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05.08.2015, 22:31
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| | Re: World War 3 or just a local spat in Ukraine? | Quote: | |  | | | Because even just a few year ago a Russian person didn't risk being attacked on the street for speaking Russian  | | | | |
In Crimea? Where 99% voted to join Russia?
Does not sound logical?
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05.08.2015, 22:39
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| | Re: World War 3 or just a local spat in Ukraine? | Quote: | |  | | | In Crimea? Where 99% voted to join Russia?
Does not sound logical? | | | | | That's exactly one of the reasons why people voted. Imagine you wake up one day in Switzerland and all international schools closed, you can't speak your mother tongue or risk an assault...
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05.08.2015, 22:53
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| | Re: World War 3 or just a local spat in Ukraine? | Quote: | |  | | | That's exactly one of the reasons why people voted. Imagine you wake up one day in Switzerland and all international schools closed, you can't speak your mother tongue or risk an assault... | | | | |
Imagine I wake up one day in Switzerland and find all the important buildings taken over by armed soldiers wearing uniforms which have no identification.
Of course I would vote for the people pointing their guns.
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11.08.2015, 23:55
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| | Re: World War 3 or just a local spat in Ukraine?
Pro Russian separatists this weekend torched several armoured vehicles in Donetsk belonging to a monitoring mission of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
It is assumed their aim was to prevent the OSCE from witnessing new attacks. http://www.osce.org/ukraine-smm/176456 | 
13.08.2015, 21:06
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| | Re: World War 3 or just a local spat in Ukraine?
Russian Major captured fighting in Ukraine appeals directly on video to Putin: | Quote: |  | | | Speaking Russian, he appeals directly to Putin to acknowledge his service and asks the Russian president to help free him.
“I’m not a combat officer. I am only a ‘paper,' a clerical officer,” he says.
“I served 19 years in the Russian army. And now they don’t acknowledge me. They’re saying there’s no one by that name. He didn’t serve. How could they do such a thing?” he said. | | | | | Also interviewed by Euronews: | Quote: |  | | | Euronews met him in the detention center in Kyiv where he was sent after his arrest.
“At the time of I was detained, I was a regular serviceman in the armed forces of the Russian Federation with the rank of Major. I was chief of missile and artillery weapons service in the military unit in the Russian city of Novocherkassk”, says Starkov.
Questioned by the Ukranian security service, he said that around 2,000 Russian servicemen are currently deployed in Eastern Ukraine.
Many of them did not volunteer, just like Starkov. When he was ordered to move to the Rostov region bordering Ukraine, little did he know that he would serve in Eastern Ukraine. | | | | | | 
17.08.2015, 10:41
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| | Re: World War 3 or just a local spat in Ukraine?
Intense shelling around Ukrainian held Mariupol the last few days. A large influx of Russian troops in the area reported, and an assault on Mariupol itself is possible. Germany's Steinmeier says the situation is explosive and risks worsening. Russia also announced another massive delivery of groceries (and ammo, etc.) to their "pro-Russian" enclaves in Ukraine (while destroying 500 tons of food in Russia last week)
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19.08.2015, 08:45
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| | Re: World War 3 or just a local spat in Ukraine? Good analysis of current escalation in E.Ukraine. In short, Russia is using military attacks to put political pressure on Kiev. Russia won't take Mariupol, because of it's fortifications and immediate new round of Western sanction, but may take some smaller objectives. | Quote: |  | | | “For Russia the use of military force is part of their diplomatic efforts.” All agree that the status quo is unacceptable for Moscow. The rebel-held territory around the cities of Donetsk and Lugansk does not amount to an economically viable state, meaning a continuation of the stalemate will be a long-term drain on Russian resources.
