Ukraine Vows Retribution in Wake of Killings

The Ukrainian government has vowed to avenge the deaths of the two or three dozen Ukrainian soldiers who were killed today during a rocket bombardment of their military camp in Zelenopillia, Sverdlovsk district, Donetsk oblast.

“All those who used the Grad against the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be found and destroyed,” President Petro Poroshenko said in a statement on his website. “For every soldier's life, the militants will pay with scores and hundreds of their own. Not a single terrorist will avoid responsibility; each will get what they deserve.”

Anton Shcherbakov, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry, said Kyiv authorities were still investigating, and Russian terrorists also suffered losses in the attack.

If the Ukrainian casualty count proves accurate, the official pointed out, it will mark another deadly day in Kyiv’s battle to repel Russian invaders from eastern Ukraine. In recent weeks the Ukrainian government had been making inroads against the terrorists, although determined pockets of resistance remain.

An earlier deadly casualty was the downing of a military transport aircraft that reportedly killed some 50 Ukrainian soldiers.

As Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman said during the Civil War, “War is hell.” Consequently, the best way to deal with it is fast. The warmonger, invader, aggressor must be vanquished without deadly second guesses.

Ukraine’s allies and fair-weather friends have already begun a likeminded chorus of ceasefire because they wouldn’t want Russia to endure extra casualties or defeat for invading Ukraine.

However, by all rules, Ukraine, just like any other sovereign country, has the right to defend itself from any invasion. This right has been reaffirmed several times recently in the context of Ukraine’s war with Russia and it has been used by other countries as well.

For example, Israel's prime minister vowed today  to press forward with a broad military offensive in the Gaza Strip, saying international pressure will not halt what he said was a determined effort to halt rocket fire by Palestinian militants as the death toll from the 4-day-old conflict rose above 100.

"I will end it when our goals are realized. And the overriding goal is to restore the peace and quiet," Benjamin Netanyahu said. "No international pressure will prevent us from acting with all power," he said.
Finally, the United Nations Charter forbids member-states from invading member-states but in the event an attack, Article 52 allows self-defense: Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations, until the Security Council has taken measures necessary to maintain international peace and security. Measures taken by Members in the exercise of this right of self-defence shall be immediately reported to the Security Council and shall not in any way affect the authority and responsibility of the Security Council under the present Charter to take at any time such action as it deems necessary in order to maintain or restore international peace and security.”

In this inevitable war with Russia, Ukraine deserves a wide berth of military actions in order to defeat and repel Russian terrorists back to Russia.

Amnesty International Tells of ‘Stomach Wrenching” Torture in War-Torn Ukraine

Amnesty International, the global non-governmental organization that monitors human rights abuses, has presented graphic and compelling evidence of “stomach wrenching” torture in eastern Ukraine carried out against activists, protesters and journalists in eastern Ukraine by Russian mercenaries.

“The bulk of the abductions are being perpetrated by armed separatists, with the victims often subjected to stomach-turning beatings and torture. There is also evidence of a smaller number of abuses by pro-Kyiv forces,” Amnesty International reported.

Euphemisms such as armed separatists, militants, rebels with or without the modifier Ukrainian, which are used by many major news outlets and some governments and organizations, always pertain to Russian mercenaries, terrorists and invaders.

As for stomach-wrenching, the use of the description by Amnesty International may substantiate the photos of decapitations that appeared on Facebook a couple of months ago.

A new briefing, “Abductions and Torture in Eastern Ukraine,” details the findings of an Amnesty International research trip to Kyiv and southeastern Ukraine in recent weeks. It documents allegations of abduction and torture perpetrated by separatist armed groups and pro-Kyiv forces.

“With hundreds abducted over the last three months, the time has come to take stock of what has happened, and stop this abhorrent ongoing practice,” said Denis Krivosheev, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director of Europe and Central Asia.

Amnesty International noted there are no comprehensive or reliable figures on the number of abductions, but the Ukrainian Ministry of Interior has reported nearly 500 cases between April and June 2014. The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission for Ukraine also recorded 222 cases of abduction in the last three months.
Amnesty International reports that it also met with various ad-hoc self-help groups which have been collating details on the escalating number of abductions. The research team has been provided with a list of more than 100 civilians who have been held captive. Allegations of torture have been made in the majority of cases.

Abductions have taken place across eastern Ukraine, in the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. Those targeted include not only police, the military and local officials, but also journalists, politicians, activists, members of electoral commissions and businesspeople.

“Now that pro-Kyiv forces are re-establishing control over Slavyansk, Kramatorsk and various other places in eastern Ukraine new captives are being released almost daily with an increasing number of disturbing cases emerging. It is time that these are meticulously documented with perpetrators brought to justice with victims awarded compensation,” said Krivosheev.

Hanna, a pro-Ukrainian activist, told Amnesty International how she was abducted by armed men in the eastern city of Donetsk on 27 May. She was held for six days before being released in a prisoner exchange. She described to Amnesty International how she was violently interrogated.

“My face was smashed, he punched me in the face with his fist, he was trying to beat me everywhere, I was covering myself with my hands… I was huddled in the corner, curled up in a ball with my hands around my knees. He was angry that I was trying to protect myself. He went out and came back with a knife.”

