Ukraine Crisis II: Electric Boogaloo

[Gravlen]

Taken from Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, 75. U.N.T.S. 135, entered into force Oct. 21, 1950

Part II

Article 13

Prisoners of War must at all times be humanely treated. (Skipping irrelevant at the moment because I am stuck on a damn phone)

Likewise, prisoners of war must at all times be protected, particularly against violence or intimidation and against insults and public curiosity.

Article 14

Prisoners are entitled in all circumstances to respect for their persons and their honour.

This parade was hardly anything crime worthy.

Regardless, it's a violation of the Geneva conventions, albeit not a major one. The cases of abductions, hostage takings, torture and extralegal killings as documented by Amnesty International, HRW, the OSCE and the UN monitoring mission, are more egregious violations.

And pro-Kiev side, did they respect these articles? Again I'm asking - what about Kiev's forces disregard of the civilians life loss and war crimes?

The Kiev government should be held accountable for any and all violations, and the responsible parties should be punished.

[Lyttenburg]

Poroshenko (finaly) dissolved semi-hostile to him Rada (via Twitter) and announced that the new parliamentary elections would be held on 26th of October.

Despite the fact that it is "dissolved", Rada will "function" with the same MPs till the election day.

Meanwhile, Russian toy-factory "Ура" releases new line of toy soldiers figurines.

My favorite is of course: "Спасибо, что я больше не кiт"



But, maybe someone wants "Glavcom Strelkov" instead.

[Occupied Deutschland]

Poroshenko (finaly) dissolved semi-hostile to him Rada (via Twitter) and announced that the new parliamentary elections would be held on 26th of October.

Despite the fact that it is "dissolved", Rada will "function" with the same MPs till the election day.

Meanwhile, Russian toy-factory "Ура" releases new line of toy soldiers figurines.

My favorite is of course: "Спасибо, что я больше не кiт"

(Image)

But, maybe someone wants "Glavcom Strelkov" instead.

No kung fu action grip?
What crappy toy soldiers.

[Gravlen]

Poroshenko (finaly) dissolved semi-hostile to him Rada (via Twitter) and announced that the new parliamentary elections would be held on 26th of October.

Despite the fact that it is "dissolved", Rada will "function" with the same MPs till the election day.

You're saying that like you expected something else... Does it come as a surprise to you that the Rada continues its work until the new Rada has been elected?

[Allanea]

Poroshenko (finaly) dissolved semi-hostile to him Rada (via Twitter) and announced that the new parliamentary elections would be held on 26th of October.

Despite the fact that it is "dissolved", Rada will "function" with the same MPs till the election day.

Meanwhile, Russian toy-factory "Ура" releases new line of toy soldiers figurines.

My favorite is of course: "Спасибо, что я больше не кiт"

(Image)

But, maybe someone wants "Glavcom Strelkov" instead.

No kung fu action grip?
What crappy toy soldiers.

They're toy soldiers, not action figures.

[Dalcaria]

Poroshenko (finaly) dissolved semi-hostile to him Rada (via Twitter) and announced that the new parliamentary elections would be held on 26th of October.

Despite the fact that it is "dissolved", Rada will "function" with the same MPs till the election day.

You're saying that like you expected something else... Does it come as a surprise to you that the Rada continues its work until the new Rada has been elected?

I should hope not as that appears to be how virtually every nation on Earth with an elected assembly seems to work (or at least Canada, the UK, and I assumed the US seem to work like this).

[Dalcaria]

Regardless, it's a violation of the Geneva conventions, albeit not a major one. The cases of abductions, hostage takings, torture and extralegal killings as documented by Amnesty International, HRW, the OSCE and the UN monitoring mission, are more egregious violations.

Come on, the Geneva Convention? Nobody really follows that do they? The limitless intellect of the Supreme President Putin is far more reliable wouldn't you say? /sarcasm

[Shofercia]

Except that said humanitarian convoy did not carry weapons and there is no evidence that it did.

viewtopic.php?p=21358745#p21358745

http://www.businessinsider.com/russian- ... z3AT9foURd

Yeah, no evidence whatsoever. I looked through this thread, and I haven't actually found a refutation of these posts or articles. Just call your opponent a conspiratorial Russophobic nut and call it a day, I suppose.

