Russo-Ukraine War 2017 (January-April)

[OUTLAW 09]

Interfax: Russian government approves inclusion of South Ossetian armed forces into the Russian armed forces.

The Russian military annexation solidifies

Russian Army TV: "The DPR have established State border with Ukraine"
https://twitter.com/zvezdanews/status/841231077985398784#

[OUTLAW 09]

No video on either the cited link and their link to Al-Jazzera.

video link was rediscovered...
https://youtu.be/HGyMh6NS8bs

[OUTLAW 09]

Was posted yesterday..but important to point out again....and again..and again....

Former separatist leader Girkin: There are no volunteers from #Russia fighting in Donbas. They are regulars & serving under contract.

Last SBU count of Rzussian troops was in fact 8700 and climbing.....

[OUTLAW 09]

CONFIRMED: Russian armour & AA radar systems on train yesterday, March 12th 2017.
https://twitter.com/Liveuamap/status/841259874453487616
https _t.co_GvsjuzBh6U https _t.co_Vpg0kHxt1X

National Guards Of #Russia have been put into combat readiness for the first time ever, they are directly subordinated to the Rus Pres.

Toxic Remnants War‏ @detoxconflict
New maps from @ZoiEnvironment plot recent #environmental damage in conflict in the #Donbas region of #Ukraine
http://www.trwn.org/new-data-on-uk

[OUTLAW 09]

Ukraine’s fight against fake news goes global

Countering Kremlin disinformation is one area where Kiev has the upper hand.

By Vijai Maheshwari
3/12/17, 10:30 PM CET

http://www.politico.eu/article/on-the-fake-news-frontline/?utm_source=POLITICO.EU&utm_campaign=e9d6149d93-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_03_13&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_10959edeb5-e9d6149d93-189575777

[OUTLAW 09]

Seized #Ukrainian soldiers ‘confess’ #Ukraine hand in killing of #Motorola, ##Givi & terrorism in #Donbas & #Russia
http://khpg.org/en/index.php?id=1489189179 …

[OUTLAW 09]

Who Shelled This Apartment Building in Avdiivka? New, detailed #MinskMonitor analysis on @DFRLab.
https://medium.com/dfrlab/who-shelled-this-apartment-building-in-avdiivka-b8698be0a67d …

[OUTLAW 09]

Donbas: Yesterday 97 attacks on Ukr positions, #Luhanske was under 152-mm artillery fire. One Ukr soldier killed, 8 wounded.

Maryinka
05:38 Over 20 powerful ka-booms, can hear heavy artillery working at E, S-E, plus local AR shootouts and AGLs tow sovkhoz/stables

Calmed down after 7:30AM.

[OUTLAW 09]

Convoys of Russian military near Ukrainian border in Rostov region pic.twitter.com/PvcszkuNyY
http://liveuamap.com/en/2017/13-march-convoys-of-russian-military-near-ukrainian-border#

[OUTLAW 09]

What the hell of an excuse is this?

Pilot of Rus plane that crashed nr Sochi killing 92 possibly disoriented by reflection of stars in sea -@kommersant
http://www.kommersant.ru/doc/3241365

Are not pilots trained to watch their instruments....

[OUTLAW 09]

Ukrainian nationalists build wall in front of Russian bank in Kiev after it says it will recognise rebel passports:
http://www.rferl.org/a/kyiv-ukraine-russia-sberbank-protests/28367028.html#

Some leading Ukrainian politicians want the Russian bank totally closed and out of the Ukraine..as it is controlled by a major Russian oligarch who is behind Putin and is used for Russia corruption and money laundering....

[OUTLAW 09]

Protests sweep across Ukraine over Kryvy Torets trade blockade dispersal (photo, video)
https://www.unian.info/society/182164

[OUTLAW 09]

DIGITAL FORENSIC RESEARCH LAB: Analyzing the evidence presented by Ukraine accusing Russia of supporting... separatists....
http://fb.me/158JHkNYZ

AND then you have this....
Embassy of Ukraine in UK has reached the Lord Balfe’s office to confirm his alleged statement "Crimea a historical part of Russia”.

A member of House, Lord Balfe, conservative, approved the occupation of Crimea by Russia.
http://www.stalkerzone.org/member-uk-house-lords-crimea-historical-part-russia/#

[OUTLAW 09]

Russia has alerted 9 #ICBM regiments to a snap drill. Most likely a routine exercise.

Southern Military District Commander personally supervises combat readiness checks
https://twitter.com/zvezdanews/status/841585597483491328#

[OUTLAW 09]

Russian Armed Forces TV: "United States attacked Russia's sphere [of influence] through the Maidan - expert"
https://twitter.com/zvezdanews/status/841584394762633217#

[OUTLAW 09]

Avdiivka: blackout again, electricity cut after shelling. Repaired only yesterday

[OUTLAW 09]

Critical.....

By appeasing #Russia &profiteering from it, #Ukraine’s West-misguided elites are exploding a country of 42M.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fA4M2aoLKGk#

[OUTLAW 09]

Wave of protests sweeps #Ukraine after crackdown on vet-led trade blockade of #Russia-held #Donbas. #блокадаДонбасу
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_RZ2tVgRVk#

[OUTLAW 09]

Already 108 Ukrainian army casualties during the first 13 days of March 2017.

9 KIA
99 WIA

#Putin escalates it once again.

[OUTLAW 09]

Donetsk "People's Republic" boss Zakharchenko says giving Dzhigurda citizenship was a "technical error"
http://dnr-online.ru/nikita-dzhigurda-lishen-grazhdanstva-doneckoj-narodnoj-respubliki-aleksandr-zaxarchenko/#

[OUTLAW 09]

Clashes with police in downtown Kyiv as far-right protesters attack an office of Russian bank
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8biMQaMvD4o&feature=youtu.be#

[OUTLAW 09]

2 branches of Russia's Interior Ministry could move to the new National Guard, incl the powerful anti-extremism cops
http://m.rosbalt.ru/russia/2017/03/14/1598336.html#

[OUTLAW 09]

Moscow’s objective – gain land corridor to Crimea by seizing Mariupol, Ukrainian…
http://euromaidanpress.com/2017/03/15/moscows-objective-gain-land-corridor-to-crimea-by-seizing-mariupol-ukrainian-analyst-says-euromaidan-press/#

Has been a primary goal since Odessa 2014...which failed

[OUTLAW 09]

Donetsk Since 5:50AM battle in #Spartak area, incl. with big guns.

[OUTLAW 09]

TASS‏
Verified @tassagency_en
Ukraine’s current authorities unable to prevent country’s collapse — experts
http://tass.com/world/935632

Meanwhile in #Kremlin media, efforts are being intensified to destabilize #Ukraine.
Synchronized with recent military escalation in #Donbas.

[OUTLAW 09]

Ukraine makes paramilitary blockade of rebel regions official. Demands Russia proxies there return stolen companies

Ukraine announces economic blockade of rebel-held areas

Kiev demands rebels hand back businesses they seized before cargo traffic with separatists-held areas can resume.

[OUTLAW 09]

Lavrov just declared Russian Empire as predecessor to Soviet Union.

Lavrov declared of EU attempts to break up many centuries long connections in Post-Soviet domain.

Lavrov: #Russia deals with neighbors based on principle of equal rights & respect for other’s interests. #Ukraine, #Georgia would disagree.

[OUTLAW 09]

What The Heck????

Crimea's de facto head Aksyonov calls to establish monarchy in Russia
https://www.unian.info/politics/1824332-crimeas-de-facto-head-aksyonov-calls-to-establish-monarchy-in-russia.html#

[davidbfpo]

I am trying to keep the Ukraine at War thread focused on events within the war, with some other factors. So I have just moved eight posts on Russian military activity to the thread covering that topic.

[OUTLAW 09]

Polish & Ukrainian FMs accuse Russia of staging attacks on memorials to upset bilateral ties.

Highly plausible.

Time to monitor monuments?

[OUTLAW 09]

US mercenary R. Bentley admits killing #Ukrainian soldiers. Russia helps him to illegally enter #Ukraine & produces his propaganda videos.

[OUTLAW 09]

Something is up tonight.....

Occupied Donbas: Russian tanks/IFVs revving engines (again) tonight, checking comms & data nets. No movement (yet). via [Weps/CPO]

[OUTLAW 09]

Russia launched a campaign to humiliate officials from Moldova as they travel to Russia.
http://reut.rs/2nn0zIu

Moldova says Russia laundered, funneled $22.3 billion through Moldova banks, derails laundering probe.

[OUTLAW 09]

Russian ground forces capability & readiness on Ukraine's eastern border and occupied Crimea probably explains this
http://www.uawire.org/news/ukrainian-minister-of-defense-urged-reserve-officers-to-return-to-the-service-in-the-armed-forces#

[OUTLAW 09]

Peskov thinks work of Russian banks in Ukraine is not necessary

According to DTEK holding (Akhmetov):all of its assets in the separatist-controlled areas of Donbass had been seized

Transport blockade of Donbass contrary to the conscience and common sense - Lavrov

Gryzlov declared the actions of Ukraine contrary to the Minsk agreements

[OUTLAW 09]

6 Ukrainian Soldiers Wounded; Homes Damaged by Russia-Backed Shelling Near Mariupol

[OUTLAW 09]

ATO report 91 enemy attacks from all kinds of weapons over last day. 4 Ukrainian soldiers wounded.

[OUTLAW 09]

The proclamation of independence of Carpathian Ukraine can be considered first step to full independence of Ukraine
http://uacrisis.org/53702-progoloshennya-samostijnosti-karpatskoyi-ukrayini#

[OUTLAW 09]

Gazprom surrender. Ukraine gets new trump card
https://www.unian.info/economics/1825931-gazprom-surrender-ukraine-gets-new-trump-card.html#

[OUTLAW 09]

Halya Coynash: FSB abduct and threaten to bury Crimean Tatar alive to force false testimony
http://news.quiboat.com/nb70KjT7

Russian Forbes reports on the progress with Crimea's main infrastructural projects - airport, bridge, roads
http://www.forbes.ru/biznes-photogallery/340893-tri-goda-rossiyskogo-kryma-chto-proishodit-s-samymi-dorogimi-stroykami#

[OUTLAW 09]

Will see if the Russians publish anything on this speech....

MFA Russia 🇷🇺
✔
@mfa_russia
#Zakharova: On March 23, #Lavrov will deliver a lecture on Russia’s role in global politics for senior officers at the General Staff Academy

[OUTLAW 09]

GRU employed their Italian shill from Difesa, opened fire to mimic Ukraine Army attack to get a staged incident as a spin in foreign media.

[OUTLAW 09]

InformNapalm English @en_informnapalm
Identification of an occupier from the Russian 137th Reconnaissance Battalion in #Donetsk
https://informnapalm.org/en/russian-cockroaches-identification-occupier-russian-137th-reconnaissance-battalion-donetsk/#

[OUTLAW 09]

23 #civilians killed, 107 wounded in Donbas over last three months.

[OUTLAW 09]

Russia pushing more military equipment to Ukrainian border
http://liveuamap.com/en/2017/16-march-russia-pushing-more-military-equipment-to-ukrainian#
pic.twitter.com/e4u4ywAtzl

[OUTLAW 09]

Heavy Fighting in #Avdeevka, #Yasynuvata and the #Svitlodarsk_Bulge this evening

[OUTLAW 09]

Ukraine reports 77 enemy attacks, 2 KIA, 8 WIA in last day

Putin has sent the 62nd ammunition re-supply convoy to his army invading Europe.

