It appears that a massacre did take place today, but not in Slaviansk, but in Odessa were 38 people died when a building in which they had sought refuge was set ablaze. Here is what RT reports:
At least 38 anti-government activists died in fire at Odessa’s Trade Unions House after suffocating with smoke or jumping out of windows of the burning building, Ukrainian Interior Ministry reported. The building was set ablaze by the pro-Kiev radicals. Some 50 people, including 10 police officers, were also injured in the incident, the official statement said. It was not immediately clear whether those injured in Friday street clashes in Odessa were included in those numbers. According to the ministry, the Friday standoff on Odessa included “anti-Maidan” activists on one side and “football fans” from Odessa and Kharkov, as well as “euro-Maidan” activists, on the other. A criminal case on the charges of mass unrest has been opened. The Trade Unions House was set on fire by pro-Kiev radicals after they surrounded and destroyed the tent camp of anti-government activists that stood in front of the building on Odessa’s Kulikovo Field Square. It was torched in a storming attempt after some of the anti-Maidan activists rallying in the square barricaded themselves inside the building. Thirty of the victims were found on the floors of the building having apparently suffocated to death with smoke. Eight more died after jumping out of the burning Trade Union House’s windows, according to police. Earlier reports of the clashes in Odessa said that both sides used Molotov cocktails and, allegedly, gunfire.
While the exact circumstances of this tragedy are unclear, it appears that we are dealing with the massacre of pro-Russian activists by nationalist thugs (aka “football hooligans”). As I mentioned earlier, a Russian intervention in Odessa is far more likely than in the Donbass which seems capable of protecting itself without Russian assistance.
Also, and with some reluctance, I want to inform you about one interesting but unverified source (caveat emptor!): there is a Spanish speaking air traffic controller in Kiev who regularly tweets info about the events in the Ukraine here: https://twitter.com/spainbuca.
Now I personally never use Twitter (or Facebook), but a reader has called my attention to this guys who seems to have some pretty good information. According to him, some “military in Kiev” had requested the help of Russia, after which some Russian cargo plane has flown near Donetsk. According to him, radio intercepts indicate Russian paratroopers. The aircraft then turned around. What that a para drop? Finally, he reports that Ukrainian military aircraft have been challenged by Russian interceptors and have had to withdraw. Now, since all this is based on radio communication it could be fake or just somebody trying to create a panic. But for those of you who understand Spanish I wanted to pass you the info so you call follow this directly on Twitter.
Whether Russia moves troops in now or not, my sense is that this massacre in Odessa will have serious consequences as the Russians will not ignore it.
I will try to keep you posted as best I can,
The Saker
Italian mercanery in Ukraine:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_aJBNwE1ek
Dear The Saker,
My condolences go out to all the people in Odessa who lost loved one’s today. May those thugs who killed those people burn in hell and the Junta who supported this.
Very very upset – this has now turned the tide…..bastardos!
Rgds,
Veritas
“This is another story I don’t want to write or be interviewed about. I only post these things because the sources are NOT internet gossip but are too credible to ignore. I get no joy out of this. The obvious reason to write this is to stop another 9/11.
This is what I have:
Nuclear material, I am assuming highly enriched uranium, 1.05 tons, was stolen from Pakistan on April 18, 2014. It was transported by air to the UK where it was stored in a moving warehouse in Teignmouth, Devon. The facility involved has been used previously to store illegal weapons by security agencies of the US and UK including South African WMD’s.
From there, the shipment was, we are informed, broken into three parcels and is being transported as of this writing, 11:07 EST, May 2, 2014, to the US. Shipments are to have left from both Heathrow and Gatewick airports.
We are also told that computer viruses are taking down US capabiltiy of disseminating sensor information”
http://jhaines6.wordpress.com/2014/05/02/breaking-nuclear-alert/
If the Russians feel the need to send in their troops I would suspect that they would reconfigure Ukraine more radically than just backing the Donbas region and Odessa. The reaction on the part of NATO, EU, and the US would be extreme if the Russians moved into any of those regions. It would not be any more extreme if they went further. I would guess they would create a new border for Ukraine that was the Dnieper River to the north and east and the oblasts of Odessa, Kherson and Mykoliev to the south.
I guess the big unknown is how the West defines extreme. Hopefully, it does not include WWIII.
Hello, I am watching the situation from Austria, with horror. The local media propaganda has redoubled and is trying to portray all the casualties as due to Russia, by juxtaposition and weasel words, and they are blocking 90% of comments – blatant censorship. In the Presse, none of the last ten comments I wrote went through.
Editorials also try to blame the whole thing on Russia with a hypocrisy that I find absolutely sickening. The very same journalists who were doing their best to join in the constant provocation now pontificate about an unavoidable tragedy, even using comparisons to the start of WWI. I don’t know what the CIA or NSA has on them, but that seems the only explanation.
There have been a couple of less rabid or more objective reports, but they are the exception. I suspect that editors are firmly controlled but not all the junior staff is completely on board with the propaganda.
More worrisome still, there are reports of hundreds of conventional tanks having passed through Austria eastwards last week, by train, which – as we are officially still neutral – would mean that the Austrian government is complicit in whatever they have planned. According to Stadler, a politician of right populist bent (he was in Crimea to observe the referendum there, and has been speaking out against the propaganda) the tanks had their identifiying marks covered (?). I would not give it much attention, but the government so far has been silent and not responded to the guy’s questions and accusations, and the local media do not report it.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=664056510298809
this is one day that will be history..for this worst reasons :(
Sorry for being a silly old woman here but as I was reeling in horror from the pictures of that inferno, our Borzoi mix was snuggling and licking and loving the cat who taught him how to be cat-safe — by loving him.
