This page has been archived and commenting is disabled.

Ukraine-Russia Near "Serious Conflict" Following Explosion In Largest European Gas Transit Pipeline

Tyler Durden's picture




 

With 2 Russian TV journalists killed in recent days and on the heels of Russia's cutting off Ukraine's gas supply for non-payment, Interfax is reporting that:

  • *EXPLOSION ON UKRAINE GAS TRANSIT PIPELINE REPORTED: IFX
  • *INTERFAX CITES UKRAINE INTERIOR MINISTRY ON GAS PIPELINE BLAST

Witnesses say flames are reaching 200 metres high. Gazprom shares are tumbling on the news (as should European stocks) and Russia's Foreign Affairs Committee Chief Aleksei Pushkov warned relations between Ukraine and Russia have entered a new stage and are "moving closer towards a serious conflict."

As RT reports,

An explosion has struck a pipeline in the eastern Ukrainian Poltava region. Witnesses say flames from the blast are up to 200 meter high, RIA Novosti reports.

The “Brotherhood” natural gas pipeline (Urengoy-Pomary-Uzhgorod) is about one kilometer away from the nearest settlement. No injuries have been reported from the blast. Fire fighting crews have been deployed to the scene.

Operating since 1967, the “Brotherhood” is the largest consumer gas pipeline in Europe, clocking in at 4,451 km. It cuts through Ukraine and runs into Slovakia, where it diverges in two directions; with one part supplying gas to the Czech Republic, Germany, France and Switzerland, and the other to Austria, Italy, Hungary and several countries in the Balkans.

Pipeline faucets are being tuned off as fire fighters still can’t put out the flame.

 

As Bloomberg reports,

Relations between Russia and Ukraine have entered a new stage and are "moving closer towards a serious conflict", said State Duma Foreign Affairs Committee chief Aleksei Pushkov.

 

Russia did not recognise unilateral border demarcation by Ukraine which was "contrary to all norms of international law", Russia's ITAR-TASS news agency quoted Pushkov as saying Tuesday.

 

"An attack on the Russian embassy, an attempted attack on the consulate-general in Odessa, insults to the Russian president, regular arrests of Russian journalists -- I think this is a deliberate decision co-ordinated with the U.S -- all these are links of one chain," he said.

We are sure the explosion/fire on the pipeline will further this sentiment.

Update:

  • *UKRAINE MINISTRY: FIRE BROKE OUT ON GAS PIPLINE, NO EXPLOSION
  • *UKRAINE MINISTRY SAYS INVESTIGATING CAUSE OF GAS PIPELINE FIRE

Coincidental "fire"?

And the purported video of the pipeline..

 

- advertisements -

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.
Tue, 06/17/2014 - 11:39 | 4865228 Duffy Duck
Duffy Duck's picture

Agreed - there is some good stuff there.

Always worth keeping an eye on the comments, as well.

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 09:57 | 4864745 shovelhead
shovelhead's picture

Looks like Putin was wise not to take a 51% stake in Naftogaz and it's pipelines when it was offered.

I wouldn't want to swipe gas and owe a guy like Putin a lot of money.

I just wouldn't sleep well at night.

What are these Ukranian guys thinking?

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 10:04 | 4864765 DeliciousSteak
DeliciousSteak's picture

They're doing what they're told to do. Ukraine/West seem to WANT Russia to act aggressively. I see provocation after provocation. USA seems almost desperate to return to a hostile relationship with Russia - and drag Europe with it. Are they afraid of a new European-Asian axis with Germies, Russians and Chinamen or what?

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 10:28 | 4864890 lakecity55
lakecity55's picture

They are fearful Europeans might slide over into the Russian Orbit.

Vlad: "10% off if you pay in Euros! Step right up, get your discount here."

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 10:52 | 4864996 Winston of Oceania
Winston of Oceania's picture

But then they would have to pay for their own military to defend themselves when Russia gets bored and wants to "reclaim" lost glory and Empire. Everyone will suffer except the oligarchs on either side. A rational being would discard ALL nationalism and tell the banksters and empire builders to stuff themselves on both sides of the conflict.

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 10:54 | 4865009 ChiangMai
ChiangMai's picture

 

In the early 1980s, a European top NATO admiral said that American colleagues at the Pentagon had told him, unequivocally, that the US and UK would not hesitate in creating a new European war if the situation ever arose that Europe and Russia, then the USSR, were to develop close relations.

