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Eastern Ukraine erupts. Should we be surprised?
CSM via Yahoo! ^ | April 9, 2014 | Mike Eckel

Posted on 04/10/2014 10:05:48 PM PDT by wetphoenix

For many, the sudden seizure of buildings in Donetsk was as unexpected as the arrival of masked, armed soldiers in Crimea six weeks ago.

In eastern Ukraine, as in Crimea, a majority of the population is ethnically Russian. In many regions, such as Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Dnipropetrovsk, loyalties to Russia also run strong, and distrust of the new government in Kiev runs deep. And as in Crimea, many ethnic Russians voice fears – exaggerated or not – of discrimination at the hands of Ukrainian nationalists who helped topple the previous government.

However, until this weekend, eastern Ukraine had appeared calm. Nobody had attempted a coup or uprising; no paramilitary soldiers patrolled the streets.

But while Sunday's separatist upheaval may have appeared spontaneous, its underlying forces had been building for some time. And tacit encouragement from Moscow, if not outright manipulation, helped to bring Donetsk and other cities to the boil.

Until this weekend, eastern Ukraine’s outward calm concealed growing polarization. Long before Sunday’s separatist demonstrations, local activists of the movement known as EuroMaidan, or Maidan for short, say they have been feeling intensifying hostility from pro-Russian neighbors.

EuroMaidan supporters who own businesses in Donetsk say that they have faced increased bureaucratic hassles in recent weeks, including fire code inspections, tax audits, and other administrative pressures. Many have started to carry guns in their cars; others are switching apartments for sleep on a regular basis. Activists are afraid to meet in person and instead hold online voice discussions using virtual private networks to try to evade Russian surveillance.

“Only idiots aren’t afraid these days,” says one activist who asked not to be named, fearing Russian security agents.

THE MOSCOW FACTOR

For many analysts, it was only a matter of time before the “Crimean scenario” took place in eastern Ukraine.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; Russia
KEYWORDS: europe; ukraine

1 posted on 04/10/2014 10:05:48 PM PDT by wetphoenix
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To: wetphoenix

Russia would only be too happy to see the pro-Western Maidan regime in Kiev fall.

Short of that, it is seeking to keep it as weak as possible.


2 posted on 04/10/2014 10:10:22 PM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: wetphoenix

3 posted on 04/10/2014 10:24:31 PM PDT by Reaganez
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To: wetphoenix
I tell you once those Russians invade there will be a few FReeper Putinistas popping champagne and cheering the brave, strong, all-knowing Putin. I can only hope that it's a Pyrrhic victory.

It's time for Ukrainians to learn all they can about asymmetrical warfare.

4 posted on 04/10/2014 11:17:23 PM PDT by elhombrelibre (Against Obama. Against Putin. Pro-freedom. Pro-US Constitution.)
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To: elhombrelibre; All

A former CIA guy was talking on radio the other day. He said Russia could probably take Ukraine in 3 to 5 days, but then they would have to hold it. Ukraine had plenty of experience with partisan warfare, sounds like maybe Afghanistan plus lots of trees.


5 posted on 04/10/2014 11:46:29 PM PDT by gleeaikin
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To: gleeaikin

One Ukrainian’s update / opinion:

http://www.angelfire.com/extreme4/kiddofspeed/maydan/updateapril11.html


6 posted on 04/11/2014 1:22:30 AM PDT by Paul R. (Leftists desire to control everything; In the end they invariably control nothing worth a damn.)
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To: gleeaikin

Another view:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/10/world/europe/ukraine-russia.html?_r=0

It will be interesting to see who is more nearly correct.


7 posted on 04/11/2014 1:39:21 AM PDT by Paul R. (Leftists desire to control everything; In the end they invariably control nothing worth a damn.)
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To: gleeaikin

The cost could be exorbitant for no real gain for the average Russian. For emperor and president for life Putin, it’s an ego thing.


8 posted on 04/11/2014 3:10:23 AM PDT by elhombrelibre (Against Obama. Against Putin. Pro-freedom. Pro-US Constitution.)
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To: wetphoenix

“In eastern Ukraine, as in Crimea, a majority of the population is ethnically Russian.”

Ummm, No. Check the left graphic in post 3.

The article you posted lacks credibility. Ergo, it’s propaganda.


9 posted on 04/11/2014 4:23:18 AM PDT by Justa
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To: Justa

I’m not an author, but I think ethnicity has nothing to do with tensions there.


10 posted on 04/11/2014 4:30:47 AM PDT by wetphoenix
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