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Private Notes
Archival footage from our previous broadcast from Ukraine.
With protests in Ukraine turning deadly last week, VICE News went to Kiev's Independence Square to document the Euromaidan movement's struggle for the fate of the nation. Our crew found scenes both harrowing and inspiring — smoldering avenues littered with sniper fire, protesters tending their dead and wounded — and chronicled the toppling of Viktor Yanukovych. As Ukraine prepares for its future, here's a look at how the revolution unfolded.
As protesters in central Kiev took over the parliament building on Saturday, others headed to President Yanukovych's highly controversial private estate of Mezyhrhrya, just outside the city. The estate, half the size of Monaco, cost hundreds of millions of dollars to build, much of it coming from embezzlement and corruption, and had long been in the protesters' sights. The average monthly salary for an Ukrainian citizen is around 200 Euros, so their President's opulent lifestyle was a constant slap in the face that could no longer be ignored. VICE News went along with thousands of curious Ukrainians to take a look and walk around Yanukovych's house, like a kleptocrat's version of Cribs.
Russia has invaded the Crimean peninsula of Ukraine and taken over its civilian and military infrastructure. Not a shot has been fired so far, but Russia is using its superior force to intimidate Ukrainian troops in an attempt to get them to surrender. Russia claims it wants to stabilize the situation on the peninsula, which has a large Russian population, but Ukraine's new government regards the move as an occupation of its sovereign territory.
Angry crowds of Russia supporters as well as Russian military units surrounded and entered Ukraine's Naval High Command in Sevastopol blocking all exits and demanded that its officers switch allegiance to Crimea's new Kremlin-alligned government. Naval Command has so far remained mostly loyal to Kiev, but its fall would represent a significant psychological victory for Russian forces.
The blockade by Russia of Ukrainian military installations in Crimea continues. VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky spoke with families of personnel barricaded inside, who complained about the difficulty of getting food past the pro-Russian protesters outside. Russia's supporters explained why they want Crimea to separate from Ukraine, and Simon negotiated his way through a Russian checkpoint to interview an officer on the Slavutych, a Ukrainian battleship stuck in the harbour of Sevastopol.
With Crimea's parliament voting to secede from Ukraine, Russia's blockade of Ukrainian military installations in the peninsula has moved seaside. The Russian Black Sea Fleet prepared a special operation: the sinking of a decommissioned ship in the middle of Donuzlav Bay in order to prevent traffic in and out of Crimea's port. VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky noticed that the unidentified men in military fatigues had suddenly disappeared from the bases — locals said that they'd gone to obstruct a mission of observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) from entering the region.
As Russians stream into Crimea to help wrestle it away from Ukraine, an unlikely group of Serbian war veterans, who have experience fighting in Bosnia, Croatia and Kosovo, are turning up at the checkpoints too. VICE News reporter Simon Ostrovsky follows Russian troops as they continue their occupation of Ukrainian military bases, and learns about unidentified men in masks attacking journalists reporting on the situation in the peninsula.
In dispatch six, VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky travels to the Kherson region of mainland Ukraine to both the Ukrainian and Russian checkpoints. At the Ukrainian checkpoint, Simon goes inside one of their tanks, and speaks to the commander, who says that despite his Russian blood he will defend all invaders. But at the Russian checkpoint, the exchange isn't quite as cordial.
In dispatch 7, Simon is back in the Crimean capital of Simferopol, where both pro and anti-Russia demonstrations are dividing the region. Pro-Russia protesters believe that the country's strong economy will help Crimea, while anti-Russia protesters feel that their land has been taken over by bandits.
As Russia moves 10,000 troops to the Ukrainian border and Crimea prepares for a secession referendum, tension remains high all over Ukraine, especially in the East.
On the night of Thursday, March 13 VICE News reporter Robert King captured this scene on the streets of Donetsk, where a large group of pro-Russian activists attacked a group of pro-Ukrainian demonstrators calling for unity.
With Crimea's referendum quickly approaching, tension has spread across Ukraine, especially in the east. Before Thursday's protests in Donetsk escalated into violence, VICE News correspondent Robert King interviewed pro-Russia and pro-Ukraine demonstrators about their opinions on the standoff.
As the whole world waits to see what impact the referendum has on Crimea, VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky spends time with new recruits of the Crimean Self Defense Army.
Russian commandos stormed the Moskva Hotel in Simferopol, and nobody really knows why. It was the eve of the referendum and the hotel is where many of the international journalists covering the situation in Crimea are staying. VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky tries to figure out if the troops were sent on a manhunt, or on a mission to intimidate members of the press.
On March 13, two people were killed during clashes between pro-Russian & pro-Ukraine groups in the eastern Ukrainian town of Donetsk. Two days later, friends and family gathered for the funeral of Dmytro Cherniavsky — a former press secretary for the Ukrainian Nationalist party, Svoboda.
Some people might say that two weeks isn't enough time to prepare for referendum to separating from the country that you've been a part of for the last 70 years. But that's not what a reported 95.5 percent of Crimeans think, according to the official vote count. VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky visits the polling stations in Simferopol, including predominantly Tartar areas where the pro-Russian fervor is seemingly absent.
The day after Crimea's referendum, VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky tried to figure out what country he's in, and what - if anything - has changed.
Just a few days after Crimeans overwhelmingly voted in a referendum to join Russia, the crisis across the peninsula has taken its first life. In dispatch 15, VICE News' Simon Ostrovsky attends the funeral of the young Tatar man whose body was found this week after he was beaten by Cossacks. Despite this death, residents across Crimea are hopeful that joining Russia will bring them a brighter future.
The day after Crimea's controversial referendum, in which 97 percent of the peninsula's population supposedly voted to join the Russian Federation, Ukraine's newly-formed National Guard began training in anticipation of further Russian aggression.
Against the backdrop of exploding RPGs, the crackling of heavy machine guns, and the rumbling cannons of the BTRs, Ukrainian officials and the international media got a first look at the ragtag civilian force that could be on the front lines of the new cold war.
n the aftermath of the referendum in which 97 percent of the Crimean population supposedly voted to join the Russian referendum, VICE News' Simon Ostrovsky returns to the Ukrainian Naval headquarters in Sevastopol, after self defense forces stormed the premises and took over the base.
