Civil War in Ukraine: Western Empire vs Russia

[angelburst29]

Shocking imagery of inhumane conditions of Ukrainian military [photos]
http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/02/shocking-imagery-of-inhumane-conditions.html

Feb. 24, 2017 - Enlisted soldier of the Ukrainian military, Yuri, told of conditions in which soldiers of the 53rd Brigade in the Dnipropetrovsk region are forced to live, barely above that of animals.

"You really must excuse me for my... 'French'...", but "it is a bitter [expletive] taste in our mouths".

The military of the 53rd Mechanized Brigade, 2-3 days ago, drove to the landfill in the village of Cherkasy Dnieper area for combat coordination before entering the zone of combat to prepare for attack formation and offensive maneuvers.

They stay in tents full of water, impossible to sleep in the damp, as machines pump the water continually to the outside and do not turn off. The soldiers are now forced to endure this inhumanity, then sent to the front line as cannon fodder, after being forced to live as animals.

Yuri continued: "I have no words. Each year, the same! These [expletive] call every year at this time to take volunteers. After all, every year when they are at the site, the same problem: 'flooded tents', all landfill management is aware of this and every year for all it is the same. These volunteers carry equipment to the landfill every year and solve the same problem, and the leadership of the landfill does nothing. Everyone does [expletive]."

They knew well that this is a result of snow melting and again the problem comes, and yet no one has taken action. Will any of the military leaders take any action or will they continue to let their soldiers live in squalid and inhumane conditions befitting farm animals?

It is no shocking surprise that the "March for national dignity" is taking place in Kiev when soldiers are forced to endure conditions that even dogs are not subjected to.

Ukraine needs lethal arms supplies as well as close multilateral cooperation with the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said on Saturday.

Kiev Repeats Call for Lethal Weapons' Supplies to Ukraine
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201702251051037157-ukraine-lethal-weapons/

At present, US military assistance to Kiev is limited to supplying uniforms and equipment, including counter-battery radars, drones and means of secure communication.

"We surely need it [lethal arms]. Actually, I have always said that I don't like this division [of arms] into lethal and non-lethal. There is a distinct notion of defensive arms. And we need it. We surely need more high-technology weapons, we need effective cooperation with the United States and NATO in many fields," Klimkin told the Mirror Weekly newspaper.

In September 2016, the US House of Representatives approved legislation to allow the supply of lethal "defensive" weapons to Ukraine, but the law still needs to be approved by the US Senate and signed by the US President.

Russian officials have repeatedly warned against arms deliveries to Ukraine, stressing that it would only escalate the situation in the eastern part of the country.

Different European politicians, including former OSCE Chairman and German President-elect Frank-Walter Steinmeier, as well as NATO Military Committee Chairman Peter Pavel have also spoken against arms deliveries to Ukraine.

DPR deputy defense minister accused government troops on Saturday of staging an overnight attack on a water facility.

Ukrainian Troops Seize Water Filtering Station in Eastern Ukraine – DPR MoD
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201702251051036097-ukraine-fighting-donetsk-basurin/

Eduard Basurin, the deputy defense minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) in eastern Ukraine, accused government troops on Saturday of staging an overnight attack on a water facility.

"Last night, the Ukrainian side captured assets of the Donetsk water filtering station and opened fire at our positions in an act of provocation and in violation of all accords and commitments," Basurin told reporters in Donetsk.

He blamed Ukrainian forces for using the location to fire mortars and heavy machine guns at the nearby city of Yasynuvata and the village of Spartak to the northeast of Donetsk, the regional capital. Basurin said both militia positions and residential areas came under attack.

Member of Verkhovna Rada Nadezhda Savchenko says she has met with six Ukrainian prisoners of war in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic in Ukraine's southeast

Savchenko Announces Meeting With 6 Ukrainian Prisoners of War in Donbass
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201702251051027469-savchenko-donbass-prisoners-meeting/

"Visited two cells where six of our prisoners of war are being held," Savchenko wrote on Facebook late on Friday, adding that she had been promised an opportunity "to visit everyone who is on the Minsk lists."

On December 7, 2016, Savchenko visited the Belarusian capital, Minsk, to meet representatives of the self-proclaimed republics of Ukraine’s southeast. The meeting in Minsk caused a political scandal in Ukraine and Savchenko was excluded from the Batkivshchyna Party and Rada's Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) delegation.

According to Donetsk media reports, the Ukrainian forces started shelling DPR territory right after Savchenko announced her plans to visit the Donetsk region this week.

"We do not exclude that the goal [of the shelling] was to sabotage her visit of Ukrainian prisoners," the DPR military command said in a statement quoted by the Donetsk News Agency on Friday.


Savchenko visited prisoners of war in Makeevka (VIDEO)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CasBTy_ZwI (3:59 min.)


Total Genocide And Terror As The Nazi Ukraine Junta Unleash Heavy Weapons Fire, Destroying 11 Homes And A Water Filter Plant, Affecting Many Parts Of The Republic (Report Col. Basurin)
http://novorossia.today/total-genocide-terror-nazi-ukraine-junta-unleash-heavy-weapons-fire-destroying-11-homes-water-filter-plant-affecting-many-parts-republic-report-col-basurin/

Last week, from 18 to 24 February, in the detachments and units of the People’s Army of the Donetsk People’s Republic, in accordance with the plan, there were vigorously conducted classes with crews of tanks and infantry fighting vehicles to pass test exercises on driving, shooting with weapons of combat vehicles and small arms. There were conducted control sessions with experts in artillery, intelligence, engineering, as well as with experts in communications and air defense. In addition, there was conducted training with the personnel of special units to counter the enemy subversive groups.

We have repeatedly stated about the plans of the Nazi Ukrainian command and radical nationalists to create a humanitarian and environmental catastrophe on the territory of the DPR.

As a result of deliberate and systematic artillery and mortar attacks on the Donetsk filter plant (DFP), the enemy has achieved its goals. Today, at 5:45 am, the Nazi Ukraine Units (AFU) units shelled again the DFP with weapons prohibited by the Minsk Agreements from the territory controlled by them, which resulted in the plant severely damaged.

There were recorded eight hits, presumably, of 122mm artillery shells, on the objects of the plant:
•one hit in the roof of the chlorine building;
•two hits in the building of clean water reservoir;
•one hit in the building of chemicals storage, filters and components for water treatment;
•two hits close to the DFP;
•and the most insidious – two hits in a bomb shelter where the staff of the plant had been placed.

Fortunately, there were no casualties among the plant workers Due to the significant damage to the chlorine storage building and the building of reagents storage, the DFP management took a decision on an emergency evacuation of employees and the temporary conservation of the plant.

The consequences of stopping the DFP will affect not only localities of the Republic, but also localities situated on the territory controlled by the Ukrainian authorities. It is in this way that the Ukrainian authorities are trying to restore their territorial integrity, using the most sophisticated methods of genocide and terror of the Donbass population.

Hasty statements by the representatives of the Ukrainian authorities accusing us are an unconvincing attempt to shift the blame to the DPR. I urge international organizations to conduct a thorough investigation and to provide the entire world with evidence against the Ukrainian military. This is not the first crime that the Ukrainian authorities have committed against civilians, including on the territory controlled by the AFU.

 

[thorbiorn]

Earlier I have linked to _http://liveuamap.com/ because it showed the events of the war in Ukraine and the line of control. On a screen shot of map from February 24, one can still see were the Minsk 2 line of control is. Now it has been removed, it is no longer visible on the interactive map. The people who run this page like to paint a picture of UAF being hit all the time for no good reason, and with only wounded soldiers on their side, but funny how they then manage to take for example the water filtration plant.

 

[angelburst29]

Ukrainian government troops have withdrawn from a crucial water facility in Eastern Ukraine’s buffer zone after briefly seizing it two days ago, a senior self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic's military official told reporters in Donetsk on Sunday.

DPR Confirms Ukrainian Troops' Pullout From Key Water Facility in Donetsk
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201702261051053480-donetsk-water-ukraine-troops/

The Donetsk water filtering station supplies water to the regional capital and nearby cities in militia- and government-controlled territories on both sides of the separation line.

It was captured late Friday by Ukrainian troops who used its buildings to open fire on rebel positions.