Amnesty International reported that while most abductions appear to have a “political” motivation there is clear evidence that abduction and torture is being used by armed groups to exert fear and control over local populations. People have also being abducted for ransom.

Sasha, a 19-year-old pro-Ukrainian activist, fled to Kyiv after he was abducted by separatists at gunpoint in Luhansk. He said he was beaten repeatedly for 24 hours.

“They beat me with their fists, a chair, anything they could find. They stubbed out cigarettes on my leg and electrocuted me. It went on for so long, I couldn’t feel anything anymore, I just passed out,” he told Amnesty International.

He was finally released after his father paid a US$60,000 ransom.

Amnesty International pointed out in its report that while the vast majority of allegations of abduction and torture are levelled against separatist pro-Russian groups, pro-Kyiv forces, including self-defence groups, have also been implicated in the ill-treatment of captives.

Amnesty International called on the Ukrainian government to create a single and regularly updated register of incidents of reported abductions, and thoroughly and impartially investigate every allegation of abusive use of force, ill-treatment and torture.

US, NATO, EU & Ukraine – What Next?

Ukraine’s biggest geopolitical problem is that it is situated on the border with a giant, powerful, threatening, vindictive, aggressive, and deceitful neighbor – Russia.

Throughout history, countries near and far have never given Ukraine a fair shake. At best those countries could be classified a fair-weather friends.

Despite Lord Palmerston – Henry John Temple’s quotable quote that there are no permanent enemies or friends, just interests in international relations, Ukraine has never even been invited to the global arena on an equitable basis. Because of international fear of Russia’s ubiquitous presence on the border with Ukraine, global attention has been benevolently passive at best and maliciously negligent at worse. Ukraine has been and continues to the victim of a slew of detrimental circumstances.

Russia has been called on the carpet by the US and other western allies for its disruptive adventurism but never punished. Their words are supportive and their sanctions reassuring but in the end Moscow never ceased its wrongdoings anywhere around the world – Europe, the Middle East, Central or South America or Asia.

Take today’s shameless invasion of Ukraine. As in the post-war years, when none of the attempts by Ukrainians or the other captive nations to liberate themselves from Russian subjugation were actively supported by the free world, so to today for all intents and purposes Ukraine has been left to face Russian aggression by itself. Even the intelligence services were remiss in their duties to monitor what Russian is planning and doing. Putin had almost announced during the summer of 2013 – just like Hitler did in his Mein Kampf – that he will no longer tolerate the independence of the x-captive nations, especially Ukraine, and will restore the iron curtain.

Ukraine is now caught in a war for its survival with Russia and the world is still contemplating what to do about it. To be fair, the Washington’s rhetoric is on target, as demonstrated by Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland’s testimony yesterday before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Canada has assumed a harsh stance versus Russia while other allies have been less stringent.

Much to the embarrassment of Russia, UN member-states have also expressed support for Ukraine and varying degrees of condemnation about Russia.

Sanctions have been applied and reportedly they have had significant negative effects on Russia, despite Putin’s denial.

Much to the EU’s credit, it did accept Ukraine into its fold, which hopefully will contribute to Ukraine’s economic, commercial and political evolution.

But nonetheless, Ukraine today is still regarded as a second-class participant in global affairs. It will continue to be compelled to look over its shoulder to see if Moscow is mobilizing its army on Ukraine’s borders.

Thankfully, Russia’s energy pipelines cross Ukraine into Europe, bringing it resources for its existence but without those pipes Europe would probably betray Ukraine in the blink of an eye.

Ukraine’s only salvation is if the North Atlantic Treaty Organization were to grant it full membership. Since the end of World War II, NATO’s veil has been unfairly offered to too few countries. Some former captive nations in Eastern Europe have been allowed to join, but not Ukraine.

NATO announced that it is preparing measures to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia, while adapting to the fact that Moscow now considers the alliance as an adversary, Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen told a Spanish-language newspaper on Sunday.

NATO has made clear it has no plans to get involved militarily in Ukraine or accept it at as member, even though it has sent military aircraft and ships to Eastern Europe and Rasmussen said it was considering long-term measures to ensure the protection of its allies.

“We must adapt to the fact that Russia now considers us its adversary,” he said.

Rasmussen said NATO was preparing an aid package to present to its members’ foreign ministers at the end of this month that would include help for Ukraine to reform its defense sector and modernize its armed forces.

But even in this context the allies are not in unison. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, perhaps the most outspoken, is dangerously wrong to resist NATO calls for permanent deployment of allied troops in former captive nations, amid fears of retaliation by Russia. During Rasmussen’s visit to Berlin this week, Merkel acknowledged that many former captive nations feel unsafe because of developments in Ukraine, but according to Euractiv Germany she curiously said: “There is no doubt the NATO-Russia Act should remain valid.” – The 1997 act ended presumably only on paper the rivalry between Russia and NATO, which in fact exists in proxy situations everywhere.

Such a good cop-bad cop behaviour on the part of the alliance is not safe.

As Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said today, the situation in Ukraine, including how EU and others treat it, is a test for the European Union. “Today the situation is a test for the EU in terms of what the European Union is and which role it should play in the world,” he said at a briefing in Kyiv.

Klimkin pointed out that if the EU countries do not act as a team, nobody would believe them in future. He noted that for this purpose the EU countries had demonstrated unity in their approach to the situation in east Ukraine and Crimea. He expressed hope that such a common position would be adopted with respect to Ukraine in future.

