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Ukraine Faces Struggle to Gain Control of Militias, Including Those on Its Side Ukraine Faces Struggle to Gain Control of Militias, Including Those on Its Side
(4 months later)
KARLOVKA, Ukraine — In a secluded wood in eastern Ukraine, a group of 120 men who call themselves the Donbass Battalion had commandeered a children’s summer camp to prepare for war. KARLOVKA, Ukraine — In a secluded wood in eastern Ukraine, a group of 120 men who call themselves the Donbass Battalion had commandeered a children’s summer camp to prepare for war.
The goal was to transform a motley collection of machinists, stockbrokers and students into armed fighters who could go toe-to-toe with the anti-Kiev militants that have swept through Ukraine’s east over the past two months.The goal was to transform a motley collection of machinists, stockbrokers and students into armed fighters who could go toe-to-toe with the anti-Kiev militants that have swept through Ukraine’s east over the past two months.
“Isn’t it clear by now that the only way to lead is to have a weapon?” said Sergey, a gangly 25-year-old who awkwardly gripped an AK-47 assault rifle for the first time on Monday.“Isn’t it clear by now that the only way to lead is to have a weapon?” said Sergey, a gangly 25-year-old who awkwardly gripped an AK-47 assault rifle for the first time on Monday.
Last week, he left his job as a journalist for the pro-revolution information center in Kiev, the capital, to come east and train under a coterie of army veterans, some of whom had served in the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.Last week, he left his job as a journalist for the pro-revolution information center in Kiev, the capital, to come east and train under a coterie of army veterans, some of whom had served in the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
“They tell me my job for now is to eat and get stronger,” he said.“They tell me my job for now is to eat and get stronger,” he said.
What once seemed a sideshow to Ukraine’s campaign against the rebel militias took center stage on Friday when a firefight pitting the Donbass Battalion against a pro-Russian militia left at least seven people dead just south of Donetsk, the largest city in the region.What once seemed a sideshow to Ukraine’s campaign against the rebel militias took center stage on Friday when a firefight pitting the Donbass Battalion against a pro-Russian militia left at least seven people dead just south of Donetsk, the largest city in the region.
The origins of the clash were in dispute.The origins of the clash were in dispute.
Before the shooting had stopped, Semyon Semenchenko, the battalion’s leader, claimed that his fighters had been ambushed near a rebel checkpoint in Karlovka, a village about 45 minutes’ drive from Donetsk. Locals and pro-Russian fighters, however, said that Mr. Semenchenko had led an assault on the checkpoint and found himself surrounded when enemy reinforcements arrived.Before the shooting had stopped, Semyon Semenchenko, the battalion’s leader, claimed that his fighters had been ambushed near a rebel checkpoint in Karlovka, a village about 45 minutes’ drive from Donetsk. Locals and pro-Russian fighters, however, said that Mr. Semenchenko had led an assault on the checkpoint and found himself surrounded when enemy reinforcements arrived.
The battle showed the devastating potential for violence between ad hoc militias, some with little formal training, which could continue even if clashes between the Ukrainian Army and the rebels cease. Until Friday, the Donbass Battalion had seen little action, and was known best for storming a police station in the small town of Velyka Novosilka. Yet the levels of violence have escalated recently. As many as 15 Ukrainian conscript soldiers were killed in an ambush on Thursday at a checkpoint on an isolated country road about an hour south of Donetsk.The battle showed the devastating potential for violence between ad hoc militias, some with little formal training, which could continue even if clashes between the Ukrainian Army and the rebels cease. Until Friday, the Donbass Battalion had seen little action, and was known best for storming a police station in the small town of Velyka Novosilka. Yet the levels of violence have escalated recently. As many as 15 Ukrainian conscript soldiers were killed in an ambush on Thursday at a checkpoint on an isolated country road about an hour south of Donetsk.
Hundreds of Kiev supporters have joined the newly reinstated National Guard, hastily formed military units of inexperienced fighters who have found themselves on the front lines of the simmering conflict.Hundreds of Kiev supporters have joined the newly reinstated National Guard, hastily formed military units of inexperienced fighters who have found themselves on the front lines of the simmering conflict.
