From the report:
At 14:45hrs, a police spokesperson and a representative of the prosecutor’s office gave a press conference at the scene, confirming that an explosive device killed two (one police officer, and one civilian taking part in the march) and injured eleven, six of whom were police officers.
The SMM observed that the main commemoration had concluded and that approximately 500 participants (approximately equal numbers of men and women and some children) were on Marshal Zhukova Street carrying a 250m long Ukrainian national flag to Liberty Square when the device was detonated. Police confirmed to SMM that the explosion took place at the head of the march which was led by police officers escorting participants to Liberty Square. The police also informed the SMM that the device consisted of the explosive trinitrotoluene (TNT) and shrapnel concealed in a plastic bag and was detonated remotely. According to police, the device was similar to one that exploded at the Moscovyi District Courthouse in Kharkiv (see SMM Daily Report based on information as of 21 January). The incident is being investigated as an act of terrorism according to police.
That concludes our live blogging for Sunday, February 22. Follow our continuing coverage of events in Ukraine and throughout RFE/RL's region HERE.
By RFE/RL
Officials in Ukraine say they have detained four Ukrainian citizens in connection with an explosion in the eastern city of Kharkiv that killed two people and wounded 11 others.
Police say the people killed in the February 22 explosion were a police officer and a civilian. Four of the wounded were also police officers.
Oleksandr Turchynov, head of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, said a "counterterrorism operation" has been launched in Kharkiv in response to the incident.
The bomb struck a peace march that was being held to mark the first anniversary of the ouster of former President Viktor Yanukovych.
An official with Ukraine's SBU state security service was quoted as saying the four people who were detained "underwent instruction and received weapons" in the Russian city of Belgorod.
Kyiv and its Western allies have repeatedly accused Moscow of direct aid to separatist fighters, including through the supply of weapons, soldiers, instruction, and other equipment.
A Kharkiv prosecutor was quoted by Interfax as saying the bomb was filled with shrapnel.
Read more here.
From RFE/RL's News Desk:
European Council President Donald Tusk has said he will initiate consultations with European Union leaders on the possibilty of expanding sanctions against Russia for its policies in Ukraine.
Tusk made the comments on February 22 in Kyiv after viewing an exhibition of Russian military equipment captured by Ukrainian security forces during fighting with Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Tusk said he will begin the consultations on February 23.
Tusk participated in a Dignity March to mark the first anniversary of the ouster of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych together with the presidents of Germany, Lithuania, Moldova, and Poland.
The EU expanded its blacklist of Russian and Ukrainian individuals and entities under sanction on February 16, adding two Russian deputy defense ministers, two State Duma deputies, and 15 separatist leaders.