Here's some video from RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service of today's attack on journalists at an airport in Prague:
Bodyguards Attack Journalists Covering Ukrainian Politician
Bodyguards violently attacked journalists covering the arrival in Kyiv of a Ukrainian politician with close personal ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Here's another news item, this time from RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service:
Ukrainian Lawmaker To Propose Cutting Diplomatic Ties With Russia
KYIV -- A lawmaker from Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's party has told RFE/RL he plans to propose legislation that would sever diplomatic relations with Russia.
Ivan Vinnyk spoke to RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service on November 8, after reports that he had already submitted the proposal prompted criticism from Moscow.
The proposal comes as the Verkhovna Rada considers a bill governing what lawmakers hope will be the "reintegration" of parts of eastern Ukraine held by Russia-backed separatists whose war against Kyiv has killed more than 10,000 people since April 2014.
The single-chamber parliament approved the bill in its first of two required votes on October 6. The second and final vote, which would send the bill to Poroshenko if it is approved by the Rada, is expected next week.
Vinnyk told RFE/RL that he has not yet submitted an amendment that would require Ukraine to cut diplomatic ties with Moscow but intends to do so.
HIs proposal would "oblige the cabinet of ministers, within three months from the date of entry into force of this law, to denounce, terminate, withdraw the signature under the protocol on the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Russia,"
"After that, diplomatic ties will be terminated," Vinnyk said. "This does not mean that we will not be able to support a certain amount of trade relations if necessary, [or] that Ukrainians will not be able to travel to Russia."
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry declined to comment on the plan.
Kremlin Backlash
Russian officials and pro-Kremlin politicians lashed out swiftly following reports that Vinnyk had proposed cutting off ties.
"If such a decision is taken...it will further complicate the situation and...damage the interests of people both in Ukraine itself and in Russia," said Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov.
Peskov suggested it would undermine efforts to end the war in eastern Ukraine, which persists despite a European-brokered pact on a cease-fire and steps to end the conflict and restore Ukrainian control over separatist-held areas.
Kyiv and NATO say Russia has sent troops into Ukraine and has also been arming and funding the separatists, claims that Moscow denies despite mounting evidence.
The conflict broke out after Russia fomented separatism across eastern and southern Ukraine -- and seized the Crimean Peninsula -- following pro-European protests that pushed Moscow-friendly President Viktor Yanukovych from power in February 2014.
Putin is likely to discuss the war in Ukraine with U.S. President Donald Trump at a possible meeting on the sidelines of a November 10-11 Asia-Pacific economic summit in Vietnam.
The U.S. envoy for efforts to end the conflict, Kurt Volker, said last week that he will plans to meet with Kremlin envoy Vladislav Surkov on November 13 in Belgrade.
With reporting by Interfax and TASS
A tweet from the UK ambassador to Kyiv:
A new item from our news desk:
UN Warns Of Humanitarian Impact Of Increased Hostilities In Eastern Ukraine
The United Nations has raised "extreme" concern that an escalation of fighting near water infrastructures in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk could lead to a deadly chlorine gas disaster.
The UN humanitarian coordinator in Ukraine, Neal Walker, said on November 8 that two water filter stations on both sides of the contact line separating government-held territory and separatist-controlled territory have been shelled over recent days.
“The UN is extremely concerned about the possible release of hazardous chlorine gas stored at both filter stations,” a statement said. “If a single 900 kg gas container is hit, anyone within 200 meters might receive fatal dose of the poisonous gas.”
The statement said that the Donetsk Filter Station has been shelled for three consecutive nights in the past six days, while the Verkhniokalmiuska Filter Station was hit more than 12 times in one single night.
It also said that the recent escalation of hostilities near water, electricity, and gas supply infrastructure in the Donetsk region threatens to disrupt essential services such as water and heating amid freezing temperatures.
Some 1.1 million people on both sides of the contact line could be deprived of clean water as a result of the fighting, according to Walker.
"Without sustained essential water supply, heating systems will stop and health conditions will deteriorate," he said. "Children, the elderly, women, and people with disabilities may flee their homes in search of heat and shelter."
Fighting between Kyiv's forces and the Russia-backed separatists who hold parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions has killed more than 10,000 people since April 2014.
Several cease-fire deals announced as part of the Minsk accords -- September 2014 and February 2015 pacts aimed at resolving the conflict -- have reduced fighting but not stopped it.