Yeah.....I don't think these guys are your normal "protesters".

[Tommy_Carcetti]

Or, hell, even part of an angry mob.

:large

[NuclearDem]

1. More "totally-not-Russian-soldiers"?

[politicman]

2. is russia allowed to supply and arm Ukrainians, like America has done with many groups around..

the world.

Do you know for sure they are actually Russian soldiers?

They could be Ukrainians that are armed and supplied by Russia but they still remain Ukraines.

Look at Syria and other countries around the world, America has supplied and armed many groups around the world to fight against their own country, so maybe Russia is just doing the same in this case.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

3. "They could be Ukrainians that are armed and supplied by Russia but they still remain Ukraines."

Suddenly you're in favor of armed citizens defying their government.

You're a real piece of work.

[politicman]

4. never said that

Nope I never said I was in favour of them defying their government with armed force.
Please show me where I said that if you can.

What I said is that does Russia have the right to supply and arm these people just like the U.S has supplied and armed groups around the world.

These people are going about it wrong in my opinion, but when Americans sit there and criticize Russia for something America has done a hundred times over, then I will point out the hypocrisy of Americans.

Russia has every right to arm these people, these people don't have a right to defy their government, but the 2 are spate issues in my opinion.

Maybe if America doesn't like it, then they should not arm others trying the same thing.

But I would like to ask, what do you think of Crimea and all these other places wanted to defy their government with arms?

[joshcryer]

10. Whenever they get interviewed they're shifty.

You interview some NGOs getting USAID money they will be up front with you almost across the board. Importantly, the organizational structure will be grassroots.

These dudes are not locals, it's way too professional. There's no way you could call this a grassroots movement.

[politicman]

11. they could still be Ukrainian citizens armed by Russia

I'm not calling it anything.

I am simply stating that they could be Ukrainian citizens who Russia is supplying and arming.

You know, the sort of thing that the U.S has been doing for decades all around the world.


Its taken Russia a long time to figure it out, but the U.S provided the blueprint for how to cause chaos in a country so that you can go in under the umbrella of protecting certain peoples. And now Russia is copying that blueprint.

[joshcryer]

12. Maybe if they were trained for a few weeks first.

As it stands now their structure is far too organized and professional.

I don't think there is evidence they are using US methods here because if it was the US there would be chaos followed by an attempt at political structure. Russia is following a fascist model, keep the public in check, subdued, create a guaranteed political structure that is 100% going to support you.

That's actually the failing of US meddling, because the results are not guaranteed. Putin's approach has guaranteed results.

[politicman]

13. Russia is copyiong U.S model or arming certain people inside a country and using them as pawns

to have an excuse to intervene over harsh reactions of government.

No Russia is copying the U.S model in that they are arming and supplying certain groups to disobey the authority of the state.

Ukraine will find it very hard not to respond to these Ukrainians (supplied and armed by Russia) defying law and seizing certain areas.

This is what Russia is counting on and waiting for.

Once Ukraine responds it will have to be with force, thus giving Russia the excuse they have been setting up, to go in and protect these provinces from getting massacred.

You see its a simple method, arm certain citizens, encourage certain citizens to provoke a forceful response from the government and then you have an excuse to go in and protect minorities from massacres.

Like I said, the U.S has been using this approach for decades all over the world.

[joshcryer]

15. Yeah, setting up pawns worked well in Iraq and Afghanistan...

...

Putin doesn't set up pawns so much chooses those who will follow him. It's Russification.

It's unlikely Russia could get an entire province, it could get a couple of larger cities, but that's about it.

Donetsk is only 38% Russian, for Russia to take it would be to deny the agency of nearly 2/3rds ethnic Ukrainians. It would not end well. The same for Luhansk. Russia could take the smaller raions (counties), such as Stanytsia-Luhanska, or Krasnodon. Donetsk city would be extremely shaky, as they are looking at a 50/50 Russian/Ukrainian split there. Pavel Gubarev was arrested, showing that Donetsk isn't willing to give up so easily.

[newfie11]

16. +1 Nt

[Cha]

5. Who and where are they?! thanks Tommy

[joshcryer]

9. Eastern Ukraine.

[Crunchy Frog]

7. Is this in Nevada?

[joshcryer]

8. But they're not handing out cupcakes, so they're cool.

Hand out cupcakes it's a grand conspiracy that completely delegitimizes the agency of an entire protest movement.

Put up professional barricades while heavily armed, taking over police stations and government buildings by force, well, that's what the people want.

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. They look like regular protesters you know

[truth2power]

17. I keep wondering why they're always masked...

It couldn't be because someone might pick out some CIA apparatchik. No sirree.

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. Why would the CIA have any interest in giving Putin what he wants?

But I will answer your question, likely they are Russian special forces, and non want their faces on tv if you are in that business.

[EX500rider]

19. No, but they might pick out some Russian GRU (Military Intelligence) Spetsnaz faces. n/t