Civil War in Ukraine: Western Empire vs Russia

[Voyageur]

Military experts believe that such a configuration of the troops is typical for an offensive.

90,000 NAZI UKRAINE JUNTA TOY SOLDIERS ON THE FRONT LINES
http://novorossia.today/90-000-nazi-ukraine-junta-toy-soldiers-front-lines/

[...]

I would agree, and a configuration such as that needs a massive amount of continuous and expensive logistical support; they would have aircraft support and Western/NATO backed advisors and mercenaries. If someone in Kiev gives the command to go on the offensive, this horde would have the potential to cause havoc to no end. Either way, their aim seems to be to goat Russia to react. There likely would be a point were Russia might have to say enough is enough, yet I don't know how that would play out.

Whatever the case, something needs to help shift this balance - the world has to say enough already of this and send these Nazis hordes back into whatever dark hole they crawled out of. The global media needs to be held to account for their lock-step propaganda in helping to propagate the lies and this madness, yet they seem to be to far down the dark path to suddenly right their wrongs,. And besides, people currently seem to be far to sleepy to notice a thing - yet I don't count people out as they can do the unexpected.

If Russia were to react though, what could the West really do anyway - beat their chests and cry fowl? Nevertheless, the West has to know the suicide of their pathological actions if they were to counter the Russians. It is also likely, despite appearances in the press, that leaders and people in other surrounding countries well remember their history and would welcome the gates of hell opening up and swallow up these Nazi remnant hordes while giving NATO the boot. And it is a fair bet there would be some in the U.S. now that might say behind the scene to Russia, do what you have to do, despite any negative press that would result.

May cooler heads prevail.

 

[angelburst29]

I would agree, and a configuration such as that needs a massive amount of continuous and expensive logistical support; they would have aircraft support and Western/NATO backed advisors and mercenaries. If someone in Kiev gives the command to go on the offensive, this horde would have the potential to cause havoc to no end. Either way, their aim seems to be to goat Russia to react. There likely would be a point were Russia might have to say enough is enough, yet I don't know how that would play out.

Whatever the case, something needs to help shift this balance - the world has to say enough already of this and send these Nazis hordes back into whatever dark hole they crawled out of. The global media needs to be held to account for their lock-step propaganda in helping to propagate the lies and this madness, yet they seem to be to far down the dark path to suddenly right their wrongs,. And besides, people currently seem to be far to sleepy to notice a thing - yet I don't count people out as they can do the unexpected.

If Russia were to react though, what could the West really do anyway - beat their chests and cry fowl? Nevertheless, the West has to know the suicide of their pathological actions if they were to counter the Russians. It is also likely, despite appearances in the press, that leaders and people in other surrounding countries well remember their history and would welcome the gates of hell opening up and swallow up these Nazi remnant hordes while giving NATO the boot. And it is a fair bet there would be some in the U.S. now that might say behind the scene to Russia, do what you have to do, despite any negative press that would result.

May cooler heads prevail.

Evidence does seem to point in the direction of Poroshenko, with the help of NATO, trying to provoke Russia. Might be part of the reason Kiev has increased it's attacks in Donbass, even riding their tanks into town, after killing another top military officer? All signs of desperation.

I think, Poroshenko realizes his usefulness has come to an end (since Hillary didn't get in the WH) and Trump wants him "out"? Without Poroshenko, NATO's time in Ukraine is limited because Ukraine isn't in NATO and Poroshenko had to sign a decree and have Parliament pass a resolution to allow foreign troops in Ukraine. On the other hand, given the article below - other Ukrainian Oligarchy want Poroshenko impeached. Looks like Viktor Pinchuk is willing to run for the Presidential spot, with the other Oligarchy's behind Pinchuk. Plus, they are willing to approach and compromise with Russia. A nightmare scenario for Poroshenko and NATO.

The quoted, "90,000 NAZI UKRAINE JUNTA TOY SOLDIERS ON THE FRONT LINES" reminds me of "Custer's Last Stand" when he under estimated his opponent and almost lost everyone of his soldiers? Question is - Is Kiev and NATO stupid enough to take on Russia? I see it as a dangerous situation - right now?

Kiev between America and Russia: Part 3 - How the Ukrainian Oligarchy will Sacrifice Poroshenko for Trump
http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/02/kiev-between-america-and-russia-part-3.html

The change of administration in the White House and the Ukrainian establishment’s support for the former Democratic administration and Hillary Clinton's candidacy have led to the biggest foreign policy fiasco of President Prosohenko in the entire history of post-Maidan Ukraine. This massive failure has spurred domestic political turbulence and intensified the activities of the opposition and oligarchical and regional groups in Ukraine.

On January 18th, people’s deputy and former member of the Petro Poroshenko Bloc, Viktor Chumak, delivered a speech in front of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. From the tribune, he read an appeal to the president signed by 22 people’s deputies from Petro Poroshenko's own parliamentary bloc. The co-signing deputies demanded that Poroshenko adopt a law on impeachment, hold a referendum, and lift parliamentary immunity. According to Chumak, over the past two and half years since the president’s election and the two years of work of the current convocation of the Rada, the president and his political group have not fulfilled their election promises.

In other words, Petro Poroshenko has essentially been given an ultimatum. After all, a law on impeachment would be directed against none other than himself. What’s more, it appears like the mounting criticism being hurled at the president is based on the anti-oligarchical slogans recycled from the Euromaidan.

Anti-oligarchical criticism in Ukraine is always organized by oligarchs themselves. In this case, according to Ukrainian political analysts, the oligarchs Viktor Pinchuk, Igor Kolomoysky, Dmitry Firtash, and Viktor Baloga stand behind this parliamentary move, having concluded a “pact” to overthrow Poroshenko. It is worth recalling that Kolomoysky became Poroshenko’s main opponent immediately after the coup d’etat of February 2014. However, due to heavy US pressure, Kolomoysky was compelled to refrain from active opposition and slide into the shadows.

Today, it is Viktor Pinchuk, a Dnepropetrovsk oligarch, the son-in-law of ex-President Kuchma, and the former chairman of the Jewish Congress of Ukraine, who claims the role of the main opponent of the regime. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal at the end of December last year, Pinchuk offered a position of compromise with Russia, something for which he was subjected to harsh criticism in Ukrainian official mass media.

If we accept the theory put forth by Ukrainian political analysts that the oligarchs are unifying against Poroshenko, then we can draw the following conclusions: this united force wields powerful financial, media (control over a number of print and electronic media), political (control over groups of deputies in the Verkhovna Rada), and fighting potential (the private armies sponsored by them and the Ukrainian neo-Nazi volunteer battalions). The combination of these resources allows them to unleash a discrediting campaign against Poroshenko both in Ukraine and abroad. If the need arises, the oligarchs could not only instigate local social conflicts in Kiev and the regions, but also organize massive protest actions in the capital supported by militants. Simultaneously, the deputies of the Verkhovna Rada controlled by them will increase criticism of Poroshenko. This scenario is possible provided that the White House offers its approval.

 

[Voyageur]

Evidence does seem to point in the direction of Poroshenko, with the help of NATO, trying to provoke Russia. Might be part of the reason Kiev has increased it's attacks in Donbass, even riding their tanks into town, after killing another top military officer? All signs of desperation.

I think, Poroshenko realizes his usefulness has come to an end (since Hillary didn't get in the WH) and Trump wants him "out"? Without Poroshenko, NATO's time in Ukraine is limited because Ukraine isn't in NATO and Poroshenko had to sign a decree and have Parliament pass a resolution to allow foreign troops in Ukraine. On the other hand, given the article below - other Ukrainian Oligarchy want Poroshenko impeached. Looks like Viktor Pinchuk is willing to run for the Presidential spot, with the other Oligarchy's behind Pinchuk. Plus, they are willing to approach and compromise with Russia. A nightmare scenario for Poroshenko and NATO.

