Describing events in the Donbass, it is very difficult to adhere to objectivity. But not because I want to take this or that side, “tarnish” some and “whitewash” others. The reason is that this topic is quite politicized. In general, the entire war (the Ilovaisk boiler in particular) is illuminated by completely contradictory information. Events vary so much that it is enough to change the sign “one's own” to “someone else's”, and we will receive identical information that is broadcast from the other side.
The main thing is objectivity
We will not hang the traditional labels of “occupier”, “separ”, “dill” or “terrorist”, who like to use certain media. We will try to approach this issue most objectively, using the information provided from both sides. As they say, in a civil war there are no "friends" and "strangers." Any collision on the territory and between the participants of the former USSR is perceived by people of mature and old age as a feud. The time will come, Ukraine and Russia will equally objectively cover these events. But now what is happening is happening. We will conditionally call some of them Ukrainian security forces, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, others - militias, fighters of the DPR / LPR.
The purpose of the APU
The reasons for the defeat of troops near Ilovaisk will long excite the minds of political scientists. But let us outline the plans of the security forces. Ilovaisk was not the first defeat of the APU in the east. The environment was before. The so-called Izvarinsky boiler. But if then they accused the Russian military that they fired at the APU from their territories, then here they are credited with a full-scale invasion. But what is the purpose of the operation? If in Izvarino the task was to take control of the border, now the goal is to block the "islands" of militia resistance. Cut off Donetsk from Lugansk and from Russia, thereby isolating it. Ilovaisk was not chosen by chance.
Reasons for choosing the direction of impact
Firstly, there was already a similar attempt at encirclement through Shakhtersk. But she also failed. Now they decided to go even deeper and cut off Donetsk through Ilovaisk, sending two volunteer battalions there. Secondly, Ilovaisk was chosen due to the fact that the city is a large transport railway junction.
Chronicle of the Ilovaisk boiler
Two years have already passed, and there is no official chronicle from the Ukrainian military prosecutor's office, which is engaged in the investigation of what is happening. But we tried to recreate these events, using memories from the Ilovaysky cauldron, stories of militias, publications of Russian and Ukrainian media that covered the events of that time.
August 9 can be considered the beginning. On this day, two volunteer battalions, "Azov" and "Donbass", started an assault on the city. Militias began active operations in the Saur-Mogila and Krasny Luch districts. Ilovaysky cauldron has the prerequisites for education. But there is still time to prevent it.
Further, the situation is contradictory. The headquarters of the ATO reports that as a result of using the height of Saur-Grave with the help of artillery fire, troops from supplies and reinforcements were cut off from the territory of Russia. The party of the DPR and the Russian Federation denies this information. According to their version, the boiler began to form due to the slowness of the Armed Forces, their tactical miscalculations and underestimations of the enemy. Yes, the militias had artillery, but Russia did not supply weapons there and, moreover, did not independently fire at positions of security forces. Ilovaysky boiler might not have formed. It could have been avoided if tactically all the forces acted regularly and smoothly.
On August 18, the "independent" command of volunteer battalions and regular forces brings its results. The Dnieper and Donbass, the 17th Panzer, the 51st and 93rd Mechanized Brigades are making a breakthrough and entering Ilovaisk. Azov and Shakhtersk leave the danger zone in Mariupol. According to them, they saved the city from being captured by militants. Such a "retreat", which the media and ATO Headquarters assessed as flight, was caused by the strategic situation. Andrei Biletsky, the commander of Azov, said that the boiler was already formed then. And it is useless to drive people to a meat grinder.
Strange wound
A completely different situation occurred with the Donbass. More precisely, with his commander - Semyon Semenchenko. According to him, he was injured and on August 19 left the battalion, leaving the command to the deputy. True, many speak of such an injury critically. They doubt: whether he received it by chance, or whether it was done purposefully. Adherents of the second theory are inclined to believe that Semenchenko thus wanted to avoid personal participation in the operation, while not remaining a coward in the eyes of the public. Be that as it may, the battalion took part in street battles.
On August 21, the National Guard enters the battle for Ilovaisk. Despite the fact that part of the city was taken, the rear is not covered. Food and ammunition are limited. The troops are not ready for a long operation against a strong opponent.
Boiler Education: Russian Invasion or Unavailability of APU?
Events further have two versions. According to Ukrainian, on August 23, a convoy of Russian troops moved towards Amvrosievka from the territory of the Russian Federation. In this area, APUs were deployed. According to the militias, there were no mass intrusions of Russian regular units. August 24, the day of independence of Ukraine, there was a massive blow in all areas of the Armed Forces. In Kiev, the latest military equipment takes place at the parade, and their fighters on the front line need heavy weapons. Soldiers of the Ukrainian army will later talk about this with indignation.
On the same day, a territorial battalion “Prikarpatye” deserted from one of the strategic sectors (where, according to Ukrainian border guards, a column of Russian troops was moving). According to the commanders, they encountered regular forces of the Russian Federation and were not ready for resistance. Be that as it may, but east of Ilovaisk, the positions became open. The surroundings of this city failed. Fierce battles began. Ilovaysky boiler was formed for the Ukrainian troops themselves.
Then the inexplicable tactics of the General Staff of the ATO took place. On August 25-26, the troops near Ilovaisk were completely surrounded. But before that, all the generals and high officer ranks leading the groups left their units. There was no order to retreat. In addition, the team does not receive a breakthrough ring. Only the order to “hold on” was given by the APU generals to their soldiers.
Ilovaysky boiler leaves no one indifferent in Ukraine. The mothers of the soldiers who got into it are demanding the release of their children. The commanders who left their units achieve the same thing. The authorities remain calm. “Everything is under control, there is no environment, ” they report.
The reserve units of the 51st and 92nd mechanized brigades and fighters of the Legal Sector are sent to help. But the forces are clearly not enough. The brigades do not have experience in warfare; they are poorly equipped. Moreover, the "Right Sector" is not subordinate to the General Staff of the ATO. This is an army independent group. Actions are not controlled by the military. At any time, she can leave her position.
On August 29, Russian President Vladimir Putin calls on the militias to create a corridor for the Ukrainian security forces and release them. The conditions for them are one - you cannot take any weapons with you. Everything went to the militia. Despite this, the Armed Forces troops were ordered to break through with the battle. The attempt was unsuccessful. On August 30, militias began to release the military. Ilovaysky boiler ceased to exist. Now let's move on to the loss information.
Ilovaysky cauldron: the dead
In this matter, as is often the case in war, the information from both sides is different. Some are trying to reduce the death toll. Others, on the contrary, give out inflated information. Be that as it may, but, according to official statistics, more than 300 people were killed and 220 injured. Semen Semenchenko announced a different figure: more than 1, 000 people were killed. The official initial loss figures from the military prosecutor's office of Ukraine are 459 fighters. Since it went against the official statistics of the General Staff, it was “corrected” to 366.
