13:05
27.5.2014
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is quoted by Interfax as accusing the West of seeking "insignificant and even ridiculous" pretexts for Russia sanctions and saying that "attempts to put pressure on the Russian Federation have never produced any results."
13:13
27.5.2014
Vasiliy Nikitin, a leader of the self-styled "Luhansk People's Republic," says "nothing bad will happen to" Vyacheslav Bondarenko and Maksim Osovsky and they will be freed soon, according to Interfax.
He claimed the two men, who were seized by gunmen in Luhansk yesterday and are described as journalists, have nothing to do with the press and they confessed to "gathering information for Kyiv."
He claimed the two men, who were seized by gunmen in Luhansk yesterday and are described as journalists, have nothing to do with the press and they confessed to "gathering information for Kyiv."
"When we were examining their cameras we found images of checkpoints taken from different angles, as well as papers carrying the schedule of the exchange of the guards, and maps of the checkpoints' defenses." Nikitin said at a press conference in the building of the Luhansk state administration on Tuesday.
13:16
27.5.2014
Amid reports of growing casualties, note that the Ukrainian Defense Ministry yesterday accused separatists of shelling two towns near Slovyansk with small arms and mortar rounds with the aim of causing civilian casualties and discrediting the Ukrainian government's defense efforts.
13:24
27.5.2014
14:01
27.5.2014
Ukrainian officials say their national forces now control Donetsk's international airport and suffered no casualties, one day after intense fighting began following its storming by separatists.
"The airport is under our full control. The enemy suffered heavy losses. We have none," Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said in a statement.
Donetsk Mayor Oleksandr Lukyanchenko said the airport is "controlled by the troops" and added that they have forced separatists to retreat beyond Putilkovskiy Bridge.
"The airport is under our full control. The enemy suffered heavy losses. We have none," Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said in a statement.
Donetsk Mayor Oleksandr Lukyanchenko said the airport is "controlled by the troops" and added that they have forced separatists to retreat beyond Putilkovskiy Bridge.
14:02
27.5.2014
OSCE reports losing contact with an observer team in Ukraine's Donetsk region.
14:17
27.5.2014
14:22
27.5.2014
Contact was lost with the four international members of a Donetsk Special Monitoring Mission late yesterday. Says the OSCE in its statement:
The team was on a routine patrol east of Donetsk when contact was lost. We have been unable to re-establish communication until now. The team consists of four international SMM members.
We are continuing with our efforts and utilizing our contacts on the ground. The Ukrainian Government as well as regional authorities have been informed of the situation.
We are continuing with our efforts and utilizing our contacts on the ground. The Ukrainian Government as well as regional authorities have been informed of the situation.
14:34
27.5.2014
The most intense pitched fighting of the conflict so far broke out after gunmen tried to occupy an international airport in Donetsk, a pro-Russian stronghold, on May 26. It was one of several recent signs of a worrying escalation in the violence in Ukraine's ongoing crisis. (MOUSE OVER for more info).
15:05
27.5.2014