The quoted, "90,000 NAZI UKRAINE JUNTA TOY SOLDIERS ON THE FRONT LINES" reminds me of "Custer's Last Stand" when he under estimated his opponent and almost lost everyone of his soldiers? Question is - Is Kiev and NATO stupid enough to take on Russia? I see it as a dangerous situation - right now?

While I agree that Poroshenko sees what he is up against (Trump gave him a bit of a snub), his days may indeed be numbered. However, what is going on behind the curtain with the likes of ex Washington insiders, neocons and pathocrates like McCain, is another matter (something/someone motivated the mass military buildup in the East). Are these American elements sending him signals that may lead him to go in one direction, I don't know. As for NATO, they have to know they would be crushed under a big retaliatory conflagration, so can't see them doing anything other than their saber rattling for appearances and trying to get close to the bear as previously commanded to do. Your correct though, it's a damn dangerous game to be playing and if things do get out of hand those 90,000 don't stand a chance - so yeah, could be their last stand!

Kiev between America and Russia: Part 3 - How the Ukrainian Oligarchy will Sacrifice Poroshenko for Trump
http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/02/kiev-between-america-and-russia-part-3.html

Anti-oligarchical criticism in Ukraine is always organized by oligarchs themselves. In this case, according to Ukrainian political analysts, the oligarchs Viktor Pinchuk, Igor Kolomoysky, Dmitry Firtash, and Viktor Baloga stand behind this parliamentary move, having concluded a “pact” to overthrow Poroshenko. It is worth recalling that Kolomoysky became Poroshenko’s main opponent immediately after the coup d’etat of February 2014. However, due to heavy US pressure, Kolomoysky was compelled to refrain from active opposition and slide into the shadows.

Today, it is Viktor Pinchuk, a Dnepropetrovsk oligarch, the son-in-law of ex-President Kuchma, and the former chairman of the Jewish Congress of Ukraine, who claims the role of the main opponent of the regime. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal at the end of December last year, Pinchuk offered a position of compromise with Russia, something for which he was subjected to harsh criticism in Ukrainian official mass media.

If we accept the theory put forth by Ukrainian political analysts that the oligarchs are unifying against Poroshenko, then we can draw the following conclusions: this united force wields powerful financial, media (control over a number of print and electronic media), political (control over groups of deputies in the Verkhovna Rada), and fighting potential (the private armies sponsored by them and the Ukrainian neo-Nazi volunteer battalions). The combination of these resources allows them to unleash a discrediting campaign against Poroshenko both in Ukraine and abroad. If the need arises, the oligarchs could not only instigate local social conflicts in Kiev and the regions, but also organize massive protest actions in the capital supported by militants. Simultaneously, the deputies of the Verkhovna Rada controlled by them will increase criticism of Poroshenko. This scenario is possible provided that the White House offers its approval.

That's an interesting point, osit. Should new signals from the U.S. be sent to the oligarchs and back-channels to Russia, and it may be happening. With the new EU development banks moves (and the IMF) along with China buying up the Ukraine development bank (the only bidder), the oligarchs and global corporations et al may be signaling to cut their losses and fold up the whole Kiev disaster and start anew. What will become of the thugs?, they will not like it and am not sure if they can be motivated as described above, yet if they are well paid they might. If something like this were to happen, those neo-Nazi elements will still be a short and long term problem for the East, Crimea and the Russians.

 

[thorbiorn]

As could be expected, it seems the leadership of Poland is loosing contact with their people, as has happened elsewhere.

Volunteer Anti-Banderite Patrols sweep Poland
February 11, 2017 - Fort Russ News -
By J. Arnoldski -

Since the Maidan coup d'etat in February 2014, the launch of Kiev's war on Donbass, and the ensuing collapse of the Ukrianian economy, nearly two million Ukrainians have immigrated to Poland.

The massive influx of Ukrainians has been accompanied by a growing number of scandals and provocations involving Ukrainian migrants professing neo-Banderite views.

At the March of Ukrainians in Przemysl, Poland on June 26th, 2016, Banderites confronted counter-protesting Poles with the chant: "Poland has not yet perished yet, but it has to!" (a distortion of the Polish anthem's line "Poland has not perished yet"). In another telling instance, the infamous Ukrainian neo-Banderite leader, Dmitry Yarosh, promised Poles "a second Katyn massacre" while his paramilitary gangs were being armed, trained, and funded by Polish security services on Polish territory. In August, the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance announced its organizing of tours of "ethnic Ukrainian lands belonging to Poland," thus threatening to spread Ukrainian neo-Nazi networks to Poland.

For Poles, this is no laughing matter. During the Second World War, Stepan Bandera's Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and Ukrainian Insurgent Army murdered hundreds of thousands of Poles in what is today Western Ukraine. This was finally recognized by Poland's parliament as genocide only in July 2016 despite Kiev's feverish opposition. Nevertheless, Bandera flags are still brandished freely by Ukrainians in Poland at sports matches, for example:

While the Polish state continues to support the Kiev junta, Polish activists have taken matters into their own hands. The first major action took place in August 2015, when Polish activists organized armed anti-Banderite patrols on the Poland-Ukraine border. Now, in February 2017, the Volunteer Anti-Banderite Patrols movement has appeared on the scene.
[...]

 

[thorbiorn]

Minsk 2 celebrates two years, and here is an interesting analysis of the result:

Two Years since Minsk 2: Who Wins with "No Peace, No War"?
February 13, 2017 -
Rostislav Ishchenko, RIA Analytics - translated, sub-titles edited by J. Arnoldski -

Two years ago on February 11th-12th 2015 at a meeting in Minsk, the leaders of the states of the so-called Normandy Four signed a document entitled “Set of Measures for Fulfilling the Minsk Agreements” which soon acquired the nickname "Minsk 2". Since then, Minsk 2 has been all but buried - yet it is still in force to this day. Only Kiev has loudly expressed its desire to actually cancel the agreement, but Minsk 2 has a good chance of outliving the Ukrainian state.

Why is the stability of the agreements negatively (or suspiciously) perceived by a greater part of active society not only in Ukraine, but also in Russia and the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics? How is the contradiction solved when an unpopular agreement turns out to be more stable than some states?

Who agreed with whom and on what?

Let’s turn our attention to the original format of the preparation and signing of Minsk 2. The text of the document was agreed upon during a meeting of the Normandy Four - Russia, Germany, France, and Ukraine. Yet it was signed by representatives of Ukraine and the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics. Moreover, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko also took part in deliberations on the text even though he himself would not sign it - for Ukraine does not officially recognize the existence of the DPR/LPR and does not hold negotiations with them.

In other words, the agreements were signed by some states but are supposed to be fulfilled by others. Meanwhile, one of the parties of the agreement (Ukraine) does not recognize the other (DPR/LPR) as a participant in the negotiation process.

Russia, France, and Germany have been the guarantors of the agreements’ realization, the aim of which has been declared to be de-escalating the armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine. The guarantor countries, as well as the DPR and LPR, believe that the conflict is a civil war. Yet Ukraine’s official positions, meanwhile, is that the conflict is provoked by “Russian aggression.”

As we can see, already at the stage of agreeing to and signing the document, the positions of the involved parties diverged on several key issues: (1) the qualification of the nature of the conflict, the (2) defining its direct participants, and (3) the aims of settling the conflict.

Two other Minsk's...

