War in Ukraine

  Oh my word!  Don't like the sound of that......

According to this Russian news agency, it's over the proceeds of cigarette smuggling:

http://sputniknews.com/europe/20150712/1024523945.html

Ukraine has reportedly begun moving military vehicles into a western Ukrainian town where a deadly standoff took place between nationalists and local police over cigarette smuggling.
A column of armored vehicles is reportedly moving in on the western Ukrainian town of Mukachevo, where a standoff between police and the Right Sector nationalist movement over cigarette smuggling led to multiple deaths.

The violence is unusual for the western part of Ukraine, although in the Donbass and nearby regions, Ukrainian volunteer battalions and the military were previously found to be complicit in smuggling operations. A monitoring mission from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) also arrived on the scene on Sunday.

A Right Sector representative told Ukrainian television that an armored column was indeed moving to the town. According to the representative, the fighters attempted to block it at a checkpoint, but stood down and let it through at the order of the group's leader, Dmytro Yarosh. The group has vowed to keep fighting.
"There was no order to hand over weapons and surrender from leader Yarosh. As long as there is no such order, they will not surrender" the head of the regional Right Sector cell Artyom Skoropadskyi said.
Armed activists of the nationalist militia Right Sector take position in the site of unrest in Mukachevo, Western Ukraine, Saturday, July 11, 2015
Right Sector Leader Calls for Protests Until Interior Minister Resigns
The group also began picketing Ukrainian police headquarters around the country, calling for the removal of internal minister Arsen Avakov.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has not issued any statements on the incident.


Read more: http://sputniknews.com/europe/20150712/1024523945.html#ixzz3fhTBAXI4

Who knows? It's Ukraine, which I saw described recently as, A banana republic with no bananas. There is a nice piccy of an armoured column:

Over cigarettes?  Oh my......

lily wrote:Over cigarettes?  Oh my......

In certain parts of the old Soviet Union, cigarettes are the equivalent of pot, very sellable on the black market. LL

Thank you for explaining that, LL.

Meanwhile, in that other triumph for the EU and democracy:

http://rt.com/news/273253-ukraine-nationalist-battalions-threat/

Show of power: Right Sector nationalists ready to send ‘19 battalions’ to Kiev
Published time: July 13, 2015 01:12 Get short URL



Members of the far-right radical group Right Sector. (Reuters / Valentyn Ogirenko)

Right Sector has threatened to deploy all of their armed and trained battalions – “if necessary” – to convince the Kiev government to bow to their demands, as an armed standoff between authorities and nationalists continues in western Ukraine.

LIVE UPDATES: Ukraine’s ultranationalist Right Sector in standoff with authorities

“In the conflict zone [Donbass region] we have two battalions, but we have 18 or 19 reserve battalions spread across Ukraine,” Right Sector spokesman, Artem Skoropadsky told a press conference in Kiev.

“They are training, they are getting prepared to be sent to the front,” the spokesman said. “But if we need to, we can deploy the reserve battalions anywhere we want.”

“We can send all reserve battalions to the President’s administration and to the Ministry of Internal Affairs,” Skoropadsky threatened, adding that all units are ready to act if the Ukrainian authorities decide to seek armed confrontation with the radical nationalists.

Meanwhile Right Sector fighters, who were taking part in the so-called “anti-terrorist operation” left their positions in the country’s eastern Donetsk Region, and returned to their “bases,” another Right Sector spokesman Andrey Sharaskin told Ukraine’s 112 channel. As for the “reserve battalions,” Sharaskin claimed that “over 10,000 activists have been mobilized all across Ukraine” due to tensions with the authorities.

More at link, plus videos.

The last line of that RT report refers to:

As countrywide nationalist rallies intensify across Ukraine, President Poroshenko is set to gather a War Cabinet on Monday, and the “events in Mukachevo will be the main topic.”

The 'events in Mukachevo', from a Russian blog-

http://fortruss.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/bloodbath-in-mukachevo.html

Bloodbath in Mukachevo



July 12, 2015

Bloodbath in Mukachevo

Translated from Russian by J.Hawk

The border town of Mukachevo experienced a firefight between Right Sector militants and police. The militants were surrounded, and the police called on SWAT reinforcements and the National Guard. They entered into negotiations in order to have the Right Sector lay down its weapons. In response, the Right Sector alerted all of its forces in Ukraine.

The firefight in Mukachevo, in the country's westernmost point within 30km of Hungary started on Saturday around 2pm. 20 camouflaged Right Sector militants drove into the town in cars bearing Right Sector decals. According to the Transcarpathian Region Prosecutor General Office, they scheduled a meeting with local inhabitants in a local cafe where the firing started. Rada deputy Mustafa Nayyem wrote on facebook that the meeting was to occur in the Drakon restaurant, but was eventually moved to the adjacent Antares sports complex.

