WH Sources: Putin May Order Troops to Seize More of Ukraine, Possibly as Soon as This Weekend

Jake Tapper reporting; the "as soon as this weekend" is reported in the video at the top of the page.

Russia has formally accepted Crimea's request to join the Russian state. (Ahem.) They have troops on the Ukrainian border -- for purposes of "training exercises" -- and are furthermore infiltrating Spetsnaz commandos over the border in order to begin operations.

U.S. officials believe [that] Russia is invading Ukraine with its Spetsnaz—the special operations units and battalions attached to both the military and the country’s intelligence agencies.

An American intelligence report predicted that Russian provocateurs would look to instigate low-level street brawls or “skirmishes” in eastern and southern Ukraine.
U.S. intelligence officials now say Russia’s Spetsnaz are expanding into eastern and southern Ukraine, as well. The intelligence report from February assessed that Russian provocateurs would look to instigate low-level street brawls or “skirmishes” in eastern and southern Ukraine. The report also predicted that Russia’s shadow warriors would seek to pay off Ukrainians to attend pro-Russian rallies and in general fan the flames of separatism. And since then, eyewitnesses say, that’s exactly what’s happened.

...

Schindler said the GRU Spetznas were following a similar playbook of provocations or “active measures” taken in the Republic of Georgia following the country’s 2005 Rose Revolution. “This sort of Spetznas special operations, intel-driven exercise is the continuing Russian refinement of the same model used in Georgia,” he said.

Russia is reported to have troops along the entirety of the Ukrainian frontier, at least double the number they previously said would be taking part in this snap "training exercise."

Pro-Russian "crowds" meanwhile seized two Ukrainian warships in Crimea yesterday.

posted by Ace at 07:35 PM

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