Strong criticism of Ukrainian security forces helped the Ukrainian leadership find its strength and drive radical nationalists out of the Donetsk filtering station," Eduard Basurin, the deputy defense minister of the Donetsk People’s Republic, said.

Water supply to Donetsk suburbs, including the recent flashpoint town of Avdiivka, has been many times disrupted by fighting between local militias and Ukrainian government forces since last month’s escalation. Both sides traded blame for ceasefire violations.

Three years after this color revolution, though the country is in ruins, the oligarchs continue to stuff their pockets full, starting with those of the Rada and Poroshenko, president of this new Atlantic province.

Ukraine, bankrupt and begging, more than doubles its military budget
http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/02/ukraine-bankrupt-and-begging-more-than.html

While the Kiev junta is spending most of its time robbing Ukrainians, selling Ukraine's natural wealth, and asking for money from stateless institutions such as the IMF or the World Bank (based in the US, of course!), yet the one priority of the Kiev regime is not to be at the service and to listen to its people. Russian speakers, and especially those in Donbass know something about it. No, the priority of Poroshenko is to double the budget of the Ministry of Defense: nearly 4 billion euros!

France is not even at 2% of its GDP in terms of defense, while Kiev and its regime go more than double for 2017, passing from 2.45% to 5.2%! My source is Poroshenko's own site, and the site of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

The people of Donbass who have been resisting this corrupt and deadly regime since 2014 are now expecting more this year. Kiev has already given us a foretaste end January - February.

The year 2017 which is likely to be long for all the victims of this iniquitous regime, but its inevitable fall will sound like a liberation for the Ukrainians as for the people of Donbass!

Russia is going to sign a contract with Iran to supply turbines for thermal power plants in Crimea, the CEO of state corporation Rostec, Sergei Chemezov, said.

Iran Could Supply Turbines for Crimean Power Plants Bypassing Sanctions
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201702261051048334-iran-crimea-turbines/

During a media briefing in Abu Dhabi, Chemezov announced that Russia plans to sign a contract with Iran for the supply of turbines for thermal power stations in Crimea.

According to him, negotiations with Iran are at an advanced stage and Rotec expects to install the turbines before the end of this year.

Even though Iran has not recognized Crimea’s reunification with Russia, it is ready to assist Moscow’s efforts to ensure an unfettered energy supply on the Black Sea peninsula.

 

[Glenn]

Ukrainian government troops have withdrawn from a crucial water facility in Eastern Ukraine’s buffer zone after briefly seizing it two days ago, a senior self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic's military official told reporters in Donetsk on Sunday.

DPR Confirms Ukrainian Troops' Pullout From Key Water Facility in Donetsk
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201702261051053480-donetsk-water-ukraine-troops/

The Donetsk water filtering station supplies water to the regional capital and nearby cities in militia- and government-controlled territories on both sides of the separation line.

Yikes, I don't think I would want to be drinking that water. Who knows what they put in there, maybe a few canisters of fluoride?

Or maybe worse?

I hope that water is tested before anyone is allowed to drink it.

Edit=Quote

 

[angelburst29]

Residents of Donbass rejoice in nationalization of oligarch owned businesses
http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/03/residents-of-donbass-rejoice-in.html

Yenakiyevo, where one of the largest steel plants known as YMP is located, was the site of a rally in support of the nationalization of the plant by DPR authorities. The plant is owned by an infamous oligarch known as Rinat Akhmetov, through his group "Metinvest". The plant's productions ceased last week, amidst a blockade of DPR products by Ukrainian extremist nationalists, who also marched in protest against the embattled and deeply unpopular Poroshenko government who is not only despised by DPR and LPR residents, but also by nationalists within his own country.

Residents rallied with slogans shown in pictures below stating their support for Zakharchenko's nationalization measures, believing that it will increase trade with the Russian Federation, thereby improving the economic conditions of Donbass citizens.

Famed DPR soldier "Texas" remarked about the measures in concrete terms well: "Today we respond to nazi blockade - all businesses in the Republics will now be managed by and pay taxes to us, not Kiev regime and ukrop oligarchs. This will ensure tens of thousands of our citizens continue to work AND GET PAID, and it will increase our industrial and economic strength. The fascists tried to hurt us through economic warfare, but we use economic Judo. Their attack will cost them BILLIONS, add billions to our coffers and open new markets for us with the Russian federation.

Today was an economic Debaltsevo, an economic Stalingrad for the ukrop nazis. Every time they try to hurt us, they only hurt themselves.

They did this to themselves, it was not our idea. But we know, all we have to do is continue to stand strong and survive. The nazis will defeat themselves..."

Kremlin announced that it is nationalization in the DPR is not to be called in another way. Factories are nationalized, but not taken, Dmitriy Peskov reported.

It is considered in the Kremlin that factories in Donbass were not taken, but nationalized
http://novorossia.today/it-is-considered-in-the-kremlin-that-factories-in-donbass-were-not-taken-but-nationalized/

Earlier DPR and LPR authorities announced that all enterprises would be controlled by LDPR in Donbass; it was a reply to the blockade.

‘I do not think that the word ‘take’ is appropriate here, it is not even tolerant. We see that regions rejected by their state, are in even worse situation now. They are in a total blockade of extremists units now’, Peskov said.

Losing on all fronts, politically and militarily , Senator McCain egging on his private army’s of the Nazi Ukraine Junta , trying his best to provoke the great army’s of the Donbass Republic’s and hoping for an invasion from Russia ~ What is finally understood in Washington is that the mighty army’s of Donbass never needed any help from the Russian Federation militarily, so it has become a complete embarrassment to the war hawks and the military elite in the U.S. ! With US Trainers and mercenaries including Terrorist Organization NATO soldiers on the ground in Ukraine and the delivery of deadly lethal weapons supply , the Ukraine Junta Military not only turned out to be a catastrophe but probably the biggest joke in military warefare ~ Zak Novak

The Ukraine Junta And Senator McCain Once Again On The Attack, Trying To Provoke The Mighty LPR Army By Bombing Military Positions 20 Times In 24 Hours
http://novorossia.today/ukraine-junta-senator-mccaine-attack-trying-provoke-mighty-lpr-army-bombing-military-positions-20-times-24-hours/

Nazi Kiev forces shelled LPR People’s Army positions 20 times over the past 24 hours, the Republic’s defence authorities said.

Almaznaya, Donetskiy, Lozovoye, Nizhneye Lozovoye, Logvinovo, Maryevka, Kalinovka, Molodezhnoye, Kalinovo came under 120mm and 82mm mortar fire, recoilless anti-tank grenade launchers SPG, automatic grenade launchers AGS fire and small arms fire.

The 61st humanitarian aid convoy of the Russian Emergencies Ministry (EMERCOM) arrived in Lugansk, delivering some 100 tons of baby food

Mother Russia Delivers 100 Tons Of Baby Food To Our Sister Republic Lugansk, Spasiba And Thank You EMERCOM
http://novorossia.today/mother-russia-delivers-100-tons-baby-food-sister-republic-lugansk-spasiba-thank-emercom/

“Today, five EMERCOM trucks delivered 9,212 food packages for families with children under one year of age and families with children aged one to three,” an LPR State Reserves Agency representative said.

Earlier, LPR Emergencies Minister Sergey Ivanushkin said food packages delivered to the Republic as part of Russian relief supplies in 2017 would only be distributed to families with children under three years of age.

The first Russian humanitarian aid convoy arrived in LPR on 22 August 2014. Russia has delivered more than 66,000 tons of relief supplies to LPR and DPR residents since.

 

[angelburst29]

A total of 60 people were killed and over 110 injured in the fighting between the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) militias and the Ukrainian forces in the first two months of 2017, a spokesman for the republic’s ombudsman said on Friday.

Total of 60 People Killed in Donbass Hostilities in 2017 – DPR Ombudsman
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201703041051254843-donbass-60-people-killed-2016/

In January, the situation in southeastern Ukraine escalated, with clashes between Kiev forces and the DPR militia intensifying in the town of Avdiivka in the Donetsk region. The conflicting parties have accused each other of initiating the violence.

"From January 1 to March 2, injuries of various degrees were sustained by 116 people. Among them were 53 civilians, including four children under 18 years old. Over the same period of time, 60 people were killed, including five civilians," the spokesman told reporters.

