Abandoned Russian base holds secrets of Putin's military plans in Ukraine

When Russian troops fled the Ukrainian town of Balakliia in September, they left behind thousands of documents that detail the inner workings of the Russian war machine. In September 2022, Russian forces fled the Ukrainian town of Balakliia. But they left their traces everywhere. One of them is this abandoned building, which the Russians used as a military base during their occupation of Balakliia. It was here that Reuters discovered thousands of documents revealing the inner workings of the Russian military.

Now this video seems to be about the closest thing to the truth we may ever get to see. Recommended viewing. Just in case any lingering doubts remain of Russian incompetence, lack of supply, and the terrible state of the Russian conventional war machine. This video spells it out pretty well, and extra steps were taken to confirm the authenticity of the documents.

How strange that Russians would leave such damaging documents behind. It obviously couldn't have been accidental, but I have to wonder if incompetence is really the answer. What else it could be, I have no clue.

a reply to: TrueAmerican

Forgive me if I'm a bit sceptical of Reuters™ finding these documents and/or Russia leaving them behind.

Reuters found them? Yea Ok.

Next up CNN finds cache of Putin's pee porn...

a reply to: nugget1

I agree that it makes no sense why they did not destroy the documents as they left, unless they were left there intentionally as misdirection. However, if it was misdirection, I would expect them to be more selective about what was left behind and not just leave personal journals lying about.

I vote that they left in a hurry and someone forgot to light the match.

a reply to: TrueAmerican

Those pesky Russkies.
It is not 1963,maybe you are unaware of that?

a reply to: MykeNukem

'Hurry! We only have a month to type these all up and wrinkle them! You get paid $.05 a word! '

Lol so convenient

More propaganda to make Russia look incompetent. Like the time Russia destroyed those cell phone towers in Ukraine only to make their satellite phones inoperable. Their "satellite" phones, you can't make this **** up.Source

Only propagandized fools continue to believe this stuff.

a reply to: TrueAmerican

This is a hard one to believe unless they were actually fleeing and had no time to simply set up a 55 gallon drum or two to burn the crap. It would not take too long to burn even a room full of documents / memos.

I mean, unless they are even worse than mid 80's Soviets, it is hard to believe they made this mistake.


But then, who knows... .we left billions in equipment in Afghanistan for the Taliban which was inexcusable.

a reply to: nugget1

How strange that Russians would leave such damaging documents behind.

most cowards when their anus is puckered up tight, lose all train of thought when it comes time to run.

originally posted by: infolurker
a reply to: TrueAmerican

This is a hard one to believe unless they were actually fleeing and had no time to simply set up a 55 gallon drum or two to burn the crap. It would not take too long to burn even a room full of documents / memos.

I mean, unless they are even worse than mid 80's Soviets, it is hard to believe they made this mistake.


But then, who knows... .we left billions in equipment in Afghanistan for the Taliban which was inexcusable.

If left behind, it was intentional. No different than our equipment in Afghanistan.

If intentional, it could be a sign of the true lack of support this conflict has inside of Russia.

Entirely possible it’s fabricated, however. Reuters isn’t the source of truth on much other than the official narrative.

Same crap as the passport found after the 2001 WTC …they want to show us some proofs

a reply to: TrueAmerican

IMO there are two possible reasons why Russian forces left behind the documents in a sloppy manner. First, when the Ukrainian counter-offensive routed Russian troops, they failed to burn the paperwork. Second, the Russians planned or attempted a deception operation for an unknown purpose. But most likely, the documentation covers routine administrative matters related to Russian institutional corruption and lousy supply and logistics for the Balakliia garrison.

originally posted by: infolurker
a reply to: TrueAmerican

This is a hard one to believe unless they were actually fleeing and had no time to simply set up a 55 gallon drum or two to burn the crap. It would not take too long to burn even a room full of documents / memos.

I mean, unless they are even worse than mid 80's Soviets, it is hard to believe they made this mistake.


But then, who knows... .we left billions in equipment in Afghanistan for the Taliban which was inexcusable.

Big fires make big (a lot of) smoke.

Big smoke makes a good target. Not good when the enemy is rapidly closing in on your position.


And, of course, we are assuming they (believed) that they had (diesel) fuel to spare.

a reply to: TrueAmerican
It doesn't seem like super important stuff was left behind.
Not to say some of the stuff they found isn't useful .
The really important stuff was probably destroyed
in a timely manner by those who were authorized to
Receive and view it. That is taken quite seriously.

As an example, my dad served in Korea in the U.S. army
just after the war. He told me that an enlisted soldier
was destroying some documents in a burn barrel,
and an unauthorized officer approached him.
The enlisted soldier drew his firearm and warned
the officer not to come closer.
Perhaps just the officer testing the dude.Who knows.
I would imagine though that it's pretty much
how the really important documents are handled
by any military .

When the Russian's claim to have found Ukrainian documents. It is all Russian propaganda. Now the Ukrainians claim the same thing. It is 100% gospel.