Condemning Who?

"Russia must choose whether it is open to diplomacy and de-escalation, and if it decides otherwise we must be ready for a different state of relations with Russia in the next ten years than in the last twenty."
William Hague, British foreign secretary

"I just got a call from the Donetsk region: Ukrainian special forces have liberated the airport in the city of Kramatorsk from terrorists. I'm convinced that there will not be any terrorists left soon in Donetsk and other regions and they will find themselves in the dock -- this is where they belong."
Ukraine (acting) President Oleksandr Turchynov

Militia gather by seized APCs as they stand guard in Slavyansk, Ukraine. Photograph: Genya Savilov/AFP/Getty Images

Events are so volatile and quick-moving that nothing seems amenable to actual, reliable confirmation. Some of the military appeared to have backed off and 'lost' some of their equipment to some of the militias who then drove armoured cars bearing Russian flags into Slavyansk, where they were cheered by a handful of people standing nearby. Some of the locals are less happy, though and one man identifying himself as Valery was angry.

"Part of the population supports them. But people who work, like me, I'm an entrepreneur, they don't want this." He wouldn't support referendum calls, planned to vote in the May 25 presidential elections which many of his neighbours insist they plan to boycott. "People think everything in Russia is spread with honey", he said. His wife pulled him away and they left after his statements resulted in angry reactions and arguments from men overhearing him, nearby.

The unvarnished truth about all these proceedings are out there, parsed accurately enough by journalists. But Russian President Vladimir Putin is certain on one point; the United Nations should be prepared to condemn Kyiv for taking the action that they have; sending out the Ukrainian military to threaten and harm helpless ethnic Russian Ukrainians who only want a little bit of institutional autonomy and recognition of their special status.

After all, shouldn't a free people living in a democratic society be able to count on the democratic principle of a referendum, and if they choose to do so, decide that their future would be advanced by consolidating their geographic region with that of Russia? Reason should prevail. The Russian foreign ministry condemned Ukraine's military action; it is "criminal to fight with your own people as they speak out for their legal rights". And therefore, Moscow has given ample warning to Kyiv to desist else -- no talks.

Coincidentally, Ukraine security services have identified one of the leaders of the 'pro-Russian' operation in Slavyansk as the very same foreign intelligence agent who is known to have co-ordinated the seizure of military facilities in Crimea. Before Russia was forced by circumstances beyond its control to intervene and rescue the citizens of Crimea from their illegal, criminal government and embrace the Black Sea peninsula as its very own.

Of course by characterizing the Ukrainian interim government as criminal and illegal and fascist, Vladimir Putin is also slandering the United States for supporting such a criminal junta. And since the U.S. administration rendered its considered opinion that Ukraine had no option left to it but to take military action against the 'pro-Russian' militias, it urged the government in Kyiv to do just that, with reluctance, responding to the untenable situation forced upon it courtesy of V. Putin.

So Ukrainian military saw action, repelling an attack by 30 gunmen at Kramatorsk airport, south of Slavyansk, which had come under the increased control of 'pro-Russian' gunmen. Ukraine's security services anti-terrorist unit chief, General Vasyl Krutov said his men managed to thwart an attack by fighters in green military uniforms sans insignia who attempted to storm the facility.

And while Yury Zhadobin, co-ordinator of a pro-Russian defence force claimed two people were slightly injured, Russian media corrected him, announcing four to 11 airport casualties, while Kyiv said there were no casualties and an unspecified number of militiamen were taken prisoner. The armed standoff over, hundreds of civilians swarmed the airport responding to rumours that government troops planned a military operation on Kramatorsk.

General Vasily Krutov is jostled by an angry crowd in Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine. Photograph: Sergei Grits/AP

 

General Krutov attempted to address the crowd and soon found himself under physical attack.

Early Tuesday some 14 armoured personnel carriers flying Ukrainian colours, along with helicopters and military trucks parked north of Slavyansk while other heavy military equipment was also stationed nearby along with seven busloads of government troops wearing black military fatigues. "We are awaiting the order to move on Slovyansk" one soldier explained.

Soon two of the helicopters full of troops were seen taking off, flying toward Slavyansk where several dozen troops were delivered to the Kramatorsk military airfield. "We have to tell the Ukrainians the truth", said Yulia Tymoshenko, "The Russian Federation is waging a real war against Ukraine in the east, in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in particular."