15:13
12.4.2014
Here is a little locator map of the three cities where the disturbances are taking place today: Slovyansk, Kramatosk, and Krasny Lyman. Having trouble embedding it, so check it out here.
15:19
12.4.2014
Things are moving fast and furious in eastern Ukraine today. A quick summary:
* Separatist protesters in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slovyansk have taken over the city hall and the local Ukrainian secret service (SBU) headquarters after earlier taking control of a police station. Slovyansk Mayor Nelya Shtepa said there are some 1,000 people inside the city hall building and a Russian flag has been raised. Police in the city say the pro-Russian separatists who seized the police station on the morning of April 12 have also taken control of some 400 handguns and 20 automatic weapons that were in the station.
* According to reports in Russian and Ukrainian news agencies, separatists have seized a police station in the town of Krasny Lima, north of Slovyansk
* There are reports of disturbances in the town of Kramatorsk, in the Donbas region. Channel 5's Myroslava Petsa tweets that police, border guards and Afghan war veterans are on full alert to fight separatists in the town (which is 70 percent Ukrainian).
* About 200 pro-Russian protesters armed with clubs and sticks have stormed police headquarters in Donetsk. AFP reports that the protesters met no resistance and that riot police who quickly arrived on scene were sporting orange and black St. George's ribbons.
* According to reports in Russian and Ukrainian news agencies, separatists have seized a police station in the town of Krasny Lima, north of Slovyansk
* There are reports of disturbances in the town of Kramatorsk, in the Donbas region. Channel 5's Myroslava Petsa tweets that police, border guards and Afghan war veterans are on full alert to fight separatists in the town (which is 70 percent Ukrainian).
* About 200 pro-Russian protesters armed with clubs and sticks have stormed police headquarters in Donetsk. AFP reports that the protesters met no resistance and that riot police who quickly arrived on scene were sporting orange and black St. George's ribbons.
15:20
12.4.2014
Either #Ukraine defends its territory and prepares for total war or it will be defeated by #Russia.
— Anders Östlund (@andersostlund) April 12, 2014
15:21
12.4.2014
In #Donetsk former #Berkut officers with St George ribbons tell pro-Russian crowd they are with the people and won't fight against them
— Myroslava Petsa (@myroslavapetsa) April 12, 2014
15:22
12.4.2014
Journalists assaulted in Slovyansk:
Just like in #Crimea RT @MarquardtA: Teams from BBC and @AFP assaulted today by pro-Russians at seized Sloviansk police station. #Ukraine
— Olga Tokariuk (@olgatokariuk) April 12, 2014
15:23
12.4.2014
Head of SBU in #Donetsk region Valery Ivanov sacked by interim president #Turchynov http://t.co/h6cMkT5pgO
— Myroslava Petsa (@myroslavapetsa) April 12, 2014
...after he refused to send forces to Slavyansk
15:23
12.4.2014
According to Tymchuk,Russia's Military Intelligence GRU coordinators dispatched from Crimea behind an assault on Police Station in Slavyansk
— Ryskeldi Satke (@RyskeldiSatke) April 12, 2014
15:30
12.4.2014
15:32
12.4.2014
From our news desk. Ukraine's acting Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsya has urged Moscow to stop "provocative actions by Russian special agents in Ukraine's eastern regions."
Talking to his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov via telephone on April 12, Deshchytsya said that the ongoing actions of Russian agents in eastern regions aim at disrupting the Geneva meeting on stabilization of the situation in Ukraine.
The Ukrainian foreign minister's comments come the same day an armed group in military uniforms seized a police station in the city of Slovyansk in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region.
Pro-Russian armed groups have been occupying the regional administration building in Donetsk and Security Service headquarters in the city of Luhansk since April 6-7, demanding the federalization of Ukraine.
Deshchytsya also confirmed his participation in the U.S-EU-Russia-Ukraine talks in Geneva scheduled for April 17.
The Ukrainian foreign minister's comments come the same day an armed group in military uniforms seized a police station in the city of Slovyansk in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region.
Pro-Russian armed groups have been occupying the regional administration building in Donetsk and Security Service headquarters in the city of Luhansk since April 6-7, demanding the federalization of Ukraine.
Deshchytsya also confirmed his participation in the U.S-EU-Russia-Ukraine talks in Geneva scheduled for April 17.
15:34
12.4.2014
Babushki with pitchforks and shovels. A photo from Kramatorsk:
Foto from Kramatorsk Donetsk oblast sign says "Donetsk get up off your knees" pic.twitter.com/jNJipK10es
— bruce springnote (@BSpringnote) April 12, 2014