Blog 10: Ukrainian Forces Kill 3 Pro-Russian Demonstrators

Ukrainian Forces Kill 3 Pro-Russian Demonstrators

Summary:
Ukrainian security killed three pro-Russian activists, they wounded 13 and took 63 captive in a firefight overnight in the eastern city of Mariupol, on Thursday.A crowd made up of civilians as well as militants formed outside the base, the conflict indicated another challenge for the new government, as in other cases where pro-Russian groups have seized administrative buildings and police stations.In a glaring humiliation for the government, a military operation to confront pro-Russian militants in the east unraveled on Wednesday with the entire contingent of 21 armored vehicles that had separated into two columns surrendering or pulling back.The separatists are well armed and have been accompanied by bold local supporters, including unarmed civilians and elderly women, who mingle in front of and among the armed men.There are few signs that the Ukrainian military or the National Guard is trained or equipped for such crowd-control tactics. Ukraine disbanded the country’s riot police. The eastern protesters are also accompanied by far more heavily armed groups, which Western governments say include Russian soldiers or soldiers equipped by Russia.In Mariupol, the attackers opened fire on the perimeter guards at the base at about 300 people.Though gunshots were fired throughout the day and continued sporadically through the evening in Slovyansk. A pro-Russian militant climbed into the driver’s seat of one of the vehicles and spun it around on its tracks, screeching and roaring, to please the watching crowd.The events on Wednesday underscored the weakness of the new Ukrainian government as it begins critical talks about the country’s future with the United States, Russia and the European Union in Geneva on Thursday. The Ukrainian contingent that surrendered handed over their vehicles to men in unmarked green uniforms. They drove them to the central plaza of Slovyansk and parked them there for all to see.The acting head of the Fatherland party in Parliament, claimed that the armored vehicles had flown Russian flags as part of an ingenious subterfuge to get through pro-Russian crowds.Ukrainian news media quoted saying it was a “guerrilla approach” to infiltrate separatist-controlled areas through pro-Russian civilian mobs. Later, the Ukrainian military conceded that six vehicles had been captured but said nothing of the surrender of rifles from the other column.After the first column of six vehicles surrendered, the second, which consisted of 15 vehicles and a radio communication van, halted on the outskirts of the town .Elsewhere in Ukraine, armed pro-Russian separatists reportedly seized the City Hall building in the provincial capital of Donetsk. Militants blockaded an administrative building in Yanakiyeve. A Russian website, Regnum, citing an unnamed source identified as a Polish diplomat, reported that the deposed president, Mr. Yanukovych, intended to travel to eastern Ukraine over the weekend. Mr. Yanukovych has been living in Russia.In Brussels, the head of NATO said Wednesday that the alliance would strengthen its military presence in Eastern Europe.

Analysis:

Yesterday and today, marks one of the lethal and biggest days of protesting in Ukraine against Russian supporters. This is a hate crime and some call it "gorilla warfare" because of the actions with stealing cars and taking people, while killing 3 members that were pro Russia, and wounding many more. It sounds like a violent protest to me. This has gotten out of hand and shows how weak the Ukraine government is over its own people, due to the fact that they do not have a current president and are using outside sources like the United States to help their government for the mean time. Some say that this shows that because of U.S help and European help, that Ukraine is weak and lenient on other nations. This is a Global Issue because it represents what can potentially happen when Ukraine uses help from other countries. It seems as though the U.S and Europe are unwelcome there and can potentially hurt the U.S and European groups, because look what they did to pro-Russian people already. This can cause a War that we do not need as a whole World. It seems as though it has just begun since there are people captive this is just the beginning, because there will have to be actions done to retrieve the people back. Violence has now occurred, showing that violence will continue until each country gets what they want. This is not a good sign Globally, and if matters seem to get worse, It seems as though troops will be strengthened and cause a possible World War III this is not going to end well and can cause destruction of the world, if actions like this continue. Another point that this article made was the president of Ukraine who disappeared, was now found hiding in Russia, and is traveling back to Ukraine this weekend, this helps build the argument from weeks prior when they said that the beginning of it all and the feud between Ukraine and Russia was planned out to begin with, shows that this could be potentially true since Russia was hiding him from his own country. I find this sketchy and hard to believe what is going on between the two countries, I feel there is some inside scoop that no one knows. There are more complications to this than we know, and I feel like it will all blow up, causing more tension and more of a chance for war. This needs to settle down and stop the Global issues before it gets out of hand.

