By Chris Covert
Igor Plotnitsky, former president of the breakaway republic of Lugansk, left his capital on Thursday, according to Russian and Ukrainian news accounts.
Plotnitsky's forced departure from Lugansk and Ukraine comes after a tumultuous three and a half year term as president, which saw him weather charges of murdering some of his formation commanders, and a car bomb attack against him last summer.
According to a news item which appeared in novorosinform.org, Plotnitsky left Lugansk city with a motorcade which included his personal security detail. He was allowed entry at the Izvarino Border Control Point. His security detail were not allowed to enter Russia with him, and were forced to return to Lugansk.
As a matter of disclosure, novorosinform.org is a product of former reserve FSB Colonel Igor Girkin, the Russian operative which aided in starting the rebellion that took over Lugansk and Donetsk in early 2014. Colonel Girkin said a few years back in a radio interview in St. Petersburg, that he was primarily responsible for the takeover of Crimea.
The most immediate cause for Plotnitsky's departure was when he fired the head of the Lugansk Ministry for State Security, Igor Cornet, on November 20th. Cornet refused to go.
The issue between the two appeared to be Plotnitsky's charge of a coup, which emerged just before the bombing attack on him in early August. Since that time, two more incidents took place, relative to the problems Plotnitsky was having.
The first was the murder of two Lugansk People's Republic deputies for the People's Council, a legislative body for Lugansk.
Anatoly Krivonosov and Inna Kuznetsova, a married couple, were found murdered on the night of 26 to 27 August, 2017 in a house in the Kamennobrodsky district of Lugansk. Both were fighters in the early days of the rebellion. Krivonosov was formerly commander of the Dawn battalion. At one point in 2014 during the fighting, Plotnitsky held that post as well.
Almost three weeks later came the news from a leaked transcript of comments from a closed session of the Duma by Russian deputy prime minister Dmitry Kozakin. The transcript indicated that Russia was considering reducing its financial support of the two breakaway republics, Donetsk and Lugansk. According to a regnum.ru article, which first reported the remarks, money being used to support the two republics would be shifted to two other projects.
The first project was an infrastructure improvements for Kaliningrad, to include money to build a new ferry, and money for fiber optic cable for the region.
The second was monies for unspecified projects in the recently annexed Crimea.
According to data supplied by the Russian sponsored news website, Russkaya Vesna (Russian Spring), two days after Cornet's refusal to leave the MVD, Cornet issued a report that Plotnitsky's charges of a coup against his government contained elements that were falsified.
The two alleged leaders of the coup, Vitaly Kiselyov and Gennady Tsypkalov were detained at the time in late fall of 2016 on charges of fomenting the attack on Plotnitsky's government. Tsypkalov was allegedly tortured to death of unidentified persons working for Plotnistky, probably from the same Ministry of State Security headed by Cornet.
The report specifically named Lugansk Attorney General Aleksey Oleinik, and were confirmed by the head of investigations in the Lugansk attorney general's office, Leonid Tkachenko, effectively implicating Tkachenko in charges of falsifying criminal charges.
The issues of falsification of charges came from a statement made by Alexander Semenchenko, who was formerly an employee with the Lugansk prosecutor's office. A current official in Plotnistky's government, Minister of Agriculture Ruslan Sorokovenko, had previously uncovered misconduct within Plotnitsky's government, especially the Attorney General office, in what has been described a "grave crimes", a Russian euphemism for murder.
Among the many problems Plotitsky had was his ability to say the right things in public, and his drive to trade with the Ukrainians. Many of his problems with his, now dead, formation commanders was their grumbling that Plotnitsky was trading coal and grains to the Ukrainians for cash. Most of the commanders in Lugansk were ethnic Cossack and nearly all but a few are now dead. Plotnitsky and his government disclaim their responsibility for those deaths.
Although Plotnitsky stated on more than one occasion his desire to return Lugansk to Russian control, a news story was leaked this month, probably a planted story, that he was open to returning Lugansk to Ukrainian control.
