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.
-- 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
BREAKING: Italian journalist killed in eastern Ukraine
ROME, May 25 (Reuters) - An Italian journalist is believed to have been killed near the eastern Ukrainian town of Slaviansk where pro-Russian forces have been fighting Ukrainian government troops, Ukrainian authorities told the Italian foreign ministry.
Andrea Ronchelli, who Italian media reports said was a freelance photographer, was killed along with a Russian national but his body had not yet been formally identified, the Italian ministry said in a statement issued on Sunday.
The two bodies had been transferred to a hospital in Slaviansk, the statement said. Members of Ronchelli's family were expected to arrive in Kiev on Sunday.
09:1725.5.2014
According to AFP, Andrea Ronchelli was killed by a mortar shell:
An Italian journalist was killed Saturday during a mortar shell attack close to Slavyansk, eastern Ukraine, Rome's foreign ministry announced.
"Unfortunately, all of the information points to the fact that he has died," a spokeswoman told AFP on Sunday.
09:3825.5.2014
09:4025.5.2014
09:5025.5.2014
10:1825.5.2014
More on the death of the Italian journalist from our news desk:
An Italian photojournalist has been reported killed in eastern Ukraine.
Italy's Foreign Ministry said Andrea Rocchelli was believed to have been killed on May 24 near the city of Slovyansk, where pro-Russian forces have been fighting Ukrainian government troops.
The statement said the journalist's body, taken to a hospital along with that of a Russian citizen, was awaiting official identification.
Reports said that the Italian journalist and his Russian interpreter were hit by mortar fire.
10:1825.5.2014
10:3325.5.2014
Here's Yulia voting:
And here's Poroshenko, right after he voted:
10:3525.5.2014
Lots of reports of long lines, at least in Kyiv and western Ukraine.
10:4225.5.2014
From our news desk:
Two Russian journalists held for a week after being detained by pro-government forces in eastern Ukraine have been released.
Oleg Sidyakin and Marat Saichenko were detained on May 18 near the eastern town of Kramatorsk.
The two journalists for website LifeNews were released early on May 25 and first flew to Chechnya's capital, Grozny, where they met with leader Ramzan Kadyrov.
Speaking to reporters later in the day in Moscow, Sidyakin and Saichenko denied claims that they were carrying antiaircraft missiles when detained.
On May 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed the accusation as "nonsense and delirium."
Life News is owned by News Media Holding – a private Russian firm controlled by Kremlin-loyalist Aram Babrelyanov and whose major shareholders include members of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle.