Blog 9: Satellites Show Russian Forces Poised Near Ukraine

Alyse Schmidt
Professor Stephen Sills
SOC 202-01
April 11, 2014

Satellites Show Russian Forces Poised Near Ukraine

Summary:

NATO released satellite photographs on Thursday showing Russian military equipment, including fighter jets and tanks,as many as 40,000 troops near the border with Ukraine. The release came the same day that President Putin reiterated a threat to curtail gas sales to Ukraine.The photos, taken by a commercial satellite imaging company called DigitalGlobe, offered some of the first documentary evidence of a military buildup that the West says Russia could use to invade Ukraine at any moment. The Kremlin has accused the West of exaggerating Russia’s military presence along the Ukrainian border. Still, Russia has warned that it may take military action to protect ethnic Russians in Ukraine if they are threatened.Officials said they had distributed commercial photographs, rather than pictures taken by military satellites, because of the complexities of declassifying classified images. Obama and other Western leaders have said that Russia has massed troops and equipment along its borders and have demanded that Russia withdraw those forces. The top NATO commander, Gen. Philip M. Breedlove, said in an interview last week that Russia’s 40,000 troops could attack on 12 hours’ notice.Brigadier Deakin said “The Russians have an array of capabilities, including aircraft, helicopters, special forces, tanks, artillery, infantry fighting vehicles,” Brigadier Deakin said, according to a NATO news release. “These could move in a matter of hours.”The photographs show more than 20 helicopters near the Russian city of Belgorod, about 25 miles from the Ukrainian border. In addition to accusing the West of exaggerating Russia’s military presence, the Kremlin said on Thursday that any stationing of NATO troops near Russia’s borders would be a violation of international

Analysis:

As I stated last week, I said that there was too much down time, and that something was boiling or being planned between the two countries. As the accusation goes for last week, or possibly the week before, I do not think that Ukraine and Russia are plotting together, or training each other troops, for now that Russia has tanks and other fire arms facing Ukraine and can enter at any moment, I feel as though Russia still obviously has anger on Ukraine, and is ready to fight for Crimea. Russia thinks it theres to have and they want it back, not only that but they would be invadingUkraine and violating international laws. That being said, international authorities and international forces are going to have to punish Russia for not listening to what the UN had placed the rule on them a couple weeks ago. Since this will include an international force to go and punish Russia, this makes it a Global Issue because now we are going International, around the Globe everyone has to be in the same page of punishing Russia. I believe Russia knows exactly what they are doing, as they said Russia could invade Ukraine at any moment now, but they haven't. I feel as though they are waiting for the perfect time, and know immediately that the U.S and U.N will send forces if they have too. Russia doesn't care about the rules placed on them not to invade Ukraine, they are going to do it anyway, and have its perfect intentions of starting something bigger. I see this as a start of a World War III, and that is certainly a Global Issue, because stated in class, due to the technology and the amount and force of the weapons we have today, that could be the distraction of the World. As soon as Russia crosses Ukraine's boarders, I believe that is the start of a huge Global Issue.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/11/world/europe/satellites-show-russia-mobilizing-near-ukraine-nato-says.html?ref=world&_r=0

Blog 8: Ukraine Implicates Ex-President and Russia in Protesters’ Deaths

Ukraine Implicates Ex-President and Russia in Protesters’ Deaths

The Ukrainian Authorities said that Thursday (April 3,2014) that former President Yanukovych and Russian security were involved in plans for police units to open fire on protestors and kill 100's of people before the downfall of the government. This report has no evidence to back it up, but both Ukraine and Russian authorities denied. The police have already arrested the police that were involved in the shootings, but other people involved fled to Crimea which was annexed by Russia last month. Ukraine's authorities are now responsible and have to give a comprehensive explanation of who carried who to carry out the shootings and caused a lot of deaths in the capital's main square. Apparently the Russians supplied the Ukraine police officers with weapons and trained them how to use explosives, weapons and equipment during a protest. Russia denies any of this though. The Ukrainian authorities are now charging Yanukovych their former President with charges of murder. The press denies him of these charges, and the police who fired said that their order to fire came from their commanders they didn't link to why he was involved but just ordered for his arrest. The Russian foreign minister suggests that since their isn't any evidence the charges be dropped. 

