07 March 2014

Ukraine Crisis in Maps & Satellite Photos 6MAR14

MAPS and satellite photos of the crisis in Ukraine, from the NY Times.....
On Thursday, Crimea remained under the control of Russian forces that continued their blockade of several critical Ukrainian military sites.
A Russian Naval Base in Crimea
Sevastopol has been the headquarters of Russia's Black Sea Fleet since 1783. After the Soviet Union collapsed, Russia leased part of the port from Ukraine to continue using the base. The Ukrainian Navy also uses the bay. An analysis by IHS Jane’s of satellite imagery captured Monday by Airbus Defense and Space/CNES reveals the positions of some of the Russian vessels.
Apparent Blockade
The satellite image from Monday showed three Russian naval ships in an apparent attempt to prevent three Ukrainian naval ships from leaving port. The largest Ukrainian vessel was formerly a research ship that had been converted for use as a command ship.Related Article »
Russian Warships
Two guided missile warships were parked on the north side of the harbor on Monday.
Combat Hovercraft
One of the fleet’s two hovercraft was parked here on Monday. The second one could not be seen in the satellite imagery. These two hovercraft are primarily used as combat vessels and are equipped with missiles.
Ukrainian and Russian Military Strength
Russia's military abilities dwarf those of Ukraine’s, which is underfunded and poorly positioned to counter an attack from the east. According to a recent report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, Ukraine’s armed forces use mainly Soviet-era equipment, much of which needs to be upgraded or replaced. Ukrainian air defenses are considered weak and its naval fleet is far inferior to Russia’s. Still, many experts have doubts that Russia would intervene elsewhere in Ukraine because it would be difficult for Russian forces to control more territory.
Gold squares are Ukrainian bases, blue squares are Russian bases.
Top map shows Naval Bases, bottom left shows Air and Airborne Bases, bottom right shows Army bases. 

Warning Shots Fired at Belbek Airfield
Russian soldiers fired warning shots on Tuesday as about 200 unarmed Ukrainian soldiers approached them at a contested airfield in Belbek. The dispute ended with no injuries. Some of the Ukrainian soldiers were able to take up their normal positions manning guard posts.Video of the Incident »
Initial Russian Incursions
Pro-Russian forces blockaded Ukrainian military facilities after seizing control of the strategic peninsula over the weekend. While President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia denied the involvement of Russian troops, many of the vehicles transporting soldiers on the peninsula had Russian military license plates. Crimea is a pro-Russian area of Ukraine that is a vital base for the Russian Navy. Cities in Ukrainian Crimea first violated by the Russian military, from East to West, but not in order of occupation, are Kerch, Feodosiya, Perevalnoye, Simferopol, Balaklava, Belbek and Sevastopol.    Related Article »
Russian Empire
Most of modern Ukraine was absorbed by the Russian Empire in the 18th and early 19th centuries. Southern sections were acquired from the Ottoman Empire, including Crimea in 1783. Poland surrendered much of western Ukraine the next decade. By 1815, as much as 85 percent of ethnic Ukrainian territory was within the Russian Empire. Soviet victory in World War II delivered the westernmost portion of Ukraine to the Soviet Union from Poland. Light brow extent of the Russian Empire by 1880, dark brown acquisitions from the Ottoman Empire. 
Related Article »
A Political and Cultural Divide
Ukraine's political split reflects a deeper cultural divide in the country. In the 2010 presidential election, the opposition won in all of Ukraine's western provinces, where most people speak Ukrainian rather than Russian and many call for deeper economic and political ties with Europe.Striped areas were won by the opposition in the 2010 presidential election. The South and Southeast were won by viktor f.yanukovych, impeached by Parliament on Feb. 22, 2014. 
Related Article »
 
Gas Pipelines
About 80 percent of Russian gas exports to Europe pass through Ukraine. Europe, in turn, depends on Russia for 40 percent of its imported fuel. According to Mikhail Korchemkin, head of East European Gas Analysis, a consulting firm in Pennsylvania, the most important pipelines that run through Ukraine are the ones leading to Slovakia. They will eventually take gas to Germany, Austria and Italy.Related Article »
By WILSON ANDREWS, BILL MARSH, SERGIO PEÇANHA, ARCHIE TSE, TIM WALLACE, DEREK WATKINS and KAREN YOURISH
Correction: March 4, 2014
Because of an editing error, an earlier version of the caption for the map showing protests across the country referred incorrectly to eastern Ukraine. The majority of the population is ethnic Ukrainian, not ethnic Russian.
Correction: March 6, 2014
An earlier version of the text for the satellite image showing Russian warships on the north side of Sevastopol Bay misidentified the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet. It is Moskva, a guided missile cruiser, not Karch, which is also a guided missile cruiser.
 
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/02/27/world/europe/ukraine-divisions-crimea.html
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