Protests in Ukraine escalate

[Natalka]

Ukraine’s Defense Ministry confirms loss of 6 armored vehicles

Six BMD armored vehicles were captured today and transported to Slovyansk, the MOD press service confirmed to Espreso.TV, April 16. “Today, April 16, six BMD armored vehicles entered the city of Kramatorsk in the Donetsk Oblast. These were vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine used as part of the anti-terrorist operation. Local residents and representatives of Russian subversive and terrorist groups blocked the advance of the vehicle column. As a result of the blockage, extremists succeeded in seizing the vehicles, which then proceeded in the direction of Slovyansk.,” the press statement reports.

http://euromaidanpr.com/2014/04/16/ukraines-defense-ministry-confirms-loss-of-6-armored-vehicles/

Russian terrorists kidnapped two Ukrainian servicemen

Near the city Krasniy Luch in Luhansk Oblast, Russian terrorists kidnapped two Ukrainian servicemen. An officer and servicemen were kidnapped when they stopped to fix their car.

The Ministry of Defence has announced that the kidnappers will be punished according to the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

[Lynn49]

This is just breaking my heart, Natalka...pootin sends in undercover military soldiers, creates chaos, then the pompous ass declares that he's trying to stem a civil war...yes.....OF HIS OWN CREATION!!!

[Natalka]

12:06, 17 April

Three pro-Russian militants were killed and 13 wounded after they tried to storm a Ukrainian army base early today, the government in Kiev said.



They were among a group of 300 who rushed the National Guard base armed with Molotov cocktails. Troops inside opened fire to disperse the crowd, and 63 people were arrested.


The clash was in Mariupol, in south-east Ukraine near the Sea of Azov, less than 40 miles from the Russian border. It was the deadliest incident so far as government forces try to wrest control of the area from separatists.

Ukrainian interior minister Arsen Avakov said no government troops were killed at Mariupol. He added: “The gang was dispersed after a short battle, most were cornered and disarmed. Because it was such an aggressive attack we decided to reinforce [our troops] with Omega special forces. Helicopters have been deployed.”

Armed separatists have seized police and administrative buildings in at least 10 towns, including regional capital Donetsk.


http://www.standard.co.uk/news/world...e-9267275.html

[Natalka]

Putin Asserts Right to Use Force in Eastern Ukraine

APRIL 17, 2014

MOSCOW — President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia emphasized on Thursday that the upper chamber of Parliament had authorized him to use military force if necessary in eastern Ukraine, and he stressed Russia’s historical claim to the territory in language not often used before, signaling a new and more aggressive policy.


Mr. Putin repeatedly referred to eastern Ukraine as “New Russia” — as the area north of the Black Sea was known after it was conquered by the Russian Empire in the late 1700s. He said only “God knows” why it became part of Ukraine in 1920.


Speaking in a televised question-and-answer show, Mr. Putin also admitted for the first time that Russian armed forces had been deployed in Crimea, the disputed peninsula Russia annexed last month immediately after a large majority of the population voted in a referendum to secede from Ukraine. But he dismissed suggestions that Russian troops were behind the unrest in eastern Ukraine.




During the question-and-answer show, Mr. Putin asserted that he had the authority to invade Ukraine, but that he hoped it would not be necessary.


“I remind you that the Federation Council has given the president the right to use armed forces in Ukraine,” he said, referring to the upper house of Parliament. “I really hope that I do not have to exercise this right and that by political and diplomatic means we will be able to solve all of the sharp problems.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/18/wo...ref=world&_r=0

[Darth Penguin]

Jews ordered to register in East Ukraine

Jews in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk where pro-Russian militants have taken over government buildings were told they have to "register" with the Ukrainians who are trying to make the city become part of Russia, according to Israeli media.Jews emerging from a synagogue say they were handed leaflets that ordered the city's Jews to provide a list of property they own and pay a registration fee "or else have their citizenship revoked, face deportation and see their assets confiscated," reported Ynet News, Israel's largest news website.
Donetsk is the site of an "anti-terrorist" operation by the Ukraine government, which has moved military columns into the region to force out militants who are demanding a referendum be held on joining Russia.
The leaflets bore the name of Denis Pushilin, who identified himself as chairman of "Donetsk's temporary government," and were distributed near the Donetsk synagogue and other areas, according to the report.

[Natalka]

Thu Apr 17, 2014

Ukraine says will restrict entry of Russian men


Reuters) - Ukraine said on Thursday it will impose stricter border controls on Russian men trying to enter the country, where pro-Moscow rebellions have broken out.
"From today the Ukrainian border control service has significantly increased checks at the border with Russia, not only at the airport," a spokesman for the service, Oleh Slobodian, said.
"This applies to Russian citizens because there is information about possible provocations at the border, up to and including terrorist attacks. Attention will be primarily paid to men of an active age, traveling alone or in a group."


