This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/russian-troops-gathering-at-ukraine-border-for-exercises-as-standoff-continues/2014/03/13/39f42508-aaa1-11e3-adbc-888c8010c799_story.html?wprss=rss_world
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Russian troops gathering at Ukraine border for exercises as standoff continues | Russian troops gathering at Ukraine border for exercises as standoff continues |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| MOSCOW — Russia is gathering thousands of troops, artillery and other equipment at the border with Ukraine as part of military training exercises that are also a blunt reminder the superpower could easily move deeper into the neighboring country. | |
| The exercises are scheduled to take place over the next two weeks amid a standoff with the United States and Europe over the fate of Ukraine’s Crimea region — currently occupied by Russian troops. | The exercises are scheduled to take place over the next two weeks amid a standoff with the United States and Europe over the fate of Ukraine’s Crimea region — currently occupied by Russian troops. |
| A referendum is set in Crimea for Sunday over whether the autonomous region should secede from Ukraine and align with Russia. President Obama and European leaders have promised economic and diplomatic retaliation if that happens. | A referendum is set in Crimea for Sunday over whether the autonomous region should secede from Ukraine and align with Russia. President Obama and European leaders have promised economic and diplomatic retaliation if that happens. |
| As negotiations continued, the Russian Interfax news agency reported that 1,500 paratroopers will be dropped along with their equipment into the Rostov region near the border with Ukraine to conduct exercises over the next two weeks. | As negotiations continued, the Russian Interfax news agency reported that 1,500 paratroopers will be dropped along with their equipment into the Rostov region near the border with Ukraine to conduct exercises over the next two weeks. |
| Over the last few days Russian armored vehicles have been spotted in Belgorod, farther to the north. The Defense Ministry said that the exercises included 8,500 artillery troops, along with an assortment of rocket launchers, howitzers, anti-tank guns and other weapons. | Over the last few days Russian armored vehicles have been spotted in Belgorod, farther to the north. The Defense Ministry said that the exercises included 8,500 artillery troops, along with an assortment of rocket launchers, howitzers, anti-tank guns and other weapons. |
| “The main goal of the ongoing events is to comprehensively assess the units’ teamwork and subsequently tackle combat training tasks on an unfamiliar terrain and untested training ranges,” the Russian Defense ministry said in a statement. | “The main goal of the ongoing events is to comprehensively assess the units’ teamwork and subsequently tackle combat training tasks on an unfamiliar terrain and untested training ranges,” the Russian Defense ministry said in a statement. |
| Russia offered the description of its military movements a day after Ukrainian officials complained of a military buildup on its borders. Andriy Parubiy, secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, said Wednesday in Kiev that Moscow had amassed perhaps 80,000 troops, along with tanks and combat aircraft, on the border with eastern Ukraine, which he said was tantamount to an invasion threat. | Russia offered the description of its military movements a day after Ukrainian officials complained of a military buildup on its borders. Andriy Parubiy, secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, said Wednesday in Kiev that Moscow had amassed perhaps 80,000 troops, along with tanks and combat aircraft, on the border with eastern Ukraine, which he said was tantamount to an invasion threat. |
| Though the exercises are not confined to the Ukraine border region — they will also be conducted in central Russia — the signal is a strong one. | Though the exercises are not confined to the Ukraine border region — they will also be conducted in central Russia — the signal is a strong one. |
| “In general terms, this is what a military does if it wants to keep at readiness,” said Mark Galeotti, a New York University professor who studies Russian security. “But in circumstances like this, they’re very aware of the political implications of any movements.” | “In general terms, this is what a military does if it wants to keep at readiness,” said Mark Galeotti, a New York University professor who studies Russian security. “But in circumstances like this, they’re very aware of the political implications of any movements.” |
| Galeotti, who is in Moscow, said paratroopers are mobile and good at sealing off an area, but they would need regular troops to back them up quickly in case of serious conflict. “What they are not good at is relatively hard-core military combat,” he said. | Galeotti, who is in Moscow, said paratroopers are mobile and good at sealing off an area, but they would need regular troops to back them up quickly in case of serious conflict. “What they are not good at is relatively hard-core military combat,” he said. |
| The crisis over Crimea, a region with strong ties to Russia, has developed into perhaps the worst standoff between Russia and the West since the end of the Cold War. It began when the Ukraine government was toppled after mass protests, and a new leadership took power with the blessing of European nations and the United States. | The crisis over Crimea, a region with strong ties to Russia, has developed into perhaps the worst standoff between Russia and the West since the end of the Cold War. It began when the Ukraine government was toppled after mass protests, and a new leadership took power with the blessing of European nations and the United States. |
| Russia promptly moved troops into Crimea and is hosting the deposed Ukrainian president, who has vowed to reclaim power. | Russia promptly moved troops into Crimea and is hosting the deposed Ukrainian president, who has vowed to reclaim power. |
| U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is scheduled to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in London on Friday to seek a diplomatic resolution. President Obama met with Ukraine’s interim prime minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk at the White House on Wednesday and said the United States would “apply a cost” to Russia if it tries to divide the Crimean region from the rest of Ukraine. | U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is scheduled to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in London on Friday to seek a diplomatic resolution. President Obama met with Ukraine’s interim prime minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk at the White House on Wednesday and said the United States would “apply a cost” to Russia if it tries to divide the Crimean region from the rest of Ukraine. |
| The U.S. and its allies have asked that the Sunday secession vote be canceled. | The U.S. and its allies have asked that the Sunday secession vote be canceled. |
| Pro-Russia forces continued to expand onto Ukrainian military facilities in Crimea on Thursday. About 100 armed militiamen from self defense units came by bus to an oil warehouse on a base near the train station in Simferopol, said Vladislav Seleznyov, a spokesman for the Ukrainian military. He said the Ukrainian troops on the base are unarmed, and as of mid-day Thursday the base commander was still negotiating with the militia. | Pro-Russia forces continued to expand onto Ukrainian military facilities in Crimea on Thursday. About 100 armed militiamen from self defense units came by bus to an oil warehouse on a base near the train station in Simferopol, said Vladislav Seleznyov, a spokesman for the Ukrainian military. He said the Ukrainian troops on the base are unarmed, and as of mid-day Thursday the base commander was still negotiating with the militia. |
| In a separate incident, he said a Russian Navy ship was scuttled at the entrance to the bay at Donuzlav in northern Crimea, blocking Ukrainian navy ships from leaving. It is the third ship deliberately sunk to impede naval traffic, he said. | |
| As Russia’s grip in Crimea tightened, European nations and the United States have been discussing a variety of responses including visa restrictions and economic sanctions. | As Russia’s grip in Crimea tightened, European nations and the United States have been discussing a variety of responses including visa restrictions and economic sanctions. |
| The largely European Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on Thursday said it is giving Russia the cold shoulder for the moment, postponing consideration of Russia’s membership at the request of its 34 member nations. | The largely European Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on Thursday said it is giving Russia the cold shoulder for the moment, postponing consideration of Russia’s membership at the request of its 34 member nations. |
| In a written statement, the OECD also said it would work to help out the “public policy challenges” faced by Ukraine, which is not a member. | In a written statement, the OECD also said it would work to help out the “public policy challenges” faced by Ukraine, which is not a member. |
| Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Twitter he plans to meet with leaders of major companies Thursday to discuss what measures to take if the West imposes sanctions on Russia because of its intervention in Ukraine. | Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Twitter he plans to meet with leaders of major companies Thursday to discuss what measures to take if the West imposes sanctions on Russia because of its intervention in Ukraine. |