Donetsk Airport: Has it finally fallen?

[Изумруд]

Reports from both sides, seem to confirm the airport has fallen after 240 days; the defenders showed incredible bravery, in what must have been horrendous conditions. 





http://inforesist.org/sily-ato-ne-smogli-otbit-aeroport-volonter/

[JayH]

Yes--I have confirming reports.
Loss of life of over 40 Cyborgs-it appears they were gassed in some way.
RIP-- Glory to the Heroes


The Russian scum and every Russian ought to be ashamed of yourselves and every excuse made -you bastard will pay the price-- 

As to those who post pro Rus bullshit on the forums--think about the day this will come to your doorstep.

[AC]

Yes--I have confirming reports.
Loss of life of over 40 Cyborgs-it appears they were gassed in some way
RIP-- Glory to the Heroes


The Russian scum and every Russian ought to be ashamed of yourselves and every excuse made -you bastard will pay the price-- 

As to those who post pro Rus bullshit on the forums--think about the day this will come to your doorstep.

And some say Putin is not Hitler.  Very tragic. 

[JayH]

A Possible Chemical Weapons Attack At Donetsk Airport?
23:30 (GMT)

Last week, on January 16, the Russian state-controlled media reported a possible chemical weapons attack at Donetsk airport. However, Ukrainian soldiers reported the use of a smoke screen, and we were satisfied that the use of smoke grenades accurately matched the reports of the smell of the gas and the symptoms. It seemed like a "non-story."
fetching tweet...

However, in the latest spot report by the OSCE's Special Monitoring Mission (SMM), a Ukrainian soldier reported a possible chemical weapons attack on January 19, and the symptoms described are very different than what was described on the 16th:

A Ukrainian soldier in a hospital in government-controlled Konstantinovka (56km north of Donetsk) told the SMM that he was being treated for injuries sustained at the Donetsk airport on 19 January. He said 80 Ukrainian soldiers in total had suffered the same injuries, manifested in uncontrollable muscle spasms, vomiting and difficult breathing. Some, he said, had become unconscious. Eleven of the soldiers had been transferred to a hospital in Dnepropetrovsk, he said.

Muscle spasms, vomiting, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness... these sound like the results of an actual chemical weapons attack, perhaps even the use of nerve gas. But what's odd is that this is the first time we have been made aware of any possible chemical weapons attack in Donetsk on January 19.

We don't know what to make of this report, but we'll add more details if we find them

UPDATED-
http://twitter.com/whereismymon/status/558023489190637569

More reports-but no  confirmation yet-or idea what  was used

[JayH]

Donetsk Airport overrun

Kremlin-backed insurgents have taken over Donetsk Airport, killing dozens of Ukrainian troops, members of the army's volunteer support network said on Jan. 21.

Such a loss would mark Ukraine’s most significant and bloodiest tragedy since the battle for Illovaisk in August 2014, in which hundreds of Ukrainian troops were killed. Ukrainian troops’ defense of the airport, besieged since September, had become a symbol of pride for Ukrainians, with its occupants immortalized as 'the cyborgs'.

George Tuka, who heads the People's Home Front volunteer group, posted on Facebook that Ukraine’s General Staff had devised a plan to surround the airport and push the insurgents farther away from it, but when Ukrainian troops clashed with rebels in Donetsk itself separatists seized the first and third floors of the airport’s new terminal.

Ukrainian troops remained on the second floor, but when the ceiling above them collapsed some of the soldiers were killed, Tuka said. Others were captured by insurgents or withdrew from the airport, he added.

“Today 37 heroes were killed at the airport,” Vladimir Sergeyev, another volunteer who helps provide equipment and supplies to the Ukrainian army, wrote on Facebook. “Many of them were finished off by Chechen scumbags. Forgive us, brothers! We did our best! Heroes do not die!”

Social networks were abuzz with news that hundreds of Russian special forces and dozens of Russian military vehicles had been used during the takeover of the airport, but this information could not be independently verified.

The report follows announcements by Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council that Russia had sent several battalions of regular troops to Donbas
http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/donetsk-airport-overrun-by-rebels-say-army-volunteers-378037.html

[BillyB]

Last week, on January 16, the Russian state-controlled media reported a possible chemical weapons attack at Donetsk airport.

Yeah, Russians are blaming Kiev for violating Geneva conventions. Article below. I wouldn't put it past Putin passing chemical and biological weapons to terrorists who want to target the West. Putin is resorting to some very unethical tactics.


http://itar-tass.com/en/world/771579

[fathertime]

A Possible Chemical Weapons Attack At Donetsk Airport?
23:30 (GMT)

Last week, on January 16, the Russian state-controlled media reported a possible chemical weapons attack at Donetsk airport. However, Ukrainian soldiers reported the use of a smoke screen, and we were satisfied that the use of smoke grenades accurately matched the reports of the smell of the gas and the symptoms. It seemed like a "non-story."
fetching tweet...

