next trip to Mariupol

[steveboy]

ML-- I marvel at some of the ineptitude from some on forums.How do you think a US Id  would go down with these out of control thugs?They have the taste of being a law unto themselves.

Today--read link-while not Mauripol it is not far away and displays some of the potential issues.

Toronto Star journalist narrowly escapes detention in Ukraine
Four angry pro-Russian civilians corner Star writer Mitch Potter on streets of Slavyansk. He bluffs his way out by pretending to be a francophone Canadian.
SLAVYANSK, UKRAINE—We were just a few nervous steps from the taxi when the small mob descended.
Four angry faces, bulged tight with tension on the ready-to-blow streets of Slavyansk, getting right up in ours. Three men and a woman. Fifty-something. Friends of Russia. Civilians .
Show us ID. Now.
The Star’s interpreter, Mikhail, gave me a fleeting look I had yet to see in our week together. An end-of-the-world look.
They studied his Ukrainian passport, then spun my way. I’d left mine back in our room, deliberately, because Canada, as we’ve reported, is an especially dirty word here in occupied, Russified east Ukraine.
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2014/04/24/toronto_star_journalist_narrowly_escapes_detention_in_ukraine.html

" the risk of speaking English in these parts was never more apparent."

What garbage !! A "mountain out of a mole hill" as they say, its people like you who drum up hysteria in the world sat in your arm chair))

[Maxx2]

Generally speaking Russian and Ukrainian women do not like indecisive men even more so if you are a wimp!

LOL was that directed to me as I had a reassessment on who might be right on the issue? Or was in in response to men fearing to go over there?

[BillyB]

Things are getting more serious in eastern Ukraine. Journalists and international observers have been abducted. Anybody speaking English could be accused of working for the CIA. Things like this didn't happen a few months ago so, yes, things are changing. Just because some people didn't experience anything bad during their recent stay in east Ukraine doesn't mean everybody will have the same experience.


http://finance.yahoo.com/news/osce-sends-team-freeing-detainees-140156580.html


Simon Ostrovsky of Vice News was abducted for 4 days and recently released. He spoke of people abducted longer than he and new people brought in everyday. He also experienced some of that famous Russian hospitality, a beating. If it weren't for pressure from the USA for his release, he may have disappeared for a long time.


http://news.yahoo.com/us-journalist-released-east-ukraine-171349009--finance.html

[XMan]

Things are getting more serious in eastern Ukraine. Journalists and international observers have been abducted. Anybody speaking English could be accused of working for the CIA. Things like this didn't happen a few months ago so, yes, things are changing. Just because some people didn't experience anything bad during their recent stay in east Ukraine doesn't mean everybody will have the same experience.


http://finance.yahoo.com/news/osce-sends-team-freeing-detainees-140156580.html


Simon Ostrovsky of Vice News was abducted for 4 days and recently released. He spoke of people abducted longer than he and new people brought in everyday. He also experienced some of that famous Russian hospitality, a beating. If it weren't for pressure from the USA for his release, he may have disappeared for a long time.


http://news.yahoo.com/us-journalist-released-east-ukraine-171349009--finance.html

A Ukrainian helicopter has been destroyed by (apparently) a grenade launcher, and Russian fighters have breached Ukrainian airspace multiple times.  Hitler is trying to created an incident to allow him to justify an invasion. I'll be more surprised if it doesn't happen than if it does. 

Hardly drumming up hysteria with 40,000 troops now 1km from the border doing "exercises" and Russian operatives in a dozen Ukrainian cities. 

The STEP warning from April 16:
"The Department of State warns U.S. citizens to defer all non-essential travel to Ukraine.   In addition, the Department of State warns U.S. citizens to defer all travel to several regions of Ukraine, including the Crimean Peninsula and eastern regions of Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Lugansk due to the presence of Russian military forces in the Crimean Peninsula and on the eastern border of Ukraine."

Perhaps things look safe from 1,500 km away in Saint Petersburg.  My friends in Ukraine are a little more concerned.

[missAmeno]

Going to Donetsk Oblast for a foreigner is very stupid idea right now (sorry for directness).

Here is article by Simon Ostrovsky about his detention.
http://news.vice.com/articles/i-had-it-pretty-easy-because-i-was-let-go-simon-ostrovsky-on-his-detention-in-sloviansk/?trk_source=social-pocketpost

Here is BBC journalist reports how she was threatened and had a gun put to her head.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27173473

Here is news about disappearance of director of theater and his colleague in Slavyansk.
http://gazeta.ua/articles/np/_u-slovyansku-znikli-rezhiser-ta-jogo-kolega-zmi/554762

Here is news about funeral of MP of city council 42-year-old Vladimir Rybak. He was kidnapped on 17 of April. His body have been found on Tuesday in the river Seversky Donets. Before the murder he was tied up, tortured, his stomach and chest have been cup open, head smashed. He was thrown into the river unconscious. .
http://gazeta.ua/articles/scandals-newspaper/_deputatu-volodimirovi-ribaku-rozporoli-zhivit/554386