[OUTLAW 09]

Russian paper @Vedomosti runs a ballsy front-page leader saying annexation of Crimea legitimised post-truth politics
http://www.vedomosti.ru/opinion/articles/2017/03/17/681578-tri-goda

OR as the Trump WH says...."alternative facts"......#

[OUTLAW 09]

Head of Pro-RU "Serbian People's Party" Nenad Popovic visited occupied Crimea, had a speech in Parliament,Simferopol
http://www.eurointegration.com.ua/news/2017/03/17/7063165/#

[OUTLAW 09]

The DNR declared the current contact line in #Donbas the "State border of Donetsk the People's Republic."
Another nail in the #Minsk coffin.

[OUTLAW 09]

18:20 #Yenakiieve @ZloyEnakievec For more than an hour heavy artillery of [RU] is working, the direction of #Panteleymonivka, #Ozeryanivka
18:52 #Horlivka #Stroitel @ahab9889 #Shyroka_Balka: mortaring

19:25 #Yasynuvata @19sps A series of heavy impacts in #Vynohradnyky direction [=SE of #Avdiivka] [#now]

[OUTLAW 09]

There was assassination attempt on one of LNR commanders -Marshuba
pic.twitter.com/CKTO2BJL3K
http://liveuamap.com/en/2017/17-march-there-was-assassination-attempt-on-one-of-lnr-commanders#

Chief of LNR group wants referendum to join Russian Federation
http://liveuamap.com/en/2017/17-march-chief-of-lnr-group-wants-referendum-to-join-russian#

[OUTLAW 09]

Ankara bans Turkish ships from visiting Russian-occupied Crimea
http://euromaidanpress.com/2017/03/18/ankara-bans-turkish-ships-from-visiting-russian-occupied-crimea/#

[OUTLAW 09]

1 Ukrainian Soldiers Killed by IED, 1 Wounded; 60 Attacks; Russian-Made Weapons Cache Found

[OUTLAW 09]

USA / UKRAINE: @CNNPolitics: Ex-Trump campaign chief Paul Manafort may have to testify in Ukraine corruption case.
http://cnn.it/2mYJnaN

[OUTLAW 09]

There was assassination attempt on one of LNR commanders -Marshuba
pic.twitter.com/CKTO2BJL3K
http://liveuamap.com/en/2017/17-march-there-was-assassination-attempt-on-one-of-lnr-commanders#

Chief of LNR group wants referendum to join Russian Federation
http://liveuamap.com/en/2017/17-march-chief-of-lnr-group-wants-referendum-to-join-russian#


Russia is getting rid of inconvenient witnesses for The Hague — Mark#Feigin
http://euromaidanpress.com/2017/03/18/russia-is-getting-rid-of-inconvenient-witnesses-for-the-hague-mark-feigin/#
…

[OUTLAW 09]

112 attacks by Russian Hybrid Army on Ukrainian positions yesterday. 4 Ukrainian soldiers killed, 3 wounded.

[OUTLAW 09]

New Gerasimov article on nature of warfare
https://russiamil.wordpress.com/2017/03/17/new-gerasimov-article-on-nature-of-warfare/#
… via @russmil

Russian Military Reform
Tracking developments in the Russian military


March 17, 2017 by Dmitry Gorenburg

New Gerasimov article on nature of warfare


Valery Gerasimov, the Chief of the Russian General Staff, has published a new article on the nature of modern warfare. Given how much attention has been paid to his 2013 article on this topic, it seems worthwhile to quickly review what’s changed in the last four years.
The most important observation, though, is how much hasn’t changed. Gerasimov still focuses on the American origin of hybrid warfare, both attributing the origin of the term to American theoretical writings and discussing its implementation in the Middle East, and particularly in Syria.
Gerasimov’s discussion of the origins of the conflict in Syria is worth citing at length. He notes that in the first stage, internal Syrian tensions were transformed into armed actions by the opposition. The opposition was supported by foreign trainers and an active information war from abroad. Subsequently, terrorist groups supplied and organized from abroad then entered the conflict against Syrian government forces. The conclusion that Gerasimov draws is that hybrid warfare is actively practiced by the United States and other NATO members, in large part because this type of action does not fall under the definition of aggression.
Nevertheless, Gerasimov isn’t eager to assume that the hybrid warfare concept is here to stay or to introduce it into official Russian discourse. Instead he focuses (as in the 2013 article) on the continuing erasure of the boundary between conditions of war and peace. He highlights that it is more and more common for a country’s sovereignty and national security to be threatened in peacetime. The spectrum of reasons for use of military force is continually expanding, with force being more often used to secure a state’s economic interests or to enforce democratic values in another country.
Much of this is a repeat of the 2013 argument, with the focus on Western states using a wide spectrum of measures (political, economic, diplomatic, informational) combined with the “protest potential of the population,” to ensure that their interests are observed. Cyber warfare is added to this list, with an example of cyber attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure.
What seems interesting to me is the second half of the article, where Gerasimov discusses how Russia is responding to this heightened risk of “new generation” warfare. Here, Gerasimov drops all the discussion of hybrid and information warfare. Instead, his focus is very much old school: a discussion of strategic deterrence with nuclear weapons and long range aviation. To this is added the development of long range cruise missiles and other precision-guided munitions, next generation fighter aircraft, modern ships, etc. There is also a discussion of advances in automation and electronic warfare. In other words, Russia is preparing to respond to this threat environment by strengthening its conventional and nuclear military capability. There is virtually no discussion of Russian efforts to engage in information warfare or hybrid warfare of any kind. “Little green men” play no role in this vision of Russian military power. Instead, we are given to understand that Russia will respond to any aggression with overwhelming force.

[OUTLAW 09]

Some light humor.....

Ex chief of Russia space program found dead in detention cell with two knife wounds in heart, severed throat, police say it MIGHT be murder probably as usual a "heart attack"...

He had been arrested for major corruption and failed rocket starts...

Now Russian prison police are claiming....."suicide"....

[OUTLAW 09]

Ukr "Kyivska Rus" batt's (54th brigade) dugout, direct hit. Fortunately no casualties there.

[OUTLAW 09]

For little Latvia, sending a brigade for #nato exercise at @USArmyEurope base is largest deployment in history.
http://www.stripes.com/news/largest-deployment-in-latvian-history-takes-place-at-nato-exercise-in-germany-1.459166#.WMw5-7WkrYU#

[OUTLAW 09]

.@bellingcat exposes tanks near #Ukraine's Buhaivka proving #Russia proxies violate heavy weapon withdrawal agrmnts!
https://www.bellingcat.com/news/uk-and-europe/2017/03/17/tanks-buhaivka-training-facility-eastern-ukraine/#…

[OUTLAW 09]

video link was rediscovered...
https://youtu.be/HGyMh6NS8bs


Reference the comment concerning what appeared to be the open air preparation of the shipping of a US ABCT on the East Coast.......

There have been now confirmed two initial US SeaLift Command leased ROROs scheduled to pick up the equipment .....

Have also noted two ARC Cargo Ship (Integrity-Honor) booked in March by US Military, East Coast
https://already-happened.com/2017/03/16/two-arc-cargo-ship-integrity-honor-booked-in-march-by-us-military-east-coast/#…

Still guessing this is a standard move of one ABCT to Europe as the first one on the ground there was scheduled to leave after six months....and it is typical for similar BCT moves to Iraq....from the same area...

ABCT involved is from the 3ID......

[OUTLAW 09]

Azor...remember those continuous ongoing Russian demos....

They are getting ever so slowly larger and larger.....

In #StPetersburg, #Russia, there's a large #protest rally against poor economic conditions:

BTW..Putin's home base....

[OUTLAW 09]

The first #Ukrainian military killed by #Russia in UA was Sergey #Kokurin. An ethnic #Russian. On this day 3 yrs ago.

[OUTLAW 09]

Macron in @BILD : Putin, Trump and the British dream of a weak Europe. "#Brexit negotiations will be very strict."
http://bit.ly/2nxJpYC

[OUTLAW 09]

German intel chief to @DerSPIEGEL: Russia has doubled military on W border. "Threat is up, can't be seen as defense"
http://liveuamap.com/en/2017/18-march-german-intel-chief-tells-derspiegel-that-russia#

[OUTLAW 09]

Shots were fired at OSCE monitors near Donetsk Filter station yesterday pic.twitter.com/pVa8dYf0mr

[OUTLAW 09]

The Kremlin regime celebrates the "reunification" with Crimea.
A blueprint for the Baltics.
Meanwhile Trump threatens to abandon Europe.

Телеканал ЗВЕЗДА‏
Verified account
#
@zvezdanews
Крым! Россия! Навсегда! - по всей стране проходят торжества в честь воссоединения Крыма и РФ

ВИДЕО: http://tvzvezda.ru/news/vstrane_i_mire/content/201703181316-4r93.htm#…

[OUTLAW 09]

More US recce aircraft arriving in UK

Combat Sent entering UK airspace...

USAF #RC135U 64-14847 CORBA55

The RC-135U Combat Sent provides strategic electronic reconnaissance information to the president, secretary of defense, Department of Defense leaders.

[OUTLAW 09]

And more coming out of Germany...potentially part of ongoing NATO and Us exercises...first time seen though....

EC-130H Herc tracking over the UK...... Compass Call is an EW platform

[OUTLAW 09]

Reference the comment concerning what appeared to be the open air preparation of the shipping of a US ABCT on the East Coast.......

There have been now confirmed two initial US SeaLift Command leased ROROs scheduled to pick up the equipment .....

Have also noted two ARC Cargo Ship (Integrity-Honor) booked in March by US Military, East Coast
https://already-happened.com/2017/03/16/two-arc-cargo-ship-integrity-honor-booked-in-march-by-us-military-east-coast/#…

Still guessing this is a standard move of one ABCT to Europe as the first one on the ground there was scheduled to leave after six months....and it is typical for similar BCT moves to Iraq....from the same area...

ABCT involved is from the 3ID......

Extremely interesting is this now ongoing......

US Navy P-8A Poseidon "Sub-Hunter" orbiting off the Florida - Georgia Coast where Russian spy ships were recently spotted...

Did Russian spy ship plant an underwater monitoring system....as this area is where US military shipping lanes cross ....

Sub hunter was not in a training mode appeared to be intensively looking for something...

[OUTLAW 09]

4 Ukrainian Soldiers Killed, 5 Wounded in Battles in Last 24 Hours; UA Army Returns Fire in Shirokino

85 Russian supported attacks on UAF positions all along Minsk 2 frontlines....

[OUTLAW 09]

Jan 2017: 3rd Motor Rifle Div forward deployment training at Mulino, Nizhny Novgorod reg: field camp & vehicle park
http://tvzvezda.ru/news/forces/content/201701091442-t4ta.htm#

[OUTLAW 09]

Russia is building up its military presence in #Georgia. New S-300 in occupied #Abkhazia"
https://informnapalm.org/en/russia-building-military-presence-georgia-new-s-300-occupied-abkhazia/#

Putin's attempt to intimidate Ukraine...Georgia and NATO....

AND to push the A2AD bubble deeper into NATO air space....

[OUTLAW 09]

Military echelon arrived in Kerch last night
https://liveuamap.com/en/2017/19-march-military-echelon-arrived-in-kerch-last-night#
…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vb8cZqBcPQU#

[OUTLAW 09]

Russia’s new 8th Combined Arms Army (Novocherkassk HQ) was created specifically to confront Ukraine. Partly operational in June 2017

[OUTLAW 09]

Kerch, occupied #Crimea @CrimeaUA1 Pipes from the bridge construction site along the shore
http://kerch.com.ru/articleview.aspx?id=64620#
…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEEOMtgRvFg#

So is the bridge falling apart now????