Very true. It is a futile exercise to hope that Moscow will undergo a democratic metamorphosis because nothing in its history and current events indicate that change is in the offing. Consequently, the US, EU and NATO must remain as bastions of freedom and democracy for Ukraine and the other former captive nations versus Russia’s very real never-ending aggression and offer them full membership.

That is the only hope for global peace, stability and security. Otherwise NATO will evolve into a paper tiger and unfortunately Russia will realize this before the alliance does.

US Official Nuland: US Committed to Ukraine

At a time when the Ukrainian nation is engulfed in a war for its political and national existence with its age-old enemy Russia, resolute words of genuine support from the United States are very welcome.

By standing shoulder to shoulder with Ukrainians in their time of need, Washington sent clear messages to Ukraine's leadership, the people and Russia.

Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland, in her testimony on July 7 before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, reassured Kyiv of US support and warned Russia of dire consequences of its invasion of Ukraine.

“Ukraine’s success or failure in its struggle for peace, reconciliation and human dignity will impact the future of the whole region, and with it, the prospect of achieving America’s 20-year objective of a Europe whole, free and at peace. We therefore continue to have a profound national interest in supporting the people of Ukraine in their quest for a more stable, democratic and prosperous future. In this effort, we deeply appreciate Congress’ bipartisan attention and support.” Nuland said.

Nuland listed four so-called pillars of US policy toward Ukraine:

Support for Ukraine as it tackles urgent political, economic and security challenges;

Diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the crisis and to encourage Russia to end support for separatists;

Readiness to impose further costs – including targeted sectoral sanctions – on Russia and separatists for fomenting violence and unread in Ukraine; and

Reassurance of frontline NATO allies and friends like Georgia and Moldova.

She said the election of Petro Poroshenko bodes well for Ukraine’s future and praised the “determination and courage” of Ukrainians who voted for him and his policies.

“But Ukraine’s security remains under threat: despite regaining control of Slovyansk and Kramatorsk, fierce fighting continues to rage in parts of eastern Ukraine; heavy weapons, materiel and support have flown across the Russian border; Russia has thousands troops deployed on Ukraine’s eastern border, and Crimea remains under occupation,” she observed.

Nuland said the US is working with Poroshenko and Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk to direct some $59 million to support for economic growth and reform; counter corruption; energy diversification and efficiency; and constitutional reform and national unity.

“Our anti-corruption support will help the government implement its recently announced three-year anti-corruption strategy and six-month action plan by bolstering Ukraine’s ability to deter, detect, investigate and prosecute corruption wherever it festers; and by supporting citizens, civil society, media, business and the government as they work together to confront this scourge,” she said.

“And we will help the government with the constitutional reform and broad decentralization of power that President Poroshenko has pledged as an integral part of his peace plan and his effort to rebuild national unity. This will include support and advice at the federal, regional and local level to implement political reform and decentralization, and support for free and fair parliamentary elections when they are called.”

Nuland said the US is in “lock-step” with Ukrainian government in trying to deescalate the crisis caused by Russian-backed mercenaries. She noted Poroshenko one-sided ceasefire and castigated Russia for failing to abide by it.

“The ceasefire was instead met with 10 days of violence, bloodshed and land grabs by Russian-backed separatists. Three Ukrainian border posts fell into their hands during this period. Russia allowed tanks, heavy artillery and fighters to flow across the border, and continued to build up its forces and weapons on Ukraine’s border,” she said.

 Quoting President Obama, Nuland pointed out that the US will judge Russia not by its words but by its actions.

“Russia has made too many commitments at the diplomatic table over the past four months that have been rendered hollow by the weapons, cash and fighters that continue to flow across the border to fuel the fight in eastern Ukraine. In response, the U.S. and Europe have imposed repeated rounds of sanctions to increase the cost Russia pays for its choices,” Nuland said, adding a warning that “we are ready to impose more costs – including targeted sector-specific sanctions – very soon if Russia does not decisively change course and break its ties with separatists.”

Additional sanctions will continue to impose significant damage on Russia’s economy even though Putin is denying any ill effects.

“As Russia’s economy teeters on the brink of recession in part from the cost of its actions in Ukraine and the impact of the U.S. and international response as noted in last week’s IMF report, Russians need to ask themselves what their government’s policy has really delivered for them or the people of Ukraine except economic hardship, violence, kidnapping, and death. In Crimea, inflation has risen to 16.8 percent, tourism down 35%, and exports are plummeting. In Donetsk and Luhansk, separatists have engaged in looting and bank robbery, prevented the payment of pensions and wages, and held much of the civilian population hostage in their homes. Now that separatists are on the run, their tactics have become even more brutal as they set up landmines and roadside bombs and destroy bridges and other critical infrastructure,” she said.

Why Parse ‘to Invade’?

Carl Bildt, Swedish foreign minister and a great friend of Ukraine, recently said at an Atlantic Council session: “If Russia wants to invade Ukraine, they can do it … But it will be the end of Russia as we know it.”

Indeed, Russia would then be ostracized by the international community for being a latter day aggressor and invader comparable to Nazi Germany.

But why analyze the verb ‘to invade’ into a meaningless state? Why parse it, dice it, slice it and categorize it with numerous shades of grey?