As for the troops on the streets of the capitol of Lugansk, according to Camopedia, their camouflage pattern suggests they are Lugansk MVD, although Russian MVD troops have been known to use the pattern as well. Their AK-74s appear to be well worn suggesting they were reissued from Russian government stocks some time ago.
Chris Covert writes Eastern European/Russian military news. He can be reached at grurkka@gmail.com
The journalism of Chris Covert
Showing posts with label police. Show all posts
Showing posts with label police. Show all posts
Thursday, November 23, 2017
Saturday, September 23, 2017
Rebel government minister hurt in car bomb attack
A finance minister for the breakaway republic of Donetsk was wounded in a car bombing, according to an official Russian language news account.
Alexander Timofeev, Donetsk People's Republic minister of finance, was in a car when a bomb was detonated Saturday morning.
According to a news account in Sputnik, there were two explosions. Timofeev was listed a in critical condition.
According to RIA Novosti, Timofeev suffered head injuries in the attack.
Russian military journalist said that Timofeev was not hurt in the explosion. In his blog post he hinted that the attempt on Timofeev was an internal conflict. He also said that August's attempt on Plotnitsky was also an internal matter. He also said that a rumor circulating in Donetsk was the Zakharchenko was on his way out and that Timoffev was suggested as a possible replacement.
According to lb.ua, Timofeev was commander of the rebel combat formation Oplot, which fought at the Donetsk airport until it fell into rebel hands in February, 2015
Two other bombing attempts on rebel officials were made in August, according to Sputnik. A bomb was found near the personal residence of Donetsk president Aleksandr Zakharcheko.
Another assassination attempt earlier in August was made on Lugansk president Igor Plotnitsky. In that incident,a roadside bomb was detonated, resulting in mild injuries
Both republics' officials are likely to be under increased pressure with the news a week ago that Russian Federation humanitarian would end in the 2018 Russian fiscal year.
Russian military journalist Boris Rozhin said that Timofeev was not hurt in the explosion. In his blog post, he hinted that the attempt on Timofeev was an internal government conflict gone hot. He said first, however, that the possibility that Ukrainian aligned groups were responsible for the attack as the most likely explanation.
He also said that August's attempt on Plotnitsky was also an internal matter. He also said that a rumor circulating in Donetsk was that Timofeev was suggested as a possible second in command for Zakharchenko.
Alexander Timofeev, Donetsk People's Republic minister of finance, was in a car when a bomb was detonated Saturday morning.
According to a news account in Sputnik, there were two explosions. Timofeev was listed a in critical condition.
According to RIA Novosti, Timofeev suffered head injuries in the attack.
Russian military journalist said that Timofeev was not hurt in the explosion. In his blog post he hinted that the attempt on Timofeev was an internal conflict. He also said that August's attempt on Plotnitsky was also an internal matter. He also said that a rumor circulating in Donetsk was the Zakharchenko was on his way out and that Timoffev was suggested as a possible replacement.
According to lb.ua, Timofeev was commander of the rebel combat formation Oplot, which fought at the Donetsk airport until it fell into rebel hands in February, 2015
Two other bombing attempts on rebel officials were made in August, according to Sputnik. A bomb was found near the personal residence of Donetsk president Aleksandr Zakharcheko.
Another assassination attempt earlier in August was made on Lugansk president Igor Plotnitsky. In that incident,a roadside bomb was detonated, resulting in mild injuries
Both republics' officials are likely to be under increased pressure with the news a week ago that Russian Federation humanitarian would end in the 2018 Russian fiscal year.
Russian military journalist Boris Rozhin said that Timofeev was not hurt in the explosion. In his blog post, he hinted that the attempt on Timofeev was an internal government conflict gone hot. He said first, however, that the possibility that Ukrainian aligned groups were responsible for the attack as the most likely explanation.
He also said that August's attempt on Plotnitsky was also an internal matter. He also said that a rumor circulating in Donetsk was that Timofeev was suggested as a possible second in command for Zakharchenko.
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
2 Lugansk deputies found murdered
Google translations is really messing with Russian to English translations. korrespondent.net didn't help any with all the scare quotes. Story slightly rewritten.
