Today I have posted exceptionally many articles. I try to get the to you, the readers, as fast as I can, but some might have been annoyed by the intensity of this deluge. If that is your case, please accept my apologies: there is just so much going on and to cover that waiting just does not seem to make sense to me. In conclusion to this hectic day, I want to add one short but I think most important note: the ceasefire is not holding.
Sure, that is exactly as predicted, but since there is a lot of polarization about the rationale behind this ceasefire, I think that it is important to keep in mind that is is already going down the tubes. It is obvious, really: the UE/NATO gave the Ukies the maximal incentive to break the ceasefire and the Ukies are acting on it. Besides, Poroshenko does not really control the Junta Repression Forces anyway and the local Nazis are ignoring his orders. The Russian side is trying hard "not to notice" the Ukie shelling and even ground attacks, but even Zakharchenko had to admit today that the Ukies are violating the ceasefire. The Novorussian Armed Forces appear to be very really angry at the fact that Mariupol and Debaltsevo have not been taken and the fact that the Ukies are shelling only makes their rage worse.
At this point I don't see how a full-scale resumption of combat activities could be avoided. I guess that we will find out soon.
Kind regards and good night,
The Saker