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Basically, it's all eyes on the Ukraine as it heads for civil war. There's nothing else that's more important - part of humanity's rush for the Abyss.
Civil war looms as fighting rages in eastern Ukraine LIVE UPDATES
Ukrainian security force officers walk
past a checkpoint set on fire and left by pro-Russian separatists
near Slavyansk April 24, 2014 (Reuters / Gleb Garanich)
Kiev’s troops remain in eastern Ukraine as the OSCE mission starts its work on “de-escalating” the situation on the ground. Anti-government protesters are unwilling to leave the seized buildings, demanding that the troops are pulled out first.
Thursday, April 24
21:39
GMT:
US
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has said that“reports
of military activity” near
the Russian-Ukrainian border are worrisome. Earlier on Thursday
Russia began extensive military exercises near the Ukrainian border
following the escalation of violence in eastern Ukraine.
“This
is dangerously destabilizing and it's very provocative. It does not
de-escalate. In fact these activities escalate. They make it more
difficult to try to find a diplomatic, peaceful resolution to that
issue,"Hagel
said, adding that he was trying to arrange a phone call with Russian
Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu.
20:36
GMT:
Washington
should force the current Kiev leadership to “immediately” stop
military operations in the south-east of the country, the Russian
Foreign Ministry says.
“We
hope the US will finally take urgent measures in the interests of
de-escalation of the situation in accordance with the provisions of
the Geneva Declaration of April 17. Washington should force the
current Ukrainian leadership to immediately stop military operations
in the south-east, to ensure withdrawal of Ukraine’s armed force
units and security forces to their permanent deployment locations.”
“We
hope that Washington understands the entire extent of their
responsibility for the events,” noted
the Russian Foreign Ministry.
19:12
GMT:
Ukrainian
forces must respect international standards on use of force, Amnesty
International said on its website responding to reports of fatal
shootings of
anti-government activists at several checkpoints
in Slavyansk.“International
standards on the use of force and firearms are clear – law
enforcement officials should resort to the use of firearms only in
defence against an imminent threat of death or serious injury. They
should apply other non-violent means before resorting to the use of
force, and the use of firearms must always be the last resort. When
the use of force and firearms is unavoidable they must exercise
restraint and take steps to minimize damage and injury and preserve
life,” Heather
McGill, Ukraine Researcher at Amnesty International, has
said.
Amnesty stressed that “an independent, impartial investigation should be launched into the events leading up to today’s reported loss of life at checkpoints around Slavyansk,” adding that “if it is found the Ukrainian forces violated international standards and resorted to arbitrary or abusive use of force, they must be brought to justice.”
Blasting the seizure of public buildings and detaining of foreign journalists by the local “pro-Russian armed group” as “human rights abuse,” the Amnesty added that “this must not be met with human rights violations by Ukrainian security forces.”
Amnesty stressed that “an independent, impartial investigation should be launched into the events leading up to today’s reported loss of life at checkpoints around Slavyansk,” adding that “if it is found the Ukrainian forces violated international standards and resorted to arbitrary or abusive use of force, they must be brought to justice.”
Blasting the seizure of public buildings and detaining of foreign journalists by the local “pro-Russian armed group” as “human rights abuse,” the Amnesty added that “this must not be met with human rights violations by Ukrainian security forces.”
18:49
GMT:
Russian
senators have drafted a proposal to send a “peacekeeping
contingent” to
southeast Ukraine to avoid bloodshed in the region, Izvestiya
reports, citing Federation Council member Valery Shnyakin.
Shnyakin, who is the deputy chair of the council’s international committee, said that all countries interested in the peaceful resolution of the Ukrainian crisis should take part in talks on the proposed peacekeeping force.
“We must urgently put Russia, the US, the EU and Ukraine at the negotiation table and negotiate deploying a peacekeeping contingent to the southeast [of Ukraine]. We are now drafting this proposal and it will be brought up for discussion at the Federation Council session on April 29, and in case the situation escalates even more, it could happen earlier,” Shnyakin was quoted as saying.
Shnyakin, who is the deputy chair of the council’s international committee, said that all countries interested in the peaceful resolution of the Ukrainian crisis should take part in talks on the proposed peacekeeping force.
