Donetsk, Kharkov, Lugansk - way to Russia.

[tee-rex]

^^ That's... pretty grim story actually. Lack of support, manpower and weaponry, superior enemy, betrayal... you can tell from here that these men are becoming desperate. Which coincides with some rumors I've been hearing for months - that the majority of ethnic Russians in Donbass, common civilians, aren't very motivated to join or help militia. They wouldn't mind to wake up in an independent Novorossiya or Russia one day --give them referendum and they will vote for it-- but to take arms and fight is not an option. It's okay if someone else does that in their behalf, though.

They already had a referendum (on the 11th of May, if I don't confuse dates) and voted for independence from Ukraine (I mean Lugansk and Donetsk regions). Although many would loathe to take to arms, they may have no other option left. If your house is destroyed, family killed, what else would you do?

[Balthazar]

^^ That's... pretty grim story actually. Lack of support, manpower and weaponry, superior enemy, betrayal... you can tell from here that these men are becoming desperate. Which coincides with some rumors I've been hearing for months - that the majority of ethnic Russians in Donbass, common civilians, aren't very motivated to join or help militia. They wouldn't mind to wake up in an independent Novorossiya or Russia one day --give them referendum and they will vote for it-- but to take arms and fight is not an option. It's okay if someone else does that in their behalf, though.

They already had a referendum (on the 11th of May, if I don't confuse dates) and voted for independence from Ukraine (I mean Lugansk and Donetsk regions). Although many would loathe to take to arms, they may have no other option left. If your house is destroyed, family killed, what else would you do?

It was a referendum on sovereignty, not independence. Sovereignty means a right to form supreme authority and participate in international treaties. Sovereign state could be independent, or incorporated into other state.

Notable examples are:

• Ukrainian and Belorusian Socialist Republics inside the Soviet Union;
• Crimean AR inside the ukrainian state, before losing sovereignty in 1997.
• Republic of Tatarstan inside Russian Federation, before losing sovereignty a few years ago.

[tee-rex]

^^ That's... pretty grim story actually. Lack of support, manpower and weaponry, superior enemy, betrayal... you can tell from here that these men are becoming desperate. Which coincides with some rumors I've been hearing for months - that the majority of ethnic Russians in Donbass, common civilians, aren't very motivated to join or help militia. They wouldn't mind to wake up in an independent Novorossiya or Russia one day --give them referendum and they will vote for it-- but to take arms and fight is not an option. It's okay if someone else does that in their behalf, though.

They already had a referendum (on the 11th of May, if I don't confuse dates) and voted for independence from Ukraine (I mean Lugansk and Donetsk regions). Although many would loathe to take to arms, they may have no other option left. If your house is destroyed, family killed, what else would you do?

It was a referendum on sovereignty, not independence. Sovereignty means a right to form supreme authority and participate in international treaties. Sovereign state could be independent, or incorporated into other state.

Notable examples are:

• Ukrainian and Belorusian Socialist Republics inside the Soviet Union;
• Crimean AR inside the ukrainian state, before losing sovereignty in 1997.

It seems that you are misusing the term, and the examples you give are not what real sovereignty is about. Sovereignty means the international independence of a state, combined with the right and power of regulating its internal affairs without foreign dictation. Supreme authority means just that, that is no one above.

In short, international independence is a prerequisite for sovereignty.

[Balthazar]

It seems that you are misusing the term. Sovereignty means the international independence of a state

It seems that you haven't read my message properly. If we would decide to follow this declaration, then we'll see no sovereign states in the world. Please don't confuse international legal sovereignty with independence sovereignty.

combined with the right and power of regulating its internal affairs without foreign dictation.

Yes, but that's not necessary to be a separate entity in order to be sovereign. Again, according to 1992 Crimea constitution, it was "a sovereign state", which was "declared as a part of Ukraine" (almost exact quotes from the constitution). And it's not the only case. Ukrainian and Belarusian SSRs even had the UN membership, for example.

