Russia declares war on Ukraine. Live updates from inside Ukraine

reply to post by dragonridr


Yanukovych has an extensive criminal history in Ukraine. He has been under investigation for graft / corruption since 2004. He had his Presidential election overturned when the court found he committed voter fraud to win the election. HIs residence in Ukraine cost 75 million and his salary comes nowhere close to that amount. The stuff coming out now is in top of the other investigations into his conduct. There was another case 1 or 2 years ago that accused Yanukovych of secretly dealing with Russia. I am not sure how far the investigation went, however it was mentioned when another accusation was made about Crimea and Yanukovych meeting with Russian officials when he "fled" / "left for meetings".

Those investigations and the change in the Constitution in 2004 is when Russia started to become concerned about their ability to control Ukraine. Russia specifically noted that the 2004 Constitution made it highly likely Yanukovych would be impeached / removed from office as it changed the manner in which Parliament was elected (by the people) and the streamlined impeachment process (used in 2014 to remove him). Russia stated if the different groups elected to Parliament worked together, then Yanukovych could be impeached.

He recently recanted his position on Russia and Crimea, calling for Crimea to be a part of Ukraine. There is no telling how many more law violations they are going to find on him. From what I have seen its not looking good for him at all.

AHHH, I hate doing this but this is a significant development IMO and I hate key posts being last on the page. (they tend to get lost and not read) I just posted this -


Russia not to incorporate southeastern Ukraine

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that his country has no intention to incorporate the southeastern regions of Ukraine.

The top Russian diplomat made the remarks Friday in an interview with a local news channel, saying such plans contradict Russia's national interests, Xinhua reported.

"We want Ukraine to stay whole, within its current borders with full respect for its regions," the minister said.

Later in the day, Lavrov called on the US to prevent the use of force in southeastern part of Ukraine.

Kerry reassured Lavrov that the US is working to "normalise the situation".

Good news. I just hope Lavrov is telling the truth here because Ukraine should work out it's own issues, and this should not include becoming a part of Russia under forceful Russian influence like Crimea just did.

I really don't know why Lavrov thinks it's up to the U.S. to "prevent the use of force" in the southeastern parts of Ukraine. This is up to Ukraine. Kerry can re-assure Lavrov all he wants, but this is a Ukraine issue. If Ukraine feels threatened by Russia then it's up to Ukraine to act accordingly.

reply to post by Wookiep


I would not give Lavrov's comments all that much weight.. After all they stated numerous times they had no intention of annexing Crimea. Of course they made that comment just before their invasion of Ukraine and their annexation of Crimea.

The simple fact they are even stating they wont incorporate does not remove the possible threat of a Russian invasion. Russia also said they would remove their forces from the Ukraine border, and we are seeing time and again they still have not complied with their stated position.

I think they are playing the word game....
"We didn't annex Crimea, they asked to join the Russian Federation".
"We wouldn't annex Transnistria, they asked to join the Russian Federation".
"We don't have any military forces inside Crimea, they are self defense forces".

I am waiting for Putin to tell Crimea / East / South Ukraine that he promises they can keep their health insurance and doctors by switching over to OPutincare...


As for his comments about the US and use of force in south / East Ukraine. They are setting the stage for hostilities to break out, they will move their forces in and then they will blame the US for failing to take action to prevent ethnic Russians from being targeted by Ukraine.

They will annex the areas and blame the US.

Like they did with Crimea.

reply to post by Xcathdra


You present an interesting angle. I hope this is not the case, we will see. Thanks for your perspective on it.

Ukraine Reporter ‏@StateOfUkraine 6m

Ukrainian Interior troops are heading to the prosecutors office in #Donetsk #Ukraine, a special forces operation operation is now underway

Pretty slow news for a while on this.

princeofpeace
Pretty slow news for a while on this.

That's not necessarily a good thing. It could signal that's something's coming down the pipeline.

It reminds me of the 1st gulf war. The media picked up on it because there were a lot of pizza / food deliveries to key areas of the government.

SajeevJino

Ukraine Reporter ‏@StateOfUkraine 6m

Ukrainian Interior troops are heading to the prosecutors office in #Donetsk #Ukraine, a special forces operation operation is now underway

Ukraine Reporter ‏@StateOfUkraine

1h Looks like #Donetsk operation was a false alarm, although interior troop movement was spotted. Question is, what caused the alarm and why.

