Russia declares war on Ukraine. Live updates from inside Ukraine

a reply to: dragonridr

There is a price floor but do not think there is a price freeze. The actual details of the deals have not been disclosed. While Putin might not have gotten the best of the bargains but he sure did win some 'fall back' cushion against the western sanctions regarding his main 'state revenue' source.

Seems after shunning China for long, Kremlin has finally learned that Russians are considered different from the west and therefore west will always have contempt, despise and fear towards Russia. BRICS nations offer immense growth markets for mutual trades and that is where Russian focus should be.

a reply to: victor7

The only paranoia and fear I see is coming from Russia, not the West.

From inauguration of Poroshenko.
Not a good sign.

oh how lovely, brought a tear in my eye.
This is what a real friend in need is.

U.S. military advisers are heading to Ukraine, the Air Force Times reports.

The small team will be there to assess "mid- and long-term needs for defense reform," a Pentagon official tells Chuck Vinch.

The White House has slowly been rolling out its assistance to Ukraine since early March, including a $1 billion aid package. Back then, interim Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk met with President Obama at the White House and appealed for military aid, including arms, ammunition, and intelligence support.


Here's what the White House has pledged to provide to the Ukrainian military so far:

$23 million for defense security
$5 million in body armor
About 300,000 ready-to-eat meals
Night-vision goggles, medical supplies, helmets, sleeping mats, handheld radios, and water-purification units
And for Ukraine's State Border Guard Service, which has had to contend with the looming threat of Russian troops to the east:

20-person shelters, sleeping bags, fuel filter adapters, barbed wire, patrol flashlights, perimeter alarm systems, fuel pumps, concertina wire, vehicle batteries, spare tires, binoculars, excavators, trucks, generators, food storage freezers, field stoves, and communications gear.
Ukraine will no doubt welcome the help. Its military, underfunded and plagued by shaky leadership, has struggled to push pro-Russian separatists groups out of the eastern part of the country. On Wednesday, Ukrainian forces abandoned a military outpost in the city of Luhansk after a 10-hour gunfight with separatists, who have taken over the region.

www.nationaljournal.com...

originally posted by: cosmonova
From inauguration of Poroshenko.
Not a good sign.

Never lock your knees made that mistake once myself passed out at a brigade inspection. You only do that once than you learn to keep your knees slightly bent. Funny part s he was dizzy but still trying to grab his weapon. Although might have been funnier if he just passed out.

Report from the frontlines in S.E. Ukraine

june 5th


•Красный Лиман Krasni Liman was taken by Ukraine Army and national guard 04 June 2014.
•Replacement Mi24 attack helicopters have arrived in Ukraine as replacements for the Ukraine Army losses in Donbas. Confirmed.
•Strong bombardments Slavyansk City and outlying towns and villages commenced 05:00 local time 05.06.2014. Civilian casualties unknown.
•National guard/right sector entered Railroad Hospital Krasni Liman and shot dead 37 wounded Donbas Army soldiers and civilians and at least 1 hospital worker. Confirmed.
•Air and artillery bombardments Krasni Liman cause strong civilian casualties 04.06.2014.
•List of dead air attack on Lugansk Administration Building:

•Kostjukov Vladimir Andreyevich , 1971 (regional administration)
•Corn Inna (regional administration)
•Giza Alexander (regional administration)
•Unidentified woman
•Dolzenko Nina 1955 (regional administration)
•Polezhaev Sergey 1964 (regional administration)
•Natalia Arkhipova (regional administration)
•Cerkez Galina 1967 (regional administration)


•Confirmed reports national guard/right sector random shooting civilians Krasni Liman and searching residences.
•Border Guard Headquarters and one military base taken by Donbas Army 04.06.2014. Large amounts of weapons and ammunition captured in both bases. Border Guard HQ prisoners allowed to change to civilian clothes and leave base. Prisoners from military base unknown if allowed to leave after surrender.
•Name, rank and unit of Ukraine pilot SU25 attacked Lugansk Administration Building known. Complete conversation of pilot with control before, during and after attack recorded by Donbas Army.

june 6th

1. Commo around Slavyansk is busy with reports of much movement of Nats forces.

2. Semenovka is under continuous bombardment since 07:00 06.06.2014. Vast areas are destroyed. Grad missiles are used but not in salvo. 15.2 cm howitzers and 12.2 cm mortars plus heavy field guns and tank cannon.