Yet this is not the only Minsk format for settling conflicts in the post-Soviet space with Russia’s participation. The most famous, but not the only ones, include the Minsk format agreements on Transnistria and Karabakh.

In both of these cases, a long-term ceasefire and transition of the conflict from an armed to a political form were achieved - despite the fact that the contact line in Karabakh faces the occasional aggravation and the parties regularly threaten each other with weapons; despite the fact that in Chisinau there is periodical talk about the military option of regaining Transnistria and the periodical arrangement of economic and transport blockades; and despite the fact that the positions of negotiating parties practically do not show any trend towards rapprochement; and despite the fact that no exit from political and diplomatic impasse is evident in the foreseeable future.

The degree of intensity of confrontation in Karabkah and Transnistria does not at all compare to what is happening in Donbass, where the Minsk Agreements have not been able to halt combat operations. Fighting has continued in the form of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' terroristic shelling of Donbass cities and periodic clashes between infantry units on the contact line.

This dramatic difference is due precisely to the fact that in the Karabakh and Transnistria cases, the direct participants in the process recognized each other as sides of the conflict and held negotiations, albeit with aids, nevertheless directly with one another. The futility of a military solutions was recognized by both sides of the conflict, each of who had no illusions about whom it was fighting.

Relieving EU-Russia tension

In the case of the Minsk Agreements for settling the conflict in Ukraine, the positions of Moscow, Paris, and Berlin boil down to the need for Ukraine to discuss peace directly with the insurgent people of Donbass. Yet Kiev believes that Russia must stop supporting the people’s republics and return control over the border between Russia and the DPR/LPR so that Ukraine could then quickly “resolve the issue” by military means. In other ones, Ukraine originally considered Minsk 2 to be a political-diplomatic guarantee of a military solution to the conflict.

Clearly, in such a situation, there could not have been any stable resolution on the basis of the Minsk terms, and any kind of long-term ceasefire became an unattainable dream. If everything had depended on Ukraine, then the Minsk Agreements would have long been scrapped long ago.

But the point is that the Minsk Agreements were not concluded between Kiev and Donetsk and Lugansk, but were dictated to them by Moscow, Berlin, and Paris. These three guarantor countries based their actions on the need to find a compromise between themselves first and foremost, i.e., relieve the tension between Russia and the EU.

This succeeded overall. In 2015 in Minsk, the EU and Russia concluded a truce on the Ukrainian front and began to develop a common position on the format for the future resolution of the conflict.

Because of the profound contradictions first and foremost on the issue of who should pay for the restoration of the Ukrainian economy - the essential basis of any statehood - Paris, Berlin, and Moscow were limited to political-diplomatic maneuvering in anticipation of changes in the general geopolitical situation and changes in the balance of forces in the Ukrainian civil war.

Russia wins the "external front"

I’ve repeatedly said and written that victory in the Ukrainian crisis will be claimed by he who wins in Syria. The Syrian crisis is the reference point of global confrontation. Control over Syria ensures control over the Middle East. Consequently, the global strategic situation changes drastically in favor of the winner in Syria.

The Ukrainian situation will become a meaningless burden for the loser in Syria, a kind of black hole devouring scarce resources with no returns. Thus arises the need to escape it without further or at least minimal losses.

It is precisely this retreat that Europe and the US are now busy with. It is even very likely that the Trump Administration will try to bargain the terms of its final drop-out from playing an active role in the Ukrainian party and will simply try to minimize its repeutational and material losses that have already been incurred by the US' participation in the Ukrainian crisis.

Thus, the external contour of the Ukrainian crisis has been won by Russia over the past two years of the Minsk Agreements. Similarly, the internal contour is practically won. The Minsk Agreements were entirely consciously written in such a way so that any attempt to implement them would lead to conflict between the oligarchical government in Kiev and its armed Nazi support. The longer and more actively that Kiev tries to maneuver in the international arena, the stronger these maneuvers stimulate internal political contradictions.

As the confrontation between the oligarchic Ukrainian government and the Nazi driving force of the February 2014 coup is given overlapped by gradually growing oligarchic contradictions caused by the depletion of the resources of the Ukrainian state, then the domestic political conflict in Kiev will become insoluble within the oligarchic-Nazi compromise.

Then all that remains is waiting for the moment when the contradictions accumulated in Ukrainian domestic politics will blow up the boiler of virtual stability.

Ukraine - just a detail

Let us draw attention to another important detail of the Minsk process. The situation has unfolded in such a way that changes in the foreign policy interests of Ukraine’s European and American allies have had a negative impact on Ukrainian domestic politics by weakening the position of the central government. At the same time, the progressing political paralysis of the Kiev center has narrowed Ukraine’s allies’ space for domestic political maneuvering.

As a result, at the end of January 2017, all the great powers involved in settling the Ukrainian crisis reached a common position on implementing the Minsk Agreements: they should be executed as prescribed. Kiev’s desire to first regain border control will not be satisfied by anyone, and Ukraine will bear responsibility for violating all the schedules of the agreements. And there will be no Minsk 3 under any circumstances.

This is the common position of Russia, the EU, and the US. Kept by the players with only tactical differences, it leaves Kiev no hope. Poroshenko has finally lost the ability to use foreign policy and military factors for stabilizing his regime.

Moreover, any regime that comes to power after Poroshenko - if it will try to position itself as an all-Ukrainian government - will have to swear allegiance to the Minsk Agreements. Final rejection of the agreements could happen only when Ukraine disappears. In such a case, the absence of one of the subjects of the negotiation process would allow for a radical change of the situation of the Ukrainian crisis and the development of a new international mechanism for containment and settlement.

In this variant, Russia would occupy the most advantageous position after having been able to not only maintain, but strengthen the DPR and LPR against the backdrop of a Ukraine disintegrating despite the support of the collective West.

Thus, on the second anniversary of the universally unloved Minsk Agreements, the straightforward question of “When will Minsk end?” has become “When will Ukraine end?”

 

[thorbiorn]

The US Government apparently knew in the 1950'ies that they could not expect much support in Crimea and Donbas

http://<iframe width="560" height="...E8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

06.02.2017
The US has declassified a 200-page CIA report, named Resistance Factors and Special Forces Areas. Ukraine. It is described in details there in which regions people would support anti-Soviet special operations. Ukraine has been divided into 12 so-called 'loyalty zones'.
In August 1957 the report was written by a group of researchers of the Georgetown University at the request of the Department of the Army. The document fully analyzed prospects of carrying out anti-Soviet armed struggle in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic by the US special forces in order to orchestrate an anti-Soviet revolt. It is noted, that in total Ukrainians are critical of the Soviet authorities. Under favourable conditions, these people may help the US special forces to combat the Soviet regime, the report says.
The Crimea and part of Donbass - industrial regions of the Lugansk and Donetsk regions, were recognized by the Americans as the most loyal to the Soviet regime. The first region where the US special forces may get significant support are left-bank Poltava, Chernigiv and Sumy regions, as well as a right-bank Kirovograd one and part of the Vinnytsya region.
The so-called 8 Zone was named as more anti-Soviet. It comprised the Kyiv, Cherkassy, Zhytomyr and Khmelnytsk regions. The most anti-Soviet mood was ascribed to three Galician regions, these are the Lviv, Ternopil and Ivano-Frankivsk ones.

Pravda.Ru

That was 60 years ago, but some are still trying, as you will see from the following, where the US state representatives, John McCain and Lindsay Graham are acting their best to start a war:

http://<iframe width="560" height="...uk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Voyageur]

The US Government apparently knew in the 1950'ies that they could not expect much support in Crimea and Donbas

Interesting, so back then they had already dissected the population and could plan around it, possibly see if their Gladio network could stir things up.

