Ukraine trying to take back east, Russia builds up troops, Russian economy affected, and Ukrainian matter allegedly causes USA stocks to drop
Luhansk Peoples’ Republic Fighter in Luhansk (Qypchak)
Fighting and military exercises are going on in and near east Ukraine:
August 5, 2014
DONETSK, Ukraine: At least two civilians were killed in heavy clashes on the outskirts of the main rebel-held bastion of Donetsk in east Ukraine on Tuesday, as the UN warned of a “massive exodus and destruction” if fighting intensified.
Powerful explosions rocked the western Petrovksy suburb of the sprawling million-strong city, the local administration said, as government forces pushed on with an offensive to oust insurgents.
Earlier, dozens of cars packed with terrified residents could be seen fleeing the industrial hub via a perilous humanitarian corridor that ran close to the scene of the clashes.
Ukraine’s military called on insurgents in Donetsk, Lugansk and another frontline city, Gorlivka, on Monday to open corridors for several hours each day to allow civilians to escape. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/UN-warns-of-mass-exodus-from-Ukraine-clashes-kill-two-in-rebel-bastion-Donetsk/articleshow/39703555.cms
Russia has again bolstered its troops presence on its frontier with Ukraine’s east, triggering concerns of cross-border fire or a possible intervention in support of pro-Moscow rebels increasingly besieged by Ukrainian government forces.
The spike in troop and military hardware levels has been confirmed by both NATO and US military officials.
“In early August, Russia significantly increased the number of troops in the vicinity of the Russian border. Our current assessment is that around 20,000 troops are now in the area. This troop presence includes tanks, infantry, artillery, air defense systems, as well as logistics troops, special forces, and various aircraft,” a NATO official said in a written statement.
More firepower
A spokesman for Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, Andriy Lysenko, said Tuesday that Russia has deployed 45,000 troops to the border – along with a large number of tanks, artillery, multiple rocket launchers and aircraft.
He also said that Russian forces fired artillery and Grad rockets at Ukrainian positions across the border for several hours on Monday.
In addition, Moscow has announced a five-day drill inside Russian territory, involving some 100 warplanes, helicopters and anti-aircraft batteries. Some of the exercises are being conducted close to Russia’s border with Ukraine.
With Ukrainian troops advancing toward the two remaining rebel strongholds of Donetsk and Luhansk, officials in Kyiv have expressed concern over a possible Russian offensive. Short of a full-blown military incursion, Russia might also be considering sending its forces as “peacekeepers” into eastern Ukraine, officials in Kyiv say. http://www.voanews.com/content/rights-group-accuses-ukraine-rebels-of-hampering-aid-efforts/1971888.html
It is believed that some of the sanctions that the West put on Russia for its involvement in Crimea and eastern Ukraine are having an affect:
August 5, 2014
[A]s new sanctions by the U.S. and the European Union start to bite, companies worry about a looming recession and a future without access to the West’s massive financial markets.
“The more tense the geopolitical situation, the more expensive (foreign) currency will be,” said Konstantin Sonin, an economist at Moscow’s Higher School of Economics. “And with sanctions, it becomes harder for financial institutions to give credit, and there will be fewer business projects and fewer goods being produced. Income and salaries drop and consumption doesn’t increase.” …
The low-cost airline Dobrolyot, which was sanctioned by the E.U. because it services the Black Sea region of Crimea annexed by Russia, has temporarily cancelled all flights.
Companies also blamed the collapse in tourism on Moscow’s request that members of the security service, interior ministry, and military report where they travel to. The move, which authorities justified as an attempt to keep government employees out of any country that has an extradition agreement with the U.S., has discouraged trips abroad among the several million people who work in those sectors.
Until the recent troubles in Russia’s budget tourism industry, the direct casualties of Western sanctions had been few and far between – and rich. Gennady Timchenko, an oligarch with an estimated fortune of $14.2-billion (U.S.) who as a long time friend of President Vladimir Putin was hit with U.S. sanctions, said Sunday he could no longer fly his private jet because it was serviced by American company Gulfstream. Though other companies could in theory service the plane, he told Russian news agency ITAR TASS they would not have the right replacement parts for maintenance.
