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Separatists In Ukraine City Of Luhansk Said To Take 60 Hostages, Rig Building With Explosives
Update: as expected the denial of the propaganda didn't take long: PROTESTERS IN LUHANSK, UKRAINE, DENY HAVING EXPLOSIVES AND HOLDING HOSTAGES IN STATE SECURITY BUILDING
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While the source of the most recent developments in the Ukraine is the country's state security services and should thus be taken with the usual mine of salt, Reuters is reporting that pro-Russian separatists have placed explosives in a building they seized in the eastern city of Luhansk and are using weapons to hold around 60 people against their will.
RU agents in #Lugansk are holding about 60ppl hostage,not allow to leave&threaten them with weapons&explosives,SBU|PR pic.twitter.com/S2Hp5aEkko
— Euromaidan PR (@EuromaidanPR) April 8, 2014
Reuters reports:
Pro-Russian separatists occupied the SBU building on Sunday evening in one of a series of attacks in the east of the country.
"The anti-terror group of the security services of Ukraine (SBU) .. has established that the criminals have mined the building ... and are holding around 60 people, threatening them with weapons and explosives," the SBU said in a statement.
As a reminder Luhansk, together with Donetsk and Harkiv, is among the cities in which violent anti-Kiev protests took place over the weekend culminating the the state building being taken over by pro-Russian protesters, and where the local population is increasingly demanding a referendum to follow in Crimea's footsteps into the safety of Russian borders.
As a further reminder, Russia reminds the world at every opportunity that while it would never invade Ukraine outright, protecting ethnic Russians in the east of the country is a paramount responsibility, which means that should the crackdown against "separatists" accelerate and lead to even more violence and/or casualties, it simply makes the Russian offensive incursion case that much stronger.
And a building lined with explosives, not to mention dozens of hostages held at gunpoint, could be precisely the pretext needed to step up local instability by just the wrong amount of notches.
What is worst is that the lay of the land is now such that all sides - Ukraine, Russia and the US - stand to gain by escalating the stand off to a more weaponized level. Don't believe us? Just out from the US senator of war:
- MCCAIN SAYS UKRAINIANS HAVE MADE CLEAR THEY NEED WEAPONS
And guess who will be happy to supply not only the weapons by the Blackwater experts, dressed in flamboyant local garb of course, trained in using them.
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NATO's Secretary-General:
"If Russia were to intervene further in Ukraine, it would be an historic mistake. It would have grave consequences for our relationship with Russia and it would further isolate Russia internationally."
Fogh of War
so, israeli and american mercenaries dressed as Russian paramiltaries start shooting people in 3,2,1....
Breaking: BBC has just reported that the building has collapsed...
boxcutters?
Putin's undamaged passport was found at the scene.
and secret russian documents proving that the Iranians are hiding a nuclear weapon stockpile with the intent to attack poor defenseless Israel.
People in the area being warned that further building collapses may occur due to 'structural sympathy'.
Pullski it!
This Just In --- The protestors are also known Muslim suicide bombers. To clarify the reason these deviants laced the building they currently reside with explosives. Those darn Muslims!
Protestors ahhh hessians urr blackwater... Ahem Xe... hmmm, Greystone?!
How about NAZI! Like changing the names means something...
They sure are desperate to get this war started...nice negotiating tactic!
...Sorry to jump the que a bit here....but... USSA/Ukraine escalation has taken place since Russia announced "anti US Petro Dollar trading" a few days back. USSA reacted with what You see today.
...But I don't believe Russian will allow Ukraine to become a major battleground....Russia may surprise the West with an attack somewhere on the West's Homeground.
So they are threatening to blow themselves up unless they get what they want. The Judean Crimeaqn People Front attacks!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUHk2RSMCS8
@y3
I hope not the frost hasn't left the ground here yet and I don't have the Nuke shelter finished
Meet The Americans Who Put Together The Coup In Kiev—Chapter and VerseCall them by their other name. "Xe". If your lucky you convince that dumbass McCain to nuke the Chinese 'cause that sounds Chinese. Or something.
+1 on "Structural Sympathy"
I'm adding that to my 'technical' 9/11 related vocabulary.
+2
Can't take the credit for that one unfortunately, I think it was originally a Dr. Jim Willie-ism.