The presence of these new units, particularly of the “Dnieper brigade,” which is backed by Ihor Kolomoysky, the oligarch governor of the neighboring Dnipropetrovsk region, has often fueled anger in the east.The presence of these new units, particularly of the “Dnieper brigade,” which is backed by Ihor Kolomoysky, the oligarch governor of the neighboring Dnipropetrovsk region, has often fueled anger in the east.
On May 11, the group was accused of the shooting deaths of several unarmed pro-Russian activists, an episode that reinforced a common refrain here that western Ukraine is sending hired killers to subjugate the country’s east.On May 11, the group was accused of the shooting deaths of several unarmed pro-Russian activists, an episode that reinforced a common refrain here that western Ukraine is sending hired killers to subjugate the country’s east.
How the Donbass Battalion is financed remains murky. Mr. Semenchenko, 40, claimed that the group did not have connections to the government or to Mr. Kolomoysky, and survived on donations from a “number of patriotically minded citizens.”How the Donbass Battalion is financed remains murky. Mr. Semenchenko, 40, claimed that the group did not have connections to the government or to Mr. Kolomoysky, and survived on donations from a “number of patriotically minded citizens.”
Asked about the danger of a widening conflict as more militias acquire weapons and organize, Mr. Semenchenko said that the government had lost control of the country.Asked about the danger of a widening conflict as more militias acquire weapons and organize, Mr. Semenchenko said that the government had lost control of the country.
“It’s better a civil war than what they have in store for us,” he said.“It’s better a civil war than what they have in store for us,” he said.
After the clash in Karlovka on Friday, the body of a man who had graying hair and wore a flak jacket lay shot dead behind a concrete outpost. Nearby, embers glowed from a fire that had gutted a new restaurant, which pro-Russian fighters said had burned down after the pro-Kiev fighters took up positions inside.After the clash in Karlovka on Friday, the body of a man who had graying hair and wore a flak jacket lay shot dead behind a concrete outpost. Nearby, embers glowed from a fire that had gutted a new restaurant, which pro-Russian fighters said had burned down after the pro-Kiev fighters took up positions inside.
No police were present even hours after the attack.No police were present even hours after the attack.
At a checkpoint several miles away, where dozens of heavily armed pro-Russian militants were positioned, a white van pulled up quickly and tossed another body onto the curb, where it lay for several hours.At a checkpoint several miles away, where dozens of heavily armed pro-Russian militants were positioned, a white van pulled up quickly and tossed another body onto the curb, where it lay for several hours.
“It was me who shot him,” said a young fighter who gave his name as Dmitry and who held a Dragunov sniper rifle, as he pointed at the body.“It was me who shot him,” said a young fighter who gave his name as Dmitry and who held a Dragunov sniper rifle, as he pointed at the body.
Neither Mr. Semenchenko nor other members of his militia could be reached on Friday evening, but those controlling the group’s Facebook account denied rumors that he had been captured or killed.Neither Mr. Semenchenko nor other members of his militia could be reached on Friday evening, but those controlling the group’s Facebook account denied rumors that he had been captured or killed.
Speaking more than a month ago, when the militia was first formed, Mr. Semenchenko said his men were not ready to challenge militants in Slovyansk or other pro-Russian strongholds.Speaking more than a month ago, when the militia was first formed, Mr. Semenchenko said his men were not ready to challenge militants in Slovyansk or other pro-Russian strongholds.
“I won’t take my soldiers to a fight if they are not ready,” he said then.“I won’t take my soldiers to a fight if they are not ready,” he said then.
Others in the group, though, seemed keen for action.Others in the group, though, seemed keen for action.
“We sacrificed Crimea without a shot fired,” said Andrey Gobzhelyan, 45, a military veteran and former machine tools maker. “This time we just have to fire.”“We sacrificed Crimea without a shot fired,” said Andrey Gobzhelyan, 45, a military veteran and former machine tools maker. “This time we just have to fire.”