The collapse of major tourism companies could be the first sign that Russia, which is reeling from months of market volatility an estimated withdrawal by investors of $75-billion in funds, could be at the start of a lengthy recession. In July, the International Monetary Fund slashed its forecast for 2014 from 1.3 per cent to 0.2 per cent.
Any attempt by Moscow to fighting back against the sanctions is also likely to come at a high cost to Russian consumers and investors. Russia has banned a range of fruit and vegetable imports from Poland, in what Polish government officials said was retaliation for its support of the latest round of E.U. sanctions.
Shares in Russia’s state airliner, Aeroflot, were trading down almost 6 per cent Tuesday after leading business daily Vedomosti cited anonymous government officials as saying they were considering closing the airspace over Siberia to European flights heading to Asia. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/international-business/cracks-in-russian-economy-begin-to-appear-as-tour-companies-collapse/article19924086/?cmpid=rss1
Russia is not please with the sanctions:
August 5, 2014
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin says he has ordered his Cabinet to prepare a response to Western sanctions.
During a meeting with Alexei Gordeyev, the governor of the Voronezh region near Ukraine, Putin said the use of “political instruments of pressure” against Russia’s economy are “unacceptable” and contradict “all norms and rules.” He said, however, that any retaliatory measures in response to the sanctions must be taken “very carefully,” to support domestic producers without harming consumers. http://www.voanews.com/content/rights-group-accuses-ukraine-rebels-of-hampering-aid-efforts/1971888.html
It was reported today that the stock market in the USA dropped because of the situation in Ukraine:
Stocks tumble on Ukraine tensions;
August 5, 2014
(Reuters) – Stocks ended down on Tuesday, nose-diving in the afternoon as concerns mounted over escalating tensions in Ukraine.
All 10 S&P 500 sectors ended lower, led by energy stocks, which lost 2.1 percent.
Markets were weak for most of the session, but selling accelerated in the afternoon on reports that Russian troops were massing near the Ukraine border…The S&P is down 3.4 percent from its record closing high of 1,987.98 points reached on July 24. http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/05/us-markets-stocks-idUSKBN0G518D20140805
Whether or not the situation in Ukraine had anything to do with USA stock prices, the reality is that the sanctions from the West have had affects in Russia and Russia is trying to figure out if it should try to cause the West more economic pain, while it tries to decide if and how to possibly intervene in eastern Ukraine. Most in the West do not realize that Vladimir Putin considers that Ukraine is part of Russia. He has long wanted it to be part of his upcoming Eurasian Union and not part of the European Union. The sanctions have not changed his mind.
For now, many in various parts of Ukraine are suffering and need our prayers. It may well be that the current turmoil will get some to look at their lives, wonder about the meaning of life, and possibly change. Of course, others around the world should do that as well.
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.
Why Were You Born? Why did God make you? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject. You may also wish to read the article What is Your Destiny? or watch the video, also titled What is Your Destiny?
Building Character: Going on to Perfection Once you have accepted Jesus, do you need to strive for perfection and build character? A related video sermon is available: Going on to perfection and building character.
What is the Meaning of Life? Who does God say is happy? What is your ultimate destiny? Do you really know? Does God actually have a plan for YOU personally? There is also a video titled What is the meaning of your life?
Just What Do You Mean — Repentance? Do you know what repentance is? Have you truly repented? Repented of what? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject.
When You Sin: Do You Really Repent? This is an article by Charles F. Hunting. A related sermon is Confess to God and truly repent.
Do Christians Sin? This is an article by Herbert W. Armstrong.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? You can also see a YouTube video sermon The Gospel of the Kingdom.
Just What Do You Mean the Kingdom of God? A booklet that was written by Herbert Armstrong answers questions about the Kingdom.
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.
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?
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?
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.
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.
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