Everyone knows what invade means even if we can’t define it. There is a border between two states and if one side’s soldiers violate it, then it is an invasion regardless of the number of troops.

Earlier this year, before the opening of the Olympic travesty in Sochi, Russia invaded Ukraine, specifically its peninsula called Crimea. Moscow then annexed it. Moscow then invaded eastern Ukraine and caused bloodshed and mayhem.

Fortunately for the world, Ukraine’s response was restrained otherwise a global conflagration would have enveloped civilization.

Russia refused to abide by Ukraine’s declared ceasefire and continued to kill Ukrainians. But how long can elected officials of a democratic government look passively while their people and soldiers are killed?

Now Ukraine is successfully repelling the Russian invaders in an effort to bring this war with Russia to an end.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the ensuing war must be brought to an end by expelling the Russian terrorists back to Russia. That would constitute peace.

Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Notes: It’s Not Civil War

Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Danylo Lubkivsky, at a briefing today, pointed out for the catchword-minded world media that the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine is not a civil war nor is it a liberation movement.

Lubkivsky noted that the conflict was brought to Ukraine by invading terrorists from Russia, the source of the instigation and financing. As for defending personal liberties and Russian-speaking Ukrainians, the official emphasized that personal liberties were the last things on the minds of the terrorists.

Lubkivsky emphasized: “It has been an act of aggression by Russia against Ukraine that began in Crimea and continued in the East.

“It has been an attempt to dismember Ukraine after failing to make it swerve from the European way.

“It has been a terror war on Ukraine – until Ukraine finally fought back and declared a war on terror in return.”

He said once Russian terrorists are expelled from Ukraine and Moscow stops meddling in the affairs of sovereign Ukraine “we, Ukrainians, will agree among us. And now, as Ukraine gets more democratic and more integrated with the European Union – there will be more ways and means to do that.”

Ukrainian peacekeepers are committed to reinstating peace and stability in eastern Ukraine, Lubkivsky said, noting that in one day Ukrainian armed forces removed 700 mines and explosive devices planted by terrorists in Slavyansk. Furthermore, municipal authorities restored water and power supplies, and citizens once again began to receive salaries or pensions.

As for Crimea, under Russian occupational control, democracy and human rights haven’t been flourishing, Lubkivsky said, adding that Putin’s regime demonstrates its true colors through persecution of Crimean Tatars and of every person who dares to protest against occupation.

“We cannot and we will not tolerate this. This is about freedom. This is about Crimea. This is about Ukraine. This is about human dignity that cannot accept the ideology of hatred and slavery,” Lubkivsky.

So far, the US and the EU are offering words of support for Ukraine in its war with Russia. They are quick to threaten imposing more stringent sanctions on Russia, but nothing concrete has materialized.

In a telephone conversation yesterday between President Obama and President Hollande of France, the White House confirmed that their preference remains a bilateral ceasefire.

However, in the absence of a real truce, the White House said President Obama noted that US respects the Ukrainian government’s responsibility to maintain public order in the country and to protect the population.

“The leaders further agreed that Russia has a responsibility to cease its destabilizing activities, such as by no longer allowing and facilitating the transit of weapons and fighters across the border, ceasing its own military build-up near the border, and halting its ongoing direct and indirect support for violent separatists. The Presidents decided that the United States and Europe should take further coordinated measures to impose costs on Russia if it does not take immediate steps toward de-escalation,” the White House’s readout concluded.

Meanwhile, in eastern Ukraine, Russian terrorists are regrouping in Donetsk and Luhansk, where they had said they will make their last stand. They destroyed three major bridges in an effort to halt the advance of the victorious and reinvigorated Ukrainian armed forces.

Ukrainian Troops Retake Towns from Russian Control

A top Ukrainian security official said Ukrainian troops have cleared more than a dozen towns of armed Russian terrorists and now control two-thirds of the eastern regions at the center of the insurgency, reported the AP and the National Council for Security and Defense of Ukraine.

Secretary Andriy Parubiy said Friday that Ukrainian forces are still attacking rebel positions with artillery and planes. He said 17 villages had been secured by government forces since a unilateral cease fire expired Monday.

He said Ukrainian forces now control 23 of 36 local regions within Donetsk and Luhansk provinces, two regions along the Russian border that have declared independence from the government in Kyiv.

During the past week, since President Poroshenko resumed the anti-terrorism operation, Ukrainian troops launched powerful air and artillery strikes on strong points, checkpoints, weapons depots and places where terrorists. Reportedly activity of militants markedly decreased. Parubiy said Russian terrorists have suffered significant losses in manpower, which numbered in the hundreds. The enemy also lost 1 tank, 1 anti-aircraft unit and 5 armored Kamaz trucks.

The Ukrainian military also took control of the Kharkov - Rostov-on-Don highway.

With these heavy losses, it is no wonder the Putin is demanding a truce. Perhaps he should withdraw his terrorists to Russia and surrender.

Ukraine’s Defense Chief Pledges to Retake Crimea

The stream of patriotic rhetoric initiated by President Poroshenko is finally spreading throughout the highest levels of government in Ukraine.

Newly appointed Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Valeriy Heletey, 46, pledged today in the halls of parliament that the Ukrainian army would retake Crimea, restoring the Ukraine’s indivisibility and territorial integrity.

