Wendell Murray
Kennett Square PA USA

I agree with other commenters. Finally a factually-based article on the conflict.

“To the guys in Kiev, we are separatists and terrorists,” Yuri said. “But to the people here, we are defenders and protectors.”

Almost all Ukrainians outside of the western oblasti feel this way.

«All spoke of disgust with the interim authorities in Kiev, who came to power after chasing President Viktor F. Yanukovych from office in February.»

This is also true of most expatriate Russians and Ukrainians (exceptions from some from Lvov and other western parts of Ukraine) in the USA.

NYTimes reporters: please keep up with this kind of factual reporting. It is this kind of reporting — details, details, details, without the propaganda to-date that readers want.

flw
Stowe VT

This excellent article reveals the bombast and dissembling that unfortunately makes up current US Ukraine policy. The US instigated Russian anger by its foolish attempt to push the boundaries of NATO to the Russian borders. For what purpose? The Soviet Union is long gone and Russia rationally concludes such NATO expansion is simply aimed at Russia. The Ukraine is a 20 year semi failed state whose economy has been hollowed out by massive insider corruption. To claim these East Ukraine rebels are simply tools of Moscow flies against reality. It is time for the American people to take American foreign policy from the foreign policy elite who are nothing but unrepentant Interventionists whose real motivation is furthering special interests and corporate profits at the expense of the common good.

heinrichz
brooklyn

Great reporting that is finally clarifying the obvious, that there is a natural Russian alliance by local Ukrainians based on the common Soviet past and therefore the claim that everything is instigated by Putin is absurd and just simply western propaganda trying to further an agenda while knowing the history of the people there: we know this used to be the Soviet union don't we? I find find the heavy handed lies of our press and government just insulting and commend the NYT for finally showing what is the most credible scenario.