Ukraine Reporter ‏@StateOfUkraine 12m

We've just received word that armed pro-#Kremlin forces have seized a police station in #Sloviansk in the #Donestk region of east #Ukraine

Ukraine Reporter ‏@StateOfUkraine 6m

#Ukraine's interior minister has confirmed that armed pro-#Kremlin men have seized a police station in #Sloviansk www.facebook.com... …

Ukraine Reporter ‏@StateOfUkraine 3m

#Ukraine's interior minister is making clear that the govt will differentiate between unarmed protestors and armed pro-#Kremlin provocateurs

Another chink in Russia's armor -


The link below is a pdf link
NATO statement refuting Russian accusations


Comment the Department of Russian Foreign Ministry's information and press in connection with the elections to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine 2052-30-10-2012 - rough translation

28 October in Ukraine elections of people's deputies of the Verkhovna Rada of the seventh convocation. They went in a calm atmosphere without any excesses and conform to generally accepted standards. Almost three months leading up to the election campaign, accompanied by a sharp struggle between the old rivals was generally honest and open. In the voting process, no significant violations that could affect its results. This is confirmed by numerous national and international observers, including the Russian representatives.

Although the results are still preliminary, their main result is obvious-the Ukraine once again reaffirmed their commitment to a democratic, constitutional State.

In Russia have followed with interest the progress of the elections and sincerely hope that the meeting will promote close cooperation between Ukraine and Russia will receive an extra boost.


October 30, 2012 year

The statement above was released after the Ukrainian elections in 2012. All members who were elected during that time are currently serving their term as we speak.

Ukraine Reporter ‏@StateOfUkraine 5m


There are reports of casualties in #Sloviansk. We're expecting an armed response from the #Ukrainian govt there.

princeofpeace
Pretty slow news for a while on this.

Not enuf death?

dragonridr
reply to post by cosmonova

 

Yeah i know RT doesnt tell you all the facts but yes Ukraine is making deals to get gas from Europe at a cheaper price. Sad you have the internet but dont use it or do they not let you do searches? By the way Russia is charging them $485 not $385 currently germany pays $380.The only thing Putin is about to do is show europe how unreliable Russian gas is making them go elsewhere. Contrary to what you believe there is other options Europe has oil companies that makes Gazprom look like a mom and pop operation.

Ukraine is about to get reverse gas from Europe at $380-400 per 1 thousand cubic meters. It also plans to start diversification of energy supply. Y.Prodan, an acting Minister of Energy and Coal Industry of the country asserted, following the results of the negotiations with the EU Commissioner for Energy Günther Oettinger.

www.rusmininfo.com...

cosmonova

dragonridr
reply to post by cosmonova

 

Yeah i know RT doesnt tell you all the facts but yes Ukraine is making deals to get gas from Europe at a cheaper price. Sad you have the internet but dont use it or do they not let you do searches? By the way Russia is charging them $485 not $385 currently germany pays $380.The only thing Putin is about to do is show europe how unreliable Russian gas is making them go elsewhere. Contrary to what you believe there is other options Europe has oil companies that makes Gazprom look like a mom and pop operation.

Ukraine is about to get reverse gas from Europe at $380-400 per 1 thousand cubic meters. It also plans to start diversification of energy supply. Y.Prodan, an acting Minister of Energy and Coal Industry of the country asserted, following the results of the negotiations with the EU Commissioner for Energy Günther Oettinger.

www.rusmininfo.com...

Oh the irony. Once again from you. I believe you are the one not using the internet to do your research.
'Europe has oil companies that make Gazprom look like mom and pop operation'. Lol.
Well sir you might check this list from Forbes for a start, the world's biggest oil companies in 2013.
Number 2 on this list is Gasprom and number 5 is Rosneft. Quite big companies for mom and pop operation
www.forbes.com...

cosmonova

cosmonova

dragonridr
reply to post by cosmonova

 

Yeah i know RT doesnt tell you all the facts but yes Ukraine is making deals to get gas from Europe at a cheaper price. Sad you have the internet but dont use it or do they not let you do searches? By the way Russia is charging them $485 not $385 currently germany pays $380.The only thing Putin is about to do is show europe how unreliable Russian gas is making them go elsewhere. Contrary to what you believe there is other options Europe has oil companies that makes Gazprom look like a mom and pop operation.