That was 60 years ago, but some are still trying, as you will see from the following, where the US state representatives, John McCain and Lindsay Graham are acting their best to start a war:

http://<iframe width="560" height="...uk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

What's with these guys, especially McCain. This pathological man has helped orchestrate more violent horror in our world in resent times and yet he is untouchable. He is the MIC's top Washington insider salesmen - a devil in disguise among the faithful.

 

[thorbiorn]

Sometimes there are rumours of Russian hacking, but here there are some people that are proud and to quite an extent proove they have hacked many kinds of websites in Russia: https://informnapalm.org/en/cyberwar-top-operations-of-ukrainian-cyber-alliance-uca-in-2016/

 

[angelburst29]

"Fairy Tale is Over": US starts sanctioning Ukrainian politicians
http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/02/fairy-tale-is-over-us-to-start.html

The cancellation of the scandalous Ukrainian politician Oleg Lyashko’s 10-year US visa might be related to his corrupt activities. In addition, Lyashko is only one of many, including new and honest Ukrainian politicians who might be prohibited from appearing in the United States.

This is the opinion of senior analyst for the Center for Future Studies, Anatoly Oktisyuk. According to Oktisyuk: “Rumors are going around in the diplomatic field that Lyashko’s US visa was revoked due to the fact that Washington considers him one of the most corrupt politicians in Ukraine, and because his positions change like the weather on various important decisions - such as the adoption of the budget and others. This really irritates Western partners.”

Oktisyuk also predicts that Lyashko will not be the last Ukrainian politician to not be allowed in to the US.

“This year, our Western allies are planning to very seriously take up the question of political corruption in Ukraine, and it cannot be ruled out that other people will follow Lyashko. For example, people from the president’s entourage such as Kononeko, Granovsky, Berezenko, Dovgy, i.e., all the most notorious functionaries,” Oktisyuk suggested.

“I know that the Euro-optimists openly tell all ambassadors and diplomats that our Western partners need to impose individual sanctions against people complicit in political corruption. Therefore, I do not rule out the possibility that similar decisions will subsequently be made in respect to other politicians,” Oktisyuk said.

Ukrainian political expert Taras Zagorodny believes that the reasons for Lyashko’s visa revocation might be political: “We need to see what Lyashko said about Clinton and Trump, because many politicians couldn't keep their mouths shut. Perhaps this is a signal to all politicians, and Lyashko has simply been the test subject. They’ve showed the whole Ukrainian political scene that they will punish those who interfered in the US elections, and this is only the first punishment. Next will most likely follow more stringent measures, because Manafort, whom they so carelessly flung charges at, is still in Trump’s entourage and is most likely working on the Ukrainian question.”

“Therefore, this is an illustration of a paradigm shift. Relations will be tougher because many have learned what is going on in our country. The fairy tale has ended and the true story is beginning, and we’ll have to start paying bills. I think that now many politicians who are trying to get to America will be surprised to find out that they can’t,” the expert concluded.

Kiev may consider withdrawing its complaint in the World Trade Organization (WTO) against Russia if Moscow lifts all restrictive measures on the transit of Ukrainian goods to third countries via its territory, Ukrainian Trade Representative Nataliya Mykolska said Tuesday.

Kiev May Withdraw WTO Complaint Against Russia If Moscow Lifts Transit Sanctions
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201702151050685670-kiev-wto-complaint-russia-transit-sanctions/

Last week, Ukraine lodged a demand with the WTO to form an expert group to deal with the Russian freight restrictions on Ukrainian transits to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, according to the Ukrainian Economic Development and Trade Ministry.

"If Russia’s stance changes during the dispute settlement procedures, there is an option of the peaceful settlement in the WTO. If they [Russia] are ready to lift [transit restrictions], we will recall our lawsuit," Mykolska told to 5 Kanal broadcaster.

In September 2016, Kiev began dispute proceedings against Russia over rail and road transit restrictions imposed on Kazakhstan-bound goods coming from Ukraine at the start of the year. The restrictions, signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin on January 1 and renewed in July, were imposed after the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement came into force and opened a free trade zone between Europe and Ukraine. The restrictions cover goods subject to tariffs or those included in Russia's trade embargo on EU products.

Ukraine claimed the restrictions violated WTO rules and caused the country economic damage amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars.

Ukrainian armed forces have suffered losses in a failed attempt to attack the positions of the armed forces of the DPR in the area near Kominternovo village, on the southern front. This was stated by Eduard Basurin, deputy commander of the operations.

Ukraine attacks positions in DPR near Kominternovo
http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/02/ukraine-attacks-positions-in-dpr-near_14.html

"Yesterday, at 15 hours and 20 minutes, the Natzguardia along with units of the regiment 'Azov', attacked units of the armed forces of the DPR, in the village of Kominternovo. Enemy losses thus amounted to five killed and three wounded.", said Basurin

Basurin said that the enemy was forced to retreat.

2 defenders of the Army of the Donetsk People’s Republic perished, one more wounded for the last 24 hours as a result of shelling by Kiev troops. It was reported yesterday evening by the deputy DPR Command-In-Chief Eduard Basurin.

2 losses in the DPR Army for the last 24 hours
http://novorossia.today/2-losses-in-the-dpr-army-for-the-last-24-hours/

The severest shelling was at the Donetsk direction. Airport, Petrovskiy district, Yasinovataya, Spartak, Krutaya Balka were under the shelling.

Gorlovka direction was also targeted. And people in the south of the republic are still suffereing as a result of criminal actions of Ukrainian military units.

 

[thorbiorn]

On this page from Informnapalm _http://bit.ly/2kKE3nG I saw a link to an open source interactive map _http://liveuamap.com which has icons to places where some events are taking place. If one selects to see what is the situation in Ukraine, then in Eastern Ukraine there is a pink strip which I guess must be the contact line established in Minsk 2. On the map I have cut out and attached, you will see the area of Adiivka or Adeevka (The first spelling is now the one used on Twitter hashtags, the latter terminated in february 2015.) The link with which I introduced the post claims that a person enlisted with the Rosgvardiya was in the area: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Guard_of_Russia or _http://rosgvard.ru/
On _http://bit.ly/2lPxzF0 they post a barrage of news pieces as seen from the Kiev perspective. The spokesperson is Dmitry Tymchuk, Kiev.

We know how many soldiers that DPR/LPR estimates are ligned up on the side of Kiev forces. What does the other side say about the DPR/LNR forces? They say there are about 36000 soldiers of which 1/12 are RF troops. There should be 1000 pieces of artillery, 900 armoured vehicles, 380 tanks and 350 rocket lauchers, source is _http://bit.ly/2l4iL5y On this page _http://bit.ly/2kKFZN7 they also list the military. This page estimates about 5.000 RF soldiers.

