UPDATED!
The UN Security Council is preparing to meet in emergency session on the growing crisis in Ukraine.Diplomats said Thursday that the council will meet at 2 p.m. at the request of Lithuania.
Lithuania, of course, brings to mind F the EU Nuland and her neocon husband Robert KaganWhy this sudden concern?Strategic town taken by Separatists was the original headline.... as sent to meThis advance connects Crimea to the Eastern separatist region- hence the concern of Lithuania
Novoazovsk, which lies along the road connecting Russia to the Russia-annexed Crimea
The new southeastern front raised fears that the separatists are seeking to create a land link between Russia and Crimea. If successful, it could give them or Russia control over the entire Sea of Azov and the gas and mineral riches that energy experts believe it contains.
Ukraine already lost roughly half its coastline, several major ports and significant Black Sea mineral rights in March when Russia annexed Crimea.
National Guard reinforcements were taking up positions in Mariupol.
"The positions are being strengthened," the spokesman said. "The road from Novoazovsk to Mariupol is under the control of Ukrainian troops."
Check the location of these latest advances using the resource top/sidebar to the right.Novorossiya has just taken a big step forward- I get the frantic Lithuanian requestUPDATED YET AGAIN!Ukraine leader, after key loss to separatists, says situation 'difficult but controllable'
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, speaking on Thursday after the army lost a key town to separatists, said the situation in the conflict zone in the east was "extraordinarily difficult ... but controllable" The loss of Novoazovsk, Ukraine's most southeasterly point, after a two-day assault by Russian-backed separatists in an armoured column, is a blow to government forces since it leaves vulnerable the big port city of Mariupol, further west along the coast.
Yup, the NATO panic is palpable!