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Little green men (Russo-Ukrainian War)

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Armed men without insignia (so-called "little green men") in Simferopol Airport, February 28, 2014
"Little green men" at Perevalne military base, 25 kilometres south of Simferopol, March 9, 2014

Little green men (Russian: зелёные человечки,[nb 1] Ukrainian: зелені чоловічки) is an expression (internet meme) that refers to unmarked soldiers with Russian equipment. It was first used during the occupation of Crimea by Russian irregular forces in the beginning of 2014.[1] Due to the green colour of their uniforms and modern weaponry local people started to call them martians too.[2] An expert from Suomen Sotilas, a Finnish independent magazine, recognized them carrying a complete suite of equipment exclusive to Russian special forces, such as Pecheneg machine guns.[3]

Russian Minister of Defence Sergey Shoygu dubbed the unknown soldiers Polite people (Russian: Вежливые люди, Ukrainian: Ввічливі люди).[4][5]

Official Russian reaction

At first President of Russia Vladimir Putin stated that the men in green were not part of Russian Armed Forces, but groups of local militia who had obtained their weapons from Ukrainians.[6] The SACEUR of NATO Allied Command Operations General Philip Breedlove on the other hand asserted that these "green men" were in fact Russian troops.[7]

In March 2014 Putin continued to back the Russian viewpoint,[8][9] stating "the heavily armed, tightly co–ordinated groups who took over Crimea's airports and ports at the start of the incursion – they were merely spontaneous "self-defence groups" who may have acquired their Russian-looking uniforms from local [military] shops (voyentorg)".[10][11] According to the Ukrainian Gun Owners Association, Ukrainian law does not allow the selling or carrying of firearms other than for hunting.[12] Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Radosław Sikorski has asked Putin to provide him with the address of a shop, in Ukraine or in Russia, where one can purchase "Buk", T-64 tank, anti-aircraft missile system "Strela".[13][14]

On April 17 president Putin admitted for the first time publicly that Russian special forces were involved in the events of Crimea, for the purposes of protecting local people and creating conditions for a referendum.[15][16][17][18][19][20]

Russian Minister of Defence Sergey Shoygu answered on the question about the presence of Russian troops in Crimea that "Regarding the statements about use of Russian special forces in Ukrainian events, I can only say one thing — it's hard to search for a black cat in a dark room, especially if it's not there," and added cryptically that searching for the cat would be "stupid" if the cat is "intelligent, brave, and polite",[21][22] from where the expression "polite men" came into being too.

Reappearance in Donbass

Further information: Russian military intervention in Ukraine

During the War in Donbass a Reuters correspondent reported from a settlement of Kolosky in Donetsk Oblast on the 26th of August 2014 that dozens of heavily-armed strangers with Russian accents have appeared at the weekend and set up a road block (about 10 kilometres from Russian border).[23][24]

The men had white arm bands, the same identifying mark that was worn by 10 men captured a few kilometers (miles) away by Ukrainian forces and who, in a video released on Tuesday (26 August 2014), said they were Russian paratroopers.[23] A report by the BBC referred to the unmarked Russian forces in the Donbass as a "Ghost Army".[25]

Another witness, Alexei, who was in Kolosky on Monday (25 of August 2014), said that the armed men, when asked who they were, told residents only that they had come "to protect them".[23]

Expansion to Moldova

In September 2014 "little green men" started to appear also in Moldova, recruiting and teaching young people to prepare for reinsertion.[26][27]

Possible appearance in Latvia

The Minister of Defense of Latvia Raimonds Vējonis promised to shoot the little green men if they won't act peacefully.[28]

Other appearances

Usage of unmarked troops is a standard tactics of Russian army in newly opening conflicts as it allows it to maintain plausible deniability during the period while the outcome is uncertain.

Main article: Battle of Grozny (November 1994)

Notes

  1. ^ The Russian word человечки is a diminutive from plural form of the word человек ('man'); besides that an expression зеленые людишки, that has almost similar meaning, is used too.

