Ukraine: military (Aug '14 to mid-June '15) closed

[OUTLAW 09]

An increasing number of Crimea Tartars are "disappearing" and then turning up dead and having signs of torture.

This is the Russian leader of the Crimea as to why they are "disappearing".

Wow... > @MoscowTimes Aksyonov says disappeared Crimean Tatars could be fighting in Syria

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/article/509571.html

[OUTLAW 09]

Russian paranoia--notice in the last paragraph they are still holding on to the "they are not in the Donbas nor providing weapons and fighters".

From Interfax today:

19:05 RUSSIA, U.S. NEED UNPREJUDICED DIALOGUE TO PRESERVE STRATEGIC STABILITY - RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTER SHOIGU

19:03 U.S. MILITARY INTERFERENCE IN ASIAN COUNTRIES, UKRAINE LEADING TO BLOODY CHAOS - RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTER SHOIGU


From RIA today:

Updated 8:20 p.m. Moscow Time

MOSCOW, October 16 (RIA Novosti) - Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu expressed concern on Thursday about a recent statement by US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel outlining the need to prepare US troops for the fight against the Russian army "on the NATO's doorstep."

Hagel said in his keynote address to the Association of the US Army that the US troops must be prepared to deal with Russia "with its modern and capable army on NATO's doorstep".

"This statement leads us to believe that Pentagon is working on scenarios of military action near the borders of our country," Shoigu told reporters in Moscow.

"Instead of fueling tensions, we need to encourage a candid dialogue on all issues on the agenda of our relations with Western partners," Shoigu noted, adding that "this is the only way to find mutually acceptable solutions aimed at keeping the existing balance of forces and strengthening strategic stability".

According to the defense minister, it is Washington that has been "stubbornly" moving "NATO's doorstep" closer to Russian borders for the past 20 years.

Following Crimea's reunification with Russia in March, NATO stepped up its military presence near Russia's borders, specifically in Poland and the former Soviet Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. Russia has repeatedly expressed concern over NATO's increased military presence in its neighboring states.

Relations between Russia and NATO deteriorated further as the crisis in Ukraine escalated. The alliance has repeatedly accused Russia of meddling in Ukraine's internal affairs, sending troops to Ukraine, and went as far as to claim that Moscow planned to invade Ukraine. However, none of these statements were supported with any evidence.

BUT the Ukraine is holding over 131 Russian military as prisoners of war.

[OUTLAW 09]

Russian paranoia--notice in the last paragraph they are still holding on to the "they are not in the Donbas nor providing weapons and fighters".

From Interfax today:

19:05 RUSSIA, U.S. NEED UNPREJUDICED DIALOGUE TO PRESERVE STRATEGIC STABILITY - RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTER SHOIGU

19:03 U.S. MILITARY INTERFERENCE IN ASIAN COUNTRIES, UKRAINE LEADING TO BLOODY CHAOS - RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTER SHOIGU


From RIA today:

Updated 8:20 p.m. Moscow Time

MOSCOW, October 16 (RIA Novosti) - Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu expressed concern on Thursday about a recent statement by US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel outlining the need to prepare US troops for the fight against the Russian army "on the NATO's doorstep."

Hagel said in his keynote address to the Association of the US Army that the US troops must be prepared to deal with Russia "with its modern and capable army on NATO's doorstep".

"This statement leads us to believe that Pentagon is working on scenarios of military action near the borders of our country," Shoigu told reporters in Moscow.

"Instead of fueling tensions, we need to encourage a candid dialogue on all issues on the agenda of our relations with Western partners," Shoigu noted, adding that "this is the only way to find mutually acceptable solutions aimed at keeping the existing balance of forces and strengthening strategic stability".

According to the defense minister, it is Washington that has been "stubbornly" moving "NATO's doorstep" closer to Russian borders for the past 20 years.

Following Crimea's reunification with Russia in March, NATO stepped up its military presence near Russia's borders, specifically in Poland and the former Soviet Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. Russia has repeatedly expressed concern over NATO's increased military presence in its neighboring states.

Relations between Russia and NATO deteriorated further as the crisis in Ukraine escalated. The alliance has repeatedly accused Russia of meddling in Ukraine's internal affairs, sending troops to Ukraine, and went as far as to claim that Moscow planned to invade Ukraine. However, none of these statements were supported with any evidence.

BUT the Ukraine is holding over 131 Russian military as prisoners of war.

Putin's attempt to make nice and get the sanctions lifted at the EU/Asia Milan meeting has in fact "gone south".

