MOSCOW (RT/RIA Novosti) – During its conflict with Russia, Ukraine has been relying on a U.S.-developed doctrine that involves both the military and civilians taking part in defensive activities, CNN has reported.
The Resistance Operating Concept (ROC), which is said to provide a blueprint for smaller states to counter larger powers, was developed in 2013 in response to Russia’s conflict with Georgia in 2008. It was further enhanced after Crimea’s “nearly bloodless” reunification with Moscow in 2014, which “stunned Ukraine and the West,” CNN said.
The ROC represents “an innovative and unconventional approach to warfare and total defense”, and guides the actions not only of the Ukrainian military, but also the civilian population.
“It’s all hands on deck in terms of the comprehensive defense for the government of Ukraine,” explained retired Lt. Gen. Mark Schwartz, who was in charge of Special Operations Command Europe during the development of the concept.
“They’re using every resource and they’re also using some highly unconventional means by which to disrupt the Russian Federation military,” he added.
Schwartz said it was “just incredible to watch… despite the unbelievable loss of life and sacrifice, what the will to resist and the resolve to resist can do”.
Explosions at Russia’s military facilities in Crimea – far from the front line in Donbass – earlier in August were signs that the ROC had been in play, claimed Kevin D. Stringer, a retired army colonel who led the development team for the concept.
Meanwhile, according to another report, the Pentagon signed a $182-million deal with U.S. arms manufacturer Raytheon to produce NASAMS (National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems) for the Ukrainian military.
The work on short-and medium-range air defense weaponry will be conducted at Raytheon’s facilities in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, with an estimated completion date of August 23, 2024, the U.S. Department of Defense said in a statement.
Earlier this week, U.S. President Joe Biden announced yet another military aid package for Ukraine amid its conflict with Russia. At $2.98 billion it is the largest to date, and will include six NASAMS systems.
The military assistance will be funded as part of the so-called Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), meaning the hardware will be specifically produced for Kiev, and not taken from U.S. stocks.
The Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday that Kiev has shelled the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant (ZNPP) again to create a threat of a nuclear disaster.
“The Kiev regime continues provocations in order to create a threat of a technogenic nuclear catastrophe at the ZNPP. Over the past day, two incidents of shelling of the NPP’s territory by artillery units of the Ukrainian armed forces were recorded,” the ministry told reporters, RIA Novosti reported.
The ministry clarified that a total of nine shells were fired, three of which fell in the area of a special building of the ZNPP, which stores new TVEL nuclear fuel and solid radioactive waste. Consequently, pipelines were damaged by shell fragments.
As a result of the second strike, one shell fell next to the ZNPP’s sixth power unit, and five others landed opposite the sixth block pumping station, which provides cooling of the reactor.