'via Blog this'
Russian-backed gunmen have
seized a police station in eastern Ukraine, rejecting a rapprochement with the
new Kiev government.
seized a police station in eastern Ukraine, rejecting a rapprochement with the
new Kiev government.
The BBC said the men fired
shots and used stun grenades to seize the Sloviansk station
near the eastern Ukraine border with Russia.
shots and used stun grenades to seize the Sloviansk station
near the eastern Ukraine border with Russia.
The Guardian reported only six men were involved in the raid.
Ukrainian special forces were sent to the scene.
Following the collapse of the
Moscow-backed government Russia first sent masked troops into the Crimea, then
detached it from Ukraine. At first President Vladimir Putin even denied his
army was involved, then credited them with seizing the area with little
bloodshed.
Moscow-backed government Russia first sent masked troops into the Crimea, then
detached it from Ukraine. At first President Vladimir Putin even denied his
army was involved, then credited them with seizing the area with little
bloodshed.
US Secretary of State John
Kerry said Putin followed that by sending operatives agents into eastern
Ukrainian cities to stir up secessionist sentiment.
Kerry said Putin followed that by sending operatives agents into eastern
Ukrainian cities to stir up secessionist sentiment.
The separatist group turned
out to much smaller than was originally reported, and they were driven from
Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second city.
out to much smaller than was originally reported, and they were driven from
Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second city.
Groups of several hundred
remained holding a couple of buildings in Donetsk and Luhansk and refused to
leave. The government of Interior Minister Arsen Avakov called them terrorists
but offered them an amnesty and 48 hours to leave.
remained holding a couple of buildings in Donetsk and Luhansk and refused to
leave. The government of Interior Minister Arsen Avakov called them terrorists
but offered them an amnesty and 48 hours to leave.
The seizure of the police
station followed the amnesty offer. Avakov said, "The response will be very
tough because there is a difference between protesters and terrorists," he
said in Ukrainian on his Facebook page.
station followed the amnesty offer. Avakov said, "The response will be very
tough because there is a difference between protesters and terrorists," he
said in Ukrainian on his Facebook page.
"There is zero tolerance for armed terrorists," he
said.
said.
Hitler used a similar tactic
before World War 2 started, though his troops often brazenly goose stepped into
the next area they sought to claim as belong to Germany.
before World War 2 started, though his troops often brazenly goose stepped into
the next area they sought to claim as belong to Germany.
At the same time as it was
orchestrating the protests in the eastern Ukraine, Russia massed troops, planes
and tanks on its border.
orchestrating the protests in the eastern Ukraine, Russia massed troops, planes
and tanks on its border.
Russia has refused to accept
the overthrow of former President Viktor Yanukovych, who has been declared an
outlaw after it was determined he and his family and friends had looted the
treasury of billions. About 100 people died in toppling his government, and
Kiev said Russia organized the killing to keep its man in power.
the overthrow of former President Viktor Yanukovych, who has been declared an
outlaw after it was determined he and his family and friends had looted the
treasury of billions. About 100 people died in toppling his government, and
Kiev said Russia organized the killing to keep its man in power.
Yanukovych fled to Russia on
Feb. 22 and masked gunmen, who turned out to be Russian troops, occupied Crimea
in less than a week. Moscow organized a vote that it said showed overwhelming
support for rejoining Russia.
Feb. 22 and masked gunmen, who turned out to be Russian troops, occupied Crimea
in less than a week. Moscow organized a vote that it said showed overwhelming
support for rejoining Russia.
Former Russian dictator Nikita
Krushchev had detached the Ukraine, including Crimea, decades earlier, although
they remained part of the Soviet empire until the Berlin Wall fell.
Krushchev had detached the Ukraine, including Crimea, decades earlier, although
they remained part of the Soviet empire until the Berlin Wall fell.
Regional police spokesman Ihor Dyomin said armed gunmen had been
bussed to the police before launching their attack.
bussed to the police before launching their attack.
The Ukrainian government’s attempt to avoid violence occurred
“against a background of further tensions between and Russia over gas
supplies.”
“against a background of further tensions between and Russia over gas
supplies.”
Putin had issued a thinly veiled threat to the European Union
that further support for Kiev could result in the cut off of its main natural
gas supply. Putin also indicated Moscow would have a say in how the new Ukrainian
government is configured as he sought to avoid it becoming part of the growing
body of NATO nations that have nearly contained Russian on its western front.
that further support for Kiev could result in the cut off of its main natural
gas supply. Putin also indicated Moscow would have a say in how the new Ukrainian
government is configured as he sought to avoid it becoming part of the growing
body of NATO nations that have nearly contained Russian on its western front.
Slovyansk is 55 miles, south of the regional
center of Donetsk, where Russian-backed gunmen have seized an 11-story building
and declared it a republic.
center of Donetsk, where Russian-backed gunmen have seized an 11-story building
and declared it a republic.
Sources:
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