The Ukraine is Strong!

[Gnam]

Well, it's just a trade war instead of an invasion, and it's a few months before the Olympics instead of during, but Russia still delivers. :p


Ukraine police smash pro-Europe protest, opposition to call strike

Ukraine's political opposition said on Saturday it would call a general strike to force the resignation of President Viktor Yanukovich's government after police used batons and stun grenades to break up pro-Europe protests.

Some 10,000 protesters regrouped in Kiev, flooding a square outside a church. They waved the blue and gold EU flag and chanted 'Revolution' and 'Down with the gang'.

Tension had been building since Friday, when Yanukovich declined to sign a landmark pact with EU leaders at a summit in Lithuania, going back on a pledge to work towards integrating his ex-Soviet republic into the European mainstream.

Yanukovich in Vilnius, justifying the decision to revert to Russia, Ukraine's former Soviet master, for economic aid, said the economic cost of meeting EU standards was too high.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/30/us-ukraine-protest-idUSBRE9AT01Q20131130


Also, there was an interesting story about the small "Customs Union" Russia is forming with two former Soviet states. It sounds harmless, but still feels creepy.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/29/business/international/russian-backed-free-trade-zone-may-expand-its-borders.html?_r=0

"If we don't learn from History channel, we are doomed repeat History channel."

[TravelGal]

On a travel note, much of Ukraine is absolutely beautiful. If they join the EU, the hotel, guide, rental car, prices will skyrocket to match the standards set by the EU. This happened overnight in Portugal years ago. Hotels that were $50 a night were suddenly $175. So it's not all downside if tourism is an important component in your economy.

[cameraman]

On a travel note, much of Ukraine is absolutely beautiful.

And only moderately radioactive after 27 years...

[Gnam]

Ukraine protests continue.


Protesters in Kiev Topple Lenin Statue

Public protests thundered into a full-throttle civil uprising in Ukraine on Sunday, as hundreds of thousands of protesters answered President Viktor F. Yanukovich’s dismissiveness with their biggest rally so far, demanding that he and his government resign.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/09/world/europe/kiev-teems-with-pro-europe-protesters-as-thousands-more-gather.html?_r=0

http://s30.postimg.org/tsbl12vox/ukraine_protest_19_630x416.jpg

[Ankf00]

"If we don't learn from History channel, we are doomed repeat History channel."

Sharknado?

[Gnam]

Sharknado?
Ney ney. Workaholics.

http://s29.postimg.org/n6bzfolwn/FKQw942806.jpg

[Gnam]

Game on.


President negotiates during fragile truce

Violent protests in Ukraine have spread beyond the capital, Kiev, ahead of a crisis meeting between President Viktor Yanukovych and three key opposition leaders.

The governor of Lviv, in the west, was forced to sign his resignation as protesters stormed his offices.

Other reports spoke of protests in at least five more western cities.

Two people died in clashes in Kiev on Wednesday, the first deaths in two months of protests over EU links.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25868765
I wonder if the eventual crackdown will happen after the Olympics?

[chop456]

If Klitschko meets with the current president and says "I will break you.", my life will be complete.

[Gnam]

truce over. rabble on!


Ukraine Clashes Resume, Fires Light up Night Sky

As riots spread from Ukraine's embattled capital to nearly half of the country, President Viktor Yanukovych promised Friday to reshuffle his government and make other concessions — but a top opposition leader said nothing short of his resignation would do.

Hours after the president's comments, huge fireballs lit up the night sky in central Kiev and plumes of thick black smoke rose from burning tires at giant barricades erected by protesters.

Angry demonstrators hurled firebombs, rocks and fireworks at officers. Riot police responded with tear gas and several dozen protesters were rushed to a makeshift medical triage area to be treated.

"Molotov cocktails are louder than any empty words from politicians," said Denis Nakhmanovich, a 33-year-old protester.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/ukrainian-protesters-occupy-government-buildings-21648276

[Gnam]

Ukraine's Prime Minister and cabinet resigns, President Viktor Yanukovych still President

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and his government Tuesday, amid a political crisis fired by violent protests on the country's streets.

But activists on the street have said that while the concessions are a step in the right direction, their fundamental grievances have yet to be addressed.

They want to see wide-ranging constitutional reform and a shake-up of the Ukrainian political system.

Putin has denied that Moscow is exerting undue influence in Ukraine. "Russia has always respected, is respecting and will respect the sovereign rights of all the international entities including new states that emerged after breakdown of the Soviet Union."

http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/28/world/europe/ukraine-protests/
I'm sure Russia will stay neutral, right up until the moment Russian tanks roll across Ukraine's eastern border.

