Is Ukraine On The Verge Of A Civil War?

An Ukrainian soldier (L) aims his rifle at pro-Russia protesters gathered in front of an Ukrainian airbase in Kramatorsk, in eastern Ukraine April 15, 2014.(Reuters / Marko Djurica )

Ukraine On Verge Of Major Armed Conflict -- Alec Luhn in Kramatorsk, Paul Lewis in Washington and Julian Borger, The Guardian,

First significant military action in east of country as troops clash with armed pro-Russian gunmen in airfield

Ukraine is on the verge of major armed conflict as government forces launch their first significant military action in the east of the country, where they have clashed with about 30 armed pro-Russian gunmen at a provincial airfield.

Shots were fired in Kramatorsk airport as Ukrainian special forces stormed in to reassert Kiev's control. As troop helicopters hovered above and tempers flared, a Ukrainian general was set upon by a group of local people incensed that two protesters had been injured, knocking off his military-issue fur hat and yelling, "Jail him."

At the same time as Kramatorsk airport was being seized, elite Ukrainian units were also gathering outside the nearby city of Slavyansk in an operation aimed at taking back control from armed pro- Russian groups.

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My Comment: It appears that today's Ukrainian military operations were more centered on seizing a critical airfield, and deploying troops. This deployment .... and reports of gunfights .... has not gone over very well with many local civilians .... according to Russian news reports .... who showed up to protest against this deployment. From what I am hearing .... this apparently surprised many Ukrainian soldiers who expected to find Russian soldiers in their mists .... not local Russian Ukrainians. But the situation is still incredibly fluid .... and there is a lot of anger on both sides.

As to what is going to happen next .... I suspect that this Ukrainian military deployment is now going to stay put. There are talks scheduled for Thursday in Europe to discuss the Ukraine crisis ... and I doubt that the interim Ukraine government is going to order the military to move into heavily populated centers while these talks are ongoing. This weekend is also Easter .... for both Catholic and Orthodox faiths .... and it would not surprise me if this holiday period will be used as a "cooling off" period for both sides. The big worry is .... what will happen next week. On that question .... I have no answers.