"Both of these establishments are owned by Rada deputy Mikhail Lanyo," reported Nayyem, who arrived in Mukachevo in the evening in order to establish what had happened.

"They walked up tot he door and asked the security person to summon Mikhail Lanya. After an exchange of words, the security person was shot in the head. He is now in a coma in an critical are unit. The 911 dispatcher received a call at 1:20pm that camouflaged individuals have closed off the Lermontov Street. Vitaliy Shimanyak, the city police chief, arrived at the scene. He was issued an ultimatum to disarm. When he refused, firing broke out--Right Sector fired in the air and detonated a smoke grenade. SUVs rammed a police vehicle and a chase ensued," Nayyem writes.

The vehicles reached the town's outskirts where the police organized an ambush at a gas station, blocking the street with own vehicles. But their adversary shot up the cars from Kalashnikovs firing from the Right Sector vehicles. Local inhabitants said they could hear rifle shots and grenade explosions. A gas station on city's outskirts caught fire.

"We know there's one critically injured individual with a head wound. Five SWAT police and one driver suffered wounds. A grenade launcher was also used, according to paramedics," reports Mukachevo.net. Poroshenko soon issued a statement ordering the MVD to arrest perpetrators.

More at link.

This can't be good:

http://www.rt.com/news/310396-ukraine-right-sector-revolution/

Thousands of Ukraine ultranationalists gather on Maidan, announce ‘new revolution’
Published time: 21 Jul, 2015 18:18
Edited time: 21 Jul, 2015 18:41



Kiev, Ukraine, July 21, 2015 © Gleb Garanich / Reuters


Up to 6,000 supporters of Ukraine’s ultranationalist Right Sector movement gathered in central Kiev on Tuesday, calling on authorities to resign. The rally marks a “new stage of Ukrainian revolution,” the extremists' leader Dmitry Yarosh announced.
The radicals marched through the center of the Ukrainian capital on Tuesday evening, gathering on Maidan (Independence Square). The rally largely consisted of people wearing camouflage clothes, waving the red and black flags of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). They were chanting “death to enemies,” TASS reported.

Speaking on Maidan, Right Sector (Pravy Sektor) leader Dmitry Yarosh said that the group is “showing that we are a disciplined revolutionary force,” opening a “new stage of Ukrainian revolution” with the Tuesday rally.

Ahead of the rally, Yarosh has said that the gathering would be “peaceful” in nature.

The ultranationalist group announced its plans to initiate a referendum on a vote of no-confidence in the Ukrainian authorities. At the rally, protesters demanded the resignation of Ukraine's Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, TASS reported.

Field offices will be organized in all regions of Ukraine to work on the referendum starting from Wednesday, Yarosh announced at the rally, saying that those Right Sector centers will also act as “revolutionary committees.” Imposing martial law on the territory of Ukraine should also be put on the vote, he said.

DETAILS TO FOLLOW


Ultra Right wingers setting up 'revolutionary committees' never ends well.....

Major sigh..........

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-08-02/monsters-ukraine-made-usa


Monsters Of Ukraine: Made In The USA

That's a good piece.

http://sputniknews.com/europe/20150802/1025326278.html#ixzz3hgG74agd

Ukraine in 'Talks' to Buy Coal From Lugansk People's Republic © Sputnik/ Alexey Kudenko
EUROPE
18:09 02.08.2015(updated 18:10 02.08.2015) Get short URL
151854170
The prime minister of the self-proclaimed Lugansk People's Republic told journalists that Ukraine is holding talks to buy coal from it.

Ukraine is holding talks with the self-proclaimed Lugansk People's Republic to buy coal, the republic's prime minister Gennadiy Tsypkalov told journalists on Sunday.

The country faces a heating crisis as it lacks the amount of coal needed to last the winter, according to Ukraine's prime minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk. The country's energy minister Volodymyr Demchyshyn told Ukrainian television on Saturday that Ukraine would buy coal from "problematic directions."


"The thing is that they are today holding talks for purchases. This actually exists. But for now Ukraine is not ready to recognize us as a business partner. We are ready and holding talks on this subject," Tsypkalov said.

Tsypkalov did not make clear the nature of the talks.
Shipments from coal-rich Donbass largely ceased as a result of Ukraine's military conflict with independence-seeking local militias. The head of Ukraine's national electric utility Ukrenergo said on Friday that it may begin electricity shut-offs as long as 2.5 hours at a time if the country is unable to maintain adequate coal reserves.

Ukraine refused to continue buying natural gas from Russia in July, instead opting to buy "reverse" flow natural gas from neighboring EU countries at a smaller volume.


It's a Russian source, but I have NO doubt that the Ukrainian government is amply incompetent enough for it to be true.

