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Ten-year-old Sasha stands in a bomb shelter in Donetsk in eastern Ukraine.
Ten-year-old Sasha stands in a bomb shelter in Donetsk in eastern Ukraine.
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Live Blog: Ukraine In Crisis (Archive)

Follow all of the latest developments as they happen.

Final News Summary For September 29

-- We have started a new Ukraine Live Blog. Find it here.

-- Ukraine is marking 75 years since the World War II massacre of 33,771 Jews on the outskirts of Nazi-occupied Kyiv.

-- German Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to stabilize a fragile cease-fire in Ukraine and do all he could to improve what Merkel called a "catastrophic humanitarian situation" in Syria.

-- Russia's Supreme Court has upheld a decision by a Moscow-backed Crimean court to ban the Mejlis, the self-governing body of Crimean Tatars in the occupied Ukrainian territory.

* NOTE: Times are stated according to local time in Kyiv (GMT/UTC +3)

12:00 12.2.2016

Here's a reminder of the controversial documentary he's talking about

11:42 12.2.2016

11:38 12.2.2016

09:57 12.2.2016

Today is the first anniversary of the Minsk peace accord. RFE/RL photographer Petr Shelomovskiy has given us this photo gallery of like in Donetsk today:

One year after the signing of the Minsk peace agreement on February 12, intended to put an end to fighting in eastern Ukraine, residents of Donetsk and the surrounding areas have grown accustomed to shortages, checkpoints, and sporadic clashes.

