d_taddei2 wrote:Just a thought I think Russia could utilise military police, cossack paramilitary units (25k approx),and possibly conscripts in Liberated areas freeing up contract soldiers to the frontline. De facto conscripts wouldn't be on frontline but providing additional policing and help with aid distribution, provide security on key infrastructure, and check points. I see nothing wrong with these three types of units being used as this, they would also benefit from the experience.
- Russia is using military police in some areas. Exactly for policing, order and handing out humanitarian aid
- Conscripts are being asked to sign contracts apparently, but it's their choice. I suspect some conscripts are still involved in the operation anyway, at least in rear areas or logistics.
- Short-term military contracts are being offered to any volunteers with military experience, they plan to get several dozen thousand troops that way
- There is a Cossack regiment as part of the DNR or LNR armed forces, although it's a local one. The actual Cossack paramilitaries in Russia haven't been mobilized to my knowledge. But they can sign those short-term contracts and join the war that way.
- The main allied force on the ground is the DNR/LNR, but as I heard, many aren't keen on advancing past the Donbass borders. These are a mix of professionals and a rapidly levied male population. In regards to the later, some have already been transfered to around Kharkov, Chernigov, Kherson, even Kiev. There they're functioning as auxiliaries and helping establish a presence, although they're taking losses there too.
There is the possibility of a peace deal on the table, if the Ukraine becomes a neutral country. It's proposing to postpone the issue of Donbass and the Crimea for 15 years. Which basically means 15 years to become a pro-Russian country. That seems to be where the negotiations are gradually going.
A different question however is whether the West will let the Ukraine do this, and if its elites have enough independence to agree to this in the first place.
I'm skeptical due to this issue. And also about the issue of Kherson, Melitopol, Berdyansk, Energodar, other places - where local administrations have already been formed or agreed to co-operate with Russia. If the same regime returns there, there will be a lot of reprisals.
Last edited by flamming_python on Wed Mar 30, 2022 6:44 pm; edited 1 time in total