The official account of Ukraine on Twitter has mocked Vladimir Putin for his “real fears” about ‘human rights and press freedom, as well as free elections.
According to an online meme, Ukraine is likened to NATO as a timid dog when compared with the wild animals of Putin’s true enemies.
This photo was taken amid growing tensions between Moscow, Kiev and Putin’s attempts to stop Ukraine joining NATO.
Official Twitter account in Ukraine has trolling Vladimir Putin for his real fears of human rights, press freedom and open elections
The military reserve unit of the Ukrainian Armed Forces called the Ukrainian Territorial Defense Forces took part in an exercise close to Kiev, on Christmas Day.
Today, tensions rise with NATO and Ukraine as Vladimir Putin, the Russian president speaks by phone.
Ramping up the fears today, the Kremlin warned the world is heading for a new Cuban missile crisis if the West fails to deal with Russia’s security demands ‘here and now’.
Meanwhile Putin’s troops are carrying out a new round of major military exercises in an evident bid to warn NATO of the seriousness of the situation ahead of the New Year.
The latest Russian drills were shown in videos, some of them close to Ukraine. This is amid concerns that Putin may invade the West if it fails to fulfill his demands.
Sergei Ryabkov (Hawkish deputy foreign minister) denied that he exaggerated when comparing current crises to 1962’s Cuban Missile Crisis.
He said, “No, not too many,” in an interview to Mezhdunarodnaya Zhizn magazine, when asked whether his comparison was excessive.
The possibility of war between Russia and Ukraine, a Western-aligned country, is possible in the next few weeks.
According to TV Zvezda (owned by the defense ministry), drills were conducted in Russia’s west military district to prevent a large-scale air strike from a simulated enemy against strategic facilities within the area. The war games involved around 1,000 soldiers participating in’repulsing a attack by enemy reconnaissance or sabotage group’. (pictured: Tanks taking part in war games).
Soldiers are seen lying down as they protect missile-bearing vehicles during an exercise in the western military area
Unarmed soldier launches a missile amid tensions in Ukraine during Vladimir Putin’s recent wargames
Ryabkov seemed to exclude a Russian compromise in seeking firm guarantees that Ukraine will not join NATO and promising not to use strike weapons against eastern European members of the west alliance.
He said, “I appeal to everyone who is considering this subject publicly, to consider whether or not it would be shameful for Russia meet Western ultimatum requirements halfway.”
And he stated clearly that “if we can’t do it, then nothing will happen.” [through diplomacy]In the end, you will have open questions about what next steps should be taken and what to do.
“We oppose escalation and we are against conflict, but we don’t draw any lines in the sand. Only logic leads us to believe that we’re not prepared to accept the current state of affairs.
He warned: ‘We can no longer postpone, let’s deal with this serious issue … here and now.’
He added: “We must end the expansion NATO and NATO infrastructures, NATO capabilities farther east.
“We must exclude Ukraine from NATO membership.”
His words amplified Putin’s insistence on Russian TV that ‘I want everyone to realise, both in our country and abroad, I want our partners to understand one thing…
“It’s not like we don’t want anybody to cross a particular line.
It’s because we don’t have anywhere to go now.
‘They have pressed us against such a line… we have nowhere to go…
“Like I said they’ll deliver missile systems from Ukraine to Moscow within four to five minute flight time.
“Well, now where should we go?”
“It’s only that they have brought us to the point where we need to tell them, “Stop!” “That’s it’.
Sergei Ryabkov, Hawkish’s deputy foreign minister, pictured at Vienna in June 2020
Moscow is currently massing thousands of soldiers, tanks, and artillery pieces on its eastern flank for several weeks. This has sparked fears about an invasion. However, the Kremlin insists it’s merely a defense force.
Ryabkov’s threatening statements come just days following satellite images showing an increase in troop numbers in the Crimea
An unidentified pro-Russian separatist takes part in drills on a range near Donetsk, rebel-held Ukraine.
An unidentified pro-Russian separatist shoots at rebel-held Ukraine’s shooting range on Christmas Day
According to TV Zvezda of Russia’s defence ministry, drills were performed in the western military district to counter an air strike from a simulated enemy against strategic buildings.
The war games involved around 1,000 soldiers taking part. They included “repulsing an enemy attack by reconnaissance and sabotage group” tasks.
According to reports, the weapons used were anti-aircraft systems S-300V and Tor-M2 as well as portable anti-aircraft systems Igla.
Footage also appeared to show the Buk-M3 surface-to-air missile system.