It would be interesting to know if the Russians are installing or repairing railroad tracks anywhere near Ukraine.

[cameraman]

I was driving around town on Sunday and there was a street demonstration (~25 people) in front of a coffee house in support of the Ukrainian protests. Lots of flag waving and "Honk of the Ukraine":rolleyes: signs. Who knew there were 25 Ukrainians in town with nothing better to do on a Sunday afternoon.

[Ankf00]

I was driving around town on Sunday and there was a street demonstration (~25 people) in front of a coffee house in support of the Ukrainian protests. Lots of flag waving and "Honk of the Ukraine":rolleyes: signs. Who knew there were 25 Ukrainians in town with nothing better to do on a Sunday afternoon.

my favorite was a train of Boulder mom's w/ baby strollers forming a ring around the block for Darfur, impeding my post-soccer bar access

[Gnam]

Ukraine update:

Russia cuts off aid, Ukraine default possible.
Protesters fight each other in Agriculture Ministry building.
Parliament takes a pause before voting on changes to Constitution weakening President.


Also, more spooky uses of GPS by a government.

Protesters for weeks had suspected that the government was using location data from cellphones near the demonstration to pinpoint people for political profiling, and they received alarming confirmation when a court formally ordered a telephone company to hand over such data.

Earlier this month, protesters at a clash with riot police officers received text messages on their phones saying they had been “registered as a participant in a mass disturbance.”


http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/30/world/europe/ukraine-protests.html?_r=0

edit: Know your Ukrainian linguistic geography

http://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-protests-spread-2014-1
http://s10.postimg.org/64sfy88ah/be7a3cqcuaa4cpm.jpg

[Gnam]

Russia blockades Ukrainian goods

On orders from Moscow, customs agents forced the Ukrainian trucks to stop, unload their cargo and wait in the freezing cold while the cargo was inspected piece by piece. “Most of them are still standing there, running their engines to stay warm,” says Yuri Kuchinsky, vice president of the national truckers’ association of Ukraine, nearly three days after the blockade began. “This is not the way brotherly nations behave.”


http://world.time.com/2014/02/01/how-russia-is-fighting-to-regain-control-of-ukraine/
Article has some good background on the protests.

[Gnam]

Kiev at ground level as seen by photo journalist Ilya Varlamov.

Fires on Jan 22th: http://zyalt.livejournal.com/984735.html

Truce on Jan 24th: http://zyalt.livejournal.com/985632.html

Tour on Jan 28th: http://zyalt.livejournal.com/986689.html

I like how snow is their main building material. Very inventive, but I worry they're going to get plowed under.

http://s29.postimg.org/45io45dvb/image.jpg

http://s28.postimg.org/4qx2mnfcd/image.jpg

[Gnam]

Ukrainian APC rolls out to crash barricades, met with fire. :eek:

I think the same vehicle is shown rolling away at the end of the video.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85WBb9xA9AI

[Tifosi24]

I am following the BBC's live "play-by-play" of the action today. It is an epic crackdown right now with the authorities mowing down protestors. One BBC reporter took a photo of 13 dead protestors in the lobby of his hotel. Their are also rumors of military activity at a local airport. As former Gophers head coach Tim Brewster would say, It's getting real real right now.

[stroker]

Taking dozens of police as hostages is about as close to all-out insurrection as you can get.

[TravelGal]

Article has some good background on the protests.

I've just had time to read this. Thanks for posting. I haven't seen a lot about whether the protestors have a strategy and a leader. Anyone know? Or is it just mass protests to take control of their country and then what? Ukraine Airlift anyone?

Reading the history, it reminds me of Turkey. There is a turning point after which the government can no longer control what's happening. Turkey managed to survive the "rip out the park for modern buildings" blunder but it's getting pretty testy over there as the government veers more and more away from the path the folks with the money want to follow.

[Gnam]

I haven't seen a lot about whether the protestors have a strategy and a leader. Anyone know? Or is it just mass protests to take control of their country and then what? Ukraine Airlift anyone?
I'm not sure how they organized themselves.

From what I've read there are politicians around the periphery trying to negotiate changes to the Constitution to reduce President Yanukovych's power. There is also a stage in the middle of the protest where political leaders give speeches, but I have not heard of a central organizing authority directing the protests.

[Gnam]

Before today's violence...


Chief Military Commander Fired

As fires continued to burn Wednesday on the Maidan, or Independence Square, forming a buffer of flame and thick greasy smoke between protesters and police, the state security service announced that it was launching an “anti-terrorist operation.” A little while later, the Defense Ministry said it might join in.

It appeared as though a serious escalation was in the works. But then Yanukovych fired his chief military commander Wednesday evening.