The Doobie Brothers' Black Water revised:
Oh Blackwater keep on 'spirin'
Crimea moon won't ya keep on spyin' on me
And we ain't got no worries
'Cause we're makin' them scurry and flee
And now from The Department of Redundancy Department I must say again:
Prepare to stand by to get ready to start the beginning of arming for launching our ultimate weapon of mass destruction against THEM!!
The Hillary!!!!
I know.. I might have just committed a war crime saying that.
>>hilary
the modern version of the saying 'release the krakken'.
I'm tellin ya...
Russia annexes Cuba next!
Paging William Banzai to release a video clip with Hillary's head superimposed on the Kraken.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gb2zIR2rvRQ
Oh snap!! Have they started burying the evidence of pre-staging thermite charges in a giant, armed guard secured landfill yet???
McCain´s office just announced that he has departed for a fact finding mission to Luhansk.
He better take his leader's Nobel Peace Prize with him ... they'll be impressed.
Question: How many Americans would be taking over "government building" if their currency devalued by 50% and their cost of living (food and energy) tripled in a 90 day period??
The Russians are just going to wait for the next vote to join Russia and back that vote, what is Kiev offering these people (other then what was stated above)? Its just fucking insane to be backing Kiev and the IMF/EU in this shit, but INSANE is what this WH and government does well!
How many Americans would be taking over "government building" if their currency devalued by 50% and their cost of living (food and energy) tripled in a 90 day period?
Hmm. We may have an answer to that by New Year's Day.
Need more data. Is the play station network up or down during this time?
That was the building next door.
"Breaking: BBC has just reported that the building has collapsed..."
At terminal velocity within its own foot print. There, I fixed it for ya!
Hey, question time-
Who has air control over the Ukraine now? I know a lot of hardware must be circling the boarders but, does the Ukraine have control over it's own airspace?
This will be important when this whole circus escalates to the next level.
Air cover will be critical. Drones or otherwise. Russia can't take control without effectively closing off the airspace at some point.
The Chileans have control over Ukraines airspace. Any solution to this mess must pass through La Paz.
La Paz is in Bolivia.
Aaaaand your point...
I don't think drone warfare will 'fly' in Ukraine, personally...
La Paz is in Bolivia.
corract that is exackly the plan
all routes must be passed through caracas or have writen permmisions from andy garcia"s brother
dago garcia
no malay planes allowed eyether
La Paz still wants that ocean front property. Russia is making them jealous...
I've been working on my sarc detection so I am going out on a limb here and saying that was the point.
Semi-sarc, but only specific points...
... Good Call...
So Canuklehead, please place a marker on the global map where YOU think the Ukraine is located??
Chile is right beside Bolivia. It's no where close to Ukraine. Does that give you any ideas?
Just yanking your chain bro. No worries.
The Ukraine does, but "control" amounts to ATC monitoring radar. As the Crimea takeover demonstrated, Russia was able to send in a vanguard of dozens of attack aircraft completely unopposed.
Pretty much any side can fly over Ukraine airspace with impunity. If Russia were to close down west Ukraine airpace I'm sure it would be interpreted as a significant act of war, my guess is they'll leave it alone unless another power flies something more than small drones.
Keep in mind the US/NATO have significantly stepped up CAPs on the borders, especially Poland.
Watch the Airspace methinks. Russia would likley be able to out 'hardware' NATO on the ground with ease. So any resistence from NATO will have to come from the air.
Which then means- any real overt escalation will likely be within the airspace over the Ukraine.
If it comes to a point where CAP is relevant in the context of protecting hardware on the ground I think the Belgians, should move to Sweeden .........
Essentially the Russians control the airspace over all of europe, Africa, the middle east, North and South Amerika ........
"Who has air control over the Ukraine now? I know a lot of hardware must be circling the boarders but, does the Ukraine have control over it's own airspace?"
Great question. I know I have seen plenty of PAK-FA fighter videos but I have no way of knowing how close they are to going prime-time deployment. The F-16s in Poland are just saber rattling since they would not have air superiority over the Su-x aircraft that Russia has. Is Russia ready to go toe-to-toe with gen 5 F-22s and B-2 with a combo S-400 and PAK-FA?
I would guess the answer is yes since Barry's red line was stomped on during phase1 (Crimea).