He added that since the beginning of the military conflict, a total of 4,349 people were killed in DPR, including 74 children.

The Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, Sergey Ryabkov, has called on Kiev and Washington to “think thrice” before taking steps further escalating the situation in Donbass.

Russia calls out US: Stop encouraging Kiev's illusions
http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/03/russia-calls-out-us-stop-encouraging.html

Ryabkov told journalists: “If our American and other colleagues would listen to our calls to not take steps which lead to the Kiev authorities having the illusion that they can solve existing problems by coercive methods instead of completely complying with the Minsk Agreements, and if such actions were not concocted by colleagues in the US and other countries, then the situation [in Donbass] would be much better now.”

Thus, according to the deputy minister, Moscow only welcomes those decisions and measures which benefit the reduction of tension and stimulate Kiev’s full implementation of the Minsk Agreements.

The meeting between the Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and the US president Donald Trump which was announced earlier in February and was supposed to take place by the end of the month, did not happen. Instead, the two presidents held a telephone conversation. The Ukrainian side provided no specific details. It was reported that the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is still making preparations for the possible meeting in the future. So far no approximate date was set.

Trump Snubs Poroshenko and Congress Cuts War Aid
http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/03/trump-snubs-poroshenko-and-congress.html

The meeting was first announced by two high-ranking Ukrainian officials, namely the Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin, and the Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States, Valery Chaly, both of whom assured to have studied the possible options for the meeting to take place by the end of February. One of the options also included the meeting taking place in New York, particularly during Ukraine’s inauguration into the UN Security Council.

According to the statement from the White House, during phone conversation with Poroshenko, Trump said the US would "do its best to restore peace alongside the Ukrainian border". Presidential spokesman Svyatoslav Tsegolko reported that "special attention was paid to the settlement of the situation in the Donbass and peace through political and diplomatic means. The parties expressed their deep concern due to the escalation of tensions and the deteriorating humanitarian situation, especially in the area of ​​Avdeevka”.

Nonetheless, Foreign Minister Klimkin stated that the Ukrainian side may have received a “cold shower” from Trump.

The Trump’s not so friendly move shall not come as surprising. In recent months, the Ukrainian official have allegedly made various attempts to sabotage Trump during the election campaign, expressing the slurs against him and even went that far to launch an official criminal investigation against former Trump advisor Paul Manafort.

The US congress is said to have cancelled the war aid to Ukraine.

Despite this, the shred of optimism is not completely gone. Recently the US-based Foreign Policy paper published an article in which it was mentioned that the the former Miss Ukraine Olexandra Nikolayenko, currently married to Phil Ruffin, a close friend of Trump, could be used to warmer the ties between the two countries. Ukrainian ambassador Valeriy Chaly has since denied the information.

Nikolay Vorobyov, Washington-based lobbyst who is in charge of the Center for East European Prospects told the portal "apostrophe.ua" that the meeting of two Presidents has not yet taken place due to the Trump administration’s low confidence in the leadership of Ukraine as well as due to the lack of understanding as regards the situation in Ukraine. He also believes that the fate of Ukraine will be decided by world powers in the end.

An expert on international relations, Vladimir Volya, suggested that all the delays are related primarily to the fact that Trump's administration assumed its complete form only in the mid-February. While speaking to the apostrophe.ua the expert also estimated that Trump-Poroshenko meeting will likely not take place before the end of March or even the beginning of April. He believes that Ukraine is a rather tough nut to crack for the Trump’s admiistration as the Ukrainian side was previously favourized by Democrats as well as the “hawkish” part of the Republicans, known for their opposition to Trump.

The meeting between Trump and Poroshenko is likely never going to happen unless the Ukrainian side will chose the right approach. If the situation will continue to develop by following this path, all major decisions will be made behind Ukraine’s back, regardless to the promises made at the Munich Security Council meeting between Petro Poroshenko and Mike Pence on February 18th.

 

[angelburst29]

Report: Soros-Backed Group Organizes Massive Blockade: ‘He Has A Master Plan To Take Over Natural Resources And Minerals’
http://www.shtfplan.com/headline-news/report-soros-backed-group-organizes-massive-blockade-he-has-a-master-plan-to-take-over-natural-resources-and-minerals_03012017

As we have mentioned here throughout the beginning of this year, Ukraine has been (and continues to be) a major “flash point” that holds dire consequences for a Europe already in tatters. Ukraine is also a major spot of contention between Russia and the United States. To recap, presently we have a President intent on a new era of relations between Vladimir Putin and his government. The problem lies in what the U.S. has done in the past five year under the Obama-directed State Department (courtesy of Victoria Nuland). That State Department was aided and abetted by none other than Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham.

As mentioned in other articles, the situation in the Eastern Ukrainian provinces is serious. Although the Minsk accords provided for an official ceasefire between the Kiev government under President Petro Poroshenko and the separatist militias in the Donbass region, the former has been clearly guilty of violating it repeatedly. These violations have taken the form of prohibited armored vehicles and artillery barrages in numerous cities.

At the very beginning of the U.S.-sponsored coup d’état that ousted legally-elected President Viktor Yanukovych and sent him fleeing to Russia, the Maidan movement (comprised of Ukrainian ultra-nationalists) began protests and riots that led to fighting. Maidan was (and is) being both encouraged and supported financially by none other than George Soros. The intent for Ukraine with Soros is no different: to crush the opposition of separatists and enable the U.S.-installed government to rail Ukraine into NATO and the IMF.

Once this has been accomplished, Soros has the “master plan” of taking over a large portion of the Eastern provinces because of the tremendous amounts of minerals and natural resources he wishes to buy for “pennies on the dollar” and then bleed the country white while taking the profits out of the country. As of this writing, Maidan is at it again.

According to an article released by RT News, Maidan has organized a blockade of coal shipments. This is not a small shutdown by any means. The article, entitled Maidan 2.0: Ukrainian Nationalists Provoking Political Crisis with Coal Blockade, by Valentyn Ogirenko has reported that approximately 74,000 cargo cars have been prevented from crossing any lines between the separatists and the Poroshenko government. On average, an open railroad car holds 115 tons of coal. This amounts to approximately 8,117,000 tons of coal. That is a staggering amount. So staggering, as a matter of fact, that Kiev has claimed it is an emergency.

Here is an excerpt from that article:

“The blockade organizers boasted over social media that they have stopped some 74,000 cargo cars from crossing the disengagement line between Kiev-controlled and rebel-held parts of Ukraine. Thousands of wagons filled with coal cannot leave the Donbass area, Donetsk Region, as pro-Kiev activists block train lines leading to government-controlled territories. The nationalists argue that buying coal from mines controlled by the rebels in the East is equivalent to treason. However, without the necessary coal supplies Ukrainian power plants are threatened with closure. Kiev has declared a state of emergency for the nation’s energy industry.”

RT also conducted an interview with a former U.S. diplomat to Ukraine concerning the significance of it by the name of Jim Jatras. His comments pertain to the Ukrainian nationalists (Maidan). This next excerpt shows the delicate nature of the crisis and what it means overall, as explained by Mr. Jatras:

“Frankly, I think they [Maidan and the Ultra-nationalists] are not sure what to do. They know that this is extremely damaging to the Ukrainian economy, as of February 15 they said they had 40 days reserve and we’re going to be coming up on the exhaustion of those reserves very quickly. The Prime Minister Mr. [Volodymyr] Groysman has said that 300,000 jobs are potentially going to be lost here if they are not able to maintain coal supplies – this is 12 percent of the country’s production. They cannot sustain this. You would think that this kind of illegal activity – there is no legal authority for this blockade – would be something that the government would step in. I can only imagine that they don’t do it because they feel too weak to do it. They are afraid of the kind of ultranationalists that are behind this, and that if they try to take forceful action against them, it will provoke a resort to violence that they may not be able to handle.”

This is serious business, and even more in that Maidan wants to stop the flow of coal into the Donbass and Eastern Ukraine, yet it is hurting the interests of the entire country. Keep in mind: we haven’t even mentioned the activities of outside influences, such as the U.S. and Russia. The U.S. has an arms package (approved in both 2015 and 2016 by the Congress and prodded by Obama) that is expected to deliver weapons, munitions, and other military supplies to the Kiev government this year, in 2017.

