Thursday, September 4, 2014

Where Do Pro-Russian Rebels In Ukraine Go For R&R

Refugees at the Izvarino checkpoint in the Lugansk Region. (RIA Novosti / Valeriy Melnikov)

Fighters Unwind in Russia Where Beer Doesn’t Spell Death -- Bloomberg

For separatist fighters, the trip from Ukraine’s war-torn east to unwind over the Russian border is a chance to enjoy life’s simple pleasures.

“We’re here to take a breather,” said Arslan, a native of Russia’s North Caucasus region who declined to give his last name. “The penalty for drinking a beer on the front is death.”

Arslan, who said he provides the rebels with military intelligence, was kicking back at a river-front sanatorium that boasts an infinity pool and has hosted television crews from state-owned Russian media. Among the items he picked up during his several-day break were a smartphone and a laptop computer.

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My Comment: It is reading stories like this one that reveals how the Russian side of the border has become a safe-haven for these rebel groups .... and where accusations of Russian involvement are easy to verify. If these safe havens did not exist .... there is no question in my mind that the rebellion would not have reached the level that it has been able to achieve in the past two months.

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