Russia to hold new military exercises in southwest

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-EXCITE

By YURAS KARMANAU

SLOVYANSK, Ukraine (AP) - Russia's defense minister on Thursday announced new military exercises along the Ukrainian border just hours after Ukrainian troops killed at least two pro-Russia insurgents in eastern Ukraine.

The clashes were the first since acting President Oleksandr Turchynov ordered the resumption Tuesday of military operations in eastern Ukraine, where pro-Russia protesters and masked gunmen have seized government buildings in at least 10 cities and set up roadblocks.

In St. Petersburg, Russian President Vladimir Putin decried what he described as Ukraine's "punitive operation" and threatened Kiev with unspecified consequences.

"If the Kiev government is using the army against its own people this is clearly a grave crime," Putin said.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20140424/DADCH7E02.html

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Black smoke billows from burning tires at a checkpoint following an attack by Ukrainian troops outside Slovyansk, Ukraine, Thursday, April 24, 2014. Ukrainian government troops moved against pro-Russia forces in the east of the country on Thursday and killed at least two of them in clashes at checkpoints manned by the insurgents, the government and insurgents said. Russian President Vladimir Putin decried what he described as a "punitive operation." (AP Photo/Mika Velikovskiy)

[dipsydoodle]

1. Map of town/city locations here

Odessa is playing up too.

[TwilightGardener]

2. Ukraine is forcing Russia's hand--a challenge to them to actually

invade, with IDENTIFIABLE Russian troops (real foreigners in a real foreign invasion)--not what Pooty Poot wants. He wants Russians living in Ukraine to do his dirty (and expensive) work for him.

[uhnope]

3. Russians living in Ukraine or Russian military/thugs/ who sneak across the border

in plainclothes to do the dirty work.

[Bosonic]

4. Ukraine FM: We are ready to fight Russia

Ukraine FM: We are ready to fight Russia

PRAGUE (AP) — Ukraine's foreign minister has blasted the Russian decision to start military maneuvers along Ukraine's border and said his country will fight any invading troops.

Andriy Deshchytisa said Russia's decision Thursday to launch the military exercises "very much escalates the situation in the region."

Talking to The Associated Press in Prague, Deshchytisa says his country has been taught a lesson by Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. He says "having this experience, we will now fight with Russian troops if ... they invade Ukraine."

He says "Ukrainian people and Ukrainian army are ready to do this."

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/apr/24/ukraine-fm-we-are-ready-to-fight-russia/

[dipsydoodle]

6. He seems oblivious to the fact

that Odessa today declared that Ukraine is now in a civil war.

[Bosonic]

7. Odessa or some dudes in Odessa ?

Also link?

[dipsydoodle]

8. Don't recall where that was now

but there was also mention today that they want all states to have separate referendums. This was unassociated with news from Odessa 16th April but obviously a run on from that.

[Bosonic]

9. who is 'they'?

[dipsydoodle]

10. Whover has taken over there

and no longer recognises Kiev.

[Bosonic]

11. Taken over?

This is from Al-Jazeera today, no mention of taking over/widespread occupation...

http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/4/24/turmoil-in-east-ukrainereachesacrosscountrytoodessa.html

[penultimate]

13. chuck norris.

Ukraine is screwed now.

[penultimate]

12. Proof that Texas and the texas rangers are involved.

[Bosonic]

5. US slams new Russian military exercises near Ukraine

US slams new Russian military exercises near Ukraine

(Reuters) - The Pentagon sharply criticized Russia's announcement on Thursday that it was starting military drills near the border with Ukraine and called on Moscow to take steps to lower, not escalate, tensions.

Moscow has said the drills were a response to Ukrainian operations against pro-Russian separatists and NATO exercises in eastern Europe.

"The Russian announcement of additional exercises on the Ukrainian border is exactly opposite of what we have been calling on the Russians to do, which is to de-escalate the situation," Pentagon spokesman Colonel Steve Warren told reporters.

"So we again call on them to act responsibly, to de-escalate this situation and to help all parties bring this crisis to a peaceful resolution."

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/24/us-ukraine-crisis-pentagon-idUSBREA3N1Y320140424

[Bodhi BloodWave]

14. why do i have this wierd mental image of some of those officers going

How dare Russia announce more military exercises when we SPECIFICALLY told them to de-escalate, don't they know that *WE* are to be obeyed regardless of where we send our troops and what we do.