DieHardBrownsFan Posted May 2, 2014 Report Share Posted May 2, 2014 Ukraine strikes at east; 2 helicopters shot down By PETER LEONARD5 hours ago SLOVYANSK, Ukraine (AP) — Two Ukrainian helicopters were shot down Friday as Ukraine launched its first major offensive against the pro-Russia forces that have seized government buildings in the east. The Kremlin said Kiev's move against the insurgents "destroyed" hopes for peace in the region. Related Stories Gunfire, blasts in insurgent-held Ukraine city Associated Press Rebels down Ukraine helicopters, three dead in Odessa Reuters Ukraine launches operation against insurgents Associated Press Kiev government to deploy troops in Ukraine's east Associated Press Ukraine assaults occupied city in east as Russia decries 'punitive operation' Christian Science Monitor Fighting broke out around dawn near Slovyansk, a city 160 kilometers (100 miles) from the Russian border that has become the focus of the armed insurgency against Ukraine's interim government. Two helicopter crew were killed in the crashes, both sides said, and a pro-Russia militiaman was reported killed. One of the helicopters was hit by a surface-to-air missile, the Ukrainian Security Service said, adding that the sophisticated weapon undercut Russia's claims the city was simply under the control of armed locals. The agency said its forces were fighting "highly skilled foreign military men" in Slovyansk. Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman said the offensive "effectively destroyed the last hope for the implementation of the Geneva agreements" that aimed to defuse the crisis. A day earlier Putin warned Ukraine not to move against the insurgents and said it should withdraw its military from eastern and southern regions. Ukraine, a nation of 46 million, is deeply divided between those in the west who favor closer ties with Europe and many Russian-speakers in the east who look toward Moscow. Ukraine has accused Russia of backing the insurgents who have seized government buildings in 10 eastern cities and fears that Moscow is seeking a pretext to invade; Russia has already stationed tens of thousands of troops in areas near the Ukrainian border. A Pro-Russian gunman aims his weapon behind barricades in Slovyansk, eastern Ukraine, Friday, May 2, … Russian troops backed separatists in Ukraine's Black Sea peninsula of Crimea in March, then annexed the region after a referendum called for secession. A deal in Geneva last month aimed to get those who had seized government buildings in Ukraine to leave and calm down the tensions that have prompted the United States and the European Union to slap Russia with sanctions for its actions in Ukraine. Ukraine's acting president Oleksandr Turchynov admitted earlier this week that the central government had lost control of the east, and said some government troops and police there were "either helping or cooperating with terrorist organizations." He said efforts should be focused on preventing the instability from spreading to other parts of the country. Russia's foreign ministry on Friday accused Ukraine's fledging government of using "terrorists" from ultranationalist organizations for the military operation. It also claimed that Kiev deployed tanks and helicopters that were "conducting missile strikes on protesters," something that neither side in Ukraine reported. An Associated Press crew also saw no evidence of missile strikes in Slovyansk. The foreign ministry also cited insurgents in Ukraine as saying that some of the government attackers spoke English. A Pro-Russian activist, right, speaks with police officers during clashes in front of the regional a … Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Kremlin had sent envoy Vladimir Lukin to Ukraine's southeast to negotiate the release of seven foreign military observers who were being held hostage by pro-Russia militia in Slovyansk. Ukrainian troops met fierce resistance Friday but managed to take control of nine checkpoints on the roads around Slovyansk, Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said in a statement. He called on the insurgents to lay down the arms and release the hostages they have taken. By afternoon, Ukrainian Security Service said half of Slovyansk was already under control of the Ukrainian army — a claim that could not be immediately verified. "We are ready to negotiate with protesters and their representatives," Avakov said. "But for terrorists and armed separatists there is only punishment." The city center appeared quiet but empty and tense Friday morning. On the road leading into Slovyansk from the south, an Associated Press reporter saw six parked Ukrainian armored vehicles Friday morning and an AP cameraman saw black plumes of smoke on the edge of the city, where an emergency siren had sounded at dawn. The spokesman for the military wing of the pro-Russia forces, who would give only his first name, Vladislav, said fighting had broken out at several points around the city. He claimed that Ukrainian troops had made incursions into the city itself. That claim could not be independently confirmed. Hours after Putin said Thursday that Ukraine pull back its military from eastern and southern regions, Turchynov ordered that the military draft be renewed, citing "threats of encroachment on the nation's territorial integrity" and interference by Russia in its internal affairs. Kiev's interim government came to power after President Viktor Yanukovych fled to Russia in February, drummed out by months of anti-government protests. Ukraine plans to hold a new presidential election on May 25. __ Nataliya Vasilyeva in Moscow and Maria Danilova in Kiev contributed to this report. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadbrownsfan Posted May 2, 2014 Report Share Posted May 2, 2014 I am afraid sooner or later its really going to erupt. Don't really want to see us get into a another war so soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calfoxwc Posted May 3, 2014 Report Share Posted May 3, 2014 It is. What I'm concerned about, also, is that Israel will be attacked while Obamao is busy covering up scandals, and sending MRE's to the Ukraine, that they will decide to take Israel once and for all. The Ukraine is going to explode, and the New Russian Soviets will help to arrange the other. Russia is going to go for it all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LogicIsForSquares Posted May 4, 2014 Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 It is. What I'm concerned about, also, is that Israel will be attacked while Obamao is busy covering up scandals, and sending MRE's to the Ukraine, that they will decide to take Israel once and for all. The Ukraine is going to explode, and the New Russian Soviets will help to arrange the other. Russia is going to go for it all. I have my doubts about your predictions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calfoxwc Posted May 4, 2014 Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 Not really a prediction; more like a direction things are heading in. Whether they actually get to that point, is another deal. Wonderin if it will actually fall apart. I don't see Russia backing down from their desire to be a Russian soviet deal again, to a point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Osiris Posted May 4, 2014 Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 It is. What I'm concerned about, also, is that Israel will be attacked while Obamao is busy covering up scandals, and sending MRE's to the Ukraine, that they will decide to take Israel once and for all. The Ukraine is going to explode, and the New Russian Soviets will help to arrange the other. Russia is going to go for it all. Who do you think is going to attack Israel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosar_For_President Posted May 4, 2014 Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 It is. What I'm concerned about, also, is that Israel will be attacked while Obamao is busy covering up scandals, and sending MRE's to the Ukraine, that they will decide to take Israel once and for all. The Ukraine is going to explode, and the New Russian Soviets will help to arrange the other. Russia is going to go for it all. What are you going to do when Obama is out of office? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calfoxwc Posted May 4, 2014 Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 Who do you think is going to attack Israel? Os ****************************************************** Third party, sponsored by Iran, I suppose. Russia will sell them stockpiles of weapons for $$$ they need badly, and Iran will send a thousand of their soldiers to go fight with Hezbollah out of Lebanon, and Hamas will be happy to attack from the S, out of Gaza, just thinkin they will go for it, once and for all, while the U.S. is being run by a pro-Muslim, antipathy for israel president. And Russia will not back off their moves. The wave of nationalism has taken over, and he'll also keep working trouble with neighboring countries in a slow war of gaining control over those countries. Those countries are terrified. Especially looking at the frozen molasses U.S. regime that won't make a decision on anything, but will run their mouths intead. Not even to save their ambassador and the brave men who were trying to protect him. Just thinkin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calfoxwc Posted May 4, 2014 Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 What are you going to do when Obama is out of office? K ************************************************* Same as before, if it's a Republican pres, I'll read the hecks and sheps who come back "terrified" that the Republican said something that wasn't quite true, that their freedoms were going to be taken from them any day....., and should be impeached for going golfing while one American is out of work..... (been said more than once back then...) which would be silly when it was a dem pres. And on and on it goes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Osiris Posted May 4, 2014 Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 Who do you think is going to attack Israel? Os ****************************************************** Third party, sponsored by Iran, I suppose. Russia will sell them stockpiles of weapons for $$$ they need badly, and Iran will send a thousand of their soldiers to go fight with Hezbollah out of Lebanon, and Hamas will be happy to attack from the S, out of Gaza, just thinkin they will go for it, once and for all, while the U.S. is being run by a pro-Muslim, antipathy for israel president. And Russia will not back off their moves. The wave of nationalism has taken over, and he'll also keep working trouble with neighboring countries in a slow war of gaining control over those countries. Those countries are terrified. Especially looking at the frozen molasses U.S. regime that won't make a decision on anything, but will run their mouths intead. Not even to save their ambassador and the brave men who were trying to protect him. Just thinkin. I'm not convinced. I think Israel's undeclared nuclear arsenal is a deterent to anyone mounting a serious attack against them, and Iran has a lot of opposition in the Middle East that would be happy to thwart their plans. I'd be more worried about Russia. I agree that they are pursuing a reunification of the Soviet Union. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calfoxwc Posted May 5, 2014 Report Share Posted May 5, 2014 Good points. Truth is, I figure neither should really happen. It's spring, list of chores and fun things to do is long, so... But eventually, history tends to repeat itself, and surprises everybody. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.