Summer 2022. All of the Donbass region is occupied by the Russians. All of it? No!
Several areas defended by unyielding Ukrainians are still resisting the invader and always will.
Unfortunately for Ukraine, the key to its resistance is not any magic
potion but the support of the West. And although things are developing
very differently from what the Kremlin had planned, Russia has managed to seize 20%
of Ukraine's territory in the first 100 days since the war began.
Yes, they failed to take Kyiv and every meter of advance is costing
the Russian Army dearly. But the same is true for Ukraine which is losing a large
number of men and is seeing a lot of critical infrastructure destroyed by Russian attacks.
But this time we will move a bit away from the frontline, at least from what we all identify
as such. Because what we want to do with this video is to take a look at the role being played
in the war by something that was announced by the president of Ukraine on February 24. On the same
day that the invasion began, Zelenskiy said this: What can Ukrainians do? Help the national defense.
Join the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and territorial defense
units.
Any citizen with combat experience will now be useful.)
VisualPolitik viewers, these Territorial Defense units are a component of the military reserve
of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. They have been mobilized since the end of February and
in recent years have significantly improved their capabilities. So the question is:
At what point did the Territorial Defense Forces emerge, how are they organized and what is their
modus operandi, and most importantly, what role are they playing in the current conflict
with Russia? Today on VisualPolitik we are going to answer these questions. But first,
let's take a look at a bit of history. (THE ROSE AND THE SWORD)
The disintegration of the Soviet Union created great uncertainty. In addition to Russia,
three other former Soviet republics had nuclear weapons remaining on their territory.
This was the case in Belarus, Kazakhstan and, of course,
Ukraine, where no less than the third largest nuclear arsenal in the world
was at the disposal of the new government in Kyiv. At that time, the Cold War had just ended.
As you can imagine, after spending decades on the brink of nuclear cataclysm,
having three new countries join the nuclear weapons club didn't seem like the best idea.
So, as we say on VisualPolitik, no sooner said than done.
In 1994, the United States, the United Kingdom and Russia signed the Budapest Memorandum with
these former Soviet republics. This agreement meant that these countries handed over their
nuclear arsenal to Russia in exchange for security guarantees from the United States,
Great Britain and, ironically, Russia itself.
And naturally, such an agreement was not the best
incentive for Ukraine to invest in defense and modernize its army.
Like so much else from the Soviet era, compulsory military service is a relic
that independent Ukraine has been trying to get rid of for decades. The three years of military
service from the days of the USSR has been reduced to between 12 and 18 months.
Military service was abolished in 2013 but reinstated the following year after
Russia began seizing Ukrainian territory.
By then the people of Ukraine had already risen up twice against Putin's puppet,
President Viktor Yanukovych. Once in the Orange Revolution, for rigging the elections. And a
second time in the Euromaidan, for breaking an association agreement with the European Union.
It was the moment when they learned for the first time that opposing Putin does not come for free.
Ukrainians got a reality check. The annexation of Crimea and the start of
hostilities in the Donbass by pro-Russian guerrillas exposed their authorities. That
Ukraine had only 6,000 combat-ready soldiers was the result of decades of
corruption. A disaster that they have been trying to solve in recent years.
As you can see, Ukraine has invested heavily in modernizing its military
since the Crimean invasion. It seems to have become clear to them that the
Budapest Memorandum is already of less value than the Warsaw Pact.
But in 2014, Ukraine's problem was obvious: the regular army was insufficient and had a
budget that was barely around 2% of the GDP of one of the poorest countries in all of Europe.
This means that in 2014 military spending barely exceeded $2.5 billion. A clearly
insufficient amount for what is the largest country in the entire old continent.
Faced with such a scenario, Ukraine entrusted its
fate to volunteer organizations that were ready to defend their homeland.
The Donbass war caused a major headache in Kyiv. Faced with the Russian tactic of supporting the
Donetsk and Luhansk guerrillas as well as various insurgent groups,
Ukraine bet on a force halfway between civilian and military.
They wanted it to be able to organize a guerrilla force in
the Russian rear guard that would make the invaders uncomfortable. And that,
on its own terrain it would be useful as a complement to the national Army.
It was the time of the so-called territorial defense battalions.
As you well know, the conflict in the Donbass extended to the present day.
So one concern that immediately arose in the Ukrainian government
was how to absorb these territorial defense battalions into the State structure itself.
For years there was an eternal political debate about what their competences
and tasks would be. But the idea has always been that they should
complement the Army. Without ever pretending to replace their role.
The fact is that the matter dragged on for so long that it was not until 1 January
that the Law on the Foundations of National Resistance came into force. It was then that
all these battalions were incorporated into a new body: the Territorial Defense Forces.
