unable to break through across the bridges to the south shore are now returning as well. They are taking up their previous positions. I am glad that the appeal to Russia was not left unanswered – the mere movement of Russian forces toward the border eliminated the Ukies’ attempt to break through to our rear.
Q: What is the status of the preparations to repel the Ukrainian army’s assault on Slavyansk?
A: The situation has changed dramatically. In the morning, we were preparing to repel a decisive attack, and now … I won’t tell you what we are preparing to do … (smiling).
Q: Igor Ivanovich, can you please comment Valeriy Bolotov’s statement about the urgent subordination to the Lugansk Republic of Alexey Mozgovoi’s units?
A: Mozgovoi is subordinated to the headquarters of the DPR (“Donetsk People’s Republic”) militia. And, for a long time now, he has been fighting in close coordination with [our forces]. Successfully fighting. His weapons and ammunition supplies come from us. In this case, Bolotov is engaged in misplaced parochialism.
Q: Igor Ivanovich, would you please explain what is being done with respect to the apparent disunity of the [militia] detachments? Is anyone trying to solve this dilemma, trying to organize unified headquarters of LPR (“Lugansk People’s Republic”) and DPR under the command of a single Commander-in-Chief?
A: What is there to explain? Even in DPR we have no single [unified] headquarters. And you are asking that there be one for two republics … When the time is right, there will be. An army should be commanded by a single person, who is both a military professional and an experienced administrator. I am hoping that some volunteer general with combat experience and combined arms leadership [skills], able to build high-level contacts with Russian colleagues comes to our aid. Otherwise, this guerilla warfare will last a very long time.

BRIEFING FROM IGOR STRELKOV, June 21, 2014, 16:21
Translated From Russian by Gleb Bazov
Original: http://rusvesna.su/news/1403353267
I cannot offer any commentary about Izvarino [Note: a Russian checkpoint on the Ukrainian border that came under artillery shelling by the Ukrainian troops].
All night and day we have been subjected to [enemy] mortar shelling against Semyonovka and Cherevkovka. According to our intelligence, the Ukies continue to bring ammunition and landmines to Karachun Mount. In large quantities.
The roads leading into Slavyansk have been tightly blocked. Feverish reinforcements with personnel and equipment have been noted at all [enemy] checkpoints.

BRIEFING FROM IGOR STRELKOV, June 21, 2014, 19:31
Translated From Russian by Gleb Bazov
Original: http://rusvesna.su/news/1403364672
Near Zakotnoye, in a short battle, detachments comprised of personnel of the Lisichansk battalion of A. Mozgovoi destroyed the vanguard unit of the enemy. Two "BTR" APCs were eliminated (burned down). The remnants of the vanguard unit - a tank and a third "BTR" APC - hurriedly departed in the direction of Zakotnoye, where the enemy is concentrating major forces.
On the outskirts of Slavyansk, there are sporadic shooting engagements. No artillery has been heard since noon. Except that, from time to time, they throw a landmine or two [mortar ammo] toward the beleaguered Slavyansk.
We have confirmation that a major unit of an English-speaking PMC (Private Military Contractor) has been quartered in Karpovka (on the north-eastern borders of the town).