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At least nine Ukrainian soldiers were killed in attacks by pro-Russian separatists in the east overnight, the Kiev defence ministry has said.
Eight were killed and another 17 wounded when rebels opened fire on a military checkpoint near the town of Volnovaha in the Donetsk region, ministry spokesman Bogdan Senk said.
Heavily armed “terrorists” carried out the attack, the ministry said.
Another soldier was killed and two injured in clashes in the neighbouring Lugansk region.
It’s the the deadliest day for the military in weeks of fighting between Russian separatists and Ukrainian security forces in the area.
Includes reporting from AFP.
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Putinistas inbound.
I’m not a Putinista or in the pay of the Kremlin.The Russians are playing the geo-political chess game like masters,and Putin has made the likes of Obama,the mad-dog Kerry,Thatcher’s boy BIlly Hague,Cameron and the skirt chasing Hollande look like rank amateurs.
While the Europeans are busy cutting off their nose to spite their faces,to suit the US’s crazy agenda,the Russians have been busy doing a huge gas deal with China worth 400 billion,and that’s only the beginning.Expect the Russians to also tie up similar deals with India in the near future.
Instead of Europeans having energy flexibility and leverage to negotiate the best price,to heat our homes in the winter time,we’re going to become dependent on overpriced fracked gas from the US.Genius.There’s only one winner in that situation and it’s not Europe.
Europe needs to stop dancing to the US’s tune.It’s a declining power similar to what the British Empire was at the start if the 20th century.Overextended and putting itself deeper and deeper into debt to maintain it’s bloated military and hundreds of overseas bases.It’s superpowers days are almost at an end.
@EuroInf. Are you old enough to remember the seventies when the same old rant about the US going down the tubes?….maybe the eighties when it was Japanese corporations who were going to buy and control the US .. I know you don’t like it at all but the fact is the US is still the most influential and important economy in the world.
‘ I know you don’t like it’ You don’t know me.so please don’t tell me what I like or dislike.In geo-politics there is no room for ridiculous fandom.
The world is a very different place to what it was in the 80′s.China is set to overtake the US as the world’s biggest economy,Russia is on the rise once again,as are nations like India and Brazil.The gas deal the Chinese signed with the Russians is just another nail in the coffin of the petro dollar.
The sun is setting on the day of US global hegemony.It will remain a great power,but no longer the worlds only superpower.
It happens to all great empires,from the Romans,to the British,to think the US is any different is pure hubris.
If you are going to spout sanctimonious claptrap on a public forum then readers have every right to assess what your opinion is and what you like or dislike. Grow up.
You diddnt answer any of his points stephen. telling him to grow up isnt a point.
His point was the US is in in demise. I responded that we have heard all this before gong back to he 70′s and still the US is the most influential economy. The future is bright too with energy independence, the US is set to be a major supplier of oil and natural gas. So his views on petrodollars are misguided too.
If the separatists keep this up this will provoke the Ukrainian army into a deadly retaliation probably on civilians. Putin will use this as an excuse to invade to protect the separatists that he is arming to the teeth.
The Ukrainian army are not involved. They refuse to attack their own. The attackers are hired fascists from west Ukraine without military training. They have no hope of success, unless they count murdering unarmed civilians as a success.
Are you reading a different account to me?
The article and the BBC website states that 9 Ukraine soldiers were killed by Russian separatists!
The article says they are Ukraine soldiers. Yet the fact is the majority of Ukraine soldiers cannot be relied upon to take orders from Kiev. They are beefed up with Pravy Sektor thugs are foreign mercenaries notably academi or black water from the us who provide training for the fascists.
Proinsias don’t be ridiculous. The BBC, the Journal and all other western based media are in on it. They are being paid by the Americans to churn out this propaganda! You should only take your news from independent (Russian backed) websites :) Nicole should be here soon to explain in more detail. If she accuses you of being on the CIA payroll, don’t be insulted. Her bark is worse than her bite :)
Try to read other news, not only from one side.
Guys, I haven’t got my cheque from the CIA in weeks. I’m thinking of defecting to the FSB -all that Gazprom cash from China…
Me too, my handlers have left me in the dark. Do the Russians pay well?
My latest CIA cheque was issued in Yen.