Any thoughts?
The Joint Strike Fighter will come to the rescue....oh wait...in 2018 perhaps.
I'm no expert on fighter jets, but the F-35 looks like a POS compared to the F-22. In fact, I have a hard time seeing what advantages it has realistically over a well updated F-15.
The only thing the F-15 is missing really is airframe stealth, since everything else can be upgraded. Aircraft today still aren't a match for a F-15 + Phoenix, but the stealth issue really undermines both the airframe and targeting other (stealth) aircraft.
The F-35 has a lot of bugs to work out, but the sensor fusion part of it is pretty crazy, if/when it all works being in one will feel like being a god. It does nothing for us now, though.
I am also fairly certain that F-15 will easily shoot all those MIGs 17.
I'd hope so! Pretty sure blasting 60 year old planes from the sky at 100 miles way would be the definition of a turkey shoot. Unfortunatelly the Russians are a little more up to date than the 17 these days.
The crises in the Ukraine will escalate further because the U.S. needs it to do so
in order to divert public attention from all the other government F-ups going on.
first it was Greystone, now Blackwater... no proof, NONE... the ZH mother russia propaganda brigade strikes again
and then it will be PinkUndies when US army regulars gets called in.
Famous last words from Der Fuhrerbunker...
No worries, the U.S.S.A. is all about "self determination" and "democracy"...
hedge accordingly...
60 Greystone contractors are being held hostage... ;-)
In other news, the other 90 Greystone contractors are deperately trying to E&E...
Can McCain just up and die already?
pods
Do you honestly believe anyone with a sound mind (Sans US) would even listen to this old parrot? No worries Pods :)
the liver eaters in Syria love him...
I believe he operates under the code name "Onions"...
Sometimes his antics just make you want to cry...
Sound mind is your key qualifier. Plenty support and listen to him. I would humbly suggest those that do are neither of sound mind or are men of reason. All should be ignored.
I'm starting to wonder if he aleady has and/or if those reptile rumors are actually true.
That would explain the T-Rex arms.
LOL
Like in Weekend at Bernie's?
More like "weekend at Tran Ho's"
---------
Too soon???
Evil never dies pods, it just re animates and evolves
Send in the drones. Some 20 year old nerd hopped up on red bull will liberate that building in a few hours. USA! USA! USA!
mountin dew code red is my "killing time" drink of choice
ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?!
Excellent!
Bread and Circus has improved to Vicarious War and EBT!
So much more flexibility now, more effective too.
Obviously PNAC trying to destroy European Industry by cutting off their most important Energy Suppler - Russia.
The percentage of Russian gas dependence for the countries of the EU is as follows:
• Estonia 100% • Finland 100% • Latvia 100% • Lithuania 100% • Slovakia 98% • Bulgaria 92% • Czech Republic 77.6% • Greece 76%
• Hungary 60% • Slovenia 52% • Austria 49% • Poland 48.15% • Germany 36% • Italy 27% • Romania 27% • France 14% • Belgium 5%
Needless to say none of these countries can afford to antagonise the Russians.
http://www.freenations.freeuk.com/news-2014-03-30.html
A war with Russia would decimate the Eurozone economy.
Decimating the Eurozone economy would take out the only reasonably developed current competitor to the US dollar as the global reserve currency.
Taking out Russia's economy would significantly weaken a BRICs currency union.
2 birds, one stone. Just sayin'.
This may be true, but it sounds odd. Since doing such a thing gives pretext to WesT Ukraine's coup government to resort to violence. I would find anything coming from CNN, NPR or the Ukraine Security Services hard to accept. Still, stranger things have happened. If Russians were truly up in arms, I suggest those veterans, and many men are vets of at least the 2 year service term, take up arms and go Black Water Hunting. A few dead criminals like Back Water is a service to humanity, all humanity. SOme may say, "No that is not right." But, I suggest to you that Black Water on the streets of Karkov may soon be Black Water on your streets. Remember New Orleans??? Remember the Black Water there, photgraphed and videoed? Remember the snipers in New Orleans? I bet 10 to 1 a Black Water cunt set up and fired the shots to justify the Black Water presence. Evil is evil, and Black Water is the evil that will soon lurk on our streets.
It's not true. It's a manufactured pretext.
