Ukraine crisis: Gunfire and explosions outside rebel-held town of Slavyansk

[Bosonic]

Last edited Fri May 2, 2014, 06:39 AM - Edit history (1)

Source: AFP/Telegraph

Ukraine has launched a military assault on the flashpoint town of Slavyansk, raising the stakes in the showdown with Russia, which has vowed "catastrophic consequences" if Kiev stepped up operations.

Insurgents shot down two army helicopters, killing two servicemen, including a pilot, as the army tightened its noose around the rebel-held town of 160,000 people.

The predawn offensive drew a sharp response from Moscow, where a spokesman for President Vladimir Putin said it dealt a "final blow" to a deal clinched last month in Geneva meant to ease the crisis.

A spokeswoman for insurgents in Slavyansk, the epicentre of tensions in eastern Ukraine, said the army had staged a "full-scale attack" on the town.

Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10802941/Ukraine-crisis-Gunfire-and-explosions-outside-rebel-held-town-of-Slavyansk.html

---

Ukraine crisis: Sloviansk rebels down army helicopters

Pro-Russian rebels have shot down two of Ukraine's army helicopters during an "anti-terror" operation in the eastern city of Sloviansk, Kiev says.

Ukraine's military said a pilot and serviceman were killed and nine rebel checkpoints seized.

However, separatists at three Sloviansk checkpoints told the BBC they were still in control there.

Russia says Kiev's actions "killed the last hope" for a deal agreed last month in Geneva aimed at defusing the crisis.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27250026

Gunfire, blasts in insurgent-held Ukraine city

SLOVYANSK, Ukraine (AP) — Gunfire and blasts have been heard around an eastern city in Ukraine that has become the focus of an armed pro-Russian insurgency.

An emergency siren sounded in Slovyansk at dawn Friday in a further indication government troops assayed a military assault.

Vyacheslav Ponomarev, the insurgency-appointed mayor of Slovyansk, said self-defense forces had shot down two helicopters and taken one pilot hostage. He said no Ukrainian troops could be seen in the city. Details could not be independently confirmed.

An APTN cameraman reported seeing black plumes of smoke on the edge of the city.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/gunfire-blasts-insurgent-held-ukraine-city

Guardian live updates:

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/02/ukraine-crisis-pro-russian-forces-claim-assault-on-slavyansk-live-updates?view=mobile

[Ghost Dog]

1. RT:

... Slavyansk self-defense forces told RIA Novosti that the Ukrainian military has attacked several positions.

“The attack is targeting a few checkpoints at the same time. A few armored vehicles and airborne combat vehicles arrived and airborne troops descended from the helicopters and attacked the checkpoints. Some forces were dropped off around the train station, where we didn’t have anyone,” RIA Novosti quoted the press secretary of the Slavyansk self-defense units as saying...

... A commander at one of the checkpoints told RIA Novosti that the Ukrainian army has taken control of one of the roadblocks on the outskirts of Slavyansk, as well as the city’s TV broadcasting center. The Ukrainian army is putting up artillery around the captured TV station in Slavyansk, a city administration spokesman said, as cited by RIA Novosti.

A police station was reportedly seized, while the city center remains quiet, RT’s Paula Slier reported from Ukraine. Several armored vehicles have been seen outside Slavyansk, she added.

Thick smoke was spotted on the outskirts of the city, where the roadblocks are located...

/... http://rt.com/news/156292-slavyansk-army-special-operation/

[joshcryer]

2. Putin needs to prevent these eastern cities from voting.

In the elections. That's why the city centers have been taken over and roadblocks put up.

Most of these cities don't give a shit about the separatists.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

21. ..........

[AnalystInParadise]

4. This boldness from Ukraine

was unexpected. Many an analyst is going to have to reconfigure their analysis of the situation. This makes a wider conflict more likely as none of us were anticipating this level of boldness from the Ukrainian military or govt.

[ballyhoo]

25. The promise of 17 billion works wonders.

[Strelnikov_]

33. Agree

This is a whole new shit sandwich.

[jakeXT]

5. Ukraine pilot killed in Sloviansk military operation

Ukraine says its government forces are continuing an "anti-terror" operation in the eastern city of Sloviansk.

Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said one Ukrainian pilot had been killed, and other people wounded. Nine rebel checkpoints had been seized, he said.

However, separatists at three Sloviansk checkpoints told the BBC they were still in control there.

Pro-Russian gunmen have shot down at least two helicopters, reportedly capturing one pilot.



http://m.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27250026

[dipsydoodle]

6. Ukraine says two killed when helicopters shot down in Slaviansk

(Reuters) - Two Ukrainian troops were killed when two helicopters were shot down over the separatist-held eastern town of Slaviansk on Friday, the Defence Ministry said.

"As a result of the shooting, two troops from the Ukrainian army were killed," the ministry said in a statement.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/05/02/ukraine-crisis-defence-idUKL6N0NO1BU20140502

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. Journalists seized

There are unconfirmed reports that more journalists have been seized by pro-Russian separatists.

Mike Giglio, a reporter for the US news site Buzz Feed, was taken at a checkpoint near Konstantinovka, according to the editor of the Kiev Post, Christopher Miller.

Anti-Russian activists also claim Giglio's translator, Elena Glazunova, was taken.

There are also unconfirmed reports that Clarissa Ward, from the US broadcaster CBS, is missing along with her crew.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/02/ukraine-crisis-pro-russian-forces-claim-assault-on-slavyansk-live-updates#block-53635ce0e4b04bc90a517aa2

[dipsydoodle]

8. Kiev’s ‘punitive op’ in E. Ukraine irreparably severs Geneva accord – Kremlin

By unleashing a ‘punitive operation’ in eastern Ukraine, Kiev has destroyed the last vestige of hope for implementing the Geneva agreement on de-escalating the Ukrainian crisis, Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

"While Russia is making efforts to de-escalate and resolve the conflict, the Kiev regime has chosen military aviation strikes on peaceful residential areas and started a punitive operation, literally destroying the last hope for the viability of the Geneva accords,” Dmitry Peskov said.

Peskov said the Russian president was closely following the events in eastern Ukraine. He gave a reminder that Putin had earlier described the possibility of any such operation as a “criminal action.”

“Unfortunately, the latest developments prove the assessment was right,” Peskov said.

http://rt.com/news/156352-kremlin-ukraine-operation-punitive/

[ballyhoo]

24. It is progressively getting impossible to

tell what is actually happening. Rather, it's turning into a boxing match where the winner is "my guy". The Geneva Accord is no more, "whoever" in the article is right about that. The Press is slowly dragging us into a participatory war that may be our final venture.

[dipsydoodle]

9. Live updates from Kyiv / Kiev Post here

Two Ukrainian soldiers, one insurgent killed as fighting resumes in Sloviansk (LIVE UPDATES)

http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/fighting-resumes-in-slovyansk-ukrainian-pilot-killed-live-updates-345925.html

I see they're using the term "insurgents" now.

[Ghost Dog]

11. Ok.

"The army has blocked the entrances to Sloviansk and has retaken the local TV tower from the insurgents."

[joshcryer]

14. How are they not insurgents?

Would Cliven Bundy, with his milita, taking the Clark County Court House, not be a domestic terrorist or insurgent?

[penultimate]

64. They are militant peace activists.

[muriel_volestrangler]

18. Shoot down helicopters and kill the pilots, you're an insurgent (nt)

[Tommy_Carcetti]

29. What, are they still "protesters"?

Protesters with anti-aircraft guns, apparently.

[ozone_man]

57. Federalists is the term I've been hearing.

That sounds about right.

[penultimate]

65. Not unprecedented...

I believe occupy protesters in Seattle had SAMs and a few CWIS.

[EmilyAnne]

30. Would you prefer they use terrorists? Because that's already started.

Russian surface-to-air missiles took the helicopters down. This is an irrefutable fact.
Not exactly your good, old, Ukrainian farm boys making malotovs in the barn out of kvas bottles gathered from the village, you know what I mean?

Sounds like an insurgency to me.

[dipsydoodle]

39. Singular

One was taken down by a missile. The other one landed under heavy attack. You may well find those missiles are manufactured in east Ukraine.

Ukrainian police arrest pro-Russian rebels who shot down helicopters as army takes back seized cities

Two military helicopters have been shot down by pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine, shattering hopes of a lasting peace deal in the region.

