Russia declares war on Ukraine. Live updates from inside Ukraine

a reply to: ausername

Russian forces on the border are pulling back. Seems for now Putin has no intention to intervene at least overtly.

However, he might and should arm them well and support in highly crucial areas that can turn the odds in the favor of the separatists.

a reply to: victor7

Most likely because Chechen fighters have been captured.

Russia's Hand in Ukraine Is Exposed

Among those who died fighting in Donetsk this week were Russian citizens -- at least eight, according to the city’s mayor. With that revelation, Russia’s involvement in the violence in eastern Ukraine is no longer in question.


The confirmed presence of foreign fighters exposes as untrue repeated claims by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that they are merely horrified bystanders to events in eastern Ukraine. Those claims were never plausible, given Russia's record in Crimea and thin popular support for the secessionist rebels in the east.

Lavrov recently challenged those who insisted Russia was backing the rebels to produce a single captured Russian agent. Of course, he can maintain that the Russian citizens killed in Donetsk were simply volunteers motivated by attacks on their ethnic kin in Ukraine. The eight, however, included Chechens, who by no stretch of the imagination are Russian nationalists.

There are certainly Chechen mercenaries available for hire, but they also answer to Chechen strongman Ramzan Kadyrov, who is fiercely loyal to Putin. Kadyrov has denied sending anyone to fight in Ukraine, but in an otherwise hard-to-explain twist, he personally negotiated the recent release of two Russian journalists held by pro-Ukraine forces. It is inconceivable that Kadyrov would send fighters to Ukraine without Moscow's approval or, more likely, instructions.

This conflict is following a script more than 20 years old: Russia intervenes in its ex-Soviet neighborhood using “volunteers,” including Chechens, and unmarked Russian military equipment to provide deniability.

Although transparent, Russia’s subterfuge is useful. It provides Europe’s leaders cover to avoid imposing costly economic sanctions on Russia. Putin withdrew troops from its border with Ukraine just before Sunday’s election there, the failure of which German Chancellor Angela Merkel had set as a trip wire for broader sanctions. European Union leaders who met on Tuesday were plainly relieved that they would not have to follow through on her threat.

However, the clash in Donetsk demonstrates that Ukraine’s presidential election alone will not stabilize the country. The decision by the city's separatist leaders to declare martial law and send troops to seize the airport the next day showed they saw the vote as a starting pistol to renew hostilities rather than a signal to de-escalate.

The Donetsk airport serves the region and is a vital piece of infrastructure. If separatists gain control of it, they could receive supplies and even reinforcements from aircraft arriving from Russia or other parts of the former Soviet Union. As it stands, border controls on cargo and passengers are in the hands of authorities in Kiev.

President-elect Petro Poroshenko’s rapid decision to order airstrikes to retake the airport demonstrated that the new regime intends to fight back. It, too, sees the vote as an occasion to reinvigorate its military effort. Poroshenko is gambling that Russia has decided against an open invasion, perhaps the only move that would trigger economic sanctions from the EU.

Click link for remainder of article.

Lugansk region update

May 28 evening, the National Guard of Ukraine reported that in Lugansk defense forces attempted to seize military unit, resulting in a fight ensued between the militias and Natsgvardiey. "There are casualties among the personnel of the military unit, and among forwards. Final information about the event and the number of victims to be confirmed "- quoted by RIA Novosti Natsgvardii message. Later it was reported that the militia managed to block the military unit. According to the self-defense forces are in a cordon of military unit in Lugansk, their delegation held talks with Kiev controlled by the military. Later military units began to arrive more militia force - weapons, including grenade launchers, portable anti-aircraft missiles. Militias explained that this was done out of fear that will attack from the air. As it became known later, in a shootout between the self-defense forces and security forces are wounded on both sides. The territory of the military unit of Internal Troops of Ukraine after the confrontation between the militia and soldiers could enter the parents of soldiers and journalists. The soldiers barricaded in the barracks, and about 10 soldiers succumbed to the entreaties of friends and come out with your hands up. Currently, according to RIA Novosti, all soldiers of the military unit, that is, about 80 people, decided to surrender to the militia. Without weapons they left part they were met with applause. According to the commander of the army southeast Gennady Tsepkala surrendered all soldiers, and the commander of the militia check with weapons that the military handed over to the weapons room. Original article: russian.rt.com... # ixzz333Mjmdvx

