Civil War in Ukraine: Western Empire vs Russia

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"Герои" майдана после переворота в стране, объединились в так называемые добровольческие батальоны. Чтобы хоть как-то контролировать это безумное вооруженное стадо и придать им законный статус, власти включили эти подразделения в состав национальной гвардии, МВД. Те, о ком пойдет речь представляют батальон "Торнадо", входящий в МВД, то есть в специальные полицейские силы. Девиз новой полиции Украины (раньше была милиция) как и у их коллег из США - "служить и защищать"- применительно к данным персонажам звучит как издевательство.

Это животные, это не люди, — нардеп Чорновол рассказала шокирующие подробности о бандитах из «Торнадо»
http://rusvesna.su/news/1470509365

Шокирующие кадры суда над бандитами из «Торнадо»
http://rusvesna.su/news/1470422112


Translation
The "heroes" of the Maidan after the revolution in the country, joined in the so-called volunteer battalions. To somehow control this crazy armed flock and to give them legal status, the authorities have included these units into the national guard, Ministry of interior. Those about whom speech will go represent the battalion "Tornado", which is part of the Ministry of interior, i.e. special police forces. The motto of the new police of Ukraine (before the militia) and their counterparts in the United States - "to protect and serve"- in relation to the characters sounds like a mockery.

They are animals, not people, people's Deputy Chornovil told the shocking details about the bandits of the "Tornado"
During the arrest of the commanders of the punitive battalion of the interior Ministry of Ukraine "Tornado" they seized the phones, which was recorded live rape of infants.

About this stated the people's Deputy Tetiana Chornovol.

"When the commanders of the Tornado was arrested, they seized mobile phones. Mobile phones turned out to be a terrible video. Really terrible video that is now in the file. This video different sexual orgies, rape. If you even say that there was even a newborn" she said in the TV channel "112 Ukraine".

"I understand that the mother of this infant were forced to do under threat of death of her child," — said the people's Deputy.

"There was the rape of underage girls," said Chornovol, adding that the arrested militants "are animals, not people".

Shocking footage of the trial of the bandits from "Tornado"
As previously reported, "Russian Spring", in Kiev was held a court session on the case of fighters punitive units of the MIA of Ukraine "Tornado" accused of torture, robbery, murder and rape.

The Prosecutor General's office of Ukraine has published a new video of the meeting, held behind closed doors.

On video of the witnesses tell of shocking details about the looting, sexual violence and torture by the fighters of "Tornado". The defendants routinely use profanity and violate order in the courtroom.
 
FSB prevented terrorist acts in Republic of Crimea prepared by the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

FSB blames Ukrainian Defense Ministry for foiled terrorist plot in Crimea
http://www.fort-russ.com/2016/08/fsb-blames-ukrainian-defense-ministry.html

The Federal security service of Russian Federation prevented terrorist acts in Republic of Crimea prepared by the Main intelligence department of the Ministry of defense of Ukraine, targeting critical elements of infrastructure and life support of the peninsula.

The purpose of sabotage and terrorist acts was to destabilize the socio-political situation in the region during the period of preparation and the process of elections of federal and regional authorities.

As a result of the investigation activities on the night of 6th to 7th August 2016 near the city of Armyansk, Republic of Crimea, a group of saboteurs was discovered. During the arrest of terrorists an employee of FSB of Russia was killed in a firefight. On the site of the clashes the following evidence was found:
20 improvised explosive devices with total capacity of more than 40 kilograms of TNT, ammunition and special means of initiation, regular antipersonnel and magnetic mines as well as grenades and special weapons used by special units of the armed forces of Ukraine.

Measures were taken on the territory of Crimean peninsula to liquidate a network of agents of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Armed forces of Ukraine. Detained persons were citizens of Ukraine and Russian Federation, assisting in the preparation of terrorist acts, who had confessed. One of the organizers of the prevented acts of terrorism is Panov Evgeniy Aleksandrovich, 1977 year of birth, the inhabitant of the Zaporozhye region, the employee of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) of Ukraine, who was detained and has confessed.

On the night of the 8th of August 2016 special forces of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine carried out two attempts of a breakthrough by sabotage and terrorist groups, which were prevented by law enforcement units of the Russian FSB and other involved agencies. Breakthrough was attempted under the cover of a massive attack from the neighboring state [Ukraine - FR] involving armored vehicles of Ukrainian armed forces. During the firefight, a soldier of the Defense Ministry of Russian Federation was killed.

Based on the results of the investigative and combat operations, the investigative department of the FSB of Russia in the Republic of Crimea and city of Sevastopol opened a criminal case. Additional operational activities and investigation are conducted.

Additional security measures were taken in places of public gatherings and recreation, and also for the protection of critical infrastructure. Security at the border with Ukraine has been strengthened.


Sea Breeze exercises were used to transfer foreign mercenaries to the border of Crimea

Foreign mercs arrive to Crimean borders under the cover of NATO Sea Breeze exercises
http://www.fort-russ.com/2016/08/foreign-mercs-arrive-to-crimean-borders.html

Ukraine and NATO's Sea Breeze exercises in the Black Sea became a smokescreen to smuggle foreign mercenaries to Odessa and Kherson region, said former people's deputy Aleksey Zhuravko on air of program "Pravda."

According to him, such actions are directed against Russia and are a prepation for war.

"Why do you think today, so many mercenaries came to the territory of Ukraine? It's no secret that in Nikolaev, Odessa region there are Poles, Hungarians and Americans. This was all done for 'Sea Breeze', but, in fact, a springboard is prepared for war against Russia. When they realized that they lost Crimea, immediately understood what is behind it. Of course, while it's still hot, they want to spin the wheel of war. And this wheel will continue to spin," - said Zhuravko.


Putin - Minsk negotiations now pointless in light of Crimea provocation
http://www.fort-russ.com/2016/08/unforgiving-rhetoric-vladimir-putin.html

Vladimir Putin:

"This is very disturbing. Our security services have prevented penetration of sabotage-reconnaissance group of the Ukraine Ministry of Defense into Crimea. Of course, such actions mean that continuing talks in Normandy format is pointless, especially when it comes to the next meeting in China.

Because, apparently, the people who [violently] seized power in Kiev and continue to usurp it, don’t want negotiations. [snip] Now, instead of looking for ways to settle the conflict peacefully, they decided to try terrorism.

In this regard, I can’t avoid mentioning that we view the recent assassination attempt targeting the head of the Lugansk People's Republic as an [act of terror], same as the current attempt to sneak saboteurs into the territory of Crimea.

I want to point out, I think the media reported it already, that the Russian side took losses. Two soldiers were killed. We certainly won’t excuse such things.

But I would like to also address our American, European partners. I think that by now it is obvious for all involved that the current Kiev authorities are not looking to solve problems through negotiation. Now they escalate to acts of terror. That is very concerning.

At first glance, what we just saw in Crimea seems to be a stupid and criminal act. It’s stupid, because it is impossible to regain the trust of Crimean population that way. And it’s criminal, because people have died.

But I think that the underlying situation is even more alarming. Because there is nothing to be gained from such attacks, except to distract their own people from the ruined Ukrainian economy, from the plight of many ordinary Ukrainians – that is the only reason.

Trying to provoke violence and conflict can only serve to divert public attention from those who seized power in Kiev, and still continue to usurp it and continue to rob their own people. [They’re playing dangerous games] in order to stay in power as long as possible, and loot as much as they possibly can.

But [both] their attempts failed, because their [cronies] turned out to be too incompetent. Of course, we will do everything we can to ensure the safety of infrastructure and citizens, take extra security measures. And I mean serious additional measures. Both technical, and otherwise.

