Here is today's map of the security situation in eastern Ukraine, according to the National Security and Defense Council (CLICK TO ENLARGE):
Russian Ruble Continues Slide Against Euro, Dollar
The value of the Russian ruble contined to slide, hitting lows against the euro and the dollar not seen since early this year.
The ruble-euro rate reached more than 70 rubles and fell to 64.4 rubles to the dollar in trading on August 6.
The euro rate was the lowest since March and the dollar rate was the weakest since February.
The ruble's fall is tied to the Russian economy, which has slumped into recession due to lower oil prices and Western sanctions against Moscow because of the Kremlin's involvement in the Ukraine crisis.
The ruble lost about half of its value in 2014 but recovered slightly this year after energy prices stabilized.
Russian officials have predicted the the economy will shrink by some 2.8 percent this year and the IMF has said the prolonged Western sanctions could lead to a 9 percent drop in GDP in Russia in the medium term.
Based on reporting by Reuters and Interfax
Barring any major developments, that concludes our live-blogging of the Ukraine crisis for Thursday, August 6. Thanks for reading. Check back here tomorrow for more of our continuing coverage.
In case you missed it earlier this week:
Developing story
Ukraine's fugitive ex-Presidnet Viktor Yanukovych will not show up at the Prosecutor-General's Office in Kyiv for questioning, his lawyer Vitaliy Serdyuk says.
Ukrainian authorities said on August 6 that they had subpoenaed Yanukovych to testify in a corruption investigation.
Serdyuk told Hromadske.tv television channel on August 7 that Yanukovych will not attend the questioning due to "fears for his life and health safety."
Serdyuk added though that his client is ready to answer any questions regarding the case via video.
Yanukovych fled Ukraine in late February 2014 amid violent pro-European mass protests and is currently residing in Russia, though his exact whereabouts are unknown.
He was accused in absentia of ordering gunfire at pro-European protesters, corruption, and embezzlement.