re: #198 bratwurst

That is certainly a pro-Ukraine rally, and I can confirm that Odessa is nearly 100% Russian speaking, having spent some time there in 2012. However, I would caution that a gathering of what is purported to be 3000 people (almost certainly less) standing on the Potemkin Stairs may not be extremely meaningful in a metropolitan area of 1.2 million.

I’m just repeating what the reporter tweeted. Certainly the eastern and southeastern oblasts are prime for a Russian takeover because of sentiment and Russian ties, but that would be entirely a violation of intl law. Odessa remains in Ukraine and is governed by Ukraine. It is not even autonomous like Crimea, even though before it became Odessa, it was also a Tatar settlement in the 15th century.

It appears Russia would like to take over all the seaports, even if there is no leg for them to stand on.