Russia Update on Day 55 of its Ukraine Operation

Demilitarizing a nation takes time — especially when taking care to keep civilians out of harm’s way and targeting no nonmilitary sites.

On day 55 of Russia’s operation, there’s no ambiguity about the overpowering superiority of its forces over Ukraine’s.

Fake news otherwise by what passes for MSM in West doesn’t change reality.

Russia’s military responds by taking care of business on the ground in Ukraine.

Its operation has been decidedly one-sided since day-one of its operation.

Commenting on what’s going on, Sergey Lavrov stressed the following:

“We are not up for regime change in Ukraine.”

“We have said it repeatedly.” 

“We want the people to be free to decide how they want to live in Ukraine”

Millions of Donbass residents  “suffered for eight years.”

They want an end to Ukrainian state terror by the Nazi infested country.

The US-dominated “West (uses) Zelensky (as an imperial tool) against Russia.”

Had he or his predecessor Poroshenko implemented Minsk I and 2 conflict resolution agreements, Russia’s special military operation never would have been launched.

They’re the “cornerstone” of peace in Donbass, Lavrov stressed.

Kiev’s higher power in Washington forbade the regimes it installed from complying with terms of Minsk — to maintain perpetual war along Russia’s borders.

Lavrov also stressed that Russian forces “ha(ve) only been targeting military infrastructure and not civilians.” 

“The Ukrainian army has been using civilians as human shields.”

Under international law, they’re protected persons.

According to Fourth Geneva, Article 49:

“The Occupying Power shall not detain protected persons in an area particularly exposed to the dangers of war unless the security of the population or imperative military reasons so demand.”

Article 51 states:

“Protected persons may not be compelled to undertake any work which would involve them in the obligation of taking part in military operations.”

The International Criminal Court said the following about Additional Protocol I (API) of the Geneva Conventions pertaining to civilians:

“(U)tilizing the presence of a civilian or other protected person to render certain points, areas or military forces immune from military operations” constitutes a war crime in international armed conflicts.

ADI, Article 48 states:

“In order to ensure respect for and protection of the civilian population and civilian objects, the Parties to the conflict shall at all times distinguish between the civilian population and combatants and between civilian objects and military objectives and accordingly shall direct their operations only against military objectives.”

API, Article 5 states:

“Making the civilian population or individual civilians the object of attack is a war crime, regardless of conflict classification.”

US military commissions may prosecute “(a)ny person…who positions, or otherwise takes advantage of, a protected person with the intent to shield a military objective from attack, or to shield, favor, or impede military operations, shall be punished, if death results to one or more of the victims…” 

Lavrov also explained the following:

Following WW II, the US-dominated West “declared themselves winners and, in violation of their promises to the Soviet and Russian leadership, they started moving NATO eastward.” 

“They kept saying: ‘Don’t worry, it’s a defensive alliance (sic).”

“It’s not a threat to Russian security (sic).” 

The so-called “line of defense for this defensive alliance (moved) eastward five times” toward Russia’s borders — menacingly.

“(C)urrent events are rooted in the US and the collective West’s desire to rule and dominate the world and show everyone that there would be no multipolarity,” said Lavrov. 

The US “created a springboard in Ukraine against Russia and pumped arms into the country, saying that Kiev may join NATO and nobody can stop” it.”

Separately on Tuesday, Russia’s Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said the following:

“The plan for the liberation of the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics is being implemented systematically, and measures are being taken to restore life to normal.”

That’s what the battle already begun in Donbass is all about.

Russia intends to end 8 years of US-orchestrated and directed war on its people, to liberate parts of its territory occupied by Ukrainian forces, and restore peace, stability and normality for its long-suffering people.

Four million Donbass residents would surely agree that those aims are worth fighting for.

They won’t be gotten any other way.

A Final Comment

Shoigu also explained the following:

“This year, 30 organizational events will be held in (Russia’s) Southern Military District.”

“Over 3,000 advanced weapons and items of military hardware will be supplied (to its forces), and about 170 military infrastructure facilities will be built and put into operation.”

Training remains a priority.

At the same time, “(w)e continue providing (Southern Military District) personnel and their families with service and permanent housing,” including proper healthcare as needed.

Maintaining military capabilities with advanced weapons, along with providing for the needs of its personnel and families are dual priorities for Russia.

In stark contrast, Ukraine’s military is largely dysfunctional.

With ranks filled mostly with involuntary conscripts, they abhor war and yearn to be home with their families.

Corruption is rampant. Hundreds of millions of dollars disappeared into the pockets of high-ranking military and US-installed regime officials. 

Ordinary Ukrainians suffer enormously from impoverishment, unemployment, inflation, unaffordable goods and services, along with Nazi-infested fascist rule.

Intelligence obtained by Russia and Donbass showed poor morale, alcohol abuse, violations of military discipline, and crimes committed against Ukrainian civilians.

Thousands of its troops deserted, especially after Russia’s operation began. 

Some moved cross-border. Others allied with Donbass freedom fighters — because Ukrainian forces are underpaid, poorly fed and mistreated.

It’s no surprise that Russia’s demilitarizing campaign is proceeding as planned.