10:33
24.5.2014
EU increases support for #OSCE in #Ukraine with 10 million euros http://t.co/Ksw3zcjG9v
— Kyiv Post (@KyivPost) May 24, 2014
10:28
24.5.2014
One brother went to front line in Kiev, the other moved to Crimea. How the struggle for Ukraine shattered a family: http://t.co/tgt0mHvO92
— Mark MacKinnon (@markmackinnon) May 24, 2014
09:45
24.5.2014
Good morning. We'll start the live blog today with a report from our news desk regarding more violence in eastern Ukraine.
Fresh clashes have been reported in eastern Ukraine between government forces and pro-Russian fighters, just a day before the country is due to hold a presidential election.
Separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine are threatening to block balloting in areas under their control, making the prospect for peace appear distant.
The clashes early today came as Kyiv continues an offensive to try to halt the separatist uprising.
In the Donetsk region, Associated Press reporters say they saw two dead Ukrainian soldiers near the village of Karlivka, and another body close to a nearby checkpoint set up by separatists.
It was not immediately possible to verify casualty claims made by separatists or government officials.
An observation mission from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) arrived in Kyiv on May 23 to monitor tomorrow's vote.
Separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine are threatening to block balloting in areas under their control, making the prospect for peace appear distant.
The clashes early today came as Kyiv continues an offensive to try to halt the separatist uprising.
In the Donetsk region, Associated Press reporters say they saw two dead Ukrainian soldiers near the village of Karlivka, and another body close to a nearby checkpoint set up by separatists.
It was not immediately possible to verify casualty claims made by separatists or government officials.
An observation mission from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) arrived in Kyiv on May 23 to monitor tomorrow's vote.
21:23
23.5.2014
Barring any major developments, we are now closing our Ukraine live blog for today. We'll leave you tonight with this update from RFE/RL's news desk regarding the Russian troops near Ukraine's border:
The chief of Russia's military general staff, General Valery Gerasimov, says it will take about 20 days to move troops and military equipment temporarily deployed near the border with Ukraine back to permanent bases.
Gerasimov said at a security conference in Moscow today that the troops began pulling back on May 19, immediately after President Vladimir Putin ordered the withdrawal.
Earlier reports had suggested that the withdrawal was to be completed by June 1, but Gerasimov said no such date had been given.
NATO estimates Russia deployed 40,000 troops near the border.
The deployment raised fears that Moscow would intervene in eastern Ukraine to back pro-Russian separatists after it annexed Crimea in March.
Russia had insisted the exercises were routine.
Gerasimov said at a security conference in Moscow today that the troops began pulling back on May 19, immediately after President Vladimir Putin ordered the withdrawal.
Earlier reports had suggested that the withdrawal was to be completed by June 1, but Gerasimov said no such date had been given.
NATO estimates Russia deployed 40,000 troops near the border.
The deployment raised fears that Moscow would intervene in eastern Ukraine to back pro-Russian separatists after it annexed Crimea in March.
Russia had insisted the exercises were routine.
20:39
23.5.2014
Militia backed by presidential candidate takes credit for murder of separatists in #Torez http://t.co/tdhdNkBzNZ pic.twitter.com/8GEEpWVKih
— Kyiv Post (@KyivPost) May 23, 2014
20:31
23.5.2014
Videos of bus on fire in Kiev today. Cause unclear: https://t.co/kv79fWFnrC https://t.co/YnGYmjc2Kc via @Ivano_Martin and @StateOfUkraine
— Mark MacKinnon (@markmackinnon) May 23, 2014
20:22
23.5.2014
BBC News - #BBCtrending: Ukraine's 'babushkas' in stand-off with separatists http://t.co/2lTYnZ5qhz
— Daniel Sandford (@BBCDanielS) May 23, 2014
20:04
23.5.2014
According to "The Guardian," Russian TV has been lambasting the British royal family in the wake of reported comments by Prince Charles in which he compared President Vladimir Putin to Adolf Hitler:
Read more here
The pro-Russia broadcaster Russia Today (RT) regaled viewers with a mocked-up family tree linking royals to Nazis in a 'Takes one to know one' video poking the embers of the House of Windsor's German past.
"If anyone knows real Nazis it's the royal family" the channel declared on its In the Now programme while it flashed up sepia portraits of the Queen and family.
Here was Charles's great uncle, the Duke of Windsor, and wife Wallis Simpson, photographed visiting Hitler at his Obersalzberg retreat in 1937 shortly after abdicating as Edward VIII. Simpson, RT senior political correspondent Anissa Naouai solemnly pronounced, "hung out with Hitler".
There was the Duke of Edinburgh, his chest weighted with medals. "His sister, Sophie," added Naouai, "was married to a SS officer." Cue photograph of Christophe of Hesse-Cassel, marching in his SS colonel's uniform. Naouai could have added, for good measure, he named his eldest son Karl Adolf in Hitler's honour.
Then, the piece de resistance. Charles's "very own son" Prince Harry. Pictured in Nazi costume at a party on the front page of the Sun. "He likes to dress up as a Nazi, even if its just for Halloween," confided the presenter.
"If anyone knows real Nazis it's the royal family" the channel declared on its In the Now programme while it flashed up sepia portraits of the Queen and family.
Here was Charles's great uncle, the Duke of Windsor, and wife Wallis Simpson, photographed visiting Hitler at his Obersalzberg retreat in 1937 shortly after abdicating as Edward VIII. Simpson, RT senior political correspondent Anissa Naouai solemnly pronounced, "hung out with Hitler".
There was the Duke of Edinburgh, his chest weighted with medals. "His sister, Sophie," added Naouai, "was married to a SS officer." Cue photograph of Christophe of Hesse-Cassel, marching in his SS colonel's uniform. Naouai could have added, for good measure, he named his eldest son Karl Adolf in Hitler's honour.
Then, the piece de resistance. Charles's "very own son" Prince Harry. Pictured in Nazi costume at a party on the front page of the Sun. "He likes to dress up as a Nazi, even if its just for Halloween," confided the presenter.
Read more here
19:55
23.5.2014
Village elex committee head, Donetsk region: "I've insisted it has to be clean this time. Last time [2010] they totally fabricated results."
— Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) May 23, 2014
19:54
23.5.2014
Tymoshenko, in a pose that should probably be dubbed "The Yulia": pic.twitter.com/haQ68KJJ2m
— Mark MacKinnon (@markmackinnon) May 23, 2014