New tensions in Donbass region
Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2021 5:25 pm
MOSCOW, April 2. /TASS/. The situation in Donbass along the engagement line is rather frightening, with numerous provocations by the Ukrainian armed forces observed there, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the media on Friday.
"Our rhetoric [over Donbass] is absolutely constructive," Peskov said in reply to a question. "We do not indulge in wishful thinking. Regrettably, the realities along the engagement line are rather frightening. Provocations by the Ukrainian armed forces do take place. They are not casual. There have been many of them."
Asked about chief Ukrainian delegate Leonid Kravchuk’s proposal "for the observance of full and comprehensive ceasefire" starting from April 1 Peskov said that Russia was not a party to the conflict.
"Truce concerns only the forces on either side of the disengagement line," Peskov said.
Tensions in Donbass soared on March 26, when four Ukrainian military servicemen were killed near the village of Shumy. Kiev blamed their death on the forces of the Donetsk People’s Republic. Donetsk denied its responsibility for any bombardments. Later, the Donetsk Republic said that the Ukrainian soldiers were killed by a landmine while inspecting minefields.
Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov earlier said the Kremlin was worried the Ukrainian side might take provocative action in southeastern Ukraine, thus creating the risk of a civil war.
On Wednesday, Russian presidential representative in the Contact Group for a settlement of the conflict in the east of Ukraine, Boris Gryzlov, described Kiev’s stance on the issue of security in the conflict zone in Donbass as irresponsible and cynical.
A senior official from Nord Stream 2 AG, the project company leading the Nord Stream 2 Russia to Germany natural gas pipeline project, has reported an uptick in "provocative" activity from warships and planes in the area where the pipeline is being built.
"Higher activity of naval vessels, airplanes and helicopters and civilian vessels of foreign states is observed in the work area after restarted construction of the offshore segment of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, whose actions are often clearly provocative," said Nord Stream AG official Andrei Minin, according to the Russian news agency TASS.
Minin said a 1.5-mile safety zone is established around the construction area where vessels are not supposed to enter. "Nevertheless, naval vessels of foreign countries are constantly registered near service ships performing work," he said.
He added that a Polish antisubmarine warfare airplane is "regularly flying around the work area at a small height and closely to the pipelay vessel."
Minin said in one provocation, an unidentified submarine was above surface within one mile of the pipeclay vessel Fortuna, a ship that was hit with US sanctions on January 19th. Minin said the activity indicates “obviously planned and prepared provocations.” Besides warships and planes, he said fishing vessels have also come dangerously close to the construction area.
The Nord Stream 2 pipeline has been in the crosshairs of the US for years, but despite sanctions and threats, Nord Stream AG reported on Thursday that the project is now 95 percent complete. Construction restarted in December 2020 after being suspended due to threats of US sanctions.
Although it’s not clear if the US is involved in these provocations, it is likely. Washington seems willing to take extreme measures to stop the project and is threatening to sanction its ally Germany. Besides the US, another country keen to stop the project is Ukraine, which stands to lose up to $3 billion a year in gas transportation fees if the pipeline is complete.
The original Nord Stream consists of two lines that run from Vyborg, Russia, to Lubmin, Germany, near Greifswald. The new project would add two more lines, doubling the amount of natural gas Russia could export to Germany.
So far these are the key elements of what is taking place:
1.First, the Ukranians have moved a large force (infantry, armor, artillery, MLRS, etc.) close to the line of contact.
2.Ukrainian forces have also penetrated into the “grey zone” which was supposed to remain neutral and separate both sides.
3.Kiev has officially approved a doctrine which calls Russia the enemy.
4.The Ukrainian Chief of Staff has admitted that the Ukrainian forces are forward deployed and in the highest state of readiness.
5.The diversity-freaks who now run the US “diplomacy” have made numerous statements in full support of the Ukraine.
6.NATO has failed to reach any consensus (Germany seems to be the main reason for this).
7.The Poles are now openly provoking Russia by sending military ships (surface and one sub) and aircraft in the direct proximity to the Russian pipe-laying ships in the Baltic. In one case, a Polish fishing vessel has even rammed a ship claiming “engine problems”.
8.The French AFP reports that General Mark Milley spoke with General Valery Gerasimov, the Russian Armed Forces chief of staff, and General Ruslan Khomchak, chief of the general staff of the Armed Forces.
9.Russia has been steadily reinforcing her western border and, especially, Crimea.
10.The Donetsk People’s Republic has declared a mobilization of all her reserves.
11.The internal situation of the Ukranian occupied Banderastan is quickly degrading due to the pandemic, the infighting of various factions and the economic freefall. What does the government do to counteract these problems? Repeat “Russia! Russia! Russia!” like a mantra.