In 2014, some of the equipment, MLRS, did not have to get into Ukraine to be of use according to this analysis: _http://bit.ly/2lhXyaF
In general new equipment has come in within the last three years: _http://bit.ly/2cUAp8w It happens in many was as one can imagine, train, road.
In this video _http://bit.ly/2lk9RCZ , by a person aligned with Kiev, there are Google shots and a story to explain in part how the equipment came in 2014-2015. I have been wondering if those Google pictures were from the standared Google Earth or if there is a paid version with more fresh pictures, or it the pictures were forwarded in some way???
In this video from Informnapalm, _http://bit.ly/2gKNYY2 , there is a mention from which groups the personnel came from. These pages are probably assisted by specialists who are very professional, but they also have a goal, notice the allusion to the BUK and MH17 this does not add up to what else is known about the event, likewise there can be other inaccuracies. There is another page where there are documents on this issue: fx _http://bit.ly/2dYAwjh or _http://bit.ly/2ljYHhE

Russian and Ukrainian "military speak" for a dead soldier is 200, gruz 200 (cargo 200) is used to refer to transport of a coffin with a dead soldier. Using this information one can find pages and youtubes. Total losses are not known: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_military_intervention_in_Ukraine_(2014–present). In this article http://thesaker.is/ukrainian-army-losses-in-ato-anti-terrorist-operation-according-to-the-iisss-military-balance/ there is a calculation of Ukraine in the middle of May 2016 at about 30000. DNR/LNR are very unkown. RF losses there have also been, although these claims are from early 2015: _http://bit.ly/2li0ggG

Let us suppose that a lot of Ukrainians have left, then if we say there are 30 million in Ukraine and say they over a period of two years lost 30.000, then that translates to about 50/100000 per year, then we add 5 more for the usual killings and arrive at 55, which means the homicide rate is less than in Honduras, El Salvador and Venezuela according to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_intentional_homicide_rate

 

[angelburst29]

Ukrainian energy crisis: state of emergency declared
http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/02/ukrainian-energy-crisis-state-of.html

The Cabinet of Ministers declared a state of emergency today within the Ukrainian energy system.

The decision was made due to the blockade of coal supplies originating from the Donbass.

"The decision made," - said Prime Minister Vladimir Groisman, "Due to this coal shortage, is completely artificial and the list of names of people who have done this, know the whole of Ukraine".

However, Groisman added; "It is unacceptable to make the people of Ukraine suffer simply to fight the government."

Ukraine's options in the absence of coal from the east of the country are to import gas or coal from Russia, as South Africa has no availability, Minister of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine Ihor Nasalyk said Monday.

Ukraine's Energy Minister Says Russian Imports Only Alternative to Donbass Coal
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201702131050651356-ukraine-donbass-russia-coal/

Earlier in the day, Nasalyk said that his ministry would initiate the introduction of the emergency state in the energy sector due to the lack of coal used at the power stations.

"We cannot take coal from South Africa because it is sold out until April. There are only two options left: Russian [coal] import or Russian gas for gas and oil units," Nasalyk told the 112 Ukraine broadcaster.

A Ukrainian political bloc supporting President Petro Poroshenko asked the country's leader to urgently convene a session of the National Security Council to consider unblocking railways into breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, which used to provide a large portion of coal for Ukrainian power stations.

Earlier on Monday, the Russian Energy Ministry told Sputnik that it had not received any requests from Ukraine for electricity supplies.

According to the Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, Kiev maintains partial trade with besieged Donbass in order to reintegrate them into the country.

Kiev Maintains Partial Trade With Donbass to Reintegrate Region – Poroshenko
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201702161050754101-ukraine-donbass-trade-reintegration/

Kiev maintains partial trade relations with breakaway regions in Ukraine's Donbass as part of its effort to reintegrate them into the country, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Thursday.

"We are implementing a strategy for the restoration of the territorial integrity of the country, the return of Donbass to Ukraine and the return of Ukraine to Donbass. Under this strategy and for this reason alone, we maintain very confined and very limited economic relations," Poroshenko said at the meeting, dedicated to Ukraine's Day of Remembrance of Combatants in the Territory of Other States.

Ukraine maintains economic relations with enterprises that were reregistered on the territory under Kiev's control, he added.

"I emphasize that this is not commerce with occupants, it is cooperation with those enterprises, which being on the occupied territory could remain in the legal boundaries of Ukraine and which pay taxes to the country’s budget," the president added.

In late December 2016, the so-called Ukrainian volunteer fighters group declared a trade and economic blockade of the self-proclaimed people's republics of Donetsk and Luhansk.

The blockade led to the interruption in deliveries of anthracite coal, which Ukrainian power plants use. In this regard, Poroshenko said Ukraine would try to find ways of unblocking trade with Donbas.


Putin urges FSB to counteract Ukrainian terrorism and foreign destabilization efforts
http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/02/putin-urges-fsb-to-counteract-ukrainian.html

On February 16th, at his annual meeting with the Collegium of the Federal Security Service (FSB), Russian President Vladimir Putin named the main threats to Russia’s security to be: international terrorism, foreign intelligence services, and the instability of neighbors, particularly Ukraine.

Putin also drew attention to the fact that at the NATO summit in Warsaw in July last year, for the first time since 1989 Russia was recognized to be the main threat to NATO’s security and deterring Russia was officially declared to be the new mission of NATO.

“The bloc’s further expansion is being carried out with this goal,” the president continued. “This was done before, but now they have found what they think to be more serious justification. The deploying of strategic and conventional weapons beyond the borders of its member-states has been accelerated. They are provoking us with this and striving to drag us into confrontation. Attempts at interfering in our domestic affairs with the aim of destabilizing the socio-political situation in Russia itself have not ceased,” the president stated.

Just last year, the operations of 53 officers and 386 foreign intelligence agents were suppressed. But threats to the state’s security continue to be posed by neighboring states.

Putin explained: “We have recently seen a serious deterioration of the situation in South-East Ukraine. The aim of this escalation is obvious: to disrupt the Minsk Agreements. Today’s government in Ukraine is clearly not ready for a peaceful resolution of this complicated problem and is betting on a coercive solution. Moreover, they are openly talking about the organization of sabotage and terroristic, subversive work, including in Russia. This cannot but disturb us.”

“The events and circumstances I’ve named demand from Russia’s special and security agencies, and first and foremost from the Federal Security Service, special attention and concentration of forces, first and foremost in the fight against terrorism,” Putin added.

The Russian president also instructed for additional measures to be taken to ensure the safety of Russian institutions and diplomatic missions abroad. In addition, he called for dialogue with the intelligence services of the US and other NATO member-countries.

Putin’s warning comes on the heels of a law recently adopted by Ukraine on special operations forces which permits Ukrainian intelligence services to engage in terrorist operations outside of the country. In the several months since the law was adopted, the commander of the Lugansk People’s Republic’s People’s Militia, Oleg Anashchenko, and the commander of the Donetsk People’s Republic's Somali battalion, Mikhail Tolstykh (“Givi”), have been killed in terrorist attacks.

 

[angelburst29]

Scuffles broke out on Sunday in central Kiev after a mob tried to pitch tents outside the presidential office, demanding a freeze on trade with self-proclaimed Donbass republics, local media reported.

Supporters of Donbass Blockade Clash With Police in Kiev
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201702191050847307-donbass-blockade-kiev/

Veterans of the Ukrainian military operation to reclaim eastern territories cut off railway connection with parts of Lugansk and Donetsk regions last month, calling coal deliveries from these areas illegal. This led to electricity shortages.

Dozens of Ukrainian nationalists, including two lawmakers from the Self-Reliance party, marched on the presidential administration today to demand an end of what they perceive as coal smuggling, the Hromadske TV reported.

The angry mob, some of them wearing masks and carrying bats, ran into hundreds of riot police officers who blocked off government buildings. Clashes erupted when protesters hurled a firecracker at the police and sprayed them with a fire extinguisher.

One police officer and ten protesters were hurt in the scuffles. The officer suffered serious injuries, according to Kiev Police Department chief Andriy Hryshchenko. A medical worker said at least one demonstrator received a head injury.

Hryshchenko told the local television channel that five people had been detained. Police sources told Sputnik that violence had stopped and calm had returned to central Kiev.

Head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) Alexander Zakharchenko said Thursday that Donbass would cope with the blockade organized by Ukrainian radicals, whereas for Kiev, the consequences would be serious, as in two weeks Kiev "can forget about heating and energy industry."

