Crisis in Ukraine

[LazyLion]

WHISPERS OF DISSENT IN KREMLIN-RULED CRIMEA

In the dark of night in Crimea, Anastasiya steps into a pool of yellowish light from a street lamp.

The weary 30-year-old with mousy blonde hair looks furtively side to side and her voice falls to a whisper at the sounds of passersby.

"There is not going to be any democracy here. Not with Putin in charge," said Anastasiya, who lives in a housing block on the scrappy western outskirts of Simferopol -- the main city on the Kremlin-ruled peninsula.

"I want to leave but I can't sell my flat. What am I going to do? I just don't have the money," the mother of two said in an interview with AFP.

Ukraine's government estimates there are 25,000 people in Crimea like Anastasiya who want to flee the region after its Russian takeover.

Some of them are already leaving, moving in with friends and relatives in other parts of the country.

The government has set up special hotlines for people fleeing to find jobs and receive pensions, although the practicalities of uprooting and moving to a new city can be daunting.

Before a March 16 disputed referendum on breaking off from Ukraine and joining Russia, there were a few isolated pro-unity rallies in Crimea.

Since then, however, that kind of public dissent has disappeared as Russian troops and pro-Moscow militiamen have tightened their grip.

Anastasiya has never been political.

Ukrainian is just her native language and she just does not like the idea of waking up with a new nationality.

The Black Sea peninsula's two million inhabitants have been told that in less than a month they will automatically all be Russian citizens unless they make a special request to retain Ukrainian nationality.

"I don't want a Russian passport, I want to keep my Ukrainian one! But I'm scared what will happen if I ask for the exemption," Anastasiya said.

She said she and her friends "don't speak Ukrainian in public any more".

"Living here has become frightening. They say we're all radicals".

Russia and Crimea's pro-Moscow leaders have portrayed Ukraine's government as dominated by ultra-nationalists who discriminate against Russian-speakers and have used this as a justification for Moscow's takeover of the peninsula.

"What discrimination? There was never any of that here against Russian speakers. That's just what they say on Russian television," Anastasiya said.

One of the first moves taken by Russia-backed officials here earlier this month was to switch off all Ukrainian programming and air Russian television channels instead.

Anastasiya said the Russian coverage of Crimea had been one-sided and uniform -- much like the lawmakers in Moscow who have rubber-stamped Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposal to take Crimea into Russia's fold.

"They all voted unanimously! What kind of democracy is that? They're going to create a state for public servants here, not for the people," she said.

The new reality of being de facto Russia has also divided Anastasiya's family.

Shaking her head in disbelief, she said her Ukrainian parents are in favour of the "stability" they hope Russia will bring to their lives.

"They say their pensions are going to go up and they want their Lenin statues to stay in place."


Source : Sapa-AFP /kd
Date : 23 Mar 2014 12:02

 

[LazyLion]

RUSSIAN RADIO HOST SAYS FIRED OVER CRIMEA BROADCAST

The host of a news show on a Moscow radio station said Sunday he had been fired for questioning Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.

Vladimir Semago, who hosted "In My Own Words" on Capital Radio, said he had been fired last week after hosting a live broadcast in the Russian capital on the day Crimea voted to sever its ties to Ukraine and join Russia.

Semago told Echo of Moscow radio that he had tried to "talk to people and find out whether they are really all so united" behind Russia's move to absorb the breakaway peninsula.

"For that, I received yet another rebuke, an accusation of being unethical and acting provocatively," he said.

"The radio station has chosen for itself the path of supporting the Russian president (Vladimir Putin) in joining Crimea to Russia."

The editor-in-chief of Capital Radio, a talk-radio station that broadcasts in Moscow and the surrounding region, questioned Semago's version of events.

"It's very fashionable to use a political position on Crimea as an explanation now. You just need to work professionally, that's all," Roman Babayan told Echo of Moscow.

He said the station would release a statement on Monday.

Semago said he did not oppose Crimea becoming part of Russia but was uneasy with the way the annexation was implemented.

"I don't reject the idea itself in principle, but I feel alienated and antagonised by the methods used, by the haste that was shown to us all in completely neglecting procedure for taking decisions," he told Echo of Moscow.

Semago, a businessman and former lawmaker, had worked at the radio station for two years.

He served as a Communist lawmaker in the 1990s before being expelled from the party and later serving for a term as an MP for the ruling United Russia party.