The General Prosecutor's Office of the People's Republic of Lugansk, a Russian backed separatist entity, opened a criminal investigation into the murder of two deputies of the People's Council of the People's Republic of Lugansk in a private house in Lugansk on the night of 26 to 27 August.
Said Deputy Prosecutor General of the People's Republic of Lugansk, Grigory Tsevenko: "In the Kamennobrodsky district of the city of Lugansk on the night of 26 to 27 August in private housing, there were two persons found dead who were deputies of the People's Council of the People's Republic of Lugansk."
According to Tsevenko, a criminal investigation was begun.
A separate account posted in Lugansk official government website identified the decedents as Anatoly Krivonosov and Inna Kuznetsova, a married couple. According to a commenter on the Facebook page of former Donetsk foreign minister, Aleksandr Koffman, both had served as fighters in the Dawn Battalion in 2014, when the civil war in southeastern Ukraine began.
According to Russian Wikipedia, the Dawn Battalion, known by its Russian spelling Zarya, was formerly commanded by now Lugansk president Igor Plotnitsky. The unit is now designated 1st Motorized Infantry Brigade.
"At the moment, the criminal case is undergoing urgent investigative actions and operational-search activities in order to establish all the circumstances of the crime and those who committed it," added Tsevenko.
"Data on the victims of the criminal case and other circumstances of the crime are not disclosed in the interests of the investigation," added Tsevenko.
The General Prosecutor's Office of the People's Republic of Lugansk, a Russian backed separatist entity, opened a criminal investigation into the murder of two deputies of the People's Council of the People's Republic of Lugansk in a private house in Lugansk on the night of 26 to 27 August.
Said Deputy Prosecutor General of the People's Republic of Lugansk, Grigory Tsevenko: "In the Kamennobrodsky district of the city of Lugansk on the night of 26 to 27 August in private housing, there were two persons found dead who were deputies of the People's Council of the People's Republic of Lugansk."
According to Tsevenko, a criminal investigation was begun.
A separate account posted in Lugansk official government website identified the decedents as Anatoly Krivonosov and Inna Kuznetsova, a married couple. According to a commenter on the Facebook page of former Donetsk foreign minister, Aleksandr Koffman, both had served as fighters in the Dawn Battalion in 2014, when the civil war in southeastern Ukraine began.
According to Russian Wikipedia, the Dawn Battalion, known by its Russian spelling Zarya, was formerly commanded by now Lugansk president Igor Plotnitsky. The unit is now designated 1st Motorized Infantry Brigade.
"At the moment, the criminal case is undergoing urgent investigative actions and operational-search activities in order to establish all the circumstances of the crime and those who committed it," added Tsevenko.
"Data on the victims of the criminal case and other circumstances of the crime are not disclosed in the interests of the investigation," added Tsevenko.
Friday, March 3, 2017
Suspect in bombing attack on Lugansk president dies in interrogation
Former militant commander and Lugansk political deputy Vitaly Kiselev, was killed in Lugansk police custody Thursday, according to a Russian language news account.
The korrespondent.net news account said that Kiselev was a prime suspect in the bombing attack on Lugansk president Igor Plotnitskiy in August, 2016.
Quoting a BBC report, Lugansk prosecutors conducted an interrogation that the source said was "overdone," which led to Vitaly Kiselev's death.
Despite early denials that the attack was by Ukrainian operatives, Kiselev's death represents a long line of deaths of Lugansk separatist commanders beginning in January of 2015. At that time, a deputy commander of a separatist military unit Aleksandr Bednov and six others were killed in an attack by police In Georgievka, which is a suburb south of Lugansk city. Reports at the time said police used a thermobaric rocket to hit the vehicle Bednov was traveling. At the time of the attack Bednov was chief of staff of the Lugansk 4th Separate Rifle Brigade. He was said to be under suspicion for murder, rape and robbery.
Vitaly Kiselev was said to be a communist, and was one of several commanders, including most of the Cossack military formation commanders said to be Stalinists. Those commanders expected the political changes after the takeover by Russian speaking militants would include communization of agriculture. Nearly every one of those commanders died in violent attacks. Several other minor Cossack formation commanders also died in Donetsk as well. Separatists in both Lugansk and Donetsk say that those deaths can be traced to Plotnitskiy.
