A previous article said Kiev never abided by its ceasefire agreed on terms. Systematically violating them straightaway.
Conflict continues daily. Ongoing since Kiev launched premeditated aggression last April. Mobilizing now for escalated conflict.
Supported by Washington politically, economically and militarily. With heavy weapons supplied covertly. Authorized by the so-called Ukraine Freedom Support Act (UFSA) of 2014.
Illegitimate oligarch president Petro Poroshenko vowed to crush Donbas democracy. Replace it with hardline rule.
Abolish fundamental freedoms. Institute repressive harshness. Several earlier articles warned of all-out war on Donbass.
Naked aggression by any standard. Targeting civilian neighborhoods. Murdering noncombatant men, women and children in cold blood.
Using banned chemical and other illegal weapons. Committing horrific atrocities. With full US support and encouragement.
One fascist regime supports another. Horrific crimes of war and against humanity continue unabated.
On Sunday, RT International reported “massive” Kiev shelling on Donbas.
On orders from Kiev. Poroshenko aide Yury Biryukov announced it early Sunday morning. Saying on his Facebook page:
“Today we will show HOW good we are at jabbing in the teeth.” Later adding “(t)hey are now striking a dot. Uuu.”
Referencing a Tochka-U tactical ballistic missile. RT called it “one of the most powerful weapons Ukraine so far” used against Donbas.
Local reports confirmed heavy fighting. Interfax reported Donbas residents saying “they haven’t heard such intensive shelling since summer.”
Citing Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) military representative Valentin Motuzenko.
Ukraine’s military is “using all kinds of weapons,” he said. Including “(g)rad multiple rocket launchers, mortars,” and tactical ballistic missiles, according to RT’s report.
Plus heavy artillery fire. Indiscriminately targeting civilian neighborhoods. Standard Kiev practice. Murdering noncombatants in cold blood.
DPR Prime Minister Aleksandr Zakharchenko accused Kiev of agreeing to ceasefire terms to regroup. Rearm. Mobilize. Deploy. In preparation for escalating all-out war.
“It’s clear that Kiev is making an attempt to take revenge for the serious military defeat it took from the militia last year,” he stressed.
“Kiev always ignored our numerous suggestions to pull back heavy weapons from the disengagement line.”
“At the moment, we are aware of five civilians killed.” Heavy Kiev shelling continues.
Residential buildings, a shop and bus station incurred heavy damage. Putilovsky Bridge near Donetsk’s airport was destroyed.
Maleevka and nearby villages were attacked. At least one shell struck central residential Donetsk.
Gorlovka’s bus station was targeted. Casualties included two deaths and 16 injuries.
City buildings took direct hits. Including four schools and a kindergarten.
Witnesses said Ukrainian Sukhoi Su-24 warplanes participated in the assault.
Imagine using them to kill civilians. Replicating Israel’s summer genocide in Gaza.
Around 80% of over 2,200 killed and around 11,000 injured were civilians. Willfully targeted. Longstanding Israeli practice.
Kiev operates the same way. One fascist regime like the other.
DPR’s Foreign Ministry called on world leaders to “make every effort to stop unpunished mass murder in the heart of Europe.”
DPR Foreign Minister Aleksandr Kofman was clear and unequivocal saying:
“The People’s Republic of Donetsk again suffered a treacherous and large-scale attack from Ukraine.”
Intended to destroy an entire population and infrastructure. “(B)ear(ing all characteristics of war crimes.”
Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov expressed outrage. Saying “Russia(‘s) side will be expressed.”
“Of course, it involves serious concerns over the resumption of full scale warfare in Donetsk, including shelling of populated residential areas.”
“And, of course, such a state of affairs doesn’t promote the fulfillment of the (September) Minsk agreements and the further search for a peaceful solution.”
Clearly, Kiev spurns one. Prioritizing all-out war. Violence escalated after Kiev’s military targeted a bus near Volnovasha.
Killing 12 civilian passengers. Injuring 18 others. Wrongfully blaming Donbas self-defense forces.
An OSCE observer team concluded otherwise. Saying rockets fireds came from Kiev held territory. Ones used weren’t identified.
On Sunday, Sputnik News quoted Poroshenko vowing not to “yield another inch” of Ukrainian territory.
Saying “(w)e will take back Donbas. We will restore Ukrainian heritage, and we will demonstrate that our unity is another crucial factor in our victory.”
“We will be victorious. There will be peace in Ukraine. We will protect and revive our state.”
Kiev escalated conflict after rejecting Putin’s plan for both sides to halt artillery fire, according to Peskov.
“In recent days, Russia has consistently made efforts to mediate the conflict,” he said.
“In particular, on Thursday night…Putin sent a written message to Ukrainian President Poroshenko, in which both sides of the conflict were offered a concrete plan for removal of heavy artillery.”
Poroshenko got Putin’s letter Friday morning. Rejecting it out of hand. Likely on orders from Washington.
Including wanting conflict escalated. Peskov calling conditions on the ground an “absolute degradation of the situation in the southeast of Ukraine.”
Russia’s Foreign Ministry accused Kiev of using ceasefire agreed on terms to “regroup its forces, trying to take a course for further escalation of the conflict with a purpose to ‘settle’ it in a military way.”
“We are deeply concerned by the fact that the Ukrainian side continues to increase its military presence in the southeast of the country in violation of the Minsk agreements,” it stressed.
Look for naked Kiev aggression to continue. Donbas freedom fighters unfairly blamed.
Expect lots more mass slaughter and destruction. Mostly civilians affected. Suffering most like always in wars.
Especially ones directed against them. Like Israel against Gaza. Kiev against Donbas. Horrific war crimes by any standard.
No end of conflict looms. Fully supported by Washington and rogue NATO partners.
Perhaps wanting Donbass’ entire population exterminated. Genocide is longstanding US-dominated NATO policy. Don’t expect this time to be different.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at [email protected]. His new book as editor and contributor is titled “Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III.” http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com. Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network. It airs three times weekly: live on Sundays at 1PM Central time plus two prerecorded archived programs.
