The Bell

Ukraine Liveblog Day 25: Russia Preparing to Invade Ukraine

March 14, 2014

Today, all indications are that Russia is making preparations to invade Ukraine, not just Crimea but perhaps as far west as Kharkiv, or even beyond. Whether Russia will invade or not is still anyone’s guess, but it’s not just troop movements that we’re watching. Russia is, at the very least, prepared to use their ability […]

Chronicle of Russian Dissent: Pussy Riot Beaten, Independent Media Space Shrinks (8-15 March)

Russians continue to protest the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine, and suffer backlash themselves. Cases of those arrested last week in solidarity with the sentenced defendants in the Bolotnaya Case continue to be processed. Some of those who protested during the Sochi Olympics last month, such as the Circassians, are still suffering the consequences. And the […]

Ukraine Liveblog Day 24: Russia Mobilizes Near the Border

March 13, 2014

Yesterday, Russian tanks, APCs, and troops were seen mobilizing just north of Kharkiv, a few kilometers from the border with Ukraine. Today, the Russian Defense Ministry calls these movements “drills.” Yesterday’s liveblog can be found here. For an overview and analysis of this developing story see see our latest podcast. Please help The Interpreter to continue providing this valuable […]

Yes Russia Controls Crimea, and Yes Those Really are Russian Troops

Other than the repeated denunciations of the west aggravating the situation by a coterie of Russian government officials (Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu dismissed claims that Russian troops were in Crimea as an “act of provocation” and “utter nonsense”), one would be hard pressed to find any serious commentator still denying that the troops blockading Ukrainian […]

Lenta: To Our Dear Readers From Your Dear Editorial Team…

March 12, 2014

After their editor-in-chief was forced out for having published an interview with a controversial Ukrainian political leader, the editors and staff of Lenta.ru published this statement. — Ed. Dear readers! Today, the 12th of March, the owner of the Afisha-Rambler-SUP company, Aleksandr Mamut sacked the editor-in-chief of Lenta.ru, Galina Timchenko. Alexei Goreslavskiy, the deputy director-general […]

Ukraine Liveblog Day 23: Ukraine’s Interim Prime Minister Meets Obama

The Ukrainian Prime Minister meets with President Barack Obama, while the Russian government works to control the message on Ukraine. Yesterday’s liveblog can be found here. For an overview and analysis of this developing story see see our latest podcast. Please help The Interpreter to continue providing this valuable information service by making a donation […]

The Backlash of Moral Equivalency on Ukraine

March 11, 2014

With strong statements from the US State Department countering Kremlin propaganda like “President Putin’s Fiction: 10 False Claims About Ukraine” and “Setting the Record Straight on Ukraine” coming from the US Embassy in Kiev, it didn’t take long for some commentators to appear with a “plague on both their houses.” The Israeli newspaper Haaretz published an […]

Ukraine Liveblog Day 22: Kiev Establishes a New National Guard

While the world waits to see what happens after Crimea’s March 16th referendum on joining Russia, there is plenty of activity in Ukraine. Russia continues to establish its stronghold in Crimea, while Kiev is arresting former government officials and has now issued arrest warrants for leaders of the Crimean government. Meanwhile, both sides continue to […]

Ukraine Liveblog Day 21: A Crackdown on Crimean Tatars?

March 10, 2014

As Russian troops continue to swell on the Crimean peninsula, and dueling rallies were held both in support and in resistance to Russian activity there, there are new claims that Crimean Tatars may be targeted by local Crimeans before this crisis is resolved. Yesterday’s liveblog can be found here. For an overview and analysis of […]

Ukraine Liveblog Day 20: A Military Standoff

March 9, 2014

Yesterday, Russian troops advanced north of Crimea, taking new territory and digging in along the southern border of the mainland. A wall of troops, APCs, and landmines, now lay between mainland Ukraine the the Crimean peninsula. More Russian troops have flooded Crimea, and there are signs of even more deployments on the peninsula. The Ukrainian […]