[tee-rex]

It seems that you are misusing the term. Sovereignty means the international independence of a state

It seems that you haven't read my message properly. Don't confuse international legal sovereignty with independence sovereignty.

combined with the right and power of regulating its internal affairs without foreign dictation.

Yes, but that's not necessary to be a separate entity in order to be sovereign. Again, according to 1992 Crimea constiturion, it was a sovereign state, which was declared as a part of Ukraine. And it's not the only case. Ukrainian and Belarusian SSRs even had the UN membership.

If Crimea was a sovereign state according to its constitution, how come that the constitution was canceled by the Ukrainian authorities? I'm talking here about true sovereignty, not declared one (which is pretentiously called "legal" sovereignty). Ukrainian and Belorussian republics had the UN membership since Stalin wanted to have more power in the United Nations. I can hardly think there is anyone who would believe these republics had true sovereignty.

[Balthazar]

If Crimea was a sovereign state according to its constitution, how come that its constitution was canceled by the Ukrainian authorities?

It was cancelled by the local authorities, under military and economical pressure.

Ukrainian and Belorussian republics had the UN membership since Stalin wanted to have more power in the United Nations.

Stalin's wish don't matter, but international agreements are.

I can hardly believe there is anyone who would believe these republics had true sovereignty.

Hell, I'm sorry but who cares about your beliefs? Who gave you a right to decide where is "true", "real" or "right" sovereignty, and where's not? I smell some Obama's doublespeak here. I think you'll find this page interesting.

I'm talking here about true sovereignty, not declared one.

Then there are no sovereign states in the world. Because any state could be forced to change its constitution through the foreign pressure.

P.S. Another example, Belarus is currently a part of the Union State, which is currently under construction, while keeping its sovereignty. Yep, it's the sovereign member of another state, there's no problem.

[tee-rex]

If Crimea was a sovereign state according to its constitution, how come that its constitution was canceled by the Ukrainian authorities?

It was cancelled by the local authorities, under military and economical pressure.

So it was not a sovereign state in the first place. It might have lost its sovereignty through military intervention, but as far as I remember, there had been none (from Ukraine).

[tee-rex]

I'm talking here about true sovereignty, not declared one.

Then there are no sovereign states in the world. Because any state could be forced to change its constitution through the foreign pressure.

Yes, and this has been happening throughout history. In most cases states lost their sovereignty (independence) due to warfare. Many countries even ceased to be because of military intervention. But as long as a state is independent in its foreign and internal policies (and its international agreements and treaties can be declared null and void unilaterally), it can be considered as a sovereign state.

[Nemo1024]

Psaki for the first time acknowledged existence of refugees from Ukraine on Monday, but expectedly blamed the "pro-Russian separatists" for forcing the refugees to flee to... wait for it... Russia.
http://ria.ru/world/20140707/1015089850.html

According to her (and, by extension, the US), it's because of Russian-induced violence that people flee to Russia.
When asked by a journalist what she thinks of the refugees saying that they flee from Ukrainian air raids, she said that Ukrainian president is defending his territory and is acting withing his rights.


As for Crimea, tee-rex, all that was just political manoeuvring on the international arena, so as to allow Crimea return back to Russia.

[Taras]

Taras Zelenyak, a 36-year-old of Ukrainian origin from Novosibirsk was prosecuted back in 2007 for what Russia’s security service deemed incitement to enmity against Russians.

What a weird thing to get prosecuted for. *whistles*

[tee-rex]

Taras Zelenyak, a 36-year-old of Ukrainian origin from Novosibirsk was prosecuted back in 2007 for what Russia’s security service deemed incitement to enmity against Russians.

What a weird thing to get prosecuted for. *whistles*

Shortly after Imperial Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, about 120,000 people of Japanese descent living in the US were removed from their homes and placed in concentration internment camps. Obviously, they didn't do anything wrong but were just considered "untrustworthy".

