05:37
16.4.2014
Good morning. We'll get the live blog rolling today with the latest update from RFE/RL's news desk:
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned Ukraine is "on the verge of civil war."
The Kremlin said Putin made the comment in a telephone call with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the situation there.
Putin spoke hours after Ukrainian armed forces retook control of a small military air base in the east of the country, where pro-Russian separatists have seized control of buildings and other facilities in at least nine cities.
Acting President Oleksandr Turchynov said the base in Kramatorsk had been "liberated."
Another "antiterrorist" operation was also reportedly under way in nearby Slovyansk, although few details have emerged there.
The White House described Ukraine's response to an "untenable" situation in the east as "measured."
The Kremlin said Putin made the comment in a telephone call with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the situation there.
Putin spoke hours after Ukrainian armed forces retook control of a small military air base in the east of the country, where pro-Russian separatists have seized control of buildings and other facilities in at least nine cities.
Acting President Oleksandr Turchynov said the base in Kramatorsk had been "liberated."
Another "antiterrorist" operation was also reportedly under way in nearby Slovyansk, although few details have emerged there.
The White House described Ukraine's response to an "untenable" situation in the east as "measured."
19:46
15.4.2014
Barring any dramatic developments, we are closing the live blog for today.
Before we go, we will leave you with our news desk's report on Moscow's reaction to a UN document published today on the human rights situation in Ukraine:
Before we go, we will leave you with our news desk's report on Moscow's reaction to a UN document published today on the human rights situation in Ukraine:
Russia's Foreign Ministry has criticized a new United Nations report on human rights in Ukraine as "one-sided, politicized, and biased."
Foreign Ministry spokesman Aleksandr Lukashevich said the report issued today "ignores a whole range of flagrant violations of human rights by the self-proclaimed [Ukrainian] authorities, such as abductions, tortures, extrajudicial killings, encroachment upon the court system's independence, [and] crackdown on the mass media and civil society."
Lukashevich said the UN report appeared "fabricated to fit prearranged conclusions."
The report from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights analyzed the situation in Ukraine since November 2013.
The report said "excessive use of force" by the Berkut special police and other security forces had radicalized the Euromaidan protesters in Kyiv.
The Berkut force was disbanded after the government of ousted President Viktor Yanukovych collapsed in February.
The report said several measures taken by pro-Russian officials in Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula before and after a March 16 referendum are "deeply concerning from a human rights perspective."
It added that while there were some attacks against the ethnic Russian community in Crimea, they were "neither systematic nor widespread."
Foreign Ministry spokesman Aleksandr Lukashevich said the report issued today "ignores a whole range of flagrant violations of human rights by the self-proclaimed [Ukrainian] authorities, such as abductions, tortures, extrajudicial killings, encroachment upon the court system's independence, [and] crackdown on the mass media and civil society."
Lukashevich said the UN report appeared "fabricated to fit prearranged conclusions."
The report from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights analyzed the situation in Ukraine since November 2013.
The report said "excessive use of force" by the Berkut special police and other security forces had radicalized the Euromaidan protesters in Kyiv.
The Berkut force was disbanded after the government of ousted President Viktor Yanukovych collapsed in February.
The report said several measures taken by pro-Russian officials in Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula before and after a March 16 referendum are "deeply concerning from a human rights perspective."
It added that while there were some attacks against the ethnic Russian community in Crimea, they were "neither systematic nor widespread."
19:36
15.4.2014
Pro-Russian activists settling in outside the Kramatorsk military airfield. Ukrainian helicopters continue to land. pic.twitter.com/ebdiLAvqHx
— Duncan Crawford (@_DuncanC) April 15, 2014
18:39
15.4.2014
Appalling video of April 13 clashes in #Kharkiv with blonde woman kicking the injured. Apparently she's a doctor. http://t.co/jehT6igNAj
— Myroslava Petsa (@myroslavapetsa) April 15, 2014
18:12
15.4.2014
There's only one reason @vicenews's @SimonOstrovsky and @freddiepaxton have me in their car: Russian passport magic!
