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| Russian military in Crimea, Ukraine (Image: The Daily Mail) |
Situation in Ukraine remains extremely tense, as Russia invaded with its
troops on Ukrainian territory in Crimean Peninsula since Thursday, with all the
strategic objects of Crimean cities and Ukrainian military blocked by Russian
soldiers, the streets patrolled by Russian troops and administrative buildings
seized by the so called “unknown armed men”, who are actually Russian soldiers
as well.
Crimea was almost totally cut from Ukraine as TV and media stations and
offices on the Peninsula were seized by the armed men representing interests of
“Russians in Crimea”, and Crimean airports blocked as well. New and new troops
continue to arrive in Ukraine. Russian officials have been denying this fact
claiming that Russian troops seen in Crimea are those stationed on Ukrainian territory
according to the treaty signed between Ukraine and Russia about Russian Black
sea fleet. Later though Russian officials claimed that Russian soldiers are
holding military trainings, but Ukrainian military didn’t get any information
about such trainings and the movements and deployment of Russian troops haven’t
been coordinated with Ukrainian side, as it should be according to the treaty.
In addition to that recently appointed Prime minister of Crimea also confirmed
presence of R
ussian military of the territory of Ukraine and stated that he
made a request to Russia to ‘protect people of Crimea from fascist aggression”,
accusing current Ukrainian government of being illegitimate and fascist.
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| Russian military invasion in Crimea, Ukraine (Image: BBC) |
Crimean Parliament, seized by Russian soldiers and armed people, has
held its session on Saturday and took a decision to hold referendum about
broader autonomy of Crimea. Referendum date was set on 30 March. It’s worth
mentioning though, that there were only nearly 40 MPs presented during the
session, while Crimean parliament consists of 100 MPs. Crimean Parliament’s
head though had 64 cards of MPs supported the decision, thus, the voting
process was violated.
Crimean recently appointed government led by Mr. Aksyonov, loyal to
pro-Russian powers and Putin, and by the new governor of Simferopol Mr. Chaly,
who is not even Ukrainian citizen, as he holds Russian passport, has refused to
recognize the decisions of Ukrainian parliament and new Ukrainian government
and addressed Russia for help.
Situation in Crimea is extremely tense, as people are really scared and
worried about the possibility of war here. Crimean Tatars, who are actually
native inhabitants of Crimea (not Russians), have supported the new government
of Ukraine and called for preserving unity and borders of Ukraine and peaceful
solution of the crisis.
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| Russian military in Ukraine, Crimea (Image: The Guardian) |
Ukrainian military is presented in Crimea, but it does no activities, as
any reaction and response from Ukrainian side could be considered by Russians
as being an aggression and a cause to start a military operation, which was
justified by the decisions of Russian Federal Council.
Russian officials have invade Ukraine on the request of Victor
Yanukovich, who submitted this request to Vladimir Putin on 27 February, asking
Russia for help “to stabilize situation in Ukraine, where the bands of fascists
have seized the power”, according to the statements of Yanukovich, who hides
currently in Russia and who is officially accused of mass murder and crimes
against humanity in Ukraine and is being protected now by Putin’s regime. It’s
worth mentioning that Russian officials have stated that they consider
Yanukovich being Ukrainian legitimate President.
Thus, Russian troops have been deployed in Ukraine in order to “protect
the interests of ethnic Russians living in Ukraine and to help to restore order”
in the neighboring country. Russian parliament has supported this move, and
Russian federal Council has unanimously voted for invasion and officially
allowed Putin to use force on the territory of Ukraine, what is actually an
official declaration of war. Putin though still haven’t signed this document.
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| Ukrainian Euromaidan activists brutally beaten by pro-Russian protesters in Kharkiv (Image: BBC) |
Ukrainian side is alarmed by these developments, as Ukrainian recently
appointed interim government, headed by Arseniy Yatsenyuk, calls for restraint
and avoiding of any provocations and demands Russia to immediately withdraw its
troops from Ukrainian territory and to resolve the crisis through the talks and
with respect of Ukrainian sovereignty and borders.
Arseniy Yatsenyuk has declared, that any military activity by Russians
on Ukrainian territory will mean a full-scale war and total end of all the
relationships with Russia.
