Posts Tagged ‘Kiev’

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Yanukovych Flees Kiev (Ukraine/Euromaidan Update for February 21, 2014)

Friday, February 21st, 2014

Yanukovych’s “compromise” looks more and more like a complete rout, with reports of him fleeing Kiev for his political base in Kharkiv, where reports have security forces burning documents:

There are dark, unconfirmed mutterings of pro-Russian forces preparing “provocations” or for a partition of Ukraine. But even in Kharkiv, Euromaidan is marching.

Tweets:

And via Michelle Malkin’s twitter feed, here’s video of happy Ukrainians toppling statues of Lenin:

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“Take the deal or you’ll all be dead.” (Afternoon Ukraine Update for February 21, 2014)

Friday, February 21st, 2014

A small update on easing Ukrainian tensions. Lots of details remain to be worked out, and a lot of Euromaidan members aren’t happy with Yanukovych staying through December. But it’s sounding like they were made an offer they couldn’t refuse…

  • Polish minister to Euromaidan: “Take the deal or you’ll all be dead.”
  • Ukraine Parliament moves to release opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko.
  • Inside Kiev’s makeshift hospital/morgue.
  • Problems with Ukraine’s economy, and the Russian loan that helped kick off the crisis.
  • This warms my heart:

    • There are calls for Ukraine’s Parliament to impeach Yanukovych. I can hardly imagine Yanukovych or Putin taking that lying down…

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    Ukraine/Euromaidan Afternoon Update

    Wednesday, February 19th, 2014

    Events in Ukraine are galloping at a furious rate:

  • Death toll currently at 26.
  • Yanukovych moves toward declaring martial law, though in the thinly disguised form of “anti-terror operations.”
  • He also just fired his army chief, presumably because he wasn’t keen on gunning down fellow Ukrainians. They’re also reporting that pro-democracy forces have seized the Kiev post office.
  • Lviv, on the Polish border, has declared independence from Yanukovych’s rule.
  • And soldiers there have “surrendered” to the Euromaidan opposition.
  • The Lviv defection is just one of many acts of defiance across the western Ukraine.
  • What we’re seeing in Ukraine mirrors Hungary in 1956 and Czechoslovakia in 1968: the brutal crushing of freedom at the direction of Moscow.
  • The ten most important events of the last two days.
  • UK PM David Cameron issues meaningless hen-clucks of disapproval, without a hint of actual action by his government.
  • At least this cadre of European politicians and intellectuals is asking for real sanctions.
  • The European Investment Bank has frozen its activities in Ukraine.
  • Canada closes its embassy.
  • A live blog of the situation on the Conflict Journal.
  • Dramatic pictures from Independence Square, including considerable bloodshed.

    • Not including this one:

    More tweets and pics:

    More scenes from the Battle of Independence Square:

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    Ukraine Update for January 23, 2014

    Thursday, January 23rd, 2014

    What’s going on in Ukraine right now? Good question. The situation is probably best described as “fluid.”

    A ceasefire has been reached. I don’t think this would happen unless President Viktor Yanukovych is worried he might lose the showdown.

    Protesters stormed three governor’s offices, one of whom resigned.

    A good summary of the situation, including the role of Yanukovych’s Berkut stormtroopers, the neutrality (so far) of the army, and the fractured nature of the opposition.

    From that I’ve also stole this video of the Berkut in action:

    More Berkut:

    Ukraine police leaving the force?

    Ukraine police torture naked protester in the cold?

    Heh:

    Ted Cruz has condemned the crackdown and called on all branches of the United States government to support the opposition.

    So what have Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry said about the latest crises in Ukraine? As far as I can tell: Nothing. Indeed, the Ukraine office of the State Department has issued only mild, per-forma tut-tutting.

    This is the most important foreign policy question in the world right now, and they’re asleep at the switch.

    Or maybe they just don’t care.

    Finally, here’s a Euromaidan livestream:

    And another:

    Other livestreams can be found here.

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    Five Dead in Ukraine

    Wednesday, January 22nd, 2014

    And the hammer came down.

    Hot on the heels of Yanukovych’s rubberstamp parliament passing numerous dictatorial laws, he decided it was time to clean up these filthy peasants protesting for democracy and closer ties to Europe. (Background here.)

    Twitter and Facebook have reportedly been blocked in Kiev:

    The government is tracking protesters using their cell phones.

    Radio Free Europe coverage.

    Search Twitter for #Euromaiden.

    Video:

    They even cracked down on that notorious violent, subversive organization, The Red Cross:

    Some photos from Twitter:

    Honestly, the protestors should consider that it’s time to stop burning tires, and start burning secret police headquarters….

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