              — This Is Why Washington Has Sought To Create A Crisis In Ukraine


Tue, 06/17/2014 - 11:51 | 4865158 Urban Redneck
Urban Redneck's picture

The story of the "threat" of a German-Russian alliance is actually British (unless you want to back to the Congress of Vienna and the adversaries of the Grand Alliance), but regardless quite a bit older, and instead of "a new European war" it should read "another European war"

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 10:05 | 4864769 sumo
sumo's picture

"What are these Ukranian guys thinking?"

They're thinking "but, but, Nuland said this would be "easy-peasy!" WTF is this "easy-peasy"!"

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 09:59 | 4864754 Chuck Knoblauch
Chuck Knoblauch's picture

Washington keeps provoking Russia.

Putin displaying tremendous restraint.

I admire him for that.

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 10:14 | 4864806 Winston of Oceania
Winston of Oceania's picture

A bear in a trap will act like that.

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 11:10 | 4865047 Chuck Knoblauch
Chuck Knoblauch's picture

Girls are better bullies than boys.

Washington is full of them.

Putin knows the Queen is a fag.

So, he's not going to be intimidated.

Kerry and McCain are boys, yes.

But they are not the President.

They are the Queen's bitches.

This is geopolitics today.

The Washington fag mafia vs. the Russians.

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 12:32 | 4865484 El Vaquero
El Vaquero's picture

Restraint?  I see this more as giving us enough rope to hang ourselves.  Russia is going to have to weigh lost revenues against waiting until Western Europe starts eying the United States and laying much of the blame for what is going to be very expensive natural gas (when they can get it) at our feet.  If Russia can simply wait us out, it wins.  Putin is going to do what Putin thinks is good for Russia and Putin.  In the mean time, our so called leaders still haven't figured out that the red checkers don't taste different than the black checkers.  This is not a statement for or against Putin, it is just simply how I see the situation unfolding. 

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 12:57 | 4865585 Chuck Knoblauch
Chuck Knoblauch's picture

Un-declared WW III continues.

Financial collapse will escalate into global violence.

No one is going to surrender.

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 13:04 | 4865614 El Vaquero
El Vaquero's picture

Financial collapse will remove the US's ability to wage a real total war, except for the nuclear kind.  A financial collapse will very possibly lead to a US civil war, along with a ton of civil wars around the world.  WWIII may very well be a mass of internal revolts.  That's the optimistic possibility anyway, given that the likely alternative is nuclear Armageddon. 

 

What we are seeing with Ukraine and other places that the US is meddling is a scramble to maintain control of energy supplies, and it reeks of desperation.  We've got real problems, and to make it worse, we have dick-brained nematodes calling the shots.

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 13:50 | 4865846 Bemused Observer
Bemused Observer's picture

I see that as very possible/likely as well. Waging large-scale organized war requires the backing of strong societies...with the strong societies floundering, it will be difficult to mount the kind of attacks or defenses you need for another WW.
So yes, I agree that it is more likely that any hostilities will be of the "multiple localized regional conflicts" type, with the bigger powers unable to decide who to support, and unable to drum up enough domestic support to go all out for any side.
The problem is that this can go on a LOT longer than an all-out WW can...death by a thousand cuts as opposed to a quick decapitation.

Wed, 06/18/2014 - 05:35 | 4868258 dreadnaught
dreadnaught's picture

Putin has all the time in the world come October....when the EU and the Ukraine start getting cold

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 12:48 | 4865549 messystateofaffairs
messystateofaffairs's picture

Waiting for the right opportunity. Israel/USA is not getting any stronger or more popular with their shenanigans.  Tuck in, wait, make yourself stronger while they make themselves weaker. The only friend America has in the world right now is Israel and we know how that goes, frienimy. Every move the US makes now reduces their sustainability.

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 10:01 | 4864758 Peter Pan
Peter Pan's picture

If I was Putin I would give some thought to stopping the flow of gas through those pipelines and instead connecting my sewage output to the pipeline and sending it down the line to Ukraine and its friends.

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 10:15 | 4864810 sumo
sumo's picture

Hmm, kind of like tar sands, but less viscous.

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 12:17 | 4865436 NoWayJose
NoWayJose's picture

The Ukrainians can use that flow to extract the methane instead!

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 10:04 | 4864767 JRobby
JRobby's picture

ITS WAR, WAR, WAR !!!! ESCALATE !!!!! WE NEED PROFITS HIGHER, HIGHER, HIGHER!

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 10:07 | 4864768 roadhazard
roadhazard's picture

I don't see why Russia did not turn the gas off several billion ago. Turn it off at the Russian border and let them, (Europe) work it out. Time for Europe to figure it out without the US. When you back nazi's expect the worst.

