This thread was originally opened in 2013 during the revolt that eventually overthrew the Yanukovyich regime and instituted democratic elections. Since the Russian invasion that began in February 2022, it's been repurposed to focus on the conflict. Some people have expressed the view that the confrontation between Russia and Ukraine, beginning in 2014, never really ended.
Although at one time claims were made that different segments of Ukrainian society were more aligned with Russia than the West, the invasion seems to have resulted in a higher level of Ukrainian unity in the face of Russian military aggression. Although it is hard to document public opinion in the occupied areas, there was never very much evidence in favor of support for the Russian annexation of sections of Ukraine.
The invasion is also a result of certain grievances proclaimed by Vladimir Putin, the current President of Russia, and used by him as justification for armed attack and occupation. Western governments, and others around the world, have joined together in condemnation of this attack.
While we do not know what the ultimate outcome of these events will be, this thread will continue to be made available as a place to record news, ask questions and express opinions about the "Crisis in Ukraine."
This map
will help track the latest developments.
Mod notes
- Do not post anything about the Ukrainian military movement and strategy. This could actually result in casualties.
- No discussion regarding nuclear war. As nuclear weapons are not being used by either side, nuclear war is off-topic.
- When posting social media links, please (1) state the source [e.g. Reuters reporter? State-sponsored Facebook account? Civilian Twitter/X?] (2) clarify if it is fact or opinion and (3) summarize the information being presented. If, for example, it's a single civilian voice on Twitter/X, is it really trustworthy or relevant?
Ukrainian protesters besiege government building
Clashes amid huge Ukraine protest against U-turn on EU
Over 300,000 defy protest ban in Ukraine
- "Fierce clashes erupt after protesters take to streets again, chanting "revolution" as anger against government grows."
What started as a protest against the decision not to sign an agreement with the EU seems to have escalated into a "Color Revolution" or "Arab Spring" style movement to force the government to resign. By some reports, the police are using violent tactics to suppress the street protests.
The Western half of the Ukraine has historically felt closer to Europe , and wants to move Ukrainian society in that direction. Eastern Ukraine feels culturally closer to Russia, and favors closer relations with that country. The current regime of President Viktor Yanukovich is part of that camp. The current confrontations can be seen as a clash between these two halves of Ukrainian society.Ukraine protests: Thousands march through capital
- over 100,000 by some counts
Ukrainian protesters besiege government building
Clashes amid huge Ukraine protest against U-turn on EU
Over 300,000 defy protest ban in Ukraine
- "Fierce clashes erupt after protesters take to streets again, chanting "revolution" as anger against government grows."
What started as a protest against the decision not to sign an agreement with the EU seems to have escalated into a "Color Revolution" or "Arab Spring" style movement to force the government to resign. By some reports, the police are using violent tactics to suppress the street protests.
The Western half of the Ukraine has historically felt closer to Europe , and wants to move Ukrainian society in that direction. Eastern Ukraine feels culturally closer to Russia, and favors closer relations with that country. The current regime of President Viktor Yanukovich is part of that camp. The current confrontations can be seen as a clash between these two halves of Ukrainian society.
EDIT (2/24/2022)
This thread was originally opened in 2013 during the beginning of the revolt in Ukraine that eventually over-threw the dictatorship of the Yanukovyich regime and instituted democratic elections soon afterward. As of this writing, in the aftermath of the Russian invasion that began on 2/23, it is not clear whether or for how long Ukraine will continue to exist as an independent country.
Statements made nine years ago still seem relevant: "The Western half of the Ukraine has historically felt closer to Europe , and wants to move Ukrainian society in that direction. Eastern Ukraine feels culturally closer to Russia, and favors closer relations with that country... The current confrontations can be seen as a clash between these two halves of Ukrainian society." Some people have expressed the view that the confrontation between Russia and Ukraine, beginning in 2014, never really ended.
The invasion is also a result of certain grievances proclaimed by Vladimir Putin, the current President of Russia, and used by him as justification for armed attack and occupation. Western governments, and others around the world, have joined together in condemnation of this attack.
While we do not know what the ultimate outcome of these events will be, this thread will continue to be made available as a place to record news, ask questions and express opinions about the "Crisis in Ukraine."
This map
will help track the latest developments.
Do not post anything about the Ukrainian military movement and strategy. This could actually result in casualties.
No discussion regarding nuclear war. As nuclear weapons are not being used by either side, nuclear war is off-topic.
When posting social media links, please (1) state the source [e.g. Reuters reporter? State-sponsored Facebook account? Civilian Twitter?] (2) clarify if it is fact or opinion and (3) summarize the information being presented.
Edited by DeMarquis on Dec 25th 2024 at 7:44:33 AM
Russia demands garuntee from Nato that Ukraine will never be included into Nato
Anyone for doing just the opposite to troll the bear say aye
Aye
I Bring Doom,and a bit of gloom, but mostly gloom.I find it more than a little rich of Russia to demand such a thing considering they promised to respect Ukrainian territorial integrity in exchange for Ukraine handing over their nuclear weapons. We all know how that ended up panning out.
That being said there's no real advantage for the West to having Ukraine join NATO at the moment, and they'd have to work out their territorial disputes before such a thing could even potentially come to pass anyway. And as much as I disagree with Russia's actions, pointlessly provoking them isn't going to make things simmer down.
edited 18th Nov '14 8:57:57 PM by fairywine
The leader of LPR Plotnitskiy has challenged Poroshenko to "a fair and square duel, as our Slavic ancestors did". He also left the choice of the place and the weapons to the Ukrainian President.
This is all a particularly macabre sketch of Monty Python and we're all going to wake up any minute now, aren't we?
Khto tse, mamo-mamo?He's not the first to suggest such a thing
.
One year since Maydan began, people gathering around the places of the revolution in Kyiv, Poroshenko was heckled when he tried to come out to Maydan.
Khto tse, mamo-mamo?The spokesman of the Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Ministry, Yevhen Perebiynis, has declared on Twitter that Plotnitskiy "is only worthy of a duel with Ukrainian justice".
Ah, looks like the coalition agreement has been signed - BPP, the National Front, Samopomich, Oleh Lyashko's Radical Party and Batkivshchyna.
The signing of the Coalition Agreement.
Donetsk airport, as seen by a Ukrainian drone a few days ago.
edited 21st Nov '14 4:26:10 AM by emuran
Khto tse, mamo-mamo?

Interviews from both Putin and Poroshenko today, the former says he "is worried about ethnical cleansing and Ukraine becoming a neo-Nazi state", the latter says "Ukraine is ready for total war".
Khto tse, mamo-mamo?