Kiev says Russia provoking trouble in eastern Ukraine
Uptick in eastern Ukraine tension prompts worries about Russia’s next move
(about 3 hours later)
KIEV, Ukraine — As pro-Russian militants in eastern Ukraine declared a “People’s Republic of Donetsk” and a “Kharkiv National Republic” on Monday, Ukrainian officials accused Moscow of orchestrating the moves as the first step toward launching an invasion.
KIEV, Ukraine — Pro-Russia demonstrators in eastern Ukraine declared separatist republics in two cities on Monday, and Ukrainian officials accused Moscow of orchestrating the moves as the first step toward launching an invasion.
In Washington, the White House expressed deep skepticism that the scattered uprisings and building takeovers have been spontaneous or representative of public sentiment in the regions affected. “There is strong evidence suggesting some of these demonstrators were paid,” said Jay Carney, the White House spokesman.
In Washington, the Obama administration expressed deep skepticism that the scattered uprisings and building takeovers in cities such as Donetsk and Kharkiv have been spontaneous. “There is strong evidence suggesting some of these demonstrators were paid,” said Jay Carney, the White House spokesman.
The sudden uptick in tension, which began Sunday when pro-Russia protests turned violent, has raised fears that Russia is about to try to duplicate its success in annexing Crimea. But the United States and other Western countries have warned that they will not stand by in that event.
The sudden uptick in tension, which began Sunday when pro-Russia protests turned violent, has raised fears that Russia is about to try to duplicate its success last month in annexing Crimea. But the United States and other Western countries have warned that they will not stand by if that occurs.
“If Russia moves into Eastern Ukraine, either overtly or covertly, this would be a very serious escalation,” Carney said. He promised that the United States and its allies would impose further sanctions on Moscow.
“If Russia moves into eastern Ukraine, either overtly or covertly, this would be a very serious escalation,” Carney said.
In Donetsk, several hundred militants who occupied an administration building declared themselves the new authorities and announced a referendum on secession to be held no later than May 11. They called on Russia to send in troops if they are attacked.
In Donetsk, several hundred protesters who had occupied a regional administration building declared themselves the new authorities and announced a referendum on secession to be held no later than May 11. They called on Russia to send in troops if they are attacked.
There was little evidence that they enjoy any public support.
There was little evidence that they enjoy any public support.
The Ukrainian government, acting on fears that Russia is following the script that played out in Crimea last month, dispatched its highest-level police and security officials to the eastern part of the country Monday in an effort to put down the separatist agitation.
The Ukrainian government dispatched its highest-level police and security officials to the region Monday in an effort to put down the separatist agitation.
Kiev is contending with a plan to “destabilize the situation,” Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk told an emergency cabinet meeting Monday. “The plan is for foreign troops to cross the border and seize the country’s territory, which we will not allow.”
Kiev is confronting an attempt to “destabilize the situation,” Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said at an emergency cabinet meeting Monday. “The plan is for foreign troops to cross the border and seize the country’s territory, which we will not allow.”
U.S. Secretary of State John F. Kerry spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Secretary of State John F. Kerry, in a call Monday to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, expressed what a spokeswoman called “great concern” about “escalatory steps” by the Russians.
Kerry "called on Russia to publicly disavow the activities of separatists, saboteurs and provocateurs" in Ukraine, state department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said afterward.
Jen Psaki, the spokeswoman, said Lavrov agreed in the call to participate in talks with U.S., Ukrainian and European Union officials “in the next 10 days . . . to try and de-escalate the situation.”
Lavrov, for his part, called on Ukraine to disavow the use of force. In a conversation with Ukraine’s foreign minister,
In a separate conversation with Ukrainian Foreign Minister
Andrii Deshchytsia, on Monday evening, Lavrov said Kiev must not use force against the pro-Russia militants.
Andrii Deshchytsia, on Monday evening, Lavrov said Kiev must not use force against the pro-Russia activists.
According to a ministry statement, he emphasized “the need to respect the aspirations of the residents of southeastern Ukraine and the inadmissibility of the use of force to respond to legal demands [by protesters] to protect their language, culture and socioeconomic rights.”
According to a Russian Foreign Ministry statement, Lavrov emphasized “the need to respect the aspirations of the residents of southeastern Ukraine and the inadmissibility of the use of force to respond to legal demands [by protesters] to protect their language, culture and socioeconomic rights.”
Russia, by contrast, considers any protest that hasn’t gotten prior approval from the authorities to be illegal. Even then, demonstrators have sometimes been met with police violence, as happened in May 2012 on the eve of Vladimir Putin’s inauguration. Some of those arrested that day are still being prosecuted.
Russian authorities, in contrast, consider any protest in their country to be illegal if it hasn’t received prior approval.
In Kharkiv, local reporters said that a group of armed men stormed the opera house Monday under the impression that it was the mayor’s office. Fighting in Kharkiv continued into the evening, as armed agitators tried to storm the local security agency headquarters, but police said they were eventually turned back.