Considering that there's been no evidence that Russia is supplying Rebels with heavy weapons, and considering that the Russian SpetzNaz can sneak in as many light weapons as the Rebels need, why the fuck would Putin risk bringing these weapons via trucks that he openly put up for inspection? It's a high risk, no reward situation, so unless you're actually buying the lie that Putin's an idiot, why? I think that humanitarian aid was just that - humanitarian aid. The West's rabid opposition to humanitarian aid simply destroyed a good chunk of the West's credibility in quite a few countries, hence Churkin's statement: "you don't have a monopoly on Human Rights".

Maybe the convoy had some small arms, necessary to defend if attacked, (but these weapons would also be taken back to Russia, in case convoy's attacked on the return route,) and quite frankly, bringing in weapons in any huge capacity in trucks that are open for inspection, when the SpetzNaz can easily accomplish the very same task, that just seems completely idiotic. On the other hand, provide humanitarian aid, let the Western Press make complete idiots of themselves, "Russia is invading Ukraine with food and medicine!", have the locals realize that you're there for them with humanitarian aid, and boost your standing at home - hey, now that sounds just like Putin.

The issue, again, is not the prevalence of Neo-Nazis in a given country.

The issue is :

1. The access these people have in this case to legitimacy.

2. The use of nationalist rhetoric by mainstream politicians who are not neo-nazis. This in itself is not a problem to me (I don't really view nationalism as a big problem per se), but it's clearly causing a problem in a nation where a large minority doesn't identify as part of the 'Ukrainian nation'.

Most of those politicians would not be opposing the rebels if they did not believe Russian-speakers to be a fundamental part of Ukraine. A large minority may not identify as part of the Ukrainian nation, but I doubt a majority in the east would vote to join Russia.

Voting - that sounds awesome! Why don't we do this:

1. Ukraine's army leaves
2. Pro-Russian volunteers leave
3. UN election observers move in
4. All refugees are allowed to return to Donetsk and Lugansk
5. We have a vote on the state of the Donetsk and Lugansk Oblasts:

A. Become Independent
B. Join Russia
C. Remain with Ukraine

Let's do it. Oh, and in Crimea too. But whatever the result, it MUST be recognized by all UN Member States. Let's do it. Let's end the war right now! Oh, wait, I forgot, that only happens when convenient for the US/EU. Nevermind.

Second, overthrowing current Ukranian government, which rose to power by overthrowing former legitimate government, isn't a bad thing. (And please, stop making it sound like one.)

The Ukrainian government's legitimacy was affirmed in May.

Oh really? So when did the Gubernatorial Elections take place in Dnepropetrovsk?

Pfft! Specially for the like minded Westerners, I've posed a question several pages back:

Why should the military have to completely disarm?

We're NOT talking about disarming the military. We're talking about disarming those who are loyal to Oligarch Cliques, like the unelected, superimposed Kolomoiski. Those guys should be forced to disarm.

[Dalcaria]

Wonder if the hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians who fled the Ukraine to escape Russian rule (and likely were then replaced by Russian settlers) will be asked about the "legitimate elections" for independence in pro-Russian areas? Well, I guess they don't matter, just like Chechens eh? For the record, there are about 1 million Ukrainian or part Ukrainian people living in Canada right now, so I'm willing to bet a few hundred thousand were displaced by Russians during the immigration period, and had they not left then I suspect those pro-Russian regions might have a slightly different ethnic make up right now, not that I expect that to be taken into consideration either, much like the Circassians with the Sochi Olympics.

[Occupied Deutschland]

You don't understand, they don't have clear unit patches or national flags on their 'uniforms'.

Only Russians are allowed to have military forces that don't have unit patches or national flags on their uniforms to reclaim 'lost territory' that was in temporary rebellion against their holy and indomitable rule. Хероям слава! Хероям слава! Хероям слава!

According to international war law irregular forces don't need to have flags or unit patches.
They don't even have to have matching uniforms.

That's the joke.
See: Russian military presence in the Crimea.

