15:08
7.4.2014
Here's another update from RFE/RL's news desk:
Acting Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov says the seizure of government buildings in eastern Ukraine and the declaration of a "Donetsk People's Republic" were engineered by Russia.
Turchynov said in a television address on Monday that the actions that began on Sunday in the eastern Ukrainian cities of Luhansk, Donetsk, and Kharkiv are "the second wave in Russia's special operation against Ukraine."
Pro-Russia activists occupying the regional government building in Donetsk announced Monday the creation of a separatist republic.
A speaker inside the Donetsk government building called for a referendum on the region's future to be held by May 11 and asked for Russia to send a "peacekeeping contingent" to protect the separatists.
Pro-Russia activists on Monday also looted an armory in Luhansk.
Turchyov said those who had "taken up arms [against Ukraine] will be targeted in antiterrorist operations."
Turchynov said in a television address on Monday that the actions that began on Sunday in the eastern Ukrainian cities of Luhansk, Donetsk, and Kharkiv are "the second wave in Russia's special operation against Ukraine."
Pro-Russia activists occupying the regional government building in Donetsk announced Monday the creation of a separatist republic.
A speaker inside the Donetsk government building called for a referendum on the region's future to be held by May 11 and asked for Russia to send a "peacekeeping contingent" to protect the separatists.
Pro-Russia activists on Monday also looted an armory in Luhansk.
Turchyov said those who had "taken up arms [against Ukraine] will be targeted in antiterrorist operations."
14:58
7.4.2014
14:54
7.4.2014
14:53
7.4.2014
Precious Scythian jewels and gold artifacts from Crimea on exhibition at a Dutch museum will be returned to mainland Ukraine, not Crimea.
Russian authorities had asked the Allard Pierson Museum in Amsterdam to return the artefacts to Crimea despite its annexation.
Russian authorities had asked the Allard Pierson Museum in Amsterdam to return the artefacts to Crimea despite its annexation.
14:41
7.4.2014
Ukraine's acting President Oleksandr Turchinov says a bill is in the works to harshen penalties for separatism.
14:37
7.4.2014
Crimea's self-proclaimed authorities want to ban the Islamic party "Hizb ut-Tahrir," in line with Russian legislation.
13:46
7.4.2014
Ukraine's SBU security service detained a Russian citizen accused of organizing separatist protests in Luhansk.
13:40
7.4.2014
The U.S. ambassador to Ukraine responds to the killing of a Ukrainian naval officer in Crimea:
13:22
7.4.2014
Meanwhile in Russia (from RFE/RL's news desk):
President Vladimir Putin has told Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) to be on the alert against militant attacks and said the country must not let nongovernmental organizations be used for "destructive" purposes "as in Ukraine."
Putin, who met with the leaders of the FSB today, told them to remain on the alert after the Sochi Winter Olympics and expressed concern about the danger of internal dissent being fuelled by the West following events in Ukraine.
According to Putin, actions of 46 employees of foreign secret services and 258 of their agents were stopped by the FSB last year on Russian territory.
Putin urged the FSB to develop Russia's border infrastructure in the Arctic, adding that after the withdrawal of international troops from Afghanistan this year, Russia's "allies" in Central Asia "might need our help" to prevent destabilization in the region.
President Vladimir Putin has told Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) to be on the alert against militant attacks and said the country must not let nongovernmental organizations be used for "destructive" purposes "as in Ukraine."
Putin, who met with the leaders of the FSB today, told them to remain on the alert after the Sochi Winter Olympics and expressed concern about the danger of internal dissent being fuelled by the West following events in Ukraine.
According to Putin, actions of 46 employees of foreign secret services and 258 of their agents were stopped by the FSB last year on Russian territory.
Putin urged the FSB to develop Russia's border infrastructure in the Arctic, adding that after the withdrawal of international troops from Afghanistan this year, Russia's "allies" in Central Asia "might need our help" to prevent destabilization in the region.