Ukraine troops on high alert amid growing tension with Russia

[DFighter]

(CNN)Ukraine is ordering its troops to be on the "highest level of combat readiness" Thursday, amid growing tensions with Russia over Crimea.

The order comes after Russia accused Ukraine on Wednesday of launching a militant attack at "critically important infrastructure" near the city of Armyansk, Crimea, according to Russia's state news service TASS.

But Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko refuted the claims, calling them "insane" and suggesting Russia's aim was more military threats against its neighbor.

The spat has seen tensions between the countries rise to their highest level since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014.

Violent clashes on the streets of Ukraine between pro-European activists and pro-Russian supporters in early 2014 set the scene for the annexation.

By March of that year, thousands of Russian-speaking troops poured into Crimea. Weeks later, Russia completed its annexation of the peninsula in a referendum that was slammed by Ukraine as illegitimate.

 

 

Photos: Crisis in Ukraine

Ukrainian security forces patrol in the village of Bobrovyshche on July 14, 2015. More than 6,400 people have been killed in the conflict in Ukraine since April 2014, the United Nations says.

Russia celebrates Crimea anniversary 02:21

Fast forward to this week, with Russia's Federal Security Service claiming to have foiled a Ukraine-backed terror attack in Crimea, according to TASS.

The report said Russian forces spotted the "saboteurs" and while attempting to detain them, found "20 improvised explosive devices containing more than 40 kilograms of TNT equivalent, ammunition, fuses, antipersonnel and magnetic bombs, grenades and the Ukrainian armed forces' standard special weapons."

It said two Russian servicemen were killed in ensuing clashes.

Watch: Donald Trump -- 'Russia will not move on Ukraine'

Russian President Vladimir Putin held an urgent meeting with his security council to discuss additional measures in Crimea on Thursday, TASS reported. The country also announced naval exercises in the Black Sea for the next three days "to counter underwater saboteurs."

Putin's show of force in Crimea 01:57

Ukraine has denied the attack, with President Poroshenko saying in a statement: "Russian accusations that Ukraine launched terror attacks in the occupied Crimea are equally cynical and insane as its claims there is no Russian troops in eastern Ukraine."

Watch: Putin says he considered nuke alert over Crimea

Ukrainian Security Services adviser Yuriy Tandit added that "Ukraine does not seize or return by force its territory now and will not do so in the future," in a statement reported by Interfax-Ukraine.

US Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt also disputed Russia's claims, saying on his Twitter account that: "Russia has a record of frequently levying false accusations at Ukraine to deflect attention from its own illegal actions."

He added that the US had so far seen no evidence to support Russia's accusations.

A NATO official also told CNN that Russia had provided no evidence for the accusations, adding that it was monitoring the situation closely.

"We are deeply concerned by the recent upsurge in violence in eastern Ukraine, and the increase in ceasefire violations along the line of contact, primarily by the Russian-backed militants," said the official.

"We call on Russia to reverse its illegal and illegitimate annexation of Crimea."

Source + video and many more photo's: http://edition.cnn.com/2016/08/11/europe/ukraine-high-alert-russia-crimea/index.html

 

[LazyHippo]

All this happens because of the illegal coup on 2014 against V.Yanukovich, legitimate ukranian president. All the 'rebels' that encouraged the event were funded by occident, specially USA and their allies in Europe. All this to increase western influence over Ukraine. Now about the Crimea situation, it has always been russian (russian people, russian culture) until the USSR disolution, thats when Ukraine took "political control" over Crimea, but it has always been an autonomous republic. 

Now they had a referendum and obviously the population (russian and tatars) decided russian political administration, like their history tells. Those people know the political changes in Ukraine were illegal.

[DFighter]

All this happens because of the illegal coup on 2014 against V.Yanukovich, legitimate ukranian president. All the 'rebels' that encouraged the event were funded by occident, specially USA and their allies in Europe. All this to increase western influence over Ukraine. Now about the Crimea situation, it has always been russian (russian people, russian culture) until the USSR disolution, thats when Ukraine took "political control" over Crimea, but it has always been an autonomous republic. 

Now they had a referendum and obviously the population (russian and tatars) decided russian political administration, like their history tells. Those people know the political changes in Ukraine were illegal.

perhaps it always have been a strange situation but you also can't deny russia simply invaded crimea and they are also responsible for the current east ukraine situation

then the downing of mh17 where sadly I had a personal good friend that died it's pretty clear that was done by russia

and the coup might have been illegal as you said but all started the moment yanukovich withdrew the application for the EU trade treaty that russia forced him not to do

if he didnt do that it wouldnt have happened

so I guess both sides are guilty only 1 side are occupying parts of ukraine the others are there on request

 

 

[LazyHippo]

perhaps it always have been a strange situation but you also can't deny russia simply invaded crimea and they are also responsible for the current east ukraine situation

then the downing of mh17 where sadly I had a personal good friend that died it's pretty clear that was done by russia

and the coup might have been illegal as you said but all started the moment yanukovich withdrew the application for the EU trade treaty that russia forced him not to do

if he didnt do that it wouldnt have happened

so I guess both sides are guilty only 1 side are occupying parts of ukraine the others are there on request

 

 

 

I agree with you, Russia is not a white dove, he has supported the separatist regions of Donetsk and Lugansk to go against Poroshenko´s government.

Im sorry to hear that you lost a friend on that downed Malaysia Airline flight, I dont really make up my mind though, of who made that odious event, but something tells me it was made by pro-ukranian forces to have an excuse to go against the pro-russian people. But anyway, thats just a theory, it could be all the opposite way.

[L3ftY.]

if you look at putin's long history on how he got to where he is today, he's a blatant criminal. he even stole shipments of food destined for his own starving people to sell on the black market to make money. 

 

his hunger for power has no boundaries and Crimea is just another trophy for his bookcase of treasures. hell, he even stole Robert Kraft's (owner of New England Patriots) super bowl ring lol

 

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/patriots-robert-kraft-vladimir-putin-stole-my-super-bowl-ring/

 

wouldn't trust the guy as far i could throw him...

 

 

 

/end_of_rant_for_the_day

Edited August 12, 2016 by L3ftY.

[Dingus]

He is KGB afterall!

 

Add to the powder keg WWIII hysteria what's going on in Turkey and the world is about to boil over!

[Flible]

It's sad to think Putin is the man in power right now. If the case were any different, I'd be supporting an invasion of Crimea. Putin's insane. Sadly, he's also brilliant beyond comprehension.