Analysis:

Since following the Ukraine story for six weeks now, I feel as though things are settling down oddly. I see know a connection between Russia and Ukraine, even though they are supposed to hate each other right now. This is weird that they are both denying anything as well as Russia who should want nothing with Ukraine after the annex of Crimea is saying that Yanuovych shouldn't be charged without any real evidence, that is suspicious and I feel like they are working together. If this is true then I believe that this could possibly be a Global Issue, or a set up against the other countries such as the United States to get involved and even last weeks blog, the United Nations. I feel as something is bigger planned and can cause an outburst of crime not against each other now but against the other countries, since Russia was training Ukrainian police forces. That they are out to get someone. The tension has drastically changed between last week, when it was total chaos to now a lost nothing. It seems as though this could possibly be the beginning of something Global. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/04/world/europe/ukraine.html?ref=world

Blog 7: United Nations General Assembly Vote Isolates Russia

United Nation General Assembly Vote Isolates Russia

The first barometer of global condemnation of Russia's annexing Crimea Ukraine and its Western backers persuaded a large majority of countries in the United Nations of Assembly on Thursday to dismiss the annexation as illegal even as Russia sought to rally world support for the idea of self determination. The resolution was proposed by Ukraine and back by the United States. The resolution had 100 votes in favor, 11 against and 58 abstentions. The two page text does not identify Russia by name, but it says the referendum as " having no validity" and calls on countries not to recognize the redrawing of Ukraine's border's. Ukraine's foreign minister says that Russia's actions were " a direct violation of the United Nations Charter." Russia states that Crimea should not have been apart of Ukraine anyway and appealed to another element in United Nations principles which is the right of Crimeans to self determination. That assertion was refuted by the United States ambassador by stating " The chaos that would ensue is not a world that any of us can afford." The resolution was regarded as an important pressure point on Russia by the United States and European Union. A former American Diplomat stated that" This is critical for the U.S-Europe strategy to isolate Putin and condemn him internationally for Russia's violation of the U.N Charter in invading Crimea." Although the resolution has no enforcement power it symbolically significant in the history of General Assembly votes. This directly shows Russia to not further invade Ukraine or they will face greater global criticism.

Analysis:
I previously stated in my blog two weeks that the U.S should step into this position because the situation between Russia and Ukraine in Crimea was getting out of control, Since the country of Ukraine's president disappeared and they wouldn't have another election for 3 months, therefore their government was torn to shreds and they were soon going to be invaded by Russia. Then last week I talked about how the United States over stepped their boundaries in Ukraine because they were forcing their rules on Ukraine, I think the United States has a trend of doing that to often, I just thought the U.S should be there for support while Ukraine gets their government together, but the U.S started enforcing rules and sanctions and I feel they overstepped their boundaries. Now this week I think that there is the right amount of work done to prevent any unlawful actions. I previously thought since there were growing tensions between Russia and the U.S that they would grow into a war or more of an Global Issue getting other countries involved. Now that the U.N stepped in and created the resolution it heres what Ukraine wanted and if Russia were to still pursue Crimea they will face Global Criticism and will have to face the consequences from not one country but the whole Globe. This is a good idea for now, but if Russia continues to pursue Crimea, then that is when this becomes more of a Global Issue because Russia will have to be punished and that never ends well. Hopefully this will not start any more tension or grow tensions between countries because if another World War would break out, as in Sociology class 202 we stated that, it might be the destruction of the World due to all the technology and weapons we have today, which most importantly would be a Global Issue.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/28/world/europe/General-Assembly-Vote-on-Crimea.html?ref=world

