WW4 File: UKRAINE, RUSSIA AT WAR: 2 Ukrainian fighter jets shot down over rebel-held territory from altitude of 5,200 meters, attack occurs near site of catastrophic downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17; Kiev says Russian regular forces across SE border fired SAMs that hit combat planes, National Security and Defense Council: “They were shot down very profes- sionally. The terrorists [separatists] do not have such professionals”; government troops regain control of suburbs of Donetsk, Lugansk as shelling blows up chemical plant in first city; Moscow-backed rebels concentrate forces in downtown Donetsk, fortify posi- tion near university, dig trenches; rebel commander, Russian GRU officer Strelkov bans media from combat zones; train with refugees from Lugansk arrives in Kiev

source

It’s hard to know how far Comrades Putin, Zyuganov and Co. intend to go with this mess their agents, lackeys and proxies have fomented in Ukraine, but it’s a superb opportunity for Russian neo-imperialism/neo-fascism/neo-communism to reassert itself. A weak, uncoordinated response from NATO could lead to similar Kremlin-sponsored adventurism in both the Former Soviet Union and the former East Bloc.

Although he would be very elderly if still alive, Anatoliy Golitsyn’s analysis of the Ukraine crisis would no doubt be very illuminating. This unique KGB defector’s most valuable insight was to remind Western analysts that communists are very persistent in their determination to overthrow freedom and capitalism, adroit in both organization and propaganda, and capable of concocting multi-decade plans to bring about their totalitarian global regime.

Meanwhile, for your resident blogger summer vacation has arrived. This is likely to be our last post for the next three weeks.

WW4 File: UKRAINE, RUSSIA AT WAR: From Russia with malice: Moscow-backed, GRU-directed separatist insurgency in Ukraine takes horrific turn as Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 reportedly shot down by SAM over village of Grabavo, Donetsk Oblast, 298 passengers and crew perish, airliner on flight between Amsterdam, Kuala Lumpur; US VP Biden says Boeing 777-200ER apparently “blown out of the sky,” responsible party unknown, Ukrainian President Poroshenko: “We do not exclude that this plane was shot down, and we stress that the armed forces of Ukraine did not take action against any airborne targets”; rebels locate, seize Flight MH17’s black boxes, turn over to Russian aviation authorities

What’s Putin’s game here? Is he provoking a NATO intervention and, thus, global nuclear war, or are his insurgents in SE Ukraine just trigger happy?

source 1 source 2

Latin America File: From Russia with shove: President Putin thumbs nose at Washington amidst Moscow-backed separatist insurgency in Ukraine, makes sur- prise official visit to Nicaragua during regional tour, long-time KGB asset Ortega revels in Kremlin’s affec- tion for second Sandinista dictatorship; Managua pitstop unprecedented show for any Soviet/Russian leader as rumors abound of Moscow’s “silent partner- ship” in Hong Kong-led Nicaragua Canal megaproject; Russian Navy patrols Caribbean Sea, helps Nicaragua, Honduras interdict narco-trafficking; Putin arrives in Cuba, Argentina, Brazil to promote bilateral commercial arrangements; state-run Russia Today: Moscow to reopen Lourdes electronic spy base, facility closed in 2002, suspected role in monitoring US military, civilian air traffic during 911 terrorist attacks

source 1 source 2 source 3 source 4

Flashback: Cuba’s Lourdes Radar Base, Terrorist Mohamed Atta and the Kremlin (source)

Blogger’s Note

In recent weeks we have posted less frequently on the Ukraine crisis. Other responsibilities have made it difficult to keep this blog up to date.

However, we have redirected our efforts to the writing of a history of Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic from a “Golitsynian” perspective.

Work began last year and the project is now many hundreds of pages in length.

We hope to publish this history late next year or possibly in 2016.

WW4 File: UKRAINE, RUSSIA AT WAR: Ukrainian military scores first major victory against Moscow-backed insurgents, rebels abandon stronghold of Slavyansk after 3 months of on-again, off-again fighting, GRU officer Igor Strelkov/Girkin reportedly joins exodus from city; self-proclaimed PM of “Donetsk People’s Republic,” Russian citizen Borodai: “Due to the overwhelming numerical superiority of the enemy [i.e., government forces] our men were forced to abandon their positions”; death toll of Ukraine crisis: 250 civilians, 200 soldiers, 800 rebels; displacements: 110,000 people flee SE Ukraine for Russia, 54,400 displaced within country itself

source

WW4 File: UKRAINE, RUSSIA AT WAR: Poroshenko refuses to extend ceasefire as Ukrainian Army, National Guard press attacks against Moscow-backed rebels in Donetsk, Lugansk oblasts; insurgents try to down Su-24 Fencer combat plane with missile, kill border guard in mortar attack; acting DM Koval on Monday: Govern- ment forces carried out strikes against 120 rebel positions, “We have to eliminate the fighters who have brought misfortune to the land of the Donbass”; Ukrainian, Russian, German, French FMs to meet in Berlin, talk peace; Moldova tries to escape Russia’s neo-imperialist dragnet, parliament ratifies EU “association agreement,” 34 pro-Moscow Communist deputies leave chamber in protest; Putin, Russian Orthodox Patriarch bestow awards upon Communist Party boss Zyuganov

source 1 source 2 source 3 source 4