Ukraine Civil War -- News Updates June 14, 2014

Official: 49 Die In Downed Ukrainian Military Plane -- CNN

(CNN) -- A Ukrainian military plane was shot down early Saturday, killing all 49 people on board, a spokesman said. It is likely one of the bloodiest single events in that nation's current period of turmoil.

The Ilyushin-76 military transport plane went down while approaching an airport in the eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk, said military spokesman Vladislav Seleznyov from the anti-terror operation unit.

In a statement, Ukraine's defense ministry said the plane, which was transporting military personnel, was shot down by insurgents using anti-aircraft machine guns.

Read more ....

More News On Ukraine's Civil War

49 Ukrainian troops killed as transport plane downed in Lugansk -- RT
Ukrainian Military Plane, Ilyushin-76, Shot Down By Rebels In Luhansk, 49 Killed -- IBTimes
Separatists in Ukraine Shoot Down Military Plane, Killing 49 -- New York Times
Rebels shoot down Ukrainian military plane, 49 killed -- Reuters
Pro-Russian rebels shoot down large Ukrainian transport plane, killing dozens -- Washington Post
Ukraine rebels shoot down military plane -- The Guardian
The moment a Ukrainian military transport carrying 49 troops was shot down by pro-Russian militants killing everyone on board -- Daily Mail
Dozens dead as rebels down Ukraine army plane -- Al Jazeera

Ukraine Promises 'Adequate Response,' After Rebels Shoot Down Plane -- NPR
Ukraine's Poroshenko vows response to Luhansk plane crash -- BBC

Self-defense forces in Gorlovka, E.Ukraine, claim shooting down Kiev bomber jet -- RT
Ukraine: Su-24 shot down in Donetsk region -- In Serbia
Donetsk defenders shoot down Ukrainian Su-24 bomber -- ITAR-TASS
Ukrainian Su-24 military aircraft shot down in Donetsk region by local militia -- Voice of Russia

NATO says Russian tanks in Ukraine would be 'serious escalation' as Kiev claims to have destroyed two -- Daily Mail
US says Russian tanks, rocket launchers in eastern Ukraine -- AL Jazeera
Russia sent tanks, rocket launchers, weapons to Ukraine separatists, US says -- DW
Russia Has Sent Tanks To Ukraine Rebels, U.S. Says -- New York Times
Ukrainian official: Russian tanks have entered the country -- CNN
Ukraine Says Russia Let Tanks Across Border to Aid Rebels -- WSJ
U.S. Confirms Russia Sent Tanks to Ukraine -- Time
US: Separatists in eastern Ukraine have weapons, military equipment from Russia -- FOX News

Ukraine crisis: Kiev forces win back Mariupol -- BBC
Ukrainian forces reclaim port city from rebels -- Reuters
Ukraine launches dawn raid on rebel-held Mariupol -- The Guardian
Ukraine Has Won Full Control Over the Port City of Mariupol -- VICE
Ukraine ousts Russian separatists from town -- Boston Globe/Washington Post

Ukrainian APC with troops breaches Russian border -- RT
Russia Slams Ukraine for Violating Border Day After 3 Russian Tanks Enter Country -- Breitbart

Russians claim Ukraine town hit with banned white phosphorus fire starter bombs -- Daily Mail
'White phosphorus' reports: Ukraine military 'dropped incendiary bombs' on Slavyansk -- RT
Ukraine's armed forces launches first ever incendiary raid against Slavyansk suburbs -- Voice of Russia
Jen Psaki 'didn't see' Ukrainian army used phosphorus bombs near Slavyansk -- Voice of Russia
Ukraine's National Guard refutes information of using phosphorus weapons -- iFocus

Ukraine rebel leader's minibus blown up in Donetsk killing two -- AFP
Donetsk Republic leader’s car bombed -- ITAR-TASS
Blast targets self-proclaimed E. Ukraine leader's vehicle, 2 killed -- RT
Pro-Russia leader escapes assassination in Donetsk -- Press TV

Ukraine crisis: EU invites Moscow to talks on Kiev pact -- BBC
Putin in talks with Ukraine president after claims tanks crossed border from Russia -- The Guardian

‘Bombardment never stops’: E. Ukrainian refugees share horrors of Kiev military op -- RT
Ukraine's humanitarian crisis worsens as tens of thousands flee combat in east -- The Guardian
As families flee, Donetsk rebels offer shelter, food and prayers -- AFP
Fleeing from home in Ukraine -- DW

In Ukraine crisis, tanks on one hand and words of peace on the other -- Carol Morello and Michael Birnbaum, Washington Post
Russia and Ukraine Really Have No Idea What's Going on Along the Border -- Linda Kintsler, New Republic
Ukraine in maps: How the crisis spread -- BBC

My Comment: The situation in eastern Ukraine is becoming more bloodier and chaotic. I am not surprised about the transport plane being shot down .... eastern Ukraine is now flooded with anti-aircraft missiles and flying is now extremely dangerous. There have been reports of other planes and helicopters being shot down .... but they have not been independently verified.

Reports that Ukrainian forces are using phosphorous weapons in the siege of  Slavyansk are disturbing. A few weeks ago I asked a relative who served in the Ukraine military two years ago on what was the arsenal available for the Ukraine military .... and he mentioned to me phosphorous shells. If they are being used .... that order has to come from the Ukraine President's office.

Reports that Russia has stepped-up supplying weapons to pro-Russian rebels was expected. The Ukraine government has initiated no peace talks (though publicly they have stated that they are willing to have talks) .... but they have escalated their military campaign. Tens of thousands of refugees are now flooding into Russia (though Kiev is denying it) .... and Russia is reacting to this crisis in the only way it knows how .... supplying even more weapons to force the Ukraine government into talks. I do not know if this will bring peace .... I doubt it .... but it will certainly escalate the conflict to an even higher level.

The assassination attempt on the separatist leader for the Donetsk region has also raised the stakes in this conflict. There is going to be blow-back from this ...  in what form I do not know.