Ukraine's SBU says it has arrested Odesa bombers:
The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) has detained three people suspected of involvement in a series of explosions in the southeastern city of Odesa.
SBU spokeswoman Olena Hitlyanska told reporters in Kyiv on April 1 that the three -- who reportedly identified themselves as communist activists -- had confessed to commiting "at least nine acts of terrorism in Odesa" between December and March.
Hitlyanska said a shotgun, chemicals, mobile phone parts, and timers similar to ones used to detonate handmade explosive devices in Odesa, were found on the suspects.
A series of bomb blasts have hit Odesa and another eastern Ukrainian city, Kharkiv, in recent months.
Ukrainian authorities blamed those blasts -- many of which seemed to target organizations with ties to soldiers fighting in eastern Ukraine -- on Russia and the rebels who hold parts of the eastern provinces on Donetsk and Luhansk.
Both cities are under the Ukrainian government's control but are seen as prizes coveted by the Russian-backed rebels. (UNIAN, Interfax)
Ukraine's top communist called in for questioning:
Ukrainian Communist Party leader Petro Symonenko has been summoned by the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) for questioning over a recent trip to Russia.
SBU spokeswoman Olena Hitlyanska said on April 1 that Symonenko will be questioned about the visit in which he reportedly took part in a Russian Communist Party meeting.
She said the SBU was also investigating comments Symonenko made on Russian television that could be seen as calling for crimes to be commited "against the foundations of Ukraine's national security."
Hitlyanska added: "There is every reason to open a criminal case and to investigate facts that may provide evidence of complicity of the [Communist Party's] top leadership in illegal activities."
The SBU expects Symonenko to appear for questioning on April 2.
Symonenko appeared on Ukrainian television channel 112 on April 1 and said he was in Ukraine but knew nothing about being summoned by the SBU.
He said he not done anything illegal while in Russia. (UNIAN, Interfax)
U.S. senators urge FIFA to take World Cup away from Russia:
Thirteen U.S. senators have written to FIFA, the world governing body of soccer, urging the organization to replace Russia as host of the 2018 World Cup.
Senators Robert Menendez (Democrat-New Jersey) and Ron Johnson (Republican-Wisconsin) organized the letter, released on April 1, calling on FIFA to move the soccer championship because of Russia's "ongoing violations of the territorial integrity of Ukraine."
Nine Republicans -- including former presidential candidate John McCain -- and four Democrats signed the letter.
The senators said, "Allowing Russia to host the FIFA World Cup inappropriately bolsters the prestige of...[Russian President Vladimir Putin's]...regime at a time when it should be condemned."
FIFA has thus far rejected calls for the event -- one of the world's top sporting events -- to be moved away from Russia.
Russia illegally annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in March 2014 and is accused by Ukraine, Western countries, and NATO of backing pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine, a charge Moscow denies.