The European Parliament is accusing Russia of what it calls "acts of terrorism" in Ukraine.This thing in Ukraine is going to continue to spiral out of control and the chance for peace appears to be lost.
Meeting in Brussels, the European Union legislative body passed a resolution condemning what it called Russia's "aggressive and expansionist policy" and "the acts of terrorism and criminal behavior" by Russian-backed rebels in east Ukraine.
Ukraine is observing a day of national mourning for 13 bus passengers killed in a rocket attack Tuesday south of the rebel-controlled city of Donetsk. Kyiv has accused rebels of firing the rocket; Moscow lays blame on Ukrainian troops.
The EU Parliament also urged maintaining sanctions against Russia unless it meets a number of conditions, including respecting the cease-fire agreed to last September, unconditionally withdrawing its troops and "illegal armed groups" from the region, exchanging prisoners, and restoring Ukraine’s control over its territory, including Crimea. The parliament said the sanctions should be broadened in the event of further Russian actions "destabilizing" Ukraine.
Pro-Russia separatists sit atop a tank at a checkpoint north of Luhansk, eastern Ukraine, Jan. 14, 2015.
Also Thursday, separatist officials said they had nearly recaptured all of the Donetsk airport after a months-long battle. But Ukraine's military says it continues to control part of the largely ruined facility.
The fighting in eastern Ukraine has recently intensified, particularly in and around the airport. Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said Thursday that two servicemen had been killed and six wounded over the previous 24 hours.
Ukraine alleges massive Russian troop presence
Meanwhile, the secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, Oleksandr Turchynov says separatist forces in eastern Ukraine now number 36,000 troops, including 8,500 Russian military servicemen, and they are armed with 542 tanks, 990 armored fighting vehicles, 694 artillery systems and 57 anti-aircraft missile systems.
He also said that there are more than 52,000 Russian troops in a state of "full combat readiness" on the Ukrainian-Russian border, along with more than 300 tanks, 1,800 armored fighting vehicles, 750 artillery systems and up to 360 warplanes and attack helicopters.
Turchynov warned that "the renewal of hostilities by the enemy on a large scale," and with the participation of Russia's armed forces, could lead to what he called "a continental war on a large scale."
Get out the body bags.
I said Ukraine was going to get nasty. That wasn't strong enough. This thing is going to be filthy. Is anyone seriously working to solve this problem?
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-01-15/ukraine-president-signs-mobilization-decree-50000-be-drafted
ReplyDeleteAs UA Today reports, 50 000 servicemen will be drafted to the frontline in eastern Ukraine
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has issued a decree mobilising 50,000 servicemen to the frontline in eastern Ukraine.
Those eligible will receive notice papers calling them to service as soon as the Ukrainian parliament approves the measure.
The Ministry of Defense plans to draft healthy men and women, preferably with military experience. Tank operators, artillerymen, reconnaissance scouts and messengers aged 25 to 60 are in high demand.
Volodymyr Talalay, Major General: "We are not planning to draft untrained men for positions that require military efficiency. Military leaders are looking for those who have already been in the army or those who can serve within civilian professions."
Combat trainings for servicemen will take 10-15 days. Ministry of Defense officials say this timeframe is adequate to acquire combat skills and replace those soldiers who will be rotated out.
@As UA Today reports, 50 000 servicemen will be drafted to the frontline in eastern Ukraine@
DeleteIt is only the modest beginning. Ukrainians report intention to draft about 200 000 this year at all.
Is this the sign that russia will resort to overt support for east ukraine people ?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-01-14/russia-cuts-ukraine-gas-supply-6-european-countries
Vladimir Putin ordered the Russian state energy giant Gazprom to cut supplies to and through Ukraine amid accusations, according to The Daily Mail, that its neighbor has been siphoning off and stealing Russian gas. Due to these "transit risks for European consumers in the territory of Ukraine," Gazprom cut gas exports to Europe by 60%, plunging the continent into an energy crisis "within hours." Perhaps explaining the explosion higher in NatGas prices (and oil) today, gas companies in Ukraine confirmed that Russia had cut off supply; and six countries reported a complete shut-off of Russian gas. The EU raged that the sudden cut-off to some of its member countries was "completely unacceptable," but Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller later added that Russia plans to shift all its natural gas flows crossing Ukraine to a route via Turkey; and Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak stated unequivocally, "the decision has been made."
As Bloomberg reports,
The very worst thing that can happen to not only Ukraine but EU as a whole is if this situation evolves into a Kashmir Type scenario. No clear winners/losers.....just 2 Govt.'s sitting pretty on what they have conquered with small skirmishes happening every now and then. This war will be better off with a clear winner/loser even if that means letting Russia win.