[247crypto]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HV_BPUG7vng

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5atR3fdzdio

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6tfRoOcZAg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyfuHFWZdt8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYA8La2uug0

[247crypto]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9m4Wqo-fG-Q

[247crypto]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5zQ-ZbfdTo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBFwIaPceUw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXEtMtJvvcg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1M56TtqI_Vk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRp7m2B0W3E

[Nemo1024]

Leadership of Donetsk People's Republic says that truce with Kiev is impossible because of the large number of hostages and lack of humanitarian corridors:
http://www.interfax.ru/world/384782
For this alone Poroshenko should already have been sitting in a jail in the Hagues, said vice Prime Minister Andrej Purgin.


Streklov intends to create a contract-based army in PRD:
http://ria.ru/world/20140709/1015232798.html

Donetsk people’s republic creating contract army, preparing for defense
http://en.itar-tass.com/world/739651 (English)


Donetsk Republic applies to Transdniestria, Abkhazia for recognition
http://en.itar-tass.com/world/739612 (English)
http://rusvesna.su/news/1404889460

"A state coup d’tat inspired by Western special services was carried out in Ukraine in February 2014. A military junta came into power and formed an illegitimate government of representatives from ultra nationalist forces professing fascism ideology. The new Ukrainian authorities have declared a war for elimination of the country's Russian-speaking population," the document reads.

Partisans attacked commendature of the punitive battalion "Ajdar" in the village Schastje:
http://rusvesna.su/news/1404889389


Partisans removed the general chief of the 5-th Ukr. battalion:
http://rusvesna.su/news/1404856845


More shelling of Russian territory:
http://rusvesna.su/news/1404855232


Virtual mayor of Donetsk acknowledged that the resistance controls the chemical factory:
http://rusvesna.su/news/1404852544


Kolomojskij plans to become the sole owner and ruler of Ukraine:
http://rusvesna.su/news/1404850575
Currently he suggests expropriation of factories and land from businessmen, who support the resistance.


Donbass has become the "Spain of the 21st century" - volunteers from all over the world congregate to fight fascism:
http://rusvesna.su/news/1404837833


Jugoslavia-Russia / Serbia-Donbass. The parallels between the two situations against the backdrop of the American scorched earth plan, developed by RAND, and how Kiev, having received at least a couple millions dollars for war, demolishes village after village, setting its sights on Russia:
http://rusvesna.su/recent_opinions/1404798363

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXEtMtJvvcg

Freedom fighter in Semjonovka: "I protect my home from people who came here and tell me how to live." "The difference between them and us is that they kill children, and we don't."

Ukraine is to cut financing of science in favour of producing more weapons (Ukraine wants to specialise in high-precision weapons and UAVs):
http://rusvesna.su/news/1404887184
We've all seen that "high-precision weapons" in Poroshenko-speak mean phosphorus bombs and chlorine shells.


Ukraine to use science funding for weapons production – Poroshenko
http://rt.com/news/171380-ukraine-science-funding-weapons/

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said he will reduce the country’s “useless” science programs to finance the production of drones and precision weapons.

“There will be no more spending of billions of people’s money, taxpayers’ money on useless research programs, which were used as a tool for theft,” said a statement published on the president’s website early on Wednesday.

Spot-on comment:

Leon the Professional 09.07.2014 07:33

This guy was installed to antogonize Russia into starting WW3.

The only reason Putin isn't sending squadrons of SU-27's to molest Porosehnko is because he knows the west wants to start WW3 over Ukraine.

[Nemo1024]

NEWSFLASH: Two killed, six wounded as Ukraine’s military shells east Ukraine’s Luhansk
http://en.itar-tass.com/world/739635

The Ukrainian military fired a total of 13 artillery shells, damaging buildings and infrastructure facilities in the cities




President Poroshenko travels to Sloviansk recently captured by Ukrainian troops
Poroshenko expressed hope that he would also be able to visit Donetsk and Luhansk soon
http://en.itar-tass.com/world/739571


OSCE seeks to broaden representation in Ukraine

Russia continues supporting the OSCE monitors in Ukraine as it sees no other alternatives to the organisation’s mission
The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has called for including Russian representatives in its Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, the spokesman, Michael Bociurkiw said on Wednesday.

