Ukraine rivals clash as Russia drills troops

Pro and anti-Russian protesters have clashed in the Ukraine region of Crimea, as the Russian president ordered battle-readiness checks on his armed forces stationed near the nations' borders.

Scuffles broke out outside the Crimea regional parliament on Wednesday between thousands of pro-Russia separatists and supporters of Ukraine's new leaders as regional politicians prepared to debate the removal of the pro-Russian Viktor Yanukovich from the presidency.

They came as the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, separately issued previously unannounced battle tests for army, navy and airforce troops based in Russia's western military district, a vast territory bordering Ukraine, Belarus, the Baltic states, Finland and the Arctic.

Ukraine rivals clash as Russia drills troops

Russia's defence ministry was later reported by Reuters to have said it was taking measures to ensure the security of its facilities and arsenals of its Ukraine-based Black Sea naval fleet.

Apparently, no mention was directly made from the Russians about Ukraine, but i think it is pretty obvious why these drills are being ran. Russia has interests in Eastern Ukraine of which it cannot lose. The majority of Eastern Ukraine also supports Russia. Just considering these facts, i think Russia is preparing to go in.

I'm pretty certain that they will go in, but will they go in guns blazing? I doubt it. It seems to me, that some of the people in the Ukraine want this, but the real question is what will the reaction be from the Ukraine? If Russia goes in peacefully, and nothing happens, and support a secession, what could the Ukraine possibly do to stop it? They really can't, can they? They don't have the manpower, or material, to do all that much.

I'm not saying they wouldn't, or couldn't, but it would be horrible, as escalation would probably commence.

It's amazing to me, when you look at maps of the world, and see just how divided we really are, compared to the past. Countries that didn't even exist 50-60 years ago, make up those old countries now. It seems backward, doesn't it? To be further divided? Should we not be looking for unification?

But, I digress.

reply to post by daaskapital


Russia can't just go in. They need a pretext, a proper one in that. Maybe pro Russian protestors must first be subject to police or military action by Ukrainian authorities, only then can Russia intervene.

Secondly Ukrainian army is also not a weak one. Second largest in Europe.

reply to post by daaskapital


Ukraine is it's own country, the Russians have repeatedly said they would not intervene

all2human
reply to post by daaskapital

 

Ukraine is it's own country, the Russians have repeatedly said they would not intervene

That's not exactly true. Though the news keeps saying that, and I'm not sure why.

They said

""We will not allow Europe and the US to take Ukraine from us," a foreign policy official said. The states of the former Soviet Union, we are one family. They think Russia is still as weak as in the early 1990s but we are not."

www.themoscowtimes.com...

They said if Ukraine splits, they WILL go in and fight for Crimea. - they won't be intervening up to that point though.

Russia has in the past been known for making a clear statement once and backing it up.

Secondly Ukrainian army is also not a weak one. Second largest in Europe.

???

Sorry, I don't understand that statement... you mean after the German, and French army?

You might want to have a little look at the link below :

en.wikipedia.org...

Then you have this :

Kindest respects

Rodinus

edit on 26/2/14 by Rodinus because: Vid added