Here's an update on the fatal shoot-out in Kharkiv yesterday. It now sounds like the suspected shooter may have had a personal rather than a political motive:
Ukrainian Authorities Identify Kharkiv Police Killer, Find His Dead Wife
Police in Ukraine's eastern region of Kharkiv have named a man who was shot dead near the Kharkiv city council early on August 20 after killing a police officer -- saying investigators also discovered the body of the gunman's slain wife.
Oleh Bekh, Kharkiv's regional deputy police chief, identified the gunman as Oleksandr Poyarkov -- a 47-year-old unemployed Kharkiv resident.
Bekh said on August 21 that investigators suspect Poyarkov also killed his wife.
Her bullet-riddled body was discovered at the couple's house after Poyarkov's shooting spree near the city council building.
Bekh said investigators also found an assault rifle, four pistols, a rifle, and a large amount of ammunition at the house.
Bekh said an autopsy showed that the Poyarkov was intoxicated when he went on the shooting rampage.
Based on reporting by UNIAN and Gordon
Good morning. We'll get the live blog rolling today with this item from our news desk:
Sentsov Supporters To Mark 100th Day Of His Hunger Strike
PEN International is planning to mark the 100th day of Ukrainian writer and filmmaker Oleh Sentsov's hunger strike with an event at Russia's Embassy in London on August 21.
The London-based association of writers says it will deliver "messages of support from all over the world" to the embassy and urge the Russian authorities to ensure that Sentsov is allowed to receive them in the penal colony where he is being incarcerated.
There will also be readings of Sentsov's letters and stories, the group says.
A vocal opponent of Russia's 2014 takeover of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, Sentsov was sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted by a Russian court in 2015 of conspiring to commit terrorist acts.
The 42-year-old Sentsov has been on a hunger strike at a penal colony in Labytnangi in Russia's northern region of Yamalo-Nenets since mid-May. He is demanding that Russia release 64 Ukrainian citizens that he considers political prisoners.
Human rights groups have backed Sentsov's contention that the charges were politically motivated.
He has also indicated that he is prepared to die of starvation to press the cause, vowing to continue his protest "to the end."
After meeting with Sentsov at the penal colony on August 14, a member of Russia's Presidential Advisory Council On Human Rights, Zoya Svetova, told RFE/RL that the filmmaker was in "bad" health as a result of his hunger strike.
United Nations experts in an August 15 statement expressed "grave concern" for Sentsov's "physical and mental integrity" and called on the Russian government to "immediately and unconditionally release" him.
Several governments, prominent figures, and Sentsov's family have called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to pardon Sentsov.
Sentsov has said that he will not ask for a pardon because he believes he has not committed a crime.
This ends our live blogging for August 20. Be sure to check back tomorrow for our continuing coverage.