12:10
24.5.2014
Group of proud Ukrainians singing their nation anthem outside Governor's office in Dnepropetrovsk #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/7j7Gzr4cYQ
— Linda Duncan (@LindaDuncanMP) May 24, 2014
11:40
24.5.2014
Our news desk has been compiling some U.S. reaction to events in Ukraine. First off, this is what Pentagon spokesman John Kirby had to say last night about Russian troop movements near the Ukrainian border:
State Department Deputy Spokeswoman Marie Harf in Washington also had this to say about Ukraine's presidential election tomorrow:
We have seen continued activity of preparations for departure of some units, not all. We have seen the movement of some units, not all. And I would remind you that there still remains a very sizable force along that border. Tens of thousands of soldiers still remain. While we do see some movement, it's too soon for us to say that this is the wholesale withdrawal that [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin had ordered.
State Department Deputy Spokeswoman Marie Harf in Washington also had this to say about Ukraine's presidential election tomorrow:
We would welcome Russian acknowledgement and acceptance of the election results. The election is preparing to move forward on the 25th [of May], and the vast majority of the country is ready to have them, and where it's been challenging, the Ukrainian government is working the best they can to still allow people to vote. But at the same time, we would encourage Russia to use its influence with separatists, to urge them to cease their violent activities and lay down their arms.
11:30
24.5.2014
Yatsenyuk: Tomorrow we're going to prove to the world & ourselves that we can't be intimidated & will decide ourselves how to build our home
— Myroslava Petsa (@myroslavapetsa) May 24, 2014
11:28
24.5.2014
The pushback in Ukraine http://t.co/Mnz8vZ5JrZ pic.twitter.com/CFOAgML9Oi
— Kyiv Post (@KyivPost) May 24, 2014
11:23
24.5.2014
At Dnipropetrovsk airport #Ukraine helicopter gunships being readied. pic.twitter.com/PqrdHj6xGs
— Øystein Bogen (@oysteinbogen) May 24, 2014
10:40
24.5.2014
US & NATO warships increased presence in the Black Sea since Russia's invasion of Ukraine http://t.co/4fLeOtbDcZ
— Ryskeldi Satke (@RyskeldiSatke) May 24, 2014
10:33
24.5.2014
EU increases support for #OSCE in #Ukraine with 10 million euros http://t.co/Ksw3zcjG9v
— Kyiv Post (@KyivPost) May 24, 2014
10:28
24.5.2014
One brother went to front line in Kiev, the other moved to Crimea. How the struggle for Ukraine shattered a family: http://t.co/tgt0mHvO92
— Mark MacKinnon (@markmackinnon) May 24, 2014
09:45
24.5.2014
Good morning. We'll start the live blog today with a report from our news desk regarding more violence in eastern Ukraine.
Fresh clashes have been reported in eastern Ukraine between government forces and pro-Russian fighters, just a day before the country is due to hold a presidential election.
Separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine are threatening to block balloting in areas under their control, making the prospect for peace appear distant.
The clashes early today came as Kyiv continues an offensive to try to halt the separatist uprising.
In the Donetsk region, Associated Press reporters say they saw two dead Ukrainian soldiers near the village of Karlivka, and another body close to a nearby checkpoint set up by separatists.
It was not immediately possible to verify casualty claims made by separatists or government officials.
An observation mission from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) arrived in Kyiv on May 23 to monitor tomorrow's vote.
Separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine are threatening to block balloting in areas under their control, making the prospect for peace appear distant.
The clashes early today came as Kyiv continues an offensive to try to halt the separatist uprising.
In the Donetsk region, Associated Press reporters say they saw two dead Ukrainian soldiers near the village of Karlivka, and another body close to a nearby checkpoint set up by separatists.
It was not immediately possible to verify casualty claims made by separatists or government officials.
An observation mission from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) arrived in Kyiv on May 23 to monitor tomorrow's vote.
21:23
23.5.2014
Barring any major developments, we are now closing our Ukraine live blog for today. We'll leave you tonight with this update from RFE/RL's news desk regarding the Russian troops near Ukraine's border:
The chief of Russia's military general staff, General Valery Gerasimov, says it will take about 20 days to move troops and military equipment temporarily deployed near the border with Ukraine back to permanent bases.
Gerasimov said at a security conference in Moscow today that the troops began pulling back on May 19, immediately after President Vladimir Putin ordered the withdrawal.
Earlier reports had suggested that the withdrawal was to be completed by June 1, but Gerasimov said no such date had been given.
NATO estimates Russia deployed 40,000 troops near the border.
The deployment raised fears that Moscow would intervene in eastern Ukraine to back pro-Russian separatists after it annexed Crimea in March.
Russia had insisted the exercises were routine.
Gerasimov said at a security conference in Moscow today that the troops began pulling back on May 19, immediately after President Vladimir Putin ordered the withdrawal.
Earlier reports had suggested that the withdrawal was to be completed by June 1, but Gerasimov said no such date had been given.
NATO estimates Russia deployed 40,000 troops near the border.
The deployment raised fears that Moscow would intervene in eastern Ukraine to back pro-Russian separatists after it annexed Crimea in March.
Russia had insisted the exercises were routine.