Russian nationalist Igor Bezler talks about the war
2014-08-11
Posted by: badanov
By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com
On another note was this interview with former Russian GRU officer Igor Bezler, one of the top pro-Russian nationalist commanders in eastern Ukraina, who has been previously accused of atrocities in Chechnya.
What I gather from the interview is that Russian nationalists are having a hard time recruiting and getting local support. Bezler has also said that fighters from Serbska have joined the nationalists, as well as fighters from elsewhere.
Also indicated is that the Russian nationalists have been recruiting and requisitioning ( i.e pressing and stealing) to support their activities. He said that local warlords have come up in both Lugansk and Donetsk regions, but that support in Novorossia (near the border with Ukraina) for Lugansk and Donetsk is weak due to a lack of unity.
While Bezler refused to answer questions about the state of supply of small arms and ammunition, he did later admit his forces were dealing with problems with arms, ammunition, uniforms and equipment. He protested that Russian nationalists in Ukraina needed financial help. He also reiterated the lack of human resources for the war. That is indicated when a writer asked about basic services in a city after a victory, which Bezler dismissed as being unable to do that and also prosecute the war.
Bezler was asked about what he would do to members of the "punisher" battalions such as the Azov Battalion if captured. He told the writer that he would deal with them according to the laws of war: humanely. In response to a question about the presumed looting going on in Gorlovka, he said not all has been looted, and not much is worth looting. But looters were be dealt with according to the laws of war.
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