Interfax quotes a Russian government decree as calling for a "fast-track process" to assess Ukrainian refugees' applications for asylum in that country.
Such an assessment belies speculation -- which has cooled, perhaps understandably, since the MH17 tragedy -- that Moscow was gradually losing control of its Ukrainian-separatist clients in the continuing conflict.
Reuters quotes the U.S. State Department as saying it will reveal intelligence later today that supports Washington's claims that the missile that downed Flight MH17 was launched from a separatist-controlled area of Ukraine.
From AP says a group of leading Democratic senators are pressing for harsher measures against Russia and for blacklisting the "Donetsk People's Republic":
In a letter to Obama, Sens. Bob Menendez, Dianne Feinstein and Carl Levin say Russia's defense, energy and finance sectors should be targeted for sanctions. They say Russian must halt weapons, equipment and training to separatists in eastern Ukraine. The senators also ask Obama to consider designating the "Donetsk (dah-NETSK') People's Republic" a foreign terrorist organization.
Menendez chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Feinstein the Intelligence Committee and Levin the Armed Services Committee.
In a fresh Facebook post, Pro-Kyiv military blogger expresses frustration with the European Union, saying the bloc is "for the umpteenth time to postpone the introduction of new sanctions against Russia." He also decries the French delivery of any Mistral warship to Russia.
A commander is quoted by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service as saying Ukrainian forces have taken control of Popasna, in the Luhansk region.
A Gallup Poll this month asked Russians to rate their country in several areas. The results from the question "Do you have confidence in the following or not?" were record-level confidence in the Russian military (78 percent) and national government (64 percent). Our own Li Luo mapped out the trends since 2006. CLICK FOR FULL VIEW WITH INTERACTIVITY.