[Shofercia]

Speaking of gloating, I'll gloat. A while ago, a very long while ago, I picked out seven blogs and pointed out that these blogs would do a better job of covering Ukraine than either side's mass media, or even both sides' mass medias combined. I was right. And it's less reading too. Real analytical sources taken from actual analysts, not a website that any fool can edit and edit-war on, beat out the news salesmen. The seven were/are:


Mark Ames: http://pando.com/author/markamespando/
http://pando.com/2014/02/24/everything- ... -is-wrong/

In fact, the people who are protesting or supporting the protesters are first and foremost sick of their shitty lives in a shitty country they want to make better—a country where their fates are controlled by a tiny handful of nihilistic oligarchs and Kremlin overlords, and their political frontmen. It’s first and foremost a desire to gain some control over their fate. Anger at Kremlin power over Ukraine is not necessarily anti-Russian—although the further west you go in Ukraine, the more this does become about nationalism, and the further east you go—including Crimea and Odessa—the more the politics are a fearful reaction against west-Ukraine nationalism.

Guess what? West Ukrainians are sick of Eastern Oligarchs, so wouldn't, logically thinking, East Ukrainians be sick of Western Oligarchs?


http://www.russiaotherpointsofview.com/
http://www.russiaotherpointsofview.com/ ... gence.html

We have always taken pride in not shooting from the hip, but rather in doing intelligence analysis that is evidence-based. The evidence released to date does not bear close scrutiny; it does not permit a judgment as to which side is lying about the shoot-down of Flight 17. Our entire professional experience would incline us to suspect the Russians – almost instinctively. Our more recent experience, particularly observing Secretary Kerry injudiciousness in latching onto one spurious report after another as “evidence,” has gone a long way toward balancing our earlier predispositions. It seems that whenever Kerry does cite supposed “evidence” that can be checked – like the forged anti-Semitic fliers distributed in eastern Ukraine or the photos of alleged Russian special forces soldiers who allegedly slipped into Ukraine – the “proof” goes “poof” as Kerry once said in a different context. Still, these misrepresentations seem small peccadillos compared with bigger whoppers like the claim Kerry made on Aug. 30, 2013, no fewer than 35 times, that “we know” the government of Bashar al-Assad was responsible for the chemical incidents near Damascus nine days before.

On September 3, 2013 – following your decision to call off the attack on Syria in order to await Congressional authorization – Kerry was still pushing for an attack in testimony before a thoroughly sympathetic Senate Foreign Affairs Committee. On the following day Kerry drew highly unusual personal criticism from President Putin, who said: “He is lying, and he knows he is lying. It is sad.” Equally serious, during the first week of September 2013, as you and President Vladimir Putin were putting the final touches to the deal whereby Syrian chemical weapons would be given up for destruction, John Kerry said something that puzzles us to this day. On September 9, 2013, Kerry was in London, still promoting a U.S. attack on Syria for having crossed the “Red Line” you had set against Syria’s using chemical weapons.

At a formal press conference, Kerry abruptly dismissed the possibility that Bashar al-Assad would ever give up his chemical weapons, saying, “He isn’t about to do that; it can’t be done.” Just a few hours later, the Russians and Syrians announced Syria’s agreement to do precisely what Kerry had ruled out as impossible. You sent him back to Geneva to sign the agreement, and it was formally concluded on September 14. Regarding the Malaysia Airlines shoot-down of July 17, we believe Kerry has typically rushed to judgment and that his incredible record for credibility poses a huge disadvantage in the diplomatic and propaganda maneuvering vis-a-vis Russia. We suggest you call a halt to this misbegotten “public diplomacy” offensive. If, however, you decide to press on anyway, we suggest you try to find a less tarnished statesman or woman.

http://jackmatlock.com/here-now/
http://jackmatlock.com/2014/05/granvill ... /#more-723

In summary, here are the conclusions of Granville’s paper, The Folly of Playing High-Stakes Poker with Putin: More to Lose than Gain over Ukraine: In the weeks following the Russian annexation of the Crimean Peninsula, both the United States and European Union have issued a range of sanctions to punish the Putin administration. But a belligerent response aimed at “punishing Putin,” even if confined to economic measures, will probably just escalate the crisis. Such actions increase ill will, freeze vital channels of communication, and damage the U.S. and EU economies.