A Year After Minsk Accord, Shaky Truce Is The New Normal In Donetsk

A view of Donetsk, which has been under the control of Russia-backed separatists since April 2014
1/21 A view of Donetsk, which has been under the control of Russia-backed separatists since April 2014
One year after the signing of the Minsk peace agreement on February 12, intended to put an end to fighting in eastern Ukraine, residents of Donetsk and the surrounding areas have grown accustomed to shortages, checkpoints, and sporadic clashes. (RFE/RL photographer Petr Shelomovskiy)
Masha draws pictures at her home in the Petrovskiy district of Donetsk. Her family was among some 40 people, including 19 children, who lived in a bomb shelter for more than a year. In spite of the cease-fire agreement that went into force in February 2015, sporadic bombing and shelling have continued, and residents are still afraid to sleep in their own homes at night.
2/21 Masha draws pictures at her home in the Petrovskiy district of Donetsk. Her family was among some 40 people, including 19 children, who lived in a bomb shelter for more than a year. In spite of the cease-fire agreement that went into force in February 2015, sporadic bombing and shelling have continued, and residents are still afraid to sleep in their own homes at night.
One year after the signing of the Minsk peace agreement on February 12, intended to put an end to fighting in eastern Ukraine, residents of Donetsk and the surrounding areas have grown accustomed to shortages, checkpoints, and sporadic clashes. (RFE/RL photographer Petr Shelomovskiy)
Ivan stands in front of his family's house in the Petrovskiy district of Donetsk. He is unemployed, and the only family income comes from welfare payments for his three children.
3/21 Ivan stands in front of his family's house in the Petrovskiy district of Donetsk. He is unemployed, and the only family income comes from welfare payments for his three children.
One year after the signing of the Minsk peace agreement on February 12, intended to put an end to fighting in eastern Ukraine, residents of Donetsk and the surrounding areas have grown accustomed to shortages, checkpoints, and sporadic clashes. (RFE/RL photographer Petr Shelomovskiy)
Svetlana Repeteva, who is married to Ivan, and her family
4/21 Svetlana Repeteva, who is married to Ivan, and her family
One year after the signing of the Minsk peace agreement on February 12, intended to put an end to fighting in eastern Ukraine, residents of Donetsk and the surrounding areas have grown accustomed to shortages, checkpoints, and sporadic clashes. (RFE/RL photographer Petr Shelomovskiy)
Maria cried while speaking about the war and those who have died on both sides. "When will all this be over?" she asked.
5/21 Maria cried while speaking about the war and those who have died on both sides. "When will all this be over?" she asked.
One year after the signing of the Minsk peace agreement on February 12, intended to put an end to fighting in eastern Ukraine, residents of Donetsk and the surrounding areas have grown accustomed to shortages, checkpoints, and sporadic clashes. (RFE/RL photographer Petr Shelomovskiy)
Armed separatists patrol the streets of Donetsk.
6/21 Armed separatists patrol the streets of Donetsk.
One year after the signing of the Minsk peace agreement on February 12, intended to put an end to fighting in eastern Ukraine, residents of Donetsk and the surrounding areas have grown accustomed to shortages, checkpoints, and sporadic clashes. (RFE/RL photographer Petr Shelomovskiy)
Separatist militiamen stop a car for inspection.
7/21 Separatist militiamen stop a car for inspection.
One year after the signing of the Minsk peace agreement on February 12, intended to put an end to fighting in eastern Ukraine, residents of Donetsk and the surrounding areas have grown accustomed to shortages, checkpoints, and sporadic clashes. (RFE/RL photographer Petr Shelomovskiy)
8/21
One year after the signing of the Minsk peace agreement on February 12, intended to put an end to fighting in eastern Ukraine, residents of Donetsk and the surrounding areas have grown accustomed to shortages, checkpoints, and sporadic clashes. (RFE/RL photographer Petr Shelomovskiy)
Separatist fighters inspect cars.
9/21 Separatist fighters inspect cars.
One year after the signing of the Minsk peace agreement on February 12, intended to put an end to fighting in eastern Ukraine, residents of Donetsk and the surrounding areas have grown accustomed to shortages, checkpoints, and sporadic clashes. (RFE/RL photographer Petr Shelomovskiy)
A train carrying wood for use at a coal mine crosses a road outside Donetsk.
10/21 A train carrying wood for use at a coal mine crosses a road outside Donetsk.
One year after the signing of the Minsk peace agreement on February 12, intended to put an end to fighting in eastern Ukraine, residents of Donetsk and the surrounding areas have grown accustomed to shortages, checkpoints, and sporadic clashes. (RFE/RL photographer Petr Shelomovskiy)
A man searches through a trash bin in a residential area.
11/21 A man searches through a trash bin in a residential area.
One year after the signing of the Minsk peace agreement on February 12, intended to put an end to fighting in eastern Ukraine, residents of Donetsk and the surrounding areas have grown accustomed to shortages, checkpoints, and sporadic clashes. (RFE/RL photographer Petr Shelomovskiy)
A checkpoint near Artemivsk, about 80 kilometers from the city of Donetsk
12/21 A checkpoint near Artemivsk, about 80 kilometers from the city of Donetsk
One year after the signing of the Minsk peace agreement on February 12, intended to put an end to fighting in eastern Ukraine, residents of Donetsk and the surrounding areas have grown accustomed to shortages, checkpoints, and sporadic clashes. (RFE/RL photographer Petr Shelomovskiy)
Maria Andreevna, 75, lives in the village of Zaysteve, which is split between Ukrainian government troops and Russia-backed separatists. The closure of a checkpoint has prevented her from traveling to Artemivsk to pick up her pension. 
13/21 Maria Andreevna, 75, lives in the village of Zaysteve, which is split between Ukrainian government troops and Russia-backed separatists. The closure of a checkpoint has prevented her from traveling to Artemivsk to pick up her pension. 
One year after the signing of the Minsk peace agreement on February 12, intended to put an end to fighting in eastern Ukraine, residents of Donetsk and the surrounding areas have grown accustomed to shortages, checkpoints, and sporadic clashes. (RFE/RL photographer Petr Shelomovskiy)
Maria cuts plywood to cover windows shattered by a nearby mortar explosion two days earlier.
14/21 Maria cuts plywood to cover windows shattered by a nearby mortar explosion two days earlier.
One year after the signing of the Minsk peace agreement on February 12, intended to put an end to fighting in eastern Ukraine, residents of Donetsk and the surrounding areas have grown accustomed to shortages, checkpoints, and sporadic clashes. (RFE/RL photographer Petr Shelomovskiy)
A Ukrainian government serviceman walks on top of an armored vehicle near Zaytseve.
15/21 A Ukrainian government serviceman walks on top of an armored vehicle near Zaytseve.
One year after the signing of the Minsk peace agreement on February 12, intended to put an end to fighting in eastern Ukraine, residents of Donetsk and the surrounding areas have grown accustomed to shortages, checkpoints, and sporadic clashes. (RFE/RL photographer Petr Shelomovskiy)
A Ukrainian government position near Zaytseve
16/21 A Ukrainian government position near Zaytseve
One year after the signing of the Minsk peace agreement on February 12, intended to put an end to fighting in eastern Ukraine, residents of Donetsk and the surrounding areas have grown accustomed to shortages, checkpoints, and sporadic clashes. (RFE/RL photographer Petr Shelomovskiy)
Weapons belonging to government troops
17/21 Weapons belonging to government troops
One year after the signing of the Minsk peace agreement on February 12, intended to put an end to fighting in eastern Ukraine, residents of Donetsk and the surrounding areas have grown accustomed to shortages, checkpoints, and sporadic clashes. (RFE/RL photographer Petr Shelomovskiy)
A serviceman keeps an eye on enemy positions near Zaytseve.
18/21 A serviceman keeps an eye on enemy positions near Zaytseve.
One year after the signing of the Minsk peace agreement on February 12, intended to put an end to fighting in eastern Ukraine, residents of Donetsk and the surrounding areas have grown accustomed to shortages, checkpoints, and sporadic clashes. (RFE/RL photographer Petr Shelomovskiy)
Government troops watch enemy positions.
19/21 Government troops watch enemy positions.
One year after the signing of the Minsk peace agreement on February 12, intended to put an end to fighting in eastern Ukraine, residents of Donetsk and the surrounding areas have grown accustomed to shortages, checkpoints, and sporadic clashes. (RFE/RL photographer Petr Shelomovskiy)
The rising sun is seen through a military scope from a Ukrainian army position near Zaytseve.
20/21 The rising sun is seen through a military scope from a Ukrainian army position near Zaytseve.
One year after the signing of the Minsk peace agreement on February 12, intended to put an end to fighting in eastern Ukraine, residents of Donetsk and the surrounding areas have grown accustomed to shortages, checkpoints, and sporadic clashes. (RFE/RL photographer Petr Shelomovskiy)
In a calm moment, a Ukrainian government serviceman takes a picture of the sunset.
21/21 In a calm moment, a Ukrainian government serviceman takes a picture of the sunset.
One year after the signing of the Minsk peace agreement on February 12, intended to put an end to fighting in eastern Ukraine, residents of Donetsk and the surrounding areas have grown accustomed to shortages, checkpoints, and sporadic clashes. (RFE/RL photographer Petr Shelomovskiy)
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09:00 12.2.2016

