Criticism from Ukrainians continues to be
aimed at the Ukrainian government’s so-called anti-terrorism operation (ATO).
Ukrainian special-forces have been sent to Donestk and Luhansk regions, but
with orders that their action must be very limited. Many Ukrainians are
frustrated that more action is not being taken to do what is needed to stop the
separatists and reclaim state buildings. In response, the director of the SBU Anti-Terrorist Centre has stated that
the operation is aimed at curbing aggression, not killing people.
There are multiple layers of this
situation: Firstly, the Ukrainian military is significantly underfunded and
cannot withstand a prolonged presence in the Eastern regions. Already some
troops dispatched to smaller towns have been left without food and supplies.
They have relied on locals for food and water.
Secondly, many of the army personnel have
promised locals that they will not shoot fellow Ukrainians, no matter what
orders come from Kyiv. Some commentators have interpreted this as an indication
that the Ukrainian armed forces are siding with the separatists. This is not,
however, a shift in loyalty. Rather, Ukrainian soldiers are refusing to engage
in civil war—they are, by recognising their community and country, ‘fighting’
for unity.
Thirdly, the Ukrainian government is due
to enter into meetings with Russia, the EU and the US beginning tomorrow, 17
April, in Geneva. They cannot, no matter what the protestors outside Parliament
in Kyiv are demanding, take action that would be seen as setting off a civil
war.
The Ukrainian government is in the most
difficult situation. They are paralysed in terms of their governance and
economic capacity. They are now fighting decades, almost of century, of corrupt
leadership, trying to govern a population rift with fear, and fighting against
the Kremlin’s propaganda machine.
Meanwhile, Russian troops continue to
maintain their position at the Ukrainian border. And Russian officials (the
Kremlin), maintain contact with the separatist movements in Ukraine. The armed
‘anti-Ukrainian’ forces are making no secret of the fact that their orders come
from Moscow.
In Ukraine, the leader of SBU Anti-Terrorist Centre has reported that the
number of Russian ‘saboteurs’ in Donetsk is steadily growing: From 150 ‘green
men’ on Sunday evening to at least 300 today.
Russian media announced
that Yanukovych will return to Donetsk on Easter. In response, the acting
Prosecutor General of Ukraine reminded that four criminal proceedings are
currently underway against the ousted Ukrainian President.
However, also today, the Russian
Minister of Economic Development was forced to admit that due to the
‘deterioration of the international situation’ and ‘capital flight,’ the
Russian economy is undergoing a slow-down. Simultaneously, the United States
declared its readiness to introduce new sanctions against Moscow.
It is important to point out that
few weeks ago the European Commission warned about the economic
consequences of the situation in Ukraine. They explain that the negative
consequences of the crisis on Ukraine and Russia will extend all over the Euro
zone due mainly the Russian energy dependence of some countries.
Finally, a Ukrainian member of parliament,
the former deputy minister of internal affairs,
claims he has received information from ‘reputable sources’ that Russia is planning
to stage fascist demonstrations in Western Ukraine cities. The plan is to
terrify the population in Eastern Ukraine and undermine international support: ‘Everything will appear as if some
Ukrainians with fascist flags and evoking Hitler are demonstrating in Lviv.’
However, Russian TV channels have already been restored and
Ukrainian channels undermined in the region of Donetsk. Then, Russia is already
able to continue their fear-mongering and lies about fascists running Kyiv and
Western Ukraine.
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