Military measures, such as deploying NATO, especially U.S., ground troops on Russia’s borders, staging military exercises, and sending military aid to the unelected interim government in Kiev are even more counterproductive and dangerous. The Crimean annexation should be a wake-up call on another level. If the United States and NATO violate international law as they have in the Balkans, Iraq, and other locales, other states will feel entitled to do so as well. The most important goal should be to prevent current East-West tensions from getting any worse. An especially crucial step is to help preserve Ukraine’s unity and prevent the outbreak of a civil war. That requires a decent working relationship with Moscow. There is an even worse scenario than growing disorder in Ukraine, however. The prospect of a full blown new cold war, and perhaps even an armed clash, with Russia is all too real, if the United States and the European Union powers do not adopt more sober, realistic policies soon.

http://marknesop.wordpress.com/
http://marknesop.wordpress.com/2014/04/ ... #more-2888

Ukraine also has people who warm Russia’s imperial heart, the thousands of people in the eastern parts of the country, guarding the statue of Lenin, waving the Russian flag; a few weary grandmas even pleading for the Russian military to rescue them from the “fascist regime” in Kiev. These people are a mystery to the West. They are the invisible people of Ukraine, often omitted from Western news coverage altogether or –if noticed at all- presented only as gullible pawns of the Kremlin. They don’t fit into the Westerner’s understanding of the post-Soviet narrative: the collapse of a sinister, totalitarian regime, the advance of freedom, a patchwork of liberated nations emerging from the inglorious fall of a flawed behemoth. It’s one thing for a Russian to reminisce about the Soviet empire, for he was its ruler. But how can a subject nation – a colony – harbor any nostalgia for the old order: a freed slave mourning the legacy of communist chains?

And yet this nostalgia is not a freak occurrence; in many former Soviet republics this sentiment is close to the norm. A Gallup poll conducted in December of last year found that, “residents in seven out of 11 countries that were part of the union are more likely to believe its collapse harmed their countries than benefited them.” Ukraine clocked in at 56% saying more harm than good has come from the Soviet collapse. The people who compose that majority were unlikely to be spotted among the protesters in Kiev.

http://darussophile.com/
http://darussophile.com/2014/02/everyth ... tant-text/

The Human Development Index of Ukraine as a whole is predictably bad but, eastern Kharkov (0,559) is well ahead of western Ternopol (0,475) and the city called “Window to Europe”, Uzhgorod (0,492). If one looks at the map of the protests, it becomes obvious that the poor western half of the country is rebelling. In the past year, from all regions in the west of the country only the Lvov, Sumy and Cherkasy regions managed to do relatively well (but they managed it thanks to relatively low levels of subventions otherwise they would experience strong negative growth as well), all the others experienced a strong loss in economic activity.

The development of the regions in Ukraine over the past 15 years has been extremely uneven: the GRP (Gross Regional Product) of the Dnepropetrovsk region increased 20.3 times whilst none of the western regions managed to achieve an increase by more than 11.9 times. This means that, whilst the Eastern regions managed to do quite well, the western regions, for unknown regions, managed to lag seriously behind the East (the Eastern regions performed almost two times better). That is why the average salary in the East is 1,5 times more than in the West and the gap is only increasing.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/markadomanis/
http://www.forbes.com/sites/markadomani ... t-ukraine/

To the extent that Bildt convinces anyone in Ukraine that the EU will ride to the rescue he is being cruel. There is no other word for it. The EU is not going t help rebuild the Donbass. Full stop. Even if the EU (read: Germany) had sufficient funds at its disposal for this sort of effort, which is increasingly doubtful, the recent election made clear that popular enthusiasm for the EU project is evaporating almost in real time. There is precious little enthusiasm among the German public for bailout of other Eurozone members. The idea that Germany will consent to spending tens of billions of dollars rebuilding Eastern Ukraine is completely and totally divorced from political reality. Can anyone seriously imagine Angela Merkel, whose country recently had its 2014 growth estimate downgraded to a mere 1.5%, going in front of the German public to demand a substantial outlay for Ukrainian infrastructure? It would be political suicide, and Merkel is clearly a clever enough politician to understand this. Ukraine and its political leadership needs to understand that, regardless of Bildt’s musings, the country’s “European choice” is not going to be underwritten by anyone else.

