Kiev Burning

[Cerebus]

The incident Donetsk sounds a bit suspicious...

Well despite what I posted about ethnic Russians being the aggressors, it seems Putin isn't going to let anything like facts stand in his way.

Russia issues warning after fatal clashes in Ukraine city of Donetsk

Tensions between Russia and Ukraine rose higher on Friday as casualties mounted from clashes between pro- and anti-Russian protesters in Donetsk and the Russian foreign ministry suggested it could intervene to protect lives.

The statement also hinted that Russian forces could intervene in eastern Ukraine to protect Russians there, the same justification used for sending troops to occupy key facilities in Crimea.

"Russia recognises its responsibility for the lives of countrymen and fellow citizens in Ukraine and reserves the right to take people under its protection," it said.

[Cerebus]

Russia Is Preparing to Invade East Ukraine, Estonia Says

Events in Ukraine “clearly show that the Russian Federation only accepts force,” Estonian Defense Minister Urmas Reinsalu said in an e-mailed statement today. To deter Putin, “a clear message needs to be sent that an attack will cost the aggressor dearly.”

[Cerebus]

Former employee of mine went back to Mother Russia after his work visa expired, sent me this and said it is making the social media rounds in Russia/Ukraine:

Also, is anyone still reading these? Should I continue posting or is it me and UNT90 just arguing in circles?

[CaribbeanGreen]

Yes. This thread is the best. I'm finally at a point where I'm getting the bulk of my news on a major global event from Cerebus on GMG, and that's such a wonderful and conflicting feeling

[forevereagle]

Please keep posting. I don't have anything to contribute, but I am getting a lot of good info here.

[Rudy]

Please keep posting. I don't have anything to contribute, but I am getting a lot of good info here.

Yes, please keep us updated. It is a lot of good infor. I don't have much to contribute outside of snappy one liners.

[Army of Dad]

Keep posting. Not EVERY thread has to be a A vs. B fight, it only seems that way in the Eagles Nest.

[Cerebus]

Someone is doing a hell of a job tracking sites and positions on this map: http://occupiedcrimea.blogspot.com/2014/03/calm-before-storm.html

The past 24 hours were more quiet as Russian Federation forces bulk up and dig in. In the past 2-3 days, Russian units have focused on securing telecommunications, radio facilities, surface-to-air missile sites, and fortifying large encampments at Dzhankoi Air Base and near the two border crossings in the North at Chondar and the Perkopskye peninsula around Armyansk. A key radio tower at Mount Ai-Petri controls air traffic control communication, and was seized by Russian special forces who demanded Ukraine units on site shut down equipment. Large convoys of BTRs arrive via ferry through Kerch and vehicles and gear have also arrived by ship through Sevastopol. Numerous IL-76 transport planes have been spotted intermittently squawking on civilian bands as they shuttle in and out of sites in Russia east of the Kerch strait. Late 13 March, the Coast Guard unit stationed in Kerch retreated to Mariupol (mainland Ukraine, Donetsk Oblast) with 18 ships and 300 souls to avoid capture or casualties.

Highlights:

Russia has moved heavily artillery to Perekop. The town sits at the narrowest point at which the Crimean Peninsula joins the mainland. Anyone want to move forces in/out will have to come under fire from them.

The Russian Federation 3rd Fighter Aviation Regiment has moved into the air base at Krymnsk. Outfitted with SU27s with the latest avionics. Hell of a fighter. Out matches the F16 and F15. F22s usually rely on AWACS based radar so they would have a major advantage over 27s, who have to paint the sky with their own radar. However we are the only people who have them, so if F22s ever engaged SU27s it would probably mean all out war, and we would see exactly how air survivable the AWACs are.

[Cerebus]

From the Kiev Post - Prime Minister: Ukraine engaged in talks with Pentagon and NATO on provision of military-technical aid

Ukraine is engaged in bilateral and multilateral talks with U.S. Defense Ministry and the related agencies of NATO concerning the provision of military-technical aid, Ukraine's Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk said at Boryspil airport on Friday.

[Cerebus]

Russian military mined the main gas pipe in the Crimea. Danger of a man-made disaster at the peninsula

Military intruders unearthed the main gas pipeline near Armiansk in Crimea.

If, God forbid, a gas pipeline explodes in this place, the exclusion zone will become a devastated wasteland and additionally, most of the Crimea will be left without any gas”, said Serhiy Golovin, Chairman of the Board at “Chornomornaftogaz “

ETA: If you are wonder what the hell Chornomornaftogaz is:

State production enterprise “Chornomornaftogaz” was established in 1979 in order to develop Black Sea and the Sea of Azov hydrocarbon resources.

“Chornomornaftogaz” carries out operations as unified production and economic system offshore Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, fulfils explorations and production drilling, constructs offshore fixed platforms, develops and operates gas and oil fields, transports the produced gas to consumers and injects into the underground gas storage.

Edited March 14, 2014 by Cerebus

[Cerebus]

Paranoia leads Vladimir Putin to the point of no return

As Sunday’s referendum, in which the people of Crimea will decide whether to join Russia, approaches, the images on Russian television are astonishing. They are more propagandistic and venomous than anything I can remember even from Soviet times. Breathless presenters whip up hysteria with bloodcurdling stories of atrocities being committed by the “neo-Nazi junta” now governing Ukraine. Overheated “victims” beg Putin to help, kindly Russians offer to give refuge to the terrified people fleeing Ukraine, and menacing music accompanies montages of swastikas, fascist thugs armed with clubs, and black-and-white images of Hitler’s troops and burning villages.

