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UKRAINE’S DEFENCE CHIEF has accused Russia of sending 6,000 troops and 30 armoured personnel carriers into Crimea as the restive peninsula tries to gain broader independence from new pro-EU leaders in Kiev.
Defence Minister Igor Tenyukh told a cabinet meeting that Russia began sending these reinforcements yesterday “without warning or Ukraine’s permission, in defiance of the principle of non-infringement of state borders.”
The move comes as an AFP journalist said more than 10,000 people carrying Russian flags began protesting in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk, the stronghold of ousted president Viktor Yanukovych.
Protesters declared they supported “the aspirations of Crimea to rejoin Russia”, referring to Ukraine’s pro-Russia peninsula further south where Kiev has accused Moscow of launching an “armed invasion.”
The defence chief spoke as dozens of pro-Russian armed men in full combat gear patrolled outside the seat of power in Crimea’s capital Simferopol, a day after similar gunmen seized control over airports and government buildings in the territory.
The rugged peninsula jutting into the Black Sea — host to a Kremlin fleet and with an ethnic Russian majority — has now effectively been cut off from mainland Ukraine, with airports shut down and a pro-Kremlin militia establishing a tightly-controlled checkpoint on the main road from the mainland.
Crimea has come to the fore of a Cold War-style confrontation between the West and Russia over Ukraine, a faceoff that has also exposed the ancient cultural rifts between the pro-European west and Russian-speaking south and east of this country of 46 million.
Added to that, a referendum to determine whether residents in the flashpoint peninsula want greater autonomy has been pushed forward to March 30, the spokeswoman of the region’s newly-chosen prime minister Sergiy Aksyonov said.
The vote had originally been planned for May 25, on the same day as presidential elections set by parliament following the ouster of the pro-Moscow president Viktor Yanukovych.
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Interesting, Russia recently complained that anyone sending troops into Syria would be violating Syria’s sovereignty; meanwhile, speaking out of the other side of their mouth in Crimea,…
Won’t stop the usual suspects on here from defending Russia’s actions though…
The 6000 Russian troops are an elaborate US/Banker/Rothschild conspiracy….
…. Will say our Putinista’ apologists here.
The same people that would be going apoplectic if the US had done this.
…….and the same people with their populist policies want to run this country!
The US do do this though on a regular basis. It suddenly seem mental now that another country has done it.
The US also send troops thousands of miles from their borders into territory where the people are not pro American and dont want them there at all.
But I suppose here in the west thats ok.
First three points of the Budapest Memorandum which Russia signed up to in 1994:
1) Respect Ukrainian independence and sovereignty within its existing borders.
2) Refrain from the threat or use of force against Ukraine.
3) Refrain from using economic pressure on Ukraine in order to influence its politics.
Whatever way you look at it (and some Journalistas will predictably try and gloss over it) Russia is the aggressor with this latest move.
Of course it could be said that the difference here (compared to Syria) is that the Russian Fed is ensuring the protection of its people, an ethnic region that is pro Russia, was previously part of the Soviet empire and seemingly wants to return to the motherland, so much so that they are shortly to vote on that matter.
While obviously Russia has breached the sovereign borders of the Ukraine, to compare it to an American or other western presence is Syria is a complete joke and way off the mark IMO.
To me the Ukraine looks like it’s going to end up as another suffering state wedged between western and eastern pushes. A puppet and a play toy for the west to use in its golden endeavours to implant it’s ideal universally.
Really the US should worry about what goes on inside it’s own borders for a change. Unfortunately, the EU seems to be disappearing down the same route, searching to be a collective super power to impose its ideals on the world.
Russia wants to keep there buffer zone from the west they dont want the Eu on there door step
Less than the number of yanks that invaded Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam, Cuba, etc etc etc. a wanna b tank
One already sees massive vote rigging in a vote held there. Simple its part of Ukraine. Russia only goves a toss because of bases not the few people there.
If Crimea was to break away it shoukd be a vote for ALL of Ukraine.
Russia as always is acting the bully in self interest. Vlad the dictator or vlad the impaler strikes again
Nicole who invaded Vietnam? You should really hit the history books and read up before you make silly statements.
And Cuba who invaded them again? I believe it was all Cubans in the Bay of Pigs.
Nicole, you should ask the older generation of east Europeans about Russian tanks. This is not about Vietnam, Cuba, Afghanistan or anywhere else. This is about the here and now.
The Russians are at the front door in Ukraine and you are complaining about the Americans.