They do pay well – free gas for life. Just remember in the interview when they ask you when did WW2 start, that it was 1941 and don’t mention any of that nonsense about Germany invading Poland, Czech Republic etc. following the signing of the non-aggression pact -that German/USSR alliance never happened and 22,000 Polish officers were definitely not killed by the Russians who saved Europe from the fascists and are doing so again. A few homophobic slurs also go down well, but at the same time they do like shirtless men.
Rob likes to spout this kind of rubbish that actually countering people’s points with meaningful argument.He’d rather take the easy eay out and label them ‘pro Putin’ or ‘Putinista.Just be aware of the fact that Rob is a self-confessed ‘Mcainiac’ in other word a fan of John McCain.A man who has pictured in the company of Fascists in Ukraine and head-chopping Jihadist lunatics in Syria.
Well Rob if forced to choose between shirtless man and a “woman” with a beard I’ll stick to shirtless man! As some other clown commented indeed I am secretly gay!
@ Rob Gill. For Russians, the Great Patriotic War started in 1941 – not WW2
Thank god there are people in Europe who can stand up and fight Nazi thugs. The people of Donestk and Lugansk are fighting for their democratic right to self determination and to not be governed by unelected Nazi bankers. So much for Russian expansionism, Russian troops are moving away from the Ukraine border. The Nazi thugs might be great at burning alive unarmed protestors and strangling pregnant women but they are no match for determined patriotic volunteers defending their homeland with a democratic mandate. I can’t see the Kiev junta, or whoever they appoint after their next fake election, lasting more than a year in power. In the end the Pravy Sektor thugs will turn on them once they’ve received their just reward in the East.
Which one of these guys are you?
http://www.ireland.mid.ru/diplist_en.html
Maybe the Assistant Defence Attaché!
So the guys who threatened to hang anyone who attempted to facilitate the national vote on the 25th by the balls are fighting for democratic rights? I’m sorry Riddle, but in this case you’re simply way off the mark.
Not one of you have ever answered my question……..
Name one member of this “fascist” parliament that was NOT democratically elected by the Ukranian people?
Out of all those staff in the Russian embassy there isn’t one woman….how surprising! I wonder do any of them frequent The George….now that would be funny!
Riddle me this -you are some joker! A Democratic mandate in the East?? Sespite all independnet polls showing no appetite for independence despite their disgudt at the interim Kiev government -they have no interest in breaking up Ukraine and want to vote in the general election. You honestly think that was a fair referendum in Donetsk? I think Munster (at least the Gaeltacht areas) should secede from Ireland. I’m going to buy some rocket launchers ,take over a few polling booths with force tomorrow and put the vote to the people. Sure only a few people will vote but I can then declare the independent republic of Munster. If the national army dare to come near and restore order -we will fight…
Riddle me this is the last one standing! The others have given up trying to justify the Donestsk People’s republic -maybe after seeing that the 89% vote was arranged two days before the referendum gave them pause for thought…
Rob, as much as I wish it were true I somehow doubt that the Putin Pushers have gone away. Give it a few hours and these articles will be filled with the words “fascist” and “junta” by people who clearly have no idea what they’re saying.
Riddle me this. O yes, because there is no far right movement or nationalist in Russia. Stop acting all high and mighty, Russia is full of nazi’s as well. If combatting right wingers is the agenda then I’m assuming Russia invasion of Greece and Italy is up next. Stop making excuses for Moscow’s blatant land grab.
I’m not a’Putin Pusher’ but I will say this.Anybody who does not think Svoboda is a Fascist party with Nazi sympathies is deluded.Anybody who does not think Praviy Sector are Nazis with the blood of dozens of people on their hands are deluded.
The Kiev regime regime while not being solely Fascist entity contains fascist elements.
John Russia hasn’t invaded anyone. It seems you are losing touch.
I never said they have, quiet clearly you don’t understand my comment.
I re read your comment john. You are speculating about Russia invading Italy or Greece to combat fascists no? But they haven’t invaded Ukraine despite an openly fascist regime which murders protestors and calls those who don’t submit “terrorists”. So again your point makes no sense.
Riddle, they invaded Crimea. That is an undeniable fact.
“Russia hasn’t invaded anyone”
(*except Crimea).
Great that you’re talking about democracy Riddle – I take it you’ll respect the result of the May 25th referendum (the one the pro-Russians have been trying to prevent from happening…).
