The utterances of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Nikolaevič Kozak, last 8 April, were unequivocal: "Russia will be obliged to defend the citizens of the Ukrainian Donbass region if it deems it necessary". "And this will depend on the level of violence in the region", he added, specifying that the armed formations, that is the pro-Russian separatists, are "experts and currently able to defend themselves".
For several weeks, the violations of yet another ceasefire, signed in July 2020, have been on the rise. And significant movements of Russian troops have been reported both at the border and in the Crimea. Which raises fears of a military escalation between Ukraine and Russia.
On the same day, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country is involved with France in the search for a solution to this conflict, asked President Putin to reduce the Russian military presence on the borders of Ukraine.
Ukraine accuses pro-Russian separatists of being behind the violations of the ceasefire in recent weeks. And the country has the support of the United States, the European Union and NATO. In Moscow, on the other hand, Kiev is responsible, "Whose provocations have recently been aimed at deliberately aggravating the situation on the border line".
Yesterday, the chief of staff of the Ukrainian armies, General Rouslan Khomtchak, said he ruled out any military offensive in the direction of the Donbass. "Forcibly liberating the occupied territories will inevitably lead to the deaths of large numbers of civilians and military casualties, which is unacceptable for Ukraine."
Meanwhile, the Russian military presence continues to strengthen, with the deployment of high-firepower equipment. On the social networks, in fact, on April 6, images were transmitted showing the 240 mm self-propelled mortars, 2S4 Tyulpan, transported by rail (photo). Which suggests that these weapons are on their way to Crimea.
Designed in the days of the Soviet Union, the Tyulpan (video below) had its operational debut in the Afghan war of 1979-1989, in recent years these vehicles have undergone a process of modernization, especially as regards the firing system. The maximum range of the 240 mm piece can be as high as 18 km if it uses a self-propelled project. Together with the 152mm 2S35 self-propelled, 2mm 7S203 and field rocket launchers such as the BM-30 Smerch 300 mm, the BM-27 Uragan 220 mm (photo opening) and the 1 mm TOS-220, with thermobaric warheads, the Tyulpan it constitutes the backbone of the Russian artillery, currently the most powerful in the world.
Commenting on Moscow's continued deployment of forces, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said on April 8 that Russian military personnel deployed on the Ukrainian border had never been larger since the 2014 clashes. at the time, the US secret services had estimated at least 25.000 fighters Russian participation. "The United States is increasingly concerned about the recent escalation of tension in eastern Ukraine, including the movements of Russian troops on the border with the Donbass", he added.
Images: Russian Fed. MoD
