Inside News on Odessa and Ukraine
Just across the border from Odessa lies Transnistria, the Kremlin sponsored enclave within Moldova. Unsurprisingly, considering regional events, it appears that Transnistria is about to mobilize, apparently following a decree issued by “President” Yevgeny Shevchuk. This mobilization, it is claimed, will attract between 5000 and 7000 18 - 27 years olds, as well as an […]
On 2nd July, the Rada voted with 235 votes in favour, to dismiss then Ministry of Ecology & Natural Resources of Ukraine, Igor Shevchenko. Upon his dismissal Mr Shevchenko stated that he was considering running for Mayor in the local elections, due in late October, in either Kyiv or Odessa. Although somewhat fanciful perhaps, it […]
Yesterday saw two occurrences in Odessa. The first, a known unknown. That being the declaration persona non grata of Valeriy Shibeko, acting Consul General of the Russian Federation in Odessa. “In accordance with Article 23 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has given the Russian side a note demanding that the […]
No differently from the theatrics, populism, and cacophony of discord that saw Bill №2217a “On Amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine (concerning the decentralization of power) pass through the Rada yesterday, undoubtedly Ukrainian main stream and social media will be screeching and squawking over the 288 votes in favour for the proposed amendments to the […]
A recent entry relating to the events in Mukachevo stated thus: “Both Ukraine and Russia are awash with illicit weapons that entered the east of Ukraine and either seeped out of the ATO zone into Ukraine, or were smuggled back into Russia by Russian organised crime. Both nations, as predicted when events in Donetsk initially unfolded more […]
As the arrival of Mr Saakashvili has turned both domestic and international eyes toward Odessa, and the truly gargantuan task he has taken on in reforming the Oblast - very much as a microcosm of Ukraine in many ways (although every Oblast presents unique yet entrenched issues too), whatever appears in this entry, can by […]
The current legislative window closes in Ukraine at the end of this week, with Rada holidays until the Autumn upon us. Perhaps something of a blessing considering the standard of legislation that the legislative body actually emits. However, amongst a mountainous amount of required legislation still outstanding to lay the legal footing for (probably ineffectively […]
Grabbing the headlines over the past day or so has been the (currently on-going) incident between Right Sector and the State in Mukachevo. To briefly zoom in, the incident concentrates around cigarette smuggling, criminality and collusion of regional officials therein. It resulted with Right Sector taking the law into their own hands, people being shot […]
Two rather pointed entries have been published here recently relating to the new “Police” in Kyiv - and soon to be in Odessa (and elsewhere). Before continuing, a few key quotes that you author knew would inevitably arise, and arise swiftly: “The new thin blue line must also have the group ethic to withstand the […]