“We must urgently put Russia, the US, the EU and Ukraine at the negotiation table and negotiate deploying a peacekeeping contingent to the southeast [of Ukraine]. We are now drafting this proposal and it will be brought up for discussion at the Federation Council session on April 29, and in case the situation escalates even more, it could happen earlier,” Shnyakin was quoted as saying.
18:34
GMT:
The
German government has frozen military exports to Russia in connection
with the situation in Ukraine, Germany’s Economy Ministry
reportedly said in response to a request of the opposition Greens
party.
According to German media, 69 export requests worth 5.18 million euro ($7.16 million) have been blocked.“Because of the current political circumstances, no export licenses for defense goods for Russia are being granted. Furthermore, Germany has launched a study into what can be done about export licenses previously granted,” the ministry replied to the Greens’ request, Reuters reported.
According to German media, 69 export requests worth 5.18 million euro ($7.16 million) have been blocked.“Because of the current political circumstances, no export licenses for defense goods for Russia are being granted. Furthermore, Germany has launched a study into what can be done about export licenses previously granted,” the ministry replied to the Greens’ request, Reuters reported.
17:51 GMT:
War
in eastern Ukraine must be prevented “at
all costs,” Itar-Tass
reported UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon as saying.
Ban’s spokesman told journalists that all sides involved in the conflict in Ukraine must stick to the Geneva agreements of April 17, refrain from violence, repression and provocative actions.
Saying that he is “deeply concerned that the situation could quickly spin out of control with unpredictable consequences,” the UN secretary-general said that “military action must be avoided at all costs.”
Ban’s spokesman told journalists that all sides involved in the conflict in Ukraine must stick to the Geneva agreements of April 17, refrain from violence, repression and provocative actions.
Saying that he is “deeply concerned that the situation could quickly spin out of control with unpredictable consequences,” the UN secretary-general said that “military action must be avoided at all costs.”
17:42
GMT:
The
actions of the Kiev authorities in eastern Ukraine make the
legitimacy of the upcoming Ukrainian early
elections “questionable,” Russian
President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told
journalists Thursday.
“The way the situation is developing in Ukraine, such criminal actions ordered by those in Kiev, they a priori put the legitimacy of the elections set for May under a serious question mark,” Peskov said.
“The way the situation is developing in Ukraine, such criminal actions ordered by those in Kiev, they a priori put the legitimacy of the elections set for May under a serious question mark,” Peskov said.
17:32
GMT:
National
Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (SNBO) officials say the
military operation in eastern Ukraine will continue “in
stages.”
“The anti-terrorist operation will continue. It will be carried out in several stages. We cannot unveil these stages. Today one of those active stages took place. It fulfilled its objective,” deputy secretary of the SNBO, Victoria Syumar, told Hromadske TV on Thursday.
“The anti-terrorist operation will continue. It will be carried out in several stages. We cannot unveil these stages. Today one of those active stages took place. It fulfilled its objective,” deputy secretary of the SNBO, Victoria Syumar, told Hromadske TV on Thursday.
17:00
GMT:
American
reporter Simon Ostrovsky, detained by anti-government activists in
Slavyansk on Tuesday, has been freed, CBC journalist Jean-Francois
Belanger has confirmed. According to Belanger, Ostrovsky is now with
the CBC crew en route to Donetsk.
VICE News later confirmed Ostrovsky has been set free in a website statement:
"Vice
News is delighted to confirm that our colleague and friend Simon
Ostrovsky has been safely released and is in good health."
Western
corporate media on this -
Simon Ostrovsky Questions "Mayor" of Sloviansk: Russian Roulette in Ukraine (Dispatch Twenty Nine
Russia 'forced' to launch military drills near border in response to Ukraine op
Russia has begun extensive military exercises near the Ukrainian border following the escalation of violence in eastern Ukraine.
Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu (Reuters / Michael Klimentyev
RT,
23
April, 2014
“The
order to use force against civilians has already been given, and if
this military machine is not stopped, the amount of casualties will
only grow,” Russian
Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said during an official meeting in
Moscow.
“War
games by NATO in Poland and the Baltic states are also not helping
the normalization of the situation. We are forced to react to the
situation.”
Shoigu
said that the drills involve march and deployment maneuvers by forces
in the southern and western military districts, and separate Air
Force exercises.
Shoigu
said that 11,000 Ukrainian soldiers, 160 tanks, 230 armored carriers
and at least 150 artillery pieces are involved in the operation
against anti-Kiev activists.