Despite overwhelming support within Crimea to join the Russian Federation, Ukrainian self-defense forces refused to give up their naval and airbases to the Russians last week. In this dispatch, VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky visits the Belbek airbase, which was being overrun by Cossacks and members of Russian forces, who believe they had liberated Crimea — though local self-defense forces don't seem to agree.
Earlier this week, Ukraine's government finally grasped reality and ordered its troops out of Crimea. But by the time of the evacuation order, Russia's military had already started booting Ukrainian troops from their bases or getting them to switch sides. VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky met with Ukrainian Marines in Feodosia as they decided whether to remain loyal to their country or break their oath of allegiance to stay with their families in Crimea.
As Crimea becomes part of Russia, tensions continue to rise in Ukraine and demonstrators attempt to break into parliament in Kiev. VICE News' Simon Ostrovsky captures the moment demonstrators attempt to break into parliament in Kiev.
Ukraine's ultra-nationalist Right Sector movement has been extremely active during the Euromaidan protests, but Kiev is now moving to disarm the group. On Monday, one Right Sector member instigated a shootout outside a restaurant. Three people were injured, including a city official. In response, riot police surrounded the Dnipro Hotel, which the group was using as their headquarters. The group was forced to vacate the building without its weapons and move to a base outside Kiev. Simon Ostrovsky of VICE News was there as events unfolded.
On April 7, the people of Donetsk declared themselves an independent republic and called for a Crimea-style referendum by May 11th. VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky was there as people stormed the regional administration building and demanded to join Russia.
On the second day of the self-styled People's Republic of Donetsk's existence, people gathered in the Regional Administration Building to discuss their new government and make plans for the future. VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky attended the meeting where things got a bit heated, and later interviewed Serhiy Taruta, the current governor of the Donetsk region. Taruta argued that those who declared independence from Ukraine have no authority to do so and are not supported by most residents of Donetsk. There's still about a month left before their supposed referendum, and the future of Donetsk is uncertain.
Pro-Russian protesters in Luhansk, the most Eastern city in Ukraine, took over the headquarters of the state security services on April 9. Armed with guns they found in the building, the demonstrators were determined not to leave.
VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky visited the occupied building, which despite the occupation, was surprisingly calm. But not everyone in Luhansk wants to join Russia — and some who express that sentiment are suffering dire consequences.
We spoke to one resident who said he was severely beaten for siding with Ukraine, and another who is determined to leave the area if Luhansk becomes Russian. Amid calls for parts of Ukraine to join Russia, the tension and unrest across the country is spreading — and it is becoming increasingly difficult to predict what will happen next.
Last week, pro-Russia forces took over the police headquarters in Sloviansk, a city in Eastern Ukraine, marking the latest expansion of the self-proclaimed "People's Republic of Donetsk." VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky rushed to the scene to verify whether or not Russian Special Forces had taken over the building, as was rumored, but found that it appeared to be the work of locals. As the situation escalates in Eastern Ukraine, a pattern has emerged in which buildings are stormed and occupied at night, while crowds gather outside during the day to prevent anyone from getting through. The situation in Sloviansk is different because the whole city seems to be guarded by pro-Russia forces.
On Monday, pro-Russia protesters stormed a police station in the eastern Ukrainian city of Horlivka. VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky was with them as they seized the building. Inside, the demonstrators attacked a police officer accused of pushing someone off a ledge while the person was trying to display a Russian flag. Later that day, a video emerged on the internet showing a man purporting to be a Russian army colonel giving orders to officers in eastern Ukraine. This is the first bit of evidence that there might already be Russian boots on the ground in the country. (Update: The “colonel” was later debunked.)
This week, the Ukrainian military launched an anti-terrorist operation to quell the pro-Russia violence and unrest that has swept eastern Ukraine. VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky interviewed troops deployed in the operation at the border between Kharkiv and Donetsk, and then traveled to Kramatorsk, where pro-Russia protesters were attempting to take over an airfield. When Simon arrived, it seemed that the airfield was still under Ukrainian control, but the pro-Russia protesters were outside preparing to seize it. Once the head of the anti-terror operation appeared outside the base, the commander was accosted by the protesters until he retreated back inside — so much for his anti-terror operation.
Last week, Ukraine launched an anti-terror campaign to recapture the cities being occupied by pro-Russia protesters. So far, the campaign hasn't been going so well.
On April 16, the second day of the campaign, Ukrainian military moving into Sloviansk — the focal point of the pro-Russia forces — and gave up their equipment. The armory was brought to the center of town where it has become a local amusement.
Elsewhere, a crowd of pro-Russia protesters stopped a column of Ukrainian troops in Kramatorsk and made them disarm. VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky was on the scene as Ukrainian forces disarmed their weapons and vehicles.
Before VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky was detained on April 21 and held by pro-Russia separatists in Sloviansk, he filed this dispatch featuring an interview with his future captor, the city's self-appointed “people’s mayor,” Vyacheslav Ponomarev. Simon was released on Thursday.
Simon went to Sloviansk to investigate reports of a shooting at a checkpoint outside of the city on Easter Sunday. At least three people were reportedly killed in the incident. Pro-Russia forces and Russian media outlets quickly blamed the Ukrainian nationalist group Right Sector for the assault. After interviewing local Ukrainian police, who couldn’t confirm the number of deaths, Simon attended a press briefing where he questioned Ponomarev directly about the alleged shooting.
Just an hour before he was kidnapped by pro-Russia forces, VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky interviewed two Russian Cossacks in Kramatorsk. One of the men showed Simon his Russian passport, which was the first confirmation VICE News has seen of Russians working with the separatists in Eastern Ukraine.
VICE News reporter Simon Ostrovsky tells the full story of his abduction and captivity in eastern Ukraine by pro-Russia forces.
On Monday April 21st, VICE News reporters Simon Ostrovsky and Freddie Paxton were stopped at a checkpoint by armed pro-Russia forces loyal to the self-proclaimed mayor of Sloviansk, Vyacheslav Ponomarev. They were pulled from their car, along with three other journalists they were traveling with. After a thorough search and questioning, Paxton and the three other journalists were released. Ostrovsky was held in a basement cell where he was blindfolded, beaten, and accused of being a spy. For days, his whereabouts were unknown, which sparked a furor among journalists in the region and people from around the world who have been following his work. On Thursday, April 24 Simon was suddenly released onto the streets of Sloviansk with little explanation.