 

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 10:50 | 4864991 alentia
alentia's picture

Yeah, we have to stop backing Putin's Nazi Khuilo.

Wed, 06/18/2014 - 05:34 | 4868256 dreadnaught
dreadnaught's picture

you mean the CIA in the Ukraine im certain

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 10:06 | 4864773 hairball48
hairball48's picture

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!  Can't we all just get along???

/sarc

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 10:09 | 4864784 smacker
smacker's picture

Well presumably, the input gas meter for this pipeline is on Russian soil and the recipient countries will each have output meters, so the gas that's getting burned off en route by this act of sabotage is measurable and will be billed to Ukraine's government.

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 10:12 | 4864794 stevefromthenet
stevefromthenet's picture

video "removed by user"

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 10:15 | 4864803 tony wilson
tony wilson's picture

come on guys get on track get with the programme ing.

we are winning

we always win

the jews get the girls and the blow jobs the gold and the cash yes.

your debt well that is just payback for your anti semetism throughout history.

the debt the rekoyning must be paid my boyz must be paid

but not to soon just pay the interest thats better.

debt is cool

do not hate the rabbi for the range child and adult blow jobs he receives the cash monies and gold trinkets he hordes.

rejoice at your inslavement

things have always been thus no need to change.

 

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 10:20 | 4864843 ChiangMai
ChiangMai's picture

 

For those of us who sometimes find it difficult to focus on the news, rather than on the newscaster, here's three minutes' worth of interval training, courtesy of the incomparable (re Ukraine info and incisive analysis) Florida / USA based 'The Saker':

[VIDEO - 02:54] June 16th Novorossia News Bulletin by the ANNA news agency

 

 

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 10:23 | 4864858 TabakLover
TabakLover's picture

This whole RUS-UKR thing is just a made up fairy tale.....the SPY tells me so.

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 10:24 | 4864863 lakecity55
lakecity55's picture

It almost seems as if some Tribe of assholios is doing everything they can to force Russia into a shooting war.

 

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 10:28 | 4864891 gcjohns1971
gcjohns1971's picture

Nope,

This is all about Nuland.

There are no energy geopolitics going on here...

At least not if you've had a lobotomy.

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 10:31 | 4864910 kowalli
kowalli's picture

Still nothing about it in west MSM...

Wed, 06/18/2014 - 05:32 | 4868253 dreadnaught
dreadnaught's picture

The US branch of Israel and the Zionists are enemies of mankind.

Seems that the Ukraine is too complex for the mainstream media.....and many people are calling bullshit on their reporting

Like wise, having to explain the the Ukraine is murdering many of its citizens.....makes the MSM just forget the whole thing

And now ISIS leads the 'news'

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 10:34 | 4864921 SnatchnGrab
SnatchnGrab's picture

Nations act in their own best self-interest. However, when that gets corrupted by cronyism (of any sort) then the status quo gets perverted.

 

Russia plays chess. When winter comes, Europe will be faced with some very tough decisions.  I suppose you can burn money (the Germans did it during the Weimar republic days), but that is self-defeating proposition.

 

We look at daily actions through a microscope, and our collective inability to see the "big picture" or willingness to create Boogeymen lead to "easy" answers.  Furthermore, I don't believe there's a single "culprit", whether that's: Israel, "Jews", Banking, incompetence at 1600 Penn, or impotence throughout European leadership.

 

I've served with Ukranian Officers. Both in a Signal and Infantry capacity. Those of them who are loyal face sme very tough decisions and I wish the best to all. 

 

Finally, any poster who challenges another poster to "go and fight" is a moral and physical coward. Wishing soldiers onto the battlefield for your perverse desires is just that - perverse. Sit safely behind your keyboard and lament the "situation". 

When violence comes to America (and it is), you wil be chafe before the Scythe. 

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 10:34 | 4864924 SnatchnGrab
SnatchnGrab's picture

Nations act in their own best self-interest. However, when that gets corrupted by cronyism (of any sort) then the status quo gets perverted.

 

Russia plays chess. When winter comes, Europe will be faced with some very tough decisions.  I suppose you can burn money (the Germans did it during the Weimar republic days), but that is self-defeating proposition.

 

We look at daily actions through a microscope, and our collective inability to see the "big picture" or willingness to create Boogeymen lead to "easy" answers.  Furthermore, I don't believe there's a single "culprit", whether that's: Israel, "Jews", Banking, incompetence at 1600 Penn, or impotence throughout European leadership.

