Ukraine: Crimean Recapitulation

I think we ought to rename Putin into Drama King.  Or Worm Tongue.  Take your pick.

Developments since before.  The Russians have effective control of Crimea.  

A twerp of an admiral defected after he was surrounded for a whole day!

The Ukrainian troops on the ground there have some serious cojones.  Being willing to walk all the way up to soldiers with assault rifles unarmed and make demands is damned impressive.  Their leader better get a medal out of all of this in the end.

The Ukrainian marines still hold out.

The military exercises for the Russians have ended but there are reports of Russian troops massing on the border.

On the other side, there are reports of Polish troops waiting at the border.

An American carrier battle group has moved into position in the Aegean Sea.  It could, if Turkey let it, cross into the Black Sea.  The name?  The USS Bush. snork.  If the US wanted to make Putin sweat, move the 173rd Airborne Brigade to Kalanchak or Heniches'k.

Kerry has been in Ukraine to show support and consult with Yatsenyuk et al.  He's outright stated Russia is looking for an excuse to invade eastern Ukraine, but hasn't found it yet.

Putin has claimed Yanukovich asked for the intervention.  He stated Yanukovich is the legimate president of Ukraine.  Putin also stated Yanukovich is washed up and has no political future.

Lots of Russian flags went up in several Ukrainian cities.  They came down in two.  Odessa had a SERIOUS demonstration against the Russians immediately afterwards.  The guy who raised the flag in Kharkiv had a magnificent show done of him pulling up the Russian flag.  Funny part is that IMMEDIATELY after it went online, folks found him on Russian social networks...and he lives in Moscow.

Eastern Ukraine's opinion has been turning against Russia.  If this continues, expect a very angry Ukraine at some point.  Part of that has been the hired thugs which have been claiming to be Ukrainians.

The West, especially the US, is going place sanctions on Russia.  This is going to have some serious pain for Russia.  It will also have some serious retaliation BY Russia. 

Interestingly, China's support for Russia has been at best tepid.

Betcha the International Space Station gets it in the nads.  Russia may break off their portion into its own space station.  The West actually has a contingency for this, btw.  However, getting astronauts up and down will be an issue unless NASA crash programs its way into the commercial space flight faster.