Dateline: Ukraine

[Minskaya]

If true, this article speaks volumes about the "leading from behind" Obama administration.

WTF?

[Minskaya]

RIA Novosti

The "People's mayor" of Slavyansk, Vyacheslav Ponomarev, has said that law enforcement forces controlled by Kiev suffered severe losses during special operations in the South-East of Ukraine: according to his data, in just ten days, 650 people were killed or wounded, as stated in a message to RIA Novosti. "The total losses of the punitive fascist Kiev junta during May 2 -12, 2014, amount to 650 killed and wounded, among whom are 285 Right Sector extremists, who joined the National Guard, 120 Ukrainian mercenaries <...>, 90 employees of the Security Service of Ukraine, 70 foreign mercenaries," said Ponomarev, whose speech was posted on the Internet by the press service of the DPR.

From May 2 to 12, losses among the militiamen amounted to 8 people, three more were wounded, Ponomarev added.

Voice of Russia

Lol. The "Baghdad Bob" of Slavyansk.

[snapper]

As regards Ponomarev's casualty figures Government figures for dead since ATO started are 64.

Interesting Guardian discussion with Moscow correspondent Luke Harding; Orysia Lutsevych from the Chatham House thinktank; former diplomat Tony Brenton (former Ambassador to Russia); and Guardian international editors Jamie Wilson and Mark Rice-Oxley; 'Ukraine is trying to stand on its feet': the crisis discussed by a panel of experts

$12,000 per year to be a Russian media troll apparently...

[Mihais]

$12,000 per year to be a Russian media troll apparently...

We're fighting them for free(dom).

[snapper]

Tony Brenton's allusion to Thucydides 'real politik' that sometimes the smaller nation must give way to the larger refers to the 'Melian Dialogue' in Thucydides account of the Peloponnesian War between Athens, then a quasi Imperial Power, and Sparta and her allies. Melos had remained neutral during the war but was a Doric (Spartan - Peloponessian) colony. In 416BC the Athenians landed on the island with an army but before attacking the city offered the Melians a choice; either join us or die. I suspect Tony Benton doesn't understand the full implication of his allusion as the unique aspect of the Dialogue comes in the following exchange:

Melians: But must we be your enemies? Will you not receive us as friends if we are neutral and remain at peace with you?
Athenians: No, your enmity is not half so mischievous to us as your friendship; for the one is in the eyes of our subjects an argument of our power, the other of our weakness.

The Athenian answer is the indicative of the imperial imperative; to show weakness encourages rebellion among the other subjects, the empire may be imperiled, therefore even neutrals must submit or be destroyed, the Melians chose death, though some did survive and went home when Athens was finally defeated. In Ukrainian terms the implications are clear.

I am not exactly a fan of Tony Brenton's, frankly his whole thinking makes me furious; I prefer the alternative given the Athenian response in the Dialogue he alludes to.

[Minskaya]

<pause>


Traditional Vyshyvanka blouses


Fashionable Vyshyvanka tunic

Today (in Kyiv) is the traditional Vyshyvanka Festval in Ukraine which heralds the onset of Spring. Both men and women wear the traditional embroidered shirt/blouse known as a vyshyvanka. There is also a very colorful skirt worn by women called a zapaska. Females also wear the traditional Ukrainian flower-bands on their heads. The patterns on the fabric oftentimes reflect different cities or regions. Ancient burial site excavations confirm that the vyshyvanka has been worn here for aeons.

<carry on>

[Parihaka]

So you are saying these steel trainers are better behaved than the pro-maidan thugs?

The steel workers live and work there, the Russian mercenaries don't. Yay the steel workers.

[Skywatcher]

The Russian hirelings also ran away soon as they saw unarmed civilians, to boot.

[JAD_333]

They catch AIDS to get rid of cancer.Ukrainians stood on the Maidan to get rid of the oligarchic system.The likes of Kolomoisky are the last in the world who should open their mouths.

Thing is the Russians are commited.They want East Ukraine one way or the other.Either they make it autonomous inside Ukraine,or they will send in the peacekeepers.
They can keep the current situation going on for a very long time.

Categorically disagree. Russia will do neither, won't 'invade' with peacekeepers and will not prolong the current situation past June. They will, however, get something aside from their crown jewel. Crimea, probably a Federal system with direct election of governors with powers to appoint police heads and other officials and a promise not to join NATO or station foreign troops in Ukraine. They'll also get a few other pseudo protections for Russian speakers. That's a nice haul for Russia.

[JAD_333]

So you are saying these steel trainers are better behaved than the pro-maidan thugs?

What do you think? Do you have an informed opinion or are you just going to keep on flame baiting? You've just about worn out your welcome here.

[gf0012-aust]

some useful sidebar reading:

Russia's 'wake-up call' has West pondering once-unlikely scenarios - Europe - Stripes

[Mihais]

This one is almost funny.

It reminded me of this

What sort of dumbass would leave an AFV with live ammo unattended?

[S2]

Nice to have a little space launch vehicle competition.

Mihais,

Unreal!!

Never saw the second vid. Seriously stupid...but funny.

Very, very funny.

First vid? Not so much. Inept and tragic. The old man wasn't doing well at all.

[Minskaya]

Most of you are by now somewhat familiar with Igor Strelkov - the 'Defense Minister' of the illegal Donetsk People's Republic. Strelkov (who uses three alias names) is a Russian GRU officer who was also present during Russian actions in both Georgia and Crimea.



The newly appointed 'Prime Minister' of the Donetsk People's Republic is Aleksandr Borodai (41). This shadowy figure is a Russian citizen who lives in Moscow. He has a degree in Philosophy from Moscow State University and characterizes himself as "a consultant who specializes in ethnic conflict". Prior to appearing in Donetsk, Borodai was an 'advisor' to Crimea governor Sergei Aksyonov and he helped steer through Russia’s annexation of Crimea. He admitted bringing a small team of 'specialists' with him to Donetsk. Asked if he has connections to Russia's security establishment, Borodai replied; “Do you understand what sort of a question you’re posing? Even if there were, do you think I’d answer?” At a news conference yesterday, 'Prime Minister' Borodai said he planned to ask Russia for inclusion of the Republic into the Russian Federation as soon as possible. He also said that the Donetsk People's Republic will not participate in the 25 May presidential election.

I presume it is no coincidence that the appellation 'Donetsk People's Republic' sounds very... Soviet.

[Mihais]

Strelkov is the sort of chap I'd like to have a drink and a chat,no matter what side he's on.
The last time I heard about him,he was complaining about the low turnover of volunteers for his militia.Only a thousand or so in a population of 4.5 millions.

People republics used to show up as mushrooms after rain everywhere the liberators arrived.Sometimes they were successes,sometimes they were utter failures,depending on the fortunes of the Red Army.


Since violence and sex sell,here the face of the Lugansk People Republic Ukraine News One: Erotic photos of self-styled Luhansk foreign minister emerge online (VIDEO)

I tell ya all,Nina Shtanski of Transnistria is way above this one.