President Petro Poroshenko on Thursday condemned the blocking by Ukrainian radicals of coal deliveries from Donbass.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Saturday, after meeting his counterparts from Germany, France and Ukraine in Munich, that the blockade of Donbas was unacceptable. German foreign policy chief Sigmar Gabriel echoed this statement, saying on behalf of the "Normandy Four" ministers that curbs on coal traffic in Ukraine hurt both sides.

The recent move of Russia aimed at recognition of the documents of the residents of the self-proclaimed republics of Donbass is "concerning," press service of the US Embassy in Kiev said Sunday.

US Embassy in Kiev Concerned Over Russian Recognition of Donbass Documents
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201702191050843464-us-russia-ukraine-donbass/

On Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree allowing temporary recognition of documents issued to the residents of Donbass in Russia, until the implementation of the Minsk peace accord.

"Russia's recognition of the separatist 'republics' papers is concerning and contradicts the agreed goals of the Minsk agreements," the press service said on its Twitter account.

Russia decided to validate Donbass residents' documents for humanitarian reasons and the presidential decree will remain in force until the Minsk peace deal is implemented, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Saturday.

Lavrov Explains What's Behind Putin's Decision on Donbass Residents' Passports
https://sputniknews.com/russia/201702181050825502-lavrov-putin-donbass-documents/

Kremlin’s press office has released a statement saying Putin had signed a decree that validated IDs, birth certificates and vehicle registration plates, among other documents issued by eastern Ukrainian authorities to permanent residents, on Russian territory.

Lavrov said this issue had not been brought up during foreign ministers’ talks in the so-called Normandy Four format in Munich.

"The decree stated clearly this was made out of humanitarian concerns…until Minsk agreements have been fulfilled. The presidential decree validated IDs of Donbass residents so that they could enter Russia legally and use Russian rail transport and air carriers," he explained.

Ukrainian authorities and the Red Cross officials consider Donbass prisoners' issue, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said Saturday.

Kiev, Red Cross Could Agree on Getting Access to Donbass Prisoners - Klimkin
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201702181050827508-ukraine-red-cross-prisoner/

Ukrainian authorities are holding negotiations with the Red Cross officials to get humanitarian access to the prisoners captured during the Donbass conflict, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said Saturday.

"We are currently negotiating with the Red Cross, and it may be possible already in the following month to achieve a breakthrough in the issue of humanitarian access to the prisoners of the conflict," Klimkin told reporters.

The issue of prisoners captured by the warring parties within the framework of hostilities in Ukraine's Donbas between Kiev troops and local militias has been on the agenda of negotiations between the parties to the conflict for quite a long time. The ceasefire deal reached in Minsk in 2015 stipulated an all-for-all prisoner exchange among other issues.

DPR Donetsk People’s Republic President Alexander Zakharchenko has thanked the Russian leadership for the recognition of Russian Donbass documents

Thank You Mother Russia For The Support And The Recognition Of Russian Donbass ! ~DPR Pres. Zakharchenko (Video)
http://novorossia.today/thank-mother-russia-support-recognition-russian-donbass-dpr-pres-zakharchenko-video/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_urX06bcgjk (2:37 min.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOAmP98EmYw (20:43 min.)

“This is another indication that Russia has supported and will support the right of their compatriots to fight for their lives, their culture, their language and, in the end, for their honor and dignity. If Motherland loudly and bravely supported our fight, then our struggle – true means that our sacrifices are not in vain So our hopes are justified. “. , – Zakharchenko said.

The leader of the breakaway republic said that this decree is at the same time also the recognition of “the merits and efforts of our people and the feat in the recovery of its own economy.”

“So I want to again express my appreciation and gratitude to Russia, the Russian people and its president, and at the same time I want to bow my compatriots for their courage, fortitude, diligence and patriotism,” – said Zakharchenko.

Recall, today Donetsk residents gathered for a rally to protest the Ukraine Junta War Crimes, major violations of the the ceasefire and the mockery of the Minsk Agreements.

 

[angelburst29]

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko became furious after a New York Times article criticized Ukraine for being embroiled in corruption and accused the US newspaper for waging “hybrid warfare” against Kiev, Ukrainskaya Pravda reported.

Poroshenko Offended After US Media Refers to Ukraine as 'Corrupt Swamp'
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201604031037417630-poroshenko-ukraine-corruption-us-media/

A few days ago, the New York Times published an article calling the level of corruption in Ukraine "unyielding. The newspaper wrote that the US government must stop pouring money into a "corrupt swamp" that Ukraine has become unless its government implements some real changes to battle corruption.

Upon reading the article Poroshenko became extremely defensive and accused the New York Times of waging "hybrid warfare" to discredit his country.

"I'd like to be clear about this: today hybrid warfare is being waged against Ukraine, in particular, using the mechanisms of information distribution which discredit Ukraine," Poroshenko said, as cited by the newspaper Ukrainskaya Pravda.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova didn't let Poroshenko's words pass unnoticed.

"Now Kiev should demand that the New York Times is included in some sort of sanctions list. Better American one," — Zakharova commented on Poroshenko's accusations at the newspaper, which had supported his government many times in the past.

The New York Times also called Poroshenko "a product of the old system" who "seems to have accepted continuing corruption as the price to pay for a modicum of maneuvering room."

Seems like the patience of the US government, which in the past has been very generous toward Ukraine, is beginning to thin out.

Since the overthrow of former Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovych, the US government has provided Ukraine with two loan guarantees worth $2 billion and hundreds of millions in other assistance.

Levels of corruption in Ukraine are extremely rampant. According to Gallup, 81 percent of the country's population believes corruption extensively affects Ukrainian businesses, while only 5 percent of people believe that the government is doing enough to fight corruption.

In 2015, Transparency International ranked Ukraine 142nd out of 175 investigated counties.

The real threat to Ukraine isn’t the Donbass militia, but widespread corruption in the Kiev government, market analyst and investment consultant Patrick Young told Radio Sputnik.

Corruption in Ukraine: West 'Won't Serve Kiev Anymore'
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201602231035220969-ukraine-corruption-west-money/

Ukraine has fallen off the radar as of recent, but a military conflict between Kiev and self-proclaimed independence republics in the eastern part of the country is far from over. However, it's not independence supporters that would bring Kiev down, it's the country's inability to get rid of corruption.

"It's not a question of being allied to East or West, it's not a question of a particular type of politics, but it's the fact that fundamentally, at its core, Ukraine demonstrated no interest whatsoever in delivering a fair and reasonable state of law," Young told Radio Sputnik.

Fighting corruption in Ukraine isn't a question of time, but it's a "matter of mindset," the expert explained, adding that the Ukrainian leadership hasn't shown any signs that the situation with corruption would get better any time soon.

Not a single Ukrainian leader has shown the capacity and desire to genuinely reform the country and fight corruption. The only objective has been to pretend to fix policies in a way that will allow Kiev to get more funding from the West, Young said.

Germany's Ambassador to the United States, Peter Wittig, is one of the high-profile politicians who figured out that Ukraine's main problem is corruption.

If Ukraine fails to modernize and reform its economy and corruption isn't tackled, Western investors won't go to Ukraine, as nobody goes to a country where there is a risk of getting involved in illegal business, Wittig said, according to USA Today.

"This is the case of Ukraine drinking its vodka in a town saloon and the bartender, in the shape of Mr. Wittig, the ambassador to Washington, has said ‘Really, we don't want to serve you anymore, you've got to pay for your bar tab now'… it's frustrating beyond belief," Young said.

Ukraine's leader again tried to scare the world by means of an alleged Russian threat.

