So we are 100 days into the Special Military Operation (SMO) by the forces of evil trying to take away the freedoms of an independent Ukraine. I thought it was a good time to take a look back and see what was and what may come.
First, a bit of history. I do not pretend to know all of the nuances that happened in the Imperial Russia / USSR times, although if necessary, I can certainly put up a post on that. Nor will I delve into NATO promises to Gorbachev in late 80’s to not extend NATO’s reach eastwards – many have covered that. This post will also not deal with Crimea – history there is long and complicated, but I can put up a post on that, but it will take tome. After all (disclosure: vested interests) I have family in Russia and in Ukraine, as well as Europe, USA, and, of course, here in the lucky country. So I will limit this post to what I believe (disclosure: personal opinion) caused where the world is today.
We start in 2014. I will do my best to take y’all (Peachy’s thAng) down the wormhole that is the current SMO, so as you emerge, you may be more edumacated when the ABC or other MSM outlets run a hatchet story on a leader of a nuclear-capable country. Yesterday I tuned in to the special Foreign Correspondent report on ABC and almost broke the TV
https://www.abc.net.au/foreign/becoming-putin/13912452
Opinions an innuendo presented as facts, a comical program presented as a mass opinion. Proof was lacking severely, although graphics were pretty allright. It made me want to be poisoned with Novichok if I ever went astray, since nobody has ever died from the most deadly agent.
What follows is the best selection of the “fake news” propaganda from fringe sites.
So where do we begin? I think late 2013 is a good start. The then democratically elected President Yanukovich was at a crossroads. He had a trade deal with the EU on the table, and Russia presented him with a sweeter option (sweeter for people or for him, the tea leaves are silent on this)
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-eu-idUSBRE9AR0CL20131129
As a result, the “friends of Ukraine” mobilised their tried and true tactic – a Maidan! An uprising of ordinary citizens on the independent country, that has worked well to install the then President Yuschenko back in 2004 (never met the man, but met one of his daughters, but that’s another story). So, people were mobilised to go camping in a central square in the capital, Kiev, to make sure their will was heard. Victoria Nuland was there, passing out biccies, and strategizing as to whom would be the next big man.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2014/feb/07/eu-us-diplomat-victoria-nuland-phonecall-leaked-video
Shortly after there was a shootout in the square, where ~100 people died, mostly cops (responsibility is still under suspicion), Yanukovich fled to Russia, and democracy prevailed. People took to the power and took their fate into their hands, and all was sweet. Except for a few minor hiccups, as, for example, people of Odessa, a city founded by Catherine the Great (Russian Empress, but she was doing horses, so who cares!), protesting and getting burned alive (at least 42 victims), but that is the price of freedom! The pushback spread throughout the eastern and southern part of the country.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Odessa_clashes
So in April 2014, in response to wider protests, the Ukrainian army launched an offensive towards Donbass and Luhansk regions, heavily Russian-speaking (note: Ukraine launched an offensive). All-in-all, ~40% of the country identify as Russian, speak the language, and have close-knit ties to their largest neighbour. Don’t even get me started on a cultural differences in making borscht! Many of bottles of vodka lost their will to live in those circumstances.
Donbass and Luhansk people’s army put up one hell of a fight defending what they thought of their Motherland. By September 2014, Ukraine was forced to come to an agreement (not without aid of France, Germany, etcetera, etcetera) to make peace in a form of Minsk I. There are views that Russia conducted a direct invasion of Ukraine, but to me the jury is still out on this. Minsk I did not hold.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_Donbas
In late 2014, Minsk I fell apart, due to both sides violating it, so here came Minsk II.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minsk_agreements#Minsk_II,_February_2015
Suffice it to say, this agreement was also not adhered to, or enforced. Here is the important bit
Fast forward to 2022. On 18 February, Ukrainian President Zelensky made a statement in Munich that Ukraine “may reconsider it’s nuclear status”.
https://uawire.org/zelensky-ukraine-may-reconsider-its-nuclear-status
On the same day, 18 February 2022, Ukrainian forces started heavy shelling of the “separatist” republics.