I am exceedingly ashamed right now of every drop of Western European blood I possess. It’s not just our leaders, folks — We. Let. This. Happen. It didn’t have to — all the signs have been there since… well, forever, but take your choice. And we grumbled, maybe even protested (ha ha — that’s been sabotaged, brutalized and ineffective since Nixon and ignored ever since; you just walk away *feeling* like you sent a message and someone who matters actually cared enough to listen). And then we went on living our lives, something those souls in that building cannot do, and none of their family members will ever do in quite the same way again.
Damn us.
/rant over
I totally agree with you! The people of this USA are too self absorbed to stop shopping or propaganda watching! How do those who are aware better inform the sheep? Prayers to all suffering due to us tax dollars.
Saker, people of Ukraine, Russia, and the world.
My condolences for this terrible tragedy.
Sorry, regarding the tanks I mentioned earlier, it seems they passed through already on April 7th, and officially belonged to the German Bundeswehr, according to the video.
Another detail – according to the media the new Pipeline is to end up here in Austria, as was just announced, but even that good news is trashed by the media as “poorly timed”, as though we owed any loyalty to the EU/NATO warmongers. These editors seem to have taken complete leave of their senses and seem willing to damage or ruin our own economy rather than desist from their propaganda. Even non-political people are starting to sense that something is rotten in the state ….
FYI: http://np.reddit.com/r/UkrainianConflict/comments/24k22k/maidanists_in_odessa_set_the_trade_unions_hq_on/
burned to death by pro-Kiev thugs in Odessa today.
PHOTOS. (Warning! may hurt your sensibility)
https://twitter.com/abelicc/status/462332860448247808/photo/1
The Empires’ agenda in the Ukraine is global ‘full spectrum’ domination, on behalf of which it is vital to weaken Russia and keep Germany on a leash. The chaos in the Ukraine was crafted as part of those ongoing goals.
Traditional British Empire geo-political strategizing policy made a priority of keeping Germany as weak as possible, and preventing a German Russian alliance. The current amalgamated manifestation of Empire has been able so far to continue to keep Germany politically and culturally disoriented, weak, militarily vassal to the Empire.
Germany remains an occupied country. When Germany went cap in hand to the NY bankers and asked for their gold they were told in effect to go away, come back some distant day. That event was not just an ice water bucket helping to rouse a sleeping Germany. It was symptomatic of what we might dub the ‘missing gold problem’: paper certificates for gold now dwarf actual gold by something like a hundred to one. Many contracts have been made that cannot be kept.
The gold scam is one symptom of the Empires deeply criminal global financial system that is virulently parasitic, and destructive of the human prospect.
And when Ms Nuland was overheard speaking straight for once from her dark heart and expressed an urge to copulate with an entire continent, she could be interpreted by Germans as in effect talking dirty dismissively most egregiously towards Germany.
The people of Germany, like anyone awake on the planet, are increasingly aware that inclusion in the NATO pact is not about defense, but about offense, including serial participation in ‘the greatest crime’, wars of aggression: NATO is now a pact with the demonic.
The people of Germany must also be increasingly aware that the entire enterprise that they are vassal to is not just pathologically criminal and dangerous, but actually based on repudiation of integrity, and thus of reason itself, and thus of sensible policy. The lie and censorship now are foundational, basic, to the continuation of the Empire. How long can a dominant geopolitical circumstance continue on the basis of an ever expanding web of deceptions?
Economically Germany once again dominates Europe, amidst growing disenchantment with business as usual in many European countries. Russia has made an astonishing recovery from its recent near death experience and offers Germany mutually beneficial economic partnership.
The Ukraine fiasco provides much potential food for thought for Germans as well as the rest of us. The Empire is now obviously putrid. What kind of person, what manner of society, remains loyal to a regime which is so rotten?
Video showing bodies from a fire, purportedly in a Trade Union building in Odessa.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vv9_z6Cdf3g
Another cargo plane going to Odessa spoted…. this one, comes from Crimeia (source https://twitter.com/spainbuca).
38 civilians dead? That’s almost as bad as a Saturday night in Chicago. I suppose Ukraine is now just one crackhead mayor away from becoming part of the USA.
38 civilians dead? That’s almost as bad as a Saturday night in Chicago. I suppose Ukraine is now just one crackhead mayor away from becoming part of the USA.
Carlos the air controller keeps talking of lots of air activity, cargo planes flying low escorted by fighters and then returning, one came to Odessa from Crimea then turned back, a second one approaching crimea. Airlines have woken their pilots to ask them to take their planes out of the Ukraine. They minister of the interior is preparing an attack on Donetsk.
The Russians must be dropping paratroopers. What else could these “cargo planes” coming and turning around mean?
Crazy Ivan says…
It looks like there was another massacre in Kramatorsk:
1. Ukrainian army launches assault on Kramatorsk
http://rt.com/news/156504-ukraine-east-clashes-military/
2. http://www.voicesevas.ru/news/yugo-vostok/voina-na-yugo-vostoke-onlain-02-05-2014–579.html
Quote – “23-49
Kramators’k. URGENT! Now.
This is not Odessa. This Kramators’k! Here are killing our compatriots. NOW!
Operation of the Board. Here continuously take dead and wounded with checkpoints around the city.
Guys, please inform all who can to make a difference. In Kramatorsk battle continues. There were killed and wounded more than in Odessa. Help everyone they can. The main thing now – dressing material and medicines. Kramators’k.”
They’re apparently storming Kramatorsk, with dozens killed or injured, and resuming in Slavyansk.
Odessa is a crime against humanity — are there even enough prisons to hold all those guilty, from the top on down?
http://rt.com/news/156504-ukraine-east-clashes-military/
Excuse me, Saker, but I beg to disagree with you calling eastern ukrainians “pro russian insurgents”. That label can I already read it every day in the propaganda spread by the imperial mainstream media. Would you mind calling them federalists or anti-junta ukrainians?. I think it would be a more adequate term.