On International Workers' Day, pro-Russian protesters marched through central Donetsk in eastern Ukraine calling for a referendum on the region's future. They laid siege to the prosecutor's office, surrounding a group of beleaguered riot police. Fighting broke out – the cops hurled out teargas, the protesters chucked stones. Before long the police, who were outnumbered, were forced to surrender. The Kiev government's hold on the east of Ukraine is looking weaker by the day.
On the morning of May 1, a pro-Russia militia guard post on the outskirts of Krasnoarmeysk was attacked by Ukrainian forces (reportedly Right Sector members) — taking 11 local militia men with them. Soon after, a crowd from Krasnoarmeysk gathered in front of a Right Sector base, where they tried to find out about their friends' fate. Having no luck, the crowd decided to return to Krasnoarmeysk, and storm the local police building, to show their protest towards police negligence. No shots were fired and no injuries were reported.
As the Ukrainian military launches an offensive on the rebel-held town of Sloviansk, members of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) are continuing a campaign of government building takeovers.
On Sunday, DPR protesters were able to take the military prosecutor's office and a local council building. VICE News followed the group as members burned the Ukrainian flag and arrested a suspected provocateur. The man was seen being bundled into a car while covered in blood, his destination unknown.
DPR protesters headed to a government debt collection office on Monday and delivered an ultimatum to freeze the discovery of listed debts by PrivatBank — Ukraine's largest bank — in Donetsk. The bank has stopped operating in the Donetsk region, citing alleged intimidation of its staff. This has led to long lines outside branches as people desperately try to withdraw money.
On Tuesday morning the Ukrainian government announced it had ordered the halting of flights at Donetsk airport and the closure of the airspace across the region. The airport was almost completely empty, except for a few stranded travelers.
Later in the day, VICE News visited a Ukrainian regional military college where pro-Russia rebels had set up a perimeter surrounding the entrance to the building, blocking the road of any traffic. A Donetsk People's Republic spokesperson said they heard that the Ukrainian ultra-nationalist group Right Sector was going to seize the academy and use it as a base.
In a sign of increased escalation, the militia in Donetsk was well equipped with AK-47s, RPGs, and even anti-tank missile launchers.
In an effort to curb further unrest, the Ukrainian government canceled the majority of the victory day parades across the country. Commemorating the victory over Nazi Germany during WWII, victory day came at a convenient time for the pro-Russia rebels. Claiming they're fighting a fascist junta in Kiev, the Donetsk Peoples Republic used the symbolism of victory day to boost support for their independence referendum on Sunday.
As the Donetsk city council organized an official celebration, a thousand few people gathered in the square listening to speeches with a heavy amount of soviet nostalgia. Halfway through, it was announced that there had been deadly clashes in Mariupol, a port city to the south. VICE News headed down there to investigate the clashes that proved to be another major escalation in the Ukrainian crisis.
On Friday, May 9, President Vladimir Putin of Russia visited Crimea for the first time after its annexation. He arrived at the Crimean port city Sevastopol during the Victory Day celebrations commemorating the triumph over Nazi Germany in World War II with a massive parade of Russian troops and veterans. The annual festivities quickly turned into a festival of Russian rule and a show of military power.
On Sunday, a referendum was finally held by the breakaway Donetsk People's Republic in eastern Ukraine on whether to declare independence. Polling stations were set up all over the city. With no independent monitors present, the DPR used locals to ensure that the vote was free and fair — a provision that hardly inspired confidence.
VICE News correspondent Henry Langston visited Donetsk to witness the ballot and ask people what they were voting for, but he and his crew quickly ran afoul of masked gunmen who were patrolling the station. They forced the crew inside the occupied administration building, where they were detained, searched, and interrogated for three hours before being allowed to leave. The experience offered some indication of what press freedom in the DPR would look like should it ever become independent.
With the Ukrainian army struggling to contain the grab for power by the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) in the Donetsk Oblast, armed pro-Ukrainian militias have been quietly taking matters into their own hands.
One of these groups, the Donbas Battalion, has been attacking DPR checkpoints and occupied buildings. After two weeks of careful negotiations they finally agreed for VICE News to visit their clandestine base in what used to be a children's summer camp in the neighboring Dnipropetrovsk region. They were cautious about revealing their location as their last HQ was discovered and attacked by pro-Russia forces, forcing them to find an alternative.
Earlier this month, a number of pro-Russia checkpoints around the Donetsk region were taken by Ukrainian forces, in an attempt to encircle the city of Sloviansk, a stronghold for the pro-Russia insurgents. Here, VICE News reporter Simon Ostrovsky embeds at one of the checkpoints with the Ukrainian National Guard, a volunteer militia made up of people who were protesting at the Kiev Maidan just a few short, but eventful, months ago. Simon spent the night in the dark basement of a police station with some of the men, as heavy fire and fighting rumbled above them.
Ukraine's presidential elections are scheduled for Sunday, but with this volatile situation in the east of the country, it's starting to look a lot more like a war.
The Ukrainian elections are Sunday, and there's still uncertainty that they will actually take place in eastern Ukraine. VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky travels around the eastern part of the country to gauge the vibe before election day.
He interviews Ukraine's Interim President Oleksandr Turchynov about plans to make sure everything goes smoothly in Donetsk and Luhansk — areas which have a heavy presence of pro-Russia forces. He then visits a polling station in Donetsk where nearby a Ukrainian checkpoint was attacked a few hours earlier resulting in at least 11 deaths, and meets up with the Donbas Battalion, who are working to ensure that everyone will be able to participate in the elections. Despite the measures that are being taken by Ukrainian troops and officials, it's still unclear what tomorrow will bring.
Almost 6 months after the Euromaidan revolution that toppled former president Viktor Yanukovych, Ukrainians went to the polls to elect a new president in the midst of an anti-terror operation to wrestle Donetsk and Lugansk oblasts back under Kiev's control.
The separatists of the Donetsk People's Republic openly threatened the election in the region and had stormed a number of electoral commissions and intimidated electoral workers. In response the Ukrainian military alongside its paramilitary proxies have been working to secure towns across Donetsk to ensure a safe election took place.