But the most important thing is that those [Western governments] who support the current Kiev authorities must decide - what do they want? Do they want their proxies to continue attempting to provoke us? Or do they still want a real peace agreement? And if they still actually want it, I really hope that they finally take some real steps to provide necessary pressure on the current government in Kiev."

Actual speech (in Russian):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7OpSeOtYnU


The Ukrainian Defense Ministry refuted information revealed by the Russian Federal Security Service on preventing terrorist attacks in Crimea organized by the Ukrainian authorities.

Ukrainian MoD Refutes Russia's FSB Reports on Foiling Terror Attacks in Crimea
http://sputniknews.com/europe/20160810/1044139070/ukraine-mod-crimea-attack.html

On Wednesday, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said that it had eliminated a spy ring organized by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry in Crimea, detaining both Russian and Ukrainian nationals involved in preparing terrorist attacks on the peninsula. An FSB officer died as a result of a firefight during the arrest.

Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Kiev of resorting to terrorism.

"The Ukrainian Defense Ministry refutes information spread by Russian FSB on participation of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine in diversionary activities on the territory of temporary occupied Crimea," the statement reads.

The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces denied the accusations earlier on Wednesday and labeled them a provocation.

The Federal Security Service also said it had prevented two overnight attempts by Kiev-organized terrorist groups from entering Crimea overnight into August 8, in which one Russian soldier was killed.

Russia's historical southern region of Crimea rejoined Russia after a 2014 referendum, in which almost 97 percent of the region's population voted for reunification.


At least seven people have been detained on suspicion of involvement in a foiled terrorist attack in Russia's Crimea, a Russian law enforcement source said Wednesday.

Seven People Detained Over Foiled Crimea Attack - Source
http://sputniknews.com/russia/20160810/1044138357/crimea-foiled-attack.html

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said earlier on Wednesday it had dismantled a spy ring organized by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry in Crimea, detaining both Russian and Ukrainian nationals involved in preparing terrorist attacks on the peninsula.

"Seven people have been detained, including local agents-coordinators in Crimea," the source told RIA Novosti.

Two Russian servicemen have been killed in preventing the attacks. Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Kiev of resorting to terrorism.

The Ukrainian General Staff has denied the claims calling them a provocative act by Moscow.


Ф source in the republic’s law enforcement reported that a federal judge has been killed in Russia’s North Caucasus Republic of Dagestan.

Federal Judge Shot Dead in Russia’s Dagestan Republic - Source
http://sputniknews.com/russia/20160811/1044147971/judge-shot-dead-russia-dagestan.html

A federal judge has been killed in Russia’s North Caucasus Republic of Dagestan, a source in the republic’s law enforcement told RIA Novosti in the early hours of Thursday.

"In the Shamilsky District of Dagestan unknown individuals shot dead a judge from the federal court, he died from the injuries," the source said.

An investigation is underway.


The first deputy chairman of the Defense and Security Committee of the Federation Council (the upper house of Russia's parliament), said that Russia plans to turn the Hmeymim base in Syria into a fully operational base.

Russia Could Turn Hmeymim Base in Syria Into Fully-Operational Facility
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160811/1044148150/russia-may-turn-hmeymim-fully-operational.html

Russia plans to turn the Hmeymim base in Syria into a fully operational base, Franz Klintsevich, the first deputy chairman of the Defense and Security Committee of the Federation Council (the upper house of Russia's parliament), said.

"After an agreement on its legal status, Hmeymim will become a base of Russian armed forces, all the appropriate infrastructure will be built there and our servicemen will live in decent conditions," Klintsevich said in an interview with the Russian Izvestia newspaper.

According to the defense official, a permanent contingent of Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) could be based at the Hmeymim airbase, located in the northwestern Syrian Latakia province.

"The VKS unit could be increased in accordance with bilateral agreements, but so far, from the perspective of tasks at hand, the forces currently deployed there [at Hmeymim] are enough," Klintsevich said.


At least 20 sailors have been infected by a painful condition that causes sores to erupt on gums, tongue, hands and feet, with potential severe complications including meningitis and bleeding lungs

Canadian Warship on NATO Mission Hit by Outbreak of Hand, Foot and Mouth Virus
http://sputniknews.com/military/20160810/1044143306/canada-nato-disease-virus-outbreak.html

The Toronto Star reports that a Canadian warship deployed on a NATO mission has been hit by an outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), impacting some 20 sailors.

Sailors aboard the HMCS Charlottetown have suffered the contagious disease in recent days, which causes painful sores and lesions on the tongue, gums, hands and feet. A Canadian military spokesperson confirmed the outbreak and assured the public that the situation has been contained and that the personnel infected with the disease have received treatment.

The spokeswoman downplayed the seriousness of an outbreak that impacted nearly 10% of the crew, saying that "None of the cases of HFMD on board HMCS Charlottetown have caused serious illness or impacted operations. All of the members are being treated by the medical personnel on board the ship in accordance with established medical protocols."

The virulent pathogenic virus, if left untreated, can be deadly, sometimes resulting in inflammation of the brain or the meninges, acute flaccid paralysis, inflammation of the heart, and fluid or bleeding in the lungs. Generally, the condition runs its course over a period of three to six days, before the virus becomes dormant.

There are currently no vaccinations or specific treatment protocol for hand, foot and mouth disease aside from analgesics and anti-inflammatory painkillers to relieve immediate symptoms.

The closed confines of a naval frigate are an acknowledged breeding ground for HFMD, a pathogen passed by close personal contact, coughing, sneezing, touching infected surfaces, and sharing eating and drinking utensils.

According to Canadian naval sources, those impacted by the disease were not quarantined and several continued working in the ship’s galley, causing concern among other sailors that they were needlessly being made susceptible to developing the condition. These crew members were told by officials “not to worry,” according to the Toronto Star.

Instead, the spokesperson said that prevention measures have been enforced subsequent to the outbreak, including frequent hand-washing, avoiding close contact with those who have the disease, and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces.

Also here:
Canadian warship hit by outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/08/10/canadian-warship-hit-by-outbreak-of-hand-foot-and-mouth-disease.html

The frigate sailed from Halifax on June 27 to take part in Operation Reassurance, Canada’s contribution to NATO deterrence deployments in Eastern Europe.

In mid-July, the ship was in the Black Sea where it participated in NATO operations, including exercises to hone anti-submarine warfare skills.

It’s back in the Mediterranean Sea and spent the weekend docked in Souda Bay, on the Greek island of Crete, for a scheduled port visit.

As HMCS Charlottetown returned to sea Tuesday, there were just two active cases of hand, foot and mouth disease on the frigate, LaMarre said.
 
Just speculation, on my part but I think this Security Council meeting might have had something to do with Crimea/Ukraine?

Vladimir Putin just had a 'hurried' meeting with Security Council
https://www.sott.net/article/324733-Vladimir-Putin-just-had-a-hurried-meeting-with-Security-Council

This latest meeting of the Security Council is unusual in that as is clear from the list of attendees and the accompanying photograph only a small number of officials attended. Moreover the meeting did not take place at one of the Security Council's standard locations: the Kremlin and the Presidential Residence at Novo Ogaryovo. The Kremlin report merely says that it took place in "the Moscow region". That suggests a meeting convened hurriedly at a secret location.


Countless omens signal a new war on its way, from troop movements to Russia’s “August Curse.” But this time they may be more smoke than fire.

