14:53
12.4.2014
In #Kramatorsk paratroopers and border guards are preparing to oppose a separatists attack on a police station http://t.co/IpPsVZNAuU
— democraticUkraine (@terval100) April 12, 2014
14:55
12.4.2014
The #Crimea scenario is now being played out in #Donetsk. #Russia is invading mainland #Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/EI6dP4VYby
— Anders Östlund (@andersostlund) April 12, 2014
14:56
12.4.2014
And this is beginning to move fast...
Locals from #Kostyantynivka, #Donetsk region, blocked the road leading to the town, set up a checkpoint
— Myroslava Petsa (@myroslavapetsa) April 12, 2014
14:59
12.4.2014
So just a little recap from our news desk of what's happening in Slovyansk:
Separatist protesters in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slovyansk have taken over the city hall and the local Ukrainian secret service (SBU) headquarters after earlier taking control of a police station.
Slovyansk Mayor Nelya Shtepa said there are some 1,000 people inside the city hall building and a Russian flag has been raised.
Police in the city say the pro-Russian separatists who seized the police station on the morning of April 12 have also taken control of some 400 handguns and 20 automatic weapons that were in the station.
Avakov said on Facebook on April 12 that the "response will be very tough because there is a difference between protesters and terrorists."
Ihor Dyomin, a spokesman for the Donetsk regional police, said on April 12 that about 15-20 armed men wearing camouflage fatigues took control of the police station in Slovyansk.
Armed men wearing balaclavas and pro-Russian St. George ribbons were seen outside the police station as barricades were built and a small crowd gathered to chant pro-Russia slogans.
Slovyansk is about 100 kilometers north of Donetsk and has a population of some 130,000 people.
Meanwhile, acting Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsya has urged Moscow to stop "provocative actions by Russian special agents in Ukraine's eastern regions."
Talking to his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov via telephone on April 12, Deshchytsya said that the ongoing actions of Russian agents in eastern regions aim at disrupting the Geneva meeting on stabilization of the situation in Ukraine.
Deshchytsya also confirmed his participation in the U.S-EU-Russia-Ukraine talks in Geneva scheduled for April 17.
Slovyansk Mayor Nelya Shtepa said there are some 1,000 people inside the city hall building and a Russian flag has been raised.
Police in the city say the pro-Russian separatists who seized the police station on the morning of April 12 have also taken control of some 400 handguns and 20 automatic weapons that were in the station.
Avakov said on Facebook on April 12 that the "response will be very tough because there is a difference between protesters and terrorists."
Ihor Dyomin, a spokesman for the Donetsk regional police, said on April 12 that about 15-20 armed men wearing camouflage fatigues took control of the police station in Slovyansk.
Armed men wearing balaclavas and pro-Russian St. George ribbons were seen outside the police station as barricades were built and a small crowd gathered to chant pro-Russia slogans.
Slovyansk is about 100 kilometers north of Donetsk and has a population of some 130,000 people.
Meanwhile, acting Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsya has urged Moscow to stop "provocative actions by Russian special agents in Ukraine's eastern regions."
Talking to his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov via telephone on April 12, Deshchytsya said that the ongoing actions of Russian agents in eastern regions aim at disrupting the Geneva meeting on stabilization of the situation in Ukraine.
Deshchytsya also confirmed his participation in the U.S-EU-Russia-Ukraine talks in Geneva scheduled for April 17.
14:59
12.4.2014
Slaviansk and Crimea:
15:05
12.4.2014
Militia building in Krasni Liman Donetsk oblast taken by about 20 separatists
— bruce springnote (@BSpringnote) April 12, 2014
15:06
12.4.2014
Donetsk's self appointed minister of defense arrested pic.twitter.com/bggLYpR8ke
— bruce springnote (@BSpringnote) April 12, 2014
15:06
12.4.2014
Mil expert Dmitry Tymchuk: Russia's objective is to seize as many local offices as poss before Apr 17 Geneva talks to show Ukraine's failed
— Myroslava Petsa (@myroslavapetsa) April 12, 2014
15:13
12.4.2014
Here is a little locator map of the three cities where the disturbances are taking place today: Slovyansk, Kramatosk, and Krasny Lyman. Having trouble embedding it, so check it out here.
15:19
12.4.2014
Things are moving fast and furious in eastern Ukraine today. A quick summary:
* Separatist protesters in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slovyansk have taken over the city hall and the local Ukrainian secret service (SBU) headquarters after earlier taking control of a police station. Slovyansk Mayor Nelya Shtepa said there are some 1,000 people inside the city hall building and a Russian flag has been raised. Police in the city say the pro-Russian separatists who seized the police station on the morning of April 12 have also taken control of some 400 handguns and 20 automatic weapons that were in the station.
* According to reports in Russian and Ukrainian news agencies, separatists have seized a police station in the town of Krasny Lima, north of Slovyansk
* There are reports of disturbances in the town of Kramatorsk, in the Donbas region. Channel 5's Myroslava Petsa tweets that police, border guards and Afghan war veterans are on full alert to fight separatists in the town (which is 70 percent Ukrainian).
* About 200 pro-Russian protesters armed with clubs and sticks have stormed police headquarters in Donetsk. AFP reports that the protesters met no resistance and that riot police who quickly arrived on scene were sporting orange and black St. George's ribbons.
* According to reports in Russian and Ukrainian news agencies, separatists have seized a police station in the town of Krasny Lima, north of Slovyansk
* There are reports of disturbances in the town of Kramatorsk, in the Donbas region. Channel 5's Myroslava Petsa tweets that police, border guards and Afghan war veterans are on full alert to fight separatists in the town (which is 70 percent Ukrainian).
* About 200 pro-Russian protesters armed with clubs and sticks have stormed police headquarters in Donetsk. AFP reports that the protesters met no resistance and that riot police who quickly arrived on scene were sporting orange and black St. George's ribbons.