Posted on 02/27/2014 1:54:54 AM PST by cunning_fish
KIEV, Ukraine (AP) Russia ordered 150,000 troops to test their combat readiness Wednesday in a show of force that prompted a blunt warning from the United States that any military intervention in Ukraine would be a "grave mistake."
Vladimir Putin's announcement of huge new war games came as Ukraine's protest leaders named a millionaire former banker to head a new government after the pro-Russian president went into hiding.
The new government, which is expected to be formally approved by parliament Thursday, will face the hugely complicated task of restoring stability in a country that is not only deeply divided politically but on the verge of financial collapse. Its fugitive president, Viktor Yanukovych, fled the capital last week.
In Kiev's Independence Square, the heart of the protest movement against Yanukovych, the interim leaders who seized control after he disappeared proposed Arseniy Yatsenyuk as the country's new prime minister. The 39-year-old served as economy minister, foreign minister and parliamentary speaker before Yanukovych took office in 2010, and is widely viewed as a technocratic reformer who enjoys the support of the U.S.
Across Ukraine, the divided allegiances between Russia and the West were on full display as fistfights broke out between pro- and anti-Russia protesters in the strategic Crimea peninsula.
Amid the tensions, Putin put the military on alert for massive exercises involving most of the military units in western Russia, and announced measures to tighten security at the headquarters of Russia's Black Sea Fleet on Ukraine's Crimea peninsula.
The maneuvers will involve some 150,000 troops, 880 tanks, 90 aircraft and 80 navy ships, and are intended to "check the troops' readiness for action in crisis situations that threaten the nation's military security," Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said in remarks carried by Russian news agencies.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
bttt
Obama should declare a Red Line.
Not to worry - John ‘Swiftboat’ Kerry will guarantee any US strike will be unbelievably small. Then the problem will go away for sure.
LOL...really? They actually printed this? Wow
Are we about to witness Obammy get beatch slapped by Putin.....again? What a laughing stock this imposter has made our great country.
Sticks are dangerous. Someone could put their eye out. We no longer carry sticks.
Obama is doing his yoga to be more flexible. Putin knows what kind of ink makes up Obamas red lines,
Russia will laugh at obama. I guess if he can’t get US destroyed fast enough he’ll provoke someone into nuking us.
Grave mistake — Jeanne Querrie and Barry Soetoro will give them a stern look of diapproval if they cross any lines.
I agree. Let the Slavs sort it out. The LAST thing we need now is ANOTHER war, especially since we are TRILLIONS in debt & a gutted military. zerO is no match for Putin & he best shut his face.
They got THESE guys for sure... and they can ruin your day for sure.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Marine_Corps
Didn’t zerO say something to his followers about “We need to bring a gun to a knife fight” or some such. Wow, what a tough guy! /s
Ok, we know it’s an empty warning, but what do the armchair Rambos want him to do?
It’s too late. There was public word about some movements quite a few days ago. More than enough friendly offensive elements are most likely already positioned to easily defend the Ukraine.
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