On Sunday morning as voting started across the country, Donetsk itself saw no voting take place so VICE News headed out to Krasnoarmiisk where voting was able to take place, under the watchful eye of local loyal-to-Kiev police and another paramilitary force, the Dinipro Battalion.
Ukraine went to the polls this weekend to choose a new president, but pro-Russia separatists in the east did everything they could to stop voters from taking part. The stakes are especially high because while the rebels deem the interim government illegal, the Ukrainian authorities are desperate to see a strong people’s mandate bestowed on a new leader who is able to quell the rebellion. VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky visited a polling station in Donetsk that was actually running, as people casted their votes and the fate of the country was decided. Pro-European businessman and “chocolate king” Petro Poroshenko was later declared the election winner. Poroshenko said that his first goal in office would be to resolve the crisis in eastern Ukraine, which so far is not showing any sign of ending.
Only hours after Petro Poroshenko was announced the winner of Ukraine's presidential elections, the worst violence of the two month long crisis in eastern Ukraine exploded at Donetsk' Sergei Prokofiev airport.
Early Monday morning, gunmen of the Donetsk Peoples Republic arrived at the airport and took over the terminal building, prompting the Ukrainian military based there to issue an ultimatum to the rebels to lay down their weapons and leave. A massive firefight broke out which both fighter jets and attack helicopters were used by the Ukrainian military. The sound of gunfire and explosions filled the air as rebels and journalists ducked for cover along the access road to the airport terminal.
The standoff between pro-Russia forces and Ukrainian troops continues on the outskirts of the rebel stronghold of Sloviansk in eastern Ukraine. But with heavier fighting escalating over the last few days, many residents are braving checkpoints and gunfire to flee the area for safer parts of the country. VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky traveled to a checkpoint bordering Sloviansk and spoke to people leaving their homes behind as shots rang out in the background. None of these residents knows when they'll be able to return.
Troops from Ukraine's "anti-terrorist operation" clashed with separatist militias in the eastern Ukrainian city of Krasnyi Lyman, located in the north of the Donetsk region, on June 3. At least one member of the Ukrainian military was killed and over 20 were injured, according to local reports.
Meet Yuri Kasyanov, a Ukrainian activist who raises money from ordinary people to buy supplies for the Ukrainian army, and every day risks his life to deliver them to the front lines.
VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky met up with Kasyanov in eastern Ukraine and traveled with him to checkpoints as he supplied soldiers with flak jackets and food. As the crisis in Ukraine continues, it has become more apparent that the government isn't efficiently taking care of its own forces. But as Petro Poroshenko's presidency begins, the prospect of change is appearing to be possible.
Ukraine put an end to months of political chaos by swearing in a new president who vowed to restore the country's territorial integrity. Petro Poroshenko, a powerful oligarch before his election, will now have to prove to Ukrainians that he will be able to change the system that made him wealthy while fighting a war against pro-Russia rebels in eastern Ukraine.
On Sunday, recently elected President Petro Poroshenko vowed he would end two months of fighting with rebels in eastern Ukraine by the end of the week.
Last week, however, the Ukrainian army suffered a series of setbacks in the Luhansk region and lost control of several checkpoints along the Russian border. Separatist groups now say they have occupied up to 125 miles of the frontier, allowing for fighters, weapons and other goods to move across from the east. VICE News headed to a checkpoint in Luhansk to talk with a Cossack commander about his group's operations there and find out how he is "preparing for war."
In the towns of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, shelling is on the rise. Some civilians in the area were able to pack their belongings and flee, yet many more local residents are unable to leave. From housewives, to students, to local farmers, all are feeling the effects of the continuing crisis.
The conflict in eastern Ukraine has not yet entered into all-out war, but every day and every week the situation is becoming more fraught. Despite Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's call for a ceasefire, shelling has persisted in the rebel stronghold of Sloviansk.
VICE News visited a section of Sloviansk that was recently struck by an attack, and spoke with the residents about the chaos of the attack and its aftermath. We also visited a local hospital and spoke with medical workers who have stayed behind to treat the increasing number of wounded.
Caught up in the standoff, and facing gas and water shortages, residents across eastern Ukraine have been fleeing for safety. According to Kiev, some 120,000 people have been internally displaced from the region and are currently seeking refuge in Russia and elsewhere across the country as the area's humanitarian crisis worsens.
Last Saturday, pro-Russia separatists shot down a Ukrainian military transport plane in the eastern city of Luhansk, killing 49. It was the deadliest incident since the conflict in eastern Ukraine broke out in April.
The country's military has been struggling to regain control over the porous border with Russia as separatists continue to set up checkpoints and engage in sporadic fighting. Meanwhile, civilians are fleeing from towns in the area to avoid being caught in the crossfire.
VICE News is in Luhansk to meet some of the separatist men and women who are determined to keep battling the government at any cost.
While the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany, and France are discussing the fate of eastern Ukraine during the country's weeklong ceasefire, the eastern city of Slovyansk — which is occupied by the rebel forces and surrounded by the Ukrainian army — remains under siege.
Amid consistent clashes, residents are gathering to mourn civilian deaths and pray for a quick end to the conflict. For the rebel fighters defending their positions in the outskirts of the small town, the ceasefire is something happening elsewhere. They don't trust it, and say the Ukrainian army is only using the opportunity to bring in more heavy weaponry and refill stocks of ammunition.
Early on June 21, VICE News embedded with a small group of rebel fighters as they walked quietly through a field of high grass to an abandoned chemical plant controlled by the pro-government troops. Their mission was to stage an attack and collect intelligence about the enemy's sniper positions.
The ceasefire in Ukraine between pro-Russia forces and the Ukrainian military technically ended on Monday, but the ceasefire never lived up to its name. VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky traveled to several checkpoints around the eastern city of Sloviansk and spoke to soldiers who had been attacked by pro-Russia forces in recent days — attacks that resulted in dozens of deaths.
Not long after a so-called ceasefire ended in eastern Ukraine Monday night, the Ukrainian military sent a column of artillery into Sloviansk and officially began its offensive. The Russian and Ukrainian governments, along with representatives from the OSCE, called for a new effort to establish another ceasefire, setting a deadline of Saturday for the resumption of talks. For now, however, the war continues.
VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky traveled around the outskirts of the city and visited several checkpoints where soldiers were preparing for what's to come.
