Describing the events in the Donbas, it is very difficult to be objective. But not because you want to take one side or another, "denigrate" some and "whitewash" others. The reason is that this topic is quite politicized. In general, the entire war (the Ilovaisky cauldron in particular) is covered with absolutely contradictory information. Events differ so much that it is enough to change the sign "ours" to "theirs", and we will receive identical information that is broadcast from the other side.
The main thing is objectivity
We will not hang up the traditional labels of "occupier", "separ", "dill" or "terrorist" that certain media like to use. We will try to approach this issue in the most objective way, using the information provided by both sides. As they say, in a civil war there are no “us” and “them”. Any clash on the territory and between the participants of the former USSR is perceived by people of mature and old age as civil strife. The time will come when Ukraine and Russia will equally objectively cover these events. But now it's happeningwhat is going on. Some we will conditionally call the Ukrainian security forces, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, others - the militias, fighters of the DNR/LNR.
Aim of the Armed Forces
The reasons for the defeat of troops near Ilovaisk will haunt the minds of political scientists for a long time to come. But let's outline the plans of the security forces. Ilovaisk was not the first defeat of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the east. The environment was there before. The so-called Izvarinsky boiler. But if then the Russian military was accused of shelling the Armed Forces of Ukraine 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 resistance of the militias. Cut off Donetsk from Luhansk and from Russia, thereby isolating it. Ilovaisk was not chosen by chance.
Reasons for choosing the direction of strike
Firstly, there has already been a similar attempt to encircle through Shakhtyorsk. 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 because the city is a major railway transport hub.
Chronicle of the Ilovai Cauldron
It's been two years already, but there is no official chronicle from the Ukrainian military prosecutor's office, which is investigating what is happening. But we tried to recreate these events, using memories from the Ilovai cauldron, stories of militiamen, publications of Russian and Ukrainian media that covered the events of that time.
9August can be considered the beginning. On this day, two volunteer battalions, "Azov" and "Donbass", started an assault on the city. The militia began active operations in the area of Saur-Mogila and Krasny Luch. The Ilovai 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 the use of the Saur-Mogila height with the help of artillery fire from the territory of Russia, troops were cut off from supplies and reinforcements. The side of the DPR and the Russian Federation denies this information. According to them, the boiler began to form due to the slowness of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 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 the positions of the security forces. The Ilovai cauldron might not have formed. It could have been avoided if tactically all forces had acted regularly and harmoniously.
On August 18, the "independent" command of the volunteer battalions and regular forces brings results. "Dnepr" and "Donbass", the 17th tank, 51st and 93rd mechanized brigades make a breakthrough and enter Ilovaisk. "Azov" and "Shakhtersk" leave the danger zone for Mariupol. According to them, they saved the city from being captured by militants. Such a “retreat”, which the media and the ATO Headquarters assessed as a flight, was caused by the strategic situation. Andrei Biletsky, the commander of Azov, said that the boiler had already been formed then. And it is useless to drive people to the meat grinder.
Strange injury
A completely different situation happened with Donbass. More precisely, with his commander - Semyon Semenchenko. According to him, he was wounded and left the battalion on August 19, leaving command to the deputy. True, many are critical of such an injury. Doubt: whether he got it by accident, 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, without remaining a coward in the eyes of the public. Be that as it may, the battalion took part in street fighting.
On August 21, the National Guard joins the battle for Ilovaisk. Despite the fact that part of the city is taken, the rear is not covered. Food and ammunition are limited. The troops are not ready for a long operation against a strong opponent.
Formation of the boiler: Russian invasion or unavailability of the Armed Forces of Ukraine?
The events below have two versions. According to the Ukrainian, on August 23, a column of Russian troops moved to Amvrosievka from the territory of the Russian Federation. The Armed Forces of Ukraine were stationed in this area. According to the militias, there were no mass incursions by Russian regular units. On August 24, on the day of Ukraine's independence, there was a massive strike at all sectors of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In Kyiv, the latest military equipment is on parade, and their fighters on the front line are in need of heavy weapons. Soldiers of the Ukrainian army will later speak about this with indignation.
On the same day, from one of the strategic areas (where, according to Ukrainian border guards, a convoy of Russiantroops) deserted the territorial battalion "Prykarpattya". According to the commanders, they encountered the regular forces of the Russian Federation and were not ready for resistance. Be that as it may, but east of Ilovaisk, positions became open. The encirclement of this city has failed. Fierce fighting began. The Ilovai pocket was formed for the Ukrainian troops themselves.
Then the inexplicable happened in the tactics of the ATO General Staff. 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, there is no command to break the ring. Only the order to "hold on" was given by the generals of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to their soldiers.
Ilovaisk cauldron does not leave anyone indifferent in Ukraine. The mothers of the soldiers caught in it demand the release of their children. Commanders who have left their subunits are also striving for the same. Official authorities remain calm. “Everything is under control, there is no environment,” they report.
Reserve units of the 51st and 92nd mechanized brigade and fighters of the "Legal Sector" are sent to help. But the forces are clearly not enough. The brigades have no experience in warfare and are poorly equipped. In addition, the "Right Sector" is not subordinate to the General Staff of the ATO. This is an independent grouping from the army. Actions are not controlled by the military. She can leave her positions at any time.
August 29 Russian President Vladimir Putin calls on the militia to create a corridor for the Ukrainian security forces and release them. Conditions forthey have one thing - you can’t take any weapons with you. Everything went to the militia. Despite this, the troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were ordered to break through with a fight. The attempt was unsuccessful. On August 30, the militia began to release the military. The Ilovaisky cauldron ceased to exist. Now let's move on to the information about the losses.
Ilovaisky cauldron: dead
In this matter, as is often the case in war, 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, 220 were injured. Semyon Semenchenko announced a different figure: more than 1,000 killed. The official initial figures for losses 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.
Results
It's been more than two years now. But the investigation into the causes of the defeat has not yet been terminated. Bold and resolute actions of the militias, cowardice and desertion of the Ukrainian military, underestimation of the enemy, “the meanness of the Russian army that hit the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the back” and many other reasons will be called for a long time to come. But whatever it may be in reality, hostilities on the territory of Ukraine have not yet ended. After the Ilovaisk cauldron, the environment will be even larger. For example, Deb altseve. But that's another story.