Here is a news about journalist that disappeared today.
http://tsn.ua/ukrayina/u-subotu-v-slov-yansku-znik-chergoviy-zhurnalist-iz-zahidnoyi-ukrayini-347220.html

Here is a news about journalist that was kidnapped yesterday.
http://tsn.ua/ukrayina/u-slov-yansku-separatisti-polonili-zhurnalista-cherez-lvivsku-propisku-347139.html

Here is a news about how separatist beat up kids because they photographed checkpoint.
http://tsn.ua/ukrayina/u-slov-yansku-separatisti-vidlupcyuvali-ditey-yaki-sfotografuvali-blokpost-347136.html

Here is a story of another journalist and his brother, they also were kidnapped by separatists (been in captivity together with Simon Ostrovsky), also been tortured for several days. They seen other people there who up to now are not released. Described one young lad in particular whose whole back was completely bloody, had broken fingers and was covered in bruises and hematomas.
http://tsn.ua/ukrayina/separatisti-vibivali-z-kolomiyskogo-zhurnalista-ziznannya-scho-vin-z-una-unso-347131.html

Here is news about another found body in river. 19yo student was brutally tortured and drowned in the river. (I seen video news where some police representative was giving more details and described some of the tortures, its horrendous. Can't remember now on what site it was to give a link to video)
http://gazeta.ua/articles/regions/_upiznano-tilo-drugogo-zakatovanogo-cholovika-pid-slovyanskom/554502

Here is news about how separatists been shooting at high school pupil for Ukrainian flag.
http://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/accidents/v-luganskoy-obl-separatisty-obstrelyali-starsheklassnikov-21042014143500

Still want to go to eastern Ukraine?





 

[Chelseaboy]

To be fair to steveboy he isn't safely in Saint Petersburg.....he's actively participating in Eastern Ukraine..and will be posting photos on here shortly of his participation,as he informed us on April 15th.

Hopefully,he won't be wearing a ski mask in the photos like all the other pro Russian seperatists/supporters seem to be doing in Ukraine.

[JayH]

I do agree with threeships,,,

I returned from Ukraine a week ago, and I'm going back again in a couple of weeks.
In my opinion, there is nothing to worry about at all for a "western tourist"......
The anger and frustration present among some people there,, isn't directed at foreigners or tourists.

If you really want to worry in life,,, worry about real threats like traffic accidents, and so on....

Some time ago during Maidan I made similar comments to yours here-- then the question was about Ukraine generally and I was ridiculed by some on forum here.
In your case-- from my understanding your "beat" is more central than eastern Ukraine-correct? My comments specifically reference the cities in the current frontline of hotbed activity in the east and under overt  attack. For me personally--as it is today I would not hesitate to go to your area of interest. To go further east-- that is another question.Some could do it-- many could not-- and for me to say "go"--to th east at this time  I would need to know a lot more about the individual and his situation--eg level of fitness,life experience,Ukraine experience ,plans etc
I have made numerous trips-- I am comfortable in the environment- and have always done my utmost not to look like a "tourist"-- as much as my  colouring allows that is !! ( I am fair and suntanned at the wrong time of the year!!) Also driving a rental car spells out that you are not from around there-so it draws attention to you whether you want it or not.
The degree of lawlessness of the whole situation needs to be considered carefully. Some peopel are generally oblivious-in any environment-- and the east is not  a safe place at this time .With all due respect to many Americans-- for some reason( ) they are pickable at 100metres!!

[BillyB]

To be fair to steveboy he isn't safely in Saint Petersburg.....he's actively participating in Eastern Ukraine

Nobody is calling steveboy a liar but he needs to take the rose colored glasses off and at least admit other westerners haven't been enjoying the same wonderful time in east Ukraine as he's experiencing. Earlier in this thread I reported a truce, now a bunch of abductions. The situation in east Ukraine is unpredictable and can explode at any time.


Exactly to which side steveboy is participating with?

[JayH]

BB---- CB's comments were tongue in cheek.  SB is nearly as far from eastern Ukraine as you are!!

[BillyB]

SB is nearly as far from eastern Ukraine as you are!!

For him to be telling everybody here they don't have a clue, he has to have a clue. I'd like to hear why he knows everything and we don't so we can get educated. I'm sure the current events hurts his agency business but he shouldn't be telling potential customers they will experience a violent free trip to east Ukraine. IMO, there's currently a low risk to Westerners as long as they keep a low profile and avoid areas where men and ski masks congregate. If I had already bought the plane tickets to meet a woman in east Ukraine, I'd go but if I just started communicating with FSU women, I'd focus on the ladies that are not living in the crisis zone.

[Maxx2]

Of course it would be in steveboy's best interest to keep men out of Ukraine and encourage them to come to safe Saint Pete instead.

[threeships]

looks like "all systems go" for Dream Connections for their upcoming tour in May, in Nikolaev
http://dreamconnections.com/quick-update-from-anna-in-nikolaev/

[Daveman]

looks like "all systems go" for Dream Connections for their upcoming tour in May, in Nikolaev
http://dreamconnections.com/quick-update-from-anna-in-nikolaev/

Overall, I imagine this is a shiny time to pick and choose from the GTFON Brigade.  Probably, there will be many hell inspired marriages due to the uncertainty and economic decline... git while da gittin's good.

