by Stephen Lendman

Last April, Kiev launched premeditated naked aggression on Donbas. Mischaracterized as a "counterterrorism" operation. Fighting raged for months. Abated somewhat following agreed on September Minsk protocol terms. Never stopped. Illegitimate oligarch president Petro Poroshenko vowed to crush Donbas resistance. Intends full-scale war. Wants fascist tyranny replacing Donbas democracy.

Last May, the reliable Strategic Culture Foundation (SCF) called Kiev's war on Donbas a "genocide campaign." Believing at the time anti-junta resistance would spread across Ukraine.

Not so far. Perhaps ahead. Kiev fascists want fundamental freedoms systematically eliminated.

Repressive regimes lose support. Especially ones at war. With a generation of youths threatened.

People take so much before exploding. Maybe eventual revolution looms. Kiev's genocidal campaign on Donbas continues.

Russian expert Stephen Cohen said "(w)hat we've seen…is an extraordinary rapid re-militarization. A lot has changed and for the worst…It's hard to find a lot of hope."

On January 18, SCF headlined "Ukrainian Leadership Decides in Favor of War." So-called ceasefire pause was fantasy.

Fighting never stopped. On Sunday, Kiev "launch(ed) a large-scale offensive against the Donetsk and Luhansk republics along the entire front line," said SCF.

Fighting rages. Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) Defense Ministry spokesman Eduard Basurin said:

"Over the past day, the Donetsk militias have repelled massive attacks against the airport of Donetsk, that the Ukrainian troops launched on direct instructions from the Ukrainian president."

"Ukrainian armour that was about to storm the militias’ positions was stopped far away and mostly destroyed."

"In the course of defensive operations the militias destroyed 27 tanks and 20 armoured vehicles."

"One tank was seized. Ukraine’s losses have exceeded 200 killed and about 300 injured."

"Our losses stand at 16 killed and 62 injured. The airport and the areas around it are under the full control of the Donetsk Republic’s forces."

"At the moment, the militias are conducting a security sweep in the village of Peski, close to the airport, from where Ukrainian artillery had shelled Donetsk residential areas and suburbs for the past few months."

DPR Prime Minister Aleksandr Zakharchenko issued a statement saying:

"I can with all confidence say that all Ukrainian attempts to retake the airport and to recoup the defeat which we inflicted on them last year, failed."

"The Ukrainian army had taken severe losses. Six armor-infantry attacks were launched on the terminal over the course of two days."

"They all were defeated. We also defeated Ukrainian attempt to break into Donetsk."

"Unfortunately, the Putilovskiy bridge was blown up. The entire column which attempted the breakthrough was destroyed."

"Three Ukrainian tank crewmen were taken prisoner. Ukraine is using the ceasefire in order to rearm, regroup, and restore combat effectiveness"

"Now we can see that Ukraine broke the ceasefire and went on the offensive."

"We have never experienced the sort of artillery bombardment that we had experienced over the last two days."

Kiev is waging genocidal war against Donbas' entire population. It's military is "smashing the houses of peaceful residents: children, the elderly, women."

"They are using combat aircraft. Yesterday evening Ukraine bombed Gorlovka."

"A representative of the Coordinating Center was in the zone of fire. Shrapnel was flying past the OSCE mission in Donetsk."

“We are peaceful people and do not want war, do not want to kill anyone. However, the DPR Armed Forces stand ready to repel any enemy attacks."

"(W)e began (counteroffensive) combat operations on the outskirts of Avdeyevka. Yesterday Peski changed hands twice. Today we will conclude clearing operations."

"I should note the upsurge of patriotism among the population. I want to address the international community, OSCE, one more time…"

"(I)f you share our opinion concerning the ceasefire, compel Kiev to fulfill (its) obligations under Minsk" ceasefire protocol terms.

Russia's Foreign Ministry criticized Euronews television of covering Kiev's war on Donbas "lopsidedly."

Saying "(t)he loss of life among civilians resulting from massive artillery shelling by Ukrainian troops as well as the assessments of the OSCE special monitoring mission in its fresh reports on the situation in eastern Ukraine are all being hushed up."

"Europe (suppresses) the whole truth about the situation in Ukraine…" It refuses to explain "its primary causes."

Kiev criticism is absent. Despite its junta leadership "attempts…to shut down the channel's Ukrainian version."

Neo-Nazi national security and defense council head Okeksandr Turchynov warned of "full-scale continental war."

The reliable Colonel Cassad web site discussed ongoing fighting. Saying Donetsk airport buildings remain under NAF (Novorossiya Armed Forces) control.

"The junta still cannot present any tangible proof of its presence in the area of the terminals…"

"The NAF infantry not only held the terminal, but also started to increase its presence in the immediate vicinity of the airstrip…"

"(J)udging from the continuing artillery barrages, neither side is prone to yielding."

"The situation on the front lines of the LPR (Lugansk People's Republic) was quite stable. (A)rtillery barrages continued, but their intensity was lower than on January 18th."