Vitaly Klichko and his political power UDAR have made harsh statements
on the current situation calling for immediate session of Parliament and
meeting of National Defense and Security Council amid the deepening crisis and
alarming situation in Crimea. Mr. Klichko demanded Parliament to vote for
denouncing of the Kharkiv treaties signed with Russin, denouncing of the treaty
about Russian Black Sea fleet in Simferopol and immediate withdrawal of it from
Ukrainian territory, denouncing of all gas agreements with Russia and total
mobilization in Ukraine. Ukrainian Parliament is expected to hold and emergency
session on Sunday, where acting President Oleksandr Turchinov could possible
declare state of emergency or state of alert. Ukrainian military in its turn
has received the orders to be ready for action.
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| Pro-Russian rally in Donetsk, Eastern Ukraine (Image: Kyiv Post) |
Amid these worrying events in Crimea Ukraine is facing another
separatist treat in Eastern and Southern Ukraine, as violent clashes erupted on
Saturday in Kharkiv, Donetsk, Lugansk and Mykolayiv during the rival marches of
Euromaidan activists and pro-Russian protesters demanding referendum on the
issue of federalization of Ukraine and even accession of some of Ukrainian
territories to Russia. Tens of thousands of strange and aggressive people
speaking with the strong Russian accent (according to the eyewitnesses) have
stormed the building of Kharkiv regional office. More than 100 people have been
injured during the clashes, some of them badly. Ukrainian flag was thrown and
Russian one was installed on its place. It became known later that the man installing
Russian flag and claiming to be Ukrainian, is Russian citizen from Moscow.
According t the reports, these meetings were provocations organized by Russian
citizens brought to Kharkiv and other Eastern and Southern cities of Ukraine in
order to destabilize the situation and to create together with some local
marginal elements supporting separatist moods the view, that Ukraine is totally
divided, and that people refuse to recognize the new government.
The clashes have been stopped, and the crowds dispersed by police.
Similar events occurred on Saturday in Donetsk, Lugansk, Mykolayiv, Odessa.
Donetsk regional Council has announced the referendum in the region regarding
federalization and autonomy. In Odessa though separatist moods didn’t find
support, same in Mykolayiv.
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| Clashes in Kharkiv (Image: BBC) |
USA President Barak Obama in his turn has made a special statement
regarding the situation in Ukraine and Russian aggression in the region on
Friday. He called for Russian President to immediately withdraw its troops from
Ukraine and to respect the borders and sovereignty of the independent state. He
also warned Putin that any military operation in Ukraine would have high cost
for Russia. Russian officials in their turn have been embarrassed by this statement
and recalled their Ambassador form USA.
Ukraine has also made an official request to UN and NATO to hold an
emergency meeting over Ukrainian situation and to mediate in resolving the
crisis. In addition to that, Russia violates currently Budapest treaty, signed
in 1994. According to this treaty Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapon in
exchange of guarantees of its borders and sovereignty. USA. Great Britain and
Russia were the guarantors of it, and Ukraine calls now for USA and Great
Britain to stop Russian aggression.
EU Defense and Security Council, NATO and UN Security Council have been
holding emergency meeting over Ukraine and Russian invasion in Crimea, as
consultations and closed talks are also ongoing. EU officials and diplomats
call Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine and not to start military campaign
there. USA Senate is discussing currently economic sanctions against Russia and
promises Ukraine financial support. UN General Secretary has also called on
Russia to stop its military aggression in Ukraine and to respect the borders of
the neighboring countries. Russian officials though behave bold during the meeting
of UN accusing Ukrainian opposition and current government and demanding coming
back to the 21 agreements with Yanukovich, as they consider him being a
legitimate President of Ukraine.
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| UN Security Council session (Image: Haaretz) |
In addition to that the reason for Russian military deployment and
decision of Russian Federal Council to use force in Ukraine is illegitimate, as
it is based on false information about “nearly hundred Russians, killed during
the confrontation”. This statement was confirmed to be false by Russian lawyers
and General Council.
USA President Barak Obama has made a statement regarding the situation
in Ukraine and Russian movements on Sunday, after meeting of NATO and UN. Mr.
Obama urged Putin to immediately withdraw its troops from Ukraine and to stop
interfering in its internal affairs and warned Putin of possibility of economic
sanctions and international isolation of Russia. In addition to that, US
Administration has cancelled Mr. Obama’s participation in the G8 meeting to be
held in Sochi. There are also threats that Russia could be expelled of G8 and
possibly even from UN Security Council, where it has a veto right.
Meanwhile, total mobilization was declared in Ukraine since Sunday, as
armed forces are on alert.
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