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Russian drone shot down -

Euromaidan PR ‏@EuromaidanPR · 44m
In #Donetsk Russian drone shot down - press officer Alex Dmytrashkovskyy #ATO www.hromadske.tv... … |EMPR News pic.twitter.com/fVkSSjYiMh

pretty obvious he sent them in too get the Journalists,,they failed i guess

"Kadyrov has denied sending anyone to fight in Ukraine, but in an otherwise hard-to-explain twist, he personally negotiated the recent release of two Russian journalists held by pro-Ukraine forces."



a reply to: Xcathdra

well looks like even Kiev is waking up

Kyiv, May 28 (Navigator, Vladimir Raychenko) - "The cynicism of the authorities knows no bounds! Send our sons to shoot at our families, for our money, "- under such slogans action took place today in front of the Interior Ministry of Ukraine. From the main policeman country protesters demanded an impartial investigation into the snipers to shoot people on the Independence, as well as investigation of the bloody events in Odessa and in the Southeast.


"Mr. Avakov enough, we are fed up with your promises - said during a rally co-chair of the All-Ukrainian Union" of Democratic Trade Unions of Ukraine "Dmitry Filipchuk. - We are tired of war, lawlessness and demand impartial and transparent investigation into the events that resulted in people continue to die. "

Also demand the arrest was made secretary of the NSDC Andrew Parubiya, according to the protesters, "approved the plan punitive operation in Odessa," and the government's resignation Yatsenuk, "unleashed a civil war in their own country."

a few photos from this protest can be found in this link

www.politnavigator.net...

'Russia steering unrest in Ukraine'

Does this incident give proof to the idea that Russia's claims have been lip service? What influence does Putin have on the separatists?

According to knowledge here in Ukraine, Putin is steering the whole thing. This force consists of Russian secret service agents and saboteurs who have been specially trained and who have crossed the border with their weapons. But they are not many, maybe 200 in total. They are controlled and coordinated by the Kremlin.

But they are not alone. There are also local criminals who would take part in anything - be it for money, or out of conviction, or both. And then there is a group of local fanatic pro-Russian activists.

How do you know these groups are controlled by Russia?

There is solid evidence, such as dozens of online audio files of tapped talks between separatists and people speaking with Russian voices. For example, members of the Russian secret service give clear orders to separatists in Slovyansk and other cities. There is also video of conversations with Russian saboteurs who are quite well-known and speak very openly.

One thing is absolutely clear to me: If these Russian forces were not present in the area of Donetsk, there would not be such great unrest. People would still silently hate Kyiv because they are very unhappy with the government and because people here have been heavily influenced by Russian propaganda, but there would not be any violence and dead bodies.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin has now demanded another UN Security Council session. What success could such a session achieve, and do you think this is a serious attempt?

Russia is playing a dangerous game. They're trying to portray to the world that what's happening in Ukraine is a civil war, in which Russia is not involved at all, and is simply a very worried bystander: Worried about the Russian-speaking population, worried about its own borders, worried that the conflict might spill over from individual cities, et cetera. That's reportedly the reason why Russian troops have been deployed to Ukraine's border. Russia is trying to reduce the conflict to a fight between Ukraine's east and west; that it's simply people in eastern Ukraine who have felt neglected for so long, and have now decided to stand up and fight for their rights. That's the image Putin likes to convey.

And calling on the Security Council to hold a session is nothing more but part of the show. In my opinion, Russia is looking for reasons to legitimate a possible military operation by Russian troops. [So that Russia] can say at the end: Well, we couldn't do anything else, we had to move in as peacekeepers in order to stop violence from spreading.

At the moment, it doesn't look like Russian troops would come in and seize the land like they did with Crimea. But that also cannot be ruled out.

Kyryl Savin directs the Kyiv office of the Heinrich Böll Foundation , which is associated with the German Green party. Among other things, Savin worked at the German embassy in Kyiv, where he also studied international relations.

originally posted by: BobAthome
pretty obvious he sent them in too get the Journalists,,they failed i guess

"Kadyrov has denied sending anyone to fight in Ukraine, but in an otherwise hard-to-explain twist, he personally negotiated the recent release of two Russian journalists held by pro-Ukraine forces."



a reply to: Xcathdra

There are certainly Chechen mercenaries available for hire, but they also answer to Chechen strongman Ramzan Kadyrov, who is fiercely loyal to Putin. Kadyrov has denied sending anyone to fight in Ukraine, but in an otherwise hard-to-explain twist, he personally negotiated the recent release of two Russian journalists held by pro-Ukraine forces. It is inconceivable that Kadyrov would send fighters to Ukraine without Moscow's approval or, more likely, instructions.