Is Ukraine Just About To Blow?
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/08/10/is-ukraine-just-about-to-blow.html

On Wednesday the FSB, the successor organization to the KGB, declared that it had prevented “terrorist attacks” in Crimea over the weekend.

According to the security service, an FSB agent was killed in a firefight with saboteurs on Saturday night near Russian-occupied Armyansk, a town close to the frontier with mainland Ukraine. Several Russian and Ukrainian citizens were arrested, the report claims, and a cache of explosives and weapons was discovered.

According to the FSB, some of the weaponry, which included improvised explosive devices and magnetic mines, belongs to Ukrainian special forces units. A Ukrainian citizen from Zaporizhia, one Yevgeny Panov, allegedly an agent of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense’s Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR), was detained and is supposedly confessing to his captors.

On Sunday night, the FSB claimed that Ukrainian special forces made two attempts to cross the frontier under cover of “massive fire” from Ukrainian troops and armored vehicles. A Russian soldier reportedly was killed.

This information, although not independently verified, may track with rumors circulating earlier this week of Russian military patrols roving around in the north of Crimea, with some witnesses saying that they have heard sporadic gunfire. An “informed source” meanwhile told Rosbalt, a Russian news site, that there had been a clash on the frontier on Sunday night, likely the event that the FSB now frames as a terrorist incursion by Ukrainian commandos.

Kiev denies all reports of fighting on the frontier or incursions into Russian-occupied Crimea. But Vladimir Putin is furious—or pretending to be. He says that “Kiev is not searching for paths to negotiations, but is moving to terror. From the Russian side, during the course of preventing terrorist attacks in Crimea, two soldiers died, we cannot pass this by.”

For the better part of a year, the war in Ukraine, has been “frozen but oven-ready,” as former NATO press officer Ben Nimmo once put it, with regular upticks in violence and provocations not quite leading to full-scale melt-downs.

That changed over the last week, however, with whispers inside Ukraine and among the foreign press corps that another big clash may be in the final stages of preparation with the locus of unusual activity in, yes, Crimea. Tatar activists on the peninsula noted that Russian military hardware had been moving towards the northern towns of Dzhankoy and Armyansk, near the frontier with Ukrainian-controlled territory. At the same time, verifiable video evidence emerged of large quantities of Russian military hardware on the move in the south of Crimea.

Columns of armored personnel carriers, military ambulances, fuel tankers, trucks, signals and engineering vehicles have been recorded in the port town of Kerch— which handles ferry arrivals from Russia. They have also been spotted in the Crimean regional capital of Simferopol, and outside a military training range near the southern town of Feodosia.

In Sevastopol, RFE/RL’s Crimean Service filmed the Mirazh, a Nanuchka-class missile corvette, at anchor in the bay. Incidentally, it was the Mirazh that sank a Georgian coastal patrol boat exactly eight years ago today.

According to the report, checkpoints have been set up around the peninsula.
At one such roadblock outside Simferopol, the report describes Russian traffic cops and troops from the Russian Interior Ministry stopping buses, checking drivers’ documents and peering through passenger windows.

Meanwhile, there are also reports from northern Crimea that Internet services have been out of action, and may not be restored until August 10. Areas without service include Dzhankoy and Armyansk, prompting suspicion that communications have been purposefully cut by the occupying regime for purposes as yet unknown.

Oleh Slobodyan, an adviser to the head of the Ukrainian State Border Service, reported last night that border guards had indeed observed a “high level of activity from Russian armed forces near the administrative border. On six occasions we observed flights of Russian military helicopters and, on one occasion, an unmanned aerial vehicle.” Slobodyan said that Russian troops had used searchlights to light up Ukrainian positions.

In response, Ukraine has deployed additional troops and military hardware to the Kherson region, adjacent to the administrative border with Crimea.

Adding to the unease, the Kerch city administration posted a brief announcement on Monday, requesting tourists refrain from traveling to Crimea in the coming days. According to the announcement, the Kerch ferry is overloaded with tourists, who may well be arriving for summer holidays albeit with less-than-savory company, namely the Night Wolves biker gang—Putin’s own state-blessed Hells Angels who played a symbolic role in the lead-up to the 2014 annexation of the peninsula when they drove through the peninsula on a wave of anti-Maidan agitprop.

Over the weekend, huge queues reportedly formed at crossing points on the frontier while the occupying security forces closed one of the three checkpoints. But by this morning, all routes were supposed to be open to traffic again.

In Donbas, the provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine, where Russia’s other military incursion has been much bloodier than that in Crimea,
the situation also has heated up, with July going on record as the deadliest war month in almost a year.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko’s administration counted 42 soldiers killed and 181 wounded. Violence is recrudescent mainly in southern parts of the region, near the city of Starohnativka, a key flash point during last summer’s major campaign, but the majority of attacks are taking place around several other locations, with focus alternating between them. On Monday night Shyrokyne, on the Azov Sea coast east of Mariupol, saw particularly intense shelling, with the Ukrainian military reporting more than 200 artillery and mortar rounds raining down on Monday night.

Fighting also rages every night around several other hot spots, chiefly Novotroitske, on the highway between Mariupol and Donetsk; Maryinka and Krasnohorivka, west of the separatist-held regional capital; Avdiivka—to the north; and Zaitseve and Luhanske, to the north and east of Horlivka.

Heavy artillery and mortars are in play every day, and there are also reports, confirmed by journalists and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which has a monitoring mission on the ground tasked with recording ceasefire violations, of the use of inaccurate, but wildly destructive Grad rockets.

Artillery and rockets are falling not only on the Ukrainian military, but on civilians on both sides of the front line, with at least one wounded every day and deaths reported each week.

Amid all this, there are mixed signals from Ukrainian officials.

On Sunday, Col. Andriy Lysenko, military spokesman for Ukraine’s Presidential Administration, declared that the Ukrainian armed forces expected a new offensive at any time, possibly within the next week.

In contrast, Anton Gerashchenko, MP and adviser to Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, told reporters:

“I can say openly that we do not anticipate war or attack by the Russian Federation on Ukraine in the near future. Putin has realized that continuing a military occupation of Ukraine does not bring the anticipated results for him. Putin’s strategy relies on bargaining with Ukraine over the return of Donbas provided that we abandon all attempts to ever regain Crimea.”

Ukrainian military intelligence—now accused by the FSB of plotting sabotage—is rather sanguine about the movements in occupied Crimea. On Monday Vadim Skibitsky, spokesman for Ukraine’s GUR, told Ukrainska Pravda that the movements seen in Crimea were preparations for the Kavkaz-2016 exercise, an annual drill in Russia’s southern military district. This would correspond with the sightings of convoys headed to the training range near Feodosia.

Skibitsky did note, however, that such preparations could be used to mask mobilization for attacks, was done when the same exercise was held on the eve of Russia’s 2008 summer war with Georgia.

Skibitsky also said that troops were being deployed in the Dzhankoy area, but that this was a planned rotation of forces. Such rotations of units take place every six months, he said.

One of the units filmed driving armored personnel carriers through Kerch seemingly supports this analysis. Dr. Igor Sutyagin, a Russian military expert at the London-based Royal United Services Institute, told The Daily Beast that he recognized the insignia of the 127th Reconnaissance Brigade, a unit formed last year in Sevastopol.

So what is actually going on?

While the last month in Donbas has certainly seen a more sustained level of violence and death, it is hard to gauge when a “watershed moment” comes in the war.