The korrespondent.net news account said that Kiselev was a prime suspect in the bombing attack on Lugansk president Igor Plotnitskiy in August, 2016.
Quoting a BBC report, Lugansk prosecutors conducted an interrogation that the source said was "overdone," which led to Vitaly Kiselev's death.
Despite early denials that the attack was by Ukrainian operatives, Kiselev's death represents a long line of deaths of Lugansk separatist commanders beginning in January of 2015. At that time, a deputy commander of a separatist military unit Aleksandr Bednov and six others were killed in an attack by police In Georgievka, which is a suburb south of Lugansk city. Reports at the time said police used a thermobaric rocket to hit the vehicle Bednov was traveling. At the time of the attack Bednov was chief of staff of the Lugansk 4th Separate Rifle Brigade. He was said to be under suspicion for murder, rape and robbery.
Vitaly Kiselev was said to be a communist, and was one of several commanders, including most of the Cossack military formation commanders said to be Stalinists. Those commanders expected the political changes after the takeover by Russian speaking militants would include communization of agriculture. Nearly every one of those commanders died in violent attacks. Several other minor Cossack formation commanders also died in Donetsk as well. Separatists in both Lugansk and Donetsk say that those deaths can be traced to Plotnitskiy.
Thursday, February 23, 2017
Ukrainian security service stages kidnapping of deputy
A deputy of the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's national parliament, was a participant is a staged kidnapping by Ukraine's top security agency, the SBU, according to Ukrainian language news accounts.
Alexey Goncharenko reportedly was taken by a group of armed men in Kiev Thursday morning according to a news account in korrespondent.net. He was released unharmed only a few hours later
Goncharenhko is a member of Ukrainian president Petr Poroshenko's voting block.
According to numerous news accounts, the SBU received information that Goncharenko was the target of a plan to kidnap him, implemented by local separatists in the Odessa region. The articles say that video had surfaced involving a local government deputy in the village of Limanskoye in the Odessa region, identified as Aleksandr Kushnarev. Kushnarev is shown in the video discussing torture.
The plan, according to a separate news report which appeared in strana.ua, said that the SBU sponsored kidnapping was executed in order to deprive Kushnarev of a target.
News accounts say that Kushnarev's son was killed in the May 2nd, 2014 Odessa Trades Union Hall building fire, which Russian separatists claimed was a cover for brutal attacks against Russian speaking separatists by local groups tied to the then new Maidan Ukrainian government. Russian separatists claimed that most of the people killed in the incident were murdered, a charge which the government denies. It is stated in the articles that Kushnarev's plan was for vengeance for his son's death.
Yet another strana.ua report said that Kushnarev's son, identified as Gennady Kushnarev, at that time had been autopsied and the cause of death was said to be asphyxia caused by carbon monoxide poisoning. The autopsy also stated that Gennady was found in a pool of his own blood, which meant foul play could not be ruled out.
The Trades Union Hall fire is one of the galvanizing incidents which ethnic Russian separatists use as proof that the Ukrainian government intended to attack ethnic Russians in Ukraine.
According to the strana.ua report remarks by Goncharenko about the incident, which were characterized as flippant, angered Kushnarev. Goncharenko himself was not involved in the May 2nd, 2014 incident.
The strana.ua report said that Kushnarev planned to torture Goncharenko by using an acid attack, and by breaking his kneecaps. The report said that an Odessa local prosecutor, Oleg Zhuchenko, had ordered the arrest of three men including Kushnarev, all of whom were said to be involved in the planning of the kidnapping.
Instead of condemnation, the incident has received ridicule, some from deputies in Goncharenko's own voting block. Some of the responses has been to post production stills from obscure Ukrainian comedy films which depict a kidnapping.
Alexey Goncharenko reportedly was taken by a group of armed men in Kiev Thursday morning according to a news account in korrespondent.net. He was released unharmed only a few hours later
Goncharenhko is a member of Ukrainian president Petr Poroshenko's voting block.
