10:45
7.5.2014
#mariupol city council building back in pro Russian hands pic.twitter.com/6bmHw5tAkd
— Simon Denyer (@simondenyer) May 7, 2014
10:42
7.5.2014
#Ukraine govt says it controls municipal building in #Mariupol. But it doesn't. We're there - pro #Russians got it back.
— Lindsey Hilsum (@lindseyhilsum) May 7, 2014
10:38
7.5.2014
Here are some more details from the wires on Mustafa Dzhemilev's winning the Solidarity Prize:
Poland's annual Solidarity Prize named in honor of former President Lech Walesa will be given to the veteran leader of Crimean Tatars, Mustafa Dzhemilev.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said today that President Bronislaw Komorowski will hand the prize to Dzhemilev at a special ceremony in Warsaw in June.
Sikorski said that Dzhemilev has been fighting for human rights since Soviet times, and spent almost 10 years in Soviet prisons for his efforts to protect the rights of his people.
Dzhemilev is known for his support of Ukraine's territorial integrity.
The annual Solidarity Prize was established in January as part of the 25th anniversary celebrations of Poland's historic June 4, 1989 elections, which led to the first democratically elected government in Poland after World War II.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said today that President Bronislaw Komorowski will hand the prize to Dzhemilev at a special ceremony in Warsaw in June.
Sikorski said that Dzhemilev has been fighting for human rights since Soviet times, and spent almost 10 years in Soviet prisons for his efforts to protect the rights of his people.
Dzhemilev is known for his support of Ukraine's territorial integrity.
The annual Solidarity Prize was established in January as part of the 25th anniversary celebrations of Poland's historic June 4, 1989 elections, which led to the first democratically elected government in Poland after World War II.
10:24
7.5.2014
Here's an update from our news desk on the somewhat confusing developments in Mariupol:
Ukrainian forces pushed into the eastern port of Mariupol last night, where they reportedly occupied the town hall for a short period of time.
The move came after heavy fighting with pro-Russia militants overnight, amid reports of casualties.
Pro-Russia separatists reentered the town hall after Ukrainian forces apparently left the building, raising the Russian and separatists' flags again.
Earlier, separatists told the Interfax news agency that Ukrainian security forces detained several people in Mariupol who were campaigning for a referendum on the region's independence scheduled for May 11.
Meanwhile, today Ukrainian forces reportedly detained Ihor Kakidzyanovk, the defense minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic today after a shoot-out near the town of Mangush, some 20 kilometers east of Mariupol.
There were also reports of fighting around Slovyansk, where pro-Russia insurgents attacked government forces surrounding the rebel-held city.
The move came after heavy fighting with pro-Russia militants overnight, amid reports of casualties.
Pro-Russia separatists reentered the town hall after Ukrainian forces apparently left the building, raising the Russian and separatists' flags again.
Earlier, separatists told the Interfax news agency that Ukrainian security forces detained several people in Mariupol who were campaigning for a referendum on the region's independence scheduled for May 11.
Meanwhile, today Ukrainian forces reportedly detained Ihor Kakidzyanovk, the defense minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic today after a shoot-out near the town of Mangush, some 20 kilometers east of Mariupol.
There were also reports of fighting around Slovyansk, where pro-Russia insurgents attacked government forces surrounding the rebel-held city.
10:14
7.5.2014
The "Kyiv Post" has been reporting on how Russia is already starting to feel the pinch thanks to Western sanctions:
Read more here
Still, despite the light sanctions so far from Western democracies, Russia has suffered more than $50 billion capital flight in the first three months of the year, a nine percent ruble devaluation and a mild recession.
The military invasion and annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula in March, followed by Russia’s support of separatists in Ukraine’s southeastern regions, is spooking investors. Investors are seeking alternative places for their capital since Russian securities do not look too attractive in light of possible introduction of harder sanctions by the West.
The military invasion and annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula in March, followed by Russia’s support of separatists in Ukraine’s southeastern regions, is spooking investors. Investors are seeking alternative places for their capital since Russian securities do not look too attractive in light of possible introduction of harder sanctions by the West.
Read more here
09:53
7.5.2014
Donetsk and Russian flags are up again over city administration building in #Mariupol
— Sarah Rainsford (@sarahrainsford) May 7, 2014
09:42
7.5.2014
Interesting tweet from the Polish foreign minister:
Mustafa Dzhemilev, leader of Crimean Tatars and Ukrainian MP is the first laureate of Poland's Solidarity Award.
— Radosław Sikorski (@sikorskiradek) May 7, 2014
09:40
7.5.2014
RFE/RL's news desk has issued this item on some of the geopolitical ramifications of the Ukraine crisis:
NATO's top military commander says the alliance must consider permanently stationing troops in parts of Eastern Europe as a result of tensions between Russia and Ukraine.
U.S. Air Force General Philip Breedlove said on May 6 that the issue will be discussed by NATO commanders, defense ministers, and foreign ministers in the run-up to a summit in Wales in early September.
NATO's short-term agreements to rotate land, sea, and air forces in places like the Baltics, Romania, and Poland are expiring at the end of 2014.
The alliance has deployed additional forces in the Baltics and Poland in response to Russia's annexation of the Crimea peninsula and the deployment of tens of thousands of Russian troops on Russia's border with Ukraine.
NATO officials have said recently that Russia can no longer be viewed as a potential partner, but rather, must be seen as an adversary.
U.S. Air Force General Philip Breedlove said on May 6 that the issue will be discussed by NATO commanders, defense ministers, and foreign ministers in the run-up to a summit in Wales in early September.
NATO's short-term agreements to rotate land, sea, and air forces in places like the Baltics, Romania, and Poland are expiring at the end of 2014.
The alliance has deployed additional forces in the Baltics and Poland in response to Russia's annexation of the Crimea peninsula and the deployment of tens of thousands of Russian troops on Russia's border with Ukraine.
NATO officials have said recently that Russia can no longer be viewed as a potential partner, but rather, must be seen as an adversary.
09:37
7.5.2014
Report that fighting continues in Slavyansk. Ukraine reports 4 soldiers killed and 22 wounded
— bruce springnote (@BSpringnote) May 7, 2014
09:21
7.5.2014
Some economic news in from the wires:
Ukraine has received the first tranche of its $17 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) worth about $3.2 billion.
The National Bank of Ukraine said the money was received on May 6.
A bank spokesman said more than $1 billion was put in the country's foreign currency reserves and the rest went toward Ukraine's budget.
The IMF Executive Board approved the two-year standby loan on April 30.
Ukraine's treasury was virtually empty after President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted in February.
The country has high debts and faced a situation where it could default on its loans.
National Bank Chairman Stepan Kubiv said on May 5 that the first tranche of the IMF loan will send a "positive signal to foreign investors and domestic entrepreneurs."
Ukraine has received the first tranche of its $17 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) worth about $3.2 billion.
The National Bank of Ukraine said the money was received on May 6.
A bank spokesman said more than $1 billion was put in the country's foreign currency reserves and the rest went toward Ukraine's budget.
The IMF Executive Board approved the two-year standby loan on April 30.
Ukraine's treasury was virtually empty after President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted in February.
The country has high debts and faced a situation where it could default on its loans.
National Bank Chairman Stepan Kubiv said on May 5 that the first tranche of the IMF loan will send a "positive signal to foreign investors and domestic entrepreneurs."