Both sides are suffering losses, but the russian military is very demoralized — says Heorhiy Tuka

About the demoralization of the Russian military, their military scenarios and why they are kidnapping Ukrainians.

The guest is Heorhiy Tuka, former Deputy Minister for the Occupied Territories and Internally Displaced Persons.

Heorhiy Tuka: In general, the situation in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts is very tense. The fighting is quite active on both sides. Everyone suffers losses. This is hard to admit, but it is true. However, our fighters are motivated. They say «not even a step backwards.» On the other hand, the state of the Russian military is very demoralized. We destroyed a crossing for the fourth time. The last attempt ended with the defeat of virtually the entire Russian tactical group. Of the 600 personnel, 36 remained able to work. The rest were either killed or injured. This is how it is. The next day, two units withdrew from the offensive. Indicative is the fact that not only do ordinary personnel refuse to fight, but also the commanders of these units are also withdrawing. Another group of Russian volunteers also refused after learning about the level of Russia  losses. This is the morale of the Russian army. This gives us a huge advantage.

Also read: If Ukraine is successful in the operation in Donbas and Kherson, Russia will leave the Crimea — says an analyst

Why are the Russian occupiers kidnapping Ukrainians?

Heorhiy Tuka: According to new data, in one of the so-called “filtration” camps alone, there are more than 2,000 men — all of whom are residents of Russia’s newly occupied territories. This is the number in only one of the camps. And there are at least 4 camps. A number of the men after being in the «filtration» camps are transported to the territory of the «DPR». There are speculations that they are being held in the so-called «Isolation» camp. But at the same time, this Isolation camp does not have the capacity to accommodate as many people who are disappearing in «filtration» camps. So, unfortunately, I have to assume that the fate of these missing people is the worst imaginable.

The civilian population that goes through these camps is then sent all the way to the Primorsky Krai, Russia. The vast majority of these people are deprived of Ukrainian passports and issued Russian IDs with which they cannot cross the border. Thus, they are forcibly placed under a kind of «house arrest.”

The Russian occupiers are stealing our people in order to break us. But they will not succeed.

• The fate of forcibly displaced Ukrainians should not go unnoticed by the state. After all, according to preliminary data, the number of forcibly displaced Ukrainians could reach 1 million. This is a huge number

Also listen to: Among deportees on the territory of the Russian Federation, newborns are already issued Russian certificates — says a human rights activist

The Russian Scenarios

Heorhiy Tuka: According to modern military science, there are two ways to gain control over large settlements:

— Undertake a long siege, depleting the civilian population and the military;

— Completely destroy the settlement.

I knew there would be a war. But I could not imagine that Russia would attack Ukraine according to the second scenario. Such barbaric actions leave me stunned. When you see, with your own eyes, what is happening on your land, it is extremely painful.

It is useless to look for logic where it is absent. Russia struck the Popasnaya water canal, which supplied water to the entire Luhansk region, including the occupied territories. It is impossible to resume operations of the water utility in the near future. And in the summer as well. These idiots left the whole area without water, including for themselves. Where is the sense in this?

Nothing will strengthen the Russian army. Neither forced mobilization nor replenishment, because they lack quality. People are not prepared, they are not motivated, they do not want to take part in the war and give their lives to ghosts, all for their president.

• I firmly believe in the victory of the Armed Forces. I have no doubt about that. It’s only a matter of time and the price we have to pay

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