[OUTLAW 09]

Eliot Higgins
✔
@EliotHiggins
Geolocated: Russian Military Convoys Near Ukrainian Border
https://medium.com/dfrlab/geolocated-russian-military-convoys-near-ukrainian-border-afee48a52527#.z2jp2mnll#

[OUTLAW 09]

Mar19 #Avdiivka @666_mancer Aftermath of shellings
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31OCg7Ghik4#

[OUTLAW 09]

MORE US recce operations over Germany and Baltic maybe due to the vast ongoing NATO exercises and the Russian ongoing snap exercises in response to them....AS well as increased Russian troop units along Ukrainian border...

Combat Sent heading over France @ 33,000ft
USAF #RC135U 64-14847 COBRA55

Leaving the Baltics, heading west. RTB RAF Mildenhall...
USAF #RC135W 62-4138 FOWL27

[OUTLAW 09]

Rivet Joint heading west, P-8A Poseidon heading east towards #Kaliningrad
Still out there @ 31,000ft west of #Kaliningrad
USAF #RC135W 62-4138 FOWL27

[OUTLAW 09]

Extremely interesting is this now ongoing......

US Navy P-8A Poseidon "Sub-Hunter" orbiting off the Florida - Georgia Coast where Russian spy ships were recently spotted...

Did Russian spy ship plant an underwater monitoring system....as this area is where US military shipping lanes cross ....

Sub hunter was not in a training mode appeared to be intensively looking for something...

Second search day by a P-8A in the same exact spot....

[davidbfpo]

Kerch, occupied #Crimea @CrimeaUA1 Pipes from the bridge construction site along the shore....So is the bridge falling apart now????

Outlaw 09,

The tubes are used for piling i.e. the foundations for the bridge. The Straits are famous for their currents, especially in the winter and they probably slipped off the barge that was photographed.

Which begs the question why was the barge not secured in a harbour?

[OUTLAW 09]

The New Handbook For Cyberwar Is Being Written By Russia
https://www.buzzfeed.com/sheerafrenkel/the-new-handbook-for-cyberwar-is-being-written-by-russia?utm_term=.uw6Ka3d2Dl#

[OUTLAW 09]

Kremlin apologists like to claim Crimea invasion was bloodless. In reality, it marked start of Ukraine hybrid war that has killed 10,000+

Russia MoD started a new airborne troop snap exercise in Crimea...

[OUTLAW 09]

BREAKING: Tymchuk breaks the news on identifying Russian terrorists Abwehr from #Donetsk. Has ties to GRU Gloomy.
http://sprotyv.info/ru/news/kiev/zapiski-abvera-o-kontrabande-uglya-ubiyce-hmurom-shayke-vostok-i-tovarishche-ahmetove-foto#

Russian terrorist Abwehr Russian passport received on 18 Dec 2015 for his contribution in Crimean operation & Donbas
https://informnapalm.org/34446-zapiski-abvera/#

Abwehr was ex-head of DNR Counter Intelligence Agency. As of 12 May 2014 2nd in command of DNR army.

Abwehr reported Gloomy is marauder, abuses local CI resources, kills people for no reason, makes hostile takeovers.

Russian terrorists Abwehr was ex-SBU, turned by Russians in Crimea. Had active role in Crimea annexation.

Abwehr attempted to reduce power of #Girkin, Gloomy, Khodakovsky and others. .

BTW..he is sitting next to Gloomy in this photo...

[OUTLAW 09]

Open letter from EU security experts to @FedericaMog: please start taking Russian #disinformation threat seriously!
http://www.europeanvalues.net/mogherini/?utm_source=POLITICO.EU&utm_campaign=51021ec64a-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_03_20&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_10959edeb5-51021ec64a-189022685#

Ukraine says Russia hasn't fulfilled single clause of Minsk accords

[OUTLAW 09]

Russian forces in Crimea practice putting down "illegal armed formations," i.e. "little green men."
http://www.vesti.ru/doc.html?id=2867973

Seem to be practicing against "themselves"....

[OUTLAW 09]

Donbas seeing de-escalation amid 50 attacks on Ukraine army in last day

[OUTLAW 09]

OCCRP @OCCRP
Why is the Russian government trying to stop the #Moldova's investigation into the #Laundromat? Find out Monday, Mar. 20th on @OCCRP.

[OUTLAW 09]

Paul Goble: Proposed citizenship law opens the way for Moscow to annex other countries
http://bit.ly/2mjMNGh


Staunton, March 14 – Given their obsession with imperial projects, Aleksandr Golts says, anything Konstantin Zatulin or Natalya Poklonskaya proposes invites to be interpreted in that light, even if what they are talking about is no more than asserting what the proper rules of arithmetic are for Russian citizens.

Thus, the Russian commentator writes in Yezhednevny zhurnal, their latest proposal,, one that calls for offering Russian citizenship to all whose ancestors lived in the USSR “or even in the Russian Empire,” as long as they know Russian, appears to be less “a jus soli” as it has been advertised but rather “a law for annexation” (ej.ru/?a=note&id=30850).

Under the terms of their proposal, he says, “the overwhelming majority of residents of the post-Soviet state would gain the right to [Russian] citizenship” and wouldn’t even be required by Moscow to give up their citizenship in these states, thereby creating a large and potentially dangerous class of dual citizens without the bilateral agreements international law requires.

Had such a law been adopted in the early 1990s, “it undoubtedly would have been just” given that Russia declared itself to be “the legal successor of the Soviet Union and took responsibility for all its citizens, Golts says. But at that time and for more than a decade thereafter, Moscow did all it could to make getting Russian citizenship difficult.

Even now, the proposed law might not seem all that much of an innovation were it not for the well-known positions of the two authors and “the reputation of the Russian state standing behind their backs,” including that of its head, Vladimir Putin. And Zatulin and Poklonskaya have not been shy about what they are really about in taking this step today.

Zatulin, for instance, told Ekho Moskvy that under the terms of their proposed law, “now, the right to receive Russian citizenship will be obtained by Russian speakers living on the territory of Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan and now on,” with no mention whatsoever that those claiming it would need to move to Russia itself.

It should be remembered, Golts continues, that “the massive handing out of Russian passports in Abkhazia and South Ossetia was on4e of the most important provoking factors which led to the war with Georgia.” And now, there is “no doubt” that “thousands” of Donbass residents will seek to replace the documents of the self-proclaimed republics with Russian ones.

In this way, the Russian commentator says, “will be formed on Ukrainian territory enclaves populated by citizens of Russia.”# And after that, there can be little doubt that Moscow will push for the legalization of the existence of those enclaves and the full participation of the Russian citizens in Russian life.

One immediate consequence of this, Golts observes, is that Putin will gain a new group of voters in the upcoming elections. But more than that, this move means that “Novorossiya” all the Kremlin denials notwithstanding will “de facto become a reality.” And once that is done, he suggests, Moscow may move to do the same thing in other parts of the former Soviet space.

[OUTLAW 09]

11:17 #Donetsk @The_Ukrop A Volkswagen tranporter went through #Topaz with "cargo 200" [=the dead] plate

Cargo 200 is the Russian symbol for carrying war dead...

[OUTLAW 09]

Report: @Nbattalion @InfoResist reported heavy fighting near #Mariupol including tanks and Grad
https://inforesist.org/volonteryi-soobshhayut-o-tyazhelyih-boyah-u-mariupolya-boeviki-prut-na-tankah-i-strelyayut-iz-grada/#

14:24 #Dokuchaevsk @YoZhyKvtumane Heavy outgoing fire. Battle in the west

[OUTLAW 09]

Maybe a major offensive now underway at Mariupol....

Reports including from the #ATO Press Center continue to come in on what maybe a major escalation on #Mariupol
http://newnews.in.ua/srochno-na-mariupol-sunut-vorozhi-tanki-teroristi-gatyat-z-gradiv/#

Large number of tanks being reported involved in the initial fighting against UAF positions.....UAF heavy artillery is now engaging them....

Much of the fighting near #Mariupol centers around #Vodyane

Fighting now reported North of #Mariupol in #Dokuchajevsk

Ukrainian military says it destroyed an enemy position after it came under heavy fire east of #Mariupol

BREAKING: One Ukrainian soldier killed, 8 wounded in Russian Hybrid Army attack on #Vodyane east of #Mariupol. Mortars, 152/122mm artillery, tanks, GRADs used

And before anyone claims "the Ukrainian army tried to further advance":Battle is for post-#Minsk built (pro-)#Russian position.

The Russian mercenaries had hoisted a Russian flag over the position and held it for 13 months...UAF is now moving on it...why did the UAF take so long....OSCE forbid it....

Report of now 4 KIA in the escalation of fighting near #Mariupol

[OUTLAW 09]

Maybe a major offensive now underway at Mariupol....

Reports including from the #ATO Press Center continue to come in on what maybe a major escalation on #Mariupol
http://newnews.in.ua/srochno-na-mariupol-sunut-vorozhi-tanki-teroristi-gatyat-z-gradiv/#

Large number of tanks being reported involved in the initial fighting against UAF positions.....UAF heavy artillery is now engaging them....

Much of the fighting near #Mariupol centers around #Vodyane

Fighting now reported North of #Mariupol in #Dokuchajevsk

Ukrainian military says it destroyed an enemy position after it came under heavy fire east of #Mariupol

BREAKING: One Ukrainian soldier killed, 8 wounded in Russian Hybrid Army attack on #Vodyane east of #Mariupol. Mortars, 152/122mm artillery, tanks, GRADs used

And before anyone claims "the Ukrainian army tried to further advance":Battle is for post-#Minsk built (pro-)#Russian position.

The Russian mercenaries had hoisted a Russian flag over the position and held it for 13 months...UAF is now moving on it...why did the UAF take so long....OSCE forbid it....

Report of now 4 KIA in the escalation of fighting near #Mariupol



Reportedly Russians attempted to gain new positions near Vodyane, when attack failed - used heavy artillery against Ukrainian army

Ukraine claims "6 Russian mercenaries killed, 9 injured" in ongoing fighting east of #Mariupol.

[OUTLAW 09]

Kremlin-backed "DNR" to open fake diplomatic mission in Greece
http://euromaidanpress.com/2017/03/20/dnr-to-open-fake-diplomatic-mission-in-greece/ …


200 units of heavy equipment...artillery and armor in #Luhansk training ground is in fact 2 battalions of Russian army armor...... spotted by OSCE patrol....Let that sink in.

[OUTLAW 09]

$22bn taken out of Russia via Moldova in the illegal scheme detailed by Novaya today. Tomsk annual budget is 13bn. Only roubles.

