This was written on Sat early, so do not what escalation will be by Monday when this is posted. Troops were at 15,000 level. And I expect some will bomb this b/c I take the Russian side on this one. It is their sphere of influence and they have historic ties to both the land and the Russian majority in the East that asked for Russian help. Putin is portrayed liked Stalin in the West, but only about half of the Ukraine wants ties to the EU and West, the others do not and banning the Russian language was a dangerous move that led to deployment of Russian troops by air and sea. The naval base is also a strategic asset and cannot be lost to a mob and temp. President. The Black Sea Fleet is not gonna give that up. The same problem occured in the break-up of the USSR b/c Ukraine had strategic bombers, nukes, subs, etc... Since the US did nothing about Georgia which was a slightly different situation, US threats come up empty again. Obama did nothing with Syria and that was with Sarin gas on civilians, so what does he think he will do about Russia at the UN? Berate him? The US doesn't have the military power anyway to take on Russia in that region and not lead to war. Early TV broadcasts showed MiG-31 interceptors operating as well as troop carrying BTRs on the roll. Some Red SFs appeared to be carrying updated AK-100 series rifles with swinging stocks or possible the An-94. I guess the West will have to sit back and lament the show...