Here's the Guardian media piece on the attack on BBC team, @BBCSteveR http://t.co/8z6gmiAizC Things just keep getting darker.
— Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) September 18, 2014
We are safe and sound now. But this was a disturbing day for us in southern Russia. http://t.co/zfBfHd5RAy
— Steve Rosenberg (@BBCSteveR) September 18, 2014
Azov Battalion to be reformed into regiment. Because to incorporate neo-Nazis in army is a great idea, right? http://t.co/mFQvvFxNUF
— Maxim Eristavi (@MaximEristavi) September 18, 2014
Some economic rumblings over Ukraine, as reported by our news desk:
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says the Ukraine crisis is weighing heavily on economies where the bank operates, including central and southeastern Europe and the former Soviet republics.
As a result, on September 18, the EBRD revised its forecast for its region of operations, predicting a sharp slowdown during 2014 and only modest recovery in 2015.
In Russia, the EBRD predicts sanctions will cause the economy to stagnate in 2014 and contract slightly in 2015.
It says Russia's slowdown poses risks for economies in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia that rely heavily on remittances from Russia.
It predicts Ukraine's economy will contract by 9 percent in 2014 and another 3 percent in 2015.
The EBRD forecasts modest recovery this year in central and southeastern Europe and the Baltics, saying weaker demand from Russia only partly offsets the "positive influence from the eurozone."
I thank Prime Minister @pmharper for his support. pic.twitter.com/M8rxXD9Lrf
— Петро Порошенко (@poroshenko) September 18, 2014
Putin: "I could be in Warsaw in two days." http://t.co/a5fi73E3tG Can someone just tell this man, we could smash your economy in 2 minutes?
— Ben Judah (@b_judah) September 18, 2014
It seems like Graham Phillips is breaking ranks with his pro-separatist buddies, at least when it comes to the issue of Scottish independence:
Please help support No Thanks, add a #Twibbon now! http://t.co/6ywYAzd4mu pic.twitter.com/fEjluU6iQo
— Graham Phillips (@GrahamWP_UK) September 18, 2014
BBC News - Grim Luhansk wary of Ukraine's shaky truce http://t.co/U0jT3881OX
— Daniel Sandford (@BBCDanielS) September 18, 2014
Now, Vladimir Putin is accusing the West of not playing by the rules (from RFE/RL's news desk):
Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Western nations of violating the principles of the World Trade Organization (WTO) by imposing sanctions on Russia for its role in the Ukraine crisis.
Putin told a government meeting today that the sanctions "were nothing but a rejection by some of our partners of basic WTO principles," including the principle of free and fair competition.
He said that, in taking responsive measures, Russia was not seeking to punish the West, but to protect its own interests.
The United States and the European Union accuse Moscow of supporting pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine with troops and weapons, and have imposed several rounds of sanctions against Russia.
Russia denies any direct involvement, and has retaliated by banning imports of most Western food supplies and some consumer goods.
Russia joined the WTO in 2012 after years of negotiations.
(Interfax, Reuters, AFP)