“There will be a victory parade… in Ukraine’s Sevastopol,” Heletey was quoted as saying by Reuters.

His remarks about Sevastopol were greeted by applause by the lawmakers.

The minister’s words dovetailed perfectly with Poroshenko’s own observation: “We will not allow the Ukrainian army to be dishonored and defamed.”

Leadership, vision, inspiration and patriotism have been absent for years from the hallowed halls of Ukraine’s government. With the Ukrainian nation embroiled in a bloody war for its independence and survival with Russia, the Ukrainian nation deserves to feel and hear such confidence-building speeches from its civilian and military leaders.

Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister Details 3 Demands

Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Danylo Lubkivsky, speaking at the Ukrainian Crisis Media Center today, succinctly enumerated Ukraine’s three demands of warring Russia, according to a Facebook posting.

Lubkivsky, a Ukrainian diplomat of the younger generation, noted in no unclear words: “Our vision is clear: cessation of hostilities by terrorists, release of hostages, restoration and launch of national dialogue.”

He pointed out that the international community, including individual countries such as the United States, as well as regional and global aggregations such as the European Union and the United Nations, has expressed its staunch support for Ukraine.  The only voice against Ukraine is Russia, which is the target of global derision for invading Ukraine and annexing its territory.

Lubkivsky said at a meeting with Foreign Ministers of Ukraine, Germany, France and Russia, Ukraine presented its three messages:

“First. We demand a sustainable and unconditional bilateral ceasefire, which would pave the way for further de-escalation in the region.

“Second. All terrorist groups have to release immediately and unconditionally all hostages.

“Third. We urge Russia to exercise its full and direct influence over the terrorists to stop the bloodshed and to ensure efficient border control.”

Poroshenko’s Good Choices for Military Leadership

A friend of mine from Lviv, a former airborne officer, has offered a positive view about President Poroshenko’s choices for Minister of Defense and army chief of staff, pointing out that they bode well for the patriotic development of the Ukrainian army after years of denationalization and destabilization under Putin’s lackey Viktor Yanukovych.

The new minister, Valeriy Heletey, was born in the Transcarpathian region of Ukraine. By education, training and career path, he is a militia officer. His career began to grow quickly after he married the daughter of Volodymyr Horbulin, former secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine. Nonetheless, my friend said, Heletey is a proactive professional.

He was able to mobilize a national security service that quantitatively and qualitatively surpassed the special operations units of the National Security Service of Ukraine and the Ministry of Internal Affairs “Berkut” unit. My friend observed that Heletey’s selection is positive because appointing a high-ranking defense official from another ministry means that the president is genuinely intent on purging the Ministry of Defense of the “old boy” network of graft, corruption and ineffectiveness.

On the other hand, my friend expressed unreserved support for the appointment of Viktor Muzhenko as the new chief of the general staff. He described Muzhenko as a soldier’s general, sort of like General Patton, who does not shy away from combat but rather heads toward it. Muzhenko is regarded as a brave and professional solider, who has served tours of duty in Yugoslavia and Iraq. But most importantly, he has planned, commanded and led the current victorious Ukrainian anti-terrorist operations against Russian terrorists in Ukraine.

My friend’s son was assigned to Muzhenko’s detail and said that he not only planned the operation but personally led the soldiers in battle against the enemy. My friend noted that not every Ukrainian general even with an automatic weapon and body armor would personally lead troops in battle. Furthermore, he observed, a regular soldier would not stand up in battle if his general was hiding behind his spine.

Ukraine’s Defense Chief Pledges to Retake Crimea

The stream of patriotic rhetoric initiated by President Poroshenko is finally spreading throughout the highest levels of government in Ukraine.

Newly appointed Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Valeriy Heletey, 46, pledged today in the halls of parliament that the Ukrainian army would retake Crimea, restoring the Ukraine’s indivisibility and territorial integrity.

“There will be a victory parade… in Ukraine’s Sevastopol,” Heletey was quoted as saying by Reuters.

His remarks about Sevastopol were greeted by applause by the lawmakers.

The minister’s words dovetailed perfectly with Poroshenko’s own observation: “We will not allow the Ukrainian army to be dishonored and defamed.”

Leadership, vision, inspiration and patriotism have been absent for years from the hallowed halls of Ukraine’s government. With the Ukrainian nation embroiled in a bloody war for its independence and survival with Russia, the Ukrainian nation deserves to feel and hear such confidence-building speeches from its civilian and military leaders.

 Reblog

The Battle of Slaviansk & Eastern Ukraine

The Ukrainian forces’ victories this week in the war with Russia reminded me of the wonderful song “The Battle of New Orleans.”

I dedicate this chorus to the men and women of the Ukrainian armed forces, the National Guard of Ukraine and the volunteer battalions who are fighting, dying and winning for Ukraine against imperial Russia.

We fired our guns and the British kept a’comin.
There wasn’t nigh as many as there was a while ago.
We fired once more and they began to runnin’ on
Down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.

… Keep on firing your guns and keep the Russians a runnin’ all the way to Moscow.

Слава Україні! Glory to Ukraine!

Victorious Week for Ukrainian Armed Forces

Last week turned out to be an inspiring, victorious week for the Ukrainian nation and its armed forces.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko called the moment when Ukrainian troops hoisted the Ukrainian flag over the Russian terrorists’ seat of power in Slavyansk “a turning point” in a war that has killed nearly 500 people and exposed for the world to see Russia’s historic never-ending aggressive behavior.