-First off, they are not insurgents. They’re locals on defensive mode, defending their homes and cities.
-second, they are anti-Kiev, anti-junta, anti-nazis, anti-ultranationalists
-third, they have been asking all the time for a referendum to have a saying in their own governance
-fourth, they’re pro-federalists
-fifth, they want a united and federalized Ukraine, and want nothing to do with Russia, EU, NATO
-sixth, they are not pro-russian, they want to remain ukrainian, self-ruled ukrainian.
kind regards and thanks a lot for your hard work
Thanks for the update:( Sad day indeed. Now it’s wait and see what’s next.
Hello, everyone.
I send condolences to all those affected today, and their families in Ukraine. In addition, I want to say that I think of my Russian brothers and sisters, and wish them all the best .
I am appalled by what has occurred today. Unfortunately, I have seen this before in Iraq, Afhganistan, Syria, Lybia, Egypt + + + +. It never ceases to shock me. I guess that’s a good thing that I have not lost my empathy for apathy.
I feel trapped in my own country by a network that does not care about its citizens or the country’s future. We have been invaded by an unseen force that continues to crush all resistance. I see the “zombies ” around me who look at propaganda TV – they are lost in a world I no longer belong to. I am ashamed of the so called ” democracy ” we do in other countries. Not in my name,and we are many who feel the same.
Thank you,Saker for keeping us informed, you are doing a brilliant job.You and the others here on the blog gives me hope that there are still “someone out there .”
Greetings from a Norwegian
There are attacks on Kramatorsk now. Dead and wounded reported.
The second military cargo plane, after arriving at the same area of Odessa, flying very low, turns around and goes back following the same route as the previous one.
Ukrainian army launches assault on Kramatorsk.
“Do we want a war or what?” – coup imposed, Yats Shalom
Now, that’s only my opinion, but… West, US specifically, are getting (or already got) Putin cornered in a sense “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” With ongoing massacres not only in Odessa, but now in Kramatorsk and Slavyansk with dozens dead and more wounded,
http://www.odnako.org/blogs/boy-za-slavyansk-onlayn-translyaciya-obnovleno-2255/
his options are limited, given the Russian state media coverage (fairly balanced, but any sane person would be enraged to guts anyway).
If he do nothing, than he wouldn’t be understood at home at all. Esp. after Crimea.
If he moves in, than it’s carte-blanche for the west in PR sense.
I might say that most of Russians dont give a flying f…k about what western PR would say, but this PR isn’t directed at them. It is directed at domestic populations of western countries.
So…. unless Putin is willing to sacrifice newly acquired approval (he might) wait it out, help a little with weapons, and let the SouthEast throw the Nazis out, – and believe me they will, especially after learning of what is in store for them – this attacks are forcing him to intervene and be painted as another conqueror to be eliminated at all costs.
Call me crazy, but only strategic objective of the west here given the circumstabces seem to be escalation in, basically, WW3.
1. Provoke big country into miliyary action 2. Rally the populace 3. You have another “liberation from Bolsheviks… erm, putinists” slogan for another global conflict ready. Esp. when the time is running out on economic side and only backing left for the economic supremacy is military might.
Dammit! Why should we endure this each darned century? Within 100 years time frame Russia always have to brake the neck of another would-be world conqueror. Is it fate or what?
Sorry, I’m getting too emotional.
Saker, I ask you to disprove my conclusion regarding overall strategic objective (as WW3 to write the whole economic mess off), even if in short reply, because I REALLY want to be wrong.
PS.
Seen t long ago on the english sector of the net:
“In the beginning of the 19 century French was primary international language.. until Napoleon messed with Russia and broke his neck.
In the beginning of the 20 century German was primary international language.. until Hitler messed with Russia and broke his neck.
In the beginning of the 21 century English is a primary international language…. scary perspective”.
It is scary for me as well as a Russian. Too devastating. WAY too devastating.
Hello Norwegian,
And welcome.
“I feel trapped in my own country by a network that does not care about its citizens or the country’s future. We have been invaded by an unseen force that continues to crush all resistance. I see the “zombies ” around me who look at propaganda TV – they are lost in a world I no longer belong to. I am ashamed of the so called ” democracy ” we do in other countries. Not in my name,and we are many who feel the same.”
You are speaking for all of us here (except maybe grunt). Having this community counts for a lot during this moment of horror. I just wish there was more (something, anything!) we could do, but haven’t a clue what.
we must get together, or pretty soon we’ll be out of time. from amerika to odessa, let’s do it, right on.
power to the people
I´m so disgusted with what happened today in Odessa…. Condolences to the families of all those affected.
Some hope for sanity?
From one commenter on El País this video of the slaughter
Одесса дом профсоюзов ПОЛНОЕ ВИДЕО
One titular on El País is saying that UE and EU considered that Russia is guilty of wanting to boycott 25 may elections. (hypocrisy has no limits here )
Best regards for all.
Thank you Saker for the reports.
First, having reviewed some of my earlier posts, I wish to belatedly acknowledge well taken responses by Crazy Ivan and John 97205 and to note highly astute comments by Svedburg and others on the Odessa tragedy.
I have never been as sanguine about the self-detachment of the East as Saker is nor as trusting of Putin, noting 2/3 days ago that “while..Turdynov has moderated his bluster, the nasty work of setting up a repressive system gains momentum.” In a response to Nora I opined that”the Russians had an opportunity -now gone- to detach the eastern oblasts with minimal bloodshed, with cell phone conversations between unit commanders largely replacing violence…Maybe the notion of largely bloodless transfers of power to local garrisons, with local activists acting as connective tissues, is fanciful. But one thing is certain. *If there is to be a war, it is far,far better it be a brief one. What the peoples of the East who have, whatever their woes been free of structured authoritarianism are in for-poor Odessa–is the kind of “democracy” that follows American interference: death squads, night raids, disappearances, kangaroo courts. And never believe that the vectors od such tactics are not, day by day, seeping in.”