A new body was created just 50 days before the beginning of the Russian invasion.
In total, the Territorial Defense Forces consist of 25 brigades,
each serving the military command of each oblast, that is, each region of Ukraine.
All are ultimately coordinated by their headquarters located in Kyiv. The law
stipulates that each brigade was to enlist about 3,500 men divided into battalions of
600. This means that the Territorial Defense Forces would have about 90,000 troops.
Just 20 days after the Law came into force,
the then head of the Forces assured that they were already prepared.
And so, while Russia was constantly building up its forces on the Ukrainian border, the message
that Kyiv was sending was that they were prepared. That things had changed and that this time they
were not going to be caught by surprise, which was exactly what had happened in 2014.
(Yuriy Halushkin, Territorial Defense Force Commander. The Territorial
Defense Force's demand for firearms and ammunition is fully covered. UKrinform)
As brigades were formed in the territories that were already in conflict such as Donetsk and
Luhansk, it is clear that Kyiv was already thinking that these Forces should act as a
kind of guerrilla or resistance movement if the Russians eventually pushed into Ukraine.
Something like a partisan force to keep the flame alive.
A corps to control the security of the territory,
provide logistical support to the troops, intelligence,
carry out ambushes and sabotage operations as well as build and repair military infrastructure.
The idea was to make the defense much denser and,
therefore, to make it much more difficult for the invader to control the territory.
The thing is, as you all know, the invasion finally happened. So the question is, what has
this Territorial Defense Force done since then? What role is it playing in the war in Ukraine?
Well, let's take a look.
(THE BIG DITCH)
On 24 February 2022, the invasion of Ukraine began. The initial Russian
advance was devastating. Advancing from Belarus they tried to encircle Kyiv. In the
east they reached the vicinity of Kharkiv and reasserted their hold on Donetsk and Luhansk.
In the south they advanced from the Crimea and took Melitopol
and Kherson before beginning the brutal siege of Mariupol.
At this point, Ukrainians in the occupied areas
had to put into practice what they had learned over the past few years.
(“Our people are doing everything to make sure the land burns under the
feet of the occupiers.” - Ivan Fedorov, mayor of Melitopol)
Since the beginning of the invasion, many Ukrainians have joined the Territorial
Defense Forces. Official figures indicate that in March there were
already about 100,000. The truth is that Ukraine is not having troop problems.
But now, we must differentiate between two very different types of soldiers in these forces:
on the one hand, the civilian volunteer, who, hopefully before the invasion,
spent a weekend or two in training, but who clearly lacks military knowledge.
And then there are the professionals from the armed forces and other security corps,
who are the ones who occupy the role of officers within these corps.
In fact many veterans of the Donbass war chose to join these Forces,
so in need of experienced units to instruct and guide the new volunteers.
The problem today is that many of these soldiers have chosen to go to the front, where they are
much better paid and where they can make a greater contribution to the national defense.
In any case, one of the main advantages of civilian volunteers is their knowledge of the
local terrain. Playing on home ground gives them an advantage in identifying key places to defend,
organizing ambushes and quickly detecting Russian infiltrators.
Most of the arrests of sabotage groups working
for the Kremlin in Ukraine are thanks to them. And of course,
these volunteers have been armed from day one, since President Zelenskiy declared martial law.
('Weapons to anyone': Across Ukraine, militias form as Russian forces near - ADN)
VisualPolitik fans, the fundamental objective of the Territorial Defense Forces is to carry
out basic tasks far from the front line but requiring a high number of troops.
We are talking for example about setting up checkpoints on main roads,
digging trenches and ditches, surveillance and monitoring,
fortifying positions and barricades... activities from which the Army personnel
themselves are intended to be freed up so that they can focus entirely on combat missions.
Then another function assigned to the Territorial Defense Forces is to actively
participate in the search and detection of the retreating enemy. For example,
they are capable of quite efficiently conducting so-called mopping-up operations,
which includes tracking and capturing Russian pilots of downed aircraft and helicopters.
The goal is clear: not to leave a single enemy behind in order
to protect the rear guard of the Ukrainian Army.
Of course, in the occupied territories their work is more dangerous. It takes as much
courage for their activities as Ukrainian soldiers are showing on the frontline.
Still, the news coming from these areas is constant: from attacks on a Russian-controlled
air base to the destruction of an armored train and railway facilities in Melitopol. Everything
is being used to fight the Russian invader. And when I say everything, I mean everything.
Check it out.
(Ukrainian Civilians Kill Russian Soldiers With Poisoned Cakes: Report. Newsweek)
What is clear is that life has changed a lot in the country for those who
before February 24 were teachers, engineers, workers... And also for Ukrainian companies.