Putin has been convinced ever since the Orange Revolution in 2004, followed by the Moscow protests of late 2011, that there is, in one of his advisers’ words, a “Destroy Russia” project. And he is next on the list.

Very interesting article written by a former Kremlin adviser. I recommend everyone in this thread read it.

[Cerebus]

So Russia's foreign minister said it has "no plans" to invade eastern Ukraine today. If they did "invade," would they call it that?

— Mike Giglio (@mike_giglio)

March 14, 2014

In Donetsk, security official tells me they think agents of Russian FSB involved in "shadow activity" here + meeting locals to push protests

— Mike Giglio (@mike_giglio)

March 14, 2014

[Cerebus]

Interesting series of tweets:

Rostec: "US surveillance drone intercepted above Crimea, flying at about 4,000 metres. It was possible to break the link with US operators"

— Kevin Bishop (@bishopk)

March 14, 2014

Interfax (Russian text) article on interception of US drone over #Crimea - http://t.co/ItpFJX0QOW

— Kevin Bishop (@bishopk)

March 14, 2014

Pentagon denying the reports of a US drone intercepted over Crimea

— Kevin Bishop (@bishopk)

March 14, 2014

[Cerebus]

Here is a video from Kerch, a city on the eastern edge of the Crimea.

That very distinctive piece of long range love is the 2A65, of which there are less than 300 of in the entire Russian Federation army. They are only deployed to three units.

• 9th AB in Leningrad Oblast.
• 288th AB in Novgorod Oblast
• 291st AB in Maykop... wait a minute, directly across the straits from Kerch!

They must have gotten lost, and accidentally drove the short distance across the Black Sea. Either that or Russia just got caught red-handed moving more military units into Crimea.

[UNT90]

Former employee of mine went back to Mother Russia after his work visa expired, sent me this and said it is making the social media rounds in Russia/Ukraine:

Also, is anyone still reading these? Should I continue posting or is it me and UNT90 just arguing in circles?

I don't think we are arguing that much. I simply doubt the resolve of the USA and her EU allies to sanction Russia and then enforce those sanctions. Obviously, if economic sanctions can possibly work, have at it. My fear is that this will just escalate the pace at which Putin re-annexes former Soviet "states."

Want to keep the peasants mind off how bad the economy is? Create a bigger monster (NATO and the US) to divert their attention.

Sanctions also give him motive to invade other countries to take their resources.

Frankly, I believe the only thing Putin understands is military force. I think he would be far more likely to listen to a military leader telling him that there is no good military outcome from an invasion than he would an economic adviser trying to explain how the latest American boycott is going to affect the Russian economy, but I could be wrong.

[H-towngreen]

What is the worlds next move on this? We've allowed Russia to build up there defenses and dig in now for 2 weeks. We've basically threatened sanctions at this point.

Are we waiting to see how the vote turns out? I can guess it will end up looking like the latest North Korean vote. If the vote goes in Russia's favor if and when do they move east?

[H-towngreen]

Former employee of mine went back to Mother Russia after his work visa expired, sent me this and said it is making the social media rounds in Russia/Ukraine:

Also, is anyone still reading these? Should I continue posting or is it me and UNT90 just arguing in circles?

Yes, keep them coming! This is an interesting event that I feel isn't getting enough pub

[FirefightnRick]

Former employee of mine went back to Mother Russia after his work visa expired, sent me this and said it is making the social media rounds in Russia/Ukraine:

Also, is anyone still reading these? Should I continue posting or is it me and UNT90 just arguing in circles?

Yes, keep going!

Rick

[greenminer]

keep posting!

[UNT90]

http://www.star-telegram.com/2014/03/15/5651532/russian-propaganda-war-in-full.html

Straight up Soviet, yo...

[KRAM1]

Sure reminds me of another time in history when a dictatorial but popular leader took over territory from neighboring nations to "protect" those of a like ethnic background. History does indeed repeat and the world just sits and does nothing. The parallels are chilling.

Anyone who thinks that if Putin gets away with this that he will stop here needs to re-think that and read a bit if history.

"Peace in our time" ... Yep, heard that once before. How'd that work out for those who sat and did nothing?

[UNT90]

Which is why you got to stand up at some point. There have been other world leaders with the Hitler gene since WWII, but they have all been in smaller, manageable countries where their aggression could be contained. The scary thing about Putin is he is beginning to show this gene at work, and he is in charge of one of the world's superpowers.

[FirefightnRick]

ABC:"Russian Deputy PM Laughs at Obama Sanctions "

http://abcnews.go.com/m/blogEntry?id=22944509

MOSCOW - Russia's deputy prime minister laughed off President Obama's sanction against him today asking "Comrade @BarackObama" if "some prankster" came up with the list.....

Rick

Edited March 18, 2014 by FirefightnRick

[KRAM1]

Sanctions? Those are Sanctions? The Russians are correct....those are a joke! Are you kidding me? I'll bet Putin is shaking all the way to the Kremlin and his next strategy session. The Russians are laughing and rightfully so. If Obama had been Prez instead of Reagan at the time, the USSR would still be in full swing. Weakest president in the history of this nation. Guy has absolutely ZERO clue when it comes to foreign policy....the Israeli's figured him out long ago. The Russians just took a bit longer.

Maybe he can just "sit down and talk" with Putin and Assad....that "talking to them" thing seems to working out really well. Just can't wait for his next "red line" speech. Powerful...powerful.

[UNT90]

Putin understands Pres. Obama, and Pres. Obama seems to have no clue on Putin. Or Mayve he does, but just doesn't want to make a hard decision with midterm elections coming up and an American culture that really doesn't want to stand up for or to anything if anyone.