 

I've served with Ukranian Officers. Both in a Signal and Infantry capacity. Those of them who are loyal face sme very tough decisions and I wish the best to all. 

 

Finally, any poster who challenges another poster to "go and fight" is a moral and physical coward. Wishing soldiers onto the battlefield for your perverse desires is just that - perverse. Sit safely behind your keyboard and lament the "situation". 

When violence comes to America (and it is), you wil be chafe before the Scythe. 

Wed, 06/18/2014 - 03:02 | 4868142 IronForge
IronForge's picture

I have to disagree with your last generalization.  What's wrong with calling out a Chickenhawk to put his money where his mouth is?

I've sailed in a War Zone - Twice (dealt with the dead, too), afterwards asked (actually badgered) to be sent to an In-Theater Warship/Fleet Staff during Desert Storm (My Sea Tour was over, so I was on the Ground managing the "Industrial Process" in my Locale - i.e., I was already closest I can get to a Warship and very productive for my Rank), and decades later, even offered a few Israeli Businesses posting reqs to go there and do some IT Implementations when they were being rained on by rockets. I told them they can Gear Me Up when I get there (instead, I had some Chabad/Cult Monkey/JW/Mormon/Jesuit/Scientology/Jews4Jeezus/IDF Deserter types screw with my Career).

Now, I'm a Son of a Three War Veteran and a Nephew of a Two-War Veteran, who grew up in a Military Base at the Front Lines of the Cold War partially raised by Sailors and Marines, and learned and served under many an experienced Veteran - including a Hanoi Hilton POW and a popular General.   Most people from my perspective grew up in a "Pussified" environment.

It's never easy; but I believe it's good practice to call out Chickenhawks - especially those running for Office - whenever possible.   We've allowed too many into the Defense/State Depts, Congress, and the White House.

PS No need to post Gen Butler's Quotes.  IIRC, I went to school with his descendants.

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 10:36 | 4864930 Debugas
Tue, 06/17/2014 - 10:42 | 4864946 virgilcaine
virgilcaine's picture

I called for this a while ago, for pipelines to start blowing up. It's in the ZH comment archives.

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 11:57 | 4865329 TheFourthStooge-ing
TheFourthStooge-ing's picture

.

I called for this a while ago, for pipelines to start blowing up. It's in the ZH comment archives.

Good luck finding it. For some inexplicable reason, all articles posted before June 1, 2014, have had their comments purged.

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 12:19 | 4865441 Kprime
Kprime's picture

they were just unlucky,  the comments were stored on the same server as Lerners emails, damn the luck.

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 13:19 | 4865681 smacker
smacker's picture

I discovered summat like that myself a few days ago.

A real shame when I thought older articles were just locked not purged.

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 21:30 | 4867535 TheFourthStooge-ing
TheFourthStooge-ing's picture

.

A real shame when I thought older articles were just locked not purged.

Used to be that way until around a week ago. I don't know what prompted the change.

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 10:42 | 4864957 The Reich
The Reich's picture

Cui bono?

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 10:52 | 4864997 americanspirit
americanspirit's picture

History clearly shows us that wars always occur at some unpredictable (in advance) point in an unrecognized chain of events, which as they are evolving seem to most contemporary observers to be unrelated. I think that we are nearing the breaking point in what will, in retrospect,be seen as a clearly defined chain of events. I am not even sure that all the parties to the eventual war know now that they will be involved.

I also believe that in retrospect the psychology of all parties involved will be seen to have been a deciding factor. That psychology can roughly be described as "Fuck it - I don't have anything left to lose.", and I think that psychology dominates much of the world today.

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 11:01 | 4865030 NuYawkFrankie
NuYawkFrankie's picture

re History clearly shows us that wars always occur at some unpredictable (in advance) point in an unrecognized chain of events...

 

Uughh????

Suggest you do some research on the neo-cons and their antecedents.

That might make the dots a big bigger for you to connect.

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 11:01 | 4865040 The worst trader
The worst trader's picture

Perfect reason to slam the VXX!

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 11:03 | 4865054 JR
JR's picture

Yats’ Bela Kun’s Junta in Kiev is beyond savagery -- all made possible and defended by the U.S. State Department and its hapless spokesman, Jen Psaki. First, she defends Ukraine’s acting Foreign Minister Andrey Deshchitsa who addressed the anti-Russian mob outside the Russian embassy in Kiev over the weekend, further inciting the mob by telling them that “Putin is a f**ker.”