Ukraine is about to get reverse gas from Europe at $380-400 per 1 thousand cubic meters. It also plans to start diversification of energy supply. Y.Prodan, an acting Minister of Energy and Coal Industry of the country asserted, following the results of the negotiations with the EU Commissioner for Energy Günther Oettinger.

www.rusmininfo.com...

edit on 12-4-2014 by cosmonova because: (no reason given)

RealBreakingNews ‏@real_breaking 1m

In Slovyansk, #Donetsk region, armed men seized police station. Interior Minister #Avakov says "reaction will be harsh" via @myroslavapetsa

Euromaidan PR ‏@EuromaidanPR 2m

Special police forces were sent to liberate seized police station in Slaviansk, #Donetsk region. Interior Minister #Avakov via FB |PR News

cosmonova

dragonridr
reply to post by cosmonova

 

Yeah i know RT doesnt tell you all the facts but yes Ukraine is making deals to get gas from Europe at a cheaper price. Sad you have the internet but dont use it or do they not let you do searches? By the way Russia is charging them $485 not $385 currently germany pays $380.The only thing Putin is about to do is show europe how unreliable Russian gas is making them go elsewhere. Contrary to what you believe there is other options Europe has oil companies that makes Gazprom look like a mom and pop operation.

Ukraine is about to get reverse gas from Europe at $380-400 per 1 thousand cubic meters. It also plans to start diversification of energy supply. Y.Prodan, an acting Minister of Energy and Coal Industry of the country asserted, following the results of the negotiations with the EU Commissioner for Energy Günther Oettinger.

www.rusmininfo.com...

new installment from Vice News.
Pay attention at 1.25
www.youtube.com...

well looks like there is no even remote chance of taking over buildings by force in Donetsk and Lugansk.
Here we can see Berkut siding up with people and ignoring orders from Kiev.
www.youtube.com...

Or this Colonel who rejected to serve those in Kiev
www.youtube.com...

Meantime Ukrainian economy is diving deep towards complete disaster. There is no money, currency is losing its value on daily basis. Those in Kiev are not getting any money from EU or US as yet and even when it comes it is already spent.
Very soon they will knock on the Kremlin's door asking for money. I think Russia is going to get even more than it was dreaming about.
Makes you wonder was this just a big game planned in advance between Kiev and Moscow? Is there a chance that current Kiev government is actually working for Moscow?

UN hints that Russia falsified the results of a vote on secession of Crimea

Rough translation -

"Supporters of secession of Crimea want to leave nothing to chance: they flooded the broadcast propaganda scare stories and forcibly suppressed virtually all dissent," says the blog The Cable magazine Foreign Policy journalist Colum Lynch, referring to a preliminary version of a confidential UN report. 15 April, the final text will be submitted to the UN Security Council, and later published. The report's author-Ivan Šimonović, Assistant UN Secretary General for human rights in March twice visited Ukraine, visited Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkov, Sevastopol and Simferopol.

"Bloggers, activists and other critics of the Department have been intimidated, they were detained and tortured, says the reporter, referring to the report. -In the meantime, the delegation of human rights inspectors "received many reports of fraud during the voting."

Journalist quotes: "the delegation met with sources who claimed that there had been cases of alleged participation in the referendum of non-Ukrainian nationality, and cases where individuals have voted in different locations several times.

Before the referendum in Ukraine became a propaganda war. Russian TV channels put the fear of Ukrainian nationalists and Ukrainian nationalists threatened violence not be patriotic, in their opinion, the Ukrainian television channels. "People both in Russia and in the Ukraine, especially in Crimea, are victims of propaganda and disinformation," it said in the report.

"The report clearly refutes all justify actions of Russia in the Crimea and outside it," said an unnamed Western diplomat.

This is the info coming out from the UN visit. The official report comes out April 15th. If the claims in the article above are true I don't see how Russia can possibility come out of this intact.

In other news / older news -
* - 5 more nations placed sanctions on Russia.
* - Crimean constitution does not concern indigenous peoples: Chubarov
* - IRI Public Opinion Survey in Ukraine: March 2014