http://arirusila.wordpress.com/
http://arirusila.wordpress.com/2014/03/ ... democracy/

From my perspective the future of Ukraine looks grim, it still lacks rule of law, genuine political parties, a meritocratic civil service and movement to change situation. Due de facto bankrupty of state economic and social decisions would be taken abroad, conflict between political elite and people the foreign aid will be shared among politicians and oligarchs and due regional confrontation, thread against minority rights and geopolitical spheres of influence the outcome will probably be dissolution of the country.

These aren't news salesmen. They're actual analysts. They conduct real analysis. They come from all over the Globe. And they do a much better job than either side's media. I've taken these snippets at random, from various dates, but when you read them all, tell me, honestly, did you really not learn anything? If so, perhaps you shouldn't be commenting on complex geopolitical issues.

[Shofercia]

Wonder if the hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians who fled the Ukraine to escape Russian rule (and likely were then replaced by Russian settlers) will be asked about the "legitimate elections" for independence in pro-Russian areas? Well, I guess they don't matter, just like Chechens eh? For the record, there are about 1 million Ukrainian or part Ukrainian people living in Canada right now, so I'm willing to bet a few hundred thousand were displaced by Russians during the immigration period, and had they not left then I suspect those pro-Russian regions might have a slightly different ethnic make up right now, not that I expect that to be taken into consideration either, much like the Circassians with the Sochi Olympics.

Seriously? The Circassians? Why not the Native Americans? When are the Native Americans getting Long Island back? Don't you find it fucking stunning that businesses, which sometimes work to short Native American casinos, are built on the bones of Native American ancestors? Let's tear down Wall Street, who's with me? /sarcasm

Since you mentioned refugee statistics, let's look at those: http://news.yahoo.com/russia-struggles- ... 11404.html

Russia is struggling with a flood of refugees as more than half a million flee the fighting in eastern Ukraine and it seems many are increasingly likely to stay, officials and activists said.

So hundreds of thousands of refugees are indeed fleeing, to Russia. There have generally been less refugees fleeing to Ukraine than to Russia. But hey, Dalcaria, you did have lots of pathos in your post though, I mean you got all of your facts wrong, but the pathos was good. So, how about a 1/10?

According to international war law irregular forces don't need to have flags or unit patches.
They don't even have to have matching uniforms.

That's the joke.
See: Russian military presence in the Crimea.

Again, the issue is that the local militias, loyal to no one but Yarosh or Kolomoiski, should be forced disarm, or that the government should take full responsibility for the war crimes that they commit. We're not talking about Ukraine's Army.

[Dalcaria]

Seriously? The Circassians? Why not the Native Americans? When are the Native Americans getting Long Island back? Don't you find it fucking stunning that businesses, which sometimes work to short Native American casinos, are built on the bones of Native American ancestors? Let's tear down Wall Street, who's with me? /sarcasm

I really question if you read anything I write, or if you just skim over it. I'm not American, I don't support the treatment of the Native Americans, and I think that a separate native nation should exist. Are you pleased now? Alright, now that we've accomplished burning your strawman down, next part. The number of Circassian deaths are unknown (the Russians magically forgot to keep track of the number of people the massacred), but given that nearly no Circassians live there any more, I'd say that's a pretty big problem. At least in Canada and the US natives can still live in the land, but Russia didn't even give them that luxury.

Since you mentioned refugee statistics, let's look at those: http://news.yahoo.com/russia-struggles- ... 11404.html

Yeah, the 300'000 or so. I do wonder where they would be if Pro-Russian fighters had, oh I don't know, not started fighting?

Russia is struggling with a flood of refugees as more than half a million flee the fighting in eastern Ukraine and it seems many are increasingly likely to stay, officials and activists said.

And I assume you're aware of the refugees who've gone to other parts of the Ukraine as well then, correct?