Answer my question maybe?? No I didn’t think so
Jason it’s absolute rubbish. They already had troops in Crimea perfectly legally. Local defence forces acted to secure the territory against the Kiev junta. The local Ukrainian military defected 75% to the separatist side. Even when the junta appointed a new naval commander he defected live on TV the same day. The referendum was held. It’s called democracy, self determination. The idea that Russia invaded Crimea is patent nonsense.
Avina the May 25th elections have absolutely no validity. Either Ukraine breaks up or there are negotiations between all sides followed by an election. This is what president Putin has suggested. He also asked the federalists to postpone their referenda which they did not agree to. There is no one in the election running who represents the federalists. It’s an undemocratic joke with zero validity.
“They already had troops in Crimea perfectly legally. Local defence forces acted to secure the territory against the Kiev junta”
You could not be more wrong if you tried. Putin himself admitted that the militia storming government positions and military bases were in fact Russian soldiers. As I’m sure you’re aware, seizing Ukrainian property was NOT an agreed part of Russia’s presence in Crimea and constitutes an act of war.
You seriously need to update yourself on what’s going on.
Jason overthrowing the democratically elected president of Ukraine in a violent coup d’état wasn’t part of any agree my either but it didn’t stop it from happening.
Riddle, again you’re spouting nonsense. Of course there was an agreement that Russian personnel were permitted to be present on their leased naval base, but that doesn’t give them free licence to roam Crimea at will, storm Ukrainian military facilities and seize ships by force! What planet are you living on??
As for your contention that the May 25th election has no validity, why not? You don’t seem to have a problem with the last election when Yanukovych gained power, so why is this one different? Because you don’t like the expected result? The hypocrisy of people like you who talk about democracy and yet dismiss Ukraine’s only democratic election since Yanukovych lost power is staggering! Whilst you’re at it, why not answer Saul’s question – how many of the current interim government’s deputies were NOT democratically elected?
I have said throughout this conflict that the people of Crimea and East Ukraine have a right to self-determination and have a very strong case for more autonomy, however this doesn’t change the fact that they are democratically still part of a greater Ukraine. Any solution has to be negotiated – land grabs by force (which is exactly what this is, particularly given the leaked true ‘referendum’ results) are unjustifiable under any circumstances.
Avina the people of Crimea Donetsk and Lugansk have and are in the process of excercisng their right to self determination. Yet you condemn the very same in the same paragraph as a land grab. You admit the last fair elections were in 2010 yet when the wishes of the people were disregarded by the US coup you then expect Ukrainian to just swallow it all. You are talking utter rubbish and are completely deluded with the nonsense you are spouting. You really are utterly confused in your argument.
So Riddle, if a group of people in (say) Wicklow were armed by a foreign government, decided to declare independence from Ireland, held a sham referendum (thereby denying the rest of the people of Wicklow the opportunity to have their views recognised) and then violently resisted any attempt of the Irish Defence Forces to enter the county you wouldn’t have a problem with that?
Are you in some sort of post-adolescent rebellion phase or what, because the inanity of your arguments certainly make it seem that way!
Riddle, you obviously weren’t paying attention to the leaked phone calls where the 87% yes result for the Donetsk referendum was agreed upon two days before the referendum even took place. If you think that what is happening in eastern Ukraine and what happened in Crimea is democratic then you’re even more deluded than I first thought.
Sure Avina. And if a bunch of Nazi thugs ran Enda Kenny from Irelsnd at the barrel of a gun we’d all just have to accept it. Then the new Taoiseach could negotiate whatever he wanted with the IMF and the people of Wicklow would be “terrorists”!
Dont get offended Riddle, theres always been an element of nazi sypathisers in this country. That and prostituting ourselves to america, dancing little jigs, rolling out red carpets and playing fiddles for them in the hope they might set up a factory here on which theyl pay no tax, poison our environment and then leave if our economy improves enough that we require higher wages. So wemusnt offend them after all. So dont mind if they give you hassle for questioning what our wonderfully fair and balanced media is telling you. Just laugh when they go singing rebel songs on paddys day. The hypocracy is hillarious.
And if the rest of the elected public representatives in the Dail selected an interim leader pending fresh elections you’d think those elections had ‘no validity’ and the sham referendum in Wicklow (whose result was decided before the vote even took place) took precedence over it then??
Yeah Joe spot on. Though I stopped getting offended a long time ago!