SBU = Super Bullshit Unit
Dude you're on fire today. Well done.
All of the above may be very difficult to discern now. The situation on the ground is likely filled with all sorts of actors from every side. Many of whom are trying to wage war thru deception.
And things are moving rapidly so the situation is 'Fluid' and evolving quickly.
I agree that anything coming from the MSM's is suspect though.
How does one counter Black Water snipers?
That's easy, you shoot them.
With a camera.
With ZeroHedge snipers.
Yay this blackwater in Ukraine is the most retarded propaganda ever and people believe it. Grats!
See the world as a mercenary for the Obama administration: Benghazi last year, the Ukraine now and one year ago April 15, Boston for the running of the marathon.
United States - is the world's leading source of evil.
"Gold ruble symbol appears in front of the bank “Russia”
Duh of course McCain would say that. Why does the media always quote McCain when we all know what he will say. Greedy warmonger he be.
Nothing the SBU says is true, unless by pure coincidence.
Reminds me of the old Ukrainian cartoon...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Once_Upon_a_Dog
it's a story to get oil up, that's all...and it worked! these fukkers never quit!
CLK4 Future Quote - Crude Oil - Electronic (NYMEX) May 2014 Future Price Today (CLK4:NMN) - MarketWatch
Oil is speaking
Sprechen Sie Deutsch?
Dollar down
McCain says send weapons to the Ukraine! I agree, we must have a bunch of civil war muskets lying around in some government warehouse, somewhere.....
It's bullshit, most likely US mercenaries posing as pro Russian protestors in order to give the illusion that the pro Russia movement is violent, justifying the US to supply weaponry. It's all so predictable with these Zionist cunts!
Precisely as possible as Russia sending agitators over the border to cause strife amongst the locals that Russia must then help alleviate.
We are full-on into the fog of war now. Both Russia and America work to infuence foreign nations where they have little to no business.
My beef is with America's incredible incompentance and the unnecessary unrest it sows. All of Ukraine's people are suffering or will suffer tremendously because of Americas destabilizing influence. The Russians are equally murderous thugs working under much more skilled diplomats.
The Unkraine. I watched a history of Ukraine on youtube. During World War 1, it seems every neighboring country invaded Kiev at least once. Plus there were two flavors of Germans ( Austrians and Germany) an two flavors of Russia (Red and White). Poland and I think Romania also got into the act.
Then, our history of being upset when Russia invades...
At the start of World War 2, in 1939 when Germany and Russia were allies, the Germans attacked Poland so England and France in a huff declared war.
At the same time the USSR invaded Finland, Latvia, Estonia, Lithiuania, Poland and Moldava. No war was declared by England, none by France. And later none by the United States. So as long as there was another big fish (Germany) to contend with, the Russian invasion was unopposed. Not a big demand after the war to give any of it back, either.
And it is today’s Bolsheviks now based in the U.S. who are really driving the attempt to take over Ukraine. And the western media’s propaganda has an eerie resemblance to the propaganda that got the president who “kept us out of war,” Woodrow Wilson, to declare war on Germany.
Here’s an interesting comment by J. Franklin Jameson who was editor of the "American Historical Review," an important instrument in getting America into WWI:
“What is more essential to the successful prosecution of a great national war than an enlightened, unified and powerfully acting public opinion? ... the American enters the war distinctly as a citizen of the world. Rather, he enters the war with that intention; but to make him truly such a citizen requires an enormous expansion of his political education, a quick shift of his point of view, rapid reinforcements to his knowledge of European conditions.”
Such is the purpose of a liberal “historian.” And his “historical” offspring can be found on America’s newspapers and networks to this very day.
Kiev rose to prominence in medieval times (the Kievan Rus') because it sat at a crossroads, and was an important center of trade.
actually in WWI there were 3 flavors of Russian: red, white and green.
the greens were the serfs who attempted to rise up after getting skull fucked by both the whites and the reds. they were crushed.
WTF: US mercenaries in the Ukraine.? US/Israel world's number 1 war criminals.
US/Israel world's number 1 war criminals.
listen hannibal you sound like a nazi you could even be the new hitler.
at the very least you have a mental illness
you are confused.
we yids are here to help you
die
Wait,wait,wait! What does Lurch have to say about this? Has he twerked a message yet?