On the other side of the Ukrainian border, Russia is continuing to supply the separatists who (as mentioned in other articles) are Ukrainians of Russian ethnic derivation who feel a strong sense of allegiance to Russia and wish to separate (as Crimeans voted to do so prior to the Russian annexation of 2014). In addition, Sputnik News just released a piece on 2/20/17 by Sergey Averin entitled Quarter of Russians back potential recognition of Donbass republics. In a poll, over half of Russians think that the Russian government should help the separatists of Lugansk and Donetsk.

In addition to this, Vladimir Putin ordered agencies in Russia last week to accept the documents and passports issued by these two separatist regions of Ukraine, along with visa-free travel to Russia if they possessed such documents. Sergey Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister said this was necessary for the war-torn areas to provide relief to those residents who wished to flee to Russia.

The U.S. is not yet officially weighing in on this, as before the elections the support was for the Kiev government. Now we have an American President who is determined to reset the relations with Russia, and U.S. policy, while not in Tartarus as is was last year, is still in limbo. Until the President clarifies the direction the State Department will travel and reigns in the rogue Congress such as Sen’s. McCain and Graham (who serve the MIC, or Military Industrial Complex first and then the United States, if it isn’t inconvenient).

In the meantime, fighting is still occurring in the Eastern provinces and now we have Maidan (a Soros-backed destabilizing organization) coming to the forefront again. It will take some shrewd diplomacy and perhaps some restructuring within the Ukrainian government (internally) to bring these troubles to a rest. Make no mistake, though: It is far from over and is a powder keg that can escalate and involve other countries in Europe, as well as spark action between Russia and the United States.

 

[angelburst29]

The Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress has proposed a bill cutting US military aid for Ukraine to $150 million, from the initial $300 million.

US Supplying Lethal Weapons to Ukraine Likely to 'Raise Global Military Threats'
https://sputniknews.com/world/201703041051266561-us-weapons-ukraine/

Warning Sign - The money is proposed to be used to provide "assistance, including training; equipment; lethal weapons of a defensive nature; and intelligence support to the military and national security forces of Ukraine."

A sum of $150 million is very significant for Ukraine’s military budget. For the first time, the funds could be used for advanced rearmament of the Ukraine military.

The legislation will be considered by the House of Representatives, and then it will be approved or rejected by US President Donald Trump.

"Despite the fact that the bill presumed a cut in US military assistance for Ukraine, US Congress wants to provide Kiev with lethal weapons. This is the key point. If the bill is passed the money must be allocated by September 30, the end of fiscal year 2017. This is a warning sign," Russian journalist and political commentator Alexander Khrolenko wrote in a piece for Sputnik.

Previously, a bill on providing Ukraine with lethal weapons was already submitted to Congress, but the legislation was finally rejected.

Javelins for Ukraine? - The Committee emphasized that the funds cannot be spent on man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS). However, the money could be used to deliver over 900 FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missiles to Ukraine.

The FGM-148 Javelin has been in service with the US military since 1996. It is designed for destroying heavy armored vehicles, fortified ground facilities and aerial targets (i.e., drones, helicopters) at low speeds and altitudes at a distance of 50-2,500 meters.

Possible shipments of Javelins to Ukraine have long been in discussions, taking into account the ongoing crisis in Donbass. Foreign experts say that Javelins could help the Ukrainian military turn the tide of war in Donbass.

At the same time, the FGM-148 is only one of a variety of lethal weapons potentially available for deliver to Ukraine. According to Khrolenko, the legislation would be more important as a political precedent.

Trump’s Entourage - There is a good reason why Congress has once again brought up the initiative of military assistance for Ukraine. During his presidency, Barack Obama managed to restrain attempts by Washington hawks to escalate the situation in Ukraine. Now, certain prominent hawks in Trump’s entourage are trying to get their own way.

"Pentagon chief Gen. James Mattis and national security adviser Gen. Herbert McMaster are known for a hardline stance towards Russia," Khrolenko noted.

Moreover, during hearings in the Senate, Trump’s pick for the post of US State Secretary Rex Tillerson endorsed shipments of lethal weapons to Ukraine and said that Russia poses a "danger" to the US.

Trump’s nominee for director of national intelligence Dan Coats has also said that alongside China and North Korea, Russia is a big concern for Washington.

On February 15, US Deputy Secretary of Defense Bob Work met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin. In particular, the sides discussed "US efforts to improve Ukraine’s internal defense capabilities."

"Donald Trump’s future in such an entourage is becoming increasingly clear. There will be political struggle and an inevitable arms race," the journalist suggested.

Rising Military Threats - According to Khrolenko, it is obvious that warmongering politicians and generals have a majority in Washington, and "Trump simply has no alternative."

"Trump may signed a bill on lethal weapons for Ukraine. This will mark the beginning of a new phase of war in eastern Ukraine," the article read.

According to Khrolenko, in the current environment Trump is simply unable to convert his electoral slogans into real decisions.

"Washington’s economic interests as well as the long-term strategy of enhanced deterrence will not let the 45th US President to change the military and political pillars of American dominance. This will inevitably result in raising global military threats," the author concluded.

Ukraine and the United States should "think three times" before taking steps that could lead to escalation, Russian Deputy Foreign Minsiter Ryabkov said Friday.

Moscow Urges Ukraine, US to 'Think Three Times' Before Stoking Tensions
https://sputniknews.com/politics/201703031051235663-russia-us-ukraine-relations/

Ryabkov told reporters the situation in Ukraine "would be much better" if the Untied States and other countries "heeded our calls not to carry out steps that will lead to an appearance of an illusion with the Kiev authorities that they could solve existing problems using force instead of the full implementation of the Minsk agreements."

"Therefore, as before, we urge to think three times before making decisions that could lead to further destabilization," he said.

At present, US military assistance to Kiev is limited to supplying uniforms and equipment, including counter-battery radars, drones and means of secure communication.

The sides to the Donbass conflict agreed to begin heavy weaponry withdrawal from the line of contact on March 7.

Withdrawal of Weaponry in Donbass Scheduled for March 7
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201703011051165320-donbass-heavy-weaponry-contact-line/

The pullout of heavy armaments from the contact line in Donbass is scheduled for March 7, Russia's envoy to the Contact Group on Ukraine Boris Gryzlov said Wednesday.

Measures have been discussed on the withdrawal of hardware from the contact line to depots. Disengagement of forces and assets has been scheduled for March 7 in Stanytsa Luganskaya," Gryzlov told reporters.

The situation in Donbass has escalated over the past few weeks, in particular near the town of Avdiivka in the Donetsk region, where clashes between Kiev forces and the troops of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) intensified. The conflicting parties have both accused each other of initiating the violence.

After learning to live under an economic blockade on the part of Ukraine, the Donetsk People's Republic decided to respond in kind.

Tit for Tat: Donetsk Republic Punches Back and Declares Trade Blockade on Kiev
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201703031051232212-donetsk-trade-blockade-ukraine/

The leader of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), Alexander Zakharchenko, said Friday that the residents of Donbass have learned to live in a blockade on the part of Ukrainian security officials, and now the DPR is declaring a blockade on Kiev.

"We are cutting all ties with Ukraine, with which we are at war. Yes, we were selling coal to get money and pay wages here. But due to the fact that we have learned to live in the blockade, we are declaring a blockade on Ukraine," Zakharchenko told reporters.

In late January, a group of former participants of Ukraine's military operation in Donbass, including Ukrainian lawmakers, blocked on some sections freight railroad links with areas in Donbass not controlled by Kiev. They claimed that any trade with the Donetsk and Lugansk Republics was illegal, and all ongoing trade transportation meant smuggling. The blockade has led to a disruption in anthracite coal supplies to Ukraine, which forced the Ukrainian authorities to introduce emergency measures in the energy sector in order to save resources.

The Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and the Lugansk People's Republic (LPR) decided to impose receivership regime on Ukrainian enterprises in the area on March 1 in response to the transport blockade.

Senator Aleksey Pushkov commented reported of Ukrainian radicals on block out of railway connections with Russia in Konottop, he pointed out that Kiev had already lost 15 $ billion.

