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In reply to the discussion: Why are the Russian troops in Crimea without ensignia or otherwise identifying markings? [View all]Igel
(35,191 posts)36. Speculation is that they're Berkut.
That would be the guard that reported to Yanukovich. They're the ones that were fighting at the Maidan.
They're very well trained, almost entirely ethnically and linguistically Russian, and they were disbanded and humiliated when Yanukovich left.
Russia fast-tracked Russian passports for those that fled to Russia (or, presumably, Russian-held areas).
There were about 4000 of them scattered around Ukraine, mostly in Russian-speaking or important PR areas.
They could be any unit. You'd have to listen carefully to their pronunciation to find regional differences. The vowels of many Russo-Ukrainians are slightly shifted.
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Why are the Russian troops in Crimea without ensignia or otherwise identifying markings? [View all]
arely staircase
Mar 2014
OP
They are doing everything they can to blunt criticism including throwing this slight doubt into
stevenleser
Mar 2014
#1
LMAO. We were liberators in Iraq too. Didnt you get the Bush memo? Listen to yourself. nt
stevenleser
Mar 2014
#14
LMAO, McCain thinks breathing is essential for life so we should stop because he said it.
stevenleser
Mar 2014
#18
Wait, I'm confused. Are you saying the Kiev protesters should not ask the US for help?
sabrina 1
Mar 2014
#41
I read yesterday that they are Russia's private contractors, not active military.
OregonBlue
Mar 2014
#20
but isn't the total lack of national identification that characterizes the Russians in Crimea
arely staircase
Mar 2014
#24