This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ukraine-crisis-70-held-as-president-turchynov-launches-antiterrorist-operation-to-seize-back-buildings-from-prorussian-forces-9245813.html
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Ukraine crisis: 70 held as President Turchynov seizes back Kharkiv building from pro-Russian forces after launching an 'anti-terrorist' operation | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Ukraine authorities say they have seized back control of the regional administration building from pro-Russian forces after launching an “anti-terrorist” operation in the eastern city of Kharkiv. | |
| Ukraine’s interior ministry said 70 people were being held, while the interim president Oleksandr Turchynov warned those who took over the buildings would be treated as “terrorists and criminals” and prosecuted under the law. | Ukraine’s interior ministry said 70 people were being held, while the interim president Oleksandr Turchynov warned those who took over the buildings would be treated as “terrorists and criminals” and prosecuted under the law. |
| Mr Turchynov said in a Facebook post earlier: "An anti-terrorist operation has been launched. The city centre is blocked along with metro stations. Do not worry. Once we finish, we will open them again." | |
| Ukrainian authorities gave few details of the "anti-terrorist" operation that cleared the building in the town of Kharkiv but said two police had been wounded by a grenade that was thrown. | Ukrainian authorities gave few details of the "anti-terrorist" operation that cleared the building in the town of Kharkiv but said two police had been wounded by a grenade that was thrown. |
| Russia has denied involvement but warned Kiev against any use of force against Russian-speakers | Russia has denied involvement but warned Kiev against any use of force against Russian-speakers |
| Mr Turchynov, in a televised address to the nation, said Moscow was attempting to repeat "the Crimea scenario". He added that "anti-terrorist measures" would be deployed against those who had taken up arms. | Mr Turchynov, in a televised address to the nation, said Moscow was attempting to repeat "the Crimea scenario". He added that "anti-terrorist measures" would be deployed against those who had taken up arms. |
| Ukraine's Interior Ministry was quoted by Interfax-Ukraine news agency as saying those detained were suspected of "illegal activity related to separatism, the organisation of mass disorder, damage to human health" and breaking other laws. | Ukraine's Interior Ministry was quoted by Interfax-Ukraine news agency as saying those detained were suspected of "illegal activity related to separatism, the organisation of mass disorder, damage to human health" and breaking other laws. |
| Ukrainian special forces in combat gear, helmets and balaclavas and carrying kalashnikovs and machine guns stood guard early on Tuesday outside the building. | Ukrainian special forces in combat gear, helmets and balaclavas and carrying kalashnikovs and machine guns stood guard early on Tuesday outside the building. |
| On Monday, pro-Russian demonstrators seized buildings in Kharkiv, Luhansk and Donetsk. The local government building was taken over on Sunday night by pro-Russian activists, and on Monday the Russian news agency Itar Tass reported that “members of the regional legislature” had moved to declare the city and its surrounds the Donetsk People’s Republic. | On Monday, pro-Russian demonstrators seized buildings in Kharkiv, Luhansk and Donetsk. The local government building was taken over on Sunday night by pro-Russian activists, and on Monday the Russian news agency Itar Tass reported that “members of the regional legislature” had moved to declare the city and its surrounds the Donetsk People’s Republic. |
| Russia's Itar-Tass news agency quoted Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Yarema as saying there would be no storming of Donetsk's regional authority building today after talks with the protesters there. | Russia's Itar-Tass news agency quoted Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Yarema as saying there would be no storming of Donetsk's regional authority building today after talks with the protesters there. |
| Russia recently annexed the southern Ukrainian region of Crimea following a referendum last month. At the time, the Russian president Vladimir Putin had said no attempts would be made to divide the country further once Crimea was part of Russia. | Russia recently annexed the southern Ukrainian region of Crimea following a referendum last month. At the time, the Russian president Vladimir Putin had said no attempts would be made to divide the country further once Crimea was part of Russia. |
| The referendum has been denounced as illegal by Kiev and the West, but Moscow has positioned troops along the border with eastern Ukraine. | The referendum has been denounced as illegal by Kiev and the West, but Moscow has positioned troops along the border with eastern Ukraine. |
| Meanwhile, deputies in the Ukrainian parliament brawled in the chamber this morning after a communist leader accused nationalists of playing into the hands of Russia by adopting extreme tactics early in the Ukrainian crisis. | Meanwhile, deputies in the Ukrainian parliament brawled in the chamber this morning after a communist leader accused nationalists of playing into the hands of Russia by adopting extreme tactics early in the Ukrainian crisis. |
| Members of Parliament of the Svoboda party fight with Members of Parliament of the Communist party in the Ukrainian parliament on April 8, 2014, during the debates focused on a law toughening responsibility for separatism. | Members of Parliament of the Svoboda party fight with Members of Parliament of the Communist party in the Ukrainian parliament on April 8, 2014, during the debates focused on a law toughening responsibility for separatism. |
| Two deputies from the Svoboda far-right nationalist party took exception to the charges by communist Petro Symonenko and seized him while he was talking from the rostrum. | Two deputies from the Svoboda far-right nationalist party took exception to the charges by communist Petro Symonenko and seized him while he was talking from the rostrum. |
| His party supporters rallied to his defence and a brawl broke out with deputies from other parties joining in and trading punches. | His party supporters rallied to his defence and a brawl broke out with deputies from other parties joining in and trading punches. |
| Additional reporting by agencies | Additional reporting by agencies |