Angela #Merkel and Vladimir #Putin had been due to meet in Milan tonight. It's been cancelled. No reason yet, tho Merkel recently v critical

NATO: No Russian pullout
http://uatoday.tv/geopolitics/nato-n...ut-374143.html …

[OUTLAW 09]

Now Putin has a major problem that was not foreseen when he launched his UW strategy against the Ukraine.

The Ukraine becoming a second "Poland" and that on his own border.

#Poland General will reform #Ukraine’s army on behalf of #NATO
http://euromaidanpress.com/2014/10/1...ehalf-of-nato/ …
pic.twitter.com/bz8Ap0cnRz

[OUTLAW 09]

First the Russian mercenaries claim they are pro Russian and want independence and have been beating up on the Ukrainian Army together with the Russian Army--

NOW this---if true what a strange turn of events.

BREAKING #Luhansk & #Donetsk terrorists ask #Ukraine army to join with them against Don Cossacks. Human logic goes its own peculiar ways

Both sides, #Luhansk terrorists &Don Cossack, have more than plenty weapons &equipment. If things get messy then would mean end to the towns

In #Stahanov, #Antratsyt, & #Rovenky #Luhansk terrorists intend purge fr Don Cossacks. Don Cossacks intend to purge them fr LPR terrorists

[OUTLAW 09]

Finally an European leader stands up and speak the truth about the lack of Russian activity in getting Minsk 1 and 2 implemented as they stated to the world media they are always doing.

Merkel and Poroshenko discussed the state of the Minsk accord and "voiced dismay that much has not been carried out," the chancellery says

[OUTLAW 09]

It now appears that the new Russian military UW strategy is largely and or has largely failed due to a number of Ukrainian counter measures. This would be the general view as it is the author's below--BUT if one really reads the new Russia UW strategy they are simply downshifting the phases from their last phase six but the UW war still is ongoing just differently--that is the actual beauty of their new strategy---the ability to shifts gears as your opponent changes his tactics.

There has been a not so subtle shift to setting the basis for a coup as the way to remove the current Ukrainian government since it has passed a number of laws that will remove the Communist Party as a source of Putin's power as well as removing a large number of corrupt and pro Russian officials from their government posts.

This is a solid article on the new Russia shift in tactics.

http://www.kyivpost.com/opinion/op-e...cs-368286.html

First indicator of this shift was this weeks riots and demos in Kyiv.

Organizer of Nat. Guard #Kiev riots id'd as #Russia|n FSB agent Julia Kharlamov
http://podrobnosti.ua/analytics/2014/10/16/998177.html … v @podrobnosti
pic.twitter.com/d0ugC2H939

@RutheniaRus Employee of FSB Russia, Kharlamov identified as provoker of the National Guard.
pic.twitter.com/8tZeVo3Dwu

Supporters of ‘dictator laws’ trying to stay in #Ukraine's parliament
http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukra...nt-368295.html …
pic.twitter.com/FIkd5Y128g

Police officer suspected of being agent provocateur during Rada clashes arrested
http://www.kyivpost.com/content/kyiv...es-368142.html … via @KyivPost
pic.twitter.com/cCXnZNuxpQ

[OUTLAW 09]

Interesting that Russia keeps mentioning the same Minsk 1 points over and over yet fail at the same to mention Minsk 2 which requires the Russian mercenaries to leave eastern Ukraine, and Russia to finally secure the border along with OSCE as well as pulling out their own troops which they have refused even exist in the Ukraine.

Even when the Ukraine fulfills Minsk 1 with a special law for some of the eastern regions Russia cannot even get their own mercenaries onboard.

From Interfax today:
14:39 Ukrainian law on special status of Donbas is bluff - DPR

The DPR is now complaining that the entire Donbas should fall under their control--including large areas currently not under their control---what one cannot get by fighting now they think it will be simply handed to them because Russia "saved them"---actually an official statement from Belarus today--the mercenaries were failing until Russia stepped in.

Following the Russia motto---we want "federalization"---got it, now we want independence and on and on...

Even the corner stone of Minsk 1 was a total civilian and military POW full exchange with no restrictions to be completed in 48 hours from the start---there is still no full exchange and the DPR continues to refuse to release civilians--notice again Russia has no comment on the POW exchange.

Updated 1:59 p.m. Moscow Time

MILAN, October 17 (RIA Novosti) - Friday’s breakfast meeting of Russian, Ukrainian and EU leaders in Milan was constructive, although some of its participants were reluctant to learn about the real state of affairs in eastern Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday.