What the use of football hooligans–third time in a row–reminds me of is the use of swarms of toughs from Tehran’s “pit” in the CIA’s coup (53?) against Mohammed Mossadeq in Iran. No doubt some of these thugs have been paid as well.
I have felt throughout that Odessa was the best bet for a fight directly involving NATO. Lots of reasons. The Russians need to act fast and get it over with before NATO mobilizes further, get’s “maneuvers” going in Moldova,and so on. If Putin doesn’t react to this he might as well adopt a fetal posture. Hasn’t Moscow, for God’s sake–grasped that restraint is interpreted as weakness and encourages the enemy?
I do, just now, have some sense that the dam may break. The sooner this comes,4 the less blood and misery. Let’s hope Ukie commanders are thinking the same way.
Tom
‘The Guardian’ reached even further down into its sewer of poisonous hacks today with a piece by Ian Birrell, a Tory speech-writer for David Cameron, so the filth was of a particularly rich strain. A massacre in Odessa, that home of great musicians, seems to have been foretold for some time. The neo-Nazis will, undoubtedly, seek to re-fight their losses of WW2, and recreate their massacres. I wonder, if they lose the east and south, as they deserve to, will it be long before they attack their other old enemies, the Poles and the Jews?
NORA:said..
“
You are speaking for all of us here (except maybe grunt). Having this community counts for a lot during this moment of horror. I just wish there was more (something, anything!) we could do, but haven’t a clue what.”
Hei, Nora.
Thank you for your feedback. I know that I to is not sure what I can do. I cried, quarreled, asked, whispered and tried many other ways to inform others to provide resistance in Norway. After death threats to speak on September 11, Iraq and Afghanistan, asking questions about these events may seem discouraging. I will never give up, but sametimes it feels hopeless to continue to fight on.
What my contryman do not understand is that the massive surveillance apparatus and terrorism may one day come to their door.
The Norwegian.
To Nora: Dear Lady, don’t despair. Not only we of European extraction but humans generally have immersed in what old Raymond Dart (remember the Australopithenes)called “the blood sated, slaughter glutted history of the species.”
But maybe not (at least as far conspecifics are concerned) all of us. During WW2, American air crews in Greenland eskimoes (Inuit)who though they were the only people on earth, and couldn’t conceive or imagine that people would kill each other. Knowing this,it’s always annoyed me to hear people characterizing crude, ignorant types as “Neanderthals”. To begin with, the average Neanderthal brain capacity was substantially greater than that of modern humans. What can be deduced from skulls, middens, inhabited caves provides no evidence of intra-specific violence. And might it not be that these long departed relatives of ours, hard put to survive, and maintain their numbers during the ice ages,had developed a true reverence for life? A thought to cherish. Do take care. Tom
to get it across:
nato/eu and others are terrible – but germany and russia? no way that this would be better except for today’s fans of hitler.
what we need instead: one world! get rid of the UN and let us get a united world gov of the people.
Russia has lost this geopolitical fight if they dont do something right now. The attack on Kramatorsk, Slavyans and Odessa shows this clearly. If Putin dosent do something now, I think it’s over for Russia as an independent state. Hpoe not, but it looks bad now.
The Norwegian.
ZeroHedge just posted a very detailed map claiming current military strength and positions of Russia and Ukraine.
ARTICLE:
‘On The Edge Of War: The Latest Russian And Ukraine Troop Movements’
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-05-02/edge-war-latest-russian-and-ukraine-troop-movements
MAP ONLY:
http://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/images/user5/imageroot/2014/05/Ukraine%20troop%20map.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVXm9nnY-AQ&feature=youtu.be
Video about events in Odessa
Saker,
My guess is that the Russians were probably air dropping weapons & ammo, not paratroopers to pockets of self defense forces.
I base my guesstimate on the following:
I remember reading some interview with Shoigu a few days ago.
He stated that the self defense forces in the East are all locals, number around 2,000 & have about a 100 firearms that they seized from the police & army.
Now that the Nazi’s are attacking towns with choppers, apc’s & tanks, that would explain the urgent need for weapons air drops. Molotov cocktails, a few pistols and rifles won’t get you far fighting mech troops.
If one wanted to bring in the PMIG, etc., there are more stealthier & quicker ways of getting them there in a hurry & not spoiling the “surprise”.
Keep in mind cargo planes get picked up on radar quite easily. Everybody know’s that. But for psyops purposes, it’s great. The Nazi’s don’t know if it’s Spetsnaz, weapon drops or it could all be nothing…. :)
Meezer
Scalawag at MoA linked to this site, upon which there are many articles, all in Cyrillic:
http://www.politnavigator.net/ Here are just a few:
01:55 03 Май 2014
Украинский депутат назвала гибель людей в Одессе «выдающейся победой»: «Нам ещё Крым возвращать» May 3, 2014 1:55
Ukrainian deputy named deaths in Odessa “outstanding victory”: “We have yet to return the Crimea”
01:11 03 Май 2014
Тимошенко прилетела в Одессу — помогать «пострадавшим патриотам Украины, защитившим город от сепаратистов» May 3, 2014 1:11
Tymoshenko flew to Odessa – help “victims Ukrainian patriots who defended the city against separatists”
00:52 03 Май 2014
Администрация Турчинова объявила, что трагедия в Одессе – дело рук ФСБ 00:52 May 3, 2014
Turchinova administration announced that the tragedy in Odessa – the handiwork of the FSB
Tymoshenko clearly belongs in the same prison cell as Albright, Clinton, both Rices and Powers; personally I’d throw in Thatcher’s remains and also the moldering mess of Meir. Then I’d escort Merkel there and give her a good, serious, “Behave Yourself Or Else, Lady!” There must be decent women in foreign policy: why can’t I think of any?