3. Lugansk City proper is under air attack 18:05 06.06.2014. At least 2 Su25 aircraft attacked living areas. Casualties unknown.

4. Nats An 30b surveillance aircraft shot down 06.06.2014 18:45 local time. First 2 vids. vk.com...

5. Slavyansk water supply system hit by Nats arty. Water supply to most of city cut off.

6. Slavyansk electric supply system hit by Nats Arty. Electric off for most of city as of 14:00 06.06.2014.

7. Krasni Liman. All males ages 18-40 being arrested by right sector. Those arrested are being taken out of town. Fates unknown. Photos. Militsiya (police) car with right sector.

8. 2 strong armor columns moving toward Slavyansk. Numerous tanks and supporting troops.

9. 3 cm anti aircraft guns are shooting down in to Slavyansk City from overlooking hills. Living areas and shops are targeted.

10. An agreement was reaching with Nats Army CO Slavyansk area to evactuate two columns of buses with children and young mothers. First column left city using designated route and was fired upon by right sector units. Casualtied, if any, are unknown. Second column left by a different route. No commo with either column since 16:14 06.06.2014.

11. Donbas Army has made appeal for qualified tankists and pilots.

12. Reports of heavy fighting developing outskirts of Slavyansk City proper 18:45 local Ukraine time.

14. Personal conversation by phone mid day today with person living near Krasni Liman. Person states right sector is looting shops, confiscating cars, trucks and buses. A few civilian men shot down in local streets. Some young women have been outraged. Person says no food allowed in to their living area location. Person states person and children eating porridge made from stored cattle food using water from local stream. Porridge is not cooked, barley soaked in water until soft, eaten cold. Water and electric cut off. Right sector going door to door checking documents and confiscating computers and cell phones. If no one answers door right sector breaks door down. If anyone in house or flat they are beaten and sometimes shot. Citizens with Russian passports are arrested and taken away. Fate unknown. Could hear screams and shouts at not great distance from cell phone, person stopped phone in mid sentence. I did not call back for fear of endangering person.

www.sott.net... rom-the-frontlines-in-S-E-Ukraine-June-5th-and-6th-by-Juan

June 6th combat SITREP update by "Juan"



1. Commo around Slavyansk is busy with reports of much movement of Nats forces.

2. Semenovka is under continuous bombardment since 07:00 06.06.2014. Vast areas are destroyed. Grad missiles are used but not in salvo. 15.2 cm howitzers and 12.2 cm mortars plus heavy field guns and tank cannon.

3. Lugansk City proper is under air attack 18:05 06.06.2014. At least 2 Su25 aircraft attacked living areas. Casualties unknown.

4. Nats An 30b surveillance aircraft shot down 06.06.2014 18:45 local time. First 2 vids. vk.com...

5. Slavyansk water supply system hit by Nats arty. Water supply to most of city cut off.

6. Slavyansk electric supply system hit by Nats Arty. Electric off for most of city as of 14:00 06.06.2014.

7. Krasni Liman. All males ages 18-40 being arrested by right sector. Those arrested are being taken out of town. Fates unknown. Photos. Militsiya (police) car with right sector.

8. 2 strong armor columns moving toward Slavyansk. Numerous tanks and supporting troops.

9. 3 cm anti aircraft guns are shooting down in to Slavyansk City from overlooking hills. Living areas and shops are targeted.

10. An agreement was reaching with Nats Army CO Slavyansk area to evactuate two columns of buses with children and young mothers. First column left city using designated route and was fired upon by right sector units. Casualtied, if any, are unknown. Second column left by a different route. No commo with either column since 16:14 06.06.2014.

www.youtube.com...

