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bemildred

(90,061 posts) Wed Apr 16, 2014, 09:59 AM Apr 2014

Ukraine’s Offensive Falters as Elite Units Defect to Pro-Russia Side [View all]

Source: ABC News Radio

(SLOVIANSK, Ukraine) -- Ukraine’s “anti-terrorist operation” to take back areas in eastern Ukraine seized by pro-Russian forces faltered Wednesday as units of Ukraine’s elite forces in tanks and armored personnel carriers defected to the pro-Russian side.

In at least two towns -- Sloviansk and Kramatorsk -- armored vehicles were seen flying Russian flags and carrying defected troops.

It comes after Ukraine made a big display of military might for journalists on Sunday, showing off the hardware and forces that would take part in the operation. A little while later, helicopters containing special forces took off on their first mission, taking back the Kramatorsk airfield that had been occupied by armed gunmen.

As the operation continued Monday, Ukrainian jets and helicopters could be seen flying across the skies of the eastern Donetsk region.

Read more: http://abcnewsradioonline.com/world-news/ukraines-offensive-falters-as-elite-units-defect-to-pro-russ.html

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Ukraine’s Offensive Falters as Elite Units Defect to Pro-Russia Side [View all] bemildred Apr 2014 OP

Pro-Russian militants take two Ukrainian soldiers hostage in Lugansk bemildred Apr 2014 #1

As The Man Said, Sir The Magistrate Apr 2014 #2

One doesn't usually get to see it this raw these days, Sir. bemildred Apr 2014 #3

It Is A Sticky Situation All Around, Sir The Magistrate Apr 2014 #10

There isn't any party in this dispute that wants to halt gas flow Demeter Apr 2014 #12

Putin, Ma'am, Has Acted Disgracefully The Magistrate Apr 2014 #15

Bulgaria's President Accuses Russia of Destabilizing Ukraine bemildred Apr 2014 #29

the Ukrainians are voting...with their feet Demeter Apr 2014 #35

I would not shoot my fellow citizens either. nt bemildred Apr 2014 #36

His comment is not without interest. bemildred Apr 2014 #37

In Other Words, Ma'am: 'Vote For The Right Lizard, Or the Wrong Lizard Might Get In' The Magistrate Apr 2014 #49

More have been injured by the "Russians." Igel Apr 2014 #80

Given Bg-Ru ties, that's a pretty bold statement. Igel Apr 2014 #79

I assume he is under a lot of pressure. bemildred Apr 2014 #93

Ukraine on first day of gas reverse resumption from Poland imports almost 4 million cubic meters gas dipsydoodle Apr 2014 #20

I think the Kiev government is more or less screwed. bemildred Apr 2014 #13

That They Shot Themselves In the Foot, Sir, I Certainly Agree The Magistrate Apr 2014 #17

That's more or less why I think they are screwed. bemildred Apr 2014 #21

Exactly, My Friend The Magistrate Apr 2014 #24

I've still not seen anything mentioning attacks on the pipelines, amandabeech Apr 2014 #45

Have a good trip. bemildred Apr 2014 #46

Thanks, bemildred! amandabeech Apr 2014 #47

Maybe they shouldn't have abolished the Russian language? JackRiddler Apr 2014 #78

Clearly, Sir, A Shooting Matter, That: About The Worst Thing Ever, At Least Since Last Tuesday The Magistrate Apr 2014 #85

Who did the shooting, sir? JackRiddler Apr 2014 #99

Removing From Official State Use, Sir, Is Not Abolishing The Magistrate Apr 2014 #100

Whatever your view of the past 80-90 years ago... JackRiddler Apr 2014 #101

So, Sir, You Stick To The 'Abolishing Russian' Nonesense The Magistrate Apr 2014 #102

Russian was abolished as a state language. JackRiddler Apr 2014 #103

I Appreciate The Laugh, Sir, And The Formal Surrender The Magistrate Apr 2014 #104

Ukraine says pro-Russian separatists seize six of its troop carriers bemildred Apr 2014 #4

Seized or handed over ? dipsydoodle Apr 2014 #7

That seems to be in dispute. bemildred Apr 2014 #9

aaaaaaaahahahahahahahahaha n/t cosmicone Apr 2014 #5

Elite forces defect from your army, you got no army left...... Fred Sanders Apr 2014 #6

Apparently there's another 50 armoured vehicles on their way to that region. dipsydoodle Apr 2014 #11

when Vlasov defected to Germany in the summer of 1942, the Soviets had no army left...? LanternWaste Apr 2014 #32

You are comparing the Ukrainian military to the WW II Soviet Army? former9thward Apr 2014 #74

Vlasov was surrounded and captured, then he defected, no one is doing that today. happyslug Apr 2014 #76

Russia Imposes Its Ways on US bemildred Apr 2014 #8

Looks like the counter revolution has begun. Fred Sanders Apr 2014 #14

Poles are notoriously, romantically impractical at politics Demeter Apr 2014 #16

I refuse to comment on Polish internal affairs. bemildred Apr 2014 #18

Given The Totality Of the History, Sir The Magistrate Apr 2014 #19

Heh. "No natural boundaries", isn't that the phrase you used, Sir? nt bemildred Apr 2014 #22

Indeed, Sir The Magistrate Apr 2014 #23

Somehow, I can't see Europe Reverting to 1386 Demeter Apr 2014 #25

They Do Not Have Much To Say About It, Ma'am The Magistrate Apr 2014 #27

What would happen to Poland's NATO standing if that happened? joshcryer Apr 2014 #88

I Expect They Would Be Out On Their Ear, Sir The Magistrate Apr 2014 #96

Russia also objected to some demands as "interference in its internal affairs." Igel Apr 2014 #81

Heh, doublespeak. "invading another country = internal affair" joshcryer Apr 2014 #91

Well, the irony, yes, but that is everywhere. nt bemildred Apr 2014 #94

Message auto-removed Name removed Apr 2014 #26

Awful, just terrible. Putin may be successful, unfortunately..but this entire new chapter Jefferson23 Apr 2014 #28

From the BBC... Xolodno Apr 2014 #30

This has been going on for days. Ukranian military units defecting and switching sides Catherina Apr 2014 #31

Yes. Some time now. bemildred Apr 2014 #33

Agreed. Catherina Apr 2014 #40

Well, it's the employee mentality, they think they are dealing with employees. bemildred Apr 2014 #42

Bad news. Ukrainian APC just injured 3 people, firing at car blocking it Catherina Apr 2014 #61

Not good. nt bemildred Apr 2014 #66

And away we go! "US to send non-lethal aid to Ukraine" Catherina Apr 2014 #68

Aside from the IMF garbage, what has also become clear to people cprise Apr 2014 #43

Oh gosh, see post 40 Catherina Apr 2014 #44

The first one has an entertaining translation. Igel Apr 2014 #82

I'm sorry the pro-war propaganda from the West isn't as convincing as it used to be n/t Catherina Apr 2014 #83

Yeah, it was obviously not a defection. joshcryer Apr 2014 #90

Ukraine Is Not Ready for the Consequences of Taking Russia’s Military Bait Jefferson23 Apr 2014 #34

What we see here... nyabingi Apr 2014 #38

I think Putin prefers Ukraine as a neutral buffer. bemildred Apr 2014 #41

Yeah, I think Putin is concerned primarily nyabingi Apr 2014 #48

Copacetic. bemildred Apr 2014 #50

Lack of long-term vision and foresight has destroyed cosmicone Apr 2014 #59

If I Thought Invasion An Actual Danger, Sir, I Might Have Some Sympathy With That Line The Magistrate Apr 2014 #51

How about "neutral buffer" then, Sir? bemildred Apr 2014 #52

But Buffer Against What, Sir? The Magistrate Apr 2014 #53

There are various theories of Putin out there Sir. bemildred Apr 2014 #55

I Agree Stability All Around Is Better For Business, Sir The Magistrate Apr 2014 #57

I don't think he is entirely in control of it at this point, Sir. bemildred Apr 2014 #58

He Stuck His Dick In It, Sir, Stirred The Thing Up The Magistrate Apr 2014 #62

Quite so. bemildred Apr 2014 #64

And I Agree, Sir, a Federal System Is Probably Best Here The Magistrate Apr 2014 #65

He may well carve off chunks in the end, Sir. bemildred Apr 2014 #67

He Still Has A Good Deal Of Time To Move, Sir The Magistrate Apr 2014 #70

Well that's what I'm saying Sir, if he wants to do it, it's there. nt bemildred Apr 2014 #71

He can only take two raions. joshcryer Apr 2014 #92

Right. nt bemildred Apr 2014 #95

I Agree He Has Little Legitimate Claim, Sir The Magistrate Apr 2014 #97

It also needs to be considered that a Ukraine that is part of Russia, cannot bemildred Apr 2014 #106

In the 90s, US said there would be no eastward expansion of NATO cprise Apr 2014 #56

I Have Never Considered 'Eastward Ho' a Good Policy For NATO, Sir The Magistrate Apr 2014 #60

+1. And not just refuse for personal reasons but it's against Ukrainian law Catherina Apr 2014 #54

What is Obama's foreign policy? davidpdx Apr 2014 #86

After you finish laughing David, nyabingi Apr 2014 #98

OH please SunsetDreams Apr 2014 #87

The reality is that a lot of Ukraines military leadership are ex-Soviets. Xithras Apr 2014 #39

The puppet government has no mandate cosmicone Apr 2014 #63

Ukraine Invasion Unlikely as Russia Achieves Goals: General bemildred Apr 2014 #69

General Breedlove, NATO EU chief "no evidence of a strategic Russian buildup on Ukraine's borders" Catherina Apr 2014 #72

That's an interesting comment from the Breedlove. Thanks. nt bemildred Apr 2014 #73

Yeah, no reason to do conventional war. Benton D Struckcheon Apr 2014 #84

4 people just shot by soldiers at an anti-Maidan protest in Mariupol Catherina Apr 2014 #75

I Would Prefer Confirmation, Ma'am, From a Source Not Bought And Paid For By Moscow The Magistrate Apr 2014 #77

Sir, "protest" at an army base, which they were to take over. joshcryer Apr 2014 #89

LOL at RT's description of "protestors" and "Anti-Maidan protest" Tommy_Carcetti Apr 2014 #105