And while Porky attempts to buy coal from the people in the east he's barely stopped bombing, the rest of Ukraine is reported to be being divided up by assorted neo-nazi warlords, all armed to the teeth with US/NATO weaponry.

Still, at least Ukraine gives Haiti an even more failed state to look down on.

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-08-28/putin-get-3-billion-us-taxpayers-after-ukraine-bond-debacle

Quote from a longer piece:


The $3bn Russian bond is included in debt restructuring, but Russia will not participate in debt restructuring and will either be paid $3bn from reserves in December or there will be a political decision to agree on an extension, likely without haircuts. We believe the $3bn bond is likely to be classified as sovereign debt and the IMF would likely be forced to pay it (as a holdout) in order to continue the program in December.
Got that? The IMF (so, the US with the tacit support of the taxpayer) is going to pay Vladimir Putin his $3 billion which he loaned to Viktor Yanukovych who the US effectively helped to overthrow.

And if that isn’t hilarious enough for you, consider that the rationale behind paying Putin 100 cents on the dollar is that the IMF needs to be able to justify the continual flow of IMF bailout funds to Kiev, some of which must be used to pay Gazprom which immediately remits the funds to Putin’s personal money vault.

So in a nutshell, the US is going to pay Putin in order to ensure that it can continue to pay Putin.

=================

I am sure US taxpayers will be vastly amused. Not.

Incidentally, a bizarre story appeared on assorted sites about the Kremlin supposedly admitting Russian soldiers had died in Ukraine. I smelled rats, and traced the story back to a Ukrainian site, at which point I smelled even more rats.

Correctly, as it turned out.

http://www.rt.com/news/313653-russia-ukraine-soldiers-fake-forbes/

Who slipped? How fake report on ‘Russian soldier deaths’ in Ukraine set MSM on fire

All those 'respected' journos that jumped on the story without even bothering to do what I did - click on links and find out it was coming from Kiev - now have egg on their faces. Yet again.

Ninety injured after grenade explodes outside Ukraine parliament leaving 'pools of blood' as riot police clash with protesters
Grenade was reportedly launched from a crowd of demonstrators in Kiev
Police officers and members of the Ukrainian national guard left injured
Tear gas used in clash over plans to give special status to separatist areas
By JULIAN ROBINSON FOR MAILONLINE and REUTERS
PUBLISHED: 12:18, 31 August 2015 | UPDATED: 14:04, 31 August 2015

15
shares
1
View comments
Dozens of Ukrainian law enforcement officials have been injured after a grenade was thrown from a crowd of protesters in Kiev this morning.
The blast, outside the city's parliament buildings, knocked officers off their feet and witnesses reported seeing pools of blood on the ground near some of the wounded.
About 90 police and members of the Ukrainian national guard have been injured - four severely - in clashes over a draft law to give special status to separatist regions.



Dozens of Ukrainian law enforcement officials have been injured after a grenade was thrown from a crowd of protesters in Kiev this morning

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3216944/Two-police-wounded-grenade-outside-Ukraine-parliament-Reuters-witness.html#ixzz3kPY5T2uD
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

   Oh no!

Unfortunately, one of the national guard has now died:

http://news.sky.com/story/1544451/ukranian-national-guardsman-dies-in-clashes

A Ukrainian national guardsman has died after being shot during a protest outside parliament, the Interior Ministry says.

Clashes broke out between security services and nationalist protesters outside the building Kiev following a controversial vote to grant increased powers to separatist regions in the east.

Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser for Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, wrote on Facebook: "A soldier from the National Guard has died of a gunshot wound in the heart.

"Apart from using grenades, the provocateurs were using firearms, fired secretly," he said, referring to reports a number of grenades had been thrown from a crowd during the unrest.

The ministry also said that around 100 police officers have been injured, 10 of them seriously.

Some of the officers were injured in the explosion of an object thrown from the crowd of demonstrators.

It is not clear what was thrown, but photographs and video showed it emitting a trail of smoke.

None of the approximately 100 protesters are reported to have been hurt.

Most of them are members of Svoboda, a nationalist party that has a handful of seats in parliament....more at link.

Nothing is ever clear-cut in Ukraine, but the rioters appear to the neo-Nazis.

Oh dear..... It was nice of Uncle George and his puppets to help out......

A lot of photos and videos here:

http://www.rt.com/news/313880-ukraine-radicals-protest-parliament/

Very, very nasty indeed. And every single broken bone, every single death, every single destroyed life, has been completely unnecessary.

That is so tragic.  

Don't some of those elitists believe that the world is over-populated?

Yes, they do indeed, Lily.

