Exclusive: Russia masses heavy firepower on border with Ukraine - witness

[Luiz 4,253]

Russia's army is massing troops and hundreds of pieces of weaponry including mobile rocket launchers, tanks and artillery at a makeshift base near the border with Ukraine, a Reuters reporter saw this week.

Many of the vehicles have number plates and identifying marks removed while many of the servicemen had taken insignia off their fatigues. As such, they match the appearance of some of the forces spotted in eastern Ukraine, which Kiev and its Western allies allege are covert Russian detachments.

The scene at the base on the Kuzminsky firing range, around 50 km (30 miles) from the border, offers some of the clearest evidence to date of what appeared to be a concerted Russian military build-up in the area.

Earlier this month, NATO military commander General Philip Breedlove said he believed the separatists were taking advantage of a ceasefire that came into force in February to re-arm and prepare for a new offensive. However, he gave no specifics.

Russia denies that its military is involved in the conflict in Ukraine's east, where Moscow-backed separatists have been fighting forces loyal to the pro-Western government in Kiev.

Russia's defense ministry said it had no immediate comment about the build-up. Several soldiers said they had been sent to the base for simple military exercises, suggesting their presence was unconnected to the situation in Ukraine.

read more : http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/27/us-ukraine-crisis-russia-military-idUSKBN0OC2K820150527?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews

 

[Azor Ahai 18,861]

The whole Ukraine vs Russia reminds me of the Israel-Palestine war :(

 

 

[Melech 9,900]

The whole Ukraine vs Russia reminds me of the Israel-Palestine war :(

 

 

​It's not even remotely comparable 

[Azor Ahai 18,861]

​It's not even remotely comparable 

​In both situations people suffer because of their leader's greed. 

That's enough for me.

[Luc 4,776]

​In both situations people suffer because of their leader's greed. 

That's enough for me.

Not at all. A large part of the people living in Donbass encourage this war because they want independence or to be a part of Russia. But a large part doesn't want to be a part of Russia.

It's a way different situation than Crimea. Russia has no need for this poor area besides its mining industry. Crimea was stragetically important, and an overwhelming majority supported Russian annexation. In Donbass, maybe like half of the people support Russian annexation.

Putin will also have no excuse to annexate it: at least they could say that 'well it used to be a part of Russia ans it's actually Russian but we gave it to Ukraine not too long ago'. 

Also, Russia doesn't want a shrinking economy. People are being increasingly mad. Thousands of parents have had to make a secret funeral, because their sons died in East-Ukraine which nobody is allowed to know. And also, evidence clearly suggests that a Russian BUK rocket shot down MH17.

The best solution would be to let Crimea go, lift the sanctions as long as Russia doesn't do anything else. Build big border defence in East-Ukraine and give Russian ethnicity the same rights and status of a minority group in Ukraine. Try not to join the NATO just yet. The West should stop using Russian gas as much as possible, and get it from partners like the US and Norway.