Background reading to the 2014 Russian Ukrainian War

Posted by likeitis On January 06, 2015 0 Comment

These are articles I’ve collected over time which give a realistic coverage of what has happened and what may be….

February 2015

Merkel and Holland travel to Moscow with a new peace plan but many suspect it is appeasement similar to that attempted between Chamberlain and Hitler:

Interpreter Magazine: If Kyiv Accepts Moscow’s Demands, Moscow Will Only Make More

Photos of Russian Airborne Troops involved in the battle for Vuhlehirsk – https://twitter.com/raging545/status/561154696115912704

The light begins to dawn for a Russian MP fighting with the DNR … 90% of his fellow soldiers are Russian and he asks – Where are the locals?

Russian organisations who help people volunteer to fight in Ukraine – Radio Free Europe: Volunteer Now! Russia makes it easy to fight in Ukraine.

An argument for not providing arms to Ukraine – UpFront: Why arming the Ukrainians is a bad idea.

YouTube video of Russian POW who claims they were told if they retreat they will be shot – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfwRMcNMqi0.

January 2015

Analysis of why Putin suddenly suggested NATO was fighting in Ukraine – Radio Free Europe: http://www.rferl.org/content/putins-fantasy-island/26816242.html

Interesting Analysis of Putin’s international tactics – use violence and then suggest that violence could be even worse as a form of blackmail to achieve goals and also why the Wests ‘give Putin a chance to save face’ approach may be pointless – http://nv.ua/recommends/ponyat-i-ne-prostit–31805.html

Rebels, separatists, Russian volunteers? Article on how the Western media report: http://mysticsufferings.blogspot.com/2015/01/of-rebels-insurgents-irregulars.html

Article with good links about the Mariupol rocket attack and why Putin does not want to officially use Russian troops – Washington Post: A Putin surprise in eastern Ukraine?

Very well put together piece about why Ukraine will probably not recover the Donbas – Why Donbass lost to us

NBC News – Rebels suffer heavy losses

Stats on the foreigners leaving Russia – RBC: from Russia leaves foreigners.

September 2014

Newsweek article claiming to interview some Russian soldiers who were sent to Ukraine – Newsweek: Betrayed.

How Russian TV glorifies those ‘volunteer’ to fight in Ukraine – BBC: Russian TV lauds ‘volunteers’ fighting in Ukraine.

August 2014

The now famous ‘back of the bus’ video showing a major military force arriving in Luhansk just before the Ukranian army was pushed back: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMmNHZetNn0

And a very well put together piece about Russian forces in use at that time using satellite imagery – Ukraine@war: Google Earth shows how Russians crossed border to create Ilovaisk massacre.

Which also ties in the another thorough piece of satellite imagery research on how the Russian army has set up logistical support – Conflict Report: One base to rule them all

General

Politico Magazine: Putin’s Coup: How the Russian leader used the Ukraine crisis to consolidate his dictatorship

Putin wants Russian industry to modernise the Russian military but this has been tried before – Reuters: Russia’s Navy: More Rust than Ready

Putin is pushing Russia into a new arms race with America – interesting article on how high that hurdle is – Washington Times: Russia seeks sea power with decrepit fleet

Putin has tried to push the idea that Crimea is special to Russia. This video suggests history is not on his side and Crimea may once again bring Russia down – https://www.youtube.com/watch?x-yt-ts=1422327029&x-yt-cl=84838260&v=R5aDgRb2jzQ#t=772

Why has Putin become like he has about the West and is the West partly to blame – ft.com: Battle for Ukraine: How the west lost Putin

A fascinating look at why Russia can’t translate scientific breakthroughs into commercial success – The Boston Globe: Russian Science is Amazing. So why hasn’t it taken over the world?

A presentation on Russia’s Intelligence System and the ‘Seventh Column’ (those who may ultimately turn on Putin) – In Moscows Shadow: Russia’s intelligence system – a presentation

A well argued blog on why the Russian economy is always struggling – The Russian Monitor.

Hybrid War

Russia’s use of unmarked soldiers in Crimea and Ukraine is nothing new