14:39
7.4.2014
Ukrainian authorities say there are now about 22,000 Russian soldiers in Crimea -- 11,500 serving in the Black Sea Fleet, 10,500 newly deployed from Russia.
14:44
7.4.2014
Some key excerpts from acting Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov's televised address to the nation, from Kyiv today.
"Yesterday, a second wave of the Russian Federation's special operation against Ukraine started. The goal is to destabilize the situation in the country, topple Ukrainian authorities, disrupt the elections and to tear our country apart. "
"Separatist groups, coordinated by Russian intelligence services, seized the regional government building in Kharkiv, regional government and security service buildings in Donetsk and security headquarters in Luhansk. And what is most dangerous: They took up weapons."
"That's all happening against the background of the presence of Russian troops next to our borders. Enemies of Ukraine are trying to repeat the Crimean scenario but we will not let them do it. Last night anticrisis headquarters were set up and an antiterrorist operation will take place against those who took up weapons."
"I have great respect for different political views, including those of our opponents, but separatism and use of weapons against their own country which directly endangers the safety and lives of our citizens, it's not politics. It's a serious crime and we will act appropriately and decisively against the criminals."
"Separatist groups, coordinated by Russian intelligence services, seized the regional government building in Kharkiv, regional government and security service buildings in Donetsk and security headquarters in Luhansk. And what is most dangerous: They took up weapons."
"That's all happening against the background of the presence of Russian troops next to our borders. Enemies of Ukraine are trying to repeat the Crimean scenario but we will not let them do it. Last night anticrisis headquarters were set up and an antiterrorist operation will take place against those who took up weapons."
"I have great respect for different political views, including those of our opponents, but separatism and use of weapons against their own country which directly endangers the safety and lives of our citizens, it's not politics. It's a serious crime and we will act appropriately and decisively against the criminals."
14:44
7.4.2014
14:59
7.4.2014
Our news desk has this Ukraine-related story from the Baltics:
Latvia and Lithuania have suspended two Russian state television channels saying their coverage of the Ukraine crisis was biased.
Latvia's National Council for Electronic Media said it was suspending RTR-Rossiya television channel's broadcasts for three months starting April 7.
Also on April 7, a spokeswoman for the Vilnius Regional Administrative Court told journalists that broadcasts of Russia's RTR-Planeta have been partially suspended because the TV company's programs on Ukraine were found to be biased and "likely aimed to incite discord."
Both channels are owned by Russian state broadcaster VGTRK.
Russian Foreign Ministry Human Rights Commissioner Konstantin Dolgov called the two Baltic states' move a violation of the right to receive information.
Latvia's National Council for Electronic Media said it was suspending RTR-Rossiya television channel's broadcasts for three months starting April 7.
Also on April 7, a spokeswoman for the Vilnius Regional Administrative Court told journalists that broadcasts of Russia's RTR-Planeta have been partially suspended because the TV company's programs on Ukraine were found to be biased and "likely aimed to incite discord."
Both channels are owned by Russian state broadcaster VGTRK.
Russian Foreign Ministry Human Rights Commissioner Konstantin Dolgov called the two Baltic states' move a violation of the right to receive information.
15:23
7.4.2014
NATO has restricted access to its headquarters for Russian officials.
The move follows NATO's decision last week to suspend all practical cooperation with Russia in response to the Crimean annexation.
The alliance said in a statement that "the formerly extensive access to NATO headquarters will be denied to all representatives of the Russian mission, except the Russian ambassador, his deputy head of mission, and two support staff."
It said that "standard visitor rules" will apply to any other member of Russia's delegation to NATO.
NATO said the decision will come into force on April 8. It will be subject to a review by the alliance's foreign ministers in June.
The move follows NATO's decision last week to suspend all practical cooperation with Russia in response to the Crimean annexation.
The alliance said in a statement that "the formerly extensive access to NATO headquarters will be denied to all representatives of the Russian mission, except the Russian ambassador, his deputy head of mission, and two support staff."
It said that "standard visitor rules" will apply to any other member of Russia's delegation to NATO.
NATO said the decision will come into force on April 8. It will be subject to a review by the alliance's foreign ministers in June.
15:51
7.4.2014
Our Ukrainian Service reminds us that amid this crazy backdrop, Ukrainian candidates and voters are still preparing for a presidential election in less than seven weeks' time (story in Ukrainian).
Які сюрпризи готує президентська кампанія. http://t.co/FNs8QiOcWl
— Радіо Свобода (@radiosvoboda) April 7, 2014
16:01
7.4.2014
A fresh effort is afoot in Lviv to exclude Russian chess players -- including grandmasters Anatoly Karpov and Ukrainian-born Sergey Karjakin -- from Ukrainian tournaments over support for the annexation of Crimea, according to our service. The Lviv chess federation expresses gratitude to Garry Kasparov and Vladimir Kramnik for their reported criticism of the move.
У Львові домагатимуться визнати російських шахістів персонами нон ґрата http://t.co/bEXSX0T1f9
— Радіо Свобода (@radiosvoboda) April 7, 2014
16:11
7.4.2014
The Russian Foreign Ministry has accused Kyiv of "finger-pointing at Russia" and urged it to heed "legitimate demands."
"If the irresponsible attitude toward the fate of the country, the fate of their own people, on behalf of the political forces that call themselves the Ukrainian government were to continue, Ukraine would inevitably face ever new difficulties and crises," ministry spokesman Aleksandr Lukashevich said today. "Enough finger-pointing at Russia -- blaming it for all the troubles of today's Ukraine. The Ukrainian people need to hear from Kyiv clear answers to all questions. It is time to listen to these legitimate demands."
"If the irresponsible attitude toward the fate of the country, the fate of their own people, on behalf of the political forces that call themselves the Ukrainian government were to continue, Ukraine would inevitably face ever new difficulties and crises," ministry spokesman Aleksandr Lukashevich said today. "Enough finger-pointing at Russia -- blaming it for all the troubles of today's Ukraine. The Ukrainian people need to hear from Kyiv clear answers to all questions. It is time to listen to these legitimate demands."
17:08
7.4.2014
Tensions in Ukraine highest since Crimea invasion, @maxseddon reports http://t.co/u8ElLYRfjZ
— Ben Smith (@BuzzFeedBen) April 7, 2014
17:14
7.4.2014
In an interview with RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, one of the authors of Ukraine's 1996 constitution, law professor Viktor Musiyaka, predicts Ukraine "will never be a federation" and talks about separatism in the eastern part of the country (in Ukrainian):
"#Украина никогда не будет федерацией". Киевский юрист Виктор Мусияка объясняет, почему http://t.co/AXgVpYyaNw
— Радио Свобода (@SvobodaRadio) April 7, 2014