11:20
19.6.2014
Ukraine's parliament has now backed several key Poroshenko nominations in addition to the Yarema as prosecutor-general news that we reported earlier.
Poroshenko called Yarema a key figure in the fight against corruption.
But lawmakers have now also confirmed Pavlo Klimkin, the current ambassador to Germany, as foreign minister. Klimkin, 46, assured parliament after the vote that he will conduct a foreign policy in line with Ukraine's national interests.
Klimkin has been conspicuous in negotiating the association and free-trade agreements with the European Union that Ukraine is expected to sign later this month. He replaces acting Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsya.
Parliament also backed Valeriya Hontareva, an investment banker, as the new head of the central bank. Hontareva will replace Stepan Kubiv.
11:08
19.6.2014
RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service recorded troops positioned in the village of Skhidne near Slovyansk yesterday using mortar rounds against rebels holed up in the city. They also fired a cannon mounted on a Ukrainian-designed BTR-4E armored personnel carrier.
11:04
19.6.2014
Acting Foreign Minister Deshchytsia won friends in the Verkhovna Rada with his profane characterization of Russia's president, it would appear.
Here's our story on the "Putin d*ckhead" meme as a rallying cry: "Some Smile, Others Squirm As Obscenity Becomes Latest Rallying Cry In Ukraine Crisis."
Here's our story on the "Putin d*ckhead" meme as a rallying cry: "Some Smile, Others Squirm As Obscenity Becomes Latest Rallying Cry In Ukraine Crisis."
10:58
19.6.2014
Reuters on this morning's fighting in Krasnyi Lyman:
Ukrainian troops and pro-Russian separatists were locked in fierce fighting in the east of Ukraine on Thursday after rebels rejected a call to lay down their arms in line with a peace plan proposed by President Petro Poroshenko, government forces said.
Heavy fighting broke out at around 4 a.m. near the town of Krasny Liman, which itself has been under government control since early this month.
"We issued an ultimatum to the terrorists overnight to surrender their weapons. We guarantee their safety and investigation in line with Ukrainian law ... They refused," said government forces spokesman Vladyslav Seleznyov.
"Now we are trying to narrow the encirclement. They are trying to break out," Seleznyov said.
Heavy fighting broke out at around 4 a.m. near the town of Krasny Liman, which itself has been under government control since early this month.
"We issued an ultimatum to the terrorists overnight to surrender their weapons. We guarantee their safety and investigation in line with Ukrainian law ... They refused," said government forces spokesman Vladyslav Seleznyov.
"Now we are trying to narrow the encirclement. They are trying to break out," Seleznyov said.
10:57
19.6.2014
The Ukrainian parliament, accepting President Petro Poroshenko's nomination, has approved First Deputy Prime Minister Vitaliy Yarema as prosecutor-general, Reuters reports.
10:53
19.6.2014
10:52
19.6.2014
10:47
19.6.2014
ITAR-TASS quotes Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev as saying the Russian government will disburse $7 million to Rostov region to help house refugees from Ukraine.
10:38
19.6.2014
10:37
19.6.2014