08:56 12.2.2016

08:03 12.2.2016

Good morning. We'll start the live blog with this item that our news desk issued overnight:

Biden Urges Poroshenko To Quickly Establish Unified Government

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko (right)with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos last month.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko (right)with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos last month.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has urged Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to quickly reestablish a unified government and carry out reforms sought by the West.

The need to move quickly to quell a political crisis in the wake of the resignation last week of widely respected Ukrainian Economy Minister Aivaras Abromavicius, who cited corruption within the government, was discussed in a phone call between the two leaders on February 11, the White House said.

The conversation came one day after Poroshenko talked with International Monetary Fund (IMF) managing director Christine Lagarde and assured her that he remains committed to economic reform and rooting out corruption despite Abromavicius's charges.

Lagarde had warned that Ukraine's $17.5 billion loan program was at risk unless the government proceeds with reforms linked to the financial aid.

"The vice president urged the governing coalition to quickly establish unity to allow Ukraine to move forward with reforms, in line with the commitments in its IMF program," the White House said.

Biden and Poroshenko also discussed an uptick in violence in eastern Urkaine and "expressed serious concern about the worsening security situation" there, it said.

Based on reporting by AFP and Reuters

21:21 11.2.2016

That concludes our live-blogging of the Ukraine crisis for Thursday, February 11. Check back here tomorrow for more of our continuing coverage.

21:05 11.2.2016

21:04 11.2.2016

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