Russian-backed forces accumulating arms, ammo in Donbas

More armaments and ammunition are entering the occupied territories of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier told the annual YES conference, which was held on Sept. 12 in Kyiv. “It’s not understood where it’s coming from,” he said, as reported by the pravda.com.ua news site, adding that the OSCE hasn’t been able to establish control of the Russian-Ukrainian border.

Western governments ought to consider giving Ukraine modern weaponry, former CIA Director Gen. David Petraeus told the annual YES conference on Sept. 12. Such weaponry should include American Javelin Anti-Tank Missiles, he said, which would be used exclusive for defensive purposes. They aren’t capable of changing the course of the war, he said, but they will fundamentally change the Ukrainian army’s ability to prevent more of its land from being taken.

At the same conference, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland avoided a question on the U.S. possibly arming the Ukrainian army.

Zenon Zawada: The Russian-backed forces have demonstrated that they use any temporary ceasefire to reposition their armaments and soldiers, as well as bolster them. There’s little doubt they’re doing so in the current lull.

We thought the U.S. would provide their Javelins in the spring, but a behind-the-scenes agreement was reportedly reached with the Russians. The Javelins will come in handy should the attempt at holding elections in occupied Donbas collapse, which we believe is quite likely. The Javelins will arrive should the U.S. government determine that it can’t influence the Russian government diplomatically.