Russia Invades Ukraine

• Space Pirate Nithiel wrote on 2014-03-01 06:56

  Ukraine’s new government declared on Friday that it had indeed been invaded, as gunmen in matching fatigues seized control of the two main airports in the southern region of Crimea and troop trucks with Russian license plates were seen moving around the peninsula. Ukraine’s border service also reported an airspace incursion by at least 10 Russian military helicopters, an accusation that seemed to be supported by amateur video, and there were reports of movements by Russian transport planes and warships.

  
  
  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/globe-in-kiev-ukraines-new-government-declares-russia-has-invaded/article17183580/
  
  

  Ukrainian official says Moscow has deployed nearly 2,000 suspected troops to an airbase in tense southeastern region.

  
  
  http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2014/02/ukraine-accuses-russia-invading-crimea-201422820136126248.html
  
  

  Friday, the United States warned Russia that intervention in Ukraine would be a "grave mistake."

  
  
  http://www.haaretz.com/news/world/1.577037
  
  

  Ukraine has accused Russia of carrying out an armed invasion by sending naval forces to occupy Sevastopol airport in the Crimea region.

  
  
  http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26379722
  
  
  Some people are saying that Russia seems to be willing to go to war over this, and that it could possibly return us to Cold War like conditions with Russia.
  
  There was also that whole issue with the chemical weapons in Syria a few months back.
  
  At this point it seems like Russia is just trying to pick a fight and that it's only a matter of time before some country says "Ok, lets do this."
• Rukuna wrote on 2014-03-01 07:05
  Shit is about to hit the fan.
• SlurpTASTY wrote on 2014-03-01 07:50
  First they invade the North American DotA2 servers and now they invade Ukraine, those motherfuckers.
• Brynn wrote on 2014-03-01 08:05
  Man... this is all too intense....
• Elleanior wrote on 2014-03-01 15:15
  From the sources I have, I honestly cannot make any logical sense out of why Russia and Ukraine keep trying to piss all over each other like this, and I am not happy about it. If Russia is trying to swallow up Ukraine AGAIN, then I'm going to be REALLY pissed.
• TLCBonaparte wrote on 2014-03-01 17:19

  Quote from Elleanior;1203116:

  From the sources I have, I honestly cannot make any logical sense out of why Russia and Ukraine keep trying to piss all over each other like this, and I am not happy about it. If Russia is trying to swallow up Ukraine AGAIN, then I'm going to be REALLY pissed.

  
  
  It's because Ukraine is the only piece missing in a geological surround from US. Russia and China are pretty much boxed in with US allies if you notice the geopolitical map. This is why there is tension because Russia doesn't want to be boxed in, should war happens, fighting 2-3 fronts is not good. Rather than Russia invading, it's more like Russia and US both competing for Ukraine.
• Yoorah wrote on 2014-03-01 18:46
  Always amusing to see people pass judgment with little knowledge about the context. To some degree, it's also pretty disturbing...but expected.
  
  Anyway, TLC has the right idea--or at least a part of it.
  
  The short and simplified version is that this started when Ukraine's government had two options: To accept an economic deal with the EU, or to accept an economic deal with Russia. Ukraine chose the Russian deal, as it would provide additional cheap loans (which Ukraine needs badly) and more discounted natural gas (which Uktaine also badly depends on). This upset the western part of Ukraine's population, which was hoping the country would get closer to the EU by approving the EU deal.
  
  The USA and the EU saw a political opportunity here, and so they worked behind the scenes to destabilize the Ukraine government so that a pro-western government would take power. Here's a fun leaked audio between US diplomats discussing strategy:
  [video=youtube;J4NqCFJknOc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4NqCFJknOc[/video]
  (LOL @ 3:01)
  
  And that's exactly what happened--the legitimate leader of the country had to flee to Ukraine after weeks of bloody protests which were, in part, instigated by the West.
  
  Meanwhile you have to remember that Ukraine and Russia used to be a part of the Soviet Union. Even after the collapse of the union, the two countries have had very strong ties. The border between the two countries is very lax and there is a lot of trade between the two. And more importantly, Ukraine hosts a massive Russian military base at Autonomous Republic of Crimea. Here's a map of the region:
  

  [Image: http://i.imgur.com/ENaX8h2.png]

  
  Crimea is highlighted.
  
  It's interesting to note that many Russian citizens live in that autonomous region and it's predominately Russian-speaking. The area has requested Russian protection to safeguard its stability. Russia has a responsibility to protect its citizens and its interests, and that's what's happening right now.
  
  Will it go beyond that? Hopefully not. It's certainly not within Russia's interests to do so. You can refer to their track record with regards to the conflict in Georgia.
  
  Hopefully this has informed some people a bit about the situation.
• Natural Harmonia Gropius wrote on 2014-03-02 18:36
  Apparently Putin has declared war/is threatening to declare war on Ukraine.
• Hanna wrote on 2014-03-02 21:39
  This is pretty scary actually
  I hate war
• Elleanior wrote on 2014-03-02 22:27
  So basically this is going to turn into civil war and we're going to have a division like Korea did. Brilliant.
  
  Just.... brilliant.
  
  :gloom2:
• Space Pirate Nithiel wrote on 2014-03-02 22:37

  Kiev, Ukraine (CNN) -- Ukraine's new leaders accused neighboring Russia of declaring war, as Kiev mobilized troops and called up military reservists in a rapidly escalating crisis that has raised fears of a conflict.

  
  
  http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/02/world/europe/ukraine-politics/
• TLCBonaparte wrote on 2014-03-03 00:25

  Quote from Natural Harmonia Gropius;1203437:

  Apparently Putin has declared war/is threatening to declare war on Ukraine.

  
  
  It's not like that, read Yoorah's post.
• Rukuna wrote on 2014-03-03 20:09
  [Image: http://i.imgur.com/2tWgJVp.png?2]

  
  It's Happening.
• Natural Harmonia Gropius wrote on 2014-03-03 21:14

  Quote from TLCBonaparte;1203524:

  It's not like that, read Yoorah's post.

  
  
  I did. Then some days later I saw a news article saying what I said.
• TLCBonaparte wrote on 2014-03-04 01:06

  Quote from Natural Harmonia Gropius;1203777:

  I did. Then some days later I saw a news article saying what I said.

  
  
  Now you got two sides of the story, which one do you think is the truth?