So far this year we have seen Ukrainian troops make marginal advances near all of the locations named above. We have seen increased deployments of anti-aircraft weaponry by Russian forces, and a new willingness to shoot down OSCE drones with them. We have even seen reports that indicate the introduction of armed drones by Russia, which made several attacks on Ukrainian positions behind the lines, but have not been spotted for several months now.

So is the current, more sustained surge in violence an indicator of anything to come, or just another wave of fighting that will subside like previous ones? And what are Putin’s options in not letting the death of two Russian soldiers “pass”?

On the other front with Crimea, the movement of Russian troops and hardware is certainly a threatening display of force, and these assets would indeed add to the pressure on Ukrainian forces in the event of an all-out Russian offensive. But it’s still unlikely that Russia would try to invade mainland Ukraine from across the isthmus.

With only a small land bridge connecting the peninsula to the mainland and few crossing points across the lagoons of the Syvash, it would be difficult for Russia to mount an invasion here without a serious commitment of air and sea power.

An amphibious assault into Ukraine from the peninsula—Russian armored personnel carriers fitted with snorkels have been filmed on the move—is another possibility, but the Ukrainian military has had nearly two and a half years to reinforce the frontier.

Moscow needn’t invade Ukraine again to harm it, however. These military maneuvers in Crimea, and suspect FSB reports of “terrorism,” still count as a form of psychological warfare designed to hurt Ukraine’s already bruised and battered economy, and perhaps also force Kiev into making a dangerous mistake that might cost it further. The worst would be reacting to a provocation in such a way that Russia can plausibly present itself as the victim rather than the aggressor.

The Russians have made extensive use of psy-ops throughout the conflict, hand in hand with a massive propaganda campaign. Measures include the mass distribution of SMS messages to whole districts on the eve of battle, spreading panic and confusion, or the dissemination of HD videos of Ukrainian captives being abused and their corpses being desecrated.

Then again, August is the cruelest month in Russian history. It was in August 2014 that Russian regular forces mounted a large-scale invasion of Donbas to prop up their faltering proxies. Before that, from the outbreak of World War I in 1914, through the failed coup d’état in Moscow in 1991, the 1998 financial crisis, the beginning of the 1999 Second Chechen War, the Kursk submarine disaster in 2000, to the 2008 summer war with Georgia, with dozens of terrorist attacks and natural disasters to boot, many Russians believe in the phenomenon of an “August curse.” And one wonders if superstition can give way to self-fulfilling prophecy.

It is possible, for instance, as a result of all the heightened anxiety, to conceive of Ukrainian commanders overreacting to troop movements at the Crimean frontier or shelling attacks in Donbas. (The Georgians made this miscalculation in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, after all.) Russian-backed forces could always mount “retaliatory” attacks or grant the Kremlin the opportunity to decry Ukrainian “aggression” and go to war under the pretext of self-defense or “humanitarian” urgency, perhaps unilaterally deploying “peacekeeping” forces.

The geopolitical situation at present also doesn’t bode well for Ukraine. Many of Kiev’s most stalwart defenders are either out of office, such as Carl Bildt and Radek Sikorski, the former foreign ministers of Sweden and Poland, respectively, or are moving on to other postings, such as the tireless U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, Geoffrey Pyatt.

And Europe seems both exhausted with Kiev’s sluggish pace of reforms as well preoccupied with larger and more immediate concerns, such as the migrations crisis, the rise of far-right political elements within their own borders, jihadist terrorism, Brexit, and the possibility of further withdrawals from the EU.

Rapprochement with Moscow is everywhere occurring, from Ankara to London to Washington—at least where Syria is concerned. (The current lame-duck commander-in-chief, whose predecessor dealt with the Georgia crisis with months left into his second term, is in no discernible mood to leave office in a state of renewed confrontation with his Russian counterpart.) In Brussels, the desire to let bygones be bygones and lift sanctions on Russian officials and institutions in order to return to a status quo ante of commercial trade and foreign direct investment is profoundly felt.

Into this air of disillusionment stalks a certain U.S. presidential candidate who openly flatters Putin and has intimated that recognizing Crimea as Russian Federation territory (because he’s heard that Crimeans want it to be so) and lifting all punitive economic measures for its seizure might be part of his administration’s foreign policy objectives.
 
Militia source reports Kiev forces shell LPR positions with tank guns

http://tass.ru/en/world/893676

The Price Igor monument came under fire, a source says

LUGANSK, August 11. /TASS/. The Ukrainian army has shelled people’s militia positions in the self-proclaimed Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR) four times over the past 24 hours, a source in the LPR Defense Ministry told LuganskInformTsentr news agency on Thursday.

"The Price Igor monument came under fire from the area near Stanitsa Luganskaya village, the area was shelled with tank guns and 82-mm mortars. The area close to Slavyanoserbsk populated locality was shelled with 82-mm mortars from the Krymskoye village area, while the village of Nizhneye Lozovoye was shelled with tripod-mounted man-portable antitank guns and automatic grenade launchers. There are no casualties," the news agency quotes the source as saying.

Members of the Contact Group for the settlement of the situation in eastern Ukraine agreed at a meeting in Minsk on April 29 on a complete ceasefire in Donbass as of April 30. This is the eighth ceasefire agreement since the autumn of 2014. However, the Ukrainian side has repeatedly violated the ceasefire in the people’s militia’s area of responsibility, including by opening fire with mortars and tank guns that were to be withdrawn in accordance with the Minsk agreements.


DPR militia source reports teenage girl wounded as Ukrainian troops shell Donetsk’s suburb

http://tass.ru/en/world/893656

A sixteen-year-old girl received shrapnel wounds

MOSCOW, August 10. /TASS/. A teenage girl was wounded in a Donetsk western suburb as it came under shelling from Ukrainian troops, a source in the law enforcement agencies of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) said on Wednesday.

"Ukrainian troops started shelling of the settlement of Trudovskiye in Donetsk’s western suburb at about 21:20 local time. As a result of shelling, a sixteen-year-old girl received shrapnel wounds. She was taken to hospital," the source told the Donetsk News Agency.

According to the source, shelling was conducted from Ukraine’s positions near the settlement of Maryinka with the use of mortars and weapons of armored vehicles.
 
Ukraine has built up its armed forces on the border with Crimea in accordance with President Poroshenko's combat readiness order, the country's chief of the general staff said.

Ukraine Builds Up Armed Forces on Crimea Border
http://sputniknews.com/europe/20160811/1044168753/ukraine-army-crimea.html

"Divisions and units of the Ukrainian armed forces which are stationed in the vicinity of the administrative border with Crimea are on high alert. A build-up of corresponding groups has been carried out," Viktor Muzhenko said on his Facebook page.

Earlier in the day, Petro Poroshenko ordered to put all military units near the border with Crimea and in Donbass on high combat readiness.

The move comes a day after the Russian Federal Security Service said it had foiled terrorist attacks in Crimea organized by the Ukrainian main intelligence directorate, and stamped out a spy ring detaining both Russian and Ukrainian nationals involved in the plot. Two Russian officers were killed.


Ukrainian national Evgeny Panov detained in Crimea on suspicion of plotting terror attacks on the peninsula entered the region officially and was not abducted, a security service source told RIA Novosti on Thursday.

Crimea Terror Plot Suspect Entered Peninsula Officially, Abduction Ruled Out
http://sputniknews.com/russia/20160811/1044168789/crimea-plot-security.html

The Ukrainian National Police opened a case into Panov's abduction after the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) detained the Ukrainian national in Crimea during a raid on a group suspected of preparing terror attacks.

"He officially crossed the Crimea-Ukraine border through a checkpoint. Thus, all speculation about his abduction is groundless," the source said.