Then she defended the Yats government's Menachem-Begin policy of ethnic cleansing.

But is it any wonder? Israel is not in Ukraine but its policy is, instituted through the CIA. And, now, the Kiev monsters put in power by the US are mouthing the words of this policy. With the world on fire, from Mosul to Libya, when will Americans pull their Zionist attack dogs (Federal Reserve money) back to defend American interests and western civilization?

There are certain basic characteristics of humans and when they are absent, and their primitiveness backed first by an illegitimate government and the highly sophisticated weaponry of a superpower, then these former humans become animals and a danger to the entire human race.

Already, these Kiev officials who remarkably boast Israeli connections are talking about the ethnic cleansing of Ukraine.

Expressing condolences to the families and friends of the military men killed near Luhansk, Ukraine’s Jewish Prime Minister Yatsenyuk [Yats] vowed to commemorate them "by cleaning our land from evil":

“We bow our heads to the heroes who lost their lives for the sake of their country, to prevent the war from coming into the house of each of us.

“They lost their lives because they defended men and women, children and the elderly who found themselves in a situation facing a threat to be killed by invaders and sponsored by them subhumans. First, we will commemorate the heroes by wiping out those who killed them and then by cleaning our land from evil.”

http://www.globalresearch.ca/us-state-dept-spokesperson-psaki-defends-ukraine-foreign-minister-over-putin-fker-remark/5387346

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 14:10 | 4865938 Jack Burton
Jack Burton's picture

JR, Your posts are pretty much on the money and save me having to post! The thing to remember is that Ukraine nazi movement is historically based and very much alive. The USA via CIA support has been backing these west Ukrinian nazis since World War Two. Kiev is now basically a CIA operation. Kiev does nothing that is not worked out as part of American policy. Yats being Israeli in his soul, is a prefect CIA tool. Yes, the random shelling of cities and villages is part of the ethnic cleansing plan. The hope is to drive out the Russian speakers for good. The USA approves and funds this policy, because the US Government is now officially a fascist entity itself. Since 9/11, the USA has modelled itself after Israel. That is all we need to know. No crime is too evil for this bunch. The Ukrianian Right Sector are the world's new Nazi movement, and they are acting all strong because they have full USA backing.

This entire crisis is stage managed from Washington. The pipeline blow up was as predictable as sun rise after dawn.

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 15:37 | 4866375 JR
JR's picture

It was very good to hear from you, Jack. Excellent post, as usual. Your posts have a gripping way of connecting the dots on the tragic developments that, I’m sorry to say, have been initiated by the tyrants in America.

I sincerely believe the solution will come when the American people end the Fed, because it is the money printing that provides the fuel for these wars of aggression and Empire. The military budgets are staggering but you and I both know that the money for private contractors and secret intelligence agencies would be a staggering sum as well.

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 11:12 | 4865086 Dewey Cheatum Howe
Dewey Cheatum Howe's picture

I would be concerned about shit like also if I was the Europeans. Regardless of all the preening and posturing Russia wants to sell the EU gas and it is in neither's interest to have the pipelines being blown up. A bookie killing a bettor doesn't get the bookie paid. They will dance with witholding payments and services but eventually they come to an agreement in most cases after the beatings and starvation of resources from the bettors. Only rogue elements who benefit by terrorizing both sides benefits and that would be a third party trying to sell them gas using an alternate currency to pay for it.....

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 11:24 | 4865160 JR
JR's picture

Yes, the explosion in Ukraine is not a cause for humor. People are dying and oil companies and speculators will have a field day in driving up fuel costs in Europe and the United States -- and all the while blaming it all on Putin.

After the financial cartel finally closed the deal on control of the American government, it only took them 20 years to begin blowing up the world. And it is not anti-Semitic to show the connections between the owners of the Federal Reserve and the State of Israel.

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 11:30 | 4865180 ThisIsBob
ThisIsBob's picture

Europe wants to buy. Russia wants to sell. Price is fine. Only thing standing in the way are people who live many  thousands of miles away.

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 11:26 | 4865166 general ambivalent
general ambivalent's picture

Is this ever bullish!? I'll fight every one of you right now to prove it.

Just don't punch me in the botox.

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 11:26 | 4865169 teslaberry
teslaberry's picture

it was either the americans or the russians that did this. 

 

either way , it is the pretext that america needs to bait russia into an invasion, or the pretext russia needs to bomb the godamn shit out petropavlovk. 

why petropavlovsk? because there's more russian speakers there than kiev and because if you can take that city, the kiev regime is finished.

