In late April, 2016, the delegation of experts of the Independent Analytical Centre for Geopolitical Studies “Borysfen Intel” headed by Vice-President of the Center, PhD in Military Science, Associate Professor, Lieutenant-General (ret.) Yuriy Radkovets visited the Republic of Croatia at the invitation of the management of the “Dr. Franjo Tuđman” Defence Academy (Zagreb) and the “Croatian Generals Choir” (“Hrvatski Generalski Zbor”).
During the visit, Yu. Radkovets met with the Commandant of the Croatian Defence Academy “Dr. Franjo Tuđman”, Lieutenant General Slavko Barić, and the Chairman of the “Croatian Generals Choir” veteran organization, General (ret.) Pavao Miljavac — former Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia (1996-1998).
Lieutenant-General S. Barić spoke briefly about the history of the Academy, specifics of the training of specialists (he also reminded that in early 2000 officers for Ukrainian Armed Forces were trained at the Academy), and also shared the plans for further development of the Academy's international military cooperation in the sphere of military education.
With regard to the nature and content of Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine, namely Russia's occupation of the Ukrainian Crimea and a part of the Eastern territory of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, Lieutenant-General S. Barić pointed out the significant similarity of the character of Russia's aggressive actions to military operations of “Greater Serbia forces” against Croatia, which were actively conducted in 1991-1995. In this context, in his opinion, it would be highly appropriate and necessary to carry out two-way exchange of experience of the liberation struggle in the conditions of modern wars of the new generation (the so-called “hybrid wars”). At this, he pointed out the Academy's potential and willingness to continue to train Ukrainian military specialists.
Chairman of the veterans' organization “Croatian Generals Choir” General Pavao Miljavac, referring to the experience of Croatia's military actions against the “Greater Serbia forces” in the Patriotic War of 1991-1995 in Croatia, emphasized the relevance and importance of information exchange between the Ukrainian and Croatian sides in today's situation of Russia's military aggression against Ukraine.
Yu. Radkovets thanked Lieutenant General S. Barić for the invitation and told about the activities of the Independent Analytical Centre for Geopolitical Studies “Borysfen Intel”, its tasks, the latest research developments and publications in the sphere of national (including military and military-political) security and directions of work within the framework of joint projects with partners.
Later, Vice-President of “Borysfen Intel” Yu. Radkovets lectured for teachers and students of the Academy, as well as representatives of the “Croatian Generals Choir”veterans' organization on “Russia's Armed Aggression against Ukraine: Peculiarities of the Preparation and Conduct; New Challenges and Threats”.
The richness (see the content of the lecture) and peculiarities of the preparation and conduct of Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine, the lecture aroused a genuine interest of those present.
Actually, this was confirmed by many questions and comparisons with the peculiarities of Croatia's Patriotic War of 1991-1995. (Croatian — Domovinski rat — Patriotic War) which in fact did not stop until 1998 and was a defensive war for the independence and integrity of the Croatian state against the aggression of the united “Greater Serbian forces”: Serbian extremists (separatists) in Croatia; volunteers and mercenaries from Serbia and Montenegro, as well as the military forces of the former Yugoslav People's Army of the Union. As it is known, the result of the Patriotic War of 1991-1995 in Croatia became the state independence of the Republic of Croatia over its entire territory.
The questions of those present at the lecture concerned Ukraine's strategy of actions in terms of military and political (diplomatic) and purely security confronting the Russian side, as well as peculiarities of tactical actions of Ukraine's different power structures in combat actions against Russian-separatist (Russian-terrorist) forces within Ukraine's anti-terrorist operation.
After the lecture “Russia's Armed Aggression against Ukraine: Peculiarities of the Preparation and Conduct; New Challenges and Threats”, all the present got its printed version, as well as other publications of the Independent Analytical Centre for Geopolitical Studies “Borysfen Intel”.
Then there were bilateral meetings of the Ukrainian delegation with the leaders of the veterans' organization “Croatian Generals Choir” — former Chief of the Military Intelligence of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia, Brigadier General Ivan Pokaz and Deputy Chairman of the “Croatian Generals Choir”veterans' organization — former Commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia, Lieutenant-General Josip Čuletić.
The results of the working visit of the delegation of experts of the Independent Analytical Centre for Geopolitical Studies “Borysfen Intel” to the Croatian Defence Academy “Dr. Franjo Tuđman”, and the leading veterans' organization “Croatian Generals Choir”demonstrated the feasibility of and the need for practical development of contacts with representatives of the Armed Forces and veterans' organizations of the Republic of Croatia in terms of learning experience (as well as sharing experience) of counteracting both, domestic separatist forces and a foreign aggression in the struggle for independence, territorial integrity and the European perspective of the state.
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The lecture “Russia's Armed Aggression against Ukraine: Peculiarities of the Preparation and Conduct;
New Challenges and Threats”
To buy the lecture contact the Independent Analytical Centre for Geopolitical Studies “Borysfen Intel”:
Phone: +38(044) 221-08-90
E-mail: [email protected]
