The Donetsk People's Republic

November 14, 2014 7:56 AM

A short documentary from VICE News provides an inside look into the birth Donetsk People's Republic earlier this year.

Meanwhile, another showdown appears to be looming in Ukraine as Russian troops and tanks continue to pour over the border.

posted by Behemoth (12 comments total)

Does the new leader of DPR wear a track suit to work?
posted by clavdivs at 7:59 AM on November 14, 2014

leader of DPR

lol
posted by stbalbach at 8:15 AM on November 14, 2014

http://www.reddit.com/r/UkrainianConflict is a conduit for local information most of which is not covered by major media.

It's scary and I dunno but I think [hope] that the recently imposed sanctions will have an effect. The Ruble continues to be in a huge dive over the last year. I don't know how that doesn't hurt the lovely chaps that own/run Gazprom.

There is also talk that this will be the major topic of discussion at the now G20 meeting.

I'm hoping Putin doesn't overreach any more than he already has but he is more and more seeming like he is willing to gamble.
posted by vapidave at 9:57 AM on November 14, 2014

most of which is not covered by major media

The major media are probably just following the standard "Donetsk, Don't Tell" policy.
posted by uosuaq at 10:13 AM on November 14, 2014 [5 favorites]

Lets look at track records.
- US bringing democracy to Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and Syria.
- Russia bringing democracy to Crimea and Donetsk.
posted by vicx at 10:23 AM on November 14, 2014 [3 favorites]

Lets look at track records.

Would you care to elaborate on the specific point you are trying to make?
posted by Behemoth at 12:30 PM on November 14, 2014

@DarthPutinKGB: NATO has said Russian troops have crossed into Ukraine & we have denied this. So begins the usual cycle of events...
posted by Golden Eternity at 1:48 PM on November 14, 2014

Ukraine rebels: a disunited front run by warlords

posted by Kabanos at 9:29 PM on November 14, 2014

The documentary was quite good, imo. You could feel the historical Russian patriotism, which can be quite admirable, and the real fear of being torn away from the familiar Russian mothership for the sake of Kiev's "European dreams" as Poroshenko put it. What a tragedy. The father explaining the burning flag to his son was a perfect ending. VICE News is doing valuable work.
posted by Golden Eternity at 8:46 AM on November 15, 2014

Interview: Ukrainian 'Cyborg' Describes Nine Days Defending Donetsk Airport

...my father lives in Russia and serves in the Russian armed forces.

RFE/RL: Is your father fighting against Ukraine right now?

Halyan: No, he's not fighting, he's at his base. It's one of the crazy, ridiculous things about this. So many people have relatives over there. It's painful that people are so susceptible to propaganda. You should get your news from other sources and judge the information fully.

RFE/RL: Are you and your father in touch?

Halyan: Yes, our communication is on the level where he's concerned about me, he knows where I am and asks how I am -- am I healthy, I'm not sick? But we don't speak about the conflict.

RFE/RL: Do you feel like you and your father are fighting on opposite sides?

Halyan: In fact, yes. Unofficially. But I think that if my father ever received a deployment order, he would never agree to this "vacation," as they call it.

posted by Golden Eternity at 9:26 AM on November 15, 2014

Russian TV Airs Clearly Fake Image To Claim Ukraine Shot Down MH17

Russian State Television Shares Fake Images of MH17 Being Attacked
posted by Golden Eternity at 8:07 PM on November 15, 2014

Gorbachev on Russia and Ukraine: 'We Are One People'
posted by Golden Eternity at 10:51 PM on November 23, 2014