Posted on 04/16/2014 12:58:27 AM PDT by tcrlaf
Seen several tweets of this over the last hour, and now this vid of the defection is posted on YouTube.
The column had apparently been surrounded by several hundred pro-Russian civilians inside of Kramatorsk, with several older women linked arm-in-arm to prevent it's passing
At about 8:50, you can see the commander arguing with someone on the phone..
Still unconfirmed by anything other than a several tweets, yet.
“A HUGE development, apparently.”
Likely another fake like the “US citizen” nonsense and Mi-8 shot down (yes, shot down, in Syria:).
Another Tweet:
“OK, it seems the APCs may have been seized by pro-#Russia crowd rather than defecting per se.”
Ukrainians may have “Surrendered” the tanks to the unarmed crowd.
Just in from work, will check for more in the morning.
Another tweet just now:
Ukrainian APCs taken over by pro-russia “civilians” being driven from Kramatorsk to Slaviansk
pro-Russian activists disarm the “National Guard” of Ukraine (Artemovsk city)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdH8OEpDY0k
You can see local police on side of “separatists”. Most of these people are too old and obviously non-military looking, contrary to claims of them being a Russian personnel.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUm2AjU2Jfw
Amateur footage has apparently captured the moment pro-Russian activists in a Lada confronted a Ukrainian tank.
The car’s occupants pursue the tank across a field - purportedly in the Donetsk town of Sloviansk - and instruct its driver to “turn the engine off”.
Eventually, the tank driver shakes the hand of one of the crowd and switches the engine off.
Number “847” in the above pic was in the video, too.
Strangely, when I hear of the troubles in Ukraine, I think about the U.S. with a growing sense of consternation.
“Most of these people are too old and obviously non-military looking, contrary to claims of them being a Russian personnel.”
According to the pro-junta posters on FR, these are obviously the Old Lady Spetnaz Brigade, being paid by Putin.
It is clear to me that apart from politicians and radical crowd in Kiev the rest of Ukrainians aren’t in a mood to either fight the Russians, let alone to engage in a civil war against each other.
“the rest of Ukrainians aren’t in a mood to either fight the Russians, let alone to engage in a civil war against each other.”
The only ones who seem willing to fight for the coup government are about 350 Right-Sector crazies, and a single Special Police unit from Lvov.
He has a video of him reporting in front of the stopped convoy.
He has a video showing that the road is BLOCKED by a green van that was moved into the way.
He reports that the crowd is "curious not hostile".
One hour later, he reports: "Armed Pro Russians in ski masks and digital camouflage surround Ukrainian armoured vehicles in #kramatorsk. Crowd cheers."
An hour after that: "Stand off over - convoy has driven on"
First Western Source, The Nation’s Alec Luhn tweet:
“Talking to pro-Russian militia in Slaviansk. Where did you get the tanks? “They came to us””
Could be as simple as the mothers, grandmothers, etc., of the guys in the tanks ordering them to play differently with their toys.
UK DAILY MAIL Now has an article up, with pics and video:
“Tanks and armoured personnel carriers occupied by pro-Russian insurgents and flying Russian flags have been seen entering cities in eastern Ukraine.
At least three were spotted driving through the eastern Ukraine city of Kramatorsk today, ridden by dozens of armed men in camouflage. Meanwhile there were reports of vehicles rolling into the city of Slovyansk, with the militias enthusiastically greeted at pro-Russian checkpoints.
The troops on those vehicles wore green camouflage uniforms, had automatic weapons and grenade launchers and at least one had the St. George ribbon attached to his uniform, which has become a symbol of the pro-Russian insurgency in eastern Ukraine.
One soldier, who identified himself only as Andrei, said the unit was part of the 25th brigade of Ukraine’s airborne forces and that they have switched to the side of the pro-Russian forces.”
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2605828/Tanks-bearing-Russian-flag-roll-cities-eastern-Ukraine-Vladimir-Putin-warns-country-brink-civil-war.html#ixzz2z2N25gbA
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Sorry, posting to all
UK DAILY MAIL Now has an article up, with pics and video:
“Tanks and armoured personnel carriers occupied by pro-Russian insurgents and flying Russian flags have been seen entering cities in eastern Ukraine.
At least three were spotted driving through the eastern Ukraine city of Kramatorsk today, ridden by dozens of armed men in camouflage. Meanwhile there were reports of vehicles rolling into the city of Slovyansk, with the militias enthusiastically greeted at pro-Russian checkpoints.
The troops on those vehicles wore green camouflage uniforms, had automatic weapons and grenade launchers and at least one had the St. George ribbon attached to his uniform, which has become a symbol of the pro-Russian insurgency in eastern Ukraine.
One soldier, who identified himself only as Andrei, said the unit was part of the 25th brigade of Ukraine’s airborne forces and that they have switched to the side of the pro-Russian forces.”
“travelling with the convoy that you say defected.”
I didn’t say they defected, several hundreds live tweets did, and now, at least two western news organizations, as well.
The moment where the Russian flags are raised over the APCs.
It's clear if you watch the BBC video at 0:05 that the surroundings are the same, except now Russian flags are being raised.
Interestingly, many of the men are now masked. Unclear whether soldiers surrendered or defected. Maybe a little of both, considering that the convoy was blocked and surrounded by armed pro-Russians.
So, just out of curiosity, why do you cheer on an invasion of a sovereign nation?
You have Russian invading yet another country military. And you’re on freerepublic, a site occupied by those that love freedom and liberty, and you openly promote and cheer on the capture of a country.
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