Accessibility links

Breaking News
Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a news conference at his country residence of Novo-Ogaryova outside Moscow on March 4.
Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a news conference at his country residence of Novo-Ogaryova outside Moscow on March 4.

Live Blog: Ukraine On The Brink

Summary

-- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Kyiv as U.S. officials announced Washington is preparing a $1 billion aid package for Ukraine.

-- Speaking at a press conference at his residence, Russian President Vladimir Putin has called the change of government in Ukraine an "unconstitutional overthrow and an armed seizure of power."

-- Putin also said there are no considerations to annex Crimea and no intentions to provoke separatist sentiment. He said it is up to the citizens of Crimea to determine their own future.

-- In Crimea, there are standoffs between Russian and Ukrainian troops in their bases, with conflicting reports of ultimatums given to Ukrainian troops to surrender that come and pass.

-- Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin has said that Ukraine's ousted President Viktor Yanukovych sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin requesting that he use the Russian military to restore law and order in his country.

-- In eastern Ukraine, pro-Russian demonstrators have occupied part of the regional government building in the city of Donetsk. Meanwhile, a few hundred pro-Russian activists tried but failed to force their way into the regional administration building in the southern city of Odesa.

NOTE: Live blog updates are listed according to local time in Kyiv

-- Glenn Kates / Luke Allnutt / Coilin O'Connor / Dan Wisniewski
14:49 18.2.2014
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has threatened an "appropriate response" after protesters today seized the Central House of the Officers of the Armed Forces (Officers' House). The military has avoided involvement in the mass protests that began in Kyiv three months ago.
14:35 18.2.2014
More disturbing scenes, via our Ukrainian Service. Police are shown badly beaten. Some protesters try to help bring them to safety, while others go for more.


14:09 18.2.2014
The chief Euromaidan medic, Olga Bohomolets, and a lawmaker from the opposition Fatherland party, Lesiya Orobets, say that three protesters have been killed. Others, she says, are in critical condition. They are apparently in the House of Officers, which was seized today.

13:37 18.2.2014
The nationalist Svoboda party tweeted this picture -- apparently of bullet casings from clashes today.

13:10 18.2.2014
According to our Ukrainian Service, protesters have "captured" several police officers during clashes on Shelkovichnaya and Instytutska streets. At least four were led away by the protest movement's "Self-Defense Forces" and taken towards Independence Square.
13:02 18.2.2014
12:40 18.2.2014
According to our Ukrainian Service, riot police are throwing stun grenades from atop surrounding buildings.

12:26 18.2.2014
Opposition leader Vitali Klitschko calls on Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych to "solve this problem."

"I am appealing to the president of Ukraine, he bears all responsibility, he has all power in the country now. I am convinced that only he can solve this problem. That's why I'm appealing to him. As a responsible politician, as the president of Ukraine he should call early presidential and parliamentary elections. I'm convinced this will lower the temperature in the society. Do it and it will be a way out of the situation, this will be a brave decision. At the same time I'm urging the president to pull the riot police and interior forces back off the streets."
12:23 18.2.2014
Video via RT of police being set alight by Molotov cocktails.

12:09 18.2.2014
There have been several pictures posted from Kyiv today of what appear to be rubber or metal bullets that look like this.

Load more

XS
SM
MD
LG