Ukraine has already lost 15 $ billions, and does not stop, Pushkov
http://novorossia.today/ukraine-has-already-lost-15-billions-and-does-not-stop-pushkov/

Ukrainian radicals that are blocking out trade with the DPR and LPR now, announced about opening of new checkpoint in the town Konotop of the Summy region, in about 70km to the border with Russia.

They stop trains from Russia, and they plan to take control over 8 main railways junctions in a month.

Coup Leader Poroshenko And His Nazi Henchmen Now Using His Navy To Fire Rockets And Attack The Donetsk Republic Army ~ Ukrainian Junta Navy opens fire on DPR from the Sea of ​​Azov.

Nazi Ukraine Junta Now Using It’s Navy To Fire And Attack On The Donetsk People’s Army Near Shirokino
http://novorossia.today/nazi-ukraine-junta-now-using-navy-fire-attack-donetsk-peoples-army-near-shirokino/

Ukraine Junta probing the defense of the DPR from the Sea of Azov. On Saturday, March 4, two small military boats of the Ukrainian Navy opened fire on the positions of the DPR near Shirokino. This was reported by the war correspondent Marina Kharkova.

‘As it is known, the Ukrainian military sailors placed two small military motorboats in the port of Mariupol as early as in autumn of 2015. Until recently, motorboats went out to the Sea of ​​Azov only for reconnaissance of the coastal strip controlled by the army of the DPR. This strip begins 20 kilometers east of Mariupol, immediately after the seaside locality of Shirokino illegally occupied by the Ukrainian military.

Motorboats mooring in Mariupol, went out to sea at 6 am on March 4th. However, this time, they did not limit themselves with cruising along the coast controlled by the DPR army units. Having retired from the coastline over about a kilometer distance, the boats crews opened fire on the units of the Republic army with small caliber cannons and heavy machine guns set on board of the boats,’ said Kharkova.

‘Soldiers of the ground units of the DPR army opened return fire at the enemy. The firefight lasted no longer than 15 minutes, after which the two motorboats came about and left, at rapid traverse, in the direction of Mariupol,’ said the war correspondent.

More than 1,000 clients in Gorlovka’s three villages are cut off electricity, eleven houses got damaged in night shelling from positions of the Ukrainian hostile troops, acting head of the local administration Ivan Prikhodko told the Donetsk News Agency on Sunday.

More than 1,000 people in Gorlovka are with no power after Ukrainian side shelled populated districts
http://novorossia.today/more-than-1-000-people-in-gorlovka-are-with-no-power-after-ukrainian-side-shelled-populated-distroicts/

“Ukraine’s Armed Forces at night shelled Gorlovka, damaging the high-voltage line and thus leaving without electricity 63 transformer substations and 19 boilers in settlements Zaitsevo, Golmovsky and Shahta 6/7,” he said. “The total of 1,000 clients is cut off supplies.”

Repairing brigades continue working to restore the supplies, the official said.

Since the autumn of 2014, members of the Contact Group on settling the situation in eastern Ukraine have announced ceasefires in Donbass more than ten times. However, the Ukrainian military have been repeatedly violating ceasefires, particularly using large caliber guns, mortars and tanks that should be withdrawn from the line of contact in accordance with the Minsk agreements.

At the recent meeting of the Contact Group, held on March 1, the parties agreed to resume the weapons withdrawal process on March 7.

Ukraine Junta Military And Members Of Nazi Right Wing Movements Now Form Railway Blockade To Block Off Russia

Ukraine Junta ATO veterans report blocking the railway communication between Russia and Ukraine
http://novorossia.today/ukraine-junta-military-members-nazi-right-wing-movements-now-form-railway-blockade-block-off-russia/

This was stated in the so-called ‘headquarters of the blockade of the trade with the invaders’ .

‘Last night, veterans of the War for Independence, as well as social patriots of Sumy, Lvov, Ternopol and Kiev, opened a new redoubt. This time, in the town of Konotop, the Sumy region.

Via Konotop goes one of the main trafficking routes to the country-invader, the Russian Federation. At the railway station Konotop, there were found several trains from the Russian Federation, including those carrying coal of anthracite brand.

At present, we are equipping the area in engineering terms. The redoubt was named in honor of the German chancellor, Konrad Adenauer, who in the late 40s helped to strengthen the freedom and, in the future, regain the unity of the country.

The headquarters plan, within a month, to take under effective Ukrainian control all 8 main railway border crossings, via which goes the trade with the aggressor country, Putin’s Russia’.

Nazi Activists of Donbass blockade and mined a bridge in LPR

In the part of the LPR occupied by the Nazi Ukrainian army, explosives were found at the checkpoint of the Donbass blockade by Nazi activists.

This was reported by the so-called «police» of the former Lugansk region.

‘Under one of the pillars of the bridge, near which their tent is situated, there were discovered MES mines, DDM-5 grenades, about two kilograms of TNT with the necessary devices to carry out explosions, smoke grenades and ammunition, said the police statement

 

[angelburst29]

A Ukrainian commander who ordered the deployment of Tochka-U tactical missiles against civilians in eastern Ukraine was identified by the Russian Investigative Committee.

Russian Investigators Identify Ukraine Commander Ordering Tactical Missiles
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201703071051328922-russia-ukraine-donbass-sledcom/

The Russian Investigative Committee said Tuesday it had identified a Ukrainian commander who ordered the deployment of Tochka-U tactical missiles against civilians in eastern Ukraine.

She added that according to the investigation, Col. Fedir Yaroshevich was responsible for the use of the missile on August 22, 2014 that claimed lives of three people, including a child.

The use of indiscriminate weapons could barely be called an accident. It is also impossible to believe the explanations of the Ukrainian side about certain malfunctions of the missile control system taking into consideration that the Tochka-U has been repeatedly used in the similar conditions," the spokeswoman said.

She added that actions of "certain Ukraine's officials" were of intentional nature and could be classified as the use of prohibited means and methods of war.
The Russian Investigative Committee said last month it received evidence that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have applied the Tochka-U tactical missile systems against civilians in the armed conflict.

The Russian Investigative Committee said last month it received evidence that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have applied the Tochka-U tactical missile systems against civilians in the armed conflict.

“Defrauded bank investors” and “civil activists” have stormed Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers and called on others to rally to them.

Protestors storm Kiev Cabinet of Ministers, demand Poroshenko impeachment (Video)
http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/03/protestors-storm-kiev-cabinet-of.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Csdzrpo8GxI (1:24 min.)

The protestors are demanding the impeachment of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and the resignation of Prime Minister Vladimir Groysman. One of the activists, Yury Kleynos, has announced the beginning of a hunger strike.

“The police are coming for us, but we are not afraid,” Kleynos said, “Join us. Because of the government’s bestial attitude towards the people, we demand the impeachment of President Poroshenko.”

Some of the protestors have their mouths taped shut and are holding signs with such slogans as “Poroshenko is a killer,” “For a people’s impeachment”, and “Groysman to Israel.”

The organizing committee of the action in Italy prepared a petition with the following demands:

Rally In Italy As Italians demand to put Nazi Ukraine Coup Leader Poroshenko on trial (Video)
http://novorossia.today/rally-italy-italians-demand-put-nazi-ukraine-coup-leader-poroshenko-trial/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_v35FgmfPk (0:24 min.)

•recognize the events that have been taking place in the east of Ukraine since February 2014, a genocide;
•recognize the president of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, as well as a number of representatives of the Kiev authorities, guilty of the coup in Ukraine, the creation, arming and financing of the Azov, Aydar, Kiev and Tornado battalions, classified as terrorists;
•hold them responsible for the genocide of the inhabitants of the Russian-speaking Donbas;
•start preparations for the International Tribunal on charging representatives of the Kiev authorities with the extermination of their own citizens;
•recognize the Ukrainian media as criminal information units that provided an information cover for the coup d’état and genocide.

The document will be passed to the office of the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella. The petition is also expected to be presented in international organizations, including the OSCE and the UN.

Actions in support of Donbass were held in several European countries. In The Hague, the picketers condemned the EU authorities for supporting ‘Poroshenko’s regime which kills peaceful people in violation of the Geneva Convention’.

In Brussels, the action was held under the flags of the Donetsk People’s Republic and Russia.

Manifestations were also held in a number of Italian cities, including Rome and Venice, Naples, Padua, and Verona. In Rome, the protesters held a poster in memory of the victims of the tragedy of May 2 in Odessa.

The Company "Ukrainian Railways" reported that the situation with the blockade of trains from the Russia in the Ukrainian city of Konotop is resolved.

Extremists in Ukraine lifted the blockade of the railway in Konotop
http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/03/extremists-in-ukraine-lifted-blockade.html

"Ukrzaliznytsya" also said that the railroad agreed to provide monthly, to a state deputy, giving information about the railways. The company will send the participant with information about the goods transported between Ukraine and Russia.

It is reported that the talks involved the railway company, law enforcement officials and deputies of Ukraine. The company stressed that the blocking of the railway did not affect the movement of passenger trains.

The National Police of Ukraine reported that on Sunday the participants of the blockade stopped two Ukrainian freight trains - one for four minutes, the other for more than an hour. They have opened criminal proceedings against the participants.

Ukrainian extremists, blocking trade with DNR and LNR, announced on Saturday, the opening of a new checkpoint - at a railway station elsewhere in the Sumy region (about 70 km from the border with Russia) to stop the movement of trains from Russia.

In late January, a group of former participants of the military operation in the Donbass, including deputies of the Verkhovna Rada, blocked several areas that allowed trade between the DNR and the Kiev regime. The blockade has caused shortages in the supply of anthracite. For this reason, the Ukrainian authorities were forced to introduce emergency measures to conserve energy resources.

All movements on shelling are in dark period of time. Filtration station subjected to shelling again.
Yasinovataya checkpoint under the regular shelling of Ukraine (Video)
http://novorossia.today/yasinovataya-checkpoint-under-the-regular-shelling-of-ukraine-ukraine/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5D5ZQaczpBI (1:21 min.)

In the DPR, Donetsk People’s Republic as a result of the shelling by the Nazi Ukrainian military, two apartment houses inflicted with massive damage and fire.

Two homes destroyed, burnt to the ground in Yasinovataya as a result of shelling by the Nazi Ukrainian military (Video)
http://novorossia.today/tragic-horror-two-homes-destroyed-burnt-ground-nazi-ukrainian-military-cowardly-bombing-civilian-areas-video/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UipKqUmh264 (4:39 min.)

The third district of the town of Yasinovataya was subjected to the heavy artillery shelling, which resulted in power transmission lines damaged, and causing a power outage at the Donetsk Filtering Plant.

‘Yasinovataya, on Zheleznodorozhnaya Street – as a result of the direct hit and explosion , a fire broke out in a private house. Causing massive destruction of the roof area of ​​50 square meters and the ceiling,’ said the statement of the press service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the People’s Republic of Donetsk.

Vladimir Kornilov, a well-known historian and journalist, commented on the release of the HardTalk program on the BBC channel, in which participated the ex-prime minister of the Ukraine Junta , Arseny Yatsenyuk.

Yats Grilled On BBC Talk Show ‘HARDTALK’ , Former Prime Minister Yatsenyuk Embarrassed On National TV (Video)
http://novorossia.today/yats-grilled-bbc-talk-show-hardtalk-former-prime-minister-yatsenyuk-embarrassed-national-tv-video/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_OzU00HJzA (2:15 min.)

Yatsenyuk had the imprudence to appear in the program of HardTalk on the BBC. The journalist Stephen Sakur literally crucified him there. By the end of the show, Arseny was so flushed and nervous that it was scary to look at him.

Sakur asked Yatsenyuk about his financial condition. Arseny estimated it as somewhere a million dollars (isn’t it funny?) and explained, ‘Well, do not forget, I was a banker and worked in the private sector for 10 years.

In fact, he worked as a banker in the Aval bank as much as 10 months of 1998 as a consultant, and I doubt that the salaries of ordinary employees of the Aval bank then allowed them to earn millions. And That’s it, actually, after that he became a young official.

Did he, perhaps, count as a banker experience the Maidan period of 2004, when he worked as the acting head of the National Bank? That is, did he consider this period a «private business» which could have brought him such profit?

Sakur broke in on Arseny when the latter started talking about the unprecedented reforms that he had realized as the Prime Minister. The host reminded him that his government’s rating at the time of his resignation was 2%. To which Yatsenyuk only mumbled, ‘An information campaign was conducted against my government’.

But the funniest thing was when they talked about Russia, the Crimea, and Donbass. Yatsenyuk said pompously, ‘I do not care about Putin’s opinion’. The host openly laughed as if saying, ‘You may not care about Putin’s opinion, but he is the only person who has a clear strategy’.

And he asked the former Prime Minister into his face whether Arseny was ready to look into the eyes of Ukrainian mothers whose children were and are dying in the war in Donbass. Arseny never answered this question, saying only that they are ‘heroes’ and that he will fight (‘to the last soldier’ as I understood it).

Canadian Minister of National Defense Harjit Sajjan said that the government would extend its military training mission in Ukraine by two years.

Canada to Extend Training Mission Supporting Ukraine by 2 Years
https://sputniknews.com/military/201703061051322642-canada-extend-ukraine-training-mission/

The government of Canada will extend its military training mission in Ukraine by two years, Minister of National Defense Harjit Sajjan said in a press conference on Monday.

Government of Canada is extending Operation UNIFIER, the Canadian Armed Forces military training mission in Ukraine, until the end of March 2019," Sajjan announced. “Today we continue to stand and support our valued ally — Ukraine.”

In 2015, Canada first sent 200 troops to Ukraine under Operation UNIFIER to provide training and capacity-building assistance to the country's military forces and to back their efforts to maintain sovereignty.

The Defense Ministry added that the Canadian Armed Forces would also "be transitioning overtime to support strategic institutional reform of Ukraine’s defense establishment."

 

[Ca.]

Ukraine Will ‘Cease to Exist’ in 60 Days (VIDEO)
http://russia-insider.com/en/politics/report-ukraine-will-cease-exist-60-days/ri19131
Alexander Zakharchenko,
http://russia-insider.com/sites/insider/files/styles/s400/public/main/2017-Mar-7/kievkiev_0.png?itok=mvgvxplF
The countdown begins

Things are far from rosy for Kiev

Earlier today we wrote — with a large dollop of schadenfreude — about Poroshenko's desperate and probably final attempt to keep his throne: Running to the Hague with evidence of Russian "terrorism".

The laundry list of woes facing Ukraine is extensive. But its most recent problems stem from the ongoing ultra-nationalist blockade of Donbass.

Being the sad pork chop that he is, Poroshenko has allowed the illegal blockade to continue, resulting in a nationwide energy crisis and untold millions in lost tax revenues.

Meanwhile, the Donbass republics have declared open war on the oligarchs, even the "friendly" ones, which basically means that the Golden Rule in Ukraine, "Thou Shall Not Harm Oligarchs", just went straight out the window.

In other news, Washington seems less and less interested in funding Kiev's war against the people of Donbass.

Things are not looking up for Poroshenko — or his "Revolution of Dignity".

According to the leader of the Donetsk People's Republic, Alexander Zakharchenko, if Kiev doesn't reverse course, Ukraine will "cease to exist" in 60 days:

Every day there is another nail in the coffin of the country formerly known as Ukraine. In a maximum of 60 days, the state won't exist anymore.

This is a terrific news report that really lays out in detail what Kiev is up against:

The report includes claims by a Rada deputy that Poroshenko recently sent two planes full of money and valuables to Spain as "diplomatic cargo".

Ukraine is obviously suffering. But is it really this close to total collapse?

It could be 60 days — or six months. But the political and economic situation in Ukraine is not sustainable.

Why Poroshenko is silent
https://southfront.org/why-poroshenko-is-silent/
ANALYSIS 07.03.2017
Original by Rostislav Ishchenko published by Rusvesna, translation by J.Hawk

In his interview with the PolitVera channel, Rostislav Ishchenko, a well-known political scientist and the president of the Systems Analysis and Prognosis Center, explained why Petro Poroshenko has not made the decision to end the Donbass blockade.

“Avakov, who says he has no orders, needs no additional orders in order to restore order. Just as General Zakharchenko, the Minister of Internal Affairs under Yanukovych, did not need any additional orders or authority in order to end the street riots. This is the law enforcement’s responsibility.

