What the Hell Is Going on in Ukraine? (40 photos)

[icymist]

The situation in eastern Ukraine can best be described as chaotic. While it's clear there is violence occurring between pro-Russian groups and pro-Ukrainians (who desire closer ties to Europe), not much else is clear. Photos and video from the region show streets filled with a volatile mix of protesters, police, armed soldiers, civilians, and militia, wearing widely varying uniforms (or just street clothes). Many are masked, their exact motives and backers unknown as they attack their opposition, or raid government buildings, and tear down each others' flags. Some appear to be more at play than at war, but the stakes are deadly. Dozens have been killed in just the past week alone in gun battles, fires, and beatings -- even a Ukrainian military helicopter was shot down yesterday. Gathered here are images of the chaos in Ukraine from the past week, as fears grow that violence will escalate even further.



http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2014/05/what-the-hell-is-going-on-in-ukraine/100730/

[Warpy]

1. OK, it looked like a typical civil war scenario until I got to Blow Up Betty

Now my brain really hurts.

[Cali_Democrat]

2. hahaha...nt

[icymist]

3. Yeah, that one made me do a double take.

Still, some of these photos are strong.

[Warpy]

4. Most of them are very strong

especially the nurse with the military weapon trying to get a patient into the hospital alive.

Still, if you can't laugh at something now and then when you're under a great deal of stress, you won't be able to stand whatever job you're doing.