Tag: Gazprom

Dmitry Tymchuk: Russian propaganda on “peacekeeping operation”

Translated by Andriy Berbets and edited by Alex Howard for Voices of Ukraine

According to Information Resistance data, pro-Russian extremists are conducting an intense propaganda campaign amongst the population in Luhansk and Donetsk Regions. Its purpose is to force citizens to take part in the so-called ‘referendum’ to ensure the split of Ukraine. You can read more of it here: http://inforesist.org/russia-is-preparing-a-peace-keeping-operation-in-ukraine/?lang=en.

The separatists are trying to give the impression that during the ‘referendum’, Russia will be able to deploy ‘peacekeeping forces’ on the territory of Ukraine, in order to help stabilize the situation in the region, as their main argument in their attempt to convince the people.

About the fact that Russia is itself fueling the flames of civil war in Ukraine, and that the actions taken by the separatists themselves are destabilizing the situation in these regions, there is only silence.

At the same time we’d like to note that, throughout last week, the so-called Russian ‘expert community’ (e.g. the ‘Gazprom’ funded Moscow Strategic Culture Foundation, the Academy of Geopolitical Problems, the Center of Strategic Conjuncture etc.) began actively promoting the idea that a Russian ‘peacekeeping operation’ is strongly needed on the territory of Ukraine.

The main premise in this case is that a “peacekeeping operation” should be conducted by Russia without any consent from the UN (United Nations), as the involvement of the UN supposedly allows the West ‘to seize the initiative’ and to move their troops into Ukraine after receiving a UN mandate. But, as you know, Russia’s membership in the UN Security Council is absolutely unjustifiable, because this country is the aggressor, so it does not allow the UN Security Council to make any efforts in the resolution of the crisis in Ukraine, including carrying out peacekeeping operations by third parties.

Theoretically, Putin has two options to conduct a ‘peacekeeping operation’: to carry it out under the auspices of the SCO [Shanghai Cooperation Organization] or the CSTO [Collective Security Treaty Organization].

Currently the first option is not possible, because China, as a member of the SCO, would clearly not agree to this kind of global adventure.

What about Moscow’s pocket union, otherwise known as the CSTO? As it’s well known, Putin is currently applying increased pressure on the presidents of the satellite countries. It’s worthwhile remembering the recent military exercises of the Russian Armed Forces, where the question of the use of nuclear weapons was discussed under the personal leadership of Putin, with the presidents of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan in attendance.

The President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, who has not previously supported Russian aggression against Ukraine, has suddenly and inexplicably changed his rhetoric. This change of position miraculously coincided with the message that Russia is ready to give Belarus a $2 billion loan in order to replenish its foreign exchange reserves.

However, the CSTO has no legal grounds for ‘peacekeeping’ in Ukraine, as Ukraine is not a member of the organization. Article 3 of the Agreement on the CSTO peacekeeping operations provides that the organization can perform such activities based on their own decisions only on the territory of the CSTO member states. In the case of non-member countries of the CSTO, approval from the UN Security Council must be obtained first.

This means that any attempt by Russia to move its troops into Ukraine under any pretext, whether alone or in an “alliance” with its satellites, will mean direct military aggression against sovereign Ukraine, or rather the second stage of aggression after Crimea.

Events of April 29th

dmitry_tymchukDmitry Tymchuk, translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

Brothers and sisters,

Here’s the Summary for April 29, 2014.

First of all, please forgive me that I “fell out” of the information space–I am now constantly on the move. Once again, we are actively monitoring the situation in the regions, I think tomorrow we will give an IR group statement. The situation is simply breathtaking.

The bad news:

1. Luhansk and Pervomaisk are currently under the flags of pro-Russian extremists. Luhansk Oblast [region] threatens to completely repeat the fate of Donetsk. Kharkiv region is next in line.

If the Ukrainian government initially intended to give up the East, then they should gather all their will into a fist and say one word to Moscow–”take it away!” In the manner of the film character in “Ivan Vasilyevich Changes Profession.”

If there is even a hint of desire to fight for the East, one should not hide that inclination. Show it by doing at least some action. Don’t be shy.

It is necessary to understand that if the vampires under the Russian flag hold their “referendums” (which Vladimir Putin will, of course, immediately admit–otherwise why would he have started all this fuss?), then the fight for the East will be a hundred times harder. Because it will not be a struggle with Russian henchmen, but with Russia itself.

2. Oleksandr Turchynov (acting President of Ukraine) found out the guilty in the separatist Sabbath. He suddenly uncovered (I say, what a prompt epiphany!) “inaction, helplessness, and sometimes criminal betrayal by the employees of law enforcement agencies in Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts.” In Turchynov’s words, “this is one of the main causes of low effectiveness and poor performance by Ukrainian law enforcement agencies in the fight against terrorism.”

I can’t understand–is Turchynov using such delicate banter that I cannot decipher it, or did he previously just turn a blind eye? Simple people like Uncle Vasya, a plumber in Zhmerynka and Aunt Dunya, a cleaning lady in Iljichiovsk, have realized the presence of sabotage on the part of security forces on the ground two months ago. And our acting President has identified and revealed this phenomenon just now.

The RNBO sang the same song before Turchynov today. They obviously conspired.

Therefore, instead of starting to urgently solve this problem in the beginning of, or mid-March, the RNBO and the President have bothered to realize its existence only in late April. How could they even start and carry out the anti-terrorist operation, without being properly informed about the situation in the region? It’s some kind of idiocy.