Blog 6: U.S. and Russia Swap Sanctions Tit for Tat Over Crimean Crisis

U.S. and Russia Swap Sanctions Tit for Tat Over Crimean Crisis

Obama stated that he would expand sanctions against Russia. Obamas warning of this week is that The Unites States would ratchet up the costs for Russia if President Vladimir V. Putin moved to annex the breakaway province of Crimea. In the tit-for-tat response Moscow banned nine American officials from entering Russia including three senior white house officials. Russia'a Foreign Ministry denounced the American sanctions as a tool "from the arsenal of the past" that would backfire. Obama states " These are the choices that the Russian government has made, choices that have been rejected by the international community." Obama also states that he signed an executive order that would allow to impose sanctions on Russian industrial sectors. President Putin, spokesman stated that he denounced the sanctions as unacceptable and suggested that one of those on the list Presidents Putin Chief of Staff spent more than 20 years in K.G.B's foreign intelligence service ad had already banned " a majority of countries in the West." President Putin makes a statement against the United States by saying" I'm sorry that a country that calls itself democratic uses sanctions for an honest opinion and for honest statements." On monday they announced seven sanctions on Russian officials. The executive order signed by Obama laid the legal groundwork to punish Russian Companies involved in arms trade. The new sanctions deepen the confrontation between the West and Russia.

Analysis:
The United States have clearly overstepped their boundaries in Russia. Russia doesn't allow the sanctions or the rules that the U.S is placing on their country, which is understandable. Russia has their rules prior and they are obviously different from Russia, The U.S is not one to put and enforce their rules on another country. There is now deepening tensions between the two countries and this is when we have a Global Issue. Another country is going to have to either settle this or this could potentially be dangerous if the feud between the two countries deepen even more.Russia could use another country to fight off the U.S and the next thing that could happen is a war or possibly violence. The fact that Russia clearly says that sanctions are unacceptable and Obama continues to sanction them more and more is only causing Russia to become more angry, I do not see this having a good outcome, some other country or government s going to have to step in causing this not only to a problem between the two countries but soon enough causing a global issue.








http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/21/us/politics/us-expanding-sanctions-against-russia-over-ukraine.html?ref=world

Blog 5: U.S. Announces New Sanctions in Ukraine Crisis

US Announces New Sanctions in Ukraine Crisis

The United States escalated in response to Russia's military and economic response on Ukraine on Thursday (March 6,2014) Obama and administration took the first steps and Secretary of State John Kerry met for the second time with Russian Minister Sergey V. Lavrov on ways to defuse issues between Russia and Ukraine.This is one East-West confrontations since Cold War. The Russians didn't react well, they were quite angry, they are anti-American sanctions. Obama stated that the sanctions were offered to show that the world stays united against the Russian occupation of Ukraine's Crimea Peninsula. Obama emphasized that they were taken “in close coordination with our European allies,” in effect rejecting efforts by Russia to split the United States from its partners on the other side of the Atlantic. “I’m pleased our international unity is on display at this important moment,” Jay Carney, the White House press secretary stated “responsible for or complicit in threatening the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.”American officials says that this applies to not only Russians but also people among Ukraine. The new restrictions expand the visa bans that had already been imposed on those considered responsible for human rights abuses and political oppression in Ukraine which have happened in prior months. Obama issued an executive order that provides an explanation for the legal basis for imposing sanctions on “individuals and entities” who have undermined Ukraine’s territorial integrity. The restrictions apply to misappropriate Ukrainians or people who are trying to flee Ukraine and get help from Russians. The United States stated that the new sanction was an executive order that it "is a flexible tool that will allow us to sanction those who are most directly involved in destabilizing Ukraine, including the military intervention in Crimea". 

