Here is today's map of the security situation in eastern Ukraine, according to the National Security and Defense Council (CLICK TO ENLARGE):
Ukraine Firemen Killed In Fuel Depot Blast
Ukraine’s Interior Minister Arsen Avakov has said a powerful explosion has killed a number of firemen as they fought to control a blazing fuel depot which had burned through the night outside the capital.
Arsen said on Twitter on June 9 that the explosion took place near the town of Vasylkiv, 30 kilometers from Kyiv.
Emergency services said at least five workers were injured.
Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP
An opinion piece by Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk:
An excerpt:
No one should have any doubt what is at stake. The great achievement of a “Europe whole and free” that marked the end of the Cold War is under direct attack from resurgent Russian authoritarianism and imperialism. Ukraine is bearing the brunt of that attack, but the consequences of allowing our independence to be crushed would not be contained within Ukraine. It would give rise to new threats and crises that would be even more difficult and costly to resolve. The democratic idea itself would be undermined.