11. Donbas Army has made appeal for qualified tankists and pilots.

12. Reports of heavy fighting developing outskirts of Slavyansk City proper 18:45 local Ukraine time.

14. Personal conversation by phone mid day today with person living near Krasni Liman. Person states right sector is looting shops, confiscating cars, trucks and buses. A few civilian men shot down in local streets. Some young women have been outraged. Person says no food allowed in to their living area location. Person states person and children eating porridge made from stored cattle food using water from local stream. Porridge is not cooked, barley soaked in water until soft, eaten cold. Water and electric cut off. Right sector going door to door checking documents and confiscating computers and cell phones. If no one answers door right sector breaks door down. If anyone in house or flat they are beaten and sometimes shot. Citizens with Russian passports are arrested and taken away. Fate unknown. Could hear screams and shouts at not great distance from cell phone, person stopped phone in mid sentence. I did not call back for fear of endangering person.

vineyardsaker.blogspot.ch...

June 5th combat SITREP update by "Juan"



•Красный Лиман Krasni Liman was taken by Ukraine Army and national guard 04 June 2014.
•Replacement Mi24 attack helicopters have arrived in Ukraine as replacements for the Ukraine Army losses in Donbas. Confirmed.
•Strong bombardments Slavyansk City and outlying towns and villages commenced 05:00 local time 05.06.2014. Civilian casualties unknown.
•National guard/right sector entered Railroad Hospital Krasni Liman and shot dead 37 wounded Donbas Army soldiers and civilians and at least 1 hospital worker. Confirmed.
•Air and artillery bombardments Krasni Liman cause strong civilian casualties 04.06.2014.
•List of dead air attack on Lugansk Administration Building:

•Kostjukov Vladimir Andreyevich , 1971 (regional administration)
•Corn Inna (regional administration)
•Giza Alexander (regional administration)
•Unidentified woman
•Dolzenko Nina 1955 (regional administration)
•Polezhaev Sergey 1964 (regional administration)
•Natalia Arkhipova (regional administration)
•Cerkez Galina 1967 (regional administration)
•Confirmed reports national guard/right sector random shooting civilians Krasni Liman and searching residences.
•Border Guard Headquarters and one military base taken by Donbas Army 04.06.2014. Large amounts of weapons and ammunition captured in both bases. Border Guard HQ prisoners allowed to change to civilian clothes and leave base. Prisoners from military base unknown if allowed to leave after surrender.
•Name, rank and unit of Ukraine pilot SU25 attacked Lugansk Administration Building known. Complete conversation of pilot with control before, during and after attack recorded by Donbas Army.
vineyardsaker.blogspot.ch... ep-update-by-juan.html

(Reuters) - Ukraine's new president Petro Poroshenko said his country would never give up Crimea and would not compromise on its path towards closer ties with Europe, spelling out a defiant message to Russia in his inaugural speech on Saturday.

The 48-year-old billionaire took the oath of office before parliament, buoyed by Western support but facing a crisis in relations with Russia as a separatist uprising seethes in the east of his country.

Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula in March, weeks after street protests ousted Poroshenko's pro-Moscow predecessor Viktor Yanukovich, in a move that has provoked the deepest crisis in relations with the West since the Cold War.

"Citizens of Ukraine will never enjoy the beauty of peace unless we settle our relations with Russia. Russia occupied Crimea, which was, is, and will be, Ukrainian soil," Poroshenko said in a speech that drew a standing ovation.

He said he had delivered that message to Russian President Vladimir Putin when the two met on Friday at a World War Two anniversary ceremony in France.

There is no prospect of Russia reversing its takeover of Crimea, but in what could be a positive signal from Moscow, Russian news agencies reported Putin had ordered the Federal Security Service to strengthen protection of the border with Ukraine and prevent people crossing illegally.

The move was potentially significant because Ukraine and Western governments have been pressing Moscow to stop what they say is a flow of Russian arms and fighters into eastern Ukraine.









Russia denies it is backing the uprising but journalists have encountered Russian nationals among the separatist ranks.


"NOT TRADE-OFF"

Poroshenko, who earned his fortune as a confectionery entrepreneur and is known locally as the "Chocolate King", said he intended to sign the economic part of an association deal with the European Union as a step towards full membership.

That idea is anathema to Moscow, which wants to keep Ukraine in its own post-Soviet sphere of influence.

His voice swelling with emotion, Poroshenko stressed the need for a united Ukraine and the importance of ending the conflict that threatens to further split the country of 45 million people. He said it would not become a looser federalised state, as advocated by Russia.

"There can be no trade-off about Crimea and about the European choice and about the governmental system. All other things can be negotiated and discussed at the negotiation table. Any attempts at internal or external enslavement of Ukraine will meet with resolute resistance," he said.

Since Poroshenko's election, government forces have stepped up their operations against the separatists who want to split with Kiev and join Russia. The rebels have fought back, turning parts of the Russian-speaking east into a war zone.

Poroshenko offered to provide a safe corridor for Russian fighters to go home. "Please, lay down the guns and I guarantee immunity to all those who don't have bloodshed on their hands."

Switching from Ukrainian into Russian, he promised to visit the east with guarantees of Russian-language rights and proposals for decentralisation that would give its regions a bigger say in running their own affairs.

But a scornful response from the rebels, who have declared their own "people's republics", spelled out the scale of the separatist challenge facing him.

"What they (Kiev's leaders) really want is one-sided disarmament and for us to surrender. That will never happen in the Donetsk People's Republic," a top separatist official, Fyodor Berezin, said by telephone from Donetsk, an industrial hub where rebels have occupied strategic points.

"As long as Ukrainian troops are on our soil, I can see that all Poroshenko wants is subjugation. The fight will continue."


AT ODDS WITH MOSCOW

Poroshenko won a landslide election on May 25 after promising to bridge the east-west divide that has split the country and thrust it into a battle for survival.

Many Ukrainians hope the election of the former government minister, who is married with four children, will bring an end to the most tumultuous period in their post-Soviet history.

More than 100 people were shot dead by police in Kiev by police in the street protests that eventually brought Yanukovich down. In the east, scores of people, including separatist fighters and government forces, have been killed since April.

The uprising is not the only challenge facing Poroshenko, who inherits a country on the verge of bankruptcy and rated by watchdogs as one of the most corrupt and ill-governed in Europe.

Kiev is also at odds with Moscow over Russian gas. Russia is threatening to cut supplies as early as next week unless Ukraine settles its debt, the amount of which is disputed.

Poroshenko's speech drew an ovation from guests at a ceremony attended by Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and senior EU officials.

Cheering crowds later greeted him on a walk in blazing sunshine on the square in front of Kiev's St Sophia's Cathedral, which was decked out with the blue and yellow national flags.

On a visit to France, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Washington hoped for a reduction in Russia-Ukraine tensions in the next few days, including a possible ceasefire.

Russia's foreign ministry, in its first comments after Poroshenko's swearing-in, acknowledged his inauguration but did not comment on his speech, calling instead for the release of two Russian journalists detained in Ukraine.

But reaction was hostile in eastern Ukraine, where government forces shelled rebel positions in Slaviansk and manned checkpoints on roads into the city. In another eastern city, Luhansk, separatist leader Valery Bolotov was emphatic in his rejection of Poroshenko and Ukrainian rule.

"The Ukrainians have made their choice and they must live with it. As for our republic, we have no diplomatic relations with Ukraine," he told journalists, wearing combat fatigues in a conference room hung with crystal chandeliers.

"Today Ukraine got a new president and now the blood of our people and of Ukrainians will lie on his conscience."
uk.reuters.com... 14/06/07/uk-ukraine-crisis-idUKKBN0EI09U20140607?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews

originally posted by: letscit
June 6th combat SITREP update by "Juan"



1. Commo around Slavyansk is busy with reports of much movement of Nats forces.

2. Semenovka is under continuous bombardment since 07:00 06.06.2014. Vast areas are destroyed. Grad missiles are used but not in salvo. 15.2 cm howitzers and 12.2 cm mortars plus heavy field guns and tank cannon.

3. Lugansk City proper is under air attack 18:05 06.06.2014. At least 2 Su25 aircraft attacked living areas. Casualties unknown.

4. Nats An 30b surveillance aircraft shot down 06.06.2014 18:45 local time. First 2 vids. vk.com...

5. Slavyansk water supply system hit by Nats arty. Water supply to most of city cut off.

6. Slavyansk electric supply system hit by Nats Arty. Electric off for most of city as of 14:00 06.06.2014.

7. Krasni Liman. All males ages 18-40 being arrested by right sector. Those arrested are being taken out of town. Fates unknown. Photos. Militsiya (police) car with right sector.

8. 2 strong armor columns moving toward Slavyansk. Numerous tanks and supporting troops.

9. 3 cm anti aircraft guns are shooting down in to Slavyansk City from overlooking hills. Living areas and shops are targeted.

10. An agreement was reaching with Nats Army CO Slavyansk area to evactuate two columns of buses with children and young mothers. First column left city using designated route and was fired upon by right sector units. Casualtied, if any, are unknown. Second column left by a different route. No commo with either column since 16:14 06.06.2014.

www.youtube.com...

11. Donbas Army has made appeal for qualified tankists and pilots.

12. Reports of heavy fighting developing outskirts of Slavyansk City proper 18:45 local Ukraine time.

14. Personal conversation by phone mid day today with person living near Krasni Liman. Person states right sector is looting shops, confiscating cars, trucks and buses. A few civilian men shot down in local streets. Some young women have been outraged. Person says no food allowed in to their living area location. Person states person and children eating porridge made from stored cattle food using water from local stream. Porridge is not cooked, barley soaked in water until soft, eaten cold. Water and electric cut off. Right sector going door to door checking documents and confiscating computers and cell phones. If no one answers door right sector breaks door down. If anyone in house or flat they are beaten and sometimes shot. Citizens with Russian passports are arrested and taken away. Fate unknown. Could hear screams and shouts at not great distance from cell phone, person stopped phone in mid sentence. I did not call back for fear of endangering person.

vineyardsaker.blogspot.ch...

You got to stop using Sott.net they are notoriously unreliable andmake up news stories. As evidenced by the one you posted pure fabrication.

all the parrots in here are going to get what they have been asking for. but remember: BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR. YOU JUST MIGHT GET IT! DUMBA***S.

A little common sense on the media and propaganda. to bad for the educated on here they don't teach common sense in school, no matter how high your degree.

It is always tricky to try to get a sense of what is happening in a country by parsings its media as there is often a big disconnect between what the talking heads say and what most of the people really feel. And yet, this can a useful exercise in the following circumstances:

A) The media is pretty tightly controlled by the regime in power at which point is can be analyzed to see what kind of "consent manufacturing" or "opinion massaging" is being performed. For example, most wars are normally preceded by media vilification campaign against the other side. Thus, observing such a vilification campaign can be considered as an "indicator" or even "warning" of a possible military attack, especially is other indicators and warnings point to the same eventual outcome

B) The media is more or less independent from the regime, but primarily linked to the national elites and their agenda. Here again, because these elites, by definition, have power and access, they can use the media to put pressure on the formal leaders of the country. Think of the Israel Lobby and its use of the US media to promote the wars on Iraq, Iran and Syria.

C) Finally, the media can be more or less "in tune with" the general public and its concerns, hopes and ideas, at which point it can offer a good insight into what is going on.

Regardless of which of the models above applies to Russia (for what it is worth, I personally think that it is a mix of the three), it is, I strongly believe, very important to note the following fact: three of the most popular shows on Russian TV have increasingly become strident in their outrage over what is happening in the Ukraine, over the US's hypocrisy and over the need to put a stop to the atrocities committed by the Ukrainian junta. These shows are:
•Sunday Evening with Vladimir Soloviev (Воскресный Вечер с Владимиром Соловьевым)
•Politics with Petr Tolstoi (Политика с Петром Толстым)
•News of the Week with Dmitri Kiselev (Вести Недели с Дмитрием Киселевым)

vineyardsaker.blogspot.com... ow-long-can.html

Today I heard that there are already 12'000 refugees just in the Rostov-on-the-Don area. That means that the real numbers are way higher. Furthermore, the Ukie Air Force is now using cluster munitions and deliberate attacks on local towns and villages which are pretty much getting flattened or, at leas, burned to the ground. And I did get a confirmation that the Ukrainian death squads have executed wounded combatants in a hospital near Kramatorsk. In the meantime, Putin has informally met with Poroshenko in France, the (completely incompetent) Russian ambassador to Kiev has returned from his "consultations" in Moscow and he will attend the inauguration of Poroshenko. While I fully understand what the Kremlin is doing (denying the US the kind of "enemy" it wants) and while I fully support that goal, I am also aware that this policy cannot be sustained much longer and that something will have to happen soon, very soon. Right now, my personal hunch, my guesstimate, is that the US will over-rule the EU and that Poroshenko will not only continue, but even escalate the junta's terror operations in the east and southeast. If that is indeed what happens, Russia will intervene, there is, alas, no doubt in my mind at all. How?

a reply to: dragonridr

As evidenced by the one you posted pure fabrication.