"Under Mariupol our forces today managed to capture Lebedinoye and to approach Vinogradnoye, but whether they managed to capture it or not is not yet known."

"Powerful artillery shelling continued in the area of Granitnoye. As NAF approach the city the intensity of the artillery fire by the enemy increases."

Junta attacks continue over a wide front. NAF counterattacks respond effectively.

Full-scale naked Kiev aggression shows no signs of abating. Expect much worse ahead.

Sputnik News (SN) said Kiev's "offensive now appears poised to expand from a battle for the airport to an entire regional operation, with no weapons off-limits."

Including banned ones. Kiev uses chemical weapons. Cluster munitions. Incendiary devices.

Civilian neighborhoods are deliberately targeted. On Monday, a hospital was shelled.

Poroshenko has full US support and encouragement. Perhaps intending expanded conflict to Russia's border. Risking greater war."

"The resumption of open conflict in Ukraine (which never truly 'ceased' in the first place) looks to be the first 'new' war of the year, and it's entirely Washington-backed," said SN.

"The US has been using Ukraine as a proxy against Russia ever since the EuroMaidan Color Revolutionaries seized power last February…"

Blackwater USA mercenaries (now called Academi) are training a 550-strong paramilitary force for Kiev," said SN.

"(T)he combination of US support and Blackwater is a surefire recipe for disaster in any country of the world."

Full-scale war rages. Ukrainian armed forces general staff spokesman Vladislav Seleznyov said "a delegation from the US army command, headed by" US Army Europe chief Lt. General Frederick Ben Hodges will arrive in Ukraine this week.

Kiev will participate in NATO's January 20-22 military committee conference. Discussions will include Alliance/Ukraine cooperation.

According to society of assistance to defense of Ukraine head Yury Chizhmar:

"At our military centers, about 100 people per week are being prepared in line with the accelerated NATO weekly program in military professions such as gunner, machine gunner and others."

On Monday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin said "(i)t's the biggest, even strategic mistake of the Ukrainian authorities to bank on a military solution to the crisis in Ukrainian society and to all of southeast Ukraine's problems."

"This can lead to irreversible consequences for Ukrainian statehood."

Is Poroshenko running things or are other junta members in charge? Fort Russ said he "turned to drink."

"He arrives at work only by 2-3pm. While talking to visitors in his cabinet he likes to throw items from his desk."

"By 10-11pm he’s drunk. He is driven home every night around 1-2am."

Poroshenko may be more figurehead than leader. Prime minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk and national security and defense council head Oleksandr Turchynov appear running things.

Neo-Nazi extremists. Risking greater war. Western media reports on Ukraine turn truth on its head.

Managed news misinformation substitutes for hard truths. Little is reported on Kiev's Sunday launched aggression.

Practically nothing on US television. CNN International lied claiming Russian "military forces and equipment entered Ukraine."

Its source: illegitimate neo-Nazi prime minister Yatsenyuk. Days earlier he reinvented history.

Telling Germany's ARD TV Soviet forces invaded Ukraine and Germany in WW II.

Why anyone takes him seriously they'll have to explain. Now he claims so-called "intelligence" reports "confirmed military personnel and equipment have been transferred from Russia to Ukraine."

Citing no corroborating evidence. None exists. CNN International left his brazen assertion unchallenged.

The Washington Post reported the same Big Lie. While admitting reports of "two (Russian) battalions" crossing into Ukraine "could not be independently confirmed…"

At the same time irresponsibly accusing Moscow of "fueling the separatist uprising in eastern Ukraine with a steady stream of weapons and personnel."

Again, no corroborating evidence whatever exists. The New York Times irresponsibly reported about "700 (Russian) soldiers" crossing into Eastern Ukraine.

Turchynov its source. While admitting it's not able to verify his statement independently. Then why headline a brazen Big Lie?

London Guardian editors want "pressure on Russia" maintained. Reporting rubbish. Not hard truths.

Highlighting nonexistent "Russian propaganda." Irresponsibly blaming Putin for US-backed Kiev aggression.

Repeating the Big Lie claiming "Russia's armed forces have been deeply engaged in backing (Donbas) rebel separatists…"

"(M)aking sure Ukraine's sovereignty over its internationally recognised territory is not restored."

Ignoring Kiev's illegitimate putschist government. Run by hate-mongering neo-Nazi criminals.

Representing mob rule. Waging dirty war on their own people. Abolishing fundamental human and civil rights.

Declaring open season for Western predators to plunder Ukraine. Exploit its people. Transform them into virtual serfs.

Challenge Russia irresponsibly. Risk East/West confrontation. Possible nuclear war.

Guardian editors recited a litany of Big Lies. Omitting what most needs explaining.

Ukraine's conflict was made in the USA. Washington bears full responsibility for the most serious post-WW II geopolitical crisis. Escalating it risks global war.

The fullness of time will tell whether any Western leaders have sense enough to prevent it. So far, things don't look encouraging.

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Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks World War III".

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

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