The Ukrainian military has proven itself to be poorly equipped for the fight against the separatists. This image shows a military helicopter attacking separatist positions at the Donetsk airport last week, but Kiev's army lacks sufficient helicopters, ammunition and organization. Reuters
'A European War': The Fight for Ukraine's East Gets Bloodier -- Florian Gathmann and Christian Neef, Speigel Online
Fighters from Russia's Caucasus region have joined the separatists in eastern Ukraine, while Kiev has intensified its efforts to win back control of the region. Just 10 days after the presidential election there, the conflict is quickly turning into a war.
The man with the full, black beard looks satisfied, sitting on his wooden chair. He is wearing a white-striped baseball cap and his Kalashnikov sits on the table beside him. Fighters refer to him respectfully as "Komandir." His casual hand signals determine who is allowed into the headquarters of the regional administration of Donetsk and who is not. In response to questions, the Komandir answers in Russian, with a strong Caucasian accent.
Is he the boss here? "Yes, apparently." But he's not from here? "As you can see." Then, his mobile phone rings and he speaks in a Caucasian language. Is it Chechen? "Why do you want to know, my friend?"
Read more ....
More News On The Ukraine Civil War
The Ukraine Crisis Is Entering A Dangerous New Phase -- Business Insider
Ukraine like Afghanistan: instructors, arms flowing into a divided country - expert -- Voice of Russia
Separatists, government troops continue faceoff in eastern Ukraine -- CNN
As Ukraine moves on rebel stronghold, residents live with sound of shelling -- Reuters
Who are the masked mercenaries in Ukraine? -- Deutsche Welle
Russian Prime Minister Says Thousands Crossing Border to Flee Ukraine -- Wall Street Journal
Ukraine partially closes border with Russia in Donetsk, Lugansk regions -- ITAR-Tass
Ukraine closes border posts after night assaults -- AFP
Poroshenko Wants ‘Dirtiest Work’ in East Ukraine Done Before Inauguration – DPR -- RIA Novosti
Ukraine’s information war looks very different in its east and west -- Miami Herald/McClatchy News
The Latest in Ukraine in 19 Photos: Elections, Violence in the East, and Obama Meets the New President -- Mother Jones
My Comment: The refugee crisis in eastern Ukraine is growing .... and even though the government in Kiev is denying these reports .... everyone of my sources in Russia and in Ukraine are telling me the opposite. My aunt is still staying in her home in the city of Kharkiv (this city is not far from where the civil war is being fought) .... but her daughter, her two daughter-in-laws, and all of her grand-kids are now in Russia with my relatives. She does not tell me what her two sons (my two cousins) and her son-in-law are doing .... and I do not ask because I know that all communications are now being monitored.
I am also receiving reports that Russian weapons and volunteers are now flooding into eastern Ukraine. That is probably why the border posts on the Ukraine - Russian border were seized a few days ago .... Anna Nemtsova from the Daily Beast provides an excellent analysis on how this now secures a supply corridor from Russia for the rebels .... Witness to a Ukraine Rebel Breakthrough (Daily Beast).
The Daily Beast article also talks about the Chechen "volunteers". This is disturbing .... throwing in battled-hardened Chechen fighters with their weapons into the fight will now make it very difficult for the Ukraine military to make any headway. The Chechens know how to fight asymmetric warfare .... the Ukraine military does not.
Russia is now accusing Ukraine of using cluster bombs and heavy weapons. Two of my sources said the same thing to me a few days ago .... but they have not provided to me any evidence that cluster bombs are being used .... and Russian media has not broadcast any proof that this is true.
I found this article from RIA Novosti revealing .... Kerry Demands Poroshenko Prove Russia’s Involvement in East Ukraine Events. I thought that the U.S. already had evidence of Russian involvement .... why ask the Ukrainians for proof? The New York Times article that RIA Novosti quotes from is here. John Kerry's remarks are on the second to last paragraph.
Accusation of war crimes and execution videos are now also surfacing. RT is reporting an attack by Ukrainian forces on a hospital. The Financial Times and Kyiv Post are reporting the execution of two Ukrainian police officers by pro-Russian separatists. The video is here. Human Rights Watch is reporting acts of brutality by both sides.
2 comments:
Well, they've secured their over-border sanctuary routes and new forces are appearing on the field. Next deny the air or at least make it a place very difficult to operate for the Ukrainians. And if the picture above and other videos I've seen of Ukrainian chopper tactics is true it shouldn't be that hard. Then deny tactical intel to the Ukrainians (shoot police officers). Throw in reprisals and you've got a major league nasty fight. Unless one side or the other suffers a major defeat or an obvious major decline in fortunes there will be no serious negotiations.
Negotiations are definitely dead. And knowing how stubborn the people are in this region .... even if Moscow demanded that they enter into peace talks, these pro-Russian separatists will probably Putin.
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