Ukraine’s military operation to dislodge pro-Russian separatists from occupying several government and police buildings in the east is, at the very least, losing momentum.  At worst, it’s foundering as one column of armored vehicles was abandoned to militants and another one was stopped in its tracks by unarmed protesters.

The second column was on its way to Slovyansk when villagers filled the road and brought it to a halt.  The soldiers were not about to fire on unarmed civilians, and some reportedly drank some beer when some villagers brought out a few bottles. 

In an even more embarrassing episode, a convoy of armored vehicle began its journey as Ukrainian.  But it was later seen with a Russian Flag flying from the vehicles.  One guy was doing doughnuts in a troop mover.  The Ukrainian soldiers said they had defected to the Russian side.

The interim authorities in Kiev have promised reprisals for the insurrections in the Russian-speaking east.  But there seems to be no ability to direct a military operation, and no will in the military to make it happen.  That’s incredibly bad news for Kiev, because Russia has some 40,000 troops poised over Ukraine’s eastern border.  And as demonstrated in the Crimean Peninsula, the Russians seem capable of accomplishing goals.

On the diplomatic front, US President Barack Obama says each Russian encroachment will be met by new sanctions.

“What I’ve said consistently is that each time Russia takes these kinds of steps that are designed to destabilize Ukraine and violate their sovereignty, that there are going to be consequences and what you've already seen is the Russian economy weaker, capital fleeing out of Russia,” Obama said.

The Foreign Ministers of Ukraine, Russia, and the US, as well as a representative of the European Union will meet in Geneva later today to try and find a way to dial back the worsening situation.