Earlier on Thursday, Russian airline Aeroflot issued a statement warning passengers that the Ukrainian authorities were "massively restricting" entry to the country.
It indicated men between the ages of 16 and 60 would be denied entry unless they had proof of a reason to visit, such as family ties or an invitation from a business or individual, or were travelling with their families.


http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/...A3G15820140417

[Natalka]

Pro-Ukrainian demonstration starts in Donetsk

6:11 p.m. – Thousands have started to gather for a rally in support for a united Ukraine in Donetsk

I've been watching it off and on. Live feeds are on UStream and Hromadske, but they aren't good broadcasts

[Natalka]

Russian-backed insurgents seize television tower in Sloviansk



7:21 p.m. -- Pro-Russian separatists in Sloviansk in the northern part of Donetsk Oblast have seized control of a television tower and cut broadcasts of Ukrainian channels.


The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's Freedom of Media Representative Dunja Mijatovic condemned the action, saying that “Citizens’ right to access to information must be upheld at all times.”


The tower also provides service to the neighboring cities of Horlivka, Kramatorsk, and Makiyivka.
Separatists are reportedly now broadcasting only Russian channels.


“I am worried that this might become a dangerous pattern and call on the authorities to ensure the protection of media facilities and infrastructure in eastern parts of Ukraine,” Mijatovic said.

http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukra...es-343912.html

[Natalka]

Canada to send 6 CF-18s for NATO operation in Eastern Europe

Canada is sending six CF-18s and military personnel to assist NATO in operations in Eastern Europe.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the measures Thursday morning. The move comes following a request from NATO amid increasing tensions in Eastern Ukraine.


Harper said the military assets will be used on enhanced operations in Eastern Europe.
"This is in response to the situation that's developing there, and frankly, more generally to the concern that we have on what really is expansionism and militarism on the part of Russia under the presidency of Mr. Putin,"


"I believe this to be a long-term serious threat to global peace and security and we're always prepared to work with our allies in NATO and elsewhere to try and bring whatever stability we can to the situation."


Canada will also provide a contingent of approximately 20 Canadian Armed Forces officers to NATO headquarters in Brussels. These officers will be a part of security planning.
There is no word on when the assets are to be deployed.


Harper was meeting with the chief of Canada's defence staff, Gen. Tom Lawson, and other military leaders in Ottawa.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/cana...13636?cmp=fbtl

[Natalka]

In Lugansk, about a thousand people rallied for a United Ukraine today. The event took place without incidents.

[Natalka]

[Natalka]

US, EU, Russia reach deal on steps to ease Ukraine tensions

GENEVA - Top diplomats from the United States, European Union, Russia and Ukraine reached agreement after marathon talks Thursday on immediate steps to ease the crisis in Ukraine.
Reached after seven hours of negotiation, the agreement does not set out specific directions for Ukraine's future, but it requires all sides to halt any violence, intimidation or provocative actions. It calls for the disarming of all illegally armed groups and for control of buildings seized by pro-Russian separatists to be turned back to authorities.


The agreement puts on hold — for now at least — additional economic sanctions the West had prepared to impose on Russia if the talks were fruitless. That will ease international pressure both on Moscow and nervous European Union nations that depend on Russia for their energy.


The agreement gives amnesty to protesters who comply with the demands, except those found guilty of capital crimes. It says Kyiv's plans to reform its constitution and transfer more power from the central government to regional authorities must be inclusive, transparent and accountable — including through the creation of a broad national dialogue.


Monitors with the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe will be tasked with helping Ukraine authorities and local communities comply with the requirements outlined in the agreement.

https://ca.news.yahoo.com/aiming-esc...050852543.html

[Natalka]

Note - this has been debated about for several days already, whether it is 'true' or not - well, enough people have gotten them, so it is happening, so it's not a hoax, but I doubt it would be enforced...)

Flyers call for Jews to register with pro-Russians


Pro-Russian separatists from Donetsk in eastern Ukraine denied any involvement in the circulation of flyers calling on Jews to register with separatists and pay special taxes.
The flyers were distributed earlier this week in the city, where pro-Russian separatists led by Denis Pushilin this month took over several government buildings and declared their secession from Ukraine as the Donetsk Republic amid a standoff with authorities.


The flyers were official-looking documents that carried what was presented as Pushilin’s signature, but the news site tvrain.ru on Wednesday quoted Pushilin as denying any connection to the flyers, calling them a provocation.
On Tuesday, the news website novosti.dn.ua reported that the flyers were handed out that day by three unidentified men in balaclava masks carrying a of the Russian Federation. According to the report, the men distributed the flyers next to a local synagogue. The website quoted unnamed sources from the local Jewish community as saying that the flyers were an attempt to provoke a conflict and blame the attack on the separatists.


The flyers in Donetsk said all Jews who are 16 years old and above should register at the government building, which separatist protesters are occupying, and pay a registration fee of $50 by May 3.
“Jews supported the nationalistic gang of [Stepan] Bandera in Kiev,” the authors wrote in reference to the Ukrainian Nationalist leader who in the 1940s fought with Nazi Germany against Soviet troops before he and his men took up arms against the German occupation.
The flyers also said Jews were hostile to the Donetsk Republic.
They were required to report any real estate and automobiles, the flyers also said.

http://www.jpost.com/Jewish-World/Jewish-News/Flyers-call-for-Jews-to-register-with-pro-Russians-in-Ukrainian-city-348695

[Natalka]

Editorial about the above:

http://www.newrepublic.com/article/1...-jews-register

[gryphon]

So Putin is not only trying to take over Ukraine, he is taking the time to attack its jewish citizens. He was the old Russian empire back, just like it used to be