Simferopol's Kiev District Court is expected to decide on pre-trial restrictions for Panov.

On Wednesday, FSB said that it had uncovered a spy ring organized by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry in Crimea, detaining both Russian and Ukrainian nationals involved in preparing terrorist attacks on the peninsula. An FSB officer died as a result of a shootout during the raid.

The Federal Security Service also said it had prevented two overnight attempts by Kiev-organized terrorist groups from entering Crimea overnight into August 8, in which one Russian soldier was killed.

Russian President Vladimir Putin called the incidents a "very dangerous game" adding that Ukraine's authorities had resorted to terrorism instead of looking for peaceful solutions to the conflict in the east of the country.


Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko ordered Thursday to put all military units near the border with Crimea and in Donbass on high combat readiness.

Poroshenko Orders Highest Combat Readiness Near Crimea, in Donbass
http://sputniknews.com/europe/20160811/1044161591/poroshenko-army-crimea-donbass.html

Held a meeting with the leadership of defense agencies and the foreign ministry…ordered to put all units near the administrative border with Crimea and along the entire line of contact in Donbass on high readiness," Poroshenko said on Twitter.

The move comes a day after the Russian Federal Security Service said it had foiled terrorist attacks in Crimea organized by the Ukrainian main intelligence directorate, and stamped out a spy ring detaining both Russian and Ukrainian nationals involved in the plot. Two Russian officers were killed.

Kiev has been conducting a military operation against Donbass independence supporters since spring 2014, when they refused to recognize the new coup-imposed Ukrainian government and declared sovereignty.


Russian accusations toward Crimea in connection with the thwarted attempt to sabotage critical facilities and carry out terrorist attacks in Crimea are unproven, a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) official told RIA Novosti on Thursday.

NATO Does Not Believe Ukraine Was Plotting Terrorist Attacks in Crimea
http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160811/1044168433/nato-russia-crimea-sabotage.html

The official claimed that Moscow has not provided proof of the attempted incursion into Crimea by Ukraine, and stressed that the alliance was closely following the events following heightened tensions on the peninsula.

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said Wednesday it had dismantled a spy ring in Crimea organized by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, which was plotting acts of sabotage on critical and life-supporting elements of the peninsula's infrastructure. Two Russian officers were killed. Kiev denied the claims as Moscow’s provocations.

Separately, the NATO official called on sides to the conflict in eastern Ukraine to negotiate toward crisis settlement through diplomatic and peaceful means with the Minsk agreements a key factor.


Crimean leader Sergei Aksenov said Thursday that the US State Department may have influenced Ukraine in attempting to carry out terrorist attacks in Crimea.

Crimea Leader Claims US DoS May Have Influenced Kiev in Plotting Crimea Sabotage
http://sputniknews.com/russia/20160811/1044159509/crimea-sabotage-ukraine.html

On Wednesday, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said that it had eliminated a spy ring organized by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry in Crimea, which was preparing acts of sabotage on "critical and life-supporting elements of the peninsula's infrastructure." A FSB officer died during a shootout that ensued during the raid.

"You see which path they [Kiev] picked… But I am sure that these are not their own actions and premises, they have the US State Department behind them because the Ukrainian authorities would not have the guts to carry out such activities," Aksenov said on the Rossiya 24 television channel.

The US State Department said Wednesday that it was aware of the reports of the thwarted attacks and was in touch with Ukraine. US ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt said Thursday Washington had no evidence to corroborate the claims.


The Russian leader and the country's Security Council discussed additional steps to shield Crimea from terrorism amid foiled Kiev-plotted attacks.

Putin, Security Council Meet Amid Foiled Ukraine-Plotted Terror Attack in Crimea
http://sputniknews.com/russia/20160811/1044153773/putin-crimea-ukraine-terror.html

Russian President Vladimir Putin and the country's Security Council have discussed additional security measures for Crimea amid the recently prevented terrorist attack, the Kremlin press service said Thursday.

"The head of state held a meeting with the members of the Security Council, where additional measures to ensure the security of residents and vital facilities in Crimea were discussed in connection with the terrorist attack prevented by Russian special services," the press service .

The sides assessed scenarios to strengthen the security of both the land and maritime borders and the airspace of the peninsula.


Insofar as Russia and Ukraine are not at war, the foray by Ukrainian saboteurs into Crimea should be regarded as a terrorist threat, not a military operation. This was stated by the renowned Russian military expert Viktor Murakhovsky in an interview with Moscow Komsomolets.

Top Russian expert: Moscow has legal right to bomb "terrorist targets" in Ukraine
http://www.fort-russ.com/2016/08/top-russian-expert-moscow-has-legal.html

“A whole galaxy of armed groups operate in Ukraine which are not subject to the Ukrainian government or the General Staff. But I would not exclude that these people could be trained by the Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff, since the military-political leadership of Ukraine can’t exist in peaceful conditions. They can deny anything, but the fact is that the West is already tired of them. Ukrainian authorities understand that the less that the US and EU are interested in them, then the less these countries will provide them financial assistance. Using this incident, Kiev might try to reverse the tendency of declining aggression so as to beg the West for more support.”

What's more, Murakhovsky believes that Russia has the right to strike bases training terrorists on Ukrainian territory.

“A whole galaxy of armed groups operate in Ukraine which are not subject to the Ukrainian government or the General Staff. But I would not exclude that these people could be trained by the Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff, since the military-political leadership of Ukraine can’t exist in peaceful conditions. They can deny anything, but the fact is that the West is already tired of them. Ukrainian authorities understand that the less that the US and EU are interested in them, then the less these countries will provide them financial assistance. Using this incident, Kiev might try to reverse the tendency of declining aggression so as to beg the West for more support.”

What's more, Murakhovsky believes that Russia has the right to strike bases training terrorists on Ukrainian territory.

“It is clear that the saboteurs were quite professional, but our security forces worked in a way so that the civilian population would not suffer. It’s really a pity that two servicemen were killed. The strengthening of security measures and the elimination of the Ukrainian subversive network would be a sufficient answer. But, of course, Moscow should warn Kiev that if provocations continue, then an adequate response will follow within the framework of international agreements on combatting terrorism. Since Russia and Ukraine are not at war, the actions of Ukrainian saboteur-reconnaissance groups can very well be considered to be terrorist in nature. This means that Russia has the right to strike terrorist bases located on the territory of Ukraine.”
 
Thanks Angelburst, stormrider, youlik and others for keeping us posted

To me it seems that the PTB are going to usher in a new set of provocations. Not just against the militias. But also directly aimed at Russia. They shelled Russian territory before, but never population area's. The military buildup around Crimea is worrying. If the Ukraine starts shelling Crimea, Russia has to fully retaliate. The MSM will not mention the first part of course. Only Russia's response, falsely naming it an invasion.

Of course The Ukraine with their 2/3 collection of armed foreign fighters within it's military branch will lose. Putin will free The Ukraine from these tyrants, there is no match.

The only escalation part I fear is that Poland ''will act on it's own'' by ''defending'' the Ukraine. Making NATO intervention more likely. Poland likes to play favorite lapdog of the Empire, just like some Baltic states, the US has to find a way to go to war.

I am sure the PTB wishfully think a certain outcome in all of this. Just like they thought that the coup in Turkey will turn out in their benefit. They can't win this, and while this is going on Belarus already made clear that they will stand military at Russia's side if war breaks out. And who says that the rest of the EU will fight America's war. If the US starts ''defending'' The Ukraine from attacks launched from German soil without German approval. I bet the US hopes that Russia will launch missiles at those German-NATO bases. Hoping that Germany will declare war on Russia, but who says Germany will not round up all American military forces on their territory if that happens.