Nicole who invaded Vietnam? ”
- US did – after the French got kicke dout .
- ..Kennedy started it – and troop numbers peaked @ 549,000 in 1969 .
US has 1,000 military posts worldwide .It spends more on defence than any other country – by a long way .Its army is an army is an army for invading counties – and it has done this regularly.
It has a expansionist policy .
Have u heard of Africom
here is their site
http://www.africom.mil/ – a masterpiece of propaganda – .
They go there to prevent conflicts !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! -
yet US at home is falling apart due to corruption and overspending on war .
Jim if the US “Invaded Vietnam” why were South Vietnamese troops fighting along side US and Australian troops against the NVA who had crossed the border into South Vietnam?
Jim, the US left Vietnam 39 years ago! That war is long over. You need to move on.
It’s about US interference. So US did not invade Iraq? Or Afghanistan? What about Panama? Recent enough for you ? Hundreds of thousands died because of US aggression. It’s no excuse for Putin to meddle either but FFS don’t act like the US is just an innocent bystander. Remember CIA involvement on El Salvador? CIA in Argentina? What about Cuba? To name but a few.
Haha Mick. You really believe your own bull.
Jim if the US “Invaded Vietnam” why were South Vietnamese troops fighting along side US and Australian troops against the NVA who had crossed the border into South Vietnam?”
– THe NVA wee Vietnamese trying to free their country from foreign oppressors- such as USA and their proxy leaders in SV ..
Jim, the US left Vietnam 39 years ago! That war is long over. You need to move on.”–. The point about invasions was brought up and it is a matter of history that US have a dreasdful record on invading other countries – and human rights .
And we should not forget history . US has a global expansionist policy – unlike Russia – and any other country on planet .
To name but a few.”
- and another – Vietnam
”President John F. Kennedy became convinced that President Ngo Dinh Diem would never be able to unite the South Vietnamese against communism. Several attempts had already been made to overthrow Diem but Kennedy had always instructed the CIA and the US military forces in Vietnam to protect him. In order to obtain a more popular leader of South Vietnam, Kennedy agreed that the role of the CIA should change. Lucien Conein, a CIA operative, provided a group of South Vietnamese generals with $40,000 to carry out the coup with the promise that US forces would make no attempt to protect Diem.
At the beginning of November, 1963, President Ngo Dinh Diem was overthrown by a military coup. After the generals had promised Diem that he would be allowed to leave the country they changed their mind and killed him.”
JFK was a thug – face it .
Its time the E.U got its own army together,and not expect the U.S to defend them alll the time.This is Russia puttin it up to the European’s.
So lets look at Iraq . Saddam invaded Kuwait, tried to invade Iran would have possibly tried another country if he had been still in power, commited genocide against his own people. Should the US have left him in power? Now Afghanistan. The Taliban assisted AQ with its attack on the US and after several attack on its embassies and Navy. By their abetting of AQ in those attacks they were just as guilty. Should the US not have taken action to seek justice for its citizens? Panama. Noriagia a convicted Drug Dealer are you really trying to support him? And Panama today. Prosperous and democratic so what is the problem?
Jim. What were the South Vietnamese army then? Mongolians? It was the Communist North that launched an provoked attack against South Vietnam with Russian and Chinese backing! Study some factual history.
Mick there are two ways to be fooled. one is to believe what isn’t true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true
Traditional I assume you are in agreement with me and that. Jim refuses to accept the facts.
Jim. What were the South Vietnamese army then? Mongolians”
– No they were backing up a corrupt US backed regime .
U are trying to say US did not invade because other countries also invaded – and the army of the corrupt regime fought against other Vietnamese- . Does not wash .
Do u think that the Saudi army invaded Bahrain – and killed Bahrain people – even tho they too were fighting alongside the soldiers of a corrupt US proxy government -??????????. Same case as Vietnam – and please don’t say they were ” invited in ”
BTW a very good discussion on what an invasion is -or is not is Jimin Mhaire Thadg – by an Thathair Peadrar Oleary – should be of help.
The US fired the first shoots in vietnam lied but being under attack by NVN when USS Maddox shot first they used same tactic that started the US Spanish war the US drove the spanish out they took over lies are America’s best weapon
@ Mick : I only hope for you that you are getting paid well for this disinformation,
If they “Invaded” why did the South Vietnamese government request their assistance in reppelling an illegal invasion by the NVA. And Jim at that time South Vietnam was recognized by the world community as a Sovereign Nation separate and apart from North Vietnam. There is a great book called the 10,000 Day War. It gives a full history of Vietnam from WW II to the mid seventies when the South fell. Try reading it it may give you an insight into what you are talking about.