This kind of gives it away...

RUSSIA STANDS FOR FREEDOM!

a reply to: letscit

all the parrots in here are going to get what they have been asking for. but remember: BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR. YOU JUST MIGHT GET IT! DUMBA***S.

Interesting update from Ukraine.

The media is more or less independent from the regime, but primarily linked to the national elites and their agenda.

And in Russia it is nowhere near being independent from the regime, in fact Putin has made sure of that.

Today I heard that there are already 12'000 refugees just in the Rostov-on-the-Don area. That means that the real numbers are way higher.

And if your getting that from Russian media I would say significantly less, as we all know how the Russian media likes to embellish on numbers just look back at Crimea.

what would a Russian intervention look like?

It has been my recurrent effort on this blog to try to explain the likely reasons why Russia has not intervened so far in the war between Banderastan and Novorosiia. I notice that those who see signs of "betrayal" or "sellout" by Putin are long on accusations but very short on specifics. Unlike the excellent article which I recently posted as a "must read", the folks who are busy accusing Putin of betrayal stop at the very short term: send guns, send men, impose a no-fly zone, strike this or that unit, etc. Fine. And then what? It is that "then what?" which our armchair patriots systematically shy away from. Besides "then what?" the other issue which these armchair strategists shy away from is "what if?". What if the Bandera freaks really open up with everything they have, out of spite or out of retaliation, and what if they really flatten Kramatorsk, Slaviansk or an entire neighborhood of Donetsk? What if the dead at this point turn from tens or hundreds into the many thousands? Those who mistakenly believe that the junta forces have already used "massive artillery strikes" should look up the concept "огневой вал" which is often translated as "artillery barrage" which, while not incorrect, does not even begin to convey the meaning that it has in Russian military doctrine. Rather than to give figures, just take a look at these:






My point is this: the Ukrainians have the systems needed to *really* flatten a town and they are trained to do so. So what if they do that? Then what?

Of course, Russia has the means to rapidly destroy the Ukrainian artillery units in the Donbass, but that would mark yet another escalation of the conflict. Then what?

Or what if the US orders Poroshenko to "request" the protection of NATO? And what if NATO does something really dumb like the initial deployment of the 82nd Airborne to Saudi Arabia as part of Desert Shield? Why do I call "Desert Shield" really dumb? Because unbeknown to the American public, the 82nd AB was put into a very dangerous situation: this light infantry force was deployed as a "tripwire" force meaning that if the Iraqis crossed into the KSA they would have to engage the 82nd and that meant attacking the USA. Brilliant? Hardly. The 82nd is a light infantry force which has zero change against the large Iraqi tank formations. The *hope* on the US side was that US airpower would be enough to stop the Iraqis. And it was just that - hope. Years later, I think it was Dick Cheney who was asked by a reporter what would have happened if US airpower would not have been enough to deter Saddam and if the 82nd had been butchered. You know what he replied? "We would have had no other option to to use our nuclear weapons". So finally the truth came out: the White House was ready to take the risk sacrifice the 82nd AB and it was "hoping" that the US would not have to use nukes. I don't know about you, but seeing Imperial leaders "hoping" not to use nukes really scares me.

So what if Obama (whose Administration must have an average IQ lower then George Bush Senior one's by at least 20 points!) puts down a "tripwire" force along the Dniper and what if the Ukrainians organize combat operation or even military strikes from behind this tripwire force? Then what?

One more example? Sure!

