The occupation authorities claim that residents of Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts were waiting for Russian troops and dreamed of joining the Russian Federation.
Similar propaganda messages are still being spread.However, the Russians do not tell about the partisan movement and support for the Armed Forces by locals in occupation.
TRYBUN journalist spoke with the representatives of "NASHY" movement and spokeswoman of the State Security Service of Ukraine in Donetsk and Luhansk oblast to know more about resistance in the occupation and activities of partisan movements in the occupied territories.
Local residents were "waiting" for Russia
Since 2014 the Russian authorities have been spreading propagandistic messages and claiming that the residents of Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts are waiting for reunification with the Russian Federation and the introduction of Russian troops.
In the news the occupiers demonstrate "happy life" in the so-called republics and gratitude for "liberation".
From February 21, 2022 in connection with the signing by Vladimir Putin Decree №. 71 "On Recognition of the Donetsk People's Republic" and Decree № 72 "About the recognition of the Luhansk People's Republic" the enemy continued propaganda, focusing on the desire of residents to receive "independence" and being under the armed protection of Russia."Luhansk Information Center" published on February 22, 2022 Iryna Andruh's speech who is the so-called member of the People's Council. It said the following: "The residents of the LPR were waiting and hoping that Russia would recognize independence and sovereignty of the Republic".
“I congratulate everyone on this wonderful holiday, which finally came to our Lugansk and Donetsk lands.We were waiting for this day, we hoped that it would come. And it happened, Russia recognized us. Our great, mighty, Orthodox power said: both the DPR and the LPR - they are ours, and we will not give them offense.”
The online news publication "Lenta.ru" also commented the expectations that the residents of Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts had regarding the "liberation" by Russian troops.There are 5 mini-interviews in the article "Ukraine is crumbling before our eyes." How did the residents of the DPR and LPR meet the Russian operation to protect Donbas" dated February 26, 2022 year".
For example, journalist from DonetskVladyslav Ugolny notes: “emotions are very complex now: at first there was joy, which turned into tense state... Three of my friends voluntarily joined active army. At the same time, at least two could easily avoid mobilization. But they are in a fighting mood. They want put an end to the war both at the political level and at the personal level. They want to liberate their cities controlled by Ukrainians.”
Former captain of the "People's Militia of the LPR" Ihor Mangushev shared, that "in my unit there were a lot of people from Schastiia and Stanytsia Luhanska.They looked at their house through binoculars for seven years and could not to return And now we are liberating this land, and their hopes are finally here come true".
The occupiers do not stop emphasizing that they are not supported by only adults, but also children.As reported by the Bloknot information site, the campaign "Give warmth to a soldier" is currently running in schools in occupied Luhansk.Schoolchildren take part in it - they write letters of gratitude to the militants and theirs parents - knit warm socks.
“Pupils, parents and staff of preschool educational organizations with the support of Women's Councils of kindergartens in Lugansk take part in the “Give Warmth to a Soldier” campaign.“Let a piece of our warmth warm our defenders! We express our great gratitude to everyone who responded,” the city Department of Education noted.
However, no matter how the Russian authorities try to talk about the satisfied residents of Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts because of the so-called liberation and
"calm and peaceful" life without Ukraine, the partisans are doing everything possible, to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine and help them liberate the territories.
Partisans vs Russian occupation
A partisan movement has been active in the occupied territories of Luhansk region and Donetsk oblasts since 2014.During the full-scale invasion, it intensified and more and more people joined to resist the Russian occupation.
"For security reasons, information about its participants is not distributed.After all, the occupiers can capture or execute people who help the Armed Forces of Ukraine", - spokeswoman of the State Security Service of Ukraine in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, Halina Pryshchepa, who helped the editors find out whether there is
interaction between the State Security Service and residents in the occupation.
"NASHY" movement
"NASHY" movement is one of the partisan movements that helps the Armed Forces of Ukraine identify the positions of the Russian troops in the occupation and help approach victory in any possible way.
It was created by a team patriotic enthusiasts from the occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.Its participants aim to unite the efforts of like-minded people: those who remained in the occupation and those who are in the territory of Ukraine, those who are fighting and those who help the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
"People should know that Donbas was, is and always will be Ukrainian.No one has forgotten about it, and Ukraine will definitely win. The occupiers must realize that they are not welcome here.During the years of occupation, the population has had enough of the Russian peace, people want to bring Ukraine back here," the representative of "NASHY" movement says.
According to the partisans, their task is to observe the occupiers in settlements and surroundings, to identify the location and, if possible, their number, weapons, equipment.
"We coordinate relevant information with representatives of the Defense Forces of Ukraine. Then we post it in our Telegram channel so that the enemy can see what do we know about him.For their part, the Defense Forces of Ukraine then conduct preliminary reconnaissance and act."
The representative of "NASHY" movement
also try to convey the truth to the residents of the occupied territories through social networks, leaflets and personal conversations.
"We are starting to cooperate with partisan groups that operate in the occupied territories of Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts.
They perform various tasks, in particular, they monitor Russian military personnel, collaborators and representatives of the occupation administration. Of course, they make "bavovna" for them We will also cover their activities on our channel." - a member of the movement comments.
On November 17, 2023, the partisans published data on the location of the occupiers and enemy equipment in Markivka, Luhansk oblast.On November 18, 2023, reconnaissance was conducted in Novotroitskе, Donetsk oblast.
"NASHY" movement continues its activities, and also calls to join,
to bring victory closer and destroy the invaders together.
"ATESH" movement
The ATESH military partisan movement was born in September 2022, during the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation into Ukraine.It includes Ukrainians, Crimean Tatars and Russians. With the motto "The Trojan horse has been launched", the partisans conduct their activities in the occupied territories of Ukraine and in the territories of the Russian Federation.
On the official Telegram channel "ATESH" on September 29, 2022, one of representatives said:“We are the Atesh underground movement, in which include Crimean Tatars, Ukrainians and Russians. We have mobilized in Russian army and we will destroy it from within.We will leak data from positions, warehouses, soldiers, and equipment. We will sabotage warehouses and headquarters. Every day there are more and more of us.”
The participants of the movement report on their activities in the Telegram channel, publishing photos and videos from the occupied territories, in particular Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts. For example, on November 11, 2023, "ATESH" shared the results of partisans' work in Luhansk.
“Our active work in Lugansk has brought successful results in sabotage operations against the occupiers. During the past week our agents managed to neutralize about 10 units of enemy equipment, and also eliminate 5 Russian soldiers who will never be able to get to the front line.”
What does the State Security Service of Ukraine say about the partisan movement?
"People in the temporarily occupied territories of Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts work with us. They provide coordinates of positions and locations of Russian troops, report on the number of military equipment and units that came from the Russian Federation, military units", - Halyna Pryshchepa, spokeswoman of the State Security Service of Ukraine in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts says.
She draws attention to the fact that the Yellow Ribbon movement is particularly active in the occupied territories. Residents are hanged in Luhansk and Donetsk (and not only) ribbons, which are a symbol of the fact that people under occupation are waiting for the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Ukraine.
Author: Yuliia Kanzeba
