19:00
8.4.2014
18:50
8.4.2014
17:19
8.4.2014
16:53
8.4.2014
Ukraine's State Security Service (SBU) is saying that pro-Russian separatists have placed explosives in an SBU building they seized in the eastern city of Luhansk and that they are holding around 60 people hostage.
Now, Reuters is reporting that one of the pro-Russian occupants of the building who gave his name as "Anton" has denied his group rigged explosives in the building or was holding hostages.
Now, Reuters is reporting that one of the pro-Russian occupants of the building who gave his name as "Anton" has denied his group rigged explosives in the building or was holding hostages.
16:40
8.4.2014
News desk fleshing out a bit Russian Foreign Ministry statement:
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton have discussed possible international efforts to find a solution to the Ukraine crisis.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that in a telephone conversation on April 8, Lavrov reaffirmed Russia's proposal for "an authentic Ukraine-wide dialogue involving all political forces and regions" aimed at reaching agreement on constitutional reforms.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that in a telephone conversation on April 8, Lavrov reaffirmed Russia's proposal for "an authentic Ukraine-wide dialogue involving all political forces and regions" aimed at reaching agreement on constitutional reforms.
16:21
8.4.2014
More from our news desk on the developing situation in Luhansk.
Ukraine's State Security Service (SBU) says pro-Russian separatists have placed explosives in an SBU building they seized in the eastern city of Luhansk and are holding around 60 people against their will.
The SBU on April 8 posted a statement on its website saying its counterterrorist units were trying to convince the separatists to free the captives.
The SBU said it has called on the separatists to lay down their arms and come out peacefully.
The statement accused the separatists of using "terrorist measures."
Ukraine says the building was seized by armed pro-Russian protesters on April 6 when pro-Russian protesters also seized government buildings in the eastern cities of Donetsk and Kharkiv.
Ukrainian authorities on April 8 regained control over the regional government building in Kharkiv.
The SBU on April 8 posted a statement on its website saying its counterterrorist units were trying to convince the separatists to free the captives.
The SBU said it has called on the separatists to lay down their arms and come out peacefully.
The statement accused the separatists of using "terrorist measures."
Ukraine says the building was seized by armed pro-Russian protesters on April 6 when pro-Russian protesters also seized government buildings in the eastern cities of Donetsk and Kharkiv.
Ukrainian authorities on April 8 regained control over the regional government building in Kharkiv.
16:19
8.4.2014
BREAKING: Russia's Foreign Ministry says Sergei Lavrov, the foreign minister, has discussed the Ukraine crisis with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton by telephone.
16:19
8.4.2014
16:18
8.4.2014
Interesting piece on BuzzFeed by Mike Giglio, where he spent time with pro-Russia protesters who had occupied a regional government in Donetsk. He discusses the activists' ties with Russia.
But he admitted to some Russian influence over the referendum push, saying he had received “intellectual” support from “civil” contacts inside Russia that he had developed over more than a decade as an activist. “Intellectual help I do receive,” he said. “I speak on Skype with [Russian] political scientists and experts. I receive advice. That is all.”
15:56
8.4.2014