OSCE says spots deadly Russian rocket system in Ukraine for first time

Reuters, via Yahoo News ^ | Oct 2, 2015 | Anton Zverev

[ETL]

MOSCOW (Reuters) - International monitors say they have spotted a new kind of Russian weapons system in rebel-held Ukraine this week, possible evidence of Moscow's continued interest in Ukraine even as it focuses on Syria.

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, which is monitoring a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine, reported that its monitors had seen a mobile TOS-1 'Buratino' weapons system for the first time.

The Buratino is equipped with thermobaric warheads which spread a flammable liquid around a target and then ignite it. It can destroy several city blocks in one strike and cause indiscriminate damage.

Only Russia produces the system and it was not exported to Ukraine before the conflict broke out, according to IHS Jane's Group and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, which track arms exports.

The OSCE's findings are embarrassing for the Kremlin, which has turned down its rhetoric on Ukraine and shifted attention to Syria, where it has begun air strikes. The report comes before President Vladimir Putin holds talks in Paris on Friday with the leaders of Germany, France and Ukraine on the peace process.

[ETL]

"the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the [20th] century" -Russian leader Vladimir Putin on the collapse of the Soviet Union...

"World democratic opinion has yet to realize the alarming implications of President Vladimir Putin's State of the Union speech on April 25, 2005, in which he said that the collapse of the Soviet Union represented the 'greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century.'..."

"The more I see and read about Mr. Putin, in power since 1999, and his 'managed democracy,' the more apprehensive I become about the future of Russia and the safety of its neighbors.

If Putin believes that the dissolution of the Soviet Union into 15 independent states represents the 'greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century,' then it follows that Putin might well believe he should do something to repair the loss..."

http://web.archive.org/web/20090415000000*/http://www.hooverdigest.org/053/beichman.html
______________________________________

“The demise of the Soviet Union was the 'greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century',” Putin said in 2005.

http://www.thetrumpet.com/article/11102.30640.0.0/asia/moscow-puts-the-soviet-squeeze-on-neighbor-nations
______________________________________

"Putin said Stalin deserves statues in his honor "

http://en.ria.ru/russia/20131219/185734707/Putin-Says-Stalin-No-Worse-Than-Cunning-Oliver-Cromwell.html

[ETL]

From 2014

Yushchenko, hero of Ukraine’s Orange Revolution warns Europe that Putin won’t stop at Crimea

by Matthew Schofield - McClatchy Foreign Staff
March 27, 2014

Many Ukrainians believe you need look no further than the face of Viktor Yushchenko to understand Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

Once smooth and ruggedly handsome, it still bears the scars from an assassination attempt when someone slipped dioxin into Yushchenko’s food. ...”

Read more here:
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/nation-world/world/article24765781.html#storylink=cpy
______________________________________________

______________________________________________

From 2007

Yushchenko: Russia blocking poisoning probe
by Bonnie Malkin and agencies, September 12, 2007

"Mr Yushchenko, a pro-European politician who wanted to bring his country [The Ukraine] out of Russia's shadow, fell seriously ill on September 6, 2004 as he was competing in presidential elections against a pro-Moscow candidate, Viktor Yanukovich, now [2007] prime minister.

After months of tests in an Austrian clinic, it was determined that he had ingested a massive amount of the poison dioxin.

Although he survived, his face was left bloated and pockmarked, and he has had to undergo regular treatment to rid his body of the toxin.

In an interview with Le Figaro he said he believed the dioxin used to disfigure him was made in a Russian lab.

Mr Yushchenko did not directly accuse the Russian government of being behind his poisoning, but he did say he had 'practically put all the pieces together' and the attempt against him 'was not a private action'. ..."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1562838/Yushchenko-Russia-blocking-poisoning-probe.html

[ETL]

Russia Is Building A Massive Military Base On Ukrainian Border

The Daily Caller ^ | September 10, 2015 | Reuters

Russia is building a military base along the Ukrainian border, signaling its preparing for long-term support of the pro-Russian separatists fighting for Ukraine. The massive base - scheduled for completion in April - will house ammunition depots and barracks for several thousand soldiers, and will be used to train soldiers, reported Reuters. The Reuters reporter investigating the new base was temporarily detained and accused of being a Ukrainian spy. Russian officials didn't respond to Reuters questions about the purpose of the base and whether it's connected to the fight for Ukraine. ..."

