Has Blackwater been deployed to Ukraine? The Daily Mail is speculating as much. It has found two YouTube videos showing military men with no insignias on their uniforms on the streets of Donetsk, a largely Russian-speaking city in east Ukraine which has been the scene of large protests against the country's new regime. Supposedly one can hear shouts of "Blackwater! Blackwater" but it is impossible for me to hear.
The Mail also reports that Twitter is abuzz with this report but the only tweets a search finds on US Twitter reference back to the Mail's post. I was able to find a Russian web site,politikus.ru from which I linked the above Blackwater graphic. This may be the Mail's source but they do not cite it. Google Translate is marvelous but the translated syntax is cumbersome. The upshot of the post is 300 men arrived in private jets in Kiev. They were dressed in civilian wear but carried military style duffle bags. Presumably they have been deployed to control the pro Russian population. It is reported that the Ukraine government is using social media to recruit army volunteers as its conscription efforts have been a bust.
With apologies for Google Translate:
As previously reported, the Verkhovna Rada appointed Acting President of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov said that Ukrainian troops are on high alert. But in Ukraine poyavlyutsya foreign fighters privat armies - mercenaries , ready for the money to do whatever their superiors . Here is the latest news: " According to our Ukrainian friends from the night on March 2 and Juliani Borispol charter flights began arriving strong young men in ordinary civilian clothes - but each with several bulky bags field . In which the U.S. Army usually carry gear sets . Strangely way all of these people are employed by private military company "Greystone Limited" - daughter of the famous "Xe Services LLC" - former "Blackwater USA". Total came to 300 people already . Objectives these strong - and well-trained guys - can be very different : from the protection of the new government of hundreds of self-defense " Evromaydana " sweeps to resist cities in the East and South- East of Ukraine . question is , how many of them eventually rally in Kiev - and who pays for this spectacular feast is not cheap . Certainly not upstart " government Ukraine , I believe , "writes blogger stbcaptain. this means that the fight against the Russian Ukrainians do not want and will not ! and this - the best proof that the people are united ! But against the Russian and Ukrainians themselves against already thrown well trained mercenaries from different countries , mostly white people , to the citizens of Kiev could not immediately suspect them strangers. They are not capable of carrying out major battles , but perfectly prepared to sabotage (explosions , acts of terrorism , arson , snipers , etc., etc. ) . These " wild geese ," as they were called in the period of their active work in Africa, now arrived on the Ukrainian land . 300 soldiers - not the army . But they are trained special operations . And everyone is able to act alone. When the direct and immediate self-proclaimed Ukrainian government connivance and direct and immediate intervention in this adventure of the U.S. Embassy , headed by Ambassador personally - these saboteurs in the near future a threat key objects life of Ukraine. " He who has ears , let him hear , who have eyes , but see " that gets up the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine ! Blackwater in Donetsk
Blackwater was founded in 1997 by former U.S. Navy SEAL Erik Prince. It now goes by the name Academi.