So hundreds of thousands of refugees are indeed fleeing, to Russia. There have generally been less refugees fleeing to Ukraine than to Russia. But hey, Dalcaria, you did have lots of pathos in your post though, I mean you got all of your facts wrong, but the pathos was good. So, how about a 1/10?

Yeah, and where do you think people in Kiev would flee to if they were under attack? Russia, or maybe, hmm, I don't know, Ukraine? I'm not surprised that Russian's are going to Russia, nor would I be surprised if Germans went to Germany before WW2 started. And Pathos? Of course, so much pathos! And remember everyone, DO NOT forget Odessa! And all my facts were wrong? What facts did I even provide? I seriously think you don't even read my posts at this point, you just kind of wing it. lulz

[Cartalucci]

Most of those politicians would not be opposing the rebels if they did not believe Russian-speakers to be a fundamental part of Ukraine. A large minority may not identify as part of the Ukrainian nation, but I doubt a majority in the east would vote to join Russia.

Voting - that sounds awesome! Why don't we do this:

1. Ukraine's army leaves
2. Pro-Russian volunteers leave
3. UN election observers move in
4. All refugees are allowed to return to Donetsk and Lugansk
5. We have a vote on the state of the Donetsk and Lugansk Oblasts:

A. Become Independent
B. Join Russia
C. Remain with Ukraine

Let's do it. Oh, and in Crimea too. But whatever the result, it MUST be recognized by all UN Member States. Let's do it. Let's end the war right now! Oh, wait, I forgot, that only happens when convenient for the US/EU. Nevermind.

Unfortunately the UN can't be trusted when it comes to Novorossiya. We've already seen that some people in high positions within the UN are willing to distort the truth to justify outside intervention against Novorossiya. It's highly likely that in the event of a UN monitored election vote rigging in favour of Kiev will be ignored, thus securing a victory for the US and EU even though it's obvious that a fair vote would lead to independence. The stipulation that the result MUST be recognised by UN members would be used to try and discredit Russia when they point out the polling violations.

The best solution would be for Russian peacekeepers to ensure security in Novorossiya as they have experience in various countries like Abkhazia, South Ossetia and TransDniester where free elections have been held under their watch. And an international, impartial group of election of observers like those that monitored the Crimean independence referendum can be used again.

[Dalcaria]

Voting - that sounds awesome! Why don't we do this:

1. Ukraine's army leaves
2. Pro-Russian volunteers leave
3. UN election observers move in
4. All refugees are allowed to return to Donetsk and Lugansk
5. We have a vote on the state of the Donetsk and Lugansk Oblasts:

A. Become Independent
B. Join Russia
C. Remain with Ukraine

Let's do it. Oh, and in Crimea too. But whatever the result, it MUST be recognized by all UN Member States. Let's do it. Let's end the war right now! Oh, wait, I forgot, that only happens when convenient for the US/EU. Nevermind.

Unfortunately the UN can't be trusted when it comes to Novorossiya. We've already seen that some people in high positions within the UN are willing to distort the truth to justify outside intervention against Novorossiya. It's highly likely that in the event of a UN monitored election vote rigging in favour of Kiev will be ignored, thus securing a victory for the US and EU even though it's obvious that a fair vote would lead to independence. The stipulation that the result MUST be recognised by UN members would be used to try and discredit Russia when they point out the polling violations.

The best solution would be for Russian peacekeepers to ensure security in Novorossiya as they have experience in various countries like Abkhazia, South Ossetia and TransDniester where free elections have been held under their watch. And an international, impartial group of election of observers like those that monitored the Crimean independence referendum can be used again.

Pfft! Yeah, and they did a brilliant job in Chechnya and Dagestan too didn't they? Also, the UN vote would be rigged? If it's even possible to believe that, then why would your first choice not be to ask for the assistance of a neutral state like Switzerland? Also, I'd just LOVE to see how long their "independence" lasts before they start asking to join Russia again.

[Costa Fierro]

Unfortunately the UN can't be trusted when it comes to Novorossiya.

But Russia can! Oh the humanity! Brave Russian patriots being sacrificed to evil Ukrainian Banderite fascists!

