In my post #1, I stated if was from Girkin's channel on May 16. Popasna was taken by Russian May 7/8, a week earlier. Other than forming a salient into Ukrainian territory, which is bad enough, there is nothing particularly strategic about its location.
Girkin was writing about the overall situation in the Donetsk as he saw it. As I already stated in my first post, he is the Minister of Defense of the Donetsk People's Republic, and is the best position to know the overall picture in his area. He did not mention Popasna nor any of dozens other minor or major places. He was not writing about them so he did not mention them.
it would be interesting to see how easily people with questionable morals like Girkin can be bought off.
Look him up. He can't be bought off. He chose his side a long time ago.
Russian, LPR forces control situation in Popasnaya - head of Chechnya
Ramzan Kadyrov once again called on Ukrainian forces to lay down their weapons
GROZNY, May 5. /TASS/. The situation in the town of Popasnaya, Lugansk People’s Republic, is under control of Russian and LPR forces, head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov said in his Telegram channel Thursday.
“The situation in Lugansk People’s Republic town of Popasnaya is under control of Russian forces and LPR military units. […] The town is located on an elevation, and so Ukrainian bandit units cling to every meter of favorable and perfectly fire-swept position,” Kadyrov said.
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Popasnaya is an important point for advancing the Eastern cauldron from the south.