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A woman carries a baby as she passes destroyed houses following what locals say was overnight shelling by Ukrainian forces in the eastern town of Slovyansk on June 9.
A woman carries a baby as she passes destroyed houses following what locals say was overnight shelling by Ukrainian forces in the eastern town of Slovyansk on June 9.

Live Blog: Crisis In Ukraine (Archive)

Summary for June 9

-- Ukraine's Foreign Ministry says that Moscow and Kyiv have reached a "mutual understanding" on key parts of a plan proposed by President Petro Poroshenko for ending violence in separatist-controlled eastern Ukraine.

-- Reports say up to 20 armed gunmen were trying to seize property from a factory (Topaz) that makes communications and electronic-warfare equipment in the Donetsk region.

-- A deputy foreign minister says Russia will consider any expansion of NATO forces near its borders a "demonstration of hostile intentions" and "take the necessary political and military-technological measures to support our security."

-- A two-man crew for Russian Zvezda TV arrived in Moscow after being released from detention in Ukraine.

-- Serbian officials say their own work on the Russian-backed South Stream gas pipeline will have to be suspended after Bulgaria stopped construction of its portion based on EU and U.S. concerns.

-- Ukrainian security forces are reportedly still battling pro-Russian separatists in the east near Slovyansk and Donetsk.

*NOTE: Times are stated according to local time in Kyiv
12:41 20.5.2014
12:39 20.5.2014
The head of the Donetsk city administration, Oleksandr Lukyachenko, has warned that presidential voting is threatened in 127 of 426 precincts. Authorities have been unable to organize sufficiently, and Lukyachenko said election commission members have been targeted for blackmail and intimidation, including "daily threats." Separatists threatened to burn down a school and hang its headmaster if it serves as a polling station, he added.

Lukyachenko said he hoped to negotiate with representatives of the "Donetsk People's Republic" to avoid such threats and violence.
12:18 20.5.2014
Our service and other services say only around 400 people turned out for the "Peace for Donbas" gathering at Akhmetov's 52,000-seat Donbass Arena.
12:09 20.5.2014
And here's more on support for various presidential candidates ahead of the May 25 voting:
11:57 20.5.2014
A fresh survey by Russian state pollster VTsIOM suggests that 70 percent of Russians believe that the separatist "self-defense" units in eastern Ukraine are the creation of local residents, while 14 percent believe Russian military or intelligence services support such forces.
11:41 20.5.2014
Remember, Ukrainian elections are this Sunday.
11:31 20.5.2014
Video from @BishopK of horns sounding in downtown Donetsk around noon in response to Akhmetov's call. It's a bit underwhelming.
11:19 20.5.2014
11:18 20.5.2014
11:17 20.5.2014

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