So yes, I can see how the C's said. Ultimately the World will hate the US just like Nazi Germany was. Nobody wants this war, only US Neocons. And they are pushing it ever forward.


US Pathocrats really are bad chess players. All they understand is uncontrollably unleashing chaos and destruction.
 
Сейчас многие источники сообщают о том, что Порошенко выдал распоряжения своему МИДу организовать телефонные переговоры с руководством Германии, Франции, России и т.д. в связи с обвинениями в адрес разведуправления армии в организации террористических актов на территории Крыма. Я приведу статью, которая интересна тем как подан этот материал, как оформлена эта подача. Вглядитесь в фото и вспомните 2008 год.
http://rusvesna.su/news/1470921003

Translation
Now, many sources have reported that Poroshenko gave orders to his foreign Ministry to organize the telephone negotiations with the leaders of Germany, France, Russia, etc. in connection with the accusations against the army intelligence Directorate in the organization of terrorist acts on the territory of Crimea. I will cite an article that is interesting how submitted this material as decorated this flow. Look at photos and remember in 2008.
LIGHTNING: Poroshenko wants to talk with Putin
President of Ukraine Poroshenko asked the Russian leader Vladimir Putin on the conversation.

The press service of the Ukrainian President reported that Poroshenko instructed the foreign Ministry to initiate such a conversation.

In addition, the Ukrainian President instructed the foreign Ministry "to arrange a telephone conversation with the leaders of Germany and France in a tripartite format". Thus, Poroshenko is trying on its own initiative to exclude from the Norman format in Moscow.

We will remind, earlier Vladimir Putin said that after the provocations of the Ukrainian side on the border with the Crimea meeting in the Normandy format between the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany) can be considered meaningless
 
Putin will free The Ukraine from these tyrants, there is no match.
Уважаемый, bjorn, Путин как раз и не должен этого делать ни в коем случае. В этом и заключалась цель американской администрации- связать ресурсы России и не тем самым не позволить ей активно действовать в других регионах, например в Сирии. России конечно придется участвовать в наведении порядка на Украине, от этого никуда не денешься, но это должно быть вместе с Европой и США.
Есть довольно грамотный украинский аналитик по фамилии Ищенко (бывший дипломат, сейчас работает в России по понятным причинам). Вот его анализ сюда бы как нибудь поместить, проблема в том что я не знаю где взять его тексты. На youtube есть большое количество его устных выступлении, но естественно на русском языке.

Translation
Putin will free The Ukraine from these tyrants, there is no match.
Dear, bjorn, Putin just shouldn't do in any case. This was the goal of the us administration to tie Russia's resources and thereby did not allow her to be active in other regions, for example in Syria. Russia of course will have to participate in restoring order in Ukraine, this is not going anywhere, but it should be together with Europe and the United States.
There are quite a competent Ukrainian analyst by the name Ishchenko (former diplomat, now working in Russia for obvious reasons). Here is his analysis here would like something to put, the problem is that I don't know where to get his texts. On youtube there is a large number of his oral presentation, but of course in Russian.
 
There are quite a competent Ukrainian analyst by the name Ishchenko (former diplomat, now working in Russia for obvious reasons). Here is his analysis here would like something to put, the problem is that I don't know where to get his texts. On youtube there is a large number of his oral presentation, but of course in Russian.

Hi youlik,

I googled for Ishchenko (former diplomat and found several sources in English publishing his materials, like this one for instance:

http://russia-insider.com/en/rostislav_ishchenko

Hope this helps a bit. :)
 
The Ukraine/US psychos are playing a pretty stupid and dangerous game there by attacking crimea. Actually they likely crossly underestimate how quick and effective russia can respond to such a clear move against international law.

You can bet that the russian government has already a number of plans to counter such moves. And a lot of people in russia will now demand a counter action that might bring down the fashists in kiev that kill and turture their russian brothers.
 
[quote author= youlik]Dear, bjorn, Putin just shouldn't do in any case. This was the goal of the us administration to tie Russia's resources and thereby did not allow her to be active in other regions, for example in Syria. Russia of course will have to participate in restoring order in Ukraine, this is not going anywhere, but it should be together with Europe and the United States.
There are quite a competent Ukrainian analyst by the name Ishchenko (former diplomat, now working in Russia for obvious reasons). Here is his analysis here would like something to put, the problem is that I don't know where to get his texts. On youtube there is a large number of his oral presentation, but of course in Russian.[/quote]

Hi youlik

I remember Mr. Lavrov (foreign minister Russia) being disgusted by a question wherever Russia should have intervened in The Ukraine

His answer was that going to war against Russia's brothers and sisters (Ukrainians) was out of the question, I could look it up if you want because it was a really powerful interview.

Like everything they have done so far, it shows that Putin and team above all seek solutions through peaceful means, not war.

Hopefully the situation will not degrade any further. But I am afraid that further provocations cannot remain unanswered. Especially when Porosjenko and his cronies decides to shell Crimea. The US and Porosjenko are out for Russian blood, they are just biding their time and awaiting the right opportunity to strike, nothing more. All Russia and everyone who loves peace could hope for is that Europe finally comes to it's senses and kicks the US and it's toxic influences out of the continent. But it seems Europe has no intentions to do so, if all, they only repeat the US narrative in all global affairs.

OSIT
 
I googled for Ishchenko
Спасибо большое, Palinurus, я как-то не догадался. Вот этого специалиста стоит почитать для понимания ситуации в Украине.

The Ukraine/US psychos are playing a pretty stupid and dangerous game there by attacking crimea. Actually they likely crossly underestimate how quick and effective russia can respond to such a clear move against international law.
Задача США как можно глубже втянуть Россию в Украинский конфликт, тем самым ослабляя ее. Украинская власть выполняет задание американских хозяев. Чем дольше это не получается в полной мере, тем меньше обращают внимание на средства которыми добиваются этой цели.

Hopefully the situation will not degrade any further.
Если коротко, то к сожалению, ситуация объективно будет ухудшаться и обострения военных действий в том или ином виде тоже избежать не удастся. Изменения в лучшую сторону возможны только с изменением политики США, как главной контролирующей силы внутри нынешней Украины. А уж изменят ли они свою политику добровольно или их принудят некие обстоятельства (C's намекали на возможные события типа падения метеоритов или землетрясений) мы наверно узнаем в свое время. Задача России в данный момент не влезть раньше времени ибо есть риск и Россию похоронить под обломками рушащейся Украины.

Translation
I googled for Ishchenko
Thank you very much, Palinurus, I guessed. Here that person should read to understand the situation in Ukraine.

The Ukraine/US psychos are playing a pretty stupid and dangerous game there by attacking crimea. Actually they likely crossly underestimate how quick and effective russia can respond to such a clear move against international law.
The task of the US is to involve Russia in Ukrainian conflict as far as possible, thereby weakening it. The Ukrainian government performs the task of American masters. The longer it does not work fully, pay less attention to the means that achieve this goal.

Hopefully the situation will not degrade any further.
In short, unfortunately, the situation will deteriorate and the escalation of hostilities in one form or another, too unavoidable. Change for the better is only possible with a change in US policy as the main controlling forces in today's Ukraine. And will they change their policies voluntarily or be forced by some circumstances (C's hinted at possible events of the fall of meteorites or earthquakes), we probably will know in due time. The task of Russia at the moment not to get ahead of time because there is a risk to bury Russia under the rubble of a collapsing Ukraine.
 