“National
guard units and Right Sector extremists are fighting against the
peaceful population, as well as a volunteer Donbass ‘anti-terrorist’
unit. Also security and internal forces transferred to Lugansk and
Donetsk from other areas of the country are suppressing dissent,” he
said.
Shoigu
added that Ukrainian sabotage units had been deployed near the
Russian border.
RIA Novosti / Igor Zarembo
"It's
not an evenly matched confrontation," Shoigu
said.
The
coup-imposed Ukrainian acting president, Aleksandr Turchinov, has
demanded that Russia pull back its troops back from the Ukrainian
border, calling the ongoing Russian military
exercises“blackmail.”
In
a brief address, Turchinov claimed that “terrorists
have crossed the border… taking hostages and killing the patriots
of Ukraine.” He
also called for the Russian government “to
stop interfering into the internal affairs of our country.”
The
heaviest fighting on
Thursday took place in Slavyansk, with the Ukrainian Interior
Ministry reporting the deaths of at least five "terrorists."
NATO
has estimated that Russia has massed at least 40,000 troops near its
border with Ukraine. Moscow has not denied that it has moved troops
to the region, but said that its internal troop movements are its own
prerogative.
NATO began military exercises in Poland on Wednesday, with more scheduled to take place in the Baltic states next week. So far, 150 US paratroopers have arrived in the country from their stationary base in Italy, with 450 more set to join them.
Poland’s
foreign minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, has also asked NATO to deploy
10,000 troops in his country.
On
Wednesday, the frigate USS Taylor became the latest US ship to enter
the Black Sea on a rotating deployment. NATO has dispatched a
separate rapid reaction force to the Baltic.
'Feed
the troops,
motherf*****!' Angry locals
'bomb' RT report at
Slavyansk
barricade attack
scene
Slavyansk
locals, enraged by the Ukrainian army's raid on a self-defence
checkpoint, 'bomb' RT's Graham Phillips report to accuse the special
ops troops of stealing food and call on acting-Ukrainian president to
"feed the troops!'.
Russia
calls on US to force Ukraine to stop offensive against protesters
Russia
says the United States must force interim authorities in Ukraine to
immediately stop a military operation against anti-Kiev protesters
in the east and south.
24
April, 2014
Last
week, acting Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk ordered a
military offensive against the protesters, who seized government
buildings in several towns and cities in eastern Ukraine.
He
has claimed that Russian special forces are fueling the unrest in
eastern Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed
Yatsenyuk claims as "nonsense".
In
statement issued on Thursday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said
Washington must force Kiev to pull back forces to their permanent
bases.
The
Foreign Ministry also said phone conversations planned for Wednesday
and Thursday between Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his American
counterpart John Kerry had not taken place.
Russian
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday accused the US of being
behind the Ukraine turmoil and said Moscow would respond if its
interests came under attack.
"There
is no reason not to believe that the Americans are running the show,"
RT television quoted him as saying.
Earlier
this year, US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian
Affairs Victoria Nuland disclosed that Washington has “invested”
about $5 billion in “promoting democracy” in Ukraine over the
past two decades.
In
early February, Nuland visited Ukraine and held meetings with
anti-Kremlin politicians who organized anti-government protests that
led to the ouster of Viktor Yanukovych, the country’s
democratically-elected president.
Ukrainian
soldiers carry out a raid on a pro-Russian roadblock in Karpivka,
north of Slavyansk. Photograph: Pierre Crom/Sipa/Rex
Vyacheslav
Ponomarev, the self-appointed pro-Russian mayor of Slavyansk.
Photograph: Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images
US journalist Simon Ostrovsky is heading for Donetsk after being held
by insurgents for several days. Photograph: Alexander
Khudoteply/AFP/Getty Images
Meanwhile CNN cheers on Ukrainian forces from the side while the US government directs.