America’s Pied Piper media is so monopolistic and state-connected that the information citizens receive has almost no credibility. It takes an independent source to provide the truth such as the American Empire’s two most wanted men, Edward Snowden and Julian Assange.
In the world fight for independence from the United States, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, warns that “the dominant military-intelligence system in the world, the US-NATO alliance, which accounts for more than 75 percent of global military and intelligence expenditure…the 'Five Eyes' intelligence alliance, principally the US, has annexed the whole world through their spying.”
Reports RT:
“Speaking at the WHD.global conference on Wednesday, Assange – who has been living under asylum in Ecuador's embassy in London since 2012 – pointed out that there is a need for independent internet infrastructure for countries to maintain sovereignty to resist US control over the majority of communications. The annual conference is dedicated to global surveillance and privacy matters
“'To a degree this is a matter of national sovereignty. The news is all flush with talk about how Russia has annexed the Crimea, but the reality is, the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, principally the United States, have annexed the whole world as a result of annexing the computer systems and communications technology that is used to run the modern world,' Assange said.
“’So it’s a matter of national sovereignty. If there is not at least some national network that can be maintained in a moment of economic or political conflict with the United States, then there is simply too much leverage on nation states to be able to effectively defend the interests of their peoples.’”
Reports RT: “In March, Assange warned that the NSA and GCHQ will soon have the ability to spy on the entire planet, as their capabilities double every 18 months.”
http://rt.com/news/us-global-spying-assange-761/
Crisis is escalating.
Tanks heading for Ukraine’s Lugansk on Kiev order
Maybe Ukraine is worth fighting for after all.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9FS1bxaGTg
always love watching the collective jaw dropping from both male & female audience members in that clip
Da I was told she is at least 1/2 Rus.... great arms strength for female.... btw,you should see moma.
Follow the link to this GAS map of Ukraine:
http://www.eegas.com/ukr_090115e.htm
Look at the pumping stations and major junctions.
The names of the closest cities to those junctions should look familiar, because they are in the news today as 'Seized by pro-Russian Groups'.
P.S. Ask yourself what two cities with GAS junctions Russia would need to control in order to control gas flow to say... Crimea (and maybe the Naval Yards there).
This zoomed-in map will help:
http://www.eegas.com/ukraine_2014-03.htm
Good info. gc.
Thanks-
I'vbe been working on my Cyrillic:
XAPbKOP = Kharkov/Kharkiv
AOHEUK = Donetsk
POCTOB ... = Rostov on Don...
Follow the link to this GAS map of Ukraine:
http://www.eegas.com/ukr_090115e.htm
Look at the pumping stations and major junctions.
The names of the closest cities to those stations should look familiar, because they are in the news today as 'Seized by pro-Russian Groups'.
P.S. Ask yourself what two cities with GAS junctions Russia would need to control in order to control gas flow to say... Crimea (and maybe the Naval Yards there).
This zoomed-in map will help:
http://www.eegas.com/ukraine_2014-03.htm
Hi, We're BLACKWATER - and We're Here To Help.
- For all your False Flag & Agent Provacateur needs
All your Right Sektor are belong to us.
"Ok, enough is enough. Everyone inside put down your shitgums and come out with your hands in the air."
If you think about it, capturing any Western mercenaries and putting them on CNN would be a huge propaganda victory for Vlad. I'd order Spetznaz to make it a priority, if I were him.
looks like we will soon have the answer to the age old question of this savior person everyone keeps talking about. how lucky we are to have a chance to live through the foreplay to see the truth.
"Yats" is so fucked. Don't any of these morons we find do any due diligence? By now everybody should know that working for the CIA pays well for a while, but the retirement plan absolutely blows rocks. Just ask former employees Saddam Hussein, Manuel Noriega, Muammar Gadhafi, Osama bin Laden, and that's just the first that come to mind.
Re: Osama bin Laden
Surely you mean Tim Osman?
Headline:
Gene Rosen Spotted in Kiev
The United States of America is an international criminal organization that is above the rule of law.
The American People, stock market, are captive debt slave victims that unwillingly harbor these international criminals.
Paid American mercenaries are terrorist above Geneva Convention law.
It will take an American Revolution to bring these criminals to Justice.
It's funny that is so quiet on the American home front!
Sure...we should rush in with our guns, be squashed by drone and then have them go after guns and disarm us. Or, folks could wait for the cancer to fully matastisize and then waltz in post death. everyone will pile on to this cartel from all sides when the time is right. If the criminals were still in control, this would be over and the country would be secure for IMF debt heroin. It is not which speaks volumes to the decline and inevitable undoing. Go bumrush your own .gov! I am sure they suck the criminal cock too.
In reply to Irrational Rebel: Poor thing, are you having one of your little fits and blowing snot bubbles again? Ha. Ha.
The international Bankster/Big Oil criminals are very much in control of our American economy.
The military and paid killer mercenaries are very much in their control.
The American Stock Market is very much under their control.
All mass media, except the internet is under their control.
All functions of local, state and federal government are very much under control hence, we live in a fascist society under their control.
Now, snot nose, do you think the criminals are simply going to give up without a fight?
"The international Bankster/Big Oil criminals are very much in control of our American economy.The military and paid killer mercenaries are very much in their control.The American Stock Market is very much under their control.All mass media, except the internet is under their control.All functions of local, state and federal government are very much under control hence, we live in a fascist society under their control."
Thank you so much for framing the problem yet again. Is that all you're worth? Framing the problem and then vicariously egging others on to do the heavy lifting? Are you starting some sort of Freedom Fighter group that will take on the hegemony of these criminals in our backyard? Or are you like everyone else here, me included, bitching on a blog about how something must be done. Come on tough guy! Rise the fuck up and start fighting. Oh that's right. You are just like me, an "American hairlip" as Satoshi7152681762/zionhead109278302 calls us. I simply stated the fact that it is better to go Sun Tzu and let the weakening, which I believe is happening as seen in Ukraine, gather strength. You will get nowhere by "fighting" them. I am learning things that will help after this shitbox crumbles; useable traits.
"If you know both yourself and your enemy, you can win numerous (literally, "a hundred") battles without jeopardy." Sun Tzu
Now, snot nose, do you think the criminals are simply going to give up without a fight?
It's pathetic that you are so insecure that you cannot take a critical comment to yours with dressed up arrogant, weak solipsism and then try to minimize me by name calling because you know deep down I am correct. That's right. You're just another bitchass on a blog trying to make favor by acting hard, yet reverting to your comfortable little corner in 'Merica. I am no different.
America, like all empires, will fall. I simply propose to await the inevitable and prepare for the cleanup. We are just like Rome. The playbook to this moving along seemlessly.
So who is the irrational one? The person who says wait for the inevitable or the person who says rush in and get fucked?
In reply to irrational rebel: I have often wondered how the Jews were lined up and sent to death camps without a revolt. Fatalistic, ignorant and inarticulate foul mouthed idiots like you are prime candidates for a FEMA camp. March on! Ha. Ha.
Because you are a do nothing does not mean that I am a do nothing. My weapon is invention and the advancement of science to outmode the use of fossil fuels, but still, that is not enough.
I never said armed revolt dumb-ass, I said a revolution!
The terms you used were taken in full context and oftentimes, almost always, meant to connote armed revolt, thus setting you up for FEMA love. There are roughly 500 million guns in this country and should it get to that, then you will see an uprising. I just believe that it will not come to that and we will crumble under the weight of our debt and numerous other issues. This is why I believe that TPTB are setting up shop in Asia. They need a WEAK AMERICA, not strong. This is why I will be starting my doctorate on such things and finished by 2016 withy it in Asian history. I just have to finish my third degree(Masters) first if you want to yield the educational phallus around. I am learning how to garden, build solar generators and live as minimalistically as possible. All this is fine and well if what you state is true to your references of using your noggin instead of incendiary devices. My next car will be a veggie oil 300SD Turbodiesel; preferably a 1982 with european headlights. I owned one years ago but never converted it. We probably are not that different. So on that I will cease and desist.
send over the congressional democrats..... plenty of gas there....
Without comment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0GFRcFm-aY
Meanwhile growing number of Ukrainian Jews have been fleeing Ukraine heading to Israel.
Haaretz: Number of new immigrants from Ukraine registered at the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption in the first three months of the year totaled 557, an increase of 43 percent over the same period last year.