Crimea braced for ALL-OUT WAR: Region may spiral out of control as independence day looms
SECURITY experts have warned Crimea could descend into a bloody war within a week amid rising tensions that could escalate during celebrations to mark Ukraine’s independence day on August 24.
By TOM BATCHELOR
Express.co.uk
Tue, Aug 16, 2016
Russia and Ukraine have been urged to reduce tensions in the region as fears grow that Moscow and the West could become embroiled in a proxy war over the small Black Sea peninsula, which was annexed in 2014.
The Kremlin has accused Kiev of orchestrating terrorist attacks inside Crimea in recent days, a claim Ukraine denies.
Kiev says Moscow is the one stirring trouble in eastern Ukraine by backing pro-Russian separatists there – a claim Moscow denies.
Now, analysis by Teneo Intelligence has warned the security situation in eastern Ukraine “may deteriorate sharply…due to the forthcoming 25th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence on 24 August”.
The company also said the “diversion of attention of the international media and policy-makers due to the Olympics” may also encourage Russia to step up its campaign.
Foreign leaders have been forced to call for calm as the war of words has turned increasingly heated.
Germany’s foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said he was worried about rising tensions.
At a news conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, he said: “The main thing is that the situation doesn’t get out of control. “We call on everyone to de-escalate.”
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