The battles for the East are continuing. It appears the Pro Russian groups have been completely ousted in Kharkov: 70 arrests were made. However, that is not the case in Lugansk and Donetsk. In Lugansk, the pro russian forces have taken hostages (most have been freed). These guys are starting to cross into the terrorist category.
I suspect that with Kharkov cleared, the next city to be is Lugansk. Donetsk is the hardest of the lot with so many having shown up in support of the 'People's Republic of Donetsk': I've seen claims of up to two thousand. The picture above is from the admin building the pro russian folks have barricaded themselves in. Earlier in the day, a human chain of women - babuschkas really - 'blocked' access until the barricade was in place.
Timoshenko has arrived in Donetsk. I am sure this will completely help the situation. Good grief. That woman is poison.
Everyone in the West is stating the Russians are behind the latest attempts at seizing the east's admin buildings and whatnot. US Secretary of State Kerry even called it a pretext for an invasion.
There was a fight in the Rada in Kiev. The communist rep Symonenko running for president who is actually from Donetsk accused government in Kiev of playing into Russia's hands by removing the "protestors" in the east. One of the Right Sector twits attacked him. Whether he's right or a Russian puppet, fist fights in the Rada? Really?
The US has moved another Burke class destroyer into the Black Sea officially in support of Ukraine. NATO is increasing troops and planes on the border of Ukraine. (C'mon Obama, just say '173rd')
NATO is apparently supplying Ukraine with nonweapon supplies for its military. Fuel, trucks, food, etc. This may make a difference. You can't convert over an entire army in a month to new weapons, but trucks can definitely help. They need to supply ATGMs and SAMs for the Ukrainian soldiers next. That will make another difference.
There is a rumor (of course there is!) the pro Russian forces are supposed to make a lot of blood shed tonight to provide the pretext for Russia's intervention. We'll see.
The EU, America, Russia and Ukraine were supposed to meet over the crisis. I suspect Russia will obstruct or obfuscate and delay.
Russia, btw, was forced to cancel a bond sale. No one wanted to buy at the prices they wanted to offer. The market DOES care what Russia is up to.
The US has moved another Burke class destroyer into the Black Sea officially in support of Ukraine. NATO is increasing troops and planes on the border of Ukraine. (C'mon Obama, just say '173rd')
NATO is apparently supplying Ukraine with nonweapon supplies for its military. Fuel, trucks, food, etc. This may make a difference. You can't convert over an entire army in a month to new weapons, but trucks can definitely help. They need to supply ATGMs and SAMs for the Ukrainian soldiers next. That will make another difference.
There is a rumor (of course there is!) the pro Russian forces are supposed to make a lot of blood shed tonight to provide the pretext for Russia's intervention. We'll see.
The EU, America, Russia and Ukraine were supposed to meet over the crisis. I suspect Russia will obstruct or obfuscate and delay.
Russia, btw, was forced to cancel a bond sale. No one wanted to buy at the prices they wanted to offer. The market DOES care what Russia is up to.
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