Miachyslau Hryb: The beginnings of separatism in Ukraine should have been nipped in the bud

The aspiration to avoid the victims among the peaceful population is a bar to finishing the anti-terror operation till the end.

An anti-terror operation in Slavyansk, launched on May 2, died out already at the middle of that day. The Ukrainian government explained its actions by activation of Russian army, which resumed its “tactical exercises” at the Ukrainian border; consequently, they had to change the strategy and the tactics of action in compliance with the new circumstances.

During the operation two military men died and seven were injured in Slavyansk. Oleksandr Turchinov, the acting President of Ukraine announced that “the criminals suffered numerous losses: a lot of people died, were injured and arrested”. The actions of the Ukrainian intelligent services in Slavyansk caused chain reaction: gunmen started liberating the ceased administrative buildings in other cities.

However, Kremlin is not at peace with such scenario; so it rushed to convene a meeting of UN Security Council.

Why are Ukrainian authorities demonstrating feebleness in relation to the terrorists? Does the anti-terror operation have chances for success?  EuroBelarus Information Service discussed it with Miachyslau Hryb, the former Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of Belarus and retired lieutenant general of police.

- In result of an anti-terror operation Ukrainian intelligent services have occupied half of Slavyansk, which was earlier ceased by the separatists. Ukrainian army lost two helicopters and two military men. However, they didn’t go on with that! Why?

- I can’t tell, because I am not here. I can only express my personal opinion.

It is very hard to hold special operation inside the city, when the militants are hiding behind the peaceful citizens and protect themselves using the citizens. The authorities will do everything possible to minimize the victims among the peaceful population. It is this circumstance that is complicating the holding of an anti-terror operation and is a bar to finishing it till the end.

The separatists are interested in the opposite – to increase the number of victims among the peaceful citizens, so that to get more reasons to criticize the weak authorities as they are.

- Can it be that the authorities have chosen the ill way to solve the problem of separatism?

The Ukrainian authorities have made a lot of mistakes from the very beginning. The beginnings of separatism in Ukraine should have been nipped in the bud; we shouldn’t have allowed them to spread at the territory of the south-eastern Ukraine. The law enforcement agencies in big cities basically maintained no resistance to the gunmen: they ordered the gunmen to leave the buildings – and they did. Whether they did it consciously or according to the command from above so that to avoid the bloodshed is the other story.

Today the task has become more complicated. The gunmen are armed not only with automatic weapon; now it is much easier to cease roadblocks around Slavyansk than to drive out the gunmen from the city.  But is should be done, and should be done with people’s support – I am sure that not all the citizens support separatists.

- After the surrender of Crimea Ukrainian authorities are constantly being criticized for indecisiveness; however, it isn’t getting any braver. Where does this indecisiveness come from?

- On the one hand, Russia is demanding to abstain from using armaments in the population centers. On the other hand, the international community also stands against the use of military force in the cities. Economically, the authorities are very weak, they are under the crossfire from all the sides, and their legitimacy arouses certain doubts. And all these factors serve as hindrances for the actions of the Ukrainian authorities. They cannot act independently and have to think about the reaction of the world community.

- Russia is very nervous about the Ukrainian events: Russian army has started tactical exercise at the south-eastern borders of Ukraine, while Kremlin, it its turn, rushed to convene a meeting of UN Security Council. What is Russia trying to achieve?

- It is hard to understand. Kremlin claims that it doesn’t lay claims to the south-eastern regions of Ukraine. However, Russian army has been standing at the Ukrainian border for several months, holding “tactical exercise”. It is but obvious that it is lame excuse – no exercise can last for so long.

Moreover, mass media are claiming that the separatist movement is organized and headed by the members of the Russian intelligent services.

What is Russia trying to achieve? One of the goals is to disrupt the president election in Ukraine, which is to be held on May 25, and to postpone it.

- Is Russian army ready for an open military aggression?

- Russian army is strong and powerful; if they are commanded, they will invade the territory of Ukraine.

However, I think that there is no advantage for Putin: after conquering 5-6 or even 8 south-eastern regions all 10-15 million of population there will be dependent on Russia.