However, in the latest spot report by the OSCE's Special Monitoring Mission (SMM), a Ukrainian soldier reported a possible chemical weapons attack on January 19, and the symptoms described are very different than what was described on the 16th:

A Ukrainian soldier in a hospital in government-controlled Konstantinovka (56km north of Donetsk) told the SMM that he was being treated for injuries sustained at the Donetsk airport on 19 January. He said 80 Ukrainian soldiers in total had suffered the same injuries, manifested in uncontrollable muscle spasms, vomiting and difficult breathing. Some, he said, had become unconscious. Eleven of the soldiers had been transferred to a hospital in Dnepropetrovsk, he said.

Muscle spasms, vomiting, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness... these sound like the results of an actual chemical weapons attack, perhaps even the use of nerve gas. But what's odd is that this is the first time we have been made aware of any possible chemical weapons attack in Donetsk on January 19.

We don't know what to make of this report, but we'll add more details if we find them

UPDATED-
http://twitter.com/whereismymon/status/558023489190637569

More reports-but no  confirmation yet-or idea what  was used

So far this sounds like horseshyt from a twitter account.  It may have some credence if any major news stories were talking about Russia using chemical weapons....and clearly there are plenty of news outlets that would love to run that story.


 I would suspect this is a distraction and an excuse as the airport may be lost.....it doesn't matter if it isn't true, as long as it demonizes Russia!


Fathertime!   

[lordtiberius]

John Schindler's scapegoat Poroshenko's General and Chief of Staff Viktor Muzhenko is dead after personally commanding a rescue effort near Donetsk airport:

http://svobodaslova.info/main/11022-smi-pod-avdeevkoy-ubit-nachalnik-shtaba-huntovskih-vsu-viktor-muzhenko.html

[BillyB]

So far this sounds like horseshyt from a twitter account.  It may have some credence if any major news stories were talking about Russia using chemical weapons....and clearly there are plenty of news outlets that would love to run that story.

Russia says chemical weapons were used, will be submitting evidence, and are asking for an investigation. The Russian government will show people back home how ethnic Russians are being unethically killed by the Ukraine government. Who done it may never be known because who in their right mind would go into a danger zone to investigate? Just kind of strange after the chemicals were used, Ukrainian soldiers got sick and lost the fight. Did they use it on their own soldiers? When the USSR collapse, they took back all their chemical weapons from Ukraine. Ukraine is not supposed to possess any chemical, biological or nuclear weapons.


http://www.nti.org/country-profiles/ukraine/

[mendeleyev]

Last week Ukrainian soldiers were tweeting and texting reports of new Russian soldiers unloading equipment that caused several of them to fear a "gas" attack from Russia.

[lordtiberius]

Gas prices will be up again.  Putin and Obama will be HAPPY!

[JayH]

Fighting for Donetsk airport continues, Ukrainian army controls part of airport premises

The fierce fighting for the Donetsk airport continued as of 9 a.m. on Jan. 22, says a report posted on the Ukrainian Defense Ministry website.

http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/fighting-for-donetsk-airport-continues-ukrainian-army-controls-part-of-airport-premises-2-378052.html

[lordtiberius]

Maybe some independent confirmation is in order.  Credibility has not been a strong suit as of late.

[jone]

Interesting Op/Ed piece from Bloomberg endorsing sanctions:

http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-01-20/vladimir-putin-s-war-in-ukraine-is-back

Key Paragraphs:

There are arguments for easing the sanctions: They haven't stopped Putin's meddling, for one. And they have damaged the fragile economies of the EU. At the same time, Putin's captive news media have been able to exploit them to further stoke nationalist fervor at home. Yet these pale next to the solid reasons to keep the sanctions in place.

To start with, there is evidence they have had an impact: On at least two occasions, they have caused Putin to scale back aggression in Ukraine -- in May, when a threat to broaden sanctions pressured Russia to drop opposition to Ukraine's presidential election, and again last fall, when a Russian military buildup and rebel plans to take three Ukrainian cities evaporated.

[lordtiberius]

Billy B is right.

[AC]

Interesting Op/Ed piece from Bloomberg endorsing sanctions:

http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-01-20/vladimir-putin-s-war-in-ukraine-is-back

Key Paragraphs:

There are arguments for easing the sanctions: They haven't stopped Putin's meddling, for one. And they have damaged the fragile economies of the EU. At the same time, Putin's captive news media have been able to exploit them to further stoke nationalist fervor at home. Yet these pale next to the solid reasons to keep the sanctions in place.

To start with, there is evidence they have had an impact: On at least two occasions, they have caused Putin to scale back aggression in Ukraine -- in May, when a threat to broaden sanctions pressured Russia to drop opposition to Ukraine's presidential election, and again last fall, when a Russian military buildup and rebel plans to take three Ukrainian cities evaporated.

Absolutely the sanctions are giving Putler pause.  They need to be increased ASAP after this chemical weapons attack at the airport.

[lordtiberius]

Sanction the bastard.  Quarantine Russia.


Given the ministry of defense's credibility, we need to see more evidence of the chemical attack.  OSCE confirmed it, but OSCE has been known to bend like butter under pressure.  Pictures would be nice.