Russia has a seriously expansionist policy and always has. Ussr anyone? People need to stop comparing countries or trying to find good and bad guys and just focus on what’s happening now. Russia is stirring the pot and it isn’t right.
I mentioned that last night Padraic , just perhaps he’s a shill
Why should the Crimea need the permission of West Ukrainian neo fascists to request Russian protection? Crimea is an autonomous Republic with it’s own parliament who have a right to protect Crimeans from neo fascist militants. There have been Russian troops and Russian people in Crimea for hundreds of years. The Ukraine is just a few years old. Many Crimeans were born in Crimea in the Russian ssr and have a right to identify with their birth nationality. Who are you to dictate what happens there? Do you support the openly neo nazi West Ukrainians burning police and painting swastikas on government buildings? Why do you think the Crimeans should welcome these gangs?
Jay,
Russia wants to keep its Naval base and the Black Sea Fleet as a quick entry to the Med and Indian Ocean.
Unlikely IF the reports are confirmed as true looks like Russia is just trying to force Ukraine’s hand with Crimea as their target.
You will probably see a ballot in Crimean independence as part of the presidential vote if it goes ahead
A full blown wide scale conflict is unlikely
The referendum is scheduled on the 20th of March.
The best material CNN has to offer:
Twil make for a good game of call of duty next year.
Two new countries in the making, it will be broken up like the Balkans
America f**k ya!!
America should nuke the Russians!
Lisa – “Nuke the whales??”
Nelson – “I dunno, gotta nuke somethin.”
Lisa – “Touché”.
At least they have the balls to stand up to the usa unlike our eu muppeteers
Lol. By standing up you mean denting the troops are Russian. Yeah real brave
Extremely hypocritical of the states to br firing warnings at the Russians about going into another country. Any seen ‘Dirty Wars’ documentary lately!? Its up for an Oscar tomorrow night also…a must watch
Extremely hypocritical of the states to br firing warnings at the Russians about going into another country. Any seen ‘Dirty Wars’ documentary lately!? Its up for an Oscar tomorrow night also…a must watch”
– they don’t want to know – exposing their terrorist heroes – not on .
From the Guardian
”While making the documentary Dirty Wars, Scahill met the survivors of secret US hit squads in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia – and promised to tell their stories”
– If Russia did this ????????????.
fuller story and comments
http://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/nov/24/jeremy-scahill-exposing-us-dirty-war-afghanistan-pakistan-somalia-yemen
Every war is a bankers war.
Journal.ie it’s one thing reporting the “news” , it’s another to incite xenophobia with sensationalist headlines
Isn’t it just a factual headline??
How do you figure that ?
It comes via fearfax , Russian troops fly in and out of the Crimea all the time …let’s crane our necks in for the sake of universal safety
@Traditional Values
Remember your denial when this unfolds…
Traditional. Is it normal for Russian troops to seize public buildings and the Airport?
Mick
Don’t you mean unmarked Russian troops
Ok lets pretend that they aren’t Russian troops. Even though everyone knows they are.
Who’s pretending ? I was being specific they are unmarked Russian troops
Russia has no need of operating under the cover of black ops for the simple reason that Sortero has overplayed his hand , for a moment imagine the guys who searched the airport for Ukranian troops were Crimean militia , Is that a step too far in this protracted west v east hegelian dialectical exercise of support , AKA , divide and conquer …it’s as old as the hills …time we coped on
Tradition if they were Ukrainian militia then they would have commited treason. As they would have sworn to protect Ukraine from out side forces and as Russia forces are not welcome in Ukraine according to the Ukrainian government it would be their duty to oppose them not assist them in taking over a part of Sovereign Ukraine.
It’s 4 in the morning here , I’m going to watch the gooners and drift into a general feeling of malaise while you pull the finger from your arse …, there’s just no talking to you …you’re a shill ,
Do you still think they aren’t Russian troops?
The start of world war 3 I’d say.
The US want a foothold in the Ukraine so the European Union have offered billions to them, topping the kremlins offer. All well and good but this is the same European Union that have wrecked this country even though we saved the euro.
That hasn’t happened though.
Time for the iodine tablets,washed down with a liter of Russian,Hic!