We've already seen that some people in high positions within the UN are willing to distort the truth to justify outside intervention against Novorossiya.

Oh, well RT said it so it must be true. After all, biased Western media is pro-UN so they have no chance when it comes to impartial journalism. Thank God (or Putin, they are one in the same) RT is here to expose the Western media's lies!

It's highly likely that in the event of a UN monitored election vote rigging in favour of Kiev will be ignored, thus securing a victory for the US and EU even though it's obvious that a fair vote would lead to independence.

Really? You are basing this on what? "Well clearly Ukraine is evil so they must want "independence" (read: Russian protectorate)".

The best solution would be for Russian peacekeepers to ensure security in Novorossiya as they have experience in various countries like Abkhazia, South Ossetia and TransDniester where free elections have been held under their watch.

Ah yes, the glorious Russian democracy imposed given to the peoples of these fine internationally recognized legitimately created liberal democracies so they may continue to vote for candidates who just happen to be backed by Moscow and obviously know what's best for these people. And all watched over by valiant Russian soldiers who totally didn't decide to liberate Georgian properties of their valuable white goods in 2008. That's just all a figment of our brainwashed imaginations.

And an international, impartial group of election of observers like those that monitored the Crimean independence referendum can be used again.

And these were whom exactly? They can't be from the evil UN because they were valiantly fought off by brave Crimean local self defense forces.

[Cartalucci]

These aren't news salesmen. They're actual analysts. They conduct real analysis. They come from all over the Globe. And they do a much better job than either side's media. I've taken these snippets at random, from various dates, but when you read them all, tell me, honestly, did you really not learn anything? If so, perhaps you shouldn't be commenting on complex geopolitical issues.

I can't speak for the Russian language media's content, but as an English speaker I have found that the English language Russian media has provided excellent coverage of the conflict. Most of these sources seem to be excellent as well, although I find it disturbing that even among independent news analysts who don't have to follow the corporte media's Russophobia there are still thse out there willing to repeat the same lies that you hear on CNN, Fox or the BBC. For example, from the quotes you sampled:

a country where their fates are controlled by a tiny handful of nihilistic oligarchs and Kremlin overlords, and their political frontmen.

Russia does not, and is not trying, to control Ukraine. All Russia wants is a peaceful, stable neighbour that respects the rights of Russian people living there and that won't be used as a base for anti-Russian political and military forces.

We have always taken pride in not shooting from the hip, but rather in doing intelligence analysis that is evidence-based. The evidence released to date does not bear close scrutiny; it does not permit a judgment as to which side is lying about the shoot-down of Flight 17. Our entire professional experience would incline us to suspect the Russians – almost instinctively. Our more recent experience, particularly observing Secretary Kerry injudiciousness in latching onto one spurious report after another as “evidence,” has gone a long way toward balancing our earlier predispositions.

If they do intelligent analysis that is evidence based, where is the analysis of the vast amounts of evidence that point the blame at Kiev for shooting down Flight 17? Any intelligent analysis would not balance their knee-jerk reaction to initially suspect Russia but would in fact completely reverse that and exonerate Russia and Novorossiya from blame.

The Crimean annexation should be a wake-up call on another level. If the United States and NATO violate international law as they have in the Balkans, Iraq, and other locales, other states will feel entitled to do so as well.

What violation of international law is supposed to have taken place in Crimea? How can he even compare the free choice of the people of Crimea to join with Russia with the forced separation of Kosovo from Serbia against the will of the people living there, or the destruction of the Iraqi state?

[Costa Fierro]

What violation of international law is supposed to have taken place in Crimea?

Well, seeing as you are an apparent English speaker, you should have no trouble reading this.

[Gravlen]

Ukraine says its army has captured 10 Russian paratroopers in the east of the country.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov dismissed reports of a Russian incursion into Ukraine, saying it was "dis-information" by the authorities in Kiev. State news agencies report that Russia says the group of Russian military personnel who were captured in eastern Ukraine had crossed the border by mistake.