[Maxx2]

Overall, I imagine this is a shiny time to pick and choose from the GTFON Brigade.  Probably, there will be many hell inspired marriages due to the uncertainty and economic decline... git while da gittin's good.

Kind of like being in charge of a life boat while Titanic was sinking with room for one more passenger.

[Maxx2]

looks like "all systems go" for Dream Connections for their upcoming tour in May, in Nikolaev
http://dreamconnections.com/quick-update-from-anna-in-nikolaev/

The videos of Marc and Anna visiting an orphanage are very touching.

[Photo Guy]

Looking like an American and speaking English in Mariupol... would be unwise. Meet her in Kyiv.

[XMan]

Or consider meeting her in Lviv.  Nice city.  about as far west as you can go in Ukraine, and probably safer than Kiev.

[theguide]

 I still have not made my decision about going. My tickets are for less than a week away. I will be making my decision in the next few days.  From what I have seen in the news, the problems are mostly in northern donetsk oblast. I have not seen much out of Mariupol in the last few weeks.
 I think meeting in a neutral site is out of the question,  there is not enough warning to change her plans.  So I am still unsure what to do.

[BillyB]

I still have not made my decision about going.

You started this trip report so you owe us a trip report and that can't happen unless you go!


What is your girl saying about the situation where she lives? How special of a girl is she? Is she worth a little risk?


Hitler took years to cause problems and annex countries before actually starting WWII. Putin can be as patient and will observe how bad other nations want to stop him before going all out or retreating. Move to fast and he can trip so it's not wise of him to do so but who really knows but Putin? If you decide to go, the sooner, the better. Most likely Putin is going to wait until after May 25 elections before doing anything serious. Also this could drag on for years. Putin's push for a civil war seems to have stalled. I'm not sure there's enough east Ukrainians that want to start a civil war.

[XMan]

You started this trip report so you owe us a trip report and that can't happen unless you go!


What is your girl saying about the situation where she lives? How special of a girl is she? Is she worth a little risk?


Hitler took years to cause problems and annex countries before actually starting WWII. Putin can be as patient and will observe how bad other nations want to stop him before going all out or retreating. Move to fast and he can trip so it's not wise of him to do so but who really knows but Putin? If you decide to go, the sooner, the better. Most likely Putin is going to wait until after May 25 elections before doing anything serious. Also this could drag on for years. Putin's push for a civil war seems to have stalled. I'm not sure there's enough east Ukrainians that want to start a civil war.

That's why he sent in so many Russian special ops troops so they could pretend to be Ukrainians demanding to join the Mother Russia.

[steveboy]

Of course it would be in steveboy's best interest to keep men out of Ukraine and encourage them to come to safe Saint Pete instead.

No I am in the Russian breakaway republic of Transdinistria !! So kind of in the heart of it all. Putin is in Town on the 7th , the border crossings are all being painted up and checking tightened up, so much so it is not so easy to blag my way past the border control now and have to resort to taking a taxi through some farm tracks    all in preparation for him to take the Rupublic into the Russian Federation. Russian flags are flying high this week.

If they had a poll here about joining Russia I am sure the West would say it was fixed. Living here and knowing the people you would know that was B***

I never live safe always on the edge

[BillyB]

No I am in the Russian breakaway republic of Transdinistria !!  Putin is in Town on the 7th ,

Putin is going to visit pro Russians and Russian troops based in Transdinistria? That has got to be a slap on the face to the President of Moldova. Besides Moldova and Ukraine, what other nations trusted Russia for their security?


Steveboy, you seem happy about the current events. Would it make you happy if America sought pro USA groups around the world and started annexing regions within numerous countries? If you are happy with Russia granting people's wishes, you'd be overjoyed with America bringing happiness to even more people around the world.

[theguide]

 When talking to my lady, she said to come. This time though it is slightly more unstable though.
I have decided to go.
 This will be my second trip,  I do think she is special.

[BillyB]

When talking to my lady, she said to come. This time though it is slightly more unstable though.
I have decided to go.
 This will be my second trip,  I do think she is special.

Have fun and let us know how things went with your lady, and your thoughts about what is going on over there.

[JayH]

When talking to my lady, she said to come. This time though it is slightly more unstable though.
I have decided to go.
 This will be my second trip,  I do think she is special.

From today--
Quoting--
"center of the city heard the shots. Road blocked. Middle of the road burning tires "- said Sergey Osadchiy.

"They begin to burn tires council. Everywhere we hear shots. Howling siren ambulance and civil defense, "- he added.

However, other witnesses say that "shots - it's not automatic, but only firecrackers." People have reported drone helicopters over the city. It is reported that all the pending cleanup of separatists seized the town hall.
http://publicist.in.ua/500-antiteroristichna-operacya-prodovzhuyetsya-yde-zvlnennya-olya-kostyantinvki.htmlmarup


There  you go-- all cleaned up and celebrating with firecrackers!!
Being serious-it is possible that in places the trouble spots are localised and the locals will know this.Will be watching your report with interest.