Posted on 02/26/2014 10:26:25 AM PST by Navy Patriot
SIMFEROPOL, Ukraine — Fistfights broke out between pro- and anti-Russian demonstrators in Ukraine's strategic Crimea region on Wednesday as Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered major military exercises just across the border.
The tests of military readiness involve most of the units in central and western Russia, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said in a televised statement. He said the exercise would "check the troops' readiness for action in crisis situations that threaten the nation's military security."
In Kiev, opposition leaders who took charge after pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych fled were working on forming a new government to chart a path forward for the country and its ailing economy. Parliament has delayed the announcement of the new administration, which was originally set for Tuesday, reflecting the political divisions among the various factions of the opposition.
When announcing Russia's military exercises, Shoigu didn't specifically mention the turmoil in Ukraine, which is bitterly divided between pro-European western regions and pro-Russian areas in the east and south.
(Excerpt) Read more at bostonglobe.com ...
I think they can expect a lot of these skirmishes —
yes...guaranteed there are insurgents and rabble rousers sent by Putin to flare up violence.
the Crimea is, ethnically, predominately Russian, it was off and on an official part of Russia
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