Ukraine General

2x T-72BAs or T-72B3s in Donetsk and 2x T-72Bs (?)

Seems that there are Serbian volunteers among the pro-Russian forces:

Seems that there are Serbian volunteers among the pro-Russian forces:

No news there... Serbian nationalists are activelly supporting the whole thing since the Crimea invasion

No news there... Serbian nationalists are activelly supporting the whole thing since the Crimea invasion

They were in a more "passive role" before.

(Bellingcat) A Reconstruction of Clashes in Mariupol, Ukraine, 9 May 2014

On 9 May 2014, the center of the Ukrainian city Mariupol was the site of violent clashes between anti-government activists and the Ukrainian army. More than 200 recordings of the events were uploaded onto YouTube by anonymous protestors, often in an attempt to prove that soldiers used excessive force. In this article, I’ll use these videos to reconstruct the course of events that day. In doing so, I will show why it’s important to scrutinize video content with a critical eye.

This report is split into four sections. The first section examines the outbreak of the clashes, the arrival of Ukrainian forces, and shootings near theater square. The second section discusses some of the clashes’ key figures. The third section examines renewed clashes at the city’s police headquarters and the subsequent retreat of Ukrainian forces. The final section lists and discusses the known casualties.

Seems that there are Serbian volunteers among the pro-Russian forces:

Oh the irony, a member (or a former member) of our SNS party is on the battlefields, while SNS is ruling here. They were a far right, and now since they won the elections, they shifted to the left, and continued what their predecessors started.

http://fakty.interia.pl/swiat/news-rosja-matka-siedmiorga-dzieci-aresztowana,nId,1599190

Moscow court has arrested a woman suspected of treason. According to investigators, a resident of the Smolensk Oblast Wiaźmy had to inform Ukrainian diplomats about the possible departure of Russian troops to Donetsk. Woman threatens to 20 years in the gulag.

Mother of seven children Svetlana Davydov is in police custody "Lefortovo Prison" in Moscow. According to her husband, to commit a crime had come in April last year.

Davydov on the bus accidentally overheard a telephone conversation soldier who explained to someone that almost all of his unit was send to delegations. The woman remembered almost completely deserted barracks in Wiaźmie and reminds the facts of the conflict in Ukraine.

Her husband, in an interview with the daily "Kommersant" said that Davydov suspecting that prepares the transport of Russian troops in Ukraine, informed the embassy of that country.

Federal Security Service has not commented this case. While the former judge Sergei Paszyn, in an interview with Ekho Moskvy radio said that he sees no legal basis for criminal proceedings.

( BBC ) Ukraine conflict: EU extends sanctions against Russia

At an extraordinary meeting in Brussels, they also agreed to discuss names to add to the list of individuals targeted for EU travel bans and asset freezes.

However, they did not agree on imposing new economic sanctions against Russia.

Nato says hundreds of Russian tanks and armoured vehicles are in east Ukraine.

Moscow denies direct involvement but says some Russian volunteers are fighting alongside the rebels.

( Sputnik ) EU FMs Decide to Extend Individual Sanctions Over Ukraine Until September

The EU foreign ministers adopted on Thursday a decision to keep in force sanctions targeting individuals and entities allegedly involved in the escalation of the Ukrainian crisis until September 2015, the EU diplomacy chief said.

"In addition to that we have decided to have a proposal within one week of further names of individuals and entities to be added to this list. That decision will be taken at the next Foreign Affairs Council on February 9," Mogherini said.

Conflict Report - Why is one of the most modern Russian army air defense systems in Makeevka?

Fight against separatists: Ukraine promises soldiers bounty

2400 euros for a tank, 6000 € for a fighter aircraft: These bounties, the Ukrainian army will inspire their own soldiers in the battle against the Separatists.

In addition, the Kiev government wants to pay the soldiers for every day in combat 50 euros.

spiegel report

http://www.rp.pl/artykul/1137772,1175636-Schetyna--Jestesmy-otwarci--by-sprzedawac-bron-Ukrainie.html

Poland is open to sell weapons to Ukraine - said on Friday the Minister of Foreign Affairs Parliament Speaker. Stipulated, however, that it depends on the financial capacity of Ukraine. "We are open. This is a business"

Ambassador of Ukraine Andriy Deszczyca, when asked on Friday in RMF FM, whether Ukraine needs a weapon, he replied: "In fact we have own weapon, but I think that these conversations about weaponry must be carried out by those who are familiar with weapons, by experts the Ministry of Defence and such consultations are underway. "He added that now Ukraine is focused on, "to find political, diplomatic out".

