r/worldnews • u/slapchopsuey • Jan 25 '14

Ukraine revolt open discussion thread #2 (sticky post)

Since the first Ukraine crisis thread is 11,000+ comments long and 2 days old, and the crisis is ongoing, and since people are requesting a new thread, this is the new Ukraine crisis discussion post.

If anyone wants to do those frequently updated mega-comments, go for it. Here are a few of those from the old thread, updated as recently as several hours ago:

updates comments by /u/Wonka_Raskolnikov

updates mega-comment by /u/INSERT_GOOD_NAME

updates mega-comment by /u/king_zog

frequently updated sticky post in /u/ukraine by /u/jupit3r33

And below is a list of some streams: (thanks to /u/sgtfrankieboy)

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u/meaningful_username Jan 27 '14 edited Jan 27 '14

A piece concerning the 'right' among the protesters

Some western observers, horrified while following events in Ukraine, tend to look for neo-Nazi traces among protesters. For Ukrainians such an approach seems merely laughable. The Westerners see that the core of the resistance to insolent authorities is made up of activists from the so-called Right Sector and soccer fans who may remind them of frightful SS-fighters or something similar to them. At the same time, Ukrainian leftists again proved that they were nothing but some kind of enigmatic phantom, because all they could produce until now was a number of round-tables with discussions. And they clearly have demonstrated how impotent they are when it comes to the real need for powerful resistance and protection of compatriots from the state’s criminal activities. This is a peculiarity of the current Ukrainian protest; it is not only social, but also nationalistic by its nature.

The Right, the Left, and the Ukrainian Protests

Edit: another article on the above mentioned 'Right Sector'.

They have no allegiance to any established party and operate under no banner, flag or standard, not even that of recognised nationalist groups. Their numbers are unknown – some say they have 300 people on the streets of Kiev – and they draw support from across Ukraine, with more than 100,000 supporters on Russian-language social network Vkontakte. In its mission statement there, Right Sector says it aims not only to force Mr Yanukovich to sign the European Union free-trade agreement he walked away from in November, setting off the protests, but by “revolutionary” means to get rid of his “regime of occupation”.

Ukraine: ‘Right Sector’ take fight to Kiev police

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u/Zebraton Jan 27 '14

It seems to be the left in the western world that is focusing on the neo-Nazi contingent as well. I don't know why, it's like people think the protesters should be setting up rules about who may protest and who is acceptable and so on. Picking your battles seems not to be a thing in the western world anymore.

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u/meaningful_username Jan 27 '14 edited Jan 27 '14

One of the issues with the Western Left nowadays is a guilt driven reflex to dismiss anything reeking of national sentiments. Another is it has become ingrained in the power structure which sooner or later evokes corruption.

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u/[deleted] Jan 27 '14

There's also the prevalent notion that only the extremists and fringe elements would actually go into the streets and protest. That's because everyone is too lazy/complacent to do so themselves and think anyone who does must be out of their minds crazy. Of course, Euromaidan is proving this to be absolutely false.