Needless to say, many have been expressing outrage at the kidnapping and killing of the Lithuanian Honorary Consul in Luhansk yesterday. Here is a statement issued last night by Marie Harf, the deputy spokesperson for the U.S. State Department:
Today we were shocked to hear reports that Lithuanian Honorary Consul Mykola Zelenec was abducted and murdered by separatist groups operating in Luhansk. We extend heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. While we are still seeking information on the circumstances of this tragedy, one thing is clear: For too long people of courage in Ukraine have risked abduction, torture, and even death for their commitment to transparency in the face of cynical armed attempts to dictate Ukraine’s future. We rededicate ourselves to supporting the search for an end to the violence, as we mourn another victim of this manufactured conflict.
Ambivalent on Kiev parade. Patriotic boost for population/soldiers, but parading weapons that are killing Ukrainians seems misjudged at best
— Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) August 24, 2014
So, Ukrainian President Poroshenko has been making his Independence Day speech. Here are some key details from our news desk:
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has presided over a military parade in Kyiv's Independence Square -- known locally as the "Maidan" -- where armored vehicles armed with antitank weapons and machine-guns and trucks towing missile systems followed behind columns of soldiers.
Poroshenko announced Ukraine will spend some $3.0 billion on re-equipping the army in 2015-2017.
(AFP,AP, Reuters)
An attempt to display Ukrainian flag on a bridge by the Kremlin. Five detained. MT “@GraniTweet: http://t.co/jIRFX3TRLL ВИДЕО”
— Leonid Ragozin (@leonidragozin) August 24, 2014
Пораненим військовим влаштували овацію pic.twitter.com/y3xVtfVXAh
— NatalieZubar (@NatalieZubar) August 24, 2014
It seems Ukraine's Independence Day has been honored with a Google Doodle. You can check it out here.
Rebels in Donetsk have their own parade on Ukraine's Ind. Day: around destroyed Ukr military vehicles via @PierreCrom pic.twitter.com/z8oCeKzPZl
— Maxim Eristavi (@MaximEristavi) August 24, 2014
In Kyiv today: a Soviet-style military parade amid ongoing war. Many here think it's unnecessary pic.twitter.com/wDEhgqoZbN via @olliecarroll
— Maxim Eristavi (@MaximEristavi) August 24, 2014
Three choruses accompany parade: Glory to ukraine! // Glory to heroes... Glory to the nation! //Death to enemies... Putin // (unpublishable)
— Oliver Carroll (@olliecarroll) August 24, 2014
Poroshenko does his meet the people thing pic.twitter.com/IyMcoyu3EN
— Roland Oliphant (@RolandOliphant) August 24, 2014