From the U.S. ambassador to Kyiv:
Things in Ukraine's embattled east could be about to get even more complicated (from RFE/RL's news desk):
Schools Closed In Kharkiv As Ukraine Announces Flu Epidemic
Authorities in Ukraine's eastern city of Kharkiv have closed all secondary schools due to a flu outbreak.
The city mayor's office announced on January 26 that schools will remain closed indefinitely as of January 27.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's Health Minister Aleksandr Kvitashvili said that since the turn of the year 83 people across Ukraine have been killed by flu, which he added had been officially categorized as an epidemic. He did not specify if the H1N1 virus, known as swine flu, was the cause of any of the deaths, as some earlier Ukrainian media reports had said.
According to Kvitashvili, up to 2.6 million people have been treated in Ukraine for flu and other respiratory diseases since January 1.
Kvitashvili also said that an emergency team to tackle the problem has been established within his ministry, adding that its first gathering would be held later on January 26.
Based on reporting by UNIAN and Interfax
Aleksandr Zakharchenko, the so-called leader of the self-proclaimed "Donetsk People’s Republic" admitted to burning down Kozhevnya village during active fighting between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists.
He made the statement at the so-called First Youth Socio-Political Forum of "DPR," where local university students presented a project for restoration of the village.
"This village was a milestone for me. … It was our first offensive. Unfortunately, in the course of fighting we practically destroyed this village," he said. "Having burnt [residential] houses we saved our lives and the lives of our people."