Col. Gen. Volodymyr Zamana was quoted a month ago as saying that the armed forces should never be used against Ukrainian civilians, and this may have been the reason for his ouster.

The Ukrainian army is not as well-funded or powerful a force as the Interior Ministry. Nonetheless, it wields heavy weaponry that the opposition fears may come into play.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/kiev-explodes-into-chaos-at-least-25-reported-dead-in-ukraine-protests/2014/02/19/aacecc60-9967-11e3-b88d-f36c07223d88_story.html

Tanks in 3...2...1...

[cameraman]

Just sounds more and more like a complete train wreck with a totally disorganized & fractious resistance and a government leadership not too much better than Syria. I don't foresee good things happening.

[G.]

If they actually get a leader, the government is in trouble.

Some of the pics coming out of there show some wickedly determined protesters.

World's most badass priest.

616


(There are a bunch of priests out on the battle lines.)
for example, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/24/kiev-protests-priests_n_4660431.html

Edit: The shield looks like it was taken from a cop.

http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1581958/thumbs/o-KIEV-PRIESTS-900.jpg

[Gnam]

Just for fun I read this article on the Russian Times website.

http://rt.com/news/ukraine-kiev-death-toll-955/

They stick mostly to the facts, but the article places the blame for the violence on the protesters. What happened to "Long live the Revolution!" comrades?

Also, I can't tell if some of the quotes are being attributed to someone, or if they're being sarcastic. :\

[G.]

Just for fun I read this article on the Russian Times website.

http://rt.com/news/ukraine-kiev-death-toll-955/

They stick mostly to the facts, but the article places the blame for the violence on the protesters. What happened to "Long live the Revolution!" comrades?

Also, I can't tell if some of the quotes are being attributed to someone, or if they're being sarcastic. :\

Following the youtube rabbit hole, RT Ruptly has a few vids that show amazing restraint by the police. Cherry-picking?

example

qtqQeJ315nw

[Tifosi24]

The BBC description that it looked like a Medieval melee at times are spot on after that last video that was posted.

[TravelGal]

The finally gave the bum the bum's rush. :thumbup: After the exhilaration, the question of whether they can withstand Putin is hangs heavy in the air.

[Gnam]

word.

It's hard to celebrate what is a great accomplishment in the shadow of the coming conflict.

[Gnam]

Here we go.


Eastern Ukraine rises against Kiev

Leaders of mainly Russian-speaking regions of eastern Ukraine that are loyal to President Viktor Yanukovich challenged the legitimacy of the national parliament on Saturday and said they were taking control of their territories.

With people at the meeting chanting "Russia! Russia!", the atmosphere contrasted with the mood in the capital Kiev where protesters want the Moscow-backed Yanukovich to resign.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/22/us-ukraine-crisis-regions-idUSBREA1L0KH20140222

[TravelGal]

Here we go.

Can you say "Czechoslovakia"?

To add a bit of levity, I never forgot that Art Buchwald always wondered which country got custody of the "o".

[Gnam]

*It's from the internet, so take it with a grain of salt. (Olympic wolf :gomer:)

Rumors of Russian troops moving to Sevastopol.
It's the home base of Russia's Black Sea fleet, so it may not be anything more than regular troop movements.

The photo below is making the rounds:

Russian(?) Marine APC in main square of Sevastopol.
http://s13.postimg.org/jy66m654n/Bh_VAf_XCIYAAxyun_jpg_large.jpg

pic.twitter.com/a8zVyyYZ0B

[Gnam]

U.S. military intelligence has seen some Russian naval ship movement near Ukraine since the weekend, but it sees no immediate indication the Russians are preparing for any offensive military action in Ukraine, two U.S. officials said.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/26/world/europe/ukraine-politics/
I am not comforted.

It's not a question of if or when Putin invades Ukraine. His forces are already there. Why shoot people and blow things up when you've already won? Today's show of force is not a prelude to invasion it's a reminder that possession is 9/10's of the law. Putin's not threatening Ukraine, he's threatening us: Stay out of it, or face a real military.

I have never understood why the fascists and the commies hate each other. Their methods, goals, and tactics are identical. Hitler annexed Austria and the Czech Republic without world reaction by claiming he was just protecting ethnic Germans. Putin invades Georgia and Ukraine using the exact same excuse and it works again. :irked:

[cameraman]

I have never understood why the fascists and the commies hate each other. Their methods, goals, and tactics are identical. Hitler annexed Austria and the Czech Republic without world reaction by claiming he was just protecting ethnic Germans. Putin invades Georgia and Ukraine using the exact same excuse and it works again. :irked:

You're confusing "nationalist homicidal dictator" with "political system".