[OUTLAW 09]

ZVEZDA: "Star" showed the polygon scale exercises Airborne in Crimea
http://tvzvezda.ru/news/forces/content/201703201829-5yhi.htm …

[OUTLAW 09]

Products of Luhansk Cartridge Works (mercenary controlled)on sale in Georgia:
https://informnapalm.org/en/products-luhansk-cartridge-works-sale-georgia/ …

[OUTLAW 09]

Moldova.org @moldovaorg
Igor Dodon: Moldova will take part in the CIS Parliamentary Assembly
http://www.moldova.org/en/igor-dodon-moldova-will-take-part-cis-parliamentary-assembly/ …

[OUTLAW 09]

16:51 #Makiivka @gorodprizrakUA "F*cking great heavy launches have started"

[OUTLAW 09]

21:35 #Dokuchaevsk @l_vinchenso [vk] The battle intensified, both salvos and impacts, bullets ricochet off the houses

21:39 #Dokuchaevsk @GadPosledniy Allegedly, an SPG is striking towards #Mykolaivka

22:05 #Volnovakha @paniUkr It has begun. Booms are heard from #Dokuchaevsk direction

Shelling of Vodyane today
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSXRwbNzElo …

Russian forces shelling Vodyane near Mariupol with BM-21 GRAD

Mariupol: Russian forces shelling area of Vodyane with artillery, GRAD and mortars

[OUTLAW 09]

The Kremlin doesn’t know what to do with Yanukovych’s letter
http://euromaidanpress.com/2017/03/21/the-kremlin-doesnt-know-what-to-do-with-yanukovychs-letter/ …

The just dropped dead Russian UN Ambassador had waved it in the UNSC AND now it is mssing.....

BUT Russia did not want the reasons for his droppping dead made public.....

[OUTLAW 09]

Avdiivka, aerial footage of the fire on terrorist positions, geolocaiton by @etkmkao
http://youtu.be/z7rmtXliJV0

[OUTLAW 09]

Separatist leaders attend 'Donbas integration ceremony' in the Crimea
http://uawire.org/news/in-annexed-crimea-zakharchenko-and-plotnitsky-integrated-separatist-held-territories-of-ukraine-into-russia …

[OUTLAW 09]

In total since the start of Russia's war with Ukraine 2,629 Ukrainian troops have been killed and 9,400 injured.

Russia to increase amount of submarines in Black Sea to 8 until end of the year
https://twitter.com/latiniano/status/843772232547663873/photo/1pic.twitter.com/ctamkCxQBd

[OUTLAW 09]

Donbas: Yday 60 attacks on Ukr positions, 3 KIA, 9 WIA, RU forces shelled w 152&122mm artillery #Vodyane after their assault was repelled.

[OUTLAW 09]

Another Russian soldier was seen in Ukr Donbas: Private Levkovich Rustam
Date of birth: 27.02.1991
Achinsk, Russia
https://stopterror.in.ua/info/2017/03/svezhie-kadry-na-donbasse-obnaruzhen-kadrovyj-voennyj-rf/#

[OUTLAW 09]

OCCRP @OCCRP
#Laundromat Exposed: how millions ultimately found their way to Russian businessmen who went on spending sprees:
https://www.occrp.org/en/laundromat/the-russian-laundromat-exposed/#

[OUTLAW 09]

NEWS
#Russia is building a new army base 6 km S-E of #Donetsk city.
Construction started Oct. 2015.
1st found by @Ars_Faivre

[OUTLAW 09]

Development "depend on the implementation of foreign policy goals in Russia’s immediate geographical surroundings"
http://russiancouncil.ru/en/inner/?id_4=8463#top-content#

Key paragraph.......

[OUTLAW 09]

Belarus dictator claims unrest in his country being caused by US supported Fifth Columns.....

Most dangerous part here is that he claims the militia camps are inside #Ukraine, #Poland (and Belarus).

Ukraine has beefed up security patrols on the Belarus common border...because of this subtle threat...

From Russian propaganda media outlet TASS....

TASS‏
Verified account
#@tassagency_en
#Belarus detains gunmen plotting to stage armed #provocation
http://tass.com/world/936632

BUT WAIT all week long last week there were actually very peaceful demonstrations by all ages......on occasions though the police got rough with them though...

[OUTLAW 09]

Nevermind the Bridge

Russian General Staff maintain planning to seize Rostov-Crimea Landbridge & control Crimea's east flank
Map: @Stratfor

[OUTLAW 09]

Crimea'n journalist accused of contempt of court for demanding open trial
http://khpg.org/en/index.php?id=1490049933#

[OUTLAW 09]

Military convoy in Rostov
https://russia.liveuamap.com/en/2017/21-march-military-convoy-in-rostov#
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcW1Oo

Like short-range ballistic missile complexes 9K720 Iskander - 2 launchers, 2 support trucks......More K-300 "Bastion" systems, going west ...


Daily routine, 3 km north of #Donetsk.
Russian tanks fire calmly, Ukrainians not allowed to return fire.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jl2D-kbRB8#…

[OUTLAW 09]

14:05 #Donetsk @UkraineSuper1 They ran out of "barrels" [mortars?], heavy outs have started - #Putilovka grove, #Butovka mine, #Scheglovka

14:09 #Donetsk @From_Sector_B "I don't know where the fascists are exactly shelling from, fr/#Putilovka railway stn by ear, like artillery"

14:15 #Donetsk @rjpthju5rjpthju [ok.ru] " #Kalininskyi: #airport direction - plumes of black smoke" "#Myrnyi: very strong"

14:49 #Donetsk #Scheglovka @Dniproazotec Shootouts continue, intensity: from small arms to heavy ones, not ceasing, lasting more than 1hr

15:30 #Donetsk #Vetka area @laokoon821 It is the second hour in a row as they fire smth heavy in the north. Vibrations, echoes.

15:27 #Donetsk #Kyivskyi ds @Ukarachentsoff In the north, it's probably, the second part of "Ballet de la Merlaison" has started. They pound

15:37 #Donetsk Shcheglovka - Cannonade does not subside. Powerful incomings tow. Putilovsky forest. #Promka - intense battle.

Dokuchaevsk @666_mancer "Aftermath of the night battles"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHhjhgRpGgY#

17:21 #Makiivka #Gvardeyka @muryk412 #YaBP is noisy, artillery has been booming a bit

[OUTLAW 09]

Wow!
"Ukrainian separatists" somehow reproduced the latest #RUSSIAN-ONLY manufactured SF sniper rifle.
Amazing,hu?!
http://www.vesti.ru/doc.html?id=2867797&tid=105474#/video/https%3A%2F%2Fplayer.vgtrk.com%2Fiframe%2Fvideo%2F id%2F1644108%2Fstart_zoom%2Ftrue%2FshowZoomBtn%2Ff alse%2Fsid%2Fvesti%2FisPlay%2Ftrue%2F%3Facc_video_ id%3D710597

http://www.vesti.ru/doc.html?

[OUTLAW 09]

FSB saw direct far reaching threat to Russian national security interest in 2008 joint Ukraine-NATO naval exercise.
https://meduza.io/news/2017/03/21/byvshiy-ukrainskiy-deputat-rasskazal-ob-uchastii-patrusheva-v-popytkah-sorvat-ucheniya-nato-v-krymu-v-2008-godu#

In 2008 Patrushev as head of FSB gave full help 2 Crimean instigators who derailed Ukraine-NATO joint naval exercise

As late as 2005, 2 years after 2003 Orange Revolution, FSB started fully subsidising Ukraine opposition.

[OUTLAW 09]

Another Republican far rightist on Russia Today.....Ann Coulter

‘I’m so happy to be on RT!’ Mentions ‘mass famine in Ukraine’[#Holodomor],forgets #Russia invaded #Ukraine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjDq17e49Os#

[OUTLAW 09]

Russia attacked Ukraine 36 times before 6 pm local today

Russia's poster boy Brazilian fighter in the #Donbass, captured in classic sting operation by #Ukraine.
https://youtu.be/EX4UcBBlkoI
#

[OUTLAW 09]

When did Putin begin to view Western world as the enemy? Roots of today's hybrid war lie in 2004 Orange Revolution

http://bunews.com.ua/politics/item/post-soviet-turning-point-has-the-historic-impact-of-ukraines-2004-orange-revolution-been-underestimated#

[davidbfpo]

A curious first-hand BBC News report on a visit to the Crimea. Ignore the opening photo of the Kerch to Crimea bridge, it was clearly taken sometime ago:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-39329284

[OUTLAW 09]

Ukraine reports 1 WIA amid 76 enemy attacks in last day

[OUTLAW 09]

Secret cargo of the Russian “humanitarian convoys” passing through Makiivka
https://informnapalm.org/en/secret-cargo-russian-humanitarian-convoys-passing-makiivka/#

[OUTLAW 09]

TASS: Separate Brigade of the Black Sea fleet of coastal defense raised the alarm in the Crimea
http://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/4116024#

[OUTLAW 09]

A European Response to #Russia's #Intelligence Activity
Mark Galeotti @IIR_PRG position paper on the threat + responses
http://iir.cz/en/article/a-european-response-to-russian-intelligence-activity#

Russia: If #Norway participates in #NATO missile defense, "then the only answer left is the military-technical one"
http://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/natosource/russia-threatens-norway-to-stay-out-of-nato-missile-defense#

[OUTLAW 09]

Are Russia-Backed Separatists 'Primarily' Using Soviet-Era Weapons?
Nope, they lie. Using post-Soviet
http://www.polygraph.info/a/28383951.html

[OUTLAW 09]

The Kremlin’s five steps towards recognizing#“DNR/LNR”
http://euromaidanpress.com/2017/03/22/kremlins-five-steps-towards-recognizing-dnrlnr/#

[OUTLAW 09]

Production at Europe's biggest coking plant in east ukraine cut in half because of economic blockade - cost = $6.5m/month

[OUTLAW 09]

Russia is deploying missiles banned under the INF treaty. Here are the areas at risk:
http://brook.gs/2mpzcxl

[OUTLAW 09]

Massive explosion last night at a Ukrainian ammo depot.....

Dozens of firetrucks are heading towards burning ammo depot in Kharkhiv region
https://liveuamap.com/en/2017/23-march-dozens-of-firetrucks-are-heading-towards-the-burning#
https://twitter.com/Simon_ua/status/844780013396275202/photo/1via#

A. Matios, Ukrainian Chief Military Prosecutor: According to preliminary data, the ammo depot detonation tonight was caused by sabotage.

[OUTLAW 09]

Massive explosion last night at a Ukrainian ammo depot.....

Dozens of firetrucks are heading towards burning ammo depot in Kharkhiv region
https://liveuamap.com/en/2017/23-march-dozens-of-firetrucks-are-heading-towards-the-burning#
https://twitter.com/Simon_ua/status/844780013396275202/photo/1via#

A. Matios, Ukrainian Chief Military Prosecutor: According to preliminary data, the ammo depot detonation tonight was caused by sabotage.

Appears to have been caused by negligence rather than Russian sabotage

[OUTLAW 09]

Killing of ex-Russian Duma MP in central Kyiv had all hallmarks of Kremlin message job. Brazen execution in public place.

Message: nobody is safe

UA General Prosecutor: Voronenkov had a bodyguard of 1 of UA special services, he wounded the killer.

Doesn’t look like Voronenkov’s killer will pull through. H’s “on the verge of death” in the hospital, Ukrainian attorney general says.


Hromadske Int. @Hromadske
A month ago Russian defected lawmaker gave interview to us fearing for his life.
Today he was assasinated in Kyiv
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVaoWY_rXwE&index=41&list=PLPnX89fQLdsnTsiDOpYtxvMJZobCjqBC#

Recent Russia-related suspicious deaths updated with today's murder of a former Russian MP. Putin critics in yellow.

[OUTLAW 09]

Wow. Russian website announced murder of Voronenkov exactly one month ago.
Via some "military expert Zhylin"…

Voronenkov testified against Yanukovych and planned to investigate corruption of Putin — Ponomarev
https://liveuamap.com/en/2017/23-

Witnesses execution: #Voronenkov was trial witness on #Yanukovych’s role in inviting #Russian troops into #Ukraine

Voronenkov's assassin died in intensive care.

