quote:
When discussing events like the one described by LamarkNewAge regarding the treatment of mayors in Ukraine, it is crucial to rely on verified information and reputable sources. Claims of punitive measures against mayors for not involving civilians in combat should indeed be scrutinized and independently verified to gain a more accurate understanding of the situation.
Thats one issue. I did not tell you what THE SECOND ISSUE is, yet. More on the second issue, in a bit.
(The one issue will be - if I know Percy, and I am trying - what the meaning of "resistance" is)
(One can play around with the meaning of "resistance", and take a minimalistic reading, so as to deny the natural extensive-interpretation of the term - which indicates violent opposition, involving types of "combat".
My words:
quote:
The Geneva conventions assume civilians are not fighting an invading army, and all the focus is on protection of non-combat civilians.
But Ukraine wants civilians to get involved in conflicts with soldiers, and the biggest difference between 2015 and 2022 is the deadly demand, by Ukraine, that Mayors be punished (quite severely at that) for not involving civilians in the resistance when Russian troops arrive at the city.
Above, I should have said "2014/2015" as opposed to "2015".
There were two big events in 2014/2015:
In 2014, Russia was able to take over Crimea, quite easily. It was pretty obvious to all involved that the Crimeans supported Russian annexation. Russia executed a (nearly) bloodless invasion. Then gave Crimeans the right to vote on making the Crimean Penninsula part of the Russian Federation.
The other part was the civil war in the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, which resulted in a referdendum put forth by the pro-independence movement. The Oblasts voted for independence from Ukraine. But Russia refused to support the people, against a hostile international community & the central Ukrainian government. The Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts remained part of Ukraine, though they surely supported independence until (some time) after the 2022 Russian invasion.
Here is, what is actually, a separate issue:
quote:
I appreciate the reminder to adhere to principles of verification and to seek out reliable sources to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the issues at hand.
That is THE SECOND ISSUE.
The "comprehensive" part is where the posters here will have a harder time on.
The comprehensive part is the eastern Ukrainians provinces (Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts) and also Crimea.
This is from a 2022 update of a 2015N:CNN piece:
quote:
How Ukraine is using resistance warfare developed by the US to fight back against Russia
Oren Liebermann
By Oren Liebermann, CNN
7 minute read
Updated 10:36 AM EDT, Sat August 27, 2022
As the war in Ukraine has passed the six-month mark, US and European officials say Ukraine has successfully used a method of resistance warfare developed by US special operations forces to fight back against Russia and bog down its vastly superior military.
....
Russia’s nearly bloodless takeover and annexation of the occupied territory stunned Ukraine and the west, intensifying a study of how to build a plan for total defense that included not only the military, but also the civilian population.
But Putin’s wider war on Ukraine launched in February has been its proving ground.
The doctrine, also known as the ROC, provides an innovative and unconventional approach to warfare and total defense that has guided not just Ukraine’s military, but also involved the country’s civilian population as part of a concerted resistance against Russia’s army.
“It’s all hands on deck in terms of the comprehensive defense for the government of Ukraine,” said retired Lt. Gen. Mark Schwartz, who was commander of Special Operations Command Europe during the doctrine’s development. “They’re using every resource and they’re also using some highly unconventional means by which to disrupt the Russian federation military.”
Planning a national resistance
Outnumbered, outgunned, and outmanned, Ukraine has nevertheless fought back against a Russian military that thought it would romp through the vast majority of the country within a matter of weeks, if not days.
“This is a way to turn the tables on a first world power,” said Schwartz. “It’s just incredible to watch that despite the unbelievable loss of life and sacrifice, what the will to resist and the resolve to resist can do.”
....
Resilience and Resistance
Overall, the resistance concept provides a framework for increasing a country’s resilience, which is its ability to withstand external pressures, and planning for resistance, defined as a whole-of-country effort to re-establish sovereignty in occupied territories.
....
At first, only Estonia, Lithuania, and Poland expressed real enthusiasm about the new doctrine. But after Russia’s nearly bloodless takeover and annexation of Crimea stunned Ukraine and the west in 2014, interest in the resistance method rapidly grew.
https://www.cnn.com/...ukraine-resistance-warfare/index.html
[/quote]
Ukraine’s resistance is built on the backs of volunteers
As Russia advances, Ukrainian civilians are picking up weapons and learning to make Molotov cocktails.
By Ellen Ioanes Feb 26, 2022, 5:10pm EST
....