The first gunship was blasted out of the sky with a surface-to-air missile over Slaviansk as Ukrainian forces stormed the city this morning, in a large-scale 'anti-terror' offensive aimed at flushing out militants who have seized government buildings in the area. The other was forced to land under heavy attack.

The pilot of the first helicopter was killed in the battle and another was taken hostage, it was reported. An unspecified number of crewmen were also injured.

A third helicopter carrying medics was also hit, wounding at least one person on board, the SBU security service said.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2617592/Military-helicopters-shot-pro-Russian-rebels-violence-rocks-Ukraines-east.html#ixzz30Zi9JJbW

[EmilyAnne]

40. So you had to go to a British tabloid because you knew RT would be dismissed?

Lol.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2014/05/ukraine-forces-begin-assault-slovyansk-20145235428643470.html

[dipsydoodle]

41. Nope

I just searched subject of ukraine helicopters missiles and that was top of the list at that instant.

Been overtaken by 9 or so links now with Al Jaz at the top.

Since when I have ever not posted anything from RT on the basis it would be dismissed ? I don't share the negative views of a dozen or so others at most here on that subject.

[EX500rider]

47. "I don't share the negative views of a dozen or so others at most here on that subject."

Dozen or so, huh? If RT is so truthful in their reporting why can't you use them as a primary source in LBN?

'Cause the rest of us don't believe much out of the Kremlin's propaganda mouth piece.

[dipsydoodle]

48. The issue you mention

goes back to last July / August only.

If you don't believe me trying providing a link to a past post on the subject prior to July 2013 to disprove that.

Meanwhile I'll stick with the figure mentioned of a dozen or so.

[EX500rider]

49. What issue? RT is either allowed in LBN or it isn't, which is it and why?

[dipsydoodle]

50. Like I said.

Please do your own searches.

[EX500rider]

51. Yeah and my searched came up with "NO RT IN LBN" Am I wrong?

[ozone_man]

54. Not as a leading source

but it's probably fine as an auxilliary source, to balance the western media slant.

[EX500rider]

55. With more extreme Russian slant?

[ozone_man]

56. It's good to have several perspectives for balance

Perhaps you should throw in some CNN or NPR?

[EmilyAnne]

60. My Aljazeera link doesn't cut it it? lol nt

[EX500rider]

63. "It's good to have several perspectives for balance"

Not always depending on the source...

Here's the North Korean News Agency, also a government mouthpiece like RT:

http://www.kcna.co.jp/index-e.htm

Should I want their perspective vs BBC for example?

[Ghost Dog]

10. RT Live Updates

... 07:59 GMT: Russia is demanding that the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) takes measures to stop the military operation the authorities in Kiev are conducting in eastern Ukraine, Russia’s permanent representative at the OSCE, Andrey Kelin, told Itar-Tass...

... 07:42 GMT: The injured pilot, from the Ukrainian helicopter damaged by Slavyansk self-defense forces, is Ukrainian army captain, Savuylov, RIA Novosti reports. The pilot is currently being operated on in a hospital in Slavyansk.

One of the self-defense members said the pilot was abandoned by the troops who had the opportunity to help the injured man. “His own people left him. I thought they would take him but they only took his gun, boarded their helicopter and were gone.”

07:09 GMT: Two Mi-24 helicopters have been downed in Slavyansk, while one Mi-8 helicopter was damaged and forced to land, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry says, as cited by RIA Novosti. The Ministry adds that two Ukrainian military personnel have been killed and several others injured.

07:03 GMT: The Ukrainian Interior Minister says troops have taken 10 checkpoints in Slavyansk under control, and some self-defense members have been captured, RIA Novosti reports...

(No mention of the TV station in the live updates here...)

/... http://rt.com/news/eastern-ukraine-army-operation-680/

[jakeXT]

12. Seeing Geneva Convention type actions is rare these days

The main points of these two Conventions are: The sick, wounded and shipwrecked must be cared for adequately. Belligerents must treat members of the enemy force who are wounded, sick or shipwrecked as carefully they would their own.

http://www.ppu.org.uk/learn/texts/doc_geneva_con.html

[Tommy_Carcetti]

22. Yeah, these fellows have zero interest in following the Geneva convention.

See: Kidnapped journalists, murdered politicians.