I think that I can understand the attack in Odessa. After the Russians took back Crimea, I believe that Odessa is the last major port left that the Ukraine has left. No way will NATO/EU want to give that one up. The port will undoubtedly have been earmarked to be ‘privatized’ to Western interests but if it is lost along with the industrialized east, only the agricultural regions will be left to be cannibalized.
As a side note,after those choppers were taken out by the rebels, if you were a Ukrainian tank/APC commander you would be wondering if the rebels also possessed anti-tank weaponry as well – not a good feeling. After the massacre in Odessa, you would also be wondering if there were any ‘polite armed men in green” on the ground by now to give depth to rebel formations.
The reason this attack is happening today and kiev junta asked terrorists to clear by 3rd may(why hurry) is because they knew that merkel woudl be with obama on thse days and that putin wouldntobe bold to act while thse two are together-one american and one reprensting europen power-that is all planned by angloamericans and putin wqas tttoo thick to realise that he shoudl have acted ebfore rather than having a begging lavrov talk verbose and useless about observing law.
Putin is the greatest threat to US elite hegemony. Both him and his advisors are thinking many steps ahead of the stupid but cunning and ruthless neo-cons and secret government puppets of the elite in the US.
It is very doubtful Russia will enter Ukraine overtly – there is no need to at this stage.
The anti-fascist resistance in the east seem to have repelled the attacks. The heli-assault failure would tend to suggest the resistance has been assisted by covert means, which will no doubt continue.
A well equipped and assisted eastern resistance would appear the strategy for now. It is also one that provides for ‘plausible deniability’ (to coin a patheitc US phrase).
Russian military intervention is therefore very unlikely right now unless there is a serious escalation by the US backed fascist coup axis of evil.
It is too simplistic to fall into the US elite paradigm – that is, baiting Russia to intervene and damned if do/don’t.
Putin has shown time and time again (eg most recently in Syria) that he will find a third, fourth or fifth way around the problem. He is not the leader of the free world / most powerful (refer Forbes 2013) for nothing – he understands how the US clowns think better than hey do. He will not fall into their pathetic trap.
Should it however turn completely to custard and a border crossing become essential, then Russia would have no reson to stop in eastern Ukraine, then river or anywhere other than Kiev itself to excise the fascist cancer and dispense with the nazi refuse.
The NATO strawmen and their US elite masters would be confounded and powerless – as Saker has highlighted time and time again there is no ‘western’ military option.
For now though covert operations are the order of the day.
What would be a real scoop is if the resistance could capture a few Greystone type mercenaries.
The fascist offensive has begun. Russia needs to stop somehow the bloodshed before its too late. The Kiev junta and its masters in Washington and Brussels are to blame.
https://twitter.com/russiannavyblog
They report Russian Navy activity, as well as flight path.
“Washington has no intention of allowing the crisis in Ukraine to be resolved. Having failed to seize the country and evict Russia from its Black Sea naval base, Washington sees new opportunities in the crisis.
One is to restart the Cold War by forcing the Russian government to occupy the Russian-speaking areas of present day Ukraine where protesters are objecting to the stooge anti-Russian government installed in Kiev by the American coup.”
Per PCR today at –
http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2014/05/02/washington-intends-russias-demise-paul-craig-roberts/
Is there any way we can at least express our horror and condolences to the people of Odessa? Does anyone know how, or to whom they can be sent?
And E, you’re into the arts: there’s an incredible image here of orange flames and bodies charred beyond recognition, the same colors as the Ribbon of St. George, just waiting to be put together: perhaps you or someone you know could do something with it so the rest of the world can truly understand the depths of this depravity?
“The United Nations IMF approved a $17 billion loan to Ukraine, but stipulated that, if the country loses control over the eastern region, the loan will be redesigned or canceled.”
In other words, Ukraine must risk war with Russia to secure the loan.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-05-01/imf-warns-ukraine-fight-east-or-no-money
I too want to offer condolences to the families of the ethnic Russians of Odessa who were suffocated by smoke inhalation and burned alive today by Western-backed Right Sector thugs who are known for using clubs, molotov cocktails and firearms and used these weapons to bring down the legitimate government in Kiev and used them on these ethnic Russians in Odessa today. This was a slaughter.
The West tacitly backs these Nazi thugs like they tacitly back Al-Qaeda in Syria and before that in Libya to get their dirty work done; regime change and the coup; jobs done.
You know what the Empire is doing, don’t you? It’s turning Ukraine into another Syria: same chaos, misery and death and it’s doing so to drag Russia down, and I hate to say it but Russia’s in trouble. The Empire doesn’t care about Ukrainians just like it didn’t and still doesn’t give a damn about the suffering caused to Syrians. The Russian people need to rise up and condemn the West with one voice and shatter the deception.
You’re looking at evil in the making; I mean; we’re witnessing these people fighting for their lives to stop the Empire and all we get in our twisted, trashy Ziomedia is deception, propaganda and spin. They make it seem like these people that were murdered today caused their own deaths, when in fact they were courageously resisting subversion. And at first, the morons in the Ziomedia wouldn’t even acknowledge that it was ethnic Russians massacred; because they couldn’t make these people appear human and allow compassion for them to spoil their narrative. Sick.
What happened in Odessa is criminal; where’s the U.N.? Where’s that Empire shill Ki-Moon? This is a case for the ICC.
I can’t even watch cable news anymore; I’m so disgusted; I have to mute every time this subject comes up or change channels; I can’t take the deception anymore; we’re talking Ziomedia; deception is their artform.
We have nothing if we don’t have the truth.
We’re screwed if we don’t make this our fight too and beat back the lies vigorously; we’re those people pushing back on the Empire’s tyranny; only they’re fighting on the front lines. God rest their souls.
The US military secret space shuttle drone mission continues, see here –
“Pentagon still won’t say about the drone space shuttle mission that’s now orbiting for almost 500 days.”
http://space-shuttles.com/index.php/pentagons-space-shuttle-like-secret-plane-still-in-orbit/
There is some good reason to believe this drone is a near earth orbit satellite destroyer. Near earth are the spy type recon military satellites (read Chinese & Russian).
It’s all getting very interesting…
My condolences to the friends and family of everyone killed or hurt. Thanks, Saker, for the coverage.
If anyone is looking for something to be cheerful about, look no further than the existence of RT. Without RT, the coup-backers would have had a field day with their propaganda!
Re Tom Garrett: “Hasn’t Moscow, for God’s sake–grasped that restraint is interpreted as weakness and encourages the enemy?”
The sane basic aim is to avoid lurching into nuclear war. During the Kennedy presidency JFK was faced with top military people forcefully advocating a first strike nuclear attack on the Soviet Union. “These people are crazy” was how he put it.
The people who dominate policy in the United States may include people who are more or less that crazy.
By definition we don’t know what covert actions the Russians have are and will be engaging in, but the Russians will bear in mind that the Ukraine is part of a much larger geopolitical process.
Also, time would seem to generally be on the Russian side, for a variety of reasons. They have retained strong global popular support despite the propaganda and disinformation that the Empire’s presstitutes are blitzing the planet with. They will have far better intelligence, and know the terrain far better, than the Empire.
Agree with comments by Anderson above, including: “What would be a real scoop is if the resistance could capture a few Greystone type mercenaries.”
03 May, 2014 01:06
Odessa jas a large Jewish population…Israel will be taking special note of actions in this city. It is the primary trade port for merchandise entering Ukraine…big trade with Turkey and ME countries pass thu here.
Paul Craig Roberts has it precisely. The USA has been eternally, irredeemably aggressive and genocidal since its inception. The admixture of Christian ‘Dominionist’ zeal to kill all ‘God’s enemies’ down to the ‘last suckling’ babe (see Iraq, and the diabolical succubus Albright’s ‘price’ that was ‘worth it’), as borrowed from the Old Testament and the various Holy genocides of Moabites, Midianites, Jebusites, Philistines etc, plus the all-purpose eternal search for ‘Amalek’, with the psychopathic lust of the ‘libertarian’, Randian, capitalist, to exploit all others without mercy, with open hatred and contempt, has produced the system and ruling elite that we see today.
After all, US history is an unbroken litany of aggression and genocide right up to today. The imperial Boss has been joined by every nasty, power and violence worshiping psychotic, large and small, around the world, and millions of ignorant dullards brainwashed by Hollywood and the Western MSM.
This unprecedented evil, the Real Evil Empire as Chomsky noted, is dying, from within, from the spiritual and moral cancer of its social sadism, neo-feudal hatred of the 99% of ‘moochers’ and Imperial Overreach. Chalmers Johnson outlined the process in a number of books, but he was rather too sanguine that the collapse could be peacefully managed. There is no chance of that, because the US elite, and their symbionts in the Zionazi colony in Occupied Palestine both adhere to the Samson Option where they will destroy the world rather than lose their pre-eminent position as ‘God’s Chosen People'(how they must argue over who is more ‘Chosen’, and secretly hate each other for it). Putin has a very bad choice. Rescue eastern Ukraine from yet another US-controlled death-squad genocide, and risk nuclear war with psychopaths, or sit back and wait for the inevitable sneak nuclear first-strike that is US strategic doctrine.
@Tom Garrett – 02 May, 2014 23:11
“No doubt some of these thugs have been paid as well.”
They certainly have been – see PCR here:
http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2014/05/01/us-payments-ukrainian-thugs-higher-previously-reported/
Robert Snefjella, after JFK and Khruschev luckily averted nuclear war over Cuba, Kennedy realised that obliteration was actually desired by the military lunatics like Curtis LeMay, a genocidal monster, so he sought out back-channels to the Soviet and Cuba in order to avert mass death. That is one of the reasons that they killed him.
Today, if anything, the thanatocrats in Mordor on the Potomac are even more viciously insane than in Kennedy’s day. Not just with the moral depravity of various Full Spectrum Dominance fantasies, or the Old Testament psychotics lusting for End Times, Raptures, Tribulations etc, but also with the controlling Zionazi lunatics with their Masada complexes. They have a total puppet in office, following orders, and their eternal Empire will prevail, or they will destroy the world out of spite.
kalithea, don’t expect that invertebrate stooge Ban Ki-moon to do anything but what his controllers desire. And the ICC is a totally vile sham, that persecutes Africans, preferably Islamic, only.
“gree with comments by Anderson above, including: “What would be a real scoop is if the resistance could capture a few Greystone type mercenaries.”” GRU probably already figured out who that Italian merc who was chatting with some local babushkas outside Kramatorsk is today, and some Anti-Maidan Twitter feeds are already tossing out the alleged home addresses of Odessa Maidan Molotov cocktail makers. Those Twitter feeds will likely be silenced for ‘Terms of Service’ violations.
Anderson, I seem to remember that the people in Fallujah dealt with some of these death-squad ‘mercenaries’ in brutal, if just, manner. After all, they were dead before they were barbecued, a mercy that victims of the Real Evil Empire are often not granted. The price that Fallujah paid, and continues to pay and will until the Sun expands (thanks to depleted uranium)was, of course, diabolical, but we are dealing with emanations straight from the sulphurous regions.
I disagree with those who are calling for Putin to step into what is really a prepared minefield.
I agree covert is the way to go. Major covert operations required.
Don’t tell me Russia didn’t have a contingency plan in the works inside Ukraine in preparation for possible Anglo/Zio intervention and a possible coup? I mean, with Nato walls closing in around Russia, Putin must have realized what the Anglo/Zio Empire was up to. Ukraine was the last and most strategic frontier left.
