by yalensis at Awful Avalanche
Dear Readers:
Today I have this post from the RIA news agency, the reporter is David Narmania.
Readers will recall that, a week or so ago, the Donbass town of Soledar was officially declared “Liberated” by the Russian army. It was one of those cases, so typically sad in this war, where, to paraphrase American military commanders during the Vietnam war, “the town had to be destroyed in order to be saved.” In a word, artillery duels between Russians and Ukrainians have destroyed the town. That, plus, Ukrainians being wantonly destructive and wasting precious ammo just to get even with incalcitrant and disloyal locals; as is their wont.
Despite the destruction, and the fact that civilians were supposed to evacuate, some stayed in their homes. As some always do. This is their story. How they survived the ordeal, and how they greeted the incoming Russian troops.
The Ukrainians, to their credit, did urge the civilians to evacuate while the town was in play. But unlike the Russians, who allow people to go wherever they please when evacuating, be it to Russia or deeper into Ukrainian territory, the Ukrainians only allow civilians to go to Ukraine-controlled territory. Which can present an issue for people who (a) don’t have relatives in those parts, or (b) don’t speak the local dialect; or (c) don’t want to be conscripted into the Ukrainian army (males up to the age of 65). It’s damned if you do, damned if you don’t: Those Donbass residents who refused to evacuate, the Ukrainians deem as “pro-Russian”, or “collaborators” to their way of thinking, and then feel justified in harming them or just wantonly shelling their homes for fun and games.
Local resident Angelica Yeremina:…
Continue Reading