“The participants discussed the implementation of the Minsk agreements in a detailed and substantive way. Unfortunately, some participants of the breakfast meeting have demonstrated full reluctance to understand the real situation in southeastern Ukraine,” he told reporters.

The spokesman said the participants did not discuss the issue of Western sanctions imposed on Russia.

The 1.5-hour breakfast meeting on the margins of the ASEM summit in northern Italy brought together Russian President Vladimir Putin, his Ukrainian counterpart Petro Poroshenko, as well as British Prime Minister David Cameron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and European Council President Herman Van Rompuy.

On September 5, the trilateral Contact Group in Minsk reached a series of agreements between the Ukrainian government and the self-proclaimed people's republics of Luhansk and Donetsk. Among the provisions of the deal are an "all-for-all" prisoner exchange, withdrawal of heavy weaponry, additional humanitarian convoys from Russia to eastern Ukraine, and a ceasefire which came into force on the same day.

Numerous violations have been reported in the regions since the ceasefire was established.

At least 331 deaths have been reported in eastern Ukraine since the ceasefire deal, bringing the overall death toll in the the six-month-old conflict to more than 3,600, the UN said last week.

[OUTLAW 09]

It is noticeable that the only hardline dictator left in Europe---Belarus---is voicing some uncomfortable comments in the direction of Russia.

iIn the last two days he stated that Russia must remember that portions of Russia were until taken away from Belarus actually parts of Belarus--then he stated that the mercenaries in both the DPR and LPR were for all intents and purposes defeated by the Ukrainian Army until Russia sent in her military and then this today. He is sensing he is getting more room for his comments and Russia cannot push back on him.

Lukashenko has been always a good reader of Putin. Plus in the last CIs meeting he sided with those CIS countries that openly stated each can go their own directions East, West, and or both.

#Lukashenko's speech on #Ukraine and #Russia indicates he feels that #Putin's rule is coming to an end.

http://www.belaruspartisan.org/politic/283314

[OUTLAW 09]

After the Milan meeting--Putin states they were "good" whatever "good" is but then the Germans stated.

Merkel believes no headway has been made yet in talks on Ukraine
http://24today.net/open/177493
pic.twitter.com/PbHipttdh9

But then the Russian standard answer when it comes to the Ukraine:

Kremlin: Ukraine talks 'full of misunderstandings and disagreements'
http://eurone.ws/2PhVVp

It seems that it is only Russia that seems to "understand" what the problem is --so if any EU country has another opinion then it is "misunderstandings and disagreements".

Seems to be the world according to Russia.

[OUTLAW 09]

Regardless of Milan--the war that is not a war still continues and it is far from "frozen".

Around 12:00 #Ukraine army in #Debaltseve started to remind to Don Cossacks they have artillery too & have are good at its use. #Donetsk

BREAKING #SBU detained a #Russian army lieutenant colonel w VERY INTERESTING PAPERS. Went straight to #Milan. Along w that minus 14 terrs.

NOTE:---the SBU is and SF units are getting better every day---the blogger world is waiting to find out more about the documents the Russian LT COL was carrying with him since copies went straight to Milan.

[OUTLAW 09]

Ukrainian President and Putin in closed door discussions right now.

THEN this at the same time:

More sound of shelling in northern #Donetsk city tonight.
Russian target the airport again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch

And if Germany has it's way the sanctions are not coming off anytime soon.

Merkel reprimands Putin before ASEM leaders for raising doubts about #Ukraine sovereignty, recalls 1994 Budapest agmt
http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSKC

Seems that since Putin cannot ensure the security of the Russian Ukrainian border the EU signed up to secure it for him.

Since he ordered the FSB to provide security to the OSCE on the border---will he do the same for the EU?

#Germany, #Italy, & #France agreed to guard #Ukraine East border.
http://gazeta.ua/articles/polit

[OUTLAW 09]

Putin states in Milan that eastern Ukraine is an integral part of the Ukraine THEN in his evening press conference he keeps using the term "New Russia".

Putin, speaking about the results of Milan talks on the Ukrainian crisis, keeps referring to eastern Ukraine as "Novorossiya"

He also stated that the conditions from Minsk have not been met---BUT then the following from his Russian mercenaries.

BREAKING: Heavy machine gun fire at #Donetsk airport now. Rumors say large amount of #Russia|n troops gathered around it, ready to attack.

Fire, explosions, shelling everywhere in Donetsk -reports

http://liveuamap.com/en/2014/17-octo...ere-in-donetsk …

BREAKING #DonetskAirport defenders report #Russian terrorists in forces up to a full company have gathered around the airport, ready to roll

So if he cannot control his own mercenaries just how is it that he thinks the Germans are going to approve the sanctions being lifted?

