Accessibility links

Subscribe
All RFE/RL sites
site logo site logo
Previous Next
Breaking News
A woman carries a baby as she passes destroyed houses following what locals say was overnight shelling by Ukrainian forces in the eastern town of Slovyansk on June 9.
A woman carries a baby as she passes destroyed houses following what locals say was overnight shelling by Ukrainian forces in the eastern town of Slovyansk on June 9.
Blogs

Live Blog: Crisis In Ukraine (Archive)

Summary for June 9

-- Ukraine's Foreign Ministry says that Moscow and Kyiv have reached a "mutual understanding" on key parts of a plan proposed by President Petro Poroshenko for ending violence in separatist-controlled eastern Ukraine.

-- Reports say up to 20 armed gunmen were trying to seize property from a factory (Topaz) that makes communications and electronic-warfare equipment in the Donetsk region.

-- A deputy foreign minister says Russia will consider any expansion of NATO forces near its borders a "demonstration of hostile intentions" and "take the necessary political and military-technological measures to support our security."

-- A two-man crew for Russian Zvezda TV arrived in Moscow after being released from detention in Ukraine.

-- Serbian officials say their own work on the Russian-backed South Stream gas pipeline will have to be suspended after Bulgaria stopped construction of its portion based on EU and U.S. concerns.

-- Ukrainian security forces are reportedly still battling pro-Russian separatists in the east near Slovyansk and Donetsk.

*NOTE: Times are stated according to local time in Kyiv
13:56 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.
14:31 22.5.2014
14:36 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.
14:54 22.5.2014
15:22 22.5.2014
The BBC is reporting that Russia's diplomatic corps will be having words with the United Kingdom over Prince Charles' remarks comparing Putin to Hitler, which were reported yesterday:
A spokesman for the Russian embassy in London said: "The minister-counsellor of the Embassy, Mr Alexander Kramarenko, will meet this afternoon the representatives of the FCO [Foreign and Commonwealth Office] to discuss a range of bilateral issues.

"The outrageous remarks made by Prince Charles in Canada will be among the questions raised. The embassy asked the FCO for official clarifications on that yesterday."

Read more here
15:30 22.5.2014
15:56 22.5.2014
16:47 22.5.2014
16:48 22.5.2014
17:52 22.5.2014
Video from a distance of this morning's fighting in Volnovakha, in Donetsk region, where Ukrainian security forces suffered their single deadliest attack, on a checkpoint. The sound of gunfire and plumes of smoke, then a military helicopter makes a number of passes over the scene.

Load more

Back to top
XS
SM
MD
LG