Russia Masses Troops Near Ukraine

[Cali_Democrat]

Source: Reuters

MOSCOW, March 13 (Reuters) - Russia announced on Thursday it had started military exercises near the border with Ukraine in what is likely to be seen as a show of force in the standoff with Kiev and the West over Crimea.

Separately, the ministry said Russia had sent six Su-27 jet fighters and three military transport planes to ally Belarus, responding to a request prompted by joint U.S.-Polish exercises in NATO nation Poland, Interfax reported.

The Defence Ministry confirmed exercises had begun in the Southern Military District near the Ukrainian border, involving 8,500 artillery men. Pictures had appeared earlier on social media showing military vehicles on the move in the area.

The exercise includes a large number of artillery and Grad (Hail), Hurricane and Tornado multiple-rocket launchers, the Defence Ministry said in a statement on its website.

Also involved are Howitzers, Nona self-propelled artillery and Rapier anti-tank guns, and the aim is to improve cooperation with motorised infantry, tank, air-assault and marine units.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/13/russia-ukraine-putin_n_4957225.html

[blackspade]

1. Not good developments....

[bobthedrummer]

2. This K&R is for the so called "reality based community" of DU. n/t

[bobthedrummer]

3. Ukraine crisis: Russia begins new military exercises (3-13-14 BBC)

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26564846

That's reality, DU.

[Cali_Democrat]

5. Who cares if he invades Ukraine using his military...Bush invaded Iraq!!!

Of course I'm kidding, but that's the logic I've been seeing on DU lately.

[another_liberal]

6. Really?

Who said that nonsense?

[WheelWalker]

4. Grim.

[EX500rider]

7. The CIA made him do it!!! n/t

[bobthedrummer]

8. Another kick for DU's "reality based community" n/t

[happyslug]

9. Why no reports of TANKS??? You attack with TANKS!!, not the weapons named.

The Rapier anti-tank guns are obsolete 100mm anti-tanks guns that were considered adequate against the M-60 tanks, but marginal agaisnt the M1 Bradley and German Leopard II tanks (Through on well trained and disciplined 100mm gun crew did take out two M1 and one Bradly in the 2003 US attack on Iraq):

http://www.enemyforces.net/artillery/rapira.htm

The Grad (Hail), Hurricane and Tornado are all multiple rocker launchers. Good to use on an attacking force, or to open a hole in a defensive live, but that is all, you still have to send in Tanks and infantry through that hole.

Grad (Hail) Rocker launcher
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BM-21_Grad

The Hurricane Rocket Launcher
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BM-27_Uragan

and the latest Russian Rocket Launcher the Tornado:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9A52-4_Tornado

The report also mentioned the "Nona self-propelled artillery" which can be one of two models, one designed to provide mortar support for armor units, and a wheeled version to provide mortar support for mechanized infantry who use wheel as opposed to tracked vehicles. Again another combat SUPPORT vehicle, not one you actually use in a CHARGE, but one that can be used to SUPPORT a Charge:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2S9_Nona

My point is the absence of any report of Tanks, the Russian main Infantry fighting vehicle, the BMP-2, its latest light tank/infantry fighting vehicle, the BMP-3, of even its wheeled fighting vehicles the BTR-70, BTR-80, BTR-90 series of wheeled armored vehicles.

Thus could be do to the Russians wanting to conceal the presence of those ground elements that would lead an assault, or that this is a defensive drill and thus those elements are NOT needed. This report is pure speculation designed to instill panic, but if you know what you are reading means nothing.

[dipsydoodle]

10. Russia Says Ukraine Must Pay for Military Inspection Flight

MOSCOW, March 14 (RIA Novosti) – Russia will allow Ukrainian military inspectors to carry out an emergency monitoring flight over Russian territory only if Kiev pays a regular fee under existing agreements, the Defense Ministry said Friday.

In line with the Open Skies Treaty, which establishes a regime of unarmed aerial observation flights over the territories of its signatories, a country requesting a monitoring flight must finance the mission.

The new authorities in Kiev requested on Tuesday an emergency monitoring flight over Russian regions bordering with Ukraine for March 17-24, citing fears that Russia could be preparing to invade its neighbor.

On Thursday, however, Kiev notified Moscow that Ukraine cannot fulfill its financial obligations related to the requested flight “due to conditions and timeframe of currency transfers.”

>

Koshelev said such an attitude suggested that some political forces behind the current Ukrainian standoff were not interested in the mission itself, but planned to use the expected refusal as a pretext to accuse Russia again of failure to fulfill its international obligations.

http://en.ria.ru/world/20140314/188436492/Russia-Says-Ukraine-Must-Pay-for-Military-Inspection-Flight.html