ReplyDeleteThe reason it is going to be bad for all of EU and not just Ukraine alone is that at regular intervals.....Russian gas, raw material exports, western diplomatic activity in other world spheres will be scuppered by the Russians everytime they feel like whipping up the Ukrainians. Every small skirmish will become an excuse to torpedo economic/diplomatic activity of EU. Ukrainian soldiers just got a lot less "expendable".
This situation showed what the russians can do when sanctioned by the EU+US...nothing.
DeleteMaybe the after this the hypocrites from the EU will learn who they're dealing with and cut the crap with telling some members to be "careful" with russia.
btw, your post looks like something from russia today...no offence.
@btw, your post looks like something from russia today...no offence.@
DeleteYou right! A Kremlin’s troll, definitely! I feel an familiar soul…
Bgggg
to Sarabvir Singh
Delete@ Russia win.@
The question is – concrete content of the term. I guess in current situation we all win if “global conflict” which Turchinov calls will not happen. The pivot point –Y/N direct supply NATO’s weapon to Ukrainians. The next pivot point - Y/N direct participation of Western military in the conflict. Not obliged to be official NATO’s forces – large scale mercs or “no-marks-military”. The next pivot point - Y/N Russian nuke strike at Ukraine.
Any way Russia already won – we got Crimea, which deserves Nuke war as such but was taken only with several-men casualties. Damn Putin, I still can’t believe. Bggg
Russia Today.....and tomorrow...lol.
DeleteI was just saying that without a clear "Resolution" of this conflict.....wrong choice of words using "winner/loser". Without a clear Resolution of this conflict....this will become another Kashmir type stalemate where everytime someone tries to reoslve it or get closer to a settlement, all that needs to be done is a "grad" attack or a patrol ambush or any other small incident. That small incident will block bigger progress.
Hypothetical Eg.- World Bank or IMF moves to approve an EU level infrastructure or any EU level multi country business deal. Positive Effects of which might get felt in Ukraine. Russia sencing all of this will do some skirmish or poke Ukraine into a skirmish to avoid such a deal. Once skirmish escalates...then it will threaten to block gas supplies etc leaving the original IMF deal behind. Suddenly you will find a place where 5 dead Russian/Ukrainian soldiers will result in a multi billion deal getting blocked. Soldiers being less Expendable.
I know this is a hypothetical example for EU-Russia-Ukraine, but this is ground reality for India-Pakistan-China. Just google up China Blocking World Bank and Asian Development Bank to provide funds for developing Arunachal Pradesh...a territory we Indians dispute with China and has no resolved/internationally recognized border.
Does the EU want this kind of a slow burning headache for the next 60+ years ?
Does USA feel itself more secure after having its EU allies permanently constrained with a "it is/it isnt a conflict" situation?
Does Russia feel "more secure" with a slow burning conflict here and a Rising China there?
This isnt Russia Today.....this is India Today.
@This isnt Russia Today.....this is India Today.@
DeleteTotally agree. An old geopolitical trick. India-Pakistan. China-Taiwan. N.Korea-S.Korea. Japan-China. Russia-Ukraine. The last story is about 300 y.o. (time of Ukrainian language appearance) now it is only bloody culmination.
@Meanwhile, the secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, Oleksandr Turchynov says separatist forces in eastern Ukraine now number 36,000 troops, including 8,500 Russian military servicemen, and they are armed with 542 tanks, 990 armored fighting vehicles, 694 artillery systems and 57 anti-aircraft missile systems.@
ReplyDeleteToo less. I guess several millions at least.
"Stupid clown mod off”
Any proofs?
"Also Thursday, separatist officials said they had nearly recaptured all of the Donetsk airport after a months-long battle. But Ukraine's military says it continues to control part of the largely ruined facility."
ReplyDeleteIf I remember they capture it already some 14 times... I count how many times trolls of Kremlin chant that. The best part is when Zacharczenko said they can capture airfield in 30 min... well they try for last couple of months to do this so what? different time zone" :D
But the article did not mention also one thing or two... first that the EU finally officially recognize that Russia is in full "information (propaganda) war" with Europe and they need to do something abut that or create a strategy of counter reaction in two months from now. Second thing, EU remind that they pull out the embargo for weapons export for Ukraine from member state... of course only the defense ones, still it's something.
As they say the stones of mill grind slowly...
But some other deals, info' as you are the most reliable window in to inside of Russia can you give your opinion about couple of things?
- Armenia, the case with Russia soldier that murdered in bestial way almost whole family of Armenians and now is under protection of Russia as they refuse to give him to the Armenians and under Armenian court. The Armenians looks like are really pissed off by that, the Russian embassy was even in danger of storming by angry crowd. You think that the Russia will give him away for a sake of improving the relation with Armenia or... they will pissed off another nation?