[OUTLAW 09]

Bridge blown up in #Zolote, Luhansk region
pic.twitter.com/1s4YT11mMP

[OUTLAW 09]

Wow. Russian website announced murder of Voronenkov exactly one month ago.
Via some "military expert Zhylin"…

Voronenkov testified against Yanukovych and planned to investigate corruption of Putin — Ponomarev
https://liveuamap.com/en/2017/23-

Witnesses execution: #Voronenkov was trial witness on #Yanukovych’s role in inviting #Russian troops into #Ukraine

Voronenkov's assassin died in intensive care.

Russian propaganda hard at work.....

Peskov:
"the killing of former State Duma dep. Denis Voronenkova in Kiev reflects the failure of Ukraine to ensure its safety."

Notice he says nothing about the killer being killed in the attack by his PS....

[OUTLAW 09]

Ukraine's military prosecutor investigates reports of a DRONE being involved in the #Balakliya sabotage act.

[OUTLAW 09]

Russia halts cross border movement on border with Ukraine’s Chernihiv region, cites "combat alert...
https://www.unian.info/politics/1839501-russia-halts-cross-border-movement-on-border-with-ukraines-chernihiv-region-cites-combat-alert-in-ukraine.html#

"Other sources inform that armed men in full gear have amassed at the Russian checkpoint."

Russia closes Novy Yurkovich checkpoint (closest to Kyiv, 200km away). Unconfirmed reports of troops gathering there
http://www.unian.info/politics/1839501-russia-halts-cross-border-movement-on-border-with-ukraines-chernihiv-region-cites-combat-alert-in-ukraine.html#

[OUTLAW 09]

MORE NATO/US recce resources again out over the Baltic....

Heading out to the Baltics from RAF Waddington...
Royal Air Force - Rivet Joint
#RC135W ZZ664 RRR7289

Tracking west of #Kaliningrad
RAF #RC135W ZZ664 RRR7289

Heading back over the North Sea
RAF RC135W ZZ664 RRR7289

Was being escorted by .......

Patrolling over the Baltic Sea, west of #Kaliningrad
Swedish Air Force
GLF4 102002 SVF622

Airborne from RAF Waddington
Royal Air Force
E3 Sentry AWACS
ZH103 NATO34
Circled over Poland......

[OUTLAW 09]

Russian propaganda hard at work.....

Peskov:
"the killing of former State Duma dep. Denis Voronenkova in Kiev reflects the failure of Ukraine to ensure its safety."

Notice he says nothing about the killer being killed in the attack by his PS....


BREAKING: On Feb 14th 2017 Voronenkov received death threat via Twitter by @wormcrack foretelling his death in Kiev.
https://twitter.com/DenisVoronenkov/status/810895153405816833#…

Per Censor NET Voronenkov's assassin was ex-National Guard, ATO participant. At least the papers with him claim he to be such person.

Per @censor_net the killer was retired in Aug 2016.

Very cryptic phrase: "Selection of killer by Russian IC was not unusual"
"Выбор российских спецслужб исполнителя был не случайным"

Voronenkov took all precautions to hide his exact track & make following him impossible. Working theory is he was caught via Ponomaryov.

Smart move by Yanukovych and the Russian secret service, sowing yet another seed of fear of ex. soldiers from ATO.

Russian Orthodox Church head clerk Chaplin called Voronenkov's assassination "a divine intervention."

[OUTLAW 09]

ATO HQ: No fatalities, 3 soldiers WIA in 43 attacks on UA positions as of 18:00 today

[OUTLAW 09]

Attention!
False picture of #Balakleya (#Kharkiv region) ammunition depot explosion circulating on Russian news sites.

[OUTLAW 09]

Reconnaissance commander of the 2nd Army Corps in the focus of the UCA. Part 5: PSNR-8:
https://informnapalm.org/en/reconnaissance-commander-of-the-2nd-army-corps-in-the-focus-of-the-uca-part-5-psnr-8/#

[OUTLAW 09]

RU "media": "A military unit in downtown #Donetsk attacked with grenade launcher"
pic.twitter.com/Tsy6z9hIVx

[OUTLAW 09]

BREAKING: On Feb 14th 2017 Voronenkov received death threat via Twitter by @wormcrack foretelling his death in Kiev.
https://twitter.com/DenisVoronenkov/status/810895153405816833#…

Per Censor NET Voronenkov's assassin was ex-National Guard, ATO participant. At least the papers with him claim he to be such person.

Per @censor_net the killer was retired in Aug 2016.

Very cryptic phrase: "Selection of killer by Russian IC was not unusual"
"Выбор российских спецслужб исполнителя был не случайным"

Voronenkov took all precautions to hide his exact track & make following him impossible. Working theory is he was caught via Ponomaryov.

Smart move by Yanukovych and the Russian secret service, sowing yet another seed of fear of ex. soldiers from ATO.

Russian Orthodox Church head clerk Chaplin called Voronenkov's assassination "a divine intervention."

Voronenkov murder suspect served in Azov and Donbas, appears to have been an ideological nationalist, according to this Mariupol site (RUS)


Awaiting to get the readout on what exactly is a ideological nationalist...ie neo Nazi/ultra right...pro Russian ?????

Why a ultra rightist would kill a declared enemy of Putin though does not make sense.....so he must have been a closet pro Russian.....

From a good source....

Gerashchenko says Voronenkov killer was a Russian agent who “trained in a sabotage school created in the time of Stalin’s NKVD”.

OK...now definitely pro Russian supporter...

THIS was the reason behind the killing....

UK & US were asking murdered in Kyiv Russian lawmaker to work for them on exposing Putin's money laundering
https://en.hromadske.ua/posts/former_russian_duma_member#

[OUTLAW 09]

Balakliya yesterday: aerial video of ammo depot ablaze @ua_100
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iclPotF3zsw#

[OUTLAW 09]

Voronenkov murder suspect served in Azov and Donbas, appears to have been an ideological nationalist, according to this Mariupol site (RUS)


Awaiting to get the readout on what exactly is a ideological nationalist...ie neo Nazi/ultra right...pro Russian ?????

Why a ultra rightist would kill a declared enemy of Putin though does not make sense.....so he must have been a closet pro Russian.....

From a good source....

Gerashchenko says Voronenkov killer was a Russian agent who “trained in a sabotage school created in the time of Stalin’s NKVD”.

OK...now definitely pro Russian supporter...

THIS was the reason behind the killing....

UK & US were asking murdered in Kyiv Russian lawmaker to work for them on exposing Putin's money laundering
https://en.hromadske.ua/posts/former_russian_duma_member#

The surveillance video showing the assassination of ex-Russian lawmaker Denys Voronenkov was leaked
http://bit.ly/2mYQvk2

Only thing GRU oper. Kots regrets is the fact that killer didn't make out alive due slow reaction of security detail.

[OUTLAW 09]

Dj-vu 2014/2015
@Reuters films dozens of tanks, arriving not far from #Ukraine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8-inDOfxpc

[OUTLAW 09]

Girkin / #Strelkov reports General Staff in DNR was hit with SHMEL thermobaric ATGM. Had automatic trigger + timer.
https://twitter.com/GirkinGirkin/status/845259155992694785#…

Per #Girkin / #Strelkov the device was equipped with self destructive device which later detonated.

[OUTLAW 09]

More evidence shows torture of pro-Ukrainian activists in Russian-controlled Crimea is a real thing.
http://en.hromadske.ua/articles/show/debunking_russian_myths_crimea#

[OUTLAW 09]

The surveillance video showing the assassination of ex-Russian lawmaker Denys Voronenkov was leaked
http://bit.ly/2mYQvk2

Only thing GRU oper. Kots regrets is the fact that killer didn't make out alive due slow reaction of security detail.

Video appears to have been taken down, but here it is again from a Russian news report
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsqEFET5tjA#

.@Hromadske selects 7 facts foreign audience needs to know about Russian anti-Putin lawmaker killed in Ukraine
https://en.hromadske.ua/posts/7-facts-about-russian-lawmaker-killed-in-ukraine#

Ukrainian MP Gerashchenko: Assassin was Ukrainian citizen trained in Russia who infiltrated Ukraine's National Guard, got order from Moscow.
Pavel Pashov#identified as Denis Voronenkov's killer by Ukrainian news site#Obozrevatel.
http://www.interpretermag.com/day-1131/#16348

[OUTLAW 09]

Russia’s Infamous ‘Troll Factory’ Is Now Posing as a Media Empire:
https://themoscowtimes.com/articles/russias-infamous-troll-factory-is-now-posing-as-a-media-empire-57534#

[OUTLAW 09]

Russian tanks amassing near Ukraine border.
Note new side skirts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8-inDOfxpc#

[OUTLAW 09]

NOTE
Air-defense systems up in #Belarus. These guys are not preparing for a demonstration..

[OUTLAW 09]

Ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine. 94 attacks in Donbas, use of Grads, mortars by Ru hybrid forces

[OUTLAW 09]

Video appears to have been taken down, but here it is again from a Russian news report
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsqEFET5tjA#

.@Hromadske selects 7 facts foreign audience needs to know about Russian anti-Putin lawmaker killed in Ukraine
https://en.hromadske.ua/posts/7-facts-about-russian-lawmaker-killed-in-ukraine#

Ukrainian MP Gerashchenko: Assassin was Ukrainian citizen trained in Russia who infiltrated Ukraine's National Guard, got order from Moscow.
Pavel Pashov#identified as Denis Voronenkov's killer by Ukrainian news site#Obozrevatel.
http://www.interpretermag.com/day-1131/#16348

On the spot murder of Voronenkov in Kyiv was seen RU prop TV "Zvezda" journo Alex.Fomin immediately after the murder
http://m.dialog.ua/news/114426_1490335816#
He cannot deny this report as he was photographed....

[OUTLAW 09]

Anatomy of a Russian Propaganda Troll: Geotagging Marks the Spot
http://www.propornot.com/2017/03/anatomy-of-russian-propaganda-troll.html?utm_content=bufferb64b8&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer&m=1#

[OUTLAW 09]

Russia’s Infamous ‘Troll Factory’ Is Now Posing as a Media Empire:
https://themoscowtimes.com/articles/russias-infamous-troll-factory-is-now-posing-as-a-media-empire-57534#

Cyberwar: top operations of Ukrainian Cyber Alliance (UCA) in 2016 -
http://goo.gl/ejtSsN

[OUTLAW 09]

Russia accuses Ukraine of firing heavy artillery near Mariupol -BUT WAIT...Russian artillery was firing in the Mariupol area for the last several weeks....

