'Power struggle' in Donetsk prompts flurry of speculation in Kyiv and beyond
According to Euan MacDonald of Kyiv Post,
An apparent power struggle among Russia’s proxy authorities in separatist-controlled parts of Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast has left experts speculating about its causes, and what the Kremlin’s future intentions for the region now might be.
Reports came on the evening of Sept. 4 that Denis Pushilin, the vice-speaker of the pseudo parliament in the part of Donetsk Oblast controlled by Russian-backed separatists, had ousted the body’s speaker, Andrey Purgin …
How many Russian troops are there in Eastern Ukraine
According to the informartion published by “Information Resistance” group as of August 26, 2015 the following numbers of Russian-terrorist forces are operating in the occupied areas of Eastern Ukraine
(dynamics update for the last 2 months in brakets)
- Personnel - up to 45 thousand. (decrease of 3-5 thousand)
- Tanks - about 600 units. (increase of 200 units.);
- Armored Combat Vehicles - 1430-1450 units. (decrease of more than 400 units.);
- Artillery - approx. 770 units., Incl .:
a) …
Putin won his war in Ukraine
Marvin Kalb is senior adviser at the Pulitzer Center and a fellow at the Brookings Institution. His book “Imperial Gamble: Putin, Ukraine and the New Cold War” will be published this month.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/putin-won-in-ukraine/2015/09/07/02a0283c-5341-11e5-933e-7d06c647a395_story.html
Is Russia More Bark Than Bite?
As per Sir Andrew Wood, Chatham House
The received wisdom that Russia will always be ready to go further than the West in a confrontation over Ukraine is flawed.
‘The West could never prevail in a military confrontation over Ukraine with Russia, which would always be prepared to go further.’ This line, from a Financial Times editorial last week, reflects a commonly-held view among Western commentators about the crisis in eastern Ukraine. But if taken literally, it would imply that Vladimir …
Berlusconi visits annexed Crimea
Silvio Berlusconi, Former Italian Prime Minister arrived with a "private visit" in the Crimea annexed by Russia.
Berlusconi arrived on September 11 in Yalta, where he plans to take in the sights and have "several meetings".
As admitted in the Kremlin on September 9, during the trip Berlusconi could meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Berlusconi is also expected to visit Sevastopol, and then go to Moscow and return to Italy on 13 September.
Earlier this year Berlusconi, who is a …