On July 5, the eastern Ukrainian town of Sloviansk was recaptured by the Ukrainian military, driving out pro-Russia rebels and ending their three-month occupation. VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky travels back to Sloviansk and visits the cell in which he was held for days by those rebels in April. The city is in shambles and residents are struggling to find food and water despite a considerable humanitarian effort. The pro-Russia rebels have retreated to Donetsk, but the Ukrainian government is determined to pursue its anti-terror operation until there are no rebels left.
On July 5, the pro-Russia rebels who had been occupying the eastern Ukrainian city of Sloviansk for the past three months retreated to Donetsk, marking a pivotal shift in the conflict. After Ukraine's military recaptured Sloviansk, VICE News visited some of the former rebel checkpoints surrounding the city, interviewed a pro-Russia rebel in Donetsk, and went to a "peace rally" where Pavel Gubarev, the pro-Russia governor of The People's Republic of Donetsk, proclaimed that the rebels would not be defeated. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko plans to continue his government's anti-terror operation until Ukraine is rid of the rebels.
Two weeks after the separatist rebels of the Donetsk People's Republic fled their stronghold of Sloviansk, Ukraine's anti-terror operation continues. In the neighboring region of Luhansk, the Ukrainian military has been battling with separatists for control of Luhansk city and its strategically important airport — but with both sides using artillery, homes are being destroyed and people are being killed. Meanwhile near Donetsk, fighting has reached outlying villages as the military looks to encircle separatist forces inside the city, who vow to make their last stand among its 1 million inhabitants. VICE News speaks to the civilians in Luhansk and Donetsk who find themselves in the middle of the bloody campaign — and who are dying as a result.
Today, a Malaysia Airlines passenger jet carrying 295 people was shot down — allegedly by pro-Russia separatists — in eastern Ukraine, dramatically changing the scope of Ukraine's months-long conflict. On Wednesday, VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky spoke to US Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt, who said he has no doubt Russia is arming the separatists, effectively encouraging the escalation of the fighting.
Weeks into the separatists' siege of Luhansk airport, the Ukrainian military attempts a risky plan to lift the siege and resupply their stranded comrades. Although the bid to break through rebel lines is successful, it comes at a heavy price; the following morning, rebel forces celebrate their kills.
And just three days before Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 is shot down over eastern Ukraine, rebel forces shoot down a Ukrainian military transport plane. VICE News arrives at the still-smoldering crash site as locals pick through wreckage looking for souvenirs to keep and scrap metal to sell.
On Thursday, July 17, 2014, a Malaysia Airlines passenger jet carrying 298 people was shot down over eastern Ukraine — allegedly by pro-Russia separatists. Residents in the area described bodies falling from the sky and landing in their own backyards. VICE News travels to the still-gruesome scene of the crash and speaks to residents who witnessed firsthand a tragedy that promises to dramatically alter the terms of the conflict.
Footage shows a brawl between oppositional Ukrainian party members in parliament today. The fight was between members of the nationalist Svoboda [Freedom] party and the Party of Regions, the pro-Russia party of former president Viktor Yanukovich. The fighting broke out after parliamentary members voted to draw up military reserves to protect Ukraine's border with Russia and one parliamentary member accused an opposition politician that his party "kills its citizens."
Last week, a Malaysian passenger jet was shot down over eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board. It has yet to be confirmed who shot it down, but US and Ukrainian officials have blamed the pro-Russia rebels.
VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky is in the Luhansk region with the Ukrainian military to see what, if anything, has changed in the conflict after the plane disaster.
One week after Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was shot down in eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 people onboard, authorities have yet to determine for certain who was responsible for launching the missile that destroyed the plane. Many Ukrainians, however, are convinced it was the pro-Russia rebels who committed the act of “terrorism;” Russia continues to deny involvement.
VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky is in Kharkiv as the investigation continues. He attends a pro-Ukrainian rally, then travels to the Kharkiv airport, where the bodies of many of the passengers arrive to be sent back to the Netherlands for identification and burial.
On July 24, 14 bodies were exhumed from a burial site in Sloviansk. The victims were civilians, all of whom are believed to have been killed by pro-Russia separatists when they were occupying the area. According to Ukrainian officials, there are roughly 300 people missing in Sloviansk, and mass and individual graves are consistently being found.
VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky investigated what may have been behind these murders, traveling to the mass grave site near Sloviansk as the bodies were being unearthed. He also met up with journalist Chris Miller, who found signed death warrants and proof that the separatists were operating under their own form of martial law while controlling Sloviansk.
After the Ukrainian military recaptured various cities across eastern Ukraine this week, VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky visited Debaltseve, a town at a strategic crossroads between Donetsk and Luhansk. The army appeared to be using the victory in Debaltseve to isolate those two rebel-held cities while it prepared to retake the MH17 crash site. Its successful campaign has come at a high cost of civilian deaths and troop casualties, however, forcing refugees to flee the fighting as the army works its way south.
Days after Ukraine’s president was toppled from power during the Euromaidan revolution, Russian soldiers and local proxies took control of the strategically important Crimean peninsula and surrounded Ukrainian troops in their bases. Unhappy with the change in government in Kiev and using the unfounded fear of the Russian language being restricted, Russia made a bid for control in the region.
Following an illegal and fraudulent referendum on whether Crimea would become a part of Russia or not, Russia then formally annexed the peninsula — a move which was widely condemned by the international community. Russia had, in one quick and mostly bloodless takeover, reminded the world of its power, and made the West in its poor handling of the situation appear weak.
Over the past week, the Ukrainian military has recaptured a number of cities across eastern Ukraine. In this dispatch, VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky heads towards the MH17 crash site, as the Ukrainian military has successfully recaptured the cities surrounding it. On his way there, he visits a former separatist checkpoint and dugout, where he finds artillery the separatists used — some of which dates as far back as World War II.
In this dispatch, VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky interviews an American volunteer in the Donbas Battalion to find out why he joined the unit, and what he thinks about the crisis in Ukraine.
In our latest dispatch from Ukraine, VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky arrives at a scene in Kiev where a group of Euromaidan activists are being detained by a group of men from the Kiev 1 Battalion — a volunteer policing unit made up largely of former Euromaidan activists. The activists have held their camp at Kiev’s Independence Square since this past winter, and were apparently also occupying a restaurant near the square — until the Kiev 1 Battalion was called upon to remove them. Amid differing versions of the story, it becomes clear that a twist in the Ukraine conflict is emerging, as players in the revolution are showing signs of turning against each other.
