US/NATO War on Russia

[Lauren Johnson]

Update from the Saker (3/7)

• The situation outside Crimea is rapidly deteriorating. Yesterday, a SWAT team of the Ukrainian SBU has arrested the "popular governor" of the Donetsk region. He whereabouts are unknown. The local police has also arrested an unknown number of anti-insurgent demonstrators.
  
• Arrests of protesters have also happened in other cities of the Ukraine, including Odessa. To my knowledge there are no signs of police forces siding with the anti-insurgent forces anywhere outside Crimea.
  
• I have been parsing the pro-insurgency websites and newschannels and they regularly report about Ukrainian units in Crimea which did not recognize the Crimean authorities and which remain loyal to the insurgency. These sources claim that these units have even kept their weapons. Some sources speak of 11 Ukrainian units, all surrounded by Russian forces.
  
• The Russian blogosphere is awash with various reports all corroborating what what pretty clear from day 1: the mysterious armed units which appeared overnight in Crimea are, indeed, Spetsnaz GRU. They seem to be supported by Air-Assault and Airborne units. Russian Mi-24 attack helicopters are also regularly seen.
  
• The insurgents also seem to be in control of the Russian-Ukrainian border were they are constantly subjecting Russian citizens to intense searches, harassment and where many are simply turned back.
  
• The Ukrainian SBU is threatening to arrest the ex-governor of Kharkov, Mikhail Dobkin, who resigned to run for president, on charges of plotting to overthrow the regime by force. He is also being investigated for threatening the territorial integrity of the Ukraine. So much for him running in the next elections.