With 20/20 hindsight, the reset button was a ruse to catch Putin off guard later and the sweet-talking Obama, who promised Mevedev more flexibility in a 2nd term, was a decoy. Actually, he was a decoy for the left too.
Never, ever trust the Anglo/Zio Empire…China should start preparing for the worst.
@ Meezer said…
Saker, My guess is that the Russians were probably air dropping weapons & ammo, not paratroopers to pockets of self defense forces
Yeah, I was just going to say the same. That’s a reasonable explanation
shed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ur85_emHhKc
Put these pieces together folks and see what you come up with on a broader scale…
“FBI warns flow of US militants into Syria growing, another 9/11 could happen”
see here – http://www.presstv.com/detail/2014/05/02/361018/more-americans-joining-syria-militants-fbi/
THEN THIS
“Stolen Nuclear Material Heading into US”
see here – http://www.veteranstoday.com/2014/05/02/breaking-nuclear-alert/
False flag to start a wider war perhaps? Anyone…anyone…
Oh, and how about this:
“US Contractor Lockdown in Oman”
“Effective 1 June 2014, the Base Commander at Thumrait AB, Oman, namely Colonel Keith L. Thibodeaux, has directed all American contractors who provide support to his base, to vacate their very comfortable and fully furnished apartments in Salalah, Oman and move permanently on base in two man trailers/RLBs and keep all the civilian contractors under strict lockdown, allowing us to leave the base only if it is mission essential. He is doing this not as a drill but as policy. Some of the contractors under the CTSS contract, for which I work for, have been working in Oman for over ten years. Some have their families here; some have wives that work in the local economy; and, some have their children attending school here. I have been working here for over three years and not once have I ever experienced any violent crime or threat/terrorist threat.”
see here – http://www.veteranstoday.com/2014/05/02/us-contractor-lockdown-in-oman/
Something much larger is brewing behind the scenes. Ukraine is the distracton and to keep Russia pre-occupied.
The mass murder over the last 24 hours by the US controlled fascists are but a sign of future developments.
May those responsible be called to account, but if Iraq, Libya, Syria, Afghanistan are an indication there is probably little hope of that.
nardami said, “Odessa has a large Jewish population…”
Maybe, but the great majority of Jews hate and despise the Empire’s anti-humanity.
I feel compelled to offer my opinion that Russia is already acting, and has been acting for weeks. Crimea didn’t just happen. And whatever happens here will not just “happen”.
Most of what Russia is doing is invisible. The diplomatic dialog that RF is setting out for the public record is impeccable. One day there will be open media in the world (part of what Russia has learned is the need to promote this). Eventually the truth of all these crimes will be discussed in global awareness, even in the US, thankfully.
But Russia doesn’t believe that Lavrov or Churkin will meet with success in their speeches – this is just a part of everything that RF is doing.
Russia is at war, and I believe its eyes are wide open to everything that moves. Putin understands the west better than it does itself. Russia knows all the US plans for a failed state and asset-stripping, and when it counters those plans and aims for victory, this victory will not include a failed state run by Nazis, or anyone allied to the west.
I have developed a working trust in the capabilities of Russia during the last couple of months. I see nothing so far to shake that trust.
just my 2 cents – I offer it as a comfort while we wait for events to “unfold”.
I agree with. I could not tell better. We must take some depth in our perspectives. Some hours is not enough. Remember during Olympic games Russia seems to do nothing. . . but then we know whats happens.
Wondering if Saker or anyone else has an opinion and/or can provide deeper analysis of the IMF role in possibly instigating the escalation; hypothesis being 1) Brennan goes to Kyiv, “Anti-terror” ops begin next day, 2) Biden goes to Kyiv, same result, 3) IMF makes ominous warning, new round of anti-terror (so, terror really) ops begin. This is from MoA:
The IMF, which has approved a huge $17 billion loan to Ukraine, gave an ominous warning. Consider yourself to be one of those ruling Ukrainian oligarchs who hope to pocket significant parts of these loans. What would you think after reading this:
Ukraine is at risk of a prolonged recession and may need an extension of its $17bn bailout should tensions with Russia and unrest in the east of the country escalate, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned.
…
“A long-lasting disruption of relations with Russia that depresses exports, investment and growth, or a loss of economic control over the east that reduces budget revenue, would require a significant recalibration of the programme and additional financing, including from Ukraine’s bilateral partners,” it says.
Translation: “Dear oligarchs, screw up the relations with Russia and lose the east and you will get more free money.” Such IMF talk is not designed to help with any de-escalation.
_____________________________
I tend to agree with and appreciate b’s analysis over there but I’m looking for something a little deeper, assuming the hypothesis is correct, or part of the latest round of violence, at least the attack on Slavaynsk. As for Odessa, Nazi-Sector I don’t believe needs any encouragement or enticements to commit violence, and I’m saddenned by the 30+ killed in the fire, or subsequently beaten to death if they survived jumping out the windows, as reported. That’s exactly the kind of incident I fear could be a flash-point for an explosion of tensions and next thing you know, it’s civil war, then Russia is forced to respond, then things get really scary. And just yesterday I was so hopeful things were slowing down. So, to get back on track, the IMF thing, is this another ploy to get the putchists to attack, will this keep happening over and over- a visit here, a bribe there, a threat over here, etc, until something happens that forces Russian armed response? That’s my concern right now.
Hi Saker,
I am an American. To find out more about “massacre in Odessa” and thirty-three to thirty-eight people died. Checked out PBS live streaming “News Hour” Judy Woodruff (one-liner) said:
“Later there were word thirty-eight more dead in Odessa in a building fire link to the fighting.”
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/episode/friday-may-2-2014/
No mentioned of number of people jumping out from windows or “Union building” just “building.” Such are the “controls” reporting from America’s Public TV, paid for by tax payers and the 1%.