Speech about warnings of civil unrest and its preperations in Ukraine - before the Euromaidan

Ukrainian representative, Oleg Tsarov, talks about US preparations for civil war in Ukraine, 20th November 2013.

One day before the Euromaidan protests did start on the 21st November 2013.

Party of Regions MP Tsariov accuses US Embassy in Ukraine of training revolutionaries for street protests. (20th november, 2013 - Interfax Ukraine)

He said that the main objective of the project is to train information war experts and potential revolutionaries to organize protests and overthrow the regime.

http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/175839.html

with english subtitles:

http://www.rp.pl/artykul/11,1175651-Klich--Trwa-otwarta-wojna-na-Ukrainie--Powinnismy-wyslac-bron.html

Polish safety is largely dependent on who wins the Donbas and eastern Ukraine - former Defense Minister Bogdan Klich.

Bogdan Klich believes that our country should take part in the retrofitting of the Ukrainian army. - We could share with Ukraine GROM sets, the rest we sell both in the form of cash and on credit

According to Klich open war in the east of Ukraine is already underway. - In the Donbass we are dealing with a normal two armies armed conflict. On the one - the Ukrainian army, on the other - the so-called separatists, the product of President Putin. We are dealing with a classic local war - rated.

Ukraine needs weapons - General Waldemar Skrzypczak said yesterday in the morning program of Radio Zet. Former commander of the Army explained that Ukraine has nothing to fight the overwhelming Russian and only the strong Ukrainian army will induce Vladimir Putin to negotiate.

Speech about warnings of civil unrest and its preperations in Ukraine - before the Euromaidan

Ukrainian representative, Oleg Tsarov, talks about US preparations for civil war in Ukraine, 20th November 2013.

One day before the Euromaidan protests did start on the 21st November 2013.

Party of Regions MP Tsariov accuses US Embassy in Ukraine of training revolutionaries for street protests. (20th november, 2013 - Interfax Ukraine)

He said that the main objective of the project is to train information war experts and potential revolutionaries to organize protests and overthrow the regime.

http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/175839.html

with english subtitles:

It's a public secret that US had a part in the unrest, and maybe they still do.

Girkin's story(RUSSIAN)

Girkin, an FSB agent who led the uprising on the territory of DNR until a few months back, now goes around Moscow giving all sorts of interviews:

A translation from Russian:

1. In the middle of January Girkin was in Kiev, including the Euromaidan, where, as he admitted, his job was to recon the situation.

2. Girkin was in Crimea, as he admitted, on the 21st February - a minimum of two days prior to Yanukovich fleeing from Ukraine and on the day when an agreement was signed between Yanukovych and three opposition leaders. In Crimea, Girkin "found" "a group of militia". Girkin's appeareance there fully fits the story of Russian involvement in Crimea on the 20th February, when Ukraine's president was still Yanukovych and the Maidan revolution did not yet happen.

3. Girkin called the official (Putin's) story regarding the events in Crimea, "complete nonsense" (the story being that the Crimeans were fully supported by the local politicians, police, military in joining Russia).

4. Girkin claimed that the only government 'organization' to have supported the people in Crimea (and their joining of Russia) was Berkut: "Every other policing unit was under the command of Kiev and could care less for the new Crimean government. The Ukrainian military was completely loyal to Kiev."

5. Girkin claimed "there was no support from the local government. The militia would grab the politicians, put them in a room and force them to approve and sign anything pro-Russian... I was one of the militia, saw everything from the inside".

6. The main reason for the success of the Crimea operation and the relative failure of the DNR and LNR policies was the lack of official Russian Armed Forces on these territories. "If a group of Russian naval infantry BTRs entered Luhansk or Donetsk, it'd all end like Crimea. Or Kharkov, or Odessa... All that was needed was the presence of Russian military, taking an official role of support."

( Reuters ) Ukraine peace talks aborted as civilians die in east

Civilians were killed on both sides in heavy fighting in eastern Ukraine on Friday, while an attempt to reopen peace talks in neighboring Belarus was aborted before it began.