Many civilians are taking up arms themselves, and the Ukrainian government has begun sharing bomb-making instructions and encouraging civilians to take down street signs “in order to confuse and disorient the enemy.”
....
Less formal methods of civilian resistance are spreading, too
Now that the invasion has started in earnest, much less formal methods to stave off Russian forces, particularly in urban areas, have been circulating, too — including instructions for homemade weapons.
On Saturday, the Ukrainian-language Twitter account of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine tweeted instructions for making Molotov cocktails — bombs made of glass bottles, a flammable substance, and a cloth fuse, which is lit before the improvised device is thrown at a target.
....
In English, the tweet reads, “Cocktail ‘Resistance’ While our partners load planes and cars with weapons for Ukraine, we are preparing our branded ‘brotherly’ gift for the Russian bastard. We are arming ourselves, preparing, destroying the occupiers!”
On Friday, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar also encouraged Ukrainians via Facebook to make the homemade incendiary devices, the Washington Post reports. Following that post, in which Maliar wrote that “it is important that everyone resists,” Google searches for “how to make a Molotov cocktail” jumped in Ukraine, the Post reports.
The Ukrainian government is also handing out weapons of its own, with about 18,000 distributed in Kyiv thus far, according to the Post, and 70,000 AK-47 rifles distributed on Thursday alone. “When I heard the explosions I decided that I am ready” to fight advancing Russian forces, Olena Sokolan, a civilian who received a rifle, told the New York Times. “I am adult woman, I am healthy and it’s my responsibility.”
Civilians and volunteers are playing a crucial role in defending Ukraine - Vox
[/quote]
AK-47 rifles are not water-pistols. This is not a national "Lets play a game of 'Indians & Cowboys' for fun" effort. These are real weapons post-marked to real human civilians, for civilian resistance. This is part of the war effort, of Ukraine.
Resistance meaning?:
quote:
Ukrainian Mayor Charged With Treason for Accepting Aid From Russia
Published Apr 22, 2022 at 4:08 PM EDT
Updated Apr 22, 2022 at 4:45 PM EDT
....
A somewhat similar incident occurred earlier in March when the Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office opened an investigation of treason against Galina Danilchenko, who was recently appointed mayor of Melitopol, which is currently under Russian control. According to CNN, several city council members in Melitopol accused Danilchenko of "treason, for attempting to set up an occupying government in Melitopol."
"The suspect called on Ukrainian citizens for their support and citizens of Melitopol to stop resisting the occupying forces," the Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office said in a statement, CNN reported.
Ukrainian Mayor Charged With Treason for Accepting Aid From Russia
Resistance required.
NOW THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS TEXT:
quote:
Article 25
The attack or bombardment, by whatever means, of towns, villages, dwellings, or buildings which are undefended is prohibited.
Article 26
The officer in command of an attacking force must, before commencing a bombardment, except in cases of assault, do all in his power to warn the authorities.
Article 27
In sieges and bombardments all necessary steps must be taken to spare, as far as possible, buildings dedicated to religion, art, science, or charitable purposes, historic monuments, hospitals, and places where the sick and wounded are collected, provided they are not being used at the time for military purposes.
....
Article 58 - Precautions against the effects of attacks
The Parties to the conflict shall, to the maximum extent feasible:
(a) without prejudice to Article 49 of the Fourth Convention, endeavour to remove the civilian population, individual civilians and civilian objects under their control from the vicinity of military objectives;
(b) avoid locating military objectives within or near densely populated areas;
(c) take the other necessary precautions to protect the civilian population, individual civilians and civilian objects under their control against the dangers resulting from military operations.
Amnesty International on violations of International Law:
quote:
August 4, 2022
Ukraine: Ukrainian fighting tactics endanger civilians
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August 4, 2022
Ukraine: Ukrainian fighting tactics endanger civilians
Amnesty International commissioned independent external experts to review the production and publication of this press release. Their findings and recommendations can be found in this legal review and in the Ukraine Organizational Report. Amnesty International welcomes the findings of these reviews and is committed to implementing their recommendations.
Military bases set up in residential areas including schools and hospitals
Attacks launched from populated civilian areas
Such violations in no way justify Russia’s indiscriminate attacks, which have killed and injured countless civilians
Ukrainian forces have put civilians in harm’s way by establishing bases and operating weapons systems in populated residential areas, including in schools and hospitals, as they repelled the Russian invasion that began in February, Amnesty International said today.