Clashes in Kiev have escalated between the Kiev Battalions and activists still occupying the city's Maidan Square. With the Kiev Battalions being comprised largely of former Maidan activists, the clashes are further evidence that the revolution that took place last winter is showing signs of splintering and turning against itself.In this dispatch, VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky speaks with both the leader of the Kiev 2 Battalion and Maidan activists on the square.
On August 10, Ukrainian paramilitary troops engaged with separatists forces on the outskirts of the rebel-held town of Ilovaysk. The deadly battle came as volunteers from the Ukrainian paramilitary forces continue to move towards Donetsk. At least six volunteers were killed during the fighting, and several more were wounded.
In VICE News’ latest dispatch from eastern Ukraine, we visit the rebel-held town of Donetsk to speak with locals about the damage done to their homes and property. The locals refer to the indiscriminate nature of the Ukrainian army's shelling, as well as the separatists seeming inability to protect them.
Last week, a VICE News crew traveled to the Rostov Region in Russia, which is on the border of Ukraine, to investigate Moscow's involvement in the conflict. We visit a hospital where injured rebel fighters were brought by Russian forces to be treated for their injuries, and speak to them about their take on the current crises in Eastern Ukraine. Recently, Russia has engaged in a campaign of sending over humanitarian convoys over to Ukraine by day. But under the darkness of night, it is rumored that Russia has been sending weaponized columns over the border to aid the rebels.
On August 23, German Chancellor Angela Merkel met with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to discuss Ukraine's place in the context of Europe. She also offered 500 million euros for the reconstruction of the Donbas region. The following day, a military parade was held in Kiev, in which high profile armor and artillery was displayed to crowds. Meanwhile, rebels in Donetsk held a counter march in Donetsk where they paraded their prisoners of war, as onlookers threw trash at the captives.
Despite the high spirits at the Kiev parade, the display of equipment and artillery was perceived as a slap in the face to those fighting for Ukraine on the frontline - many of who are dying because they don't have the artillery and military equipment they need to put up a fight. VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky attended the parade and interviewed members of volunteer battalions, who recounted their experiences on the frontline.
For three weeks, the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk, the capital of the so-called Donetsk Peoples Republic, has faced a near-constant barrage of deadly shellfire. Hundreds of civilians have been killed as the Ukrainian army slowly encircled Donetsk and pro-Russia forces fought for control of what is strategically the most important city.
With the Ukrainian army having made sweeping gains since late June, the rebels announced a counter offensive to relieve the siege of Donetsk and other cities under their control. On August 25, rebel forces brought over a number of armored vehicles and tanks from the Russian border on the southern coastline. They quickly made a push towards the coastal city of Mariupol, but were stopped at the town of Novoazovsk after a skirmish with Ukrainian troops and volunteer forces.
As the Donetsk People's Republic opened up a new front to the south of Donetsk, Ukrainian forces continued their artillery bombardment of the city. With the pro-Russia rebels also using artillery to push back the military, civilians are often caught in the deadly crossfire. VICE News headed to the Donetsk train station to see the destructive aftermath of the shelling, and later spoke with the chief coroner of the city's central morgue to hear how he and his staff are struggling to manage the influx of bodies.
As pro-Russian separatists opened up a new front along Ukraine's southern coast, threatening the city of Mariupol, they also surrounded a mixture of regular Ukrainian army and pro-government militias in the town of Ilovaisk. To the southeast of Donetsk, Ilovaisk had been the scene of heavy fighting that eventually tipped in favor of the separatists. With Ukrainian forces having little choice, they surrendered and were assured they could leave the city through a safe "green corridor."
However, the separatists seemed to have reneged on the promise of safe passage, and several Ukrainian columns were caught in devastatingly brutal ambushes, leaving hundreds dead and dozens taken prisoner.
VICE News stumbled upon one of the many Ukrainian ambulance convoys sent to retrieve the dead and wounded from an ambush site at Novokaterynivka, finding a scene of absolute horror and panic.
The Azov Battalion is a volunteer militia based in Mariupol, Ukraine that is allegedly linked to neo-Nazism. The fighters have been very active during the crisis in eastern Ukraine, carrying out nightly patrols around the city and manning checkpoints. VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky embeds with the battalion while they train and conduct a patrol, then watches as they retreat from their outposts when pro-Russia separatists began firing artillery toward the city.
On September 5, the Ukrainian government and the Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) came to a ceasefire agreement after talks were held in Minsk, Belarus. But before the ceasefire went into effect that evening, both sides launched attacks on each other. The DNR assaulted Ukrainian positions in the city of Mariupol, while the Ukrainians attacked DNR checkpoints on the road leading from Mariupol to Donetsk. VICE News headed north of Donetsk to the town of Yasynuvata to check on reports that the town had come under fresh artillery fire that left residents living in their basements and without basic amenities. As the ceasefire held the next day, civilians in the village of Telmenovo were picking through the ruins of their homes, which were hit by shelling in the hours before the ceasefire began.
On Monday, September 8, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko visited Mariupol — where the ceasefire was broken just a few days earlier — to boost morale and hand out medals to Ukrainian soldiers. VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky was there, and asked President Poroshenko at the press conference whether he thought he had lost the war in Eastern Ukraine. President Poroshenko adamantly repeated that the war had not been lost, despite the fact that a great deal of territory in the East was still not under Ukrainian control. He also emphasized that he is optimistic this territory will be gained back, because the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine is not a matter of negotiation.
On September 16, Ukraine passed a controversial law under an unusual secret voting procedure that granted greater autonomy to the separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, as well as amnesty for most of the pro-Russia forces in the region.
This is a significant development in the conflict, and might signal an end to the war that has ravaged the country for months.
VICE News spoke to Donetsk Governor Taruta Deems on his private jet as the legislation was passed. We also interviewed members of the Azov Battalion at their base right outside the coastal town of Mariupol.
