Ukraine applies its own sanctions on Russia, our news desk reports:
Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk says the Ukrainian government is proposing that sanctions be imposed by Ukraine against 172 citizens from Russia and other countries and 65 Russian companies who were financing "terrorism" in the country.
Yatsenyuk said the recommendations would be passed on to the National Defense and Security Council and that he expected parliament next week (August 12) to pass laws to legalize the proposed moves.
Yatsenyuk said that sanctions will include asset freezes, banning transit of all types of goods across Ukraine and withdrawing business licences.
Asked if sanctions could affect Russian gas transit, Yatsenyuk said the move could possibly mean halting "all types of transit, from air flights to transit of resources." (Reuters, AFP and Interfax)
The "humanitarian intervention" drumbeat continues in Moscow...
More on today's explosion in central Kyiv:
LATEST on fighting in eastern Ukraine, from our news desk:
Officials say at least 19 people have been killed and 97 injured in fighting between government troops and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine over the past 24 hours.
Andriy Lysenko, the spokesman of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, said 15 soldiers and border guards were killed and 79 wounded in fighting near the Russian border in the Luhansk region.
The Ukrainian government accuses Russia of supplying the separatists with heavy weapons and fighters.
The rebels, in turn, accuse government forces of firing Grad missiles on civilian quarters in the cities of Donetsk and Luhansk.
Separatist officials said late on August 7 that four civilians were killed and 18 injured in artillery attacks on Donetsk.
Luhansk authorities warned that the situation in the city was critical because water, electricity, and communication systems remain cut off for the sixth consecutive day. (AP, AFP, and dpa)
Here's today's map of the military situation in eastern Ukraine according to the National Security and Defense Council:
#BREAKING PM Abbott on Russia: 'I want to say very clearly that we are working towards stronger sanctions.' @abcnews
— Karen Barlow (@KJBar) August 8, 2014
PM Abbott on Russia sanctions: 'Let's be very clear about this - Russia has been a bully." @abcnews
— Karen Barlow (@KJBar) August 8, 2014
PM Abbott - Oz is working towards stronger sanctions against Russia. Now that our personnel have withdrawn we will find increased sanctions.
— Latika Bourke (@latikambourke) August 8, 2014
We must be doing something right, our volunteer battalion named a terrorist organization by Russia yesterday,
— bruce springnote (@BSpringnote) August 8, 2014