06:49
20.5.2014
Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov has expressed support via Facebook for the eastern oligarch Rinat Akhmetov's call last night for workers to conduct a symbolic strike to protest what he described as banditry and "genocide" being waged by the separatist "Donetsk People's Republic."
Avakov warns "haters" that "it's too late." He says "the people's power and energy will sweep trash better than any [antiterrorism officers]."
Akhmetov's System Capital Management employs around 280,000 people in eastern Ukraine, and many of his employees have been patrolling streets in the past week alongside police in Mariupol and elsewhere to discourage separatism. Here is his video appeal to them and others to stage their walkout:
Avakov warns "haters" that "it's too late." He says "the people's power and energy will sweep trash better than any [antiterrorism officers]."
Akhmetov's System Capital Management employs around 280,000 people in eastern Ukraine, and many of his employees have been patrolling streets in the past week alongside police in Mariupol and elsewhere to discourage separatism. Here is his video appeal to them and others to stage their walkout:
07:53
20.5.2014
Russia's central bank is earmarking 3 billion rubles for loans to enterprises in Crimea, Interfax reports, quoting authorities on the annexed peninsula. Russia has set June 1 as the end of the transition to the Russian ruble from the Ukrainian hryvnya.
09:05
20.5.2014
09:06
20.5.2014
09:15
20.5.2014
BBC's Ukrainian service has a video report on a chocolatier in Lviv, in western Ukraine, that offers Putin busts in milk or white chocolate.
09:17
20.5.2014
09:18
20.5.2014
09:19
20.5.2014
09:31
20.5.2014
Video from @BishopK of horns sounding in downtown Donetsk around noon in response to Akhmetov's call. It's a bit underwhelming.
09:41
20.5.2014
Remember, Ukrainian elections are this Sunday.