11:37
9.5.2014
Kharkiv Mayor Hennadiy Kernes has sent a Victory Day greeting to city veterans in a telephone call from the Israeli hospital where he continues to receive treatment following an assassination attempt late last month.
The press service of the city mayor's office reports that Kernes vowed during the May 8 phone call that he would return to Kharkiv "soon."
"I'm aware of events, I'm drawing conclusions," he was reported as saying. "I think everything happens for a reason. I want you all to know that I'm alive and I will return soon to Kharkiv."
Kernes was critically wounded by unknown assailants who shot him in the back as he was exercising outdoors on April 28. He sustained severe damage to his spine, stomach, and liver as a result of multiple gunshot wounds.
A day later, he was flown to the Israeli city of Haifa, where he has received several more operations.
A television report by Ukraine's TSN broadcaster from the Haifa hospital shows the extent of Kernes' injuries, with TV footage showing the mayor's deep stomach wounds. Kernes himself appeared extremely weak, barely able to speak above a whisper.
The press service of the city mayor's office reports that Kernes vowed during the May 8 phone call that he would return to Kharkiv "soon."
"I'm aware of events, I'm drawing conclusions," he was reported as saying. "I think everything happens for a reason. I want you all to know that I'm alive and I will return soon to Kharkiv."
Kernes was critically wounded by unknown assailants who shot him in the back as he was exercising outdoors on April 28. He sustained severe damage to his spine, stomach, and liver as a result of multiple gunshot wounds.
A day later, he was flown to the Israeli city of Haifa, where he has received several more operations.
A television report by Ukraine's TSN broadcaster from the Haifa hospital shows the extent of Kernes' injuries, with TV footage showing the mayor's deep stomach wounds. Kernes himself appeared extremely weak, barely able to speak above a whisper.
11:11
9.5.2014
RFE/RL's news desk now has a bit more info on Putin's arrival in Crimea:
Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived to Crimea to mark the 69th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
It is Putin's first visit to the peninsula after it was annexed from Ukraine by Moscow following a controversial referendum in March.
Russian media reports say that Putin will attend a military parade in the city of Sevastopol on May 9 and lay flowers to the memorial of the Defenders of Sevastopol.
Sevastopol is also marking the 70th anniversary of its liberation from Nazi Germany.
Earlier on May 9, Putin presided over a massive military parade in Red Square in Moscow to mark Victory Day.
Speaking in Tallinn today, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said that he believes Putin's visit to Crimea is "inappropriate."
It is Putin's first visit to the peninsula after it was annexed from Ukraine by Moscow following a controversial referendum in March.
Russian media reports say that Putin will attend a military parade in the city of Sevastopol on May 9 and lay flowers to the memorial of the Defenders of Sevastopol.
Sevastopol is also marking the 70th anniversary of its liberation from Nazi Germany.
Earlier on May 9, Putin presided over a massive military parade in Red Square in Moscow to mark Victory Day.
Speaking in Tallinn today, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said that he believes Putin's visit to Crimea is "inappropriate."
10:51
9.5.2014
!!! BREAKING NEWS !!!
The Reuters news agency is reporting that Russian President Vladimir Putin has landed in Crimea for events marking Victory Day.
More details to follow...
10:39
9.5.2014
Local media in Mariupol now reporting that 2 people have been killed and 8 wounded in fighting between Ukrainian army forces and separatist militants.
Russia Today reports that its stringer is among those injured and has been hospitalized.
Russia Today reports that its stringer is among those injured and has been hospitalized.
10:32
9.5.2014
Russian Deputy PM Rogozin presiding over military parade in Transdniester:
10:30
9.5.2014
RFE/RL's news desk has some more details of the violence in Mariupol:
The Interfax news agency is reporting that up to eight people are dead after security forces tried to storm a separatist-held police station in the eastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol.
The news agency said Ukrainian forces were trying to wrest back control of the police building today when they came under fire from pro-Russian rebels.
Interfax quotes separatists as saying the security forces used armored vehicles to shell the building.
The Mariupol police department has not yet commented on the violence.
Mariupol is a major industrial and transport hub on Ukraine's southern coast.
Key buildings in the city of half-a-million people were taken over by separatists in mid-April.
They have traded hands between Ukrainian government forces and separatists multiple times in the last two days.
The news agency said Ukrainian forces were trying to wrest back control of the police building today when they came under fire from pro-Russian rebels.
Interfax quotes separatists as saying the security forces used armored vehicles to shell the building.
The Mariupol police department has not yet commented on the violence.
Mariupol is a major industrial and transport hub on Ukraine's southern coast.
Key buildings in the city of half-a-million people were taken over by separatists in mid-April.
They have traded hands between Ukrainian government forces and separatists multiple times in the last two days.
10:30
9.5.2014
Blood on the streets in Mariupol, where army troops and separatists are engaged in gun battle outside police HQ:
10:24
9.5.2014
Here's a little bit more from our news desk on Victory Day celebrations in Ukraine:
Ukraine has held muted Victory Day ceremonies today as authorities discouraged public gatherings, fearing they could spark clashes between pro-Russian activists and supporters of Ukrainian unity.
Citizens marked the 69th anniversary of the victory of Nazi Germany informally in cities across the country, including in the restive east.
World War II veterans gathered at Donetsk's Victory Monument to lay wreaths and listen to the Ukrainian national anthem.
In separatist-controlled Luhansk, veterans rallied beneath flags of the self-declared Luhansk People's Republic.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's security service (SBU) said May 9 that foreign "saboteurs" had knocked out state television transmissions for several hours.
Viktoria Syumar, deputy head of the SBU, said underground cables carrying power and signals to the state broadcaster were set on fire.
Citizens marked the 69th anniversary of the victory of Nazi Germany informally in cities across the country, including in the restive east.
World War II veterans gathered at Donetsk's Victory Monument to lay wreaths and listen to the Ukrainian national anthem.
In separatist-controlled Luhansk, veterans rallied beneath flags of the self-declared Luhansk People's Republic.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's security service (SBU) said May 9 that foreign "saboteurs" had knocked out state television transmissions for several hours.
Viktoria Syumar, deputy head of the SBU, said underground cables carrying power and signals to the state broadcaster were set on fire.
10:21
9.5.2014
Sorry, one more Rogozin tweet. Guess he was in a playful mood.
This isn't an Amur tiger. It's a St. George cat.
This isn't an Amur tiger. It's a St. George cat.
On our soft paws we're hurrying to Tiraspol pic.twitter.com/oz8hU7Ho06
— Dmitry Rogozin (@DRogozin) May 8, 2014
10:16
9.5.2014
!!! BREAKING NEWS !!!
There are reports of fighting between Ukrainian troops and separatist forces in the center of Mariupol in eastern Ukraine near the city's police headquarters. Casualties have been reported.
More to follow