[jakeXT]

23. The same guy ? /nt

[joshcryer]

13. Lots of journalist abductions, live updates:

http://www.reddit.com/live/3rgnbke2rai6hen7ciytwcxadi

Putin can't let the truth be told, so he abducts great reporters like CJ Chivers...

[joshcryer]

15. Journalist released:

https://twitter.com/clarissaward/statuses/462178079096705025

The mayor likely taking instructions from Moscow, can't have dead journalists on his hands.

[jakeXT]

16. Just sit back and let the guys in Kiev make themselves really popular /nt

[joshcryer]

17. Taking journalists doesn't win anyone over.

Kiev is doing the right thing by going after the insurgent terrorists who take government buildings by armed force, unlike Maiden, which stood in the freezing cold, in the middle of the square, protesting largely peacefully except for self-defense when the armed police attacked them.

Mind you, due to laws drafted in Moscow mandating that public protest is invalid...

[pangaia]

19. I have no clue what is really going on,

who the 'good guys' are, who the 'bad guys' are. Are there even good guys?
I really am honestly trying but..

[ballyhoo]

28. No one knows now. We are in 1984

30 years late. Our Ministry of Truth, the Press, owned by the neocon oligarchs and financed by global banking cartels wants war. Justification is endless--oil, hegemony, women's rights, democracy, revenge for 911...war is the path to peace. The Nobel committee bestowed the prestige of its Peace Prize on Newspeak and Doublethink. Have a nice day.

[Jack Rabbit]

43. The first thing you have to know to understand the Ukrainian crisis is that there are no good guys

The Ukrainians are victims of global forces that want to swallow their nation. The international players here -- the US, the EU and Russia (i.e, Putin) -- do not have the least concern for Ukrainians. Putin is no different than the Romanovs; he's an imperialist who, like all imperialists, doesn't know how to read a map. While the map says "Ukraine" set off from by borders from Russia and other nations, Putin sees no borders and one big entity called "the Russian Empire." The industrialists and bankers who control the US and Europe are no different than Stalin; it is of no concern to them how many Ukrainians must starve or be enslaved to construct a new order based on all political power resting in their hands while a cult of personality permits no critique of tyranny.

[joshcryer]

20. Ukrainian troops control half of rebel-held eastern city of Sloviansk

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27250026#TWEET1118172

[Bosonic]

26. meanwhile in Odessa

Pro-Ukraine crowd vs Pro-Russian

livestream: http://hromadske.tv/

[Tommy_Carcetti]

27. And the cold fingers slowly creep in deeper.....nt

[Bosonic]

31. Pro-Ukrainians, pro-Russians clash in Odessa

Pro-Ukrainians, pro-Russians clash in Odessa

ODESSA, Ukraine (AFP) : Hundreds of pro-Russian militants swinging batons and wearing helmets on Friday attacked a rally of 1,500 people in Ukraine's southern port city of Odessa demonstrating for national unity, an AFP journalist said. Police intervened to try to break up the violence, which left dozens wounded on both sides.

Odessa, which has around one million inhabitants, had up to now been relatively spared the unrest wracking east Ukraine. However, the city is located close to the border with Moldova and its breakaway state of Transdniestr, where Russia has troops stationed since a short war in 1992.

Ukraine's Western-backed government accuses Russia of fomenting the rebellion on its territory.

On Monday, dozens of pro-Russian people armed with bats, bricks and knives attacked another pro-Ukrainian rally in the eastern city of Donetsk, wounding 14.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/pro-ukrainians-pro/1092990.html

still ongoing:

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/o1odessa

[Tommy_Carcetti]

35. I'm watching live. Scary stuff.

Looks like there was someone on the roof firing a handgun, with a St. George Ribbon tied around his arm.

[Bosonic]

36. yup

But a large crowd is now surrounding the building they are on/in, so it may not end too well for them.

[Iterate]

38. I knew I should have checked one more time.

One thing is clear today, Odessa won't cave like some backwater border town.

[Iterate]

37. Pro-Russian gunmen fire on protestors from rooftop.

Near Hrets'ka Square pro-Ukranian, pro-unity protestors, who were separated by police from any pro-Russian protestors, were fired on my gunmen wearing red armbands. Several others threw pavers and Molotov cocktails from above. The pro-Ukrainian protestors pulled back and more police moved in.

