Ahh, the rich symbolism. Russia to use convicts to build Kerch bridge: http://t.co/iEJqA1cXL0
— Robert Coalson (@CoalsonR) July 25, 2014
Here's another update from our news desk:
U.S. President Barack Obama has joined with Australian and Dutch leaders to demand full access to the crash site of the Malaysia Airlines jet in separatist-controlled eastern Ukraine.
Speaking in telephone calls with Australia Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte, the leaders agreed to work for a full investigation into the shooting down of Flight MH17 last week.
A White House statement said that Obama and Abbott agreed that a "prompt, full, unimpeded and transparent international investigation is an imperative."
The statement said, "They expressed their resolve to push for full, immediate and secure access for international investigators to the crash site."
In a separate call with Rutte, Obama offered his condolences to the Dutch victims of the disaster.
Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was shot down with 298 people on board a week ago over rebel-held territory in eastern Ukraine.
(AFP, AP)
#Russia's consulate in the Hague ignores national mourning,doesn't put flag at half mast.#MH17 http://t.co/gYiuYN6VU5 pic.twitter.com/vOop9l4nR5
— Myroslava Petsa (@myroslavapetsa) July 24, 2014
Not sure about veracity of this report. FWIW: @AlanaBowker Putin’s daughter flees Dutch home as fury grows over #MH17 http://t.co/vHZ9t32bWV
— Nina Ivanovna (@ninaivanovna) July 25, 2014
#Yatsenyuk resigns as parliament elections likely to be held in fall http://t.co/9JHtY90Um9 #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/SM4lxpKL5z
— Kyiv Post (@KyivPost) July 25, 2014
Good morning. We'll start today with this item from RFE/RL's news desk about how a major rights watchdog has expressed concerns about Kyiv's use of Grad rockets:
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged Ukraine to stop using unguided rockets which it said have killed at least 16 civilians in several recent attacks.
The rights watchdog said that both Ukrainian troops and pro-Russian separatists have used Grads -- unguided rockets fired in salvos and sprayed across a wide area -- in the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
HRW warned that using such weapons in populated areas could amount to war crimes.
Kyiv has denied using Grads around major cities.
But HRW said investigations into four attacks between July 12 and 21 in insurgent-held Donetsk "strongly indicates that Ukrainian government forces were responsible for" firing the Grads.
It also accused insurgent forces of having recently used such rockets.
HRW's statement came after the Red Cross declared that Ukraine is in a civil war -- an official distinction that would allow warring parties to be prosecuted for war crimes.
(With additional reporting by AFP)
We are now closing the live blog for today. Don't forget that you can follow all our latest Ukraine coverage here.
We have new evidence Russians intend to deliver heavier & more powerful multiple rocket launchers to separatist forces in Ukraine @marieharf
— Geoffrey Pyatt (@GeoffPyatt) July 24, 2014
Crying man in the bus:"how much vodka do I need to drink to forget my son was killed today in the East?" Reality of war. #Ukraine
— Kateryna_Kruk (@Kateryna_Kruk) July 24, 2014
Here is another Ukraine-related update from RFE/RL's news desk:
The United States says it has evidence that Russia is firing artillery to attack the Ukrainian military and that Moscow intends to provide more heavy weaponry to pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.
"We have new evidence that the Russians intend to deliver heavier and more powerful multiple rocket launchers to the separatist forces in Ukraine, and have evidence that Russia is firing artillery from within Russia to attack Ukrainian military positions," U.S. State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf told a press briefing today in Washington.
Harf said the assessment is based on "intelligence information" but that she could not discuss the "sources and methods behind it."
Fighting between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian rebels is continuing in eastern Ukraine. Washington has previously accused Russia of arming and training the separatists.