Avakov likewise needs no additional orders or authority to end the Donbass blockade and the infractions of the law. Imagine being beaten on the street, then asking a passing police patrol why they didn’t intervene, and hearing that they had no orders. Avakov is simply passively waiting, he doesn’t want to take measures because if Poroshenko gives orders to scatter the blockade, it will cause bloodshed and Poroshenko will be at fault.

Everyone will say that now the bloody Poroshenko regime is attacking noble patriots. Poroshenko would prefer if they themselves provoked bloodshed, which is why the blockade was attacked with knives and clubs to force them to shoot back. But they are not stupid–they didn’t shoot back. That’s the situation right now: whoever draws the first blood will take the blame for fomenting a civil war even as Ukraine is at war. That’s why Poroshenko is silent.

Akhmetov’s mercenaries were unleashed to scatter the blockade, but they failed. MVD, all the “power ministries” quietly stepped aside, they are biding their time because they are all on the side of Poroshenko’s opponents. By and large, Poroshenko has few choices, he should have announced early elections a long time ago and quickly left the country.

But he wants to steal some more. Moreover, he has nowhere to run to. Which is why he is continuing to resist, and since he has nowhere to run, he will resist to the end. We’ll see if he finds himself some quiet town to retire to.”

Military Situation In Eastern Ukraine On March 6, 2017
https://southfront.org/military-situation-in-eastern-ukraine-on-march-6-2017/

This map shows the military situation in eastern Ukraine on March 6, 2017.

5 homes & 2 apartment buildings hit by Ukraine artillery in Yasinovata near Donetsk. 3-6-17

http://<iframe width="560" height="...84" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[thorbiorn]

Regarding the 60 days limit that C.A. quoted, that would be great, the statement gives hope, it would mean a relief for many parties, but lets see. Just because Poroshenko is at his wits end, the possible replacement does not have to be, and more important is that there are forces in the West, who are still hell bent on fighting going on and sponsor it in many ways, fx http://www.stalkerzone.org/aleksandr-zhilin-canadian-instructors-ukraine/ and they keep financing it by fixing another installment at the very last moment; this they have been doing for almost three years.

 

[thorbiorn]

Ukraine conflict maintenance from the US congress which has approved 150 million USD of military aid to the Ukraine.

[...]"The resolution allows the pentagon to allocate to Kiev military support of the lethal type with a defensive character and equipment, and also to support the Ukrainian army with intelligence information. In addition, the training of personnel of the Ukrainian Armed Froces is possible."[...]

 

[Voyageur]

The Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress has proposed a bill cutting US military aid for Ukraine to $150 million, from the initial $300 million.

US Supplying Lethal Weapons to Ukraine Likely to 'Raise Global Military Threats'
https://sputniknews.com/world/201703041051266561-us-weapons-ukraine/

[...]

Trump’s Entourage - There is a good reason why Congress has once again brought up the initiative of military assistance for Ukraine. During his presidency, Barack Obama managed to restrain attempts by Washington hawks to escalate the situation in Ukraine. Now, certain prominent hawks in Trump’s entourage are trying to get their own way.

"Pentagon chief Gen. James Mattis and national security adviser Gen. Herbert McMaster are known for a hardline stance towards Russia," Khrolenko noted.

Moreover, during hearings in the Senate, Trump’s pick for the post of US State Secretary Rex Tillerson endorsed shipments of lethal weapons to Ukraine and said that Russia poses a "danger" to the US.

Trump’s nominee for director of national intelligence Dan Coats has also said that alongside China and North Korea, Russia is a big concern for Washington.

On February 15, US Deputy Secretary of Defense Bob Work met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin. In particular, the sides discussed "US efforts to improve Ukraine’s internal defense capabilities."

"Donald Trump’s future in such an entourage is becoming increasingly clear. There will be political struggle and an inevitable arms race," the journalist suggested.

Rising Military Threats - According to Khrolenko, it is obvious that warmongering politicians and generals have a majority in Washington, and "Trump simply has no alternative."

"Trump may signed a bill on lethal weapons for Ukraine. This will mark the beginning of a new phase of war in eastern Ukraine," the article read.

According to Khrolenko, in the current environment Trump is simply unable to convert his electoral slogans into real decisions.

"Washington’s economic interests as well as the long-term strategy of enhanced deterrence will not let the 45th US President to change the military and political pillars of American dominance. This will inevitably result in raising global military threats," the author concluded.

Ukraine and the United States should "think three times" before taking steps that could lead to escalation, Russian Deputy Foreign Minsiter Ryabkov said Friday.

Wish I could point to something more reassuring, yet the waters are murky and hands are hard to read. Trump and his WH entourage have multiple fronts they face, and he can't be sure of the entourage itself. However, they surly know the Russian front is a silly game to play, yet play it they may be doing, for now. The weapons industry, not that it is unnoticed, is big big business and whether wars happen or not, the sales of arms must continue to keep the wolves at bay perhaps.

To really shift what is going on in this unbelievably sad situation (see some Italians above were taking a positive stand), Ukraine's neighbors - Poland etc. need to pivot from their manufactured NATO stranglehold/policy; that would send a good message to the West, and better still if the EU countries followed suite one by one. I don't know.

On March 11th, the Canadian Conservative MP, Tony Clement, landed in Kyiv for a meet and greet, and get this, he "was surprised to learn of the huge scale of the crisis caused by the four-year conflict." However, he further discuses the war in Ukraine:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/ukraine-humanitarian-crisis-deepens-clement-1.4019601

Calling the situation "dire," Clement said Ukraine is no longer front of mind for most Canadians and others in the West, even though it's a war taking place within Europe.

"I think that's the way Putin wants it," he said. "This is where it gets very dangerous for the sovereignty of Ukraine and the order in Europe, which, of course, Putin wants to disrupt. So, it fits in to his geopolitical game."

Clement hopes to meet with Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland to relay his findings and make recommendations on how Canada could best help."

Getting out out would help, yet the NATO yoke is well affixed on Canada. Freeland, of course (the Canadian minister), is of Ukrainian birth who also has some deep seeded zealotry in her past; one who harbors a questionable family linage that allegedly was deep into Nazi propaganda during the WWII. Nonetheless, they make her a Minister.

As you quote further on A29, indeed, Canada is "Extending military mission"

Freeland and Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan announced this week that Canada's military training mission in Ukraine will extend to March 2019. The UNIFIER operation is providing military instruction and capacity building and helping with small team training, explosive ordnance disposal, military policing, medical training and modernizing logistics.

In the same article:

Peter Maurer, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) wrapped up his own five-day visit to Ukraine Friday, and expressed "alarm" with the living conditions of large masses of people affected by the fighting in the east.

"Hundreds of thousands of people are living under the perpetual threat of shelling, shooting, and landmines," Maurer said in a statement. "Their access to basics like food, water and electrical power has been dramatically curtailed."

The Donetsk water filtration station, which tens of thousands of people depend on, has been repeatedly disrupted because of the fighting. He repeated the ICRC's call to establish a series of safe zones to better protect critical water, gas and electricity installations on the front line.

At least those observations were in print.

Had a look at the Yats (Nuland's man) link posted below. Yeah, he is a scary little man and Sakur had him going.

Yats Grilled On BBC Talk Show ‘HARDTALK’ , Former Prime Minister Yatsenyuk Embarrassed On National TV (Video)
http://novorossia.today/yats-grilled-bbc-talk-show-hardtalk-former-prime-minister-yatsenyuk-embarrassed-national-tv-video/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_OzU00HJzA (2:15 min.)

Yatsenyuk had the imprudence to appear in the program of HardTalk on the BBC. The journalist Stephen Sakur literally crucified him there. By the end of the show, Arseny was so flushed and nervous that it was scary to look at him.

Sakur asked Yatsenyuk about his financial condition. Arseny estimated it as somewhere a million dollars (isn’t it funny?) and explained, ‘Well, do not forget, I was a banker and worked in the private sector for 10 years.

In fact, he worked as a banker in the Aval bank as much as 10 months of 1998 as a consultant, and I doubt that the salaries of ordinary employees of the Aval bank then allowed them to earn millions. And That’s it, actually, after that he became a young official.

