Ghost Brigade commanders: ‘Come to front line’ to support Novorossiya’s future

January 12: When will the war be over? What should we expect? What is the situation at the front now?

These questions are probably asked by every inhabitant of Novorossiya, weary of enduring daily shelling of the territories near the front line.

There’s only one way to find answers to these questions – by speaking directly to high-ranking officers of the Ghost Brigade of Alexei Mozgovoi.

Alexey Gennadyevich Markov (callsign: Good) and Pyotr Arkadievich Biryukov (callsign: Arkadich) agreed to answer questions of interest to readers.

Recently, residents of Novorossiya have raised many issues related to the situation on the front line.  What would you like to highlight about the situation?

Arkadich: Looking to the future, I can tell you that this war is not over. Before me lies a journal summarizing events and incidents related to the situation at the front. The situation is not so terrible, but … No one is safe from a possible offensive by the enemy. Don’t underestimate the enemy forces. They will attack. When, it is not entirely clear: it could be in half an hour, a week, or a different period of time. Just because the war isn’t on television, doesn’t mean that it does not exist. A breakthrough by the enemy is possible, though unlikely. 

Nevertheless, we will not retreat. We simply do not have the right to do so. So, we will go to the end … and be sure to come out victorious. But, to our great regret, this doesn’t return the lost life or health of fighters who have suffered in this war – most recently “Chrome,” who lost a leg during the detonation of an enemy mine, when three soldiers were injured…

The APU [Armed Forces of Ukraine] suffered big losses, a large number of soldiers of the regular army of Ukraine were left, literally, laying near the minefields … Nobody can restore all these losses. Through our efforts, the Ukrainian soldiers were able to pick up the bodies of their dead colleagues. In any situation, even in times of war, there must be humanity. We do this…

Yes, it is still too early to talk about the end of the war, but we will make every effort to end it.

Many residents of Novorossiya are interested in the interaction of the Ghost Brigade with units of the People’s Militia of the Lugansk People’s Republic (LC) and respect for the principles of democracy. What is your point of view on this issue?

Arkadich: The Ghost is under the operational control of the commanders of the People’s Militia of the LC, which speeds up decision-making for tasks. So cooperation with the People’s Militia is normal for us.

Good: I would add: The Ghost Brigade of Alexei Mozgovoi is one of the volunteer units formed in the Lugansk People’s Republic. We have certain powers – the ability to accept a large number of foreign citizens and citizens of Russia into our ranks, as the Ghost Brigade has an international unit. There are a great number of ideologically-motivated fighters. Ghost is not included in the People’s Militia. But we are not a gang. We are a unit created and based on legal grounds.

Do you think things will change with the situation on the front line? In what way?

Good:  I don’t want to deceive the people of Novorossiya: this war may be prolonged for more than a year. Predicting something like this with certainty is extremely difficult. If the West and the Kiev junta deliberately delay aggression, that means it suits them. Their goal is not just to break the population of Donbass. Their goal is to start a war with Russia, to come armed into any home. But we will not allow them to do so. We have no moral right … So let’s zoom toward the hour of victory …

Arkadich: Today, many people worry about Novorossiya; there is a slight decline of faith in the idea: rumors of betrayal, a defeatist mood. In this regard, I want to tell them that during the fighting, we are unable to take part in the construction of a young and independent state. This is a very difficult task …

Good: So everyone who’s sitting on the couch, who wants to make recommendations on the structure of Novorossiya – we suggest to them — come to the village of Donetsk (on the front line – author), try to apply their knowledge in practice …

Arkadich: Right. If there is a desire, come visit the front line … and doubts about what’s happening will scatter.