Posted on 04/23/2014 3:30:35 AM PDT by kronos77
Do they prove anything? What comes across from the photos is that at least one unit of heavily armed, well-equipped, pro-Russian paramilitaries has been operating in the Donetsk region.
But it cannot be said for sure that they are actual Russian special forces, as the Ukrainians argue. At the same time, the idea that they might be a local militia from Donetsk is belied by their apparent military professionalism.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said last week there were "no Russian units, special services or instructors in the east of Ukraine" but such denials of military involvement ring hollow for many after Russia's covert actions in Crimea, especially after he subsequently admitted troops had operated there.
Without using photos, Gen Philip Breedlove, Nato's commander in Europe, argued convincingly last week that they must be "Russian forces".
That said, theoretically, the paramilitaries in the photos could be ex-servicemen from Russia or elsewhere. Military veterans of the Soviet war in Afghanistan have been active on both the nationalist side in Ukraine and in patriotic groups in Russia.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
“endorsed by the Obama administration”???
Just like this "pretend president of Ukraine" and his cohorts instigated the coup, so to, they continue to cry wolf...and the US keeps giving them bandaids in the form of CASH. Suckers we are.
And, no. The photos don't "prove" anything. Could be a Russian special op, but most look like weekend nazis playing dress-up. It's an insult to American bikers to call them 'bikers,' but...
We’ve got mercernaries (whatever they call Blackwater now) in the Ukraine; I’m sure the Russkies do too. The question is whether they are working for Moscow or Donestk. Donestk won’t be able to pay them much, but they could be doing it for the patriotism.
I would not be surprised at all if Russia wasn’t covertly supplying self-defense forces in eastern Ukraine. There are a lot of Ukrainian military units that have joined the separatist side. What is clear is the local uprisings have reached the point now where putting them down by force risks massive loss of life.
The Maidan regime in Kiev along with its Western backers are completely out of touch with reality. And they have been since February. And threatening Russia with more sanctions won’t change at all the fact that Ukraine is on the verge of breaking up.
Obama endorsed, state dept. confirmed? It must be true then, as they have as much credibility as Baghdad Bob.
Barack Ozero credibility.
If it:
Looks like a duck...
Quacks like a duck....
Swims like a duck............
I saw one of the older bearded guys and said to myself “Hey that’s my brother”. But then I thought he’d be out fishing rather than get involved in that mess.
Lol...why don’t they send Joe Biden over to Donetsk to find out?
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