SLOVYANSK, Ukraine (AP) — The well-armed, Moscow-backed insurgency sowing chaos in eastern Ukraine scored a new victory Wednesday, seizing armored vehicles and weapons from underequipped government forces, then rolling through two cities to a hero’s welcome. Responding to what it sees as Russia’s aggression, NATO announced it was increasing its military presence along its eastern […]
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Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Russia withdraws a battalion from Ukraine border
SIMFEROPOL, Crimea — Russia pulled back a battalion from along the Ukrainian border on Monday and sent its prime minister to shower promises on Crimea, pledging quick funds to improve power supplies, water lines and education on its newly annexed peninsula. In Kiev, meanwhile, Ukraine’s acting president flatly rejected Russian pressure to turn Ukraine into […]
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Posted insj-web
Russia nears full control in Crimea with fall of Ukrainian bases
BELBEK, Crimea — With a burst of automatic weapons fire and stun grenades, Russian forces in armored personnel carriers on Saturday broke through the walls of one of the last Ukrainian military outposts in Crimea, then quickly overpowered Ukrainian troops armed only with sticks. The fall of the Belbek air base, along with the loss […]
Posted inOp-Eds
Austin Bay: Options for confronting Putin’s three cold facts
The cold fact of European geo-political history distinguishing March 18, 2014, from March 17, and, for that matter, making it precariously unlike any other day since the end of World War II is this: Military aggression in Europe by a major European power has led to political annexation and territorial expansion. On Feb. 25, Russian […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
U.S. threatens more sanctions as Crimea declares independence
KIEV, Ukraine — Crimea’s declaration of independence Monday from Ukraine triggered the toughest Western sanctions against Russia since the Cold War — with Washington and the European Union retaliating with asset freezes and travel bans and U.S. President Barack Obama vowing to “increase the cost” if the Kremlin does not back down. Ukraine’s turmoil has […]
Posted inOp-Eds
Austin Bay: Most of Crimea in Russian hands
Whether delivered as a rock, rifle round or laser burst, lethal fire by a military force is one of the two most fundamental combat actions. It is certainly the action best understood by artists. From cave painters to Hollywood directors, their material weapons make the “fire” threat posed by the spearman and the sniper explicit. […]
Posted inNational Sports, sj-web
USA stuns Russia on Oshie’s shootout heroics
Yet Oshie was chosen for the U.S. men’s hockey team with just such a situation in mind, and the shootout specialist concocted one last clever goal to silence an arena filled with screaming Russian fans. Oshie scored four times in the shootout and put the winner between Bobrovsky’s legs in the eighth round, leading the […]
Posted inLocal Sports
Coyotes sign Brulé; forward must clear waivers
So much for Russia. Gilbert Brulé was back on the ice in Saco on Saturday morning, skating with the Portland Pirates during their game-day skate after agreeing to a one-year, two-way contract with the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League. That contract is subject to Brulé clearing waivers, which is a requirement under the […]
Posted inLetters
C. Libbey: Actions have consequences
Just when I thought Greenpeace had already hit its all-time low, Peter Willcox and his entourage surpassed that. (Bangor Daily News story, printed by Sun Journal, Sept. 27.) Why did they think they could attempt to board the platform of a Russian oil rig and not have some consequences? The Russians reacted to the breach […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Islesboro man is Greenpeace captain held by Russians
ISLESBORO, Maine — An Islesboro man is among 30 Greenpeace activists and freelance journalists being held in a Russian jail after what Greenpeace says was a “peaceful Arctic oil protest.” Russian officials labeled the incident an act of piracy. Peter Willcox, captain of the Greenpeace vessel Arctic Sunrise, is among those being held, according to […]