It is not unreasonable to suspect that maybe 15%-20% of the folks living in the Donbass/Novorossia region are not pro-Russian at all and that they support the junta. This is a big area with, if I recall correctly, something in the range of 7 million people living in the Donetsk-Lugansk region, so even 10% of 7 million is still 700'000 people supporting Kiev. From these 700'000 let's take on 10% capable of fighting (70'000) and let us assume that only 1/4 of them would be actually willing to seriously fight. That is still 17'500 men willing to fight in just two region of a much bigger south-eastern Ukraine. That is way more than the IRA ever had in its ranks. That is even more than Hezbollah has today!

Speaking of the IRA - remember how the Brits deployed in Northern Ireland to officially restore peace and security? (If not, see the "Operation Banner" entry on Wikipedia for a quick refresher). That also seemed like a no brainer at that time. It turned into a prolonged nightmare.

I could multiply such examples ad nauseam but you get my point: unlike some of our wannabe strategists, Putin and his Russian Security Council members have to consider the full-spectrum of possible "what ifs" and "then whats" before taking a decision to intervene. And I haste to add that a covert intervention is dangerous too: if, so far, Kiev has failed to capture a single Russian "agent" or "operator" this does not mean that this might not happen and that would be a political disaster for Russia. And if you think that the SBU could not catch itself in broad daylight you are right - except that in this case the Ukrainians would just be the arm of the US CIA/NSA who, you can be sure of that, are the one using all their formidable means to locate any Russian covert activity in the Ukraine.

[SNIP]


vineyardsaker.blogspot.com...

[SNIP]

Looks like the separatists better start negotiating quickly and the Russian troops need to leave i dont think our chocolate king is going to play. Looks like hes willing to go toe to toe with Russia.And currently Russia cant afford a war so i guess Putin is in trouble.

KIEV, Ukraine — Petro Oleksiyovych Poroshenko, a pro-European, billionaire confectioner, was sworn in on Saturday as the fifth president of Ukraine, promising to put an end to a separatist insurrection in the east that has divided the country for months. He also expressed new resolve, saying Ukraine would never accept Russia’s annexation of Crimea, a point that he made in a face-to-face meeting with President Vladimir V. Putin on Friday.

In a forceful inaugural address, Mr. Poroshenko called on rebel fighters in eastern Ukraine to put down their weapons and he promised safe passage for “Russian mercenaries” who wish to return home. But he said there would be no negotiations with armed insurgents, raising the prospect of further bloodshed as the military seeks to quash the rebellion.

www.nytimes.com...

Heres poroshenko inauguration speech.

www.president.gov.ua...

Ukrainian MP kicks out Russian journos from parliament, calls them ‘spies’ (VIDEO)

An Ukrainian ultra-radical MP has accused Russian journalists of espionage and thrown them out of the Verkhovna Rada, despite their valid accreditation to work in the country’s parliament building.

“We were wrapping up work in Verkhovna Rada – shooting an interview in a lobby of the Parliament building – when Oleg Lyashko, famous for his scandalous behavior, ran over to us,” VGTRK’s Aleksandr Balitsky told RT.


The leader of the Radical Party, Lyashko has demanded the crew working for All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (VGTRK) show their accreditation cards and press credentials.

As the journalists provided the documents, Lyashko tried to tear up the accreditation card in pieces, but failed as the badges were laminated.

"You are deprived of accreditation," Lyashko declared and crumpled up the journalists’ cards.

The journalists tried to reply, saying that Lyashko’s actions were illegal.

“He started calling for security guards and demanded they expel us into the street. But security guards, unlike Lyashko, know the law and did not follow the order. They just stood aside, but Lyashko was grasping our hands and sleeves and thrust us out,” Balitsky said by phone.

Lyashko, a former presidential candidate, tossed the Russian journalists out of Verkhovna Rada building, yelling “shame on you” and “get out of here.”

Once in the street, Lyashko started shouting that “people with Russian passports can go back to Russia,” Balitsky added.

“[I] Kicked out agents of Russian FSB operating in Ukraine under the guise of journalists of the TV channel "Russia" from Verkhovna Rada. Because of propaganda and subversive activities of these "journalists" there is bloodshed Ukraine, so toss out these collaborators of the occupants," Lyashko wrote on his Facebook page after the incident.

Moscow has reacted to the incident, saying it expects a proper response from human rights organizations, including from the OSCE, to what happened in the Rada on Friday.

