11:10
2.6.2014
From our news desk, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says Russia will submit a draft resolution to the UN Security Council demanding an immediate end to violence in Ukraine.
Lavrov said in Moscow that the resolution, to be submitted on June 2, will also seek to establish a humanitarian aid corridor in eastern Ukraine and begin a dialogue on a cease-fire.
Lavrov said that Western countries had assured Moscow that the situation in Ukraine would improve after the country's May 25 presidential election, which saw billionaire Petro Poroshenko win the vote.
But Lavrov says that, instead of improvement, "everything is happening in exactly the opposite way."
Lavrov said that Western countries had assured Moscow that the situation in Ukraine would improve after the country's May 25 presidential election, which saw billionaire Petro Poroshenko win the vote.
But Lavrov says that, instead of improvement, "everything is happening in exactly the opposite way."
11:54
2.6.2014
Hundreds of people marched through Kharkiv on June 1 to protest what Russian state media organizations have dubbed the "Russian Spring," the rise of pro-Moscow separatism in Ukraine's east.
The protesters carried a giant Ukrainian flag and sang the national anthem at the foot of the Independence Monument in central Kharkiv. Here is video from RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service.
The protesters carried a giant Ukrainian flag and sang the national anthem at the foot of the Independence Monument in central Kharkiv. Here is video from RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service.
12:24
2.6.2014
U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Derek Chollet is in Kyiv today. Some comments from a news conference at the Ukrainian Crisis Media Center.
"This morning we also discussed the ongoing violence perpetrated by Russian-backed separatists in the east, seeking to undermine the democratically elected government of the unified Ukraine."
"We are interested in providing further assistance. The Ukrainians have asked us for a very long list of items that they need to acquire and we the United States, as well as close partners of ours, Poland, France, the United Kingdom will be working with Ukraine in the coming weeks to help fulfill those requests."
"This morning we also discussed the ongoing violence perpetrated by Russian-backed separatists in the east, seeking to undermine the democratically elected government of the unified Ukraine."
"We are interested in providing further assistance. The Ukrainians have asked us for a very long list of items that they need to acquire and we the United States, as well as close partners of ours, Poland, France, the United Kingdom will be working with Ukraine in the coming weeks to help fulfill those requests."
12:50
2.6.2014
According to the wires, the death toll in the attack on the border guards has risen.
Ukraine's border guard service says seven officers were wounded, some critically, in an insurgent attack on their camp in eastern Ukraine.
The service said five attackers were killed and eight injured in the ensuing gunbattle. A separatist spokesman confirmed only one injured rebel.
In a statement, the border service said hundreds of insurgents had attacked the border guards' camp in Luhansk in the early hours of June 2, using mortars, machine guns, and automatic rifles.
Fresh fighting was also reported between government forces and rebels in Slovyansk, the separatist stronghold in the neighboring Donetsk region.
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.
The service said five attackers were killed and eight injured in the ensuing gunbattle. A separatist spokesman confirmed only one injured rebel.
In a statement, the border service said hundreds of insurgents had attacked the border guards' camp in Luhansk in the early hours of June 2, using mortars, machine guns, and automatic rifles.
Fresh fighting was also reported between government forces and rebels in Slovyansk, the separatist stronghold in the neighboring Donetsk region.
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.
13:23
2.6.2014
14:54
2.6.2014
It seems the fighting is still going on in Luhansk, but the situation is incredibly murky. Here's what our news desk has put together. The border service has said that "hundreds" of insurgents attacked, which seems like a very large number, if true.
The border service said the battle was still going on hours after the insurgents tried to storm the camp in the early hours of June 2.
It said at least five rebels were killed and eight injured. It also said seven border officers were injured, some critically.
A separatist spokesman confirmed only one injured rebel.
The border service accused the insurgents of hiding in surrounding apartment blocks and on roofs and of using civilians as "human shields."
A spokesman said the border guards eventually received air cover from fighter bombers that managed to destroy "two mortar crews of militants."
Fresh fighting was also reported in Slovyansk, a rebel stronghold in neighboring Donetsk region.
It said at least five rebels were killed and eight injured. It also said seven border officers were injured, some critically.
A separatist spokesman confirmed only one injured rebel.
The border service accused the insurgents of hiding in surrounding apartment blocks and on roofs and of using civilians as "human shields."
A spokesman said the border guards eventually received air cover from fighter bombers that managed to destroy "two mortar crews of militants."
Fresh fighting was also reported in Slovyansk, a rebel stronghold in neighboring Donetsk region.
14:59
2.6.2014
There are reports emerging that a city admin building has been damaged/is on fire in Luhansk. Unclear what has happened.
15:22
2.6.2014
Some more video from our Ukrainian Service. Members of the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union gathered outside the presidential administration building in Kyiv urging the government to take immediate action to help release journalist and Maidan activist Irma Krat, who has been held hostage by pro-Russian separatists in the eastern city of Slovyansk.
15:25
2.6.2014
15:42
2.6.2014
Our Ukraine Service is reporting more about the explosion in Luhansk:
RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service reports there has been an explosion in the regional administration building in Ukraine's eastern city of Luhansk which is occupied by pro-Russia separatists.
There were no immediate reports of casualties.
Smoke was seen rising from the building, and medics and firefighters have arrived at the scene.
It was not immediately clear what caused the explosion.
The rebels claimed the building was hit by an air strike from a Ukrainian military jet, but the claim could not be verified.
The reported explosion occurred as fighting continued on the outskirts of Luhansk between Ukrainian border guards and insurgents who early on June 2 tried to storm a base of the border guard service.
There were no immediate reports of casualties.
Smoke was seen rising from the building, and medics and firefighters have arrived at the scene.
It was not immediately clear what caused the explosion.
The rebels claimed the building was hit by an air strike from a Ukrainian military jet, but the claim could not be verified.
The reported explosion occurred as fighting continued on the outskirts of Luhansk between Ukrainian border guards and insurgents who early on June 2 tried to storm a base of the border guard service.