On the edge

Today, the fate of Ukraine is being decided in Donbas. Unable to stir the unrest in the whole Southeastern region, Kremlin decided to act gradually and take the control of smaller regions one by one.

It must be understood that the Donetsk oblast is the “pilot project” of the second stage (the first being Crimea) of Putin’s gamble with the purpose of destroying Ukraine. If Moscow manages to achieve its goals there, a similar scenario will be enacted in Lugansk and in Kharkov. And further on.

Hromadske.tv interview with soldiers in Mariupol

Hromadske.tv interview with soldiers in Mariupol

By the way, events in the South may be initiated at the same time. The base for active Russian operations already exists – it is Transnistria. It is no coincidence that 2 000 Russian soldiers were moved there in March. Half of these soldiers are members of the special forces, already dressed as “the green men”  – groups prepared to carry out sabotage acts.

While Ukraine’s attention is directed towards Donbas, the time is suitable for implementing the same plan in Odessa. Without Odessa Ukraine would loose the whole South.

Nonetheless, Southeast is not the endpoint of the scenario. While Vladimir Putin is waving his devil’s pitchfork with the name of Viktor Yanukovych, we cannot be sure that he is not intending to go for Kiev with the pretext of “reestablishing the legitimate government in Ukraine”.

This scenario can be partly hindered by the effective work of law enforcement on the four criminal cases against Yanukovych. If they would clearly show the whole world that the “legitimate president” is a thief and a murderer, it would be more difficult for Putin to use him in his puppet-play.

Still, this is only a small fragment. What is the most important is the actions involving the use of direct force. For some decades already, there exists a prevailing pacifist notion of a flower blossom placed in a gun barrel. Our government loudly declared the beginning of the anti-terrorist operation, but at the same time limited the actions of our force structures and put those flowers into their guns.

Yes, the casualties of the supposedly “peaceful residents” are unnecessary and unwelcome. Yet, what is preventing the government from declaring the state of emergency in this turbulent region? And explaining people that those who are preventing the force structures from fulfilling their duty are outside the law?

For instance, yesterday, during the assault on the military unit in Mariupol, soldiers have wounded several participating extremists. At once, the latter declared that they were simply promenading near the military compound at around midnight, and thus were accidental victims. What is the conclusion? Of course, the soldiers are bloodthirsty maniacs. The fact that within the zone of the anti-terrorist operation, someone is attacking the soldiers, taking away their guns and attacking military units, is a complete nonsense. Certainly.

In the end, it should be understood that you cannot attempt to swaddle the soldiers following the “rules of peacetime” and hope to get miraculous results. You cannot use a knife if you haven’t pulled it out of its sheath.

I am strictly against bloodshed. Yet, there are moments when one side or the other must make a decision – to defend itself or cease to exist. If we decided to become the most peaceful nation within the Great Russia, we must say so. There is no need to be modest because it is misleading.

Yet, if we do not want to be a part of Russia, we must defend ourselves. Maybe, for some it is a difficult decision. But it must have been made already yesterday.

Yes, today are all walking on the edge. On the one hand there is a danger of “provoking” Russia into an open invasion, which would mean casualties and the loss of the country. On the other hand the country would be lost without casualties.

I respect the Christian morality. But at the same time I cannot remember any example in the history of world, when an indecisive nation was declared great and worth respect.

At the same time, government decisions are not the only problem. There are many issues concerning the chosen tactics, for instance, the actions of the command of separate units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Yesterday, the whole country was astonished by the “fighting actions” carried out by the troopers. Yet, the causes of this phantasmagoria lie not in the soldiers’ torn boots, but rather in the shoulder straps of senior officers. It is these factors that have to be analyzed and eliminated immediately.

Tomorrow, it will be too late.

Concerning the supposed legitimacy of Viktor Yanukovych

Many have already forgotten the reason for people’s protest in Maidan. Now, the Russian Government – Vladimir Putin and his cronies – is hiding Viktor Yanukovych and other contributors responsible for murdering people in Maidan, inadequate crackdown on protesters, kidnappings, organized assassinations, etc.