As Poroshenko pledged, Ukrainian soldiers went on the offensive and began pushing back the Russian terrorists from their strongholds. The victories restored Ukrainian control over several key cities in eastern Ukraine and were hailed by the local population, which, after weeks of sporadic access to stores and food, was immediately fed by the Ukrainian military.

In the wake of a Ukrainian-declared truce that was persistently violated by Russian mercenaries, Poroshenko appropriately annulled it and declared: “We will attack and we will liberate our land.”

For Ukrainians, it was the first time they heard their president sound presidential. With one sentence he inspired Ukrainian soldiers and the nation and they stood up to liberate Ukraine. He demonstrated leadership and vision and they followed him.

Despite violating the truce, when the military tables turned against him and Ukrainian armed forces began to score victory after victory, Putin cynically yelled foul and insisted on a ceasefire. Apparently his mercenaries were demanding it so they could regroup. They needed to regroup in Ukraine because, reportedly, they are not being allowed to return to Russia. Three hundred Russian terrorists were executed by Russian border guards for crossing the Ukraine-Russia frontier.

In addition to Poroshenko’s inspirational, patriotic oratory, his two newly appointed military chiefs also contributed to a new esprit de corps among Ukrainian servicemen and women.

Ukrainian troops raised a Ukrainian blue-and-gold national flag over the rebel stronghold of Slavyansk in Ukraine’s biggest tactical victory since the start of the conflict in the east of the country. Ukrainian National Guard entered the city on Saturday after ousting Russian terrorists overnight.

In Slavyansk, Ukrainian guardsmen uncovered a huge arsenal of Russian-made weapons including ammunition, automatic rifles, mines, mortars and recoilless rocket launchers.

In quick succession, Ukrainian flags were raised over city halls of Kramatorsk, Druzhkivka, Kostiantynivka and several other municipalities while the Russians escaped to Donetsk and Luhansk.

Dmytro Tymchuk, a respected defense analyst with close ties to the Ukrainian military, noted: “It will be many times more difficult to fight in regional centers where there is a huge number of peaceful residents,” he said, adding that the Russian border remains under mercenaries’ control in several places.

He also warned: “There is crazy pressure on the Ukrainian government from ‘friendly’ Europe to force it to end active operations in Donbas and announce another ceasefire,” he said, noting that Germany in particular was leading the “pacifist choir.”

Indeed, European fairweather friends were shocked by Ukraine’s victories and expressed support for a ceasefire. Germany, France and others would rather Ukraine and Russia reach a stalemate rather than Ukraine defeat Russia.

Indeed, NATO, faced with a newly aggressive Russia and the prospects of a Ukrainian victory, has ruled out rapid expansion for the alliance that was created to harness Moscow’s aggression, reported the AP.

Four would-be members, including Georgia, have been informed that admission to NATO isn’t in the cards anytime soon. For some, that means dashed hopes. Macedonia’s foreign minister told the AP in a statement it was a “step backward.”

The bottom line: NATO, celebrating important anniversaries this year, will welcome no new members when President Barack Obama and other leaders convene for a summit in Wales in early September. Analysts have said NATO members are worried about granting, or being perceived as granting, security guarantees that could quickly be tested by Russia. That’s particularly true of Georgia, which has been waiting since 2008 for the U.S.-led military alliance to make good on its promise of admission.

NATO is opening itself and its members to further Russian assaults if it doesn’t restrain its belligerent nature.

On Sunday, bolstered Ukrainian forces pursued retreating Russian terrorists after seizing their symbolic bastion in a morale-boosting win that appeared to dim hopes for a ceasefire in the bloody separatist insurgency.

Poroshenko noted the Russian terrorists were regrouping around the million-strong eastern industrial hub of Donetsk and vowed to flush out “terrorists who are entrenching themselves in large cities.” Despite Russian propaganda, Ukrainian armed forces are paying close attention to how they target their artillery bombardment, avoiding all civilian locations.

The Russian terrorists admitted suffering heavy losses while fleeing the strategic city nearly three months after its capture that marked the second phase of Moscow’s blatant invasion of peaceful Ukraine.

The withdrawal from Slavyansk was led by senior militia commander Igor Strelkov, a colonel in Russia’s GRU military intelligence unit. His presence proves that Moscow is behind the invasion.

He told Moscow-backed television that he was busy plotting a counter-offensive that he himself would lead. “I intend to issue an order (on Monday) creating a central military council that will include all the major field commanders,” Strelkov told the LifeNews channel. “This agency will help coordinate how we intend to defend the Donetsk People’s Republic and, possibly, a part of the Luhansk People’s Republic,” he said in reference to the other separatist region of eastern Ukraine.

Regardless of the significant military accomplishments, Poroshenko cautioned that “This is not a full victory and no time for fireworks.”

Indeed, Mr. President, the terrorists have not yet been repelled back to Russia, but the Ukrainian nation deserves at least a brief respite to cheer their new leaders and armed forces and pay respect to their new generation of martyrs and heroes.