There are fewer and fewer outlets in the Russian media for political views in opposition to the Kremlin.

The long-serving editor of a major independent news site, Lenta.ru, was fired this month after a warning from a government watchdog over its coverage of Ukraine.


Source : Sapa-AFP /lk
Date : 23 Mar 2014 11:35

 

[LazyLion]

RUSSIAN TROOPS STORM UKRAINE BASE IN CRIMEA

Elite Russian troops firing into the air and backed by armoured vehicles stormed a Ukrainian airbase in Crimea on Saturday as Russia's defiant march across the rebel peninsula rolled on despite sanctions and growing global isolation.

The dramatic takeover provided the most spectacular show of force since Russia sent its troops into Crimea three weeks ago before formally absorbing the flashpoint peninsula on Tuesday.

It came as the chill in East-West relations intensified with a charge by Germany -- a nation whose friendship Russian President Vladimir Putin had nurtured -- of a Kremlin attempt to "splinter" Europe along Cold War-era lines.

Europe's most explosive security crisis in decades will now dominate a nuclear security summit that kicks off in The Hague on Monday and will include what may prove the most difficult meeting to date between US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

The diplomats' encounter will come with Russia facing the loss of its coveted seat among the G8 group of leading nations and Putin's inner circle reeling from biting sanctions Washington unleashed for their use of force in response to last month's fall of a pro-Kremlin regime in Kiev.

Crimea's rebel authorities estimate they together with Russian forces control at least half of Ukraine's bases on the Black Sea peninsula and about a third of its functioning naval vessels.

Russian troops on Friday marked a treaty sealing the Kremlin's absorption of the mostly Russian-speaking region by seizing Ukraine's only submarine in the region.

The hulking Zaporozhye vessel flew the Kremlin navies flag on Saturday as it was moved to a bay controlled by the Russian Black Sea fleet.

Several hundred protesters also raised the Russian flag after storming a Ukrainian airforce base in the western Crimean town Novofedorivka while pro-Kremlin forces watched.

And in Sevastopol, armed men seized control of the Slavutich, one of the last navy ships in Crimea still flying Ukraine's flag.

But Saturday's most dramatic episode saw Russian forces break into the Belbek airbase near the main city of Simferopol after an armoured personnel carrier blasted through the main gate.

Two more armoured personnel carriers followed and gunmen stormed in, firing automatic weapons into the air and pointing guns at Ukrainian soldiers who had earlier received an ultimatum to surrender from the surrounding Russian troops.

An AFP reporter heard stun grenades before the situation calmed and the gunmen lowered their weapons. Several of the base's unarmed soldiers began singing the Ukrainian national anthem during the ensuing lull.

"It's so disappointing," one told AFP. "So disappointing, that I don't have any other words to say."

Ukraine's defence ministry later confirmed its men had left the base and said a journalist and a Ukrainian soldier had been wounded in the incident.

Germany -- whose economic power is playing a decisive role in forging Europe's response to Putin's increasingly belligerent stance -- warned after talks with Ukraine's besieged interim leaders that the continent's future was at stake.

"The referendum in Crimea... is a violation of international law and an attempt to splinter Europe," Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier told reporters after meeting Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper brought his own message of support for "courageous" Ukrainians on a first visit by a G7 leader since Crimea staged a contentious March 16 independence vote that the international community almost unanimously proclaimed illegal.

Harper said Putin had "undermined international confidence" by violating a 1994 deal under which Ukraine gave up its Soviet-era nuclear weapons in return for sovereignty guarantees from Russia and several Western states.

"By breaching that guarantee, President Putin has provided a rationale for those elsewhere... to arm themselves to the teeth," said Harper.

The show of diplomatic solidarity may play an important psychological role in Kiev as it faces new rounds of pressure by Russia that include open threats to throw Ukraine's wheezing economy into convulsion by raising its gas rates and demanding colossal payments for disputed debts it could ill afford.

The biggest such signal from Europe came on Friday with the signing in Brussels of the very agreement on closer EU-Ukraine relations whose rejection by the Moscow-backed regime sparked three months of deadly protests that led to its February 22 fall.

But Ukraine is unlikely to hear its calls for US and EU military support answered.

Yatsenyuk said he had discussed "military and technological cooperation assistance" with Steinmeier, but reported no further progress.