Explosive situation
Yulia Tymoshenko, the former prime minister who is running for president in Ukraine’s May 25 election, traveled to Donetsk on Monday. “These people,” she said of the militants, “can be divided into two categories: The first are representatives and members of the Russian Federation's special forces, the second are people hired by them, and they behave in quite an aggressive way."
In Kharkiv, local reporters said a group of armed men stormed the opera house Monday thinking it was the mayor’s office. Fighting in the city continued into the evening, as armed agitators tried to break into the local security agency headquarters, but police said they were eventually turned back.
She said she is convinced that the residents of the city are solidly against war and annexation by Russia.
The demonstrators in the city were also demanding a referendum like the one held in Crimea after Russian troops moved into the peninsula. The situation in Kharkiv appeared particularly combustible after pro-Ukrainian activists from Kiev reportedly headed to the city Monday.
Ukrainian news agencies reported allegations that Rinat Akhmetov, one of the country’s richest men and the overseer of a coal empire in Donetsk, is bankrolling the separatist agitators. Akhmetov has long been close to ousted former president Viktor Yanukovych, who fled to Russia in February.
Ukrainian news agencies reported allegations that Rinat Akhmetov, one of the country’s richest men and the overseer of a coal empire in Donetsk, is bankrolling the separatist agitators in that city. Akhmetov has long been close to former president Viktor Yanukovych, whose home town is Donetsk and who fled to Russia in late February after mass demonstrations calling for his removal.
The union representing the coal miners, who were once a powerful political force but have been reduced by years of cutbacks, said Monday that they do not support any move that would divide Ukraine.
The union representing coal miners, who were once a powerful political force but have been weakened by years of cutbacks, said Monday that it does not support any move that would divide Ukraine.
For the past few weekends, pro-Russia demonstrations in Kharkiv, Donetsk and Luhansk had been orderly and diminishing in size. But on Sunday, they turned dangerous when crowds broke off and began to occupy government buildings in the three cities.
For the past few weekends, pro-Russia demonstrations in Kharkiv, Donetsk and Luhansk had been orderly and diminishing in size. But Sunday, they turned dangerous as crowds broke off and began to occupy government buildings in the three cities.
“Yesterday, a second wave of the Russian Federation’s special operation against Ukraine started,” acting President Oleksandr Turchynov told the nation Monday in a televised address. “The goal is to . . . topple Ukrainian authorities, disrupt the elections and to tear our country apart.” He charged that “enemies of Ukraine are trying to repeat the Crimean scenario,” but he vowed that they would not succeed and that “an antiterrorist operation will take place against those who took up weapons.”
In Luhansk, police said some demonstrators had entered the security services headquarters and seized guns. Police responded by setting up roadblocks around the city.
Turchynov said those taking part in the violence were committing “a serious crime,” and he warned that “we will act appropriately and decisively against the criminals.”
Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov told the nation Monday in a televised address that Russia was trying to topple the Kiev authorities and tear the country apart.
In Donetsk, a group of people who broke into the regional administration building and spent the night there announced Monday that they were setting up a Donetsk People's Republic. They and others who occupied buildings in Kharkiv were demanding a Crimean-style referendum.
He charged that “enemies of Ukraine are trying to repeat the Crimean scenario,” but he vowed that they would not succeed.
The situation in Kharkiv appeared particularly dangerous after pro-Ukrainians from Kiev reportedly headed to the city early Monday. Fights were breaking out in Kharkiv’s main square Monday, local reporters said.
Kiev warns of ‘tough’ response
In Luhansk, police said some demonstrators entered the security services headquarters and seized guns. Police responded by setting up roadblocks around the city.
In a meeting with reporters Monday, the Ukrainian foreign minister said the interior minister, the heads of the Security Service and the National Security Council, and a deputy prime minister had gone to the eastern part of the country to bring the situation under control.
In a meeting with reporters Monday, Foreign Minister Andrii Deshchytsia said the interior minister, the heads of the Security Service and the National Security Council, and a deputy prime minister had gone to eastern Ukraine to bring the situation under control.
“The response will be tough,” Deshchytsia said, in contrast to what happened in Crimea. There, Russia sent in well-disciplined troops, in uniforms without insignia, who began to take over the peninsula by occupying the regional parliament building in Simferopol on Feb. 27. That day, the new government in Kiev was taking office after the ouster of Yanukovych.
“The response will be tough,” he said, in contrast to what happened in Crimea. There, Russia sent in well-disciplined troops, in uniforms without insignia, who began to take over the peninsula by occupying the regional parliament building in Simferopol early Feb. 27, the day the unprepared new government was taking office in Kiev following the ouster of Yanukovych.