Now for some less serious things...
- You notice that rather amusing, but in rather bad way deal with new post uniforms in two oblasts in Russia. The "SS" ones... now this is a great fuel for anti Kremlin propaganda as they call president Putin a new Hitler. Someone should fired the designer for that... and the men who approve that uniform also.
- another funny deal with deputy of Duma ideas, those people are really full of crazy shit. Degtiarow and Krasow want new free day in Russia, for the memory of defeat of Napoleon, if I read that correct they even put a wrong date. But Duma had refuse to put new free day into calendar as it would cost too much money. I think we all have "those" dudes in every government... but who the fuck chose them for be deputy or parliamentarian. It's like the hobby of humanity is to put the most moronic persons on higher chairs in governments... it's moronic.
@If I remember they capture it already some 14 times... @
DeleteBggg. More, I guess. For rebels and Ukrainians this airport looks like to be somewhat a status symbol – like 1m long dick – very cool but useless)))).
@is in full "information (propaganda) war"@
In real military proxy-hybrid war, I dare to correct. We already have started to adjust political contradictions via large-scale military measures – it changes everithing. It is a war-shit, no more, no less. We all saw the dead mother holding her dead child in the bus. This is why each war is shit.
@EU remind that they pull out the embargo for weapons export for Ukraine from member state...@
Interesting. We need examples of NATO’s weapon, bgggg))) Georgians once presented to us some (radio equipment was very yummy, I heard), but it is never enough of good things, ha?
@info' as you are the most reliable window in to inside of Russia@
I always pleased to share my opinion with you, pan.
@the case with Russia soldier that murdered in bestial way almost whole family of Armenians@
If I’m correct the investigation.
@Russia as they refuse to give him to the Armenians and under Armenian court@
If I’m correct Russians “giving” Russians to foreign courts is forbidden with our Law directly.
@The Armenians looks like are really pissed off@
I can understand this.
@You think that the Russia will give him away for a sake of improving the relation@
We must not. If he really committed what his is blamed - he must be severely sentenced to jail, official apologies must be given and decent compensations. I guess this way of resolving this problem. May be he will be killed in prison – (at my take if he really did this madness – deserves death punishment, no doubt), of course death punishment in Russia are postponed but it is not great trick if it goes to a prison.
About geopolitical aspect. Armenians can do whatever they want, even manage “Maydan” and kick our base away the country.
BUT, “economy rules”.
You know, pan, several hours before I was in shops – to buy some tidbits for weekend – including canned vegetables (my love, can’t live without!). In each our shop are Armenian canned vegetables – tasty but costly, regular Russian-made ones are not so tasty, but I “know the places” (for Moscow it is vital) and go far to Tatars shop “Bahetle” to buy the best-from-the best (but only in Bahetle I saw it) – “squash caviar”, Russian made, tasty and cheaper then Armenian (which is presented in Bahetle as well). So my question is – who will buy Armenian products instead us if they kick away our base (with suffering counter measures from Russia)? Polish?
And I don’t mention “Turkey context” now – too long story to disclose it well.
@they will pissed off another nation? @
Don’t get your idea, pan, sorry.
@new post uniforms@
I give no shit to this, even don’t now is it realty or not. I can say only one thing sure – I never saw any hint of uniform in our “Russia-post” offices. Only Internet rumors, I guess.
@Degtiarow and Krasow want new free day in Russia, for the memory of defeat of Napoleon@
Our Federal Duma is a political fake from top to bottom and means no real authority (at least in Russian high real politic). I personally know one man who exchanged a place in Duma for the deputy mandate in Moscow parliament (named “duma” too) – because “there is nothing to do in Federal Duma”.
But Federal Duma needs to show they work a lot, as the rule they do it in form of such stupid populist “proposals”. I guess the proposal you are asking about will never became a law, at least I hope. At my take, Russians are a lazy nation and idea of achieving one more day for doing nothing – very popular proposal, I’m sure.
Ue has no interest in ukraine. Just some fucking firms and their corrupted politicians want to BUY it, for Just some loans and after that exploit them to death. France/ UE should ally to russia, like before 1914, creating a viable counterbalance to US power.
ReplyDeleteThis time germany would be in the alliance, it would ne solid.
I read recently th construction of USSR. Do You know it was created in the hashes of a civil war, which has much in common with the one in syria ?
@Ue has no interest in ukraine.@
DeleteI beg to disagree, monsieur – Ukraine is a tasty market outlet and source of rare materials+guest-workers not to mention “buffer zone before Russia” feature.
@France/ UE should ally to Russia@
For what? What EU can achieve?