On October 26, parliamentary elections were held in much of Ukraine — including long-embattled areas in the east. Wary of interference from separatists, armed guards manned polling stations and escorted completed ballots to ensure their safety. Turnout in the region was low, however, as residents appeared reluctant to vote. And in the rebel-held Donetsk People's Republic, elections weren't held at all — on November 2, pro-Russia separatists there will hold their own elections in hopes of legitimizing their self-proclaimed republic.
VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky spent Election Day visiting candidates, polling stations, and an electoral commission to find out how the political process was progressing amid the heightened levels of tension.
On Sunday, rebels in eastern Ukraine held their first ever elections, voting for the incumbent leader Alexander Zakharchenko to continue to run the territory under separatist control.
With few observers present to verify the fairness of the voting, which itself was hastily organized, the election wasn't widely recognized. Russia was the only major power to recognize the vote as legitimate, while Ukraine and its allies in the West declared the poll to be a violation of a negotiated agreement reached in Minsk.
VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky spoke with the rebel leader Zakharchenko as he cast his vote in Donetsk, and visited polling stations across the country's war-torn east to find out what elections look like in a breakaway republic.
On November 3, the citizens of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic elected Alexander Zakharchenko as their prime minister, marking a supposed turning point in the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine.
In the days after the election, VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky interviewed civilians in Donetsk about their lives over the past few months — visiting locals working in a market that sits dangerously close to the ongoing battle for Donetsk's airport, as well as others who have been living in a bomb shelter for months following the destruction of their homes.
For the past six months, Donetsk has been a war zone. Firefighters in the area have not only had to cope with their stations being understaffed, but with putting out fires from shelling and mortars, a task they've never previously had to do, and now perform as many as 12 times a day.
In this dispatch, VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky visited the firefighters of Fire Station 4, located near the Donetsk International Airport that is the site of an ongoing battle between the pro-Russia forces and the Ukrainian military.
On July 17, 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine, killing 298 innocent people. While investigations into exactly what happened continue, representatives from the Dutch Safety Board are still recovering pieces of the plane that have been lying in fields for four months. In the absence of an official determination, pro-Russia separatists and the Ukrainian government are putting out their own theories.
VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky traveled to the site of the MH17 crash to see how the investigation is going and spoke with a Cossack commander as well as a representative from the Ukrainian Security Services about the blame game between the two camps that will likely persist for months to come.
Since mid-January, fighting between the Ukrainian military and Russian-backed rebels in Eastern Ukraine has escalated. Dozens of civilians have died due to the heavy shelling.
The rebels of the Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) have been attacking Ukrainian Army positions in an effort to reach the city of Sloviansk. In this dispatch, VICE News travels to the Ukrainian Army's front lines in the village of Kodema to see how soldiers there, clad in German and British gear that has been donated to them, are preparing for the much talked-about DNR offensive.
We also visit the Ukrainian-controlled mining town of Dzerzhynsk to see firsthand what effects the fighting between the two sides has had on the local population.
Prior to the ceasefire agreement reached in Minsk on Thursday, the winter offensive launched by the Russian backed separatists of the Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) had claimed the lives of at least 220 soldiers and civilians.
As ceasefire talks were being discussed, there were reports of the DNR reinforcing their positions around the Ukrainian-controlled city of Mariupol. The capture of Mariupol is vital to the DNR's dreams of achieving statehood, with its port providing a link to the outside world.
In this dispatch, VICE News travels to the village of Chermalyk, located 20 miles north of Mariupol, where Ukrainian forces are preparing the defense of the city and using volunteer-made drones to gather intelligence on separatist positions.
On February 15, 2015, a ceasefire took effect in eastern Ukraine between pro-Russia separatists fighting for the breakaway Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) and forces loyal to the government in Kiev. Under the agreement, both sides would be ordered to pull back heavy weaponry from their front lines, and to respect a buffer zone between each other's territory. In the following days, however, there were still reports of shelling and sporadic fighting.
With DNR troops holding a position on the outskirts of the Ukrainian-held port of Mariupol, many now fear the city may be the target of a new rebel offensive.
VICE News traveled to a rebel-held front line outside the village of Shirokino, 20 miles from Mariupol, to speak with DNR troops about what may lie in store for the city, and to find out whether the ceasefire would hold.
To celebrate International Women's Day on March 8, the so-called Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) in eastern Ukraine held a unique beauty pageant — where the contestants were all female rebel fighters.
VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky attended the pageant and spoke with the contestants who, in the midst of ongoing fighting, said they are proud to be battling for independence in the region.
The eastern Ukrainian port city of Mariupol is just 30 kilometers from the Russian border, and was previously controlled by the Donetsk People's Republic. The Ukrainian military has done its best to fortify the city after winning it back, but many believe that the pro-Russia separatists plan to seize control of it once again.
In this dispatch from Ukraine, VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky embeds with the Azov battalion as it prepares to defend Mariupol.
Among the thousands of foreign soldiers who are fighting alongside the pro-Russia separatists of the Donetsk People's Republic is an American fighter known simply as "Texas."
In this dispatch, VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky speaks with Texas about the reasons behind his involvement in Ukraine's ongoing conflict.
Three hundred American soldiers have arrived in western Ukraine. In the latest dispatch, Simon Ostrovsky traveled there to find out what their mission is.
VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky (https://twitter.com/simonostrovsky) joined On The Line to discuss the latest news from Russia and Ukraine.
Since Russia’s seizure of the Crimean peninsula and the start of conflict in eastern Ukraine in spring 2014, the small Baltic state of Lithuania has been anxiously eyeing Moscow. Some in the capital of Vilnius believe that the country might fall prey to a Ukraine-style military incursion, orchestrated by Russia.
Lithuania, a former Soviet satellite, shares a border with the heavily militarized Russian exclave of Kaliningrad — which houses Russia’s Baltic fleet and has been flooded with arms and personnel in the last year. From Kaliningrad, Russia has staged military drills that reportedly involve thousands of soldiers, hundreds of military vehicles, and dozens of warships. In response, Lithuanian forces are also mobilizing.
As the conflict in Ukraine continues, so too does Russian President Vladimir Putin’s denial of any Russian involvement. But a recent report from think tank the Atlantic Council used open source information and social media to find evidence of Russian troops across the border. Using the Atlantic Council’s methodology, VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky follows the digital and literal footprints of one Russian soldier, tracking him from Eastern Ukraine to Siberia, to prove that Russian soldiers are fighting in Ukraine.