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 11:45 | 4865266 therevolutionwas
therevolutionwas's picture

Russia will need to go in to fix the pipeline and would have a reason to provide security for their pipline,  no need for an invasion yet.

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 17:15 | 4866777 Volkodav
Volkodav's picture

It is not Russia's to fix....

If Russia goes in there is other needs "fixed"

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 11:27 | 4865173 Dewey Cheatum Howe
Dewey Cheatum Howe's picture

I don't know the overall capacities but reality is a lot of this gas can be rerouted from Urengoy field through the northern corridor in Ukraine or bypass it directly and into Belarus instead. Slovakia gets squeezed the worst though on this pipeline being shut off.

Though if nothing else for cui bono besides typical geopolitical interests on a local level it has to be bullish for this project.

http://www.kyivpost.com/content/business/firtash-company-to-upgrade-ukra...

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 16:18 | 4866552 ebear
ebear's picture

 

Repair and upgrade, eh?

Funny how nobody's suggesting this was simply an accident waiting to happen.

After all, the pipeline's only 50 years old (give or take) and located in a nation well known for industrial excellence and strict adherence to safety standards, no?   

Fate does play a role in human outcomes.

So does neglect.

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 11:40 | 4865231 general ambivalent
general ambivalent's picture

Pretty good post from a commenter at the Guardian:

"I feel very sorry for the people of Eastern Ukraine because they're basically on their own. Putin won't help them because he's quite obviously aware of the trap that EUSA is trying to lure him into. And western politicians are quite happy to sacrifice their lives in whatever numbers it takes to bait the said trap which Putin is far too wise and cynical to enter.

But their position is not entirely hopeless. Kiev is looking increasingly rogue, and when it starts (as it will) to steal gas destined for western Europe, the anti-Russian alliance will almost certainly break up in disarray. The 'west' has a very weak hand, and the Russians know it. Eventually the cost of staying in the game will outweigh what the EU stands to win and they'll throw in their hand. The anti-Russian alliance will be broken.

At that point, Russia will do what's right and nobody will say a word. My guess is that they need to hold out for five to six months."

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 14:18 | 4866009 Jack Burton
Jack Burton's picture

That was a fine post! Yes, pretty much what I believe too. Putin needs to feed just enough military support to the East to keep them going. In 5-6 months and the heart of winter, that is when Ukraine's economy and finances and stored gas run out. That is when this Kiev coup government will face the end game. No money, no economy, no gas. Putin must refrain from crossing that border, while the USA and Kiev are desperate to bait Russia into invasion. Lucky for Putin that the Self Defense Fighters are true heros and hard fighters. Kiev's forces with 2-1 to 10-1 advantage on any battle field are hardly able to do anything without heavy losses. The key is to keep the SDF equipped with shoulder fired AA missiles and modern guided anti tank missiles. ANy infantry with courage and these missiles are a tough nut to crack. And Kiev's new fascist National Guard are just thugs, never able to fight dedicated soldiers like the SDF has at present.

Wed, 06/18/2014 - 03:41 | 4868176 IronForge
IronForge's picture

Mr. Burton,

I also read about a few more Desertions and "Refusals to Fight" Cases from the Coup Forces, since their Troops in East Ukraine are being fed by the Locals (nice demonstrations of the Cold War"Guns or Butter" argument decided poorly by the Coupmongers).

CNG/LNG, Coal, Firewood, Food, and Meds can be trucked in from RUS.  

There's a good chance the Eastern Independents (Troops and Populace)  may be in far better shape than the Coupmongering Westen Section in a few months.

Wed, 06/18/2014 - 05:27 | 4868248 dreadnaught
dreadnaught's picture

Id say more like 4 months its gonna start hurting in the Ukraine

Wed, 06/18/2014 - 02:25 | 4868112 Flagit
Flagit's picture

Ahhh, so by those numbers, Vlad The Benevolent can turn the gas back on....just in time for Christmas.

Wed, 06/18/2014 - 05:25 | 4868245 dreadnaught
dreadnaught's picture

after they start starving and freezing from lack of gas, Porky's head will be served back to Russia on a platter

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 11:42 | 4865244 Mr_Vladimir_Putin
Mr_Vladimir_Putin's picture

I have the video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILhuQQlbcZA 

just in case I need to sue Ukraine.

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 12:14 | 4865420 Kprime
Kprime's picture

that's some clean burning gas right there.

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 12:17 | 4865433 Mr_Vladimir_Putin
Mr_Vladimir_Putin's picture

GAZPROM supply good gas, Russian gas.

