17:15
28.5.2014
Remember those Russian LifeNews journalists who were detained in Ukraine a week or so ago? Well, it seems they are now being honored back home for their valor (from RFE/RL's news desk):
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree for the "Order of Courage" to be given to a reporter from the Russia Today television channel who was wounded in Ukraine and two journalists from LifeNews who were detained in Ukraine.
The awards announced today will go to Fyodor Zavaleykov, who was wounded during shooting in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol on May 9, and to Oleg Sidyakin and Marat Saichenko who were detained near the eastern Ukrainian town of Kramatorsk on May 18.
All three journalists are now back in Russia.
Zavaleykov has undergone surgery twice since being wounded by a bullet.
Sidyakin and Saichenko were held on charges they were helping pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.
They were freed on May 25 and flew to Chechnya.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree for the "Order of Courage" to be given to a reporter from the Russia Today television channel who was wounded in Ukraine and two journalists from LifeNews who were detained in Ukraine.
The awards announced today will go to Fyodor Zavaleykov, who was wounded during shooting in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol on May 9, and to Oleg Sidyakin and Marat Saichenko who were detained near the eastern Ukrainian town of Kramatorsk on May 18.
All three journalists are now back in Russia.
Zavaleykov has undergone surgery twice since being wounded by a bullet.
Sidyakin and Saichenko were held on charges they were helping pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.
They were freed on May 25 and flew to Chechnya.
17:55
28.5.2014
From our news desk:
French President Francois Hollande has invited Ukrainian President-elect Petro Poroshenko to attend D-Day commemorations in France next week.
Several world leaders are expected to attend the event.
Hollande has already invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend the ceremony and Putin has accepted.
The D-Day ceremony will be held on June 6, marking the 70th anniversary of the allied landings at Normandy during World War II. (Reuters and AFP)
Several world leaders are expected to attend the event.
Hollande has already invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend the ceremony and Putin has accepted.
The D-Day ceremony will be held on June 6, marking the 70th anniversary of the allied landings at Normandy during World War II. (Reuters and AFP)
18:45
28.5.2014
More reports of gathering of Ukrainian forces in east:
18:46
28.5.2014
19:59
28.5.2014
20:46
28.5.2014
LATEST from our news desk:
Ukraine's National Guard has reported fighting in the restive eastern city of Luhansk and said there were new "losses."
The brief May 28 statement said pro-Russian separatists attacked and attempted to seize a base the National Guard unit was using.
The statement said there were losses "both in the ranks of the military unit and the attacking side" but did not provide any casualty figures.
The statement said separatists had attacked a different military base in Luhansk earlier on May 28. (UNIAN and AFP)
The brief May 28 statement said pro-Russian separatists attacked and attempted to seize a base the National Guard unit was using.
The statement said there were losses "both in the ranks of the military unit and the attacking side" but did not provide any casualty figures.
The statement said separatists had attacked a different military base in Luhansk earlier on May 28. (UNIAN and AFP)
21:37
28.5.2014
Germany's Angela Merkel criticizes Russia's annexation of Crimea (from the news desk):
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the lessons of two world wars have led her to take a firm stance against Russia's annexation of Ukraine's territory of Crimea.
At a May 28 opening of an exhibition on World War I, Merkel said Russia's annexation of Crimea was unacceptable, as it upset Europe's postwar order.
"Territorial integrity is the foundation pillar of our postwar European order," Merkel said and added, "If you start saying things like 'it's my right' and then just take something, you'll end up with an incredible calamity."
Merkel noted she would meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin next week at ceremonies marking the Western allies' invasion of Nazi-held France in June 1944.
"The lesson of the past is to learn cooperation instead of confrontation," she said. (Reuters and dpa)
At a May 28 opening of an exhibition on World War I, Merkel said Russia's annexation of Crimea was unacceptable, as it upset Europe's postwar order.
"Territorial integrity is the foundation pillar of our postwar European order," Merkel said and added, "If you start saying things like 'it's my right' and then just take something, you'll end up with an incredible calamity."
Merkel noted she would meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin next week at ceremonies marking the Western allies' invasion of Nazi-held France in June 1944.
"The lesson of the past is to learn cooperation instead of confrontation," she said. (Reuters and dpa)
22:07
28.5.2014
Barring any late breaking news, this ends our live-blogging for May 28. You can follow our continuing Ukraine coverage here.
07:39
29.5.2014
Good morning. We'll start the live blog today with this update from RFE/RL's news desk:
Ukraine’s National Guard says it suffered fresh losses, but also killed rebels, when pro-Russian separatists raided their barracks in Luhansk late on May 28.
The violence came after Ukraine’s newly elected president, Petro Poroshenko, promised to hold crisis talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin at next week’s D-Day commemorations in France.
Meanwhile, Russian and Ukrainian diplomats traded barbs on May 28 over violence in eastern Ukraine.
Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said the UN Security Council should call on Ukraine to end the "military chaos.”
Ukraine's UN Ambassador Yuriy Sergeyev said the Security Council should demand that Russia withdraw all of its soldiers and paramilitary groups from Ukrainian territory.
Sergeyev said Moscow must also tell hundreds of Chechens, Cossacks, and Russian mercenaries to leave Ukraine.
Donetsk was calm on May 28 after dozens of pro-Russian separatists were killed in a battle at the city's airport the day before.
Ukraine’s National Guard says it suffered fresh losses, but also killed rebels, when pro-Russian separatists raided their barracks in Luhansk late on May 28.
The violence came after Ukraine’s newly elected president, Petro Poroshenko, promised to hold crisis talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin at next week’s D-Day commemorations in France.
Meanwhile, Russian and Ukrainian diplomats traded barbs on May 28 over violence in eastern Ukraine.
Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said the UN Security Council should call on Ukraine to end the "military chaos.”
Ukraine's UN Ambassador Yuriy Sergeyev said the Security Council should demand that Russia withdraw all of its soldiers and paramilitary groups from Ukrainian territory.
Sergeyev said Moscow must also tell hundreds of Chechens, Cossacks, and Russian mercenaries to leave Ukraine.
Donetsk was calm on May 28 after dozens of pro-Russian separatists were killed in a battle at the city's airport the day before.
08:00
29.5.2014
Vandalized Metro store in Donetsk pic.twitter.com/7XhaxseN6o
— bruce springnote (@BSpringnote) May 29, 2014