15:41
19.4.2014
Crimean Tatar leader Dzemilev returns 2 Crimea for first time since Russian invasion. Tatars fly their flag and Ukrainian flag in his honor
— bruce springnote (@BSpringnote) April 19, 2014
15:41
19.4.2014
Another snarky tweet from Euromaidan feed;
#Донбаcс #Україна #сепаратизм #Украина #Донецк pic.twitter.com/soN25LFn3h
— Євромайдан (@Dbnmjr) April 19, 2014
15:40
19.4.2014
#Ukraine recaptures two airborne combat vehicles on eve of truce http://t.co/tt9DTbdDQT pic.twitter.com/nTVEP5bxTA
— KyivPost (@KyivPost) April 19, 2014
15:39
19.4.2014
A Ukrainian flag on a Donetsk hill
На Донецьких териконах - українські прапори #Донбасс pic.twitter.com/4tO2fFiTa6
— Hromadske.TV (@HromadskeTV) April 19, 2014
15:37
19.4.2014
OSCE mission in Ukraine April 18th report: * Western & central Ukraine: calm. * Luhansk and Donetsk districts:... http://t.co/cgpf5iSA9B
— English EuroMaidan (@EuroMaidanEN) April 19, 2014
15:36
19.4.2014
From RFE/RL's News Desk:
Russian migration authorities claim only 3,000 residents of the newly annexed Crimea have refused to become Russian citizens.
Konstantin Romodanovsky, the head of the Russian Migration Service, said on April 19 that the agency had already prepared 250,000 Russian passports for Crimea residents.
The agency says it plans to issue Russian passports to up to 1.7 million local residents.
Romodanovsky said those who have failed to apply for Russian passports "will not be held liable" for the absence of compulsory registration during the transition period, which ends on January 1, 2015.
Ukrainian media on April 18 quoted Crimean Tatar leader Mustafa Dzhemilev as saying officials in Crimea are checking the residents' documents "in every street."
He said Crimean Tatars who don't want to become Russian citizens have been warned they would be "fired from their jobs."
Russian migration authorities claim only 3,000 residents of the newly annexed Crimea have refused to become Russian citizens.
Konstantin Romodanovsky, the head of the Russian Migration Service, said on April 19 that the agency had already prepared 250,000 Russian passports for Crimea residents.
The agency says it plans to issue Russian passports to up to 1.7 million local residents.
Romodanovsky said those who have failed to apply for Russian passports "will not be held liable" for the absence of compulsory registration during the transition period, which ends on January 1, 2015.
Ukrainian media on April 18 quoted Crimean Tatar leader Mustafa Dzhemilev as saying officials in Crimea are checking the residents' documents "in every street."
He said Crimean Tatars who don't want to become Russian citizens have been warned they would be "fired from their jobs."
15:15
19.4.2014
Another update from our news desk:
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsya says the Euromaidan protest camp in Kyiv will not be disbanded.
Ukraine, Russia, the United States, and the European Union reached an agreement in Geneva earlier this week under which "all illegally occupied streets, squares, and other public places in Ukrainian cities and towns must be vacated."
Talking to the BBC today, Deshchytsya said that the pro-European activists camped out on Kyiv's Independence Square had "asked permission from the city council" and that their camp was therefore not an "illegal occupation".
Pro-Russian separatists have seized government buildings in a dozen eastern Ukrainian cities.
They say they will leave only if Euromaidan activists in Kyiv pack up their camp first.
Ukraine, Russia, the United States, and the European Union reached an agreement in Geneva earlier this week under which "all illegally occupied streets, squares, and other public places in Ukrainian cities and towns must be vacated."
Talking to the BBC today, Deshchytsya said that the pro-European activists camped out on Kyiv's Independence Square had "asked permission from the city council" and that their camp was therefore not an "illegal occupation".
Pro-Russian separatists have seized government buildings in a dozen eastern Ukrainian cities.
They say they will leave only if Euromaidan activists in Kyiv pack up their camp first.
15:11
19.4.2014
The Ukraine crisis resonates in Asia. This, via AP:
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is heading to Asia, where countries are keeping a close watch on the crisis in Ukraine amid territorial tensions with China.
Obama leaves Washington on Tuesday and is set to visit Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines.
Each country has a dispute with China over islands in the South and East China Seas. Their leaders will be trying to get a sense of Obama's willingness to support them if the conflicts boil over.
U.S. officials have taken a tougher line on the territorial issues in recent weeks. They've warned China against the use of military force and noted that the U.S. has treaty obligations to defend Japan.
Obama leaves Washington on Tuesday and is set to visit Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines.
Each country has a dispute with China over islands in the South and East China Seas. Their leaders will be trying to get a sense of Obama's willingness to support them if the conflicts boil over.
U.S. officials have taken a tougher line on the territorial issues in recent weeks. They've warned China against the use of military force and noted that the U.S. has treaty obligations to defend Japan.
15:04
19.4.2014
From RFE/RL's News Desk:
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsya says the Euromaidan protest camp in Kyiv will not be disbanded.
Ukraine, Russia, the United States, and the European Union reached an agreement in Geneva earlier this week under which "all illegally occupied streets, squares, and other public places in Ukrainian cities and towns must be vacated."
Talking to the BBC on April 19, Deshchytsya said that the pro-European activists camped out on Kyiv's Independence Square had "asked permission from the city council" and that their camp was therefore not an "illegal occupation".
Pro-Russian separatists have seized government buildings in a dozen eastern Ukrainian cities.
They say they will leave only if Euromaidan activists in Kyiv pack up their camp first.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsya says the Euromaidan protest camp in Kyiv will not be disbanded.
Ukraine, Russia, the United States, and the European Union reached an agreement in Geneva earlier this week under which "all illegally occupied streets, squares, and other public places in Ukrainian cities and towns must be vacated."
Talking to the BBC on April 19, Deshchytsya said that the pro-European activists camped out on Kyiv's Independence Square had "asked permission from the city council" and that their camp was therefore not an "illegal occupation".
Pro-Russian separatists have seized government buildings in a dozen eastern Ukrainian cities.
They say they will leave only if Euromaidan activists in Kyiv pack up their camp first.
15:00
19.4.2014
Forbes has more on allegations about Russian banks financing separatism in eastern Ukraine -- and Sberbank's denials.
As chapters in the Russia-Ukraine political drama unfold, Russia’s largest bank takes center stage.
Sberbank , Russia’s largest, is being investigated by Ukraine’s Attorney General for allegedly paying Ukrainian soldiers to join Russia.
In an 18 minute video “confession” of a camouflaged Ukrainian soldier, the man says with his back to the camera and seated in a wooden chair facing a decorative wall that Sberbank paid him 3,500 Ukrainian hryvnia a week — or $309 — to join Russian separatists in east Ukraine. In the video, allegedly recorded by Ukraine’s State Secret Service, the soldier says he and others were also offered $400 to leave cities like Donetsk.
Sberbank , Russia’s largest, is being investigated by Ukraine’s Attorney General for allegedly paying Ukrainian soldiers to join Russia.
In an 18 minute video “confession” of a camouflaged Ukrainian soldier, the man says with his back to the camera and seated in a wooden chair facing a decorative wall that Sberbank paid him 3,500 Ukrainian hryvnia a week — or $309 — to join Russian separatists in east Ukraine. In the video, allegedly recorded by Ukraine’s State Secret Service, the soldier says he and others were also offered $400 to leave cities like Donetsk.