Overnight they have become part of a war economy that is working
day in and day out with a single goal: to drive out the Russians.
And just as the people of Ukraine have put themselves at the service of the homeland
with their Territorial Defense Forces, there are companies that are doing exactly the same:
(Last month they made designer dresses. Now they're making combat boots. FT)
Ukraine's success in defending Kyiv caused the Russians to shift their
focus to their offensive in the east and south of the country.
Moving the enemy away from the capital has made it possible for thousands of Territorial
Defense Forces troops to be at the disposal of the military commanders to act closer to the
front. Of course, there are doubts as to whether or not this is the most convenient thing to do.
Listen up. (THE FIGHT OF THE BOSSES)
Zelenskiy has always been in favor of Ukraine having a more professional army.
Three weeks before the war began, the Ukrainian president signed a decree in
which he made a clear commitment to increase the defense budget and raise the salaries
of his armed forces. Similarly, the end of compulsory military service was set for 2024.
But of course, the Russian invasion has changed everything. And apparently also Zelenskiy's own
opinion. This has led to surprising news in mid-May that has had no official explanation.
(Zelensky fires head of territorial defense forces of Ukraine - FOX)
Why was Yuriy Halushkin fired after 80 days of war? Wasn't he doing a good job?
In view of how Ukraine has defended itself, it is clear that this cannot be the reason.
Let's see, certainly the credit for repelling the
Russians must go to the courage of the Ukrainian soldiers. But good work has
also been done on the second line. So what was the reason for this dismissal?
At the time there were rumors that Halushkin might have certain
aspirations to enter politics. Does this explain why Zelenskiy wanted to get rid
of him before he gained popularity and could become a political rival?
The truth is that it is hard to believe that the Ukrainian president has time
for this kind of scheming. He has enough on his hands trying to kick the Russians out.
So the key to this dismissal perhaps has more to do with a piece of news that came just two
weeks before Halushkin's dismissal. Look at what the Ukrainian Parliament passed in early May.
(Rada Allows Territorial Defense To Carry Out Tasks In Areas Of Warfare. UKRnews)
Thus the Rada amended the Law on the Fundamentals of National Resistance
four months after it came into force. The main change is that the Territorial Defense Forces
will operate on the entire territory of Ukraine, including areas of military and combat operations.
Another detail is also very significant. The decision to go to these areas will
be made not by the Commander of the Territorial Defense Forces but by the
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
And pay close attention to the way in which this legislative reform has been approved.
Let me explain. According to Article 94 of the Constitution of Ukraine,
the Head of State must sign a law sent to him within 15 days
or return it to parliament with reasonable and motivated proposals.
If the President does not sign the law within the said period and does not send it to the
parliament, then the law comes into force. This is what happened with this reform as
Zelenskiy failed to sign and return it within the relevant period after it was approved by the Rada.
Why did Zelenskiy not follow the usual procedure outlined by the
Constitution? Possibly we are facing a sign that the desire of the military
commanders to gain more troops to fight the Russians at the front has prevailed.
Perhaps the president did not want to sign the law, putting the onus of equating civilian
volunteers with professional soldiers on the Rada parliamentarians who passed this law.
However, everything indicates that the commander of the Territorial Defense Forces
strongly opposed the decision to send his members to fight.
So much so that Zelenskiy had no choice but to dismiss him.
The thing is, Halushkin is not the only one who thinks that the
Territorial Defense Forces are not ready to fight on the front line.
Mac William Bishop, who has a military background and is a freelance journalist working with
prestigious international media outlets, is on the ground and thinks exactly the same.
(Ukraine has rushed all available units into the fight in the East – including a number
of poorly trained Territorial Defense Force brigades and volunteer units)
(I spent time with one of the volunteer units being rushed to the front,
and it was an alarming experience. Through no fault of their own,
they were being sent into battle with minimal equipment and a lack of even basic training)
Bishop's analysis ensures that these units remain unprepared for the battlefield. They are clueless
about the most basic infantry tactics, making them easy targets for the Russians.
It is clear that the Ukrainians are willing to give everything for their homeland. Even their
lives. But as you understand, it is not about making sacrifices in vain either. In order to
fulfill their mission, the Ukrainians need two things: modern weapons and training.
For the former, they count on the help of the West. Training is more complicated.
They need time and in war this is a scarce commodity. Be that as it may,
one thing is clear: this Territorial Defense Force is playing a very relevant role in Ukraine.
So much so that countries like Poland have already started to copy this structure.
But having said that, do you agree with using all available troops to fight the Russian invader?
Leave us your answer in the comments. As always, if you found the video interesting,
don't forget to like and share it with your friends. Don't forget to
subscribe to VisualPolitik. All the best and see you next time.