Banditry in Ukraine: The situation in the Russian rear is extremely difficult
Fire preparations for the attack and the upcoming large-scale offensive in the area of the Donbass arc continue with increasing force. Troops break through enemy defenses in different places, conduct reconnaissance in force, occupy and take control of a number of populated areas. Moreover, not only in the Donbass, but also in other regions - Kharkov, Nikolaev, Zaporozhye, Kherson. The second most important city in the DPR, Mariupol, has been liberated. In essence, the active phase of hostilities begins.
At the same time, a task no less complex in its significance, even a complex of measures, has to be solved in the liberated territories. Clearing the rear—figuratively speaking, so that the advancing troops are not “stabbed in the back”—is half the battle. Solving issues of a social, humanitarian, informational, ideological nature is an important and necessary process. It can stretch for a long time. But priority tasks require solutions today.
I will dwell in detail on the example of only one district of the Kharkov region. At the end of February, members of the Union of Writers of Russia (Belgorod branch) found themselves here. In addition to their professional duties, they were actively involved in humanitarian issues. They told the real picture and shared their impressions:
“From the first day, a problem arose that has practically not been resolved to this day - the restoration of power grids. Due to the lack of electricity in part of the territory (Liptsy region and adjacent villages (more than 50 thousand population), there is no possibility of water and heat supply, enterprises, primarily bakeries, do not operate. At the same time, there is a real possibility of organizing the supply of bread to the population at the expense of its own resources . Due to the lack of electricity, refrigerators do not work. There is a problem with food storage. There is no way to milk cows (farms), local residents are forced to slaughter livestock. It is quite possible to establish an electricity supply. By installing one and a half dozen poles (about 3 km) and supplying electricity from a checkpoint located on the territory of the Russian Federation.
The entire working population was employed in Kharkov and other cities. Now many residents are deprived of the opportunity to work and receive wages. And pensioners and disabled people cannot receive pensions and other social benefits. On the one hand, the problem of a shortage of money supply arose. On the other hand, there is no opportunity to purchase products in stores. They are not there, the shelves are empty.
It is impossible to correct the situation with humanitarian convoys alone, since constant targeted assistance is needed (due to physical weakness, many cannot get to the center of populated areas where humanitarian aid is distributed). Humanitarian aid should be stored in certain places (dispersed over several points due to the danger of destruction of warehouses from shelling) and distributed in targeted small quantities. At the same time, it is advisable to distribute and distribute it targeted and according to lists.”
Here are just a few isolated details from what we saw. There is no doubt that residents of Kherson, Zaporozhye and other regions of Ukraine also face similar situations.. Relieving social tension, why hide it, is necessary to localize not only possible, but also real resistance.
The problem of employment, organizing social payments and restoring infrastructure, resuming trade and reviving small businesses, sowing campaigns is not a complete list in a series of humanitarian and social issues. So far they are being solved mainly by the military. Local authorities withdrew or fled. Administrations (military commandant's offices) have not yet been created. And if they exist, they do not have any real legal status. Residents of some regions are going to hold referendums (similar to the LPR and DPR). But let's face it, there is still no clear, systematic work.
We should not forget that the individuals, and there are more and more of them every day, who began to cooperate with the Russian army, not only made a choice in favor of Russia, but also cut off their own path to retreat. The Kiev junta automatically puts them on all sorts of lists, such as “Peacemaker,” intimidates them, threatens them. And how many cases of physical elimination of activists there are? Unfortunately, they are not isolated.
Terrorist tactics, methods and means of sabotage struggle are already fully evident now. And not only on the battlefield, but also in relatively peaceful, liberated settlements... There are the beginnings of guerrilla warfare. Therefore, at the forefront, in my opinion, is the task of establishing basic public order and maximally blocking the subversive and inhumane activities of Nazi elements and structures in Ukraine.
Of course, in this situation, the experience accumulated by the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the fight against banditry during the Great Patriotic War, as well as during two Chechen campaigns, can be used. An experience that we know has brought positive results. I completely agree with the opinion of my colleague, retired police colonel, writer, historian V. Zhurakhov:
“In order to combat sabotage and terrorist groups of the SBU and bandit groups of a political and criminal nature in the liberated territories, it will most likely be necessary to create a Main Directorate for Combating Banditry within the structure of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. With the so-called Ukrainian Operational Service Zone. It will be necessary to develop and adopt a special Law regulating the operational and official activities of the department and giving it special powers for the period of a special military operation.
As lower structural links in the regions of Ukraine liberated from the Armed Forces of Ukraine and nationalist formations, form corresponding departments and administrations along the descending vertical. Which should be headed by Russian police officers, with the inclusion of local police officers and representatives of other law enforcement agencies of Ukraine who have expressed a desire to build a new statehood and have passed a thorough check.
Transfer individual units of the troops of the National Guard of the Russian Federation to the operational subordination of these departments and departments. Their task will be to provide force support to employees during operational search activities, as well as conduct police and military operations.
To restore public order and solve criminal crimes in the liberated areas and regions, create temporary departments of internal affairs by analogy with the creation of such departments in the Chechen Republic during the years of the CTO. These VOVDs will be staffed by former Ukrainian police officers who hold pro-Russian views, and Russian police officers who are natives of the Ukrainian SSR.”
I fully admit that this is a subjective view. But noteworthy, specific and clear. By the way, regarding recent events in the North Caucasus, I remember my commander, General Gennady Troshev. It was thanks to him that the so-called “military diplomacy” began to work. He knew how to talk to people, convince them, find a common language with everyone, including militants. He constantly repeated: “Peace in the republic, only Chechens can bring calm!” So here, only Ukrainians, Russians, and people of other nationalities living in Ukraine can establish peace and tranquility. Completely replace the rotten and Russophobic government, the so-called elite. The process is very complex. But we must start now, even in the context of a special military operation.
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