Russia To Hold War Games In Show Of Strength Near Ukraine

[Purveyor]

Source: REUTERS

(Reuters) - Russia announced military exercises near the border with Ukraine on Monday in a show of strength as the Ukrainian army recaptured more territory from pro-Russian separatists in the east of the country.

The Russian air force said more than 100 aircraft, including fighter jets and bombers, were taking part in the manoeuvres this week in the central and western military districts.

The move could alarm Western powers which have accused Russia of beefing up its troops along its border with Ukraine and arming the rebels in eastern Ukraine, although Moscow denies the accusations.

The manoeuvres include missile-firing practice and will assist "coordination between aviation and anti-missile defence", Interfax news agency quoted an airforce spokesman as saying.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/05/us-ukraine-crisis-russia-military-idUSKBN0G40CH20140805

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[TwilightGardener]

1. They used the cover of exercises to invade Crimea. That said, Putin needs to

shit or get off the pot. Let's see where a real invasion gets him. Nobody believes his phony Neo-Nazi and Russian-speaker oppression pretexts anymore, he has no real justification for invasion except saving face and his popularity at home, at this point.

[TT_Progress]

2. It is time everyone pushed to reduce tensions

This is all predictable.

From what I have read, it sounds like the use of ballistic missiles is pushing further toward direct conflict.

It was not reported in the western press, but when Kiev first used the 4 ballistic missiles a little over a week ago Russia was watching and reacted. Ballistic missiles in this situation are very provocative. They can carry nuclear payloads, even if not they are exceedingly destructive.
Certainly odds were that those missiles were heading for Ukrainian territory, but every time they are launched there is a moment where it places severe tenseness on the situation. During the first launch Russia mobilized and started rushing the border. Reports are that they shot them down, and once that happened they relaxed. It is playing with fire.

Moscow doesn't have any need to enter Ukraine. As it is, (again unreported in the west), the Ukraine forces are severely demoralized and anit-war sentiment is gaining serious strength throughout the country.

Antiwar Protests Spreading in Ukraine as Government Wages All-Out War in the Southeast and NATO Threatens Russia
http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/25322-antiwar-protests-spreading-in-ukraine-as-government-wages-all-out-war-in-the-southeast-and-nato-threatens-russia

A commander yesterday effectively surrendered his unit of more than 400 men. They were severely demoralized and had been without food for weeks, and the commander felt that Ukraine was not giving him options to resolve the situation.

I am not saying that Ukraine cannot win via arms, but they will have to use more and more destructive means: And as they use heavier weapons they risk backlash in both Ukraine and in European support.

This seems like an exceedingly good time to consider alternatives.

[JDPriestly]

3. Interesting. Thanks. Peace is preferable to war.

I hope the people in Ukraine and Russia see what is happening in the Gaza strip and put an end to their conflict. War just leads to more war. And the things that are fought about are never won and never worth the killing.

[7962]

5. So Ukraine should just give up as much of their country as Russia wants?

Well, hell, we could have peace everywhere! Just give up whatever the other side wants and theres no trouble!

[Xithras]

8. Lines on a map.

How many people need to die to preserve a random line drawn on a map by some long-dead Soviet apparatchik? Why is an imaginary line more important than human life?

What the region really needs is an internationally monitored, objective election to determine where the residents actually want to reside. When the results come in, the border should be redrawn to match the desires of the people who live there.

[7962]

10. Thats ridiculous. People can move en masse somewhere and just ask for an election?

Ukraine existed long before the Soviet Union did.

[Xithras]

14. Not ridiculous

People can move en masse somewhere and just ask for an election?

Assuming they're there legitimately, then yes. A nation has a right to exist only so long as its citizens grant it that right. A nation has a right to a region only so long as its residents confer it that right. The notion that a line on a map is more important than human life, the right to self determination and freedom is offensive.

Ukraine existed long before the Soviet Union did.

None of the regions currently experiencing conflict were part of the Ukraine before the Soviet Union gave it to them, so I'm not sure what your point is. The combat areas were part of the Crimean Khanate until Russia conquered it in the late 1700's (for valid reasons, the Crimeans were slavers and had just killed or kidnapped over 200,000 Russians). After that, the region from Crimea to Donetsk was part of Novorossiya until the Soviet Union gave it to Ukraine. The northern part in the 1920's, and Crimea itself in the 1950's. The current war is basically occurring because Ukraine wants to hold onto a chunk of land given to them by some Soviet party hack, and the Russian's want it back. Both nations are willing to kill over a line on a map. The only opinion that SHOULD matter is that of the residents.

[LanternWaste]

12. That worked rather well for India and Pakistan.

That worked rather well for India and Pakistan.

[Xithras]

15. That line was drawn by the British.

The India/Pakistan border would look much different if the people who live there had been allowed to draw their own borders. Instead, we have a line drawn by some British hack, and they're still fighting over that line decades later.

[7962]

16. No, the Indians and pakistanis would be fighting over the lines THEY wanted.

[Duckhunter935]

4. too bad Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons

after the promise from Russia to respect it's borders. That promise was not worth the paper it was written on.

[Purveyor]

7. And NATO's promise not to expand to the east, indeed. Just who broke the

promise first?

[Adrahil]

9. So, former eastern-bloc nations are forbidden from...

... associating themselves as they wish because it makes their former imperial master feel uncomfortable?

Yeah... that's great.

[7962]

11. Apparently you've got it exactly correct.

[KoKo]

6. Bloomberg Business News this a.m. is pushing disinformation that

Russia is "amassing troops on the border and could be preparing for an invasion into Ukraine." They repeated this several times in their two hour business report without any back up info to support that inflammatory claim. They are reporting on the African Summit in DC. Guests are Michael Bloomberg who owns Bloomberg News (duh) and Chamber of Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzger (known as Obama's biggest fundraiser and rainmaker for his campaign for President) who is thrilled that entrepreneurs in Africa are now able to "make apps for their I-Phones." She's very excited about our just announced $14 Billion investment by US companies in Africa.

[Duckhunter935]

13. As much as I do not like Bloomberg

His rag is right about that from many sources, there is a buildup and Russia admits it is holding exercises in that area. I guess the Russians are lying also.

[reorg]

17. turns out "near the border" of Kazakhstan is nowhere near

"the border of Ukraine".

The less than precise description by Reuters appears to have immediately prompted the US State Department's Ms Psaki to state that "we are deeply concerned" by the aviation operation. "Exercises of this kind are provocative and only serve to escalate tensions" ...

Always on the lookout for a little professional banter among colleagues,

The Russian Defense Ministry said US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki should check geographical facts before raising concerns over the Russian Air Forces exercises, allegedly taking place near Ukraine. “The Defense Ministry is riveted by Ms. Psaki’s statements … and expresses its concern over her lack of basic knowledge in geography,” a Defense Ministry representative said. ... “That is why when preparing such statements, before making a fuss about it in the media, it might be useful to look up information not only on social networks ..."

RIA Novosti

Advice that even CNN was finally taking to heart when they managed to be more precise one day later:

"The exercises are taking place in Russia's southern Astrakhan region, roughly 500 miles from the border with Ukraine."

Which is what every interested party could have known had they bothered to read Russia Today in the first place. The exact location was the Ashuluk military range, just 10 miles or so away from Kazakhstan.


Likewise, the alleged "build-up" of Russian troops "near the border of Ukraine", has been reported pretty much everywhere in the West, apparently, based on nothing but NATO claims without supporting evidence.

Russia has not only rejected NATO and Pentagon claims about amassing troops on the border with Ukraine but even ridiculed the claims. Igor Konashenkov spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense said: "In Russia’s Ministry of Defense such statements only raise sympathy for the speakers of the Pentagon, the US State Department and NATO. It seems the people are serious, but they have to constantly improvise during their speeches to somehow add seriousness to their statements,"

Konashenko was referring to the fact that on Tuesday spokesperson for the Pentagon, Admiral John Kirby, said that Russia had at least 10,000 troops on the Ukraine border. The next day, NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu claimed that Russia had already amassed about 20,000 combat-ready troops on the border. This does seem to suggest that Russia has a very efficient system for moving in troops at the very least. Kornashenko claims that it would be impossible to move this number of troops in such a short time and also keep it hidden from OSCE observers who are now in the region.

Digital Journal

Ugh, yesterday's news ...