“Nearly 200 weapons, military equipment and special items were involved.”
Reports said that video was shown of the war games despite the announcement that approximately 10,000 troops had already left the Ukrainian border before Russia’s New Year holiday.
Russia claimed that 500 Russian reconnaissance officers were involved in live fire drills in Rostov, which is bordered by Ukraine.
“The servicemen shot standard weapons at targets that simulated the enemy’s military gear and manpower.
Servicemen practiced their army tactical shooting skills and did live fire training using all standard small arms.
The training process was not affected by severe weather conditions, according to a statement issued by the south military command.
“Fire Training is the foundation of reconnaissance unit combat training and can be done in all weather conditions and terrain.
Russian missile system participates in Putin’s recent display of strength
Boxing Day: Truck carrying a missile-battery during Boxing Day
Film footage also showed the Buk M3 surface to-to air missile system
Recent drills took place in Krasnodar (which shares a border avec Ukraine) and in Crimea, which was annexed to Kyiv in 2014.
They involved more than 1200 servicemen and paratroopers of the Novorossiysk Airborne Division.
Ramzan Kadyrov (head of the oil-rich Chechen republic), a Putin ally, said that his forces were available to enter Ukraine if ordered by the Kremlin.
He said that Kiev is a reason for the West’s presence and could be used to establish its military bases there, as well as to make demands about our country.
“I believe that it would be prohibited by our president.
‘We [Chechnya]They are available to serve as infantry forces and can be deployed wherever the order calls for.
Russia sent also two warships, the Vsevolod Robertrov logistic support vessel and the Georgy Kurbatov minesweeper from the Baltic Sea towards the Black Sea.
Each have crossed the Strait of Gibraltar to reach the Black Sea. This is the center of the geopolitical crises.
According to additional video footage, Russian forces trained in Buryatia using Msta-S self propelled howitzers.
The Cuban Missile Crisis was the catalyst that brought the world to nuclear war.
Cuban missile crises brought the world closer to nuclear war than any other time in October 1962.
The Soviet Union deployed nuclear missiles to Cuba after America failed to overthrow Fidel Castro. This put the US within striking distance.
Russia can launch its missiles at Washington before Washington could retaliate if it so chooses.
John F Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev at a historic meeting one year prior to the Cuban Missile Crisis.
America has already sent ballistic missiles to Italy and Turkey, putting them in easy reach of Moscow.
In a broadcast to the American public on October 22nd 1962, President John F Kennedy stated that Soviets had launched missiles against Cuba. The US responded by erecting a blockade to the island. This was to make Castro and Khrushchev relent.
His declaration that America was willing to resort to military force in order to prevent what was considered a threat, garnered rape from the entire world.
The Soviet ships headed for Cuba approached the U.S. vessel blockade patrol on the 24th of October 1962. This was another crucial moment. An attempted breach of the blockade might have led to a military standoff but Soviet ships eventually backed off.
The U.S. invade forces were preparing to invade Cuba, but they were stopped by Kennedy (pictured). Kennedy (pictured) was a good example of restraint, not attacking either the Soviets and Cubans.
A flashpoint which could have triggered all-out war was when an American reconnaissance plane was shot down on October 27, 1962.
The U.S. invade forces were preparing for an attack on Cuba, but they were stopped by the Americans. Major Rudolf Anderson (35 years old) is the only American combat casualty in the Cuban missile crisis.
Kennedy and Khrushchev remained in contact throughout the conflict to avoid an escalation of military tensions between their superpowers. Khrushchev sent Kennedy a message on October 26, 1962 in which he proposed to withdraw the Cuban missiles for exchange for U.S. leaders promising not to invade Cuba.
Khrushchev wrote the following day proposing to the USSR that it would remove its missiles from Cuba in exchange for the Americans removing their missile facilities in Turkey.
Secret negotiations led to an agreement between Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, JFK, and his brother Robert Kennedy (the Attorney General) and Soviet Ambassador Anatoly Dobrynin. Robert McNamara, the U.S. Secretary for Defense, stated that the incident was the ‘last Saturday he would see’ due to the increasing tensions.
In return, the Soviets promised to remove their missiles from Turkey in exchange for America’s promise not to invade Cuba. In secret, the US promised Turkey to get rid of obsolete missiles. Each side claimed victory to put a positive spin on the crisis.
Fidel Castro is Cuba’s Prime Minister and enjoys a steak meal while having an impromptu press conference at Harlem’s Theresa Hotel during his trip to New York, September 23rd, 1960.