Unmarked soldiers have seized both Sevastopol and Simferopol airports, and have established roadblocks at key locations in the Crimea. The deposed president, Viktor Yanukovych, who still maintains he is the legitimate head of state, is due to give a press conference shortly in Rostov-on-Don in Russia. While Russia continues to vow that it will respect […]
How did the media cover Ukraine? What was the role of social media? How is the Ukrainian media changing as this revolution unfolds? How is the Russian media responding? Is the country really on the brink of an east-west civil war, will Russia invade, and what’s the role of the media in what happens next? […]
The Russian media and some foreign media outlets have expressed concerns about rising antisemitism, neo-Nazism, and ultra-radical nationalism in the wake of the Ukrainian revolution. To be sure, the right wing organization Pravyi Sektor, or “Right Sector,” and the Svoboda party are nationalist organizations linked with some radical ideologies. A very prominent Jewish Ukrainian, Vadim […]
Valentin Nalivaychenko, Verkhovna Rada commissioner for oversight of the activity of the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) announced, during a speech in the Rada, that virtually the entire leadership of the SBU has voluntarily left their places of service. “The SBU does not have a chairman or first deputies. The head and his first deputies have […]
This editorial was published on February 19th, 2014, in the midst of the growing crisis in Ukraine (See The Interpreter’s liveblog from February 19 for additional context). It was published by the pro-Kremlin Izvestia. Note that the violent actions of the Ukrainian government, or the actions of the Russian government, are absent. Also note the […]
Yesterday could have been a day of bloodshed, but instead was a non-violent day of victory for the protesters in the street. The police and Presidential administration deserted the capital, letting protesters take over. President Yanukovych refused to resign, but the Rada impeached him and empowered a new government. Former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko was […]
The Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has reportedly fled the capital of Kiev. The people in the streets are demanding nothing less than his resignation. The question now is whether he will step down, or resist. Yesterday’s liveblog can be found here. For an overview of what’s behind the protests and analysis of today’s news see […]
The President of Ukraine has just signed an agreement that could end the crisis. What does the agreement say? Will it work? Will Russia intervene and make things worse? Will there be a civil war? And why is everyone protesting again? Boston College Professor Matt Sienkiewicz and Interpreter Magazine’s managing editor James Miller break down […]
Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has lost much of his power base following the bloodiest day in a 72-hour period in Ukraine. He has now announced early elections, though without specifying when they might be held. Meanwhile, Russia has threatened military action in Crimea to protect ethnic Russians and a Russian military base there. Yesterday’s liveblog […]
The tenuous “truce” brokered yesterday between the government of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukoyvch and the Euromaidan opposition appears to be fallen apart already. Paramilitary titushki thugs still roams the streets armed with guns, snipers have again been spotted, dozens of activists have been reported killed, and scores injured protesters are being treated in makeshift field […]