The reintegration of rebel areas (into Ukraine) as semi-autonomous regions giving Moscow an effective veto of Ukraine’s national politics — as Russia hoped Minsk II would achieve — has also been thwarted. Kiev is attempting to implement Minsk II on its own terms rather than moving to the agreement to isolate the irredentist regions further. | | | | | | 
22.08.2015, 17:09
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| | Re: World War 3 or just a local spat in Ukraine? | Quote: |  | | | The Kremlin appears averse to annexing the Donbas, as this would prove costly for a faltering Russian economy that is already supporting a bankrupt Crimea. Instead, it is pushing for a split state in Ukraine. Its model resembles that of Moldova or Bosnia-Herzegovina, in which autonomous regions not controlled by the central government either disqualify the country from meeting the criteria for EU or NATO entry or they actively block central government policy making by wielding veto powers. Instead of an outright military occupation of Ukraine, Russia is banking on concessions by the West that will bring the same results without need for war. Washington, Berlin, and Paris are also pushing Kyiv to include the rebel-held areas in the October 25, 2015 local elections, even though the government does not control these territories and the balloting will not meet any democratic standards. Such a move will primarily validate Moscow’s drive to federalize Ukraine with Western collusion. | | | | | http://www.cepa.org/content/west-leg...aines-division
Monday is a meeting in Berlin between Merkel, Hollandale and Poroshenko (Putin wasn't invited). Merkel may be seeking to push Ukraine into accepting the Russian-backed regions back into Ukraine. Ukraine however is strongly against that. | Quote: |  | | | Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko will try to persuade German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande at the talks in Berlin on August 24 not to be duped with Vladimir Putin's nuclear threats believed to be pure bluff, according to the source. | | | | | http://uatoday.tv/politics/poroshenk...in-479494.html
Russia claims that Putin initiated the meeting (altho didn't invite himself?), but they also have the feeling that the aim of the meeting is to pressure Ukraine to take the break-away regions back into Ukraine, or else face further military escalations (note: Russian-backed attacks are usually precluded by Russian media announcements saying Kiev is preparing to attack) | Quote: |  | | | "But from my point of view this meeting was initiated by [Russian President] Putin, Merkel and Hollande. It only makes sense to hold a summit without Putin… if they aim to exert pressure on Poroshenko, there can be no other reason," the expert underscored, adding that, in his opinion, Petro Poroshenko's politically incorrect verbal attacks against Russia and the Kremlin made him a pariah in the eyes of the Russian leadership. | | | | | | 
22.08.2015, 17:43
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| | Re: World War 3 or just a local spat in Ukraine? | Quote: | |  | | | http://www.cepa.org/content/west-leg...aines-division
Monday is a meeting in Berlin between Merkel, Hollandale and Poroshenko (Putin wasn't invited). Merkel may be seeking to push Ukraine into accepting the Russian-backed regions back into Ukraine. Ukraine however is strongly against that. http://uatoday.tv/politics/poroshenk...in-479494.html
Russia claims that Putin initiated the meeting (altho didn't invite himself?), but they also have the feeling that the aim of the meeting is to pressure Ukraine to take the break-away regions back into Ukraine, or else face further military escalations (note: Russian-backed attacks are usually precluded by Russian media announcements saying Kiev is preparing to attack) | | | | |
Meanwhile the pro-Russian people in E. Ukraine are preparing a "Crimea type" referendum according to the Donetsk-based Ostrov news agency which reported on Wednesday. Leaders of the self-proclaimed "Donetsk People's Republic" are planning to hold a referendum on seceding from Ukraine and joining Russia.
Hopefully Putin will not send in the tea boys to delay this process!
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22.08.2015, 18:27
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| | Re: World War 3 or just a local spat in Ukraine?
I really doubt Putin would accept Donetsk into Russia, unless they got some additional strategic areas. What the "rebels" have now isn't really worth it (more EU sanctions). | Quote: |  | | | The referendum is scheduled to be held in two to four weeks after the Oct. 18 local elections, said the news agency.
In July, leaders of pro-independence insurgents in Donetsk region said they would hold local elections on Oct. 18 without Kiev's supervision as they believed that the Ukrainian government has not fulfilled its obligations under the Minsk peace agreement. | | | | | I don't follow the logic, Donetsk will hold elections in-line with the rest of Ukraine on the 18th, and then secede from Ukraine just 2 weeks later? | Quote: |  | | | Slated for October 18, the elections will occur “on the basis of Ukrainian law … in the parts where it does not contradict the constitution and law” established in separatist-held eastern Ukraine, said Alexander Zakharchenko, self-styled prime minister of the Donetsk People’s Republic in eastern Ukraine | | | | | | 
23.08.2015, 16:51
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| | Re: World War 3 or just a local spat in Ukraine?
Breaking news:
The Kerch Strait bridge (to supply Crimea) is ahead of schedule:
Until it's finished, Russia will provide supplies by air: | The following 3 users would like to thank Urs Max for this useful post: | | 
25.08.2015, 11:42
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| | Re: World War 3 or just a local spat in Ukraine?
US sends F-22 fighter jets to Europe as part of Ukraine response, link here
Whole situation is getting very risky, Russian economy is crashing and Putin maybe tempted to do something silly to retain his popularity | 
25.08.2015, 23:21
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| | Re: World War 3 or just a local spat in Ukraine?
In a reminder of the Stalinist show trials in the 40's the Ukrainian film director Oleg Sentsov was sentenced by a Russian court to 20 years in prison.
