Russian-backed fighters take control of main access to Sevastopol
4 replies, posted
[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/epbSeO8.jpg[/IMG]
[QUOTE]Ukraine’s sovereignty over the southern region of Crimea appeared to be under threat Wednesday, as Russian-backed fighters moved dozens of kilometres outside their base in this Black Sea port, establishing a checkpoint on the main road connecting Sevastopol to the regional capital.
The Globe and Mail saw least a dozen men wearing fatigues – supported by an armoured personnel carrier – standing under a Russian flag at a checkpoint erected roughly halfway along the 80-kilometre road from Sevastopol to Simferopol, putting it close to the administrative border that separates the Sevastopol municipality from the rest of Crimea and Ukraine.
The men, some wearing balaclavas, used flashlights to look inside each vehicle approaching Sevastopol. They reportedly later told journalists they were local “volunteers.”
Earlier in the day, at least two armoured personnel carriers were seen maneuvering in the centre of this port city, which has historic ties to Russia and hosts Russia’s Black Sea Fleet under an agreement between Moscow and Kiev. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the Kremlin was “carefully watching what is happening in Crimea” and would take “measures to guarantee the safety of facilities, infrastructure and arsenals of the Black Sea Fleet.”
The expansion of Russian control over Sevastopol came as Ukrainian parliamentarians agreed on the formation of a new government following last week’s ouster of the Moscow-backed Viktor Yanukovych. Arseniy Yatseniuk, a former economy minister and one of a triumvirate of politicians who headed months of pro-European protests in the centre of Kiev, was announced to crowds of protesters on the capital’s central Independence Square as the joint nominee for prime minister.
Interim President Oleksandr Turchynov said he expects parliament to approve the appointment of Mr. Yatseniuk and a new cabinet on Thursday.
In addition to territorial concerns, the new government has a financial crisis it must immediately deal with: Mr. Turchynov says Ukraine needs a $35-billion in aid over the next two years to avoid default.
Mr. Turchynov and Mr. Yatseniuk will be looking to the West to provide that, as Russia has withdrawn an offer of $15-billion in aid that it extended to Mr. Yaunkovych’s government. Moscow, which says the protesters who toppled Mr. Yanukovych include “nationalist and neo-fascist” elements, has also recalled its ambassador to Ukraine for consultations.
On Wednesday, President Vladimir Putin ordered Russia’s military be put on alert in the areas bordering Ukraine. Mr. Shoigu characterized the maneuvre as a snap military drill, similar to others Mr. Putin has ordered in the past in other parts of the country.
But the timing of the military moves raised already sky-high tensions in Ukraine, as well as suspicions that Russia is considering some form of intervention in this former Soviet republic.
“We urge outside actors in the region to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, to end provocative rhetoric and actions, to support democratically established transitional governing structures and to use their influence in support of unity, peace and an inclusive path forward,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest said.
But many here in Crimea say they would welcome Russian intervention. Thousands of ethnic Russians rallied Wednesday outside the regional parliament building in Simferopol, shouting for deputies to call a referendum about seceding from Ukraine and possibly joining Russia.
Deputies had been expected to introduce some kind of resolution on Wednesday regarding Crimea’s future, but they were blocked by thousands of ethnic Tatars who say they want to remain in Ukraine. Minor clashes broke out, and one person died of a heart attack, before parliament agreed to postpone any vote on secession.
“We don’t want to be with Ukraine… Sevastopol, Kerch and Simferopol all want to join Russia,” said Darya Artyomenko, a 23-year-old law student who attended the Simferopol rally. Her voice barely audible above chants of “Russia!” and “Referendum!” Ms. Artyomenko said she didn’t want to live in a country controlled by “fascists” from western Ukraine who she believes are intent on eliminating the Russian language and culture.
While many of the revolutionaries in Kiev are Ukrainian-speakers who want to see the country take steps towards joining the European Union, many Crimeans see themselves as Russians who were left outside the borders of their motherland when the Soviet Union fell apart. Russian-speakers in the east and south of the country were angered that one of the first actions taken by the post-revolution parliament in Kiev was to repeal a Yanukovych-era law that allowed regions like Crimea to adopt Russian as an official second language.
Crimea was part of the Russian Empire for two centuries before Nikita Khrushchev made a then-meaningless “gift” of the peninsula to what was then the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1954. It’s a gift many here believe should now be returned to Russia.
“Nobody asked south Ukraine if we want this new government,” said Svetalana Khromova, a 36-year-old childcare worker who joined the Simferopol demonstration. “We’ve lived here for 200 years. We’ve always spoken Russian and we’ll keep speaking Russian.”
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[url]http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/tension-in-crimea-as-pro-russia-and-pro-ukraine-groups-stage-competing-rallies/article17110382/?click=tglobe[/url]
Good, I strongly support East (the Russian side) and I don't want the West (bandera followers) to take over and make us Russian people 2nd class citizens, cancel Russian language and ban Russian books.
I apologize for any shit I caused before on previous Ukrainian threads, my reason was and is: I don't want Ukraine to be nationalized by nationalists, the old president was a retard and failed as president but while he was there the country could not have been nationalized, now that he's gone, it may happen.
If I was in Ukraine right now, I would definitely join these Pro-Russian protests.
P.S - Pls don't ban me again, I will try not to stir up shit. :smile:
I find it funny how Russia is basically taking over part of Ukraine without doing anything.
[QUOTE=arleitiss;44059290]Good, I strongly support East (the Russian side) and I don't want the West (bandera followers) to take over and make us Russian people 2nd class citizens, cancel Russian language and ban Russian books.
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I'm pretty sure very few countries today outright ban books in another language, perhaps NK. Also you cannot cancel a language, take it from the Romanians.
[QUOTE=Zenreon117;44059412]I'm pretty sure very few countries today outright ban books in another language, perhaps NK. Also you cannot cancel a language, take it from the Romanians.[/QUOTE]
I lived in Latvia before (baltic states) and I know what the feeling of being 2nd class citizen is like, no ty, I don't want anymore of that.
If you speak Russian - people are automatically assuming you are corrupt communist, in school I got bullied over that (but on last day of my school just before I moved to Ireland, I walked 400 metres away from others and told them all to go fuck themselves in this shithole country, then I ran off, so I am pleased), Russian teaching is only in some schools.
Also when I was a kid in primary school, first grade (still not knowing many things) me and my group are walking somewhere and we see a homeless man, we ask our teacher who is that? she says Russian drunk, when I got home and told my mother about it she was shocked how automatically it works.
If Ukraine gets taken over by Nationalists, same thing will happen I bet.
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