Stamps found at the office of Party of Regions in Tyachiv

Stamps found at the office of Party of Regions in Tyachiv

The main reason for protests was the feeling of injustice – everyone understood that election was doctored, and the corruption in governmental agencies was incredibly high. The golden bread of Yanukovych, and his villa, full of stolen goods revealed everything. Still, there are even more telling facts. For example, the stamps of all electoral commissions, which were found in one of the headquarters of the Party of Regions at the end of February.

A stamp used for electoral fraud

A stamp used for electoral fraud

Currently, the members of the Party of Regions are rearing their heads in Donetsk, supporting the activities of Russian saboteurs and collaborators. Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin claims that Viktor Yanukovych is the legitimate president of Ukraine. But he never was. He was a fraud, who came to power illegally by making a parody of election. A fraud, who sold himself to Russia, which now attacked Ukraine. A thief and a murderer, who wants to trigger a civil war in Ukraine.

Events of April 16th

dmitry_tymchukBrothers and sisters, here are the events of April 16th.

The bad news:

There’s only a single piece of bad news today, because it overshadows all the others.

The anti-terrorist operation (ATO) is not living up to the expectations.

I don’t even want to comment on the actions of the army. It’s surreal.

However, attempts to figure out the situation shocked even more and allowed to at least partially understand, why this surreal situation is taking place at all. We, members of the “informational resistance”, spent the day in meetings, negotiations and consultations. Results, in general, are disappointing. I’m sorry my friends, I am not at liberty to say everything, so I’ll be brief about what I can (and must) say.

The anti-terrorist operation was planned, the capacities and supply were evaluated and the goals were set. Yet the terms and restrictions on the power structures have been so severe that if the ATO would somehow be a success, it could be considered a miracle of a religious nature.  The commander of the operation that would win in these conditions could probably easily walk on water like Christ and heal people with a touch of a finger. This man could be freely called a miracle maker and be canonized while still being alive.

I don’t know if after tomorrows’ meeting in Geneva the current terms of the operations’ execution will change, but today, if we wanted to equip the extremists with guns, we could have simply given out the guns from the army arsenals and spare the power structures from this ordeal.

This is a specific and direct remark to the highest Ukrainian military government.

Today we registered no less than 300 members of the Russian Special Forces in Russian territory, at the border with Ukraine.

But this is just the tip of the iceberg. The real threat lies in Taganrog, where around 2,000 “green men”, ready for deployment to Ukraine, are gathered.

The good news:

1. Yulia Tymoshenko announced that she is supporting the urgent introduction of the state of emergency in those regions that are suffering from Russian aggression.

I understand that it’s simply a part of her pre-election campaign, but in this case it at least serves the present Ukrainian interests. Of course it would be great if the politicians thought about the good of the country not only before the elections, but I guess we don’t live in a fairy land.

If a state of emergency would be introduced, the work of the power structures would become a lot easier.

2. Russia admitted the economic challenges posed by the Crimea region.

Russian Federations’ Economic Development Minister Aleksei Uliukajev was forced to admit: because of “the deterioration of the international situation” and “capital leakage” the Russian economy is slowing down. Meanwhile, the U.S. announces that it’s ready to introduce new sanctions against Russia.

It’s encouraging to see that at least some people in Kremlin are starting to think about the consequences of the Ukraine crisis. However, unfortunately we do not notice that this would have any effect on Putin’s plans for aggression against Ukraine.

3. Responding to the promises of the Russian press about Yanukovych’s return to Doneck on Easter, the Acting Ukrainian Deputy Prosecutor General Oleg Machnicki announced: if Yanukovych shows up in Ukraine, he will receive a “warm welcome”. Machnicki reminded that Yanukovych is facing charges on 4 different criminal cases, which state serious crimes.

I don’t know if law enforcement will be able to follow through on the promise, but for a not so brave Yanukovych this is yet another reason for enuresis.

To sum up, friends, I’m walking with a heavy heart after today’s events. I would like to return to my previous form of regards. I wish all of us to see tomorrow that God has not forgotten Ukraine.