Igor Strelkov: It is difficult to judge how much Moscow understood that the special operation would be long and difficult
Part 1:
The progress and prospects of the special operation in Ukraine "Free Press" decided to discuss with the one who stood at the origins of the people's republics of Donbass - with the main organizer of the defense of the mining region - former Minister of Defense of the DPR
. After the events of 2014, it is more famous to the public as Igor Strelkov.
"SP": - I want to remind you that in this studio we met with you at the end of November last year. At that time, we weren't talking about any special operation. It was hard to imagine that it would start at all and how it would begin. But we discussed the versions.
"SP": - It turns out that the blow is preventive?
- It's preventive. I've already talked to you about it. Last winter, Ukraine concentrated a very strong group to strike Donbass for the first time. Around January-March 2021. In response, we from all over Russia pulled our troops in the same direction. Less than today. But it also turned out very impressive.
You said in November that a clash between Russia and Ukraine is inevitable. And what we will have to choose between surrender and entering into a real battle. At the same time, they very much doubted the right choice of Moscow. The quote from your speech is as follows: "Our country will not attack Ukraine itself, from the word "never". The reason is a blow to the economic and personal interests of the Kremlin."
You said in November that a clash between Russia and Ukraine is inevitable. And what we will have to choose between surrender and entering into a real battle. At the same time, they very much doubted the right choice of Moscow. The quote from your speech is as follows: "Our country will not attack Ukraine itself, from the word "never". The reason is a blow to the economic and personal interests of the Kremlin."
But we attacked in February 2022, didn't we?
- Yes, I must agree that it was we who attacked. If they hadn't done that, the attack would still have been. But - from Ukraine. To prevent this attack, our blow was struck.
As a result, some negotiations took place. And Ukraine withdrew part of its troops from Donbass. At the same time, apparently, Kiev gave a guarantee that it would not conduct an operation against the Donetsk and Lugansk republics. Then the Russian troops also withdrew from the state border.
However, just in case, their military equipment was partially left at the storage bases of the Western and Southern Military Districts. And the personnel returned to the points of permanent deployment in the central and eastern part of the country.
The second time the same group, it turns out, we started assembling near Ukraine at the end of last year. And even on a larger scale than a year ago. That is (I'm sure of it!), there was information that Ukraine is again preparing to attack Donbass with very powerful forces.
But it is impossible to drive Russian troops back and forth indefinitely. Apparently, the Kremlin, having weighed all the information, realized that sooner or later Ukraine still attacks the republics. That Ukraine will still be thrown into battle by its owners. And we decided to strike first to seize the initiative in the inevitable fight.
In fact, it was a strong move of Moscow. I can honestly say: I did not expect such determination from our authorities after seven years of endless "Minsky processes", which constantly worsened both the political and military position of the Russian Federation. Relatively speaking, we managed to choose from two bad options not the worst, but just the worst. And they attacked first.
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SP": - Didn't you get the impression that decided to start a special operation in Ukraine just in a fire order? Literally in two or three days?
I want to explain right away. I mean the sad fate of our gold and foreign exchange reserves, which are half left in the West. Or 15,000 cars that were stuck in Ukraine by the beginning of hostilities and which Kiev has now decided to nationalize. And there was a lot more that, in theory, should not have been provided if the decision to start a special operation was systematic.
- I believe that this decision to introduce troops was nurtied for a long time.
"SP": - However, so to speak, was the "red rocket" given by the Kremlin at the last moment?
- Yes, most likely, only a fairly narrow circle of Russian leaders knew about this decision. Serious attention was paid to secrecy. Therefore, in this case, it was possible to achieve surprise both for the Ukrainian authorities and for those people in our country who could inform the West in advance about the preparation of such a special operation.
But as a result, the beginning of the special operation was really a surprise, apparently, for a large number of top leaders of our country responsible for the economic bloc, for the financial condition of the state, for the property of the Russian Federation.
Most likely, these people did not assume the real reaction of the West to what happened. Perhaps they had expectations that the sanctions would be more cosmetic again. And more - pointless, as it was before. That "vents" will be found in these sanctions. That some countries will go to them, some will not go.
The monolithic position of the West, the fact that almost all European countries will not only support sanctions, but also accept to strengthen them at the expense of their own capabilities, was apparently an unpleasant surprise for the Kremlin.
It is difficult to judge how much Moscow understood that the special operation would be long and difficult. Apparently, the Kremlin, on the contrary, believed that our offensive would develop very quickly. And will quickly lead to obvious strategic victories.
"SP": - That's why, if you allow me. How do you feel about the version that the Russian leadership was to some extent disoriented and misled by the events of 2014? How, for example, was the operation in Crimea easily and bloodlessly given to us? Now, too, it seems, we were waiting for the fact that as soon as we enter the land of Ukraine, the Armed Forces of Ukraine will raise "paws up" everywhere. And they don't lift it. At least on a massive scale.
- Apparently, that's exactly what they were waiting for in Moscow. This is told unanimously by my comrades in various previous military operations, who are involved in the planning of current hostilities in one status or another.
All of them unanimously say that they were given tasks specific to the situation of 2014 from above. Bringing the situation, the commanders assured that there would be no serious resistance from the armed forces of Ukraine. Moreover, the transition to the side of Russian troops will begin quite massive. And local administrations will immediately defect to Russia. Just as it was in Crimea.
Even indirect information from the combat zone indicates that everything was so. In particular, you remember: in the first two days of the operation, no attacks were carried out at all at the points of permanent deployment of Ukrainian troops. That is, when it was possible to cause them really unacceptable losses, when they sat in barracks and did not have time to disperse. During these two days, Ukrainian troops were organized, without losses left their locations and entered into battle with us.
It also suggests that Moscow did not plan to fight them seriously. Attacks were carried out only on communication nodes, at individual command centers. And nothing more.
Then the adjustment gradually began. For about 3-4 days, there was an understanding that a lot went wrong in Ukraine. Serious air and missile strikes began.