3. According to the data of our Information Resistance group, tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, Mariupol and Berdyansk should expect the separatists scenario that has been enacted today in Luhansk. I am not in the least bit optimistic that Ukrainian authorities will react to this threat.

The good news. There’s crazy little of it:

1. U.S. Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt said that the U.S. would react instantly to Russian troops crossing into the Ukrainian border, and that the consequences will be dramatic. This post–is primarily in support of our boys from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, now standing along the border with Russia. In front of them–Putin’s armadas, on their butts are Putin’s mutts. The reassuring promises of the West clearly won’t hurt the situation.

2. And yet, the West, without any haste and in no rush, drives Putin into a dead end. “Gazprom” acknowledged that the sanctions could lead to a “loss of confidence of international investors” in the Russian economy. Just yesterday, the Russians mocked those sanctions. Today comes a sobering up. It is a pity that our extremists become intoxicated from permissiveness faster than Putin sobers up.

Events of April 28th

dmitry_tymchukTranslated by Voices of Ukraine

Brothers and sisters,
Here’s the Summary for April 28, 2014

The bad news:

1. The Anti-terrorist operation (ATO) has turned into a farce.

However regrettable it is to admit this, we are in the same boat as our enemy–the Russians, during the recent conflicts initiated by Russia in the Caucasus. While senior leadership “double-crosses” everyone they can, mid-level commanders bear the responsibility for confrontation on their shoulders.

There are two differences: Russia waged aggressive wars (in Chechnya and Georgia), and its commanders did not have their hands tied. We wage a holy war–a defensive war. But, despite this, our commanders’ hands are firmly tied. Every move and almost every shot is strictly controlled “from above.” The result is abysmal.

We, the Information Resistance group, have tried to avoid criticism of senior commanders to the end. But we can no longer continue to do so. Our soldiers and officers have become hostages in power games. But this is only one aspect. In essence, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our state are the principal hostage in this game.

2. Today brought a lot of blood.

Two people who were injured this morning in Kramatorsk are representatives of the SBU and the Interior Ministry. They were wounded in a gunfight with terrorists, it’s pretty obvious. We can only wish these guys a speedy recovery.

The situation around the death of one, and injury of another, contract soldier of the Armed Forces [of Ukraine] is more complicated. We will not disclose the details (hopefully the MOD will though, because their current explanation can hardly be called intelligible). But the very fact that the security forces keep getting killed in similar circumstances, outside of armed contfrontations, is deeply abnormal.

3. Some insane show is happening in Sloviansk.

Terrorists have instituted “journalist accreditation” there, mostly Russian journalists at that. I find it absolutely incomprehensible how journalists can freely roam around in the area of the ATO (moreover, foreign journalists, and especially–Russian journalists) in the first place, without the accreditation of our law enforcement agencies. How can this be happening by definition?

I cannot imagine that in a civilized country, a journalist could freely enter through the cordon of security forces and approach an aircraft hijacked by terrorists with the following words, “I need to interview their ringleader.” What type of nonsense is that? Especially when we know how the Russian media present the information.

Oleh Tsaryov in Sloviansk

The delivery of “humanitarian aid” to Sloviansk, intended for separatists and distributed at checkpoints by Ukrainian Presidential candidate Oleh Tsaryov looks even wilder. What type of savagery is this? How can this scarecrow, God forgive me, this terrorist accomplice, be an official Presidential candidate? It is beyond my comprehension.

4. Today, an assassination attempt on the Kharkiv mayor Hennadiy Kernes took place.

I will not remind you about certain pages from this gentleman’s biography, I like them no more than you do. The fact of the matter is, that for whatever reason, he is on our side now.

And this assassination attempt – is an attempt to turn Kharkiv, with its very shaky stability, into another separatist snake nest, with another “people’s mayor” and another “people’s republic” under the Russian flag. There is nothing good in this.

The good news:

1. The EU expanded sanctions against Russia today–it increased the number of Kremlin representatives affected by it. The European Union also said that they are actively researching sanctions not only against individuals, but against entire sectors of the Russian economy.

The bad thing is that the Europeans have been threatening this third stage of sanctions for a month and a half now, and to no avail. In fact, they only continually expand the format of the second stage of sanctions. But then, any support is important and necessary.

2. The SBU detained the deputy to the breakaway mayor of Sloviansk. An Igor Perepechayenko.

This person was the “snitch” to one of the subversive and reconnaissance groups of the GRU of the General Staff of Russian Armed Forces. A local polizei–and a sellout. Traitors like him were hung on the nearest lamppost in front of all honest people during the Great Patriotic War. Now is the time of humanism, no one will deprive this manure of life. All the same–unfortunately.

Overall, the Interior Ministry complains that there are hardly any vacancies left at the Detention facilities–in some regions, they are crammed to their eyeballs with Russian subversives and their local henchmen. The more these gentlemen busy themselves with intellectual games near the prison “bucket,” the less likely will they be to shit on the loose.

3. Arseniy Yatsenyuk, the Ukrainian Prime Minister, has announced that Ukraine and Slovakia signed a memorandum on gas delivery by reversing the direction of gas from the West to Ukraine. Simultaneously, Kyiv is preparing a lawsuit against Gazprom in connection with elevated gas prices.

I don’t know how the current standoff with Russia will end. But if Kyiv doesn’t have the brains and the will to properly carry out the ATO, at least it tries to show resistance on the “energy front.” If only these initiatives were seen through to the end.