His crime was delivering food to Ukrainian soldiers trapped in their bases by the Russian takeover of Crimea.
Of course Russian courts have no rights to prosecute people for crimes committed outside Russian territory.
Oleg claimed he was tortured and showed his bruises; the prosecution said these were from his enjoyment of sadomasochistic practices.
One bizarre moment during the trial was when one key prosecution witness, Gennady Afanasyev, refused to stand by his original testimony incriminating the two men, saying it had been extracted under duress.
Innocent verdicts are practically unknown in Russia because judges are rewarded on their number of guilty verdicts.
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26.08.2015, 02:35
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| | Re: World War 3 or just a local spat in Ukraine? | Quote: | |  | | | US sends F-22 fighter jets to Europe as part of Ukraine response, link here
Whole situation is getting very risky, Russian economy is crashing and Putin maybe tempted to do something silly to retain his popularity  | | | | |
Symbolic but important aws it Shows the USA committment to the East European wing of NATO
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26.08.2015, 15:35
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| | Re: World War 3 or just a local spat in Ukraine? | Quote: |  | | | “Compensation of military personnel taking part in military actions in Ukraine in 2014-2015.” In addition, the Russian government, in a decision about the monetary compensation of military personnel taking part in military action in eastern Ukraine, approved compensation for families of military personnel who were killed taking part in military action in Ukraine of three million rubles (about $50,000). For those who have become invalids during military action, the compensation is one and a half million rubles (about $25,000). A payment of 1,800 rubles is envisioned for contract “fighters” for every day of their presence in the conflict zone. In all, as of February 1, 2015, monetary compensation had been paid to more than 2,000 families of fallen soldiers and to 3,200 military personnel suffering heavy wounds and recognized as invalids.” | | | | | http://www.forbes.com/sites/paulrode...-east-ukraine/
Russia accidentally released info regarding death and invalid compensation payments for Russian soldiers killed and injured in Ukraine up until Feb.1, 2015: 2,000 dead and 3,200 invalids.
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26.08.2015, 17:05
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| | Re: World War 3 or just a local spat in Ukraine? | Quote: | |  | | | | | | | |
Hardware (weapons) for the Ukraine must have cost a lot more; must be a sub category for that somewhere - interesting to know how many Buks were consumed? | 
27.08.2015, 22:44
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| | Re: World War 3 or just a local spat in Ukraine? | Quote: |  | | | A former leader of separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine has announced the launch of a support network for Russian volunteers who fought in Ukraine and the families of those killed.
Aleksandr Borodai said in Moscow on August 27 that the Union of Donbas Volunteers aims to gain the same status and benefits for volunteers who fought in Ukraine as for veterans of military conflicts.
Borodai, a Russian citizen, said it is currently being registered by Russia’s Justice Ministry, adding that the organization will have offices in Moscow, Rostov-on-Don, and the Crimea Peninsula.
The former self-proclaimed prime minister of the self-declared Donetsk People's Republic did not specify how the organization would be financed.
Borodai estimated that up to 50,000 Russian volunteers fought in eastern Ukraine since fighting between government forces and separatists erupted in April 2014. | | | | | It looks like there must be pressure on the Russian government to provide support for the soldiers sent to fight in Ukraine. However, since Putin can't officially admit it, he's got to make a "shell" company to provide the benefits to the "volunteer" soldiers.
However admitting publicly that 50,000 Russians have fought in Ukraine kind of takes away from the myth of the conflict being a "Civil war" and finally admits that it's a Russia/Ukraine war.
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29.08.2015, 23:29
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| | Re: World War 3 or just a local spat in Ukraine?
Ukraine has released their most detailed info about the Russian-backed fighters in Ukraine to date: estimated 40,000 fighters, estimated 60% Russians and 40% locals, commanded by a Russian 3-star General on the Russian side of the border, and two 1-star Generals inside Ukraine: http://uk.businessinsider.com/ukrain...15-8?r=US&IR=T | The following 2 users would like to thank esto for this useful post: | | 
30.08.2015, 15:47
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| | Re: World War 3 or just a local spat in Ukraine?
More business as usual in Kiev (Oleg Lyashko & Igor Mosiychuk in the 'corruption' spotlight this time)… 2 Ukrainian ultra-radical MPs face investigation for kidnappings, torture | 
30.08.2015, 16:09
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| | Re: World War 3 or just a local spat in Ukraine? | Quote: | |  | | | | | | | | Thanks, good to know the Ukrainians are prosecuting corruption even at the level of MPs; now we just need the Russians to do the same. | This user would like to thank marton for this useful post: | |
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