Civilian cars (click here) are parked across the street from posted military and their weapons. This is the siege of Donbass.
Far from the noise of the political storm (click here) over President Donald Trump’s phone calls with Ukraine is the loud barrage of Russian artillery fire blasting away in the Donbass.
The Russian attacks are increasing in frequency and destruction. Ukrainian casualties are mounting.
Ukraine has asked the U.S. to provide military supplies to support their fight against the Russians, but the White House has delayed it.
For the Ukrainian military, and ultimately for the U.S. and other allies who are dealing with Russian aggression, the bottom line is this: Any delay in arms sales has a deleterious effect on Ukraine’s fight.
That’s bad news for U.S. forces who may one day encounter the Russian military and will rely in part on lessons learned from Ukraine’s fight.
Since the 2014 Russian seizure of Crimea and invasion of Ukraine’s east, the “full spectrum” of Russian military doctrine has been on display. That doctrine — often referred to as “hybrid warfare” — includes the use of conventional forces like mechanized infantry backed by armor and artillery, as well as special operations forces, assassinations and bombings, electronic warfare, cyber attacks and the weaponization of information....
This is what it is like in communist-controlled Donbass, Ukraine.
24 November 2017
By Danilo Elia
If it were a movie, (click here) it would be titled "The return of the little green men". But this time soldiers without insignia appeared in the streets of a city under the control of the Russian-backed separatists, and not in Kiev-controlled territory, as happened in 2014 in Crimea.
The questions, still, are the same. Who are they? Who’s orders do they attend? Which army are they representing? The answer, instead, this time is a bit more difficult.
What we know so far is that in during the morning of Tuesday, November 21st, the Luhansk residents woke up in the city guarded by military vehicles and soldiers in uniforms without any distinctive sign, armed with Kalashnikov. In some ways, nothing so overwhelming in a city under the control of irregular militias for more than three years. But this time there was something different.
Soldiers not only didn’t have any insignia, but also refused to tell who they were and why they were there. The city's central streets were blocked. While self-proclaimed prime minister Igor Plotninsky calmed down the population by saying everything was under control, what was happening looked actually like a coup....
Do Ukrainians want this in Kiev? No. Are they dedicated to defending their democracy? Yes. Why would anyone in the Oval Office even conceive of withholding aid to Ukraine? There is absolutely no reason.
These are the same covertly attired Russians that appeared in Crimea. Moscow is mostly hated by the people that are powerless to end the oppression and the day to day fear. The people have no control over their lives from day to day and raising children in such circumstances is exceedingly difficult.
A woman (click here) standing near a barricade that has been set up in front of a regional government building in Donetsk.This article is from "The Moscow Times" which will ask for donations of USA dollars. Don't. It is another form of money laundering for Russia regardless of the information provided.
This is what a Russian occupation looks like and it started long before the world took notice. These regions are maintained in chaos and violent agitation. Why allow the people the idea they are safe and secure? If Russia ever does something productive for them, they might be grateful and the months and years of chaos were worth it.
This is what Ukraine is fighting. This is the painful truth of Russian occupied territory where those that hate Moscow find ways to keep things stirred up.
Russia's eastern border is not the only place violent disruption is a way of life. This is from 2007, but, it supplies a flavor of hatred.
"Violence and Conflict in the Russian Northern Caucus" (click here)
"Three sister case highlights domestic violence problem in Russia" (click here)
The Euromaidan was real for very real reasons. This wasn't just political unrest, Ukrainians wanted out and they were going to have it. There was no legitimate reason to withhold ANY form of support for Ukraine. The world was watching, demanding accountability and corruption to be dealt with and then comes Trump. The nightmare that is Trump is to realize he admires Putin who oversees all this violence, corruption, and social unrest.
This is real. It is not politics and Trump is playing games with their lives.
Then Secretary of State John Kerry honored them, respected them and by his mere presence elevated them to hero. It meant everything to them. It meant security.
There are just no words to describe what Trump has done. At the time of the Maidan, such antics were unthinkable.