References

  1. ^ Shevchenko, Vitaly (March 11, 2014). ""Little green men" or "Russian invaders"?". www.bbc.com. BBC News Online. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  2. ^ Faith, Ryan (March 10, 2014). "The Russian Soldier Captured in Crimea May Not Be Russian, a Soldier, or Captured". Vice News. Vice News. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  3. ^ Pulkki, Arto. "Crimea Invaded By High Readiness Forces Of The Russian Federation". Suomen Sotilas (Soldier of Finland). Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  4. ^ ""Вежливые люди" как новый образ Российской армии". RIA. May 16, 2014. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
  5. ^ "Харків, 13 липня. Напад на журналістку. Ввічливі люди…". maidanua.org. July 16, 2014. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
  6. ^ "Путін: В Криму діють не війська РФ, а "загони самооборони", які забрали зброю в українців". еспресо tv. March 4, 2014. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  7. ^ "Головнокомандувач НАТО у Європі вважає, що всі воєнізовані формування у Криму є армією РФ". РБК Україна. March 12, 2014. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  8. ^ Putin does not rule out intervention if chaos takes over Ukraine. El País. 4 March 2014
  9. ^ Crimean crisis: Putin gives interview. Handelsblatt. 4 March 2014
  10. ^ Putin offers Ukraine olive branches delivered by Russian tanks. The Guardian. 4 March 2014
  11. ^ Ukraine: Putin blows hot and cold. Le Figaro. 4 March 2014
  12. ^ Ukrainian Gun Owners Association: free people carry weapon, slaves do not. Resource center Hurt. 11 January 2012
  13. ^ "Radosław Sikorski: niech Putin powie, w którym sklepie można kupić wyrzutnie Buk" (in Polish). Wiadomosci. July 29, 2014. Retrieved August 5, 2014.
  14. ^ Сикорский попросил Путина показать ему магазин, где можно купить "Бук" (in Russian). UNIAN. July 28, 2014. Retrieved August 5, 2014.
  15. ^ Путин: в Крыму действовали российские военные www.svoboda.org, 17.04.2014.
  16. ^ Putin’s remarks raise fears of future moves against Ukraine The Washington Post, April 17, 2014.
  17. ^ "President of Russia". eng.kremlin.ru. June 1, 2010. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
  18. ^ Совет при Президенте РФ / Проблемы жителей Крыма, retrieved 2014-06-15.
  19. ^ Gregory, Paul Roderick (May 5, 2014). "Putin's 'Human Rights Council' Accidentally Posts Real Crimean Election Results". www.forbes.com. Forbes. Retrieved June 30, 2014.
  20. ^ "Putin acknowledges Russian military serviceman were in Crimea". April 17, 2014. Putin had to touch upon the Crimea topic multiple times throughout his Q&A session. He emphasized that Russia did not acquire Crimea by force, but created, with the help of its special forces, conditions for Crimeans to decide upon their own future.
  21. ^ Шойгу о «зелёных человечках» на Украине: глупо искать чёрную вежливую кошку в тёмной комнате, «Московский комсомолец», 17.04.2014.
  22. ^ Kiev's claims over special forces 'resemble paranoia': Russia zeenews.india.com, May 17, 2014.
  23. ^ a b c Tsvetkova, Maria. "'Men in green' raise suspicions of east Ukrainian villagers". Orlando Sentinel.
  24. ^ Блокпост "зеленых человечков" насторожил жителей востока Украины (in Russian). Reuters. August 26, 2014. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
  25. ^ "MH17 disaster: Russians 'controlled BUK missile system'". BBC News. September 8, 2014. Retrieved September 8, 2014.
  26. ^ ""Зелені чоловічки" з'явилися на території Молдови - РНБО Детальніше читайте на УНІАН: http://www.unian.ua/world/960306-zeleni-cholovichki-zyavilisya-na-teritoriji-moldovi-rnbo.html". {{cite news}}: External link in |title= (help)
  27. ^ ""LITTLE GREEN MEN" RECRUIT AND TRAIN YOUNG PEOPLE FROM MOLDOVA, TOO – EX-DEPUTY MINISTER". InfoTag.
  28. ^ Minister of Defense of Latvia promised to shoot the little green men. Ukrayinska Pravda. 11 September 2014

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