Zero Hedge – by Tyler DurdenDespite the relentless protests of Kiev, and of course the G7 group of world’s most indebted nations, in the past two weeks Vladimir Putin once again succeeded in outplaying the west and annexed the Crimea peninsula without firing a single shot (granted there is still potential for material situational deterioration, one which would involve military participation by NATO whose outcome is not exactly clear). The market has “priced in” as much, with prevailing consensus now dictating that Russia will preserve its foothold in the Crimea however without additional attempts for annexation: certainly Poland is hoping and praying as much.
However, as the following photos taken on the Russian side of East Ukraine, next to Belgorod, the Russian airborne troops (“VDV“) are now piling up, only not in Crimea, which needs no further Russian military presence, but ostensibly to prepare for the next part of the annexation: that of Russian-speaking east Ukraine.
On the clip and pictures below, one can see Russian troops on the move near the border with Ukraine in the Belgorod Oblast, about 20 kilometers from the border with Ukraine near Kharkiv:
The indicative location:
Meanwhile, on the border with Crimea, Ukrainian troops are digging in and mining fields in anticipation of Russians rolling out of the Peninsula:
Russia did not annex anyone. Crimea voted to become an independent territory and will soon vote to become a part of russia once more. Which they were to begin with. The people of Crimea are russian.
Troops can be moved withing russia as it sees fit, Putin has done nothing wrong, the US on the hand, well business as usual.