Such tactics violate international humanitarian law and endanger civilians, as they turn civilian objects into military targets. The ensuing Russian strikes in populated areas have killed civilians and destroyed civilian infrastructure.
“We have documented a pattern of Ukrainian forces putting civilians at risk and violating the laws of war when they operate in populated areas,” said Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General.
“Being in a defensive position does not exempt the Ukrainian military from respecting international humanitarian law.”
Just a moment...
It is a war crime for an invader to refuse surrender from the invaded, according to the conventions of international law.
Civilians should be off limits - untouched.
Here is a situation where a Mayor had to deal with the entire absence of any defense force:
quote:
In Kharkiv region, mayor admits to handing over city to occupiers
KATERYNA TYSHCHENKO — SUNDAY, 27 FEBRUARY 2022, 21:48
Sunday, 27 February 2022, 22:48
Mayor of Kupyansk Gennadiy Matsegora, member of the OPFL party, made an agreement with the Russian occupiers on the transfer of power of the city.
Quote: "Today at 7:30 a.m. the commander of a Russian battalion called to propose negotiations. If declined, the city would be stormed "with all the consequences". I decided to take part in the talks to avoid casualties and destruction in the city."
Details: The mayor noted that city police chief Natalia Shevchenko was present during negotiations.
Quote:: "We discussed the actions of the military, which would include entering the city, ensuring order, and reassuring residents. They convinced me that this would not affect the life of the city; schools, kindergartens, hospitals, grocery stores, and transportation would continue to run and there will be order in the city."
According to the mayor, when the Russian offensive began 4 days ago, the city was abandoned by the SBU, the prosecutor's office, the military registration and enlistment office and the terrorist defense detachment.
Matsegora stressed that the responsibility for the decision lies with him.
Verbatim: "Our lives depend on our actions, on how we prove ourselves now."
At the same time, the mayor keeps a Ukrainian flag on his desk.
He was charged with treason on February 28.
Despite saying this, in a video:
quote:
We already have a lot of sick people, children in basements, in general the situation is very bad. There are few people in the city who support the occupiers, the majority of the population stands for the Ukrainian flag over our city.
He had nothing but civilians (NO ARMY) when the Russian armies arrived.
Both the Mayor and Russia obeyed international law, in this case.
He even said, while under Russian occupation, that his once independence-seeking city (Which the United States media considered a "threatening" movement which was on-par with calling for not only World War 4, but planetary annihilation), was no longer opposed to being a part of Ukraine. That was what he meant when he said Russia was not supported by the population of the city.
This is from a Mayor who was a member of the Opposition-For Life party. A party that supported independence from Ukraine.
UNDER RUSSIAN OCCUPATION HE SAID:
"We already have a lot of sick people, children in basements, in general the situation is very bad. There are few people in the city who support the occupiers, the majority of the population stands for the Ukrainian flag over our city."
But he is still a villainous traitor to Ukraine.
Why?
He did not resist Russia, with his civilian-only resistance.
Ukraine was afraid the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts would welcome Russia in with open (peaceful welcoming) arms, which happened in the 2014 annexation of Crimea.
Public opinion polls showed strong support in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts for Russia, and opposition to NATO membership, PRE 2022 WAR.
Ukraine was afraid of a quick, easy, bloodless Russian operation in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.
It did not happen.
Oleksandr chalyi
former First Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine
quote:
"But in my opinion, Putin, this is my personal point of view, Putin realized a week after February 24 last year that he had made a mistake and tried to do everything possible to conclude an agreement with Ukraine and the Istanbul Communique. It was his personal decision to accept the text of this communique, which was absolutely far from Russia's initial proposal, Russia's ultimatum proposal, which they presented to the Ukrainian delegation in Minsk. We managed to find a very real compromise. Putin really wanted to reach a peaceful settlement with Ukraine. It is very important to remember this,"
"I was in the group of Ukrainian negotiators at the time. We discussed with the Russian delegation for almost two months, in March and April, a possible agreement on a peaceful settlement between Ukraine and Russia. As you may remember, we signed the so-called Istanbul Communique. And at the end of April, we were very close to ending the war with some kind of peaceful settlement. For some reason, it was postponed,"
Oleksandr Chalyi | European Leadership Network GCSP Experts | Amb. Oleksandr Chalyi
Ukraine is now supported by the eastern provinces.
NATO is now supported.
Russia would, now, have a pro-NATO nation on its western flank, even if Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts got independence.
That is the comprehensive second issue. Or the COMPREHENSIVE part.
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