This conflict is following a script more than 20 years old: Russia intervenes in its ex-Soviet neighborhood using “volunteers,” including Chechens, and unmarked Russian military equipment to provide deniability.

Ukraine Prime Minister Vows Not to Pay 'Political' Price of Russian Gas

Ukraine's prime minister said Wednesday that the country won't pay "the high political price" Moscow is demanding to keep Russian natural gas flowing in and refused to make a down payment on its gas debts until a new price was negotiated.

Well, I wish them the best of luck in all of this. They've got about four days or so to get all of this worked out. Granted, it won't be that big of a deal with us coming on summer in the northern hemisphere, not as much as if it was October or so.

yeahh. we have a president

Now what

originally posted by: weirdguy
I don't like to point fingers at anyone, or take a side especially in a mess like Ukraine at the moment.
But this picture of a Ukraine Army battalion patch just makes me angry as it is full of Nazi symbols, this is the Azov Battalion logo.

As you can plainly see in the fore ground is the "Wolfsangle" Germanic SS Rune made famous by the 2nd SS Das Riech Division.

In the background you will also notice the Black Sun symbol.

WTF? I hate Nazis

That was unofficial artwork submitted by a wingnut on the Right Sektor support page. This is not a patch worn by the Azov brigade. This is more made up Russian propaganda.

It's like attributing artwork drawn up by some racist on Stormfront to an official unit patch of the 101st Airborne.

You got punk'd by a propagandist.

Junta Nazis shelling Slavyansk and its people yesterday.
They are now targeting even schools. Women and children hiding in shelters.
No comments let alone protest from US/EU, 'the leaders of free world'.
I guess it is all Putin's fault.

originally posted by: clay2 baraka

originally posted by: weirdguy
I don't like to point fingers at anyone, or take a side especially in a mess like Ukraine at the moment.
But this picture of a Ukraine Army battalion patch just makes me angry as it is full of Nazi symbols, this is the Azov Battalion logo.

As you can plainly see in the fore ground is the "Wolfsangle" Germanic SS Rune made famous by the 2nd SS Das Riech Division.

In the background you will also notice the Black Sun symbol.

WTF? I hate Nazis

That was unofficial artwork submitted by a wingnut on the Right Sektor support page. This is not a patch worn by the Azov brigade. This is more made up Russian propaganda.

It's like attributing artwork drawn up by some racist on Stormfront to an official unit patch of the 101st Airborne.

You got punk'd by a propagandist.

would this be official enough? And what is even more scary is the fact that they are under the orders from Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. Blood thirsty scumbags coming to slaughter people of Dombass.

On Sunday, May 18, from Kiev to Donbass the group of the volunteers enlisted in wentbattalion of the Ministry of Internal Affairs «Azov».

check the flag in this link

news.pn...

Can't stand the blatant propaganda in this thread anymore. Pointless to subscribe to this thread since it is less about unbiased updates and more about pushing agendas now.

more on event in Lugansk early this morning

All of the 80 Ukrainian troops holed up at a Lugansk military base have surrendered to self-defense forces who stormed the military installation hosting the Ukrainian National Guard.

The initial assault lasted for 10-15 minutes with almost unceasing gunfire, witnesses say. A video reportedly filmed near the attacked facility has appeared on YouTube.

There are conflicting reports on casualties and the outcome of the attack, which took place on the territory of an Air Force academy. Earlier, at least one Ukrainian soldier was reported to be seriously injured.

According to RIA Novosti, all of the 80 Ukrainian soldiers holed up at the base surrendered. They were escorted out of the building as the other side applauded.

Self-defense commander Gennady Tsepkalo also confirmed to journalists that all troops have surrendered. He promised that all soldiers will be sent home shortly.

It had earlier been reported that only ten troops surrendered and others barricaded themselves inside the base, with some of the soldiers saying that their captain had orbidden them from surrendering.