“[…] the attack by the radical parliament deputy on VGTRK journalists and previously the kidnapping by Ukrainian secret services of LifeNews journalists and Russian TV channels being blocked are the parts of one vicious chain,” Konstantin Dolgov, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s commissioner for human rights, said.

This is not the first time when Lyashko’s has made headlines in the press for his behavior.

In a recent accident, Lyashko heckled former boxer Vitaly Klitschko, who was sworn in as mayor of Kiev. As Klichko was making his speech, Lyashko came to the rostrum and tried to grab the microphone.

In March, Lyashko was involved in a scandal as he abducted regional MP Arsen Klinchev over his opposition to the coup-imposed government in Kiev.

Lyashko forced Klinchev to call on the protesters to take down the Russian flag and free the administration building, while the MP was denying any authority over the people.

“You're scum, that's what I say. Now tell your people to go out of the Lugansk administration. And make a good face now, nobody will give you money, retard,” Lyashko told the MP and then promised to hang him “by the balls” and “call an army to f**k you.”

READ ALSO: 'I'll hang you by the balls and have you f***ed' – Ukrainian presidential hopeful abducts pro-Russian MP

There's also footage of Oleg Lyashko interrogating one of the leaders of the Donetsk People’s Republic, Igor Khakmizyanov, half-naked and tied up, who was before that captured by one of Kiev’s military units.

Lyashko took part in May 25 presidential elections, where he came third with a little over 8 percent of the votes, after oligarch Petro Poroshenko and ex-PM Yulia Tymoshenko.

Lyashko was expelled from Tymoshenko’s Batkivschina (Fatherland) Party in 2010.

He also has a criminal record. In 1994 he was convicted of large-scale embezzlement and abuse of power and sentenced to six years in jail, but was amnestied a year later. His criminal record was expunged in 1998.

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as always. a lot can be gleamed of truth to the situation in the comments after the article. its why nowadays the msm almost always disables the comments section nowadays.

connecting dots

​US shale gas exports won’t solve EU energy problems – Barroso

Exports of liquefied natural gas from the US won't solve the EU’s energy security problems, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso said after the G7 meeting in Brussels.

Barroso said US President Barack Obama expressed readiness to increase the supply of natural gas to the EU at the March summit in Brussels, however the two leaders did not discuss the matter at their Thursday meeting in the framework of the G7.

This process will take a certain amount of time, the European Commission President said stressing the EU cannot create “the illusion that gas from the US is going to solve our problems.”

EU energy security has become a key issue amid the developing crisis in Ukraine. As a result of Kiev's substantial gas debt to Russia, the price for Ukraine was raised from $268.50 to $485.50 per 1,000 cubic meters in April after Russia cancelled two discounts. Kiev authorities have been demanding Moscow lower the rate, refusing to pay back the full debt until then.

Fifty percent of Europe’s gas supplies enter the continent via Ukraine from Russian supply lines. Ukraine’s debt may lead to the country’s failure of transit obligations and the reduction of gas supplies to south-eastern Europe, said Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak in April.

The EC President wrote in a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin in May that Gazprom should stick to existing contracts with Europe and gas supplies shouldn’t be interrupted.

“It … continues to be Gazprom’s responsibility to ensure the deliveries of the required volumes as agreed in the supply contracts with European companies,” Barroso wrote.

Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier dismissed speculation that US gas supplies to Europe will impact Russia’s gas supplies.

“In order to set up exports of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), infrastructure has to be created either side of the Atlantic, and everyone understands that. This will take both, time and money,” the Russian president told energy company executives during an industry panel in St. Petersburg, which was hosting the annual International Economic Forum.

Following the hydraulic fracturing boom in the US, which has seen it overtake Russia as the world’s biggest gas producer, Washington has reversed a long-standing restriction on gas exports. Seven companies have been given permission to export so far, and multiple LNG terminals, necessary for transporting gas overseas, are being built, with dozens more awaiting the go-ahead from regulators.

Despite the significance of the trend, it does not appear likely the US will replace Russia in the intermediate term. In order to do so the US would have to divert a quarter of its gas to Europe. Meanwhile, its first facility does not even open until late next year, with the majority of the first wave of LNG terminals scheduled to come online between 2017 and 2020.
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