Disgusted
Kerry And Lavrov Can't Even Hold A Phone Conversation Any More
24
April, 2014
With
the "truce deal" laying torn asunder by un-de-escalation by
each and every side in this dangerous game of chicken, it now seems
even diplomacy is off the table. The Russian foreign ministry reports
that the planned
on April 23 and 24 telephone conversationsbetween,
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov
and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry , unfortunately did
not take place for reasons beyond Moscow's control,
adding that
- *UKRAINE GETTING DEEPER AND DEEPER INTO CRISIS: RUSSIA
- *U.S. MUST FORCE UKRAINE TO STOP MILITARY PUSH IN EAST: RUSSIA
Ukraine's
48-hour red-line is getting closer and with the UN
warning that "the situation could quickly spin out of control
with unpredictable consequences," it
is perhaps time to derisk a little.
The unpredictability of the situation in the south-eastern regions of Ukraine, where people are thrown against regular military units, special forces and paramilitary forces, ultranationalist, requires urgent action forced wards U.S. Kiev authorities to show restraint and not to use force.
The planned on April 23 and 24 telephone contacts, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, unfortunately, did not take place for reasons beyond Moscow reasons.In the run scheduled for April 25 conversation of foreign ministers of the two countries, the Russian side once again urges Washington to use all his influence on the interim government in Kiev to reason with him and convince refrain from hasty steps, Ukraine plunged deeper into crisis.
We hope that the U.S. finally take urgent measures for de-escalation of the situation in accordance with the provisions of the Geneva Declaration on April 17. Washington should make the current Ukrainian leadership to immediately stop military operation in the South East, to ensure allocation of units of the armed forces of Ukraine and its security forces to their permanent deployment. While nothing has been done to address this urgent task. We hope that Washington understands the full measure of their responsibility for what happens.
And
The UN warns,
War in eastern Ukraine must be prevented “at all costs,” UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said as quoted by Itar-Tass.
Ban’s spokesman told journalists that all sides involved in the conflict in Ukraine must stick to the Geneva agreements of April 17, refrain from violence, repression and provocative actions.
Saying that he is “deeply concerned that the situation could quickly spin out of control with unpredictable consequences,” UN chief stressed that “military action must be avoided at all costs.”
Ukraine
crisis: Vladimir
Putin warns of
'consequences' after
Slavyansk
skirmish
Russian
troops manoeuvre on the border after Kiev government attempts to
wrest back control of city
25
April, 2014
Thousands
of Russian troops launched exercises along the Ukrainian border on
Thursday and President Vladimir
Putin threatened
"consequences" after the Kiev government attempted to wrest
back control from pro-Moscow separatists in the east of the country.
An
operation by Ukrainian troops near the rebel-held town of Slavyansk
led to clashes on the outskirts of the city in which Kiev claimed
five separatists had been killed. Local reports suggested only two
casualties and the small Ukrainian force did not enter the city
centre.
After
the skirmish, the government soldiers retreated to a checkpoint six
miles out of town after what appeared to be a more symbolic than
strategic move.
Photograph:
Mikhail Klimentie, Ria Novosti/EPA
Putin's
response was immediate. "If the Kiev government is using the
army against its own people this is clearly a grave crime," he
declared as Russian units from among the 40,000 troops massed
on Ukraine's
eastern border went on manoeuvres.
Russia's
defence minister, Sergei Shoigu, said the drills would involve
ground troops and warplanes. Referring to the Ukrainian operation
around Slavyansk, he said: "If today this military machine is
not stopped, it will lead to a large number of the dead and
wounded ...We have to react to such developments."
On
Thursday the US accused Russia of reneging on the Ukrainian peace
deal, and said it had "actively stoked tensions in eastern
Ukraine by engaging in inflammatory rhetoric".
Officials
in Washington angrily rejected Moscow's characterisation of the
clashes with Ukrainian soldiers. "The Russians are actively
distorting the facts to suit their own narrative," said state
department spokeswoman Jen Psaki.
Ukrainian
soldiers carry out a raid on a pro-Russian roadblock in Karpivka,
north of Slavyansk. Photograph: Pierre Crom/Sipa/Rex
Pictures
from the border region showed Russian tanks and armoured cars on the
move on trailers. Four people, including two civilians, were
reported killed in collisions with armoured vehicles.
As
the exercises began, Ukraine's acting president, Oleksandr
Turchynov, made a televised address to the nation in which he called
on Moscow to pull back its troops from the border and "stop the
constant threats and blackmail".
Ukraine's
foreign minister, Andrii Deshchytsia, said the military exercises
were much closer to the border than anticipated, telling the
Associated Press the move "very much escalates the situation in
the region."