Імперія зла все ще загрожує Україні і колишнім поневоленим народам

Незважаючи на те, що Радянський Союз – або імперія зла як покійний президент Рейган правильно назвав його - розвалився, небезпека від Москви для сусідних держав не зменшилася. Насправді, загроза, яку вони зустрічають сьогодні зі сторони Росії є настільки небезпечною, як це було під час формування Антибольшевицького Блоку Народів, Тижня Поневолених Народів та Світової Антикомуністичної Ліги.

Антибoльшевицький Блок Народів (АБН) був створений як координуючий центр для визволення поневолених народів Радянської Російської імперії під час Другої Світової Війни. Ідеологічні засади АБН були заложені під час таємної конференції представників неросійських народів, яка відбулася 21-22 листопада 1943 року в районі Житомира, Україна, з ініціативою Організації Українських Націоналістів(б), на якій платформа спільної революційної боротьба проти російського комунізму і поневолення була сформульована. Мета ABN було розчленування Радянського Союзу на національні держави – іншими словами, де-колонізація СРСР.

Серед країн-учасниць протягом різних періодів часу були українці, вірмени, болгари, білоруси, козаки, хорвати, чехи, естонці, грузини, угорці, латиші, литовці, словаки, туркменістани, в’єтнамці і кубинці. Інші, такі як поляки, були споріднені прихильники.

Ярослав Стецько, близький друг Степана Бандери, очолював АБН аж до своєї смерті в 1986 році. Девіз ABN був «Свободу народам; Свобода людині”. Його відділи існували в багатьох країнах аж до 1996 року, коли після розпаду Радянського Союзу, АБН був розвязаний.

Сполучені Штати взяли на себе активну мету підтримувати стремління до незалежності поневолених народів, прийнявши на державаному рівні Проголошення про Тиждень Поневолених Народів. У 1959 Президент Дуайт Ейзенгауер підписав закон 86-90, який зообовязав наступних президентів підписати подібні прокламації кожен рік, у тому числі і Президента Барака Обаму. Цього року зміст проголошення має особливе значення в наслідок російської інвазії України.

Українці та інші полонені народи також сприяли формуванню Всесвітньої Антикомуністичної Ліги, яка в даний час існує, як Всесвітня Ліги за Свободу і Демократію.

Це коротке резюме історії показує, що народи близько Росія завжди переживали російське ярмо, поневолення, знущання, катування і боролися внутрішньо і на зовні, щоб визволитися від ланцюгів Росії. Їхні лідери протягом багатьох десятиліть зверталися до США та інших держав за допомогою проти російської агресії. Від збройного конфлікту Другої Світової Війни та післявоєнних років, до національно-інтелектуального відродження 1960-х і 1970- років, до Гельсінського руху і далі, поневолені народи прагнули всевічно віддалитися від Росії: свобода, незалежність, Європейський союз і НАТО були їх цілі.

З огляду сьогоднішної російсьої інвазії України і приєднання Криму, що нагадують події більш жорстоких епох розвитку людства, вимоги колишніх поневолених народів про захист НАТО стали голоснішими. У випадку України, членство в ЄС є кроком у правильному напрямку, але навіть цього не достатньо.

Розташування військ, літаків і військових кораблів НАТО в Східній Європі посилає сильний сигнал підтримки для колишніх поневолених народів і є попередженням для Росії. Але необхідно застосовувати більш єдиний глобальний тиску на Росію для того, щоб вона вивела своїх кровожадних терористів з України і врятувати Східну Європу від навалу Москви.

Сподіваюся, що лідери США, ЄС і НАТО не повторюватимуть їхню сумну відмову допомогти Східній Європі в 1940-х, 1950-х і 1960-х роках, а навпаки продовжуватимуть бути дійсним останнім оплотом свободи і демократії для колишніх поневолених народів.

Evil Empire still Threatens Ukraine & X-Captive Nations

Even though the Soviet Union – or the evil empire as the late President Reagan correctly called it – has collapsed, the danger to the surrounding countries has not abated. As a matter of fact, the threat that they are facing today is as deadly as it was at the time of the formation of the Anti-Bolshevik Bloc of Nations, the Captive Nations Week Proclamation and the World Anti-Communist League.

The Anti-Bolshevik Bloc of Nations was created as a coordinating center for the liberation of captive nations of the Soviet Russian empire. The ABN attributed its existence and its ideological foundations to an underground conference of representatives of non-Russian peoples that took place on 21-22 November 1943 near Zhytomyr, Ukraine, on the initiative of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists, and at which a platform of joint revolutionary struggle against Russian communism was formulated. The goal of the ABN was the dismemberment of the Soviet Union into national states – in other words, the de-colonization of the USSR.

Among the participating nations for varying periods of time have been Ukrainians, Armenians, Bulgarians, Byelorussians, Cossack, Croatians, Czechs, Estonians, Georgians, Hungarians, Latvians, Lithuanians, Slovaks, Turkestanians, Vietnamese and Cubans. Others such as Poles were regarded as kindred spirits.

Headed by Yaroslav Stetsko until his death in 1986, the ABN’s motto was “Freedom for nations; Freedom for individuals.” Its branches existed in many countries and it disbanded in 1996 after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

The United States took the lead in recognizing the independence aspirations of the captive nations by adopting the Captive Nations Week Proclamation. In 1959 President Dwight Eisenhower signed Public Law 86-90, which mandated successive presidents to issue proclamations every year, including President Barack Obama. The legacy of the proclamation holds special meaning this year with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Ukrainians and other captive nations also contributed to the formation of the World Anti-Communist League, which currently exists as the World League for Freedom and Democracy.