According to numerous news accounts, the SBU received information that Goncharenko was the target of a plan to kidnap him, implemented by local separatists in the Odessa region. The articles say that video had surfaced involving a local government deputy in the village of Limanskoye in the Odessa region, identified as Aleksandr Kushnarev. Kushnarev is shown in the video discussing torture.
The plan, according to a separate news report which appeared in strana.ua, said that the SBU sponsored kidnapping was executed in order to deprive Kushnarev of a target.
News accounts say that Kushnarev's son was killed in the May 2nd, 2014 Odessa Trades Union Hall building fire, which Russian separatists claimed was a cover for brutal attacks against Russian speaking separatists by local groups tied to the then new Maidan Ukrainian government. Russian separatists claimed that most of the people killed in the incident were murdered, a charge which the government denies. It is stated in the articles that Kushnarev's plan was for vengeance for his son's death.
Yet another strana.ua report said that Kushnarev's son, identified as Gennady Kushnarev, at that time had been autopsied and the cause of death was said to be asphyxia caused by carbon monoxide poisoning. The autopsy also stated that Gennady was found in a pool of his own blood, which meant foul play could not be ruled out.
The Trades Union Hall fire is one of the galvanizing incidents which ethnic Russian separatists use as proof that the Ukrainian government intended to attack ethnic Russians in Ukraine.
According to the strana.ua report remarks by Goncharenko about the incident, which were characterized as flippant, angered Kushnarev. Goncharenko himself was not involved in the May 2nd, 2014 incident.
The strana.ua report said that Kushnarev planned to torture Goncharenko by using an acid attack, and by breaking his kneecaps. The report said that an Odessa local prosecutor, Oleg Zhuchenko, had ordered the arrest of three men including Kushnarev, all of whom were said to be involved in the planning of the kidnapping.
Instead of condemnation, the incident has received ridicule, some from deputies in Goncharenko's own voting block. Some of the responses has been to post production stills from obscure Ukrainian comedy films which depict a kidnapping.
Tuesday, August 9, 2016
Artillery attacks continue in Donetsk, Lugansk
by Chris Covert exclusively for SouthFront
Ukrainian military units fired more than 500 artillery rounds at separatists forces in Donetsk on Monday, according to Russian language news accounts.
Ukrainian media says that rebel forces attacked a number of locations on Donetsk, totaling including small arms attacks, 47.
Both sides accuse the other of preparing for an offensive.
According to data supplied by the Donetsk ministry of defense, Ukrainian forces fired a total of 117 each 152mm and 122mm artillery shells, and 401 each 120mm and 82mm mortar shells onto rebel positions.
Locations along the line of contact struck by Ukrainian artillery include Spartak, the Petrovsky district of Donetsk city and near Gorlovka.
In the south, Ukrainian artillery hit Dokuchaevsk, Kominternovo and Sahanka.
According to an news report posted in lb.ua, rebel forces fired artillery and mortars at Ukrainian positions in southern Donetsk at Shirokino, which was hit with rebel 116 each 122mm artillery rounds. Another 170 each 82mm and 120mm mortar rounds also were fired on Ukrainian positions at Shirokino. A Ukrainian marine rifle company has occupied Shirokino since the late spring of 2015, when rebel forces as part of a ceasefire deal, abandoned the town.
Lugansk fighting
According to the same lb.ua article, rebel artillery continued to hit Ukrainian positions on the line of contact. The news report did not specify where rebel artillery struck.
Ukrainian artillery struck a residential building and a churchyard in Stakhanov on Monday, according to an official Lugansk news release.
The overnight artillery attack which started at 0330 hrs did not cause casualties. A total of five residential buildings were damaged. A repair shop was damaged as well, as was property on a church cemetery.
Stakhanov was last struck by Ukrainian artillery August 2nd. Three unidentified individuals were wounded in that attack.
Plotnitsky attack Aftermath
The Lugansk Prosecutor General, Aleksandr Aleksandrov said on Monday that two criminal cases have been filed in the attack on Lugansk president Igor Plotnitsky, according to an official Lugansk government news release. The news release did not name either of the two suspects, only that they are wanted for the attack.