*******************************************************************

Russia Plans Second Big Military Base Near Ukrainian Border
Reuters, via freebeacon.com ^ | September 23, 2015 | Anton Zverev

BOGUCHAR, Russia (Reuters) – Russia is planning a second major military base near the border with Ukraine, where NATO accuses Russian troops of helping pro-Moscow separatists fight Kiev’s forces.

The new base will house 5,000 soldiers and heavy weaponry, according to public documents and people working at the site.

It is further east than one under construction in Belgorod region reported by Reuters earlier this month but still close to the border with separatist-held parts of Ukraine’s eastern Luhansk region, where there has been heavy fighting.

The bases are part of a Russian military buildup along a new line of confrontation with the West, running from the Black Sea in the south to the Baltic in the north, which carries echoes of the Cold War-era “Iron Curtain”.

Russia has also increased its military presence in Syria.

(Excerpt) Read more at freebeacon.com ...

[rfreedom4u]

“deadly Russian rocket system”

As opposed to the healing Russian rocket system?

[ETL]

Thanks for clearing that up. Otherwise our resident Putinistas would claim the rockets contained various medicines for the people of the Ukraine.

[Krosan]

OSCE is a bunch of blind mice. There were pictures of TOS-1 Buratinos already from April. It just seems they don’t want to see things.

Here is one - https://twitter.com/Ukr_Che/status/590775666385297408

[Greetings_Puny_Humans]

OSCE is useless and pathetic, as is all other organizations like them.

[lormand]

The FRussians here on Freerepublic must be giddy lately.

[lormand]

Maybe the rockets are their to defend Christians? /sarc

[McGruff]

This may disappoint all you war mongers but Ukraine and Russia to Meet in Move That Could 'Signal End of War' - 10/2/15.

Fighting has pretty much died down since Kiev agreed to give more autonomy to those two rebel held areas that don't want to be part of George Soros's Ukraine.

[silverleaf]

Lol! I thought the same thing.

I wonder if this is the type of weapon the Saudi are using against the Yemenis?

[ETL]

If anything, Putinista McGruff, it’s probably just some temporary arrangement (despite the ‘agreement’) in order that Russia, the ChiComs, Iran, and Hezbollah, can focus their attention and resources on taking over the Middle East. Or it’s some horrible or deceptive deal that Putin has devised. Unlike you, Putinista McGruff, most us here do not love, adore, and trust KGB/FSB Putin.

[Krosan]

Your buddy Chairman of the People’s Soviet Pushlin seems like a great guy.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denis_Pushilin

Before political activism he worked as a Ponzi Scheme salesman in Russia. He does not regret it as by his word Ponzi schemes are not against Russian law. Then he participated in elections in Ukraine in 2013 and got a whopping 0.08% of the votes. That certainly shows how strong the people’s mandate for this “Chairman of Supreme Soviet” is.

[lavaroise]

Wikipedia indicates it also has been deployed in Iraq with the Shia militia

[ETL]

From the same article you linked to, Putinista McGruff...

“Under the Minsk agreement, eastern Ukraine must hold local elections before the end of the year and hand back control of the Russian border to the Kiev government, but since then there has been considerable quarrelling between the sides about the agreement."

http://www.newsweek.com/ukraine-and-russia-meet-move-could-signal-end-war-378908
____________________________________

Elections in the Ukraine? We know what happened during that other one in 2004! ie, Putin's 'alleged' assassination attempt on the pro-West candidate (Viktor Yushchenko) by poisoning. Putin's guy won that 'election', but was defeated by Yushchenko in a later runoff.

[G Larry]

I was hoping I wouldn’t be the first FReeper to notice.

[1rudeboy]

Imagine that. Russia invades and occupies a sovereign country, but it’s all good. Because Soros.

[ETL]

Kremlin pays internet trolls to flatter Putin
Ben Hoyle - Moscow
October 11 2013

Russian investigative journalists and bloggers have uncovered an army of internet trolls paid to pour invective on the Kremlin’s opponents and heap praise on President Putin.

Posing as job applicants, the reporters discovered the government hacks working at a small company called the St Petersburg Internet Research Agency. ...”

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/world/asia/article3891720.ece

[Candor7]

Russian TOS-1 demonstration:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuyCZiI2f8U

[Robe]

“thermobaric warheads which spread a flammable liquid around a target and then ignite it.”

Isn't that what NAPALM was ???
Wasn't Napalm Banned by the UN
If they use this they're going to get one nasty letter
.. in caps !!!!