The Russian propaganda project the “Bessarabian People’s Rada” just changed from being a thinly-veiled separatist project to an openly separatist project, and it is now targeting Moldova in addition to Ukraine. The website for the People’s Rada says that they declared that they wanted independence during a conference in late October and planned to hold a referendum soon in the territory they claim. Most interestingly, they also declared that Gagauzia, a portion of southern Moldova, would be part of their new “Republic of Budjak.” Gagauzia is an autonomous region in Moldova populated by a Turkic people (for background, see this article by Luke Coffey from earlier this year).
Gagaúzia, formally known as the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia, is an autonomous region of Moldova. Its name comes from the Gagauz people.

The phrase “Bessarabia Awakens” (Бессарабия пробуждается) is already circulating through the Russian echo chamber, though Russia’s main propaganda outlets in English have mostly ignored the story so far.

http://euromaidanpress.com/2015/11/01/russian-propaganda-pushes-republic-budjak/

At a recent press conference in Kyiv, Klyment, Archbishop of the Simferopol and Crimea Ukrainian Orthodox Church Kyiv Patriarchate announced that the Russian Arbitration Court in Crimea had ruled that premises belonging to the Crimean Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Kyiv Patriarchate (KP) would be seized and confiscated.

The Archbishop explained that the ruling concerned the Cathedral of Saint Volodymyr and Olha in the centre of Simferopol.

http://euromaidanpress.com/2016/02/01/ukrainian-orthodox-church-kyiv-patriarchate-in-crimea-evicted-from-cathedral/

But Patriarch Kirill protested in Geneva that 30 churches had been “violently” realigned from his authority to the Kiev hierarchy, and that at least ten other churches were “under threat of seizure by sectarians and [Ukrainian] nationalists, who then present what is happening as the supposedly voluntary transfer of a body of believers to the so-called Kiev Patriarchate.” The Russian prelate complained that certain bishops, claiming to be acting under Patriarch Bartholomew’s authority, had visited Ukraine and expressed their support for the Kiev hierarchy, hence creating “temptations” among the believers and clergy of Ukraine. Patriarch Kirill welcomed the fact that many of the world’s Orthodox churches had come out in clear support of Moscow’s position. His subliminal message was something like: don’t even think about offering succour or recognition to the Kiev hierarchy, or all further inter-Orthodox cooperation will be cancelled until further notice. . . .

There are many Ukrainians, in the homeland and the diaspora who dream of their country having a united Orthodox church which would look politically to Kiev and ecclesiastically to the ancient see of Constantinople, in other words to Patriarch Bartholomew. During a visit to Ukraine in 2008, Patriarch Bartholomew held a delicate balance, accepting the legality of the Moscow Patriarchate’s authority in that part of the world but also giving heart to the Ukrainian yearning for a united, independent church. Patriarch Kirill was making it clear that if this happens, there could be a massive split within global Orthodoxy.

http://bunews.com.ua/component/zoo/item/the-economist-russia-takes-religious-war-against-ukraine-to-global-orthodox-leaders

Turkey’s government is ready to consider the supply of necessary military equipment for Ukraine, Ukrainian MP Mustafa Dzhemilev said in an interview with RBC-Ukraine.

“Frankly speaking, three days ago I personally delivered the letter from the Ministry of National Defence of Turkey to the Ukrainian Minister of Defence [Stepan Poltorak], in which it stated Turkey is willing to consider the supply of necessary equipment, although it did not specify the exact type. The military delegation of Turkey is expected to arrive in Ukraine soon,” Mustafa Dzhemilev said.

Dzhemilev said that Turkey is not obliged to agree with NATO in order to supply weapons made in Turkey.

http://uatoday.tv/news/turkey-may-start-supplying-military-equipment-to-ukraine-588328.html

Walt — I’m aware of my possible bias, because I think we need Trump to slay the beast of Cultural Marxism that has it’s tentacles all of the United States, BUT the headlines about Trump and Putin are much worse that the reality of his comments. In the video, you linked, for example, he says he will not disavow a compliment just b/c it came from Putin, then he gives a hypothetical — “wouldn’t it be nice.”

I think it’s a stretch to call him pro-Putin.

It cannot go unnoticed that one by one, Ukraine’s finest reformers are being pushed to resign from the cabinet. These include Oleksiy Pavlenko, Minister of Agriculture; Andrei Pivovarsky, Minister of Infrastructure; and Alexander Kvitashvili, Minister of Health. All have resigned but have since retracted under pressure. Rumor even has it that Serhiy Kvit, Minister of Education, is under threat.

These ministers, together with Finance Minister Natalie Jaresko, came into the government with the goal of achieving breakthrough reforms under the impetus provided by the Euromaidan against the kleptocracy of former President Viktor Yanukovych’s regime. However, they quickly found themselves surrounded by the people of the past: the bureaucrats, the politicians, and the oligarchs who have for too long formed a triangle of corruption. For these groups, reform is undesirable. This repeats situations in Ukraine’s history when, for example, a reformer like Viktor Pynzenyk was repeatedly pushed out of government. . . .

As an example, the Rada Anticorruption Committee’s head, reformist Tetiana Chornovil, resigned in frustration soon after her appointment. The parliamentary coalition agreement developed on the basis of the reform plan Strategy 2020 was then quickly emasculated by a variety of special interests represented in the Rada.

And once again, the use of obfuscation in place of meaningful action is apparent. The allegations of corruption which have been surfacing throughout the year involving key political figures such as Mykola Martynenko, Ihor Kononenko, Borys Lyozkhin, and Arsen Avakov have not been pursued by Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin. . . .

The façade of reform continues with the constant refrain that progress is gradually being made and patience is needed. But the well-established axiom guiding successful reforms undertaken in countries such as Georgia, Lithuania, Poland, and Slovakia is that reforms need to be swift and comprehensive if they are to be effective. The patience of Western ambassadors and the managing director of the IMF has worn out, as indicated by their public statements.

http://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/what-s-behind-the-resignation-of-minister-abromavicius

Retweeted Ukraine Reporter (@StateOfUkraine):

Russian opposition leader Mikhail Kasyanov has reportedly just been attacked by a group of at least 20 Chechens (likely Kadyrov’s men)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/12139943/Russia-simulated-a-nuclear-strike-against-Sweden-Nato-admits.html?sf20299481=1

#Ukraine’s Minister of economic dev & trade, Aivaras Abramovichus, resigned in protest to corruption of Ihor Kononenko & other allies of Pres. Poroshenko.

Front line footage of Kievan Rus Battalion during battle of Debaltsev last year:

https://videochart.net/video/95336.9d76851c79f69c071ea1d03414e4

Turkey claims another Russian warplane violated its airspace on Friday, only two months after Turkish planes shot down a Russian jet, killing the pilot. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned that Russia would “endure the consequences” if its planes keep crossing into Turkey.

“We regard this infringement which came despite all our warnings in Russian and in English as an effort by Russia to escalate the crisis in the region,” said Erdogan. “If Russia continues the violations of Turkey’s sovereign rights, it will be forced to endure the consequences.”

http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2016/02/01/erdogan-russia-will-endure-the-consequences-for-violating-turkish-airspace-again/

Evidence of @SaakashviliM’s effectiveness vs corruption? Good unloaded in Odessa are going through customs in Kharkiv. (inside tip)