Poroshenko Speaks of Threat of 'Full-Scale War' With Russia
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201702221050948197-poroshenko-ukraine-russia-war/

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Wednesday that there was a threat of a full-fledged war with Russia.

"The Russian military forces in the southeast, in Transnistria in Moldova, too, in my opinion, may at any time be used for attacking our territory, and threaten our borders … The threat of a full-scale war on Russia's part has not disappeared," Poroshenko said at a meeting of the leadership of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

He also accused Russia of building up its military presence in Crimea.

Kiev deliberately has protracted the talks over the Minsk agreements, according to Natalia Nikonorova, Foreign Minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR). Speaking to RT Russian political analyst Alexei Chesnakov, she assumed that Kiev wants international security forces brought in to eastern Ukraine to gain the upper hand.

Why Kiev's Shelling Raids on Donbass Coincide With Poroshenko's Foreign Tours
https://sputniknews.com/politics/201702171050794045-kiev-poroshenko-donbass/

Kiev used pauses in the negotiations of the Normandy Four and the Trilateral Contact group to sabotage the Minsk accords, Natalia Nikonorova, Foreign Minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), told a press conference Thursday.

"Of all 13 paragraphs, which describe the whole set of measures necessary for the implementation of the Minsk accords, only one has been implemented [by Kiev] — to create subgroups," Nikonorova said as quoted by RIA Novosti.

She emphasized that although these political subgroups have really been created by Kiev, they are negotiators in name only, because very often Ukrainian representatives use various pretexts to block decision-making.

Furthermore, Nikonorova called attention to the fact that Kiev continues to sabotage the implementation of the so-called "Steinmeier formula" proposed by former German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier back in 2015.

Under this formula the special status to Donbass will be assigned to the breakaway republics on the day of local elections in the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics.

She stressed that Kiev keeps protracting the talks. The Ukrainian leadership refuses to discuss the Steinmeier formula by referring to the necessity of receiving "additional signals" from the Normandy Four. It appears that it is in the interest of Kiev to stall the talks, she believes.

"Yesterday there was the 56th meeting of the political subgroups," Nikonorova said Thursday, "We prepared eight documents which were presented [to Kiev] back in April and May. [For its part], Ukraine has failed to work out any [document]. At the same time the [Ukrainian] subgroup has already replaced four negotiators over the past year."

Both DPR and LPR representatives have expressed their dissatisfaction with the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission, stressing that it doesn't exert enough pressure on Kiev.

"The OSCE is using extremely evasive [language] in its reports. They [OSCE] know much more than they say. They do not specify, at least presumably, who fired in the territory," LPR diplomat Rodion Miroshnik said, as quoted by RT.

DPR and LPR representatives voiced their growing concerns about the OSCE mission amid increased tensions between Kiev and the breakaway republics.

The situation in eastern Ukraine has escalated over the past few weeks, in particular near the town of Avdiivka, where clashes between Kiev forces and the local militia have intensified.

On January 29, fighting erupted in Avdiivka, Donetsk region. Instead of de-escalating the conflict Kiev began to beef up its military presence near the town.

The Ukrainian army continues to concentrate its forces in the vicinity of Avdiivka for an offensive," Deputy Commander of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) Operational Command Eduard Basurin reported on February 2.

A few days later the Russian Investigative Committee confirmed that Kiev was increasing its military presence along the contact line in Donbass.

In addition to shelling residential areas in Donbass, the Ukrainian Armed Forces carried out attacks against the region's infrastructure facilities: in particular, on February 4 the Ukrainian military blew up a power line near the city of Horlivka.

"The forces exploded the power line at 14:30 local time [11:30 GMT] on the territory controlled by Kiev, near the town of Svitlodarsk. As a result, the whole city of Horlivka was left without power," a spokesman for the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) reported.

Commenting on the issue, Alexei Chesnakov, the head of the Center for Political Analyses in Moscow, explained that back in May Kiev adopted a new tactic of destroying the region's infrastructure and industrial facilities.

"Ukraine wants to shift the focus from the discussion of the political process [in Donbass] to security issues," Chesnakov told RT, suggesting that this approach is being backed by US and EU decision-makers.

"This policy aimed at raising the problem of environmental and technological disasters is coordinated between Ukraine and the West," he explained.

"Kiev wants international security forces deployed in the region. Apparently, it is appropriate to talk about the United Nations, since the OSCE has no military force. This is a simple and primitive game," Chesnakov said, adding that Kiev hopes to win in few moves.

The Russian political analyst suggested that artillery raids on Donbass during Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's foreign tours are yet another element of Kiev's broader "game."

These activities [on the part of Kiev] are linked to the schedule of [Poroshenko's] foreign tours. If we connect the dots properly, we will see that the escalation is aimed at drawing Western politicians' attention to what is going on in Ukraine," Chesnakov said.

The question then arises whether such a strategy really helps Poroshenko to tip the balance in his favor in the eyes of Brussels and Washington.

Speaking to reporters last Friday Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov noted that the US and EU have begun to understand the true nature of Kiev's leadership.

"The only plus that I see in this situation, is that the West begins to understand the true nature of the Ukrainian authorities, but it is being achieved with blood and many months-long, if not years-long, experiments," Lavrov told the NTV channel.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said that the restoration of the Ukrainian air defense system in 2017 will become a vital priority for the country.

Kiev to Restore Air Defense System, Spend $333Mln on Arms Procurement in 2017
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201702221050946969-ukraine-budget-poroshenko/

Ukraine is planning to allocate almost $333 million on the development and procurement of weapons in 2017, while the restoration of national air defense system will become the main priority for the country, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Wednesday.

"This year 9 billion hryvnas will be allocated to the development and procurement of the new and modernized weapons and military equipment. Ukraine has never done that before," Poroshenko said at a session of the Ukrainian senior military officials.

The restoration of the Ukrainian air defense system in 2017 will become a vital priority for the country, the president added.

Only the two sides to the conflict in Donbass can agree on mediators to settling the conflict, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday in response to a mediation offer set out by the ex-president of Ukraine.

Only Kiev, Donbass Can Name Mediators - Kremlin on Yanukovych's Letter
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201702221050936515-ukraine-donbass-russia-yanukovych/

In a letter to world leaders obtained by Sputnik on Wednesday, ex-President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych offered his vision of how to settle the Donbas crisis.

"The role of mediator requires the consent of all parties to the conflict… Russia is not a party to this conflict, so Kiev and Donbass should first come together in this sense," Peskov told reporters.

Peskov, asked for comment on Yanukovych's letter, noted that Russia serves as the guarantor of the Minsk ceasefire agreements alongside its Normandy format partners Germany and France.

 

[Voyageur]

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko became furious after a New York Times article criticized Ukraine for being embroiled in corruption and accused the US newspaper for waging “hybrid warfare” against Kiev, Ukrainskaya Pravda reported.

Poroshenko Offended After US Media Refers to Ukraine as 'Corrupt Swamp'
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201604031037417630-poroshenko-ukraine-corruption-us-media/

A few days ago, the New York Times published an article calling the level of corruption in Ukraine "unyielding. The newspaper wrote that the US government must stop pouring money into a "corrupt swamp" that Ukraine has become unless its government implements some real changes to battle corruption.

Upon reading the article Poroshenko became extremely defensive and accused the New York Times of waging "hybrid warfare" to discredit his country.

"I'd like to be clear about this: today hybrid warfare is being waged against Ukraine, in particular, using the mechanisms of information distribution which discredit Ukraine," Poroshenko said, as cited by the newspaper Ukrainskaya Pravda.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova didn't let Poroshenko's words pass unnoticed.

