BREAKING NEWS: Ukraine's President Has Fled Kiev. The Government Has Collapsed. Mob Rule On The Streets

<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/qFSYBXZSOqk" width="560"></iframe><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Ukraine’s Leader Flees Palace as Protesters Widen Control -- New York Times</b></span></div><br />KIEV, Ukraine — An opposition unit took control of the presidential palace outside Kiev on Saturday, as leaders in Parliament said Ukraine’s president, Viktor F. Yanukovych, had fled the capital a day after a deal was reached aimed at ending the country’s spiral of violence.<br /><br />Members of an opposition group from Lviv called the 31st Hundred — carrying clubs and some of them wearing masks — were in control of the entryways to the palace Saturday morning. And Vitali Klitschko, one of three opposition leaders who signed the deal to end the violence, said that Mr. Yanukovych had “left the capital” but his whereabouts were unknown, with members of the opposition speculating that he had gone to Kharkiv, in the northeast part of Ukraine.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/23/world/europe/ukraine.html?_r=0">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Crisis In Ukraine</b></span></div><br /><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26302572">Live Coverage</a> -- BBC<br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/22/ukraine-crisis-uncertainty-after-yanukovych-signs-deal-live-updates">Tymoshenko freed as Ukrainian president denounces coup - live updates</a> -- The Guardian<br /><a href="http://live.reuters.com/event/world_news">Live Updates: Ukraine</a> -- Reuters<br /><a href="http://live.aljazeera.com/Event/Ukraine_liveblog">Ukraine Live Blog Live</a> -- Al Jazeera<br /><br /><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26304842">Ukrainian MPs vote to oust President Yanukovych</a> -- BBC<br /><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/22/world/europe/ukraine-protests/">Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych has quit Kiev, opposition leader says</a> -- CNN<br /><a href="http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304914204579398561953855036?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEFTTopStories&mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052702304914204579398561953855036.html%3Fmod%3DWSJ_hpp_LEFTTopStories">Protesters Take Control of Kiev</a> -- Wall Street Journal<br /><a href="http://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-kiev-opposition-20140222,0,2157062.story#axzz2tseORMfW">Ukraine protesters take Kiev without a shot</a> -- L.A. Times<br /><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/02/22/ukrainian-protesters-claim-control-over-capital/">Ukrainian parliament sets early election as president flees capital </a>-- FOX News<br /><a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ukraine-protest-20140221,0,1284200.story">Parliament expels Ukraine president, protestors seize his compound </a>-- Chicago Tribune<br /><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/02/22/ukraine-protests-kiev-president/5723135/">Ukraine parliament votes to remove president</a> -- USA Today<br /><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/interfax-ukraines-yanukovych-says-he-will-not-resign/1857091.html">Ukraine Parliament Votes to Oust Yanukovich, Sets May Election </a>-- Voice of America<br /><a href="http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-02-22/ukrainian-protesters-take-control-as-yanukovych-abandons-capital">Ukrainian Lawmakers Oust President as Yanukovych Stays Defiant </a>-- Bloomberg Businessweek<br /><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/22/us-ukraine-idUSBREA1G0OU20140222">Ukraine parliament removes Yanukovich, who flees Kiev in 'coup'</a> -- Reuters<br /><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/ukraines-president-open-to-early-vote-polish-leader-says-scores-reported-killed-in-clashes/2014/02/21/05d3de46-9a82-11e3-b931-0204122c514b_story.html">Ukraine’s Yanukovych missing as protesters take control of presidential residence in Kiev</a> -- Washington Post<br /><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/ukraine-agreement-reached-but-the-street-resists/2014/02/21/daf33ecc-9b55-11e3-8112-52fdf646027b_story.html">Ukraine protesters take Kiev; president says coup</a> -- Washington Post/AP<br /><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10655398/Ukraine-crisis-Opposition-demands-Viktor-Yanukovych-resign.html">Ukraine president refuses to resign and compares 'coup' to rise of Nazis</a> -- The Telegraph<br /><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2014/02/ukraine-president-accuses-opponents-coup-2014222144357586889.html">Ukraine president accuses opponents of coup</a> -- Al Jazeera<br /><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10655335/Ukraine-crisis-Viktor-Yanukovych-leaves-Kiev-for-support-base.html">Viktor Yanukovych leaves Kiev for eastern support base</a> -- The Telegraph<br /><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/22/world/europe/ukraine-protests/index.html?hpt=wo_c1">Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych says he's not leaving</a> -- CNN<br /><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2565394/Ukrainian-protesters-claim-control-capital.html">Moment suspected Ukrainian SNIPER was dragged by the hair and beaten by anti-government protesters as president reportedly flees capital</a> -- Daily Mail<br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/21/ukraine-protests-viktor-yanukovych-election">End nears for Yanukovych despite concessions</a> -- The Guardian<br /><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/22/world/europe/ukraine-profiles/">Who's who in Ukraine unrest</a> -- BBC<br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2014/feb/22/ukraine-protesters-remain-streets-in-pictures">Ukraine protesters remain on streets as president leaves Kiev - in pictures</a> -- The Guardian<br /><br /><b>Update</b>: <a href="http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/2014/02/22/aide-ukraine-tymoshenko-released-from-prison/DfLyCMhW09BxBUmmmKnHEJ/story.html">Aide: Ukraine's Tymoshenko released from prison</a> -- AP<br /><br /><b>My Comment</b>: The situation is incredibly fluid in Ukraine. The mob has taken over and even the opposition politicians cannot control the anger. I am having trouble contacting my relatives in Kiev .... I guess the communication networks are overwhelmed.<br /><br />It is clear that the government of President Yanukovych has collapsed .... his allies have deserted him and he no longer controls the instruments of state. The security forces have also stood down .... they do not want to be involved in this crisis .... and almost all of them do not want to shoot their brothers and sisters on the street.<br /><br />I suspect that ex-President Yanukovych has fled to the eastern part of the country .... probably near a Russian border crossing. He knows that his time is up .... the question that is probably on his mind is .... can I escape alive and/or not be arrested and put in jail. With pictures of his opulent homes and wealth now being broadcast throughout Ukraine .... I would advise him to flee to Russia.<br /><br />The Russian - Ukrainian community is facing the jitters right now .... talk of splitting the country is now spreading.<br /><br />Reaction from the Russian government has been limited. This is not surprising .... they are focused on the Sochi Olympics and tomorrow's closing ceremonies. But I expect a very robust reaction from Moscow after the closing ceremonies. As to what they are going to say .... that is easy to predict .... they are going to condemn the Ukrainian opposition and the EU who made this all possible (in their view).<br /><br />The economy has collapsed ....the Russian government is not going to provide aid .... and as a result Ukraine will in all probability default on it's debts. Being one who saw what happened to Russia when the Soviet Union collapsed .... I know with 100% certainty that hard times (no money, 70% unemployment, a breakdown in government services) are coming to Ukraine.<br /><br /><b>Update #2:</b> Because of prior commitments (family commitments that I cannot cancel) .... I will only be able to blog late tonight. Sighhh .... a revolution is now happening .... and I must take a 12 hour recess.

BREAKING NEWS: Ukraine's President Has Fled Kiev. The Government Has Collapsed. Mob Rule On The Streets

Ukraine’s Leader Flees Palace as Protesters Widen Control -- New York Times KIEV, Ukraine — An opposition unit took control of the president...

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