So the evil *******s might think they are doing something positive?  

http://www.rt.com/news/316266-masked-men-storm-kharkov/

Around 200 masked men storm Kharkov city hall in Eastern Ukraine (PHOTOS, VIDEO)
Published time: 23 Sep, 2015 09:17
Edited time: 23 Sep, 2015 10:27



At least 200 people wearing camouflage and masks stormed the local administration building in the city of Kharkov, eastern Ukraine, local media said. The perpetrators are alleged to be members of the radical Azov battalion.
Trends
Ukraine turmoil
The masked men reportedly clashed with police and security forces at the city’s administration building. Those who have entered the building have also reportedly used tear gas, the Ukrainian 112 channel is saying.

The masked activists were seen holding flags with the insignia of the radical Azov Battalion, which is accused of committing numerous human rights violations in Eastern Ukraine, according to international watchdogs.

“There have been several small clashes between police and people in balaclavas. A few minutes ago somebody let off tear gas. The entrance to the city council is surrounded by a tight police cordon,” a journalist at the scene, from the 112 channel reported.

....More on Our Gallant Allies in the Azov Battalion, plus photos, at link.

http://fortruss.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/poroshenko-blockade-of-crimea-will.html


Poroshenko: Blockade of Crimea Will Bring It Back To Ukraine


Petro Poroshenko commented on the actions of the activists who blocked the roads near the Ukrainian border crossings and are not letting the trucks into Crimea. He believes that the blockade will change the attitude of the inhabitants of the peninsula towards Ukraine and they will come back "under the wing" of Kiev.

"The blockade is the action of the activists of the Crimean Tatar people, and public services - Ukrainian border guards and Interior Ministry - were ordered to ensure law and order and the absence of provocations during the protest", - he said at a joint briefing with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the Yavorovsky polygon in the Lvov region.

According to the Ukrainian leader, the purpose of this action is what he said in an interview with Ukrainian TV channels on Sunday, September 20: Ukraine will do everything for the quick resumption of state sovereignty over Crimea.

At the same time, Poroshenko stressed that the action at the administrative border with Crimea and the intention of activists to block the border with the unrecognized Transnistrian Moldovan Republic are two different actions, as in the case of Crimea "it is the territory of Ukraine, which was captured by soldiers of the Russian Federation in 2014."

Two days ago Crimean Tatars blocked the delivery of food to Crimea, they are holding an open-ended campaign on food blockade of the peninsula. The intent to block the border with Crimea was earlier declared by the [Tatar] deputies of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Refat Chubarov and Mustafa Dzhemilev.

Later other activists of Ukrainian organizations, including prohibited in Russia "Right Sector" joined in.

In Crimea the action was called meaningless. On the peninsula they are convinced the action on the other side of the border will have no effect on the supply of goods to Crimea.

"Crimea will not notice (the consequences of the blockade), and the action reminds me of the script of the cartoon "The Italian job" - where Mario was going to rob a bank, and warned everyone a week before. The purpose of the action to blockade Crimea, is probably exactly the same - to convey to their sponsors that at least something is being done to create a destructive situation at the border with the Republic of Crimea", - the head of the Republic Sergey Aksenov told reporters.

According to Aksenov, he has not seen a more meaningless and stupid action. "In my opinion, the purpose of this action is to distract from their idleness the nationalists who will rest in tents on the border with the Crimea, have some vodka in the evening and so on", - he noted and said that he intends to follow the show on TV screens.

According to him, the Crimeans were prepared for the food blockade - all retail stores have long established contracts with agricultural producers of Crimea and other regions of Russia. "The situation in Crimea is under control, food reserves have been created, the Kerch ferry runs like clockwork. There are no issues. We have been preparing for a while. Today at the markets we have Kursk and Tula potatoes. The process of import substitution was completed", - said Aksenov.

The Kiev authorities, in turn, do not impede the blockade of the peninsula.

Porky is a delusional fool if he thinks this is going to endear him to Crimeans.

Crimea is NOT 'Ukrainian', not least because Ukraine itself is a modern construct, no more than lines badly drawn on a map.

Maybe they shouldn't have ignored the wishes of the people of Crimea when the USSR fell, and they voted overwhelmingly to be Russian, and not lumped in with Ukraine?

PS - Porky seems to have forgotten that Crimeans can see what his US-backed troops, including neo-Nazis, have done to their cousins in Donbass.

Why would anyone want to have anything to do with a failed, disintegrating state where nazis rule the roost?

Another US fail then?

Yes, Lily, brought to you by the same geniuses who created the 'nice rebels' in Syria. EVERYTHING Obama has touched has turned into a total clusterf*ck.

Now, I know some people think the chaos is deliberate, part of some complicated plan, but as it's all unravelled, I've personally discarded that. It's just a clusterf*ck - which tragically, has caused nothing but bloodshed and ruin.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanlon%27s_razor

Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.