There are consistent reports that NATO is either already on high alert or will soon be.
"Our rhetoric [over Donbass] is absolutely constructive," Peskov said in reply to a question. "We do not indulge in wishful thinking. Regrettably, the realities along the engagement line are rather frightening. Provocations by the Ukrainian armed forces do take place. They are not casual. There have been many of them."
Asked about chief Ukrainian delegate Leonid Kravchuk’s proposal "for the observance of full and comprehensive ceasefire" starting from April 1 Peskov said that Russia was not a party to the conflict.
"Truce concerns only the forces on either side of the disengagement line," Peskov said.
Tensions in Donbass soared on March 26, when four Ukrainian military servicemen were killed near the village of Shumy. Kiev blamed their death on the forces of the Donetsk People’s Republic. Donetsk denied its responsibility for any bombardments. Later, the Donetsk Republic said that the Ukrainian soldiers were killed by a landmine while inspecting minefields.
Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov earlier said the Kremlin was worried the Ukrainian side might take provocative action in southeastern Ukraine, thus creating the risk of a civil war.
On Wednesday, Russian presidential representative in the Contact Group for a settlement of the conflict in the east of Ukraine, Boris Gryzlov, described Kiev’s stance on the issue of security in the conflict zone in Donbass as irresponsible and cynical.
A senior official from Nord Stream 2 AG, the project company leading the Nord Stream 2 Russia to Germany natural gas pipeline project, has reported an uptick in "provocative" activity from warships and planes in the area where the pipeline is being built.
"Higher activity of naval vessels, airplanes and helicopters and civilian vessels of foreign states is observed in the work area after restarted construction of the offshore segment of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, whose actions are often clearly provocative," said Nord Stream AG official Andrei Minin, according to the Russian news agency TASS.
Minin said a 1.5-mile safety zone is established around the construction area where vessels are not supposed to enter. "Nevertheless, naval vessels of foreign countries are constantly registered near service ships performing work," he said.
He added that a Polish antisubmarine warfare airplane is "regularly flying around the work area at a small height and closely to the pipelay vessel."
Minin said in one provocation, an unidentified submarine was above surface within one mile of the pipeclay vessel Fortuna, a ship that was hit with US sanctions on January 19th. Minin said the activity indicates “obviously planned and prepared provocations.” Besides warships and planes, he said fishing vessels have also come dangerously close to the construction area.
The Nord Stream 2 pipeline has been in the crosshairs of the US for years, but despite sanctions and threats, Nord Stream AG reported on Thursday that the project is now 95 percent complete. Construction restarted in December 2020 after being suspended due to threats of US sanctions.
Although it’s not clear if the US is involved in these provocations, it is likely. Washington seems willing to take extreme measures to stop the project and is threatening to sanction its ally Germany. Besides the US, another country keen to stop the project is Ukraine, which stands to lose up to $3 billion a year in gas transportation fees if the pipeline is complete.
The original Nord Stream consists of two lines that run from Vyborg, Russia, to Lubmin, Germany, near Greifswald. The new project would add two more lines, doubling the amount of natural gas Russia could export to Germany.
So far these are the key elements of what is taking place:
1.First, the Ukranians have moved a large force (infantry, armor, artillery, MLRS, etc.) close to the line of contact.
2.Ukrainian forces have also penetrated into the “grey zone” which was supposed to remain neutral and separate both sides.
3.Kiev has officially approved a doctrine which calls Russia the enemy.
4.The Ukrainian Chief of Staff has admitted that the Ukrainian forces are forward deployed and in the highest state of readiness.
5.The diversity-freaks who now run the US “diplomacy” have made numerous statements in full support of the Ukraine.
6.NATO has failed to reach any consensus (Germany seems to be the main reason for this).
7.The Poles are now openly provoking Russia by sending military ships (surface and one sub) and aircraft in the direct proximity to the Russian pipe-laying ships in the Baltic. In one case, a Polish fishing vessel has even rammed a ship claiming “engine problems”.
8.The French AFP reports that General Mark Milley spoke with General Valery Gerasimov, the Russian Armed Forces chief of staff, and General Ruslan Khomchak, chief of the general staff of the Armed Forces.
9.Russia has been steadily reinforcing her western border and, especially, Crimea.
10.The Donetsk People’s Republic has declared a mobilization of all her reserves.
11.The internal situation of the Ukranian occupied Banderastan is quickly degrading due to the pandemic, the infighting of various factions and the economic freefall. What does the government do to counteract these problems? Repeat “Russia! Russia! Russia!” like a mantra.
There are consistent reports that NATO is either already on high alert or will soon be.