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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMoscow stifles dissent as soldiers return in coffins
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/12/us-ukraine-crisis-russians-special-repor-idUSKBN0H70S920140912Excerpts:
The documents Yelena Tumanova was given with the body raised more questions than they answered - questions about how her son died and about the Russian governments denials that its troops are in Ukraine. The records do not show Anton Tumanovs place of death, said human rights activists who spoke to his mother after she got in touch with them.
"Medical documents said there were shrapnel wounds, that is he died from a loss of blood, but how it happened and where were not indicated, said Sergei Krivenko, who heads a commission on military affairs on Russias presidential human rights council.
Yelena Tumanova could not be reached for comment and Reuters was unable to review the documents. But more than 10 soldiers in her dead sons unit told Krivenko and Ella Polyakova, another member of the presidential human rights council, that Anton Tumanov died in an Aug. 13 battle near the Ukrainian town of Snizhnye. The battle, the soldiers said, killed more than 100 Russian soldiers serving in the 18th motorized rifle brigade of military unit 27777, which is based outside the Chechen capital of Grozny
Vitaly says he is furious that his son a paratrooper based in Pskov near Estonia - has been sent to Ukraine to fight for the rebels.
"They sent him there illegally to fight for the rebels two weeks ago. He says he'll be back on Nov. 20. I'm counting the days," he said.
Vitaly says officers tried to force his son - serving mandatory military service - to change his status to a contract soldier, which would legally allow him to serve abroad. Conscripts in Russia are exempt from foreign service.
His son refused to sign, but officers sent him to Ukraine anyway.
"They dressed him up like a rebel so no one would know he was a Russian soldier and off he went," said Vitaly.
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)Funny how silent they've been on the world's *second* biggest ongoing story of 2014...
MADem
(135,425 posts)freshwest
(53,661 posts)Rex
(65,616 posts)Dick Cheney and George Bush have so many crimes against humanity to answer for, yet they never will. Just like Putin.
MADem
(135,425 posts)Of course, now we know what Porge was saying when he said he could see the Pootster's soul.
Those two are birds of a feather.
Rex
(65,616 posts)You are so right...birds of a feather. I hope in my lifetime, we see a free and democratic Russia. The people deserve better than a cheap dictator.
MADem
(135,425 posts)The dead kid wasn't in the AVF--he was a draftee. The fact that they sent him "abroad" to Ukraine says that they already have the attitude that they "own" that piece of real estate.
Benton D Struckcheon
(2,347 posts)So they obviously consider it theirs in all but name. As I noted here - http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025501789 - this was their plan a year ago if Ukraine didn't join their EEU, their ridiculous imitation of the EU. (First as tragedy, then as farce, as someone once said...)
joeybee12
(56,177 posts)And despite all the evidence (including videos/pictures of newest Russian tanks, APC's, combat vehicles and weaponry in Ukraine), Putin propagandists here still deny Russia involvement. All this equipment Ukraine never produced just magically appeared out of thin air. Hundreds of Russian soldiers got lost and/or accidentally blown themselves up in "training". Its fascinating, really...