Western media headlined it. The New York Times said “Ukraine Push Against Rebels Grinds to a Halt.” Things “unraveled in disarray.”

An “entire contingent of 21 armored vehicles…surrendered or pull(ed) back…It was a glaring humiliation for the new government in Kiev. (Events) underscored (its) weakness.”

The Wall Street Journal said “Ukraine’s Efforts to Regain Control of East Sputter.” Locals “halted army columns.”

“The faltering ‘antiterrorist’ operation, launched a day earlier, leaves the government looking increasingly powerless in the face of separatists who are holding government buildings in as many as 10 cities close to the Russian border.”

“The stumbling start underscored difficulties faced by the new government…(It) leaves Kiev with narrowing options.”

“(M)uster(ing) more force…risk(s) further undermining its already shaky legitimacy in the east, as residents accuse it of sending soldiers against unarmed civilians.”

BBC headlined “Ukraine crisis: Armored vehicle(s) ‘rebranded as Russian.”

Russian flags were hoisted. Weapons were surrendered. Soldiers joined locals.

One resident asked: “Why did you come to our land? Why are you driving over our fields? We are peaceful people! And we just want our demands to be respected!”

Reuters said “pro-Moscow separatists took control of some of their armored vehicles and crowds surrounded another column, forcing the troops to hand over the pins from their rifles and retreat.”

Other reports highlighted elite Ukrainian units defecting. They refused to attack unarmed civilians.

Ukrainian forces were lied to. They were ordered to wage an “anti-terrorism operation.” One soldier perhaps spoke for others saying:

They were told “Russian invaders who have taken the local population hostage are waging war at us.” Orders said “free Donbas from occupants.”

“This morning, we started our attack, but the picture we saw (in Slavyansk and Kramatorsk) turned out to be completely different.”

“We saw in front of us a crowd of locals, mostly adults, women and men.”

“They explained to us that there are no occupants here and there is no one to fight. Instead, they gave us food and talked to us.”

Dozens of soldiers vowed “not to follow orders and shoot at these people.” Some sided with residents. Others stayed neutral.

APCs hoisted Russian flags. Elite units refused to obey orders. They fraternized with residents. They surrendered their weapons.

Following negotiations in Slavyansk, around 300 Ukrainian soldiers refused to fight. They agreed to go home. Locals cheered.

Mainstream media lied. They didn’t seize armored vehicles and weapons. Soldiers switched sides peacefully. A Slavyansk activist said:

“…Ukrainian troops arrived here flying a Russian flag. (T)hey have taken the side of the people.”