[OUTLAW 09]

Mark Galeotti @MarkGaleotti
The truth about #Russia's defence budget
A 25% cut? More like 5%. Me, for @ECFRWiderEurope @ecfr
http://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_the_truth_about_russias_defence_budget_ 7255#

Russia cut financing of the Crimea by 1.5 billion rubles
http://uawire.org/news/russia-cut-the-financing-of-the-crimea-by-1-5-billion-rubles#

[OUTLAW 09]

39 attacks on Ukrainian positions today before 6pm today

2 Ukrainian soldiers were killed, 2 wounded in 78 attacks on Ukrainian positions yesterday
pic.twitter.com/hgWIHNex0Q

Do not believe anything until the Kremlin denies it™
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-39383726#

[OUTLAW 09]

All Russian bases at Donbas - map via @5urpher
pic.twitter.com/NYYXVX11wx

[OUTLAW 09]

New Russian rock band propaganda video. APCs in Donetsk. Flying Russian flags.
pic.twitter.com/19Ucsloks9

[OUTLAW 09]

Donetsk region UA positions @sex_Dombas "We have one wounded"

[OUTLAW 09]

https://ninajobe.wordpress.com/2017/03/25/bank-fraud-crypto-scams/

Bank Fraud & Crypto#Scams
On March 25, 2017
By ninajobeIn

[OUTLAW 09]

Newly modified T-72B3 tanks arrive near the Ukrainian border. Just published a new #MinskMonitor report on @DFRLab
https://medium.com/dfrlab/newly-modified-russian-tanks-arrive-near-ukrainian-border-1a3ff1d49fb#

[OUTLAW 09]

Nolan Peterson: Ukrainians are hunkering down for a long war with Russia over the Donbas
http://bit.ly/2nViGpd

Day 1132: 117 Attacks in 24 Hrs by RU-Backed Forces; 2 UA Soldiers KIA, 2 WIA; Medics Operate in Dangerous Case
http://www.interpretermag.com/day-1132/#16353

[OUTLAW 09]

As of 6 p.m. : 50 attacks on Ukrainian positions, 4 Ukr soldiers WIA

[OUTLAW 09]

In #Vuhlehirsk-#Svitlodarsk_bulge area battle all night, incl. with heavy artillery.

Donbas: Yday 88 attacks on Ukr positions, heavy artillery used at Shyrokyne, Vodyane, Troitske, GRAD at #Avdiivka. Thre soldiers KIA, 8 WIA

[OUTLAW 09]

Over the previous day of hostilities, three UAF servicemen were KIA, 8 were wounded and injured

Putin spokesperson
Peskov: The situation in Ukraine has deteriorated and very unstable

[OUTLAW 09]

In Svitlodarsk area militants used IFVs. One of the attacks lasted continuously for 4 hours

Avdiivka remains a hotspot. Fighting continued intermittently for 10+ hours.

[OUTLAW 09]

Breaking
With 24 Ukrainian troops killed in action, March 2017 already is the deadliest month in E #Ukraine since July 2016.

[OUTLAW 09]

Russia-backed militants shelled Avdiivka’s residential quarters with Grad MRLS

Marine Vyacheslav Chernetsky, 22, laid to rest. Died defending #Vodiane. 5 Ukr troops dead/24hrs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-E5MGqHKEDM#

[OUTLAW 09]

5 Ukrainian Soldiers Killed; 11 Wounded in 24 Hrs; 88 Attacks; Soldiers Under 20 Removed from Front Line
http://www.interpretermag.com/day-1134/#16356

[OUTLAW 09]

Going to be a long battle and shelling day..has started rather early...


5:41AM #Vuhlehirsk woke up, very loud.

6:34AM #Debaltseve hearing big guns, at least 120-mm.

[OUTLAW 09]

.@Ukropo4kA Ukr reconnaissance group found RU helmet,flak jacket and a shell for Russian-made RPG (near Zaitseve)
https://inforesist.org/razvedchiki-nashli-v-dnr-bronezhilet-kaska-i-vyistrel-k-rpg-rossiyskogo-proizvodstva/#

[OUTLAW 09]

Russia implementing "Transnistrian scenario" in Donbas – Ukraine’s presidential staff
https://www.unian.info/politics/1843589-russia-implementing-transnistrian-scenario-in-donbas-ukraines-presidential-staff.html#

[OUTLAW 09]

Russia calls U.S. Black Sea naval patrols potential threat: RIA
http://reut.rs/2nvjVKk

Legally binding treaties cover US movements in Black Sea...

[OUTLAW 09]

STRATCOMCOE @STRATCOMCOE
.@DFRLab fact checked the Russian Foreign Ministry’s @mfa_russia “fakes” page
http://bit.ly/2onuZGS

[OUTLAW 09]

Pro-#Russian film the strongest defensive bunkers, #Ukraine has.
But not built under fire!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8HDgLkthUI#…

Same fortifications,seemingly near Shchastya.
As soon as he sees the Ukr troops,he starts talking of "our snipers"..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_QGS1MvpX4#…

Russian TV seems to mistake UAF for Russian fortifications and troops...

[OUTLAW 09]

True buyers remorse BUT now to late........

Life as Russia has been a time of "disappointment," says pro-Moscow Crimean leader.
http://in.reuters.com/article/ukraine-crisis-crimea-chaliy-idINKBN16Y10T#

[OUTLAW 09]

Have never seen this posted before even at the start of the Crimea annexation and the invasion into eastern Ukraine.....

Russian Southern Military District deploy mobile psychologists units to visit troops. Preparing for something?

[OUTLAW 09]

During Cold War #NATO could move 200,000 US & Canadian troops in 48h over the Atlantic. Today moving 1,500 through Poland is a "challenge".

[OUTLAW 09]

Pathetic attempt by Russian MoD to spread lies: "massive unrest in ranks of UA Army". Morale has never been higher:)
https://twitter.com/zvezdanews/status/846697507585474560#

[OUTLAW 09]

EU top court upholds sanctions against Russia's Rosneft
https://www.unian.info/economics/1846949-reuters-eu-top-court-upholds-sanctions-against-russias-rosneft.html#

Punitive psychiatry for dissidents opposing annexation by Russia–imprisoning Crimean Tatars in psych hospitals
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/28/russian-authorities-imprisoning-crimean-tatars-in-psychiatric-hospitals?CMP=share_btn_tw#

Russian artillery working from #Makiivka now.

[OUTLAW 09]

Planned Russian military exercises near Baltics at same time as Sweden drills sow NATO worries over miscalculations
https://www.wsj.com/articles/planned-russian-exercises-in-september-sow-nato-worries-1490715830#

[OUTLAW 09]

26 Ukrainian soldiers were killed, 169 soldiers were wounded in 2439 attacks in 27 days of March 2017 at Donbass

[OUTLAW 09]

Russian court issues arrest warrant for former Ukrainian PM Arseniy Yatseniuk, on absurd charge that he fought Russian troops in Chechnya.

[OUTLAW 09]

21:10 #Debaltseve [pro-RU source] @GirkinGirkin North: a tough battle is ongoing with use of artillery

InformNapalm Deutsch @INDeutsch
Wer sprengt die Autos der #Terroristen im besetzten Teil von #Donbas?
https://informnapalm.org/de/wer-sprengt-die-autos-der-terroristen-im-besetzten-teil-von-donbas/#
…

[OUTLAW 09]

22:07 #Kadiivka @GenjiAlex Hellish outgoing rounds, it rumbles as hell. It's been long time since they fought like that [#now]

[OUTLAW 09]

2 KIA, 4 WIA, 61 attacks on UA positions.


28 days of March 2017 in Eastern Ukraine: 26 Ukrainian soldiers killed, 172 wounded in 2500 attacks

YET for EU/NATO and US...this is not a war?????

[OUTLAW 09]

Young IDP from Donetsk created Android app, which hacked 2500 phones of aggressor:
https://informnapalm.org/en/young-idp-donetsk-created-android-app-hacked-2500-phones-aggressor/#

[OUTLAW 09]

Someone is deliberately causing tension inside Ukraine directed against Poland....Russian GRU hard at work...

Russian "active measures"......



Polish Consulate General in Ukraine’s Lutsk shot at, Consul considers incident "terrorist act"

After vandalism of several Polish memorials in #Ukraine, #Lutsk consulate is hit by RPG fire.
https://lb.ua/society/2017/03/29/362472_lutske_obstrelyali_zdanie.html#

[OUTLAW 09]

It's two weeks since the Russian MFA's fake-busting page reported any "fakes".

Guess the Western media aren't that unreliable after all...

[OUTLAW 09]

OSCE SMM: Armed man opens fire near SMM in Kozatske

[OUTLAW 09]

Someone is deliberately causing tension inside Ukraine directed against Poland....Russian GRU hard at work...

Russian "active measures"......



Polish Consulate General in Ukraine’s Lutsk shot at, Consul considers incident "terrorist act"

After vandalism of several Polish memorials in #Ukraine, #Lutsk consulate is hit by RPG fire.
https://lb.ua/society/2017/03/29/362472_lutske_obstrelyali_zdanie.html#

There are some leads in a case of explosion in Polish consulate” - Head of SBU Office in Volyn Oblast
http://euromaidanpress.com/2017/03/29/polands-consulate-general-attacked-in-lutsk/#volyn_sbu#
…

[OUTLAW 09]

Video appears to have been taken down, but here it is again from a Russian news report
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsqEFET5tjA#

.@Hromadske selects 7 facts foreign audience needs to know about Russian anti-Putin lawmaker killed in Ukraine
https://en.hromadske.ua/posts/7-facts-about-russian-lawmaker-killed-in-ukraine#

Ukrainian MP Gerashchenko: Assassin was Ukrainian citizen trained in Russia who infiltrated Ukraine's National Guard, got order from Moscow.
Pavel Pashov#identified as Denis Voronenkov's killer by Ukrainian news site#Obozrevatel.
http://www.interpretermag.com/day-1131/#16348

WOAH, the assassin of the Russian defector visited the capital city of Russia's proxies in Ukraine

[OUTLAW 09]

WTH...Russian mercenaries in eastern Ukraine demand Russian police to release demonstrators?????


Nationalist party "LDPR" calls for the liberation of the "young people" arrested in protests.

[OUTLAW 09]

Another 2 KIA, 3 WIA in what will become the bloodiest month for #Ukraine since July 2016.

Two days until the next #fake "ceasefire".

[OUTLAW 09]

MORE Russian "altered state of reality statements".....

MFA Russia 🇷🇺
✔
@mfa_russia
#Zakharova: Kiev continues the policy of total derussification and forced Ukrainisation of #Ukraine :D

BUT THEN.........we get this type of Russian activities' she does not talk about....

Kremlin puppet organization in Chernivtsi promoting separatism busted by security officials
https://www.unian.info/society/1849889-kremlin-puppet-organization-in-chernivtsi-promoting-separatism-busted-by-security-officials.html#

[OUTLAW 09]

SBU General says Putin sought to seize Ukraine in 3 stages
https://www.unian.info/war/1850274-sbu-general-says-putin-sought-to-seize-ukraine-in-3-stages.html#

"LPR" espionage network eliminated in #Luhansk_region.
http://novosti.dn.ua/news/268566-v-luganskoy-oblasty--lykvydyrovaly-ynformatorskuyu-set-lnr#

[OUTLAW 09]

MORE Russian "altered state of reality statements".....

MFA Russia 🇷🇺
✔
@mfa_russia
#Zakharova: Kiev continues the policy of total derussification and forced Ukrainisation of #Ukraine :D

BUT THEN.........we get this type of Russian activities' she does not talk about....

Kremlin puppet organization in Chernivtsi promoting separatism busted by security officials
https://www.unian.info/society/1849889-kremlin-puppet-organization-in-chernivtsi-promoting-separatism-busted-by-security-officials.html#

BUT WAIT...Russia does what it critiques Ukraine on.....

Civic Russian Nation Idea Requires Russifying Non-Russians, Moscow Scholar Says Approvingly
http://windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2017/03/civic-russian-nation-idea-requires.html#

[OUTLAW 09]

Answers to Senate why US Intel Community missed Russia election connection:
-focus on ISIS/terror
-less likely to believe "open source" info

Fmr FBI agent Watts: We missed Russian intervention because they were happening in open source, and intel community obsessed w/secret info

NOTE: I have been saying for years...80% of all intel comes from OSINT...