Rebel delegates flew to the Belarus capital Minsk, only to announce that no talks would take place on Friday and they were flying straight back to Moscow. Any talks would be the first since a five-month-old ceasefire collapsed with a new rebel advance last week.

(Newsweek) Donetsk People's Republic Has ‘Full Support of Texas’, Says Pro-Russian Rebel

The self-proclaimed foreign minister for the pro-Russian separatist group the Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR), which is currently battling Kiev’s forces in eastern Ukraine, has announced plans to host a “summit of unrecognized states†such as Flanders, the Basque country and Texas in a video initially broadcast on the local pro-separatist channel Oplot TV earlier this week.

(BBC) Putin ally to build bridge to Crimea

A Russian contract for building a bridge to Crimea has gone to a company majority-owned by a friend of Vladimir Putin who is under Western sanctions.

The $3bn (£2bn) contract was awarded to the SGM Group, owned by Arkady Rotenberg, a childhood friend and judo partner of the Russian president.

A Russian contract for building a bridge to Crimea has gone to a company majority-owned by a friend of Vladimir Putin who is under Western sanctions.

The $3bn (£2bn) contract was awarded to the SGM Group, owned by Arkady Rotenberg, a childhood friend and judo partner of the Russian president.

What a surprise.

That is plain and simply curruption.

---------- Post added 01-31-2015 at 12:02 AM ---------- Previous post was 01-30-2015 at 10:17 PM ----------

Twelve killed in fighting between Donetsk and Lugansk

In recent fights in eastern Ukraine twelve people have been killed since Thursday including 7 civilians, officials say.

In artillery fire in the rebel stronghold of Donetsk 23 people were injured, said the city administration. The Ukrainian military announced that there were also 23 soldiers injured. There was no information about victims on the part of the seperatists.

Steinmeier: Outbreak of violence in eastern Ukraine unacceptable

The recent eruption of violence is unacceptable, Steinmeier said after a meeting with Mitov in Berlin. The parties would have to return to the floor of the Minsk Agreement. Mitov also warned that the conflict could only be solved on the basis of these agreements. Everyone must help to end the bloodshed in Ukraine.

Ukraine cancels meeting with contact group - Pro Russian Seperatists explain talks failed

In Minsk should haven been a meeting on Friday, with the so-called contact group. Composed of representatives of Russia and Ukraine, the pro-Russian separatists in the east and the country Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). After tough negotiations about the agenda, separatists declared in the afternoon the talks failed. They made Kiev responsible for the cancellation. This was rejected by a speaker of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry. However, the requirement was that the two separatist leader Alexander Sachartschenko and Igor Plotnizki should have been join the talks.

Artillery fire hits Cultural Centre in Donetsk - At least six people killed

At least six people are killed in artillery attacks in the city of Donetsk, as the news agency Reuters reported online.

Five people died when artillery shells hit the cultural center of the city. Another body was found next to a heavily damaged bus, about a kilometer away from the cultural center. The area occupied by pro-Russian separatists city government spoke of seven dead persons.

US Secretary of State Kerry travels to Ukraine

Kerry's meeting with Lavrov will revolve mainly around the Ukraine conflict. In Kiev he wanted to emphasize the "unwavering support" of the USA to Ukraine against the pro-Russian separatists.

http://www.focus.de/politik/ausland/ukraine-krise/ukraine-krise-artilleriefeuer-trifft-kulturzentrum-in-donezk-mehrere-tote_id_4442157.html

I really wonder what are UN blue helmets good for if they can't be used to stop such a conflict in Europe.

I really wonder what are UN blue helmets good for if they can't be used to stop such a conflict in Europe.

Have the UN Blue helmets EVER been good for anything?

Have the UN Blue helmets EVER been good for anything?

At least they could avoid the slaughter of civilians left alone under the bombs..

A BBC footage of fierce fighting in Ukraine, at night : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-31065849

Zakharchenko's bodyguard gets shot by ukrainian sniper during live interview in Vuhlehirsk.

@1:17

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBF9LF0nVO0

Looks kinda fake.

Zakharchenko's bodyguard gets shot by ukrainian sniper during live interview in Vuhlehirsk.

@1:17

Here you have the original video from Russia 24:

The translations are kinda off...