Thousands of Russian troops have been camped along the eastern Ukrainian border for days, and officials in Kiev fear that Moscow has been promoting separatist sentiment and demonstrations so it could move across the frontier on the pretext of restoring order and protecting a largely Russian-speaking population. Russian officials deny that they have any intention of invading Ukraine and say their troops are conducting routine exercises.
“I want to address the citizens of eastern Ukraine,” Yatsenyuk said. “It's obvious that the anti-Donetsk, anti-Kharkiv scenario is playing now. And all the troops still mass on Ukraine's border, but we won't let foreign troops enter Ukraine."
In Washington, Psaki said the movement of Russian forces into eastern Ukraine “either overtly or covertly . . . would result in additional costs” to Moscow.
Russia denied that it was at fault.
The U.S. government imposed visa bans and asset freezes on high-level Russian government and business figures after Russia’s incursion into Crimea. In addition, President Obama last month signed an executive order authorizing financial sanctions against a wide range of Russian economic sectors in the event of Russian troop movement into eastern Ukraine.
“Stop pointing at Russia and blaming it for all of Ukraine’s current misfortunes!” the Russian Foreign Ministry said Monday in a statement on its Web site. “The Ukrainian people want Kiev to provide a coherent answer to all questions. . . . If the political forces who call themselves ‘Ukrainian leadership’ remain irresponsible toward the future of their country and toward the fate of their own people, Ukraine will continue running into new problems and crises.”
In Moscow, the head of the defense and security committee of the upper house of parliament said Russia could not send peacekeepers into Donetsk, as the protesters asked, without approval from the U.N. Security Council — which is highly unlikely to be granted.
Thousands of Russian troops have been camped along the eastern Ukrainian border for days, and officials in Kiev fear that Moscow has been promoting separatist sentiment and demonstrations so it could move across the frontier on the pretext of restoring order and protecting a largely Russian-speaking population. Russian officials deny that they have any intention of invading Ukraine and say their troops are on routine maneuvers.
Viktor Ozerov told the Interfax news agency that a country cannot simply send in peacekeeping troops at the request of “local authorities.” He said Crimea was an exception because Russia had military bases there under an agreement with Ukraine.
In Moscow, the head of the defense and security committee of the upper house of parliament said Russia could not send peacekeepers into Donetsk, as the militants asked, without approval from the United Nations Security Council — which is highly unlikely.
The Kiev government could not organize resistance to the Crimean takeover, which was backed by a Russian propaganda campaign that described Russian speakers in the region as under threat from fascists in Kiev. In a quickly arranged referendum March 16, Crimeans voted to join Russia, which promptly annexed the region.
Viktor Ozerov told the Interfax news agency that a country cannot simply send in peacekeeping troops at the request of local authorities. He said the Russian legislature authorized the use of troops in Crimea out of a perceived need to enhance security at Russian military bases there and under the terms of the agreement Russia signed with Ukraine to keep those bases. Ukrainian officials sharply dispute that point.
In Crimea, where Ukrainian troops have been withdrawing, a Russian soldier fatally shot a Ukrainian naval officer, a spokesman for the Ukrainian military said Monday. The Ukrainian major reportedly was packing to leave the Mykolaev region when an argument broke out and the Russian fired, the spokesman said.
Ozerov said Russian peacekeepers have been stationed in two regions that broke away from Georgia — Abkhazia and South Ossetia — under the framework of a grouping of former Soviet republics called the Commonwealth of Independent States.
“Russia has no right to do this unilaterally,” he said.
The Kiev government did not manage to organize resistance to the Crimean takeover, which was backed by a Russian propaganda campaign that described Russian-speakers in the region as under threat from fascists who were on their way from Kiev to wreak havoc. In a quickly arranged referendum March 16, Crimeans voted to join Russia, which promptly annexed the region.
“We call them political tourists,” Deshchytsia said, describing the instigators of the violence in eastern Ukraine. He said the ringleaders cross the Russian border with eastern Ukraine and inspire separatist actions. “Most of these provocations were most likely done by political tourists. The number is lower than a few weeks ago, but they are more active now.”
The new government in Kiev took over after Yanukovych fled Feb. 22. He was toppled by protesters who took to Kiev’s Independence Square, known as the Maidan, in a demonstration that began in favor of European integration and turned into a demand for good government and a fight against corruption.
The new government in Kiev took over after Yanukovych fled Feb. 22. He was toppled by protesters who took to Kiev’s Independence Square, known as the Maidan, in a demonstration that began in favor of European integration and turned into a demand for good government and a fight against corruption.
Yanukovych comes from Donetsk, and the foundation of his political support was built in the east.
Englund reported from Moscow. Karen DeYoung in Washington contributed to this report.
In Crimea, where Ukrainian troops have been withdrawing, a Russian soldier shot a Ukrainian naval officer to death, a spokesman for the Ukrainian military said Monday. The Ukrainian major reportedly was packing to leave the Mykolaev region when an argument broke out and the Russian fired, the spokesman said.
