The Interpreter published an investigation, discussing the motivations of those involved in the battle for Donetsk International Airpot. The article discusses one, Yevgeny Korolenko, a rifleman and veteran of the Soviet war in Afghanistan: He was a mechanic by training who had a job in some friends’ computer repair shop as a delivery man until they were unable to pay him. His wife speculated that perhaps his shortage of funds could have pushed him into volunteering for Donetsk, although he didn’t speak of it.
Volunteer battalions have been training in Kyiv region and left today for Eastern Ukraine. These groups of volunteers have joined together with the mission of recovering Crimea to Ukraine, as well as keeping up Maidan -- to 'remind the government of why we are here now.'
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| The 'Azov Battalion' in Kyiv |
Today, according to Reuters, Putin asked Russia's upper house to revoke the right it had granted him to order a military intervention in Ukraine to defend Russian-speakers. His statement came minutes after a Ukrainian military helicopter was shot down by pro-Russian groups near Slovyansk. The nine people on board included technicians who were installing equipment to monitor violations of Poroshenko's new peace plan. All nine are believed to be dead.
The temporary ceasefire is so far proving not to be respected. Poroshenko has ordered the Ukrainian military to fire back without any hesitation in response to attacks that contravene the ceasefire. Not quite sure what the purpose of the ceasefire is in that case ... is Europe even listening anymore? They seem to be pleased with whatever lip-service Putin gives to 'peace' and 'retreating military from the Ukrainian border'. Meanwhile Putin has proven, through his action/reaction tactics, that international law is essentially meaningless and that territorial sovereignty does not exist for the former Soviet states.
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