Ukraine arrests Crimea blockade organizer

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) confirmed on Feb. 29 the arrest of the head of the Azov-Krym civilian corps Stanislav Krasnov, assuring the public it will reveal the details today. Krasnov has been among the organizers of the Crimean blockade and has been accused of storing illegal arms, according to a report on the hromadske.tv news site. In response, a few dozen activists of the Krym-Azov civilian corps lit torches outside the SBU headquarters the evening of Feb. 28 and demanded to know why he was arrested.

Kyiv prosecutors announced on Feb. 15 the arrest of members of the volunteer corps of the “so-called Krym battalion,” the hromadske.tv news site reported, citing the prosecutors. Searches of their residences produced more than two dozen firearms and pneumatic arms, as well as ammunition and narcotics.

“Uncontrolled processes” are occurring within the Praviy Sektor paramilitary group, its former leader Dmytro Yarosh said during the Feb. 26 presentation of his own movement, “Yarosh’s State Initiative.” “They will have prospects if the boys implement some order,” he said. His initiative will be willing to cooperate with the Praviy Sektor, he said.

Zenon Zawada: The war in Donbas has sprung forth dozens of volunteer groups, some of which have taken on military functions and are engaged in illicit trade. Since the start of the war, the government has had difficulty keeping them within the framework of the law. These reports indicate that they continue to pose a problem for the Kyiv government, especially when they engage in provocative protests every time someone is arrested. At the same time, Kyiv is benefitting from Praviy Sektor’s splintering and infighting.