Reuters wraps up several developments we've mentioned earlier today:
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko issued several decrees on Saturday to shut state institutions and banking services in pro-Russian eastern regions, pressing a move to cut links with the rebel-held territory.
Ukraine has cut all state funding to separatist parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions after separatists held elections in late October which Poroshenko condemned as illegal and in violation of a ceasefire agreement made in September.
The rebels, in turn, say Ukraine violated the deal by moving to revoke a law granting the regions autonomy, putting an already fragile ceasefire in doubt.
A decree posted on the president's website said all state companies, institutions and organisations should end their work within a week and "evacuate workers, with their permission, (and) where possible remove property and documents".
The ruling, which formally asks parliament to revoke the "special status" of the regions, also suggests Ukraine's central bank take measures to close down all banking services in certain parts of separatist-held areas, including card operations.
Here's our latest summary of events in Brisbane, where President Putin had a bruising day at the hands of Western leaders over his actions in Ukraine:
As Criticism Mounts, Putin Camp Floats Early Exit From G20 Summit
"Now I understand that life, as they say, is cheap. It's a really frightening thing. An ordinary person doesn't understand that. I didn't understand it myself. It's like you grow up, finish school, go to university, find work. You have children, build a house, earn a pension. And in reality, a person's life is nothing. Especially when people have machine guns and there's no law behind what they're doing."
You can read the entire interview with 22-year-old Serhiy Halyan and watch the video here:
Interview: Ukrainian 'Cyborg' Describes Nine Days Defending Donetsk Airport
That concludes our live blogging for Saturday, November 15.
Spurned Over Ukraine Actions, Putin Exits G20 Summit Early
From our newsroom, with Putin speaking ahead of his quick exit:
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on November 16 that Kyiv is making “a big mistake” by imposing an economic blockade on eastern Ukraine’s pro-Russian regions.
Speaking at the G20 summit in Australia, Putin said the moves cut off the regions from the rest of the country and that Ukraine’s government is “removing their grip on these territories.
Putin said he plans to discuss the moves with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.
Poroshenko issued several decrees November 15 that close state institutions and banking services in the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.
One decree says all state companies, institutions, and organizations should end their work within a week and "evacuate workers, with their permission, (and) where possible remove property and documents."
It says: "Ukraine will no longer finance them. This includes schools, kindergartens and hospitals."
Kyiv already had cut all state funding to separatist–controlled areas after rebel-run elections there in October that Poroshenko condemned as illegal.
Based on reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP