Another view from Ukraine - Recent Events in Slovansk

[newthinking]

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OpEdNews Op Eds 4/14/2014 at 14:39:03

Kiev's War Against the Peace-Loving People of South-East Ukraine
By George Eliason

http://www.opednews.com/articles/Kiev-s-War-Against-the-Pea-by-George-Eliason-Ukraine-140414-779.html

Under-Secretary of Defense Dimitri Yarosh announced a full mobilization of Pravy Sektor, the ultra-nationalist paramilitary collective, to squelch the protesters. Troops had been mobilized to Donbass by train and military vehicles, including tanks and armored troop carriers, and seven of the latter were stationed on the outskirts of Slovyansk. In his statement, Yarosh said that the Kiev government had been taking too long to respond and needed to remember that traitors in war-time are hanged.

Yarosh made no bones about his position that Kiev is now at war. He told Pravy Sektor, which is now in charge of defense and border control, to take decisive action and protect the sovereignty and integrity of the country. Interior Minister Arsen Avakov echoed his words, saying he would deliver the power of every unit as rapidly as it could bear.

On the same day the protesters were to be squelched in Slovyansk, the city of Simferopol also began celebrating the 70th anniversary of its liberation from the Nazis. Hundreds of residents placed flowers on the World War II memorial that commemorates the sacrifice of soldiers and the city's people in defeating the Nazi menace.

April 13 is also Palm Sunday for Eastern Orthodox Christians across Ukraine and Russia. It is one of the highest Christian holidays of the year. This year's celebration will be remembered as Bloody Palm Sunday.

At around 8 a.m. on April 13, people in Slavyansk noticed five military helicopters flying overhead. They then witnessed landings and soldiers at different locations, possibly mercenaries, dressed in black with no markings.

At 8:30 Pravy Sektor (Right Sector) tried to storm a local radio station and suffered the first casualties of the war. One man was reported killed and two others injured. About 40 minutes later the first checkpoint on the road (set up by residents) going into Slovyansk was destroyed. Witnesses reported the attack was carried out by helicopter gunships and Ukrainian Special Security Service forces using rocket-propelled grenades. At the same time the first shots were heard on the outskirts of Slovyansk.


1st roadblock at Slovyansk destroyed by gunship and special forces
(image by V Kontake)

As this was happening in Slovyansk, the entire population rushed to its defense. Women and girls formed a human chain to protect their town.


The women in Slovyansk make a chain and take a stand against Facist forces
(image by V Kontake)

Just before 10 a.m. Kiev forces accidently shot an unarmed fisherman, who suffered serious chest wounds. He was wearing camouflage and had been mistaken for a self-defense group member.

As tensions started building with the protesters, Kiev ordered Berkut units--the Special Security forces, including the Special Forces Alpha unit that stood down during Euro Maidan--and various police units to squelch the protests. All refused. None would fire on his own people. Instead, they joined the protesters in order to protect them if they were attacked by the government.

In the picture below, Pravy Sektor has a new look. You can still see mismatched Ukrainian uniforms.


Pravy Sektor coming into Slovyansk
(image by V Kontake)

At high noon, rallies were planned at all the regional capitals. In Odessa, people were continuing to celebrate the 70th anniversary of their liberation from the Nazis, when Pravy Sektor, headed by Lviv resident Vladimir Parasyuk, came out to harass them. (Parasyuk had gained fame in February by provoking the attack on Yanukovych.)

It was the same in Kharkov and Donetsk. Pravy Sektor and the Kiev Maidan people turned up by the thousands throughout southern and eastern Ukraine. Yarosh had promised them a lot of work, but when Maidan ended so had their funding. In Kharkov, thousands of people in the square and surrounding streets heard explosions and shots. Some of the victims were policemen.

Full Story at OPEdNews
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Kiev-s-War-Against-the-Pea-by-George-Eliason-Ukraine-140414-779.html

[The Magistrate]

1. Check His 'Greatest Hits' List, Sir: The Man Is Insane

Quite literally; afflicted with delusions to the point where he is a danger to himself and others....

http://www.opednews.com/author/author58313.html

[newthinking]

2. If you can't refute the information - try to discredit the person who delivers it?

That is a typical propaganda technique is it not?

Maybe someone will want to say the pictures are doctored as well?

There is a ton of propaganda being unleashed during what is happening in Ukraine and it is important for people to read multiple viewpoints and make their own conclusions if they really want to understand the events.

There are definitely four posters here that have an agenda to discredit alternative viewpoints and sources, even when they are progressive voices (not RT). I am sure most here aware of those tactics and those who do pay more attention will know who posts the standard media line and who covers from alternative viewpoints.

I am confident most here can determine for themselves if the information is worthy of their attention. ...SIR

[The Magistrate]

3. No One Argues With A Kitchen Table, Sir, Nor Needs To

Obvious nonesense and fantasy does not require argument: pointing it out for what it is sufficient.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

4. "Peace Loving People"????

You mean the ones kidnapping journalists?

Or the ones disemboweling dissenting politicians and throwing them in the river?

Or the one creating human-shield scenarios begging for an incident to invite formal Russian intervention?

Those "peace loving people"?

Frankly, calling them "peace loving people" I couldn't help but invoke Poe's Law.