Quote:
Originally Posted by raketenjagdpanzer
Yes, I'm entirely certain there are no Spetznaz on the ground directing this. Yessir, not a one.
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Oh, are you saying that the looters are Spetznaz or just that there are Spetznaz in Ukraine?
There were certainly Spetznaz at Crimea. That can be proven quite easily as the "volunteer troops who bought their weapons and gear from shops" had brand new 5.45mm Kalashnikovs with underslung grenade launcher that aren't for sale to civilians and there even were units which all had 2000€ optics on their guns. Not to mention that at least on one occasion Ukrainian troops captured "volunteer militia" members who were carrying their Russian military ID. ...Oops.
At Donetsk? If you have seen proof of Spetznaz then I am sure that several news agencies would be interested in seeing that. The separatists are mainly using gear that is either looted from Ukrainian military stores or the Russians were just smarter this time and issued older gear. The BUKs I think are the first military equipment that could be proven to have come from Russians. (And now there are already stories claiming that BUKs were seen being moved out of Donetsk and into Russia after downing the airplane.)
I have no doubts that Russians are backing up the separatists and many of the leaders, including the Igor Girkin / Igor Strelkov a former(?) FSB agent who first took credit for shooting the Malaysian plane, are Russians.
BUT most of the separatists seem to be Ukrainians even if they are pro-Russian Ukrainians. If there are Russian "advisors" or troops on the ground they are keeping a really low profile this time.