@I read recently th construction of USSR.@
USSR was the new edition of Russian Empire without nobilities domination – all other social and political features in general were one to one: the same tsar and oprich’ around, the same meaning-less “parlaments”, the same “tsar will think instead us” common Russians. All the features we have again (without political and economical independence).
Present Russia is still ruled by oligarchic Putin’s regime with close ties with the West – a very light form of occupation, at my take. I hope then sooner or later we will redeem our fault before God and our ancestors – and the Great tsar will come again, the True Russian Tsar as Ivan-the-Terrible or Stalin were, and we rise high our flags again, flags of Honor and Fury, worthy to die under.
But I guess “Russia-of-my-dream” would be a bad ally to Europe, we are too different, monsieur. Partners – yes, of course – but not ally.
Yes, I know you are telling about. But I can’t get why Ukrainians can’t combine the symbol; and strategic object. The Airport is a very comfortable start line against Donetsk and point of water supply’s control. But Debali has real strategic meaning – if they manage to hold it all this year I guess we can tell about Ukrainian victory in the 2015 Donbass campaign.
DeleteDamnation. The wrong place of the post above. Can’t delete it. Sorry.
DeleteI saw soome common aspect of civil war, in the way of his source was almost completly foreign, with enemy country giving money to criminals in order to create revolution.
Delete@I saw soome common aspect of civil war, in the way of his source was almost completly foreign,@
DeleteIn all our revolutions and riots always foreign actors were involved this way or another – it is normal. I see some similarity between attempt of Islamists revolution in Syria and Bol’shevik’s riot – vast usage of common people interests and problems, not fake agenda as it is in Western hybrid wars – all this “human rights’, “free economy” and other zombie-scrap having no basement in reality. In Syrian case (IMHO, of course) it is conflict between Syrian peasants who en masse migrate in large Syrian cities and local people, living in the cities generation by generation. It is objective circumstance hence of the long running drought in eastern agricultural Syrian regions as main the peasant’s migration, said above.
In Russia in time of socialistic were objective circumstances too – but with completely another nature.
And accumulated years-long tensions became reason of the revolutions with active involvement of foreign actors.
But it is not so specific – at my take – most of revolutions have natural, objective reasons. Instead of recent Ukraine riot (not revolution!) where reasons were manipulated from the very beginning.
So many people forget that Lenin was an Germany "agent" that was smuggled by them to Saint Petersburg with shit ton's of cash to create the Revolution. A brilliant thing in that time to destroy the already shaky Tsar's Empire from inside, works perfectly for Germans... but as all Revolutions, they sooner or later turn against it's creators.
DeleteInfo' not Revolution or as you call riots are created from outside... you need a whole structure ready to fall, you just need to push in right moment and it's sell powered action begin. The situation in Ukraine was a powder barrel for many years, the criminals under Janukowicz protection and his clan demolish nation from inside and the country walk on the breaking point... it just need to a little push. The stage was set, actors were ready, as you said probably a single finger push the ring bell and the act was on.
The whole Ukraine revolution against criminals in power had natural an objective reasons, it would explode sooner or later but it would explode.
Look's like the airfield may fallen today, it's still unconfirmed... but, it's highly possible that Ukrainians retreat from there, at least from terminal.
ReplyDeleteAirport again under rocket fire... Ukrainians still say they are holding up in new terminal.
DeleteFog of War as always...
Airport is a fake agenda, pan - at my take, at least. Debal'tsevo - it is a pivot point.
DeleteIt's a symbol, for Ukrainians is the symbol of spirit, the defense of homeland... for them it's probably like Stalingrad for Russians, Alamo for Americans or Westerplatte for Poles. You know what I mean. For seps are the fist of Ukrainians that from couple of months every time hit them in the jaw when they try to push forward there... it's for a morale on both sides.
DeleteYes, I know you are telling about. But I can’t get why Ukrainians can’t combine the symbol; and strategic object. The Airport is a very comfortable start line against Donetsk and point of water supply’s control. But Debali has real strategic meaning – if they manage to hold it all this year I guess we can tell about Ukrainian victory in the 2015 Donbass campaign.
DeleteThey concentrate pretty large force there, we will see in next months if the Ukrainians will hold the more strategic points as you mention. Seps concentrate on airfield and Ukrainians did have time to fortified. But it's look like they really lost the terminal, fights on the as we know rather large area are still active but it's look like terminal is lost.
DeleteThere are two terminals in the Donetsk airport - "old" and "new". Ukrainians can capture the new terminal seveal days later, I guess. Rebels have no possibility to prevent this
DeleteThat's true... time will show.
DeleteLot's of shelling now... maybe the counterattack, well the "party" there did not end today.
DeleteInteresting, it's look like the Ukrainian air force is back in game... look's like the air strike on airfield zone. Heavy explosion, really heavy.
Delete