Ukraine - Increasing Chaos

News UPDATE for May 5: - Heavy fighting reported from Slovyansk, Ukraine Slovyansk woman killed by sniper-fire on her balcony. - NATO’s record 6,000-strong drills: 'Spring Storm' kicks off in Estonia “This year's Spring Storm brings together a record number of allied troops – infantry from the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, soldiers from Latvia, soldiers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team of the US army, as well as soldiers from Lithuania,” the Estonian Defense Ministry said in a statement. Britain, France, and the US have been deploying troops to the Baltic region since April 29, a week ahead of the drills in Estonia. A day earlier, around 150 personnel of the US airborne division arrived in a military transport aircraft to Amari airbase. Upon completion of the maneuvers, the US Marines will remain in Estonia at least until the end of 2014. In addition, Poland has sent three of its Sukhoi Su-22 attack aircraft and a division of missile defense system unit SA-8, which will be tasked with protecting an air base near Tallinn and the surrounding airspace. Amid rising tensions in Ukraine, the UK and France deployed eight fighter jets to Lithuania and Poland to strengthen NATO air defense over the Baltic regions. On May 2, a group of NATO ships arrived in the Lithuanian port of Klaipeda to “ensure regional security.” Russia considers the increase of NATO forces so close to its border a provocation, and believes it is counter-productive in the struggle to de-escalate tensions in Ukraine. [Source: Russia's state TV (RT) on May 5, 2014]

Armed Confrontations in Eastern Ukraine
as reported by Russia's RT-TV on May 3:


Lavrov pide a OSCE y EEUU influir
en Kiev para que cese uso de fuerza.

Lavrov demanding, both, OSCE and U.S.A. to use
their influence on Kiev for an ending of the violence.

Heavy fighting has been reported from the center of Mariúpol seaport. Concentration of Ukrainian troops and clashes with pro-Russian militias are taking place in Kramatorsk, Konstantínovka and the Donetsk region. Local militias in Kramatorsk reported six dead and five wounded activists while Konstantínovka experienced an increase of Ukrainian troops and armoured vehicles.




Subtitle: "Ukrainian army offensive leaves 6 dead and several wounded."

After the fire disaster in Odessa on May 2 and which had been allegedly caused by right-wing extremists, a death toll of 40 was counted. 30 casualties are directly related to the fire. Local authorities ordered a three days period of mourning.




Subtitle: "Politicians are using the tragedy for their electoral campaign."

[Source: Russian state TV (RT), Spanish program, late night news on May 3,2014]