What is happening with Russia and Ukraine now?

-sigh-

Newly appointed governor of the Odessa, Mikhail Saakashvili, who got Ukrainian citizenship a day before that, says that Transdnistria, a region that is being blockaded, smuggles weapons and drugs to Ukraine and therefore Ukraine needs to put more soldiers on the border to enforce law.

Ukraine denounced agreements about transportation/cooperation with Russia as well as placed S-300 anti-air missiles along the border and explicitly stated they will shoot down Russian transport planes. With Russian peacekeepers being blocked inside the region as well as 150 thousand Russians living in the republic, RF will have to get involved if the region is ever attacked by Moldova/Ukraine. This could potentially mean a proper war with Europe since NATO considers RF presense in the republic illegal.

 

Ukrainian media calls the Pope a liar and a traitor because he has failed to condemn Russian actions in Ukraine during Putin's visit to Vatican.

 

Commemorative concert for SS Galichina division in Ivano-Frankovsk, Ukraine. SS veteran telling how he fought against moskal plague since the dawn of time, calling veterans of the anti-terrorist operation worthy successors of the division:

[YOUTUBE]s2eN6UBG8FA[/YOUTUBE]

 

Ukrainian news outlets report that several members of the Tornado batallion of the Ukrainian army were arrested in several cities for murder, torture and gang rape of citizens in Luhansk oblast that they recorded on video.

The Ukrainian government used to turn a blind eye on their deeds, but they have recently started blocking trains with coal. Their crimes immediately went public and currently the battalion is surrounded in Lisichansk. They are threatening to blow up trucks with ammunition if the government forces approach them. The news also report that the government plans to burn their positions with napalm:

[YOUTUBE]jt7ukEilzvs[/YOUTUBE]

 

Zakharchenko discusses war efforts, persecution of marauders and new homes for displaced people during a meeting in Donetsk:

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Ukrainian news report that sixth wave of mobilization has begun in Ukraine.

Apparently Ukraine has ran out of soldiers mobilized in the previous five waves but would like to keep that a secret, so the population census has been postponed indefinitely.

 

Humanitarian aid convoy #30 has arrived. As you can see, each bag contains a fully equipped Russian soldier and every box has a tank inside:

[YOUTUBE]Egq6jCcO5ZE[/YOUTUBE]

 

Ukrainian media reports that Europe has made the process of getting a schengen visa harder for Ukrainians.

If you remember, in 2013 the lack of visa-less travel was one of the reasons for violent protests in Kiev.

 

IMF supports RF side in the Ukrainian debt question.

International Monetary Fund staff formed a preliminary view that $3 billion in bonds sold to Russia by Ukraine should be classified as official rather than private debt. Under IMF policy, countries receiving loans from the fund can’t be overdue on debt payments to other official creditors.

Nothing personal, just business.

 

Estonian president Toomas Hendrik Ilves mocks Ukrainian demands of EU membership during the recent GLOBSEC Global Security Forum:

 

Belgium has unblocked RF bank accounts, which were blocked earlier at the request of the former shareholders of Yukos oil company.

 

A BRICS bank is opening in Moscow on the 7th of July. BRICS is also considering the idea of replacing the SWIFT system with one of their own, which is not surprising as the EU loves to threaten to ban countries from using it in hopes of getting political leverage. Iran was disconnected from it back in 2012, for example.

 

With more and more confirmations ([1] [2]) that fracking causes earthquakes, the United States shale gas industry can no longer remain in denial and should look towards flopping even harder (Reports say that rates of return are very low for most companies as is).

Looks like Europe is not going to get cheap and plentiful shale gas from US any time soon and despite officially bashing RF actions UK is increasing gas deliveries from Russia by 70%.

 

EU has extended existing sanctions against Russia. Interestingly enough the sanctions were not increased. Looks like Europe is tired of this and tries to appease both US and RF.

 

-sigh-

Colour revolution in Armenia under way.

 

And in other news Russia is still supporting the rebels in the east, which control about 3% of Ukrainian land :^)

 

If you are not familiar with the region, here is why the colour revolution is brewing in Armenia:

There are a lot of old grudges here, a lot of old hate and plenty of contested territory (Ararat mountain, Nagorno-Karabakh area). Luckily Armenia and Azerbaijan are allied with Russia and Russia has a military presence in Armenia, which prevents them from killing each other. Both Armenia and Azerbaijan were a part of USSR and relied heavily on it, it uplifted them, it gave them food and jobs. They voted overwhelmingly in favor of keeping USSR intact during the 1991 referendum. They even participated in the recent Victory day parade together (Although their media did retouch the images from the parade to remove each other's flags). There are regular shootouts on the border, but they are just that, isolated cases (So far).

Armenia also serves as a Russian connection to the Middle East in general and Iran, another Russian ally, specifically. Through it RF can exert its influence and support its allies.

So far the protests in Armenia mirror the protests in Yugoslavia, Ukraine, Russia, Macedonia, Egypt, Syria and the rest. They have the same symbols, same leaflets, same scenarios. Magically toilets, tents, food and bottled water showed up. Out of nowhere goons from all over the world showed up to give support to poor oppressed Armenians. Out of nowhere anti-Russian slogans appeared in a peaceful protest against a planned electricity bill price increase (By 18% or 0.8 ruble, 0.01 USD or 0.009 british pound). The Armenian president came out to the crowds and asked them what they want, but they couldn't give a clear answer.

Even if the government finds some common ground with the protesters and peaceful protesters will go home, those goons who came to the country will not. By the looks of it a coup will happen within a couple months if the Armenian government doesn't do anything about it. Some "unidentified snipers" will show up and shoot at both the protesters and the police. Somehow protesters will find weapons and there will be a lot of blood.

If it happens, if the government is replaced, if the Russian presence in the region is removed, either peacefully, or by force, the region will literally go to shit.

Azerbaijan and Turkey are unlikely to pass this opportunity up and will attempt another Armenian genocide (100th anniversary of the first one is soon). Judging by how Turkey operated in Syria they will use everything short of WMDs.

One way or another this will effectively cut Russia off from its allies in the Middle East and it will cut RF influence in the region as well as stop Armenia from joining the Eurasian Economic Union. Take a guess who might want that.

 

A Ukrainian student in Poland was expelled and will be prosecuted on the grounds of being a nazi poser and making fun of concentration camp victims.

 

In an interview with an Italian newspaper, president Poroshenko claims there are now two hundred thousand Russian soldiers in Donbass, more than 1/4th of the entire armed forces of RF and more than the entire Bundeswehr army, "along with an arsenal of tanks, sophisticated missile-launching systems and surface-to-air rockets. Like the one that shot down the Malaysian civilian jet last year".

On the 4th of June he said there are 9000 soldiers, then a few days later his defense minister said there are 42000 and 600 tanks, and a week ago there were 54000, and now they say there are 200000.

It's like they just pull these numbers out of their asses. Six million is a lucky number, they should try this one next.