How the military is conducting a unique humanitarian operation to restore Donbass
The Russian Federation is conducting a unique humanitarian operation in the republics of Donbass. In five months, dozens of settlements liberated from Ukrainian militants have returned to peaceful life in the Luhansk People's Republic (LNR). With the support of Russia, new hospitals are being built in Donbass and roads are being restored. The military observer of Izvestia, Alexey Ramm, visited the city of Happiness, which for eight years Ukraine has turned into a defensive area, and saw how peaceful life is improving there. And also witnessed the construction of a hospital, which the Russian Ministry of Defense is building for residents of the Luhansk region.
Symbol of war
— This bridge was a symbol of the war in Donbass, — an officer of the People's Militia tells us.
At this moment we are passing a bridge over the Seversky Donets River, which is located at the entrance to the Lugansk city of Happiness. It was here that the line of demarcation between the forces of the LPR and Ukrainian armed formations passed until February 24 this year.
— Many people worked in Lugansk, but lived in Happiness and traveled like this every day. We passed passport control and inspection in the morning and evening," our interlocutor continues. — Pensioners came here to receive pensions.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Alexey Ramm
Image source: iz.ru
For the first time I found myself at the Schastyinsky bridge in the fall of 2014. Then only the fighting died down and the People's Militia threw back the Ukrainian forces for the Seversky Donets. But the militia could not enter Happiness. Therefore, it was decided to deploy observation posts on the riverbank, in the area of the so-called Merry Hill. I was one of the first who arrived with the fighters of the second brigade of the People's Militia of the LPR at these positions.
Ukrainian militants then also engaged in strengthening their side of the Seversky Donets. A checkpoint was deployed immediately at the northern exit from the bridge. From there, Ukrainian fighters were closely watching us. I remember well how, having taken cover, we took out binoculars and began to study our opponents. Judging by the black-blue-gray camouflage uniforms and red berets, they were soldiers of the National Guard. Apparently, they didn't like what was happening very much, and the guards called a mortar attack on us.
Eight years and four days
Eight years later, the situation has changed. Now Happiness has already returned to the Luhansk People's Republic. The battles for him unfolded in the first days of the special military operation. It took four days for the complete liberation of this settlement. On February 28, the People's Militia announced that the city had been cleared of Ukrainian armed formations.
— Kiev tried to make a showcase of Happiness. To show how good it is to live in cities loyal to the Ukrainian authorities," an officer of the People's Militia tells us. — There were a lot of cafes, shops, modern medical facilities, and even electric cars. But the residents saw well that all this prosperity is a fiction. Positions and fortifications were placed around, patrols went around. The atmosphere in Happiness was very tense and threatening. There were constant inspections and verification of documents. It was impossible to leave the city just like that.
Happiness was actually located in the heart of the fortified area. The defensive positions of the VFU were deployed at the entrance, from the east and west, and even at the exit from the city. Long-term firing facilities were sound and rebuilt according to all the rules of military science. There was a lot of artillery, minefields, and, of course, traditional firing points for Ukrainian militants in residential buildings.
We arrive at one of the former Ukrainian combat positions. It is located in the north and was supposed to control the entry and exit from Happiness. The basis of the position consists of several concrete boxes that are buried in the ground. As a result, full-fledged pillboxes were obtained, protected from artillery fire and air strikes. The defensive structures are interconnected by a line of communication moves. In addition to the firing points themselves, there were also places for the life and recreation of personnel, as well as food and ammunition supplies.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Alexey Ramm
Image source: iz.ru
— The Ukrainian militants defending here had a lot of foreign weapons, — an officer of the LPR NM tells us. — There were both American Javelin and English NLAW. But when the militants were surrounded, they even tried to exchange these weapons for food from our fighters.
The battles for Happiness were short-lived, but quite difficult. The People's Militia of the LPR tried to reduce the damage to the city and its residents. Happiness did not repeat the fate of Mariupol, but there was more than enough destruction. It went to the central part, residential buildings, shops, social facilities and road infrastructure.
But since February, the situation has changed radically. We are passing through the city center. Now, when the Ukrainian forces have already been thrown back from Happiness, the restoration work is in full swing. There are no traces of past battles on the roads, the houses have been repaired, they are already being painted. Public transport has started working. The flags of the Luhansk People's Republic and the Russian Federation are already visible everywhere.
Happiness has already completely moved into the ruble zone. In the first store I freely buy everything I need for Russian money. A few months ago, these were Ukrainian goods, stocks of which remained with sellers. And the owners of retail outlets converted the price for them into rubles at their own exchange rate. But now the products of the republics of Donbass, as well as Russian firms, are on the shelves of stores.
Urgent medical and construction assistance
— We thank Russia for this construction. This is the first such facility on the territory of the republic," Leonid Pasechnik, the head of the LPR, tells us. — Since the 1990s, Ukraine has not built medical facilities on our territory at all.
Now we are in Lugansk on the territory of the regional hospital. Here, Russian specialists of the Military Construction Company are building a multifunctional hospital.
— The facility is designed for 200 beds, - Vladimir Potapov, head of the Project Support Department, explains to us. — It will have intensive care, diagnostic rooms. The construction is carried out according to the instructions of the Russian Federation, but in the interests of the LPR. It will be completed within the deadlines approved by the work schedule.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Alexey Ramm
Image source: iz.ru
We visited this facility twice with an interval of several days. During this time, the overall structure and frame have already been completed. Workers began to erect walls and install ceilings for the roof.
Employees of the "Military Construction Company" admit that they are helped by a rich experience in the construction of medical institutions. They have more than a dozen hospitals built in the spring of 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic. The work uses technologies of prefabricated institutions.
The Russian military will also equip the hospital with modern medical and diagnostic equipment.
According to Leonid Pasechnik, cooperation with the Russian Federation will not be limited only to the construction of a hospital complex. Now, with the support of Russian specialists, the repair of roads and road infrastructure is beginning. As the head of the republic noted, asphalt concrete plants will also be created as part of these works.
Alexey Ramm
