10:42
1.5.2014
10:40
1.5.2014
The ultranationalist All-Ukrainian Union Svoboda party says that its local party leader in the eastern town of Kostyantynivka has been kidnapped. They claim it is the second such abduction there in as many days.
10:21
1.5.2014
The Kremlin says German Chancellor Angela Merkel has asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to help free the OSCE military observers being held by separatists in eastern Ukraine.
09:41
1.5.2014
I would treat as unconfirmed this Russian report of a prisoner swap between Ukrainian government and separatists in Slovyansk. Still haven't seen it anywhere but Interfax. The three Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) employees -- blindfolded and looking bruised -- were "interviewed" by assembled Russian media in a video clip that raised fears last weekend. Interfax:
An SBU spokeswoman had suggested the gunmen who abducted the SBU men were acting on a tip from inside the security service.
The self-defense forces of Slovyansk, eastern Ukraine, have released two of the three detained soldiers of the Ukrainian Security Service's Alfa special operations unit in exchange for their activists.
"We managed to agree with the opposite site to swap two of these special operations unit soldiers for our supporters. We freed them afterwards," a self-defense forces spokesman told Interfax over the phone.
The freed soldiers pledged not to take part in any military operations in southeastern Ukraine, he added.
"We managed to agree with the opposite site to swap two of these special operations unit soldiers for our supporters. We freed them afterwards," a self-defense forces spokesman told Interfax over the phone.
The freed soldiers pledged not to take part in any military operations in southeastern Ukraine, he added.
An SBU spokeswoman had suggested the gunmen who abducted the SBU men were acting on a tip from inside the security service.
09:25
1.5.2014
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov has accused the West of a "propaganda campaign" about Ukraine that reflects the West's "outdated mentality and outdated logic" aimed at demonstrating "the way they decide different issues should always have the upper hand in all situations," according to Interfax:
"They are already stalling in some matters. Hence their indignation and sanctions, which are pointless to a large extent," he said.
"But we are not going to parrot them, and at this stage we still want to give our partners a chance to calm down. Let's see what happens next. If these absolutely unfounded reprimands against Russia continue, and if more attempts are made to use economic levers against us, in this case we will have to take a further look at the situation," the Russian foreign minister said.
"But we are not going to parrot them, and at this stage we still want to give our partners a chance to calm down. Let's see what happens next. If these absolutely unfounded reprimands against Russia continue, and if more attempts are made to use economic levers against us, in this case we will have to take a further look at the situation," the Russian foreign minister said.
09:05
1.5.2014
09:03
1.5.2014
Ukrainian Interior Ministry reports destroying another illegal checkpoint, at Krasnoarmiysk, a minor administrative hub in the Donetsk region.
08:59
1.5.2014
08:56
1.5.2014
08:54
1.5.2014