— Petr Shelomovskiy (@stopnarcotics) April 15, 2014
18:09
15.4.2014
Here's the response in Washington and Moscow to the latest developments in Ukraine (from RFE/RL's news desk):
The United States has given backing to Ukraine’s security operation against pro-Russian groups who have seized buildings in the east of the country.
White House spokesman Jay Carney said the Ukrainian government "has the responsibility to provide law and order and these [pro-Russian] provocations in eastern Ukraine are creating a situation in which the government has to respond."
The spokesman added that United States is "seriously considering" new sanctions against Russia, but is not considering providing lethal military aid to Ukraine at the current time.
The United States has previously accused Russia of orchestrating the unrest in eastern Ukraine in preparation for a possible military incursion there.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has spoken with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon by telephone and told him that Moscow expects the UN to publicly condemn the security operation that Ukrainian authorities have launched today against pro-Russian groups occupying government buildings in eastern Ukrainian cities and towns.
According to the Kremlin press service, Putin told the UN secretary-general that the crisis in Ukraine has "escalated rapidly after authorities in Kyiv initiated the operation using force in southeastern Ukraine."
Putin said Russia expected the UN and the international community to clearly condemn these "anticonstitutional actions" by Ukrainian authorities.
White House spokesman Jay Carney said the Ukrainian government "has the responsibility to provide law and order and these [pro-Russian] provocations in eastern Ukraine are creating a situation in which the government has to respond."
The spokesman added that United States is "seriously considering" new sanctions against Russia, but is not considering providing lethal military aid to Ukraine at the current time.
The United States has previously accused Russia of orchestrating the unrest in eastern Ukraine in preparation for a possible military incursion there.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has spoken with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon by telephone and told him that Moscow expects the UN to publicly condemn the security operation that Ukrainian authorities have launched today against pro-Russian groups occupying government buildings in eastern Ukrainian cities and towns.
According to the Kremlin press service, Putin told the UN secretary-general that the crisis in Ukraine has "escalated rapidly after authorities in Kyiv initiated the operation using force in southeastern Ukraine."
Putin said Russia expected the UN and the international community to clearly condemn these "anticonstitutional actions" by Ukrainian authorities.
17:40
15.4.2014
Helicopter supplies #ukraine troops 50km from Sloviansk pic.twitter.com/JSMO7Nn6vZ
— Simon Ostrovsky (@SimonOstrovsky) April 15, 2014
Another update from our new desk:
Ukraine's parliament has appointed a new National Guard commander.
In today's vote, 235 out of 283 lawmakers approved the appointment of General Stepan Poltorak, 49, to head the National Guard.
Poltorak has been the commander of Ukraine's Interior Ministry troops.
The creation of the National Guard, with some 60,000 volunteer troops, was approved by parliament last month after Russian forces occupied Ukraine's Crimea, which was later annexed by Moscow following a hastily staged referendum.
In today's vote, 235 out of 283 lawmakers approved the appointment of General Stepan Poltorak, 49, to head the National Guard.
Poltorak has been the commander of Ukraine's Interior Ministry troops.
The creation of the National Guard, with some 60,000 volunteer troops, was approved by parliament last month after Russian forces occupied Ukraine's Crimea, which was later annexed by Moscow following a hastily staged referendum.
17:37
15.4.2014
'Blood moon' over Eastern #Ukraine. Hope it's a peaceful not warlike omen. pic.twitter.com/HV1g6WhBpp
— Lindsey Hilsum (@lindseyhilsum) April 15, 2014
17:30
15.4.2014
Meanwhile, in Kyiv, the U.S. Embassy has issued this video, giving details of its $1 billion loan guarantee agreement with the Ukrainian government:
16:59
15.4.2014
Kyiv officials: No casualties among Ukrainian troops in #Kramatorsk http://t.co/UMP98vJpiy
— KyivPost (@KyivPost) April 15, 2014