Analysis:
Now following this story for three weeks, After last week stating that the United States should get involved because they need military help, to control Ukraine. Now that this actually happening I believe that they are doing to much for Ukraine/Russia and aren't thinking of the country. This is now become a Global Issue, the article said it itself this is the most East-West interaction since the Cold War. The crime and the norm violations going on in Ukraine right now, are out of hand and they need their rules re structured. I know that they do not have a president at the moment and have re elections in May but that is in two months. America is coming in and setting their own rules and norms upon Ukraine for the moment, and it's not only making Ukraine upset but Russia as well. I know we aren't supposed to give our opinions but this doesn't sound right for the U.S to do this is Ukraine. It's not written anywhere that the U.S has to take over Ukraine's crime and determine what is right and wrong for that country. That shows enthrocentrism to me, because the US's laws do not define what is okay or what rules that Ukraine should listen to, because what the US says that they cant do it could of been all right for Ukraine was used to and it says to me that the US thinks that they are better and can rule over Ukraine, even though they didn't want the new sanctions of the US.




http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/07/world/europe/ukraine-sanctions.html?ref=world

Blog 4: Armed Standoff in Crimea as Russia Assures U.S. on Ukraine

Alyse Schmidt
Dr. Stephen Sills
SOC 202
27 November 2014

Blog 4

This blog was about the "Armed Standoff in Crimea as Russia Assures US on Ukraine". Masked gunmen on Thursday, February 27, 2014, seized the government buildings in the capital Crimea a region of Ukraine. The gunmen barricaded themselves and waived the Russian flag, which raised the specter of a separatist rebellion that could tear any country apart. Viktor K. Yanukovych released the statement on Thursday that he remained lawful to the president of Ukraine and appealed to Russia for his own safety. His precise whereabouts are unknown. Russian news reporters stated that Mr. Yanukovych would hold a news conference at the city Rostov-on-Don which is southern Russia. The Secretary of State of Russia John Kerry stated on Thursday that Russia would respect Ukraine's territorial integrity. Mr. Kerry said that everyone has to step back and avoid any kinds of provocations from Ukraine. Local police sealed off all the government buildings in Crimea. Congress scheduled a presidential election on May 25. Crimea has been a town of conflict between Ukraine and Russia, Ukraine received Crimea after the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. Mr Yanukovych made a statement that warned Russian regions east and south of Ukraine including Crimea that they will not accept anarchy and outright lawlessness. Members of Mr. Yanukovych deserted him, and the Ukraine parliament impeached him. Again stating the new election is on May 25.


Analysis:
I have been following this topic for about 2 weeks now, this has only escalated now where a president has been impeached. The country is now fighting with its neighbor country which it used to be apart of in 1991 before the Soviet Union collapsed. My predictions is that Russia and Ukraine will begin to fight. This is now becoming more and more of a Global Issue, the crime rate is starting to increase and the Ukraine government is beginning to fall. They do not have a president until the 25 of May and that is a perfect opportunity for Russia to hit. They have been in tension since 1991, especially over Crimea. I believe this can possibly start and become a war, and therefore start more countries to start getting involved causing more of a Global Issue. If military isn't used, then Russia will begin more outbreaks such as the one today in Crimea and that will upset Ukraine causing a War, and spreading along. In class we discussed how when there is a lack of money and unemployment rates that crime increases, i posted the link below but looking at Ukraine's economy they are dependent on $15 million to Russia, this money and the lack of economic status Ukraine has can be another determining factor for the two countries.


http://money.cnn.com/2014/02/24/news/economy/ukraine-economy/

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/28/world/Europe/ukraine-tensions.html?ref=world

Blog 3: As Deaths Rise in Kiev, So Do Fears Ukraine Will Use Troops

Alyse Schmidt
Professor Stephen Sills
SOC 202-01
20 February 2014

This article "As Deaths Rise in Kiev, So Do Fears Ukraine Will Use Troops" is about how Ukraine descended into deeper violence on Thursday (February 20th, 2014) as both the protestors and the police officers started using firearms. The fear began to rise, so now President Viktor F. Yanukovych declared a state of emergency, which could herald the deployment of military. The Kiev municipal of health stated that 39 people have died on Thursday, which brings the number to 67 people who have died in the past 3 days. There was a total of unconfirmed 70 protesters killed in the Kiev municipal building and 100's wounded due to confrontation to the police. Thursday has been the deadliest day so far. The only thing clear after Thursday was protestors had reclaimed and expanded in the center of Kiev that they had lost 2 days prior when the police tried to claim independence, but they failed.People all from the western part that are ant-Yanukovych were boarding buses to travel to Kiev and join the protest, as many people as 600 were leaving the city of Lviv to come protest. The protesters are just normal residents, even a women took the stage to appeal help from foreign countries to prevent the president from declaring state of emergency. 

