Here's the latest map of the military situation in eastern Ukraine from Kyiv's National Security and Defense Council (click to enlarge):
Here's an item from RFE/RL's news desk on events in eastern Ukraine:
Ukraine's Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak said on November 22 that Russia has 7,500 troops in the east of the country, where pro-Moscow separatists have been fighting government troops for months.
Poltorak said in a statement posted on the ministry's website that "the presence of 7,500 representatives of Russian armed forces in Ukraine destabilizes the situation and prevents us from stabilizing it."
Poltorak added that Ukraine plans to "increase the strength of the armed forces" and boost levels of arms and equipment "in the nearest time."
Meanwhile, security officials in Kyiv said today that four Ukrainian soldiers were killed and 10 injured in the east in the last 24 hours.
Ukraine's new coalition government on November 21 declared joining NATO a priority.
Ukraine's military on November 21 also accused Russia of shelling its territory for the first time since a cease-fire was signed in early September.
With additional reporting by AFP
Good morning. We'll start the live blog today with some exclusive footage from RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service of events on Kyiv's Independence Square last night to mark the first anniversary of the Maidan. Ukrainian singer Ruslana -- who won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2004 -- helped ensure the crowd were in a patriotic mood with a stirring rendition of the national anthem and chants of "Glory to Ukraine!" (natural sound):