"Now Kiev should demand that the New York Times is included in some sort of sanctions list. Better American one," — Zakharova commented on Poroshenko's accusations at the newspaper, which had supported his government many times in the past.

The New York Times also called Poroshenko "a product of the old system" who "seems to have accepted continuing corruption as the price to pay for a modicum of maneuvering room."

Seems like the patience of the US government, which in the past has been very generous toward Ukraine, is beginning to thin out.

Since the overthrow of former Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovych, the US government has provided Ukraine with two loan guarantees worth $2 billion and hundreds of millions in other assistance.

Levels of corruption in Ukraine are extremely rampant. According to Gallup, 81 percent of the country's population believes corruption extensively affects Ukrainian businesses, while only 5 percent of people believe that the government is doing enough to fight corruption.

In 2015, Transparency International ranked Ukraine 142nd out of 175 investigated counties.

Interesting, there seems to be a plan B afoot, and it likely will not include Poroshenko.

Why Kiev's Shelling Raids on Donbass Coincide With Poroshenko's Foreign Tours
https://sputniknews.com/politics/201702171050794045-kiev-poroshenko-donbass/

Kiev used pauses in the negotiations of the Normandy Four and the Trilateral Contact group to sabotage the Minsk accords, Natalia Nikonorova, Foreign Minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), told a press conference Thursday.

"Of all 13 paragraphs, which describe the whole set of measures necessary for the implementation of the Minsk accords, only one has been implemented [by Kiev] — to create subgroups," Nikonorova said as quoted by RIA Novosti.

She emphasized that although these political subgroups have really been created by Kiev, they are negotiators in name only, because very often Ukrainian representatives use various pretexts to block decision-making.

Furthermore, Nikonorova called attention to the fact that Kiev continues to sabotage the implementation of the so-called "Steinmeier formula" proposed by former German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier back in 2015.

Under this formula the special status to Donbass will be assigned to the breakaway republics on the day of local elections in the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics.

She stressed that Kiev keeps protracting the talks. The Ukrainian leadership refuses to discuss the Steinmeier formula by referring to the necessity of receiving "additional signals" from the Normandy Four. It appears that it is in the interest of Kiev to stall the talks, she believes.

"Yesterday there was the 56th meeting of the political subgroups," Nikonorova said Thursday, "We prepared eight documents which were presented [to Kiev] back in April and May. [For its part], Ukraine has failed to work out any [document]. At the same time the [Ukrainian] subgroup has already replaced four negotiators over the past year."

Both DPR and LPR representatives have expressed their dissatisfaction with the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission, stressing that it doesn't exert enough pressure on Kiev.

"The OSCE is using extremely evasive [language] in its reports. They [OSCE] know much more than they say. They do not specify, at least presumably, who fired in the territory," LPR diplomat Rodion Miroshnik said, as quoted by RT.

DPR and LPR representatives voiced their growing concerns about the OSCE mission amid increased tensions between Kiev and the breakaway republics.

The situation in eastern Ukraine has escalated over the past few weeks, in particular near the town of Avdiivka, where clashes between Kiev forces and the local militia have intensified.

On January 29, fighting erupted in Avdiivka, Donetsk region. Instead of de-escalating the conflict Kiev began to beef up its military presence near the town.

The Ukrainian army continues to concentrate its forces in the vicinity of Avdiivka for an offensive," Deputy Commander of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) Operational Command Eduard Basurin reported on February 2.

A few days later the Russian Investigative Committee confirmed that Kiev was increasing its military presence along the contact line in Donbass.

In addition to shelling residential areas in Donbass, the Ukrainian Armed Forces carried out attacks against the region's infrastructure facilities: in particular, on February 4 the Ukrainian military blew up a power line near the city of Horlivka.

"The forces exploded the power line at 14:30 local time [11:30 GMT] on the territory controlled by Kiev, near the town of Svitlodarsk. As a result, the whole city of Horlivka was left without power," a spokesman for the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) reported.

Commenting on the issue, Alexei Chesnakov, the head of the Center for Political Analyses in Moscow, explained that back in May Kiev adopted a new tactic of destroying the region's infrastructure and industrial facilities. {a Western tactic}

"Ukraine wants to shift the focus from the discussion of the political process [in Donbass] to security issues," Chesnakov told RT, suggesting that this approach is being backed by US and EU decision-makers.

"This policy aimed at raising the problem of environmental and technological disasters is coordinated between Ukraine and the West," he explained.

"Kiev wants international security forces deployed in the region. Apparently, it is appropriate to talk about the United Nations, since the OSCE has no military force. This is a simple and primitive game," Chesnakov said, adding that Kiev hopes to win in few moves.

The Russian political analyst suggested that artillery raids on Donbass during Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's foreign tours are yet another element of Kiev's broader "game."

These activities [on the part of Kiev] are linked to the schedule of [Poroshenko's] foreign tours. If we connect the dots properly, we will see that the escalation is aimed at drawing Western politicians' attention to what is going on in Ukraine," Chesnakov said.

The question then arises whether such a strategy really helps Poroshenko to tip the balance in his favor in the eyes of Brussels and Washington.

Speaking to reporters last Friday Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov noted that the US and EU have begun to understand the true nature of Kiev's leadership.

"The only plus that I see in this situation, is that the West begins to understand the true nature of the Ukrainian authorities, but it is being achieved with blood and many months-long, if not years-long, experiments," Lavrov told the NTV channel.

This part from above "Poroshenko Speaks of Threat of 'Full-Scale War' With Russia
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201702221050948197-poroshenko-ukraine-russia-war/

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Wednesday that there was a threat of a full-fledged war with Russia."

Although McCain would be rubbing his hands and beating his chest over that statement, military strategists must be rolling their eyes at the absurdity of that notion. It rather seems that there is a new 'what to do about the situation' now going on in the West, knowing it was a failed play by the previous hawks and neoLiberals. With NATO sitting there on the doorstep, corrupt leaders at every turn in Kiev and worse, is the interwoven neoNazis within society that just won't go away, so neutralizing them is a big problem (if this is occupying some minds in the West). So as Lavrov notes, "the US and EU have begun to understand the true nature of Kiev's leadership." and they would likely know the true how and why that the got into that leadership, so what to do will not be easy if any normalcy is to return; perhaps it never really can now?

 

[thorbiorn]

There was this http://stalkerzone.org/savchenko-urged-uaf-overthrow-kiev-junta/ Savchenko, yes Nadiya, the one who was jailed in Russia, is claimed to have suggested some of the soldiers to march against Kiev and overthrow the government. This is creating a stir and some say that her statements is equal to telling soldiers to desert their position which can land the offending person up to 10 years in prison. She has probably realized some people in Kiev get money and power while other people's lives are destroyed.

On a different note regarding the name of Ukraine,

Nicolas Visscher: Novelle Carte de la Mer Noire et du Canal de Constantinople tres exacte mise au Jour par N. Visser nunc apud P. Schenk..
Old coloured map of Constantinople, Black Sea. Printed in Amsterdam by Pieter Schenk circa 1700.

_https://www.vintage-maps.com/1800-extra_large/visscher-russia-black-sea-constantinople-1700.jpg

Johann Baptist Homann: Tabula Geographica qua pars Russiae Magnae Pontus Euxinus seu Mare Nigrum et Tartaria Minor ....
Old coloured map of the Black Sea. Printed in Nuremberg by J. B. Homann circa 1720.

Ukraine - Homann, Johann Baptist - Tabula Geographica qua pars Russiae Magnae...

Here it reads Russiæ Maximæ and Russiæ Minoris
_https://www.vintage-maps.com/1397-extra_large/homann-ukraine-black-sea-1720.jpg