[quote author= youlik]In short, unfortunately, the situation will deteriorate and the escalation of hostilities in one form or another, too unavoidable. Change for the better is only possible with a change in US policy as the main controlling forces in today's Ukraine. And will they change their policies voluntarily or be forced by some circumstances (C's hinted at possible events of the fall of meteorites or earthquakes), we probably will know in due time. The task of Russia at the moment not to get ahead of time because there is a risk to bury Russia under the rubble of a collapsing Ukraine.[/quote]

If you mean that time is on Russia's side I agree. From what I know The Ukraine is not a stable country under Porosjenko and is as risk of imploding, we can only hope. As for Russia's position, Putin knows that a nation defines itself how it keeps the peace instead of how it wages war. He will not make a move unless absolutely necessary.

As for now from reading the shared articles I think Porosjenko and it's cronies will most likely attempt to wage terror attacks on Russian soil. Trying to force Russia's hand to make a move on Ukrainian soil.

Full scale invasion of Crimea is their last resort I think. If you go to war, never let others notice that you fired the first shoot. The information war is just as important as the real war and they need to paint Russia as the Aggressor best they can.

As I see it the situation is following a singular course, that's war, the only question is which players will directly participate in it. Hopefully something positive will happen soon that chances the geopolitical situation in favor for peace. It doesn't look good.


Europe will right now covertly inform Porosjenko to show restraint which it's military buildup around Crimea. The US will only tell its client state to engage Russia when ready. (They never will be, but what do they know. Wishfull thinking rules their reality.)

OSIT.
 
The Russian Federal Security Service prevented terrorist attacks in the Crimea, planned by the General Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) of Ukraine.

Putin throws down the gauntlet - takes aim at US, calls Poroshenko ''puppet" [+Video]
http://www.fort-russ.com/2016/08/putin-throws-down-gauntlet-takes-aim-at.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ie6xrZ7-CoQ

A surprising public statement

In yesterday's public statement, which took many by surprise, Russian President Putin has thrown down the gauntlet, and openly revealed Moscow's actual assessment: The present government in Ukraine is illegitimate, was installed by a violent coup backed by the US, and Poroshenko is but a puppet of the US, who acts both blindly and foolishly in carrying out acts of terrorism against the Russian Federation.

Putin also went on to characterize the assassination attempt upon the life of Igor Plotnitsky, head of the Lugansk People's Republic, as an act of terrorism.
While it is consistent with Russia's policy to date to consider any acts of violence against the Russian Federation directly as an illegal aggravation, this is the first time since 2014 that Putin has characterized violence against Novorossiyan leadership as a de facto 'international' event (as opposed to an internal police action within Ukraine), and of terrorism at that.

In light of all of this, Putin publicly expresses something almost approximating incredulity, that Poroshenko cannot create a rational policy on Russia. Is he simply envious of Putin's successes in the many countries he deals with, including in the EU and the US, and their sanctions? Putin clarifies, of course, that it is because Poroshenko is but a puppet, entirely beholden to the US who placed him in power following a violent and illegal coup.

Ukraine and Russia both make military moves

Poroshenko now has Ukrainian troops at maximum alert over this Crimea incident on Russian borders, after being caught red handed with terrorist plans by the FSB. Immediately after this Putin has stated that the Minsk agreements, because of Ukrainian actions, are senseless and without value, and - apparently - there is no need to have any further talks.

This is a pressure point for Europe and Ukraine who immediately said it is ready (again?) to "talk" on the subject.

But the west might have turned the key to infuriate Russia, and make Putin's Russia an open weapons supplier for Donbass, missiles and all. Ukrainian soldiers know - because everybody knows - that they would go to a certain death and no one believes their families are in any way happy about this. The military answer the Donbass gave to Ukraine with the militia surprised the world. That militia is now gone and instead they have an even better, professional army, declared to the public openly on Victory Day of 2015, supplied and supported by Russia. The results have been outstanding for the Donbass, winning every battle brought to them by Ukraine.

We also cannot overlook the fact that on August 8th, just days before this announcement, we reported the following:

Russia has just moved four divisions, nine brigades and 22 regiments along with two missile brigades with complexes "Iskander-M" into the south-west of the Russia, toward Ukraine, under Shoigu's orders.

The Ukrainian army is preparing for a new offensive in the Donbass, Russia's permanent representative to the UN Vitaly Churkin said recently. Typically, high-ranking officials do not give such warnings unless they are based on carefully gathered intelligence. Churkin is no exception.

Therefore, it is difficult not to conclude that these events are connected.

In this case, Russia is using a pretext - which in the grand scheme of things may even seem a bit small (two soldiers killed at a border shootout) - to take the initiative in the information/media war, and give themselves a publicly moral footing for something which, clearly, has been planned in response to Ukraine's army build up, which even Churkin just publicly raised at the UN.

The situation on the ground

Ukraine's society is desperate, broke, humiliated by the EU, with their necks under a very repressive government who has broken all of the few promises of wealth and greatness promised during the Maidan coup.

The Donbass is ready, alert, alive and ready to fight, as the few videos we get show a society that is under serious pressure from this war and Ukrainian terrorism, but still looking forward to a better future, and hope for a final victory against a derailed Ukraine, that today is totally erroneous in the plans they have for the Donbass region.

All the events over the last several weeks are likely to be all connected

It is much more common for Putin to speak softly, and carry a big stick. This Teddy Roosevelt approach to geostrategy has worked well for him, even if superficially pro-Russian detractors and critics would like him to engage in fare more chest beating than would be appropriate for a statesmen having this level of caliber and international respect.

This is why yesterday's statement can only be interpreted as an ultimatum that will be followed by some no-doubt history making, and serious action.

It is important to take note that Putin makes this address following his bi-lateral talks with Serzh Sargsyan, President of Armenia. The context of this is a week of high-level and historical meetings with the leaders of Iran and Azerbaijan in Baku, followed by a serious agreement on ending sanctions and energy market development with Erdogan.

But what was discussed behind closed doors is something that may not be known for decades to come, if ever. It is likely, regardless of official statements and claims, that these meetings included the status of the CSTO, Armenia's conflict with Azerbaijan, and Turkey's relationship both with that and the Eurasian Union.

There have been any number of provocations, including the shelling of Russian support positions, by the Ukrainian Army, on Russian territory, which Putin could have seized as a pretext to make the sort of definitive and game-changing statement that he made today.

This leads us to conclude that this weeks meetings, the possibility of a shift in Turkey's orientation (or at least triangulation), and the failures of the US's side at Aleppo this past week, are all factors which contribute to the timing of this major statement.

The US also may have timed the provocation itself, perhaps to escalate tensions with Russia in the run-up to the elections. It would perhaps bode poorly for Trump if a heated or even hot exchange with Russia made Ukraine a major focus, and was the focus of media during an election where clearly Clinton is favored among imperialists and hawks.

This would certainly distract from the US failures to topple the government in Syria, and would also detract from Russia's successes against terrorist groups there, which the US (despite their actual aims at arming said terrorists) has apparently 'failed' to make any traction against.

Russia is certainly in the position to take all of Ukraine, if this was their short-term or immediate goal. But the consequences would only result in a diplomatic disaster, and would nix whatever progress Russia has made in softening up Europe's attitude to Russia and sanctions. Despite much news coverage on the subject, Russia has been able to make some significant progress in the economic sphere in relation to European banking, and has already struck deals with numerous EU states which, only technically, work around the existing sanctions.

