Ukraine claims victory in rebel stronghold

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By DMITRY LOVETSKY and YURAS KARMANAU

SLOVYANSK, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian troops forced pro-Russian insurgents out of a key stronghold in the country's embattled east on Saturday, a significant success that suggested the government may finally be making gains in a months-long battle against a spreading separatist insurgency.

As rebels fled from Slovyansk, vowing to regroup elsewhere and fight on, President Petro Poroshenko hailed the recapture of the city as "the start of a turning point" in a battle that has claimed more than 400 lives since April.

After a night of heavy fighting that saw heavy artillery fire from Ukraine's troops, government soldiers were in full control of rebel headquarters in Slovyansk, a city of about 100,000 that has been a center of the fighting between Kiev's troops and the pro-Russian insurgents.

Soldiers raised the Ukrainian flag over the city council building, while troops carried stockpiles of weapons out of the city's administrative and police buildings, which have been under rebel control since early April.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20140705/eu-ukraine-e0eac3cc37.html

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A Ukrainian paratrooper sits in an APC at a checkpoint near Slovyansk, eastern Ukraine, Saturday, July 5, 2014. Ukraine's forces claimed a significant success against pro-Russian insurgents on Saturday, chasing them from one of their strongholds in the embattled east of the country. Rebels fleeing from the city of Slovyansk vowed to regroup elsewhere and fight on. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

[delrem]

1. Now all they have to do is prove to the people that they "liberated",

that they care.

If that is easy then the war is won.
I doubt it'll happen.

This is another war that USians are *very* interested in, just as are wars in the ME.

The US has been "liberating" Syria with a "Friends of Syria" operation for some time, but I wouldn't even pretend to understand how the average citizen of Aleppo, Syria, might understand this US operation. After all, these citizens of Aleppo have been "liberated" by what the US calls "Friends of Syria".

They now call themselves IS, since ISIS or ISIL was too prolix.

I wonder whether the citizens of Aleppo, Syria, make the same distinction that US politicians and the most favored of political pundits make between the "moderate jihadists" funded, trained, and armed directly by the US and proxies, and the bad guys, the "evil-doers" that are in US disfavour?

[Duckhunter935]

2. I agree

They need to get all the resources in they can and prove that the east is not the enemy of Kiev and are welcomed as part of Ukraine. If they do it right or wrong word will spread.

[delrem]

3. They've been failing, dismally.

Very, very, very badly.
The kind of "mistakes" these coup-makers made aren't easily undone.
They built their fucking coup on a sectarian division. The assholes.

[Duckhunter935]

5. not that shit again

whatever

[delrem]

6. I didn't promise not to get in your way, "Duckhunter".

[joshcryer]

9. I agree, they allowed bases to be taken, police to form an army.

Armed insurgents to come from other countries.

This resulted in a lot of destabilization.

[joshcryer]

10. Here's a video of some who were liberated:

I suspect they'll be glad that the lawlessness is over.

[delrem]

11. I just love pics and vids. They always prove the poster's point.

Good on ya, Josh.

[joshcryer]

12. Couple of old ladies tearful at flag raising proves their point?

[delrem]

13. If posted by you, absolutely, Josh!

[joshcryer]

14. You appear upset the separatists lost.

Good to see the bad guys lose though!

[fireflysky46]

4. We don't have it right ...

Russia Today want us to believe that it's a strategic retreat planified a long time ago.

[delrem]

7. Prove it.

[fireflysky46]

8. there is this excellent and comical description of

the ongoing situation in the point of view of Russian Today :

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5199054

[dipsydoodle]

15. Extensive BBC article on subect here

Ukraine rebels regroup after losing Sloviansk http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-28182404

[Tommy_Carcetti]

16. Government claims full control over Sloviansk, Kramatorsk; starts to fix infrastructure

http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/government-claims-full-control-over-sloviansk-kramatorsk-starts-to-fix-infrastructure-354845.html

Government claims full control over Sloviansk, Kramatorsk; starts to fix infrastructure

July 6, 2014, 10:58 a.m. | Ukraine — by Kyiv Post

Ukraine's army has full control of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk in Donetsk Oblast, and the central authorities are starting to renew critical infrastructure in these localities and supplies of food and water, as well as humanitarian aid to the residents, the press service of the Anti-Terrorist Operation said on Sunday morning.

“We have also started the process of solving problem issues of receiving cash for payment of pensions, stipends and wages to the local poulation,” the ATO press service said in a statement.

The government also said that the “gangs of terrorists are demoralized, but continue insidious attacks on the Ukrainian troops.” There was an attack on a military base in the village of Pisky in Donetsk region late last night, but the army fought it off without casualties. There was also a mortar fire attack at a check point in the middle of the night, but no location was specified.

More at link

[heaven05]

17. since people do have long memories

could this fight against Russia's claim to Ukraine have it's roots, in part or in whole, with the 'holodomor of the 1930's perpetrated by Stalin to starve as many Ukrainians as possible because of Ukrainian uprisings in that era? The numbers of those purposefully starved by Stalin range between 1.75-12 millions. Just curious. Knowing a little of history this question just kind of rose as to maybe being one of the underlying reasons for the unrest along with the other economic reasons. And that the 'pro-russian insurgents' are no more than 'quislings' agitated by Putin?