[OUTLAW 09]

Putin comments on #RussiaProtests, comparing them to Arab Spring & Ukraine's Euromaidan, which "led to chaos."
http://www.rbc.ru/politics/30/03/2017/58dcfb469a794724c89684df#


THIS is Putin's greatest fear since Crimea......

[OUTLAW 09]

37 attacks on Ukrainian positions today before 6pm. 4 soldiers were wounded
pic.twitter.com/7em71MgrmF

[OUTLAW 09]

Russia molds proxy forces in Donbas into advanced army
http://bit.ly/2olr7qv

[OUTLAW 09]

Fighting seriously escalates after 6pm near Avdiivka, 2 Ukrainian soldiers were killed, 11 wounded

[OUTLAW 09]

Friends of Putin: Russia’s western elite networks
http://on.ft.com/2of8yI1

[OUTLAW 09]

A bit of humor.....

OTD in 1867 the US illegally annexed Alaska from Russia. Our compatriots yearn to return to the Motherland and plan a referendum.

BUT MORE SERIOUSLY
Russia claims Alaska is yet another place where Russian speakers are being abused.Little green men are on their way?

[OUTLAW 09]

Donbas: Y/day 69 attacks on Ukr positions, #Luhanske was under fire from artillery, mortars, BMPs, GLs, MGs, etc.

Two soldiers KIA, 13 WIA.

[OUTLAW 09]

SBU counterintel operative blown up in his car in Mariupol
https://www.unian.info/society/1852224-sbu-counterintel-operative-blown-up-in-his-car-in-mariupol.html#

Deputy chief of Donetsk SBU counter-intelligence unit (COL)was killed in the explosion
pic.twitter.com/GPWvEpFTth

[OUTLAW 09]

If you want to know how Russia operates in Ukraine, its all in here.
@nolanwpeterson on Russia weaponising fake news
https://twitter.com/nolanwpeterson/status/847679618316247040#

[OUTLAW 09]

Pro-Kremlin logic:
#Ukraine attacks the occupied areas because as soon as the fighting ends, it would get it all back without a fight.


One DNR group commander admits in Facebook post that SBU COL Haraberyush was killed by their group
http://liveuamap.com/en/2017/31-march-one-dnr-group-commander-admits-in-facebook-post#…

[OUTLAW 09]

A bit of humor.....

OTD in 1867 the US illegally annexed Alaska from Russia. Our compatriots yearn to return to the Motherland and plan a referendum.

BUT MORE SERIOUSLY
Russia claims Alaska is yet another place where Russian speakers are being abused.Little green men are on their way?

Russian media keeps fixating on the theme of natives & Russian speakers allegedly mistreated by the U.S. in Alaska.

[Azor]

Jamestown Foundation: Eurasia Daily Monitor
https://jamestown.org/program/conflict-escalates-eastern-ukraine-possible-causes-consequences/

Ihor Kabanenko



The first quarter of 2017 was marked by a renewed escalation of the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine. The increased military confrontation began in the vicinity of Donetsk, at the end of January, when saboteur-reconnaissance groups of Russia-backed militants made an attempt to seize the Avdiivka Coke Plant (ACP)—the largest coking enterprise in Europe. Severe fighting around the area continued during February–March. Moscow-backed guerrillas heavily shelled Ukrainian troop positions; on one day, as many as 117 instances of heavy weapons fire were recorded coming from the occupied side (Segodnya.ua, March 1). By mid-March, the Russian-supported forces initiated a fight in the direction of the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol (Mariupil) (Hromadskeradio.org, March 19; Censor.net.ua, March 20).

It should be noted the heavy weapons used extensively against Ukrainian regular forces in the battles near Avdiivka and Mariupol include multiple rocket launched systems (MRLS), which in accordance with the Minsk Agreements were supposed to have been withdrawn beyond 70 kilometers from the line of contact. Shelling was also carried out by Russia-backed militants using 122-millimeter (mm) and 152 mm artillery systems, 120 mm and 82 mm mortars, as well as tanks and combat vehicles. Grenade launchers, small arms and sniper fire intensified during these battles as well. In addition, there has been a marked increase in the use of 14.5 mm weapons with greater range and lethality than small arms. The relentless nature of these attacks has caused unusually high levels of injuries. In both areas, MRLS systems fired by the Russia-backed militants caused indiscriminate destruction of residential buildings (UNIAN, March 18; Delovaya Stolica, March 27). The intense use of heavy weapons damaged the infrastructure connected to the ACP, and on January 30 the coke plant’s industrial cycle had to be stopped (Epravda.com.ua, February 6). A bit over a month later, coke production was restarted, but new damage to high-voltage cables caused by an artillery bombardment forced the shutdown of the Avdiivka plant’s production again (Korrespondent.net, March 6). On January 31, Ukrainian authorities introduced an emergency situation in Avdiivka in response to the city’s electricity and water supply having been disrupted by separatist militants’ attacks (Donbass.ua, January 31). A partial evacuation of residents from this area took place in early February (5.ua, February 3).

Observers attribute this recent escalation of the conflict to several factors. One of them could reflect the Russia-backed militants’ continuation of systematic combat actions of varying intensity meant to exhaust the Ukrainian forces—described by the British military expert Glen Grant as “waves coming to shore” tactics. When a military force pursues such an approach, phases of intensive armed confrontation are interposed by phases of relative calm.

Yet, experience shows that periods of escalation in the Donbas conflict zone are often directly linked to the Kremlin’s political-diplomatic efforts—i.e., a desire to “raise the stakes” in its negotiations with leaders of European countries and the United States concerning the situation in eastern Ukraine. A similar increase in hostilities took place in earlier years, during key consultations within the framework of the Minsk ceasefire process and on the eve of meetings of the Normandy format (Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France). The current heightened periods of violence, therefore, may at least in part be connected to Washington having recently imposed new sanctions against Russia, as well as in response to the Ukrainian Parliament’s (Verkhovna Rada) request that the US Congress grant Ukraine “ally” status outside the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) (Unn.com.ua, March 22). With the Kremlin showing no genuine political will to implement its obligations under the Minsk agreements, Russian actions—both overt and concealed—to maintain the conflict in eastern Ukraine and to create zones of “controlled instability” continue (Segodnya.ua, March 27).

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has linked the intensification of the military confrontation to consequences of the trade blockade of the separatist Donetsk and Luhansk “People’s Republics” (DPR, LPR), first initiated by groups of Ukrainian veterans acting without the government’s consent (Strana.ua, February 18; see EDM, February 28). In the aftermath of this blockading of railroads linking DPR-LPR territory with the rest of Ukraine, additional representatives of the Russian Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) popped up in the separatist regions. Moreover, a “humanitarian convoy” arrived in Donbas from Russia, which may have disguised the shipment of additional military equipment (Unian.net, March 1).

Notably, in the second half of March, sabotage-reconnaissance groups, sniper teams and other units from DPR-LPR completed training in Russian military training centers and in facilities in occupied Donbas organized by Moscow (Depo.ua, March 18). In this regard, attention should be drawn to a series of blasts, which occurred on March 23 at the 65th Arsenal of the Ukrainian Armed Forces—the largest Ukrainian ammunition depot, located near the northeastern town of Balakliia. Given the fact that the housed munitions exploded simultaneously in several places at the arsenal facility, most experts agree this incident was the result of sabotage (Censor.net.ua, March 25). For safety reasons, the Ukrainian authorities evacuated local residents living within 10 kilometers of the arms depot (Censor.net.ua, March 23).

It is also worth noting the correlation between the mentioned areas where the fighting has escalated. In particular, Mariupol’s main metallurgical enterprises (Mariupol Metallurgical Combine “Ilyich” as well as the “Azovstal” plant) are the main consumers of coke from Avdiivka. But irregular coke supplies caused by months of artillery bombardment have had a serious negative impact on Mariupol’s iron and steel–producing enterprises (Apostrophe.ua, January 31). Experts believe that if the ACP remains offline for much longer, Ukrainian metallurgists could expect up to a 25 percent reduction in crude iron and steel production. Such cuts may cost the Ukrainian budget at least $2 billion in foreign currency earnings per year (Delovaya Stolica.ua, January 31). Moreover, these enterprises employ around 47,000 workers, so the social and economic consequences for the region due to jobs losses could be significant.

Taken together, the escalation in fighting near Avdiivka and Mariupol is, therefore, most likely connected to the Russian strategy of fomenting “controlled instability.” Tactically, it looks like the center of gravity for the Russian-separatist combined forces is near Avdiivka; but operationally, it is more focused on Mariupol—the key Ukrainian defensive point on the way to creating a “land corridor” from the Russian Federation to Crimea. This is why reinforcements of the latest upgraded T-72B3 tanks on the Russian border near Mariupol must be taken seriously—particularly in the context of possible Russian offensive scenarios (112.ua, March 24; Donbass.ua, March 27).

[OUTLAW 09]

Jamestown Foundation: Eurasia Daily Monitor
https://jamestown.org/program/conflict-escalates-eastern-ukraine-possible-causes-consequences/

Ihor Kabanenko


Azor...the last paragraph is the critical comment....Russian MoD has not come off of their offensive plans to take a Crimea land corridor which would achieve three core goals.....

1. protect the flanks of their Black Sea naval port
2. cut Ukraine from the sea and exports thus fully under Russain control
3. land corridor to Transnisteria and Moldavia...now with a prorussian government....

That actually was to be the main plan in 2014 but it got brutally stopped in the Odessa fire and the volunteer BNs holding the defense lines near Mariupol.....until they could get replaced in 2015 by well trained Marine infantry and UAF SF.....

[OUTLAW 09]

Azor...the last paragraph is the critical comment....Russian MoD has not come off of their offensive plans to take a Crimea land corridor which would achieve three core goals.....

1. protect the flanks of their Black Sea naval port
2. cut Ukraine from the sea and exports thus fully under Russain control
3. land corridor to Transnisteria and Moldavia...now with a prorussian government....

That actually was to be the main plan in 2014 but it got brutally stopped in the Odessa fire and the volunteer BNs holding the defense lines near Mariupol.....until they could get replaced in 2015 by well trained Marine infantry and UAF SF.....

Right now it is a war of attrition and the mercenaries are largely losing....the UAF has somehow figured out how to withstand massive Russian style artillery strikes and are weathering them relatively ok....still losing manpower though..

On the mercenary side they are losing manpower badly and going nowhere fast....

Since beginning of this year 65 Ukrainian soldiers were killed, 440 wounded in 6419 attacks. In March - almost half of casualties

94 attacks on Ukrainian positions yesterday, 10 soldiers were wounded


AND there is no war in Central Europe???

[OUTLAW 09]

BUT WAIT ...there is suppose to be the 30th "ceasefire".........


10:07 #Donetsk #Leninskyi #Obzhora: "Since it's ceasefire, that was probably 2 heavy UFOs flying out"

[OUTLAW 09]

Massive Russian ceasefire violation ...of their own called ceasefire for 1 APR....

Breaking: Russia is pounding Kryms'ke, Luhansk oblast, Ukraine with 152 mm artillery right now

[OUTLAW 09]

Russian Defense Ministry's TV channel is convinced that NATO=Nazi (they were also panicking that CIA penetrated their newsroom via Pokemon)

[OUTLAW 09]

Sputnik‏
Verified account
Russia has no territorial claims to neighboring states - @mfa_russia's #Lavrov
http://sptnkne.ws/dVvY

[OUTLAW 09]

Week’s balance: "Yanukovych debt," Firtash’s profit, and Sberbank’s maneuver
https://www.unian.info/economics/1853976-weeks-balance-yanukovych-debt-firtashs-profit-and-sberbanks-maneuver.html#

[OUTLAW 09]

Well worth reading......

