‘The annexation of Crimea was partly opportunistic and partly reactive. It was a response to what they saw as an aggressive extensive of western Europe.’ ibid. Anthony Brenton, British ambassador to Russia 2000-2008
Putin’s clandestine armies are sowing destruction, confusion and chaos across the region. ibid.
Crimea sits proudly at the top of the Black Sea. Crimea first became part of the Russian empire in the late eighteenth century. Catherine the Great, keen to expand her country’s influence in the east, sent her armies to occupy the region in 1768. But less than a century later, Russia was routed by Turkey and its western allies in a humiliating defeat in the Crimean war. ibid.
In 1954 Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev gifted Crimea back to Ukraine as part his programme of de-Stalinisation. ibid.
It holds more warheads than United Kingdom, China and France combined, making it the third largest nuclear power on Earth. ibid.
Ukraine will hand over this nuclear arsenal to be destroyed; in return, Russia will agree to respect the political integrity and independence of the whole of Ukraine, including Crimea. ibid.
Putin orders Russian special forces into Crimea and begins an audacious military coup. And it’s done and dusted before the West can do anything about it. ibid.
Russian forces go on to wage a military campaign in eastern Ukraine. ibid.
These peaceful demonstrations continue. They become known as the Orange Revolution. The Ukrainian Supreme Court declares the result [election] invalid, and orders a new election. On 23 January 2005 to the dismay of Vladimir Putin, [Viktor] Yushchenko finally wins the presidency of Ukraine. ibid.
In 2010, he [Putin] finally installs his puppet – Viktor Yanukovych. ibid.
As membership spreads eastwards, Nato troops and equipment are building up uncomfortably close to Russia’s border. ibid.
There is a secret army made up of mercenaries, volunteers and irregulars. ibid.
They [Russia] created fake news websites which they used to drive a wedge into Ukraine and push the two halves of the country apart. Agents of Chaos I, Sky Documentaries 2020
In a display of Russian cyber power, the GRU hacked into the controls of the Ukrainian power grids and command and distribution centres to shut them down. ibid.
In the Spring of 2014, armed conflict broke out in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbass with Pro-Russian separatists fighting Ukrainian government forces. A year later in 2015 the so-called ‘Contact Line’ was established – a stretch of land that formally separated government and non-government forces. Storyville: The Distant Barking of Dogs, captions, BBC 2022
‘Corruption is huge; it’s the number one problem in Ukraine.’ Panorama: Gangsters’ Dirty Money Exposed, BBC 2018
‘It’s very easy to get dirty money into the UK if you have the right connections.’ ibid.
This is the story of how gangsters’ dirty money ends up in Britain. But it starts in Ukraine at the home of the former president … The most expensive log cabin in the world. ibid.
The corrupt elite who are exploiting the country. ibid.
Most of the stolen money disappears overseas. ibid.
After almost four weeks of war Ukraine is holding firm against Putin’s army. But resistance come at a price. Putin’s artillery is pounding Ukraine’s cities to rubble. Thousands have been killed, millions more fled, how much longer can Ukraine resist? Panorama: Ukraine’s Resistance: Standing Up to Putin, BBC 2022
Three months into the Ukraine war and evidence of Russian atrocities is mounting. After the Russian withdrawal from the suburbs of Kiev, we hear the stories of the civilians murdered in cold blood. Panorama: Hunting Putin’s War Crimes, BBC 2022
War on the streets of Europe. People living in fear. The Ukrainians are fighting back. There are questions about Vladimir Putin’s state of mind. What he does next could change the fate of millions. Panorama: Putin’s War in Ukraine, BBC 2022
Putin feared Ukraine, Russia’s nearest neighbour, would join Nato and demanded that it never should. ibid.
He [Putin] declared two pro-Russian areas in eastern Ukraine independent states. The west imposed economic sanctions. ibid.
How strongly I am against any state intervention in a sovereign nation’s affairs – what Russia did was wrong … Military intervention is never the answer and I will not sit here and apologise and defend military aggression. Furthermore, the coverage I’ve seen of Ukraine has been truly disappointing … My heart goes out to the Ukrainian people. Abby Martin, RT television
War in Europe: Russia’s lightning invasion of Ukraine at dawn has shocked the world. So how did we get here and what happens next? Tonight: War in Europe, ITV 202
‘Now he’s expressing a very very deep frustration and resentment against the West, and not only against the West, against the past, against history.’ Putin vs The West, Jose Manuel Barroso, BBC 2023
Vladimir Putin has rocked the foundations of European security. This is the story of Putin’s path to war; how and why he wrongfooted the West through a decade of clashes. ibid.
Armed forces were appearing across the [Crimean] peninsula. These little green men, as they came to be called, wore unmarked uniforms and carried modern Russian weapons. ibid.
The European Council threatened sanctions unless Putin withdrew his forces. ibid.
‘In the hearts and minds of the our people, Crimea has always been a part of Russia.’ ibid. Putin
The EU together with America imposed the toughest sanctions Russia had faced since the Cold War, targeting its energy, arms and finance sectors. But some thought they should go even further. ibid.
With no Western military support, Ukraine’s forces were being overwhelmed by the rebels armed by Russia. ibid.
Daughter: Are you home?
Mother: I’m walking down the street right now to get some water. Oh my God, there’s a shell falling somewhere … Life & War: Ukraine a Year On, ITV 2023
It’s been one year. A year of nights that never ends. Of smoke that never clears. When everyone reached beyond their limits just to survive. Every Ukraine has their story of the war. And what they’ve lost. Twelve months on and still the missiles fall. ibid.
For many Ukrainians what hurts so much is not just what’s happened but who’s responsible. The Russians next door … It’s pitched neighbour against neighbour. ibid.
The invasion has triggered hate and horror. ibid.
14 million people have been displaced by the conflict. Some have no choice but to leave Ukraine. ibid.
The totally provoked invasion of Ukraine has to be called ‘the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine’. Noam Chomsky, Youtube 2023, Omar Kamel podcast #1
The fighting has been reduced to artillery duels across hundreds of miles of front lines, and creeping advances and retreats. Chris Hedges, The Chris Hedges Report, Youtube 34.27, 2022
The press in the US and most of Europe slavishly echoes the opinions of a ruling elite, and oversees a public discourse that is often unhinged from the real world. Chris Hedges, The Chris Hedges Report: Ukraine and the Crisis of Media Censorship Youtube 36.00, 2022
‘Nato has expanded into 13 countries to the borders of Russia.’ Ukraine on Fire, Oliver Stone, 2022
Ukraine: it’s an ancient and proud land … Ukraine is a borderland: a place where east meets west. ibid.
Ukraine has never been a united country. When World War II
2015: The torch marches would once again light up the streets of Ukrainian cities. ibid.
‘Right after Ukraine became independent the wild privatization and an open robbery of state property started.’ ibid. Putin
Ukraine has had two Colour Revolutions in its 24 years of independence. ibid.
‘The goal was to wreak havoc but Yanukovych definitely wasn’t the one to benefit from it.’ ibid. Putin
‘The coup d’etat was already planned and it was inevitable.’ ibid. Tanukovych
On March 16th the Crimean referendum was held and the people voted to leave Ukraine. ibid.
‘As soon as the country becomes a member of Nato, it can’t resist the pressure of the USA.’ ibid. Putin
‘What should we do? We need to take countermeasures.’ ibid.
Too much money was already invested in Ukraine to stop halfway. ibid.
The world seemed too busy welcoming this new democracy in Kiev to notice what was being done as it spread its wings over the country. ibid.