Both the United States and Europe have thus far limited their retaliation against Putin to targeted travel and financial sanctions that concern officials but do not impact the broader Russian economy.

Washington's steps have been more meaningful because they hit what US officials call a Putin "crony bank" as well as oligarchs who are believed to be closest to the Russian strongman and -- in one case -- actually running a joint business with him.

Moscow appears to have been taken aback by the force of US President Barack Obama's message -- as well as the threat to one day hit Russian industries. Its only response to date has been to bar nine US officials and lawmakers from entering the country.

Putin on Friday made light of the US decision to target a bank suspected of being close to him and suggested in televised comments that "we should for now hold off on reciprocal steps."

He made no mention of the Europeans, whose punitive steps are so far mostly limited to the largely symbolic suspension of free travel talks and a summit Putin had been due to host in June.

Leading EU nations such as Britain and Germany -- their financial and energy sectors intertwined with Russia's -- have questioned why they should suffer most in case of an all-out trade war.


Source : Sapa-AFP /kn
Date : 23 Mar 2014 00:39

 

[Lycanthrope]

The US and the EU can be so toothless at times...

 

[w1z4rd]

The US and the EU can be so toothless at times...

They were called warmongers for liberating Libya.... damned if they do, damned if they dont.

 

[Lycanthrope]

They were called warmongers for liberating Libya.... damned if they do, damned if they dont.

I would think that defending the sovereignty of a country, especially one primed to join their ranks, would be a good thing, from whichever corner you're in.

 

[LazyLion]

'SIZEABLE' RUSSIAN FORCE AT UKRAINE BORDER: NATO

NATO's top commander, General Philip Breedlove, said Sunday there was a "very sizeable" Russian troop presence on the border with Ukraine and warned of a possible incursion into the Moscow-backed separatist territory of Transdniestr.

"The force that is at the Ukrainian border now to the east is very, very sizeable and very, very ready," the head of the US European Command told the Brussels Forum.

"What I think is worrisome is that Russia has used these series of snap exercises to sort of condition us," he added at the forum organised by the US think tank the German Marshall Fund.

Russia's military announced Friday that it had carried out exercises in Transdniestr, a Moscow-backed separatist territory of Moldova which lies on Ukraine's southwestern border. The Russian troops are massed to the east of the country.

NATO has previously observed several large-scale exercises by the Russian army, in which the "forces were brought to readiness and exercised and then they stood down," Breedlove said.

"Then, as we have all seen, a snap exercise, large formation brought to readiness and, boom, into Crimea we (Russians) went with a highly ready, highly prepared force," he said.

"There is absolutely sufficient force postured on the eastern border of Ukraine to run to Transdniestr if the decision was made (in Moscow) to do that," Breedlove said, adding: "And that's very worrisome."

While Moscow's military capability to intervene in Transdniestr is in no doubt, the allies "don't know about the intent", Breedlove said, adding however that Russia has been "acting much more like an adversary than a partner" since the start of the crisis in Ukraine.

The games in Transdniestr came after pro-Western Moldovan President Nicolae Timofti on Tuesday voiced concerns that the Crimean scenario could play out in his mainly Russian-speaking country.

He said the spokesman of Transdniestr's self-appointed assembly had asked Russia to absorb the region along with Crimea.

The eastern Moldovan region, which is dominated by Russian and Ukrainian minorities, seceded with Moscow's support in 1992 but has never been recognised by any other country.

Russia has since maintained soldiers in the region despite a commitment in 1999 to withdraw them.


Source : Sapa-AFP /mm
Date : 23 Mar 2014 21:14

 

[OrbitalDawn]

I would think that defending the sovereignty of a country, especially one primed to join their ranks, would be a good thing, from whichever corner you're in.

Which means what, in reality? Starting a war with Russia?

 

[Lycanthrope]

Which means what, in reality? Starting a war with Russia?

Defending against a war begun by Russia, yes.

Or when will the EU/US retaliate? Only once it hits their shores? Why then should their allies ever defend them in turn?

I'm against attacking other nations but I'm all for defending one's territory and that of one's allies.

*shrug* I don't see this getting settled in an easy way without Ukraine losing Crimea and I don't exactly see that as a solution either.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

Defending against a war begun by Russia, yes.

Or when will the EU/US retaliate? Only once it hits their shores? Why then should their allies ever defend them in turn?

I'm against attacking other nations but I'm all for defending one's territory and that of one's allies.

