16:36
22.5.2014
So, according to our news desk, the official death toll in last night's violence is actually 14 altogether (13 in the Donetsk region):
A spokeswoman for Ukraine's acting President OIeksandr Turchynov says 13 soldiers were killed in an overnight attack by separatist forces in the Donetsk region.
The Defense Ministry earlier said one soldier had been killed in another overnight attack in the neighboring region of Luhansk.
The attacks on the night of May 21-22 were the deadliest for Ukraine's military since it launched an offensive six weeks ago against the pro-Russian separatists who have declared their so-called "people's republics" in two eastern regions.
They came three days before Ukraine holds a crucial presidential election on May 25.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk accused Russia of trying to escalate the conflict ahead of the vote.
Yatsenyuk called on the UN Security Council to hold an urgent meeting on the crisis.
NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, meanwhile, said today that limited Russian troop movements near the border with Ukraine "may suggest" preparations for a withdrawal.
The Defense Ministry earlier said one soldier had been killed in another overnight attack in the neighboring region of Luhansk.
The attacks on the night of May 21-22 were the deadliest for Ukraine's military since it launched an offensive six weeks ago against the pro-Russian separatists who have declared their so-called "people's republics" in two eastern regions.
They came three days before Ukraine holds a crucial presidential election on May 25.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk accused Russia of trying to escalate the conflict ahead of the vote.
Yatsenyuk called on the UN Security Council to hold an urgent meeting on the crisis.
NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, meanwhile, said today that limited Russian troop movements near the border with Ukraine "may suggest" preparations for a withdrawal.
16:31
22.5.2014
Crimea official ban till June 6 on mass gathering activity lifted for Cossack culture day http://t.co/3bhiOdVG0B pic.twitter.com/l5Ql3CTm0V
— Ryskeldi Satke (@RyskeldiSatke) May 22, 2014
Crimea Tatars apparently not in the same category as Cossacks for Russian authorities.
— Ryskeldi Satke (@RyskeldiSatke) May 22, 2014
15:56
22.5.2014
RFE/RL's Brussels correspondent Rikard Jozwiak has sent our news desk this item regarding Russian troops on Ukraine's border:
NATO's top military commander says the alliance has noted some movement of Russian troops away from the Ukrainian border but says it's "too early" to assess their size or importance.
Supreme Allied Commander General Philip Breedlove said today that a "very large and very capable force" still remains near the border.
Speaking after a meeting of NATO chiefs of defense in Brussels, Breedlove said that the remaining force is able to do exactly what it could have done a week ago.
Breedlove said that only a full withdrawal will be the right answer to de-escalate the crisis in Ukraine.
Supreme Allied Commander General Philip Breedlove said today that a "very large and very capable force" still remains near the border.
Speaking after a meeting of NATO chiefs of defense in Brussels, Breedlove said that the remaining force is able to do exactly what it could have done a week ago.
Breedlove said that only a full withdrawal will be the right answer to de-escalate the crisis in Ukraine.
15:48
22.5.2014
Acting Prez @Turchynov says 13 dead. Pro-Russian Rebels Launch Deadliest Attack Yet in Eastern #Ukraine http://t.co/XxfTS0sW0E @mashable
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) May 22, 2014
15:43
22.5.2014
ГПУ відкрила провадження щодо Лавриновича і Лукаш - http://t.co/k5pGLMHZVR pic.twitter.com/qc4hhUqq60
— Радіо Свобода (@radiosvoboda) May 22, 2014
15:35
22.5.2014
13 #Ukraine soldiers killed in battle near #Volnovakha, #Donetsk region, reports @interfaxua, citing @Turchynov.
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) May 22, 2014
15:28
22.5.2014
Here's an election update from RFE/RL's news desk:
Ukraine's Central Election Commission says that, with three days remaining until the May 25 presidential election, pro-Russian separatists were blocking the work of election officials in nearly half of the constituencies in two eastern regions.
The Commission said on May 22 that separatists were preventing election officials from preparing for the vote in 16 out of the 34 electoral districts in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, where the separatists have declared their own independent republics.
It said that separatists have overrun the district election commissions in eight constituencies in the Donetsk region, and another eight in Luhansk.
Separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk have said they will not allow the presidential election to take place in their regions.
The Commission said on May 22 that separatists were preventing election officials from preparing for the vote in 16 out of the 34 electoral districts in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, where the separatists have declared their own independent republics.
It said that separatists have overrun the district election commissions in eight constituencies in the Donetsk region, and another eight in Luhansk.
Separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk have said they will not allow the presidential election to take place in their regions.
15:10
22.5.2014
15:09
22.5.2014
15:00
22.5.2014
Tom Balmforth takes a look at how people in eastern Ukraine will be able to vote in Sunday's presidential election. Read: Amid Chaos: How Will Eastern Ukrainians Manage To Vote?