What is happening with Russia and Ukraine now?

"Don't you think the American public should know a little bit about who our soldiers are going to fight?"

Political ramifications of the whole event aside, I don't think the guy seems very aware of the complexities on either side of the arguments over the inherent value and nature of information being classified and hidden from the public that a government serves.

 

LPR reports that a joint commission from Germany and Switzerland is scheduled to arrive in Luhansk to estimate the damage done to the water supply utilities and plan the repairs by allocating German reserve funds.

It's nice to see that Germany does not consider the entire population of Donbass (6 million in 2013, 4 million in 2015) rebel scum.

 

Ukrainian media reports that the Chief of the General Staff of Russia is now a wanted person in Ukraine for starting a military conflict in Ukraine and is responsible for the catastrophic failure of the Ukrainian army during the batte of Ilovaisk according to SBU.

What is weird about this is that the ATO was officially declared by the Ukrainian government in response to the regions demanding federalization and the Ilovaisk Cauldron was the result of a massive fuckup on the behalf of UA military command. They were surrounded and wiped the floor with by miners with guns. Red faction much?

Russian Ministry of Defense replied that it has received no notifications from the current SBU leadership whatsoever. According to the Ukrainian media the Ministry also said that SBU should send a note in advance that it's sending SBU operatives to RF to prosecute in order to avoid misunderstanding and so that they could be provided with "Proper greetings, heart-to-heart conversations and quick departure that they will fondly remember for a long time".

 

An interesting opinion on Victoria Nuland presence at the Ukrainian Parliament discussion of outlining a special status of Donbass region in the constitution of Ukraine last month.

Starts at a 4:02 mark:

[YOUTUBE]MM8O7fQlzzo[/YOUTUBE]

 

Ukrainian media reports that citizens are still being snatched on the streets and forced into conscription to participate in the Anti Terrorist Operation taking place in Donbass. This time the report on person with bronchial asthma who was detained by the police in Kharkiv, transported to Kiev, and awaited for a hospital to confirm his diagnosis for two weeks while being forced to undergo military training.

 

German Der Spiegel reports on Poroshenko's achievements a year after he became a president.

The article says that he has failed to deal with oligarchs and despite his promises he still controls his confectionery and bank businesses which continue to expand and grow (Profits up 84% in 2014) and he has recently opened new shops across Ukraine despite the fact that the country becomes poorer every day.

On a side note he still owns a factory in Russia and still pays taxes to and feeds the "agressor state".

What's interesting is that even the traditionally pro-government media sources in Ukraine are reporting on this.

 

Ukrainian media reports that the military parade in Kiev scheduled for the 24th of August this year was cancelled and a smaller march will be held instead without any vehicles.

For reference, here is the parade from 2014:

[YOUTUBE]PNjVK_HBiwc[/YOUTUBE]

 

Ukrainian media reports that the US Humvees the UA army got earlier are not exactly up to spec. They break down and the army has trouble finding replacement parts. Tires are especially problematic, they start crumbling after driving for a few kilometers:

 

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver reports on Ukraine banning several actors, including Gerard Depardieu:

[YOUTUBE]xiFBDwc-94M[/YOUTUBE]

Serious news need a bit of humour once in a while, I suppose.

 

Ukrainian media is having a field day with a businessman from Odessa. He was posting some nasty anti-russian stuff on his social media for almost two years, but the moment he realized that his business in Ukraine is failing and had to open a business in Russia as well as publish a book, he deleted everything and pretends it didn't happen.

Both sides are hating on him now for being greedy scum.

 

UK media is reporting that nazi-posers from the Azov batallion are teaching kids how to be child soldiers in a camp.

To be fair this does happen in other post-soviet countries as well, including Russia and especially in military towns, not dissimilar to Cadet Schools in Europe and United States, but none of them are a part of an ongoing military conflict.

Here is a video from 2013:

[YOUTUBE]LrxjYfl05ek[/YOUTUBE]

It's also interesting that UK media is bashing the UA, despite being quite lenient towards the shenanigans in the country in general.

 

Ukrainian military reports that 8 thousand people have defected to the rebels. Five thousand members of police and three thousand soldiers have switched sides so far.

 

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It doesn't seem like the situation is going to be resolved peacefully for now. There are several reports of Ukraine and rebels gathering forces on the frontlines. There are also occasional firefights, but this has been going on for months.

Ukrainian positions under attack:

[YOUTUBE]rE1AR3i2k6c[/YOUTUBE]

 

WSJ: US Drones in Ukrainian Skies: Pentagon to expand drone coverage in hotspots.

 

BBC: Shelling in east Ukraine kills nine as clashes escalate.

 

Polish paramilitary groups are on the rise lately:

[YOUTUBE]yzbCkHxNxvc[/YOUTUBE]

 

Riots in Kiev again, sticks, stones and smoke bombs, 15 people injured. A live grenade was thrown at the police guarding the parliament after they passed a decentralization law. Live stream:

[YOUTUBE]06Of44NSDdg[/YOUTUBE]

 

NSFW photographs from Kiev, today:

Spoiler

 

Just a peaceful protest in a civilized European country: