Ukraine says Donetsk 'anti-terror operation' under way

[dipsydoodle]

Source: BBC News

The acting President of Ukraine, Olexander Turchynov, has announced the start of an "anti-terrorist operation" against pro-Russian separatists.

The operation began in the "north of Donetsk Region", he told parliament, and was being conducted "stage by stage, in a responsible... manner".



Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27035196

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Kharkiv, Ukraine (CNN) -- An "anti-terrorist operation" is under way in part of Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, Ukraine's acting President Oleksandr Turchynov told the country's parliament Tuesday.

"It will be conducted step by step, responsibly, cautiously," he said. "The aim of these actions is to protect the citizens of Ukraine, to stop terror, to stop criminality, to stop attempts to tear Ukraine to pieces."

A spokesman for Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, Evgen Rojenyuk, confirmed that a National Guard battalion made up of 350 troops was sent to eastern Ukraine from Kiev on Tuesday morning.

Rojenyuk said the battalion was headed for the Donetsk region.

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/04/15/world/europe/ukraine-crisis/?hpt=hp_t2

[LiberalFighter]

1. Give the Russian supporters a choice.

Quit trying to stir up trouble with the intent to have Russian take over or leave.

[amandabeech]

13. Well, there may be small numbers of Russian military special forces

leading the demonstrations right now.

A poster on another thread wrote that the demonstrations the weekend before last were much more disorganized and not that well attended. They broke up after having their say for awhile.

But this weekend, video shows some men leading the demonstrations who look a lot like the guys who were in charge in Crimea when that first started and who aren't there now. These guys are dressed in matching military-style outfits and are equipped with firearms and grenade launchers of the type that are generally not available to local police or militia. Their attacks on Ukrainian government buildings look like something out of a playbook that have been rehearsed many times. They are ususally accompanied by a group of youngish men wearing surgical masks, but who are not armed. It's a totally different, extremely organized picture.

If those guys would go home to Russia, there would undoubtedly be demonstrations, but things would be much calmer.

[another_liberal]

2. The CIA will be watching closely . . .

And there had better not be any slip-ups this time! Director Brennen would not be pleased, he would not be pleased at all!

[cosmicone]

3. Are American "advisors" helping?

[bemildred]

4. As insurgents dig in near Russia, Ukraine sends in its tanks

IZYUM, Ukraine - Pro-Russian insurgents dug in Tuesday across eastern Ukraine, fortifying positions around seized buildings and erecting new barricades even as Ukrainian troops and tanks set up outside one eastern city now controlled by armed men. The uptick in war-like posturing by all sides in the Ukrainian crisis has world leaders scrambling to find a solution.

In Kiev, Ukraine's acting president, Oleksandr Turchynov, announced an "anti-terrorist operation" to root out the separatists, but it was unclear how that measure differed from the one announced Monday, which resulted in no visible action.

The central government claimed Tuesday morning that some of the separatists had already surrendered, but so far there's been little evidence of that, reports CBS News' Holly Williams.

Much of the focus Tuesday was on the eastern city of Slovyansk, 100 miles from the Russian border, which has come under ever more secure control of the gunmen since it was taken over last weekend.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/as-insurgents-dig-in-near-russia-ukraine-sends-in-its-tanks/

Edit: A few predictions:

1.) There is going to be something between a civil insurrection and a civil war.
2.) Russia will not invade, but will also not interfere with its citizens "helping" in Ukraine.
3.) The Fuckwits in Kiev will lose, and it won't take long.

After that, I don't know, but it probably doesn't result in immediate accession to the EU. etc.

[jakeXT]

6. Having a civil war means no election and the interim government stays in power /nt

[Tommy_Carcetti]

7. And who benefits from a weak interim government and delayed elections?

Hint: It's not Ukrainians.

Another hint: Russia waited until Yanukovych fell to claim Crimea for its own. Just sayin'.

[jakeXT]

8. Weak governments seem to pop up everywhere, Iraq, Afghanistan or Libya /nt

[Tommy_Carcetti]

9. The alternative in Ukraine is what?

Having Yanukovych rule from Russia despite the fact no one in Ukraine recognizes him as the current leader (not even his own party)?

The man fled the country on his own willpower. Someone's got to rule it before elections are held.

People screaming that the interim government is "illegitimate" just don't get that obvious fact.

[jakeXT]

10. I bet there would have been a way to convince them that it's a real deal and not a stalling tactic

KIEV, April 14 (RAPSI) – Acting president of Ukraine Aleksandr Turchinov stated during a parliamentary meeting that a referendum on federalization of Ukraine may be held along with the presidential elections on May 25. Protesters in the town of Slavyansk in Donetsk region, called the statement a stalling tactic and refused to disperse.

Protests for federalization, centered in the cities of Donetsk, Kharkiv and Luhansk, have swept across Ukraine’s eastern and southeastern regions. The demonstrators have been calling for Crimea-style referendums on the status of their regions within Ukraine. The government in Kiev, which has accused the protestors of separatism, has vowed a harsh crackdown.

http://rapsinews.com/legislation_news/20140414/271138819.html

[bemildred]

12. I doubt it.

Having an election provides legitimacy. The objective of the current government, as I see it, is to get to the election and obtain a result supportive of their policies, if not themselves. That is part of why the use of force is a mistake, they are repeating Yanukovich's error.

It was no accident that the Crimea election happened quickly, Putin had the advantage of knowing the outcome and being sure it would be satisfactory, so he could do it right away. Kiev doesn't have that advantage, its electorate is split, and a longer campaign will be necessary in order to "shape the electorate", but this is not the way to do it, and I don't think they wlll make it to the election if this goes on. All this fighting just makes the spilt more intense.

It is worth remembering that E. Ukraine is an arms manufacturing region. A few tanks and APCs and whatnot operated by poorly trained operators are not going to change the outcome.

Neither Putin or Kiev is in a position to force their will on Ukraine in perpetuity, they both will need the support of the population to rule and prosper there, and you won't get that by shooting at them.

[dipsydoodle]

5. Military storm airfield, town in eastern Ukraine, wounded reported - protesters.

Ukrainian troops have seized an airfield in the eastern city of Kramatorsk, said anti-government protesters. Four people were killed and two injured, activists added. At the same time Slavyansk is being raided by the Ukrainian military.
Kramatorsk

Ukrainian troops approached the military airfield in armored personnel carriers between the eastern cities of Kramatorsk and Slavyansk, the people’s militia located at the airfield told RIA Novosti on the phone.

“They started negotiating with the people’s militia, which is in control of the airfield. The shooting started unexpectedly. There are injured among the people’s militia, and there may be deaths,” they said.

Other members of the militia have blocked the entrance to Kramatorsk and are ready to defend the city, the activists added.

http://rt.com/news/kramatorsk-ukraine-attack-army-664/

Gunfire at east Ukraine airport as troops move in

IZYUM, Ukraine (AP) -- An Associated Press reporter has heard heavy gunfire at an airport in eastern Ukraine after the government sent in army troops to retake control from pro-Russian militiamen.

The mayor of Kramatorsk said Ukrainian troops have now occupied the military airport and are blocking its entrance.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_UKRAINE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2014-04-15-11-26-16

[maddezmom]

11. More deaths

[CreekDog]

14. please don't quote rt.com propaganda