May 19, 2014
Full text of the appeal of the commander of the militia of Donetsk People's Republic Igor Strelkov
(Huge thanks to "CG" who found this text here. The Saker)
“Citizens of Donetsk People's Republic, I address you with a quest. It's the quest to protect your Motherland, your
homes, your families, your people. I have to ask you to do the thing which by all human standards is not required to
ask. As it was always an honor in Russia to protect your Motherland and your freedom. This call was always responded by
those who considered themselves to be men. Nevertheless, I have to tell you the truth to straight in the eyes. I have to
tell you words which are hard and maybe even insulting for your dignity.
It's more than a month already that we, a small group of volunteers from Russia and Ukraine, heeding the calls for help
have arrived here and have been opposing in our armed struggle all Ukrainian army and many hired waste flying down to
feast.
During the past month we have heard many times a desperate call – give us weapons! Give us weapons to make it possible
for us to fight for our freedom, for our right to read and speak our native Russian language, for the right to honor our
ancestors as heroes of the Great Patriotic war and not the henchmen of Nazi criminals. Heeding this call we've got the
guns. We have seized it in warehouses; have taken from Ukrainian military and police; have bought from the underground
merchants for crazy money. And now we have weapon. It's not in the deep rear – neither in Donetsk, Lugansk or Makeevka
nor in Shakhtyorsk or Antratsit. It is on the front line of defense – in sieged Slavyansk, Kramatorsk and
Konstantinovka. It's here, where it's necessary more than anywhere else. Here, where the volunteers cover all the rest
Donets Basin and together Donetsk and Lugansk. And again here under the cities Slavyansk and Kramatorsk, KrasniyLiman
and Konstantonovka, where our garrisons are located, Kiev junta has gathered its most capable and numerous forces. The
two thirds of chasteners and the headquarters of so-called anti-terrorist operation are located nearby.
And so, the moment has come, when every Donets Basin resident fit to carry arms and use them against the enemies of his
people, may arrive and get the weapon right in his hands. He may get it and join the ranks of the militia to drive the
chasteners outside the native land. But what do we see? - Anything, but not the crowds of volunteers at the gates of our
headquarters.
There is 120 thousands of population in Slavyansk; there are twice more in Kramatorsk. Generally 4.5 million people live
in Donetskaya region. Yes, not all of them are men of capable age. Not all of them are healthy and not employed in the
important for life productions. Not all can come to us due to family and any other justifiable circumstances. But
frankly, I haven't expected that there isn't a thousand of men in the entire region who are ready to risk their lives in
their city not on the neighbour to their house barricade from where it takes half a day by car to reach the first
national guardsman rather on the front line where they fire every day.
Nevertheless, it's so. I'll give examples in order not to be unfounded. Three days ago the group of 12 heroes from
Artyomovsk selected and recommended by one highly-respected man came. When they came to know that they would have to
serve directly in Slavyansk and not in their Artyomovsk and that the term is not limited to a few days, they didn't even
get weapons.
The story repeated yesterday. From the 35 volunteers arrived from Donetsk, listened to the sounds of faraway mortar
bombardment and found out that they couldn't go home together with the received weapons in three days, 25 safely went
home. Perhaps, they went to complain for hard conditions they hadn't felt a minute and to tell about their heroism
appeared in a passenger bus. And these are not the only cases. We face this regularly.
Still being in Crimea, I had to hear the stories from the activists of people's movement that “as soon as miners rise,
they tear everybody with bare hands”. Well, maybe once it was so. But now it's still not observed. Dozens and hundreds
of people have stood in line and fight. Tens and hundreds of thousands quietly watch this on TV, sipping beer. Perhaps
they are waiting when the army capable to do everything for them launches from consanguineous Russia or when enough
crazy volunteers come who a ready to die for their right to live a decent life instead of that they have been existing
for 23 years under the power of Ukrainian nationalists.
Where are those 27 thousand volunteers, which magazines are writing about? I don't see them. To come home and to tell
excited women with a proud look, “I signed up a volunteer!” is it all you are able to do? In our volunteer rank there
are more and more people who are more than 40. They grew up and got their education at the time of the USSR. But there
are very few young people. Where are they all, young healthy guys? Maybe they are in those bandit brigades who feeling
anarchy have rushed to loot the loot and to create chaos in all cities and towns of Donetsk area? Yes, the news about
the next “feats” comes to us every day.
And many failed militiamen demand weapons first of all to protect themselves from bandits and criminals in their own
houses. Well, their desire is reasonable. But the question is – how should militia commanders understand: who has come
for weapons to them? Whether it's an honest citizen or another bandit imitating a Donetsk patriot?
The answer we give sounds simple: only that one is considered to be a militiaman who personally participates in the
battle activities against the troops of junta as a part of a combat unit in the place and at the time his commanders
consider to be proper. Because there will be nothing without discipline – not only victory but order as well.
If everyone fights in the place he personally wants and as long as he wishes then Donetsk militia rapidly turns into
something between a bunches of disparate deserters and the gang of “father Angel” (a character of the Soviet movie “The
Adjutant of His Excellency”. – “NewsBalt”). But it won't be this way.
Only those who recommend themselves in combats with the enemy and recommend themselves in other combat tasks will
receive the right to establish order at their own homes in the ranks of the militia. And we'll establish this order, you
may have no doubts.
Let those who today set “under the roof” stores and enterprises, who sell drugs and simply rob the defenseless
population, let them all do not hope the game runs under the old rules and for the war emergency. An end of bandit
Donets Basin has come. The new power will give the opportunity to refuse the criminal craft to everybody. But those who
doesn't want is given a fitting rebuff – such kind of a rebuff which is impossible to pay off with any money,according
to the law of war.
I'll return to the main. Donetsk land needs protectors and the militia needs disciplined soldiers-volunteers. If men are
not capable to do it, we'll have to call women. From today I have given the order to take them into the militia. It's a
real pity, that there are no officers among women – neither acting nor from reserve.
But what's the difference if men-officers don't come to us at all. In the entire region we haven't yet found a couple of
dozens military men ready to head the fighting units. It's a darn shame!
For two weeks I've been asking to send me the chief staff and at least five companies' and platoons' commanders. There's
silence, there's no one. Privates and sergeants of reserve command companies and platoons. Some of them command really
not bad, but the further the more the absence of proper military knowledge is felt. Well, they learn after some time.
But I warn no one of so-called officers sitting in their apartments like scared sparrows under the roof during thunder
having not joined the ranks of militia, in our eyes is ever considered to be an officer. We'll take care to make
ordinary citizens share our opinion.
Perhaps, there are just a few days left until the battle activities still running without especial bitterness expand to
a scale of a true battle with dozens and hundreds of killed and wounded.
The enemy is demoralized but still very strong. He has sponsors-oligarchs ready to pay enormous money for each murder,
for each ruined house, for each crime against Russian nation. To win him we need to fight.
Let those citizens who are able to hear me and prove the faithfulness to his land and his people, arrive at the
headquarters of the militia in the cities: Slavyansk, Kramatorsk, Krasniy Liman, Konstantinovka, and Gorlovka.
There the commanders appointed by me will form marching units, organize training and when they are ready send them to
the army. And let it still looks as not large, not well-organized partisan detachment, it fights and will win.
Walk and yes hall reach. God and truth are together with us!
Thank you.
ENDS