Seems one needs to watch RT news and Fox News to make out the truth here. A corrupt regime has fallen and the new order are mostly extreme right wing fascists. Seems Crimea will split from Ukraine and become a protectorate of the Russians. Putin got this one very wrong and of course the imperialists US and UK are exploiting the situation. Wonder how they will work with fascists now eh? A complete mess
Did you just use Fox News and truth in the same sentence
Fox and RT ::) they should het married.
Nicole also used RT and truth in that sentence too. Russia Today and what is true are incompatible. Right now they have a show on called `Sputnik with George Galloway`. That is the same George Galloway that said that the people of New York deserved what happened to them on 9/11. It is safe to say that RT are just as bad, if not worse, than Fox News.
@ Liam : and what’s your opinion about Larry King working for RT ? you must admit they have a number of very professional journalists working there. As a reader of mainly German Newspapers (Spiegel etc) and a constant viewer of German TV RT is a welcome alternative for a more diverse viewpoint.
The key to Russia’s response in Crimea comes from the Hair Trigger legislation and government formation with inclusion of the far right and Russian-language-laws (Which isn’t an excuse). Tragically now the fear is for Tatar’s/Ukrainian in Crimea and Russian’s outside of it in Ukraine, Putin’s no fan of feeling a need to include minorities.
Do people have to be either for Russia and against America/EU or vice-versa? Reading over the reports over the last couple of months, and I think both powers are using Ukraine for their own ends. Add to this the fact that the protesters on both sides (pro-Ukraine and pro-Russian influence) are heavily influenced by some seriously dodgy politics whilst also clearly having some genuine grievances and it makes the whole situation a horrible mess. I see an increase in posturing on both sides until some sort of federalist agreement is reached for the short to medium term (with a possible referendum on the Crimea and/or eastern Ukraine in the long-term).
usa keep you noise out of this .@22@
Russia keep your nose out
About time. Send in the troops and stamp on those cockroaches. If they had the decency to work for a living then they wouldn’t have time to protest.
Don’t know why separation is being seen as a bad thing. If I was a Western Ukrainian I’d be delighted to see the more backward part of Country be cut off so the rest can push forward.
And cut yourself off from all the industrial parts of the country? Genius!
US and UK have been gazumped in Crimea and I guess they won’t be honoring their pledge to stand by Ukraine.
Noting that it was exactly 100 years ago when Britain entered WW1 pledging to stand by Belgium, how times have changed.
I don’t remember any western government signing a mutual defence treaty with Ukraine?
Your analogy = worthless.
Who said anything about a defence treaty, the US and UK are signed up to a UN charter on protecting the economic sovereignty of Ukraine. They have pledged to save the country from bankruptcy and guarantee free elections. Russia is undermining the country by annexing the Crimea region.
Traditional- putin just asked for the Russian parliament’s ok to send troops into Ukraine, what say you now?
All the US haters,… Till you need something!! Weird, with all the illegal Irish in my neighborhood you would think you like the States
Stinks alright.
If they hate the west so much & those awfull awfull freedoms they are afforded, why dont the move?
All the US haters,… Till you need something!! Weird, with all the illegal Irish in my neighborhood you would think you like the States”
- Not a case of hating US – just the continuing biased reporting . The US can get away with mass murder .
Its a hatred / severe dislike of many aspects of US foreign policy / Terrorism – and by all means – deport the illegal Irish .- send them back home . We too have neoliberal disaster .
PS
Till you need something!! Weird, with all the illegal Irish in my neighborhood you would think you like the States”
- So u have the neck to think that because thete are illegal Irish [ snd them home if u want ] – we must bow to US Terrorism .
Russia wants its 15 billion back.
Coom it never gave it in the first place.
I would think Ukraine wants its $70 billion back too…
“Right sector” is preparing provocations in Crimea against places of worship for Muslims to cause unrest on religious grounds, said the representative of “the Crimean Front” Konstantin Knyrik. Representatives of the “Front” on the last Saturday in a press conference called Crimean residents to peace and stressed that they are ready to defend the interests of all the inhabitants of the peninsula, regardless of their nationality. Crimean Cossacks are ready to help the Crimean Tatars to protect the mosque to prevent provocations.
Crimeans not want to live “in a fascist state”, where the demolition of monuments of history and prohibit Russian language, said Konstantin Knyrik. He stressed that the “Front” government support Aksenov.
Knyrik also denied accusations of involvement “of the Crimean front” to seize the House of Trade Unions, where the press information center. Seizure occurred on Saturday: masked men broke into the building. Now press center remains under their protection.
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