"The soldiers really did participate in a patrol of a section of the Russian-Ukrainian border, crossed it by accident on an unmarked section, and as far as we understand showed no resistance to the armed forces of Ukraine when they were detained," a source said.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/26/us-ukraine-crisis-paratroopers-idUSKBN0GQ0JH20140826
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/26/us-ukraine-crisis-military-russia-idUSKBN0GQ0KO20140826

[Crazed Pirates]

Ukraine says its army has captured 10 Russian paratroopers in the east of the country.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov dismissed reports of a Russian incursion into Ukraine, saying it was "dis-information" by the authorities in Kiev. State news agencies report that Russia says the group of Russian military personnel who were captured in eastern Ukraine had crossed the border by mistake.

"The soldiers really did participate in a patrol of a section of the Russian-Ukrainian border, crossed it by accident on an unmarked section, and as far as we understand showed no resistance to the armed forces of Ukraine when they were detained," a source said.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/26/us-ukraine-crisis-paratroopers-idUSKBN0GQ0JH20140826
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/26/us-ukraine-crisis-military-russia-idUSKBN0GQ0KO20140826

Well, if those were really 10(!) Russian paratroopers with SEVERAL DOZEN(!!!) vehicles, they would kill every Ukrainian combatant they'd notice, rode back home and put all the blame on Donbass militia.
Or they'd just win the civil war because they seem to be supermen.
Or Ukraine's lying again.

[Crazed Pirates]

What violation of international law is supposed to have taken place in Crimea?

Well, seeing as you are an apparent English speaker, you should have no trouble reading this.

Then, please, answer MY question: Wasn't international law violated by Ukraine by occupation of independent Crimea in 1995 (and occupation of Sevastopol in 1993)?
P.S. Ukranian declaration of independece (from the USSR) wasn't legitimate by laws of the USSR, but who cares now?

[Costa Fierro]

Then, please, answer MY question: Wasn't international law violated by Ukraine by occupation of independent Crimea in 1995 (and occupation of Sevastopol in 1993)?

Occupation? Crimea was part of Ukraine after the collapse of the Soviet Union. There wasn't any occupation at all.

[Second scholmerian republic]

Well, seeing as you are an apparent English speaker, you should have no trouble reading this.

Then, please, answer MY question: Wasn't international law violated by Ukraine by occupation of independent Crimea in 1995 (and occupation of Sevastopol in 1993)?
P.S. Ukranian declaration of independece (from the USSR) wasn't legitimate by laws of the USSR, but who cares now?

You havre a point. The City of Sevastopol and the historical site Balaklava were not part of tge Crimean oblast, so they were not included in the 1953 transfer to Ukraine. During the USSR it was a closed city and was not subject to any republic of the Soviet Union.

Some say that Ukraine illegalli annexed it in 1992.

[Gravlen]

Ukraine says its army has captured 10 Russian paratroopers in the east of the country.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov dismissed reports of a Russian incursion into Ukraine, saying it was "dis-information" by the authorities in Kiev. State news agencies report that Russia says the group of Russian military personnel who were captured in eastern Ukraine had crossed the border by mistake.

"The soldiers really did participate in a patrol of a section of the Russian-Ukrainian border, crossed it by accident on an unmarked section, and as far as we understand showed no resistance to the armed forces of Ukraine when they were detained," a source said.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/26/us-ukraine-crisis-paratroopers-idUSKBN0GQ0JH20140826
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/26/us-ukraine-crisis-military-russia-idUSKBN0GQ0KO20140826

Well, if those were really 10(!) Russian paratroopers with SEVERAL DOZEN(!!!) vehicles, they would kill every Ukrainian combatant they'd notice, rode back home and put all the blame on Donbass militia.
Or they'd just win the civil war because they seem to be supermen.
Or Ukraine's lying again.

Accusing Ukraine of lying when Russia confirms their claims? Huh.

[Gravlen]

Russian rebels put woman accused of being a spy out for public humiliation, abuse and mock execution in Donetsk. Senior separatist commander The Georgian condemned the abuse, but could do nothing since the Russian volunteers "do not report to Ukrainian commanders". After a discussion, the captors drove the woman away to an unknown location.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/26/world/europe/russia-ukraine.html?_r=0

At this point I should mention that the DPR recently introduced the death penalty for a number of crimes including treason, looting and espionage.