For these reasons, we should expect a response from Russia that is aimed at making an example of the Ukrainian regime over its recent provocation, while at the same time doing so in a fashion which carries forward their long-term diplomatic aim of keeping at least a portion of European elites skeptical of (and hedging against) Trans-Atlantic designs on Russia.
 
Two moves ahead: Russia refuses to slip into Ukrainian trap

http://www.fort-russ.com/2016/08/two-moves-ahead-russia-refuses-to-slip.html

August 11, 2016 -
By Eduard Popov for Fort Russ
Translated by J. Arnoldski


A few hours ago, a meeting of the UN Security Council, urgently convened in connection to Ukraine’s saboteur attacks on the territory of Russian Crimea, came to a close. The session was convened on Ukraine’s initiative, which is something of a strange incident. Usually, the injured side is the one to initiate such a meeting. In this case, the offended party is Russia, two of whose officers were killed at the hands of Ukrainian terrorists. Either Ukrainian diplomats turned out to be more agile than the Russians, or the convening of the UN Security Council session was merely a debriefing session. In my opinion, the second version appears to be more relevant. It is of even greater importance that the session was a closed one, which gives rise to even more anxiety.

As Russia’s permanent UN representative, Vitaly Churkin, stated, the meeting was useful for Russia insofar as it offered the opportunity to convey to other countries comprehensive information on the incident in Crimea. At the same time, the diplomat did not limit himself to merely informing his foreign colleagues about the Crimean incident, but also brought forth the Russian point of view on events in Donbass. Churkin advised the Ukrainian government to cease the conflict in Donbass and “stop shelling civilians.”

Currently known information on the UN Security Council meeting is quite limited. Nevertheless, some conclusions can be drawn and some previously made predications can be reinforced.

1. Today in an interview for a Russian publication, I expressed the opinion that there will be no war with Ukraine at this stage. I posited that the words of Churkin quite clearly confirm this view. Despite all the negative perceptions of the Ukrainian leadership as now even being “terrorist,” Russia is still ready (or compelled) to negotiate with it. Many hot heads in Russia will be disappointed with such restraint on the part of Russian diplomacy. But I believe that this is the only reasonable behavior to have in such an uncertain situation. The plans of the terrorist attacks’ organizers included a lavish display of the Ukrainian side’s intentions with shooting from Ukrainian territory and the shelling of Russian soldiers. There would have been no need for deliberate demonstrativeness, as the terrorist attack itself would have been arranged quietly and then, the organizers of the attack (obviously not Ukrainians, but useful tools in foreign hands) hoped for an emotional reaction from Russia.

Society has indeed expressed its frustration and replied with calls to punish Ukraine up to the point of sending in Russian troops. However, Russia’s political and military leadership has turned out to be more restrained and does not wish to act in a way predictable for the opponent, or play according to their rules. There is the danger of a direct military clash between Russia and Ukraine, but it is minimal. Otherwise, there would have already been such a war. That a war of this sort hasn’t been started yet is exclusively the merit of Russia, despite Ukraine’s efforts.

2. Vitaly Churkin’s words linked the incident in Crimea to the situation in Donbass while simultaneously appealing to Russia’s European partners’ opinions. Russia, as a victim of Ukrainian terrorism, is hoping for understanding on the part of its Western partners from the Normandy Quartet, who are supposed to put pressure on the Kiev regime. However, the recent statement by the French Foreign Ministry urging the conflicting parties to come to a peaceful agreement leaves little chance that the West will cooperate. The US State Department has supported all of Ukraine’s actions without “noticing” their terrorist character.

We can only guess what specific actions the Russian side will subsequently take against Ukraine if Kiev violates the ceasefire in Donbass. Judging by Vladimir Putin’s statements, Russia could abandon the Normandy Format. Without a doubt, the negotiation process over Donbass would continue in some kind of new form, either without Ukraine’s participation, or with strict control over its actions in Crimea. Admittedly, it is difficult to speak of an specifics on this question.


3. Despite the patience of President Putin and Russian diplomacy, a war with Ukraine seems to be only a matter of time away. Ukraine itself is deliberately provoking Russia to take this step. On August 11th, the holding of military exercises in Southern Ukraine and marine corps’ exercises were announced and Poroshenko gave the order to put troops in a state of high alert and move them up to the border of Russian Crimea. This is a game of muscle-flexing and a provocation against Russia. According to Chekhov’s famous play, if a gun hangs on the wall in the first act, then it will necessarily be shot in the last.


Crimea subversion group included professional secret service officers

http://tass.ru/en/world/893863

The video recording with Yevgeny Panov's confessions was aired by Rossiya'24 news channel

MOSCOW, August 11. /TASS/. Yevgeny Panov, the supposed leader of the Ukrainian subversive group seized in Crimea, has made a confession stating that secret service career officers had been members of the group in charge of preparing sabotage attacks.

The video recording with his confessions was aired by Rossiya'24 news channel.

"The group included the professional intelligence officers Alexander Kirillov (codename Kirill), someone Dmitry by name, and Oleg Litvinenko (codename Dog Fox). Also, the group includes Sambul Alexei (codename Sigh), and a guy whose first name or surname I don't know but who has the codename Deshikh," Panov said.

The Russian Federal Security Service said on Wednesday, August 10, that it had detained a group of Ukrainian saboteurs near the city of Armyansk (Crimea) and that it had prevented terrorist attacks in Crimea prepared by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s main intelligence directorate. The FSB said their planned targets were critically important infrastructure and life support facilities.


Kosovo is part of Serbia?

US urges Ukraine-Russia restraint over Crimea

http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2016/08/12/479608/Russia-Crimea-Ukraine-US

The United States has urged Ukraine and Russia to show restraint after Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko deployed all forces near Crimea apparently in preparation for a confrontation with Moscow.

The US State Department said on Thursday that “Crimea is part of Ukraine,” after Poroshenko ordered all Ukrainian army units near Crimea and in the eastern Donbass region to stand at the highest level of combat readiness.

"We are extremely concerned about the increased tension near the administrative boundary between Crimea and Ukraine," Elizabeth Trudeau, a State Department spokeswoman, said on Thursday.

"Our position, as I said yesterday, is well known: Crimea is part of Ukraine and is recognized as such by the international community," she said.

"We call for the avoidance of any actions that would escalate the situation," Trudeau added. "Take a step back."

"We continue to remain in close touch with international partners on this. But we believe now it's the time to reduce the tensions, to reduce the rhetoric and get back to talks."

Crimea declared independence from Ukraine on March 17, 2014, and formally applied to become part of Russia following a referendum in which 96.8 percent of participants voted in favor of the secession. The voter turnout in the referendum stood at 83.1 percent.

Since then, the US and some other Western countries have imposed several rounds of sanctions against Russia over accusations that Moscow has been involved in a deadly crisis in Ukraine, which broke out when Kiev launched military operations to crack down on pro-Russia forces in eastern Ukraine last year. Russia has denied the allegation.

The violence intensified in April 2014, after Kiev deployed troops to the eastern Ukrainian regions of Luhansk and Donetsk to suppress pro-Russians.

The Minsk II truce deal, reached at a summit between the warring sides which was also attended by the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France, and Germany in the Belarusian capital city of Minsk on February 11 and 12 last year, introduced measures such as a ceasefire, the pullout of heavy weapons, and constitutional reforms in Ukraine by the end of the year.

The shaky deal has, however, failed to end the deadly violence in the mainly Russian-speaking regions of eastern Ukraine, with both sides trading accusations of breaching a ceasefire agreement which officially went into effect on February 15.

More than 9,000 people have been killed in the conflict.
 
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