In
light of the experience of Crimea, in which Russian soldiers seized
control of the peninsula before Ukraine could react, Deshchytsia
said: "We will now fight with Russian troops if they invade
Ukraine. Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian army are ready to do
this."
His
ministry called on Moscow to provide details of the military
manoeuvres within 48 hours to the Organisation for Security and
Cooperation in Europe,
which is monitoring the tense situation in the east.
The
UN secretary general, Ban Ki-Moon, issued an urgent statement
warning that the situation "could quickly spin out of control"
and stressing that "military action must be avoided at all
costs".
The
operation in the leafy edge of Slavyansk, ordered by Kiev after two
of its supporters were found dead there, appeared to be a limited
probe of separatist lines. The troops destroyed several checkpoints
and exchanged fire with pro-Russian militia. According to the
separatists, one civilian waiting at a bus stop was killed and
another injured.
But
the column of Ukrainian armoured vehicles did not attempt to enter
the city or to recapture Slavyansk's city hall, which the
separatists have transformed into a sandbagged mini fortress.
The
town's self-proclaimed "mayor" Vyacheslav Ponomarev said
his forces had deflected the attack by "150 Ukrainian
soldiers", with mines partly blocking their ingress across a
field.
Vyacheslav
Ponomarev, the self-appointed pro-Russian mayor of Slavyansk.
Photograph: Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images
One
member of the "Donbass people's militia" claimed residents
had confronted the Ukrainian column, offering themselves as a human
shield. "They stood in front of the armoured vehicles. After
that the soldiers stopped. Then they started to leave,"
Alexander Tezikov, 39, told the Guardian, citing sources inside the
rebel militia.
Stella
Khorosheva, a spokeswoman for the Slavyansk insurgents, said the
pro-Russia militia later regained control of the disputed
checkpoints. "We will defend ourselves to our last drop of
blood. We are ready to repeat Stalingrad," she told Associated
Press
There
are signs that following weeks in which it has seemed powerless,
Kiev's government is now pushing back against pro-Russian forces.
Armed government militia were visible at several new checkpoints
between Donetsk, the regional capital, and Slavyansk.
Ukraine's
interior minister, Arsen Avakov, claimed Ukrainian special forces
had retaken the town hall in the port city of Mariupol, but that
could not be independently confirmed.
In
a rare positive development amid relentlessly rising tensions on
Thursday, a US journalist held by Ponomarev's insurgents for several
days for alleged "one-sided reporting" was released. Simon
Ostrovsky of Vice News confirmed to Associated Press he had been
released and was heading for Donetsk but gave no details of his
seizure or his release.
US journalist Simon Ostrovsky is heading for Donetsk after being held
by insurgents for several days. Photograph: Alexander
Khudoteply/AFP/Getty Images
The
sally against Slavyansk was the boldest element in Kiev's declared
"anti-terrorist" operation against pro-Russian forces who
have occupied a string of municipal buildings in 10 eastern towns
and cities since 6 April. But by evening, after the Ukrainian
soldiers had pulled back, pro-Russian militia had returned to
checkpoints in the north-west of the city, flattened earlier in the
day.
To
the south, roadblocks flying the Russian tricolour and the flag of
the "Donetsk People's Republic" were untouched. Schools,
shops and kindergartens inside the city remained shut. Senior
Ukrainian officials remain twitchy against a backdrop of menacing
rhetoric from Putin, and the border manoeuvres. Unconfirmed rumours
of helicopter incursions across the frontier caused temporary alarm.
The
editor-in-chief of the Kremlin-backed broadcaster Russia Today,
Margarita Simonyan, tweeted: "Ukraine: RIP."
The
Ukrainian government complained bitterly about remarks made by the
Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, on Wednesday in which he
compared the situation to the Georgian region of South Ossetia,
which Russia invaded in 2008 following Georgian government shelling
of separatists there.
"If
our interests, our legitimate interests, the interests of Russians
have been attacked directly, like they were in South Ossetia, I do
not see any other way but to respond in full accordance with
international law," Lavrov said.
Video:
US troops put boots on Polish ground as Ukraine crisis spirals
The
first wave of US troops has arrived in Poland to begin military
drills "promoting peace and stability" across Eastern
Europe. Tensions continue to mount in the region, as Ukraine teeters
on the brink of a civil war
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