[penultimate]

66. why would the pro-ukies march for unity of ukraine if they knew it would upset the pro-russians?

That was very rude and disrespectful of the ukies to do fly Ukrainian flags and show support for Ukraine unity in then presence of pro-russians. They msut have known it would enrage the russian peace activist to the point of forcing them to bash peoples headsnin... This is propobably the most fascist thing I've seen the Ukrainians do you thus far.

[Bosonic]

32. 'Many dead' in Ukraine offensive

'Many dead' in Ukraine offensive

Many pro-Russia rebels have been killed, injured and arrested in the Ukrainian government offensive in the eastern city of Sloviansk, interim president Oleksandr Turchynov has said.

But, in a statement, he said the operation in the rebel-held city was not going as quickly as hoped.

Earlier, rebels shot down two Ukrainian army helicopters, killing a pilot and a serviceman.

Russia has called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27259614

[Strelnikov_]

34. ..

[Bosonic]

42. Odessa pro-Ukraine crowd burning down pro-Russian HQ

Regional admin building on fire in Odessa. pro-russians reportedly trapped inside

https://twitter.com/grasswire/status/462277082274217984

[dipsydoodle]

44. and no police in sight taking any action.

Last edited Fri May 2, 2014, 01:59 PM - Edit history (2)

https://twitter.com/howardamos/status/462280423201341440


That was the trade union building which the Pro's had decamped to.

[Bosonic]

45. too bad

[Iterate]

52. Pro-Russians Removed From Trade Union In Odessa

17:38 (GMT)
he fires are out, the situation is calmer, but there are still elements to the story at the Trade Union headquarters in Odessa which are not clear.
But do they? Pro-Russians are reportedly being dragged out of the building, though it's unclear by whom.

The situation is much calmer. The pro-Ukrainian demonstrators are signing the national anthem and chanting.

Fire Department Arrives, But Fatalities Reported in Odessa Fire
17:26 (GMT)
http://www.interpretermag.com/ukraine-liveblog-day-74-helicopters-shot-down-in-slavyansk/#2571

Essentially, the fire was out by the time you had posted. Other reports vary from pro-Russian separatists being rescued by pro-unity protestors, to machine gun fire heard inside, to some were rescued then arrested.

[joshcryer]

58. You crack me up.

I mean, seriously.

[Bosonic]

53. 38 people killed in building fire in Ukraine's southern city of Odessa

Correction: 38 people killed in building fire in Ukraine's southern city of Odessa, not 32 as previously reported.

https://twitter.com/ReutersWorld/status/462304296562745344

[joshcryer]

59. Putin's ethnic divide begins now.

Unfortunately, there are much fewer ethnic Russians than Ukrainians. This won't end well.

[Bosonic]

46. Fighting starts again near bridge in Andreyevka

Last edited Fri May 2, 2014, 04:02 PM - Edit history (2)

Silence broken in #Slovyansk tonight. Fighting starts again near bridge in Andreyevka, seized by UKR mil today. Unclear if casualties yet.

https://twitter.com/cjchivers/status/462292260454150144

More gunfire, two ambulances drive down the road. Staying on the floor and away from the windows. Lights off policy operating in #Sloviansk

https://twitter.com/HarrietSalem/status/462298917011746816

Ukrainian MOD: 2 soldiers killed earlier tonight in clash between antigovt militias & UKR forces at bridge in Andreyeka. #Slovyansk

https://twitter.com/cjchivers/status/462319155614875648

[Sunlei]

61. Sounds like Ukraine is kicking those Russians, Putin sent, out of their country.

[muriel_volestrangler]

62. Two Ukraine servicemen killed in Slaviansk

Two Ukrainian soldiers have been killed on the outskirts of the eastern town of Slaviansk after pro-Russian separatists attacked their position, The Ukraine Defence Ministry has said.

"Heavy fighting is continuing. The deaths of two Ukrainian soldiers have been confirmed at the current time," the ministry said in a statement, accusing the separatists of using civilians as human shields. It said the two were members of the airborne brigade.

http://www.itv.com/news/update/2014-05-02/two-ukraine-servicemen-killed-in-slaviansk/