Kharkiv (Kharkov) = Heightened Tensions - Consider for Spring Trips

[jone]

Over the last two weeks, the situation in Kharkiv has intensified, geometrically, from where it was previously. 

1.  The oppositon (a group favorable to association with Russia) is meeting regularly. 

2.  The current mayor or Kharkiv is currently in Moscow, meeting with the leadership there.

3.  Police are having to protect opposition leadership.

4.  Known opposition participants are having their cars egged and various threats issued at them.

Prior to the activation of the opposition, there didn't seem to be too many incidents.  It should be remembered that originally Kharkiv was a targeted part of Ukraine by the separatists.  Of course, instead of attacking the seat of government, the Russian thugs hired to foment trouble attacked the Kharkiv Opera House.

[ML]

I hadn't heard this.

Kharkiv is one of my favorite cities.

A lot of quality women there.

[jone]

http://liveuamap.com/en/2016/18-april-protests-at-opposition-bloc-meeting-in-kharkiv

[LAman]

Jone, this has been the environment for nearly 2 years already. Every point you have made I have known and I think mentioned on one of my previous trips to Kharkov at least 1.5 years ago. The underground there is very strong. Quite the opposite of Odesa in my eyes.

[GuppyCaptain]

Fantastic 

[southernX]

2.  The current mayor or Kharkiv is currently in Moscow, meeting with the leadership there.

jone , are you saying kernes is in moscow ??  or mikhail dobkin ?

kharkiv is a strategic point that was a target for inclusion in the new russia idealogy putin was formenting
to date it has been relativly calm ,

hopefully it stays that way

SX

[jone]

Jone, this has been the environment for nearly 2 years already. Every point you have made I have known and I think mentioned on one of my previous trips to Kharkov at least 1.5 years ago. The underground there is very strong. Quite the opposite of Odesa in my eyes.

Agreed.  I am not stating anything new.  The point I was making is that they are ramping up again.  For the past six months, Kharkiv has been rather quiet.  Not so much any more.

[jone]

jone , are you saying kernes is in moscow ??  or mikhail dobkin ?

kharkiv is a strategic point that was a target for inclusion in the new russia idealogy putin was formenting
to date it has been relativly calm ,

hopefully it stays that way

SX

[Mila]

Hi there,
I wouldn't agree with jone, the situation in Kharkov remains very calm, it is quite and very peaceful. Beautiful weather, great mood and many beautiful women (as mentioned before:))
If you come over, you will not notice anything bad, as it is not there. Life goes on, people enjoy it and still hoping for the best!
Welcome to Kharkov:)

[JayH]

Hi there,
I wouldn't agree with jone, the situation in Kharkov remains very calm, it is quite and very peaceful. Beautiful weather, great mood and many beautiful women (as mentioned before:))
If you come over, you will not notice anything bad, as it is not there. Life goes on, people enjoy it and still hoping for the best!
Welcome to Kharkov:)

Mila-Jon was referencing a very minor pro-Russian"demonstration" of very few people(50-60 people?)   that probably did not even rate as newsworthy In Kharkov itself.
The fact is it is another illustration of Ukrainian democracy that it is even allowed  and was protected by Ukrainian police.
There are minor-with the emphasis on minor -that happen like this all over Ukraine and are mostly tolerated.

[jone]

Actually, I was referencing the fact that Russia is trying to stir things up all along Eastern Ukraine.    And I agree, a couple of car eggings and the opposition getting together is not much to write about.  But forum users are beginning to cement summer plans and I believe that Kharkiv still has an underlying situation that the Russians are likely to take advantage of at their convenience.  That begins with just the type of incidents that I mentioned at the start of the post.

[jone]

Here is where Kharkiv citizens are going to meet with the leaders of the Separatists.

http://twitter.com/korenvkvadrate/status/722711585513435137

[Slumba]

In the last 24hrs, 3 Ukrainian troops have been killed, and 5 wounded.

There are reports of shelling going on in different parts of Ukraine, see for example en.censor.net.ua.

e.g. http://en.censor.net.ua/news/385038/46_attacks_recorded_over_past_day_terrorists_used_artillery_and_ifv_staff

46 attacks on April 19th, 76 reported the day before.

Is all this typical, or more than normal?

[AkMike]

It's been ramping up more for the last few weeks. The Russian army/terrorists recently got another train load of new tanks APC's ammo and fuel.

[mendeleyev]

They must have one hell of a crash training program. You take sophisticated equipment, paint or masking take the original insignia, and hand the stuff over immediately to guys that were coal miners last week. Amazing!

Or, maybe more and more Russian soldiers are "volunteering" for holiday duty in Eastern Ukraine, and the Kremlin is unaware of the holiday plans, naturally. One must admire the spirit of the Russian military--it would be hard to name another country that loves their soldiers enough to allow them to take their personal tanks and rocket launchers along on a vacation!

Of course it is pure coincidence that many of the vacationing "volunteers" just happen to come from common bases, and that the Russian government allows them to be on holiday all at once. Other armies stagger holiday time--damn, those Ruskies are generous!

[BillyB]

Gentlemen, if you can handle the hazards of being married, you can handle the hazards of Karkov. Just in case you don't handle it well, bring a self addressed, postage paid body bag with you so the authorities can mail you home.

[AkMike]

Great post Mendy! 

[southernX]

family there is not reporting anything outside the usual to date

howver i tend to agree with jone in that is one of the targets that was identified early on by the russian pro seperatists in the kremlin

mila thanks  also for your info , it is appreciated by us as we have been considering to travel back this year or wait

please keep updating if possible , as kharkiv is a great place and it has always been a friendly city to me
SX

[Mila]

When my clients come to Kharkov, they feel safe and they even say it is safer in Kharkov than in some parts of the US. They walk at night, not worried at all.
So, please, feel safe and welcome to our beautiful city. If it wasn't safe I would never invite you guys to come over. Believe me.
Looking forward to meeting some of you in the near future:)