[JayH]

Some clarification and confirmation

"Right Sector" continues to battle for the Donetsk airport, but did not see the point cling terminal

The Donetsk airport under fire Ukrainian army. Sam terminal completely destroyed, but still under the rubble could be our soldiers get to where we can not, according to a story TSN.19 30 . Ukrainian military hold fire and meteovezhu. At Sands artillery Armed Forces attacked the positions of terrorists. Summed enemy equipment, there is a loss of pro-Russian mercenaries. Soldiers who were directly in the hell, the connection has not yet come. Soldiers "scratch" say that after 242 days of defense "cyborgs" abandoned airfield. However, the position of the Defense Ministry is more optimistic. They argue that the defense of the territory of the airport continues. "At the airport there are still some buildings in which our soldiers also keeping defenses. That is to say that the airport completely abandoned Ukrainian military can not. Now the airport - a battlefield," - said spokesman Andrei Lysenko ATO.
Більше читайте тут: http://tsn.ua/ukrayina/praviy-sektor-prodovzhuye-bitvu-za-doneckiy-aeroport-ale-ne-bachit-sensu-chiplyatisya-za-terminal-404532.html

[JayH]

Deadlier & Deadlier: Ukraine Forces Suffer Setbacks, Casualties

Vladislav Seleznev, a spokesman for the General Staff, told the Kyiv Post that the Ukrainian soldiers would keep defending the measurement tower and several smaller facilities at Donetsk Airport despite the fact that they had been partially destroyed. “According to the Minsk agreements, Donetsk Airport is Ukrainian territory. This is our land, and we are fighting for it,” he said.

Vlad Chorny, commander of the Right Sector unit based in village of Pisky 1.5 kilometers from the airport, claimed that his battalion is ready to withstand separatists’ intensifying attacks. “This is war, and I don’t care if they strengthen the attacks. We will keep fighting,” he said.   

A horrible tragedy occurred on Jan. 21, when separatists blew up the concrete ceiling of the new terminal of Donetsk Airport, killing or wounding many of its Ukrainian defenders. The famed “cyborgs” – a popular name for the airport’s defenders – had to leave the building after their fierce resistance.

“Our guys took out from there as many alive and wounded fighters as they could,” Chorny told the Kyiv Post. “It’s harder with those killed because we have to look for them under the enemy’s constant artillery shelling.”

Chorny added that two of his fighters were wounded in the morning.

At least 21 cyborgs were killed from Jan. 15 to Jan. 21 while defending Donetsk Airport, according to the Kyiv Post count – based on official reports and information from volunteers who equip Ukrainian soldiers.  Some 16 Ukrainian soldiers were wounded on Jan. 21, when Kremlin-backed insurgents took over Donetsk Airport’s new terminal, according to military officials.

Additionally, at least 24 Ukrainian fighters were captured over the past two days at the airport, according to data gathered by the Kyiv Post.

http://www.kyivpost.com/content/kyiv-post-plus/deadlier-deadlier-ukraine-forces-suffer-setbacks-casualties-378171.html
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And More On This --
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A Possible Chemical Weapons Attack At Donetsk Airport?[/size]
He said the rebels started using grenades with a nerve agent – a prohibited means of warfare – over the last weeks. “If there is vomiting it is definitely a nerve agent. If there is a closed building a person may faint over them,” he said adding that the rebels definitely used such grenades on Jan. 20.

[fathertime]

A Possible Chemical Weapons Attack At Donetsk Airport?
He said the rebels started using grenades with a nerve agent – a prohibited means of warfare – over the last weeks. “If there is vomiting it is definitely a nerve agent. If there is a closed building a person may faint over them,” he said adding that the rebels definitely used such grenades on Jan. 20.

Still not seeing ANY major outlets carrying a story about chemical weapons use.  Why?


Fathertime!   

[Muzh]

Still not seeing ANY major outlets carrying a story about chemical weapons use.  Why?


Fathertime!

It must have really happened.


Look, Itar-Tass accuses Kyiv of using chemical munitions in Donetsk attack. By the same people who shot down MH17.


http://itar-tass.com/en/world/771579

[Brasscasing]

It must have really happened.


Look, Itar-Tass accuses Kyiv of using chemical munitions in Donetsk attack. By the same people who shot down MH17.


http://itar-tass.com/en/world/771579

Yep, within hours of the original genuine accusation by Kiev the Russian media, paid trolls and affiliated western sympathizers were flooding the internet with bogus stories claiming in some cases the opposite of the original report but with the same narrative.

It's all garbage of course and adds to the credibility of the original events  as laid out by the Ukraine military.

Brass

[lordtiberius]

If there was a gas attack, why aren't there pictures?

[mendeleyev]

A few days previous, Ukrainian soldiers were posting on vk about fears of being gassed after seeing what they thought might be weapons designed to deliver it.

Now on vk there are photos of gas masks the Russians claim were used by the Ukrainian soldiers.

[Brasscasing]

If there was a gas attack, why aren't there pictures?

Even in this age of instant viral news, in the middle of a fire fight gagging on an unknown airborne substance the average soldier might not have time or the motivation to stick his arm up over the barricade he's hiding behind with the ol' apple iphone  and snap a selfie and I doubt there was media inside the complex from either side for obvious reasons.

You've gone through the gas hut, you know this.

Brass