This brief recap of history demonstrates that nations near Russia have always endured the brunt of Russian subjugation and have struggled internally and externally to free themselves of Russia’s chains. Their leaders have been appealing to the US and other countries for help against Russian aggression for decades. From the armed conflict of World War II and the post-war years, to intellectual dissent of the 1960s and 1970s, to the Helsinki movement and the waning years of Moscow’s influence, the captive nations sought to distance themselves from Russia: Freedom, independence, the European Union and NATO were their goals.

With today’s Russian invasion of Ukraine and annexation of Crimea, which harken to more brutal eras of mankind’s evolution, the x-captive nations’ pleas for NATO protection have become louder. In Ukraine’s case, membership in the EU is a step in the right direction but even that is not enough.

NATO’s deployment of troops, aircraft and naval vessels to Eastern Europe sends a strong signal of support to the x-captive nations and a warning to Russia. But more unified global pressure must be applied on Russia for it to withdraw its terrorists from Ukraine and to save Eastern Europe from Moscow’s wrath.

Hopefully the US, EU and NATO leaders will not repeat their woeful abandonment of Eastern Europe of the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s but rather will continue being the x-captive nations’ last bastion of freedom and democracy. 

Brave Ukrainian Female Soldier Held by Terrorists

One of the Ukrainian soldiers held captive by Russian terrorists is a female trooper named Nadiya Savchenko. Her buddies have said that Savchenko, a pilot, is the epitome of a Ukrainian patriot.

According to Inforesist and TCN, Russian mercenaries in Luhansk want to exchange her for four of their comrades held by Ukrainian soldiers.

Savchenko’s sister, Vera, met with her and her captors.

A video of Savchenko went viral on the Internet after the terrorists posted a video of her interrogation. Talking to terrorists, she holds her nerve and does not reveal any classified information because she is convinced that she will be killed.

Savchenko, from Kyiv, has served in the Ukrainian Army for more than 10 years. She went through Iraq and departed to the east voluntarily. She was fighting in the ranks of the battalion “Aidar” and was captured in late June near the town of Shchastia.

Vera said the terrorists have called her themselves. She was even allowed to speak Nadiya, who continues to be courageous. The Russian thugs have transferred her form Luhansk to Donetsk.

“So far, there is no talk about money, so no one is making money from it. They gave me a list of four people who they want to see. I understood that they are ready in principle, but Kyiv is muddying the waters a bit,” said Vera.

Savchenko is currently being held in solitary confinement in Voronezh, Russia. The Ukrainian government is initiating a global appeal for her release.

We will Liberate Our Land!

Excerpts from President Poroshenko’s speech to the Ukrainian nation Monday, June 30, 2014, the 73^rd anniversary of the Declaration restoring Ukrainian Statehood of June 30, 1941:

For 10 days we have demonstrated to the Donbas, Ukraine, and to the world our commitment to peacefully settle the conflict triggered externally. 

We have demonstrated the goodwill of Ukrainian authorities to Donetsk and Luhansk citizens. 

Hardworking and peaceful people, which is the vast majority of the citizens of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, feel our sympathy, love and respect. They saw a sincere willingness of Kyiv government to take into account their opinions and interests. And they realized their safety is our top priority. 

Ukraine got even more international support as I signed the Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area with the EU during the ceasefire (on June 27)…

The political leadership of the separatists demonstrated unwillingness and inability to control the actions of their departments and the terrorist gangs of looters. 

The Russian Federation Council defense and security committee revoked the permission to send Russian troops in Ukraine; it was positive, but symbolic action. We haven’t seen concrete steps to de-escalation of the situation. Despite all this, the peace was, is and will be my goal. Only the tools to achieve it have changed…

We held a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine. After discussing the situation as Commander-in-Chief I have decided to end the ceasefire.

Protection of the territorial integrity of Ukraine, safety and life of civilians requires not only defensive but also offensive operations against gunmen.

Ukraine’s Armed Forces, National Guard, the State Border Guard Service, Security Service received appropriate instructions…

We will attack and we will liberate our land…

The Armed Forces of Ukraine, National Guard, and other units will not allow themselves to use force against peaceful people. They never attack residential neighborhoods. 

Ukrainian soldiers and guardsmen will risk their life, just not to expose threats to women, children and elderly men. 

I call on every citizen of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts to understand my decision and to become our allies in return for the security of Donbas …

Dear compatriots! 

The road to peace was somewhat more complex than desired. Do not want to embellish reality. It will be hard and difficult. 

Now we should unite to protect Ukraine more than ever. It requires dedication and discipline not only at the front but in the rear.

But there was not a single war after which the peace didn’t come. 

So it happens this time. 

Glory to Ukraine!

Finally, the President of Ukraine sounds presidential. President Poroshenko demonstrates leadership. His words are heroic. This has rarely been heard from a President of Ukraine.

God give President Poroshenko fortitude, stamina and vision to lead the Ukrainian nation in battle against the evil Russian invaders. God protect and give strength to the Ukrainian soldiers and guardsmen in their battles with the Russian enemy. God save the Ukrainian nation.

Glory to Ukraine!