Who fired?

Human rights activists of “Memorial” Human Rights Watch visited in late November in the eastern regions of Ukraine. Oleg Orlov, a member of the Human Rights Center “Memorial”, the Council said about what he saw.

December 9 – the day of peace in eastern Ukraine. He seems to have transformed into two days of silence. God forbid that they will continue as long as possible.

I have just returned from a trip to the eastern regions of Ukraine. While my colleagues were there, shooting, unfortunately, did not abate.

We visited in the towns and villages under the control of the Ukrainian government, and controlled by forces of self-proclaimed DND and LNR. On both sides of the front, we have seen cases of strikes on residential areas, civilian targets, in hospitals and schools.

These blows are applied not only artillery, mortars, but also multiple launch rocket systems. The use of such systems in the shelling of towns and villages will inevitably lead to civilian casualties. In the documents of international humanitarian law is not directly prescribed ban on the use of plants such as “Grad” and “Tornado” in the shelling of the settlements. However, since these systems are not technically capable of conducting selective shooting at military targets, and “covers” a large area, their use in urban areas is unacceptable, violating the laws and customs of war, and can be regarded as a war crime.

The question inevitably arises: “Who is shooting? Who is to blame for the deaths of innocent civilians? “And then we were faced with the unwillingness to face the truth. Many of my interlocutors from the Ukrainian side (as well as many liberal-minded Russians) in conversations, in letters, in articles, blogs, resent the very formulation of the question: “Is not Ukrainian whether the army” Lupita “in residential areas of Donetsk?” In response to hear: “How can an army to defend their country against the invading hordes from the east, liberating people from the yoke of the terrorists, shoot” Castle “on civilians ?! It is impossible in principle! Surely it yourself separatists beaten in their same city! “Why? “And in order to discredit Ukraine.”

Attempts to point out that the nature of the destruction, and the direction of protruding from the land of unexploded mines and residues from the system shells “Grad” clearly indicate that they came from the village of Sands or Avdeevka, where the emplacements Ukrainian forces, opponents are not convincing . Our arguments that in Donetsk shelling exposed, mainly areas of the city, adjacent to the airport, the held Ukrainian forces that it is from these areas of the city separatists fired on the Ukrainian position that the separatists would not shoot at these areas, endangering their own soldiers It is also not convincing. We begin to convince: “Separatists like spiders in the bank – at war with each other.”

The latter is unfounded. Indeed, they sometimes, find out the relationship with each other, but with the help of small arms, not the “Grad” and artillery.

With no less absurd to do with the fact we are facing and when assessing cases of attacks on the separatists, in the cities or Popasnaya Debaltsevo. the city took during the July offensive, and still holds the Ukrainian army. Periodically, they fall a variety of “gifts”. December 29 Popasnaya mines fell near the school buildings and kindergarten, got in a few five-storey buildings. The result – the death of one person, of destruction.

And here I am on the streets getting witnessed a heated argument, almost rolling into the fray. Local resident proves the soldier “Aydar” battalion, also a local resident, who had come home on leave that shot Ukrainians, saying that he witnesses said that Ukrainian tanks drove to the outskirts of the city and began to beat on residential neighborhoods.

Based on the nature of the destruction of funnels extending from the explosions and the like, it is obvious that a tank could not do it. Obviously, that was labeled by the location about half a kilometer from the school Ukrainian checkpoint (other objects, except for checkpoints in the city we have not seen), but missed. However, those for whom the Ukrainian government – a stranger, do not want to put up with these obvious facts.

A similar picture can be seen in Debaltsevo, where the night before our arrival flew a series of installations shells “Grad”. Once entering the five-story apartment buildings and single-storey homes, wounding and death of peaceful inhabitants. Shells punched holes in the ground, sticking out the remnants of the shells. Their inclination is unambiguous evidence that they came from the Horlivka held by the separatists. One or more “Gradin” exploded in the headquarters and Ukrainian teams, on the outskirts of the city. It seems there too affected. Obviously, we are aiming at the headquarters, and got to the residential areas: flight.

As residents of the affected homes appreciate what happened? A considerable part of them (but not all) states – “Ukrainian forces destroy us.” At my puzzled question – “Why would they shoot at the town under their own control,” should be the answer – “To kill us.” “How so? After all, it is clear as can be seen that shot from Gorlovka “. I answer – “between Gorlovka and the National Guard under Debalcevo worth defending the city occupied by them. They launched install “Grad” in the opposite direction, and the city … And if you were on your staff, right and they do not get along with each other, and between them can be reduced scores. “

Mirrors reflecting each other … They are not only the result of the information war waged by both sides. Here – originally inherent in many people the desire to see the world in black and white. One – “knights in shining armor”, others – “black-black fiends.”

For many in Russia will be news that I saw during a trip force of DNR and LNR their fire destroyed and continue to destroy the city in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions of Ukraine. Most of all, it is simply to be denied, as a deliberate untruth. Just as many do not want to believe in the Ukraine, the Ukrainian artillery fire that kills those Ukrainian forces seemingly protect against terrorists. Reluctance to see this truth contributes to the continuation of murders.

It is hoped that the silence in eastern Ukraine last.

Sourse, 10/12/2014