Ukraine's European Revolution?

[derspiess]

[CountDeMoney]

Just read this in an article about possible economic sanctions against Russia:
The German bluechip company with the highest exposure to Russia is Adidas at 7.5% revenue. Tracksuits FTW.

  That info nugget just made my day.

[Syt]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26910210

Ukraine: Pro-Russians storm offices in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv

Pro-Russian protesters have stormed government buildings in three eastern Ukrainian cities.

In Donetsk, Luhansk and Kharkiv they clashed with police, hung Russian flags from the buildings and called for a referendum on independence.

Ukraine's acting president called an emergency security meeting in response.

The unrest comes amid tensions between Russia and Ukraine over the removal of pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych and Russia's annexation of Crimea.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Moscow has the right to protect the Russian-speaking population there. Ukraine's leaders deny the country's Russian speakers are under threat and have said they will resist any intervention in their country.

Ukrainian Acting President Oleksandr Turchynov cancelled a planned visit to Lithuania and called a meeting of the country's security chiefs to deal with the unrest.

In Donetsk, in what was reportedly the day's most violent protest, nearly 100 activists broke away from a crowd of 2,000 rallying in the main city square to attack and occupy the regional government seat.

After clashing with riot police and breaking through their lines to enter the building, they raised the Russian flag and hung a banner from the building.

In Luhansk, police fired tear gas at dozens of protesters who broke into the local security service building in an attempt to force the release of 15 pro-Russian activists who were arrested earlier in the week and accused of plotting violent unrest.

Local news reports quoted by AFP news agency said two police officers were injured in clashes.

And in Kharkiv, several dozen people also entered the regional government building after breaking through police lines.

They waved Russian flags out of windows as a crowd outside cheered and chanted. Police officers reportedly refused to use force against the crowd and moved away from the government building after the Russian supporters broke in.

Ukraine's Interior Minister Arsen Avakov accused President Putin and Mr Yanukovych - who was forced from office in February following months of street protests and is now living in exile in Russia - of "ordering and paying for another wave of separatist turmoil in the country's east".

In a message posted on his Facebook account and quoted by AFP, he added: "The situation will be brought under control without bloodshed. But at the same, a firm approach will be use against all who attack government buildings, law enforcement officers and other citizens."

Tensions are running high between Ukraine and Russia, with thousands of Russian soldiers still said to be deployed along the border.

The new administration in Ukraine has faced continuing opposition from Ukraine's Russian-speaking regions.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's far-right Svoboda party has reported that the body of one its activists was found on Saturday after it was dumped in the woods with signs of torture, a day after his abduction in the central village of Vygrayev.

Svoboda was one of the participants in the protests that toppled Mr Yanukovych's administration.

"Donetskaya Respublika"

[Queequeg]

What angel is that on the shield?

[Crazy_Ivan80]

What angel is that on the shield?

probably a mail-order one

[Syt]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26919928

Ukraine crisis: Protesters 'storm security HQs in east'

Pro-Russian activists in eastern Ukraine have seized state security buildings in the cities of Donetsk and Luhansk, Ukrainian officials say.

Reports say that in Luhansk the protesters have raided the arsenal in the security building. Police have reacted by blocking roads into Luhansk.

On Sunday protesters broke into the regional government buildings in the two cities and also Kharkiv.

Ukraine's acting president has called an emergency security meeting.

It comes as Ukraine's Defence Ministry said a Russian soldier had killed a Ukrainian military officer still loyal to Kiev in eastern Crimea late on Sunday.

Another Ukrainian officer present is reported to have been beaten and detained by Russian troops.

The circumstances of the incident are unclear. The Interfax-Ukraine news agency quoted the Defence Ministry as saying the incident happened outside the Ukrainian's living quarters.

Russian reports said a group of Ukrainian soldiers had been drinking in the town of Novofyodorovka and were on their way home when they passed Russian soldiers guarding an entry to the military base where they previously worked, prompting an argument between the two groups.

Russian news agencies reported that prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into the death - one of few fatalities reported since Russia took control of the Black Sea peninsula last month.

Tensions have escalated in eastern Ukraine in recent weeks. Russia is consolidating its grip on Crimea, annexed by Moscow last month, and thousands of Russian troops remain massed near the Ukrainian border.

Ukrainian authorities say protesters have now left the government building in Kharkiv.

But in Luhansk on Monday police said "unknown people who are in the building have broken into the building's arsenal and have seized weapons".

In Donetsk, groups occupying the provincial government building remain barricaded inside.

Ukraine's interim President Olexander Turchynov cancelled a visit to Lithuania to deal personally with the unfolding events.

Meanwhile Ukraine's prime minister has accused Russia on Monday of sowing unrest in his country's eastern provinces as a pretext for dispatching troops across the border.

Speaking at an emergency Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said Russia was behind the seizures of several government buildings in eastern regions that have for weeks seen a spike in secessionist sentiment.

"The plan is to destabilise the situation, the plan is for foreign troops to cross the border and seize the country's territory, which we will not allow,'' he said, adding that people engaged in the unrest have distinct Russian accents.

Mr Yatsenyuk said Russian troops remain stationed within 30 kilometres (19 miles) of the frontier. The city of Luhansk is just 25 kilometres (15 miles) west of Russia

Eastern Ukraine was the political heartland of Viktor Yanukovych, the pro-Russian president who fled to Russia in February after months of protests.

About half of the region's residents are ethnic Russians, many of whom believe Ukraine's acting authorities are extreme Ukrainian nationalists who will oppress Russians - a claim Kiev denies.

Russia has moved large numbers of troops to areas near the Ukrainian border, and has asserted its right to intervene in Ukraine in order to protect the rights of ethnic Russians there.

Since Crimea held a secession referendum - before being formally annexed by Russia - there have been calls for similar votes in Ukraine's east.

[Syt]

http://en.itar-tass.com/world/726779

Regional legislators proclaim industrial center Donetsk People's Republic

KIEV, April 07. /ITAR-TASS/. The members of the regional legislature in Ukraine's industrial center of Donetsk have proclaimed the city Donetsk People's Republic, local mass media reports.

At the moment, a session of the regional legislature is in progress. The deputies plan to declare a referendum on the issue of joining Russia.

A rally by civilians is in progress in front of the building of the Donetsk Regional city administration. The Russian state flag hoisted in front of the building on Sunday has been replaced with a larger one.

[Syt]

Well, isn't this fun?

http://en.itar-tass.com/world/726794
"Donetsk Oblast legislators decide to hold referendum on region's future before May 11"

http://en.itar-tass.com/world/726787
"Legislature of just proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic asks Putin move in peacekeepers"

[Tamas]

Aren't the Russians a minority there, even if a pretty big one? What's up with the Ukrainians there? Have they also believed the crap about doubling their pensions in Russia and remaining silent?

[Tamas]

What angel is that on the shield?

probably a mail-order one

[KRonn]

No surprise, as it's only a matter of time before Putin the Impaler moves in on eastern Ukraine. The protests are certainly sponsored and created by Russian agents and will give him a reason to move in. People there were proably just fine until he started beating the war drums.

[Syt]

Even if Putin moves in there's different scenarios: full annexation, or federalization, with a de-facto independent Eastern part (similar to the Serbian part of Bosnia-Herzegovina), possibly with Russian "peace keepers to protect the Russians from Ukrainian oppression."

[KRonn]

Heh, going to need UN peacekeepers to watch the Russian "peacekeepers".

[Warspite]

The Krajina strategy at work in the Ukraine.

[Legbiter]

This will get ugly.