12:19
7.4.2014
After proclaiming the Donetsk People's Republic, pro-Russian demonstrators occupying the regional administration building ask Putin to send in troops.
12:36
7.4.2014
Clashes in Kharkiv. Pro-Russian and pro-Ukrainian demonstrators reportedly fighting.
12:37
7.4.2014
RFE/RL's news desk has a bit more information about the self-proclaimed "republic" in Donetsk:
Pro-Russian activists who have occupied the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk's regional administration building have proclaimed a sovereign "People's Republic of Donetsk" and called for Russian President Vladimir Putin to send a "temporary peacekeeping contingent."
Activists came out of the seized government building to announce the decision to a crowd of a few thousand people assembled in front of the building.
They also said the referendum will be held by May 11 at the latest.
Earlier today, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk accused Russia of being behind several seizures by protesters of regional government buildings in eastern Ukraine, including Donetsk.
Yatsenyuk said at a government meeting in Kyiv today that "an anti-Ukrainian plan is being put into operation under which foreign troops will cross the border" and seize Ukrainian territory.
Pro-Russian activists who have occupied the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk's regional administration building have proclaimed a sovereign "People's Republic of Donetsk" and called for Russian President Vladimir Putin to send a "temporary peacekeeping contingent."
Activists came out of the seized government building to announce the decision to a crowd of a few thousand people assembled in front of the building.
They also said the referendum will be held by May 11 at the latest.
Earlier today, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk accused Russia of being behind several seizures by protesters of regional government buildings in eastern Ukraine, including Donetsk.
Yatsenyuk said at a government meeting in Kyiv today that "an anti-Ukrainian plan is being put into operation under which foreign troops will cross the border" and seize Ukrainian territory.
12:40
7.4.2014
Ukrainian authorities pledge "harsh" actions against separatists in the country's east.
12:50
7.4.2014
Pro-Russian separatists are using car tires and barbed wire to barricade the regional administration building in Donetsk.
12:51
7.4.2014
12:54
7.4.2014
13:06
7.4.2014
The ruble is not the only currency plummeting. Ukraine's Hryvnia has also taken a serious hit.
13:10
7.4.2014
United Russia membership cards apparently being distributed to Crimean separatists.
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.