17:28
1.6.2014
Crimea's switch to the ruble today has raised public transport costs in Kerch according to this report from our Ukrainian Service's Crimea unit.
18:45
1.6.2014
And here's video from the anti-Poroshenko candy stomping from Donetsk, earlier today:
19:07
1.6.2014
19:55
1.6.2014
Barring any major developments, that ends the live blogging for tonight.
08:42
2.6.2014
Good morning, starting the live blog for another day. There are key gas talks today in Brussels, after Kyiv has transferred some of its debt to Moscow.
08:42
2.6.2014
08:45
2.6.2014
More on that border guard attack from our news desk:
Ukraine's border guard service says a number of servicemen have been wounded in an insurgent attack on their camp in eastern Ukraine.
In a statement, the Ukrainian State Border Service said that some 100 armed insurgents attacked the border guards' camp in Luhansk in the early hours of June 2.
A gunbattle ensued. A Ukrainian fighter jet was called in for support.
The border service says the number of the attackers eventually swelled to 200.
The fighting is reportedly ongoing.
The conflict between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian insurgents in eastern Ukraine has escalated in the last week, with pro-Russian separatists attempting to seize the airport in Donetsk and the shooting down of a Ukrainian military helicopter, killing 14 soldiers.
In a statement, the Ukrainian State Border Service said that some 100 armed insurgents attacked the border guards' camp in Luhansk in the early hours of June 2.
A gunbattle ensued. A Ukrainian fighter jet was called in for support.
The border service says the number of the attackers eventually swelled to 200.
The fighting is reportedly ongoing.
The conflict between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian insurgents in eastern Ukraine has escalated in the last week, with pro-Russian separatists attempting to seize the airport in Donetsk and the shooting down of a Ukrainian military helicopter, killing 14 soldiers.
09:25
2.6.2014
Ahead of the gas talks later today in Brussels, Russian energy giant Gazprom has delayed the introduction of advance payment for gas supplies to Ukraine to June 9 after receiving partial payment from Kyiv.
Gazprom CEO Aleksei Miller made the announcement on June 2 following confirmation by Russia's Energy Ministry that it had received a $786 million payment for part of its estimated $5.2 billion gas debt to Moscow.
"We welcome Ukraine starting to pay back its debt and postpone the prepayment regime until June 9," Miller said in a statement.
The payment is intended to keep alive a new round of negotiations on settling Ukraine's debt, expected to take place on June 2 in Brussels.
European Union Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger has said he hopes some sort of breakthrough can be reached.
"We welcome Ukraine starting to pay back its debt and postpone the prepayment regime until June 9," Miller said in a statement.
The payment is intended to keep alive a new round of negotiations on settling Ukraine's debt, expected to take place on June 2 in Brussels.
European Union Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger has said he hopes some sort of breakthrough can be reached.
09:29
2.6.2014
And in diplomacy news:
U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Derek Chollet is due to visit Kyiv for meetings June 2 with Ukrainian officials.
Chollet is also due to give a press conference at the Ukrainian Crisis Media Center.
Press reports say the visit is aimed at reassuring Ukrainian President-elect Petro Poroshenko about Washington's suport for his government and showing Russian President Vladimir Putin the strength of the U.S. commitment to Ukraine.
Poroshenko, who is due to be inaugurated on June 7, is due to meet U.S. President Barack Obama on June 4 in Warsaw.
It is unusual for a U.S. president to meet with a head of state before that individual takes office.
Chollet is also due to give a press conference at the Ukrainian Crisis Media Center.
Press reports say the visit is aimed at reassuring Ukrainian President-elect Petro Poroshenko about Washington's suport for his government and showing Russian President Vladimir Putin the strength of the U.S. commitment to Ukraine.
Poroshenko, who is due to be inaugurated on June 7, is due to meet U.S. President Barack Obama on June 4 in Warsaw.
It is unusual for a U.S. president to meet with a head of state before that individual takes office.
10:03
2.6.2014
Kyiv Post has a write-up of the attack on the border post in Luhansk, including this video of the attack, filmed apparently by Ukraine's Border Service.