These events come as Kiev has intensified military operations in eastern Ukraine. On Wednesday, Kiev mortar shells hit a school and a kindergarten in Slavyansk, injuring at least nine civilians.

rt.com...

originally posted by: DeadSeraph
Can't stand the blatant propaganda in this thread anymore. Pointless to subscribe to this thread since it is less about unbiased updates and more about pushing agendas now.

Just educate yourself with what NWO is.

heavy fighting in Slavyansk and Kramatorsk region right now.

09:11 GMT:
Ukraine’s artillery and aviation forces have begun shelling the eastern-Ukrainian cities of Slavyansk and Kramatorsk, signaling the start of a full-scale military operation, the Ostrov agency reports.

The news follows Twitter reports of explosions and gunfire around the Slavyansk train station, as well as clashes near Cherevkovka and Molochar. There is also word of interruptions in mobile network reception.

2 helicopters allegedly shot down

Eyewitnesses confirmed that the second military helicopter was shot down under Slavonic.
May 29, 2014, 13:46
Militia shot down the second helicopter sent by Kiev authorities.

During the battle Ukrainian troops used helicopters to fire on positions of militias. Retaliatory fire they managed to knock out one of the helicopters, previously told representatives federalization of Ukraine. He puffed, lost control and crashed into the village Chervonny Molochar, RIA Novosti reported.

Citizen of EU ‏@wavetossed 11m
#Donetsk miners warned #Poroshenko directly if he does not withdraw army they will chase him to #Lviv with help of #Russia miners #Ukraine
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Valentynovych Turchynov: Ukrainian helicopter shot killed 14 people including a general. # Sloviansk # # Donetsk Ukraine

Fourteen Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in a helicopter crash near the city of Slavyansk in the Donetsk Region, according to the acting president of Ukraine, Aleksandr Turchinov.

Anti-government protesters in Slavyansk have downed a Ukrainian forces helicopter in the south-east of Slavyansk in the Donetsk region.

Fourteen servicemen, including a general, Vladimir Kulchtsky, have have been killed in a helicopter crash near Slavyansk, according to the acting president of Ukraine, Aleksandr Turchinov, who spoke at a parliamentary session in Kiev.



Ukraine’s army has started shelling the eastern Ukraine cities of Slavyansk and Kramatorsk, thereby resuming its massive military operation in the East of the country, local news outlets report.

“A full-scale military operation has begun in Kramatorsk and Slavyansk. BM-21 launch vehicle “Grad” are being used,” Donbas-based Ostrov agency says.

“Intensive shooting has been heard in the region, and thick black smoke seen,” he added.

a reply to: clay2 baraka

In that part of the world Nazi symbolism obviously has certain shock value.
If that is all it is then it is still very poor taste as Ukraine had it's own SS division during WW2.
I hope that you're right and this is fake, but I'm still not sure.

Personally I think the Chechen brigades in Donetsk are a major concern too as they will dominate the rebels, just like Al Queada has done in Syria. It's a shame as Ukraine looks to be a beautiful country.

originally posted by: clay2 baraka

originally posted by: weirdguy
I don't like to point fingers at anyone, or take a side especially in a mess like Ukraine at the moment.
But this picture of a Ukraine Army battalion patch just makes me angry as it is full of Nazi symbols, this is the Azov Battalion logo.

As you can plainly see in the fore ground is the "Wolfsangle" Germanic SS Rune made famous by the 2nd SS Das Riech Division.

In the background you will also notice the Black Sun symbol.

WTF? I hate Nazis

That was unofficial artwork submitted by a wingnut on the Right Sektor support page. This is not a patch worn by the Azov brigade. This is more made up Russian propaganda.

It's like attributing artwork drawn up by some racist on Stormfront to an official unit patch of the 101st Airborne.

You got punk'd by a propagandist.

Yes, I am not sure what that patch artwork proves. The provenance seems very unofficial.

In any case, if you look for it, you can see plenty of Nazi imagery in Russian nationalism...

Symbol of Nazi 'Hitler Youth':



Symbol of Putin's 'Nashi' youth movement :








Yes, it is ironic that people who suffered so much at the hands of Nazis should adopt their imagery but the common people have a flagging self-esteem after so much degradation. They are prone to the most base appeals.