Prague - “In a way, Afghanistan is more predictable for us than the east of Ukraine,” said Czech rapid response police unit (URNA) head Libor Lochman in an interview with Aktualne.cz. The URNA unit, whose responsibilities include anti-terrorism, has been or still is active in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, or Nigeria.

“This may sound paradoxical to some people, but at present we really have better knowledge of Afghanistan than of the situation in the eastern part of Ukraine... For example, the 'bad guys' do not walk the streets with assault weapons in plain sight. On the contrary, they always ambush. And it is usually clear who is the 'good guy'. But I do not even want to comment on who are the 'bad guys' and the 'good guys' in Ukraine.”

Expert: Russia would have hard time occupying Ukraine

NATO approaches Czech Republic over boosting military presence in Eastern Europe

“All this is very strange and intricate. It is very difficult to assess the situation. Possibly, this is also because there are way too many players in Ukraine.”

“I am afraid that the 'unrest' (in Ukraine) will not go away anytime soon. I think I can say this on the basis of my experience from the crisis zones my men have been active in. Especially when we are witnessing the defection of Ukrainian troops almost in a live television broadcast.”

“I am the director of the URNA anti-terrorist unit and the current situation in Ukraine is absolutely chaotic and unpredictable for me. When you tell me that a government building has been seized by terrorists, I know exactly what to do and what orders or advice to give to my men. But Ukraine? That is a puzzle.”

“These guys are no amateur guerillas who grab their grandfather's rifle and run to the barricades. For example even from the way they carry their weapons you can tell that they must have received a military training,” Lochman said about pro-Russian gunmen in Eastern Ukraine.

Follow us on Twitter!