Avina you’re Irish analogy is a joke. You should add that Wucklow was part of another country until 1930s, that Ukraine is not at all a historically distinct country like Ireland. It’s just a tiny rump with bits of Russia and Poland thrown in. Your idiotic analogy is just nonsense.
I agree Riddle, Ukraine’s history is complex, which is why I think the people of Crimea and East Ukraine have a strong case for more autonomy.
But tell me this – why are you so afraid of a full election like that which brought Yanukovych to power?
Come to think of it why are you so afraid of a properly conducted referendum on independence for Crimea / East Ukraine such as we are seeing in Scotland at the moment? (ie. full public debate over a period of several months, a properly conducted ballot overseen by NEUTRAL third-party international observers, more than one option on the ballot paper etc..)?
Instead what we have seen is rushed referenda conducted with no debate, whilst staring down the barrel of a gun, overseen by invited observers only (who are known to be sympathetic to the pro-russian side), with ‘results’ which are known to be severely at odds with all opinion polls conducted over the past couple of years (surprise surprise, the leaked actual referendum results accurately reflect the opinion polls), and the real clincher, not giving a full range of options to reflect possible voter wishes! And you’re promoting this as democracy!! The mind truly boggles.
I miss Nicole. I guess frank, Horgay and all are still asleep dreaming up conspiracies?
Riddle is still here, defending the indefensible…… so it isn’t a total loss.
I miss Nicole though, mad as a bicycle, but good for chuckles.
Amazing how they are never online in the morning.
They are at the Russian embassy awaiting their pay cheques. After they get their briefs they will be online this afternoon spouting their nonsense.
Most of you like Declan here are incapable of original thought.Just able to spout ridiculous cliches like ‘ ‘Putinista’ or ‘Kremlin lover’ without offering up a coherent opinion.You’re just as bad as the pro Kremlin shills.Two sides of the same coin.Pathetic.
European Infidel
Not to mention personal slander from Declan Noonan of which I am sure it is against the charter of Journal.ie
Any other forum like he would be infracted and banned..
He seems to also spout the same mantra continuously when he gets cornered.
Can you not get that through your thick skull?
This is the type of slander that comes across from Declan Noonan…
Rather than attack the post he attacks the poster.
“Can you not get that through your thick skull?”
“Frank, once again I ask that you Seek Help!”
“Frank, seek help!”
Mainstream media ”Putin is definetly arming, training and instigating this uprising. However the previous uprising in the west that put the current govt in power had NOTHING to do with america or europe”. Commentors on here: ”Yea dat sounds about right. Only russians do bad tings”
Now i brace myself for comments calling me aconspiracy theorist and a tin foil hat wearer for stating the obvious fact that this is a proxy war same as any other. russia is involved with the eastern insurgents and the us was obviously involved with the previous uprising. Both sides should keep their grubby little paws out of other countries but America and europe should certainly have thought twice before meddling on russias doorstep and now they will no doubt be taught a lesson. Once again the comments here show just how much we love to grovel to america and cant accept the fact they are capeable of just as much evil as russia.
Well reading down through the various comments and previous comments regarding the Ukraine its quite clear that most interesting and readable comments are from Riddle, I would laugh if some of the sarcastic remarks made against him were funny but in fact most of them sound nerdy and made by unfunny boring people ……. but worth reading responses from jeremy and saul …. its kinda like watching a donkey race a horse :-)
This is the best article I’ve read on the history of Ukraine and current conflict. A long read but worth it. It’s in a German magazine and Padraic did say you should only read German media sources
Be careful now. He will be on here talking about Vietnam again. Padraic thinks that the American public know nothing about that war even though it’s been written and spoken about for decades now.
Mainstream media ”Putin is definetly arming, training and instigating this uprising. However the previous uprising in the west that put the current govt in power had NOTHING to do with america or europe”. Commentors on here: ”Yea dat sounds about right. Only russians do bad tings”
Now i brace myself for comments calling me aconspiracy theorist and a tin foil hat wearer for stating the obvious fact that this is a proxy war same as any other. russia is involved with the eastern insurgents and the us was obviously involved with the previous uprising. Both sides should keep their grubby little paws out of other countries but America and europe should certainly have thought twice before meddling on russias doorstep and now theywill no doubt be taught a lesson. Once again the comments here show just how much we love to grovel to america and cant accept the fact they are capeable of just as much evil as russia.
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