Plotnitsky was seriously wounded last Saturday morning when a roadside bomb detonated as his transport convoy passed by. Despite the seriousness of his injuries, Plotnitsky is expected to survive his wounds.
Chris Covert writes about foreign military issues for Rantburg.com. He can be reached at grurkka@gmail.com
Ukrainian military units fired more than 500 artillery rounds at separatists forces in Donetsk on Monday, according to Russian language news accounts.
Ukrainian media says that rebel forces attacked a number of locations on Donetsk, totaling including small arms attacks, 47.
Both sides accuse the other of preparing for an offensive.
According to data supplied by the Donetsk ministry of defense, Ukrainian forces fired a total of 117 each 152mm and 122mm artillery shells, and 401 each 120mm and 82mm mortar shells onto rebel positions.
Locations along the line of contact struck by Ukrainian artillery include Spartak, the Petrovsky district of Donetsk city and near Gorlovka.
In the south, Ukrainian artillery hit Dokuchaevsk, Kominternovo and Sahanka.
According to an news report posted in lb.ua, rebel forces fired artillery and mortars at Ukrainian positions in southern Donetsk at Shirokino, which was hit with rebel 116 each 122mm artillery rounds. Another 170 each 82mm and 120mm mortar rounds also were fired on Ukrainian positions at Shirokino. A Ukrainian marine rifle company has occupied Shirokino since the late spring of 2015, when rebel forces as part of a ceasefire deal, abandoned the town.
Lugansk fighting
According to the same lb.ua article, rebel artillery continued to hit Ukrainian positions on the line of contact. The news report did not specify where rebel artillery struck.
Ukrainian artillery struck a residential building and a churchyard in Stakhanov on Monday, according to an official Lugansk news release.
The overnight artillery attack which started at 0330 hrs did not cause casualties. A total of five residential buildings were damaged. A repair shop was damaged as well, as was property on a church cemetery.
Stakhanov was last struck by Ukrainian artillery August 2nd. Three unidentified individuals were wounded in that attack.
Plotnitsky attack Aftermath
The Lugansk Prosecutor General, Aleksandr Aleksandrov said on Monday that two criminal cases have been filed in the attack on Lugansk president Igor Plotnitsky, according to an official Lugansk government news release. The news release did not name either of the two suspects, only that they are wanted for the attack.
Plotnitsky was seriously wounded last Saturday morning when a roadside bomb detonated as his transport convoy passed by. Despite the seriousness of his injuries, Plotnitsky is expected to survive his wounds.
Chris Covert writes about foreign military issues for Rantburg.com. He can be reached at grurkka@gmail.com
Sunday, July 3, 2016
Ukrainian drug kop attacked in Kherson
The former head of drug crimes in the Ukrainian National Police was attacked Saturday night in Kherson, according to a news account in korrespodent.net.
Ilya Kiva, who was campaigning in Kherson for a seat in the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, was not in his car when it was attacked, and was unharmed.
The gunman fire about 20 rounds into Kiva's car, then detonated a hand grenade.
Kiva was dismissed as head of the Interior Ministry's National Police drug department, along with a department ombudsman, last May. According to a separate korrespondent.net account, he was to head the department of veterans in the interior ministry's Anti Terrorist Operation, but was to be "recertified" for a law enforcement post.
Kiva's troubles began in April when a blogger published photographs which showed Kiva open carrying a firearm while boarding a train in Kiev.
Chris Covert writes about foreign military issues.
Ilya Kiva, who was campaigning in Kherson for a seat in the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, was not in his car when it was attacked, and was unharmed.
The gunman fire about 20 rounds into Kiva's car, then detonated a hand grenade.
Kiva was dismissed as head of the Interior Ministry's National Police drug department, along with a department ombudsman, last May. According to a separate korrespondent.net account, he was to head the department of veterans in the interior ministry's Anti Terrorist Operation, but was to be "recertified" for a law enforcement post.
Kiva's troubles began in April when a blogger published photographs which showed Kiva open carrying a firearm while boarding a train in Kiev.
Chris Covert writes about foreign military issues.
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