*shrug* I don't see this getting settled in an easy way without Ukraine losing Crimea and I don't exactly see that as a solution either.

Yeah, it's very difficult. Quite convoluted, too, as Crimea was semi-autonomous before, and not fully part of Ukraine. I'm just wondering how an actual war would help anyone, most of all Ukraine. They'd be at the very centre of any such conflict and it would be disastrous for them.

 

[Hamish McPanji]

Pffft…unless there are western troops on the ground, Russia will continue to take what they genuinely feel is theirs after the collapse of Soviet Union. It is a natural consequence of a strong imperial history. France, Germany, Japan and Turkey all have the same thought processes instilled in its citizenry.

Think about this for a moment.....if there is a 'coup' in the country bordering yours which has a large population of your people, or even a large amount of your citizens wealth and assets, will you sit on your hands or take control of events? Western countries have a history of intervention in scenarios further away from their doorstep than this.

Putin weighed his options, estimated the consequences and went for the prize. His citizens, and Crimean citizens will largely support him and so its a win win for him

 

[Alan]

Too late now. Point is to have thugs like Putin think action like this would result in severe consequences or even war and hence deter them.

They detect weakness and they exploit it.

 

[Unhappy438]

Think about this for a moment.....if there is a 'coup' in the country bordering yours which has a large population of your people, or even a large amount of your citizens wealth and assets, will you sit on your hands or take control of events? Western countries have a history of intervention in scenarios further away from their doorstep than this.

This is more than just intervention though, its annexation.

 

[Garson007]

Why then should their allies ever defend them in turn?

I'm against attacking other nations but I'm all for defending one's territory and that of one's allies.

*shrug* I don't see this getting settled in an easy way without Ukraine losing Crimea and I don't exactly see that as a solution either.

Ukraine's only ally is Russia. The UK also has a history of ****ing over its allies, and they're doing pretty well for themselves.

Why is it not a solution?

 

[Polymathic]

Only way Russians really feel sanctions if brands like Apple and others starting pulling their products from their market

 

[XennoX]

Only way Russians really feel sanctions if brands like Apple and others starting pulling their products from their market

Um that's a curious comment to make. I hardly see that affecting the current political situation at all.

 

[w1z4rd]

Yeah, it's very difficult. Quite convoluted, too, as Crimea was semi-autonomous before, and not fully part of Ukraine. I'm just wondering how an actual war would help anyone, most of all Ukraine. They'd be at the very centre of any such conflict and it would be disastrous for them.

I guess if we allow this, we cant be upset if troops invade Orania and declare it independant.

 

[LazyLion]

RUSSIA SEIZES CONTROL OF ANOTHER UKRAINE BASE IN CRIMEA

Russian troops on Monday seized control of a new Ukrainian military base in Crimea, throwing stun grenades and tying up the hands of Ukrainian marines, the Ukrainian defence ministry said.

The Russian troops stormed the naval base in Feodosia in western Crimea in the early hours of the morning, using armoured personnel carriers and stun grenades, the spokesman of the Ukrainian defence ministry for Crimea, Vladislav Seleznyov, wrote on his Facebook page.

He said that three Russian vehicles were then seen leaving the base carrying Ukrainian marines whose hands had been tied up. Russia last week incorporated Crimea into its territory, in defiance of international anger.


Source : Sapa-AFP /avb
Date : 24 Mar 2014 08:20

 

[w1z4rd]

Lets hope they dont start mass executing Ukrainian soldiers like they executed Polish soldiers in WW2 :/ There are already reports of Ukranian soldiers going missing

 

[BBSA]

Pffft…unless there are western troops on the ground, Russia will continue to take what they genuinely feel is theirs after the collapse of Soviet Union. It is a natural consequence of a strong imperial history. France, Germany, Japan and Turkey all have the same thought processes instilled in its citizenry.

Think about this for a moment.....if there is a 'coup' in the country bordering yours which has a large population of your people, or even a large amount of your citizens wealth and assets, will you sit on your hands or take control of events? Western countries have a history of intervention in scenarios further away from their doorstep than this.

Putin weighed his options, estimated the consequences and went for the prize. His citizens, and Crimean citizens will largely support him and so its a win win for him

It is a short-term win, the west will be hesitant to do business with them and Europe will actively try to find new suppliers for their gas. Long term this is going to cost them.