Did he, perhaps, count as a banker experience the Maidan period of 2004, when he worked as the acting head of the National Bank? That is, did he consider this period a «private business» which could have brought him such profit?

Sakur broke in on Arseny when the latter started talking about the unprecedented reforms that he had realized as the Prime Minister. The host reminded him that his government’s rating at the time of his resignation was 2%. To which Yatsenyuk only mumbled, ‘An information campaign was conducted against my government’.

But the funniest thing was when they talked about Russia, the Crimea, and Donbass. Yatsenyuk said pompously, ‘I do not care about Putin’s opinion’. The host openly laughed as if saying, ‘You may not care about Putin’s opinion, but he is the only person who has a clear strategy’.

And he asked the former Prime Minister into his face whether Arseny was ready to look into the eyes of Ukrainian mothers whose children were and are dying in the war in Donbass. Arseny never answered this question, saying only that they are ‘heroes’ and that he will fight (‘to the last soldier’ as I understood it).

Thanks for all the postings you guys.

 

[thorbiorn]

Could one draw a parallel between NATO wars in the Middle East, North Africa and its agressive position in Eastern Europe with the time of the crusades?

While the crusades in the Middle East, lasting approximately from 1095-1292, are well known, there were others in northern and northeastern Europe:

[...]The Livonian Knights were defeated by the Lithuanians, so Gregory IX merged the remainder of the order into the Teutonic Order as the Livonian Order.[134] By the middle of the century, the Teutonic Knights completed their conquest of the Prussians before conquering and converting the Lithuanians in the subsequent decades.[135] The order also came into conflict with the Eastern Orthodox Church in the form of the Pskov and Novgorod Republics. In 1240 the Orthodox Novgorod army defeated the Catholic Swedes in the Battle of the Neva, and, two years later, they defeated the Livonian Order itself in the Battle on the Ice.[136][...]

1240 was also the period of the expansion of the Mongols from the steppes of Central Asia. And hundred years later the black plague came.

What can Europe expect this time around?

 

[angelburst29]

Ukraine's president has endorsed sanctions against five subsidiaries of Russian state banks.

Poroshenko Approves One-Year Sanctions Against 5 Russian State Bank Subsidiaries
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201703161051643080-poroshenko-sanctions-russian-banks/

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has approved the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine's proposal to impose one-year sanctions on five subsidiaries of Russian state banks on Thursday.

Poroshenko put into effect the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine's March 15, 2017, decision 'On the application of personal special economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions)' for a number of legal entities," a statement on the president's website reads.

The measures affect the Ukrainian subsidiaries of Sberbank, VTB, BM-Bank, Prominvestbank and VS Bank.

Moscow is monitoring the situation unfolding around Russian banks' subsidiaries in Ukraine, the Kremlin spokesman said.

Russia to Take Measures to Protect Banks' Subsidiaries in Ukraine if Necessary
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201703161051639302-russia-ukraine-banks/

The actions against Russian banks' subsidiaries in Ukraine contradict international law, and Moscow will take all legitimate measures to protect them if necessary, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday.

"We are closely monitoring the situation and will, if necessary, support and protect with all available and legitimate means the interests of our credit and financial institutions," Peskov told reporters.

He also said the situation in Ukraine was frightening in terms of its tendency to degrade, adding that the country was becoming much less investment-attractive.

"[Moscow is concerned] about the situation around our banks, about the restrictions which were imposed or will be imposed on Russian legal entities or their subsidiaries… This, of course, contradicts the international law," Peskov said.

Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of the Russian parliament's lower house, called Wednesday on the European parliaments to give an assessment to the radicals' vandalism against Russia’s Sberbank and Alfa-Bank in Ukraine.

Russian Duma Speaker Urges EU to Assess Vandalizing State’s Banks in Ukraine
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201703161051625003-eu-russian-banks-vandalizing-ukraine-assessment/

Ukrainian radicals blocked the entrance into the central office of Sberbank, locking over 400 employees inside on Monday and continued to hinder the access to the bank the following day, according to the Bank’s address to Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko, published Tuesday. Besides, the Sberbank and Alfa-Bank’s ATMs in Ukraine have been subjected to vandalism by the radicals.

"There is a proposal to the Financial Markets and Foreign Affairs Committees to prepare an address to the EU states’ parliaments, EU parliament, PACE, Secretary General of the Council of Europe … We believe our colleagues from the European parliaments should give it [the situation] an assessment," Volodin said, referring to the present situation around Sberbank and Alfa-Bank.

Volodin noted that he considered the situation unacceptable with regard to banks and financial institutions and to "unprecedented pressure" on the banks’ employees.

The address might be considered by the Russian State Duma on Friday, Volodin added.

In response to the radicals’ actions Sberbank will temporarily restrict the cash withdrawal from current accounts for individuals in bank offices to approximately $1,100 starting from Wednesday.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow expects Kiev to do everything it can, without political considerations, to protect Sberbank’s offices in Ukraine.

Nazi Ukraine Elements Sealed Off Entrance And Windows Of Sberbank With Bricks In Downtown Kiev (Photos - Video)
http://novorossia.today/nazi-ukraine-elements-sealed-off-entrance-windows-sberbank-bricks-downtown-kiev-video-photos/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4nV_2UDiSI (1:59 min.)

Sberbank’s head office in Kiev shut down for security reasons on Monday after Ukrainian radicals bricked up windows and entrance to the branch.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko called on the Ukrainian parliament on Wednesday to adopt a law ensuring restoring the Ukrainian sovereignty over the eastern country’s region of Donbass on the basis of the Minsk agreements.

Poroshenko Calls for Adoption of Law Ensuring Regaining Control Over Donbass
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201703161051625885-poroshenko-law-control-donbass/

The news comes after Poroshenko proposed earlier in the day to the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) to completely halt transport connection with the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk people’s republics until the enterprises in regions return to Ukraine's control. Later in the day, the NSDC made the corresponding decision.

My position is that we must adopt a law that will ensure restoring the Ukrainian sovereignty in Donbas. That will be based on the Minsk agreements," Poroshenko told Ukrainian broadcasters.

He did not go into details of the proposed law.

At the same time Poroshenko opposed the idea of adoption of a law recognizing Donbas as an occupied territory as, from his point of view, such a law would separate the split regions from Ukraine and ruin the Minsk process.

All roads and railway lines leading to the frontline in Donbass have been cut off by the Ukrainian National Guard, National Police, and State Border Guard Service.

Ukrainian National Guard blocks all roads to Donbass
http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/03/ukrainian-national-guard-blocks-all.html

More than 800 troops have been deployed to checkpoints on the Ukrainian side of the frontline in Donbass. The blockade checkpoints are reportedly being reinforced with military vehicles.

“Pursuant to the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, today all roads and railway lines leading to the demarcation line have been blocked by forces of the National Guard, National Police, and border guard services in order to ensure control over and prevent the illegal movement of goods,” the National Guard's statement reads.

This escalation comes on the heels of Ukrainian President Poroshenko’s ultimatum to the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics to reverse the nationalization of Ukrainian enterprises.

This new Kiev-enforced blockade follows the recently dispersed blockade of Donbass railways by neo-Nazi battalions who demanded that all trade with the Donbass republics be terminated. The government's failure to suppress the latter initiative on the demand of the Donbass republics provoked the nationalization of hitherto undisturbed Ukrainian enterprises on the territory of the people's republics.

Poroshenko has since named the conditions for the blockade’s lifting:

“We say: please return enterprises to Ukrainian owners…comply with points one and two of the Minsk Agreements, meaning cease-fire and withdraw heavy equipment and artillery, and we’ll remove the restrictive measures on the movement of goods across the contact line,” the president stated.

In addition, Poroshenko threatened to impose sanctions on Russia if Donbass sells goods manufactured at the recently nationalized factories to Russia.

Meanwhile, the head of the Donetsk People's Republic, Alexander Zakharchenko, has dismissed the blockade as Ukraine's "own domestic problem."

"The decision of Poroshenko and the National Security and Defense Council is the internal affair of former Ukraine. More precisely, this is a fact of internal power struggle in Kiev which Poroshenko seems to be losing. We don't have any relationship to this whatsoever," Zakharchenko stressed, adding that Donbass has its own blockade in force which will be lifted only when Kiev fulfills its part of the Minsk Agreements.