Analysis:
This problem, is continuing to grow larger and larger and until something is done it will continue to grow faster and larger. This could potentially cause a global problem because there obviously needs to be military control to stop this from potentially expanding to other countries. They stated that they didn't want the president to call a state of an emergency because they didn't want the help from foreign countries governments, but with the withdraw of their police this will continue to get worse and cause more and more people to die. Today about 209 people were confirmed/unconfirmed dead or wounded. What will this continue to? They need the help of other governments, whether they like it or not, which can potentially cause this to be a Global Problem. 
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/21/world/europe/ukraine.html?ref=world&_r=0

Blog 2 Israel Forces kill Palestinian

My blog was about a how an Israeli Force kills Palestinian at the Gaza Border. The Palestinian's name that was shot was, Ibrahim Mansour. He was shot in the head the age of 26. He was picking up scrap metal at the border with another man when he was shot and the coworker was injured. The killings were on Thursday, February 13, 2014. A spokeswoman for Israel stated that the men approached the fence at the border and began tampering with it. Soldiers acted to move the men away from the fence, but when that didn't work out they fired at the man, Ibrahim, who was the main "instigator". The spokeswoman noted that this the third time an explosive weapon has gone off at the border, but this is the first time someone was killed. The border tensions between Palestinian's and Israel have been increasingly heated the past couple weeks.

My opinion on this article seems that the opinions by the Israel spokeswoman are skewed, from an Israel perspective since it was her military that killed the Palestinian. She makes it seem as though her troops were doing the best they had to do because the Palestinian's apparently were instigating them, when it clearly states that they were picking up scrap metal by the border. In my opinion there was no need for this young 26 year old man to be killed and the other wounded. I believe that the raising  tensions between the two countries caused them to kill them without any intentions. As an outsiders point of view I do not see anything done wrong, but then again I should have more information other then this post to determine more of an opinion. Other then that I still see that it was morally wrong what happened at the Gaza Border.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/14/world/middleeast/israeli-forces-kill-palestinian-at-gaza-border.html?ref=world&_r=0

Blog 1

Hijacking of Turkey Bound Plane

This Blog was about a hijacker who boarded a plane in Turkey, ad was trying to hijack the plane so that it could go to Sochi, Russia for the Winter Olympics. This happened Today, as in February 7th. The Crew and all 110 people on the plane all convinced the hijacker that the plane was in fact heading to Sochi, Russia, instead when it was really heading towards Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport. The plane did land safely, in Istanbul, where the Hijacker was arrested. The hijacker was an Ukraine male, who claimed to be armed with a bomb. The bomb was not made clear whether it was on his body, or on the plane. But he was captured at the airport and is now in custody Istanbul Headquarters. Russian authorities have boosted the security at the Olympic Winter Games because of the terroristic attack on the winter games. The high security will be on watch from Today, February 7 to the 23rd.

This blog, opened my eyes, to how scary, and even with all the security of airports and planes that you never know what can actually happen. My heart goes out to all the survivors, I cant imagine, the mental  nervousness they must have went through that they could of died at any minute, but had to play cool to convince the hijacker. I am glad that they all made it safe, but I can only imagine what is planned for the Winter Olympics. I hope that the security is really held tight because there had to be a certain reason why the plane was trying to go to Sochi. I hope that the Winter Olympics, and the contestants will be highly secured and that nothing else will happen as crazily as this was. I am happy to hear that he was captured, but I hope that he was not actually armed as he said or that they find the bomb so that know one else is injured. I cant believe that in 2014, these things can still happen. Honestly it worries me as I continue to travel. All I can say is that I am so thankful that is had a positive outcome where no one was hurt or injured.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/08/world/europe/attempted-hijacking-of-turkey-bound-plane-reported.html?ref=world&_r=0