[OUTLAW 09]

Putin makes a big show of his being open to negotiate and then the Russian troops and his mercenaries are starting a push on Mariupol and then on to Odessa for his land corridor to the Crimea just AFTER Putin finishes his Milan press conference.

BREAKING #Russian terrorists close to #Mariupol started heavy shelling of "#Azov" positions, advance on. Not known where exactly.

BREAKING In #Luhansk region, close to #Shchastya #Russian terrorists have begun their advance. A LOT OF tanks on mountain Vesyolaya Gora

[OUTLAW 09]

The Sberbank CEO this week indicated that it would not be fatal if the oil prices remained between 80-90 and now Putin is arguing that if the price stayed at 80 then the entire world economy will collapse.

WHAT I think he is trying to say is that the Russian economy will collapse.

Never realized Putin is such a world class economist---and yet he sees no connection between his actions in the Ukraine and his own economy.

Putin: World economy would collapse if oil prices stay at $80 per barrel - LIVE NOW
http://on.rt.com/jqun7c
pic.twitter.com/4iIA5Ss8rg

Actually what he does not realize is that the global consumer might in fact drive global consumption more if the gas prices remained low for a while.

BUT he needs between 101 to 104 just to balance his own budget.

[OUTLAW 09]

Appears possible Russian sub is cornered in Swedish waters.


The Swedish navy has started an operation to surface a "foreign submarine" in the #Stockholm area.

[OUTLAW 09]

The infighting with the Cossacks in eastern Ukraine is now heating up to for Putin an extremely dangerous level as it pits them against his own Russian mercenaries.

Hundreds of #Cossacks arrived in the last days, claiming #Novoazovsk is part of "#Novorossiya" and not of the "Donetsk People's Republic".

#BreakingReport Russian-indoctrinated #Cossacks occupy parts of #Novoazovsk,push #DNR to the northern #Telmanove area
Fighting possible soon

[OUTLAW 09]

Putin makes a big show of his being open to negotiate and then the Russian troops and his mercenaries are starting a push on Mariupol and then on to Odessa for his land corridor to the Crimea just AFTER Putin finishes his Milan press conference.

BREAKING #Russian terrorists close to #Mariupol started heavy shelling of "#Azov" positions, advance on. Not known where exactly.

BREAKING In #Luhansk region, close to #Shchastya #Russian terrorists have begun their advance. A LOT OF tanks on mountain Vesyolaya Gora

So is now in fact the "so called" ceasefire now finally over?

BREAKING UPDATE Per what is happening the feeling tells for some the ceasefire is coming to its end.

Since #Putin #Poroshenko meeting, it seems like there is a new offensive on multiple fronts ongoing.

BREAKING Just now #Russian terrorists driving SS-21 (Tochka-U) fr #Makiyivka to #Donetsk & intend to shoot fr #DonetskAirport.
BREAKING UPDATE News on SS-21 (Tochka-U) is sketchy. Still it was large rockets (plural!) on trailer heading for #Donetsk. Right now.

I can cofirm ongoing attacks on #Donetsk #airport. Small arms, artillery/mortars and heavy machine guns involved

[OUTLAW 09]

Ceasefire is now formally over --so those that thought negotiations with Russia is the way forward--must now bury that idea as long as Putin is in power.

#REPORTS from all over the occupied territory in #Ukraine:Heavy Russian attacks.
Offensive started at sunsets in the north,center and south

Now we are seeing the Putin move to annex eastern Ukraine which was the plan all along which is what he has been stating for six months.

#Breaking The DNR regime says, it will only withdraw its troops out of the agreed on #Minsk #buffer_zone, IF RUSSIA GUARANTEES ITS SECURITY

This would officially give it the same status as South Ossetia or Abkhazia.
source:
http://censor.net.ua/news/307637/te

This goes to the RIA press release yesterday when Russia stated it could be a "guarantor" of the DPR/LPR.

[OUTLAW 09]

First the Crimea, then eastern Ukraine, then accusing the Baltics of harboring Nazi's. constant air incursions into Finland and now Sweden.

Is Putin out of control?

#BREAKING; Whole swedish navy combat ready. Russian subamarines in the Stockholm archipelagy. "Testing" new swe gov

BREAKING - SWEDEN DEPLOYS FIGHTER JETS, NAVY AGAINST WHAT IT SAYS IS A THREAT FROM "FOREIGN SUBMARINES" NEAR STOCKHOLM