The special operation started in Kramatorsk yesterday has resulted in occupation of an airfield by the Kiev forces. The Donetsk Oblast resistance blocked it. Six armored vehicles have joined the protesters. Activists in Odessa have proclaimed independence.
Acting Defense Minister Mikhail Koval was sent to the Donetsk Oblast. He denied information about soldiers surrendering to the protesters.
Vladislav Shurygin, editor-in-chief of Zhurnalistskaya Pravda, said that Kiev had problems with discipline in its forces. He noted that Oleksandr Turchynov and his team needed to stabilize the situation in the east fast to demonstrate efficiency of the new government. Another reason for halting of the operation, in his words, is that accusations of terrorist activity provoked by Russia have not been proven justified.
Political analyst Alexey Voronenko agreed that Turchynov and other law-enforcing authorities lacked authority. That is why soldiers in Sloviansk gave up so easily. He rules out analogy of the Crimean events in the Donetsk Oblast.
The expert called any attempts for a special operation in Odessa a two-front war. Voronenko expressed confidence that geopolitical problems would arise even if the government improves its image. Killing protesters would cast doubts about democratic values in the country.