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-says-sharp-increase-shelling-donbass-is-alarming-2022-02-18/
On 21 February, the separatists asked for assistance from Russia in light of the shelling
https://www.rt.com/russia/550106-donetsk-request-help-military-moscow/
On the same day, Russia had recognised independence of the separatist republics
https://www.rt.com/russia/550106-donetsk-request-help-military-moscow/
On 24 February Russia entered the fray to protect its subjects. Right, wrong, or indifferent. Russia thought it was the right thing to do.
And this is where we are. And where to from here? 100 days is a short time, I doubt all of us can get to some sort of meaningful goals in that time span, let alone conquer a country. So far, the eastern part of Ukraine is pretty much conquered, southern seaboard is ~100km away from linking in with Transinistria (remember Odessa), north is left wanting (Kharkiv, Kiev).
Your thoughts, comrades!
Great job.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) actually posed the question, whether the “racially-motivated white extremists” working with Ukraine’s neo-Nazi militia are learning new methods and techniques to be brought home to the U.S.
Thanks! I had this idea for a post for some time now, held it back ’cause I did not know how it would be received.
your timeline is well made.
my thoughts. Big P was not ready for SMO but he saw that if he does not act now it will be too late. It was the last chance as later it would be too costly.
another mistake is accession of regions to RF. my view is that the regions should be considered as liberated UA and the Z controlled west as occupied zone. in real life there can be no difference from being a part of RF.
To speculate further, methinks that the Big P is waiting for the inflation and other rproblems to plague the collective self titled as “the west” to become preoccupied with own problems they created themselves and stemming from the hysterical knee-jerk reactions (“cancellation” of all ruskie and sanctions). In that case the interest for UA may be diminished and the Clown and his regime may collapse under own weight making it easy to liberate the rest of the country. The Autumn there would be interesting when LNG becomes not just expensive but unavailable.
the SMO was also a nice cover to rocket launch the other measures which would’ve been seen through easily. Self inflicted sanction by the EU and 5 other countries actually makes it impossible to act upon actions of Big P in terms of de-dolarisation, Breton Woods 2.5 (basket of commodities backed currencies movement) and tighter cooperation between the other multipolar aspiring powers. Sanctions actually severely limit the choice of responses.
Unfortunately the SMO in UA has a huge potential to be the next assassination of the Franz Ferdinand as the incumbent power is guaranteed to drag the world down with its decline. The only hope is that the incumbent power will be consumed with own problems at home and may not have that chance for literally the scorched Earth.
one thing for sure, the period where the beast that rulled the world since 1990 was unopposed is finished and dead. Multipolar world is already here and it may bring the end of suffering and inequality in the west too.
I think big P had the intel that if he wasn’t going to move, the move will happen regardless. Few years ago big P recollected his time growing up in St. Pete, and he clearly stated the principles of his upbringing
https://www.veteranstodayarchives.com/2015/10/23/putin-if-a-fight-is-inevitable-go-and-fight-first/
So, he hit first.
Wheels within wheels.
War Within the War: The Fight Over Land and Genetically Engineered Agriculture
https://covertactionmagazine.com/2022/05/31/war-within-the-war-the-fight-over-land-and-genetically-engineered-agriculture/
Warning: Long read
That was a very thought-provoking read! Thank you.
Honestly I found this completely incoherent
I know you’re trying to make it entertaining and pithy but, as someone who doesn’t really know the back story , I was completely lost after the first couple sentences
Agreed the post doesn’t flow well at all
All I wanted to do is to lay out a timeline of the current situation. Not a journalist, just a hack. Do your own, maybe it will be better?
I thought it was good. I agree completely with your interpretation of events that led to this. Europeans are stupid enough to let Americans interfere in their continent so here is the result.
i don’t know anything about the situation so can’t do one
It seems like you have knowledge, but haven’t communicated well
https://t.me/rtnews/25252
this video may not be aiming at the absolute truth but it is a nice introduction for those that learned about conflict only from the Empire’s Lügenpresse.
Use it to counterbalance the established syndicated “truth” in “the west”.
Ukraine is getting their shit pushed in.
As Nuland says, fuck the EU and fuck America too.
Training day FTW!