Ukrainians Rage Against Military Draft: "We're Sick Of This War"

Zerohedge ^ | 2-10-2015 | Durden

[tcrlaf]

When Ukrainian army officers came to the Ukrainian village of Velikaya Znamenka to tell the men to prepare to be drafted, they weren’t prepared for what happened next. As the commanding officer was speaking, a woman seized the microphone and proceeded to tell him off: "We’re sick of this war! Our husbands and sons aren’t going anywhere!" She then launched into a passionate speech, denouncing the war, and the coup leaders in Kiev, to the cheers of the crowd.

What she did is now a crime in Ukraine: the only reason she wasn’t arrested on the spot is that the villagers wouldn’t have permitted it. But in Ukrainian Transcarpathia, well-known journalist for Ukrainian Channel 112 Ruslan Kotsaba has been arrested and charged with "treason" and "espionage" for making a video in which he declared: "I would rather sit in jail for three to five years than go to the east to kill my Ukrainian brothers. This fear-mongering must be stopped." Kotsaba may sit in jail for twenty-three years, the prescribed term for the charges filed against him.

Kotsaba’s arrest is part of a desperate effort by the Ukrainian government to intimidate the growing antiwar and anti-draft movement, which threatens to upend Kiev’s dreams of conquering the rebellious eastern provinces. Kotsaba’s particular crime, according to prosecutors, was in describing the conflict as a civil war rather than a Russian "invasion." This is a point the authorities cannot tolerate: the same meme being relentlessly broadcast by the Western media – that an indigenous rebellion with substantial support is really a Russian plot to "subvert" Ukraine and reestablish the Warsaw Pact – now has the force of law in Ukraine. Anyone who contradicts it is subject to arrest.

[Altenkrug]

I saw some quotes today from the Ukraininan media saying that accordinjg to the Court Martial 10300 soldiers have riecently deserted the Ukrainian army. Why should the draftees be too willing to join it then?

[GeronL]

The same thing would happen here if we are invaded, many would refuse to fight.... oh wait we have been invaded and nobody is fighting it.

[WhiskeyX]

“Like I sais. Nuttier....”

Russians? Yeah.

“It’s Mine, Bitch: Russian Revolution” - Otherwise Actors: Made in the USSR
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzCfM3M3o5g

[tcrlaf]

If that is the “official” number, given Kiev reporting in the past, it would be a safe bet that the real number is much higher.

[IDFbunny]

It seems the rebels want no part of Kiev either. To me it seems important weather they speak Russian or Ukrainian.

[GeronL]

The rebels are a small % of the population of east Ukraine

[GeronL]

The rebels are a small % of the population of east Ukraine

and Russia

[colorado tanker]

This post does not add up. The village mentioned is not in Transcarpathia, but is in Eastern Ukraine, near Mariopol, scene of fighting. This area would expect to have a lot of Russian sympathizers.

Western Ukraine is much more in touch with Europe and is where the Kiev government draws most of its strength. So, it doesn't make sense anti-government activity would be centered there.

The article by-line is Tyler Durden, a character in Fight Club, and his picture looks like Brad Pitt. The piece appears to have been submitted to this website via Anti-War.com.

Brian Williams has more credibility.

[Altenkrug]

Not long ago I had a conversation with a linguistics professor from a renowned European University. He says there’s no big difference between Russian and Ukrainian languages. Basically Ukrainian is an archaic and rural version of Russian. That’s why it sounds a bit funny to a Russian ear. There’s even a joke: Any movie translated into Ukrainian automatically becomes a comedy. So there’s no wonder Russian speakers in the East of the Ukraine don’t want it to be imposed on them...

[canuck_conservative]

Rebels = ethnic Russians with Ukraine citizenship

.... they have never wanted to be part of Ukraine and have tried to undermine/betray it at every chance

Good riddance

[Jimmy Valentine]

Your linguistics professor is wrong. The roots of Ukrainian are in the Czech language Ukraine was Christianized well before Russia. The similarities in alphabet and language arise from Russian taking from Ukraine culture

[Ivan Mazepa]

So called separatists - a blend of Russian KGB/GRU officers, former Berkut, sour loser supporters of the corrupt Yanukovich regime and Serbian/Chechen/Ossetian etc mercenaries - were defeated in August. Since then, Ukrainians have been fighting elements of the Red Army. It took Russians 6 months to take the Donetsk airport, what 5 minutes you’re talking about?

[Ivan Mazepa]

10K is the total number, 5K of that number are Crimeans