Ukraine says Russian envoy's role shows Kremlin in charge of separatists

Kyiv Post ^ | May 3, 2014, 9:23 p.m. | Oksana Grytsenko

[WhiskeyX]

While Moscow hails him for being an efficient mediator, Kyiv insists that Lukin sent the order to militiamen in Sloviansk from their Russian bosses.

Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) released a transcript of an intercepted telephone conversation between Lukin and Igor Strelkov, head of the pro-Russian self-defense of Sloviansk. According to the SBU, Strelkov’s real name is Igor Girkin, a Russian national and colonel of Russian Military Intelligence.

“I’m in Donetsk right now, in good company… You do sort of have a general idea about the task that I’ve been given, don’t you?” Lukin said.

“Yes, I know, I’ve been warned… I have no objections for one simple reason. All this has been already discussed with me,” Strelkov answered.

[Longbow1969]

Propaganda is flying from both sides at full tilt, is this seemingly pro-Ukrainian source any more reliable than the pro-Russian RT (and other state run Russian media like it)?

Where are folks finding the best breaking coverage of this crisis? Sadly, and as much as it pains me to say this, the left wing Guardian seems to have had some of the better up to the moment accounts of events.

I know about zerohedge, but much as like some of their economic entries (particularly if your bearish about everything other than gold all the time) they seem to be way too conspiratorial and leaning towards the Putinista’s.

[Corporate Democrat]

I usually use Twitter for the best way to keep up with breaking news, although you’ll have to filter out a lot of noise for the signal. There are photo and video filters that can often get you amateur photos and video from people who are there, although this is easier with some judicious use of Russian and Ukrainian language hashtags.

UNIAN and TSN are also Ukrainian sources that I think are reasonably fair, although you’ll have to use a translator for the best content. Meta.ua (basically Ukraine’s Yahoo) is also a popular Ukrainian forum that is typically on top of things, although again you’ll have to use an imperfect translator. The forum has people from all over Ukraine, so it also helps in gauging the mood somewhat.

[1rudeboy]

RT, especially its Twitter feed(s), is full of crap. They appear to rely upon the "spin first, facts later" model. To be fair, KP is only marginally better if you apply the same standard (although it doesn't spin Twitter as much, if at all). The Guardian is biased, but appears to have "boots on the ground," so to speak. I've liked the WSJ's reporting, but it suffers from the fact that the reports appear to be written by someone "distant" from the conflict.

In other words, there is probably no source that provides the "best" breaking coverage.

[DesertRhino]

And we and the EU have envoys in Kiev, so we must be in charge there?

[mac_truck]

RT, especially its Twitter feed(s), is full of crap.

You being an expert on that....

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks WhiskeyX.