The War In Eastern Ukraine Is Going To Get Worse

OSCE observers saw no military equipment crossing at two border checkpoints along the Ukraine-Russia border, but there's a need to get aid to locals in eastern Ukraine, border-crossers said. Pro-Russian separatists stand next to a military truck in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, January 21, 2015. Reuters/Alexander Ermochenko

Carol Matlack, Bloomberg Businessweek: Why the Situation in Eastern Ukraine Is Getting Worse

Update: No end in sight as violence surges in Ukraine -- Deutsche Welle

WNU Editor: As I had mentioned in previous posts .... contrary to Ukraine media reports for the past week that a major offensive was launched to rout the pro-Russian rebels at the airport ... the reality on the ground was much different. This is why this defeat is a surprise for many in Ukraine and for their supporters outside .... they were told otherwise until reports starting to be posted that Russian military forces were involved in the conflict .... even though the OSCE saw 'No military equipment' crossed at observed Russia-Ukraine border checkpoints - OSCE (RT).... and two days later (i.e. today) we now hear that the Ukraine military has withdrawn from the area.

This is a humiliating military and political defeat, and there will be consequences starting with the government in Kiev adopting a far more brutal military and economic strategy. We are already seeing it in indiscriminate Ukraine air-force bombings of towns .... and I expect such bombings to not only intensify with the deliberately targeting of critical infrastructure targets like electrical/gas/and water plants, but it also will be coupled with even more economic sanctions.

On the bigger picture .... US military advisers  and trainers are now arriving in Ukraine, and the EU has made it very clear that sanctions are not going to be lifted on Russia. Russia has also made ominous warnings that they are not happy with what is happening .... and may escalate their response to the crisis. In short .... from my vantage point it appears that all sides are now positioning themselves for the next level in this conflict .... which is more fighting/refugees/military deployments/and sanctions.