Thx to the @KyivPost,you can now read the entire #Lutsenko interview on #Voronenkov,#Minsk & #Corruption in ENGLISH!
https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/germanys-bild-newspaper-interviews-lutsenko-voronenkov-murder-russias-war-corruption-fight.html#

[OUTLAW 09]

Now the Kremlin sends weapons to "D/LNR" under guise of "recycling" - utilization
http://qha.com.ua/en/politics/now-the-kremlin-sends-weapons-to-ordlo-under-guise-of-quot-recycling-quot/140402/#

[OUTLAW 09]

Chief of General Staff of Ukraine Muzhenko says Russia is preparing escalation at Donbas

"Easter ceasefire" #DonbasReports: 20 attacks, 4 soldiers wounded 00:00-18:00. Heavy mortars were used - ATO HQ

Conscripts will not go to war in Syria. Putin signed a decree on drafting 142,000 people for military service
https://www.pnp.ru/social/2017/03/30/srochniki-v-siriyu-voevat-ne-poedut.html#

Unusual high call up numbers....

[Azor]

Azor...the last paragraph is the critical comment....Russian MoD has not come off of their offensive plans to take a Crimea land corridor which would achieve three core goals.....

1. protect the flanks of their Black Sea naval port
2. cut Ukraine from the sea and exports thus fully under Russain control
3. land corridor to Transnisteria and Moldavia...now with a prorussian government....

That actually was to be the main plan in 2014 but it got brutally stopped in the Odessa fire and the volunteer BNs holding the defense lines near Mariupol.....until they could get replaced in 2015 by well trained Marine infantry and UAF SF.....

Outlaw 09:

The Crimean land corridor, or the Black Sea littoral to Transnistria scenarios, have been discussed ad nauseam since 2014. If Russia wanted to launch such an offensive, it can do so at any time. Shoulder insignias can be removed and "captured Ukrainian aircraft" can be refurbished and decorated with LPR/DPR roundels.

The Ukrainian Army, while capable of defeating the forces of Novorossiya, would not be capable of stopping a determined joint Russian offensive.

What holds Putin back is:


Exclusion from SWIFT
Provision of advanced arms from NATO to Ukraine e.g. ATGMs, mines, EM warfare systems, etc.
The high probability of Russian occupation forces facing a insurgency
Provoking large popular demonstrations against his rule in Russia


Unfortunately, Adm. Kabanenko has too much of a patriotic lens here.

[OUTLAW 09]

Outlaw 09:

The Crimean land corridor, or the Black Sea littoral to Transnistria scenarios, have been discussed ad nauseam since 2014. If Russia wanted to launch such an offensive, it can do so at any time. Shoulder insignias can be removed and "captured Ukrainian aircraft" can be refurbished and decorated with LPR/DPR roundels.

The Ukrainian Army, while capable of defeating the forces of Novorossiya, would not be capable of stopping a determined joint Russian offensive.

What holds Putin back is:


Exclusion from SWIFT
Provision of advanced arms from NATO to Ukraine e.g. ATGMs, mines, EM warfare systems, etc.
The high probability of Russian occupation forces facing a insurgency
Provoking large popular demonstrations against his rule in Russia


Unfortunately, Adm. Kabanenko has too much of a patriotic lens here.

Here is what is actually know.... in the early phase of the so called "separatist takeovers in eastern Ukraine they did in fact focus strategically and tactically on Odessa and Kharkiv....which only failed because Ukrainian nationalists rallied into stand alone poorly armed volunteer BNs and or in the case of Odessa brute physical force ie direct attacks on "separatists" and then burning out a key building they wanted to take over as the early "separatists" believed that in taking buildings it granted them legitimacy .................

Actually after a two solid years of fighting largely Russian frontline troops in the form of Spetsnaz and Russian tank units backed up by Russian artillery units UAF has been successful in negating any of their short lived ground offensives....or in the recent cases they come in after "separatist" forces have stalled in their offensives.

Coupled with UAF total rebuild and rearming of their forces and an expansion of their NG units they are capable of holding off and or inflicting critical loses on both Russian and separatist units...UNLESS and you are right UNLESS throws total military power on their side into the fight....

BUT they cannot due to then their entire narrative falling apart of "we ain't in Donbas", secondarily the massive financial cost well beyond what it is now and then you are correct NATO "defensive weapons start flowing" and then the "economic nuclear strike option".....removal from SWIFT.

If you recall a number of my far earlier comments just after the Crimean annexation and the actual Russian invasion force entered eastern Ukraine....I often stated pull the SWIFT trigger and you will get their attention.....and IMHO if it had been done then we would not be where we are today in a military stalemate of sorts...economically speaking Ukraine is now able to handle both the fighting and to further develop economically which was Putin's biggest miscalculation as he felt they would crash and burn under the weight of constant fighting...

WHY did the SWIFT trigger not get pulled....... Putin inherently read Obama correctly and knew he would not do it...if Obama had then Putin would have come to his senses and pulled back as it appears he really does not want a full scale war on his eastern borders....

Remember of number of Putin comments when SWIFT was being debated..he actually did threaten an armed "escalation"..but he always has threatened and that was all it ever was....really he has always been "escalating" thus nothing new there...

BUT as always Obama played his violin as Rome burned and did nothing...a number of NATO members led by France and Germany did in fact mention publicly that option as they attempted to get Putin's attention but were overridden by comments from Obama...Kerry and Niland....

[OUTLAW 09]

Russia plans massive arms write-off to conceal supplies to Donbas – MP
https://www.unian.info/war/1854034-russia-plans-massive-arms-write-off-to-conceal-supplies-to-donbas-mp.html#

[OUTLAW 09]

Day 1139: ‘Ceasefire’ Begins: 112 Attacks by Russia-Backed Forces; 14 Ukrainian Soldiers Wounded in 24 Hours
http://www.interpretermag.com/1139-2/#16379

Indications are increasing of a Russian led mercenary major ground offensive...

Is Russia Getting Ready to Invade Ukraine Again?: Stephen Blank
http://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/is-russia-getting-ready-to-invade-ukraine-again#

[OUTLAW 09]

Ceasefire that began April 1 in eastern #Ukraine seems to be going way of previous ceasefires ... fire not ceasing.

[OUTLAW 09]

Tankspotting: T-90As in the Donbass via @bellingcat
https://www.bellingcat.com/news/uk-and-europe/2017/04/02/tankspotting-t-90as-donbass/#

Verified sightings of Russian T-90A tanks in Ukraine show Kremlin is lying when says it is not involved in war on Ukraine in Donbas.

[OUTLAW 09]

Fake news alert: @Arron_banks defends Putin theft of Crimea by claiming it is '85% ethnic Russian'. Census before invasion found 58% Russian

[OUTLAW 09]

Lutsenko says no general amnesty for Donbas separatists
https://www.unian.info/politics/1854964-lutsenko-says-no-general-amnesty-for-donbas-separatists.html#

[OUTLAW 09]

37 Ceasefire Violations Reported Saturday

WAS suppose to be an Easter Ceasefire??????

[OUTLAW 09]

Chameleon from the Russian 22nd Spetsnaz Brigade poses as a “soldier of the Spetsnaz GRU DPR”:
https://informnapalm.org/en/chameleon-russian-22nd-spetsnaz-brigade-poses-soldier-spetsnaz-gru-dpr/#

[OUTLAW 09]

Occupied Donetsk, night of April 3
Very loud
https://youtu.be/nuxN5X0Cp_0
#

[OUTLAW 09]

Avdiivka remains cut off power supply, militants refuse security guarantees to repair crews

[OUTLAW 09]

Russia has never accepted the Baltic version of history. But until 2014 it had no complaints about Crimea.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/03/lithuania-fears-russian-propaganda-is-prelude-to-eventual-invasion?CMP=share_btn_tw …

[OUTLAW 09]

20:54 #Dokuchaevsk: "Ceasefire" f*cking pounds in high gear. For about 2 hours for sure [#now]

[OUTLAW 09]

20:25 #Donetsk #Tekstilschik: [ok.ru] "We can see something on fire far away

21:01 #Dokuchaevsk: Sometimes they cease for some 5 min, they use [grenade launchers] too

[OUTLAW 09]

Donetsk 6:30AM Orcs all night pounded towards north from Donetsk, now calmed down.

[OUTLAW 09]

THERE is suppose to be an "Easter Ceasefire"...appears only UAF is ceasing fire......until forced to respond by direct attacks..Russians are not.....

48 attacks on Ukrainian positions yesterday, 2 soldiers were killed, 5 wounded. Army replied to enemy provocations

[OUTLAW 09]

Girkin / #Strelkov posted cryptic message per his credible sources of unforeseeable events with unpredictable consequences in a month.

[OUTLAW 09]

The Easter Ceasefire that "was not one"......

Escalation in Donbas: 54 attacks on Ukraine, 5 WIA's in last day

[OUTLAW 09]

Enemy DRG approached Ukr positions near #Maryinka yday, soldiers opened fire and killed one of them, rest ran away.

"He had an assault rifle and just one magazine, no documents, no tattoos - which is very strange" - Sector Mariupol spox.

Russia used R-149MA1 command vehicle to control the invasion forces on Donbas
https://informnapalm.org/en/russia-used-r-149ma1-command-vehicle-control-invasion-forces-donbas/#…

[OUTLAW 09]

Avdiivka It's noisy since AM.
6:18AM

Donetsk 6:30AM Orcs all night pounded towards north from Donetsk, now calmed down.

[OUTLAW 09]

Lithuania report: #Russia is suppressing radio frequencies used by #NATO pilots over the #Baltic Sea
http://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/natosource/lithuania-says-russia-has-ability-to-launch-baltic-attack-in-24-hours#

On the picture #Russian army latest top secret EW station 1РЛ257 Красуха-4 spotted in #Donetsk in 2014

As of December 2013 ONLY **TEN** 1РЛ257 "Красуха-4" ever was manufactured. It was meant for support to strategic air force.

1РЛ257 "Красуха-4" is meant to be deployed in strategically important advance regions to heavy air reconnaissance areas.

1РЛ257 "Красуха-4" is still considered highly classified equipment. It's exact deployment in army units is classified. Radius - over 300 km.

[OUTLAW 09]

Photographs of Ukrainian Buks Geolocated, Nearly Three Years Later
https://www.bellingcat.com/news/uk-and-europe/2017/04/04/photographs-ukrainian-buks-geolocated-nearly-three-years-later/#


They did not down MH17 as Russia first claimed they did....

[OUTLAW 09]

Russia has stationed 1,370 tanks and armored vehicles, 700 aircraft, 24 warships, and 18,000 troops near Ukrainian border, says Ukraine MoD.

In the area of Svitlodarsk bulge (ATO area) was found a drone (type Granat-1) with marking of Russian FSB
https://inforesist.org/v-rayone-svetlodarskoy-dugi-obnaruzhen-bespilotnik-s-markirovkoy-fsb-rf/#

Ukrainian developers have created a radar station MR-18 which is able to "see" the so-called invisible aircraft.
http://24tv.ua/ukrayintsi_rozrobili_unikalnu_radiolokatsiynu_stan tsiyu_dlya_poshuku_litakivnevidimok_n802641#