Author Archives: RomanInUkraine

Russian Military Spending Soars

Russia’s advantages are all short term. As they increase their level of control and subsidy they will exacerbate internal tensions — demographic, economic, flight of intelligent and ambitious people, and the other problems associated with tyranny. They didn’t let the Soviet Union finish collapsing. The Russian idea is unsustainable.

According to a report in Jane’s Defence Weekly, the Russian Federal Treasury announced late last month that “Expenditure on National Defense” will rise from 2,101.4 billion rubles ($58.2 billion) in 2013 to 2,488.1 billion rubles in 2014. This is projected to be about 3.4 percent of Russia’s GDP but over 20 percent of government spending. Another 16.5 percent of the government budget will go to national security and law enforcement.

By contrast, in 2010 defense spending only accounted for 12.6 percent of total state spending while defense and security only accounted for about 25 percent compared to the nearly 37 percent of spending they will make up in 2014. Jane’s notes that spending on “education, housing, social care and healthcare will all fall” as a result.

The increase this year follows what some estimate to be a 31 percent increase in defense spending between 2008 and 2013. Moreover, Russia intends to continue expanding its defense budget in the years ahead. According to the Jane’s report, the Russian Federal Treasury anticipates the defense budget to grow by more than 33 percent over the next two years. Thus, according to current forecasts, by 2016 the Russian defense budget will be around 3,378.0 billion rubles ($95.6 billion).

http://thediplomat.com/2014/04/russian-military-spending-soars/

Ukraine’s Cowardly Leaders

Somebody please tell Ukraine’s cowardly politicians to get off their knees, stop begging for help, and start allowing people to arm themselves.

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@Ukroblogger 12m

His ultimatum rings hollow, acting prez Turchynov calls on #UN to send peacekeepers to East #Ukraine? #RussiaInvadesUkraine #RussianInvasion

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@Ukroblogger 2h

1st the ultimatum game. Then no force ag separatists. Now #Tymoshenko calls on the West to help #Ukraine militarily & stop appeasing #Russia

Zaporizhzhia Will Not Wait for ‘Avakov’s Help’ and Will Mobilize on Its Own

Zaporizhzhia’s self-defense forces announced a Sunday mobilization for the city. Local representatives of Self Defense are getting ready for provocateurs’ arrival in town, Radio Svoboda reports.

People’s Self Defense asks men to support the mobilization announced for Sunday, and they ask them to come to their headquarters in the Regional State Administration (RSA) building at 9 a.m.

http://euromaidanpr.com/2014/04/13/zaporizhzhia-will-not-wait-for-avakovs-help-and-will-mobilize-on-its-own/

Anti-Kremlin protest draws thousands in Moscow

More than 10,000 people turned out in Moscow on Sunday for an anti-Kremlin rally to denounce Russian state television’s news coverage, particularly of the crisis in neighboring Ukraine.

In promoting the Kremlin line, state television has portrayed the new pro-Western government in Ukraine as a “fascist junta” under the control of the U.S. government and determined to oppress Russian speakers in eastern Ukraine. The broadcasts have taken on a harsh anti-American tone.

Some of those who took part in the demonstration, called a “March of Truth,” carried blue and yellow Ukrainian flags. One woman, wearing a traditional Ukrainian wreath of flowers on her head, held up a sign with President Vladimir Putin’s picture and the words: “Stop lying.”

Read more here: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2014/04/13/3132693/anti-kremlin-protest-draws-thousands.html

This is nice, but imo, the Russian public is a lost cause. Putin’s popularity has soared.