Kiev says shells from Russian-side of border hit east Ukraine today, despite peace talks, and territory falls to pro-Russian separatists

Ukrainian T-84 Tank (Vitaly Kuzmin)

Pro-Russian forces took a town today after the Kiev government in Ukraine said shells out of Russia hit east Ukraine today:

August 27, 2014

KYIV—The battle for Ukraine’s strategic coastline intensified Wednesday as pro-Russian rebel forces entered a key town in southeast Ukraine after three days of heavy shelling.

The fall of Novoazovsk, a resort town of 40,000 on the Sea of Azov, is a strategic move as the town sits on the road linking Russia to the Ukrainian port of Mariupol and Crimea on the Black Sea.

Rebels in eastern Ukraine also appear to have seized swathes of territory from government forces.

Reports from journalists say Ukrainian forces abandoned vehicles and ammunition as they retreated from the advancing rebel forces. http://www.voanews.com/content/ukraine-says-armored-personnel-carriers-entered-ukraine-from-russia/2429496.html

August 27, 2014

KYIV— Ukrainian security forces Wednesday reported increased Russian-supported military activity in eastern Ukraine as the leaders of the two countries met to discuss a possible peace plan. Russia says economic concerns remain a sticking point during negotiations with Ukraine.

Ukrainian national security spokesman Andriy Lysenko told reporters in Kyiv Wednesday about increased shelling of Ukrainian territory coming from across the border in Russia a day earlier and the movement of Russian troops.

“Russia continues to build up its military presence at their border,” he said. “During the last 24 hours, Russian military vehicles concentrated in border districts mostly in the Rostov region,” he said.

Lysenko said intelligence sources reported increased activity of Russian forces in Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in March.

Moscow denies supporting pro-Russian separatists battling Ukrainian armed forces in eastern Ukraine.Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Russian President Vladmir Putin met Tuesday in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, to discuss the conflict and other issues of contention between their two countries.

A statement from the Ukrainian president’s office Wednesday said the two sides discussed the closing of the border to “prevent the movement of armored vehicles, mercenaries and ammunition.”

In a press briefing following the Minsk meeting, President Putin called the conflict a domestic issue for Ukraine but said Russia will participate in efforts to stop the bloodshed.

“Russia will do everything to support this peaceful process, if it will start,” he said. “From our point of view, this process should start immediately,” he said.

Putin also called for renewed dialogue on outstanding trade issues, including the implementation of an agreement creating stronger ties between Ukraine and the European Union that Putin said poses a “significant risk” to the Russian economy.

Ukraine’s former Russian-backed president, Victor Yanukovich, had refused to sign the deal, sparking protests in Kyiv in February that eventually led to his resignation and significantly raised tensions with Moscow and pro-Russian Ukrainians, setting the scene for the present conflict. http://www.voanews.com/content/ukraine-says-armored-personnel-carriers-entered-ukraine-from-russia/2429496.html

In my view, Vladimir Putin is attempting to figure out how far he can safely go without excessively provoking the West, while he is seeing how far Kiev will bend to accommodate some of his objectives. Most in the West do not realize how bad Russia wants Ukraine, and what is happening now are simply interim steps–steps to pressure Ukraine to accommodate Russia.

Russia essentially wants to influence and/or acquire all the territory of Ukraine.

Russia’s President Putin basically believes that the West poses a threat to his nation and that if all of Ukraine goes into the European Union (which is what the government of Kiev wants), it will thus militarily align with the West (which is what it is in the process of doing). Russia does not want NATO closer.

But this is having the opposite reaction as far as NATO is concerned:

The 28 NATO members are preparing for their summit meeting in Wales in early September. The main topic of discussion: the notion of collective defense in light of Russia’s recent actions against Ukraine. Simply put, NATO’s collective defense posture means that an attack on one of its 28 members is an attack on all of them. http://www.voanews.com/content/nato-plots-defense-against-russia/2427364.html

And NATO is now planning to put NATO forces closer to Russia.

August 27, 2014

NATO is to deploy its forces at new bases in Eastern Europe for the first time, in response to the Ukraine crisis and in an attempt to deter Vladimir Putin from causing trouble in the former Soviet Baltic republics, according to its secretary general. http://www.kyivpost.com/content/world/the-guardian-nato-plans-east-european-bases-to-counter-russian-threat-362162.html

That being said, NATO has avoided direct military action against Russia related to Ukraine or the annexation of Crimea. Ukraine is not a member of NATO and Vladimir Putin wishes it to remain out of it. Part of what Vladimir Putin appears to be doing now is determining if it is better to be more aggressive to attempt to support east Ukrainian separatists and risk Ukraine going into NATO or wait until a ‘better time’ if Ukraine will not become part of NATO until possibly much later in the future.

