War in Ukraine

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2014/08/30/preparing_for_war_with_ukraine_s_fascist_defenders_of_freedom

More info on the Azov Battalion. Some of the recent rank and file come from North America and West Europe to volunteer to support territorial integrity, but some of them have neo-Nazi ties.

I just wish they had other motives, like the BBC article I linked up before.

edited 14th Sep '14 3:34:29 PM by Ominae

A weekend off on the lake did me some good.

Any news?

The ceasefire has pretty much been broken in all but name now - fighting has renewed to the point where the separatists have made gains in Donetsk, however loyalist forces managed to prevent the airport from becoming overrun. Meanwhile, the Russians have sent another 200 truck "humanitarian" relief column across the border towards Luhansk, and Kiev is understandably pissed while the West is groaning that there's no end in sight. Reports are also coming up that numbers of foreigners are rushing in to assist both sides.

edited 14th Sep '14 10:26:24 PM by FluffyMcChicken

Well the loyalists were shelling Donetsk last time I was here, so I figured the seperatists would do it sooner or later. <sigh>

Same shit, different day.

Media has confirmed presence of Ossetian and Abkhaz fighters to support rebel forces.

There wasn't attempts to hide their presence at all from the media. One of them said that they're there to repay Russian assistance back in 2008.

The situation is still too chaotic to confirm, but several articles that I've read seem to hint that the DPR rebels suddenly managed to gain enough strength to launch a counter-offensive across the city - I suppose its the Russians on the ground at it again.

The attritional phase of The Korean War lasted for about a year before the final armistice was signed and put into effect, and we may as well see fighting going on well into next spring given the current state of things in the region.

edited 15th Sep '14 1:04:38 AM by FluffyMcChicken

Sadly, I expect that as well.

Suspect in murder of Russian defector gets a TV show Not sure if this belongs in the Ukraine forum. Another interesting note is Putin's calling the Bolshevics traitors. I don't know about you but it seems Putin is more intent on restoring the Russian empire as it was under the Czar rather than the Soviet Union. Moscow state TV has also released a documentary called friends of the Junta, which labels a series of Russian activists, celebrates, and Politicians who have supported the Ukrainian government as traitors. Aside form it's status as obvious propaganda, the documentary,or if it is how it's producers describe it, could have been very interesting. It is supposed to explore why people betray their countries. Hopefully it turns out to be one of the few interesting,informative, and non propagandist things to come out of NTV.....I won't hold by breath.

edited 15th Sep '14 12:23:01 PM by JackOLantern1337

There is a Russian topic. Move your post there.

Nato troops have begun drills inside Ukraine. They claim it was pre planed. The force includes several Americans.

Oh sure, it was a pre-planned exercise . . . scheduled last week.

Scandinavia and the World: "Surprise Party"

Ukraninan rebels to get amnesty, EU free trade agreement delayed. I can't imagine Poroshenko will get any brownie points from the Ukrainian public for this.

The EU has delayed free trade agreement with Ukraine, in order to "accommodate Russian concerns." Is it just me or did the EU's pussieness rating go even higher.

It's easy to condemn other nations for "pussieness" when you're not the one depending on Russian gas for the oncoming winter.

What happened the last time the Russians closed the pipes? Lots of people froze to death if I remember right.

Seems that the fighters don't intend to capitalize on the amnesty.

Die Zeit's irritatingly wet editorial line is beginning to piss me off. Might switch to Die Welt. It's obvious I'm very much a hawk by German foreign policy standards. Oh well.

Most DPR fighters amnestied, special territory status granted to Donetsk/Luhansk, European Association Agreement frozen indefinitely.

Riots in Kyiv, clashes with police.

Watch this space.

Ah, and lustration and anti-corruption law motions have spectacularly failed.

edited 16th Sep '14 6:26:27 AM by emuran

Have the battlelines stabilized? It's relatively common for militaries to keep on fighting for several hours or even days after their governments resolve a conflict. Kiev theoretically could set up a countdown to when the ceasefire agreement actually comes into effect and launch one last desperate offensive in the window of time provided.

We seem to be getting contradictory information here. Ukraine parliament OKs pivotal EU pact:"Ukraine's parliament, attempting to balance political pressures East and West, ratified on Tuesday a controversial and long-sought economic pact with the European Union while also passing legislation to grant more autonomy in the restive eastern regions."

There must be some nuance I'm missing. Ah, here it is: Can EU-Ukraine trade pact survive Russian pressure?: "The European Parliament and Ukrainian Rada (parliament) are going ahead with ratification on Tuesday, but the key provisions on free trade will not be implemented until December next year at the earliest.

That delay was the main result of EU-Russia-Ukraine talks in Brussels on Friday, and it is being seen as a significant concession to Russia."

I could see this going either way. But the longer the delay, the less likely these "key provisions" whatever they are, will be implemented.

Meanwhile: Ukraine crisis: Rebel east offered three years of limited self-rule in peace deal: "The bill also extends the right of people in the rebel-held Lugansk and Donetsk regions to use Russian in state institutions and conduct local elections on November 9, according to media reports.

The bill further permits the regions to "strengthen good neighbourly relations" between local authorities and their counterparts in Russia.

It protects from criminal prosecution "participants of events in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions" — appearing to apply to both the insurgents and Ukrainian government troops — and allows regional councils to appoint local judges and prosecutors."

Pretty much what everyone was expecting.

Ukraine's future will now be determined by the pace of reforms in Kiev. EU economic aid was the primary lever being used to promote those reforms, we'll see what happens now that closer "preferential trade" status with the EU has been delayed.

Thing is, it needed to be delayed anyway- since the promised reforms have not happened yet. This could be an opportunity if Ukrainian progressives and Angela Merkel can take advantage of it. According to a radio station in Kiev: "Ukraine may get another EUR 760 million in assistance from the European Union next month, if it continues its reforms, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has said." This is evidently part of the 1.6 billion euros which were previously promised (they already received the first 600 million).

Interesting times.

I read a version of the lustration bill passed -- although it may be so diluted to be worthless (i.e. MPs are not included)

edited 16th Sep '14 10:57:15 AM by BokhuraBurnes

According to my local news, the association agreement has been ratified.

Ukraine vote sends EU into uncharted territory. Those EU MP's sure are colorful. Also yet more reminders of the East west split in both the EU,and Nato.

Russian defense minister says,in light of instability in Ukraine and foreign threats, that Russia must bolster it's focus in Crimea. Yet more saber rattling. I am also concerned about their efforts to suppress Crimean Tartars.

edited 16th Sep '14 2:26:24 PM by JackOLantern1337

I wonder if lots of heavy weapons are going to start showing up in the hands of Crimean Tartars any time soon...

Nah no one in the west has the balls for that. Thanks to watching The Roosevelts,I'm reminded yet agin how far this country has fallen in terms of leader ship. Wake up TR we need you.