No longer watch PBS. Can’t afford a TV and Cable’s subscription. In the morning watch Democracy Now, followed by the Real News and RT all day. It is free on used laptop.
Thank you RT and not forgetting Saker – for your excellent analysis and update News of Ukraine.
JC
@kalithea, 03 May, 2014 01:38
> This is a case for the ICC.
… it wouldn’t make any difference, I’m afraid. In the unlikely event the criminals should ever be arrested, charged and prosecuted at The Hague, don’t be disappointed when the ICC judges will clear them of any wrongdoing. What else would you expect from a court set up by NATO countries to prosecute those who resist imperialism? Most governments in the world have the good sense to ignore the ICC.
I think it would be far more sensible to prosecute and, if found guilty, execute villains as those in Kiev, D.C., Westminster, Brussels etc. at the scene of their crimes and to let the people who have suffered violent aggression decide, whether or not a crime has been committed. And if it has … let Kissinger receive his bullet in Vietnam or Laos or Cambodia or East Timor or Chile. Let Bush senior receive his in Panama City or in Iraq. Let Clinton dangle from a tree next to the ruins of the Al-Shifa pharmaceutical factory in Sudan. Let … well, you get the point.
This is a map of Ukraine that appeared in the Telegraph on February 23rd.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10657256/Ukraine-mystery-surrounds-whereabouts-of-deposed-PM-Viktor-Yanukovych.html
This is likely NATO’s offer to Russia. These are the facts on the ground they are creating, beginning with strategic objective #1, the port of Odessa.
In the east, anti-Kiev forces have consolidated their control. Ukrainian attacks are of no military significance. The downing of two Ukrainian helicopters is also insignificant, except maybe for show.
NATO did not miss a large Russian military aircraft entering Ukrainian territory. Let’s get real. Each side is fully aware of major movements by the other.
NATO and mercenary forces are already dug into positions west of the Don. They will come out of hiding only if necessary.
Russian special forces are in a similar position in the east. They appear to be receiving additional supplies by air.
Brzezinski’s short statement is a weak threat of further escalation. Americans will remain asleep because the ruling elites are unprepared to take a political hit like they did after the debacle in Syria. A Presidential address of the kind advocated by Brzezinski would be a major miscalculation.
The West will continue to work to isolate Putin internationally. They likely believe they have enough leverage with China and the rest of the world to avoid a complete catastrophe.
Do not underestimate the ability of the Federal Reserve to sustain the economic bubble, probably with help from China.
Merkel is acting according to the wishes of most Germans who are happy to remain priviledged vassals of the Empire.
Putin will take the east more quietly then turn his attention towards ending US petrodollar hegemony/negotiations for a new global currency. He may insist on a federalized Ukraine but he will not be in a position to control events on the ground in southwest Ukraine. He will take a minor political hit for appearing ‘weak’ but will be credited with preventing WW3.
The big meeting with China is a little more than one month away. Expect the hard bargaining to continue.
IMHO.
Michael McDonnell said…
nardami said, “Odessa has a large Jewish population…”
Maybe, but the great majority of Jews hate and despise the Empire’s anti-humanity.
Bull. The largest population of Jews live in colonialist, Apartheid Israel and they have no humanity at all! They’re living it up at the beach resorts and cafes, and on stolen land while the Palestinian people suffer.
Jews helped fuel the Empire mentality.
I should hasten to add, those who live in the West will soon discover their pensions and assets have been stripped, NOT including the assets of the Super Rich. New politicians will appear to replace the current crop but the greatest theft of wealth since 2008 will be a fait accompli.
Citizens of Russia will suffer a short term economic hit but strong growth will resume relatively soon.
China is the world’s new number one economic power.
@ the great majority of Jews hate and despise the Empire’s anti-humanity.
Most of the Jews hate and despise Russia.
Further to the theme of the dawning on especially Europeans that many dangers and difficulties come with participation in the Empire’s strategy of concocted chaos in Ukraine, Georgi Ivanov writes at the Market Oracle:
“… further sanctions are possible on Russia if an understanding on Ukraine is not reached soon, but Moscow’s reaction can have equally reverberating effects.
“We cannot fail to mention that Russia controls 42% of the world’s palladium supply …. [which] has critical implications for European industrial manufacturers and should sanctions get more serious, relations with Russia will begin to have negative economic effects on the strategic level.
And “… Vladimir Putin announced this past week that Russia is going to create its own payment system. VISA was particularly sensitive about the news, because it has 100 million cards operating in Russia, and the sanctions against two Russian banks, Sberbank and Bank Rossiya, could very well snowball on further restrictions on the company from the Russian side.”
“…Dmitry Medvedev directly called for the re-balancing of the global currency system away from the dollar, … Ukraine can become a catalyst for accelerating these trends.
“ Imports and exports are another area where the Russians hold some significant levers.”
“What’s more, Russia has the ability to diversify its sourcing, [buy from relatively friendly sources] as it can do with food, for example…”
“…This is why we have to observe an old maxim about Russia when dealing with Moscow: it’s never as strong as it appears, but also never as weak as it appears. “
Dear All,
I have an idea here.
It seems to me that a lot of people in the Ukraine military are not in synch with the Junta in Kiev.
So why not Russia encourage some of these top-level military officials to turn their guns on the Junta in Kiev.
My idea is to have a military coup that topples the Junta in Kiev and replaces it with a more balanced transitional government in power.
This government then will work on two separate fronts :
1. Purging the country from Right Sector thugs and having a balanced relation with Russia.
2. Try the Junta people for toppling a democratically elected president on the orders of a foreign power.
3. Come up with a better constitution that is representative of all the peoples in Ukraine.
Take care
Debanjan
This is an especially insightful interview with historian Stephen Cohen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQqlN1Hes0o