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 11:47 | 4865272 Duffy Duck
Duffy Duck's picture

Russia doesn't only have to worry about the US/NATO, but also about Israel and the Transnational Zionist Lobbies.

Russia's loss is Israel's gain - I predict you'll see more articles by authors like this, at papers like this:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/stopping-russia-from-cornering-eu...

Russia would do well to turn toward central asia and the pacific. The Americans and the Zionists (to the extent there's a distinction) are both determined to get europe weaned off Russian gas. It's inevitable.

so are more "terror" attacks aimed at provoking Putin into a response NATO can respond to - much like Israel's Gaza strategy.

antiwar.com/blog/2014/02/06/the-truth-about-cease-fire-violations-between-israel-and-gaza/

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 11:48 | 4865278 Oldrepublic
Oldrepublic's picture

dying empires are like wounded animals, both are very very dangerous!

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 11:59 | 4865342 vyeung
vyeung's picture

and the markets are up! In any other non criminal Nazi controlled financial world, the markets would have cratered. Basically outside a full on thermo Nuke event the markets are going UP, never DOWN. But then these MOFO's like to condition the masses for the slaughter.

Fed - your days are numbered, go with dignity.

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 12:04 | 4865380 ObamaDepression
ObamaDepression's picture

Classic false flag operation to justify the coming invasion of Ukraine.

Wed, 06/18/2014 - 03:44 | 4868177 IronForge
IronForge's picture

By NATO/Blackwater-IX-Academie/VaticanMercs?  Certainly!

Wed, 06/18/2014 - 05:23 | 4868243 dreadnaught
dreadnaught's picture

are you on drugs?!

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 12:05 | 4865384 jack stephan
jack stephan's picture

I like to picture Jesus in a tuxedo T-Shirt because it says I want to be formal, but I'm here to party.

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 12:14 | 4865416 NoWayJose
NoWayJose's picture

You can blast buildings with tanks, burn occupied buildings to the ground, and fire bomb cities from the air -- but don't mess with our pipeline!!!

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 12:32 | 4865475 terex
terex's picture

Wtf :-{

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 12:40 | 4865514 Chuck Knoblauch
Chuck Knoblauch's picture

Someone did a bad, bad thing.

Washinton wants war to maintain the Ponzi game.

So, I blame Washington for the carnage.

Washington benefits the most from this.

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 12:43 | 4865530 falconflight
falconflight's picture

The US Armed Forces are hollowed out; beaten, demoralized, and led by those who despise their dead and wounded.  The US isn't going to do anything of significance to stem the March of Mohammad.  

Wed, 06/18/2014 - 11:43 | 4869504 Bemused Observer
Bemused Observer's picture

I'm not sure why you got 6 downvotes for that comment. It was spot-on!
I'm upvoting you for seeing past the obfuscation of patriotism...

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 12:45 | 4865537 Handful of Dust
Handful of Dust's picture

Sounds serious.

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 12:46 | 4865540 sangell
sangell's picture

Galvanic corrosion. Serious problem. Gazprom may need to spend more on pipeline maintenance or face lawsuits.

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 13:08 | 4865632 atthelake
atthelake's picture

The hotter this war gets, the more the price of everything will go up for every country that depends on oil. It will take more (expensive) oil to deliver everything. Food prices will skyrocket.

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 13:24 | 4865701 novictim
novictim's picture

This proves yet again that the Russian Leadership has no limits.

Hey!  What is good for the Goose can be a real pain in the ass for the Gander.

Expect Ukraine special forces to carry out a campaign of retaliatory sabotage on the Russian infrastructure.

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 13:26 | 4865707 Itchy and Scratchy
Itchy and Scratchy's picture

Jumpin' Vlad Flash is a gaz, gaz, gaz!

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 13:45 | 4865768 FlyinHigh
FlyinHigh's picture

Apparently none of you have ever worked on a pipeline before. It doesn't take until winter to fix a break in the line. Now getting to it safely without getting shot is a different story. Any DUMB-ASS with a couple of sticks of old T.N.T. could have done this. And you want to blame "Who"? Blame the dumbass.

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 14:21 | 4866040 Jack Burton
Jack Burton's picture

The pipeline balst is deep in Kiev territory, no where near rebels or combat zones. It will be an easy fix, and it will be even easier to blow it back up again. So, how dedicated in Kiev to stopping gas flows to Europe. And does this type of action by right sector of Kiev help or hurt their European support?

Wed, 06/18/2014 - 01:45 | 4868047 FlyinHigh
FlyinHigh's picture

I'm Sorry !

But, you seem to be assuming it's your so called "Right Sector", that did the deed. How or when was it proven that any one of the so called "Right or Left" did this? Jumping to a conclusion proves absolutely nothing as to "Whom" is responsible or the big unanswered question of "Why".

Maybe we could reasonably "Assume" it was a DUMB ASS Pro-Russian doing it for the "Cause"? Maybe? Just a guess on my part. Carry-on.
Wed, 06/18/2014 - 08:02 | 4868422 Volkodav
Volkodav's picture

Because several of them threatened to blow the pipelines...did you miss that?

and that they are destructive murderous in real.

dumb ass 

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 15:01 | 4866251 SmittyinLA
SmittyinLA's picture

If I were a Ukrainian I would be working to blow up the pipeline and mine the area to preclude repairs, fuck the EU and fuck the Russians make everybody pay in blood.

"You wreck our country we wreck your shit and close your factories"

Gonna be a long cold winter. 

 

 

Wed, 06/18/2014 - 05:22 | 4868239 dreadnaught
dreadnaught's picture

and the Ukraine will starve and freeze....youre not the brightest boy on the block.....the Right Sektor are really stoopid (sic) enough to shoot themselves in the foot-Russia could care less "If they dont want gas.. fuck 'em!"

Wed, 06/18/2014 - 11:35 | 4869455 Bemused Observer
Bemused Observer's picture

Hey, why not? That's what the angry citizenry do HERE when things don't go their way. Look at all the inner-city riots we've had here, when frustrated citizens decide they have had enough, and proceed to trash their own neighborhoods because...uhmm...errr...Why, THAT'LL teach 'em!

Then they say, "Keep it up and we'll start looting our own local businesses and beating the crap out of our own neighbors!"...because, well...uhmmm..."Benghazi!..or something like that..."

What? The Mega-Millions jackpot is HOW much? MOVE, BITCH! Outta my way!

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 15:46 | 4866410 Finnman
Finnman's picture

I think this is good for European stocks.

Stocks soar, flames soar, roarrr

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 16:03 | 4866496 Rastadamus
Rastadamus's picture

Bullish

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 16:19 | 4866559 Jano
Jano's picture

Are the American pipelines safe?

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 16:50 | 4866684 Bemused Observer
Bemused Observer's picture

Putin should tell them that Russia will be unable to send any more gas until that pipeline is fixed. And he should let them know that Russia will NOT be the ones fixing it...

Then remind them that winter will be here in a few months, and then go find another market for their gas. Tell the West that it's only business...THAT'S something they might understand.

No, Russia cannot eat their gas. But Europe and Ukraine can't heat their homes and run their economies without it. If I had to bet who'd blink first? My money would be on the little hot-house flowers with the big, tough-talking mouths who need to go fix their damned pipeline and stop fucking around...

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 17:00 | 4866719 AdmTirpitz
AdmTirpitz's picture

Hey, my popcorns ready, beer anyone?

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 18:59 | 4867151 InjuredThales
InjuredThales's picture

Peace courts his Hand, but spread her Charms in vain;
"Think Nothing gain'd, he cries, till nought remain,
"On Moscow's Walls till Gothic Standards fly,
"And all is Mine beneath the Polar Sky."
The March begins in Military State, 

And Nations on his Eye suspended wait;
Stern Famine guards the solitary Coast,
And Winter barricades the Realms of Frost;
He comes, nor Want nor Cold his Course delay;—
Hide, blushing Glory, hide 
Poltava's Day: 

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 19:26 | 4867231 novictim
novictim's picture
Hahahahaha...GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL!
Tue, 06/17/2014 - 20:19 | 4867376 Dollarmedes
Dollarmedes's picture

Huh. It looks like someone took my advice.

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 21:14 | 4867499 monad
monad's picture

Well then, I suppose it istime to move forward, or that is, into the position your enemies chose for you.

Bird. WTFU

Tue, 06/17/2014 - 23:13 | 4867818 Ocean22
Ocean22's picture

One minute message to American people.

http://youtu.be/_QZLuu_8du4

Wed, 06/18/2014 - 02:40 | 4868128 Jano
Jano's picture

WRONG HEADLINE!

it should be USSA -Russia and not Ukraine - RUssia.

There are just Jews governing Ua, no Slavs.

Yatzeniuk is a jew, porosenko-walzman is a jew, all 5 richest oligarchs are jews and they run the country on behalf of new york jews.

There will be no peace until Russia nukes down and burns down USSA.

Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site!