A woman carries a baby as she passes destroyed houses following what locals say was overnight shelling by Ukrainian forces in the eastern town of Slovyansk on June 9.
-- Ukraine's Foreign Ministry says that Moscow and Kyiv have reached a "mutual understanding" on key parts of a plan proposed by President Petro Poroshenko for ending violence in separatist-controlled eastern Ukraine.
-- Reports say up to 20 armed gunmen were trying to seize property from a factory (Topaz) that makes communications and electronic-warfare equipment in the Donetsk region.
-- A deputy foreign minister says Russia will consider any expansion of NATO forces near its borders a "demonstration of hostile intentions" and "take the necessary political and military-technological measures to support our security."
-- A two-man crew for Russian Zvezda TV arrived in Moscow after being released from detention in Ukraine.
-- Serbian officials say their own work on the Russian-backed South Stream gas pipeline will have to be suspended after Bulgaria stopped construction of its portion based on EU and U.S. concerns.
-- Ukrainian security forces are reportedly still battling pro-Russian separatists in the east near Slovyansk and Donetsk.
*NOTE: Times are stated according to local time in Kyiv
More from our news desk on Klitschko's mayoral inauguration:
Vitali Klitschko has been sworn in as mayor of Ukraine's capital Kiyv.
In a speech to the city assembly on June 5, the former boxing champion promised "zero tolerance for corruption."
Klitschko, who heads the UDAR party, emerged as one of the leaders of pro-European protest movement that ousted President Viktor Yanukovych from power in February.
He won nearly 57 percent in the election for Kiyv mayor, which was held at the same time as Ukraine's presidential election on May 25.
Klitschko had earlier withdrawn a bid to run for president and backed billionaire Petro Poroshenko instead.
Poroshenko, who won the presidential election, will be sworn in on June 7.
17:525.6.2014
Back in Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko was inaugurated as mayor of Kyiv today. Few quotes:
"Today we are creating a new country. A country for its citizens, a country of free and dignified people. The changes in our country will stem from the capital, they will stem from Kyiv."
"I declare that as of today there will be zero tolerance for corruption in Kyiv."
"I, Vitali Klitschko, assuming the position of Kyiv city mayor, swear -- realizing my great responsibility -- that I will faithfully serve the community of Kyiv and the people of Ukraine."
17:115.6.2014
More comments from Obama and Cameron today:
"I believe [Ukraine's President-elect Petro Poroshenko's] inauguration provides an opportunity particularly since he has demonstrated a commitment to reach out to the east and pursue reforms. Russia needs to seize that opportunity. Russia needs to recognize that President-elect Poroshenko is the legitimately elected leader of Ukraine and engage the government in Kyiv." -- Obama
"Given its influence over the militants in Ukraine, Russia continues to have a responsibility to convince them to end their violence, lay down their weapons and enter into a dialogue with the Ukrainian government." -- Obama
"The status quo is unacceptable. The continuing destabilization of eastern Ukraine must stop. Second, there are a set of things that need to happen. [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin must recognize the legitimate election of President Poroshenko, he must stop arms crossing the border into Ukraine, he must cease Russian support for separatist groups. And third if these things don't happen then sectoral sanctions will follow." -- Cameron
16:295.6.2014
Here are some the comments Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev made today at a cabinet meeting in Moscow about what he says is a flow of Ukrainian refugees into Russia.
"A whole range of [Russian] regions that border Ukraine are finding themselves in a really tough situation. The Rostov Oblast and to a certain extent other regions have become targets of an inflow of people. They are mostly children and those accompanying them. They are coming in thousands. Every day the number of those arriving is increasing by 3000. The difference between the incoming and outgoing flows makes on average 5000 people a day."
"Not all of them by far, of course, are asking for a refugee status. There used to be only a handful of them before, while now we already have 4000 who did so. This is an unprecedented situation."
"These people are very frightened and fearful. At the same time the Ukrainian authorities do not see a humanitarian problem and are talking of an absence of refugees. It's all a lie of course. It is sad to hear it all. On top of that, the so-called G7 continues its narrative about measured actions of the Ukrainian army against its own people. The cynicism here is without limits."
16:005.6.2014
BREAKING: U.S. President Barack Obama has urged Moscow to engage with Ukraine's President-elect Petro Poroshenko.
Obama spoke after talks with British Prime Minister David Cameron on June 5 in Brussels.
He said Poroshenko's inauguration presents an opportunity which Russia needs to seize.
Cameron said the "continued destabilization of Ukraine must stop."
At a summit in Brussels, leaders of the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations warned President Vladimir Putin that he "must stop" Russia's "destabilizing" actions in Ukraine or face further sanctions.
At the close of the summit, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said: "The G7 stands united behind Ukraine, politically and economically."
"The G7 leaders will convey this message" to Putin on the sidelines of D-Day commemorations in France on June 6, he added.
15:595.6.2014
BREAKING: British Prime Minister David Cameron says that from the outset of the Ukraine crisis, the G7 nations have stood united in their message to President Vladimir Putin that Russia's actions are "unacceptable."
Speaking alongside U.S. President Barack Obama at a press conference in Brussels, Cameron said the continued destabilization of Ukraine must stop. He said that if Putin does not take steps to help stabilize the situation, sectoral sanctions against Russia will follow.
15:515.6.2014
These are the types of false images and misinformation that some pro-Russian groups are spreading.
Photo Gallery:
Pro-Separatists Mislead With Recycled Images (WARNING: Graphic Images)
Bloggers have debunked some of the most outrageous fabrications about Ukraine in the Russian state media and pro-Russian online communities, which often use shocking images from other countries to illustrate the situation in Ukraine. This compilation from social-media websites was made by Ihar Losik of RFE/RL's Belarus Service.
14:415.6.2014
From our news desk: Ukraine denounces attacks on clergy in Crimea:
Ukraine's Foreign Ministry has expressed its deep concern over what it calls "the growing anti-Ukrainian repressive actions" of Russian forces occupying Crimea.
The ministry, in a statement on June 5, accuses the Russian forces of a campaign of "massive persecution and physical violence" against the clergy and parishioners of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Crimea.
It cites in particular a June 1 attack by pro-Russian Cossacks on a church in the village of Perevalne, when it says the Cossacks resorted to violence against the peaceful congregation, including women and children.
The statement accuses Russia of attacking the highest human values to "justify" what it describes as Moscow's "criminal intentions" and "narrow political interests."
It demands that Russia put an immediate end to such a "barbaric and hypocritical policy."
