Russia has made its first official comment following the latest escalations in Ukraine [5] - and they are not peaceful-sounding - "We are dealing with the real genocide of both Russian and Ukrainian people,” said Russian State Duma Speaker Sergei Naryshkin, adding that Russia was shocked by the massacre in Odessa and mourns the victims together with their families. His words went further as he warned the perpetrators "will get what they deserve from their people." The words though, have now been followed up by actions... as RIA reports [6] that Russia’s Black Sea Fleet "will get new submarines and next-generation surface ships", Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Tuesday, voicing his concern at the increasing maritime activity of the US Navy.
Russia's first official response to the escalation in Ukraine and the disaster in Odessa... (via RIA [5])
The latest episodes of violence in Ukraine constitute a genocide against the Russian and Ukrainian people, Russian State Duma Speaker Sergei Naryshkin said during a Balkan forum Tuesday.
“We are dealing with the real genocide of both Russian and Ukrainian people,” said Naryshkin, commenting on the tragic events in Odessa on May 2, when 46 federalization activists were killed in clashes.
He added that Russia was shocked by the massacre in Odessa and mourns the victims together with their families.
“In the 21st century such things happen not only due to the fault of a bunch of political adventurists – they are not worth much on their own, they will get what they deserve from their people. The main problem is that the horrific truth is being kept from the whole world,” Naryshkin said.
According to the speaker, Kiev’s authorities initially based their policy on civil confrontation. They have now demonstrated their unwillingness to find and punish those responsible for the numerous crimes that have been committed in Ukraine in recent months, he added.
...
The Russian Foreign Ministry called the events a result of the “criminal irresponsibility of the Kiev leadership indulging insolent nationalist radicals, including Right Sector, who are staging a campaign of physical terror against supporters of federalization and real constitutional changes in Ukrainian society."
And then appears to be taking action as The Black Sea Fleet gets reinforcements. [6]..
Russia’s Black Sea Fleet headquartered in the Crimea region that recently reunified with Russia will be beefed up with a slew of next-generation warships and submarines, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Tuesday.
“This year, our sea bases will host new air defense and marine regiments,” Shoigu said.
“This year, the Black Sea Fleet will get new submarines and next-generation surface ships, and all of this requires our immediate attention,” the minister said during a conference call.
The general underscored that Russia has always “lent all the necessary forces” to the Black Sea Fleet, but Crimea’s accession to Russia required it to amend the fleet’s development plan.
Russia has recently voiced concern over the increasing maritime activity of the US Navy in the Black Sea after the Pentagon dispatched its frigate USS Taylor to the region together with the command ship USS Mount Whitney.
The clock is ticking and sanctions are doing nothing. The days of diplomacy - it would seem - are long gone - as Lavrov warns...
WOW - Lavrov says Ukrainians who support and who oppose Kiev's "regime" will live in ONE country. pic.twitter.com/a6fCbuXDOd [7]
— Leonid Ragozin (@leonidragozin) May 6, 2014 [8]
Those curious what the next event catalyst will be, look no further than May 11, when the Donetsk independence referendum takes place, assured to be a carbon-copy of the Crimean vote.
A sneak preview of the ballot paper for Sunday's referendum on Donetsk's independence pic.twitter.com/2ZiZWuMxQM [9]
— Guy Chazan (@GuyChazan) May 6, 2014 [10]
But, as Russia Today just reported [11], the US has already said it will not recognize the referendum vote just like it did not "recognize" the Crimean vote, even though Russia couldn't give a rat's ass about that (unless, of course, the east votes against independence, which at this point appears unlikely).