Many in parts of Ukraine and Russia are descendents from the ancient Medes. Despite the talks between Ukraine and the Europeans, those called Medes are biblically prophesied to destroy the final European Babylonian power (Isaiah 13:1, 17-19; Jeremiah 51:11).

From not stopping shelling coming across from Russia, to supplying the separatists’ supplies, to meeting with the Ukrainian government, these acts seem to be showing that Vladimir Putin still has plans for Ukraine and indicates he is working under the hope to be able to influence/control all of it (though he may be satisfied with some pieces along the east).

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Russia and Ukraine: Origins and Prophesied Future Where do the Russians come from? What about those in the Ukraine? What is prophesied for Russia and its allies? What will they do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end? You can also watch the short video Ukraine in Prophecy?
Russia in the Bible and in Prophecy Is Russia mentioned in the Bible? It it is where is it? Is there any evidence of a people moving to the land that the Russians now occupy? What do Catholic and other prophecies say about Russia? What does the Bible teach? How are Protestants often in error on this? Is there more in biblical prophecy for Russia than war? Does God have a plan to save Russia and her allies? Does Russia have a history involving Sabbath keepers? Does scripture tie Russia in with Armageddon? Will Russia help defeat the end time Babylonian power? What did the Apostle John, and the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel, write about Russia? This is a sermon-length video.
Ezekiel 38: For Russia & Iran in Our Day? Is Ezekiel 38 about to be fufilled? A related video is available titled Ezekiel 38: For Russia, Ukraine, & Iran Now?
Bible News Prophecy July-Sept. 2014: The Coming Eurasian Union Here is the latest magazine from the Continuing Church of God. The cover of which shows Vladimir Putin and features an article about the coming Eurasian Union.
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is a link to a video titled: Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?
European Technology and the Beast of Revelation Will the coming European Beast power would use and develop technology that will result in the taking over of the USA and its Anglo-Saxon allies? Is this possible? What does the Bible teach? Here is a related YouTube video: Military Technology and the Beast of Revelation.
Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations? Some claim that these passages refer to a gathering of 10 currently existing nations together, while one group teaches that this is referring to 11 nations getting together. Is that what Revelation 17:12-13 refers to? The ramifications of misunderstanding this are enormous. A related sermon is titled Ten Kings of Revelation and the Great Tribulation.
World War III: Steps in Progress Are there surprising actions going on now that are leading to WWIII? Might a nuclear attack be expected? Does the Bible promise protection to all or only some Christians? How can you be part of those that will be protected? A related video would be Is World War III About to Begin? Can You Escape?
Wars, rumors of wars, and the Apocalypse Jesus foretold a time before the end where there would be wars and rumors of wars. The Apocalypse (the Book of Revelation) warns of the red horseman of war. Now, even secular writers, like Larry Edelson, are worried that wars and rumors of war are the most menacing problem that now haunts the earth? Are they right? What is the solution? This is a sermonette-length video.
Is Russia the King of the North? Some claim it is. But what does the Bible teach? Here is a link to a video, also titled Is Russia the King of the North?
The Eurasian Union, the Kings of the East, and Bible Prophecy Is there a Eurasian union that will be formed? Is one being formed right now? Are any leaders working on that in the 21st century? Does the Bible teach that there will be a Eurasian union? If some type of Eurasian union is formed, who might it benefit and who will it destroy? A related video would be Is The Eurasian Union Rising?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States? In the Spanish language check out ¿Quién es el Rey del Norte? Here is a link to a video titled: The Future King of the North.
Germany’s Assyrian Roots Throughout History Are the Germanic peoples descended from Asshur of the Bible? Have there been real Christians in Germanic history? What about the “Holy Roman Empire”? There is also a You-Tube video sermon on this titled Germany’s Biblical Origins.
Germany in Biblical and Catholic Prophecy Does Assyria in the Bible equate to an end time power inhabiting the area of the old Roman Empire? What does prophecy say Germany will do and what does it say will happen to most of the German people? Here is a link to a video Is the USA Pushing Germany to Start WWIII?
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Edition for Second Obama Term This is a 160 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Barack Obama and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled (which the book documents in detail) and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also has a chapter about a Republican choice. This book is available to order at www.barackobamaprophecy.com. The physical book can also be purchased at Amazon from the following link: Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States: Is Barack Obama Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic Catholic, Kenyan, and other America-Related Prophecies? What About Republican Leaders? Second Edition for Second Obama Term.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition. This electronic version is available for only US$2.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition.