More on Russia's reaction to Ukraine's "special status" law:
The Russian Foreign Ministry says the Ukrainian parliament's granting of a special status to portions of the eastern Luhansk and Donetsk regions is a "step in the right direction."
The two regions -- which are partially controlled by pro-Russian separatists -- were the scene of intense fighting between the Russian-backed insurgents and Ukrainian forces that killed nearly 3,000 people.
The law passed by the Ukrainian parliament on September 16 would give certain rights and some forms of autonomy to the regions.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the special status is "in line with the spirit of agreements" signed in Geneva between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States.
But the ministry said any attempt to change the law -- which is being fiercely protested by several right-wing groups in Ukraine -- would result in "confrontation." (Reuters, AFP, and ITAR-TASS)
Here is today's situation map of eastern Ukraine by the National Security and Defense Council:
LATEST: The Russian Foreign Ministry says the Ukrainian parliament's granting of a special status to the eastern regions of Luhansk and Donetsk is a "step in the right direction." The regions are mainly controlled by pro-Russian separatists.
The European Union says new Ukrainian laws offering pro-Russian rebels an amnesty and special status were "important steps" toward a peaceful solution to the conflict in the east of the country.
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton's spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic said, "Our point of view is that Ukraine has delivered on the Minsk agreement."
Ukraine's parliament on September 16 unanimously approved the "special status" and amnesty laws, which are in keeping with a cease-fire agreement reached in Minsk by the government and pro-Russian rebels on September 5.
President Petro Poroshenko said the moves should bring peace to the east where Kyiv would have to come to "an understanding with these (rebel) leaders, bringing people peace, calm and harmony."
Some critics, however, say the measures are too accommodating toward Russia and the rebels, and could risk a permanent division of Ukraine.
Here's video from Ruptly of Right Sector protesting today in Kyiv against the automony law.
Yatsenyuk on the lustration law:
Ukraine's prime minister says about 1 million civil servants are subject to screening under a new law aimed to purge the system of the corrupt practices associated with ousted President Viktor Yanukovych's government.
"According to our estimates, about 1 million civil servants of different kinds will come under this law, including the whole cabinet of ministers, the interior ministry, the intelligence services, the prosecutor's office," Arseniy Yatsenyuk told a cabinet meeting on September 17.
Ukraine's parliament adopted the "lustration" law on September 16, after failing to pass the legislation in two earlier votes.
Passage of such a law had been one of the main demands during the mass street protests that drove Yanukovych from power in Feburary.
Several hundred protesters rallied outside parliament on September 16, waving Ukrainian flags and burning tires to demand that lawmakers approve the legislation.
More Strelkov:
From our news desk. More on the civilians killed in Donetsk:
Local authorities say two civilians have been killed in fighting in the rebel-held eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk.
Donetsk city council said the civilians were killed near a market and that three people were injured.
It was not clear exactly how or when the deaths occurred.
They appeared to be the first reported in eastern Ukraine since the national parliament in Kyiv passed a law on September 16 granting limited self-rule to pro-Russian separatists in an effort to end a conflict that has killed more than 3,000 people since April.
Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said on September 17 that Ukrainian forces were abiding by a September 5 cease-fire and accused rebels and Russian troops of firing at army positions, "particularly near Donetsk airport."
Government forces currently hold the airport.
Russia denies it has sent troops into eastern Ukraine.
From Interfax:
The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry has asked the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to be more active in the delivery and distribution of humanitarian aid in south-eastern Ukraine.
"The Red Cross should be more active in the issues of the delivery and provision of humanitarian aid to the population of south-eastern Ukraine. The Red Cross should take a firmer position so that we are not stranded on the border for three weeks," Deputy Emergency Situations Minister Vladimir Stepanov said at a meeting of the committee on public support to residents of south-eastern Ukraine on Wednesday.