UKRAINE: Pro-Ukrainian Donbass Battalion militia members train with the Ukrainian National Guard for deployment in the country's east
Record ID:
559694
UKRAINE: Pro-Ukrainian Donbass Battalion militia members train with the Ukrainian National Guard for deployment in the country's east
- Title: UKRAINE: Pro-Ukrainian Donbass Battalion militia members train with the Ukrainian National Guard for deployment in the country's east
- Date: 2nd June 2014
- Summary: NOVI PETRIVTSI, UKRAINE (JUNE 2, 2014) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR NATIONAL GUARD BASE TRAINING COURSE VOLUNTEERS BY COURSE VOLUNTEERS TRAINING ON BARS (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) COMMANDER OF DONBASS BATTALION, SEMEN SEMENCHENKO, SAYING: "Today we're carrying out weapons training. Those who used to be civilians and have never served in the army are being taught how to use heavy weapons, grenade launchers, high-calibre machine guns, automatic weapons, we're carrying out physical training." POSTER (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) COMMANDER OF DONBASS BATTALION, SEMEN SEMENCHENKO, SAYING: "The myth that the whole Donbass region stood up against the Kiev authorities is a lie created by the Party of Regions and local criminals, unfortunately, with the participation of the special services of the Russian Federation. Why am I saying unfortunately? Because there are no enemies of the Russian Federation here. Here there are enemies of the fascism that is being built there (eastern Ukraine) by the Russian people. We are against unrest in our land. I am a Donetsk citizen. We are for resolving our problems by ourselves." VOLUNTEER FIRING GRENADE LAUNCHER VOLUNTEER WATCHING VOLUNTEERS FIRING GRENADE LAUNCHERS VOLUNTEERS WATCHING TARGET VOLUNTEERS (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) MILITIA MEMBER CALLING HIMSELF 'THE MUSICIAN', SAYING: "Our first task now is to defend our motherland, our land, from foreigners arriving (from Russia), and then, together with our citizens, relatives and friends, we should agree so that they will understand that we are citizens of one united country. We were born in Ukraine, we are living in Ukraine, and there shouldn't be anything between us. We have common interests, and we must live in one big, beautiful, strong and healthy country." VARIOUS OF VOLUNTEERS FIRING AT TARGETS VOLUNTEERS WALKING TO TARGETS TARGET VOLUNTEERS EXAMINING TARGETS VOLUNTEERS ON TRAINING GROUND
- Embargoed: 17th June 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Ukraine
- Country: Ukraine
- Topics: Conflict,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA36FVAUA2TKVMVUO1JJHFVXD4D
- Story Text: About 350 Donbass Battalion recruits carried out training exercises with Ukraine's National Guard in their base outside Kiev on Monday (June 2) in preparation for deployment to the east.
The National Guard, founded in March, is based on the old Ukrainian Interior Ministry paramilitary force and has been augmented by some 3,000 volunteers, many from the "self-defence" groups involved in demonstrations early this year that eventually forced pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovich to flee.
The Donbass Battalion is made up of volunteers mainly from the eastern Donetsk region. Most arrive as civilians with no military training.
"Today we're carrying out weapons training. Those who used to be civilians and have never served in the army are being taught how to use heavy weapons, grenade launchers, high-calibre machine guns, automatic weapons, we're carrying out physical training," said Semen Semenchenko, commander of the Donbass Battalion.
Some of the volunteers have already taken part in fighting in the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions but are back for further training following recent losses at the hands of the more seasoned pro-Russian fighters coming from Russia and the Caucasus.
Lack of modern equipment and tactical training is a serious problem. Across the border, Russian forces learned lessons on both counts from a war with Georgia in 2008.
Semenchenko insisted that Donbass as a whole was not against the government in Kiev.
"The myth that the whole Donbass region stood up against the Kiev authorities is a lie created by the Party of Regions and local criminals, unfortunately, with the participation of the special services of the Russian Federation," he said. "There are no enemies of the Russian Federation here (in the east). Here there are enemies of the fascism that is being built there by the Russian people."
"We are against unrest in our land. I am a Donetsk citizen. We are for resolving our problems by ourselves."
The interior ministry in Kiev has promised Semenchenko's battalion will be properly trained and equipped before they go back to the front.
Recruits fired rifles and grenade launchers on the practice range at the start of at least two weeks of training.
"Our first task now is to defend our motherland, our land, from foreigners arriving (from Russia), and then, together with our citizens, relatives and friends, we should agree so that they will understand that we are citizens of one united country," said one recruit who went by the nickname "The Musician".
"We were born in Ukraine, we are living in Ukraine, and there shouldn't be anything between us. We have common interests, and we must live in one big, beautiful, strong and healthy country."
Ukraine stepped up its anti-terror operation in the east of the country after the election to president of Petro Poroshenko on Sunday (May 25), following weeks of restraint by Kiev. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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