Caught between Ukrainian government forces and the pro-Russia separatists of the Donetsk People's Republic, the village of Shyrokyne in the Donetsk region has seen on and off fighting for several months. Despite a ceasefire being declared in mid-February, shelling and sniper fire continue to rain down from both sides. Locals are left behind to watch helplessly as food supplies run low.
VICE News follows the 8th Separate Mobile Brigade, a group of pro-Russia rebel soldiers, as they hold their positions at the buffer zones in Shyrokyne. During an intense exchange of fighting, one of their fighters does not make it back alive.
In the wake of events in Ukraine, NATO has turned its attention towards countries that border the Russian Federation — attempting to boost its quick-response capabilities in Europe. In September, the alliance agreed to create a 5,000-strong rapid reaction Spearhead Force, which will be capable of deploying across the continent within 48-hours of a military incursion. VICE News joined several thousand NATO troops in western Poland, for the first deployment test of the "Very High Readiness Joint Task Force."
According to the premise of the exercise, Poland and the Baltics were under threat from the fictional state of “Bothnia” — a master of conventional and hybrid warfare. NATO forces had been ordered to deploy, and quickly, to Poland.
During the deployment test, NATO’s top diplomat Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg flew in to watch its progress. He told VICE News that NATO was undertaking “the biggest reinforcement of our collective defense since the end of the Cold War.”
It's been five months since the second ceasefire was agreed between the Ukrainian government and the Russian-backed separatists of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DNR). But this truce, much like the first, has not brought an end to the fighting.
Only a few days after this ceasefire was agreed, the DNR took the strategically important rail town of Debaltseve, trashing any hopes for a lasting ceasefire in the process. Since then, fighting has been constant. Dozens, possibly hundreds of civilians and soldiers have been killed, and serious efforts to get the peace agreement back on track have failed.
In late June, VICE News traveled back to eastern Ukraine to get a firsthand look at how it's business as usual for soldiers and civilians on both sides of the frontline.
After seeing the realities of the "ceasefire" in eastern Ukraine from the perspective of so-called Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) separatists, VICE News traveled across the defacto border to visit a number of Ukrainian positions near Donetsk international airport. The site was finally seized by DNR fighters in January after months of heavy fighting.
Along this stretch of the frontline, to the northwest of Donetsk, fighting has been almost continuous throughout two ceasefire agreements, whole villages lie in ruins, and few civilians dare to stay.
With its heavy industry and proximity to other major population centers in the Donetsk region, this area has long been speculated as a possible location for another DNR thrust. Yet so far the Ukrainian soldiers are holding the line.
It's been a few months since VICE News has been in eastern Ukraine, and violence in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions has died down — suggesting that the Minsk ceasefire deal is finally sticking.
VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky travels from what was once the front line in Luhansk to surrounding towns that were once under constant bombardment to speak with soldiers, government officials, and residents about their hopes for the future.
In September, Crimea's ethnic Muslim minority, the Crimean Tatars, and the radical right-wing organization known as Right Sector set up a blockade on several highways leading into Crimea to stop food and other supplies from entering the Russia-occupied peninsula of Ukraine.
VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky traveled to the roadblocks near Crimea and spoke with the organizers to find out why they had taken these controversial measures, which could potentially have humanitarian consequences for residents of Crimea, including the Crimean Tatars themselves.
VICE News journalist Simon Ostrovsky (https://twitter.com/SimonOstrovsky) joined On The Line to discuss the latest news on Russia’s international ambitions.
Since Russia’s seizure of the Crimean peninsula and the start of conflict in eastern Ukraine in spring 2014, the small Baltic state of Lithuania has been anxiously eyeing Moscow. Some in the capital of Vilnius believe that the country might fall prey to a Ukraine-style military incursion, orchestrated by Russia.
Lithuania, a former Soviet satellite, shares a border with the heavily militarized Russian exclave of Kaliningrad — which houses Russia’s Baltic fleet and has been flooded with arms and personnel in the last year. From Kaliningrad, Russia has staged military drills that reportedly involve thousands of soldiers, hundreds of military vehicles, and dozens of warships. In response, Lithuanian forces are also mobilizing.
In May, VICE News followed the Lithuanian army during Operation Lightning Strike — a four-day wargames exercise.
In the wake of events in eastern Ukraine over the last year, NATO has turned its attention towards countries that border the Russian Federation and attempted to boost its quick-response capabilities in Europe. In September 2014, the alliance agreed to create a 5,000-strong rapid reaction Spearhead Force, which will be capable of deploying across the continent within 48 hours of a military incursion. In June, VICE News joined several thousand NATO troops in western Poland, for the first deployment test of the "Very High Readiness Joint Task Force," known as Noble Jump.
Dutch forces were among those participating in the exercise. In this extra scene, VICE News travels to the Netherlands to see how NATO armies would mobilize and deploy in the event of a conflict in Europe. One Dutch major told us that Russia's invasion of the Crimean Peninsula had been a "wakeup call" for the continent.
In July 2015, Russia-backed forces moved the boundary fence between Russian-occupied South Ossetia and Georgia — placing more Georgian territory under Russian control. Georgians refer to this as the creeping occupation, and several people who unfortunately live in the area now have a different citizenship.
VICE News travels to Georgia to see how the country is handling Russia’s quiet invasion, and meet those getting caught in the crossfire.
In July 2015, Russian backed forces moved the boundary fence between Russian occupied South Ossetia and Georgia - making more of Georgian territory under Russian control. Georgians refer to this as the creeping occupation, and several people who unfortunately live in the area now have a different citizenship. In this extra scene, VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky questions Georgia's Deputy Energy Minister about how their policies may have enabled Russia's increased presence.
Since Russia’s involvement in the Ukraine conflict in 2014, nearby Baltic states have been on high alert. Estonia, the smallest country in the region, signed a military equipment deal worth 138 million euros ($147 million) last December — the largest procurement in its history.
The country also has a growing militia, known as the Estonian Defense League, made up of 15,000 volunteers. They take part in war scenario exercises, with many of the members keeping firearms of their own at home. Should Estonia's sovereignty be threatened, the militia will be called upon to defend it at all costs.
The organization's membership has risen by 10 percent since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, partly based on national Estonian fears that Russia will attempt to breach its eastern border.