“We see sterilisation of the mission’s reports due to an extensive pressure on it (the mission) on behalf of the Kiev authorities and on behalf of those, who pitched them (the authorities) to power, namely the United States and the European Union,” Kelin said, adding that the mission “is in a very complicated situation.”

http://en.itar-tass.com/world/739646




E. Ukraine's Lugansk: From busy city to ghost town
http://rt.com/news/171440-ukraine-lugansk-ghost-town/

One of Ukraine’s biggest cities in the east, Lugansk, once home to almost 450,000 people, has recently become a ghost town – deserted streets, broken glass and abandoned households after repeated attacks by Kiev troops.
The bombing never stops. Every day bring news destruction and new casualties. Shells are landing not only in the suburbs but also in the city center, making Lugansk a very place dangerous to live in.

Restoration of infrastructure in Luhansk, Donetsk to cost $700 million — Ukraine PM.
http://en.itar-tass.com/world/739714

[247crypto]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_RGhLLNc8c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzQU4NYyHvs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjIc_yXwf5g


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDm7b-h6YhA


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bg1uDcwWlPI

[Paya]

Couple of T-64s (not T-72s as in the title) and Grad MLRS belonging to rebels move through Lugansk:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_JO4QjxzzM

[Balthazar]

These devices are quite effective for democratization of large areas. Rebels movement needs more Grad launchers.

[Nemo1024]

Some news:

Resistance abandoned Seversk so as to avoid blockade of the city.
http://lenta.ru/news/2014/07/10/seversk/
http://rusvesna.su/news/1404983935


Battle under Karlovka. The enemy is suffering losses:
http://rusvesna.su/news/1404986574


A battle is going on in the center of Lugansk:
http://rusvesna.su/news/1404986818


Residential houses have been destroyed as a result of the Ukrainian punitive bandits' shelling of Severodonetsk:
http://rusvesna.su/news/1404987786


Bolotov reports that the Nazional Guard is suffering heavy losses during the battle in Lugansk airport:
http://rusvesna.su/news/1404988996


Shelling of Severodonetsk:
http://rusvesna.su/news/1404989518


Ukrainian fascists shelled from artillery Krasnodon. Houses are on fire:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1shcBDy6Tc
http://rusvesna.su/news/1404910992



Ukraine’s military sustains losses, Donetsk militia enhance defense
Overall, 173 Ukrainian servicemen have been killed and another 446 wounded in Ukraine’s military operation in the country’s east
http://en.itar-tass.com/world/739848 (English)


The commander of the punitive battalions Ljashko is appointed as commandante of the occupied territories of Donbass:
http://rusvesna.su/news/1404902190

OSCE confirms indiscriminate use of artillery against Slavjansk
http://rusvesna.su/news/1404901910


A Moscow court has issued an arrest order on Arsen Avakov for war crimes:
http://rusvesna.su/news/1404903460


A Hungarian businessman has issued a bounty on Oleg Ljashko:
http://rusvesna.su/news/1404912444
Let the fascists taste their own medicine


Kolomojskij and Poroshenko are bout to start fighting for power
http://rusvesna.su/news/1404919748


A Ukrainian soldier says it would have been better not to liberate Nikolaevka. An officer refused orders to kill civilians. Conscript privates cannot bear witnessing the brutality they see the punitive bandits perform:
http://rusvesna.su/news/1404923162


The occupational forces place in Slavjansk booths to drop anonymous tip off notes about resistance sympathisers among neighbours and relatives. Not even German occupational forces had something like this!
http://rusvesna.su/news/1404915583


Kolomojskij ordered to destroy Ljashko in mass media:
http://rusvesna.su/news/1404938362
Oligarch wars.


And just reminding that Rusvesna publishes some items in English:
http://rusvesna.su/english