Heading out for a hike: Zaluzhny shared a puzzling memory about Donbas that not everyone understood.
Former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valeriy Zaluzhny, shared a memory on Facebook on Monday that not everyone understood. He posted a photo from 2014, where the general is seen embracing serviceman Oleksii Kuplenko. "We are preparing for a march," it states in Russian. The Informant has clarified what this is about.
"The photo was first published in November 2014, but the events leading up to it occurred in the summer of that year. At that time, the general was the deputy commander of the sector 'C' in Donbas. The march he referred to was the liberation of Debaltseve at the end of July 2014. This is accurate," said a press officer of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who requested anonymity, to the Informant.
Within the ATO, the Armed Forces of Ukraine liberated Debaltseve on July 28, 2014. This was preceded by the liberation of other cities in Donbas—Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, Kostiantynivka, and Druzhkivka. At that time, Donetsk and Horlivka were "cut off," the ring around Donetsk was tightening. In 2014, Zaluzhny described his impressions of his appointment:
"The operational command is truly the best right now. There are several reasons for this. First, its foundation consists of brigades from the former 8th Army Corps. These were the most combat-ready brigades at the beginning of hostilities in eastern Ukraine. They were the best prepared, equipped, and took the first hit of the war. And they are part of the operational command," he stated in an interview with Army Inform. That interview has been preserved in the web archive.
Facebook followers recall events from a decade ago. They particularly note that Zaluzhny and Kuplenko in the photo are in the old-style uniform. The "pixel" camouflage would not appear for another year.
"The calm and confidence of Valeriy Fedorovych inspired strength in everyone," recalled Vitaliy Mieshko, a participant in the liberation of Debaltseve, from Sumy.
"I really wish you would return and restore order," wrote Lyudmila Vasylenko from Cherkasy.
In 2015, the well-known "cauldron" formed around Debaltseve—Ukrainian Armed Forces units found themselves encircled. At that time, the commander of sector 'C' was Oleksandr Syrskyi, who, according to participants of those events, contributed to the formation of the cauldron. This opinion was expressed by veteran Yevhen Shevchenko during Syrskyi's appointment as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
During the battles for the Debaltseve bulge, Ukrainian troops suffered significant losses. On February 18, 2015, troops were withdrawn from the Debaltseve salient.
"It’s unlikely that the Commander-in-Chief mentioned those events to demonstrate a contrast with what is happening in Donbas now," says our interlocutor from the Armed Forces. "But people might perceive it that way. Many believe that the situation in the Armed Forces needs changes. However, Valeriy Fedorovych is unlikely to be hinting at anything. Perhaps Facebook simply reminded him of what he posted exactly 10 years ago."
The Situation in Donbas is Deteriorating
On Tuesday, November 5, military analysts reported a significant deterioration of the situation around Kurakhove. The city has become the epicenter of a tense military situation, where the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) face the threat of encirclement due to active Russian military actions. The occupiers are advancing from the northeast and southwest.
According to Bild analyst Julian Repke, Russian troops have already reached the shores of the Kurakhiv Reservoir, advancing towards key positions of Ukrainian forces. To avoid the Kurakhiv cauldron, the UAF may have to retreat, noted the Bild analyst.
Also, according to Bild, Russian forces, after capturing Selydivo, are approaching the borders of the Dnipropetrovsk region. Experts estimate that there are only 21 kilometers left to the Dnipropetrovsk border.